Chapter 18: The Trial

The morning sun dawns over a renewed, but still somber, Canterlot. The previous day had seen an arrest that had shaken Canterlot’s already tenuous feelings of peace, for if the head of one of Equestria’s largest, and most trusted, banks could be a Shadowbolt, then who else could be plotting behind closed doors?

The hours after the arrest had been turbulent for Twilight, as the common pony and the nobility had swarmed the battered Castle, all vying for an audience with her to put voice to their worries, and to demand more be done. Twilight had weathered it as best she could, for she was sure even Celestia’s regal mask would have broken beneath as vicious and desperate an onslaught as had been aimed at Twilight in those hours, and had found comfort in the stoic and solid forms of Shiro on one side and Commander Knight on the other.

Their presence had been a blessing in the darkness, for though heated words had been exchanged, nopony had gone so far as to become violent. Though, she had seen more than a few with a look in their eyes that had spoken of barely restrained hysteria just short of violence.

And now, with this new day, as the Princess of Friendship watches the golden rays of the sun gently caress the injured city, she prepares for yet another harrowing day.

“How have things come to this, Shiro?” Twilight asks softly, her breath misting on the still-cold window before her. “How is it that I should sit in judgment before those who have so deeply wounded their own homes?”

“Because fate is cruel,” Shiro replies in a gentle voice. “However, the Cosmos know you are strong enough to face what is to come.” He pauses for a moment, the clink of his armor echoing almost distantly in the silence between his words. “Besides, they brought upon themselves this day of judgment, as blinded as they were by their pride. They should have known better.”

Turning to look at Shiro, Twilight regards the older alicorn with a slight frown. In preparation for the day’s events, he has dawned a set of resplendent gold and red armor, the rank insignias replaced by his cutiemark, and has his polearm resting against the nearby wall as he sits beside Twilight. A part of her cannot help but view him as some sort of otherworldly creature, sent here by divine grace to do the bloody work that had been required. Another part of her, the part that has gotten to know the stallion beneath the armor through watching him interact with his family, cannot help but view him as the grandfather she had never known.

“Be that as it may, I do not know if I have the heart to pass harsh judgment on them,” Twilight continues, her voice wavering slightly as she looks back out the window on the city. “All the ponies that have died, all the blood that has been spilt? I don’t know if I can add to it.”

“You would not be Compassion otherwise,” Shiro chuckles softly. “In Equus, all wished to be judged by her, and not by Strength. Compassion was lenient, able to bend to and offer the hoof up, whereas Strength would deal out what punishment was required by the law with no exceptions.”

“Then perhaps you should judge them,” Twilight suggests quickly, her voice breaking slightly.

“No. I would judge them by the laws of my home,” Shiro states, turning his gaze to Twilight who shrinks slightly beneath its weight. “And my home would require their heads mounted on pikes upon the battlements, a grim and dire warning to all who would rise against the crown in the future.”

“That’s barbaric!” Twilight gasps. “Nopony would ever accept that judgment.”

“But, such punishments are doled out by those hard of heart,” Shiro continues, “and you are hardly such.” He sighs, and returns his gaze to the city beyond, one large white wing unfurling and gently laying across Twilight’s shoulders. “And still, this is not Equus, and thus it is not my place to sit in judgment.” He shakes his head, a small smile forming on his face. “This is why you must sit in judgment, Twilight. In the absence of Celestia and Luna, you are the heart and soul of this city. You, above all, are the only one who can sit upon that throne and cast judgment upon those who have wounded it. And whatever judgment it is, be it as lenient as a slap on the wrist, or as harsh as calling for their lives to end, all shall stand by it.”

“I hope you are right,” Twilight sighs as she scoots closer to Shiro, the warmth of his wing bringing some measure of comfort. “I’m just worried.”

“I know,” Shiro says gently, his voice comforting. “But you will have your friends there to help, as well as myself and the Commanders.” He looks down at Twilight, his smile growing. “And take it from an old soldier, anything can be accomplished when you’ve got a stout and hearty group of friends by your side.”

“And they call me the Princess of Friendship,” Twilight chuckles.

“I am simply an old soul, Twilight,” Shiro chuckles back. “When you are as old as I am, you will know quite a bit.”

The two quietly share a much needed laugh for a few moments, the weight in the air seeming to lessen slightly as they share in a feeling of companionship. However, Twilight knows it cannot last, and she eventually sighs a sigh that holds a slightly note of contentment, but also of profound sorrow.

“Shiro, I think you should go check in on the security arrangements,” Twilight say softly as she draws up her shoulders, her wings fluttering slightly.

“Very well, Twilight,” Shiro states with a reverent note in his voice. “I shall leave you then, I know how important it is to steel yourself before you walk into battle.” He gently hugs Twilight with his wing before removing it as he stands and departs.

The sudden absence of heat, and perhaps more importantly the feeling of suddenly being alone, causes Twilight to shiver heavily for a few seconds. She takes one last long look at the city; burning the shattered and broken visage of her home city into her mind, before turning and striding towards the low coffee table in Celestia’s study. Upon it, sitting on a purple cushion with Twilight’s cutiemark sewn into it, rests her crown beside a set of shoes and a chestpiece. The shoes and chestpiece of forged of a brilliant dark gold, almost an amber, with a masterfully cut gems set into the face of the chestpiece in the shape of the Element of Magic. They had been a gift from the Royal Armory, stating that Rarity had commissioned and paid for them to be made so that Twilight would look the part of a ruling Princess for the duration of her time upon the throne of Canterlot.

Gingerly, as if the objects were alive and infinitely fragile, Twilight reaches out and rests a hoof against the cold surface of the chestpiece. No matter how many times she had looked upon these objects, she still felt unworthy of them, but now she could harbor no doubts. She must not only look the part of a princess today, she must be a princess today to equal Celestia or Luna so long as she sits upon the throne to pass her judgment.

“This is mine,” Twilight whispers softly as she attempts to make those words true not only in her mind but in her heart. “I am a princess. I can do this.” She pauses to take a deep breath, the next words coming out despite the lump forming in her throat. “I will make you proud, Celestia.”

Removing her hoof from the chestpiece, she gathers the shoes in her magic and places them on the floor so she can step into them. Once she has her shoes on, she levitates the chest piece up and buckles it on, the cold metal sending a shiver down her spine as its weight settles against her chest.

Then, finally, she turns to her crown, and with the same gentle way one would hold a newborn foal, she wraps the crown in her magic and slowly floats it up towards her head. She stares at it a moment as it comes level with her eyes, her heart beating hard and fast as if she had just participated in the Running of the Leaves. This is the symbol of her right to rule. The shoes and chestpiece are just fancy pieces of jewelry, the crown marks her as a sovereign princess. And for a moment, all her hesitation, all her fears come back. Looking at the crown, a small voice whispers in her mind, ‘who are you to wear this beside the likes of Celestia? Beside Luna?’

Shaking her head, she closes her eyes and steels her resolve as she floats the crown up to rest upon her head. Once more, she takes a deep breath, the weight of the crown upon her head nearly as light as a feather, even as it weighs heavily on her mind and heart.

When she opens her eyes again, the doubt is gone. As she strides once more to the window to look out on her city, she sighs softly.

Today, justice shall be done.

-----

The sound of all the undamaged bells across Canterlot announcing the ninth hour of the day rings loudly through the corridors of the Castle. So loud is the ringing that the sound of Blueblood’s hoofbeats, and the hoofbeats of the nobles behind him and their escorts in their polished golden and blue armor, are nearly lost to all but the most perceptive of ears.

Head held high, Blueblood strides confidently towards what can only be his ultimate doom. All around him the eyes of the servants, the guards, the displaced civilians, stare at him with a deep and profound hurt that he cannot help but feel deep in his own heart. With each passing pony, with each tolling of the bell, he can feel his heart beat a little slower from shame. The ruined corridors of the Castle, the broken windows, the chipped and tarnished floors upon which he strides through and upon, is ultimately his fault.

This, he concludes, is the price of arrogance allowed to run free. This is the horrible cost of allowing one’s inhibitions and desires to be above others.

As the large group turns the final corner and the massive doors to the throne room come into view, Blueblood slows a bit and tries to draw every last inch he can. No matter what shame he might feel in his heart, he cannot appear weak before the assembled masses. He will not appear weak before the princess. For should this be his doom, he will face it bravely, like has faced nothing else in his life.

As he arrives at the doors, the guards on both sides banging their polearms upon the floor to signal the arrival of the accused. Keeping his eyes forward, he watches as the doors swing open on their silent hinges, and barely keeps from gasping as he sees the state of the room beyond.

The once humble throne room of Equestria, the shining jewel of Canterlot’s Castle, lies in ruins. This is the first time Blueblood had set hoof in it since the attack, and where he feels shame at the glares and looks he has gotten from his fellow ponies, he feels true dispair and profound sorrow at seeing the room his aunt has ruled from his entire life in shambles. Stepping forward, it takes all his willpower to keep steady on his hooves, to simply keep his head held high. But with each step he takes deeper into the throne room, the harder it becomes. His eyes cannot stop looking over the cracked and chipped colonnades, the empty glass windows, the torn and ragged banners. He cannot help but feel the cool marble beneath his hooves, each crack, dent, and chip in the once perfect face feeling like a wound to his own body.

Dragging his attention away from the state of the room, Blueblood realizes that it is full of ponies, and not just those who stand beside him to be judged. Ponies from all walks of life crowd the vast throne room, leaving only a narrow channel lined with Royal Guards in the center for the accused to walk. At the end of the path, sitting in a large clearing at the base of the throne are the commanders of the city’s defense. The Royal Guard’s commanders wear impassive expressions, their dented and scratched armor all but glowing in the late morning light, while the Navy and Reserve Corps’ leaders wear expressions of profound disgust and disappointment.

And above them all, sitting tall upon the throne with her head held high, is Twilight Sparkle.

As Blueblood stops before the throne he bows deeply, his muzzle nearly touching the cracked stones beneath of the floor. Behind him all the others fall into equally deep bows, more than a few actually falling onto the floor due to injuries or fatigue.

“Rise,” Twilight commands in a dispassionate voice, causing instant obedience from Blueblood and his fellows. “Before we start the trial, I must ask you all if you understand the charged being put before you.”

“I would have those charges stated once more, your highness,” a voice comes from Blueblood’s right, quickly followed by Earl Black Velvet walking to stand before his clients. “So that there is no confusion. That is, if the prosecution agrees?”

“We have no objections, your highness,” a mare wearing a Royal Navy dress uniform answers as she steps into view as well.

“Very well,” Twilight nods as she draws herself up taller, her wings flaring slightly. “Archduke Blueblood, you and your cohorts are charged with Treason as well as numerous counts of murder in the first and second degrees, attempted Regicide, and the further destruction of our fair city. How do you and your own plead?”

Opening his mouth to speak, he is cut off by Velvet. “My clients plead not guilty, your highness, such accusations are baseless!”

“I wish to hear it from them, Earl Grey,” Twilight states coolly as she folds her wings and turns her gaze to towards Blueblood’s lawyer.

“Very well,” Velvet states calmly as he and the prosecutor look to Blueblood.

“We plead not guilty, your majesty,” Blueblood calmly says as he bows his head. “We were not ourselves.”

“Very well,” Twilight sighs as she inclines her head slightly. “As you understand the charges, and have professed your innocence, we shall stand trial.” She turns towards the large form of the male alicorn, who Blueblood has learned is named White Star, and gestures with a wing. “Archduke White Star, seal the throne room, and let none enter so long as we are in trial. I do not wish any to disturb us.”

“By your leave, Highness,” White Star intones softly as he stands, his golden armor rattling as he descends from his place beside the throne towards the doors.

Blueblood watches the alicorn walk, the fact his title is equal to Blueblood sends a shiver down his spine. Had Twilight replaced him? The tidbits he’d been able to pick up from his personal servant had indicated this alicorn had come in the days prior to Blueblood’s uprising, and was the head of House Star. The information was too convenient, though, he had come from nowhere and nopony knew anything about him save for House Star, and they were tight lipped.

The sound of the vast doors to the room closing draws Blueblood from his thoughts, his eyes refocusing and finding all eyes had likewise followed the mysterious alicorn to now watch him close them off from the world beyond. As the doors finish closing, the echoing boom of them falling into their place echoing akin to the earlier tolling of the bells. Instead of turning and walking to resuming his place beside Twilight’s side the instant the doors have been closed, his horn continues to glow with magic, and Blueblood is both shocked and impressed as a sealing ward forms over the doors.

The sudden realization that there will be no escape from whatever judgment Twilight passes sinks into Blueblood’s mind, and a dreadful fear grips his heart. He had no plans to escape, he would face his judgment, but now faced with the fact in all but stone is a terrifying prospect.

“Let the trial of Blueblood and his associates commence,” Twilight’s voice echoes in the deathly quiet room. “Earl Grey, we will allow you to give your opening statement first, followed by Lieutenant Commander Juris Prudence.”

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Velvet says with a bow before turning towards the assembled ponies in the throne room. Drawing himself up, his face grows serious as he starts to talk. “My fellow Equestrians, I shall spare you from going over once more the horrors of what has befallen our beloved city. For we all know what has happened, but we do not know who is to blame!” He pauses a moment to point towards Juris who simply raises an eyebrow. “My dear colleague from the Navy will tell you it is the fault of my clients, the Nobility who has done nothing but watch over our fair city! Who in their love for their Princess and Nation were blinded and led astray by sweet words laced with poison!” He lowers his hoof and holds his head high, a small almost proud smile on his face. “But, I assure you all, I shall prove to you all beyond a shadow of a doubt, that our Archduke and all who followed him, are guiltless and that the actions of those who are truly to blame weigh heavily upon their hearts and shoulders.” He then pauses once more, turning to look at Twilight as he speaks once more. “For, an attack on the nobility of this city, is an attack upon us all,” he then goes and sits beside Blueblood at the head of the accused nobles. “The defense rests, Your Highness.”

Inclining her head, Twilight looks towards Juris who rises and takes a moment to compose herself.

“A great tragedy has occurred in our city,” Juris starts, her voice clear and just loud enough to reach everypony in the room, “and in our hearts. Our city has been wounded, beaten, battered, and broken! And while I will concede the defense that there are those beyond the group standing here today who share the blame, I shall not concede that Archduke Blueblood and his group is blameless!” She calmly raises an arm to point at Blueblood, her eyes never leaving the crowd. “Archduke Blueblood willingly rose up in arms against his fellow ponies, against the ones he swore to protect beneath the Crown of Equestria.” She turns and points towards the throne, pointing towards it and the one who occupies it. “He rose up with the goal of destroying that crown, and deposing the ones who rightfully rule over us!” She turns once more and stomps a hoof loudly against the marble floor. “Such cannot, and shall not, go unpunished. I know that all of you shall not allow their actions to go unpunished! Nor, I assure you, shall Princess Twilight allow them to go free. I shall show you all, that no matter what excuses and slick words my counterpart shall find or say, the facts will always outweigh and outshine the fictions constructed by those who desire power.” She looks over to Twilight, her final words echoing in the deathly silent hall.

“If you have finished your opening statement, Lieutenant Commander, you may call your first witness,” Twilight states camly.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Juris says softly before turning towards the crowd again, pausing, Blueblood sees a small corner of her mouth turn up slightly when her eyes fall on Velvet. “The Prosecution calls forth the Marquis Leaf Wind of House Platinum, Wonderbolts Reserves Senior Wingpony, to give an account of what he witnessed during the attack.”

The crowd parts slightly, and a red pegasus stallion with a dual colored mane walks forth and heads towards the base of the throne. He stops on the first riser and turns to sit down and face the crowd.

“Leaf Wind, raise your right hoof and repeat after me,” Juris instructs Leaf who promptly raises his hoof. “I, Leaf Wind, swear to upon my life and my standing in Equestria that I shall tell the truth, and nothing but the truth.” Leaf repeats the oath and then lowers his hoof. “Marquis Wind, could you please state to the court who you are and what you were doing the evening Blueblood’s forces attacked.”

“As you stated before, my name is Leaf Wind, and I am a Senior Wingpony in the Wonderbolts’ Reserve Corps,” Leaf starts slowly, keeping his eyes focused ahead or on Juris. “I am also a Marquis of Equestria, following my marriage to my wife A.K. Yearling.” He pauses and takes a deep breath before continuing. “On the night of the uprising, I was with my mother, Viscountess Fine Brew, and my nephew Trick Step investigating the ruins of the teahouse my mother owns in the High Class district near the area the Wonderbolts’ Compound used to occupy.”

“And, what happened while you were there?” Juris asks, prompting Leaf to continue.

“Well, we’d been there for about an hour when the artillery started to fall,” Leaf states slowly as he slightly lowers his ears and looks down. “I ushered my mother and nephew into the cellar of the teashop and guarded the door while Canterlot went to hell.” He shakes his head slowly and sighs. “The shells rained down for what felt like hours, and when it finally stopped I was almost sure we’d come back out to nothing but the entire city in ruins.”

“And understandable concern,” Juris agrees with a nod which Blueblood can see many of the ponies in attendance share. “Now, when you left the tea house’s cellar, what did you find?”

“My grand-uncle, actually,” Leaf snorts. “Or rather, I ran into the point of his blade, which was aimed right at me.”

“And is this the sword you are speaking of?” Juris asks as she walks over to a table covered in objects to be used as evidence. She picks up a rapier which has been melted nearly to the hilt, and holds it up for Leaf to look at.

“It is,” Leaf answers.

“Exhibit A-two,” Juris announces. “This blade is property of Lord White Tie, who stands accused of attempted fratricide.” She turns towards Leaf and walks over towards him with the blade. “Can you explain to the court how it was melted like this?”

“My nephew, Trick Step, got between myself and Tie,” Leaf starts, “and had a magic surge while defending my mother and I. It melted the blade as you see, and threw Tie back into a wall.”

“The after action report states that after that you took him to the Castle? Did the attack from the young colt knock him out?” Juris asks, turning from Leaf and pacing slightly.

“No, my mother actually did that with a brick,” Leaf chuckles as he scratches the back of his head. “But, after that we did take him to the Castle, and… Well, truth be told, when we got there I almost wished we’d stayed at the tea house.”

“And why is that?” Juris presses, turning around to face Leaf.

“I’m sure you saw the front entrance to the Castle,” Leaf answers slowly, his ears folding back against his head.

“I did, but I need you to explain it,” Juris continues to press.

“Ma’am, with all due respect, I don’t think it has anything to do with this trial,” Leaf responds, his ears going back against his head. “And frankly, I’d rather not.”

“Fine., Did you witness anything else during the attacks?” Juris asks, prompting Leaf to continue.

“Nothing pressing, ma’am,” Leaf shrugs. “I was present for Princess Twilight’s arrival inside the Castle, and Blueblood’s arrival to the dungeon. But that is all.”

Nodding, Juris smiles for the first time. “Thank you then, Marquis,” she turns and walks back to sit where she had started and looks to Twilight. “If Earl Grey does not have any questions, I shall call my next witness?”

“I have no questions for Leaf Wind at this time, your highness,” Velvet states calmly.

“You may step down, Leaf,” Twilight say softly, prompting Leaf to bow his head to her before he stands up and walks back to sit amidst the crowd. “Please call your next witness, Commander,” Twilight orders calmly.

“Right away, Your Highness,” Juris replies as she rises again. “We call Major General Diamond Star to the stand.”

A grizzled looking mare strides forth from the front row of the crowd, her spotless dress uniform sporting ribbons and medals that make Blueblood’s eyes grow wide. Many of the medals are for bravery, and one of them is even the Equestrian Royal Medal of Honor.

The mare settles down in the place that Leaf had been in earlier, and raises her right hoof before Juris can even ask. “I, Duchess Diamond Star of House Star, Major General retired of Equestria's Armed Forces, swear upon my standing in Equestria and my life that I shall tell the truth, and nothing but the truth so long as I shall sit here.”

“Been through this before, General?” Juris asks with a smirk.

“A few times, Commander,” Diamond replies with her own smirk, “a few times.”

“So, General, you were present here in the Castle for the majority of the fighting, is that correct?” Juris inquires, gesturing with a hoof absently.

“That is correct, Commander. I, along with many of House Star’s core household have been here in the Castle since the Shadowbolts’ attack,” Diamond replies in a matter of fact tone. “We have apartments here in the Royal Wing.”

“Might I ask why you’ve got apartments in that part of the Castle?” Juris prompts, raising a questioning eyebrow at Diamond.

“We are distantly related to Princess Celestia and Luna through the head of our house,” Diamond replies once more calmly as if it were everyday knowledge.

“And who is the head of your house?” Juris prompts.

“Objection!” Velvet interrupts. “What does this have to do with anything?”

“I am establishing credibility,” Juris offers in counter, looking up to Twilight.

“I’ll let it stand for now, so long as you get to the point, Commander,” Twilight frowns, “we are here after all to hear evidence on the crimes of the nobility, not the pedigree of the General.”

“The head of our house is sitting on the right of Princess Twilight, Commander,” Diamond shrugs. “But, I agree with the Earl of House Grey, we should focus on the more important topics.”

“Very well,” Juris agrees with a sigh. “You were here during the fighting, correct?”

“I was,” Diamond responds.

“What capacity did you serve, General?”

“As a retired Major General, I was here originally as an advisor to Commanders Dawn and Knight,” Diamond answers calmly. “However, once it became clear the fighting would not be contained, and would soon consume the entire city, I belted on my sword and stood at the front gates.”

“So, you saw action during the uprising?” Juris queries.

“Yes, I saw first hoof what JSS was willing to do to win the fight,” Diamond growls. “First at the gates when they threw wave after wave after wave at our defenses. Then, later after Princess Twilight arrived, I and my house guard ventured forth into the city to cut out the rot of the mercenaries like a cancer. In all my years of soldiering, I’d never seen a sight as disgusting and disgraceful as what I saw. If Blueblood hired them, as I’ve been told, then he is just as responsible for their atrocities as they are.”

“Would you care to describe some of the atrocities, General?” Juris asks hesitantly, clearly unsure if she really should ask it of the older mare.

“Have you ever been in war, Juris?” Diamond asks softly, dropping rank and simply asking the other mare.

“No, I’ve not,” Juris replies in an equally soft voice.

“I hope you never have to be, then,” Diamond offers. “What I saw was not war, though, not in the traditional sense at least. JSS was committing outright genocide, indiscriminate and without hesitation.” Shaking her head she looks out over the crowd. Blueblood follows her gaze and he can see many in the courtroom have a haunted expression on their faces. “I saw too many good, young, ponies die that night, Commander. Ponies that had no place on the battlefield were cut down by the sword, by the arrow, and by spells. You ask me to describe what I saw? Very well.” The General goes into a long and graphic description of what she’d seen during the uprising. No matter what he does, no matter how hard he tries, Blueblood can’t drown her words out, and he finds himself glad his coat is already white for how pale he feels himself grow.

He is also not the only one in the group to grow pale, and more than a few even turn green at the descriptions of just how bad of a butcher’s yard the streets had become. As she finishes, Blueblood decides that, should he survive the day, he will need a shower to wash off everything he is feeling at that moment.

Clearing her throat, Juris does her best to swallow down the green forming in her cheeks. “T-thank you, General, that was a very… exhaustive description.” She then shakes her head and continues on,“you were a part of the group that planned out how to end the battle, were you not?”

“I was included, yes,” Diamond confirms. “Princess Twilight wished me to lend my tactical experience.”

“And what was your recommendation upon learning of the fortifications present at Blueblood’s estate?” Juris asks simply.

“That we should defeat them before they became more entrenched,” Diamond states. “That we should kill the lot of them, and be done with it!” She pauses, and looks over at Blueblood. “You’re lucky that Renegade was friends with the Princess, Blueblood, because he saved your life.” The outburst causes many nobles, and even commoners, to shout and stamp their hooves in protest, causing the guards to form up around Blueblood and the accused to keep them back.

“Order!” Twilight says loudly. It’s not a shout, but it’s not quiet. “Everypony, please, you will stay calm, or I shall have you removed.”

The room goes quiet as everypony settles back down.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Juris thanks Twilight with a bow before turning back to Diamond. “Why was that your recommendation, General?”

“Because after what I’d seen, I felt there was no other option,” Diamond growls. “And I stand by it. What they’ve done to their fellow ponies deserves nothing but the same in kind.” The sound of general agreement from the crowd causes a cold sweat to form between Blueblood’s shoulder blades, but he does his best to ignore it. Twilight was many things, but he does not believe she’ll condemn him and the others to death.

At least, he hopes she won’t.

“I have no further questions, General,” Juris says with a smirk as she turns to Velvet. “Do you wish to speak with her, Earl Velvet? Or shall we dismiss her?”

“I have no questions for the venerable General,” Velvet states calmly, though Blueblood can tell he is tense.

“You may step down, General Star,” Twilight commands softly.

“Yes, your highness,” Diamond says as she turns and salutes crisply to Twilight and Shiro before walking from the base of the throne and back to where she had been standing before.

“And now, for my next witness…” Juris starts as she pulls out a list from her uniform, quickly calling a name that Blueblood does not know, and calling a pony to stand before the court.

It continues on like that for a little while, Juris calling everything from shopkeepers to Reservists, to even a few members of the group of foals that he had seen wearing capes. Blueblood doesn’t really pay attention to any of the testimony, all of it is the same; stories of the uprising, the personal heartbreak, the horrors.

All of it, to a single story, is damning towards him and his group. And through it all, the Archduke can’t help but wonder what his parents would think of this latest debacle in their son’s life. Doubtlessly, they’d say they wished his uncle and his older brother had survived the Griffin Drake War, because he had always been the smarter of the two…

“If it pleases your majesty, I would like to call my last witness,” Juris states, pulling Blueblood from his thoughts and back to the horrible reality that is his life. When Twilight nods Juris turns towards the crowd, pulls out her list, and reads the final name. “The Prosecution calls Graceful Melody to stand before the court.”

Turning to scan the crowd, Blueblood watches as one of the tallest and largest pegasus mares he has ever seen stands up and gently pats the Royal Guard sitting beside her with one hoof before striding forward with purpose. As she draws close to Blueblood and the others, he finds himself holding back a gasp at how scarred she is, and nearly loses it when he sees the deep faded scar drawn across her throat. As she reaches the base of the throne, she pauses and her brow furrows as she turns around to start back to where she’d been sitting, only to have the guard that had been sitting with her, an earth pony from the looks of him, run over and give her what looks to be a small radio device which she accepts with a smile.

“Is something wrong, Miss Melody?” Juris asks with a raised eyebrow.

“No, I simply forgot the device that allows me to speak freely,” Grace’s ‘replies’ through the artificial voice box. “I do not think I would be able to aid you if I could not speak and had to resort to sign language.”

“Ah, yes, I was informed you would require special considerations,” Juris sighs before nodding towards the base of the throne’s dias. “If you are all ready?”

Nodding, Grace walks over to the dias and sits at the base of the throne before raising her right arm and speaking the oath. Once she has done that, she settles down, regarding Juris with a look that reminds Blueblood a lot like a griffin staring at a deadly foe.

“So, Miss Grace, you were present during the uprising, is this correct?” Juris starts her usual line of inquiry to establish the witness’ credibility.

“I was,” Grace replies in her almost robotic voice.

“In what capacity?”

“I was a member of Janus Security’s Twenty-Fifth Jaeger Division,” Grace states calmly, causing all but Twilight and Shiro, as well as a few of the Guards, to gasp and take a few steps backwards from the throne. “My position in the squad could be described as the Lieutenant, or even the Sergeant, directly commanding the squad beneath our ‘captain’ or handler.”

“A-and what was your task during the uprising?” Juris asks unsteadily. “And how are you sitting here a free pony?”

“My squad was tasked with removing pockets of resistance, such as Guard armories and civilian holdouts in captured districts,” Grace replies in the same tone a soldier would report to a superior. “As for how I am here, my squad and I ran into….” she pauses, her ears going back against her head as she looks out towards the crowd.

“Into what, Miss Melody?” Juris asks quickly. “Remember you are under oath and must answer the question.”

“We ran into my father,” Grace replies, looking down and away from Juris. “He was waiting in ambush outside a house in the middle class district that had a sniper in it. He killed my entire squad except for our handler before I was able to disable him. I would have killed him, but Captain Noire of the Royal Navy arrived and stopped me.”

“And how does this make you a free pony? Is your father a guard?” Juris asks, though Blueblood knows the question is completely off-topic from the trial he can see many are actually interested, or too afraid to speak up.

“My father, Epic Prose, is a… stallion in the employ of the Crown, and a personal friend of Princess Twilight,” Grace replies slowly, and Blueblood is almost certain he can hear the large mare kicking herself for having to tell that information.

Juris opens her mouth to ask another question, but before she can Blueblood hears Velvet get to his hooves and start forward. Looking over at the Earl, Blueblood flinches slightly at the look of controlled fury on his face.

“You expect us to accept the testimony of this… this monster?!” Velvet demands, stopping a hoof against the floor. “I’ve allowed you to prance out a lot of witnesses without complaint, Miss Prudence, but this? This is too far.”

“Earl Velvet, I do-” Juris starts.

“Of course you don’t, you’re no different than the General, or this creature here,” Velvet says coldly. “You’re a soldier, and you’re not meant to understand. But this has gone too far.” He looks up at Twilight who has narrowed her eyes at him. “Your Highness, clearly you can see that the only criminal in this room is sitting on the witness stand! That monster has doubtlessly killed more ponies than my clients! Their blood stains her hooves, not Blueblood’s or his co-defendants!’

“Leave her alone!” A shout comes from the crowd, causing Blueblood to look over as it parts with a few startled gasps. “Leave my stepdaughter alone, she’s just doing what she feels is right to make up for the stuff you’re accusing her of.”

“I will not be lectured by a common pony,” Velvet growls without looking back at the unicorn who storms forward. “And if you are related to this creature, than I have less reason to heed your words.”

“Yeah, she’s a member of the mercs that attacked us!” a voice comes from the crowd, followed by loud agreement from primarily nobles.

“She should be in a cage!” another calls forth.

“She helped us fight the Shadowbolts!” another pipes in defence Grace.

“Yeah, she is a good pony!” this one is from the guard Blueblood saw sitting with her.

The throne room erupts into loud arguments, and very nearly devolves into a brawl before Twilight stands and flares her wings.

“ENOUGH!” Twilight shouts in the Royal Canterlot Voice. “Graceful Melody is not on trial here! Nor shall she ever be for I have pardoned her!” She lowers her wings, and her voice as she looks to Shiro, also standing with his polearm halfway drawn. “Shiro, unlock the doors, I think we need a recess for lunch and for everypony to cool off.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Shiro agrees as he walks from his perch beside the throne and wades through the crowd to unlock the doors.

Blueblood watches as the doors swing open and the majority of the ponies present shuffle out under the watchful eyes of the Royal Guard and the armored alicorn standing at the doors. Sighing heavily, Blueblood allows his shoulders to slump and his head to hang as his fellow defendants are taken away leaving him in the mostly empty throne room with just Twilight and a few others who are gathering themselves to leave.

Taking a deep breath, he stands and turns to leave, a small smile forming on his face unbidden when he is greeted by Seabiscuit, who is dutifully waiting for him.

As he and Sea depart the throne room, Blueblood continues to smile. If nothing else, if the day ends with him being convicted of his crimes, he at least still had one friend left in Sea.

----

The gardens of Canterlot Castle had seen better days, true, but even in their current state they are more beautiful than the majority of the city. And, more importantly, far more peaceful. Because of this, it was there that Fine Brew had elected to take Tricks, her grandcolt, and her two adopted daughters Jasmine Honey and Camomile Sugar. With all the stress of the past few weeks, Fine had taken the first chance she could get to go somewhere out of the way on the Castle grounds to just pretend everything is normal and her world had not been tossed upside down.

And so, she finds herself in the shade of a grand old oak tree, Jasmine curled up against her as the pair watch Tricks and Camomile wrestle around near a small pond that had formed out of an impact crater.

“Why don’t you go join your sister and nephew?” Fine gently asks as she leans down and nuzzle her daughter’s head. “They look like they’re having fun.”

“I don’t want to,” Jasmine replies softly as she scoots closer to Fine. “I want to say here, with you.” She gently nuzzles against Fine’s neck, her ears back against her head.

“Why?” Fine asks, slightly puzzled as her daughter just leans against her.

“I’m scared,” Jasmine whispers.

“You’re safe now,” Fine comforts her daughter. “Nothing can hurt you now.”

“It’s not that, Mama,” Jasmine once more whispers. “I’m afraid of hurting others…”

“What do you mean?” Fine asks softly as she gently lifts an arm and pulls Jasmine closer. “You’re not going to hurt anypony.”

Shaking her head and shivering slightly, Jasmine looks up at her adoptive mother. “I was made to hurt ponies. I don’t want to though…”

“Shhh, it’s okay, Jasmine,” Fine coos gently as she hugs her daughter. “You’re my daughter now, and everything that happened in the past can’t touch you anymore. The only thing you’ll be doing from here on out is helping with the tea shop and enjoying being a foal, nothing else.” She gently nuzzles against her daughter’s head and continues on. “And that’s all you and your sister should focus on, because you’re my little princess, and nopony can tell me otherwise.”

Giggling, Jasmine returns the nuzzle and rests her head against Fine’s neck. “I love you Mama.”

Fine sighs contently as she settles back into simply holding her one daughter, while watching the other play with Tricks. A part of her feels overjoyed to have adopted the two young fillies, the chance to give them a better life swelling her heart. Of course, Leaf had already taken to his new younger sisters, finally able to claim the title of ‘older brother’ over a female sibling, and Fine was more than sure Witch would adore them as well.

The sound of hoofsteps approaching draws Fine from her thoughts, her smile remaining as she looks up towards whoever is coming closer. However, as she spots the figure, her smile slips and she pulls Jasmine closer without thinking. Trying her hardest not to scowl, Fine looks over towards the two playing foals and calls over to them.

“Tricks, Chamy, why don’t you come join me and Jasmine for a minute?” Her voice is steady, calm, which stands in testament to her self control to not growl or grind her teeth as her mother comes across the gardens towards them.

“Aww, but Nana Brew! Me and Chamomile were having fun!” Tricks protests as he squirms under his aunt.

“Chamomile and I, Tricks,” Fine corrects automatically, not even thinking about it.

“Yeah, I had him pinned finally!” Chamomile adds, blithely ignoring Fine’s correction to Tricks’ speech.

“Just do as I ask, please?” Fine states, gesturing with her free hoof for the two to come over.

Sighing heavily, Camomile gets off of Tricks and offers him a hoof up before the two of them walk over sullenly as if they’d done something wrong. They get about halfway before Sweet Tea reaches Fine, stopping a short distance from her with a disapproving frown on her face.

“Well, at least they’re unicorns,” Sweet Tea sighs heavily.

“Hello, Mother,” Fine says in a strained voice. “To what do we owe the pleasure of your attention?”

“I didn’t see you in the throne room attending the trial,” Sweet replies, dodging the question and answering it at the same time. “I would have thought you would be in there supporting your father.”

“My daughters do not need to be in there,” Fine states curtly, pulling Chamomile into the embrace with her sister. “Nor, for that matter, does my grandcolt,” she pulls Tricks in as well, hugging the three foals close to her body. “And I told you already, the stallion that I happen to be related to is crazy for defending those ponies!”

“Fine Brew! He is your father, and he deserves your respect and support!” Sweet retorts as she draws herself up taller to loom over her daughter and the foals. “To think, you would choose charity cases over your own blood relatives!”

“They are m-” Fine starts, her eyes narrowing.

“I had hoped that it was just the stress talking back when we last spoke,” Sweet interrupts her daughter. “Clearly that is not the case! To think your loyalties have been bought by offering you some street rat orphans to look after! Is this what mine and your father’s bloodline has come to? Well? Your brother married a stallion instead of that nice mare we introduced him to, and you’ve gone off and squandered your potential!”

“Jasmine, Chamomile,” Fine starts slowly as she releases the three foals from being hugged against her. “Take your nephew and go over to your uncles. Your grandmother and I need to have a discussion that isn’t suitable for your ears.”

“Okay, Mama,” Jasmine and Chamomile both agree at the same time as they get up. Chamomile once more helps Tricks up, and the three quickly sprint away from Fine and Sweet.

Sweet opens her mouth to say something, but Fine quickly cuts her off as she stands up and all but storms her mother’s personal space. “Where do you get off talking like that in front of my daughters? In front of my daughter’s son?!”

“They are har-” Sweet attempts to counter, but is once more cut off.

“They’re more of a family than you and Father ever were!” Fine shouts, pointing a hoof at her mother. “And I’m damn well a better mother than you could ever HOPE to be, and my husband is a thousand times the stallion my so-called-father is! So save the ‘but they’re not blood related’ horse apples! Those two fillies are MY DAUGHTERS! PERIOD! END. OF. BUCKING. DISCUSSION!”

“I see you’ve already grown attached to them,” Sweet sighs, waving a hoof at Fine to lower hers. “Dear, it’s not proper for a lady to po-”

“I will point at whatever I damn well please,” Fine growls, her eyes narrowed as she snorts through her nose. “And yes, I have grown attached to them. Because they need me, and I am more than willing to open my heart and my home to them. Which is more than could ever be said of you! The way you treated Rain when Mug brought him home! I’d think you actually didn’t like him if not for the fact that’s how you already treated Mug and me!”

“I hardly see how that’s relevant,” Sweet counters, narrowing her own eyes. “It was years ago, and you know how your father and I felt about Mug eloping with that… that… pegasus! Honestly, we could have at least been cordial if he had brought home another unicorn, but he just had to fall in love with a bird br-”

“Don’t even finish that sentence,” Fine barks. “Purple Rain, your son-in-law, has made my brother, your son, nothing if not happy. He has given him the best of himself, despite the fact his in-laws hate the very idea of him!” She pokes a hoof against her mother’s chest. “So don’t you dare finish that thought, because I love Rain as much as I love Mug, and right now that love would outweigh my restraint to not slap you across the face.”

“You would never strike me,” Sweet chuckles weakly. “You were brought up better than that.”

“How badly do you want to test that theory, Mother?” Fine growls dangerously.

“Lay a hoof on me and the guards will show you the dungeon,” Sweet states calmly, her eyes narrowing. “I am a Noble of Equestria, and I will not be threatened or treated like a commoner.”

“You’re forgetting something,” Fine says slowly, advancing on her mother and causing her to step backwards. “I’ve been inside the Castle since the Shadowbolts attacked. I’ve helped tend to the wounded, helped to comfort the grieving, and consoled the fearful. Those guards? They’re my friends, and so is the princess.” She jabs a hoof against her mother’s chest again. “The only pony here who will see the inside of a cell would be you, because they’d take my side. Especially with Father defending those upstarts inside.” She pushes harder, causing her mother to hiss slightly from the pain. “So, listen very carefully. Leave Rain, Mug, my nieces, my children, my grandcolt, and I alone. Or I swear by Celestia’s shining, cake-fed flank, I will beat you into the ground so hard, the pony to pull you out will be crowned the next Marquis of Prance.” She lowers her hoof and leans in close to Sweet’s face. “Am I clear?”

“Y-yes, you’ve made your point,” Sweet answers slowly. “I’ll just leave you alone now, allow you to cool off…”

“You’re going to be waiting a long time,” Fine growls before stepping back and sitting down in the shade of the tree. She watches as her mother slowly turns around, then leaves at a quick pace back towards the Castle. For a moment, she holds her serious expression, before a small smile creeps onto her face and she laughs softly. “That felt really good…”

----

From their vantage point in the shade of another tree about ten yards away from Fine, Mug and Rain watch Sweet Tea’s retreat with a mixture of smiles and quiet laughter.

“Oh, I am really glad I’ve never gotten on Brewsky’s bad side!” Rain comments as he gently ruffles Jasmine’s mane. “Your mom’s got a fiery spirit! You should be proud of her!”

“We are, Uncle Rain!” Jasmine laughs from where she is sitting hugging her sister and Tricks.

“Well, good, because honestly I’m still in shock,” Mug says slowly, his eyes still wide. “I can’t believe she blew up like that at Mother! I mean, I never thought I’d see the day…”

“Now now, dear,” Rain laughs as he leans over and nuzzles his husband’s cheek. “We all knew she had it in her, she was just being polite because Holly didn’t take a hint from me and put her over his back and run laughing as far away from Canterlot as his hooves could take him.”

“Still!” Mug presses, blushing slightly at the public affection his husband is showing. “It’s just… the way she defended us!”

“I know,” Rain smiles warmly, leaning his head against Mug’s. “I’ve never been more proud to call Brewsky my sister-in-law than right now…” His smile then grows wider. “So, we should show how proud we are!” He looks to the five foals all gathered around, his two daughters included, and gestures to Fine. “How about you all go collect Brewsky, and then we can all go to the Castle’s kitchens and see about finding ourselves something special as a treat! We need to celebrate Fine telling the old wind bag to stick a sock in it!”

“Okay!” Tricks replies, quickly getting up and leading his cousins and aunts over to Fine.

“Old Wind Bag?” Mug asks with a raised eyebrow. “That’s my mother you’re talking about.”

“Oh, sorry, love,” Rain chuckles. “Does ‘evil, blood-sucking she-devil’ work better?”

“Much,” Mug agrees as he leans over and kisses his husband on the cheek.

-----

Sitting down in the place he had left two hours earlier, Blueblood watches as ponies once more stream into the courtroom to find seating before the next part of the trial commences. After the Prosecution's opening, and all the evidence they had presented, Blueblood can’t help but feel disheartened.

Looking over at Black Velvet, the Earl Grey, he can’t help but pray that he is as good as he claims to be, if not Blueblood himself but for the nobles who had foolheartedly followed their Archduke into rebellion. He and his two friends perhaps deserved the full extent of the law to be brought down on them, but the others had just followed orders. Turning his attention towards the throne, Twilight already sitting upon it, Blueblood silently offers a prayer to whoever might be listening.

And then Twilight nods, and the doors behind Blueblood swing closed.

The trial has once more commenced.

“Earl Velvet, are you prepared to offer defense for the accused?” Twilight asks, her voice carrying effortlessly through the room.

“I am, your highness,” Velvet replies, his own voice carrying equally well.

“Then please, proceed,” Twilight instructs, inclining her head.

Standing up and striding to stand before the throne, Velvet turns and regards the assembled ponies with a smile that causes Blueblood’s blood run cold. He’d seen smiles like that on his father’s face before, and it meant nothing but trouble.

“Mares and gentle stallions,” Velvet starts, his gaze drifting over everypony. “Before I call my first witness, I would like to remind you all to keep an open mind, for in these times of strife and hardship for our beloved city, we must not be quick to judge! As I have promised, I have proof at the innocence of my fellow nobles, but it falls upon you all, and our dear Princess, to cast aside your fear and anger, and listen to what shall be said here with an open mind and a forgiving heart.”

There is a general murmur of apprehension, but when nopony speaks out against him, Velvet’s smile grows wider and he turns to walk over to stand near the evidence table.

“Now then, let us start,” Velvet declares as he puts a hoof on the table. “The Defense calls Secure Savings to the stand!”

Loud gasps echo through the room, followed by the sound of chains as a pair of guards escort the disheveled former head of the Equestrian National Bank to the base of the throne. It takes Blueblood a few moments to even recognize the once proud stallion, as his once defiant body language has been replaced by the defeated and bowed shell that now shuffles to the base of the throne. As he reaches it, he absently steps up, his movements slow and deliberate as if he is in pain. The thought seems to echo in a few minds, least of all Twilight’s, as she looks down on the poor stallion with an expression of regret and pity.

“Now then, Secure,” Velvet says curtly, causing the stallion sitting at the base of the throne to look at him with weary eyes. “You’re going to tell us the truth, right?” Secure nods wearily before looking back down at the floor and shivering as Velvet walks forward to stand near Secure. “This, my dear fellow ponies, is the cost of seeking power through dark magics. Where once a good and proud stallion stood, now only a shell remains. I would have him speak the oath, but I fear he would not understand it, but all the same he cannot lie to us.” He clears his throat and turns away, walking towards the table again. “Now, Secure, my dear friend, would you please tell the court of the orders you were given by the shadowy figure you served?”

“I was to stir up trouble in Canterlot,” Secure says softly, his voice ragged and worn. He grimaces with each word, as if it is a battle to even shape them. “Af-after the attack on the Wonderbolts by our forces, those of us hidden in the shadows in Canterlot were to..” he pauses to cough a racking, full bodied cough. “Were to stirr up as much trouble as we could, and I saw in Blueblood and his friends the opportunity to do so… much more.”

“And what was that opportunity, Secure?” Velvet prompts as he runs a hoof over the evidence table, stopping in front of a small clear jar of pink crystal dust.

“I saw within them an unease, a strife that I could use to further wound the city,” Secure answers, his eyes on the carpet. “I had been gifted with certain objects that allowed me to look into the hearts of others, and twist their emotions so as to make them more useful to our goals.”

“Those objects were crystals, were they not?” Velvet asks as he picks up a jar containing a full crystal, which glows faintly at being near the unicorn’s magic. “This being one of those crystals, correct?”

At the sight of the crystal, Secure instantly tries to run forward, a look of manic need in his eyes, one hoof extended out to try and touch it. “YES! Please… please give it back!” he is stopped by the chains, which go taunt in the grips of the guards holding them. When it becomes clear he can’t reach the crystal, Secure’s eyes fill with tears as he flails his extended hoof desperately. “Please! Please it hurts! GIVE IT BACK!”

Velvet starts to say more before Twilight cuts in, her tone harsh and disapproving. “Earl Velvet, that is enough,” she rises from the throne and descends down to the still whimpering Secure who stops his attempts to get to the crystal and instead starts to shy away from Twilight. “It’s okay, I won’t hurt you,” Twilight whispers as she powers up her horn and casts a spell that Blueblood knows to be a mixture of painkiller and a low-level sleeping charm. “This will help with the pain, and allow you to sleep.” She looks to the guards and smiles softly. “Please take him back to his room in the medical wing. His part in this trial is at an end.”

“Your Highness, I obj-” Velvet starts before Twilight turns her attention to him, causing him to swallow.

“No. His part is done. He has suffered enough,” Twilight states firmly. “Guards, you may take him away.” The guards salute and herd Secure from the base of the throne, his whimpering and muttering about the crystals filling Blueblood with dread.

He had been touched by those crystals, would he end up the same? Wrapping his arms around himself, Blueblood shivers at the thought of becoming a shell of himself, trapped in his own mind and screaming from pain and a desire to touch the those pink crystals.

“I guess I’d best call my next witness,” Velvet mutters to himself as he walks over to the evidence table again. “The Defense calls Star Swirl the Bearded, to the stand as an expert on the crystals, as well as their effects on ponies.”

“Objection!” Juris shouts, standing up from where she has been seated while Velvet has been taking his turn. “Your Highness, surely you do not think I can allow Earl Grey to pull out some imposter he has slapped the name of ‘Star Swirl’ onto to make us believe he has summoned up some ancient wizard?”

“I assure you, my dear,” a voice comes from behind Juris as the crowd parts to allow an aged unicorn with a long beard to step forward, “I am hardly an imposter, though I do take offense at being called ‘ancient’! I am only one-thousand-and-eighty-three after all!”

All eyes go to the stallion who, like the drawings in the history books, wears a long blue cloak covered in stars and moons and trimmed with bells, as well as a pointy wide-brimmed hat similarly decorated. He strides forward, the bells jingling, for a few paces before turning and looking at two young caped foals who have followed him.

“Midnight, Moonshadow, stay here and don’t do anything, alright?” Star Swirl sighs.

“Aww, okay,” one of the foals, a colt, sighs.

Nodding, Star Swirl continues forward again and stops at the base of the throne with a smile. “Your Highness,” he inclines his head to Twilight. “Lord Grumpy,” he smirks at Shiro. Twilight returns the smile, and Shiro smirks and snorts a bit as Star Swirl turns around and removes his hat.

“Right, Star Swirl raise your right hoof and recite the oath,” Velvet states calmly, waiting a moment for Star Swirl to do so. “Now, you know about these crystals, am I correct?” Velvet asks, levitating the crystal in the jar again.

“I do,” Star Swirl says slowly, his eyes narrowing at the jar. “Enough to know that you should not be even this close to it, nor should I.”

“And why is that?” Velvet asks, bringing the jar over and holding it in one hoof. “It certainly seems benign.”

“I assure you they are anything but!” Star Swirl says firmly, his eyes narrowing. “You saw the stallion that was just in here, the pain he was going through, the longing to touch those crystals again. If you think he is broken now, wait a few days, and you shall see the pain he feels now shall pale next to the agony he shall soon feel as the twisted magic he has used consumes his body.” Star Swirl stands, the bells on his cloak tinkling. “If he dies, and I assure you he very well might, it shall be after days, weeks perhaps, of lingering in the worst possible pain you can imagine. And if he, by some grace of the Cosmos, survives? He shall forever be disfigured, crippled and deformed, by the pact he willingly made.” He glares daggers at the crystal within the jar, and Blueblood can almost feel the glare reflected upon it’s surface. “It is anything but benign, and you would do well to destroy it now.”

“You make a… good point,” Velvet says slowly as he puts the jar, and its deadly contents, back on the table. “Tell me, though, where do they come from? How are they made?” He pauses, looking at Star Swirl with a serious gaze. “And how do you know so much of them?”

“They are ancient, perhaps far more ancient than I,” Star Swirl states gravely as he sits back down. “They are products of Vice, a corrupting and all consuming magic that brought about the fall of my homeland…” he pauses to take a deep breath and look down. As he does, Blueblood watches as profound sorrow come over the ancient mage, ”and ultimately killed my wife.” He looks back up, his eyes growing hard as steel. “When my home, when Equus, was consumed by war, I did my best to learn of our foes, who used magic much like that contained within the crystals you have. I did everything I could to learn of them, short of using them myself, and saw with each battle the terrible, unspeakable, cost of using the magic's brought upon those who had fallen under its sway.”

“This magic, can it do as Secure said?” Velvet ventures. “Can it sway the minds and hearts of ponies?”

“It can,” Star Swirl confirms with a sigh. “It is how their ranks swelled so quickly. However, as I said the cost is great, on those who use the magic and on those who it is used on. It is also limited in scope, as it can only amplify feelings that are already there, not create them.”

“What do you mean the cost is great on those the magic is used on?” Blueblood finds himself asking. When he realizes he spoke out loud, he claps a hoof over his mouth as all eyes turn to him, the attention causing his ears to go back against his head as he sinks towards the floor.

“I take it you had it used on you, then,” Star Swirl sighs. “Fear not, young stallion, you will not be consumed by the same things as the poor wretch who was just in here. No, I suspect you have already gone through the withdrawls. You would have felt extreme paranoia, fear, fatigue. Perhaps moments from your life that have made you feel especially vulnerable would haunt your dreams?”

Nodding, Blueblood looks up at Star Swirl from the floor. “Yes,” he replies weakly, a shiver running through his body. “I-it was awful…”

“Then the worst is past, young stallion,” Star Swirl smiles softly. “Though, the scars will remain, so I suggest you hold tightly to the love of others, and be not afraid to open your heart to them. It will chase the pain away.”

Coughing, Velvet brings attention back to himself. “Thank you for that, insight, Star Swirl, but I do not think you need to comfort my client. He is, after all, a grown stallion.”

“Even grown stallions need comfort sometimes, Earl Grey,” Star Swirl replies with a soft frown. “How would you feel after being violated like he has been?”

“I… cannot say,” Velvet replies before clearing his throat. “But, moving on, do you know how these things are created?”

“Vile magic, more foul and dangerous than the dark arts even Sombra dabbled in,” Star Swirl growls, shifting uncomfortably. “These, in particular, are Pain. In the absence of a Vice to generate them, they would be created by causing the vice to manifest through inflicting that vice upon ponies.”

“So, you are saying that somepony tortured others to create these?” Velvet asks, slightly taken aback.

“Torture is too… lenient a word, Earl Grey,” Star Swirl says slowly, his eyes narrowing as he focuses on a distant, unseen point. “When I say these are pain, I mean they are pain so complete, so utterly consuming, you would wish to die to simply end the feeling. It is born from the wails of children crying over the bodies of their parents, and parents sobbing over the broken forms of their children. It is created from the tears of brothers torn from brothers, sisters from sisters, child from parent. It is found in the endless questions of those who have seen horrors beyond imagining.” He looks up, his eyes haunted. “These crystals are pure, horrific, unspeakable pain made manifest. To make them, you yourself would have to be a monster beyond description.”

For a long moment, the courtroom falls silent as Star Swirl’s words echo through the minds of everyone present. Blueblood himself sits blinking slowly at the sheer implications of what the old wizard had just said. And then, Blueblood shivers as he realizes the city has become the perfect breeding ground for the creation of these crystals, and he offers a silent prayer to Celestia that he has not had a hoof in creating more of these things.

“Right, I don’t… I don’t have any more questions,” Velvet stammers, his ears back against his head as he too doubtlessly feels the profound horror at what Star Swirl had just suggested. “Do you have any questions, Juris?” Velvet asks, turning around to look at his counterpart who is currently slack-jawed. “Juris?”

“Hm? Oh… No, no I don’t have any questions,” Juris states, her voice weak.

“Then I shall take my leave,” Star Swirl sighs as he stands and collects his hat. He steps off the dias with the jingle of his bells, and heads back to the two foals who have been sitting beside Juris. They instantly move close to him, and the three vanish back into the crowd.

Velvet waits a few moments, then looks to up to Twilight who nods.

“My next witness is Restful Reprieve, the proprietor of the Gilded Bit,” Velvet announces. “Since I have fleshed out the fact that Blueblood and his fellow leaders were mind controlled, we shall now explain how.”

Absently, Blueblood watches a unicorn step out of the crowd from where he is still laying on the floor. The unicorn pays him no mind as he heads to the bottom of the throne’s dias, and Blueblood quickly finds himself retreating into his own mind as the stallion starts his testimony.

Star Swirl’s words continue to echo in his mind, and the feeling of profound violation grows, causing his chest to tighten up and his breathing to quickly slightly. The old wizard had said to hold onto the ones he cares about, but with what he has done, Blueblood knows he has no one to count on.

He is alone.

The thought causing him to shiver, and he covers his eyes with his hooves like he used to do when he was a small colt. Perhaps, if he just ignores all of this, it’ll turn out for the better, and when he opens his eyes he’ll be at home in bed and all of this will have just been one horrible dream… But then, if this is a nightmare, where is Luna?

The sound of soft conversation comes from nearby, but Blueblood simply folds his ears back and does his best to ignore it as he wallows in his own fear and stupidity. Then, the feeling of somepony sitting beside him pulls him from his thoughts, and he slowly lowers a hoof to see Sea sitting beside him, his flank touching Blueblood’s. His servant says nothing, and simply sits there looking ahead as if what he is doing is the most normal thing in the world.

But, it’s not. It is a massive breach of etiquette for him to be sitting this close to Blueblood, not to mention he is touching him. He had not called him over, he had not asked him to stay by him, but here he is. And, for some reason, as much as Blueblood wants to yell at him to get away, he finds himself actually scooting slightly closer to the warmth. It’s a small comfort in the darkness, and once more Star Swirl’s words echo in Blueblood’s mind and the Archduke decides that, the old wizard was right; He should keep those he cares about close…

“Thank you, Mister Reprieve,” Velvet states. “You may step down.”

Blueblood lowers his other hoof, and sits up a bit as the unicorn inn keeper leaves the stand and heads back into the crowd.

“Might want to sit up a bit more, m’lord,” Sea whispers softly, his face neutral. “I think Velvet is about to pull out his final witness.”

Sitting up, Blueblood opens his mouth to comment, perhaps to thank Sea, but closes his mouth. A part of him remains unwilling to show much, or even public, kindness to the earth pony. Instead, he sighs and draws himself up, sitting tall beside Sea as he watches Velvet pace for dramatic effect.

“Now, I shall call my final witness, who shall give testimony on JSS’s cruelty! She shall explain to us all that, even had Blueblood and his fellows been in their right minds, JSS would still be beyond control,” He stops and looks to the crowd. “The Defense calls Miss Anise Wreath to the stand!”

For a moment, nothing happens, then there is the sounds of a scuffle and the crowd quickly parts as a unicorn wearing the uniform of a Navy Captain marches another pony forward using both her magic and physical force. While the captain is nothing out of the ordinary, the pony she is ‘escorting’ forward is the focus of all the attention in the room, and as she is marched forward Sea draws closer to Blueblood and shivers slightly. For his part, Blueblood doesn’t complain, as his attention is fixed on the strange pony.

“Captain, he did not call for me,” the strange pony states calmly, far too calmly to be natural.

“He did, just not with your proper name. Now get up there so we can get this whole farce over with!” the Captain replies as she scoots the strange pony to the front of the crowd and points. “Go.”

Without further comment, the strange pony starts forward giving everypony present a good look at her.

The pony is a mare, neither too tall nor short, her body scarred and also sporting what look to be armored plates grafted to her body. Between her shoulders is the remains of what had perhaps once been some sort of flight device, and her head has a metal stub in the center, giving the appearance of a small horn. As she reaches the dais, she turns and Blueblood is appalled to see that parts of her face are replaced by what seem to be magi-tech implants. She scans the crowd impassively, her expression not only deadpan but devoid of any emotions whatsoever.

“Miss Wrea-” Velvet starts.

“That is not my name,” the pony states firmly.

“I- I’m sorry?” Velvet asks, taken aback.

“That is not my name,” the pony insists in her deadpan voice. “I am known as Delta Zero-Seven-Slash-Zero-Zero-Nine, or Dee-Seven.”

“I see,” Velvet says slowly before clearing his throat. “Very well, Miss Dee-Seven, you are a former experiment of Janus Security Solutions?”

"That is incorrect,” Dee once more states, the slightest flicker of annoyance crossing her features, “I am an engineer and navigator on the airship Voyager."

Blinking rapidly, Velvet takes a step back as he tries to recover. “I, yes, I was going to ask if you served in the Royal Navy.”

“I do not serve in the Navy. I am a civilian consultant,” Dee corrects once more.

“A-and before that, you were experimented on by JSS?” Velvet presses, his voice unsteady as he clearly flounders to try and find his footing again.

“Yes, I was a part of what was known as ‘Project Ascension’,” Dee admits. “I was, however, rescued seven years ago by the crew of Voyager in conjunction with members of the Shadowbolts working a contract.”

“How many other subjects were there?” Velvet asks.

“Clarify,” demands Dee. “Living subjects, kidnapped subjects, cloned subjects, or total?”

“Let's start with kidnapped subjects,” Velvet clarifies.

“There were a total of one hundred fifty kidnapped subjects, including myself,” stated Dee. “Two hundred additional subjects were cloned, leaving 180 to emerge-”

“Cloned? Could you explain the process to us?” Velvet inquires, raising an eyebrow.

“It is the same process used to produce Jaeger units,” stated Dee. “Donor material is obtained, usually through illicit means, and tailored to suit the needs of the project. Growth is accelerated through magical and alchemical means, and the units are provided an education through electrostimulation of their neural pathways, which ends up claiming most of the ten percent margin of error.”

“I-I see,” Velvet coughs. “It sounds like they had all of this down to, if you will excuse my choice of words, a science.” He clears his throat and continues on, pacing slightly as he speaks again. “If you know all of this, you are well versed in how JSS operated? What is your opinion on the attack they helped to orchestrate?”

“They followed what their contractor stated, but they were not under the control of crystals,” stated Dee calmly. “In completing their objective, they made decisions that lacked compassion or empathy, but this is nothing new to any of the three tribes. In fact, Equestria’s own military forces employed tactics that were just as brutal, if not more so, in the last Griffin-Drake War. The Dragonlance weapon system is a perfect example of such brutality. ”

“The times were different, and we did not target civilians such as JSS did,” Velvet counters, his eyes narrowing. “And I would say such systems were a necessity to defend ourselves.”

“But they were used against civilians, Earl Velvet,” replied Dee. “Villages on all sides of the borders burned without distinction. The God of Chaos himself was released from his prison as a result of said chaos and carnage. To deny this fact is to deny reason itself. And if I may be so bold, Earl Velvet, you are using the incorrect defense in this case.”

“And just what do you mean by that you insu-” Velvet barks, only to be cut off by Twilight.

“I think that’s enough,” Twilight announces calmly. “Thank you for your testimony, Dee-Seven.” She then smiles slightly, her eyes twinkling with suppressed mirth. “And for the sorely needed reminder that our history is not as perfect as we wish it to be.” She inclines her head. “You may step down now, and return to Captain Noire, as I am sure you do not wish to be the center of attention any longer.”

“Thank you, your highness, but I feel it is necessary to remain here for only a little while longer,” replies Dee before she turns to the crowd, barely suppressing the rage in her eyes. “You all claim to be kind, compassionate, and welcoming souls. This is a lie. The manner in which you have treated Graceful Melody, a victim of her own circumstance, is the proof of this. You claim to be better than Janus Security Solutions. Prove it. Show compassion. Show kindness. Show forgiveness to those who were in circumstances beyond their control. If you do not, you are no better than the group you so fiercely condemn.”

And with that, Dee steps down from the stand, marching with frightening purpose back to her Captain. Noire smiles warmly at her crew member, her eyes glistening with unshed tears of pure pride. The crowd is dead silent, some hanging their heads in shame while others glowered at Dee in indignation. Captain Noire pats Dee’s shoulder as the enhanced pony reaches her, then together they head back into the crowd, which quickly parts before them before swallowing them and removing Dee and Noire from Blueblood’s sight.

“Do you have anypony else to call to the stand, Earl Grey?” Twilight asks in a commanding tone, causing the still off-balance stallion to flinch.

“No, your highness,” Velvet admits.

“Then I believe you and Juris should make your closing arguments,” Twilight suggests.

“Yes, Your Highness,” Velvet nods as he draws himself up and shakes his head to clear the last bit of the indignation he suffered at the hooves of Dee. When he turns towards the crowd again, he is sure of himself and his eyes are alight with his typical inner fire. “Mares, gentle stallions, I have shown you nothing but the truth today. For all the death, all the destruction, those I defend are not to blame! No. If truly we wish to blame anypony, let us lay the blame squarely at the hooves of the Shadowbolts!” He stomps a hoof, causing Blueblood, and many in the room, to flinch slightly. “And at the hooves of JSS! For are they not the ones who truly attacked the city? The Shadowbolts with their flying fortress, and Janus with their weapons of unthinkable destruction?” He shakes his head, sighing as he paces the area before the crowd. “These monsters are to blame. For I have proven to you, all of you, that they manipulated our fair Archduke and his compatriots. Used their desire, their wish, to defend all of us from tyranny to sow even more killing within our city. Blame not Blueblood and his fellow nobles who stand before you, for if they are guilty of anything, let them be guilty of trying to protect us from ourselves.” He turns to Twilight and Shiro, a small smile on his face. “I pray that you, our fair Princess of Friendship, can see that and shall clear them of all charges.” He then bows deeply, and goes to sit beside Blueblood, marking the end of his speech.

As Velvet sits, Juris rises and strides to the center of the room before the throne. As she reaches it, she starts clapping, a smirk on her face.

“A very fine speech, from a very practiced orator,” Juris praises Velvet, causing a few eyebrows to raise. “Surely, the Earl Grey is a very practiced speaker.” She stops clapping, and lowers her hooves to the floor, her expression becoming serious. “But, even if the words were pretty, and the speech well done, they were just words.” Standing, she makes a sweeping motion with one arm, her smile returning. “And I have more faith in all of us, in the Ponies of Equestria, to not be fooled by honey-sweetened lies. All of you can clearly see that Blueblood and his cohort are guilty of nothing short of treason, and nothing less than the endangerment of every single pony within this city, if not within the Kingdom!” She lowers the hoof to the floor, her smile slipping a bit. “I will concede that, perhaps, their intentions were good, noble even, but we are not here to judge their intentions but their actions,” She pauses and points to a window, and the shattered city beyond, “and their results! They broke our city, noble intentions or not, and they killed hundreds of ponies! We cannot allow them to walk away from this without punishment, nor, I am sure, will any of you allow that. Least of all, our esteemed Princess, who came here to end the battle!” She bows her head, her next words soft but still easily heard. “Let justice be done, my friends, and let this nightmare finally end.”

As her speech ends, Juris returns to where she had been sitting, and sighs heavily as she looks to Twilight’s next instructions.

“Very well,” Twilight states as she rises, her head held high. “Everypony, much has been revealed here today, and there is much to think on. Court shall be adjourned for a few hours until I, and others, have had a chance to discuss the information.” She powers her horn, and the doors to the throne room glow as the seal is released. Beside her, Shiro smirks slightly, earning him a smirk in return from Twilight, before the two descend the stairs and head towards the door with everypony else following in their wake.

Blueblood rises as the room clears, and hesitates for a moment to look around the ruined throne room. He takes in the sight, the smell, the sounds, committing them all to memory as best he can.

After all, this might be the last time he ever sees this room.

---

“I still believe that this course of action is a mistake, Your Highness,” Shiro states calmly for the third time in the past ten minutes. “The nobility must learn their place, and I do not believe what you intend will drive the point home.”

“I have no other options, Shiro,” Twilight sighs as she leans back in the spacious chair at Celestia’s desk. “I refuse to execute them, but I cannot allow them to walk away without punishment. I believe this is a good medium between the two.”

“Be that as it may,” Shiro continues, walking to stand before the large desk in Celestia’s study. “But what of the three who led this revolt? I do not think your solutions is even close to…”

“Lord Shiro Hoshi.” Twilight’s calm, but sharp, tone cuts through Shiro’s words and silences him. “You are my friend, but I am the one who has to live with the choice. I am filling in for Celestia and Luna, and am the Sovereign Princess.” She raises a hoof to forestall Shiro’s next words. “No, Shiro, I do not know if Celestia and Luna would approve of what I am going to do, but we do not have time to dwell on what others might do in this situation. We must act.”

For a moment, Twilight fears that Shiro will be angry with her. However, he suddenly smiles and lets out a hearty laugh. Confused, Twilight blinks rapidly and leans her head to one side as she waits for the alicorn to stop laughing.

“And there it is,” Shiro sighs as his laughter subsides. “The conviction you’re going to need to pull this off.” He clears his throat and settles down, his soft smile remaining. “Even if I do not approve of your actions, you are right. You are the one who will live with them. I have counseled you as best I can, but you have made up your mind and I shall stand by it.”

“Thank you, Shiro,” Twilight sighs, relief clear in her voice. “That means a lot to me.” She turns her attention to the desk, and the notes stacked upon it. “Still, as sure as I am, I can’t help but wish I had more time to do research, a month preferably….”

A knock on the door brings Twilight’s attention from her notes, and she nods to Shiro to open the door and allow their guest in. As he does, Twilight levitates a hand mirror up as she gently runs a hoof through her mane.

“You wished to speak with me, Your Highness?” Black Velvet, Earl Grey, asks in a triumphant tone as he strides in to stand before Twilight.

“I did, Earl Grey,” Twilight starts, only to have the stallion speak before she can continue.

“Oh, please, call me Velvet, Your Highness, we are hardly in court,” Velvet says calmly as he sits down, his grin becoming oily.

“I think not, Earl Grey,” Twilight replies curtly. “I requested you attend me so that we could speak of something that has come to my attention.”

“You don’t wish to speak on the verdict?” Velvet says slowly, raising an eyebrow. “I assumed that’s what you needed to see me about, seeing as Miss Prudence looked so sullen.”

“Commander Juris Prudence was called in here to speak to me on that,” Twilight sighs. “What we need to speak about is far more personal, and quite a bit more important.”

“I… see, and what do wish to speak to me about, Your Highness?” Velvet asks slowly, his grin slipping a bit.

“Well, it has come to my attention that you visited your brother while he was incarcerated,” Twilight states in matter of fact tone. “Apparently you and he had a very interesting discussion.”

“I was speaking to him about what he was looking at should we lose the trial,” Velvet shrugs as he runs a hoof over the surface of the desk.

“I see,” Twilight deadpans. “I fail to see how talking about your bloodline, let alone marrying off Witching Hour, who happens to be my friend, to the Archduke qualifies as talk about the trial.” She then leans back in her chair as she closes the book on the desk. “Care to explain that?”

“Honestly, it is none of your buisness,” Velvet states bluntly, his eyes narrowing. “Though I am curious as to how you came across the information, as my conversation was supposed to be private.”

“You two were speaking loud enough for the guards to hear, and a lot of what you said didn’t fall under privacy laws,” Twilight explains. “And even then, you informed your brother you would do everything in your power to keep him locked up.”

“Your point?” Velvet inquires, waving a hoof. “We were simply playing the age old game of the nobility.”

“Well, I do not have the time, nor the desire to play such games,” Twilight informs the Earl as she leans forward, placing her hooves on the desk. “So, I would like to make it very clear that I am going to treat your brother the same as the others, and if I hear you attempting to meddle with the verdict in any way, you’ll find yourself beside him in the dungeon.”

“Are you sure you wish to play this game, Princess?” Velvet asks slowly, his eyes narrowing. “You might be a Princess, but you’ll find it quite hard to get anything done if the nobles are not on your side.”

“I think I’ll manage,” Twilight frowns. “And one more thing before I dismiss you.”

“Yes, Your Highness?” Velvet growls.

“Witching Hour is beyond your power to control.” Twilight informs him, a small smirk on her face. “Oh, by the way, try to keep your schedule clear. I'm sure she'd hate to inconvenience you once a date's set for her coronation..."

Velvet blinks slowly, his eyes narrowing before growing wide in shock. “No…”

“Yes,” Twilight confirms. “Now, you are dismissed, Earl Grey. Please return to whatever dark political hole you crawled out of, and stay there until I am ready to announce the verdict.”

“I mu-” Velvet starts.

“Was I not clear? You are dismissed.” Twilight cuts in forcefully. “Now leave.” She watches as Velvet stands and walks to the door, anger clear on his face as he opens the door, and slams it behind him.

Closing the door behind the disgruntled Earl, Shiro gives Twilight an approving smile and a chuckle as he crosses to sit in front of the desk again.

“It was about time he was put in his place,” Shiro remarks, earning him a look from Twilight.

Sighing, Twilight looks to the mirror that has been floating near her, the face turned so that Velvet could not see it. A soft smile forms on her face as she looks at it, and she leans back in the chair.

“I’m sorry you had to hear all of that,” Twilight says softly, “but I felt you needed to know.” She then chuckles. “Also, sorry for spoiling the surprise, but we needed the morale boost around here, and a coronation is the perfect thing. You should have heard Rarity’s raptures on the subject...”

“Well, at least it’s for a good cause,” Witch’s voice sighs from the mirror. “Let’s just hope we don’t have to postpone it for very long….”

“Oh, I’m sure we won’t,” Twilight smirks. “After all, I’m sure your brother and sister-in-law would move heaven and hell just to get the chance to see you squirm.”

“Don’t remind me…” Witch mutters, groaning.

"Perhaps I should have a conversation with the Marquis and Marchioness about their treatment of a Cosmic Aspect, and a God. Sister or not, they should not treat you with anything but the utmost respect and deference." Shiro states seriously, his tone leaving no room for argument or further comment on the subject.

For a long moment, both Twilight and Witch blink with confused looks on their faces before groaning heavily and putting their faces in their hooves.

------

Sitting upon the throne of gold, Twilight watches silently as the nobles and those who had come to watch the trial enter into the ruined throne room of Canterlot. Beside her, Shiro sits with a passive expression, his eyes betraying none of the feelings he had expressed to Twilight earlier in the study. In a way, she is glad that Shiro is beside her, despite him thinking her idea isn’t the right one. He lends a certain strength with his presence, a small irony perhaps due to his long-dead wife having been the embodiment of that virtue.

She is drawn from her thoughts by the sound of the large doors on the other end of the room closing, the Royal Guards taking their place before it and effectively sealing the throne room. To all in the room, Twilight included, this is the sign that the trial shall continue, and quietly Twilight wishes she had more time to prepare before she has to pronounce, and then carry out the sentences she is about pass down.

Letting the silence persist for a moment longer, Twilight takes a deep breath and fixes the accused with a stern look. They are all seated before the throne, Blueblood seated at the forefront with his head held high and body ridged. For a moment, Twilight cannot help but think he looks like he wishes to shield those who followed him into battle, and the thought brings the ghost of a smile to her face. More than a few mistake her small smile for something else, and recoil, fear obviously gripping them as surely as if they looked their executioner in the face.

Twilight finds she cannot blame them, after-all, she will be doing something to them that shall make them wish they had died.

“Earl Black Velvet,” Twilight says calmly, her voice carrying over the entire room so that all can hear. “Would you and your clients please stand, so that I may deliver the verdict?”

“Very well, Your Highness,” Velvet replies as he looks to his clients. Absently, Twilight feels a slight bit of personal satisfaction at the fact he is no longer smirking.

As the gathered nobles rise, Twilight’s smile slowly slips back into an expression of neutrality, she will not enjoy this next part, so no need to wear a fake smile. “Assembled Lords and Ladies,” Twilight starts, her eyes turning to Blueblood and the two others who instigated the uprising. “Archduke Blueblood, Lords Golden Gavel and Jet Set. After reviewing all the evidence provided to this court today, and after taking counsel from my advisors, I have no choice but to find you all guilty of the charges you have been accused of.”

A cheer breaks out in the assembled spectators, forcing Twilight to pause in her pronouncement. She allows them to continue for a few moments, the look of true despair growing on the faces of the accused nobles. However, before anypony can get out of hoof, Twilight raises a hoof and silences the crowd.

“As such, I am forced to sentence you to the full extent of the law, as is demanded by your actions.” Twilight continues, fixing the group with a hard stare. “It is the judgment of the Crown of Equestria, that henceforth you shall all be reduced to a lower noble rank which shall be determined by Princess Luna and myself at a later date. Your fortunes, and what remains of your holdings here in Canterlot, are to be forfeit to the Crown to be used to aid in the reconstruction of the city as well as the housing of those you have made homeless.” She pauses again, taking a deep breath before continuing. “However, due to evidence also brought before the court, namely the Shadowbolt Infiltrator known as Secure Savings, I am forced to lay down a different sentence for the three who you followed into battle.”

As the words leave her mouth she watches Blueblood and his two friends stiffen.

“Your Majesty,” Blueblood starts as he advances towards the throne a few steps before Shiro stands and starts down to stop him. “Do not judge Jet and Gavel harshly, they were tricked into this, and followed my orders. If a sentence harsher than what has given to my peers is demanded for justice to be carried out, then level it upon my head, not theirs.”

Finding a warm smile suddenly spreading across her face, Twilight stands and descends from the throne. “My little pony, you are very brave to try and shield your fellows from what you must think shall be a harsh, and terrible penalty for your collective crimes.” She stops in front of Blueblood who is staring at her with a confused look. During the momentary pause, it occurs to Twilight that Blueblood has likely heard those very words come from Celestia’s mouth before, and she finds her smile growing slightly brighter. “No, this sentence cannot be deferred to just you, for it would be unfair of me to pass judgment upon you alone.” She looks to Shiro, who nods to her, then back to Blueblood at the two who are cowering behind him.

“Archduke Blueblood, under the laws of Equestria, though you and your two fellows have been found guilty of the crimes you have committed, it has been sufficiently shown that you three were under the influence of mind control.” Her voice wavers for a moment, but then she continues, slightly more sure of herself, even if she isn’t of what she is about to say. “Thus, in accordance to the laws penned by your aunt, Princess Celestia, you and your fellows are to have your sentences mitigated to house arrest, with the possibility of parole by the Crown, with no loss of rank nor wealth.”

The silence that descends upon the throne room is almost deafening, and Twilight knows she has done herself, nor Blueblood, any favors. In fact, she is sure she has just made some powerful foes amongst the nobility, and more than a few in the common classes. But, she did what the law required, and while she knew not everypony would agree with her, it still had to be done.

And then Blueblood opens his mouth.

“I cannot accept this judgment,” Blueblood states quietly, his tone wavering as if it is taking all his effort to speak. “I-I injured Canterlot, my home, and the City I swore to protect, irrevocably.” He pauses, then stamps his hoof. “I demand you punish me! Take my riches, take my title, none of it means anything! Tis naught but ash and dust beside the horrors I unleashed!”

“If you wish to donate a part of your fortune, and the lands which you own, to be used by refugees and to help rebuild the city, that is your choice, Archduke,” Twilight replies calmly, though a part of her is deeply shocked by Blueblood demanding to be punished. The swift turn from his usual brash and selfish personality is more than a bit jarring, and not only to her. More than a few faces are full of shock and confusion at the statement. “However, my judgment will still stand, no matter what.” She then pauses and regards Blueblood with a softer expression. “Also, seeing as you do not have a house anymore, you will be staying in the room you currently occupy here in the Castle. You will likewise retain the servant that was assigned to you, and no further staff will be assigned to you. Considering the level of luxury you are used to, a diminished, and by all accounts unwelcomed, staff shall be your added punishment.”

Sighing heavily, Blueblood bows his head. “Then, if your Majesty has no further pronouncements, may I return to my gilded cage?”

“You may, Archduke,” Twilight consents before turning and walking back up to the throne. She takes her time to sit comfortably and draw herself up before she looks at the assembled masses. “One last thing,” Twilight states, her voice causes everypony to freeze. “If any harm should come to any of those I have sentenced today, I can promise you I shall not be so lenient.” She then inclines her head. “The trial is over, you may now all return to your loved ones, and, hopefully, the healing of this great city shall start.”

Everypony present bows, and then stands and departs through the large doors that are now open. Even the Royal Guard departs, many of them doubtlessly going to find their bunks, or to rotate to off-duty now that this final large event has concluded. Twilight herself rises, and looks over to Shiro who has likewise stood up.

“Shall I accompany Her Highness to her rooms, and then presumably to her friends so she make seek comfort with those who do not wish her ill?” Shiro asks, his neutral features offset by a slightly playful tone.

“I would be honored, Archduke Hoshi,” Twilight replies wearily, a yawn escaping her. “And then I guess I should release you so that you can go back to House Star, and be with your family.” She chuckles, “I understand you have been putting off a conversation with a certain Naval Admiral?”

Starting forward with Twilight, Shiro nods gravely. “Yes, I do owe a certain grandcolt a very long conversation on ethics.” He then sighs and shakes his head. “And then, I think I shall seek my bed. I may be immortal, but I am not as young as I once was. All this excitement has taken its toll.”

“Yes,” Twilight agrees, “but I think we can safely say all of the danger and horrors are behind us.”

“I hope you’re right, Twilight,” Shiro whispers. “I hope this city can start to heal now.”

Author's Notes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-tqYQTnUj4

Because a certainb JAG character shows up in this chapter ;3

Anyway, so that was chapter 18! I hope you all enjoyed it, because I enjoyed writing it. This chapter wraps up a few storylines, and gives you a glimpse into Twilight's thoughts about basically having to sit on the throne with Celestia and Luna both not in the city. She is attempting to be like her mentor, who is a very big part of her life and how she sees herself as a Princess.

And then, there is Blueblood. I know none of you will likely feel sorry for him after what he has done, and I bet a lot of you think he got off easy! But he didn't, he really didn't. In fact, I bet he'd rather be in jail than in that lavish room right now...

Anyway, next chapter is a sad one, and will be out sometime next week depending on my editor!