//------------------------------// // Chapter 62: "Not Wanting Any Part of This" // Story: The Redemption of Tempest Shadow // by twilightsparkle3562 //------------------------------// The captured mercenary pony trembled as he looked up at the infuriated Princess Celestia, as she stepped down off her newly remodeled throne. One minute, he had been a part of a group of ponies vowing revenge for the invasion of Canterlot and the enslavement of its citizen. And now, here he was, about to be interrogated by the rulers of Equestria. "Do you know why you are here?" Celestia asked sternly, only to be met with silence from the mercenary pony, which angered her further. "WELL, DO YOU?!" She bellowed in her Royal Canterlot voice. The sounds of Celestia's anger sent chills down Luna's spine. "Yes, yes I am aware," The mercenary pony replied. "I am aware." "DO YOU EVEN REALIZE THE TROUBLE YOU FIND YOURSELF IN?!" Celestia declared. "Yes, yes I do," The mercenary answered. "But, I ask you to show me mercy. I did not ask for any part of this." "Oh, but, you have," Celestia bitterly remarked. "And because of it, you now sit before me. When the pirates captured you, you were alone on Mount Aris, were you not?" "Yes,” The mercenary confessed  I had decided to no longer be a part of Instant Justice's game, You have to understand, your highness," He whimpered, trying to defend himself. "I decided to leave the group and answer to any charges you have against me. Don't you see? I'm a father of two colts and…" "SILENCE!" Celestia cried. "Father of two colts joining a group of mercenaries who commit murder behind my back! How can you look me in the eye and say you’re truly sorry?! Innocent lives have been lost because of your crusade! Do you have anything to say for yourself?!" "Princess Celestia, I had to protect my sons!" The mercenary cried. "Do you understand that? They were subjected to slavery, and I had to get back at those monsters somehow!" "By what?! Traveling around our kingdom, stripping them of their lives?!" Luna remarked, also stepping down from her throne, but not as livid as Celestia was. "Even those who had no part in the invasion of Canterlot?! You should be ashamed of yourself for your actions, young colt." "Please," The mercenary begged. "I'll do anything you say. All I ask is for you to spare me from being hanged for my crimes. My sons cannot be raised as orphans, I beg you. I'll do anything to help you bring my associates to justice if that’s what it takes!" From a corner of the throne room, Tempest and her friends overheard the tense proceedings taking place. "Princess Celestia," Tempest called, attracting the attention of both royal sisters as she emerged from hiding. "I, too, ask for you to spare the life of this pony. There had to have been a good reason for him to abandon Instant Justice. At the least he should be spared until Instant Justice has been captured." Sighing heavily, Celestia stepped back from the mercenary and Tempest Shadow stepped forward, her facial expression once again showing the deep remorse she had in her service while under the Storm King's command. "Look,” Tempest quietly declared, putting a hoof at the mercenary's chin. "I'm sorry for what I had done to your sons, but what you’re doing is nothing more than making your sons look up to you as a monster, rather than an idol. What kind of example are you setting by committing murder for their sake? You can help yourself and your family by telling us where Instant Justice is going next. If do, perhaps your sentence can be reduced." Looking at the pony who victimized his sons, the mercenary sighed and awaited whatever was coming to him. But, for now, he needed to speak to Tempest. "He…" The mercenary pony began, briefly looking away for a moment. "When I had been abandoned, we were heading from Mount Aris to Yakyakistan. We had spies there saying that about five storm creatures and their families were hiding there." "And why did you to decide leave then?" Luna asked. “What prompted your sudden change of heart? "Because I started to realize what I was doing was wrong," The mercenary answered. "On Mount Aris, we attacked a Storm Creature who was unarmed and had been seeking refuge. After we were done with him, we had his body thrown into the sea below. But he also had a family that had been hiding there, a wife and two offspring that were also killed. All I could see at that moment, were my own sons. I couldn’t bring myself to live with the guilt knowing that we were ripping apart families. It wasn’t what I signed for and I couldn’t stomach it. But Instant Justice refused to be persawyed by his pleas. He labeled me ‘soft hearted’ and a traitor to the cause." A deathly silence fell over the throne room. "Were there any other families?” Celestia inquired, more shocked than angry. "About four other families were targeted by us, your highnesses,” The mercenary sadly confessed. “Instant Justice ordered us to have them killed as well, for the sake of just being there. He claimed if they were allowed to live, they’d grow up to resent us and take up arms against us." "And you say they were heading for Yakyakistan?" Luna questioned. "Yes, we were preparing to head there when I decided to no longer have any part of this. And such is how your new allies found me." The mercenary confessed. "Luna," Celestia commented , jerking her head to face her young sister. "Don your armor. We're going to Yakyakistan. This madness ends now!" Doing as she was told, Luna flew away to her quarters as Celestia motioned for two night guards to surround the mercenary and chain him up. "In the meantime," She said, firmly looking down at the mercenary. "You are hereby under arrest for mareslaughter, murder, and attempted murder." "But, but I said that I would do anything to…" The mercenary began. "You will be spared the noose,” Celestia interrupted. "But, you will still need to serve time for your crimes against Equestria. Take him away, but make sure the other prisoners know not to rough him up. I will have order." Without saying another word, the mercenary was led out of the throne room. "I'll go with you to Yakyakistan!" Tempest cried out to Celestia. "I feel that the time is coming near for me to confront those I wronged!" "Fizzlepop, are you certain of this?” Celestia asked. “Instant Justice isn’t like your sister, or anyone else who resented you at some point. Instant Justice sees you as a criminal and the justification for his actions. He may try to kill you as well. Are you sure you wish to serve in my army now, knowing that one of my subjects is out for your blood?” "Yes," Tempest answered. "I'll fight alongside you and the other princesses, and die for you and the other princesses if I must!" "Very well, then," Celestia answered. "Hurry and suit up, time is of the essence!" Bowing to Princess Celestia, Tempest was just about to leave the throne room when she was suddenly stopped by Razzle Fizzle, who had a worried look on her face. "Fizzlepop!" She cried, stopping Tempest in her tracks. "What are you doing?! Are you insane?! You'll be killed!" "If I die, I’ll die defending Equestria rather than attacking it, Razzle!" Tempest said firmly. "Besides, it's the least I can do after all the pain I caused you and everyone else." “But…" Before Razzle could reply, she was pulled into a hug by her sister. And the two sisters gave each other an embrace, before Tempest left the throne room. Both knowing that this could be the last time they’d see each other alive. A little while later, Celestia and Luna emerged, both wearing their respective battle armors, along with Tempest (who had been given an armor similar to what she wore while under the Storm King's command, but modified to bear the symbol of Equestria’s royal guard). Leaving Canterlot, the two alicorns and broken horned unicorn were soon joined by Twilight Sparkle. And together, they headed towards Yakyakistan where the final confrontation with Instant Justice would soon begin.