Fiery waves – the ups and downs of Summer Pride

Chapter 8: Wavering monolith


“Do 你 have any idea what you've done?!” Landslide shouted in my face.

As the oldest of us, he was very much like our father. Distant, reserved and sturdy. But our connection was strong up to this point. I won't lie, it truly hurt that he raised his voice at me. He's never done that before. But I've never let a known war criminal, who happened to be my brother escape as well... Without me, Forever Wind would have faced execution, yet I set him free, despite the horrible atrocities he's committed against the Crown. What could I do? Yes, he was a terrible 小马 who would deserve that fate... but he was family... I couldn't just idly sit 由 and witness his demise! I only wish I recognized that dark void in Wind's soul earlier... but I didn't, so it kept growing and growing and nothing could satisfy its appetite.

My emotions were hurtling; I was in the crossfire between my sense of guilt and the 爱情 toward my family. Yes, my brother was correct that night. Even after what he's done, I never stopped loving him. Oh, it was impossible for me to feel true, untamed hatred against somepony. I was still idealistic, driven 由 a strong moral code and a set of principles that came with it. I was so naive and foolish, I did not realize one does not need these unnecessary restrictions; structure only shackles 你 down...

There was no proof I did it of course... the guards and the prisoners were sent into a deep, coma-like sleep, induced 由 my spell, so there were no witnesses. But Landslide wasn't stupid.

After I let Wind go, I sneaked back to my 床, 床上 chambers without anypony noticing my absence. An 小时 later, the guards were knocking vehemently on my door, as soon as they've found out about my brother's miraculous escape. I pretended to be very sleepy, I messed up my 橙子, 橙色 mane to look like I just got out of bed. And let me tell you, I'm a good actress. I'm proud of my skills and they helped me many times throughout my long life. I can be very convincing if I want to, but I'm sure you've already guessed that 由 now. I've only met three ponies over the years who I could not fool... and one of them was Landslide. He saw right through me. When we went down to the catacombs to examine the premise, he immediately knew I was the perpetrator. Not because my magic made the bars melt, no.

At that time, 独角兽 were very powerful, not like the softies 你 see these days. There were many among us in possession of highly advanced spells, such as the one I used to free my brother. However, Landslide knew he wouldn't find a single unicorn in all of the kingdom, who would help Forever Wind avoid his certain doom. He was very clever... I never really understood his way of thinking, but his intuitions were always right. He merely glanced at me, as we stood at the premise; I saw it from the corner of my eyes as I was pretending to be examining the molten bars with curiosity. It was just a glimpse, but we were both certain: he knows.

“Summer, can I talk to 你 privately in the conference room, please?” Landslide asked quietly, but under the mask of calmness his emotions were rumbling menacingly.

Come to think of it, my son has a very similar nature, he reminds me of Landslide. Blood doesn't turn to water, I guess...

So I followed my brother to the conference room and when I stepped inside, the door slammed behind me with a loud bang. The noise echoed in the abandoned, spacious room for some length. The place was gloomy, only a few candles on the 表 were providing any light. Landslide was idling at the edge of the small 圈, 圈子 of light; the shadows furrowed his features. He kept glaring at me with his piercing golden eyes. I felt naked and weak in his stare. Not many ponies could tell they saw me afraid of something, but on that night I was scared of my brother. Hah, deja vu! I remembered the 日 when Forever Wind started the war. I was frightened 由 him as well. It seemed, since Wind's betrayal, our family was disintegrating rapidly. I clearly sensed the disturbance in our bond... that the monolith of our trust in each other has wavered. But my foresight wasn't as highly accurate as it is now. I wasn't planning my actions back then, I was 表演 instinctively, not sizing up the consequences 或者 the effects my actions will take in the long run. I merely did what I thought was right in my heart. And I wasn't prepared what was about to come...

“Do 你 have any idea what you've done?!” Landslide suddenly pealed; the thick walls reverberated his all pervasive voice.

I winced a little 由 the sound, but endured his glare. We both knew there was no place for tergiversation 或者 such banal excuses like “I don't know what you're talking about” between us. But I didn't have the courage to respond either.

“I can't say I blame you.” my brother stated on a calmer tone. “You are the most emotional of us... and 你 let your feelings get the best of 你 once again.”

I finally opened my mouth to speak, but was abruptly silenced 由 Landslide's raised hoof.

“Save it.” he whisked. “This is your weakness, Summer! 你 always let your emotions blind your rational mind.”

“Oh, and 你 sentenced our brother to death out of rational thinking, without even making a frown!” I countered angrily.

“Do not 问题 my judgment! He brought the doom upon himself! He's a war criminal, Summer! Why can't 你 see beyond today?! Do 你 have any idea how it would have effected the kingdom if I let him live? Ponies are angry and crave justice, in return of their suffering on the battlefield! If I do not serve them justice, they'll lose their faith in the system!”

“That's just a frigging excuse, Landslide!” I exclaimed sternly. “You could have just sentenced him to a life in prison, 或者 你 could have just banished him forever! But no, 你 wanted to 显示 everypony the power 你 hold!”

“An example must be made!” my brother shouted. I've never seen him so upset and enraged in my life. “If villains are not punished severely, this kingdom will fall! We have to let the world know, there's no criminal who goes unpunished in Unicornia! Even if it's my own brother!”

I have to admit, that was a strong argument. I didn't even have anything to undermine it. As royalty, I was raised in an environment, that was circling around authority. I was taught that authority comes first and must be respected 由 all. Yet, Landslide's 下一个 words surprised and shocked me beyond measures.

“You let him escape.” he declared. “And I thank 你 for it.”

“What?!” I recoiled.

“You saved me the terrible experience to watch the execution of my brother. 你 have no idea how hard it is for me... I thought I'll break out in tears, when I handed down the verdict... I nearly did. If Wind says something in the right of the last word, I would have... but he kept staring at you. I immediately knew he was counting on 你 to help him.” Landslide explained and lowered his head. “And I also knew 你 won't deny that help. It is in your nature, Summer. That is why I wasn't surprised when I heard about his escape.”

I didn't know what to say, I was just shook up from what my brother told me. I could not believe I was that transparent in his eyes. Landslide came closer and gently stroked my cheek.

“You're the greatest sister anypony could ask for.” he 说 with a warm, honest smile. “I wish I could be as great as a brother too...”

I would have 给 myself over to this intimate moment, but my horn suddenly started tingling. I furrowed a brow as I looked deeply into my brother's eyes, but I was unable to learn anything from his expression. All I knew that feeling in my horn meant only one thing: danger. But from where? Landslide wouldn't attack me, it couldn't be... but we were the only ones in the room.

“I hope your sacrifice will not be in vein and Forever Wind will find peace somewhere.” Landslide said, but his voice trailed off. “I also hope you'll forgive me someday.”

That warm, brotherly smile melted away from his face as he stomped his hoof against the marble floor twice. The loud noise echoed all around the quiet place and the large, two winged door opened all of a sudden. I turned around with a rapid 移动 and saw six, fully armored royal guards, with long sharp spears, marching towards us in closed formation.

“What is this?” I turned to my brother once again.

“Summer Pride!” he exclaimed in a cold, formal fashion. “By playing a significant role in the escape of the known traitor and war criminal Forever Wind, 你 are under arrest for high treason.”

“What?!”

“You are hereby stripped of your title! 你 are no longer the Princess of Central-Unicornia! For aiding Forever Wind's escape, 你 are banished from the kingdom!” Landslide continued relentlessly. “If 你 ever to set hoof in Unicornia again, 你 will be executed on sight.”

“Landslide!!!” I shouted furiously. “What is this madness?! What are 你 doing?!”

“Like I said... your rational mind is blinded 由 your emotions. Mine is not. I'm sorry, Summer.”

“Wait! 你 can't do this!” I yelled, but the guards grabbed me from behind.

“When 你 let him escape... I wasn't surprised... just deeply disappointed. Wind has fallen into a dark pit and he drags 你 along with him as well... I truly wish we could have avoided this... These gentlecolts will escort 你 to our eastern border. Goodbye, Summer!” Landslide 说 and turned his back on me.

“This is it?! 你 just banish me, after what we've been through?!” I shouted, foaming with rage and completely 迷失 my mind. “I've fought for you!!!”

Before I could do anything, one of the guards placed a 领, 衣领 on my neck. It was a magic disruptor, I knew the device well, but this was the first time I had to wear it. It was very uncomfortable...

“You betrayed me!!!” I yelled as I struggled to break free from the tight grasps of the guards.

“Like 你 betrayed me, to save a criminal!” Landslide roared all of a sudden. “Just like Wind, 你 have to suffer the consequences of your decisions! Guards! This audience is concluded! Take her away!”

“Oh, but this is far from over, brother! We shall meet again!” I screamed insanely as the guards dragged me out of the room.

But we never did... Later, I learned from Whirling Abyss, that he broke out in tears after the guards took me away. The great Landslide was crying for days...

From then on, I began to comprehend the deeper aspects of power and what it means to have power over somepony else, which I did not really care about until that point. This experience made me realize the importance of this concept and pushed me toward a whole different path... Funny, if Landslide hadn't done what he's done, perhaps I wouldn't have become the 皇后乐队 of Unicornia later...