Princess Celestia stood in the doorway to the apartment, her long horn almost touching the lintel. Her signature pastel colored mane bannered behind her majestically as her eyes coolly surveyed the room. Her face reminded Applespike of the way his mother looked whenever she walked into a room and caught him doing something he shouldn’t. The two guards glanced back at the princess then renewed their stance guarding the prisoners. Goodnight tightened his grip on Jewel, forcing her head down so her face stayed hidden. The elderly unicorn couple hobbled in from the bathroom, the mare supporting her husband. Only the Captain of the Guard had the sense to address the princess.
“Your Majesty,” he said, bowing low.
“What is going on here?” Celestia repeated.
“An invasion of privacy, your Majesty,” cried the fat unicorn mare, her mane wrapped in a towel. “That Peeping Tom I told you about earlier, he just burst into our apartment again! And he actually had the gall to bring his friends! Thankfully your guards were able to subdue them and now they can receive their just punishment!”
“Quite right,” grunted her husband, as he painfully eased himself into a chair. “Throw the book at them, I say!”
“I shall personally see to it,” answered Celestia with a regal nod. She turned to the Pegasus. “Captain, please report!”
“Your Majesty,” said the Captain. “The guards at the rear entrance received a report that a filly had been foalnapped and that the culprits had slipped into the palace undetected. This stallion—” he indicated Goodnight. “Was using a locator spell that led us to the filly and her abductors. Apparently, they teleported from that room to this room where we found them. This stallion,” again, he pointed to Goodnight. “Neutralized one of the culprits. The other, surrendered peacefully.”
Celestia nodded. “And the filly?” she asked.
“She has been recovered unharmed. I am trying to get a statement from the victim for the report but—” the Captain narrowed his eyes at Goodnight. “Her alleged guardian appears reluctant to cooperate.”
“I am only thinking of the poor child’s psyche,” Goodnight insisted, cursing himself for trying to bribe the guard. “She’s been through so much already.”
“I understand your concern,” the princess said gently, looking down at the black stallion. “But the Captain is right. We must make a full report. Please—” she held up her hoof as Goodnight tried to protest. “I promise you, we will be gentle.”
Celestia bent down and smiled softly at Jewel. “Come here, child. Let me look at you.”
Jewel timidly stepped forward as Goodnight reluctantly released her.
“Your Majesty,” she murmured, raising her head.
“Good Heavens!” Celestia cried, her eyes going wide. “What happened to you, child? You look like you’ve been eating one of those color changing candies from the Gala!”
Jewel gave a small smile. “I have, your Majesty.”
The princess chuckled. Her horn glowed and Jewel’s face returned to its natural color.
“Thank you, Princess,” said Jewel.
“You are welcome, my little—” Princess Celestia gasped in surprise. “JEWEL!”
The little unicorn nodded.
“The youngest daughter of Rarity and Fancy Pants?”
Jewel nodded again.
“Good Heavens!” cried Celestia. She looked at the Captain reproachfully. “A child of one of the Element Bearers was foalnapped and no one thought to alert me?”
“Begging your pardon, your Majesty, but we didn’t know,” replied the Captain, bowing again. “This stallion only told us a filly had been foalnapped. He did not tell us the name of the victim.”
“But, I wasn’t foalnapped!” cried Jewel. “I ran away! Goodnight just…” She looked back at the black unicorn and saw his cold eyes drilling into hers, daring her to call him a liar. Jewel gulped. “He just… misunderstood.”
“I see,” said Celestia, not missing the look of fear on Jewel’s face. Her light magenta eyes flitted suspiciously toward Goodnight, but she said nothing. She turned to the guards. “And who do you have there?” she asked.
“The alleged foalnappers, your Majesty,” replied the unicorn guarding Applespike. “They both appear to be Earth Pony colts except this one seems to have a—dragon’s tail?”
“Dragon’s tail!” cried Celestia. She stepped closer to get a better look. “Applespike! The son of Applejack and Spike the Dragon!”
“The same, your Majesty,” the dragon-pony bowed before her.
The princess smirked. “I gather you’re the one who sent me that note just now, asking for help.”
“Yes’m, that was me. Sorry I lied to you fellers,” he added, looking at the guards. “I was pretty desperate.”
“Just like your parents,” said the princess, chuckling. A whimpering groan made her look down. “And who else is here?”
The chaotic colt opened his eyes and gave the monarch a sickly smile. “Hey, Princess! What’s up?”
“Zany Draconequess,” Celestia sighed, shaking her head. “Why am I not surprised to see you in on this?” She took in his sickly appearance. “What happened to you?”
“He got shot with a Tatzlworm spell,” Applespike answered for his friend. “It takes away his powers and makes him sick as a dog.”
“So, I see,” said Celestia, giving Zany a sympathetic look. She turned to the Captain. “I want these four ponies brought to the throne room immediately for questioning.”
“At once, your Majesty.”
“But, Princess!” cried the elderly unicorn. “What about—”
“Do not worry, Duchess,” replied Celestia, cutting her eye at the Chaotic Three and Goodnight. “I promise you, justice shall be done.”
“Come along,” ordered the Captain, motioning for Goodnight and the others to follow him. The big unicorn did as he was told, keeping Jewel close to his side. Applespike followed, flanked by one of the guards while Zany was levitated and carried downstairs to the throne room. Once there, they were lined up before the royal dais. Applespike and Zany were placed on the left, while Goodnight and Jewel stood on the right, the black stallion keeping his body between the little unicorn and her friends.
Zany slowly rose and sat on his haunches. “So, what do we do now?” he murmured.
Applespike shrugged. “Tell the truth, I guess.”
Zany snorted. “I just knew you’d say that! Oh, well, whatever works.”
Princess Celestia took her place on the dais and motioned for a light gray unicorn mare with a brown mane done up in a bun to join her. The mare adjusted a pair of black-framed glasses on her muzzle and raised a pen and paper with her magic.
“Ready when you are, your Majesty,” she said.
“Thank you, Raven,” the princess nodded, then turned to group. “Now, my little ponies, we are going to get to the heart of this matter. I will ask you questions and I fully expect you to tell me the truth.”
Zany could have sworn she glanced at him when she said that last word. Celestia turned to Goodnight. “Let us start with you, sir. State your name, please.”
“Goodnight, your Highness,” he replied with a bow.
“Mr. Goodnight, would you mind explaining why you came to our palace claiming there was a foalnapping?”
“I would not mind at all, your Highness,” said Goodnight smoothly. “I work for Miss Jewel’s manager and guardian Picture Perfect.”
“Guardian?” asked Celestia, cocking her eyebrow.
“Yes, Princess. And since I work for him, that makes me loco parentis.”
“Loco parentis?” muttered Applespike. “What the hay is that?”
“A crazy parent,” Zany quipped.
“I was sent to find her after she was discovered missing from her train car early this morning,” Goodnight continued. “We assumed she had been foalnapped.”
“Really?” asked Celestia, arching a suspicious eyebrow. “And yet, you did not think to contact the authorities?”
“Jewel is a popular fashion model. We did not wish to cause a panic amongst her fans. Besides, we had a very good idea of who the culprits were,” Goodnight glared pointedly at Zany and Applespike. “So, I used her favorite hair barrette to create a locator spell and we were able to trace her to Canterlot. When my associates and I attempted to rescue her, we were set upon by these two hooligans! We chased them to the Royal Canterlot Gardens, but they flew away like a rocket and took refuge in the palace.”
Celestia turned to Zany. “That wouldn’t happen to be the reason the Royal Air Force was called out, would it?”
“Maaaaaaybe,” Zany grinned cheekily.
The Princess rolled her eyes then turned back to Goodnight. “Please continue, sir.”
“We alerted the Royal Guards. They escorted us to a room where they were hiding, but they teleported away before we could catch them. Luckily, the Duchess and her husband were able to slow them down so we were able to apprehend them.”
The princess nodded. “Thank you, Goodnight.” She then turned to Jewel. “Now, I would like to hear from you, my dear. You stated earlier that you had not been foalnapped, that you ran away.”
“Yes, your Majesty,” Jewel replied, stepping forward.
“Please, tell me why you ran away.”
“Well, it was because of my manager, Picture Perfect. He does not approve of my friendship with Applespike and Zany.”
“For obvious reasons,” huffed Goodnight.
Jewel bit her lip. “Applespike and I have been writing each other ever since I became a model. Picture Perfect was not happy about it, but he tolerated it. Until last night…”
“What happened last night?” asked Celestia softly.
“I…I wrote Applespike a letter and Picture Perfect intercepted it,” Jewel whispered, tears standing in her eyes. “He took it and read it. Then, he told me I would not be allowed to send anymore letters without his approval.”
“I see.” Princess Celestia stepped down to the floor and raised Jewel’s tearful face with her hoof. “And what was wrong with the letter, sweetheart? What did it say?”
Jewel closed her eyes, the tears running down her cheeks. “I…I…I wrote Applespike. And I told him…” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “That I love him.”
“Oh!” said Celestia. She glanced at Applespike whose cheeks were burning bright pink. “And why was that a problem?”
“We were protecting her image, your Majesty,” said Goodnight, bowing. “To keep her name out of the gossip magazines and to protect her from certain colts who want to take advantage of her affections.”
“That’s a dang lie!” cried Applespike, smoke trickling between his clenched teeth. “I would never take advantage of Jewel!”
“And yet the two of you encouraged her to run away! No doubt to carry out an illicit rendezvous.”
“You, jerk! I would never—”
“Have a romantic rendezvous?” Goodnight grinned like a cat that had trapped a mouse. “Tut-tut, my boy. Have you already forgotten your secret meeting on the night of the Gala? Or your lover’s kisses? How did Jewel describe it in her letter? Ah! Sweet and delectable as hot cocoa on Hearth’s Warming Eve.”
Applespike gulped, blushing furiously.
“That is enough!” Celestia cut in sharply. She offered Jewel a tissue to dry her eyes. “Please, continue, dear.”
“I wasn’t sure what to do,” said Jewel, sniffing. “Luckily, Twinkle Sparkle—.” She paused, remembering she could not reveal her friend’s secret. “Twinkle Sparkle…contacted me that night. I told her what was going on and she suggested that I run away.”
“Oh, Jewel, what a lie you are telling,” Goodnight chided sweetly. “How could Princess Twinkle Sparkle have contacted you, when I put up a spell yesterday afternoon that blocks all magical communications?”
The little unicorn gasped. “WHAT!”
“It was necessary, my dear,” Goodnight replied. “You were getting a lot of mail, some of it sent by magical means. I put up the spell for security reasons.”
Jewel shook her head. “That wasn’t the reason! You only did it to block Applespike! And Twinkle didn’t send me a letter! I spoke with her and she—”
“Spoke? Are you saying she teleported into your car last night?” Goodnight grinned. He was enjoying this. “Have you forgotten the anti-teleportation spell I placed on your car? Besides, I find it highly doubtful that Princess Twinkle, being a junior alicorn, could have teleported from Canterlot all the way to the Northern Buffalo Territory.”
“She didn’t teleport!” cried Jewel, stomping her hoof in frustration. “She came to me in a—” She gasped and placed a hoof over her mouth.
“In a what?” asked Goodnight with a sneer.
“Um…” Jewel turned to Princess Celestia. She closed her eyes and tilted her head slightly as if asleep. The white alicorn’s eyes widened in understanding.
“Never mind,” she said, holding up a hoof. “It is enough to know that my sister has her own methods of communication and has undoubtedly taught them to Twinkle. Now, my dear, please explain why Twinkle advised you to run away.”
“Picture Perfect…he threatened me,” said Jewel. She gritted her teeth as Goodnight gave a disbelieving gasp. “He…he had embarrassing pictures taken at the Gala. He threatened to use them to ruin my mother and humiliate my father if I didn’t comply with his wishes. I knew he would not allow me to write to them and warn them. When I told Twinkle about it, she suggested I run away.”
“Oh, Jewel, I can’t believe you are telling such stories,” said Goodnight, shaking his head sorrowfully. “We take many pictures whenever we attend such events,” he explained to Celestia. “We use some of them to critique Jewel’s performance. As a celebrity, she must learn how to keep a good face. Some of her pictures were less than favorable.”
“But he DID threaten me!” cried Jewel. “He sent pictures of Aunt Fluttershy’s Gala gown to someone at Rouge magazine to embarrass my mother!”
Goodnight tutted and shook his head. “No, dear. I told you someone else had sent a picture to Rouge. I was just trying to warn you.”
Jewel trembled, seething in speechless rage at the way Goodnight twisted the facts. She wasn’t the only one. Tongues of green flames flickered between Applespike’s clenched teeth and magic crackled in Zany’s fur.
“My powers are back,” he hissed to Applespike. “I'm gonna teleport us out of here. I just need to grab Jewel…”
Before the dragon-pony could reply, a herald called out from the doorway.
“Mr. Picture Perfect requests an audience with your Majesty!”
“Let him in, please,” replied the princess with a nod of her head.
The guards stood aside, allowing the unicorn photographer to enter. He was followed closely by Fair Weather and Mountain Mist. Applespike, who had never seen Picture Perfect before, shivered at the sight of the sky-blue stallion with flowing white mane.
“Your Highness,” he said, bowing low before Celestia.
“Mr. Picture Perfect,” the princess replied with cool politeness.
“I must thank your guards for their assistance is locating Jewel. Indeed, I have been very worried about her all day! You can imagine how horrified I was to awaken this morning and find her gone! And after her parents entrusted me as her guardian!”
He grinned at Jewel as he emphasized that last word.
“I understand,” said Celestia, nodding. “I too know the responsibility of being the guardian of a young filly. But, I trusted my ward and treated her with respect. I never tried to cut her off from her friends,” she added coldly.
“Ah! But it was necessary, your Majesty,” replied Picture Perfect, shaking his head. “Jewel is a beautiful gem with a reputation to keep up. Those two colts are miscreants and troublemakers! My assistant Goodnight can attest to that.”
“They are the ones responsible for the ‘hot hoof’ I suffered at the Gala,” said Goodnight, giving the boys a piercing glare. “Jewel confirmed that.”
“Not to mention the father of that one,” Picture Perfect pointed a hoof at Zany. “Deliberately ruined my opportunity for photographs that evening by making Stud Muffin sick! He gave him Blue Flu.”
Zany snorted. “Don’t flatter yourself. My Dad wouldn’t know Stud Nuthin’ if he fell on him out of a cloud. I’m the one that gave him the Blue Flu. And I did it for no other reason than because he’s a jerk.”
“You see, your Highness?” said Picture Perfect, triumphantly. “This is why I had to bar them! This is why it was necessary to cut off all communication with them! Between the two of them they would destroy Jewel’s illustrious career and make her the laughingstock of the modeling industry!"
He turned to Jewel. "I’m sorry, my dear,” he said, speaking in a fatherly tone. “I’m sorry that you misunderstood my actions. I imagine you thought I was being harsh. Come back, now, and let us let bygones be bygones.”
He offered her his hoof. Jewel slowly shook her head and backed away. The photographer gritted his teeth in impatience.
“Enough of this nonsense, Jewel. Return with me and I will forgive this little escapade.”
Jewel glared at him but did not move. Princess Celestia stepped forward and placed an enormous wing over the little filly.
“You do not need to go with him, if you do not wish,” she said.
“Ah, but she is forgetting her contract,” growled Picture Perfect. “If she quits before her contract is ended, she must pay me a million bits!”
“A million bits?” said Celestia, her eyebrows almost arching into her hairline. “That is an exorbitant amount of money, Mr. Perfect.”
“No one forced her to sign the contract, your Majesty,” the photographer answered with a shrug. “If she is unable to pay the penalty, then, being a minor, it will be up to her parents to pay it. Which they can’t, can they?” The stallion asked wolfishly.
The little filly hung her head. “No.”
“Very well, then. Stop this foolishness and come—"
“NO! DON’T DO IT!”
Everyone looked to the doors as a little purple alicorn with a blue and pink mane charged past the guards.
“Princess Twinkle Sparkle to see your Majesty!” the herald scrambled to announce.
The little alicorn skidded to a halt before Princess Celestia. She was panting and covered in sweat.
“Twinkle!” cried Jewel and looked expectantly towards the door. Her heart fell when she saw that no pony else had come. “W-where…?”
Twinkle shook her head. “Not yet,” she managed to gasp. “Soon.”
“Twinkle Sparkle, daughter of my faithful student,” Princess Celestia greeted her. “My dear sister’s prized pupil, I understand you have a hoof in this matter.”
“Yes, Princess Celestia,” Twinkle nodded. “I do.”
“So, you admit it,” said Goodnight, seizing the opportunity to step forward and loom over the teenaged alicorn. “You are the one who endangered Miss Jewel by encouraging her to run away! You should be ashamed of yourself!”
Twinkle drew herself up to her full height, which barely brought her up to the unicorn’s chest, and gave him her best impression of Princess Luna’s intimidating glare.
“I believed she was in greater danger in your care than she would have been on the run,” she replied icily. “I told her to come here to Canterlot so I could help her.”
“Yes, help her meet up with her dragon-pony lover,” huffed Goodnight, edging closer. “Such reckless, thoughtless behavior is very unbecoming a princess of Canterlot!”
Twinkle knew he was trying to intimidate her. “Well, I’m not a princess of Canterlot,” she said boldly. “I am the daughter of Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship, whose Kingdom is centered in the simple town of Ponyville. I told Jewel to leave because I feared for her safety. I ordered her to Canterlot so I could reunite her with her family.”
“That is enough, Goodnight,” said Picture Perfect before Goodnight could reply. “The poor child has obviously been misled.” He turned to Twinkle and shook his head pityingly. “I don’t blame you, my dear. You just wanted to help your friend. But I’m afraid she and her friends have taken gross advantage of you. Honestly, tricking you into believing she was in danger?”
“It was no trick,” retorted Twinkle.
“Of course, you would say that,” the photographer continued. His patronizing tone put the little alicorn’s teeth on edge. “You are young and quite naive…”
“There was no trick,” Twinkle repeated, her voice calm and firm. “Jewel was afraid when I contacted her. I could feel it.”
“Nonsense!” Picture Perfect snorted dismissively. “You’re just a foal. You know nothing about such things--”
“Oh, zip it!” she snapped, rolling her eyes.
“UMPH!” Picture Perfect pawed at his mouth as a zipper suddenly appeared on his lips. Twinkle shot a frown at the grinning draconequess colt.
“You’re welcome” he said, giving her an elaborate salaam.
“AHEM!”
Zany, Twinkle, Goodnight, and Picture Perfect turned to Princess Celestia who was regarding them all with a withering look. Twinkle and the big stallions all looked away uncomfortably. Only Zany was able to look into the monarch’s face, grinning his devious grin. Celestia had to turn away before she burst out laughing.
“I have heard enough,” she said. Her horn flashed and Picture Perfect winced as the zipper disappeared from his mouth. “First of all, from what I can gather, there was no foalnapping. Therefore, no charges will be brought against Zany and Applespike. Secondly, it is obvious to me that Jewel was very unhappy with you, Mr. Perfect, and that is what led her to run away. I will not force her to go with you, however, I must uphold the conditions of the contract. If she wishes to leave your employment—” Celestia gave a disgusted sigh. “Then she must pay you the million bits.”
“But, I can’t,” Jewel whispered, biting her lip in fear. Picture Perfect stepped forward triumphantly to seize her. “No. Please, no.”
“Not so fast!” cried Twinkle, putting herself between Jewel and the exultant photographer.
“Out of my way, little princess,” he growled, brushing past her. POOF! Twinkle teleported directly in front of him, her front hooves pushed against his barrel chest.
Not so fast,” she repeated. “There was another reason why I encouraged Jewel to come to Canterlot.”
“Well, what was it?” Picture Perfect snapped. “I haven’t got all day!”
“I have reason to believe that her contract may be invalid!”
“What?” Picture Perfect gave a bark of derisive laughter. “That is ridiculous! Now, stand aside!”
“One moment, Mr. Perfect!” said Princess Celestia, holding up one golden-shod hoof. She lowered her head to Twinkle’s level. “What makes you think that, my dear,” she asked.
“Well, your Highness,” replied Twinkle, with the authority of a courtroom lawyer. “One of my many studies as you know is Equestrian Law. When I overheard Aunt Rarity discussing Jewel’s contract with Picture Perfect, she mentioned something that struck me as odd.” She turned to the impatient photographer. “Is it true, sir, that you signed Jewel to a six-year contract?”
“Yes, six years is the maximum amount of years a pony may be contracted. What does this have to do--?”
“Is this your first time working with ponies under the age of 18, Mr. Perfect?” Twinkle asked.
“As a matter of fact, it is,” he replied, rolling his eyes. “What are you—”
“I’m getting to that,” Twinkle interrupted smoothly. “Now, I understand you have a lawyer who handles your business contracts. Miss Mare Culpa?”
“Yes.”
“But, she is not the one who handled Jewel’s contract, is she.”
“No,” Picture Perfect snorted impatiently. “I was in a hurry and she was not available, so I hired a lawyer named Salty Goodpony to handle it.”
“I see.” Twinkle turned away and slowly paced to where the princess was standing. “And this Salty Goodpony, he has experience drawing up contracts?”
“Yes. Otherwise, I would not have hired him.”
“Did Mr. Goodpony have experience in drawing up contracts for juveniles?”
“I-uh,” the unicorn stallion was taken aback by the question. “I—don’t know. I would assume so.”
“Interesting,” Twinkle murmured. “You would think that a lawyer with his experience would know that the longest a pony under the age of 18 can be contracted for—” She paused for effect. “Is three years.”
There was a collective gasp of surprise. Even the guards, who were trained to remain stoic, stared wide-eyed for a moment. A smile slowly crossed Celestia’s face.
“Coltgan’s Law,” she said, nodding her head in approval. “Very good, my sister’s faithful pupil!”
“Excuse me?” cried Picture Perfect.
“Coltgan’s Law,” The princess explained. “It was a law implemented by my sister and me to protect underaged ponies from being exploited. It stipulates the conditions under which a minor can work.”
“Exactly,” said Twinkle, whirling to face Picture Perfect again. “And one of the conditions is that an underage pony cannot be contracted for more than three years. According to Aunt Rarity, Jewel has worked with you for three years. Therefore, per the law, she has already fulfilled her obligation to you and should be able terminate her contract without penalty.”
Picture Perfect stood frozen, his sides heaving in growing fury. He glared down at the smug little alicorn. Jewel had tried his patience, but this upstart of a filly utterly enraged him. Luckily for him, Goodnight smoothly took charge.
“Very clever, little princess,” he said. “But, you are forgetting one thing. Miss Jewel signed the contract, and by signing it, she agreed to the conditions in it.”
“I didn’t know!” cried Jewel.
“Then you should have had a lawyer present when you signed,” Goodnight replied with a cruel smirk. “Caveat Emptor. I believe we are done here.”
“Not quite,” replied Twinkle, holding up a hoof. “You see, once I realized that Jewel had signed for six years, it occurred to me that there might be other things wrong with her contract as well."
“Again, Caveat Emptor!” Goodnight huffed impatiently, stomping a hoof.
“Which is why I subpoenaed your office for a copy of the contract,” Twinkle concluded.
Goodnight nearly choked. “What?” he demanded.
“I subpoenaed your office for a copy of Jewel’s contract,” Twinkle repeated calmly, her eyes flitting towards the doors to the throne room.
“What kind of trick is this?” Goodnight demanded. “You’re just a foal. You do not have the authority to issue a subpoena!”
“BUT I DO!”
Everypony but Princess Celestia and Twinkle winced as the Canterlot voice thundered across the throne room. Princess Luna stood in the doorway, her head held high, her dark mane bannering behind her like a starry night.
“Princess Luna to see…” the herald began.
“No need. They know it is I,” Luna told him, a hint of a smile on her lips. She stepped up to the dais.
“Sister,” she said, addressing Celestia formally.
“Sister,” Celestia replied, a smile playing at her own lips. “I wasn’t expecting you for a few more hours.”
“Aye! It appears I was not meant to finish my slumbers. First, I was rudely awakened by somepony buzzing my tower this afternoon.” She glared at Zany, who was sporting a halo. “Then, one of the guards came knocking upon my door, informing me that my faithful pupil was requesting my assistance in the throne room.”
“Yes, Princess Luna,” Twinkle bowed before her mentor. “Thank you for coming on such short notice.”
“T'is all right, Twinkle Sparkle. I know you would not disturb me unless it was a matter of great importance.” The princess studied the ponies gathered before the dais. She gave Jewel a hint of a smile.
“You are Jewel? The daughter of the Element of Generosity and the noble Fancy Pants?”
“Yes, your Majesty,” Jewel bowed.
“It has been a long time since I last saw you. I am very familiar with your friends, though,” Luna added, glancing at Zany and Applespike. “My faithful pupil, Twinkle, informed me of your dilemma and asked that I assist in her research.”
Luna’s horn glowed and a small stack of documents appeared and spread themselves out neatly before her.
“Now, then,” she said, adjusting a pair of reading glasses with lens shaped like half-moons on the end of her muzzle. “Ah, yes! As suspected, there are many violations of Coltgan’s Law in this tract.”
“As I said before,” snapped Goodnight, disrespectfully. “Caveat Emptor!”
“TACE!” Luna bellowed, the power of her voice laying the offending stallion’s ears flat. “You DARE try to intimidate ME with thy knowledge of Ancient Equestrian! T'is but a drop in the bucket to mine own! Now, cease thy rude noises and allow your princess to speak!”
Goodnight, properly cowed, dropped back.
“As I was saying,” Luna resumed. “I found many violations of Coltgan’s Law in this contract. First, of course, is the length of the contract itself. Then, there is the matter of hours worked. A pony of tender years cannot be expected to work more than five hours a day, and never at night.”
“Begging your pardon, but I do not recall any photo sessions lasting more than three hours,” remarked Picture Perfect. “And though Jewel did attend evening functions, it was as a guest, and should not be labeled as work.”
Luna nodded. “Next, is the matter of pay. Under the law, a portion of a young pony’s wage must be put into a savings account." She regarded Picture Perfect darkly over the top of her glasses. "That, I have discovered, has not been done.”
“That is easily remedied," the photographer replied. "Jewel has a bank account in Manehattan that has hardly been touched. Some of that money can be transferred into savings along with a portion of any future earnings.”
Luna nodded again. “And lastly, there is the matter of parental permission.”
“There is paperwork, your Highness. It gives me the right to act as her guardian and seek medical treatment for her, if needed.”
“So, I see,” said Luna, pulling a document from the line. “But that is not what I am referring to. I mean parental permission to sign the contract.”
“Her parents knew about it and were present at the signing,” asserted Picture Perfect.
“Perhaps.” The princess of the night sifted through the papers until she found the page she sought. “But, they did not co-sign on the contract.”
She levitated the page, giving everyone a clear view of the signatures.
Picture Perfect looked puzzled. "But, they gave their permission! I have witnesses to prove they did!"
“Verbal permission is not enough, Mr. Perfect," Luna replied. "According to the law, ALL contracts with underaged ponies MUST be co-signed by a parent or guardian. THIS one has not. Therefore, this contract is NULL AND VOID."
Picture Perfect's eyes widened as he stood in stunned silence. His face darkened like a thundercloud at sunset. His body trembled with repressed rage. Jewel stepped closer to Princess Celestia. She had never seen the volatile unicorn so enraged and she feared what he might do. Then, just as she thought he would explode, he seemed to deflate. He closed his eyes and sighed heavily.
“Very well,” he said quietly. “I shall arrange for Jewel's things to be packed and sent to her parents' residence at once. Her money will be transferred into a savings account at the bank in Ponyville.”
“Thank you, Mr. Perfect,” Jewel replied graciously, still keeping her distance.
The photographer bowed to the princesses then turned to leave. His henchponies followed in his wake. Only Goodnight looked back, glaring darkly as the dragon-pony and draconequess cheered and hugged their filly friend.
“You did it! You did it! You’re free!” they whooped.
“Congratulations,” said Twinkle.
The next thing the little alicorn knew, she was being mobbed by the Chaotic Three, hugging her from three sides.
“Thank you, Twinkle!” Jewel cried, pressing her cheek against hers. It was wet with tears.
“You were great!” cried Applespike, giving her a hearty hug around the neck. “The way you stood up to them bullies!”
Twinkle felt a thrill go down her spine as something warm and soft brushed her ear.
"You were incredible," Zany whispered.
“Well done, dear sister,” Celestia congratulated Luna.
“Twas nothing," the dark princess demurred. "It was Twinkle who alerted me to this injustice."
She sighed happily as she watched her protege surrounded by her friends. "She is indeed turning into a fine princess of Equestria!”
Meanwhile, outside the palace gates, Picture Perfect was already scheming his next move.
“Blast that fool, Goodpony!" he growled. "I shall sue him for this! Fair Weather, I need you to check with Culpa! Tell her to make sure Stud Muffin’s contract is up to code!"
"Yes, sir."
"Mountain Mist, I need you to arrange for Jewel’s possessions to be sent to Ponyville, posthaste. Get Buff to help you!"
"Yes, sir."
"Sweet Celestia in an oak tree, what a mess!" he groaned. "We need to put a positive spin on this before the gossip rags get hold of it! Can you handle that, Goodnight?”
There was no answer. Picture Perfect paused and looked around for his faithful assistant.
"Goodnight?"
But the black unicorn stallion was nowhere to be seen.