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* OneDoseFitsAll: Averted - In the first chapter, everybody thinks that Chrysalis is out cold due to the ridiculously high dose of horse tranquiliser she's been given (which would have outright killed any other animal in her weight class). [[spoiler:''Then'' she jumps up...]]
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* OneDoseFitsAll: Averted - In the first chapter, everybody thinks that Chrysalis is out cold due to the ridiculously high dose of horse tranquiliser she's been given (which would have outright killed any other animal in her weight class). [[spoiler:''Then'' she jumps up...]]
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* InstantSedation: Subverted: In the first chapter, everybody thinks that Chrysalis is out cold due to the ridiculously high dose of horse tranquiliser she's been given. [[spoiler:''Then'' she jumps up...]]
to:
* InstantSedation: Subverted: OneDoseFitsAll: Averted - In the first chapter, everybody thinks that Chrysalis is out cold due to the ridiculously high dose of horse tranquiliser she's been given.given (which would have outright killed any other animal in her weight class). [[spoiler:''Then'' she jumps up...]]
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--> ''"It was obvious that [[spoiler:[Princess Luna]]] had expected more of a visceral reaction out of the forensic. 'I’ve… seen worse.' she repeated, all while trying not to sound too heartless."''
to:
--> ''"It was obvious that [[spoiler:[Princess [[[spoiler:Princess Luna]]] had expected more of a visceral reaction out of the forensic. 'I’ve… seen worse.' she repeated, all while trying not to sound too heartless."''
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* TheCoroner: Edith Saric fills this role, [[spoiler]]though she gets in trouble for trying to break out of it by going intrepid[[/spoiler]].
to:
* TheCoroner: Edith Saric fills this role, [[spoiler]]though [[spoiler:though she gets in trouble for trying to break out of it by going intrepid[[/spoiler]].intrepid]].
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* HeroicBSOD: Estermann suffers a small one when [[spoiler]]the Everfree Forest hive is discovered[[/spoiler]], and he immediately realises that the terrifying tales about Chrysalis may all be ''true''. Lyra ultimately tells him to GetAHoldOfYourselfMan.
to:
* HeroicBSOD: Estermann suffers a small one when [[spoiler]]the [[spoiler:the Everfree Forest hive is discovered[[/spoiler]], discovered]], and he immediately realises that the terrifying tales about Chrysalis may all be ''true''. Lyra ultimately tells him to GetAHoldOfYourselfMan.
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* InstantSedation: Subverted: In the first chapter, everybody thinks that Chrysalis is out cold due to the ridiculously high dose of horse tranquiliser she's been given. [[spoiler]]''Then'' she jumps up...[[/spoiler]]
to:
* InstantSedation: Subverted: In the first chapter, everybody thinks that Chrysalis is out cold due to the ridiculously high dose of horse tranquiliser she's been given. [[spoiler]]''Then'' [[spoiler:''Then'' she jumps up...[[/spoiler]]]]
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* {{Knighting}}: Happens twice - first when Chrysalis makes Estermann formally pledge loyalty to her in her jail cell, and later when [[spoiler]]Princess Luna takes Edith Saric (almost literally) under her wing as she is be booted out of the UN mission[[/spoiler]]. The parallels are very apparent.
to:
* {{Knighting}}: Happens twice - first when Chrysalis makes Estermann formally pledge loyalty to her in her jail cell, and later when [[spoiler]]Princess [[spoiler:Princess Luna takes Edith Saric (almost literally) under her wing as she is be booted out of the UN mission[[/spoiler]].mission]]. The parallels are very apparent.
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--> ''"It was obvious that [[spoiler]][Princess Luna][[/spoiler]] had expected more of a visceral reaction out of the forensic. 'I’ve… seen worse.' she repeated, all while trying not to sound too heartless."''
to:
--> ''"It was obvious that [[spoiler]][Princess Luna][[/spoiler]] [[spoiler:[Princess Luna]]] had expected more of a visceral reaction out of the forensic. 'I’ve… seen worse.' she repeated, all while trying not to sound too heartless."''
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* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: Judge Mullan advises Estermann to portray changelingkind as a race of unintelligent animals to free them of their obligation to obey the rule of law. [[spoiler]]This turns out to be a terrible idea in the long run, as it could likewise also deprive them from all their rights.[[/spoiler]]
to:
* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: Judge Mullan advises Estermann to portray changelingkind as a race of unintelligent animals to free them of their obligation to obey the rule of law. [[spoiler]]This [[spoiler:This turns out to be a terrible idea in the long run, as it could likewise also deprive them from all their rights.[[/spoiler]]]]
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* TheCoroner: Edith Saric fills this role, though she gets in trouble for trying to break out of it by going intrepid.
* CrackFic
* CrackFic
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* TheCoroner: Edith Saric fills this role, though [[spoiler]]though she gets in trouble for trying to break out of it by going intrepid.
* CrackFicintrepid[[/spoiler]].
* CrackFic
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* HeroicBSOD: Estermann suffers a small one when the Everfree Forest hive is discovered, and he immediately realises that the terrifying tales about Chrysalis may all be ''true''. Lyra ultimately tells him to GetAHoldOfYourselfMan.
to:
* HeroicBSOD: Estermann suffers a small one when the [[spoiler]]the Everfree Forest hive is discovered, discovered[[/spoiler]], and he immediately realises that the terrifying tales about Chrysalis may all be ''true''. Lyra ultimately tells him to GetAHoldOfYourselfMan.
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* InstantSedation: Subverted: In the first chapter, everybody thinks that Chrysalis is out cold due to the ridiculously high dose of horse tranquiliser she's been given. ''Then'' she jumps up...
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* InstantSedation: Subverted: In the first chapter, everybody thinks that Chrysalis is out cold due to the ridiculously high dose of horse tranquiliser she's been given. ''Then'' [[spoiler]]''Then'' she jumps up...[[/spoiler]]
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* {{Knighting}}: Happens twice - first when Chrysalis makes Estermann formally pledge loyalty to her in her jail cell, and later when Princess Luna takes Edith Saric (almost literally) under her wing as she is be booted out of the UN mission. The parallels are very apparent.
to:
* {{Knighting}}: Happens twice - first when Chrysalis makes Estermann formally pledge loyalty to her in her jail cell, and later when Princess [[spoiler]]Princess Luna takes Edith Saric (almost literally) under her wing as she is be booted out of the UN mission.mission[[/spoiler]]. The parallels are very apparent.
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--> ''"It was obvious that [Princess Luna] had expected more of a visceral reaction out of the forensic. 'I’ve… seen worse.' she repeated, all while trying not to sound too heartless."''
to:
--> ''"It was obvious that [Princess Luna] [[spoiler]][Princess Luna][[/spoiler]] had expected more of a visceral reaction out of the forensic. 'I’ve… seen worse.' she repeated, all while trying not to sound too heartless."''
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* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: Judge Mullan advises Estermann to portray changelingkind as a race of unintelligent animals to free them of their obligation to obey the rule of law. This turns out to be a terrible idea in the long run, as it could likewise also deprive them from all their rights.
to:
* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: Judge Mullan advises Estermann to portray changelingkind as a race of unintelligent animals to free them of their obligation to obey the rule of law. This [[spoiler]]This turns out to be a terrible idea in the long run, as it could likewise also deprive them from all their rights.[[/spoiler]]
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* {{Knighting}}: Happens twice - first when Chrysalis makes Estermann formally pledge loyalty to her in her jail cell, and later when Princess Luna takes Edith Saric (almost literally) under her wing before she can be booted out of the UN mission. The parallels are very apparent.
to:
* {{Knighting}}: Happens twice - first when Chrysalis makes Estermann formally pledge loyalty to her in her jail cell, and later when Princess Luna takes Edith Saric (almost literally) under her wing before as she can is be booted out of the UN mission. The parallels are very apparent.
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* CatchPhrase: Edith's "[[SeenItAll Ive seen worse.]]". Though, given her job title (pathologist) and her nationality ([[UsefulNotes/TheYugoslavWars Bosnian]]), that's not too hard to believe.
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* CatchPhrase: Edith's "[[SeenItAll Ive seen worse.]]". Though, given her job title (pathologist) and her nationality ([[UsefulNotes/TheYugoslavWars Bosnian]]), that's not too hard to believe.
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* InstantSedation: Subverted: In the first chapter, everybody thinks that Chrysalis is out cold due to the ridiculously high dose of horse tranquiliser she's been given. ''Then'' she jumps up...
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* StunGun: The first resort against Chrysalis consists of tranquiliser rifles, filled what seem to be absurdly lethal amounts of sedative.
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* SmokingIsNotCool: Estermann likes to smoke, but even he admits he can only do it because he has a deathwish and because'[[DeadpanSnarker he's not pregnant]]'. Also Lyra, despite her best efforts to like it, doesn't.
to:
* SmokingIsNotCool: Estermann likes to smoke, but even he admits he can only do it because he has a deathwish and because'[[DeadpanSnarker because '[[DeadpanSnarker he's not pregnant]]'. Also Lyra, despite her best efforts to like it, doesn't.
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* CatchPhrase: Edith's "[[IveSeenItAll Ive seen worse.]]". Though, given her job title (pathologist) and her nationality ([[UsefulNotes/TheYugoslavWars Bosnian]]), that's not too hard to believe.
to:
* CatchPhrase: Edith's "[[IveSeenItAll "[[SeenItAll Ive seen worse.]]". Though, given her job title (pathologist) and her nationality ([[UsefulNotes/TheYugoslavWars Bosnian]]), that's not too hard to believe.
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* CatchPhrase: Edith's "[[IveSeenItAll Ive seen worse.]]". Though, given her job title (pathologist) and her nationality ([[UsefulNotes/TheYugoslavWars Bosnian]]), that's not too hard to believe.
* TheCoroner: Edith Saric fills this role, though she gets in trouble for trying to break out of it by going intrepid.
* TheCoroner: Edith Saric fills this role, though she gets in trouble for trying to break out of it by going intrepid.
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* GreyAndGrayMorality: Seems to be very much in effect. Both the Equestrians and humans are in equal parts jaundiced, smarmy and secretive (though nominally well-intentioned), and Chrysalis is... Chrysalis.
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* {{Knighting}}: Happens twice - first when Chrysalis makes Estermann formally pledge loyalty to her in her jail cell, and later when Princess Luna takes Edith Saric (almost literally) under her wing before she can be booted out of the UN mission. The parallels are very apparent.
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* TheStoic: Edith is described like that by other characters, even getting nicknamed "Pokerface". Noticeably, this even becomes obvious in the parts told from her own perspective:
--> ''"It was obvious that [Princess Luna] had expected more of a visceral reaction out of the forensic. 'I’ve… seen worse.' she repeated, all while trying not to sound too heartless."''
--> ''"It was obvious that [Princess Luna] had expected more of a visceral reaction out of the forensic. 'I’ve… seen worse.' she repeated, all while trying not to sound too heartless."''
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* HumansAreDiplomats: Though, for all intents and purposes, they're not very good ones, being caught somewhere between internal squabbling and ineffective appeasement.
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* HumansAreDiplomats: Though, for all intents and purposes, they're not very good ones, being caught somewhere between ineffective appeasement and internal squabbling.
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* JustifiedTitle: The fic's title could just as well double as the story's HighConcept.
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* JustifiedTitle: The fic's title could just as well double as the story's HighConcept.
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* HumansAreDiplomats: Though, for all intents and purposes, they're not very good ones, being caught somewhere between internal squabbling and ineffective appeasement.
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* SmokingIsBad: Estermann likes to smoke, but even he admits he can only do it because he has a deathwish and because'[[DeadpanSnarker he's not pregnant]]'. Lyra despite her best efforts, can't stand it.
to:
* SmokingIsBad: SmokingIsNotCool: Estermann likes to smoke, but even he admits he can only do it because he has a deathwish and because'[[DeadpanSnarker he's not pregnant]]'. Lyra Also Lyra, despite her best efforts, can't stand it.efforts to like it, doesn't.
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* EverybodySmokes: Estermann does. Lyra, trying to emulate him and humanity in general, tries taking it up as well, but, after caughing her lungs out, quickly decides it's not for her.
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* SmokingIsBad: Estermann likes to smoke, but even he admits he can only do it because he has a deathwish and because'[[DeadpanSnarker he's not pregnant]]'. Lyra despite her best efforts, can't stand it.
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* HairTriggerTemper: The Queen is incredibly aggressive throughout her stay, lunging at wardens and throwing tantrums at the drop of a hat. It's suggested that this stems from severe 'love' withdrawal, as she only calms down after being thrown a (dead) chicken to feed off of.
to:
* HairTriggerTemper: The Queen is incredibly aggressive throughout her stay, lunging at wardens warders and throwing tantrums at the drop of a hat. It's suggested that this stems from severe 'love' withdrawal, as she only calms down after being thrown a (dead) chicken to feed off of.
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* CueFlyingPigs: In a prequel chapter, Estermann boasted (on a radio talkshow, no less) that it was entirely inconceivable that the ICC would ever put Chrysalis on trial in The Hague, and that if they did, he'd eat his hat. It gets a CallBack in the next chapter, when Colm is surprised that Estermann's still wearing it.
to:
* CueFlyingPigs: CueTheFlyingPigs: In a prequel chapter, Estermann boasted (on a radio talkshow, no less) that it was entirely inconceivable that the ICC would ever put Chrysalis on trial in The Hague, and that if they did, he'd eat his hat. It gets a CallBack in the next chapter, when Colm is surprised that Estermann's still wearing it.
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* CueFlyingPigs: In a prequel chapter, Estermann boasted (on a radio talkshow, no less) that it was entirely inconceivable that the ICC would ever put Chrysalis on trial in The Hague, and that if they did, he'd eat his hat. It gets a CallBack in the next chapter, when Colm is surprised that Estermann's still wearing it.
--> '''Lauren Mephisto:''' Shame. I liked your hat.
--> '''Lauren Mephisto:''' Shame. I liked your hat.
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As the title suggests, it is thus decided to try her in front of the only place that can be trusted to stay neutral - the International Criminal Court, located in The Hague, in the Netherlands.
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As the title suggests, it is thus decided to try her in front of the only place that can be trusted to stay neutral
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** Dries the turnkey nicknamed Chrysalis “[[Music/{{Queen}} the Killer Queen, dynamite and gelatine]]”.
** When looking over images of a changeling hive, Estermann felt eerily reminded of ''Dulce Et Decorum Est'', an anti-war poem from WorldWarOne.
** When looking over images of a changeling hive, Estermann felt eerily reminded of ''Dulce Et Decorum Est'', an anti-war poem from WorldWarOne.
to:
** Dries the turnkey nicknamed Chrysalis “[[Music/{{Queen}} "[[Music/{{Queen}} the Killer Queen, dynamite and gelatine]]”.
gelatine]]".
** When looking over images of a changeling hive, Estermann felt eerily reminded of ''Dulce Et Decorum Est'', an anti-war poem fromWorldWarOne.UsefulNotes/WorldWarI.
** When looking over images of a changeling hive, Estermann felt eerily reminded of ''Dulce Et Decorum Est'', an anti-war poem from
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* FamousNamedForeigner: Filippo ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giuseppe_Garibaldi Garibaldi]]''.
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* CrackFic
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* PowerNullifier: Chrysalis' tremendous magic power is curbed (pretty rudimentarily) by wrapping her horn in wires and tin foil and feeding it a constant stream of electricity from a battery.
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* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Inverted in Princess Luna's case; she ''wants'' to lead the Royal Guard into battle against the changeling remnants in person, but as the princess of the night, she is hopelessly tied down by mundane work (and, strongly implied, her sister) in Canterlot and forced to delegate military command to lower echelons.
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As the title suggests, it is thus decided to try her in front of the International Criminal Court, located in The Hague, in the Netherlands.
to:
As the title suggests, it is thus decided to try her in front of the only place that can be trusted to stay neutral - the International Criminal Court, located in The Hague, in the Netherlands.
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* TranslationConvention: Ponies speak Equestrian (which sound unintelligible to humans), it's done in normal English, occasionally in italics.
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* TranslationConvention: Ponies Whenever ponies speak Equestrian (which sound sounds unintelligible to humans), it's done reciprocated in normal English, occasionally in italics.
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* PoirotSpeak: Many human characters, but Estermann in particular, like to lapse back into their native language when things get excited or stressful. This is probably done to remind the reader that they are ''actually'' averting TranslationConvection.
to:
* PoirotSpeak: Many human characters, but Estermann in particular, like to lapse back into their native language when things get excited or stressful. This is probably done to remind the reader that they are ''actually'' averting TranslationConvection.TranslationConvention.
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* TranslationConvection: Ponies speak Equestrian (which sound unintelligible to humans), it's done in normal English, occasionally in italics.
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* TranslationConvection: TranslationConvention: Ponies speak Equestrian (which sound unintelligible to humans), it's done in normal English, occasionally in italics.
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* PoirotSpeak: Many human characters, but Estermann in particular, like to lapse back into their native language when things get excited or stressful. This is probably done to remind the reader that they are ''actually'' averting TranslationConvection.
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* TranslationConvection: Ponies speak Equestrian (which sound unintelligible to humans), it's done in normal English, occasionally in italics.
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* BlackAndWhiteMorality: Lampshaded - Most of the ponies are adamant about the fact that Chrysalis is evil incarnate and they themselves are the defenders of all things harmonious. Suffice to say, the humans (Estermann in particular) are quick to contest this.
to:
* BlackAndWhiteMorality: Lampshaded Subverted - Most of the ponies are adamant about the fact that Chrysalis is evil incarnate and they themselves are the defenders of all things harmonious. Suffice to say, the humans (Estermann in particular) are quick to contest this.
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[[caption-width-right:350:It's not a social call.]]
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[[caption-width-right:350:It's not a social courtesy call.]]
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* SpeciesLoyalty: Neither the ponies or changelings have a very good opinion of each other. To the former, the latter are unscrupulous monsters, while to the latter, the former are hypocrites and the ''true'' mindless drones. Also certain humans have become increasingly paranoid with the increasing Equine presence in their cities.
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'''''[[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/62981/chrysalis-visits-the-hague Chrysalis Visits The Hague]]''''', written by one [[http://www.fimfiction.net/user/Dan+The+Man Dan The Man]], is not your typical ''MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' fanfic, but a uniquely weird amalgamation of courtroom drama, political thriller and fantasy adventure that places Queen Chrysalis and Equestria as a whole in a war crimes tribunal procedural plot, exploring the issues that might arise when a cynical human judicial system designed to prosecute war offences and crimes against humanity is abruptly forced to arbitrate in an ever-lasting battle between good and evil inside a magical, thoroughly idealistic SugarBowl, and how the 'real' world's gritty realism can seep into their carefree society and turn it into something of a CrapSaccharineWorld.
to:
'''''[[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/62981/chrysalis-visits-the-hague Chrysalis Visits The Hague]]''''', written by one [[http://www.fimfiction.net/user/Dan+The+Man Dan The Man]], is not your typical ''MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' fanfic, but a uniquely weird amalgamation of courtroom drama, political thriller and fantasy adventure that places Queen Chrysalis and Equestria as a whole in a war crimes tribunal procedural plot, exploring the issues that might arise when a cynical human judicial system designed to prosecute war offences and crimes against humanity is abruptly forced to arbitrate in an ever-lasting battle between good and evil inside a magical, thoroughly magical and ''painfully'' idealistic SugarBowl, and how the 'real' world's gritty realism can seep into their carefree society and turn it into something of a CrapSaccharineWorld.
SugarBowl.
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[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/chryssy_and_scheveningen.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:It's not a social call.]]
-> ''"A lawyer doesn't always want to know what really happened. It's a tightrope walk. Whether or not the lawyer believes in his client's innocence is not the issue. It's his duty to defend his client - no more and no less."''
-->-- '''Ferdinand von Schirach'''
It is the November of 2015, the place is Earth. One year ago, Equestria suddenly appeared near Australia in shape of an enormous island, and the first anniversary of their "discovery" is looming. Intricate diplomatic exchange and political matchmaking have ensured that the equine world could integrate into the human one peacefully and swimmingly.
This harmony dissipates however when Queen Chrysalis, a dreaded changeling monarch of high infamy and a mysterious past, is unexpectedly captured by the Royal Guard, and the issue arises on how to best put her on trial for her numerous crimes against the ponies of Equestria.
As the title suggests, it is thus decided to try her in front of the International Criminal Court, located in The Hague, in the Netherlands.
The story follows Alexander Estermann, a Swiss lawyer tasked with defending the queen, and Edith Saric, a Bosnian forensic investigator working for the prosecution, as they dig their way through "a quagmire of vengeance, racism, manipulation, lies, hearsay and self-deception" to find out who the changeling monarch really is and what her role was during the worst chapters of Equestrian history.
'''''[[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/62981/chrysalis-visits-the-hague Chrysalis Visits The Hague]]''''', written by one [[http://www.fimfiction.net/user/Dan+The+Man Dan The Man]], is not your typical ''MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' fanfic, but a uniquely weird amalgamation of courtroom drama, political thriller and fantasy adventure that places Queen Chrysalis and Equestria as a whole in a war crimes tribunal procedural plot, exploring the issues that might arise when a cynical human judicial system designed to prosecute war offences and crimes against humanity is abruptly forced to arbitrate in an ever-lasting battle between good and evil inside a magical, thoroughly idealistic SugarBowl, and how the 'real' world's gritty realism can seep into their carefree society and turn it into something of a CrapSaccharineWorld.
!!The story contains examples of:
* AmoralAttorney: Estermann himself is aware that, in order to save the Queen from a speedy conviction, he may have to resort to underhanded tactics and maintaining half-truths, regardless of whether she's guilty or not. The page quote sums up the sentiment very neatly.
* AntiHero: Estermann is not exactly a pleasant individual. He shows little regard for Equestrian culture and often comes across as brash and uppish to man and mare alike. Also, [[EvilLawyerJoke he's a lawyer]]. Once he meets client eye to eye though, he does begin to mellow out noticeably.
* ArtisticLicenseGeography: In-universe, most ponies are not very knowledgeable about human countries. The humans are little better at Equestrian geography.
* ArtisticLicenseLaw: WordOfGod states that there is a quite bit of it, ostensibly to ensure that the story stays “readable”.
** In-universe, Lexy Fori is called out on it by Estermann, who is angered by her unprofessional attitude.
* TheAtoner: During his run as sheriff, Fighting Fit hesitated to investigate Junebug's disappearance and failed to stop a changeling from taking her place and [[MindRape mind-raping]] her mother. Two years later, he ropes Edith into a search party for the real Junebug, obviously trying to make amends for his failures.
* BlackAndWhiteMorality: Lampshaded - Most of the ponies are adamant about the fact that Chrysalis is evil incarnate and they themselves are the defenders of all things harmonious. Suffice to say, the humans (Estermann in particular) are quick to contest this.
* BilingualBonus: Parts of the dialogue are rendered in largely untranslated German, Dutch and Bosnian. Many chapter titles are Latin legal phrases, and Lexy Fori's name is derived from “law of the forum”.
* CultureClash: A good portion of the conflict between ponies and humans stems from complex issues like the humans' historical treatment of earthly horses as lowly pack animals to things as banal as the ponies' all-herbivore diet.
* DarkerAndEdgier: Than the show and IDW comics, liberally opening up on mature themes of politics and crimes that the canon had, at best, only sparsely hinted at.
* DeathSeeker: Chrysalis repeatedly states that she knows she won't leave the prison alive, and seems to have made peace with that thought.
* UsefulNotes/DutchmenWithDestroyers: The ''Marechaussee'' (Dutch military police) are featured securing the Queen's transports and guarding the area around the court and prison. Also, Mjoberg the warden is a former Dutch Army CavalryOfficer.
* EiffelTowerEffect: The medieval gatehouse silhouetted on the story's thumbnail art is actually [[https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Scheveningse_gevangenis_001.jpg the historic Red Gate of Scheveningen Prison]].
* FictionalDocument: The second chapter is a life-sized but completely fictional BBC online article detailing Chrysalis' arrival in The Hague, fake comments and adverts included.
* ForeignCultureFetish: As per {{Fanon}}, Lyra is borderline-obsessed with the human world (and has been even since before its discovery).
* FriendOnTheForce: The judge Colm Mullan acts as one to the lawyer Estermann.
* TheFutureIsShocking: Though it's not strictly speaking the future, much of humanity's magicless technology is completely foreign to ponies. Queen Chrysalis for one, spends her first encounter with a live television arguing with the newscaster and getting cross with singing televangelists.
--> '''Lauren Mephisto:''' "We may not comprehend the cutie mark, the magic artefacts and the cloud cities, but they don't comprehend the telephone, the lightbulb and the combustion engine."
* JustifiedTitle: The fic's title could just as well double as the story's HighConcept.
* HairTriggerTemper: The Queen is incredibly aggressive throughout her stay, lunging at wardens and throwing tantrums at the drop of a hat. It's suggested that this stems from severe 'love' withdrawal, as she only calms down after being thrown a (dead) chicken to feed off of.
* HeroicBSOD: Estermann suffers a small one when the Everfree Forest hive is discovered, and he immediately realises that the terrifying tales about Chrysalis may all be ''true''. Lyra ultimately tells him to GetAHoldOfYourselfMan.
* HumansAreSpecial: Subverted; The ponies either hold humanity in high regard, as an ingenious civilised culture (Lyra in particular seems to see them as the pinnacle of creation), or they treat them with wary irreverence, as carnivorous predators. Chrysalis just sees them as uppity monkeys with DelusionsOfEloquence.
* KangarooCourt: What the thoroughly medieval Equestrian court system is described as; it is personally headed by Princess Celestia, the judges are devoted subjects, and there seems to be little to no emphasis on defence. Estermann predicts that Chrysalis literally wouldn't survive an Equestrian trial.
* LargeHam: Chrysalis likes to lay it on thick when complaining or raging – Estermann suspects that she herself is enjoying the theatrics.
* MultinationalTeam: The author seems to have made a point out of hardly ''any'' two characters being from the same country, with exception of the Equestrian ponies and some Dutch natives.
* TheNicknamer: Chrysalis insists on calling her lawyer 'worm', while Lyra keeps calling him Mr E. And Shining Armor (true to {{Canon}}) calls his sister Twily.
* NextSundayAD: The story was released exactly one year before the first chapter is set, on November 16th, 2014, and there don't seem to be any significant differences between the periods.
* ObstructiveBureaucrat: The UN presence in Equestria gets this portrayal. On one hand, they try to enforce a semblance of efficiency and integrity, but at the same time they're hopelessly dependant on the political climate and are desperate to avoid any kind of controversy.
* SillyReasonForWar: At one point, Estermann recounts the events kicking off the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_Jenkins War of Jenkin's Ear]] to Lyra, making the point that impressions don't need to be factual to have an impact.
* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVsCynicism: Both ends of the scale are pitted firmly against each other, with the prosecution and the ponies being the idealists, and Chrysalis and the defence representing the cynics.
* ShellShockedVeteran: Shining Armor shows signs of increasing paranoia and obsession as a direct result of Chrysalis' mind control. Estermann and Mjoberg lampshade this heavily.
* RudeHeroNiceSidekick: Estermann and his Equestrian liaison Lyra Heartstrings, who is a lot nicer and bubblier than him, seem to be in the process of becoming this.
* ShoutOut:
** The warden at one point comments that Chrysalis' psychologist – who had mysteriously diagnosed the changeling as harmless and docile – is more incompetent than [[Literature/TheCaineMutiny Captain Queeg's]].
** Dries the turnkey nicknamed Chrysalis “[[Music/{{Queen}} the Killer Queen, dynamite and gelatine]]”.
** When looking over images of a changeling hive, Estermann felt eerily reminded of ''Dulce Et Decorum Est'', an anti-war poem from WorldWarOne.
** Lauren ''[[Main/{{Faust}} Mephisto]]'' is alluding to... well, [[Creator/LaurenFaust guess]].
** The BBC News page is chock-full of them, such as ''Fanfic/MyLittleDashie'', ''Theater/WarHorse'' and ''WesternAnimation/FillyFuntasia''.
* ThemeNaming:
** All Royal Guards are named after weapons, pieces of armour, or cavalry terminology.
** Reporters and journalists all carry first and last names of random ''FIM'' and Hasbro staff.
* WeAreAsMayflies: Equestrian ponies can get hundreds of years old – Princesses and Queens even thousands. This revelation catches Estermann entirely off-guard.
--> “What are you horses ''eating''?!”
* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: Judge Mullan advises Estermann to portray changelingkind as a race of unintelligent animals to free them of their obligation to obey the rule of law. This turns out to be a terrible idea in the long run, as it could likewise also deprive them from all their rights.
* UsefulNotes/YanksWithTanks: Chrysalis is brought to the Netherlands in a US Air Force plane, and guided through her extradition by US Military Police.
[[caption-width-right:350:It's not a social call.]]
-> ''"A lawyer doesn't always want to know what really happened. It's a tightrope walk. Whether or not the lawyer believes in his client's innocence is not the issue. It's his duty to defend his client - no more and no less."''
-->-- '''Ferdinand von Schirach'''
It is the November of 2015, the place is Earth. One year ago, Equestria suddenly appeared near Australia in shape of an enormous island, and the first anniversary of their "discovery" is looming. Intricate diplomatic exchange and political matchmaking have ensured that the equine world could integrate into the human one peacefully and swimmingly.
This harmony dissipates however when Queen Chrysalis, a dreaded changeling monarch of high infamy and a mysterious past, is unexpectedly captured by the Royal Guard, and the issue arises on how to best put her on trial for her numerous crimes against the ponies of Equestria.
As the title suggests, it is thus decided to try her in front of the International Criminal Court, located in The Hague, in the Netherlands.
The story follows Alexander Estermann, a Swiss lawyer tasked with defending the queen, and Edith Saric, a Bosnian forensic investigator working for the prosecution, as they dig their way through "a quagmire of vengeance, racism, manipulation, lies, hearsay and self-deception" to find out who the changeling monarch really is and what her role was during the worst chapters of Equestrian history.
'''''[[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/62981/chrysalis-visits-the-hague Chrysalis Visits The Hague]]''''', written by one [[http://www.fimfiction.net/user/Dan+The+Man Dan The Man]], is not your typical ''MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' fanfic, but a uniquely weird amalgamation of courtroom drama, political thriller and fantasy adventure that places Queen Chrysalis and Equestria as a whole in a war crimes tribunal procedural plot, exploring the issues that might arise when a cynical human judicial system designed to prosecute war offences and crimes against humanity is abruptly forced to arbitrate in an ever-lasting battle between good and evil inside a magical, thoroughly idealistic SugarBowl, and how the 'real' world's gritty realism can seep into their carefree society and turn it into something of a CrapSaccharineWorld.
!!The story contains examples of:
* AmoralAttorney: Estermann himself is aware that, in order to save the Queen from a speedy conviction, he may have to resort to underhanded tactics and maintaining half-truths, regardless of whether she's guilty or not. The page quote sums up the sentiment very neatly.
* AntiHero: Estermann is not exactly a pleasant individual. He shows little regard for Equestrian culture and often comes across as brash and uppish to man and mare alike. Also, [[EvilLawyerJoke he's a lawyer]]. Once he meets client eye to eye though, he does begin to mellow out noticeably.
* ArtisticLicenseGeography: In-universe, most ponies are not very knowledgeable about human countries. The humans are little better at Equestrian geography.
* ArtisticLicenseLaw: WordOfGod states that there is a quite bit of it, ostensibly to ensure that the story stays “readable”.
** In-universe, Lexy Fori is called out on it by Estermann, who is angered by her unprofessional attitude.
* TheAtoner: During his run as sheriff, Fighting Fit hesitated to investigate Junebug's disappearance and failed to stop a changeling from taking her place and [[MindRape mind-raping]] her mother. Two years later, he ropes Edith into a search party for the real Junebug, obviously trying to make amends for his failures.
* BlackAndWhiteMorality: Lampshaded - Most of the ponies are adamant about the fact that Chrysalis is evil incarnate and they themselves are the defenders of all things harmonious. Suffice to say, the humans (Estermann in particular) are quick to contest this.
* BilingualBonus: Parts of the dialogue are rendered in largely untranslated German, Dutch and Bosnian. Many chapter titles are Latin legal phrases, and Lexy Fori's name is derived from “law of the forum”.
* CultureClash: A good portion of the conflict between ponies and humans stems from complex issues like the humans' historical treatment of earthly horses as lowly pack animals to things as banal as the ponies' all-herbivore diet.
* DarkerAndEdgier: Than the show and IDW comics, liberally opening up on mature themes of politics and crimes that the canon had, at best, only sparsely hinted at.
* DeathSeeker: Chrysalis repeatedly states that she knows she won't leave the prison alive, and seems to have made peace with that thought.
* UsefulNotes/DutchmenWithDestroyers: The ''Marechaussee'' (Dutch military police) are featured securing the Queen's transports and guarding the area around the court and prison. Also, Mjoberg the warden is a former Dutch Army CavalryOfficer.
* EiffelTowerEffect: The medieval gatehouse silhouetted on the story's thumbnail art is actually [[https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Scheveningse_gevangenis_001.jpg the historic Red Gate of Scheveningen Prison]].
* FictionalDocument: The second chapter is a life-sized but completely fictional BBC online article detailing Chrysalis' arrival in The Hague, fake comments and adverts included.
* ForeignCultureFetish: As per {{Fanon}}, Lyra is borderline-obsessed with the human world (and has been even since before its discovery).
* FriendOnTheForce: The judge Colm Mullan acts as one to the lawyer Estermann.
* TheFutureIsShocking: Though it's not strictly speaking the future, much of humanity's magicless technology is completely foreign to ponies. Queen Chrysalis for one, spends her first encounter with a live television arguing with the newscaster and getting cross with singing televangelists.
--> '''Lauren Mephisto:''' "We may not comprehend the cutie mark, the magic artefacts and the cloud cities, but they don't comprehend the telephone, the lightbulb and the combustion engine."
* JustifiedTitle: The fic's title could just as well double as the story's HighConcept.
* HairTriggerTemper: The Queen is incredibly aggressive throughout her stay, lunging at wardens and throwing tantrums at the drop of a hat. It's suggested that this stems from severe 'love' withdrawal, as she only calms down after being thrown a (dead) chicken to feed off of.
* HeroicBSOD: Estermann suffers a small one when the Everfree Forest hive is discovered, and he immediately realises that the terrifying tales about Chrysalis may all be ''true''. Lyra ultimately tells him to GetAHoldOfYourselfMan.
* HumansAreSpecial: Subverted; The ponies either hold humanity in high regard, as an ingenious civilised culture (Lyra in particular seems to see them as the pinnacle of creation), or they treat them with wary irreverence, as carnivorous predators. Chrysalis just sees them as uppity monkeys with DelusionsOfEloquence.
* KangarooCourt: What the thoroughly medieval Equestrian court system is described as; it is personally headed by Princess Celestia, the judges are devoted subjects, and there seems to be little to no emphasis on defence. Estermann predicts that Chrysalis literally wouldn't survive an Equestrian trial.
* LargeHam: Chrysalis likes to lay it on thick when complaining or raging – Estermann suspects that she herself is enjoying the theatrics.
* MultinationalTeam: The author seems to have made a point out of hardly ''any'' two characters being from the same country, with exception of the Equestrian ponies and some Dutch natives.
* TheNicknamer: Chrysalis insists on calling her lawyer 'worm', while Lyra keeps calling him Mr E. And Shining Armor (true to {{Canon}}) calls his sister Twily.
* NextSundayAD: The story was released exactly one year before the first chapter is set, on November 16th, 2014, and there don't seem to be any significant differences between the periods.
* ObstructiveBureaucrat: The UN presence in Equestria gets this portrayal. On one hand, they try to enforce a semblance of efficiency and integrity, but at the same time they're hopelessly dependant on the political climate and are desperate to avoid any kind of controversy.
* SillyReasonForWar: At one point, Estermann recounts the events kicking off the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_Jenkins War of Jenkin's Ear]] to Lyra, making the point that impressions don't need to be factual to have an impact.
* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVsCynicism: Both ends of the scale are pitted firmly against each other, with the prosecution and the ponies being the idealists, and Chrysalis and the defence representing the cynics.
* ShellShockedVeteran: Shining Armor shows signs of increasing paranoia and obsession as a direct result of Chrysalis' mind control. Estermann and Mjoberg lampshade this heavily.
* RudeHeroNiceSidekick: Estermann and his Equestrian liaison Lyra Heartstrings, who is a lot nicer and bubblier than him, seem to be in the process of becoming this.
* ShoutOut:
** The warden at one point comments that Chrysalis' psychologist – who had mysteriously diagnosed the changeling as harmless and docile – is more incompetent than [[Literature/TheCaineMutiny Captain Queeg's]].
** Dries the turnkey nicknamed Chrysalis “[[Music/{{Queen}} the Killer Queen, dynamite and gelatine]]”.
** When looking over images of a changeling hive, Estermann felt eerily reminded of ''Dulce Et Decorum Est'', an anti-war poem from WorldWarOne.
** Lauren ''[[Main/{{Faust}} Mephisto]]'' is alluding to... well, [[Creator/LaurenFaust guess]].
** The BBC News page is chock-full of them, such as ''Fanfic/MyLittleDashie'', ''Theater/WarHorse'' and ''WesternAnimation/FillyFuntasia''.
* ThemeNaming:
** All Royal Guards are named after weapons, pieces of armour, or cavalry terminology.
** Reporters and journalists all carry first and last names of random ''FIM'' and Hasbro staff.
* WeAreAsMayflies: Equestrian ponies can get hundreds of years old – Princesses and Queens even thousands. This revelation catches Estermann entirely off-guard.
--> “What are you horses ''eating''?!”
* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: Judge Mullan advises Estermann to portray changelingkind as a race of unintelligent animals to free them of their obligation to obey the rule of law. This turns out to be a terrible idea in the long run, as it could likewise also deprive them from all their rights.
* UsefulNotes/YanksWithTanks: Chrysalis is brought to the Netherlands in a US Air Force plane, and guided through her extradition by US Military Police.
