LPL: Framed · 10:25pm Mar 2nd, 2021
In the courthouse, Iris and Akari stood in the defendants’ seats while Korra, Mako, Twilight Sparkle, Flash Sentry and the rest of their friends waited for the trial to start.
“Why…?” Twilight asked. “Just why is this happening? I just wanted a vacation!
“I don't get it!” Flash shook his head in frustration. “What did they do wrong?”
“I know, right? I've been friends with you all for a while and I never thought my daughter would go for a life of crime,” said Korra in disbelief.
Mako crossed his arms. “None of this makes sense to me. These people obviously don't know a hero when they see one.”
The judge pounded her gavel to symbolize order in the court and everyone went silent.
“Court is now in session!” she announced.
Prosecutor stood up and began to speak. “As you are no doubt aware, someone has been senselessly defacing both Ponyville and the Four Nations, using some paint-like substance.”
A screen turns on to show surveillance footage of said paint-like substance in the city similar to what Iris cleared back on the airstrip.
“The accused are charged with polluting our beautiful home and yes, endangering our very way of life. Indeed, how can one not be aware of what is going on?” the Prosecutor continued.
The screen then brings attention to a large tower with an object in the center, appearing to be covered with black ink. None of the non-natives could tell what it was.
“Even though it is daytime, our poor residents tremble beneath a veil of darkness. Expert scholars have determined that this darkness has arisen because all of the Harmony Crystals have vanished from their gathering spot at the Gate Temple.”
Rainbow Dash folded her arms. “He's quite the storyteller, isn't he?”
The screen zooms in on the goop covered object.
“The reason? It's quite obvious. This horrible paint is to blame!” cried out the Prosecutor.
The screen changes to show the same WANTED poster Iris saw on the airstrip.
“Behold these sketches of the perpetrators, based on eyewitness descriptions.
Iris’s eyes widened. “That's the poster I saw on the ship!”
“Oh no! This is bad! This is really bad!” Akari gasped
“The truth is obvious. The guilty party sits among us. And their names are none other than Iris and Akari!” The prosecutor finished.
Twilight was enraged of this accusation, stood up, and pointed her hand right at the judge.
“OBJECTION!” She yelled. “They can't have done this! We just got here!”
“OVERRULED!” the Judge said.
“You can't do that! She's ROYALTY for crying out loud!” Flash pointed out
“So? Two of the perpetrators are royalty as well. What makes you think we can trust them?”
Korra decided to speak up. “Well, if you're not going to let someone speak in my daughter’s defense, then can you even call this a trial? It's more of an inquisition and that's not fair! Isn't speaking on both sides the whole point of a court in the first place?”
“I agree with both of them. Let the princess speak in Iris and Akari's defense, or we'll SUE this court!
The judge was about to overrule them again when the attorney stopped her.
“Actually, your honor, I think they have a point,” he said. “Our jail cells are kinda crowded at the moment and I fear it may be because some of the hostages could be innocent. So let's give them a chance.”
The judge sighed and rubbed her temples. “Fine. Princess Twilight, you may come up to the stand. Show me some evidence to indicate that Akari and Iris are innocent, and we'll drop the charges placed against them. But so far they have a very steep guilty verdict placed on their shoulders, so this had better be convincing.”
“Thank you, your honor!” Twilight walked up to the stand and sat down next to the judge.
“Now listen, I know that those guys in the poster look a lot like them, but I've known my friends and child for a long time. And as far as I know, they've never resorted to a life of crime and never will. And I have proof that they are indeed innocent. For my first evidence, could you show us the video that played on the plane?
The video from the plane started playing.
“Now fast forward to the end.”
The video fast forwarded all the way to the part where Twilight saw the strange figures.
“Alright, Pause!” Twilight ordered, and the video paused. “Now zoom in on those shadow things over there!”
The screen zoomed in on those same four silhouettes that Twilight saw back on the plane. Everyone except Twilight, the judge, and the attorney gasped in horror.
“WHAT IN TARNATION!?” Applejack shouted.
“T-t-that's impossible! They were on the plane with us!”
“That can't possibly be them, can it?
“Is that us!?” Iris asked in shock.
“How on earth was Twilight the only one to notice that?!”
“I don't know..”
‘So that's what Twilight saw. I got a bad feeling about this,’ Korra thought.
“So tell me, when was this recorded?” Twilight asked the Prosecutor.
“Just four hours ago. Before the incident happened. We usually re-record the video every year to keep it from being dated.”
“Well I saw this on the plane one hour ago. And the others, including my daughter were with me. When would they have even had time to pull this off? That proves my first point, but for my second, show us the WANTED poster again.”
The WANTED poster with the sketches appeared on screen.
“Okay, so you said these sketches were made based on eyewitness descriptions. And I can tell they're NOT Iris or Akari. They're not shadowy, they don't have glowing red eyes, nor do they possess weapons.” The lavender pony finished “Therefore, I rest my case.”
“Well, Princess, I must admit, that evidence is pretty convincing,” said the judge. We'll just have to see what our jury has to say. Have you come to a verdict?”
Korra and co. smiled thinking things were turning around for them.
The jury leader stood up. “We have your honor. We find the defendants..”
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...guilty as charged!”
“WHAT?!” Everyone yelled except for the inhabitants.
“YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS! I JUST GAVE EVIDENCE OF WHY THEY'RE INNOCENT!” Twilight yelled in exasperation.
“Well, Princess. There are a couple of flaws to your evidence. First of all, we couldn't see inside your plane so we think you're lying,” the jury leader said.
“I AM NOT A LIAR!” She screamed. “My friend raised me to be an honest young woman!
“And second, so what if they look different in the sketches? We can't draw them EXACTLY accurately. Even if we did, they're probably wearing disguises to try and fool us. And their items are probably kept by their master we haven't found yet.”
“But I.. UGH!!! I can't believe you people! Your government is terrible!
“This is ridiculous! You can't do this to us!” Iris cried out.
Judge slammed her gavel. “Silence! The jury has spoken! I hereby order the defendants to clean this entire island. Until the city is completely free of their vile handiwork, Iris and Akari shall NOT be allowed to leave!
“But-!”
The judge pounded her gavel to cut her off.
“Court adjourned!”
Meanwhile..
“Phase two is complete..”
