Chapter 15

"A Chance at Escaping Death"

On the night he was sentenced to death for his crimes against Equestria, Tirek had been brought to the caves beneath Canterlot with only several guards for company. He was still feeling the pain of the magic blasts that were inflicted upon him by Celestia, Cadence and Twilight. But, his determination to get himself out of this situation he was in remained in his spirit, although it seemed to be hopeless now that he was sentenced to die. Tirek was just about to fall asleep for the last time, when he heard the sounds of hoof beats and foot falls coming down towards him. He looked over to see Princess Luna and the last two creatures he wanted to see: Discord and Scorpan.

"What are you doing here?" grumbled Tirek, trying to stay strong. "Have you come to gloat like those other princesses?"

Luna decided to ignore the remark and reveal the reason to why she was down in the caves. As far as she was concerned, Luna was bringing news to Tirek that could help him save his life.

"We are not here to gloat," replied Scorpan as he looked down at his brother. "We've come to offer a choice to you that could help you save your life."

"Tirek, my sister is offering you a choice to be reformed like Discord and learn the magic of friendship," said Luna. "If you accept it, then you will have a chance to save your life. If not, you will be put to death in front of all the ponies you attacked. What say you then?"

Tirek did not like this at all and gritted his teeth at the princess of the night. A choice of becoming like his brother and Discord made Tirek feel angry and bitter. In his mind, Tirek would rather die than to become friends with the creatures that he hated the most.

"Why do you offer such a poor choice, Luna?" asked Tirek, stretching out one of his leg chains. "You know that I will never surrender to the likes of you and your sister. I would much rather remain in Tartarus than to be among you equines."

As much as it was against his better judgment, Scorpan decided to add his thoughts to the matter. This was his brother after all and he had to reason with him, as his parents would have wanted him to.

"Brother, listen to me," pleaded Scorpan, getting down on his knees. "Princess Luna is trying to save your life and this is your only chance to do so. We can learn the magic of friendship together and put our troubles behind us. Will you accept this offer?"

Discord then produced a piece of parchment and a quill with ink on it and handed it to Tirek for him to sign. Instead of signing it, Tirek snatched the quill and parchment from Discord's paw and ripped up the parchments with his hands, throwing the torn pieces back at the ex-master of chaos.

"That is what I think of your offer, Princess Luna!" retorted Tirek, his eyes blinking in rage of this offer. "If you think that I am just going to give up everything I have done to conquer Equestria, then you are wrong. You can't kill me whole. My spirit will live on and one day I will return to finish what I have started in a much better body than this one!"

"Will you just stop and think about what you are doing?!" snapped Scorpan, grabbing his brother by his beard. "I don't want to see you killed, only to see you suffer for what you have done. But, you are not going to listen to reason, are you? I've learned that power is what makes creatures like you evil, Tirek and I tried to reason with you then and I have tried to reason with you now, but it just doesn't seem to be working."

Scorpan released his grip on his brother and at that point, it seemed that there was nothing that they could do to convince Tirek to accept reformation.

"As much as I hate to say this," said Scorpan, knowing that this was the end of his brother. "I don't even consider you a brother anymore, Tirek. I refuse to be associated with a brother who would hurt ponies for the sake of his own freewill. I was lucky to have befriended these creatures and live among them like Discord is. But, when you die tomorrow in front of the ponies you attacked, I will be free of the influence that you brought upon me with your warped and twisted ways."

Tirek didn't answer to this ramble that his brother had made up and it was at that moment that Luna and Discord began to walk away while Scorpan followed, but not before he had a final word for his brother.

"My hate will die with you," he whispered and left with Luna and Discord. Tirek merely just stood there staring at Scorpan for a moment and it was at that moment, he felt defeated for the first time. Falling to his knees, Tirek looked down and growled to himself, knowing that he had indeed lost when his brother disowned him right then and there. Now, he was going to die for his crimes with all of Equestria watching.

Meanwhile, Princess Luna, Discord and Scorpan came up from the Canterlot caves where Celestia, Twilight and her friends were waiting along with Princess Cadence and Shining Armor.

"What did he say, dear sister?" asked Celestia, wanting to know how things had gone down in the caves. But, Luna's answer to her sister was brief and blunt.

"Just as I thought he would say," replied Luna firmly, as she began to walk away. "The execution will proceed as planned for tomorrow."

Everyone then looked up at Discord and Scorpan wondering what they thought about Tirek's decision, but they said nothing and followed Luna away from the scene. Celestia then looked over towards the platform where the execution would take place and saw Lock Down putting the finishing touches on the tools that he would use for this moment.

"We are continuing with the execution," said Celestia as Lock Down watched from the platform and nodded slightly, knowing that he was going to continue with this task of ridding Equestria of the monster they called Lord Tirek.