//------------------------------//
// Alternate Ending 2: Bramblestar 
// Story: The Equestrian Intelligence Agency 
// by General Soarin 
//------------------------------//

Alternate Ending: The Ultimate Price
Sky Hawk
Canterlot Maximum Security Prison, Canterlot, Equestria
1 Year After Laurence’s Takeover

“Get up! Your time is up.” Shouted a guard, as he rapped on the door of Sky Hawk’s cell. The brown pegasus inside sighed deeply to himself, before slowly getting on his hooves. After a year of waiting, Sky Hawk’s time was finally drawing to an end, and the pegasus was ready.

From what Sky Hawk had heard, the downfall of the Princesses had been swift. Laurence managed to somehow get into the Royal Palace and killed Celestia, before moving to confront Luna. Fearing for her life, Luna had no choice but to hand power over to Laurence, effectively giving him control over the entire nation.

With the Equestrian government effectively under Laurence’s control, he was quick to establish himself by forcing Luna to make him an alicorn, before turning her into his personal slave. After becoming a alicorn, he then enacted martial law, before going on a manhunt for potential opponents to his throne. His list included Princess Cadence, Prince Blueblood, Mayor Mare, and Sky Hawk. Sky Hawk was lucky enough to be thrown in prison, while others on the list were murdered in gruesome ways.

With his place at the top of the government now secure, Laurence began to establish new laws across the land. Some of his new laws included swearing loyalty to Laurence, governmental control over the media, and the removal of Celestia from Equestrian culture and history.

As Sky Hawk trotted along with the guard, his thoughts went back to Rainbow Dash and Spitfire. Both mares had tried to stop Laurence, but failed and were immediately captured. Laurence made sure to broadcast both executions on national television, and warned that anyone who tried to stand against him would meet a similar fate. After the executions, Sky Hawk fell silent, refusing to talk to anypony, no matter who it was.

The guard stopped in front of a large door, before opening it slowly. The door lead into a large auditorium, where a large crowd of ponies were waiting. The guard stepped inside, before pointing to a large stage at the front of the stage. Three ropes dangled from the ceiling above the stage, with a trapdoor under each one. Sky Hawk sighed, before slowly shambling down the side of the crowd toward the stage.

The crowd went silent as they watched the brown pegasus walk slowly toward the stage, before stopping in front of it. A guard roughly grabbed Sky Haw, before dragging him onto the podium, and secured the center rope around his neck. Sky Hawk felt a tear roll down his cheek, before the door leading into the auditorium opened again, and three royal guards walked in. The crowd all turned to face the newly arrived guards, before one of them stepped forward.

The guard was a dirty gray mare with an orange mane, and she had blood red armor instead of the characteristic golden armor. She looked around the room for a few moments, before clearing her throat. “Laurence, the leader of all Equestria enters the room!” She shouted, before stepping aside. A second later, the black alicorn in question entered the room, before slowly walking to the front. The royal guards slowly followed behind, one of them carrying the Equestrian flag. 

As soon as Laurence reached the front of the room, he turned to face the audience, and raised his hoof. Everyone in the audience raised their hooves as well, before shouting “Glory be to Laurence! Glory be to Equestria!”. As soon as the crowd finished, Laurence lowered his hoof, before clearing his throat. “Welcome mares and gentlecolts. Today, we shall witness the execution of a traitor to Equestria. This pegasus conducted operations against me, and now faces the death penalty. Let this be a reminder to all that I will not tolerate opposition.” He announced, his voice filled with authority. Everyone in the audience cheered, before Laurence raised his hoof again.

The room went silent, before Laurence lowered his hoof again, and turned to face Sky Hawk. “Sky Hawk. Will you redeem yourself, and swear total allegiance to me?” Laurence asked, his voice filled with malice. Sky Hawk remained silent, before shaking his head. Laurence shrugged, before walking over to his prepared seat in the front row. “Very well. Commence with the execution.” Laurence replied nonchalantly, before taking a seat. The prison guard that was next to me nodded, before walking over to a large lever on the edge of the stage.

Sky Hawk looked up toward the back of the audience, before a look on disbelief came on his face. Sitting in the back of the audience was Spitfire, Rainbow, and his sister Red. Sky Hawk had watched them all die, how could they possibly be sitting in the back of the audience watching him? Sky Hawk blinked a few times, yet they still remained in the back. Suddenly, Spitfire whispered something to the other mares, before the three mares got to their hooves. 

They just stood at the back of the auditorium for a few moments doing nothing, before Rainbow’s hoof snapped to her head in a salute. Spitfire saluted a few seconds later, before Red finally saluted too. Sky Hawk just stared for a few moments, before slowly returning the salute. Laurence silently watched Sky Hawk, frowning, before nodding to the guard at the lever. The guard returned the nod, before finally pulling it.

With a loud clunk, the trapdoor fell out from under Sky Hawk, and he dropped down. A loud snap rang out, followed by an eerie silence. Laurence watched Sky Hawk’s body swing slowly from left to right for a few moments, before craning his head to peek at the back of the audience. There was nothing but 3 empty chairs