Advent Of A Gunslinger

In Abyssinia, about one day later…

Everyone had arrived in Abyssinia to put Topaz to trial before the Royal Court. Mio was in charge of the proceedings with Spitha in the stands nearby alongside Axel and everyone he had met along the way of his journey. The blue-suited tom would explain just what role the brown unicorn mare played in all of this and how it has damaged everyone’s lives from ponies to griffons to minotaurs, and even the monkeyfolk from Chang’s hometown.

“...in conclusion, dear Parliment, I have no reason to doubt that Topaz is fully complicit in the acts of countless slave drives across the southern hemisphere. She knows the location of at least 50 creature-based slave operations in total.”

The King of Abyssinia, Mau. would address her first, “Is this true? Do you have the knowledge of which Mio speaks?”

“...I do,” Topaz admitted, “I’m prepared to give up all of the information zat is necessary under one condition--”

The Queen of Abyssinia, Bombay, would counter her point, “Excuse me. But we do not negotiate with terrorists. You are in no position to propose anything and are currently under the jurisdiction of the highest order of the court. If we have to resort to probing the information out of your head, we will do just that.”

Nearby, an Abyssinian doctor stood at the ready with a syringe…

To which Topaz reacted by nearly retching. “Hrrk! N-no zank you! I think I’m more than willing to cooperate.”

“As ya’ll should,” Roseanne called out from her seat in the jury, “It’s cuzza her and her ilk that my pa is dead! Ya lucky I ain’t the one callin’ the shots up in here!”

Axel held her down with one of his claws. “Hey now…calm yer milkers. Ya don’t want things gettin’ outta hand.”

“Hmph…” Rose simply folded her arms and remained silent at his request.

Mio would then proceed with the case. “Ahem…as I was saying: Topaz--you were complicit in the auctioning and selling of various ponies, correct? Why, pray tell, would you dare to sell off your own kind? Is it some sort of deep-rooted misanthropy?”

“...I suppose zere’s not much else to say,” she replied flatly, “I wanted more money for more power. Twaz ze only way I figured I could gain enough influence over ze region.”

“Is that really all there is to it?” Mio asked, raising a brow as he glared at her. “I find it very hard to believe that someone with a massive manor could desire nothing but more money…” That’s when Mio called upon Axel, “Mr. Remington--would you care to enlighten us on the tragedy that befell your family? If you’re willing to explain, that is.”

“It’s no problem,” Axel replied as he flew over to the witness box and sat down. “Now’ta make a long story short, I think it’s clear’ta see that she’s been pawnin’ off ponies just so she could curry favor with certain folks down south. Knowin’ she could eventually rule over the entire region herself at some point.”

“And what makes you think such a thing?” Mio asked/

Axel raised a brow and turned his gaze to Topaz who had been quivering in her seat for the past few minutes.

“I-I…er…” she darted her eyes back and forth, “I don’t know what you’re…”

One of the Abyssinians approached her with a syringe…

“Uch! Okay! Merde…yes, I wanted to erect my own castle and rule over Klugetown as a monarch,” she grumbled in defeat, “Zere’s so much more to zat place zan any of you realize!”

“You do realize that plotting against the royal family’s rule is a declaration of war, do you not?” Mio asked in a poignant manner--tapping his fingertips together. “Is that not right, your majesties?”

Mau nodded in agreement. “It’s been so long since it’s happened that it almost doesn’t even register. But you’re absolutely correct, young man.”

“Rrrr--I’m surprised someone was foolish enough to try,” Bombay added with a purr, “Doesn’t even seem logical to me. And yet here we are. I’d wager she was trying to use the former instability of the civil war to turn things in her favor.”

“Exactly,” Mio added, snapping his fingers, “She’s been pulling the strings since day one…”

“...OBJECSHON!” Topaz screamed.

“Yer dead to rights,” Axel said with a chuckle, “I’d keep my voice down if I were you.”

Mio looked over at the king and queen--as well as the other members of parliament. “I don’t think I need to state anything else. The evidence is as clear as day for all to see. It’s up to you to decide her punishment my Lord and Lady.”

The king and queen cats would turn and huddle towards each other, speaking in a hushed tone as they came to a conclusion. Once they were finished, they turned their attention back to the jury and Mau would give an order…

“We hereby sentence Topaz…”