The two Alicorn Princesses looked over the Balzac carefully as it stared right back at them. The thing was simply staring at them in confusion. There was no fear, no bowing, and no awe. It was curious and confused. Chris crossed his arms and watched from behind Luna. Any thoughts he had, he kept to himself. R.J. was leaning against the side of the doorway quietly, just watching the scene to see how it played out. Starburst stood at the edge of the pool of blood, examining the strange circle which was kept constantly flowing with fresh blood. Catalyst and Full Spectrum were close to him, both looking disgusted at the sight of the blood and even more so at the circle. Morning Mist stayed back, away from everybody else and her Rectifier friend was by her side. The E.U.P. Guards for the Alicorns waited by the doorway, stoic as ever and more than willing to let the Princesses deal with the situation.
The Balzac never moved a muscle as Celestia suddenly spoke to it, "Can you understand me?" She asked. It was a slim chance at best and she knew it. If it had not spoken or replied to any of the Peacemakers, it was either traumatized or it could not speak the same language. Celestia knew that on the off chance it once knew an archaic version of Velensovth, it would be even more antiquated than the way Luna spoke when she returned from Nightmare Moon. The Balzac merely blinked and tilted its head to the side in confusion.
Luna stretched out her neck toward the higher ear of her elder sister, "Should we send for Razor Wit? Surely she would be ecstatic about learning a new language and she has already shown a propensity for dealing carefully with new species."
Celestia pondered the idea briefly before she spoke, "Blood Magister Starburst, what is your opinion of this pool and the circle surrounding it? Is time of the essence, or is it not a concern at the moment? Will the power of this... spell diminish with time?"
Starburst raised his head from where he was examining the circle and turned his head toward Celestia, "Everything will diminish with enough time, Princess." He turned his head back to the pool, "This though... this is far beyond my understanding. I could probably spend months in here studying just the circle and learn more than I ever thought I knew about Blood Magic in the first place. As far as I can tell, the power of the pool has not diminished enough to tell for certain. It might maintain its power indefinitely, or perhaps it needs to be fed fresh blood to sustain the Thamaturgic Energy within." He sighed, "I would need several weeks to figure that out, let alone be able to say with any certainty whether or not if it can be used again for the same purpose."
"Did you examine the Thamaturgic Saturation of the blood within the circle?" Morning Mist suddenly asked.
Starburst turned his head toward her with a snarl, "Do I have any of my equipment with me? Do you see some sort of floating vials and alchemical bases anywhere here?" Morning Mist lowered her head and stepped back from him as he continued his tirade, "You're here to be an advisor, not to point out idiotically obvious..."
"Enough." Luna spoke quietly and calmly, "Does she have a point? Would such a thing help determine the power left in the pool?"
Starburst growled in a low tone at his sister, but he answered Luna in a respectful tone, "It would, without a doubt, Princess. There should be more than enough tools and equipment lying around after the raid for me to use and find out. In any case, that still won't tell us how many times this pool can perform its function."
Luna nodded, "Please go and find whatever you need. Perform the test and inform us of the results when you are done." Starburst nodded and turned toward the door. He had only taken a single step before Luna spoke again, "Believe me when I say that hating your sister is a quick path to dark places and even darker actions. Whether or not you like her, you only have one of her. Sisters make mistakes, but forgiveness, while not simple or easy, is a wonderful gift. Not just for her either. It is liberating and helps you to heal from the wounds. Do not allow those wounds to fester. Infections of the heart were the cause of all your pain in the first place. Would you put your loves through the same pain?"
Starburst stopped walking when Luna spoke. Once she finished, he grunted in irritation, "No." He trotted away with Catalyst following behind him. Full Spectrum stayed behind to watch. She crossed her arms and leaned against the wall next to Morning Mist.
Luna turned back to her sister, "I believe it would be best to err on the side of caution. The pool might lose its power quickly. We need to speak to this Balzac as soon as possible. You know what I am referring to."
Full Spectrum tensed at Luna's words, her eyes narrowing quickly, 'Oh HELL no! She better not be saying what it sounds like.' She opened her screfula and let the magic flow through her body.
Celestia nodded almost imperceptibly, "I do, though I am not fond of the idea." She took a breath and charged up her horn, "This race paid for their crimes by suffering genocide and there is a chance to fix that error. We may never have another opportunity like this..."
She lowered her head, horn pointing toward the curious Balzac. Everybody in the room was startled at a sudden blurring streak of motion.
*SLAP*
The E.U.P. Guards were already in action as Full Spectrum followed through with the motion of her arm. Celestia's head snapped to the side as the irate Human woman pulled her stinging hand back to her side. She was so upset that she lapsed back into American English, "You BITCH!" She shrieked, her nose half an inch from Celestia's muzzle, "What? So you're willing to give the language to a monster who massacred Gryphon civilians, but not to a bunch of innocents so they wouldn't get slaughtered!?"
Celestia held up her wing, commanding the E.U.P. Pegasi to stop. She lowered her head and closed her eyes in sadness and shame. The Guards obeyed instantly, throwing concerned and angry looks between the two females. Celestia slowly folded her wing back to her side as Luna stepped back in shock. Chris said nothing and R.J. merely stood in place, watching events unfold. Full Spectrum was speaking an angrier version of their own thoughts. Celestia closed her eyes and said nothing. Temper raging, Full Spectrum raised her hand again and delivered another slap to the white Alicorn, "What were you thinking!? We left a message in the field on purpose to AVOID bloodshed! You didn't control your own soldiers and guess who had to pay the price?! US! The ones who wanted to avoid a mess! WE'RE the ones who died! WE'RE the ones who lost friends and brothers and sisters!" she clenched her fists, spittle flying from her mouth as she yelled, "You could have prevented it! You could have done something to keep it from happening! You didn't do SHIT! Sixty-three of us... DEAD! AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!" The streaks of tears down Celestia's face were not enough for the angry woman.
"I am as much at fault for what happened." Luna admitted sadly.
Full Spectrum turned her head toward the lunar Alicorn, "At least YOU helped defend the town and nearly died for us afterward. You got cut up when the Bloodmages attacked. You put your life on the line for us twice." She turned back to the silently weeping Alicorn, "What!? Do you REALLY think that one measly little boon was going to make up for all those deaths!?"
Luna opened her mouth to protest, but once again an alabaster wing came up, ensuring Luna's silence, "Let her vent, sister."
Full Spectrum stomped her right foot on the ground, "What? Not going to preach about your 'moral superiority'? You not going to act all 'high and mighty'? You're not going to spew any bullshit about moral superiority? What was your moral superiority worth when we were dying? Was it worth it?" she panted. She took a deep breath and bellowed, "WAS IT WORTH SIXTY-THREE LIVES YOU CUNT!?"
"Seventy." Celestia whispered, "Seven of the women were pregnant."
Full Spectrum screamed in rage and delivered a devastating punch to Celestia's muzzle tip. It was the first of many blows she rained down on Celestia's face, "BABIES?!" she cried tears of her own as she continued beating the ancient Alicorn, "SIXTY-THREE ADULTS WEREN'T ENOUGH FOR YOUR BLOOD-THIRSTY GUARDS?" her final punch was a haymaker which bloodied Celestia's muzzle. She panted heavily, having vented her rage upon the unmoving Alicorn.
Full Spectrum lapsed into silence, trying to catch her breath while staring hatred at Celestia. Eventually the alabaster Alicorn spoke, "There is nothing I can say that will ease your pain, nor bring back the victims of the massacre." Celestia's voice was feather-soft, "I know that I was wrong about not becoming more involved when you first showed up." She opened her eyes and slowly raised her head, meeting Full Spectrum's eyes, "Which is why I'm willing to do this now."
Full Spectrum snorted in derision, "Fine then." She stepped back, crossing her arms angrily, "I invoke my right as a citizen of a Protectorate State as a witness to a violation of law... perpetrated by Princess Celestia."
The E.U.P. Guards barely heard her words. They had just witnessed a Human beating their beloved Princess. The law that Full Spectrum was evoking was one of the statutes that every Guard had drilled into their heads. Once New Humansville was declared a Protectorate State, the E.U.P. Guards were rigorously taught about the laws of New Humansville so they would know the laws if they were ever sent there. As a witness to any crime committed by any citizen of Equestria, any citizen of New Humansville was to be protected as if they were a member of royalty. The Princesses had signed the document as law when the Protectorate Proclamation of New Humansville was put into effect. They had no recourse against Full Spectrum and worse yet, since Princess Luna was present, she was required to pass judgement of the accused.
Without wasting a moment, Celestia lit her horn and shot a beam of magic at the surprised and confused Balzac. The reptilian being frantically examined its arms and legs for any injury, but of course, found no damage to its body.
Luna stepped up to her sister with a neutral expression, "Do you wish to say anything in your defense before I sentence you?" Celestia shook her head, maintaining her silence. Luna raised her chin, "Guards, place this Alicorn under arrest. Her sentence shall be carried out immediately." Luna turned her head, "Rectifier, locate the body of the Grand Magus and retrieve his memories." She turned her head back to Celestia, "And implant them into this Alicorn... all of them. Her punishment shall be direct involvement in the revival of every available Balzac by means of Blood Magic only. She will bear the burden of all the lives he ended and carry the weight of his knowledge of Blood Magic, and his death. Once the last Balzac is revived, she will surrender all her knowledge of Blood Magic to Blood Magister Starburst and retain none of it for herself." She stepped back, "So let it be written, so let it be done."
Celestia was led away by the E.U.P. Guards and the Rectifier went with them. The Balzac blinked in confusion, "W-what?" His voice was scratchy, but his words were perfectly clear.
Luna turned her head toward him and offered her right forehoof, "I am Princess Luna of Equestria. Welcome back to the land of the living."
The Balzac accepted her hoof with a puzzled expression, "I'm called Scrax. What just happened?"
Luna gave him a small, pained smile as she pulled him into an upright position, "Righting a terrible wrong. Do not trouble yourself, Scrax. All will be well."
Scrax looked unsure, "The last thing I remember before I woke up choking on all that blood, was feeling an angry Gryphon tearing at me."
Luna's smile faded, "It is to be expected. Your kind did massacre an entire town of Gryphons."
Scrax shook his head, "We had heard it might have happened, but those responsible were under Warlord Jerec. We were of the Balzac Empire, under Emperor Grathus. The Warlord was a tyrant. He was convinced of our superiority as a species." The Balzac blinked, "That's why the Gryphons attacked us?" He asked aghast, "We're scholars, artisans, and warriors, not marauders! I'm a cobbler's apprentice for Emperor's sake!"
"Shhhh-shh, be calm, Scrax." Luna soothed him, rubbing a wing on his back.
Scrax gestured to the pool of blood, "I am glad to see the knowledge of the High Art was not lost." He put his right claw to his cheek, "I never realized our scholars discovered a way to resurrect the dead, though." He blew out a breath and rolled his eyes, "The Council of Nature would have something to say about THAT, I'm sure." He sighed, "So... uh Princess was it?" He asked. Luna nodded and he continued, "I'm sure the Emperor has dealt with the Warlord by now. I'm also going to assume that since there was a Gryphon here when I awoke, that we have a peaceful accord with them? In that case, I'd like to see my family and speak with my master. He's probably very angry with me for missing... how long was I dead?"
Luna was aghast that Scrax was being so casual about his own death. She licked her lips and averted her eyes, "Perhaps you had better sit back down, Scrax." At her words, Scrax looked concerned, "I... there are some things you need to know..."