//------------------------------//
// The Laying of Rules 
// Story: Ryuuzan, a Gryphon Silenced 
// by Kimono-Gryphon 
//------------------------------//

Canterlot Castle was the shimmering jewel of Equestria, standing tall as the building was carved from the very mountain that provided it's foundation that lasted hundreds of years. Never a thought of it falling due to multiple layers of magics interwoven through the granite, marble, and iron ore that provided strength and stability many multiple times over any threat of damage or failure from attack or natural disaster. 

The Great Hall in Canterlot Castle was literal backbone of the castle after entering through the main doors. It was designed to run literally the width of the castle on the first floor. Huge pillars were formed from the mountain itself, bordering each corner of the hall, each pillar measuring 50 feet tall and 10 feet wide just in the corners of the great hall, polished till smooth as glass but hard as granite again due to the unicorn magic interwoven into the mountain itself. Each pillar then continued the rise upward to become the backbone of each spine for the main towers of the castle. 

There were 2 large stairways that met at one side of the Great Hall that met and merged into one center set of stairs, that led down ten steps to the main floor. The second floor had private seating rooms that were guarded for dignitaries to view certain events, and this trial was to be the biggest so far.

Celestia herself had a podium brought in, to be placed at the stairs center point, so that all the ponies, guests and gryphons would see her without any trouble. Another luxurious chair was also used so the princess would be able to relax as she listened to the case. And of course, plenty of tea and coffee would be available as well.

As soon as the hall was formerly opened, ponies, the press, gryphon dignitaries, along with the prosecution and defense teams were brought in as well. The ponies that were accused were kept in holding rooms and cells to keep them from formulating cohesive stories between each other. 

"Everypony, and guests rise. The Matriarch of the Sun, the Honorable Princess Celestia, Co-ruler with Princess Luna of Equestria, residing." Wind-Shear shouted loudly, and instructed as Princess Celestia entered the hall amidst flash bulbs, and everyone rising out of respect for Celestia. She was dressed in a simple black robe along with her crown and jewelry. As soon as she sat down, she addressed the entire gathering. 

"Welcome my fellow ponies, and to our distinguished guest, Queen Esmeraldes Nazzhu, and her delagates from the Gryphon Empire. We are all honored you could join us." Celestia motioned to one side of the hall, and upward to a private seating area, where the Queen sat with her staff and own guardians. 

"This is a trial that I will preside over, and weigh the evidences with the rules of law that has helped shape our country with freedom that we and other kingdoms benefit from. However, there are certain rules to be followed by everyone here. Firstly and most importantly, I will not tolerate 'any' loud arguments from both legal sides, no matter how much the other side feels they are objectionable. I have quite a low tolerance for either loud noise, or worthless banter, speeches, grand-standing for the press, or lawyer-speak. If either legal team, or the others here in attendance in front of me manages to give me a headache, I will personally have them escorted to the cells to peel potatoes 16 hours a day for one month straight. No arguments. If any pony thinks I am joking, the names of the past four ponies that had been detained just for that are available from my clerk's office. And I believe one pony was one of your associates F. Hay-Baily, am I correct?"

The defense attorney gulped and nodded yes. This got a few chuckles from those attending.

"If any pony or guest has 'any' onset of a medical issue, We have a full medical staff on stand-by just in case." Celestia pointed out, continuing the rules. "This is a trial, not a stage to try to outsmart me in law in front of the press or otherwise for fame or notoriety. I have been around for a 'very' long time, just don't ask 'how' long I have studied and practiced law as Princess."

Again a round of laughter from the attendance, this was somewhat louder, which Celestia smiled and accepted gracefully. 

"To the press, I will ban any photographs taken in my court when the trial starts this morning, again because of my low tolerance for headaches by flashbulbs. Any pictures taken when I introduced Queen Esmeraldes Nazzhu up to now are allowed (if she agrees with her consent.)" Celestia looked up to the Queen and nodded once, and the Queen responded with a welcoming nod of approval herself. "Along with any of my speech here before the trial starts. However, pictures 'are' allowed in the hallway, and on the castle grounds. Failure to follow the rules and the same punishment will apply, followed by confiscation of your camera."

Celestia then looked over her left shoulder and introduced a pony, who strode forward and sat beside herself. "I have invited one of the Elements of Harmony, Miss Apple Jack of the Apple clan, to sit beside me here as she represents the Element of Honesty. I have instructed her that she will remain impartial, however her element and power will be activated, and she will let me know of the truthfulness of the ponies both testifying and the attorneys during their questioning. She will know 'immediately' who is being honest, or lying, and she will let me know only 'if' I need to ask. Is that correct Miss Apple Jack?"

"Yes, y'er majesty." Apple Jack nodded, but had asked to keep her hat on, as it helped her concentrate. "I'll do whut I can f'er ya."

She continued, pointing the gavel in her aura. "This trial will be be split into prosecution's presentation, followed  by defense's rebuttal. When the defense rests their case, then there will be final arguments by both sides. I will not have 'surprise' evidence or witnesses suddenly popping up unless we immediately meet here at the bench so I can decide on it's effect for the case, otherwise I will declare a mistrial, and end the case."

"Final note before we begin: As testimony is carried out with evidence shown, additional ponies may be charged with both prosecution and defense teams agreement. New charges may be added, removed or the original charges be modified or dropped against the defending ponies according to evidence and testimony issued. Do we all understand the rules listed here?"

Both the prosecution, and defense nodded, along with a good part of the press and the other ponies in attendance

"This case will be specific because the punishment will be capital punishment for the guilty, if charged beyond reasonable doubt, by testimony and physical evidence." Celestia had raised her hoof presenting the reasonings for the death penalty. "I would like to clarify exactly what the death penalty punishment is, and why it is done the way it has been designed almost 1200 years ago, when society adopted laws to live by."

"Life was particularly rough for citizens of the three pony groups in those times, and crime was unhindered. But when society had begun to embrace equal laws for the three tribes of ponies equally, there had to a set of punishments equalling the severity of crimes against the populace. We (Myself and Luna along with ponies that advised us in law) agreed the harshest punishment to be final, swift and complete. The punishment was decided to be turning to rough stone, followed by crushing by magics."

"We ponies and other races have statues modeled after brave heroes or those of excelling leadership, or those that are gifted in other notable ways. However, ponies that are given the death penalty are not turned into statues to stand somewhere and be somehow revelled in the deeds that forced their fate and guilt. We don't want society to hold ponies that so heinously took lives of their victims to any kind of status equalling a statue for notoriety therefore influencing others to take up the same acts. Hence the reason for crushing of the rough stone afterwards. No name plaque, burial, or remembrance of any of the guilty needed."

Both the prosecution, and defense nodded, along with a good part of the press and the other ponies in attendance. Celestia then banged the gavel on the carved stone block at the top of her podium. She opened her folders on the podium and read aloud. "Case number 4177, Crown of Equestria vs. Ponies of Purity, and members. Will the following ponies behind the defense attorney table please stand to be identified by the court? Clear Mind, Morning Mist, Night Hooves, and Swan Song."

Four ponies to the rear of the defense table stood, wearing expressions of modest defiance. "Defense council  you are representing the ponies, Clear Mind, Morning Mist, Night Hooves, and Swan Song, who are listed as the highest four members of the group 'Ponies for Purity.' These four ponies are charged with Murder of First Degree, Attempted Murder, and Conspiracy Against the Crown. How do you plead ?"

"Not Guilty your Highness." F. Hay Baily stood and declared for the court. 

"And your plea is noted. You four may sit down." Celestia nodded as she wrote the reply with a quill tip dipped in ink to the lead page of documents on her podium. "Let us begin,  Prosecution, please state your case." Celestia nodded to the Prosecution.

"Yes your majesty. I am Quill Feather, lead investigator and prosecution for this case. I have been instructed by Princess Luna to help in the case we have here before us, concerning a Gryphon, named Ryuuzan. He had arrived at the castle eleven nights ago, and set forth circumstances that needed an criminal investigation which ended up costing the lives of six Ponies. Four Royal Guardians, and two ponies that were detained at WhiteTail Woods which we will get into detail." Quill-Feather stood and started her opening argument, as the defense took notes on how to best respond. "As we know, ponies had 'not' been sentenced to death in 138 years, however the defense along with their witnesses claim Ryuuzan the Gryphon was the mastermind behind the planning of the explosion at the home of WhiteTail Woods, while Ryuuzan (with the prosecution) has evidence it was ponies in charge of the group that planned the massacre themselves. For these reasons with evidence we present, that all the ponies that had a role in wiring up that home for explosives, be found guilty of murder and be dealt the harshest sentence available, death by execution. This concludes the Prosecution's opening statement." Quill-Feather knew she had to hit hard with her opening statement, to put the defense on it's heels so to speak, and to let the court know she was not fooling around.  

Ponies murmured throughout the hall as their surprise was evident upon hearing the prosecution pursuing the death penalty. Celestia didn't bat an eye at the reaction, but she did look concerned that this case would end in death for someone. Pony or Gryphon, and it was her decision alone. 

"Does the defense have an opening statement?" Celestia asked to her right where F. Hay-Baily then stood.

"Only a short reply for the prosecution and to the attendees here." F. Hay-Baily stood and addressed the prosecution, and to the court in general. "I represent a group of ponies that wish you to cut talks with the Gryphon Kingdom, as we will show the actions of not only one gryphon, but an underlying ideology that gryphons in general have not had pony ideals in mind when they have dealt with yourself your highness in the past. Our group had been contacted by the gryphon that is charged with the deaths of the 6 ponies in the WhiteTail Woods Massacre, of a far larger plan that would involve action from the Gryphon Empire themselves. We have ponies here from our group that had met and heard plans to throw both the Equestrian and the Gryphon Kingdom into potential violence between rulers."

"You do realise you do have the very ruler of the Gryphon Empire here, you could bring your grievances with her in her own court. I could allow you and your group to return with her if she decides it would interest her or not completely waste her time." Celestia looked from F. Hay-Baily to the Queen, who gave a slightly sour look to the defense attorney.

"I well take it under advisement after your ruling at case end, Your Highness." Queen Esmeraldes crossed her forearms in front of her robed chest, but waving for Celestia to continue with a slight grin. "I might have to borrow some leg irons first, with your blessings of course."

"I'll demand first-class travel of course." F. Hay-Baily responded with a confident grin. A few small giggles from those assembled, but a slight awkward feeling was felt when the defense finished his opening statement. Finding himself strangely comfortable under the dual scrutiny of both rulers, he would count that as a victory for himself. 

"Quill Feather, I do have a question before you bring forth your evidence." Celestia took a studying look at the prosecutor's table, but the gryphon was strangely not in attendance. "But where is your client? I think it is odd that he would start a trial with his life in the balance, but not show up to your court date. I think both your client, and the defense has the right to confront each other on level ground and defend oneself from possible capital punishment."

"We, the defense team was also wondering about the gryphon's whereabouts. Typical flying sand rat." F. Hay Baily had also spoken with an undertone of snark to Quill Feather. "Already your highness, the prosecution is keeping their main witness in hiding, where we cannot expose the real truth. And you said you do not like tricks. I have the right to have the gryphon in here so we can question them, in full view of the entire court and your distinguished guest. If we are unable to question the gryphon, we cannot have any way of proving the gryphon's guilt And on that point alone we cannot pursue our own case, so we must have an immediate verdict of 'guilty' your highness against the gryphon when you close this case now."

"Your Highness, my client is under protective custody. However things have been increasingly difficult as Ryuuzan the Gryphon, has become more and more unable to answer my questions, as he has been openly and repeatedly threatened by the royal guardians that guard his cell." Quill Feather had rose from her seat, albeit nervously, and adjusting her glasses. "We discovered the threats and harassment has been leveled against Ryuuzan by way of royal guardians under suspicion of being members of this 'Ponies for Purity' movement, have been engaging in mentally abusing Ryuuzan thru the doorway of his current room of residence. The abuse is a song called 'Ring-Around-the-Rosie.' Which upon hearing it, triggers 'extreme panic' when it is heard by Ryuuzan. Because his mother Swan Song had abused him mentally every night since he was a newborn, and using this very song to completely terrify him and break him down mentally to the point of being unable to communicate any more. To communicate with him up to now, we have required the services of Wind Shear to translate for us, as Ryuuzan is mute. He can hear fine, but has been unable to talk due to a punishment that was dealt out by Swan Song. She had severed his vocal chords as a punishment for asking a wrong question while his mother was drunk one night, grieving other losses in her life. He was 4 years old when she cold-heartedly cut his vocal chords with a scalpel that was stolen from her employer where she worked as a nurse."

Apple Jack leaned in and whispered to Celestia's ear. After a few seconds of consideration, she tapped her gavel softly to quiet the ponies that had loudly gasped in the audience. 

"Quill Feather, I must side with the defense on this, as they do have the right to cross examine any witnesses they please. However, due to the extreme stress that Ryuuzan is under from any mistreatment by the Royal Guardians, I will allow him one chance at being cross-examined by the defense." Celestia clarified, however looking 'very' sternly at the defense table. "However, I will keep you F. Hay Baily on a 'very' short leash. If I find any of the questions or actions harmful to the gryphon when he is on the stand will bode very badly on your shoulders. I will string you up by your male bits with the very same leash. And before you argue for more leniency, i am aware of that stunt you published in the paper about ponies singing or whistling that song to the gryphon. I am half tempted to throw your plot out of my court right now and you will have 'no' case to fight, just consider yourself lucky you have that."

"Very well Princess, if the court would allow us a small break, we will bring Ryuuzan." Quill Feather bowed and then asked Princess Luna and Starlight Glimmer to retrieve the gryphon.

Within fifteen minutes, the doors to the court were opened and both Princess Luna and Starlight Glimmer had returned with Ryuuzan. However, there was a considerable racket, as Luna and Starlight were fighting a whirlwind of emotion at the end of heavy chrome chains. Ponies recoiled in shock as they witnessed the scene unfolding in front of them. Even the Queen had her paw in front of her face in shock.

The gryphon screeched and semi-flapped his wings in protest, snapping his beak shut in irritation. His neck and wrist were bound with the same style bracers he wore when he first crashed thru the throne room window. His right arm was in a cast, and bound in a thick sling/brace to keep it steady. Eyes were wide and wild, looking as if he were ready to escape away from the eyes of the strangers and the one he thought was one of the rulers, but not the princess that was one of his friends. 

"Your highness, I object due to the prosecution is exaggerating in bringing in the lead witness like this, possibly trying to gain favor, or pity from the court !" F. Hay Baily had risen from his seat in protest. "This is a childish ruse, and a show of incredibly bad theatrics. I'd nominate Princess Luna for an award for worst actress as she seems to be really struggling with the prisoner's chains, despite her ability to raise the moon, or so as children's nursery rhymes say. Ohh, the moon is so heavvvyyy Celestia, please show me how to raise it again?"

"Thou mockest US ?! Thou ungrateful fool, let us cast thee to the moon so thou can see our raising of the moon first-hoof." Princess Luna glared at the defense attorney with hatred in her eyes. "Although with thee oversized girth and plot, we mayest need mine dear sister, besides ourselves and Star-Scroll the Bearded to lift thy fat ass and moon together as it wouldst surely wobble in orbit now. Dare mock us again and see how fast thee can run in terror carrying those rolls of fat on thee bones."

Ryuuzan had seen the defense attorney and lunged at him, but didn't quite have enough chain to maul him, since Luna had managed to hold the chain tightly in her aura. "Thou shouldst be thankful we did have enough compassion to not let Ryuuzan rend thee limb from limb. Surely Ryuuzan must be rather upset at yourself for something thou said in the past, yes? Or mayhaps Ryuu recognized you from the home in WhiteTail Woods? We just can't wait till Ryuu gets to testify, as we are just so eager to see thou squirm !"

"Keep that foul beast away from me !" F. HayBaily floundered backwards, catching himself against his seat, trying to keep away from the enraged gryphon. "Barbarians, All of them!"

Celestia tapped her gavel a few times and spoke up rubbing her temples in exasperation. "Luna, please let Ryuuzan know that we won't allow any violence against defense council please, even tho I personally would love to see it myself. I just don't want to go through the trouble of having house cleaning staff cleaning up what would be left of Mr. Baily into a bucket." She then turned to F. Hay Baily and had a slightly confused tone in her voice. "Although we could ask you to recuse yourself off the case if you are involved somehow, but the court may wonder who would wish to defend 'you' during this trial."

"No your highness, I am easily the most qualified to defend this case, and my personal feelings about gryphons I feel just makes it more of a challenge." F. Hay-Baily reaffirmed himself, straightening up his tie and setting his jaw defiantly.

Quill-Feather then stood up. "Ryuuzan wishes to testify first, and he gave me his word he wouldn't harm the defense council, despite his knowledge against the 'Ponies-of-Purity' movement. He isn't the 'foul beast or barbarian' as defense council claims. During testings (besides the repairs to his neck and broken arm) from different doctors, I have test results saying Ryuuzan is quite intelligent with a 142 iq." She practically glowed with pride as she stroked the head of the gryphon sitting at her right hoof.

"Very well, Prosecution. Please call your first witness to the stand." Celestia motioned to Quill Feather and nodded.

*****