Seven years passed; seven, long, agonizing years. For one like me, who has seen many more years than any mortal, seven years should have seemed like nothing. It should have passed like a few days. Yet the days passed like millennia and the months like aeons. As the silver-maned unicorn promised, Pinkie Pie did not leave the chamber until she was broken. After a month and a half, when she was on the brink of death due to malnutrition, they finally fed her. They continued to do this regularly. They ran an IV into her leg so that she would stay hydrated also.

Nearly every day, the nine returned from the inner chambers and labored to rewire the way that her brain worked. Though I nearly became sick several times, I forced myself to continue watching the oppression that was upon her. I peered into her soul and saw that after six years and twelve months, her spirit was still unaffected and her soul intact. When I saw this, I was astonished. I knew well enough what drove her. I saw clearly the prize of which Twilight spoke: that which drove Pinkie to persevere despite the most adverse conditions. Yet I could not fathom how any mortal could take this much torture and still be sane. All she had to do was relent and it would all end. Yet she chose to press on; forsaking comfort for an ideal.

There was even a time in the third month of the first year when the silver-maned unicorn ripped the muzzle off before beginning. “Why?” He screeched. “Why do you resist us so? How do you not weaken? What madness has seized you as to make you like this?” His loud voice was full of malice and frustration.

Pinkie did not answer but instead asked with tears in her eyes. “Why are you such a frowny pants? I feel your pain every time your mind touches mine and it makes me so sad. What happened that made you a grouchy Gary?  Why won’t you let anypony help you when somepony could make you feel better?” At this, the wrathful pony gagged her once more and assaulted her without even waiting for the help of his companions.

After it was all over and she was still lying and sobbing uncontrollably from the trauma of what she had seen and experienced, I spoke to her. As always, she could not hear me but I spoke to impose orderly form on my chaotic thoughts. “How do you do it Pinkie? It does not make sense. How, when you are tortured so appallingly, can you do what you have just done? Even when you are on the verge of your very spirit being broken, you still are trying to make joyful those you seek to ruin you? This sort of love cannot exist. I do not blame them when they say that you are mad. There has never in the history of this world been one such as you, who loved all beings so much, that she tried to bring joy even when she was only short of being crucified. What madness is this?”

Incidents like this happened every so often. Yet they did her no good. In was in the fifth year that they tried electro-shock therapy. I cringe when I write these words because of the horrors that I witnessed. There is a limit to how much pain a pony can take, and I believe now that she passed her limit several times over during that point. This continued on for a month and they finally stopped when they realized that the effort was fruitless as well. Then they went back to the usual idea: the minds of nine of the world’s eldest and most elite magi all trying to pry open the mind of one hardened earth pony.

It was in the seventh year that I saw a new pony enter the scene. The silver haired pony walked down a morbid corridor. The walls were covered with strange and terrible scenes of equine sacrifice and murals of dark prophesies and ominous words from the three magical languages. He entered through a set of double doors marked with the same black dragon as on the door to the outer sanctum. Through these doors was a study lined with bookshelves of fading books and decaying scrolls dating back to ancient days. In the center of the study was a circle with an upside down pentacle. A unicorn who was about the age of twenty five sat in its center. She was reading a black book with silver clasps. In the brightness of the study, one could easily see her features. Her coat was colored a light magenta. Her mane and tail were a shade of violet with light purple highlights. Three cut diamonds composed her cutie mark. Her eyes were purple, and had a sort of mysteriousness to them. I saw also that Fear was with her; whispering thoughts into her head.

The light appeared to hurt the stallion’s eyes as he entered, but he said nothing about it. He made his way over to the front of the circle where a dot of five feet in diameter inscribed in a triangle was drawn. He entered the figure and kneeled before the mare. His western accent broke the silence of the study. “Soror Superior, I apologize but we have not made any progress with Five yet.”

Amethyst Star seemed to pay no attention to him for a moment; focusing intently on her book. As her horn flashed to turn a page, she spoke in a civil voice. “And what would be the reason, Styx? It’s been seven years today, right? Surely the nine most powerful magi in the world can break one untrained pony. Haven’t you broken the most skilled unicorns in Celestia’s court?”

Styx grimaced. “This one is different, Soror. When we enter her mind it is as if we are trying to batter a wall of steel. I have never seen anything like it. Phlegethon, Cocytus, and I have talked it over and we have strong reason to believe that there is a great spell put upon her. We just see the words ‘σε αγαπαω’ when we try to peer into her.”

The mare looked up and gazed at him. “I want you to understand that this is very important.” She said slowly. “Is there anything else, Styx?”

“Yes, Soror Superior; it appears also that there is an internal barrier. I know it sounds like madness, but it truly may be that her will itself is holding us back. Even if we were able to break through the wall of her soul, we believe we would not be able to master her spirit even with the nine of us.”

“That is mad, but madness does not always signify falsehood. I think though that it’s time I had a look at this mare.”

♦       ♦       ♦

Pinkie awoke to the gleam of the sun which hurt her eyes. It was the first time she had seen natural light in seven years. A voice that she thought was familiar said to her, “Don’t try to open your eyes yet, they’ll take some time to adjust.”

She realized that she was sitting in a chair and that also her forelegs were free. But when she tried to move them, she found it too difficult a task. The voice spoke again. “I did what I could with your forelegs but they’ve atrophied quite a bit.”

“Who are you?” Pinkie asked. A second later, the glare over her eyes subsided and she opened them. The pony had placed a pair of sunglasses on her. Now able to see, she looked forward and saw the magenta unicorn sitting on the opposite end of a table in a sunny garden with many different types of flowers in the background. Recognizing her instantly, Pinkie exclaimed, “Amy! Oh, I’m so glad to see you again. I haven’t seen you since you left Ponyville.”

She appeared unaffected by Pinkie’s show of excitement. “Pinkie, they tell me that you’re a strong mare. For seven years you’ve been as a whole unaffected by daily attempts at treatment.”

Pinkie looked confused for a moment and then she realized something. “Oh,” she said frowning. “You’re with those meanies.”

“I am the head of the Equestrian Mental Institution and have been charged with your rehabilitation. But please answer me. You’ve been deliberately resisting treatment for some time now.”

Pinkie accepted the change of subject. “Well, yeah. They want me to be sad like them. Why would I want to do that?”

Amethyst sighed. “Pinkie I know that you are out of your mind, but you have to understand, normal people can’t take the kind of pressure you are under. I’m afraid that if this persists, there will be nothing left after we break you.” Pinkie didn’t seem to understand and didn’t respond. The unicorn sighed again but continued, “And that’s why I’m going to offer you a choice now. Give up and save yourself a lot of trouble. I don’t want to make you sad, I want to free you from this insanity you have that makes you think you can make the whole world happy. It just can’t be done. Some people don’t want to be happy for reasons that we can’t explain. The sooner you realize this, the sooner you’ll no longer be a threat to society and you can go back to Ponyville. Wouldn’t you like that? Wouldn’t it be great to go back to Sugarcube corner where you could eat all those sweets and be happy? That’s what can happen if you just comply.”

Pinkie saw through the guise. “I can’t believe that. I know everybody wants to smile inside. They’re just sad because they’re hurting and won’t let anypony help them. And I’ve just figured out that that’s because they think they’ll get hurt even more. But I wanna show them that if they just learn to laugh at their fears and reach out for help they can be joyful.”

Amethyst placed a hoof on her face. “Look, I don’t have to break you if you just give in a little. I can make this easier on you but you have to let me in. I’m going to give you one more chance.” She said this as kindly as she could. “As a friend and a doctor I’m begging you just to ease up a little.”

Pinkie did not concede but said, “I’m sorry. I have to make everypony joyful. That’s what Pinkie’s here for.” Pinkie saw Amethyst stand up and a straightjacket and muzzle magically bound her again. Suddenly the sun began to dim until it was blood red; casting a crimson filter on everything. Pinkie thought that she could hear chimes, and then she realized it. The table she was sitting on disappeared and was replaced by a door. The chair under her disappeared as well and she fell painfully onto her back.

The unicorn walked around the door, but her appearance had changed. She was no longer even a magenta unicorn, but a black alicorn with red eyes. When she spoke, Pinkie realized it: She was in that nightmare world again. “Then you leave me no choice.” The alicorn said with a terrible demonic voice.

The sound of the chimes which were only noticeable quickened in tempo to a torrent of nearly instantaneous strikes. Their volume also increased so that she was sure her ears should have been bleeding. Then, Amethyst, or rather Fear, was upon her. Rapidly the physical pain was eclipsed by the unimaginably intense terrors that Pinkie saw before her. I cannot even begin to describe what kinds of inconceivable sights that Pinkie saw and felt: It was the agony of billions of ponies being tortured and killed all at once that she was feeling and seeing simultaneously.

And in addition to the simultaneous maddening sound of the chimes and the visions, the spirit of Amethyst was directed by Fear. “No walls are thick enough, no fortress impenetrable enough to keep her out.” Her ability alone easily dwarfed the combined might of the nine. She assailed Pinkie’s mind with indescribably inexorable might such that my spell which was inadvertently and inexplicably casted to defend her was brushed aside as a tsunami would a piece of paper guarding the walls of a sand castle. Nor did her irresistible power stop there. She continued on to storm into the confines and charge against her spirit; striking with olympian strength that which I thought inviolable.

When the seemingly unstoppable spirits of Amethyst and Fear struck against the immovable will that was Pinkie’s spirit, it was like time itself stopped. There was an inaudible clash of such intensity that I feared the fabric of the world would be unwound. There was a great battle between spirits that cannot be likened to any war of deities which I had ever seen. A conflict of such intensity indeed was never seen until that point. Nor was it brief, for the battle continued on for an immeasurable amount of time. I cannot say when it stopped for its effects were too remarkable.

Pinkie found herself and Amethyst out of breath in the darkness of outer sanctum which she had never left. Though extremely worn, there was a triumphant look on the magenta mare’s face. The nine stallions that were in the room went to her and raised her up to take her out of the room. They opened the doors and on the way out Amethyst shouted in between gulps of breath, “Do not take hope in this Pinkie! Impasses can only last for so long.”

♦       ♦       ♦

The Terrible Three overlooked Amethyst. Discord sounded annoyed and fatigued. “For goodness’ sake, I thought we defeated her nine years ago. Why are we worried about this now?”

Fear who was directly over the mare answered, “The enemy’s trial was the turning point which signaled our inevitable victory. We will win this war soon but that does not mean that we will not have to work for it first.”

The draconequus threw his arms up. “That’s what you said years ago and years before that. Are you serious this time or are we going to be doing this until she dies of old age? Because really don’t feel like waiting that long.”

“Patience Discord; we are on the home stretch. Not only have we been starving her, now with sleep deprivation, she is sure to be far too weak to resist. Furthermore, attrition has been wearing on her and is soon to prevail.”

After two more years of constant attacks on Pinkie’s mind, I regret to say that these words were not empty. Despite the wondrous relentlessness of Pinkie’s will, the daily spiritual assaults and physical abuse were finally beginning to take their toll after nine years. It was at this time that I was at my lowest; for I could see nothing other than her defeat. No matter how durable adamantium is, if one keeps beating upon it, despite its “unbreakable” nature, it will eventually crumble. So it was with Pinkie. For all things but God, there is no such thing as infinity. There are no absolutes. There is no unbreakable substance, no unstoppable force, no bottomless pit, or boundless sky. All things which have been created have a limit, and Pinkie was fast-approaching hers.

I saw it in her each day. Though she still acted kindly towards her aggressors and did her best to remain joyful, I could see that she was becoming sullen. Her once poofy hair had drooped and become straight. Her smile which was once so vibrant was now a straight line just barely raised enough so that one could not call it a frown. She was so thin that one could easily see her bones, and so exhausted from forced lack of sleep that I believed the bags under her eyes and the wrinkles forming on her face were permanent. I even believed that her coat itself had darkened in color. She was fighting extremely hard, but even immortals can die (We just call it deportation).

It was finally in the fifth month of the ninth year that I looked back to Ponyville to see what had become of it. I found that though it was not full of glowering and morose ponies, no one was nearly as happy as in the days of Pinkie Pie. I went and looked into the days and lives of the bearers of the Elements. In the case of Applejack, the honest, I found that she was hard at work; consumed by the demanding toil of a farmer. Yet I perceived that this was merely a distraction. There can be no mourning if one is too busy to mourn. At the Carousel Boutique, I saw that Rarity, the generous, was still dealing from the trauma that had occurred nearly a decade ago. She was a fashionista, but I noticed that her recent designs had a bit too much black. As for Fluttershy, the kind, I discerned that she was now a mute and a recluse; communicating only with animals, and even then, only with sign language.

Then I came to glorious Cloudsdale and looked upon the olympian house of Rainbow Dash, the loyal. Of all those I had seen who appeared to be affected by the loss of Pinkie, she appeared to be the worst. She too had become a recluse; going out rarely to do her duties as a pegasus pony and even more rarely to buy supplies. Her mane was mangled and skewed in every direction. While it was once vibrant, it had now become too matted to notice much color. Her coat was equally dirty and it looked as though she had not bathed in a while. When I peered into her room –where she spent most of her time- I found that it was dusty as could be. Nothing looked as if it had been moved in ages. As for her, she did nothing but lie upon her bed all day and night. Oftentimes I could not tell whether she was asleep or awake because she looked no different in either state. Her face hurt me the most. In addition to being unwashed, it was completely desolate. There was no emotion in them; nor was there any sign of life, or that she even had a spirit for that matter. I believed that I was staring not at Rainbow Dash, but at an empty container which resembled her.

After viewing her a few days (while keeping also a watch on Pinkie Pie who was steadily losing herself as well) I looked to find Twilight Sparkle, the Element of magic. But when I did not immediately locate her, I desired so much simply to end it all once more and return to my work as a sage. I was exhausted from seeing all of this misery and turned to view the end of Pinkie at the EMI.

But when I did so, I was stopped by Hope, the only benevolent goddess I had seen since I began my search for one who knew joy. “Why do you give up now Saeldur? Did you not come to Ponyville seeking Magic?”

I answered, “Hope, why must I suffer this? It is bad enough that Laughter must suffer and die, but now must I go and see that all of the five have been broken? Let me go and simply imagine that Magic is doing well and happy so that at least I can fool myself into believing that there is yet some joy in this world.”

“Look for her, I tell you. I promise that I have not left this world alone. And that I remain here; for she is my vessel.”

So, I went to where she would likely be, the Great Library at Canterlot. And I discovered her in a corner of the library conversing with some twenty lawyers. “But it does not make sense!” She said to them.

One of those with her answered, “And you may be right. We have spoken with those who were not interviewed by Lauponi and saw the one responsible, and we have gathered strong evidence of this. If you can form a spell that can find the perpetrator, we may be able to free your friend.”

Twilight looked at the old pony and said, “So we’re still back at that problem then. Well I have been working on…”

And she went on to describe her research into the nature of spells of revelation. Hearing her speak, I found that she had been working around the clock to redeem her friend since the trail and she was still working with the same determination. And Hope came to me and said, “See? There is still yet hope.”

Not desiring to allow myself false hope I answered, “This changes nothing. They have concluded nothing that could not be discerned within a year of work. They have made no great progress since then.” Saying this, I returned to the Equestrian Mental Institution. Yet in my heart, there was a shadow of hope. Twilight was working for her friend and she was not going to give up until she knew for sure that it was too late.

But as if fortune immediately wanted to put a damper on me, at the EMI, I saw that Pinkie was truly on her last leg. She had spent nine years and eleven months in that place and there was nothing left in her. Again and again Amethyst attacked her, aided by Fear. This time, when the two spirits clashed, I heard amidst the deafening roar of the battle something that sounded like an earthquake. And I knew this to be her mind: A huge crack appeared across Pinkie’s vision and consequently through mine. It was at that moment that the unicorn had reached the limit of her endurance and had to end the spell. Yet when they both exited the nightmare, Amethyst shouted with a surprising amount of reserve energy, “One more time, Pinkie! One last time and I will heal you! The night is almost over; the day is nearly here!” Her voice echoed throughout the facility.

After she and the others left, I knelt before Pinkie who was completely unresponsive. The room was still dark as a moonless night. Yet with my eyes I could see the horrors of the room. The symbols and pictures on the wall seemed to mock her; spitting venomous ideas her way. There was nothing but hopelessness in this room, and she had not left it for almost ten years. Wishing to see her close, I peered into her eyes. I saw almost nothing within her. The mare that was once so full of life was now scarred beyond recognition. Nopony who knew her before would have recognized her. I perceived that deep within her there was still joy, but it was so feeble that it was invisible to mortal eyes, and nearly so to those immortals who are untrained in peering deep into the souls of ponies.

She convulsed. I saw awareness return to her though she had been awake the whole time. She was shivering though it was humid in the room. Amethyst had forgotten to replace the muzzle so she was able to speak. She spoke even though there was no one to listen. “Please … if anybody is out there … help me. I know that nopony can make me sad … but this is too much.” Her voice broke with those last words. “I don’t know what I did to deserve this. I can’t remember anything anymore … I d-… I d-” She sobbed and began to weep. She was also sweating profusely. Yet neither her tears nor her sweat was clear. I saw that she was emitting blood in the place of tears and sweat. “I don’t remember anything but this place.” She finally was able to say. “I can’t remember the taste of sugar or the sound of anypony’s voice but the ones that are in my head. Please … I can’t take this anymore … I tried, but I just can’t go on any- … anymore. Please … somepony help me.” I could see that she did not have enough energy to cry loudly, so she just continued on sobbing.

I heard her desperate plea and was cut deeply to the heart. The emotion and pain that welled up inside of me compelled me to shed tears. I knew why this was happening: I knew that the world of mortals was cursed and that bad things happened to good ponies. I received this knowledge long ago soundly and accepted it. But then, when I was sitting next to Pinkie Pie, being unable to help her, it just did not seem just or righteous for any god or goddess to allow this to happen.

Pinkie spoke through sobs and broken words once more. “I know I must be crazy now.” She hiccupped. “Here I am crying for help when I know that no one will help me.” She paused for a long while to cry bitterly. Her anguish continued on for several minutes. Finally, her eyes shot open, and softened. Gradually, she stopped crying her tears mixed with blood. She seemed calmed all of a sudden. Then she said, “But I know what awaits me because of that. Because no one came to me, I will be rewarded all the more.” Her voice was no longer labored, but was now serene. Then she spoke words which were so characteristic of her, yet so full of wisdom.

I smiled for everypony everyday

I laughed for them every night.

I made them smile and laugh,

And that’s enough.

If I die now,

If those grumpy unicorns kill me.

I won’t blame them,

Though I’m sad for them.

But I won’t let that get me down.

I lived the greatest number of hours to bring joy

I gave my whole live to that purpose,

And I think it’s all been worthwhile.

If life was a race, I crossed the finish line.

If trying to get everypony to be happy was a battle, I fought it good.

Now I see the prize that I went through this for.

And this hurt doesn’t even compare to that joy.

And she fell silent.

I heard these words and a new surge of bittersweet emotions came over me. I spoke to the broken mare; wishing so direly that she could hear me. My voice was as compassionate as it has ever been. “My beloved Pinkie Pie, long have I watched you and I wish so much that I could have met you in person. For better would be one second with you than thousands of years elsewhere. I would gladly trade this eternal life which I have for one moment to speak with you rather than to you.

“For so long I searched for you among the ponies of Equestria. I went to many places high and low, and I found none that even compared to you. Everywhere I went, I found only misery and depression. Yet when I wanted to end my search, your birth was heralded by Hope. And I watched you toil in the fields for eight years. And on the day when you earned your cutie mark, I could not help but know that what Hope said would be true. Then you went to Ponyville and were given a new name.

“Then you fought against the dark rulers of this world without giving up or even stopping to rest. For these things, I began to love you … not as you would a coltfriend or your mother or father. But I loved you so that I would allow myself to come to harm and even death for your sake. Yet it could not be so. The dark ones conspired against you and sent you here; forcing your friends to forsake you, though you had done nothing wrong. And if I could, I would gladly suffer these things in your place seven times over.

“How I wish I could answer your call. How I wish I could come to your aid. How I wish I could grind into dust those who oppress you. But because I cannot, I am speaking that you will now hear me. I am trying with all my might to impart this message and carve it into your heart; for your ears are deaf to my words. There are those who still love you. I love you and wish you the best, but there also are mortals who love you still. Among these is Twilight, your friend who hopelessly fights for you and knows your innocence in her heart. At the last Pinkie, I wish the spirit of love upon you in this last hour. Your death approaches, for your body will fall if your unyielding spirit breaks. But know that you have not been wholly forsaken. We love you.”

♦       ♦       ♦

The next day I heard the sound of hoofsteps from the hallway: ten sets of hooves walking down the pathway to the outer sanctum where Pinkie was. My stomach was in a knot. They seemed to take longer than they should have. Each sound had no interference as though one was talking a step and then the other nine took a step after him in turn. It was the grim sound of inevitability; the slowness that came with mortality. The door was not thrust open as it usually was, but rather Styx opened it quietly and the other nine followed in with silence. I saw also with them the Terrible Three. What made me uneasy was that Discord was as unusually silent as he was when Pinkie awaited judgment.

They all gathered in a semicircle around Pinkie who was still lying on the circle. For six minutes nopony said a word. The room was as silent as a cemetery. Finally, Amethyst spoke. “The time has come Pinkie. Today you will be healed. You know as well as everyone in this room that you are too weak to resist any more. Because of this, I’m going to give you one last chance. Submit and make this easy on yourself. It’ll be must easier if we don’t have to force you to resign.”

Pinkie sat there for a long while. Each of the magi leaned in and listened carefully. Finally she answered. “And as every other time, I want you to be happy. And me giving up now won’t fix that.”

This did not surprise Amethyst in the least. “Very well, Pinkie; you leave us no choice.” Once more, Pinkie began to hear the sound of chimes, but this time she also heard a variety of other instruments. That meant that unlike before, now Amethyst would be accompanied by the nine magi. Slowly, the vision of darkness came to her again. The door to her soul followed, and she met Fear’s gaze with strength.

The battle started as the ten powerful spirits, being refreshed and supported by well-nourished bodies and souls, trampled upon her soul and entered to the place where her spirit was housed. Like a wave they crashed upon her. Ten against one should have been easy, yet it was not so. She was not going down without a fight. The battle was fearsome; vapors and colors and indescribable forms and likenesses crashing upon each other like gargantuan waves. Incredible sound echoed through the halls each time a blow was struck. Pinkie held her own for a good while; tiring the nine easily and winding Amethyst who was even supported by Fear’s olympian powers.

Again I cannot be sure of how long this went on, but at some point she finally began to slow down. The movements which were once like lightning were now as slow as a wave of the sea. The ten minds tackled her and struck her repeatedly. Huge booms reverberated my very being. Then, I saw once more a crack in my vision, and a sound like an earthquake. The noise increased in intensity and the crack became larger and then branched out until all I saw through the eyes of Pinkie were shards of space. Then there was an immense explosive sound, greater than any other that had occurred. It was like a wall of glass of immeasurably large size shattering.

Then, from my point of view, I saw two vapors: two spirits come out from Pinkie’s spirit and take form. I identified them as the embodiments of Love and Joy. And I exclaimed over the commotion, “It is no wonder that she was so strong with those spirits backing her.” But as I said this, I screamed aloud for I knew the sound that I had heard was the sound of Pinkie’s spirit being broken. I screamed as loud as I could because of many emotions: anger, frustration, disbelief, anguish and many others. But then there was suddenly a calm, and I heard a voice. “Let her go!” And vision disappeared without warning. We were all back in the outer sanctum, but there was another. There was Twilight Sparkle, the Element of Harmony, with her horn glowing. And with a flash, she cast a spell and something wondrous happened.

Suddenly I felt a strange sensation as warmth clouded around me. I cannot say that I had ever felt anything in the physical sense for a long time, yet I was then feeling it. Then I looked and saw Fear, Discord, and Suffering screaming. Fear specifically shouted, “Flee now or she will undo us!” But they were too late, because a second later, another flash of light from Twilight’s horn blinded me for a second.

When my sight returned, every mortal in the room looked at the alicorns (and Discord) and gasped. We gasped as well. Suddenly, all of the immortals in the room had taken flesh. At that moment, Twilight shouted; addressing Fear, “You! You’re the one to blame for the death of Mr. Lauponi.”

At this Fear shouted, “Attack now!”

As quickly as possible I moved in front of Twilight and cast a protective spell. A bubble of green light enveloped Twilight and I just in time to intercept a concentrated beam of black energy from Suffering’s horn which would have cut through her as though she was made of tissue paper. She gasped again. “You’re on our side?”

I spoke, my voice sounding a little bit different than I remembered. “I’ve been on your side since the beginning.” Fear was about to cast another spell. “Twilight,” I shouted. “Cast a protective spell on Pinkie Pie now!”

As quickly as she could, she reacted and a pink bubble covered Pinkie Pie as well as Amethyst who had fallen on her at some point during the spiritual battle. I counter attacked and tried to cast a spell to bind the two alicorns, but I could not focus on both of them at the same time and they broke out quickly.

It was at this point that Discord finally decided to respond and raised his claw, about to snap. As he did so, I sensed an enormous amount of energy, which I discerned that he could use to alter the very fabric of time and space. I had to act immediately or we would lose the fight on the first move. I shouted, “Cade.” Discord was thrown off of his feet. It is possible for divinities (and theoretically mortals) to use any of the three magical languages to perform tasks without wasting time to channel energy, but at a risky cost. I felt a sharp pain in my chest and hoped that I had not damaged anything.

After thwarting each of them once, I anticipated that this was where they would make a tactical retreat, but first they has to feint. Suffering’s horn glowed bright red and I perceived she was about to cast a spell that would strike multiple targets: right on cue. I could not block it or they would escape.

“Twilight, dodge left.” I leapt away to the right and a shower of sparkling energies flew by. This was where I had to intercept the teleportation spell. I couldn’t check to see if the mare made it. Because that evasive maneuver had brought me closer to them, I could now attack physically faster than either I or they could use magic. I reached to my saddlebag and grabbed a knife. “Ha.” I thought. “Right where I left you.” Just as Suffering was about to channel magic for a teleportation, I lunged for her and she was forced to cut off her concentration in order to dodge.

Meanwhile, Amethyst, now being free of Fear’s influence was waking up to Pinkie Pie who was half dead. She lifted herself off of her and shook the pink pony. “Pinkie, oh my Celestia, please tell me what I thought I just did didn’t happen!” Yet Pinkie was out cold and unresponsive to her. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her horn glow and energy flow onto Pinkie. The unconscious mare’s eyes fluttered and opened. The magenta unicorn breathed a sigh of relief and then asked earnestly, “Pinkie are you alright?”

Pinkie looked at Amethyst and then at the battle. Then said, “Does this mean you aren’t a meany anymore?”

Hearing this speech come from Pinkie Pie made the magenta mare embrace her tightly and exclaim, “Oh, Pinkie I’m so sorry.”

It was at this point that I should have been extremely confused as Pinkie should have technically been broken (in other words not who she once was) but I was a bit distracted because I had to guard against a non-physical curse (a kind of spell which is unavoidable but can be blocked). I shouted, “Young mare, I know that you want to have your reconciliatory moment now, and so do I, but do you not believe that we have a bigger problem on our hooves?”

Amethyst immediately was brought to the present situation. She started to charge a spell of her own and shouted, “Magi, attack the female alicorns and the draconequus.”

With it suddenly becoming a thirteen on three engagement, the goddesses were hard pressed to defend themselves. The ten most elite magi in the world, the greatest student of the solar princess, and a divine alicorn fighting against three deities: I will say that it still was not easy. If I allowed Discord to cast one spell it would be devastating as he might be able to make something as insane as our horns disappear happen. Suffering and Fear seemed to catch onto this and sought to do everything they could to buy him a second of time. Thankfully though, none of the deities were physical fighters. So, after minutes of trading spells and trying not to become horribly disfigured though, one of the magi finally charged and tackled Discord.

As soon as the main threat was down, Twilight and I used a synchronous morphing and stupefaction spell and hit Suffering square in the chest. With the spearhead down, I moved and tackled Fear. Once she was fazed, I restrained her with a simple flash of the horn. Having captured and incapacitated her, I determined no need for Suffering and thrust my knife into her throat. She disappeared in blue flames and would not likely return. Amidst the commotion, Discord somehow escaped, but it was alright. He was wounded from being tackled; the mage's horn having pierced him. He would not last long.

When victory was clear, I congratulated all of them. At my words, Pinkie was the one to ask the question nibbling at everyone’s tongue. “Hey, I know those other three, but who are you?”

“There will be time for that later. For now we have to go to Canterlot and request an audience with Princess Celestia.”

Amethyst stopped me. “Wait, before you go anywhere I need to express my deep apologies to Pinkie for putting her through all of this.”

I sighed and checked the restraining spells on Fear. “Proceed but make it quick.”

So Amethyst and Pinkie spoke with one another, and although the party pony tried to reassure the unicorn that she was alright, the magenta mare soon became quite emotional and began to weep; embracing her and sobbing. I didn’t blame her because I probably would have done something similar.

Somewhere in the conversation, the truly broken mare started frantically repeating, "Pinkie, please forgive me!"

To this, Pinkie finally broke off their embrace, placed her hooves on Amethyst's shoulders and looked her in the eyes with a serious expression. Then a huge smile cam across her face and she said, "Oh silly, how can either of us be happy if I live in the past? I forgive you." And she embraced her once more; making the unicorn burst into tears once more. Pinkie did her best to be soothing, but comforting her took several minutes.

After their moment was over and Amethyst was moderately composed, the ten were left to hold down the fort and the rest of us escorted Fear to the royal palace. The sight of my hybrid form surprised the guards and they probably thought I was closely related to the princess. One escorted us directly to the throne room and said that Princess Celestia had a moment at the time.

As we walked forward into the great solar palace’s throne room, I could not help but feel a sense of awe. It was a huge rectangle; being three hundred feet wide and seven hundred feet long. The whole room was bathed in the bright sun of the midday which blasted through the enormous windows. Many of the windows were clear to preserve the natural color of sunlight, but a great many more were made of stained glass. These depicted great events of the past, including the triumph over Discord and the Edict of Peace. One even depicted the sun beaming down upon the planet. The walls were lined with lavender wallpaper; a color which combined purple and white, symbolizing royalty and peace. Also there were twenty four ionic columns which offered support for the immense room.

Then there was the throne itself. A long red train ran down the length of the room and up to the seat. It was made of magnificent gold and decorated with engraved patterns of vines. On its sides were two fountains which constantly poured a steady trickle of water. Beautiful flowers matching the color of the walls adorned both sides as well. The actual chair was colossal; being raised up seven feet. The back extended twenty feet high and a red cushion extended to seven feet. Many stairs led up to it, but were covered by the carpet; giving one a dual sense that the princess was  approachable, but still raised higher than any of her subjects.

There sat the immortal goddess-princess, Celestia, beaming in radiant splendor. One could take a simply look at her and shudder because of her terrible and awesome appearance. As a norm, her massive wings were outstretched, and extended to her sides, which made her huge stature of six feet (towering about a normal pony’s three and a half) seem even more imposing. She was crowned with a diadem of gold, complemented with a large amethyst stone. Around her neck and dropping to her breast, was a neck ring which had an elaborate, entwining pattern. In it was another large and precious stone. The sun itself was her cutie mark; resting upon her very flank as though the sun as well as the earth was under her.

Yet if one looked for a moment and braved the terrible fear of staring in the face of the queen of queens, one would not see the wrath or pride that follows with most self-exalting nobleponies. Rather, complementing her domineering curb appeal, she had an expression of serenity about her. She was smiling softly and gazing at us as we approached. Her beautiful mane and tail were colored with light colors which flowed though there was no draft in the room. Her lavender eyes were forgiving and bore the expression of a mother who was about to welcome her foals home after they had gone on a long journey. But they also evoked an aura of compassion.

We walked until we were two hundred feet from the throne and kneeled. The guard addressed the enthroned alicorn. “Princess, I apologize for interrupting you during your quiet time, but these ponies here say that have an urgent matter that requires your attention.”

The sun princess spoke imperiously, “That’s fine captain. They appear to be telling the truth.” With this, the guard bowed and left us. I was about to speak but she was faster. Her commanding voice made me flinch. “Saeldur, it’s been a long time. I did not ever think you would come back or even could return for that matter.”

“Her majesty has her student to thank for that. Without Twilight Sparkle, it would have not been possible.”

“I see also that you have a prisoner. Moreover, Pinkie Pie, who was sentenced to the Equestrian Mental Institution is free. Is there a good reason for these things?”

Twilight answered eagerly, “Yes, Princess. This is the alicorn that Pinkie knows is really responsible for the death of Mr. Lauponi.”

The imperatrix’s eyes narrowed. “And can you prove this?”

“The whole town of Ponyville is witness.”

“Who exactly is this?” She asked.

I answered, “The goddess of Fear.”

The enthroned alicorn, who had up until now been speaking in a royal and upsetting voice, changed her tone to a more comforting one and said, “Well then, Twilight, I suppose I’ll just have to trust you.” She called out, “Jeeves, could you come here, please?”

A stallion ran in from outside the door and presented himself. He pulled out a piece of parchment from his saddle bag and raised a quill with his horn. “I am ready when you are princess.” He said.

Celestia spoke in a stately, but still pleasing tone. As she spoke, the unicorn wrote down her words. “I, Princess Celestia, hereby proclaim my subject, Pinkie Pie, innocent of all charges that were placed upon her as a result of the Lauponi incident. And for the murder of Britten Lauponi, I sentence the alicorn, Fear, to an eternal banishment in the realm of Tartarus.” The three younger ponies cheered. I smiled and Fear tugged pointlessly at her bonds.

After celebrating and thanking the princess, they all returned to Ponyville. Days later, I heard that Pinkie Pie was welcomed immediately back with news of Fear’s capture and praised as a hero for standing unfair judgment. Soon after arriving, she began her work anew; bringing lasting joy to Ponyville as she had before.

I stayed in Canterlot in the company of the princesses and enjoyed the benefits of an honored guest. On the third night of my stay, the princess summoned me to her. So I stepped into her bedchamber and strode to the edge of the door to the balcony. The night was clear and full of many stars. The moon was also at its fullest, and a great deal of silvery light fell on her. The great monarch stood at the edge. At the height which the overhang was, she was able to overlook the whole kingdom. She was standing, peacefully, viewing the magnificent sight. After a moment, she asked, “So you are back?”

Kneeling before her I replied, “I am your majesty.”

“I suppose then that you saw all of this before returning?”

“I saw everything that your subject did from the time she was five.”

“And you saw her determination against these creatures.”

“Yes, your highness. I witnessed also the deliberations that her enemies worked against her and the assiduousness that she fought with against them despite having no skill for planning.”

She paused for a long time while staring out into the night. “What sort of things did she endure in that place?”

I cringed. “Your majesty, I do not feel as though I can answer that. On the one hand the things which transpired there were unspeakable, and on the other, those who did those things are not wholly responsible and I do not wish to incriminate them before the highest judge in the land.”

“Saeldur, do you still claim to be my servant?”

I hesitated, but answered, “I swore my fealty to her royal majesty, Princess Celestia of the Sun, high princess of the kingdom of Equestria two hundred years before the war and I do not see my deportation as an excuse to break that oath.”

“Do you feel that your skills at writing have not deteriorated?”

“Not in the least your highness.”

“Will you be willing to write an account of this that all in the present and future ponies might hear of her deeds?”

I looked up astonished. “Surely not, your majesty.”

“I will allow you to write it as you will so long as you do not fabricate anything. Tell the story as you see fit. But I desire for there to be a living record; an eyewitness account of these happenings for generations to come.”

The rest is, as they say, history. Next Chapter: Epilogue Estimated time remaining: 8 Minutes