All of the mane six were gathered in the Castle of Friendship in preparation for Twilight Sparkle's testimony against Celestia tomorrow. The ruler had been under investigation for months, and Twilight, though she had done Equestria wrong in the past by covering up for Celestia, was no longer willing to stand for it. No, she was going to put her hoof down. The mood at the table was somber, and it appeared nopony wanted to be the first to start their discussion.
"Um, are you ready for tomorrow?" Fluttershy asked softly.
Twilight turned to her with a grim smile. "As ready as I can be," she replied.
Rarity removed her glasses and wiped them clean with a dainty white cloth she pulled seemingly out of thin air. "Oh darling, I'm just worried about your safety. You're one of the only few willing to come forward with evidence, aren't you? And Celestia's whole council is just the same as her, covering everything up."
"Don't worry, Twilight! You got us, and we won't let anypony touch you!"
Twilight nodded gratefully and took a deep breath. "Everypony," she began, laying her hooves flat out on the table, "I've wronged Equestria for a long time. I don't think anypony, even any of you, realize just what I've done for Celestia. I don't want to talk about it now, because what's done is done. That is, until I go to testify tomorrow. But I don't want any of you to feel bad for me. I know what I've done and I'll pay the price." Silence descended upon the table as Twilight's words rang out clearly through the halls.
Suddenly, Pinkie bounced out of her seat and pulled Twilight into a hug. "Pinkie?" Twilight asked with a laugh despite the somber atmosphere just moments ago.
"It's okay, silly! They'll send you to jail for a few years and when you come out, you'll be a free pony again! I'll be the first to treat you to a slice of cake! No, an entire cake!" The pink party pony's voice grew louder and louder as she continued to speak .
"Uh, thanks Pinkie," said Twilight, not entirely happy about Pinkie bringing up her impending prison sentence.
Rainbow Dash slammed her hooves on the table and jumped into the air. "Hey Twilight, no matter what, just remember we all have your flank!" she declared. "I mean, we will first thing once you get out of jail," she added sheepishly. "Ow, what was that for, Applejack!?"
"Ah don't think any of y'all are helping by keepin' Twilight's mind on jail!" said the farm pony. She turned to the purple princess and gave her a reassuring smile. "Ah know you're nervous, sugarcube, but ah promise that if you just go out there an' tell 'em the truth, there ain't nopony who won't respect you for it after. Ah swear on it," said Applejack. "Well, uh, maybe everypony except those corrupt ol' pears still coverin' up fer Celestia, but y'aint gotta worry 'bout them with us around." She gave Rainbow Dash a high five.
Twilight smiled despite the whole situation. Maybe everypony really would turn out fine. At least, that's what she thought until Spike burst into the castle, completely out of breath. "Twilight, Twilight!"
"What is it, Spike?" Twilight asked. It wasn't like Spike to panic; something wasn't right.
"Did you hear what he said about you!?" Spike cried. "There were reporters outside Canterlot Castle, and one of the guards said something about you!"
Twilight froze. She hadn't been in contact with any of Celestia's corrupt employees ever since she decided to leave her life of crime, but she had a bad feeling about what they could be saying. "Spike," she said, doing her best to keep her voice from shaking, "what did he say?"
"He was speaking to the press! He said something along the lines of, 'Do Shining Armour and your parents know about your stallion friends? He said maybe tonight would be a good time to chat and whether they'll remain faithful when you're in prison!"
Twilight's blood ran cold as the words processed in her head. "How?" she whispered. Nopony else was supposed to know about that. Nopony.
"Uh, Twilight?" Rainbow Dash's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Who cares what he's saying? They're all just lies, right?" she asked. However, Twilight's silence set a whole new mood in the castle hall as realization dawned on her friend's faces.
"No, it's true," Twilight said in a quiet voice. "And even if they were, it's clear what he's trying to do."
"Sugarcube, could ya maybe explain it to us normal folk over here?" asked Applejack. "'Cause ah just don't get it."
Twilight raised her head, tears shimmering in her eyes. "Don't you see, everypony? There's no way a guard could have known that! Celestia told him to do it, I'm certain. They're trying to intimidate me into not showing up to testify tomorrow so that there will be less evidence against her." She slammed a hoof on the table, following it with her head.
"Ya mean they're just tryna scare you?" clarified Applejack. She sighed as Twilight nodded her head from the table, unwilling to meet her friends' eyes. "Well, ah guess this might be a bit trickier than ah thought," she said.
"Um, isn't that illegal?" Fluttershy pointed out quietly.
"You bet it is!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash. "Tell you guys what. I'm contacting the newspapers right now, and I want all of you to file formal complaints against that guard for witness tamponing!"
Twilight giggled slightly. "I think you mean witness tampering, Rainbow Dash," she said, finally raising her head. "And I've made up my mind about what to do tomorrow."
"You have?" asked Pinkie Pie. "It's only been about ten seconds!"
"I'm going to show up and testify tomorrow," Twilight announced. Cheers erupted from all her friends at the table, and they got up to give Twilight a big group hug. "If I don't show up tomorrow, Celestia wins and gets to keep on ruining Equestria. I'm sick up standing by and watching it happen. Tomorrow, it's show time."
"Show time? We're going to a show?" Pinkie scratched her head. "I thought you were testifying!" Laughs broke out from everypony, and despite the heaviness of her oncoming testimony, Twilight felt free. With all her friends by her side, she knew she could handle whatever was coming.
When all of it was over and she'd received her sentencing, Equestria would be her judge. In years to come, Twilight hoped that instead of everypony remembering her as a traitor, they would remember her as one of the people, the one who revealed the dirty truth about Celestia's administration, even if she had been playing for the wrong team at the start.
Author's Note
hi everypony!!! 
i wasn't planning on writing anything bcause i am just soooo busy these days but i just couldnt help myself!!! i hope you all have a wonderful day everypony 
