Patriots of Equestria, Part 1

Instant Justice walked into his son's bedroom unable to comprehend with his son losing a part of his body. In fact, a part of Instant Justice wanted to avoid the trial altogether and just decide on judgment right away. But, that was not how he did his job and if he did do such a thing, his job would be taken away from him.

"Hi dad," said a teenage colt of about 15 years of age as he laid in a hospital bed with Instant Justice sitting next to him.

"Hi son," replied Instant Justice, looking at his injured son. "How are you feeling?"

"Scared," replied his son in a scared voice. "Scared and Frightened that they are taking away one of my legs. Why did this have to happen, dad?"

Instant Justice couldn't help but feel powerless to give his son a decent answer. No matter what he would say would take away the pain of all the horrors that Hopper and Thumper had caused.

"I don't know, son," sighed Instant Justice, despondently. "I just don't know how to approach this. I mean, there are so many ponies affected by this, not just you. All that matters is that these Changelings are off the streets and no longer harming anypony else. But…I know you've seen me act this way before…"

"I've seen worse," chuckled his son. "Like that one time Justice Scales ruined that speech you were going to speak at that justice summit."

Instant Justice couldn't help but chuckle at this, for he knew that this young pony who was lying on this bed was trying to brighten his spirits.

"Boy, was I infuriated, Thorn Gavel," he remarked, feeling somewhat amused by this. "I sure taught your brother a lesson, didn't I? I can still remembering him begging me not to punish him severely. But, I wish this was just that, Thorn Gavel and I could move on with my life."

"I couldn't agree more," whispered Thorn Gavel, once again being scared of his situation. "I'm getting something taken away that I will never get back, dad. How do you think you are going to approach this?"

Instant Justice sat there in silence and in deep thought. After a couple of minutes, he broke the silence.

"Well, I can't just let him off free," he said. "He hurt plenty of ponies in his sick twisted plot and don't think that because he is dead will his brother get off scot free."

"His brother died?" cried Thorn Gavel, who didn't know about this until now.

"Yes, Hopper killed him in the Crystal Empire," replied Instant Justice. "That was how the shootout began when that young mare named Starlight Glimmer tried to reason with these killers. But, as much as I hate to say it, justice has already been served by this act and we do have Hopper to thank for that."

Just then, a knock at the door was heard and after Thorn Gavel called out to come in, a brown doctor pony came into the hospital room and approached the bed. When he saw Instant Justice, the doctor pony nodded silently and focused on the grim and difficult task ahead concerning his son.

"Is there something wrong, doctor?" asked Instant Justice.

"No, but I was thinking that we need to schedule your amputation soon, Thorn Gavel," said the doctor, examining the soon-to-be amputated right rear leg. "The gangrene has already started to engulf a majority of your leg."

"I know you need to do what you need to do," cried Thorn Gavel, nervously looking away. "But, I'm…I'm…"

"Scared?" said the doctor, sympathetically. "I know you are scared, but there is nothing else we can do for your leg. If we leave your leg alone, the gangrene could spread to other parts of your body and result in you getting into a much worse situation."

Realizing that he didn't have any choice, Thorn Gavel nervously looked up at his father and took an enormous gulp filled with fear and anxiety.

"You must be brave, Thorn Gavel," said Instant Justice, who was starting to choke up with tears forming in his eyes. "Remember what I have taught you about staying strong in times of adversity?"

"Yes, dad, I remember," replied Thorn Gavel, nervously but bravely acknowledging his father while also becoming choking up with emotion. "But, I'm…I'm…"

Without saying another word, the father and son embraced each other and finally let out all of their emotions while the doctor watched. In fact, he was just about ready to leave when Thorn Gavel stopped him.

"Wait!" he called, his voice ragged with emotion. "I'm…ready at any time for the amputation."

"Well, you certainly are a very brave young stallion," remarked the doctor who then motioned for a nurse to start preparing Thorn Gavel for the eventual surgery that was about to take place.

Once the nurse administered the anesthetic into his body, Thorn Gavel fell asleep holding his father's hoof and at that moment, his bed was moved and the doctor gave Instant Justice a reassuring glance.

"You certainly taught your son well, my lord justice," remarked the doctor as he placed a surgical mask around his mouth. "He sure is a brave young stallion."

Instant Justice acknowledged at this and gave the doctor one final glance before he left the room to operate on his son.

"I need to make this upcoming quick and painless," he thought to himself. "The sooner that justice is placed on Hopper, the sooner we can put all of this to rest."

A few moments later, Instant Justice left the room and made his way down to the waiting room where he motioned for a guard to approach him.

"Send a message to Ponyville," he ordered. "Tell your comrades there to formally charge the captured Changeling with crimes against Equestria."

"What particular charges are you planning to use against him?" asked the guard.

"Six counts of murder, fourteen counts of attempted murder and use of a deadly weapon," answered Instant Justice. "All carrying either a death sentence or a series of life imprisonments without the possibility of parole."

Heeding his commander's order, the guard set about drafting a note that Instant Justice was charging Hopper with these crimes.

…

Once the message was sent out to Ponyville Hospital, several guards came into Hopper's room and handcuffed him to the side of his bed.

"Hopper the Changeling," said a guard. "You are hereby officially charged with six counts of murder, fourteen counts of attempted murder and unlawful use of a deadly weapon. You have the right to an attorney and if you cannot afford one, one will be provided for you. Do you understand?"

Hopper merely glared at these ponies and in his mind, it didn't matter what they, what Thorax or any other ponies would say about him. If he really was going to be punished for his crimes either by death or imprisonment, then in his sick, warped and twisted mind, somepony would pick up where he and Thumper left off.

Of course, that was not going to be the case in the eyes of Equestria….