It had all happened so quickly. Silver sat, glancing around with worry at all the stone-faced ponies around him. Trixie and Rough were to either side of him, and wore no friendlier a face. Silver took a soft breath and channeled his inner stoic, his face becoming passive as he hid deep inside. This would all pass, one way or the other. There was no purpose to making a big fuss about it, or being a baby.
The royal sisters stood side-by-side, and the red-furred mare stood before them in heavy chains. She looked miserable. Celestia looked out over the witnesses. There were about two dozen ponies in attendance, and five golden-armored guards. "Mares and gentlecolts. We are gathered to find the truth, and determine just punishment." She lifted a hoof just high enough to indicate the red-furred unicorn, "Carrot Plate stands before the court accused of a crime most heinous."
Carrot struggled against her bindings with low rattling sound, "I didn't do anything wrong! Father! Mother!" She glared over her shoulder into the crowd. Silver followed her gaze to two well-to-do unicorns that looked quite nervous, but also angry. "Help me..."
Luna spread her wings, "The accused will be silent until it is her turn to speak."
Celestia looked directly at Silver, "The court calls the victim forward."
Silver took another light breath before he hopped down to his legs and trotted up slowly to the podium that seemed to be in the right spot. He remained standing, fearing his head would sink below the level of the wood. "I'm here."
Celestia nodded at Silver, "If you would speak of your experience with the accused?"
Silver pinned his ears back a moment before he restored control over his form, forcing it into a neutral position, "She... invited me to her place... She..." He glanced towards Carrot and saw she was glaring at him with burning venom. "It was dark. She held me down, with magic."
"It wasn't me!" cried Carrot, thrashing against the chains again, "Anypony could have held him!"
Luna brought her hoof down as she boomed in the royal voice, "The accused will be silent!"
Celestia never stopped looking Silver in the eyes, "Go on."
Silver took another little breath, "When the lights were turned on, I was tied up. Each of my legs to a pillar. She was talking... about her boyfriend being damaged, uh, coltfriend, sorry. She sounded like she wanted me to be her new boyfr--coltfriend. She used a short flexible stick to sting me."
Luna lifted one of the riding crops Silver remembered seeing. It wasn't the one that had struck him, but was similar enough, "Was it this?"
Silver shook his head, "Like that, but not that exact one. She had a more blue one at the tip. She hit me a few times while she was speaking to me, then Rough Draft showed up, and I went home."
Celestia nodded softly, "Very well. Please return to your seat." Silver was glad to get off the stand and return to the bench. The stares of the ponies were not entirely friendly from the crowd, and he had no desire to suffer it longer.
The court proceeded, with each pony getting a turn. Rough Draft spoke his part, and then it was Carrot's turn. "Will you tell us what happened, in your words?" asked Celestia.
Carrot scowled before she nodded, "I took pity on that colt. He looked lonely, and he was being picked on in school. I invited him over to play pretend, and that's what we did. We were playing guards and vandals. I was the guard." She gave a bright smile, "We barely got started when a big earth pony smashed in the door and scared the muffins out of me."
Luna asked, "And what did you do then?"
Carrot shook her head, "What else do you do when an angry pony just bursts in? I ran! I was never so afraid in all my life." She turned her head to look at Celestia, "I didn't hurt him. He's just a little colt. I don't need a coltfriend that tiny."
Carrots parents stepped up next. The two unicorns pleaded that she was a fine young mare of upstanding moral fibre, who had never been arrested for anything else in her young life.
Celestia looked to Luna next, "Do you have evidence against the accused?"
Luna shook her head, "Nay. The scene of the crime was quite clean. The various tools were missing." She levitated the crop she had held before, "I had to secure this elsewhere, as the original was missing."
Rough Draft raised a hoof into the air. Celestia nodded towards him and he stood, "When I first arrived, Silver was wearing a horn blocking ring."
Celestia nodded at this, "Do you have the ring?"
Rough shuffled a little, "I spat it onto the ground. It wasn't there when we returned..."
The gallery seemed to be growing hostile to the offense, murmuring about the lack of any physical evidence. "He was just playing a game and got caught being naughty with a crop," came one whisper.
"Little low-born colt thinks he can run the Plate family name through the mud! Who does he think he is?" came another harsh whisper.
Celestia raised an ear before she spoke, "There is little concrete proof in this matter, but the treatment of a foal is a very serious affair." She extended a wing to point at Carrot, "Are you saying Silver Lining was never tied up, or hit?"
Carrot shook her head, "I did both of those things. It was just part of the game. He was going to break out afterwards and get revenge on the guard." she shrugged, "Just a foal's game, no harm."
Luna flared her wings violently, "You said that anypony could have done those things to the victim. What did you mean?"
Carrot shook her head, "I didn't hold him with magic. I asked him to sit, and he did. If he felt magic, he was just scared of the dark. I know better than to hold ponies down with my magic." She turned her nose up at Luna.
Celestia glanced towards Luna, who was scowling most deeply. Celestia cleared her throat, "The court finds that insufficient evidence is presented, but would ask, Miss Carrot Plate, that you stay away from Silver Lining."
Carrot snorted, "Gladly." Her chains were removed and she trotted primly to her parents' side, sitting down beside them.
Justice was served.
Silver stood in a hallway in the castle, beside a fuming Rough and Trixie. Trixie threw her hat to the ground with her magic, "The injustice of it! That little harlot got away, with nothing!"
"We agree," spoke Luna's voice as she stepped closer to the family gathering. "Times have changed, and we do not like it. Before our departure, we would have seen her to the stockade without wasting time and energy on such a charade."
Silver looked from one displeased face to the next, "Uh, did I mess up? I told the truth."
Rough shook his head at Silver, "I know you did..."
Silver frowned then, "Different world, same thing."
Luna raised a brow, "We do not understand."
Silver perked up his ears, "You heard that? Sorry."
"Do not be sorry, explain," beckoned Luna.
Silver shrugged, "The justice system is pretty skewed where I came from too. A lot of innocent people in jail, a lot of guilty people unpunished. You can send an entire neighborhood to homelessness illegally and face a few years of jail, but get caught with a drug they don't like and you may go away forever."
Luna shook her head, "Tis a strange world you lived in." She smiled, "We are not that bad, are we?"
Silver shook his head quickly, then shuddered, "You're not going to banish me, right?"
Luna, Trixie, and Rough all looked confused all at once.
Trixie leaned forward, "Why would she do that? What did you do wrong? Did you lie? Was this all a ruse?"
Silver shook his head faintly, "No! God no... It's, you know..." He looked up at Luna from his hung muzzle, "I'm broken."
Warm feathers settled on Silver and he was pulled into Luna. "You are a good pony," she assured, "Too good, perhaps, but good. Trust in your guardians." She nudged him away, towards Trixie and Rough. "You have broken none of Equestria's laws. There is no reason to banish you, Silver Lining." She rose to her hooves, "I must speak with my sister." She turned away and strode off, making quick distance on those long legs.
Trixie picked up her hat in her magic, paused, then set it down on Silver's head. It was comically oversized and hung down across his eyes partially. He smiled though. He could smell Trixie from the hat, and, "Thank you. I didn't think you'd let anyone wear this."
Trixie held up a hoof, "For a star pupil, exceptions can be made. Now..." She rose up, looking ready to move, "Let us salvage the day."
The trio walked together through the city. Trixie's hat was not the most practical thing for Silver's smaller form, but he still liked it, and even liked the way it bounced around on his head. His simple amusement was catchy, and soon all three were walking with less sadness. When they arrived at home, Silver dashed forward. He hopped over to the computer and pointed at it, "I forgot all about it. It works! Come, look." He hopped up into his chair and looked over the choice of games a moment with a frown before he decided on... oh this was hard.
"So what does it do?" asked Trixie.
"Show us," beckoned Rough.
He didn't want to pick a game that put an immediate bad view of humanity. Ah ha! He loaded The Stanley Parable. The image showed poor Stanley working at his own computer, and the ponies were immediately captivated. Trixie shook her head, "Such a detailed drawing. Trixie's never seen a videogame of that quality. How does it work?"
Silver ran them through the office space walking simulator, as the game's narrator droned on and on. Rough tilted his head, "It's like a story book, that you play?"
"It gets better," said Silver with a smile as they arrived at the first intersection. The announcer said clearly to go left. Silver flashed them a grin, then went right.
Trixie blinked, "You're going the wrong way! You'll lose the game!"
But the game went on, with the narrator grumpily complaining about Silver's decision.
Rough suddenly burst into laughter, "That's amazing! Are there any wrong ways? Can you lose?"
Silver piloted poor Stanley to the room with a sharp drop, and ran off the edge, dying on the floor below even as the announcer warned him not to do that. The game casually restarted back in Stanley's office as if nothing had happened and the narrator started over again. Silver released the mouse and keyboard, then reached into the drawer and pulled out a joystick, which was still plugged into the machine, "You can also play with this."
Rough took the controller up in his mouth at first, then set it down and began pressing it carefully with his hooves. It took some experimenting, but he soon had Stanley running around the office in a drunken haze.
Silver smiled at him, "There is a mini-game to this game. There are many ways you can reach an 'ending'. Can you find them all?"
Rough directed his virtual human forward, "I can try!"
Trixie shook her head and reached with her magic to reclaim her hat, soon gracing her own head. "Trixie will make dinner while you play with this. Tell her if you win." She trotted off towards the kitchen. Silver glanced between her and Rough, then settled a bit more comfily into the chair. Showing Rough this game was infinitely more satisfying than dealing with Carrot Plate.
5705444 On the contrary, having evil characters with evil names someone else picked for them makes no sense. Who looks at a newborn infant and says, "This one's going to be a psychopath, I can tell?" And even if you could tell, what parent would admit it?
5706551 Now I want to name my baby evil mc-darkness.
Awww, who's a cute evil! You are!
5706584 Just imagine the conversation that was held between sisters.
"I saw him being hit."
"A dream will not quell the worries of my ponies."
"The word of a Princess should suffice! Do you think I speak falsely?"
"It's not that..."
So, on the one hand, Carrot Plate (Hah, thanks) got off without punishment. On the other hand, her plan was immediately interrupted and she had to appear in court. If she's at least moderately intelligent, this should show her that Silver is being closely watched and any attacks against him are very risky. Not exactly justice, but it should still improve Silver's situation.
5706608 Also, she's a rich and pampered brat. She doesn't have to walk up to Silver to interfere with him, should she choose.
Come to think of it, while they can't prove the specific incident, Carrot directly contradicted herself in court. That could be enough to justify an investigation or just charge her with perjury, although I think that's looser for minors (Is she a minor? Ponies seem to be legal adults at an earlier age than humans)
5706640 Which part? She never confessed to holding him with magic, but did confess to tying him, and playing guard with him, which apparently involved some hitting, presumably not very hard. Silver's not exactly limping around, so this is not a hard story to swallow.
"Stone-faced" ponies.
The royal sisters stood "side-by-side."
The "Miss" before Carrot's name should be capitalized, I believe.
"Stanley" should be capitalized.
Such a "high-quality" drawing.
A "mini-game."
5706651 All fixed! I feel greedy for even asking, since I kept making new chapters, but what did you think?
5706645 Well, when she denied holding him down with magic she said it must have been someone else, but her testimony had the two of them alone. That would be enough for Phoenix Wright, but I guess he's not here.
5706640 If we're going by anything that resembles how contemporary American criminal trials go, then Carrot's contradicting herself (crying out that "It wasn't me! Anypony could have held him!" and then saying that she was there and they were just playing a game) doesn't rise to the level of perjury.
The reasons for that are two-fold. First, her initial statement was an outburst when she wasn't "on the stand," and so isn't subject to perjury laws. Secondly, in most states, when you're on the stand you're allowed to change your testimony; it doesn't matter how wildly your story varies so long as it's all done while still under oath, and that your final testimony isn't a lie (in fact, that applies anytime during the trial proceedings; you can lie on the stand, and if recalled to the stand before the trial ends, you can change your testimony to the truth then, and it won't be perjury).
Obviously, Luna cares little for such procedural issues, but apparently Celestia holds them to be important.
5706669 *grumbles and mutters something about 'stupid justice system'* I don't really mean it though. Every other system humans have tried was/is even worse. The problem with any human government and justice system is that it still has humans in charge of it, and the ponies in this story are humans in all but anatomy.
5706659 This chapter felt somewhat rushed; things moved along very quickly, to the point of skipping right to Carrot's trial, which was handled at a fast clip. This was also one of those times where I wish we had more expository narration about what the various characters were thinking, feeling, and how they were acting, especially with regards to Carrot. What was here was good, but felt far too lean.
Really, that's my main complaint - it felt like this wrapped up her (direct) involvement just as it was winding up. This seemed to put a cap on her when she was just starting to get interesting. Obviously, that's premature, but it's how this chapter comes across.
The second half was all cool-down, and while that was fine when it focused on how the characters were handling the resolution, I cringed a little at describing the game-play. One of the worst things, to my mind, is having a story take a sudden narrative shift to describe a specific, brand-name item that the characters are interacting with. It feels like an "advertorial," or at the very least that it dilutes the story's immediate focus. If I wanted to think about a particular video game, I'd go play it. Listening to the characters playing it is like listening to Batman talk about how he never leaves the cave without his Bat-American Express Card.
5706683 Heh, well. I never thought of it that way. I looked at my library of games and make a quick call, just as Silver had to make his call. Describing the experience for them seemed the right thing to do.
Also I've seen a lot of fics go with some actiony shooter-fest for a game. I never quite understood why you'd start a pony off with that.
5706702
I don't understand why you'd ever show a pony that. Without decades of movies glorifying that stuff, I can't imagine anyone would find it entertaining.
5706702 You should see if Steam will pay you anything for product placement.
5706719 A game with an actual plot, even a subverted one, felt good. Though a building game would have been fine too. Imagine ponies playing SimCity or the like? The confusion would be grand, but it would be a learning experience.
5706723 ... This I doubt.
The only game I need to push is Ponyfinder. BUY MY APPLES!
5706736 You never know. Look at all the YouTubers that make a living wage off of commercials just by being loud and opinionated.
the past 2 chapters are really good, and I would love to make farther comments but my life is just all bucked up right now and I know any comment I tried to make and sound good I would just mess up.
so I will just say a supper good job and keep up the good work.
I... huh... what? There's something I don't understand. At all. How is it that people think it was actually a game of pretend? Why didn't Silver say ANYTHING about that? What, is he agreeing with her on that? Surely, if it is nowhere near in his testimony, if she just goes "pah, I was just playing with him and he didn't know it yet", someone would have reacted? No, she can just say that's how it happened, contradicting the accuser and it's okay? Why isn't anyone questioning her on her previous outbursts? Even if it's not considered part of her testimony, why don't they ask "what did you mean when you said it could have been anyone?"? Didn't anyone ask Rough Draft what was happening? He's the one that barged in on the crime scene. He had to pull out a horn restraint with his teeth, for Celestia's sake! But I guess if Carrot something says it did not happen, it's fine...
Not... this chapter was WAY too rushed for any outcome to a trial at all. I wouldn't have been so disappointed if things had been allowed to progress with more details. I find everything in the chapter stretching disbelief due to how fast it's happening. For example, I would have liked to have an idea of what Silver was thinking now that he's forced to deal with her again. Is he afraid, angry, tired of it all?
For a certain value of truth I would say. His recollection was so bare I don't even get why anyone outside of his relative would think it was headed the way it did. Heck, Silver himself sounds somewhat disappointed, and extremely biased with the justice system of his homeplace AFTERWARD, but he's saying next to nothing during his own testimony? Come on!
5706848 Most of the incriminating evidence was gone by the time they got back. There was a reason Luna was holding a different crop than the one that actually got used on Silver. Rough had spat out the ring instead of taking it with him, so it was gone too. There was nothing to physically show something happened beyond two foals played a game and one got scared/embarrassed when his father suddenly showed up.
Given the choice of believing the lower-class new kid in the city or the well-established little darling of the community, the pony's views were pretty skewed against the new kid. Celestia could have said 'GUILTY CAUSE I SAID SO!' but it would have created a whole new heap of trouble far beyond Silver's particular case.
5706862 I don't think this actually adresses my point. Why does it feel like none of what you're telling me now is in the chapter? I don't mind your explanation, but I don't like the fact that it takes your comment to get the point across. This is a class-thing then? People in disbelief that a respectable young mare could actually do anything wrong to a younger kid? The general sentiment is he's embarassed he was caught playing with a crop? I couldn't have told you any of that before.
Yes, the chapter opens with "It all happened so quickly.", but it really doesn't work for me as a scene. Reading it, I felt nothing except frustration, and most of it was because things just felt pointless at that point. The only emotion from that scene seemed to come from that red mare herself. It doesn't feel right. Luna too, I guess,
but it raises the ever present questions of things like spells and potions to get someone to speak truthfully. Though, honestly, I won't grumble about that, it's a real cheat one way or another and a plot killer.Sorry, I just don't think this one works for me. Pacing feels off, a thousand words or so is glossing it too much.
5706940 Hrm, this seems to be a widely held opinion. I have failed as an author! I will hack at this chapter and try to make it bigger and better. Sorry
5706961Err, I'm sorry too. I didn't mean to make you feel bad or anything. I do like the story in general, even if this particular turn of events irks me. I think this one is a bit of a perspective thing. Happened to me before. The way things happen look fine from a writer's point of view, but readers are unsatisfied. Anyway, good luck with your hacking and slashing and plumping of chapter.
5706992 Take a peek now. Better? I expanded on many of the points I mentioned with people in the commentary, and please, don't feel bad for leaving comments! I love comments! Even when you disagree with me, I like hearing from my readers. Speak your mind freely.
5707002 Well, that was fast... Okay, huh, I have to admit this makes the whole thing a lot easier to swallow. We get a better look of the situation, it looks a hell lot more reasonable too. Still a bit fast to my taste, but that's more of a matter of personal taste than anything technical.
5707033 Fast is one of my talents! Would you believe I'm about to hit publish on another chapter? Speed can lead to mistakes though, so, please, grab me by the tail and demand I fix something when I mess up.
I like the attention anyway.
5706862
That might be so, but i do recall there being a mention of Memory-reading spell earlier in the previous story. One which could be used here in the trial. If there would be a problem with defense not allowing it then it could be easily be used on the Silver Lining.
But then again, is not a major issue and there might be reasons not to use it.
I find his lack of drive for self protection through any form of violence or rough action disconcerting, it's understandable that he fears retribution, not by those he fights but from authority that can do literally anything to him, ie: the Princess'. However this now presents a problem, it has become a natural limiter, a phobia, to even rise to action in the first place, and is eager to bury any trauma with things and fun moments with his guardians.
That is wrong
To further distance himself from what has harmed him, makes him doubly susceptible to the next thing that rolls around. First Tumble, then this crazy chick, whose court hearing in all honesty sounded like how a child molester who gets away would appear, not only that, we learn she's from upper class money and the scene of the crime was textbook spotless. Had he held the will, the drive for survival of a human, that he should damn well still have, he should've ended these troubles well before they worsened. But no, he's broken (yeah, real smooth there Luna)
6724282 Silver has a real issue, it's true.
Well, that was a ...strange trial.
Excuse me? I guess Luna is...yeah.
Opening for the Action-tag Comma Troupe, it's Other Corrections! Just sign this waiver before you enter the concert...here...here...initial here...
Carrot's parents
to the prosecution
head. "'Tis
and said,
invited
Isn't that a meta-game, not a mini-game?
And now, the Action-tag Comma Troupe! (You can tell how much sleep I've had! )
sound.
wings.
Silver.
Silver.
position.
again.
eyes.
breath.
enough.
head.
softly.
smile.
head.
Carrot's
When did Luna grow feet?
7350504
Just a technicality here, but hooves are feet.
Heck, even the bottom of a table's leg is called a foot.
That was the biggest load of shit there ever was! Luna and Celestia have already shown they have absolutely no qualms about fucking with a person's mind so why the fuck didn't they just go into that cunt's brain and display her memories for all to see!? This is bullshit of the absolute HIGHEST order.
9347663
In the previous story it WAS stated that they are allowed to use memory reading magic if they're sanctioned in court to deal with cases, but otherwise its frowned upon.
Then what happened?
9589490
That period should be a comma.
9589586
Oh. I see.
Objection!
This is supposed to be fantasy, not non-fiction.
love the story
Yeah fuck this story im out. Author you are a sick disgusting human being that im am ashamed are a part of my race. This story has turned from fun to disgusting evil quicker than anything ive seen before. You need serious help if your writing comes up with this
6813868
Slightly miffed. If we look from the orbit of her namesake.
Yeah no. I'm out.
I am very disturbed to find myself reading a BDSM rape scene suddenly and without warning in a story about pony childhood. I read during breaks at work and I would have had a lot of explaining to do I had been monitored at the wrong time.
Also "It's not rape because nothing got inserted" is bullshit As is him not being disturbed by it.
And the entire handling of the rescue and trial was questionable.
And from a Watsonian perspective: No truth magic or offering to share memories? They did say it way legal if it was part of a trial.
Plus the little psychopath will go on being a bigger psychopath.
11165173
Well, now I feel called out. Maybe I would crumble. More likely, I would focus on something else, distract myself, and plod forward. Don't assume everyone reacts to trauma the same way you do.