//------------------------------// // The Trial Part Three // Story: AppleShy Series // by PatRoison //------------------------------// Trixie glanced down at her food tray. She’s only eaten half of it. Just enough to quiet her hunger, which wasn’t much. Her mind simply had too much to process. Why did Princess Luna care more for a simple barrier than Storm Ring’s plan? That question weighed on Trixie’s mind and she couldn’t think of anything else. She hoped that Princess Luna returned soon. At the very least, she could put her mind at ease. With the stress building to panic, she decided that she needed to meditate. She often meditated whenever she felt overly stressed but she wasn’t certain that she was doing it properly. She always felt better afterward, so she never really cared. She sat down on the bed and closed her eyes. She smiled as she focused on her constant companion in the dungeon, the mysterious drip. Each drip became louder and more pronounced until the drip encompassed the entire world. She wasn’t certain if what happened next was, in fact, a dream or not. Her mind felt lucid but it had the surreal qualities of a dream. --- Trixie stood within the streets of Canterlot, but instead of the street full of ponies going about their daily business, she found nothing but ruin. Storefronts stood either boarded up or broken into. Trixie looked up and gasped at the sight she saw. Canterlot Castle was burning. Most of the massive building still stood, but some parts were destroyed. She felt her mouth fall open when she Celestia’s balcony, or rather, where the balcony should have been. That section of the castle was simply gone. “This was an attack,” Trixie whispered. She heard the sound of hoofsteps on cobblestone and spun around. She was no longer standing in Canterlot but now stood in a small town square. She studied what she could and figured that it might be the town of Ponyville. A shout caused her to spin around. Several angry ponies stood before her causing her to take a few steps back. They were all screaming something, but she couldn’t understand any of it. Before she could speak, the mob began to run at her. She turned to run, but the group quickly reached her, except she wasn’t hurt. The ponies were running through her as though they were nothing more than phantoms. Screams brought her attention to where the mob was running and again she let out a gasp. It wasn’t just one mob of ponies but two of them. Both groups were fighting in the middle of the square. If she had any hope of this being nothing more than a game or part of a play, the sight of the downed ponies, beaten and bloody, dispelled it instantly. She felt herself become light headed and she turned and ran away. The sounds of the fight began to fade away and Trixie stopped to catch her breath. When she stopped she couldn’t believe that she was no longer within the town. It had been a long time since she was in that wretched backwater, but she could have sworn that it was bigger than this. When she turned around, her suspicions were confirmed. Ponyville was no longer in sight. She shook her head and turned around. The sight of Storm Ring shocked her so badly that she fell backward. “Don’t you see,” he said in a hoarse whisper. His voice sounded as lifeless as he actually was. He stared at her with cloudy dead eyes and shouted, “You brought this to Equestria. You brought my dream to life.” “How,” Trixie whispered, “How is that possible?” Storm Ring began to laugh, though the sound made her shudder. He stopped laughing and said, “You have brought the princesses down. And Equestria is finally free.” Trixie glanced back to where Ponyville was. Before she could speak she felt a cold hoof on her shoulder. She didn’t dare turn to face him. “Equestria is free. Right now the ponies seeking true freedom are cutting the cancer that is the old ways. Places like Ponyville will be among those excised. There will be a time of recovery, but just imagine the freedom ponies will have.” Trixie stood and ran away from Storm Ring. She didn’t even care where she was going, but she had to get away. After a while, she ran right into something. She stared up from the ground and couldn’t hide her smile at the sight of Princess Luna. “Wake up,” Luna shouted. Moments passed and Trixie continued to stare up at the princess. Luna stared at Trixie, genuinely confused, and knelt down next to her. “You’re not sleeping,” she said, “Not exactly.” The princess turned her gaze around and narrowed her eyes. “This is a vision,” she said, “We need to speak about this. Now.” Princess Luna placed her horn in Trixie’s forehead. --- Trixie opened her eyes and let out a sigh of relief as she stared at the familiar wall of her cell. She thought of what she just went through and decided that it would be best for her to wait for Princess Luna. She didn’t have to wait long and she soon her the steps of a pony walking down the hall. Except they were not walking, they were running. Trixie heard confused shouts from the guards but no replies. She waited and gasped as Princess Luna skidded to a halt in front of her cell. Luna gasped as she caught her breath, and the panicked look in her eyes scared Trixie. “What’s wrong,” Trixie asked. “That is what I would like to know,” Luna said. Her breathing had begun to slow down to normal and she turned back to the hall entrance. “I am fine,” she said to an unseen pony, “You may return to your post.” An unknown pony gave an affirmative reply and the sounds of hoofsteps began to echo from the hall. When the hall fell silent, except for the drip, Luna brought her attention back to Trixie. “We need to speak.” Trixie rose from her bed and asked, “What’s wrong?” “You know what’s wrong. That vision you had.” “That? It was a dream. Nothing more.” Luna shook her head, “That is not true, and you don’t believe that. You were somewhere between dreams, and that gave you a vision.” “A vision? But it was too much like a dream.” “Visions often have the quality of dreams, but what you experienced was different.” Trixie narrowed her eyes and said, “It couldn’t have been a vision. It was a dream and nothing more. I was held against my will by a psychopath bent on murdering you, and all you care about is some silly spell I cast on a pony. It was a dream.” Luna stared at Trixie confused. After a moment, she said, “I can understand your confusion, but there are matters more important than-” “If that were true,” Trixie shouted, “You wouldn’t be here. I saw Storm Ring in my dream. If my so-called vision were real, then his ultimate goal came true. That is in spite of the fact that every pony involved has been either captured or killed.” Trixie felt herself flinch slightly as she remembered Red Velvet. She learned about her real name just after her imprisonment. She recovered quickly and said, “There is nopony left to finish what he started. All I had was a nightmare and nothing more.” Luna sighed. She stared at Trixie, “You don’t believe that. In your heart, you know that what you saw will come to pass one day.” She added, “It’s difficult to say when this will come to pass, but it will.” Trixie rubbed her face and asked, “If this vision were true, what good would it do? How do you know what actions to take to ensure it doesn’t happen” She turned back to Luna, “If you could prevent it, wouldn’t that make the vision false?” Luna smiled, “Those are all good questions, and you are right. It’s impossible to say what will be the sequence of events that leads to the destruction of Equestria, but I know that you will play a part. I don’t know just how but I believe that you have a greater purpose.” Trixie felt her comfortable smirk form on her lips, “Trixie is well aware of her greatness, but she already has obligations.” “It’s good that you are becoming comfortable,” Luna said, “But you have a talent. You’re using it for your own ends, and that’s fine. But that time has passed. I believe that you will be very important in the future.” Trixie let out a long sigh and looked around. The small cell actually felt comfortable. Here she knew that her meals would be at the same time, and her only responsibility was to keep quiet. She never shrank from a challenge in her life, and she knew that she wouldn’t shrink from this one. She turned back to Luna and asked, “What are you’re saying?” Luna smiled, “I’m not saying anything. I am merely asking if you are interested?” “Interested in what?” Luna’s smile changed into a smirk that rivaled Trixie’s own and said, “An opportunity.” --- Doctor Ember Rainbow stood before the bailiff with the patience that can only be forged in the fires of panic that comes from one of the busiest emergency rooms of all Equestria. Her eyes, hardened but not lacking compassion, were laser-focused on the bailiff as she waited for instructions. “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,” the bailiff asked. “I do,” Ember Rainbow said. The bailiff nodded and returned to his post, allowing Ember to take her seat on the stand. “Good afternoon, Doctor,” Dexter said. “Good afternoon.” Dexter walked to the witness stand and asked, “Can you state your name and profession for the record?” Ember nodded and said, “My name is Ember Rainbow, and I am the presiding physician for the Cloudsdale Emergency Room.” “And how long have you been working at the hospital?” “As an E.R. doctor?” Dexter nodded. Ember cleared her throat, “I have been there for twenty years.” “That’s a long time,” Dexter said. “There will always be emergencies,” Ember said. “That’s true,” Dexter said. Dexter leaned against the witness stand and asked, “How long have you known the defendant?” Ember’s emotionless expression finally broke with a warm motherly smile, “I’ve known her for over fourteen years now.” “And how would you describe her character?” “I would describe her character as among the finest I know. She could stand to take a little more pride in herself, but she’s gotten much stronger.” Dexter returned to his table and asked, “Now, how would you describe her as she was ten years ago? Would you, as a doctor, describe as suffering from any form of sociopathy?” Ember shook her head, “I’m not qualified to make that diagnoses.” “Fair enough,” Dexter said, “But do you recall any situation where you would have felt the need to seek out a doctor who was qualified?” Ember laughed, “Absolutely not. The first few years, she was trapped in her own shell. She managed to break through slightly, but that was when...” “Do you believe that it was that attack that made her into the pony she is today?” “Again,” Ember said, “I’m not qualified to make that diagnosis, but, as a mother, I don’t believe so. What happened to her is similar to a tattoo. It will fade in time, but it will always be there. She is who she is, and I believe that her personal strength that will see her through this.” Dexter made his way to the jury box, “She certainly seems to be a lot tougher than she looks.” Ember nodded, “She truly is.” “Thank you,” Dexter said, “That will be all.” He sat down and Parker rose. “You give a pleasant account of the defendant’s character,” Parker asked. “I told the truth.” Parker nodded, “And her family? How would you describe their character?” Ember’s smile died and it was clear that she’d rather not speak about them, but she remembered that she was under oath. “The best way I can describe their character would be by pointing out just how much character they lacked.” Parker continued to pace around the court, “Not to mention that the defendant was destitute, is that right?” “Her family always struggled with money, just as many-” “Yes, yes,” Parker said, “And it was the fact that you yourself were much better off that she found herself a way to get into your good graces.” Ember tilted her head, “What are you saying?” “I am merely presenting a logical path for all of us to follow. You said that the defendant’s parents have no redeeming character to speak of.” “I didn’t-” “Given that lack of character, and the horrid living conditions that the defendant had to deal with, doesn’t it make sense that she would do whatever it took to get out of that situation?” “She worked hard on her own-” “But it was only after you took her under your care, that she was able to begin ‘working hard’ to improve, wasn’t it?” Ember looked visibly upset but for just a moment. She took a breath and asked, “Will I be allowed to finish what I have to say?” Parker stopped and smiled, “Of course, we’re all waiting.” “Very well. Now to answer your question, yes, she did begin her improvement when I became her guardian, and yes, that came about because her parents were declared unfit. However, she had never attempted to use what little standing I have to propel herself in any way.” “Are you sure about that,” Parker asked. He walked back to his desk and produced a sheet of paper. He handed it to the bailiff and said, “I present into evidence a certificate.” Bloodhoof looked over the certificate and nodded. He looked at Fluttershy and said, “According to this you are a doctor in everything but the title.” Fluttershy nodded. Bloodhoof handed the certificate to Parker, “Proceed.” “Thank you. Now, as the judge said, the defendant is essentially a doctor of veterinary medicine. How could that be?” “I don’t understand,” Ember said. “She’s still rather young. Only twenty-four years old, and she has all the qualifications to be a doctor.” “She doesn’t have all the qualifications. She’s not certified to dispense medicine.” “But isn’t that a paltry thing,” Parker asked, “She is still farther along that a regular student.” “Objection,” Dexter said, “Ponies can be special. That’s why cutie marks are a thing.” “Overruled,” Bloodhoof said, “Yes the defendant could be special, but let’s see where this path takes us.” “Thank you, your honor,” Parker said. He turned back to Ember, “Did you do anything to assist the defendant in her studies? Perhaps speak to certain ponies to make the path easier for her?” “I did what I could to help her. Are you saying that I shouldn’t have?” “That’s not my place, but it certainly seems rather convenient that she chose to wait until she had the means to pursue a better-” “You have no idea how hard she has worked to improve her life,” Ember shouted, “What I have done pales in comparison to the hard work that she has done, so don’t you dare claim that she tried anything malicious.” Another murmur spread throughout the court and Bloodhoof struck his gavel. “Order,” he bellowed, “I’ll thank counsel to get on with it.” “Very well,” Parker said, “I would like to say that the defendant has the appearance of an innocent pony, but the fact is quite different. She is a schemer. She is somepony who grew up so poor that she hates any and all who are even remotely better off than her. That is why she seduced Grey Ring all those years ago-” “He sexually assaulted her,” Ember said, “Was that part of her plan?” Parker shook his head, “We are not here to discuss that, but since you broached the subject, let’s discuss her pregnancy, shall we?” Another murmur as Fluttershy began to shrink into herself. She stiffened slightly as she felt a comforting hoof on her back. “It’ll be okay,” Rainbow said though her own anger was clear. Fluttershy nodded and relaxed slightly. Parker waited until the murmur died down before he continued, “How would you describe the pregnancy?” Ember took a deep breath, “Aside from the conception, it was a normal pregnancy.” “And you were involved at each stage?” “Of course I was. I was her guardian. I had to ensure she remained healthy.” “But was abortion ever considered?” Ember shook her head, “I suggested it, but Fluttershy refused. She couldn’t do that.” “So the pregnancy proceeded. How was the delivery?” Ember’s face took on the same neutralness that it held when she first entered the courtroom. It appeared as though the emotion had drained from her face. This lack of emotion even carried over to her voice. “The foal was stillborn.” Parker nodded, “That is a shame, but can you tell us what the procedure is for handling a stillborn foal.” Ember cleared her throat and said, “In a stillbirth, the foal is deceased prior to birth.” “How is that different from a miscarriage?” “In a miscarriage, the foal’s death is early in the pregnancy. Stillbirth is nearing the end.” “I see. Now, is there any established procedure to handle a stillborn foal?” Ember nodded, “Yes. This may be difficult to hear, but a stillborn pony is considered biohazardous material. We have to take the foal and dispose of it.” “Wouldn’t the foal’s mother have the right to see her child or at least plan for a funeral?” Ember shook her head, “Under normal circumstances, yes, but Fluttershy was not in a position to make those decisions.” “Who was,” Parker asked. “I did what I felt was necessary. Fluttershy was still a minor.” Parker leaned against his desk, “So you disposed of the foal?” Ember nodded, “The law states that all stillborn foals must be cremated within seven days.” “And you did that,” Parker asked. Ember nodded slowly, “Yes.” Parker smirked and asked, “Is that the truth? I only ask because you are under oath.” Ember glared at Parker, “Of course I’m telling the truth. I’m not happy with what I did, but it was for the best.” “For the best,” Parker asked, “Curious since apparently, you had no choice in the matter.” “That’s not what I meant.” “Perhaps, but I have to be perfectly clear. You are a witness to establish the character of the defendant. I would like to shed a little light.” Parker produced a document and passed it to the bailiff. “I would like to present to evidence all the research I have conducted in the matter of the birth.” Bloodhoof looked over the documents and after a few minutes asked, “Will both counselors please approach?” Parker and Dexter approached the bench and Bloodhoof asked, “I will not turn this into a circus. Are you absolutely certain of this information?” “The only way to be completely certain would be with a DNA test, but I have done my due diligence. I am absolutely certain that this is what happened.” “Does the defense have anything to add?” “I have a lot of questions, so I request the chance to reexamine the witness.” “Permission granted,” Bloodhoof said, “You may return to your seats.” Bloodhoof handed the documents to Parker and said, “Counsel may proceed.” Parker opened the folder and said, “There are several things wrong with what you said. To begin, I have proof that there was no cremation.” Ember tilted her head, “And what would that be?” Parker smiled, “Hospitals are great for their bureaucracy. All of that red tape means there are records for everything. There’s even a record of stillborn cremations.” He read from the document, “Within the time frame that the defendant delivered the foal, and I searched six months in both directions, there were neither stillbirths nor any cremations of stillbirths. How is that possible?” Ember shook her head, “I don’t know. I’m not in charge of records.” “Yes, but why would they leave out this specific stillbirth’s cremation? That’s doesn’t make sense. Even if it was because you asked them not to, it still wouldn’t make sense. You said that you did what law required you to do. Wouldn’t you ensure that all proper documentation was completed?” “I did my duty.” “But you have no personal records of it. What if the defendant wanted to learn if she had a filly or a colt? Would she have been able to get any kind of documentation for it?” “That would be at the hospital,” Ember said her annoyance clear. Parker smiled, “That is another lie.” He took a sheet from the folder, “It took some doing, but I found out what happened to that foal.” His smile seemed to be both jovial and sinister. As though he was truly about to enjoy seeing somepony suffer some terrible fate. “Let’s begin unraveling this tattered web shall we?” He paced back and forth as he spoke, making sure that his gestures be as grand as possible to accentuate every point he made. “Firstly, the foal was not stillborn. There is no evidence of any disposal. Secondly, there is evidence of an anomaly. An unnamed female foal that had no listed parent, nor any record of discharge. That in itself is curious, but, like I said, hospitals keep excellent records.” He produced another document from his folder and said, “Here is a record of a newborn female foal who was given up for adoption. Nameless, but exactly the same characteristics as the previous unnamed foal. The most distinct is that both have the same defect in the wings.” He glanced back to Ember, “I would ask you to explain this, but you already said that this foal doesn’t exist.” “I-,” Ember began. “Don’t worry,” Parker said, “I’ll get back to you.” He brought his attention back to the jury, “The records indicate that this foal’s wings were damaged during delivery. Perhaps they were defective in the womb, that doesn’t matter. The important thing is that this condition is quite rare and both foals share it. That is too much of a coincidence to ignore.” Again he returned to his folder, “Lastly, here is a record from the orphanage in Ponyville. I suppose it makes sense to move the foal there. After all, with her defective wings, she would be in danger living in cloudsdale.” Parker turned back to Ember, “Now, what do you make of that?” Ember shook her head, “That’s all interesting, but you have zero evidence that this foal in question is the same that Fluttershy gave birth to. Also, that condition is not as rare as you’re making it out to be. It is uncommon, but foals' wings often recover within weeks of being born.” “Yes,” Parker said, “But why are you mentioned by the Matron of the orphanage?” The color seemed to drain from Ember’s face for a moment before she recovered, “What do you mean?” Parker produced a letter from the matron wishing to thank the pony who dropped off such a wonderful foal.” “There is no way that this matron would remember a random pony delivering a foal to her orphanage,” Ember said though there was a hint of desperation in her voice. Parker laughed, “Not only does she remember, the foal is still there. Granted she wasn’t there when I arrived, but the matron was rather emphatic that I not be given permission to speak to the foal. Regardless, she remembers you quite clearly, and she would like to inform you that the foal is doing wonderfully.” He flipped through the pages as he muttered, “Now what was that foal’s name again.” Eventually, he found the page he was looking for, “Here we go. Ridiculous name. Yes, the matron said that Scootaloo is doing just fine.” “What,” Fluttershy screamed, “Scootaloo is my daughter and you didn’t tell me?” Bloodhoof slammed his gavel down and said, “Control your client.” “Yes, your honor,” Dexter said as he put a leg around Fluttershy’s shoulder. “Don’t worry,” he whispered as he tightened his hold on Fluttershy, “I’ll talk to her once he’s done. It’ll be okay.” “But,” Fluttershy said between ragged breaths, “She lied to me.” Dexter shook his head, “Let me worry about that. You just try and stay calm.” It took a while, much of it Fluttershy trying her best to escape the courtroom before she calmed down somewhat. When she looked back up at Ember the love that she used to feel for her had been severely dampened. Hurt and distrust replaced it. “So,” Parker said, “We know for a fact that everything you just said was a lie. Now, I will not move to have you charged with perjury so long as you are completely honest from here on out.” He walked back to his table and leaned against it. His pride was beaming from him, and he looked fit to burst, “Go ahead and tell the court why you did all of this. Why did you lie about the foal being stillborn and go so far as to send her to an orphanage in another village?” Ember looked at Fluttershy, “I’m sorry, but it was the right thing to do.” Parker walked so he was between Ember and Fluttershy, “Please answer the question.” Ember let out a long sigh, “Fluttershy was in no position to raise a foal. She was too young-” “But she had you there did she not?” Ember nodded, “Yes, but there was something else.” Parker took a measured step closer to Ember, “And that would be?” She didn’t respond for a while, and the courtroom took on an oppressive aura as everypony held their breath as they waited her next words. Eventually, she said, “I feared that she would see Grey Ring every time she saw her daughter. That she would grow to hate the child and resent her for who her father was.” Parker nodded and moved to the jury box, “Curious. That sounds like the disposition of a pony with a grudge. With an axe to grind, doesn’t it?” Ember shook her head, “No, she never mentioned Grey Ring, and she never showed any interest in getting revenge.” “That you know of,” Parker said, “After all, you yourself just said that she would have hated her own daughter. Why? Because she would be of, if at least partially, proper pedigree, while the mother would still be the same filth as the day she cursed Equestria with her existence?” “Objection,” Dexter shouted, “Isn’t that a bit much?” “Sustained,” Bloodhoof said, “Please remain on task.” Parker scoffed, “Of course, your honor.” He then returned his attention back to Ember, “You do see what I’m getting at, don’t you? You were comfortable with keeping a lie all of these years, why shouldn’t she?” “I can’t speak on that,” Ember said visibly shaken, “That’s something only she can answer.” Parker nodded and said, “That is true.” He walked back to his table and said, “No further questions.” Bloodhoof nodded and said, “Very well, defense my reexamine.” “Thank you, your honor,” Parker said as he rose from his table. He walked up to Ember and said, “This must be very difficult for you.” Ember nodded but stayed silent. “I can understand keeping a big secret for as long as you have,” Dexter said as he leaned closer to Ember, “But please allow me to ask you this, when you did what you did, was your intention to hurt the defendant?” Ember glared at Dexter, “Of course not. I love that pony, she’s like a daughter to me. I only wanted to keep her from hurting, and a foal was too big a responsibility for her.” Dexter walked back to his table, “So your intention wasn’t to deceive, but to protect the defendant and give the foal a better life?” “Yes,” Ember said nodding, “But I thought she would have been adopted long ago.” “That’s not an unreasonable assumption,” Dexter said, “After all, you delivered a beautiful foal to the orphanage. You couldn’t have known.” “Perhaps,” Ember said. “There is still something that I must ask, had you known then what you know now, would you have done what you did?” Ember leaned back and thought long and hard. It was a difficult question, but she eventually had an answer, “I would have brought Fluttershy into the discussion, and I would have pushed for her to give the foal up for adoption. I would not have kept it from her.” Dexter nodded and returned to the witness stand, “So you would have done things differently, but the end result would be the same?” Ember sighed, “I would have tried, but Fluttershy could be rather stubborn. She might have resisted the idea.” “And you would have been forced to take the foal anyway seeing as you were her guardian and responsible for her wellbeing, correct?” “Yes,” Ember said, “Exactly.” “Thank you,” Parker said as he sat down, “That will be all.” Bloodhoof struck his gavel, “Very well, we shall have a recess and reconvene in one hour.” “All rise,” the bailiff shouted. The courtroom rose and Bloodhoof exited the court. Ember walked toward the court entrance, but she stopped next to Fluttershy. “You lied to me,” Fluttershy said anger dripping from her words. “Not now,” Ember said, “We can talk later. I did what was best for you.” She didn’t wait for Fluttershy to respond, instead, she turned to Rainbow Dash. “Take care of her,” she told her daughter, “And we will discuss this. I promise.” Rainbow didn’t respond. She just stared dumbfounded at her mother. Ember simply turned and left the courtroom. “I can’t believe it,” Pinkie Pie said. “Neither can I,” Rarity responded as she gently stroked Fluttershy’s short mane. “All this time,” Pinkie continued, “All this time, I’ve been a real auntie and I didn’t know it? I have a lot of belated birthday presents and parties to get ready.” Twilight began to giggle, “Only Pinkie would find the bright side.” “Scootaloo is my daughter,” Fluttershy whispered, “She’s my little baby.” Rainbow Dash nudged her, “Hey, when we get out of here, you should go get her. We’ll all go with you, so you can finally have your daughter by your side.” “That sounds wonderful,” Fluttershy said, “But what if she doesn’t want to?” “We can cross that bridge when we come to it,” Rarity said. We simply must focus on the current situation first.” Twilight nodded, “I agree. Then we can work on getting you together with Scootaloo.” “Why did she lie to me,” Fluttershy asked, “I was so happy to be a mom.” Rainbow Dash hugged Fluttershy, “I know, but I guess she had a reason for it. I don’t like it, but she kind of had a point.” Fluttershy pushed Rainbow Dash away and glared at her, “I would not have hated her. She had nothing to do with it.” Twilight cleared her throat and said, “Yes, but you were different back then. You don’t know for certain how you would have felt.” “Your biggest concern right now,” Rarity said, “Is that the jury may find your character lacking, especially since it appeared that your strongest character witness was lacking in some character herself.” She turned to Rainbow, “I don’t mean any offense, but-” “No,” Rainbow said, “I got some choice words for her when I get a chance. She promised that we’ll talk about this later, and she is not going to be happy.” She turned back to Fluttershy and said, “But that’s later. Right now, I think you should take the stand.” “That’s risky,” Dexter said, “It could easily backfire on her.” Rainbow nodded, “Yeah, but the jury could get the story straight from the pony’s mouth.” Dexter smiled, “Yes, but don’t forget that the prosecution will have a chance to question her too, and he’s good at twisting things around.” “I still think it’s her best shot,” Rainbow said, “It’ll show the jury that she’s not the killer that they’re making her out to be.” Dexter opened his mouth to speak when Fluttershy spoke up. “I’ll do it,” she said, “I’ll go up there.” Dexter turned and asked, “Are you sure? I mean are you absolutely sure? You can’t quit halfway through. You have to sit there and answer every question until he decides to stop.” Fluttershy shivered for a moment before looking at her friends. She gave them all a warm smile. “I’m scared, but I have to do this. It will be hard, but I know that it’s for the best.” Dexter nodded and said, “All right, I’ll call you up as my final witness.” “Thank you,” Fluttershy said. She glanced around and noticed that her friends held their smiles. Their confidence seemed to flow to her and her own smile grew. A warmth grew in her belly, and she knew that she would be fine. No matter what the outcome, she did what she felt was right, and she stood by it. “All rise,” the bailiff shouted. The court rose and Bloodhoof reentered the courtroom. “Be seated,” he said, “Does the defense have any more witnesses?” Dexter rose from his seat and said, “Yes, your honor. I call my final witness, the defendant, Fluttershy to the stand.” A gasp, followed by excited murmurs, echoed from the courtroom, and Bloodhoof struck his gavel. “Order,” he said. Once the room was quiet he said, “Very well.” Fluttershy rose and walked to the bailiff. “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?” “I do,” Fluttershy said. She sat down and waited for Dexter to begin his questioning. He walked slowly toward her, his smile warm and inviting, and asked, “Can you please state your name and occupation?” Fluttershy leaned forward and said, “My name is Fluttershy and I am an animal caregiver.” “And what does that entail,” Dexter asked as he leaned against the witness stand. “Well,” Fluttershy said, “I help care for sick and injured animals. I even care for the pets that live in Ponyville.” Dexter began to walk back to his table, “And how did you get involved I such a field?” Fluttershy tilted her head, “Because it’s my special talent?” Dexter laughed and said, “I’m sorry. I suppose the question was a little confusing. What I meant was, why did you choose to take care of sick and injured animals?” Fluttershy smiled and said, “Because animals are often the last to get any help. They’ll be sick or hurt for a very long time. It’s not that ponies don’t care, it’s just that when an animal is hurt, they’ll try and hide. They won’t come out to anypony because they’re so hurt.” Dexter walked over to the jury box and asked, “But these animals aren’t scared of you?” Fluttershy shook her head, “They’re still scared, but they seem more relaxed with me. I try to let them know that I won’t hurt them and that I will help them get better.” “How successful have you been,” Dexter asked. “Oh, every animal has improved,” Fluttershy said smiling broadly, “It just takes time and a little kindness.” Dexter smiled and said, “You do good work.” “Oh no,” Fluttershy said shaking her head, “It’s not me. The animals are the ones doing all the real work. All I do is give them a safe place to rest.” The smile on Dexter’s face broadened as the jury murmured their appreciation for Fluttershy’s answer. That same smile faltered a bit when he said, “Now, I have to ask you about a difficult subject. Your relationship with the victim.” Fluttershy nodded slowly and waited. “When did you first meet Grey Ring,” Dexter asked. Fluttershy took a deep breath, “I met him when I was thirteen years old.” Her eyes glanced over to Rainbow Dash so quickly that nopony, not even the ever observant Rarity noticed, before she said, “A friend introduced me to him.” “And you two hit it off?” “No,” Fluttershy said, “Not really. He invited me to a movie and I didn’t want to be rude.” “I see,” Dexter said, “And were you living with Doctor Rainbow at this time?” Fluttershy shook her head, “No, I was still living with my parents.” “Okay. Now we know that he attacked you ten years ago. Why would you wait that long for revenge?” “I tried to forget all about it,” Fluttershy said, “It was very difficult for me.” “It must have been. So you never thought of going after him?” Again, Fluttershy shook her head, “For a long time I thought it was my fault. That I did something wrong. I thought that I wasn’t a good enough girlfriend.” She hung her head and added, “Eventually, I just tried to bury it all. It seemed safer to do that.” “Okay,” Dexter said, “So how did you know that he was at the Wonderbolt tryout?” Fluttershy looked back up, “I didn’t. I went there to support Rainbow Dash. Pinkie Pie loaned me the bits I needed to purchase a ticket, and I got there as fast as I could.” Dexter tapped the jury box lightly and asked, “And that was when you saw your friend being attacked?” “Yes,” Fluttershy said her eyes now locked onto Rainbow’s, “I don’t even remember seeing it happen. I just knew that something was wrong, I just reacted.” “So you protected your friend,” Dexter said, “What then?” Fluttershy looked down and said, “I recognized Grey, and I knew. I don’t know how, but I knew.” “Knew what,” Dexter asked, “What did you know?” “That I wasn’t his only victim. I don’t know how many there were, but I knew that he wasn’t going to stop. I flew at him and...” Dexter stepped away from the jury box, “Okay, that’ll do. How was your friend afterward?” Fluttershy looked up and said, “She was scared. More scared for me, because that’s how she is. She’s always looked out for me.” “I see. Now that you are here, and, knowing what you know now, would you do anything differently?” “I don’t know,” Fluttershy said, “That’s a hard question. I wasn’t strong enough ten years ago to say what he did, so all I have left is what happened weeks ago.” She looked up and her eyes held a strength that few ponies could comprehend, “I would still save Rainbow Dash. No pony should go through that.” Dexter nodded and said, “Thank you. No further questions.” He leaned forward and whispered, “Get ready. He going to come at you hard and fast.” “I know,” Fluttershy whispered. Dexter took his seat. Parker rose and said, “It’s good to speak with you in an official capacity.” Fluttershy nodded, “It’s good to speak with you too.” Parker’s face remained stoic and he remained silent for a long time. He eventually said, “You are taking a big risk by taking the stand. You are aware of that, aren’t you?” “I am,” Fluttershy said. “Very well,” Parker said, “How much money do you have?” Fluttershy leaned back and asked, “What do you mean? In the bank?” “Just in general,” Parker said, “How much money do you have?” “I’m not sure. Maybe two hundred bits or so. May I ask why?” Parker ignored her, “That’s not much for a full grown pony. How do you manage to pay for basic utilities?” “Oh,” Fluttershy said, “My cottage isn’t in the limits of Ponyville, so I don’t have that many bills.” “Okay, then how did you get the cottage?” Fluttershy smiled and said, “Oh, Rainbow Dash helped me get the cottage” Parker looked over his notes, “She paid for the cottage, didn’t she?” “She insisted,” Fluttershy said, “I couldn’t talk her out of it.” Parker snorted derisively and said, “I suspect that wouldn’t is more accurate.” Fluttershy stared at him but remained quiet. “Regardless, let’s end this game. You hated your upbringing and sought a means of getting out.” Again, Fluttershy remained silent. “Aren’t you going to answer,” Parker fumed. Fluttershy looked up at Bloodhoof, “Do I have to answer if he hasn’t asked a question?” Laughter rose in the courtroom and Bloodhoof struck her gavel, though his smile was evident, “Let us have order, and no, you answer questions.” Fluttershy nodded and turned back to Parker. “Fine,” Parker said, “How did you meet the victim?” “I was introduced by a friend,” Fluttershy said. “So you didn’t pursue him,” Parker asked. Fluttershy shook her head, “No, I was always too nervous to speak to anypony. He said that he knew a friend of mine and asked me out.” “And you said yes?” Fluttershy nodded, “I didn’t want to be rude.” Parker leaned against his table, “Do you really expect us to believe that?” “It’s the truth,” Fluttershy said. “You then seduced him, didn’t you?” Fluttershy shook her head, “I was thirteen. I didn’t know what I was doing.” Parker said, “You managed to get yourself pregnant.” Fluttershy narrowed her eyes and said, “Grey Ring raped me. That is why I got pregnant.” “So you’re saying that it wasn’t planned? That you just happened to give birth to what would be an heir to a great fortune? I’m sorry but that is simply too much of a coincidence.” “I wasn’t asked,” Fluttershy said, “Once he did what he did, I never saw him again.” “Until you murdered him, that is,” Parker said. Fluttershy shook her head, “I did the right thing. He can’t hurt anypony anymore.” “And now you have to face the consequences of that choice,” Parker said. He turned around and said, “No further questions.” Fluttershy stepped down and returned to the table. “Well, you handled that very well,” Dexter said. “Thank you,” Fluttershy said. “Do you have any further witnesses,” Bloodhoof asked. Parker and Dexter both rose to their hooves. “No, your honor,” Parker said. “Neither does the defense,” Dexter said. “Very well,” Bloodhoof said, “We will proceed with the closing statements before the jury will be excused for deliberations.” Parker rose to his hooves, “Ladies and Gentlecots of the jury. You have heard from various ponies who testified that a pony of great standing was brutally cut down before his time. The pony who sits before you murdered him when her first attempt to seduce him failed due to an overprotective guardian. She waited years to get her revenge, and she did so. Whether she used her so-called friend as bait or not is irrelevant. She followed that carriage with the intention of murder. She then fled and coerced a naive pony to work with her to evade capture. Your duty is clear. You must deliver a verdict of guilty and see that Grey Ring gets the justice that he deserves. Thank you. He walked to his table and sat down. Dexter stood and walked to the jury box. He smiled warmly at each of them, and a few smiled back. “You heard the testimonies. Some of them were difficult to hear. I certainly had a hard time hearing them. But ask yourselves this, if it was that difficult to hear, how difficult was it to live through it? A young pony who, let’s be honest, still hasn’t mastered general social norms in regards to confidence was put into a situation that she was not ready for. She suffered greatly and made every effort to move on with her life. she made new friends, found a purpose, and she has even contributed to a community that adores her. Is she still poor? Perhaps as far as bits go, she is, but her wealth is far more than that. And she grew that wealth by sharing that very same kindness that was denied her years ago. Did she kill Grey Ring? Yes, we don’t deny it. Did she plot and scheme and stalk Grey Ring? No. She saved the life of her friend, and as a result, a life was lost. You have to take that into consideration, of course, but remember that this was a spur of the moment event. An event-driven by the need to protect a loved one. Equestrian law already has precedent in place that protects victims of an abuser. Grey Ring was an abuser, and the defendant knew instinctively what he was about to do. She did the only thing that she felt she could do. In fact, had she acted differently, contacted one of the guards at the training camp, who knows what would have happened to Grey Ring’s victim? I personally shudder at the thought. You have a hard decision to make. I trust your judgment, and I believe that you will make the wise choice. Deliver a verdict of not guilty and show that we are not beholden to the past and we can have a bright future. Thank you.” He returned to the table and sat down. “That was wonderful,” Fluttershy said. Dexter smirked, “I told you that I’d knock ‘em dead.” Bloodhoof struck his gavel and said, “The jury is now excused for deliberations. Take your time and do not rush to judgment. Remember, a pony’s life is at stake.” He nodded to the bailiff. The bailiff opened the door and the jury filed out. Once they were gone, Bloodhoof said, “Court is adjourned until the jury has delivered a verdict.” “All rise,” the bailiff shouted. The court rose and Bloodhoof exited the courtroom. Ponies began to talk excitedly, and quite a few arguments, though quiet, broke out over how the jury would go. “What do we do,” Rainbow Dash asked. “Go and relax,” Dexter said. He placed a hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder and said, “Maybe talk with your friends. You just scratched the surface of what happened to you. It may overwhelm you if you’re not careful.” Rainbow looked down and nodded slowly. “Yeah,” she said, “That’s a good idea. I really want to wait until we hear that Fluttershy is innocent.” Pinkie Pie put a leg around Rainbow’s shoulder, “You gotta worry about you now. We’ll be here.” Rainbow Dash smiled, “Yeah, I know. You’ll still be here for me when we get back home.” “But Dashie,” Pinkie protested. But Rainbow Dash would not budge, “It can wait. Right now, she’s more important.” “You’re a good friend,” Dexter said as he nudged Fluttershy. She let out a surprised squeak. “Sorry,” Dexter said, “But we have to go back to our favorite room.” “Oh,” Fluttershy said dejectedly. “Don’t worry,” Twilight said, “We’ll be here for you.” The other ponies nodded their agreement, and Fluttershy knew that they always would. --- “How’s the patient,” the orderly asked. “Still the same, Flinthoof” Doctor Whistle said. Flinthoof shook his head, “That’s a shame. How can something like that happen.” “That’s for us to fix not question,” Doctor Whistle said. The hall of the ICU was silent to these two ponies, but to an outside observer, it was a cacophony of confusing sounds. Still when they both turned around when a new sound cried out. It was a shrill sound. One neither had heard before. “The patient,” Doctor Whistle said, “Let’s go.” The orderly nodded and followed the doctor. When they arrived, a young doctor was waiting for them. “What’s happening,” Doctor Whistle asked. The young doctor shook her head, “I’m not sure. I think it might the patient.” “Let’s get suited up and check,” Doctor Whistle said. The orderly, Flinthoof or Old Flinthoof to the majority of the hospital staff was an older pony who had worked at the hospital for several years stumbled into the protective suit. He was more accustomed to simply use a facemask and go right on in, but he knew that the doctors, generally speaking, had a good reason for the rules. The young mare, River Swirl, was a recent resident. She took to the protection suit like a pegasus to flight and felt no qualms about the added safety. If there was anything that could be seen as amiss about her, it would be that she would be found in break room constantly studying a curious pamphlet. She would never let anypony look at it and protected it fiercely. And, of course, the good doctor, Ivory Whistle. He’d been a doctor for several years, but he was just a resident when Flinthoof was already called Old Flinthoof. His main focus was as an Emergency Room doctor, but he was tasked with this particular case since he had a great deal of experience with accidents involving magic. Though, and he would be the first to admit this, his expertise was severely lacking, but he was grateful for the help. Once the three were suited up they entered the room. The hiss of air purifier cycling became background noise, and they walked into the room with practiced steps. Doctor Swirl looked at the readings and smiled. “It’s all clear,” she said. “But what about the patient,” Flinthoof asked, “She’s a bit more important.” Doctor Whistle was about to speak when a tired voice startled them. “Can a pony get something to drink,” the voice croaked. Applejack stared at the three ponies, though they looked closer to aliens to her. She didn’t care. She was tired and thirsty. One stepped forward and she spotted a smiling mare looking at her. “How are you feeling,” Doctor Swirl asked. “I’d be happy to answer you once I get something to drink.” The mare was about to speak when one of the aliens pushed her aside. “She needs a drink, so we give her a drink,” a slightly annoyed voice said. This pony walked to a nearby wall and tapped the window. Soon Applejack heard a hiss and the window opened. The pony-alien picked up the tray with a glass on it and placed it on the table next to Applejack. “Thank you kindly,” Applejack said as she grasped the glass in her hooves. The water was cold and tasted perfect. She savored every drop, and when she finished, she gave the young mare a friendly nod. “Okay,” Applejack said, her voice much stronger, “Let’s start from the top.” --- The hours ticked by in their slow way, and Fluttershy was beside herself. At first, she was relaxed, but her nerves frayed rather quickly. “You will be fine,” Dexter said. “I’m so nervous,” Fluttershy said. Dexter leaned back in his chair, “I know you are, but you’re only going to make yourself sick. Just relax and wait. We have a couple of more hours before they send the jury back to their hotel.” “If they can’t reach a decision,” Fluttershy asked. “Yeah. If that happens, we’ll come back tomorrow, and every day after that until they do.” They didn’t have to wait long as the door opened and the bailiff stood in the doorway. “They’re ready,” the bailiff said. “Okay then,” Dexter said as he turned to Fluttershy, “Let’s go.” Fluttershy nodded and they reentered the courtroom. The courtroom stood empty. Empty except for four patient ponies. They smiled as she walked toward the table. “Have you been waiting here all this time,” Fluttershy asked. Rainbow Dash shrugged, “Where else would we go?” “Thank you,” Fluttershy said. More ponies began to enter the courtroom. Many of them had eager expressions on their faces. They were looking forward to hearing the verdict. “Word must have gone out,” Dexter said, “Won’t be long now.” As if on cue, the bailiff entered the courtroom and shouted, “All rise.” The court rose and the excited talk died. Bloodhoof entered the courtroom and sat down. “Be seated,” he said. He shuffled some paperwork as he waited for the jury to return. The bailiff walked up to him and whispered in his ear. He nodded and struck his gavel. “The jury has reached a decision, and they are ready to deliver their verdict.” He nodded to the bailiff, and the bailiff opened the door. Twelve ponies entered the courtroom and sat down in the jury box. Once they were settled, Bloodhoof asked, “Has the jury reached a verdict?” The lead pony stood and said, “We have your honor.” She handed a folded piece of paper to the bailiff, who handed it to Bloodhoof. He read it and handed it back to the bailiff, who handed it back to the lead pony. “Will the defendant please stand,” Bloodhoof said. Fluttershy rose to her hooves. Bloodhoof asked, “On the count of Premeditated Murder in the First Degree, how does the jury find the defendant?” Time slowed to a crawl for Fluttershy. The mare who was about to read the words that would either free her or condemn her moved at such a slow pace that she appeared to have been frozen in time. To the outside observer, Fluttershy appeared to be mostly calm. Yes, she shivered with a nervousness that wouldn’t be out of place, given the circumstances, but within she was fit to burst. She wanted to scream at the pony to hurry it up. Hurry and let the hammer fall and be done with it. The lead pony opened the sheet of paper and said, “We the jury, on the count of Premeditated Murder in the First Degree, find the defendant...” As though time couldn’t possibly slow even more, it found a way. In her frazzled mind, Fluttershy could see dust swirling through the air. The particles appeared to be playing, almost dancing in the air that was circulated by the breeze coming through the open window. With all of this, Fluttershy knew that if time continued to slow down, she would simply lose her mind. The pressure. The fear. The simply not knowing, was torture to her. And yet, time refused to cooperate. Either that or time has a unique sense of humor and enjoyed mocking her. “... Not guilty.” An explosion of screams filled Fluttershy’s ears, but she couldn’t register them. She only stared blankly ahead and tried to focus on the sudden loud noises. They seemed to be coming from behind her, and she felt quite startled when she felt hooves striking her on her back. No. Not striking, but patting? Yes, this was a celebration. Time returned to normal and she felt herself wanting to smile. To sing, but, instead, she wept. She put her head down on the table and wept. Just as the joy poured into her, the pain, stress, and fear poured out of her through her tears. She felt a pony hug her, and she knew that it was Dexter. “I told you,” he whispered, “You’re a tough one. Now it’s time for you to go home.” Fluttershy rose to her hooves and she noticed that the judge was smiling at her. The jury was still there, but the cheering kept going. She returned the smile and sat back down. She didn’t wipe the tears. Not yet. She earned these tears, and she wanted to hang on to them for a while longer. Rarity would get her cleaned up, but, for now, she cried and was happy. “Let’s have some order,” Bloodhoof bellowed. The court quieted but it took some time, and all eyes were on Fluttershy. “I would like to thank the jury for doing their duty today. You are excused, and with that, I declare that this case is dismissed.” He pounded his gavel one final time and rose. “All rise,” shouted the bailiff. The court rose, again for the final in this case, and Bloodhoof exited the courtroom. Throughout all of this, Fluttershy didn’t notice the messenger speaking to Twilight. Nor did she see the joy on her face as she read the letter the messenger brought with her. This all became clear when she found herself spun around and the letter shoved in her face. “Wha-,” she began. “Just read,” Twilight shouted. Fluttershy read the letter and the joyful tears flowed again.