//------------------------------//
// Next of Kin 
// Story: Cake 
// by HanadjisBox 
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“Where is Twilight? I need to see her this instant.”

Luna said walking down the halls of the mental institution led by nurse LivelyHeart

“well princess that might be difficult seeing as she just came back from the dead- we can’t even begin to pinpoint what her mental state is..” 

the meek nurse said trying not to anger her.

“She knows me. And I need to see her.” 

Luna said in a harsh tone. LivelyHeart always wanted to take the best care of her patients, but she was dealing with royalty. Eventually she allowed Luna to see her with the agreement that if Twilight couldn’t handle it Luna would have to leave. Twilight was backed into the corner of her room, looking around in confusion trying to figure out how she was alive, when the tall dark mare stepped inside and addressed her 

“Do you, remember who I am?” 

Luna said, making Twilight quickly backing further into the corner. 

“…I’m Celestia’s sister, do you have any memories?” 

The frightened Purple mare cut Luna off with a sharp tone 

“I know who you are you stupid cow!! I remember everything, why did you bring me back! They’re going to kill me!”

She shouted. Obviously Luna was surprised, the only time Twilight had ever raised her voice towards her was when she attacked as Nightmare Moon. This couldn’t be the same bright student her sister had loved so dearly, crooked broken horn…and such large dilated pupils almost like looking into pure black.

“I didn’t bring you back, it was Celestia…” 

Luna tried not to tear up.

“Why would she do that!? No they’re gonna get in and they’ll torture me just like Fluttershy!” 

Twilight was sweating and shaking. 

“They won’t. I’ll do everything in my power…in fact I brought you something” 

Luna said trying to get closer and setting down a dark blue sweater. Twilight was suspicious and stayed away from it, Luna was disappointed so she stepped out. 

“Why are her eyes like that? It looks so unnatural…”

Luna asked LivelyHeart 

“brain damage….we assume from the fall. But we expected her to be healed from coming back, apparently not.”

There was a melancholy silence until Luna left to tie up loose ends. She would make sure the bakers could never hurt Twilight again. The royal court might know what to do in these circumstances, but Luna was afraid. If there were no murders where was the crime? She set up a meeting with the court, hoping there was something she could do. The Duke of Maretonia spoke up from across the table 

“this would have never happened under MY rule, Celestia even committed a crime on her own land!”

The Duchess hushed her husband hoping not to offend Luna.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about. Nobody was more broken up about the murders than her! She only did what she did because of grief.” 

Cadence yelled defensively, Celestia was her aunt. How could anypony ever say that about her? Luna was silent over the arguments until she finally stomped her hoof on the table, everything went silent. 

“This isn’t about my sister. This is about what we do with the bakers.” 

Nobody knew how to respond to her except Shining Armor

“we all know if we can’t convict them they’ll do it all over again. So what crimes are still valid?”

He said, Cadence had an idea 

“we have proof  they committed cannibalism, and they tortured ponies. It doesn’t matter if their victims are alive or not, it still happened.” 

She said, This made everyone in the room perk up.

“But then…..where should we put them that has zero chance of escape and ZERO chance of harm to any other pony. There’s been multiple incidents in the prison of assaults, almost murders.”

Luna interjected but she soon had an idea herself. The permanent residence mental institution, extra surveillance….extra restraints. She ran out of the room confusing the entire council and  not even consulting them on passing the order to have all the bakers transferred. How could she wait for approval to make Twilight feel safe? To make all of Equestria feel safe? It wasn’t an argument. Luna was the only princess, no. the queen. And queens have to make decisions. She wasn’t totally humble making this decision but it wasn’t the wrong one, at least for her subjects.