Nar Yakushi

7:30 AM, Canterlot Courthouse, Courtroom C, Lobby. (https://youtu.be/3tgDWKlJsSM?si=KzOFV7m1iGNEIToz) Asuka Yakushi and her family sit patiently outside of the courtroom as her mother quietly reminds everyone about courtroom decorum. She's been drilling proper courtroom attire, and how to act inside into everyone's heads for the past few days now. It makes sense. She is an attorney herself, after all. Though, she deals with the civil courts, not the criminal courts. Though, the principals of how to dress, and act were still the same. Asuka sits in a chair against the right wall of the lobby. To her left sits Juno, her right, Scrappy, and in her lap, her niece, Cookie. Her father sits beside Scrappy, while her mother, and younger sister stand in front of everyone. While Betty continues her quiet lecture, Juno gently rubs Asuka's shoulder with his hand. His nerves are just as frayed as hers are, but he's still doing his best to comfort her. While the family waits for the doors to the courtroom to open, more, and more people slowly trickle into the lobby. At one point, Asuka sees a young man being pushed in a wheelchair by a family member, followed by 2 other members of his family. Asuka recognizes his eyes. She leans in to Juno, and whispers to point the man out to him. That's one of the men who attacked her, Cookie, and Scrappy. No doubt about it. Juno gives a nod, and slowly rises from his seat to go speak with Kisho, Betty, and Hiari. Asuka turns to distract Scrappy, and keep her from noticing their attacker. A few minutes later, the courtroom doors are opened, and people begin to file neatly into the gallery. As Asuka stands to enter, one last figure enters the lobby. They search for a few moments, then lock on Asuka, and quickly speedwalk over. Asuka is surprised as Deena approaches, and gives her, and Cookie a light hug. "It looks like I made it just in time." The zebra sighs with relief.  When Asuka finally manages to ask how she got here, she explains that Juno told her everything, and bought her a train ticket yesterday. When the family files in, they take the bench just behind the defense table. Deliberately, Asuka, and Scrappy are sat as far from the other side of the courtroom as they can be, with everyone else sat to their right. They're keeping as much distance between Asuka, Cookie, Scrappy, and their attacker as they can. Monarchs, just seeing him sitting there in the gallery makes Asuka's blood boil. He should be the one in front of the judge, not Nar. After the majority of the gallery has settled, a door opens behind the well. Three stallions enter the courtroom, and take seats behind the prosecution table. Two are wearing matching, deep purple suits, while the third is in a dress uniform. Around two minutes later, another door opens, and Asuka's heart sinks. Accompanied by is lawyers, and flanked by two guards, Nar enters the courtroom in an orange detention center jump suit. He looks so... exhausted. Asuka turns her head to look to her mother. Her face betrays nothing, but Asuka knows she's torn up on the inside, seeing her son like this. Her father is visibly frowning, and her sister's gaze burns holes through the armor of the guards escorting Nar. As Nar is seated, he turns his head to look back at them in the gallery. He offers as good a smile he can, but when he sees Cookie, now beginning to reach out for him, his smile slowly begins to fade. Cookie lets out half a second of a whimper, and Asuka quickly spins her around to comfort, and console her so she doesn't start crying. She can practically see Nar's heart shatter into a million pieces. Moments later, the first door opens again, and the members of the jury are lead to their seats. Finally, a door behind the judge's bench opens, and the bailiff raises his voice.  "All rise. Honorable Judge Vindicant, now presiding." (https://youtu.be/_TePxy7Hc3M?si=2N8R51f3Pv-KKu6y) Everyone in the courtroom rises to the feet. Well, everyone who's able. A figure emerges from the door, making his way to a seat behind the judge's bench. He's a fairly tall, well built unicorn with ash gray fur, a short, dull orange mane, complete with beard, a large, old scar vertical down his left eye, which is closed, and the garb typical of a Canterlot judge. He stands beside his seat, and opens his mouth. When he speaks, his voice booms with authority. "You may be seated." Everyone takes their seats once more. The judge looks to all of the people in the courtroom, and offers a polite smile. "Thank you all for being here so early this morning. If you have yet to eat breakfast, please do feel free to exit the courtroom, and nourish yourself. It will be quite a while before we have a lunch recess." Asuka hears someone exit the courtroom. The judge pauses for a few moments, then uses his magic to bring a pair of reading glasses to his face. "Right. We're here today to hear Canterlot Criminal Case number CHZ418561036, Canterlot vs Yakushi." He lifts a sheet of paper slightly to get a better look, then his gaze falls on Nar. "Mr. Yakushi, you stand accused of five counts of Aggravated Assault in the Second Degree, five counts of Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and two counts of Grievous Bodily Harm. During your plea hearing, you plead 'Not Guilty.'" Judge Vindicant's gaze pierces through Nar. "I hope, for your sake, you, and your lawyers have a good defense prepared. These are very serious charges. I'm sure you know of the fate that awaits those convicted of such violent crimes here in Canterlot." Nar gives the judge a solemn nod, and a "Yes, your Honor." Judge Vindicant then picks up his gavel, and smacks it down (for dramatic affect.) "Court is now in session."

Tiny hands push on Nar's arm until he begins to rouse. His eyes begin to open, and his ears pick up a voice, but his brain doesn't quite process the words being said. The bed shakes slightly, and Nar finally turns to see who keeps pushing his arm. There, the excited face of Cookie bounces up, and down, just barely peeking above the bed. "Papa! Santa! Santa!" Instantly, Nar is wide awake. He begins to shuffle out of bed, only for Cookie to take off out of the room. Nar slips his slippers on, and follows after her, calling out for her to wait before she goes down the stairs. He supervises to make sure she descends them properly, following right behind her. When the father and daughter exit the stairs, they turn right to look into the living room. The rest of the family has already gathered, and oh my! Presents galore! There isn't an empty space of floor within 3 feet of the Hearth's Warming tree! Cookie hurries over to the tree to sort through the gifts, while Nar plops down on the couch next to Asuka. He looks at the coffee cup in her hand, and scratches his chin. "Third cup." Asuka rolls her eyes, with a stupid smile on her face. "Shove off." He guessed correctly. Kisho helps his Granddaughter pile all of her gifts from Santa into one pile. By the time they're done, the pile is taller than she is. Beside Nar, Asuka leans in to whisper. "You spoil her." Nar simply smiles, and nods. For the next 20 minutes, the family watches as Cookie opens her gifts from Santa. LOADS of toys, a fancy pink toy chest to put them in, and a fluffy pajama onesie that she DEMANDS her papa help her put on right away. One visit to the bathroom later, and Cookie emerges, twice as fluffy as she was before. After Cookie finishes opening all of her presents from Santa, the family shares a breakfast. As Kisho takes a seat at the table, he places a carton of eggnog in front of Nar. "This time, it's not expired. I checked." He lets out a little chuckle, as Nar unscrews the cap. "C'mon! It was only 2 days out of date that one time!" Asuka shakes her head. "And yet you spent half of that Hearth's Warming in the bathroom." Betty quickly shuts her children down. "Let's not talk about this at breakfast." After breakfast, the family reconvenes in the living room to exchange gifts. They're a little sad Hiari couldn't be home for Hearth's Warming this year, but she did send them a letter! Cookie gets even MORE toys, Juno gets Asuka a deluxe coffee maker, and Kisho gets Nar, Asuka, and Juno matching lounge pants. The three stand together for a picture, only for Asuka's smile to fade to a grouchy frown afterwards. "What's with the face?" Asks Juno. "She's just jealous I look better in these than she does." Answers Nar. The room shares a laugh. Afterwards, Asuka finally speaks up. "The tag is stabbing my behind. It's REALLY uncomfortable." After all of the presents have been opened, Nar announces that he has one last gift for his father. He then uses his phone to display a picture on the living room's TV. There, it displays the front window of Shifty Sai's showing the cardboard cutouts of Attack on Mango with a new addition. Now, between Asuka, and Nar, stands a cutout of Kisho, decked out in his Mango Merch. Below him, a sign points upwards stating "Our #1 Fan." With breakfast over, and presents gifted, the family cleans up, and prepares for the usual holiday tradition. It was time to open up the restaurant, and give the needy, and lonely a family to celebrate Hearth's Warming with!