It was over.
The culprit died as promised.
Snips is dead, just as Monobear promised.
Yet I looked forward to it. I wanted Snips to die, and yet... yet...
“When I talk about having nightmares, this is NOT what I had in mind!” Pipsqueak was horrified at the sheer reality of this execution. It was absurd and over-the-top, yet real, two things that someone like him couldn’t handle.
“Damn it... he’s dead...! Damn it! You’re happy now, right!?” Snails seethed, as he sobbed at the steel door in front of him. I know he was addressing me.
What’s wrong with me? I don’t even feel satisfied. Is this really how I am?
I thought I’d feel happy, glad, cheerful even. But this won’t bring Featherweight back. Maybe I just wanted closure. A satisfying feel fulfilled through vengeance, but I should’ve known better that revenge would amount to nothing.
Right... of course. Revenge doesn’t revive the dead. Is that why I’m not even satisfied?
I’m not even happy.
“Wow! That was a lot of work, but this cut was totally worth it in the end! So how does it look? Awesome, right? Brilliant? Sweet? Twenty percent cooler?” Monobear quickly asked, disregarding our feelings as usual.
“SHUT UP!” Snails hissed at the bear.
“You turned him into leather and you fish for compliments?!” Dinky angrily asked.
“I ask how this cut looks on me, and this is what I get? It’s just a simple question, you bastards. Save the rivers for later or I’ll turn into a beaver and build a dam!” Monobear scoffed.
“Well what’d you expect?! YOU KILLED HIM FOR THAT! Why should we give you a straight answer!?” Diamond Tiara asked.
“But he should’ve never made his choice to kill! He thought he could get away with it in the end, and he was wrong! Guess his siblings are going to remain homeless and starve to death! HAHAHAHAHA!” Monobear cackled.
“Wait... siblings?!” Sweetie Belle asked, growing worried. “What happene-”
“Don’t worry about that, Sweetie Belle! He’s dead, so anything about him is now obsolete! Irrelevant! It’s all ants at a picnic!” Monobear refused to answer Sweetie Belle, and continued. “This is what happens when you bastards cling to hopes and dreams outside of this kingdom! I ask you all to live your lives and this is what you do to disturb the public order! What idiots!”
“You wanted us to kill, and now you’re chiding us for it?!” Snails hissed.
“But Snips made his choice, and went in for a kill! And to think he would’ve gotten away with it too if he succeeded in killing Grace Lightning!” Monobear said, scratching the back of his head.
“What’d you say!?” Grace’s eyes suddenly widened after hearing Monobear say that.
“Oh, you didn’t know? That guy had guts and a smart plan! Take advantage of the absence of a pony who returned to the circle of friends today! If she was successfully killed, I doubt you would’ve found her body until several days later! If I were you, I wouldn’t feel sympathy at all!”
“B-but... he was still our friend!” Sweetie Belle cried.
“Friend? Hahahahahaha! Oh right! Seeing such a despair-inducing friendship end has brought even me to despair! But that’s okay, you’re all still here, so continue living your communal lifestyle within this kingdom! Cheerio~!” Monobear said before leaving the room.
Scootaloo then directed her piercing glare to Rumble.
“Rumble, that was cruel and you know it!” She referred to when Rumble instigated that cruel argument between those two during the trial.
“Shady wanted him dead, not me. I just gave the parties involved a little push. You’re free to scorn me as such. But you’ll realize that my actions were without a doubt, for the greater good.” Rumble said, smiling coolly.
“But still! You ended things on the worst note possible! There could’ve been some forgiveness!” Sweetie Belle said.
“Forgiveness... to forgive a friend for a despair-inducing act such as murder and laying on the responsibility of keeping it a secret; sounds a little too difficult for any normal pony. If I had to say one thing, that’s probably why Snips didn’t say anything to Snails about his despair inducing crime. Oh well. Whatever works. It had to be done.” Rumble sighed.
You’re implying that you’re a normal pony. You’re implying that what you did was normal.
But I held my words back. I know I’d be called out immediately for my abnormal vengeance if I said anything.
“Ugh... I hate this...! I wanna go home!” Sweetie Belle cried out of sympathy, yet trembled fervently after seeing that execution.
“That’s another talent gone. Ah’m not getting a cutie mark out of this at all, am ah’?” Apple Bloom asked, disregarding any tact.
“Heh. Whatever. I don’t even care! He tried to kill me while taking advantage of my absence! He got what he deserved! Well screw him and that asshole Monobear!” Grace smiled smugly, but I still recall how she was nearly on the verge of tears earlier.
“I too, believe he brought this on himself. Instead of gathering with everypony, he chose to take the life of another. Whom can we truly blame for such foolish actions?” Silver Spoon asked, obviously referring to Monobear.
“I don’t think he deserved to die in such a horrific way though. But shouldn’t we blame Monobear? He’s putting this on us, yet he’s giving us the means to kill each other off, twisting our minds to fit his scheme. I don’t appreciate that.” Ginger said, wincing as she thought about the execution.
“H-h-hmph! Getting turned into leather is a fitting death for one such as he! Hah!” I doubt I could take Diamond Tiara’s words very seriously, not when she’s obviously trembling like that.
“.....................” Twist remained silent. I guess she’s scared as well. It’s still a bit hard to tell behind those shiny glasses though.
“This isn’t right! At this rate we’ll disappoint Miss Cheerilee! I thought you were better than this!” Truffle barked, earning Grace’s ire.
“What makes you so special, huh fatass!?” Grace glared at the fat stallion for his condescending words.
“B-because! I’m the teacher’s pet, remember!?” Truffle retorted.
At that moment, Miss Cheerilee got in the middle of the room, glancing at all of us, trying to talk to us. Yet that barking noise started coming from that mechanical muzzle on her mouth, so whatever she was saying, sounded like belligerent dog barking.
“I... I apologize, Miss Cheerilee.” Truffle said, hanging his head low.
“What the heck?” Grace widened her eyes, with no idea why he even said that.
“Look at her eyes! She weeps for us! She’s trying to cheer us up, but she can’t!”
“Geh... “ Grace looked away, but kept glancing at our teacher. “Damn it...!”
It was surprising, but the tears began to flow from Grace’s eyes.
“Miss Cheerilee... I don’t understand. Why are you trying to help despite our actions? We just condemned another pony to die. Normally you’d punish us.”
Miss Cheerilee glared at Twist for even suggesting such a thing, all while her words translated to mere barking. But I’m sure Twist understood that Miss Cheerilee wasn’t scolding us. Not at this time.
Even I can tell that all she wants to do is help, but this atmosphere amongst her students, is the biggest source of despair to a teacher unable to do anything.
Despite the insulting treatment courtesy of Monobear, she’s still trying to talk to us.
Trying to help us. She wants to shoulder our pain.
“I think she’s saying that she wouldn’t punish us and that we have to stay strong. We can’t crumble now.” Truffle said.
“Well that’s obvious. Even I can tell that much.” Rumble looked away with a smirk. I couldn’t tell what was going on.
................
I wonder what Featherweight would think of me if he saw me like this.
_______________________________________________________________
Day 4, 12:00 AM
Nopony said a word for the rest of the day. Featherweight is dead, and Snips was executed for killing him. I honestly couldn’t get it out of my mind.
I didn’t even get go back to Featherweight’s house to look at what kind of motive he had. It was sealed shut, and his portrait on his nameplate was turned into a white noise, like a nonexistent channel on a television. The same happened to Snips’s nameplate as well.
All I could do was remain in my home, staring at the ceiling, recalling even my own behavior earlier.
I outright wanted Monobear to come back.
I’m going to be consumed by this feeling, aren’t I? I’ve never felt this way before.
A normal day for me would be to go to work, and work hard at my job. It wasn’t anything special.
But Featherweight was sort of a counterbalance to that emptiness. Like a brother I never had.
But he’s gone, and I have to move on. Death’s a common thing anyway, isn’t it? It’s right to simply move on, right?
...........................
I don’t know what to do.
I need some fresh air.
I can’t stare at this ceiling any longer.
My eyes hurt.
I turn my body over and land on my hooves once I fall out of the bed. A yawn escapes my lips before I know it.
It’s like my body and mind don’t want to agree as far as sleep goes.
I open the door and head outside to the doorstep, staring at the starry sky.
........
Will we ever get out of here?
......
*Crack*
Huh?
As I stare off into space, hear a crack somewhere. It didn’t sound very close either.
It was a very faint crack, like glass on the verge of breaking.
At least it wasn’t my window. I think I’d be terrified if somepony tried to kill me now.
But still, where did that sound come from?
I get off of my doorstep and head out to the middle of the district, looking around fervently, checking the kingdom's border, the other's windows, and even by the Rarity statue.
Yet I found nothing. Was I just hearing things?
I guess I’ll head back.
I'll take one last glance at the stars.
...What!?
The crack’s up there?!
I look straight up, right above the central tower of this kingdom, discovering a very noticeable white crack high in the sky. The Monoguards are even acting up.
Normally they’d fly around in circles, watching for any rule breakers, but this time, they’re investigating this... thing.
I can’t be seeing things, right? This isn’t some Chicken Little conspiracy, right?
Why the heck is there a crack in the sky?
What’s going on here?!
Chapter 1, END
_______________________________________________________________________
NUMBER OF PONIES REMAINING
14
plus a dog.