“You’re still alive?” Was my rude awakening from the captain of the royal guard, simply put, he looked amused by my survival.
“How rude of me,” I jested, he snickered, “I guess making friends was out of your challenge?”
“You made a friend?”
“Of course I did,” I mean it’s not hard to befriend a cellmate, is it? “Skipper! Say high to the captain of the royal guard,” Skipper peaked her head from the ‘Equestrian constitutional bylaws and regulations’ and almost immediately she ran and hid behind me.
Shining Armor gave me a wry look, "You gave a drone a name? How did you do that?"
“She’s kind of shy at first, but she is very helpful in memorizing details,” Skipper peaked her head from behind me and looked at Armor, then hid back behind me, “Come now Skipper, what was that law we made fun of all last night?”
“Article 1, section 10: If stuck on any law please refer to the highest authority in Equestria Princess Celestia or any other alicorn in the seat of power at any given moment.” Skipper replied sheepishly before returning to her hiding spot.
Now I am not much of a law person I admit, I barely understand any mumbo jumbo that are laws and regulations or anything related to them, to the frustration of my previous roommate, now a prominent lawyer, which I remembered him last night yelling at me for not understand what’s the definition of law is.
But I know a fluke when I see one.
“Tell me, sir Armor, is Celestia a god? I'm just curious here.”
With that same smile that challenged me yesterday, Armor replied, “Now that is an interesting turn of event. You really are something else entirely, do you know that?”
"Is that suppose to mean something?"
Armor looked at me like I have three heads, “You really don’t know? Normal drones don’t have names and it’s impossible for us ponies to name them.”
Is that a fact now? “Guess changelings only accept names from other changelings?” I asked the one behind me, who bit her lower lip in return. Guess she doesn’t want to tell.
Moving on.
“So, you’re here to take us to the trial or for something else?”
“Oh right, forgot about that,” is that even possible? “I’ll be seeing you to the holding cage in the courtroom before returning to my duties in taking over princess Celestia’s duties for the day with my wife, while the princess herself takes the role of judge.”
“So I’m being judged by a goddess?”
“So it would seem, don’t embarrass yourself too much, you hear?”
“Since when did I embarrass myself in the first place?”
“Well, you punched the doctor who was trying to help you, you tried to drug yourself at least twice as far as I heard, and you thought you were under some form of hallucinogenic influence.”
Oh, oops. “I-I’ll do my best then.” I never thought I’d stutter in a situation like this.
The next thing I knew shackles appeared on my three remaining hooves. “Oh neat!” I turned around and skipper also had her hooves shackled. “But is that really necessary?”
“Standard procedure I’m afraid,” He answered with an apologetic smile.
I sighed, “Let’s go Skipper; wouldn’t want to be late for her majesty plot handing.”
“Nice choice of words, won’t help you in court though,” he answered immediately.
“Witless comments are left among acquaintances.”
“So you understand that it was witless?” I glare at him, he answered with laughter, “You know, I really want to watch your trial, but I guess it’ll have to wait, so don’t die on me, alright?”
“Not planning on it.”
“Alright then!”
And with that we started walking the same corridor that lead me here yesterday. However, instead of the normal servants and regulars I saw yesterday, there was an endless stream of guards; each of them having a look that ranges from insignificance to hatred, leaving a bitter aftertaste in my mouth.
Such tense atmospheres really doesn’t help one to relax, I turned to Skipper who was still shivering in the same manner as since she met Shining Armor.
“You really should smile more,” I addressed her in an upbeat voice, “It will hurt them more if you look like you don’t care.”
“But they scoff, they pity, they hate,” she answered me, “Their emotions taste so bad, it's making me sick.”
“That is why; you should smile at them, hatred cannot be answered with submission, nor can it be answered with anger,” I waved at one who seemed particularly nasty, “That will infuriate them even more, and will give you an unprecedented advantage.”
“Is that why you’re grinning like an idiot?”
Ouch, where did that come from? “Then that is a good thing. When we show our real side, they won’t know what hit them,” and there is that smile from yesterday.
Skipper isn’t the brightest pea in the bunch; I became painfully aware of that when I started talking to her about our defense in court, simple concepts like where to stand or how to speak usually fell on deft ears with her, but no sooner that we started our research into the ‘Equestrian constitutional bylaws and regulations,’ if one wishes to call it that, I realized that she can retain information faster than any computer I have seen; her eidetic memory truly helped in the analysis and we managed to finish preparing our defense in time because of it. Every time I complemented her on something so banal her work, she would sit upright, fold her wings completely backwards, fidget with the holes in her hooves, tilt her head down while looking at me and smile awkwardly as if the creature of her dreams just told her that she is the most beautiful changeling in the universe.
“What are you two planning there?” Shining Armor’s voice immediately broke her smile, adding a shiver to her composure, “Hope it’s not an escape plan,” he jested, his laughter was surprisingly warmer than what I expected, but she immediately broke into a panic. “What’s wrong with her?” The sudden iciness of his voice was chill inducing.
“Pre-murder frights?” I jested. He scoffed. Guess I am the only one with the preferential treatment around here, better be careful if I wish to get her out of here alive at least.
“Here we are,” he exclaimed suddenly while opening a door, the sudden stream of light emanating from that room was blinding to say the least, I was shoved into a bigger cage with Skipper right behind me, only to gawk, “Good luck,” I think he said before closing the door behind him.
Architecturally, the room’s architecture is reminiscent to Greek times with pillars that look straight out of the Acropolis itself, it was semi-circular with a theater in the middle, guards with horns on their heads flanking each of the pillars surrounding the stage. At the center is a large dais with a seat high enough to loom over whomever will be seated in the cage bellow, like a mountain over a hut. The cage itself appears of miniaturized proportions, humble and feeble, degrading in comparison to the splendor surrounding it; I think this is the convict stand, and like all theaters, this one was surrounded with stairs filled to the brim with a crowd of cheering ponies. To say the least, I am in awe.
“Uh, Support Pillar?” Skipper tapped my shoulder.
“What?” I looked at her and she pointed to the little crowd of six changelings that are sharing the cage we were in, all of them staring blankly at me.
I smile back at them, “Greetings everyone, how is your day?”
“HISSSS!”
“Tough crowd,” Well, that could have went better, “Hey Skipper, can you talk to them to see what information we can gather from them?”
Skipper took a step forward, then waved to her fellow changelings who seemed fascinated by her, but just as she was about to speak, "Traitor!” A seventh changeling jumped into view, if I judge by looks alone, she was no different from Skipper or any of the other changeling in the same cage. Looks alone however were rarely my first choice for judgment. Her body language was however on a different plane than the rest of them, and the authority she carried herself with truly set her apart, even from Skipper.
"Lovecraft, please!" Skipper pleaded, "Listen to him, he can get us out."
The changeling known as Lovecraft looked at Skipper with surprise, "Wow drone, rude much? Where is the honorific for addressing a named changeling?"
I blinked, Shining Armor said something about naming changelings, is a changeling's name really that important? I wonder.
"B-but I have a name too!" Skipper defended herself rather weakly I must confess. Maybe I should help her out.
"If it is alright," I stepped in quickly, suddenly all the disapproving eyes were on me, "I wish to help all of you out of this little conundrum."
Lovecraft looked at me as if I was a dirty tablecloth, then scoffed, "As if I will take the help of a Nirvana spawn." She then turned her back and swooshed her tail in my face, "My trial yesterday went perfectly and all that is left is the hearing, I'll be leaving here without your help regardless," Well that was a bust, if Skipper watched her trial yesterday I could benefit from what happened and make a few adjustments. Lovecraft then turned angrily toward Skipper, "Keep your name to yourself, treacherous spawn, if you ever get out of here alive, I'll be sure to torture it out of you then." Yish, talk about hatred.
I wanted to reply to her so dearly, but just then, a guard taped his spear on the ground three times, causing us to stand in attention, “All rise for the honorable head judge Princess Princess Celestia.”
I stared intently at the front door at the end of the stadium, and the moment they opened, my jaw dropped. A very tall, very white, extremely regal pony with both horn and wings entered the court room; she shinned so bright, it was bedazzling to stare at her for too long, and she wasn’t alone, following her was a dark blue pony with the exact same features, although she is smaller than the white one, she is still nonetheless tall.
The white one strode in her imperially refined black judge robe, taking each step as if she was walking on water, and the moment she reached the end of those stairs, she spread her wings and flew toward the dais, landing like a descending archangel from heaven on her seat. The dark blue one wasn't as attracting as her predecessor with her black tailored suit with a cravat of night sky black embroiled with sparkling stars on it, and even though her strides were less mesmerizing than her peer, however, she carried herself with just as much self-worth, taking the prosecutor stand with as much affirmation as a king on his throne.
And in that moment, I was struck with a sense of familiarity that I was not expecting to feel. I know these two ponies, I saw them somewhere, but I can’t put my non existing finger on it.
“Bailiff, please send in Lovecraft to resume her trial,” the highly magnificent judge said breaking my musing. The guard at our little cage nodded, opened the first door, and then shoved the convict out.
And the booing started.
Give the girl some slack would you?
Nonchalantly, Lovecraft took the stance. The judge barely, though assertively, lifted her hoof and the room went eerily silent, “Lovecraft, after considering your defense yesterday, we have reached a conclusion,” she said in an angelic voice. No wonder the ponies' worship her like this, her presence alone can bring a commoner to his knees.
The dark blue one gave a playful smile to the judge, then turned toward the changeling.
The judge took a deep breath, the air suddenly felt like it weighed a ton.
Then suddenly, she screamed with enough passion to melt an iceberg, “Guilty as charged.”
What happened next could only be described in split seconds, each of the guards that shadowed the pillars took a step forward, then they all fired instantaneously blinding beams of light, vaporizing the changeling on the stand before she could even scream.
…
Well.
…
That just happened.
“Is that a good thing?” I heard Skipper asking casually while shacking my shoulder.
I turned around and sneered at her, “What do you think?”
6418502
Glad you enjoyed it.
6418985
Thank you and glad you enjoyed it.
Really lives up to the dark comedy. I'm glad they started allowing those tags to be paired.
6419298 Looks like kangaroo court is in session. And this makes for a lovely uphill battle. And times to see wether or not this actually get admitted, we'll see.
That's not good, I wonder if this version of Cestia and Luna are far less compassionate than their prime line counter parts, also I'm sure rarity would have something to say about Luna's choice of attire. Moar, if you please good author.
I really dislike the ponies in this one. I just wish Discord or any other powerful character would show up to whoop the ponies flanks!
Well, Lovecraft seem to be a bitch anyway...
Our protagonist and "Skipper" on the other hand...
If it is still very much a sham then only Deus Ex Machina can help them escape.
holy shit that was brutal. guess this is going to be a kangaroo court that Shining will have to bail him out of? Or perhaps he will call the ponies out on their shit? can't wait for the next chapter.
Question when was this realized cos I was just reading this randomly
~T.CC
more plz
not bad looking foreword to seeing how your changelings behave
tracked
6419524
I'm thinking that this chapter is a nightmare, because the AU that we have seen so far has not had anything that will make ponies ruthless murders, and rather, that's what our biochem student believes.
Wow, so many replies
6419332
This might be the darkest chapter in the entire story, though I do intend on keeping it up with the dark humor, but lighter than this.
6419355
Admitted where? Might I ask.
6419419
Compassionate only toward ponies, other creatures? Not so much, other invading creatures? Not at all.
6419442
Discord has his own arc in the story, I wont spoil the fun just yet.
6419500
If it puts your mind at ease, when I wrote the court scene some six month ago, I thought to myself, "this is so stupid, it could actually work."
6419539
I'm sorry, I didn't understand your question, what was realized?
6419637
I'm glad you enjoyed it.
As for everyone else, I'm glad your enjoying it so far, the next chapter will be posted either tomorrow or the day after.
6419890
What I said was just my own wishful thinking on my part. I really want to break this situation up with all the might it needs, but I know it's going to go on, no matter what. I can only hope Skipper will be fine. Pillar will be fine anyways, as he is the Protagonist, but Skipper might die! It kind of makes me nervous and anxiety!
Haha man. The last few lines made me laugh. Guilty!
6420007
I honestly did not expect such strong reaction from a character I wrote, as a thank you, I assure you, no one is going to die any time soon.
6420016
That was the reaction I was aiming for, Thank you!
6419890 By our rather zealous celestia as judge. Luna seems content to merely prosecute, and the guard, executioner.
This is a very good story so far, and I can't wait to read more of it.
6419890 I don't know either I was very sleepy.
~T.CC
it would be great if you upload fast but look like you can't
I still find it curious that Shining Armor is so amicable with Support Pillar but is cold and suspicious toward Skipper. What makes him so different for all of the others?
I like how you portrayed Love Craft, who is certainly acted like a bitch toward Support Pillar and Skipper. I loved how you showed her to be so cocky sure that she won her case. By the way, she acted she certainly should herself to be a higher ranked Changeling of her hive.
I believe that her ploy was probably very standard for a Changeling, as in I assume that she used her ability of sensing emotions as well as her well practice acting skill to try and get the sympathy of the judge Celestia, which obviously failed completely. Assuming that this is not just a show trial, where it is already decided that all the Changelings are automatically guilty, Support pillar can’t count on any sympathy from the Princess and will hast to proceed use a sound and irrefutable logic to deconstruct any arguments that stands against him and Skipper.
I think the problem that you had with this chapter was that you did not give Love Craft the time to realize that she completely failed to make her case, and that she was led on by Princess and not the other way around. Also, I think that it would have been better if the guardsponies had taken her away kicking and screaming, not just zap her out of existence; don’t you ever lesson to your inner sadist, shame on you. I know you wanted to show Pillar immediately that he is in a life or death situation, and that it won’t be easy to convenience his innocence to the supreme authority of the realm, but this was just unnecessary. I am assuming of course that she was zap out of existence and not just teleported elsewhere just for the show of it.
I’m looking forward to the next chapter
yay!!! So glad to see an update. Great chapter.
This is the first thing that comes to mind when I read about the courtroom:
This music is used at the start of the very last trial of the game, definitely fitting for a life or death situation that Support Pillar now finds himself in like Phoenix Wright eventually does. Hopefully he can call them out on doing a Kangaroo Court on them and force them to judge him and Skipper under actual legal laws and ended up finding out that legally they have to let them go. Unless of course this is a trap to make them think that way and trip them up.
Anyway, this is going to be one hard trial to win if they're going to win it through normal means. (and unless Celestia decided to execute Lovecraft because she shown her true colors to them and not on court, then they might have to think outside the rules box to win).
doomed! he is doomed!
Awww, dammit, why am I at the end? I was enjoying that...
6420222
Glad to hear that!
As to me being overly emotional. I get easily agitated when I read situations, which are unfair in cruel ways. It just makes me... Well, I already said that part, didn't I? Great story by the way, and I'm already thrilled to read the next chapter!
THAT HARMONY NOT WORK THAT WAY!
---
Ah...i gonnaa crazzy again....stupid hyper coffee.
Damn, Celestia pretty much had that one Changeling executed so easily. After that show, the main character should be more than a little bit nervous. Given that Loveheart apparently knew why he was special (infamously so), he should have at least tried to get some information out of her beforehand. A shame, since I don't think he'll be getting anything from the other drones.
That said, you need longer chapters! 2k isn't really filling, 3k would be more like it.
6426058 Not really. You can't expect every hypothesis to be proven correct. If it's proven decisively incorrect you can move on, but if it's inconclusive you have to repeat the trial.
Interesting fic. Shame that the dates updated are... not very encouraging about seeing it completed.
6426070
Actually, you aren't far off from the truth, negative results are good to disprove a hypothesis, however, they are also harder to publish, and when you spend six or so month trying and failing with those who are funding you expecting the opposite results, your results can be a cause of loss of funds even a stopping of the funds all together. That is when the nightmare starts.
Then again, that depends if you are in a privately funded institution or a university and that also depends in which country you are talking about, and whether they protect you from things like this or not.
We can go on for hours with this give and take, but I meant it in a comedic sense in that chapter so please don't think too deeply about it.
6425955
Yeah, I'm getting that a lot, the reason why most chapters are 2k is because each chapter is a scene in and of itself, I can make it so each chapter have multiple scenes, then the length of the chapter becomes longer. But I think that isn't what you are talking about.
To write a bigger chapter I need to write a more elaborate scenes, which is something that is happening slowly over the course of the story, first person stories aren't exactly my fort when writing big elaborate scenes so please bear with me while I expand my skill set in them.
6423289
How odd, that's how I hear Support Pillar's voice when he speaks
6421708
There is that, I mean I wanted to give her a bigger dialogue but every time I tried an avenue it just spoiled something from later chapters, I also had a lot of problems with the exchange between Shining Armor and Support Pillar in the beginning of that chapter, somehow its pacing always seemed off for some reason.
6420762
6426401
Uploading a chapter is a lot more sporadic thing with me than you might expect, my life has a sever lack of a routine that either gives me a lot of time to work on a story, or no time at all, as such you might expect three or four chapters to be uploaded in a span of a week while month go by without me uploading anything, or barely opening this site for that matter.
I'll explain more in the author's note when I publish the sixth chapter later today.
Interesting but has more typos than I care to post on a crash-prone browser.
Good God, the ruthlessness!
thank you, I like it if it they don´t tell them everything right away.
OOhhhh I love her, she has to be his romance option.
At least I hope you add something like that later, or in a sequel. I would at least like it, if he would continue to act like her new King/Queen.
Shouldn't that be "shaking"?
....what?
missing a possessive.
really, this whole thing could use a formal proofreading...
...Well shit.
She's not a goddess. She's not even a particularly high-ranking Power in her own world, seeing as her greatest feat was regularly performed by mortal unicorns, and she's had her ass handed to her by multiple other beings. the PONIES don't even call her a goddess in the show. Stop that.
6770511 itS more like VENGEANCE!!!! SO MUCH VENGEANCE TO BE HAD!!!! HAHAHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHHAHAHAHHHAHAHAHAHHAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHAAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAcdn1-www.craveonline.com/assets/uploads/2012/03/file_184441_0_venom14658-642x362.jpg
Okay, can't really judge without knowing the evidence but the execution is worrying.
6824529 The story synopsis did say grim things happened often. Not a bad dark comedy piece.
That was epic
Oh Celestia. You have no idea what you have pissed off. Currently, I am buying a pistol that will blast you into next week. Literally. And then it will force you through unbearable torture orchestrated by beings of nonsensical origins. The elder gods will not give mercy. Once you have been tortured, I will personally deliver you to Slaanesh. Have fun.
Hey, pony Hitler, I hear there's this world called "Earth" that is filled with filthy changeling lovers. Why don't you head on over there with an army. Nuclear weapons? Naww, those are just a myth! Trust me.
No, she's just a powerful mage.
And jury.
7275495
*goddess
JESUS CHRIST
Mmm hmm hmm, that's alarming.
9502420
In a way, more humane than a beheading. I'll bet that an instant vapourization will be painless.
Vaporization is a neat trick, saves in the space needed for graves...