Terror in Equestria 5: A Thousand Years Later

The jury began their deliberations.  They decided that they would start on Shining Armor first since Twilight had a lot more charges against her.  Sunrise Breeze was named the jury foreman.  She said, "Alright everypony, which charge should we start with?"

Brown Mane suggested, "I say we start out with the treason charge.

Waterfall asked, "Under Equestrian Law, what exactly constitutes treason?"

Jackpot replied, "I know about the treason laws.  Treason constitutes defecting from Equestria to a hostile nation, swearing allegiance to an enemy of Equestria and/or making plans to attack Equestria or making plans with a hostile leader or hostile nation to attack Equestria."

High Seas said, "Based on the testimony, it sounds like he did commit treason.  Yes I know it was just based on testimony and there is no physical evidence of this but he seemed like he was telling the truth when he told the court about what he did."

Waterfall said, "I agree with High Seas, his testimony along with the testimony of others gives me no doubt that he is indeed guilty of the crime of treason."

Jackpot said, "Given what I know about the treason laws, he is definitely guilty of treason."

Brown Mane said, "I personally think he is guilty as well."

Sunrise Breeze said, "Well it is obvious that we all seem to think he is guilty but we still have to have a vote on this.  It is part of Equestrian law that the jury has to vote, even if they have all said in comments that they think the defendant is guilty.  Everypony who thinks he is guilty, say aye."

Everypony said, "Aye."

Sunrise Breeze said, "Everypony who thinks he is not guilty, say nay."

Nopony said "nay."

Sunrise Breeze said, "Well it is agreed on a unanimous vote that Shining Armor is guilty of treason.  Alright, now we shall move on the charge of going AWOL.  What constitutes going AWOL?  I am not that familiar with the military terms."

Jackpot replied, "Going AWOL means a member of the military leaving their post without permission from the commander of their unit.  In this case, it would be Shining Armor leaving without asking for Colgate's permission."

Waterfall said, "Well he said it himself, that he considered blood thicker than water and the testimony that Twilight gave indicates that on April 12, 6271 that he was in Maredrid."

Brown Mane added, "Also, he said that he did not ask Colgate for permission because he knew that she would not let him go once he told her where he was going and why he was going, yet he still went anyway.  If that doesn't constitute going AWOL, then nothing does.  I think he is guilty."

High Seas said, "Also, he seemed a bit irritated when he was asked that question.  Often times when a defendant gets upset over the questions that are asked, that usually indicates guilt.  I have been on a jury before and that is what all of us felt that time, and that is how I feel this time."

Sunrise Breeze said, "Well, it looks like we are ready to vote on this one.  Everypony who thinks he is guilty, say 'aye.'"

Everypony said, "Aye!"

Sunrise Breeze said, "Everypony who thinks he is not guilty, say "nay."

Nopony said nay.  Sunrise Breeze said, "Well then it is agreed by a unanimous vote that Shining Armor is guilty of going AWOL.  Next we will discuss the charge of stealing a government vessel."

Brown Mane said, "Regarding this charge, the only testimony we have is that Colgate saw him leaving on the ship using the green eye.  That isn't really convincing.  I feel that I would need more testimony or more evidence than just a visual sighting by Colgate."

Jackpot added, "I am with Brown Mane on this one.  If Shining Armor, Twilight or somepony else would have mentioned him arriving in a vessel then I would be more likely to believe this.  All Twilight said in her testimony is that he arrived there.  She didn't mention how he got there."

High Seas said, "Well given that Colgate did have a visual on this, I think he did it.  Colgate seemed very convincing to me and I don't think she would lie just to put a pony away on any charge."

Waterfall said, "Well I just didn't hear enough testimony to be 100% sure that he did it.  The testimony of one pony just isn't enough for me."

Sunrise Breeze said, "Well personally I think Colgate's testimony is plenty for me to believe it.  I think the time has come for a vote.  Everypony who thinks he is guilty, say 'aye.'"

Sunrise Breeze and High Seas said, "Aye!

Sunrise Breeze said, "Everypony that thinks he is not guilty say 'nay.'"

Brown Mane, Waterfall and Jackpot said, "Nay!"

Sunrise Breeze said, "Alright it appears as though by a vote of 3-2 he has been found not guilty on the charge of stealing a government vessel.  Next we need to address the charge of aiding an enemy in an attack on Equestria.

Brown Mane said, "Well there is plenty of testimony regarding him aiding Twilight and Celestia in the attack.  He even said he  did it and said that if given another chance, he would do it again."

Jackpot added, "I heard the same thing, I think he is guilty on this one."

High Seas said, "I heard it come straight out of his mouth.  What more would you need?"

Sunrise Breeze said, "Ok, let's vote on this one.  Everypony who thinks he is guilty, say 'aye.'"

Everypony said, "Aye!"

Sunrise Breeze said, "Everypony who thinks he is innocent say 'nay.'"

Nopony said anything.  Sunrise Breeze said, "It appears as though by a unanimous vote we have found Shining Armor guilty on the charge of aiding an enemy in attacking Equestria.  Next we need to discuss the charge of aiding an enemy in overthrowing the government."

Waterfall said, "Well that was what Twilight's goal was and since Shining Armor was helping her with the attack, I personally believe he should be found guilty."

Brown Mane said, "Well he did state that when he arrived in Maredrid that he told her he wanted to help her retake the world, which would require the overthrow of Supreme Commander Colgate, so I think he is guilty on this one."

High Seas said, "Brown Mane makes a good point.  He wasn't helping her simply to attack Equestria, he knew she wanted to attack Equestria and even in his testimony he said that he wanted to aid her in her quest."

Jackpot said, "Well I am seeing the same thing that you guys are seeing.  I think he is guilty."

Sunrise Breeze said, "Same here.  It is time to vote.  Everypony who thinks he is guilty, say 'aye.'"

Everypony said, "Aye!"

Sunrise Breeze said, "Everypony who thinks he is innocent, say 'nay.'"

Nopony said nay.  Shining Armor was found guilty on four of five counts, which may not result in quite as severe of a punishment, but Colgate would most likely still punish him severely.

Sunrise Breeze said, "Now it is time to deliberate on the charges against Twilight Sparkle.  Colgate decided to merge the 12 counts of arson into a more serious mass arson crime."

Jackpot asked, "Why is she being charged with these crimes when it was her dragon that set half the town on fire?"

Sunrise Breeze replied, "She is charged with them because she instructed the dragon to do so.  Under Equestrian law, if a pony instructs a dragon to set fire to a town and he/she does so, the charges will be filed against the pony, whether the dragon is alive or dead."

Jackpot said, "Oh, ok."

Sunrise Breeze said, "Ok, I think first we should handle the charge of threatening the life of a judge, since we were all present.  All of us saw and heard her do this.  Personally, I am going to vote guilty."

Everypony else replied, "Same here."

Sunrise Breeze said, "Ok, everypony who thinks she is guilty, say 'aye.'"

Everypony said, "Aye!."

Sunrise Breeze said, "Anypony who thinks she is innocent, say 'nay.'"

Nopony said anything.  Sunrise Breeze said, "Alright, it is by a unanimous vote that Twilight Sparkle is found guilty on the charge of threatening the life of a judge.  Now we will handle the charge of attacking Equestria."

Brown Mane said, "Well she did admit to attacking Equestria quite blatantly and seemed quite sincere in her desire to destroy Ponyville using her dragon."

Waterfall added, "Yes and I can tell by her pent up rage that she is angry that she was unable to finish her goal.  She obviously attacked Equestria, this is a no brainer."

Jackpot said, "Well considering all the testimony states that she attacked Equestria, not to mention she actually did come here and attack, I consider her guilty."

High Seas added, "I don't mean to sound out of line, but this is one of those facehoof moments.  Of course she did it!"

Sunrise Breeze said, "You know High Seas, I was thinking the exact same thing.  It is time to vote.  All who think she is guilty, say aye.'"

Everypony said, "Aye!"

Sunrise Breeze said, "Everypony who thinks she is innocent, say 'nay.'"

Nopony said anything.  Sunrise Breeze then said, "Alright, by unanimous vote Twilight Sparkle is found guilty on the charge of attacking Equestria.  Now to address the charge of attempting to overthrow the government."

Sunrise Breeze continued, "Personally I think that she is guilty of that.  After all, she did say she wanted to conquer the world and eat Colgate's heart.  If that doesn't prove her desire to overthrow the government, then nothing does."

Brown Mane replied, "You are 100% right there Sunrise Breeze, i think she is guilty."

Waterfall said, "When I heard the testimony that she wanted to eat Colgate's heart, I realized that her sole goal was to overthrow the government."

Jackpot said, "Well I think she is guilty.  After everything I have heard, the only way she could be found not guilty is if she paid off the jury."

High Seas said, "Well I think she is guilty as well.  Everything I have heard has caused me to think that there is no other verdict that guilty."

Sunrise Breeze said, "Well now it is time to vote of this one.  All who think she is guilty, say 'aye.'"

Everypony said, "Aye."

Sunrise Breeze said, "Any who think that she is innocent, say 'nay.'"

Nopony said anything.  Sunset Breeze said, "Alright, by a unanimous vote we have decided that Twilight Sparkle is guilty of attempting to overthrow the government.  Now on to the last charge, the charge of mass arson."

Brown Mane said, "Well given the laws regarding arson in Equestria she is guilty.  She ordered her dragon to set fire to Ponyville, which he did do."

Waterfall added, "Yes, under Equestrian law she is guilty of this.  This is a no brainer, she is guilty.

Jackpot said, "If I didn't understand Equestrian arson laws, I would say she is innocent.  But knowing the Equestrian laws on arson, she is guilty.

High Seas said, "I agree, under Equestrian law she is guilty."

Sunrise Breeze said, "Same here.  Alright, now we need to vote on this.  Everypony who thinks she is guilty, say 'aye.'"

Everypony said, "Aye!"

Sunrise Breeze said, "Anypony who thinks she is innocent say 'nay.'"

Nopony said nay.

Sunrise Breeze said, "On the charge of mass arson, it is found by a unanimous vote that Twilight Sparkle is guilty on the charge of mass arson."

Sunrise Breeze continued, "Wow, we were able to get all this deliberating done before sundown.  This I am very happy about, now we can get a normal night's rest before court resumes tomorrow when the verdicts are read.  But first, I must get the verdict to the bailiff."

Sunrise Breeze went to the bailiff's office and said, "Bailiff, we have reached a verdict on all charges for both defendants."

The bailiff replied, "Alright, I will get these to Judge Luna tomorrow morning as court resumes."

Sunrise Breeze and the rest of the jury returned to their sleeping quarters glad that very soon they would get to go home.  They were also glad that it is Colgate, not them that determines the sentences for the guilty defendants.