History NightmareFuel / ElementsOfJustice

Despite taking place in [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic the most magical and beautiful land in recent cartoon history]], the grim nature of [[Franchise/AceAttorney the other series' stories]] still takes hold here.

[[caption-width-right:350: When the magic of friendship meets bloody murder]]

* During the first part of Crusading for a Turnabout's investigation, the team checks out a small bloodstain behind the Nightmare Night statue. Athena uses a forensic flashlight to check for any blood that may have been wiped away, and discovers the remains of a [[WhamShot MASSIVE bloodstain at the front of the statue]]. To make matters worse, the blood already present was not the victim's, suggesting that there's another victim somewhere in the forest. Remember, [[HarmfulToMinors Apple Bloom]] was investigating with the team at that time.

** Following that unsettling reveal, Fair Devotion begins acting colder towards both Private and her childhood friend Sugar Stamp, bordering on SmugSnake while explaining away the inconsistencies with the latter's testimony. In-Universe, Athena finds the change in attitude disconcerting.

** Athena's reaction can not be understated: as her train of throughts slowly comes to its inevitable conclusion, she litteraly freezes with horror, stuck in mid-motion, [[WideEyesAndShrunkenIrises wide-eyed with her irises darting everywhere]]. The screen behind her goes black, the triumphant music that was playing just seconds before comes to an halt, only to leave a much more [[DroneofDread somber and terribly sinister one playing in its stead]], the kind of music you fully expect from an horror film, with the faint sound of a beating heart playing the background. Athena ''doesn't'' want to be right. She desperately tries to reject her own hypothesis, even as it dawns on her that there's no other explanation, the camera closing in on her panicked expression. Twilight tries to get her attention, but Athena is paralyzed by the revelation. Even the judge wonders out loud if Athena feels ill. When she comes back to her senses, she proceeds with asking the fillies a few questions and slowly clueing the rest of the court about what she is thinking, but she does so in a hushed tone, her voice initially trembling and stammering. Even after she recovers enough to pursue, Widget betrays her inner thoughts, as the little robot remains constantly in either his "Surprised" or "Afraid" state during the whole section.

** Before this, Athena asked Sweetie Belle why she implicated Turning Page in the anonymous tip. Sweetie Belle answers that she did so because of "what [she] overheard" before she passed out. What exactly did Sweetie Belle hear?
** As of Case 2's conclusion, we now know what Sweetie Belle heard--Turning Page confessing to his mother that he accidentally killed his father.

** Before this, Athena asked Sweetie Belle why she implicated Turning Page in the anonymous tip. Sweetie Belle answers that she did so because of "what [she] overheard" before she passed out. What exactly did Sweetie Belle hear?

** Athena's reaction can not be understated: as her train of throughts slowly comes to its inevitable conclusion, she litteraly freezes with horror, stuck in mid-motion, [[WideEyesAndShrunkenIrises wide-eyed with her irises darting everywhere]]. The screen behind her goes black, the triumphant music that was playing just seconds before comes to an halt, only to leave a much more [[DroneofDread somber and terribly sinister one playing in its stead]], the kind of music you fully expect from an horror film, with the faint sound of a beating heart playing the background. Athena ''doesn't'' want to be right. She desperately tries to reject her own hypothesis, even as it dawns on her that there's no other explanation, the camera closing in on her panicked expression. Twilight tries to get her attention, but Athena is paralyzed by the revelation. Even the judge wonders out loud if Athena feels ill. When she comes back to her senses, she proceeds with asking the fillies a few questions and slowly clueing the rest of the court about what she is thinking, but she does so in a hushed tone, her voice initially trembling and stammering.

** Before this, Athena asked Sweetie Belle why she implicated Turning Page in the anonymous tip. Sweetie Belle answers that she did so because of "what [she] overheard" before she passed out. What exactly did Sweetie Belle hear to lead her to name Turning Page?

** Before this, Athena asked Sweetie Belle why she implicated Turning Page in the anonymous tip. Her answer?
-->'''Sweetie Belle:''' Because of what I overheard. When I was…hiding behind the statue, before I passed out.

** Athena's reaction can not be understated: as her train of throughts slowly comes to its inevitable conclusion, she litteraly freezes with horror, stuck in mid-motion, [[WideEyesAndShrunkenIrises wide-eyed with her irises darting everywhere]]. The screen behind her goes black, the triumphant music that was playing just seconds before comes to an halt, only to leave a much more [[DroneofDread somber and terribly sinister one playing in its stead]], the kind of music you fully expect from an horror film, with the faint sound of a beating heart playing the background. Athena ''doesn't'' want to be right. She desperately tries to reject her own hypothesis, even as it dawns on her that there's no other explanation. Twilight tries to get her attention, but Athena is paralyzed by the revelation. Even the judge wonders out loud if Athena feels ill. When she comes back to her senses, she proceeds with asking the fillies a few questions and slowly clueing the rest of the court about what she is thinking, but she does so in a hushed tone, her voice initially trembling and stammering.

** Athena's reaction can not be understated: as her train of throughts slowly comes to its inevitable conclusion, she litteraly freezes with horror, stuck in mid-motion, [[WideEyesAndShrunkenIrises wide-eyed with her irises darting everywhere]]. The screen behind her goes black, the triumphant music that was playing just seconds before comes to an halt, only to leave a much more [[DroneofDread somber and terribly sinister one playing in its stead]], the kind of music you fully expect from an horror film, with the faint sound of a beating heart playing the background. Athena ''doesn't'' want to be right. She desperately tries to reject her own hypothesis, even as it dawns on her that there's no other explanation. Twilight tries to get her attention, but Athena is paralyzed by the revelation. Even the judge wonders out loud if Athena feels ill.

** When Luna herself connects the dots a few moments later, she completely freezes the same way Athena did. She is beyond horrified, initially barely able to articulate her own thoughts. She regains her senses in time to counter Athena's argument, in a display of complete denial and anger, but when Athena points out that Luna herself is the one who suggested that the breathing could only come from someone as small as a child, she freezes again as she realizes not only the truth but also that she is the one who clued Athena on what actually happened. In despair, she refuses that Turning Page may be examined for signs of bruising, yelling a heartfelt and panicked, [[BigNo "No!"]] at the suggestion, but the foal himself accepts it, leaving her agape.

** Athena's reaction can not be understated: as her train of throughts slowly comes to its inevitable conclusion, she litteraly freezes with horror, stuck in mid-motion, [[WideEyesAndShrunkenIrises wide-eyed with her irises darting everywhere]]. The screen behind her goes black, the triumphant music that was playing just seconds before comes to an halt, only to leave a much more somber and terribly sinister one playing in its stead, the kind of music you fully expect from an horror film, with the faint sound of a beating heart playing the background. Athena ''doesn't'' want to be right. She desperately tries to reject her own hypothesis, even as it dawns on her that there's no other explanation. Twilight tries to get her attention, but Athena is paralyzed by the revelation. Even the judge wonders out loud if Athena feels ill.
** When Luna herself connects the dots a few moments later, she completely freezes the same way Athena did. She is beyond horrified, initially barely able to articulate her own thoughts. She regains her senses in time to counter Athena's argument, in a display of complete denial and anger, but when Athena points out that Luna herself is the one who suggested that the breathing could only come from someone as small as a child, she freezes again as she realizes not only the truth but also that she is the one who clued Athena on what actually happened. In despair, she refuses that Turning Page may be examined for signs of bruising, yelling a heartfelt and panicked, "No!" at the suggestion, but the foal himself accepts it, leaving her agape.

** Athena's reaction can not be understated: as her train of throughts slowly comes to its inevitable conclusion, she litteraly freezes with horror, stuck in mid-motion, [[WideEyesAndShrunkenIrises wide-eyed with her irises darting everywhere]]. The screen behind her goes black, the triumphant music that was playing just seconds before comes to an halt, only to leave a much more somber and terribly sinister one playing in its stead, the kind of music you fully expect from an horror film, with the faint sound of a beating heart playing the background. Athena ''doesn't'' want to be right. She desperately try to reject her own hypothesis, even as it dawns on her that there is no other explanation. Twilight tries to get her attention, but Athena is paralyzed by the revelation. Even the judge wonders out loud if Athena feels ill.
** When Luna herself connects the dots a few moments later, she completely freezes in turn, the same way Athena did. She is beyond horrified, initially barely able to articulate her own thoughts. She regains her senses in time to counter Athena's argument, in a display of complete denial and anger, but when Athena points out that Luna herself is the one who suggested that the breathing could only come from someone as small as a child, she freezes again, as she realizes not only the truth, but also that she is the one who clued Athena on what actually happened. In despair, she refuses that Turning Page may be examined for signs of bruising, yelling an heartfelt and panicked "No!" at the suggestion, but the filly himself accepts it, leaving her agape.

** When Luna herself connects the dots a few moments later, she completely freezes in turn, the same way Athena did. She is beyond horrified, initially barely able to articulate her own thoughts. She regains her senses in time to counter Athena's argument, in a display of complete denial and anger, but when Athena points out that Luna herself is the one who suggested that the breathing could only come from someone as small as a child, she freezes again, as she realizes not only the truth, but also that she is the one who clued Athena on what actually happened.

* Episode 8 delivers a number of revelations that explain a great deal of mystery surrounding the murder, but the very last reveal is so utterly chilling and terrifying that it shakes Athena [[NotSoStoic and even Princess Luna]] down to their cores. The idea that Royal Order's own son, a literal child no less, could very well be his killer haunts everyone when the evidence (or rather lack thereof) points to this conclusion.

* Episode 8 delivers a number of revelations that explain a great deal of mystery surrounding the murder, but the very last reveal is so utterly chilling and terrifying that it shakes Athena [[NotSoStoic and even Princess Luna]] down to their cores. The very idea that Royal Order's own son, a literal child no less, could very well be his killer haunts everyone when the evidence (or rather lackthereof) points to this conclusion.

* Episode 8 delivers a number of revelations that explain a great deal of mystery surrounding the murder, but the very last reveal is so utterly chilling and terrifying that it shakes Athena [[NotSoStoic and even Princess Luna]] down to their cores. The very idea that his own son, a literal child no less, could very well be his killer haunts everyone when the evidence (or rather lackthereof) points to this conclusion.

** Following that unsettling reveal, Fair Devotion begins acting colder towards both Private and her childhood friend Sugar Stamp, bordering on SmugSnake while explaining away the inconsistencies with the latter's testimony. In-Universe, Athena finds the change in attitude disconcerting.

* The end of Episode 6 has Athena facing everyone accusing her of making mistakes, chanting that she's a screw up while she screams for the voices to get out of her head.
-->'''Athena:''' Get out get out get out of my head! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!!!

'''Widget:''' Urp!

* During the first part of Crusading for a Turnabout's investigation, the team checks out a small bloodstain behind the Nightmare Night statue. Athena uses a forensic flashlight to check for any blood that may have been wiped away, and discovers the remains of a [[WhamShot MASSIVE bloodstain at the front of the statue]]. To make matters worse, the blood already present was not the victim's, suggesting that there's another victim somewhere in the forest. Remember, [[HarmfulToMinors Apple Bloom]] was investigating with the team at that time.

!! Case 1

!! Case 2

** During the first part of Crusading for a Turnabout's investigation, the team checks out a small bloodstain behind the Nightmare Night statue. Athena uses a forensic flashlight to check for any blood that may have been wiped away, and discovers the remains of a [[WhamShot MASSIVE bloodstain at the front of the statue]]. To make matters worse, the blood already present was not the victim's, suggesting that there's another victim somewhere in the forest. Remember, [[HarmfulToMinors Apple Bloom]] was investigating with the team at that time.

* NightmareFuel:
** Overall Concept, the victim of Turnabout Theatre, [[NooseCatch dies from being hung by a rope from up on a catwalk]] ''during a production, in full view of the audience''. If this is any indication, the murders in this series are going to be more brutal than Turnabout Storm's death by electrocution.

** Prince Blueblood briefly snaps during the trial when he thinks that he's finally, ''finally'' beaten Phoenix for good, developing a terrifying look in his eyes that does not at all portray him as a shining beacon of sanity. He gets over it eventually when Phoenix manages to turn the case around again.