A cane popped into Discord’s hand and he strode across the living room towards Star. “You know, I was so excited when I heard you’d turned face. I’ve been thinking for a while that it would be wonderful to have a club of reformed villains. Sadly, Luna wasn’t interested and no one else really qualified. I’m not going to stoop to inviting Gilda, for Celestia’s sake.” He let out a cheerful laugh.

“But you…you really gave Twilight and her friends a run for their money. Finally there was going to be someone I could connect with about being on both sides. We could have reminisced over tea about what it was like trying to walk the straight and narrow. But then I sneak in to send you an invite and what do I see? Twilight, of all people, falling to your hypnotic wiles. And then you started working on enslaving even more people. You take forever, but I can’t fault your sense of style. I decided to see how far you’d manage to get. But surely, I thought to myself, there’s no way someone who’s planned so carefully would go after Fluttershy. Because they would obviously know…” The room became dark and Discord grew in size. There were strikes of lightning and thunder behind him, “That would make me rather displeased.”

“Good evening, Discord.” Star said, struggling to control the wavering in her voice. “I suspected I might run into you.” This had always been in the cards, but Discord in person was far more intimidating than she had ever imagined. He had that look in his eyes that Star was a bug he could swat at any moment. Star had resolved that she was going to see things to the end, and that included this meeting.

“Oh really?” Discord slipped down to his normal size and tilted his head curiously. It kept tilting until his head did a full 360 degree spin on his neck. “So, you knew that going after Fluttershy would bring me here and you did it anyway?” He let out a belt of laughter and held his sides. “Ohohohoho, now that is delightful. You really planned to go against me next? Oh that’s something I want to see. What’s the plan exactly? Some stealth induction, NLP?” A series of pendants, coins with a hole in them attached to strings, metronomes, metal helmets with LED screens, and spiral pinwheels appeared in the air and unceremoniously collapsed to the floor. “Perhaps you have something Ericksonian in mind. Put ‘er there.” He held his hand out for Star to shake.

Star didn’t understand half of what Discord was saying, but it was clear hypnosis was not a foreign subject for him. She stayed focused on her own plan. “No. It would be crazy to think I could hypnotize you, Discord. I just want to talk so we can reach an understanding.”

Discord’s outstretched hand went limp and swayed like it was attached to his wrist with string. “Oh I see. That’s not nearly as interesting.” He sighed. “Dear Starlight, you seem to think you’re in a position for some kind of negotiation. This isn’t a discussion. This is a trial!”

With a snap of his fingers, the entire world popped out of existence. A spotlight illuminated down on Starlight who found herself on a tiny dais sitting in a chair. More lights lit up through grated metal around an auditorium room. A jeering crowd of Equestrians, Dragon bloods, and even Yakians with their long braided hair and bare chests, appeared in a semicircle around her. They were all dressed in different materials and styles that looked like they were from all over history. In front of the dais, Discord reappeared, now dressed in a tight black jumpsuit covered by a bizarre red outer garment that covered his hands and formed into a cape along with a black square fabric hat. A massive silver necklace inlaid with gems hung down to his waist. “The trial will now commence.” He declared to the approving crowd.

A figure that resembled Starswirl the Bearded stepped forward with a scroll. “We now have Starlight Glimmer here to answer for the multiple grievous assaults committed against those who saw her as a friend.” There was a loud gong that echoed throughout the room. “How plead you, criminal?”

Starlight looked around, trying to keep her bearings with everything going on. “N-not guilty!”

There was an eruption of shouts and boos from the crowd that died when Discord raised his hands, “Silence! Order in the court.” He walked over to Star. “Am I to understand that you will flatly deny what you did before the judge…” Another Discord popped into existence wearing a black robe and a wig. A giant raised desk rose up around him with a massive gavel.

“The jury…” Twelve more Discords dressed in various outfits, some in variously styled wigs, blinked into existence in a jury box.

“Even before the prosecution's star witness!”

Another Discord in a suit appeared in a witness box next to the Judge-Discord, “I saw the whole thing,” he declared.

Star stared at the Prosecution-Discord in his odd dress. “I don’t deny actions I’ve taken. But I haven’t assaulted anyone. My actions aren’t grievous. I haven’t hurt Twilight or anyone else. If anything I’ve been helping them.”

“Oh, so that’s your angle. The prosecution then, will call Starlight Glimmer to the stand!” The Witness-Discord vanished and Star found herself in the same witness box. The Prosecutor-Discord walked forward. “Raise your right hand and place your left on the holy book.” He offered a thick leather-bound book with a picture of Discord’s face on the cover. “Do you solemnly swear to tell the….ahahahaha I’m just kidding.” Discord tapped Star’s forehead and she felt a weird sensation in her brain. “Truth is compulsory in this court.”

Discord stepped back a few paces and stared at Starlight. “You contend that you have been helping Twilight and the others you hypnotized. Can you tell the court, what were you up to last night, around eleven forty five?”

“I was in bed with Twilight.” The words all bubbled up to Star’s lips before she had the chance to consider them.

“And where was Twilight, relative to you in the bed?”

“B-between my legs, under the covers.”

The Prosecutor-Discord set up a poster stand in view of Star and the Jury-Discords. He placed a poster board on the stand with a diagram showing Starlight laying in bed with her legs pressed against Twilight who was face down on the bed totally submerged in her task

“In fact, as you can see in people’s exhibit A, she wasn’t just between your legs but you had your thighs pressed so tight you were smothering her, isn’t that right?”

“She could breathe through her nose.” Starlight protested.

“The witness will answer the question.” The Judge-Discord said stonily.

“Alright, yes, I had her pressed in so tight she was practically smothered.” Even offering her little protest of context had been a struggle under whatever Discord had done to her.

“Fascinating.” The Prosecutor-Discord said with a hint of humor. “And what woke you up this morning?”

“Twilight…ate me out to wake me up.”

“Oh I see.” That’s quite a schedule she’s on. Before you, the only thing Twilight had her face sandwiched between so frequently were the covers of books.” There was a polite chuckle from the Jury-Discords.

“Twilight still reads a lot of books.” Star declared, “And she’s far happier now than she was before. Once she was done waking me up this morning, she had the biggest smile you’ve ever seen on her face.”

“Oh I have no doubt.” The Prosecutor-Discord. “But let’s move on. I recall you visited Rarity briefly yesterday before you visited Fluttershy’s, is that right?”

“Yes.” Starlight said back.

“And did you place Rarity in a trance?”

“Yes.”

“And what instruction did you give her while she was in your power?”

“T-to edge herself while thinking about me, and to use a new dildo I bought for her.”

“Edging, yes. Miss Starlight, how long would you say it’s been since you allowed Rarity to have an orgasm?”

“Not since the trip to the Crystal Empire, so nearly a week.” Star bit her lip.

“And that’s the only climax she’s had in over a month, isn’t that right?”

“I…yes that’s right.” Star blurted out.

“Has this all been for Rarity’s benefit as well, Starlight?” The Prosecutor-Discord stared at her with a self impressed smile.

“A-absolutely. I mean, of course it’s for my own satisfaction as well, but Rarity has been doing really well since my visits. She keeps telling me how she’s felt more focused and productive since I started visiting her. I hear that her boutique business has even been improving.”

“Oh thank you for mentioning that, Starlight. That brings us to people’s exhibit C which our expert fashion witness will describe for the court.” Prosecution-Discord put up another poster board with one of Rarity’s detailed dress design blueprints. Another Discord appeared wearing a black turtleneck, French beret and a cigarette with a long ivory holder. His words came out with a poor attempt at a French accent.

“Ziss is the second to last dress that Rarity designed. Note the elegant silk skirt, ruffled and lined with lace in the old Victorian style, but instead of white lace like the traditional Sports Victor approach, she has elected a red lace lined with rubies, creating a look of classic modernity Notice how she eschews additional gems on the top so as to not draw away from the impact of a large ruby necklace intended to be worn as an accessory.”

Prosecution-Discord added, “For the record I wish to also note the wrist length sleeves, covered shoulders, and that the ruby necklace is the centerpiece of the design with no visible cleavage. It’s a beautiful dress, isn’t it?”

“I guess so.” Starlight replied.

“Is there a point to this line of questioning?” The Judge-Discord asked.

“Oh there certainly is your honor.” The Prosecutor-Discord replied. “It will all be clear with exhibit D, or should I say, exhibit double D.”

Another poster board was placed on the display with a design, but this dress was very different in style. The odd beatnik-Discord dabbed his cigarette and blew a few smoke mobius strips. “Ziss is Rarity’s most recent design. It hasn’t been released to stores yet. Notice instead of a classical top she has made a design you could call an integrated corset with gold thread laces and is designed to push up the breasts and reveal as much cleavage as can be. The design description notes that ziss design is unsuitable for anyone that doesn’t have at least C cups. Emerald gemstones along each of the corset busks emphasizing the stark skinny waist and large breasts. The skirt also sits well above the knee with the same red lace, but it now serves as a sort of invitation to what may be underneath.”

Prosecution-Discord smiled over at the jury then back to Starlight. “My question to you, Starlight Glimmer. In light of this evidence, would you say that your conditioning of Rarity through orgasm denial is having a significant impact on her creative output?”

“I…I would say so.” Star was forced to admit.

“But I’m sure you think this is a positive effect to change Rarity from a high fashion icon into a provider of sleazy near-lingerie?”

“I don’t think it’s sleazy.” Star protested. “It’s obviously much more sexual, but it’s still a beautiful dress. If anything, my control of Rarity is giving her new creative ideas.”

The Prosecution-Discord pursed his lips. “Oh I see. And is that also your argument for what you’ve done with Rainbow Dash and Sunburst, Shining Armor, and Cadence? Isn’t it convenient how it happens that everyone’s best life stems back to becoming your sex slave?”

Star slammed her hands on the edge of the witness box. “So what if it does? There’s nothing wrong with sex and nothing wrong with them submitting to me. What I’ve done to Rarity hasn’t made her any less of an artist and I haven’t made Twilight hate books. You act like I’m twisting them into something they aren’t, but that was your style of control not mine.”

“Let’s make sure the record recorded that. You claim you’re not changing them into something they aren’t. Let’s go back to Twilight Sparkle. She’s the Princess of Friendship. It’s kind of her thing wouldn’t you say?”

“Absolutely.” Star replied, feeling a sense of dread.

“And your testimony is that you aren’t fundamentally changing people. Let’s have the Jury see in Exhibit R, what the Princess of Friendship was made to do.” A giant CRT television with a VCR was rolled into the courtroom and flashed on, showing Rainbow Dash’s room on the train on the way to the Crystal Empire.

“Help me Twilight! Whatever Star is doing it’s wrong!” Rainbow Dash protested desperately as Starlight used her magic to try to keep Rainbow restricted.

“Twi, hold her!” Came Starlight’s flat command.

“Don’t listen to her Twilight! Whatever she told you, it’s a lie. I’m your friend!” Rainbow spoke out, desperate to reach her friend as Twilight stared at them both with a look of fear and conflict.

“I said hold her, Twi-slave!” Star barked at the conflicted princess.

With that her resistance ended and she helped in preventing Rainbow from escaping.

“I’m your friend.” Prosecution-Discord repeated, clicking his tongue on the roof of his mouth. He walked dramatically back towards a prosecution desk that popped into existence. “You had the Princess of Friendship betray her own friend. If that isn’t Twilight into something else I don’t know what is.”

The whole room became silent but for muttering from the jury. Star looked at the video, remembering the event. She had almost been discovered then, she’d had to be firm with Twilight for the sake of everything else. “Is there a question? What do you want me to say?”

“I want the truth.” Discord slammed his hand on the desk.

“You can’t handle the truth!” Starlight shouted back. “The reality is friendship is an illusion. It’s all conditional. The moment that friendship becomes inconvenient, people will leave you. Do you think Fluttershy would be your friend if you went on a rampage again? All of that talk about being best friends is just a nice way to describe people who just have the same interests. I’m showing Twilight and the others something better and stronger than friendship will ever be.”

“Oh yes, you’ll SHOW them.” Prosecution-Discord replied back, pointing at Star. His arm stretched from the prosecution desk up to the witness stand. “That’s because Twilight and her friends were the ones who ruined your little Jonestown. Everyone used to follow you. You gave everyone in that town something so much better than freedom, is that right?”

“That’s right.” Star said defiantly

“And Twilight took that all away. You needed to prove to them how wrong they were, you wanted to show them up, to get revenge, didn’t you?”

“You’re damn right I did!” Starlight shouted back. “I wanted them to know their friendship wasn’t better than what I made, that they destroyed something good.”

“No further questions!” There were sounds of shock and ooh’s from the gallery.

“Has the jury reached a verdict?” The Judge-Discord asked.

“We have.” The Foreman-Discord replied. “We find the defendant, Starlight Glimmer, guilty.”

There were cheers from the jury and the gallery before Judge-Discord banged his gavel. “Starlight, you have been found guilty of subverting free will, slavery, and being a bad friend. Your desire for vengeance cannot justify these actions. In the view of these heinous crimes, the appropriate punishment is hard to determine. Your exploitation of so many individuals leads to a singular sentence being difficult. The court will be forced to spend some time experimenting.”

Judge-Discord reached out and tapped Star’s forehead and everything went black.

Author's Note

I'll make a blog post that lists some of the various references in here I added for Discord oddity.