The Trials of Rainbow Dash

Rainbow shifted uncomfortably in her chair as she watched her friend Twilight ascend to the podium in the court room. She’s landing awkwardly. Rainbow thought to herself. And her center of balance in flight is all off. She mentally kicked herself. Stop bagging on her, Rainbow. She couldn’t stop. She knew she couldn’t and wouldn’t stop. It was one of the only things she could focus on other than the tension of the courtroom and the utter disdain and malice of the prosecutor scowling at her from across the court.

The prosecutor was fixing her with a cold, unnerving stare. It made Rainbow shudder. She tried to look down to avoid the shame and guilt it projected onto her, but she could feel it being drilled in. Rainbow gulped. This is all my own fault. I deserve this. Twilight, please don’t do it. I deserve a harsh sentence. As this thought crossed her mind, she heard Twilight clear her throat on top of the podium.

“I, Princess Twilight Sparkle, hereby do declare that the princesses of Equestria have met and discussed the crime of the accused, Miss Rainbow Dash, and we have concluded that she, on account of her not being of sound mind due to grief, should be pardoned from any jail sentences here in Cloudsdale. Due to this decision, she is hereby exempt from any further trials. Miss Rainbow Dash shall be required to make a public apology and pay for the damages that her vandalism caused. These will be her only punishments. This decision is finalized, and this decree is effective immediately.”

The entire courtroom erupted into protest. The entire jury seemed to be in a frenzy. The spectators groaned and stamped their hooves in disapproval. The prosecutor knocked her chair over as she marched forward to protest.

“This is a violation of rights!” The prosecutor cried. “Cloudsdale should have the right to punish her for her damage to the weather factory!”

“Yeah, we deserve to have her put on trial at least; even if she isn’t found guilty!” One of the spectators added.

The jury stamped their hooves in agreement and raved about the inherent unfairness of the court case's cancellation. All the while, the prosecutor bitterly raved about the weather factory, the damage to the machinery, the inherent danger the workers were in, the danger the citizens of Ponyville had been in, and the complete and total rashness and irresponsibility of one mare. Rainbow winced at every protest the ponies made to Twilight’s proclamation. Twilight herself seemed startled by the sudden outburst of resistance, but after several minutes of shock, she regained her composure.

“Everypony, please, remain-” she was interrupted by a jury member walking up to the podium to protest the decision. Many others followed. Trying to listen and respond to them all at once was practically impossible.

“This is insanity!” one screamed.

“Yes! A complete and utter abuse of the legal systems in place!” another agreed.

“Now, I understand you’re upset, but-” Twilight was once again cut off.

The prosecutor had flown up to give Twilight a piece of her mind, saying, “You are a sorry excuse for a ruler. How dare you use your influence to excuse a friend when you know that she is guilty!”

“ I beg your pardon,” Twilight responded. “There’s no reason to go insulting my leader-”

She was interrupted by a spectator who screamed, “She endangered lives! You can’t just excuse her for that!”

“And she has saved many more as an Equestrian hero!” Twilight argued as she began to get annoyed with constantly getting cut off. “This is-”

“I’ll tell you what it is, a disgrace!” a pony from the jury yelled.

“This is-”

“This is ridiculous!” another concurred.

“It’s none of your concern, quite-”

“She should be brought to justice!” !” another concurred.

“ Well, I-”

“Agreed! She needs to be brought to justice!” the prosecutor yelled.

“ENOUGH!”

The entire courtroom fell into silence as Twilight burst into white, hot flames in her anger and commanded everyone’s attention using the Royal Canterlot voice.

“Did you not here my proclamation? The decision is FINAL! By order of the Equestria’s princesses, I declare this case DISMISSED! Any further objections are INCONSEQUENTIAL and shall be dismissed accordingly!”

No one dared speak after the outburst. Spectators began to file out of the courtroom, shaking their heads in disappointment as they went. The judge dismissed himself. Anyone left in the courtroom gathered their things and voiced their opinions in the form of low grumbles to one another. Rainbow Dash, who was inwardly shaken from the experience, kept her composure on the outside with an emotionless, flat mouthed expression. As she rose to go meet Twilight, she was met with the angry face of the prosecutor and her companions.

Bitter contempt was evident on the prosecutor’s face as she said, “You, Rainbow Dash, are a DISGRACE! How dare you use your connections and your heroic status to wiggle out of affairs when you are at fault! How can you even live with yourself? You betrayed Cloudsdale, Rainbow Dash!”

A flash of an expression crossed Rainbow’s face as she struggled to hide her emotions. She’s right. I betrayed Cloudsdale and everyone in it. I deserve the trial. She took a step back from the prosecutor, but fought with every fiber to stare her calmly in the eye without cowering.

“Well, go on! What do you have to say for your actions, Miss Rainbow Dash?” The prosecutor exclaimed mockingly as she advanced toward Rainbow. “What do you have to say for yourself, TRAITOR?!”

“That’s enough!” Twilight exclaimed.

She flew down from the podium and landed directly between the prosecutor and Rainbow. She stood protectively in front of Rainbow Dash while glaring down the prosecutor with an intensity that could only be rivaled by the Stare,

“You have no right to talk to Rainbow Dash like this. No one has the right to call this loyal mare, who has risked her life for Equestria on multiple occasions, a traitor. I kindly suggest that you remove yourself from the premise." Twilight said coldly. “Now.”

The prosecutor’s companions moved to leave, but the prosecutor herself stayed put. When she did move, she managed to shoot a glare past Twilight and directly at Rainbow Dash, who was now visibly shaken.

“This isn’t over,” she spat coldly.

“On the contrary,” Twilight spat back with a note of disdain in her voice. “I believe this is over indefinitely.”

The prosecutor huffed and trotted out the doors of the court building with her companions. Twilight relaxed as she watched her leave. She turned and faced Rainbow Dash, a look of concern on her face.

“Are you okay, Rainbow?”

The look of concern bothered Rainbow, and she fought to control her emotions inwardly as she lied, “I’m just fine, Twilight.”

Twilight sighed and gave a sympathetic smile. She had known Rainbow long enough to see right through the tough act she was putting on. She stepped forward and raised her wing.

“Come on. Let’s go,” she beckoned.

Rainbow moved to walk alongside Twilight. Twilight placed her wing over Rainbow comfortingly as they exited the court building. As they walked, Rainbow Dash mentally kicked herself over and over again.

Traitor. The word echoed in Rainbow’s skull. She’s right. I am a traitor. She sighed and lowered her head as she walked. Even after leaving Cloudsdale to join her friends down in Ponyville, the guilt of what she had done ate at her. I deserved the trial, I deserved the court case, and I deserve the guilt. She sighed inwardly as she faked content among her friends at Sugar Cube Corners. I’m a sorry excuse for the element of loyalty…