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// Trial and Error 
// Story: Colt of the Damned 
// by ArtoriasFlagg 
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	Who are you to tell me what is right or wrong?
The chains clinked softly together as the five figures walked down the long, bright hallway.
When did it fall to you to decide what constituted good and evil? When did you stop being a citizen of this world and become a god?
With each step a chorus of echoes rang out as their hoofbeats bounced from wall to wall.
Why is it that no one has come forward to judge you for the deeds you have done in the past? ...Or is it simply that there is no one high and mighty enough to judge one like yourself?
The torches burned and crackled loudly in the midst of the overwhelming silence, casting bright orange light over every inch of the corridor.
If I am as guilty as they say, then you should have been condemned decades ago. And if my crimes are truly as numerous as you claim, then your own must surely be enough to fill these walls a hundred times over!
He stumbled as the group came to a halt before the door, the chained shackles confining his gait tripping him as the old stallion tried to keep pace with his youthful jailers. He cursed something under his breath as he struggled to stand back up, his breath visible in the chilly morning air as it was coughed out in sickly huffs upon the tiles and chains.
Still, perhaps once we are done with this farce today there will be those who finally see you for what you truly are. I do not care if they dismiss me as a lunatic, let them think what they wish of me... But if I can manage to drag you down with me this day, I will consider it all the victory I could have ever hoped for.
One of the guards stepped forward, the chain attached to his front leg pulling taught as he moved away from his charge. He clacked his hoof hard against the massive wooden door and stepped back to stand beside the captive once more.
Just one slip of the tongue, that's all it will take. I will drag this out until the end of time itself if I must, but I will hang upon every last word you say until I find some way to trap you in your own prattling... You WILL learn just how it feels to have your position called into question. To have your life's work ripped away from you. To be cast down by those who once called you their colleague! And I will be the one who grants you that experience. One way or another, by the time this is all over, you will never walk these halls in comfort again! Everywhere you go you will be seen as the monster you really are. And every night you will lie awake wondering how long it will be before someone finally comes to end your pathetic existence...
The door began to open, the torch flames suddenly bending toward the new source of oxygen. The guards began to move and the captive was forced to move along with them. Four young, armored pegasi dragging a broken old unicorn between them. A dark red cloak and hood covered his emaciated body and hid his scarred face from the prying eyes which awaited just behind the door. 
One way or another... this ends today.

"ENTER AND BE JUDGED, Ardent the Defiled!" The herald was a massive earth pony with a suit of armor matching that of the four guards ushering in the condemned wizard. His voice echoed off every wall of the small courtroom and turned every head to face the door. 
Defiled... Even here they label me. Here, in a place which was meant to determine my guilt or innocence, they have already decided what I am before the trial even began... Typical.
The call had been used for centuries by the unicorn courts, a traditional line which was meant to bare a neutral standard as the trial began. Yet nothing about it sounded the least bit impartial today. 
This trial was decided the moment they arrested me. Nothing more than a show for the nobility.
As the prisoner entered the room he was greeted by a sea of glaring eyes and accusing faces. Peasants and nobles alike had gathered onto the overcrowded benches in order to see the conviction of the monster whom many them owed their very lives. The unicorns outnumbered the earth ponies at least ten to one, as would be expected in the capital city of the magically endowed race. A few pegasi could be seen scattered throughout the crowd as well, though most were simply employed as guards for the wealthy.
Upon the throne-like bench at the head of the room there resided three unicorns of unparalleled demeanor, each one more noble and wise looking than the one beside them. In the center, hat tilted down to cover his eyes, sat the one who would be residing over the trial. Seen as the wisest of his kind, it was this ancient stallion that the prisoner had come to hate with such extreme prejudice.
"So it is true then..." The elder spoke with a tone of severe disappointment, as though he had had no knowledge that this particular pony would be the one brought before him this day. In truth, it was he who had called for and signed to have him arrested to begin with, but the crowd would have no way of knowing that. Even the prisoner himself had only suspicion to go on as far as that went. "Ardent, you who once showed such great potential... How could you have fallen so far? What would cause you to do something like this? I beg you, my friend, tell me you are innocent of these charges. Tell me that this is some misunderstanding."
The sorcerer was silent. I will not play into his games.
"The charged refuses to admit innocence. What more proof do we need?" The old, toothless unicorn on the left of the bench peered at the wizard from his one good eye. "Seems to me he understands the severity of his crimes and has simply decided to end the lies here and now. It's almost noble, in a way. Turning from a lifetime of evil at the last possible moment. Repent for what has been done, villain, and we will see that your death is quick. Else wise, it is the stake for you!" 
Eager to get this over with I see... Good, I can use that. The prisoner said nothing.
The mare on the right side of the dais spoke last, glancing at the toothless interrogator with a clear look of disdain. "Magnus, need we remind you that this trial is to prove whether or not the wizard is guilty? Not to determine how or if he will be executed. If you are so swift to pass judgment then perhaps you had best step down and give up your position to someone better suited to seeking out the truth of the matter." She looked down at the chained stallion. "Ardent Flame, you have been accused of crimes which will, should you be found guilty, leave us no choice but to call for your execution... Do you understand?"
The wizard said nothing.
"Do you understand?"
"You're wasting your breath, Clover, the fool is not listening. Star Swirl, I call that we bring this farce to a close before we truly waste the time of all in attendance today. Give him back to my guards and they will see to it that the truth flies from his lips before nightfall."
"You and your 'boys' have already caused enough damage here, Harrow. It's no wonder he's not talking after what he's seen down in those dungeons of yours!" 
"That's enough out of you, girl! I'm not about to sit here while bleeding hearts like you allow this monster to walk free! Guards, take the prisoner back down stairs until he is ready to talk!"
"You will do no such thing! You guards will remain where you are until the trial has ended. As for the two of you, while tradition calls that we must have three to set judgement upon the accused, I feel it is no longer in our nation's best interest to allow you both to remain. You seem particularly ill-prepared for this task, Harrow. One more outburst from you and I will have your position filled by someone from the crowd... Clover, continue with the charges. It's high time we got this under way."
"Yes sir. Ardent Flame, you hereby stand accused of high crimes against the kingdom. These crimes are both numerous and sinister. Should you plead guilty now, the court may decide to waive the death penalty, but understand that the lightest you could hope for would be life imprisonment under heavy guard. Do you understand?"
The prisoner remained silent.
"Do you understand?"
"...Do you?"
His voice was little more than a rasping whisper, yet it carried throughout the courtroom on a breeze of malice. He had no love for anyone in this room anymore. Hatred of their thoughts and actions had helped relieve him of any sympathy he may once have had for their kind. 
"I'm afraid I don't understand your question, Ardent. Do I...?"
"Do you understand the charges you are about to read?" Louder this time, and clearer so that there was no question in anyone's mind about what he was saying. "Do you understand what it is you would accuse me of having done? I have saved this city from certain destruction no less than seven times. I aided you and your mentor in your petty squabbles with the dragons, the chimeras, and the gryphons. Have created cures for diseases that had plagued this kingdom since its very inception... And now you choose to cast me as the villain.
I have dedicated my entire life, my entire EXISTENCE to making this world a better place for our kind. And now you have the gall to claim that I am the one endangering the kingdom and all those who inhabit it. I ask you: do you really understand what it is you are asking here? What would I have had to gain from any of this? Why would I have done any of it? What has made you all so blind to the truth of what is at work here, of what is wrong with this kingdom?!"
He looked around, and was met by the icy stares and hushed murmurs of those he had once vowed to protect above all others. Somewhere in the crowed a young filly began to cry, quickly being ushered out by her mother as the Bearded judge called for order to be restored to the room.
"...You really don't see it do you... Perhaps I was wrong about you. About all of you. And about a great many things beyond this... Read your damned charges."
The Clever judge made no sign of going on with her reading, so it fell to the Inquisitor to do so; something which he proceeded in with much gusto.
"Ardent Flame, you are hereby accused of the following crimes, for which this court will act to prove or disprove according to the laws and regulations of the land."
He tapped a bell on the desk in front of him, sending a brittle note ringing throughout the courtroom as he read out each crime.
"Heresy"
ding
"Theft"
ding
"Writing of Treasonous Documents"
Ding
"Forging of Official Documents"
Ding
"Impersonation of a Royal Official" 
Ding
"Undermining the Authority of the Council"
Ding
"Assault and Battery"
Ding
"Possession of Illegal Texts"
Ding
"Grave-Robbing"
DING
"Defilement of the Deceased" 
DING
"Cannibalism"
DING
"Undertaking of Forbidden Rituals and/or Experimentations"
DING
"Murder"
DING!
"Sororicide"
DING!
"...and Necromancy"
DING!