Zalem
This story takes place before the control of the sun and the moon, before there was ever equality in pony society, before nature was controlled by others, and before the unicorn race was known. The town is governed by a town law that was established long ago by earth ponies. In total there are only about 9 houses, all spread across the town. The climate is relatively cool with cloudy skies. The name is Zalem; it is small, and inhabited by mostly earth pony with little pegasi. At this time the ways were different. Ponies, earth and pegasi alike, were not very inclined to exploring. The very idea of finding new dangers outside of the safety of their home is chilling. In order to maintain this safety the ponies of this land, they must rely on law and order, or rather a single judge...
In entered a teen aged stallion, in a small candle lit room with antique furniture. He was a light brown with a charcoal black mane and tail. The walls seemed to be made of wood that had turned a dark brown over time. His father was at his sisters bedside, who was placing a blanket on his sister head.
“Father! Father!” He cried. “Is my sister well?” He sat next to him, a worried look on his face.
“Yes, yes. She seems just right now, but she has yet to come for supper.” He reassured. “You have gotten my letter then I suppose?”
“Yes, though I expected it more urgent then this. She seems healthy to me.” The son expressed.
“It may seem that way…” The father looked at his son, “Though she has been like this since yesterday.” He said.
“Pray tell, do you mean to tell me she ate not a nibble yesterday?” The son asked.
“She did, though not as herself… she always stood erect, with her eyes parallel to the wall," he had begun to sound worried as he continued " she would never open her mouth but to eat, what little she ever did.” He explained with a passive tone.
“And what of the servant Taitana? Where is she this day?” He asked.
“She should be arriving soon; I had sent her to collect more fire, for the room has gotten quite cold.” He stated.
Taitana is the servant of the Trotter house; she has been so ever since Apple Gail was sent out for “disobedience”. The son secretly loved Apple Gail, and did not like the replacement his father had made.
“I worry of her father…” The father looked confused. “Taitana is not a normal mare”
“I know this, though we must judge her not, It is in her culture to wear that dark hood.” He answered, believing he knew what he was referring to.
The door leading to the outside opened, letting in the winter breeze. Taitana entered pulling in a sleigh containing a stack of fire wood. She closed the door behind her.
“Speaking of witch” The son whispered to himself.
“Night sir” Taitina said nodding. “Here is the fire wood you requested from me”. She looked directly at the son eyes; he stared back at hers, and saw for the first time that she had dark maroon eyes. “And who might this be sir?” She asked shifting her attention to the father.
“Why this is my son, Gruff Trotter, you had met before with him, have you not?” He asked.
“I believe we did sir; though it might have only been brief.” She answered sitting down next to the fire place, which only had a small ember lighting it.
“Yes, but that does not matter now. We must worry of the young and ill right now,” He looks at his daughter still lying asleep in bed. “We have this one to attend to-”.
“DID YOU DO THIS TAITANA!?” Gruff exclaimed.
She fell back on her hooves as though the mere shouting had pushed her on her back.
“GRUFF TROTTER!! How dare you raise your voice at her!?”
“I saw you…over at the woods, you were glowing like some sort of…some sort of WITCH!!” He claimed, disregarding what his father had to say.
“Taitana is this true?” The father asked her with concern.
“No…this never… I-”
“DON’T LIE TAITANA!! I saw you! You closed your eyes saying ‘this one will be a little difficult’ “he mocked. “Then you started glowing yellow from your head, there is NO possible way a normal mare like you would ever glow like THAT in any way! What you were doing to those girls they…they all seemed to ENJOY the wrong you did them! And I stood there behind the bushes, FEARING for my life! Gruff claimed once more.
“Taitana you know what must be done to those doing witchery in the town of Zalem. They must face the rope; though I will for you in court for as long as I must.”
There was a silence in the room. Everyone looked at each other in a pause. For a moment gruff wanted to speak but was cut off by his conscience.
“Now then, gruff would you go to the town and gather the ingredients for a well-deserved pancakes and fritter, your dear sister Mary”.
“Yes, father…as you wish”. He said marching his way out the door.
“Taitana…come…” He asked passively. She walks towards him with caution.
“What were you doing in the woods?” He asked.
“I-I was just setting up a fire for the girls we-we were having a camp out until we all got scared by a sound coming from the bushes”.
“I see…now then, I would have you seen out. I cannot have any bad name come to me or my family”.
“Of-of course sir…” She leaves with a concerned look.
Staid stood alone in the room reflecting on what just happened. He stood by his daughter staring blankly at a wall…
“A witch…”
----------
A pitchfork, a scythe…there is the barn at the edge of town, which was owned by Ghest Burros whom had built it long ago.
Ghest Burrows is a very old stallion. Very strange for someone to be at his age, living to your 90s, like this stallion had done, was unheard of. He was small, and frail. Over time his hair had grown winter-white, and had his vision impaired to the point of complete blindness. He was with his daughter in the kitchen; His daughter was making him supper.
“Do you want any eggs with your bread father?” Lis asked.
“Yes…please” He said hesitating.
“Heh, I knew you would say yes,” She smiled “so I had already made you some” She gave him the plate.
“Many thanks my dear” He said.
“No trouble father, anything for you” She said reassuring.
Lis Trotter was young and in her 30’s much like her spouse Staid. She was a Pegasus but was not always comfortable flying. She always had a semi-smile look on her face, which indicated she was hopeful and serious. She has been taking care of her father since she’d moved in the town of Zalem with Staid about 10 years ago.
“So how have you been sleeping father? Have you been feeling better?” She asked.
“Eh…As healthy as a horse, my dear” He said.
“That is good. Have you heard anything about my dear son in law Staid?” He asked.
“Yes, I hear he had just made his 1500th sale at his shop in town”
“Anything else?”
“No, that’s all I’ve heard about him since I last visited…” She paused. “Why do you ask?”
He stood sitting, staring at the wall. And in a quiet voice he said. “I do hope he is alright”
“Of course he is…though he has a temper that I am afraid of”
“My thoughts exactly” He finishes his food and picks it up from the table.
“I’ll get that father” She said going toward him.
“Thank you my dear”
There was a burst at the door. The two became startled.
“Lis! Ghest! Are you two in here?!” A mare asked.
“Yes we are,” Lis said poking her head out to see who was there. “Did you have to break off the hinges?”
“This is an emergency! Hail is at the Trotter house!” She exclaimed.
“Hail! As in, the witch professional!” She asked.
“Yes! Him!” She said.
“Thank you for bringing this to my attention,” She looks at her father, whom had a concerned look. “You stay here and make sure you lock all the doors and windows”.
“Of course. Be sure to return once you have finished”.
She shut the door on her way out. The door creaked shut. Ghest put his plate in the sink. He left for his bed slowly and with little haste. He sighed as he lied down on his back. He paused for a long while…
“I know that stallion…and I do not trust him…”
----------
BAM BAM!
A knock is heard by the front door, Staid who was still at the side of his daughter feared who it could be.
“Who goes there?!” The father yelled, knowing there should be no one knocking.
“It is I, the witch professional", Autumn Hail He answered.
“Enter…”
Hail opened the door, as he entered he looked at Staid for a brief amount of time, and then examined Staid’s daughter with his eyes. He looked around for a seat and saw one that was on a desk by the bed.
“May I?” Hail asked, cluing in Staid to what he was referring to.
“Aye”
He pulled up the chair close to the bed, and sat down slowly.
“Staid, am I right?” He nodded.
“Please, explain what has happened to your daughter?” Hail said.
“3 days ago, my daughter left with other girls into the forest with my servant Taitana. She and my daughter told me they were over to meet other girls in forest, and that they were going to have a camp out. I hesitated because I believed they were going to become lost, and will find no way of getting home. But she had assured me that they were not going too far into the woods” Staid said.
“Taitana had not told you where?” Hail asked.
“Nay, all she had told me was just that. And my daughter the same”
“You allowed for this to happen to your daughter then, am I right?”
“In a way yes, but in another no”
“I understand, now, let me examine your daughter, what is her name if I may ask”
“Mary, her name is Mary”
Hail stood up from his seat and proceeded. He closed in on Mary’s face to examine it. Her eyes were looking around while still closed. He came to the conclusion that she was awake but could not open her eyes. He removed the blankets off of Mary and closed in on her face again.
“MARY!!” Hail yelled. She opened her eyes instantly to Hail's surprise.
“Call… Apple Gail”
“Send for Apple Gail! And Taitana as well!”
Staid galloped out the door. A few minutes passed, and Staid arrived with Taitana and Apple Gail.
Apple Gail is a beautiful mare. Who, at first sight, could be mistaken for a kind, youthful, and charming mare. Staid had committed adultery with Apple Gail. And when His wife Lis had gained notice she had Apple Gail thrown out. Since then Apple Gail had been growing hatred for Staid’s wife. Staid has been trying to lure Apple Gail away. But she insists that she knows that he still feels for her, and he does but the thought of betraying his wife is much too painful, to do it again. Staid since then, has been trying to prevent his emotions from overcoming him once more, and has been trying to help his wife forget of the past. She would occasionally bring it up, not to anger him, not to use it as blackmail, but to simply show Staid that she is not a bad mare, and that she is willing to stay with him with the one mistake.
“This mare has been confirmed by me that she has been tampered with by a witch. One of you must be it. If one of you confesses, you will not be punished by law” Hail said.
There was a silence in the room. Everypony stayed still waiting for another to make a move or speak.
“Very well then you leave me no choice but to-”
“It was Taitana! It was her! She was the one who did all of this!” Apple Gail claimed.
“No, I never…” Taitana said getting out a few words.
“LADY YOU WILL CONFESS NOW OR YOU WILL BE FORCED TO SPEAK!!!” Hail yelled.
“I-I…” Taitana hesitated.
Hail’s face turned red with anger, and he began pulling Taitana by her clothing to drag her outside. She left with him outside. Outside was a carriage with a cage attached to the driver’s side. A Pair of stallions stood watch.
“YOU TWO! BRING BOULDERS TO ME AT ONCE!”
“Sir yes sir!” They said in unison.
He pulled Taitana to the ground. She fell holding her hood in place.
“NOW YOU WILL TELL ME! WHO ELSE HAS DONE BLACK MAGIC!?” Hail yelled.
“There is no black magic! There was never any magic! There wha-”
“Sir! Here are the boulders. Sir!”
“Place them there on the dirt road”
They both place down 2 large boulders on the dirt road.
“Wha-what” Taitana said.
“You two, hold her down” Hail ordered.
They hold down Taitana, she struggled by they were too large for her. One held her front hooves and the other her back hooves.
“If you will not tell me then maybe I can convince you to” Hail said.
Hail picked up a boulder and placed it on the back of Taitana. She was now pinned to the floor, the boulder felt as though it was crushing her back, and the weight did not allow her to breathe properly.
“Ehh! I-I told you it wasn't me!”
“You will confess young mare!” He exclaimed.
He picks up another boulder, this one appearing heavier than the last. He then went to the previous one, and placed it on. He doesn't take notice that the towns folk have gathered around to watch the spectacle.
“Gahh!!...I did black magic… I-I AM a witch” She cried.
Hail immediately pushed down a boulder from her back.
“Speak mare! Who else is committing these black arts?” Hail questioned.
“G-Ghest Burrows!!”
He immediately pushed off the last boulder, smiling to himself proudly.
Apple Gail rushes in close to Hail, pushing some out of the way. She went down on all fours next to Taitana and Hail as if to beg.
“I want to confess myself as well! I crafted black magic! I want ponies to see me for who I truly am! I saw Sara Nurse craft! I saw Lis Trotter craft!”
By the heavens! These mares have opened themselves up to righteousness!
The rest of the town’s folk gasp with horror; the ponies they all have come to respect and consider family have just been confirmed to be a witch, by this mare who is believed to be one as well.
“But…how?” An old stallion said, stepping out of the crowd.
Hail stood on top of a nearby boulder.
“The ponies you see here folks ARE witches, but, because they have confessed, and delivered to us the hidden, they will be forgiven by the court and will hence forth be considered part of the community”. Hail said, sounding completely mad in the mind of the ponies.
“You have not yet answered my question. WHY are these ponies witches? We as the community have not seen such behavior” he said.
“But of course you haven’t!" An old lady said. "I have! My next door neighbor Cloud Dia always has her dog barking! I bet she have him bewitched to remain barking, as to drive others mad!” Any old lady claimed.
“You believe you have it bad? You hag! Why don’t you see your own reflection, Tree Cover!? You always make strange noises at night that I cannot BEAR to listen to!” Another said yelling at her from the crowd.
The town started to bicker, each would complain about something the other did, but Hail could not hear them all properly enough to make a good judgment.
Hail then proceeded by waving a hoof up into the air, yelling “PONIES!!” The town’s ponies begun growing quiet, “You will all have you justice served, once the great and powerful Judge Stanforth will arrive with justice at his side. Then and only then can everypony be served just” Hail said to the ponies.
They all looked worried for a while. Each gazed at each other’s face, and noticed their troubled looks. Hail left in the cart with the stallions pulling it, and waved a hoof goodbye the townsfolk. After he left the town’s pony view, one stallion said:
“Huh! Good! I was hoping to be rid of some of you anyhow!”
“Well pusshha! I hope you fall off to the Neverfree!” A lady yelled.
“Oh you two are like an old couple! Always fighting and feuding! Just get over the fact that you are all old wrinkly and ancient!
Staid stood above one of the rocks and raised his head above the crowd. And spoke with a loud tone:
“Ponies before any of this gets out of hoof, we should all go home and think this through, before we all start bickering like idiots!”
After a short while of speaking, the town’s ponies left home, saying a few words under their breath.
At the Procter house, night time; Lis and Staid are next to the fireplace by the front door, their daughter Mary, is just upstairs resting but still not asleep.
There is a knock at the door, two to be exact. Lis looked a Staid with uncertainty; she then trotted slowly to the door, opening it slowly. It revealed a familiar face, Hail, along with some other old looking folk, were standing at the door; behind them, stood a horse drawn carriage, containing a cage. Hail roles down a long scroll containing an important signature.
“We have a warrant, for your wife…Staid” Hail said, afraid of what he just said.
“WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!!?” He trots to the front door staring Hail dead in the face “WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS!!!” Staid yelled.
“I am not required to share that information, Staid”.
“WHO?”
“If you insist… It was Apple Gail, in the middle of the town, I SAW you there don’t tell me otherwise.”
“Yes, but I thought you had to go through investigation for these sorts of extremes. NOT with just a simple accusation”.
“As you may know Staid, Witchcraft, is a difficult crime to prove. And as such it is best to have the victim confess as to who did it”
“But Apple Gail has never been around my wife since the last 3 months!!”
“Yes, this is true, but the next best thing if not the first is a confession from a witch”.
“Give me that warrant!”
“Staid…”
Staid took it by force throwing it to the ground.
“Staid! Have you gone MAD!?”
“DAMN this warrant Hail! DAMN you and DAMN the court! I know now what is occurring in the town of Zalem, VENGEANCE, and nothing but it! This warrant is tainted with the hatred of my wife!” He said in anger.
“It’s okay Staid. I sure the court can clear this all, once the proper evidence is gathered the courts will simply find me innocent beyond doubt, just you see” Lis said, trying to remain positive.
“But…”
“It’s alright” she put a hoof to his mussel, “everything will be alright”.
Hail pointed to the cage with his head. Lis nodded and slowly trotted past Staid making her way outside. She stopped at the back of the cart where the cage lied in front of her. She looked behind her and waved goodbye to Staid, stepping onto the cage. Hail closed it behind her, and she sat down.
“NO!! I WON’T ALLOW YOU TO TAKE HER!!!” Staid yelled as ran to the cage.
“Staid! Don’t do anything you might regret later!” Hail said.
“This is all madness Hail! And you should take notice to that!” Staid began to bang at the lock standing between him and his wife.
“I’m sorry Staid, but I have to take all the actions taken in order to prevent any harm. If word were to get out that I allowed a pony accused not arrested. Then DAMNED will be my name to others, and no trust will ever come again to me. So I ask you Staid will you let this pass?”
Staid’s hooves gave out, and he’d stop banging at the cage and stood still for a moment, thinking.
“Ve-very well then” He slowly, very slowly slumped back to his door, head down.
Hail looked at him for a moment, he then leaped on to the cart and the guards went to the front pulling the cart.
The door closes…
Back at the Burrows residence…
Ghest sat at his kitchen table alone, but still in peace. He took a sip of his morning beverage.
Knock knock knock…
“I’m coming…” Ghest said as he slowly made his way to the door.
Knock knock knock…
“I’m coming!”
Knock Knock Knock…
“Whoever is there, you can stop knocking! I am not deaf, I assure you of that” he said.
Ghest opens the door.
“Hi, I’m Ghest Burrows. Please state your name and occupation” He said.
“Hail, my name is Hail, Ghest. I am here to serve this warrant I have in my hoof”
“For what is the warrant for might I ask?”
“For you, Ghest, this is not a search warrant, it is an arrest warrant. I’m here to take you before the court”.
“Under what accusation? Or a better question under who’s?”
“Are you going to yell as well?” Hail asked.
“Was I ever? Now tell me, who?”
“Under the accusation of Taitana, the first witch discovered” Hail said.
“Wha-Witch? But what would the court be doing believing the likes of a witch; a servant none the less” he looked nervous.
“In the middle of the day just yesterday, Taitana was brought to punishment because she would not confess to her wrong doings”
“I see…” said the blind stallion. “Very well then, I will go in peace, you have no need to take me by force”
“Come then…”
They both left to the cart; Ghest closes the door behind him.
“Wait! Allow me leave the key”
He places the key in the wooden mailbox; then trotted back.
“Okay then let us commence,” He looks at the lock of the cage, then the cage in its entirety “oh…very well then” He gets on the cage slowly, due to his age.
Hail gets on the front of the cart.
“LET’S GO!!”
----------
Bang
“The court is now in session for the trail of Miss Trocter. Are both sides ready?” Judge Stanforth said.
“The prosecution is ready your honor” Hail said.
“Is the defense ready?” The judge said.
“The defense is ready, your honor” Lis’s lawyer said.
“The Trial will now commence! The prosecution may make his opening statement”
“Very well. Yesterday in the midday, Taitana confessed to crafting black magic, thus confessing herself to being a witch. Soon after she confessed to me that Gorge Burrows is also a witch, or rather, a wizard. After she had said that, Apple Gail confessed as well, claiming herself to be a witch, a crafter. She pointed out that Lis is indeed a crafter” Hail said.
“Now,” Danforth said “how is the defense going to prove their client’s innocence?”
“We have evidence that Apple Gail had a motive to lie about Lis being a crafter”.
“Oh, and what would that be?” He said surprised.
“Your honor, I call Apple Gail to the stand!”
“WAIT A MINUTE!” Hail yelled from across the room “The prosecutor does not have to come to the stand, this Stallion should know that”
“Your honor,” The lawyer said “What would the people say if you’ve held back evidence from this court?”
“Hmm…I cannot grant that Apple Gail come to the stand when you have not yet told us of the reason in the first place”.
“Apple Gail used to be the servant of the Procter house, am I right?”
“Indeed” Hail responded.
“Care to explain why she is believed to be terminated?”
“It is simple actually. She and Staid both said that she was terminated for disobedience” said hail.
“That is what they both wanted everypony else to believe, when in fact, she was fired for something else, something a little more mischievous in nature” the lawyer said.
“Oh, a new piece of evidence? Well then, care to enlighten us, Mr.?” Stanford said.
“The reason why she was terminated was because the fact that she and Staid were committing the act of adultery!!” The layer said pointing his hoof to the prosecutor.
Everyone in the courtroom gasps.
“THE ACT? OF ADULTURY?? Judge Stanford stammered.
“Why yes. The family wanted this be kept secret for the sake of public humiliation”
“WAIT A MINUTE!!” Hail yelled. “How exactly do you plan to prove this? The word of the victim is not enough evidence to prove this claim”
“Hmm…as shocking as it is keeping this a secret, the prosecution is right in their knowledge. WAIT A MINUTE SUSTAINED”
“But your honor, if we can make Apple Gail and Staid Confirm it, then it WOULD be valid evidence” The lawyer said.
“WAIT A MINUTE!! The defense cannot make the prosecutor Apple Gail testify, it goes against court rules” Hail said with a smug attitude.
“WAIT A MINUTE!!” The lawyer yelled. “It seems you haven’t read the law properly, you forget three crucial exceptions; One, ‘if what evidence the victim/s has/have presented contradiction what evidence is found later on’ and two ‘if the victim had close or despicable relationships with any of the defendants family whether dead or alive’ and finally three, ‘if what evidence the prosecutor has brought is vague to the point of doubt’ ” the lawyer quoted confidently.
“Why, your correct Mr…” The Judge paused.
“Firebird Law your honor!”
“Yes, and as for the WAIT A MINUTE of the prosecutor…WAIT A MINUTE OVERRULED!” He looked at a pony next to him. “Bailiff! Bring Staid and Apple Gail here, at once!”
The bailiff left for the exit. “The court will now take a thirty minute recess as we gather them” BANG “Court is adjourned!”
All the ponies of the court left. Hail left with a frustrated look as he left for the exit, but smirked later on as he walked past the door. Firebird left for the other exit carrying an exited look on his face. Lis followed him smiling as well.
“WOW! This is my second time in a courtroom! And I’m nailing it!” Firebird said surprised at himself.
“Eh…nailing it?” Lis said.
“Well, I was only talking meta-”
“Never mind that. I couldn't ask for a better attorney like you.”
“I prefer lawyer…you know ‘cus it has the word LAW in it” He said smiling.
“Okay then, ‘LAW-YER’ she smiled.
These are dark times…
The sky is filled with complete darkness, everywhere in sight nothing but thunder clouds, and woods. The pegasi stayed at home with fear. They believed that the keeper of the heavens was angry, for many pegasi have tried to fly higher and higher to see the loved ones who have perished. But the higher the altitude the thinner the air, the pegasi took this as a sign. They believed that the heavens are only meant for those who were dead, and so, if somepony wanted to reach the heavens, they would have to die for it.
To the average pony who ever walks in at these times, will be presented by nothing, but strong dusty winds and a dark atmosphere. If one would ever peek out the window, they would see frightening shadows of small creatures and the ever wandering animal searching for food, but never another pony…
In a house that was similar to that of the Trocter family, lived a small family of three. It is quite common for a family to have only one or two children in good health; most could not afford to maintain any more in good health. Here is Goody Nurse, her daughter Dumple Nurse, and her husband Damphire Nurse. They sat in the living room observing the fire.
“Mom?” Dumple said.
“Yes dear?”
“Will the man in the suit ever get us?”
“Of course not” She smiled “why, we haven’t bothered anypony; and it would be foolhardy of him to do so.
“Don’t worry dear” Damphire smiled. “Your mom here has the best reputation as a good assistant to ponies of all kind; she has done nothing but help”.
“Okay then, would you like some more tea father?” She said, lifting the tea by the handle with her mouth.
“Thank you dear” He smiled as he watched his daughter leave to the kitchen.
“What has become of Sara, my sister in law?”
“Well, you are aware the Zalem has only one court?”
“Yes”
“Because of this they have to go to more primitive manner of obtaining the truth” he paused.
“And what would that be?”
“The same way they forced confession and information out of Taitana…” He looked away at the door for a brief moment. “You hear that?”
“Why that is thunder, Damphire, from afar”
“It is usually cloudy, but never stormy here in Zalem…”
“That is true” She agreed “But what do you think it means?”
He paused for quite a while thinking of what exactly it could signify.
“That the heavens are angry”
----------
Boom Boom
The escort cart runs over two boulders blocking its path, but keeps going. Inside are Apple Gail and Staid, they both shiver from the cold the rain has brought. Apple Gail slowly snuggles close to Staid, much to his dislike. He pushes her to the other side of the seat. She frowns as she tries to snuggle close to him again.
“So Staid, how about this trial?”
“What do ramble about now Apple Gail?” He said annoyed.
“I’m just happy that I get to spend some quality time with you” She said getting closer.
Staid, right about now, wanted to strangle Apple Gail for falsely accusing his wife. But he worried that it might incriminate him during court so he tried to remain calm. Though Apple Gail is not making matter better for him.
“Just…just shut your mouth until we get to trail; then you can blather like an idiot”
“Oh Staid, must you get like this? What ever happened to that stallion I fell in love with at first sight, as he gazed back at me through the window? What ever happened to the stallion that made ME feel as though I had purpose?” He paused for a response.
“That stallion…” He moved his body to the other side with the hooves facing the window, “He was committing many errors in his life, errors that he seemed to not care about. And due to his recklessness, he committed adultery against his own wife, a wife, who still loves him to this day” He gazed outside the window, noticing lightning in the far distance.
“But that stallion was free from rules, that stallion was happy, that stallion was joyful for what ‘recklessness’ he was doing, that stallion was and still is you Staid…” She rubbed his back slowly to please him.
“Enough!” he pushed off her hoof, thunder rung in the background, “My wife is there out in court, fearing for her life! And you simply cannot see, just how much she means to me! Please leave me in solitude, Apple Gail!” Staid yelled from within the cart.
She scooted to the other side of the seat, facing the wall.
“Soon Staid…soon you won’t have to worry over her…” She whispered under her breath.
“You have something left to say Apple Gail?” Staid asked.
“Nothing Staid…nothing” She said with a smirk.
----------
“EVERPONY IN THE CASE OF LIS, THE COURT HAS RESUMED ENTER NOW, OR RISK GULTY VERDICT!” A stallion with a raspy voice yelled.
“Well I guess that’s our cue Lis. Not much left now but to hope for the best” He smiled.
“We best go on now” Lis said.
“Lis before we go on, I was only wondering. ARE you, a witch?” He said curiously.
“No I am not a witch, if that were so, then I would be levitating things with a horn on my head. This is something only the creature known as a unicorn can do” She stated.
“IF it is THAT obvious than why don’t you tell the court that! They would surly find you not guilty” He said shocked.
“If I do ever tell the court this, they would wonder why I know such a thing. The unicorn race is only known by my side of my family. We had been keeping it secret for many generations. So I ask you Firebird can you keep this secret hidden? The secret Staid had been keeping form the folk about that affair, is out now, and I cannot risk anymore incrimination coming to our family” She said.
“I can do this, I will keep this a secret Lis. But what do you mean family? Do you and Staid have other kids?”
“Why yes, we have a boy and a girl. And one coming up it seems”
“Wait…what!”
THE DOORS TO THE COURTROOM ARE NOW CLOSING!!
“Oh crap let’s go!!”
Bang!
“The Court is now in session, has the bailiff gathered the ponies for testimony?” Stanford asked.
“They are at the front the court room sir, do you wish for me to bring them here?” The bailiff asked.
“Ne-no not now, first we must go over other matters” He cleared his throat. “Now, Let us go over what had occurred”
Firebird stood up from his seat. “Your honor, the defense had claimed that Apple Gail had been fired from her job due to her affair with Staid” He said proudly, sitting down after he said the last word.
“Indeed” Stanford said. “Does the Prosecution have any WAIT A MINUTEs regarding what he said?”
“No, your honor” Hail said.
“Then bring out Apple Gail first to the stand!”
Judge Stanford is not a normal judge. This stallion allows for attorneys to represent the defense, he would always make someone repeat what occurred before any recesses to avoid confusion, and he would always make sure every piece of evidence was well established. If any piece could be questioned then he would always consider it junk, and will not dismiss it as evidence that is valid. For example: in one case he dismissed entire testimonies, due to one testimony contradicting the others. In many other cases he himself was proved wrong, so in order to have a perfect verdict, one in which nopony would ever even think to object to, he would have to go out of his way and handle court differently than any other judge would.
Though he had to handle his sentences the same way any other judge would…
“Here is Apple Gail” The bailiff said as she took the stand.
“State your name and occupation Ma’am” Hail said.
“Apple Gail. FORMER…servant of the Trocter house” She said leaning forward when she said former.
“Ok Apple Gail, testify for as to how you were terminated from service”
“For…how I was eh, terminated…” She paused for a moment nervously, then began to gather courage. “Ok then…”
Testimony of Apple Gail:
“For many years of serving the Trocter house, Staid had been kind enough to hire me. After a while Lis here had grown largely jealous of me and Staid. So after a while of her leaving to town, and me staying at home with Staid, he and I grew a romantic relationship. One day Lis discovered me at the bed side with Staid, rubbing his backside. Much to her disgust she grabbed me by the hair and pulled me out of the room. She then went out of her way to open the door for me as she told me to ‘never come back again’. I knew Staid would remain loving me so I left without saying a word. The door was then closed at my face as I left the building. I had never came back ever since.”
End Testimony:
“There, you happy, Lis? I actually told the truth, unlike you and Staid keeping this a secret from the town’s ponies” She shrugged.
“Your honor I would like to cross examine the witness” Firebird asked Stanford.
“Please do Firebird Law” He said with a bit of glee.
Cross examination:
“For many years of serving the Trocter house, Staid had been kind enough to hire me. After a while Lis here had grown largely jealous of me and Staid. So after a while of her leaving to town, and me staying at home with Staid, he and I grew a romantic relationship”
“STOP THERE” Firebird yelled. “Jealous how? She had not yet known of your relationship with him had she?”
“She did, or at least she assumed I did. I HAD been spending ALL that time with him during her times out of the house. So I assume that she had thought that I was trying to have relationships with him over time” She said.
“I see…” He said.
“One day Lis discovered me at the bed side with Staid, rubbing his backside. Much to her disgust she grabbed me by the hair and pulled me out of the room”
“STOP THERE” He yelled again. “Rubbing him how? Did she simply over react to you good gesture or were you really in the wrong?” He asked.
“Well if you really must know before hoof, Staid and I had slept with each other, but not the way you think. I rubbed him as one would a sore back or wound nothing too graphic. If you ask me, simply seeing that is not a good reason to PULL MY HAIR” She said looking at Lis.
“Ok then…But how was Staid not able to hear all this?” Firebird asked.
“After observing Staid in his sleep for so long, I came to notice he was a deep sleeper. I noticed this when I was sneaking around his room and he could not hear me, even once when I yelled slightly when I stepped on something on the floor”
“Hmm…”
“She then went out of her way to open the door for me as she told me to ‘never come back again’. I knew Staid would remain loving me so I left without saying a word. The door was then closed at my face as I left the building. I had never came back ever since”
“WAIT A MINUTE” he yelled. “Are you sure you had never returned to him? I seem to remember you saying that he was the one who hired you, therefore giving you the right to still serve him. I have reason to believe THAT ‘one day’ when Lis was out, as you yourself should know when that is, you yourself went in and seduced Staid into committing adultery.” He pointed his hoof at her “You yourself wanting for then to divorce so that you can have Staid to yourself!” TAKE THAT!! He grinned widely. Apple Gail fell back on her hooves.
End cross examination:
A light brown stallion, with charcoal black mane and tail jumped off from the crowd of spectators. He rushed to assist Apple Gail who was still in the floor with shock.
“Apple Gail! It’s alright I’m here. My father is not the one you love it is me, ME!!” He said dramatically as he was pulled away by guards that were called in once he left his spot.
“Guards! Send this adolescent home; I cannot have him interrupt again!” Stanforth ordered.
“Now then” He said as the faint cry of Gruff was lost. “Let us continue now. Where were we…Ah Mr. Firebird! You had just found something incredible from the testimony” Stanford recalled.
“Yes your honor. We had just found that Apple Gail was indeed having an Affair with Staid or rather him with her. This pony, wanted the, ehem, affair to interfere with their relationship; tis be her motive! So, the prosecution had bias motive to create a hoax and fool the court by claiming herself a witch and blaming others to be one as well” He said all this, confidently as he did the others.
“Yes indeed. This could quite wrap up the case overall”
“But your honor,” Hail spoke out. “You are forgetting Staid Trocter, he has been sitting idle in the waiting room for quite some ti-”
“I have not forgotten about Staid. Apple Gail will be in the custody of the court for later questioning” Apple Gail is taken by the bailiff. “Now, BRING FORTH STAID TROCTER” he said.
As Apple Gail trotting out the exit to the waiting room, Staid was there; he had gotten up from his seat and trotted past her. Staid got up onto the stand and gazed around the court room for a moment, seeing all the ponies from town, all the known faces, all the ponies who knew him since he had come into town, made him nervous. He held his head high making himself clearly visible. Judge Stanford started to speak.
“Staid Trocter. You are a much respected man of this community, and because you are known here, you need not state you name and occupation” he paused. “Staid”
“Alright” he responded.
“There will be no mention of anything the testimony of Apple Gail revealed, unless a part of this testimony intertwines with the other directly. Now Staid, start you testimony on why Apple Gail was terminated.” he stated.
“Of course” he said.
Testimony of Staid Trocter:
“I had hired Apple Gail since I had moved into Zalem. Little by little I had noticed my wife here was growing tired of her over attachment to me. I had shrugged this off many times and had thought it to be simple liking to a master, or just for the sake of convenience. I had noticed that many times when my wife had ordered he to do a task she would refuse. After many times of threating her with termination she seemed to not care, as she would still disobey my wife. So after a while of the same disobedience, I worked up the courage to terminate her. I told her one day as she came from the front door form work that she was, and she left without a word”
End testimony:
“Now then begin the cross examination”
“Yes your honor” He turned to his right looking at Lis. “Lis Staid did not confess to the ehem.”
“I know, try to see if you could make him reveal it”
“I’ll try” He said with a bit of confidence.
Cross examination:
“I had hired Apple Gail since I had moved into Zalem. Little by little I had noticed my wife here was growing tired of her over attachment to me.”
“STOP THERE” he yelled. “How WAS she overly attached to you, as in how was she showing it to your wife?” He asked.
“Um…she would sometimes treat her differently than me…” he said pausing for a bit.
“Differently how? And how was Apple Gail expressing herself to you?”
“She wouldn’t respect her same. And she would always soften up her words, and made it sound more appealing to the ear.” Staid said.
“I see...”
“Little by little I had noticed my wife here was growing tired of her over attachment to me. I had shrugged this off many times and had thought it to be simple liking to a master, or just for the sake of convenience”
“STOP THERE” he yelled again. “So your wife was ‘growing tried’ of that? And how was it convenient”
“Umm…well…like I said before, I shrugged it off as nothing. And convenient for her as she believed that she would receive special treatment”
“Special how? Are you implying that she wished you in bed with her?” He just realized what he said. “DAH! Damn it Firebird Law! Couldn't you be less blunt?!” He said in his head.
“WHAT? Umm…no I-I would NEVER do that to my wife. The act of adultery is simply too wrong to commit.” He said hesitating.
Firebird gathered his composure as he was exited he finally got to Staid. “So Staid do you admit to the act of adultery with Apple Gail?” He said hoping.
“Of course not! I would never commit that, and the mere thought of it just stabs the mind.” He denied.
End Cross examination:
“THAT IS ENOUGH! THIS MAN HAS NOT ADMITED TO THE ACT OF ADULTARY AND WILL NOT BE PENALIZED FOR IT. You Firebird Law have lead us down a hole that we try to get out of. But now it is time to see the truth. GUARDS TAKE THIS STALLION OUTSIDE, AT ONCE!”
“No!” Firebird Law cried as Lis bowed her head with sadness behind him.
“I will now hand down my verdict. With all these inconsistences I must dismiss all evidence as faulty and wrong.” The last cry of Staid is heard as he left the court house.
“In the case of Lis Trocter, about the charge of witchcraft; the defendant is…”
GUILTY
“No…no…no no!!” Firebird Law slammed his head on the desk.
“Do not worry ponies of Zalem. My sentence to this mare, will confirm if or not she is a witch” The room went silent.
“The sentence will be as follows…” Stanford said to them, “She will undergo our most traditional way of identifying witchery. She will have a rope tied to her neck and casted over a bridge. If the rope breaks and she falls to the river then she will indeed be a witch.”
“Your honor, this is completely unfair!” Firebird Law yelled. “This sentence of yours always ends up the same! With the perpetrator ending up guilty of witchcraft. The traditional way CANNOT be the most efficient way.”
“That goes to show how much my verdicts are correct! If it proves that they are guilty every time, it further proves that my verdicts are true! This case has now ended, and will cast forth it’s punishment in 2 days at dawn.”
Bang
“This trail is now over, Lis will have one day of freedom until she is arrested, then she will be taken to where she will serve her punishment” Stanford said as ponies began to leave.
“Lis…” Firebird said to her as they headed to the door.
“You know you don’t have to say anything…Firebird…” she had her head down.
They came upon the door entrance. Darkness overcame them as the closed the door behind them. Lis gazed at the sky. She began to wonder how life would be when she was gone. Was Staid going to remarry? Will the accusations ever come to a stop? All these surfaced her mind. But she pushed them all away as thought of how Staid will be without her…She looked at Firebird. He looked back at her, her face looked worried, but later turned to a slight smile.
“Why are you so sad Firebird?” She asked plainly. “I..I couldn’t do anything, I felt helpless. I couldn’t help you Lis, I did not know about this judge, I did not believe that he would break his temper this way. I just couldn’t accomplish what I had promised you…” He had his head down as he said this. “It is not your fault. It is the fault of jealousy and vengeance, vengeance that was pent up for a while. This is the work of the disharmony that is discord. So much had been gathering up for all the neighbors and Apple Gail, that the first chance they get, they would turn against their own” She said reflecting on what she believed transpired.
They both looked at the sky, filling their souls with darkness. After a while a faint familiar voice was heard in the distance. “Lis…” Staid said stopping next to her. He noticed Firebird and nodded his head at him. “You have done well Firebird Law. Exceptionally better than any pony I know” He complimented. “Thank you Staid. I could not save your wife from the Judge, I believe I should leave now” He turned away from them, and then looked back. “Goodbye Staid, Lis. I wish this could have all ended better” He began to leave, after a short while he disappeared into the night.
“Lis” Staid put his head down in a sad move. “I don’t know what to say…all this time I had spent with you here in Zalem have been foolish, foolish because we had already been happy the way we were living before. I was very foolish to be fallen in the lust that is the love for Apple Gail. I knew right from that moment, that you were a magnificent mare. And no stallion could ever be the one for you, because no one could ever be at your level of loyalty and kindness…Lis I-” “You don’t have anything further to say Staid, there is nothing you can say to change my thoughts about you. Though you are a strong at will stallion, you allow for things such as these to cloud your judgment. I have been with you for quite some time now Staid…how much has it been 15 years since we married and I moved away from my father? I have known you for this long. And though the incident happened with Apple Gail, I still was happy to have a husband who took care of me in my time of needs”
They both gaze at the sky that now appeared to be turning night.
----------
Two days later, after the case of Lis. Lis was standing aboard what looks like a makeshift plank at the side of a bridge. To her right stood a black coated pony with a dark hooded mask that covered his entire head. The stallion went up to her moving quite stiff, carrying a thin rope made of straw. To her surprise as well, she thought it would have been thicker, but thin it was. She did not pay much attention to this because; her legs were tied in much thicker ones. “This pony…” Said hail standing on top a wooden box by the edge of the bridge “Has been trailed and proved, a witch. Because of this crime against pony kind, as well as the lives of any other” Hail looked around the crowd of ponies that had gathered at the sound of the speaker. He looked around as if he were searching for an individual. He made two quick examinations at the crowd and frowned. Staid stepped in front of the crowd, making himself visible to Hail. Hail smirked as he continued. “She will be punished as follows…if the rope breaks as she plummets, then she would surely be a witch. And if she is surely a witch, then she will plummet to the river rope neck” he said gesturing the rope in his neck. Staid looked enraged but he knew he could not do anything to stop this. He tried to draw his attention to his wife for the last time. “Is this not justice Staid?” Hail said forcing Staid’s attention. “Is it not?” Staid stared at him, anger in his eyes; he knew if he did anything now his life would be at risk. “No, it is not” He said under his breath. “Didn’t think you had anything to say” Hail said smirking once more, not being able to hear Staid. Hail gestured at the pony next to Lis. He began to tie a noose around her neck.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=P-DTV1w076Y
The air buzzed in suspense, the hair on Lis stood up, her breathing quickened, she was at a state of shock, not visible on the outside but still present inside. Time seemed to slow down as she looked at the crowd to her left; some presented the face of shock, while others the face of anger. She looked to her right, and the same could be said, but, in the middle of it all stood Taitana. She had no hood to cover her head, and so her horn was presentable to Lis. She examined the crowd to see if any would pay attention to her. All, did not, it seemed as though she was a ghost of what is Taitana, though in reality it was her. Taitana turned her back on Lis, and had begun to leave the crowd. Time sped up again as Lis looked ahead of her, gazing at the running river. Hail nodded to the executioner and the stallion pushed Lis toward the river, at the same time Hail stood up on two saying “Justice is served…” His eyes shot open as he looked at the stallion galloping toward him. Staid, with all his might, talked Hail over the bridge Staid following him. As Staid fell he looked up, Lis had bounced from the fall she had taken and the rope broke as he fell again. “LIS!!” He yelled as he fell into the river, she following after.
Splash Splash Splash
All three bodies had fallen, almost in unison. “Lis…” Staid said trying to yell but the water in his through didn’t allow him. He noticed the ripples in the water of her decent. He dove for her holding his breath. He noticed her body lying in the sand at the bottom. He desperately made his way to her not caring for his life but the life of her. He made contact and started grabbing the rope the was tied to her front legs to the shore. Staid began to run out of breath but he kept forcing himself through. After 7 long seconds they made it to shore. Staid laid her down and checked for a heartbeat. He heard nothing. He checked again with disbelief; nothing again. “Lis does not die today! Not because of my foolishness!” He said to the sky. He looked at her neck; tears in his eyes. It looked disjointed, why; she had broken her neck before the fall! “Lis?” He moved her neck around; it seemed lifeless as he moved it, not to mention it seemed to follow no path as he did. He neck was broken; she died before she had fallen…
----------
At the desk of Stanford, one day ago: It was a cozy room, a fire place, nice wooden walls, this room even had carpet, a luxury only for the very rich. Stanford was happy. He had accomplished his 4th case on witches, and accomplished it well. Or so he thought. He got up from his desk and headed toward the fire place, the letters had been left there just a few minutes ago by his mail servant. He sat down next to it and placed his glasses on. He looked at one; it was addressed to the house of the neighboring Zalem.
“Thank you” It said. “Thank you for putting away that evil miscreant. The mare deserved it after having lived a life so well. No one, and I mean no one, lived a life as well as hers. Only a witch could ever be so happy in a town like this. I have nothing else to say but thank you one more.
From Apple Gail”
He smiled at the letter then placed it to his right side. He picked up another one. This one was addressed from a small city not but a half day far from Zalem. Apparently this was stamped as express mail. Curious, he opened the mail and uncovered a letter.
“To the Judge who trailed Lis Trocter” He was surprised on how formal the letter began. He continued. “After I had arrived from the trail, I again began to read on laws in your town. After a while of reading carefully I uncovered a small section that states as follows ‘in no way shall a pony who carries a child that is over a week old, shall ever be trailed, imprisoned, or executed until the child is raised by the mother and father until the age of 20’. It had come to my attention because the one who I was defending was indeed pregnant by my understanding. Therefore I hereby must tell you to stop the execution from happening, as it is unjust and unlawful. If you wonder where I had received this information from, I had received it from my client before the final trial had started. I expect that you accomplish this task, otherwise you yourself may face trail.”
He stared into the paper again, and again, and again. Until finally, he started to smile, not a normal smile, this had some evil to it. “Firebird Law is it not?” He looked at the bottom, it had his name “I thought so, if all he has the defendant to go by then I need not worry. Not like I had ever worried before” He tossed it into the fire, it slowly began to be engulfed by it, seconds before it turned to complete ash it turned blue.
“Heh”
----------
It has been 10 long years after the trail. . Gruff went on to live in his Grandfather’s house. Sara Nurse and Ghest Burrows died next to each other, from collapsed ribs, due to the boulders placed. Apple Gail moved to the city and wandered aimlessly, not knowing what to do after her father sent her packing after his brother was killed. Stanford was never tried and faced little blame due to his attorneys.
And Staid, Staid had stayed home weeks after his wife had died. He hardly ate. He hardly drank. Only thing he would ever do was go around his house, imagining his wife would come through the door one day and make him dinner.
WEEKS AFTER THE TRIAL…
He left for the bed, after having stared at the door for hours. He began to have a flashback.
FLASHBACK
“Staid. I love you, you know I love you right?” She said by the bedside.
“Of course”
“Do you love me Staid?”
“Of course I do”
“Does Apple Gail love you Staid?”
“Yes”
“Do you Staid, love Apple Gail?”
He paused for a moment, there was no use hiding it his wife knew the answer already. “Yes” he answered.
“I will always love you Staid, don’t forget that, no matter what happens...”
END FLASHBACK
Staid gridded his teeth with anger and vexation, he left for the fire place and gathered a bottle of alcohol that was lying around. He poured it around his surroundings, on the curtain, on the wooden floor, even on the walls. He went to be bed room and emptied it onto the bed. He ran to fire place and picked up a stick on his mouth. He then left for the bed side and laid down. “This is where I deserve to die, where I committed that wrong” he let go of the inflamed stick as the bed immediately caught on fire; he closed his eyes, as it engulf his body.