Silence.
 
All Twilight could hear was silence.
 
Not surprising the metal box has been enchanted to be the perfect prison. No sliver of sound or beam of light could penetrate it. It was the least that could be done to contain the most dangerous being in the world. That, and the shackles around her neck and hooves, as well as a inhibitor around her horn. She, the Princess of Friendship, former ruler of Equestria, savior, hero, companion, sister… and then the Harbinger of Winters, the Bane of Everycreature… stood there, alone, with her thoughts.
 
“Well, this is really depressing.” Suddenly, upon hearing this, her eyes shot open to gaze upon the slim, mismatched form of a Draconequus.
 
“D-Discord?” She spoke in disbelief. “Why.. why are you here? HOW are you here?”
 
“Oh, are you referring to the ‘impenetrability’ of this prison?” The Spirit of Chaos chuckled as he gave the wall of the box a knock. “Oh, Twilight… since when did I ever play by the rules?” He let out a chuckle.
 
Discord’s cheerful mood did nothing to raise the mood of the room. Twilight stood silent once more, having to answer to the uninvited guest’s antics.
 
“Right, the silent treatment…” Discord then sighed. “Fine. If you won’t speak, then I will. I am here to offer you a way out.”
 
Upon hearing that, Twilight became surprised. She raised her sights, planting her gaze upon him. “Yeah, you heard me. The angry masses get the socially acceptable version of revenge and you get a second chance.”
 
“What are you ta..”
 
“It’s quite simple really.” Discord chuckled to his own ‘brilliance as he interrupted her. “Actually, borrowing from the writer did with Celestia in his other story. They would see me give you ‘what you deserve’…” He used air quotations to accent that. “…all the while moving your TRUE mind and body to another world.”
 
“…Discord.” Twilight’s head then slumped back down upon hearing that last bit.
 
“I was thinking… earth pony for a change for you.” He enthusiastically stroked his chin.
 
“Discord…” Though very much so humbled, there was annoyance in her tone.
 
“Maybe something with the same color scheme as that one filly that idolized Rainbow Dash. OH, and 3D CGI this ti..”
 
“DISCORD!” Twilight yelled, silencing the small metal room once more.
 
Now, Discord was the one that stood silent. Twilight just took a breath and looked down.
 
And so they stood there. Twilight didn’t dare utter another word, while Discord was thinking things over. First, he looked confused, second, exhausted, bordering on defeated, and, lastly, his brow tilted in the middle as he clenched his lion hand.
 
“It really isn’t fair.” Discord spoke up with anger in his tone, and, upon hearing it, Twilight’s lip quivered as she turned her head away from him. “You and the girls went to such lengths to teach me that everyone, no matter what they have done, deserves a second chance if they are willing to work on it. This… this isn’t what Fluttershy would have wanted…” Though he spoke with conviction, that last bit made him quiver.
 
Twilight, yet again, took the time to say anything. “…Fluttershy is dead because of me.” When she finally did speak, she didn’t dare look at Discord.
 
“And are you the ungrateful little bastard that personally took her life?” Discord sounded almost condescending as he crossed his arms. “I didn’t think so.”
 
“She…” Twilight began to shake a little. Her teeth began to clench as tears began pouring down her cheeks. She was holding herself back… but then… “She died because of me!” She yelled as her eyes poured out. “So many… died because of what I did…” After her initial outburst, her tone began to calm down. “And… do you know what the worst part is?”
 
Discord didn’t speak, wanting to hear out what she had to say.
 
“The worst part… on some level, on a horribly… horridly practical level… I did the right thing.” Again, her head was lowered. “So many ponies… creatures from various nations are now standing together just because they had to set aside their differences to fight me…”
 
She was crying. She stopped talking, awaiting judgement from Discord, but no words came. And then… single lion paw was rested upon her cheek, directing her gaze upwards. “You know, they are the ones that should be on trial, not you, right?”
 
Now Twilight was the one looking confused. “I mean it. You were just this one shut-in bookworm that wanted to make her mentor happy. You were learning about the magic of friendship, you were helping so many… you were… you ARE a good pony, Twilight. But sadly, this disgusting, wretched world that looks like something out of a war nerd’s twisted fantasy, had to come down and ruin you. All those creatures, like ungrateful angry toddlers, clambering onto you, yelling ‘I want I want I WANT!’ And then they have the nerve to blame you for their misdeeds..”
 
The chains rattled a little as Twilight raised a hoof to Discord. As soon as he felt a hoof on his chest, the Spirit of Chaos looked down to the imprisoned former princess. “…is this why you suggested this type of punishment in particular?”
 
“But of course.” He spoke more confidently. “Just outright killing you or condemning you to Tartarus would not be productive in the slightest. This way, there is at least hope that one day you can walk free.”
 
“And… you really think that I deserve it?” She blinked in disbelief. “After… everything I’ve done?”
 
“OK, this might be, again, from another story I was in, totally unrelated, but-” Yet again, even in the most dire of moments, Discord continued his trademark fourth wall breaks. “I’ve been told once it’s not how much you screw up, it’s what you plan to do to make things right. What you are doing right now warrants a second, third, fourth and twenty fourth chance.”
 
Upon hearing this, Twilight couldn’t help herself but smile, if only a little.
 
“But not today, right?” Now he sat beside her. “Now, you have to appease the public? Be the big bad at the end of the story for the hero to beat and everyone can live happily ever after?”
 
“Yes.” She didn’t hesitate or mutter when answering. “The world has changed so much… and, if everyone is to go forth, together, united… the only way to do so is without me.”
 
Though her conviction was unquestionable, her heart was still broken. No words at the moment could mend it, so Discord just opted for setting a hand to her back, pulling her in for a hug. It was the least he could offer her.
 

 
The impromptu courtroom, placed in a large storehouse in what remained of Manehatten, was abuzz with chatter. Ponies, griffons, yaks, changelings, deer and many more stood there, eagerly and anxiously waiting for what was to come.
 
And all that chatter was broken by the opening of the big metal doors. A group of heavily armed soldiers were leading the chained, tall figure of Twilight Sparkle down to the end of the large room. Her, the Bringer of Winters, Killer of Nations, Nightmare of Society, Wrath of a Good Mare Incarnate… those were only some of the names she garnered over the span of her rampage.
 
What everyone saw wasn’t the anger of a villain in chains or the struggle of a unjustly imprisoned… In fact there was nothing on her expression. She bore a stone cold facade, not showing even the barest hint of emotion.
 
As she got to the edge of the storehouse, she stood in front of a panel of representatives. Twelve in total, one for each of the new groups that were hastily formed after her defeat.
 
And so the trial of Twilight Sparkle began.
 
After rejecting the offer to have a lawyer, to make it at least look like an ‘official’ trial, the representatives started to list the many crimes she had committed.
 
And to each one listed, to each one stated, when asked how she plead, she answered the same.
 
“Guilty.”
 
Her stone cold expression did not waver for even a second as she said that.
 
With her statements recorded, the representatives had no trouble deciding her fate.
 
Twilight Sparkle, daughter of Twilight Velvet and Night Light, former ruler of the nation of Equestria, the last of the Alicorns, has been sentenced to petrification. Some were disappointed that her sentence was not a clean execution, but, again, the representatives had to keep up appearances.
 
So they brought forth the only creature powerful enough to trap Twilight in stone forever.
 
Discord walked slowly, calmly, until he came face to face with the former princess.
 
They shared a glance, looking at one another, taking a prolonged moment. Despite knowing full well that this is what Twilight wanted, Discord wanted to delay it as much as he was allowed to.
 
And then the order was finally issued.
 
The Spirit of Chaos moved his hand to Twilight’s forehead, right under the horn. As he tapped her, immediately, Twilight began to feel her hooves stiffen. From the bottom of her body, her entire being was being converted into stone. It slowly crept up her legs, converging on her body and going to her neck and head.
 
But, as the spell reached her face, something happened.
 
Twilight saw a flash of light.
 
And, suddenly, she could see them. Spike, Celestia, Luna, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Starlight… and so many, many more. Before her stood every being she had touched in her entire life, both currently living and dead.
 
Twilight was surprised, she wanted to stand up, protest, but then…
 
“If you’re going to spend who knows how long in stone…” She turned to see Discord. “…the best I can do for you is give you the chance to say goodbye.”
 
Realizing what had happened, Twilight’s eyes began to tear up. She looked at the array of all her friends that stood there… No words would do this moment justice.
 
And so they just stood there, all of them, sharing looks, sharing smiles… no words were said. They didn’t need to be said.
 
In that last moment, Twilight’s sight was returned to the trial for a brief moment before the last bit of her was turned to stone.
 
In that very short span of time, her facade broke. Seeing all of that, seeing what she was leaving behind, knowing why she was doing it… she wept. Tears ran down her cheeks as they turned hard and gray while her muzzle curled into a very visible, albeit soft smile.