Twilight stood in the lobby that leads to the judge's seat of Canterlot's courtroom with the other co-rulers of Equestria. Even though she has made up her mind on her decision, her stomach still felt full of butterflies.
How will the citizens of Equestria react to my decision for Tempest? She wondered nervously.
"Are you ready, Twilight?" Celestia broke into the mare's thoughts, "It's almost time."
"Yeah, I'm ready." Twilight smiled at her mentor, "I'm still nervous." She admitted.
Celestia smiled gently. "You'll know what's in your heart the best decision for Equestria and the former commander." She quickly embrace Twilight. As she let go, Twilight felt a hoof on her shoulder.
"Everything will be alright." Cadence comforted her sister-in-law.
Twilight nodded in respect to the pink alicorn. "Thanks"
Tempest stood in the courtroom, chained to the ground in the middle of the room. The court was full of ponies whispering amongst each other. Tempest noticed quite a few of them gazed at her harshly or with tears in their eyes. Tempest let out a sigh.
Here stands one of the greatest Commanders in the world, waiting like a coward to face her punishment. Her inner voice echoed.
Tempest shook her head.
I'm not like that anymore. I don't want to be.
The doors to the courtroom swung open from the guard's magic, and all four princesses stepped into the Courtroom. Twilight headed up to the main Judge's seat, which normally, Tempest remembered, is occupied by Princess Celestia. The other three took their places on either side of the podium.
Guess she wants to be the one to deliver the news of my death, Tempest thought, betrayal and hurt boiling within her heart.
This is it. This is where my life ends. Goodbye, Equestria.
After a few moments, Twilight spreads her wings open to get the audience's attention. Everyone noticed within a couple heartbeats and shut their mouths.
"Fillies and gentlecolts." Twilight addressed, "We are gathered here today for the trial of Tempest Shadow, the former commander of the Storm King's army. She stands accused of treason for invading her homeland, turning my fellow princesses into stone, and stealing our magic for the Storm King's benefit." Twilight ruffled some papers and continued, "Not only that, but she hunted my friends and myself for three days across multiple kingdoms, ordered the false imprisonment, enslavement, and in some instances the death of some of our friends and family. Never before has Equestria seen such cruelty from an evil force, let alone someone of our own kind." Twilight lowered her head a little.
Tempest cursed herself under her breath while she listened to the charges that were read aloud. She couldn't meet the gaze of the pony at the podium, let alone anyone else who was in the same room as her.
I was a monster to these ponies. To everyone. She held back tears of frustration and anger towards herself. Why did I do this?
Tempest heard Twilight clear her throat as she shuffled more papers. Tempest finally looked up at the mare she once thought of as amazing, and noticed that she seemed more...nervous than anything. Her hooves were shaking as she flipped the paper over. Tempest watched her close her eyes.
What's going on?
"I'll now have a few witnesses take the stand." Twilight motioned to a few of the ponies in the room. Tempest had to bare through three hours of testimonies with ponies wailing about their lost loved ones. For her, it was torture. In some instances, she had to defend herself against the ponies' accusations as prompted by Twilight.
I already know what I did wrong! Tempest cried, Why are you torturing me?!
Face it, her inner voice scowled, she never liked you.
No, Tempest thought, that's not true!
Tempest shook her head, trying to keep herself from shaking the cage she was in. She felt her horn tingle and gasped. A couple sparks had flown from her horn, and a few ponies in the audience saw it. Twilight looked from the podium in concern. Tempest stared back, trying to hold back tears. Twilight looked down at her papers. Tempest's ears flattened to her head.
"Now that we've heard from those witnesses and their tragic stories," Twilight stated, "It's time to bring Tempest Shadow to the stand." She unfurled her wings and motioned to the guard in front of Tempest. The guard opened the cage, grabbed the chains, and let her to the stand. Tempest stood with her head bowed. She heard guards trot up to her side. Tempest sighed.
"Tempest Shadow," the princess of friendship announced from the podium, "Do you plead guilty to the crimes you've committed against Equestria?"
"With all my heart, Princess." Tempest replied, bowing her head.
A moment of silence followed. Tempest looked up at Twilight to see her almost...smiling.
What?
"Tempest, I've seen that you've changed since you saved me and my friends from the Storm King last year." Twilight started, "You've realized deep down how wrong it was to take out your anger against Equestria. You've helped restore Equestria to its fullest. Because you've done all of this, I've decided to reduce your sentence."
Audible gasps erupted from the audience. Tempest's eyes widened and her mouth hung open as she stared at the Princess of Friendship. "What?" She whispered.
"I, Princess Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship, hereby sentence former Commander Tempest Shadow to two years of community service." Twilight continued as Tempest's eyes formed tears in them. "She will help clean up from the recent attacks of Queen Chrysalis, as well as some of the leftover damage the Storm King left behind." Twilight smiled once more. "I would also like my brother, Shining Armor, to officially train Tempest Shadow to be my Captain of the Royal Guard."
More gasps rang across the court room. Tempest didn't believe her ears, but the genuine smile on Twilight's face as she looked down on her and signaled the guards to unchain her.
"You more than deserve this." Twilight whispered.
Tempest wiped tears from her eyes. "Thank you." She smiled up at the Princess, her cheeks flushing as she was led out of the courtroom by the guards.
"Case is closed." Twilight struck the gavel to the podium. "We're done here."
YOU ARE READING
Strings of Fate
De Todo(Formerly known as Tempest's Bride) Tempest Shadow is finally back from spreading the word about the Storm King's defeat. Her arrival in Ponyville has everyone frightened and angered, except for Twilight and her friends. After staying with Twilight...
