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// Crucifíxus étiam pro nobis sub Scintilla Crepusculi; passus et sepúltus est, 
// Story: Passion 
// by Undome Tinwe 
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The Anointed One stood before the Governor. Shackles around her legs kept her from running, and the ring on her horn suppressed her magic, its markings labelling her as the prisoner. And yet, when she looked up at the one who would decide her fate, it was as if she were the one passing judgement.

And Twilight Sparkle felt very much judged and condemned to the worst possible fate. "You've really done it this time, Rarity," she said, trying to keep her voice light despite the gravity of the situation. "Your own people are calling out for your blood after that incident in the temple last week. Did you really have to start destroying property?"

"I destroyed nothing that should not have been freely given," Rarity replied simply. Her horn sparked for a moment before the inhibitor ring nullified her spell, though she was still able to channel enough of her magic to float a handkerchief out from the pocket of her lovely purple dress. The cloth fell to the ground in front of her, and Rarity looked up sheepishly at Twilight. "Oh dear, I had forgotten about that. Would you be so kind as to help me freshen up, please? I would rather face my end with some dignity."

Twilight immediately stepped forward, her own horn glowing as she picked up the cloth and dabbed away the dirt and blood on Rarity's face. Anger flared in her heart when Rarity winced, flinching away from the fabric as it touched the cut on her cheek. "I can't believe those... barbarians... did this to you."

"I'll admit, the trial was rather unpleasant, but there is still much I must endure before the day is done." Rarity frowned. "I am sorry for the pain that your heart shall face as well."

"You could stop this all right now," Twilight pointed out as she wiped away the last of the grime from Rarity's face. Despite her matted fur and the injuries marring her body, she still looked beautiful, and held herself with a dignity and grace that Twilight couldnt help but be captivated by. "The only charge they've actually brought to me is treason, since it's the only one I would be forced to act on."

"That does make sense," Rarity replied. "My other crimes are not ones that the Empire sees fit to punish."

"But that means that all you have to do is publicly renounce that ridiculous title of Princess of Harmony and we can find an excuse to let you go free." Hope flared in Twilight's heart as she formulated the plan in her head. It would be difficult to placate the ponies of this city and sate their bloodlust, but with some careful maneuvering, she should be able to minimize the damage.

Rarity shook her head, and Twilight's heart sank. "I'm afraid I can't do that, darling."

"Why not?" Twilight exclaimed, stomping her hoof on the ground. "Why do you have to be so stubborn? Are you really the Princess of Harmony?"

"You have said so." Even in the face of death, it seemed that Rarity would hold on to her infuriatingly mysterious facade. "Ah, but my kingdom is not of this world, otherwise my servants would have fought to prevent my arrest, no?"

Twilight rubbed a forehoof against her temple. "Ugh, why do you always have to be like this? Do you understand how serious this is? The ponies out there want me to crucify you!"

"I know, my dearest, darling star." Rarity grinned weakly. "It's going to be absolute murder on my style. Holes just aren't very fashionable this season, you see."

"Rarity!" Twilight stormed over towards the obstinate mare, fear burning her soul. "I love you." The declaration was wrenched out of her, a desperate plea to her beloved. "Please, don't make me do this."

They were close enough to be almost touching, and Twilight wanted nothing more than to lean over and capture her lover's lips with her own, to affirm their desires for one another or maybe kiss away the insanity from her mind.

Before she could, however, Rarity shook her head and spoke. "Unfortunately, I am bound by my fate and my purpose. You know what the holy books of my people say must come to pass."

"I don't believe in prophecies," Twilight snarled. "You have a choice, Rarity. You can choose to live, to spend the rest of your life with me, instead of throwing it away on some dumb mission."

"You do not yet believe, my love, but you shall." Rarity moved to raise one hoof towards Twilight, but the chains stopped her. "This is how my ministry has to end, you see. With my death, I shall take away the sins of the world, and open up the doors to my kingdom of everlasting life."

"You're delusional." The words slipped out before Twilight could stop them, but in her desperation, she couldn't bring herself to take them back.

"I thought you loved me for my beliefs," Rarity said quietly, and there was true hurt in her eyes.

A flash of pain lanced through Twilight's heart. "I love you for how kind and generous you are, and how you're willing to help others no matter the cost to yourself. But this, this isn't going to help anyone. Please, can't we just go back to the way things were before, when you made dresses for me and we just enjoyed each other's company in the library?"

"All things must change, Twilight." There were tears in Rarity's eyes, mirroring those burning Twilight's own. "It is right to mourn that which is gone, but the future is so much brighter than you could possibly know."

"How can my future be bright without you?" Twilight whispered, holding back a sob.

"I shan't be gone long, my dear," Rarity said with total confidence. "I shall return, to judge the living and the dead, and my kingdom will have no end. You shall have a place in it, as all others will."

Twilight could only stare incredulously. "You'll be dead." She flinched as she said the word. "Nopony can return from the dead."

"And yet, you saw me restore Late Riser to life."

"He probably wasn't actually dead, just in a very deep sleep. It's been known to happen."

Rarity sighed. "Blessed are those who have not seen, but have believed," she murmured before groaning. "I don't have a line for those who have seen, and still refuse to accept the truth I grace them with."

Twilight barely managed to refrain from starting up their old argument. "Well, I don't care what your prophecies say, I'm going to do everything I can to save you."

"And I love you for it, dear."

Rarity leaned forwards, and Twilight was helpless to do anything but lean in as well, sharing a quick but passionate kiss with this incredible, delusional mare before she turned away and headed out towards her balcony.

Disgust roiled in her gut as she looked at the very ponies Rarity had been trying to serve, who now desired her demise. "I find no fault in this mare!" she called out.

The crowd jeered. "Crucify her, crucify her!"

Unable to look at them any longer, Twilight rushed back into the audience chamber, which she had emptied of all ponies except for herself and Rarity.

"I take it things did not go as you wished?" Rarity asked, and her serenity irked Twilight even if it set some part of her at ease.

"How could they?" she hissed, glaring out towards the city that she had sworn to serve, and which had now turned on her beloved. "After all you've done for them. I should have all their leaders executed for this."

"But you won't, because you're a good mare, even if you're a little blind to the truth." Rarity reached out to nuzzle Twilight tenderly. "When the time comes, please make sure that I'm not still wearing my dress. It would be quite a waste to stain it more, and I did put so much effort into creating it. Let the soldiers cast lots for it, according to the prophecies. And one more pony will be able to benefit from my designs."

A hysterical giggle issued forth from Twilight's lips. "Of all the things for you to be worried about..."

Rarity smirked. "It's never the wrong time to worry about fashion, darling. Though, I suppose there are greater considerations at the moment."

"You think?" Twilight wracked her brain for a solution. After all, they all said she was one of the greatest minds in the world. Surely she could find some loophole that would... "The amnesty!"

She rushed out again, and channeled a spell to amplify her voice. "It is the custom on this, your feastday, for me to grant amnesty to a prisoner. I can release Rarity, or I can release Tirek." Surely nopony would want that monster walking free.

"Tirek! Tirek! Release Tirek to us"

Twilight's heart sank as her last hope died. "Very well, then. I wash my hooves of all of this. You shall have your blood."

She returned to Rarity once more, and silently embraced her, committing to memory the feel of her body against hers as her tears began to flow freely, staining the ground with her sorrow.

"Forgive them, Twilight, for they know not what they do," Rarity said as she gently nuzzled her, and the gentleness in her voice broke Twilight.

"I'm going to miss you so much," she said as she wept openly. "Please, don't leave me."

"I won't," Rarity promised. "I know you don't understand yet, but you will. Until then, take care of my apostles for me, would you? Coco could use somepony on her side in the courts when she takes over Carousel Boutique, and Applejack is going to feel awfully guilty for denying any knowledge of me, but I need her to be the rock on which I build my church."

"I'll do what I can." Twilight glanced towards one of the side doors. If she unlocked it and "accidentally" slipped off Rarity's inhibitor ring, she could play it off as Rarity escaping from her, and she could live...

Rarity shook her head, her eyes seeing far too deeply into her soul. "Now is the judgment of this world. Now shall the princess of this world be cast out. And if I be lifted up from the world, I will draw all to Myself. So it is written, and so shall it be. That's how you like things, no? Recorded and immutable."

"Not this," Twilight replied. "I would burn all of my books for you."

"My, my, I don't think I've ever heard you confess your love to this extent before. Aren't you quite the romantic?"

"I learned from the best." Twilight sighed. "There's nothing I can do to stop you from doing this, is there?"

"I'm afraid not, dear." Rarity smiled again. "Goodbye, my love. Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in Harmony, believe also in Me."

With all her heart, Twilight wished she could do so. "Goodbye, Rarity," she said instead. "I have to call back the guards now, or else the ponies will start to get suspicious. I love you, Rarity."

They shared one final kiss. "And I you, Twilight Sparkle." Rarity straightened herself out and held her head high, every inch the graceful and serene messiah she claimed herself to be. "Now, shall we render unto the Empress the things that are the Empress'?"