Terror in Equestria 5: A Thousand Years Later

The battle was over and Supreme Commander Colgate and her forces were victorious.  Half of Ponyville wound up being burned to the ground because of the now dead Spike's fiery breath.  This angered Colgate greatly and she decided that since Spike was Twilight's dragon, that she would be charged as though she were the one who started all those fires.

Colgate walked over to where her enemies stood, covered in ooze, in front of her tower.  She stood there, shook her head and asked, "Twilight, did you not learn your lesson when you were banished to the sun last time when you tried to retake the world?  Is your thirst for global power so great that you don't care what your punishment will be if you fail?"

Twilight growled, "I never think I will fail.  I am, after all, a dark goddess."

Colgate replied, "I know you THINK you are a dark goddess, but you are a flesh and blood pony just like the rest of us.  I remember how you complained about Celestia sitting up on her throne being pretty and acting like she was better than everypony else.  Once you took everything, you quickly became the same way except you felt that the world owed you.  You felt as though you should own the world.  Celestia never done anything like that."

Celestia added, "Twilight Sparkle, I feel betrayed by you.  I gave almost everything for you.  I almost died because of you.  If Colgate were to put us on trial, I would GLADLY testify against you."

Colgate said, "Well Celestia, you will get that chance.  I am going to put all three of you on trial.  Rather than simply punish you like I did last time.  I am going to have an impartial jury of five ponies gathered for this."

Shining  Armor sneered, "Oh, and where are you going to find an impartial jury around here?  They all saw Spike burn half the town to the ground.  They will be biased against us and convict no matter what."

Colgate replied, "Excellent question Shining Armor.  I have decided to get one juror from the following cities, Manehattan, Vanhoover, Las Pegasus, Mareami and Neighark.  Those are cities that Twilight did not attack during her reign of terror.  After all, I want this trial to be fair."

Twilight growled, "Supreme Commander, what are we going to do while you go on this search for the jurors?"

Colgate replied, "You will be held in prison with no bond.  Ice Storm, Stinging Haze, help me get these three down to the dungeon."

Ice Storm said, "Of course."

Colgate, Ice Storm and Stinging Haze took the three captives down to the dungeon.  While Celestia and Shining Armor were easy to get into their cells, Twilight was screaming and yelling and struggling the whole time.  Colgate finally just levitated her and threw her into her cell.

Twilight shouted, "That is a crime Colgate, being that mean to a prisoner!"

Colgate snapped, "No, it isn't Twily.  I rule Equestria, remember.  If I wanted I could forego the trial for you and just execute you.  I would advise you just shut the hell up.  Further outbursts will lead to a more brutal punishment if you are convicted."

Twilight shouted, "OH YES COMMANDER, I'M SO AWFUL, SO EVIL AND SUCH A WITCH THAT YOU JUST HAVE TO BE MEAN TO ME."

Colgate replied, "Just shut up already.  Ice Storm, Stinging Haze, let's get going.  We have to find jurors and besides, if I have to hear any more of her complaining, I can't be held responsible for what I might do."

The three left the dungeon, slamming the door behind them leaving the three in complete darkness.  Because of the ooze, none of them were able to use their horns to make any light.  Celestia felt like the complete darkness was worse than any punishment imaginable.  She actually began to wonder if she would get an easier punishment if she pleaded guilty.

Colgate said, "Stinging Haze, Ice Storm, I need you to take 5 of your soldiers with you to the cities I mentioned.  Take the train.  Go get a pony from there who you think would make a good juror.  I am anticipating your return in seven days.  If you are not back by then, I will start the trial without them."

Stinging Haze and Ice Storm grabbed five of their soldiers and headed off first to Vanhoover and would then loop around until they got back home.

Applejack asked, "So what crimes are you going to charge them with?"

Colgate replied, "Well Celestia will be charged with aiding an enemy in attacking Equestria and aiding an enemy in an attempt to overthrow the government.  Shining Armor will be charged with treason, going AWOL, theft of government property, aiding an enemy in attacking Equestria and aiding an enemy in an attempt to overthrow the government.  Twilight will be charged for attacking Equestria, attempting to overthrow the government and 12 counts of arson, which I will probably convert to mass arson."

LaurFa asked, "Why the arson, wasn't it Spike that burned everything?"

Colgate replied, "Spike was her dragon and I watched through the eye and saw her instruct Spike to set fire to Ponyville.  Since Spike is dead and she instructed him to do so, those charges are passed over to her as it is included in the arson laws of Equestria."

Lemon Hearts said, "Wow, you have very well thought out laws here.  In Saddle Arabia if this happened there would be no arson charges filed."

Colgate replied, "Well I make sure that criminals are punished.  It is getting time for supper, let's go and eat."

Six days had passed when Colgate's generals returned with five jurors.  Sunrise Breeze of Manehattan, Brown Mane of Vanhoover, Waterfall of Mareami, Jackpot of Las Pegasus and High Seas of Neighark.

Colgate flew over to address them.  She said, "I want to thank you five for serving Equestria in these trials.  There will be good sleeping quarters and you will receive the same good filling meals that I along with my other higher ups will eat.  I do ask that you do not read the Ponyville Express even though I have ordered that they do not publish anything regarding this trial or anything involving the defendants until after these trials are over.  Failure to comply with these rules will result in immediate dismissal from the jury and forfeiture of any pay you would have received.  Do you understand?"

They all replied, "Yes, we understand."

Colgate told them that the trials would begin tomorrow in the throne room and warned them once more about what they are not to do.  After that they were given a good filling supper and were taken to their sleeping quarters.

The following morning arrived and the jurors and defendants were led up into the throne room.  Since she was once a judge in Equestria, Judge Luna was the judge for this.

The bailiff said, "All rise, court is now in session.  The Honorable Judge Luna shall be overseeing the case of Equestria v. Shining Armor."

Everypony stood up as Luna entered the court room.  Luna then said, "You may be seated."

Luna asked, "Shining Armor, Colgate has decided to have your trial take place first, are you aware of how serious the charges against you are?"

Shining Armor asked, "What crimes am I even being tried for?  Colgate just had the three of us imprisoned and never told us of the charges."

Luna replied, "Well you are being charged with treason, going AWOL, theft of government property, aiding an enemy in an attack on Equestria and aiding an enemy in an attempt to overthrow the government.  How do you plead on these charges?"

Shining Armor said, "I plead not guilty on all charges."

Supreme Commander Colgate was the prosecutor but also had testimony of her own to give.  Colgate said, "Your Honor, I have testimony of my own that I need to give before I will call the other pony who noticed his absence to the stand."

Luna replied, "Colgate, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth under penalty of perjury (like it would matter with Colgate)?"

Colgate replied, "I do your honor."

Colgate began her testimony.  "Your Honor, I was informed by Applejack that she had not seen the General of the Army, Shining Armor, in several hours around midday on April 8, 6271.  Normally he would visit the base each morning right after sunrise.  Then on that day around midday, Applejack informed me that he had not checked on the base.  I checked his sleeping quarters and he was not in there.  I had this nagging feeling that he had flown off somewhere.  I used the eye to scan the world and he was headed to the east.  I continued to monitor his movements.  He took a government vessel and headed to the east.  He arrived in Maredrid on the afternoon of April 12, 6271 where he let Twilight Sparkle know that he would aid her in her conquest of the world."

Luna asked, "What do you think caused him to sail to Maredrid and what do you think caused him to let his sister know that he would help her in her global conquest?"

Colgate replied, "Personally I think it is a matter of blood being thicker than water.  On April 6, 6271 Twilight Sparkle and Celestia finished their sentences of being banished to the sun and they returned to this world in Maredrid.  Immediately after they returned, he began to behave like he was distracted and then two days later he had left without permission."

Luna asked, "Now regarding his return to Equestria and Ponyville.  What did you see that would constitute him being charged with the crimes involving aiding an enemy in crimes against Equestria?"

Colgate replied, "On September 27, 6271 he along with Twilight Sparkle, Celestia and Spike the dragon launched an attack upon Ponyville.  They were firing beams of energy at the city which would constitute aiding an enemy in attacking Equestria.  Also, it was the intention of Twilight Sparkle to overthrow me and take control of Equestria, which would constitute the charge of aiding an enemy to overthrow the government."

Luna asked, "What ultimately wound up out of this attack?"

Colgate replied, "In the end Shining Armor was taken down when changelings covered him in ooze and he was taken into custody."

Luna asked, "Is there anything else you would like to say?"

Colgate replied, "No Your Honor."

Luna replied, "Colgate, since you are the prosecutor as well, who do you wish to call to the stand?"

Shining Armor shouted, "THAT IS NOT FAIR, THE PROSECUTOR CAN NOT GIVE TESTIMONY!  THIS IS RIGGED!"

Luna shouted, "ORDER IN THE COURT!  SHINING ARMOR, SUCH OUTBURSTS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN MY COURTROOM.  FURTHER OUTBURSTS WILL LEAD TO ADDITIONAL CHARGES.  DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"

Shining Armor said, "Yes your honor, I understand."

Colgate said, "The prosecution would like to call Applejack Apple to the stand."

Applejack walked up to the stand and Luna asked her "Applejack Apple, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth under penalty of perjury?"

Applejack replied, "Ah do your Honor."

Colgate asked, "Applejack, when did you first notice that the defendant was absent from his normal duties?"

Applejack replied, "Well on April 8, 6271 around noon Ah noticed that Shining Armor had yet to show up to the base when he normally shows up right after sunrise.  Then around noon I notified Supreme Commander Colgate of his absence and she went to check on what was going on."

Colgate asked, "Was there anything else that you were the witness to on April 8, 6271?"

Applejack replied, "No, there was not."

Colgate asked, "When was the next time you noticed any act regarding the charges against Shining Armor that you were witness to?"

Applejack replied, "The next time I saw him was on September 27, 6271 when he helped Twilight and Celestia attack Ponyville."

Colgate asked, "What did you see him do when he aided them in their attck?"

Applejack replied, "I saw him firing bolts of energy at our forces.  Thanks to Colgate's armor spell, his energy bolts bounced off of me.  After that he was brought down by changelings that covered him in ooze."

Colgate asked, "Was there anything else."

Applejack replied, "Nope."

Luna said, "Applejack, you may be seated.  Colgate who do you wish to call to the stand next?"

Colgate replied, "I would like to call Twilight Sparkle to the stand."

Twilight headed up to the stand and glared at Colgate and Luna the whole time.

Luna asked, "Twilight, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth under penalty of perjury?"

Twilight sneered, "Yes your honor."

Colgate asked, "Twilight Sparkle, when did Shining Armor first make contact with you during your recent attempt at conquering the world?"

Twilight replied, "On April 12, 6271.  What does it matter anyway, the jury will probably find me guilty anyway you wretch."

Luna said, "Twilight, such behavior is not allowed in my courtroom.  Further behavior will result in additional charges.  Anser the question."

Twilight growled, "My brother first made contact with me on April 12, 6271.  He came to Maredrid and told me that he had defected from Equestria and that he wanted to help me take back the world."

Colgate asked, "What other activities did he do with you prior to the attack on Equestria?"

Twilight replied, "Well after winning over LaurFa to help her with her conquest he traveled with me to Saddle Arabia and Alicorn Island, where initially there was no problems with some of the leaders.  Eventually Cosmos, Luna and Galaxia would come here and join Colgate and her cause, damn traitors anyway."

Luna said, "Twilight, this is your last warning.  Behave or additional charges will be charged."

Colgate asked, "What about the attack on Ponyville?  What was his reaction on doing this?"

Twilight replied, "Initially he was unsure as to whether we should attack or not, but ultimately he sided with me.  He flew in with the rest of us and attacked Ponyville.  That is all I have to say."

Luna said, "You may be seated.  Does the prosecution wish to call anypony else to the stand?"

Colgate replied, "Yes.  I would like to call Celestia to the stand."

Celestia walked up to the stand realizing that this was her first chance to take down the Sparkle siblings.  She arrived up at the stand with a confident look on her face.

Luna asked, "Celestia, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth under the penalty of perjury?"

Celestia replied, "Yes your honor."

Colgate asked, "Celestia, from what I understand you and Twilight Sparkle were banished to the sun together.  When Twilight was banished to the sun, she hated you.  What happened during those almost 1,000 years you two were imprisoned together than caused you to reconcile?"

Celestia replied, "For the first couple hundred years we would constantly bicker and then we ignored each other.  It wasn't until the final 10 months that we began to talk and reconcile.  In the days right before our sentences ended, I agreed to help her reconquer the world."

Colgate asked, "What caused you to decide to help her?"

Celestia replied, "We had been at odds for a very long time but once we reconciled I felt like that mother/daughter relationship had returned and I thought of her as 'my Twily' again and wanted to do anything to make her happy."

Colgate asked, "From what I understand you and Twilight arrived on April 6, 6271 and Shining Armor arrived on April 12, six days after you two returned from the sun.  What kind of interaction did they have once he arrived?"

Celestia replied, "Well at first Twilight asked him why he was not in Ponyville aiding Colgate.  He told her that he realized that blood was thicker than water and that he wanted to help her conquer the world."

Colgate asked, "What happened in the days and weeks after that?"

Celestia replied, "Well like Twilight said, we went through from place to place and won over the leaders without spilling any blood.  Of course a storm then knocked us into Mt. Dragon on Dragon Island on our way to Faustica, which caused LaurFa's horn to get rammed into me, nearly killing me.  We then finally reached Faustica where Twilight and I would spend more time together.  We ultimately discussed forming a secret alliance and attempted to go to the Temple of Brevity Thrash but we were stopped by Galaxia, Lemon Hearts, LaurFa and Shining Armor, before he turned loyal to Twilight."

Colgate asked, "What happened that you were unable to reach the temple?"

Celestia replied, "Galaxia used a bolt of energy to level the temple.  Then a battle between us ensued.  Lemon Hearts struck Twilight with a powerful bolt of energy, knocking her out cold.  Shining Armor was initially mad at Twilight and sworn allegiance to Galaxia but when he saw his sister go down, he had a change of heart and rejoined our side."

Colgate said, "Well thank you, you answered what would have been my next question.  Now tell me, what caused you to join Twilight in her attack on Ponyville?"

Celestia replied, "Because I viewed her as a daughter and I wanted to do anything I could to make her happy.  I would have killed anypony for her.  Not anymore though, I can finally see the real Twilight again.  I just went into the battle completely blinded by my loyalty to Twilight.  The last thing I remember was getting hit in the flank by a bolt of energy and then coming to covered in ooze."

Colgate asked, "Is there anything else relevant that you remember?"

Celestia replied, "No, there is not."

Luna asked, "You may be seated big sister.  Colgate, is there anypony else that you want to call to the stand?"

Colgate replied, "Yes, I would like to call Shining Armor to the stand."

Shining Armor headed up to the stand with a nervous, terrified look on his face.  Once he got up there Luna asked, "Shining Armor, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth under penalty of perjury?"

Shining Armor replied, "I do."

Colgate asked, "Shining Armor, what caused you to leave your post in Ponyville without receiving permission from Supreme Commander Colgate?"

Shining Armor replied, "Because I knew that YOU would not give me permission to go once I told you where I was headed and why.  I knew you would ask me that."

Colgate asked, "Despite knowing that you would be committing treason and that you would be going AWOL, you left anyway.  Why did you do that?"

Shining Armor replied, "Because blood is thicker than water.  I wanted to help my little sister."

Colgate asked, "What happened after you arrived in Maredrid?"

Shining Armor replied, "Well I arrived right as LaurFa, Celestia and Twilight were getting ready to set sail.  After that we went and won over Lemon Hearts before heading up to Faustica."

Colgate asked, "Celestia mentioned something about a storm.  What happened with that?"

Shining Armor replied, "Yes, we encountered a strong hurricane, also known as a hypercane, which had blue clouds the same color as the blue in your mane and tail.  The winds picked our ship out of the water and carried us 20 miles to the east and slammed us into the slope of Mt. Dragon on Dragon Island."

Colgate asked, "Did anything in particular happen on Dragon Island before you headed to Faustica?"

Shining Armor replied, "Yes.  When we crashed into the mountain, LaurFa's horn got rammed into Celestia's chest, which almost killed her.  Also, we wound up being confronted by two dragons who wanted to eat us until Spike came along and saved us.  He then took us to Faustica on his back."

Colgate asked, "Once you arrived in Faustica, did anything in particular happen?"

Shining Armor replied, "Yes, like what Celestia said, I was angry with her and Twilight and turned against them for a while because they talked about forging a secret alliance.  It wasn't until after Lemon Hearts knocked out Twilight that I realized again that blood is thicker than water and rejoined her."

Colgate asked, "Regarding the attack on Equestria and Ponyville.  I did it for my little sister and if I had the chance to do it all over again.  I would definitely do it.  Blood is thicker than water, that is all I will say."

Luna said, "Shining Armor, you may be seated.  Colgate, does the prosecution want to call any more witnesses to the stand?"

Colgate replied, "No your honor.  The prosecution rests."

Luna said, "Alright everypony, court is adjourned for the day.  The jury will not deliberate on any of these cases until after the final defendant faces their day in court."

Colgate said, "Ice Storm, Stinging Haze, help me lead these three back to the dungeon."

They led them back to the dungeon and while Celestia and Shining Armor went into their cells with no problems Twilight was again screaming and yelling.  She screamed, "These trials are rigged.  You wretch Colgate, you are the prosecutor and provide testimony, Luna is on your side and she is the judge.  Curse you Colgate, curse you!"

Colgate shouted, "Shut up already!  Come on guys, let's go before I decide to add the charge of pissing me off to her long list of crimes."

Colgate and her generals left the dungeon, slamming the door behind them again leaving the three in complete darkness.  Shining Armor had a very bad feeling that things would not turn out well for him.  He had a very bad feeling that with the way Twilight's attitude is, that she may wind up piling up more charges than she already has.