//------------------------------// // Effigy // Story: Upheaval: Reckoning // by Visiden Visidane //------------------------------// Upheaval: Reckoning Chapter 11: Effigy In its centuries of history, Fangbreaker Fortress had seen more than its fair share of executions. The Legion valued unflinching duty, and discipline. Ponies who failed to embody those virtues were looked upon poorly, and swiftly punished. Deserters, spies, rebels, and those whose incompetence brought about the deaths of many...all met their fate at the end of a noose. Hanging was a traitor’s death, and a punishment that didn't end with merely the criminal’s corpse. The shame of the crime often continued to haunt the families of the condemned. The ponies of the Barrier Lands were not above casting some of the blame on a criminal’s parentage, or even ancestry. As she walked the passageway that led from her cell to the fortress’s main courtyard, it was that last sentiment that gave Pyre a vague twinge in her chest. Her parents were still back in Bastion City. They had survived the siege for sure. She had confidence in the Legion’s protection. She knew that even without being told. That didn't stop an annoying pony from telling her anyway. “Your parents are still alive and well, you know,” Twilight said. Huddled against a corner of her cell, Pyre rested her head against a wall. Being beaten up by guard was better than putting up with this. “And why should I care about them, nag?” she asked. “I just ruined whatever shambles of a name they had. And I would have let the wolven kill them if the siege had succeeded.” Twilight tilted her head, her eyebrows furrowed in disapproval. “Do you really care nothing about them at all?” “What’s going on here, Twilight Sparkle?" Pyre snapped. "What are you pestering me for? Entertainment? How did you get the guards to let you in anyway? Did you convince them that you’ll torture me with your inanities?” Twilight took a step closer. “I just…I just want to understand you better!” Pyre leaned forward from her corner. Her face was so swollen and bruised that even scowling hurt. “We haven’t become friends, Twilight Sparkle!” she hissed. “Don’t think that I’m going to ‘open up’ to you because of what happened earlier!” “Oh, I know we’re not friends,” Twilight replied. Pyre stomped a hoof, stifling a wince in the process. “Then stop wasting my time and yours!” “There has to be more to this, Pyre Valor!” Twilight said. She took another step forward, coming tantalizingly close to Pyre's cell. “You’ll be executed tomorrow! I can’t accept that as the end!” “You've only known me for about a month! What could you possibly know about how it all ends?" Pyre's eyes narrowed, and her tone dropped. "Tomorrow will be a conclusion that has taken all my life to reach.” It was Twilight's turn to stomp a hoof. “So that’s it? You’re just going to walk out there and hang?” Pyre leaned back on her wall. It was late, and she was tired. This was only her second night of being able to sleep without being angry over the division, or being possessed by Nightmare Moon. It was probably also her last, and she didn't want to waste minutes of it talking to Twilight. “Yes,” she said quietly. ”What else do you want, Twilight Sparkle? The pony who kept kicking your flank is going to die.” She smiled wryly. “You should be dancing jigs, not making it sound like you’re going to miss me.” Twilight reared up, and struck the bars with her front hooves. “Don’t be flippant!” she said. “I haven’t even beaten you yet!” The smile disappeared momentarily as Pyre processed the information. Beaten her? The idea hadn't even occurred to her. She had come to respect this annoying filly's magical power and focus. That Twilight could stand up to Nightmare Moon, even for a short while, made her worthy of the Legion’s uniform. The idea of some form of rivalry…“Is that what this is about?” she asked. “You don’t want me executed so you can have the pleasure of killing me yourself?” “No!” Twilight answered. She looked aside, unable to meet Pyre’s questioning look. “It’s not about killing you." Her voice lowered. “But I…I've never wanted to beat anypony before. Not in my entire life.” She looked at Pyre. “You asked me before if I've ever looked at another unicorn, and asked myself ‘How can I beat her?’. The answer was never. Not until you came along. Ever since that day, I've thrown myself into study and training so I can beat you. I've never studied that way before. That kind of drive and focus...pushing myself, and imagining that scene when I win…” A minute passed in silence. “I liked it…” Twilight stared at the floor, looking embarrassed, and unsure of herself. Pyre Valor laughed. At first, a look of confusion spread across Twilight’s face, but Pyre’s laugh quickly changed that. “What’s so funny?” she asked, her face red. “That was pathetic!” Pyre said. She walked up to the bars of her cell. She was serious before she spoke again. “Nightmare Moon called me an insect when she first possessed me,” she said, “but she was scared when she faced you. I was an insect, and you were a threat! Yet, here you are talking about your lofty goal of beating me in single combat!” Her hooves shot through the bars so quickly that Twilight had no time to react. In an instant, Twilight's face had slammed against the bars with Pyre holding on to her mane. “Protect Equestria. No matter the cost, and no matter who pays it!” Pyre snarled. “I almost lost sight of that goal because of you. You don’t get to make that mistake. Not when you get to live! Put it above yourself, and whatever small, pathetic, personal goals you might have!” She let Twilight go, and walked back to the corner of her cell. “I’m just one unicorn mage. Tomorrow, I’ll just be a corpse. You’ll have more enemies ahead. Stop feeling sorry that your little spat with me ended before you could get the upper hoof.” Twilight had no answer. She was still rubbing her forehead painfully when Pyre shouted for the guards. Pyre reached the section of the passage that connected her branch of the dungeon with Blademane's. He had been led out as well, and now walked behind her. Their guards surrounded them like a wall of silent, moving metal. A quick look showed that Blademane had been severely beaten up too. “Are you alright?” Blademane asked. The genuine concern in his tone hurt. “Does it matter?” Pyre asked in return. “We’ll both be dead soon.” Blademane snorted. “True.” After a few silent minutes, they could see the light from the courtyard at the end of the passageway. “Tell me something, Blademane,” Pyre said. “Yes?” “I am never going to be able to return the sort of loyalty you've shown me," Pyre said. "You knew this from the start. No more silent treatment. Now that we’re so close to the end, tell me why you've come this far.” Blademane answered his usual silence first. Pyre was about to prod him when he spoke. “I never expected you to reciprocate. At the start, maybe I did. But it wasn't even about that in the end. Has it really not occurred to you that I might actually believe in your cause?” “It could have if you actually talked,” Pyre replied. “My fault then. To be fair, I didn't believe in it right away. I thought that you’d eventually calm down, marry Vanguard Clash, and be a quiet, productive legionnaire.” Pyre frowned. “You were wrong.” “In more than one way. I agreed with you. I never said I did. I didn't have the courage to be as outspoken as you were. I got my chance to change that when you two fought.” Pyre looked behind, her and found Blademane smiling for the first time she had known him. She looked away when she felt a smile beginning to curve her lips. “What a pair we make,” she said. “The mare who talked too much, and the stallion who talked too little.” “Thank you, Pyre Valor.” Pyre nearly stopped in her tracks. “What could you possibly have to thank me for?” she asked. “Giving me a chance to say something I would never have if I spent the rest of my life serving in the Legion. You said all the words, and made all the decisions. All I needed to do was stay by your side. Thank you for that.” Pyre snorted. “Now, you’re talking too much, Blademane.” Both of them fell silent when they finally made it out to the courtyard. The open space was full of legionnaires today, all present to see the execution of the two villains of the wolven invasion. Any other work around the fortress, save for guard duty, had been delayed. As Pyre walked past the rows of legionnaires, she looked towards the gallows. Though she didn't look, she could tell that Vanguard was watching, as was Twilight. Perhaps they were even watching together. On the gallows was the imposing figure of Prince Terrato. It wasn't until she was climbing up the wooden stairs of the gallows that Pyre noticed something strange; there was no hangpony around. The nooses were prepared, but the only pony on the structure was Prince Terrato. Was he going to hang her himself? Terrato gestured for the guards to remove her horn-lock. “You have some nerve pushing me as you have, Pyre Valor,” he said. His voice carried over to every pony present. “Hundreds of your fellows are dead by your betrayal, and you aided Nightmare Moon, an enemy not just of Equestria, but of the Eternal Herd itself. Every Black Rose rebel has paid for this betrayal by hanging, but I think something different should await the pony who has done more.” Pyre held her prince’s gaze without flinching. She wasn't going to lower her head in contrition when she was contrite over nothing. When Prince Terrato remained silent, she decided to speak for one last time. “Terrato, wait!” Before Pyre could utter a word, another alicorn fly towards them. She didn't recognize the white coat, and the pink mane, but she could tell who this was. She braced herself for the rage, the same rage that had smoldered within her nearly all her life. To her surprise, all she felt was a mild annoyance. It was more because Princess Celestia had interrupted the procedures than any anger towards the worst of Equestria’s royalty. For a frightful moment, Pyre considered that she might have unconsciously forgiven the nag princess. However, it wasn't forgiveness that sapped her rage. She was simply spent. She had thrown what she had at the nag princess, and her foul edict, and she got the results she wanted. The anger had been slowly dissipating even when Nightmare Moon had still possessed her. Now, she just wanted to get things over. “Celestia, I thought you had your fill of hangings from your time in Bastion City,” Terrato said. “You told me yourself that my division was wrong, Terrato,” Celestia said. “This pony has done terrible things, as had those rebels in Bastion City, but what end do their deaths accomplish?” Terrato lowered his voice before replying. “Why don’t we ask her?” he suggested. He turned his attention back to Pyre. “Do you wish to be spared?” he asked. “No,” was the quick and sure reply. Celestia shifted her attention to Pyre, and took a step back when she met a fierce stare. “Pyre Valor, do you honestly wish to be executed like this?” she asked. A spark of her old rage lit up in Pyre. “Like this”. Celestia certainly had some nerve looking down on her. Terrato took only one look at her, and he quickly understood. He stepped between the two of them. “My sister hasn't quite grasped the way things are in the Legion,” Terrato said. He glanced at Celestia briefly. “I think you understand why there’s no hangpony around, and why I had your horn-lock removed.” “I understand perfectly, your highness,” Pyre replied. Terrato raised his voice again. “Pyre Valor, you've spent your life taking matters into your own hooves. It’s only fitting that your death be of the same manner.” Pyre dropped to her knees in response. “This is an honor I don’t deserve, your highness,” she said. “I’ve heard your reasons from Vanguard Clash and Dreadstep’s reports,” Terrato said. “Not only that, you could have run off when you had the chance. A lot of Black Rose rebels certainly tried. Instead, you performed one last favor for the Legion. Crazy as it may sound, I can actually respect that.” After that, Pyre stood up, and jumped down the gallows. The ponies closest to her gasped, and backed away. Her horn glowed a deep red as she intoned a spell. From the crowd, Twilight moved forward, her horn glowing with a spell of her own. She knew it! Pyre wasn't just going to fade into nothing like this. She wasn't-- A deep red blaze engulfed Pyre, quickly consuming her mane, tail, and coat, and sending clouds of smoke spiraling upward. She dropped to her knees, her face twisting in terrific agony, but she didn't so much as let out a cry of pain. Twilight stopped dead in her tracks, her spell fizzling out before it could be completed. She watched in horror even as the heat and smoke obscured her view. “No!” she cried out. She tried to run towards Pyre, but somepony suddenly grabbed her from behind, and held her still. With a cry of rage and frustration, she looked at who it was and found Vanguard. He looked at her sadly before looking back to the burning spectacle. Mollified somewhat, she followed his gaze. “And that’s why you make them white-hot.” A white-hot blaze would have consumed Pyre quickly, and without suffering. “You foal…” Twilight said with a sob. “This doesn't make up for anything!” Atop the gallows, Celestia moved forward, but Terrato blocked her path. With nopony to stop him, Blademane jumped down, and hugged Pyre. The flames blazed even fiercer, and engulfed him as well. Though the crowd had been surprised at first, they soon realized what had just happened, and went on to calmly watch the scene. Through it all, neither Pyre nor Blademane made a sound. It was hard to even tell if they had already died. The only sound that could be heard throughout the courtyard was the crackling of flames. The blaze eventually died down, leaving behind vaguely pony-shaped masses of ash that crumbled into an indistinct pile. Terrato stared at the pile grimly, then motioned for some guards. “Gather their remains,” he told them. “Mark their graves with what exactly they did.” As the guards hurried to do his bidding, Terrato passed by his sister, who was still looking at the smoking pile in confusion. “I don’t understand,” she said softly. “Why did she want to die so badly?” “Want has nothing to do it,” Terrato replied. “Get some rest, dearest sister, we’ll be at the Heartland before the day’s end.” Terrato flew off. Celestia glanced sadly at the smoking pile one more time, then flew after him. While the crowd began to disperse, Twilight and Vanguard continued to look on. A few more tears ran down Twilight’s cheeks when she finally turned away. She wiped them away angrily, silently reminding herself that she despised Pyre. It didn't work. Her friends were already coming over, concern and confusion mixing on their faces. A foreleg went around her shoulders. “Save your grief,” Vanguard said. Even his normally stoic voice cracked. “We all knew that this was going to be the end of it, her most of all. If you have even a shred of respect for her, you should be glad that his highness granted her the honor of ending her own life.” “Is that what honor’s supposed to be?” Twilight whispered harshly. “Do you want something like that, Vanguard?” “Dying for something I believe in?” Vanguard asked. “When the time comes, perhaps. Put this scene behind you, Twilight. You wouldn't want to go home with a burning mare in your thoughts.” Once the others had come close enough, he let go of Twilight, and left. A few hours later, Vanguard made his way towards Storm Brew’s newly rebuilt bar and brewery. The ashes were supposed to be buried in marked graves, but a discussion arose among the higher-ranked officers as to what that meant. A lot agreed that blank tombstones should suffice. Somepony said that a plaque of sorts should mark the site as a warning for others. Another said that placing such a mark would only plant the seeds of Pyre being called a hero. Yet another argued that such a scenario may not be so bad. Through it all, Vanguard was only interested in finally laying his friend to rest. The squabbling only reminded him that, ultimately, Pyre had gotten off easy. She did not have to deal with the events that she had helped set into motion. As he approached Storm Brew’s, he found Twilight already sitting by the bar. She wobbled slightly, then looked up at him with a half-smile before waving a hoof. “Vanguard!” she called out. “About time you showed up! Does it take that long to bury a pot?” Storm Brew walked over to Vanguard before he could reach the bar. “How much has she drunk?” he asked. Storm Brew rubbed her messy mane with a hoof. “I gave her a mug that’s a quarter ‘Good Stuff’, and three quarters water,” she said. “She’s made it to half the mug. Rounding up that is. You're going to have your hooves full with this one at some point, Vanguard.” “Thank you,” Vanguard said. He took a seat next to Twilight, but didn't order a drink of his own.”This better not become a new habit of yours, Twilight.” “Then unicorns should stop lighting themselves on fire!” Twilight snapped. She stared morosely at her drink, looked like she was about to take another pull, but stopped halfway. “I must admit, I didn't think her death would affect you this much,” Vanguard said. “She was such a nag…” Twilight mumbled. “To the end she was mocking me. How did you ever put up with that?” “There was more to Pyre than just her anger over the division. If you had only met her a couple of years earlier…she would have been happier knowing you.” “I doubt it,” Twilight replied. “We would have never gotten along.” “Not as friends,” Vanguard said. “You would have been great rivals. Sparring duels in the day…boasting, and comparing victories in the night. I would have never heard the end of it from her when it came to you.” “She would have liked that kind of relationship?” Twilight asked. “Of course. She would have prized it more than some friendships.” “I’ll never understand her.” Twilight looked at her mug, and tried to take another pull again. This time, the mug made it all the way to her lips before her she set it down. Some time passed before she ventured to talk again. “Say, Vanguard?” she asked. “Hmm?” “Does your squad still need a unicorn mage?” Vanguard raised an eyebrow. “Why are you asking?” “I want the job.” “Why the sudden interest in Special Operations?” Twilight paused, fighting the alcohol fog in her mind for the answer. “I’ll be able to do a lot more in a small special squad like yours," she said. "Especially against somepony like Black Rose who won't act through giant, predictable armies.” “That’s a good reason." Vanguard said. "I hope it’s the real one, and not because of something Pyre said, or did. Twilight looked away sheepishly. “Well…there might be that too.” “Ask me again when you’re sober.” Twilight pushed the mug away, and stared at Vanguard. There was an intensity in her eyes that even the haze of alcohol couldn't blur. “Is that all I need to do?” she asked. Vanguard rubbed his temples, and let out a slow exhale. He had expected this somehow. He didn't know why, but he did ever since his mother brought it up. Twilight could do the job. She needed a bit more experience, but she was certainly going to get that soon. She was already working with specialized groups anyway, as were the rest of her friends. Since she finally asked, he couldn't ignore this anymore. “What you need to do is to go home, Twilight,” he said. Twilight opened her mouth to protest, but Vanguard raised a hoof. “As soon as you make it back home, talk to all the friends you left behind. Reunite with your family. Reconnect with your old life. Once you've done all of that, ask yourself if you still want Pyre’s old job. If the answer’s still yes, ask me again. I’ll give it some serious thought then.” A smile crossed Twilight’s face. “I’ll do that then!” “Have you made all the preparations?” The smile disappeared. “Uh…let me check on that!” She ran off, leaving behind the still half-full mug of watered down “Good Stuff”. Vanguard shook his head, and turned his gaze skyward. “Even dead you’re causing me problems, Pyre,” he whispered. He walked off to finish his preparations too. Earlier, he had received his latest orders. Third Squad, as well as a few more Special Operations squads, had business in the Heartland.