Prince of Equestria
Chapter 9
Executions
The cell door creaked open, and Shadowblaze raised his head. Sam and Goldie walked in, their keys jingling. "Time to die," Sam said. "Get his chains off Goldie." The gold-furred Diamond Dog did so, and Sam caught Shadowblaze.
"Let's get you all nice and pretty," Goldie growled. "You have to look nice when you're dead." He exited the cell, then returned with Shadowblaze's armor. The dogs dressed him, and Sam put shackles on the stallion's four legs.
"There. Now he's ready, eh Goldie?"
"That's right sir." The dog pushed Shadowblaze forward, and they departed the dungeon. The trio circled up the stairwell, walked through the halls, and stopped at the castle doors. Shining Armor joined them, followed by four guards.
"Thanks for bringing him up," he said. "We'll take it from here."
"Yes Captain," Sam replied. "Be careful with him though, you might hurt his little head." He and Goldie left, and the guards surrounded Shadowblaze.
"Come on scum," Shining hissed. "We're running late." The group moved out of the castle, Shadowblaze's chains clanging across the stone. They crossed the drawbridge, and the gates opened as they approached.
The lively bustle of Canterlot's citizens ceased as Shadowblaze walked through the street. They made no sound, merely looked at him in disgust. A colt, baseball in hoof, sneered at the stallion. He threw his ball at him, and it clanged off Shadowblaze's armor.
He stopped in his tracks. The Alicorn turned his head and stared at the colt. The boy's sneer was gone, and he widened his eyes in fear. "Boo." Shadowblaze said. The colt ran off, and he chuckled, getting wacked over his head.
"Keep moving!" Shining Armor exclaimed. A guard shoved him forward, and they continued through the city. A few minutes later, the group arrived in the city center.
The citizens had grouped together, around the statue of Celestia. They crowded around each other, fighting for a better view. Diamond Dogs wagged their tails, and bared their fangs as the escort approached.
Buffalo stomped their hooves, Night Ponies screached, and Ponies cried for bloodshed. Celestia stood in front of her statue, Luna next to her. The six mares stood off to the side. The group stopped a few feet away from them, and Shining Armor faced Shadowblaze.
He put his mouth next to the Alicorn's ear. "I hope you enjoy your trip to Tartarus," he hissed. "Because you'll be stuck down there."
Shadowblaze chuckled. "Where do you think I'm from Captain?"
Shining Armor faced Shadowblaze, scowling. "The darkest depths. I hope you stay there this time." He joined Celestia, and she held a hoof up for silence. The crowd calmed down, and Celestia looked at the black stallion.
"Shadowblaze," she announced. "You have been found guilty for several crimes. First and formost, murder. Enslavement of Buffalo."
Two of the bovines emerged from the crowd. They charged into Shadowblaze, their horns hooking into his armor. He grunted as his ribs were slammed into. They tore away chunks of it, and battered the pieces on the stone.
"You have also manipulated the Diamond Dog packs, dominating their minds."
Two of the dogs pounced on top of Shadowblaze. They clawed at the remaining pieces of armor, reducing it to scrapmetal. The combined weight of the dogs was too much, and he collasped. Finally, the dogs shredded his cape away. The four creatures then returned to the crowd.
"Finally, you are responsible for the war that has killed countless creatures. Therefor, you will be executed by the sword. Captain?"
Shining Armor hooved Shadowblaze's sword to Celestia. She levitated it out of its scabbard, and raised it in the air. Shadowblaze's breathing could be heard, and his chains rattled. He was afraid.
Celestia brought the sword an inch away from the stallion's heart. He scowled, and she whispered two words, so that only he could hear.
"I'm sorry."
Lightning fast, the sword was thrusted into Shadowblaze's heart. He coughed up blood, and looked at the protruding handle in surprise. Celestia pulled the blade out, and he fell on his side.
The Demon was dead.
'-'
"Welcome my friends!" Zecora exclaimed as the six mares walked into her hut. "I trust our decoy has met his end?"
"Stabbed, bled, and dead," Rainbow replied. "I just wish the real Shadowblaze is pushing up daysies."
"Rainbow!" Twilight shouted. "For the last time, we're not going to kill him!"
"I was just saying..."
"Now listen here," Applejack interjected. "Unless we work together, Twilight's plan'll never work."
"Fine." Dash groaned.
"So um," Fluttershy said. "Is the...potion ready yet?"
Yes indeed! A mask exclaimed, flying over to her. Fluttershy screamed.
"Star Swirl..." Twilight scolded.
Yes, yes. 'Stop appearing out of nowhere.' I'm sorry my dear. The rest of his possesed outfit joined, and he walked over to the cauldren.
The potion is ready.
"Good," she said, joining him. "What about the memory spell?"
Your spell gives memories, so you will be in charge of changing his past. I will take away every memory since his birth. I must warn you again, as powerful as my magic is, there is the risk that he will remember-
"I'm willing to take that risk," she interrupted. "If he remembers, fine. Let him. That just means I failed, and we'll kill him the moment he remembers."
"Wait a minute!" Pinkie said. "He might be able to remember what happened?"
"That's not very reassuring," Rarity continued. "Why can't we just drop him off in the forrest?"
"Because that would be unfair of you," said Zecora. "Thanks to Twilight, he can live life, brand new."
"That's another thing," Applejack replied. "I know about the memory you'll be giving him Twilight, but what kind of stallion his he going to be?"
The Unicorn rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "I never thought of that."
Luckilly, I did, Star Swirl said. That's why I brought these along. With a flash, the Elements of Harmony appeared on their wielders. The six looked at the pieces of jewelry, wondering what he meant.
Now, he said. Shall we begin?
'-'
The Cutie Mark Crusaders looked through the hut's window in curiosity. They were hidden in some shrubs. "What do you suppose Dash means," Applebloom whispered. "About the real Shadowblaze?"
"I don't know," Scootaloo replied. "I'm more concerned about that potion. What does it do?"
"Who knows?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Maybe it's-"
"Oh pony feathers!" Applebloom exclaimed.
"What?"
"Don't look now, but Shadowblaze is in Zecora's hut!"
"What!" Scootaloo shouted. The other fillies put their hooves on her mouth, silencing her. They looked at the window again, and saw the ponies inside circle around Shadowblaze.
He was unconcious, and seated in a chair. Twilight's horn glowed, and the stallion woke. Quickly, Star Swirl cast his own spell, and Shadowblaze was tied down.
He struggled, and the fillies could hear his cries of anger. "Are they doing," Sweetie said. "What I think they're doing?"
"Yep," Applebloom swallowed.
'-'
Zecora put a ladel in her mouth, putting the potion in it. Rainbow, Applejack, Star Swirl said. Open his mouth, and hold him still.
The two grabbed the angry stallion's head, Applejack yanking his muzzle open. Zecora quickly poured the potion into his mouth, and Applejack forced his mouth shut.
Shadowblaze swallowed, and he fell unconcious once more. Now, we wait...
For a minute, nothing happened. Then, a gust of wind blasted through the hut. The torches were snuffed out, and the mares screamed as they were cast into darkness.
Suddenly, tendrels of light emerged from Shadowblaze's body. They coiled and twisted around him, breaking the ropes that held him in place. He was lifted up into the air, and began to change.
The stallion's wings desinigrated from his body. The horn on his head vanished without a trace. Shadowblaze's body shrank down to that of the average Earth Pony. Finally, his cutie mark vanished.
He fell, Twilight catching him with her magic. She set the stallion back in the chair, sighing. Star Swirl re-lit the tortches, and stood over the transformed stallion.
Now, he said. To destroy his memories. The mask glowed, and a beam of yellow magic engulfed Shadowblaze's head. When Star Swirl finished, the orbs in the mask seemed to dim. There. He is Shadowblaze no longer. You may proceed, Twilight Sparkle.
Twilight walked over to the unconcious stallion. She opened one of his eyelids, curious about their color. She smiled slightly. Amber, like the sunset. She closed his eye, and looked back at her friends.
They smiled, and nodded their approval. With a sigh, her magic fllowed through her horn, and she touched his head. She could feel a conciousness, and it was scared by her appearence.
She told it her intentions, and a warm feeling spread through her body. Who are you? The conciousness asked. Twilight then told it the memories she had spent hours devising.
My name is Twilight Sparkle, she replied. I'm a friend. You live with me inside Ponyville's library, as my assistant. Tomorrow is your first day of working with me...
She told it about his relationship with the other mares, where it slept, and how he was incredible at playing violin, even though he didn't have a cutie mark. She continued, delving into other memories.
She finished, ending her spell. It only lasted seconds, but Twilight felt like she talked to the stallion for hours. "Is that it?" Dash asked. "Did your spell work?"
"It did," she sighed.
Now only one thing remains, Star Swirl said. Would you six gather around him please?
The mares hesitantly did so, curious about his request. Now tell me...what sort of pony is this stallion going to be?
"He should be generous," Rarity replied. "And willing to help others. But why are you asking us?"
"What's with 'th Elements anyways?" Applejack asked. "I thought they were put back in the tower."
The elements are here to change his personality, the Unicorn replied. They were put back in the tower, but you do not see their true power. They are not completely physical items. They are a force, a magic that can be summoned by those who represent them.
That's why I brought them here. Because you six mares weild their power. They have almost limitless usess, so long as they are used for harmony.
"But they didn't work on Shadowblaze," Pinkie Pie said. "Not until we kicked his hiney."
Shadowblaze's resistance eludes me. But that is in the past, now I ask you to make this stallion a good pony.
"And how the hay do we do that?" Rainbow asked. "For once, I'd like you to tell us straight."
Do as Rarity did. Represent your element, feel its' power like you have. The magic will flow through you, and make our friend in tune with harmony.
The possessed outfit returned to its' original spot, and the orbs disappeared. Zecora smiled. "Go on girls, give it a go. I believe this colt will be the pony everyone should know."
They nodded, and closed their eyes. The Elements glowed as the mares thought of what sort of pony the stallion should be. Loyal to his friends, always up for an adventure.
He should be optimistic, able to cheer ponies up. He's tons of fun to be with.
Generous, and willing to help others with his beautiful heart.
Honest, faithful, and strong willed.
He's kind, and knows just the right thing to say when you're troubled.
Friendship is an easy feat for him. He strives to help if he can, and will never let you down.
The Elements power flew into the stallion, a rainbow of color surrounding him. When it disappeared, Zecora sighed. "Now, your plan is complete. Take him home, as the sun sets. He'll enjoy life, I bet."
'-'
"What should we do?" Scootaloo asked. "Shadowblaze is going to be the new guy in town!"
"I don't know," Applebloom replied. "It don't make any sense. Why did they even do that?"
"Maybe we should tell Princess Celestia," Sweetie Belle said. "She'd know what to do."
"No!" The fillies hissed.
"She might arrest them!" Applebloom exclaimed.
"Or banish them!" Scootaloo added.
"Or...worse!"
"Then what do we do?"
"I'll tell you what we do," Sweetie replied. "We don't tell anyone about this. But, if the time comes when we meet him, we have to act dumb."
"Right," Scootaloo said. "But who knows? Maybe he'll be a fun guy. This gives us oppurtunity too."
"What do you mean?" Applebloom asked.
"Did you see a cutie mark on him?"
"Are you serious?"
Scootaloo nodded, and the other fillies grinned. "Cutie Mark Crusaders newest member!" They whispered in excitement.