Battery

The door opened and Twilight and Detective Benson entered Nyx's room, where her visitors were still there. The former wore a small smile, partially forced because of what was coming up for her daughter, and she wasn't entirely pleasant with the thought.

Tails could see right through it, having seen such an expression from others, and having done so himself on a small number of occasions. He knew that their visiting time was almost over, and decided to wait until the opportune moment for he and a few others would take their leave, Cosmo and himself returning to Twilight's castle until the next day.

Nyx, who was still surrounded by Cosmo and her three best friends, looked at her mother with a smile, happy to see her return. "Are you done talking to Olivia, Mom?" she asked. Her mother nodded and hummed a confirming answer.

"We were just talkin' about somethin' new for Nyx to do durin' Twilight Time, and we wanted to see if it was possible," Apple Bloom said.

"Yeah," added Scootaloo, saying determinedly. "Nyx should try learning super alicorn magic! She can have superpowers like what you had against that big bully Tirek, or even go Super Saiyapony or something. That way if anypony tries to mess with anypony else, and since Nyx's cutie mark means she'll help protect everyone, she can be prepared to-"

"No, girls, I won't teach her that," Twilight said, some firmness in her tone.

"I'm sorry, Twilight," Cosmo said to her friend, "I tried to tell them about how your powers then were from the combined magic of you and the other princesses, but it seems only Nyx and Sweetie Belle could understand that."

"It's quite alright. You're right, I managed to accomplish such powerful magic because I had the power of four alicorns with me at the time. But even if Nyx had such abilities, she needs to learn to handle her magic naturally and maturely, and that means waiting to learn to use it."

"See, I told you!" Sweetie Belle taunted to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, neither taking that easily.

"Hey, we're just watching out for Nyx!" Scootaloo argued.

"Chill out, Scoots," Rainbow Dash told her. "It isn't magic that keeps ponies safe. It's good friends watching each other's back to bring out the magic to keep ponies safe."

Twilight just stared at the cyan pegasus stunned, nearly dumbfounded. It never fails to feel that way with what can come out of that pony's mouth from time to time, even for Pinkie Pie, the most dumbfounding pony in all of Equestria (or the entire dimension according to members of Team JAG). With what Rainbow would call 'sappy' or having some 'feels,' it just flowed out of her as if it was nothing for the 'coolest pony in Ponyville.' After mentally shaking the stun out of her, she addressed to everyone what had to happen.

"If I may interrupt," she said, making her way into the conversation, "Nyx, Olivia here needs to ask you a few questions. Unfortunately, that also involves privacy..."

Nyx's face fell saddened and scared, knowing her friends' time with her was up. Trying to speak bravely, she asked "D-do I have to answer them alone?"

Olivia shook her head as she replied "No, Nyx. Your mother, and only her, is welcome to stay with you. However, I'll need you to answer my questions yourself, with your own words."

"Okay," replied the filly weakly. She then found herself pulled into a brief but tight hug to the side from her Seedrian friend. Welcoming it, she hugged in return by wrapping her forelegs around her waist.

"We'll see you tomorrow when you're released, Nyx, right outside the front doors," Cosmo said to her sweetly. "If there's anything you might need, just call for us and we'll be here in a flash."

"And that goes double for us," Sweetie Belle added, including Nyx's trio of Crusader friends in the promise.

Tails, putting a hand on Cosmo's shoulder to break apart the hug, wore a forced but kind smile and said "Come on, let's leave them be and get going. We have to get you Crusaders back to your homes anyway, or your families are going to wonder where you are."

Knowing there was no way arguing against it, the trio just nodded and let their ears flop down, sad to leave their friend at what felt too soon. In an attempt to cheer them up, Twilight offered them a suggestion that they could do with Nyx a couple days after returning home: a slumber party. The fillies' attitudes turned around so quick that their excitement began to explode, and Tails had to begin to try and force them out of the room peacefully, even relying on the smallest fraction of his power to do so. Fortunately, getting them out the door wasn't as hard as one would predict, if Twilight didn't suggest the slumber party of course, as Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo said 'goodbye' and 'see you tomorrow' as they trotted out of the room.

Tails and Cosmo followed, the latter getting up off of Nyx's bed when her loved one began to corral the Crusaders. She stepped up to Detective Benson first, saying it was nice to become acquainted and wishing her the best of luck in her investigations. She then stepped over to Twilight, both the Seedrian and alicorn wearing friendly, caring smiles, and the former leaned down for a hug, to which the latter welcomed with her right hoof wrapped around her friend.

"Thanks for coming here," Twilight said. "It means so much for you to do that."

"Of course," replied Cosmo, breaking off the hug. "Is there anything at your castle or around Ponyville that we can for you before tomorrow?"

"You've done more than enough already. Make yourselves comfortable at the castle," said Twilight. She then decided to enlist her number one assistant's services to her friends, and looked over at him. "Spike, why don't you go with them and relax yourself? You deserve it as much as anyone else, and if Tails and Cosmo need anything, please help however you can."

Spike didn't hear a word Twilight had said. He didn't even hear the sounds of the CMC or Tails and Cosmo. He was out cold the entire time, sleeping in a nearby chair and sleeping like a rock, something he occasionally manages to pull off no matter what would be going on. The only reason no one mentioned about him was because both Tails and Cosmo noticed him asleep and decided that their arrival was no need to interrupt his favorite relaxing pastime.

Twilight rolled her eyes in an unsurprising motion, not so disappointed that he didn't hear her as she felt foolish of even trying. Knowing what was about to happen, she knew she needed him to go back home and allow all privacy possible, so she would have to wake up the sleeping 'beast.' She then heard a chuckle come from her two-tailed fox friend, who walked over and picked him up into his arm.

"Don't worry, Twilight," Tails said, "we'll get him back to the castle." He then walked back out into the hall to the three waiting fillies and said "I need everypony together, a hoof on each shoulder with one hoof on my hip, please."

Knowing what he had planned, Cosmo walked over to him and rested a hand on his shoulder. The Cutie Mark Crusaders did as Tails requested, and the group found themselves all connected, in a way of speaking. Using his free hand, Tails held two of his fingers up as the others clenched in his palm, and set the two fingertips at the center of his forehead. With a concentrated stare in his eyes, he focused himself until he found a satisfying mental image of a location.

"See you tomorrow, guys, and we're glad to see you safe, Nyx," Tails said, and before a reply could be made, the group of six disappeared in thin air.

This left the four ponies in the room, with Rainbow Dash knowing that she would have to exit next. Judging by the detective's tone before, she couldn't stay with Twilight and support Nyx in explaining what had happened. She was stubborn at times, but she did know better when it was best to stand firm on her hooves against whatever or whoever opposes her. In this case, going against Detective Benson - an officer of Celestia's decision - was not a time for that.

"Guess I should get out of here, too," Rainbow said. "I still have to talk to Detective Benson later anyway, so I'm heading to the lobby."

"Rainbow Dash, would you like to wait in the private room? You've been here longer than anypony else, and more than welcome to stay in there," Twilight offered to her friend.

Before the cyan mare could reply, a loud rumbling sounded from her stomach. Dedicating her time to staying with Nyx and Twilight didn't leave too much room for her to get a decent meal, or a full meal for that matter. All she really thought about was being with her friends and staying beside the mare that she felt strongly for... Or about.

Repressing a chuckle from coming out, Twilight stood beside her friend and said "I think you could go for a bite to eat. Why don't you go by the Hayburger? I have some bits that Spike brought over to help cover hospital expenses that you can us, if you wouldn't mind picking some up for us when you come back."

Without even a moment of thought, Rainbow replied "No thanks. I'm not leaving here until Nyx does tomorrow. I'll just go find the hospital's cafeteria and grab something there." She couldn't help but let out an unpleasing shiver down her spine, thinking of the somewhat edible food the hospital offers for meals and how it took more energy to suck it down than the meals did to fuel her.

A slightly confused look crossed the purple mare's face. "Well, alright, if that's what you want to do." She let her expression become more relaxed with a gentle smile and added "if there's anything I could do for you..."

"Nah, not for me. You need to focus on Nyx right now, not me," Rainbow said. Her conscious began to cringe about what she just said, but that subsided for what was more important. She began to make her way out the door, but not before turning her head back towards the three ponies to say "I'll see you guys in a little while, and you're in good hooves with the detective, Nyx." She then made her way out of the room, shutting the door behind her and began walking down the hall, but her head having fallen. She felt a little defeated, thinking about what she just said to Twilight.

As the door shut, Olivia turned her sights over to Nyx. She saw the filly looked nervous, as any victim would, but she knew that part of her job was to help relieve nervousness, and whether she would be successful or not was always up for chance. With an attempted kind smile, she stepped over to the right side of Nyx's bed, and Twilight took the opposite side.

"Alright, Nyx," said the detective with a tone that was soft but firm at the same time. "I want you to answer my questions as honest as you can, and explain everything that happened at Night Stone Castle from what you remember. Can you do that for me?"

"I- I can try," Nyx replied nervously.

The filly grew more and more tense as the next several silent seconds passed. She knew she had to talk about it, to remember what exactly took place, but she didn't want to. It wasn't unfamiliar for her to fear the thought of pony after pony approaching her and wanting to attack her for the actions of the reincarnated Nightmare Moon, and she couldn't blame ponies for feeling that way towards her. To have it actually happen, to have the protection of her princess mother and so many friends attempted but left incapacitated, it hurt her heart too much to face.

Olivia spoke again, trying to be firm but reasonable at the same time. "Nyx, I need your statement to help my investigations and our case. I know you're a strong little pony who wants to protect others, so please be that now to help protect yourself, and protect your family and friends, too."

Twilight wrapped a forearm around Nyx's upper back to help comfort her daughter. She didn't enjoy forcing Nyx to do anything she didn't want to do, and after the first Hearth's Warming with the then two new alicorn additions to her family, Twilight stopped doing that. But in this case, there was no choice in the matter, and she was always a pony who would support justice when needed.

"You can do it, Nyx," she said. "I know it's hard, but we need you to talk about it."

Looking up at her mother saying that, Nyx remained tense, but searched in her heart for her inner strength. After a moment of silence, and a long deep breath, she found enough of a relaxing feeling to find the needed motivation. "Okay," she said softly, and then turned back to the detective. "How do I start?"

"Let's start from when you first arrived at your castle," Olivia replied.

"Alright," said the filly, and then she began.

"It was Rainbow Dash, my mom and me, and we found the group of ponies outside of my- well, Nightmare Moon's castle, Night Stone Castle. They were there listening to the one pony who said I was dangerous, a monster and a criminal. He said that I Bl-Blessed everypony to believe I was still a good pony, but I am a good pony. He said the Elements of Harmony were betraying ponies for me, but they really support me, and nopony more than my mom.

"Mom tried to reason to them, and much calmer than I thought she would. I was starting to cry before she did, hating what that pony was saying about me, and my family. But when it didn't work, I couldn't hear it anymore. I stood up for myself and my family, begging him to stop saying all those lies, but he didn't, and he... He hit me!"

Nyx began to tear up and gently cry, but the more she talked, the harder her crying became. "He punched me, and used his magic to throw me at the other p-ponies. They all kept on hitting me. They punched me, they kicked me, they stomped on me, they j-just kept going on and on. I tried asking them to stop, but I couldn't. Th-they just kept hitting me so much, and I could barely breathe! I thought they were going to kill me, and I felt like I would... I would...

"I felt I was going to die! All I could feel was pain, and I couldn't tell if they even stopped. Th-the last thing I remembered, I c-could hear my mom panicking as I was somehow m-moving. And then... And then I woke up here."

Nyx stopped herself there and tried to control her crying. After having explained all of that, it left a painful feeling inside her and she had to let it out, all that she could. Twilight used the leg she had wrapped around her to pull her close, the filly nestling herself in the crook of her mother's neck and sobbing.

Detective Benson took her time writing down some notes in her notebook, allowing Nyx the opportunity to become more collected before being asked more questions. What she had heard was matching up to what statements she gathered from the other ponies interviewed or interrogated, with the addition of what the ordeal had caused the filly to be. Her notes were brief, but she did use a couple pages’ worth of space to record the statement. Following that, she flipped to another blank page and jotted down a few key words that would help her connect all of the statements together, a better attempt to put together her puzzle of information.

By the time she placed her pencil back into the notepad's coil, Nyx's crying had decreased from audible to fairly silent, the soothing sound of her mother's nurturing voice having a hoof in calming down the filly. This was her opportunity to ask more questions, regardless to her dislike of possibly upsetting a foal even further. "That was brave of you to tell me, Nyx, but can you tell me a couple more things?"

"Like... What?" Nyx asked.

"Well," said Olivia, cautioning what words to say next, "it's about your former identity, and what they did. Did anypony who hurt you formerly become... 'Blessed' by Nightmare Moon?"

Nyx's eyes widened at the question, and Twilight was shocked as well. The thought of that never even crossed their minds, and it would explain a lot about the ponies who took part in that protest. Unfortunately, it was so long ago, and neither could recognize those who were Blessed, even though Nyx saw several of them such as Spell Nexus and several of the guards before she removed the Blessing from everypony. Other than possibly remembering a couple of the Ponyville citizens, the filly couldn't recall everypony specifically.

"I- I don't know," Nyx finally answered, very unsure. "I don't remember every pony that was Blessed."

"That's alright, Nyx," replied the detective, and she took quick and brief notes. "How about the ponies from around Ponyville? Did you recognize anyone from here?" The filly shook her head negatively. "Okay then. Now, I need to explain to you and your mother one of the procedures that we'll need help with from you."

"What procedure?" Twilight asked, an eyebrow arched in confusion.

The detective explained with "We will put ponies in lineups, each holding a different number. If you, Nyx, can immediately recognize any of the ponies, all you'll have to do is point them out by saying the number they would hold. These would be the ponies who attacked and hurt you. Would you be able to do that for us?"

Almost immediately did Nyx reply with "No. I can't."

"Are you afraid to do that, Nyx?"

"It's not just that. I can barely remember anything after they b-began to hit me. I don't know their names, or their faces. I c-can only remember Silver Lining, because I yelled right at his face, but I couldn't point out any other pony."

Olivia felt some disappointment in what the filly said. Pointing out the specific ponies would make the case all the easier for her, the Sparkle family, and everypony involved in general. Nyx's uncertainty meant that the wrong ponies would be pointed out, making the actual ponies involved an easier chance of being pardoned of their own actions without harder evidence to support the case. Nonetheless, there was the one open door she had to work with.

"Nyx, would you still be willing to at least try helping me this way? It doesn't have to be the moment you leave the hospital tomorrow, but the sooner we can do this, the better chance we can make sure those ponies never hurt you again," Olivia kindly pleaded.

Unsure of what to do, Nyx looked up at Twilight, in hopes she would help provide an answer for her. The purple mare looked back down at her daughter, trying to hide her uncertainty that her eyes couldn't hide.

"Will she be permitted to have me there next to her?" Twilight asked.

The detective then explained "Yes, but we would have to exclude you from doing the same thing yourself. You and Nyx would have to do it at separate times, and in most cases I would have to make it strict that you couldn't, but given your position in Equestria, I can adjust actions only so much."

"I want to be by Nyx's side for this, so I'm afraid that means my role for you is less than useful. I'm sorry, Detective," Twilight said, trying to be apologetic.

"It's quite alright, Your Highness. I understand," Olivia replied, and jotted down a couple quick notes again. "Alright, Nyx, I have just one more question for you. Have you been threatened by anypony recently before when you were attacked?"

Nyx shook her head quietly, which was all the answer left to be needed. After jotting down a last few notes in her notebook, the detective put her things back in her jacket. "That will be all for now, Nyx. Thank you for being brave and answering those questions," she said.

A wave of relief crashed over her upon hearing that. The questions were over, and it felt like it went on for so long as compared to how much time it actually took. Her body relaxed from her tense state as she slouched down a little, and then began to try and lay back on the bed's headboard, but her mother's wing still wrapped around her made that unable to be done.

Twilight then asked "Is there anything more we need to help you with for now?"

"Answering my questions was all I needed right now. I'll be returning to Canterlot soon and will stay there for a while unless something has me brought back to here. I'll make sure to have a message sent to you when we're ready for you and Nyx to come to the SVU offices," Olivia replied.

The alicorn princess nodded and said "Alright then, and thank you Detective." She then looked down and said "Say thank you, too, Nyx."

"Thank you, Detective Olivia," Nyx said.

Olivia gave the filly a kind and gentle smile, replying in return "You're very welcome, Nyx." She bowed to the princess and added "And the same to you, Princess Twilight. Rest assured that I won't let you or your family down."

"I'm sure you won't," Twilight replied.

Olivia stood back up and made her exit out of the room, leaving the two alicorns alone for some well-needed rest of their mental and emotional states. She got all the answers she could get, a lot of which would make her work on the case all the easier to serve proper justice to those deserving. But before she could fly back to Canterlot, she had one more piece of business with a certain cyan pegasus to finish with.

/)∞(\

In the castle that Twilight and her family now reside in, there is nowhere that is as quiet and tranquil as the royal library. It was the princess's personal sanctuary, shelves filled with all the books a pony could possibly imagine, and still so many open shelves yet to be filled. Unlike the old library, it was open to only a selected amount of ponies as it did not serve as a public business, but there were some exceptions.

Tails had set up a computer on a table in the library in order to contact Team JAG Headquarters. The purpose for this was to have a private conversation without any interruptions, a conversation that should be brief if nothing else but a few specific subjects would be talked about. The two-tailed hero of Mobius activated the computer and its programs that would allow interdimensional connection, and then put in the codes for the necessary connections to contact his required audience: The Master Four.

Only a minute was needed before the connections were made to allow Tails to make contact with them. The screen he was using was a hologram projection beamed from the computer itself, one large screen divided into four parts to show each of them. What came to view was Jason and Yugi in their offices at the headquarters, Ash appearing in the PLH, the Pokémon Laboratory Hub, and Gohan in one of the small and private conference halls. Each of them looped pleased to see their fox friend on the other end of their respective viewing points.

Ash spoke first with "Hey, Tails, what's up? Didn't expect to hear from you this soon."

"Hey guys," Tails replied. "We got back to Twilight's castle sooner than expected. I figured now's a better time than later to give you guys an update on what's happening here."

"How are things going?" Yugi asked.

"Good, in fact very good. Nyx will be discharged from Ponyville Hospital tomorrow morning. The doctors wanted to monitor her for the night to make sure she has recovered enough, even with Dr. Eggman's device having fully healing her already," Tails explained.

Half of the four nodded, with Gohan saying "Makes sense to me, given what Eggman told us previously. Speaking of which, where is he?"

"I'm here," said an all-familiar voice. Dr. Eggman was putting a book back on one of the shelves, having himself a good read prior to Tails's decision for a semi-private call. Knowing that concentrating on his read was no longer possible, he closed the book once the call started. "Quite the impressive collection of information Princess Twilight has here. If only she knew when enough books are indeed enough."

Choosing not to respond to his comment, Ash stated "Have you and your robots been comfortable during your time in Equestria, Eggman?"

"Other than the little scrambled egg of running into that Detective, we have," he replied. "I told the two bucket of bolts to help attend to things around this castle whenever I wanted to be alone, so they've been busy helping that little dragon friend of ours. Last I checked, they were with him and Cosmo helping to prepare for some guests."

"I see," said Jason, maintain an attitude that mixed positive with serious inquiry. "Speaking of meeting ponies, did you and Cosmo meet this detective, Tails?" The fox nodded, and briefly explained about being questioned at the hospital. "She seems dedicated to her position, and very kind to her clients."

"She is. I can tell she's still a little hostile of us, but she does mean well. If Celestia appointed her herself, then who are we to judge?" Tails said. Each of the Master Four nodded in agreement.

"That reminds me," Yugi went on to say, "we haven't thanked Princess Celestia for informing you guys in the first place. If it wasn't for her, we wouldn't have gotten involved."

"Even if we, in the best way to word it, weren’t exactly gentle with deciding to help our friends," Jason commented. It wasn't a secret that Team JAG would always get involved with any situation possible, regardless of subject or dimension, but it was still a vice for the organization to not exactly ask to get involved most times.

Ash then said "Even so, Twilight Sparkle is a close friend of you and Cosmo, Tails, and no one would expect any less from you for wanting to help."

"I know," Tails replied, "and that's why Cosmo and I will be staying in Equestria until this is done and over with. As of right now, we're looking at this case going to the Royal Court in Canterlot, and we'd like to be here for moral support."

"Absolutely," Gohan said. "We can ask Sonic and the others if they'll look over your home while you're with Twilight and Nyx. Doctor, about your time there..."

"Do you feel that your stay has ended, or do you wish to stay in Equestria longer?" Yugi asked.

Dr. Eggman considered the thought for a moment before giving his answer. "Well, according to my data, Nyx has fully healed thanks to my invention, even having increased magical abilities. Other than her emotional state, I don't think there's much left to tend to, at least on my part. I think it's time for me to return home to my lab and continue with my own responsibilities."

"Very well then, Eggman. Feel free to head back home whenever you wish. Thank you again for helping out our Equestrian friends as swiftly as you did. If there is any way we can repay you for this, feel free to ask us anytime," Jason said respectfully.

"But before you go, Doctor, we should discuss another part of this entire situation," Yugi stated.

Everyone knew what he meant and gave their own respective nods. Ash then said "When it comes to what these ponies have done, it's shouldn't be wrong to believe there are still all the others who would agree with this Silver Lining, for better or worse reasons. I remember Princess Luna having told us about what she had decided for Nyx's consequences when she was Nightmare Moon, how facing the judgment of other ponies and their viewpoints of those times was something Nyx would have to live with."

"But there's a line between being unaccepting, and displaying it with cruelty," Tails added. "No one worth redemption deserves brutality to certain degrees, but especially for a kid."

"And it has been made very clear that the word of royalty has only so much worth in Equestria. Celestia has existed for over a millennium, Luna being her equal in ruling their land, Cadance and Twilight having their earned titles and given domains, and none of their good names can convince ponies for the better of Nyx. None of their authority seems to be remembered when those ponies did what they did," Gohan added.

"You're saying that these four ponies have near worthless positions?" Eggman inquired.

"No," Yugi said, sounding stern. "We're saying that, as honored and respected the alicorn princesses are, they are wise enough for ponies to live and think for themselves. They cannot convince every single pony to follow their beliefs to the letter, just like how you can't always tell an Eevee how to evolve."

"Or play a Duel Monsters card they'd rather play when you have an alternative idea," Ash followed.

Silence followed for a couple moments, the statements and metaphors sinking in each of their subconscious. Much like the majority of worlds Team JAG has discovered and connected, Equestria was a place of free beliefs and no absolutes on single matters of any given importance. Where there are compliant beings, there are also defiant ones, the worst of the worst making up the Brotherhood of Darkness. Equestria has proven that the same exists in their world, as peaceful and tranquil as it is, and it was apparent that children weren't ruled out of being looked down at apathetically.

But that left a question on each of their minds, a question that made themselves consider even further involvement with a world still fairly new to them. Tails broke the silence by verbally saying the question: "We can't force these ponies to think the same about anything, so how can we make sure Nyx doesn't have to suffer what she has had to face again?"

"We can only try," Jason stated. "Given what we learned about her, Nyx will have to face these kind of challenges for the rest of her life. She'll be able to handle it better as she gets older, and better with her magic, but even then there's no telling what she would face during the rest of the life of an immortal alicorn."

"But that doesn't help Nyx now," Tails said, almost arguing. "We need to make sure she's safe now. We need to know that, even with her family and friends for help and support, she has something to make her feel more at ease about her safety."

The Master Four sensed the hostility in their fox friend's attitude, and attempted to approach it calmly. "We understand, Tails. We know the ponies mean a lot to you and Cosmo, and we want to help however we can, but you know as well as us that there are some things that can't be controlled as we would want them to be," said Gohan.

"Then think of something that's temporary, but at least acceptable," suggested Dr. Eggman.

Ash then said "There are limits to what we can do, temporary or not. The worlds connected together by Team JAG was made possible with the permission to use the technologies at our disposal to monitor and detect events in each dimension. Princess Celestia has asked us to not influence her subjects with those technologies existing in Equestria, and we must honor her wishes."

"Which means that Tails and Cosmo being in Equestria is our best option for now," Jason added.

Each of them took a moment to think to themselves, mentally going through options that could be possible to Equestria standards and involve them at the same time. Tails thought very carefully, very eager to help his young friend. He had thought of a couple ideas, but he wasn't entirely sure they would go against the ethics and subtlety Celestia, perhaps even Twilight, would approve of. There had to be something, some way he could keep Nyx guarded when needed.

That last thought gave him the answer he could easily use.

"I've got it! What if we can get Celestia to let Cosmo and me be Nyx's official guardians? Like how most of us are guardians of our own dimensions, we can be hers if she ever needs us."

The Master Four each looked at him with their own looks. "You mean, like her official bodyguards?" Ash asked. The fox nodded.

They all considered the thought, and it did seem to be the most logical direction to take. The couple did have a good relationship with the Princesses, and they have the closest bonds to the ponies as compared to anyone from any other world, so getting them approved wouldn't be an issue. All they would need to do was make the request to Twilight and see what the approval stages were. But regardless, a few minor details about this idea had to be addressed.

"Tails, that's a good idea, but won't it be possible that such a commitment would be too much for you?" Yugi said. "You both have so much going on as it is getting the wedding prepared. On top of that, you have your own business and your Team JAG commitments."

"So you're saying he can't do it? I must say that's surprising to hear from you," Eggman said.

Gohan shook his head and then said "Not at all. We are more than confident that he is capable of doing all that he chooses to do, and we just want to make sure he isn't given too much to do. All we want is for him not to be over-extended, as many feel he already is."

"I do have my commitments, and I always intend to honor them. Cosmo will always be my number one commitment in every way I can possibly offer her, but even she would agree to go along with this, and the Sparkle family mean too much for us not to help out that way," Tails said to the group, firmly and confidently.

Silence fell again, but for a brief moment as the Master Four took the fox's words in. Their questioning of the idea was reasonable, but they began to feel foolish for doubting it. Tails had proven time and time again what he was capable of from the day they met him and Team Sonic over a decade ago, and this was really no different than many of the adventures he had gone through. They could tell there was no changing his mind over the idea, so that only left them one course of action.

"Tails," said Jason, "you and Cosmo continue with your current commitments in Ponyville. We will try to request an audience with the Princesses before this supposed trial."

Before anymore could be said, there was a faint yelling coming from somewhere else in the castle. It was too muffled to be heard clear enough, but it sounded as if a pony yelled out "Where's Nyx?!" or "What's this?!" The yelling continued for a small moment before no noise was heard.

"It seems that company is here," Eggman said. "Perhaps it's time to adjourn and for me to take my leave."

"Very well," said the warrior of Darkness. "Thank you again for helping our pony friends, Dr. Eggman. And Tails, if you or Cosmo need any help from us..."

"I'll let you know," Tails said. "Thanks, guys. I'll keep you posted on how Nyx and Twilight will be."

"Sounds good. We'll talk to you guys soon," Yugi said, and then his transmission was cut. The remaining Master Four said their goodbyes and then disconnected following him, the computer Tails had used to contact them cutting their displays one by one before going on standby mode.

As the fox closed the computer and prepared to store it elsewhere, the Doctor asked him a question. "How smoothly do you think this trial will go?"

Tails didn't reply immediately. He didn't know for certain if this case the detective was working on would actually go to trial, but given what it was about, it would be no surprise if he ended up sitting in a Canterlot courtroom to see what would happen to the ponies who attacked his young friend. Such instances only happened only so often throughout the dimensions he had seen through Team JAG, and unless there was fatality involved by the accused or victimized, it usually ended up settled in a court of sorts. As much as he would hate to see Twilight watch Nyx have to go through that, it just felt inevitable.

"It won't be easy," he finally replied. "Not for Twilight, especially not for Nyx, not for anyone really."

"I'd imagine, and if I were you, I'd keep a third eye open for the purple princess, her daughter in distress, and a certain cerulean cloud kicker," the Doctor stated. Without another word, he began to make his way to the exit, fetch Decoe and Bocoe, and then return to his main lab on Mobius. Before he could step out of the library, he was stopped as Tails took a turn to ask a question.

"Rainbow Dash isn't holding up well?"

With any nod or head shake, Dr. Eggman answered with "She's up to something, and I have a feeling you already know why, compared to the oblivious princess at least."

Without another word, the Doctor made his way out, leaving Tails to stand still for a minute in thought. He did know about Rainbow Dash being part of this, but he also knew that there was more to it and what that was. He began to develop the confident feeling that the cyan pegasus would do something that may change things more than was currently needed.