//------------------------------// // The Burnt Hope // Story: A Beautiful Night // by bakersong //------------------------------// As she slowly walked through the prison being lead by one of it's guards she couldn't help but think of the reason why she had been called here. There was a scent in the air that made her scrunched her nuzzle as they drew closer to their destination. When she had received an emergency letter from here she couldn't help but wonder what was that important, but when she landed a guard had told her that there had been some kind of attack. "So tell me what kind of attack was this, and why would it concern me?" She asked in a calm and even tone. "Oh, forgive me Princess Celestia. The attack was one of magic, and as for why we called you here is because it involves the prisoner that you told us to keep an eye on." The guard answered. "What happen, is he okay?" She asked the concern in her voice was not being hidden well. "To be honest, we have no idea. It's best if we show you what the attack did." The guard said taking a moment to look at the princess a little concern that she seemed to have concerns for a low life prisoner. "So that smell, is that from the attack?" She asked her voice back to normal. "Yes, it's a very gruesome scene. I wish I could not show you it, but you insisted that if anything happens to him to let you know right away." He replied. "I see." She said trying to remain calm. "Ma'am, if I may speak freely?" The guard asked. "Of course, go right ahead." She answered. "Why do you care about this prisoner? He was put here for a reason after all, and this is the most secured prison in all of Equestria which means he must one of the worst." The guard said. "No, he's not a criminal at all. Tell me do you know what he was charged with?" She asked. "No i'm afraid I don't." The guard answered keeping his head forward. "He was charged with being a host of a dangerous creature, he himself did nothing wrong." She said. "Then why is he here if he did not do anything?" The guard asked. "I would have figured all my guards would know the laws of this country by now, the law that made him come here was created about a thousand years ago. There is nothing we could do short of changing the law completely, but that still would have taken to long." She answered. "So because he's a host of this creature he was put here?" The guard asked. "Yes, but that is not important right now. What is important is you show me the scene of the crime, and telling me if you have any suspects as who was responsible." She said, her voice taking a bit of anger at the last part. "Of course, we do not know who is responsible. The magic that was used wasn't recognizable, we can't tell who it belonged to." The guard answered. "What do you mean you can't determine who the magic belongs to?" She asked. "Well as you know when somepony uses a spell it leaves behind residue magic, which can be traced back to one pony. But when we looked the magic kept changing, we couldn't identify who it was." The guard answered. "So could it have been multiple unicorns then?" She asked. "No, we would have been able to spot any large group of ponies like that even if they were using spells to conceal themselves." The guard replied and then stopped. "We're just about there, down there second cell on the right. You can't miss it, it's the one in the study." "You are not escorting me the rest of the way?" She asked a bit suspiciously. "I have to return to my post, and there are six guards posted around the cell and many more posted all around just in case. So you are in no trouble Princess." The guard said bowing and waling back to his post. She walked a little more slowly, she had managed to ignore the smell the whole walk up her but it was now to powerful to deny anymore. Her eyes widened when she realized that it was the smell of something that had been burnt. When she entered into the study room her heart sanked at he sight of the cell door being warped by intense heat. "No..." She said quietly. "Ma'am, i'm sorry about this. We should have had better guard around..." The guard that began to speak was silenced when he realized that she was not listening. "Is there a body?" She asked after swallowing not taking her eyes off of the warped door. "We can not say, everything in the room was burnt to ashes." The guard answered. "How much stuff was in the room if it caused that many ashes?" She asked anger seeping into her voice a little. "There was only his bed, a couple of books, his toiletries and that's it. But it seems that whoever did this through more stuff in when they casted the spell." The guard answered nervously. "How long do you think it will take before you know if there is a body in there, or what's left of one?" She asked. "If things go to schedule we should have figured it out in an hour." The guard answered. "Not necessarily." A voice came out of the cell, and a moment later a unicorn stepped out with a depressed look on his face. "So Dr. Mourge what have you found?" Another guard asked. "Nothing good i'm afraid." The doctor said looking at the princess. "I have managed to find the remains of a pony, though I cannot identify who it is." "Princess are you okay?" A concerned guard asked taking a step forward, though it could have been anypony but there was only one pony in the cell at the time of the attack. "Y-yes, I am." She replied in a tone of voice none of them heard before. But she stood there frozen at what she heard, the remains of just one pony had been found. The attack she thought was only meant for a jail break was meant for this. She could not let her little sister find out about this no matter what, even if that meant betraying her trust. "Listen up, I want this order to go all throughout the prison. Do not let Princess Luna find out about the attack. nor tell her who was the one that was attacked. No matter what, even if she tries to pull rank of her being a princess. Ignore any order that she gives to let her see this cell, or to tell her what happen do you all get that?" She yelled and they all nodded. "Good now go spread that order around." "Yes ma'am!" A guard said before running down a hall. She turned her attention back onto the warped door of the cell still wondering who would do this? Yes this was a prison of some of the worst criminals, but he did nothing to hurt anypony. So why was he the target of the attack, and why would they do something this horrible? The only hope she had was that Luna would never find out, but knowing how much time and work her sister had put in to help him she knew she would find out sooner or later. But when that time comes, what will she do? For now all she could do was put on a brave face, and prepare for her nieces wedding. "Goodbye Song." She whispered under her breath as she walked away, though she knew that he hated that particular word. But as far as she could tell he would not mind right now.