Scootaloo and Misty Midnight were escorted by four royal guards out of their cells and into the courtyard of the castle.
Princess Celestia stood in judgement on a field version of her throne near the center. Numerous pegasi including Rainbow Dash, still in their regalia stood to the left, and over a hundred earth ponies stood to the right. Several unicorn nobles, who had a more direct view in the center, cheered as the pair were escorted to a position several feet in front of Celestia and forced to kneel.
"It is the finding of this court that Misty Midnight and Scootaloo are guilty of willfully, intractably, and unrepentantly spreading disharmony in Equestria," started Celestia. "The penalty for this is banishment. Sentence to be carried out immediately by this court."
The pegasi and earth ponies groaned, looking mainly at the defendants. The sole exception was Rainbow Dash who angrily glared at the princess.
"Do you have anything to say before sentence is carried out?" asked Celestia.
In response both ponies called upon their magic, ghostly horns forming on their heads, but they said nothing.
"So be it," replied Celestia as she charged up her own magic.
One short blast of white energy later, and the two were gone, a small singed area on the field being the only evidence that they were ever there. Celestia bowed her head, while the onlookers gasped.
---
Misty Midnight watched in horror as Celestia passed judgement. She had always feared it could come to this, all the way back to her first meetings with Celestia so many years ago. Possibly defending against it was the main reason she had learned teleportation in the first place. She only hoped that Scootaloo had taken her lessons from Twilight seriously.
Celestia asked if Misty had anything to say before banishment. She had plenty to say but the plan took precedence. She sent some of her magic to her forehead, the ghostly horn rapidly forming. She was pleased that Scootaloo had done the same. She concentrated on the area in front of her. Celestia's magic was far too powerful to counter, but she had learned in her many sparring sessions with Twilight that it could be diverted.
She concentrated on deflecting magic directed at her to either side. She could "see" that Scootaloo was doing the same. She also brought energy to the rest of her body in preparation for a teleport. This had to be timed perfectly or it would all be in vain.
Time seemingly slowed under the intense concentration. Princess Celestia charged her horn. Her whole body tingled as the massive surge of power broke harmlessly to both sides of her. She ignited her magic instigating the teleport.
She quietly and deliberately changed her facing. Celestia was moving forward towards the charred spot on the ground. As one, Misty and Scootaloo started to drain off Celestia's magic.
---
Celestia felt cold as the twin siphons hit her from behind. She angrily turned about to face the pair of traitorous ponies when two more pegasi started using Still Shadows against her.
She glanced over at the pegasi to see that one was Rainbow Dash and another a red pegasus she did not recognize. A shadow passed overhead as Luna came to a landing near Celestia.
Celestia's features eased as she turned back towards the traitors. She fired a wide bolt of energy at Misty Midnight which harmlessly bounced off a formerly invisible midnight blue shield.
Celestia's look of relief drained from her face as she looked into the unyielding eyes of her younger sister. "Why?" she asked.
"What you were doing was wrong," answered Luna. "You can't force the ponies into a steady state forever. Change comes, sister. It is time for the ponies to grow up, and you would never allow that to happen."
Celestia's flowing mane shifted to a solid pink color. "I only wanted what was best for my little ponies."
Luna's eyes softened as she drew nearer to her sister. "I know. But it is their time now. Do you understand?"
Celestia nodded. She looked pleadingly at Misty Midnight and asked, "Can you forgive me?"
In a gesture of respect the four pegasi dropped their siphons.
"I formally step down as diarch of Equestria," said Celestia. "I wish you well in your future and if you have need of me, feel free to seek me out."
She started walking towards the exit and no pony stopped her.