Spirit of Winter 13: Inquisition

>Pain
>It's been a while since you have felt it.
>Your heart has ached for a while now.
>But this, this is real pain.  Real physical pain.
>Sure headaches hurt, but not like this.
>It all floods in as you crack your eyes open
>From what you see, you’re in another hospital bed.  You’re also sure you’re in Canterlot.
>The floor is made of stone, only the walls are bleach white; there are no fixtures what so ever.  This is certainly not the room you woke up in when your power was first realized.
>You’re not attached to a machine of any kind.  It’s just you and the bed you lay on.
>You attempt to sit up, but you are met with a burning pain in your chest.
>Looking down you see bandages wrapped around your chest.
>In your ear you hear a single beat of your heart.
>You automatically tear at the bandages and begin to unravel them.  The blood stains grow darker as you remove the cotton wrappings from you.
>With the last gone you look down at your breast.

>No other wounds line it.  Not a gash, cut or wound of any kind to be seen.
>Except...
>A hole.
>A large gaping hole.
>A hole that contains your beating heart.
>Suspended in the air it beats without fail, but from it no blood is coming.
>Yet there is something peculiar about it.  Around it you see small little metal things are revolving around it.
>You stare at your heart for a few minutes until you realize what they are.  The small things around your heart are pins.
>Small pins.
>”You’re up.”
>You look up
>Your skin feels tight, except the skin under your eyes which you can feel sagging.
> The source of the voice is the same unicorn who escorted you to the throne room.
Oh it’s you.
>”Get up.”
Why should I?
>”Because you’re a prisoner”
What’s my crime?
>You squint your eyes in disdain.  You’re not sure why, but you hate this stallion.
>”Your crime, it the assault of the Princess, the damage of royal property, and the disruption of ancient ritual. All crimes that could have you: a spirit, banished for a thousand years.
Hmmm.
>”Get up now.”
I don’t have to do as you say.
>”If you want to die, then go ahead don’t listen to me.”
>Your vision begins to fade and a sharp pain resonates in your chest.
>You look down and see the pins pushing against your heart.
>You give him a large toothy grin.
I don’t feel like dying... I think I’ll stay alive for a long, long, time.
>”You can stay alive for as long as you want.  But we will have to turn you to stone.”
>You feel like your heart just stopped.
>Might as well obey; disobedience is not worth ending up like that dragon thing in courtyard.
>Getting up your chest continues to seer with pain.  An attendant tries to put fresh bandages, but you wave her away.
>The White Stallion turns and cocks his head forward, signaling for you to follow
>Outside the room a dozen guards are standing in a circle, all with halberds suspended by magic.  Each wearing full armor, unlike any you have seen the other guards wear.
>Salted helmets completely conceal their faces and every inch of their bodies are covered with plate armor.  Each are wearing a tunic of sorts, bearing the picture of a pair of scales, with the sun and the moon keeping it in balance.
>Something goes off in your brain that causes everything to slow.
>Your hands and feet feel as if they're being crushed under a boulder.
>No matter how much you try you can't seem to move your toes or fingers.
>You grit your teeth, putting so much pressure on your gums, that blood begins to seep out from in between the gaps of your teeth.
>You can't help but fall to your knees from this horrible sensation.
What.... The... fuck...
>You look down at your hands

>” The Justicar will take you to the Court Chambers.”
>Instead of their usual color, your hands have gone completely gray along with your feet.
>So this is what if feel s like to be turned to stone.
Wh- what- did you do...
>"I am simply taking the necessary precautions."
>Try as you may your fingers are frozen in place, and after standing you find that your feet are heavy as hell.
>A few red dots in front of you cause you to look to your chest
>Blood is running down your heart.  Four of the pins that were once revolving around it are now plunged deep into your heart.
Then may I ask why you had to come and speak to me.
>The white stallion smirks.
>” Justicars are not allowed to speak with prisoners; their sole function is to kill prisoners should they step out of line.”
>The stallion called Shining Armor walks out of sight leaving you alone with the Justicar.
>Now alone with the steel clad ponies, you simply stare at the largest one.  Obviously the captain, he simply stares back at you.
>His gaze is only broken by him turning and signaling that the column is to start.  The captain is the only one to turn away from you, the rest continue to face you with halberds at the ready.

>The entire way to the chambers, the guards face you ready to plunge their weapons into your chest.
>The halls are almost completely dark save for only a few torches lighting your way.
>All along the way are weather and gray tapestries depicting some aspect of Equestrian history.
> You have descended a few stair ways, which tells you that you are descending into the dungeons.
>The stone corridor ends suddenly at a circular room.
>The guard leading the group turns and steps to the side, motion for you to walk forward.
>You move foreward and the circle of guards keep you in the center of them.
>The Captain holds his hoof out telling you to stop.
>Not a second later, the stone floor below you begins to shake.  The stone below you starts to take you up, leaving the guards behind.
 >It takes a few minutes before you see any light.  An opening is being made as you grow closer and closer to the top.
>You can hear murmuring coming from above.  Guess this is the court room.

>The stone pedestal grinds to a halt as you are taken up to an oaken podium.
>You stand alone in the middle of an arena of sorts with stone seats all overlooking you.  The seats are filled to the brim with ponies.   Some are wearing white hooded robes and other are wearing dark blue robes each
> Justicar’s are to your left and to your right manning ballista’s.  Likely ready to subdue you at a moment’s notice.
> And in front of you are both Princesses, each looking down at you with suspicion.  The Spirits are all seated in their respective position.  Suvi and Florin next to Celestia and that mare from the banquet next to Luna.  Your seat of course is empty.
>”Come to order!”
>The murmuring stops.
>”Will the prisoner step forward!”
> You've never heard Celestia use the Royal Canterlot voice before.  It’s a little frightening.
>You obediently step forward.
>”Will the Inquisition step forward!”
>Oh shit... Inquisition; that cannot be good.
>The word alone brings images of people in racks and Judas cradles begging to be killed
> From a platform in front of Celestia a pony dressed in red steps up to a podium in front of you.
>”Anonymous Trolololovich Legionstev, Lord of Winter.  Is that you name and title?”
It is.
>”Lord Winter you are charged with: Assault of the Princess, Destruction of Royal Property, Disruption of Ancient Ritual and Treason.”
WHAT!!??
>”How do you plead?”
I- ON WHAT GROUNDS!!??
>”Silence!”
>You are now spilling over with anger.
>Your knuckles turn white and your feel like your teeth are going to crack.
>Celestia brings down her hoof on a block of wood to her right; the sound it makes is no less than ear splitting.
>”How do you plead?”
N- I- Not guilty!
>A wave of murmuring flows through the room, only to be struck down by Celestia.
>”And what basis do you have for your innocence?”
What basis do you have for accusing me of treason?!
>”Assaulting the Princess is Treason, Mr. Anonymous, but it is separate due to the account of assault.”
Though I plead not guilty on the basis that I was not in control of my own actions.
>”Is that correct?”
Yes...
>”And how can you prove this to the court?”
I- well… I-
>More mumbling resounds through the court.

----------

>The prosecution has spent at least two hours mounting their case against you.
>”From what we know about humans: They have, and these are in the words of Anonymous”
>The stallion clears his throat before he reads from one of the scrolls he has brought with him.
>” ‘We’ve been killing each other since we came down from the trees.  Human history is a collection of war and petty political disputes.  Death is a popular theme in our art and the stories we tell to our children.  There have even been two instances in which the entire world has gone to war with each other and that is not to even mention total war.  My species has even come close to turning the surface of our planet to glass.  We are violent creatures.”
>Oh god why.
>”I need not ask Mr. Anonymous weather or not these are his words.  This scroll was scribed by a Twilight Sparkle and was signed by both the scribe and the dictator.”
>You bring you head down and start to rub your temples.
>”Mr. Anonymous how do you respond to this?”
I said that in a historical context.  Just because my people have done horrible things to each other doesn’t mean that I have or have ever wanted to.
>”So you would agree that humans can be extremely violent?”
Ye- I mean-.
>”Does the prosecution wish to present its case further?”
>”The prosecution rests it’s case.”
>The Unicorn in the red cloak smirks and takes his seat.
>”Does the defense wish to address the prosecution further?”
N-
>”Yes!”
>You don’t need to look over for the source of the voice; you already know who it is.
>All attention shifts to the left side of the room where a hooded figure has entered the room and is now pulling stones from the side of the arena, making stairs to the bottom.
>The sound of hooves fills the room.
>Everyp0ny is now fixated on whoever has entered the room.
>The hood conceals her face, but the tip of a purple horn confirms your suspicion.
>”Fillies an-“
>”The Jurist must remove her hood before speaking.”
>Celestia’s face has gone from stone cold to what looks like a mix of surprise and worry as she finishes speaking.

>Twilight throws back her hood and reveals her face.
>”I Twilight Sparkle will serve as Jurist for Anonymous Legionstev.”
>”The Court recognizes Twilight Sparkle as Jurist for Anonymous Legionstev.”
> A stone desk rises next to the podium where you stand.  Twilight levitates a large stack of papers on to it.
>Twilight pokes your ribs and motions for you to crouch down.
>”I got your-... that... Your flower...”
>Twilight nuzzles your chest sending goose bumps through you.
Twilight-
>Pain shoots through your chest before you can finish.
>”What happened to your chest!?”
>Twilight bumping into your heart caused you to almost fall back in pain.
>”Ahem!”
>Twilight snaps back to attention and returns to her desk.  Clearing her throat before she begins.
>”Spirit Lord Winter Anonymous, has been accused of Assault of the Princess, Damage of Royal Property, High Treason and Disruption of Ancient ritual.  Yet I am surprised that the court has not seen that Anonymous was not acting of his own accord when the events of last week occurred.”
>The court room begins to hum with all the murmuring that is going on and a smug look comes over the prosecutors face.

----------

>Twilight spends over four hours presenting your case.  All the while asking you about the past weeks and what has happened.  You spill your guts in every way: The mirror, the incident with Rarity, The visions, and even the meadow; nothing was left untold.
>”As anyp0ny who has the slightest knowledge of ancient mystic history knows, every and all spirits, ghosts, nonphysical entities and even Unicorns are prone to Jinn infection.”
>Twilight pauses before staring up again in order to let the murmuring die down.  But before she can continue the pony in the red cloak speaks up.
>”And how do you expect to prove this?  The defendant would have to be infected with more than one Jinn to not be in control of his actions to such an extent.”
>”Pardon me, but I remember that you chose to cease any further case again the defendant”
>A smirk appears on Twilights face as the stallion in red sits back down.
>”Not only based on the fact that Anon has told us that he was hearing voices, was having visions and experiencing pain without any cause.   But there are ponies that can testify further.”
>Twilight shuffles a few scrolls before starting up again.
>”I call to the stands Ms. Wild Fire.”
>The floor begins to shake as another opening is made which is followed shortly by a stone pillar with a tan Pegasus standing on it with railing surrounding her.
>”Ms. Wild Fire do you recall the events of the Summer Sun Celebration?”
>”Y-yes…”
>”Now you have said beforehand that what you remember the most about that day is the voice that spoke shortly after the ritual was interrupted.  Is that true?”
>”Yes…”
>”Would you mind if you could tell us if this is the same voice?”
>”Well I don-“
>”Anon please use the Royal Canterlot voice.”
Er... DESPAIR YOU FOOLS!!
>Save for her flinching from the volume of your voice, the tan mare gives a look as if a weight has just been life from her back.
>”No.  That’s not the voice… Oh what a relief I thought that monster was here!”
>”Thank you very much Ms.  Wild Fire.”
>The Pillar lowers back to the floor and the opening it created closes.
>”Not only that testament, but I think you will find the Mr. Legionstevs medical records will appear as curious to all of you.”
>Twilight levitates a few dozen papers into the midst of the court, giving one to Celestia and Luna as well as all of the Spirits.
>”As you can see, Anon’s ethereal readings are not what is considered normal.  His negative ether is significantly lower than his positive.  As you all know, when a Jinn has taken a host, it produces large amounts of negative ether, which means his body will attempt to balance out the amount of energy in it.  This is why a pony infected with Jinn will experience splitting headaches.  This is why I now call to the stands Ms. Rarity”

>Another hole opens in the floor followed by a pillar with Rarity standing on it.
>”Ms. Rarity, can you tell the court the events the conspired a few weeks ago?”
>”Yes I can dear, but first I want to say how truly ghastly and horrid it is that anyp0ny would suggest that Anon would do such a horrible thing.  Why I would never imagine in a million years that a Gentlecolt and a friend as wonderful as Anon would do such a-“
>”Rarity please...”
>Twilight face hoofs before Rarity starts again.
>”Oh yes right… Well I was preparing an outfit for Anon and we decided that it would be best if we simply turned in for the night.  Anon suggested that we should sample some wine that was bought previously during the day.  The night went on and after I had more than a few glasses of wine and Anon sampled some vodka... He began to scream... He stumbled from his chair holding his head... and then he screamed... ‘M-make it stop’... He fell over and I took him to the Ponyville hospital.”
>”Thank you Rarity.”
>”Of course.”
>The pillar lowers to the floor followed by more mumbling from the court

----------

>Twilight spends another hour going on about Jinn their affects and eventually concludes.  All the while the pony cloaked in red can’t help but squirm in his chair.
>It takes another few hours for the court to come to a verdict.  And all the while Celestia had you put into a steel container so you would not be able to hear anything or act in any way.
 >”The court will now come to a verdict”
>The steel door slams to the ground letting you walk back to the world of the living.
>”Anonymous if you would please step back onto the platform.”
>Now standing at the mercy of the court, with Twilight next to you, you prepare for the worst.
>”Anonymous Legionstev... After examining the case made for you and against you... The high court of Equestria... Has found you Innocent of Assault of the Princess, Treason, and disruption of Ancient ritual, and guilty of destruction of royal property.  So as Goddess of the Sun, Monarch of all of Equestria, Duchess of Derbyshire and  Baroness of Manehattan, I sentence you to two years exile.  You have three hours to gather your belongings.