For Whom the Bewitching Bell Tolls p7

>You are Anonymous the Watchful
A week and a few days pass. Your camping trip on the plains has been a good one as you watch the skies, cooking some fish over an open flame.
>You didnt have many resources left - having picked up what you left behind at the "griffon's dead end" on the way down and simply subsisting out here instead of mining as you waited
>There hasnt been any dreams since you've gotten the Bell itself, but keeping it around you does fill you with a sort dread.
>Could it be because you feared failure after coming this far? Or was it because you knew what you had to do, but feared the unknowable outcome?

>As you poke your cooking fish with a free stick, you notice the skies begin to darken.
>A chill runs down your body as unnaturally cold breeze blows through the area. You can see faint ghostly figures dancing about in the clouds and knew just what they were and what it meant
>The Trio's plans were already moving rapidly to their final stages
>Equestria would be rife with division and dissent, the ponies would be captured and would later escape their captor's hold to confront their enemy in a final showdown.

>You take your meal to go and put out the fire. Packing what little you've got on your person now and retrieving the bell and your blade, you look to the skies once more
>Whatever happens today, the only thing that you can be sure of is that everything will change, for better or worse.
"Its time to go."

>...
>"The elements showed me and my friends how strong our friendship could be. Together we work to bring harmony to Equestria! But there will always be more to do. Which is why we teach others about the magic of friendship - others who will continue our mission after we are gone..."
>You can already hear Twilight's preaching from where you stood, her range empowered by her accumulated magic. Still, you're some distance away, as you continue your sprint towards the field.
>The light-show is already beginning as they come in sight after you round a hill. The massive three pronged Rainbow fusing into one source was a sight to behold, but it filled you with urgency than wonder as it crashes down on Twilight's intended targets.
>Your fake bell clatters along the ground after the there are stripped of their power, crackling to capacity with the magic it had taken early on. Naturally, Pinkie manages to seize it, using its abundant chaos magic to spawn a giant treat to trap the weakened villains beneath.

>However, her transformation sets off the unstable Bell, causing a reaction that makes it erupt with all of the accrued magic, which is then returned to their rightful owners.
>"Well, this is a treat even sweater than Pinkie's cupcake~", Discord chimes
>"I never thought it possible that it could reach capacity but oh well - perhaps its for the best."
>You push past the crowd of gathered ponies as you continue your sprint, with some gasps and callouts from some who might have recognized you as you rushed by
>The reinvigorated Sun Princess step forward to press their accusation.

>"There isnt a punishment worthy of all you've done!", Celestia declares
>You're almost there, but Twilight and company has noticed your approach as Discord whispers in the ears of the Princess
>"Anon?! Where are you-?!"
>Seeing your blade as you reach for it, she attempts to magically restrain you, but you were expecting some interference.
>Brandishing the REAL Bewitching Bell in your free hand, her magical energy is immediately sucked away before it can properly connect with you, making her recoil in shock from being suddenly stripped of everything she had.
>The reaction, along with your sudden appearance stunned the rest of her group into inaction too
>In the same moment, you use the last magical stone you had to grant you a burst of wind based momentum; taking a leap as you unsheathe your blade to bring it down on Discord, who's only just noticed you from being so invested in whatever he was plotting
>This was it.
>No Mane Six to stop you
>No trickery from Discord being prepared
>No Princesses ready to react.
>It all came down to this moment

Celestia narrowly had a chance to give you her dumbstruck reaction, but Luna had continued speaking as you had lunged over
>"We cannot do this, Discord", she says sternly
>What
>It was enough....just enough, to narrowly alter your swing. Instead of splitting him down from his head as he looked your way.....your swing lops off his eagle's arm as you land close
>Your eyes widen as you attempt to process what happened and quickly decide on how to react: You could turn around and swing while he's writhing or.....or....
"...!"
>You tun around and use the Bell to rip his and the Princess' magic away

>You are Princess Celestia
>It all happened within mere seconds, and you've had just as much to process what transpired
>The once strange but amicable human was hunched behind you and your sister, wielding a weapon that actually dismembered Discord - the arm itself laying right next to you after being severed.
>And he has the Bewitching Bell? But it had just shattered when Pinkie Pie had used it! The shock of having your magic forcibly ripped again wasnt as bad as before, but it still left you with tremors as you observed your surroundings
>The Draconequus himself was screaming in agony as he bled profusely for the first time, trying to invoke chaos magic he didnt have with the snap of his other hand's fingers
"W-what is the meaning of this!? Anonymous!"
>Even stranger still was your sister. Luna, while taken aback, seemed to be more composed about this than anypon-....anycreature here.
>Determined, even.
>She quickly steps forward, joining Anonymous by his side as Discord retreats from you both to distance himself from his attacker
>The man rises to face you, gripping his blade as he sees Discord snaking away, but Luna intervenes.

>"Enough is enough, Anonymous. I have not forgotten what we've seen and spoken of that night. We will right this wrong together."
>Anon seems....pensive about letting Discord go, but Luna's unwavering stance allows him to relent after a short silent stare-down
>'Right this wrong'? Your sister had conspired with the human after he had gone rogue from Ponyville? Why has she not spoken of this to you? And why has he come to disrupt the punishment they would receive?
"Sister, what are you doing siding with him as he protects these creatures? Is this yet another betrayal? After all you've done to change?"
>Luna seems shocked that you would levy such an accusation on her, but though it wasnt your most nuanced way of defusing an already high-tension encounter, it was the only thing that could come to mind.
>Its quickly blown over when Cozy Glow pipes up
>"Hey, if we had managed to recruit Nightmare Moon, do you think things would have been different?"
>"Nightmare Moon is dead," Luna states curtly as she glances over her shoulder to the trapped three before facing Celestia again.
>"Sister, we cannot believe you would laud such a claim against us. We vowed to stand for Equestria's citizens and what it stands for ever since our return to....normalcy."

>Twilight and her friends have arrived now and are looking try helping tend to Discord, and your former student joins your group warily, noticing that Anon is still very much armed and observant of their movements as he patiently listens
>"Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, what the hay is happening here? A-and Anon, what's happened to you?! Why did you do that to Discord?!"
>You decide to speak before things get messier than they already are
"There is a lot to answer for, but perhaps now isnt the time and place-"
"No, now is THE time and place, I've waited for this day to come, and I wont be satisfied until we've made this right" Anon interjects.
>"M-made what right? What's wrong?"

>Luna nods in agreement
>"Twilight, have your friends keep Tirek, Cozy Glow, and Chrysalis from escaping. We have much to discuss."
>You watch as Twilight gets to setting a meticulously calculated perimeter around the giant cupcake of those best fit to guard it
>Luna herself asks Anonymous for some of her magic in order to speak privately with him, Celestia, and Twilight about these events; a request he begrudgingly acquiesces to.
>With your sister's magic and Twilight's return, a magic bubble is formed around the group as you begin talks over this bizarre situation
"Luna, why didnt you tell me about any of this?"
>"Truth be told, Anonymous spoke of such things before when he came to our court. Do you remember his 'urgent' visit? You had written his ramblings off as nothing to be concerned of or an active imagination....and so did we, at the time"

>Luna looks away
>"But then, we had an opportunity to observe his dreams....to see the full extent of what would come to be. That which has manifested itself now. Sister, you too had prophetic visions of great dangers when Tirek had returned"
"I....remember, yes. They were sparse, but it was a warning of sorts that we had to act-"
>"And act I did," said the human "Even when everyone laughed it off and you didnt listen, I decided to do something."
>"You asked why we did not inform you. On the topic of Tirek, do you remember how sourly your plan for protecting Equestria's magic had turned? Had we united the bearers on the matter, things could have gone much smoother, even with Discord's betrayal."
>A blush forms on your face. Its true that things didnt go completely as expected, but...
"But we did stop him," Twilight states confidently
>"Yeah, sure....at the cost of your home and nearly everything you love.", Anon chides.
>She noticeably deflates at that, but cant muster a rebuttal.

>Luna gazes at you once more
>"Sister, we could not afford to make matters worse. To take chances that may fall through. That is why we kept you in the dark, and I am sorry."
>You dont know how to process this, but more importantly...
>"And what were the two of you trying to change?" Twilight inquires.
>"You heard what Discord said, Celestia. The punishment he had gleefully planned. I cant let you do that," Anonymous states.
>So he is indeed protecting them.
"Will you make a case for them?"
>"Not formally. I'm no lawyer, but there's some things you should know before you drop your gavel on them, especially at the behest of that snake," he hisses

>"Discord was behind all of this. Impersonating Grogar, he freed Cozy Glow and Tirek from Tartarus, where they were harmless, and brought Chrysalis from her vagabond life in the woodlands. Twilight can attest to as much."
>Your gaze shifts to Twilight, who seems to be both confused and anxious that the human was privy to such knowledge. Her eyes meets yours and she nods in agreement with his words
>"He even revived Sombra-"
>Your eyes widen, remembering the chaotic mess that day was
>"-and allowed for his rampage, which damaged the Tree of Harmony, one of the few sources of magic that could impede him. I know your friendship magic doesnt -need- it, but that still holds weight. All while pretending to be the 'hero'"
>Both you and your former student are dumbfounded
>"What proof do you have of this?" asks Luna
>Anon looks at the confused villains, observing the conversation from their bind
>"Just ask them. Use truth telling magic if you must, but they know 'Grogar' revived him"

>"Did you have to...do that to him though?" Twilight asks, wincing as the image of his dismemberment remains fresh in her mind
>"After all he's done, he's lucky to not be dead," Anon states coldly, glaring as Fluttershy tries to comfort him as he's seen to by some doctor ponies