What little hope the little dragon had left has seemed to have changed into despair. He was being charged with first degree murder and regicide, which confused him greatly. He never harmed anyone from the royal family (since he’s actually part of it) let alone his cousin, Flurry Heart, who he’s so fond of.

Spike’s arms were tied up tightly, making it almost impossible to move. His mouth was muzzled so he couldn’t breathe fire. It was so demeaning, the small cage that he had been placed in made him look like a savage animal waiting to be put down. Within his cell, a few minutes seemed like an eternity.

Around him were seats in rows of three, with four doors on a circle pattern with four seats in the middle that was meant for royalty. Standing beside the cage was a light cream unicorn stallion with a lime green mane and tail, wearing a blue suit and tie. His cutie mark was a scale with a book on one end and nothing on the other.

Spike couldn’t sleep to inform Luna on what happened, whenever he tried to close his eyes, the guards would jab his side to keep him awake. Hopefully, the moon princess would enter the room very soon and come to his defense.

Ponies began to enter into the courtroom. Most of them looking at Spike with contempt and disgust. The only exception were his friends, who looked quite confused and worried. Twilight has already told them what happened, and rushed to defend their friend. While they understand Spike is a carnivore, and needs to eat meat, him using his skills to kill ponies and try to assassinate Flurry Heart wasn’t like him at all.

Suddenly, Luna appeared and looked at Spike’s cage in fury. “What is the meaning of this?!” she asked with the others princesses entering beside her.

“Spike tried to murder my child,” Cadance replied with a mixture of rage and sadness in her voice.

“Is this true, Spike?” Luna needed to hear it in Spike’s own words, as she was well aware how close he was to Flurry Heart. She used her magic to undo the muzzle off so Spike could speak.

Once the muzzle was off the dragon replied, “No. You gotta believe me, I was with Luna when this happened.”

“This lizard tells nothing but lies!” one stallion spoke, but quickly found it hard to breathe. Luna’s horn glowed brightly, as her magical aura was tightly encased around the stallion’s neck.

“ORDER!” Celestia yelled in her royal Canterlot voice. “Luna, let Pendulum go, now.” Growling, Luna obeyed her sister and released the stallion.

“If you’re innocent, how do you explain why your footprints and claw markings was at scene of the crime?” asked Pendulum after coughing a few times.

“I don’t know, I don’t even know the pony you’re accusing me of attacking.”

“Or maybe you can be at two places at once? Or could it be you learned how to stop time itself?”

Starlight spoke up, having heard enough of this. “Your highness, Spike only started his magical training with Luna a few weeks ago. What the prosecutor is trying to suggest is impossible for some er... dragon to perform in the short amount of time. Only proficient users of magic, like Twilight and myself, are capable of such.”

Spike smiled, seeing Starlight defending him, giving him hope, even in this predicament.

“She’s right,” Twilight said, nodded her head.

“Plus, he only knows how to case base level elemental magic,” Starlight added.

“If that’s true Miss Glimmer,” the stallion walked around the dragon’s cage. “Then what if this dragon here accidentally made a clone of himself and not realized he did so.” The stallion stopped and looked around, to find a few ponies whispering.

“Performing a cloning spell it takes a lot of focus and energy to do which divide one magical output in half.”

“I admit I do not have the knowledge to go in depth in magic like you, or the princesses. However, isn’t it stated on paragraph one; section five on Cloning Magic 101 that cloning another living creature without following the correct methods may result in a split personality on the target intending for cloning?”

“Well, yes-”

“And didn’t you perfect Starswirl’s time magic to go back in time to stop Miss Rainbow Dash from getting her cutie mark?”

“Wait, how did you know-” but she was cut off again.

“Not only that, how long did it take you to learn the spell to remove ponies cutie marks?”

At this point, Starlight begin to shake. This pony somehow knew everything about her. She covered her eyes with her hoof. “A few minutes,” she admitted.

“I rest my case,” Pendulum smiled, knowing he had this case in the bag.

“Well, what else are you training that lizard to do, Aunty Luna, eat innocent ponies?” Blueblood smirked.

Luna wiped the grin off the snobbish prince’s face as she began choking him with her magical grip. “IF YOU CALL HIM A LIZARD ONE MORE TIME-”

“Luna enough!” Celestia screamed and Luna reluctantly released her nephew. “Blueblood, if you make another comment like that, I will hold you in contempt,” Celestia warned before returning her attention to Starlight. “Starlight, do you have anything else to share?”

Starlight only shook her head, even though she knew for a fact that Spike could never have mastered those spells in such a short amount of time.

“For all we know, creatures like dragons learn differently!” Pendulum shouted. “And Canterlot libraries have a vast amount of book related to all different types of magic. How are we to know he didn’t secretly gain such spells without anypony knowing?”

“We don’t have any records of any dragon learning high levels of magic in such a short amount of time. And if Spike is guilty, is there any evidence of his crimes? Or is this all purely speculation?” Twilight asked.

“The only dragons I know of that can perform high level spells are the dragons lords,” Celestia began. “But that aside, IS there any evidence against the accused?”

“There is, your highness.” The stallion’s horn glowed. Several photos of a small dragon appear walking away from an ally, parts of it was covered in blood. And a few with the body of the dead pony with bite and claw marks on it body Along with a photo of a pink alicorn foal with a dark to like purple mane and tail with a blue streak. The photo showed claw markings around Flurry’s neck, and sides of her body. The mother of the said alicorn glared into the dragon, causing him to whimper.

“It’s possible to create fake photographs, you know!” Starlight shouted.

“Stop Starlight, it’s no use. As much as I want it to be true, you’ve lost all your credibility, and this court will no longer take your words into consideration,” Twilight said, causing Starlight’s jaw to drop, hearing such words from her own teacher.

“As you can see here, that small dragon was seen here, walking out of the alley near the library. The next photo shows the marks, and Spike the Dragon was the only dragon in the city at the time.”

Luna couldn’t believe her ears, how could these ponies make such accusations of a sweet dragon. As Starlight said, with the new technological advances and magical spells, fake photographs can be created.

“How can we be sure those are not fake? Despite Twilight’s student losing credibility to this court, she has made a valid point. How can somepony take photos of the accused murdering without being sniffed out? Dragons are known to have a remarkable sense of smell.” Luna asked.

“From what investigators have concluded, the scent of blood was strong enough to mask any other scent in the surrounding area.” Pendulum explained.

“That’s a lie!” Spike shouted. “I can smell perfectly when I’m out hunting!”

“So you abide in murdering the Esquire nobles?”

Spike clenched his tied claws, “I didn’t say that!”

“You’ve said quite enough, Pendulum. Let me ask the questions,” Luna said, managing to keep control of her temper.

“Spike, prior to the night you were incarcerated, when and where was the last time you ate?” Luna asked even though she knew her student was innocent.

“The castle dining hall with you, Celestia, Cadance, Twilight, Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart. I had a gem salad, with some shrimp. Then later, after my magical studying, I went with Twilight to Pony Joe’s to have a light snack. That’s when the guards came to arrest me.” It was all clear like day in Spike’s mind, to which Luna remembered, because she was there with him to go over magical telekinesis, to which Spike was getting the hang of.

“Since that’s done with, what about Flurry Heart?” asked the calm pink princess. “Where were you if you didn’t attack her?”

“I already told you, I was with Luna!” Spike shouted. This trial was getting ridiculous.

“Princesses, may I present a witness?” Pendulum pointed to Blueblood who was sitting next to Twilight.

The stallion's horn then glowed, forming a grey cloud. Closing his eyes, the prince focuses on the night where he ‘encountered’ Spike.

Blueblood was walking down the hall after having a hearty conversation with a delegate from Manehatten. He turned to the corner of the east wing of the castle and what he saw was horrifying: two crystal guards were lying in a puddle of their own blood. Wanting to be brave, the prince trotted over to the two corpses, and discovered that they had claw marks around their bodies, despite wearing armor. Walking into the wing, Blueblood nearly gagged, seeing the carnage. Body parts everywhere; maids on the floor with holes and organs scattered about, all leading into the room.

A room his ‘cousin’ was in. Fearing her safety, Blueblood rushed into the room, It wasn’t clean, but he did see a small creature holding the young foal in his arms, with his lips closing in on her neck. “Stop!” the prince called out, causing the creature to stop. “Release her at once, demon!” the prince demanded, to which the monster growled. The white stallion used his magic to snatch the foal from the creature’s arm and then sent a bolt at him, to which he reflected it and sent a magic bolt of his own. It wasn’t very clear, but the creature appeared to be small, purple, and bipedal, with green spikes lined from the top of its head to the end of its tail.

The cloud disappeared with the dragon’s jaw hitting the floor. “That’s the biggest lie I ever heard or in this case, seen!” yelled Spike. “I love Flurry! I would never hurt her! Cadance, don’t tell me you’re actually believe this clown over the one who saved your kingdom twice?”

“Clown?! How dare you! I’ll have you know I’m well-respected in Canterlot!” Blueblood snarled as he pointed his nose in the air like the snob he was.

“Well-respected? You’re the most hated, reviled, and rudest pony in all of Equestria.”

“ENOUGH! The both of you!” Celestia shouted, causing both Spike and Blueblood to stop arguing and turn their attention towards her. “Now if it’s true, then please bring in Flurry Heart to see if SHE remembers the incident.”

The doors behind Spike opened as Sunburst entered the room, pushing a crib with his magic. The unicorn didn’t... couldn’t believe that a hero of the Crystal Empire would try to take the life of the innocent foal.

Though Sunburst knew that Spike was learning magic, he found it impossible for a dragon, who was still learning the basics of magic, to perform anything he was accused of.

The unicorn picked up Flurry, who was happy to be in Sunburst’s grasp, to watch the crowd of ponies went ‘aww.’ That was until her eyes laid on Spike.

Using her magic, the foal clung to her foalsitter tightly, as if holding on him for dear life. What’s more, Flurry created a barrier to separate herself from the dragon, much to his surprise and shock.

She was shaking, and the princesses could tell that Spike somehow traumatized the foal.

“Didn’t try to kill her, you say? I rest my case.” Pendulum bows.

“Mares and genltecolts, now that we've heard the cases of both sides, the fate of Spike The Dragon will rest upon a group of his peers; the Elements of Harmony,” Celestia stated, making Luna turn her head. “I believe Princess Twilight and her friends will make a true and just decision.”

Inside a small room, which held a wooden, circular table with six seats, sat Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Fluttershy, all in deep thought. Even with the evidence presented to them, all scattered across the table, it was hard to imagine that their friend was a pony eating murderer.

“I don’t know about him trying to kill Flurry Heart, since it was Blueblood who claimed to see him there...” Rarity started, breaking the ice. “But the ponies he killed-”

“Now hold on, Rarity.” Applejack cut her off, “How do we know somepony ain’t framin’ him?”

“Well, as the prosecutor said, dragons learn differently,' so it would be possible for Spike to learn high levels of magic in a short amount of time.” Twilight didn’t want to believe it, but the words of Pendulum was still hot on the princess’ mind.

“So y’all belive him more than Spike?”Applejack asked.

“What I’m saying is that maybe they something more to this?”

“Like what Twi?”

“I don’t know Applejack.” Twilight placed her hooves on her head, rubbing it. “This is all happening so fast.” the young alicorn cried out. “He’s... he’s...”

“A m-monster...” Fluttershy spoke.

Twilight looked down at the photos. “Even if he’s our friend... he’s changed...”

“Ah guess yer right,” Applejack replied.

“She’s right, darling... I don’t know what happen but Spike has changed in more ways than one,” the ivory unicorn sighed. “He used to help me with a lot of stuff, but, lately, he’s been trying to avoid me, like I have some kind of disease.”

“Not only that, he has been glaring at us for some time now.” Rainbow spoke, then look down. “Ahhh I don’t know who he is any more!” The rainbow maned pegasus rub her head in confusion. “I me he’s still the coolest dragon I know, but Twilight’s right, he change.”

“So we all believe that he’s guilty on the murders?”

“Oh definitely darling, despite what Starlight had said.” Rarity spoke in a claim tone.

“If it wasn’t for what that Pendulum fellow said ah wouldn’t believe the little fellow was innocent. guilty.”

“I-I-I think h-he’s g-guilty too...” Fluttershy stuttered.

“Face it, Pinkie, ever since Spike started to eat meat, he’s became a completely different dragon,” Rainbow replied.

“But Spike’s our friend...” Pinkie sniffed. “Sure he eats meat, but he's done everything for us, like cook and clean and...”

Applejack placed a hoof around Pinkie. “Sorry, Pinkie, but what if Spike gobbled up Pumpkin and Pound Cake? Ah know it’s hard, but we’re all thinking about our families, here.”

“So we’re all in agreement?” Twilight asked to which all the mares nodded.

“I guess so...” Pinkie said as her mane flattened, like it usually did when she was upset.

“Yes darling.” Rarity raised her hoof.

“Same here.” Rainbow Dash raised her hoof as well.

“Ah agree with ya Twi.” Applejack also raised her hoof.

Fluttershy just nodded before she raised her hoof.

With that, the Mane Six got out of their seats and exited the delegation room, preparing themselves to tell the court of their decision.

Back in the court, the ponies were waiting patiently for the elements to return with their decision. Spike couldn’t help feeling shaken up.

Everyone noticed the elements return to the court. “Princess Celestia we’ve reached our decision. We the jury find the offended guilty on all counts.”

“D-D-Do you really believe this, Twilight?” Spike asked with tears filling his eyes, “After everything we’ve been through together, you girls actually believe these ridiculous accusations and consider me a threat?”

“The evidence is clear, Spike. It’s hard to believe it, but you’re guilty,” Twilight answered.

“Sorry partner,” Applejack spoke next, taking her hat off, “But ah don’t feel comfortable with ya being on the farm, with ya being a predator and all.” She then lowered her head out of shame that she had to be truthful with the poor dragon.

“Sorry Spike, but I don’t think the Cakes would want you near their shop,” Pinkie added with her mane still straight. “I’m sorry,” she said, but she clearly didn’t mean it.

“Um... I-I-I-I-I-I-I...” Fluttershy stuttered, while hiding her face behind her mane. “Think you’re dangerous, Spike...” she finished in a quiet voice, but Spike was able to hear her.

“I’m sorry too, Spikey,” Rarity said, “But I’ll lose all my clientele if they knew I was friends with a murderous dragon.” Typical, the fashionista was more concerned of her social status with some uptight nobles than the fate of the dragon who loved her.

“You brought this on yourself, Spike! This is your punishment for hunting and killing other ponies!” Rainbow spoke, glaring at him.

“B-b-b-but... I didn’t murder anypony...” Spike’s voice broke. He felt betrayed that the ones he called his friends and family were actually buying these lies.

“Don’t waste your breath with those foolish mares, Spike. I know you’re innocent.” Luna’s smile seemed to have calmed down the baby dragon.

“I want to believe you, Spike, I truly do, but with the evidence presented to us, I find it impossible to do so.” Celestia closed her eyes and sighed. ‘I really wish it wouldn’t come to this’ The white alicorn thought.

“Spike the Dragon...” Celestia began with a heartless look in her eyes.

“You have to believe me, mother! I haven’t harmed anypony! Please don’t send me away! Please! PLEASE!” Unfortunately, Spike’s pleas fell on deaf ears.

“Normally, attacking a member of the royal family is considered treason, and is punishable by death, however, since you have served a great deal to Equestria, I won’t execute you. Instead, for the crime you have committed, I hereby banish you from all of Equestria!” she declared. The heartless ponies of the crowd actually began cheering... cheering at this perversion of justice.

At this point, Spike opened the floodgates and cried. His worst fears have come true: he had just been banished from the country he hatched from; banished from the ponies he called his family and friends, all because society viewed him as a pony-eating monster. Luna was not only dumbfounded, but ashamed that she had a sister that would throw a baby dragon, who she called her son, out all alone into the wild, granted he now knew how to hide his presence, and learned how to survive out there.

“Please reconsider, mother!” Spike begged.

“Why should I?” Celestia asked coldly, causing the drake to drop his jaw. “I find it understandable for you to kill wild animals as a dragon needs to survive, but murdering fellow ponies is not acceptable. I have no obligation to help you, nor do I see any reason to raise you either.” She pointed her hoof at him. “You are a danger to Equestria!”

Spike couldn’t believe what he was hearing, his benevolent alicorn mother had never talked to him like this before. “But mother...”

“I have nothing more to say to you!”

Tears fell from Starlight’s eyes. She couldn’t believe that they would accuse Spike of doing such things.

“H-how could you, sister?” Luna began, breaking the cage and placing Spike upon her back. “How could you throw your own son out in the wild? If it wasn’t for Spike, Sombra would still be alive, and we’d be in war with Crystal Empire. If it wasn’t for Spike, dragons would have remained our enemies. Without Spike’s support, Princess Twilight and the other bearers wouldn’t have defeated Discord.”

“Luna, you must understand, I had no choice,” Celestia said trying to restrain her sister.

“That is a lie, sister!” Luna yelled at the pathetic excuse. “You simply chose to ignore the calls of your son and put the desires of those snobbish ponies ahead of his dire needs!”

Luna then turned to the Elements of Harmony. “And as for you, the saviors of Equestria, you have not only abused Spike, but have treated him like your personal pet. I’m embarrassed to have ever considered any of you my friends!”

“We haven’t...” Twilight started, but was quickly cut off.

“SILENCE, BEARER OF MAGIC! THE REAL CRIMINALS HERE ARE YOU PONIES!!”

“Aunty Luna, please don’t! We can talk about this!” Cadance pleaded, but it was no use.

“SHUT UP, CADANCE!” Luna screamed causing the entire room to gasp. “Both you and Shining know damn well that Spike would never cinge a mane on Flurry’s head, yet you believe that lying dribble of snot over Spike!” Luna’s coat began to blacken, but she took no notice.

“For all I know, you ponies are just a miserable excuse for trash. I made a vow that I would stay by Spike’s side, no matter what, and I intend to keep it. As co-ruler, and princess of Equestria, I hereby exile myself from Equestria.”

“Princess Luna, you can’t do this!” Twilight called. “Who will bring the nights?!”

Luna ignored the young alicorn as her horn began to glow. Her fur had turned to pure black, while her eyes changed to a pair of demonic slits. Her legs had grown longer, as did her wings. Lastly, her cutie mark morphed into a purple haze over a crescent moon. It was no longer Princess Luna, but Nightmare Moon, the demon that hides under foals’ beds. Before anypony could even react to her transformation, the dark alicorn casted her spell, causing her and Spike to disappear.