A Crooked Endingby The AncestorChaptersThe end, and the beginning.A Crooked MareSomething Wicked This Way ComesThe end, and the beginning.There was a crooked man, and he lived a crooked life He scared and tortured everyone, brought with him only strife He never learned his lesson, despite his friend's advice He couldn't be overt with it, enhancing others' vice What goes around will come around, as he will soon learn HIs punishment and reckoning will make a swift return Time slowed along with his blood flow, the frightened mare galloping towards him at a snail's pace. Her mortified expression from moments before was a mask of horror and determination. He studied that mask for hours, as the twilight of his life gave way to eternal darkness, hundreds of thoughts passing through his head. Why didn't he contact Celestia? Why didn't Luna visit him in any of his nightmares? Why didn't he just leave Ponyville? Stay at Zecora's place, at the very least? Hell, even Discord's insane dimension would've been better than Ponyville. Pointless questions, in the end. As Jason Wright drew his last, raspy breath, he wished only for the pain to end. Applejack stood paralyzed as Jason Wright swung from the tree, his face blue, his neck crooked. His eyes were blank and dead, staring past Applejack, through her soul and beyond. It would visit her every night. Fighting past her disgust and shame, got the body off the withered husk of an apple tree, attempting some half-forgotten resuscitation exercise that was doomed to begin with. All it accomplished was cracking his ribs. She didn't remember the walk to Ponyville General, could faintly recall the incredulous look on the staff's faces as she told them where she left him. She was shaken awake by Twilight, the neurotic princess asking her friend to "describe exactly what happened" for what must've been the tenth time. "I just don't understand why he did it!" She spoke in whispers, or at least attempted to, despite the lack of prying ears. "Suicide hasn't been an issue in Equestria for over a millenia!" A twinge of excitement entered her voice. "We've got a precedent on our hooves! I'm sure Princess Celestia will be very interested!" Applejack knew that Celestia's interest would spell doom for her, and her friends. Could she have talked Twilight into keeping things on the down low? Probably not. Word would've gotten out eventually. She doubted she could live with herself if she did. She'd have trouble doing so as is. As Twilight's prattling about something or other faded into background noise, the farm mare had a sinking feeling that she was on the precipice of something horrible, with one hoof placed firmly on the other side. If he was lucid, Jason would've rolled his eyes at the falling sensation that enveloped him. Even in death, he couldn't avoid cliches. But lucid he was not, for a mind could not live long without a body to anchor to. He was merely a fading ember of consciousness, drifting through the murky waters of delirium, bobbing briefly above the water, before being whisked away by the undertow. Who am I? Where am I? Dying twitches of consciousness wondered, as the last current coursed through his synapses. Moments later, he'd be no more, softly cradled by oblivion's cold embrace. But as was common with Jason's life, nothing went as planned. Something stirred in the beyond, a realm so distant, few inhabitants of Equus could imagine the distance. It was old, impossibly old. Older than the Alicorns, predating the Empires before them, and even life itself. It was always there, born of the first being to conceptualize it, spreading along the axis of time, in both directions. It had many names, countless superstitions regarding it present in every culture in one way or another. Zebra shamans warned their students of dangerous spirits, reducing those foolish enough to meddle with them to emotionless husks. Ponies whispered about monsters lurking in the dark corners of the world, draining individuals of their magic. Changeling Queens prayed for bountiful love harvests, their reverent words begging for successful integration of the drones into the host family. Finally, deer priestess feverishly etched ancient protective runes into walls of containment chambers, keeping age-old artifacts at bay. For thousands of years, Equus had avoided its attention, shielded by the powers of Harmony, keeping its residents in relative safety. But one seemingly harmless prank, born out of childlike curiosity and lack of responsibility, one that had grown out of control, had finally succeeded where countless others had failed. The pain and misery, fear and hate, hope and the eventual spiral into despair, emotions accumulated over the course of three years culminating into a most unjust end, had finally broken the protective veil, attracting the gaze of The Entity. Black fog rushed into Jason's lungs, carrying a succinct taste of blood and ash. His eyes shot open, confusion and panic conveyed by rapid eye movement. That same fog obscured his vision, his eyes watering at the contact. Ominous creaks and groans, something in-between metal fatigue and creaking of breaking branches reached his ears. Jason tried to move his arms, only to feel nothing. He tested each limb, willing himself to move, but nothing came of his attempts. Something cold and hard brushed against his neck, a hairy spot on the object tickling the back of it. It was then that Jason realized that he was paralyzed below the neck. A stifled cry traveled through his broken trachea, coming out as a pathetic wheeze. This was unfair. After all he went through, all the pain he endured, this is the afterlife he gets? Self-pity gave way to anger. He was going to be stuck this way for who knows how long, while his tormentors got what they wanted. He was gone from their lives, the pesky varmint out of sight and out of mind. And I did their work for them. But there was another way. A voice that spoke without words showed him that way, the creaking and groaning noise growing louder. He wanted a chance for revenge, and she would give him that chance. He would return the pain he endured tenfold, hunt and terrify the bearers for as long as he satiated Her eternal hunger. She promised him a twisted playground, a never-ending power fantasy, and a satisfying penance, all in exchange for servitude. How could he resist? Why would he? The Entity sensed his answer, reading it from his mind. A searing hot sensation coursed through his body as the fog in his lungs diffused into his body, changing it. Jason felt a rope tighten against his neck, tight enough to be fixed, but loose enough to allow airflow. His arms and legs tingle with an otherworldly chill as the dead tissue was remade. He craned his crooked neck at the sudden weight in his right arm, but he couldn't quite see it. One of the spider-like limbs held his head at an angle that prohibited him from seeing what exactly was in his right hand, and Jason felt a voice whispering in his head. Don't look, just think. Remember. Imagine. Imagine? He could do that. He imagined stalking the streets of Ponyville, long-abandoned buildings hiding untold hate and malice under the cheerful facade. He heard the muffled hoofsteps of his assailants just around the corner, swiftly getting away, their mean spirited laughter growing more distant by the second. His teeth clenched, dead eyes following the burning scratch marks leading Jason to his victims. Rounding the corner, Jason found himself in town square, just as empty as the rest of Ponyville. He watched a streak of rainbow mane disappear into the Crystal castle, stoking the fire within him. Mocking laughter reached his ears as his tormentor flew through winding halls of the structure, cruel words taunting him at every turn. You'll never catch me, you monster! And if you try, this Wonderbolt will burn you to a crisp! Thunder crashed into the highest spires of the castle, awakening a buried fear in Jason's heart, his blind eye stinging with pain. He knew he'd never catch her in a fair race, it was obvious. Thankfully, this wasn't a fair game. Jason saw something superimposed onto his vision, like an aura during a migraine. White silhouettes of nooses were visible through the castle walls, and Jason felt something within him stir. He took a deep breath, felt the rope around his neck tighten, heard the heartbeat of his prey near one of the nooses, and willed himself to let go. The ground gave way beneath him, the dusty streets below turning into smooth crystal floors as his descent suddenly stopped with a loud crack. Jason didn't feel much as his neck snapped, his attention was solely focused on the terrified rainbow mare before him, her wide eyes darting across his features. Before Rainbow Dash could react, the rope holding Jason ripped, his feet landing squarely on the crystal floor with a distinct noise. Broken out of her stupor, the wonderbolt tried to dash away, but for once Jason was faster. He swung the heavy object in his right arm, driving the red head of an axe between Dash's wings. ACK! The blow knocked the wind out of her lungs, sending the athlete hobbling away from Jason, her cries of pain music to him. She recovered quicker than expected, and although her wings hung limply by her sides, she could still run. Jason was quicker than her now, but Dash knew the castle better. He had to catch her now, or she'd waste even more of his time. He tugged at the rope around his crooked neck, the thing coming undone much easier than expected. Like a snake, it slithered in his hands to form a lasso, cluing Jason on what he had to do. With an unparalleled precision, he threw the lasso at Rainbow, the rope constricting the moment it made contact with her neck. Her mouth opened wordlessly as she gasped for air, her thrashing growing more ineffective as Jason pulled her towards him. Her eyes bulged out of her head, her face taking an unnatural shade of purple. Jason could taste the thrill of his first kill. Soon, she'd be no more. Soon, all the pain she'd caused him would be avenged. No. You are not allowed. You. Serve. Me. The voice in his head commanded him to stop, and he couldn't help but oblige. The blunt end of his axe crashed against the back of Rainbow's head, the rope ripping in two, before slithering back into position around Jason's neck, constricting just enough to be noticable. Up. Carry her.Feed me. Following the Entity's orders, he picked the mare by her limp wings, before hoisting her on his shoulder. Once again, he saw auras of what looked like butcher hooks superimposed over his vision, the closest one placed just around the corner. A wicked smile graced his lips, the weak struggles of the mare barely an inconvenience. The meat hook was much like him: crooked and broken. Its main body zigged and zagged which every way, broken and jagged right up to the hook itself. The blade was grimy and rusty, crooked in just the right way to make unhooking if not impossible, then immensely painful. He threw Rainbow onto the contraption, and the blood-curdling scream she released as the blade pierced her flesh was the best sound Jason had heard in the last three years. Spider-like legs formed around the hook, swiftly piercing the mare's abdomen. Rainbow's body slowly faded out of view, only a faint outline remained visible. The spider legs shivered in ecstasy as she was raised into a yawning void above, the castle above burning away to make way for the sacrifice. The maelstrom of darkness consumed her, giant spider legs closing the rift, the castle walls burning back into view. This was the cost of his revenge. Eternal hunt, pain and servitude. His dead eyes burned with fiery anticipation, a wicked smile contorted his features. He gripped the hilt of his axe, and gleefully stepped into the billowing black fog, disappearing from view. Author's Note Throwing my hat in the ring. A Crooked MareThe melodic chimes of telekinetic magic mixed with the periodic clanking of silver utensils, the meditative melody claiming the royal dining hall. It was a private section, of course, reserved for diplomatic visits, internal inter-regional meetings, and other occasions of such magnitude. When no such occasions presented themselves, it was used for the most prestigious of affairs: royal breakfasts. It was during one of these breakfasts, (or dinners, if you asked one Lunae Eclipsus) just when Celestial Corona, known as Princess Celestia to most, was about to assure herself that yes, consuming the fifth piece of double chocolate cake with chocolate filling a chocolate chips was a very healthy thing to do, thank you very much, did her horn glow with a golden-emerald hue, unceremoniously dropping a scroll dangerously close to her royal teacup. A small sigh left Celestia's lips, one she allowed herself in the privacy of the moment. It was a small miracle she was unbothered by now, she usually rose at six, and by seven around a dozen new letters would be on her table. This one was different, though. By the virtue of being delivered in the way it was, Celestia knew who exactly was the sender. "How is young Twilight doing nowadays?" Luna's interest was partly cordial, yes, but also personal. The fledgling alicorn not only saved the Lunar Diarch from the grips of millenium old insanity, but also one of the first to understand and accept her fish out of water attitude towards modern times, and eventually helped with the acclimatization process. "From last we heard, she was lacking a mate, correct?" Celestia was thankful her cup of tea was placed firmly on the table, she'd hate to bother the maids with additional cleaning duty. "S-sister, while I support your attempts to find somepony special, Twilight Sparkle is far too young-" Halfway into her bout of rambling Celestia noticed the sly grin on her sister's face, suddenly understanding the severity of her mistake. "Whatever do you mean, sister? We were merely suggesting our dear friend could use a lesson in matters amorous. I'm sure Miss Velvet would like to meet the grandfoals, and she can't afford to wait forever." Celestia shook her head at her sister's antics. They often invigorated her more than the coffee. With a quiet chuckle Celestia unraveled the letter, her eyes scanning through its contents. Luna looked away for a moment, subtly adding additional milk to her sugar-free coffee, but when she looked back, Celestia's expression was the most troubled she'd seen in years. "Sister?" She called out, to no avail. "Tia? Is something the matter?" Her sister was so concentrated on the letter, she didn't notice Luna approaching her, shaking out of her concentration only by the touch of Luna's wing. Instead of an answer, Celestia wordlessly handed her the scroll. Dear Princess Celestia Recently, a dangerous animal was found deceased near Ponyville. Previously known for terrorizing townsfolk, its attacks grew sparse overtime, and I, personally, am relieved to know it will no longer bother our community. Normally, I wouldn't involve royalty in something so insignificant, but I have reasons to believe it was afflicted by a currently unknown illness, which eventually led to its demise. Quote: "Subject is a bipedal creature, resembling a hairless ape or diamond dog. Subject possesses a long, brown hair and beard, small hazel eyes and a relatively small mouth. Teeth indicate an omnivorous diet. While healthy proportions are unknown due to the lack of knowledge about the subject's species, extrapolation of its current condition to equine norms suggests severe malnourishment, which resulted in atrophy of muscle mass and the brittleness of bone matter. Autopsy results imply improper healing of broken bones, as well as traumatic damage to ocular tissue, resulting in the loss of vision in the left eye. Scar tissue patter on the right side of the subject's body indicate lightning damage. Cause of death appears to be a traumatic fracture of the cervical vertebrae, followed by asphyxiation due to a crushed trachea. All signs point towards these wounds being self-inflicted, which, in my professional opinion, does not make any sense. End quote. My theory postulates that a yet unknown disease, possibly stemming from consumption of meat, had driven the creature mad, causing it to leave the Everfree and wander into Ponyville, eventually resulting in its death. With your resources and leadership skills, I'm sure we can nub this disease in the bud. Sincerely, Your faithfu Princess Twilight Sparkle Princess Celestia read over the letter for the fourth time, blinking uncomprehendingly. That can't be right... The solar diarch shook her head. My eyes must be playing tricks on me. Reading over the letter again, her concerned expression waxed into outright worry. The letter remained the same. "Oh Twilight...what have you done?" Celestia whispered to herself, absently levitating a scroll and quill to herself. The quill swooped and pecked to her will, forming a brief reply. With a flash of her lance-like horn, the Princess of the Sun sent her message in a flash of light. "Sister? What is the matter?" "I notified Raven to clear our schedules. We are leaving for Ponyville. Now." She stood up from her seat, motioning Luna to come closer. "What for? Had something dire happen?" The Lunar Diarch didn't know what was going on, but could hear the gravity of the situation from the tone of her sister's voice. "I pray to all who listen that I am wrong, but I fear something terrible has befallen Jason Wright." Luna blinked owlishly, shaking off the cobwebs from her mind as she tried to connect names to faces. "Jason Wright... Ah! That lovely human! We were wondering how he was doing, but thought it would be rude to pry into his life." Her excitement quickly faded as she saw the grave look on Celestia's face. "Is he in need of assistance?" Celestia sighed, her horn sparking with the power of a fully charged long-distance teleport spell. "I pray we're not too late for that, sister." Wait there. Twilight gulped as she read the succinct letter. No introductions, no pleasantries. Short and to the point. Things must have been more dire than she anticipated. If Princess Celestia was this hasty with the reply, there's no telling how dangerous this human was. Who knew what diseases it might have carried? She thanked her intuition for quaranteening the morgue. "Uh, Twilight? Ah don't know the Princess all too well, but does the letter seem a little too... " Applejack waved her hoof in the air, searching for the right word. "No nonsense to ya?" Twilight would've used the word 'concise', but that wasn't relevant to the situation. "She's just worried about us, is all. Who knows what illnesses that thing might be carrying!" "Whut?" Applejack blinked owlishly. "Well, have you seen the state its body is in? It was obviously ill." Twilight rolled her eyes, internally debating whether or not explaining the situation to the farm mare was worth it. Momentarily out of it, she missed the withering glare she got from Applejack. "Have you?" Twilight, momentarily dazed by the question, was at a loss for words. Truth be told, she didn't see the body per se, but she'd read the coroner report. That had to count, right? "Well..." "Cuz lemme tell ya, Twilight." Applejack stepped forward, her gaze steel as she confronted the fledgeling alicorn. "What happened to Jason wasn't caused by disease. We did this to him." Twilight couldn't remember the last time she'd seen the farm mare this serious. "What do you mean? I haven't seen it more than a dozen times in my life, let alone interact with it!" Twilight's patience was running out, and she didn't like the accusatory tone of her friend's voice. Applejack jabbed a hoof at Twilight's chest, but the latter didn't budge. "His name is Jason. And unlike you, Ah have seen his... body." She took a deep breath, willing herself to speak past the lump in her throat. "He must'a been starving fer who knows how long! And his wounds..." Applejack shuddered. "For pete' sake, he looked like he was beaten regularly! And Ah want ya to know that whatever ya read - it don't do him no justice." Now Twilight was puzzled. Starving? Beaten? That couldn't be true. "Starving? The report says it's an omnivore! It should've been capable enough to sustain itself in the Everfree." She heard the scraping of hoof against wood, Applejack must've been pawing at the floor, but ignored it. "And beaten, really? It's a monster that lived in the Everfree! Of course it'd get into a scuffle from time to time!" Twilight interpreted Applejack's incredulous look as a sign of her own victory in this debate of theirs. She faintly heard an odd sound from outside the study, but ignored it. "Ya know what his last words were, Twi?" The farm pony could barely hold back tears at that point. "When Ah saw him sitting on that branch, rope around his neck, Ah asked him: why? And ya know what he told me?" She shut her eyes for the moment, wiping away the wetness with her foreleg. "He said he had to live in a cave, eat outta the trash and bathe in a lake fer the last three years! Said ponies in this town treated him like a monster! Tartarus, Ah myself remember running him off my farm, just for pickin' an apple!" She didn't bother hiding the tears. "None of us gave him a chance! An... And he wanted to teach us a lesson." Twilight felt it before she heard it. Immense heat, like the sun itself appeared in her room, washed over her in an instant, followed by a chilling wave of soul-searing cold, like she was momentarily thrusted into the vacuum of space, into space between the stars. Applejack covered her face with her trusty stetson, either out of shame, or fear, Twilight wasn't sure. For the first time in her life, Twilight was scared for her life. She was nervous during her adventures with the girls, of course, but there always was an underlying sense that everything was going to be fine in the end. But now, as Twilight looked into the smoldering eyes of Princess Celestia, her pastel-colored mane whippin angrily at the air around her, she was unsure of what the future held for her. Beside the solar diarch stood the Lady of the Night, her current stature reminding Twilight about that fateful confrontation in the Castle of the two Sister. Her eyes weren't slits, but they may as well have been, with the hateful look she leveraged at the fledgeling alicorn. While her sister's fury was cold, perhaps righteous, in a way, Luna's demeanor on the other hand was potentially explosive. Twilight read the books on ancient Equestrian history, and at that moment, she vividly remembered the chapter about public executions, and she was sure Luna remembered them as well. Celestia's gaze fell on Twilight, and for a moment, she was a little filly again. "You will be dealt with, in time." A part of Twilight died at her mentor's words. The Diarch of Equestria shifted to look at the farm mare, and Twilight felt a weight lift from her shoulders. "Applejack Apple. Look me in the eyes when I speak with you." Neither mare had ever heard that tone of voice from Celestia. Both felt obliged to obey. Applejack shakily raised the stetson, revealing her red, puffy eyes. "What you have just told Twilight, is it true?" Twilight couldn't imagine what strength it took Applejack to tear her gaze from the floor, and look the Princess in the eyes. "Everything. To the last word. Or I'm not an Apple." In the pregnant silence that followed, Twilight felt a twinge of something in her chest. Her legs subtly trembled, and her stomach hurt. "I see. Thank you for your honesty." Celestia closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. "Twilight." The mare almost jumped at the sound of her name. "Gather the rest of the Elements with Applejack, and meet me at Ponyville General." Her horn pulsed with barely contained power. "Do not take too long, or my sister and I will find you ourselves." In a flash of scorching light, the alicorns were gone, leaving a burn mark on the wooden flooring of Twilight's study. Author's Note Man, I really wouldn't want to be Twilight right now. I wouldn't want to be her period, but it's the thought that counts. Something Wicked This Way ComesAn odd silence reigned over the Elements as the group made their way towards Ponyville General. Amidst the quiet midday gossip of surrounding townsfolk, (the hospital is closed down and the princesses have come for a visit?! Surely that can't be a coincidence!) the unusually quiet ensemble of Ponyville's most famous residents stood out like a bent feather. "So, who's the villain of the week this time around?" The prismatic mare loudly declared, partially to boast partially to lift the spirits of the group. "Huh? Wha'cha mean, Dashie?" Pinkie Pie, here enthusiasm unaffected by the happenings around her, skipped and jumped along her friends. "Come on, it's obvious! The Princess are here in Ponyville, and they want us all in one place? I bet my next daily nap some kind of jerk is causing trouble again, and we'll have to kick their butt!" "Hmm..." Pinkie rubbed her chin mid-jump, accumulating a little too much airtime that should've been possible. "My Pinkie Sense has been acting odd lately! Like something really mean is coming our way!" A shiver went down her spine, whether or not it was her sense, she didn't know. "It's probably Discord." Rainbow frowned, remembering her last encounter with the spirit of chaos. "That guy's always up to no good, reformed or not." "Rainbow!" Fluttershy's unusually vocal complained startled everypony, more due to her firm tone of voice. "I'll have you know, Discord's been such a gentlecolt during our tuesday tea get-togethers! He even said he'd try not to mess with the weather patterns this week!" The group, sans Twilight and Applejack, both deep in thought, shared disbelieving glances. "Pardon me, darling, but isn't being chaotic his gimmick? If anything, him acting orderly is more suspicious!" Rarity wasn't going to admit she found the spirit of chaos quite rude, downright beastly, even, it wasn't the right time for such a conversation. "Wha'cha think, Applejack? Can Discord be up to something, or are we jumping to conclusions?" Pinkie tried to bring her friend into the conversation, only to be met with silence. The farm mare was out of it, a shudder shaking her body when Pinkie laid her hoof on Applejack's shoulder. "A bit for your thoughts?" "Yer not gonna like 'em." A grim expression that wasn't focused of anything in particular met Pinkie. "Come on, Aj, what's with the long face?" Rainbow flew closer to the farm mare, giving her a once-over. "You and Twi are being really moody right now? Did you make a mess of her library and had to clean it up or something?" "We've all made a mess, I reckon. And it's high time we paid for it." Rainbow rolled her eyes at the cryptic answer. "Geez, I expected that from Twi, not from you, Aj." She dashed towards the alicorn, given up on questioning the downtrodden farm mare. "Hey Twi, mind clearing things up?" "I'm sure it's just one big misunderstanding." She didn't sound so sure to Rainbow. "The princess will clear everything up." The others exchanged worried glances as Ponyville General came into view. Princess Celestia stood paralysed in the hospital's morgue, the cold air around her seeping into her bones, sapping the sun goddess of warmth. A body, covered by a thin sheet of fabric laid on the metal table, a very unsure stallion standing beside it. In this moment, Celestia felt remarkably unsure, her heart beating wildly in her chest, the flow of blood deafening in her ears. Luna, her fear and grief overshadowed by turbulent fury and determination to see things through, took things into her own hooves, approaching the pathologist. "Speak thine name and trade." She cooly commanded, her voice booking no quarter. "S-swift Scalpel, forensic pathologist, Your Highness!" The stallion would later tell his grandfoals that he almost didn't flinch when confronted by the diarch. "Very well. We've heard the autopsy had been performed, correct?" "Yes, Your Grace! The body was delivered to Ponyville General 7 PM yesterday by Applejack Apple. I was called and made haste from Grainsville to here and performed the autopsy myself, the report was delivered to Princess Twilight Sparkle this morning." He fell silent for a moment, whether to gather his thoughts or take a breath, was unclear. "I suspect severe malnourishment and continuous mistreatment lead-" "That is enough, Dr.Swift." Luna knew he wasn't to blame, but her voice came out authoritative and cold, the stallion standing ramrod straight at her words. "Relay our orders to the staff: nopony is allowed inside without our say so. After that, you are dismissed." Scalpel gulped, but obeyed. "Yes, Your Highness!" Scalpel hurried towards the stairs, stopping momentarily as he came face to face with Celestia. He looked unsure for a moment, before shaking his head. "For what it's worth, Princess, I'm sorry for your loss." "We haven't asked for your opinion, have we?" Luna's stern but calm voice left the stallion wondering wether or not he made the right move, when the Celestia spoke. "Thank you, Dr. Swift." A small, reserved smile grace the Princess' lips, for but a moment. "It means more to me than you can imagine." The stallion nodded, making his exit and leaving the two sister in silence, not a living soul remaining in the room, barring the alicorns. Celestia's steps were slow and deliberate, her approach leading to great pain, but also closure. She was convinced that once she confronted the reality of the situation, it'd be easier for her to make the necessary decisions. She stood before the ritualistic table, a thin veil of ignorance concealing her sacrifice for Harmony. All she had to do to preserve the status quo was to leave the veil be, forget Jason Wright ever existed and move on with her life. She could do that, and her ponies wouldn't have to face the grim reality, and neither would she. But who would that benefit? Her ponies? Certainly not. They wouldn't learn this lesson, and the few directly responcible would too, even after her 'scolding'. Herself? Celestia had accumilated enough regrets over her long life, and she wouldn't want to add another one, especially where a fresh one was already festering. She'd no doubt internalise the issue, and she knew very well where that road led. Jason? Nothing could help him now, but the least she could do was honor his memory by punishing those responcible and revealing the cruel mistreatment to the world. She felt a wing draped over her withers, and turned to see her sister, a sympathetic, but firm expression on her face. "You don' have to do this alone, sister. We will see this matter to the end, together." Celestia nodded. "Together." Celestia took a deep breath, the smell of antiseptic flooding her lungs as her magic flared, the thin sheet of fabric tugged away by the combined magic of the Royal Sisters. The face was the first thing that attracted one's gaze. If eyes were he window of the soul, then by looking into Jason's eyes, one could see nothing but the absense of existence. The lack of being, the loss of consciousness, the absense of though that lead to the nonexistance of am. The primal fear of many cultures around the world, reflected back at the viewer. Heavy, dark bags were covered by long, tangled hair that hadn't been washed in ages, a wild beard covering the lower part of his face, bits and pieces of Lord knows what stuck in it. His neck, twice the normal size, was broken and crooked, an angry red mark hugging his neck. A body that spoke of countless beatings, old hoof imprints and fresh hematomes, all paled in comparison to the angry spiderweb of burn that spanned the right part of his body. Celestia almost couldn't recognise the bright young man that she unwittingly sent to his doom three years ago. By the time the Elements arrived, the hospital was nearly empty. Non-Rainbow Dash related traumatic incidents were a rarity in Ponyville, so the staff didn't protest all too much when they were notified of the change in schedule. They were getting jumpy anyway, what with the two Princesses clearly not in good moods sticking around. Upon entering the building proper, they were greeted by an intimidating sight: The Diarchs of Equestria, their expressions devoid of any goodwill. Celestia spoke before anypony else could, focusing the attention on her. "Twilight Sparkle, I see you've been successful in gathering the Elements." The mare in question fidgeted in place at the mention of her name, but stopped herself from speaking up. "Come, we will converse on our way." The ponies did as instructed, Twilight and Applejack not sparing the action a thought, while the others shared a look. Rainbow was getting fed up with the tight-lipped attitude everypony seemed to favour as of late. She respected the Princesses, of course, but she felt entitled to some answers. "Princess Celestia, who's the bad guy this time?" The only indication the Princess heard her was the swish of her tail. "Is it Discord? Cryssalis? Sombra? Cuz I'm itching to kick-" "It's you." Celestia's voice was calm, but hit Rainbow like a truck. "It's all of us, really." "What?" "Everypony in this room are responcible, in one way or another, for the death of an innocent person." It took the girls, barring two exceptions, to take the sentence in. "Hey, I didn't do anything!" Rainbow objected, her feathers ruffled. "Y-yes, I'm afraid there's been a misunderstanding of some sort." Rarity concured, wracking her brain around what exactly Celestia meant. "That's not funny, Princess." Pinkie replied, struggling to keep her twitchy Pinkie sense at bay. Fluttershy simply hid herself behind her mane, a quiet 'eep' unheard by anypony else. "Do any of you remember a human named Jason Wright?" Celestia's calmness had an opposite effect, unnerving the ponies as she ignored their rebuttals. "OH, that thing!" Rainbow, oblivious as ever, missed the daggers sent her way by Luna. "Yeah, I ran him outta town with a storm cloud a couple of times. Why, is he back?" "I believe he caused quite a ruckus that one time he showed up to my boutique. Oh, I couldn't get the smell out for hours!" Rarity went on, too caught up in her own drama to see the wince on Applejack's face. "He scares me" Fluttershy, the most observant of her friends, chose to remain as small as physically possible in this situation. "Jason Wright... Nope, doesn't ring a bell!" Pinkie's cheery facade was barely holding under the avalanche of warning signs her sense was throwing at her. "Are we gonna meet him? I'd love throw him a 'Welcome to Ponyville' party!" An unexpected silence fell over the group, as if somepony who should've spoken up - didn't. "I'm afraid it's too late for that Pinkie Pie." "Why? Is hw leaving already-" The party mare's question was cut short with deadly percision. "Jason Wright is dead. He was driven to suicide by the town of Ponyville, but primarily - you six." Celestia's tone was so devoid of any warmth or care, it almost sounded like an out of season April fools joke. It took the ponies a moment to digest the information, the first to recover being Rainbow Dash, no doubt due to a lack of digestion going on. "He did what? No way, he's way too tough for that! Everything that lives in the Everfree's gotta be tough, right?" Celestia stopped dead in her tracks, her mane catching fire, solar flares whipping at the air around her, trying to get to the prismatic mare. The Solar Diarch craned her neck to see Rainbow, the latter beginning to suspect it wasn't going to be just another adventure. "Do you need to see the body, Rainbow Dash? Will I have to pinpoint the lightning pattern of scars on his body to convince you? Do I have to force you to peer into his blank, dead eyes until you admit to what you've done?" With each word, the wonderbolt shrunk, until all that remained was a very confused and unsettled mare. "Because wether you like it or not, you'll have to face the consequences of your mistakes." She sighed, stopping before the doors of their final destination. "All of us will." Without another word, she opened the doors and prepared to unveil the reason for their arrival. The operating table was empty, the thin veil of fabric laying flat on the cold, tile floor. Author's Note Man, things just aren't going the main 6's way, huh? Oh well, it's gonna get worse before either gets better.
The end, and the beginning.There was a crooked man, and he lived a crooked life He scared and tortured everyone, brought with him only strife He never learned his lesson, despite his friend's advice He couldn't be overt with it, enhancing others' vice What goes around will come around, as he will soon learn HIs punishment and reckoning will make a swift return Time slowed along with his blood flow, the frightened mare galloping towards him at a snail's pace. Her mortified expression from moments before was a mask of horror and determination. He studied that mask for hours, as the twilight of his life gave way to eternal darkness, hundreds of thoughts passing through his head. Why didn't he contact Celestia? Why didn't Luna visit him in any of his nightmares? Why didn't he just leave Ponyville? Stay at Zecora's place, at the very least? Hell, even Discord's insane dimension would've been better than Ponyville. Pointless questions, in the end. As Jason Wright drew his last, raspy breath, he wished only for the pain to end. Applejack stood paralyzed as Jason Wright swung from the tree, his face blue, his neck crooked. His eyes were blank and dead, staring past Applejack, through her soul and beyond. It would visit her every night. Fighting past her disgust and shame, got the body off the withered husk of an apple tree, attempting some half-forgotten resuscitation exercise that was doomed to begin with. All it accomplished was cracking his ribs. She didn't remember the walk to Ponyville General, could faintly recall the incredulous look on the staff's faces as she told them where she left him. She was shaken awake by Twilight, the neurotic princess asking her friend to "describe exactly what happened" for what must've been the tenth time. "I just don't understand why he did it!" She spoke in whispers, or at least attempted to, despite the lack of prying ears. "Suicide hasn't been an issue in Equestria for over a millenia!" A twinge of excitement entered her voice. "We've got a precedent on our hooves! I'm sure Princess Celestia will be very interested!" Applejack knew that Celestia's interest would spell doom for her, and her friends. Could she have talked Twilight into keeping things on the down low? Probably not. Word would've gotten out eventually. She doubted she could live with herself if she did. She'd have trouble doing so as is. As Twilight's prattling about something or other faded into background noise, the farm mare had a sinking feeling that she was on the precipice of something horrible, with one hoof placed firmly on the other side. If he was lucid, Jason would've rolled his eyes at the falling sensation that enveloped him. Even in death, he couldn't avoid cliches. But lucid he was not, for a mind could not live long without a body to anchor to. He was merely a fading ember of consciousness, drifting through the murky waters of delirium, bobbing briefly above the water, before being whisked away by the undertow. Who am I? Where am I? Dying twitches of consciousness wondered, as the last current coursed through his synapses. Moments later, he'd be no more, softly cradled by oblivion's cold embrace. But as was common with Jason's life, nothing went as planned. Something stirred in the beyond, a realm so distant, few inhabitants of Equus could imagine the distance. It was old, impossibly old. Older than the Alicorns, predating the Empires before them, and even life itself. It was always there, born of the first being to conceptualize it, spreading along the axis of time, in both directions. It had many names, countless superstitions regarding it present in every culture in one way or another. Zebra shamans warned their students of dangerous spirits, reducing those foolish enough to meddle with them to emotionless husks. Ponies whispered about monsters lurking in the dark corners of the world, draining individuals of their magic. Changeling Queens prayed for bountiful love harvests, their reverent words begging for successful integration of the drones into the host family. Finally, deer priestess feverishly etched ancient protective runes into walls of containment chambers, keeping age-old artifacts at bay. For thousands of years, Equus had avoided its attention, shielded by the powers of Harmony, keeping its residents in relative safety. But one seemingly harmless prank, born out of childlike curiosity and lack of responsibility, one that had grown out of control, had finally succeeded where countless others had failed. The pain and misery, fear and hate, hope and the eventual spiral into despair, emotions accumulated over the course of three years culminating into a most unjust end, had finally broken the protective veil, attracting the gaze of The Entity. Black fog rushed into Jason's lungs, carrying a succinct taste of blood and ash. His eyes shot open, confusion and panic conveyed by rapid eye movement. That same fog obscured his vision, his eyes watering at the contact. Ominous creaks and groans, something in-between metal fatigue and creaking of breaking branches reached his ears. Jason tried to move his arms, only to feel nothing. He tested each limb, willing himself to move, but nothing came of his attempts. Something cold and hard brushed against his neck, a hairy spot on the object tickling the back of it. It was then that Jason realized that he was paralyzed below the neck. A stifled cry traveled through his broken trachea, coming out as a pathetic wheeze. This was unfair. After all he went through, all the pain he endured, this is the afterlife he gets? Self-pity gave way to anger. He was going to be stuck this way for who knows how long, while his tormentors got what they wanted. He was gone from their lives, the pesky varmint out of sight and out of mind. And I did their work for them. But there was another way. A voice that spoke without words showed him that way, the creaking and groaning noise growing louder. He wanted a chance for revenge, and she would give him that chance. He would return the pain he endured tenfold, hunt and terrify the bearers for as long as he satiated Her eternal hunger. She promised him a twisted playground, a never-ending power fantasy, and a satisfying penance, all in exchange for servitude. How could he resist? Why would he? The Entity sensed his answer, reading it from his mind. A searing hot sensation coursed through his body as the fog in his lungs diffused into his body, changing it. Jason felt a rope tighten against his neck, tight enough to be fixed, but loose enough to allow airflow. His arms and legs tingle with an otherworldly chill as the dead tissue was remade. He craned his crooked neck at the sudden weight in his right arm, but he couldn't quite see it. One of the spider-like limbs held his head at an angle that prohibited him from seeing what exactly was in his right hand, and Jason felt a voice whispering in his head. Don't look, just think. Remember. Imagine. Imagine? He could do that. He imagined stalking the streets of Ponyville, long-abandoned buildings hiding untold hate and malice under the cheerful facade. He heard the muffled hoofsteps of his assailants just around the corner, swiftly getting away, their mean spirited laughter growing more distant by the second. His teeth clenched, dead eyes following the burning scratch marks leading Jason to his victims. Rounding the corner, Jason found himself in town square, just as empty as the rest of Ponyville. He watched a streak of rainbow mane disappear into the Crystal castle, stoking the fire within him. Mocking laughter reached his ears as his tormentor flew through winding halls of the structure, cruel words taunting him at every turn. You'll never catch me, you monster! And if you try, this Wonderbolt will burn you to a crisp! Thunder crashed into the highest spires of the castle, awakening a buried fear in Jason's heart, his blind eye stinging with pain. He knew he'd never catch her in a fair race, it was obvious. Thankfully, this wasn't a fair game. Jason saw something superimposed onto his vision, like an aura during a migraine. White silhouettes of nooses were visible through the castle walls, and Jason felt something within him stir. He took a deep breath, felt the rope around his neck tighten, heard the heartbeat of his prey near one of the nooses, and willed himself to let go. The ground gave way beneath him, the dusty streets below turning into smooth crystal floors as his descent suddenly stopped with a loud crack. Jason didn't feel much as his neck snapped, his attention was solely focused on the terrified rainbow mare before him, her wide eyes darting across his features. Before Rainbow Dash could react, the rope holding Jason ripped, his feet landing squarely on the crystal floor with a distinct noise. Broken out of her stupor, the wonderbolt tried to dash away, but for once Jason was faster. He swung the heavy object in his right arm, driving the red head of an axe between Dash's wings. ACK! The blow knocked the wind out of her lungs, sending the athlete hobbling away from Jason, her cries of pain music to him. She recovered quicker than expected, and although her wings hung limply by her sides, she could still run. Jason was quicker than her now, but Dash knew the castle better. He had to catch her now, or she'd waste even more of his time. He tugged at the rope around his crooked neck, the thing coming undone much easier than expected. Like a snake, it slithered in his hands to form a lasso, cluing Jason on what he had to do. With an unparalleled precision, he threw the lasso at Rainbow, the rope constricting the moment it made contact with her neck. Her mouth opened wordlessly as she gasped for air, her thrashing growing more ineffective as Jason pulled her towards him. Her eyes bulged out of her head, her face taking an unnatural shade of purple. Jason could taste the thrill of his first kill. Soon, she'd be no more. Soon, all the pain she'd caused him would be avenged. No. You are not allowed. You. Serve. Me. The voice in his head commanded him to stop, and he couldn't help but oblige. The blunt end of his axe crashed against the back of Rainbow's head, the rope ripping in two, before slithering back into position around Jason's neck, constricting just enough to be noticable. Up. Carry her.Feed me. Following the Entity's orders, he picked the mare by her limp wings, before hoisting her on his shoulder. Once again, he saw auras of what looked like butcher hooks superimposed over his vision, the closest one placed just around the corner. A wicked smile graced his lips, the weak struggles of the mare barely an inconvenience. The meat hook was much like him: crooked and broken. Its main body zigged and zagged which every way, broken and jagged right up to the hook itself. The blade was grimy and rusty, crooked in just the right way to make unhooking if not impossible, then immensely painful. He threw Rainbow onto the contraption, and the blood-curdling scream she released as the blade pierced her flesh was the best sound Jason had heard in the last three years. Spider-like legs formed around the hook, swiftly piercing the mare's abdomen. Rainbow's body slowly faded out of view, only a faint outline remained visible. The spider legs shivered in ecstasy as she was raised into a yawning void above, the castle above burning away to make way for the sacrifice. The maelstrom of darkness consumed her, giant spider legs closing the rift, the castle walls burning back into view. This was the cost of his revenge. Eternal hunt, pain and servitude. His dead eyes burned with fiery anticipation, a wicked smile contorted his features. He gripped the hilt of his axe, and gleefully stepped into the billowing black fog, disappearing from view. Author's Note Throwing my hat in the ring.
A Crooked MareThe melodic chimes of telekinetic magic mixed with the periodic clanking of silver utensils, the meditative melody claiming the royal dining hall. It was a private section, of course, reserved for diplomatic visits, internal inter-regional meetings, and other occasions of such magnitude. When no such occasions presented themselves, it was used for the most prestigious of affairs: royal breakfasts. It was during one of these breakfasts, (or dinners, if you asked one Lunae Eclipsus) just when Celestial Corona, known as Princess Celestia to most, was about to assure herself that yes, consuming the fifth piece of double chocolate cake with chocolate filling a chocolate chips was a very healthy thing to do, thank you very much, did her horn glow with a golden-emerald hue, unceremoniously dropping a scroll dangerously close to her royal teacup. A small sigh left Celestia's lips, one she allowed herself in the privacy of the moment. It was a small miracle she was unbothered by now, she usually rose at six, and by seven around a dozen new letters would be on her table. This one was different, though. By the virtue of being delivered in the way it was, Celestia knew who exactly was the sender. "How is young Twilight doing nowadays?" Luna's interest was partly cordial, yes, but also personal. The fledgling alicorn not only saved the Lunar Diarch from the grips of millenium old insanity, but also one of the first to understand and accept her fish out of water attitude towards modern times, and eventually helped with the acclimatization process. "From last we heard, she was lacking a mate, correct?" Celestia was thankful her cup of tea was placed firmly on the table, she'd hate to bother the maids with additional cleaning duty. "S-sister, while I support your attempts to find somepony special, Twilight Sparkle is far too young-" Halfway into her bout of rambling Celestia noticed the sly grin on her sister's face, suddenly understanding the severity of her mistake. "Whatever do you mean, sister? We were merely suggesting our dear friend could use a lesson in matters amorous. I'm sure Miss Velvet would like to meet the grandfoals, and she can't afford to wait forever." Celestia shook her head at her sister's antics. They often invigorated her more than the coffee. With a quiet chuckle Celestia unraveled the letter, her eyes scanning through its contents. Luna looked away for a moment, subtly adding additional milk to her sugar-free coffee, but when she looked back, Celestia's expression was the most troubled she'd seen in years. "Sister?" She called out, to no avail. "Tia? Is something the matter?" Her sister was so concentrated on the letter, she didn't notice Luna approaching her, shaking out of her concentration only by the touch of Luna's wing. Instead of an answer, Celestia wordlessly handed her the scroll. Dear Princess Celestia Recently, a dangerous animal was found deceased near Ponyville. Previously known for terrorizing townsfolk, its attacks grew sparse overtime, and I, personally, am relieved to know it will no longer bother our community. Normally, I wouldn't involve royalty in something so insignificant, but I have reasons to believe it was afflicted by a currently unknown illness, which eventually led to its demise. Quote: "Subject is a bipedal creature, resembling a hairless ape or diamond dog. Subject possesses a long, brown hair and beard, small hazel eyes and a relatively small mouth. Teeth indicate an omnivorous diet. While healthy proportions are unknown due to the lack of knowledge about the subject's species, extrapolation of its current condition to equine norms suggests severe malnourishment, which resulted in atrophy of muscle mass and the brittleness of bone matter. Autopsy results imply improper healing of broken bones, as well as traumatic damage to ocular tissue, resulting in the loss of vision in the left eye. Scar tissue patter on the right side of the subject's body indicate lightning damage. Cause of death appears to be a traumatic fracture of the cervical vertebrae, followed by asphyxiation due to a crushed trachea. All signs point towards these wounds being self-inflicted, which, in my professional opinion, does not make any sense. End quote. My theory postulates that a yet unknown disease, possibly stemming from consumption of meat, had driven the creature mad, causing it to leave the Everfree and wander into Ponyville, eventually resulting in its death. With your resources and leadership skills, I'm sure we can nub this disease in the bud. Sincerely, Your faithfu Princess Twilight Sparkle Princess Celestia read over the letter for the fourth time, blinking uncomprehendingly. That can't be right... The solar diarch shook her head. My eyes must be playing tricks on me. Reading over the letter again, her concerned expression waxed into outright worry. The letter remained the same. "Oh Twilight...what have you done?" Celestia whispered to herself, absently levitating a scroll and quill to herself. The quill swooped and pecked to her will, forming a brief reply. With a flash of her lance-like horn, the Princess of the Sun sent her message in a flash of light. "Sister? What is the matter?" "I notified Raven to clear our schedules. We are leaving for Ponyville. Now." She stood up from her seat, motioning Luna to come closer. "What for? Had something dire happen?" The Lunar Diarch didn't know what was going on, but could hear the gravity of the situation from the tone of her sister's voice. "I pray to all who listen that I am wrong, but I fear something terrible has befallen Jason Wright." Luna blinked owlishly, shaking off the cobwebs from her mind as she tried to connect names to faces. "Jason Wright... Ah! That lovely human! We were wondering how he was doing, but thought it would be rude to pry into his life." Her excitement quickly faded as she saw the grave look on Celestia's face. "Is he in need of assistance?" Celestia sighed, her horn sparking with the power of a fully charged long-distance teleport spell. "I pray we're not too late for that, sister." Wait there. Twilight gulped as she read the succinct letter. No introductions, no pleasantries. Short and to the point. Things must have been more dire than she anticipated. If Princess Celestia was this hasty with the reply, there's no telling how dangerous this human was. Who knew what diseases it might have carried? She thanked her intuition for quaranteening the morgue. "Uh, Twilight? Ah don't know the Princess all too well, but does the letter seem a little too... " Applejack waved her hoof in the air, searching for the right word. "No nonsense to ya?" Twilight would've used the word 'concise', but that wasn't relevant to the situation. "She's just worried about us, is all. Who knows what illnesses that thing might be carrying!" "Whut?" Applejack blinked owlishly. "Well, have you seen the state its body is in? It was obviously ill." Twilight rolled her eyes, internally debating whether or not explaining the situation to the farm mare was worth it. Momentarily out of it, she missed the withering glare she got from Applejack. "Have you?" Twilight, momentarily dazed by the question, was at a loss for words. Truth be told, she didn't see the body per se, but she'd read the coroner report. That had to count, right? "Well..." "Cuz lemme tell ya, Twilight." Applejack stepped forward, her gaze steel as she confronted the fledgeling alicorn. "What happened to Jason wasn't caused by disease. We did this to him." Twilight couldn't remember the last time she'd seen the farm mare this serious. "What do you mean? I haven't seen it more than a dozen times in my life, let alone interact with it!" Twilight's patience was running out, and she didn't like the accusatory tone of her friend's voice. Applejack jabbed a hoof at Twilight's chest, but the latter didn't budge. "His name is Jason. And unlike you, Ah have seen his... body." She took a deep breath, willing herself to speak past the lump in her throat. "He must'a been starving fer who knows how long! And his wounds..." Applejack shuddered. "For pete' sake, he looked like he was beaten regularly! And Ah want ya to know that whatever ya read - it don't do him no justice." Now Twilight was puzzled. Starving? Beaten? That couldn't be true. "Starving? The report says it's an omnivore! It should've been capable enough to sustain itself in the Everfree." She heard the scraping of hoof against wood, Applejack must've been pawing at the floor, but ignored it. "And beaten, really? It's a monster that lived in the Everfree! Of course it'd get into a scuffle from time to time!" Twilight interpreted Applejack's incredulous look as a sign of her own victory in this debate of theirs. She faintly heard an odd sound from outside the study, but ignored it. "Ya know what his last words were, Twi?" The farm pony could barely hold back tears at that point. "When Ah saw him sitting on that branch, rope around his neck, Ah asked him: why? And ya know what he told me?" She shut her eyes for the moment, wiping away the wetness with her foreleg. "He said he had to live in a cave, eat outta the trash and bathe in a lake fer the last three years! Said ponies in this town treated him like a monster! Tartarus, Ah myself remember running him off my farm, just for pickin' an apple!" She didn't bother hiding the tears. "None of us gave him a chance! An... And he wanted to teach us a lesson." Twilight felt it before she heard it. Immense heat, like the sun itself appeared in her room, washed over her in an instant, followed by a chilling wave of soul-searing cold, like she was momentarily thrusted into the vacuum of space, into space between the stars. Applejack covered her face with her trusty stetson, either out of shame, or fear, Twilight wasn't sure. For the first time in her life, Twilight was scared for her life. She was nervous during her adventures with the girls, of course, but there always was an underlying sense that everything was going to be fine in the end. But now, as Twilight looked into the smoldering eyes of Princess Celestia, her pastel-colored mane whippin angrily at the air around her, she was unsure of what the future held for her. Beside the solar diarch stood the Lady of the Night, her current stature reminding Twilight about that fateful confrontation in the Castle of the two Sister. Her eyes weren't slits, but they may as well have been, with the hateful look she leveraged at the fledgeling alicorn. While her sister's fury was cold, perhaps righteous, in a way, Luna's demeanor on the other hand was potentially explosive. Twilight read the books on ancient Equestrian history, and at that moment, she vividly remembered the chapter about public executions, and she was sure Luna remembered them as well. Celestia's gaze fell on Twilight, and for a moment, she was a little filly again. "You will be dealt with, in time." A part of Twilight died at her mentor's words. The Diarch of Equestria shifted to look at the farm mare, and Twilight felt a weight lift from her shoulders. "Applejack Apple. Look me in the eyes when I speak with you." Neither mare had ever heard that tone of voice from Celestia. Both felt obliged to obey. Applejack shakily raised the stetson, revealing her red, puffy eyes. "What you have just told Twilight, is it true?" Twilight couldn't imagine what strength it took Applejack to tear her gaze from the floor, and look the Princess in the eyes. "Everything. To the last word. Or I'm not an Apple." In the pregnant silence that followed, Twilight felt a twinge of something in her chest. Her legs subtly trembled, and her stomach hurt. "I see. Thank you for your honesty." Celestia closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. "Twilight." The mare almost jumped at the sound of her name. "Gather the rest of the Elements with Applejack, and meet me at Ponyville General." Her horn pulsed with barely contained power. "Do not take too long, or my sister and I will find you ourselves." In a flash of scorching light, the alicorns were gone, leaving a burn mark on the wooden flooring of Twilight's study. Author's Note Man, I really wouldn't want to be Twilight right now. I wouldn't want to be her period, but it's the thought that counts.
Something Wicked This Way ComesAn odd silence reigned over the Elements as the group made their way towards Ponyville General. Amidst the quiet midday gossip of surrounding townsfolk, (the hospital is closed down and the princesses have come for a visit?! Surely that can't be a coincidence!) the unusually quiet ensemble of Ponyville's most famous residents stood out like a bent feather. "So, who's the villain of the week this time around?" The prismatic mare loudly declared, partially to boast partially to lift the spirits of the group. "Huh? Wha'cha mean, Dashie?" Pinkie Pie, here enthusiasm unaffected by the happenings around her, skipped and jumped along her friends. "Come on, it's obvious! The Princess are here in Ponyville, and they want us all in one place? I bet my next daily nap some kind of jerk is causing trouble again, and we'll have to kick their butt!" "Hmm..." Pinkie rubbed her chin mid-jump, accumulating a little too much airtime that should've been possible. "My Pinkie Sense has been acting odd lately! Like something really mean is coming our way!" A shiver went down her spine, whether or not it was her sense, she didn't know. "It's probably Discord." Rainbow frowned, remembering her last encounter with the spirit of chaos. "That guy's always up to no good, reformed or not." "Rainbow!" Fluttershy's unusually vocal complained startled everypony, more due to her firm tone of voice. "I'll have you know, Discord's been such a gentlecolt during our tuesday tea get-togethers! He even said he'd try not to mess with the weather patterns this week!" The group, sans Twilight and Applejack, both deep in thought, shared disbelieving glances. "Pardon me, darling, but isn't being chaotic his gimmick? If anything, him acting orderly is more suspicious!" Rarity wasn't going to admit she found the spirit of chaos quite rude, downright beastly, even, it wasn't the right time for such a conversation. "Wha'cha think, Applejack? Can Discord be up to something, or are we jumping to conclusions?" Pinkie tried to bring her friend into the conversation, only to be met with silence. The farm mare was out of it, a shudder shaking her body when Pinkie laid her hoof on Applejack's shoulder. "A bit for your thoughts?" "Yer not gonna like 'em." A grim expression that wasn't focused of anything in particular met Pinkie. "Come on, Aj, what's with the long face?" Rainbow flew closer to the farm mare, giving her a once-over. "You and Twi are being really moody right now? Did you make a mess of her library and had to clean it up or something?" "We've all made a mess, I reckon. And it's high time we paid for it." Rainbow rolled her eyes at the cryptic answer. "Geez, I expected that from Twi, not from you, Aj." She dashed towards the alicorn, given up on questioning the downtrodden farm mare. "Hey Twi, mind clearing things up?" "I'm sure it's just one big misunderstanding." She didn't sound so sure to Rainbow. "The princess will clear everything up." The others exchanged worried glances as Ponyville General came into view. Princess Celestia stood paralysed in the hospital's morgue, the cold air around her seeping into her bones, sapping the sun goddess of warmth. A body, covered by a thin sheet of fabric laid on the metal table, a very unsure stallion standing beside it. In this moment, Celestia felt remarkably unsure, her heart beating wildly in her chest, the flow of blood deafening in her ears. Luna, her fear and grief overshadowed by turbulent fury and determination to see things through, took things into her own hooves, approaching the pathologist. "Speak thine name and trade." She cooly commanded, her voice booking no quarter. "S-swift Scalpel, forensic pathologist, Your Highness!" The stallion would later tell his grandfoals that he almost didn't flinch when confronted by the diarch. "Very well. We've heard the autopsy had been performed, correct?" "Yes, Your Grace! The body was delivered to Ponyville General 7 PM yesterday by Applejack Apple. I was called and made haste from Grainsville to here and performed the autopsy myself, the report was delivered to Princess Twilight Sparkle this morning." He fell silent for a moment, whether to gather his thoughts or take a breath, was unclear. "I suspect severe malnourishment and continuous mistreatment lead-" "That is enough, Dr.Swift." Luna knew he wasn't to blame, but her voice came out authoritative and cold, the stallion standing ramrod straight at her words. "Relay our orders to the staff: nopony is allowed inside without our say so. After that, you are dismissed." Scalpel gulped, but obeyed. "Yes, Your Highness!" Scalpel hurried towards the stairs, stopping momentarily as he came face to face with Celestia. He looked unsure for a moment, before shaking his head. "For what it's worth, Princess, I'm sorry for your loss." "We haven't asked for your opinion, have we?" Luna's stern but calm voice left the stallion wondering wether or not he made the right move, when the Celestia spoke. "Thank you, Dr. Swift." A small, reserved smile grace the Princess' lips, for but a moment. "It means more to me than you can imagine." The stallion nodded, making his exit and leaving the two sister in silence, not a living soul remaining in the room, barring the alicorns. Celestia's steps were slow and deliberate, her approach leading to great pain, but also closure. She was convinced that once she confronted the reality of the situation, it'd be easier for her to make the necessary decisions. She stood before the ritualistic table, a thin veil of ignorance concealing her sacrifice for Harmony. All she had to do to preserve the status quo was to leave the veil be, forget Jason Wright ever existed and move on with her life. She could do that, and her ponies wouldn't have to face the grim reality, and neither would she. But who would that benefit? Her ponies? Certainly not. They wouldn't learn this lesson, and the few directly responcible would too, even after her 'scolding'. Herself? Celestia had accumilated enough regrets over her long life, and she wouldn't want to add another one, especially where a fresh one was already festering. She'd no doubt internalise the issue, and she knew very well where that road led. Jason? Nothing could help him now, but the least she could do was honor his memory by punishing those responcible and revealing the cruel mistreatment to the world. She felt a wing draped over her withers, and turned to see her sister, a sympathetic, but firm expression on her face. "You don' have to do this alone, sister. We will see this matter to the end, together." Celestia nodded. "Together." Celestia took a deep breath, the smell of antiseptic flooding her lungs as her magic flared, the thin sheet of fabric tugged away by the combined magic of the Royal Sisters. The face was the first thing that attracted one's gaze. If eyes were he window of the soul, then by looking into Jason's eyes, one could see nothing but the absense of existence. The lack of being, the loss of consciousness, the absense of though that lead to the nonexistance of am. The primal fear of many cultures around the world, reflected back at the viewer. Heavy, dark bags were covered by long, tangled hair that hadn't been washed in ages, a wild beard covering the lower part of his face, bits and pieces of Lord knows what stuck in it. His neck, twice the normal size, was broken and crooked, an angry red mark hugging his neck. A body that spoke of countless beatings, old hoof imprints and fresh hematomes, all paled in comparison to the angry spiderweb of burn that spanned the right part of his body. Celestia almost couldn't recognise the bright young man that she unwittingly sent to his doom three years ago. By the time the Elements arrived, the hospital was nearly empty. Non-Rainbow Dash related traumatic incidents were a rarity in Ponyville, so the staff didn't protest all too much when they were notified of the change in schedule. They were getting jumpy anyway, what with the two Princesses clearly not in good moods sticking around. Upon entering the building proper, they were greeted by an intimidating sight: The Diarchs of Equestria, their expressions devoid of any goodwill. Celestia spoke before anypony else could, focusing the attention on her. "Twilight Sparkle, I see you've been successful in gathering the Elements." The mare in question fidgeted in place at the mention of her name, but stopped herself from speaking up. "Come, we will converse on our way." The ponies did as instructed, Twilight and Applejack not sparing the action a thought, while the others shared a look. Rainbow was getting fed up with the tight-lipped attitude everypony seemed to favour as of late. She respected the Princesses, of course, but she felt entitled to some answers. "Princess Celestia, who's the bad guy this time?" The only indication the Princess heard her was the swish of her tail. "Is it Discord? Cryssalis? Sombra? Cuz I'm itching to kick-" "It's you." Celestia's voice was calm, but hit Rainbow like a truck. "It's all of us, really." "What?" "Everypony in this room are responcible, in one way or another, for the death of an innocent person." It took the girls, barring two exceptions, to take the sentence in. "Hey, I didn't do anything!" Rainbow objected, her feathers ruffled. "Y-yes, I'm afraid there's been a misunderstanding of some sort." Rarity concured, wracking her brain around what exactly Celestia meant. "That's not funny, Princess." Pinkie replied, struggling to keep her twitchy Pinkie sense at bay. Fluttershy simply hid herself behind her mane, a quiet 'eep' unheard by anypony else. "Do any of you remember a human named Jason Wright?" Celestia's calmness had an opposite effect, unnerving the ponies as she ignored their rebuttals. "OH, that thing!" Rainbow, oblivious as ever, missed the daggers sent her way by Luna. "Yeah, I ran him outta town with a storm cloud a couple of times. Why, is he back?" "I believe he caused quite a ruckus that one time he showed up to my boutique. Oh, I couldn't get the smell out for hours!" Rarity went on, too caught up in her own drama to see the wince on Applejack's face. "He scares me" Fluttershy, the most observant of her friends, chose to remain as small as physically possible in this situation. "Jason Wright... Nope, doesn't ring a bell!" Pinkie's cheery facade was barely holding under the avalanche of warning signs her sense was throwing at her. "Are we gonna meet him? I'd love throw him a 'Welcome to Ponyville' party!" An unexpected silence fell over the group, as if somepony who should've spoken up - didn't. "I'm afraid it's too late for that Pinkie Pie." "Why? Is hw leaving already-" The party mare's question was cut short with deadly percision. "Jason Wright is dead. He was driven to suicide by the town of Ponyville, but primarily - you six." Celestia's tone was so devoid of any warmth or care, it almost sounded like an out of season April fools joke. It took the ponies a moment to digest the information, the first to recover being Rainbow Dash, no doubt due to a lack of digestion going on. "He did what? No way, he's way too tough for that! Everything that lives in the Everfree's gotta be tough, right?" Celestia stopped dead in her tracks, her mane catching fire, solar flares whipping at the air around her, trying to get to the prismatic mare. The Solar Diarch craned her neck to see Rainbow, the latter beginning to suspect it wasn't going to be just another adventure. "Do you need to see the body, Rainbow Dash? Will I have to pinpoint the lightning pattern of scars on his body to convince you? Do I have to force you to peer into his blank, dead eyes until you admit to what you've done?" With each word, the wonderbolt shrunk, until all that remained was a very confused and unsettled mare. "Because wether you like it or not, you'll have to face the consequences of your mistakes." She sighed, stopping before the doors of their final destination. "All of us will." Without another word, she opened the doors and prepared to unveil the reason for their arrival. The operating table was empty, the thin veil of fabric laying flat on the cold, tile floor. Author's Note Man, things just aren't going the main 6's way, huh? Oh well, it's gonna get worse before either gets better.
