//------------------------------// // Background // Story: Violet Edge: Ace Prosecutor: Turnabout Buttons // by Magic Step //------------------------------// “Edgy Edgy Edgy Edgyyyyyyyyy~” Violet Edge jolted awake. “Where am I?” A periwinkle unicorn mare was standing over him. “Your name is Edgy!” “No; call me Violet Edge!” Violet Edge squirmed away from her and sat up. The white halls, the fluorescent lighting… this was a hospital corridor. Why was he lying on a bench in a hospital corridor again…? “Trick question!” the mare reared her legs into the air. “Yay, the spell worked! You’re not, like, a total amnesiac!” That bobbed white mane with a streak of blue… that cutie mark of a heart-shaped lock… The pink dress, the dark purple scarf… Right. Her name was Adorabelle Beauty; she was Violet Edge’s neighbor, Gifted Unicorn Academy Classmate, and constant companion, whether he wanted her around or not. “What do you mean total amnesiac?” Violet Edge rubbed his forehead; he had a massive headache. Shouldn’t have sat up so fast. “Well, like, your guardian taught me how to do the amnesia-reverse spell but, like, he didn’t actually trust me with it and neither did you but I did it, and you remember your name! I did it!” Adorabelle swished her long white tail. “That’s an exceedingly low bar to clear! And… what, I have amnesia often?” Violet Edge took a moment to explore the clothes he was wearing. Running his grey hooves against the fine imported purple silk and the delicate lace in the sleeves was gradually waking up more memories, vague images of his home, his office, important occasions where he felt more sure of himself because of his suit. And a vague teasing memory of a much more tattered suit than this, an old one, cheap and worn day in and day out… ...and packing that tattered suit into a box enchanted with preservation spells, knowing he could have suits much finer, but that tattered suit was the one he’d never be worthy of… “Oh, yeah, like, it’s called um…” Adorabelle interrupted his musings. “Auto-Amnesia Enchantment, um… I forget. But, like, when you were a kid, something happened that was so terrible that, like, your little brain couldn’t take the trauma and you erased your own memory of it. You never recovered your memory of that event. So, like, whenever something happens that slightly reminds you of that thing, you erase your own memories again, as like a reflex, to protect yourself.” “Right.” It was all coming back to Violet Edge now. “We don’t need to revisit tha- you tried to cure me yourself!? Without a doctor?!” “We didn’t have time to fetch a doctor!” Adorabelle said. “We’re standing in a hospital right now!” Adorabelle slowly looked around. “Oh… yeah… right.” Violet Edge’s next recovered memory was of how and under what circumstances to perform a facehoof; if his head hadn’t been so sore he wouldn’t have been able to resist. “Wait, if you’re curing me without a doctor, why are we in the hospital in the first place?” he asked. Adorabelle blinked at him for a few seconds. “Um… should I, like, give you time to figure it out on your own or do you really really need to know?” “How urgent is it? Is someone dying? A-a victim or a friend or…” Violet Edge stopped. What was he saying? His mouth was outrunning his brain. Instinctively he felt the pocket inside of his purple jacket, feeling the tiny bump of a concealed lapel pin. That was right; he was a prodigy prosecutor by profession. That’s why he’d said victim first. That was the most likely reason he’d be here. But was there a reason his mind had gone to friend? Did he had a friend who was likely to die in a hospital, or be murdered…? “Victim, yep,” Adorabelle said. Violet Edge dragged himself away from that morbid chain of thought; it was probably just a slip of the tongue. “Condition?” “He’s like, stable, and you were here to interview the family while waiting for him to wake,” Adorabelle said. “Where’s my organizer?” Violet Edge checked under the bench he was lying on and pulled out a leather folder. Unzipping it, he revealed a notebook and several pockets for paper and small evidence. “Surely I wrote about the case in here…” “Aw… but I wanted to keep telling you.” Adorabelle looked broken hearted. “It’s really really cool; there’s voodoo dolls involved.” “There’s what now?” Violet Edge flipped through the notebook, trying to remember today’s date. Instead he remembered an unrelated ongoing issue. “And stop describing violent crimes as cool! It’s not sensitive to the victims who are real ponies!” “Well, like, it’s not like anypony died,” Adorabelle huffed childishly. “Getting attacked is very traumatic even if you don’t die.” Violet Edge tried a new strategy of flipping to the blank back of the book and turning backwards, looking for the most recent entry. “That’s the spooky part, it was done by voodoo dolls, so the victim never saw an attacker,” Adorabelle said. “And the attacker was the victim’s own son!” “What?” Violet Edge stared at Adorabelle. “Then… there’s already been an arrest?” Adorabelle blinked at him for a few seconds. “Oh, like… no, his son is, like, nine or something; he didn’t know the doll was a voodoo doll. He was just setting it on fire because that’s what colts do, I guess. Burn stuff.” “That’s not normal; that’s sick!” Violet Edge snapped. In his brief anger he let the journal tumble off the bench onto the floor, losing his place. “Oh, I’ve got it!” Adorabelle’s horn started glowing and the journal rose back into Violet Edge’s hooves. That’s right. Magic. Despite Adorabelle’s references to spells, he hadn’t fully internalized the memory that magic was a thing you could casually do until now. “I don’t think you did the memory recovery spell right; can I see a real doctor?” Violet Edge said. “Aw, that’s not fair; it’s different every time and you’re doing fine…” Adorabelle swished her tail. “You never remember things that happened, like, an hour or something before memory loss anyway and we didn’t learn of this crime until just now. You’re always dashing around when new stuff comes up since there’s not that many murders in Equestria and you want to specialize.” Violet Edge rubbed his forehead again, wincing at the pain. “All right, again from the top. A small colt set a doll on fire that happened to hurt his father at the same time. Where did the doll come from?” “The dad brought it home from a business trip to Lucktown; do you remember what that is?” Adorabelle asked. Violet Edge racked his memory. It took him a while since first he had to recall what Canterlot was, what unicorns and earth ponies were, their history of race relations. He had to remember the complex network of technicalities that had ensued when uniting the three tribes into one confederate nation, picking the capitol, the powers the federal government under Celestia did and did not have. And most relevant to the question, he had to remember antiquated but long standing laws from a bygone day when it was still acceptable to pay for labor with food and a place to sleep. “Lucktown was basically a colony of Canterlot, a small farming community at the base of a mountain. Its population is earth ponies with few exceptions and none of them were free agents- they had an arrangement with Canterlot agriculture distributors where they would send most of what they grew to Canterlot and in return Canterlot would take care of all their material needs; no money was ever exchanged. Equestria in general and Celestia in particular was never happy about this arrangement since it violated laws against slavery in Equestria but neither Canterlot nor the Lucktowners were willing to break their agreement, so a special clause was made just for Lucktown. But in the wake of the famine thirty years ago Lucktown stopped being profitable and Canterlot ‘generously’ agreed to finally do as Celestia wished and let the Lucktowners be ‘free.’ Lucktown had no money because they’d never been paid and they have no food because nothing grows there anymore so now it’s a financial wreck.” “Ooh, that’s more than I knew myself,” Adorabelle said. “Why hasn’t anypony helped them?” “If you mean private charities, and Celestia herself, they have- many times. But Lucktown doesn’t want handouts; they want Canterlot to honor their agreement in good times and in bad times and they seem to think that if they just… let their children starve and then complain to Canterlot that they’re starving that Canterlot companies will feel bad and start paying them money again.” Adorabelle snorted. “Yeah, they’ll be waiting a long time for that…” “That’s all I know about Lucktown… and a few other cultural traits of theirs.” Violet Edge closed his eyes. “I don’t seem to recall voodoo dolls, though…” “They’re kinda obscure zebra magic; do you remember what zebras are?” Adorabelle asked. “Species from Zebrica with compatible biology to horses; immigration both to and from Zebrica from or to Equestria practically never happens because neither of us have much interest in learning about the other.” Violet Edge racked his brain for more. “And the only other tidbits I remember relate to strange creepy things they do or have that can be used in crazy murders.” “Yeah, like voodoo dolls!” Adorabelle’s eyes shone intently. “They’re these dolls made to look like a certain pony and if you hurt the doll you can hurt the pony it looks like.” “What was a zebra doll doing in Lucktown?” “That’s the mystery isn’t it?” Adorabelle skipped in a happy circle. “Stop looking so happy already!” Violet Edge looked down at his journal and finally flipped to the last page he’d written on. It was mostly notes on a pony named Bright Innovation; he’d been in the middle of applying for a patent for an automatic button making device. Some of his partners had also visited doctors complaining of mysterious ailments- sudden stabbing pain mostly, but one of them currently was in a wheel support from joint damage. They also collectively had trouble sleeping due to strange fevers and chills that started and faded in synch every day. They’d observed these strange occurrences in conversation but until Mr. Innovation’s spontaneous combustion, no one had thought this was a matter needing police. Hindsight was 20/20. The day before the incident Bright Innovation had come back from a business trip to Lucktown to meet with local button makers, the Dorset family, about using their designs. The meeting had apparently gone very badly but he hadn’t gone into any detail. “Seems like we have a pretty good thread to work along…” Violet Edge muttered as he flipped through the pages. “When can we leave for Lucktown?” “We’re going to Lucktown?” Adorabelle blinked. “Why not? Canterlot and Lucktown may be in the process of separating but Lucktown still isn’t self-governing, at least not in a way that Celestia has recognized yet. That means they fall under federal jurisdiction, which I work for.” “Yes, but, like, if there’s really cursed dolls… isn’t that out of our department?” Adorabelle swished her tail. “I mean, like, since fantastic out-of-the-way curses are more MACT’s thing?” “MACT?” Violet Edge’s memory of the acronym felt slow. “Magical Anomaly Containment Team, Celestia’s expert agents,” Adorabelle said. Now Violet Edge remembered. MACT had basically no limitations on its legal power because it was supposed to only intervene in matters that threatened the fabric of reality itself, on the level of national emergency or higher… but their boss, the Grand Protector, Safeguard, had a tendency to convince Celestia that everything was a potential emergency. “If we absolutely have to involve them we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Violet Edge huffed. “But if it turns out to be some hooligans messing with Zebrica trinkets they don’t need to get involved.” “Okay… So, like, I’ll go see about a coach down the mountain; you should inform your guardian and Gumshoe,” Adorabelle said. At the name Gumshoe Violet Edge felt a sudden spasm seize his body before he’d even remembered who that was. The memory just made him feel his headache getting worse. “Must I?” he groaned before he could check himself. Of course he had to; prosecutors weren’t allowed to investigate alone. A detective had to be there also. But oh how he wished he didn’t have to bring Gumshoe… *** Adorabelle accompanied Violet Edge out of the hospital and stayed with him just long enough to quiz him on the route to the police station. Violet Edge didn’t have much trouble retrieving it; the worst of his amnesia seemed to have passed. Once at criminal affairs he made his way to the detectives’ desks, observing all the ponies busy with their paperwork. The older, veteran detectives were all unicorns, mostly Canterlot natives- the few that had escaped a mass firing after Celestia had caught wind of the serious corruption rotting at the core of the city she called home. The other detectives were mostly in their twenties and all earth ponies, Manehatten imports. And then there was one non pony in the entire department. “Master Edgeworth!!” Something furry collided with Violet Edge’s side and he felt a wet nose pressed against his ear. “That’s disgusting! Get off me!” Violet Edge squirmed. “S-sorry!” The Diamond Dog in a detective coat released his grip on Violet Edge and backed off, tail between his legs. “Gumshoe, how many times do I have to tell you…” Violet Edge scowled. “I guess you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” “I’m not that old, sir…” Gumshoe whimpered. Gumshoe had been abandoned by his pack for being the runt of a litter and had been raised entirely by ponies. As a result his coat was clean and shiny and smelled much nicer than most members of his species. He had brown ears, a brown nose, brown paws, and a skinny brown tail, but the rest of his coat was off-white. “How’d visiting Mr. Innovation go, sir?” Gumshoe asked. “He still needs time to recover, but we learned about the possible source of the strange attack. We’re heading to Lucktown to interview suspects; how soon can you leave?” “Anytime sir!” Gumshoe reared on his hind legs in joy, pawing the air. He’d only known ponies his whole life and had picked up on their mannerisms instead of dog mannerisms; it was not a little unsettling. “Well, I can’t fault you for a lack of enthusiasm…” Violet Edge muttered. “I’ll fill you in on everything we know on the way to the carriage stop.” “I get to ride in a carriage!?” Gumshoe’s eyes bulged with excitement. “There’s no regular trains to Lucktown; the way is too steep and Lucktowners rarely leave and Canterlotians rarely visit.” Violet Edge turned to leave. Gumshoe bounded ahead of him to open the door. “Don’t worry sir; if there’s anything to be learned there I know you can figure it out!” “Your blind faith is noted.” *** Adorabelle was waiting at the Downhill Carriage offices with a mint green unicorn. The green mare’s eyes were glossy with tears. “Hey, like, guess what!? A friend’s coming with us!” Adorabelle pushed the unicorn forward, who smiled sadly. “Ah…” Violet Edge held out his hoof with some hesitation. “Have we met before?” “We… attended GUA the same year…” The mint unicorn shook Violet Edge’s hoof in a distracted way. “I’m the girl who had a mental breakdown and couldn’t afford school anymore…” She smiled too widely. “This is Lyra Heartstrings,” Adorabelle jumped in. “She was a music major so, like, I don’t think you really-” “That’s right; we were in the school orchestra,” Violet Edge said. “Right… you were an accomplished flutist.” Lyra stared at the ground. “Your absence was deeply felt,” Violet Edge said. He’d only gathered the news from hearsay; Lyra’s sudden breakdown and disappearance from GUA so soon before graduation had been a constant source of discussion. “I hate to ask you to recount a traumatizing event, but I’d prefer to not have my knowledge tainted with cruel gossip,” Violet Edge said. “What was the cause, exactly?” Lyra swiped her eyes with her hoof. “My older brother, Tree Trace… he left for a trip, promising he had a surprise and that he couldn’t tell us where he was going. That was eight months ago; mom and I have done all we can but we haven’t learned anything about where he is yet.” Violet Edge and Adorabelle exchanged knowing looks. Twenty-something stallions were the most at-risk for crime in Equestria. “When I ran into Adorabelle and she mentioned where you were headed… something clicked.” Lyra’s weak smile widened a little. “Do you mind… if I share a carriage?” “Not at all,” Violet Edge said with a small bow. “The three of us will do whatever we can to help you, Lyra.” “For sure!” Gumshoe said. “Obvi!” Adorabelle gave Lyra a tight side hug. “Thanks.” Lyra sniffled. “I can tell you more on the way.” *** The carriage road wasn’t very well maintained but Violet Edge had used the prosecution department’s travel budget to afford a high class buggy with shock-absorption spells, so the only real inconvenience they suffered was hearing occasional muffled thumps. The seats were plush velvet with individual tiny lanterns and adjustable air jets. The windows and their shades could be manipulated with a few buttons. “The police went over the usual suspects of course,” Lyra said. “Informants within Canterlot, Las Pegasus, etc…” “The missing ponies unit isn’t as well funded as you might think,” Gumshoe said. “Some might say deliberately under funded…” Violet Edge muttered. However much good Celestia wished she could do, the federal branch of the Equestrian confederacy only had a fraction of the budget that local city-states did and had to rely heavily on local support. The budget for local affairs in Canterlot was controlled by the aristocracy, and maintaining power within the aristocracy ultimately meant maintaining the status quo. And the status quo meant not prying too much into where your rich benefactors got all their money. “You’re pretty sure he didn’t leave Equestria?” Violet Edge asked. “The police checked the passport office and he never applied for one,” Lyra said. “And his cutie mark was in pony genealogy so he’d have no reason to go where other races live…” “I see. That’s good; the odds that he’s dead are much lower in Equestria.” Violet Edge was aware that he probably could have said that more tactfully. “But all the leads in the regular slave market were dead ends?” Lyra nodded, stifling a sob. “When they said they’d done all they could… We were in shock. Mom spent every penny she could spare on private detectives, and I… I stole tuition money to hire somepony on the black market.” “You did what!?” Violet Edge said. “Market informants!” Adorabelle chimed in, apparently trying to use excessive cheeriness to offset Violet’s horrified reaction. “You know, like, ponies who already are in the slave selling business so they know everypony to ask! They’re more effective than cops because cops are obligated to sell out everyone they know that’s breaking the law but the market informants aren’t.” “You stole money to hire a crook? What were you thinking!?” Violet Edge demanded. “Well it didn’t work anyway!” Lyra shouted, before breaking into tears again. Adorabelle hugged Lyra tightly while glaring at Violet Edge. “Well, what would your brother say if he knew you broke the law trying to find him? Do you think he’d be proud?” Violet Edge said. “Violet. It’s already happened. Shut up.” Adorabelle stroked Lyra’s mane comfortingly. “Don’t listen to him; he’s a prosecutor… that’s how he thinks…” “I don’t care if he’s mad at me; I just w-want him b-b-back…” Lyra sobbed. Violet Edge shut his eyes to try and block out distractions while he thought. He listened until the sobbing got softer. “So maybe he is in Lucktown?” Adorabelle asked. “I… I remembered… when you said it… that our dad had a suspected branch in his family tree that might have been from Lucktown… and I felt so stupid for not thinking of it before…” “Shh, it’s fine,” Adorabelle whispered. “If he’s there we’ll find him.” “You bet!” Gumshoe shouted. Violet Edge finally opened his eyes. “If your market informant couldn’t find him then that suggests he was never sold on any of the regular slave markets, which increases the odds we’ll find him exactly where he disappeared from. So if we learn that he was last seen in Lucktown, which still falls under Canterlot jurisdiction, we’ll be able to get a warrant to tear the whole town apart if we have to.” “R-really?” Lyra nearly smiled again. “I’ll see it done.” Violet Edge nodded his head in a quick bow. “Thank you, all of you!” “Aw shucks… it’s our job,” Gumshoe said with a goofy grin. Well, not YOUR job, homicide detective… Violet Edge thought. Lyra filled the rest of the ride talking about her brother. Violet Edge was really only interested in the physical description. Average height, teal unicorn with a pure white mane and tail, both worn long, dark blue eyes, cutie mark of a simplistic family tree. On Violet Edge’s end, he couldn’t recall any reports of any activity near Lucktown that even remotely suggested possible foul play… actually, in his memory, Lucktown rarely had anything to report to Canterlot… at all. If this was a town used to policing its own… there were going to be problems. The carriage finally stopped. The three ponies stepped out, expecting a carriage office. There was a wooden post a few feet from the carriage with an L carved into it. It was by the side of a mud road, only really distinguishable from the not-road parts of the ground by the fact that there were only about half as many plants growing in it. On the other side of the road was a barn that looked like it was abandoned fifty years ago. “Well… yay?” Adorabelle asked. Violet Edge tipped the driver heavily. “Are you going to be waiting for us, or…?” “Thirty minutes before you’re ready to leave, place a lit candle here.” The carriage driver gestured to the top of the wooden post. “The post is enchanted, so we’ll get word at the offices that instant, and we’ll start heading your way. Thank you for your patronage!” The four Canterlot ponies waved goodbye as the carriage left. “I’ve never been out of the city,” Adorabelle muttered nervously. “Look, this is just the carriage stop,” Violet Edge said. “I’m sure it’ll look better once we get further in.” They followed the mud road into town.