The courtroom was distinctly not what Sunrise had been expecting.
She'd been expecting something severe, something intimidating. After all, even before she'd been on the run, her guardians had occasionally used the idea of the court system to threaten her. So thinking on it, she had to admit to herself that she'd been kind of primed to expect the worst.
There were, again, no windows. The doors from the hall to the court room itself were glass, with floor-to-ceiling glass to either side. And while the front of the room was furnished with dark engraved wood, the whole floor was carpeted a friendly blue-gray. Light, padded chairs of powder blue filled the spectator's area, with large portraits of local politicians she didn't recognize on both side walls.
Two large tables sat before the judge's bench. Sitting at the right hand table, a woman in a sky blue suit dress was looking over some papers and folders she possessed. Sitting at the left-hand table was Aurora, alone but for the armed guard looming over her.
From where she sat, armed guards to either side of her, Sunrise shot the younger girl an encouraging smile. Aurora managed a weak one in return.
To the left of the well was the jury box, empty. To its right, the court secretary. At each table and the judge's bench was a microphone. Before the bench was a man in a suit with a badge; Sunrise guessed he was the bailiff. Stationed more-or-less equidistant around the room were about half a dozen armed guards, plus the one behind Aurora, one hand casually resting on her firearm.
Behind the bench was a huge portrait of the USE's first president, and to either side of it were the national and state flags. Beneath the portrait was a door.
And, with a loud creak on its ancient hinges, that door began to open.
“All rise,” the bailiff intoned. “United States of Equestria Court, Northern District of Canterlot, is now in session. The Honorable Judge Alexandria Knotwork presiding.”
The judge, an older woman with pale gray skin and white hair, finished entering and made her way to the bench, ascending its unseen steps as she did. Then, she lowered herself into its black leather chair and looked out before her, appraising the crowd. The murder trial had brought in a variety of reporters, law students, and good old-fashioned gawkers, and the court room was nearly full.
One of these spectators, seated in the row behind the defense table, was a woman in jeans and a red button-up. She looked to be in her mid-thirties, with short flame-colored hair and amber skin. Chewing her lower lip, gripping her purse, and plainly terrified.
“You may be seated,” the bailiff said.
The courtroom was momentarily filled with shuffling and creaking of chairs as the those present found their seats. The judge put on her reading glasses, sorted through a few papers she had brought with her.
“As the defendant has requested a trial without jury, let it be known that the jury has been dismissed previous to these proceedings,” she said.
“Sixty-nine, CR one-eighty, Canterlot versus Aurora Borealis for trial.” the bailiff read.
Judge Knotwork continued sifting through the paperwork.
“I see here that Miss Windy Cavern will be representing the state; good to see you again, Miss Cavern,” the judge said, not looking up from her documents. “And for the defense, I see Mister Fallacious Brief... no, I see a note here...”
Frowning, she looked up, saying, “Hmm. Very well... Mister… Dissonance Chord?”
The court was silent. Many eyes drifted to the defense table. There, aside from her armed escort, the defendant still sat very, very alone.
“Council for the defense?” The judge asked again. “Mister Chord?”
When there was still no response, she picked up the papers before her. Scanned them again.
Someone coughed. From where she sat in handcuffs, police to either side of her, Sunrise exchanged nervous looks with Aurora.
The judge blinked, frowning. Then, looking out at the packed courtroom impatiently, she called, “Mister Dissonance Chord!”
“YES, YOUR HONOR!”
The heavy wooden doors at the opposite end flew open with a Boom!, revealing the defense attorney at last. He strode in like a ringmaster, arms out, head high, glorying in the sudden applause that spontaneously filled the courtroom. Doffing his embroidered top hat with a twirl, he spun it into the air, catching it deftly on the handle of his cane as he arrived at the defense table, ultimately ending with a low bow before the bench, one leg extended before him, his cane and hat swept to one side.
Flashbulbs flashed, again and again, as the room became a bedlam of noise and speculation.
“ORDER!” roared the judge, banging her gavel.
“Dissonance Erasmus Chord, at the court’s service, Your Honor,” Dissonance said into the sudden quiet, still bowing. “Licensed legal practitioner in Canterlot, former legal defender of the downtrodden in Canterlot, Crystal Valley, Griffonstone, Argentina, and Cu-camonga.”
Bang! went the gavel once more, cutting the quiet laughter of the audience short.
“I have a mind to have you removed from the court right now, and charge you with contempt,” Judge Knotwork said. “And I will tolerate no further theatrics in these proceedings. Now, am I to understand you now represent the accused? According to records, Miss Borealis already has an attorney, provided by the state.”
Without rising, the patchwork attorney drew a manila envelope from within his coat.
“If it please the court, Your Honor,” he said to the floor with the gravity of a pall bearer, “The previously assigned attorney is busy in another courtroom due to a scheduling conflict caused by the recent storm. Further, information regarding the identity of the accused was not forthcoming from the police at first, thus causing a delay in my being approached on the matter.”
As the courtroom began to buzz, Dissonance continued happily, “I was retained by friends of the family to represent both the defendant in this case, and the young lady who actually perpetrated the deed!”
Again, the courtroom burst into murmurs and flashing bulbs, and again the judge brought the gavel down with a sharp Crack!
“...We therefore move the court to recognize extraordinary circumstances justifying withdrawal of counsel,” Dissonance finished solemnly.
“Counsels will approach the bench,” the judge snarled. “Now.”
Almost as soon as Dissonance entered the well, the judge had snatched the envelope from him. The justice’s frown slowly deepened as she read its contents, then transformed into a simple stare of incredulity. Then, the frown returned, and she handed back the envelope.
“Very well. The court recognizes Mister Chord’s qualifications to represent the accused in this case, and under the circumstances withdrawal of counsel is hereby granted,” she said. “That being said, your earlier admonishment remains, sir. I will not have these proceedings turned into the kind of farce you were so infamous for when you last practiced.”
“Of course, Your Honor.”
“Additionally, I notice the date for your reinstatement was just over a week ago.”
“That’s correct, Your Honor,” the gaunt man nodded. “I had been enjoying my well-earned retirement, believe me. But when the incredible truth of this case came to my attention, I couldn’t justify not coming out of retirement to help shield the innocent from injustice.”
“Of course you couldn’t,” Her Honor said dryly.
“And, at the same time, spare the court the time it would otherwise waste bringing Miss Borealis to trial,” Dissonance grinned.
For a moment, the judge considered Dissonance Chord with the exact amount of suspicion due to a one-armed stage magician offering a high stakes game of three-card Monty.
Then, turning to the assistant district attorney, she said, “Miss Cavern, what exactly is he talking about?”
Nodding slightly, Windy Cavern, an ebony-skinned young lady with silver hair and deep blue eyes, began removing various sheafs of paper from a three-inch thick brown folder she had brought with her.
“New evidence has come to light which has moved the district attorney’s office to drop all charges against the defendant in this case, Your Honor,” she said.
The judge peered at Dissonance, her suspicion intensifying. “I take it this is some kind of deal the defense has struck with the district attorney’s office?” she said.
Beneath her withering gaze, Dissonance clasped his hands before himself and looked heavenward, trying and failing to look innocent.
“No, Your Honor,” the ADA said. “This new evidence has shown to the district attorney’s satisfaction that Miss Borealis is innocent. It includes both a full confession by Miss Shimmer, and her production of the weapon used in the assault. Police ballistics has already matched the weapon in question to the round removed from Miss Sparkle’s person. Prosecution and defense both therefore ask...”
“Wait,” the judge interrupted, frowning anew at her, then looking at where Sunset Shimmer sat, holding hands with Twilight Sparkle, surrounded by their friends. “Wait. Wait. Are you saying that Miss Shimmer--?”
“No, Your Honor, not at all,” Dissonance broke in giddily as he gestured to Sunrise, sitting nearby in handcuffs. “We mean the other Miss Shimmer, who is awaiting her arraignment right after these proceedings. Specifically, Sunrise Shimmer, Sunset Shimmer’s long-lost twin sister!”
With a groan, the judge put her face in her hands.
Windy Cavern looked uncertainly from the judge to Dissonance, and back.
“Um, Your Honor?” she tried.
With a long-suffering sigh, Judge Knotwork lowered her hands, shaking her head in resignation. Finally, she dragged her eyes to the ragtag attorney before her.
“Mister Chord, are you requesting a separate evidentiary hearing to consider this motion?” she asked.
“No, Your Honor,” Dissonance replied. “Defense asks that, under these unusual circumstances, and in honor of the defendant's right to a speedy trial, the court hear this evidence as part of current proceedings.”
“Miss Cavern?”
“Prosecution is in agreement, Your Honor.”
For a moment, the judge looked as though she had bitten into something sour. She looked at the defendant. She looked at the ADA. Finally, she looked at Sunrise Shimmer, sitting in handcuffs, plainly ready to be a witness if needs be, even with her own hearing apparently already scheduled later that day.
Finally, Judge Knotwork sighed again.
“I don't need to tell either of you just how irregular this is,” she said at last. “But if both counsels are certain of their preparations, in the interest of justice and the rights of the accused, I will allow the motion to be presented now.”
“Thank you, Your Honor,” Dissonance bowed.
“Miss Cavern, as this motion is being made by the prosecution, you may begin.”
Nodding, shuffling through the documents she held, Windy Cavern began to speak, placing various stapled or paper-clipped stacks of paper on the bench as she did.
“May it please the court, evidence shows that both women – Sunrise and Sunset Shimmer – were abandoned at birth by person or persons unknown,” she said. “And, both were taken into the foster care system. However, due to a paperwork error, they were not only immediately separated but Sunrise Shimmer was erroneously entered into the system under her sister’s name. Such an error was almost impossible to detect unless someone specifically looked for it.”
Pulling an additional carbon-covered set of pink forms, she set them on the bench, adding, “However, as of last week Mister Chord did look for it, and we have the paperwork proving the error here.”
“Sunset was adopted almost immediately,” Dissonance picked up the narrative, “But Sunrise wasn’t. I have also provided the – ah, yes, thank you, my dear,” he said fondly as more bundles of paper were stacked on the bench. “The paperwork you see to the left is Sunset’s adoption papers. To your right, simultaneously, is a continuing paper trail involving Sunrise’s movement within the foster care system… only under Sunset’s name.”
Reluctantly, the judge began looking through the paperwork before her.
“When Sunrise Shimmer was fourteen, she ran away from the foster care system, allegedly to avoid an abusive environment,” Windy Cavern went on, adding another sheaf. “We have the relevant reports here. Meanwhile, Sunset Shimmer was just entering Canterlot High School, as shown in her own academic record. And while Sunrise spent the next four years living on the street, during which time there is no record of her activities, Sunset continued her education at Canterlot High.
“Their paper trails didn’t cross again until recently, when Sunrise Shimmer turned eighteen. Believing her name to be that of her sister, she set about to acquire proof of identity and open a bank account, and got her G.E.D.”
“It wasn’t until Sunrise applied to Canterlot University, the same university where her sister had already been accepted, that the old bureaucratic error truly came home to roost.” Dissonance added. “Being told that she'd already been accepted, with a scholarship she had never applied for from a school she had never attended, she investigated the matter. And, finally, discovered her twin sister.”
Judge Knotwork looked up from a form she was skimming, eyebrow arched. “And the court is to believe she simply took it upon herself to murder Miss Sparkle as a result?”
“Sunrise Shimmer’s confession states that her sister was the intended target,” Miss Cavern said, placing the final sheaf of papers before her. “And Miss Sparkle’s injuries are consistent with having been shot in the process of knocking Sunset Shimmer out of the bullet’s path. Additionally, as aforementioned, the weapon Sunrise Shimmer provided to the police matches the bullet removed from Miss Sparkle perfectly.”
“Defense intends to ask for leniency, based upon unusual circumstances,” Dissonance added. “After a lifetime of struggle and abuse, capped by an ultimate assault upon her very identity, my client suffered a temporary psychotic break. She is legitimately penitent, Your Honor, and numbers among her character witnesses both her sister and Miss Sparkle herself.”
“The court is not concerned with Miss Shimmer’s intentions at this time, Mister Chord, she isn’t on trial here,” the judge said offhandedly, still leafing through documents. “The court is concerned with the motion at hand.”
Looking up, she asked the woman before her, “Miss Cavern, is it the considered opinion of the district attorney’s office that, in light of this new evidence, all charges against Miss Borealis should be dropped?”
“It is, Your Honor.”
“And do you seek to make that motion now?”
“We do, Your Honor.”
“Very well.” Gathering the various papers into a single stack, she held out her hand to the ADA. Miss Cavern handed the empty envelope to the judge, who slid the multi-colored paperwork into it.
“Court is in recess for one hour,” she said. “At the end of that time, court shall render its decision regarding the charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against Miss Aurora Borealis.”
Then she rapped her gavel once, rose, and departed through the door behind the bench.
Almost frantic, Sunset Shimmer pushed and shoved her way through the murmuring crowd to the Two Sisters in a wave of confusion.
“You know that guy?” she demanded, pointing at the defense table. “I thought I was kidding back in the book store, but… you know that guy?!?”
“He was our principal, years ago,” Luna admitted.
“And he’s also… well, it’s complicated,” Celestia added uncomfortably. Then, with new concern, “But, how do you know him?”
“He, um, well…” Sunset fidgeted, rubbing the back of her neck. “He kinda supplied me with the documentation I needed when I got here. Birth certificate, medical records, that kind of thing. He’s why I was able to attend school at all—”
Suddenly, Celestia was holding Sunset’s upper arms with a gentle urgency, and both sisters were staring at her, both speaking at once.
“What did he ask for?”
“What did you promise him?”
“Woah, hey, easy, easy!” Sunset protested, holding her hands up in supplication. “Take it easy, okay? It’s cool!”
Celestia released her, startled by her own intensity. “I’m… I’m so sorry.”
“Me too,” Luna nodded. “But please, do you owe him anything? Did you give him any promise, make any bargain…?”
But Sunset laughed.
“What, are you kidding? That guy? Oh, hell no!” She shook her head, still laughing. “You think I’m getting in deep with some creepy magic guy in a curse shop? I was born at night, not last night! I paid him up front, in bits.”
Celestia frowned in puzzlement. “Bits?”
“Uh-huh,” Sunset grinned. “Equestrian currency.”
Both sisters made a gesture as though to say, And…?
“Coins,” Sunset elaborated. “Made of gold. About ten to the pound.”
There was a moment of silence as the two of them stared at her.
“Gold,” Luna echoed. “Pounds. Of gold.”
“Yep,” Sunset affirmed, still grinning. “I had a bag of holding full when I left Equus. Plus a few books and some other stuff. I've still got a few bits in case of emergency, but I converted most of it to local currency.”
“That… explains a lot,” Celestia said slowly.
“It probably does,” Sunset nodded. “Of course, I didn’t know how much gold was worth on this side at first. So, once I found out how important paperwork was around here I offered Dissonance a thousand bits for the best background check he could muster.”
She chuckled, adding, “He acted pretty disappointed, but I think he still came out ahead on that one.”
Then, her smile faded. Crossing her arms, Sunset looked out across the courtroom, where young Aurora was standing, speaking to the female guard beside her.
“Looks like he can still deliver, too,” she said. “Hell, if I'd known he was a lawyer, I'd have suggested him myself.”
Then, turning back to the sisters, she asked, “What about you? Are you guys okay?”
Both nodded.
“We cashed in an old debt, from back when we were still students,” Celestia said.
“And if he can keep both Aurora and Sunrise free,” Luna added, “then this time we came out ahead.”
“Mom?”
She’d had to ask permission from the guard to leave her seat. And then again, to go to her mother. Fortunately, while the cops had sucked from the moment of her arrest (ACAB, she thought for the thousandth time), and the jail guards had been hostile at best, this one had seemed basically okay. For a screw, anyway.
Now, still in cuffs and still with an armed and uniformed woman by her side, Aurora looked at her mother, growing more concerned by the second.
Aurora hadn’t been watching her mother throughout the proceedings, of course. After all, her mom was in the audience, and that would have meant craning her neck like an owl the whole time.
But so far as she could tell, starting from when the lawyers had started presenting evidence, her mother had spent the entire time, the entire time, just staring at Sunrise and Sunset. Mouth covered with both hands, eyes filled with horror and something else Aurora couldn’t read.
“Mom, what’s wrong?”
Suddenly, her mother snapped out of it, and she gathered Aurora in her arms and hugged her fiercely.
“Oh, baby,” she whispered, “I’m just so glad that it’s over.”
Aurora sighed. “Mom…”
“Miss Dawn,” the guard said reluctantly, “I’m sorry, but right now your daughter still stands accused of a violent crime. She’s supposed to be kept at a distance from everyone else, for security reasons. I’m sorry, but I need you to release her and stand back.”
Sniffing, Helia Dawn nodded, and let her daughter go again.
“It’ll be okay, Mom,” Aurora told her. “One way or another, we’ll get through this. I promise.”
Smiling through her tears, Helia cupped her daughter’s cheek.
“Oh, honey,” she said. “You always say that. You were always the brave one, even when you were little. But just this once, you let your mother worry, okay?”
Reluctantly, Aurora returned her smile. “Yeah, okay.”
A few minutes later, she and the armed guard were in a private room.
“Another search?” she sighed.
“Yep,” the other woman nodded.
While the guard was patting her down, Aurora said, “By the way, thanks for letting me see her.”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” the guard huffed as she worked down Aurora’s legs. “And even if I did, my having a little girl of my own wouldn’t have mattered.”
“Yeah, well. Thanks anyway.”
The jail guard paused, and then reluctantly nodded.
“You’re welcome,” she said.