A Second Chance

Chapter 2. Court is now in Session

In one week Twilight was able to organize the rulers so she could announce Checkmate as captain of her royal guard and as her royal advisor. She escorted him into the chamber where important battle strategies were held, which coincidentally would be where thy rulers inducted any royal official.

When they walked in, they were greeted with the sight of all the rulers of Equestria sitting around one table and waiting for him. “Members of the Council of Equestria, I have gathered you here today to induct Checkmate, not only to be the captain of my royal guard, but also my royal advisor,” Twilight said with respect. “I have chosen him because recently he has shown me that he is capable of thinking of every possible outcome of just about any confrontation, and prevail, even if all odds are against him.”

“Well, as impressive as that sounds, there is the background check that we must do to all inductees, to make sure that they have no criminal record that could threaten us,” Celestia said with a level of prestige that Checkmate had never heard before. She looked directly at Checkmate and asked the simple question. “Have you?”

“Umm well, you see, uhh-” Twilight began, until she was interrupted by Checkmate.

“Yes your majesty I have, although none that I have been charged for,” Checkmate said, strangely calm under the current circumstances.

“Well then, please enlighten us,” Shining Armor said with his eyes squinted in suspicion.

Checkmate took a deep breath as he told the Council that it was he who had unleashed Discord and gave him the idea to steal the elements and to change their users into their polar opposites. Also that he had discovered the changeling’s cave and informed Queen Chrysalis of the whereabouts of Equestria, telling her that if she played her cards right, she would be able to take over and dethrone Celestia to gain control of the entire kingdom.

This enraged Shining Armor. “You're telling me that it was because you that my wife was imprisoned under Canterlot, tortured and I was almost tricked into marrying another! On top of it all, it was because of your actions Celestia was attacked and Canterlot over-run with those little vermin!” Shining Armor said nearly, jumping out of his chair to strangle Checkmate. “Is there anything else you would like to tell us?”

The tension in the air was so thick that Checkmate began running scenarios in his head of what he would do if one or all of the council members lunged at him with lethal intentions, all of which ended with him being vaporized. To his surprise, the council just sat there in shock and stared at him in disbelief.

Finally Celesia broke the silence and spoke. “So, thats one charge of assisting a federal criminal, and one charge of high treason. Because you have not been charged for these crimes, you will have to go to court and settle the case. Your trial will be held in one week at Three post morning” she paused to look at the other members of the council, still keeping an eye on Checkmate. “Do we all agree?” slowly the others began to nod. “Then it’s settled. See you all in one week.” At once the council stood up and walked out of the room, each keeping an eye on Checkmate, as if expecting him to stab them in the back.

Checkmate and Twilight stayed silent, each taking a quick glance at every council member until the two sat alone, “Well that could have gone better,” Twilight said trying to lighten the mood when Checkmate interrupted.

“Thirteen percent,” Checkmate said, with Twilight looking at him in confusion. “I have a thirteen percent chance of being found innocent, and not being reduced to a pile of smoldering ash,” he said with a sigh.

As the week passed, everypony in Equestria had heard the news of Checkmate being put on trial for releasing Discord, and for bringing the Changelings to Canterlot. Everywhere he went, Checkmate was assaulted with just about anything anypony could get their hooves on. Some unicorn ponies would throw rocks or apples at him as he walked by, pegasi would come down with storm clouds and electrocute him, and on occasion, some earth ponies would come up and try to beat him. These attacks became so frequent that, when he did leave his hut, Checkmate would have to keep a constant force field around himself.

After what felt like years, the trial finally come. It was being held in a huge courtroom that looked like it could hold all of Canterlot, but due to the massive crowd of ponies, it felt small. Once again, Checkmate was met with the thousands of ponies that began throwing stuff at him, but thankfully, Luna was able to quell them with the Royal Canterlot Voice.

When Checkmate finally reached the Council, Celestia began to speak. “Checkmate, you stand here today accused of Treachery, and assisting a federal criminal.” After a brief pause she looked at Checkmate and addressed him directly. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

“What can I say other than I am sorry, and that I never intended anypony to be seriously harmed, only Twilight-” the council gasps “and I’m just digging my own grave aren't I?” Checkmate said laughing nervously after a moment of realization.

“This is no laughing matter, our judgement will decide whether you live or, due to the severity of your crimes, die,” Luna said unamused. “But going back to your original statement, do you have anyone that will back you up on that, or give solid proof of your change?”

“Yes he does,” Twilight said. “Two weeks ago, when Checkmate and I fought, he had a perfect opportunity to finish me off, but he withheld-”

“Wait hold on, he tried to kill you???” Shining Armor said.

“Thats beside the point. The point is that he had the perfect opportunity and he stopped himself, showing that he does infact have some sort of conscious.”

“Why did he even want to kill you in the first place?” Shining Armor continued.

“He did all of this because I took his place in Celestia’s school of magic,” Twilight said with seriousness, and when she did, laughter filled the room. “Go ahead and laugh it up, but let me ask you this. Where would I be if I was denied the opportunity to learn under Celestia? Certainly not here.” With that, the sounds of laughter were replaced with murmurs of agreement. “He didn’t want to attend the school for the magic or the ability to learn under the Princess Celestia. No, you see, Checkmate comes from a very poor family, and he wanted to join the school to improve his family's lifestyle,” she said sadly. “And I unknowingly robbed him of that.”

“Is that all?” Luna said, seemingly unfazed. Her face showing no expression whereas Celestia was nodding in understanding. Cadence looked sympathetically at Checkmate and Shining Armor just sat there looking like he had just been served.

“Yes it is,” Checkmate said in response to Luna’s question. “I have no one else to help prove my case.”

“I see,” she said as if she honestly didn’t care. “Shall we put it up to a vote then?” She asked the other members looking quite borde. “Lets go down the line, Sister what doth thou say?”

Celestia looked at Checkmate for a while then, without looking said, “I believe that he is innocent, mainly because I trust Twilight’s judgement, and that I truly believe that he will not threaten us and will truly be loyal to Twilight.”

“No surprise there,” Luna muttered under her breath. “I say that he is guilty for all charges. True, he spared Twilight, but who’s to say that he won’t go after any of us? I’m sorry but that is one chance I am not willing to take.”

Checkmate slumped sadly, she was my only hope, there is no way that Cadence or Shining Armor are going to trust me after all I put them through. Checkmate then used his magic to float a scroll and a quil over to him and began writing. When Twilight asked him what he was doing, he simply responded with “Writing my will.” It was no surprise to anyone that Shining Armor thought he was guilty. All that remained was Princess Cadence’s verdict.

Cadence paused for a moment, looking at Checkmate and the council in turn. After a good minute, she gave her verdict. “Despite his recent actions, I believe that Checkmate be allowed to live.” Everyone was shocked and the entire courtroom erupted in protest, only to be quelled by Luna once again.

“Cadence you can’t be serious! I mean after all he has done to us, you want to let that lunatic be with my sister?” Shining Armor stated in disbelief. “He almost got you killed, and you trust him!?”

“Yes, I do.” Cadence replied. “I believe that everypony deserves a second chance.” Shining Armor just sat back and shook his head in anger and annoyance. “Now all that leaves is you Twilight, what do you say?” Cadence said with a smile.

Smiling Twilight said, “My vote goes in favor of Checkmate.”

“Then it is settled, Checkmate, I hereby decree that you are reconciled of all charges and are accepted into the Council of Equestria as Princess Twilight Sparkle’s Captain of the royal guard and as her royal advisor,” Celestia said standing up. And with that the crowd stood up and began cheering.

Checkmate bowed to the council in respect, than to Twilight. “Thank you for trusting me with this great responsibility,” he said to Twilight, but loud enough to where he could have been addressing any of the other council members. “I won’t let you down.”

Chapter 2: Court is Now in Session, End