Important Ponies
Phoenix Wright: Defense attorney. Our hero. Currently undertaking the case of Pinkie Pie.
Twilight Sparkle: Phoenix's assistant. Is also a student of Princess Celestia.
Pinkie Pie: Accused of a brutal murder in Sugarcube Corner. Hyper as anything.
Rarity: Pinkie and Twilight's friend. Is a seamstress at Carousel Boutique, but aided Pinkie the night of the murder.
Private Conn: Young guard pony in charge of the investigation. Quite inexperienced.
Mrs. Cup Cake: Co-owner of Sugarcube Corner. Was out sick with a cold the night of the crime.
Tech Gear: Prosecutor for this case. An inventor in his spare time.
Sherbet Shiver: Victim of this case. Owned a rapidly-successful ice cream store in Canterlot.
Shutter Speed: Freelance photographer trying to strike it big in the news. Apparently witnessed the crime.
Trixie: A one-mare show. Currently in Canterlot on business.
Evidence
Equestrian Attorney's Badge: Badge dignifying my lawyering status. Wish it came in a different color…
Creampuff Delight: A gift from Mrs. Cup Cake. Apparently very tricky to make.
Sugarcube Corner Diagram: Describes how Sugarcube Corner looked the day of the murder.
Body Notes: The victim was stabbed hard, though there are several other cuts on her body.
Shutter's Camera: The camera supposedly used in capturing the crime on film.
…
Courtroom Lobby No. 2
Defendant's Lobby
9:52 AM
"It never gets any easier," Phoenix admitted to Twilight and Pinkie, as they were waiting to be called in. "Every case is like my first." He was particularly nervous about this one, given he had barely any evidence to go on.
"You've pulled out a victory the last time you were here," Twilight reminded Phoenix, giving an amused smile. "You can do it again."
"Yeah!" Pinkie agreed, bouncing happily. "You're the bestest lawyer in Equestria, Feenie! There's no way you'll lose!"
"Thanks, you two," Phoenix gave a small smile…before looking specifically at Pinkie. Hang on…
"Pinkie, can I ask a question?" he asked.
"You just did, silly!" Pinkie joked. "Sure!"
"Yesterday," Phoenix began, "you claimed that the victim came in at around 8 at night, right?"
"Yep!" Pinkie nodded. "She was visiting, I guess, 'cause I've never seen her before! I was thinking about the party I'd hold for her for a while!"
"But something seems off about that…" Phoenix muses, recalling another conversation yesterday…
"We're not sure," Conn admits. "Prosecutor Gear's looking into that too, sir. But I do have the autopsy…" He shows off the familiar police folder containing the details of this death. "Time was somewhere between 7:10 and 7:30 PM," he continues.
"Why did the murder happen an hour before victim came in?" Phoenix asked. "There'd have to be a reason."
"Hmm…No, I can't think of—OH WAIT!" Pinkie remembered something, and the process made her jump. "Celestia Savings Time ended a few days ago!"
"Celestia Savings Time?" Phoenix asked, confused. "I guess that's like Daylight Savings?"
"Not really," Twilight explained. "When it starts, we move our clocks up one hour, and back one hour when it ends."
So…Exactly like Daylight Savings, Phoenix thought. "And you had forgotten?"
"Yep!" Pinkie nodded. "I totally forgot to put our store clock back an hour! Guess that's why I thought it was later!"
"So in other words, the murder time fits," Phoenix says. "That doesn't help much…"
Sugarcube Corner Clock info added to the Court Record!
Just then, a court bailiff poked his head into the lobby. "Mr. Wright?" he called. "You're wanted in the courtroom."
"It's time," Twilight nodded. "Are you ready, Phoenix?"
"Yes," Phoenix said.
No, Phoenix thought.
…
Courtroom No. 2
10:00 AM
The murmuring of the ponies in the gallery could be heard…at least, up until the sound of a gavel.
"Court is now in session…" the judge, Phoenix's regularly-seen judge, says. "…for the trial of Miss Pinkie Pie."
A pause.
"Wait, Pinkie Pie?" he asks, confused. "She's the defendant?"
"Everyone can be a defendant, your honor," Tech says, from across the room. Cool as yesterday, he stood behind the prosecutor's bench, the animatronic claw typing away at his typewriter as if he wasn't even in the courtroom. "Before you ask, the prosecution is ready, too."
"T-the defense is also ready," Phoenix says, distracted by the sidetrack the judge went on.
"Yeah, I can't believe it still, either," Twilight says, from next to Phoenix. "It just doesn't seem right…"
I KNOW it's not right, Phoenix thinks, but I need to prove it.
"Now then," the judge says. "Mr…Gear, is it? You may begin your opening statement."
"With pleasure," Tech says, briefly stopping his typing. "The victim's name was Sherbert Shiver. Sometime between 7:10 and 7:20 the night of, she wandered into Sugarcube Corner to purchase a treat. Unfortunately, she was tricked." He chuckles at his pun; Phoenix cringes at that dark humor. "She was sliced several times with a knife, before killed by a single thrust. The culprit?"
His robotic claw readies itself, then thrusts, the pointer claw pointing towards the defendant's bench.
"None other than Pinkie Pie herself!"
This causes more muttering within the gallery, before being silenced again by the gavel. Tech smirks.
"That concludes my opening argument," he says. "Now I'd like to present the guard on duty for the investigation to elaborate."
"Conn," Twilight whispers to Phoenix, who nods.
"Agreed," the judge says. "Alright, send him in."
…
Soon enough, Conn was at the witness stand, helmet still blinding him.
"Name and occupation, if you please," Tech nods, receiving an immediate salute.
"Private Conn Stable, sir!" says Private Conn Stable. "I'm the first-time investigator on this case, sir!"
"Very good," Tech smiles, as if he wasn't the one who hired him. "Now then, if you could elaborate on what you've found, and what I've said?"
"Sir!" Conn salutes in an affirmative note.
…
Witness Testimony
Details of the Crime
"Like Prosecutor Gear said, the murder happened sometime between 7:10 and 7:20 PM, sir!" Conn begins. "He also was right about the murder weapon, and she was sliced up a lot, then killed by the forehead stab, sir! Nopony else was able to do the crime, so evidence leads to Pinkie Pie, sir!"
…
"Certainly looks up to authority," the judge approves. "They taught you well at the guard...academy..."
Conn nods proudly. "Happy to serve the force, sir!" he announces. After another nod from the judge, the latter turns to the prosecution.
"Also, something's bothering me," he says. "Has there been a motive established?"
"It's taken quite some digging, but we've found a motive, slim as it may be," Tech explains. "Apparently, Ms. Shiver was an up-and-coming ice cream salespony in Canterlot. Her sales have rapidly increased, to the point of challenging long-runner Sugarcube Corner. It's likely that, upon Ms. Shiver's entry, Ms. Pie removed the competition."
He's right, Phoenix thinks. It IS pretty slim...
"Very well, Mr. Wright," the judge says. "You may begin your cross examination."
"I don't think Conn's lying," Twilight confers. "But we're not getting the whole picture, either."
"I agree," Phoenix says. The best I can do is draw information out of him.
…
Cross-Examination
Details of the Crime
"Now, Mr. Stable-" Phoenix begins.
"Private Conn, sir!"
We're well aware, Phoenix thinks, with a sweatdrop. "You said something about the murder weapon?"
"Yes, sir!" Conn announces. "It was a knife, a real sharp one, too, sir!"
"Let me elaborate," Tech enters the conversation, the claw holding a plastic bag with the knife. At the hilt was a large pink heart, and both blade and hilt were caked with blood. "As you can see, the weapon was a cake knife, no doubt. Sprayback was certainly expected, and this knife collaborates. The location and size of the bloodstain is irrefutable; this IS indeed the knife."
The judge nods. "Interesting."
"In addition, the knife has already been checked for DNA," Tech continues. "There is only one match, and that is Ms. Pinkie Pie."
Phoenix is shocked back. Well, this already looks grim.
"The court accepts the murder weapon as evidence," the judge says. "Mr. Wright, you may continue."
Cake Knife added to the Court Record!
"Could you elaborate on the murder?" Phoenix asks, receiving yet another salute in response.
"Just like I said, sir!" he announced. "Plenty of gashes and cuts on her body, with the big one in her forehead!"
"Was there anything else about the body? No internal bruises or anything?"
"Not a thing, sir!"
"We now have the autopsy on file," Tech chimes in, holding said documents. "It confirms everything said already, naturally."
Autopsy Report added to the Court Record!
"And you mentioned that no one...er, no pony else..." Phoenix slips. "...was able to do the crime? Can you explain?"
"There was no other DNA on the knife, sir!" Conn says. "If anypony used it, we'd know!"
"What if somepony covered a hoof, or used something else?" Phoenix suggests. "Wouldn't that cover the blade?"
"OBJECTION!"
Tech stands on the other side, smirking, as the claw gently taps on his head; coincidentally, it reminds Phoenix of another prosecutor who did that motion. "Mr. Wright, recall the knife, and how the hilt was bloody due to sprayback," he says. "If somepony covered it, there would BE no blood! Further stating my point, no feasible form of cover was found on the premises."
"...Feasible?" Phoenix asks.
"As in, none the killer would have had access to, had there been another culprit," Tech explains. "If Ms. Pinkie used a towel, this would not explain her DNA on the knife, and there were no other towels out in the lobby." He smirks again. "Face it, Mr. Wright. There's no other way."
…
Soon enough, the judge slams his gavel again.
"I believe the evidence is clear," he says. "The murder weapon, time, and location are all cleanly stated."
"Naturally," Tech says, giving a sort of bow. "But, of course, we cannot have a trial without a witness, now can we?"
Phoenix and Twilight perk up at this. Fresh ammo!
"Do you think it's...?" Twilight says, before having her answer just then.
"The Prosecution calls Ms. Shutter Speed to the stand."
…
Soon enough, the paparazzi pony was at the stand, looking through her camera's viewfinder at all the sights court had to offer.
"Name and occupation, please," Tech says.
"My name's Shutter Speed, fella," she says, lowering her camera briefly. "I'm a freelance photographer tryin' to make her way up in the world, that's all." She takes a good look at the defense. "My, this could be a great pic!" She raises her camera again. "Say cheese, Wright!"
"I'm fine, tha-" Phoenix protests, just before—CLICK!-the camera goes off, temporarilly blinding him. Gah! What kind of light is that? Searchlight?!
"The witness shall refrain from photography while inside the court at all times," the judge says...just before getting the camera turned towards him.
"And we've got a great shot of the one behind it all!" Shutter cheers, camera ready. "C'mon, big guy, give your best smile!"
"Well, I've been told I have some pearly white teeth..." the judge says, completely forgetting what he had just said. "Should I raise my gavel for emphasis?"
Twilight simply stares at Phoenix, deadpan. "Is he always like this?"
"Unfortunately, yes," Phoenix says, equally deadpan.
"Ahem," Tech forces a cough, gaining Shutter's and the judge's attention. "Can we focus on the case, please? Your photo shoot can wait." He pauses. "Now, are we correct in hearing that you were present at Sugarcube Corner the night the murder took place?"
"Sure thing, Mr. Goggles," Shutter nods. "Saw the whole thing, too."
The gallery breaks into a clamor, silenced only by the judge's gavel. "Order! Order!"
"Could you describe the incident in question?" Tech asks; cool as a cucumber. Shutter happily displays a hoof up.
"You got it!" she announces.
...
Witness Testimony
What I Saw
"Alright, here's how it went down," Shutter says. "I was out looking for the next big thing. I pass by the bakery and, hearing loud noises, take a peek through the window. I got quite the scene, with the pink pony stabbing that orange one. I took a quick shot at them before I ran off."
…
The judge nodded. "So you weren't actually inside the bakery," he said.
"Indeed," Tech nodded. "And before anypony asks, we've checked." He smirked. "The bakery has a system of receipts. If she bought something, we'd know."
"Anyway, why would I go in there with a crazy-pony?" Shutter asked. "I get my shots, sure, but I'm not insane to get that close."
"I guess that makes sense…" Phoenix admits. Still, we're not getting the whole picture here…And something doesn't add up here…I think we can punch a hole through her testimony…
"Mr. Wright," the judge says. "Your cross-examination, if you please."
…
Cross Examination
What I Saw
"You said you had a photo of the crime?" Phoenix asked.
"Yeah, but I gave it to Goggles over there," Shutter shrugged. "He has it."
"Witness, please refrain from calling me 'Goggles'," Tech shuddered. "At any rate, yes, we have a photo."
He presented a photo to the court. It showed the back of Pinkie's body, and she held a knife. While it was black-and-white, the knife was visibly darker at the blade.
Photo of Murder added to the Court Record!
"Not my best," Shutter admitted. "But when you're outside, you go with what you can."
"So you didn't actually go inside the bakery?" Phoenix confirms. Shutter gave a nod.
"Yep," she said. "Stayed outside and got my scoop safely."
"That's odd," Phoenix says. He began to smile. "Because—"
"OBJECTION!" Tech called. "Mr. Wright, may I remind you that the bakery has receipts? She can't buy anything without a record being left."
"I guess," Phoenix says. But who says she had to buy anything? "Your honor, can we add that to the testimony?"
"Hmm…" the judge considers, before banging his gavel. "Very well. Witness, please amend your testimony."
"Sure thing, Beardy!" Shutter smiled, nodding. "At no point did I go in the bakery for anything—"
"OBJECTION!"
Phoenix extended his finger, pointing at Shutter. "Witness, I have an issue with your testimony."
"What about it?" Shutter asked. "I said all I said."
"You've claimed that you didn't go inside the bakery for anything," Phoenix says. "But I can think of at least one thing that would have you inside in no time."
"And what would that be?" Tech asked, smirking.
"Rarity," Phoenix answered. "Shutter is a major fan of Rarity's work, and Rarity was also working with Pinkie that night. If you saw Rarity through that window…" He points again. "There would be no way you'd resist meeting her!"
"Er…um…" Shutter looked pretty uncomfortable from this. "It's very, um…"
Phoenix slams his hands down on the desk. "Witness!" he called. "Did you or did you not enter the bakery?"
"Gah!" Shutter flinched at this outburst…which caused her to accidently set off her camera, blinding her. "Eek!"
The spectators began to mumble again, forcing the judge to slam his gavel a few times.
"Order! Order!" he called. "Ms. Speed, is this true?"
"S-so what if it is?" she asked, still shaken. "I s-saw what I saw, and whether or not I went in changes nothing!"
"Indeed," Tech nodded. "That photograph proves Pinkie wielded the knife at the time in question. Inside, outside…" he smirked. "It doesn't matter in the long run."
"Actually, it does," Phoenix counters, causing Tech to lose his smirk. "It proves that the witness is withholding information from the court." He looks to the judge. "Your honor. I request new testimony based on this new find. Why did Ms. Speed try to hide that she went inside the bakery?"
"I agree," the judge nodded. "Witness, I remind you that you are under oath. Now, explain why you kept this quiet."
"A-alright," Shutter nodded, calming down. "But it won't matter, anyway. I saw what I saw."
...
Witness Testimony
Inside Sugarcube Corner
"Yeah, I went in to see Rarity," Shutter admitted. "I was embarrassed to admit I was that much of a fanatic. But it's not like that changes a thing. I couldn't really see the victim in there, but as soon as I saw Pinkie come out with that stained knife, I scattered. Then I took a picture from outside to keep it secret. That's all."
…
"Hmm…" Phoenix muses to himself. The testimony didn't change much…
"You mention a stained knife," Tech said, drumming on his bench with the mechanical hand. "Elaborate?"
"It was red," Shutter explained. "Very red. I can't really nail down what it was, though…Could've been blood."
"The photo doesn't help much," the judge notes. "It shows there being some stains on the knife, but the lack of color doesn't help much."
"It was the scene of a murder," Tech shrugged. "No doubt it was blood."
"OBJECTION!" Phoenix called. "That's nothing but conjecture!"
"Is it?" Tech asked, smirking. "Explain to me, then, Wright: What could it have been?"
"It, uh…" Phoenix was starting to sweat. "It could have been—"
"HOLD IT!"
This time it was Twilight to call out, though she didn't address Tech or Phoenix; but rather, Shutter.
"Witness," she said. "You claim you weren't sure what the stain on the knife was."
"Yep," Shutter nodded. "It was hard to say to me."
Twilight shook her head. "But you're lying."
"Wha?" Shutter asked, sweating. "Wh—What are you talking about?"
"You knew perfectly well what the stain was," Twilight said. "Because you had seen it before."
"Mind filling me in?" Phoenix asked Twilight, who looked to the human lawyer.
"Hypersense," she simply said, and returned to Shutter.
"Hang on now!" Shutter called. "You don't have any proof of that!"
"Maybe," Twilight nodded. "But every time you've mentioned the knife, your eye twitched."
"Your honor, the defense's aide has lost it," Tech said, with no interest in his voice.
"No," Twilight said. "Everypony has a nervous tick, something they do when they lie. Shutter's is her eye twitch." With that, she slammed her hooves on the bench. "You've seen what the knife could have had on it, because you were around it!"
"Ack!" Shutter was shocked again, then blinded from her camera.
"Your honor!" Tech called out. "I insist you stop this battle of conjecture at once!"
"Yes, but…" the judge was concerned. "The witness' behavior is…unusual."
"There was something any bakery could have had in excess," Twilight said. "And that was frosting." She showed Shutter the picture of the shelves, stained with frosting. "Does this look familiar?"
"Ah!" Shutter paled. "T-that…"
Twilight nodded. "I thought so," she said. Then, for the benefit of the court: "A large amount of frosting was left on the shelves at the scene. Tech," she stared at the prosecution. "Was there any sign of a struggle?"
"…I investigated the scene thoroughly," he said, begrudgingly. "No. That's the only thing messed with in the lobby."
"It's reasonable to believe that the shelves were made a mess of on accident," Phoenix picks up. "And your reaction tells us you knew exactly how that went down."
"W—What does this have to do with the murder?" Shutter yelled, extremely nervous. "You're pushing me around over spilled frosting!"
"It does tell us something," Phoenix says, before pointing at Shutter once more. "That you may not have even witnessed the crime!"
Shutter freaked again, and after regaining her sight, she looked terrified. The court sounded with the murmuring of ponies again, which the judge silenced.
"Order!" he called. "Mr. Wright! Are you claiming that the witness wasn't there for the crime?"
"We both are," Phoenix nodded, 'we' meaning him and Twilight. "We believe that the 'blood' she witnessed was nothing more than frosting. It's only natural that there'd be frosting on a cake knife in a bakery."
Tech began chuckling. "You 'believe'?" he asked, amused, before slamming the metal hand onto the bench. "You'll have to do better than that, Wright. Much better. I see that you're still using conjecture as your argument." He smirked. "You'd have to present evidence."
"…Alright," Phoenix said. If I have any… He was sweating a bit.
"And it had better be good," Tech added, as Phoenix rifled through the Court Record for a clue. He scanned the autopsy, the knife…then his eyes touched upon Shutter's photo.
And saw something interesting.
"I have full proof that Shutter didn't witness the crime at the time she was there," Phoenix said, confident, gaining a smile from Twilight and a scowl from Tech.
"Excuse me?" he asked, venomous.
"Take a good look at this photo," Phoenix presented Shutter's photo of the crime. "In the photo, you can clearly see a clock, correct?"
"Yes, yes, it reads 7:10," Tech said, bored. "Within the timeframe of the murder. We get it."
"But is it really?" Phoenix asked, recalling what was said earlier…
"Celestia Savings Time?" Phoenix asked, confused. "I guess that's like Daylight Savings?"
"Not really," Twilight explained. "When it starts, we move our clocks up one hour, and back one hour when it ends."
So…Exactly like Daylight Savings, Phoenix thought. "And you had forgotten?"
"Yep!" Pinkie nodded. "I totally forgot to put our store clock back an hour! Guess that's why I thought it was later!"
"Apparently, Celestia Savings Time ended recently," Phoenix explained. "So the clocks had to be turned back an hour to adjust."
Tech began to lose his confident smirk, and actually began to sweat. "You're not implying…?"
"I am," Phoenix said, slamming down on the bench. "If the clock wasn't set back, it would look like it was 7:10. But it would really be 6:10." He pointed dramatically, with a flourish. "Shutter was a whole hour too early!"
"Urk…" Tech moaned, before flinching back heavily. "GAAAAAHAHA!"
"S—So what I saw wasn't…?" Shutter asked, shocked. "And I…" She looked embarrassed now, putting her head down. "I may have just put an innocent pony in the clink for that?"
"This…changes…NOTHING," Tech gritted out; even though his eyes weren't visible, it was obvious he was glaring daggers at Phoenix. "The DNA evidence—"
"The DNA evidence proves Pinkie handled it," Phoenix admits. "But so does the photo. Of course she'd have her hooves on it; she worked with a cake an hour before!"
"Nnnnnnnggghhh!" Tech groaned, knowing his days as the Speed Runner had come to an end. "I can't believe this…"
"But one thing still remains," Twilight said. "Shutter, why did you freak out when we discussed the shelves of frosting?"
"I…I…" Shutter stammered. "I exercise my right to remain silent!"
Silence in the courtroom.
"So…you refuse to talk?" the judge asked, to which Shutter nodded slowly.
"I'm sorry," she said. "But I just can't talk about it right now…Not here, not today…"
Phoenix looked to Shutter, concerned; what was she hiding? And for that matter, they had forgotten about Rarity's involvement…How did she fit in?
"Your honor," Phoenix finishes. "There are too many unanswered questions with this case now. A verdict at this stage would be too soon."
"I agree," the judge says, before slamming his gavel. "Now then, this trial will end for today. I expect there to be more investigation done for tomorrow." He looked to Tech. "Better investigation."
"…Of course, your honor," Tech said, having turned somber, almost emotionless.
The judge nodded. "Very well. Court is adjourned!"
A slam of the gavel, and the trial concluded for the day.
To Be Continued…