A few years have passed since that case in which Trixie failed to get revenge against Twilight and her friends. Now, she's going to try being on the opposite side of the court. How hard can that be?
The Great and Powerful Trixie has moved on to greater and more powerful venues. Her magic has become more impressive to the crowds. Unlike a certain time, however, she has not made the mistake of asking audience members to out-perform her. If Ponyville was any indicator, switching to a no-challenge performance was a smart decision.
In light of her more recent success, however, Trixie has faced slightly more difficult obstacles. The owners of less great establishments refused her business even though her great and powerful five bits were worth a hundred of any pony else’s bits. The Stubborn and Reluctant Trixie accepted the fact that she needed more funds. But where would she get the money?
Well, Trixie does have that law experience, thought Trixie, But prosecutors don't get very well paid when they simply do it for revenge.
The Great and Powerful Trixie decided to try her hooves at defending the less powerful and more helpless foals. After all, if that loser Phoenix Wrong could do it, why couldn't the much better and more talented Trixie? --- *Hack!* *Cough!* Sorry. I think I'm allergic to Trixie's ego. Contains slight spoilers to Turnabout Storm, though viewing those videos first is not necessary. May contain select choice words and phrases unsuitable for young children.
“Well, I couldn’t have done it without you guys helping me.”
“It’s no trouble at all, really.”
“Now, one of my best friends is a crazy cat lady.”
Ah ha ha ha ha ha!
*Creak*
“Huh? Who’s there?”
*Shing!*
“Die!”
“Grrr! Ruff! Arf! Arf!”
“AAAAAAAAAAH!”
…
---{Trixe’s POV}
The Great and Powerful Trixie Variety Show
Now providing defense attorney services
*Ring!* *Ring!*
“To whom goes the pleasure of speaking to Trixie?”
…
“No, the Great and Powerful Trixie has no need for something so beneath her as a new credit bit plan. Do not call this number again!”
*click*
The Great and Powerful Trixie let out a great sigh. That had been the third telemarketer this week. Once again, they tried to steal her bits and replace them with garbage items that she would never use. When she filled out the information in her ad for Equestria’s papers, Trixie had thought she had made it perfectly clear that she was only accepting calls for two things: requests for her great and powerful magic shows… and requests for a lawyer. The latter had been applied about two months ago.
She had to waste two years of her precious and valuable time relearning the law from the ground up. Apparently, spending the months in prosecutor training hadn’t been good enough to earn a position in all things law-based. As usual, the world owed her for granting it a favor but it didn’t pay it back.
“Sometimes, Trixie wonders why she even bothered,” Trixie said in a way that was definitely not talking to herself like a crazy pony.
Ever since she was robbed of victory against Rainbow Crash and Twilight Snarkle, she had to find new ways to vent. In good conscience, she couldn’t even hold her grudge against Phoenix Wrong. Even though he still looked like he had a porcupine on his head, he had provided her the starting funds to buy a new traveling coach and the inspiration to expand her horizons.
“I heard that loser dealt with this kind of work all of his life.” Trixie remembered. “How can it be this hard to find a defenseless foal in need of defending?”
The Great and Powerful Trixie continued her powerful sulking. Then, the phone rudely made her topple off her couch as it rang off-schedule. Normally, this was the hour telemarketers had given up. Who would call Trixie at such a late hour?
“The Great and Powerful Trixie speaking,” Trixie said, letting the slightest hint of irritation seep into her tone.
“Um, hello,” responded the voice on the other end, “I kind of need a lawyer.”
Trixie raised her eyebrow, uncertain if she had heard correctly. “Come again?”
“I read your ad in the paper,” the voice clarified, “I know this is short notice, but I’m kind of out of options. I’m being held in the detention center right now.”
The Great and Powerful Trixie let out a great hum. “Well, miss, you’ve caught Trixie at a time where she is very busy with great and powerful things she must attend to.”
“Oh…”
“But,” she interrupted before the voice had a chance to hang up, “Trixie supposes that she can move some of her items around to come discuss your trivial life matters with you.”
“Really? Oh, thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
“Yes, yes, Trixie is quite gracious,” she admitted, “Now, what was your name?”
---
9:25 AM
Defense Lobby 2
Before coming to the court building this morning, Trixie only had time to scarf down some dry honey-hay oats without milk. Now her stomach was grumbling at the lack of good and proper filling. Needless to say, the noise was distracting.
I could murder for a pile of crackers and peanut butter right now, she thought.
“Miss Trixie?” inquired a familiar voice.
Speaking of murder…
The pony that stood before her was a much less impressive blue than Trixie’s own hide. Her mane was messier than Trixie’s too. It was no wonder she had asked the Great and Powerful Trixie for help. No other pony was great and powerful enough to pull this particular pony out of the trouble she was in. Trixie was supposed to defend this recently recovering crazy mare in court against the charges of murder. Such a task was obviously within the capabilities of the Great and Powerful Trixie, but she could understand how other ponies might consider it difficult.
“What is it, Lefty Lucy?” Trixie responded.
“My name is Righty Tidy,” corrected the pony.
“Whatever, Lucy,” dismissed Trixie before asking a second time, “What is it?”
Lefty Lucy frowned, but she quickly shook her head before speaking again. “I just wanted to thank you again for agreeing to help me in my hour of need.”
“You may want hold off your thanks.” Trixie looked long and hard at her client. “If it turns out that you really did commit the crime, then Trixie will not hesitate to allow the judge to declare a guilty verdict on the spot.”
Lefty Lucy flinched and backed off. This allowed Trixie to return to her thoughts.
Of course, Trixie isn’t going to admit that she won’t do anything of the sort. Lucy may be crazy, but with her background, Trixie finds the possibility of her being the true criminal to be zero. That’s the job of a defense attorney, right? Trust the client even if all evidence turns against them. Still, it would help to keep them on their hooves so that they don’t do anything stupid while in the courtroom. The last thing Trixie needs are extra court penalties before she can say anything.
---
9:30 AM
Courtroom No. 2
Conversations carried by several ponies at once echoed throughout the court chambers. None of the topics could be identified due to the sheer volume and density of those echoes.
*Tap!* *Tap!*
The voices quickly simmered to little more than awkward coughs. All eyes in the courtroom turned to the pony sitting in the judge’s seat. From what they could see, he was a red earth pony with a blue, spikey mane. A thin necklace of bronze rested around his neck and it appeared that he was wearing a brown cape behind him. He cleared his throat before opening his green eyes.
“Court is now in session for the trial of Righty Tidy,” he stated matter-of-factly.
“The Great and Powerful defense is ready, your honor,” declared Trixie.
“The prosecution is ready, your honor.”
It was just then that Trixie got a good look at who was standing across from her. Her eyes snapped wide open when she saw the gray unicorn pony with a brown mane and a pair of low-position glasses.
“Sonata?” She couldn’t stop her mouth from uttering the name.
“Why hello, Trixie,” said Sonata, “Fancy seeing you here.”
His honor looked back and forth between the defense and the prosecution. “You know each other?”
“We met a while ago in this same courtroom,” Sonata answered, “Though, I wonder why she jumped ship to the defense.” She turned back to look at Trixie. “Aren’t you more comfortable in a position where you can accuse others of wrongdoing? You’re not exactly the type of pony to levitate a flying cart away from a pony in danger.”
Trixie’s hat briefly flew off as she grit her teeth. It landed back on her head just as she managed to stutter a response.
“I... I don’t have to answer that!” she exclaimed in a huff.
“Getting nervous before the trial even starts?” Sonata smirked. “That’s a bad omen for you.”
The judge cleared his throat. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask that personal discussions be saved for after court.”
You’re the one who asked if we knew each other in the first place! Trixie screamed greatly and powerfully in her head at his honor, though he seemed to be completely unfazed by her mind’s volume.
“Right then,” said Sonata. She took a moment to readjust her spectacles before reading a file that she was levitating in front of her. “Yesterday evening at approximately 7:00 PM, the body of a mare named Nurse Coldheart was found inside the house of Righty Tidy. The cause of death was murder, via knife wound. The prosecution submits the autopsy report and murder weapon that was found at the scene as evidence.”
His honor nodded. “The court accepts these two pieces of evidence.”
“Coldheart Autopsy Report” was added to the Court Record.
“Bloody Knife” was added to the Court Record.
“The Royal Guard suspects Righty Tidy as the killer, as she was found the closest to the body at the time of its discovery.” Sonata completed her presentation of the case.
The judge crossed his front hooves. “The evidence at hoof isn’t enough to support or deny this accusation. Ms. Sonata, do you have a witness that you can call to the stand?”
A twinkle flashed along Sonata’s glasses. “I can do better than that, your honor.”
That can’t be good, thought Trixie as she willed the sweat drop on her head to go back into her pore.
Sonata pointed a hoof forward. “The prosecution calls Righty Tidy to the stand.”
His honor raised an eyebrow. “The defendant?”
“That won’t be a problem. Will it, Trixie?” asked Sonata.
Lucy already gave Trixie a rundown of what she remembers from that day, thought Trixie, All she has to do is say the same details to the court and we’ll be all set.
“Very well, Sonata,” Trixie finally replied, “Trixie will play your game.” She turned to the other court participant. “Your honor, the great and powerful defense has no objections to this call.”
The judge nodded. “Bring Righty Tidy to the stand at once.”
---
“Witness,” addressed Sonata, “State your name and occupation, please.”
“My name is Righty Tidy,” said Lucy, “I’m a new member of the labor force because I’m currently searching for a job.”
“The court wishes to hear you testify about what you were doing around the time of the murder,” stated his honor.
Witness Testimony
“Nurse Coldheart was scheduled to meet me yesterday as part of my routine checkup.”
“She came to my house about 5:15.”
“She asked her usual questions. ‘How are you feeling?’ ‘Notice any signs of reverting?’ That kind of thing.”
“It kind of devolved into a small-talk chat about everything and nothing. Heh heh. Before I knew it, the minutes had passed like crazy.”
“I must have been pretty tired. I remember waking up and it was sunset.”
“When I looked around, I was speechless at the sight of an unmoving Nurse Coldheart in a puddle of red.”
“Next thing I knew, Royal Guards were taking me away to the detention center.”
---
All right, Trixie smirked, Let’s see Sonata take apart that testimony.
The judge blinked. “Huh, I didn’t know doctors still made house calls.”
“I’m sure we’ll clear things up through the next part, your honor,” said Sonata.
His honor nodded. “Ms. Trixie, you may begin your cross-examination.”
Wait, what?! Trixie's great and powerful eyes opened wide. “But, that’s my client.”
“Oh, dear,” Sonata said with a small smile, “Are you that unfamiliar with how the defense’s job works? It’s your job to review what every witness says in their testimony and point out any contradictions.”
“Yes,” affirmed his honor, “When you agreed to let the defendant take the stand, you agreed to cross-examine her just as you would any other witness.”
“Not so easy when you have to play angel’s advocate, is it?” mocked Sonata.
Celestia banish it! Trixie silently growled. That sneaky soul-viewer tricked Trixie. She took a breath. Fine, you want Trixie to cross-examine and do the work for you? Gladly. All Trixie has to do is press a little. Trixie won’t find any contradictions in some pony who is telling the truth.
Sonata’s disarming smile told another story, however.
Cross-Examination
“Nurse Coldheart was scheduled to meet me yesterday as part of my routine checkup.”
Hold it!
“Would you kindly tell us what the routine checkup was for?” inquired Trixie.
“I might as well.” Lucy shrugged. “For a few years, I was diagnosed as a mental patient. Recently, however, the nurse ponies at Ponyville Hospital have confirmed that I’m recovering quickly. I’m really grateful to them and all they’ve done for me.”
“Mental patient?” echoed the judge. “Ms. Sonata, wouldn’t that make her testimony ineligible for the court record?”
“The doctors at that hospital have legitimate records,” Sonata assured, “Those records show that Righty Tidy was recovering quite smoothly. Her testimony is good enough to examine and compare discrepancies.”
“Okay, I suppose,” his honor agreed. “No wisdom like the good doctor. Continue, witness.”
“She came to my house about 5:15.”
Hold it!
“And you’re certain about the time?” Trixie was just trying to clarify.
“Yeah.” Lucy nodded. “Nurse Coldheart set up that clock in my house about three months ago and even fine-tuned it every other week.”
That name is quite misleading, Trixie thought to herself, How can a cold heart be so warm and kind?
“She asked her usual questions. ‘How are you feeling?’ ‘Notice any signs of reverting?’ That kind of thing.”
Hold it!
“The Great and Powerful Trixie already knows this, but for the sake of the others in this courtroom, what are the ‘signs of reverting’?”
“Well, I vaguely remember the earlier days of my rehabilitation,” Lucy reminisced, “I had similar instinctual urges to those of a dog, like barking and chasing my own tail. Ha ha! I can look back at that and laugh.”
Yes, it’s very amusing to listen to again. Trixie was failing to fight the shaking smile on her face. Pfft! Ha ha ha ha ha! Luckily, she was not failing the fight against laughing out loud.
“It kind of devolved into a small-talk chat about everything and nothing. Heh heh. Before I knew it, the minutes had passed like crazy.”
Hold it!
“We’ll have to decide what’s ‘everything and nothing’,” commented Trixie, “What did you talk about?”
Lucy tapped her chin. “Let’s see. She asked about what I had for lunch. I asked her how the other patients and doctors at the hospital were doing. Oh, yeah! There was a funny joke about Goldie Delicious.”
“Goldie Delicious?” echoed his honor. “I’ve seen her before. She lives downstream from town a ways, right?”
“Yeah, she was one of the first friends I made outside of the hospital staff.” Lucy smiled.
“Hm, all right.” The judge nodded. “Continue your testimony.”
“I must have been pretty tired. I remember waking up to find it was sunset.”
Hold it!
“You fell asleep right in the middle of your conversation with Nurse Coldheart?” Trixie powerfully paraphrased. “That’s new to me, Lefty Lucy.”
“It’s Righty Tidy,” the current witness corrected.
“Right, what did Trixie say?” asked Trixie.
Objection!
Sonata crossed her hooves. “While I find it very entertaining listening to Ms. Trixie constantly mispronounce names, it doesn’t exactly help continue this cross-examination in an efficient manner.”
“Quite right,” the judge agreed. “Ms. Trixie, would you mind sticking to your cross-examination and not get hung up on how a pony’s name is pronounced?”
“Yes, your honor,” Trixie relented with a sigh. There is nothing wrong with the way Trixie pronounces ennething.
I’d point out the mistake with that thought, but it’s too easy, thought Sonata.
“When I looked around, I was speechless at the sight of an unmoving Nurse Coldheart in a puddle of red.”
Hold it!
“So by the time you woke up, she was already dead,” was Trixie’s great and powerful conclusion.
“Yeah.” Lucy looked down. Her lip quivered. Her eyes looked shaky, threatening to release a small river. “I wish I could have done more for her. But there wasn’t enough time to act, because…”
“Next thing I knew, the Royal Guards were taking me away to the detention center.”
Hold it!
“So amidst all the chaos, you never actually witnessed the moment of the crime?” Trixie asked.
“I’m afraid not.” Lucy shook her head. “I miss her already.”
“Well, that was completely pointless,” huffed Trixie, “What gives, Sonata? You called her up here only to show that she doesn’t have any new information to provide for this case.”
Sonata’s small smile did not waver. “Oh, I wouldn’t say that. Now that you’ve gotten a taste for how being an attorney works, you should be well prepared for my decisive witness.”
“Decisive witness?” The sweat was clearly visible on Trixie’s head.
Sonata held her glasses in place with her hoof. “Yes. This next witness will seal the fate of your client and prove her guilt right here and now.”
Echoes filled the hall as various ponies in the courtroom speculated on the current situation. Who was this decisive witness? What could they possibly say that would cinch this case once and for all?
*Tap!* *Tap!* *Tap!*
“Order! Order in the court!” commanded his honor. “You’re that certain about this next witness?”
“But of course, your honor.” Sonata nodded.
“Fine then,” he stated, “Bring this ‘decisive’ witness of yours to the stand.”
---
The pony currently at the stand was quite large. He had the calm, collected look of an actor that had fully memorized his lines. Though, his monocle and white doctor’s coat suggested a slightly different profession. Two off-white wings were neatly folded on either of his sides.
“Witness,” addressed Sonata, “Please state your name and occupation for the court.”
“I am Dr. Eye Alex Digit,” the stallion stated boldly, “I’m an optometrist.”
“An optometrist?” blurted Trixie, “What would an optometrist be doing out and about during the night?”
“If you’d learn to exercise a bit of patience,” Sonata said with a glare, “then he will get the chance to tell us.”
“And if you wouldn’t interrupt,” Trixie countered, “we could get right to that after Trixie is finished.”
Sonata crossed her hooves again.
Dr. Digit took a moment to breathe on his monocle before wiping it with a cloth.
The judge coughed.
“Okay, Trixie is finished.” Trixie wore a great and powerful scowl.
“Right, then.” His honor nodded. “Dr. Digit, please answer the court’s question: What did you see on the night of the murder?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” Dr. Digit’s monocle twinkled.
"I was providing my services to one of the most adorable little fillies I had ever met."
"Sadly, I couldn't stay with her long as I had to be on my way."
"I heard the sound of a rabid dog barking from the house nearby."
"I thought it strange that the door was left open so I decided to take a peek."
"But my glance became a horrified stare at the deed that had transpired."
"The white nurse pony had been slain! Blood was dripping from a nearby knife."
"The killer was clearly insane, barking mad as it was. She would've bitten me had I not chosen to make a tactical retreat from the vicinity."
"I had no idea that the sixth hour of the evening would be such a dreadful disaster."
---
Dr. Digit's uncovered eye shed a twinkling droplet. His raised hoof was shaking with sadness and passion behind his own testimony.
The judge blinked in a what-just-happened sort of way. "The killer had dog-like behavior? Why, that sounds just like..."
"Yes," affirmed Sonata, "It does sound just like the defendant."
Though, Trixie could have sworn that she briefly saw a blood vessel tense up in Sonata's head.
"Remember that you have more than one ability as the defense, Ms. Trixie."
"Wait, what?" Trixie blurted. She looked for the voice, but the only one in the direction of the source was a prosecutor readjusting her glasses. The specific words that the voice had said gave Trixie something to ponder.
The power to press, the power to raise an objection, and the power to present evidence. Wait, Trixie just remembered that one item that Lefty managed to hang onto before being arrested. The time to present it is soon. I... Trixie can just feel it.
"All right then, Ms. Trixie," his honor said, "Begin your cross-examination."
"Gladly." The defense smiled slightly. She thought she saw a mirrored expression in Sonata, but the moment passed just as quickly as it came.
Cross-Examination
"I was providing my services to one of the most adorable little fillies I had ever met."
Hold it!
"Who was this 'adorable little filly'?" Trixie inquired.
"Normally, I wouldn't go against patient confidentiality," insisted Dr. Digit, "but she seemed rather eager to let her friends know about it. I guess it wouldn't hurt any pony if I let them know that Ms. Sweetie Belle is now the proud owner of a pair of Dr. Digit's glasses."
"Ah, yes," sighed his honor with a smile, "I've seen her before. If being cute was a crime, she'd have a life sentence."
The judge has a soft spot for children? wondered Trixie, Huh. Go figure.
"But as I was saying..." continued the witness.
"Sadly, I couldn't stay with her long as I had to be on my way."
Hold it!
"Why were you in such a hurry?" asked Trixie, "Normal business hours in Ponyville don't end until 8 PM."
"I had a prior engagement that I needed to attend to," answered Dr. Digit as he fiddled with his monocle.
"What was this engagement?"
Objection!
"Your line of questioning is straying from the topic at hoof," stated Sonata. "Shouldn't you be focusing on a rather important point that you might have missed?"
"I have to admit that talking about the witness's job seems to hold little relevance to what he saw," agreed his honor.
Trixie fumed in silence. You didn't have any trouble losing relevance when the little brat's name was mentioned.
"I heard the sound of a rabid dog barking from the house nearby."
"I thought it strange that the door was left open so I decided to take a peek."
"But my glance became a horrified stare at the deed that had transpired."
"The white nurse pony had been slain! Blood was dripping from a nearby knife."
"The killer was clearly insane, barking mad as it was. She would've bitten me had I not chosen to make a tactical retreat from the vicinity."
"I had no idea that the sixth hour of the evening would be such a dreadful disaster."
Objection!
"The sixth hour of the evening, Mr. Digit?" Trixie smirked.
"I'd appreciate it if you called me 'Dr.' thank you." The witness frowned.
"Oh, Trixie offers her greatest and most powerful apology," she said with exaggerations, "It's just that, Trixie was under the impression that any pony with a Ph.D. would be able to tell the difference between 6 PM and 7 PM." With that, she levitated the autopsy report into view for all to see.
Dr. Digits eyes snapped open as his monocle dangled by its string. "Uh... well... I..."
"Yes, Dr.," said Sonata in a slightly annoyed tone, "How did you miss that little detail if you were in such a hurry earlier that night?"
The ponies in the courtroom added their own cacophony of suspicion and confusion.
*Tap!* *Tap!* *Tap!*
"Order! Order!" demanded his honor. "Witness, would you care to explain this contradiction?"
Dr. Digit slowly lifted his monocle back into place before clearing his throat. "I can do better than that, Your Honor."
What is that dishonest doctor up to now? thought Trixie greatly.
"You wanted to know why the hour is off?" he asked. "The reason is quite simple."
Witness Testimony
The Hour
"The reason is so simple that even a filly could figure it out."
"Sunlight Savings time ended recently. I must have had my watch set to the wrong hour."
"Surely you can forgive such a small oversight. The time wasn't the important thing anyway."
"After all, this doesn't change the fact that the defendant over there stabbed her nurse in cold blood."
---
Trixie's powerful eye twitched. Are you kidding me?
"That's a rather... underwhelming explanation," commented the judge.
"Like I said, it's simple," reiterated the witness while briefly tapping the edge of his monocle.
Sonata had her eyes closed and remained silent.
"All right, Miss Defense, you may begin your cross-examination of this new piece of testimony."
"Great and Powerfully, Your Honor," smirked Trixie.
Sonata briefly opened her eyes to give a deadpan stare.
---
Cross-Examination
"The reason is so simple that even a filly could figure it out."
"Sunlight Savings time ended recently. I must have had my watch set to the wrong hour."
Hold it!
"May we see this watch of yours?" Trixie asked out of the blue.
"I don't see the harm in that," replied Dr. Eye Digit. "Here."
"Optometrist's Watch" was added to the Court Record.
"So," Trixie rebounded, "you were saying?"
"Surely you can forgive such a small oversight. The time wasn't the important thing anyway."
"After all, this doesn't change the fact that the defendant over there stabbed her nurse in cold blood."
Objection!
"This may not be your field of expertise," interjected Trixie, "but surely even a colt of your profession can understand what 'cold blood' truly means."
"Hm?" Sonata's lip curled into a half-frown.
"What? Where is this coming from?" wondered the witness. "Of course I know what 'cold blood' means."
Trixie harrumphed. "Perhaps now is a good time to remind everyone here in the court, since no pony else is great and powerful enough to point out the important information."
A picture of Righty Tidy floated into view while Trixie looked down at a piece of paper that she was levitating.
"First, the defendant has already testified earlier to not remembering the full set of events that transpired on the night of the murder. The members of this courtroom agreed that there was nothing contradictory about what she said. Second, we know that she has been slowly recovering from a mental disorder that occasionally causes her to behave in a dog-like manner. During those switches, she doesn't remember anything. Third and most importantly, 'cold blood' means not only committing the act of the kill, but also calmly calculating and planning the kill before hoof."
"Ah!" gasped his honor.
Trixie slammed a hoof against her desk. "So, Mr. Eye Alex Digit, if my client's medical condition is a fact, how could she have possibly premeditated an act of murder?"
"Egads!" The monocle went flying off the witness's face, barely hanging on by its thin, gold chain.
The observing ponies spoke their minds quite vocally in the seconds that followed.
"Furthermore, your choice of words seems a little too specific for a random passerby." Trixie pounded again. "Perhaps it is you who has a dirty deed to hide!"
The multitude of voices suddenly hushed. The judge hadn't even gotten to whack his gavel once.
Sonata nudged her glasses lightly. "Trixie, are you... accusing Dr. Digit here of the crime of murder?"
"Maybe Trixie is." She gave the asker a non-committing stare. "What of it?"
His honor leaned forward. "That is a serious accusation, Ms. Trixie. Should you continue and be found wrong, it will cost you more than just receiving records of your first court loss."
"W-What do you mean?" Trixie greatly inquired.
"It means that if the witness on stand here is innocent," explained Sonata, "then you'll be forced to hand over your attorney badge."
"I'll... what?!" Trixie's hat briefly jumped off her head.
"Think about this carefully, Trixie," advised the prosecutor, "If you back off now, you can keep your badge. No pony will think less of you for it. After all, it's difficult for someone like you to be thought less of for losing something that you didn't put your whole heart into anyway."
The Great and Powerful Trixie could have sworn that she saw a faint smile recede from her opponent's mouth. Who did she think she was offering terms of surrender? Trixie would show her. Trixie would show them all what a great and powerful attorney she could be. Her eyes narrowed as she made her choice.
"Did Trixie stutter?" she inquired. "The accusation against Dr. Digit stands so that the Great and Powerful Trixie can prove the innocence of Righty Tidy!"
The defendant let out a gasp. She said my name correctly.
The witness, however, had since regained his composure and his monocle had found its way back to his eye. "All right, ma'am. How do you intend to prove this serious accusation?"
"Trixie will ask a simple question," she explained, "Then, you will provide your answer in the form of a testimony, which Trixie will then proceed to tear apart any contradiction. At that moment, you will realize what a bad spot lying can place you in."
"Hmph, fine," replied Dr. Digit.
A gavel strike interrupted the exchange. "This is completely unorthodox. I cannot allow-"
"Your Honor, if I may interrupt," piped in Sonata.
The judge looked to his right.
"The prosecution has no objections to this form of interrogation."
His honor nearly dropped his gavel onto his hind hoof. "What... I... what?"
All eyes were on him.
He sighed. "Very well, the defense may proceed with her questioning."
"Trixie appreciates this," thanked Trixie. "Now then, Mr. Digit, in truthful detail, what were you doing at Ms. Tidy's place of residence and why were you there?"
---
Witness Testimony
What and Why
"Remember that 'prior engagement' I mentioned before? Well, that was partially the reason I was in that section of the neighborhood."
"I had one last appointment to attend to for the evening and I was in a hurry to get to the meeting place."
"My watch was ringing as loudly as a house clock. That's the logical reason for why I was confused about the time."
"Offhandedly, I happened to look around to make sure my bearings were straight as I ran."
"When I glanced in the direction of the killer's house, I saw the stab taking place."
"I heard what sounded like a dog growling before that crazy pony bit me on the hoof as I managed to get away."
"Who does that? Cutting up a fellow pony and then biting another? A mad pony! She was quite mad."
---
"And on a side note," added the witness, "I asked you to call me 'Dr.' Digit."
"Ponies ask Trixie to call them many things," remarked the attorney, "Trixie takes it upon herself to call them only the fairest names which they deserve."
"You may promptly begin your cross-examination," interrupted the judge.
"Right away, Your Honor," Trixie obliged.
---
Cross-Examination
"Remember that 'prior engagement' I mentioned before? Well, that was partially the reason I was in that section of the neighborhood."
"I had one last appointment to attend to for the evening and I was in a hurry to get to the meeting place."
"My watch was ringing as loudly as a house clock. That's the logical reason for why I was confused about the time."
Does his watch really sound that loud? wondered Trixie as she examined the Court Record's inventory. With a few magical taps, she set the alarm of the optometrist's watch to go off at the very next minute. It went off with a rather annoying buzz. She winced slightly at the vibration. What a terrible alarm. It doesn't do anything but imitate a pesky bee.
"Offhandedly, I happened to look around to make sure my bearings were straight as I ran."
"When I glanced in the direction of the killer's house, I saw the stab taking place."
"I heard what sounded like a dog growling before that crazy pony bit me on the hoof as I managed to get away."
Hold it!
"By any chance, do you still have the bruise from the bitemark?"
"If you really want to see it, fine," sighed Dr. Digit, "but you'll only have more to incriminate Ms. Tidy over there."
The eye doctor shoved his sleeve up. There was a rather dark mark. It looked about the right size for a pony's jawline around his wrist area.
"Sweet Celestia, that looks painful," commented the judge.
"It actually looks worse than it feels," Dr. Digit dismissed.
"Bitemark" was added to the Court Record.
"Your Honor," Trixie pointed her hoof, "Trixie would like the witness to add this to his testimony."
"I still think this is a bit out of place." His honor shook his head. "Witness, add the remark of that bitemark to your testimony."
"This is the sign that I was bitten while running away."
Objection!
"Ms. Trixie." Sonata crossed her hooves in front of herself. "Are you really objecting to the evidence of him being bitten?"
"Hmph," Trixie snorted. "Trixie wonders which is more blind, your eyes or your cutie mark? Trixie is not objecting to the bite. Far from it, Trixie is pointing out a much larger flaw with Mr. Digit's statement."
"Do tell, Ms. Trixie," the judge requested.
Trixie looked directly at the witness. "That bitemark you showed us is around the wrist of your front hoof." She raised and pointed her hoof forward. "How exactly could you get bitten like that if you were already running?"
Dr. Digit narrowed his eyes. "You didn't see the way she bit me that night. She was crazy enough to bend her head in that direction."
"Well, I'd almost believe such a statement," Trixie folded her front hooves across her desk, "if it weren't for one small thing."
The witness raised one eyebrow. "What small thing could you possibly be talking about?"
Take that!
He tilted his head in confusion. "My watch?"
"Until just a few moments ago," Trixie began, "you were wearing this so-called 'loud as a house clock' piece of metal around that same wrist. Well as it turns out, this watch is no louder than a bee. It's a nuisance, but not enough to tell you six o'clock at 7 PM." She pounded the wood. "These clues together prove two things. One, you weren't wearing this watch on the night of the murder and two, you weren't running at all during the moment of the bite."
"Hmm," hummed Sonata. "Are you beginning to see what happened that night?"
"The Great and Powerful Trixie certainly is!" the defense proclaimed.
---
Mr. Digit was so convinced that the murder was cold and calculated because it was he who was the calculative mind. He found Nurse Coldheart at an hour and a location where she would be the most vulnerable, away from the other doctors and medical staff of Ponyville's hospital and mental institute.
"Die!"
However, he failed to plan for one crucial detail: patient interference.
“Grrr! Ruff! Arf! Arf!”
Since he was holding the knife deeply in the victim's flesh, he couldn't avoid the doggish pony using the basic animal instinct of protecting its caretaker. It wasn't the doctor's watch that rang one hour off. It was Righty Tidy's home clock. It's ironic. The hour that he was so sure had ended the nurse's life became the information to reveal his horrible secret.
"AAAAAAAAAAH!”
---
Trixie pointed with force. "You, Mr. Digit, are the murderer of Nurse Coldheart!"
The witness shook on his stand. He grabbed his head under his wings, but his shivering wouldn't stop. At least, it didn't until he raised his head to gaze upon the ceiling. Feathers popped out as his monocle shattered into silica shards.
"AAAAAAAAAAH!”
...
---
A few minutes passed. The red judge cleared his throat. "Ms. Sonata?"
"Dr. Eye Alex Digit has been taken away for detainment until further notice," the prosecution stated with her eyes closed.
His honor nodded. "And Ms. Trixie?"
"Yes, Your Honor?" responded the defense.
"For some pony who worked on the other side of the court, you did fairly well in bringing a nugget of truth to the court."
"Oh, yes," Trixie smirked, "Please do continue singing Trixie your praise."
"Er, another time perhaps." A sweat drop formed on the judge's head briefly. "I'm ready to declare a verdict. On the charge of murder, this court finds the defendant Righty Tidy..."
...
Not Guilty
Variously colored pieces of confetti fluttered through the courtroom as the other ponies cheered and whistled.
*Tap!*
"Court is dismissed."
---
10:57 AM
Defense Lobby 2
Whew, Trixie never would have thought that being a defense attorney would be so exhausting. It's nothing like the prosecution at all. Trixie chuckled at the thought. I suppose I should give Mr. Wrong some credit for dealing with such tension. Some.
She suddenly had a scarf in the form of Righty Tidy.
"Oh, thank you so much, Ms. Trixie!" the other blue mare exclaimed while hugging her defender. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
I've got a few ideas about what would've happened. Trixie half-smiled.
"You did well in there, Trixie."
The additional voice turned Trixie's expression into a full frown. "Trixie has no desire to hear insults from a sore loser."
"Well, gee, that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me." Sonata smirked. "I didn't come to insult you. I came over to congratulate you on winning your first case... and for protecting the life of an innocent pony."
"One-eighty much?" asked Righty Tidy as she released her hugged captive. "Weren't you the one talking about 'bad omens' during the case?"
Trixie held a hoof in front of her. "Tidy, let Trixie handle this." She then turned to Sonata. "Does the prosecutor have a bipolar complex, or has she truly forgotten the negativity she was exuding at the start of the trial?"
Sonata blinked. Then, she chuckled. She ended with a wink. "I'm sure we'll see each other again really soon, Trixie."
What does she mean by...? But the thought was halted. She trotted off. Whatever. She can say whatever she wants. Frankly, Trixie doesn't give a barn about what that pony thinks.
"Now." The Great and Powerful Trixie turned back to her client, "We never did get to discuss over the phone how you'd go about paying Trixie."
Tidy's eyes snapped open before she stared to the side. "Oh... yeah... that." She nervously scratched the back of her neck. "See, the thing is I don't really have much money in my name right now."
Trixie remained silent.
Righty Tidy shuffled her pockets before fishing out a couple items. "I've got... a few staples and a subway coupon, and I was scheduled for a job interview in a couple of weeks. I could start working on paying you off then."
The recovered mental patient suddenly found two solid, blue limbs on her shoulders. They were not her hooves.
"That's very cute, Tidy," commented Trixie through a gritting teeth smile, "but I intend to collect some form of down payment on my fees right now."
The other blue mare shivered in place as she stared into two cold flames from the deepest corners of Tartarus.
---
3:20 PM
The Great and Powerful Trixie Variety Show
Now providing defense attorney services
A slow, mushy stream of chocolate and wheat passed her tongue. Additionally, Celestia's sun offered only the finest beams of light onto her resting form. Shades that rivaled Luna's night for darkness kept her eyes hidden from view and allowed her to not look at anything hideous around her. Yes, Trixie very much enjoyed this nap/snack time.
She wasn't even bothered by the constant banging of her newest servant.
*Whap!* *Whap!* *Whap!*
"Whew." Righty Tidy wiped some sweat from her head. The last couple of nails were hammered into place. At least now, one side of the travelling home looked in decent shape.
"You missed a spot," Trixie commented without even looking. That was how great she was.
The less great pony turned to see that an entire section of wall on the the other side was in desperate need of repairs. She could've sworn she just did that spot an hour ago. How did the screws come loose from those boards?
Defeated by the conundrum, Tidy sighed. "Of course, Ms. Trixie."
Trixie levitated another slurp from her smoothie and sighed contentedly.
---
To think he could escape from his terrible fate.
*Flick* *Hiss*
Now every pony he cares about must suffer the consequences of his lackluster thinking.
*Whoosh*
Please understand that it's nothing personal, show mare.
With a hoof, I held my glasses against my face for what had to be the fourth time today.
What am I doing? I asked myself. If I get found out, I could be permanently expelled from the courtroom!
In a magical grasp, I floated the badge in front of my face for the second time today.
I thought my days of deceit and lies were over. Yet, here I am again trying to cover important truths while painfully being able to see them staring me in the face.
--- Earlier that same day...
5:30 AM
Hay and Stay Hotel
Urgh, I couldn't sleep at all last night. I tried turning over in the bed. It was no use. So instead, I opted to stare at the bookshelf across the room. I heard that voice again.
I could picture it as clearly as I did a long time ago. I was on the witness stand, completely convinced that I had ended Ace Swift's life. But when it seemed like he was going to win, Phoenix Wright would not back down. He wasn't satisfied with a simple victory. He reached for the truth in its entirety. The whole truth and nothing but the truth... that's what he was after. But that wasn't the part of the memory that was unusual.
Right next to him... no, rather inside of him... there was another speaking out to declare my innocence. It was a woman. I didn't understand at all and I still don't. Who was that other soul? How was she there? Why did she look and sound like... me?
*Ring* *Ring*
Huh? I lifted my head off of my pillow. That's odd. I don't remember giving any pony the number to this room's phone. I sighed while shuffling out of the covers. I guess I might as well find out who is calling. I wasn't getting back to sleep anyway.
I was tired, sure, but I could still use basic magic to pull the receiver close to me. "Hello?"
"Um, hi. Is there a Ms. Sonata there?" asked the voice from the other side of the line.
"Speaking," I replied.
"Oh, good! You haven't left yet." It sounded like they breathed into the phone. "I was afraid I'd have to look up a whole string of new numbers just to find you."
"Who exactly is this?" I wondered out loud.
"Sorry, sorry," the voice apologized. "It's me, Righty Tidy."
Righty Tidy? The name sounded familiar, but where did I hear it before? ... Oh!
"You're that defendant from a couple weeks ago," I remarked. "But wait, why are you calling me?"
"Well..." A long pause followed. What was Righty so worried about saying? "I think Ms. Trixie would be able to explain it better than me. Please, just meet me at the front of the hospital as soon as you can."
"Wait, slow down," I interrupted, "I don't understand. What does Trixie...?"
But the dial tone was the only noise I could hear. I sighed and closed my eyes. While returning the receiver back to the rotary, I rubbed a hoof against my temple.
"By Celestia's mane, what is going on?" I asked the empty room. If Trixie told Righty Tidy to ask for me by name, I guess I might as well humor her by seeing what she wants.
---
A warm shower washed away my immediate troubles.
---
A slight levitation adjusted my glasses into a comfortable position.
Hmm, I thought, Perhaps I should grab the key under the door mat. Call me crazy, but there's a slim chance that some pony might try to take it again.
I opened the door to head out, but my hoof landed on something other than mat. When I looked down, I saw a morning paper. Actually, when I got a good panned look around, the entire hall had papers in front of the room doors.
That's strange. Usually, they charge the hotel guests for delivering papers... except when there's an article that the manager believes to require vital attention.
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to check," I commented as I picked it up and unrolled it.
"Extraordinary Story Newspaper" was added to the Court Record.
...
The front page article jumped out at me so boldly, that my glasses slid at the angle that my eyes and mouth opened.
"Ah... ah... What?" I managed to squeak out.
Suddenly, the trip to the hospital seemed much more urgent. I galloped as quickly as I could.
---
6:00 AM
Ponyville Hospital
"She's in here!" Righty ushered me through the door into one of the rooms.
"My word," I whispered. The patient I was looking at was in a pretty beat-up state. Two of her limbs were being hung in white slings. Some areas that weren't covered in bandages looked as black as charcoal and just as charred. Amazingly enough, the majority of the pony's face was in tact.
"You took your sweet time getting here," the patient commented.
"Trixie, are you okay?" I trotted closer to the bedside.
"Spare Trixie the standard question." She coughed. "Did you see the news before you arrived?"
I brought my copy of the paper into view and fully opened it. "The Great and Powerful Trixie: Catching Fire. Some Pony Set Her Up the Bomb But Gave Her No Signal."
"I don't get why the writer tried to imitate a bad Neighponese accent," Righty piped in.
I turned to her with my eyebrow raised.
"Sorry," she said while trying to make herself seem smaller.
"According to this," I continued, "police have apprehended who they have reasonable suspicion to have started the fiery destruction: Princess Twilight Sparkle." I stowed the paper away. "This is rather hefty."
"It's also a big pile of horseapples!" exclaimed Trixie before wincing. "Ow."
"You shouldn't move so much, Ms. Trixie," advised Righty, "You have burned tissue all over that needs time to heal."
"How can Trixie remain still at a time like this?" Trixie angrily countered. "The authorities are being incompetent morons to point their hooves at Sparkle."
Wow, Trixie. I smiled faintly. I didn't know you cared about her.
"The only one who can accuse Sparkle of committing a crime is Trixie!"
Then again, perhaps 'care' is too strong a word. A sweat drop slid down my head.
I fake-coughed. "Righty Tidy said that you'd have an 'explanation' for me when I arrived. What exactly did you want to explain?"
Trixie took a deep breath before focusing her attention squarely on me. "As much as Trixie would love to show up in that courtroom and show those nincompoops the error of their ways, even she must admit that she can't instantly recover from broken bones and burn-made bruises."
"At least you're showing some humility, medically speaking," I remarked with a smile.
"So you're going to knock them down a peg or two in Trixie's stead."
I tilted my head and blinked. "Trixie, I hope that explosion you were caught in didn't fry your brain. I'm a prosecution attorney. I don't have the right badge to be any pony's defense."
Surprisingly, she smiled. "Trixie thought you would say something along those lines." She gave a nod.
I looked back at Righty. She was shuffling around a pocket before presenting its contents with her right hoof. It looked like a crescent moon filled with scattered splotches of all shades of blue.
"A defense attorney badge?" I wondered. I turned back to look at Trixie. "Isn't that yours?"
"Yes," affirmed Trixie, "but Trixie is letting you borrow it so that you'll 'have the right badge to be any pony's defense', namely Sparkle."
I shook my head. "That's not really the main problem. It takes more than a badge to convince ponies that you're the real thing. There are files and records, not to mention several regulations set up to prevent fraudulent practices."
"Do you honestly believe all of that bureaucracy?" She raised her eyebrow at me. "The princesses didn't even bother to attach names to these badges."
I rubbed my chin. Hmm, that does seem to lack some officiality. Wait, what am I thinking? I shook my head of the corrupted thought.
"This isn't up for discussion," I told her bluntly.
"Good, then you understand that we don't have time to argue." Trixie coughed again. "Take it and see what you can find."
I sighed with exasperation. "You're not listening."
She locked her eyes on me, unblinking. "Did you forget the pain you inflicted upon Trixie all of those months ago?"
It felt like a jolt of energy forced my legs to each take a step backward. My breath halted as the memory replayed itself.
---
"Because unlike everyone else, I know..."
The "Great and Powerful" prosecutor's smug look disappeared as shock covered her face. I couldn't help but smile at how easy it was to tear her apart.
---
My reaction didn't go unnoticed.
"You owe me," Trixie stated. This wasn't her usual facade that I could brush off. She was serious, dead serious.
Guilt trip, huh? Plus, you're in an injured state. I gritted my teeth. Clever trap.
I sighed, taking the crescent moon from Righty's hoof.
"Defense Attorney Badge" was added to the Court Record.
"I'll see what I can do." The only sign of irritation I gave her was a slight tap of my hoof against my glasses. I turned to leave.
"Oh, and take Tidy with you."
"Huh?" I turned my head.
"Me?" added Righty.
"Technically speaking," continued Trixie, "Righty Tidy is working for the Great and Powerful Trixie in order to pay her debt. By assisting you, she'll be working toward a cause that Trixie desires. So it will still count."
"But, who is going to look after you?" Righty wondered.
"Are you kidding?" Trixie smiled. "Trixie has the entire staff of this hospital to serve her every whim. She'll be fine."
I rolled my eyes.
"Well, okay," Righty hesitantly accepted. "If you say so, Ms. Trixie." She trotted over next to me. "Let's go, Ms. Sonata."
"All right," I agreed, "but I need to make a quick stop before we do anything else."
---
6:30 AM
Hay and Stay Hotel
"If I'm going to investigate the crime scene anyway," I reasoned, "I might as well look like I belong there."
A few tugs here, a few button snaps there, and an annoying battle with my necktie left me in a dressed up display. Sonata was ready to depart. Oh, great. Trixie's third-person references have rubbed off on me.
"Hey look!" exclaimed Righty, "Some pony left a key under this mat."
Said key was quickly snatched up by my magical tug.
"That would be my key," I informed her.
"Oh, sorry." Righty chuckled nervously.
"Spare Room Key" was added to the Court Record.
Though, she did make up for it by grabbing one of the steaming cups from the tray on her back. She asked a short, muffled question through her teeth. As gently as I could, I levitated the cup out of her mouth into my physical range.
"Thank you," I said before taking a slow sip. I welcomed the bitter warmth into my throat. I could tell that this was going to be a long day.
---
6:45 AM
The Great and Powerful Trixie Variety Show
Currently a burned up mess
Celestia was slowly starting to raise the sun. There were only a few insects and birds flying around at this hour. As Righty and I approached the crime scene, I could see a couple of the local police standing around. One appeared to be taking notes. The other stallion was trotting toward us.
"Hold it!" he called out, "This area is currently under investigation. Citizens aren't allowed to... oh, Ms. Sonata. Sorry, I didn't recognize you in this light."
"Don't worry about it, Copper." I waved a hoof dismissively. "What have you found here?"
"Not much, I'm afraid." Copper shook his head. "Whoever was responsible did a pretty bang up job of the place."
...
I can never read this guy, I thought while clearing my throat. "In other words, you've basically concluded the same thing that the paper has. An explosion was involved."
"Pretty much," he confirmed. "The other colts at the station could probably tell you more, but suspect interrogation isn't my field of expertise."
"It's just as well." I shrugged. "Would you mind if I had a look around?"
"By all means, Sonata." He raised a hoof as if allowing passage. "If any pony can find something that we overlooked, it would be you."
"Oh stop, Copper. You're making me blush." I smiled wryly before trotting a bit closer to the wreckage.
"Woah, hold it!"
"Huh?" I turned around, but it wasn't me that was being addressed.
"Where do you think you're going, ma'am?" asked Copper.
"Um... well... uh... n-nowhere." Righty muttered as she backed away slowly.
"It's all right, Copper," I called out, "She's with me."
"She is?" he echoed. "Hrm, I don't know. Would I get in trouble with the man if I...?"
*Crunch!*
I turned to look at the noise. The other stallion had exchanged his grasp on his notepad for a grip on a sandwich.
"Zincro!" Copper exclaimed. "It's not even noon! You're already taking your lunch break?" He stomped off toward his partner Zincro Neon, probably to discuss a few things.
"What just happened?" wondered Righty looking at the officers.
"Come along, Righty." I motioned to her. "We've got work to do."
"Oh, okay," she replied, quickly trotting over my way.
There may have been a travelling cart here at one point. But it was difficult to see that now. Pieces of floor boards and singed curtains were everywhere. A couple springs attached to broken spheres and stars were lying around as well. It was a mess, for lack of better words.
"Who would do something like this... and why?" murmured Righty.
"Hopefully, we'll be able to find a lead to those answers," I replied.
"Crime Scene" was added to the Court Record.
"Ow!" Righty cried out. She yanked her hoof away from whatever she had shouted about.
"What happened?" I quickly inquired.
"I stepped on something really sharp." She whimpered.
Sharp? I looked down at the spot that she was pointing to. Several shards of a translucent green glimmered faintly in the morning sun. Are these glass shards? They look like they were recently broken as opposed to old and weathered. One of them is large enough to curve around something. I'd better hold onto this.
"Large Glass Shard" was added to the Court Record
"Let's see what else is here," I said, "Just watch where you step."
"Yeah, no kidding." Righty smiled to fight off the pain.
We wandered around the debris slowly. Anything besides the burned wreckage would've helped. But, that's basically all there was. There was very little, if anything, to find here. How the Princess got targeted as the prime suspect was beyond me.
"Wait, Ms. Sonata."
I turned my head. "What's up? More glass?"
"No, but there's something under that wood that looked out of place," she answered.
Under that wood? When I saw what she was pointing at, there was a piece of burned and cracked wood. I levitated it slightly to the side to get a better look at what Righty had seen.
"Is that... a piece of string?" I asked. It kind of looked like string, but a black line spiraled around it. That was a bit of an odd way for string to burn. Something else smelled funny about this find, literally.
"Ugh." Righty put a hoof over her nose. "What is that smell?"
I sniffed. "I'm not certain, but it smells kind of like... hard liquor."
"Hard liquor?" echoed Righty. "Who dips string in hard liquor?"
"I don't know, but this may be an important find." I held the string nearby.
"Spirally Burned String" was added to the Court Record.
"Wait a minute," I muttered.
"Huh? What is it, Ms. Sonata?"
"Before we continue looking," I said while turning to face Righty, "it might be a good idea to piece together what we have so far."
"Oh, yeah." Righty perked up. "That's a great idea!" She then blinked a couple of times. "How do we do that?"
"If there's a connection between two pieces of evidence," I explained, "a logical line of reasoning should be able to combine them into something more useful and informative."
I floated the example evidence into view. "For instance, we know that there was an explosion and fire that destroyed most of this travelling stage and house. Normally, that wouldn't be enough to figure out the cause. However, this large shard of glass seems to curve around, like the way glass does around a bottle. Additionally, this burned piece of string reeks of alcohol. Alcohol, when in a high enough concentration, is quite flammable. There is a weapon I know of that utilizes a string dipped in a bottle of alcohol for the very purpose of starting a fire."
Eureka!
"A molotov cocktail," I concluded.
"Large Glass Shard" was removed from the Court Record.
"Spirally Burned String" was removed from the Court Record.
"Molotov Cocktail Remains" was added to the Court Record.
"Well, don't get too excited," I insisted, "This is an educated guess right now."
"Still, it's something I never would have guessed." Her eyes were filled with twinkles.
I rubbed my hoof along the back of my neck in sheepishness. Storing the evidence away for later, I looked around the scene a bit more.
"Let's keep looking," I requested.
There wasn't a whole lot of ground left to cover. Aside from the grass that Copper and Zincro Neon were standing on during their argument, we had pretty much scanned everything that was nearby. Although, there was a small tree at the far end of the wreckage that had somehow avoided a scratch.
"Hmm." I slowly trotted over while checking my steps. Fortunately, there was a distinct lack of glass shards in this direction.
"That's kind of pretty," commented Righty.
"Huh? What is?" I asked.
"At the shore of the sea of ashes, one sapling of hope continues to grow."
I stared at her with my mouth open. That was... profound.
I'm not sure how long it was until Righty realized that I was staring at her. "What's wrong, Ms. Sonata?"
I shook my head. "N-Nothing." I quickly made my way toward the sapling. There was something fuzzy flapping about on the end of one of its branches. Focusing on that 'fuzz', I magically brought it closer into view and held it still.
"Uh-oh," I muttered.
"What's the matter?" asked Righty.
"I think I might have found a reason why Princess Twilight is at the top of the suspect list."
"Lavender Mane Lock" was added to the Court Record.
---
7:15 AM
Detention Center
They're not going to let me in there. My breathing was consistent, but it was too shallow. These same guards have seen me for that six-month period when I spent hard time for those smaller crimes. I held up Trixie's badge. Somehow, my hoof didn't shake nearly as much as my nervousness should have shaken it. I shouldn't have let Trixie guilt-trip me. This will never work. Worst of all, I've used up all of my chances to take the bar exam. As soon as they catch me here, I can kiss my career goodbye. Celebrity manager? What's that?
"Permission granted," was spoken in two voices, "You may enter."
This was the most vivid dream I had ever had. No wait, I was awake. That was definitely real pain in my ankle when I kicked it against the door. Additionally, it was real constriction that I felt against my neck. Why did I ever think that a necktie was a good accessory choice?
Well, no point in worrying about the past, I thought. Let's have a chat with the "prime suspect".
When it came to detainees soon to be placed on trial, the guards allowed no one to visit aside from lawyers. With that being the case, I asked Righty to meet me back near the entrance after roughly twenty minutes. Hopefully, that would give me enough time to get some answers. Sometimes, word of mouth is more valuable than physical evidence.
"Sonata?"
The pony on the other side of the glass looked surprised.
"Princess Twilight," I addressed her with a nod.
"What are you doing here?" she asked while blinking. "Oh, right. You said you were a prosecutor back when we first met. Uh, did you need to gauge my look of guilt before charging me in court?"
I held up the crescent moon. "The opposite actually."
"A defense attorney's badge?" Her wings sprang open. "How'd you get that?"
"Shhh!" I rapidly looked back and forth to make sure no pony else was in the immediate vicinity. "I can't let all of Equestria hear you say stuff like that. I'm..." I sighed. "Trixie's taken up defense jurisdiction. I'm doing a favor for her."
Twilight's wings went flat as her ears drooped. "Trixie? Let me guess. She still holds a grudge against me and thinks I'm getting exactly what I deserve."
Actually, she still holds a grudge against you but thinks that only she can give you what you deserve.
"Surprisingly, no." I shook my head. "To paraphrase her words from earlier this morning, she's actually worried about you and wants to prove your innocence."
Her eyes and ears perked up at that. "Really?"
I nodded. "I've seen through her facade before. I can still see her feelings. Even if she won't admit to it verbally, she cares about you, Twilight."
"Then, maybe there's hope for her yet." Twilight smiled. We shared a round of chuckles.
I cleared my throat. "As much as I'd like to catch up with you, Princess, that isn't why I'm here. I need to talk to you about the events that transpired most recently, namely the crimes of assault and destruction against Trixie and her property."
She understood my seriousness. "All right. Where do we begin?"
"Let's get one of the larger topics out of the way," I proposed. "Why would the police ponies arrest one of Equestria's princesses before any pony else that they may suspect?"
Twilight sighed. "It's probably because I was in the wrong place at the wrong time."
---{Twilight's flashback}
I had heard that Trixie came back to Ponyville after all this time. I thought that maybe we could try to patch things up, or at least reduce the tension between us. So, I made preparations to visit her as soon as I could find an opening in my schedule. But when I showed up, there was an inferno where there should have been a traveller's cart. I tried the best spell that I could think of to put the flames out, but the damage had already turned most everything to rubble. I never got the chance to properly check on Trixie's condition. At that moment, police were already paranoid and apprehended the most likely suspect who had just finished a magical discharge.
---
"Being royalty does not automatically wipe away potential criminal activity," she concluded.
I guess her presence explains why the lock of her mane was found on the scene, I thought with closed eyes.
"How is Trixie doing right now?" Twilight asked.
"She's a bit burned and has a couple broken limbs," I admitted while looking at her, "but her ego is still at full health."
The princess sighed contentedly. "She's okay then. That's a relief."
"Is there anything else that you can remember from that time?" I asked.
She tilted her head. "Anything else?"
"For example, did you see any pony else in the area before you saw the flames?"
"Um..."
Did I just see her horn blink?
The sound of metal grinding against metal filled my ears. I nearly jumped out of my seat from the sudden noise. What I saw nearly made me jump again. Chain link cables grew out of thin air and obfuscated my view. All of a sudden, they stopped moving. Two red boxes with golden keyholes slammed down onto the cross-sections between the chains. I couldn't even blink at the bizarreness of it all.
"Nope, I definitely didn't see any pony else there," Twilight kept speaking as if the peculiar chains and boxes between us weren't even there.
I tried tugging my glasses off and rubbing my eyes, but I still saw chains. "Twilight, what is all of this?"
She raised an eyebrow. "What's all of what?"
I traced one of the chains with a motion from my hoof. "These chains! They're everywhere! How can you not see them?"
"Ch-Chains?" Her expression suddenly switched from confused to worry. "And locks?"
"So you do know that they're there!" I surmised.
"Quick, change the subject," she requested.
"I'm not dropping this until you explain to me what's going on!" I slammed a hoof on the counter.
"Please, Sonata, just trust me," she pleaded.
She wants me to change the subject even though there's this equivalent of an "elephant in the room". What the hay am I supposed to say?
"Um, uh, how's the weather in there?" I stumbled over the words.
...
No more chains, no more lock boxes... It was just Twilight and me on opposite sides of the speaking window.
"The temperature's okay," she answered, "though I wish they would add a bit of humidity. The air in here is a little too dry for my liking."
I sighed while straightening my glasses. "Okay, what the heck was all of that?"
"I can't be entirely certain," she responded, "but I think you just witnessed a type of magic called 'psycho-locks'."
"And just what are 'psycho-locks'?" I prodded.
"They're... well... a kind of gauge of a pony's secret." She shuffled her hooves around in front of herself. "The more locks you see, the more you have to show that pony before they'll be willing to give up or reveal their secret. But, I had no idea that you were capable of that kind of magic."
"Neither did I," I commented. "I've never heard of any magic that takes secrets and creates such a dynamic picture in the eyes of the one seeing them."
"You probably wouldn't have found it no matter how hard you looked." Twilight shook her head. "As far as I can tell, that magic originated from Phoenix's world."
"He has that kind of magic, but he was surprised when he saw basic levitation?" I tilted my head in confusion.
"For whatever reason," Twilight continued, "his magic doesn't work with the same mana that yours or mine does. In fact, he had a charm called a Magatama that specifically channeled the 'secret' spell. I only discovered it by accident when I held it in my own magical field." She held a hoof to her chin. "But, it wore off of me in less than a day. There shouldn't be any of that spell left."
I'm not sure if this has anything to do with it, but...
"When I asked you about seeing any pony else," I recalled, "I noticed a split-second blink of light coming off your horn. Perhaps the spell isn't so much gone so much as... sleeping?"
"I suppose there's a slight possibility, though I could have sworn that it was in the negligible uncertainty."
"You can't always rule out the smallest chance," I reminded her.
"I guess that's true," she conceded, "if you really did see the psycho-locks."
What would happen if I asked her again? "Twilight, did you see any pony else during that time you saw the fire?"
This time, I didn't jump. The startling noises of chains grinding and locks snapping were reduced to an annoying status.
"No." Twilight shook her head. "I didn't see any pony else there."
Why are they called 'psycho-locks' anyway? I crossed my front hooves. I doubt that they're limited to appearing on psychopathic ponies. They're a gauge of willingness to tell. They're more like... psyche-locks. I sighed. In any case, it looks like I'll need to show two key items if I want Twilight to tell me what she's hiding. I don't think anything I have on hoof will be enough to start a conversation about who she saw. I'll have to come back later.
At least she already gave me a rough testimony regarding what she was doing at the time of the crime. I felt that it was trustworthy enough to believe that she was innocent of the crimes with which she was being charged. It was a start at least. This time, I didn't need to feel awkward asking a bad small talk topic. The psyche-locks disappeared just before I spoke again.
"Princess Twilight," I declared, "I, Sonata, make a vow to accept this case and prove that you are innocent."
"Wait," she interjected, "what happened to not letting Equestria hear stuff about you changing jurisdiction?"
I chuckled while letting the light glint from my glasses. "Trixie's not the only pony capable of calling in favors. I made a call of my own. A 'friend' of mine will ensure that the chosen judge will be as unfamiliar with me as possible. As for every pony else in the courtroom, they forget our national heroes' names on a regular basis. It won't take much for them to forget which side of the court I'm supposed to stand on."
"Oh." Twilight blinked. Then, she smiled. "Well then, I accept you as my lawyer and give you my full confidence as a defendant... on one condition."
"What's that?" I blinked.
"This princess requests that you stop calling her 'Princess'."
I chuckled. "Fair enough, Twilight."
---
7:45 AM
Detention Center Entrance
"Ms. Sonata, there you are!"
Righty Tidy trotted over as soon as I had passed the guards again.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Righty," I apologized.
"Oh, it's no problem at all," she insisted as she grabbed something else. "Here, I got you an egg and lettuce croissant. I didn't know if you'd be hungry or not."
The sight of the breakfast sandwich must have caused a chain reaction in my body. Next thing I knew, my stomach was gurgling like an angry forest critter.
"Thank you," I said as I floated the croissant over and started munching it down. Although, I paused after the third swallow. "I was under the impression that you were strapped for cash."
"That's as far as my debt to Ms. Trixie," Righty said, "I got a job last week at the hardware store to earn small, spendable amounts."
"Ah." I nodded in understanding.
---
2:25 PM
Defense Lobby 3
"Miss Sonata?"
The voice snapped me out of my thoughts and I returned to the reality of the defense lobby. Hastily, I refastened the defense pin to my suit. I pretended to readjust my glasses while clearing my throat.
"Yes, Righty?" I replied.
Righty wiped her hoof along the floor. "I... wanted to apologize for being so rude the first time I talked to you."
"Huh?" I blinked. "You're still worried about that? You ought to let that go and move on. Regret is only useful if you learn from it."
She looked up and smiled. "Y-You're right. Thanks."
"Would the defense party please enter the courtroom at this time?" asked one of the guards.
I stood up and looked at Righty and Prin-... er... Twilight. "Let's make the legal magic happen."
"You may want to work on that catchphrase," remarked Twilight.
"Yeah, it's a little short of 'fantastic'," added Righty.
The room was buzzing with conversations. Some of them were related to the case. Others were far from it. Together, they made a cacophony. Such was a courtroom lacking order.
*Tap!* *Tap!* *Tap!*
Everyone went silent and turned their eyes to the gavel. A slightly intimidating mare was in the judge's seat. Though, it wasn't her size that was unsettling. It was probably her headgear. Although evergreen in color against the white hide of the unicorn, she looked an awful lot like Nightmare Moon. Thankfully, her voice sounded nothing like the Mare in the Moon.
"Court is now in session," she declared, not leaving room for debate. "Are the respective parties ready?"
"The defense is ready, Your Honor," answered Sonata.
The other side, however, was giving her honor the silent treatment. In fact, there was no one standing there.
"Yes, I can see that the defense is ready," affirmed the judge. "But where is the prosecution?"
Sonata stared ahead, unflinchingly.
"Does the prosecution have so little confidence that they won't even bother showing up?" wondered her honor. "Well then, I see no reason to waste any pony's time."
*Tap!*
"I'm ready to declare my verdict. This court finds the defendant Princess Twilight Sparkle..."
Hold it!
The judge's eyes snapped wide open.
Sonata still didn't move.
Righty practically leapt off her hooves.
Her honor sniffed the air. "Does any pony else smell orange juice?"
Slurps and gulps could be heard from the other end of the courtroom. A satisfied sigh was released as a mug was set on the prosecution's desk. The earth pony holding said mug was a dark shade of green, had a white mane, and wore a pair of shades over his eyes. The stallion smiled, thinly.
"Well, well, well," he remarked, "If it isn't Bonita."
"If I've told you once," responded the defense, "I've told you a thousand times, Arm-And-Oh. It's Sonata."
"An orange by any other name is just as tart," Arm-And-Oh countered, "and you, Bonita, lack beauty in your attitude no matter what I call you."
Sonata opted to press her glasses with her hoof rather than give a verbal retort.
"If you're finished with your private conversation," the judge interjected, "is the prosecution ready?"
But the prosecution was busy getting a refill from a juice dispenser. How the dispenser materialized on the desk was any pony's guess.
"Ah," sighed Arm-And-Oh, "There's nothing like cold vitamin C to get a case going. Bonita, do you remember what my usual amount is for each case I get involved with?"
"Seventeen," answered Sonata flatly, "You always divide fifty-one by three."
"Yes, I do." Arm-And-Oh. "It's a helpful math problem reminder. Most ponies have the wrong impression, thinking that fifty-one isn't divisible by three."
Defying possibility, a sweat drop formed along the outer edge of her honor's helmet. "Uh, Mr. Oh?"
"Hmm?" hummed Arm-And-Oh mid sip. "Oh, right." He gently set his mug down. "The prosecution is ready whenever you are."
The judge cleared her throat. "Right then. Mr. Oh, please present the case at hoof to the courtroom."
"Of course." He nodded as he held up a piece of paper. "Yesterday afternoon at an estimated time of 3:00 - 4:00 PM, there was a fiery blast that both destroyed property of and injured the victim of Ms. Trixie. Feel free to take a look at the case file as it stands."
"Case File" was added to the Court Record.
"Furthermore," Arm-And-Oh continued, "we have a witness willing to testify that he saw Princess Twilight Sparkle on the premises at the time that the crime took place."
"Very well." Her honor nodded. "Please bring this first witness forward."
---
The witness on the stand looked like he was about to fall asleep where he stood. His eyelids were struggling to stay open to show his hazel blue eyes. His mane was a dark blue mess. His wings had dirty feathers here and there. The only thing that seemed to be in good, clean condition was the rest of his gray hide.
Twilight stopped short of gasping upon seeing this stallion.
"State your name and profession for the record," directed the prosecution.
The witness blinked. "I'm a freelance worker. I've been doing odd jobs wherever I can find them."
"Er, witness?" piped in her honor, "You haven't given us your name."
He sighed. "That's just it, Your Honor. Every time I try to tell some pony my name, something always happens to either interrupt me or cut me short before I can utter the first syllable. I don't expect the pattern to stop just because I'm in a court of law."
"So it is him," muttered Twilight. Sonata glanced at her, but didn't say anything.
"Well, the court needs something to fill the name slot," pointed out the judge. "It's standard procedure."
"Call me 'New Pony'," offered the witness, "It's worked for everything else I do in town."
Her honor grimaced. "Well, that sounds a little derogatory, but all right. New Pony it is then."
"Let's start out simple, good sir," Arm-And-Oh suggested. "Tell the court what you told me about what you saw on the day of the crime."
"All right." New Pony nodded.
---
Witness Testimony
What the New Guy Saw
"I was checking around Ponyville for odd jobs as I've been doing for a while now."
"When that turned up empty, I decided to check on the various acquaintances and friends I've made."
"One of those acquaintances was Trixie."
"I heard a crash in the direction of Trixie's wagon."
"Worried, I galloped over to see what had happened."
"What I saw was a horrible blaze, practically destroying the entire place."
"What struck me as both terrifying and confusing was the presence of Twilight Sparkle, with a burning red mane to match the flames."
"I didn't want to believe it, but I know what I saw."
"Twilight must have burned that wagon down with her powerful magic."
---
Her honor hummed. "I see. What a terrifying experience." She tilted her head. "And you remembered all of this with such clarity."
"To be honest, I kind of wished I didn't," said New Pony. He looked down to the side. His left wing scratched his side involuntarily.
The judge nodded. "We'll do our utmost to ensure that you don't have to spend any more time here than necessary. Ms. Sonata, you may begin your cross-examination."
Sonata added her own nod. "I intend to, Your Honor."
---
Cross-Examination
"I was checking around Ponyville for odd jobs as I've been doing for a while now."
Hold it!
"What kinds of 'odd jobs'?" asked Sonata.
"Well, a lot of stuff," New Pony said with a small smile. "Pulling carts, helping the Apple Family with their harvest, and reshelving books. Though, that last one was more often than not done for a bribe." He chuckled nervously.
Twilight deadpanned. "Yeah, I can vouch for Spike's bribery. He gave up his whole allowance just to spend an extra day with Rarity."
Sonata hummed. "All right, please continue."
"When that turned up empty, I decided to check on the various acquaintances and friends I've made."
"One of those acquaintances was Trixie."
Hold it!
"How exactly did you come to know Trixie?" asked Sonata.
New Pony tapped his head lightly before looking up. "I'd say it happened about a couple years ago. From what I understand, it was a return appearance of her Variety Show in Ponyville." He tapped his chin. "Though, the audience was pretty empty. She seemed a little upset, so I tried talking to her after the brief fireworks show. I tried encouraging her, saying that there were surely some fans that still wanted to see her magic." He chuckled. "I even got an autographed flier out of the deal. It's still hanging up in my house."
"She still sent some insults to me that day," commented Twilight with a fond smile, "but she seemed happy to stick around. I was glad that she could make at least one friend here."
So he was stopping by on an old friend, huh? mulled Sonata. I don't exactly have anything right now that can prove there was more.
"I heard a crash in the direction of Trixie's wagon."
Hold it!
"What did the crash sound like?" asked Sonata.
"Well, it was..." New Pony hummed and hawed. "It kind of sounded like... shattered glass."
Sonata held back a gasp. Could that have been the point of impact when the Molotov cocktail entered the wagon? She hummed. But... that alone won't prove Twilight's innocence. There has to be another contradiction in this testimony.
"Worried, I galloped over to see what had happened."
"What I saw was a horrible blaze, practically destroying the entire place."
"What struck me as both terrifying and confusing was the presence of Twilight Sparkle, with a burning red mane to match the flames."
Objection!
"Witness, what you've just stated doesn't add up!" Sonata banged a hoof against the desk.
New Pony practically jumped. His eyes opened wide. "Huh? What did I say?"
"You described Twilight Sparkle's mane to be a 'burning red'." Sonata pointed a hoof to her side. "I've had a good look at my client's mane and I don't see any trace of red on her head."
"Naaar!" exclaimed New Pony. His wings sprung open at the realization.
The spectating ponies started rabbling about this contradiction. How could anypony mistake the color purple with the color red?
Objection!
Arm-And-Oh took a good chug of his orange juice. Slowly pulling his cup away, he smirked. "I figured you'd take that approach, Bonita. That's why the witness and I had a little chat before coming in today. Isn't that right?"
"Huh?" New Pony asked before fluffing his feathers back down. He coughed and cleared his throat. "Right, sorry. I'd almost forgotten about that. May I try that again, Your Honor?"
"If you must." Her honor shrugged. "Please tell the court about this color confusion."
Twilight leaned in and whispered, "Is the color of mane that he saw really crucial?"
"I don't know," admitted Sonata, "but anything is better than getting a guilty verdict right now."
"Fair enough." Twilight stood back a little.
---
Witness Testimony
Why the Mane Looked Red
"It was raining fairly hard yesterday. The clouds were so thick that it made it look as dark as night."
"But that calm and collected gaze was highlighted by the fire in the wagon."
"I've seen Twilight's mane catch on fire before, fueled by her own emotion no less!"
"Anyway, that's why it looked red instead of purple that night."
---
A small drop of sweat dangled against Sonata's head. Her eyes were half-shut in disbelief. She couldn't be hearing this correctly.
"Let me get this straight," she said, "You thought her mane looked red... because it was on fire."
"Yeah, that's it," nodded New Pony.
Do I even have to point out how ludicrous that is? Sonata asked herself, still wearing that pained expression.
"Something the matter, Bonita?" asked Arm-And-Oh with a sly grin.
"No, nothing at all," lied Sonata. Just wondering how this witness could be so clueless to the problems with his testimony.
"Whenever you're ready, Defense," prompted the judge.
---
Cross-Examination
"It was raining fairly hard yesterday. The clouds were so thick that it made it look as dark as night."
Hold it!
"Do we have any way to verify the weather for yesterday afternoon?" asked Sonata.
"Consider yourself lucky, Bonita," said Arm-And-Oh smugly. "It just so happens that we have a copy of the Ponyville weather schedule for yesterday."
Her honor nodded. "The court accepts this evidence."
"Weather Schedule" was added to the Court Record.
Let's see here, Sonata thought as she levitated the schedule in front of her eyes. "Local Weather Warning: Due to a missed shower two weeks prior to today, the weather team must apply heavy overcast between the hours of 3 and 4 PM."
"As you can see, this lines up with the time of the crime," commented Arm-And-Oh.
Arm came prepared. Sonata internally sighed. What else does New Pony have to say?
"But that calm and collected gaze was highlighted by the fire in the wagon."
Hold it!
"The pony you saw looking at the wagon was calm and collected as it burned?" asked Sonata incredulously.
"Well, yeah," affirmed New Pony. "I mean, it's not like any pony would show regret for their intentions."
Sonata's hoof immediately raced to one side of her glasses. "Your Honor, could we add that last statement to Mr. New Pony's testimony?"
"Well, I suppose it couldn't hurt," admitted the judge, "although I'm not sure why you'd want that." She cleared her throat. "Witness, please add that to your testimony."
"Uh... okay." New Pony tilted his head slightly.
"When committing a crime, no pony shows regret for the actions they intend."
Wait a second.
Sonata subtly slid her glasses off to a point where she could stare at New Pony with her naked eyes. I may have given up my life of assisted extortion and blackmail, but I haven't lost my talent for perceiving the details. That additional sentence, it's not just what he said. It's what he was doing at the time he said it.
Time almost seemed to slow down as the gray unicorn gazed intently at the witness.
The rest of the courtroom and its occupants seemed to just vanish into a void. It was just Sonata, New Pony, and his little involuntary habit.
"New Pony, I'm curious as to why you're scratching with your left wing so much."
"Huh?"
"So, you didn't even realize how nervous you were getting." Sonata chuckled. "Well, that works in my favor then. Your body gives away what your mouth is not."
"I... have no idea what you're talking about."
"Tell me, Witness," urged Sonata, "is there something that you regret doing, even though you fully intended to carry it out?"
"N-No, I... it was just..." New Pony grunted. "Cache had nothing to do with this!"
Sonata stared calmly. "Why bring up a name? I never said any pony by that name did anything."
He flinched. "P-Please stop. I... I should probably just go home now."
"Not yet." Sonata crossed her front legs. "You still haven't explained what importance this 'Cache' had. Did this pony happen to have a red mane? Did you do something that you regret that involves this pony?"
Strange images flashed on the outskirts of the void. New Pony's breaths were growing heavier and heavier. His eyes widened as if he were staring into his death sentence. Each of the images brought a scratch or a whine that scraped against his conscience. The repressed memories were too painful.
"Gyaaaaaaah!" His scream was emphasized by feathers whisking off his wings.
---
And just like that, the void shattered. The rest of the courtroom faded back into existence for Sonata. She repositioned her glasses to mostly rest in front of her eyes.
"That will be all, thank you," she said with a slight nod.
The judge, however, was befuddled. "What... What just happened?"
Pools of water formed along the bottom of the witness's eyes. His wings were hanging low now. His brave facade for Mr. Arm-And-Oh was broken.
"It happened a long time ago," said New Pony through shaky lips. "I was neighbored to a farm family. They had a good-looking daughter, a redhead named Cache. She... stuck out to me. Her head was always in the clouds, suggesting possibilities of complicated flight through steam and metal. She was funny and carefree, always put on a smile for me even when talking about how cruddy her day was. I envied that about her.
"There was a night where I offered to have her over for dinner. She was excited, really excited about the idea. I hastily tried to quell her about the lack of grandiose conditions we could offer, but she was hearing none of it. I hate to admit it, but I had a crush on that naive soul. There was nothing that could wreck that innocence.
"But that same night, some of the storm clouds were much heavier than they were supposed to be. Just as we had finally been seated, we heard a crash of lightning. A single turn toward the window was enough to see what it had struck. It was the farmhouse next door.
"Cache galloped straight as an arrow. I took off just a little ways behind her. I slid to a stop as I gaped in horror at the spectacle. The house was burning erratically. I shouted after Cache not to go in, but she yelled back that her parents were still in there and dove through the inferno without another word. I shouted her name repeatedly. I... didn't have the balls to go in after her.
"Officially, I wasn't on the weather team for that area. However, I was panicking and not thinking clearly. I searched frantically for a patch of cloud that was more rainwater than anything else. I flew up and tugged it over toward Cache's house, not giving a care to the future reprimands. I punched the cloud every which way and that, to squeeze out the water to put out the flames.
"As soon as there were little more than a few cinders left, I flew down to find Cache. I... found her. She was trapped underneath the charred remains of her parents and a lot of the burned roof. She wasn't struggling or even breathing.
"It's all my fault! If I had just been the good little colt who kept his crush at a distance, she could have been at her house and rescued her parents sooner when that lightning came. Cache..."
New Pony slammed his head against the edge of the witness stand. A lot of saline dripped to the courtroom floor.
---
After several minutes passed, her honor cleared throat. "To summarize what just happened, our witness was emotionally distraught and certain details to yesterday's crime were quite similar to something he experienced in the past. He has been escorted out of the courtroom for recuperation."
Arm-And-Oh got another refill for his drink. His expression was neutral. "So, you haven't changed a bit, Bonita."
Sonata adjusted her necktie with a sigh. "I'm sorry. Old habits die hard."
"I wonder if that's why he didn't want to tell me about his past," muttered Twilight with a look of sorrow.
Arm-And-Oh took three gulps before gently setting his cup down. "Well, we still have a trial taking place. As things stand, it would appear that we're at an impasse."
Sonata pressed gently against her glasses. "Appearances can be deceiving. That calm and collected posture tells me that you've still got a few tricks up your sleeve."
The prosecution shook his head. "Nothing gets passed you, does it? I do in fact have something that can help speed up the deliverance of justice. Another witness, if you will."
The judge nodded. "Very well, Mr. Oh. After that last outburst, however, I believe this court is in need of a brief recess. We will reconvene in fifteen minutes. Please utilize that time to fully prepare yourselves."
"Understood, Your Honor," affirmed both the defense and prosecution.
*Tap!* *Tap!*
---
3:00 PM
Defense Lobby No. 3
"Ms. Sonata, are you okay?" asked Righty Tidy.
"I've been better," admitted Sonata.
"I could've sworn you were in some kind of trance when you grilled that witness for information," said Righty.
"I suppose you could call that the critical flaw in my talent. I may be able to perceive small motions, but any excruciating detail requires intense focus. Had New Pony known about that, he could've seen and interpreted my nervous habits as well."
Sonata shook her head. "Anyway, there's something else we need to talk about." She turned. "Specifically, it's something with you."
"Me?" asked Twilight.
"I haven't forgotten about that incident with the locks and chains." Sonata slightly lowered her glasses. "Who exactly did you see during the time that you were around Trixie's wagon?"
Take that!
The sound of metal grinding against metal filled her ears. Two loud bangs matched the slamming of two red boxes with locks on them. The lobby grew strangely dim as Sonata stared at Twilight. The psyche-locks guarded her secret well.
"I... didn't see any pony there," said Twilight.
"Wait, what incident with locks and chains?" piped in Righty. "What did I miss?"
"Sorry, Righty. I'll tell you later," said Sonata before returning her gaze to her client. "I think there's something you're keeping hidden. Why else would this secret spell be showing me locks in front of you?"
"Maybe you're going crazy like all of the other ponies in this town," suggested Twilight. "I don't know."
Sonata crossed her hooves. "No, magic never happens without a reason. Surely the Princess of Friendship knows the basics."
Twilight's wings ruffled a bit. "Then tell me, Sonata. What could you use to prove that I really am hiding something?"
"I wouldn't say 'what'," retorted Sonata, "It's more of a 'who'."
"Huh?" Twilight's eyes sprang wide open.
"This pony is somehow related to what you're hiding."
Take that!
"The first witness in today's trial, New Pony," pointed out Sonata. "He commented on seeing you there. How did you miss him?"
"Ergh!" gasped Twilight.
There was a sound similar to a wine glass shattering. At the same time, the lock on the left scattered into nonexistent pieces.
It's working, thought Sonata, Just one more to go.
"W-Well, I was... taken in by the police at the time. I'm not going to remember every single pony that was on the same premises as I was when faced with the need to follow protocols. So, you got me. New Pony was there too."
"We're not done yet, Twilight," said Sonata with a straight face.
"What do you mean?" Twilight raised her eyebrow. "You just said yourself that was the pony that I could've seen there."
"That's not what the remaining psyche-lock is telling me." Sonata adjusted her glasses even lower. "It has to do with what he saw as well. There was a nugget of truth in his testimony. It involved you and the red mane of somepony."
"But my mane isn't red!" exclaimed Twilight. "Besides, there aren't any redheads that immediately spring to mind."
The lobby faded to an amorphous void. Sonata examined the point in question, and kept her composure.
"Twilight, did you know that your blood pressure rises slightly when you think too hard?"
"W-Wha...?"
"And, you've been rubbing your shoulder with your wing. You do know some pony with red hairs."
"Uh..."
"You have met them before, possibly quite recently."
"Sonata, please stop..."
"I wonder if she pushed you out of the way to save you. That's why..."
Take that!
Sonata levitated out the lock of lavender mane. "That's why we found some of your hairs in a nearby tree."
Twilight sighed before smiling lightly. "You really are good at this line of work."
Another glass shattered. The second lock broke. Metal ground against metal as the chains and void faded away. Righty was still looking at the two of them with confusion. But Twilight nodded in understanding.
"Her name is Sunset Shimmer," she said. "When I arrived that afternoon, it was already set ablaze. I tried to lower the flames via magic, but... by the point it was dangerously close. I didn't have enough time to cast anything else. But then..." ---
"Twilight!"
*Shove*
"Oof!" ---
"I don't know why she was there and I didn't see where she went after," admitted Twilight in shame. "I was a little too busy trying to dislodge myself from between the small branches."
"So, that's the red mane that New Pony saw," concluded Sonata.
"Wait," interrupted Righty, "But then that means that the one who calmly started the fire was..."
Twilight shook her head. "I don't know what Sunset Shimmer was doing there, but... I believe in her. She wouldn't do something like that. There has to be another explanation!"
"I agree."
Righty, Sonata, and Twilight all jumped at the new voice. Yet, it wasn't new at all. In fact, it sounded awfully familiar. The surprise didn't leave the trio's eyes as they turned toward the interloper.
"No way," whispered Twilight.
"It can't be," muttered Sonata.
"But it is," finished Righty.
"Did you really think you could finish this trial without me?" ---
Their eyes were fixated on the figure coming out from behind a potted plant. With a swish of the figure's most amazing levitation spell, several cloth wrappings were stripped away. Aside from a few bandages that lined her face and the surgical tape around her ankles, she looked positively healthy.
"Did you really think you could finish this trial without me?" she asked both rhetorically and greatly.
"Ms. Trixie!" exclaimed Righty. "Is that really you?"
"Why of course!" said the Great and Powerful Trixie with confidence. "Who else could make such a bedazzling entrance?"
"But... the last time I saw you, you were practically burned to a crisp," said Sonata in confusion.
"Hah!" scoffed Trixie. "It will take more than a few measly sparks to keep this powerful unicorn down." She patted her chest proudly, and most definitely did not flinch due to her slightly singed hide.
"Trixie..." muttered Twilight with such pitiful concern. "Are you sure you should be walking around? Medicine may work wonders, but you should probably take it easy."
The Great and Powerful Trixie replied with a harumph. "Trixie thinks you should worry about yourself, Twilight Snarkle. One wrong move in there could lead to some dire consequences on your shoulders... and I'm not referring to those overgrown kites you call wings."
Twilight took a deep breath and exhaled. "When Sonata came to see me earlier, she said you were counting on my innocence. Is that true?"
Trixie greatly pointed a hoof at her. "Don't get the wrong idea, Your Highness. Trixie would love nothing more than to put you in your place. But no pony else deserves that honor, certainly not that orange-sucking excuse for a prosecutor."
Sonata's glasses slid slightly against her wide eyes. "How did you know about Arm-And-Oh?"
Trixie turned and gave her most powerful deadpanned look. "Did you think the live video screens in the lobby were just for show?"
Righty tripped over absolutely nothing before regaining her stance. "Wait a second! You've been waiting in here since the trial started?"
Trixie revealed a great smirk. "Trixie isn't going to fall behind on updates, even if that would be a generous handicap to her opponents."
So you were just hiding? A drop of sweat trickled down Twilight's head. That sounds exactly like her kind of tactic.
"Now, Snota, give Trixie back that Attorney's badge you stole," ordered Trixie.
"That's Sonata," corrected the inferior unicorn prosecutor, "and I didn't steal it. You told me to take the case for you."
"Stop making excuses and cough up the badge." Trixie motioned with her hoof.
Sonata sighed as she levitated the crescent moon off her jacket and onto Trixie's cape collar.
"I guess I'll be taking my leave then," said Sonata while adjusting her necktie.
"Don't you take one step outside," said Trixie, "There is a slim chance that Trixie will need the mediocre evidence still on your person."
Now, it was Sonata's turn to look deadpan. "Shall I give you a hoof rub too?"
"Maybe later," answered Trixie dismissively, greatly dodging the sarcasm in the process.
One of the guard ponies spoke up. "The defense and her co-counsel are to proceed into the courtroom immediately."
"Come along, fillies," Trixie greatly directed. "We have a trial to win."
"Did... she say 'we'?" wondered Twilight, "As in...?"
"Come on!" Trixie motioned. "The Great and Powerful Trixie will not accept embarrassment because of a tardy co-counsel."
Well, it's a start, thought Twilight sheepishly as they all trotted through the door.
---
3:15 PM
Courtroom No. 3
The ponies in the observational decks were mostly murmuring now. It was slightly easier to hear a few isolated questions and comments.
"Who is the witness that Mr. Arm-And-Oh found?"
"Hey! I've actually seen Twilight's head catch on fire before, right before one heck of a doozy!"
"But would a princess really waste her time to extract vengeance against some street performer?"
"I would've liked it if somepony had burned her down a peg or two."
*Tap!* *Tap!* *Tap!*
"The trial shall resume as scheduled," said her honor. "I trust both parties are ready?"
Arm-And-Oh pressed his cup into the dispenser again. "The prosecution is ready, Your Honor."
"The Great and Powerful defense is ready, Your Honor!"
"Hmm?" The armored unicorn hummed in confusion.
"What?" asked at least a few of the observing attendees.
The prosecutor performed a spit-take, and coughed twice. Even his sunglasses tilted slightly. "Wha...What is this?"
"Did Trixie stammer?" asked the burned, yet greatly standing attorney. "Trixie said she is ready."
Objection!
Arm-And-Oh slammed his cup down. Miraculously, none of its contents spilled onto the desk. "Bonita, what is the meaning of this?"
Sonata shook her head before she adjusted her glasses. "I'm afraid I was only standing in today. Ms. Lulamoon has taken it upon herself to get to the bottom of this case. It's out of my hooves." She gave the most professional shrug she could muster.
"Your Honor!" called Arm-And-Oh. "This is a breach of courtroom procedures. We cannot allow anyone to just waltz in and replace the lawyer to any old case."
Objection!
"It seems all of that orange juice has done nothing for your brain," said Trixie cleverly. "For Trixie isn't just anyone. She is the best defense attorney that Ponyville has to offer!" Her powerful cape waved behind her for emphasis.
The judge looked a bit shaken. Though, she quickly regained her composure, and cleared her throat. "While your display is impressive, Ms. Trixie, I'm afraid Mr. Oh has a point. Even if you are a lawyer, you cannot break into the middle of an important court case."
There was a tap on her honor's shoulder. She turned and asked, "What is it? We're in the middle of a trial."
The red stallion with a blue, spiky mane whispered into her ear and slipped an official-looking envelope in front of her.
"Huh?" She levitated a folded piece of paper out and skimmed its contents. She looked back at the stallion. "Seriously?"
He nodded firmly before trotting away.
She cleared her throat. "It appears I have received official word from the higher-ups. Under court order, Ms. Trixie Lulamoon is to assume the immediate responsibilities of the defense for the trial of Princess Twilight Sparkle."
Mr. Oh was steaming from the ears. He muttered, "You've got to be kidding me."
There was an uproar among the crowd as well. Were they really changing attorneys in the middle of a case? This was completely unheard of, not to mention unorthodox.
*Tap!* *Tap!*
"Order! Order in the court!" demanded her honor. She sighed and turned her head gently in the direction of the defense. "Ms. Trixie, since you are accepting the risks, am I to assume that you are informed about the case and its current developments?"
"Well, Trixie is glad somepony is smart in this room besides herself," remarked Trixie. "Yes, Trixie is up to speed and up to the task of finding the truth of this case." She floated a couple of papers in front of herself. "The first witness, New Pony had a few scarring memories that made his testimony sketchy regarding the attack and the pony responsible for the fire damage. In response, Mr. And-Oh-Son has taken it upon himself to bring forth a new witness."
"That's Arm-And-Oh, Ms. Lulamoon," corrected the prosecution.
Not so fun when somepony is doing it to you, huh? thought Sonata with a straight face.
"Oh, you don't have to call her Ms. Lulamoon," insisted Trixie generously. "The Great and Powerful Trixie will suffice."
"Aren't you in a bit of a bind here, Ms. Tricks?" asked Arm-And-Oh, purposefully missing the second syllable. "You and your client seem rather close. From what I've heard, you've had a small history together. Doesn't that create a conflict of interest?"
A blue hoof slammed against the defense's desk. The other blue hoof held her hat over her eyes. She ever so slowly lifted it to let her opponent see her serious eyes. This wasn't her usual smug confidence. It was pure determination.
"Listen up, ponies of the courtroom," she demanded, "I'm only going to say this once. Trixie has not, is not currently, and never will be in a relationship of that close proximity with this princess over here. However, I'll be drowned in the deepest underbelly of Tartarus before I let some no pony gain the satisfaction of bringing her down unjustly."
One could almost see the streamlines of wind directing her emotion in front of her.
"Trixie will find a day in which she can properly topple Twilight Sparkle for something that deserves legitimate justice. But until then, I suggest you keep your red herring argument of 'conflicting interests' to yourself!"
...
The judge's eyes were wide open. The court's observers were all silent. The metaphorical wind was slowing down to a breeze. The prosecution took several gulps from his cup and got another refill.
"This is cup number seven," he said quietly, "I guess we'd better get started."
Her honor hastily nodded. "Um, right. Please call in the next witness."
---
"Witness," addressed Arm-And-Oh, "state your name and occupation."
A light amber unicorn stood at the court's center. Her red mane hung low with traces of bright yellow. A black, leather jacket hung loosely over her neck. Her eyes were closed as she looked down and breathed deeply. Twilight's eyes widened and she stared unblinkingly at this witness.
"What's wrong, Princess?" asked Righty Tidy.
"That's her," said Twilight slowly. "But... what is she doing here?"
The witness's eyes opened to reveal determined cyan irises. "My name is Sunset Shimmer. I am... a foreign exchange student."
"A... foreign exchange student?" asked the judge in confusion. "But every pony I know hails from Equestria. What other country could you possibly be from?"
Sunset closed her eyes again. "In regards to that, I plead the fifth."
"I don't understand." Her honor shook her head.
"Her home country doesn't tie into this case, Your Honor," commented Arm-And-Oh. "I suggest we move onto the questioning."
The judge sighed, and muttered, "Sure, why not? We've ignored a bunch of other standard procedures today." She cleared her throat. "Very well, Ms. Shimmer. Please testify to the court what you saw on the day of the crime."
---
Witness Testimony
View of the Sunset
"I'm in Ponyville right now because I'm studying abroad."
"I stumbled across news about a case that ended with an accidental suicide."
"Something... struck a wrong chord when I found out that the one charging an innocent pony for murder was Trixie."
"I had been practicing my incendiary spells over the years, for candle and lamp purposes only."
"I guess I finally snapped, went into a rage, and... well..."
"The destruction of Trixie's cart rests solely on my magic, not Twilight Sparkle."
---
"That sounds straightfor- Wait, what?!" Her honor suddenly leaned forward in her seat.
Objection!
The prosecution emptied his mug and slammed it onto his desk hard. "Witness! That was not what you told me earlier!"
What? Trixie stood there in powerful befuddlement. What in Equestria is he getting up in arms over?
"Sunset Shimmer!" exclaimed Twilight, "What are you saying? Do you know the implications of what you've just said?"
Sunset nodded firmly. "Yes, I do."
"Ms. Shimmer," said her honor while squinting. "Are you... confessing to the damages of this crime?"
"Yes, I am." Sunset's expression was dead serious.
"Well, if that's the case..." The judge slowly leaned back and floated her gavel up. "Then, there's no more reason for this trial to continue."
Something's... off, thought Trixie as her brow furrowed.
I wonder if Trixie can feel it too, thought Sonata while adjusting her glasses.
"Sunset, no!" cried out Twilight. "Don't do this!"
"I've made up my mind, Twilight," said Sunset, "I'm not going to run away from my mistakes."
"I shall now declare my verdict," announced the judge.
Objection!
Her honor nearly dropped her gavel on her hoof. Arm-And-Oh's sunglasses wobbled to reflect his shock. Twilight turned her head toward the voice. Sonata smirked slightly before returning to a neutral expression.
Trixie slammed a hoof down. "Your Honor! The Great and Powerful defense has yet to cross-examine the witness's testimony!"
"M-Ms. Trixie, what are you doing?" asked Righty with a stammer.
"I'm afraid I must concur," agreed her honor. "Why are you requesting a disadvantageous action? This witness has just confessed to the actions that your client was being charged for. To find any contradictions now could make Princess Twilight Sparkle even more guilty."
Trixie closed her eyes and breathed. That may be. But still... ---
The porcupine head wasn't done. "The defense believes that Sonata did not murder Ace Swift."
"What are you doing?" asked the great and powerful prosecution. "You were about to win!" ---
He shook his head. "No, Your Honor. That's not what happened." He pointed forth. "The handle acted as a lightning rod, pumping all of that electricity through his mouth into his body. It didn't need any accuracy since it hit him in mid-air!" ---
"Do you have any retort to this possibility, Ms. Trixie?" asked his honor.
Trixie was... humbled... and powerless. "No... I don't... I can't beat that. The prosecution rests." ---
Trixie shook her head and looked up with an understanding. "Winning? Losing? Those aren't the tasks required of ponies of justice. What our focus should be on is... the truth."
"Truth?" asked Arm-And-Oh skeptically.
"Until all of the contradictions are struck down, Trixie demands proper cross-examination," reiterated the defense.
This pony... Twilight stared in awe. This isn't the same Trixie I used to know. She's... better.
"Hmm," the judge hummed as she placed a hoof against her helmet. She then lowered that hoof. "Very well, Ms. Trixie. I'm not sure what you hope to accomplish, but I will allow you to continue."
The prosecution downed at least a couple more cups before stopping for a breath. "The ponies in this town are crazy."
---
Cross-Examination
View of the Sunset
"I'm in Ponyville right now because I'm studying abroad."
"I stumbled across news about a case that ended with an accidental suicide."
"Something... struck a wrong chord when I found out that the one charging an innocent pony for murder was Trixie."
"I had been practicing my incendiary spells over the years, for candle and lamp purposes only."
"I guess I finally snapped, went into a rage, and... well..."
"The destruction of Trixie's cart rests solely on my magic, not Twilight Sparkle."
Objection!
"That's where you're wrong, Shimmer," said Trixie.
"What are you talking about?" asked Sunset, "I said that Twilight had nothing to do with it."
"That isn't what Trixie meant. You're saying your magic is what caused Trixie's cart to burn to the ground. However, I have evidence that can prove that wasn't what happened."
Sunset raised her brow. "And what, pray tell, is that evidence?"
Take that!
Trixie floated out the piece of evidence. "These shards of glass and a burned up string were found on the crime scene. They happen to be the end result of the damage from a Molotov cocktail." Trixie slammed her hoof against the desk before pointing it forth. "In other words, the fire that destroyed Trixie's cart wasn't magical in nature."
"W...What?!" Sunset banged her shoulder into the witness stand.
That objection got the observers riled up with verbal speculation. No one was sure just what this meant.
*Tap!* *Tap!* *Tap!*
"Order! Order!" commanded the judge. She looked at the defense in confusion. "What does this mean?"
"Trixie will tell you exactly what that means," stated the great and powerful defense, "Neither the witness here nor my client could have caused the fire that resulted in the damage in its entirety."
Objection!
Arm-And-Oh gulped down another full cup before slamming it into his desk. "You honestly think that one piece of evidence is enough to prove a lack of magical destruction? I think you're jumping the gun, Ms. Tricks. A unicorn could just as easily have lit that cocktail on fire as anypony else. In fact, it's even more likely if it didn't burn anything until after it entered your cart."
"Hmm," hummed Trixie calmly. "That's an... oddly specific piece of information you know."
"Yes," agreed Sonata as she adjusted her glasses. "How exactly do you know the precise timing of when the cocktail caught fire?"
"Er, well... I mean..." The prosecution quickly refilled and took another sip. "I apologize for that outburst. I was... caught up in the moment. I didn't mean to presume anything."
Her honor frowned. "In that case, your objection is overruled, Mr. Oh."
"Hmm." Twilight stared across the room.
"What's up, Princess?" asked Righty.
"Something's a bit off." Twilight turned her head slightly. "Sonata, didn't you say that Arm-And-Oh drinks a maximum of seventeen cups of o.j. in any case?"
Sonata nodded. "I did say that."
"Well, he seems to have inhaled a slightly higher number than that." Twilight held her chin.
"So you noticed that too, huh?" Sonata tapped her glasses.
"Hey, that means you've gotten under his skin, Ms. Trixie," remarked Righty with a bright smile.
...
"Ms. Trixie?" prompted Righty.
"Trixie wonders if it is too soon to be celebrating," the great attorney murmured.
Hold it!
"Wh-What is it, witness?" asked the judge.
Sunset cleared her throat. Her gaze was filled with longing. "I'd like to... make up for trying to admit to a crime I didn't commit... by giving my testimony on what I actually saw."
Everyone else in court flinched at that.
Arm-And-Oh slammed his desk again. "How can we trust a new testimony if there was such an obvious lie in your first one?"
She did lie to protect Twilight, thought Trixie, Should I really be giving her this second chance?
It didn't take Trixie two seconds for her to make up her mind. "Your Honor, the defense requests to hear Sunset Shimmer testify again. There might be something important within it."
"You can't seriously expect court to run on 'might be's," said Arm-And-Oh dismissively.
Contrastly, the judge nodded. "Very well, but this is your last warning, witness. Do not waste our time with more fabrications of events."
The prosecution growled a little before he filled his cup again.
Twenty-three, noted Sonata. He's going to have really bad stomach cramps later.
---
Witness Testimony
View of the Sunset Part 2
"I was actually passing by the cart because I was in pursuit of some pony."
"Unfortunately, I lost their trail. The next thing I knew, I saw a fire in the distance before it vanished."
"I thought that might lead me to the suspicious pony, but instead it was an inferno."
"It was at that time that I noticed Twilight was way too close to the flames." ---
"Twilight!"
*Wham!*
"Oof!" ---
"Her reduction spell was going to be too little, too late. I had to get her out of the way."
"After that, I had to teleport to avoid the fire myself."
---
"You're wasting your time," said Arm-And-Oh. "Your testimony from before was a complete fabrication. We're right back where we started, leaving Princess Sparkle as the only one who could have caused that fire."
"The Great and Powerful defense believes that you need to get your ears and your brain checked out," muttered Trixie.
"What did you just say?" A blood vessel on the prosecution's head expanded.
"Trixie rests her case, and will begin her cross-examination." Trixie hummed in satisfaction.
"Whenever you're ready, Ms. Trixie," acknowledged the judge.
Time to get to the bottom of this, thought Trixie in determination.
---
Cross-Examination
View of the Sunset Part 2
"I was actually passing by the cart because I was in pursuit of some pony."
Hold it!
"You were pursuing some pony?" echoed Trixie. "Who was it?"
"I didn't get a good look at who it was." Sunset shook her head. "All I had to go on was the fact that they were hiding around alleys wherever New Pony went."
Her honor opened her eyes. "Some pony was stalking the previous witness? Whatever for?"
"The last time I saw this figure, I noticed that he or she dropped a list with some names on it." Sunset floated up a piece of paper. "They all looked familiar, but I couldn't understand why anyone would be so meticulous with these names."
"List of Names" has been added to the Court Record.
Hmm, Trixie examined the list herself. 'Derpy, Applejack, Bon Bon, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Doctor (?), Cloudchaser, Fleur, Twilight Sparkle, Trixie, Fluttershy, Vinyl Scratch, Blossom Lotus...' What in Equestria is this list supposed to be? These names look like they were written down with neither alphabetical order nor order of importance. Trixie stuck her nose up. After all, if it were the latter, Trixie would be at the top.
She set the inaccurate piece of paper aside. "All right, then what happened?"
"Unfortunately, I lost their trail. The next thing I knew, I saw a fire in the distance before it vanished."
Hold it!
"You saw a distant fire... vanish?" reiterated Trixie.
"Yeah," confirmed Sunset. "My best guess is that it was that Molotov cocktail you pointed out disappearing through your window or something."
Note to self: get a cart with safety glass windows, thought Trixie.
"I thought that might lead me to the suspicious pony, but instead it was an inferno."
"It was at that time that I noticed Twilight was way too close to the flames."
Hold it!
"How close was Twilight to those flames?" asked Trixie.
"I'd say a few inches too close," answered Sunset.
"I admit I was a little desperate," commented Twilight, "I wasn't even thinking about my own safety at the time. I wanted to make sure you were going to be okay."
"So, even a princess can act the part of a fool," muttered Trixie before looking at Sunset. "Continue."
"Her reduction spell was going to be too little, too late. I had to get her out of the way."
Hold it!
"May Trixie ask why a foreigner thought it was important to save this particular princess?" inquired Trixie.
"It isn't just because she's a princess," admitted Sunset, "She showed me a way out of my own selfishness, a way that could help lead to new friendships."
Arm-And-Oh groaned. "All of this sappiness is making me sick."
"It's probably more like you have too much liquid swimming in your stomach," remarked Sonata while adjusting her tie.
"Hmph." The prosecution sipped another cup in retort.
"After that, I had to teleport to avoid the fire myself."
Hold it!
"Trixie is familiar with teleportation spells," said Trixie, "but even in a sudden bout of desperation, why did you not simply teleport both yourself and Twilight out of the fray?"
"I... haven't exactly had any practice with group teleports." Sunset averted her eyes and frowned. "I didn't want to risk hurting Twilight with a half-finished spell, much less in that situation with a lack of focus."
---
"Hmm," hummed her honor. "This straightforward case seems to be lacking the 'straightforward' part."
"Trixie believes she has a developing picture of what happened," said the great and powerful defense.
"You do?" asked the judge.
"A strange pony had planned to burn down everything Trixie had to her name," said the defense, "Sunset Shimmer was in pursuit of that pony, but lost track of them. Meanwhile, both Twilight Sparkle and New Pony made plans to visit yours truly for mundane reasons. After the mystery pony tossed their Molotov cocktail and escaped, Sparkle happened upon the cart when the fire was getting to its late stages. Shimmer came along and tackled her away, leading to Sparkle getting caught in the small tree nearby. Just before Shimmer teleported away from the last explosion, New Pony saw Shimmer's visage, subconsciously reliving his traumatic past of the pony with a red mane."
"My word," muttered her honor, "You've certainly got a discerning mind."
"Praise some more, Your Honor," said Trixie with a prideful smile.
"Even though the identity of the attacker is missing, it seems to clear up the misconception of Princess Twilight Sparkle's involvement," said her honor. "Do you have anything to add, Mr. Oh?"
For a while, Arm-And-Oh just stood there. He seemed... solemnly somber. The image was only darkened by his sunglasses. Then, after a few seconds, he lifted his mug... and promptly tossed it into a garbage pail. The cup shattered upon impact.
"Well played, Lulamoon," he finally said before leaning his head back against the wall.
"Arm-And..." muttered Sonata.
Trixie simply stared at the silenced prosecution.
"Very well, I can now declare my verdict," said the judge. "For the crime of property damage and bodily injury of another pony, I find Princess Twilight Sparkle..."
Not Guilty
A compartment in the ceiling released several pieces of confetti. Simultaneously, a round of cheers was released from the crowd.
*Tap!*
"Court is dismissed," said her honor.
---
4:00 PM
Defense Lobby No. 3
"That was amazing!" cheered Righty Tidy.
"Did you think it would be anything less?" asked Trixie rhetorically and greatly.
"Hey, Trixie?" asked Twilight.
"Ap-ap-ap," Trixie interrupted with a lifted hoof. "Save your thanks, Snarkle. Trixie does not wish to see that you owe her anything but the taste of sweet vengeance."
"Well, thank you all the same," said Twilight with a gentle smile.
You always have to get in the last laugh, don't you? Trixie fumed silently yet powerfully.
Trixie needed a distraction. Anything would do. So, she turned to the unofficial add-on of her great and powerful team.
"Sonata," she addressed.
"Trixie," returned Sonata.
"While the Great and Powerful Trixie could have gotten this case finished by herself... she is not without... miniscule... lackluster... assistance from outside." It sickened her to force out the words, but she wasn't going to let anypony hold an unkind act against her. "So... thank you for stepping in and he-he-he... for he-hel... for hel... puh... puh... ing."
"You're welcome," said Sonata. She tapped her glasses. "Just please, don't make a habit out of making me a deceiver."
"Trixie will do her utmost to avoid requiring your service in the near future," vowed Trixie.
"Although, there's still one thing that bothers me," mentioned Twilight.
"Why can't you amount to the Great and Powerful Trixie even with your title of royalty?" prompted Trixie.
"No." Twilight shook her head. "That mystery pony that actually burned your cart. What was their identity?"
"Oh, right," added Righty, "We never did figure out exactly who to pin the blame on."
"Well, I don't know who they were exactly," said Sonata, "but I bet I know who could tell us more about them."
Trixie opened her eyes to the light. Huh? When did Trixie enter the courtroom?
*Tap!* *Tap!*
"Court is now in session," declared the red pony in the judge's seat.
Trixie shook her head. Come on, Trixie! Don't lose it now!
"The Great and Powerful defense is ready, your honor!" she boldly stated.
"The Great and Powerful prosecution is ready, your honor!" stated an equally bold voice.
Trixie looked across the courtroom to the opposite side... and her hat promptly formed an intimate relationship with the ceiling. The prosecution shared every one of the great and powerful defense's good looks. Only... some of the features had the lines of several years added. Not to mention, the opposition wore a black ensemble instead of purple.
"What the...?" Trixie was at a loss for great words.
"Is something the matter, Ms. Trixie?" inquired his honor.
The Open-Mouthed and Confused Trixie pointed at herself. "How is Trixie over here...?" She then pointed at her older look-alike. "... if she is over there?"
"I'm afraid I don't follow," The judge furrowed his brow. He then cleared his throat. "Ms. Trixie, would you begin your opening statement?"
"Of course, your honor," stated the prosecution, "The prosecution calls up the defendant as a first witness to the crime."
"Er..." Trixie coughed before attempting to get her Great aura back. "The defense... has no... objections... to this call."
"I'm here!" called the witness.
Trixie's cape chose that moment to smack her in the face before returning to her backside. After that, she took a long look at the rather adorable witness. Said witness was very great-looking. It was an exact replica of what Trixie remembered seeing in one of her old photo collections.
"Witness, state your name and occupation for the court," addressed the Great and Powerful prosecution.
"My name is Trixie Lulamoon," cooed the young filly, "I'm unemployed."
"And you'd better get used to it," added the prosecution.
"Did some pony drug Trixie while she wasn't looking?" blurted Trixie out loud. "Wait a second. What was this trial even about in the first place?"
She levitated the case file in front of herself and muttered while reading. "The filly known as Trixie Lulamoon is being accused for the assault and murder of... What?! The Great and Powerful Trixie?!"
Her hat decided to break up with the ceiling and forge a new relationship with the floor.
"The defense pleads guilty." The filly on the witness stand smiled innocently.
Objection!
"Just a moment, Ms. Lulamoon," commented Trixie, "If Trixie loves attention, why would Trixie kill herself?"
"Hm?" hummed his honor.
"Well, the Great and Powerful prosecution submits this torn piece of a spell as evidence."
"Torn Spell Page" was added to the Court Record.
The prosecution slammed her wooden stand. "Clearly, our innocent filly traveled into the future to overcome her greatest challenge... herself!"
The Great and Powerful Trixie smirked. "Actually, it seems Trixie has just submitted the one piece of evidence that can prove Trixie's innocence."
The prosecution tilted her head. "What are you talking about?"
Take that!
Trixie held up the torn spell page via levitation. "Do you see this? This last part right here. It's the symbol for 'past', not future."
The Shocked and Startled prosecution gasped.
"Now you get it," Trixie continued, "Spell runes are cast with their intent at the end, not the beginning. If Ms. Lulamoon had cast this exact spell, she would have ended up in her past, not her future."
"But then that means..." The judge paused.
"There's only one Trixie that could have traveled into the past with the intent of killing herself in the present in order to avoid whatever jobless future she had. You!"
The black hat and cape unraveled from their master to the floor. The prosecution soon followed.
"AAAAAAAAAH!" She screamed before conking herself unconscious.
"Bailiff!" called his honor, "Take Ms. Trixie away at once. I'm ready to declare my verdict. This court finds the defendent Trixie Lulamoon..."
Not Guilty
Confetti rained from the ceiling as the ponies in the courtroom cheered.
"Court is dismissed."
*Tap!*
---
"Hey, Trixie," called Righty Tidy as she galloped forward.
"How did it go in there today?" asked Sonata.
"It went well," admitted Trixie, "but Trixie thinks she might have just sentenced herself to life imprisonment."
Righty tilted her head. "I don't get it."
"Never mind." Trixie shook her head. "Would either of you happen to have a scented pine cone with you?"
"You might want to try knocking harder," suggested Trixie, while levitating a large and smooth rock.
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
A familiar voice from inside hollered, "Vinyl, if that's you looking for a free room again, I swear I'm going to-" The door opened and the slightly messy pegasus pony was holding the knob. His eyes opened wide at the number of sudden visitors. "Oh, it's you guys. What are you doing here?"
"We were hoping to have a little chat with you." Sonata idly tapped her glasses.
"I... see..." New Pony half-frowned. "Um... would you like to come inside?"
"That shouldn't be necessary." Princess Twilight Sparkle waved a hoof dismissively. She expressed a gentle smile. "We just wanted to ask an important question or two."
The Great and Powerful Trixie harrumphed. "Let's not waste time sugar-coating our words. You know who the mysterious figure that attacked Trixie's cart is. Don't you, New Pony?"
Righty Tidy leaned back and grimaced. Twilight leaned left while holding up a hoof in self-defense. Sonata's hoof against her glasses was less idle and more stationary against the bridge this time. New Pony added a sweat drop to the side of his wide-eyed face.
"Well... I... I might have inklings about whom that pony was, but..." He swallowed a pocket of air rather audibly.
"But what?" Trixie leaned in closer, her eyes not blinking as they focused her determination at him.
"It's just..."
Take that!
Sonata faintly heard a grinding noise. Large chains of metal grew out of nowhere. They blocked her vision of anything aside from the ponies that she was standing near. But in particular, a decoratively red box with a lock on it appeared just in front of New Pony's chest.
"I actually don't know who that was." The shine in New Pony's eyes wobbled a bit.
"Psyche-lock," Sonata whispered.
"What was that?" Trixie turned her head toward the other unicorn in the party.
Sonata nudged her glasses down ever so slightly. "It seems this stallion has a little secret that he deems protecting."
"It... was nice to see you all again," prompted New Pony, moving the door's opening to be a bit narrower.
Trixie used her great and powerful aura to force the door to remain open. "Just a moment, New Pony. We're not finished yet. There's still a potential threat on the loose and my... colleague here senses that you have information that could help us find them."
Trixie just needs to give you a reason to spill the beans, she thought.
He slammed a hoof down. "This doesn't concern you!"
Take that!
Trixie floated up a particular list of names. "Trixie wagers that this concerns at least half of our little group here. You can thank Ms. Sunset Shimmer for bringing this to our attention."
"Wait, let me see that." New Pony grabbed the parchment. His eyes quickly panned the width of the page multiple times. After reading it all, he gasped. "These are... all of the friends I made here in Ponyville over the last two years. You mean to tell me that she's... ah!"
"You still think this is just your problem?" ventured Sonata. "Trixie was but one potential target on that list. If you're willing to help us, you could potentially be saving a lot of other ponies' lives as well."
"I... sweet Celestia..." New Pony lowered the list as well as his gaze to the floor. "All right, you win."
The result of that little presenting was only apparent to Sonata. Like glass, the red box shattered. With nothing to bind them in place, the chains reeled back into nonexistence. She hummed in satisfaction.
"The pony that burned down Trixie's cart that night could only have been..."
---
4:30 PM
????
You don't get it. None of you do!
It's the same thing in every place you run to. You keep shoving me away, trying to wipe me from your life, and replacing me with a bunch of new faces!
But I haven't forgotten you.
In fact, I'm the only one who can say your full name without being interrupted.
You are...
---
"Pro Tack Honest!"
All trains of thought froze for New Pony. It was that voice. That voice was the one that haunted his nightmares... laughing at him, torturing him, screaming in his face in the most poorly-drawn jumpscare pose ever. It was like an evil panda.
...
But as quickly as the moment came, it was engulfed in a huge fire.
"What the sparkplug is going on?!" screamed Righty.
Twilight's eyes and magic raced over to the nearby river. "Trixie, help me douse the fire!"
"R-Right!" Trixie shouted with a less than powerful stutter. Her magic glowed with greatness to make up for it.
Two ponies' worth of magenta magic guided the water toward the base of the house and against the roofs.
"New Pony, move!" called Righty. She sprinted forward, bit his mane, and pulled him away from the rising blaze just behind his tail.
Off to the corner of the house, a moving shadow caught the attention of Sonata. While the other two magic wielders focused on taking care of the fire, the gray unicorn made a dash toward the escaping shadow. But the shape was gaining a bit of air. She would never be able to catch up to a flying culprit. At least, she wouldn't be able.
Gotcha!
The shadow lost any sign of darkness as the investigator guard put his disabling training to good use. It was quickly followed by two sets of cuffs, one for the culprit's wings and one for the front hooves.
"You're under arrest for serial arson," declared Zincro while his partner held them down.
"Good work, boys," complimented Sonata.
"Just answering your call, Sonata," insisted Copper.
---
4:33 PM
New Pony's House
The Great and Powerful Trixie was panting great and powerful breaths. "Aren't you... even... a little... tired?"
"A little bit," admitted Twilight.
However, Trixie managed to greatly compose herself as Sonata and the police trotted back with their quarry. Said quarry was keeping her eyes down. New Pony was still trembling a bit, both from the culprit's presence and his most recent save from a house fire. Righty did her best to hold him steady.
"Wild... Fyre..." he murmured in trepidation.
The pegasus mare turned her head and harrumphed at the mention of her name.
"So, we meet at last, Miss Cart Burner!" declared Trixie.
Sonata deadpanned. "He just called her 'Wild Fyre'."
"Right, what did Trixie say?"
Sonata bemusedly adjusted her glasses in response.
Twilight posed the one question that needed an answer. "Why? Why did you go through all that trouble to set fire to somepony else's property?"
"What? Can't figure it out even as a princess?" spat Fyre. "You've set fire to your own property before. Why is my performing of the act suddenly not okay?"
"First of all, it only happened to my mane," corrected Twilight. "Second, using the goal post fallacy doesn't answer my question."
"If...If you have... something against... me," added New Pony with hesitation, "w-why did you target the ponies I interacted with... instead of... striking me... directly?"
"You really don't get it, do you?" Fyre shook her head. "I don't have anything against you. My heart burns brightest because I don't want anything to happen to you."
"What?" Trixie tilted her head.
"What?" Righty's brow rose slightly.
"What?" Sonata turned to look at Fyre.
"What?" Twilight squinted in disbelief.
"What... are you... talking... about?" asked New Pony between trembles.
"I love you, you idiot!" Fyre yanked against her chains, grinding her teeth. "But you kept throwing your life away at those other ponies! I had the perfect wedding planned out and everything. I had to get rid of them all. I had to be discreet. But as soon as you went into court and brought the things I've done into the public's attention, I couldn't do that anymore."
New Pony whispered, "What the heck?" Then, he spoke up with more stability. "I never said I liked you-liked you."
"But that's what you projected to me!" shouted Fyre. "Every day that you exist is proof that you and I were meant to be! If I can't have you, no pony can! That's why... That's why I have to set you on fire so that I can keep your ashes with me forever!"
...
...
...
"You're a loony," said Righty at last.
"That's more than enough of a confession from her," commented Sonata. "Take her away."
"Yes, Ma'am," said Copper with a nod. He and Zincro led the culprit out of sight.
...
...
...
"Are you alright, New Pony?" asked Righty carefully.
The stallion sighed. "You know what? I am feeling a bit better."
"I don't know about the rest of you," said Twilight with an exhale, "but I'm beat."
"Trixie begrudgingly agrees with you, Princess Sparkle," admitted Trixie.
"Perhaps we should all grab some dinner and then hit up the spa," suggested Sonata. "How about it, New Pony? I'd like to get to know you a little better."
"Really? I can come too?" asked New Pony in surprise.
"Of course," insisted Sonata. "Just be sure to thank Trixie in advance."
"Yes, be sure to thank the Great and Powerful Trixie," boasted the new ace attorney. Though, it took her a great three seconds before it dawned on her what Sonata said. "Wait... 'in advance'?"
"Oh, well then thank you, Trixie," said New Pony with a nod. "You're a really good friend for doing this."
"Doing... what?" Trixie did not like the possibility of what was being implied.
"Thank you, Trixie," said Twilight.
"Many thanks, Miss Trixie," said Righty.
"Wait just a haystacking minute!" demanded Trixie powerfully with a hoof stomp.
"Hmm?" Righty turned her head.
"What's up?" asked New Pony.
"Is something wrong, Trixie?" Twilight tilted her head.
"Yes, Trixie," said Sonata with a smile. "Whatever is the matter?"
If the impromptu party thought for one measly second that The Great and Powerful Trixie was going to cover all the evening's expenses, then there was one last thing she had to say as they were about to gallop for it.
Objection!
---
Special thanks goes to...
PWaaMLPfim for the work that went into the Turnabout Storm video series
---
"Miss Trixie?" Righty echoed the passerby. "Well, I owe a lot to her for proving my innocence. She's really nice when you get to know her."
---
Capcom and Shu Takumi for the original Ace Attorney video game series
---
"What do you want?" grumbled Dr. Digit. "I'm stuck here while I wait for my final sentence." He rubbed his eye that's missing a monocle. "Huh? What do I think of Trixie?" He scoffed. "Well, I can't get in more trouble than celestial banishment, so I might as well get this off my chest." He sighed. "That Trixie pony? She's got her head so far up her rear that she can bite her own intestine."
---
Hasbro, DHX Media, and Lauren Faust for the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic television series
---
"Stay on top of your evidence and your deduction skills, Trixie." Sonata pulled off her glasses and wiped them with a small cloth. "There are prosecutors out there that are even more rigid than Arm-And-Oh and myself." She adjusted her necktie. "And... maybe you can show your empathy with your clients more often."
---
SourceRabbit for the Turnabout Spa video two-parter
---
"I'm glad to see you again after all this time, Trixie," said Twilight with a smile. "It's not just the difference in which side of the court you're on. I really admired your recognition of the need to chase the truth. You may have helped the ponies of the court further cement the idea that Phoenix originally told them." She held up a hoof. "I hope we can come to a day where we can really call each other friends."
---
Filly Gamez for the Welcome to Ponyville visual novel
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"I don't mind, Trixie," insisted New Pony with a shrug of his wing. "You can stay as long as you need to until you find more suitable housing. It was my offer to you in the first place." He suddenly backed up and opened his eyes in surprise. "Oh... uh... I don't really have the room for a third..." He scratched the back of his neck with a hoof. "Well, okay. But if Righty's staying too, you'll need to decide on somepony to sleep on the floor. I'm sorry. I just don't have the bits available right now for yet another bed."
---
The Hedgehog Dragonoid for letting me borrow an OC for the first judge pony
The Poetic Frost for letting me borrow an OC for the second judge pony
---
"You know, you're a lot different than the Trixie I'm familiar with," admitted Sunset Shimmer. "Maybe the next time I come for a visit, we can just get together and chat a little bit." She chuckled nervously. "I guess that isn't really the first thing that you'd want to do. But, eventually I could give you a few tips on how to utilize that teleport spell without disharmonious jewelry. What do you think?"
