Trial and Error: Second Edition

Epilogue the First: Trial

Twilight walked briskly into the throne room of Canterlot Castle. She carried with her all of the materials she had gathered over the past week. As she approached the throne, Celestia beamed down on her.

"Twilight Sparkle. How lovely to see you. Would you care to join me for some tea?"

"That would be lovely, Princess, but I'm actually here to request a favor."

"Is there any reason we can't do both at once?"

"I suppose not."

The two adjourned to the tea garden. As Celestia began prepping the tea, Twilight started removing records and scrolls from her saddlebags. She had been researching Kai's history in preparation for his trial, which was scheduled for the following day.

"Now," smiled Celestia, pouring tea into Twilight's cup. "What's this favor you want to ask of me?"

Twilight took a sip of tea. "Tomorrow morning, you're supposed to preside over the criminal trial of a stallion named Akaitora."

"Yes. Honestly, I don't know anything about him. Do you?"

"I do. I've spent the better part of last week going over his case with a fine-toothed comb. And after all of that..." She took a deep breath. "I'd like to ask for your leniency."

Celestia frowned. "Now, Twilight, I haven't even heard the charges against him yet. I haven't met him yet, so I can't judge his character. I'd like to avoid any prejudging if I can."

"I understand, Princess. But several of the charges brought up against him have been dropped by the offended party. One of his charges, for example, is breaking a shop window. While he did do it, in doing so, he saved the shop owner's life. She's even prepared to confirm this in her testimony tomorrow."

"If that's true, then why bring it to my attention now? I'm just going to hear it again tomorrow."

Twilight shrunk back. "I guess that one wasn't the right one to bring up."

Celestia leaned back. "Do you really care for this stallion?"

Twilight looked away. "Not exactly. I don't really know him all that well, personally. I spent a month overseeing his work for Fluttershy, but he made every effort not to talk about himself. As if he were afraid of me. Which makes a lot of sense, considering my brother is a captain of the guard. He did say that he had been locked in the dungeon before. And his next charge was grand larceny."

Celestia set down her tea. "Grand Larceny is rather serious. How much?"

Twilight reached into her pack and pulled out five official reports from the guards. "These reports tell what happened. The first report says that taxes were successfully collected. The second states that they were stolen. The third one is where Kai shows up."

Celestia skipped the first two reports and took the third. She scanned over it quickly. "This says that he was found tied up on the road next to the stolen money. He said it wasn't his and tried to give it back, but it was found to be counterfeit. On their way back in, he escaped."

"The last two are arrest reports. They're the ponies that really stole the money."

"I see. I'll be honest, the fact that he was tied up made me doubtful of his guilt. Very well, I'll keep that in mind. Is there anything else?"

"I don't have anything else that you won't be hearing tomorrow. At least, not in relation to his crimes. As a sentence, he wants to do community service. I think he deserves it."

"I'll think about it. Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Twilight."

Twilight nodded. As she took another sip of tea, she remembered something. "I almost forgot. When I was talking to Kai about his past, trying to compile all of this information, he tried to show me something. It was a ring. It fell out of his pocket while he was fighting Stain."

"Stain... I've heard that name before."

"He was a thief. He stole countless treasures from all over Equestria." Twilight pulled out a wanted poster with Stain's face on it. "He's also been known to kidnap, torture, kill and enslave ponies. He was a very dangerous stallion."

"Was?"

"Kai was forced to take Stain's life. Eyewitnesses all say he didn't have a choice."

"So this stallion you want me to go easy on rid Equestria of one of its top criminals?"

"Public enemy number three, according to the records office."

"I see." Celestia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes, she poured a second cup of tea. "You were telling me about this ring?"

"Oh, right. It fell out of his pocket while he was fighting Stain. I searched the area, and I found this." Twilight produced the worn-down ring from her pack. As Celestia saw it, she nearly spit out her tea.

"Is that the ring he dropped?"

Twilight nodded. "I took it back to him, and he confirmed it. I told him I was going to have it cleaned, but I thought you might want to see it first."

"Where did he obtain it?"

"He said a homeless pony from Ponyville had been wearing it. A stallion. I looked into Ponyville residents from twenty years ago that might recognize the crest, but all I could find was that they all mysteriously disappeared, one by one."

"Do you know what this signet means, Twilight?"

"No, but it looks like it might belong to a royal family, or something."

"Indeed. The Belican Royal Family, to be precise."

"Isn't the kingdom of Belicos naught but a wasteland now? Wasn't the earth scorched beyond use?"

Celestia nodded. "Tribes of bandits roam the lands, laying claim to plots and killing each other over what few areas are arable. And yet, if Kai were to take this ring within its borders, he would hold a legitimate claim to the throne."

"Wait... Are you telling me that right now, down in your dungeon, you're holding the rightful king of Belicos?"

"All of the other heirs are gone. If this homeless pony gifted Kai the ring, he is the only heir. If he took the ring, then he is a usurper. Either way, he has a right to claim it."

Twilight looked down at the ring. "I don't think he even knows. He said he only keeps it for sentimental value."

"Then let him keep it. We'll be keeping an eye on him in the future." She sighed. "This is going to be an interesting trial..."