//------------------------------// // Chapter Two // Story: When The Mask Falls Off // by jwizard //------------------------------// Celestia stumbled in shock before rallying. “How is my execution by hanging mercy?!” she cried. “How is such a brutal and barbaric method of killing the greatest alicorn that has ever lived a mercy?!” Twilight’s expression grew even colder. “I’ll leave the debate on who is the greatest alicorn to ever live to another time Celestia.” Twilight’s expression didn’t change as she continued. “It’s merciful because what was originally decided was that you should be executed for every human life you tortured.” Celestia blanched at that; while she didn’t believe that any of those lives had worth, she still knew that there were thousands that had died on her orders. Celestia shrugged her shoulders when Twilight didn’t continue. “You forget, Twilight, that I am an alicorn. You yourself know how impossible it is to kill our kind.” Twilight shook her head at that. “It’s not impossible Celestia; there is a method that one can use,” Twilight said in response. Celestia paled as she realized that Twilight had done it; the alicorn before her had recreated the greatest weapon against her kind that had ever existed. “It doesn’t bring me any pleasure to use a weapon that was once created by our foes, I assure you. However, I do believe that it serves a sense of justice, as they wouldn’t have been the threat they became if it wasn’t for alicorns like yourself.” Twilight motioned to the captain. As they both turned to leave, she said the last thing Celestia expected to hear. “I suggest you make your peace with the heavens; your soul won’t be condemned to Tartarus for what you have done. No, the Inner Hels is where those truly evil go. May the Maker have mercy on you, and my your death heal the heart of the pony I truly love.” She and the stallion left after that, leaving the fallen alicorn to reflect on her past. Several hours later, Twilight was sitting on the Amethyst Throne in the Royal Throne Room in Canterlot Castle. She had just finished meeting with a delegation from the Centaur lands; a very tense delegation. Twilight looked up as two of her newest advisors approached her throne. She smiled ruefully as they did so; both had once been considered among Equestria’s greatest enemies. Sombra the Shadow King, and Lord Tirek both smiled at the expression on Twilight’s muzzle. “I can see that negotiations with my nation were as tense as I expected them to be,” the centaur said. Twilight nodded. “All of the lands outside Equestria that weren’t involved with our Civil War are of the belief that we’re going to grant leniency to my former teacher,” Twilight said as she stepped down from the dais. She sighed. “And while a part of me does wish that were possible, an even greater part of me knows that she must answer for her crimes.” Sombra frowned. “Princess Twilight, she is responsible for the near destruction of not one, but several civilizations,” he said heatedly. “I know that she was your teacher, but how can you say that you wish you could go easy on her after what she has done?” Tirek facepalmed at that. “Sombra, it is because she was the Princess’ teacher that she wishes things could be different.” The centaur sighed. “Even though she herself did not believe in those things, Celestia still taught Twilight a better way to live. And a truly good person knows that an execution never truly solves anything.” Sombra blinked at that. “Hmm, I hadn’t thought of it in that manner.” He sighed. “I can say with certainty that execution benefits no one.” His gaze hardened. “However, it will allow all of us to gain closure. I would at least like to be able to finally lay my hatred to rest; I cannot do so as long as the one responsible for my people’s near annihilation is finally dead.” Tirek and Twilight both nodded at that; Sombra had a personal vendetta against Celestia; after he, Tirek, Scorpan and The Dragon King Midnight had sacrificed everything to defend Equus in the Eleventh Hour several thousand years ago, their reward was to be branded as traitors by Celestia. The only one to escape that fate was Scorpan, and that was because he was no threat to the status quo. Tirek had a thoughtful look on his face. “If I may ask Princess Twilight; you had no reason to pardon either myself, Sombra, or Midnight. Why did you?’ He flushed with embarrassment at the look Sombra gave him. “Granted, I am pleased that you did so, but I still would like to know how you were able to convince the Celestial Council.” Twilight’s sighed. “I was given evidence of your innocence by Star Swirl and others; said evidence showed that none of you were guilty of the crimes you committed against Equestria.” Her expression turned severe. “As to how I convinced the Celestial Council; after their refusal to hear both mine and Luna’s pleas, I was forced to levy my authority as both Alicorn of Magic and Warden of the Sun to remove them from office.” She snorted. “The sawed-off traitors are performing the same salutary function that Discord once performed; that of statuary.” “I am sure that went over as well with the rest of Equus,” Sombra said snidely. They all chuckled at that. “Well Princess, my brother and I shall take our leave of you. Until tomorrow.” The two bowed to the purple alicorn. She returned it as well; they had more than earned her respect and friendship. After they left, Twilight made her way to her quarters, ones that had been Celestia’s until fairly recently. Her steps were heavy as she plodded onwards. Passing by the Hall of Memories, she stopped for a moment. She decided to take a look at the glass murals. Memories, both good and bad, flowed through her mind as she looked at the stained glass windows. She remembered the first time she had walked this corridor. It was just after she and her friends had stopped Discord. She had been so proud and happy of them as she stood there. Most of all, she was proud that she had done the best she could to lift the burden on her Princess’ shoulders. Twilight’s legs fell from underneath her as her heart once again broke. No matter what she had said to others, she still felt as though something had been torn out from within her. A loss of innocence that she would never recover, and the loss of faith in some of those who had gone before. A sound caused her to raise her head. Luna was standing at the door, looking at her. The midnight-blue alicorn said nothing as she made her way over to Twilight. Twilight raised herself up to hug the pony that had been her rock for the past few years. She continued to sob, knowing that the only way she would truly heal is if she let it all out.