Fluttershy clenched her body as she readied her element, right now all she could do was hope. Hope that Celestia would keep her end of the bargain with Martin, hope that the barrier spell wouldn’t work, hope that somehow goodness and kindness and friendship, actual friendship would win. Her body began to levitate along with the ponies she once called friends as rainbow energy began to surround them in a vortex as the crowd of ponies began to roar. From what little see she could see from outside of the hurricane Celestia was staring at them with a manic grin which before this conflict she never thought she would see on the once serene and dignified monarch’s face. It was a grin more hideous than had been plastered on the muzzles of any villain she faced as an element. There was no lust for power, no sick amusement, just pure unadulterated hatred that chilled her bones to the very core.

She glanced at the others, Pinkie was smiling innocently, Rarity, Applejack, and Twilight looked serious but Rainbow, Rainbow had a face like Celestia’s, and that hurt most of all. It was if her very first friend, the one who always stood up for her in flight camp, the mare who went out of her way to befriend griffins and dragons, the mare who always stood up for her on multiple occasions had become a monster. A monster who enjoyed hurting, and killing and doing horrible things so long as those that were being ruthlessly annihilated were ‘bad guys’ in her mind. She hoped that if the old dash, the Dash she remembered fondly saw what she would become she would be horrified. That she’d do everything in her power to avoid ending up like this-this thing! That was wearing her skin... Knowing her she’d probably try and destroy the portal prevent Equestria from ever coming to earth, before going up to Celestia and insulting her to her face. It was funny really, even when Rainbow Dash was her enemy, she was still wishing that another version of Rainbow was there to save her. Yet as she looked around the circle she noticed that she was incapable of looking her former compatriots in the eye, but not for the reasons she would expect.

In fact unlike them she seemed to be going higher and higher, or maybe they were going lower it was all quite hard to tell. All she knew was that right now she was already a good 3 feet above Twilight whose Alicorn ascension had made her the tallest member of the group and it did not seem like she was going to stop. In fact not only was she flying higher and higher but she was getting brighter and brighter as the lights around the other bearers began to dim. It was almost as if she was sucking all of the energy from the rest of them. Something the others were clearly aware of with Rarity now shuffling around in a panic as her hooves once again touched the ground. Meanwhile Rainbow and Twilight were making a futile effort with their wings to raise up but it looked as if they were pinned under an elephant. If this was under a different circumstance and she was the kind of pony who appreciated schadenfreude, she supposed that this would be rather funny as a panting Applejack was forced onto her stomach legs splayed out as if she suddenly gained 200 pounds. “Girls.. w-what’s going on?” Asked Pinkie whose last bit of rainbow energy was being sapped from her and onto the big ball that was surrounding Fluttershy, she was clearly afraid. Twilight grunted as she made another attempt at standing, “I- don’t urgh.. I don’t know Pinkie this hasn’t happened before!”, Twilight had already been drained for several seconds beforehand. In fact from what she could gather Applejack was the first to be drained, then Rainbow then Twilight, then Rarity Pinkie was the last, but there seemed to be another pony who was also contributing to Fluttershy’s orb of power which continued to rise above the stadium. Beneath her, grunting in pain and physically straining to get away was Princess Celestia herself who almost seemed to be leaking a bright yellow and purple magical aura from every orifice.

“THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING!” Screamed Celestia as she continued to thrash trying desperately to get away. Twilight whose head was already anchored to the ground made a feeble turn of her head to find the distressed princess.
“Princess Celestia!?”.

Celestia for her part ignored Twilight’s cry of worry and continued to froth at the mouth in rage at what was going on. “This is not happening! This is not happening! I AM WORTHY! I CONTROL YOU! YOU ARE MINE TO ACTIVATE AND USE FOR THE SAKE OF EQUESTRIA!”. The ball was lowering, Fluttershy eeped as worry that this was Celestia’s doing began to creep in, but it seemed that Celestia was still hemorrhaging magic , making Fluttershy’s potential energy shield even brighter. From what little she could make out below her, everypony in the audience was shocked, some murmuring but most were simply too stunned to speak. The guards were aiming their spears but none dared to make a move against what must have been like a mix between the constitution and an atomic bomb which had suddenly turned against them. Fluttershy felt something new seeping into her as she was finally able to see Celestia’s tear filled eyes, the contempt balanced by fear and only the ghost of arrogance remaining. Then she began to speak but not in her voice, in fact it wasn’t one voice at all.

“THE ELEMENTS OF HARMONY ARE YOURS TO ACTIVATE BUT WHAT THEY DO IS UP TO THEIR OWN DISCRETION.” Said the gruff tone of Starswirl the bearded whose disappointed prismatic visage broke off from Fluttershy like mist leaving her mouth on a cold day. Celestia moved back and stumbled at the sight of her dead mentor now chastising her. “FOR LONGER HAVE PONIES HAVE THEY BEEN IN THIS LAND, AND FOR EVERYCREATURE ELSE THEY ALSO STAND.” Twilight gasped as she heard the deep feminine voice and in a barely audible whisper “Zecora…”. The Zebra joined the wizard glaring down at Celestia who tried to shrink back further, though her look was more disappointed than . Then multiple voices came from her throat, “WHAT ALL OF YOU HAVE DONE TO BOTH YOUR WORLD AND THAT OF MAN WAS AN ATROCITY UNHEARD OF IN HISTORY.” At this point all elements save for Rainbow were gasping in shock as more forms began to shuffle out, little Strong heart with an entire tribe of spectral buffalo, Dragonlord ember who stepped forth in a regal band of flaming red light, Queen Novo and the Hippogriffs, even Gilda who briefly glanced at Fluttershy with a look of guilt before hardening her expression. Fluttershy felt even warmer, as a taste began to form in her mouth, it tasted like, well it was hard to describe but it tasted like a mixture between Cotton Candy and… chocolate milk.

A familiar laugh escaped Fluttershy’s mouth, one she never thought she’d hear again, as her face broke into a huge grin. “Funny Celly, who would thought I of all Draconequii would be saving the world from you.” From Fluttershy’s body issued forth the long snaking form of Discord who unlike the others began to protectively wrap around Fluttershy. He turned to her and made one of his trademark shit eating grins, “Sorry I was late Shutterfly, but you just know how I am with showing up on time.” Fluttershy didn’t know whether she was crying from grief, relief, or joy at the moment as she simply pulled the serpentine chimaera into a tight winghug.

This tender moment was of no interest to Celestia who had clearly been saving up the necessary energy to scream, “UNWORTHY! EVERYTHING I DID I DID FOR MY LITTLE PONIES!” There were a few hushed murmurs of agreement from the members of the audience who were not still too stunned to speak. Once again it was Zecora’s turn to speak, “You made sure ponies would not be lost, but were your actions worth the cost?”.

Rarity, who along with Pinkie had completely stopped any attempt at fighting chimed in, “What… cost? The humans?”. Applejack shot her a glare as if the very idea of them being able to wrong humans was offensive.
The shade of king Thorax spoke, “Yes but every nonpony on Equestria as well, perhaps worse.”
Rainbow was starting to growl, “THAT WAS THE HUMANS YOU UNGRATEFUL BUG! THEY BLEW UP YOUR SHIP”.

Gilda snorted, “No Dumbass! That was ponies. I was on that ship remember?”, Little Strongheart trotted forth besides her, “And isn’t it strange that we only had one ship?”, and finally it was Discord who uncoiled himself from Fluttershy so that he stood only inches from Celestia’s face, “And is anypony here wondering who handled the sun and moon back home while you were out gallavanting around in monkeyland?”

For a minute there was silence then there were gasps, then shouts and then screams. Celestia ever one to take control of the situation stood as tall as she possibly could, “ARE YOU GOING TO BELIEVE HIM? THE ONE WHO SOLD US OUT FOR THOSE BLOODTHIRSTY APES? THE VERY FATHER OF LIES WHO PLUNGED EQUESTRIA INTO AN AGE OF CHAOS?”.

The shouts grew quieter, until once again there was silence. “B-but what if he’s right this time…” The voice was quiet but unmistakably Pinkie’s who hair was by now completely flat. Celestia’s eye twitched in wrath, as she turned over to Pinkie managing to trot a few laborious steps before the energy once again held her still.

“What did you say?” Celestia’s voice was quiet but by no means less angry.

Pinkie did not take her eyes off the floor, “What if he’s right….”.

If looks could kill then Pinkie would most likely be dead six times over. “Pinkamena Diane Pie, stop this foolishness at once.”. Pinkie looked up her eyes now stained with tears, “But-but if he’s right their dead, and we let them die..”.
“PINKAMENA! Are you taking the word of this demon over mine?”

Pinkie continued to ignore Celestia’s outburst, “I-I made Gilda a Pinkie Promise I’d help her bake scones, but if she’s dead then I can’t and if I can’t I-I broke a Pinkie promise…”.

Rainbow Dash was growing agitated at this display, “Pinkie, for the love of Celestia stop, this is just one of Discord’s tricks! Just like his ‘death’. It’s obvious he was planning to do this the whole time!”.

“Darling..”, Said Rarity ever quick to de escalate these scenarios, “Pinkie has a point. If what all these.. creatures are saying is true then… well it is worth too much to discount the possibility.”

Rainbow flexed a wing and let out a bitter sardonic laugh, “As if, do you really think we were actually able to kill him? I mean not even Celestia could stop him without the elements of harmony!” Celestia looked offended as Dash placed her hoof further into her mouth, “I mean if she could beat him, why did it take so long? And why didn’t she beat him the minute he got out a second time.. I mean let’s face it she needs the elements and once Fluttershy left we didn’t have all of em!”.

Twilight for once moved her head from watching Celestia and began to look towards Dash, “Rainbow, I was there, Celestia and I examined him and declared him dead.”

Rainbow Dash groaned, “Twilight everypony makes mistakes, besides do you really think science would work on Disco-.”

“THAT IS ENOUGH I AM NOT EVERYPONY! I DO NOT MAKE MISTAKES!” Now it was time for the royal canterlot.

Dash looked taken aback by this outburst her wings which were once outstretched curled up besides her, “But Princess I’m on your side!”.

Celestia stamped a hoof, “YET YOU MOCK ME!”. With that Rainbow promptly shut herself up.

“Princess, it’s not true is it?” Asked a concerned Twilight Sparkle, though this question did not penetrate through Celestia’s rage, it was almost as if she was avoiding the question entirely.
Discord clapped his hands, “Alright ladies, that’s enough as much as I used to enjoy a good tussle it’s getting rather old.”, an unnamed elderly Griffin spoke, “If vhat you need is evidence then evidence is vhat you are going to get!” As a new burst of light filled the stadium, as sparks seemed to jump into everypony’s eyes but Celestia’s. They began to writhe and scream some even attempting to knock out their eyes with their hooves as visions of horror and desolation filled their eyes. A Griffin father freezing to death as he attempted to scrounge game for his family, Dragon hatcheries growing lifeless from the cold as shadows fell upon them, a Tribe of half dead Buffalo desperately looking for water under the burning heat of a never setting sun, bat ponies in hollow shades committing mass suicide upon learning of Luna’s death. Perhaps worst of all there were images of ESS prison camps in which so called dissidents were starved, beaten and worked to death. Some of whom were barely adults. When the stadium awoke the screaming did not end, some were crying, a few were shouting obscenities at their once beloved leader, a few just curled up into balls and began to cry as the sound of spears and shields dropping to the floor filled the stadium like thunder.

“Is it true..” Asked Twilight in a weak tear stained voice, Celestia shuffled uncomfortably in place.

“My dearest student,”
Twilight interrupted her, “Is it true?”. Celestia remained silent,

“A good teacher would tell her the truth.” Said Starswirl whose shimmering form illuminated Celestia from behind. Celestia remained silent, “Please at this point she isn’t a good anything.” Muttered Discord to no one in particular.

“Is it true?” Twilight’s voice was a little louder.

“Twilight.. I need you to understand.” Twilight was having none of this and continued to repeat her mantra which only grew louder.

“IS IT TRUE?!”.

Celestia screeched in frustration bearing out her wings as fiery tips briefly appeared on her mane, rearing back despite the immense magical pressure and stomping onto the hard stone floor. “IT’S TRUE! THEIR DEAD! ARE YOU HAPPY NOW.”

Fluttershy could almost pinpoint the minute Twilight’s heart shattered and soon she was uttering another mantra, “you… you YOU MONSTER! HOW! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS?! WHY DID YOU RISK EVERYCREATURE ON EQUIIS TO ‘HELP’ A SPECIES THAT DIDN’T EVEN WANT IT?!”

Celestia lowered her head, her anger starting to burn out, “Twilight… dear you have to understand.”, but this did nothing to alleviate the purple alicorn’s wrath.

“UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT YOU’RE A MASS MURDERER WHO WIPED OUT ENTIRE ECOSYSTEMS AND WHOLE CIVILIZATIONS, ALL BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T LIKE THE CULTURE OF SOME APES WHO COULDN’T EVEN SET HOOF ON OUR WORLD? TELL ME?! I WANT TO KNOW!”.

Celestia stepped back and sighed, “It wasn’t about the humans.”

“IT SURE AS TARTARUS SEEMED LIKE IT! THAT WAS THE WHOLE SELLING POINT RIGHT? BRING THEM TO HARMONY? HELP SAVE THEIR SOULS BY BRINGING THEM TO YOUR LIGHT? I’D ACCUSE YOU OF STARTING A RESOURCE WAR BUT WE WEREN’T EVEN GETTING ANY RESOURCES!”.

Celestia closed her eyes, “I WAS DOING THIS FOR ALL OF YOU! OUR SUN WAS DYING TWILIGHT! IT WAS DYING! It was dying, there was nothing I could do! Believe me I’d tried for hundreds of years but nothing worked! This was our last chance at survival.”

“IT WAS EVERYCREATURE’S CHANCE AT SURVIVAL!” Responded Twilight still equally enraged.

“I understand… and.. I suppose what happened to all of our world’s other races was… regretful but I am not their leader, I am the leader of Ponykind and my race must come first. If it is anycreature’s fault they didn’t make it blame their leaders for not thinking sooner.”

Twilight growled, “Liar! They didn’t act because you didn’t tell them!”.

Celestia huffed, “TWILIGHT! Our world was dying, and they were threats! There isn’t enough room for us to coexist with them and truth be told there wasn’t much beforehand. Because of me Equestria would have finally been at peace, no more border skirmishes with the griffins! No more diamond dog Slave raids! No room for another storm king to arise! What I did was in everypony’s best interest-.”

“Was it in ours sister?”
Celestia was interrupted by a sudden chill which seeped into the room and into the bones of everypony present as a greenish blue mist began to fill the stadium as the panicking ponies began to tremble. Every single one of them wishing they could get away but their bodies felt just as trapped as the Princess and the elements which lay before them. Out of, or perhaps the mist itself stepped forth in the form of Princess Luna though unlike the other spirits she was not a shining rainbow of light. Her eyes glowed a blank white, her body ridden with bullet holes which the wind seemed to seep through. “LUNA!” Celestia gasped and attempted to hug her departed sister but her hoof simply went right through her causing a distortion in her misty form.

“Was this war in our interest.. sister?” Fluttershy had never heard Luna speak with such contempt even when she was Nightmare Moon.

Another figure came forth from the mist, the waterlogged ghost of Shining Armor his horn cut off and a constant dripping sound accompanying his presence, “Was I worth it? I was a father?”. A flash of light and a specter in the form of something halfway between a charred corpse and a moving shadow stood beside Shining armor, it’s spindly wings and horn denoting it as an Alicorn. “Was I worth it?” Asked the radioactive spirit in the voice of none other than Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, “I was mother?”, more and more ghost ponies filed forth all of whom ran the gamut of injuries. Some were had limbs blown off which dripped blood, others had eyes shot out, fractured skulls, some of them were in such poor condition they barely resembled ponies. “I was a mother.” “I was a son.” “An Uncle.” “A teacher.” An entire chorus of life roles as the wraiths began to circle around Celestia. At this point Fluttershy had to avert her eyes, as it was quite literally too horrible to look. A few weeks ago she may have been a combat medic who stood up to a nigh omnipotent tyrant, but right now even surrounded by a field of light she still felt more like that same little filly in Cloudsdale who was too afraid to leave her home on Nightmare Night.
“But Luna! I-I didn’t kill you! The humans did!”.
Shining Armor snorted, “Who made us go to war with the humans?”, Celestia gulped and looked to Cadance, “Who goaded us into attacking their places of faith?”, Celestia stood silent as she turned to a stallion who Rarity would have recognized as her husband Valiant Wings, “Who ordered us to attack hospitals?” An anonymous stallion spoke from a headless stump, “Who told us to separate families?”.

Celestia turned to her sister for comfort but was met with a glare as cold as the grave, “Luna, please…” At this point the once mighty monarch was now on the verge of tears. “Not only hath thou killed us, but you hath Damned us. Thanks to thee our souls are stained with enough blood to fill the western sea. Never to know rest until that blood is washed from our souls by the harsh sands of time.” Cadance’s skeletal head emerged from Luna’s chest, wound. “Our only solace is that you shall accompany us.”Celestia shivered as one of Cadance’s hooves went through her barrel leaving a trail of ash upon Celestia’s snow white fur. More hoofs came towards her staining her coat with a mixture of water, ash and blood while Celestia simply closed her tear stained eyes and accepted the spectral barrage clearly in great pain.

“ENOUGH.” Boomed the many voices of the light spirits simultaneously, as the dead were dispersed. “WE ARE TOOLS OF REPAIR AND, CONCILLIATION NOT INSTRUMENTS OF TORTURE.”. The swirling circle of wraiths which was now pushed back to the edge of the coliseum towards a now fleeing audience began to hiss, a one hundred thousand voices loudly whispering for the most horrific things imaginable to be inflicted on the being they once worshipped. Rainbow looked up at luminous orb of souls and screamed, “SO WHAT THE HAY DO YOU PLAN TO DO TO US NOW?”. The army of light paused as if to consider it’s words, “WE HAVE ALREADY SETTLED UPON A PUNISHMENT FOR THE SIX OF YOU, THIS SHALL BE A PUNISHMENT BUT ALSO A LESSON AND PERHAPS A CHANCE AT REDEMPTION.” With those words Fluttershy began to sink like a feather as the light slowly left her, while the other elements began to be pulled up. A few like Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Celestia struggled while the rest simply looked resigned to whatever their fate may be.

Twilight looked down at Fluttershy before the light took her, “Fluttershy, whatever happens I want you to know you were right… I’m sorr-“, and with that final apology they were gone.

No sign of them except the sound of cracking bones, melting flesh and pained screams which came from the luminous sphere. The herd of the damned had stopped their threats and jeering and now stood in complete silence as they no doubt eagerly awaited what the elements had in store for those who had doomed their souls. Fluttershy was heartbroken as her a parade of horror filled her mind as she wondered what would become of her former friends. True Celestia may have deserved it and from what the elements had shown her perhaps Applejack did to, but Pinkie and Rarity didn’t deserve this, neither did Twilight or Rainbow. They may have committed some of the most horrid crimes imaginable but they were ignorant of their extent when they perpetrated them. As she lay on the floor weeping, her one solace was that the Elements promised their former bearers a chance to redeem herself, as the shock slowly caused her to lose consciousness and fade into, quiet peaceful darkness.

Thump… thump… thump…
‘Urrgh’

For a minute all Fluttershy knew was darkness and void accompanied by the steady beat of her heart, if she could feel anything she would feel calm and content. If she was thinking right now she would perhaps be grateful that the world was saved despite her moment weakness. Then a small speck of light burst through shattering these hypothetical thoughts, at first it was a small trickle which soon became a smattering of pinpricks, then several large blotches and soon enough a cascade of light was all that Fluttershy could see. Next came her ears which twitched as they heard groans both produced by herself and others, who were no doubt on the ground as well. With great effort Fluttershy lifted her head from the floor and took a few preliminary glances at her surrounding, her vision growing less and less blurry by the second. Above her the spirits of harmony stood watch though the shadows of the others were no longer within them. The ghosts of those Celestia had damned were gone without a trace, not even a hint of mist or a stain of blood denoting their presence. If she didn’t know better she might have assumed that she had merely imagined them altogether. The stands were still filled with ponies but most of them were clustered at the top of the bleachers, most of them understandably terrified but too fascinated to leave. From what she could gather based on when she first came there most of the camera ponies had stayed. Fluttershy smiled, a small sad smile, the world needed to see this but then… then she looked in front of her.

While there were no piles of ash, skeletons or even statues, the six ponies who were absorbed by the rainbow orb were nowhere to be found. In their place lay six human women, all young, all naked, all ethnically ambiguous as if the race did not matter, and most importantly sharing the hair color of six ponies Fluttershy had once considered friends. A few were already up, the one Fluttershy assumed to be Pinkie was rocking back and forth a terrified smile painted on her face which was now taut like a Greek comedy mask. The out of shapee blonde, Applejack most likely was silently staring at her hands in horror. Rainbow Dash who had just awoke was screaming shaking her fist at the living embodiment of what she used to represent, her speech was mostly incomprehensible except for the few cries of “CHANGE ME BACK!” which went unheeded by the souls above her. Celestia was sobbing, loud ugly choking sobs as she seemed to try and scratch her skin off, Rarity looked dazed. Only Twilight remained calm and lucid, her face one of stalwart resignation as she stared at those turned into the very thing they tried to destroy.

After a few more sobs, slowly wobbled up each step now quite difficult with her new bipedal gait. “WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO US! WHY DIDN’T YOU JUST KILL US!”.
Starswirl spoke, “It is not in the elements nature to kill.”.

Celestia awkwardly flailed her fists barely managing to avoid falling face first on the concrete, “YET YOU TORTURE US! TURN US INTO THESE… THESE MONSTERS!”.

A voice high pitched male voice Fluttershy was surprised to here came to the fore, Stephen Magnet, “Please honey you were a little late on the whole monster bit.” Next Zecora spoke, “This curse is not what it seems, it gives you chance to be redeemed.”

. The other elements resumed their behavior, save for Twilight. On two shaky legs she stood using one of the various pediments as a hand rail, at that moment she didn’t flinch and stared the very spirit of harmony itself in it’s collective eye. “How.” There was no hint of sarcasm, no despair, no anguish, just a firm conviction to take any chance to right what she did wrong.

Once again Starswirl spoke, Fluttershy could almost detect a hint of pride in his voice, “Use your experience to do good, for both pony and man. The road will be difficult and filled with distrust Twilight Sparkle but the four of you still have a chance to make amends.” Clothes made of shimmer light appeared on the bodies of Pinkie, Rarity, Rainbow and Twilight all matching their old coat colors as if to afford them at least some dignity. A flash of light consumed Applejack who was then barely able to scream before she vanished.
Dash hobbled to the site of where her friend once stood clumsily dusting the ground “What did you do to her?!”. It was clear to Fluttershy that while she hid it behind a mask of anger she was secretly terrified of what might have befell her friend.
“Simply put her among those she helped to create. Whether she survives is based on just what she has spawned.”.

Twilight looked back to harmony , “What about Celestia.” The orb spoke once more in unison, it’s tone somehow harsher and more unified. As if it was one voice of pure power rather than a collection of voices.

“Hers shall be more severe…”

Celestia now far from the dignified monarch she was once was, attempted to crawl away on her hands and knees not even attempting bipedal locomotion. Despite the glares given by her former subjects, some residual air of power must have stopped them from directly attacking her. When Celestia had gotten just halfway to the door she was once again hit by a beam of sickly green energy similar to that which made of the damned ponies which had once accosted the former monarch. Celestia let out an ungodly shriek of pain as the energy struck her, her attempt at escape completely halted as she keeled over. “FOR THE IMMENSITY OF YOUR CRIMES, YOU SHALL NOT BE KILLED. RATHER YOU SHALL LIVE.” Celestia screamed against, somehow more horribly as the energy seemed to burn her, “FOR EONS YOU SHALL NOT KNOW THE PEACE OF DEATH. RATHER YOU SHALL LIVE FOR THE TOTAL AGE OF ALL YOUR VICTIMS BOTH DIRECT AND INDIRECT AS A DESPISED FUGITIVE, HOUNDED CHASED FROM ONE END OF THE EARTH TO THE OTHER FOR YOUR CRIMES.”

She arched her back in an unnatural way as the beam’s light intensified, “ASH SHALL BE YOUR FOOD, AND BLOOD YOUR DRINK BUT STILL YOU WILL HUNGER.” Dark whispering spirits once again rose around her before entering into her mouth choking out her screams, “YOUR CONSTANT COMPANIONS THOSE WHOSE SOULS YOU DOOMED.” As if an act of god or perhaps the wrathful ghost of Luna a darkness began to cover the stadium as the moon eclipsed the sun it’s shadow slowly approaching the diarch. “UNDER THE SUN WHICH HAS BLINDED YOUR SUBJECTS YOU SHALL BE THE PINNACLE OF HUMAN BEAUTY” Every part that the shadow touched began to green, wither and desiccate as if it was sucking out her vitality, “BUT IN THE DARK MAN AND PONY WILL YOU SEE YOU FOR THE WALKING DEATH THAT YOU ARE.”

What remained of the crowd screamed and fled at the sight of the living corpse which had once led them, while the guards backed up and held their spears towards her. The creature now only barely recognizable as female let alone human grabbed one of the dropped spears and with one jerky motion thrust it through her heart with a rattling scream. Yet nothing happened, she still lived, “CELESTIA, YOU WILL NOT GET OUT OF THIS, UNTIL YOUR TERM HAS ENDED OR YOU HAVE MADE UP FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.” With a gurgle and surprising grace the revenant got up and ran out into the now empty streets of Canterlot leaving streaks of black blood trailing behind her from her gaping chest.

Despite the horror of the situation, despite the anger she should feel as she watched the skeletal figure slowly vanish all Fluttershy felt was pity. Pity at somepony who let hate blind them from the truth, pity for somepony who was truly alone save for those who despised her most, pity for someone who was far too deep into their own misdeeds to admit what wrongs they had done. Celestia no doubt deserved all this and more, but Fluttershy would be remiss as the element of Kindness not to feel something for her ruler turned enemy. In fact so lost was she in pity that she almost didn’t notice when Martin placed a hand on her withers and told her that it was time to go home.

Author's Note

Please give me criticism I totally understand this probably sucks.