January 25th, 2:30 PM
Canterlot Palace
Ball Room

As I caught my breath in the ball room of the palace, I thanked Celestia that the detention center wasn't far from the palace itself.

"You really need to work out!" Pinkie exclaimed. The pink pony bouncing around as if she didn't just speed across a few city blocks.

"Hey!" I shouted. I didn't come here to be insulted!

"Of course you didn't! You came here because I need your help to set up my humongus party!" Pinkie replied.

Did. . .did she just. . . I paused, "Wait, I thought the party was already in progress?"

"Oh, right. The party actually starts at nine o clock tonight." Pinkie informed me, handing me a bright pink envelope. Inside that was a letter stating the details of the party. When and where it's being held, as well as why.

I quickly stuffed it into my pocket with a sigh, "Alright. I don't have anything better to do anyways. What do you need first?"

"First? Hmm. . .what do you know about Changelings?" Pinkie asked me. I paused a moment, collecting my thoughts.

"They are shapeshifters, and they seem more bug like. Recently, Princess Heart and Princess Celestia have been working together to bring about the Merge. Which is, as I understand it, the allowing of Changelings to live in Equestria as equals and have the same rights." I summarized.

"I'm glad you knew that Slick." Pinkie smiled.

"Slick?!" I scoffed.

"Just look at that mane! All greased up and slicked back! If it were spiky I'd call you Prick." Pinkie beamed obliviously.

Thank Celestia for not having spiked hair. I groaned quietly.

"Alright, I think I've procrastinated enough. Let's get this party making party started!" Pinkie cheered after a few moments of silence.

The next few hours would be quite busy for me. But I felt trouble was brewing the entire time.

January 25th, 9:30 PM
Canterlot Palace
Ball Room

About a half hour after the party started, me and Pinkie found ourselves near the DJ table.

"ISN'T THIS PARTY GREAT?!" Pinkie shouted at me over the loud music.

"IT'S KINDA LOUD ISN'T IT?" I shouted back, hoping that the DJ would switch to a softer song.

"YOU'RE RIGHT!" Pinkie shouted, "IT NEEDS TO BE EVEN LOUDER!"

Before I could correct her, Pinkie bounced off to the DJ's stand. I sighed and started making my way through the crowd to a more secluded corner of the ball room. The music was also harder to hear here, and as such not many ponies were here in this corner.

"Malum?" A familiar mare's voice called out to me. I turned to her, and found it was a pony I knew.

"Mora?" I replied in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

The golden coated unicorn with a darker gold red-streaked mane smiled, "I was invited to be here, got one of these stupid pink things."

"Just be glad you didn't have to help set this up." I chuckled.

"So, you were roped in?" Mora asked me.

"Unfortunately. So where have you been since the last case?" I wondered.

Mora sighed and looked down at her hooves. The case I mentioned delt with her father and mother, as well as my own mother. "On vacation. I needed time to think."

"I see." I hummed. "How is Durum doing?"

"My father is still imprisoned, and all his dealings in the last 20 or so years is being investigated. Even if he didn't kill a pony, he still manipulated crime scenes and conceal evidence." Mora explained.

"I'm sorry to hear that." I sighed. "So, do you think you'll ever come back to prosecute?"

Before Mora could answer me, a loud bang reverberated around the ball room. Mora and I pushed our way through the sea of ponies to find a hole in the wall, with a pony dead on the ground. On the other side of the hole was a very familiar Changeling.

"Velum?!"

January 26th, 9:00 AM
Canterlot Detention Center
Visitors Room No 1

"So, seems fate finds us back here." Velum sighed from behind the glass divider.

"So, before we talk about what happened, I wanna know what happened to you after the last time we met." I explained to him.

"Hmm, well I moved out of those apartments, got myself my own house here in Canterlot, and as soon as the merge passes I'm going to be proposing to a mare that's been living with me." Velum replied.

"A mare? Tell me more." I asked, genuinely intrigued.

"Where do I begin? She's the loveliest shade of green, bronze colored mane. Her magic is a more yellower gold. . . " Velum sighed whimsically.

So, he's dating another unicorn. . .huh. I shook my head. "Alright, well, can you tell me what happened?"

"Well, the noise was getting to me, so me and my marefriend moved over to another room." Velum answered, "We stayed there and talked for awhile, and then a pony came in and started asking us questions. Before I knew it I was blinded by some ink from his inkwell. When I was finally able to look, that pony was found dead after being shot through the wall with some sort of portable cannon."

"A. . .portable cannon?" I echoed.

"Yeah, it was a small blue cannon. I have no clue how it got there." Velum sighed.

"Hmm. Well Velum, what do you say? Should I defend you again?" I asked him.

"I would've asked if you didn't." Velum smiled.

"Great. Well, I'll go ahead and make my way to the crime scene." I told him before moving towards the door.

"Oh Malum? Do you think you could go talk to Princess Heart for me as well? I wouldn't feel right leaving her in the dark." Velum spoke up before I could leave.

I smiled. "Alright, I will."

January 26th, 9:30 PM
Canterlot Palace
Meeting room No. 1

Police were swarming the room. No doubt the evidence was already snatched up. I made my way over to the golden mare and the party canon. The hole was still in the wall.

"Can I help you Malum?" Mora Circa asked me as I approached her.

"So, I take it you agreed to Prosecute this case?" I wondered.

"Indeed. I need to see if I got rusty since the last time I saw you." Mora gave a half grin. "Sorry for not being more cheerful. Happy isn't my strong suit."

Note to self, keep her away from Pinkie. I coughed and continued, "What do you know about the defendant?"

"Only that he used to be a client of yours. He was accused once before." Mora answered. "I don't know anything useful."

"Did either the victim or defendant have an invite on them?" I ask, making sure the police can't hear me.

"I don't know. I'll ask the detective later." Mora replied.

"So, what did you find?" I asked her.

"If you must know," Mora sighed, "We haven't found much. Just this ink stain, the cannon, and a hole in the wall."

"Hmm. . .it's a little disconcerting." I sighed. "Is there any clues around the body?"

Mora sighed, "Malum, I know that you and I are cousins, but it isn't really my place to give you the information regarding the case. I can however give you permission to enter the ball room and observe the body."

"Alright Mora, sorry to bother you." I stated before heading to the door.

"Oh Malum, one more thing." Mora spoke up, "You didn't hear this from me, but there's at least two witnesses."

I gave her an appreciative smile before leaving the room.

January 26th, 10:00 AM
Canterlot Palace
Ball Room

There weren't as many cops in the ball room, as most of them were combing over the crime scene.

"HEY SLICK!" Pinkie exclaimed from right next to me.

"GAH! Pinkie! Please don't sneak up on me like that." I gasped.

"Oh, sorry." Pinkie giggled, "So what's going on?"

"Um, Pinkie, do you not notice the dead pony?" I asked her in disbelief.

"Oh, I noticed him, are you here to ask me what I saw then?" Pinkie wondered.

"What you. . saw?" I echoed, "Are you a witness?"

"Totally!" Pinkie cheered.

Oh Celestia why?! I groaned.

"Is something wrong?" Pinkie asked me, "Did. . .did I do something wrong?"

"No. . no, you're good Pinkie." I sighed, "So, what did you see?"

"Wellll. . ." Pinkie started with a deep breath, "It all began when I went to talk to the DJ, then my Pinkie sense twitched and I made my way for the second meeting room down the hall. That's when I saw the Changeling and my cannon."

"Pinkie. . .that's. . ." I started to say, before another pony interrupted.

"Classified." A blue pegasus with silver hair barked. "I'm afraid that's all you'll hear before the trial Prohibitum."

"Silver Wings, did Mora ask for you?" I wondered, looking at the familiar Detective.

"She did. Said she's back in the Prosecuting game." Silver grinned happily.

"Speaking of Mora, is she alright?" I wondered.

"Mora seems to be fine now. Though the last time you two met in court, she was pretty shook." Silver explained.

"I bet. A lot happened in that case." I stated.

"It sent such a ripple that a certain Prosecutor has been asking around." Silver mentioned.

"Who?" I asked, now a little intrigued.

"I. . .don't know. No one does. He just says he's a prosecutor, and goes about his day. Apparently his cases are so classified that barely anything is revealed to the public, or most of the police for that matter." Silver explained. "All I know is that he's never lost a case."

"Wow. Sounds like he's intimidating." I chuckled.

"A little." Silver agreed.

"So Silver, what do you know about the Merge?" I asked.

"Only that if you fail this case, all the changelings will look at you when their inclusion into the populous is denied. The Merge will fail if Velum is found guilty." Silver explained.

"Why is so much dependent on one changeling?" I wondered.

"Oh right, you probably don't know. And it's not my place to say. I'd ask either Velum or his boss to fill you in."

"I see." I hummed, "Is it alright if I go ahead and look at the body?"

"No, you can't. That body is getting moved out right now." Silver stated.

"But, then what can I do?" I sighed.

"In honor of helping the Durum family, I'll let you have this photo of the body. You can use that to aid your investigation." Silver explained, "Is that good enough?"

"Alright." I smiled, "Thanks Detective."

I studied the picture. The pony was sprawled out on the ground, and a dark liquid around him. I noticed a trail of drops leading away from him, and made note of it. I also scowled because the picture was in black and white. I was about to put the photo away when I noticed something else. A faint line was around his neck, as if he'd been strangled. I made one last note and put the photo away.

With nothing better to do, I made my way to the embassy. It was time to speak to Princess Heart.

January 26th, 10:30 AM
Canterlot Embassy
Changeling Embassador's Office

I found myself in a familiar office. It was tidy and for the most part empty, aside from a nice painting and a desk. Behind the desk was a Changeling.

"If you're here about the recent murder, go away." She stated in a bored monotone.

"Princess Heart?" I spoke up, stepping forward.

The changeling looked up at me and smiled. "Malum!"

"So, I'm guessing I should just go then?" I asked her in a joking tone.

"No! No, please! I'll talk to you about things. Any time you want to talk." Princess Heart exclaimed, "So I take it you've already seen Velum?"

"Yes." I replied. "Is it true that Velum is a test run to see how well changelings would operate as normal citizens?"

Princess Heart sighed, "Yes, he is. I would have told you the first time, but I didn't want a newbie attorney to feel pressured."

"Well, thanks for that." I smiled, "So, do you know anything about the victim?"

"Yes, his name is Robin King. He was a reporter covering the topic of the changeling merge." Heart explained, "And he was never quiet about his position on it."

"What was his position?" I wondered.

"He was against the cause. If I had to wager a guess, they'll use that as a motive." Heart sighed.

"Hmm. So a dead reporter and a changeling who is rather important. . . " I hummed in thought. "This is turning out to be an interesting case."

"Malum. . do you mind if I act as your co-council again?" Heart asked me.

I studied her for a moment before smiling. "Sure. Vivid isn't around anymore, and I miss having someone next to me in the courtroom."

Heart smiled and nodded. "Thank you Malum. I suppose we should get ready now."

I nodded in agreement. It was time to find out what really happened.

Author's Note

Court Record:

Profiles:
Malum Prohibitum: I'm a defense attorney from Canterlot, what more can I say?
Pinkie Pie: One of Rarity's friends. She's very hyper and sorta annoying at times. She was asked to host the party for the changeling merge.
Mora Circa: A prosecutor. Only daughter of Durum Circa. She's also my cousin.
Velum: The Defendant. A changeling I met before. He's accused of using a 'Party Cannon' to launch a pony through a wall.
Silver Wings: The Detective in charge of this case.
Princess Heart: The new leader of the changelings and my acting Co Council.
Robin King: The victim, was a reporter who was known for being against the Changeling Merge.

Evidence:
Attorney's Badge: Proof of my profession.
Party invitation: An invitation to the Changeling Merge party. It starts at 9:00 PM Friday Night. Edit: Only those with these invites are allowed in.
Party Cannon: A single cannon, used to set up parties in the blink of an eye. Is said to be the murder weapon.
Crime Photo: A photo of the victim's body. A large puddle of liquid and a faint mark on his neck can be seen.