Exiled soldiers

It was a beautiful day in Canterlot. The sun was shining, there was not a single cloud in the sky, the temperature was fair, and there were ponies out and about. Of course, like every other month, there was something. . . special going on.

What, you might ask, was special in the city of Canterlot this month? Well, that would have to deal with something of note near a year ago, which was the treaty between the princesses of Equestria and the Changeling Hives. Now, you might ask, how did something a year ago have to do with today. Well, I'll tell you.

A week ago, a pony was arrested for assaulting another with a changeling. The accused say it was in self-defense, but all the witnesses say the opposite, that they attacked first, and the first-responders said that the supposed attacker was near death. Now, if it was just a normal pony, this wouldn't attract a crowd of thousands from all over Equestria, which included the Elements of Harmony.

The trial was going on in the royal court, used only for high note cases such as this, and only the princesses, the accused, the accuser, the Elements, and any witnesses, along with the lawyers and bailiffs, were allowed in. Well, in this case anyway, as well as the family of the accused.

The family had been unable to make it, which meant only Rarity, the Element of Gnerosity, wearing a black and white formal suit, Applejack, Element of Honesty and wearing the most formal attire she owned, Rainbow Dash, Element of Loyalty and wearing, much to her annoyance, what she called a "monkey suit", Pinkie Pie, Element of Laughter and wearing the most casual outfit possible, yellow shorts with a white and blue striped shirt, Fluttershy, Element of Kindness, wearing a formal skirt and white shirt under a black business suit, and Sunset Shimmer, one of Princess Celestia's former students and now Element of Magic, wearing what she had worn in the human world minus the cutie mark, sat in the only row of seats.

Now, you're probably wondering as to why Sunset was there, and not Twilight. Well, that's just it, she is, as one of the defendants. She was on the left side of the court room, behind the desk assigned her and her lawyer, along with the changeling she had, so she claimed, protected, a female with light gray skin and shoulder length, blue hair, both wearing business suits, the only thing they could wear.

On the opposite side was the plaintiff, which would be a stallion with black skin and silver hair, the one who both Twilight Sparkle and the changeling said had thrown the first punch, and his lawyers, both wearing business suits. Really, there was only one difference in the facial features of the latter group.

They wore smiles, while Twilight, the changeling, and their lawyers bore looks of sadness, everypony else looks of disgust, all aimed at the former.

"Twilight Sparkle," Princess Celestia, wearing a regal gown of white and gold, her crown upon her head, said, disappointment in her voice, "it is, with great disappointment that this court find you, and the changeling known as Elegance, guilty of assault. Given how long it has been since the last, the sentence is banishment upon pain of death should you return. In addition, at the request of Princess Cadence, who could not be here physically, you will be able to have correspondence with your family, but only should they initiate it. In addition, should either of you have children, they will be able to return. And, at his personal request, Spike the Dragon will share your punishment. Do you understand?" Both women nodded, unable to speak due to silence and shock. "Then you will have three days to gather what you wish to bring with you." She lit her horn, and a small flash and bang occurred, after which, she said, "This court is adjourned. Bailiffs, escort them."

The bailiffs, if you were wondering, were thestrals, bat ponies, in armor. Now, you're probably wondering, what was t stop Twilight from just attacking them? Three things, really. The first was that, as soon as word had reached Celestia, along with Twilight at her request, Celestia had taken away Twilight's alicorn-hood, and common procedure was to put a magic-negation ring at the base of the horn, should the accused be a unicorn. The third, and most known, was her respect for whatever the princess said.

Twilight and Elegance stood up with nary a word, and let the guards escort them out.

Three days later

Twilight and Elegance, in the best survival gear that Equestria would give ponies in their state, stood in front of a mirror portal. It was a little known fact that Starswirl had made seven portals total, the only one Twilight having traveled through being, as Starswirl called them, the Mark seven and Mark five. Spike, being a dragon, had on only a white, sleeveless shirt with cargo pants.

They stood in one of the more restricted rooms of Canterlot castle, one that, until recently, only Celestia and Starswirl had ever entered. In fact, Celestia, Luna, and Twilight's parents were there as well.

"Once the three of you go through the portal," the solar alicorn said, "the spell will begin, and, should you ever enter Equestria ever again, it will slowly and painfully kill you. Is that clear?"

"Yes, your Highness," Twilight said automatically from her times as a child.

"How far you have fallen, Twilight Sparkle," Luna said. 'You were the greatest unicorn, quite possibly the most powerful alicorn, and you threw it away."

"To defend Elegance," Spike said, though he knew it would not help, not now.

"Spike, please, just stop," Twilight said. "Being banished is remembrance enough for this."

"Sorry, Twi," Spike said. "Just where are we going?" Spike asked the princesses, doubting they would reply.

"A world that has beings similar to us, but not an alternate version of Equestria, as that would cause the spell to kill you," Celestia said. "They are similar enough for the three of you to have children there, should that be what you wish. Are you ready?"

"As ready as we can be," Spike said, mentally adding, you damned bitch.

"Then we hope you survive," Luna said before he used her magic to push the three exiles through the portal, and seal it behind them. 'I still do not see why you didn't tell them it is in the same plane of existence as us," she said to her sister. "They know they will die if they return."

"So that Twilight doesn't try to unravel the spell, which she doubtfully would, as it was cast under my instructions," Celestia said before sighing. "I thought I knew her better."

"We all did, sister," Luna said as Twilight's parents began to break into tears. "We all did."