//------------------------------// // Chapter 10: Turnabout Darkness - The Prosecution // Story: My Little Pony: Clash of Dragons // by RobtheMorpherPony //------------------------------// It was only an hour later when the proper trial was ready to begin. "Court is in session for the case of the Dragon Lands VS. Cynder." Celestia said. Normally during court, she wouldn't bother with testimonies and jump right into the charges before sentencing whoever the defendant was. But for this case, the sun princess was forced to actually have a proper trail in her courtroom. "The defense is ready your majesty." Blackout noted. "The prosecution is ready. And they advise that the defense throw in the towel now while they still have the chance before every pony not part of the Society turns against the defendant." Kraken said. "Even if they were to do so, that tone would shift once the defendant is allowed to testify." Blackout said. "If they even want to do so that is." Kraken said. "Of course, I'm going to testify. And once I do, you'll realize how much of a folly this is." Cynder said. "Very well, we'll see how long you hold that up." Kraken said. "The defendant's charges are as follows: Kidnapping, Treason against dragon kind of the highest degree, and having a hand in events that almost lead to the destruction of our very world." He said. "What does your defense laywer say to those charges, hmm?" Fire Kraken grinned. He was sure Blackout would bow out from those charges. "What I say to those charges is that it's based on only one side of the story: The side of the story of dragons that were hurt by actions of Malafor, the dragon often referred to as The Dark Master." Blackout said with as straight of a face as possible. Suddenly the entire crowd gasped. "Malafor?" One Pony asked. "But I thought he was dead!" Another pony exclaimed. "While it's true that Malafor has been killed successfully by Spyro, it is no secret that Cynder helped a great deal in making sure the current Alpha of The Society was successful. And yet, the clan of dragons you represent Kraken have been so scared by the actions caused by the Dark Master's right-hand ape who was known as Gaul who was operating on orders from Malafor himself, that they can't see that they are trying to punish someone who was just as much of a victim as they were." Blackout said. Kraken was admittedly shocked initially. "Really? You say the defendant is just as much of a 'victim' as the dragons that chose to follow Torch; the current dragon lord's father?" Kraken asked. "Yes, that is very much fact." Blackout said. Kraken began to get heated. "...The prosecution herby calls to the stand Torch, the former dragon lord and father of Dragon Lord Ember." Kraken said. Torch soon took the stand. "Mister Torch, you were actually one of the very few remaining dragons who were alive during the time period when Cynder had done her vicious campaign." Kraken said. "That is correct." Torch said. "And can you describe what happened while she was effectively the one in charge of things?" Kraken asked. "Oh, it was just terrible. Because of what the defendant had done to our lands, we couldn't grow any food. And as a child dragon of that time, I wasn't even allowed to go outside because my parents feared that if I was spotted, I'd be tortured endlessly, a fate worse than death. As any dragon kids who had been spotted by Cynder and kidnapped had never been seen again." Torch said. A few murmurs happened in the gallery. "Got any answers to that defense?" Fire Kraken asked. "Here's a question: Has it ever been confirmed where the dragon kids had gone? Did anyone ever bother checking?" Blackout asked. "Well...no. We all assumed they died shortly after Spyro managed to stop Cynder." Torch asked. "And as they say, assuming makes an ass out of you and me. Or in this case just you." Blackout said. "I reveal this..." He said before taking out a suitcase that showed pictures of the guardians with several dragon kids. "After her defeat and return to normal, Cynder was able to help the Guardians find the missing kids. And each one went on to have families of their own. The children of which, are actually part of the Society." Blackout revealed. "The locations of these families were kept secret from your clan, because the Guardians fear that you'll try and convince them to turn against Cynder. However, as you can tell, their children wouldn't even EXIST without Cynder essentially rescuing them before any of them could be turned into more servants for Malafor." Blackout said. The gallery murmured again. "You act as if that makes up for everything Cynder did. She also kidnapped and drained the guardians of their power. What sort of argument do you have prepared for that?" Fire Kraken asked. "It's not me who will answer that question. But rather the defendant herself." Blackout said. "With the court's permission, I would like to call Cynder herself to the stand to testify to her side of this tragic tale." He added. "OBJECTION! You can't just call the stand just like that." Kraken said. "OBJECTION! I have the right to call forth witnesses same as you do, and I call my own defendant to the stand." Blackout said. "OBJECTION! Your honor, the defense is grasping at straws. I propose we move to call forth a different witness instead of the defendant." Kraken said. "Now who's grasping at straws? Princess Celestia, I believe the prosecution doesn't HAVE a second witness." Blackout said. Kraken gulped. "...It seems you were bluffing then, prosecution. Your objection is overruled. The defendant will take the stand and testify on her side of this story in ten minutes." Celestia said. Kraken sweat dropped. Never before has someone managed to call his bluffs. The famous Fire Kraken had to admit one thing: Blackout was good. REAL good. Dang, I'll have to thank Smolder when I see her next. This Blackout guy is good. Spike thought to himself.