It really didn’t take long for me to find my brother, and obviously Princess Cadance alone with him. From what I could tell, they were already talking about a prisoner. If I was lucky, it might have been the prisoner that I would have wanted to talk to them about. I wanted to get this done as quickly as I could, it was never something good to keep somepony in a jail cell for longer than they needed to be.

There was something off about Shiny, though. I have seen him angry before, but normally when there was something that warranted it. If they were really talking about Sunset Shimmer, I doubt he would have been this angry. Then there was Cadance. She didn’t seem to have the same look in her eyes, or the same angry expression, that my brother had.

“This pony, Sunset Shimmer, is a threat to both our kingdom and Equestria!” I didn’t know exactly what to make of that claim. There was a chance that I didn’t know something that he did, it wasn’t unthinkable. I actually hadn’t seen Sunset Shimmer for a while, and there was the chance that my brother knew more about the situation than I did. This would be one of those times when I knew I had to just wait, to figure out what it was that he knew that I didn’t. The old me would have rushed in and said something by now, but that wasn’t the type of Princess that I wanted to be. I just had to stand here, wait for anything to be said. The two of them likely knew more about it than I did, I just knew it.

Of course, the confused look from Cadance didn’t give me much hope that she knew what he was talking about. But that was why Shining Armor was head of the Royal Guard, he likely knew how to gauge threats in a way that I didn’t.

“She tried to depose a princess.” That was something I obviously knew about, likely better than either of them ponies here. I had been the one who she had tried to depose. Cadance had known about this already, I knew that I had told her. “But that isn’t even the end of the diabolical plans.” I didn’t know if I would have ever referred to it as diabolical. “She was planning on trying to use the Element of Magic, which she stole from the newly crowned Princess Twilight Sparkle, to mind control a group to try to form an army to take over Equestria.” Okay, that did sound a little diabolical. I guess he might have had a point when he said that.

“Not that she would have needed to take over. Merely taking the Element of Magic would have been enough to cause terrible things to happen. They are a great defense against many things that our guards just can’t fight against.” I thought back to everything that we had done. There had been Nightmare Moon and Discord, two of the greatest threats in my time. My brother did have a point, there was no possible way to defend Equestria without having the Elements of Harmony.

But that had been in the past. Celestia had forgiven Nightmare Moon, and had pardoned Discord. I was sure that she would have forgiven Sunset Shimmer for what she had done. Of course, Celestia wasn’t here. I was going to have to convince my BBBFF and my former foal-sitter that she wasn’t a threat. That led me to the next big question, one that would likely have a lot of influence on how difficult it was going to be to get this done.

What was Cadance thinking?

That was something that I couldn’t tell. Cadance simply nodded as he coontinued, little expression showing beyond the fact that it was obvious she was thinking. She seemed to be taking in everything that Shining said, who looked as angry about Sunset as he liked had been when I had told him what happened. Then there was me. I was standing there, simply trying to not be noticed yet. I wished, at that point, that I could have seen anything that would have given me some indication of the types of things that had gone through Cadance’s head.

The next question would be who would have decided her fate anyway.

I knew that Equestria had a diarchy, everypony did. There were minor problems that were able to be settled in Day Court, and some that were settled in Night Court. Neither Princess Celestia or Princess Luna, however, wanted to make any large decisions on their own. I assumed it had to do with the balance of power, neither wanting to make it seem as though they were stepping on the other’s hooves or that the other wasn’t needed. I wasn’t all that well-versed on the politics of the Crystal Empire. beyond the fact that I knew Sombra had made every decision when he had ruled.

“What do you think, Twilight?” That question, Cadance’s voice, snapped me out of those thoughts. It had been silly of me to think that I actually hadn’t been noticed, it was going to happen eventually anyway. When I moved to look at Shining’s expression, though, it was obvious that he hadn’t noticed me. I let out a laugh, this situation was the type of thing that I didn’t do that well in, and started to back up.

I was going to get out of here quickly.

“I don’t see why it matters what I think. I mean, this is your kingdom after all. I’ll just get goi-” It was about this time that I ended up knocking against the wall. It seemed as though my quick retreat wasn’t really going to happen.

“That may be true.” Cadance looked to theme with a smirk on her face. I normally liked it when ponies smiled, but this was something different. If I hadn’t already been a little nervous, this would have done the trick. “But I don’t think it really matters if this is your kingdom or not. You’re a very bright mare, Twilight, and having your insight in this would be great.” I looked over to Shining for a second, and wondered what he might have said. Not only that, but it would have been nice if he could have gotten the focus off of me.

The expression that I got back told me it wasn’t going to happen.

“Besides, we need to know more about her. You know more about her than anyone here. Surely you have something to say before we decide what’s going to happen to her.” The fact was that everything she just said made perfect sense to me. I knew more about her than anypony else here. That was the type of thing that could have helped to make sure that nothing too harsh happened.

There was another problem, though

Everything was up to me. I had to say something. Or maybe I could have used this as an opportunity to let them know what I think. Well, it was a little bit of both. I really didn't like the idea of somepony’s life being in my hooves, though. What if I said the wrong thing? That would have made her punishment worse, and she would have known to blame me for it. I couldn’t let them know what I’m thinking, though, I had to force some smile.

“Sure thing, Cadance.” I closed my eyes for a moment, and tried to think back. The best idea was to start back to the very first pieces of information that I had gotten about her. These were, obviously, from before the incident. “Sunset Shimmer was a mare that caused a lot of trouble. Before I was Princess Celestia’s student, she was. Her goal, when she came back to this side of the mirror, was to steal the Element of Magic, create a small army of mind controlled humans, and then have them invade this side of the mirror.

That was not a well thought out plan.

Aside from the fact that I doubt she would have been able to get back to Equestria, and more important Canterlot from here? I remember my first day over there, and it was terrible. I didn’t know how to use my hands, the right way to walk, or anything. There wouldn’t have been a single one who knew how to do anything on this side.” I opened my eyes back up, and took a threat. It would have been nice to know what the two of them were thinking. Shining Armor still looked rather upset, though there was a look of shock as well.

Still, I wasn’t done.

“But I don’t think that’s the same mare as I see in the cell, or saw in the cell, today.” From the sudden change, I knew what Shining Armor had been expecting. It was painfully obvious, a phrase I’d never understood, that he had expected me to agree with him. I couldn’t do that, though, because I didn’t agree with how he had said things were. Then again, there was always the chance that they knew something I didn’t.

“How can you say that, Twiley? She hurt yo- I mean, she hurt one of the Princesses. Your report states that she tried to kill you. Surely that should be taken into consideration.”

We finally got to the heart of the matter, another phrase I have never understood. This was only partially about what she had done, and mostly about who she had done it too. Shining Armor wanted to protect me from her, and he wanted to get revenge on Sunset Shimmer for the fact that she had tried to hurt me. “Well, actually, she was hit by the Elements of Harmony. Afterwards, she seemed remorseful about what she had done. I doubt that this is something that she would fake, or even could. I left her with the friends I had met.” They had been great to know, even if it hadn’t lasted long.

“Alright.” Cadance said. “I think I’ve heard enough evidence, and now we can end up discussing what the best course of action is.” As I looked over to my brother, I couldn’t help but feel a little bad. There was something about the fact that he was still there to protect me that was refreshing. Also, I never liked seeing him upset like this. “I suggest that she gets left in prison for no less than three years, at which time we will talk it over again to see if it looks like she’s a threat.”

That wasn’t going to work. Well, technically it would. I didn’t want it to happen. This was a lot better than what my brother likely wanted to do, but still seemed to be a bit much for what was essentially breaking and entering.

“I disagree that a prison sentence is a good idea.” The fact that my brother was the one that said that was a good sign. Maybe I had been able to sway him. Maybe he had seen that the revenge that he had wanted wasn’t the type of thing that justice was made of. “It doesn’t seem as though it would do much to help the prisoner, or our worries that she is still a threat.”I didn’t know what to think of that. The wording seemed to suggest that he still saw her as a threat. There was no chance that my BBBFF was going to suggest anything too outrageous, though. He might have gotten hot-headed at times, but my brother was reasonable in the end. “I suggest that she be released immediately, with her ability to use magic being permanently removed. The suggested method is the removal of her horn.”

There went the idea of my brother being reasonable about this.

“You can’t do that!” I hadn’t even realized that I hadn’t been thinking that. The fact that I had yelled it was made obvious by the fact that the two of them were staring at me. There was a look of confusion on their faces. I couldn’t blame them. My initial reaction had been to try to stay out, but I was how pushing my thoughts as things of fact. There was also the fact that I didn’t have a single reason why this couldn’t be done, aside from the fact that I saw it as cruel.

I had to come up with something, though. There had to be a reason why Sunset Shimmer needed her horn. There also had to be a reason why she had to leave today. Those two reasons likely needed to not contradict each other. Even if not today, I knew that three years wasn’t something I could have just walked away from. “Part of the reason why I came here was to get a student, and before I came up here I asked Sunset if she wanted to be just that. As her teacher, I have to look out for her well-being.” I couldn’t believe that I had just lied to my BBBFF and former foalsitter.

I also couldn’t believe I had just said that, it wasn’t even remotely relevant. Being a student wouldn't have gotten her out of either punishment, and least not that I was aware of.

The looks that I got were definitely ones of confusion. Maybe they were trying to figure out when I had gotten a student. I figured that having a student was something a princess just did, so that had been the first thing that had come to mind. Maybe I would have eventually gotten a student of my own, when I was finally ready.

Of course, that time wasn’t now.

“We’re going to have to give this matter some more thought.” Cadance was the first to say something. “This sort of thing has never come up before.”I barely noticed that she was looking at me, my gaze firmly planted on the floor. “We will come up with a decision tomorrow, but it’s about time for dinner.” My gaze moved from the floor to meet Cadance’s. I didn’t know really what to say.  “And don’t worry, Sunset will be getting the same meal. After all, I’d like to see her for myself, have a conversation with her.”

This was not how I thought it would be. I knew they were going to figure out that the was a lie.

I looked at the wall across from my cell. Time really seemed to go extremely slowly when it came down to this sort of thing. I wondered how long it would have taken for others to lose hope in a cell like this. I had something working for me that kept my spirits up, and that was the subtle feeling that everything was going to get better soon. I couldn’t explain it, but there was something that told me that I hadn’t been forgotten yet. Twilight Sparkle just didn’t seem like the type that ran out when she said she was going to do something.

Then the guards showed up, opening the door.

“Follow us. You are going to be taken to see the Princess Cadance and Prince Armor.”

I was sure that there wasn’t anything good that could have come out of this. “A royal invitation? I’m sure their just going to tell me that this was all a giant mistake, that I’m allowed to leave.” That had been almost equal parts sarcasm and hope, with maybe a little heavy on sarcasm. That was what my tone would have suggested anyway. I knew this was going to go terribly. The fact that Shining Armor was Twilight’s brother didn’t give me much confidence on their being impartiality.