//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: The Tailor (Part 2) // Story: Friendship Prevails // by Purple Patch //------------------------------// “Disturbing.” Fancypants toyed with his moustache with one forehoof. “So the Collars family really are set on the old smokescreen.” “And where does that leave Coco?” Rarity rubbed her forehead in frustration “The only way we’re going to get anywhere with Bryte Collars is with solid, indisputable evidence. And I’m not sure we should let Coco Pommel into the court, that level of stress might finish her. Poor darling...” “Well...fear not, I believe I know somepony most adept at acquiring such valuables.” Fancy got to his forehooves “In the meantime, let us continue...” * The gavel slammed as the court was called to order. “Does the prosecution wish to speak?” Wiremane shuffled. “In regards to the very powerful summary from Miss Rarity, I move to call my client to the stand once again to explain events as they took place. In haste we neglected formalities earlier. Let us remedy that.” “Carried.” Bryte Collars said in a somewhat more relaxed tone. With a stiff, tense trot, Manny Collars made his way to the podium. A different story was sung. It took all of Rarity’s resolution not to rage at the audacity. “We’re in love.” Manny Collars appeared to be crying “Coco Pommel and me. I got to know her while I was at Carousel Boutique. I didn’t want to say anything because...I was afraid of getting her involved.” ‘I’ll bet you were, you filthy liar.’ Rarity snarled under her breath, flat-faced and dead-eyed. “Rarity hates her. She hates how pretty she is compared to her! She works her to death and beats her. She told me herself. That’s why we started meeting secretly. But then she caught us. Threw me out of the building and...look at me! Look at me!” “Yes, yes, that’s enough.” LeTerrier reassured him, turning to the court “It may be worth pointing out, members of the court, that Coco Pommel, who my client has said he has feelings for, was admitted to hospital late this morning, having attempted suicide. Make of that, ladies and gentlecolts, what you will...But in light of the serious circumstances, perhaps the members of the court would understand why my client was not entirely honest with them when this trial began.” “Of course. Most certainly.” Bryte Collars pretended to dab at the corner of his eyes with a handkerchief, “I think we may continue, and hopefully, conclude the trial, knowing justice will be done.” “May I interject, your honour?” Fancypants began, ignoring Bryte Collars’ scoff. “Say what you will, counsel for the defence but it’ll hardly change anypony’s opinions of you or your client.” “I endeavour to differ, your honour. Mr Collars,” Fancy stood and spoke “Coco Pommel attempted suicide shortly after the trial began. At the time, there was little to indicate that Rarity would not be found guilty. With that in mind, if your version of events is correct, why would Miss Pommel make such an attempt on her life knowing her abuser would be imprisoned and the love of her life taking care of her?” Manny Collars gripped the side of the podium but Wiremane LeTerrier held up a hoof and answered. “I direct you to who Rarity had keep an eye on her. A Miss Pinkie Pie of Sugar Cube Corner, Ponyville, a known friend and associate of Rarity and a pony whom several have described as ‘erratic and unpredictable’. Surely it was inevitable that Miss Pommel felt overwhelmed, perhaps even threatened by this turn of events?” ‘Clever.’ Fancypants hissed under his breath as the court murmured again “Even so, it seems curious how you, Mr Collars, were chief object of her wrath while, according to the hospital records, Miss Pommel showed little to no signs of prior assault or injury.” “Mr Pants, accusing a victim of such a heinous crime of lying weighs heavily on your reputation!” Bryte Collars barked. “Oh, shut up you overblown sack of dog-leavings, Coco is the victim, not your vile son and I’m going to prove that despite whatever either of you bastards throw in my way and then you’re both for it, do you hear?!” ...is what Fancypants would have liked to have said. Instead he simply kept quiet as something went on in the podium. “It should have been me.” Manny Collars had started whimpering “It should have been me who cut through my fetlocks! I know! I know I’ll do it after all this, oh Celestia, I hate it! I hate it all! I’ll kill myself, you’ll see!” “Mr Collars, please!” Wiremane LeTerrier interceded “Apologies, my client is clearly suffering from emotional...” “It is quite alright. Plaintiff please be seated.” Bryte put his hooves together calmly “May the Jury please keep in mind the colossal emotional turmoil the plaintiff has experienced so that hopefully we may conclude this trial soon for the benefit of those wronged.” Fancypants felt she could take no more of this almighty hypocrisy but Rarity leaned in and whispered. “Let it slide. Let him dig his own grave and be ready to push.” “Ah, another of your cunning little bluffs, Miss Rarity?” “Manny Collars, in the short time I’ve known him, has demonstrated himself to be self-centred, ill-tempered and narrow-minded. You’ll notice in his little fret there, he at no point mentioned Coco Pommel. He betrays his own lack of compassion. It’s my theory that the story about him and Coco being...” she shuddered at the word “...lovers is a story he’s been fed. My best guess is LeTerrier but we can’t rule his father out. Left to his own devices, he’ll incriminate himself. Our real obstacle is the judge.” “Hm...worth keeping in mind. If all goes well on the evidence retrieval front, I think we can corner him. In the meantime, I’ve managed to allow Photo Finish access to the court as a journalist. We can ensure the public’s opinion on the matter will be received, unadulterated. So if we can stall for time...though I dread to think of you spending another night in jail.” “I can take it. My concern is Coco’s well-being...such as that is at the moment.” Rarity shook her head “In any case, the first hurdle is Manny. I have a very firm notion that he is not the sort of pony to get away with his behaviour on a regular basis without some form of help.” “I rather like your way of thinking, Miss Rarity. Righto, on we press.” He stood and spoke “I believe that a better picture of Miss Rarity’s character is called for. So I call upon a pony who my client has raised and taken care of for a large portion of her life. I call to witness Miss Sweetie Belle.” “Mr Fancypants!” Bryte Collars thundered “This is most unseemly! The witness’s relationship with the accused would compromise her statements!” Rarity couldn’t help but subtly snigger at the double standards as Fancypants answered “Your honour, with respect, I believe you’re confusing a witness with an investigator.” Sweetie Belle, on her way up from the court, had stopped momentarily, a little confused. “Um...why is the big pony up there shouting?” she mumbled. “It’s quite alright, Miss Sweetie Belle. Would you come up here, please?” Fancypants said gently. The filly brightened. “Okay, Mr Pants.” she tottered up and took her seat. “Now, Miss Sweetie Belle. You are Miss Rarity Belle’s younger sister, correct?” “Sure.” “And you, for the majority of your time here in Ponyville, have lived with your little sister?” “Yep.” She waved merrily “Hi, Rarity!” Rarity gave a little wave and a sweet smile to her little sister as Bryte Collars banged the gavel. “Right. Now, speaking honestly, Miss Sweetie Belle, would you describe your elder sister as one who is prone to violent rages?” Sweetie gave a quizzical look. “Rarity? Violent rages? I mean, she gets angry, sure...quite a lot, actually, but not violent! I mean, I know my sister. She’d never hit me or anypony I know. She wouldn’t even use her magic. She just yells. She gets very high-pitched and goes ‘Sweetie Belle, for the love of all things Celestial, can I not take my eyes off you for a mere five minutes?!’” she did a startling impression of her elder sister who returned her a bemused look “‘I mean how did you even accomplish getting it on the ceiling?! Sweetie Belle, sometimes you are simply impossible and don’t think you’re getting out of cleaning this up yourself!’ That’s what she’s like. I think she likes the sound of her own voice.” “Right...ahem.” Fancypants cleared his throat in the precariousness “But not violent? Or hurtful?” “No way, nuh-uh, no chance whatsoever!” Sweetie said adamantly “She hates that kind of stuff. I mean, when she’s angry, you’ll know about it but it’s just words. I mean, it’s bad when it happens but it’s not like...intentionally nasty or anything.” “So if you heard that she had beat somepony with her forehooves and injured them through certain means in a rage...what would you assume?” Sweetie blinked, looking at her sister, then the stallion accusing her, then to Fancypants. “Well...they’d have had to have done something reeeeaaaaalllllly bad.” “I see. Interesting.” Fancypants said “Now, are you familiar with your older sister’s assistant, Coco Pommel?” “Coco? Yeah, she’s really nice.” Sweetie beamed. “To your knowledge, is your sister’s relationship with her assistant pleasant?” “Sure! She loves Coco, she’s like family to her. When she first met her, she’d just gotten away from Suri Polomare. She’s a horrible, greedy Manehattan mare who stole Rarity’s designs.” Sweetie stamped a forehoof “She treated Coco like dirt so she quit and went to work with Rarity. She’s always loved it at Carousel Boutique and she’s become really good friends with all of us. If ever there’s a problem and Rarity’s really caught up in work, she lets us know.” “So if Rarity’s behaviour had gotten...out-of-hoof, she would let you know?” “Yep. I mean, she loves Rarity like the rest of us but she knows when she’s losing it a bit and she tells us so we can help out however we can.” “So Rarity can sometimes find herself under high-stress levels.” “Well, yeah. It comes with the job, I suppose.” Sweetie shrugged “But she’s not dangerous when that happens.” “And what have you to say in regards to the idea that she secretly hates her assistant and beats her out of jealousy?” At this, Sweetie Belle burst out laughing suddenly. It took Bryte three cracks of his gavel for it to cease. “Are you serious?!” she gasped for air “I mean, even if she did hate Coco, which she doesn’t; she’d make it known if she did...Look, Rarity is many things, a lot of them good, but she’s not especially quiet, especially when she has a problem!” “I see.” Fancypants nodded “So the idea that she was secretly abusing Coco behind the backs of her friends and beat her lover half to death...” Sweetie blinked. “Well...what do I say to that?” “Do you suppose it’s incredulous?” “Um...I don’t quite know what incredulous means but if it means ‘So ridiculous that if I saw it in a dream, I’d ask Princess Luna to take tablets for it’ then yes, it’s incredibly incredulous. It’s ‘incredibulous’, if that’s a word.” “Understood, Miss Sweetie Belle, no further questions.” Sweetie gave him a plaintive look. She knew Fancypants when she’d come with her older sister to one of his dinner parties. A more polite and tolerant stallion she had never seen. And she adored his beautiful, fun-loving wife who, for a while, she’d started emulating in terms of style and manner, reading her lifestyle habits in the magazines Rarity read. “Is Rarity going to be okay, Mr Pants?” she asked with a small sniffle. Fancy gave a bashful look. “I hope so, Miss Sweetie Belle. Rest assured, you’ve done very well, young filly. You can sit down now.” The little filly clambered down off the podium and passed her elder sister. Despite herself, she couldn’t help but turn to speak to her, tears appearing in the corners of her eyes as she spoke. “Mum and dad weren’t allowed to come in but they both really love you...and so do I.” Rarity couldn’t help but smile sweetly, her own eyes brimming, as a large portion of the court ‘awwed’ collectively. Bryte Collars slammed his gavel. “Order! Mr Fancypants, I struggle to understand what that accomplished. In fact, I would go so far as to declare the witness devoid of credibility and strike the entirety of her statement from the record!” “Objection your honour.” Eyes turned to Wiremane LeTerrier, flat-faced and solemn “The witness was lacking in credibility, certainly, but there is nothing she said or did to warrant her statement removed.” Both Collars’ stared boggle-eyed at their lawyer. “I concur with the Prosecutor’s statement.” Fancy spun on his hooves to face them “It is said that when you remove a pony’s tongue, you do not prove them a liar but that you fear what they might say.” Before Bryte could respond, Sweetie stood, Fluttershy minded her gently, and asked fearfully. “Are they gonna’ cut out my tongue?! Nopony told me they’d do that?!” Fancy turned, raised a hoof and gently but firmly gestured for the filly to sit down. “No, no, Miss Sweetie Belle, it’s a phrase, old custom, nopony’s cutting anything anywhere. Please remain seated. Sorry for startling you.” Sniffing Sweetie Belle sat down and rested under Fluttershy’s wing who rubbed her shoulder and shh-shh’ed her motheringly. The side of Bryte’s lips twisted but he rested his gavel. “Very well. We shall call for another intermission. But by this afternoon, if the defence cannot bring forth any evidence to their counterclaim, Miss Rarity shall be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and you, Mr Fancypants, shall answer for attempting to pervert the course of justice so relentlessly.” With a slam of the hammer, the court was emptied for the second time. Fancy checked his pocket-watch and motioned Rarity for the door. “Unless I’m very much mistaken, now should be the time when we may meet with...” “Bonjour, mon étalon.” The sultry Prench purr of Fleur-de-Lis sounded in the study as Fancypants and Rarity entered to find the supermodel perched over the desk, a candied cherry between her lips. “My goddess.” Fancypants chuckled and kissed her before straightening up and introducing his friend in the same breath “You remember Miss Rarity of Carousel Boutique.” “Of course.” Fleur got to her hooves and trotted up, planting two kisses on Rarity’s cheeks “So good to see you, ma petite amie!” “Ça va bien, Fleur, under the circumstances.” Rarity brushed at her mane “Oh dear, first thing I’m doing after this case is washing my mane. In the comfort of my own home or in the prison showers, I really don’t care which!” She sat down “Apologies, today hasn’t been spectacular.” “Ne t’inquiète pas.” Fleur sat down beside her and reached behind her mane, pulling something out “I know a way to change that quite swiftly...” She retrieved something. A tiny little crystal. “Voila!” Fancypants and Rarity’s eyes widened at the sight of it. “I checked it on the crystal ball back home, Fancy. It’s the one. And I tell you, that pervert deserves bars on his windows.” “He’ll get them, my dove. He’ll get them.” “My recording!” Rarity exclaimed “But how did you...” Fleur shrugged modestly. “It wasn’t easy...” … With her mane tied up and given a blue rinse, Fleur de Lis was virtually indistinguishable. Closer and closer she edged her way towards her target. She’d identified Sergeant Brill as one of the foremost members of Collars family private protection group. She’d known he had led the raid on Carousel Boutique and he knew he had not yet hoofed in his report and any confiscated items. Now he was covering his uniform with a plain, grey coat as he sat the bar, drink in hoof. Fleur checked the soles of her hooves as she edged closer. “You come here often?” she asked cooly as Brill noticed her. The tall, lanky, spectacled and badly-shaved stallion gave her an odd look. “Uh...yeah, ma’am.” Fleur shrugged. “I don’t.” She turned her head “Maybe it’s fate...or just somepony’s lucky day.” “Uh...maybe.” Brill wasn’t really giving much of an expression. Fleur turned on her special senses. She could tell what ponies were into like a birdwatcher could tell a call. She gazed. ‘Oh...oh Celestia, no! No, I’m not touching that one with a barge-pole!’ Hiding her nausea behind a flat smile, she set the events in motion, calling out the ‘go’ phrase. “I need another Boufagnac. With another cherry.” As she sided up to Brill, there came a commotion that turned both of their heads. A strange, rugged-looking stallion with a swarthy longcoat and an unkempt look to him had swaggered over to a trio of stallions already under too much headiness. Putting a hood on the table in front of them, he stared at them, sniffed loudly and made a deduction. “Caracal...” he stated, pointing to one of them “That’s your deodorant, isn’t it?” “Huh?” the biggest of the three started “Uh...yeah.” “Ah...thought I recognised it.” The stranger sounded quite well-brought-up in terms of accent but not so much in everything else. “Why? You use it?” The stranger shrugged with a chuckle, leaning in. “Sometimes...when your wife lets me borrow it!” The sound of a punch and glasses flying drowned out the sound of a hoof darting subtly in and out of a coat pocket. Fleur got to her hooves. “Sorry...this sort of thing ruins my train of thought.” “Oh, uh...sure.” Brill checked his watch “I’ve places to be too.” “Such is life. Au revoir.” And with a flash, she’d teleported out of the bar before Brill, or anypony else could blink, the rest of the bar too caught up trying to throw the stranger out by his hind-legs. Renegade was rubbing his cheek with a slight wince and walking rather unevenly by the time he met his contact at the back of the bar. The air smelt of stale cigarettes and ammonia. Not the sort of place one found a supermodel. But the sort of place one might find a special agent. Fleur-de-Lis threw her contact a napkin. “Wipe yourself off. You’re bleeding.” she said flatly. Renegade dabbed at his split lip and spat in the corner. “It’s not like he didn’t know his wife was shagging on the side.” he muttered “Tick in the corner of his eye, more laughter than called for, drinking cheap but treating friends? Tell-Tale signs.” “Intéressante.” Fleur chuckled “I’ll have to remember that.” “I mean, it’s not like I said I was sleeping with his mother...although it wouldn't necessarily be untrue...probably.” “Well, who is his mother?” “Some mare. They usually are.” Renegade said with a shrug “So you got when you went in for then?” Fleur held up the crystal with a proud smirk. Renegade gave her a golf-clap. “I’d better be off. They’re throwing another parade for me at the mess...and I want to be there to tell my COs where they can stick it.” Fleur giggled. “You know, when Fancy needs to create a distraction for me, he usually just buys everypony in the club champagne.” “Well, la-di-dah. It’s not like those dolts would appreciate a decent vintage anyhow. And with that, madam, I bid you adieu.” Renegade gave a curt scoff, lit a cigar and waltzed into the shadows, leaving Fleur to do the same. Their work was done. * Fancypants and Rarity walked back into the civil court with something of a swagger in their step. “Court resumed.” Bryte Collars meanwhile was starting to show his impatience “Has the defence anything, absolutely anything, that proves their claim?” “As it happens...” Fancypants spun merrily in the centre of the court “We do.” As he tossed the crystal in one forehoof, both Bryte and Manny Collars stood up with shock. “Where did you get that?!” Manny screamed. Both Fancypants and Wiremane gave him a measured look. “I hardly think that sort of reaction is warranted, Mr Collars, for something you do not know the purpose of...or is there something you aren’t telling us?” “I...I...” “Mr Fancypants...” Bryte said, dabbing at his brow “Is this sort of evidence...appropriate for a civil court?” “Granted, your honour.” He inserted the crystal into the base of the crystal ball the bailiff produced and turned to the court “Some of you may find this...disturbing.” The crystal ball lit up, projecting its image into the centre of the room. The court watched exactly what Rarity had watched with largely the same expressions throughout. Disgust and horror filled the faces of all before them. Even Wiremane LeTerrier looked repulsed and noticeably edged his chair away from his client. Photo Finish’s eyes seemed to widen in their spectacles as she caught the whole thing on camera. Manny Collars’ face twisted, twitched and writhed like a plate of worms and right when he saw Rarity burst in, he babbled out at the top of his lungs. “It was all an act! She likes me talking like that! It’s a turn-on for her! You’ve got to believe me!” “Sit. Down.” Wiremane barked, his face flat. Bryte slammed his gavel, wiped the back of his neck with a handkerchief, and spoke. “Perhaps...in light of the plaintiff’s statement that this was consensual-” “Objection, your honour.” It was Wiremane who spoke. “Mr LeTerrier, why are you objecting to your own client’s statements?!” Brye bellowed at his lawyer who shrugged dismissively. “My client did not mention this when he gave his statement. Therefore, it cannot be added to in light of contradictory evidence.” “Th-this is not evidence!” Bryte snapped “This...How did the defence acquire it?! Truthfully, now! Was it through legitimate means?!” Fancypants face fell. He couldn’t lie in court, else he was no better than the Collars’. “The evidence had been taken by illegitimate sources beforehoof. There was no other-” “Overruled!” Bryte was close to screaming, a grimace of triumph etched across his features “If this evidence was not acquired through legitimate, read any means by which the owner was subjected to deceit or coercion, it is inadmissible! “Are you saying, your honour...” Fancypants gave his monocle a curt adjust “...that I cannot deliver proof of the plaintiff’s sexual abuse without his permission?!” “That is the law, Mr Fancypants. And you have broken it. Thus your judge, and with him the court, find the defence in co-” “Wait!” Breathless and wide-eyed cantered Twilight Sparkle, throwing open the doors and yelling for all to hear. Spike tottered in afterwards and belted after her. “I object!” There was a pause as all stared dumbfounded at the newcomers. Twilight coughed and whispered to her assistant. “That’s for weddings, Spike.” “Oh yeah...sorry.” “What is the meaning of this?!” Bryte thundered, purple in the face which, Rarity had to admit, went nicely with the green coat below, if looking slightly too much like a plum on its stalk “I have already told you the defence counsel of Twilight Sparkle has already been found in contempt!” Twilight stood and spoke firmly to the old stallion who’d imagined himself in control. “I come not as a defence counsel, your honour, but a humble messenger. I come to tell the court...that Coco Pommel has come to bear witness.” The court was locked into silence, the only noise being the faint whine of a wheelchair as Nightnurse carefully carried a sullen-looking Coco Pommel into the courthouse. Rarity’s young assistant’s eyes were wide and nervous and couldn’t meet with her harasser who had risen to his hooves with a face that wouldn’t have looked out of place on a violently-unhinged Windigo. As Nightnurse helped her to the podium, she spoke a moment. “I would like to point out that, due to the witness’s injuries, a member of the medical staff must ensure she is supported. Her blood-loss has made her physically frail but she insists on speaking her today in court to make her statement.” Bryte Collars’ face was twitching and quivering so much it may as well have been sculpted from jello. “You are certain this witness is credible?” he blurted out. “Your honour, she’s the victim of the sexual harassment in the claim of my client.” Fancypants said plainly “She’s as credible as we’re going to get.” “...does the prosecution object?” Wiremane was flat-faced and sullen. “No, your honour. I have invited the defence to prove their claim. I will not stop them in the attempt, merely judge the effect of it.” “What are you doing?!” Manny hissed. “My job.” his lawyer answered plainly “Now let’s have some quiet. Let her speak.” Coco looked out at the crowd and took a deep breath. Fancypants walked slowly over to the new witness and spoke gently. “Miss Coco Pommel...have you seen what is on the recording crystal from your employer’s security room?” Coco shuddered as she answered, her voice quiet and shaky. “I don’t have to. I...I was there...” “Of course. But, for the interest of protocol, to confirm whose claim is correct...is it true that what we are seeing is the plaintiff, Manny Collars, forcing you into a sexual situation against your will?” Coco winced as she mustered up the answer. As she opened her mouth, Manny Collars’ screech cut her off. “DON’T YOU DARE! DON’T YOU BUCKING DARE! DON’T YOU SAY ONE WORD!” “Order!” The hammer finally came down on Manny’s side of the court. Wiremane pulled his client into his seat. Fancypants gave him a sickened look and spoke to the plaintiff’s father. “Permission to have the plaintiff held in contempt, your honour? He’s displayed less temperance than anypony threatened with the same today.” Bryte pressed a forehoof against his brow, a vein showing in his forehead. “The plaintiff will be silent for the duration of the witness’s statement.” Manny stared, goggle-eyed. “But father, she-” “That’s an order!” he roared as Coco caught her breath back and willed herself to continue. “Yes...Manny Collars came to Carousel Boutique and, during his visits, he’d...he wouldn’t leave me alone...no matter how many times I asked...and he’d touch me...he’d say horrible things to me...and he said if I didn’t let him or told anypony, he’d use his money to send ponies after Rarity...or Sweetie Belle...” “I see.” Fancypants said with a nod, “And afterwards...the incident where Rarity caught him...” “He was going to...try harder...” Coco answered with a sniffle, “He liked the fact I was crying...he wanted me to be afraid of him, he said it felt ‘right’.” There were murmurs among the court. Manny was staring at his desk as if he was planning to break it. Photo Finish was catching the whole thing. As Twilight and Fancypants had hoped she would. If they were right... “And...Rarity came to your aid. The attack she made on Manny Collars was in your defence.” “Yes, yes, of course.” Coco said sincerely “She wouldn’t raise her hoof against anypony for anything less.” “I see...” Fancypants brushed his chin with a forehoof “And...if you would be comfortable answering...the reason you took it upon yourself to...harm yourself?” Tears welled up in Coco’s eyes as she came close to positively squeaking the words. “...I saw Rarity in prison...and then I heard that Mr Collars’ father was the judge...that the trial had started without her lawyer...Rarity’s parents and Applejack told me they’d been barred from the court. I felt sure that Rarity was going to prison for...for something I...” “Don’t.” Fancypants interrupted her gently, bringing forth a handkerchief, forgetting court protocol for a moment to tend to a mare in distress for nothing else would befit a gentlecolt “It was not your fault.” “I should have said...” “You should’ve...but you couldn’t. There are few who could under such threats as he made. Know that today...you have shown bravery beyond description. Would you like to sit down now?” “...okay...” The quiet, quivering Coco Pommel was taken round the count, avoiding Manny Collars, and sat down beside Sweetie Belle who reached over to hug her as gently as it would allow. Fancypants turned to the court victoriously. “Your honour.” he announced “You asked me to bring full and indisputable evidence to the claim that Rarity Belle assaulted Manny Collars in order to defend her assistant, Coco Pommel, from his sexual harassment. Material evidence of the recording crystal and verbal confirmation of Coco Pommel’s claim have been brought forth to the Civil Court, retrieved from a private place of holding where it was originally to be held illegally from the court. The claim of my client stands verified and the claim the plaintiff, sitting there before you so full of venom, has been refuted once, again and over. And with that, your honour, the defence rests.” Bryte Collars’ expression had turned flat. The hoof that held his gavel was shaking. He was staring at his son with eyes that blinked wildly, as if trying to see something other than what he’d been shown. Clearing his throat hard, he steeled himself, his voice low and somewhat pained. “I see...that it is clear this was a highly inappropriate act on the plaintiff’s part...all evidence confirms it.” Manny stared at his father with shock and opened his mouth but no words came out. “But perhaps...” Bryte swallowed hard “We may look at this as a serious lapse in self-restraint. Ensure proper procedures are in place so that the culprit may receive better...mindfulness of his actions...so that this may not be repeated.” “Your honour?” One of the bailiffs looked up from a phone whose ringing had largely gone unnoticed in the fracas presiding “I’m afraid that door seems to have shut already. I’ve been speaking to a Miss Gardenia of Manehattan. She says she’s been watching the feed of the court case, as supplied to the news by Miss Photo Finish, and having seen Coco Pommel bring evidence to Manny Collars’ sexual harassment, she wishes to say that the same thing happened to her three years ago at a social gathering. Manny Collars cornered her in her chamber and molested her for the duration of his visit over a period of six days.” Bryte stared speechless at the bailiff while his son gave a strangulated sound, one forehoof slamming into the desk. “No! She’s a liar!” “As it happens, your honour...” Fancypants stepped forward and, with his magic, held the cards high, spun them round and held them before the judge, then the jury, then Photo Finish’s camera “We acquired this from anonymous sources. For the sake of relevance, we elected not to show them unless the possibility that this was not Manny Collars’ first sexual harassment offence was brought to light by the wishes of potential victims. Now, at last, the court may see.” he felt the crowd’s clammer wash over him like the trumpeting chants of a military triumph as he singled one out “This photo in particular was taken in Manehattan. Whether or not it is Miss Gardenia, I shall not insist she confirm it here and now, we can see clearly that the young mare’s expression is anxious and uncomfortable.” “You can’t prove it!” Manny wailed “Father, tell them they can’t prove it!” “We’re receiving another call. The bailiff thundered “From Miss Ghost Gum of Baltimare from two years ago...Miss Honey Locust in Los Alicornes, Miss Crape Myrtle in Baltimare, Miss Tulip Lancewood from Manehattan, Miss Lapacho from Albercalque, Miss Pimenta Allspice from Neigh Orleans-” “Enough!” Bryte Collars screamed, slamming his gavel so hard cracks could be seen edging their way up the head of it. He breathed heavily, gave his son a look that stood between shock, disgust and something resembling betrayal, before gathering himself and speaking. “Has the prosecution anything to say?” Wiremane sighed, not looking at his client. “No, your honour. And if I did, I hardly see any way it could help.” “What’s wrong with you?” Manny squealed “We paid you to get me out of this!” Wiremane cast Manny Collars a disdainful sneer. “Buddy...you couldn’t pay me to get you out of this if you were the richest stallion in Equestria.” And with that he put his files away in his suitcase, edged himself slightly further away from his client and folded his forelegs patiently as Manny Collars stared into the abyss with a collapsed expression. At such a time, Fancypants was reminded of a little jingle the apprentices used to sing to those found guilty in the Jurist’s Guild where, on the insistence of his aunts, he learned his trade. “You’re nicked, you’re picked, you’re interdict. Your pretext really sucked. Your worm’s been hooked, your goose is cooked. You’re well and truly bucked!” It look less than half an hour for the jury to return and deliver the result of a unanimous vote. Even as family, friends or colleagues of the Collars family, they were damned if such a creature would walk free, knowing what he’d done. “The jury finds the defendant, Rarity Belle, innocent or otherwise justified in all charges. Furthermore, we find her countersue sanctioned and carried. The plaintiff, Manny Collars, we find guilty on multiple charges of sexual harassment.” With heavy shoulders and a Bryte Collars at last had his say. “It is all very clear.” he said severely “This civil court has been the victim of a terrible deception. Some involved in it may not have been aware but it changes little. The damage is done and those responsible must be punished for nothing less would befit this house of law.” “Father, please!” “Enough!” he cut his son’s pleas off with fury as he spoke “I will not go without saying that I believe this will be the last time I sit the judge’s chair. Before this trial began, I believed I had seen all manner of depravity and ill-will towards one’s fellow pony. Now, I confess...I have made a grievous error in judgement. And such is not acceptable for a stallion of such a profession. Miss Rarity Belle, I find you innocent of all charges. The Civil Court of Equestria issues a formal and sincere apology for all damage to your reputation and emotions that may have been sustained through your wrongful accusation and arrest and for your defence counsels who, it seems, were not treated with the respect and credibility due to them. You shall receive compensation in due course. I hope you may find it satisfactory.” Rarity did nothing more than give a polite, ladylike smile and nod with a flutter of her eyelashes, a free mare once more. Fancypants relaxed his seat, dusted his monocle and gave a small, satisfied chuckle. Twilight Sparkle let loose a colossal sigh of relief and sat down next to Coco and Sweetie Belle, the little filly planting a large, grateful kiss on her and Spike. With a face of stone, Bryte Collars turned to his miserable son. “As for you...Mr Mancheron Underhott Collars...I find you guilty of lying to a court of law, a judge and a solicitor on multiple occasions. I find you guilty of falsifying and fabricating evidence, using money for illegal means, blackmail, conspiracy to inflict harm on a minor...and multiple counts of physical, emotional and sexual abuse upon young mares of Equestria. Your trial will begin a week from now, after...my resignation. And between you and me, father to son, I’m glad your mother is no longer here to see what you...what we have become! Dismissed!” Rarity remembered what a suave, nonchalant, in-control figure Manny Collars had seemed when first stepping into Carousel Boutique. And she could think of no better picture of the exact opposite as the stallion let forth an ear-splitting screech as he was dragged, flailing and wailing, by all four hooves out of the court, his mind and body completely separated, pure frenzy and rage at the world emanating from the pathetic figure, finally about to be shut out of it. “I HATE YOU!” he screamed at the top of his lungs, sounding more like a slightly articulate train whistle than a stallion “I HATE YOU ALL! I HATE YOU! AND YOU! AND YOU! HATE YOU! HATE! HATE! HAAAAAAAATE! HAAAAAAAATE!” As the doors shut, his screams grew more and more muffled as the sound of him finally subsided. “And good riddance to bad rubbish, I must say.” Fancypants chuckled, getting to his hooves. He and Wiremane stood as Bryte Collars departed with his head down and his shoulder sagged, pestered by Photo Finish and an armada of journalists on his way out. “You reckon he was involved?” Wiremane asked. Fancypants shrugged. “If he was, the results were seen on camera by thousands. His days of judging those he has the audacity to stand above are over for certain. And the more ponies put two and two together, he’ll be judged whether it’s official or not. A pony stands by one who’s so clearly guilty of Celestia knows what, insisting that he’s ‘misunderstood’ and ‘A victim of persecution’, ponies will wonder if he doesn’t see himself in such a criminal in more ways than one.” Wiremane sighed tugging his beard. “So be it. The day’s yours, Fancy old pal.” “Think nothing of it.” “Tell me...” the lawyer asked with a bashful grin “Do you still play golf?” Fancypants scoffed. “Only when I want to ruin a good walk.” “Just as well I don’t take those.” Wiremane chuckled “How about this weekend, for old time’s sake?” Fancypants’ mustachios danced as he chuckled. “Righto, old sport. I’ll invite old Prince Blueblood, shall I? That way, we’ll at least have something to amuse us?” “Oh, too right. Is he still as bad as I remember?” “I daresay, if possible, he’s gotten worse!” As the two former arch-rivals, now firm friends laughed, Wiremane offered a hoof for the serene, sitting-pretty Rarity. “I hope you can forgive me for my harsh words your way. I truly had no idea the Collars were capable of such but once I take a job, I follow it through, like it or not. I’m actually kind of glad to lose this one. But I hope you won’t hold it against me.” Rarity gave a polite smile and shook his forehoof. “As I said before we began, Mr LeTerrier, I had nothing to hide. I admire your dedication but recommend you choose your clients with a bit more discernment in future.” “For certain, Miss Rarity...I’ll tell my niece the good news, shall I?” “Thank you, darling.” As he departed, she couldn’t help but whoop a little as she stood liberated. Sweetie Belle rushed over to hug her tight enough to burst a seam were Rarity made of fabric and promised to whip her up a yummy home-made breakfast come morning which Rarity discreetly steeled herself for. Coco could not hug her in her state but the smile on her face was the first real one she'd seen since this whole nightmare began. She could at last rest easy, her intrepid employer having plucked her safely from this pit of nightmares. As Nightnurse took her back to the hospital, she gave Rarity a grateful beam and a gentle wave, replied in turn by the Bearer of Generosity who'd more than earned her element. “Well, if that’s all sorted, are we on for anything amusing this evening?” Fancypants cheered. “Well, if you’ll join us for something of a celebratory meal at a place me and the girls frequent, we’d consider it a great honour, Mr Fancypants.” Rarity said with a blush “It’s nothing too refined, it’s actually a milkshake bar Twilight introduced us to in Canterlot, but we always enjoy it. Fleur’s welcome to come of course. I can introduce you to Spike, he'll be overjoyed to see me, the little cherub.” The gentlecolt brushed away his powder-wig and put on his top hat with a merry laugh. “Sounds a corker, old girl. Righto then. Extra toppings are on me!” “Hurts doesn’t it.” Shining leaned forward against the bars with a cheeky grin “To hear the truth coming from somepony who doesn’t think your backstory is the saddest thing they’ve ever heard. It was all Grand Ruler, you know. He used his brainwashing, as he always does, to convince us you were this betrayed artist who’d never recovered from such a terrible slight. It was an illusion. And you knew it was an illusion but you wallowed in it to your heart’s content because you knew, deep down, it was the best you were ever going to get!” Manny Collars’ sulphurous eyes bulged so erratically, Shining was afraid they were going to burst like egg-yolks. “I lost everything because of her!” he screeched. “No, Manny. You lost everything because of you. Rarity just ensured you had nopony else to take it out on. So Grand Ruler used you. You kept the torn design she’d been making for you, a guy like you would be just the sort of stallion to keep a memento of his greatest failure, to nurture that hatred, the one thing you had driving you. You used your own name as a pseudonym and between you and Grand Ruler, you birthed Needle Stitch, ass-hat from nowhere with a grudge no sensible pony would hold.” “I hurt her. I still hurt her.” “For a while. A short while. And no longer. Because unlike you, Rarity can move on and be a better pony. She doesn’t let one bad turn make her stop of the next.” Shining said flatly “We laughed at you when you were gone. When Rarity had been discredited, Grand Ruler stopped his magic and all could see Needle Stitch for who he was. So even if you were who you said you were and if Rarity did what you said she did, I tell you now...it wouldn’t have mattered. The way you behaved, Manny Collars, the way you felt entitled to treat everypony around you for one thing gone wrong in your life, was unacceptable. You had no passion in your art. It just stung that somepony else had done better than you with the things you failed to make work. You knew nothing about the trials an entrepreneur can go through, the sacrifices they make, the things they have in their minds as they push themselves forward. Rarity may have wounded you but you’re the one who kept on rubbing salt into it, just so you remembered it was there and to ensure you thought about nothing else than that. One failure, one slight, was enough for you to turn your back on the basic rules of decent, social behaviour. And that doesn’t carry here in Equestria. But that was never really an issue. Because you’d learnt that lesson years ago...and you sold everything you had just so you could try to forget.” He shook his head. “There are very few ponies beyond all help, for whom the magic of friendship really doesn’t work on, but they all have something in common...They all made the choice. They all choose to be the horrible pony they are because what they are is all they’re ever going to get. And it hurts. It hurts bad. But the thought of being anything else scares them. So they would rather believe, doing anything to make that belief seem logical in the process, that the world is out to get them...than accept that maybe, just maybe, they’re not all that swell a guy. You can’t come to terms with your mistakes because that would mean accepting the fact that you, Manny Collars, are the one who made them.” Manny shot him a look of utter hatred. “You must really like the sound of your voice.” “It feels good to get off my chest at the end of the day.” Shining said with a shrug “You don’t listen to reason, Manny Collars...but you will listen to the truth. And the truth is that you, Manny Collars or Needle Stitch or whatever you’re calling yourself, you deserved everything you got. And you’ll get a whole lot more when this is over. That I promise you.” “Well here’s what I promise, Shining Armour!” Manny gripped the sides of the cage in fury and spat “You’ll die! Your family will die! The Bearers will die! But Rarity, Rarity will die...slowly, painfully, in every way I know she fears! But not before she watches her baby die just as slowly and painfully as she will. I’ll see it happen, I’ll make it happen and I will enjoy nothing else more than that!” There was a pause. Shining looked at Manny’s burning yellow eyes with quiet contempt. “The sad thing is...I kinda’ knew you would.” he said flatly “A pony saying how much they want to kill an innocent baby filly should shock me...but it really doesn’t. Because it stands to reason you’d go for the smallest, weakest target and call it an achievement. That’s what cowards do. And that’s exactly what you are. A coward who runs from every trouble he faces...Well, you’d better hope you’re good at it, Manny...” he leaned forward against the bars, eyes and grin wide. “Because soon, there’ll be nowhere left to hide.”