What are they waiting for? How long are they going to keep me in here before I learn my fate? Looking at the grey walls surrounding me it has been two weeks since I’ve been locked up. Two weeks spent in solitary confinement with a magic inhibitor on my horn and two weeks since I’ve last spoken to any pony.
‘Aw, what’s wrong? You didn’t think they would do this if you turned yourself over? Your Mother, Aunt and friends are the reason you are in this hell hole now. You could have h---’
Shut up already, I’m tired of hearing you complain. If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t have to be here.
“Alright prisoner, the judges are ready for you now,” With a sigh the guard’s voice thankfully breaks not just the argument with the Remnant but the silence of this cell. “Go ahead and try something, Monster. I’ll gladly save the royal coffers some bits and kill you myself.”
“Enough, private. If you can’t act in a professional manner then you will be given extra duty for a year, understood!” Taking a glance at the private I notice he’s a unicorn with a brown coat and red mane, his magic surrounds the cuffs that are now attaching to my legs. The one seemingly in charge is also a unicorn, his coat is white and his mane is a trio of blue. As he looks at me I can feel the weight of authority he wields. Also his armor is purple instead of the usual gold. As he speaks to me his voice is hard. “I know all about what you’ve done, Moonshade, and who you are thanks to my sister. She seems to think you’ve changed, so either prove her and others right or suffer.”
“Thank you---”
“Shining Armor. Ex Captain of the Royal Guard and now Prince of the Crystal Empire. Platoon, form up!” As they form up, four unicorns stand smartly off to my left and right two in front of me and two behind. Above us four pegasi fly, keeping pace with the forced march in the same squared formation.
Silently I’m led through the castle until I find myself in a courtroom, the hallways have been surprisingly empty during my march.
The room is empty of ponies, along with the entire area around the entrance. The only exception are the three judges sitting on a raised dais behind a table. “Thank you Shining Armor, you may leave when you finish uncuffing the prisoner.” Looking around the room is a dark grey with rows upon rows of wooden benches behind a wooden partition.
“Yes your honors.” With a salute he uncuffs me and moves out of the room with military precision to join the other guards.
“Now, before we begin, Moonshade, you will notice that there is only just you and us, no lawyers and no bystanders due to your request. Because of your request only the princesses will be made aware of your sentencing, if there is one.” The middle judge, who is higher up than the other two states, his voice official and flat. His coat is a tanish color with a greying mane and muzzle. “If you would prefer, we can handle this with a jury of your peers, but you will have to say so now. Also, you are still afforded the protections and rights granted by Equestrian law, and since you have denied legal counsel you cannot proclaim a mistrial in the event of being found guilty. Do you understand?”
“Y- yes your honor, thank allowing me this type of trial.” The weight of the inhibitor cuff and my own thoughts cause my head to lower till it is dropping near my elbows.
“Very well. Moonshade, you are charged with murder, kidnapping and sedition. How do you plead?” The judge on the right reads off the charges I am facing. She is light blue with greying aquamarine hair.
“Guilty, I plead guilty to all charges and I’ll accept whatever punishment you feel is adequate, even if it means forfeiture of my life.” I must have shocked them with my response, but the only signs of it is their raised eyebrows.
'WHAT! YOU FOAL!’
“I see, no claiming you were seduced or brain washed? However, we would like to hear from you why you chose to carry out these acts.” The final judge, this one the youngest judging by his dulled mane of blue and orange coat, says, sounding slightly annoyed.
“Yes, your honor. I will do my best as I do not fully remember certain events,” Taking a deep breath I finally look up at them, my tired gaze focused mostly on the middle judge. “I- I remember witnessing the beginning of the fight between Aunt Celestia and… Nightmare Moon. I was... scared and… and in my fear I got trapped, becoming encased in a ball of shadows that kept me alive.”
I debate for a few moments on if I should mention the brainwashing I suffered in my thousand years of imprisonment. “When I came to it was when Nightmare Moon returned and was subsequently beaten by Twilight and her friends. After… after a thousand years of being trapped in my mind I… I lost all memory of who I was. I didn’t know it at the time but I had a… connection with Nightmare Moon. A piece of her somehow came to... live inside me. All the time I spent in the cocoon she… she basically brainwashed me and I was unable to fight it.”
“So, you are saying you are guilty, but only because of this… remnant of Nightmare Moon? Is that how you are going to explain the deaths as well?” The younger judge asks, a bit skeptical so far of my answers.
“No your honor. I- I cannot explain why I did that, and I know that whatever happens, nothing can heal the pain of those I hurt nor bring back those I killed.”
“How was it you became able to break free of the Remnant’s influence?” The judge opposite him asks, her voice a little bit softer.
“It was all thanks to Discord and some zebra. There was a potion that helped me witness past events, revealing a lie I have been told over and over again for a thousand years. It was the realization that I was being manipulated to be a pawn while being promised the position of right hoof mare.”
‘YOU FOAL! THEY’LL KILL YOU! DON-’ I can feel the Remnant’s fear wash through me, causing me to smile as I close my eyes.
I know.
“What are you smiling about?” The youngest judge seems agitated when he notices my head is held high and the smile that forms on my muzzle.
“The fact that my last act in this life will be to thwart Nightmare Moon, again. And it can do nothing to stop it’s demise this time.” For the first time since I can remember I feel calm as all my senses sharpen till everything becomes crystal clear.
As the youngest judge grins the other two nod at each other before the primary judge speaks. “I think we have heard enough, we shall deliberate your punishment.” The trio get up and walk into the back room, the door locked as I sit there serenely.
Ignoring the shouts and screams of the Remnant I just sit there, patiently waiting to learn my future, reveling in the calmness the moment seems to have inspired.
I must have dozed off at some point but the sound of the door opening and the three judges taking their place again, confirms they have come to a conclusion. However what I find surprising is the fact that not only is Shining Armor present but also mom, Aunt Celestia, Twilight and the other Princess. All five have their faces contorted to expressionless features as I stand up before the judges.
“Moonshade, you have entered a plea of guilty for the charges of kidnapping, murder and sedition. Any one of those are capital class crimes, with murder and sedition being punishable by death. However it is the finding of this court that you have acted not of your own volition but have been bent to serve another’s will. Your punishment shall be thus. Until this court deems otherwise, you shall be placed under total house arrest. You shall not leave the castle unless authorized by this court and will be escorted at all times by either a princess or the royal guard. Any slip up, no matter how slight, will result in the fulfillment of your death sentence.” The senior judge’s voice echos through the room as he speaks, the judge on his left look s completely upset while the other judge looks content.