//------------------------------//
// Part 2 The Challenge 
// Story: The Measure of a Dragon 
// by Zephyr Spark 
//------------------------------//

	The next morning, Twilight sat on the couch in the foyer and told her parents for the fifth time how they banished Sombra and saved the Crystal Empire, with Spike chirping in to add relevant details, and then for the tenth time, how they defeated Tirek. 
“So let me get this straight,” Night Light asked disbelievingly, “after he betrayed you and helped Tirek, you forgave Discord?”
“Yes, dad,” Twilight exasperatedly responded. “I forgave Discord. Now can I continue the story?”
So she retold her visit to a strange town where she uncovered a unicorn named Starlight Glimmer stealing cutie marks, and how her friends dealt with said issue. All the while, her parents listened on, proud of their daughter’s impressive accomplishments.
Suddenly, Spike’s stomach felt queasy and he let out a belch of flames. A scroll dropped from his green flames onto the table. Only Celestia would communicate like this. Twilight was instantly concerned. Picking up the scroll, she examined the princess’ seal binding the scroll, and opened to read it. Spike did not like the frown he saw forming on her face, but patiently waited for her to finish.
“Mom, dad,” Twilight rose from the couch and beckoned Spike to follow, “Spike and I have been summoned to a council meeting.”
“What for?” Spike asked curiously as he walked to his mentor’s side. Twilight being summoned he could understand, but him? He was just a baby dragon. What could they possibly want him for?
“I’m not sure,” Twilight answered, “the letter just says Celestia’s royal council must speak with us about a certain issue. It doesn’t say what or why or how long.”
“Do you have to cut your visit short?” Twilight Velvet looked a bit sad.
Twilight gave a quick reassuring smile, “Don’t worry. I’m sure we can sort this out, and we’ll be back in no time.”
Together, Twilight and Spike walked out the door into the Canterlot streets. Making their way to the castle, the little drake looked up at his alicorn friend, wondering what was going through her mind. He quickly diverted his eyes back to the road as at long last the castle came into sight.
Two guards bowed at Twilight’s approach and feeling embarrassed, Twilight ducked her head and continued through the doors with Spike in tow. The little dragon noticed the guards slam the doors behind them and instinctively sensed something wrong. 
Two more guards approached and led the two to a windowless room, filled with older, more official ponies sitting at a large round table with Princess Celestia at the head. The princess nodded her greeting to Twilight and Spike, and motioned them to sit down before the ponies. Her actions seemed empty of her usual happiness at seeing her student, and Twilight was instantly worried she might be in trouble. At her left, Twilight noticed her sister in law Cadence sitting in a humble chair, appearing apprehensive. In any other circumstance, she would have jumped over and given Cadence their special greeting. 
As she moved to take a seat, she turned to the right and scowled to see Doctor Saffron staring impassively at her with her hooves pressed together in thought under her chin. When she noticed Spike sit beside Twilight, her eyes briefly glinted with emotion. What emotion, Spike could not tell. It looked like bitterness, sadness, satisfaction, and resolve all tied into one.
“Princess Celestia,” Twilight spoke at last to diffuse the tension, “why did you summon me?”
The princess regarded her with a wistful glance, and then sighed. “I had to summon you and Spike due to …” she bit her lip a moment, “certain concerns.”
Twilight frowned. Celestia looked very disappointed with herself, "I'm sorry. I tried to overrule them, but I was vetoed due to --."
A member of the council cleared his throat to grab her attention. Celestia lay back and motioned for the councilor to speak, taking no pleasure what so ever.
“Princess Twilight Sparkle,” the elderly stallion spoke with solemn authority, “Doctor Saffron informed us that you refused to let her to conduct research on your dragon.”
Twilight sighed. The doctor must have gone whining to the council when she couldn’t have her way. Well, she was still going to be disappointed.
“Yes, Spike said he didn’t want to go, and I am standing by his decision.”
The stallion frowned at Twilight’s response, but pressed on, “The doctor brought to our attention that no dragon has ever actually lived under Princess Celestia’s rule, and that Spike is not protected by her laws. I’m sorry to say this,” he really was somewhat sorry, “but she is correct. As a dragon, Spike is not technically protected by Equestrian law therefore he does not have the right to refuse Dr. Saffron’s request. He must submit to her will or leave to go be with other dragons.”
Spike’s heart filled with dread. He couldn’t be separated from Twilight, he couldn’t! Nothing scared him more. His eyes grew watery, until Twilight placed comforting hoof around his shoulder. He realized she was far from beaten, as she turned to face the council
“But Spike has lived with me for years,” Twilight protested, “Surely he’s entitled to some rights!”
An elderly mare on the council rose to speak, “The fact remains he is simply not a pony, donkey, griffon, or any such creature living under Equestrian law. Therefore, he does not have the same rights. And given the countless advantages we could gain by merely studying him, this is necessary.”
Twilight grew irritated but remained calm, realizing it would do her case no good if she became emotional. “He has friends and family who would miss him if he left,” Twilight explained, “and as a princess, I refuse to part with Spike, who Princess Celestia decreed I would keep when I hatched him as a filly.” She gave the council a defiant but restrained glare, “don’t tell me the council is going against Celestia’s laws?”
“Unfortunately,” Dr. Saffron spoke without moving from her place, “your dragon was never formally adopted as a family member, much less a pet. Princess Celestia never officially recognized ‘Spike’ as a member or property of your family in any sort of document or proclamation. So, you have no claim to him, princess or not. Don’t tell me you’re placing yourself above Celestia?”
Twilight gritted her teeth. This self-righteous unicorn was unbearably annoying as she was correct. Celestia had technically never released any sort of decree granting Spike protection under her laws; they had always just assumed Spike had such protection. Seeing her friend in distress, Cadence decided to interject.
“Excuse me,” she waved for the council’s attention, “isn’t there anyway we could prevent Dr. Saffron from taking Spike? There must be a reason you summoned me here too.”
The first speaker nodded at Cadence’s observation. “Initially, we were content to reside with Celestia's ruling, but another scientist brought forth evidence that compelled us to veto her actions. We are willing to hold a court trial tomorrow to determine how much the law applies to Spike and evaluate whether he indeed has the right to refuse.”
He turned to Twilight, “as his surrogate mother and the one who knows him best, we assumed you would take up responsibility of defense attorney.”
Twilight blinked in surprise. She had not expected they would offer an alicorn the chance to defend someone in court, much less appoint her of all ponies. Still, they were correct. Twilight knew Spike better than any other pony and was already familiar with pony court procedures, having studied nearly every field of academia. And honestly, no other lawyer, no matter how skilled, could represent Spike’s interests as she knew she could. She turned to Spike to ask his opinion but he instantly nodded with a beaming smile. He trusted her more than any other pony.
“Yes,” Twilight said, “I will accept this duty.”
The elder nodded and then turned to Cadence, “We must uphold equality in our justice system and prevent jury bias. If Princess Twilight will defend Spike, we must ensure that the jury will not merely rule in her favor due to her alicorn status. That’s where you come in, Princess Cadence.”
Cadence’s eyes widened as she realized what they were trying to tell her, “You want me to lead the prosecution.”
A hush fell over the room. Twilight and Spike looked at Cadence in shock, while Cadence stared into the eyes of each jury member. Finally, her gaze fell to Princess Celestia, who sadly met her incredulous gaze. They weren’t joking. They truly expected her to prosecute one of her friends, one of the most important friends in her life, to Twilight’s life. Angrily, Cadence scowled and placed both her hooves on the table. She stared at Dr. Saffron and the council intently.
“Forget it,” Cadence snarled, “I’d sooner die than prosecute my friend.”
The elderly stallion sighed and shook his head, marveling at the impulsiveness of youngsters. “If you refuse to testify against Spike, then we will simply not have a trial whatsoever and Dr. Saffron will take custody of Spike.”
Cadence fell back into her seat, shocked. She didn’t have a choice in the matter. If she said no, they would take Spike without a fight. If she said yes, she would be fighting for the side to take him away forever. She glanced at Twilight and Spike who stared at her with anticipation. She stared at the purple alicorn she used to play with, and the little dragon she knew Twilight adored. Twilight was the best possible pony to defend Spike, Cadence knew that. If Twilight’s role as the defense demanded Cadence to take the role of prosecution, she bitterly realized there was only one thing she could do.
“Fine,” she muttered at last, “I’ll do it.”
The elderly stallion once again addressed Cadence, “If we think for a second that you aren’t trying to win, we will have to suspend the trial then and there and transfer Spike to Dr. Saffron’s care. Do we make ourselves clear?”
Cadence nodded grimly. Twilight and Spike took a moment to admire their friend for taking on such an abominable task. Then the council called their attention once more.
“There are a few other conditions that we must enforce if Princess Twilight is adamant in playing the defense,” the elderly stallion’s voice made them nervous. “Firstly, Spike must be confined to house arrest within the castle until the trial commences.”
Twilight looked like she wanted to argue, but bit her tongue to listen. Being placed under house arrest was not a truly harmful action, so long as Dr. Saffron could not touch him.
“Secondly, Dr. Saffron’s assistant, Silver Stone, will be the only one allowed to check on Spike until the trial commences. This includes bringing him meals and ensuring he has not escaped at some point.”
Twilight rose to her hoofs, “May I have some written oath that this Silver Stone won’t attempt any experiments on Spike?”
“Silver Stone is a little filly,” Dr. Saffron interjected with a pointed stare at Twilight, “what experiment do you possibly think she could perform on your dragon?”
“Well, forgive me if I don’t trust you,” Twilight responded calmly, “but I would prefer to know you aren’t planning some pre-trial experiments that could alter Spike in some way that would benefit your case.”
“It will be done,” Princess Celestia rose at last to speak. “And I will ensure the guards watch over them to prevent either one from attempting to further their own trial case by interrogating the other.”
The council nodded, and dismissed every pony.
“Twilight,” Spike tried to get his mentor’s attention, “I do trust you. I know you can win this.”
Twilight smiled until Spike was led away by two of the royal guard. He turned to glance at his protector once more before she faded from sight.
Cadence walked over to Twilight’s side in complete sympathy. She felt unworthy to touch her friend, knowing what she would have to do. Dr. Saffron proceeded to exit the room until Twilight approached her. The doctor turned to glance at the alicorns, masking her emotions.
“I hope you’re happy,” Twilight spoke with barely suppressed rage, “trying to take my friend for your own research.”
The doctor adjusted her glasses coldly.
“I take no pleasure doing what I know is right,” the doctor responded, seriously tempting Twilight to throttle her, “and I’m not doing this for myself.”
She left the room, leaving the two alicorns to ponder her words.
“Cadence,” Twilight snapped Cadence out of her ponderings, “I need to contact my friends in Ponyville to tell them what’s happening, and I have to tell my parents about this whole mess.”
“You tell your friends,” Cadence offered, “I’ll tell your parents.”
The two realized they would soon be enemies in the courtroom. This could be the last time they would ever stand together in camaraderie. Eventually, Twilight nodded and both set about their tasks with bitter resolve.