Post by Sky Blue on Mar 17, 2015 0:17:27 GMT -5
"Canterlot Court of Affairs is now in order, Judge Fluffball the Second presiding." A bright pink pegasus stallion in judical robes that looks like he sincerely wishes he wasn't bright pink bangs his gavel, then announces, "I will now here the case of Memory vs Cakes. Mr. Memory, if you will start?" While the jury box is full, the gallery seats are only vaguely occupied. Sitting at a desk to the right of Marble is Strange Cakes, who possesses an air of unflappable calmness and confidence about him.
"If it pleases the court, the plaintiff party will make the case that the defendant willfully and knowingly disregarded the spirit of Ponyville's public health and safety laws to unlawfully detain a filly against her will. Not only will the plaintiff demonstrate this, he will also reveal to the court a personal *stake* the defendant had in detaining this innocent filly," Marble says, opening his case, pacing in front of the jury box. "We will show that he viciously and systematically looked up every bylaw, every loophole, every small crevice in Equestrian law he could to commit an act so immoral it's even forbidden under the Royal Charter..."
Sitting behind where his dad was sitting is Thunderfire. The colt has on a bowtie likely one of Marble's and he listens as his father gives an opening statement. For now he sits quietly.
"I object your honour," Dr. Strange Cakes retorts as he rises up. "I request that the prosecutor present his case without such malicious slander against my character." Judge Fluffball considers for a few moments, then announces, "Overruled, though your objection is noted. Continue, Mr. Memory."
Thunderfire pulls out a small mirror when Doctor Cakes decides to speak. Putting it into a ray of light he works on boucing it into his eyes while smirking. Though, before getting caught he tucks it away quickly sitting up straight like a good little colt.
"Plaintiff would like to call the former mayor of Black Rock to the stand," Marble says calmly.
A frail, elderly grey pony ends up is wheeled up to the stand, his eye twitching slightly and looking nervously about the court. After he is sworn in, the court's attention focuses back unto Marble.
Thunderfire sits silently, now listening.
Marble steps over to the stand. "Please state your name for the record," he says.
"Vim Vigour," the creaky old pony replies hoarsly, attempting to focus his gaze upon Marble.
"Mr. Vigor, you were mayor of a town of Black Rock, yes?" Marble asks the pony in a dignified tone. "Would you be able to find Black Rock on this year's map of Equestria?"
"I was," the poorly-named Vim Vigour replies, before shaking his head. "But Black Rock doesn't exist anymore. It got destroyed years ago."
"*Fascinating*," Marble says, turning and pulling up the cover paper on an easle holding a map of equestria. "Completely detroyed, you say?"
"By an avalanche!" Vim exclaims, shaking slightly, "By a demonic filly called..." He starts shaking a little more, then shakes his head. "We don't mention her name."
Marble turns away, walking over to his desk, "Oh, but Mr. Vigor you are compelled by this court to answer, you're a witness called in a court of law to testify on this matter." Marble picks up a folder. He begins strolling back.
"B-b-b-but..." The elderly starts shaking more. "We can't... if we say... she... I can't say... I- I can't! If I do, she'll return!"
Marble sighs, "Well, that's okay, I think I'll take an exception in this case. The name is Sky Blue, is that correct?" Marble knows this guy's terrified. SO IS HE.
Vim Vigour's eyes widen. He lets out a loud GRMPH sound. Clutches his chest. And heee's down.
Marble stares. And stares. "... Recess, your honor?"
The judge leans over his podium and peers down at the witness stand. He then glancs over to Marble and announces, "I call for recess and a coroner." BANG goes the gavel.
Thunderfire stands up, "DOCTOR CAKES KILLED HIM!!!! DOCTOR CAKES IS A MURDERER!!!!!"
Marble walks over to his son to calm him down. Oh dear.
BANG. "Silence in the... uh... court." Judge Fluffball seems to be rather distracted with the ex-pony sprawled across the bottom of the witness stand.
A couple hours later after the late Vim Vigor is... taken away... Marble is back in court, ready to continue his case. Of course, he kinda needed to ask more questions.
Ahem. Hem hem. Yes. A nice pause allows some chatter in the royal box. "I don't understand," whispers Fluttershy to Personal Aide. "How could they put a pony away against her will?" Her majordomo-for-the-day shuffles and adjusts her glasses. "Well...if the filly were ruled a danger to herself or others..." Personal Aide trails off as Fluttershy's face sinks. If there is one pony who understands a crowd turning on you when you don't deserve it, it's Fluttershy.
"In light of your first witness' unfortunate passing," the unforfunately-named Judge Fluffball announces, glancing up at the Royal Box briefly, before returning his attention to Marble , "Would you like to press on with your case, Mr. Memory?"
Thunderfire stands up, "JUDGE.. IN THE NAME OF THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS. I DEMAND YOU RELEASE SKY BLUE!!! OR APPLE BLOON WILL COME BLOW UP THE COURTHOUSE AND I WILL PAINT YOUR STATUE TO LOOK LIKE PRINCE BLUEBLOOD IN A TUTU."
"If it pleases the court, the plaintiff had to seek another witness from Black Rock in light of the last witness'... um... incident," Marble says.
"ORDER IN THE COURT!" the intimidating-as-a-hamster judge announces, with a bang of his gavel. After a few moments, he shifts his focus back to the plaintiff and says, "Call your second witness."
Fluttershy flinches back, up in the balcony. "Um, order...order, please."
"Plaintiff calls... another former resident of Black Rock to the stand." Marble says, twitching. He'll keep Sky Blue's name out of the remaining questions.
Thunderfire sulks in his seat...
A slightly nervous-looking green earth mare makes her way up to the stand, gets sworn in, and then nervously turns to look at various ponies - Marble, Cakes, Fluttershy, and not the bright pink judge.
"Please state your name for the record, please." Marble says, then looks down at the floor.
Thunderfire sneaks out of his seat and find shis way up to where Fluttershy is sitting. Moving to sit into her lap, "Why do they hate her so much? It's not fair..." he sniffles wiping tears from his eyes.
"I... I-I don't know, Thunderfire." Fluttershy tucks a wing over the little colt. It's the least a princess - a friend - can do.
"My... my name is Marigold," the timid green mare replies, glancing up at the judge, then across at the jury.
Thunderfire is happy to have Flutter there with him. He now watches his dad in action. If anyone can free Blue its him! His father... His hero.
"Continuing on my line of questioning, Ms. Marigold. Did you have a good life in Black Rock before Sky Blue destroyed it?" Marble asks.
Marigold promptly cowers down in the witness box upon the mention of HER name, then, following another nervous glance, replies, "Y-yes. I ran a flower shop near the cliffs."
"Would you say that you knew Sky Blue, personally?" Marble asks the mare.
Marigold's eyes widen and she shrinks against the back of her box. "N-no!" she exclaims, shaking her head vigorously. "I've had nothing to do with her!"
"Exactly! You've had *nothing* to do with her. Why? Because she was this terrible monster who *deliberately* and *maliciously* destroyed your town?" Marble asks, challenging the mare.
"If someone destroyed YOUR home and livelihood, would YOU want to have anything to do with them?" Marigold shoots back, frowning back at Marble and folding her forelegs.
"So you *are* saying she acted with malice?" Marble challenges. He leans against the stand.
Thunderfire listens at the questioning, "How is this helping Blu?"
"I didn't say anything of the sort!" Marigold retorts, turning her nose up at Marble. "I just said that if somepony destroyed your livelihood and home, you wouldn't want anything to do with them!"
"Exactly. Because, for all you know, the poor filly could have just caused an accident, right?" Marble asks, spinning his web. "Would you say you blame her?"
"Yes!" Marigold retorts, standing up in the stand and staring defensively back down at Marble. "If it was an accident? Then she should have took more care!"
"But is she a *criminal?*" Marble finally asks. Then he holds up his hoof. "That last question is withdrawn. Plaintiff is finished with this witness."
As the witness clambers down off the stand, she throws Marble a look that says 'If we weren't in a court, I'd deck you', before letting out a snooty sniff and strutting out of court. "Not the most effective witness, Mr Memory," the judge comments, raising an eyebrow at the pegasus.
Marble casts a glance over at Dr. Cakes. He wants to know if he's provoked the good doctor into wanting to prove the criminal part.
Dr. Cakes merely looks back cooly and calmly, a hoof idling drumming against a small stack of paperwork.
Thunderfire pulls something from his satchel uncovering it he throws a creme filled cupcake at the back of Doctor Cakes' head.
He's cool as a cucumber. Marble needs to break past that exterior. The pony who really wanted Sky Blue locked up. "The Plaintiff has no more witnesses."
One of the security guards magically captures the cupcake before it can hit Doctor Cakes' head, then turns to stare up at Thunderfire and fixes him with a steely frown. "Very good," the judge announces, flexing his hooves. "If you would continue?"
Marble stares at the judge. Was there more? "Um... c-continue?"
The judge raises an eyebrow. "To... present your case against Dr. Cakes? So far, all you've presented for evidence is that Miss Blue destroyed an entire town, which is particularly odd, considering you're trying to prove that Dr. Cakes has improperly had Miss Blue committed as being a danger to the pub- ORDER! Order in the court!" The gavel starts being banged down.
Marble stands back up. "Um... well, this is embarassing... but I have no further evidence. Not unless Dr. Cakes would take the stand."
Thunderfire turns towards Fluttershy clinging in a tight hug sobbing against her, "Blu isn't bad... she isn't..."
"Are you calling Dr. Cakes as a witness or allowing the defense to take the floor?" the judge asks, looking increasingly skeptical.
"Well, I can't call him since he *is* the defense your honor..." Marble says, wide-eyed. He is not a lawyer.
"You CAN call him as a witness, Mr. Memory," Judge Fluffball explains, sounding both weary and bored.
"Plaintiff calls teh defense, then!" Marble says, hopping up, pointing a hoof to the cieling.
Fluttershy pats Thunderfire on the back, mouthing, "I know, sweetie, I know." But... her eyes are fixed on the floor. Does Marble have something up his cravat?
Dr. Cakes rolls his eyes, gets up from behind the defense desk, and then takes the stand. He takes the Celestial Oath, as did the other witnesses, then straightens up in his seat, fixing Marble with his steely gaze.
Marble stands up, walking over to the stand. "Please state your full name, full occuptional title, full lineage, full qualifications, and full education for the record, please," Marble says.
"I'm sure most of those aren't required, but very well," the stallion replies, settling back in his seat. "Strange Wibble Cakes, Doctor of Psychiatry, be more specific when you say 'full lineage', the main one of any relevence is a PhD in Clinical Psychiatry with Honours from Royal Canterlot University, and I was educated in Canterlot Grammar School, followed by Royal Canterlot University."
"So, you'd say that you're qualified as a psychiatrist. How many ponies have you helped in your career?" Marble asks.
"It's hard to put an exact number on them, but I believe it's in the hundreds," Dr. Cakes replies, "With several dozen permanent patients under my care at Canterlot Psychiatric Hospital."
"Of the patients you've cared for on an in-patient basis, how many, just an estimate, were 'criminally' insane?" Marble asks.
"Criminially insane is a rather outdated and outmoded term," the doctor replies, crossing his legs, "But based on what I think you mean, approximately 5% of my inpatients are criminally violentl, while another 30% are dangers to themselves and/or society."
"So it's probably fair to say you are well qualified to categorize your patients based on Royal Health and Safety Guideline 293A subparagraph 81?" Marble asks the pony cautiously.
Dr. Cakes thinks carefully for several moments, then enquires, "I believe that is the guideline that standardises the categorisation of patients? If so, then, yes."
Marble nods, then walks back to the plaintiff table to pick up a book, opening it to that section. "If I may, Doctor, 'Though categorization and triage of potentially psychotic patients must be left to the assessing physician on staff, to protect the rights of the patient, to categorize under the most extreme levels of this standard, due process must be observed through the use of a magistrate to assume the rules of a potential criminal proceeding have been followed.' Are you familiar with due process law, doctor?" Marble asks.
"I am, Mr Memory," Dr. Cakes replies, after the long quotation, a decidedly pleased expression upon his face. "Miss Blue's committment, prior to a legal proceeding, is covered in Safeguarding Standards and Practices, as she was assessed as being high-risk."
"Let's talk about the due process. Is she categorized as the most extreme category, what a laypony may term as 'criminal?'" Marble asks the Doctor curiously.
"I think you're rather over-simplifying things," Cakes replies, shifting in his seat. "Who the laypony terms criminal and who psychiatrists categorise criminal are highly dangerous. By laypony terms, she is not a criminal, but by outdated psychiatric categorisation, she is criminally insane; in updated laypony terms, Miss Blue classifies as the most dangerous type of mental health patient."
Marble holds up the book, "A patient who shows no remorse or regrets, and no empathy for their victims. A predator." Marble says, pacing back to his desk and slapping the book on the table, then dramatically turns back to him. Then he remains quiet, then, even in tone and volume. "Wouldn't you agree that's the extreme, Doctor?"
Thunderfire frowns listening to this, "SHE DOES NOT!!!! YOU JUST DID IT FOR MORE BITS!! MORE YOU LOCK UP THE MORE YOU GET PAID!!!" the colt screams. "IF SHE ISN'T A CRIMINAL THEN HOW CAN SHE BE CRIMINALLY INSANE?
YOUR A FRAUD DOCTOR CAKES!!!!"
"I would agree that that is an outdated extreme, Mr. Memory," Cakes replies, raising an eyebrow coolly. "A more modern defintion is that they are capable of and/or have committed highly dangerous acts to themselves or others, stemming from a core mental health problem, regardless of any remorse or regret shown later. Though I am not prosecuting, I WOULD like to cite the case of Detrot v. Braino, in which the mental health patient Braino did show remorse over his actions, but was incapable of stopping himself from committing them; quite relevant to this case, regarding Miss Blue, I might add."
"So, you are arguing, then, that there need not be any malintent, then. Is that correct?" Marble asks, but before the doctor can answer. "If that is the case, then your facility should have sufficient means to protecting the patient from other patients, the other patients from her, protect staff from her and vice versa? What is the standard in which a patient is considered too dangerous for visitation, doctor, by the book?"
"That is correct, the hospital does have such means, and by the book, a patient is considered too dangerous for visitation if they pose a credible threat to the health and welfare of the visitor or visitors," Dr. Cakes replies, looking quite comfortable and unstressed.
"Even with all these protections in place? I don't understand, doctor." Marble says, dramatically pausing as he walks toward the stand. "Isn't your staff capable of managing that risk?"
"Considering that we just watch a stallion die at the mere mention of Miss Blue's name, the levels of protection required to allow visitation would greatly infringe upon Miss Blue's rights for dignified treatment," Dr Cakes retorts.
"Miss Blue didn't kill Vim Vigor. I did. ... Accidentally," Marble says, pacing aroudn the doctor like a hungry wild dog. "'Rights for dignified treatment?' Who are you kidding, doctor? You have a terrified pony being held against her will on your say so! Where's the rights? Where's the dignity?" Marble says, finally says, returning to his desk, picking up a folder.
Thunderfire yells again, "PUT HIM IN A WHITE JACKET AND SEE HOW HE LIKES IT!!! THE OLD FOUR EYED PUFFER DONKEY. YOU LOOK LIKE THE REAR END OF A HIPPO!!! LET BLU GOOOOO YOU CREEPY OLD DOCTOR OF DONKEY DUNG!!!!"
"Order!" the judge declares, thumping his gavel three times. "Bailiff, remove that colt from the courtroom, and Mr Memory, please show a little decorum." In response, a mildly annoyed-looking Dr. Cakes retorts, "Her commitment, as the committal papers showed, are in her best interests. I do not believe it is in her best interests that Miss Blue is bound and gagged, which, going by her history, would be required, simply so she may recieve visitors. Her room is identical to those of other patients as she is as shown as much dignity as any other inpatient, in addition to as many rights as can legally be afforded."
"Her best intereswts? That's what you're going with? Were you thinking of her best interests when you were filling out the paperwork? Were you thinking of her best interests convincing my successor to sign the papers? Her best interests when you followed through siezing the terrified filly against her wills? *Her* best interests?" Marble argues, finally opening the folder.
Thunderfire blinks as the baliff comes towards him, "Don't touch me!" he runs between his legs yanking at his tail. And then he runs back down and up towards the front. "LET BLUE GO... LET BLUE GOOOOOOOOOO!!!! YOU SHOULD BE BOUND GAGGED DONKEY BREATH!!!" He throws cupcakes at the judge and Dr Cakes before the Baliff grabs him. "Let me gooo... Daddd.... Helpppp..." he says tears running down his cheeks. "I LOVE AUNTIE BLUE!!!! LET HER GOOOO!!!!" he flails trying to break free to get to Marble.
"Bayliffs, please get that colt out of the court! Mr. Memory, kindly restrain your son!" the judge orders, in between banging his gavel and trying to fend off cupcake attacks. For his part, Dr. Cakes was unable to make a response to Marble's claims, due to receiving a cupcake square in the eye.
Marble walks over to Thunderfire, looking him in the eyes and smiles. "Please calm down, son. I'll have him on the defensive soon enough.
Thunderfire gives Marble a tight hug, "I love you, dad," he says before walking out with the Baliffs.
Once things have calmed down, Dr. Cakes announces clearly, "I object, Judge Fluffball, to the plaintiff's use of purple prose in an attempt to demonise both myself and standard medical interventive practice." The bright pink stallion ponders for a few moments, then announces, "Sustained."
Marble is silent for a bit longer, reading the file. Then he asks calmly. "Were you thinking about the patient's benefit, her dignity, when you were thinking about Black Rock? Were you thinking about her when your home of fifteen years was destroyed in an avalanch? Were you thinking about her? Or were you thinking about Black Rock, doctor?" Marble finally lays the rest of the file by the judge. "Your honor. Under Public Inquest Guideling 25-A, plaintiff has presented in evidence, documentation of a conflict in interest on the part of Doctor Strange Wibble Cakes, and that the patient's rights have been violated as the result of a conflict of interest. If not immediate release, plaintiff moves that the patient's right to visitation be upheld and mandated." Marble then DROPS THE MIC and sits down.
The judge looks down to the witness stand. "Have you anything to say in defense, Dr. Cakes?" The stallion stands up onto all four legs, clears his throat, then announces, "Your honour, when I first performed my psychiatric evaluation upon Miss Blue, I was unaware as to her being the same pony involved in the destruction of Black Rock. I learned of her role in destroying my home town only while conducting a thorough investigation into her background and history, involving a number of similar disasters. The fact that I was able to witness first-hand the destruction that follows Miss Blue in her wake helped impact on me the importance for Miss Blue's removal from main soceity, all feelings aside. When the plaintiff rests, I hope to prove that, regardless of any past history with Miss Blue's actions, I have taken all the legal and proper steps for both her wellbeing and that of the community."
"Your honor, I object, as soon as the defendant had learned about this he had a conflict of interest and he knew it. If anything, seeing the effects at Black Rock had an inflammatory effect on his judgement. At the very least he committed an act of questionable ethics, at worst..." Marble starts to explain.
The judge seems to ponder this, while looking bright pink and horrendously unimpressive. "I will reserve judgement for the meantime," Fluffball announces, scribbling a note down upon a parchment on his desk. "If you are finished with the council for the defence, then please call another witness or make your closing argument.
Marble stands up. "Ladies and gentleponies of the jury. The plaintiff has presented the facts. We have a filly wrongly detained, and a doctor who abused his position to punish her for an accident in the past. He's made sure no one can see her, no matter who they are. Where's the rights? The justice. The plaintiff rests." Marble sits on his table.
"Will the council of the defence take the floor?" Dr. Cakes stands up, having made his way back to his desk, then steps out once more. "Fillies and gentlecolts of the jury, it is my aim to disprove these slurs against my name and prove incontravertably that Miss Blue has been committed in her best interests." He clears his throat, then announces, "Please direct your attention to Exhibit A; a file I have compiled that includes the major history of Miss Blue and the incidents she has caused, ranging from the destruction of a simple mountain town, levelling a quarter of Fillydelphia during her reign as mayor - which, I might add, was approved by the plaintiff - at a litany of both international and local calamities, including the destruction of most of Canterlot University Library, headbutting the Germane Chancellor into a coma, and numerous cases of landing ponies in hospital, including - according to Miss Blue, during my interview - causing the plaintiff to suffer a grand total of SEVEN heart attacks." The unicorn makes his way across towards the jury, then faces out across the court and reads out from a piece of paper, "I have taken the trouble, as part of building my defense, to work out the damages for Miss Blue's various incidents, which - excluding costs to ponies and just including those to property - total near a billion bits, over two thirds of which was caused during her reign as Mayor of Fillydelphia."
Celestia, the doctor is winning and he's just made his opening argument. Marble is really riding on this conflict of interest thing.
From the hallway sounds of young colts and fillies can be heard. "FREE SKY BLUE!! FREE SKY BLUE!!"
"Exhibit B are the committal papers for Miss Blue," Dr. Cakes announces, gesturing to a smaller stack of papers, "Including a covering letter from myself and countersigned by an independent psychiatrist, as per regulations, explaining the reasons for her committal and the benefits to both the well-being of Miss Blue and the community, approved by a Miss Eris, Chancellor of Ponyville, acting with authority of the local mayor."
Marble's face gets buries in his hooves. Oh, this trial has been a disaster. One witness wasn't that cooperative. The other one DIED at the mere mention of Sky Blue's name. And the doctor is dispassionately showing he followed the law to the letter.
"A minor can't sign a contract...." someone says from, the audience. "Chancellor or not, the bylaws say no minor can sign a contract."
Marble gasps, then holds up his hoof with a supreme happy face.
"Silence in the court," the judge announces, banging his gavel. "Ordinarily, a minor cannot sign a contract," Dr. Cakes replies, turning in the direction of the audience, "But under Ponyville town law, minors can run for the office for the position of Chancellor, and in the case of Puffle v. Diamond Dogs Incorperated, it was ruled that a minor that has been democratically and legally elected has the authority to authorise contracts."
Oh, what the hell is wrong with Ponyville?! Marble buries his face right back in his hooves.
"Yes, a minor pony. But a young minor griffin wasn't covered under that clause. According to Gruntle vs Flash, no minor griffon elected to office in Ponyvlle is eligible to sign a contract unless the Mayor and the griffon's parent signs off," comes the same voice.
Marble stands up and holds up his hoof and again has his happy face.
"I will have order in my court!" Judge Puffball the bright pink stallion demands, banging his gavel twice more, before looking down to Dr. Cakes, who has grown a little pale. "If it please the court," he quickly announces, turning to face the jury and judge, "I would like to move that this... speciest prior ruling, which I was not aware of, has minimal-to-no effect upon this case, which is about the wellfare of Miss Blue and those about her. If it pleases the judge, I move to adjourn the trial to a later date, so I may acquire the correct authorisation for Miss Blue's continued committal, rather than risk the welfare of both Miss Blue and the community by having this case fall apart due to a highly speciest ruling that factors so little in this case."
Marble stands and says, "Your honor I object, he's asking to continue an unjust and unwarranted detention so that he can proceded to get paperwork to make it valid. He's putting the cart before the horse now."
The judge looks thoughful for several long moments, before announcing, "I agree to the motion proposed by the defence council; the court shall be adjourned for one week, while Miss Blue remains in the care of Canterlot Psychiatric Hospital. I shall not make a ruling on Miss Blue's committal at this the time, I shall permit that, for the duration of the trial, Miss Blue may be visited on the stipulation that no less than two trained unicorn psychiatric wardens must be present for the duration of visitation. Case adjourned." BANG.
Fluttershy gasps, up in the Royal Box. She cringes, jaw trembling. "T... to be continued?!"
"If it pleases the court, the plaintiff party will make the case that the defendant willfully and knowingly disregarded the spirit of Ponyville's public health and safety laws to unlawfully detain a filly against her will. Not only will the plaintiff demonstrate this, he will also reveal to the court a personal *stake* the defendant had in detaining this innocent filly," Marble says, opening his case, pacing in front of the jury box. "We will show that he viciously and systematically looked up every bylaw, every loophole, every small crevice in Equestrian law he could to commit an act so immoral it's even forbidden under the Royal Charter..."
Sitting behind where his dad was sitting is Thunderfire. The colt has on a bowtie likely one of Marble's and he listens as his father gives an opening statement. For now he sits quietly.
"I object your honour," Dr. Strange Cakes retorts as he rises up. "I request that the prosecutor present his case without such malicious slander against my character." Judge Fluffball considers for a few moments, then announces, "Overruled, though your objection is noted. Continue, Mr. Memory."
Thunderfire pulls out a small mirror when Doctor Cakes decides to speak. Putting it into a ray of light he works on boucing it into his eyes while smirking. Though, before getting caught he tucks it away quickly sitting up straight like a good little colt.
"Plaintiff would like to call the former mayor of Black Rock to the stand," Marble says calmly.
A frail, elderly grey pony ends up is wheeled up to the stand, his eye twitching slightly and looking nervously about the court. After he is sworn in, the court's attention focuses back unto Marble.
Thunderfire sits silently, now listening.
Marble steps over to the stand. "Please state your name for the record," he says.
"Vim Vigour," the creaky old pony replies hoarsly, attempting to focus his gaze upon Marble.
"Mr. Vigor, you were mayor of a town of Black Rock, yes?" Marble asks the pony in a dignified tone. "Would you be able to find Black Rock on this year's map of Equestria?"
"I was," the poorly-named Vim Vigour replies, before shaking his head. "But Black Rock doesn't exist anymore. It got destroyed years ago."
"*Fascinating*," Marble says, turning and pulling up the cover paper on an easle holding a map of equestria. "Completely detroyed, you say?"
"By an avalanche!" Vim exclaims, shaking slightly, "By a demonic filly called..." He starts shaking a little more, then shakes his head. "We don't mention her name."
Marble turns away, walking over to his desk, "Oh, but Mr. Vigor you are compelled by this court to answer, you're a witness called in a court of law to testify on this matter." Marble picks up a folder. He begins strolling back.
"B-b-b-but..." The elderly starts shaking more. "We can't... if we say... she... I can't say... I- I can't! If I do, she'll return!"
Marble sighs, "Well, that's okay, I think I'll take an exception in this case. The name is Sky Blue, is that correct?" Marble knows this guy's terrified. SO IS HE.
Vim Vigour's eyes widen. He lets out a loud GRMPH sound. Clutches his chest. And heee's down.
Marble stares. And stares. "... Recess, your honor?"
The judge leans over his podium and peers down at the witness stand. He then glancs over to Marble and announces, "I call for recess and a coroner." BANG goes the gavel.
Thunderfire stands up, "DOCTOR CAKES KILLED HIM!!!! DOCTOR CAKES IS A MURDERER!!!!!"
Marble walks over to his son to calm him down. Oh dear.
BANG. "Silence in the... uh... court." Judge Fluffball seems to be rather distracted with the ex-pony sprawled across the bottom of the witness stand.
*****
A couple hours later after the late Vim Vigor is... taken away... Marble is back in court, ready to continue his case. Of course, he kinda needed to ask more questions.
Ahem. Hem hem. Yes. A nice pause allows some chatter in the royal box. "I don't understand," whispers Fluttershy to Personal Aide. "How could they put a pony away against her will?" Her majordomo-for-the-day shuffles and adjusts her glasses. "Well...if the filly were ruled a danger to herself or others..." Personal Aide trails off as Fluttershy's face sinks. If there is one pony who understands a crowd turning on you when you don't deserve it, it's Fluttershy.
"In light of your first witness' unfortunate passing," the unforfunately-named Judge Fluffball announces, glancing up at the Royal Box briefly, before returning his attention to Marble , "Would you like to press on with your case, Mr. Memory?"
Thunderfire stands up, "JUDGE.. IN THE NAME OF THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS. I DEMAND YOU RELEASE SKY BLUE!!! OR APPLE BLOON WILL COME BLOW UP THE COURTHOUSE AND I WILL PAINT YOUR STATUE TO LOOK LIKE PRINCE BLUEBLOOD IN A TUTU."
"If it pleases the court, the plaintiff had to seek another witness from Black Rock in light of the last witness'... um... incident," Marble says.
"ORDER IN THE COURT!" the intimidating-as-a-hamster judge announces, with a bang of his gavel. After a few moments, he shifts his focus back to the plaintiff and says, "Call your second witness."
Fluttershy flinches back, up in the balcony. "Um, order...order, please."
"Plaintiff calls... another former resident of Black Rock to the stand." Marble says, twitching. He'll keep Sky Blue's name out of the remaining questions.
Thunderfire sulks in his seat...
A slightly nervous-looking green earth mare makes her way up to the stand, gets sworn in, and then nervously turns to look at various ponies - Marble, Cakes, Fluttershy, and not the bright pink judge.
"Please state your name for the record, please." Marble says, then looks down at the floor.
Thunderfire sneaks out of his seat and find shis way up to where Fluttershy is sitting. Moving to sit into her lap, "Why do they hate her so much? It's not fair..." he sniffles wiping tears from his eyes.
"I... I-I don't know, Thunderfire." Fluttershy tucks a wing over the little colt. It's the least a princess - a friend - can do.
"My... my name is Marigold," the timid green mare replies, glancing up at the judge, then across at the jury.
Thunderfire is happy to have Flutter there with him. He now watches his dad in action. If anyone can free Blue its him! His father... His hero.
"Continuing on my line of questioning, Ms. Marigold. Did you have a good life in Black Rock before Sky Blue destroyed it?" Marble asks.
Marigold promptly cowers down in the witness box upon the mention of HER name, then, following another nervous glance, replies, "Y-yes. I ran a flower shop near the cliffs."
"Would you say that you knew Sky Blue, personally?" Marble asks the mare.
Marigold's eyes widen and she shrinks against the back of her box. "N-no!" she exclaims, shaking her head vigorously. "I've had nothing to do with her!"
"Exactly! You've had *nothing* to do with her. Why? Because she was this terrible monster who *deliberately* and *maliciously* destroyed your town?" Marble asks, challenging the mare.
"If someone destroyed YOUR home and livelihood, would YOU want to have anything to do with them?" Marigold shoots back, frowning back at Marble and folding her forelegs.
"So you *are* saying she acted with malice?" Marble challenges. He leans against the stand.
Thunderfire listens at the questioning, "How is this helping Blu?"
"I didn't say anything of the sort!" Marigold retorts, turning her nose up at Marble. "I just said that if somepony destroyed your livelihood and home, you wouldn't want anything to do with them!"
"Exactly. Because, for all you know, the poor filly could have just caused an accident, right?" Marble asks, spinning his web. "Would you say you blame her?"
"Yes!" Marigold retorts, standing up in the stand and staring defensively back down at Marble. "If it was an accident? Then she should have took more care!"
"But is she a *criminal?*" Marble finally asks. Then he holds up his hoof. "That last question is withdrawn. Plaintiff is finished with this witness."
As the witness clambers down off the stand, she throws Marble a look that says 'If we weren't in a court, I'd deck you', before letting out a snooty sniff and strutting out of court. "Not the most effective witness, Mr Memory," the judge comments, raising an eyebrow at the pegasus.
Marble casts a glance over at Dr. Cakes. He wants to know if he's provoked the good doctor into wanting to prove the criminal part.
Dr. Cakes merely looks back cooly and calmly, a hoof idling drumming against a small stack of paperwork.
Thunderfire pulls something from his satchel uncovering it he throws a creme filled cupcake at the back of Doctor Cakes' head.
He's cool as a cucumber. Marble needs to break past that exterior. The pony who really wanted Sky Blue locked up. "The Plaintiff has no more witnesses."
One of the security guards magically captures the cupcake before it can hit Doctor Cakes' head, then turns to stare up at Thunderfire and fixes him with a steely frown. "Very good," the judge announces, flexing his hooves. "If you would continue?"
Marble stares at the judge. Was there more? "Um... c-continue?"
The judge raises an eyebrow. "To... present your case against Dr. Cakes? So far, all you've presented for evidence is that Miss Blue destroyed an entire town, which is particularly odd, considering you're trying to prove that Dr. Cakes has improperly had Miss Blue committed as being a danger to the pub- ORDER! Order in the court!" The gavel starts being banged down.
Marble stands back up. "Um... well, this is embarassing... but I have no further evidence. Not unless Dr. Cakes would take the stand."
Thunderfire turns towards Fluttershy clinging in a tight hug sobbing against her, "Blu isn't bad... she isn't..."
"Are you calling Dr. Cakes as a witness or allowing the defense to take the floor?" the judge asks, looking increasingly skeptical.
"Well, I can't call him since he *is* the defense your honor..." Marble says, wide-eyed. He is not a lawyer.
"You CAN call him as a witness, Mr. Memory," Judge Fluffball explains, sounding both weary and bored.
"Plaintiff calls teh defense, then!" Marble says, hopping up, pointing a hoof to the cieling.
Fluttershy pats Thunderfire on the back, mouthing, "I know, sweetie, I know." But... her eyes are fixed on the floor. Does Marble have something up his cravat?
Dr. Cakes rolls his eyes, gets up from behind the defense desk, and then takes the stand. He takes the Celestial Oath, as did the other witnesses, then straightens up in his seat, fixing Marble with his steely gaze.
Marble stands up, walking over to the stand. "Please state your full name, full occuptional title, full lineage, full qualifications, and full education for the record, please," Marble says.
"I'm sure most of those aren't required, but very well," the stallion replies, settling back in his seat. "Strange Wibble Cakes, Doctor of Psychiatry, be more specific when you say 'full lineage', the main one of any relevence is a PhD in Clinical Psychiatry with Honours from Royal Canterlot University, and I was educated in Canterlot Grammar School, followed by Royal Canterlot University."
"So, you'd say that you're qualified as a psychiatrist. How many ponies have you helped in your career?" Marble asks.
"It's hard to put an exact number on them, but I believe it's in the hundreds," Dr. Cakes replies, "With several dozen permanent patients under my care at Canterlot Psychiatric Hospital."
"Of the patients you've cared for on an in-patient basis, how many, just an estimate, were 'criminally' insane?" Marble asks.
"Criminially insane is a rather outdated and outmoded term," the doctor replies, crossing his legs, "But based on what I think you mean, approximately 5% of my inpatients are criminally violentl, while another 30% are dangers to themselves and/or society."
"So it's probably fair to say you are well qualified to categorize your patients based on Royal Health and Safety Guideline 293A subparagraph 81?" Marble asks the pony cautiously.
Dr. Cakes thinks carefully for several moments, then enquires, "I believe that is the guideline that standardises the categorisation of patients? If so, then, yes."
Marble nods, then walks back to the plaintiff table to pick up a book, opening it to that section. "If I may, Doctor, 'Though categorization and triage of potentially psychotic patients must be left to the assessing physician on staff, to protect the rights of the patient, to categorize under the most extreme levels of this standard, due process must be observed through the use of a magistrate to assume the rules of a potential criminal proceeding have been followed.' Are you familiar with due process law, doctor?" Marble asks.
"I am, Mr Memory," Dr. Cakes replies, after the long quotation, a decidedly pleased expression upon his face. "Miss Blue's committment, prior to a legal proceeding, is covered in Safeguarding Standards and Practices, as she was assessed as being high-risk."
"Let's talk about the due process. Is she categorized as the most extreme category, what a laypony may term as 'criminal?'" Marble asks the Doctor curiously.
"I think you're rather over-simplifying things," Cakes replies, shifting in his seat. "Who the laypony terms criminal and who psychiatrists categorise criminal are highly dangerous. By laypony terms, she is not a criminal, but by outdated psychiatric categorisation, she is criminally insane; in updated laypony terms, Miss Blue classifies as the most dangerous type of mental health patient."
Marble holds up the book, "A patient who shows no remorse or regrets, and no empathy for their victims. A predator." Marble says, pacing back to his desk and slapping the book on the table, then dramatically turns back to him. Then he remains quiet, then, even in tone and volume. "Wouldn't you agree that's the extreme, Doctor?"
Thunderfire frowns listening to this, "SHE DOES NOT!!!! YOU JUST DID IT FOR MORE BITS!! MORE YOU LOCK UP THE MORE YOU GET PAID!!!" the colt screams. "IF SHE ISN'T A CRIMINAL THEN HOW CAN SHE BE CRIMINALLY INSANE?
YOUR A FRAUD DOCTOR CAKES!!!!""I would agree that that is an outdated extreme, Mr. Memory," Cakes replies, raising an eyebrow coolly. "A more modern defintion is that they are capable of and/or have committed highly dangerous acts to themselves or others, stemming from a core mental health problem, regardless of any remorse or regret shown later. Though I am not prosecuting, I WOULD like to cite the case of Detrot v. Braino, in which the mental health patient Braino did show remorse over his actions, but was incapable of stopping himself from committing them; quite relevant to this case, regarding Miss Blue, I might add."
"So, you are arguing, then, that there need not be any malintent, then. Is that correct?" Marble asks, but before the doctor can answer. "If that is the case, then your facility should have sufficient means to protecting the patient from other patients, the other patients from her, protect staff from her and vice versa? What is the standard in which a patient is considered too dangerous for visitation, doctor, by the book?"
"That is correct, the hospital does have such means, and by the book, a patient is considered too dangerous for visitation if they pose a credible threat to the health and welfare of the visitor or visitors," Dr. Cakes replies, looking quite comfortable and unstressed.
"Even with all these protections in place? I don't understand, doctor." Marble says, dramatically pausing as he walks toward the stand. "Isn't your staff capable of managing that risk?"
"Considering that we just watch a stallion die at the mere mention of Miss Blue's name, the levels of protection required to allow visitation would greatly infringe upon Miss Blue's rights for dignified treatment," Dr Cakes retorts.
"Miss Blue didn't kill Vim Vigor. I did. ... Accidentally," Marble says, pacing aroudn the doctor like a hungry wild dog. "'Rights for dignified treatment?' Who are you kidding, doctor? You have a terrified pony being held against her will on your say so! Where's the rights? Where's the dignity?" Marble says, finally says, returning to his desk, picking up a folder.
Thunderfire yells again, "PUT HIM IN A WHITE JACKET AND SEE HOW HE LIKES IT!!! THE OLD FOUR EYED PUFFER DONKEY. YOU LOOK LIKE THE REAR END OF A HIPPO!!! LET BLU GOOOOO YOU CREEPY OLD DOCTOR OF DONKEY DUNG!!!!"
"Order!" the judge declares, thumping his gavel three times. "Bailiff, remove that colt from the courtroom, and Mr Memory, please show a little decorum." In response, a mildly annoyed-looking Dr. Cakes retorts, "Her commitment, as the committal papers showed, are in her best interests. I do not believe it is in her best interests that Miss Blue is bound and gagged, which, going by her history, would be required, simply so she may recieve visitors. Her room is identical to those of other patients as she is as shown as much dignity as any other inpatient, in addition to as many rights as can legally be afforded."
"Her best intereswts? That's what you're going with? Were you thinking of her best interests when you were filling out the paperwork? Were you thinking of her best interests convincing my successor to sign the papers? Her best interests when you followed through siezing the terrified filly against her wills? *Her* best interests?" Marble argues, finally opening the folder.
Thunderfire blinks as the baliff comes towards him, "Don't touch me!" he runs between his legs yanking at his tail. And then he runs back down and up towards the front. "LET BLUE GO... LET BLUE GOOOOOOOOOO!!!! YOU SHOULD BE BOUND GAGGED DONKEY BREATH!!!" He throws cupcakes at the judge and Dr Cakes before the Baliff grabs him. "Let me gooo... Daddd.... Helpppp..." he says tears running down his cheeks. "I LOVE AUNTIE BLUE!!!! LET HER GOOOO!!!!" he flails trying to break free to get to Marble.
"Bayliffs, please get that colt out of the court! Mr. Memory, kindly restrain your son!" the judge orders, in between banging his gavel and trying to fend off cupcake attacks. For his part, Dr. Cakes was unable to make a response to Marble's claims, due to receiving a cupcake square in the eye.
Marble walks over to Thunderfire, looking him in the eyes and smiles. "Please calm down, son. I'll have him on the defensive soon enough.
Thunderfire gives Marble a tight hug, "I love you, dad," he says before walking out with the Baliffs.
Once things have calmed down, Dr. Cakes announces clearly, "I object, Judge Fluffball, to the plaintiff's use of purple prose in an attempt to demonise both myself and standard medical interventive practice." The bright pink stallion ponders for a few moments, then announces, "Sustained."
Marble is silent for a bit longer, reading the file. Then he asks calmly. "Were you thinking about the patient's benefit, her dignity, when you were thinking about Black Rock? Were you thinking about her when your home of fifteen years was destroyed in an avalanch? Were you thinking about her? Or were you thinking about Black Rock, doctor?" Marble finally lays the rest of the file by the judge. "Your honor. Under Public Inquest Guideling 25-A, plaintiff has presented in evidence, documentation of a conflict in interest on the part of Doctor Strange Wibble Cakes, and that the patient's rights have been violated as the result of a conflict of interest. If not immediate release, plaintiff moves that the patient's right to visitation be upheld and mandated." Marble then DROPS THE MIC and sits down.
The judge looks down to the witness stand. "Have you anything to say in defense, Dr. Cakes?" The stallion stands up onto all four legs, clears his throat, then announces, "Your honour, when I first performed my psychiatric evaluation upon Miss Blue, I was unaware as to her being the same pony involved in the destruction of Black Rock. I learned of her role in destroying my home town only while conducting a thorough investigation into her background and history, involving a number of similar disasters. The fact that I was able to witness first-hand the destruction that follows Miss Blue in her wake helped impact on me the importance for Miss Blue's removal from main soceity, all feelings aside. When the plaintiff rests, I hope to prove that, regardless of any past history with Miss Blue's actions, I have taken all the legal and proper steps for both her wellbeing and that of the community."
"Your honor, I object, as soon as the defendant had learned about this he had a conflict of interest and he knew it. If anything, seeing the effects at Black Rock had an inflammatory effect on his judgement. At the very least he committed an act of questionable ethics, at worst..." Marble starts to explain.
The judge seems to ponder this, while looking bright pink and horrendously unimpressive. "I will reserve judgement for the meantime," Fluffball announces, scribbling a note down upon a parchment on his desk. "If you are finished with the council for the defence, then please call another witness or make your closing argument.
Marble stands up. "Ladies and gentleponies of the jury. The plaintiff has presented the facts. We have a filly wrongly detained, and a doctor who abused his position to punish her for an accident in the past. He's made sure no one can see her, no matter who they are. Where's the rights? The justice. The plaintiff rests." Marble sits on his table.
"Will the council of the defence take the floor?" Dr. Cakes stands up, having made his way back to his desk, then steps out once more. "Fillies and gentlecolts of the jury, it is my aim to disprove these slurs against my name and prove incontravertably that Miss Blue has been committed in her best interests." He clears his throat, then announces, "Please direct your attention to Exhibit A; a file I have compiled that includes the major history of Miss Blue and the incidents she has caused, ranging from the destruction of a simple mountain town, levelling a quarter of Fillydelphia during her reign as mayor - which, I might add, was approved by the plaintiff - at a litany of both international and local calamities, including the destruction of most of Canterlot University Library, headbutting the Germane Chancellor into a coma, and numerous cases of landing ponies in hospital, including - according to Miss Blue, during my interview - causing the plaintiff to suffer a grand total of SEVEN heart attacks." The unicorn makes his way across towards the jury, then faces out across the court and reads out from a piece of paper, "I have taken the trouble, as part of building my defense, to work out the damages for Miss Blue's various incidents, which - excluding costs to ponies and just including those to property - total near a billion bits, over two thirds of which was caused during her reign as Mayor of Fillydelphia."
Celestia, the doctor is winning and he's just made his opening argument. Marble is really riding on this conflict of interest thing.
From the hallway sounds of young colts and fillies can be heard. "FREE SKY BLUE!! FREE SKY BLUE!!"
"Exhibit B are the committal papers for Miss Blue," Dr. Cakes announces, gesturing to a smaller stack of papers, "Including a covering letter from myself and countersigned by an independent psychiatrist, as per regulations, explaining the reasons for her committal and the benefits to both the well-being of Miss Blue and the community, approved by a Miss Eris, Chancellor of Ponyville, acting with authority of the local mayor."
Marble's face gets buries in his hooves. Oh, this trial has been a disaster. One witness wasn't that cooperative. The other one DIED at the mere mention of Sky Blue's name. And the doctor is dispassionately showing he followed the law to the letter.
"A minor can't sign a contract...." someone says from, the audience. "Chancellor or not, the bylaws say no minor can sign a contract."
Marble gasps, then holds up his hoof with a supreme happy face.
"Silence in the court," the judge announces, banging his gavel. "Ordinarily, a minor cannot sign a contract," Dr. Cakes replies, turning in the direction of the audience, "But under Ponyville town law, minors can run for the office for the position of Chancellor, and in the case of Puffle v. Diamond Dogs Incorperated, it was ruled that a minor that has been democratically and legally elected has the authority to authorise contracts."
Oh, what the hell is wrong with Ponyville?! Marble buries his face right back in his hooves.
"Yes, a minor pony. But a young minor griffin wasn't covered under that clause. According to Gruntle vs Flash, no minor griffon elected to office in Ponyvlle is eligible to sign a contract unless the Mayor and the griffon's parent signs off," comes the same voice.
Marble stands up and holds up his hoof and again has his happy face.
"I will have order in my court!" Judge Puffball the bright pink stallion demands, banging his gavel twice more, before looking down to Dr. Cakes, who has grown a little pale. "If it please the court," he quickly announces, turning to face the jury and judge, "I would like to move that this... speciest prior ruling, which I was not aware of, has minimal-to-no effect upon this case, which is about the wellfare of Miss Blue and those about her. If it pleases the judge, I move to adjourn the trial to a later date, so I may acquire the correct authorisation for Miss Blue's continued committal, rather than risk the welfare of both Miss Blue and the community by having this case fall apart due to a highly speciest ruling that factors so little in this case."
Marble stands and says, "Your honor I object, he's asking to continue an unjust and unwarranted detention so that he can proceded to get paperwork to make it valid. He's putting the cart before the horse now."
The judge looks thoughful for several long moments, before announcing, "I agree to the motion proposed by the defence council; the court shall be adjourned for one week, while Miss Blue remains in the care of Canterlot Psychiatric Hospital. I shall not make a ruling on Miss Blue's committal at this the time, I shall permit that, for the duration of the trial, Miss Blue may be visited on the stipulation that no less than two trained unicorn psychiatric wardens must be present for the duration of visitation. Case adjourned." BANG.
Fluttershy gasps, up in the Royal Box. She cringes, jaw trembling. "T... to be continued?!"
