Turnabout Storm Parts 63-64 Updated · 5:12pm Nov 15th, 2018
Enhancements this time include a new picture in Part 63 - Trick or Treat, and a more fleshed-out appearance by Celestia at the end of Part 64 - Frozen Heart.
These two chapters were the Trixie trial proper, and for the most part I was already quite pleased with them. Changes and enhancements were mostly to fix some incongruities that prereaders pointed out. First, here's the new picture:
Zecora shook her head. “Of Twilight Sparkle, she wanted only to be rid. And try to be better, I swear Lula did,” she directly addressed the judge as she said her last sentence.
“How did she try to be better?” Phoenix quickly followed up.
“Took a job at a rock farm, as to not be a debtor. Poured herself into books so her magic would be better. In time she paid me back for my company and care… and more than once did she need it, considering her last dare.”
“‘Last dare’?” Phoenix and Delta echoed.
“Her powers grew steadily, week by week. But to be Twilight’s better, she had to first equal her feat. So she went deep in the woods looking for an Ursa, you see. And find one she did, from her wounds was plain to me.”
That caused another upsurge in conversation, this time a far more impressed one. “She actually went out and fought an Ursa?” Twilight asked in disbelief and genuine respect. It was all I could do to handle a baby one…
“Yes, and lost badly, which she took quite sadly,” Zecora announced with a slow and mournful shake of her head.
“She finally gave up her vendetta then, knowing that fighting Miss Sparkle was simply no-win. When her wounds had healed, she did finally depart, resolving to leave her old life behind and make a new start.”
HT to https://www.deviantart.com/madhotaru/art/Everfree-Doctor-316075570 for the artwork.
Later, once the verdict is in, I expanded the post-trial sequence where Celestia appeared. Prereaders, specifically james CyberLink, said that it seemed odd that 1) Celestia wouldn't acknowledge or address her new human guests, 2) that she wouldn't recognize Maya's Magatama after having seen Mia's, and 3) that Phoenix wouldn't try speak up for Twilight while Celestia was admonishing her. So I attempted to resolve all that:
A chiming sound brought the room’s attention back to Delta, who was looking down at the clasp of her cloak. Said object was glowing and emitting a rather royal-sounding ringtone… one that made Twilight visibly cringe. “Well. It seems somepony else has something to say,” she mused, as she tapped the clasp, and drew her hoof in a circle around it as she sang softly.
The glow intensified and started projecting an image into the air, much as had been seen at the trial with the crystal recorder. This time, however, the image was of a certain alicorn, the full-sized sight of whom caused all the ponies present to bow in deference.
“Princess Celestia! This is a surprise and honor,” Phoenix offered, giving her a short bow, as a startled but uncertain Edgeworth, Maya, and Pearl took a moment to follow his lead.
The translucent alicorn chuckled slightly, her ethereal mane waving as if in an unseen breeze.
“Did you think that I wouldn’t have ways to keep in contact with one of my best agents in the field? And please rise, everypony… and everyone,” she added on seeing the additional humans; Phoenix noted her gaze fell briefly but in some surprise on Maya when she noticed her Magatama, her eyes fixed on it for a moment.
Odd... why would she recognize that? he couldn’t help but wonder, but didn’t get a chance to pursue the thought as Celestia addressed her new guests.
“Greetings and welcome to Equestria, Miss Maya, young Pearl, and Miles Edgeworth,” she addressed each in turn, to their surprise. “I am Princess Celestia, Twilight’s teacher and the monarch of this land. She told me your names and how you were brought here, and for it I offer my sincerest apologies for the involuntary manner in which I am told you were summoned. Be assured I will do my utmost to make your stay a pleasant one and return you to your world in due time. And please, there is no need to bow. You are not my subjects, so you need not kneel before me.”
Rising from her own bow, Pinkie began jumping up and down excitedly, speaking before anypony else could. “So, Princess, did you hear about the trial today? Or did you wanna hear it from us? Ooo, or maybe you want to—”
Celestia’s laughter cut her off. “I’m well aware of what transpired during the trial, Pinkie Pie, as one of the recorders in the courtroom was modified to allow me to view the proceedings as though I were actually there.” She smiled at Phoenix. “I would like to offer my congratulations to Mister Wright for yet another superb job. In both exposing Fair Verdict and in your excellent defense of Ms. Lulamoon, you have once again proven that you are worthy of the title ‘greatest defense attorney’, Phoenix Wright.”
Edgeworth’s eyebrows flew up, but much to his credit, he did not snort in amusement at the statement, deciding it would be unseemly to do so in front of what had to be this nation’s ruler. Maya, on the other hand, wasn’t quite so restrained, having to clap her hands over her mouth to stifle her giggles, earning a glare from Phoenix.
Can’t you guys even allow me ONE moment of pride? he thought in some exasperation.
Celestia either didn’t notice or chose to disregard it; her expression becoming more solemn. “However, simple congratulations are not the only reason I have contacted you all through Delta. It would seem I have a reprimand to deliver as well.” Her virtual gaze fell on Twilight, who gulped and stepped forward, her head bowed so low it was almost scraping the ground.
Celestia waited until she had arrived before her virtual image, staring down at her for several seconds before she spoke again. “Twilight Sparkle… I find myself in the rare position of not having the proper words to express how I feel. ‘Disappointed’ would be a grave understatement in this case.”
Twilight flinched as though she’d been struck. “P-Princess, I…” Her voice failed, having never heard such a reproachful tone directed at her from her mentor before.
“It is not the fact that you learned a scrying spell without my permission that causes me to say this,” Celestia continued, “nor is it the fact that you apparently snuck into a restricted area repeatedly and without permission to study it. It is the fact that you used this spell on somepony whose emotional state was severely compromised at the time, and who you were in the process of dueling.
“This is a flagrant violation of privacy, and while not strictly illegal, it goes against my personal conscience and all magical ethics I have attempted to teach you,” she informed Twilight, whose ears and fur drooped further with each word spoken.
“But Princess! She—” Phoenix began, only for Celestia to hold up a halting hoof at him, and though there was no anger or reproach directed at him behind it, he found himself falling silent as she went on.
“Had you stopped at that, perhaps I wouldn’t be as troubled. But you did more, my student. You revealed a pony’s darkest thoughts and secrets to an entire gallery of ponies during a very public trial. I grant that, given the judge’s disposition at the time, you had no other means of mitigating Trixie’s sentence, but it is nonetheless a severe violation of her sanctity of self. All said, I cannot in good conscience allow your actions to go unpunished,” she said solemnly.
Twilight looked like she was on an executioner’s chopping block as Trixie watched and waited expectantly. “Wh-what is your decision, Princess?”
Celestia sighed, closing her eyes and bowing her head slightly. “It is my decree that, for a period of one month, your tenure as my student is hereby suspended. Your royal stipend will be cut off during this time, as will your access to the entire Canterlot Archives. And I will be personally overseeing security upgrades to the Archives, particularly the Starswirl wing, to ensure that there will be no more sneaking in, from you or anypony else,” she pronounced sentence less as a judge than a disappointed parent.
“Your desire to know more about magic and the ponies around you is commendable, Twilight. But what purpose do rules serve when even those in authority choose not to pay them heed?”
Maya blinked at the startlingly familiar phrase coming from the Sun Princess. Well, at least it’s not the usual references I’ve been getting here… need to break that game out again sometime! She decided, resolving to do so as soon as she got back.
Twilight hung her head and waved off her friends. Phoenix, however, felt compelled to speak up. "With respect, Princess, she could have simply never told anyone what she did, you know. But she revealed it to help Trixie, even though she knew she’d be punished for it. And it worked.”
Trixie all but bit her lip to keep from saying the first words that popped into her head as Celestia turned her gaze on him, the barest element of reproach in it. “So the ends justify the means, Phoenix Wright? Did they also when you falsely accused Fluttershy?” she challenged, causing him to fall silent and grimace. “Magical ethics, like attorney ethics, exist for good reasons, and I cannot ignore such an egregious violation of them simply for a favorable outcome.”
“I was just asking you to take it into consideration that she wasn’t being selfish,” he offered somewhat more wanly, feeling compelled to stand up for Twilight but also forced to acknowledge the truth of Celestia’s words. Kind of hard to counter an argument when it’s one I got censured with already...
“Phoenix… thank you, but she’s right. Regardless of how things turned out, I was wrong to do it,” Twilight told him, then turned back to Celestia. “I… I understand, Princess. And I accept your punishment.” She bowed low again.
Phoenix noted a brief flash of pain cross Celestia’s face, even through the projection. “You may still send me letters and other reports during this period, Twilight. Do not think this the end of our relationship. I only need to impress upon you the seriousness of what you have done,” she emphasized, then looked around. “Farewell, dear friends, until we meet again!” Her image faded away as Delta’s clasp ceased to glow.
And there you have it. We're just three chapters away from completing the revamp at this point, meaning it will certainly be done by year's end. Thanks as always go to AJ_Aficionado, James CyberLink, Silentwoodfire and Denim_Blue for poring over the google doc and making their usual array of comments and recommendations. You are invited to read the updated chapters at your leisure. Enjoy!
EDIT: One other thing I forgot to mention: the ending reference to Frozen where Rainbow Dash says that Pearly kept saying Elsa’s name has been kept. The reason is very simple: Pearl is 8 years old; it makes perfect sense that Frozen would be one of her favorite movies and she’d immediately think of Elsa when she saw Trixie’s powers. Also remaining is Maya’s reaction afterwards, which is to groan. Though unstated, she’s been made to watch the movie by Pearl way too many times by that point.
Celestia showing that Lawful Good does not mean Lawful Negligent.
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Quite true. I notice you’ve been on a bit of a D&D kick of late in your blog posts. Sadly, I never played.
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Neither have I. That hasn’t stopped me yet.