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[KingStrongbeard]

"Oh, and Captain." Charity says as Jaxler rises to his hooves, "I would be careful who I said things like that about Otik around. Saying you deserve more than her, is less than wise. She had many close friends around here, and if it had been Khenal or Heiro, or her granddaughter Kris sitting here, you'd likely be walking out with a broken nose."

[jaxler]

Jaxler shrugs and walks on out of the room

[DVNO]

"Luna is young for a god, she doesn't even know half of what she rules. she wouldn't even notice if I, heh, sorry, WE ... slipped away. All you have to do is let me ... drag you to hell. Don't give me that look! It'll just be a temporary detour! then we use your Loyalty. turns out the gods created a temple of harmony in hell. It was made to put the mane six back in action if they ever fell in battle. lost all this time to the sands of time.... this is the easy way, trust me. You do not want to know the hard way!"

[Telgin]

Falcata gives Estoc a curious glance before turning back to Couth.  He was insane.  She shakes her head.  "No... no, I won't do that.  Luna would surely know I'd gone missing, and when I died again what would I say to her?"  A glower forms on her face.  "And what makes you believe that you could return anyway?"  She snorts.  "I won't set hoof in Hell unless Luna puts me there herself."

[DVNO]

couth grins. "you're Implying I can't Convict you there. I'm trying to be the nice pony, trying to give you the illusion of choice. This is nice Couth! you know what !?  no more nice Couth!

I. am. going. to the surface. Follow me, stop me, or get out of the way."

Couth Strides to the bench, pulls out a bottle of spirits, downs it, and spouts a arc of ethereal alcoholic flame four feet into the air.

"Luna, I'm ready." he growled through gritted teeth.

[Telgin]

Luna gives him a small nod and an innocent smile, ignoring the flashy display.  As Falcata and Estoc return to the room, she takes her position and looks at Falcata.  "Okay!  We're going to have a look at what sorts of things you did when you were alive.  We'll find out if you were a good pony or a bad pony."

Falcata lowers her head in deference and takes her place alongside Estoc.

"Okay, let's get started," Luna says, turning her attention to Couth.  "Let's hear from you first."

[DVNO]

"Gladly. Falcata. have a last name Falcata? I've never heard it. anyway, a loving mother, A fierce warrior, and Loyal ,inanely loyal, insipidly loyal to her Duchess Charity. quick question, Estoc, would you believe your wife would perform any order for this pony?"

[Telgin]

Estoc raises an eyebrow and chances a look to Falcata.  "Not any order, no.  She'd do almost anything for Charity or Glitterglen, but not anything."

[DVNO]

The trial went on for hours on end. Estoc, while logical and disciplined was no lawyer. Couth tore down his every argument with calculated precision and bullied his own opinions with a fanatic ferocity.

"... And so , In summary, Did Falcata do what she needed to do in order to protect the ones she loved? She did. was what she did to the three ponies, her inability to stop commissar Abel from massacring thirteen ponies, what she did to me unexcusible? Damn right they are. she's was a necessary evil, yet an evil none the less. And luna, we all know where we put evil things, right?! simply put you should have never picked up the hammer Falcata, should have picked any other profession that could have benefited equestrian society, really. but no, had to attack others for a sense of vindication, and for that , you signed away your soul. I rest my case, luna." Couth wheezed in exasperation, his verbal onslaught taking a physical toll.

[Telgin]

Luna listens intently as the debate rages on, her innocent smile fading to a frown.  She thinks for a moment, tapping her hoof to her chin.  Then, she looks up to Falcata, who was hanging her head and all but shaking in fear.  "Hearing all of that really makes me sad.  You did do some bad things.  Is there anything you'd like to say now?"

Falcata opens her mouth to speak, but only a frightened squeak emerges at first.  Finally, after a weary and nervous pat from Estoc, she manages, "I... I know I did some bad things."  She looks up to Luna, a pleading expression on her face.  "But... that's why... why I took up the hammer when Charity presented me the choice."  She hangs her head again.  "When I was sent to Glitterglen, I accepted I was sent there to die for my crimes.  I decided... that I'd give my life if I had to to right the wrongs I'd committed."

She takes a deep breath and with difficulty, continues, "There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't hate myself for what I'd done.  For killing some ponies who probably didn't deserve it.  For dragging my innocent daughter to the death trap I was sent to.  For nearly killing myself when the depression was more than I could bear."

The pleading expression returns to her face, and she takes a step toward Luna.  "That's why I gave my life trying to help ponies and protect them.  It's why, even when I was so sick... and hurt so much I could barely speak... that I fought on.  That's why, when we faced him," she punctuates with a hoof to Couth, "I decided that if anypony had to die it would be me.  That's why I threw myself in the way to save Charity."  Faint traces of tears began to form in her eyes.  "That's why I fought to protect over a hundred ponies from every last thing that attacked Glitterglen... be it horrifying monsters from below, the diomedians from above, or even the misguided zebras."

She pauses for a moment.  "...and that's why... as much as I loved my daughter... and all of my friends... I gave my life in the hopes that there would be the slimmest of chances they would live where I did not.  If I were called on again to give my life that any of them would live, and I could do it, I would."  Once more, she lowers her head.  "I've spent every waking moment of my miserable life trying to make amends for the wrongs that I'd done.  Perhaps even a lifetime of penance can't make up for it..."

Luna's expression grows more sorrowful as she listens.  "That's really sad..." she says, lowering her head as well for a moment.  "I didn't really know what to do with you.  You did do some bad things, but you're really sorry.  Even still... the rules are that you should be punished for what you did..."

Falcata's eyes go wide as the sentencing begins.  The sisters couldn't... wouldn't help her now... she was going to be turned away... even after spending her life trying to make up for it, she was going to be turned away... if only she'd been more pious... there was surely something she should have done... something else to make up for it... some law from Luna...

Luna thinks for a moment more, squinting in Falcata's direction.  "...I... I think I know what to do now..."  She nods slowly, a small smile forming on her face again.  "I heard a testimony from somepony else too... somepony who isn't here.  He says that you're a good pony Falcata, and he's a good pony.  He always follows all of my rules, and I try to listen to him when he talks to me.  He says you're a good pony... so... I think... I think I forgive you."

Falcata's eyes go wide again, and she imagines she feels faint despite being dead.  She stammers for an extended period before kneeling before Luna.  "Th-thank you!  Oh, thank you Luna!"

Luna's innocent smile returns to her face as she steps forward.  "You're welcome!  Now... I think there's something I need to go tell him, and I think I want you to come too.  I forgive you, but there's a catch... I'll tell you then..."

((Not sure if I can respond any more tonight, or if we need to collaborate to coordinate the next part.  Couth can sputter in disbelief, or whatever. ))

[Dsarker]

That same day, Friesden had gone to the hospital for a different reason than the usual one. She'd been feeling a bit different, and, just to be on the safe side, had decided to ask Venture to give her a check-over.

[Khenal]

Venture was bored.  Bored bored.  Even the local spirits were finding other things to do, ponies to haunt.  The hospital was empty of patients, so Venture lay on one of the beds: watching the door and idly levitating a spare bit of bandage.  She supposed boredom was a good thing, at least it meant nopony was hurt.  But did it have to be so boring?  Mercifully, Friesden walks through the doors.  She didn't look hurt at least.  Venture smiles and gets off the bed to greet her friend.

"Hello Friesden, how are you today?"

[Dsarker]

"Hello Venture. I've been feeling...off, somewhat. Would you be able to give me a quick check up, please?"

[Khenal]

Venture cocks her head to the side slightly.

"Off?  How so?"

[Dsarker]

"I've just been feeling nauseous..."