TMP Prompt #168 - “Spyfall”
Prompt: International Mare of Mystery!
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Metempsychosis
The young mare stood in the center of the arena, face and manner utterly composed in spite of the shackles which bound her, in spite of the ring around her horn.
Above her, behind one-way soundproof glass, a crowd had gathered to watch the first public execution in centuries. Part of her couldn’t help but hope that they enjoyed the show.
On a dais before her stood the three Princesses of the realm and Shining Armor, Captain of the Royal Guard. Above them, in a skybox, sat her friends, her family, her...her victims.
“Twilight Sparkle, daughter of Nachtlicht Strahlend-Sparkle and Star Sparkle,” Princess Celestia was barely able to meet her eye, her voice faint with grief. “Y-you have been found guilty of treason and murder. Of abusing your position and my-my trust to funnel information to the Bastet Empire in a time of war—”
The Princess swallowed.
“—of destroying the Elements of Magic and Generosity with a forbidden spell—”
Twilight flinched, knowing what was coming.
“—And k-killing two Equestrian citizens, Macintosh Apple and Rarity, when they heroically attempted to s-stop you from doing so. For...for these crimes...th-the ss-sen-sentence is...is...death.”
Celestia closed her eyes and took a couple of deeps breaths, composing herself.
"Do you have anything to say before you are executed, Twilight Sparkle? A-anything at all?"
“I regret nothing,” Twilight said, eyes forward, head unbowed. “I did only what I felt was right.”
She heard a loud thud, and was unable to keep herself from lifting her head above Celestia.
Applejack had slammed both hooves on the glass front of the skybox and begun screaming, face twisted into a mask of utter hatred. Twilight couldn’t hear her, but she could guess what she was saying:
(“They loved you! We all loved you! How could you do this! How could you!?”)
Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, both in tears, pulled her away.
Fluttershy merely stared ahead at nothing in particular, and shook her head slowly in disbelief.
Twilight’s parents and Spike were unable to watch, taking solace in each others’ arms, as had Rarity’s family.
Between the Princesses of Day and Night, Shining Armor’s lips were moving silently in the same promise he’d been making for the last two months, a promise to clear her name, to find the truth. Princess Cadence, heavy with child, was whispering softly in his ear, her own face set in determination as she nodded.
Twilight nearly broke, nearly began begging for forgiveness, pleading for understanding. She forced herself to stand erect, forced her face to stay impassive.
“I regret nothing,” she repeated.
“Truly?” It was little more than a whisper.
She just held her head higher, looking Princess Celestia dead in the eye.
“Very well, then. I…I hereby e-execute you in…in the name of…”
“Sister,” Luna’s imperious voice broke in. “I shall do it. Do not trouble yourself.”
The Princess of the Night’s horn began to glow brighter and brighter, filling the whole of Twilight’s vision.
“Farewell…traitor.”
And then, darkness.
***
Her first instinct upon awakening was to scream.
Two strong forelegs wrapped around her with a gentleness that would have surprised anypony else, letting her cry and wail against a warm chest until her lungs gave out.
“Ssshh. Sssh, Twilight,” A mare’s voice whispered as a hoof patted her back. “It’s okay. You’re okay. We‘re all okay.”
Twilight gave Rarity a shaky smile.
“I know…it’s just…I was just…”
“Yes, we both know how you feel.” Rarity gave Twilight’s cheek a nuzzle, then chuckled. “Just so you know, we are going to need Macintosh for the rest of the mission.”
Twilight gasped and pulled away from the scarlet stallion.
“S-sorry,” she stammered, eyes darting to one of the airship’s portholes.
“No problem.” Big Mac smiled, blushing slightly.
“Alright then.” Rarity moved to the cockpit. “Hopefully, that little show will give credence to the information you fed the real traitors. At the very least, they ought to think that two of the Elements have been irrevocably destroyed, their bearers deceased. They believe they have the advantage, and after I‘m through with us, we shall be well-primed to infiltrate the Empire.”
“Aw, no,” Mac grumbled. “Not makeup!”
“Needs must, Macintosh,” Rarity smirked. “For the sake of Equestria.”
“Yes. We have to find out why the Bastet attacked us,” Twilight nodded decisively. “Or die trying.”
“We’ve already done that, my dears,” Rarity winked. “So we have no choice.”
And the small airship sped off into endless blue sky of the West.