Rosey Mangos

Rose Tint’s POV

“Miss! You’re awake!”

I open my eyes to the bright hospital lights and my blurry vision. There’s a nurse pony next to my bed, placing a glass of water on the table next to me.

“Uh- Hi, yes I am. What happened?” I asked, my memory needing a little jog. There was a black thestral with a blue mane, I think, and some monster attacking me. A timberwolf? I think that’s what the filly told me about.

“You were attacked by a thestral! Celestia be damned, those beings don’t belong with the rest of ponykind.”

“What? He saved me from a timberwolf. What happened to him? Did he get thrown into jail in Canterlot?” My jaw dropped, who had the audacity to call the guard on him? Is he getting a fair trial? My heart is racing. I don’t even think he got my name, since the embroidery on my lab coat was stained.

“Ah, probably. I believe his trial is in a couple of days,” she replied.

“Well, I’m getting the buck out of here. Thanks for all you’ve done but I’ve got a thestral to thank,” I said while making my way out of the bed and to the door. Before she could reply, I ran to the front desk to be discharged. The front desk pony saw that I appeared to be fine, and consulted with the nurse pony who was catching up to me. They agreed to let me be discharged, and let me go without any medications to take with me. I did however acquire a copy of my medical records to take with me as evidence for the trial.

Alright, the train for Canterlot should be arriving in a few minutes. All I have to do is prove his innocence at the trial. Simple enough, I’m the only other pony who knows what happened. I just hope there’s no jury or rigged judge.

“All aboard for Canterlot!”

--

Upon my arrival in Canterlot, I checked into a hotel. I have work to do! These ponies are out right crazy for throwing the pony who saved me in jail to await a trial. There’s quite a bit of buzz in the lounge area, perhaps I can gather some information.

“Uh, Hi. I was wondering if you could tell me anything about the trial that’s taking place soon?” I asked a stallion who was standing by some refreshments.

“Oh, the thestral trial that’s taking place tomorrow? They’ll rip him to shreds. Especially if the mare he attacked doesn’t show up.”

“That’s me! He saved me, and he’s innocent.” I stated.

“I’mma be honest ma’am. I believe you, I think he’s innocent, but there’s no way the court will accept his pleas.”

I looked at the stallion and turned away, running to the stairs. I went up to my room, defeated, and confused. Why do all these ponies have something against bat ponies? Did they learn nothing from the history of ponykind? Either way, I have to prove his innocence in court tomorrow. Better get a good night’s sleep tonight.

--

Sun beaming through the curtains wakes me. I roll out of the hotel bed, and head to the lobby to check out. I’ll just grab a crepe from a stand for breakfast. Speaking of which, there’s one right at the corner. I head up to the pony, hand him some bits, and carry it with my magic. Mmm, strawberries with cream is so good. I’ll have to treat the bat pony who saved me to this.

As I head to the court house, I notice the Royal Guard outside. Nonetheless, I try to walk inside.

“Stop! You cannot enter,” one of the guard ponies proclaims.

“Who’s to stop me? I am a Royal Scientist, appointed by Princess Luna. I am the mare from this case, as you can see by these records I acquired from the hospital. Now let me through.”

“Uh- I think we should let her through,” one says.

“Should we really?” another one inquires.

“These hospital records are legitimate, this mare brings evidence applicable to the trial. We must let her in,” the third one proclaims, moving aside to allow me through.

As I walk inside, I see ponies are seated in the back. The bat pony who saved me is up front next to what I can assume to be a lawyer. The judge doesn’t look happy.

“Young thestral, take to the stand. What is your account of the night in question?” The judge asked.

“I checked into the Golden Horseshoe hotel, and decided to fly around a bit during the night. As I was flying over the Everfree forest in Ponyville, I heard shrieks and screams coming from the forest. As I flew down, I noticed a pink unicorn in a lab coat being attacked by a timberwolf. I bucked the timberwolf and put her on my back, and flew to the closest hospital,” he stated nervously. I can’t tell if he notices me or not.

“What else do you remember about this supposed pink unicorn?”

“She had a long reddish brown mane with a red braided streak. Her lab coat had her name embroidered on it, but all I could make out was the word ‘rose.’ I believe I caught a glimpse of her cutie mark as well, a flask with a rose in it.”

“Interesting…” the judge smirked.

“Your Honor, I am Rose Tint. I am the mare this thestral is talking about.”

“Excuse me, it is not your turn to speak ma’am. In fact, I do not recall us inviting a pink unicorn named Rose Tint to this trial. Guards, seize her,” the judge stated.

“W-what? I am a Royal Scientist under Princess Luna. You cannot and will not seize me. This threstal is innocent.” The guards circle me. As they are about to carry me out of this court house, the doors burst down.

“Order!” was shouted, but not by the judge. It was Princess Luna herself. I bow my head to the ground. “Young Rose Tint, what is your account of that night?”

“I was collecting samples in the Everfree forest when a timberwolf attacked me. It bit into my flank, causing me to scream. As I was trying to make my escape I collapsed and nearly fainted. I caught a glimpse of my savior, a thestral with a short blue mane and red eyes. I woke up in a hospital a few days later,” I stated.

“Your Honor, I believe these ponies are telling the truth. Their stories match up. Although I do not believe you should be out at night alone. I understand the importance of researching at night, however, and I assign Hot Wing, member of the Lunar Guard, to accompany you while you research.”

“Thank you, Princess Luna,” I reply, a little teary eyed. Who knows what would have happened had I not woken up yesterday.

“As a member of the Lunar Guard, I will protect her to the best of my abilities,” Hot wing exclaimed.

“I believe you two will work together to unearth some of Equestria’s most important science. However, I must leave now as I have quite a packed schedule,” she smiled.

We wave to Luna as she exits the court house, and turn to each other.

“Thanks for saving me that night, uhm, Hot Wing was it?”

“Haha, yea. Thank you as well, for coming here to defend me.”

“There’s a crepe stand not far from here, I’d like to treat you for saving me. Maybe we can a bit before heading back to Ponyville,” I say.

“Sounds good to me. I’d like to get to know you a little more too, y’know,” he replied looking in the opposite direction. Not too weird to want to get to know the pony you’re going to be working with.

We exit the courthouse and trot to the crepe stand. I purchase two more crepes, pass the vendor some bits, and we head over to sit on the bench nearby.

“What brought you to Ponyville?” I asked, since it doesn’t make sense for a member of the Lunar Guard to be there for no reason.

“I was supposed to be enjoying my vacation. I assume you were assigned to do some research on the Everfree forest?”

“Yea, I probably should’ve listened to what the locals were telling me. I currently live in a cottage, you can live there with me. Since you don’t have a house there or anything…”

“That sounds good, thanks. Let’s catch the next train so we can head on back then?”

“I hope this is the last train I have to go on for a while,” I reply, excited for what is to happen next. Maybe Princess Luna was onto something by partnering us.