//------------------------------// // Turnabout Thievery: Trial day one part 2. // Story: Malum Prohibitum: Ace Equestrian Attorney // by Paradox Theory //------------------------------// September 15, 12:30 PM Canterlot Courthouse Defendant Lobby No. 2 "ARE YOU CRAZY?!" Sleuth practically yelled the moment the doors closed. "Most likely." Malum replied without missing a beat. "But it's our only chance!" "But they won't listen to what I have to say!" Sleuth argued. "Then, you tell the TRUTH. And I'll stick to using that to prove you weren't involved!" Malum explained. "I. . I don't like this Malum." Vivid spoke up, "Your whole career rests on Sleuth. Aren't you worried?" "Yes, I am worried." Malum answered, placing a hoof on Vivid's shoulder, "But if I don't try, then it's my fault another innocent pony got accused." "Wait, another innocent pony?" Sleuth echoed. "Yes, another one." Malum replied, "My mother was convicted of two murders. I plan to find the truth behind that case as well." Sleuth was quiet for a moment, then spoke up "I believe you." Before Malum could answer, the bailiff called out. "Will the defense and it's co-council enter the courtroom? The trial is about to reconvene." "Well, let's hope we can turn this around. . ." Vivid sighed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ September 15th, 1:00 PM Canterlot Courthouse Courtroom No. 2 The Judge smacked his gavel to get the rooms attention. "The trial will now reconvene." The judge announced. "Defendant, are you ready to testify?" "As I'll ever be." Sleuth answered from the witness's stand. "Then please testify to the court about what you did on the night of the murder." The judge asked. WITNESS TESTIMONY --What I did--- As some of you suspect, I went to the gardens to steal something. But, when I got there, I didn't see another pony. I heard the hedges rustle more then they should. So I left before whoever I heard could spot me. Then I came back later, thinking I could still recover the items I came there to grab. But that's when I saw the body, and by then, I was found. But I swear I didn't see anypony else! --End-- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ". . ." The Judge sat there in silence. "Your Honor, the defendant is lying! It's clear as day!" Durum pleaded. "Can you prove that? Can you prove he entered the gardens without seeing anypony?" Malum countered. Durum growled quietly, but said nothing. "So Malum, you are confidant in your defendant, can you please cross-examine him?" The Judge asked. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CROSS EXAMINATION --What I did-- As some of you suspect, I went to the gardens to steal something. Malum slammed his hooves on his desk. "Alright Sleuth, I'm cutting straight to the point!" "O-ok?" Sleuth answered in an unsure tone. "How did you enter the gardens?" Malum asked. "As a thief, I never enter through the front entrance. I teleported." Sleuth answered. "He is lying!" Durum shouted, "I doubt he even knows how to!" "I do too you idiot!" Sleuth yelled. "ORDER IN THE COURT!" The Judge hollered. "Malum! Keep your client in check!" "R-right your honor." Malum gulped. "Do you want a demonstration then?!" Sleuth continued to yell at Durum. Durum smiled. "Sure, show us. Teleport!" "ORDER!" The Judge hollered again, "I will allow this demonstration as long as Malum does not help in anyway." "I-i don't know how to teleport, your honor." Malum admitted, "But I'll promise all the same." "Then will Sleuth teleport?" The Judge asked, "But, you are not allowed to teleport out of this room." Sleuth nodded before firing his horn. In an instant, he was gone. A few moments later he appeared next to Durum. "Satisfied?" Sleuth asked before teleporting back to the witness stand. "But. . .if that's true. . ." The Judge asked, stunned. "Then that leaves us with another hole in our testimonies," Malum answered, "Who left the second set of hoofprints?" "That was the victim then!" Durum shouted, having rebound from the turn of events. "BUT HE COULDN'T HAVE!" Malum countered. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?!" Durum asked in surprise. "Because by the time Sleuth left, somepony was already there!" Malum answered. "So, who was already in the gardens when Sleuth left?" The Judge asked. "Simple, your honor, it was THE VICTIM!" Malum stated. "Malum," Durum slowly and carefully spoke, "I want you to tell us how you think things went down, and stop beating around the bush." Malum smiled, "is that all?" "Yes." Malum nodded before speaking again, "Here's what happened:" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Sleuth was afraid of losing some valuable possessions that he had hidden. So he made his way to the Canterlot Gardens. There, he found his possessions intact. However, before he could collect them, he heard another pony approach and he left. This pony was the Black Bandit, who had barely opened the statue when the true killer attacked him! After this, the killer disappeared and that's when our witness arrived at the scene of the crime." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The whole court sat in silence for a few moments. "I'm sorry, but the police are very thorough. They didn't find any hollowed out statues." Durum stated, "That rules out half of your explanation." "Where was the body found?" Malum asked Durum. "It was found about five feet from the northern hedge." Durum explained. Malum began to laugh, "That's why they didn't find the statue, they didn't know which one was hollowed, not like Sleuth and the victim." "So, what are you suggesting?" Durum questioned Malum. "Simple, the Victim was indeed poisoned. By the knife." Malum explained, "And while he was alive, the killer dragged him towards the closest hedge." "And that's when the witness came in?" Durum asked. Malum nodded, "Exactly. The true killer didn't have time to hide the body, so he left it there and that's when Sleuth returned." "Hmm. . ." The Judge hummed, "The only problem I have with this explanation is who is the real killer?" "Well Malum? Who did it?" Durum asked. "I don't know." Malum answered. "You see your honor, a bluff until the end." Durum stated. "I don't know because YOU DIDN'T CALL HIM!" Malum finished. The court once again burst into a frenzy as the judge tried to get control. "ORDER!!" The Judge hollered one last time, "The next pony to make a sound will be held in contempt!" "So Malum, tell us, who didn't I call?" Durum asked. "Simple, the one and only other pony there that night, the night guard!" Malum announced with determination. "But he has an airtight alibi!" Durum hissed. "Oh really?" Malum smirked, "I call the Night Guard's alibi into question!" "N-no!" Durum screeched. "The defense casts suspicion on the guard!" Malum finished speaking, much to the surprise of the court. "Clearly this was a mistake Your Honor, there was no fourth pony on the scene!" Durum pleaded with the Judge. "Hmm. . You know, I'm starting to wonder about that guard's alibi myself." The Judge stated, "Didn't you say he was the only guard on his post last night?" Durum screeched. Malum nodded, "That's right. He was the only guard. He had to have seen the victim." The Judge nodded in agreement. "You are absolutely correct. I do believe I can do something now." Malum waited with bated breath. "Seeing as the hour is late, I'm going to adjourn court proceedings for today." The Judge announced, "Defense, I want you to find more evidence that this guard had something to do with it, and prosecution, you are to question the guard." "I understand." Durum spoke through clenched teeth. "Court is Adjourned!" The Judge said with one final smack of his gavel. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ September 15th, 2:00 PM Canterlot Courthouse Defendant's Lobby "I can't believe you pulled that off!" Vivid nearly shouted as she entered the lobby. "I can't believe I didn't ask Sleuth about teleporting beforehand." Malum sighed as he entered right behind her. "And I can't believe that a guard would murder a pony." Sleuth added, now in the room with them. "All I know is that I need some way to link the guard." Malum stated as he turned to face Sleuth. "And I have one more question to ask you." "Shoot." Sleuth replied, seemingly chill. "Why did you choose last night of all nights to show up?" Malum pressed. "Because, I was afraid that I'd lose that stuff if I didn't go as soon as I heard." Sleuth sighed. "Heard what?" Vivid wondered. "Heard that the Black Bandit was hired to steal my things." Sleuth answered, now staring into Malum's eyes. "So, it was only to lure you out." Malum muttered to himself. "Whatever it was, we need to go back to investigating!" Vivid practically cheered, now bouncing in excitement. "Please Malum, find the truth." Sleuth told Malum before being escorted out of the courthouse. "Well, I guess we'll search the palace entrance first." Malum stated before striding out of the courthouse. As he walked though, his mind went back to the strange mare in court. Who was she?