//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 Bonus: Victim and Killer Free-Time Events // Story: Super Dangan RonPonya: Set Sail for Despair Isles // by Serenade-Stereo //------------------------------// Swift Justice (1) "Drat...I think I fucked up..." Swift grunted. "Why? What happened?" Techno raised an eyebrow. "It's about Bright. I may or may not have...found her book and forget to give it back to her..." "And why is this a problem?" "Because she came up to me earlier and asked if I knew where it was and I said that I didn't know because I forgot I had it and she said that if she found out who took her book she'd rip their...well...I think you understand where it's going." Swift cringed. "Right...well why don't you go give it back to her? Just say you found it somewhere, no biggie." "I guess...but I realise that things like this happen a lot. Me forgetting things, I mean." "Examples being...?" "Like this one thing in Elementary School, I was put into a group for a class project...actually I think it's what got me into law..." A class project...? I wonder if they were studying...? "So your time in Elementary School...was spent looking at the courtrooms...?" "We had to make up a mock-trial and my team was the defence. They chose me to be the attorney, naturally...anyway, so were sorting our case out and looking through the evidence, a photo of the defendant during the crime, the defendant's broach, the autopsy report." W-what kind of school does a fake MURDER trial?! "And then I...I lost all of the evidence by the time the trial came around..." "How did you lose all of that evidence?" "I was a real klutz back then, ya' see so I lost things pretty easily. Someone in my group found them just before the trial started though so it was all good!" "So how did the trial turn out?" "Um...why don't I save that for next time? It's kind of boring if I tell you everything at once, y'know?" I don't get his logic but I guess I'll need to come back later if I want the rest of the story... *Ding!* Hope Shard Acquired Swift Justice (2) "So, do want to tell me how it turned out in the end?" Techno initiated the conversation. "Hmm? Oh, the mock trial, I forgot about that!" Swift smirked. "So, how did it go?" "Well...in all honesty, I lost the trial." "Wait, really?!" "Yeah. You can't just be amazing at something right off the bat, being good as an attorney doesn't come naturally, y'know! It takes time and you need to know enough about the court system." "Well...I just assumed that because it was your talent and all..." "Yeah well it took some time for my talent to kick in. One day I was just really good at law and I got my cutie mark right away!" "Well I guess that practice really does make perfect, eh?" "Of course it does! You can never be good at something if you don't practice!" "So being an attorney must be a pretty big part of your life then?" "Yeah...I guess so..." "So was the trial the only reason you became an attorney?" "Hmm?" His face hardened. "Like, was their another factor in why you became an attorney or was it just the feeling of the trial?" "The...the trial...that's all..." He glanced to the left. *Ding!* Hope Shard Acquired! Swift Justice (3) "Techno...why do you think we're stuck here?" "Why do you ask?" "I've been asking everyone to see what they think. Bright, Rip, Quick and Paint all think it was chance. Bud, Clover and Clip think that we were chosen due to our abilities. So what do you think? Chance or an actual motive?" "Well..." I have been focused on other things so this is something I mostly ignored...I guess if I'm honest... "I have no idea." Techno shrugged. "I don't think we can really say when we've got no evidence on either argument." "Yeah, I get what you mean. You can't make an argument when there's no evidence to back up what you say. It just becomes baseless conjuncture." "You'd know about that?" "Well duh! Attorneys and prosecutors generally bluff more than once during a trial. The hard part is finding the evidence to back it up though so it can fall flat on its face." "Isn't the law kind of flawed though?" "Flawed? What do you mean by 'flawed'?" "I'm just looking for your opinion on it. Do you think the law is perfect or do you think there are just parts of it that should really be revised?" "T-the law...I'd never do anything to tarnish the law..." "Huh...?" I wonder why Swift seems so upset all of a sudden...? *Ding!* Hope Shard Acquired! Swift Justice (4) "Swift, can I ask you something? You have to answer it as well, don't run away from the question cause that'll just make me more curious!" "Woah!" Swift grinned. "You seem uncharacteristically serious, what's up?" "Last time we talked, you mentioned that you would never tarnish the law after I asked if you thought it was flawed." Swift's face stiffened. "So what is your real answer? Do you really think the law is perfect?" "...nothing's perfect, Techno." "So you think that there are flaws?" "Of course there is. That's a problem, it can be bent in ways to favour one side...but I don't win my cases like that. If I'm not winning them with the evidence I have and all I'm doing is bending the rules in my favour then that's just as bad as cheating! Some people bash attorney's because we 'defend the guilty' but...that doesn't always happen. I have a knack for knowing if someone's guilty or innocent. If I'm defending them, then that pony is innocent." "I didn't realise you were so passionate about all that." "I am." Swift nodded. "We need the law but we don't need those who abuse it." "So, saving the innocent, is that the other reason you got into law?" "Hmm?" "Aside from that mock trial you told me about before, what was the other reason you got into law?" "...Techno...I might tell you in due time but not right now..." *Ding!* Hope Shard Acquired Swift Justice (5) "Hmm..." Swift's been awfully quiet for a while...I wonder if something's bothering him? "Techno. I think I'll tell you the other reason I got into law...but it's sort of a long story, are you sure you want to hear it?" "Well, only if you're okay with telling me..." "I am, so...I'll take that as a yes...?" Swift shrugged. "Well...it was after I had lost the mock trial, my parents found out about it about a week later. The reason I never told them though...was because my dad's the Attorney General of Las Pegasus. I knew if he found out, he would over react about it...me being the standing attorney and all..." "So did he?" "Big time..." Swift sighed. "Right after he found out, he started teaching me all about the law. Linking evidence, cross examination, the whole bunch. It was really tiring and I didn't really have time to make friends outside school hours...I was alone. About a year later, my dad managed to get me a chance to take the bar exam and I passed...that's when I became an attorney." "So you never wanted all this?" "Not at the start but once I started clearing the innocence of ponies...I started to realise that there are going to be those out there that need me to help them and if I don't do that...then some other attorney with impure court tactics might take their case. I don't finish a case without finding the true culprit, I never let a trial finish without one...that's what an attorney should be, someone who helps the innocent clear their name." "Wow, I never thought your reason went so in depth..." Techno smiled. "Well...thanks..." Swift blushed out of embarrassment of the story. "Do me a favour though...don't tell anyone this story, I don't like talking about my past..." "You have my word..." "Thanks Techno. Remember this..." Swift's expression went serious. "No matter what...if you bend the rules in your favour, it's practically giving up half way through the fight..." "Thanks Swift." I really feel closer to Swift after all this time. This is defiantly a friendship between us that'll last when we leave this island. "Thanks for being a friend Techno, let's do our best to survive. One-hundred and one percent!" *Ding!* Flower of Hope, Complete! Item Got! Swift's Underwear: Swift's favourite briefs, well...not really. His father controls every part of his life including his wardrobe so all of his underwear is the same. Clover Penny (1) "Hmm...buttercups..." Clover nodded with a smile plastered on her face. "Er...what?" "Buttercups. You know, the yellow flower? It came to mind when I looked at the sun. The ocean reminds me of bluebells and the sky...the sky remind me of daisies..." "Daisies?" "Because of the clouds. So, what do you want to talk about?" "Well...why don't you tell me more about yourself? Where do you live?" "Currently it's Canterlot, I actually lived really close to the school which my parents and brother were happy about. Sending a middle schooler off to a school in such a widely populated city must have worried your family, right?" "Well a little bit. They didn't expect me a want to leave as easily as I did. I'll admit I did feel a little guilty of that..." "Why's that?" Clover raised an eyebrow. "Cause I still left even though they weren't sure if it would a good idea and I just ignored them and went...look where that got me." "Well, I think looking on the bright side is always important. For example, we got to meet so many amazing and diverse people on this island. I love meeting new people, it shows how incredible the world actually is, don't you agree?" "I guess that might a little bit exaggerated but I do have to agree with you..." "E-exaggerated...? I meant every word! I'd never say something without meaning it! Lying...lying such a mean thing to do!" "But what if it was to spare somebody's feelings...?" "W-well...I don't know. I've never encountered situations like that before...I always spent my time in my home or out in the garden. That might be why..." That explains a few things... Techno smiled softly as Clover let out a small giggle. *Ding!* Hope Shard Acquired! Clover Penny (2) "Ah..." Clover murmured contently. "It's so peaceful today, don't you think?" "I guess it's a little quieter than usual but...I wouldn't say peaceful." "Because of how tense everyone is?" "Yeah. That'll be it..." Techno let out a heavy sigh. "Clover, what exactly is this all about cause it clearly isn't some sick joke." "I know...but we'd never do something like that! Right, Techno?" "Of course not. Not that I could if I wanted to anyway..." "W-what?" "That came out wrong, didn't it? What I mean is...I feel strong enough to not give into temptation but even if I wasn't...my physical strength wouldn't allow me to do anything. I'm probably the weakest on the island." "Well you could always set up a trap to kill someone, slingshot a knife or something..." Techno raised an eyebrow. "S-sorry, my brother is a strategy expert and I always hear his weird battle plans..." "Battle plans...?" "I find it weird to talk about...my family are very closed minded, my older brother and myself excluded from that though...actually maybe it's just me..." She frowned. "They all find it hard to listen to others and aren't very open to another person's opinion unless it perfectly matches their own. It can be a real problem when I want to do something and they disagree with me..." "I can imagine..." "But...we support each other when it matters the most so its not so bad." As long as your happy I suppose... *Ding!* Hope Shard Acquired! Clover Penny (3) "Umm...Techno, can I ask you something really private...?" "What?" Techno paused. "Sure, if you really want to..." "G-good. I need to ask you something important...are you and Rip going out?" "W-w-w-w-WHAT?!" Techno fumbled with his words. "I heard a rumour from the rest of the girls that you were, I got curious about it. Sorry if it makes you uncomfortable!" "I-it's fine...Rip and I aren't going out, Clover. That's just something one of them made up..." But why though...? "Oh, alright then. I was just wondering for Rip..." "Wait...d-did, uh, did...Rip ask...?" "Well no...but I thought it was best for her to know. I like everyone on the island and if there's something that would make them happy I would love to help make it happen! It's a great feeling when you help someone achieve something!" "You know, you're probably the most optimistic one out everyone on the island!" "Do you really think so...?" Clover blushed. "I don't know about that..." "Well name one other person that would be willing to go around in their free time to help everyone be happy whilst being able to look on the bright side of things the entire time?" "Well...Bud might." "Bud is too busy trying to get Aqua to like her, remember?" "Y-yeah. I guess that's true though I can't always look to the positive side of things. Nobody could do that." "What do you mean?" "N-nothing...forget I said anything..." Well that was kind of weird...I wonder if something's bothering her? *Ding!* Hope Shard Acquired Clover Penny (4) "Uuu..." Clover whimpered. "T-Techno...!" "What's wrong? Did something happen?" "It's about the garden I've been creating just outside the farm, I don't know why but the plantation there have all started to wilt and die! I don't know what I'm doing wrong!" "Maybe you forgot something?" "I never forget anything though! I'm supposed to be the best gardener in Equestria and I went and forgot something?!" "Hey...speaking of which, why did you start gardening...?" "Hmm? I never told you?" Clover paused. "Well...it's because it's really relaxing." "That's more like a reason you like it. Not why you started." "O-oh...sorry...well, I suppose it's because of my grandmother. It's a really cliché sounding reason though..." "Well. Why is that?" "At first it was because of my previous ambition. I wanted to be a really amazing chef like my grandmother was. No matter what she made, it was always amazing...but, she passed away when I was seven..." "Oh. I'm sorry to hear that..." Techno rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "I-it's fine. She had left me her recipes but the problem was that most ingredients couldn't be bought in Canterlot so I had to grow them myself. I was under a lot of stress at that time so gardening really calmed me down. The relaxation and the satisfaction of seeing the plants grow made me really happy. That's why I began gardening." "So what happened to the recipes?" "My mother uses what I grow to make the food. They may not be as good as grannie's but I still enjoy them...hey! When we get off this island, you should come around to my home. You should really try it sometime!" "Maybe I will, thanks!" Techno smiled. *Ding!* Hope Shard Acquired Clover Penny (5) "So, Techno...?" Clover fidgeted. "Yeah?" Clover seems really on edge today... "C-could I...could I tell you a small story?" "Story? About what?" "Well. Back when you said I was always looking on the bright side of things...there's actually a really long time when I just had the inability to see anything good in life." "What do you mean...?" "It..." Clover bit her lip. "It was a long, long time ago, before I lived in Canterlot. It was me, my parents and my brother. You remember when I was talking about my brother and his battle strategy stuff? Well, I went to visit him whilst he was looking into that and something really unfortunate happened...someone really close to him died. It was hard for him, I tried to comfort him but he would just get angry at me...we were really close so whenever he was happy, I was happy." "So because your brother was so down...?" "I was really sad as well. It wasn't just that either. During that time was when my granny died..." So Clover got hit twice as hard then... "When that happened, I felt like just curling up in a room and dying. It was the worst feeling I've ever had and I had never been able to see anything good in life. It wasn't a state of depression but it could have mistaken as that. My brother in hat time...he injured me. I hide it at all times because if I don't...then...s-sorry that part is just too personal." "It's fine..." Techno spoke softly, seeing her tremble. "It's not just that injury though! I hid my entire life! My entire personality and identity-!" She gasped, covering her mouth. "Y-your...identity?" Clover paused before taking a deep sigh. "I hide my identity because of past reasons that I don't want to ever have to bring up again...I'm really sorry, Techno. It's like all this time you've been getting to know a fake instead of who I really am!" "Not true. It doesn't matter what you say here today, Clover...you are, and always will be, the Clover I grew to know." "T-Techno..." She sniffled, drying her eyes. "There's only one you that I know...and I can tell she's as real as anything...don't go getting so down. Without you, there would be nobody to keep everyone happy." "B..." Clover closed her eyes. "T-thank you Techno...for listening to everything. Not to mention putting up with my long stories." "I just want you to know that I'll always be here if you need someone to talk to..." "I'm grateful..." Clover is so intricate, I don't fully understand her yet...but I feel like this might as close as I could get right now...she might open to me at some point but for now, I'm happy to be this close to her and be her friend that she can trust. "Techno. You're such a nice person..." She muttered something under her breath after that. "Rip would be lucky to have you..." *Ding!* Flower of Hope, Complete! Item Got! Clover's Underwear: Clover's favourite black underwear. Part of the new 'Military World, women's line! Helping shape the female soldiers of the future!'