The Trial
Starlight Glimmer was escorted into the courtroom's antechamber by the Pie Sisters. Seeing Pinkamena's cheerless expression was unnerving for obvious reasons, but even Maud's stoic expression was somehow different than the one Starlight had become so familiar with. So, Starlight didn't even bother speaking to them, considering that the two battle hardened earth ponies had been forced to leave their home and fight in a war that she had created.
However, all of this was essentially blown out of Starlight's mind when she saw Princess Celestia standing before her in the small antechamber. The prisoner was only partly aware of Chancellor Neighsay standing next to the Alicorn princess, as Celestia had a cold, hard stare fixed right onto her.
"Starlight Glimmer of the Origin Timeline," Celestia said authoritatively, "I trust you understand why you are here?"
Unable to find her voice, the wide eyed Starlight merely stared up at the Princess of the Sun and nodded.
Celestia gave a curt nod back in return and said, "Very well. In a few moments, you will be put on trial for crimes against equinity. The sheer amount of pain, suffering, and death caused by your actions is. . .unspeakable." Celestia's eyes narrowed as she bore down over the unicorn, "There have been countless battles against Sombra's forces. I've seen my little ponies carelessly slain, or dragged off to be enslave by him. This once beautiful land is either converted by Sombra or stripped of its resources in order to fight him. The battles constantly end in stalemates or loses! Holding him back is the best we can do! I must constantly watch my precious ponies-!"
Chancellor Neighsay cleared his throat loudly.
Celestia shut her eyes tightly and stepped away from Starlight, who was still standing but breathing heavily. Celestia opened her eyes and cleared her throat before continuing, "All ponies. . .all creatures deserve a fair trial, and you will receive one. I will oversee the proceeding, while your fate will be decided by a jury selected to represent all of Equestria. Soldiers who have seen active duty, volunteers who have given their time and energy to the war effort, civilians whose lives have been changed by this war, refugees who have lost their homes, business owners who have had to make radical changes in order to survive in this new normal, and so forth. They do not know of the investigation, the activities of the Time Turners, or exactly how you were able to cause this war. All of that will be revealed during the trial, so no bias or preconceived notions will taint the justice here. Chancellor Neighsay will act as prosecutor in this case. As for the defense, I must say that we are showing you quite a bit of generosity. You may call upon any pony from your timeline to act as your defense attorney. We will make use of our Time Portal Spell to retrieve them. The same will apply to any witnesses you or your defense attorney wishes to take the stand. Understood?"
Starlight nodded again, her initial fear now turned to tepid resignation to the situation she was in.
"Do you know who you would like to call upon as your defense?" Celestia asked.
"Princess Twilight," Starlight said without hesitation.
Celestia's banged her gavel three times and announced to the courtroom, "The trial of Equestria v. Starlight Glimmer is now in session."
Starlight sat next to Twilight, and there was a clear difference between the two mares. Twilight had a look of determination and carried herself in a professional manner, while Starlight was the very definition of downtrodden. She cast a quick glance at Celestia, who was solemn, with a strangely tired look in her eyes. Then she looked at Chancellor Neighsay, who stood like a stallion on a mission. No that her attention wasn't solely focused on Celestia, Starlight noticed that this Neighsay looked more or less identical to the once she was familiar with. He still wore the same regalia, except now he wore two medallions, one of the EEA and another for the Time Turners.
When Neighsay turned to glare at her, Starlight cowered in her seat and whispered to Twilight, "I can't do this. I can't do this. Just let me plead guilty-."
"No," Twilight whispered back strongly, "Just be calm, and let me sort this out for you. I have a backup plan all set. If I can't exonerate you, I can still fix it so everypony will be happy. Trust me."
"How does the defendant plead?" Celestia asked.
"Not guilty," Twilight responded immediately.
"Really!?" Neighsay remarked in disgust.
There was some chattering from the jury, which was silenced by Celestia's gavel.
"Prosecutor, please remain professional," Celestia said sternly.
Neighsay bowed and said, "My apologies, your Majesty."
Celestia nodded, and she said, "Prosecutor, you may proceed."
"Thank you, your Majesty," Neighsay said, and he got up and stood before the jury. He hardened his gaze as he channeled all his emotions into a passionate manner of speech, "Mares and stallions. . . for too long we've had so many aspects of your lives ruined by this terrible war against King Sombra. We've all given up so much, and some ponies have even lost their very lives. The little things that brought us so much joy, things we had taken for granted, and now all gone! Sacrificed in the name of the war effort. And the fact of the matter is, that all of this suffering, all of this pain, the loss of homes, livelihoods, and lives, is the fault of the mare than stands on trial this very moment!"
Twilight stood up and said loudly, "I object! The prosecution is trying to create an emotional response without showing any evidence that my client even is responsible for the things he is saying!"
Celestia nodded and said, "Objection sustained. Prosecutor, please get to the facts."
Neighsay nodded, and he continued, "Several months ago, the Crown had learned that time travel magic had been used by an unknown party, and that said time travel was connected King Sombra's rise to power and the subsequent war. A special task force of gifted individuals was put together, and after countless hours of hard work, a spell was created that could look into the past, and even into branching time lines. By tracking the magical signature of the traces of the aforementioned time travel magic found, we were able to observe the inciting incident which changed our world for the worst."
Neighsay's horn glowed, and a large magical window appeared in the room. The window showed Starlight Glimmer coming out of a time portal in Cloudsdale, and then secretly casting a spell on the filly Rainbow Dash to hold her in place.
"Now, as you are all very intelligent ponies, you may wonder what this small change has to do with King Sombra," Neighsay said, "Well, after some more research into the time line from which Starlight Glimmer is from, we found the answer."
Neighsay's horn flashed again, and the window changed to show Twilight Sparkle standing in a lecture hall with images being projected onto a large screen behind her.
The Twilight in the image explained, "I can speak from my own experience that the power of Cutie Mark Magic is very real, and in the instance of my friends and I, it can be traced to a single event! Without Rainbow Dash's race to defend Fluttershy's honor, this rainboom wouldn't have happened. Fluttershy might never have discovered her love of animals. Applejack might never have realized that she belonged on her farm. And Pinkie Pie might never have decided to leave hers. It might be hard to imagine Rarity without her sense of fabulousness. But it's even harder to fathom what my life would be like. Without this rainboom, I might not have gotten into magic school. Celestia wouldn't have taken me on as her pupil or sent me to Ponyville to meet my friends. And the most powerful thing about Cutie Mark Magic that I found is the connection I share with them."
The image then panned over to reveal Starlight Glimmer sitting in the audience, smirking.
Neighsay cleared his throat and said, "Twilight Sparkle, along with the five ponies she spoke of, were bearers of six powerful artifacts known as the Elements of Harmony. These artifacts would've possessed sufficient power to defeat King Sombra. However, Starlight Glimmer's used time travel to deliberately prevent these six ponies from connecting. Therefore, the Elements of Harmony were never acquired by their bearers. Without this powerful defensive weapon, Equestria was defenseless against King Sombra. Therefore, the blame for King Sombra's advance and the destruction of so many lives falls upon the head of Starlight Glimmer."
The window vanished, and the ponies in the jury all appeared quite shocked by this revelation. Twilight, however, appeared quite confident. She leaned over to Starlight and said, "Okay, I know just what to do here. It'll be fine."
"Defense, you may call your first witness," Celestia said.
Twilight nodded, and she stood up and said, "I call Spike the dragon to the stand!"
Nearby stood a version of Sunset Shimmer, who opened a portal next to her and stepped through. It closed behind her, and another one opened a few moments later. Sunset returned with Spike next to her, and she guided him to the witness stand as she closed the portal behind her.
Once Spike was seated, Celestia said, "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"
"Yeah. I do," Spike said as he nodded his head.
"You may proceed," Celestia said to Twilight.
"Thank you," Twilight said politely, and she approached Spike and said, "Spike the dragon, were you present when King Sombra was defeated in our timeline? . . . Which appears to have been dubbed the Origin Timeline, huh, interesting. . ."
"Well, yeah, I sure was," Spike replied.
Twilight snapped out of her musing and nodded, "Ahem. Yes, good. Now then, what was used to defeat King Sombra when he had first returned along with the Crystal Empire?"
"The Crystal Heart."
Twilight raised an eyebrow, as if surprised to hear this, and continued, "Not the Elements of Harmony?"
Spike grinned and said, "Nope. It was the Crystal Heart."
The jury started to chatter in response to this fact, which put a smile on Twilight's face.
"Alright then. So, who used the Crystal Heart to defeat Sombra?"
Spike folded his arms and answered, "Princess Cadence."
"Not one of the Element Bearers?"
"Nope!" Spike said with a shrug.
"I OBJECT!" Neighsay roared in rage, and he pointed an accusing hoof at Spike and shouted, "This dragon is lying by omission!"
"Sustained," Celestia said calmly, "Prosecutor, you may cross-examine the witness."
Neighsay sneered at Spike and said to the room at large, "Technically, I needn't bother asking any questions. Using the Time Window Spell, we studied King Sombra's defeat in the Origin Timeline very carefully. I could simply use it again to show the jury what truly transpired. . .but, perhaps a cross-examination would do more to help defame the characters of those who would dare defend Starlight Glimmer!"
"Hey!" Spike said angrily.
"Spike the dragon, who found the Crystal Heart?" Neighsay asked.
"Well. . ." Spike said as he twiddled his thumbs, "Twilight did, but-."
"Why was Twilight Sparkle at the Crystal Empire?" Neighsay asked, although it sounded more like a demand.
"Celestia sent her there as a test, but-," Spike began nervously.
"Who delivered the Crystal Heart to Princess Cadence?"
"Oh, um, that was me!" Spike answered quickly.
"Is it true that you were hatched by a magical surge from Twilight Sparkle?" Neighsay asked in a slightly calmer tone of voice.
Spike blinked, looking a bit confused by the change of pace, and he said, "Huh? Oh, yeah, I was. But what does-?"
"Was that magical surge caused by Rainbow Dash's Sonic Rainboom?"
Spike's eyes widened, and he gulped and answered, ". . . Yes."
"Therefore, did Starlight, or did Starlight not, remove two of the key players in King Sombra's defeat from the equation by preventing the Sonic Rainboom by preventing your own birth and removing any possible reason for Celestia to give Twilight Sparkle any test of any kind?"
"Twilight, we're losing!" Spike shouted out in a panic.
"Objection!" Twilight cried out, "Why did the prosecution begin the proceedings by claiming that the Elements of Harmony were what defeated Sombra when he is apparently well aware that they weren't used?! He's trying to trick us!"
"I claimed no such thing," Neighsay replied calmly, "I merely said that the Elements possessed enough power to defeat King Sombra, not that they were ever used to do so. What I was inferring was that in a situation where the Crystal Heart in unobtainable, as it is now, the Elements of Harmony could be used instead to either destroy Sombra out right, free his mind-controlled soldiers, or at the very least stop his advance without jeopardizing the homes, lives, and livelihoods of countless innocent ponies. However, due to Starlight Glimmer's actions, the Elements of Harmony are inoperable, and the Tree of Harmony from which they came has been confirmed to be dead."
Twilight was both greatly frustrated at the unicorn before her and deeply disappointed in herself. This Neighsay was clever, and just as hard to deal with as the one from her own timeline. The same terrible feelings from when her school got shut down were making a powerful comeback right in the pit of her stomach. So, Twilight realized there was only one thing she could do.
"The defense rests," Twilight said, and she turned to sit back down next to Starlight.
Spike suddenly found himself being grabbed by Sunset's magic, and he cried out, "Hey, wait! I want to stay here with Twilight and Starlight! Wait!"
Sunset ignored the dragon's protests and sent back through another portal, swiftly shutting it once he was through. Meanwhile, Twilight leaned in next to Starlight and said, "It's fine. It'll all be fine. I couldn't exonerate you, but I can still protect you, and help this world too. Just wait and see."
What followed was a long series of testimonies from other members of the Time Turners. The only exceptions were their versions of Twilight and Starlight, who did not physically come to the trial, but sent in statements nonetheless. Twilight couldn't bear to face what had been stolen from her, and Starlight feared she would be unable to contain her anger. At any rate, the intelligent ponies all explained the chain of cause and effect that Starlight Glimmer had disrupted, and how it turned Equestria from a land of beauty and plenty to one trapped in a constant war that seemingly had no end in sight. Considering Sombra's immortal phantom-like nature, there was truly nothing to keep the war for going on for all of eternity provided Equestria didn't either surrender or simply slip up one too many times.
And so, with Princess Twilight unable to refute any of the claims made, and with all the evidence pointing to the immobilization spell Starlight cast upon the filly Rainbow Dash as the sole reason for this world's misfortune, the jury was allowed go off and deliberate on the fate of Starlight Glimmer.
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10261893
I plan to explain it better in Chapter 4: The Sentencing. I know it's confusing, but I'll make things a bit more clear, you'll see.
10260935
I wouldn't know about kicking and screaming. They must have told Sunset that Equestria would be destroyed if she did help, which would have definitely played on her massive ego ("Ohmigosh, Celestia is begging for MY help?! Sweet!"). Plus, Sunset was probably offered literally anything she wanted in return for coming back (money, forbidden texts, secret spells, fame, her own stained glass window or statue, Celestia grovelling at her feet/hooves).
10261936
No, it's the Many-worlds Interpretation.
Twilight could win if she went after the celestia of this timeline as she knew of all the threats that were to happen and seems to have done nothing.
I have many unrelated questions, many of which are off-topic.
What is Pinkie Pie's cutiemark? She isn't the party pony she is in the origin timeline. It would be interesting, however, if she still came out to be an optimist. More interestingly, what about Twilight?
Was Sunset reinstated to be Celestia's student, and has anyone ascended in this timeline?
What happened to the Crystal War's version of Cozy Glow, Tirek, and Chrysalis? It would be nice to see what happened to the other villains.
Anyways, I really like this story, and I hope you continue it!
the world's misfortune, try the world's existence.
I still find it hard to believe Twilight couldn't find a way to get there
Hangings to good for her, burning is to good for her, Starlight should be torn in to tiny pieces, and buried alive!
10262339
No mention about Luna's fate? I comented before that may be another reason for Tia wanting Starlight burning at the stake?
well explained in the author's notes sir, well explained, I am eager given your seemingly distant position how you resolve this event, given the tags... I fear the worst, oh well, I guess it's a good thing this is happening now, after Starlight helped save ponies so at least the impact is minimized.
10262418
I'll kill her! KILL!
Oh for. Mark this as AU for starters. There is a reason none of these knockoff timelines were never mentioned again. They ceased to exist altogether once Twilight and the others went back to the race.
As far as I know, even Hasbro never once brought them up again in any form of Friendship is Magic continuity. Except maybe as the trio remembering them. But that's it.
Nor did they ever indicate they continued to exist at all after each reset.
Ahab
10262387
No, she did not. Where did you get that information from?
10318062
I assume because of the whole 1000th day Stars will aid in her escape thing and that she got a vision of Tirek's return in canon not to mention she literally had a guard tell her IT has returned and her immediate reaction to that statement, implying heavily that she knew one day the Crystal Empire and thus King Sombra would return and had that area they used to be located at closely looked at throughout the next 1000 years waiting for the day it would.
10449293
True, but that's a risky assumption to make. Things may be different in this Universe.
10449324
Perhaps but as someone else pointed out with the Tirek timeline, they had to have been able to do well enough without the Elements after Starlight prevented that to not allow Sombra to get his war started there as he attacked before Tirek is even ready to what with biding his time and all. But this isn't simply a different universe, it's an alt timeline of the main one and implying things didn't get fixed like canon.
You’re right, Starlight caused that timeline by freezing Rainbow Dash, so when you say that’s how the timeline was created, I know you mean it. And when you say that the Sombra timeline relies on Starlight freezing Rainbow Dash I guess you mean that too.
Funny thing though, when Starlight went back to the past again she was sent back earlier in time where Rainbow Dash wasn’t frozen and the race didn’t start yet, leading to the Chrysalis timeline and not the Sombra timeline. Yeah even with your little explanation, this is bullshit. She altered the futures, she didn’t create alternate universes. You’re a good author and all, but this story does not make sense.
10263079
There's really no evidence at all either way, is there?
10262331
A rather pertinent question, given some stuff said in this chapter... they have won the war against Sombra, right? Cause otherwise, I think they have bigger priorities than a trial - and really can't afford to be pissing the Origin Timeline off.
Well, at least they won't kill her. Or make her suffer. Or other such cruel punishments.
Why?
Because:
Princess Twilight: I want it to be clear that if Starlight is found guilty, that the punishment will be just. No killing, no torture, no other such "wrong" things.
Native Celestia: And why should we agree to that?
Princess Twilight: Because if you don't you will face the combined might of a fully powered version of yourself, your sister, Princess Cadence, the Equestrian Royal Guard, a fully powered reformed Discard... And, most scary of all..... Me.
...
....
...
Native Celestia: Ok.
^_^
Please tell me you plan to continue this. It makes for a good story. Heck, I'll volunteer to take it from your hands and have it re-written!
10262331
Where is chapter four it’s been two years.
10262331
Where is the Chapter 4?
I hope this gets finished in the future! I'm absolutely hooked on the story, and I love how you write all of the characters. They're all written very accurately given the situations they were all in.
I can tell why this story was never finished. Everything about this trial is a complete and utter farce.
1) The only crimes Starlight committed related to time travel is the assault of a filly, treason and the intend to alter past events with malicious intent. Any timelines created as a result are fully responsible for what happens in them after the split.
2) The only timeline that has grounds for prosecution is the prime timeline. Starlight intended to erase the prime timeline, making that timeline the only timeline that suffered damage from her actions. All created timelines are not victims. Their inhabitants simply failed to protect their timelines from threats.
3) There is no extradition agreement of any kind between timelines. What happened here is that Starlight got abducted and princess Twilight got attacked by what basically amounts to a foreign country. The prime timeline would be fully in their right to declare this as an act of was.
4) Twilight made it very clear that she believed the damaged timelines would disappear once Starlight was stopped. As in, she actively believes that changing the past will fix the damage that has been done. The continued existence of those timelines demonstrates conclusively that Starlight cannot be responsible for the creation of those timelines. You cannot bring an entire dimension into existence by simply travelling back to the past. There is simply no basis for claiming that timelines pop into existence when changing the past but continue to exist after those changes are undone. At worst, Starlight's efforts simply sent Twilight and Spike to a dimension that already existed.
Additionally, you do not get to object just because you disagree with how thorough the cross-examination is. And you especially do not get to demand that a cross examination is cut short as a result of such an objection. So not only is everything surrounding the trial a farce but the trial itself is also a complete farce.
edit: Read the authors notes after posting my comment. Seems that my forth point went from a disagreement with the story to a disagreement with the author. I consider the branching timeline interpretation of time travel completely worthless and lacking in both narrative and logical substance. You do not get to eat your cake and have it too. A branching timeline is the laziest and most incoherent way to write a time-travel based story.