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// (2-3) Our Ruling 
// Story: The Ruler of Ponies and Men 
// by Boopy Doopy 
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“We will hear you now, Cadance, and give you this opportunity to explain yourself,” Luna announced once we’d gone through everypony’s accounts of what happened, one particular noble, Fancy Pants, making his way back to his spot as she spoke.
The pink alicorn stared silently forward for a long moment while Luna, Hope, and I kept our eyes on her, waiting to see what she had to say. I felt as though the crowd took a collective breath as they watched to see what would happen, Cadance herself giving us a scowl back as we watched her. I was very curious to see what she would come up with to try to defend herself, and eagerly awaited her counter against us.
“I… don’t have a counterargument against those claims,” she finally announced after a long period of silence. We stared at her, waiting for her to continue, but only watched as she continued to sit in silence, waiting for us.
“And yet?” I asked, finally speaking for the first time during the whole trial.
“And yet I still maintain my innocence against these charges,” she responded flatly, almost aggressively.
“On what basis?” Princess Luna asked.
“On the basis that I was consorting with King Sombra at the time,” she explained. “I was operating directly under the orders of King Sombra, and therefore, since he’s the ruler of Equestria, I cannot be guilty of any crime since I was following his orders.”
“Are you saying that Fluttershy is bearing false witness when she claims that you specifically said that this was your plan?”
“I can’t say whether she intentionally lied or if she was simply mistaken,” I watched Cadance lie, “but this isn’t a plan that I made or even one we both came up with. This was wholly King Sombra’s plan.”
I expected her to say something like that, and yet it still ground on me that she did. She was trying to say that because I was Sombra it was my fault that she did what she did, and was trying to tell lies while she said that. However, Luna and I had already discussed what she would say in that case.
“I see…” Luna trailed off, before continuing, “Regardless, whether or not this was Sombra’s plan, this pony who rules over Equestria is hardly the same pony at all who would have made such arrangements with you, similar to the Sombra you speak of in appearance only. However, you and I, along with every pony in this room, know that what you’re claiming is false. This was wholly and completely your plan, your intention being to banish Princess Celestia and remove myself and the Element Bearers from our positions to rule over Equestria yourself. Do you refute this?”
Cadance continued to scowl, not looking particularly nervous, but still seeming absolutely angry. She was being painted into a corner, and as she turned her head, she could see the ponies staring at her, waiting for her response.
“What’s going on here,” she started carefully, looking around at the common ponies in the room, “is you’re trying to make an example out of me. There’s no way for me to refute your claims because you three are already against me. You’ve already made up your minds that you’ll convict me, and you're planning to send me to Tartarus for who knows how long.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” I replied simply, but she continued.
“This was Sombra’s plan,” she said. “It was for him to end up in this position with you and her ruling with him. It makes sense really, seeing as you’re Nightmare Moon and he previously enslaved the Crystal Empire. You’ve taken control of Equestria and now nopony is standing in your way.”
“If that’s the case,” Luna asked, “then why have we not enslaved everypony? If this is the very Sombra who took over the Crystal Empire as you say, if I am the Nightmare Moon you claim that I am, then why has there not been any enslavement of ponies? Why does the sun still rise in the sky every day? Why would we hold a trial for you at all and let you speak if that were the case? It seems to us that you are trying to deflect your actions onto others, as well as create mistrust between the ponies of Equestria and their rulers.”
“Then why haven’t you brought Celestia back?” she asked, a slight air of superiority in her voice, sounding like she was challenging her. “If this is all my fault and you truly only have good intentions, why hasn’t Princess Celestia been brought back?”
“This is not about my sister,” Luna answered threateningly.
“Is it because you know she’d disapprove of you ruling Equestria and not either Twilight or I, her pupils?”
“We will not be discussing my-” Luna started as stood up, pointing her hoof at her before I interrupted.
“Celestia will be brought back to Equestria within one year’s time,” I announced automatically, “seeing as it was your actions that caused her to act out, and it was your intention for her to be banished so that you could rule Equestria alone.”
I couldn’t say exactly why I answered the way I did, but I did know that part of me didn’t like continuously deliberating between bringing her back and letting her stay away forever. I would force her to apologize to me at that time, and announcing it like this would make sure everypony was able to see her then. She would have nowhere to hide once that time came.
“Actually,” I added, “call it fourteen months. Make it exactly two years after your crimes started. We’ll determine an exact day for it to happen.”
“All of you are really going to let these three get away with this?” Cadance asked, now turning around to the ponies behind her, speaking to the nobles in Canterlot. “If they can step in and take control of Equestria, what’s stopping anypony else? I’m certain that they won’t bring Celestia back to rule, and even if they did, her position would be limited.”
“She was headed into retirement, as you recall, Cadance, when she made the very public announcement,” Luna told her. “She and I should both be enjoying retirement, however, because of your interference, she was unable to do that.”
“Then why isn’t Twilight ruling instead of you three? Wasn’t she meant to be her successor?”
“I- I can’t,” Twilight answered quietly, looking at her hooves. “I wouldn’t- I couldn’t handle the pressure. I almost… I… and I wouldn’t be able to be with my friends if I stayed in Canterlot…”
“Everypony here knows that’s not true,” she tried to say as she turned back to the crowd. “You all know she was told to say that. And now they’re going to send me to Tartarus to silence me. This trial is rigged against me. My judges are the same as my jury, and they’re already out to keep me away so they can stay in power. All of you that saw me here know I was only here to make sure that somepony was still in charge of Equestria, seeing as the rulers were incapacitated at that time. You all know that, and so do they.”
“Was there anything else you wanted to say?” Luna asked flatly, frowning as she did so.
“It won’t make a bit of difference,” she answered, “so no. All I can say is that everypony around me knows what I said, and knows that what you’re doing to me is unjust.”
“Well then, I am sure with your testimony, as well as those of the witnesses who spoke, our verdict shall be fairly obvious. Alex, will you do the honors?”
I didn’t waste any time, quickly telling her and the room, “Princess Mi Amore Candeza, we the rulers of Equestria find you guilty of all of the charges brought against you-”
“Of course you do,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“-however, I have decided that you’ll be pardoned of your crimes against me as well your husband under the condition that you formally acknowledge the crimes you’ve committed and apologize to me, Shining Armor, and the rest of Equestria for what you’ve done to us.”