//------------------------------// // The Execution // Story: Two Hearts Becoming One // by ponylover //------------------------------// Chapter 12 Two Hearts Becoming One The Execution I can’t really remember what that feeling was like. The feeling of having the rope tighten around my neck and the sound of the rope creaking against the wood that was holding it in place. All the air that was in me escaped and it was one of the most painful feelings I had ever felt. I knew at that very moment I would end up dying without ever seeing her again. Suddenly, I felt an odd sensation, the pain I had felt before was evaporating. I opened my eye and saw Celestia’s horn flowing with magic as she held me in the air, the noose had become loose around my neck, Rarity pulled the rope off my neck and Celestia put me down next to her. “Why did you save him!?” yelled Flash angrily. “Because, I am proof that John didn’t hurt Rainbow, he saved her in fact!” Rarity defended me, the people around us looking astonished, mouths agape. I felt just as surprised as the spectators around us. “Thank you, Celestia.” I said, looking up at her. She nodded, and I turned to Rarity. “So, you saw everything?” I asked Rarity. “Yes, I did.” Rarity replied. Flash didn’t seem as keen on believing her as the rest of us. “What if she’s just lying!?” yelled Flash in protest. He seemed to want to do more than yell, but with Celestia right next to me, I had a feeling he wouldn’t press his luck. “I’ll have you know, I am far from a lier!” Rarity defended. “STOP!” Celestia yelled in a deafeningly loud voice that seemed to shake the earth around them. I held my hands over my ears and closed my eye, and so did everyone else around her. “I believe her, whether you do or not is of no concern to me, Flash.” Celestia said, staring Flash in the eye. A very intimidating look on her face. “Y-Yes, your highness…” Flash said as he bowed his head to her and glared at me. Celestia turned to me. “John, you are free to go, I express my greatest apologies to you.” said Celestia. I nodded, my throat still soar. I noticed Flash leaving as well as the spectators around us. Twilight and the rest of her friends gathered in front of me. “W-We’re sorry, John...we should’ve believed you from the start…” Said Twilight, face full of regret. “Yeah, you should’ve.” I replied, my voice sounding hoarse, and feeling very angry. How could they ever expect me to hurt the one I loved? Do I...really seem like that bad a person..? Twilight looked down and the rest of the ponies did so as well. I turned to Rarity. “Thanks, Rarity.” I said. “Well, of course, John. I couldn’t just let them execute you, you’re innocent!” She said smiling. “I wanna see Dash.” I said quickly. All I could think about is Dash. I want to see her...shes alive… Twilight looked up at me. “Yes, John, of course.” She replied. They lead me away from the place of my execution, I never wanted to go there again. I walked with them for a while and eventually approached a hospital, Twilight lead me down a long hall and we stopped at a room with a wooden door and the number “110” the rooms number. I walked in and shut the door when Twilight tried to follow me. I walked over to the bed and looked down at the bandaged, and bruised Rainbow Dash on the bed. I felt the tears escaping my eye as I looked at her. I pulled a chair over to the bed and sat down, I held her hoof and rubbed it, thinking about the first day I was in Ponyville. I put my head down on the bed next to her, and held her hoof against me. I don’t know how long I was sitting there, but I never wanted to leave her side. She was there with me from the start. When I was brought there, after she saved me, to now. I never thought that it would end up like this. To tell the truth, I was truly hoping that it was me on that bed, like before. Me in pain, close to death, and Dash be the one worrying. As dark as it sounds, I would rather her be safe and scared than dying and in pain. I’d give anything to trade places with her. A few hours pass while I just sat there until I heard the door open. Then, Rarity walked in alone with her head down. I looked at her, then back at Dash. I know it might sound mean, but I didn't want to see her at that moment. The reason was because she had all this time to say something, to say anything, while I was getting arrested, but she just stood there or something I don't know! "Um... how is she?" asked Rarity. "She's still in the coma." I said with slight anger in my voice. I was glad I’d killed her attacker. Even if I was wrongfully accused of hurting two innocents. I looked at her and saw that she had a sad look on her face. "I'm sorry that I didn't... come sooner it's just..." "That in reality you don't really want me to be here. That I'm someone who you can't trust, someone who let Dashie get hurt and almost killed. So you blamed me for it, am I right?" I asked looking at her in the eyes. She had a look of shock and disbelief in her eyes. "What? No, of course not! You’re wrong, John. You're my friend and someone who I care for as a friend. I would never want harm to come to you... I was just afraid to come forth because somepony came to me and threatened me..." I was looking at her, now confused, and saw that she was getting a little angry tears in her eyes. "Wait... who?" I asked concerned. "A pony in... black robes. I don't know who, but he said that he would hurt Sweetie Bell if I came forth. So for the sake of Rainbow Dash, I decided to risk her life and make sure you lived. I also did it to save a friend... a mistake I made." She said her voice shaky as she galloped off. Now instead of pure anger I felt so sad and depressed. I looked back at Dashie and then realized something I didn't notice before. Her wings were missing.