Darwin suddenly finds himself drenched in sunlight spilling into the room from the stain-glass windows lined on the side walls. Their designs awe him. Among them, he could make out an image of Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends arranged in an ellipse surrounding six gems, presumably the Elements of Harmony. Each mare is surrounded by what Darwin assumes is some kind of aura, simplified with a circle.
Pegasus guards stand at various positions in the room, fixing their eyes on Darwin as he walks toward the throne. Continuing down the red carpet, Darwin directs his gaze from the window to Equestria's supreme ruler and controller of the sun, Princess Celestia, who smiles as she watches Darwin from her throne. Next to her sits Princess Luna, her younger sister and co-ruler who controls the moon. Stopping in front of the steps to the throne, Darwin kneels down and bows his head.
"Well, hello there, Darwin," Celestia pleasantly greets.
Darwin stays kneeled. "Greetings, your highness."
"You don't have to kneel, Darwin," Celestia says with a chuckle, "If anything, I should be kneeling to you. You did save our kingdom, after all."
"It's a force of habit, I guess," the Jedi replies as he stands back up. "I can't just enter a ruler's house without paying my respects."
Luna sits up. "Well, Master Jedi, you have the respect of all of Equestria for your heroism and sacrifice."
"It's all in a day's work, your highness," responds Darwin, "but I got to tell you, the work I do is anything but easy."
"That makes three of us," Celestia adds.
The two princesses and Darwin burst into laughter. The guards in the chamber couldn't help but break their stern looks to crack a smile. The mood in the room just lightened up in an instant, although Darwin knows it cannot stay that way. He ceases his laughter and looks down at the floor, remembering the purpose of his visit. Celestia and Luna notice his change in facial expression as their laughter dies down.
"Is something wrong?" asks Celestia, concerned.
"It's just…" Darwin sighs. "I just wish I came here in good terms."
"Good terms?" asks Luna. "What do you mean?"
Darwin's right index finger discretely hovers over the communicator on his left wrist. He bites his lip, contemplating his impending decision. Although, there is no decision to be made. There is a high probability of a perfectly good bridge being burned down in a matter of seconds. Even if he chooses to not do it now, he will have to do it eventually. Waiting longer will only make the decision more difficult. There is no use in delaying the inevitable.
Darwin closes his eyes. "I'm so sorry." He pushes a button.
In a second, the doors burst open as the United Dimensions Security Council peacekeepers pour into the throne room, assault rifles raised. The Equestrian guards react immediately, forming a perimeter around the squad with their spears drawn. Captain Iron Hoof and his posse appears behind the peacekeepers with their spears drawn as well.
"Drop your weapons now!" Kaminsky shouts at the Equestrians with his submachine gun raised.
"You drop yours!" a royal guard shouts back.
"You're interfering with a UD investigation!" Private Conrad interjects. "We'll have you all arrested!"
Darwin is aghast at what he is seeing and hearing. He had no clue his men were like this; they seem to be looking for a fight. He looks to Princess Celestia with a concerned face and sees nothing but shock occupying her face. She is clearly thinking the same thing in regards to her own soldiers. Neither Darwin nor Celestia are ready to stop the hollering exchange.
"You're not laying a hoof on our princess!"
"Don't make us have to shoot through you!"
"You can't win, humans! We have you surrounded!"
"Don't underestimate us, man! We got some cold steel your names on 'em!"
"We can outmaneuver you easily!"
"Bring it! We'll clip them wings of yours!"
"Don't make this difficult!"
"Then put down the damn spears or we'll make you!"
"Only if you drop your weapons first!"
"In your dreams!"
"Just give the word, Lieutenant," a peacekeeper mutters to Kaminsky. "Let's waste 'em."
"Yeah! We ain't letting these horses push us around! We'll unload on all their asses if we have to!"
"Watch your language!" Kaminsky replies irritably.
"Can't we all just calm down for a sec?" Sun Dancer utters nervously and quietly.
The opposing forces eye each other viciously, prepared to rip each other apart at the instruction of their superior officers. Princess Luna is now out of her seat with her horn glowing blue and a stance poised for battle. Fingers sit on triggers and hooves bear spears in a throwing position as both sides glare at each other, waiting for someone to make a wrong move.
Darwin will not have this any longer. "Stand down!" he barks at his men.
Kaminsky looks at Darwin with confusion. "Sir?"
"You heard me."
Every man in the squad returns his weapon to the resting position. Sun Dancer looks down, attempting to avoid eye contact with his fellow Equestrians.
"Stay your weapons, guards!" Celestia orders, raising her right roof. "You too, Luna."
The ponies comply, turning their spears upward. Iron Hoof makes a gesture signaling his soldiers to stand down. Princess Luna's horn stops glowing.
The supreme ruler of Equestria stands up and steps down from her throne to Darwin's level. "What's going on, Darwin?"
"I…" Darwin's lip quivers. "I'm so sorry." A tear rolls down his cheek. He looks back at his squad, then to Celestia. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the warrant. "Celestia, princess of Equestria, by order of the United Dimensions Security Council, I… I place you under arrest for treason."
All the royal guards gasp in shock. Luna spreads her wings and flies down next to her sister, her eyes burning with anger.
"That's a lie!" Luna exclaims. "She would never commit treason!" Her horn powers up again. She aims it at Darwin, who places his hand on his concealed lightsaber. Luna is seething now. "LEAVE. NOW!"
The UD troops aim their rifles at Luna. The royal guards respond, pointing their spears at the men.
Celestia moves closer to Luna. "Sister, please. Don't do this."
"No! I will not let them arrest you under false allegations!" Luna glares at Darwin and his men. "You're wrong! You're all wrong!"
Celestia comes between Luna and Darwin and faces the Jedi. "Very well. I surrender."
Luna's horn ceases glowing and her eyes widen. "No! Celestia, you can't! They're lying!"
The peacekeepers and the royal guards lower their weapons again.
"I must face the consequences for my mistake, whatever it may be," Celestia calmly explains to her sister, caressing her face.
"But you did nothing wrong!" Luna says as tears form in her deep blue eyes.
"That may be so, but it won't do any good to resist," Celestia reasons.
Celestia's horn glows gold as she removes her crown telekinetically and gives it to Luna to hold. Luna glances at the crown before staring at her older sister incredulously.
"No…" says Luna. "You… You can't be…"
The princess faces Darwin again. "I will accept whatever charges you give me."
With nothing more to say, Luna lowers her head, defeated. Darwin relinquishes his grip on his lightsaber, shocked at Celestia's apparent compliance.
"I'm sorry." He looks down sorrowfully. "I didn't know. Earlier, they told me to detain you and bring you back for questioning. I swear I didn't know this was an arrest until we entered this dimension."
"It's okay, Darwin." Celestia assures the Jedi, putting a hoof on his shoulder. "Do what you need to do."
Darwin nods to Kaminsky, who signals a couple of soldiers to bring in the large box containing the restraints. They set it down next to Celestia, punch in a numerical access code, and open it. Luna watches with mixed feelings of ire and concern as the soldiers bind her sister's legs. A single brace is place on Celestia's horn.
"What's that thing on her horn for?" Darwin asks Kaminsky.
"It is called a magi inhibitor," Kaminsky answers, "To make sure she cannot cast any spells against us."
"When did they come up with that?"
"Not long ago. When immigration was happening, we started seeing more and more supernatural elements enter Terra Prime. Soon enough, criminals became difficult to arrest and contain because they had some magical abilities. The inhibitors were developed to solve the problem. They could be place on the head, the wrists, and for Equestrians, the horn."
"Is there something like that for me?"
"I believe so."
Yet another example of a changing world. Darwin hopes he will not have to wear anything like that. He already experienced powerlessness once, which was enough for him.
Soon enough, the soldiers make the finishing touches on binding Celestia's wings. One of them speaks. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and may be used against you in the interdimensional court of law."
Celestia nods. "I understand."
"Alright, time to go." Kaminsky gestures for his men.
"Wait," says Celestia, "Can I say goodbye to my sister first?"
"We're behind schedule," Conrad states bluntly.
"Just let her go," responds Darwin. He nods to Celestia.
The princess turns around and walks toward Luna. She walks slowly with a limp as her movement is heavily impaired by the braces. Nonetheless, the UD soldiers watch her closely. Unwilling to wait, Luna canters down the red carpet and meets Celestia halfway. Tears rush down Luna's face as she embraces her elder sister. Celestia reciprocates by gently nuzzling her little sister and shedding a few tears of her own. Witnessing this strong sibling love, Darwin cannot help but cry on the inside.
"Remember what I taught you," Celestia whispers to Luna, "the sun isn't that different from the moon."
Luna nods. "Don't worry. I can handle it."
"And watch over the kingdom while I'm gone." Celestia adds.
"I will," Luna smiles through her tears, "but I hope it won't be long."
Celestia smiles back. Luna gives her sister one last hug before watching her turn around and rejoin the UD entourage. Darwin makes a gesture for the group to start moving. Everyone starts walking toward the open doors. Kaminsky looks back at Princess Luna and tips his helmet to her. Sun Dancer glances anxiously at the royal guard ponies who glare at him condescendingly. He hangs his head in shame. Iron Hoof and his soldiers watch Darwin and the peacekeepers leave, bearing the same expressionless faces they had when Darwin first encountered them. As the group exits the throne room, Darwin turns to face the princess of the moon and, at the moment, the sun.
"I promise we'll keep her safe," Darwin assures her.
"I trust you, Master Jedi," Luna replies, "and I hope they are wrong about her."
Darwin nods. "I hope so, too." He briefly bows before heading out the doors, closing them with the Force.
Luna is left alone on the throne with Celestia's crown in her hooves. She gazes at it dolefully and gazes into the jewels and patterns. She redirects her gaze toward the stain-glass windows and their images, hoping for a sign that will tell her the fate of her sister despite being fully aware that she may never truly know.