Phoenix blinked in surprise. When he entered the courtroom, he fully expected Edgeworth to be standing at the prosecutor's bench. Instead, a certain blond was in his place. Even the judge himself was also surprised.

"Before we start, I must ask the prosecution a question. I thought Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth was to be the one to oversee this case. Do you have an explanation, Prosecutor Gavin?"

The former rock star snapped his fingers to the song in his head as he explained himself to the judge. "You don't need to worry, Herr Judge. I've brushed up on the details for this case. And as for your question, Herr Edgeworth had decided to get a head start in clearing out the corruption in the Prosecutor's Office and decided to sent me in his place. It makes sense, after all."

Klavier slammed his hand on the stand right behind him. The former Gavinner looked straight into Phoenix's eyes, a forlorn look on his face.

"The two lawyers who participated in that one trial that helped ignite the Dark Age of Law, are back to rock once more to help end what they've started."

Phoenix's hand were on the defense bench, the same look on his face. "The Gramarye Trial. The trial that tricked me into presenting evidence, costing me my badge. Once I was disbarred, the seeds of mistrust were planted in. And it fully bloomed with Prosecutor Blackquill's arrest."

"Herr Wright."

Phoenix blinked and stood straight, looking at Klavier, who bore a serious look on his face.

"Know that I bear no ill will against you. The two of us were manipulated by Kristoph. I was blinded by my admiration and trust for him. Now, I know that I was wrong for not doubting the information he came forth with." Klavier slammed his hand behind him yet again. "Let us put the past behind us, and help usher the future out of corruption!"

Wright smirked excitedly. "Right! If that's the case, then you'd better bring it."

"Achtung! Fraulein Cykes, I'm sorry about this, but this is necessary. The prosecution moves to indict Athena Cykes on the count of murder in the first degree!"

"Very well." sounded out the judge. "If the two of you are ready." The clouds in the sky parted, letting the sun shine down on the courtroom. The judge banged his gavel. "Court is now in session for the trial of Athena Cykes!"

Wright slammed his hands down on the defense bench, right before thrusting his arm out, pointing at Klavier. "Your Honor, the defense was BORN ready!"

Klavier riffed it out on his air guitar and abruptly cut it off and copied Phoenix's action. "Achtung! The prosecution is ready to rock, Herr Judge!"

"Very well then. Prosecutor Gavin, would you like me to give the opening statement?"

Klavier lightly chuckled, remembering how Blackquill would manipulate the judge into doing it for hin.

"It's fine, Herr Judge. I'll do it." He brought up his right hand and started snapping away as he recounted the details. "The incident occurred at the Cosmos Space Center seven years ago, on October 7th. The victim, Metis Cykes, was killed in the robotics lab on the fourth floor. Herr Blackquill was subsequently arrested and immediately gained a guilty verdict because of two deciding factors. One: video footage capturing Herr Blackquill leaving the corridor to the lab at the time of the murder. And two: a photo that captured the very moment of the crime.

The judge reviewed through the presented evidence and nodded in agreement. "Indeed. With this type of incriminating proof, the only conclusion is that Prosecutor Blackquill did indeed-"

"Hold it!" Aura quickly interjected and went up to the witness stand. "Yeah, no! I'm not accepting THAT conclusion. This opening statement is OVER! Go and call up the witness, NOW!"

"Excuse me, Ms Blackquill, but we must follow proper procedure-"

"Objection! I don't think that's necessary, Herr Judge. She IS the sponsor of this trial, ja? And the courtroom is chilly. Besides, sitting for so long might not be good for your back. So, it's best we do as Fraulein Blackquill says and move to witness testimony. We don't want the hostages to be killed, ja?"

"Oh! Well, first off, thank you for showing concern over such a old man! And second, indeed. Very well, you may call out your witness."

Wright could feel the sweat drip down as he slumped down and sighed. "The trial's just started and Klavier's already swayed the judge to his side."

Klavier pocketed his hands and spoke. "The prosecution calls its first witness." He leaned in forward, a slightly cocky smirk on his face. "Someone who managed to unearth some hidden truth... seven years ago."

Yet again, Wright felt sweat drip down. "W-what?! But why did they decided to come forth now?!"

When the witness stepped up to the stand, Phoenix had to blink to see if what he was seeing was real. It was Detective Fullbright, his ever-exuberant smile on his face.

"Bobby Fullbright's the name!" he introduced himself, pulling out his ID. "In justice we trust!"

Phoenix was still slumped over, confused as to why the justice detective was on the stand. "What are YOU doing here...?"

The good detective adjusted his shades as he explained himself. "I'm just here to speak for the hostage-taker, Ms. Aura Blackquill. She says she's too busy, what with confining and threatening the hostages and all."

Phoenix composed himself and stood straight, rubbing his chin. "But that doesn't stop her from chiming in through Clonco."

"I'm nothing more than an observer in this. Do your best! I'm watching you..." The last bit laced with a threatening tone.

Klavier then took back the reins. "Like any good sibling, Frauelin Blackquill believed her bruder to be innocent and conducted her own investigation. Despite her current actions, I believe we should hear her theory, ja? It might lead to shedding some light."

Fullbright gave the prosecutor a two-finger salute. "I have here Ms. Blackquill's notes on the investigation she conducted. And I'll be giving testimony based on these notes! Here I go!"

Witness Testimony

- Aura Blackquill's Theory -

Simon isn't the murderer. He was trying to cover for someone.
Someone else was at the scene at the time they say Simon committed the murder.
I mean, if he really was out to steal that moon rock, then why the rolling case?
Because he was using it to hide someone inside. That's why.
And the only person small enough to fit inside that case... was Athena Cykes!

Fullbright finished and gave another two-finger salute. "And that's Ms. Blackquill's theory! It totally goes in the face of the official ruling, huh! About the case she mentions, there were other rolling cases like that one in the lab. But they're not for traveling - they're apparently for moving parts and equipment."

"Yeah...I can remember those three cases, all different sizes." thought Phoenix, flashing back to when he, Pearl and Edgeworth investigated the Robotics Lab.

The justice detective adjusted his glasses and continued on. "At the last trial, they thought that Prosecutor Blackquill used the case to steal the rock. And they had a perfectly good reason to think that, too! You see, there's a security camera in the corridor that leads to the robotics lab. And that camera captured footage of Blackquill leaving the scene with the case!"

"I can see why that footage helped to bring his trial to a quick end. It's very convincing, that's for sure..." mused Phoenix.

Seven-Year-Old Video updated in the Court Record.

"Oh! By the way, that case was found just outside the Space Center grounds!" added in Fullbright.

"Speaking of after the incident, where was the defendant, Athena Cykes, found?" asked Wright.

Klavier referred to his notes to answer. "She was found on the fifth floor of the Space Center, in the Cykes family residence. Herr Blackquill most likely brought her there after the incident. In addition, it's unknown where Ms. Cykes was at the estimated time of death."

"Ms. Cykes was too confused by the shock of her mother's death to give proper testimony. And there was no witness or evidence to tell us where she might have been..."

Phoenix slumped over, not liking where things are going so far. "So what you're saying is, Ms. Cykes didn't have an alibi."

"...That is what the evidence is saying, ja?"

The judge didn't seem to be convinced, and looked actually sad. "Hmm... I understand the reasoning behind the theory, but I'm far from convinced. The victim is the accused's mother. Are you actually claiming an eleven-year-old girl...?"

Klavier nodded, no traces of his usual playfulness present. "Ja. As unfortunate as it is, Fraulein Cykes had a a very strong motive. Tell him, Herr Justice Detective."

Fullbright saluted and explained things to the judge. "Dr. Cykes was a psychologist who wrote many papers about speech and emotions." His face contorted to that of anger, his hand's veins pulsing. "You're aware of Athena Cykes's special ability, aren't you, Your Honor?!

"Are you referring to that therapy thing? Yes, she's done it quite a few times in court!"

The detective of justice then proceeded. "The ability to read emotions from speech, and coincidentally, the subject of her mother's research."

The judge nodded. "Well, as long as it benefits society, I don't see any particular problem researching it..."

Phoenix could feel beads of sweat roll down as the conversation went by. "Why do I have this feeling I'm not gonna like where this is going."

"Dr. Cykes was very intent on her research, she did something unthinkable." Klavier slammed his hand behind him to give some emphasis. "She forced her own daughter to undergo experiments!"

Phoenix flinched, as did the judge, who couldn't believe what Klavier had just said.

"Prosecutor Gavin! Are you seriously suggesting...?!"

Klavier sighed, looking up for a brief moment. "As much as I want to be delicate with the situation, Herr Judge, I cannot. Fraulein Cykes couldn't have possibly withstand the pain the experiments brought her. So, she did the only thing that can stop it." He thrust his arm, pointing right at Athena. "She killed her own mother!"

Once again, Phoenix flinched. This cause an uproar among the present members of the gallery. The judge banged his gavel thrice, trying to regain silence.

"Order! Order in the court!" The judge sighed, shaking his head "What a tragic story... I hardly want to believe it myself. But we must proceed. Mr. Wright, if you could. Detective Fulbright, please refer to the notes."

Cross Examination

-Aura Blackquill's Theory-

Simon isn't the murderer. He was trying to cover for someone.
Someone else was at the scene at the time they say Simon committed the murder.
I mean, if he really was out to steal that moon rock, then why the rolling case?
Because he was using it to hide someone inside. That's why.

"Hold it!" Wright slammed his hand down on the bench, staring at Fullbright. "And how do you propose he hid a person inside of any of the cases?!"

Klavier smirked, his hands pocketed. "Well, I do believe that was one of Fraulein Trucy's act in her magic show, ja? She managed to fit a grown adult into a small box."

"Oh, yeah." Phoenix slumped, sweat dripping down. "Way to ruin the memory of a good day, Klavier!"

"A magic show!" spoke the judge in surprise. "Why, I wish you would have thought to invite me...!

He wasn't alone, as Fullbright voiced out his opinion. "Actually, I would've liked to go, too"

Phoenix was still slumped over as he spoke. "Uh, m-my apologies. I'll invite you both next time. I promise. So... Wait a minute. What were we talking about again?"

As if reading his mind, Fullbright responded to him. "Prosecutor Blackquill was using the case to hide someone."

And the only person small enough to fit inside that case... was Athena Cykes!

"Hold it! But that's nothing more but baseless conjecture, and it's hardly the only possibility!"

Fullbright shrugged, not knowing what to reply. "Well, what do YOU think Prosecutor Blackquill had in that case."

Wright strummed his chin, trying to think of an answer. "I think it was... the moon rock."

"Objection!" Klavier slammed his hand behind him, starting to get excited. "Not so fast, Herr Wright. There were two other cases at the scene, yet Herr Blackquill chose the largest one. The moon rock was egg-shaped and only about eight inches in diameter. It wouldn't have made any sense to use the largest case there just to move that rock."

"Objection! Be that as it may, it doesn't prove that Ms. Cykes was inside!"

Klavier straightened himself up, snapping to the tune he was humming. "Alright, then let me ask you this... Can you come up with a better theory of what was in the case?"

"Well, Mr. Wright, can you?" repeated the judge.

Phoenix slumped down, feeling a bit attacked. "Jeez. Give a guy some time to think...Alright, let's try to bluff through what could've been in that case." Phoenix stood straight and put on his look of confidence. "I know exactly what Prosecutor Blackquill whisked away from the crime scene! But just don't ask me yet, because I haven't gotten a clue."

However, as per usual, the judge chimed in. "Ooh! I'd be very interested in hearing your theory... if it's true, that is."

The head of the Wright Anything Agency nodded and drew the court's attention to both the Crime Scene photo and the one that captured Blackquill doing the deed. "It's simple. We just have to compare these two photos, to see what's missing! If he took something with him, then it should be in this photo! Lady Luck, don't fail me now!"

The judge nodded and allowed Phoenix to continue. He scanned both photos, until his eyes fell upon what seemed to be an arm wrapped around with bandages. He looked at the Crime Scene photo and found it wasn't there. Phoenix recognized what it was and pointed right at it.

"Take that! Please note that there is a robot part on top of the cart in this photo. However, in this photo taken after the crime, the robot part is gone. In other words," Phoenix slammed his hands down on the bench, looking serious. "this part is something that was taken from the scene of the crime!"

"Well, you appear to be right. I don't see it in the second picture."

Fullbright raised his hand, looking just a bit confused. "But it's just a piece of junk. How important could it be?"

Phoenix smirked, putting back on his mask of confidence. "Piece of junk, you say? Your Honor, about this robot part... Doesn't it look like it could be an arm for that robot over there?" he said, pointing right at Aura.

The judge looked back at the picture, then back at the robot. Back at the picture, then to the robot. He blinked furiously as it then hit him like a flaming semi-truck. "Why! Now that you mention it, it does, doesn't it. But the case is still too big to be practical for just the moon rock and a robot arm."

Wright strummed his chin, thinking of an answer to the judge. "I believe there was another robot at the scene that looks just like the one here. Your Honor, it's the defense's assertion it was this other robot that was in the case!"

"Objection!" Klavier brought his hand to the bench behind him, slightly smirking. "But how can you be sure that the arm in the picture is for a robot? With how wrapped it is in bandages, it could be something else, ja?"

"Objection! I know for a fact that it is a robot arm. I can even tell which robot it belonged to, just by looking at it! With this information, we can investigate whether it was there at the time or not."

The judge blinked and hung his head in shame, looking quite hurt at what Phoenix just said. "But, Mr. Wright! I thought you were more of the technologically illiterate type. When did you become such an expert? I feel... somehow abandoned..."

Phoenix shook his head, consoling His Honor by a bit. "Not to worry, Your Honor. I still know next to nothing about machines. But I know this piece of evidence proves which robot the arm belonged to!" Wright took out one of the photos in the HAT-1 Exhibit and presented it to the court. "Take that! The robot in this picture is named Ponco. But take a look at Ponco's arm. It was Ms. Cykes who bandaged it up that like."

The judge couldn't help but smile a bit at the heartwarming, yet naïve act. "She must have thought that machines heal in the same way that people do. What an adorable, naïve mistake! It reminds me of my own grandchild..."

Wright slammed his hands down on the bench and continued. "The robot arm at the crime scene had the same bandaging wrapped around it. In other words, this robot arm could belong to none other than Ponco!"

The gallery started to uproar, murmuring upon Wright's assertion. The judge banged his gavel, bent on restoring silence. "Order in the court! Order, I say! Prosecutor Gavin, what do you have to say to this?!"

Klavier chuckled, pocketing his hands. He tilted his head, an amused expression on his face. "An excellent performance, Herr Wright. But, that robot couldn't have possibly fit, even in the largest case."

"I see your point, Prosecutor Gavin. The case DOES come up only to Prosecutor Gavin's mid-thigh."

"Crud. They've got me there... So then how did Prosecutor Blackquill make Ponco fit into the case?" Phoenix blinked, remembering something so simple. He slammed his hands yet again and gave his reasoning. "Of course Ponco would fit. All Prosecutor Blackquill had to do was dismantle her. Once taken apart, the robot could have easily fit inside that rolling case! After all, there's a robot-assembly device in the lab!"

"Objection! Not so fast, Herr Wright. Remember, there was a body on the table on where said device was! There would have been no room to take the robot apart."

"Objection! Then here's another theory. What if it wasn't done on the table? What if the katana was used instead?"

Klavier connected the pieces and couldn't help but flinch. "Y-You don't mean..."

Phoenix nodded, confirming Klavier's suspicions. "Indeed I do, Prosecutor Gavin." Phoenix faced Aura, asking her a question. "Ms. Blackquill, I'd like your opinion as a woman of science. Isn't it true that the katana could have been used to take the robot apart?!"

Aura blinked, taken aback by the question. "I... I suppose so...! Their joints aren't made of a very tough material. A blade could slice through them!"

Phoenix nodded, thanking the robot for her help. "We now know... that the existence of the severed arm in this photo proves that Ponco was taken apart. In addition, since the rest of Ponco was not found at the scene, we can conclude that... the true meaning of this photo is very different from the original interpretation."

The judge caught on to what Wright meant. "Y-You can't mean...?!"

Once again, Wright slammed his hands onto the bench and resumed. "That's exactly what I mean. This photo does NOT capture the moment of the murder. It is instead a picture of the moment after the robot was sliced apart. The blood you see where the arm was cut off was transferred there by the bloody katana. Most likely, the rest of Ponco is scattered around Prosecutor Blackquill's feet..."

Aura covered her robo-ears, as well as closing her robo-eyes, already knowing what Wright was going to say. "Not hearing this...!"

"Therefore, what was transported inside that case was not the defendant, but a robot!" Phoenix thrust out his left arm, with his signature point. "Ms. Cykes never was at the scene at the time of the murder!"

For some reason, Clonco's head flew up, much to the confusion of Aura. "Nnnnngh... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH! ...My head! My head! My body! Where am I?! When did I even install this?! Gaaagh!" The head dropped back, Aura quickly adjusting it.

The judge banged his gavel, just as the gallery was about to uproar. "Order! Order in the court!"

Aura adjusted the head a few more times, then faced the three. "It's true that Ponco was found in pieces after the murder... And I'll admit I repaired her myself afterwards."

Photo of the Crime Scene updated in the Court Record.

Phoenix victoriously smirked internally. "Alright! I'm finally making some progress! Hopefully, I've gotten at least one step closer to proving both Athena and Prosecutor Blackquill innocent."

"Objection!"

Wright blinked in shock, as Klavier had raised his objection. The rock star prosecutor riffed his infamous air guitar, before quickly finishing it off. "Well done, Herr Wright. I concede that Fraulien Cykes wasn't the one in the case, but the robot."

"I've got a bad feeling about this..."

The judge was confused, and asked for some clarification. "Does the prosecution withdraw its claim that the defendant was carried from the scene?"

"Nein, Herr Judge. In fact, I actually assert that as my theory."

"Objection!" voiced out Phoenix. "But Ponco and Ms. Cykes couldn't have both been inside that case!"

Klavier chuckled in amusement, looking at Phoenix with a hint of mischief. "You're being too careless, Herr Wright. Let me explain. Ja, I concede that this Ponco was the one in the case, but there's still the matter of Fraulein Cykes being whisked away. Take a look of the footage showing Herr Blackquill leaving. Notice how he's holding his arm in front of his body, as if holding something, or someone..."

Phoenix didn't seem affected. "That's hardly evidence."

The blond slammed his hand behind him, a smirk on his face. "You want evidence, ja? Then here it is." Klavier brought out a coat that was strikingly similar to Blackquill's, but with a bloodstain. "Here is the surcoat Herr Blackquill was wearing. The victim's blood was found on the front of it and the stain had a very distinctive shape.

"A bloodstain? With a distinctive shape? Please continue, Prosecutor Gavin." urged His Honor.

Klavier nodded and obliged. "Seven years ago, the defendant was known to constantly wear a certain item. Of which there is only one in the world: a special pair of headphones made just for her. "

Phoenix swiftly flashed back to what Juniper had told him, regarding said headphones. Klavier then continued on.

"Analysis showed the bloodstain to be in the exact same shape as these headphones." Klavier slammed his hand again. "In other words, this was no mere blood splatter. The blood went from the victim's body, to the headphones,and then, was imprinted onto Herr Blackquill's coat! Herr Blackquill carried Fraulein Cykes, who had been hit by the splatter, away from the crime scene. This proves that she was, without question, present at the crime scene." Klavier smirked and riffed out his air guitar yet again. "And that... concludes the prosecution's argument."

Phoenix felt the sweat drip down from his forehead, until he flinched once Klavier's argument finally hit him. "Ngaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!"

Yet again, the gallery began to murmur, until it was swiftly silenced by His Honor's gavel. Order! If the defendant was indeed at the scene, it deepens the suspicion against her."

"Objection! But we've also proven that the robot was there at the scene as well!" asserted Phoenix.

"Objection! Herr Wright, are you claiming that the robot was the real murderer?" argued Klavier.

"But you can't say the possibility isn't there!" argued Phoenix. He faced Fullbright and asked him a question. "Detective Fulbright, was the robot questioned at the time?"

The hero of justice pushed up his shades, pondering upon the question. "No, I don't see any record of it. It was considered "unrelated to the case", I believe."

Phoenix put on his bluffing mask and spoke away. "But, as it turned out, the robot was actually integrally related. Your Honor, the defense would like to call Ponco to the stand!" Ending it with his signature point.

The judge blinked in shock at Wright's request, which also garnered some noise from the gallery. "A r-robot witness?! Order! Order in the court! Prosecutor Klavier, what do you think about this?

Klavier merely smirked and looked relaxed. "Herr Wright has called on every manner of witnesses to the stand. Why not add a robot to the list. The prosecution has no objections."

With that, His Honor nodded and banged his gavel. "Very well. I will allow the witness. ...Bailiff! Please summon the robot named Ponco!"