Trixie was alone.
Granted, that wasn’t entirely true. She was sharing this particular chariot with three night guards, muscular ponies who spoke little and hadn't once smiled. Their presence, and the way they stared, did nothing to calm Trixie down.
Trixie sighed, thinking back to how she had gotten into this situation. She had returned home from Canterlot immediately. Her friends, the other Elements of Harmony, could tell immediately something was wrong when they saw her stumbling off the train. They had approached her, hugged her, and asked what was wrong.
When Trixie had told them what Luna had done... no, what Trixie had forced Luna to do... and when she had informed of the punishment they were now justly under, thanks to her own misconduct...
Raindrops had said nothing. But Trixie could see the rage on her face.
Lyra tried to hide her disappointment. Bonbon, though, had attacked Trixie enough for the both of them.
Carrot Top, bless her heart, was kind enough to not let Trixie have it, even though she was obviously livid. She had just said that things like that happened, and then excused herself to return to her farm. Trixie was grateful that the mare hadn't said anything.
Cheerilee, surprisingly, had taken the whole thing in stride. Unfortunately, some of the students in her class were not as forgiving. Trixie’s face still stung from the blistering diatribe Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle had unleashed at her the next day. Trixie wasn’t even sure how Cheerilee’s class had heard about it.
But however they did, it meant Dinky had found out about it.....And the look on Dinky’s face when she found out that Trixie had gotten her mom in trouble.....Trixie would never forget that look. That sad, disappointed look.
And then there were the days after. Just going through the motions, hoping and praying that Luna would forgive her. That she would actually want to see her again. That her mentor would tell her that she wasn't a terrible pony who deserved to be banished from Canterlot forevermore. Please, she had thought. I'll do anything.
Trixie was excited when she received the letter regarding the chariot she now rode. She was less excited when she read it, noting its terse language and its brusque orders to return to Canterlot immediately. She was even less thrilled when she noted the Night Guards also came to escort her. ‘For safety reasons,’ they had said.
Trixie wondered whose safety they spoke of.
***
The chariot eventually came to a landing right outside of the castle, in the gardens.
And standing on the ground, with an unreadable look on her face, was the Princess of Equestria.
The few Night Guards that had accompanied Trixie dispersed immediately, leaving student and teacher alone.
“P...Princess.” Trixie bowed, doing the best she could to keep the worry out of her voice and failing miserably.
“Representative.” Luna said, coldly. “Prince Blueblood returned to Canterlot last night. We are going to discuss things with him. He will soon be coming to my office. We will be there before he arrives.” And without warning, Luna began to walk towards the castle at a quick pace. Trixie had to struggle to keep pace with the Princess.
***
Luna’s chambers, which had only a few days ago felt like a haven, now felt like a prison, and one home to the most fearsome warden in history nonetheless. Trixie wisely chose to stay out of Luna’s way and sit quietly in the corner. Any attempts at conversation were met with a stern gaze.
Luckily, or maybe unluckily, the silence did not last for long. Blueblood walked into the room. He looked tired and weary, as if he'd also been wrestling with his conscience. Trixie wondered if Pinkie had been working on him as well. I wouldn't put it past her...
Blueblood noted Trixie, and an expression of rage crossed his face. “What is she doing here!?” he shouted, a hoof pointing at the showmare.
“Calm yourself Blueblood.” Luna said. “We are here to make right that which is wrong.”
Luna’s words appeared to do little to calm the stallion. “What did Trixie tell you!?” he demanded, pointing an accusing hoof at the show mare, who was currently too afraid to do anything. "I have done nothing wrong since your castigation! I--"
“Viscount Prince Blueblood, you will be silent.” Luna ordered. Her words immediately had the desired effect. “I do not know what trials you have gone through this week, but I have brought Trixie here to make amends.” The Princess turned to her student. “Explain.” She ordered.
Trixie gulped, and tried to talk, but found herself unable to form the words.
Luna’s face, if possible, seemed to grow even more stern. “Explain,” she repeated.
“......I...have to apologize......I lied. There.....was nothing in your drink. There isn’t any poison in you. I....I lied.....”
There was silence for a moment.
Blueblood turned to Luna. "Princess, is this true?"
"Yes."
Blueblood looked back at Trixie. "And?"
Trixie took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. What I did was wrong."
Luna nodded. "Blueblood, you are hardly blameless in this."
Blueblood nodded. "Yes." He took a breath, as if steeling himself for something. "I have also taken... unorthodox actions against you."
"Blueblood," warned Luna.
"Illegal actions," corrected Blueblood. "I apologize... for sending Zizanie against you, and Audit, and all the rest." He paused. "I cannot blame Miss Lulamoon for doing what she did, considering my past discretions against her. I would have acted similarly in her position.”
Luna looked at the two of them. “Do both of you accept each others' apologies?"
The two both said, "Yes."
"Do you both swear, from this point onward, to be better than you have been? To act in a manner that would be an inspiration to ponies all across Equestria?”
"We swear," the two answered.
The hardened look that Luna had worn for the entire meeting softened. “Very well. Viscount Blueblood... go, and earn your forgiveness. Representative, a moment.”
Blueblood left, his bearing noticeably more steady than when he had entered, and then Trixie and Luna were alone.
“Princess-”
“Trixie,” Luna interrupted. “I understand you have been through alot. That you, your friends, and your home have been targeted by the corrupt. That Blueblood himself was responsible for a good deal of this...I wish I could ignore your transgressions, but even though your intent was sound, your actions were not.”
Trixie shivered, eyes drawn down the floor as they were several days ago. And then Trixie felt a pair of hooves draw her into a hug.
“Please... never forget that I love you. I want you to be happy, Trixie. I want the best for you. And I believe there is so much good in you.” Her voice was soft. “But I am not just your friend. I am the Princess of Equestria, and I must apply the law impartially. If I do not... then I am no better than the nobles.” Her voice caught for a moment. “Your monarch... and your friend... implores you, Trixie. Please do not force me to apply the law against you.”
Trixie returned the hug. “I promise.”
Oh, come on. Kiss and make up you two. (Blueblood and Trixie :)
Kay, so, I went the entirely wrong way with my original critique of this, so I’m going to reduce it and make it far more straightforward.
The elements are mad at Trixie because her behavior got them in trouble, when as Luna said, it was actually their behavior in letting her do it and keeping their mouths shut about it.
Despite having the right of approach, they additionally make no move to try and apologize to Luna, themselves, instead focusing on being angry at Trixie. If Trixie hadn’t told on them, it is clear that they would gladly have let the whole incident pass.
Basically, none of them appear to feel at all guilty for what they are being punished for. Trixie is the only one openly unhappy about what she did, the others are just mad Trixie didn't lie to Luna about them.
Cheerilee and Ditzy even let the children in their charge act out, both passively and aggressively, against Trixie. This enforces a strongly negative message in them, essentially that doing something underhanded is bad, but telling on a friend is worse.
I also find it off-putting that Luna would wait multiple days to reinforce that she is not going to banish Trixie or anything similar. I feel like she would know what her fire and brimstone speech would do to Trixie, and letting Trixie think her mentor, longest friend and a something of a maternal figure actually hated her, for any extended period of time, is unjust and cruel. Trixie did not deserve that emotional abuse, particularly on top of everything else.
So, my problem with this fic is that it tries to teach the lesson that blackmail, even when it's something minor, against someone who's done bad things and prevents something like an entire court of corrupted ponies from seeking retribution against you, your friends, and your town... and instead puts forth a bunch of messages that I feel can cause more harm than good.
That no amount of good can justify the smallest evil. That you should never confess your crimes as being remorseful does not give way for forgiveness. That you should never confess the crimes of others as to do so is a far greater crime than anything they could have done, themselves.
Luna, godamnit, you're so "infallable". You cannot be accused of anything bad... Tell me, what YOU would have done in their place? Wait for Copurt to make even MORE problems? Court is kinda bullshit, but it's Luna's conviction that ANY TECHINCALLY illegal action is bad. You bucking ignore the REASON, and RESULTS. They basically did your job of controling the court when it's out of hoof, and you punish them?