Tuesday morning Sun arrived at the station. She'd be tired from lack of sleep if the stress wasn't still clinging to the back of her brain. “10 bits please.” noted the service attendant in the monotone voice of a pony who's well jaded with the nine-to-five. Sun paid up, but displayed a mild surprise. “Something wrong miss?”
“No, somethin' else on my mind is all.” Sun replied, though it was about the ticket. When a pony was called to Canterlot, even as a potential criminal, a ticket was generally given with the notice, from what she'd heard. Maybe I'm in more trouble than I thought, and that's a hay of a lot.
The methodical sounds of the beast as it traveled down it's rails towards the mountain where Canterlot resided was uneventful physically, but absolutely wracking mentally. What's gonna happen to me over this? If this isn't cleared up, I'll be jailed. Or exiled. Or exiled and jailed where I... Get it together Sun! That's like saying Pinkie Pie's making cupcakes out of ponies - it's just crazy. I'm sure once this hits the courts it'll be sorted out fast. Gotta calm down. The calming effect of the internal talking-down lasted until the stop at the station.
There was a royal guard at the station, waiting, golden plate gleaming in the late morning sun. Of course they won't just let me walk up there. Sun resigned herself with a small snort at the indignity as she approached the large unicorn. “Sun Showers?” She could tell the barely restrained hostility behind the professional veneer. He knew the details. “Yeah.”
“Follow me.”
The guard had a chariot waiting. It seems that serious cases were just known enough in Canterlot that everypony knew the signs. For the short distance to it parents pulled their foals back from the pair, and someponies shot venomous glances at her before returning to business. Sun returned the favor to the overstuffed and likely overpaid city ponies. Staring down the strangers in defiance couldn't have looked good, but Sun was a pony of action. As soon as she had mounted the chariot's carriage with the guard the action of jamming a hoof upwards into the air in front of her muzzle and making a twisting motion was made. However, it was in turn met with said hoof being slammed to the chariot's floorboards with a resounding thud by the guard. “There's foals out there punk.” he stated, horn's glow dimming. The guard had a near-imperceptible tick of the eye after saying that; the stress was getting to him too. “And I thought my job sucked at times.” After that the guard and Sun kept silent, reaching an understanding on at least one thing. The rest of the trip was spent trying to overhear the pair of pegasi driving.
“...Should have two or three guards. Especially...big one like her.”
“Something about Ponyville...takes care of itself usually.”
“How...small town...”
“Element bearers.”
“Ohh...'s the place.”
“Right.”
The rest was incoherent over the beat of wings, and the whole was not much she didn't already know from having a subscription to the Equestria Daily. Enough time was passed doing this to bring them to a halt relatively close to the castle itself.
Canterlot castle is imposing to anypony to behold it. This was enough to bring the nervousness back as Sun and the guard departed and walked the polished cobblestone way to the entrance. The princesses will see this as a mistake, just have to tell the truth. It'll be fine... Snapping back to reality revealed that her escort had stopped, and they were now in a waiting room. A hoofful of ponies were there as well, in varying states of worry as guards posted at the entrance and a set of even greater doors at the opposite end stood emotionless and still. A colt near the corner was visibly shaking, only to virtually shout “I-I can't take this anymore! I'm innocent!” and bolting for the door. He was taken down before getting halfway across the room. “So am I, but I'm not runnin' like a foal.” she blithely remarked at the pony as he started to cry.
“Next!” called out an officer from behind a desk near the second set of doors. The colt was next, and started looking around frantically as he followed a guard. The tremendous doors shut, making considerable noise even when not slammed, if it were possible for any pony other than Celestia herself to slam doors of that size. Two hours ticked by excruciatingly slowly as Sun watched ponies one-by-one enter and leave the room to face and return from trial. Most of them were for minor offenses, and returned with orders for community service or fines, including the unfortunate colt. The tick of a large wall-mounted clock and a periodic “Next!” was the only respite from the deafening silence that pervaded the room.
“Next!” This one was directed at Sun. She followed the guard to the doors. “Hold it.” he said, and grabbed the papers she got in the mail yesterday from between the feathers of her wings. Shuffling was heard, and the letters were put back, with more of a jab than a placement. Sun sneered but remained looking forward at the wooden gates to ponies' fates. The doors creaked open and they stepped inside, to have them shut behind, locked out from the world. A trio of elderly ponies placed behind podiums stared out at the world currently occupied by the two. One looked over a series of paperwork and her eyes widened. “This is the one. Call in her royal majesties.” In unison all three got up from their haunches and calmly placed themselves in a line to the left of a smaller door in the back. The youngest (Though not by much) gave three sharp raps with his hoof and returned to the line. They called out “Her royal majesties, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.” and bowed. With that, the princesses entered side-by-side. Sun felt a tug on her back legs and grimaced a bit, but overpowered the feeling and knelt. That damned pony just tried to make me insult them! I see where this is going.
The royalty took places behind two podiums, with the regular judges seated behind them, listening intently to what will transpire. “You may rise.” Celestia stated, her voice regal as her station. Luna looked on with disinterest, likely there to catch up on modern Equestrian law. “As per regulation and standing tradition of the court, you are to answer with all honesty in all matters. For the duration of this trial we are to be answered via our stations, also as per tradition. Is that understood?” Celestia's turn to show a degree of apathy arrived with that proclamation - She didn't like having to play the part of the terrible authority.
“Yes, your highness.” Sun responded with a deep nod.
“Your name?”
“Sun Showers, your highness.” At that Luna visibly rolled her eyes. She must be sick of hearing ponies with her sister's kind of names. Not good for me.
“And you understand why you are brought before the court today?”
“Yes, your highness.”
“And that is?”
“I stand falsely accused of murder.”
“That will be for us to decide.” Luna's royal Canterlot voice rang out.
“You were scheduled to be here two hours ago. What had happened?”
“The first train was full, your highness. I had to wait for the next one.”
“A ticket for that first train was supplied with the summons, was it not?” Celestia raised a brow ever so slightly.
“No, your highness. There wasn't any ticket in the letter.”
The guard stepped forward. “This pony lies, your majesty.”
“What!? I have the -”
“You are not to speak until spoken to!” he snapped back.
“Silence, both of you. Bring forth this proof of either claim immediately.” Luna declared.
Sun gave a single step forward and stretched out a wing. She pulled the letter out to give to the princesses. A ticket fell out of the papers onto the floor. “The hay?” “Guard Stone Hill, retrieve the papers for the court.” Celestia stated. Stone took the letter from Sun forcefully and walked it up, sliding a hoof along the edge of the folded papers. Sun stared at the ticket, dumbfounded by the turn of events for a moment before looking at the papers making their way to the princesses. Then she noticed the guard's running his hoof over a side of the folded letters. Those were folded right after I read - oh, hay no! “Quit tampering with the evidence!” she shouted. Stone froze in his tracks and turned to give a dirty look. “How many times do you have to be told the rules? I am merely delivering as per the orders of -”
“Griffinshit! You're -”
“That is quite enough.” Celestia's use of the royal voice came as a surprise to all involved. Luna perked an ear at this, knowing that something interesting was about to happen. Meanwhile, Sun froze up, realizing that she just cussed out a royal guard in front of the rulers of the known world while on trial. I am so screwed right now... “Deliver the letter here at once.” sang through the halls, no doubt causing consternation in the waiting room adjacent to them, as Stone meekly placed the letter to the podium.
Celestia's horn glowed as the papers separated and Luna looked on with renewed interest. The papers unfolded into three distinct partitions from the folds. Except one, which the top portion lacked. It was also missing a small tea stain in the corner that had soaked through the other two pages. This page was a scheduling sheet, one that would have contained the ticket. Celestia noticed this at once, and stared down at both of them. “Guard Stone Hill, you are hereby suspended from active duty, pending an investigation of this matter. You are dismissed.” The look of fear in Stone's eyes were palpable as he gave a bow and retreated out the doors of the waiting room. Anypony who was in a position to was trying to look into the proceedings during the short time the door was open. Eyes widened even among the guards as they saw the princesses seated in place of the usual judges. Sun narrowed her eyes at him and smiled as he left.
“This is highly unusual, but do not presume yourself free yet.” Celestia warned, as the smile faded. “I would have expected you to inquire about the missing page, as you had one week to reply.”
“Your highness, the letter arrived only yesterday. Not enough time to send a letter back about it.”
“This is troubling. These proceedings were instigated with the idea that the accused had time to prepare. Therefore, you are to return and gather evidence as possible and return. However, due to the extenuating circumstances this case currently involves, a guard will accompany you during this week. In addition, I will personally see to it that the notice with the next travel arrangements will arrive complete and untampered. As it is, this case is now on an extended recess. The guard will arrive shortly.” With that, Celestia and Luna rose and excused themselves, the three judges and Sun bowing again until the door closed behind them. Taking their usual places, the elderly ponies dismissed Sun.