The frozen wind bit into my parka as though it wasn’t even there. My white coat and parka helped me blend with the snow. I was lying on top of a small cliff of ice, doing my best to keep the heavy caliber rifle from shaking with my body. I'd had years of practice shooting in freezing temperatures, so the rifle stayed relatively on point tracking the head of a lone dark figure in an endless sea of pale snow. No pony is supposed to be traveling through here today, I think I should call this in. I thought to myself. I reached for my radio to call back to base, but never got the chance as a heavy boot stomped down on my foreleg pinning it. I spun my head and looked up to see somepony in a white camo parka swing a crowbar at my head. Then pain exploded behind my eyes and my vision went black.

When I awoke I felt hot blood covering the side of my face. Drowsily I looked around and worked out I was in a wooden cart slowly filling with snow. I tried to stand up but pain made my legs collapse under me, I fell back on to the floor on the cart with a puff of snow. When I awoke for the second time I was on my back staring up at some old stone roof. Wary of what happened last time, I slowly rose pulling an old worn out blanket off of me. I saw I was sitting on a cold cement floor in a dark room with on candle dimly lighting the room, there was an old iron door on one side of the room. It was mostly empty except for the candle and a bit of old hay in the corner. I scanned myself and found that other than being stripped of weapons I still had all of my belongings. I brought my hoof up and gently touched my head. It came back bloody but there was some sort of bandage covering the cut and it didn’t seem to be bleeding. Whoever they were they were keeping me alive at least, on second thought that could be worse. I got up, swaying only a little and made my way to the door.

There was an iron grate near the top I could look through. I peeked around the dimly lit hallway on the other side of the door. There were other doors identical to mine in long rows leading out of my field of vision. Then it made sense "Shit!" I said hitting the wall with a hoof. I was in prison. One of them must have snuck up behind me using the other as a distraction, knocked me out, and pulled me back to Canterlot. "Damn it!" I yelled and kicked the big metal door. It boomed from the hard impact and I shrank back from the door, as I immediately heard brisk hoof steps walking towards my cell. Then a face appeared at the great on the door. The pony looked at me with pale yellow eyes then immediately turned around hurrying back the way they came. I heard a deep male voice say "He's awake. Keep an eye on him, I'm going to report this to the princess." The bottom dropped out of my stomach.

The Trial was short to say the least. from the moment it started I just hung my head, my hooves cuffed behind my back. I knew I was guilty and so did they, there was no way out. even with my minimal understanding of the court I knew that I would have the death penalty soon enough.

"Do you admit to the murder of Meadow Song, Buttercup Caesar, Bell Perin, and Affero Oak?" Some judge pony asked. I let out a long sigh and look up a bit but still not facing anypony

"I do." I said in a calm voice. I knew I would die here, the only thing to do now is to face it like a stallion. There were some mumbles that broke out of the crowd for the trail. I just lowered my head again and waited for the proceedings to wrap up.

"Nighters Lightbane I hereby sentence you to death." The judge finally said. I sighed again as I was dragged off to my cell.

After a few days the cell started to feel like home in an odd way. I woke up early the day I died, it was a rainy day, the sun blocked by clouds but the birds still chirped and flew around the trees outside. it was then the princess walked into my cell. I just stood looking out the window and did not turn to face her.

"It is time" She said. A tinge of pain in her voice.

"I know" I replied not a hint of fear in my voice, only acceptance. She cringed a little at the tone. I calmly stepped past her into the hall were the guards were waiting to escort me.

They lead me out into a court yard behind the castle, the light rain sprinkling my head and back. When we came to a stop on a small wooden stage one of the guards behind me forced me onto a section of the stage disconnected from the rest attached by hinges and tied a noose around my neck. As I sat there in the rain on the little stage in front of a crowd of ponies their faces grim, a preacher started a prayer for me. I wasn't a follower of Celestia but I appreciated the gesture and kept quiet through the whole thing. I looked out into the crowd and I met eyes with the princess. She was trying hard to keep a look of deep sadness and shame off her face.

I looked at her almost fondly and gave her a forgiving smile as the floor fell from underneath me hooves. The next second felt like and hour. I saw Celestia turn her head away sharply a tear on her cheek. Then I saw Daisy a few rows from the front, a devastated look on her face as tears rolled down her face. I thought of all the nights I had spent with Daisy, with her in my arms. All the times we had been together, and I was hit with the realization that I wasn't ready to leave yet. I still had so much to do before I died. I needed to tell Daisy I loved her again! I needed to see my friends and make sure they were alright. It was on that desperate thought that I died.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note: Lots of stuff will be explained in the later chapters.

This is the first story I've ever written so don't expect too much. also ill try to update when i get a chance