//------------------------------// // Chapter 42, The Council of Princesses (original) // Story: The Chronicles of Summer Rain // by shysage //------------------------------// This is the original version of Chapter 42, The Council of Princesses When Equestria pony Summer Rain woke up the next morning, everypony else was up, including her Twin. Equestria Girls Summer was laying on her belly facing Summer, with a Fluttershy on either side. They were all waiting for Summer to wake up. "Hi Summer" Equestria Girls Summer said with a smile. Three special girls... They all got a big hug. Everypony else was already up, and mostly talking with their Twin. Both Raritys and both Pinkies were in a group talking together. Both Twilights were gone however. Princess Cadance came in, and led them all to a nice breakfast in a different room. Everypony enjoyed the meal, even the Equestria Girls. After breakfast, Princess Cadance took everypony for a walk, that ended in a large meadow near the Crystal Palace. They all spent the better part of the day wandering around, enjoying the calmness and beauty of this place, together. At about noon, Princess Twilight and her Twin rejoined everypony else, and the Summer Twins hugged them both. Summer spent most of the day with her Twin, and they talked a lot. For a large part of that time, both Fluttershy's joined them. It was an amazing treat. Everypony laughed. Everypony cried some too. Time spent with Twins is priceless. It was about mid-afternoon. Equestria pony Summer wanted to write a song to try to capture just a glimpse of the 'Twins experience'. She knew a 'glimpse' would be all she could accomplish, the amazing joy of being with your Twin was just so deep and complete. Summer just leaned gently against her Twin, and Equestria Girls Summer seemed to amazingly, immediately, and effortlessly sense what was on her Twin's heart, that they needed to write a special song together. Both Fluttershys were with them at this point as well. They may have even sensed this too... ...maybe because they were both incredibly sensitive... ...maybe because they were the Summer's sisters... ...maybe both, who knows. The four of them found Princess Cadance, then asked if they could have some means to write with. Princess Twilight overheard what the Summers asked, and so she volunteered to write the words for the Summer Twins with her magic. When the paper, ink and quill were ready, Princess Twilight then called everypony over. They would do this as a group. They would all stay in their pony form for this too. Before long, all seven sets of Twins were laying on their bellies in a tight group... ...crying... ...helping with the words of the song... This was a special song... ~~~~~ Twins Song (softly and breathy as only Fluttershy could) Our two worlds mixed, where are you from? How did I live without you? Our destinies fixed, I saw you come... I just could not look from you... [Chorus] I am your friend for the rest of your life, and no one can take me away... You are my friend for the rest of my life, and no one can take you away... I am you.. My hand in your hand, we fear no wrong, you know I would never harm you Whatever may come, our devotion is strong and your best is all I long for you [Chorus] Our friendship is magic, I feel in my heart, there simply is no explanation This bond that we feel, so full and so real... ...sobbing deeply... ..holding tightly... [Chorus] Through play and tears... Through mounting years... Come what may... I will always say... [Chorus] [Chorus] ~~~~~ When they were done writing the words, Summer asked the two Fluttershys to make up a tune, and and sing it for them. Fluttershys were normally much too timid for such a thing, but they both deeply loved every single pony in this group, and that seemed reason enough for them to truly want to sing. After a few minutes, the tune was done, and they sat up and sang it together for the group. It was absolutely beautiful. It was hard too... The Fluttershys were quickly choking back tears... They had to stop twice and cry some before they could finish it... This was ok, everypony else was crying too... When they were done singing it together, everypony was hugging their Twin sobbing deeply... The Fluttershy Twins just fell to the ground and did the same... They all cried together for a while like this... Well, it was just a 'glimpse' anyway... The entire 'Twins' experience was so, just, 'out of the blue'. Nopony had any idea that one pony, just making friends in a different world, would un-earth such an amazing Gem... Later in the afternoon, Princess Cadance began rounding everypony up for the Council of Princesses. Before they all went back to the Portal room, Shining Armor addressed the group. He spoke carefully and deliberately. The goal of the council was to decide Discord's fate, specifically for his role in the events of the rebellion that placed Sunset Shimmer in power, along with his crimes against Princess Twilight and her friends. The Council was made up of three Princesses; Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Princess Twilight. Summer later learned that Princess Cadance had asked to be excused because she doubted her ability to remain objective. Discord had tortured her for hours to find the location of the Portal. Aside from the Princesses, Shining armor and the Military Magistrate, only the seven Twins would be in attendence. Shining Armor soberly warned all present that a review of the timeline of the events leading up to the 'coup' was an important part of the proceedings. He wanted everypony to be ready for that. Shining Armor indicated that this would be a Military Tribunal, and that NOPONY should speak unless specifically addressed. After this careful preparation, Shining Armor lead everypony back to the Portal room. Princess Cadance, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were already there. The Magistrate began the proceedings by admonishing everypony present that the truth was more important than anything else. Regardless how they felt about Discord, justice demanded that they handle him fairly and justly. As Shining Armor had warned, the Magistrate first reviewed the chain of events prior to and including all of Discord's actions which were his contribution to the coup. Discord came to Ponyville, went to Fluttershy, then asked her to accompany him to the Library, then asked Princess Twilight to gather the other four. After Princess Twilight and her five friends were all present, Discord then reminded Fluttershy about her promise to not use her 'Element of Harmony' against him, and she confirmed she would not. Equestria pony Fluttershy wept, softly at first, for the rest of the council. Her Twin just held her. Discord then asked that Princess Twilight and the rest of her friends give him their 'Elements of Harmony" and they refused. Standing together, without Fluttershy's 'element', they tried to fend off his magic, but quickly failed. Discord then used his magic to knock them all over, and then he took Princess Twilight's crown, followed by the necklaces of the other four ponies, and then took he took Flyttershy's necklace as well. Horrified, Fluttershy told Discord that he was not being friendly at all. Discord just laughed and said "Yes I am, I just have a different, more powerful friend." Discord used his magic to quickly strip the jewelry away, and simply mounted the six 'Elements of Harmony' as a crown on his head. Discord then marched all six of them to Zecora's hut, and he asked for the Alicorn Amulet. Zecora refused, so Discord squeezed this Zebra into successively smaller objects, until she finally told him where it was. Once Discord had the Amulet, he quickly put it on saying that he "wanted to take it for a spin". Discord forced Princess Twilight and her friends back to Ponyville, leaving Zecora squeezed into her own work table. Starting with Applejack, Discord formed huge tombstones, and simply stretched each of the ponies, screaming, across each of their tombstones, alive, and left them to die. Rainbow Dash flew off at this point. After murdering both Rarity and Pinkie Pie like this, Discord found Rainbow Dash at a place called 'Summer's Tree', and placed her on her tombstone there. Discord then murdered Princess Twilight on her tombstone behind the Library. Discord then took the Alicorn Amulet off, and then murdered Fluttershy on the tombstone in front of her cottage. Discord then translocated himself to Canterlot, outside Sunset Shimmer's cell. Sunset Shimmer quickly blasted out, killed some Guards nearby, took the 'Elements of Harmony' and the Alicorn Amulet, magically embedded them in her body, and became a huge monster. Discord then translocated himself back to the Crystal Palace. Discord used his magic to remove the Green eye zombie spell from Princess Cadance and tortured her for hours to find the location of the Portal. Making no headway, Discord finally stretched her alive, across five floors on the back side of the Crystal Palace. All activity stopped at this point until Summer and the Equestria Girls arrived... ...Probably less that 8 hours later... The Magistrate was obviously reading this, and was not very familiar with a lot of the details. Most of the ponies present had lived through this entire nightmare, and were weeping softly, some loudly... After a brief pause to consult his paperwork, the Magistrate resumed. "Discord's deeds were certainly terrible, but the main question of guilt rests on if there was any coercion involved." "Fluttershy, was Sunset Shimmer present at any time as Discord carried out the events of that evening?" the Magistrate asked. Equestria pony Fluttershy was a wreck, crying on her Twin's shoulder, and could say nothing. But her Twin knew, as did both Pinkie Pies. They all three said together "No sir." The Magistrate accepted this and continued. The next question focused on whether or not Discord's attitude reflected coercion, pressure or fear in any way. "Fluttershy, when Discord first came to get you that evening, was his attitude out of character or reflecting external pressure in any way?" the Magistrate asked. Again Fluttershy's Twin and both Pinkie Pies said "no sir." The Magistrate next pointed out that Discord's comments, both the one about taking the Alicorn Amulet "for a spin", as well as his laughter at his own 'more powerful friend' comment, further reflected the fact that Discord was acting on his own, and not due to any coercion from any outside source or influence. The Magistrate concluded that, according to Equestrian Law, void of any conclusive evidence of Coercion, the law would find Discord guilty. It was ultimately up to the three Princess to agree or disagree with this finding. The Magistrate then gave the three Princesses some brief time. They could talk, they could discuss, they could ask any more questions. At the conclusion of this brief period, he would ask for their verdict, one at a time. It was silent in the Portal room for a few minutes, except for the weeping of a number of ponies. All three Princesses sat motionless, said nothing, asked nothing. "Princess Celestia, your verdict please" the Magistrate asked. "Guilty." Princess Luna, your verdict please" the Magistrate asked. "Guilty." Princess Twilight, you verdict please" the Magistrate asked. "Guilty." The Magistrate did some writing in the documents before him. Then he said 'officially': "The defendent has been found guilty by an honest and impartial council of three Princesses. His crimes all commend the death sentence, and this is the resultant finding of this Council of Princesses. This Council is now adjourned. Very quickly, before anypony even moved, Princess Twilight asked that everypony remain seated. Then she said to Equestria pony Summer Rain "Summer you have been strangely quiet. Do you wish to add anything?" Summer replied quietly with a bow "Yes Princess, if I may." Princess Twilight said quietly "Summer, you may speak." Summer slowly walked half the distance towards Discord's Cell. Her words would be directed at him. While walking slowly there, she threw herself back on her hind legs, and immediately stood up into her Equestria Girls form. As she took the next step, her two wings materialized, substantially larger, extending from her back. They were vaguely outlined in bright blue at first, but then quickly filled in as the light Tan of Summer's pony coat. They next flattened straight outwards to the side and curved slightly forward... menacingly... Everypony saw that her Cutie Mark, though covered with clothing, was glowing brightly. Everypony then gasped as a large, pure white Unicorn horn materialized on her head, again, first with bright blue outlines, then filled in with a pearl colored hardness. Along with the horn came a very low, clearly discernable rumbling sound. It was not loud, but in the confines of the Portal room, everypony could hear it, but more importantly, they could feel it in their stomach. By now Summer's eyes were closed, her head was tilted up substantially and tears were streaming down her Equestria Girls face. Summer stopped near Discord's Cell, and put her arms locked straight down at her side, with her knuckles outward in defiance. "Discord..." she yelled... It wasn't anger Summer was feeling, it was anguish. Her voice was higher then normal, she was carrying the pain of others. ... ... "How could you... ... ... "The most sensitive pony in Equestria made a promise to you... ... ... "My sister took a great risk, and promised you something very important, just to show you... ...she just wanted to be your friend... ... ... "You brutally forced that promise to be the basis of simply taking what you wanted from her... ... ... "Then you forced Equestria's most sensitive pony to watch you torture and murder six of her friends... ... ... "Then you brutally murdered her as well..." ... ... Summer never opened her eyes during this, still crying... After a longer pause Summer yelled... "Please, never again..." When Summer said the 'g' sound in 'again', she lightly stomped her right foot on the ground. As she did, a thunderous explosion rocked Discord's cell... It shook the floor... it shook the walls... the ceilings... it shook the entire Crystal Palace... But the explosion was wholly contained inside Discord's cell. For 30 seconds, the brightest white flames whirled randomnly, whimsically inside the crystal cavity where Discord was. After 30 seconds, the flames mysteriously went out, almost as abruptly as they had started. After maybe a minute, everypony heard a distinct, growing, cracking sound, as the crystal material around Discord's cell could no longer handle the stress. The entire front wall of Discord's cell simply fell outwards and shattered into pieces on the floor. All that was visible inside, was a small pile of fused matter that 'used to be' Discord. Summer still had not opened her eyes yet, and still continued to cry. After another brief delay, she again yelled "Please, never again..." At this, Discord's 'remains' simply burst into flame, burning brightly. No smoke was emitted. The flames burned brightly until there was simply nothing left to burn, then went out. It was then silent in the room for about another minute. Summer had not opened her eyes through all of this, and her crying was the only sound in the room. Summer then threw herself down on her front legs, immediately changing back into her Equestria pony form. She brought her head down low, and said softly "Please never again..." Her song was done. Then she turned to walk back to her sister. At this point, the Unicorn horn quickly disappeared, and Summer nestled her pony wings back to her side. The very low rumbling faded slowly away as well. Eyes closed, Summer walked slowly to her Sister... Crying... Everyone could see her Cutie mark however, and gasped again. It was a large, rapidly rotating, pure white Pearl. It was rotating slower and slower. When Summer was at her sister's side, it was rotating very slowly, then split out into the three drops of her normal mark, and they only then faded from pure white, to their normal colors as their rotation stopped. Summer found her sister's shoulder and just cried, sobbing deeply. Discord would never hurt her sister again... Nopony moved in the room for maybe five minutes, as Summer cried on her sister's shoulder. Without moving, Princess Twilight said "Summer Rain". Summer quickly ran before her Princess, and bowed on her forelegs. "Have you been using my Magic?" Princess Twilight asked. Still bowing, Summer began to cry again "Yes, Princess, I'm sorry... I felt like I had to, like I didn't have any choice..." Summer was sobbing again... This was not the response Princess was after at all. She marvelled to herself that this simple Pegasus mare before her, had no clue... Twilight said softly "Summer..." and user her foreleg to raise Summer to a sitting position. Summer was still crying though. "Summer... You were using your own magic." Summer didn't move, but stopped crying, and looked up at her Princess in wonder... Princess Twilight continued, softly. "Twilight and I were at the Canterlot Library this morning doing some research. "The magic that we Unicorns were seeing around you made no sense, it was clearly none of ours, and we would know. "And no, you wouldn't be able to use my magic when I was dead. "We didn't find much, but we found this. Well, Twilight found it, someone had already marked the page in this ancient book. "This is a copy of a tracing from a tombstone that probably dates back thousands of years." Twilight used her magic to hold it up for everyone to see. It was the outline of Summer's Cutie Mark. Princess Twilight continued. "The tombstone was for a mare named Shila the Beautiful, but that's not the important part. "This ancient book is about Pony Magic, and catalogues the various types of magic historically known to exist in Equestria. This is a book specifically about magic, and is very old. "This page is at the very end of this book... "There are some words on this page next to the tracing of the Cutie Mark. It translates to just five words." Princess Twilight was having a hard time not crying herself at this point. She said them as best as she could. ... ... ... "Phantom Alicorn ... ... ... ... "Magical Power Unknown" ... ... ... Princess Twilight was fighting back tears... She loved Summer... ...a lot... ... ... ... "Summer, the night that Discord took away our gems, it wasn't me reaching out for magic, it was your magic trying to help us... "It wasn't through the Portal either, your magic was trying to use the Twins in both worlds as the bridge between us... ... ... ... "I felt the same magic as we faced Sunset Shimmer together... ... ... ... "Summer, there is no magic known to Pony history that is stronger than yours... ... ... ... "Summer..." Princess Twilight said softly and lovingly... "This is who you are... ...the rarest, and most powerful pony to ever walk... ...to ever breath air in Equestria..." ... ... ... Summer was still bowing before her Princess. Shysage had accidentally prepared Summer for this Through her tears, Princess Twilight started to say something, but Summer quickly interrupted, and spoke slowly and softly. "Princess please.... "Please don't make me a Princess... "I already have one Princess, you Princess Twilight... "And I will love you and serve you until I die..." Summer's Twin was already at Summer's side bowing, and Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie Pie -- the rest of the Twins, immediately joined them. All Princess Twilight could do was cry... Princess Twilight tried to hug them all, really she did, and they cried together for a while. History in the making... ...never felt so good... After maybe 30 minutes, Summer stopped everypony and spoke softly to her Princess. "Princess, can tomorrow be a 'just Twins' day with no other official business?" Summer asked, her head bowed in respect. Princess Twilight smiled at this Phantom Alicorn and said "It might be hazardous to disagree with you, but that sounds fine." Princess Twilight had a Twin now too after all. And they all knew Summer would never do anything to hurt Princess Twilight. Princess Celestia agreed. "Tomorrow will be a day just for Twins to be together." It was dusk now in Equestria, and Air Coaches were waiting outside to take all the Twins back to Ponyville. Everypony followed Shining Armor and Princess Cadance through the halls down to the main door. They were soon at the Coaches. Summer said quickly "My Twin and I are going to Cloudsdale..." One of the lead Air Coach stallions said "We can't go there miss, I'm sorry." Princess Celestia and Princess Luna offered to accompany them to 'the city in the sky', it was not that far from the Crystal Palace, just high up in the clouds. Summer thought her Equestria Girls Twin may need some help. Summer and her Twin spent maybe five minutes crying on their sister's shoulders. They each had missed their sisters dearly. The Summer Twins were soon on the main avenue in Cloudsdale. Once they landed, both Summers took the opportunity to bow to both these special Princesses. Princess Celestia left both ponies bowing, and began to speak softly. "Summer, it is clear that your pursuit of true friendship has rapidly expanded wildly, in amazing good, on both sides of the Portal. And a lot of this nopony may ever know. We are all speechless at your accomplishments, arrived at simply by being a friend. "In addition, nopony could have guessed it would come to this ahead of time, but your pivotal, no, singular role in the rescue of Equestria cannot and will not be overlooked. Everypony in the realm owes their very life to the compassion, bravery and devotion that you and your friends showed that dark night. "This startling revelation that you are by far the rarest and most magically powerful pony in Equestria's history will also not be overlooked, although we will probably want to keep that information concealed. The tactical value of the Phantom Alicorn is that she can appear out of nowhere, and that quality has significant military benefits when needed. "It might be beneficial to help you learn to use you magic in a guided sort of way, but it is doubtful that any of the Unicorns in Equestria are competent for this task. Your precious Princess may be the best person for that after all. Princess Celestia stopped a minute in thought, then continued. "Such amazing power wrapped in such true humility and amazing devotion... "You really should be made a Princess, especially since none of the rest of the leaders of Equestria could ever stand against you. More importantly, your qualities so amazingly, completely exemplify everything that a Princess should be. But we will let your dear Princess decide that. "For now, let me just thank you again." Both princesses began to cry... "My sister and I are alive because of you... Our realm is alive because of you..." Princess Celestia only then drew both Summers up with her leg, and then both Princesses took turns hugging each of them. They then flew off into the dark, back to Canterlot. This was the first time that Summer and her Twin were alone. For a few minutes, they just hugged and cried together. Euqestria Girls Summer said softly "You are amazing..." Equestria pony Summer said softly back "I'm just a pony... committed to true friendship..." Equestria Girls Summer said "...that's why you are amazing..." Then they just hugged and cried together a while longer. They were Twins... Summer and her Twin then headed off down the avenue. Equestria Girls Summer thought for a moment, then said softly "Shysage?" Her Twin said simply "Yes." They were soon walking into his dimly lit house. He rose to greet them, but couldn't speak, still amazed at the events of the day, and still trying to fight his emotions and record them, what Princess Celestia had just said specifically. Equestria pony Summer hugged him tightly for a minute, was soon weeping softly, then they left. Shysage tried to go back to work. Out the door, Summer's Twin said "mom and dad next?" Summer replied "Wow Twin you are getting really good at this!" Equestria pony Summer walked in first, and greeted her parents, and hugged them as they cried a little while. Summer suspected that they already knew about the events of the last week. Only then did her Twin come in, and they welcomed her warmly, hugging her as well. This surprised Summer, evidently they already knew about this part too. "Can we spend the night here mom?" Summer asked. "Sure dear" her mom quickly said. "You can sleep in here if you want." "Thanks mom, we will need to leave at Sun-up though." Summer said. "Thats fine dear, we will be heading to bed shortly too." Mom said. It was soon dark in Summer's parent's house in Cloudsdale. Summer lay next to her Twin. "So Tomorrow, Shysage again? I don't know any more..." Summer answered softly "We are going to do his job for him tomorrow, for Twins day, and take his place. He has been up, probably almost non-stop for maybe two weeks. He doesn't know it yet, but he is going to get some sleep." Well, he knew it now. This was good, he would be up most of the night anyway, still getting down all the details for the Twins Song, the Council of Princesses, and the revelations that followed. It had been another amazing day in Equestria, and Shysage had his hands full trying to record everything.