Patriots of Equestria, Part 1

With his son on the operating table getting his gangrene affected leg chopped off, Instant Justice returned to the princesses' hospital room and faced his superiors. He was determined to tell them that he had gone about and pressed charges against Hopper for his crimes against Equestria.

"So now that you have pressed charges against the Changelings," said Luna, who was trying to take in what was being told to her and the other princesses. "You wish to set a trial for the accused, Instant Justice?"

"Only if you wish to do so," replied Instant Justice. "I believe that it would be appropriate for the accused Changeling to face the ponies he had harmed and have all guilt proven onto him."

"Your desires are high, Instant Justice," said Celestia, who was being cautious about the situation. "But, do keep in mind that he can plead guilty to all charges to avoid being put to death."

Instant Justice had no intention that Hopper was going to plead guilty. A part of him deep down suggested that perhaps, just perhaps that Hopper would rather die than to live out the rest of his natural life in Tartarus.

"I can assure you all that he won't plead guilty," remarked Instant Justice, walking over to take a sip of water from a glass on a side table. "It seems that he wants to die for his crimes and I could give him the opportunity, but as you all know, he will most likely turn it down."

Instant Justice let out a deep sigh as he faced his superiors. He could tell that from the looks on their faces that he was going to be getting the support he deserved to get. However, they all knew, himself included that this was most likely going to be a long and difficult process. But Twilight took notice that there was something else bothering Equestria's minister of justice as he spoke.

"Forgive me if I change the subject, Instant Justice," she said as Spike rubbed down on one of her injured wings. "But, you seem to be troubled about something. Would you like to tell me what is wrong?"

Realizing that these were Equestria's leaders that were talking to him, Instant Justice sighed and got the courage to reveal what was on his authorative mind.

"It's um, my son, Thorn Gavel," he said, walking over and sitting down in a chair. "He is having his right rear leg amputated because there was gangrene forming on his leg that cannot be cured."

"We're very sorry to hear that," sympathized Celestia. "If there is anything we can do to help you…"

"Thank you," interrupted Instant Justice. "I appreciate all of your support greatly. But, right now I want to focus on getting this monster the justice that is coming to him."

"That doesn't matter right now," remarked Twilight, firmly. "Your family is more important right now, Instant Justice, so you must focus on them. The trial can happen at any time, you know."

Instant Justice was not going to bow out this easily. He had a passion and a mission to rid Equestria of this bug, not just for his superiors, but for his family. He had to do this, he had to focus his attention on handing down justice in ways Equestria was not used to seeing.

"I appreciate your concern, Princess Twilight," answered Instant Justice, looking at his superiors very carefully. "But, with all due respect, you must all understand that I cope with tragedies like this by throwing myself into my work. We have our own demons to deal with right now. You have to focus on getting your bodies well again and I have to focus on dealing with the accused."

Without saying another word, Instant Justice bowed to the princesses and left the room, leaving them somewhat bewildered by his sudden departure. However, they all knew he was right, the princesses had to focus on getting healed of their injuries that they had sustained in this assassination plot against them.

…

At that moment, Instant Justice was just walking down the hall when Starlight spotted him, having gone to get something for her friends to eat.

"Instant Justice, what's going on?" she asked, taking note of his determined look. "You look upset about something."

"My son is in surgery right now getting his leg amputated," he replied as Starlight followed him back towards Trixie and Discord's room. "And I have also charged Hopper with crimes against Equestria that includes the attempted murder of your friends."

"I'm sorry to hear that," said Starlight.

"Of course you're sorry, young mare," he remarked, turning around to face Starlight sharply. "You say you are a powerful unicorn, are you not? Then, perhaps you could find a spell that would cure my son of losing his leg and sending the accused to a decent punishment worthy of a criminal of his nature."

Starlight cringed at the behavior that Instant Justice was displaying in front of her. Yes, he had been critical of Starlight and her friends, so this was no surprise to her. However, there was a sense of something that Instant Justice was doing this out of something other than doing his job.

"Look, Instant Justice," cried Starlight. "I know you are upset, but you can't let what happened get to your head."

"What are you talking about, young mare?" he remarked indignantly. "How dare you accuse me of something that is nothing more than doing my job?"

"I'm not telling you how to do your job," protested Starlight as Instant Justice attempted to walk away. "All I am saying is to not let this go to your head and treat this case like a personal revenge vendetta. Remember that we agreed to work together to solve this?"

"That's over and done now, so just leave me alone," he said, look Starlight in the eye sternly. "Go bring the food you have to your friends and I have to decide how to approach this case against the accused."

Starlight watched as Instant Justice stormed off in a huff, leaving her dumbfounded and disillusioned by what had just transpired. She had a very good hunch that Instant Justice was going to let this impending case against Hopper get to his head.

…

Meanwhile, Thorax made his ways down to the dungeons to face the prisoners that had been questioned about Hopper and Thumper's plan to assassinate his friends.

"You are probably wondering why I am facing you all," he said. "Your comrade, Hopper, is captured and your other comrade, Thumper, is dead. The time has come to face facts and you are going to reveal to me every single detail that is known about their plot to assassinate Equestria's most important ponies. There is nowhere to run, nowhere to hide."

It seemed that Thorax was going to have his request honored by these broken Changelings. It seemed that the death of Thumper and the capture of Hopper was now going to make them talk about the plans of their comrades once and for all…