Dear Princess Celestia,
Sorry about the lack of letters recently. I did plan on sending you something, but it’s been a rather busy two weeks. Besides, Spike’s transporting breath doesn’t seem to work across dimensions.
No doubt you’ve already heard by now from Princess Luna, but Presea Testarossa’s been defeated. Your gift certainly helped with that, though I’m surprised at the results. The Elements healed her, restoring her broken body and fractured psyche. I’m not sure if that was such a good thing, though…
---
“She‘s that bad, huh?”
Twilight glanced at Chrono as she approached the brig station. Two guards were posted at Presea’s door. The young Enforcer nodded to them, causing them to step aside.
“Yeah. She’s on suicide watch right now. I’m pretty sure she’s been refusing food, so we have to drug her to get anything solid in her stomach.” Chrono tapped on the holographic keypad, causing the door to slide open. “Be gentle, alright. And try not to get too close.”
Twilight nodded and stepped inside. Presea looked haggard, her eyes red as she lay on the padded cell floor. Her forelegs were bound together in a pair of manacles, and she was without any clothing. Her blank flank made Twilight feel a little sorry for her; to see an adult pony without a Cutie Mark was a little distressing.
Not much more distressing than Presea’s empty stare.
“Presea?”
The broken unicorn shifted, her eyes sliding over to Twilight.
“It’s me, Twilight Sparkle.”
Silence.
“I…thought you might like to talk to somepony.”
More silence. Twilight shifted uncomfortably.
“Um… I’m sure you remember me…”
“I do.” Presea whispered softly. “Why are you here?”
“I wanted to talk to you. See if I could help-”
“Why?”
“Why help?”
Presea nodded. “I don’t deserve help. I deserve to die. Can you help me with that?”
Twilight’s blood ran cold at those words. There was a sense of absolute certainty in Presea’s voice. She truly wanted to die.
“No. I-” Twilight’s voice died as Presea rolled over, facing away from her. She started to reach out to her, then lowered her hoof and got to her feet, stepping out of the room.
“At least you tried,” Chrono noted as the door shut behind her.
“How long has she been like that?”
“A while now. She just lays there. We’ve had to clean her up every time she messes herself. It’s a small blessing that the floor is hydrophobic.” Chrono shook his head. “I know she’s a criminal, but she’s so utterly pathetic that I can’t help but pity her. What in the heck did you do to her to make her like this?”
“I…think we healed her.”
---
…I can’t help but feel responsible for Presea’s state.
We arrived at the Time-Space Administration Bureau’s Headquarters soon after, and received a rather warm welcome. I think everyone there was surprised by us, particularly with Princess Luna. Everyone was rather friendly, even if they seemed to spend every waking moment studying us.
We spent most of the time there talking with people about what had happened with the Jewel Seeds. Everyone got involved in the interviews. I only learned about the reason for all the scrutiny when Presea’s trial began. According to the medical staff, Presea was cognizant enough to stand trial.
It didn’t take long.
---
The gavel rapped sharply as the judges took their seats under the Bureau‘s banner. The courtroom was silent, and almost uniformly filled with blue-and-white uniformed members of the Bureau.
“Presea Testarossa,” the head judge spoke loudly and clearly, so that his voice carried throughout the chambers, “you have plead guilty to the following charges; two counts of Attacking a Bureau Vessel During a Time of Peace, one count of Invading a Non-Administered World with Malicious Intent, three counts of Possession of Illegal Magical Technology, one count Conspiracy to Commit Dimensional Atrocity…”
The list continued on and on, each crime at least as damning as the last. Presea stood there silently, her head bowed.
“Do you have anything to say before your sentencing, Miss Testarossa?”
Presea nodded weakly and lifted her head slowly, as though it took everything she had to move it.
“I ask that the court show no mercy. I accept everything I’ve done. I don’t deserve your kindness or your sympathy.”
“Duly noted.” The judge glanced to his fellows before turning back to Presea. “Are you ready to hear your sentence, Miss Testarossa?”
The un-horned unicorn nodded mutely.
“The sentence is thus; first, a permanent limiter will be placed on your Linker Core, rendering you incapable of using magic for the remainder of your sentence.”
There was another striking of the gavel to quell the quiet murmuring of the observers. “Furthermore, given the severity of your crimes and your mental state, you will be placed under life imprisonment under maximum security, with mandatory psychiatric counseling.” The gavel came down a third time. “Bailiff, take the prisoner away. Court is adjourned.”
---
As bad as that sentence may seem, at least Presea is getting the help she needs. Also, Fate’s doing her best to show her support. I can’t say I agree with what Fate’s doing, but I’ll support her.
Speaking of which, Fate finally agreed to come live with my family! We still have to clear it legally, but I’m really excited to have a new sister. Princess Luna said that she’d speak with you about getting her a slot in the School for Gifted Unicorns. I think she’d do really well there. I think she deserves that, at least.
---
Fate sat quietly at the grave stone, clad only in the black cloak of her Barrier Jacket. The air was cool, the wind rustling through the trees of the graveyard, but she paid it little mind. The smooth white stone was a simple rectangle, engraved with a few words and numbers.
Alicia Testarossa
0034 - 0039
I Miss You
“Hey.”
Fate glanced up as Twilight approached her, glancing down at the little gravestone. “Hey.”
“I…um…” Twilight shook her head. “I can leave if you like.”
“It’s okay. I don’t mind, Twilight.”
The purple unicorn nodded and took a seat beside Fate. “At least she’s at peace now.”
“Mm…”
“It was nice of Lindy to pay for the burial. But why does the inscription…”
“Mother asked for it.”
Twilight started to say something, but closed her mouth and looked down.
“I think, even now, she wants Alicia to forgive her. Alicia… loved Mother, even for all her faults. They really did love each other. I think I got that from her as well.”
“Fate…”
The golden pony sighed, closing her eyes. “I think, in a way, Alicia did forgive Mother through me. I just wish there was some way to bring her back.”
“Magic can’t bring back the dead. Not even the Princesses can do that.” Twilight sighed and shook her head. “I’m sorry.”
Twilight blinked as Fate leaned against her.
“Don’t be. Alicia will live on in my memories. But now, we’re free to move on: me, her and Mother.”
“I guess so.” Twilight nuzzled Fate’s mane. “The girls are waiting for us. Lindy’s cooking supper tonight.”
“I’ll be there in a while.”
“Take your time.” Twilight climbed to her feet and began walking off, glancing back for a few moments before she trotted off.
---
In closing, I’d like to offer the lesson I learned from all of this;
Everypony is deserving of friendship. They may be a stranger, or someone from a different world, but you can always find a common ground and learn to trust each other. Just because someone’s an enemy doesn’t mean they don’t deserve a chance or a hoof held out in acceptance.
Everypony deserves to have a friend.
Nopony deserves to be alone.
Your Faithful Student,
Twilight Sparkle
---
“So, I take it that the talks went well?”
Luna nodded as Celestia poured her some tea. “They did. Several members of the Bureau’s board of directors have shown a great interest in us, particularly a Miss Carim Gracia of the Saint Church.”
“I see.”
“Something on your mind, sister?”
Celestia nodded as she sipped her tea. “I wonder… if Presea knows just how close she got to Al-Hazard.”
That,” Luna noted warningly, setting down her teacup, “is a name best left to the shadowy annals of myth, sister mine. We left it long ago, at the fall of Scheherazade. Al-Hazard should stay lost, for more reasons than one.”
“I know Luna, I know.” Celestia glanced out of the window at the slowly setting sun, the light caressing the high mountains and deep valleys that Canterlot overlooked. “Though I wonder if it’ll stay lost. We can’t hide forever, after all.”
“Then it is best I resume my duties.” Luna stood up from the table. “There’s much for me to attend to.”
Celestia nodded absent-mindedly as Luna made her way out. A gentle press of her power set the sun on its way to make room for the coming night. The solar princess exhaled and closed her eyes as she drank her tea.
Indeed sister; there is so much to attend to.
---
And soon, the Eternal Blaze will be awakened.