Iron Anon: The Trial

>The morning begins a lot shitter than anticipated
>You wake up an hour before the rooster crows, getting only about 3 hours of shut eye
>You're tired... so tired
>It seemed the stress for today’s events had gotten the best of you and had driven you back even further in your corrupted sleep cycle
>Groaning in frustration, you rise from the pile of hay
>Might as well make the best of it and get ready before that chariot gets here
>First, you needed to wash and freshen yourself up a bit
>You go over to barn door and slowly push it open
>It was the time right before the dawn, so it was naturally pitch black outside
>You’re still butt naked, but everyone should be still asleep and no one could clearly see you in the darkness if they were out and about
>Taking your chance, you run out of the barn (while covering yourself with your hands) and head straight for the water trough in the pig pen
>You manage to find the bar of soap from yesterday on the fence post before sliding yourself into the water, trying to stay as quiet as possible as to not wake anyone up
>After 20 minutes of scrubbing every inch of your body, you’re squeaky clean
>You jump out and drain the trough before refilling it
>Then you make a mad dash for the barn just as the Sun begins to peak over the horizon

>Walking through the pig pen had gotten your feet all dirty again but you made sure to wipe them quickly through the dewy grass, getting most of the mud off
>You at last reach the barn and shut the door
>Now for breakfast
>While letting yourself air dry, you helped yourself to some apples from yesterday’s harvest
>You weren’t about to say these apples aren’t delicious
>But, like any sweet you have too many of, it was getting old
>However, there was nothing else to eat so you had to just deal with it
>As you munch away, you wonder where Gus is
>Usually, he’s always there when you wake up
>…
>Oh well, you guess he has his own life too
>Just let him be
>Finally you hear the rooster crow,
>Today’s the day…
>You’re doing the best you can to control your breathing and to keep a cool head
>But you can’t shake the empty feeling in your gut or your increased heart rate
>What was this ‘Princess Celestia’ going to do with you?
>Regardless of what Applejack said, she was God damn royalty
>She could do whatever she wanted with you
>Imprisonment
>Torture
>Execution….
>God, you were sweating now
>No, you need to calm down
>You need to stay calm
>Everything… everything will be alright
>She's a pony, remember? She can't be too cruel
>Just when you are finally getting a hold of yourself, you hear something come from outside
>Its time

>There's a light knock at the barn door
>AJ: “Hey, its Applejack… Rarity’s got yer clothes”
“O-ok, come in!”
>You hurry into a stable and shut the gate as you hear Applejack open the barn door
>She walks in, accompanied by the sounds of other hooves
>Applejack throws the bundle of garments over the wall and you luckily catch them before they hit the floor
>You slip quickly into your white long jones, pressed pants, freshly cleaned jacket and shined boots
>The slight aroma of cleaner still hangs on the clothing, but it's a good refreshing smell
>You feel like a new man
>Stepping out, you see Applejack, Twilight, Rainbow, Rarity and Pinkie Pie
>Oh! There’s also Fluttershy, cowering in the back again
>Almost missed her
>You take a second to get adjusted in your attire
“This is much better, thank you Rarity”
>Rarity: “Oh yes... No problem, it was the least I could do”
“Really, you didn’t have to-“
>Rarity: “Stop it. Washing some old rags means nothing to me“
>She pauses for a second and then looks down at your feet
>Rarity[soft]: “Thank you. If you hadn’t been there, Sweetie Belle might of-“
>The mare cuts herself off and finally looks up to you with her huge blue sapphire eyes
>Rarity: “Thank you”
>Twilight clears her throat to get everyone’s attention
>Twilight: “Yes, we all appreciative your help at the hospital yesterday but there’s a schedule to keep”
“Whats going to happen exactly?”
>Twilight: “We are all going to take a chariot to Canterlot, where you will have a hearing before the Princess… after that, I don’t know”
>You nod in acknowledgement and everyone heads back outside
>Naturally, you lag behind a bit to let the mares go in front of you

>When you get outside, you immediately look up to stare at the orange rays stretching across the navy blue sky
>This place really was beaut-
>The second you take a foot outside, you’re tackled by two white pegasus ponies
>They’re both identical stallions, bearing gold shining armor
>Before you know it, your face down in the dirt, both them keeping you pinned down
>The bastards caught you by surprise
>Twilight: “Sirs!”
>The shocked group had turned to face the struggle
>These bastards were pushing you down too hard, you couldn’t breathe!
>???: “STAY BACK, TWILIGHT SPARKLE!”
>???: “This animal is dangerous!”
“…g-get off”
>Twilight: “That’s not necessary! He was coming of his own free will!”
>You feel a hoof being shoved painful under your shoulder blade
“Get…Off”
>???: “That is in conflict with our orders, ma’am”
>???: “We are to apprehend and restrain this beast before-“
“I said, GET OFF-!”
>A hoof slams into the back of your head, driving your mouth into the ground
>???: “Silence beast!”
>You turn your head to its side to get a look at the stallion
>The pony’s light blue orbs are cold while yours burn into his with blistering rage
>Spitting out the dirt in your mouth, you let out a sharp whistle
>The stallion looks furious at the random ear-piercing sound and lifts his armored hoof again to strike you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGj1GCcJOrk
>Before he can swing, an oh so familiar bark rings out as a white figure rams into the stallion’s side
>He goes flying off you, landing next to the mares
>With one of them off you now, you spin around and backhand the other across his left eye, hard
>Startled by the blow, he staggers off you
>Running solely on adrenaline, you spring to your feet and lunge for the pony’s neck
>As soon as his Adam’s apple hits your palm, you push up and forward with all your might
>He is instantly lifted up off the ground, his back slamming into the barn’s wall a split second later
>The wooden planks shake from the sheer amount of force
>The stallion is quick to recover and tries flailing his legs to reach you
>Your rage gets the best of you and you begin pressing hard into his throat, choking him
>He soon stops kicking and brings his front hooves up to try an free his neck
>You tighten your grip around his throat, fingernails digging into his windpipe
>???: “CARUS!”
>The other guard is back on his hooves and charges you until Gus leaps in the way
>The canine snaps back at the stallion who stops, alarmed
>Gus starts growling loudly, his tail erect and head hanging low to the ground
>You feel the stallion rear back in fright as Gus’s contracts the muscles of his maw, revealing long pointed fangs
>His muzzle scrunches as he snarls so viciously that it puts even your hairs on end
>The mares, frozen in fear, stare in disbelief at the new form Gus had taken
>They had only known the fake, sunny side of him… the carefree pup that liked fetching sticks and herding sheep
>But now they saw what Rainbow had always seen… now they saw his true colors
>The colors of a wolf that had gone far too long without meat

>Gus’ jaw snaps shut again with a loud clap and the stallion jumps back
>If he tried to get anywhere near you, Gus would kill and eat him
>Whatever came first really…
>With every passing second, the stallion’s windpipe continues to shrink as your hand slowly tightens like a noose
>In panic, the pegasus pony spreads his wings and flaps them hopelessly
>You took a cruel joy in watching him squirm
>Gradually, you began dragging the pony up against the wall until he was eye level with you
>The pony lets out a horrifying gasp as his airway finally collapses under your grasp
>You were going to kill him if you kept this up…
>[spoiler]"…DO IT…"[/spoiler]
>???: “Carus, hold on! [to you] LET HIM GO!”
>The stallion tries to go around Gus, only to have him jump into his path again, lashing out at his hooves
>The armored pony now stops to look between his dying comrade and the bloodthirsty wolf
>Trying to decide what he feared more...
>Twilight is the first to regain focus
>Twilight: “ANON STOP!”
>…
>You blink
>Bit by bit, you piece together what you were doing
>You look to the stallion, still grasped in your hand
>He looks completely petrified and you’re worried that he might have accidentally pissed himself
>Desperately, he tries to speak but without any air his lips can only silently mouth words
>You release your grip and stumble slightly backwards away from him
>He falls to the ground with a thud
>The guard immediately begins gasping for air, wheezing as he sits holding his bruised throat with his hooves

>Taking another step back, you swing around to face the ponies, who were all staring at you
>You quickly let out another whistle and, almost magically, Gus reverts back to his docile state
>Sitting perfectly calm and content in front of the pony he had been seconds away from ripping to shreds
“I… I”
>You take a gulp of air as you try to calm your nerves
“I-I’m sorry… I didn’t know what was going on”
>Everyone just kept staring at you
>What the hell are you doing, Anon?!
>You’re about to go met their Princess and you end up strangling a pony
>…What the hell were you thinking back there?
>Suddenly, you hear a cough from behind you
>You turn around and immediately get on your one knee to help the downed pony up
>The stallion draws back at your touch but you grab him anyway and pull him to his hooves
“Are you alright?”
>Carus[spiteful]: “Yeah… I’m fine”
>Good, only thing that seems hurt is his pride
>As you help him up, you notice a pair of silver shackles laying near by
>They most have been trying to get those on you
>Without even hesitating, you walk over and slap the cuffs onto your wrists
>You really fucked up a minute ago… you needed to show these guards you weren’t a real threat
>Everyone looks incredible confused at you arresting yourself, especially the armored guards
“I’m sorry. I just kind of snapped… I’m under a lot of stress right now… Can we just forget about this and move on?”
>They all exchange looks of ‘what the hell?’ and ‘is he serious?’
“Please?”

>The gold plated stallions look at one another
>Neither of them wanted anyp0ny to know that they had gotten their flanks handed to them by some hairless ape and his dog
>???: “Ah… Agreed.”
>You breathe a sigh of relief
>The stallions move up to flank both your sides, forcefully escorting you down the road to Ponyville
>The mares hang back behind you three, until a Twilight trots up to you alone when you are about to reach Ponyville
>Twilight: “Um, Sirs? Could I have a word with him… alone?”
>They nod their heads and purposely lag a few feet behind you
>The purple unicorn comes up and roughly bumps your leg
>Twilight[whisper]: “What the hay was that all about?!”
“I’m sorry, I don’t exactly know either-“
>Twilight: “What do you mean you don’t know? You just assaulted two members for the Royal Guard!”
“They attacked me Twilight, I just reacted… I already said I was sorry and I even put myself in these *shakes shackles* what else do you want me to do?”
>She looks away for a moment
“Twilight… I’m about to go met your princess, who to my knowledge is the single most important being in this place. She’s going to decide what happens to me today and I’m a little on edge…”
>You were more than ‘on edge’… you were more than just ‘stressed’
>Thoughts of royal punishment continued their deadly waltz around in your head
>Twilight: “That doesn’t me-“
[uneasy]“Twilight, I’m scared”
>Her ears twitch and she looks back up as you stare out towards the open road
“Terrified. You said that I’m the worst criminal you’ve ever met… If that’s true, what is your princess going to do with me? I don’t want to do this. But it’s the only possible way I’ll ever get home”

>The unicorn .lets out a sigh of relief
>Twilight: “Thank goodness… so that’s why”
“What?”
>Twilight: “Anon, you don’t have to worry about Princess Celestia. She is kindest and most considerate pony in all of Equestria. She’ll understand, don’t fret over it.
>You feel a heavy weight being lifted off your shoulders at her words
“Thanks… I needed to hear that”
>Twilight: “You’re welcome… You may be the thug that kidnapped Rainbow but you were also the one to save her life, not to mention those foals at the hospital. Everything will work out”
>She signals to the guards that she is done talking
>Twilight: “Oh and don’t worry about them-“
>She uses her horn to point to the mares in the back
>Twilight: “-I’ll explain to them why you acted the way you did”
>She falls back as the guards move up to reclaim their spots beside you, right as you enter town
>It’s still barely dawn so no pony is up yet except for your little herd
>You take a turn down town square, coming to a stop at a large treehouse thing
>Well, not your typically ‘treehouse’ but a house literally made out of a tree
>Out in front of it rested a long golden chariot, just big enough for you all to fit on
>But that’s not what really catches your eye
>It’s the team of four armored pegasus ponies attached to the front of it that make you raise an eyebrow
>They couldn’t be serious
“…That thing is going to fly, isn’t it?”
>No reply comes from either guard
>Oh shit
>Everyone gets on the chariot before you, the guards keeping you back

>After everyone else is on, the stallions sit you down at the far end of the chariot, your feet left hanging off the side and your back to everyone else
>The guard Carius takes your cuffs and hooks them onto a notch that was between your legs
>With that done, the two armored ponies head off to the front of the pegasus team, attaching themselves to the line
>You can’t twist around to see them so you just speak out loud
“Ahh, is this thing going to fly?!”
Pinkie Pie: “Well of course, silly. What else is it supposed to do?”
>Your stomach tightens
>This day just couldn’t get any worse
>Actually it could, but that’s beside the point
“I-I-Is it safe?”
>AJ: “Guezz, ya’ll scared or somethin’?”
“I’m-m-m not scared!”
>Rainbow: “Wow… You sure this is the same freak that was able to capture me? This one is a complete pansy”
“Sh-h-hut up!
>Rainbow: “Make me”
“I’ll-“
>The chariot jerks forward as you feel yourself being lifted up
“AWHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
>You watch in horror as feet levitate further and further away from the ground
>Oh God, you are going to be sick
>You hear some laughter behind you
“This isn’t funny! T-Th-This is terrifying!”
>Rarity: “Relax darling and just enjoy the ride, we’ll be there in less than half an hour
>You feel a part of yourself die
>You were going to be on this thing… for half an hour
>Dangling hundreds of feet above solid ground
>The first few minutes, you just locked up your whole body
>Every joint was no immobile
>However as the Sun came up and illuminated the earth, you started to get a bit more comfortable with flying
>The ponies are busy talking about what you guess is just pony stuff, leaving yourself to stare out at the beautiful landscape

>Finally, you feel yourself descending and you pick up your feet so you don’t accidentally lose them on landing
>You feel the chariot touch down and come to a complete halt
>Looking around, you see you are in a city
>Wow…
>Everything is painted a shining white or some other regal color
>The buildings are made of smooth marble and stone, unlike the wooden cottages back in Ponyville
>There were very few ponies on the street at that time, but the ones that were there were all gawking at you
>These ponies were quite… different from the ones in Ponyville
>They reeked of upper classmen-ship and nobility, wearing highly stylized clothing and powdered manes
>All of them take one glance at you and twist their faces in cruel disgust
>Some even avoided eye contact with you all together, holding their heads and snouts up high
>There is patrol of about 6 unicorn guard ponies in the same golden apparel waiting for you
>They swarm the chariot and unhitch you from it
>Then, after picking you up off the carriage, form a protective circle around you
>Two of them secure additional silver shackles to your ankles
>You can walk but running would be impossible now
>The other 6 mares follow behind again, flanked by their own, less intimidating escorts
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EZB_buv4jg
>You look up and see you are heading to huge palace
“Wow…”
>The words just slip right out
>It’s amazing!
>The castle practically casted a shadow over the whole city
>It had magnificent towers and spirals throughout its design
>Soon enough, you are climbing a set of huge white marble stairs, draped with a fine red carpet
>You’re group follows the carpet into the castle

>Jesus, it was bigger on the inside!
>Thankfully there is path to follow or you’d probably get lost in here
>Well, not really… Not with half a dozen guards herding you forward
>Finally, you pass through two huge ornamental doors into what looks to be a throne room
>At the end of the room is highly polished bronze throne, with decorative fountains running for each side
>The whole room is lined with guards… maybe a hundred lined up against the walls
>As you approach the throne, the white winged pony with a unicorn horn comes into view
>Its… bigger than any pony you had seen before, more like a horse
>It had a bright, white coat and its mane… looked like a flowing vapor of thick colors
>This… this had to be her
>This was Princess Celestia
>She watched you approach with her snout tilted up, eyeing you distrustfully
>The guards stop about 10 yards from the throne, all getting down on their one hoof and bowing
>You honestly don’t know whether you should bow or-
>Your hesitation is met with a shift blow to the back of both your knee-caps, causing you to fall to your knees
>Forcing you to prostrate yourself before their ruler
>Did you just fuck up already?
>The Princess gives quick gesture with her hoof and the guard part ways, removing the barrier between you two
>Just when it looks like she about to say something to you, she looks behind you and smiles
>Celestia[cheerfully]: “Oh, Twilight Sparkle, my most faithful student… It’s a pleasure to see you and your friends again!”
>She sounds really… nice
>Maybe you don’t have anything to worry about

>The mares behind all give a bow before the purple unicorn speaks
>Twilight: “Good morning, Princess! This is the creature I have been writing to you about”
>Celestia: “Ahh yes, its name… I believe its Anon Stoneman, correct?”
>She looks at you like you are some sort of bug
>Celestia: “Can you speak?”
“Y-Yes”
>Celestia: “So you are intelligent?”
“I’d like to think so-“
>Celestia[raising her voice]: “I heard a lot about you, Anon Stoneman… about what you are and what you’ve done”
“I-“
>Celestia: “What do you have to say for yourself?”
“I’m… I’m guilty of probably everything you heard”
>Low murmurs break out among the surrounding guards
>Celestia looks a bit confused at your confession of guilt, but still manages to keep a straight face
>Celestia: “Very well, but I still wish to hear your side of the story before your sentencing”
>Sentencing?!
>You gulp nervously
“Yes”
>Celestia: “Let’s start off with what are you, where you came from and how you got here”
“Well, I'm a human from a little town in South Dakota… I’m guessing its very, very far away from here. You see, I came to this world by… accident”
>Celestia: “Do tell”
“To keep things simple… me, my dog Gus and my sled got pulled down to the bottom of a river after an earthquake of some kind. I thought I was going to drown when the riverbed started…glowing”
>She raises an eyebrow in curiosity
“Before I could even think, the riverbed turned into this bright white light and sucked us all into it. I don’t remember much after that, I think I blacked out… But I later woke up in a pond in that Everfree Forest place”

>Celestia: “Ok, that is differently… interesting. Continue.”
“Not knowing where I was, I began to wonder around the forest in hopes of getting home. I eventually came across a clearing in the woods, which is where I saw Rainbow crash”
>Celestia: “’Crash’?”
“Yes, she was flying overhead and then the next second she fell right out of the sky. She didn’t move for awhile and from that high of a fall, I thought she had died”
>Celestia[to behind you]: “Is that true, Rainbow Dash?”
>Rainbow: “Yeah… I was checking out a weird cloud the weather team had spotted and my wing just, well, locked up”
>You hear her getting poked with a hoof
>Rainbow: “Ouch, Twilig-!... I mean, yes Princess”
>Celestia[back to you]: “Continue”
“Me and Gus went out to check on her because we had never seen anything like it in our world. Gus, thinking she was dead, tried taking a bite out of her leg. That’s when I saw her squirm and knew she was alive, so I told Gus to st-”
>Celestia: “Excuse me for interrupting, but you said your dog tried to take a ‘bite’ out of one of MY little ponies. Why?”
“Oh, both of us hadn’t had much food for awhile-”
>Celestia: “What are you implying?”
“Um-“
>You shift nervously in the shackles, echoing the rattles of the metal throughout the cavernous room
“Both me and Gus tend to eat… meat”
>One of the guards actually takes a tiny step back from you and the room is dead silent
>Celestia lifts her head a little higher but still maintains a neutral expression
>Celestia: “I see… Go on”
“I didn’t want him to eat what to me was a whole new species so I got him to stop. But I didn’t know what to do with it so… so I just tied it up and put it on my sled.”

“We continued walking and as it got dark, I started putting the pieces together… This place wasn’t anything like South Dakota nor any place on my whole planet. I realized that I was stuck in the middle of a strange, foreign world with not enough food to even survive a few days.”
>There’s a brief pause as you process your thoughts
“I have to admit, I got a little scared. I didn’t know how I was going to keep me and Gus alive. I got desperate… I needed food.”
>You look down at the red carpet
“So I took the ‘thing’ off the sled and was about to kill it when she woke up… You have to try and understand, I didn’t know where the hell I was! I needed food…”
>Finally, you look up and stare into the Princess’ eyes
“But I didn’t. I stopped myself. I have put down enough wild game before, but something about her eyes made me hesitate. I couldn’t bring myself to do it, despite how badly I needed to”
>Celestia looks off to the side, deep in thought
“So I decided to let her go and started to undo her bindings… when she kicked me in the face”
>Rainbow[defensively]: “I didn’t know what he was doing!”
>She walks up and points an accusing hoof at you
>Rainbow: “What would you have done if you woke up tied next to some freaky monkey, who was pointing a knife at you?!”
>You turn to Rainbow, scowling
“I was clearly letting you go, what the hell else could have I been doing?!”
>The Princess loudly clears her throat and you two immediately quit your bickering
>Celestia: “What happened next?”

“As soon as I got knocked to the ground, Gus sprang into action. He was trained to obey and protect me. Instinctively, he attacked my assailant, latching onto her leg again and then unintentionally knocked her out… But she managed to cry for help before going down”
>Your shackles clang together again as you try to get comfortable
“I was completely shocked. In my world, you see, humans are the only sentient beings while the rest are just mindless animals. I had just naturally assumed she was some witless mutant horse bird… that is, until she spoke. I would have NEVER even thought about eating her if I had known that”
>Rainbow: “…Wait a second, you threaten to eat me before if I didn’t help you!”
>Oh shit, you had
“It was a bluff, nothing more”
>Celestia[annoyed]: “I believe we are getting off track…”
>She’s right.
>Focus
“Sorry… Like I said now that I knew she was intelligent, I couldn’t live with myself if I ate her so I got Gus off of her and dressed her wounds myself. While I was doing that I realized that if she could talk, that maybe she could tell me how to get back to my world… so I redid her bindings again and moved us into a nearby cave for the night”
>Celestia: “Why did you feel it necessary to tie Rainbow Dash up again if you were just going to ask her to help you?”
“A hard hoof to the nose.”
>She ignores your snarky comment
“The next day when she finally woke up, I tried to explain my situation to her and well…”
>Celestia: “What?”
“She was a bit… upset”
>Rainbow lets out a typical snort of a horse
“Though she did tell me that whatever happened in the river sounded ‘magical’ and that these ‘unicorns’ could help”

>Celestia: “What happened to you does sound supernatural… Is that usually in your world?”
“No. Not at all. In fact, there is no such thing as magic where I come from. Only mentioned in old fairy tales”
>You hear a pony behind you gasp loudly
>Celestia[surprised]: “I couldn’t sense any magical energy from you so I knew you were not capable of it… But there are absolutely no magic users in your world?
“No, nothing like yours. Only tricksters using smoke and mirrors”
>Celestia: “That’s horr-… Nevermind, keep going”
“Eventually, she agreed to take me to these unicorns if I let her go. Trusting her to keep true to her word, I undid the rope around her which is when I got kicked… again”
>Rainbow: “HEY! That’s not fair!”
“What the hell you talking about Rainbow, we made a deal. You broke it”
>She jabs you with her hoof
>Rainbow[growling]: “I told you not to call me that!”
“It’s your fault I’m in this mess. If you would have just taken me to them, none of this would have happened!”
>Celestia: “Though I have to agree with you that Rainbow shouldn’t have broken her promise, YOU are the one that kidnapped her… Do not try and turn this the other way around”
>Her words dig in deep
>This wasn’t going as planned
>Celestia: “I believe what she did was only out of fear”
>Rainbow[under her breath]: “...I wasn’t scared”
>Celestia[ignoring Rainbow]: “What happened next?”
“Seeing how my only chance of getting back home had just bucked me in the chest and ran off, I gave chase and eventually caught her again. By random chance, I was able to spy on those ponies *gesturing behind you* who seemed to be looking for Rainbow in the woods.”
>Twilight: “Wait, what? You saw us?”
“Yes, on that dirt road. I was hiding behind the bushes nearby, trying to keep Rainbow quiet”

>Celestia: “Why didn’t you give Rainbow Dash over to them when you had the chance?”
“Because… I don’t know. I had no idea what they’d do to me if I let Rainbow go right then and there. I had the crazy notion they might try to trample me after Rainbow would ‘accuse’ me of trying to eat her or something, so I hid until they left”
>Celestia: “And then?”
“I took her back to the cave and started to think… Those ponies, including those unicorns, seemed awfully worried about her safety. So then I got an idea on how I was going to get back home. That I-”
>Celestia: “-That you were going to hold Rainbow Dash for ransom in exchange that you’d be sent home...Correct?”
“Yes, that’s right”
>Celestia[boldly]: “It seems that your little scheme did not work out as planned”
“No, it didn’t. Rainbow managed to escape the night we were meant to make the deal. I, again, chased her through the forest and eventually caught her… only things were a bit different this time.
>Celestia[intrigued]: “Explain”
“We ended up in the middle of a clearing with… with something else. A manticore, I believe is what she called it”
>The blue pegasus beside you remains silent
“Without warning, it attacked us and we tried to climb a nearby hill to get away. When I reached the top, I realized how much trouble I was in. I couldn’t outrun, outfight or do anything for that matter to best that thing. It was only a matter of time until it got me…”
>Celestia: “So, what did you do?”

“Just as the reality of my fate was sinking in, Rainbow started to fall and grabbed my leg for support. I knew that manticore was going to get us... but it didn’t have to be both of us.”
>Celestia: “What are you-“
“I kicked her. Pushed her down the mound, practically right into the paws of the manticore. It then became focused solely on her, allowing me to slip away”
>The princess flares up her wings in angry
>Celestia[furious]: “How could you-… Rainbow Dash, is this true?!”
>Rainbow slowly nods her head
>Celestia: “Then I think I have heard enough, this-!“
“You haven’t heard everything yet…”
>You look back down to your shackles
“As I ran, I couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt. At first I tried to trick myself, thinking that I was only sacrificing a pony, just a mere animal. But… but it felt so wrong. I was so sick with myself at what I had done. I knew that if I let her die like that… I could never forgive myself”
>The room goes quiet as Celestia slowly retracts her wings
“So instead of running away, I went to my cave to retrieve… something and then ran back to the clearing. I arrived just in time as Rainbow was about to be impaled by a set of claws.
>You look back up
“So I killed it.”
>Celestia: “…How?”
“I really would rather not ex-”
>Celestia[harsh]: “Twilight has sent me letters regarding everything about you. Everything. Do not play coy with me”
>Her tone conveys a hostile threat
>You didn’t want to do this,
>But there was no other way
“...The thing I retrieve from the cave is a weapon from my world. It’s what I used to kill the manticore”

>Celestia: “What is it?”
“It comes from a wide variety of similar devices, all known as firearms. The one I had in particular is called a revolver”
>Celestia: “How does it work? I’ve… read the reports concerning the manticore's remains. Well, what was left of it”
>You didn’t like where this was going
>Time to evade answering
“Its, ahh… it’s a very complex piece of machinery. I don’t even know how it works”
>Celestia: “So you can use it, but seemingly have no idea how it works?”
“Yep”
>Celestia: “You’re lying”
>She stares you, trying to see into your very soul
>You counter it as best you can
“Why is it important? We are supposed to be discussing ME here”
>She stomps her hoof into the ground, annoyed
>Celestia: “I am the one who decides what we discuss...That weapon, it has great power and as such is a great threat to Equestria”
>Wait a second…
“You didn’t ask me where it is, you asked me how it works. Shouldn’t that have been your first question?”
>She hesitates as she realizes her mistake
>Celestia: “I… Canterlot was very recently invaded by a previously unknown enemy. The guards were completely outmatched and would have easily lost if it weren’t for a miracle. It’s vital that I improve our defenses in the event we are attacked again”
>You thought these ponies were peaceful creatures
“…You were invaded?”
>Celestia: “Yes. The castle was infiltrated by Chyraslis, the Queen of Changelings, whose people feed off love. She had planned to take over Equestria in order to leach off the love it produces”
“Feeding off of love?... How many died in the invasion?”
>Celestia: “None, but-“
>None?!
“Then how the hell can you call that an invasion?!... When was the last time a pony went to war?”
>Celestia: “More than 1,000 years ago, before the formal founding of Equestria”

“Then why the hell do you need something like that?!”
>You had gotten up on your feet and were shouting at the Princess, the one who held your life in her hooves
“That thing is designed to do one thing and one thing only. Kill. Despite the shit I’ve had to deal with here, there is no denying this place is amazing and the ponies here are more friendly and caring than anything else on my planet”
>You take a step forward, guards unable to react
“My people are smart, resourceful and passionate… but we can also be stupid and violent. That weapon is proof of that. I won’t allow its technology to taint this world.”
>The princess quickly tries to retort
>Celestia: “You just admitted humans can be violent… your innate drive to consume meat is a testament to that, but still you expect me to just let you keep the weapon?”
“I’m not keeping it, Gus is. I had my dog hide it in the woods a few days ago, so that no one, not even me, could find it. I won’t allow it”
>Finally the guards snap back to their senses and pull you back down to your knees
>Celestia looks off to the side again
>After a few minutes of silence, she speaks
>Celestia: “Fine. I will forget about the weapon so long as you keep your promise.”
>You nod
>Thank God
>Celestia: “I believe you left off with the manticore…”
>Right. Time to wrap up your story
“After that, I heard Rainbow’s friends coming so I ran away. I ended up hiding in the middle of Ponyville for a few days until Gus accidently led Applejack to me and I was captured. The rest you know… So what now?”
>You shift in you shackles
>They were starting to chafe… at least you’d be out of them soon
>Celestia: “I’m afraid, though it was nice to hear your perspective… that the verdict has already been passed down by the High Council”
“What?”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhhAJ125jVg
>Celestia: “For heinous crimes against an Equestrian Citizen, the likes of which have never been committed by any pony on record, the council has decided to issue the maximum penalty”
>Maximum penalty?!
>Celestia: “You are to be banished to the Moon, for 1,000 years”
>…
>The heart in your chest skips a beat
>Your body stiffens as a cold shiver runs down the full length of your spine
>No…
“WHAT!?”
>You stand up, ignoring the nearby guards’ feeble attempts to hold you down
“That- that’s a death sentence! I can’t-!”
>More and more guards plow into the pile as they attempt to subdue you
>But still, you resist and struggle
>A guard tries to pull you down by your shoulders
>You use your shackles to wrap around and hyperextend his hoof, giving a loud popping sound
>It can’t end like… this.
>YOU CAN’T LET IT END LIKE THIS!
>The pony yelps and falls back, but two more take his place
>Another pony puts all his weight on your left knee
>Grinding your teeth in pain and fury, you twist back and slam your elbow into his jaw
>Again, the guard falls only to be replaced by more
>You are flawing like a mad man now, yelling insults and curses that they probably don’t even understand
>But no matter how much you thrash about, they eventually find a way to hold you down
“Damm-it…ERH- LET ME GO!”
>Applejack[worried]: “Princess Celestia! Yah can’t do this!”
>Apple gallops up closer, next to Rainbow
>AJ: “I know he’s done sum bad things, but he helped saved my little Apple Bloom and so many others. Please reconsider, Princess!”

>Celestia: “Yes, I have heard much of these strange aliments affecting those who enter the Everfree Forest as well as this human’s profuse knowledge of said diseases… Do you not see a connection?”
>Applejack hesitates
>Your fear boils into angry
>Head butting a pony’s armored helmet, you manage to get up on one knee
“You’re accusing me of-!“
>Celestia: “No. But whatever force brought you here also brought along with it something that is disturbing the forest. I suppose it’s not your fault. You had no intention and have done all you can to help those that have been afflicted”
>She lowers her head a bit to look you more in the eyes
>Celestia[softly]: “And for that, I am truly grateful…”
>AJ: “Then why are ya’ll doing this?!”
>Wow.
>This mere farmer pony is willing to stand up and shout at a princess for you
>Rarity: “Princess, Anon maybe a bit of a brute but he doesn’t deserve this!”
>Pinkie: “1,000 years is like FOREVERRRR!”
>Twilight: “I have to agree with my friends... I can’t see you being alright with this, Princess”
>Celestia: “I’m not… But the council has decided. Even as Ruler of Equestria, my hoofs are tied. Regardless of circumstance or atonement, I have to carry out his sentence”
>The white horse gets up from her throne and walks down to you
>You’d just be at her height standing up
>Celestia: “There is, however, a way that would allow this decree to pass over you”
>Despite the dozen or so guards crushing your chest, you manage to speak
“What is it?! I can’t die here, I need to get home. Tell me, I’ll do anything!”
>Celestia: “That’s just it. YOU aren’t the one who can do this…”
>She turns from you and walks over to Rainbow

>Celestia: “Though the High Counsel’s ruling is always final, it is the victim that presses the charges”
>The Princess lowers her head down to Rainbow’s height
>Celestia: “That’s you”
>Rainbow: “W-What are you saying?”
>The white horse picks up her head again and takes a few steps back, as to get a good look at both of you
>Celestia: “You have two choices. Either drop all charges against Anon Stoneman and he walks out of here scot-free, never to face any repercussions for his actions… or… you stand by the verdict and he will be sent to Moon for a millennia”
>Everything stops
>Your breathing
>The noise of your shackles
>The rattling of the guards’ armor
>No voice or whispers are heard
>Time stops…
>You wanted to look at Rainbow and try and plead for your life, but the guards had a good grip on you now
>You could only close your eyes, trying to imagine a happy place
>As you awaited Rainbow to seal your doom…
>A minute passes, and then another
>After what feels like an hour, Rainbow speaks
>Rainbow: “I…”
>Celestia: “You have to choose”
>You squeeze your eyes lids shut tight
>This is it.
 >Rainbow: “…Let him go”
>...[spoiler]what?[/spoiler]
>Slowly, the guards climb off of you
>But even without their weight to hold you down, you stay frozen in place on your hands and knees
>Eyes wide open like a startled deer
>She had…
>In absolute silence, a guard comes up and unlocks the shackles around your ankles and wrists
>You’re free
>Finally, you manage to face Rainbow
>She’s looking away at Celestia, refusing to meet your gaze
“…Why?”
>Rainbow: “…We’re even”
>She makes an about face, flying back to her friends, not sparing you a single glance
>As she flies away, you see Celestia smile and turn back to you
>Celestia: “Now with that little mess out of the way, I think a proper introduction is in order…”
>There it is again, that sweet voice

>To your surprise, she holds a hoof out to you
>You quickly get up and shake it
>Celestia: “I am Celestia, crowned Princess of Equestria”
>What is this? Why is she being so nice now?
“I-I am Anon Stoneman, farm boy from South Dakota”
>Celestia: “Charmed”
“Likewise”
>A warm smile takes hold of your face
>You had just been pardoned from a death sentence; you couldn’t help but feel... happy
>Celestia: “Speaking of Dakota, I better get to addressing my court of gifted unicorns about conducting research on how to get you back there”
“R-r-really?!”
>Celestia: “Of course. You’re not a criminal anymore, Anon. You’re now just a… strange traveler, unintentionally visiting Equestria. It’s only expected I help those in need that come to my country.”
>You feel the ecstasy literally burning up inside you
>Twilight was right about her
>Everything was going to be fine
>Celestia: “However, I have heard that magic doesn’t directly affect you so the process may take a little longer than originally expected… but I have no doubts that I can get you back to your world. It just may take some time”
>You didn’t care
>Your cheeks were beginning to hurt from your elongated smile
>Their princess was going to send you back home!
“That’s perfect! Thank you so much!”
>You hold back the urge to hug her
>She gives a controlled giggle at your outburst before continuing
>Celestia: “While your teleportation spell is being prepared, you’ll need a place to stay. Twilight Sparkle?”
>The six mares all walk up beside you to Celestia
>They all seemed happy too
>Maybe except for Rainbow, you couldn’t see because she was hidden in the back
>Oh well, nothing could get you down right now!
>Twilight: “Yes, Princess?”

>Celestia: “I wish for you to find a place for Anon to stay in Ponyville. Also, in addition to your studies on friendship, I want you to study Anon as well as answer any of his questions”
>Twilight[nervous]: “Ahh y-yes, Princess!”
>She sounds worried
>Time to turn that frown upside down!
>[spoiler]Jesus, what is with you? Is it the air or something?[/spoiler]
>You turn to the group and get down on one knee in front of Twilight
“Don’t worry, I don’t plan on kidnapping ponies again anytime soon. Promise”
>You hold out a hand to her
>Your unusual happy tone and grin causes Twilight to finally smile and relax
>She reaches out with her own hoof and you two shake on it
>You didn’t know how long it would take for the spell to be ready, and really you didn’t want to think about it
>Right now, you were on a mission to pay back these ponies for sticking up for you
>Especially Rainbow… you’d find a way
>Twilight: “Good, let’s try and start anew. I’m Twilight Sparkle”
>Rarity[stepping forward]: “Rarity. It’s a pleasure to finally be properly introduced”
>Fluttershy[???]: “*mumble*”
>Applejack[striking pose]: “Applejack ’s the name, don’t we’r it out”
>Rainbow[monotone]: “Rainbow -Dash-”
>Pinkie Pie leaps forward and wraps you in a bear hug
>Pinkie Pie: “Call me Pinkie Pie! Or just Pinkie- Or just your new BEST-EST FRIEND EVER!”
>She’s a bit… excited
>You brush off the moment with a laugh, which everyone eventually joins in with you
“I’m Anon Stoneman, but you can just call me Anon”
>This was a new beginning,
>With a clean slate, it was like starting a whole new life here
>Today…
>Today was a good day