//------------------------------// // Justice // Story: Numbers // by Omegathyst //------------------------------// For the next two days, whenever Twilight wasn't managing the restoration of Ponyville, she was weeping for the losses of Granny Smith, Apple Bloom, Rainbow Dash, and other ponies that have either not been found or confirmed dead. Sometimes, Pinkie had walked into her room where they'd cry together with Tempest occasionally checking up on them. Usually, Twilight would stop sobbing to ask questions about the fleeting romance between Pinkie and Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie would stop to answer. Eventually, they'd break down and start crying again. The morning of the third day, Twilight, her marefriend, and their friends took a train to Canterlot among many other ponies that wanted to witness the trial of Princess Celestia, the former co-ruler of Equestria. When Twilight remembered that she was such, it was hard to process that their trusted leader had attacked and killed in her own land. As Twilight leaned against Tempest and looked away from the window, she noticed that Applejack and Rarity were not sitting together. Instead, Applejack sat in the upper left corner of the seating area and Rarity sat in the lower right corner of it. "Tempest, do you think they broke up?" Twilight gulped. "Broke up? No." Tempest kept looking at the floor. "But something as devastating as this is sure to hurt relationships." Twilight knew that this was worse than anything Equestria has faced before. Luna never killed in her rage, and neither had Chrysalis or even Discord. Celestia was the one out of all immortals and leaders that went to this extreme, and Twilight knew that many ponies would study and analyze her as a historical figure, wondering what motivated her to succumb to evil. Was...was it unrequited love? Did I lead her on? Twilight wasn't ready to answer the question she asked herself, and just sat in silence as the train made it's arrival in Canterlot. Everypony stepped off the train and went through a line of advanced security that lead to the castle. Every unicorn was to wear a magic-restricting ring and every pegasus was to wear a belt restricting their wings. Every possession was to be put in one of the lockers before each pony walked into the recently dusted and beige courtroom. It hadn't been used in centuries, but that was going to change. Celestia stood in the corner of the room with her horn and wings restricted, staring at all the ponies coming in from the tall cage she was placed in. Every time a new pony walked into the room, Celestia's ears perked in hopes for Twilight to walk in. Unfortunately, Luna had suspected her anticipation and tied her muzzle shut until the trial was almost over. No matter, she still had a chance to speak in her defense later on. She saw Princess Cadance walk in, her determined stride turning into a hesitant walk as she noticed her adopted aunt in the cage. Shining Armor, who was walking beside her, whispered in her ear, and she resumed her stride. Celestia's confidence wavered, knowing that the Princesses would likely rule unanimously in favor of a severe punishment if she didn't come up with a strategically planned speech that'd win back the hearts of her beloved and her sister. If that worked, then perhaps a much lighter punishment would be ruled from 2-1 of the Princesses. Countless hours had passed planning away in her mind when the great and beautiful Twilight Sparkle walked in the room with Luna on her right side and Tempest on her left. But Celestia hardly noticed them, never taking her eyes off her one and only. The three princesses took their places behind their respective judge platforms on the left of Celestia's cage. Luna stood behind the highest platform in the middle, Cadance sat on her right next to Celestia's cage, and Twilight sat on her left, farthest from her former co-teacher. "The trial of Princess Celestia begins." Luna announced to the ponies seated in front of her. "Princess Celestia is on trial for setting Ponyville on fire, destroying countless buildings, and taking the lives of 15 residents." When the whole audience gasped, Celestia held back a shrug. Only 15 lives? That didn't sound that bad. Swaying her favorite ponies would be easier than she thought. "First, we will allow all witnesses who wish to speak to do so. Twilight Sparkle will go last, and then Princess Celestia will be allowed to speak in her defense. Unlike with the witnesses, any of the three of us are allowed to interrupt Princess Celestia if w-we wish." Luna explained. Celestia was relieved to see that her sister was being tested by this trial. Maybe she could use the remaining love her sister had to her own advantage. But first, she had to tolerate the several hours of witnesses wailing for their lost loved ones. Especially the dreaded hour of Applejack screaming her lungs out about Celestia killing her baby sister and granny. Celestia rolled her eyes. That old hag would've died the next day anyway. Rarity approached Applejack in the middle of her sobs, and Applejack inched away from her, burying her own face in her hooves. After Rarity and Tempest described their experiences of the wildfire, Twilight spoke. "Celestia, my former teacher and my first marefriend." Twilight revealed, knowing that their former relationship was hardly a secret anymore. "I never thought in a million years that I'd be standing here, staring at you in your cage. I thought that our relationship was that of a teacher and her student, and you'd always be proud of me in a non-romantic way. But that changed, and I stayed with you. I didn't know what love was, so I had no reason to leave." "But then I met Tempest, and despite the horrible things you've said about her broken horn and her past, I could never love you like I love her." Twilight confessed. "Before beginning our relationship, I promptly broke up with you. But you threatened to destroy Ponyville and hurt my friends, before promising that you wouldn't. Well, we both know who the liar is now." "Princess Luna, she killed one of the Elements of Harmony. It was Rainbow Dash." Twilight revealed. She could hear ponies whispering, and Pinkie whimpering, but she never took her eyes off Luna. "She killed fillies and old ponies, so remember that before you think of giving her a light sentence." Princess Celestia's ears were flattened, her eyes nearly bulging out of her head. She was trying to restrain herself from backing up into the corner of the cage. It would take a miracle for Celestia to get out of this situation. "Now, it is time for Princess Celestia to defend herself." Luna used her magic to remove the rope from her sister's muzzle. "Well, you monster?" "I...Twilight is clearly grieving." Celestia managed to say. "As is all of Ponyville. But after a few centuries, none of this will matter, for all the other ponies in this room will be dead. That may sound cruel, but you know it's true, dear sister. Twilight, my mistake was that I had too much faith in you, so I gave you so much power. I had hoped you'd make the right decision to willingly love me in return for all the things I gave you, yet you still denied me. You're a smart filly, Twi. You know that Tempest will be dead in the blink of a eye, but I will be here forever." "And you could never stop loving me, sister." Celestia pointed out. "And I will never stop calling you that, cause that is who you are. My sister. So I ask you from the bottom of my heart, put the whimpers of mortal ponies aside, and hear me out. I will spend every moment of eternity making up for the horrible words I've said. It is Twilight who needs to be stripped of her power and learn humility, not I. Please, just give me a second chance, and you won't regret it~" The last two words that Celestia spoke trickled with a temptation that sent shivers throughout Luna's pelt. Princess Luna almost brought up old memories that she didn't want to remember about the beast that was once her sister. But...she couldn't. Those days were over now, and never to be brought up again. No, Celestia could never truly love, she just wanted control over everything. Her, Twilight, Equestria. Luna had enough. "E-Even if I wanted too, Twilight and Cadance will still rule in favor of harsh punishment." Luna winced. "But I don't, I never want to see you in power ever again. I don't want you to ever see the sun again." "Lulukins." Celestia batted her eyelashes. "Please don't have one of your fits. We know that you'll forgive me quite easily, it's what family does. Twi, my love, do you have anything to say after all we've been through?" Twilight looked at the group of witnesses, but not at her former teacher. Soon, this would all be over. "You're done." Luna suddenly wrapped the rope around her sister's muzzle once more, then she turned to Twilight. "Come outside with me and Cadance. We will decide Celestia's sentence out there." Two guards stood in front of Celestia's cage, and the three princesses stepped out into the castle hallway. "I never thought my aunt could do such a thing." Cadance whimpered. "Surely she is sorry?" "No, she isn't." Luna glared at her niece. "With the rare murderers that we have prosecuted in Equestria, we usually sentence them to death or life in prison. But I believe that death would be too kind for my sister." "You don't think we should imprison her for eternity, do you?" Cadance gasped. "Nopony deserves that, not even Celestia herself." "Perhaps we should strip her of her immortality then?" Twilight suggested. "With our combined powers, we could drain Celestia of her magic and revert her to a earth pony again. Then she'd be facing the same punishment as any other murderer." "And she'd lose her position as co-ruler, never allowed to see what Equestria becomes without her." Luna nodded. "I think that is a great idea, Twilight Sparkle. Of course, I will have to raise the sun in her place, but I'd rather take on more responsibility than let her keep her magic." "That's why I think we need to replace her, so Equestria remains balanced." Twilight grinned. "I have a perfect idea for her replacement." Celestia looked at the floor, ignoring all the glares from the Ponyville citizens until she heard Luna open the door. She had hoped that she managed to sway two of the princesses, but when she saw the glare in Luna's eyes, all her hopes plummeted into nothing. "Princess Celestia is guilty of multiple murders and the destruction of a town, and she will be sentenced to removal of her alicorn immortality, her position as co-ruler, and life in prison." Princess Luna announced. Several of the Ponyville witnesses grinned and clapped their hooves, crying with happiness. But Celestia felt anything but joy, this wasn't supposed to happen! Celestia tried to speak, but the rope around her muzzle made it impossible. She looked at Twilight, who no longer refused to look at her, instead she stood tall with a growing smug smile. Her tail was swishing about as she looked to Luna. "Of course, Equestria needs to remain balanced." Luna looked at Twilight. "So, we have a warrior and lover that will make a perfect Alicorn." "Tempest Shadow." That was Celestia's breaking point, she suddenly wielded her horn against her cage and kicked wildly against the cage bars. In her desperate movements, the rope around her muzzle slowly loosened until it fell off. "YOU DARE CHOOSE A DEFORMED UNICORN?!" Celestia howled in the royal Canterlot voice. "TWILIGHT, YOU EVIL SLUT. ONE DAY, I'LL ESCAPE AND YOU'LL PAY-" A black spell shot out of Luna's horn and into Celestia's chest. Celestia's pupils turned to dots as her movements completely stopped. "We have no time to lose." Luna smirked. "Guards, get this cage to the castle." It was a simple process to take Celestia's magic and distribute it among the Princesses, as well as Tempest. As soon as Luna donated some of her sister's former magic to Twilight's marefriend, Tempest turned into a ball of light for a few seconds, before turning into a taller alicorn. Her once absent horn, was just as long as Celestia's once was. And she had wings longer than any of the other Princesses. "If you mind, Princess Luna." Tempest spoke. "I do not want to be called a Princess, but a Knight. I feel like it's my duty to protect Princesses like you and citizens as well. It just...feels right." Another flash of light emitted from Tempest's flank, and Twilight grinned. On her marefriend's flank was a cutie mark with a knight helmet and sword next to it. Celestia, now an Earth pony with a simple pink mane, was escorted back to her cell for the rest of her life. Tempest Shadow, Knight of Defense, would spend every other week living with Princess Luna to help her lift the sun and manage the daytime routines that Celestia once took care of. Starlight Glimmer and Trixie volunteered to stay with Luna full-time for emotional support, and helping her with the daytime routines as well. Twilight grinned as she looked outside of her window, watching her dear Tempest fly to Canterlot. Celestia tried to control her, with her fake gifts and vile threats. But Twilight was stronger than her former oppressor, her fake lover, her mentally unstable ex-friend. With her gone, Equestria was blooming and healthy again.