TAS chapters 61-62 Updated... · 6:55pm Nov 4th, 2018
A lot of cleanup, one big new sequence, and a brand new trial graphic added in these chapters.
For Part 61 - Reunions, which is where Maya, Pearl and Edgeworth are accidentally pulled into Equestria as well, I didn't change much, as the chapter worked pretty well as-is. Cleaned up some clumsy dialog, added an additional sentence or phrase here and there at the suggestion of prereaders, and removed all instances of 'violet unicorn' and 'human lawyer' as always. I can't emphasize enough how much they make me grimace and realize I overused them back then.
For Part 62 - Requiem for a Witch, where Trixie's trial begins under the initial auspices of a bigotted and bribed mare judge named Fair Verdict, changes were more substantial, and includes the following new sequence at the very end suggested and initially written by prereader Silentwoodfire:
Once outside the courtroom and escorted to an adjacent but empty chamber, the stallion closed the door and glared at the disgraced earth pony before him, his entire countenance changing instantly from a mere guard to somepony far more powerful and authoritative, standing up straight and tall before her, looking upon her with sheer contempt. "Betraying your bench and accepting a bribe? You disgust me, Fair Verdict!” he told her. “And unlike the Judicial Review Board, I have the ability to do something about it right now!”
Fair Verdict's eyes narrowed as she gave a mocking laugh in return. Just who the hell does this lowly stallion think he is? "And just what are you babbling about, bailiff? You have no authority over me except that granted you by your uniform and Lady Requiem!”
The stallion merely sniffed and flicked his mane briefly to keep it out of his eyes. "As a simple bailiff that might be true, Fair Verdict. But be assured that a simple bailiff, I am not!” With that, he brought out a very distinctive crystalline medallion, a red ruby emblazoned with the sun and moon overlaid with a smaller shield. “I am a high-ranking agent of the crown, able to act in the Princesses stead. And thus, I can arrest you on my own authority!”
This revelation caused Fair Verdict to gasp and step back a few steps from the stallion as he looked at her rather fiercely before pointing at her with one hoof. “But… you... how…?”
"Judge Fair Verdict, I am Shining Armor, Captain of the Royal Guard!” he confirmed with a tone of voice he reserved for inspections and dressing down subordinates who had failed to perform to expectations, returning the medallion to an inner pocket of his bailiff uniform. “And by the power vested in me by Celestia herself, I am taking you into custody pending the outcome of a royal investigation into your actions as a judge in Ponyville's court system,” he informed the ashen mare with no small amount of satisfaction, his horn flaring to place magical restraints on her. “And be assured, you will be facing far more than a judicial misconduct board hearing upon its conclusion!”
“But…” she sputtered.
“But nothing!” he all but growled, tapping another crystal inside his uniform. “The Princesses do not take kindly to such corruption in the courts, and you can be assured that when they speak with you, that you will feel their full displeasure at your actions. You will be taken to Canterlot immediately and held pending full investigation into your finances and actions, including who gave you this!” He waved the cheque and note at her. “I suggest you get a good lawyer… if, that is, you can find any that will represent you!” He grinned almost evilly, certain that not even Phoenix Wright could save her.
“How dare you...” She managed one final note of defiance as the Earth Pony-quality restraints were locked into place.
“I dare, Your so-called Honor. Sergeant!" he called out as another seemingly innocuous bailiff entered the empty courtroom and saluted him despite his lower rank insignia, obeying instructions to take her into custody before escorting her out the back. When they exited, she found several more disguised and completely unsympathetic Guardsponies waiting, who slapped her in more substantial irons before removing her from the courthouse entirely.
She was placed onto the next train to Canterlot without incident and soon she was leaving the town behind, reflecting ruefully about how things had gone from incredibly well to utterly wrong in a matter of mere moments, bewildered as to how the note and cheque she’d so carefully hidden and secured in her sleeve had gotten free at the worst possible time.
Aside from that, I added an additional blurb about Maya to help set things up for TLaTU and explain a possible departure from Ace Attorney canon in it:
“You mean you had an extra day to prepare, Snarkle,” Trixie scoffed. “Trixie had an extra day to wonder just how badly this could go for her.”
“Well, you aren’t too nervous, apparently,” Twilight noted. “You’re still speaking in 3rd-person.”
Trixie rolled her eyes at that. “Perhaps Trixie is still feeling the relief of not being permanently disbarred from the practice.”
“And perhaps Trixie should just keep quiet and stop annoying the rest of us!” Maya snarked from across the room.
“Maya…” Phoenix warned as Trixie stuck her tongue out at the young mystic. “You’ve been in this spot yourself twice before. So remember how scared you were, particularly when you thought you might have actually done it,” he reminded her pointedly.
Maya in turn stuck her tongue out at Phoenix, but fell silent. She reflexively went for her smartphone again only to remember it was offline, leaving her forlorn and fidgeting, still sleep-deprived and in what he could only guess was internet withdrawal. For as unfamiliar as she’d been with modern technology when he’d first met her a couple years back, a product of a lifetime of living in an isolated and very traditional community, she’d quickly taken to it and had mastered it. She could readily use a laptop, tablet, and smartphone, using all three to play games, watch videos, use social media and even compose some dance music he wasn’t that keen on, having turned a side room of his office into her own small study for the purpose.
Suddenly glad I’m not that tech-savvy… Phoenix shook his head as he watched her try to deal with the sudden removal of all the things she liked the most.
And last but not least, we also added a new Enough! verdict in a couple places courtesy of James CyberLink:
As always, feel free to give the updated chapters a read! Sorry for the delay on these, but work's been a bitch and I was pushing hard to get two new Nightmare Night chapters released in time for Halloween. Two more updated TAS chapters should be released before this week is out, leaving us just three short of completing the story revamp. Thanks as always goes to the prereading crew of Denim_Blue, James Cyberlink, Silentwoodfire, and AJ_Aficionado, who did their usual bang-up job on the parent Google Doc.
Shining Armor: Proving that Lawful Good is not necessarily Lawful Weak.
I think you have an extra You in there. Don't know if it made it into the actual charter l chapter though.
4963082
Pretty much!
4963111
It did, sadly.
I’ve fixed it, thanks.