It was Wednesday afternoon, and I was in Twilight’s court, along with a couple hundred ponies, mostly unicorns, all from the House Operations Measurement Enclave. Not a single noble was in sight. A faint scent of apples filled the air.

“Quiet, everyone” Twilight said, silencing everyone present. “I’m sure we all have other things we’d like to do today, so let’s make this quick and honest. Will Cinnamon Roll and Window Frame please step forward?”

The two ponies, a mare and a stallion, came forward. The mare, Cinnamon Roll, if her colors were any indication, spoke first. “Miss Xiao Long, Window Frame and I are very sorry for what we did.”

“Please explain for everyone what you did.”

Window Frame answered. “We followed our orders to put a temperature lock on the water for the residence of Miss Xiao Long, the reason given to us being an anonymous report that she was burning foals with the scalding hot water. Neither of us believed it for a moment based on what we knew about her, but we were under a lot of pressure. H.O.M.E. was about to be checked on, and if we didn’t do it, funding would have been cut and we would have been out of our jobs.”

“So you did it to ensure you would keep your jobs?”

“It’s the first job I’ve had in three months. I also knew that, if it wasn’t Cinnamon and I who did it, some other team that might not be as considerate would have done it, and not left the letter we did.”

“Four months for me” Cinnamon added.

“Noted” Twilight said. “Are you aware that Yang got a case of hypothermia due to your actions?” A heavy silence fell over everyone in the court and I shivered a bit. “She was in the shower when the lock spell was put on the water line and, as Yang has told me, she takes very hot showers. The abrupt and severe temperature decrease likely put her in a state of shock for a period of time, during which she started showing signs of hypothermia before she was able to get out. If it weren’t for the timely arrival of Gilda and Brew, Yang might have had to go to the hospital. Yang, would you kindly give everyone a brief explanation for why you take such hot showers?”

I stood up to deliver my answer. “I take showers at the highest temperature possible because it’s comfortable for me, I’m burnproof, and I’m not hurt by the heat. Something I’d like to know is just who it was that found out my water preferences and how, since it’s something I don’t share with anyone.”

“Thank you, Yang. Cinnamon Roll, Window Frame, you may return to your seats. Cold Gaze, please come forward.” The inspector Twilight and I met came up as the other two went back. “When Yang and I met you, you were inspecting the lock spell put on the water lines by Cinnamon Roll and Window Frame, right?”

“Yes” Cold Gaze answered. “You also broke the lock and key spells like they were nothing.”

“Did you do any research into Yang’s history in Equestria?”

“Unfortunately, I could not. H.O.M.E. does not have the resources to do that kind of research, and I’ve been kept there for long hours recently, preventing me from doing the research outside of work.”

Twilight’s face was not one of amusement. “Who scheduled you like that?”

“They sent for me to fill in other inspectors’ shifts.”

“I see. Who sent for you?”

“Tailwind. He runs H.O.M.E.” I snickered a bit as Twilight dismissed Cold Gaze and called up Tailwind, a light blue pegasus with white wings.

“Tailwind, is it true you sent for Cold Gaze in the days around when Yang’s water got locked?”

“Yes” Tailwind answered. “I saw some notes on my desk stating that inspectors Corn Stalk, Sonic Bliss, and Top Hat wouldn’t be able to make it in for a few days due to some notable horn damage. The notes also strongly suggested Cold Gaze fill in all their shifts. He has shown himself to be the best inspector we have, so I went with it. I flew over to his apartment, informed him of what happened, and he agreed to fill the shifts.

“On a side note, I’m wondering why those three’s horns look perfectly fine when the notes all said there was enough damage to have caused minor bleeding.”

In short order, Tailwind was dismissed while Corn Stalk, Sonic Bliss, and Top Hat were brought up. Twilight looked over all their horns. “Your horns are perfectly healthy, if in need of a little filing here and there. Now, I’m going to ask all three of you the same questions, and I’d like you to answer in alphabetical order of your names. Now, why would you send in a note saying you can’t work due to your horns having taken enough damage to cause minor bleeding when that’s clearly not the case?”

Corn Stalk went first. “A noble unicorn visited me and said I should stay home for a few days before writing something and giving me a bag with a whole two week’s worth of bits. He assured me that my job was safe and left. I never did see what he wrote.”

Sonic Bliss was next. “That happened to you too?”

Top Hat went last. “That happened to you two too?”

“Can you describe this noble unicorn?” Twilight asked. I suspected that she was thinking of the Canterlot council, just as I was.

Once again, the three began their answers. “Well, he was tan and rather big. Certainly didn’t look like he was short on snacks.”

“He had a black jacket on over a frilly yellow shirt. He also had some thick glasses on.”

“His mane and tail were a very bright green. I swear it looked like it could glow in the dark.”

“Thanks you, all three of you” Twilight said. “Tailwind, please come back up.”

The pegasus came back. “Yes, Princess?”

“How long has H.O.M.E. been around?”

“Only a month or so.”

“Do you know who established it?”

“A noble. Sir Safehouse. He sometimes visits me for updates and information to see how H.O.M.E. is doing. Wait a minute!” Tailwind’s expression became one of shock as he connected the dots.

“One more question, if you don’t mind.”

“Yes?”

“Where does H.O.M.E. get its funding?”

“From the crown, like any other government agency.”

“Thank you. You’re dismissed.” As Tailwind went back, Twilight thought for a bit and cleared her throat. “I’ve come to a verdict: H.O.M.E. will be shut down and dissolved. Everyone here will get the equivalent of two weeks pay to help tide them over while they find a new job. Sir Safehouse will be found and punished for interference and bribery of government officials, and damages to Yang Xiao Long. That’s all.”

As the ponies from H.O.M.E. began talking among themselves and leaving, I followed Twilight out through a hallway. Something was bugging me. “Hey, Twilight?”

“Yes, Yang?”

“That court session seemed a little, well, surreal to me. For one thing, there wasn’t any actual evidence presented, and it just felt a bit too easy.”

“I can assure you that everything that was said was honest and true. Before you ask how, let me answer: the crystal that makes up this castle has various magical properties, including those of the elements of harmony. Over the years, I’ve found that different elements come out more than others depending on what’s going on. During trials, the element of honesty is stronger in the courtroom than usual, making the truth come out more easily. It’s a subtle kind of magic with a big impact.”

“So, magic then?”

“Yes, magic. Now, how should Sir Safehouse be punished?”

I thought for a moment. “Go public with the trial?”

“Hm?”

“Release the story to the newspapers. ‘Noble Sir Safehouse revealed to have plotted against Yang Xiao Long’. With my hero status, it would be a huge story.”

“That sounds like a good idea. Fortunately, I have a transcript of the trial. I can copy it, collaborate with Celestia and Luna, send it to the various newspapers, and have them all release it on the same day.”

“Sounds good. Now I just have to figure out what I’m going to do for the rest of the day.” I had prepared myself for the trial to take a few hours, not for it to be blitzed through with the power of ambient honesty magic.

“Oh, could you do me a favor and take these to Rarity?” Twilight suddenly had a few thick books in her magical grasp. “And while you’re there, talk to her about winter clothing. I suspect you’re very susceptible to the cold, even for humans. A normal person should have been able to survive the cold water, maybe not as long as you were probably exposed, but certainly they would have been able to turn off the water very quickly.”

I thought about Twilight’s explanation while I accepted the books. It certainly made sense. Even back on Earth, scrawny as I was, I was able to stand some degree of low temperatures. Everything she explained made sense. “Is there any way to find out who found out about my scalding shower preferences and how?”

“Unfortunately, no. The best we can do is punish Sir Safehouse for what he did, interfering with a government agency, bribing officials, and somehow orchestrating what I’m really tempted to call an attack on your person.”

“They really have it out for me, don’t they?”

“And it’s petty revenge at that. Going after you for pointing out the flaws in their proposals and shooting them down while passing Fancy and Fleur’s instead is, well, I’ve seen foals better behaved than them. I hope this is the last such incident from any of them.”

“Let’s hope so. Anyways, thanks again, and I’ll see you later.”

“Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where everything is-oh, hello Yang” Rarity said as soon as I walked in. “I haven’t seen you for a while.”

“Where do you want these?” The books weren’t heavy for me, but I wanted to put them somewhere.

“More books from Twilight? I’ll take those.” Rarity took all the books from me with her magic and sent them to her inspiration room. “How have you been?”

“I’ve discovered that I’ve got a weakness to the cold. That being said, I’m going to need some winter clothes.”

“But it’s only mid-September. The temperatures don’t start getting significantly lowered until late October.”

“Very weak to the cold.” I told Rarity about what happened with the cold water and the trial, sparing a few minor details to speed the tale along.

“That’s dreadful. Is there anything in particular you want with your winter clothes?”

“Hmm. . . Can you put warming spells in them?”

“Certainly.”

“Thanks, Rarity.”

“I’ll get started on some sketches then. Come back tomorrow and we can go over them to see what you like.”

“I’ll come by around noon then.” After bidding Rarity farewell, I went back home. I had to redesign the menus to accommodate the barbecue baked potatoes for their official release on Sunday.

Author's Notes:

Is this the end of the nobles' attempts to get back at Yang?

Nope. I have one more idea that's been sitting in my head, it's a doozy, I want to write it, and if it comes out the way I'm imagining it, well, let's say it would be a rather. . . Explosive event.