“My goodness, Sweetie Belle, turning everypony into fruits and vegetables! Do you have any idea the magnitude of what you’ve done? Using magic on other ponies like that is a very serious crime! Do you have any idea what happens when you abuse magic like that and use it on your friends?!” asked Twilight Sparkle.
“Um… You become the Princess of Friendship?” answered Sweetie Belle.
“Wh-What?! Sweetie Belle!”
“I know, I know, Twilight!” Sweetie Belle’s eyes filled up with tears. “I’m really really sorry!”
“And you understand that it’s wrong to try and hide your crimes, and that you’ll feel a lot better once you’ve been properly punished by the law?”
“Yes, Twilight!”
Under escort of some royal guards, Twilight and Sweetie Belle were in a carriage en route to Canterlot.
Twilight’s expression softened. “Well, it’s a good thing I was the one who figured out it was you. I can ask Princess Celestia to go easy on you.”
“Oh, thank goodness! I was worried I might get thrown into a dungeon until I was as old as Rarity!”
Twilight chuckled. “Oh no, you’re just a filly! I’m sure the princess wouldn’t do that!”
“Speaking of my sister…” Sweetie Belle tapped her hooves together nervously. “You’re not going to tell her about arresting me, are you? She’d be so disappointed…”
“I can’t make any promises, Sweetie Belle… I really think Rarity ought to know… But I guess I’ll think about it.”
“Thank you, Twilight!”
“I said I’m not making any promises!”
“Aw, come on!”
The two soon arrived at Canterlot Castle, and once they’d gained an audience with Celestia, Twilight explained the whole situation to her.
“So you see, I know Sweetie Belle has to be punished for this transgression, but I know Sweetie Belle understands her errors, and I don’t think we need to be overly harsh.”
With a blank stare, Celestia frowned. “The law is clear, Twilight. Sweetie Belle must be banished, and then she must be put in the dungeon of the place she’s banished to!”
“WHAT!?” Horrified, Sweetie Belle gasped.
Twilight was equally astonished. “B-But, your Majesty! Sweetie Belle is just a filly, and she didn’t mean to cause so much harm! I know it’s a serious crime, but surely you can show her leniency!”
“I’m afraid not, Twilight,” Celestia answered.
“B-B-But…” Forcing a smile, Twilight put a hoof around Sweetie Belle and pulled her close. “Did I mention she’s sorry? Really really sorry?” Twilight tilted her head at the filly and gave her an urgent look.
“R-Right! I am really sorry! Really really really sorry! I’ll never do it again, honest!”
“See?” Twilight said. “Can’t you find it in your heart to forgive her?”
“No!” Celestia’s voice boomed through the throne room. “This is the law, Twilight! No exceptions!” There was no anger in her voice, but there was finality that left no room to argue.
Twilight hung her head, and tears dripped from her eyes to the floor. “Yes, Princess…” She turned her head to look at Sweetie Belle. “I am so sorry, Sweetie Belle… I should have… I should have just…”
Smiling, Sweetie Belle put a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “You don’t have to apologize, Twilight. It’s my fault for turning everypony into vegetables when I messed up that spell. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Oh, Sweetie Belle…”
Royal guards surrounded Sweetie Belle and prepared to escort her away. Twilight was heartbroken. She wanted to fight them off and teleport away with Sweetie Belle, but she just couldn’t bring herself to act so rashly with Princess Celestia watching. But before Sweetie Belle was taken away, she turned to beam at Twilight.
“I’m not worried anymore, Twilight! Maybe I can get my cutie mark in jailbreaking! Or in navigating my way back home! Oh, but I guess you probably should tell Rarity where I am.”
“Ugh?!” Twilight could only gape at the filly’s ridiculous optimism.