The Robbery of the Canterlot Mint

“It’s a wedding ring!” Pinkie announced.

The others took a look and groaned as, once again, their pink friend had stated the completely obvious. She had a rather peculiar knack for doing so, but they also knew that she had a similar ability to predict the future. None of them said it, but they all secretly felt that she could be the most valuable pony on the investigative force. If she could tell them what was going to happen next, they wouldn’t need to second guess on anything. So, they all silently agreed to put up with her quirkiness for the good of their friendship and their investigation.

“The only question is…who does it belong to?” Dash asked.

“I don’t know,” Moon Dancer said, “but I do know this. When it’s presented in court, the case against Celestia will be squashed. She’s not married! Rarity, you and Rainbow take this and get yourselves to the courtroom as fast as your hooves can carry you. This can help set the Princess free!”

Rarity and Rainbow both grinned widely and the fashionista magically took the band. They dashed out of the Mint and towards the castle and its courtroom. Their hooves pounded the cobblestones without mercy as they galloped their hearts out. They knew that they held the key to Celestia’s freedom in their grasp, and they were not about to let their friend down. She had done so much for them and given of herself so many times. She had been benevolent and kind. She had shown them mercy and compassion when they did not deserve it. Now, it was their turn to save her.

“Come on, Dash! We’ve just got to get there before Luna, Cadance, and Twilight pass judgment! We’re running out of time!”

“I’m on it!” Dash said as she grabbed the ring in her mouth.

“Hey, just what do you think you’re doing?!”

“Saving time!” Dash said as she took off into the skies above…

…Meanwhile, in the courtroom, Celestia had taken the stand in her own defense. She had heard the testimonies of the security guards who bore witness to the robbery, and it had created a level of sadness and despair within her heart that nearly broke her. Tears rolled down her face before she began to speak. She looked around the courtroom and saw so many familiar and bitterly disappointed faces. Even the plaintiff, Banker Bit, looked like he was about to weep. What nopony knew was that she and the bank manager were secret lovers.

Oh, my dear, darling Banker Bit. If only we could elude the pursuit of injustice that has so easily beset our loving relationship. But my love for you remains as strong as it ever has been. I do not blame you for this, for I see the pain that is engulfing you as well. You know I did not do this, yet you sit there and go along with it because the evidence all points to me. You have no choice here. This bludgeoning by supposed facts is killing our gentle peace, and I do not know how to save it. I hope to the sun above that Twilight’s friends find something to acquit me. Perhaps then, you and I may come forward with our romance and be properly married.

“My fellow Equestrians,” she began in a shaky voice, “I do not know how things have come to pass this way. We have all heard of the evidence found in the bank vault, but I must say that I find a lot of it to be shoddy and ill constructed. A white tuft of fur could belong to anypony, yet I am accused. A small strand of mane hair that was green and pink? Well, that could have been planted there or it could have been magically tampered with. Yet, I am accused. The only piece of evidence I cannot fight against…is the recovery of some of my golden necklace. There, I am at a loss. It has my emblem on it, and the Great Seal of Equestria. It is a mark of my authority, but I also like to think of it as a mark of love.

I love everypony as if they were my own relatives. In a way…that’s exactly what all of you are. You’re like family to me, and it hurts my heart to be accused of something so heinous and unforgivable by my own brothers and sisters. I’ve always attempted to do what was best for everypony, and I do not get angry or upset very often. But to have hooves pointed at me based on a few pieces of dodgy ‘evidence’ is heartbreaking. I do not wish to sit up here and call anypony a traitor, but truly, there are those within our citizenry who have mocked the office that my sister and I have worked so hard to dignify. They are the ones who committed this terrible crime, and if I could, I would catch them and punish them myself. But as it is, I have been stripped of my princess title…and now it is up to others to see that I am justified. Thank you.”

She turned and looked at Luna, and it was all that the Princess of the Moon could do to fight back her tears. The sisters shared a brief moment of warm, silent love. The respect and care that they had with each other was almost too much for the room to bear. Some of the ponies began silently weeping and cursing themselves for doubting Celestia. They all remembered their love for her, and suddenly, everypony was on her side. They all desperately wanted some new piece of evidence to be found that would acquit her.

“YOUR MAJESTY!” Somepony suddenly shouted.

Gasps and small conversations erupted in the gallery as the huge double doors burst open and Rainbow Dash flew into the room, followed closely by Rarity. Twilight broke into a smile as her friends approached the bench and set something down on the table between them. Could that be something new? She asked in her head, oh, please, oh, please, be something new!

“Forgive our interruption, Your Highnesses,” Rarity said, “but we have a new piece of evidence that shall acquit Princess Celestia!”

“Objection!” Common Law suddenly yelled.

“Objection sustained,” Luna said, “what is it, Common Law?”

“I move to have this introduced evidence dismissed from the proceedings. All evidence needed to be found and properly filed before the trial began. Since it has been many hours since said trial started, I believe this to be an unfair advantage for the defendant.”

Luna’s heart sank. Just as much as anypony, she wanted her sister to be free once again. But she also saw Common Law’s point about being fair and unbiased, and she rose the gavel to order the motion. But then Twilight suddenly snatched the gavel from her magical grasp. “Princess Twilight!” Luna thundered, “I am the head of this legal body!”

“Yes, Princess Luna,” Twilight responded, “but I know Equestrian law like the back of my hoof, and Equestrian law clearly states that ALL evidence is demanded in a royal court case. If this were being held in civic court or in a town’s court, then Common Law would have a point. But since this is royal court, and the defendant’s charges are so serious, royal protocol and Equestrian statute 1456-B, Subsection 2, Paragraph 3, demand that we see every shred of evidence! Therefore, I move to table Common Law’s motion.”

“I second the motion!” Cadance quickly exclaimed.

Luna nodded, a little embarrassed at having forgotten the law, but thankful to have a friend like Twilight to remind her. “The motion to table is carried, and passed. Rarity, you and Rainbow Dash may present your new evidence.”

Rarity and Rainbow Dash proceeded to tell about the wedding ring and argued that Celestia could not possibly have committed the crime, considering her unmarried status. They also spoke of how the tuft of fur they found had discolored, leading them to believe that somepony very inexperienced with magic had attempted to disguise themselves as Celestia and walk in and rob the Mint.

“It turned a light shade of pink,” Rarity finished, “and therefore, we believe that, in light of these new findings, Princess Celestia should be exonerated of all her charges.”

Luna, Cadance, and Twilight quickly turned and whispered among themselves for a moment. Then they turned back to the expectant gallery. Everypony scooted forward on their seat, waiting for Luna’s next few words. They didn’t know if she was going to extend the trial or hand down a verdict right there. Every heart beat faster and every pair of ears was standing even straighter than usual.

Luna looked and smiled at her sister. “Fillies and gentle colts,” she said, “I am very pleased to announce that we, the Princesses of Equestria, after deliberating and considering all the evidence presented to us, do hereby find Celestia…not guilty of robbery as outlined in the Equestrian penal code.”

Celestia’s mouth fell open with joy, as she was quickly tackled by Rarity and Rainbow Dash. They hugged her until she had to ask them politely to remove themselves. “Oh, Princess Celestia!” Rarity said happily, “it’s so wonderful to have you back!”

“Yeah, it is, but…I do have one question,” Dash said, “what about your gold necklace?”

“I don’t know, Rainbow Dash,” Celestia said, “all I know is that justice was won here this day, and I never have to return to that awful pony penitentiary again. I can resume my time on the throne and continue preparing Twilight for her ascension.”

But as the happy parties celebrated, one pony looked on with anger and hatred. When the verdict was announced, Common Law’s mouth fell open in shock. He was sure that Celestia would be found guilty. All of the evidence pointed at her…all, that is…except for one small piece of gold. How? How could this all go so wrong? He asked himself, this was my case to win! HMPH! Well, if they think they’ve seen the last of old Common Law, they’ve been hoodwinked! I believe there are a couple of ponies I need to speak with…