Number Crunch sat with Tattered Wing, staring across the court area at the table where Sunset, Rosetta Stone, and Tonya sat. As she looked at them she questioned whether she could somehow back out of this.
Tattered had explained to her fully what was happening today and with that explanation came doubt about whether finding out the truth was really worth it. If the truth was Tonya mind controlled her into killing another pony she'd definitely hate Tonya to her dying day.
But having Tonya die because of it? That gave her pause.
She still felt strongly that what had happened was a matter of self defense, despite all the wrongs that had led up to it. If it was self defense she could hate Tonya for leaving her alone with that stallion. She wanted Tonya punished for getting her into that position and then running off. Death was not not a punishment she wanted though; she was not that cruel or vindictive.
The old human her would have never problem with Tonya dying for that, but she wasn't that person anymore...at least she hoped she wasn't.
At the same time she wanted to know once and for all the truth. Why couldn't she remember Swift Strike's last moments and what really happened? What had she been so terrified of? She needed to have that part of her memory uncovered and this was the most certain way of doing it.
She wasn't sure if the mysterious Dreamwardens would let her back out at this stage anyway. She didn't know much about night pony dreamwalking, but having six ponies that could create this massive shared dream and could kill a pony with but a thought while that pony slept didn't seem like the type of ponies she wanted angry at her.
"Do you ever feel that no matter what you do your doing the wrong thing?" Number asked the night pony beside her.
Tattered nodded. "Yep. The fact you're walking around free is case in point. By all rights I should have found a way of seeing you prosecuted. Letting you walk free was not the right thing to do. Thing is...if I actually went through with what I was obligated to do it would feel like punishing the victim and letting the actual perpetrator walk free. That's if Tonya mind controlled you, and not even taking into account the horrible fallout on ponies not even involved that going public would bring. No matter what I did it was going to be the wrong thing."
Number looked at the Broken One. "What made you choose to sidestep the law then?"
Tattered frowned. "My duty is first and foremost to protect. When faced with a hard decision that's what I let guide me. The law is meant to protect, but this time it was going to do the exact opposite of that. I defied the law because I didn't want innocent ponies to get hurt. Following through with my legal obligations would have done almost nothing positive and hurt so many. I'm not proud of what I did, but I would hate myself more if I had hurt the innocent and violated my core purpose in protecting."
"Yet you're here now seeking justice," Number pointed out.
"I have to hope there's justice somewhere," Tattered said mournfully.
A hush went over the entire amphitheatre, and it took Number a moment to realize why. On top of one if the six pillars there now sat the skeletal form of the Warden of Death.
"Welcome all," the Dreamwarden said in a normal volume, but it still somehow echoed over the entire amphitheatre. "I know most of you weren't expecting to be back again for the second day in a row. We are taking extra care this time around to condense time so you have more time to yourselves. I can also assure you that we have no trials scheduled again for at least another week."
The rest of the pillars suddenly gained occupants, each in some fantastical form. Number looked over each with her eyes. Phobia Remedy was one of the Dreamwardens according to Wild and she was curious as to which one. Aside from the one that looked like some sort of mer-pony it was impossible to tell much about any of them in their dream forms.
"For those of you who are joining us for the first time today let me reintroduce myself and my fellow Dreamwardens," the skeletal form said. "I am ___'__ ____, Warden of Death. I shall oversee this particular trial. The seapony shaped one of us is _____ __ ___, Warden of Lust. The flaming pony is ______, Warden of Anger. The stag is ______ ____, Warden of Peace. The minotaur is _____ ____, Warden of Silence. The twisting shadow is ______ ______, Warden of Fear."
Number had it explained to her already that she wouldn't be able to remember the names of the Dteamwardens, but having those memories blocked out as the names were being said was disconcerting. Still, she fixed her eyes on the twisting mass of blackness that had been declared the Warden of Fear. Phobia Remedy must be that one, her obsession with fear was well known.
The Warden of Death looked out across the amphitheatre. "You may all give your Oaths now. I'll have no patience as my sister had for any that aren't prompt. If you don't give them you'll be punished immediately with no further warnings. This is the only warning you'll get."
All of the night ponies, including Tattered Wing beside her and Rosetta Stone across at the other table, answered in a great chorus. "_______ ____, we promise ponies shall dream in peace. _____ __ ___, we shall not allow our passions to lead us to folly. ______, the Wardens' anger is unyielding and just. ______ ______, fear of the Wardens keeps us safe. ______ ____, we shall keep the secrets of the Wardens. __'__ ____, better to die than to face the Wardens' justice."
The Warden of Death looked around the amphitheatre then shook her head before raising a wing. "You cannot say you weren't warned."
Screaming began at two different spots in the amphitheatre. Number turned to look at where it was coming from.
From two spots ponies drew away and watched the screaming ponies in horror. One was a white night pony stallion with a yellow and white mane, the other a grey-furred golden-maned mare. Despite her distance from either of these ponies she could see what was happening to them clearly by some trick of perception. Both of them had thousands of bugs crawling on them; entering into their mouth, ears, and even eyes--they were being eaten alive as they screamed in pain and terror.
She watched in horror as their eyes and flesh were eaten away. This for just not saying some Oaths right away? What fate awaited Tonya? Number hated Tonya for her betrayal, but not enough to condemn her to this.
Then suddenly it all stopped and the two night ponies were sitting there again completely whole with heavily labored breathing.
"Now, Dawn Breaker of Denver in the United States and Rimal Bayda' of Oran in Algeria, I expect you to give your Oaths," the Warden of Death said.
"_______ ____, we promise ponies shall dream in peace. _____ __ ___, we shall not allow our passions to lead us to folly. ______, the Wardens' anger is unyielding and just. ______ ______, fear of the Wardens keeps us safe. ______ ____, we shall keep the secrets of the Wardens. __'__ ____, better to die than to face the Wardens' justice," the two night ponies in question said in chorus.
The skeleton nodded. "Good, never disobey a command for Oaths again or you shall risk banishment from the dream realm. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Dreamwarden," the two choked out through sobs. Number watched as the black-furred mare was hugged by another black-furred mare with a silver mane.
The skeleton raised another wing. "You have been punished and it is over now. You'll find food at your hooves. Eat, and be soothed."
Number could see the two night ponies doing exactly that. These Dreamwardens had a very strange way of doing things.
"Now, as for what we are here for today," the Warden of Death said in the same calm voice. "The pegasus Tonya Middleton has been accused of several crimes. The greatest crime is intentionally using mind magic to force another pony to commit murder. She is also accused of a lesser crime of accidentally using her mind magic to alter the thoughts of her human family."
Hisses and growls rang out in chorus throughout the amphitheatre. Number could see Tonya cower in her seat as she listened. Rosetta Stone laid a comforting wing on Tonya's back as Sunset laid a hoof on Tonya's shoulder.
The Dreamwarden continued. "As for the matter with the humans. Seeing as it was done by accident, that the impact has been at least partially remedied, and that Tonya Middleton has taken steps to prevent further accidents, we have decided to forego any punishment for that particular crime. We can be merciful, and accidents do happen. She has taken steps to correct her actions and there is no need to pursue punishment for them in light of that. The forcing a pony to do murder shall be the sole crime we shall address."
Tonya didn't seem to look relieved at all about having one of her charges dropped. Considering the gravity of the other charge it was understandable.
"The accused may stand before me and say her plea," the Warden of Death continued.
Tonya got shakingly to her hooves and flew over to the center of the court. She then stared up at the the Warden if Death, trembling.
"Well?" The Warden of Death said with some annoyance. "Get on with it. State your name and your plea. I know you aren't a night pony, so you're not as instinctually brave, but have some dignity."
Tonya gulped and nodded. "Tonya Middleton...I plead guilty and plead for mercy."
"We shall decide if mercy shall be given or not, but your admission of guilt is noted. You'll be questioned more later, but for right now return to your seat," the Dreamwarden instructed then turned to the table that Number sat at as Tonya returned to her seat. "You two, come forward, state your names and why you're here. Starting with the night pony."
Number and Tattered did as instructed. Number looked over all the Dreamwardens as she walked forward. It was hard to tell anything about their emotions because these forms hid them well. That was likely part of why they took them. With that in mind it wasn't surprising that Phobia Remedy took the least expressive form of them all. The only one with a readable expression was the Warden of Lust, who looked annoyed for some reason.
Tattered spoke up. "I am Tattered Wing. I come here seeking actual justice. I want the guilty to pay. In this case I'm focused not on Tonya Middleton, but the pony that doubtlessly put her up to it." She pointed a hoof at Sunset. "Sunset Blessing."
"Really?" The Warden of Death said with a hint of surprise. "That is an interesting turn. So you seek no judgement against Tonya Middleton?"
Tattered bared her teeth. "Tonya was just a tool. I want the one who directed that tool."
"Interesting indeed," the Warden of Death said considering. "Your fitness to prosecute Tonya Middleton we shall have to consider. We shall decide in a few minutes whether you shall be allowed." She turned her eyes to Number then. "And you?"
Number raised her head high. "I am Number Crunch. I'm not here seeking judgement against anypony. I simply want my memory to be returned to me from the night of Swift Strike's death."
"Will you allow your memory to be used as evidence in this case?" The Dreamwarden asked. "And to clarify, you are among those who were wronged according to accusations. You don't wish to prosecute?"
Number nodded. "I will allow my memory to be used as evidence. Without knowing what is in the memory I'm not comfortable prosecuting."
"Very well, your status as a witness has been established. We shall ask again about the prosecution after we have seen your memories," the Warden said slowly. "Return to your seats."
The two walked quickly back to their seats and as they sat down the Dreamwarden spoke to the other table. "Unicorn and night pony, come forward and speak your names and your purpose here--starting with the night pony."
Sunset and Rosetta Stone walked forward and when they reached the center if the court Rosetta spoke. "I am Rosetta Stone. Tonya is a friend of mine. I seek leniency for her because the pony that died deserved to die, and Tonya's death would devastate my lover, ______ ______."
Shocked gasps went out across the amphitheatre. Did these ponies feel so shocked because of how close this trial was to one of the Dreamwardens or were they shocked that Rosetta announced in front of them all that she was a lover to one of the Dreamwardens? If Number had to guess a little of both. When she glanced up at Phobia's form it was as unreadable as ever, showing no reaction to what Rosetta said.
The Warden of Death nodded. "I understand your position as a bride to be. I must warn you though; my sister may be present and observing this trial, but she has already recused herself from the final vote. This vote will not give any biased sympathy for Tonya Middleton. You're acceptable as a defender."
Tattered whispered in a low voice. "Why are they not punishing her? She just revealed an identity of a Dreamwarden to you and Sunset Blessing."
Number answered quickly. "Wild Growth too, she's out in the audience somewhere. Truth be told Wild and I already knew, and I'm guessing Sunset and Tonya must have known as well. That means she revealed nothing."
Tattered grunted, but didn't say any more on the matter.
Sunset looked up at the Warden of Death. "I am Sunset Blessing. Tonya Middleton is my lover, and ______ ______ is my daughter. I take full responsibility for what happened. It was I who sought vengeance against Swift Strike for what he did to my daughter, your Warden of Fear, in the waking world. Tonya would never have done anything without my seeking vengeance. I seek that any punishment be directed at me instead."
More shocked gasps and muttering, along with some angry hisses and growls, echoed around the court.
The Warden of Death stared down at Sunset. "So, now we have both Tattered Wing and you seeking to redirect blame to you. This was unexpected. Do you have any evidence Tonya Middleton was not in control of her own actions?"
"She loves me dearly and would do anything to please me," Sunset explained. "I asked her to try to convince Number Crunch to do the murder. I never specified how. She could have interpreted that as to use her powers. Even if she didn't, I was the one who put her in the position of temptation."
"That is not a sign she was without free will, only that she is possibly horribly misguided," the Warden of Death said with contempt. "We shall put to vote immediately whether we shall allow the two of you to do so. Warden of Anger, how do you vote on allowing this?"
The flaming pony actually spit out a flaming glob down on the court floor that quickly vanished. "I vote against it. Tonya Middleton is responsible for her own actions."
"The Warden of Anger votes against," the Warden of Death stated. "Warden of Peace, how do you vote?"
The stag shook his head. "I agree with the Warden of Anger. Tonya Middleton is responsible for her own actions."
The skeleton nodded. "The Warden of Peace votes against it. Warden of Lust, how do you vote?"
The seapony looked at Tonya and then to Sunset. "I choose to withhold my vote until I question Tonya Middleton about it, if you'll allow. I don't feel I have enough information to give a fair vote."
"Allowed," the Warden of Death said. "You may question the accused now."
The Warden of Lust looked down at Tonya. "I'm sorry to have to question you about what the status of your relationship is with Sunset Blessing, but I need your statement. Would you have obeyed her if she ordered you to use mind magic in a malicious way?"
Tonya looked uncertainly at Sunset and opened and closed her mouth silently.
"Answer the question, pegasus," the Warden of Death said harshly.
The Warden of Lust turned and frowned at the Warden of Death. "Please, ___'__, give her a little kindness and let her have time to gather her thoughts. We haven't determined if she is guilty or not yet, so stop treating her like we have."
"Very well," the Warden of Death said crossly.
The seapony turned back to Tonya. "Take your time to find your answer, but don't take too long. We can be patient, but our patience is not without end. You have two minutes, after that you shall answer or we shall force you to give an answer. Believe me, you do not want us to force you--just ask those two ponies who failed to say their Oaths earlier."
Tonya trembled some more and gulped. "Yes, understood, ma'am."
As Number watched Tonya struggle to come up with an answer she questioned how she should feel about Sunset Blessing. The fact was the other unicorn had actually believed it was possible that she would actually go through with murder on request. After all the insisting that ponies were better Sunset treated her like she was still the same person she'd been as a human. It wasn't the first time she'd had this thought pass through her mind, but all the times before she'd quickly banished it because she didn't want to think about anything involving that night. Today she actually let the thought linger and considered it more fully.
The facts seemed to be that Sunset Blessing didn't think that Number was any morally better than she was before. Number had questioned herself about this more than once, and the fact that she had to do so meant that there must be some reason to doubt. Her entire basis for believing ponies were inherently better was wrapped up in that concept though, and to question it made her deeply uncomfortable.
What had made her believe that ponies were morally better? That was simple, it was the vision. The vision showed her a perfect world where every pony worked together in harmony and for the collective good. She had believed in that vision, even after she had learned that it was a fabrication created by the night ponies.
And what of the night ponies who made that vision? Swift Strike had been a night pony and he had openly admitted to spreading the vision, yet he had still been a rapist as a pony. These Dreamwardens did horrible torture to their fellow night ponies and threatened it just now for Tonya. These did not seem to be keepers of great morality, but they had spread the vision.
Then what made a pony better? Magic, perhaps? Tonya had magic, and from what was described it was such a horrible thing that she was facing a death sentence from it. The Equestrians relied so heavily on magic that they were technologically decades behind in many areas and centuries behind on other areas--all despite having sustained peace for who knew how long. If they were to be believed about the Devourers they would be completely helpless against the things, as would have been the world here eventually if Sunset Shimmer had succeeded.
Ponies even struggled with using many forms of technology, manipulation of small objects was a struggle for four of the five tribes. Even some unicorns had trouble with small objects that a human would have none with. If she tried striking keys on a keyboard with her magic exclusively instead of using a tool she'd exhaust herself after just a few reports.
Just like with each of the pony tribes humans had things that they could do with greater ease. Number was a unicorn, but she couldn't do weather magic, dream magic, or grow things like an earth pony. She couldn't absorb and filter magic with the ease of a crystal pony. Each excelled in their own ways and humans were no different in that regard. Humans were no worse or better than ponies, they were just their own thing with their own strengths.
If she was committed to being better the fact that she was a pony wasn't going to make that so. It may have made her stop and reexamine her life, but it was her decisions rather than what she was that determined who she was morally.
And with that she had to come to the uncomfortable admission that Shimmerism was wrong.
She narrowed her eyes at Sunset Blessing. If the other unicorn escaped this unscathed then Number would continue to aid with SPEC, not because she believed in what Sunset preached, but because there was good for all--humans and ponies--that it could do, but she'd no longer dream of that pony world.
She made another decision too; after this she would see to it that Wild never fell into thinking this way either. If she was to groom Wild to lead SPEC in the future then she'd groom Wild to best show the qualities Wild already displayed. Wild had a big heart and wanted to help and care for all because it was just the right thing to do. Number could believe in Wild Growth, Sunset Blessing was simply holding Wild's place as leader of the south until the younger mare was ready to assume it as far as Number was concerned. It might be years yet, but she'd see the south got the leader that would truly make it great.
Number paused her thoughts as Tonya seemed finally ready to answer the question.
Tonya looked up at the Warden of Lust with her ears flattened and her wings hanging limply at her sides. "Yes, Dreamwarden, I would have used my powers for her however she asked me without a thought. However, I didn't think that was what she wanted me to do that night, and what happened was entirely my decision for my own desires, not hers. My best friend had been raped, I was angry, and I did something horrible because of that."
The seapony nodded. "I see. I know you're afraid, little pegasus, but I must commend you for taking personal responsibility for your actions. There is no bravery without fear, and you're either very brave to be honest with me or very brave to try to defend your lover in the face of us." The Warden of Lust turned to the skeleton. "I vote Tonya Middleton is responsible for her own actions."
"That's three votes of the initial four who would cast votes considering the Warden of Fear has recused herself and I only pass tiebreaker votes. That's enough to decide the motion," the Warden of Death said. "Warden of Silence may I have your vote just to complete the vote?"
The bull made some sign language gestures which Number recognized meant that he also agreed that Tonya was responsible for her own actions. A mute Dreamwarden that spoke in sign language? Since this was a dream why didn't he allow himself to actually speak even if he were mute in the waking world? Probably just trying to live up to his title.
"The Warden of Silence votes that Tonya Middleton is responsible for her own actions. With that vote passed I must ask you Sunset Blessing, are you still prepared to try to defend your lover?" The Warden of Death asked.
"As fervently as I know how," Sunset said with no hesitation.
The Warden turned to Tattered Wing. "And you, are you prepared to prosecute this case if your target is not Sunset Blessing?"
Tattered looked uncertain and looked between Tonya and Sunset then hung her head. "No, Dreamwarden, I'm not. I believe that Sunset Blessing is the real culprit and Tonya is only a tool. It serves no purpose to punish Tonya and not Sunset Blessing."
"Do you not believe that Sunset Blessing would be punished by the fact Tonya Middleton could have her mind possibly wiped today?" The Warden of Death asked? "Do you think this unicorn so heartless that she can simply shake off Tonya Middleton's judgement with no pain?"
Tattered gave the Warden a hard look. "I want justice, not petty spite. I won't prosecute."
"Very well," the Dreamwarden said. "Then you will be removed to the audience."
The Dreamwarden raised a skeletal wing and Tattered Wing vanished from beside Number. The Warden of Death then turned her attention to her.
"And do you, Number Crunch, wish to take up the role of prosecution after hearing Tonya Middleton claim full responsibility?" The Dreamwarden asked.
Number shook her head. "I stand by what I said before. I offer up my memories, not prosecution."
"Hmm, well then, it seems we have no prosecution in this trial," the Warden said thoughtfully. "It was merely a formality and a chance to push our decisions in one direction. It is not a necessity. The trial shall continue without a prosecutor. The defense may take their seats. Number Crunch, please come before us so we can begin this."
Number did as instructed. When she reached the center of the court the Dreamwarden leaned down towards her.
"This is your final opportunity to back out of this," the Warden of Death said. "The block on your memory is not done by any outside source, it was done by you. Your mind blocked this out because it was traumatic. Are you prepared to see what it blocked out with that in mind?"
Number licked her lips nervously. "Yes, Dreamwarden. I need to know."
"And so you shall then," the Warden of Death said.
Up against the backdrop of stars her memory began to play out like a movie. It was shown completely from her first person viewpoint as she has seen it.
She was sitting in Tattered Wing's office. Tonya's human sister-in-law had just departed the room. Tonya was looked her with ears held low and a tired weary expression.
"What's this about Tonya?" She heard herself say.
Tonya rather than answering right away looked around the office without focusing on anything. The pegasus then came and took the vacated seat across from her.
"Swift Strike is being held just down the hall. Tattered Wing is out talking with the soldiers right now, but she'll be in here soon," Tonya said in a low voice.
Number's blink could be seen through the memory. "Alright...what does that have to do with anything?"
Tonya looked up at her. "Sunset wants Swift Strike dead. She was hoping you could make it happen."
"Sunset can go screw herself. If she really wants Swift Strike dead she can kill him herself and bloody her own hooves. I'm not going to do it," Number's past self replied firmly.
"She can't, it would be too obvious if she did it," Tonya replied with a downcast stare at the floor.
"Well then, I guess he's going to live or she's going to have to find another pony to be her hitmare. I've never actually killed anypony myself and I'm not about to start."
"You've arranged killings in the past. You're the only pony she trusts to deal with something like this."
"That was me as a human, that was Annette Crowfield. I'm not that person anymore, I'm Number Crunch now, and I'm going to be a good pony that does the right things. I'm starting over with a clean ledger."
Tonya raised an eyebrow at her. "You're the pony that threatened to plant Phobia into the ground if I'm not mistaken. It seems to me that you've got a fairly bloodthirsty side to you still."
Number's past self turned away and stared at the floor. "I did my time for that. You know I submitted myself for punishment on that because I knew I was wrong. Why are you rubbing that in my face now."
"Perhaps you should explain to me why it happened at all if that isn't your nature?"
Number's past self went silent and sat there still staring at the floor for some time.
The view shifted so she was now staring at Tonya. "I really don't know what got into me that day. She started talking and I just started getting so angry, it was like she was pulling the worst parts of me to the surface. That shouldn't have happened."
Tonya stared back at her with a flat expression. Number remembered she couldn't get a feel for what was going on in Tonya's head back then, but now looking at her she could see Tonya putting things together in her head.
"It was like she was getting into your head? Pulling all the parts of you that you fear to the surface, is that it?"
Her past self nodded. But gave no verbal answer.
"Phobia and I are going to need to have a talk about responsibly talking to ponies," Tonya muttered to herself.
The comment had confused her back then. Now it made all to much sense. Tonya could use mind magic, and Phobia could too. Phobia had used mind magic on her, and that's where all the things she had said to Phobia came from. How had she been blind to it?
She glanced up at the swirling black mass that was Phobia Remedy. She didn't know what to expect when she looked at it; some sort of remorse? The black mass betrayed no emotion, it just watched the memory.
Tonya in the past reached over the desk and put a hoof on her past self's foreleg. "I know you want to do what's right. I know you want to do good. Swift Strike is a monster that will hurt ponies in the future if he isn't put down. You don't want him to hurt anypony else."
As her past self shook her head, Number in the present creased her brow in confusion. Something wasn't right. What Tonya had said back then felt so much more like a convincing argument. Now it barely felt like anything at all.
"No, I don't want him to hurt anypony else, but I don't want to be a murderer."
"You want to do what's right. Ask yourself, is it right to let him have an opportunity to do this again to some other mare? Is it murder to put down a monster? You want to do the right thing for the sake of other ponies. Isn't this the right thing?" Tonya's past self was speaking so strangely, putting extra emphasis on the word want each time. Hearing it now she knew these were weak questions she should have rejected.
"What if he could change? I changed, maybe he can too."
Tonya lowered her ears in response. "That's a fair point. I'll go with you then, and I'll find out if he can be redeemed or not. I don't want any pony that doesn't need to die be killed either. That way we can both be sure that the right thing is being done. You can watch me question him and if something has to be done you can have your conscious assured you did the right thing."
"Where's he being held? And how do we keep anypony from knowing what we're doing?"
Number wanted to scream at her past self. This was insane, there was no reason she should be going along with this. What possessed her to agree with this?
The answer was simple. Tonya had used mind magic in her. Her past self didn't have her complete control of her thinking. Number looked across the court at the other table. Sunset, Rosetta, and Tonya were watching the memory play out. Tonya had her ears flattened. The pegasus caught her staring and tried to sink down into her seat. Number snorted with disgust and anger and turned her attention back to her memory.
She'd missed some of the conversation in the time she had spent staring at the Tonya in the here and now. Her past self was looking at the Tonya back then and shaking her head.
"I still don't feel right about this," her past self said.
Of course she didn't, this was all so wrong!
The pegasus took a deep breath. "Let's put this in a different perspective; if humans hear about pony rapists it will become another reason to demonize us. I know that there are plenty of human rapists, but the one thing we have going for us with humans is we come off as passive and harmless as a species. We can't let them start thinking we're dangerous."
"And killing a pony ourselves is going to be better how?!" Her past self almost yelled.
Yes! Keep speaking sense! She cheered her past self on in her head, almost forgetting how this was going to end up going.
"They don't have to find out we did it. If they find a body it can be blamed on wild animals or violent humans. There's no reason for them to suspect a pony," Tonya replied firmly.
"Maybe, but it still feels wrong," her past self replied.
Not maybe! It feels wrong because it is wrong! She silently screamed in her head.
"You want the best possible future for ponies, you want your fellow ponies safe from monsters like Swift Strike, and should be willing to go to any lengths to get what you want," the past Tonya said in that strange way again, emphasizing the word want. That was her word; the word that carried her power.
Her past self sat silent for a few seconds, shaking her head. Number dreaded what was coming next.
"Alright," her past self said. "We'll do this."
God damn it!
Her past self took a few moments examining the air vent in the room which Tonya had assured her was an exact match to the one in Swift Strike's room. The pair then left the office and passed Tattered Wing in the hall.
"I closed out all the programs on your computer that I had running. You'll need to change out the ink cartridge in the printer soon, it's running low on ink," her past self said casually to Tattered Wing as they passed by her.
"Alright, I'll see if one of the humans on the town council can help me with that in the morning. Thanks for the heads up. Go get some sleep," Tattered Wing said in response before continuing on to her office.
Number didn't know where Tattered was in the audience right now, but she imagined that the night pony was fuming at the fact that Swift Strike had been freed so soon after returning to her office. As a matter of personal pride having that happen with her just down the hall had to be a tough pill to swallow.
Her past self and Tonya went outside. While she circled around back Tonya flew on top of the building. Number had quickly found where the right vent was and gotten to work. After she was satisfied she had opened the vent enough for Swift Strike to escape she quickly ran out of sight of the vent but still where she could be signaled by the pegasus.
She had stood waiting for a long time and had begun to wonder if he had somehow failed to notice the vent. It seemed unlikely to her that he wouldn't have noticed. By all means he probably should have noticed the magic working on the screws and thought he had a rescuer. Perhaps he was suspicious of a unicorn coming to his supposed aid?
Eventually Tonya signaled her that he was on the move. The pegasus took high to the air, high enough that she wouldn't be immediately noticed, or if she was noticed that nopony would think that she was watching them. If Tonya wasn't a color that clearly didn't blend in against a night sky Number wouldn't have been able to spot her.
Using Tonya as a guide she followed where Swift Strike went. She had been worried enough that he would get too far away that she almost revealed herself to him when she followed him through the tents and had stepped out of cover. If he had turned around at that moment he would have spotted her, but she had gotten lucky and he had been too focused on getting into the woods.
Tonya was forced to come in and follow on a low flight beneath the canopy, otherwise they would have lost him. With how fast they were moving through the underbrush they were making a lot of noise, but Swift Strike was making even more noise than them and didn't seem to notice theirs. They followed for a good distance before Tonya found an opportunity to cut ahead of him and head him off. When the pegasus did Number had used her magic to trip the fleeing night pony up.
The memory of the conversation between Tonya and Swift Strike played out. She still felt disgust at his answers hearing them again now, but still thinking that this pony needed psychiatric help, not execution. She was not a monster, and she wouldn't be a killer.
Except she knew that in the end she had killed him.
Tonya fled the area in the past and Number in the present growled. The damn pegasus had gotten her into that situation and dared to just take off. The growl was short lived though as it was now entering the part of her memory that had been blocked out, and the distinction between the present and the past ceased in her mind and now she was there again.
Number lit up her horn and encased him in her magic. When it came to magical force she was no weakling. With her power she was able to completely constrain every part of his body from his hooves to his muzzle. She could feel him struggle against the magic, but there was no visible sign of it. Her magical grip was just far too strong.
Satisfied she had him completely under control she floated him over to her and sneered at him. He in turn fixed his eyes on her with a death glare. His struggling stopped though.
"You seem to have a very low opinion of mares," she said in a growl. "Rosetta Stone must have really had some serious self esteem problems if she dated you. You're garbage, but I'll let the courts deal with you. Maybe a few years in a prison will help sort you out. I wonder if the human prisoners will still try to sexually harass a pony. Would serve you right."
She could feel him straining against her magic to try to speak, though not straining against any other part of her grip. She decided to release the grip on his muzzle and see what he had to say for himself.
He sneered at her. "You wretched little whore, I've dealt with plenty like you before. I'm going to make you pay for humiliating me like this. I always make you sluts pay."
It didn't make sense. She had him firmly in her grasp, but suddenly she felt very vulnerable and afraid. She was here, alone, with him, and he was going to hurt her. Her mind got foggy and her magic faltered.
"All you cunts, always wrecking my life. You always pay in the end. I'm not going to let you all get away with it. You're going to hurt. You're going to pay," he said in a hateful voice.
She completely dropped her magic and she ran for it. She had to get away. She had to get to safety. He was going to hurt her. She felt so powerless and alone.
She ran through the woods, cursing that she couldn't see better in the dark. Branches slapped her in the face and thorns tore at her sides. She wasn't even sure she was running in the right direction because her head was so foggy. She just had to get away.
"Awe, is the little slut scared?" She head him cackle. "You won't be scared for long. I'll make it so you never have to be scared of anything ever again."
She kept running looking all around her wildly to try to find him as she heard him laughing. She couldn't get away. He was going to get her. Her chest heaved as she breathed heavily. She could barely see anymore through her tears, but she kept running.
Suddenly she was struck hard on her side and she slammed against a tree and fell to the ground. Then he was there, on top of her, leering at her. She screamed.
He hit her hard across the face and she whimpered. He brought his muzzle up to her and she could feel his breath on her before he stuck his tongue out and gave one long lick across the side of her face before grinning evilly at her.
There was death in his eyes as he spoke. "This isn't going to be like with that shemale Mattie. Nopony's going to come to your rescue. I'm going to screw you like the whore you are then beat you till you never get up again."
She screamed again in panic and lit her horn. With a lash of magic she sent him hurtling away and she heard a loud crash as he hit a tree.
Still crying she lifted her head to look at him. He was still breathing, but he was out cold. The feelings of fear started to go away. She still wept though as she turned over. She hunched herself into a fetal position and just kept crying.
It went on for several minutes like this, but finally she got to where she could start thinking again. She needed to restrain him and get him back to Tattered Wing while he was still unconscious. She still needed to figure out which way was the way back to town.
She stood to her hooves and lit her horn back up. She then cautiously made her way over to Swift Strike's stunned form. She frowned, something seemed off about him.
When she stood over him she noticed what it was, he didn't appear to be breathing. She carefully touched a hoof to him and didn't feel any breathing. Panic started to rise again. This couldn't be happening, he was breathing a few moments ago. He'd been just knocked out, there wasn't even any signs of bleeding or anything.
She put her head down against his body and listened. There was no sound of breathing, no sound of a heartbeat. Not even caring about the danger he presented she started shaking him rigorously to try to wake him, but it did no good.
She sat back up and started crying. This couldn't be happening. She was supposed to be a good pony, but she had somehow killed another pony. Despite all her efforts to be better she was still a monster.
With a bestial scream she took her magic and started pounding on the body with all the force she could put behind it. She then began pulling at his limbs with it until they ripped off. She kept throwing more and more magic at it doing every type of brutality to the body she could as she vented her anger, fear, and hurt into it.
She kept at this until her magic finally gave out and she couldn't even light up her horn anymore. What remained of Swift Strike's body bore no resemblance to a pony. It was a mutilated mass of blood, bones, fur, and guts. She sat staring at it for a solid minute with her breathing labored and her eyes full of tears. Then she widened her eyes in horror at what she had done and laid down on the ground and sobbed.
"And now we have all seen what happened that night from your perspective," came an emotionless voice.
She looked up. She was no longer in the woods, she was in a great amphitheatre with a starry backdrop, staring up a pillar at a skeleton looking down at her. It took her a moment to realize where she was and that what she had just experienced had happened a week before.
Number turned and looked at the defense table. Tonya was staring at her with ears flattened and a look of disbelief. Even though Number still had tears in her eyes she felt rage well up in her as she looked at the pegasus.
"Why did you leave me!? Why did you leave me alone with him!? Why!?" She screamed in sorrow and rage.
She then curled up on the marble floor and kept crying like a little filly.
Suddenly she felt a gentle touch, and she looked up at the source. The shadowy outline of a night pony mare was there looking down at her. It ran a wing gently over her mane and then came over and embraced her. She went wide eyed and resisted for a second, then suddenly for some reason embraced the shadow back and cried on its shoulder.
"We shall take a brief recess for ponies to calm themselves and for us to consider what we have seen," the Warden of Death declared.