//------------------------------// // The Canterlot Court case part 1 // Story: The chef's student // by vincent789 //------------------------------// It was Friday. Twilight arrived at a decently empty school once again. The bullet fish incident would end it's course over the weekend. As Minno's class started, they talked about some more basic safety lessons. Twilight was not very attentive today. She was starting to get very busy to get ready to go to Canterlot for the court case that will decide the trade of wild meat and endangered animals. She was also getting ready to tell Trixie about her father. Which made her more anxious then she has ever been. And despite Minno's class about candy making was interesting. Twilight head was in the cloud as she several times didn't respond when Minno called her name. "TWILIGHT!!!" Minno shouted very loudly. Her voice caused the windows to shake. Twilight literally jumped out of her seat into Minno. "Oof" Minno said on the ground. "Twilight!" she said annoyed. "Oops, sorry." Twilight said apologetic. "What is wrong with you today?" Minno ask annoyed and confused. "I am so sorry. It's just, the weekend is coming up and I am quite a bit anxious about Trixie and the court case." Twilight said regretful, "I didn't mean to zone out." "I know. This must all be very overwhelming for a filly like yourself." Minno said in an understanding tone. "And scary. But I know that this is very important for Equestria, and because of that I must not skip it." Twilight said. "You are going to make a change to the Equestrian food law which hasn't changed for atleast one thousand years. The last law that was passed was by Nightmare moon to allow the trade of wild meat in the first place." Minno said. "Exactly. Which is making me extra anxious." Twilight said. "I understand. But Trixie and her dad aren't making it any easier. Right?" Minno said. "Right." Twilight said, "It's one thing to change a law, it's another to change someones fate." Twilight said. "What do you mean?" Minno asked curious. "Trixie though she was abandoned. For her to suddenly regain her father would be. Life changing." Twilight said. "Not necessarily." one of the students said, "I would just mean that she would have another world in her world." "What do you mean?" Twilight asked confused. "Think about it like this. Right now her life is about learning magic, About princess Celestia and Twilight. When her father gets added to the mix, she would just get a whole new life opened up to her. More chances and more failures. But in the end she is Trixie and she stays Trixie. No matter which world and life." The student said. "Thank you. I needed that." Twilight said relieved. "No worries. We are classmates. I may not know what you are going through. But me and the student council supports the law you are trying to build. And I am sure the Donut will greatly appreciate your help in getting back in touch with Trixie." The student said. "Wait, Flower agreed with Twilight?" Minno said shocked. "Yup. She knew that Twilight just wanted to build a better world for the catering industry." The student said happily. "Thank you. What is you name?" Twilight asked. "Beef Minor. Nice to make a proper introduction." Beef said. "Ooh! Me too! My name Lamb Minor. Beef's younger sister!" Lamb said. "Nice to meet both of you. My name is Twilight Armor Sparkle. Or Twilight Sparkle for short." Twilight said happily "Did you know that my father supports your law? Even though he will be hit the hardest." Beef said. "Yeah. Daddy is selling meat and wild meat. But he refuses to sell endangered meat! He actively fights with those activists." Lamb said proudly. "So you also understood that the law I am trying to make won't hit your father as hard as he initially thought right?" Twilight said. "He did. He understood your reasoning and is happy that somepony finally steps up for the job." Lamb said. "My family are commoners, so we can't do anything. You are of noble birth, maybe you can change it for those that failed to do so." Beef said, "We, the major meat group 'Kanji', have been working hard to get a law passed that better controls the trade of meat." "And we have failed to do so, many times!" Lamb finished. "I see. Even the meat industry agrees mostly in this chance. You just gave a big piece of evidence and a card to use against Celestia. Thank you." Twilight said. "No worries. All we can do is cheer you on. Good luck Twilight!" Beef and Lamb said at the same time. Twilight smiled as her confidence took a massive boost. Her eye had gained a star. She was ready to face Trixie and the court case. "Minno can I ask for a favor?" Twilight asked. "Of course what is the matter?" Minno asked. "I want to investigate the law the Nightmare Moon and Luna originally passed. Maybe there is a loophole in the original law that was passed. Or perhaps something everyone overlooked. I know that the original piece of paper with the law signed on it, was placed in the forbidden area of this school's library. Can I please take a look?" Twilight asked. "Sure. Let us all visit the library for some information on the way meat is currently being handled. And while we are there. I will show you the paperwork that went into the building of that law." Minno said. "Thank you Minno!" Twilight said excited. Minno then takes the trio in the library as the passed bookshelf after bookshelf, they eventually end up in a small living space with a fireplace. Minno beacons everyone to stay where they are. "Let me get you access into our special library with the law written on it." Minno said. She then took a step back as steps on the piece of carpet in the room. "Piacasa Del Canta is Placasa!" Minno shouts with vigor as the ground lights up and a magic circle shows up. After it scans the user, it then lights the whole fireplace and moves it down. Revealing a hidden passage. "Wow! That was ancient magic." Twilight said amazed. "It was placed by my grand fathers. I learned about it by chance. I will only let Twilight inside. You will go inside alone. We will wait outside. Inside there is a lever that let's you back outside. Good luck!" Minno said. Twilight walks through the passage which caused it to close behind her. The room lights up automatically and Twilight sees thousands of documents. Each and every document goes on and on about the law. "Time to read each and every single piece of paper." Twilight said. But just as she touches it. The desk starts glowing. After the glowing stopped she sees Nightmare Moon's afterimage. "To those that are listening to this. Whoever you are. You must be the filly that will chance my law for the better. My name Moon Nightmare and I created this law with the sole purpose to allow the trade of meat to be accessed by the law. However this law passed at early stages of the meat industry. Which is also why there were no inspectors and controllers in charge of it yet. If you are going to make change of this then tap my desk once more." The specter said. Twilight tapped it once more. "I see. That means that your name is most likely Twilight Sparkle. I know that you are destined for greatness, yet you choose food over magic. I thank you. Only you can change it. You will need this scroll. Use your magic on me and I will confirm that you truly are Twilight Sparkle. Only then can you obtain this scroll." The specter said. Before Twilight used her magic, she was more or less shocked that Nightmare Moon knew that this was going to happen. Using some magic on the specter caused it to smile. And it revealed a scroll. After reading it, Twilight was shocked to find that the scroll, which was written by Luna, stated that Twilight Armor Sparkle has full permission to change it to the new meat law that she was going to propose as an ultimatum. Realizing that she and Luna thought alike, Twilight smiled and placed the scroll in her pocket dimension. And just as she was about to leave she heard some commotion outside. As she listened in through the wall she heard the following debate. "You allowed Twilight to go inside?!" ??? said. "Flower why are you so upset. I thought you supported her." Minno said. "I do. Father doesn't. And he is very angry right now." Flower said. "And that matters to you, why?" Minno asked. "He might remove her from the school if she stays any longer in there!" Flower shouted. Twilight then quickly used the lever to head outside. She sees a confused Minno and a relieved Flower. "Thank goodness you exited. My father is so angry that Minno even allowed you to enter. He wants you to go home. Right now." Flower said. "That is fine. I got what I wanted. I must say Luna and I think very alike. I just got something that will change everything. I will however use it as a last resort." Twilight said. "I see. That is good to hear. Good luck tomorrow with Trixie and good luck Sunday with the court case." Minno said. "Thank you. Beef and Lamb I will see you Sunday." Twilight said. "See you then!" Lamb and Beef said. Twilight then proceeded to grab her backpack and headed back home. Once home she decided that it might not be a good idea to announce her entrance like usual. After all dad might still be hard at work and she came in unannounced. So she headed towards her room when she heard dad talking to an unknown voice. So she headed to the bathroom and used a magic mirror spell on the mirror to spy on Night and the mystery pony. She also used a door seal spell on the bathroom door. As the mirror shows who it was Twilight was shocked. It was Elly Dragoon her old dragon friend, she appeared to be in disguise. "Sorry, you lost me again. You do realize that only Twilight understands dragon language right?" Night said annoyed. "Sorry. Force of habit. So as I was saying, Twilight law is going to cause her to lose her friends with the dragons. We need that wild meat!" Elly said unhappily. "She is not banning wild meat. She is going to make it more organized." Night said. "Even still, her law is already raising concerns to the Griffons, but we dragons are also feeling left out of the conversation. We need meat to survive and eating wild meat is required for our most oldest of traditions." Elly said concerned. "I understand. But I can't help you. Twilight is going to propose an ultimatum that will not get in the way of this. I assure you." Night said. "I am sorry. But I simply do not trust a filly with this!" Vermouth said as a hologram appeared next to Elly. "Be that as it may. She is the one that is pushing for this law. I am simply assisting her." Night said. "That is bull crap and you know it. Stop hiding behind a filly and tell us of the ultimatum!" Vermouth screamed. "I DON'T KNOW!!!" Night screamed, he finally had enough, "If you want to know what will happen, you will have to go to the court that will decide this!" "But-" Vermouth and Elly said. "No buts. You will leave now! I have had enough. I will talk of this no more. You will wait for the final court case to decide it all!" Night said angrily. "Fine! Be that way. I will not like any of this." Elly said. "Hmph. Your father will hear of this." Vermouth said. Twilight undid the spells and teleported inside of Night's office. Which broke Elly's anti-dragon and anti-magic barrier. This caused Elly to stop in her tracks. "It seems there are some misunderstandings." Twilight simply stated. Elly and Vermouth turn around to see a relatively calm Twilight and a confused Night. "You are early back home." Night said. "Not now dad." Twilight said. "Twilight." Vermouth said. "Vermouth." Twilight simply responded. "So you made the ultimatum, huh." Vermouth said. "That is correct. I also made the original law change idea." Twilight said. "I see. Can you tell us of this ultimatum?" Vermouth asked. "I can. However I am afraid you will have to wait until the court case in Canterlot." Twilight simply stated. "We are old friends to the house of Armor. Won't you grant us a boon?" Vermouth asked. "No." Twilight simply stated. "Old friends you may be. However I shall not tell the opposition of my plan until further notice." "I agree with you." Vermouth offered. "Do you take me for stupid?" Twilight said, "I read the list of people that disagreed to this law. You are on the list. If you think that you will gain opposing information, you got another thing coming." "House of Armor is in debt with us." Elly said. "I am officially under house Sparkle. That does not work." Twilight said. Vermouth and Elly looked at each other. And smiled. "Do you know how much money they are in debt with?" Elly asked. "Fifty million bits." Twilight answered without skipping a beat. Vermouth eyebrow rose at her quick answer. "You knew." he said. "He is indebted Fifty million bits to princess Celestia. And one million to the dragons and five hundred thousand bits to the griffons." Twilight responded. "Yet they never asked him to return the money. How odd for you to use it right now." Vermouth's eyes widen, "Because it was never called into question." he responded. "Which means you can not ask for the money. You have not been granted that permission." Twilight said. "Tch!" Vermouth said as his hologram disappears. Twilight's eyes turn to Elly, "I will assure you on my name and my friendship with you. This law will and cannot ban wild meat all together. There would be too many laws that would clash with the decision of such a law. Making it literally impossible for that solution to ever come to pass." Twilight said. "What if Celestia is going to ask for those millions?" Elly asked out of curiosity. "I have a secret massive supply of bits hidden away. I can easily pay that off." Twilight said. "Understood. I will take your word for it. And also you make a great politician." Elly complemented. "Thank you." Twilight said as Elly left. Twilight then turns around with a sheepish smile, "Hi dad!" she said. "You de-escalated the situation really fast. And wow you did your research." Night said with respect and awe in his voice. "It was required." Twilight stated. "I know." Night said. "Sigh. I know I am a filly, but this court case..." Twilight started. "It's alright. They will learn not to mess with you." Night said. "Thank you." Twilight said relieved. "Now. Why don't you tell me why you are earlier home than usual." Night asked. Twilight turns towards Night and starts recounting the passed few hours at school. She did leave out the scrolls content, but made it clear that it would make and break this court case. "I see." Night hummed to himself. He looked deep in thought. Twilight meanwhile takes a seat in one of the comfy chairs inside of Dad's office. It was made from cotton which was painted with a deep red color. It was also much larger then Twilight. "Why don't we go to Canterlot early then? I mean, your room and mine are essentially kept the same. This was so to ensure that we could go to Canterlot on a vacation." Night suggested. "So you and mom turned it into a vacation home." Twilight said with a raised eyebrow. "That is correct." Night said. "Sure! I don't mind to go on an early vacation into a weekend that will oddly not look like a vacation." Twilight said somewhat sarcastic. "Are you sure?" Night asked uncertain, "I mean we could collect some more evidence while we are-" Twilight put her hoof into his mouth. "It's fine! Let's go!" Twilight said anxious. Night stared at Twilight. His eyes saying that you don't have to go. His eyes were met by cloudy eyes. Her eyes said we should go. "Okay! We don't need to pack anything. Everything is already over there." Night said. "Canterlot! Here we go!" Twilight shouted.