Twilight Sparkle P.O.V
The Hall of the Elements, glowing with happiness that runs parallel to the colours of the glass during the day. One would never expect it to seem so... eerie... creepy during the night that turns energetic day into peaceful night. Both wielding a time for gain and loss, for joy and sadness, for discovery and mystery... one such question that troubled me right now was why I had time to consider this? What was taking was the other half of the elements so Luna-damned long?! As of now me, Rarity and a silenced Pinkie have been waiting within for at the very least 10, no wait... 15 minutes without a sign of their arrival-.
"Yo' Twi!? You here?!" Speak of the Devil and leave it to her to yell loud enough for the entire Palace to hear. With a hushed voice, I responded whilst opening the monolith excuse of doors to the hall.
"Quiet! You want every guard to wake up and come here?! Ughh, what took you three so long anyway?"
"Well excuse me Twi, but I don't exactly have wings on my back." Countered Applejack in a rather tired but defensive yet tired voice, with a roll of my eyes I came to the conclusion that I couldn't blame her, we were all tired but knowing Celestia, she would have caused such distress to get us here.
"Never mind, now Celestia had told us to meet us here, apparently something is up and it must be VERY serious for us to be here at this time-"
"Indeed my dear student." With a sudden yelp of surprise, I had twisted around to meet nopony other than Celestia herself, all of us giving a short bow from acknowledging this, she gave us all a smile as we rose once again. "Thank you all for coming here but I'm afraid that the task I shall assign you will test your loyalty to my rule. Come."
"What do you mean by that Princess?" She gave a mere grin as we followed her towards a wall, or so it seemed, until Celestia had pressed her horn... into it? This was when the door had peeled back to reveal a dark room, glowing dimly with blue light that penetrated through the corners of the smooth, marble walls.
"Please, take a seat." Upon this request, 7 chairs and a table had rose from the floor, 6 on the sides of the table and a single one for Celestia herself. As we entered I had felt a familiar enchantment, one that could keep this room from being eavesdropped on. But why however was something that we still needed to find out.
"Now then, loyal subjects, you are all wondering why you are here so, this is what I need done. Our military has been struggling to push back in the face of a war we are barely winning, but there has been a lone actor among our side that has, as of yet, turned the tide of this war. But in doing so has overthrown the reputation of the ENTIRE royal guard, of me as a leader of us all. Which has lead to one harsh... yet necessary decision... he must be eliminated."
"Who is it that needs to die Princess? It may be far harsher than anything we've done before but I'm sure we can do something." It was only after I had said this did I realise just what I had stated, that we would have to kill somepony. Sure, we have vanished many tyrants but for a task like this? Well she is the wisest pony around so this decision must be just. I just hope the others can follow her guidance like I can.
"I would not be surprised if you have heard of him... his name is Delta Hooves." She took a brief moment to slide a dossier on the table, a single picture of this pony, no, this ENEMY that we will end the life of. "And I know that not all of you will be as willing to accept this bidding as others are, so tell me Twilight, Element of Magic. Will you lead your fellow friends to secure my rule of Equestria?"
How could I say no? For Celestia, for Equestria! "Yes your highness, we shall-"
"NO!"
What the hay!? At this sudden outburst, all of our heads turned to the farm mare at the table, I could hear the room fall silent as if nothing had happened, but was already questioning in irony what I just heard. Did she just say no? "A-Ah can't do it. I could never hurt somepony, let alone him!"
"Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha! Real funny AJ, for a second I thought you were being serious!" With this Rainbow Dash continued to laugh, but as she seen that she was the only one laughing and AJ's face appearing to take a more serious tone, I could have sworn I also seen a part of her many of us hated to see: her anger. "You-You're not right? ... Applejack?"
"Ah can't believe this, all of you have heard of what he has done, some of us have even seen that the ponies he helped are alive, because of him. Yet you decide that the right thing to do is to KILL HIM?! Is that the come an' go rate for protecting those you love? Death? ... Ah'm sorry your highness..." This act of refusal, or, dare I say, defiance had shocked us to the core but what could seem to be a subtle act that she done next had hit us like an earthquake... with a single hoof, wet from a dripping tear of disbelief, she clutched her harmony necklace by the amulet, giving it a swift yank that had torn it from her neck and tossed it towards the princess, who caught it with ease. "Ah just can't..." Finally, with a swift exit of her chair, she left the room. And left us, her friends because the need to kill a single pony. Sure he may have saved a few... hundred... thousand... but this is Celestia's decision, she's always right in times like this right?
...Right?
The room seems much emptier now... to think I used to embrace silence but now it's proving, like night and day, to be a time of loss rather than gain. Oh Applejack... please... don't do this...