The death penalty. A capital punishment that back in the early days almost any noble of well bred lineage could lay if the circumstances were in their favor. Many nobles had made it very clear to the public back before the Diarchy that if they wanted to, they could execute you. And there was nothing you, or anypony else could do about it unless you were of somepony of actual aristocratic importance or the individual preventing another state, region, or country from coming into your territory and butchering you.

At least, as long as none of the other houses or those in positions of office didn't challenge said noble's right to execute a peasant for staring at their daughter or son in an act considered 'most befoul for one of noble blood'.

Back in the day the death penalty had meant nothing. It was a tool. A means to scare and incite fear and caution. Those that could use it, used it for power often more than any true sense of justice.

To keep the dirt stained Dogs in their place well below them, where they belonged. Or so that saying had went.

It was there simply for the few remaining patriarch houses that were desperately clinging to existence back then to simply display that they had as much power and authority as the matriarch leaders that shaped Equestrian society.

The times when they, the two of them, had truly begun to grow into their power. If these were those times she could demand her right for the throne now that her other was gone.

But these were different times. The dark alicorn knew that. Equestria had changed in the millenia that had gone by while they had struggled every stellar cycle to simply survive on the moon that was both her prison and realm of power.

The voices were right about one thing, a fact that brought sadness to her which she kept from her facial expression as she pondered this knew piece of information.

Your title truly no longer has meaning here Luna. For that, I do genuinely apologize.

Yet, to ban the law entirely, that was a matter of another completely. She could ask them why, why that charismatic alicorn she knew a bygone ago would do something like this, a means to rid the world of the most dangerous or worst of scum outlawed by her authority, but in her empty heart, the Nightmare knew they wouldn't have the answer to that.

So she listened, and let the chance to ask pass on by.

"Firstly you must understand Empress." Began Rarity, "Overcast's status and his influence with the nobility...to some degree, is our fault."

"He tricked us! The manipulative son of a--"

"Rainbow Dash!" Rarity interrupted with a glare. "Manners! Honestly! I understand your feelings but please."

The Pegasus let out an exasperated grunt, tail flicking in her aggravation. "Fine, whatever."

"Rarity is right though," Sunset contributed, after a glance at the pegasus. "It...kind of is our fault."

"I frankly think it doesn't matter whether we said anything or not. The nobles were already rooting for him before we started publicly lavishing him with our appreciation after he played such a decisive role in the antenna project. Discord wouldn't pipe down about how we all owed him and Overcast a big ol' heartfelt 'thank you'." Applejack huffed. "He would have gained influence one way or another, with or without us. Reckon a lot of them caught on to that, just another reason to support him meant getting us to consider looking at them in a better light. And that's even if you don't take into account the rumors about his letter exchanges with the Princess."

Snorting again, but with a lot less gusto to it, Rainbow Dash looked away, lips pulled in a frown and ears drooping in defeat. "I doubt that." Though she said it half-heartedly.

"I...I'm not sure." Twilight finally said after a moment of silence. She shook her head. "I don't know. The Princess liked him enough, at least what with them exchanging letters. I still can't believe Sunburst showed him how to do that."

"I still can't believe Sunburst LIED to us!" Rainbow Dash grimaced. "I mean seriously what--"

"He had his reasons." Shining Armor sighed. Clear from the tone this argument had been brought up many times before. "Let's just leave it at that, we don't need to get into that discussion again. He's suffered enough. And frankly, if I had been in his position I can't say I wouldn't have done different."

The room lapsed into a shaky silence of either agreement or uncertainty.

"Yet here we are", Nightmare Moon broke the revere. "The villain that fooled you all and almost won in the end. Explain what you mean. How exactly was his rise in popularity your fault?" she turned the question to Sunset. "We have read as much as we could gather. Yet twelve days is not enough to digest a full one-thousand and eleven years of Our absence."

"Well", Rainbow Dash looked away when the attention came on to her. "... The idea was actually...kind of mine."

The raised brow she got made the pegasus wings twitch and a embarassed shade of light purple blush creep up into her cheeks. "I was the one who wanted to show how much we appreciated everything he'd done." Her tone bitter as her eyes narrowed. Looking back to a time where she'd been a fool and thought she'd made another wondrous friend.

A friend. How dumb could I be. When she finally spoke again the embarrassed blush had spread to her neck, though the look of bitterness was now mixed with anger, sadness, and if the Nightmare was reading that facial expression right...disappointed acceptance.

"I suggested to the others we should do something for him. He was our friend, it only seemed right. We all wanted to do something for him after the antenna was a success. Working the magic into it and attuning it with Discord wasn't easy work because of how weird Discord's magic works and how that affected his signature or something, I kinda stopped paying attention after some point. Anyway, point was he spent a full two moons working to push the project forward and piecing together the others work between us trying to maintain policies with that pain in the flank Pleasant. Any stallion that can go so far under the scrutiny and time crunching pressure he was getting from the upper crust about the project, deserved a good reward so I told the others we should...we should...." biting her lip hard enough it felt like she would draw blood. Out of nowhere Rainbow Dash let out a shrill whinny as her tail whipped in her aggravation and with a nicker and snort she stomped out her frustration, her enchanted shoes clanking and thudding with every pound.

"Stupid!" she snapped suddenly, stomping around like an upset filly. "How could I be so blind? I convinced the court to make him honorary nobility, alright!" slam came the sound of one hoof then another. "There I said it!" Rainbow Dash shouted, as if challenging someone to accuse her of something. Ignoring the burning around her eyes, her tail cracked a second whip of frustration in the air. "What no comeback? No "how stupid of you?" no, "I wouldn't expect anything less from some idiot pegasus that goes attacking an alicorn without hesitation!" It's my fault! Mine. I messed up and it cost us almost everything!"

"Rainbow--" Sunset began but it was too late, the floodgates had opened.

" I pushed Sunset, Twilight, and Fancypants in the court to make him a honorary noble! It made sense, hay, Princess Celestia did the exact same thing for half of us after the changeling invasion! I got our friends to agree because of course how could they not. I wouldn't have asked if I didn't think he deserved it. And don't you start AJ, it doesn't matter if you were thinking it also, I gave the nudge the rest of those snotty nobles jumped on!"

""Give him the whole status of nobility as a reward for what he did!" I kept saying-- what an idiot I was right? I mean-" she turned to look at her friends, eyes flitting between them, a desperate edge in her voice- "He was out of it for a whole moon after that project! He needed nurses to help him just to get up and in the bath" her voice straining at the memory. "...I didn't know that could happen to a unicorn unless you got into a fight. At worst, from what I understood from Twilight and Rarity, you'd get a splitting migraine and some soreness but not the stiffness he was showing when the project was finally done." Looking back at her friends Rainbow smiled weakly. "He was tough, tougher than I thought for a guy who barely understood what a prank was and how you had to avoid getting caught for it to work. How could I not show the guy I-- we cared? It's what the Princess would have done and I just wanted him to be himself again! He was such a dweeb, just like his 'cousin'" she spat that word out like something sour. "And I was dumb enough to think he was our dweeb-- that he cared about us when he could be just a hassle to figure out sometimes" she rambled, "but of course I thought all dweebs were like that. Twilight was like that, Trixie was like that, and so was Sunburst when we first met. But after the princess died he just...shut down...closed himself off and I thought if I could get him out of his shell", she gulped, talking faster and faster Rainbow Dash had become unaware of the concerned looks she was receiving.

"I thought if I could snap him out of it like we did for Twilight, get him to leave his cousin's side for more than a day and get him to see that I- we, cared about him just like when he'd tag along whenever we visited or drop by before that whole stupid fight in Fancy then maybe-- maybe--" she choked, "and- and- and- he just threw all of that away!" slam came her hoof and now she was in the air, the whole room looking at her. "For what?! Power? Wealth? I don't get it! This wasn't Sombra or Tirek or the bad guy in some Daring Doo novel! We've dealt with creeps before and we couldn't even figure this out, worst of all we basically helped him get there and he was supposed to be our friend! I--

Blinking the wetness in her eyes away, Rainbow Dash for control as a look of confusion, disgust and betrayal crossed her face. "I actually liked him", and when she said it she wasn't sure which one she even meant. Maybe it was the one kind she'd always had a gut feeling and denied and then kept denying after everything that followed. How could she like him? The villain, the bad guy, the jerk who'd killed one of their saviors in cold blood during a fight or winds know what really happened.

A part of her rejected the idea, so she just brushed it aside and moved on.

"Two years since he's been gone" the pegasus said, "and we're still learning stuff about him. Like we didn't even know him to begin with! He didn't even tell us why he killed her or if he did something to the Princess we could reverse! Six years since he killed the Princess, and for four of those, he played us for suckers!" she shouted. "It's like we just let some stranger canter right through our lives, welcoming him in and didn't know it till he started acting weird and the only ones that know anything are Sunburst, who you all don't let me talk to and Discord's keeping a tight lip as usual! I just--"

"Rainbow!" she stopped. Fluttershy was in front of her watching with concern and wide eyes. It took a second, but she realized she was flying, in the air.

All eyes on her.

In fact several of her friends shared Fluttershy's very expression.

It was in that moment, the pegasus had finally realized there were a lot of different expressions in the room.

There were a few stunned expressions at that sudden outburst. Some somber and sad. Others not even looking her way. Flash Sentry respectfully offered the pegasus a small nod of understanding when their eyes met before he looked away also. Then Rainbow Dash, realizing she'd said too much, started flapping her lips. Trying and failing to get something out. To cover her tracks as she backed away from Fluttershy. She landed and started looking for an escape a means to just be outside and away from all of this.

"I- I didn't mean it like that", she said. And she honestly wasn't sure what she was talking about. "I- I just wanted to--"

A hat enveloped her vision, silencing her. The stetson rested, rim covering her eyes as it was tipped at just the right angle to cover a pony's face. Applejack sat down right beside her friend, pulled her into a embrace ignoring her protests, and wrapped her into a one-sided hug.

"Hush now silly." no, this was Pinkie. "I'm sorry Rainbow, we didn't know you felt that way."

The prismatic pegasus was trembling. "I- no- I-" her voice shaking she slumped into the embrace, "I- I didn't know either."

Unable to see it as a sob worked it's way out, Cadence smiled sadly.

Applejack trotted over and making herself comfortable, wrapped one leg of her own around her friend's other side. "Sadly," she whispered in a way that was meant to be for her friend's ears only, "know that's a lie... I'm sorry sugar."

For once, the Nightmare chose not to capitalize on her opponent's weakness. And instead let the room lapse into silence.

"Such strange times we live in." Nightmare Moon said when all had settled and even she herself had chosen to sit on the cold ground. "I would ask how you came to fall for our strange overlord, but I understand, as you imply, that Overcast's connection to Sunburst: the valedictorian of his class and formerly the Grand Arcanist, gave him many connections by simply being blood related and the fact he was a skilled arcane engineer. This is what allowed him access to...well, all of you, correct."

Pinkie was the one who gave a frowning nod, as did many others in the room.

The dark alicorn chuckled, "if this were an act by Chrysalis I would have to commend her on a job well done."

"That's just the problem" Sunset informed.

"Sunburst lied. From what your friend has frequently been saying." Nightmare Moon stated with a glance as the pegasus was escorted out of the room with Pinkie, Applejack, Fluttershy, and a few guards through the court room's doors, out of the foyer. "Which is why he was taken effective immediately into the Crystal Empire after Overcast was slain."

"Not 'slain'," Lord Shining Armor informed. "Defeated. Slain implies he's dead."

"Which he isn't" Trixie quickly added. "We aren't sure what the Elements did to him exactly."

Flash Sentry nodded. "Correct. After he was defeated we removed Sunburst from his position and have had him under the Crystal empire's hold since. We didn't want it to look like the Grand Arcanist had been conspiring against the thrown--"

"Hadn't he?"

Trixie frowned. "No, he wasn't."

"All the evidence seems to say otherwise," Nightmare casually informed.

"There's no proof of that." Moondancer answered her frown becoming a leer.

"Yes...not yet at least."

Clearing her throat, Tempest stepped in. "I believe we're getting off topic."

"I believe, we're actually right on target. What is it exactly that Sunburst lied about, hm? Captain Tempest you surely have some insight on this yes?"

The captain looked at Sunset. When Sunset nodded, she answered.

"Overcast wasn't an actual relative of Sunburst's family, at least not in the normal sense as far as we get. And any records we tried to get about his origins...didn't...actually exist."

"...meaning?"

"Overcast by any medical accounts or records doesn't exist so far as any hospital in both Equestria and Southern Equestria is concerned. This includes the Shetland isles, and several other peninsula the north and south share with Griff. While it's very possible he could be of distant family ties, we did manage to get a sample of his blood from the Battle with the Storm king, and we know for a fact that he and Sunburst are related, he's just not related to anypony else in Sunburst's family." Tempest concluded.

Face an expression of confusion, Nightmare Moon stared at Tempest then looked around to see if perhaps this was another trick. When she saw no tell-tale signs, she blinked, and found a series of new questions presenting themself.

"You mean to tell us, Overcast and Sunburst are..."

"Technically, yes, they would be the same pony." Twilight informed, though her correction neither made her happier or brought a smug smile to her face save for the empathic look of understanding.

Closing her eyes and breathing deeply, Nightmare Moon sighed. "He's just full of mysteries" she sighed. "We shall return to a less confusing topic then, as I am certain you will explain this in time. What was so wrong about the revival of the death penalty?"

The grimace made it clear she'd hit a sensitive spot.

"He used it as an excuse to kill the Storm King."

She sneered. "And what was so wrong about that? Was he not responsible for the death of chancellor Fancypants? Did he not turn those that refused to submit to him into his slaves?"

"He did, but we had a plan to handle him. And Overcast ruined it."

"Then tell us."

"Bring him to me." The voice echoed across the garden and town walls, and with that same voice the city was silenced.

Through the silence, one could hear it faintly in the distance. Clinking. The clinking and rattling of chains, followed by the sound of heavy steps that drowned out the lighter ones.

Chains clinked and rustled as four unicorns led a creature towards the center of the room. Massive, just a bit bigger than a minotaur yet completely different from the species, the bipedal entity walked forward through the royal courtyards. Guards lined the pillars as the unicorns led their charge forward.

The crowd did not waste a second, somepony threw something at him and immediately many voices started shouting their boos and approvals.

And with ease, he caught it in one restrained limb that dragged the other, the jaw mask hiding most of his features. But his eyes, they twinkled with mirth for the moment that hid his underlying rage. He stood there for a moment soaking in their hate, then his shackles activated and the Storm, fell.

The enchantments glowed, sigils glowing orchid, yellow, red, orange, and blue, and as soon as his hand had caught it the metal and gravity brought the whole arm back down with the rest of him.

Stumbling from the increased weight one of the unicorns, startled by the lurch in his movement brought up one of the many confiscated spears of his colleagues, and jabbed him with the device set to sting.

Unable to snarl or yell with the clamped mask over his mouth the Storm king made a horrible sound as he was zapped with a weapon of his own design, and in turn forced to jump away from the offending object.

He lurched backwards, coming dangerously close to falling and just when it looked like he would, he felt magic. A tingling sensation wrap itself around him as he was jerked back to his hooves and kept standing till he could catch his breath.

Eyes glassy from pain, he looked at his savior and then saw her. His eyes widened for what was but a second, and then he chuckled. Chuckled a dark laugh that was muffled by the mask and his closed jaw, so instead it came out as a heavy, thick humm from his throat.

Fate really was sick if they put Tempest as the one to guide him to his next obstacle.

The crowd meanwhile were being separated by a line of guards. Pushing and shoving, shields were raised to stop anymore projectiles from flowing forward. The guards kept their formation and ensured that no pony else threw anything, as this prisoner was to be clean, immalculate as he was when he appeared to take away their land.

Just as Overcast had ordered.

Led by his guards, they moved down the path towards the open courts. The solar court. It was a shame he never got to meet her, that esteemed princess of the sun. Perhaps, when he got out of this, when he murdered her student, slaughtered the fool who betrayed him, and eviscerate the stallion that thought he was the one in charge, he would be sure to follow the path to her memoriam and piss on her grave.

That would show them, the fallen storm thought. That would show them all.

The thought was amusing, and it made the fallen storm feel better knowing that all he needed was a single chance and he could turn everything around. His thoughts came to a stop however of delusional escapes when he found himself in the atrium of the solar court.

"Remove his mask."

"Sir", Tempest Shadow began. "He's injured some of the guards that brought his meal out to him. Killed one, wounded four others. The mask needs to stay if you don't want him using anypony as a hostage."

"I trust your judgement former General Tempest Shadow of the Rapid Winds division, but while your punishment has already been discussed in detail, his has yet to be done. In discussions it is only fair we give him a chance to speak, rest assured he will bring harm to no one. He will be a good prisoner."

The grey eyes looked down at his prisoner. "Won't you?"

The storm king merely nodded.

"Good. Release him my little moon."

Ignoring the nickname, Moondancer marched forward away from her position by the podium and bowed her head slightly as the guards jabbed their thauma spears dangerously close to the fallen storm's chest and ensured he was standing straight and away from the lieutenant.

A single shot of magic lanced straight towards the fallen storm's mouth and though he flinched, waiting for the end, he found when his eyes opened, no harm on his body. The metal levitated away as the stars cleared from his eyes and the fallen storm blinked several times, trying to get his vision right. In the distance he heard as he heard multiple hooves retreat, no doubt distancing themselves just enough to allow him space to climb the stairs to the podium's incumbent dias.

"Do you have anything to say for yourself storm king?"

The fallen storm grimaced, pops sounding from his jaw as he flexed it. "I would like a glass of water," he replied in a calm yet gravelly voice, "if it wouldn't kill anyone to get me one. Seriously, drinking everything through a straw is just annoying."

Before anything could be said, Overcast raised a hoof. "Somepony get him some water."

The water was delivered and the fallen storm, slightly in a better mood for it.

Shining Armor and Blueblood sat on either side at the end of the court. Below each of them were two other seats. On Shining's side in one he vaguely recalled as Sun bacon or something sat on the left, on the right next to bacon pony, another fuschia unicorn with a purple and cerulean mane. On Blueblood's side sat the Arcanist and next to him his cousin, between the princes was an empty spot where the Ladies of Equestria and Princess Twilight would no doubt be seated. Sitting next to this spot, above her husband, was Princess Cadence.

"Oi!" a voice shouted in the sea of seats where the noble aristocracy sat. Heads turned and a well groomed stallion rose. In a plaque on the plinth, his family crest: crushed grapes oozing juice. The stallion with the grape colored mane to match, rose from his seat to scowl. "Da bloody name in tartare be this? Why is he" he threw his dark blue hoof out, jabbing it at the rust colored stallion decorated in bandages, "up there with you when we've been members of this court since the Princess' time. What insult is this?"

"Ignore him", answered a unicorn mare sitting on the other side of the room, her oversized blonde bun jiggling with the turn of her head and the pleased smile that touched her lips. "This is a matter among the upper crust, you just watch your tongue when you interrupt the emperor Lord Squash."

The storm king, content to watch, did nothing to stop this new turnabout.

"Iz dat so Sunny Harvest? You think becuz us Trottingham folk have fewer noble blood mixed among our own we 're of lower stock, eh?" he turned his eyes from the canterlotive to glare on Sunburst who sat next to his cousin. "Last oi checked, you needed to be a born citizen of Equestria and bear a title to be a part of this court. And if oi recall proper, y'aren't exactly from anywhere in Equestria soil, are ya?"

"It would be in your best interests to mind your tongue" came Blueblood's snide reply. "The claims to a honorary title were approved by the late Fancypants himself, and by vote of over 257 of you from the 426 seats of this council, Sir Overcast was rightfully granted his position as a noble knight of House Solaris, Her Royal Highness own knight."

"This isn't the time for this", Sunset began. "We are here to--"

"To settle that ugly mug's dues to Equestrian soil. But just because your little frien' "ver 'ere is got it all wit you lot, suddenly a noble of the crusts isn't worthy to pass judgement compared to this honorary shmuck?! If the Princess were here--"

"She would admonish you for your behavior," came Blueblood's cool cutting barb. "Now be quiet, sit still, and you will get your chance as the rest of the aristocracy here to pass your judgement. Do I make myself clear Lord Raspberry Squash?"

Cowed, but not subdued, the stallion sat back down, muttering his curses to himself.

"Serves you right." The same mare said snidely.

"Madam Harvest", the clearly annoyed voice called to attention. "Be silent, we do not need more trouble."

Frowning, the mare nodded. "Yes, lady Starlight."

An awkward second or so passed.

"Who are we waiting for?" the Storm king heard somepony whisper.

"The Princess protege, Princess Twilight, young Prince Spike and her noble Ladies of Equestria."

"Well what is taking them so long?" said another voice. "It's been nearly a minute, punctuality is important and they are failing every second!"

"At least the Arcanist's cousin can be bothered to show up on time. Honestly, I don't know why her friends come along, the only true nobles of that group are the Apple, miss Dash, and miss Shy. Why bring the rest? The other two are unnecessary additions. Except for Miss Bellé, of course. "

"Hush now!" a female said from across the room, somewhere else. "Don't let Prince Blueblood here you say that!" she went on, reprimanding her partner in the conversation. "Honestly, Consort Brittle isn't that bad looking for a monster. Even if she is one of those horrid changelings."

"...Fancypants would not approve of this nonsense. He may have bended his ear to the Princess's entourage before but allowing a non-noble influence the court? He didn't even go through the hearing requirements to..."

"I didn't know they were struggling to have a foal."

"That's what I've been hearing. Its been four years since their wedding, and still no news of Princess Cadence bearing a heir. Some are starting to think that witch, Chrysalis may have done something to her or the Prince."

"It's sad to think the empire took a princess too weak to even defend herself against a mind warping monster."

"Sorry we're late!" Twilight's voice shattered the stream of hushed whispers his powerful ears picked up. "We had to address the issue with the crowd, they were getting restless."

"Quite alright Princess." Sunburst responded. "We were waiting for you and your friends."

Princess Twilight merely nodded and trotting in, she led her group forward. The storm king watched each of them, but not a single one paid him any mind as they passed the dias he stood on, as they walked around the rows of seated nobles and made their way up to the judges bench. The only one that did look at him, was the dragon, and even then it was with a shake of his head.

"This court is now in session." Shining Armor rapped the table with his hoof twice and from within and outside, the echo silenced all.

"Amadeus dubbed the Storm King by his subordinates, by law of this court and our beloved late Princess we are required to grant you a defense during your trial." Prince Blueblood stated as he leaned slightly forward in his seat. "You have refused, so you will be defending yourself."

"Of course, what idiot would let one of your own lawyers defend me? You'd just set me up for something instead of allowing me a chance, even if I don't have one in the slightest of winning."

Cadence narrowing her eyes, raised a brow. "You doubt our judgement of fair treatment."

He chuckled, a grating sound that sent shivers through many of the nobles in the room. "Please, empress, I'm no fool. I came here to seize the Crystal Empire and convert those of you that were smart to my side. Most of you did the dumb thing, you got lucky, but you rebelled immediately. This trial is rigged and nothing I can say" he raised his shackles up, "or do will change that. So frankly speaking at the start of this conquest, I expected more of a fight."

"And what is that supposed to mean?!" a orange and yellow pegasus with a firey mane snarled.

"You think word doesn't travel over to the Eastern Territories?" he asked and somehow Amadeus maintained the smug look even while he was restrained. "I'm originally from a small country called Wungola, probably haven't heard of it, but that doesn't matter. We hear word from what happens here now and then. You are the only nation in the world to have-- oh I'm sorry" he sneered, "had, a Princess and a ruler that was immortal. Not to mention a powerhouse in Thaumaturgical Science and advancement, you really think word wouldn't spread about Sombra's return? Your nation should have been wiped out had it not been for the spells in place that kept him from personally straying too far from the empire. A nation that has been at peace for 800 years and then some should have been easy and without your secret weapon-- you know what I mean, that chaos spirit or whatever, without him back then you were all screwed.

"With Sombra back your naive little nation weren't going to be ready for a military fight, yet two years later I hear your country still stands. I was amazed" he said waving his hands in their shackles as he looked around the room with a fang filled grin. "I honestly thought you were screwed.

"And then that legendary prince who got sent to Tartarus of all places from those old tales, Tirek, came and I was certain you all were dead. Especially when it came out that he was the one who sent those six demons after you."

No one said a word. Chains rustled and jingled as the fallen storm turned around to face his judges.

"Somehow you survived that too. I asked myself 'how'. How did they do it. After Sombra I got curious and so I sent spies. They would send word back by letter, I would hear of the complete crazy that goes around your little home. This place is like a magnet for destruction, you know that? Time and time again, you all manage to squeeze yourselves out with little worse than before. Some of my guys didn't even come back after that whole thing with Tirek so I wanted to test that, and if possible, take control of it."

He shrugged, his chains jingled. "That's my piece. You don't use your power wisely. You sit there, swing it around when you want, instead of using it to take over places that need it."

"I think we've heard enough" Sunset started.

"Ohhohoho," the Storm laughed cutting her off. "I'm not done bacon head. You want to know how I started out my career? Hm? Any takers?" glancing over his shoulder behind him. "My home was ruled by pegasi. My mother? A pegasus, my dad? Monkey. We are a tribal race, just like your kind. And the pegasi there treated my father's race like dirt. I wasn't even considered a legitimate heir to my mother's throne because I was just a fling born between her and a servant she liked a little too much. Couldn't kill me when she showed the signs because old mommy liked to party and she wasn't sure who knocked her up. Isn't that right cotton candy fluff?" he snickered at the party planner. "I got dropped in some orphanage, joined the military because I was a big bipedal for my age, and then I took advantage of the discourse between the guilds that each of the sky lords had control over and tore everything to pieces with my army. I killed everyone that wouldn't submit and then I moved down south east to pick a fight with those damn Hyenas. You wanna know why I did that?"

There was a moment where he actually waited for a response and all that mirth, all that mock humor vanished from the storm king's face. When the silence had settled long enough he broke.

"My home city was a terrible place to live." Amadeus stated. "You either toughened up or crumbled and let someone else do the ordering of your life for you. You submit or you didn't and you would be lucky if you didn't get shived for trying."

"Is this some kind of sob story to butter us up to reducing your sentence?" the rust colored stallion casually cut in.

There was no reprimanding for that remark. But the glances he got, even from his cousin, though short, couldn't be missed. Not from them, and not from several of the gasps the storm king heard behind him.

"Believe it or not, it doesn't matter to me. I'm making a point here."

"And what would that be?" Twilight asked, though her tone was neither cold nor was it void of some warmth.

"It is power is everything. You waste yours sitting up there, only using it when you're pushed into a corner. I heard what happened with Tirek, he had you all beat and its the luck alone that saved you all from him and all the other threats before him. And frankly if you aren't going to use something a lot of people would kill to have, then you deserve whatever comes after you all wanting it."

"...you...you killed Fancypants for no reason. He was your prisoner," Fluttershy said quietly.

Amadeus shrugged. "I've killed many. My former general warned you, submit or prepare for war. You didn't listen, so I made his death public to send a message. If you didn't want anypony to die, you should have listened. I don't know how your battles went with all those weird things you seem to attract but at worst, it's rare someone dies. Injuries sure, death? Rare. But I guess I changed that this time, didn't I?" he asked with a smug smile.

"THAT IS IT!" Rainbow Dash snarled. With a beat she was in the air, ready to strike. "I'm gonna make you--"

"Lady Dash," the fruity voice called out and she stopped, snapping her angry glare in his direction before it melted into confusion.

"Are you- why are you smiling Overcast?" Sunset, disturbed, inquired.

"He's trying to get a rise out of us. He knows he's doomed so he's playing us into his hands."

"Ha!" the fallen storm laughed. "You think too highly of me!"

"Oh but I had to Amadeus. If I didn't, you would have killed me and then where would we be?"

"With me ruling that's for sure."

"Hahahahaha--"

"Hahahahahaha!" joined the storm king and then as quickly as it began they were silent.

The room was confused. There were a mixture of emotions here and right now, Cadence couldn't tell what Overcast was feeling.

The storm king, he felt apprhensive.

"I would ask the court, to allow me to approach the defendant?"

Blueblood and Shining Armor glanced at each other as did the rest of the judges exchange glances. A reluctant nod later, and Sunburst whispered to his cousin to go.

Hoofsteps echoed upon the wood. Wood creaked as the taller stallion descended. Height wise, he came to the chest just at the Storm king's collar bone or shoulders and that was excluding his horn. Going through the stairs and past the attending rows of nobles all eyes were fixed on Overcast as he made his way towards the podium that the behemoth stood on.

He trotted with a limp favoring his hind left leg. There was red peeking underneath the bandages of his barrel and his neck was also banadged heavily with gauze. It took time for him to get down the stairs, his breathing labored and with every movement he had to clench his jaw as the pain clearly seemed to be effecting him.

"You came all this way for little ol' me?" Amadeus teased as the stallion came to a stop. "I'm touched. Here, take off these shackles so I can give you a hug."

"You'd like that wouldn't you, you giant beast of a teddy bear."

"Name calling, how rude!"

"I think manners are well beyond this point at this time."

They stopped and just eyed each other.

Out of nowhere, "I would like a rematch." Overcast said.

Many eyes blinked.

"Uh, Overcast what are you doing?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"I'm asking for a rematch."

Blueblood gaping said, "you can't just do that!"

"Oh but I can." Overcast smiled. "I was crowned a knight of noble status and as is my right, I exercise the authority to a duel to the death."

The shouts and gasps that filled the room combined with the shocked and stunned looks of his peers was almost as surprising as the statement itself.

"Are you insane?!" Starlight shouted in outrage. "Wh y would we agree to that? We have him already so there's no need to fight!"

"Oh you're wrong there. If we cast him out somewhere and he finds out how to escape, we've doomed ourselves." The stallion replied, his grey eyes never leaving Amadeus's own.

"How could he possibly escape?" cried a voice among the stack of nobles. "It would be impossible when we've locked away his magic!"

"The stars", he bellowed. One by one they all went silent. "The stars are moving, and everyday, every minute, every second, we waste time."

Murmuring filled the room. Confusion and uncertainty, the kind where you had no idea where this was going or what was happening anymore.

"... Overcast?" he looked at the owner of the voice and smiled at Sunset. Then his eyes passed over the others, and his smile grew sad. "You have been looking urgently. But time is running out and I will do what I must to fix my mistakes before she returns. And so I ask you Amadeus, Storm King," he turned his gaze back to the behemoth. "Do you accept?"

"We won't accept this if he does!" Pinkie shouted.

"Fine, but a duel does not require acceptance from the crown to be legitimized. This is not a judicial battle, this is a decisive fight. If he lives, his followers will come for him. Now, Amadeus the opponent must accept, and only then can it begin."

The storm king snapped long from his stupor eyed his strange adversary.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why should I agree to this. I can't fight you when I'm chained up. "

"I will remove them."

"Sunburst do something!" he ignored it however, this was just between them now. There was no one else in the room except them.

"My magic?"

"No. There will be rules and we will be bound by them officially on the day of battle."

"Fine," Amadeus growled. "If I win, I walk free. No attempts at imprisoning me and I leave with my army."

Overcast chuckled haappily, "Don't push your luck."

"Sounds to me you are running out of time, your friends looks ready to tackle you." Amadeus challenged.

"You really would toss out a chance at freedom like this, and killing the one who made those shackles?"

"The way I see it, I have nothing to lose."

"Except your empire."

The weights brought the storm crumbling down the moment his snicker became a snarl. His teeth snapped at empty air as a bark was shouted at the nearby officers to restrain him as he fought against the weights trying to keep him from getting back up.

In a whisp of thauma particles, the rust stallion reappeared above him and when Amadeus tried to lung for his throat there was a thud as magic flipped him over the stallion's back and out of the stand, onto the ground where the nobles had scattered from their seats as the fallen storm struggled against his weights to get up and strike.

"You leave alone" the stallion said as the bonds slipped free from the storm king's limbs. Shackles clicking off and thudding to the ground. In an instant he was on his hooves and with blinding speed he made for a mulberry unicorn.

A flash of grey and black and the unicorn had swapped places with his injured instigator.

Perfect!

They slammed into each other and somehow, through the blur of limbs, for one brief second, the storm king felt he had his captive. Then the world flipped over and he was on his back, his arm screaming in pain, and a weight over his back.

"If he accepts this duel!" Overcast roared over the panicked shouting and rushing guards trying to maintain the peace, "Then he will go free!"

The world went silent. The weight did not leave his body.

"Do you accept my challenge to the death storm king?"

Growling, he attempted to fling the unicorn off but the point of a horn prodding into his back warned of terrible results if he did.

Don't be hasty the stallion's voice whispered into the storm king's mind. "I will keep to my word if you keep to yours. Once we are bound by this agreement the duel is set. Do you accept this duel before the court?"

Grunting Amadeus snarled. "Yes!"

His horn glowing brighter, the two of them flashed gold, and the agreement was done.

"Three days, on the third afternoon. We duel to the death."

With a flash of his horn, the shackles returned where they belonged on the storm king, and in that same moment, Overcast was gone.

The stunned look of his allies was the last thing he saw before a group of unicorns rushed to wrangle him out of the court.

Author's Note

The next chapter is going to be a bit shorter.

We prep for a duel. And a glimpse at the pivotal moment, where things hit it off.

If there are any mistakes grammar/ spelling, feel free to let me know.

As always, stay tuned.