"What is the jury's verdict?" The Judge asked the group of ponies in the jury box. One of the ponies stood up.
"We find the defendant, Berry Punch, guilty on all accounts." He said. "For public intoxication, indecencies, disturbance of the peace, and the endangerment of a filly." The Judge looked at the magenta mare sitting behind the defendants table.
"Then I hear by sentence you, Berry Punch to 6 months in prison." She picked up her gable using her magic, and before it hit the table somepony came barging through the doors.
"Wait your honor!" The voice coming from our resident princess Twilight sparkle. "If it pleases the court, I would like to say a few words that might change you minds."
"You may proceed princess." The court Judge looking amused. "Just make it quick please."
"Ahem. Ladies and gentalcolts of the jury." She began to pace in front of the jury box. "Ms.Punch is a law biting pony. Of course she has had her problems when she is on the bottle, but who doesn't. I know for a fact that my friend Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash has been given a public intoxication charge just last month, and who are they?" She didn't even wait for somepony to answer. "They are a part of the elements of harmony. Know as the saviors of Equestria. If Princess Celestia forgave them. Then can you find it in your heart to forgive this mare." The alicorn princess pointed to Berry Punch sitting behind the defense stand looking board. She was just waiting for this trial to be over. She had a daughter to pick up from school. When she noticed everypony was looking at her. She sat up and began nodding. Hoping that the Judge wouldn't notice.
The jury had a whispers going around. They all agreed with a nod. "We will allow Ms.Punch to not go to jail." Berry Punch was silently celebrating when she was interrupted by the jury. "If she agrees to our terms."
"Sure whatever." Berry Punch waved her hoof in a not interested manner. Her expression changed when she heard what the jury was talking about.
"She must go to rehab till she has kicked her addiction to alcohol." The jury said.
"She'll do it!" Twilight spoke for Berry Punch. She knew that she would have said something obscene.
"Then I sentence you, Berry Punch, to go to rehab until you are through with alcohol." With a bang of the Judge's gabble everypony was leaving the court room. Twilight was about to leave when the Judge called her. "Uh..Princess. I would like you to make sure she goes to her meetings. I don't think she would go unless forced to, and I don't want to apply one of my officers to her. She would probably listen to a princess more then a cop." Twilight nodded.
"Of course your honor." She walked out with Berry Punch. "I want you to know that this is for your own good." Berry Punch just grumbled. Twilight shook it off. "I will visit you when your first meeting is." She headed for her castle.
"Yeah. Yeah. I'll be there." The wine purple mare huffed. She looked up at the clock tower that stands in the center of Ponyville. "But first I Need to pick up my little girl." She walked trough town. Ponies greeted her, but she was to upset to be paying attention to anypony. 'Get off of alcohol! What does that judge think he is?' She fought. Berry Punch is the biggest juice destributer in all of Ponyville. She also has been know to make many types of wine. 'It was just a couple of drinks. If they don't want you to get drunk on St. Ponies Day they wouldn't serve so many drinks.' She could see the school house in the distance. Many of the foals already have left. Some were on the playground. She caught eye of her little filly siting on the front steps. She saw her mother in the distance and ran to her. She jumped up and huged Berry Punch.
"Mommy I had the best day at school today! Miss.Cheerilie showed us how to write in cursive, Scootaloo did a flip on her scooter, and we all took photos for the year book!" She bounced like Pinkie Pie does when she is planning a party. Berry Punch picked her daughter up and placed her on her back.
"I'm sorry for being late Cherry. I was in court for longer than I expected." She said as she carried her daughter home.
"It's okay mommy. I know being on jury duty stinks." Cherry nuzzled her head to her mothers mane. Berry Punch never told her the truth about why she goes to court.
"Yeah....Jury duty...." The single mother said. She loves her daughter. Cherry doesn't know that her mother drinks. When ever somepony would tell her her mom was a drunk she would denigh anything has said about her mother. Berry Punch doesn't have the heart to tell her. She fears that she would hate her till the say she dies.
"Cheer up mommy. Everpony has jury duty sometime. Maybe one day you could bring me with you! Please mommy. Pretty please!" Cherry tried her best to put on a puppy dog pout.
"I don't think so. Some things are not ment for a filly to see. Also you have school. So no you can't." Berry Punch almost cracked after seeing her daughters pleaing eyes.
"Yes ma'am..." Cherry said in defeat.
"Hey. How about you help mommy with stirring the juice at work this weekend." Berry knew that her daughter loved to help her at work.
"Yes please! That sounds awesome!" She hives her mothers neck tighter.
"That's my girl. Now lets get you home. It's getting late and I need to make you dinner." The clock was almost at 5:30 P.M.
"Okay mommy." When there house came into view Cherry jumped of her mothers back. Berry Punch unlocked the door.
"Now you get yourself cleaned up and I'll fix us something to eat." Berry Punch searched through the cabnits.
"Yes ma'am!" Cherry ran up the stairs to wash her hooves.
"What can I make?" She continued to look through the cabnits. She stopped when she found a bottle of wine she kept out of reach of her child. 'I'll just have one glass.' She poured herself a cup of the sour liguid. She downed the drink in one to. "Ahhhh. That's the stuff." She finnaly decided to make grilled dasy sandwiches. "Dinners ready Cherry Punch!"
"Coming mommy!" Cherry ran down the stairs. The two say down and started eating. "Mmm. This is delishius."
"I'm glad you like it." The two finished there food. Berry Punch began to wash the dishes. "You get ready for bed now. You have another big day at school tomarow." Cherry headed back up stairs to get prepared to go to bed. When Berry Punch was finished with the dishes she went to tuck her daughter in. She kissed her sweet bundle of joy on her forehead. "Good night my little grape." That was what she called her since she was first born. Cherry giggled.
"Good night momma grape vine." Cherry replied. Berry Punch turned off Cherry's light. She walked out of Cherry's room and went to her own. She went to her night stand and opened the drawr that reviled a Applejack Daniels whisky and a shot glass.
"Hello old friend. Did you miss ol' Berry?" She said as she poured the orange liquid into the tiny glass. She swallowed it in one go. Which in turn made her cough lightly. She got under the covers and waited for sleep. After a minute of having her eyes closed the whiskey began to take its effects. Her body relaxed under the drinks influence. She fell asleep with a goofy grin. 'I needed that....' Was her finnal thoughts as her mind driffeted.
Author's Note
I had this idea for a story out of the blue. I hope you like it. Updates for this story might be less frequent then my others for the sake of making it a good story, and I want to have you guys on the edge of your seats.
Happy Saint Patricks Day everybody!
