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// 1.1 - Everypony Lies 
// Story: Silent is the Damned 
// by Rocktavia 
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	The cast iron hoofcuffs clenched tightly against my back hooves. Even when I’m locked in the cells with nowhere to run, the Warden never removes them. Such is the way of prisons designed for dangerous inmates, I guess. And that wasn’t the only thing on me restrained, either.
My proud wings were clamped tightly to my sides by a similarly-constructed restraint, preventing me from flying at all.
I really, really want all these bloody things off, but considering that I had no choice in the matter in the first place, that wasn’t going to happen any time soon.
The cell is barren and unfurnished, save for an iron bedframe in the corner with a very lumpy mattress. The restroom is little more than a haunch-sized hole carved in the floor. All these meager accoutrements lay inside a reinforced stone building from which Discord, on his worst day mind you, couldn’t escape from. And on top of all that, the pony in the neighboring cell has the loudest snore I have ever heard.
My name is Silent Sword - ex-Royal Guard, Valkyrie Branch.
Oh, never heard of the Valkyries? That’s good, because technically, we don’t exist. We are like phantoms – invisible, never seen, never heard.
Usually we do simple recon and sometimes infiltration, but out of the blue, I was reassigned temporarily to guard duty. That doomed me, I might add.
About 4 days ago, I was assigned to guard some powerful ruby in the Canterlot Archives. Fuck if I know what it does, I just follow orders. 
Also about 4 days ago, said Ruby was mysteriously stolen. The thief seemingly disappeared into thin air. Naturally, being a ‘mysterious’ Valkyrie that was equipped with a number of arcane items like a Stealth Amulet that could turn me completely invisible to pony eyes and magical senses short of a high-powered seer spell for a short while, a Rapier enchanted to be infinitely sharp enough to cut through steel, a number of non-lethal ranged weapons, not to mention being on duty at the time, I was a prime suspect. 
Only one pony could vouch for my innocence and exonerate me – the Valkyrie CO at the time, Daring Dagger. Facing life in prison, I was relieved to know that she would free me. So… happy.
Until it came time for the actual trial yesterday.
Then it turned out that she had disappeared after the theft without a trace. Later evidence connected her to the plot, and even worse, definitively incriminated me.
My fate was sealed: Life in prison.
No escape. No appeal. No second chances.
No. Way. Out.
Hearing a rap on the bars of my cell, I look to my right to see the Warden, a Blue-maned aged Unicorn guard attempting to gain my attention.
“Oi! Silent Sword! It’s time for yer hearing.” I hear the Warden say through the bars.
I unconsciously swallowed with a loud gulp.
Celestia have mercy on my soul.