Chapter 27 - Trials and Tribulations

Chapter 27 - Trials and Tribulations

By: TheXIIILightning

"I don't know if I should feel scared, or honored!" I said in a mock tone.

My wings were tied and, oh I dunno... half of the Royal Guard was in front of me! They had their armor and their spears were pointing straight at me, and I think that even the tiniest flinch I made, could set off the new recruits they possibly had.

I literally just got out of the train, yawned a bit and almost walked into a freaking spear! When I said that I would be practicing for my trail, I actually meant that I would sleep on it. And that's great, I actually have a few ideas for then, that is...

I looked at my right, the nearest guard flinched a bit but took a step closer, increasing his grip on the weapon.

If I make it to the trial...

"Remember Light, everypony knows you around here." Sunshine whispered to me. "For what they know, you killed their teacher. And you know how Mentore was like during training."

Oh I know, he was definitely crazy. And to these guys I'm even crazier, I would be afraid to fight me! Even with backup.

"At ease soldiers!" Spoke a white unicorn with a blue multicolored mane. The armor he was wearing was the one meant for captains, the purple might have been a personal touch. From Twilight's description, I guess this is her brother. "This pony is here on his own free will!"

The spears were lifted and now I had a little breathing room. Twilight trotted over to her brother.

"Shining!" She gave him a small nuzzle, he also nuzzled her, but tried to keep his composure in front of the troops. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too Twily, I've been so worried." He stopped nuzzling her and moved towards me. "This pony didn't do anything to hurt you." He was talking more to me, than to her. "Did he?" His eyes narrowed, trying to catch any hint of deceit on my face.

"No no no, of course not!" She gave him a small push on the shoulder. "He has been very polite and caring with me and my friends." She turned towards our small group. "Isn't that right girls?" I heard a bunch of supportive responses, Shining Armor seemed to be pleased with it.

"If you say so..." He turned towards me again, extending his hoof. "My name is Shining Armor, Captain of the Guard." I bumped his hoof, a bit hard but he didn't even flinch.

"Pleasure, my name is Lightning, but I guess you already know that." I gave him a smug look, thankfully he took it in a good way.

"So I've heard, charged with murder and theft of ancient relics can get you pretty famous around here." Touche...

"Yeah, hopefully I can get that sorted out today. And you don't have to worry about Twilight, she is a very capable young mare, she basically saved my life." I nodded towards her, she got a bit sheepish after Shining gave her an approving smile.

"I have complete faith in my little sister, but as her big brother I just can't stop worrying." He pointed at my scars. "Are those new? Our reports didn't include any special features, like scars." I put a hoof on my chest.

"Oh, this is what I meant by 'saving my life'. I was hurt really bad and showed up at Twilight's doorstep. Apparently I had fainted because of blood loss, but she and her friends managed to take me to the hospital." Shining nodded, following the story.

"Might I ask what happened?" He was clearly a soldier, looking after every detail. "Those scars are not from any ordinary accidents, they are most likely from a stab, cut or even-"

"It was a Manticore." I said. He looked surprised, so did a few recruits around us. "Sunshine and I were escorting a small caravan of two ponies, a foal and an elder, through the Everfree forest." I pulled Sunshine closer to me, messing her mane a bit with my hoof. "A Manticore appeared on the path we were taking, so I stayed behind so they could escape. Short story short, I lost my sword after wounding the Manticore, big mistake, ran around for a few hours dodging swipes and lunges, got thrown through a freakin' tree and lost a few gallons of blood." I gave a dismissing wave.

"You know, the usual."

"Wow..." He didn't know what to say, clearly I got the upper hand in this confrontation. "That must have been quite a day, right?"

"Nahh." I chuckled a bit. "I just call them, 'Tuesday's'."

"So I don't even get a lawyer?"

After a 'small' escort from the train station to the palace, all of us were waiting inside the main hall. The ceiling was incredibly high, and the walls were colored with various tones of blue and pink. Some would say it looked tacky, but in the evening sun that was passing through the multicolored windows, it looked amazing.

Shining Armor was designed to be my... guide, foalsitter, chauffeur, it's your pick. His only job was to make sure I didn't cause trouble until my trial. Which was right now!

"Princess Luna and Princess Celestia wish to resolve this matter with the utmost discretion. And considering your charges and lack of evidence, it seems to be the best course of action for a fair trial." Wow dude, chill on the big words...

"So what? Yes I couldn't find any evidence that proves I'm innocent, but I still have rights!" What do they expect me to do? Just waltz in there and say, 'Oh Hi Princess! Just so you know, I'm innocent Ok! Well bye!' Yeah, I can see how that will turn out, but look on the bright side, I would finally know if the moon is made of cheese.

"You have to be reasonable Lightning." Twilight said. "Princess Celestia only wants the best for everypony." The other Elements of Harmony nodded, but I still wasn't convinced.

"Twilight Sparkle is right. You need to have more faith in my sister." Princess Luna!?

I bowed, and so did everypony else. Yes, I can act all cool and cocky in front of a Captain, but she is a Princess! She deserves our respect.

"Please everypony, there is no need for such formalities. Please stand." She beckoned us, her voice was gentle but still very menacing. Her eyes showed the power that she undoubtedly had, but they weren't different from anypony else, they showed signs of doubt and kindness.

The Elements greeted the Princess of the Night, each in their own way. Trixie, Sunshine and I stood silent with our heads slightly low. I noticed a slight frown in the Princesses's features, but it disappeared as fast as it appeared.

"My sister wishes to speak with this..." She looked into my eyes, her deep blue eyes seemed like the darkest night, unending and beautiful. It's like she's staring into my very soul, watching every moment of my insignificant life. "Lightning, alone. I shall speak with the Elements of Harmony and those that accompany him." She made her way down the hall with everypony behind her. Trixie and Sunshine gave me a final, worried, glance before disappearing around the corner.

I turned towards Shining Armor.

"I guess this is it, there's no use running now." I sighed.

"No, I locked the doors." He jiggled a few keys with his magic.

"Hey! I didn't know you had a sense of humor." I'd jab him in the shoulder, but I have enough charges as it is.

"I don't." He shrugged. "I just remembered that there aren't any keys on the moon, so at least you have that." Ouch bro, ouch...

He opened the doors for me and I made my way inside the Throne room.

After passing a few columns I was in front of Celestia's throne. I didn't notice the windows detailing the feats of those six great ponies, and of others before them, including the defeat of Discord by the Princesses. I didn't even see the Princess herself, my head was too low for that.

But I could feel her, I could feel her warmth on my fur, and her gaze on my head. It screamed of power and kindness, hopefully she would give me the later instead of proof of the first.

"Tell me my little pony, do you know why you are here?" She spoke, calm and commanding.

"Yes..." I couldn't say more.

"Do you know the consequence of your actions?" She spoke again, her tone unchanging.

"I do your highness..." I was gaining my confidence, even if just a little.

"Do you regret them?" Again, that same unchanging voice.

"... No." I said, daring to look at the Princess for the first time. She looked surprised and didn't say anything else. She wanted me to continue.

"I know how much pain my actions brought, I ran away from my problems and brought the ones I love down with me. That is the only thing that I regret, that's why I'm here today, so I can stop all the running and keep on living." I sighed a bit, the Princess didn't say anything.

"I am accused of terrible things that I couldn't even dream of committing. I ran away to try and prove my innocence, but that only served to make me more guilty." The Princess got up, and slowly made her way towards me.

"So you choose the easy way out. You choose a path of vengeance." Her voiced seemed colder.

"Yes, I will not lie Princess. In the first few months I could only think of hurting whoever made all of this happen. Whoever made me loose my family and friends..." I stood silent for a while. "But as time went on, I saw that I too did the same to Sunshine, I brought her with me when she could be happy if she only stayed behind."

Princess Celestia is making me relieve my darkest moments, emotions and thoughts that I have long since forgotten, pushed away for lack of better word.

It's as if she wants to break me, so she can mold the pieces together after every piece of regret and anger is gone.

"Tell me my little pony." She was in front of me right now. "What would you do if you faced the pony that made all of that happen?" I looked up, she was smiling. A motherly smile if I ever saw one... which I didn't... Since I didn't say anything, she continued.

"Would you take your revenge, make justice by your own hands and be satisfied by it." Yes, I would have choose that a long time ago.

"Or would you turn your back and leave his fate in the hoof of other's. Live the rest of your days knowing that you could have avenged your loved ones, but choose not to."

I took a long time to answer, knowing full well that the Princess could sense every tiny bit of doubt that I had. Every fiber in my being is screaming vengeance, but my hearth is telling no...Who is stronger?

"If I choose vengeance, I would be killing two ponies. A monster, and whoever killed my teacher. I will not make that mistake! I have friends now, ponies that love me, ponies who I love, and ponies that I have to protect! I will not do anything to hurt them, I made that mistake a long time ago, one that I'll never commit again!"

The Princess narrowed her eyes and lowered her head, she was looking at me the same way her sister did, not so long ago. After a few seconds she looked away and smiled.

"Very well, my little pony." She made her way towards the same door I entered, opening it with her magic. "I'll go check on my sister, I wish to hear her opinion on this matter."

She turned her head to the left, motioning Shining Armor to follow her. Then she turned her head to the right and nodded.

"Captain Sparrow will keep you company while I'm gone. I'm sure you two have a lot to talk about." Sparrow!?

"Certainly your highness." That voice... it is Sparrow!

He walked inside the throne room and closed the door behind him.

Sparrow was wearing a normal Pegasi armor, although the helmet had his own white mane coming out of the top, and he wasn't wearing the camouflage spell, his gray fur was everything that I could see under the golden armor.

I made my way towards him.

"Brother! It's been so long, how di-" He pushed me into a column, his foreleg was squeezing my throat.

"I am not your brother." He sneered. What is wrong with him!?

"S-Sparrow, what are yo-" He pushed harder.

"How dare you bring Sunshine back!? Didn't I tell you to run!?" He removed his foreleg from my throat, I fell to the ground.

"I had no choice!" I got back up after regaining my breath. I looked him straight in the eyes. "I couldn't force Sunshine to live like that any longer. I only want what's best for her!"

"So do I!" He stomped his hoof. "But she doesn't have a life here anymore, and neither do you!"

"Why are you so thickheaded!?" I had to control myself, I want to punch him so badly. "Our lives are here! They have always been here! We may have left Canterlot, but Sunshine never left you, I never left you."

For once, he didn't say anything. He just turned and made his way towards the door.

"This doesn't change anything... brother." He said before opening it and stepping outside, closing it behind him.

Let's see, Sunshine changed her looks, Rainbow Dash broke down, almost got 'nearly' killed by The Guard, got stared down by both Princesses's, and my brother hates my guts... What the buck is going on!?!?

For Celestia's sake, can anything else happen!?

"I will now read the verdict" Sounded Celestia's voice... Wait, what?

I looked around and the room was filled with ponies, Twilight and her friends were at my left, they were giving me looks that said I had gone mad. It seems like I zoned out for a few moments. Sunshine and Trixie were at my right with Shinning Armor, Sparrow was nowhere to be found.

I looked up and saw both Celestia and Luna staring at me. I gave them a sheepish smile and beckoned them to continue.

"As I was saying, I will now read the verdict for the accusation of murder." She cleared her throat and awaited for everypony's attention.

"I, Princess Celestia, and my dearest sister, Princess Luna. Find the defendant, Lightning... Not guilty of the murder of Il Mentore."

A few cheers sounded across the room, courtesy of Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie. I wanted to cheer as well, but I couldn't, they still had plenty more to say.

A few moments later Princess Luna took her sister's place and began reading from a small scroll.

"I will now read the verdict for the accusation of theft, the item in question being the legendary Moonstone." Everypony went silent.

"I, Princess Luna, and my dearest sister, Princess Celestia. Find the defendant, Lightning... Guilty!" I heard a bunch of gasps across the room, I even saw Rarity fainting from the corner of my eye. Everypony was whispering among themselves and I could see a frown increasing in Luna's features.

"SILENCE!!" Luna's voice was loud enough to shake the ground, but at least everypony was now silent. Princess Celestia rolled her eyes and whispered something to Luna.

"I- I apologize, that outburst was not necessary in this situation." Nopony said anything, so the Princess continued.

"As I was saying, we find the defendant guilty, but for lack of better evidence he will not be punished to the full extent of the law." Well, now I'm even more interested. Luna unwrapped the rest of the scroll and began reading it.

"From here on out, until the real thief is found, Lightning is forbidden to leave the city unattended. And every time he wishes to wander around the streets of Canterlot, it shall be in the company of either a member of the guard or that of an Element of Harmony."

"If Lighting proves to be a respectful citizen, these charges may be dropped and he shall be treated as a normal citizen, with the same freedoms as such."

"In the efforts of capturing the real criminal, if there is any, Lightning is now required to cooperate with the guard in any efforts relating to his case. As such, he earns the title of 'witness' and is allowed to carry a weapon at all times, considering it is only for self-defense."

"If any harm comes to an innocent by your hands, you are to be severely punished without possibility of a trial."

Princess Luna narrowed her eyes and looked at me.

"Do you agree with the terms presented to you?"

Innocent of murder, but guilty of theft, that's way better than what I thought would happen.

And I even get to try and catch the murderer, why wouldn't I agree with this?

"I do, your highness." I said.

"Very well!" Luna smiled and slammed a giant hammer on a nearby podium. "CASE CLOSED!" I didn't even notice that podium was there, but I did notice Celestia whispering something in Luna's ear. She blushed and slammed the hammer again.

"I mean... CASE CLOSED FOR NOW!!"

Arghhh! Stop yelling so loud!!

End of Chapter 27

And the trial is over!
And with that, I mean my hearing!

Now for the Hype. *Ahem*

WHAT!? DID YOU SAY SOMETHING!?

Find out in the next chapter of...
Will of Fire!