The air was tense, and not because they were literally within the bowels of Tartarus itself mind you, but because of what had occurred right before the Mane six's very eyes. A alicorn, a MALE alicorn, was standing before them and having a staredown with Celestia and Luna and despite no words said, they could tell the three had history together. The silence was broken by the male who called himself Infernum "I would ask you both to step aside, but knowing your stubbornness I don't think you will"
"As if we would allow thee to harm our ponies" Luna had said calmly.
"Stuck in Olden Equestrian speech pattern?" Infernum asks as he seems.... calm, but not by much as his eyes still held a flame in them. All Luna did was nod as he sighs "Still, it does not excuse what this-" he stops as he seems to prevent himself from gagging "-princess did is inexcusable. She entered another kingdom without informing the ruler, thus being seen as a invasion and a act of war!" he said as he slammed his hoof down for emphasis, causing the room to shake and small rocks to fall from the ceiling.
Celestia kept up her barrier as she looked at him "Prince Infernum, I-"
"Infernum. Just Infernum. You know I am not one for all that bucking formality"
"Infernum. Please I ask of you to overlook this trespassing on your kingdom, not because she is a princess, but because she made a mistake" Celestia said with the same motherly voice she always used, but with a hint of... sadness. Infernum raised a eyebrow "She did not know of your kingdom since you have kept yourself from the world." Celestia finished.
Infernum seemed to mull this information over as he closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh "Very well. I will let you all leave, but only by the grace of the friendship we once had Princess" he says as his eyes returned to that fiery look of hate in them. Celestia simply nodded as she remained silent before motioning with her wings for her Equestrian ponies and sister all to leave with her. The one called Twilight had some questions for her mentor once they returned.
After they had left, Infernum turned to Tirek who simply tried to back away, feeling the cold bars against his back. The alicorn simply looks at him as he had a stoic look on his face "What were they doing here Tirek?" he asks as the doors to the lower section closes.
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Back at Canterlot, Celestia had ordered her guards to leave in a strangely.... serious tone. As they leave, as soon as the doors close, she turns on her hooves and looks at the mane six as her eyes were narrowed and her mane and tail weren't as... flowy "What were you thinking?!" she yelled "You could of been killed! He could of robbed you of all your freedom! He-" she was stopped by a wing from Luna as she looked at them all. The mane six were shivering like a foal being scolded as she looks down and her ears flatten. She trots over to them as she expands her wings and held them close "I am so sorry for yelling at you my little ponies, but Infernum is one that none of you should ever face alone, even if he showed mercy" she says.
Twilight looked up at her mentor, tears swelling in her eyes "Just.... just why is he so angry with you? Who is he? Why is he a alicorn?" she asked question after question as Celestia softly quieted her with a nuzzle. She got back to her throne as her wings lowered and her eyes showed.... great sorrow.
"Infernum..... never was like that in the past. All that changed after our mother, Faust, and his father, Helvette, both moved on to another life. Ever since he vanished, Infernum became more and more into his work, making sure all the citizens of his kingdom are safe and sound, but.... we did something that seemed to upset The Order"
A purple hoof raised to the air "What is The Order?"
"The Order is a ancient law established by our mother and Infernum's father. As long as the throne of Equestria has a ruler, the ruler of Phantasia shall be responsible for passing out judgement and punishment as seen fit. Tis is the law that was established during our mother's reign" Luna had explained.
Celestia simply nodded "Unfortunately in our haste I.... broke that rule three times. The first time with Discord, second with Sombra and finally.... with my own sister, Luna" she says as she looks down. Luna wrapped her older sister in a one wing hug as she put her forehooves around Celestia's neck. She smiles a small smile as she nuzzles her sister in thanks "Infernum did not take this kindly however" she said as she closed her eyes, that memory a thousand years ago, fresh as ever as she retold the moment to everypony.
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1,004 Years Ago
Celestia had just banished Nightmare Moon to the moon in order to save Equestria, to save her ponies as she stood back up. As she did so, she felt a flame.... a flame of anger behind her. As she turned around, her eyes widen at the sight of Infernum as he stood in the doorway
"Traitor!" he yelled at her in a loud, booming voice "Thee.... thee had told us thy would give us a chance.... Thee told us thy would let me try to get Luna back, to try and free her from this curse." he said as his eyes meet her with tears in them "But what does thee do? Thee betrays our trust! Stabs us in thee back!" he yells as his hoof meets the stone "Tis our job to judge the accused and act out punishment of those of greater evil! We gave thee a chance after the Disharmony spirit! We gave thee a chance after the Crystal pony! But now thy has crossed the line!" he yelled as tears streamed now. Celestia tried to speak only to be met with those eyes "Shut thine mouth betrayer! If we ever see thee again, we will judge thee!" he yelled as a warning before a bright flash of red and orange as he vanishes, leaving behind only scorch maks of his anger.
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Celestia looked at everypony as they all looked sad, but a couple looked a bit... surprised. Luna looked over at her "Sister.... does thou speak the truth? Why? Why did thee never tell us?!" she yelled as Celestia remained silent "So... that anger that Infernum had was because of thee?" she asks as she just left the throne room crying.
"Why?"
Celestia turned to see her student "Why does he still hate you so much Princess? You only did what you thought was right for Equestria, he should know that was going to happen!" she argued as Celestia simple shook her head.
"Twilight.... Infernum likes to keep The Order because-"
"-it reminds me of Helvette" a new voice interrupted them. All the heads turned to see Infernum standing in the throne room, but with three guards, each of different species. The first guard was a griffon, the same griffon known as Ghostcrest. The second one was a pegasus with body of a dark red color, mane of coal black, but with burning orange tips, eyes of light red and a pair of wings on her back. Her armor was similiar to the griffon except of a black and silver color. The final guard was a unicorn due to the ice blue, curved horn on her head. Her eyes were a light grey color as her coat was a ice blue color. Her mane and tail however were of a different color, a dull white color as if it was bleached white or turned a permanent shade of white.
When Twilight and her friends got ready for a fight, so did the three guards as they got ready to defend Infernum "Hex. Ghostcrest. Brimstone. Stand down" he says calmly as they do. As he walked past the mane six, not even bothering to acknowledge there existence, he stops before Celestia as he looks around "Where's Luna? She needs to hear this as well" he says still... calm. As Celestia send a guard and ten minutes later Luna arrived with red eyes from crying he sighs "I am sorry, I truly am....." he says as his horn glows and two scrolls come out, both of black parchment and a double hammer insignia on them as he sighs "I, Infernum Ignacious Sulfur, King of the Phantasia kingdom, deliver these summons to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna of the kingdom of Equestria. These summons are to inform you both that as of now, you both have been sentenced to trial for your crimes against The Order and against Equestria" he said as he saw everypony there was wide eyed at what just happened. He turned to see Fluttershy as he levitates another scroll to her "Element of Kindness, please deliver this to Discord for his trial" he says.
As he looks at the Princesses "The trial is tomorrow and to be held in Tartarus. All will show up or be held in contempt and thus another charge on them" he says as he walks back to his guards before stopping "Oh" he levitates another scroll to Celestia "For your-" he shudders as if he ate the most disgusting thing in the world "-nephew Blueblood" he finished as he left with his guards. The ponies look at the princesses as they saw one thing they never thought they see.
A lone tear left Celestia's face as she didn't even need to know the punishment for her crimes.