Time for Turnabout
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Twilight Sparkle: Ace Attorney

Time for Turnabout

"I'm sorry that it has to be like this, but..."

"But what?"

"I can't deal with this anymore." ... "H-hey, what are you doing?"

"No! You're not going anywhere!"

"Get away from me!"

...thud.

A man's scream rang out, and as people hurried outside, they found a young woman gripping the handle of the bloodstained knife over the corpse, a shocked expression on her face. "I can't believe it," she whispered to herself, unaware of the crowd surrounding her.

Ugh, I can't believe how nervous this is making me...

The woman's dark hands were shaking with anxiety. This was her first trial as a defense attorney, and it was a murder trial. She was just glad her mentor was helping her as her co-counsel or she would probably be in cardiac arrest by now.

"Twilight?"

Twilight looked up at her mentor, Cadance. "Yes?"

Cadance was wearing her magenta jacket and skirt, her usual outfit for going to trials. She smiled kindly at Twilight. "I'm sorry about how little preparation time we had for this trial. You're not nervous, are you?"

Twilight shook her head in denial. "Um, n-no!"

Cadance laughed a little. "Don't worry. Every defense attorney feels this way at their first trial."

If you knew the answer, why did you ask? Twilight kept the question to herself. Cadance was her mentor, and she had to respect her.

"Anyway," Cadance went on, "I managed to get one piece of evidence to get you started." She presented a watch to Twilight. It was a cute little turquoise watch, which looked like the water-resistant watches Twilight had seen at a store once.

Cadance dropped the watch in Twilight's dark hand. She quickly examined it, then looked up and asked, "Um, is this the victim's?"

"No. I don't know whose it is, and neither did the detective at the scene. She let me have it since she thought it was insignificant. But I disagree. It was found on the crime scene, in the victim's hand."

"If it was found in the victim's hand," Twilight asked, "why did the detective think it was insignificant?"

"Because the watch isn't his, or our client's." Cadance thought for a second. "No doubt the prosecution will have a witness or two prepared. So pay attention. This watch could belong to a witness." She gave Twilight a hinting look. "Maybe, perhaps, the real killer?"

"What's the killer's watch doing in the victim's hand?"

"It's your job to find out, Twilight." Cadance glanced at her own watch. "We only have a few minutes before the trial begins and we haven't even talked to our client. Let's go find her."

A young Southeast Asian woman, who Twilight assumed to be a few years younger than her, was sitting on a bench in the defendant lobby, staring at her lap. She was wearing a pale golden camisole and a black tutu skirt with leggings. She covered her hair and shoulders with a pale pink hijab, and as Twilight approached her she glanced up.

"Um, hi," Twilight greeted her, uncertainly.

The woman didn't respond.

"I'm your attorney, Twilight Sparkle," Twilight added. "You're Fluttershy, right?"

She nodded. She stood up and asked, "Do you believe me?"

"Huh?"

"I didn't kill him." Fluttershy still sounded timid, but truthful. "I only found his body and took out the weapon."

"Why did you take out the weapon?" Twilight asked.

"I wanted to look closer at it." Fluttershy seemed a bit more willing to talk now. "Because it looked familiar. Since no one else was around at first, I thought he'd killed himself. But I have no idea why he would."

Better keep that possibility in mind. "Why did it look familiar?" Hesitantly she added, "Did it belong to you?"

Fluttershy shook her head. "No, of course not. It's his."

Before they could discuss the incident any longer, the defense was called to the courtroom.

Twilight took a couple of deep breaths. Well, here goes.

"Court is now in session," the judge announced, preceded by the bang of his gavel.

Across the courtroom from Twilight and Cadance was a middle-aged man with glasses and no hair on the top of his head. "The prosecution is ready, Your Honor."

There was a silence as the judge and prosecutor looked expectantly at Twilight. She glanced at Cadance, who was giving her a similar look. Then Twilight realized it was her turn to speak. Great, the trial hasn't even begun yet and I've already screwed up. "Um, the defense is ready, Your Honor."

"Ms. Sparkle," the Judge spoke, "this is your first trial, correct?"

"Um, yes." That's not hurting my case, is it? Twilight worried silently.

"You seem quite nervous."

Ah, no, please don't kick me out! "I-I am a little, Your Honor."

Cadance put her pale hand on her shoulder. "Are you sure you're ready for this, Twilight? If you're not comfortable with this I could lead the defense instead."

"N-no, of course not! I mean, of course you don't have to lead." Twilight felt herself blushing, feeling all the eyes of the court on her. "It's okay. I can do this."

"Maybe we can quiz you a little about this case," Cadance remarked.

The prosecutor added, "I agree. A few simple questions should do well for the rookie's nerves."

I'm not just "the rookie!" Twilight thought as she glanced at Cadance. "Okay. As long as it's quick."

"What's the victim's name?" Cadance asked. "You must at least know that."

Twilight was drawing a blank. I-I didn't get to read the whole file!

Cadance gave her a reassuring smile. "Remember, you can always check the Court Record if you need an answer."

"Oh, right." That lifted a little stress. She managed to find the information and present it. "The victim's name is Lightning Rush."

After answering a couple more questions correctly they were finally ready to start the trial.

"At last," the judge sighed. "Mr. Payne, your opening statement, please."

"Very well, Your Honor." Payne placed some papers on his desk. "The victim died from a stab wound in a chest." He lifted a photograph. "This photo was taken of the body after it was found."

The photo was given to the judge. As he examined it he asked, "But where's the murder weapon?"

"The defendant pulled this knife out of his chest after killing him," Payne explained. He looked up at Fluttershy, watching anxiously from the defendant stand. "Defendant, is it true that the victim had been harassing you for the past few years?"

Hesitantly, Fluttershy nodded.

"The motive is clear," Payne concluded.

Fluttershy, why did you take the knife out? Twilight thought in desperation. This is just looking more and more hopeless for it...

"The court accepts the photo and the weapon into the evidence," the judge announced.

"I have a witness prepared, Your Honor," Payne added. "May I call her to the stand?"

Twilight glanced at Cadance, worried. "I don't know how to beat this!"

Cadance didn't seem phased at all. She smiled again. "Do you think Fluttershy killed that man?"

"Of course not, but--"

"Then you can prove her innocent."

A few minutes later, a woman about Fluttershy's age approached the witness stand. She had blonde ringlets down to below her shoulders. Her skin was tanned, and she wore a plain white sundress. She seemed pretty friendly. She stared at Mr. Payne expectantly.

"Witness, your name and occupation, please," Payne began.

"My name is Sunny Chase," said the woman in a clear voice. "I'm a college student at Kingscrest University. And..." She trailed off and glance downward.

"Miss Chase is the girlfriend of the late Mr. Rush," Payne explained. "She is still a little shocked after his death."

Sunny nodded.

"It is a tragic loss to lose a loved one at such a young age," the judge remarked. "Miss Chase, did you witness the defendant kill the victim?"

"I did," Sunny answered quickly. "It was dark, but I recognized her."

"Please testify to what you saw."

"I will."

Sunny glanced down at Twilight, who quickly looked away. She hated when people caught her staring at them. She seems like a good liar...but a liar nonetheless. I hope her testimony is easy enough to break.

Cadance crossed her arms. "She's obviously lying," she said softly. "You'll just have to prove it."

---Witness Testimony---

Sunny glanced down again as she spoke. "It was late at night. I'd decided to go for a walk because I couldn't sleep. Once I left the building, I noticed two other students outside. I immediately recognized my boyfriend, even though it was dark. The other person I'd seen before and it took a little longer to remember who she was, but she was definitely the defendant. It looked like they were arguing, but I couldn't hear what they were saying. I think they were talking about the whole bullying issue. Then I saw Fluttershy pull a knife out of her pocket and stab him in the chest. He screamed and fell, and I..." She tensed. "I was too shocked to approach him."

Twilight tried to remember the testimony. It sounds pretty solid. Dammit.

"Ms. Sparkle," the judge announced, "you may begin your cross-examination."

Twilight glanced at Cadance. "Can you, um...refresh my memory?"

"It's simple," Cadance replied. "Look through the Court Record for anything contradictory, and present it at the right statement."

"What if I don't have anything?"

"Pressing usually helps. If you ask for more information on certain things you might have your contradiction."

Twilight nodded. "Alright." That's easy enough. If I pay enough attention I can do it.

---Cross-Examination---

"It was late at night. I'd decided to go for a walk because I couldn't sleep."

"Hold it! Do you remember what time it was?"

Sunny hesitated. "Sorry, I don't. I didn't think to check the clock."

"Why wouldn't you check the clock?" Twilight asked. "Most people would be curious about how long they've been awake."

"I was tired. Cut me some slack."

Twilight glanced at the autopsy report. What a shame. Getting the time wrong would expose you. I guess she knows that.

"Once I left the building, I notice two other students outside. I immediately recognized my boyfriend, even though it was dark."

"Hold it! How were you able to recognize him if it was so dark?"

"I had a flashlight." Sunny opened up her black purse and pulled out a turquoise pocket flashlight, and held it in front of her. "Sorry for not mentioning it."

"So were you able to clearly see things?" Twilight asked.

"Yes."

"So it doesn't matter that it was dark, right?"

Sunny stared at Twilight, looking a little unsure. "Um...I suppose."

"The other person I'd seen before and it took a little longer to remember who she was, but she was definitely the defendant. It looked like they were arguing, but I couldn't hear what they were saying."

"Hold it! Where were you, and where were they?"

"I was right outside the entrance of the building, and they were a few meters away."

"Are you sure?" Twilight asked. She looked through the evidence again, behind her desk.

"I'm positive."

Twilight looked up at the judge. "Your Honor! I request that this information be added to the witness's testimony!"

"Very well. Witness, please add the information about where you were to your testimony."

"They were a few meters away from me, I think. I was at the front doors."

"Objection!"

Twilight slammed her dark hands on her deak. "So, you were at the front doors, and they didn't hear what they were saying, right? Because they were too far away?"

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"If my client and the victim weren't near the front doors..." Twilight thrust her arm out, defiantly pointing her finger at the witness. "Why are the front doors right by the victim's body?"

Sunny tensed. "What are you talking about?"

"Take a look at the crime photo."

Twilight looked closer to double-check. She was correct; Sunny was lying. Looking closely she noticed what looked a lot like a door against the victim's body.

The judge noticed this as well, quite quickly. "So the victim died at the entrance?"

Twilight nodded. "And since Sunny had only just gotten outside, she would be able to perfectly hear what the two of them were saying."

"Objection!"

Twilight turned her head to face Payne, who smirked at her, then looked up at the judge. "Your Honor, the defense's point is clear, but quite pointless."

Twilight glared at him. "But it's a clear contradiction!"

"But you must realize that, after killing Mr. Rush, the defendant simply moved the body."

"But why would she do that?" Twilight asked.

"It doesn't matter why. It's the only explanation."

Sunny nodded. "Y-yeah, she must've moved the body."

Twilight sighed, feeling disappointment. She couldn't argue against that; there was no real proof that the victim had been killed at the entrance.

"Don't sulk, Twilight," she heard Cadance tell her. "There was still another contradiction in her testimony."

"Can you enlighten me?" Twilight asked.

"You're leading the defense today, Twilight. This is your job."

"Would you still like to continue cross-examining the witness?" the judge asked.

Twilight nodded.

"I think they were talking about the whole bullying issue. Then I saw Fluttershy pull a knife out of her pocket and stab him in the chest."

"Objection!"

Twilight hoped that this time she was correct. She looked up at Sunny. "Fluttershy pulled a knife out of her pocket?"

"Um...yes?"

"That's really strange." Twilight glanced at Cadance, who nodded before Twilight continued. "According to the Court Record, the murder weapon belonged to the victim, not the defendant."

Sunny flinched, then looked hopefully over at the prosecution.

Twilight slammed her desk. "Why would Fluttershy have the victim's knife in her pocket?"

Sunny clenched a bundle of her golden blonde hair. "Um...I said that wrong...I was confused by everything else I was saying and--"

"No, you weren't! Normally I can understand accidentally using the wrong pronoun, but you confirmed it!" Twilight glared at the witness. "Why would you lie about this?"

Sunny clenched a fist without speaking.

"Good job, Twilight," Cadance praised her.

Twilight smiled a little. "Hey, you figured it out first." She looked up at the witness, who looked tense. It's a pretty small detail to lie about, though. It shouldn't make her so anxious.

Sunny suddenly relaxed. "I'm sorry. It was hard to see in the dark, so I thought the knife belonged to the defendant...may I testify again, Your Honor?"

Twilight sighed inwardly. Well, that was useless.

"She's going to testify again, so pay attention for any more lies," Cadance whispered.

Twilight nodded. Assuming there's one she can't cover up with "oh, yeah, sorry, I saw it wrong."

---Witness Testimony---

"Now that you mention it, I think she did pull the knife out of my boyfriend's pocket." Sunny stroked her hair in thought. "I was too afraid to try and stop her. I checked my watch to get the time of death, but it was too dark. I think it was somewhere around five fifty, though."

Twilight glanced at the autopsy report. And here I thought that she might be a decent liar after all.

---Cross-Examination---

"Now that you mention it, I think she did pull the knife out of my boyfriend's pocket. I was too afraid to try and stop her. I checked my watch to get the time of death, but it was too dark."

"Hold it! Didn't you say you didn't know what time it was when you went out?"

Sunny nodded. "My watch doesn't have a light or anything. Under the moonlight I could kind of see the time, but I was distracted by my boyfriend and Fluttershy fighting."

Twilight nodded and pondered about this. So she was wearing her watch when she went out. And she's not wearing her watch now. I'm pretty sure that the lie here has something to do with her watch.

"I think it was somewhere around five fifty, though."

"Objection!"

Twilight figured her point was easily argued against so she decided to double-check the facts. "Ms. Chase, what time did the victim die?"

"Around five fifty, like I said." Sunny seemed oblivious to the contradiction.

"Wasn't it too dark to see the time, though?"

Sunny nodded. "Yeah, but I'm positive it was around five fifty. It's a digital watch and I could clearly see the first two fives."

Twilight pulled out her copy of the autopsy report. "Then why did the victim die three hours earlier?"

Sunny didn't seem shocked at this, just confused. "He...died three hours earlier...?"

"According to the autopsy report, the victim died just a little before three o'clock AM."

Sunny clenched her fist again. "I'm telling the truth! I checked my watch and I'm sure it was around five fifty!"

The courtroom started to talk among themselves, but they were interrupted by the judge slamming his gavel.

"Ms. Chase," the judge said, "do you have an explanation for this?"

Sunny's face reddened a little with frustration. "I-I'm not mistaken!"

"Speaking of which, where is your watch?" Twilight asked. She hadn't forgotten about the watch Cadance had handed her before the trial. It wasn't a digital watch like Sunny claimed, however. Still, the question was worth asking.

Sunny glanced down at her feet in shame. "I-I lost it outside."

"What does it look like?"

"It's turquoise and it's water-resistant."

Twilight exchanged a glance with Cadance, who smiled a little, knowingly. Twilight took the watch from the evidence and held it up. "Does this look familiar?"

Sunny blinked with surprise and opened her mouth to respond but was interrupted by the prosecution screeching an objection.

"The witness clearly stated that she owned a digital watch," Payne explained. "That is an analog watch."

"Do you think the witness is lying about the time, Ms. Sparkle?" the judge asked.

Twilight thought it over. She hadn't forgotten where the turquoise watch was found. She took a look at the crime photo to confirm her suspicions. I'm probably right...but then again, this is my first trial...

Cadance hadn't spoken for a while. She watched Twilight and asked, "Hey, don't get carried away or anything."

"Yeah, what I'm thinking of is kind of far-fetched," Twilight sighed. If Sunny was the real killer, wouldn't it be a little more logical to avoid the entire case? Although I guess she'd realize there'd be no witnesses besides her...

If anything, Twilight was afraid of ending up with a penalty and a humiliation. Maybe it wouldn't have been such a bad idea to let her mentor lead the case.

"Hey, the victim has a digital watch." Cadance pointed at the body in the photo--the wrist, to be precise.

"Yeah, I noticed. But if Sunny was really checking the victim's watch, I still can't prove the time gap."

Cadance nodded. "You're right...maybe--"

The judge pounded his gavel once. "Ms. Sparkle, can you please stop whispering with your co-counsel and answer the question?"

Twilight felt herself reddening with shame. "Oh, um, yeah. Sorry, Your Honor. No, I don't think the witness is lying about the time."

Sunny sighed with relief. "Finally. Thank you."

"But she's obviously lying about checking her watch."

Sunny's look of relief shifted to puzzlement.

"But if she wasn't checking her watch," the judge asked, "how would she remember the time? Does she know how to tell time by looking at the moon?"

"No, Your Honor. She was checking someone else's watch."

"And who would that be?"

..."Take that!"

"The victim?" the judge asked, with surprise.

Twilight nodded. "She had to check the victim's watch instead of her own, because her watch had been taken from her." She held up the turquoise watch again. "This was found in the victim's hand."

"The victim stole the witness's watch?" The judge was apparently frustrated by this. "What a heinous crime! No one should have their means of telling time taken from them!"

Or their life, but I guess he has his priorities straight...

"Objection!"

The prosecution apparently had an argument. "That's impossible! The witness didn't go anywhere near to the victim. Besides, how do you explain the time gap?"

"The two might have gotten in a struggle," Cadance told Twilight.

"How do I prove that?"

Cadance hesitated. "Well, I suppose you can't. Not directly, at least. How about trying to find the small things first and seeing what piles up? Try to answer the question of the time gap."

B-but I can't do that either! Twilight glanced at the photo on her desk again. Or can I...?

Twilight slammed her desk. "I can't prove she went near the victim, but I can explain why she read the time wrong! Take that!"

"This is the photo of the body," the judge commented. "How is that proof?"

"Notice how the victim is wearing a digital watch," Twilight explained. "Right now it says 3:05. But I believe it was ten minutes earlier when Sunny read the time."

"And on what do you base your argument on?"

Twilight thought for a second, then turned to Cadance. "Do you have a paper and pen I could borrow?"

"Um, sure. I have something in my purse."

Once Twilight received the pen and piece of paper she begin writing something. She glanced up to say, "You know how on the digital watches the numbers are made up of straight lines?"

Twilight held up the paper when she was finished. On it she had written 2:55, made up of straight lines just like you'd see on a digital watch. "Now watch this."

She turned the paper upside down so that it would read 55:2."This is how Sunny saw the time. Because it was dark, it's likely she wouldn't be able to tell where the colon was, and so she thought it was five fifty-two."

Twilight's deduction caused the people in the gallery to talk amongst themselves until the judge banged his gavel. "Order! So you believe the witness read the time upside-down?"

"That's exactly what I believe, Your Honor," Twilight confirmed. "I think I can explain how the watch found its way to the victim's hand as well."

Sunny pounded her fist. "Ha! You're going to try to pin this on me, aren't you?"

"Yes. The defense accuses..." Twilight pointed at the witness. "Sunny Chase of the murder of Lightning Rush!"

"You still can't prove I was anywhere near the victim!" Sunny was now losing her cool, which only made her look more suspicious.

"We already have. You already admitted that the turquoise watch is yours, and the victim couldn't have taken the watch from you from a long distance."

"Unless he has some sort of extendo-arm, of course," the judge commented.

Sunny glared down at Twilight. "What about motive, huh? Can't have a murder without a motive, right?"

"I have to agree with the witness, Ms. Sparkle," Payne added. "There is no established motive."

Twilight looked over at Cadance. "Dammit! What do I do?"

Cadance hesitated. "Hmm...if there's no motive established, you'll just have to make one up."

"Doesn't that fall under pathetic attempts at bluffing?" Twilight asked.

"No, you misunderstand. I mean a theory. Remember everything you know about the witness and the victim, then ask yourself: why Sunny would want to kill her own boyfriend?"

It has to have something to do with their relationship. There's one circumstance I can think of where she would want to murder him. "I don't think the witness was just out for a stroll. She was meeting with the victim."

"You have no proof of that!" Sunny scowled.

"What if he had written a letter for you? Would you happen to have that letter in your possession?" Sunny had a black purse slung on her shoulder. "In that purse, perhaps?"

"What letter?" Sunny continued to glare at Twilight.

"Your Honor!" Twilight pointed at the witness. "I request an examination of the contents of the witness's purse!"

"Objection!" A shout sounded from the prosecution. "You can't do that! That's violating her privacy!"

"He's right!" Sunny smirked a little. "You don't have a right to go through my purse!"

"If you really had nothing suspicious in your purse," Twilight pointed out, "you would let us see what's inside."

"The defense makes a good point, Miss Chase," the judge agreed.

Sunny remained silent for a few moments before sighing and defeatedly opening her purse. She gave it to the court bailiff, who rummaged through a few things before taking out a crumpled sheet of paper. He straightened it before presenting it to the judge.

"My, what's this?" The judge skimmed through the writing. "It's signed by the victim. It looks like...a breakup letter?"

Sunny seemed to be sweating bullets.

"So the victim was planning to break up with the witness," Twilight remarked. "That provides a pretty clear motive, doesn't it?"

Cadance gave her a smile of approval.

"H-hey!" Sunny stomped her foot. "Our relationship has nothing to do with anything! So what if we were going to break up? He was already murdered before I could speak to him!"

"You were close to him at some time during the night. That was already proven." Twilight felt like she was being too confident, but she went on anyway. "I believe that you weren't too happy about your boyfriend's decision, and you got in a little struggle. Your watch was taken off your wrist in that struggle."

"You can't...you can't prove that!"

"The victim had a switchblade knife for whatever reason. As his girlfriend, you took the knife from him and stabbed him with it, ending his life. Since you had no time to retrieve your watch, you nust referred to what you saw on his watch moments before you killed him. But because of his position, you read the time upside down." Twilight looked her in the eye and asked, "Can you prove me wrong?"

"It sounds like a plausible explanation," the judge agreed. "You look quite suspicious right now, Miss Chase. Do you have anything to say?"

"I-I...I didn't..." Sunny glared at Twilight again. "E-Everything you're saying is just conjecture!"

"What do I need to prove, then?" Twilight showed her the crime photo again. "The victim died near the entrance. It'd be quite reasonable for him to have been waiting there for you. That's where you got in a struggle, and that's where he died."

"Y-you can't prove it though! You can't...!"

"I don't need to."

"She's right." Cadance joined in. "Everyone in the courtroom is watching you. Any innocence you displayed is gone. The way you're acting isn't helping either. No matter how you look at it, you were the killer."

Sunny was trembling with pressure. She looked up and said quietly, "I suppose you've won, Miss Defense Attorney...I guess I can't fight it anymore."

"Mr. Payne, where is your witness now?" the judge asked.

The prosecutor, sounding defeated, answered, "She's...been arrested, Your Honor."

The trial seemed short, but it was still Twilight's first trial, and she felt a little satisfaction at her victory. She tried to conceal a smile.

"I'm quite impressed, Ms. Sparkle," the judge praised her. "It's rare for a new defense attorney to turn the case on its head so quickly. Although, you wouldn't be the first..."

"Thank you, Your Honor." Twilight glanced at Cadance, who smiled at her with approval. "That...means a lot."

No...I'm not supposed to think about that. She tried to push the memory away before it could approach. She focused on the judge, about to give his verdict.

"This court finds the defendant, Fluttershy...not guilty. Court is adjourned."

Back in the defendant lobby, Cadance stroked Twilight's hair, in some motherly fashion. "I've taught you well, Twilight."

"It was a pretty simple case," Twilight replied modestly.

"Still, you managed to handle that quickly. I'm sure your client will be grateful." Cadance raised her head and looked around. "Where is she, anyway?"

Looking around, Twilight couldn't see Fluttershy anywhere. Suddenly, she felt two arms wrap around her. Blushing, Twilight turned her head, and the arms let go.

It was Fluttershy. She had just hugged her briefly. She smiled with gratefulness. "Thank you for proving me innocent, Twilight Sparkle."

"I-I only did half the work, at most." Twilight rubbed her arm. "You should be thanking Cadance."

"I wasn't able to deduce how Sunny looked at the watch," Cadance intervened. "It was very clever of you to figure that out."

Twilight sighed. "I guess. It still wasn't much, though."

"You don't have to beat yourself up over it," Fluttershy told her, her voice a little more stern than usual. "It's only your first time. Considering that, you did great."

Twilight smiled a little. "It's, uh...good to know you care enough to tell me that."

"I hope I see you again." Fluttershy smiled again. "You're a very nice lady." She checked the antique watch on her left wrist. "Oh, I'm running late. I'm supposed to meet up with my friend today."

"I'm kind of surprised you made plans," Twilight remarked. "Considering you could be under arrest right now."

"Well, I told her that would probably be the case if I was over five minutes late. I don't want her to worry." She started to walk away, but she stopped and looked back at Twilight. "I hope I can have you meet her sometime. She's younger than me, but she's fun to be around."

As Fluttershy left the lobby, Twilight turned to Cadance. "Should we leave now, too?"

Cadance nodded. "We don't have anything else to do here. Why don't we go out for dinner tonight, just you and me?"

They did end up going out for dinner together. Twilight enjoyed herself, and all the worry she'd had earlier was long gone. Unfortunately, that dinner would be the last one they'd be able to have together. Twilight did meet Fluttershy's friend, thankfully, but she only wished that it were under different circumstances.