Pride and Punishment

The moonlit courtyard of Canterlot was still and serene. A few guards watched from high above but nopony saw the head of Trixie poke out from the ajar dungeon door. Freedom was within reach. The air smelled so crisp and the light from the moon felt like it was recharging Trixie's vitamin deprived body. Watching from the shadows she counted four guards. Two on the walls, two inside the guard's barn at the front entrance. Those at the front were playing a card game.

"I need to regain my strength. I'm too weak right now to take out these guards." thought Trixie. She had managed to kill her captors in the dungeon but she was running on empty. She needed to escape, eat, drink, bathe. Twilight would have to die first, the Princess could wait. Her guards would be a great challenge and in Trixie's current state, it would be better to retreat and regroup.

To Trixie's benefit was that a royal palace is designed to keep people out rather than in. She would need to make a clean escape. Stepping back into the dungeon entrance she focused a spell with all her strength. Her tummy rumbled and she felt giddy for a second, her blood sugar too low for exertion. With a fizz from her horn-stump, her coat and mane changed colour from an azure blue to black. A neat parlour trick but she never thought she'd have to use it for something as serious as this.

Stepping out of the dungeon and into the shadows, her trick provided her with a wonderful camouflage. Clinging to the shadows of the walls, heart thumping in her chest, she reached the guard barn. The open portcullis was just a few feet away and she would be home and dry. The guards inside exchanged banter and never came close to noticing the jet black pony crawling below the window. Low down and stepping quietly as possible on the cobble stones, ten slow and cautious steps took Trixie through the portcullis and on to the dew-covered grass. She took three large mouthfuls of the wet grass - all she needed was the energy to get to Ponyville.

Almost invisible in the dark, Trixie broke into a canter. Ponyville was two hours away by hoof, it would surely not be until dawn that her escape was noticed so time was on her side. Even just those mouthfuls of grass had spurred her energy and as the lights of the castle withdrew behind her the colour of her mane and coat returned. The ring in her nose that the guards had so cruelly fitted to aid in leading her to her execution swung back and forward as she galloped, now familiar with its weight it was not so uncomfortable. The wind swept through her dry and unkempt mane which was starting to feel less greasy and unpleasant the further she got from that forsaken dungeon. Trixie was starting to look like her old self again.

Up in the lofty heights of Canterlot's main tower Princess Celestia slept fitfully. She had kicked off her bedsheets and her pillow had been pierced many times by her sharp horn. Her usually wavy, dancing mane was jagged and twitched occasionally. The Princess was dreaming again of the night she had been poisoned.

Princess Celestia preferred to look after her beauty alone rather than employ beautician ponies. A long soak in the bath before bed was very important to her. She had a lot of work done to make her bath exactly how she liked it. The water poured from golden taps adorned with sea ponies and the bath was easily large enough to allow her to submerge all of her slender body, tail and mane. As usual she would soak for an hour then pleasure herself under the bubbles before stepping out of the water to prepare herself for sleep.

The Princess' horn glowed as she magicked a spotless white towel around her mane and the top of her head, tying a knot to hold the towel in place. Trotting to her bedroom she poured a glass of water and took a few sips. Another glow of the horn opened her dresser drawer and pulled out a file with which to attend to her hooves. Before she could begin her pony-pedi however, her stomach cramped and her telekinesis failed, the file dropping to the floor with a clatter.

A whole wave of cramps hit the Princess' stomach and she bent double before collapsing to the floor, her heart felt like it was trying to escape her chest and pressure at her tail end gave way causing a violent spray of black diarrhoea to stain her white rug. The pain intensified but the Princess managed to reach her hoof out and push over the tall flower vase next to her dresser. Seconds after it fell to the floor, smashing loudly, a guard galloped into the room just as the Princess lost consciousness.

The Princess swam in and out of consciousness. At one point she had awoken but been unable to open her eyes or move. She heard an unfamiliar voice speaking.

"The lower parts of her digestive tract are practically mush. We must make a stoma to bypass the damage, it is the only way the Princess will be able to function normally."

A burning pain somewhat like being cut with a hot knife caused the Princess to scream but only in her mind. Her body was completely paralysed. Another awful slicing pain on the skin of her stomach and then a sickening sound and sensation of something sliding into her body, she could feel her organs being touched and disturbed. Her eyes began to open and she saw a doctor pony, monocle in one eye and a lamp attached on his forehead, his arm fetlock-deep inside a large gaping wound in her stomach. Behind the doctor, Twilight Sparkle was watching concernedly through a glass window. A shadow appeared behind her, a glowing horn revealed the face of Trixie. Trixie smiled at the Princess through the mirror and Twilight Sparkle gasped open-mouthed as the sharp end of a knife poked bloodily from her stomach, splattering the window with blood.

The Princess awoke from her nightmare and gasped for air. Her coat was slick with sweat and she had urinated the bed. She had been unable to control her bladder fully since her operation. She looked up at the moon through her window and then down at the vile colostomy bag strapped to her stomach from which a tube led to the ponymade hole just above her navel. Princess Celestia sighed and rolled over to the dryer side of the mattress, closing her eyes and hoping for better dreams.

Twilight Sparkle was burning the midnight oil again in the Ponyville library. It was Rarity's birthday next week and Twilight was researching modern fashion. She knew Rarity wanted desperately a new hoofbag but what style was 'in this season', as Rarity would often say. Lying on her tummy, she kicked her hind legs back as she read 'Fashion Filly' magazine. It wasn't her kind of read but it was worth it if she could find something that would delight her friend. Rarity had been so kind to all of them over the years, helping them dress smartly when required to do so and the 'look' she suggested for her friends was always a hit.

Despite the material, Twilight loved her late night reading sessions. Spike was asleep in his bed and there was nothing to interrupt Twilight until three knocks on the front door disturbed her.

"Sheesh, who could that be at this hour?"

Twilight used her magic to turn down the corner of the page she was reading and closed the magazine. She rolled off the bed and headed down the stairs. Spike was still sleeping soundly. Only two ponies would be crazy enough to visit at this hour, Dashy or Pinkie.

The front door was opened by Twilight's magic and she was greeted by a familiar figure. Trixie raised her head, revealing the face under the brim of her magician's hat. Twilight gasped.

"Hello Twilight. Remember me?"

Trixie's stump glowed and from under her cape a short dagger shot out, stabbing into Twilight's stomach. The stunned pony made a 'wump' sound and staggered backwards as Trixie magicked the dagger to stab her again and again in the belly, with the final stab the blade twisted before sliding out and hovering back under psychotic pony's cape.

Twilight fell backwards and a purple cord of intestine popped out from her wounds. It felt incredibly painful and the loss of pressure in her stomach made it hard for her diaphragm to work effectively. It hurt so bad and she couldn't concentrate enough to even consider responding with magic. She gasped and tried to plead with Trixie.

"Trixie, you've... done for me. Please. Please save me."

Trixie cackled, took off her hat and shook her mane. The earlier madness in her eyes faded and she looked confident and glamourous as though she was performing for a crowd.

"Twilight Sparkle. Do you realize how far back you and your friends have set my career? I was once the most beloved magical unicorn in the land but now I'm a criminal, despised by all Equestria. I'll make you and everyone you love regret the day you tangled with The Great and Powerful Trixie!"

Spike had awoken and peered over the balcony to see the commotion. He saw Twilight on the floor, bleeding heavily. Trixie smiled up at him.

"And Spike. Twilight's little dragon friend."

Spike snarled at Trixie and ran towards the stairs. Twilight coughed up blood and tried to beg for Spike's life.

"You horrible pony! What have you done to Twilight? Sis! I'll save you!"

Trixie sneered and her stump glowed again. The ring through her nose twinkled as her spell fired.

"Not right now Spike, the grown ups are talking. You are however essential to the Great and Powerful Trixie's plans, little dragon!"

A tall, dark green house plant at the top of the stairs shuddered and extended a tendril as Spike ran past, tripping the dragon and looping around his leg. Trixie's stump glistened and she smiled as the tendril extended up Spike's leg, wrapping around his arms and pinning him down. He started crying.

"Sis... I'm sorry!"

"I have no doubt Spike, that you will grow up to be a powerful dragon but right now, defeating you is easy as taking figs from a foal."

Trixie stopped casting her magic and sat down beside Twilight who was breathing heavily.

"Oh Twilight. Imagine the shows you and I could have made. We could have astounded Equestria together. The Great and Powerful Trixie, featuring Twilight Sparkle."

Twilight's eyes were closed and she moaned quietly. Trixie magicked her dagger and traced it's blade along her victims chest drawing a little blood.

"I always thought you were a terribly plain pony but right now, covered in blood and dying? I think you look stunning."

Trixie leaned forward and kissed Twilight softly on the lips, tasting her blood. She'd never really done anything like that before but she'd already gone this far. Twilight and her were sharing a very intimate moment.

Trixie's hapless victim sobbed and looked up at her assailant. She really hadn't expected it to end this way, to be killed so young with so much more to learn and see.

"This isn't the end Twilight, just the beginning. Next I'm going to kill your mentor. The Great and Powerful Trixie will be the ruler of Equestria and all will worship me or they will perish!"

Spike wriggled in his bindings, still sobbing.

"You're insane Trixie! You've gone mad!"

Trixie stroked a lock of hair from Twilight's brow.

"This is the end for you however. I was going to send Princess Celestia your still beating heart but given that I now see your true beauty, I think it will have to be your head. Sleep well, Twilight Sparkle."

The dagger was forced magically into the side of Twilight's throat and pulled forward cutting open the windpipe. Blood sprayed all over Trixie's body and face, its warmth felt quite wonderful. A horrible gurgling emitted from Twilight as the blood poured down her windpipe and into her lungs drowning her. Spike sobbed as he heard the awful sound of the dagger chopping through his big sisters vertebrae separating her head from her body.

The rise and fall of Twilight's chest ceased and Trixie used her magic to lift the severed head. The mane hanging from it still looked quite beautiful, despite all the blood.

"Alright Spike, now I need you to send the Princess a little surprise."

Spike's eyes were firmly shut. This was all too much for a baby dragon to experience. Trixie trotted over to him, the magicked plant still holding him tightly. Twilight's severed head floated eerily behind her.

"That's fine, don't open your eyes then."

Trixie's magicked Twilight's head in front of Spike and had another of the plant's tendrils push its way into his mouth. Spike gagged and tried to bite off the stem but as it tickled the back of his throat he burped up a blast of green fire which consumed the head and teleported it away.

"Wonderful. You really are a great assistant, maybe I can find a role for you. I could be your new big sister."

Spike cried as Trixie gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead and departed, putting on her hat and looking down at Twilight Sparkle's headless torso lying in the middle of the library. As Trixie made her escape from Ponyville, Spike's screams woke up nearby residents who approached the library to investigate.

Mr and Mrs Cake pushed open the library door to be greeted by a macabre sight the likes of which Ponyvillian's had never seen.

The Princess was not awoken by the delivery from Spike that dropped onto the bed beside her. She was dreaming of the first time she had met her prize student. The smell of Twilight's shampoo from the severed head next to her made the dream seem more real.

Princess Celestia's nose was painted crimson as she nuzzled the bloody, lifeless head of Twilight Sparkle while she slept soundly.