//------------------------------//
// "A Creature of Pure Evil" 
// Story: Saved from Stoning 
// by twilightsparkle3562 
//------------------------------//

The halls of Ponyville Hospital buzzed with the sounds of screams and shouts caused by doctors and nurses. But, what had happened in Rainbow Falls had caused the screams to rise up even louder than normal. The sight of a pony beaten to within an inch of his life had caused a sense of fear and dread among the doctors and nurses.

"Who would even do something like this?" sighed a male doctor pony to a nurse as he walked out of the emergency room and removed a surgical mask from his face. "He should be lucky to the fact that he is even alive to begin with."

"He's the fourth case this week from Rainbow Falls," added the nurse. "But those were nothing but minor cuts and bruises. This poor soul, well, says that the princesses are going to need to look into what is going on in Rainbow Falls. I, for one, think that evil mayor who was elected should be removed from power."

The two medical ponies walked into the doctor's office and the doctor sat down behind his desk, sighing heavily at what he was up against. No sooner did he sit down did another scream ring out.

"Coffee Bean! Please hang on! You've got a son and daughter who need their daddy!"

"Make that the fifth from Rainbow Falls," groaned the doctor, rubbing his face against his front hooves. "Just what we need right now, another pony to treat from being beaten. If only the princesses can do something about this evil monster who is running Rainbow Falls."

"We can't worry about that right now, doctor," said the nurse as she walked towards the door. "I've got to get over and help out in the emergency room."

"Do what you have to do, Redheart," remarked the doctor and the nurse left to help out in the emergency room.

At that moment, the pony that the doctor had been working on was wheeled out of the emergency room and the doctor went out of the office to accompany the nurses moving the pony.

"Put him in intensive care," he ordered to the team of nurses. "And give him some Novocain to try and keep the pain numb."

"Yes, doctor," acknowledged a nurse and they wheeled the pony into the Intensive Care unit, hooking him up to several more IV's. As they did so, the pony opened his eyes and weakly looked up to the doctor in a weak voice.

"Green Sleeves? Green Sleeves?" he whispered, weakly. "Where is Green Sleeves?"

This caused the doctor to focus his attention on the injured pony.

"Who is Green Sleeves?" asked the doctor.

"A friend and fellow supporter of a new Rainbow Falls," whispered the pony. "She needs…to…be…told…"

Before he could say another word however, the pony winced sharply in pain as several more doses of medication were injected into his body.

"We will try and notify your friend," said the doctor. "But right now, we need to worry about you right now."

…

At that moment, the sounds of commotion were heard and the doctor turned around to see both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna walk into the Intensive Care unit. This caused the doctor to briefly bow to them.

"Is this the pony from Rainbow Falls?" she asked.

"Yes, your highnesses," answered the doctor, rising to his feet. "He's badly injured and won't be ready to talk to anypony for at least a few days. However, he keeps saying that he has a friend who needs to know where he is."

"Did he say what the name was?" asked Luna.

"He keeps looking for a Green Sleeves," replied the doctor as he led the princesses over to the patient, while the nurses bowed and back away. "Says that she is a friend and fellow supporter of a so called, 'new Rainbow Falls.'"

Celestia and Luna looked down to the pony, who could only move his eyes now being filled with tears.

"My saviors, you've come at last," he whispered. "You've come to free us from the evil that has jeopardized our home. How I've longed for this day."

"You are very lucky to be alive, my subject," said Luna, using the tip of her left wing to wipe away the tears of the injured pony. "Who did this to you?"

The pony was silent for a minute, but mustered up the courage to speak.

"A mob," answered the pony, much to the astonishment of the royal sisters. "A mob who was intending on killing me for not supporting that monster of a mayor… we have to live under."

This to the royal sisters was a sign that some of the clues were coming together. The pony who was given sanctuary in Canterlot and this pony lying in the intensive care unit were very close friends. Now, it appeared that the mob that Celestia banned from Canterlot did not have just Green Sleeves targeted for death.

"We're listening," said Celestia. "Go on."

"Something needs to be done," moaned the injured pony. "Blackheart has caused enough damage to Rainbow Falls and his ideals and plans for our town will…never become reality."

"Which includes adultery," muttered Luna to Celestia, who nodded in silent reply as they continued to listen.

"Blackheart has plans to purify Equestria," continued the injured pony. "And anypony who stands in his way…well, they wouldn't live…to see another day. He wants to one day get to the highest ranks…of Equestria's government."

Upon hearing this, Celestia backed away and absorbed what was being said about this particular pony that they thought would govern Rainbow Falls using the laws that they enforced. She continued this for a few more moments before turning back towards the pony.

"I'm sorry that we have to ask you this question," said Celestia, remorsefully. "But what methods of punishment is Blackheart using?"

This made the pony close his eyes and whimper slightly, but he had to answer Celestia's question. The pony knew in his mind that with each detail revealed to the princesses was another step in removing the dictator of Rainbow Falls from power.

"Several," he answered. "Several forms of execution that you would never use to carry out justice. Hanging, Racking, Disembowelment, Beheading, Stoning, everything that is against everything Equestria has stood for."

The revelation of Blackheart's execution methods caused several of the nurses to become sick to their stomachs. Some even had to leave the room to heave out the sickness caused by this revelation. But, Celestia and Luna remained undeterred by this.

"How many ponies has he killed against their will?" asked Luna, firmly.

"As far as I know," said the pony. "About ten ponies, ponies that Blackheart believed to be against the new world order of Equestria he wants to create."

At this moment, Celestia and Luna had heard enough of the revelations and realized what they needed to do.

"That is all," said Luna. "You have given us enough information to help us. Rest easy, my subject."

…

Once the meeting was over, the royal sisters left the hospital and returned to Canterlot, feeling somewhat disgusted by the details of Blackheart's methods. Upon their return, Green Sleeves walked out onto the top of the castle and watched as the Princesses landed in front of her.

"I've been looking for both of you," said Green Sleeves. "There is something that is on my mind that I need to share with you. My friend, Irish Coffee, he's…"

"...In Ponyville hospital," interrupted Celestia and Green Sleeves collapsed in shock. "We were just talking with him, my child and he says that there is more to the story of Blackheart than meets the eye."

"Is it true that Blackheart used violent methods against the inhabitants of Rainbow Falls?" asked Luna.

"Yes," answered Green Sleeves. "Anypony who defied his way of life suffered the consequences in the worst manner possible. He personally ordered me to be stoned for falling in love with my husband's brother, but he couldn't do so unless he got orders from both of you."

To both sisters, now they were starting to get memories of another pony who had a heart as black as the night sky…none other than King Sombra himself.

"When will Irish Coffee be released?" asked Green Sleeves, worriedly.

"Neither one of us are sure," answered Luna. "But, once he is released, we will personally have him brought here to Canterlot and he will be given the same sanctuary as you."

Green Sleeves smiled at this and walked back down into the castle, while Celestia and Luna followed her footsteps. Now, with all that was happening, it was apparent that something needed to be done.

"In the meantime," said Celestia, firmly. "I want to have anypony associated with Mayor Blackheart arrested and brought here for questioning, Luna. Take some night guards with you, for you will be confronted with corrupt and dangerous ponies."

Luna nodded at this for she knew that it even though it was dangerous, this was her duty and soon, both sisters would start the next step in their investigation as they got closer to removing a corrupt mayor from power…