Judge Twilight Sparkle

All the ponies in the room fell into a hush as the next two parties made there way to the front of Twilight’s courtroom – half filled with the overriding feelings of love, the other feeling like all the love in the room had been drained from them.

"Ruler of the Crystal Empire, Princess Mi Amore “Cadence” Cadenza, is suing ruler of the Changeling Empire, Queen Chrysalis Black, for a ruined wedding. Chrysalis says it was an act of war.”

Spike approached Twilight “Princess, this is case number five fifty two on the calendar, in the matter of Cadenza verses Black, all parties have been sworn in, you may be seated, Sir please take a seat”

“Twilight looked over the two fellow alicorn’s in front of her, feeling rather nervous of another important case – or at least another case with important members. “Queen Chrysalis, in accordance with international customs, I should refer to you by your full title as ‘Queen Chrysalis of the Changeling Empire’. However, in keeping with the Equestrian court system, and to keep things simpler, can I refer to you as just Chrysalis?”

“That would be acceptable” the changeling replied a little curtly

“And Princess Cadence, I presume it would be no slight on the Crystal Empire if I was to do the same towards you?”

“Of course not, Princess Sparkle” the warm voice of Twilights sister in law floated out across the courtroom.

“Thank you. Now, before starting on the matter of the case, I want to remind everypony present that Queen Chrysalis has agreed to return to Equestria under a flag of truce I have extended to her for this case and for peace talks. Nopony will raise arms or spells against her under my, and my fellow Princesses, direct orders.”

“Thank you Princess Twilight Sparkle, I trust your word that I will be well treated during my visit” Chrysalis replied a little more warmly this time. It was a risk coming back to Equestria, but the opportunity to negotiate peace and trade with the ponies was too tempting not to at least try. Of course she had to navigate this 'trail' first.

“Of course” Twilight half smiled at the former enemy, one of those smiles that says I may be smiling, but you know how I feel! “But back to the case. Cadence, you are suing Chrysalis for five thousand bits. You claim that she ruined your wedding and that you want her to pay damages for doing so.”

Twilight turned to the other side of the court “Chrysalis, you have a rather interesting defence in that you claim this was an act of war, and so cannot be a civil court matter. Am I correct that is your defence?”

“Yes Princess Twilight”

Twilight turned back to the pink princess “Okay Cadence, please explain what happened.”

“Well, basically she ruined mine and Shining’s wedding and I want damages for her doing so!”

“That’s summarising Cadence, please explain how exactly” Noticing her former foalsitters bemused look, Twilight filled in “I know the story may be well known, but the court record needs to be complete.”

“Sorry Princess. About a year ago, two weeks before my wedding day, Chrysalis foalnapped me and imprisoned me in the caves below Canterlot, casting a spell to drain my power. She then proceeded to copy my form and take my place. She also brainwashed Shining Armour via spells, and planned to take over all of Canterlot. It was only when you bravely saved me…”

Chrysalis started to protest but Twilight turned to the changeling “Be quiet, you will have you chance to response” and then turned back to the Crystal Princess “Cadence, continue but please just stick to the facts, no editorising please.”

“Sorry, Princess” both parties said in unison.

Cadence stood up tall and continued “Only due to the intervention of Twilight Sparkle was I able to escape from the caves, and with the help of the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony, and my now husband, we managed to defeat the changeling invasion”

“Thank you Cadence. Chrysalis, whilst I’m sure you will disagree with perhaps some of the emotive wording, is that basically the events that took place?”

“Ummmm…” Chrysalis hummed

“Ummmm is not an answer” Twilight replied a little huffily.

“Sorry, Princess, that was the sequence of events up to that point I am aware”

“So, Chrysalis, your defence is that your actions were a hostile act of war, and therefore you cannot be tried. Unfortunately, whilst that would protect you normally, you are making one mistake in your assumption. When and to whom did you declare war?”

“I don’t understand?” Chrysalis looked up to Twilight with a little concern

“Well, let me fill you in!” Twilight scowled a little at the changeling “To be covered because you claim it was act of war, you would have to be at war with Equestria...”

“Which I was!” the Queen replied

Twilight ignored the interruption “However, this was a sneak attack with no forewarning, in a time of peace for this nation. Therefore, the war did not start until you showed your true form and declared you plan, and your actions before this cannot be covered by the protections of war!”

The Queen snarled at hearing this, and before Twilight could respond a purple movement caught her eye. Her court bailiff was making his way over to the changeling, and stood in front of her. “Respect the Princess, okay?” Spike stared up at her, his arms crossed and taking the most authoritative pose he could.

The changeling looked down at the small dragon, but whilst he was small there was a burning passion in his eyes, one she knew every dragon had – the passion of protection. Most dragons protected their hoards with a fiery vengeance, but obviously this whelp was bound to protect the Princess. Chrysalis knew better than to get on the wrong side of any dragon, no matter what size it was, so stopped snarling,

Twilight held her head high, and her wings expanded a little “If you continue to interrupt, I will rule in the plaintiffs favour without hesitation, do you understand Ms Black?”

“Sorry, Princess Twilight” Chrysalis replied, trying to smile in a meaningful rather then evil way.

Twilight turned back to Cadence “After you two defeated the changelings, then what happened?”

“And then? Well, a few days later we got married,” Cadence replied, looking over to her husband.

“I see, so what exactly are you suing for? You got married, nopony was permanently injured or effected, and you are now living happily forever after in a Crystal Castle in your own kingdom. That's most little filly's dream come true!”

“Yes, but the wedding was delayed!”

“Did that delay cost you anything?”

Cadence had to think for a moment “There was no cost, all the ponies such as Rarity who made my dress, did so for free. But the wedding was disrupted and had to be re-planned.”

“But you did get married. Did anything go wrong because of the delay” and looking with affection towards her sister in law, Twilight added “And just because I helped organise it please feel free to be honest.”

“Actually, thanks to you and your friends it was even better than we originally planned. I didn’t want a formal wedding reception like was planned the first time, and Pinkie’s version was much more fun!”

“Thank you. You see the problem, Cadence, is you need to demonstrate to me damages, and I am having difficulty finding a single thing to award damages against”

The Queen looked most stunned by this revelation, expecting the trail to be a bit of a one-sided sham, as part of public punishment before the peace talks could begin.

“You got married, and had a great time. It may have been delayed a couple days, but you had the wedding you wanted. The ponies helping to organise it may have lost out on a few days work if they weren’t employed by the crown, but then you cannot sue on their behalf.”

“This may not make me very popular around my family’s dinner table next time I visit, but you have no lost wages, you had a wonderful wedding and cannot demonstrate to this court damages to justify a claim”.

“She brainwashed and kissed my husband!” Cadence threw her arms wide as she spoke.

“Mrs Cadenza, whilst I’m never going to defend what Chrysalis did, that is not a civil matter. If Shining Armour wanted to bring a criminal case forwards on that basis then that might be acceptable, but you can’t sue for that!”

Hearing that his wife’s case not going well, Shining thought about getting up and Twilight saw the stallion shift in his seat from the corner of her eye. “Prince Armour, do you have anything to add that hasn’t already been covered that will make a difference? Bear in mind that I know during most of these events you were incapacitated by magic.”

“No Twiley…I mean No Princess Sparkle” Shining Armour stay sat, realising he didn’t actually know what happened, only what he had been told.

“Then there’s no need for you to get involved. I understand your desire to help your wife, but you cannot bear witness to any of these events.”

Twilight turned back to Cadence “However, you were imprisoned against your will for two week. Whilst there are no monetary damages for that, as you don’t have a paid job, I think that anypony would agree that some form of recompense would be just.”

Turning to the other side of the court, she continued “Chrysalis, do you feel sorry for disrupting the wedding?”

The changeling seemed a little stunned at the question “I am not going to apologise for what I thought was required for my swarm!”

“That’s not what I asked” Twilight snapped “I’m not asking about if you regret the invasion, which you probably do just because you were defeated. I asked if you felt sorry for disrupting the wedding, a once in a lifetime event for this pairing?”

The changeling looked over to the pair of ponies, Shining scowling at her and Cadence feeling a little confused. She looked back up at Twilight who was radiating confidence and authority, the signs of a true ruler. “Not that it means anything…but yes, in retrospect, I would have preferred not to disrupt that particular event”

“And do you therefore feel that it would be a nice gesture to make up for that in some way?”

“No! I was thrown tens of thousands of hooves through the air and suffered injury when I finally fell to the ground!”

Twilights wings expanded again “But you haven’t filed a counter-claim, so that is irrelevant. Besides, if it was an act of war as you say in your defence, then you can’t claim for personal injury. And given that Shining and Cadence’s defence spell was after the official declaration of war, then they are covered by the provisions of war, unlike your actions!”

The court was surprisingly quiet as they processed just how well Twilight could tear apart anypony’s defence, and felt lucky that she was a princess rather then a lawyer. Regaining her composure over her wings, Twilight continued “Chrysalis, you have been a leader of your subjects through some very difficult times.”

Chrysalis was disarmed by the compliment “Thank you Princess”

“But surely even in your society, there must be some form of justice, if not formal then in common fairness. Therefore, I think it would be just if you, and a hooveful of your drones, would help with the repair efforts in the Crystal Empire for two weeks. This would allow them to spend a few weeks closer together with less and is only the same time you kept Cadence from her fiancé.  I cannot enforce this order unless you agree to it, and I think you should carefully consider this compromise before responding.”

Chrysalis pondered what Twilight was offering – it was an opportunity for her to show the ponies who she was eager to have peace with how willing the changeling was to try to make it work. She realised just how clever Twilight had been, making the offer as it was being televised around the whole country, forcing her hand a little.

“It is…agreeable”

Twilight smiled to the changeling with nothing but genuine kindness “Thank you Ms Black. Cadence, you claim is dismissed in its current form, but it is my judgement that Chrysalis will, within five months and at a time suitable for both the Crystal Empire and her swarm, come and assist in the rebuilding of the empire. That is all!”

Twilight stood up and trotted out her courtroom. Spike stepped forwards and pointed to the back of the hall “If you would like to step out, your highnesses…” he ordered much more boldly than he had the first time he had asked royalty. Both of the fellow immortals slowly walked out of court, a little confused if they had both won…or both lost.

Outside Twilights courtroom the Cutie Mark Crusaders were still waiting to see if they could get there journalistic Cutie Marks and were waiting for the parties, arguing over who would get to interviewing the beautiful Princess of Love, and which the evil Changeling Queen.

Well, I’m disappointed not to have won the case outright

Whilst I don’t agree with all the decisions Twilight made, I’m glad I don’t have to pay any bits

Queen Chrysalis did keep me away from my wonderful husband for two weeks, but thanks to the bearers of the elements, it all work out fine in the end

I suppose it’s only fair that I make up for my actions to Princess Cadence

I’m surprised Princess Twilight Sparkle found against me and her own brother, but I guess she ruled what was fair and in accordance with the law.

Princess Twilight Sparkle was very fair despite our own personal history, a sign of a true leader.

If the changelings come and helps rebuild the Crystal Empire, I suppose that’s a start at building a new friendship!

Having finished their interviews, the two slowly approached each other. The actions were filled with distrust and tension, with some guards and Shining Armour ready to pounce at the first sign of trouble, but the historic moment of the first hoofshake between a Princess and the ruler of the changelings happened without incident.