Looking at the paper in my hooves, I shuddered. Twilight Sparkle Arrested for Treason.  The five of us were the only ponies in all of Equestria who knew how she had done it. Of course, we agreed with her. The deceit for thousands of years led the six of us to a unanimous decision. Rainbow Dash had taken being permanently grounded hard, but she had survived.

The trial was due to start in any second now. Princesses Celestia and Luna walked in, taking their seats on the judgment thrones. How I had revered the two of them. Trusted them. We all had. It should have been them on trial, not Twilight. She had done the right thing.

My eyes flick over to her. Her purple coat, normally well kept, is grimy. She had been kept in the dungeon for a week. Her normally meticulously straight mane is frizzy and sticking up in places. I realize they want her to look unstable. I glare at the Princesses. I still don't understand why the five of us haven't been arrested yet, I suppose I should be thankful, but I'm afraid for Twilight.

The 'states' lawyer steps out from behind the table he is sitting at and clears his throat. Normally I like everypony, but I didn't like him. The stallion's gleaming golden coat reflected the Celestia's sunlight.

I had to hold in a snort. It isn't Celestia's anymore.

Twilight had been locked away in her library for nearly a month researching an amazing breakthrough, or so she kept telling us. The day she wandered into Sugar Cube Corner with the stunned look on her face was just the beginning. "It's all a lie," she said. She looked lost, as if her world had just been ripped from underneath her. "It's all a lie."

"What's all a lie, Twi?" Applejack had asked.

Twilight turned her head to look at Applejack, almost as if seeing the farm pony for the first time. She shook her head. "Meet me in the library, in my lab." She turned and walked off. I looked at my other four friends, who looked as confused as I felt. Our eyes met as we chased after her.

The stallion's name was Golden Law. After addressing the princesses, he called Twilight to the stand. She walked up and sat in the small booth, terrified eyes looking out over the crowd. "Do you deny removing magic from all of Equestria?"

She shook her head. "No."

"So you are guilty of treason?"

She opened her mouth to speak, but the lawyer Celestia had appointed her stood. "Princess, if I may, I would like to present some information about my client before she is questioned further." With a nearly imperceptible smile, Celestia nodded. Twilight's lawyer, Firm Rule, moved to the front of the room, while Golden Law sat back down. "My client would like to file mental instability."

My brow furrowed. That would certainly get her a lighter sentence, but she would be in an asylum for the rest of her life. The realization slowly came to me. That's what Celestia wanted. If Twilight was insane, her claims wouldn't be thought of again. If she was simply found innocent or guilty, the truth of what she said would hang around. I watched Celestia's face carefully. Maybe she didn't want Twilight to have the death sentence. She had practically raised her.

"There are several instances where Twilight Sparkle has shown signs of mental instability. In one, she charmed a stuffed doll so that everypony in her town wanted it." Firm Rule showed pictures of what we called the 'Smarty-Pants Incident.' She went on with a couple more examples before turning to Twilight. "Do you deny that any of this happened."

"No, but-"

"You see, she has a history of mental instability."

Movement to my left caught my eye. "Twi isn't insane. If anything it's the ponies who don't believe her. It's been a week, hasn't it? And we all haven't died yet." Dash's magenta eyes looked hard at the Princesses. "Just tell the truth." The guards grabbed her by her wings and pulled her out of the courtroom. She remained silent, opting to simply glare at the two royal figures.

We all looked at her. She couldn't be serious. There was no way this was the truth. And yet, the truth was in front of us, plain as day.

"You want to remove all magic from Equestria? But Twi…you love magic. Ah know you think this is right, but maybe you should think on it." Applejack looked uncertain.

Twilights hoof came down hard on the floor. "I have thought about it. I just…"she took a few deep breaths. "There is no other way."

"What about Pegasi in clouds or flying? They'll fall and die." Dash shook her head. "You can't just do that."

"I've modified the spell. It's going to take a lot of energy, but they'll have enough residual magic left to make it to the ground. Magic will slowly fade over an hour, forcing them to fly lower." She swallowed. "I'm sorry. I just don't see another way."

"I agree with you, Twilight." We all glanced over at Rarity. "This has to come out."

Beside her, Fluttershy nodded. "Yes. Even if it means changing our world, it is best for the truth to be known." She looked at the floor. "I will have to stop caring for all my animals. The protective barriers I had placed around my cottage will come down, and all sorts of bad creatures will come out."

"You have magical barriers around your cottage?" I asked. Everyone looked at me. I hadn't said a word the entire time, which was unusual. Fluttershy nodded.

Twilight looked at me. "Are you okay with this, Pinkie?"

"No," I said. Everyone looked shocked. "Celestia and Luna  have been lying to us for centuries. Celestia raises the sun, Luna raises the moon. It's a fact everypony knows. Only they don't actually do that? I mean, how could they have lied to us. They could have told the truth and still been our Princesses." Out of habit, I moved my hoof to push my curly mane out of my eyes. "What?" I asked when they all gave me shocked looks.

"I guess this is it then," Twilight said. "You can leave if you want." Naturally, none of us moved. We were all in this together. After a moment's pause, she started powering up her horn. I had never seen it like that. It started out the normal pinky-purple color, but lighted to white, growing brighter and brighter until…

Darkness.

The sun had risen and the moon had set, just as they had for thousands of year. And yet, no one had magic. The proof was there and yet no one wanted to see it. I toss my head to the side, moving the silky straight mane out of my eyes. It was hard, even as an earth pony, to get used to not having magic. No one knew what the weather was going to be like anymore. Equestria was quickly changing.

The lawyers prattle on. It's like watching a comedy play, only this is real. Golden Law starts the questions, and Firm Rule uses them to prove Twilight is insane. It's obvious to anyone with eyes they are working together.

Finally, I stand and walk to the front. All eyes are on me. I bow to the Princess, who gives me a wary look. "If I may, Princess, I would like to say something." The guards are ready to cart me off like they did Dash, but Celestia stops them.

"Pinkie Pie, what do you wish to say."

My heart is pounding as I look to Twilight. "In all the years you've known Twilight Sparkle, you have taught her to be a brilliant pony. She thought she found something that changed our world and acted on impulse. It is very easy to prove she was wrong. Just set the sun and raise the moon."

I look over at Twilight, see her smile, and know whatever happens, whatever comes, Equestria will never be the same. I know what she did, what we decided, was right.

The Age of Magic was over.

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