//------------------------------// // Day 1: A Complicated Case // Story: Twilight Sparkle, Ace Attorney: The Royal Turnabout // by Animegx43 //------------------------------// Twilight Sparkle was already worried about her friend, but after hearing that Rarity was going to die for a crime she didn't do, she did everything she could just keep sane. She couldn't believe what was happening. After her talk with Celestia, Twilight went down to the Canterlot police station, bringing Spike with her so he could see Rarity. October 9, 3:00 PM Canterlot Police Department Room 105: Criminal Affairs "Banished to the Sun?" Spike asked. "But Rarity's skin is too sensitive for a tan like that!" A tan like that is too much for anypony. Twilight Thought.. "Don't worry, Spike. I don't plan on letting Rarity get to close to the Sun, which is exactly why we're going to see her. I'm sure I'll be able to convince the police she's innocent. The princess also said they can give me more details about the crime here at Criminal Affairs.." "That sounds cool and all, but who can tell us? In fact, will they tell us anything at all?" "I have a feeling somepony will tell me something if I ask." As soon as Twilight walked into the room, all eyes from everypony inside shifted to Twilight. The officers in the room were all surprised to see one of their princesses walking into their department without any warning. None of them even knew how to react. I didn't expect it to get this disturbingly quiet. Twilight thought After a small commotion, a calm pony walked up to Twilight to talk to her. He was a red earth pony with a brown mane which he had styled to have several spiky looking curls around his head, one of which covered up his right eye, and a boxing glove cutie mark on his flank. Even though he was a stallion, he was rather short when compared to the average stallion. In fact, Twilight found that she was slightly bigger than him. "Your highness, it's a pleasure to meet you." The small stallion said. "I am Commissioner Star Cestus! What brings you here?" "What brings me here? I'll tell you what brings me here. You have one of my best friends locked up and I've only now found out about it!" Twilight said with anger. "Now tell me why you arrested her!" In an instant, every other pony in the room left, fearing what their princess would do to them. Commissioner Cestus knew he couldn't leave though, much to his misfortune. "I-I'll tell you everything, just promise you won't hurt me or my officers!" Cestus said nervously, holding up his front hooves as if he would punch Twilight if she got any closer. "Uhh...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to spook you. I'm just a little on edge ever since I found out my friend is in jail." After Twilight talked more sincerely, Cestus dropped his hooves and lost his fear of the princess. "I guess you have every right to be mad. I've seen many ponies come into our custody and one of their friends would yell at me for arresting them. Normally, I could quick them with a good old uppercut, but...considering you're thee Twilight Sparkle, if I were to fight you, my plot would be caught." After realizing that she was getting angry again, Twilight took a deep breath, exhaled, and began talking to Commissioner Cestus in a much calmer, more friendly tone. Can't let my anger get the best of me again. Twilight thought to herself. "Alright Commissioner Cestus. I have a few questions. First, why was Rarity arrested? Why did you think she tried to kill the prince?" "Well your highness, after we investigated of the crime scene, we found several clues that lead us to point our hooves at Miss Rarity. Actually, some of my officers are out investigating the crime scene as we speak. I'm afraid it doesn't look good for your friend." "How is that possible?" Spike asked. "What proof do you have?" "I'm afraid that's classified information." Cestus answered. Twilight growled with anger upon learning that the information she needed couldn't be given to her. Spike jumped off her back while Cestus took a few steps back as both of the boys were afraid of getting attacked by their angry princess. Twilight quickly realized that she was getting angry again though, so she took a deep breath and calmed down again. At that point, she realized she was getting nowhere fast. "Okay, look. I know I'm not allowed to let Rarity off scot-free, but surely I'm allowed to learn details of the crime, right?" Twilight asked. "Well actually, Princess Celestia herself said that the only pony we're allowed to show our evidence to is the one who'll be defending Rarity in court Tomorrow." Cestus explained. "Her trial is Tomorrow? Spike, we don't have much time. Who's representing her?" "Actually...that's the weirdest problem we're having." Cestus said with a sad look on his face. "Due to the victim being Prince Blueblood and what-not, nopony has been willing to represent Miss Rarity. Since she has the right to have somepony defend her, the trial might get be postponed." "What's wrong with that?" Spike asked. "Wouldn't that mean she can't be banished to the Sun?" "She won't get banished until she's declared guilty, but what will most likely happen is that the Princess will appoint a defense attorney to defend your friend's case, but if that happens, I wouldn't expect a very strong case for her." This was very bad news to Twilight and Spike. As most of Canterlot had labeled Rarity as a criminal, whoever she would've gotten to defend her would most likely not try very hard and give Rarity a guilty verdict. If things went that way, Rarity would've been doomed. It was then that Twilight realized that there was somepony she had to see as soon as possible. "Commissioner, where's Rarity right now? Can we see her? Can you at least give us that much?" "Well...while I can't let you get involved in the case as a princess, I guess you can come as a visitor." "Oh thank you, Commissioner!" Twilight said as she jumped to hug Cestus. "I owe you big for this!" Commissioner Cestus wasn't sure if he should've allowed Twilight to see Rarity or not since he knew he couldn't let her get involved in the case, but he didn't see anything wrong with a simple visit. Although he suspected it to be a bad idea, he didn't want to risk seeing her princess angry again. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 9, 3:20 PM Detention Center Visitor's Room. After a short walk to the detention center, Cestus brought Twilight and Spike to the visitor's room where they hoped to see Rarity. After bring them there, Cestus began to regret the idea of bringing them more and more. "Now I don't want you to let you stay here for too long, so please try to make it quick." Star Cestus said. "Only family members and lawyers should even be allowed to see her." "I'll say what I need to say. Come on, Spike!" As Twilight and Spike walked into the visitor room, three other ponies walked out. A white stallion with a straw hat, a pink unicorn, and a young white filly. Twilight recognized the filly immediately as Sweetie Belle, Rarity's little sister, so she assumed the other two were Rarity's parents. All three looked so sad after leaving, most certainly because they saw their beloved Rarity locked away in prison. Twilight began to wonder if anypony else from Ponyville knew where Rarity was, but she quickly put her focus on the current issue. She walked into the room and saw Rarity sitting down on the other side of a glass wall. While Sweetie Belle and her parents didn't notice Twilight, Rarity did. "Twilight? Spike?" "Wow! Perfect timing." Spike said. Instead of leaving after seeing her family, Rarity took to opportunity to talk to Twilight and Spike, two of her closest friends. Despite seeing good friends, she still looked very worried. "So...are things going smooth for you in here?" Twilight asked, who wanted to break the ice. "No! The jail cells are so ugly with the shade of grey. I simply can't sleep in such a small, ugly room! The cell mates are rather nice to me, but I'm still worried that they'll violate me if I let my guard down." "You're accused of attempted regicide, about to be banished to the Sun, and your top fear involves an ugly jail cell?" Twilight asked with disbelief. "Oh heavens, yes. I've always wanted my last days to be something that suits my standards." Rarity explained, but then realized what she said out loud. "What am I saying? There's no way I'll be banished! I didn't even do it!" "The police seems really convinced that you did do it though." Twilight said. "They found you right there with Prince Blueblood, which, as far as I know, is the main reason they think you did it. Hey, how did you get into that hotel anyway? "Oh, it has been a dream of mine to go to the Gilded Horseshoe!" Rarity said with bliss. "Regular rooms in there is like suites in normal hotels with large and comfy beds, swimming pools with hot or cold water, the most delicious foods in all of Canterlot..." Before she could even finish her description of the hotel, Rarity got lost in her memory of the hotel, thus forgetting where she even was. Clop clop! "Hey! Equestria to Rarity!" Twilight said, clopping her hooves to get Rarity's attention again. "Huh? Oh sorry, darling. That wasn't the first time I've done that." Although she went back to reality, Rarity slowly began to remember her time at the hotel again due to her happy memories, which again made her forget about her horrible experience afterwards, forcing Twilight to snap her back to reality for a second time. "You know Twilight, we haven't been on a vacation for a while." Spike said with a hopeful smile. "Not now, Spike." Twilight answered. "Anyway, I've heard that it's really expensive to get into that place. How the hay could you afford a vacation there?" Rarity was hesitant to answer the question. Twilight noticed Rarity's behavior and wondered why she didn't give a straight answer right off the bat. "Well, you know how well business has been lately and I've been saving up lately, plus being a close, personal friend of one of the Princess helps a little, so it actually wouldn't make sense if I didn't go." Twilight found Rarity's answer to have been odd. It felt to her that Rarity lied to her, but she found that to be unlikely. On the other hoof, it was another friend of Twilight who was known for her honesty, not Rarity. Twilight eventually dismissed the possible lie to ask a more important question. "Rarity, your trial is Tomorrow and you may get a court appointed lawyer. What do you say to that?" "I'd say don't waste my time and send me to the Sun right now." Rarity answered. "Almost every single pony in Canterlot thinks I tried to kill that good-for-nothing Prince. Only one pony believes me and not even he can help me." "Who this other pony?" Rarity almost hesitated to answer, but after thinking it over quickly in her head, she answered with a straight face. "Why, you remember Fancy Pants, right? We've been good friends since we met, but even him and his high position can't help me." "You sure know how to make powerful friends, Rarity." Spike said. "Yes. Alas, even with all the princess and celebrities in the world, it seems that society is ready to come at me. I never thought I'd say this, but...it is not on!" Twilight and Spike could tell that Rarity was upset about her upcoming banishment/execution and that she was ready to give up hope. After all, without anypony who believed in her to defend her in court, there wasn't much hope for her to give up anyway. Twilight felt like a bad friend for not being able to help Rarity as she had no authority to free her friend. When Twilight thought about that little detail, an idea came. As one of the princesses, she couldn't decree for Rarity's freedom due to the circumstances, so she asked herself a question. What if I were part of the legal system? Twilight thought to herself. "Rarity, I'm going to get you out of here after all!" "What? Really?" Rarity asked with excitement. "Yep. I've decided that I'll represent you in court tomorrow. I will be your defense attorney!" Twilight had such a happy look on her face when she decided to be Rarity's defense as she felt confident that Rarity didn't attack Blueblood. Spike and Rarity, however, were a little more skeptical to the idea. Even Twilight herself wasn't entirely sure if it was a good idea, but she believed that she was Rarity's only hope.