Ponyville District Court, June 11th, 10:50AM

“Phoenix? Where are you?” Wandering around the lobby, Twilight saw many ponies that had come to watch the trial; however she hadn’t seen Phoenix since he walked off without a word after losing the trial, and merged with the pack of ponies shuffling out the door. Who would have thought a tall guy like that could blend so well?

So many things were running through your head currently that it was giving you a headache. Rainbow Dash had just been sentenced to banishment to the moon. She’d been taken by royal guard to Canterlot to be immediately banished about twenty minutes ago. It seemed wrong, and you could only hope that Celestia would have put it off, but the high improbability of the situation made Twilight face the facts. By now, Rainbow was probably saying her goodbyes. Applejack, Pinkie and Rarity had gone with Dash, planning to be with her every step of the way.

Then there was Fluttershy. Where could she have been? After Dash shouted at her like that, she could be off hurting herself. Oh Rainbow, why did she do that? She might have been mad but that’s no reason to take it out on some pony so special to you. She’d checked her cottage, Zecora’s and anywhere else she could think of.

Trixie was also on your mind. Why in Equestria would she treat Rainbow’s life like a pawn in a silly revenge scheme? She was infuriating, obnoxious and a loudmouth, but never did Twilight think that she was so reckless. She hadn’t shown the slightest remorse. She had bragged the whole time Twilight and her were in this courthouse.

“So how does it feel to be publically humiliated by the Great and Powerful Trixie? No good, I take it.” Speak of the devil and she will appear. Trixie, wearing an expression of absolute smugness, had decided to brag a little more. Twilight had had just enough of her.

“What the hay is wrong with you? You just got Rainbow Dash sent to the moon just to get back at me. You’re the one that should have been banished for such- such negligent regard for a pony’s life. You are the most obnoxious unicorn I have ever had the displeasure to meet!” Twilight, panting, finished her rant on an insult, tearing up from a flow of emotions. And for every attack on her, Trixie just stood there and took it.

“Ha. This has got to be better than I expected. Twilight’s crying. Looks like ‘Fwiendship’ didn’t save you. Face it, anything you can do, I can do better. I’m BETTER than you.” Smirking, Trixie just continued to rub it in Twilight’s face, much to her own pleasure. Twilight, on the other hand, was now leaking tears at an alarming rate. Emotion overcame logic as she prepared her last insult.

“Didn’t you learn anything from Gilda? Revenge solves nothing. Revenge just leaves you empty inside. But I suppose you already know how that feels, with a black hole for a heart.” As almost to emphasise the last word, Twilight began sobbing. Everything was falling apart before her. Rainbow Dash was almost gone, Fluttershy and Phoenix were nowhere to be found, and Trixie had won. She began weeping openly, collapsing to the floor.

“She was wrong, though. Revenge solves everything. She just did it wrong. You have to be able to flaunt it in your rival’s face; crush them with it. You know that now, and I feel pretty good on the inside too. Enjoy your ‘fwiendship’, Sparkle, it's about to be the only thing you have left” Trixie gloated, walking away from her defeated rival, laughing like a mad pony.

“H-how could she?” Twilght wanted to just give up. Twilight’s tears flooded the carpet, a small puddle water logging the pathway. Twilight’s logic was draining away even further. Nothing had made her feel this lonely in the world, except maybe...

Discord! He must have something to do with it. There’s no way any pony could have thought Rainbow did it without him doing something. It was all Discord’s fault. Wait, Discord’s free! This warrants an immediate letter to the Princess. No, the Princess must know, he is a statue in her own garden. What if she was defeated? Oh no, there’s no element of Loyalty anymore. How are we going to defeat him? The Discordian Era will return. Wait, hang on. He’s a statue in the Princess’ garden. If he was free, the Princess would know and would have sent a letter.

“Um Twilight...” A whisper came from behind Twilight, eerily familiar to her, yet estranged due to her lack of attention. She was having one of her crazy moments. “Twilight, listen to me.” She could still be heard mumbling something, nothing drawing her attention. “Twilight, I know where Phoenix is.”

“What?” Twilight violently snapped around with a crazed look in her eye, to spy a shocked Fluttershy. “F-Fluttershy? Where were you? W-where’s Phoenix?” Twilight asked, sincerity adorning her face. Fluttershy, coming back out of her shell, started her usual mumble routine. Twilight wanted to get to the point.

“He’s at the Library, with the Princess.” Fluttershy blurted out at almost Pinkie-speed. Twilight however, understood every word of it.

“What? The Princess? Oh this is bad. We’ve got to go.” Shocked, Twilight sprinted out the door, leaving Fluttershy in her dust.

“Oh... my... W-Wait for me, Twilight.”

Library, June 11th, 10:52AM

“Phoenix...” Celestia stood there, worried for the Defence Attorney. He remained silent, intensely trying to ignore the white demi-god. “Phoenix, I’m sorry,” Celestia sniffled, “It was my only choice.” Phoenix continued to ignore her, head clasp between his hands. His mind was still conflicted, preventing any sort of communication from getting through.

The solar diarch lowered her head in despair. Nothing could get through to him, his mind clouded by his guilt and self-loathing. He hadn’t done a thing wrong and it made her sick to see him do this to himself. Nothing could have been done. It was too short notice. She should have called him immediately.

“Your Highness. I let everyone down. I don’t think I could even face Twilight, not after seeing how she reacted to my accusation of Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash is gone because I failed. I let their friend slip away from me, when I was her only hope. I can only imagine what might happen if they were to see me again. I should have done so much more for them, and I let them down.

Only despair and shame could be heard in Phoenix’s tone of voice. “Phoenix Wright. I wouldn’t have asked Twilight to bring you here if I hadn’t known that you would try everything in your power to prevent the inevitable. You showed great loyalty to your new friends, even going to the lengths of ‘breaking-and-entering’ to prove Rainbow Dash’s innocence.” The princess gave a warm smile, hoping to bring Phoenix’s confidence back. Phoenix was smiling but it wasn’t because of Celestia’s tenderness.

“You...er...heard about that then. Please, I didn’t mean to.” Phoenix pleaded, in a tone of guilt and innocence intertwined. He still didn’t give eye contact but he was involuntarily becoming more open to her pursuits. The princess noticed and was going to take advantage.

“I know, my little p- human. I will not tell a soul. I will tell you a secret though. I have lied to all of you in the past few days. You, most of all. I knew that the trial was impossible to win. I ask-“

Celestia was interrupted by a loud slam of the door. Everyone noticed who had enter, eyes drawn to the door. With angry intentions, Twilight Sparkle stood panting in the door way, eyes firmly fixed on her mentor. Celestia went to greet her, only to be shouted at. “What?! You knew Rainbow Dash was going to be convicted of a crime she didn’t commit! How could you keep that from us? From me?! We’re supposed to be close, Princess. I trusted you!”

“Twilight, I have betrayed you I know. But anger will not get you anywhere. Calm down, and speak you mind logically, like you are accustomed to.” As calm as ever, Celestia drew out the emotion of the room and left it silent apart from Twilight’s still fairly heavy panting. Twilight, growling, felt all eyes on her, and took this opportunity to bow to peer pressure. She closed her eyes and took a large breath. In through her nose and out her mouth, her usual demeanour returned.

“Princess,” asked Twilight, in a voice as equally calm as the Princess’ own, “I know that it may not have been a good idea to tell us, but was there not anything you could do?” The solar diarch sighed, and shook her head. Twilight’s drooped from the motion, realising that it was inevitable from the start. Phoenix remained silent, trying to comprehend that he’d almost done the impossible.

“I believed that if anyone were to have the ability to perhaps overcome this case, it would be you, Phoenix Wright. I believed that you could do the impossible and you very nearly proved my faith in you was not misplaced. However, I had an ulterior motive for bringing you here. Fear.” The gravity of the princess’ tone dropped tenfold on that last word. Phoenix rose to full attention and Twilight gave her a curious look.

“F-fear, Princess? What are you afraid of?” Twilight wavered a bit with her pitch, taken aback by the daze she had encountered. “I-I didn’t think you could be afraid of anything.” Celestia chuckled at Twilight’s praise. She gave her another warm smile and continued.

“Neither did I, my little pony. However, it seems I can. Anyway, as I was saying, I was afraid that Rainbow Dash would be gone and that Equestria would be without one of its saviours. You see, Rainbow Dash, as you may not know, Phoenix, is one of the Elements of Harmony. She is one of six ponies, all of whom you have met, that have guarded Equestria countless times from many dangers. Rainbow Dash was Loyalty. She was chosen because she would never give up on her friends, and never give up hope.”

Twilight looked as confused as ever, and was on the verge of questioning where the Princess was going before Phoenix understood. “I’m sorry, Princess, but I can’t replace her. I’m a failure in this world, and I must return to the place where I have a chance of saving people. Let Spike be the new Rainbow Dash. Now, I will ask again. Can you please send me back?” Phoenix only looked up to the tall alicorn to apologise until he shifted his gaze away, the pain of facing the effects of his failure making it too hard to continue.

Celestia, ever the wise one, knew just how to provoke a turnabout in his heart. “Phoenix, I cannot. That is up to Twilight. But hear this; if you leave now, only then will you have failed her. You have shown the loyalty worthy of the highest merit. You didn’t give up on Rainbow at any point during the trial, even when it looked bleak. You didn’t give up on helping Twilight even when she had considered replacing you as Rainbow’s attorney. You haven’t given up yet. Please, Phoenix, if not for yourself, then for Rainbow. If you decide to give up, then you are not the man I had believed you were.”

Phoenix had no choice but to look her in the eye to get her point across. His eyes were almost bloodshot, reddened by tears. “Not the man you thought I was, huh? That’s funny,” Phoenix was almost shouting at this point, “I hadn’t given up on someone I knew was innocent. Twilight told me she knew Rainbow was innocent, and decided to help. How about you, Princess? Did you help? Or did you give up on her?”

“Phoenix!” Twilight gave him a stern look, much like the one she had give Rainbow earlier, to scold him for what he had said. “Stop it now! We’re all upset, but there’s no reason to make accusations like that. After all, she told me to bring you here didn’t she?” Phoenix submitted to the evidence she had shown, only to mumble about himself not be that useful.

“Mr. Wright. I know that you are mad at the turn of events, but please believe me when I say that I’m looking out for every pony. Now, I will offer you a second chance. Rainbow Dash was the Element of Loyalty. You are the only being I have known to be able to equal her loyalty, and you have proven it over the course of these past days. I am offering you the chance to replace her, to stay in this land and continue your search to clear her name. As you have said yourself, you are her only hope. And due to your loyalty, I know that you will not abandon an innocent pony. I trust you, Phoenix.”

After another monologue by the Princess of the Sun, Phoenix could do nothing but think. He couldn’t just abandon her. This was his chance to redeem himself. He had to remain loyal to Rainbow. But negativity crept into his psyche. What if he were to fail again? What could he do now that he hadn’t done before? He had tried everything in his power, and he could only do that again. It was impossible. Why would it be any different?

“Princess, please, I cannot accept. I see no reason why it won’t be impossible a second time around. I very much want to try, but as much as it pains me, I cannot succeed. I cannot live life in an endless loop of trying to prevent the inevitable. I couldn’t replace someone done in by such injustice. It would sicken me to my core.” Phoenix was almost in physical pain. One eye closed, he was grunting. Twilight could all but pick up on this.

“Phoenix, it could be millennia before another element of harmony is chosen. You have to listen to reason. We’re all in danger if you leave. No pony could blame you for trying to change fate. You can’t just leave now. Wouldn’t that sicken you to your core as well?” Twilight had learnt from the best to provide contradictions to statements. It brought a slight smile to her face.

“Well, looks like I’m an impasse then. I couldn’t live with myself either way,” sighed Phoenix, maintaining a sad composure, however, this time, he looked to Twilight, “You really know how to put me on the stand, don’t you?” He smirked for the first time since he had believed he’d won the case. It was a good feeling that spread through him, increasing his energy and returning him back to his old self. He also looked a lot perkier and colourful.

“Well, I did learn from the greatest Defence Attorney in Equestria” joked Twilight, sharing his smile. She began to believe everything was alright again. “I learned a lot of his cheap tricks. Making people feel bad to get confessions out of them. Ugh,” Twilight shook her head, “How do you do that every day? That felt horrible doing that to you.”

Phoenix laughed a bit, “I know how you feel. Just remember you’re doing it to provide the truth.” The moment seemed to last for a while before everything settled down again, seemingly suffering from the lack of a heartfelt hug. What had disrupted it was the princess’ nervous shuffling. Phoenix looked to her, still holding some sort of resentment, but now more feelings of optimism. “Your highness, I have thought it over,” explained Phoenix, eliciting a un-princess-like snicker from Celestia, “and believe I should take you up on your offer...” The princess nodded and went to agree, if not for Phoenix continuation, “...on one condition, however.”
“What might that be, Mr. Wright? What could you bargain with me for,” Celestia giggled, and innocently but coyly winked, knowing full well what he might be suggested. Phoenix noticed the subtle hint and coughed a little to hide a chuckle. He cleared his throat and took a deep breath, putting on a show for the unknowing audience, otherwise known as Twilight.
“If I am to stay here to protect this land, you must allow my friend, Rainbow Dash, to return to her friends in Ponyville.” Phoenix Wright, now stood strongly in the middle of the room, had declared his conditions, only to the sudden joy of Twilight, who was now bouncing on the spot like a filly, constantly thanking him.

“It would be my pleasure, Mr. Wright.” Celestia grinned as magic emanated from her horn, lowered for concentration, and light blinded everyone. It was bright white light that could only be described as pure. And as it faded, in its place, lay a cyan blue pegasus, sleeping peacefully. You could almost hear the unicorn’s d’awwing. Only a joke went through Phoenix’s mind as he looked on. If she wouldn’t give it to him for saying it, he’d call her cute.

As with every happy sight, it had to have an end. Again, it was the Princess’ time to disrupt the mood. “Phoenix, I forgot to mention one term of your residence here in Equestria. It may be unsettling to ponies if you were to walk around as a human, so I can change your form to suit this world.” Phoenix’s eyes widened, immediately snapping to the princess who was charging another spell.

“Wait, change my form? What do you mean by-” A beam shot off the princess’ horn at straight into Phoenix’s heart. He groaned and began breathing heavily at the sudden impact, either out of pain or surprise, and was enveloped by a translucent golden glow his suit emitted. The outline of his face was still distinguishable as he looked at his hands and their golden aura. By the second, the glow became more solid and opaque, covering the bare skin of the man that once stood in his place, his suit the only part of him not affected. As the glimmering cloud blocked out his face, his head and hands tensed, shooting outwards, spreading him wide.

He began groaning as his very form lost his very shape, his suit changing to fit his new body. He began growling and grunting as he became smaller and went on all fours. Twilight looked worried, the princess still shooting her magic into the former man. With one final surge of power, a mist of golden magic descended on him. He was visible once again, but he wasn’t him. He was...

“Phoenix, y-you’re a pony!” Twilight decided to call out the obvious. Phoenix coughed and looked up to her. He looked just as confused as she was. He looked around and spied a mirror. He glared at his reflection like a stranger. He was a beige earth pony, still wearing his royal blue suit, except tailored for ponies. It was unsettling to see himself like this.

Twilight turned to talk to the princess, but instead found a cyan blue pegasus in her place, yawning. “What’s up, Twi? I guess I got sent back.” Rainbow, nonchalant, chuckled as she looked at her dazed friend. She smiled and looked past her to the newly formed Phoenix Wright. “Who’s that guy?”

“That’s Phoenix?” With more of a question than an answer from Twilight, Dash shot in front of the stallion. She tilted her head and looked curiously. She stared him down until she noticed his mane, still jet black and shot back. She bit her lip, and failed to suppress her hysterics.

“That’s Phoenix alright. Still got the Porcupine on his head,” laughed Rainbow, not thinking about how humiliating it was to be recognised by his hair-do. Twilight blushed and so did Phoenix. He was worse, looking fed up, probably thinking of a comeback.

“That’s no way to treat the person that handed you a ‘get-out-of-jail-free’ card, Skittles.” He had a smug grin on his face, and burst out laughing too. Twilight sighed and approached the hysterical pairing. She giggled a little too, joining in on the joke. They all looked relaxed for once.

As they settled, Phoenix coughed and turned to look at Dash. “Look Dash,” Phoenix went super serious, quickly gaining some composure, “You’re still guilty in legal terms, and I still have to get you that pardon. But I know I find it. I just have to think through the facts again and spy a problem.”

“And I know you’ll get it done, Nix.” Smiling, Rainbow knocked him gently on the foreleg. Phoenix let out a sigh of relief, knowing there wasn’t any tension between the two of them. He returned a smile and looked to Twilight, who was staring at him.

“Twilight, can I ask a favour?” Phoenix looked sincere, and Twilight couldn’t refuse.
“What’s up?”
“Do you think you could send the judge back with some stuff?”
“I should be able to... Sure, but if you don’t mind me asking, who were you going to send it to?”
“A friend, just a friend.”