Governor Spectrum opened the metal door to the prison's great courtyard. The high concrete walls around it blocked the view of the city outside. She wore an ornate, navy blue dress trimmed with gold, matching well with her cyan fur and magenta eyes. Her mane was bleached white. Her stride carried confidence befitting her regal attire.
It was unusual to see the death yard so empty. Half the normal complement of guards were present, and the entire grand gallows towers were both reserved for a single prisoner's execution.
Major Crimson Fire's little sister.
The Major himself followed a few steps behind, two of her elite royal guards not far behind him.
The place were familiar to her, but today she wasn't just checking on things – there was a deadly game to play.
Although only a Major, Crimson Fire's medals and special operations patch spoke for themselves. He will make a fine ally if I can pull this off.
There wasn't a word between them as they walked across the yard and up the stairs. They'd forwarded the orders – no physical harm was to be done to her. She was fed, dressed well in what he'd sent her, but they were to act like she was to die without actually killing her.
Not yet.
The governor only hoped the psychological abuse was enough to break her. She reached the top of the stairs. The prisoner was there, blindfolded and bound, lying mentally – but not physically – broken on the trap door. One guard stood near the slack behind the pulley, another stood close by her.
With a mere gesture of her head, the entire team shuffled off the platform, leaving the bound mare alone.
She watched the prisoner roll onto her back, then sit up, her ears flat against her head. She looked around instinctively despite her blindfold.
Well, she's not entirely broken, then. But maybe she would be if not for Crimson's damn insistence that she be given water and not abused. She'd be way more receptive to our demand with a good few beatings, some rape, some hunger and thirst.
Still, if I'd negated his protection orders on her and she still refused, that would've left me in an awfully bad spot. But like this, he's still on my side. I think.
But if you really wanted to save your sister, you should've let her be abused...
The major approached her, untying her. She broke into a fit of crying and they hugged.
When he said they had an offer, the prisoner excitedly leaped for it. Then she raise a hoof to pull the noose off, and he stopped her, then talked sternly to her.
Good show of making her keep the noose on. I'm impressed.
He told her the exact demands.
Her pupils shrank and her ears flopped down. She looked side-to-side in a small panic. Her throat caught on her words.
The governor sighed internally. Your throat will be catching on more than a few words if you don't just speak up.
But he's her brother. He'll be able to talk sense to her if any pony can.
“I – I...” The prisoner simply bowed her head.
He kept urging her, “It's not much. Just a few words. Please, Goldie, I want to go home with you. It doesn't have to end here. We can walk off this platform together, and I want to.” He set a hoof on her shoulder and looked at her eyes.
Her eyes grew wide and darted around as she took a step back. After a short pause, she finally spoke, her expression relaxing as she reminisced. “Look at you, in that nice uniform, now, with so many ribbons and at such a rank... You were so excited when our aunt and uncle got you hooked up to train in the officer school...”
“Goldie...” he begged.
The governor fought to keep her expression neutral. Oh please, retreating into your memories and getting all sentimental won't save you, here, mare. Just give us the name or let us break your neck already.
“You were so excited to protect and serve back then. Don't you know, before the invasion –”
For a moment, the governor remembered younger years. Begging her dad to let her join the air infantry, the subsequent rejection, the tutelage he'd given her on how to play the political game. How to achieve real power to act in the world. Real power to hold the last flicker of life alive in the endless winter.
“Goldie!” he shouted. Her expression softened along with his voice, “You don't have to lie. I just want you to... Just consider the possibility that your memory isn't as good as you think – that maybe – what if you did see the unicorn, and it messed with your memories with magic? Made you believe their propaganda and lies, and they're the ones who've –”
“Then it did a darn good job!” she shouted back. “No – he did a darn good job! HE! Don't you know they're ponies!? And maybe we didn't know any but we know ponies who did!”
“It's just lies and propaganda. They abused them, enslaved them, and right as we liberated this dome they used their magic – !”
“No it wasn't! Those are the lies and propaganda! When did you lose your darn common sense!” Her rant accelerated as she went.
Great Skies! The governor thought to herself, Her spirit isn't just unbroken, it's still strong! This is hopeless. Either we torture her or she dies, and I can scarcely imagine her brother doing anything but hating me if I have her tortured, so...
She ranted on about her innocence and the purges, and how many ponies were hanged. The governor shifted her weight on her hooves uncomfortably. And to think she doesn't even know about the ones we took outside to freeze in The Abyss.
Some part of her gnawed at her stomach. An old war flickered in her mind. Why do I constantly torture myself over doing what's right?
Doubt, that this is truly the solution. I cannot afford to keep doubting. But I can't keep from doubting unless somehow I can know. This is ponykind's last stand against the cold. Who knows how much longer the domes will last? Unicorn magic is inadequate and allying with them is not an option – Westhaven proved it. Only the unicorns could be the cause of winter. What else could it be? How can we be sure to end it unless we kill every last one?
By now, the governor wasn't sure if he was reasoning with his sister or begging her. “...Most ponies don't get this merciful chance, most just get – most just don't,” he quickly cut himself off.
“Th-then... it's true!?” She stepping forward, bristling. “And you've known it this whole time!? About those 'most ponies'!? And you'll –” her voice caught and broke, “you'll let me die because of some stupid law!? Your – your own sister!? You won't even let me take this noose off because you want me to hang from it!? D-don't you love me at all? Do I not matter –”
He immediately pulled her into a tight hug again. “I never, ever wanted to see you here, Goldie. You should be at home right now, or working the farms. Not here! But the world's an ugly place. We do what we must to survive against the winter –”
For spring to come.
I'm sorry, young mare. I just wish I could tell you that. But that's why I have Steelheart work these yards. He sees it like I do. He won't allow any more suffering than the bare minimum.
She found her own eyes slightly damp. Damn! I've seen hundreds of ponies executed, this is no different! I must be strong to keep this going and do what must be done. Damn her, anyways, she's the one getting the easy out! We're the ones who have to stay here and fight on against the unicorns and their winter! Killing her is an act of mercy - setting her free from this war!
“Do you have to do this, though – do you?” her cries bordered on begging.
“We – I can't stop this from happening. Only you can. Just by telling us – or even just me, where you got the book from,” his begging was as pitiful as her fear.
“B-but then what will happen to that pony? Someone else will be here – because of me?”
“No, because they broke the law. They're the real criminal here, not you – you got involved with this and now they'll kill you for it if you can't just take this one, rare, merciful opportunity to set things right! Help us fight this endless, terrible unicorn's winter that's already killed millions! If you can't do it for your own life, do it for me? For the world? For spring to come?”
She stepped out of the hug. “But haven't you ever considered – maybe you're causing the winter with all this killing? Maybe some unicorns are, but why can't we work with the good ones? Why can't we be with them against the villains causing the winter – if anypony is causing it at all!”
The governor bit her teeth. How the hell do ponies come to believe that complete garbage? It's so damn obvious. The unicorns do magic, and there's a winter that makes no physical sense. She knew the whole lecture – all the proof of the records regarding summer and winter, day and night. But nothing for the outlandish claims of windigos – mythical beasts. The only beings who possessed such magic were unicorns. The unicorns are the windigos. It's ridiculous to make up such a fantastic creature to take the blame off the obvious criminal!
“The Great Unicorn’s Winter has already claimed countless millions of lives – and we're running out of time! The Great Nightfall proves it! The Domes are dying! And then we’ll all suffocate in the smoke, millions more will die and life won’t be able to go on! Don’t you get it - all life in the world will end if we don’t do this! We must live by these measures to prevent Westhaven from happening here!”
Well put, Crimson, but if she's spouting this garbage then I'm afraid her poisoned mind is beyond saving. This has devolved to an absurd argument, it's time to step in.
“It’s - it’s all lies, though! The mountains are enough, magicquartz -”
“Only makes the winter worse!”
“But that’s not true!” she cried.
“Excuse me,” the governor interjected, straightening herself into a high and strong posture as she stepped in.
The siblings held eachother close as they faced her, one limb still around eachother's shoulders.
“You're not here to argue us into submission, Gold Will. You're here to die. There is no renegotiating the terms we have offered you. Only a 'yes' or a 'no'. We're offering you your life. It's quite simple, really. We can draw out your death as well. You looked quite broken when we first came up here. Perhaps you'd be more willing to talk after a little more breaking? Is that what you want?”
Bite. I dare you. Give me an excuse to have you tortured.
Then maybe you'll break and you can actually leave here alive.
The Major's eyes were wide and frantic as he looked at his little sister. His voice had a desperate, hissing urgency. “Goldie, please. Please, you have to tell us! You-you don't want to go through this! They can do things to you a million times worse than whatever made you lie on the ground when we arrived up here. Do you want that – whatever they did to you – do you want that for years?”
We work well as a team, Crimson...
The prisoner began to shake in her noose, contemplating for long, painful moments. “I... I won't... I won't tell either of you... ever,” her quaking voice pierced the silence.
“Gold Will –” he urged yet again.
“No! I promise I won't!” she stomped a hoof. “And you know I never break a promise!”
He fell silent, mouth open, looking for something to say.
The governor just sighed. “Very well. No point in wasting any more of our time, then...” she paused.
Well, she absolutely refuses. By all rights, the normal thing to do here would simply be to torture her until she talks. Have her beaten, maybe choked out a few times, we could have a ball, and in the process, be saving the world.
Then why isn't it guilt-free?
Because you're torturing some poor pony, damnit. Now shut up and solidify the decision I've already made.
Most ponies would be tortured for at least a few days before now to force them to talk, and if they still had something we wanted we'd just torture them some more, but this is the major's sister. If I pardon her, I show unacceptable weakness and hold her above the law. She would be emboldened and probably an endless thorn in my side – in the side of all those who want to live here in peace. We know her loyalties have turned against Hatten – we can't have that.
Since she has sworn her disloyalty, then as the occupational governor on behalf of the Hatten Vanguard holding onto the Delphi dome, I have the solemn duty to see to her death. She's no more special than all those other ponies I've seen executed. She's had more than enough unjust mercy. It is my duty.
But I have to let the Major know that she's already being granted a lot of mercy just to be spared torture. So I'll start with that then show how I'm holding back, and making her death quick and painless. “I hope you understand, Major, she has to be tortured for this information. And once she finally breaks, she will be swiftly executed to relieve her of her mortal agony.”
Maybe he'll even let me do it, and I can even spare her at the end.
“M'am...” he started, his voice quivering.
He's objecting. No! Even if I have her tortured and spared he'll hold it against me forever! I have to be merciful! But I can't spare her, either. I have to protect this city from her lies. It is my duty.
“But for your sake, Major, I will forego the torture in favor of a quick, painless, neck-breaking hanging. Consider it a reward for your, and your parents' loyal services to The Order. There are times when mercy may show its face, and to someone like you, I feel you deserve this one.”
“And miss,” Governor Spectrum turned to Gold Will, “I will recognize your parents' sacrifice in service to The Order and honor you with this word of advice; I suggest you stop arguing and talk like you're already dead. You can do no more to save your life now than you could if you were already hanging. So this is a moment for you to say goodbye, and for your brother's sake, please do use it for this purpose – or to change your mind on the information.
“I am aware of your Orphan of Heroes award and Hatten Citizenship. I have honored those here by giving you this opportunity to save your own life, but since you won't take it, there's nothing I can do. Now I will speak no more, this time is for you and your brother. The hangponies will come, and nothing will stop them when the clock-tower begins to toll. Your neck will be broken on the sixth strike. Farewell.” She gave the siblings a respectful nod, turned to the side of the platform, spread her wings, and walked straight off, swooping into a graceful glide through the air, to the edge of the courtyard below.
She gently landed on her hooves just a few steps from the complement of death-yard workers. They all immediately stood to attention. “Once you hear the belltower toll, you are to get Gold Will ready for execution again, then break her neck on the sixth toll – not a second before or after.”
“Yes m'am,” Captain Steelheart saluted.
“At ease,” she instructed. The guards all relaxed in their attention.
“It's a damn shame, isn't it, Captain?” she commented, turning and sitting down to face the towers. From here, they couldn't see either of the two ponies, but they were unconcerned. Armed guards on the courtyard walls could see everything.
He replied, “If we stand strong, then perhaps one day it won't be necessary any more. In Hatten proper, they can afford to give everypony more of a chance because everypony there already knows not to let their minds get poisoned like this. But here? We're on the front lines against the unicorns.”
“And what do you think of mares like the one up there right now?” she asked. She knew the answer – they'd spoken about this more than once before, but now she listened to hear it again.
She was unsure if she wanted him to assure the guards or herself.
“It's like I told these fine ponies a few minutes ago, m'am. Her mind's been poisoned to where she's already dead. Before the unicorns took hold of it, she would've fought to defend the world. Now she carries harmful thoughts that would tear it apart. It's a real travesty, that's for sure, but the damage is already done. We're just containing it from going further, and it's not pretty.”
“And what about ponies who enjoy doing it?” she asked. Though her tone was that she was quizzing him, something in her mind poked herself.
He thought for only a short moment before replying, but it seemed to stretch longer than she liked.
“In the end it doesn't really matter, so long as it doesn't cloud their judgment. They've got a lot to work through, I think, and figure out what they want out of life. But for our great unified whole, all that matters is we do what must be done. I'll watch these guards carefully and make sure they don't become unnecessarily abusive, though. We're only here to do what we absolutely must, nothing more.”
She took in his words, hardly noticing that she left a quick silence, herself, before she answered back. She turned to face the guards again to address them. “Well put. Just as it took a cleansing period like this to free Hatten from the dark an unnatural influence of magic, and they now enjoy greater privileges for it, so, too, will this dome prevail if we are true. So we continue this, lest those who died before die in vain. We must accomplish our goal and end the Unicorn's Winter, and you all play a vital part of that.” She turned around again, as though she were about to lead them forward, “Follow me, as I follow our great Order, The Order of the Hatten Vanguard, and we will bring spring again!”
“For spring to come!” Steelheart bellowed, punctuating her speech.
“For spring to come!” they all echoed.
“As you were,” she said. She then turned back to the captain, now speaking in a regular tone, "And Captain, there is one exception - if she says she's changed her mind - or if either of them say she's changed her mind - you can delay the execution. Even if she doesn't say it, if he has a name, or believes he can get it out of her, work with the situation as needed. I'll just be on the other tower. I told them I'd leave them alone, so I will, but I'll still be close enough to call if needed."
"Yes m'am." He nodded.
She took to wing and flew to the top of the other tower, where she'd have a better view of the process. Hardly a minute passed before the distant bells tolled, and the dozen or so ponies rushed up the stairs of their tower.
Despite all she'd said, how much sense it made, she still couldn't sort it out in her own mind.
She couldn't help but watch as the two siblings enjoyed their last moments together and the poor mare was tied again.
She had a nagging feeling she knew why she watched their last embrace, but she refused to accept it. She thought of a stallion, but it wasn't Crimson. Seeing them so tenderly embrace in their last moments stirred feelings she'd almost forgotten. Would Firehoof have comforted me if I were about to be executed? Surely then his role as my father would overshadow his role as general. Would Nightgale? No, he'd probably fight to the bitter end to protect me. Sometimes I wonder if his protective attitude towards me goes beyond his post as captain of my security.
Gold Will's brother only released her from a hug at the last moment as the trap doors opened. The rope snapped taut.
Why do I still wonder about the purges? I know it all. I can repeat it to myself a million times but it still never sinks in. I know why things are this way. Why it must be done. I can lead a million ponies to accept it. I can motivate them to kill and to die over it.
Then why do I still struggle to accept it, myself?
I'm a liar, really.
Yeah, I know the truth – I saw an execution when I was too young and it scarred me and now I'm obsessed with it.
No, that's not it, I'm doing it to protect all the life in the dome, I know it!
...Can both be true?
She found herself looking at the crossbeams and nooses of the gallows she sat on.
Here I am, ordering all these, when really my neck belongs in one of those.
She sighed. Well, the Major won't exactly be in a good state to talk to right now. At the end of the day, I could've pardoned her, but I didn't. Damnit, he knows that. Damnit! Was I really thinking he’d appreciate how merciful I was? Of course not, he’ll just be furious I let her die! I haven’t gained an ally at all!
She looked again to Gold Will's limp body. And there's no going back now. The hell was I thinking – he's going to hate me now. Am I trying to get myself killed? I have a sworn duty to hold this dome in the name of The Order!
But I just can't do it. I can't order his death. I've had enough of this. I won't kill him unless I'm absolutely sure he's a real threat. And if he does somehow get me... I'm tired of this job. Lead me here, then, one day, major. I've always wondered what it's like to be in your sister's place, anyways...
Her ears perked as the door to the courtyard opened, and another dozen guards came in, bearing supplies to ready the towers to begin their regular operations.
She stood up, straightening her posture. No. No! I'm here to defend the last flicker of life in this world and I can't give up! I'll kill half the dome if I have to! The Vanguard will prevail, we'll honor those who died by completing the cause they died for!
We will end the winter!
We will bring spring!
We will have the summer world that is our birthright!
And I – I will play a vital part in it. It is an honor!
And It is my duty!
She spread her wings again, and leapt off the tower.