April 3, 11:25am
Canterlot Junior Highschool
After getting some salad for lunch, Phoenix and Aria went straight to her school, which was revealed to be a Junior Highschool. "Wow Aria, you may be a filly, but I guess you ranked up high grades to get in the Junior High quickly...", Phoenix commented with a hint of amazement.
"Aww, no biggie! I just love studying! I wanna be like my Sis!", Aria beamed with a dreamy smile, "She's the top of her class! She has the winning medals and stuff. And everypony loves her! They mostly love how she never misses a beat about everything! She helps with the organizations and find solutions and other things like that!". Phoenix found himself being amused about it. He didn't recall Sonata telling about herself being top of the class or even if anypony has ever liked her.
'I guess Sonata was more popular than Trixie. I'm kinda proud of it. Though, if she was like that, I kinda doubt she would take pictures of Rainbow Dash doing her... Uh... Thing...'
He cringed a bit after remembering those pictures of Rainbow Dash doing whatever she was doing that she considers a "hobby". What makes it worse is that his three friends also saw those pictures when he got home and Edgeworth thought it was some embarrassing fetish.
"Come on, Mr. Right! You kinda look as if you've never been to school before!", Aria said jokingly, making the lawyer snapped out of his thoughts. He saw the filly go to the entrance, which also has a pony guard. The guard motioned Aria to give the bag for inspections, in which she did. By the time Aria took off her saddlebag, Phoenix was dumbstrucked when he finally saw Aria's cutie mark.
It has three objects in a triangle position; a graduation hat (on the left corner), a magnifying glass (on the right corner), and an object (on the top corner) that is very, very familiar...
A yellow 9-shaped object.
Phoenix felt numb after seeing it. He was in more thoughts about the cutie mark and if it might have something to do with Sonata too. He shook off those thoughts as he saw Aria gesturing him to follow, probably after asking the guard for permission.
'Things are getting more coincidental and weird at the same time...'
April 3, 11:30am
Auditorium No. 6
Backstage
At first glance, Phoenix thought a lot of police ponies were looking on the scene since it's was a bit bloody. But there were only four or five. So shaking that thought off after getting permission to investigate, the two arrived at the crime scene. Phoenix readied himself to face up on actual dry pony blood. He cringed at a thought of seeing a dead pony, which is gruesome and terrifying. The main lights of the place switched on and the crime scene was now shown; there was a tape marking of where Aria was laying when she was almost-murdered, and some dried blood inside and outside the tape marking head part.
"Heh... Brings back memories...", Aria joked with a nervously smile, not noticing how Phoenix cringed again after hearing the joke.
"Okay, no time for jokes. Time to get investigating.", Phoenix spoke up, getting his materials ready, "The police removed some major evidences, so we better find the minor, but maybe important, clues. And Aria, I'll take care of the notes. I think Sonata wanted you to rest from using your horn or it will damage severely.".
"Alright, Mr. Right! I'll do anything what you said when it's coming from Sis!", Aria said before giggling, "Because you're just... Special to her~". Phoenix couldn't hold back a groan.
'Give me a break, will you?'
Phoenix put on his gloves and looked around the scene. He took his small camera from his bag and took a photo of the crime scene.
'Whatever the murder weapon is, it must've been hard, blunt object. The culprit must've took the weapon after they did their heinous work here...'
Crime Scene Photo added to Court Records.
There isn't anything else unusual about the place, that he thought. Then he got an idea as he turned to Aria. "Aria, I know this might be a sore subject, but I wanna hear about this from you.", he spoke as he kneeled down in front of the filly.
"Hear about what from me?", Aria asked with a head tilt, "What do you mean?".
"Look, I know you might get scared that whatever happened here might prove Sonata's guilt, but I still want your full honesty about this situation.", the lawyer said, trying to be as sincere as possible, "Do you remember anything that happened before you were attacked?". Aria paused for a bit as she did a thinking pose, trying to remember the events that took place.
"Mm... Actually, I do remember one thing...", she admitted as she recalled some things that happened, "Around 8:10pm, that was the time the graduation awards were done given, I went to the backstage to get my saddlebag, knowing Mr. McStuff-a-lot is also waiting for me. After I put my bag on and got him out, I felt like a "BOMP!" on my head. Then I blacked out. And that's it.". Phoenix nodded after taking down the notes on his notepad. Then something clicked.
"Wait... Who's Mr. McStuff-a-lot?", he asked in a bit of confusion, to which Aria giggled in response. Forgetting about her older sister's reminder, Aria used her magic to levitate a teddy bear out from her bag.
"Mr. Right, this is Mr. McStuff-a-lot! My studying partner!", she said with a smile, "Sis made him for me and gave him to me a week before my graduation night." Phoenix was a bit surprised to see the bear's design; having a vest and a bow tie. Nevertheless, he didn't know that Sonata had a thing about making stuff toys. However, what caught his attention is that there were a few bloodstains on the bear.
'Bloodstains...!? But how... Was the killer looking for something in Aria's bag after she got killed?'
Mr. McStuff-a-lot added to Court Records.
"I see... So you went to the backstage on purpose...", he noted after thinking a bit, "Do you have somepony to confirm that you did go to the backstage for your bag?".
"Yep-yep! My friend, Willow Breeze!", Aria answered right away, "She's in a different school level, but same school like me. Her graduation doesn't happen until next week so she was at the backstage, helping with the lighting effects and stuff. When I left my saddlebag in the backstage before the graduation started at 6:30, she told me she will look after it until the graduation ended, when the awards are given at 8:10.".
"Willow Breeze... Okay...", Phoenix said, taking down more notes about Aria's alibi, "Was she still there after the graduation ended?".
"Yeah, for a bit. We met up as I went to the backstage to get my bag and she said she's gonna go home. So she left and I went to the backstage by myself.", Aria finished her story with a smile, leaving Phoenix in thoughts.
'So Willow Breeze was at the backstage from 6:30 pm until 8:10ppm. That's quite a long time... Aria confirmed that Willow left around 8:10pm, so I won't cast suspicions that she could've taken part in the crime...'
Phoenix remembered the trial starts tomorrow. Then it hit him. "Aria, one more question, if you don't mind...", he stampered a bit, "Are you gonna testify tomorrow? About what you told me? Did a prosecutor or one of the police asked you any questions?". Aria gave a look.
"Uh... You just asked three questions, not one.", she replied as she scratched her head a bit, making Phoenix sweatdropped on her naive nature, "Also, what's does "testify" mean?".
"It means you're gonna tell the court what you saw when you go to the witness stand.", Phoenix explained, understanding that Aria doesn't have experience about going to court, "After all, you're the surviving victim so it's pretty much likely that whatever you tell to the court, there's a 50/50 chance of Sonata being guilty or not guilty.". Hearing the last four words, Aria felt a bit sad.
"Does that mean I have to lie so Sis wouldn't get guilty?", she asked, taking pity of herself and her older sister, "I don't want her to be away from me again...".
"Aria, like I said; there's a 50/50 chance of Sonata being guilty or not guilty. And you don't lie in court if you were to testify.", the lawyer explained further, "Yes, finding you sister guilty can be very hard to handle. But at least be relieved that you told the truth and we all find the truth behind this mess.".
"The truth?", Aria questioned, "So if I don't have to lie, I just tell the truth, and even though Sis may be found guilty, I'll still be relieved of what the truth is?".
"Yes, well, close. Seeking the truth is the main motive when it comes to court. For instance, your sister's life depends on you. And if you don't tell the truth, I'm sure Sonata wouldn't be happy about it.", Phoenix replied, "The truth can hurt at times, but it will feel like a sweet relief to finally let it out.".
Aria nodded, having to understand everything. "I'll do my best, Mr. Right. I promise I'll tell the truth tomorrow, just like how I told you.", she promised whilst raising a hoof. Phoenix smiled, appreciating Aria's cooperation.
'Tomorrow is gonna be a big day. There are just a few evidences around the scene... I guess I gotta expect the worst and hope for the best again...'
Court Records
Evidences:
Canterlot Attorney Badge
Received from Aria. I have no idea how she managed to get this after a bargain with the adult ponies.
Magatama
A present from Maya. It reacts to people (or pony) who have secrets in their hearts.
Crime Scene Photo
The crime took place in the backstage. A few bloodstains were left by the tape marking. No weapon found.
Mr. McStuff-a-lot
A teddy bear made by Sonata and was given to Aria, a week before the graduation night. It's covered a bit in bloodstains.
Profiles:
Maya Fey
A Spirit Medium in training. I don't know what will be her reaction if she sees Sonata.
Pearl Fey
Maya's cousin and also a Spirit Medium in training. Determined to make me and Maya an official couple.
Miles Edgeworth
My friend-rival at court. Shows no interest in anything except a few that catch his attention and curiosity.
Twilight Sparkle
An Alicorn princess who summoned me back to Equestria with my friends. She's also my co-counsel in court.
Pinkie Pie
A hyperactive party pony. I don't know what else to describe about her.
Fluttershy
A shy Pegasus who loves animals. I have to tell her I'm not an actual phoenix.
Sonata
Mia's look-alike as a pony. Once charged of blackmailing, and now charged of frustrated murder. She's my new client.
Aria
Maya's look-alike, Sonata's younger sister, a newly graduated filly, and a victim of frustrated murder. She loves Sonata so much and she seems to be having headaches and weak magic due to her head and horn injury.
Willow Breeze
Don't know much about her except that she's Aria's friend who is in a different school level. She was at the backstage on the night of the murder, 6:30 to 8:10.