The Lawyer and The Unicorn, part 21 releases tomorrow... · 8:03pm Jul 17th, 2016
A preview, you ask...?
“I’m sorry. Did you say the ‘fair’ Lady Rarity? Really, Mia Fey?” The Nightmare’s grin turned sly. “Methinks that ‘fair’ is not the first adjective that comes to mind when describing her. And just what makes you think she has any information or evidence that can help your case?”
“You mean you want to call in that stuck-up fashion-obsessed drama queen?” Trixie made a face of distaste. “She faints at the drop of a hat and can’t so much as tolerate one hair out of place in her mane. And exactly why would she know anything about that night? Wasn’t she drunk along with the rest?”
“She was not, Your Honor,” Mia replied evenly, closing her eyes and smiling. “She was far more experienced with Pinkie Pie’s punch and was able to resist its worst effects, both for having much greater tolerance and for having a bit less.”
“Yepyep! It’s true! She always wants to remember what happens, so she always limits herself to just a few drinks. She likes being suggestible, not soused!” Pinkie Pie piped up again from the gallery. "And honestly, I secretly suspect that even when she's 'suggestible' she's faking. I've never seen her with a hangover, and hay, I once saw her down an entire bowl of my punch!"
Phoenix blinked at the image that brought to mind. So, what, does this mean she's like that one girl from that anime I saw Maya watching once? He wondered. Something Peace?
“You seem quite confident in what she will say. And you know what happened how, Mia Fey?” Once again the Nightmare asked the question Phoenix was afraid to.
“Because I watched from the afterlife. How else?” Mia smiled, to snickers from the gallery.
The Nightmare’s lips quirked upwards again. “Really, spirit. Tell me, are you making it a habit to spy from your Summerlands on all your former protege’s most private moments?”
“Uh… are you, chief?” Phoenix had to know, his cheeks warm again.
She looked at him evenly. “When I’m worried about him and afraid that he might do something he’s not ready for, yes.” She replied evenly. “As it happens, I was watching that night, and intended to intervene in case something went wrong. But nothing did.” She smiled.
Phoenix blinked. “Wait. Then you’re saying Twilight and I didn’t do anything that night?” He was surprised to feel a pang of disappointment.
“Given the state he woke up in, I think that hardly likely, Mia Fey,” The Nightmare said.
“Agreed.” Trixie looked just as disbelieving by her furrowed expression, her prosecutorial mind trying just as hard as the Nightmare did to discern the purpose behind the request. “This had better not be another bluff or stalling tactic, Ms. Fey! The stakes are too high here to indulge in your student’s cheap theatrics!”
Mia’s sly grin got more pronounced. “Not at all, Your Honor. Just that… well. I think this is one case where the truth is best heard from another witness. So Your Honor, the defense moves to call Lady Rarity to the stand so she may testify as to what happened—or didn’t—that night.”
Trixie gave a heavy sigh, certain the winged human spirit was going to make spirits out of them all when she lost the case and with it, all Equestria. “Does the prosecution object?”
The Nightmare hesitated momentarily, then smiled. “From what I know of that pony, she is no angel, Mia Fey. A gossip to say nothing of a rather shameless seductress in her own right. As such, I can scarcely imagine what she could say that would help your case. If she testifies that nothing happened against all evidence, that simply discredits your defense further. If, however, she testifies that something did, then that is just more evidence against your client.”
“Uh, chief... she’s right,” Phoenix had to point out. “I don’t see what Rarity could say that helps us here.” Either she says Twilight took me while inebriated which implies rape, or she claims I didn’t and gets herself discredited along with us...
“Then there is no reason for the prosecution to object to calling her,” Mia never lost her smile as she gave a knowing glance at Phoenix. Trust me, she mouthed at him.
Trixie gave a heavy sigh and rubbed her eyes with a hoof. “So be it.” She rapped her gavel again. “By this court’s order, that difficult and disreputable dressmaker will testify! Princess Luna, if you please…?”
