I still couldn't get my head around what Celestia had just told me.

"To make it completely clear," I put down my glass of apple juice and cleared my throat, “Trixie tried to use one of Luna's spells at a performance which, apart from the fact that it was against the agreement they had, put the entire audience in danger?" The white alicorn opposite to me on the couch nodded. She had appeared shortly after lunch on the farm and asked to speak with us. We moved into the living room, and I had to listen as to the reasons why Trixie now sat in a cell in Canterlot.

"You have to understand that it was very risky and that this was no trivial offense." She emptied her glass of apple juice and placed it next to mine on the table. "We are talking about several years in jail and a magic ban even after that." It was clear to me that there had to be laws against dangerous magic and its use in public. Concerning the explosion at the lake, I had gotten away with a black eye.

"Is there nothing what we can do? I mean, Trixie is practically my sister. Even if she made a mistake, I don’t want to condemn her to a dark hole." I knew all about familial mistakes. My younger brother Nils had been brought back home by the police several times because he drove without a driver’s license. Thirteen years of age, yet he found himself behind the wheel of a Reno Mégane. This incident was repeated every few years so until he was sentenced to community service and could only apply for his driver’s license when he reached twenty one. He had placed other road users in danger, and I had to say that I rather trusted Trixie to rein in Luna's magic than my brother to rein in a car. Still, I wasn't perfect myself and had committed my misdeeds, but I was still given a second chance.

"I fear that it is difficult to convince Luna to withdraw her accusation. She has taught Trixie some of her most secret spells and in return found her trust misplaced. The accusation of endangering the public alone would still yield a magic ban of several years." I pondered and looked over to AJ, who had said nothing so far during the entire conversation. "Light, I know it is no easy situation, and I am here to say that I will put in a good word for her.” That would not protect her from a sentence, but it should reduce the penalty. I owed Trixie much, as did the rest of the unit. She brought me back from a desert and later dispatched a whole unit of changelings with a spectacular spell when we had been too weak.

"Trixie’s a hero. She helped prevent the changeling's invasion. She saved the lives of the entire unit. Doesn't that count for anything?" I didn't know what I could do.

"He’s right, princess. Trixie even tried to fight Chrysalis herself and took a mighty beating. For a unicorn, she was really tough," AJ attempted to help me, and I was thankful for this.

"I will present the council those exactly arguments. However, as I said already at the beginning, my sister holds the chair and makes the decision at the end as she is the plaintiff. And before you say anything, Light, it is her right as princess to hold the chair." Great justice system.

"Even if she is prejudiced as the plaintiff?" I was shown the evil eye.

"Light, Luna is capable enough to distinguish between personal issues and her duties, as I am." She referred to my first appearance before the council. "If anything at all, we need to convince Luna or find a loophole which doesn't exist. I know because Luna and I drafted the law ourselves." This was really a great dilemma. For the last two days after the journey to Manehatten, everything had been relatively quiet, and I had used this time to spend time with AJ. We had wanted, after this morning’s work, to leave the farm in Big Mac's, Caramel's, and Braeburn's hooves and make a picnic.

While she was against too much billing-and-cooing, she was always open for good food and a roll in the grass. Literally. The best thing was that the CMC were camping somewhere together with Fluttershy, so we didn’t have to worry about Apple Bloom. Now things were busy and my second council hearing would commence, after which we would start to load the Celestia and finalize our preparations.

"We need Trixie…" escaped my lips. “Trixie had been commanded as part of the unit by the Crown for the last mission, wasn’t she?"

"She voluntarily offered her help." That was the answer I wanted to have from my mother.

"She did volunteer then. So she was a civilian in service of the Royal Guard. Until now, she hasn't given in her resignation, has she?" Celestia seemed to understand what I wanted to say. "If I say that I still need her for my mission, we could postpone the hearing until we save my world. As I'm still considered a diplomat, I could use that to grant her asylum, which would free her from Equestria's jurisdiction." She pondered my words for a moment.

"So we would be able to strike the endangerment of the public from the list of accusations, but not my sister’s. This one borders on treason, and if Earth would grant Trixie 'asylum'… it would seem as if she tried to get access to the spells." Celestia still thought one, two steps further than me.

"When is the hearing?" To me, this all sounded as though it was a personal matter between Luna and Trixie than anything else. Luna felt betrayed by Trixie and now attempted to subdue her with Equestria's jurisdiction. If I could make this no longer an issue, it would help us tremendously, and I had to attempt to postpone the sentence for the magic ban until the end of the mission. Even if this was very selfish, it was the best that I could do for both me and Trixie. In addition, she had shaken my confidence in her as well. It was me who had given her a second chance, and it had been used up by her actions.

"Tonight." I nodded.

"We can't protect Trixie from punishment, but we can influence it. I think I have the solution, but I need to talk with Trixie and Luna before." It was already afternoon, so not much time was left. "What’s the fastest way to Canterlot?” Celestia rose up from the couch and entered the open area at the entrance.

"Like how I arrived here: teleportation." I turned towards AJ for a moment.

"I’ll take care of this quickly and be back by tonight." I gave her a quick kiss and moved next to Celestia. "Please add one more plate on the table for dinner," I said before we vanished in a flash of light.

She didn't know what she was supposed to think of this. She had been fed only bread and water the last three days she had stayed in the castle’s dungeon, by those who had treated her like a heroine before. Princess Luna had been angry, that Trixie had been able to tell with a glance, but never had she expected to get charged. The first ray of light had been Light, who suddenly appeared in front of her cell and made her sign a note. He was also disappointed but assured her that he wouldn't let her end here. She knew that it had been dumb to use Luna's magic, but she couldn't resist. The magic was too great to not make use of it in her performance.

"Move it!" barked the guard behind her and pushed her with his spear. Like the food, it didn’t bother her. It was better than everything she had in the woods that she had called her home for more than a year. She had wasted her chance to return to the stage. She bet that every newspaper had already reported everything about her performance and the appearance of the princess.

No one would book her for a performance anymore, so what could she do? Magic was her talent, her one and everything, her being. What could a pony who could no longer exercise their talent do? What should she do if she could no longer be Trixie? Melancholic, she trotted along the dark stony corridor which led to the hall where her fate would be decided.

In front and behind her were two guards each who made sure that she didn't try any escape attempts, which was impossible anyways. A magic blocker had been fastened around her horn. This one alone would prevent any escape, as she was neither particularly strong nor fast. She could never take on the guards. The light of the torches cast threatening shadows on the walls, and the impact of her hooves on the cold stone filled the air. They all added up to make her situation even more hopeless.

Slowly but surely, she saw how it became brighter at the end of the tunnel. There stood two more guards in front of an iron door leading directly into the hall. She was led through it, and the heavy door was closed behind her. A spotlight was directed at her so that she couldn't recognize who else was present in the room. However, she could tell that it was a different room from the one where Light's hearings had been held. The podium that had held the advisors from the last time was missing, and in front of her there was a stone table from where two ponies sat. Their faces or other features were obscured, as the room was too dark and the light above her was too bright.

"Honour Princess Luna of Equestria!" sounded a voice. Another, much weaker light appeared to her right. In its cone was the Princess of the Night, her wings outstretched to their full size. "We are here today to execute the accusation against Beatrix Lulamoon. She is charged with committing treason against Princess Luna and having placed the public in danger with her magic. Representing the public is the mayor of Canterlot, Ink Quill." Again it became clear how serious her situation was. "The counsel for the defence of Miss Lulamoon is Prince Blue Light of Equestria." Another light showed him to her left, opposite to the princess. "The princess has the word," said the voice and fell silent.

"Beatrix Lulamoon!" Luna’s voice was cold, and her anger was obvious. "The details of your crimes are known. Before we start with the hearing, do you want to say anything in your defence?" Was she sorry? Not really. She had done what she had to do for her show, for her career. Of course she hadn’t wanted to hurt anypony, but what she regretted at the moment was that she had been caught. Light had advised her to keep that to herself.

"No, my defence lawyer will speak for me." That was what he had told her. She hoped that he would get her out of here somehow, but that was unlikely. He may be a prince, but he only had as much power as any other pony.

"So be it. We will hear the counsel." There was also anger in her voice towards Light as well. What did he do to anger her so?

"Thank you, your Majesty." He stepped forward and floated a few papers into the light. "As you all know, Miss Lulamoon has been taught magic by Princess Luna. It was intended to be used against the changelings." Did he wish to help her or dig her hole deeper? "Even if their relationship was restricted to these parameters, she is officially the student of Princess Luna, isn't she?" This question he directed to the alicorn.

"We have never acknowledged as such officially. However, in this interpretation, it might have been," she admitted and threw an evil eye towards Trixie.

"Allow me this question, but what legal privileges does a personal student of a princess enjoy?" What did he want to get at?

"None. They merely receive support for their research and have access to the royal library," answered Luna, who looked visibly annoyed.

"Isn't that strange? The student of my mother— excuse me, of Princess Celestia, practices her studies in the midst of an inhabited town. Isn't that endangerment to the public as well?" He used Twilight Sparkle for her defence. He was more cunning than she thought.

"But she doesn't use her magic to perform on stage," threw the mayor in.

"Agreed. Nonetheless, the whole town is being entertained if she tries a new spell now and then." He twisted the words in their mouths around. Where did he learn that? He was nearly as good… as her. "I hope there are no double standards." And he was direct.

"That is an allegation we won't put up with, not even from you, nephew!" Luna was hopping mad, as Light had good arguments. Could she actually walk out in the end?

"It was merely a question… aunt. What I want to get is that nopony has been harmed, has they? As long as this is the case, she should enjoy the same privileges as any other student of a princess. Therefore, I ask the mayor, Mister Ink Quill, to leave it with a warning." The pony whispered to his neighbour.

"Very well. We shall leave it with a warning and a fine. The confiscated money of the accused should suffice." Light nodded towards him.

"I agree to the deal." He had actually succeeded to negotiate a point of accusation away. Trixie couldn't help but grin. "Let's get to the second one, yes?" He had taken the hearing into his hooves. Another note floated towards Princess Luna's desk. It was the one she had signed. "If I remember correctly, Miss Lulamoon told me on board the Lunar that you had showed her the magic to protect us all. Is that right?" Luna nodded only as she scanned the paper. "She had been assigned as a civilian to the Royal Guard, as part of the unit. This document which you have received is a resignation from the service."

"That doesn't change anything of her misdeed," answered Luna as she put the paper away. Intently, Trixie observed how both looked at each other for moment. Then Light grinned.

"Agreed. Her sentence will probably be prison and a magic ban." What? Did he want to see her in a cell still?

"Light, what are you doing?" she called, but he merely held up a hoof to silence her.

"Something like that, yes," said Luna and now grinned as well.

"I, as a Prince of Equestria and current leader of the mission to Earth, hereby request the compulsory recruitment of Beatrix Lulamoon!" he called so loudly that it surely could be heard outside of the hall. "I am at liberty to call every former member of the Royal Guard into active service who I view as necessary. Miss Lulamoon possesses exceptional magic that you know best yourself and is indispensable for my mission." Trixie boggled at him, as did Luna. He didn't circumvent Luna but her authority. For that reason, she had to sign the resignation retroactively, as it was dated to Changer's funeral, the reason given as loss of family. Soldiers couldn't be prosecuted during their service for delinquencies committed as civilians. That couldn't please the princess, but she remained calm.

"Very well. But we remind you that the confirmation of your mission is still outstanding. Should it be declined... a magic ban of three years. Should the mission be a success, we will revisit this sentence. The hearing is over." With that, all lights were gone, along with the load on Trixie's mind. The iron door opened behind her, and the guards led her back down the hallway, but this time, it was her who was grinning.

"Hello, Luna. We haven't seen you in a while." I was standing at the door to her chambers and waiting for her answer.

"Hello, nephew. What can we do for you?" She was cold, and I knew she wasn't pleased that I had taken an adverse stance towards her.

"I have come to apologize and to accept any punishments that you can think of." She had been disappointed by a pony from which she thought they could be trusted. She needed something to vent her feelings.

"You only did what you thought to be the right thing. Beatrix is important to you, and we will respect that." I sighed deeply.

"Actually, you are supposed to be the rational one and me the child in need of a lesson." She was, after all, a few thousand years old. "Trixie is who she is: a show star keen on being in the spotlight. She wants to show others what she can do and expects praise for it. She had no parents who acknowledged her as child, only a brother who became sick and then vanished." That was my guess at least, but I wasn't a psychologist. "I can imagine that she added spells of others into her show, as she did with yours. She never wanted to deceive you or to endanger somepony." I entered Luna’s chambers and saw miscellaneous instruments, here a giant harp, there a grand piano, and a bass that leaned against the wall. The room itself had been kept in a dark blue and was filled with bookshelves.

"We are aware of her history. It is no excuse for such a betrayal." I could only agree.

"Possibly. But nopony is perfect, Luna. Maybe it was okay a thousand years ago to punish treachery with prison, I don't know, but today it is different. Celestia forgave my lie and didn't betray me. I believe that maybe you should do the same for Trixie. She needs guidance and acknowledgment, someone to whom she can look up to. You should have seen how proud she was to be able to call herself your student. Think about if you still want to teach her." For the first time, she turned towards me as I said this.

"Even after what she has done to us?" I nodded.

"So you could better supervise her to prevent a repeat of this incident." Luna pondered this for a while, and I decided to explore the room further. Blue curtains in front of the windows and dark blue silk cloth under the ceiling represented the night sky. A majestic matching canopy bed stood in the middle, next to two big windows. At the other end was a small balcony that directly showed Canterlot's market place.

"Very well. We will teach her what it means to show responsibility." I wanted to say something, but she put a hoof on my mouth. "Under the condition that you partake in the study sessions."

"You do know that both Twilight and your sister are already teaching me?" There was still a pile of books from Twilight on my bedside table that needed to be read, and I still hadn't understood all of Celestia's runes.

"Don't you wish to spend time with us?" That was her reasoning.

"If you want to spend time with somepony, you have only to ask. At least with me." She gave me a small hug. "But this time I choose the concert." I had to look if there is something like ‘Mareowar.

Author's Notes:

I'm not a lawyer, thankfully. All knowledge I got from watching Boston Legal. Be glad I didn't try to seduce the judge.

Thanks to Verequus for translating this chapter.
Special thanks to JBL for proofreading and editing.

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