Judge Twilight Sparkle

There was general mumble talk in the town hall, so Spike coughed loudly to get everypony's attention “All the parties in the matter of Faust vs. Faust step forwards” and he beckoned with a claw.

The courtroom fell into silence as two majestic Alicorn’s approached the front, the only sounds were the clop-clip of royal hoofboots and the narrators voice coming from nowhere

“Ageless Ruler of the Night, Princess Luna Faust, is suing her sister, ageless Goddess of the Day Princess Celestia Faust, for one thousand years of unpaid allowance. Princess Celestia is counter-suing for damages to the Ancient Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters.”

Princess Twilight looked at the pair nervously as the pair swore in with Spike, using the traditional swear and therefore ironically swearing an oath to themselves. Once done, the pair’s eyes turned to Twilight and she hadn’t felt this self-conscious since the coronation.

“Princess Luna Faust and Princess Celestia Faust, in order to prevent confusion and save everypony time, I would like just to refer to you by your first names, is this acceptable”

“It is acceptable to us” Luna replied a little curtly

“Of course, Princess Sparkle” Celestia replied more warmly.

“Okay, before we get to your cases, I need to check something with you both. Luna, you say you are claiming for a thousand years worth of missed allowance?”

“That is correct” Luna replied

“Now, this court is limited to awarding a maximum of only five thousand bits, which would only be a fraction of the total you claim you are owed. Are you sure you want to limit yourself to this courts payout?”

“Princess Sparkle, the only courts that could pay out more are either run by myself or my sister, so this is the only option available to us. Besides, it’s more than enough for what I desire.”

“Fine, as long as you understand that limitation and that you won’t be able to subsequently claim more in any other court?” Twilight confirmed to the dark alicorn, who nodded her head. The lavender alicorn then turned to her beloved mentor “Celestia, the same goes for your counter-claim, five thousand bits will not be enough to fix the old castle.”

“I understand Princess Sparkle, but for the same reasons as the plaintiff there is no other court available to me”

“I see” Twilight said a little reluctantly, not quiet believing Celestia’s reasons already. “Okay, unless either of you would object I think we can all agree on most of the facts and this case is actually pretty straight forwards. Firstly, Luna slash Nightmare Moon was banished to the moon for a thousand years until she was reformed back to Luna by the elements of harmony”

“By you and your wonderful friends, yes Princess” Luna agreed warmly, trying to outdo her sister for the Princess's affection

“And before her banishment you both received a personal allowance from the treasury to spend on what you want?”

“Yes Princess, factoring in the change in currency it was about bit a week.” Luna confirmed

“And that there was an agreement with the nobles that it would raise 1% a year, which it has?”

“Yes” Celestia confirmed “But some years I gave up a raise.”

“That was your choice, not Luna’s.” Twilight dismissed that without really thinking, her mind doing the mental arithmetic “So that’s worth about twenty thousand bits a week now, and about a hundred million bits in total?”

“That’s not how much we currently take…” Celestia started to defend the Princesses allowance.

“But that is how much in total Luna could have been given during that time” Twilight replied before turning to Spike “and I thought my student allowance was good enough!” she laughed to her dragon brother.

“Think of the gems you could have brought me with that sort of funding!” Spike retorted still trying to make himself seem big in the court, despite being surrounded by the three Princesses of Equestria.

“That’s a lot of bits. So Celestia – “ Twilight turned to the white alicorn with a little bit of an attitude gained from the previous cases “- what happened to the money?”

“The money was never withdrawn from the treasury.” Celestia replied

“So, where is it?

Celestia balked a bit at the follow up “I don’t know?”

“You don’t know? Are there no records? Records are kept of every bit spent by the government. I know that, I’ve studied them personally!”

“There are records, I just didn’t think I would need the records with me...” Celestia mumbled a little, not used to being caught on the backhoof. She had thought the opening questions would be directed at her sister, not herself.

“Didn’t need records?” Twilight almost scoffed “Did you forget you were coming to court today? You, more than anypony knows our system run on records, that’s why we keep such good ones! If you haven’t got the exact figures, do you know what generally happened to the bits?”

Celestia tried to recompose herself “Well, I didn’t spend any of it. It would have stayed in the general central budget to be spent on things for the good of Equestria!”

“So Luna’s allowance was just spent?”

“Yes, on things like on the school for gifted unicorns...” Celestia said with a little smirk

However, Twilight saw right thought that emotional ploy “Look, you may be older and wiser than me, but this right here is my court, so don’t try to get cute with me.”

Luna and Celestia both looked at the newly crowned Princess with a little astonishment and Twilight herself internally cringed on how she had just addressed the ruler of the country and was about to apologise when a voice spoke out first

“Sorry Princess Sparkle” Celestia replied, inwardly proud that her student had grown enough to act as a leader when required. This made everypony in the audience a little stunned that both Twilight could speak to their main monarch like that, and equally stunned in turn that Celestia apologised.

“Right, so the moneys gone into the general Equestria spend. Why didn’t you put the money aside for your sister?”

“Um…” Celestia blanked, having not really thought that through.

“Um isn’t an answer!” Twilight replied after a few seconds

“Sorry Princess, I don’t have a good reason”

Twilight turned to the younger sister “Is there anything you want to add?”

Luna looked happy with how things were heading so far “No Princess Sparkle”

“Now, are you sure you want me to move onto your counter claim?” Twilight raised her eyebrows as she spoke, growing a little confident.

Celestia shuffled on her hooves a little nervously “Yes”

“Okay, this is going to be short. I’ve seen the damage to the Castle having gone there myself to battle Nightmare Moon, and more recently to read some of the ancient tomes. It is very clear to any visitors that since the battle between you and your sister that no attempts have been made to maintain the place, let alone try to fix it up. Having had a thousand years to do so, I don’t think that you’ve suddenly changed your mind to get the place spruced up, and you’ve just put in the counter-claim because your sister took you to court.”

Twilight saw Celestia’s face drop a little, but knew she had to ignore the fact she was hurting her friend and had to continue as an impartial ruler “However, more importantly, even if the place was to be fixed up it would not be done out of your own pocket but out of funds set aside for preserving historical movement’s Therefore, your counterclaim is dismissed” Twilight finished a little abruptly, much to Celestia’s surprise and Luna’s amusement.

Twilight turned to the plaintiff “Luna, Celestia has not put together a good defence for not putting your allowance to one side. You therefore might have been due an award to your claim on the basis of her not fulfilling her obligations as head of the treasury in putting that money to one side”

Princes Luna lit up a little as she thought she was about to be ruled in her favour, but Twilight carried on “However, this is a court of equitability and there is information I know that is pertinent to the case. Celestia may have forgotten about it all those years ago, or probably tried to forget it anyway”

Twilight looked a little nervous as she continued “I’ve seen a magical flashback of the night of your banishment to the moon…“ which caused a mummer in the courtroom “Quieten down!” she instructed, before continuing “It was only a few months ago for me so I remember it clearly. You declared yourself no longer as Luna, but instead as Nightmare Moon. In doing…”

Luna thought about protesting that one “But…”

“Don’t interrupt me when I’m talking!” Twilight cut of her, cringing a little as she talked over the older and more powerful alicorn, and so softened her voice to make a point “And in doing, in accordance with the laws of Equestria at that age, you forsook your place as a Princess along with any rights, allowances or anything else. Celestia therefore wasn’t negligent in not putting the funds to one side.”

Twilight tried to smile at Luna, worried about how she was taking this “So, as long as the allowance was reinstated when the elements of harmony restored you?”

“It was, Princess” Luna replied a little more meekly than previously.

“And you took none of the funds for yourself?” she turned to Celestia

“No, Princess” the elder confirmed.

“Then I’m afraid there has been no personal gain to the defendant, and Princess Luna –“ Twilight carefully highlighted the words “- has been given everything that’s due to her in accordance with the law. Therefore your claim is dismissed, and I’ve already dismissed the counter claim.”

“Goodbye, have a happy life and please don't banish me to the moon or sun for my verdict” Twilight stood up and left her chair as quick as possible.

Spike stepped forwards and pointed to the back of the hall “If you would like to step out, er, Princesses…” he ordered very nervously…

Outside the courtroom/town hall the Cutie Mark Crusaders, acting as journalists for the Foal Free Press were waiting for the sisters.

“Well, it’s obviously not the outcome I wanted, but I understand Princess Twilight’s decision on the matter”

“I’m glad Princess Twilight understood the position we were in”

“Of course I’m disappointed that I didn’t win, but her decision was an equitable one as she said.

“The counter-claim was a little silly, but really it was insurance in case Twilight had found against me”

“Of course I love my sister and I didn’t want to come to court, but it seemed the best way of resolving this once and for all!”

“I’m glad we can just put this behind us and move on!”

Having finished giving her comments to Sweetie Belle, Celestia picked up a package she had left with one of guards and trotted over to Luna who was finishing up with Apple Bloom, floating the gift-wrapped box infront of the younger sibling.

“Whats this?” Luna asked a little surprised

“Open it up and find out silly!” Celestia replied in that warm way only a older sibling can.

Luna took the object in her Aura, placed it on the ground and ripped open the box. “A XBoxPone?” Luna squeed “Oh Tia, thank you thank you thank you” she gushed and rushed to give the larger alicorn a huge hug

“From my savings, not general taxation” Celestia made sure Sweetie Belle noted for the report as she was bear hugged by her sister. Luna quickly realised she was acting a little childishly infront of her subjects so released her sister, put on her usual frown and adjusted the crown ontop of her head. However, the big smile on her sisters face was contagious and Celestia was smiling just as much at making her sister so happy.

“Oh, forget it!” Luna declared and started bouncing around the present like a filly on heaths warming day, before noticing a pink pony joining in with her.

“I have no idea what I’m celebrating, but this calls for a party!” Pinkie declared.