Monsters ravage Equus.

Beasts among Beasts destroy cities.

Purest of Monsters destroy, pillage, deceive, and kill by the score.

And Misunderstood flood the outer wilds, trying to survive.

A Cursebringer, marked by a pure white Skull, stands strong in the white.

Curses are brought to all.

A number of hours had passed since Skull had agreed to the pony's terms, and in that time, the royals and Star Swirl continued to shoot looks back at Skull as they traversed the streets of the Empire's capital. He was wearing heavier fur clothes than the ones he wore back in his cabin, and his gaze was locked to the crystal cobbled ground, his mouth set in a permanent frown.

The populace was in much a similar state as the group leading him. Many a murmur or glare was sent his way, and a few times children even tossed rocks at him, but he did not react in any way save a slight wince as the rocks impacted him. Twilight frowned as she watched this, turning back to her brother as they walked and whispering to him.

"Hey..." She began. Shining's ear flicked towards her. "...Doesn't this seem a bit... Off, to you?"

Shining turned his head to her. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"It's just..." she spared a glance back to Skull. "He's not reacting like I thought he would."

"Yeah... I mean, he did say he'd give us a chance, but it's still uncanny how... Well, calm he is," Cadance chimed in. Shining frowned, turning his attention back to the road.

"...I guess I can see what you two mean," he shot a look to the man trailing behind them as well. "After chasing him and seeing all the stuff he's done these four years... It's almost uncomfortable how fast things have changed."

"What do you think Miss Angel said to him to make him like this?" Twilight asked. Cadance shook her head.

"I think the better question is what she meant to him for him to turn a leaf so quick," the Princess of Love pointed out. The three of them frowned at this, and Star Swirl joined in.

"I can't say that it's not strange," he began slowly. "But at the same time, it's still very hard to forgive him." Twilight looked back to Skull again.

"Yeah... With everything that happened with Discord... I won't lie, I'm still angry. Hay, everypony is I bet," she said. Her view went to the ground beneath her hooves. "But... Miss Angel made a good point, too. Skull was probably really scared at the time."

The others went silent at this, all the while the two sister's faces hardened. A storm was brewing in each of their heads as well. After all, they'd never had a foe so seemingly foul as him, but after everything that had happened the past few days... Well, to put it simply, while they had agreed they were wrong, it was still a fact they were coming to terms with.

And they're surprise grew when Skull spoke up. "Hey, can I ask where your three friends are?" They all stopped at this, turning to face him. Star Swirl narrowed his eyes at him.

"Why do you want to know?" he asked, tone dangerous.

"I have more healing potions with me. I can patch them up," he said simply. Their eyes widened at this.

"You... You would heal them?" Star Swirl asked, shocked. Skull nodded.

"Yeah. I want to make up for my mistake as much as I can," he replied.

"Then...You've forgiven us?" Luna ventured. Skull scoffed.

"No. Not a chance in hell," they all flinched at the venom in his tone, but it dampened. "I'm just fixing my mistakes. Don't go getting big heads and thinking that this is an act of forgiveness. I'm doing this for my mental well-being, not yours." They all frowned, looking to each other. Slowly, they turned back to face him.

"...Very well. We'll take a detour to the Royal Hospital, but be warned, try anything and you will be sorry," Celestia conceded. Skull glared at her.

"I don't go back on my word," he rumbled.

"I'll hold you to that," she said simply as they continued on their way. Skull growled a bit, but slowly calmed as they walked. In a short time, they made it to the gates of the castle, and walked in after the guards opened the doors. They walked a long while, until they came to a set of doors with a large red cross sign above it. They walked inside, and down the halls. Ponies of all sorts bowed to the royals as they passed by, but even more gasped at the sight of Skull. He paid them no mind as they reached the room with the injured Pillars. A Doctor was just walking out of the room when they arrived.

"Oh! Princesses, and Mister Star Swirl, here to-," he stopped as he saw Skull towering above him, and gaped. Shining quickly stepped in before the stallion could overreact.

"Don't worry, we've got him under control," Shining promised. Skull rolled his eyes at this, but Shining continued. "We brought him here so he could fulfill part of his, uh...deal, with us."

The doctor looked to his leader, then Skull, gulped, and slowly nodded. "I-If you say so. Just call me if you need me," he said, before scampering off. Skull grunted and pushed past the ponies and into the room.

"Hey!" Shining cried.

"Save it," he retorted, before looking to the three ponies on the beds. He looked them over for a moment as the others walked in, before walking over to the one-winged mare covered in bandages. He looked the stump of her wing over and winced. "This... This is gonna be loud, and very painful for her."

"What do you mean?" Cadance asked him as the group walked over. Skull said nothing as he pulled out an orange flask with strange liquid in it.

"Just... Hold her down. This won't be easy for her, but it'll heal her," he said, before gently removing the bandages around the mare's mouth, and pouring the liquid down her throat. She coughed a few times, but he made sure she swallowed it. Not long after, she began to scream bloody murder as she thrashed about, the stump of her bandaged wing stretching slowly. "Hold her down!" Skull ordered. The others quickly did so.

"What the buck did you do-?!" Star Swirl began, but Skull shut him up.

"Shut up and hold her down! This'll only take a second!" he cried, holding her down as well. She screamed her head off as her flesh, bone, feathers and all started to peek out of the bandages. This went on for a solid ten seconds, which seemed like an eternity to Somnambula, but soon, the effects of the potion sped up drastically, and in no time at all her lost wing was fully regrown. Sadly the pain had proven too much, and she had gone unconscious. The ponies present stared at the regrown wing in shock.

"What... What was in that potion?!" Twilight cried.

"I've never heard of a potion able to regrow limbs, much less so quickly..." Star Swirl muttered in awe.

"I would have to agree, this is most...surprising," Luna concurred.

"That's putting it mildly," Cadance added.

"I'll say," Shining agreed.

"It's called an Ancient Potion. It restores all health, from wounds small and insignificant to...well, this level," Skull explained, shrugging.

"That's...extraordinary," Star Swirl breathed. Skull shrugged again.

"It's a common thing for me, really, especially with my line of work," Skull said nonchalantly.

"If this is common for you, I shudder to think of what you've been facing all this time," Luna said, shivering.

"No different than what you made me face," Skull shot back coldly and simply. The ponies frowned at this. He placed two green flasks down on a nightstand by Somnambula. "Have the doctors give these to the other two. Should help with any wounds they have."

"One is likely all that we'll need, since Flash Magnus' illness is more of the...mental, type," Celestia informed. Skull frowned, then sighed.

"I'll make it up to him later, then. Let's just get on with this," he said, seeming tired now. The ponies slowly nodded, and after telling the doctor what happened and allowing him to check on Somnambula, they left. They walked down a long set of stairs, and into what Skull immediately recognized as a dungeon. He sighed, knowing why he was here.

"You'll be staying in here until we get everything ready. It'll likely take a few days," Celestia explained, though it was more like she was stating a fact. Skull stared at her for a moment, then sighed.

"Fair enough, I guess," he said, stepping into one of the cells as Shining Armor opened it for him. The stallion quickly locked it after Skull stepped in.

"The guards will be informed of things, but again, it will take a few days, so get comfy," Shining stated. Skull shot him a look, then sighed once more.

"Fine. Whatever," he replied.

"Right, well, goodbye," Shining said in farewell, turning around.

With that, they left, leaving Skull alone with his thoughts. He sighed, sitting down on his cot and looking at his feet. "..." He looked to the ceiling, falling back in his cot. "Welcome to the Empire, I guess..."

The days for Skull came and went slowly. The guards that had been stationed around him were silent, but he knew what they were thinking. It was plainly clear with their thinly veiled glares. Still, their silence only served to help him reflect on things.

He was mostly thinking of his time with Angel, alternating between frowns and smiles as he did. He did enjoy his time with Angel, quite a lot, in fact, as she was the only human he'd seen in years, and the only friend he'd had in years. But on the other hand, there was something else about her, something that just... Drew him, to her. He didn't fully understand it, but he got a warmth in his chest whenever he saw her. She was easy to talk to, as well, but...

"...Can I really expect it to last?" he wondered aloud as he laid back on his cot, staring at the ceiling. "Grandpa always said the world was against me, and I never questioned it before. Not until now...." He sighed, closing his eyes. "...What do I do?" He asked himself quietly.

Suddenly, the cell door opened, one of the guards interrupting his thoughts. "On your feet. It's time." He said. Skull looked to him, then sighed deeply and got off his cot, walking towards the guard stallion. "Follow me, and don't try anything." Skull just grunted at this, but did as told nonetheless as they walked up the stairs and towards the room where Skull's trial would take place.

It didn't rake long for them to reach the doors of the room, and two guards opened them to reveal a room with ponies of all kinds sitting in boxes above him, and in the front of him were the Elements, the few Pillars who weren't injured, and the Royals, all sitting in a VIP box. The guard brought him to a desk, and instructed him to sit down. He did so, and the guard bowed to those in the VIP box and then went to the side of the room, taking up a post. The ponies were muttering and whispering to each other as they looked at Skull.

A gavel sounded out, silencing them. Celestia spoke up. "We are gathered here today to judge the one who has haunted our lands for four long years, and committed many atrocious crimes. We are here to put Skull on trial." More murmurs rang out, but they were silenced by another slamming of the gavel. "First, let us begin with the list of crimes he has committed. Silent Shade, if you would." The guard who had escorted him here, now known as Silent Shade, nodded, producing a scroll with a poof of magic.

"Numerous counts of animal cruelty, one count of murder, unlawful use of dark magic, and multiple accounts of assault," the stallion rattled off. Angry mutterings and hushed whispers resounded throughout the chamber, growing louder into murmurs and more, before the gavel sounded out again.

"Order," Celestia demanded. The crowd quickly calmed down. "Thank you. Now," she looked to Skull. "Recent evidence has been brought to us on these crimes, and most of them can be explained." Celestia nodded to Twilight, who stepped up and nervously cleared her throat.

"First, the unlawful use of dark magic. From what we have gathered from just being around him, he does not radiate an aura of hate or show any of the common signs or influences of dark magic," Twilight stated. Angry ponies cried out at this.

"Then where'd those monsters come from, huh?!" cried a Crystal Pony mare.

"Yeah!" a stallion agreed.

The gavel once more rang throughout the room. "Order!" Celestia cried. The ponies quieted once more. "Continue, Princess Twilight." Twilight nodded, and turned back to those assembled.

"Second, the charges of assault. Based on the reports we gathered over the years of guards encountering Skull, he only ever attacked when he was attacked first, and only ever attacked to incapacitate," Twilight began, before looking down to Skull. "The only account of him doing otherwise was a few days ago with the Pillars of Equestria."

"And what about the other charges? What about how he killed Discord?!" demanded a pegasus.

"Or the animal cruelty?!" another pony added.

Luna raised a hoof to silence them. They slowly went quiet once more. "While there is little concrete evidence to excuse him from these crimes, I believe his words might enlighten us all as to his reasons, at the very least." She looked down at Skull. "If you would."

Skull took a deep breath, before sighing and speaking. "First, I didn't murder Discord. I killed him in self-defense. I was..." He didn't get to finish as a pony tossed a pencil at him.

"Liar! Murderer!" she roared. Celestia slammed the gavel down harshly when others joined the complaints.

"SILENCE!" she yelled. The ponies went quiet. "Let him speak his piece before you jump to conclusions. This is a court room, not a house of blame." She said, scanning the crowd before looking back to Skull.

"...As I was saying, I was..." he paused, not sure how to say it, before sighing and slumping a bit. "...I was scared, and reacted badly."

"Badly? BADLY?!" Fluttershy began, stomping up to the edge of the VIP box. "You cut my Dissy's head off! You call that reacting badly?!"

"Flutters, calm down!" Applejack said, pulling Fluttershy's tail to bring her back. Fluttershy growled.

"I don't care what you say, I won't forgive you!" she roared, eyes brimming with tears. Skull said nothing, only returning her angry look with a sad one. Celestia cleared her throat and pounded the gavel once more as ponies were getting riled up again.

"Applejack, please take Fluttershy out for a moment to calm her down," she instructed. Applejack nodded and did just that, Fluttershy shooting a glare back at Skull as she left with her friend. Celestia turned back to Skull again.

"Continue, please," she instructed. He slowly nodded.

"As for the animal cruelty..." He sighed. "It's... Well, it's for survival. If I don't kill them, they'll get too close to my home and wreck it without a thought. And carving them and taking their parts is what keeps me alive, both because I need to eat meat to survive, and because without their materials, I wouldn't be able to use them to make what I need to live or even just make it out of a fight with one of them." The ponies seemed to be a bit averse to this.

"How the buck is using their materials gonna help you stay alive?!" a stallion from the juror stands called. Others voiced similar retorts. Shining Armor took the gavel this time, pounding it a number of times in quick succession, making everypony quiet down.

"We have confirmed many times that the monsters we've faced have hides and pieces that are just too strong for any regular weapon to pierce, and the monsters themselves are strong enough to crush any armor we make like tin cans," Shining Armor began. The assembled ponies in the stands were shocked at this. "Judging by this, it makes sense that using their materials is the only real way to make things that will stop them."

"Exactly. Monster materials are of such a higher quality than what you all use that it's just amazing you've survived this long at all," Skull added.

"He's right. These monsters aren't like the ones we know. They're terrifyingly strong," Cadance concurred. The ponies in the stands began to talk amongst themselves, obviously shaken by this news.

"Which brings us back to the sentence," Star Swirl continued. "We will certainly be giving Skull a sentence of some sort, but we must remember, he is the only one with knowledge of the beasts that plague our world."

The murmurs grew louder at this. Celestia spoke up once more. "Now, with that said, we will be giving the jury an hour's time to come up with a sentence for Skull. Everypony will leave for recess and reconvene once time is up. That is all. Dismissed."

The ponies quickly dispersed from the room, and Skull was taken back to his cell.

An hour later, they were all back in the courtroom, and everyone sat down. Celestia banged the gavel once to get the attention of all present. "Court is now back in session." She turned to the jury. "Has the jury reached a verdict?"

A stallion stood up, holding a piece of paper in his magic. "Yes, Your Highness. The jury has found Skull..." there was a pause as he seemed to formulate his words. "...Guilty of assault. He will be sentenced to a week of incarceration, and then serve as an authority on all things monster related, directly under the crown, for a total of a year. Any knowledge or coin he makes shall go straight to the Royal coffers." There was silence for a time as this news sunk in, and eventually the ponies turned to their leaders.

"So be it," Celestia said, pounding the gavel. "Court is now adjourned."

Shining spoke up. "Guards, bring him to his cell to serve his sentence." The guards in the room nodded and saluted, then did as told, leading Skull out of the room.

Skull was silent for a long time that night, staring up at the moon from his window in his cell. He stared at it for what seemed an hour or more, his eyes full of sad curiosity.

Alas, the moon held no answers for him.

Author's Note

EDIT: Opening theme is here!

Well, not too sure about this one, but I'll post it anyway. If any of it seems illogical to you guys, please point it out so I can amend the mistakes.