Cameras captured every movement. Represenatives filled the hall. All leading forces of the EFC were present, but were not alone. Members of the TSDI that accepted the invitation were also present, as were neutral bodies that had never joined either side.

The United Nations HQ was alive once more, with members of some species that humanity had never even met before then present, accepting this opportunity to witness history being made.

Two great rounded columns of green slime sat/stood beside one another, one with a little hat, the other with a bow. Both had smart ties floating right about where their chest would be.

In a sturdy cage, one person who was arrested and sentenced to rot was there. Tirek drummed his fingers along a bar, watching the other activity. "Do remind... Why am I here? Not that I mind a change of decor. I see some delicious looking snacks..."

His human handler prodded him lightly with a billy club. "They said they wanted you to see a few things."

"Such as?"

"One, we don't have magic for you." Tirek snorted softly. "Two, we're everywhere." His eyes rolled. "Three, we won against the best this world had to throw against us."

He leaned forward. "And?"

"And if you got out of whatever jail the ponies have you in and cause trouble, we won't put you back in there."

He suddenly smiled. "Oh, that's good then. All this just to--"

"--We will kill you. You won't even see it coming. We will never be close enough for you to see. You will be rampaging, having a good time, then you will be a lot of rotting meat." The handler hiked a thumb. "This is a trial for people the ponies captured, we killed most of ours already, but a few are around and they'll get their turn."

The handler was painting a grim picture, far darker than the strict reality of things, but it got the desired recoil from the would-be magical menace.

Hoku's squad had not been sent home. Him and other soldiers were sent deeper into the former-council's territory. They were not there as conquerers, they had been told. The nation they strode through had no government. Even worse than the Storm King's old lands, they had no defenses. Just about every bull that knew how to fight had joined the war, with poor results.

He would have to defend his old enemy's land. He stewed as he marched. He had to guard the same people that had killed his dear friend and ended their dreams of survival and education.

"Relax." Lucky patted one of his shoulders as they walked. "They aren't the ones we were fighting. Those people are dead, or jailed, take your pick."

"Worse." Hawkeye walked alongside at Hoku's other side. "I hear they're doing a big trial for them. Think Nuremburg, take two. I hope they learned some lessons from history."

Hoku lifted an ear at Hawkeye. "What talk about?"

"In the last world war, we gathered up the leaders of the 'bad guys'"

Lucky raised his shoulders. "There isn't much mystery about them being bad and they were guys, what's with the quotes like we weren't sure?"

Hawkeye shrugged softly. "The trials were a public circus. We put them up for crimes that didn't exist before then. We knew who would be guilty long before it started. Some guilty people walked. Some small fries were ground to dust to help satisfy a bloodthirsty victor. Not our proudest moment."

Hoku was quiet as he marched, considering what he had been told.

There was a notable difference in the appearance of those who would stand trial. Those in the pony's care had been treated well. They were groomed, clean, with fresh clothing. They also had a light in their eyes that was harder to see, but compared to those who had been captured by the humans, one could see if it they looked.

The human captured were sullen and donned in prisoner's attire. They looked better prepared for what may come.

"Gathered Represanatives," spoke President Smith. "America is proud to host such a wide variety of nations in these halls once more. Before we came here, this served as the United Nations, a bastion of the idea that differences could be discussed between different peoples. Perhaps it can see use along those veins again."

"Today is not about peaceful negotiation. Great crimes have been comitted. So great that a standard trial pales in the required magnitude. The world needs to know what has been done, by whom, and what the consequences for such actions are. I am your host, but I will not be presiding over these events." He put a hand to his chest. "After all, I'm a politician, not a lawyer. Charged with upholding the law, I have brought these accused here to be judged."

The full line of people were introduced. There would be no one judge. They had called in one of the Supreme Court judges. A dour-faced mare sat beside him. Queen Ruddertail herself was next in line, sharpening a spear with a bloodthirsty little smirk. Novo perched regally, done up in her finest for the occasion, her face neutral and waiting.

The last was perhaps the most confusing. A minotaur female sat in attendance. "Their actions hurt not only others," it was explained. "But their own people. She was a loud and persistent voice of peace before and during the war and is a respected figure throughout their nation." She rose to bow to the gathered audience. "It seemed only proper that one of their own be involved in casting judgments."

"Prosecution will be served as a team. The head prosecutor, step forward." A sharply dressed human man stood up as ordered. "Defense will also be served as a team. Head of defense, rise." Another lawyer stood and nodded, both looking ready to do their jobs.

The justice raised a hand. "We have agreed that a few ground rules should be set. We are here to see justice done, not to see punishment. Let us abide fully by all pre-ordained laws and comport ourselves with dignity."

The other judges nodded in agreement, even if Ruddertail's namesake lashed with obvious irritation.

On the other hand, unlike Nuremburg, they had so many more crimes on the books. They doubted they would have trouble figuring out what to charge people with.

"First on trial, the highest surviving member of the former council's military."

The bull that had surrendered to the ponies strode free of the others. He had been allowed his respect by the ponies. He looked like a general, his chest gleaming with the medals he had earned during his service to his own people. He marched firmly to the stand and bowed to the audience before taking his seat beside the defense lawyers.

His name and rank were read outloud. The dour mare pointed at him. "You were the one that surrendered, were you not?"

"That is true, Your Honor."

She nodded, satisfied. The trial began.

He had been picked for a reason. His fingers had not been directly in any pies that led to war crimes. He had chosen to surrender rather than fight to the last. They would not throw the book at him. His going first was a chance to show the world that they would not be punishing every bull that appeared on that stand.

When he was declared innocent of crimes, he did not immediately rise. Despite his gruff exterior, the relief was too much and he put a hand over his face, taking a moment to cry silently.

Some of the other bulls sat up. For some, hope was kindled. Perhaps they would survive the day.

"The next accused is not and never was a member of the TSDI." Murmurs spread, confusion rippling through the crowd.

Queen Chrysalis was brought out in a cage much like Tirek's. Solid, unyielding, and ready to shock her at any moment. She was not chained down inside that cage as it rolled around. She was more free to move than she had been.

Ruddertail changed her stance, looking ready to hurl the spear directly at the changeling monarch.

Novo put a hand in front of her, stilling her without a word.

The head prosecutor strode forward. "Queen Chrysalis, if you would, tell us who got you in this situation."

Chrysalis was happy to oblige, raging at everyone who was responsible, which was everyone involved that was not herself. "And I was already done with the entire blasted affair. We were living the life we deserved when they came in and ruined it all!" She drove a hoof down with a loud clop of chitin against metal.

"No further questions." The prosecutor sat, his job quite easy.

The tension in the room was palpable, but a few key points had not been made.

The defense rose. "Queen Chrysalis, were you aware the bomb was live?"

"We made it live," she hissed. "Ugh, what a waste of time for all involved."

That could have potentially gotten her some mercy. Her own words had voided that option. "Did you know the bulls would actually use it?"

"I was betting they would." She licked her lips. "They didn't dissapoint, not there at least. The drone was told to activate it the moment they let him." She darkly snorted, a smirk on her face. "Oh would that I could have seen his last expression. Poor sap thought it'd trigger some other bomb somewhere else."

Alarmed gasps spread through the crowd.

Pharynx bounced to his hooves from where he had been seated beside Thorax. "Murderous bitch!" he hissed out, wondering how he could have ever felt loyalty for the queen on trial.

As defenses went, it was a poor one. In his defense, almost any other answer would have potentially improved Chrysalis' position, but she seemed entirely ignorant of how dire the situation she was in actually was. "If you hadn't been involved, the bulls would have found another bomb?"

"I doubt it," she spat. "The humans guard their bombs well, especially the 'special' ones."

So much for even that way out. "The defense rests."

The judges shared looks. They had been briefed on things, but hearing it from Chrysalis' own mouth, admitted so shamelessly, remorselessly...

The dour mare raised a hoof. "Equestria rescinds the right to object." That was all she said. It was all that needed to be said. Equestria would not do what the others would call required, but it would also step aside.

Queen Novo pointed at Chrysalis. "I have one more question. Were you involved in the great tunneling project?"

"What?" Chrysalis screwed up her face. "Don't know a thing about that." She had already quit the war when that happened. She was, at least, innocent of something, for what little good it did.

Ruddertail hopped up onto her chair instead of sitting on it. "Agreement?"

The justice nodded. Novo nodded. Ruddertail raised her spear as she nodded with a grim expression. The bull did not nod. She stood up. "Do you even know how many innocents you murdered?! Do you care?! You destroyed several city blocks of priceless historic architecture while you did it, and do you care? Do you have any regret? Any?!"

Chrysalis raised a brow at the shouting judge. "Why would I care about some dusty cow buildings, or the cows that lived in them? They were stupid and got what stupid people get, hmmph."

Unrepetant to the end. The minotaur judge nodded as she sat. "Agreement," she breathed out, closing her eyes.

The justice gestured for Ruddertail. With a delighted whoop, she thrust her spear forward, pointing it at Chrysalis. "Death. Death. Death! The world will be better without you! Death! First by hanging. If not work, want see electric chair. If not work--"

"--That is sufficient," cut in the justice. "The sentance is death, to be carried out later. The guilty will be removed."

Author's Notes:

She had it coming, yes? I imagine some are upset the first bull on trial did not have every book thrown at him.

Written at EFNW on my tablet, so sorry for more typos than usual, but the words, they come!

Join the special community of folks who like my stories here at atreon!

Join my discord to chat!