//------------------------------// // Verdicts Your Honors? // Story: Earning Freedom // by Daxisle //------------------------------// Verdicts your Honors? Sin sat on an oak bench outside of the the castle, the princess words replaying over and over in his mind. He cringed a bit at the smug look on her face as the verdict was passed. "Guilty." he repeated to no one in particular. He thought he had it figured out, he thought he knew what the call would be when the princess had assisted him. He couldn't help sulk, he hated sulking. It made him feel like some petulant filly who was simply pouting for not getting his way. Though, the unsettle churning in his stomach was well justified along with his now snarling demeanor. Her sentence was lighter than his imagination had terrorized him with, a few days confinement in the castle and an apology to Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack for the trouble he'd caused them. Sin agreed to apologize for the trouble and hurt feelings, though he refused to apologize for what he said, as he was merely telling the truth. Had it not been for the fact Hearts Warming Eve was close, the princess claimed her leniency wouldn't have been given. So, now here he sat. Mac and Spike had come to check up on him, Mac keeping an eye out for a particularly cynical unicorn, and Spike with the look of "I told you so" written all to smugly upon his face. Though, Sin couldn't really complain, he'd owned up to his actions, and was now going to pay for them. After he'd dismissed the two for a moment of silence and thought, the duo said they would be waiting inside for their families to arrive. Both looking far more nervous than they did when they discovered that Sin could possibly be locked away. Though, that really hadn't surprised him. Considering the way he felt when he left his family. Before Sin could dwell on the concept for too much longer, a golden pegasus approached him. Sin pretended to pay no mind, but under the reflective surfaces of his goggles, his eyes trailed the pony, examining his features. Golden pegasus, darker brown mane with a few black streaks going through it. He smirked at the cutie mark the unclothed pony had, a half coiled up pure black porcupine. It looked almost like a crude drawing, though he new better. The pegasus took a seat on the far side of the oaken rest and looked up to pegasi flock in the sky. Moving clouds into formation for a snow shower. "Cold?" He asked in a friendly tone. Sin's eyes trailed to him, and noticed that the ponies own grey eyes had yet to leave the working equines above. "Not as much as." Sin replied. The yellow stallion smiled and turned his head to greet his associate. "What are you doing her Ace? The Syndicate would benefit a great deal more from you being in Northwoods, than here." He said nonchalantly. Ace smirked. "I see your manners have improved since last we met." The golden pony chuckled at his own joke. His voice had a tone of playfulness, though it was clear that Ace was a smooth and calm pony. Sin gave him a brief sideways stare before reiterating his question. Ace's ears fell slightly, he pressed his lips together and readied himeself to deliver what Sin could only guess was bad news. "Actually, that's what I'm here to talk to you about." "Alright." "We need you back at the Syndicate, everybody's become a lot more lethargic during your missing year. Along with some" The ponies eyes turned down. "Unforeseen circumstances." "if you by 'unforseen circumstances'," Sin began turning his attention directly to the new comer, "That the Triple M. Corporation had thrown the market into a panic and by selling their stocks off and buying everything in the chaos, than-" "No." Ace interjected. "You were right when you said they would attempt a Rothchild Panic Run." A small smirk claimed his face. "We had agents on standby to purchase stocks when things had hit rock bottom, though; we hadn't the funds to get more than five percent of the market. We did have impact enough to halt any significant gains by Triple M. though." Sin shook his head in disappointment. "If Malich got his hands on the remainder of the Mining and Medical stocks, he holds the Monopoly. What was it that made the market follow Triple M.'s lead?" Ace let out a sigh and looked back up to he clouds. He informed Sin about a recent trading incident where Timberwolves had to be relocated. The loss of time in trade resulted in tons of food spoiling, It had a massive effect on the nation's economy. The South Equine earth ponies were high in food exportation to all other states, though, the griffins and the Pegasi/unicorn consortium were their absolute largest consumers. While the other states could live off the land if cared for enough, Griffans were short tempered, and hadn't the patience nor will for gardening or farming plants -Much like pegasi and unicorns-. Mix that with the naturally dry climate in which the lion/eagle hybrids lived in, and importing feed for their live stalk was anything but an option. And add that with the loss of money gained in the South Equine high tax rate, and less money to use to import luxurious Items from the Pegasi/Unicorn consortium, the corporate North Equine trade suffered as well. For all of their back stock, prices fell dramatically with out the earth ponies making purchases as they used to. "Once the worry of recession began, companies and bodies were only too happy to get rid of their assets quickly while the prices were still high. Better to have paper money that's worth something than stocks that aren't. And the moment Triple M. began selling off it's stocks in droves, the fools followed right after." Sin scoffed. "Is that what you came her to tell me?" "No. I came here because this is bigger than that." Ace deadpanned. "The lobbyists for Triple M. have been concentrating on keeping the senate quiet, and create a line of division between the Judicators and Legislators." Sin quirked an interested brow, electing a knowing grin from the golden pegasus. "Oh yea, the Senate has a few upcoming bills that need to be re-voted on. If they don't vote to approve them, than a lot of Federal programs are going to fall under." "Many federal government programs are going to fall under." Sin said slowly, as if he were speaking to a child. "And you want me to help stop that? I want you to think that one over for a while Ace." Ace rolled his eyes. "Sin, it's not that simple, a lot has happened while you were away. A bill was passed a few days after you left that should have had the whole country in a frenzy," Sin's ears twtiched slightly, betraying any attempt to keep his cool. "The Senate passed a bill that would allow the Federal level to use one million mercenaries to quell civil uprisings." Sin's jaw gaped. Beneath his goggles, his eyes were larger than anyone had ever seen. "One million? For civil uprising?" "Yep, and what's worse, the don't even know they passed it." "Ok. Now you're fucking with me." "'fraid not." The pony said with a smile. "The provision was ear marked into a bill that had nothing to do with it. And with Windmane missing in action and Senators Tallon and Verdigo retired, none of the others really cared to read through it to-" "Windmane is missing?" Sin asked concerned. The grey eyed pegasus nodded and told how the senator had disappeared with out a trace. The initial thought was he committed suicide, though there was no body and no evidence to support it. Leaving the country while in such a position of power wasn't exactly orthodox, and how the next guess, ponynapped, was probably the best bet. "You don't think Triple M. would go that far do you?" "Oh yea." Ace chuckled. "With the way Trip 'em has been operating lately, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if they were behind it." "Regardless," Sin sighed remembering his sentence, "I'm afraid I'm stuck here for a while." Ace chuckled heartily, "Yes, I heard you had to appear in court for releasing prisoners." To that Sin shot the pegasus a look and asked how long he had been in Canterlot. To his surprise, Ace had been in the city for the past two weeks waiting for him. Apparently Malich wasn't very quiet about finding the former Senator, and he some how knew that Sin would end up in Capital at some point. "After I heard, I left the Federation and came here. Not long after, those Communist rallies began, and low and behold; my instincts were right as to where you'd end up." Sin was about give a snide retort before he noticed Macintosh and Spike approaching and, to his dismay, four very familiar looking mares not to far behind them. The former senator shook his head and motioned to the approaching group, whispering to his associate that they were his friends. Ace gave a knowing nod and began walking away. "We'll talk more about it later." "Of course. I have something to take care of anyway" Ace bowed his head a bit and trotted off into the castle. Sin's stoic face turned to address his now present friends, and the lavender, cyan, orange, and pink mares accompanying them. He noticed the nervous looks on Mac and Spike's faces as they held their position a few yards away, making way for the four mares to confront him themselves. "HIYA SIN!" Bubbled Pinkie Pie with a ear splitting grin much like she had during their initial encounter. The other three offered more calm and awkward greetings. Sin nodded and addressed each mare respectively before looking directly at Applejack and Twilight, a small twinge of guilt rushing though him as images of the costly victor of Golvec came to mind. They sat in an awkward silence before Applejack nervously spoke up. "th' princess tol' us to com' n' talk to ya'." She said blank, "said you had something important to say ta us." The others nodded thier heads and looked at the oaken stallion expectantly. Sin nodded his head and began apologizing for any bad feelings he may have given to the duo. He apologized for Mac's behavior to Applejack, explaining that with the realizations that Sin had given, a new kind of pride birthed with it, and his mistake of not helping her brother to better control it. He than addressed Twilight, he couldn't really say much to her considering it was Mac who had assisted Spike in realizing that he could control his life instead of being told how to live it by his, for all intents and purposes, mother. Though, he could say sorry for all of the bad feelings it gave them. Finally, the two gave him a nod of their heads, satisfied smirks spread across their muzzles, and Sin moved onto Rainbow dash. He stood blankly for a moment, he really couldn't find anything to apologize for aside from hurting her feelings himself. Everything he said was true, though he supposed it could have been a bit more gently toned. He also found added on the bit where Spike punched her ego in the gut with the "not the bucking bad ass you think you are", even if he did find it personally hilarious. "However." Sin proclaimed, wiping the newly formed smirk off the rainbow mare's face. "I apologize for the trouble and bad feelings it caused. I do not apologize for what I said." He fought the urge to direct his next words at a certain sky colored pegasus pony. "Because what I said was nothing less than the truth, and I will never apologize for the truth." The superior smirks of Twilight and Applejack faltered slightly, though regained as smiles of acceptance. "Aww, shoot. I'm sorry tha' Ah was rough on ya', but ya hafta understand: aside from granny Smith n' Applebloom, Big Mac's the only fam'ly Ah got left." Applejack admitted. Sin nodded, giving his own words sympathy. "Well, I'm not sorry." Twilight answered calmly. "I haven't forgiven you for taking Spike away from the only home he's ever known. Don't misunderstand me, I know that he's his own dragon, and he has the right to leave if he wishes. But he's only a baby after all, he could have been hurt." Another twinge of guilt shot through the stallion. Though the mare's words were calm and logical, he had seen the rage that lay beneath. Add to that the fact that this was truly the star pupil under the princess herself, the stallion couldn't imagine her reaction when she found out he had been hurt. Though, he had found something interesting in her words and pointed to Spike. "I wouldn't be to worried Ms. Sparkle. I don't think to many would want to go hoof to hoof with him." Twilight turned to face the dragon and her eyes lit up as if she had seen him for the first time. Sin supposed that they were to dead focused on finding him to pay Mac and Spike much mind. "Spike?" Twilight asked in disbelief, looking at the dragon, who was actually eye level with her now. All of the ponies drew their attention to the slightly grown dragon with surprised and interested stares. Spike folded his arms and allowed himself a cocky grin from the admiration. The mares questioned him about how he lost his port belly and how he had grown so much. Sin discovered that a dragon didn't need his greed to be fulfilled in order for it to grow, but since it was at the wyrms request; he would have done it all the same. Twilight's eyes began to dampen and she embraced the dragon, her friends soon followed suit and then repeated the process with Macintosh. Soon they had forgotten Sin was present and began to catch up with eachother. Sin watched with a feeling he had long since repressed for years. An emotion that ripped at both his gut and heart, a feeling he hoped Mac and Spike would never have to feel en mass. Envy. He quietly watched as the tearful greatings turned into excited reunions, and slowly descend into into subtle laughs of story telling. A particular roar of laughter came as Applejack explained how Rainbow Dash attempted to collect apples apples by using a Sonic Rainboom, what ever that was, and wound up flying though a thick tree roof and landing face first into the dirt. The group of four continued their talking with the politician gone rouge deep in thought. He repressed his emotional desire for the time being and began to contemplate the information he was given. He'd already apologized, so that part of his punishment was over, and he would only be in the castle a few more days; a week tops. Will he go back? The whole point of him leaving his country we because the citizens hadn't really taken an interest in what thier politicians were doing. All politicians were mandated to visit the districts they represented. Though, most would simply hide away in a hotel for the week, Sin wondered about and spoke with ponies; not as a politician, but as a normal citizen. And the result he had were of mixed results. True that the North Equine citizenry mainly consisted of unicorn and pegasi, but like all other states (Save the northern Centaur) they were not mutually exclusive. Most of the bodies were not happy with the way the Federation had been operating. That was a good sign, however those who spoke ill of the government didn't show much promise to want to change it. Sure, they were going to vote in new politicians, however; it always ended up with the same crooked politicians in office. Anybody can run for office, though the main races of their respective states have always been elected out of pure racism. Not a fact Sin was particularly proud of, as it was most rampant in North Equine and South Equine. His time in the ponies mother land of Equestria had shaken him a bit more than he had expected. His time here had show ponies to be a very kind and loving race, he couldn't believe that such pony could exist, let alone a country full of them. And it was a land more free than he thought possible. Despite them having a monarch, she hadn't imposed too many laws for her subject to follow, well compared to the federation anyway. Sin thought about returning home, he liked Equestria and all, but there really wasn't any place for him here. His thoughts were interrupted by a rather large grumbling sound, and he snapped back to reality to find a pink pony smiling knowingly at him. Though stallion's face was stoic and un-telling, the small glint of pink hitting his cheeks betrayed any kind of dignity he attempted to maintain. "Sounds like somepony's a hungry pony." Pinkie giggled, causing Sin to brighten more. And then there was this enigma of a mare. Sin narrowed his eyes, apparently this particular mare for some reason or another, was emotionally unstable according to Spike. That mixed with her actual intelligence and ability to tell if someone she didn't know was around unsettled the stallion, and the fact she took an interest in him didn't help that fact. "I suppose forgoing breakfast and lunch weren't my brightest of ideas." Sin grabbed at his stomach, the realization of how hungry he actually was setting in. He shrugged it off and looked up to see three pairs of eyes scowling at him. What did I do now? "Y'all had my brothor' figh' a dragon?!" The apple mare exclaimed, murderous intent more than visible in her eyes. ... Oh yea, oh shit. Before she could leap forward and unleash her rage upon the liberty pony, Macintosh redrew her attention and told how he and Spike wanted to free the Diamond Dogs that Golvec had enslaved. Twilight began to push the issue for her own assistance well being, though the dragon himself explained how he volunteered for his part. Shooting a few cheap shots at how Sin had more faith in him than she did. "Look Twi'," Spike sighed at the hurt look Twilight gave him. "I don't want to fight over this anymore. You're the closest thing to a mother I've ever had, and the only family I've ever known. I don't want you to be angry with me, but I don't want to be treated like a child anymore either. Sin helped me to realize my potential, and he treated me how I wanted to be treated:as an adult." Twilight opened her mouth to retort several times, though by the end of it she gave an exacerbated sigh of defeat. "Alright. I suppose I do owe you an apology. You've grown a great deal since you left. And I'm really proud of you for making your own decisions, even if they weren't what I wanted." She smiled gently, then she gave the dragon a pat on the head. "But don't think this changes the fact that I'm still your guardian." She laughed and gave a wink. Which prompted a laugh from Spike who hugged her tightly and thanked her. Mac had smoothing things over with Rainbow Dash, the latter taking extra precautions to avoid even looking in Sin's general direction. Applejack had long accepted her brothers departure from the farm, though; she wanted a real answer as to why he left. She was genuinely surprised when it was actually he who told most of the stories of he and Spike's adventures. She was enjoying the fact that her brother was actually talking to her, and not just giving one worded replies as he usually did. Sin stood from the bench and began trotting away to look for Ace again. "Where are you going?" A voice called from behind. He looked to find Pinkie Pie with her head tilted and her eyes questioning. Sin looked behind her to the other ponies who had suddenly taken an interest in what the Sin had to say. Sin cleared his throat, "This is a family reunion, I have no business in it." He shrugged and turned to walk away again. As he rounded the corner where he saw Ace disappear to, he breathed a sigh of relief. He knew why he felt so uncomfortable around them, but it still didn't help the fact that he hated himself for allowing such emotions to get to him. Shaking it off, Sin trotted forward, if nothing else to find something to put into his gut. It was then he remembered the cache' of gens he planned to sell off to get some bits. He trotted into the castle and to the provided room to retrieve said valuables. Once he had the saddle bag secured he wondered back down stairs to find a servant whom might be able to point him in direction of a few buyers. As he walked down the hall, he found that the throne room door was slightly ajar, and heard Celestia and Luna consulting somebody inside. Sin shrugged it off and began to walk off again until a familiar voice made him freeze mid step. "I apologize your majesty, however, I can't take the chance of him having the ability to leave. I need him to come back with me, the Federation needs him." He heard Ace's smooth voice compel the princess's. "So let me see if understand this correctly." He heard Celestia say slowly. "You want me to lift his sentence so he may help you in bringing stability to the Federation?" "And in exchange, you have my protection, as well as that of the Syndicate, for any of your subjects who are sent with us." Ace finished, his voice carrying a sweet and convincing smoothness. "You said you were very interested in the Federation, you'd get a great deal more insight from somebody who'd pay attention to it with interest than we who take it for granted." Celestia let out a thoughtful sound. "Is Sin truly that important?" Sin pressed his lips together, he never considered himself important or someone who did anything particularly extraordinary. Though he was more occupied with the sting sense of betrayal he was feeling with what he considered his friend, going behind his back and attempting to convince someone who had leverage over him, to use it in their own favor. Sin smiled, 'I've always wanted to do this.' he thought as he slowly slipped in, garnering no attention from the trio of conversing ponies. "More so than even I had realized. Had it not been for him, the Syndacate would have gone the rout of violence and assassinated the leader of North New Equine." He saw Ace's head droop slightly. "He was the voice of reason that day, told us of another plan that would expose the bastard and make him step down. You should have seen the looks on the pegasus and unicorn's faces when they found out about his-" "Please, Ace." All three ponies flinched from the unexpected outburst and their eyes shot up to see Sin casually leaning against the wall by the door. "I don't think such a subject is fit to be mentioned in the presence of royalty." The aforementioned pegasus gave a sheepish grin and a shrug as Sin wondered up to the conspirators. "Trying to use the crowns authority to have me return home? I shouldn't be surprised, I suppose." "How do you always know when somebody is plotting against you?" The golden pony waved a dismissive hoof. "This isn't your first time doing it." Sin stated matter of factually, he then looked to the princess expectantly. Ace questioned if he was going some where, pointing to the saddle bags on his back. "Well," Sin began. His muzzle twisting into a maniachle grin. "I was going to use the bag to beat a traitorous associate of mine senseless, than offer the gems to two certain alicorns as a bribe to never speak of what I did with your body." "...What?" Asked Celestia quirking a brow. "As much as I don't like it when those I trust go behind my back." Sin shot Ace a hard look. "I would like to assess the situation in the Federation myself. If Ace is correct in what he told me, than I must return as soon as possible. However, I am in a situation where I have decided to face my consequence with you, thus I must pay my debt before I will allow myself to leave." Sin announced, completely dismissing the shocked looks he received from his joke/threat. Celestia placed a hoof to her chin, making a mental note to dismiss Sin's sense of humor, and mused over to two foreigners before her. Sin waited patiently, for the princess to come to a decision, while he wouldn't mind waiting the extra couple of days, what ever she had planned for him, he still would have liked to leave for the Federation as soon as he could. "I shall need time to think it over and discuss it with my sister." Celestia concluded placing her golden clad hoof back onto the ground. "Once my decision is made, I shall send for you. Until then, your sentence still stands." Sin nodded his head and gave his thanks before turning around and walking back to the enterance of the throne room. His lips twisted into a brief sneer when he saw the Mac and Spike walk in, accompanied by the four mares from before. "Hey Sin!" Spike called happily. "Spike, Mac." Sin addressed simply before walking out of the hall, or attempting to anyway. A very stern looking pair of lavender eyes met his. He looked passively down at the purple unicorn before him. "Can I help you?" Her stern eyes softened a bit before she spoke. "Is it alright if Applejack and I have a word with you in the hall?" Sin pressed his lips together, unsure of what the two had wanted from him. "Of course." he announced. Twilight and Applejack took point and lead him outside the doors and into the hallway. After they were a good distance away from the door, the two turned around to address him. But instead of actually speaking, the each heals out their hooves with both a metal container and an old envelope. "We want to thank you for keeping our boys safe." Twilight gave a sheepish smile. "Ya, they tol' us 'bout the detour y'all took to Hooftrot for Nightmare night, and how ya helped Macintosh learn to talk more. Ah havn' seen him speak so many words at once before." "And Spike's not as crabby either." Sin listened as they trailed on, their smiles growing and their discomfort with him fading. He looked at the two items they offered and recognized them as the tokens he gave in promise... A promise he broke. Finally they looked at him with expectant, though kind eyes and offered thier thanks for the experiences he helped their friends through. The liberty pony looked down at the quill and letter again before a twinge guilt in his heart quickly grew to an overwhelming wave. He shook his head and heald up a hoof. "Keep them," "What?" Both mares asked, confusion plastered on their faces. "Part of the promise was that they wouldn't be hurt during their travels, so long as I could help it. They were hurt, both of them." Sin admitted, a small bit of disappointment in his voice. The two looked at him quizzically, they hadn't heard about either of Mac nor Twilight's assistance being injured. "What'er you talkin' about? Ah didn't see a scratch on 'em." "During the fight with the dragon Golvec, we all sustained some kind of injury." He replied shaking his head. "They healed soon after, thanks to an intervention by Princess Luna. But I broke my promise." He motioned for them to keep the artifacts and offered a small smirk, "I'm sorry." Twilight and Applejack looked at each other for and then back to Sin, silence consumed them for a painstaking time before Applejack chuckled. Interest in what the farmer pony found so amusing, Sin eyed the mare. "Y'all think we didn' 'spect those two t' get a few scrapes n' bruises?" She finished with a beaming smile. Sin was taken aback by her sudden optimistic outburst. It wasn't just a scrap or bruise, it was fighting a dragon. Then he remembered these two had been part of a team that took down the "god of chaos" as he liked to call himself. So maybe he was being a little critical. Twilight re-offered the letter. "It's not like we expected you to pamper them." She rolled her eyes, but offered a reassuring smile. Sin nodded an retook the objects, placing them into his saddlebag with the gems. Twilight questioned the stallion about the precious stones, asking if they were for Spike. The three continued their conversation, Sin giving his input on the Golvec incident and talking to librarian and cowpony as if he were at a parent teacher conference, keeping them up to date on what Spike and Mac had done. Suddenly, a very timid butter colored Pegasus tapped Twilight on the shoulder. "Oh, Hi Fluttershy." Twilight greeted, her orange friend also giving her own salutation. "Where's Rarity? You said you both would catch up with us after you shopped around." After the pink maned pegasus gave said her hello's she mentioned seeing a night guard arguing with Rarity outside in the Castle statue garden. Sin facehoofed after he heard about the Dark stallion bowing before Discord's statue, and how her prissy (or from what he saw undignified) unicorn friend confronted him about it. "Y- You know him?" Fluttershy whispered cocking her head. "Um... Yea." Sin bit his lip in embarrassment. He shook his head and began to walk to the main hall. "I need to go make sure he hasn't done anything to hurt anybody yet." The three mares eyes went wide. "Is he dangerous?" The librarian asked concerned. Sin nodded in the affirmative then began a brisk trot the other four falling in behind him. The four made thier way to the garden to find two golden clad white unicorn guards watching with confused glares as Star Shade and what Sin recognized as Rarity arguing in front of Discords statue. "Discord say's your fashion designs are terrible! And he would only use them for the worst in torture techniques." Shade yelled, earning an offended scoff from his opponent. "Well, 'Discord', you are hardly one to make a judgement about fashion." She turned her nose up, and with a snide look commented on how he couldn't even be born with any kind of symmetry. Shade's eyes narrowed, his pupil locking onto the arrogant mare before him. "How dare you speak to my god in such a way?!" Rarity flipped her mane over her shoulder. "Darling, please. Let's halt this silly, 'Discord' nonsense. It's quite unbecoming." "I will EAT YOUR UNBORN BABIES!" Shade yelled flaring his wings. Rarity took a few steps back at the display. Sin stepped in between the two, and glared at Star Shade. Shade's eyes instantly soften, and he smiled happily. "Hey Sin, how have ya been?" Sin cracked his neck, he hated when Shade said that rhyme. "Causing trouble again Shade?" "Oh you know," The dark pegasus shrugged. "Went for a walk, had a nice lunch, and just marked the first unborn sacrifice to my lord and master. The usual." He finished nonchalantly. "Shade, I'm going to be blunt. I'm hungry, I'm tired, I just got out of trial, and I am not in a good mood." Sin stated flatly, his face stern. "I am not in the mood for your antics. I'm going to get something to eat. Would you care to join me?" Shade mused over the prospect for a moment, he turned to Discord than turned back to Sin. "Discord wants to know if we can get him an infant sacrifice?" Sin's neck twitched slightly. He took a long slow breath and instead of doing the responsible thing and explaining to the former night guard how Discord wasn't really a god to be worshiped and how infants shouldn't be sacrificed to anything. He did the only thing that any sane pony who knew the insanity of Star Shade would do. "Sure, why not?"