As Rainbow stepped out of the Weather Center, she was met by two suited pegasi.
“Rainbow Dash, your presence as the representative of the Pegasus Race is required for a special court case in Canterlot. You are expected to arrive before the defendant. Don't disappoint,” one of the pegasi said before they flew off.
“Well then,” Rainbow huffed, “I guess I'm not spending the night at Rarity's tonight.”
She quickly extended her wings and took off, headed towards Canterlot at a speed just under causing a Sonic Rainboom. While being late may be frowned upon, Rainbow knew it was better to be a few seconds late than to cause untold amounts of property damage.
Meanwhile, Rarity's reunion with her family was interrupted by a knock on her door. She opened the door to find two pegasi in matching suits.
“Are you miss Rarity Belle?”
“Yes. I was wondering when you'd get here.”
“So you know why we're here?”
Rarity nodded.
“Then would you please come with us?”
“Of course. Lead the way, please.”
The two pegasi lead Rarity to an extremely fancy chariot, harnessed to two royal guards.
'Oh my,' she thought to herself, 'Look at the exquisite workponyship. The gold filigree is perfectly woven into the silver plating to give the chariot an overall more regal appearance than it's simple shape would provide. And to think, underneath all of that, it's all hollow steel bars to give it strength.”
Rarity was snapped out of her thoughts by one of the suited pegasi clearing his throat, indicating the door to the chariot with a wave of his hoof.
“Of course,” Rarity said, stepping up into the chariot, “My apologies. Can't be late, now can we?”
The pegasi ignored her, instead barking an order to the royal guards pulling the chariot, before sitting across from her.
“Come now, if you remain silent the entire flight, this will be a very boring fifteen minutes indeed.”
Still, the two pegasi maintained their silence. Rarity sighed and began closely examining the inside of the chariot, marveling at the craftsponyship of whoever had built it.
Rainbow arrived at Canterlot with a frustrated look on her face as she tucked a stopwatch back into her saddlebags.
“10.01 seconds. Unacceptable,” she muttered to herself, “I should have been able to do that flight in ten seconds flat. Obviously, I need to train more.”
Her self-admonishment was interrupted by the appearance of the Princesses, the older of which was in an obviously bad mood.
“Princesses,” Rainbow said, falling into a bow.
“Rise, Rainbow Dash, Bearer of the Element of Loyalty and Representative of the Pegasus Race,” Luna said, “Now is not the time for formalities. We have before us a very important case, the likes of which haven't been seen in over a thousand years, if what Celestia has told me is true.”
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Rainbow snickered when Luna said there was no time for formalities. This earned her a glare from Celestia, who was in no mode to joke around.
“We are needed in the Circle Hall. Representative Dash, please report to your seat. The other Representatives are waiting, and the accused is almost here,” Celestia said, using her magic to open the door behind her.
“Yes, Princess,” Rainbow said as she walked through the door.
The Circle Hall always left her stunned, even after all these years. The fifty hoof ceiling was held up by intricately carved pillars made of solid magic. If one were to look close enough, they could see a rune as wide as the pillar underneath it. Enchantments were layered in the mortar of the walls to make it appear that there weren't any walls, just an infinite void. And certainly not least among the many things about the room was the inscribed Royal Crest that covered the entire center of the floor, the Crescent Moon cradling the east side of the Sun, with the four stars at the four Cardinal Points surrounding it.
Looking away, Dash started walking towards her seat again.
“Starswirl,” she said, nodding her head towards the Immortal Conjurer.
“Ms. Dash,” he responded, tilting his hat in her direction.
“Is that you, Braeburn?”
“Yes, Ma'am. I sure am honored to be here. It's been a few centuries, hasn't it?”
“Not now, Braeburn. The Hearing is about to begin,” Starswirl silenced them both, noticing Celestia and Luna taking their seats above them on the Royal Dias.
“BRING IN THE ACCUSED,” Luna's Royal Canterlot Voice filled the chamber, echoing off of the walls.
A cloaked figure entered the room, a Unicorn, by the horn sticking out of the hood. The figure walked forward until they stood in the middle of the Royal Crest, stopping, but not removing it's hood.
“Remove your hood,” Celestia's voice, while nowhere near as loud as Luna's, carried just as easily through the room.
A white hoof drew back the hood, revealing a purple mane framing the beautiful face of one Rarity Belle. A loud gasp was heard in the room, but nopony could identify it's source.
Ignoring it, Celestia continued, “Do you know why you are here?”
Rarity cleared her throat, “I am here because I cast the Class 4 Forbidden Spell, Vampirus, upon an unwilling citizen of the Equestrian Republic.”
“You do not try to deny this act, knowing the consequences?” Luna asked, incredulous.
“Why should I? I did not use the spell for selfish gain, but rather, to help another.”
Celestia cleared her throat, “I am fully aware of the circumstances of your use of the Vampirus Spell, and wish for you to know that that is the only reason you weren't executed on sight. Now please, let us continue with this hearing. In your own words, please describe to us why you used a high level Forbidden Spell, and what made you think it was acceptable.”
Rarity took a deep breath, before beginning, “It wasn't that much different than any other day. I had been out watching the Weather Team clear the morning clouds, like I always do. One particular pegasus held my attention, as usual, but she seemed to be having an off day, as her turns were more rounded, as compared to her usual sharp angles. I had been talking with Opalescence, my cat, when I heard a loud boom. Looking up, I saw a large rainbow ring, with a regular rainbow headed straight into the ground.”
She paused, taking another breath, “Before I even knew what I was doing, I was running towards where the rainbow met the ground. When I got there, the sight I saw almost made me pass out, but I knew that if I didn't do something, she was going to die before help could get there. So I started casting the first spell I thought of that would allow them to survive until help arrived.”
“Is she telling the truth, sister?” Celestia asked, looking towards Luna.
Luna's horn stopped glowing, “She is. It would seem that this pegasus owes a life debt.”
“Indeed. However, we cannot simply overlook the fact that she used a Forbidden Spell, no matter how benevolent it's intentions. A punishment must be carried out. What say the Council of Three?”
A light illuminated Starswirl as he spoke, “When I created the Vampirus spell, this was exactly the purpose I created it for. It was corrupted by years of selfish ponies using it to heal themselves by moving their injuries to an unharmed innocent bystander. But, a law is a law. Despite what I may wish, she must be punished. How, I leave up to you, dear Sisters.”
The light illuminating him disappeared, to be replaced by one illuminating Braeburn, “I have to agree with Starswirl. Ms. Belle has broken a very important law, and, no matter how well intentioned she was, she must be punished, and, like Starswirl, I leave that decision up to you.”
The final light came on, illuminating the final Representative, “My apologies, Princess, but I must withhold my opinion, as I was the pegasus she used the spell on, and I believe it would bias my opinion.”
The light went out, leaving only the Princesses and Rarity illuminated.
“It would seem that the vote is unanimous then, since the Pegasus Representative is unable to input her opinion,” Celestia said, “Since banishment is no longer allowed, and the benevolent use of the spell negates the need for an execution, I propose that We strip Ms. Belle of her Magic License and status as a unicorn. How Speaks the Council?”
“Aye.”
“Aye.”
A pause.
“Aye.”
Celestia sounded sad when she spoke again, “Very well. Ms. Rarity Belle, as punishment for casting a Forbidden Spell, you are stripped of your Race, until such time as We decide that you have been sufficiently punished. However, since you used the spell for good, I will allow you an unprecedented choice: Would you rather be an Earth pony or a Pegasus?”
Rarity thought about it for a minute before deciding, “Pegasus, if it please you, my lady.”
“So it shall be. From this moment on, you shall be a Pegasus, under the supervision of the Pegasus Representative, until your sentence is served, if it is ever served. Sister, if I could have your help.”
The two princesses' horns began to glow, the conflicting colors mixing together and engulfing Rarity in a bright light, obscuring her from everypony's vision. When the light faded, and the stars disappeared from everypony's eyes, they saw that Rarity now had a pair of pure white wings on her back, which she flapped experimentally. The resulting bang as she hit the ceiling caused everypony to wince. She crumbled to the ground, quickly flanked by Celestia on one side, and Rainbow on the other.
“She is ok,” Celestia said as she magically scanned Rarity, “There is a chariot waiting outside that will take the two of you home. You'll probably need the time to explain everything to her when she wakes up. I expect she'll have a hard time accepting everything that's happened.”
“Of course, Princess,” Rainbow said, bowing, before picking Rarity up and placing her on her back, before walking out to the waiting chariot.