The sun rose diligently over Ponyville as Sun and Blaze mused the last few days over the increasingly cheaper breakfast.
"Think we got everything we need to prove this?" Sun asked.
"Yes. The reports from the fire department, previous history, and the zebra all point to the same conclusion."
"That Java was more messed up than a fruit bat in a salt mine?"
"In as many words, I suppose."
Blaze went over notes and transcriptions of the interviews of the past few days, including copies of fire reports and city hall's effects before the final accident. "It seems obvious to me at any rate."
"Right. Now we can relax a bit and really get things done."
"What do you mean?"
"You think the piddly little morning workouts were what I do? Heh, that's nothing. On a good day I could tire out the royal guard!"
"With all due respect, I doubt that Sun."
"Wanna make a bet on it?"
"I'm forbidden from gambling on royal duty."
"Whatever. Then a challenge. Keep up with me?"
"I'll take that challenge."
"Heh, let's rock!"
Sun grabbed a set of weights, and tossed one to Blaze. He caught it with minor difficulty, not expecting a heavy weight to be practically thrown at him. "You know what to do." She put a record on and started pumping the iron to the tune.
We the ponies of the country of Equrestria, in order to form a perfect friendship
Stop pretendin' that you've never been bad, you're never wrong an' you've never been dirty
Like Celestia, that ain't the way we see you
Ahh, you wanna rule us with an iron hoof, change the lyrics become alicorns
Like Stallionrad, you ain't my dad or mother (They never knew anyway!)
'Cause I never trot away from what I know is right, but I'm gonna face my flank to you
Freedom! We're gonna ring the bell, freedom to rock, freedom to talk
Freedom! Raise your hoof and yell, freedom to rock, freedom to talk
Freedom, ring!
Ahh, acting Celestial in your ancient tower
Back off preachy, don't care if it's festival
I ain't no angel, but I never felt better
The song continued as Sun got back into her vibe. Blaze kept up well, but started flagging a bit towards the very end. A few more songs in they were both sweating like tartarus.
"Not bad. Not many keep up with me, stallion or not, heh."
"I must admit, you're accomplished at this."
"Comes with the job, my little pony." She bragged with a smirk.
Truth be told, Blaze was just barely behind Sun. After their turns in the shower they both settled down to rest a bit. Then, a knock came at the door. Sun opened up without fanfare to find about the only pony that required it.
Celestia stood at the threshold, a pair of guards in golden armor at her sides. Sun turned her muzzle towards Blaze. "Hey Blaze. Uh, you're gonna wanna get over here for this..." Blaze looked up from the pile of reports and scribed interviews to see the solar diarch. Rainbow Dash couldn't have gotten to the door faster. He quickly bowed and regained his professionalism. "Welcome, your majesty. What would you require of us this day?"
Celestia gave a smirk imperceptible to all but the royal guards at her flanks. She levitated a scroll from the saddlebag of the one to her right and placed it in front of Blaze. "As promised, the arrangements for travel tomorrow."
"Yes. Thank you, Princess."
"Oh yeah, almost forgot about that part. Thanks your highness." she said with a slight bow.
The serene goddess took a step back from the door. "And with that, even royalty are forbidden from all but the most necessary interventions during such situations. I must return to Canterlot."
"Can I ask a question first Princess?" Sun asked as Celestia had half-turned towards the street.
"Provided it has nothing to do with the trial itself, you may." as she looked back, and her guards (Even if only there for show) exchanged looks of annoyance at the situation.
"What happened to that pony at... Well hay, guess the question does have the trial in it."
"Watch your muzzle around royalty" The guard to her left admonished.
Celestia nodded. "It does have to do with the trial, so there will be no direct answer for that. Suffice to say it's been taken care of, so do not worry about it upon your return to Canterlot." With that she resumed facing the royal flank to the building and spread her wings.
"Fare you well, Princess." Blaze said as a downward gust gave notice of royalty's departure.
That mare reminds me of a filly I've met before. Wonder if they've met. Celestia thought to herself as the three flew back to Canterlot.
Sun unrolled the scroll and looked over it alongside Blaze. As expected, a virtual copy of the one from last time, save the changes in dates and a pair of tickets for the new trial. "How's the other stuff lookin'?"
"Completed. It seems we have all we need to proceed with the trial tomorrow. Looks like the only thing that's left is to return the law books to Ms. Sparkle's library."
"Better get that done then so we can relax a bit."
The pair trotted towards the immense tree-house at a leisurely pace they haven't been able to take in the past week. The interior was spotless as always, with the small purple dragonling and the Princess' prodigy going over lists. It was a checklist far too long for any sane pony.
"Trip to Sofas and Quills to restock...check!" as the clawed appendage scratched a mark on the list.
"'Scuse me."
"Oh! Pardon me, a little lost in the list. What can I help with?"
"Here to return some books." as Sun unloaded a half dozen law books onto a nearby table, the audible *thunk* of the heavy tomes resonating for a second.
"Thank you. Oh yes, there's another pony who was waiting for these. Law isn't the most studied subject in Ponyville, so we don't have many copies. Spike, could you please go tell him that the books are here? He was in a real hurry to get them."
"Wonder why anypony else'd need law books so fast 'round here?" Sun asked, turning to Blaze.
"Something about slander and family. Oh, sorry! I probably shouldn't have mentioned anything. Oh, is this list ever going to get done?..." Twilight absentmindedly replied while going over the checklist again.
Sun and Blaze stood there for a moment, somewhat mystified by the lavender unicorn. The door swung open again and Spike walked in, another pony trotting right behind him. He wore the scowl that designated either a bad attitude or a bad hangover. He looked at the stack of books and immediately began to slide one off the other until he found a pair on modern Equestrian law.
Seems familiar.
The pony looked up at the pair and bluntly asked "What're you two looking at?" His gaze settled on Sun, and it clicked for both of them. Buck, it's that drunk from last time. "Oh, nothin'." Sun replied, doing a bad job of hiding the smirk.
"Yeah, yeah." He picked up the books and walked towards the door. On the way he bumped into Sun and dropped to a knee. "Ow! You assaulted me!"
Twilight and Spike looked up from the list with surprise and stared at the scene.
"You all saw it! I'm getting a lawyer."
Blaze gave a steely gaze at the colt. "She did no such thing."
"Prove it!"
"I am Blaze Fire, royal guard dispatched from Canterlot to witness events regarding Miss Sun Shower, and I saw what you were attempting to do." The colt shut his muzzle with a snap. He slunk out of the library, muttering under his breath "All her fault, filly-foolin' diamond dog..."
"Who was that Sun?" he asked.
"Some drunk that tried to rut me back last time I was at the bar. Slapped my flank a couple times an' I stopped it fast."
Twilight would have a visible blush if her fur was only a shade lighter. "Woulda liked to just knock the stupid outta him, but I'm not tryin' to get into any more trouble."
"Yes. Unfortunately there is no recourse for this that I see. The old laws regarding duels must have been repealed by now." Blaze said somewhat apologetically.
"Duels? Ponies used to be able to do that?"
"Used to, yes. The institution fell out of practice a couple hundred years ago."
"Guess that's why the laws were taken out. Too bad. Some ponies have it comin'."
"Think they were repealed..." Blaze pondered.
"Think?"
"Yes, well... Nopony has invoked them since well before our generation."
"Huh. Hey Twilight. You know what old laws are still around?"
Twilight racked her brain over it. "The Dry Equestria act was repealed with the return of Princess Luna.."
"Wow, only that long ago?" Sun interrupted. She would have to deliver a personal thanks to Luna for that tomorrow.
"...Yes. And the Equestrian tax code was modified eight years ago with the last census and again a few months ago with the revival of the Crystal Kingdom. But.... The laws of duels haven't been touched. Just ignored since nopony uses them. Very few laws are actively removed due to disuse."
Midway through the last sentence Sun had opened the book on ancient Equestrian law and was hoofing through the table to contents.
"With all due respect Miss Sparkle, how did you know this?" Blaze asked.
"Oh, when Luna returned we - well, after the reunion with Celestia - were teaching her about modern Equestria. It seems that Celestia actively avoided changing many laws during the thousand years. So the ancient laws are still in effect, they're just not enforced."
"Awesome!" Sun exclaimed with entirely too much enthusiasm for the subject matter at hoof. "Think we'll be taking these books out again."
Twilight placed the record of the book out with a rare hesitation when dealing with knowledge. As soon as it was signed and stamped Sun and Blazed made their goodbyes and exited.
Sun spent most of dinner and the night going over the section of the book.
"Sun, we had better get some sleep. The trial is tomorrow."
"Oh yeah. Well, I got enough of it. Gotta clear my name first anyway."