//-------------------------------------------------------// Equine Attorney: Phoenix Wright "Turnabout Pinkie" -by _MrSir_- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1: I Hate it When I Am Wright //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1: I Hate it When I Am Wright It has been two months now since the events of Labyrinthia. Only Maya and that English gentleman would believe what happened and not talking about an extraordinary event just because of the fear that you would be labeled insane is quite the bummer. Life goes on I suppose, I was handed a new case yesterday and today I plan to investigate the scene of the crime with my trusty assistant Maya Fey. It is funny, she deals with the supernatural all the time (being a sprit medium and all) and I wonder how she suppresses the need to exclaim I have seen wonders! We arrived at the scene a quarter past 2:00 in the afternoon, apparently we caught a lucky break with this case for once since the scene was a high rise luxury apartment. Still, someone died in that room but I have made too many tips to the ghetto part of the town to not feel excited when the finer things in life present themselves even in unfortunate situations. Scratch that, the whole condo was turned upside down and a repulsive odor gags Maya and I as we stepped in the doorway. My inner detective senses tell me that whoever broke in was looking for something specific. "What do you think of that safe over there, Nick?", said Maya. "I don't think that was what they where after it hasn't been touched, but the bookshelves have been ransacked!", I say. We saunter over to the bookshelves and start lifting books off the floor to see if there was any correlation to the crime. "Animation, an industry overview", "Business Insider on the art of Children's Programing" where some of the names I read aloud as I shuffled through the piles of literature. "So who was this victim, Nick was he some sort of animator or something?", inquired Maya. "One would think, but the defendant stated that he was a close friend to the victim. In the interview he said something about the victim being an enthusiast and collector of children's Programing.", I retorted. "Hey Nick check this out!", Maya exclaimed. I walked over to her and she showed me a book that looked very old and was leather bounded. The most interesting feature of it was a horse head embedded with jewels on the cover. I told Maya that I didn't wish to mess with that one (it looked so unnatural and similar in appearance of the... no it can't be). "Come on Nick, live a little! This could be important, the book looks nothing like any other book in here,", Maya said a little annoyed. I reached out and grasped the book and read aloud from the first page. "Once upon a time in the land of EQUESTRIA...", I read aloud. The room started to spin and before I new it I was being violently sucked through a vortex as my body contorted in to well... Something not my body! Here I go again! I awoke to find myself in bed. Phew, I am glad it was just a dream and I could have lived happily under that conclusion for the rest of my life. As I reached to wipe the sweat from my forehead I noticed something that wasn't typical of my daily routine. Hoofs! I have hoofs! Oh no,no, no! This can't be happening. I have fur, it is like Its like a wool sweater! I need a mirror, I need a mirror! Yep, I can confirm I am a horse... "Oh, great you are up!", a pink horse said. I looked over at her, she was overly giddy in appearance. "I found you on the street last night, silly. The Cakes told me you must have had too much cider or something and to leave you alone but I had never see someone in such a deep sleep before in my life! So, I brought you in and you are in my apartment above Sugar Cube Corner. Are you feeling any better now?, the Pink horse said. "Fine, just that I am a horse! And you are a horse! Where are we? Who are You?" I managed to get out before pausing for breath. "Wow, you must have been on some strong brew! Let me jog your memory, you are a horse and I am a horse. We live in Equistria, and my name is Pinkie Pie. What is yours?", she said without skipping a beat. I looked at her straight in the eye and proclaimed with the confidence of the one thing I knew for sure in this new world, "My name is Phoenix Wright, and I am an Attorney." //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2: My New Life as I Knew It //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2: My New Life as I Knew It The next few weeks were my slow but sure adjustment into this new life. Along the way of course, I did manage to step on the toes (or hoofs) of societal norms. After I got the whole walking thing down I started to venture around the immediate vicinity of Sugar Cube Corner. This is where most of my indirect learning took place as I didn't want to attract suspicion from Pinkie (even thought I didn't think she would mind if I came from another reality) and give her any reason to stop her most generous offer of lodging. It was a space on the floor in the lefthand corner of her apartment but beggars can be choosers. I learned quickly that pony replaced people in casual conversation as well as stallion for man, mare for woman, filly for girl, colt for boy (although it could be used interchangeably with stallion as this side of town was rather relaxed when it came to formal titles), and foals for children. Also I learned the hard way that "everypony" around here was strictly vegetarian. I started asking around for directions to the nearest burger joint and after explaining what exactly encompasses a burger I would get strange looks followed by silence. The one thing I do not know is how exactly hoofs work, but somehow I can grasp objects even though I have no fingers. Also the ponies on the street asked why I was wearing clothes (and in all honesty my trademark blue suit didn't fit me very well ever since I became a horse). The take home lesson from these encounters where that clothing was saved for special occasions (dances, weddings, funerals, etc.). Pinkie was very supportive of my choice to where clothes all the time, though. She even recommended I went to see here friend Rarity to get a better fitting suit sometime. This brings up a good question, why was Pinkie being so kind? Her first impression of me was a drunk on the streets and now we have became close friends. No, I do not think she likes me romantically (sorry to get anyone's hopes up) and even if she did I don't know how I would feel about pursuing a horse, I am or at least I was a human after all! I think she is just really kind or very interested in what it means to be an attorney. Pinkie surprised me with that one, I thought an attorney was common in every universe. In this apparent utopia there hasn't been a trial in a court of law for hundreds of years. So, if you majored in law or criminal justice you where looked upon with the same respect as someone with an art degree. I wasn't sure I would be of use to anybody, sorry I mean pony, with my current set of skills. With a little prodding from pinkie I started to work in the kitchen at Sugar Cube Corner (I guess my acquired baking skills came in handy after all). The work was easy and I had a friend on the job, it wasn't long before weeks faded into months and eventually I was looking at five years as an assistant baker in Sugar Cube Corner. The more I think about it, I would have be happy to live out the rest of my life like this but then there was the incident in town square that turned the whole world upside down. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 3: The Incident //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 3: The Incident The day of the incident was just like any other ordinary day. Phoenix was accompanying Pinkie on a delivery for 50 pounds of confectioner's sugar when a rush of ponies toward town square attracted both of their attentions. Phoenix and Pinkie looked at each other and started to walk in the direction of all the commotion. As the two came closer to the center of the town the more crowded in became while panicked cries began to flare up like embers of a spreading fire. "Call The Watch! We have a situation!", a group of colts shouted while running in the opposite direction. The crowd's curious gate towards the center of the town quickly turned into a hurried gallop away in any direction but the center. School bells, church bells, anything that could be banged on to signified danger were roaring over the thunderous cacophony of panic. Ponies poured out onto the street to be immediately redirected towards the outskirts of town. As everyone one else headed for the hills, Phoenix bravely (or foolishly) ran towards the center just to get a glimpse of what was going on. "What is going on here? Pinkie can you see anything?", Phoenix shouted. "I can't see anything but I have a strong sense we shouldn't be here. My whole body is shaking!", Pinkie retorted. Phoenix knew better than to question Pinkie's special sense about things. He was just about turn back when he heard a "whoosh" from overhead. "Rainbow Dash! Over here Rainbow! look over here!", Pinkie shouted to the point where she began to screech. The "whoosh" returned this time matching up with the flight of a certain blue pegasus. "Hey guys! What is going on here? The commotion woke- I mean alerted me to investigate," Rainbow Dash said. Pinkie gathered all the breath she could to overpower the noise of the crowd and shouted, "We don't know but we are sure it is coming from the center of the town! We will meet you there!" Phoenix was about to ask about her change of heart but them remembered that with her friends she is part of the Elements of Harmony. Even though they don't have the Elements anymore the group can tap into Rainbow Power when the situation demands. It was funny to see Pinkie and her friends like this, Phoenix never saw them preform their duties of elite soldiers of friendship before. At least up close, everyone can usually see the explosions from afar. Phoenix and Pinkie arrived at the center of the town while Rainbow Dash circled above. In the distance Phoenix could make out the figure of Princess Twilight talking to the town's local strongmen who called themselves "The Watch". Pinkie walked to meet up with her friend and Phoenix trailed close behind. There didn't seem to be any immediate danger that would warrant such hysteria but Phoenix remained on guard anyway. It became apparent that something was very wrong the closer they got. The Watch was circled around two mares, two mares who looked exactly alike! "That is right your highness, the real Berry Punch caught up with the fake Berry Punch while she was out on some errands. The spectacle attracted the attention of many bystanders until the imposter revealed its true changeling form! Unfortunately in the chaos the changeling reverted back to its original illusion and we have lost track of which one is the real Berry Punch!", a member of The Watch said to Princess Twilight. "This should be a simple fix, gentlecolts. All I have to do is the Revealing Spell that worked so well in the Canterlot Invasion,", Twilight said in a collected manner. Twilight started to focus magic from her horn as it's purple glow grew intensity. She clenched her teeth and started look worried when nothing happened. She tired once more and yielded the same result. The two Berry Punches looked on with concern as it was made apparent that the situation would not have resolved itself as quickly as thought of. One of them was a really good actor and the other was genuinely terrified that a changeling was in Ponyvile. "I don't know why this isn't working! The spell originated from the great Star-Swirl The Bearded himself! There is no way it can be flawed... unless the changelings have adapted somehow. They are not well studied creatures after all.", Twilight reasoned to herself. Phoenix had heard of the changelings before. The stories of their race almost taking over the capital and other cities. Pinkie was adamant to share her experiences with the changelings before. The very thought that a creature could masquerade as a person made Phoenix uncomfortable to say the least. It would make a real mess of sorting out who did what if it ever came to court. "Your highness if we cannot determine which Berry Punch is a changeling by simply casting a spell then I suggest we pursue alternate methods...", a Watchman suggested. "At this point I am open to suggestions but all pathways of investigation must be approved by me. I do not want any so called advanced interrogation techniques enacted on either party. One of these mares is the real Berry Punch so I want a fair and respectful questioning,", Twilight commanded in an official tone. Phoenix liked the way this was going. Law and order was something he had a knack for anywhere. In fact he was about to offer his services to the group when Twilight looked to her friends and called for all of them to meet at her castle. The Watchmen picked up the two Berry Punches and followed closely behind. Phoenix hated when he never got invited to these kind of things. There was so much he could do yet he was treated as a bystander. Despite not receiving an invitation, Phoenix tagged along with them.