This chapter is supposed to take place the follow morning after Six Weeks Later. I didn't want to re-post Six Weeks Later so we have this. For those of you that will judge this chapter please keep in mind that I wanted it like this so that I can show how the Crusaders confess to the entire school and what happens to them afterwards. Please leave comments in the comment section below.

Applejack woke up to a bright sun beaming down into her face. Getting up groggily, she got dressed and headed downstairs, her feelings of emptiness contrasting with the otherwise peaceful morning. It's been six weeks since the funeral, but Applejack still felt no better now than she did then.

Granny Smith was at the stove, tears slowly trickling down her cheeks. Big McIntosh solemnly came into kitchen, saying, “Granny, the truck's ready to go.”

“Yer goin' to the courthouse, right? Ah wanna go, too,” Applejack said, looking at her grandmother, who didn’t return the gaze.

“Big Mac, Ah’ll be ready in a few minutes,” Granny Smith said coldly. “Ah believe Applejack can find her own way there.”

“Eeyup,” Big Mac replied.

Looking down with her hat pulled low, Applejack said sadly, “Look, Big Mac. Ah know Ah did wrong by my little sister. Ah know Ah hurt her, hurt our family, and turned against our values. Ah was just so angry and hurt that Apple Bloom would do such a thing.” She slowly looked back up, tears threatening to break the surface of her eyes. “Please, Ah'm beggin' you to give me one more chance to make this right for her, for our family, and for us as brother and sister.”

Big McIntosh didn’t reply. He just gently led their grandmother out to the truck. Stopping just past the threshold of the doorway leading into the kitchen, he looked over his shoulder, glaring bitterly at his sister before leading Granny outside.

Applejack swallowed hard as she also headed outside. Taking out her phone, she called Fluttershy’s mother for a quick pick-up, seeing as she was not welcome in her brother's truck. An hour later, Miss Shy pulled into the driveway. Applejack got in without a word to her or to Fluttershy, who sat in the front seat with her head hung low.

It wasn't long before Mrs. Shy pulled into the parking lot in front of the courthouse. Applejack noticed with slightly risen spirits that her family at least waited for her to arrive before going inside.

Getting out of Mrs. Shy’s car, Applejack said through a tough sigh, “Let's get this over with.”

Applejack, Big McIntosh and Granny Smith started to head inside the courthouse with Fluttershy in tow when they heard from behind them, “Applejack, hold up. I want to talk to you.” Turning around, Applejack saw Rainbow's mother coming up the steps leading to the courthouse. Looking to her brother and grandmother, Applejack nodded to them, and the two continued further into the building.

“What can I do ya fer, Mrs. Dash?” Applejack asked, not looking the woman in the eyes.

“Have you heard from Rainbow? I haven't seen her since the funeral, and I'm getting worried about her. We...had a fight outside of the police station. She said she was going to stay with Fluttershy.”

“She was gone when I got up this morning. I don’t know where she went, Mrs. Dash,” Fluttershy said just barely above a whisper. “I'm sorry, but I don’t think she wants to talk to you right now. Just give her some time to get through the hurt.”

“I know, but it's been weeks. I'm really worried about her.”

“Ah don’t know where she is, either,” Applejack injected. “Ah met her a few days ago at the cemetary. Poor thing still looked all shook up even after all this time. Ah haven't seen her since.”

“I see. If you hear from her, please tell her to come home. I don’t want to lose both of my daughters.”

Nodding her reply, Applejack headed into the courthouse, followed by Fluttershy and Mrs. Dash. Getting into the courtroom a few minutes later, Applejack saw Twilight, Principal Celestia, and Luna all sitting in the second row. Rarity and Pinkie were sitting a few rows from Rarity's father. All three looked upset. Mrs. Dash took her seat a few rows from the Cakes. Neither of the Cakes acknowledged her or any of the others sitting in the courtroom. It's been a little more than six weeks since the funeral, but it seemed to Applejack that the wounds were still very much open. Before Applejack could say anything, the door opened, and Rainbow somberly walked in, taking a seat behind her.

“Have they started yet, Applejack?” Rainbow noticed a large TV sitting near the jury box. “What’s with the TV? I thought this was supposed to be a trial.”

“Ah have no idea why there's a TV in here,” Applejack said. “And where on earth have you been, Rainbow!? Yer mother's worried sick about you! And no, the trial hasn't started yet.”

Rainbow snorted bitterly. “Let her worry! I don’t need her. I don’t need anyone.” Rainbow watched as a side door opened. Her sister and her two friends were led into the courtroom, all wearing orange jumpsuits and handcuffs. “What's with the cuffs? Scootaloo's not that dangerous.”

“Ah don’t like seeing my sister like this either, sugar cube,” Applejack replied, looking at her younger sister. Apple Bloom didn’t look in Applejack's direction. “But it's a part of this whole ordeal, so let's just wait and see what happens, alright?”

“Fine, whatever. I just want to get this over with.”

The bailiff walked into the courtroom, saying sternly, “Please rise for the Honorable Judge Chrysalis now presiding.”

Everyone stood up, watching as a woman with teal hair and oil-black skin walked into the courtroom, saying, “Everyone but the jury may be seated. Mr. Icy Heart, please swear in the jury.” Chrysalis said picking up her gavle and striking the judge's bench three times with it.

Icy Heart turned to face the jury, saying to them, “Raise your right hands.” Each member of the twelve-member jury did as instructed. “Do you solemnly swear that you, the jury, will try this case to the best of your ability and render a verdict according to the evidence?”

“We do so swear.”

“You may now be seated,” Chrysalis said. “The Court of the Second Judicial Circuit, Criminal Division, is now in session.” She punctuated her sentence with two strikes with her gavel. "The City of Canterlot versus Apple Bloom Apple, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo Dash is now underway." Chrysalis looked at the prosecutor, saying sternly, “Is the prosecution ready?”

The prosecutor, a gruff-looking man by the name of Thunder Ice, stood up, replying, “Yes, Your Honor.”

“You may be seated, Mr. Ice.” Looking at the defense attorney, Chrysalis continued, “Is the defense ready?”

Blue Blood stood up, saying softly, “Yes, Your Honor.”

“You may be seated.” When Blue Blood sat, Chrysalis continued, “Gentlemen, I am going to make this as clear to the both of you as I can. I am fifty-seven years old. I do not have the time or the patience today to squander listening to superfluous language. In short, gentlemen, I fully intend to be home for dinner tonight.” Chrysalis narrowed her eyes to Celestia, who didn’t return the cold stare she was receiving. “Do we fully understand each other?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” both men replied in unison.

“Good. The prosecution may make their opening statement.”

“Thank you, Your Honor.” Thunder Ice stood up and turned to face the jury, saying “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury. Today, I am going to prove to you beyond any doubt that these three young women did willingly and knowingly set up an account on the website MyStable to bully and harass Sunset Shimmer to the point that she took her own life. It will be up to each of you of this jury to see the facts for what they are and to find these three girls guilty of this crime.”

Taking his seat, Thunder Ice gave the three girls in question a cold, hard stare. At Chrysalis's permission, Blue Blood stood up, saying, “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I plan to show you today that these three girls had no intention of driving Sunset Shimmer to suicide. I ask you to find these girls not guilty and to send them home to their families where they belong.”

When Blue Blood sat down, Chrysalis sighed deeply and said, “Prosecution, you may call your first witness.”

Standing back up, Thunder Ice said, “Thank you, Your Honor. I call to the stand Celestia Soleil.”

As Celestia nervously approached the witness stand, Chrysalis gave her a stern look as Icy Heart approached with a Bible. “Please place your left hand on the Bible and raise your right hand,” Icy Heart said. When Principal Celestia had done so, Icy Heart continued, “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”

Looking to Chrysalis, then to the Cakes, Celestia said, “I do.”

“The witness may be seated,” Chrysalis said sternly.

Walking over to the witness stand, Thunder Ice began, “Mrs. Soleil, how long have you been the principal of Canterlot High School?”

“For nearly twenty years now.”

“And in all of your years of being an educator, have you ever had to deal with something such as this?”

“Yes and no.”

“Could you explain, please?”

“I have had to deal with bullying within the school system before. I mean, what school principal doesn’t have to deal with that sort of thing? But I have never had to deal with bullying on this scope before.”

“What about dealing with your sister? Didn’t she bully people using a computer?”

“Objection, Your Honor. The witness's sister's teenage behavior is irrelevant to this case.”

“Sustained.” Crysalis narrowed her eyes to Thunder Ice, continuing “Stick to the case, Thunder Ice.”

‘Yes, Your Honor.” Looking back to Principal Celestia, Thunder Ice continued “Could you tell the court who it was that bullied Miss Shimmer to the point that she took her own life?”

Looking down slightly, Principal Celestia said, “Yes.” With a light sigh, she continued, “It was Apple Bloom Apple, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo Dash. They created a MyStable account and used it to spread secrets and frame Sunset Shimmer. I don't think it was their intention to cause her to commit suicide, but their actions instigated almost the entire student body to turn on Sunset, who ultimately took her own life.”

Satisfied, Thunder Ice said, “No further questions, Your Honor.”

Chrysalis nodded, saying, “Defense, you may now cross-examine the witness.”

“Thank you, Your Honor.” Getting up, Blue Blood said, “You say, Mrs. Soleil, that it was these three young women who bullied Miss Shimmer into taking her own life. But you have not said what led you to believe it was them. Can you walk us through the process of how you came to discover this?”

“Yes, I can.” Celestia again swallowed lightly as she continued. “I was taking a woman named Twilight Sparkle to the hospital to be there for her...friend Sunset Shimmer.”

“I see. And why was Sunset going to the hospital?”

“She had been horrifically attacked by another student. The police broke up the fight and radioed for an ambulance to take her to the hospital.”

“And who was it that attacked Miss Shimmer?”

“It was another student named Dumbbell Stallion.”

“Sunset, from what I understand, has been quite the terror at your school. Do you feel that her terrible beating was simply her just desserts for her actions over the past two years?”

“No. For Christ's sake, I never wanted that! While I did think she needed to atone for her actions, I never wanted her to be hurt like this.”

“Objection, Your Honor. These questions are irrelevant to the trial,” Thunder Ice injected coldly.

“Overruled,” Chrysalis said. Turning her attention to Celestia, she commanded, “Please continue.”

“Anyway, my sister and I were talking over the radio on the way to the hospital. About the time we made it there, she said that she had discovered who Anon-a-Miss was.”

“So, let me get this straight so that the jury will be able to understand you correctly. Are you telling this court that you were not the one who actually discovered that it was my clients that bullied Sunset, then?”

“Yes, I am, but--”

“How do you know it was them, then? Did they just--oh, I don’t know--pop up at the hospital and say, ‘We're the ones that did this’? Or did you just snap your fingers and have evidence just appear into your hands?”

“As I said, my sister told me over the radio that she had discovered who Anon-a-Miss was. I was not present when they confessed to Luna, so I don’t know what actually happened, but I do know that they were brought to the hospital by the police and led to Sunset's room. It was then that my sister told me what they had done. I was shocked and horrified, to say the least.”

“I see.” Keeping his face impassive, Blue Blood said to Chrysalis, “No further questions, Your Honor.”

“The witness may step down.” When Celestia took her seat again, Chrysalis said, “Prosecution, you may call your second witness.”

“Thank you, Your Honor,” Thunder Ice said. “I call to the stand Twilight Sparkle.”

Chrysalis looked at Twilight, who gave her a solemn, cold stare in return as Chrysalis said to her, “Will the witness take the stand to be sworn in by the bailiff.”

Twilight stood up and headed over to the witness stand, swallowing hard as the Icy Heart said to her, “Please place your left hand on the Bible and raise your right hand. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”

“I do, sir.”

“The witness may be seated,” Chrysalis said sternly.

When she took her seat, Thunder Ice began, “It is my understanding that you are a foreign exchange student, Miss Sparkle. Is that correct?”

“Yes, that is correct. Sunset and I both come from a small city in Europe.”

“I see. And how do you know Miss Shimmer, Miss Sparkle?”

“I met her two years ago when she attended a dance that was being held in my honor. She tried to steal a crown, which was a family heirloom.”

“I see. And I take you tracked her back to the States, then?”

“Yes. I fought with her at a dance at Canterlot High School--the Fall Formal--and won, with a bit of help.”

“Who was it that helped you to get your crown back, Miss Sparkle?”

“It was my friends Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy.”

“We have already heard that Mrs. Soleil said that you were a friend of Sunset's. Is this true or false?”

“At first, I wasn’t her friend. I didn’t want anything to do with her. But then I saw something in her that I had seen in myself not too long ago. I saw worry and fear at the thought of opening up to others and making true friends, and I wanted to help her. We became fast friends shortly after that.”

“Please tell the court. Did you have anything to do with bringing in the defendants?”

“No, I didn’t have anything to do with them being caught. I was, however, heartbroken that they bullied her to the point that she would kill herself. Sunset used to be a bully herself, but even she didn’t deserve to be treated like this. I really do believe those girls did this out of spite and nothing more.”

“No further questions, Your Honor.”

“Very well. Defense, you may now cross-examine the witness.”

“Thank you, Your Honor.” Blue Blood stepped up, saying to Twilight, “Did you want revenge against Sunset for stealing your crown?”

“My revenge was defeating her at the dance and ending her little reign of terror there. After that, I was no longer interested in vengeance.”

“I see. You mentioned that Sunset was a bully. How did you know that?”

“Besides the other students' testimonies about how bad she was, I saw it myself upon arriving to the school she attended, when I found her picking on Fluttershy. My few days in that school showed be all I needed to know to realize that she was a bully.”

“So, what then? After only a day or two of your search here, you rounded up a bunch of students, humiliated Miss Shimmer at the Fall Formal, and then all of a sudden became friends with her?”

“No, that isn’t what happened. Sunset took my crown, and I needed to get it back, but I also wanted to stop her from bullying everyone.”

“And yet, you humiliated her yourself in the process. Don’t you think that type of humiliation, that sudden fall from the top, could have led Sunset down a vicious spiral to suicide? Do you think that, perhaps, the three accused are not the primary reason for Sunset's suicide?”

“Objection, Your Honor. There is no proof that Miss Sparkle did any of this, and furthermore, Miss Sparkle is unqualified to answer questions about Sunset's mental state.”

“Sustained.” Chrysalis looked bitterly at Blue Blood as she continued, “Either get to the point, Mr. Blood, or this witness shall be excused.”

“Y-Yes, Your Honor." Regaining his confidence, Blue Blood said, "The point that I am trying to make is that Miss Sparkle could not have been as sure as she claims about the severity of Sunset's bullying in those few days she's attended Canterlot High School. Relying on scant personal experiences and mainly student testimony, she started a fight with Sunset, humiliated her in front of the entire school, and then just took her crown back and left her there, alone and broken. It is my belief that this damaged Sunset's psyche enough that she was already vulnerable to any further attacks. Regardless of whether or not the Anon-a-Miss account pushed her over the edge, my three clients are not the primary cause of Sunset's mental trauma.” When he was finished, he said as Twilight began silently weeping, "No further questions, Your Honor."

“The witness is excused from the stand,” Crysalis said apathetically. “Prosecution, you may now call your third witness.”

“Thank you, Your Honor,” Thunder Ice said, frowning. “I call to the stand Luna Evenstar.”

Luna got up as Twilight made her way back to her seat, taking a hold of Principal Celestia’s arm and sobbing into Celestia’s shoulders.

“Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”

“I do.” Luna sat down, looking coldly at the three perpetrators.

Opening his briefcase, Thunder Ice said, “Your Honor, I would like to present to the jury Exhibit A, a cell phone that Ms. Evenstar gave to the police before the accused were arrested.”

“Very well. You may present the phone.”

Thunder Ice held up a small, white phone, saying, “Do you recognize this phone, Ms. Evenstar?”

“Yes, I do. That is the phone that I recovered during the food fight that broke out while Sunset was being attacked by Dumbbell.”

“Who does this cell phone belong to?”

“It belongs to Sweetie Belle.”

“And how do you know it belongs to her?”

“When I found it, I pressed the call back button to try to find out who it belonged to. Rarity Belle picked up and told me who the phone belongs to.”

“I see.” Looking to the judge, Thunder Ice said, “I will now press a playback tab on the phone, which will play back a recording of Sweetie Belle's voice on the phone.”

“Objection, Your Honor! The police didn’t have a warrant to search that phone, so whatever is on it cannot be used in this court,” Blue Blood yelled in anger. "We've been over this during our pretrial conferences."

Hearing this, Chrysalis glared at Thunder Ice and said, “Is this true?”

Knowing he was beaten here, Thunder Ice sneered and reluctantly said, "Yes, Your Honor."

Chrysalis fought to keep her voice even. "Very well. Put the phone away, Mr. Ice. None of the data on the phone can be used, and for knowingly attempting to present illegal evidence, I impose upon you a sanction of one thousand dollars to the court. You're lucky none of us heard the recording, or else there would really be trouble. Now, continue your questions."

Embarassed, Thunder Ice looked away and said, "No further questions, Your Honor."

"Defense, you may now cross-examine the witness."

"That won't be necessary, Your Honor," Blue Blood said, smirking.

"Very well. The witness is excused. The jury will not use the phone during their deliberation." Luna got up from the witness stand and sat down next to Twilight, gently pulling the still-crying Twilight into her arms. Chrysalis looked at Thunder Ice, saying, “The prosecution may call its next witness.”

“Thank you, Your Honor. I call to the stand Applejack Apple.”

“Here we go,” Applejack muttered to herself resignedly. “Ah really didn’t wanna testify against my own sister. This is gonna be bad.”

“Hurry up, young lady. I don't have all day,” Crysalis said impatiently. "Unless you want me to find you in contempt of court for refusing to testify."

Startled that the judge had heard her, Applejack quickly took the witness stand, raising her right as she placed her left onto the Bible. Icy Heart said to her grimly, “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”

“Ah do.”

Thunder Ice walked over to her, saying, “Miss Apple, please tell the court how you know the defendants.”

“The yellow one is my little sister. The other two are her best friends Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.”

“I see.” Thunder Ice narrowed his eyes to the three girls, causing each to look down in worry. “Tell the court how you first found out that it was your sister and her two friends that had tormented and framed Sunset so.”

“Ah was workin' at my family's farm Sweet Apple Arcs, when my brother got a call from Apple Bloom sayin' she had been arrested. He took me and my granny to the local police station. It was there that Ah learned who Anon-a-Miss was.”

“So, up till that point, you had no idea that it was your sister and her friends behind the Anon-a-Miss account. Is that what you are telling this court, Miss Apple?”

“Yes, that's right.”

"I see. Would you please tell the court how you became friends with her

“Ah was workin' on my farm when Fluttershy and her mom pulled into the driveway after Ah told Fluttershy Ah needed help with the apple gathering. Sunset was in the back of the car. Ah remember demanding to know why Fluttershy would bring her.”

“Were you surprised to see Sunset up there?”

“Yeah. She had made fun of me and my family many times, embarrassed me several times in front of my little sister, and impersonated my friends to end my friendships. Ah wasn’t happy at all to see her. But Fluttershy refused to help unless Sunset could stay and learn how to help. A few hours went by, and Sunset worked herself to the bone. It was then that my father's horse Stompin' Hooves got out, makin' a beeline right for my little sister in his frenzy. Sunset put her own life on the line to save a little girl that she barely knew. The old Sunset wouldn’t have done that. It was then that Ah was convinced that she changed.”

"And if I'm understanding correctly, you and Sunset have been very close friends since then?"

"Closer than friends, actually. She was family to me, or at least, that's what Ah told her."

"And if Apple Bloom and her friends hadn't posted as Anon-a-Miss, would you have still been friends with her?"

"Y-Yeah, Ah guess Ah would've," Applejack said sadly.

“So, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, if the defendants hadn't framed Sunset, Sunset's 'family' would not have abandoned her and left her alone and terrified. It certainly seems to me that the defendants are the root cause of Sunset's depression and suicide." Addressing Chrysalis, he finished, "I have no further questions, Your Honor.”

“Would the defense care to cross-examine the witness,” Chrysalis asked boredly.

“Yes, Your Honor, I would.” Blue Blood got up, headed over to the witness stand, and looked Applejack right in the eye as he said, “It is my understanding that while Sunset was being beaten so viciously, you didn’t jump in to help her. Why is that, Miss Apple?”

Looking down, Applejack sniffed, trying to fight back her tears, “Ah-Ah wanted her t-ta pay for what she did for two years of bullyin' and for what Ah thought she did as Anon-a-Miss. Lookin' back, Ah feel sick to myself stomach. Not a day goes by that Ah don't relive that awful day.”

“So you thought she really was Anon-a-Miss, and this was your way of paying her back for all the bullying she did to you. Why were you so quick to believe that Sunset was Anon-a-Miss?”

"It was the timin' of everything. My nickname, which Ah had told her only the night before. The photos from her phone, suspiciously never depicting her. And not only that, but...deep down, Ah guess...Ah wanted it to be Sunset because of how she treated me. Ah may have kept calling her family, and perhaps she was, in a way. But, in my heart, Ah always thought she would go back to how she was before Twilight came and took care of her.”

“Are you telling this court, then, that you wanted Miss Sparkle to hurt her and embarrass her to get back at her for her actions?”

“Yeah. Seemed like a fittin' punishment for how she bullied the entire school.”

"So, you were glad that she was humiliated in front of the entire school, and you stood by and watched as your friend--your family--was brutally beaten in the hallway of your school because you still felt that she needed to be punished. One last question. Did Sunset know that you simply stood by and watched?"

Applejack had slowly been losing her composure as Blue Blood spoke, her shoulders shaking as she quietly sobbed. Unable to speak, she simply nodded in response to his question.

Satisfied, Blue Blood smirked and said, “No further questions, Your Honor.”

“The witness is hereby excused.”

Applejack got up and ran out of the courtroom. Luna somberly helped Twilight up, and the two left the room to try and console Applejack. Celestia, not wanting to be in a room with Chrysalis without Luna's emotional support, also left the room.

“The prosecution shall call its next witness.”

“Thank you, Your Honor. I call to the stand Fluttershy.”

Fluttershy got up and quietly made her way to the witness stand, placing her left hand on the Bible and raising her right hand just as Icy Heart said to her, Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”

“I do.”

As she sat, Thunder Ice sighed, looking at how timid and scared Fluttershy was as he approached her. “Miss Shy, we have heard testimonies from Twilight Sparkle, Celestia Soleil, and Applejack Apple, all of whom seem to think that Sunset got what she had coming to her during the night of the Fall Formal, and one even felt at the time that Sunset's beating was justified. Please tell this court how you became friends with Sunset.”

“Um, well, I work at an animal shelter and help to take care of all the animals there. Shortly after the Fall Formal, Sunset came in and said she wanted to learn what I did, so I agreed to show her.”

“Wait a minute. Didn’t Sunset also pick on you for two years? Didn’t Miss Sparkle only a moment ago say that she saw Sunset picking on you and that she had to stop it?”

“Well, yes. Sunset wasn’t a very nice person. In fact...she was really, really mean, especially to me. But, deep down, I think she was more like me: scared and alone.”

“I see. So, given that Sunset was especially rough on you, do you feel that she got what she had coming to her when Dumbbell Stallion attacked her?”

“Not at all. I begged Applejack, Rainbow, anyone to help. I can't fight myself, so trying to help Sunset personally was out of the question. Finally, someone did jump in at the end, but not before Rainbow and Applejack turned around and left.”

“What was it that Sunset did to make you become friends with a girl that spent two years bullying you?”

“She saved a cat's life. The old Sunset wouldn’t have bothered doing that. I saw that day that she had changed and needed my help to get her through this hard time in her life.”

“So, saving one animal’s life was enough to show you that she had changed?” When Fluttershy nodded happily, Thunder Ice continued, "You mentioned that you knew she was scared and alone rather than just a typical bully. How did you know?"

“Well, I met her soon after she first got to Canterlot. She had basic vocabulary down, but she couldn't read or write our language, so I spent my time teaching her. During our sessions together, she started to open up a bit about her worries and goals. It was very nice. I just wish I knew why she started bullying everyone.”

“Did you think Sunset was guilty of being Anon-a-Miss?”

“At first, yes. It was pretty hard to ignore what she did in the past. I prayed and prayed for proof that she wasn't, though, and my prayers were answered, but...it was too late. By the time I reached Sunset, she was already being mauled.”

“No further questions, Your Honor.”

“Does the Defense wish to cross-examine the witness?”

“Yes, Your Honor.” Blue Blood smiled to Fluttershy, who looked away. “You say you prayed quite a lot for proof of Sunset's innocence. I suppose this whole ordeal shook you up quite a bit. Am I correct?”

“Yes. I wasn’t happy at all. Thinking Sunset just used us to get more dirt on us hurt so much. I don't think a single day went by without me crying over it.”

“And yet, Sunset bullied you for two years. I dare say such a swift friendship is quite farfetched. Didn't you feel the least bit of resentment towards her?”

“...Yes. It's pretty hard to forget, and it was easy to think that she was Anon-a-Miss, but I never wanted her to get hurt. I just wanted all the betrayal, deceit, and spreading of secrets to stop.”

“Isn’t it true as well that Sunset came to you with a stray cat, only for you to tell her to leave or you would call the police? That doesn’t sound like you had any friendly feelings toward her.”

“No, I--”

“Your Honor, I'd like to present Exhibit A. The real Exhibit A.” Blue Blood paused for a moment to glare at Thunder Ice. "I have legally obtained footage depicting the exact scenario I just mentioned."

At Chrysalis's consent, Blue Blood picked up a TV remote and turned the large TV on. Fluttershy watched herself on TV talking to Sunset.

“You need to leave, Sunset. I don’t want to talk to you. You're not my friend, and clearly, you never have been.”

A mewling sound came from the audio, and Fluttershy heard herself say, “Making fake cat noises to get my attention won’t help you, either.”

“Please, shut it off. I don’t want to see this again.” The timid girl began to cry. "Please, just turn it off."

Fluttershy heard Sunset’s voice on the TV saying, “That’s not me, Fluttershy. Hold on.”

Through her tears, Fluttershy watched as Sunset took Lucky out from under her shirt, placing him onto the counter. Sunset could be seen on the video stroking Lucky’s fur gently, saying as she looked at Fluttershy, “I found Lucky in a sewer drain not far from here. I was hoping you would be able to tell me how to take care of him.”

“You found him?”

“Yes. Look, all I want to do is find a way to take care of him. I don’t want to fight. I promise.”

Fluttershy again begged for the attorney to shut off the video, but her words fell on deaf ears as she heard and watched the video play out it's horrible scene.

“Then if you don’t want to fight, please leave. I don’t want anything to do with you. You hurt me when you posted my photo on MyStable.”

Fluttershy in full tears again said, “For the love of God, please shut this thing off!”

“Your Honor, I don't see what this has to do with the case,” Thunder Ice injected, causing Blue Blood to pause the video momentarily.

Chrysalis looked over at Blue Blood and said, “Mr. Blood, are you going somewhere with this?”

"I am, Your Honor," Blue Blood replied calmly.

"I certainly hope so. You may proceed. After all, this evidence is legal and able to be used by the jury." Chrysalis punctuated her statement with a pointed look at Thunder Ice, who looked away.

"Thank you, Your Honor," Blue Blood said, resuming the video.

Fluttershy fought her tears as she brought herself to watch the video play out in front of her and the courtroom.

“I'm not Anon-a-Miss, Fluttershy. Why won’t you listen to me?”

Fluttershy could be seen picking up the cat and placing him gently into a cage in the back of the shelter, then saying coldly to Sunset, “Listen to you, Sunset Shimmer? I listened to you for two years while you bullied me, picked on me and made fun of me.”

“I-I--”

“No! I'm not going to listen to you anymore, Sunset. You're nothing but a bully who gets off on hurting innocent people. And now, you hurt animals, too! Get out before I call the police”

Fluttershy looked down, too upset to watch any more as she heard Sunset’s voice over the video say, “I’m sorry, Fluttershy. I am so sorry for how I treated you back then. You're right, I am just a bully.” After Sunset finished, she ran out of the shelter.

Blue Blood, having gotten what he wanted, shut off the video, saying to Fluttershy while she cried, “Can you explain how you could want to be friends with someone that clearly upset and hurt you enough to cause you to yell at her like that?”

“I can’t explain it,” Fluttershy sobbed. “I just want Sunset to be alive and standing with me. I want to tell her how sorry I am for what I said to her that day. I didn’t mean to hurt her. I really didn’t mean to hurt her at all.”

“I have nothing further for this witness, Your Honor.”

“You may step down, Miss Shy.” Fluttershy stepped down, and like Applejack before her, she also left the courtroom, her mother following her. Chrysalis said as she looked at Thunder Ice, “The prosecution may call its next witness.”

“Thank you, Your Honor. I call the witness stand Pinkamena Diane Pie.”

Pinkie got up, her hair flat as could be while she took the witness stand, placing her left onto the Bible and raising her right. After being sworn in, she sat down, staring coldly out to all those present.

“Miss Pie, will you explain how you know the deceased, please?” Thunder Ice began solemnly.

“I met Sunset at a party I was hosting for my friend Rainbow Dash, who had just won the state championship for our school's soccer team.”

“Were you friends with her, then?”

“Not at first. I was worried that Sunset had only gone to the party to start a fight with Rainbow. They didn’t exactly get along back then.”

“Why did you invite her to your party if you thought she was going to pick a fight?”

“I didn’t invite her. When I saw her there, I asked her to leave. She did but said that she wanted to know why I was asking her to leave.”

“And what was the reason you wanted her to leave?”

“Like I said, I thought she'd pick a fight with Rainbow, and from what I heard about her, she wasn’t the sort of person I wanted at my parties.” Pinkie looked down slightly, adding, “I wish I knew how hurt she was when I said that to her. If I had just taken the time to get to know her, I'm sure I would've been good friends with her from the start.”

“Are you telling the court that you regret telling her to leave even though you knew she was already a bully?”

“Yeah. What's the point of throwing parties if you're just gonna make someone sad during them? And Sunset loved going to my parties after she changed, which tells me that she actually was a party person. If I just let her stay at the party, maybe things would've been different." Pinkie couldn't hold in her tears anymore. "If I had just given her the benefit of the doubt about Anon-a-Miss, I know things would've been different.”

“No further questions, Your Honor.”

“The defense may now cross-examine the witness.”

“Thank you, Your Honor.” Blue Blood got up, opening his briefcase and taking out a file. “You say that you didn’t invite her to your party. How did Miss Shimmer find out about it, and how did she get there?”

“Everyone at school knows when I'm throwing a party; my parties are super fun, and word spreads fast, so it's no surprise that Sunset found out about it. I don't know how she got there, though.”

“I see. So, from what you are saying, you never wanted to be her friend. Is that correct, Miss Pie?”

“Well, I didn't want to be her friend back then. She was mean and liked hurting people. It was only after she changed her behavior that I decided to give her a chance. It started when I saw how upset she was when she was humiliated in front of the entire school. I felt bad that I had a hand in that, so I wanted to cheer her up, make her smile, and be her friend.”

“This girl tormented you for two years, and you just all of a sudden wanted to be her friend? Are you sure that you didn't want her to get hurt? Were you not present at the fight that took place before she killed herself?”

“H-How do you know that?”

Blue Blood addressed Chrysalis. “Exhibit B, Your Honor. I will be showing the witness and jury footage from Canterlot High School's security cameras depicting the attack."

“I’ll allow the video, but I'm warning you, my patience is running thin.”

Blue Blood played the video, and Pinkie was forced to watch herself run from the crowd while Sunset was being beaten to near-death. "Pay attention to how Miss Pie not only failed to help Sunset but also left in her time of need,” Blue Blood commanded. After switching the TV off, Blue Blood said matter-of-factly, “Looks to me like you actually never wanted to be her friend and that you were perfectly fine with her pain.”

“No, that’s not true! I was leaving to get help!”

“Really? Your friend Rainbow was standing in the crowd, too. You could have asked her, yet you didn’t. Why is that?”

“Because I saw the look on her face. If she didn't jump in before then, nothing I said would've made her jump in. And no one else in the crowd was helping, so what was I supposed to do? I didn’t know if I could ever trust Sunset again, but even if she was Anon-a-Miss, I would never have wanted that to happen.”

Blue Blood hummed in though for a moment. “No further questions, Your Honor,” he finally said. Pinkie got up from the witness stand, taking a seat next to Rarity.

“The prosecution may call its next witness,” Chrysalis said, impatiently staring at the two attorneys.

“Thank you, Your Honor,” Thunder Ice said. “I call to the stand Rarity Belle.”

Rarity headed up to the stand, looking to her sister as she said, “Sweetie Belle, I am sorry I have to do this.”

Sweetie Belle didn’t reply; her tears spoke for her. Sworn in, Rarity took her seat on the witness stand. Thunder Ice said, “Tell the court how you knew the deceased, Miss Belle.”

“I was friends with her, and she helped model several dresses for me. I had planned to show those dresses off at the Spring Fling, but alas, that's not meant to be.”

“Is it true that your sister wanted to spend time with you, and because you refused, she acted out by creating the Anon-a-Miss account?”

“Yes. She said at the police station that she did it because she was afraid of being cut out of my life, that I would have nothing further to do with her. I think it runs deeper than that, but I'm afraid I can't put my finger on why I think that.”

"So, your sister feared that she would be cut out of your life, and so she wanted to cut Sunset out of yours. Am I correct?"

"Well, yes, but I don't think she wanted Sunset to kill herself."

"I beg to differ!" Thunder Ice turned to address the jury. "Sweetie Belle's and her friends' actions were simply those of three lost girls trying to get their sisters back. These three were clearly out for blood. They had no qualms about spreading deep, dark secrets and to ensure that everyone, even Sunset's closest friends, turned against and began to hate Sunset. Mission accomplished, I'd say." Turning to Chrysalis, he said, "No further questions, your honor."

"Defense, you may now cross-examine the witness."

"Thank you, Your Honor." Blue Blood approached the stand. “Miss Belle, you claim that Sweetie Belle wanted to get rid of Sunset because she was jealous of the time you spent with Sunset, but is that the whole story?”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

"Let me explain. Nine months ago, you had Sunset model for you, but you didn’t shut your windows or close the curtains. A student saw her while dressing and took several very embarrassing photos of her. Those photos wound up on the internet, and the student was expelled from school. Being the internet, those photos never truly went away, even after all this time.” Blue Blood returned to his briefcase to remove a manilla envelope. "Your Honor, to prove that I speak the truth to both the witness and to the jury, I would like to present Exhibit C: the photos taken that day."

Chrysalis waited a moment to see if Thunder Ice would object. When he didn't, she said, "Very well, but only show them to the witness and the jury. If they are as embarassing as you claim, no one else needs to see them."

"Thank you, Your Honor." He handed Rarity the photos first. "Do these ring a bell?"

Rarity looked through the photos. “Yes, I recall these clearly. Sunset was devastated about it, as I am sure anyone would have been. But I don’t see how that fits into this.”

“Well, Miss Belle, let me make it a bit more clear." Before continuing, he presented the photos to the jury. The stack consisted of three photos of Sunset in her underwear: one taken when she was fixing her bra, one taken when she bent over to pull up her skirt, and one taken while she struggled with pulling up a snagged pair of pantyhose. As the jury passed the photos amongst themselves, Blue Blood continued coldly, "It would not be hard to guess that you actually wanted Sunset to be embarrassed. Sunset did make your life miserable, after all, and surely, it would be hard for her to find proof that you kept your windows clear on purpose in the hopes that a fellow student would see her in those clothes. Well, Sunset's reputation survived, so perhaps your sister thought it would be a good idea to finish what you started.”

“N-No, my sister wouldn’t do such a thing.”

“Really? Because your sister helped to set up Anon-a-Miss and took part in a scheme to bully Sunset until Sunset left you alone. Seems to me that Sweetie Belle would do anything to help you out or keep you safe. And you are certainly not blameless, either. From all I've heard about this case, you certainly had no love for Sunset.”

“That's not true!”

“Then tell the court why you got her drunk!”

“I didn't get her drunk! I was angry that she was at my house after she betrayed me after everything we've done together. I sent her home but gave her the wine and the Scotch, thinking she would be wise enough to drink only one glass, not the entire thing! She got herself drunk!”

Blue Blood smirked the smirk of a predator whose prey finally fell into his trap. "No further questions, Your Honor."

As Rarity stepped down from the stand, Icy Heart approached Chrysalis and whispered to her, "Your Honor, should I have her arrested?"

"Right now?" Chrysalis asked incredulously. "This is hardly the best time. Wait until after the trial."

Rarity, who heard the conversation, spun around and exclaimed, "Arrested!? Whatever for?"

The members of the audience started whispering amongst themselves, prompting Chrysalis to bang her gavel and yell, “Order in my courtroom!”

Once everyone had quieted down, Chrysalis said to Rarity with the tone of someone explaining a very obvious fact, “Well, Miss Belle, you gave a minor alcohol with the intent that she drink it. That's a crime. How much you wanted her to drink it doesn't matter.”

Rarity's father stood up quickly. "Your Honor, wait!" When Chrysalis glared at him for his interruption, he continued, "Please, don't have her arrested. It was my fault. I didn't secure my wine cellar when I left. If it weren't for me, Rarity would not have been able to give Sunset that alcohol."

Chrysalis smirked darkly. "Well, Mr. Belle, that is a crime, indeed, but that doesn't change the fact that your daughter willingly supplied a minor with alcohol. So, I'm afraid you both will be facing the court. However," she said as Mr. Belle's shoulders slumped, “I'm feeling generous today, and two arrests would just keep us here longer, so I'll have your arraignment arranged and have the District Attorney mail you your summons, no arrests necessary. I don't think you're a flight risk anyway."

Still unhappy and nervous with the situation, Mr. Belle nevertheless said, "Thank you, Your Honor. I...I need to take a step outside."

"Of course, Mr. Belle," Chrysalis said in a mock-caring tone. "We'll go on without you. Take all the time you need."

Mr. Belle sullenly walked out of the room, and Rarity ran after him in tears. Blue Blood, meanwhile, flashed a smug grin at Thunder Ice, who sneered in return.

After the Belles left, Chrysalis smiled, saying, “Well, now that that's settled, the prosecution may call its next witness.”

“Thank you, Your Honor,” Thunder Ice said grimly. “I call to the stand Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow took the stand. After being sworn in, she sat, looking at her sister all the while. Thunder Ice began coldly, “Tell us, Miss Dash. What led you to believe that Sunset was guilty of Anon-a-Miss and why you didn’t at first suspect your own sister?”

Rainbow said regretfully, “It was pretty easy to think Sunset, who tormented us for years, had gone back to her old ways or never changed at all. I didn't think it was Scootaloo because other than her friendship with the other two, she had no connection to the first few secrets Anon-a-Miss posted.”

“If it was so easy to think Sunset never changed, why did you even associate with and befriend her?”

“After the Fall Formal, I saw Sunset's changed behavior and thought she needed a friend. She was scared and alone, like I was before Scootaloo came into my life.”

“What do you mean 'before Scootaloo came into your life'?”

“She and I are half-sisters. My father...had an affair with another woman. The other woman's husband found out, and my father was killed in a bar fight. His mistress didn’t want Scootaloo in her life, so she gave her up and let us raise her. She and I became close really fast.”

“I see, but if you two were so close, why did you ignore Scootaloo for so long?”

“I didn’t ignore her. I tried to be there for her as much as I could. Yeah, I may not have been the greatest sister in the world, but it's not like I never paid attention to her.”

“Really? Then explain what happened after you skipped your sister's swim meeting.”

“We used a chip we had placed in her phone to track her to Apple Bloom's house. She has brittle bone disease, so we wanted a way to easily find her in case anything happens to her.”

“What happened then?”

“We had a fight and stopped speaking to each other for a while. I was angry with her for running off like she did, and she was angry that I missed her swim meet because I was hanging with Sunset.”

“When you found out about the postings, did you blame Sunset right away, or did you try to work things out?”

“I...” Rainbow looked down. “I blamed Sunset almost right away. Again, after everything she's done to me in the past, it was easy to think she relapsed and just wanted to hurt us.”

“So do you think that your sister did this to get back at Miss Shimmer for keeping you from her?”

“I honestly don’t know why she did this. Yeah, she said at the police station that it was because she was jealous, but I don't know if there's anything else to it.”

“No further questions, Your Honor.”

“Very well. Will the defense be cross-examining the witness?”

“Yes, Your Honor.” Blue Blood approached Rainbow, saying, “When Sunset was being brutally attacked, you stood by and watched, refusing to lift a finger to help. You even left the scene, leaving her at Mr. Stallion's mercy. Why is that?”

“I was upset with her. After how close--how intimate--we got, it hurt really bad to think she betrayed me, so I wanted her to pay. And I didn't even think it was enough. After she got out of the hospital, I said some...terrible things to her.”

“What did you say to her?”

Gulping, Rainbow replied, “What didn't I say? I told her to get the fuck away from us, that she wasn't wanted here, that none of us ever wanted to be her friend, and that we just put up with her while waiting for her to turn on us." Rainbow struggled to keep her composure as she finished, “It was then that she kissed me and ran away. Shortly afterwards, she...killed herself.”

“Thank you, Rainbow.” Looking to the judge, Blueblood said. “I have nothing further to ask this witness, Your Honor.”

“The witness may step down.”

“Before I do, I want to say one final thing.” Rainbow looked up. “If I had to do it all over again, I would've listened to her. I never would've allowed my anger to get the best of me.”

"Yes, that's very nice, Miss Dash. Now please take your seat," Chrysalis said. When Rainbow did so, Chrysalis said. “The prosecution may call its next witness.”

"I have no further witnesses, Your Honor. The prosecution rests."

Chrysalis looked relieved, but hid it well. "Very well. Defense, you may now present your first witness."

"There's no need, Your Honor. Any witness I would've called was already called by the prosecution."

Chrysalis smiled and said, "Excellent. In that case, gentlemen, let's wrap this up. Prosecution, you may now make your closing statement."

"Gladly, Your Honor." Thunder Ice stood up and approached the jury. "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you've heard testimonies from Sunset's former instructors and friends about how the actions of the defendants affected their relationships with Sunset. These three girls started Sunset on a spiral of depression and pain that ultimately culminated in her tragic suicide. Even when they saw the horrible way everyone treated Sunset, they still kept the account alive. If these three had never made that account and had never spread those secrets, or even if they shut down the account after seeing what they've wrought, I dare say that Sunset would still be with us today. But they did make the account, and they didn't put a stop to it. And that is why you must find these three girls guilty of involuntary manslaughter for their primary part in Sunset's suicide."

Finished, Thunder Ice took his seat. Chrysalis then said, "Defense, you may now make your closing statement."

Blue Blood rose and walked up to the jury. "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the prosecution has claimed that the defendants are the primary cause of Sunset's suicide. However, I assert that Sunset would never have ended her own life if her own friends had not cruelly abandoned her. Talking to her as family one day and disowning her the next, wanting to see her punished, giving her alcohol when she's already undoubtedly depressed, telling her she was never wanted and that her friendships were a lie, and more only pushed Sunset closer and closer to the edge. You're all smart people. I firmly believe you've heard all you need to find my clients not guilty."

Blue Blood took his seat, and Chrysalis turned to the jury. "Ladies and gentlemen, you are tasked with taking into consideration the evidence and testimonies to reach a verdict on whether or not the defendants Apple Bloom Apple, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo Dash are guilty of involuntary manslaughter for their role in Sunset Shimmer's suicide. Remember that the opening and closing statements are not evidence. Remember that you must believe beyond a reasonable doubt that these three are guilty in order to give the guilty verdict. Remember that, as this is a criminal case, you must come to a unanimous decision before delivering a verdict. Remember not to consider any information gleaned from Sweetie Belle's phone in your deliberation due to the illegality of the data's retrieval. Finally, remember that you are the sole judge of the facts and credibility of the witnesses. Do you understand?" She was met with nods from each juror. "Good. You are excused to retire to the jury room to begin your deliberation."

The jury left to the jury room. All told, it took a little more than an hour before they reached a verdict. For those in the courtroom unaffiliated with the defendants or Sunset, it was a pretty routine hour. Chrysalis read what looked to be a romance novel. Some spectators left to use the bathroom or get a snack from the vending machines in the lobby, some read a book they brought with them, and others had whispered, casual conversations with each other.

For those in the room who were affected by the trial, though, that hour felt like twenty. Applejack spent the time ruminating on how quickly everything went wrong, while Big Mac and Granny Smith spent their time hoping and praying that everything would turn out alright. Rainbow Dash held herself and beat herself up over everything she'd done to Scootaloo and Sunset, while her mother tapped her foot nervously and chewed her nails, the wait painful for her. Pinkie tried to keep her mind off of the trial, thinking of any silly thing she could, but she failed each time she tried.

Fluttershy spent the entire time in prayer, while her mother managed to calm herself enough to read to pass the time, though she had trouble concentrating on the words. Rarity and Mr. Belle had since re-entered the room, and both spent the hour holding each other, while Mrs. Belle split her time looking angrily at Mr. Belle and worriedly at her daughters, knowing that she could very well lose all three family members.

Celestia, Luna, and Twilight had also come back in during that time, and the sisters distracted themselves by talking about the upcoming meeting with the school board, while Twilight kept herself busy by thinking up different mathematical problems to solve. Finally, Thunder Ice and Blue Blood spent their time glaring at each other and going over the trial in their head, checking for any mistakes they made or anything they could've done better.

At long last, the jury returned to the courtroom, and everyone waited with bated breath for the verdict.

"Has the jury reached a verdict?" Chrysalis asked.

The presiding juror, a somewhat heavy-set man with light-blue skin and green hair, stood up. "We have, Your Honor." He picked up a notecard and read, "'We the jury find the defendants Apple Bloom Apple, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo Dash not guilty of involuntary manslaughter.'"

The courtroom was hushed. The defendants looked surprised yet relieved, as did many of their family members. The Cakes and Twilight looked livid. Blue Blood flashed a triumphant smile at Thunder Ice, who looked like he swallowed three lemons.

"Very well. Apple Bloom Apple, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo Dash, the court hereby acquits you of the charges brought forth during this trial. You're free to go. Court is adjourned." Chrysalis finished with a final strike of her gavel, and she got up to leave.

Mrs. Cake, hearing the gavel's bang, broke down in tears. Mr. Cake stormed up to Blue Blood, who was shaking the now-free girls' hands. “How dare you!" Mr. Cake barked. "I don’t see how an asshole like you can sleep at night. We just wanted justice for our baby, and you have taken that from us!”

Blue Blood calmly turned to Mr. Cake while the three girls flinched back at Mr. Cake's tone. "Mr. Cake, I understand your anger," Blue Blood began. "You're not the first to yell at me like that, and I assure you, you won't be the last. But I had a job to do, and I did it. Perhaps, you should turn your ire toward more apt targets, like those so-called 'friends' of Sunset's. And, for your information, I sleep rather well at night." After he finished, he turned to the three girls with a cocky grin, ignoring Mr. Cake's glare. "Congratulations, girls. I can't promise there won't be repercussions for your actions, but from a legal standpoint, you can rest easy. Enjoy your freedom." With that, Blue Blood walked away, not even giving Mr. Cake a passing glance as he went to talk to Mrs. Dash.

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo quickly moved past Mr. Cake to rejoin their families. When Apple Bloom got to hers, Granny Smith immediately swept her into a hug, but her face was stern as she ended it. "Now, see here, missy," she said. "You still got a lotta hard work ta do ta get back our trust, and yer punishment ain't over yet." Granny Smith's face softened into a relieved smile. "But at least ya ain't rottin' in jail." All four of the Apples left the courthouse in a group. They were still sore from the whole ordeal, from Applejack's actions, and from Apple Bloom's betrayal, but while there were still hard feelings, they were able to find comfort in their wholeness, at least for one night.

Sweetie Belle, meanwhile, was being crushed in her mother's powerful hug, while Mr. Belle said, "Congratulations, Sweetie. Glad to see you're free," but he looked sadly at Rarity as he finished, "Now, we just have to wait for our turn."

Scootaloo got to her family just as Blue Blood was shaking Mrs. Dash's hand and leaving, still wearing his cocky grin. "Oh, my baby, I'm so glad you're not going to jail!" Mrs. Dash said, tears of relief in her eyes.

"Yeah, me too," Scootaloo said nervously. Looking to Rainbow Dash, she hesitantly asked, "Isn't it great, Rainbow?"

Distractedly, Rainbow said, "Uh, yeah, it's great, Squirt. Really...great." Scootaloo didn't miss the look of disappointment and hurt on Rainbow's face, though Scootaloo didn't know whether the look was directed at her or Rainbow herself.

"Well, I think this calls for a celebration, hmm?" Mrs. Dash said, looking pleadlingly at Rainbow. "What do you say, honey? The three of us at home, eating Mayor Sauce's pizza? I know how much you both love it."

Rainbow sighed, looking away. "Sorry, Mom, but I can't come home. Not yet."

"But, Rainbow, it's been six weeks! Please, come home. We're all so worried about you."

"I can't, Mom. There are things I still need to do." She fished two twenty-dollar bills from her pocket. "Here. Go ahead and get yourselves something nice. My treat."

Mrs. Dash sadly took the money, and Rainbow walked off to join Fluttershy.

Twilight sat rooted to her seat even as Celestia and Luna rose. "I can't believe it. Those three got away with it! How can that be?"

"I can't say I'm surprised," Luna said. "In fact, I'd be more surprised if they got a guilty verdict."

"What? But, Luna," Twilight rebutted, "those three made Sunset kill herself! How can they just be let off scot-free?"

"Twilight," Celestia began, "if I recall, you yourself said that all of us, including yourself, played a part in Sunset's suicide."

"Well, yes, but--"

"This trial was to determine whether those three girls are the primary cause of Sunset's suicide. And, frankly, I agree with Blue Blood; those girls set the stage, but the rest of us played our parts perfectly. And, yes, I'm a tad disappointed that there are no legal repercussions for what they've done, but I don't think they should've been jailed for something we all participated in. Now, if you don't mind, Luna and I need to prepare for an upcoming board meeting. Will you be riding home with us?"

"Y-Yeah," Twilight said, cowed but still furious with Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. And Celestia's words reignited her anger at her former friends, Celestia and Luna, and herself. Seething, Twilight left the courthouse with everyone else and wordlessly climbed into Luna's car, looking out the window. She saw Rainbow taking one last look at the building before getting into Mrs. Shy's car, while Mrs. Dash tried in vain to get her daughter to come home. Seeing the hurt on Rainbow's face and remembering her title, Twilight sighed and thought to herself, “I have my work cut out for me. This place really does need me, after all.”