Hehe, anyway, enjoy the chapter!Hello there my lovelies! Here's a super long chapter for you all! Also, there's a lot of legal stuff that Fandoms and I did our best on but you know, I am NO lawyer! Hehe, anyway, enjoy the chapter!
It had been a few months since Morning Dove’s arrival, they’d legally changed his name to Crescent Script, a name the colt had picked out himself, and gotten him a complete makeover. The young stallion was feeling much more at peace, much happier with his life and his family. Everything was great, he had two awesome fathers, a crazy aunt who was practically his best friend, and he was even going to normal school now. Crescent had friends now, friends who used his pronouns and respected him. Life was good, great even, he was really happy. Until that day, that one day that made his blood run cold with fear.
A loud knocking broke the silence of the laboratory, impatient and harsh to the ears.
“Oh what now?” A certain green maned stallion muttered to himself, putting down his textbook and laying his reading glasses on top of it.
“I got it.” Circuit called up to the little office space Adhesive had been using to study from down in the living room, setting Rainbow down on the living room floor. The foal happily sat there, attempting to wriggle over to Crescent with little success. He was still quite young after all, not having gotten the hang of moving quite yet. The gray stallion made his way over to the door, opening it up for a moment just to slam it shut again.
“What in the name of Faust?” Adhesive asked, looking up the stairs at his husband. “Who was it?”
“No pony important, let’s just all relax and pretend we ne-”
“Circuit!” A familiar voice called out, one that made Crescent freeze in his spot as chills shot down his spine. It was Golden Cross. “Circuit I know you’re in there! You can’t just ignore me, open the door!” The mail stallion shot up and all but galloped to his husband’s side.
“For the love of Luna, why is she here?”
“I don’t know, but let’s just turn off the lights and stay really quiet and maybe she’ll just go away…” He muttered, moving to turn flick the switch. Before he could get very far, the mare’s voice on the other side of the door rang out again.
“Circuit please! I just want to see my precious little daughter, I know she’s in there! I need to make sure she’s okay, she is my child after all.” The green maned stallion’s eye twitched and he’d finally had enough. Adhesive marched over to the door, threw it open and shouted at the mare in front of him.
“He’s not your daughter, he’s our son! And I’ll be damned if I let you take him away from us and make him miserable ever again!” His blue eyes bore into the grey mare before him, practically murderous intent written over his features, the stallion was absolutely serious.
“How dare you say such a thing! That is my daughter you have in there and I won’t have you filling her head with such disgusting lies. Now, step aside, I’m taking her home with me.” She shoved Adhesive to the side as she forced her way into the house, though she didn’t make it far before she froze, her gaze landing on Crescent Script. “What...What in Faust’s name did you do to her!?”
“We let him choose! This is what he wanted! He’s happy, he’s free of those drab clothes, the long hair and the chains you put in place around his entire life! This is who. He. Is. And I’m not going to let you take him from us, I will do whatever is necessary to defend my family, to defend my son!” The stallion growled, taking a protective stance between Crescent and Golden Cross. “And his name isn’t Morning Dove for your information, it’s Crescent Script.”
“C-Crescent Script that’s...Oh that’s awful! You’ve ruined her!” She practically screeched the words, the dark coated colt flinching back slightly. Circuit quickly slipped over to his side, wrapping his hooves around him as he pulled him in for a comforting hug.
“Don’t listen to that witch, we won’t let her take you from us.” Adhesive snarled in agreement at his husband’s comment, his blue eyes narrowed to slits at the unicorn in front of him.
“Babe, grab the phone next to you and dial the emergency number.” The ‘pegasus’ nodded, ignoring the slightly confused looks he got as he picked up the phone.
“You can’t be calling the police. Even if you are, they’d side with me, that’s my daughter you’re holding after all.” Golden let out a little snort, rolling her eyes. “Now, enough of this silliness, come here Morning Dove, we need to get you home, your father has been worried sick. Let’s just put all this mess behind us and get you fixed up, alright? I’m sure there’s programs we can find to help you..” Crescent shed away from the approaching mare, as if the sight in front of him was painful.
“S-stay away… don’t t-touch me…” His green maned father nodded in approval.
“There, you see? He doesn’t wanna go anywhere with you!”
“She’s just confused, it’s your fault for filling her head with such lies. She just needs to get some help is all. Your father said he’d have pamphlets for you to look at when we get home, you can even pick out whichever one you like best..” She spoke as she reached out for the colt, her hoof barely getting close to him before she suddenly jerked it back.
“Ah!” She cried in pain, shaking her hoof about. Clinging to it was Rainbow, his little teeth embedded in her hoof. Adhesive let out a whoop of joy before pulling Rainbow into his arms.
“That’s my little boy! Defending his big brother, I’m so proud!” With that, Ebony appeared in a flash of green with an all but murder filled gaze upon her dainty features. Green eyes were pure red with anger and bloodlust, chilling the room to the bone.
“Step away from my nephew, now.” The occupants of the room all seemed to shrink back slightly, especially Golden Cross, who started to back towards the door.
“I just...I-I just wanted to get my daughter back, i-is that so wrong? She’s my flesh and blood after all, don’t I deserve to take her home with me?” The golden mare before her marched closer, her blood eyes boring into the puritan unicorn.
“Yes. It is wrong.” Ebony twisted her neck slightly, creating a cracking noise as a warning sign to Golden Cross that she was not afraid to take the offensive. “You are threatening my kin, changelings don’t like it when you threaten our kin. It makes you a threat, a danger to the hive, you know what we do to dangers to our homes?” The hybrid asked, her voice sweet and innocent, while her face revealed murderous intent.
“I….” The mare straightened out slightly, showing remarkable strength for the fact that she was pretty much trembling in her spot. “I don’t...I don’t care. You..You’ll be hearing from my lawyer about this. That’s my daughter you have and I won’t..I won’t let you keep her from me. Now good day.” She turned with a huff, trying to stride confidently from the house without breaking into a sprint. She didn’t quite manage this, half jogging from the home as she fled.
The mare stomped after her and slammed the door so harshly the hinges rattled. Ebony ground her teeth and began pacing back and forth in the living room, her wings fluttering in agitation.
“If it’s a legal battle she wants, it’s a legal battle she’ll get. I’ll wipe the floor with her so hard she’ll wish she’d never laid eyes upon this house!” The hybrid suddenly shot up, looking over at the residents of the house. “Oh… uh, right… Um…. Sorry about that, protective nature and all…” The pegasus cleared her throat softly and regained her composure, walking over to Crescent Script. “Okay, I’m going to need you to be one hundred percent honest with me right now okay?”
Her voice was soft and kind, not a molecule of anger or hatred in her voice, just soft honey and silk directed at the colt before her. The colt stared back at her with wide yellow eyes, slowly nodding. He’d never seen anyone able to change moods so quickly, and if he was being honest he kinda felt like he was about to faint again.
“Uh...Yeah sure, I can do that. Maybe. I think. What’s the question?”
“Do you want to stay here with us? I’m not saying you want to go back to that, witch.” The mare spit the word. “But are you sure you want to stay with Adhesive and Circuit specifically? It’s your choice, but if we’re going to be going into a legal battle I need you to be completely sure.”
“Uh...Yeah sure why not?” The dark coated unicorn muttered, his voice slightly squeaky. He cleared his throat a bit, forcing himself to speak more confidently. “I-I mean...Yes, I’m sure. There’s nowhere else I really can go..A-and even if there was I wouldn’t want to. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been this happy..”
Ebony smiled brightly at him, holding her arms out in an invitation for a hug.
“I’m glad to hear that, because I’m sure that the boys here wouldn’t trade you for the world. And your Auntie Ebs loves you with all her synthesized heart.” The two stallions in the room gave her a confused look before joining the hug.
“You are so explaining that later.” Adhesive muttered to the mare, hugging his family tightly. Circuit just let out a snort, rolling his eyes.
“It’s probably better you just don’t ask.”
“I think I agree with Circuit on that one…” Crescent chimed in with a little shudder, though he happily wriggled further into the hug.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A Few Days Later At The Trial
The family made their way into the courthouse dressed in their nicest attire. Circuit wore a simple blazer and had even tried to comb his mane, though he left his trademark goggles around his neck. Adhesive stood next to him, holding their son Rainbow who was wearing a cute little jacket for himself to match his father. The mailstallion holding him wore a pale blue blazer and a black undershirt with a matching blue and black striped tie. Next to Circuit on the other side walked Crescent, on his shoulders a silver blazer jacket with a white shirt under it and a pale pink tie to match his styled hair.
Leading the charge was none other than the golden hybrid herself, mane styled up all professional like and pulled back from her eyes. Her regular attire of next to nothing replaced by a professional looking mare’s suit that was navy in color and black flats on her hindlegs. On her nose, sat a pair of dignified glasses and as always, around her neck was her signature choker. If you looked closely at it, her name could faintly be seen written in golden letters. Under her hoof was a large file and a look of determination topped off the entire thing.
The mare stopped just before entering the courtroom itself and cleared her throat before turning towards her family.
“Alright everyone, you know the drill but I’ll go over it one more time as a refresher.” Circuit tried not to groan, running a hoof through his mane. He was messing it up, but honestly at this point it was just hopeless to try and pretend it was neat. This was the last place he wanted to be right now. Yes, he did want to get Crescent away from his awful sister, the unicorn foal already felt like a second son to him, but having to go the legal way was not how he was hoping it’d go down. He’d honestly rather just punch Golden Cross, take the foal, and run.
“Let’s just get this over with, I need a nap…” Ebony sighed, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose to pinch it.
“Okay then… Anyway, we’re bringing Golden Cross up on two charges, one, child abuse of Crescent Script here.” She motioned to her newest nephew. “And two, on being unfit to hold custody of Crescent. Finally, we’re going to file a non-parental custody petition. Meaning we’re trying to get custody of him ourselves. If we win the first two charges and answer some questions, I’m sure it will be perfectly fine. Don’t worry, I’ve done this before.”
The mare clapped her hooves and exhaled sharply.
“Okay, is everypony ready?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be I suppose..” Crescent muttered, taking a deep breath as he looked around. Adhesive smiled at the colt, shifting Rainbow over to one hoof so he could give his shoulder a squeeze.
“Don’t worry bud, it’ll be over before you know it. Then we can all go out to celebrate as a new family.” He smiled at him, managing to get a weak looking smile from the dark coated colt.
“Yeah..Yeah alright…” At that comment Ebony turned towards him and knelt down.
“They might ask you questions that will be hard to answer, but I’m telling you now, just answer truthfully and you’ll never have to worry about it again. You're gonna be rid of her, of them, once and for all. I promise you that.” Crescent nodded slowly, taking a deep breath to try and steady himself.
“Okay...I’ll do my best.” He ducked his head slightly as Circuit ready over and ruffled his mane, letting out a little huff. “Oi, it took me ages to make it look like that.”
“Oh hush kid, embrace the messy mane, it’ll save you so much time in the morning.”
Adhesive chuckled at that and adjusted Rainbow in his grasp before moving to open the door. Inside was the normal setup, rows of seats on either side of an aisle that lead to a blocked off area with a fence to separate it. Behind that were two desks, one on the left and one on the right, in front of them was the judge’s bench, on the right of that was the witness stand and to the left, the court clerk who recorded the case. Over on the far right wall stood the jury box, empty and waiting.
Ebony motioned for them to move towards the seating area behind the desk on the left, the plaintiff’s table while over on the left was the defendant’s table. The room was empty except for them, quiet and waiting.
“Alright, let's get ready to rock.” They all took their seats, Crescent quickly fixing his mane as he tried not to fidget too much.
“Are we going to have to wait long?” No response was given, but the doors behind them opened once more to reveal more and more ponies who began filing in and taking a seat in the area behind them. Three other ponies moved past the seating area and towards the defendant’s table. All of them were unicorns, the one closest to them was a grey stallion with neat mane and tail as well as a bunch of files and neat, rectangular glasses on his nose. On the other end was another stallion, around his neck was a church collar with the signature white rectangle at the front and he was clutching a bible. His coat was black like Crescents, but his mane and tail were bright red, yellow eyes poked out of his large skull that stared forward, unfeeling.
And in the middle of them, none other than Golden Cross herself, her head bowed in prayer. Ebony’s eyes narrowed at this, trying to qualm her anger. The group was brought out of their thoughts when another door opened, this time from the front as the jury filed into the box. Then, silence for a few moments until a final door opened behind the raised judge’s bench which was flanked by guards.
“All rise in the presence of the honorable Judge Martinez!” The ensemble rose, so did Ebony and the rest of her company in the stands. The judge, an earth pony with a cream colored coat, and black mane, was dressed in the usual judge attire of black and wore round glasses and a somber face. She was middle aged, a few wrinkles around her brown eyes and a slight frown.
“You may be seated. In the case of Heart VS Cross, court is now in session. Would the prosecution like to present their opening statement first?” She looked over at Ebony who stood and nodded.
“We would your honor, may I approach the stand?”
“You may.” Ebony nodded at this and moved over towards the center of the room and faced the jury.
“Thank you your honor, now then.” She cleared her throat and began in a somber tone. “We’re here today to bring to light the torment this young stallion has gone through in his home life by these two ponies. The pain and anguish he has suffered by the hooves of one Pastor Brimstone and his wife, Golden Cross.” At the names Ebony pointed her hoof towards them, a look of anger across her fair features. “After today’s case, you will all see that they are not only horrible parents, but unfit to have custody of my client.”
She nodded her head and sat back down at the table.
“Defense, your rebuttal?” The gray stallion cleared his throat slightly as he stood, adjusting his glasses a little bit before making his way to the center of the room like Ebony had.
“Ponies of the jury, I’m simply here to defend my clients and try to bring a broken family back together. Mrs. Cross and her husband have been trying their best to provide and safe and loving home for their foal as they see fit. It is unfair for these stallions,” he gestured to Circuit and Adhesive, “to claim that they would be better parents when the time they’ve spent with the foal can barely compare to the years that these two, Faust fearing unicorns have spent loving and raising Morning Dove the best they can.” The lawyer cleared his throat slightly, taking a deep breath before turning to scan his gaze of the jury. “After today you will see that my clients are simply two parents trying to do their best, and that it would be unfair..Unlawful even, to punish them for it.” He dipped his head to them before making his way back to his seat.
The hybrid took a deep breath before standing and looking to the judge.
“Prosecution, you may now present your evidence.” Ebony nodded at this.
“Thank you your honor, I would like to call to the stand Circuit Heart.” Circuit gave his husband and children, well one child and one hopefully soon to be child, a little smile before he made his way up to the stand, carefully taking his seat. The Bailiff, one of the soldiers, came up to Circuit and held out a bible.
“Please place your left hoof on the bible and raise your right hoof.” The earth pony did so. “Repeat after me, I will speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me Faust.” Circuit nodded before repeating the oath.
“I-I will speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me Faust.” Ebony then continued with her questions as the bailiff moved back into his place.
“Mr. Heart, is it true that Golden Cross is your biological sister?”
“Yes, that is correct.” Circuit muttered awkwardly, speaking into the little microphone on the stand so that all the ponies gathered in the courtroom could hear him.
“So it is correct that you have spent your whole life with knowing this mare?”
“Yes that is also correct.”
“Can you please describe your interactions with her? Her personality towards others?” The ‘pegasus’ hesitated a moment as he thought over his answer, speaking slowly as he considered his words.
“For as long as I’ve known her she’s always been rather...Callous when it comes towards the feelings and opinions of others. Even when we were younger she would brush off the opinions of others, believing only what she thought and felt about something was right. Even when we were just foals she was..Awful.” He sighed, shaking his head a little bit. “At first she just told me that I was a disappointment to the family, as I was born and earth pony and not a unicorn, and when I grew older and came out as gay, she’d tell me these awful stories about how I was going to burn for eternity for loving another stallion.”
Shocked gasps erupted from the audience and a few members of the jury covered their mouths in disbelief.
“Go on, what was she like towards you during your social interactions with others. Family gatherings, weddings, etc.”
“At any sort of social gathering she’s always been rude towards me, making snide comments and saying generally homophobic things...The worst was at my wedding, where she showed up uninvited and started yelling about how my husband and I being wed was a ‘crime against Faust’. She refused to leave and eventually had to be forcibly removed from the building.” Jury members openly gasped at this, Ebony smiling slightly at the reaction.
“Defense, your witness.” And with that she sat back down at the plaintiff’s desk. The stallion tutted as he got to his hooves, gathering up his papers before making his way over to the stand.
“Would you describe your sister as a religious mare?”
“I...Yes I suppose that’s a pretty accurate description, yes.”
“And you do not share her beliefs?”
“Yes that’s correct.”
“And is that wrong? That you don’t share the same beliefs that she does?” Circuit narrowed his eyes at the other stallion, letting out a soft huff.
“I suppose not..”
“And has she ever tried to physically injure you in order to change your beliefs?”
“Well no, but-” Ebony jumped up and threw her hooves down onto the table.
“Objection! Leading the witness!” The judge nodded.
“Sustained, get to the point Mr. Shifty.”
“Yes your honor.” The stallion muttered through gritted teeth, taking a deep breath before turning back to Circuit.
“Why didn’t you invite your sister to your wedding?”
“I...I don’t see how that’s relevant-”
“Just answer the question, Mr. Heart.” Circuit narrowed his eyes slightly, letting out a tense sounding sigh.
“Because I knew she’d make a scene.”
“Because you share different beliefs from her, yes?” The gray unicorn began to pace in front of him, his hooves clicking on the wooden floors.
“Yes.”
“But, I thought you said earlier that you believed there was nothing wrong with the fact that you share different beliefs?” At that comment Ebony gulped, getting ready to object again.
“Well, yes but-”
“Perhaps it wasn’t the thought that she might cause a scene that caused you to try and keep my client from the wedding, but a personal vendetta. The same reason for why you’re trying to tear her and her daughter apart-”
“OBJECTION!!!! Speculation your honor!” Judge Martinez nodded, her hooves clasped together on the table.
“Sustained, Mr. Shifty, you’re getting into dangerous territory here. Are you sure you want to continue questioning this witness or are you finished?”The stallion let out a little huff, smoothing his hair back before making his way back to his seat.
“No further questions your honor.”
“Mr. Heart you may return to your seat.” Circuit nodded, slowly making his way back to the seat. He practically slumped down, leaning against Adhesive with a little sigh.
“The prosecution would now like to call Adhesive Stamp to the witness stand.” Adhesive carefully handed the foal off to the gray stallion next to him, pressing a little kiss to all three of his family member’s heads before making his way over to the stand.
“Mr. Stamp, is it true that you’ve had negative interactions with Mrs. Cross over here?” The mare asked, gesturing towards Golden Cross.
“Yes that’s true.”
“Would you please describe them for us please.”
“They...Well they certainly haven’t been pleasant interactions...Each time I’ve spoken with her she’s insulted me, my husband, our son, our friends. Pretty much anyone in contact with us. More often than not she brings up Faust and the fact that she thinks my family and I are all going to rot for not conforming to her beliefs.”
“I see, and has she ever come onto your property before, broken things, entered your home without permission?”
“She’s never broken anything before, but she has entered my home without permission.”
“Entered your home without permission hmm? No further questions your honor. Defense, your witness.” The gray stallion slowly got to his hooves, glancing at his notes before making his way over.
“Mr. Stamp, if you will, please describe the situation which caused my client to enter your home without permission.”
“Alright...It was a day or two after Crescent had arrived. Golden Cross came looking for him, Crescent said he didn’t want to see her, she pushed her way into our home.”
“So you’re saying my client came looking for her daughter at your home, and when you refused to let her see Morning, she attempted to get inside in order to find her, yes?”
“Yes, she came looking for him.” He stressed the word slightly, shooting a pointed look at the lawyer.
“Right, no further questions your honor.” As Adhesive went back to his seat he pulled Crescent into a hug before Ebony’s voice once again rang through the room.
“I’d like to call Crescent Script himself to the stand now your honor.”
“Go ahead then.” The judge sighed. Crescent took a deep breath, shooting Circuit and Adhesive a nervous little smile before making his way up to the stand. He slowly took his seat, gulping a little bit as he looked around the courtroom.
“Mr. Script, is it true that you were unhappy with your previous living situation?” The colt shot a nervous look at his birth parents, wringing his hooves a bit as he slowly nodded.
“Y-yes..” Ebony looked at him and smiled softly.
“It’s alright Mr. Script, you’re safe here. Could you please describe to the court why you were unhappy?” He nodded slowly, taking a deep breath.
“My parents they...I was..I was born a mare…” He started slowly, still wringing his hooves with nerves. “But..But I’m not one. And my parents didn’t..Support that. They just told me that I was confused..That this was Faust’s way of testing me and seeing if I truly believed in her...And when I kept trying to tell them they just screamed at me, said I was a disgrace and was letting sin into the house and I just…” He took a deep breath, clenching his hooves together. “They were going to send to away to a conversion camp. To try and...F-fix me…”
Many eyes widened and a collective gasp went through the room.
“I know it’s hard, but could you tell us if you were subject to any physical abuse as well?” Crescent sniffled a little bit, swiping at his eyes as he tried to stop them from watering. He slowly nodded, taking a few moments to compose himself before he spoke.
“If I...If I pushed it too much when I tried to talk to them...If I tried to insist they listen to me too much my dad would slap me to make me shut up…”
“He would slap you? And this would happen on multiple occasions? Regularly?” Crescent nodded again, shifting slightly in his seat.
“Yes..At first it was just when I talked about it too much..But then he just started doing it every time I so much as alluded to it..” The judge’s eyes widened at this, her mouth set into a firm line.
“No further questions your honor and no further evidence to present.” Ebony stated, returning to her seat.
“Defense, your witness.” Judge Martinez said smoothly, keeping her tone even while the jury began throwing glares in the defendants’ direction. Even Mr. Shifty looked slightly uncomfortable with his clients, though he still continued on with his plan.
“Ms. Morning Dove..Or is it..Crescent Script now? Do you believe that your parents love you?”
“I- what?”
“Just answer the question please.”
“I..I guess?”
“And has it ever occurred to you that this is simply their way of showing their love? I mean, they went through an awful lot of trouble for you young mare, doesn’t that mean anything?”
“Objection! Speculation!”
“Overruled, sit down Ms. Runwick.” Ebony’s nostrils flared in anger and she bit her lip to try to qualm her anger.
“Answer the question Ms. Dove.”
“I...I guess..I mean..Maybe I didn’t…”
“Is it possible that perhaps this has all been blown out of proportion? That maybe your parents are right and this is all just some silly faze you’ve been going through?”
“I..” Crescent bit his lip a bit, taking a deep breath before shaking his head. “It’s..It’s not just some faze. I’m not a mare...I-I’m not a mare…” His voice rose slightly as he spoke, tears starting to bead up in his yellow eyes.
“Now now Ms. Dove, there’s no reason to shout-”
“Stop calling me that! That’s not my name and I’m not a mare!” The dark coated colt practically wailed, finally having enough of all the questioning. Golden Cross stood up at this, slamming her hooves down onto the desk.
“Yes you are! Now stop being stupid and for Faust’s sake come home! I want my daughter back!”
“I’m not your daughter! I’m not!” Crescent slammed his own hooves down on the stand, practically shrieking at this point. “I’m not your daughter and I never will be!” The judge began banging the gavel onto the stand at this point, loudly to quiet the courtroom.
“Order! Order in the court! Silence!” Everypony sat down, silent, like punished schoolchildren. “Enough, are you finished tormenting this colt Mr. Shifty or will I have to do it myself?” Mr. Shifty looked rather uncomfortable as Crescent fell silent, save for the soft sniffles coming from the unicorn.
“I um...No further questions your honor..”
“Good, Mr. Script you may return to your seat. Defense, please present your closing argument.” The unicorn colt quickly made his way back to his seat, happily accepting the hugs both Adhesive and Circuit gave him once he sat. Mr. Shifty made his way back to his seat for a moment, going over his notes one last time before trotting up to face the jury.
“Ponies of the jury, you have witnessed a very...Passionate trial today. While it is clear that there are some..Issues, present in the family, that is no reason to tear it apart. Ms. Cross and Pastor Brimstone have made their mistakes, but what parents haven’t? Is it really right to try and meddle in the problems of a family when they should figure it out on their own? There is much strife within this family, the prosecutors can deny it all they want, but they obviously hold a grudge against Ms. Cross and her family. It is clear that the defendants care about their foal, why would they go through all this trouble if they didn’t? So please, I implore you, do the right thing. Don’t tear this family apart.” The jurors just looked at him with glares and some wouldn’t look at him at all, but stared angrily at the defendants seated next to him.
“Prosecution, please present your closing argument.” Ebony stood and faced the jury head on.
“Ladies and gentlecolts, you have seen firsthand the abuse that Mr. Script has gone through. He has been persecuted, beaten, and verbally harassed for years of his life. And in the moment he seeks legal help, the defense throws it back into his face. He’s been misgendered in this very room! I implore you, do the right thing, give custody of Crescent Script to somepony who truly loves him, for being who he really is, a member of our community. A male member of our community.”
“Alright, the jury will now go into conference to decide their verdict. All file out and return after they have decided.” Judge Martinez explained, her voice booming over the crowd. Circuit let out a little sigh as he slumped back, pulling Crescent close to him.
“We got this….We have to, you guys saw the jury, there’s no way they can’t give us custody..Right..?” He asked nervously, mostly trying to convince himself. He was almost certain, though a small part of him was still worried they’d suddenly turn around and force Crescent back to Golden Cross. Ebony joined them with a small smile on her face, she looked tired.
“We’ve got this in the bag, there’s no way that the jury won’t side with us. Don’t worry, we’re not going to let you go back to them. If the off chance that they do try to force you…” A dark look crossed over the mare’s face. “I’ll fight our way out of here.”
“Thanks guys..I’m sorry for losing it back there I’m just...So tired off all this…” The pink maned unicorn let out a little sigh, rubbing at his eyes again. “I hope I don’t end up hurting our chances..”
“No no no, in fact, you probably helped them. By showing that this really gets to you it’s helping solidify our case.” The hybrid put a hoof on his shoulder comfortingly. “You did good alright? You did good.” With that last comment, everyone began filing back in, the forepony of the jury was now holding a sealed envelope with the results inside. The mare returned to her seat and waited for the results.
“Court is now in session, all rise for the verdict. Has the jury reached their verdict?”
“We have your honor.” The forepony opened the envelope and began taking out the piece of paper inside. Adhesive reached over and lightly wrapped an arm around Crescent, grasping Circuit’s hoof with his free one as he nervously awaited. The little family was the picture of tension, except for Rainbow of course who’d dozed off halfway through the trial.
“We the jury, on the count of child abuse, find the defendants….” He cleared his throat at this. “Guilty.” A collective cheer went through the crowd before being silenced by the judge. “On two, of being unfit to have custody of Crescent Script, we the jury find the defendants guilty.” More cheers erupted from the crowd before being silenced once more by Judge Martinez who then went to speak.
“I sentence the two of you to a 10,000 bit fine and for all of your remaining children to be court evaluated and Pastor Brimstone to be put into the county jail for three months no visitation rights. Custody of Crescent Script will be given to one Circuit Heart and Adhesive Stamp. Case closed, court dismissed.” And with that, the gavel fell and a certain entourage of ponies began cheering at their newfound family as Golden Cross’s husband was hauled away in chains. Golden glared at them with fire in her eyes, but she was promptly ignored as Circuit and Adhesive pulled their new child close.
“I knew it, I just knew they had to convict them…” Circuit sniffled a little bit, trying to discreetly wipe the happy tears from his eyes. Adhesive wasn’t even bothering to try to hide them, sobbing happily as he pulled all his family in, including Ebony, for a tighter hug. All the commotion awoke Rainbow, but he was quickly calmed by all the affection.
“Those mother buckers had it coming, I’m just glad that you’re now home Crescent, you’re a Heart and a Stamp now.”
“Yep! And there’s nothing you can do about it! Muahaha!” Circuit let out a little laugh as he reached out to ruffle his mane again, despite the stallion’s complaints.