The Imperial arms

Troy pov

"Okay, let them in." I looked at the guards, and they opened the doors letting in everyone who wanted to witness the first day of the trial. I jumped over the reeling landing next to Celestia scaring her and made Flare laugh. Celestia huffed as she looked at the nobles taking the benches at ground level. I nodded my head, and she followed me over to the corner.

"I hope this will end in a day or two. Many of these nobles are the ones who are making it hard to make the changes. They are doing the best they can to blunt the new laws."

I sighed and nodded my head as I looked back at them. "Well, deal with them later. Has the security been set up?"

"Ya, and the new rifle units and magic bombardment units are on stand-by to help if any fighting breaks out."

"Any threats?"

"No, but knowing these two anything is possible."

I nodded as Law and a rough-looking Fineprint, walked in. Behind them in black and white stripes were the king and prince. Hands cuffed, legs shacked with. They were led over to the sizeable magic-proof glass cell with a bench and two large water bottles. They locked them in as the jury walked in. All-female, with the exception of the hippogriff. He was small and looked more like a flat-chested woman. 'Half griffon half-pony interesting.' Celestia patted Flares back as she tried to start crying. "Go and leave her with Urgrith she's been wanting to be more hands-on with the herd's foals."

"Okay, she is dependable despite those razor-sharp scales and claws."

"Celestia."

She sighed then nodded as she looked up at me.

"Your right, I'll be back."

"Sucks that magic only has a limited effect on the foals."

"Yeah, I'd still like to know why that is."

I shrugged as look at her. "Maybe Twilight could figure out why it is like that." Celestia nodded as she started to walk.

"We'll deal with that later."

I nodded as I walked over and leaned back on the wall in the back of the gallery. A guard spoke out over the crowd.

"All rise for the honorable judge Running Wind."

Everyone stood as an older pegasus mare walked out of the side door. I noticed the king and son both still sitting.

"Be seated."

They sat back down in their, seats. 'I hope this ends in the next few days.'

Third-person pov

Judge Running Wind spoke.

"Before I call the court to order I'd like to ask that everyone please remember that this is the first time such a trial is being held. We are making history here today. So please, let us all make this positive history. That said if anypony in this room feels like they want to make a sense or disrupt the proceedings of this court will be held in contempt and be removed. If necessary force will be used to do so. Now as King Troy explained this trials can be over in two days but can last as long as a week in some cases. Please I will ask if anyone has any objections to this."

The crowd's silent acknowledgment was all she needed.

"Very well, then by the power granted to me by the royal laws I call the court to order. Miss Law. You may begin."

Law stood from her seat and walked to the jury box.

"Ladies and Gentle creature of the jury. I intend to prove in the course of this trial not only had the defendants wished to do massive harm. But, to commit mass kidnapping and in a small amount the murders of innocent civilians. Those creatures were not part of the fighting for the defense of their homeland. They attacked without provocation and with no consideration for the lives they may threaten. All of them I may add with females as we all know the deers love to take female slaves. And they do not care about the age of them."

Law walked away from the jury leaving there with her words. It was clear on their faces that they knew what she was talking about, and they did not like it. Fineprint stood a word look on his face. He walked before the jury and spoke to them.

"While I cannot deny what Miss Law has said, I do need to point out we are dealing with a calture that is greatly different from our own. I ask you all to keep that in mind. They were raised to believe they not only had the right but the duty to spread their way of life. This was not something they decide to do off of a whim. This is what they were brought up on what they were taught. Will you condemn them for something they were trained to think from birth?"

Fineprint moved back to his seat with that worried look still on his face. You could tell that the jury didn't believe what he was saying. Judge Running wind looked to Law.

"Miss Law call your first witness."

I smiled as she stood.

"The prosecution calls Fawn to the stand."

Fawn stood from the gallery. She was dressed in a pair of pants with a t-shirt on. Over her shirt was a black jacket with the night raid crest with a red cross over the body. Her hair had been cut short. She walked up to the stand and sat down in the seat. Judge Running Wind turned to face Fawn.

"Raise your right hand."

Fawn did so, and Running Wind spoke in a serious

"Do you swear that the testamony you are about to give is the truth?"

"I swear that it is the truth."

Running Wind nodded then lowered her hand. Fawn did the same as Law spoke.

"Miss Fawn can you please tell us what you saw at the deer war camp before you were freed."

"Yes, ma'am. Well, I guess I should start with the cages they had brought. They were cages we females were quiet familiar with. They were made to hold a dozen females with their arm's locked in cuff attached to the bars and floor cuffs to keep our legs spred."

Fineprint stood and yelled.

"Objection! You have no evidence of these cages!"

With a smile, Law walked back over to her table and opened a briefcase she had brought.

"Yes we do. We not only have some of these cages but a witness who was taken from one before she was freed."

"Why was I not made aware of these photo's?"

FinePrint as Law looked at him.

"I had copies sent to you room yesterday. Oh, wait you were in a cell because you brought the deer king to our king's office to try and strick a deal. Then left him alone with a doe behind a door."

The jury glared at Fineprint, who sat back down quietly. Seeing how badly his actions were harming his case now.

Law pulled out photos and walked over to the jury.

"I'd like to warn all of you this maybe very hard to look at."

Law handed over the photos, and the leopard woman got a sick look on her face. She nodded as she passed the photos, not looking at the next few. With each jury member that looked at the photos, you could tell this was going to be an easy case. Law looked back at Fawn.

"Now miss Fawn. Can you please tell us how you were freed from the camp."

Fawn looked upset and nodded as she looked to the back of the gallery. She smiled when she saw Troy leaning against the wall. He smiled at her, and she looked at Law again.

"I was leaned out of the camp with a collar and leash forced to move on my hands and knees. Once were deeper into the force and stopped an arrow came flying out. I thought an attack was coming so I balled up hoping that I wouldn't be hit. But, after a minute I heard someone running and then I heard the other two bucks that had come along scream. I laid there waiting for what felt like a lifetime before I felt something wrap around me. I looked up and saw King Troy standing over me. And for the first time in my life, I saw a male with a kind smile. He took me away went back for more of the others."

"Your witness."

Law smiled at Fawn before walking back to her table. Fineprint stood seemingly have calmed down. He walked up to Fawn, and she looked past him at Troy.

"Miss Fawn, I found it hard to believe what you're saying. Yes, the nation you come from is less the kind to your gender. But, I can't see them forcing them to make you crawl on all four."

"That's how they make us walk so if she does something they don't like they can kick our ribs or faces. You can find plenty of doe's who will tell the same. Or if you don't want to believe me there were mares, cows, and many others who can vogue for what I'm saying."

"Okay, well let's say your right. Why did you not try and run once you were out of the camp. Surely you knew how close the allied arm was."

Fawn looked away from Troy and looked Fineprint in the eye.

"They told us if one female makes a run for it they'd rape all the others to death."

Silence filled the hall; even the seasoned judge Wind looked shaken by those words. Even Troy looked a little shaken by her words; his usual cocky smirk wiped off his face.

"Mr. Print, I understand you have a job here today as do I. I'm here to tell you what I saw and heard. But, you try and downplay what has been for nearly a millennium. Rape, slavery, kidnapping, and outright murder of the soul and mind!"

"Enough!"

Judge wind yelled as she banged her gavel. She looked down at Fawn, a frown on her face.

"I understand your anger miss Fawn. But, please try and keep in mind you're in a courtroom. I can understand this may be very taxing on you emotionally. But, I will only warn you once. I am clear, Miss Fawn?"

'Yes, Ma'am. I think I've said all I need to."

Wind nodded as she looked down at her.

"Very well. Thank you for specking to us miss Fawn."

Fawn stood and walked off the witness stand. She walked to the back and sat down in front of Troy. Troy smiled as he leaned forward and patted her shoulder. She looked back at Troy and smiled as she looked up at him.

"Thanks."

Troy smiled and nodded as he stood back up as Running wind spoke.

"Miss Law please call your next witness."

Law smiled as she looked back at Troy. "The prosecution calls Queen Chrysalis to the stand."

Troy blinked, surprised as Chrysalis walked over from the other side of the courtroom. She took the stand, and Chrysalis fixed her coat as she looked at Law. Troy knew what was coming, and he smiled as he looked at Chrysalis. Law smiled as she looked at me as she spoke to Chrysalis.

"Queen Chrysalis, as I've learned your Changelings have gathered the information for the allied army. As I understand, they not only brought you battle plans but plans to kidnap and sell all the females they could capture."

Chrysalis nodded as she looked at Law.

"Yes, we also found letters and maps that showed where within Equestria's and others borders illegal slave trading. Some of these maps show secret routues to get around guard or army stations."

"I see, now were any of those letters sent by or written by either the king or prince?"

Chrysalis nodded as she leaned back into her chair.

"Yes, more than a dozen letters were found that stated they walked mares, cows, and she griffons as many as they could take. In a letter from the prince he started he didn't care about the age of the females as long as they would sell or could give birth."

Law nodded then looked at the jury and spoke to them.

"Ladies and Gentle creature of the jury. What more do you need to see these two were the head of the Illegal slave trade. As you just heard they wanted as many as they could get."

Troy laughed as he nodded his head before standing up and moving catching everyone's attention. He reached into his bag as he walked to the head of the court.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I have copies made for the court."

Troy held out the papers.

"Now, if the honorable judge Wind will allow I have business to attend to."

Running Wind smiled as she nodded.

"Of course my king."

Troy gave her a slight bow and turned to walk out of the courtroom. Judge Running wind nodded as Law walked over and held a copy up to her. Law let out a little laugh as she looked down at a letter sighed by the former king.

"Now, seeing as I have even more evidence I'd like to give the jury a chance to have the jury room to read aloud this letter. As well as to break for lunch seeing as we started too late."

Running wind nodded as she looked over at Fineprint with a slightly annoyed look in her eyes.

"Do you have a problem with the request Mr, Print?"

"No your honor but I ask that the court post guards so my clients do not have to return to the cells to eat."

"I see no issue with the request. But, they will remain in leg irons but will be uncuffed."

"Thank you your honor."

"Court will resume in two hours."

Running wind banged her gable.