Author's Note

And the Yays take it. So here you are folks. Ripe for the picking.

This is it folks. Part One of the season finale. There will be, or course, one more chapter after this and then an epilogue.

Before we go further, and you will likely hear this again. I wanna thank you all for coming on this journey with me. This first Arc has been a wild ride. I have learned much. Much of it in part to all of you in the comment section. I thank you all.

I have still much to learn, but I feel that I can become better, and give you a story that you might just remember a year from now.

As always if you enjoyed this chapter, or even if you hated it, please leave a comment, maybe a like. Or a big ol' poopy can be sent to my inbox.

But thanks for reading.

Peace.

Misconceptions

He had to be dragged. Just like the last time he was accused of a heinous act.

The walls were different. Instead of the white columns, walls and red curtains, there was intricate wood paneling. Stained glass windows depicted landmark court cases. Where the US Flags might have been placed, now was the Equestrian National Flag. The floor was purple and gold. At the center, between prosecution and defense seating, was the sigil of the nation, in high detail.

“Oh dear God, it’s happening again.” Tears slowly snaked down his eyes, the cut on his cheek burned as the salt water leaked into it. He trembled. “It’s happening again.”

They had come for him the next morning, a horn ring and manacles. They had made a show by waking the entire neighborhood at four in the morning making as much noise as possible. Mrs Evergarden just wept and collapsed onto the ground as they pulled him out the foyer door. His last view of her that day was a broken mare. The colts and fillies stared on in a numb shock that he shared with them.

They had thrown him in an open cage sitting on a cart that was strapped between two earth ponies. Both mares. His escorts were all mares as well. Every single one a unicorn. All dressed not in the armor of Her Highness’s Royal Guard. But in the armor of those dedicated to the Church of Sol. A clear sign that he had no support from anyone.

How had it gone so wrong? He had been careful. He had never sensed anyone following him once. What more did they have on him? Did they know what he was capable of? What he could do? He knew there was no way for them to know his original age, or species. But as he wracked his brain he worried more and more that they may have discovered something to allude to his nature, even if they didn’t know what it was they had uncovered yet.

The journey to the castle had been purposely slow. He was being put on display, so that everyone knew his face. His charges were proclaimed loudly at every intersection they had passed. It wasn’t too long before objects began to fly. He wished they were fruit and vegetables. He was lucky he supposed, the well to do of Canterlot couldn’t throw to save their own lives.

Before long, the roar of the crowd began to drown out his own inner turmoil. Or added to it. Condemning him for crimes he never committed. Deja vu was not just a saying today. Over the shouts of traitor from the crowd of ponies, he heard in his mind the shouts of murderer, killer. Monster. The voices of the past could only haunt him.

The sun rose over the horizon, shining down on his back as he sat forward, toward the oncoming gates. A stone flew through the air, between the bars and struck his left cheek ripping it open. It was likely a one in a million shot. He didn’t even notice, and if his captors did notice they cared not a wit for it.

The portcullis cranked upwards, lifted by a pair of mares in the royal guards armor. The sight of that armor brought him no comfort. Standing by the inner gate was Captain Errant Strikes. Her eyes were red and puffy. She looked into his own. The same questions appeared in them as it had many eyes of familiar faces not screaming and jeering in the crowd.

‘Why? Why you? What have you done? Did you really betray Equestria?’

He had no answer for those questions. He couldn’t. To give an answer would be to expose himself for the alien he really was. He feared that even more than this trial, even if only barely. What might they do if they found out he was some accidental invader?

The gate slammed shut, portcullis dropping as well, the noise from both seemed to silence the crowds, or maybe he was trying to ignore the words that seemed to etched themselves onto his very soul. Alongside other words that were spoken so long ago. “Oh Jesus, fuck. It’s happening again.” More tears joined the stained trail going down his face.

They dragged him from the cage, his own hooves no longer able to carry him.

The slam of a staff broke him from his reverie. He looked around vacantly. On both sides of the room sat nobles on alleviated seats surrounded by low banisters. Blueballs was there. As well as Jet Set. Both seated on one side. Each grinning. His mind, betraying his sense of reality, briefly warped them into the devils of his nightmares wrapped in human flesh. He shook his head groggily and peered to the left side, and found Fancy.

He wasn’t smiling. A stone mask had descended on his face. His one time friend had not looked at him once he arrived. Almost afraid to. His jaw locked. His eyes, hard. It looked like he too was crying.

It was then that he noticed they were all standing. He fumbled for a thought before he looked to the stallion on his right. The small lawyer of tan fur and gray-white mane was brushed immaculately. He was wearing the black robes of the defense. His yellow eyes held worry as he gently pulled at his arms. The sight of him jogged his memory.

“Mr Falls? I am Plea Deal.” The stallion stuck his hand through the bars of his cell for a handshake, then he smiled sheepishly and put his hand back to his side to nervously play with the coat he wore.

Orion had been chained to a wall. After all the items he wore on him had been taken away. The night before he had been wise to remove all the enchanted items he wore on himself. Stowing it away in various rooms of the orphanage. It was likely futile, but he wore nothing to this trial that might expose him any further.

The items they had taken were trinkets from his trip into Griffonia. The necklace and bracelet he had purchased at the stalls, along with the beads of ivory he wore in his mane. None enchanted. He didn’t want to make himself even more suspect.

He looked at Plea, wondering why he was here.

“Uh ha haha I’m sorry. I had forgotten how they restrained ponies like you.” He watched as the stallion winced when tracing over his features. The cut on his face had yet to be treated.

“The crowd, uh, sure did a number on you didn’t they.” It sounded like a question, but was delivered as a statement. “Well, I am your court appointed lawyer. I will be defending you and I believe I might be able to reduce the severity of your sentence. I, um. I will be honest with you Mr Falls. I don’t see you getting out of this free and clear.”

He blinked at his lawyer. Getting him out of this with a reduced sentence? Did the guy even look at the charges. This was false bravado at best. They both knew it. He couldn’t even be bothered to give a snarky response.

“Um, right. Well the trial has actually been pushed back several days. So this gives us a chance to mount a decent defense. I can assume you know the charges?” That was a question he only had to nod to. Treason, in all honesty that was bullshit. He did not operate in a military capacity for the nation. He was a private citizen. Though this was horseland, they may just have a law somewhere buried to include a citizen of being guilty as any soldier.

The one that would be damning, was Espionage. The fact that he might have stolen secrets from the nation and given to another nation for monetary gain, was for all intents and purposes, the most probable way of screwing him over.

“Now I’m afraid under the current law, Article nine does unfortunately apply to you. Because of your close connection to the Princess, your actions are being considered as a direct betrayal of her Highness.” Well that answers that. He would be charged despite being a citizen. “Because of this reasoning, she is being barred by law, Article Eleven.” That law pertained that any pony with close ties or a victim of the crime were to sit in only as a witness and nothing more. Meaning she can’t just throw the case out.

“I know it would have been a boon to our defense if she wasn’t blocked. It is odd though, Article Eleven had only ever meant to block families from lying on behalf of the defendant. But in February this month, parliament had voted to alter this law.” Orion wanted to laugh, this had been set up long in advance. If anyone stopped to think about it they would realize it, wouldn’t they?

He reflected on that question, and it slowly dawned on him that they couldn’t. He could see it because whoever had pulled all that evidence together, which was likely not all the evidence, they had been biding their time and playing the long game. How long had they been watching him? Why had they even bothered?

“Espionage will unfortunately be harder to reduce. You did after all give the secret of mining and forging steel to the Griffons. But I am hoping to play that off to your naivety in trusting them to use that knowledge to save their people.” He shuffled his papers. “There are also charges of slander against royalty. More specifically the Princess herself.” He looked at Orion incredulously. “Though those were pre-forgiven at the time and will likely be used to smear your character, rather than be any real obstacle. But with your help, and the rumors I have heard, I believe we can circumvent those to just be the nature of your personality growing up on the streets. We can play to the court’s heart in understanding that you are just that way.”

Now Orion really did want to laugh. “Play to the court’s heart? Buddy, that's the biggest joke in the world. Courts don't have hearts. They are machines bought and paid for.”

He didn’t voice his opinion.

Plea Deal stared at him for a moment, likely waiting for something. “Right, please write down any witnesses, I see they gave you enough chain to write, here you go.” With a resigned sigh he started to write, and stopped. If he were to go for any witnesses, this farce of a trial will likely only pull others into trouble.

“I will not drag anyone else into this. Mr Deal, I’m sure you can read the signs. This is over from the moment they served me those papers. You are just a fancy horse in a suit. Don’t play dumb either, you know it as well as I.”

Plea Deal gulped audibly as he packed his things.

With little prompting, he rose from his seat not bothering to look who was coming in, they would soon reach his vision anyway. Words were spoken, but he barely registered them.

The bailiff was first, a large mare dressed in thick plate and cloth of the royal guard. The helmet hid all but her eyes, giving no discernible idea of who she was other than a white horn. Next to arrive with more words he barely understood, was the judicator.

Judge Gavel Hammer, did not look like his name sake. If oil was a pony it would be him. Tall and thin, his brown mane and mustache were done in what Orion would call a snake oil salesman style. His tan fur seemed to share the same sheen today. The stallion smiled as he walked down the aisle in front of him, giving a wink to the right side of parliament.

He was forced to bow by the guard at his own right shoulder when the announcement of royalty had been made. His head down, he didn’t even bother to look up as he watched three sets of hooves march by. Two he recognized, Twilight’s and Celestia’s. The third was new.

Wrapped in soft white with purple flower patterns on the cuffs around the cannons, the legs gracefully stepped one in front of the other, the shoes were golden.

Once passed, a gavel was banged twice, and he was promptly forced back into his seat. The owner of the third set of hooves was revealed, and despite it all he blinked. He had heard there was an actual second alicorn, but he had not believed it.

There, sitting in what could be best described as a theater box, sat Princess Celestia, decked out in gold and black, more black than anything else, and stiff faced. The normal mask she wore was gone in favor of the grim one she now wore. Next to her was Twilight Sparkle, she was in her school uniform of all things. She had been crying, heavily.

On the High Princess’s left, was a soft pink alicorn, her mane done in ringlets and of three colors, soft yellow, pink, and purple. Her dress was white and conservatibve, but did little to muffle the air of pure lust that seemed to surround her. She was voluptuous. She was sex. Even with that frown she was still incredibly stunning. The mare was beyond gorgeous and made Celestia almost look like a peasant in pretty robes. That might have been because she was glaring more than anything else.

Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.

He didn’t get a chance to dwell on her for long. He had only a chance to lock eyes with both princesses before opening arguments were to commence. At this point he wanted it to just be over, and yet in his heart, he knew he wanted to scream.

“Please, let me wake up!”

“He is terrified. Resolute but absolutely terrified nevertheless.” That was the first time Cadence had spoken since the three had walked in. Her eyes had not left Orion. Not once. The nearly thousand year old reclusive princess had gripped her skirts hard the moment she had laid eyes on him.

Celestia didn’t know how to respond. When she had been informed of what he had apparently been doing outside her own observations, she had denied them. Then came the evidence. She could never have imagined he could be that clever. Or that sneaky. Now, now she was angered. Both at him and herself for being so easy to be lulled into believing him nothing but an innocent colt lost in the world.

Oh she knew some of what the prosecution were going to declare today was likely untrue, but the concrete evidence of him giving away technology and methods of extracting ore, even helping an unaligned country was all too real. She gripped her own skirts.

She wanted to march over there and yank him up by his neck and demand he spill everything. To tear into his mind and find the truth of who he is. But she restrained herself. She only hoped that it was merely him wanting to save lives that prompted his betrayal. She may somehow be able to still intervene.

“I would imagine so Cadence, he is going on trial for very grievous crimes after all.” She would be shocked if he wasn’t terrified. He had been caught. Her only question was how he had learned so much.

It had made no sense, he had never been near the nation owned forges that she could tell. She paused, her head coming up sharply. He had been once reported to have visited Master Forager sometime in his first year in the city. Could he have somehow learned of it then? Cadence pulled her from her thoughts.

“No auntie. This is deeper. Much deeper. I feel, I feel like this isn’t his first time in this situation, but that cannot be right. He is still so young. I don’t understand where this terror comes from.”

Deeper? Experienced this before? She thought briefly.

“Likely when he was a colt on the streets of Stalliongrad. If I remember correctly he was almost raped on more than one occasion.” Twilight whimpered at this. Tears slowly leaking down her face. She couldn’t blame the poor filly, this was one of the very few friends she had after all.

“It could be, but I just can’t place it. All I know is it's a very old fear. The poor thing.”

Poor thing indeed. She would wait, and see how this played out. She may still be able to do something once it was all over. But she would have at least one answer before the day was out. No more deflections from him.

“Before you sits a young stallion, well my good stallions and gentlemares. Do not be fooled. Today I will prove that this seemingly innocent ‘Hero Colt’, is nothing more than a long term plant by the kingdom of Griffonia! An incredible act of long range thinking from those birds above to infiltrate and steal our technology, our practices, or very way of life and he just handed it over to those filthy creatures.” He turned and grinned at Orion. “And to be paid quite handsomely too on top of it.”

He could only stare in shock. Knowing what evidence that they had was one thing, but understanding how it would be spun was a completely different beast all together. How in the hell did they figure he was some mole?

“By the end. Once the overwhelmingly large evidence is placed before you, I am confident we will have a conviction, and once done, we can turn our attention to the ones who perpetrated this conspiracy against us. I trust in the wisdom of the court, and the future decisions of the Princess, long may she rule.”

Class Action finished his opening statement with a flourish and a bow, to the sound of clapping from the right hand seats of parliament and the crowd behind them. They were standing for this prick.

“Thank you Mr Action. The floor is now open to Mr Deal.” Plea Deal rose from his seat next to Orion, his shoulder bumping into Class’s, he heard a ‘good luck' and saw the smirk on the prosecutor's face.

“Thank you, your honor.” Adjusting his robes he turned to face the crowd more than the nobles themselves. “Stallion’s and gentlemares. Today I hope to prove that my client, Orion Falls, is not some crafty infiltrator. But a kind soul, one who worked hard to save a species not his own for no other reason than to do what was right.” Orion inwardly cringed. Already this was a very bad start. “Orion Falls is not some hardened agent of a supposed enemy, but of a compassionate soul who has always put the needs of others before his own.”

Spinning he turned to the judge. “My hope is you will see through the fabrications of a devious and evil plot, and see the young stallion with a ponitarian heart. Thank you.”

Short and sweet, and likely pointless. He had received no standing ovation. If this guy could pull off a miracle, he better be manufacturing it now. His mouth was dry again. It had been so since it was announced his trial was today.

“When building this case, we at first had a distinct lack of evidence. Orion Falls had been very clever, even in his early years, to cover his tracks. But in so doing he had made his first mistake.”

Orion perked up, there was more evidence? Equestrian law didn’t have a rule that said that all evidence must be presented before any trial. Which seemed a severe oversight in his book. It was easy to abuse the added evidence. Without time for the defense to study and come to their own conclusions, there was nearly no way to refute it, thus they couldn’t couldn’t mount a proper defense. The first stirrings of anger flooded his veins.

A cart was wheeled in that was covered with a purple cloth. The nobles leaned forward to see what exactly it was. With a flourish Class Action ripped the cloth away, and Orion’s heart sank. “How in the fuck had they found that?”

On the cart was the suit he wore when he was pushed through the portal that had brought him to this crazy magical world. Lying next to that were the recording gadgets that had been strapped to the suit. None of it looked like it had decayed, not a bit. Though dirty from being buried was in evidence.

“When setting out in our investigation, we first question the ponies where he was first sighted. As we dug deeper, we discovered he had come from the woods to the northeast of the city of Stalliongrad. It had been late evening. He had wandered in naked.” The crowd murmured some chuckling. “We scoured that forest and nearly missed this strange cloth. It had been buried with those mysterious devices you see lying next to it in a glade next to a small river. Our examination has shown that the burial of this equipment happened some eleven years ago. Coincidentally right around the time of his first recorded presence.”

“What are you implying Mr Action!?” The call had come from the right, but there was no telling which noble had said it, only the feminine touch of the voice.

“Ah, I am implying that somehow, the Griffons had gotten hold of an ancient piece of enchanted technology. The magic has long since been dead on the device itself, but the remenant warping of magic in the glade it was found in still left a scar on the very essence of ambient magic. We can only theorize at this point, that Orion Falls is not actually a pony at all. But a warped abomination of a griffon to take on pony form. He gained the benefit of being a unicorn during that time. Much as it shames us to admit that is even possible.”

The crowd behind them laughed. To them it was preposterous. Magic cannot do that. Celestia was not laughing, she stared hard at Orion. Eyes seeking answers from his own surprised ones. He wasn’t even going to mouth the words of ‘I have no idea’. He just shook his head and had a bewildered look on his face.

“Mr Action, as entertaining as that idea is, a griffon being able to use pony magic, I’m afraid I will have to dismiss that suggestion unless you think you can prove it.” Say what you will about Oily McFuckstick, but he was doing his job. That didn’t last long.

“I believe I can.” The prosecution stated rather confidently. “When Orion was taken in by the Foal Protections services, and before being placed in Manehattan’s Orphanage, he had been subjected to a battery of tests. In those tests was a surprise.” He turned to face him. “Mr Falls, would you kindly bare your teeth for the court?”

“Aw shit.” He couldn’t refuse, not with the one guard that sat next to him breathing down his neck. Reluctantly he stood up and showed his teeth, baring them to the judge. The nobles, and even the crowd of ponies behind them.

“As you can see your Honor. Mr Falls has the typical pony teeth, but he has the edition of canines. Nowhere in ponykind’s genealogy will you find sharp teeth as a genetic trait.” He sat back down glaring daggers at the lawyer. He had pulled this nonsense out his asshole for sure. The fact that he looked like he believed it was concerning. The fact that the judge was taking this more seriously was even more concerning.

“What's more, Mr Fall’s bloodwork came back with an oddity. You see your Honor, as a species, we can indeed interbreed with many other races. But in his case, while there is unicorn blood though heavily diluted, and an unknown element is present. As if the blood was scrambled on purpose to hide what he is. We believe that to fool us and hide his origins, the device he wore warped his blood in a way that would not be traceable.”

“You believe, that this suit has, or at least had, the ability to alter a creature's form to match the target creature in such a way as to hide that species' original origins?” He was no longer looking skeptical. The hush that had fallen over the room meant the crowd and nobles were also considering the ramifications.

“If I may interrupt, why was I not informed of this when it was found?” Celestia’s voice rang out in the quiet air. It was hard and angry as hell.

“I’m afraid, your Highness, that you may not ask your own questions at this time.” She glared daggers at Gavel. He swallowed. “However, I would also like to know why this wasn’t brought forth the moment it had been discovered as well.”

“Ah, well as to that we only recently started building this case against Mr Falls, once we had been alerted to some alarming information. Until a month ago, this information wasn’t even available to me either. I would have to ask you to make that request of the investigation team. Unfortunately none of which are here in the city.” Convenient.

“Very well. My office will make a formal inquiry at a later date. Proceed.”

That was it? Nothing further? He could tell that he wasn’t the only one pissed off. Celestia was staring daggers at the both of them. Though Class Action affected not to even notice. Fucking bold as hell power move.

“Thank you, your Honor. Now as I was saying, we do believe this suit somehow hid his true nature in a rather permanent fashion, the how is what we hope to learn. The last bit of evidence is his diet. Mr Falls requires meat in order to remain active and healthy. Much like a griffon, he is an omnivore, and has proven to prefer meat over vegetables and fruits.” He smiled pleasantly, as if this was a walk in the park.

“Do you have proof?”

“Yes your Honor, right here.” He handed a stack of papers to the judge, and he lightly glanced through it to the highlighted documents.

“Ah I see. Yes very good thank you Mr Class. If you have more, you may proceed.”

“Thank you sir and I most certainly do.” Adjusting his robe he looked to the nobles once again. “Now for a very long time, Mr Falls had made no waves. Nothing indicated his duplicitous nature. Other than the occasional brawl with other colts his age.”

Orion had been wondering why his defense hadn’t objected even once to any of the farfetched ideas being spouted about him. One look told him all he needed to know. Plea Deal had never thought that this kind of argument could be constructed, his gaping mouth and bulging eyes was a very clear indication. He leaned over and whispered into the stallion’s ear.

“Say, how long have you been a lawyer anyway?” He asked quietly, drawing a glare from his shackle holder.

“Wh-, oh I graduated in May from Vanhoover. This is my second case. Why?” He looked back innocently.

Orion’s eyes went wide. “No reason. Just that I am fucked.” He was then silenced by Attila the Cunt. Oh he was so fucked. The more he realized it, the more angry he got. He was still terrified, but of the war of emotions, fear was beginning to quickly lose ground.

He tuned back into the prosecution. “It wasn’t until his fourteenth year that another event would occur. The Ponyville Timberwolf incident.” Well, that was to be expected.

“We will adjourn for two hours. I expect that you will be ready with your arguments by then Mr Deal.”

“Oh, um yes your honor.” He nervously replied.

It had been a disaster. After laying out the ‘evidence’, which included the events in griffon stone and Prance, as well the day he threw Golden Trot into his father, Blueblood.

The evidence itself was damning. In Griffonia they hadn’t gotten everything. But plenty of still images of him pointing out how to set up the forges. The deal brokered with the Iron dogs. He was surprised they didn’t somehow get the incident just outside their den.

Even parts of his visit to Neighbon had somehow been documented. They had also discovered that Bloodbeak was having a tax of sorts on all goods and services going out of Avery being put aside to pay him for his help, which had been a hell of a surprise for him.

It was much worse in Prance. They got nearly everything, some of it on recording crystals. They had been especially interested in his book selection in the library.

That had gotten a glare directed at him from Celestia herself. It seemed to have startled both mares sitting in the box with her.

The fight was recorded live, and someone in the school group was the one to record all of it.

The record had finished playing, and the lights illuminated once more.

“As you can see your Honor, stallion’s and gentlemares. Mr Fall’s fought as a veteran of many battles. You don’t learn that from fighting a few timberwolves. This is a creature who has clearly seen combat on more than one occasion.” At this point Orion kicked the shit out of his defense.

“Raise an objection, you moron. I was not the only one to fight, the recording clearly showed Fancy killing more than his fair share.” He whispered fiercely. He shouldn’t have bothered.

Fancy stood in his place and called out. “I too was at the fight in the dining hall Mr Action. Orion did not stand alone in that battle. I regrettably had to end the lives of eight souls myself. I may also remind the court that Mr Falls regularly attended combat classes at Iron Will’s Gymnasium. It is clear where his knowledge of fighting came from. And a final note, reports indicate that while he did win his battle with the timberwolves, he was laid up in the hospital for almost a solid week from his injuries.”

He wanted to hug his still friend. He had not abandoned him. He only wished he had begun his studies in law, rather than management.

Class Action had stopped regarding Orion as a stallion after the first hour. Nice way of deponizing him. Make him seem an other. A similar tactic had been used in his last trail to paint him as an enemy agent. Or at least imply.

Fancy’s comments only got a grunt from him. But judge Gavel once again showed that he might actually be a real judge, though Orion was slowly beginning to see evidence that this trial was little more than a show.

“That is very true Lord Pants. I will make a note of that, thank you.” Translated to shut the hell up.

It hadn’t improved when the witnesses came forth.

There was no testimonies from any griffons from the events in Griffonia. No pony court would have listened to them even if they condemned him. But Golden Trot was surprisingly generous in not slandering the hell out of him.

“Orion Falls is not a pony you fight. He was a monster. I will admit, I wanted to prove his superior that day I provoked him. But his response was far out of line. He sent me and my friends, as well as my beloved father, to the hospital. I had suffered to broken legs when he used me as some sort of flail!”

That actually made him smile, and the crowd outright laughed, much to the young noble on the witness stand. His white fur did little to hide the massive blush of outrage as well to do and commoners alike, laughed at him.

Surprisingly they didn’t have any witnesses from Ponyville. Other than news articles, the people of that town had seemed to practically chase the investigators out.

“In your own words, describe Mr Falls behavior when he was in your classes.” The witness was none other than Belle Cherie. The glare she was giving said much as to her disposition.

“Oui, I will try to speak clearly. So I need not speak again.” Well that's a first. “Mr Falls was extremely aggressive in his actions against students, and the faculty. Even myself, interrupting me as I was attempting to offer an arrangement of herding to Mr Pants.” She glanced his way with a smile, all she got was a look of revulsion. She grimaced. “I suspect he may be responsible for my mother being missing as well.”

Gasps rang out, and Celestia, oddly, clutched at her seat. A look of anger in her eyes.

There were more, some of the librarians from the library he had gone to, to a grendamare that had been allowed to testify that had been present. None of it was good, they all spoke to his seeming shiftiness and attitude.

Plea Deal’s attempt to cross-examine was so comical that Orion wanted to cry. No way in hell was getting a reduced sentence of whatever it was. And the more the poor stallion spoke, the more nervous he got, by the time the recess had happened he was shaking.

He was thrown into a holding cell next to the courtroom and given an suspect looking slop to consume while he waited for his public lynching to continue. It was then that he finally got a visitor. He wished he hadn’t.

Celestia had walked calmly in, to the protest of the guards of whom she merely glared at till they dismissed themselves in haste. She stared at him through the bars as he slowly consumed his gray diarrhea.

“You have hidden much Orion.” He blinked, how the hell had she gotten into the cell without teleporting. Her hand wrapped around his throat. He was beginning to wonder if she was getting bigger when she spoke again. “Do you know anything about that suit? If you know of it and how it is made I can save your life. But as it stands now, it looks like either death or a life sentence in the custody of the Church. They are actually petitioning for your custody to be placed with them surprisingly. I think they want to know as much as I how you were able to do what you did.”

He said nothing. What could he tell her? That he was an alien? That the suit was a fiber-mesh designed to turn away sharp objects and repel high velocity impacts? That the equipment attached was just recording equipment? He couldn’t. To tell her that would be worse than death. She Would make him a vegetable to find out all he knew.

“Answer me Orion.” Her eyes bored into his own, the magenta color slowly being taken over by a darker gold color. He remained silent. Even after she had hoisted him up and slammed him into the wall, he had remained silent.

“Fine, then give me at least one answer. Are you a spy for the griffons?” That, he could answer.

“Fuck no.” He choked out. “Before I arrived they couldn’t even preserve food properly.” She cocked her head, and that was when he noticed a spell was in force.

She dropped him after a deep stare into his eyes. “I believe you, and the spell proves that you at least spoke truth in that. Are you really a griffon?” He looked at her like she was stupid.

“Fuck. No.” She nodded again satisfied with her two answers.

“They won’t call you to the stand for testimony. They don’t want you to speak to your own defense. But once this is done, the Church may think they will get you, but I will be getting my answers from you before them. Rest assured. You have betrayed my trust. I do not know how you learned about the secrets of our metallurgy, though I have my suspicions, but I had been wondering why the bucking birds had figured out how we crafted our own steel. You will be telling me everything. That I promise you.” With that she swept through the bars as if they were not there and out the door. A guard peeked her head in to see if he was still alive.

He had never heard her swear before. It would have been hilarious if not for the threat implied.

He did not get a replacement for the bowl that was split in his one sided tussle with the Princess. “I really could have used those calories.”

Say what you will about medieval court systems, they did not drag on like the US.

He had been escorted back into court just before two hours was up. The usual happened, standing for the nobles arrival, and the judges as well and both Princess and a now openly sobbing Twilight. She didn’t once look at him.

But there was one exception. One very, very very very, crucial exception. His lawyer seemed to have misplaced himself. It was an hour before they finally found a lead, Plea Deal on his second defense case, had fled Canterlot on a train bound for Vanhoover. What had been a small chance had become a nothing. At that point anger was once again in full control.

“Man I need to take a shit.”

“Well Mr Falls, seeing as how getting another lawyer who would not likely know anything about your case, I am going to have to pronounce judgement, but before I do. Do you have anything you wish to say in your defense?” Gavel had that grin back on his face.

It was over, not that he had much of a chance of winning to begin with. But it was clear, it was truly over. There was really no point. He stood anyway.

“Yes I do Judge Oily McFuckstick.” Shock seemed to grab everyone’s tongue, except for Princess Cadenza. She giggled. Weird chick. “I have watched this trial, if you can even call it that, go on with little regard to truth. Just supposition to my nature and false claims of my ‘duplicitous nature’. Nothing really concrete. Had it never occurred to you fuckle-sticks that I may have actually figured out on my own how to forge steel? Had it never occurred to you to help your neighbors to the north? Kids were dying every fucking day. And you monsters allowed it to happen.”

He took a deep breath, “Let's bring up the so-called evidence of the suit. How do you propose it is tied to me? My God, just because it was in some fuckin’ forest in a city I was living in is not concrete evidence it was ever mine. That is some mental gymnastics if I ever saw them.” He was careful not to deny it outright. Celestia was watching like a hawk.

“Now lets address my, ugh, adventures. There are bullies in every school. Nothing special. I agree, I went very far with what I had done to Golden and his friends. But in my defense, they were beating the hell out of me until they lost focus. I was angry. And fourteen. Cut me some slack.”

“In Ponyville, I was serving out a punishment from the Princess for my actions at the school. I was surprised to find friends there. So when I went back for Hearth’s Warming and found that the family I had grown close to had lost their parents. I, kinda fucking lost it. If i had been in control of myself, I would not have come back so banged up. I paid for that in the hospital.” So far he had told the truth, a version of it.

“When it came to Griffonia. I had heard about the mass starvation. I also learned the cause. Before three hundred years ago, Equestria was providing a service of crystals being used to preserve food. After the arguably brief war, the nation denied that service to the griffons.” He licked his lips. “The resulting economic collapse happened slowly, but still happened. They couldn’t preserve their food long enough for shipment around the country. They had no way of moving goods quickly because you also shut down most of the train system that you ran. They ended up with one rail line. You starved them.” He glared at Celestia, and she had the graces to actually look ashamed for once.

“Prance, fuck you you guys were aggressive assholes from day one. When I bitch smacked your ass for harassing Fancy, you deserved it. And how in the bloody hell am I responsible for your missing mother?!” Belle Cherie paled. “I was being detained by the friggin’ Prench guard at the time of her disappears you neanderthal.” He was on a roll. He caught Fancy slightly smiling in the corner of his eye.

He looked around the room. “All I have ever done, is save lives. Sometimes at cost to myself. I asked for nothing. Desired nothing. I worked my ass off for the money I had. I pulled jobs all year round to pay for things I wanted.” He spun to glare at Gavel. “I saved up to help the people, not the freakin’ government of Griffonia. Those people did not deserve to suffer because our two nations could not get along.”

He glared at the lawyer, who was smiling smugly. “ It's really easy to sit there and think you won when you made up a bullshit lie that everyone here bought long ago with the cash the Church fed you all.” That made him frown. “Because as I looked around this room, I noticed something during the trial. You must think I am dumb. At least the commoners in the room. A vast majority of you fucks are wearing crosses of the Church on your collars, or as necklaces. You’re not clever. You’re stupid. It’s easy to see how this was going to go when you were already bought.” He grinned maliciously at McFuckstick.

“Even you Senior Fuckhead. I knew where this was going the moment I paid attention. The only question I have is why? Why frame a sixteen year old colt for something so outrageous. Please by all means. Tell us all why you think it’s cool and hip. Because for real, with all the anti-griffon rhetoric, it's easy to tell you and all the cronies are attempting to drum up enthusiasm for warmongering. The fucks up north were starving, they are not keen for a fight. Don’t get someone’s kid here killed because you want to drive home some supposed superiority over others.”

He was starting to ramble, and he knew it. The rest seemed to not have caught on however, as they were all still gaping from his profanity laced tirade. Time to wrap it up.

“I’m guilty of only one thing. Being brave enough to do the right thing. So let's get this bullshit over with, I’m tired, and thanks to a certain someone who will not be named I didn’t even get to eat my lunch. So I’m hungry to. And likely not to get shit when I get to wherever you shits have planned for me to go. Oh and by the way fuck heads, I ain’t no goddamn griffon. Fuckin’ morons.”

He sat back down and glared. Celestia was angry and blushing, so at least he scored a hit there. Cadenza was staring in mild awe and amusement. Sure glad he could give the pornstar a show. Twilight was smiling a little. At least she would remember him as he usually was. Contentious.

It took a moment for everyone to get over their own shock.

“Um, well. I, uh.” Shaking his head, Gavel gripped his gavel tighter. “I will now lay out the verdict. Mr Falls. Stand.” And he chose to ignore his speech. Figures.

“Make me.” All that got him was to be hoisted up by his pits from the guard behind him. He didn’t even attempt to put any weight on his hooves. Make the bitch work for it.

“Mr Falls, it is by mine, and the court's power, that I find you guilty of all charges.” Wow, not even a one got knocked off. Surprise surprise. He slammed the gavel. “Furthermore I will go ahead and pronounce sentence, since you wish to get it over with.”

He stood and pointed the end of his hammer at him. “I hereby place you into the custody of the Church of Sol. Since it was their efforts that have brought you to justice. It is they who will decide your fate. As it stands, I would imagine they have a great many questions about those ancient enchantments in that suit. With that. I pronounce this case closed.”

The gavel slammed down.

Celestia angrily paced her room, her hands squeezing only air. She had yet to learn where they had moved him, all she knew was that he was still in the capital.

She grabbed and threw her mirror in a rage, flames seething around her. She could not even do anything! Had she known what they were planning back in February, she would have shut this whole farce down the moment it started. Instead she was left in the dark. So many things had happened without her knowledge or consent. It was a slap in her face.

Her own agents had not even known about this. Though she could not be too angry at them. She had been too busy looking for trouble coming into her nation and not expected this trouble, not this upstart cult attempting to subvert her authority.

The bed swiftly followed the mirror, blackened by fire. How could she not have known!

Then there was him, exposing a closely held secret. The cutting off of resources to Griffonia for the affront of attacking them during estrus. At the time she was right in her decision. She still believed it so. But she had been convinced it was time to stop wasting time and effort in keeping that nation fed. They had never signed no formal agreements, thus were not eligible for support.

The public had been kept in the dark. No official announcement had been pronounced. She had made it seem they were in complete humiliation that their army was beaten not with force, but lust. Now that bit of truth was out in the open.

Her opinion of Orion Falls had been severely damaged today. Her trust broken, her respect for him tarnished. He was going to answer for that.

Twilight had left the castle the moment the sentence was pronounced. She had wandered the park for a time, remembering the moments she had with him as she dragged him to read under a tree, or get coffee from Donut Joes. She couldn’t even cry. Her heart was vacant. She would never see him again.

That thought was too much for the young mare.

Unable to even be in that place of memories, she fled home. To her mother and father. Where she told them of what happened, how poorly the trial had gone for him. On his sentencing. Both mother and daughter wept, as Night Light stared out the window into the street in shock.

He would never have thought that colt to be some type of spy.

He ignored her when she had entered the cell. It had been four hours since he was sentenced. Four hours in which he had been stripped naked, hosed down, and denied food.

He was suspended by another set of chains, ones that held him in the center of the cage. His hooves just barely touched the stone floor. He had not seen where they had taken him, only that he was not under ground.

She sighed in exasperation. “You are just as stubborn as you always were. More mouthy than I remember too. I am surprised Her Highness allowed that little speech.” Backwater was frowning. Obviously she had been hoping to see him rage at her. Lifting away from the cage of which she leaned against she strode forward, placing a hand on his chest. “I must admit, despite your plain colors, you really filled in the costume you donned all those years ago. I’m even more impressed that you bird brains figured out how to use that enchanted gear.”

He couldn’t help himself, she really believed it. All of that nonsense. He laughed, a strained almost manic sound. “You honestly believe that nonsense. Hahaha oh god you fucks are so stup-” He wheezed and doubled in on himself, increasing the pressure on his wrists as the shackles dug in, his hooves rising jerkily from the floor as he labored to breathe.

Backwater’s horn ceased its glow after a moment. “Do not attempt to fool me colt. I am not as ignorant as you may think. The suit is far more sophisticated than anything we have seen. While we cannot determine its age yet, we are confident it's at least two or three thousand years old. It is a shame about the other objects that seemed to have once been attached to it. Other than the strange internal strings of wires and glass, we can’t understand it's true function. But you will tell us what it did to you. In detail.” She finished with a flick to his muzzle.

They really did believe it. He just stared in awe at the sheer idiocy she was displaying, as if she knew all of life’s little answers. If anything he had to give her props for her bravado. But she also scared him.

Backwater was known to be willing to go to extreme machinations to get the results she desired. If she believes in this narrative so profusely, then he would crack. One way or another he would end up spilling all that he knew. He had to get out of there, and soon.

“Now, this is no place to begin any kind of little Q&A session, so get some rest. I suggest you really consider the cost of holding out information, but please, don’t be too eager.” She smiled and walked out the gate. “Feed it at eleven.” She looked back at him. “Maybe give it some water. Your relief will come at one. Oh and put something over his head, I don’t want to look at that mockery of a unicorn.” The guard mare just grinned and nodded.

Seconds later a thick cloth sack was violently wrapped around his head,and a punch was delivered to his stomach once again nearly doubling him over. He was in for a long night.

His arms burned. It had to have been close to six hours by now. He couldn’t really tell since they covered his head. The clang of bars alerted him to a visitor.

The sack cloth was ripped from his head and he was presented with a bowl of the same gray mush. He didn’t even hesitate, greedily gulping it down. The mare didn’t bother to comment. Didn’t even smile. Once done she placed the bowl on the floor and went to grab the water.

He didn’t wait. The moment she had ducked down his legs rose up and wrapped themselves around her neck, knocking the helmet off. She of course fought back, or tried to. Using the chains that held him up, he changed his position every time she went for her weapon, him, or tried to pull away. Keeping her from striking against him, or getting away. He constricted his legs tighter each time, slowly cutting off her ability to draw breath.

It took far longer than he had hoped for, but eventually, her struggles ceased, and she stopped fighting to become dead weight. He held on for twenty more seconds. And finally, chanced letting her go.

She dropped like a stone. Now he was concerned if he actually killed her.

“Well step one done. Now for step two.”

Step two made him forget all about the burning pain in his arms that had quadrupled in the struggle. If anyone was in the hall he was screwed. The hollow boom echoed and he groaned in pain. It was like a thousand needles were pushed into his brain all at once. Each injecting a new type of poison.

This hurt way worse than normal. He could only think it was the fact that he had done it without any assistance to increase his magic, so he bore the whole load of effort on himself.

The pain didn’t stop him, embracing his magic was agony but he levitated the keys off her waist, and slowly unlocked the right shackle. Once free he caught the keys in his now free hand and struggled mightily to unlock the other, his arm sluggish to move and difficult to lift.

Finally he was free. It was time for step three and four. Three was going to be gross. He dug into his ass until he managed to snag the ring he had shoved deep into there. It was not pleasant going in or coming out. He drank his fill of water before he began to wash the ring and his left hand with a combination straw and water. Once clean, he stuck it on the middle finger of his right hand and embraced his magic again, now with a greater pool, to begin healing himself. He really should figure out healing magic.

While he was recovering from aches and pains, he stripped the guard, stole a lock of her mane. Confirming she was still alive, a thought that he might have killed her nearly made him vomit, he shoved her into a hay pile at the back of the cell. Donning her gear he was happy to see that she kept her gear clean. Step four done. Now step five. Get the fuck out of there.

They had actually taken him into the sewers. Luck had finally given him a win. Better yet, he knew the area in which they had stashed him. He quickly, and quietly, avoided patrols as he worked his way back toward the orphanage, though it was not his first destination. He passed through a wall that had seemed solid, into the very room he had set up after Icy Rose had started showing far too much interest in his activities.

He packed quickly and kept the armor, though he did first shed it to throw on clothes that actually fit him. Once he had gathered up his things, he turned to what was likely his only salvation.

He had thought long and hard about what Professor Coil had said as he waited for eleven. He picked up the necklace, and placed it on the worn table in the room. Redrawing the runes after filling them in, he grabbed at the, to him, dangerous threads of magic that he had avoided for the most part and forced them with few alterations to the flow. As the dark magic began to resonate with the black opal at the center of magic, sweat started to pour from his body. This was hard as hell.

He almost broke the fucking thing. One moment, it was fighting him tooth and nail, the next moment it slipped in like it was made to fit, and he nearly over compensated. But it had worked. Or at least he hoped. He was hesitant to find out. But at this point he could not be seen.

He pulled the lock of mane he stole from the guard who fell victim to him earlier. Before he lost his nerve he wrapped the mane around the opal and tied it off, and slung it around his neck.

The pain was instantaneous. He could hear his bones crack as they shifted and shrunk. His fur and skin felt like they were on fire. He threw up everywhere. He regretted everything and then as he began to feel heavy and lite all at the same time.

He regretted everything. And he felt really weird in his nethers.

He was startled awake when a gong sounded, destroying his peace. No it wasn’t a gong, it was a bell. And more than one. His head hurt.

“Oh Jesus Christ knock it off….the fuck?” His voice was higher pitched. Soft and feminine. His chest felt, heavier. “Oh no.” He looked into the only piece of vanity he had allowed himself down in his sewer retreat. What stared back at him nearly had him passing out again. He looked exactly like his guard. He was a fucking mare.

“Oh fuck me running with a rooster. I am a god damn chick!” Further exploration did indeed point to the fact that he was now a female pony. Pussy and all. He had to stop and think. The book never said anything about altering his genetics! Was it permanent?! A quick read through said book eased his fears a little. The moment he woke is when his twenty minute countdown had begun. He couldn’t waste time. He would worry after he got away.

Tracing the steps back to the orphanage itself he lifted the grate behind the building and peered out. Guards were everywhere, he was lucky he kept the armor that he stole. Waiting for the moment when no one was looking, he slipped out and hid in the hedge till he was sure no one had spotted him.

“He’s not here!” Oh shit they were already looking for him.

There was incomprehensible yelling as the rather massive force bolted for the streets, spreading out. He chose that time to slip out and make his way for the back entrance. Checking through the windows he slowly eased into the manor. There was crying and sobbing coming from the library. From the sounds it was likely all of the orphans. He could hear Mrs Evergarden among them. He resisted the urge to go comfort them. He couldn’t stay, nor let them know he was there. He went up the servants stairs and headed for his room first. Transferring his books and clothing into the larger rucksack he shouldered the load and then made for his second location, carefully stepping so as not to alert anyone by a creak or squeak.

Inside Icy Rose’s room he found it to be empty. Of everything. No personal effects, nothing. That worried him but as he lifted the board under the bed he found all of the items he had hidden away before he had been dragged off. He pulled the armlets on. The beads, all of it. He was finally feeling a bit more confident about this thrown together plan. A creak from behind him alerted him to someone else in the room. He spun around.

Mrs Evergarden stared at him, tears still in her eyes but she was brandishing a cast iron skillet. “Tho-se, don’t belong to you.” Holy shit was she courageous as fuck.

“I am quite certain they do, Mrs E.” He smiled as her eyes widened in shock. Before she could speak he rushed and put a finger over her lips. “Shhh, I don’t have a lot of time. Yes its me, and yes I am getting the fuck out of here. No, I will not tell you how I did this. Just please, pretend you didn’t see me.” He quickly shoved a letter into her hands, a letter he had written the day he was served. “Read it later. But please. Go back downstairs and try and forget that I was here.”

She nodded, and they hugged each other before he shoo’d her down the stairs. He went back the way he had come.

“Would somepony please explain to me what is going on? Are we under attack!?”

“Your Highness!” Errant Strikes came running up to Celestia, nearly colliding into her.

“Captain Strikes, will you please tell me what the Tartarus is going on?!” The gonging had been going on for the better part of four minutes, and no one had bothered to come inform her of the why.

“Begging your forgiveness, your Highness. I would have come sooner but I had to confirm the reports. Orion Falls has escaped from the Church of Sol! They seemed to have no idea where he has gone.”

Celestia stared uncomprehendingly. “Would you repeat that? I am afraid I must be getting old, did you say Orion has managed to escape his imprisonment?!”

“Yes, my Princess. He escaped sometime around eleven this evening and has already been missing for more than two hours.” Captain Strikes looked worried.

“He’s been missing two hours, and nopony knows where he might have gone? Was the orphanage checked?” She strode back into her private rooms to get dressed. A smile was threatening to pull at her lips.

“Yes Princess, he is not there. Or at least not since two minutes ago.” So he had not returned to gather anything of his. That was interesting. She donned the garb she wore to the trial this morning, not caring of the accidental show she might have put on for her Captain.

“What else can you tell me?” She idly thought about taking her sword, not for Orion, no. Maybe for the whorse Blackwater. If she got the chance.

“The church guards are in an absolute panic. They have no idea where he may be, and no organization to their ranks. Everypony is just going everywhere. It's a scramble.”

Celestia just smiled, She had a chance to snag him up before the church found him, once she had, she can deny knowing where he was. Who were they to claim she lied. “Come Captain, we are going stallion hunting.” She marched out the door, broadsword comfortably weighted on her hip.

Backwater had been having such an amazing day too. She had finally seen years of effort and investigations finally come to fruition. Only now, the one that started it all had somehow escaped.

He had not gone home. She had received a report that he wasn’t there and had made no attempt to contact the Headmistress. A guard was left behind patrolling the bushes in the rear of the manor.

She had already disemboweled the idiot guard for getting so close to him. Though she too was surprised he had enough strength to strangle her and make his escape. So that might have been a rash action. What chilled her blood were the pieces of stone found scattered about the cell. Null Stone. He had somehow figured out how to break it. Nothing in any of the reports gathered had said anything about that sort of talent. But it had shattered from the inside out.

Wiping her knife off she strode out of the room that had housed him. She was determined to find him at all cost.