“So Mystic hasn’t contacted you yet?”
Phoenix Flight and Sterling Scales were walking together up the steps to the courthouse.
“Well, it’s only been twenty-four hours since I left,” Phoenix said. “I don’t really want to try and talk sense into her again… it seems like every time I try to tell her anything she always persuades me to see things her way, and that I’m the bad guy and need to do penance for my sins.” His eyes widened and he looked at Sterling Scales. “Is… is that a spell unicorns can learn?”
“Not a spell per se,” Sterling Scales said, also looking alarmed. “But you know… not all pony magic emanates through horns, wings, and hooves. In some rare cases ponies can cast spells with their eyes or their voices. Ponies with magical voice powers do tend to gravitate towards the legal world… oh goodness… and I’ve judged cases where she’s the defense attorney! If she’s been manipulating me or other judges…” He shook his head. “No, no, I shouldn’t speculate on that without proof… she used to be such a sweet mare….”
“She really seems to think she’s doing what’s best for Dusty by keeping me away..." Phoenix sighed.
"You may know that when my wife passed away, her will included instructions for setting up a fund to help ponies wanting to leave the various legal unpaid employment situations," Sterling Scales said.
"Everypony's heard of the good work you've done," Phoenix said, nodding.
"We actually have an apartment available in our shared living complex, if you'd like a rent-free place while you try to achieve steady employment."
"I have family that have offered to help me; I'd rather not impose if I don't have to," Phoenix said.
"It's hardly an imposition; you seem like a rising star, Phoenix. Your passion for the truth and being a defense attorney reminds me of my own dear wife's spirit; I feel like it's a sign from God."
"Ah, well... I'll be sure to pay you back when I have the chance," Phoenix said.
"Or pay it forward. I have every confidence in you, Phoenix Flight.
The pair pushed their way into the courthouse. “So…" Phoenix said, "I guess I’ll go see how Twilight Sky’s doing.”
“I don’t expect this will take much longer,” Sterling Scales said. “Though Cross Examine is going to be unbearable for the next few days…”
Phoenix offered his condolences before dashing to the defendant’s lounge.
Justice Bright greeted him at the door with a salute. “Welcome back, Mr. Flight! Thank you for helping to right this injustice and bring a much worse criminal to justice in the process!”
“Do… do you literally only think about justice?” Phoenix asked him.
“…Why shouldn’t I?” The teenage colt looked genuinely confused.
“Phoenix!!”
Phoenix Flight wove around Justice Bright to return Twilight Sky’s enthusiastic greeting with a bit of a wince. “I… I’m sorry I dashed off and made you spend another night in jail…”
“Well, I didn’t get stabbed by my cellmate, so no harm done.” Twilight Sky shrugged. His tattoos were already a lighter color than before. “I owe you my life, Phoenix; I’m not ticked about one day. Is your brother okay?”
“Yeah… we had a nice afternoon together. We hadn’t really spoken in years except to yell at each other. It was nice.” Phoenix stared at the floor self-consciously. “So, um, you still don’t have anywhere to go after you get out, do you?”
“Actually Justice Bright hooked me up with a guard job,” Twilight Sky said. “He’s unusually helpful for a cop.”
“What kind of guard job?” Phoenix said, trying to hide his alarm.
“Whoa, what… what’s wrong? Is that another slave catching trick?” Twilight Sky said.
“Kind of. Never take a night shift alone if you can help it and never at any place with animatronics,” Phoenix said.
“That… that’s oddly specific.” Twilight Sky blinked at him. “But no, not a night guard. Mostly at celeb parties checking for unwanted guests. My talent is that I can tell how famous or infamous somepony is just by looking at them so it seemed a good fit.”
“Y-yeah, wow, that does sound like a good match,” Phoenix Flight said.
“Speaking of which, youse fame has gone up quite a bit,” Twilight Sky said. “I guess because Shocking Snap’s case was so well known?”
“Really?” Phoenix asked, his ears perking up slightly at the idea of his reputation increasing. “How famous? You mean I’m a celebrity now?”
“Ahaha, no, not nearly.” Twilight Sky chuckled nervously. “If fame was a fire youse’s has a limited fuel supply. Give it a few weeks and no one will think about youse anymore.”
“Well, hopefully it'll last long enough for me to get more cases," Phoenix said.
“About time for the trial to start,” Justice Bright said. “Let’s go wrap this up.”
As they started out of the defendant’s lounge, Faerie Dust nearly rammed into Phoenix.
“Oof! Dusty!” Phoenix said, pushing the small unicorn away from him. He started; Cinder’s dark red eyes stared back at him from Dusty’s eye sockets.
“I’m so sorry,” Cinder said. “I just didn’t want to be late… But I didn’t want to stop…”
“Stop what?” Phoenix asked.
“Saying my goodbyes,” she whispered. “My brother is at the hospital up the block.”
“G-g-goodbye?” Phoenix said. “You… you’re not…”
“Oh, no, not like that.” Cinder smiled sadly. “I said I’d stay and I meant it. It’s just… after I enter the queue for cloning I don’t know when I’ll see him again.” Tears welled in her eyes and she hugged Phoenix tightly. “Thank you for everything. You… you did the impossible, Mr. Flight.”
Phoenix loosely wrapped his foreleg around her. “I just did what needed to be done,” he said.
“All the same, thank you.” Cinder gently let go. “Maybe we’ll work on a mystery together when I come back.”
“We’re kind of supposed to be on opposite sides…” Phoenix said.
“Everyone is on the side of justice!” Justice Bright shouted.
Cinder laughed. “You take care too, Bright.” She smiled and closed her eyes, her breathing slowing down. Then, suddenly, she collapsed like a puppet with cut strings.
“Aaah!” Phoenix dove to catch her but ended up just falling himself, with her falling on top of him. “Oof.”
“What the!?” Faerie Dust stood up, blinking her violet eyes and looking around in dawning comprehension. “Oh, wow! Cinder took me to the courtroom! Did you get to say goodbye?”
“Yeah, it was very nice of her,” Phoenix said, standing up and brushing himself off. “But I’m glad you’ll be with me to see my first official not guilty verdict.”
“Just the first of many, I’m sure,” Faerie Dust said.
“We’ll see.”
The small party went through the courtroom doors, letting them slam behind them.
***
And this is how my journey as a lawyer begins…
I’ve been preparing and wishing so much for this I can barely believe it’s here.
And to think it only happened because of such strange circumstances…
If Mystic had had her way…
…
…Mystic and I still have a lot of reckoning to do.
I have no idea what to expect…
But if Dusty’s by my side, I think it’ll be okay.
I hope.