The names had been read, the charges presented, and the judgement revealed. The sentence passed, the plan had been shot. All that they could do now was hope, pray, and choose their last words.
An escape attempt would have cost lives, breaking character would cost lives, doing anything other than accepting their punishment and allowing themselves to be blasted away by the banishment spell would cost lives. But they didn't have to do it silently.
Inkwell stepped forward. Everything was hinging on the changes that he had made to the spell circle embedded into the platform. He might not be able to save the others, but he could at least go down with his ship. So much for being a hero... at least I managed to save Featherdancer.
At the thought of his brother he paused for a heartbeat. That was why he was really here, he had taken the fall so that his brother could get away with that filly. He couldn't help but smile at the irony of a bat pony dying because of an overdeveloped sense of loyalty to a pegasus. And the three primary races thought that all bat ponies were traitors.
He gave a smile at the thought that they had technically beaten the Draconequi. Six of them against an army and the real battle had been won. The heartbeat pause passed and he looked out into the assembled crowd. Well, he might as well play his part to the hilt. He opened his mouth and surprised even himself when he began to sing.
"Can you hear it? There's a voice on the wind. I can hear it. It calls injustice to an end."
The twice disguised stallion's eyes widened slightly as he recognized the one universal magic that all Equestrians share. He was singing his Heartsong. Somewhere an ethereal harp began to play a tuneless melody.
"Freedom's coming. I can feel it in the air. A new day's dawning, a time for change is drawing near.
"The world is waking. There's a stirring in all hearts, and hope now rises. This is where. Re. Bell. Ion. Starts!"
Inkwell blinked in surprise as he heard another voice start on his left side, Sunbeam taking up where he left off.
"The world begins to change. I can feel the days grow longer. Yes chaos is strong, but life is always stronger.
"They cannot dim the sun! It burns for all to see. We all live in its light. Part of a greater Harmony."
Inkwell felt feathers brush his side as Moonchaser stepped up on his right, taking up the lyrics as the music's tone changed yet again.
"The dream of freedom is born 'neath the light of the guardian moon. Equestria do not look away, this battle is for you!
"Open your eyes, open your mind. See the problems around you. Do not be fooled by chaos' blind, there is an evil that surrounds you.
"Stand for your freedoms, the time doth draw near. When ponies shall rise, and chaos know fear."
Lotus Blossom stepped up on Sunbeam's other side to take her verse.
"Heart to heart and sister to brother, we must raise our voices for ourselves and each other.
"And if we now march to our doom, then know this ponies: we did it for you."
Dust Runner walked forward to take her place in the formation and the song.
"We made our final stand. One filly united this band.
"Let the curtain rise, let the final score be known.
"Six stood. Each of us would have alone.
"One young filly, her innocence in danger.
"To the price of our acts, none of us was a stranger.
"And when when the dust settled, what was the cost?
"Six ponies were captured, but who the battle lost?"
Contrail lifted his own voice to join the melody as he took his place on the end of the line.
"We would do it again. We knew the price. We chose this trade. It is no sacrifice.
"At the end of the day, what fell to a mere six? If all took a stand, how would our emotions mix?
"What could we do, if we were all united? One sky has one storm, and soon we can fight it!"
The condemned closed their eyes and listened to the harp play, all six of them beginning to subtly glow. Then all present received another surprise as a seventh voice came echoing from the crowd. Inkwell smiled as he recognized his brother's voice, coming from all directions with no discernible source. The colt could even bounce sound.
"Right is right, wrong will be wrong. We all make our own choices, this is our song.
"The ones that got away, the ones that stayed behind, this battle we have won, if you keep us in mind.
"Remember us, carry our song, on wind, fire, and water, earth, star, moon , and sun."
There was a pause as the harp played around to the next verse, as if giving the audience a chance to take a breath, and then at the same instant, seven voices rang out, the same song, the same words, in seven part harmony.
"The day soon is coming when chaos shall fall, and with it come justice and freedom for all.
"This is our promise. This is who we are. This oath we swear now, by the sun, moon and stars.
"Fire and water align now as one. Air and earth also, 'til freedom is come.
"We are the ponies who took the first stand. We fight for Equestria, this magical land.
"But first is not last, so heed now our call. Harmony's coming, ready for it be all!"
The eyes of the six ponies on the platform began to glow different colors. Had anypony been able to see them, they would have noticed that Featherdancer's eyes were glowing a seventh color as well. All of them opened their mouths in unison again, and an eighth voice emerged from them.
"Ponies of all kinds, raise up your heads. the long terror of chaos soon comes to an end."
The six ponies turned to face the Draconequi commanding the ceremony.
"I speak now to Discord. You'll soon face a choice. I charge you now to protect the last spark of hope for your race.
"And as for you Mayhem, your prophecy is more dire. You led the coup, you have gained my ire.
"Your fate is delivered on Hope's loyal wings. Your destiny cometh, listen for three rings."
A pillar of rainbow light surrounded them, and when it faded, they were again facing the crowd.
"Of one for another, another for one; this is our destiny, this is our choice, we stand together. From one to another, another to one, the mark of our destinies, singled out, alone, fulfilled. All of us together, we chose to make our stand, with six destinies made one, there will be harmony without end."
Still acting in unspoken synchronicity, they walked to the edge of the inner circle of the spell and each took a line.
"They cannot destroy life, 'tis given by one more powerful than they." Sunbeam stepped across the glowing barrier into the inner circle.
"A storm of emotions is coming, to bring back the calmest day." Contrail crossed the circle.
"The hearts of all ponies united, joined as one for even an instant of time." Lotus Blossom crossed over.
"Shall be the guiding revelation as harmony's powers align." Dust Runner followed.
"Chaos' reign is blacker than the darkest of nights, but the darkness holds dreams of light." Moonchaser stepped over and took her place in the circle.
"A new hope is coming with harmony's dawn, but for it we will have to fight." Inkwell stepped over into the circle.
The six ponies stood inside of the inner circle of the spell, facing outward. "This is who we are."
Each pair of ponies directly opposite each other, standing back to back took a final few words and then waited for the spell.
"A guardian compass, an emotional stay..." Sunbeam and Contrail closed their eyes.
"One who removes curtains, a sister of ponykind..." Lotus Blossom and Dust Runner bowed their heads.
"A light in the darkness, a friend in the night." Moonchaser and Inkwell finished their line just as the spell flashed and they were gone, leaving a rather impressive scorch mark on the platform.
Featherdancer waited for a moment before beginning the final verse.
"Equestria's freedom, and Harmony's rise. We've counted the cost, we know the final price.
"We cannot ask any to lay down their lives. But those who wish for freedom will soon need to unite."
A single bell rang out somewhere in the city, and as it did, a lightning bolt struck home in Featherdancer's mind. In his head he could hear the strange voice from before speaking in unison with his brother. Almost without realizing it, he began to repeat their words.
"Hear me now Mayhem, that is your first toll. The third ring of the bell shall be your death knoll."
And with that, Featherdancer turned and walked away, sneaking past the guards before taking to the air and flying off to the tree.
Meanwhile, the six ponies who had just been banished found themselves hurtling down a tunnel of light and shadow, their lives flashing around them. Then there was another flash of light, and they found themselves tumbling through the air, landing out cold in the middle of a forest clearing.
As the one most used to being bludgeoned into unconsciousness, Inkwell was the first to wake up. Slowly, he rose, rubbing his forehead with one of his front hooves to try and massage away the massive headache. He began to look around him to determine that yes, he was indeed in the clearing he had intended to land them in. Then he froze.
His gaze flitted between his companions. He turned and rushed over to the nearby pool of water that was the primary reason he had chosen this location for the other end of the teleport. As he took in his own reflection, his state of mind was wonderfully displayed in a single word.
"...What?"