This chapter is very long, but I couldn't find a logical place to split it, and updating with 2 chapters is confusing. Should I split it for future readers? Tell me what you think.
Oh, and uncovering a plot via a court trial is more difficult than it might appear. Particularly when our protagonists can't expose the truth in their usual methods of cross examinations and investigations and the people who do have these methods have their own agendas.

Also, this site censors out long strings of unbroken aaaas...


[chapter 7]

11 Feb 2019

MAYA:

The trial is a nightmare.

It's my third murder trial, but I don't seem to get any less petrified with experience. Mr Godot was supposed to have been an excellent defense attorney, back in the day, but I find it hard to trust him the way I could.. could..

I can only feel sick as right from his opener, he unveils the predicted tactic of pinning the murder on Nick. For once I'm pleased it's Ms Von Karma and her obsession with a 'perfect win' – me not being guilty of the murder would be a 'loss', and she's still seething over me getting declared 'innocent' last year, so if there's evidence to show Nick's innocence, hopefully she's found it. But Godot's a pro, and he already has the Judge and audience captive to his 'trite' tale, hanging out for more.

I wince. I hope Nick doesn't think Mr Godot's stance was any of my idea. I crane my neck to see him –far away in a distant part of the courtroom, surrounded by police and guards. I can't catch his eye.

Of course, I'd lain awake at night, knowing what Nick's 'saving me' this time might have meant. Apparently, he was willing to get a killer declared innocent [and risk Ms Andrews' murder by proxy] in an attempt to save me. But that was then and… even if he'd kill to protect me, somehow I can't picture him doing it so…. precisely. The other reason I've lain awake at night…is that I can't help thinking Ms Von Karma's theory of events…. is the real one. I've seen that kind of stabbing before - On Samurai Blood Moon III, just for starters…

The audience falls silent as Ms Von Karma begins the proceedings in earnest, with her presentation and reconstruction of events in conjunction with one of her witness investigators, Officer Meekins. Officer Meekins is very flighty. The entire duration of his testimony, he keeps his eye on Ms Von Karma's whip, rather than the judge or courtroom. Whenever she considers Meekins' explanation not up to par, Von Karma butts in with her own explanations, simultaneously adding to a tally on one of the papers on her desk.

Things have gone into a kind of defensive fog and I can only force myself to concentrate on events unfolding right in front of me, as if it's a kind of TV show. Maybe a horror movie. I've fallen into a kind of numbness. The whole thing is hazy, like I'm watching a movie in a bad dream.

TESTIMONY:

"The investigation very clearly showed what happened."

"The victim was stabbed through the heart, a perfect blow with clear intent to kill."

"The knife – the murder weapon – was still buried in the victim's chest."

"Examining the wound showed it was the death blow – the weapon was not exchanged later. There are no other major injuries on the victim – this is the cause of death."

"The accused – Maya Fey's –prints were all over the murder weapon, very clearly and cleanly, evidence she grasped it in her right hand. A few prints from the victim remain, but the accused's cover or deface most of them.

"No other prints are on the murder weapon."

"The accused had been previously stabbed by the victim. This is clearly her motive to subsequently commit murder. The nature of the wound directly to the heart shows clear intent to kill, not merely cripple in self defense."

"The murder occurred like this: Either the defendant, Maya Fey, or the victim, was armed with the knife. The victim attained the knife and stabbed Maya Fey in the left arm and side. "

"The knife became lodged in Maya Fey's side, allowing Maya Fey to seize the murder weapon."

"She then used it to stab the victim in the heart with clear intent to kill. Her motive – self defense, and anger at being attacked."

Ms Von Karma's presentation seems amazingly solid. She seems to have forced the investigators and forensics to pre-empt every possible contradiction – she must be even more incensed at her 'loss' at my trial last year than I thought. The rumours after State vs Engarde were, of course, that Nick somehow cheated, and my true innocence was a fluke. This is probably vengeance in her mind.

I glance over at Mr Godot, fearing he'll be similarly intimidated.

But it's Godot's cue to thrill the audience, with a dramatic evidence presentation in tandem with a coffee slam. "This is the robe Phoenix Wright was wearing when he was found at the murder scene by police." The audience and Judge all gasp – it's spectacularly soaked and spattered with blood. "See how it is torn – clearly this occurred in a tussle with the victim! And Mr Wright did not sustain injury, so it is not his own blood. Really, does this look like the clothes of an innocent man, absent from the murder?"

The audience have drunk in his theatrics. It doesn't matter if there's possible alternate reasons for everything later – the impact of the horror-movie imagery has raised Nick's guilt in the minds of the courtroom.

"Clearly Phoenix Wright witnessed the pursuit and/or attack on Maya Fey, obscured himself in the darkness, probably hiding behind the stone lantern. When Maya Fey passed unconscious, she dropped the knife. He saw his opportunity, seized it with the folds of his cloak, and leapt out and stabbed the victim. His motive – protecting Maya Fey!"

"As for the fact he executed a cruel, brutal killing blow, he was likely incensed Maya Fey had already received serious injury, and was out for vengeance."

"Maya Fey clearly passed unconscious before the killing blow. When she awoke, she observed her mother was already dead – and Phoenix Wright was there with her! I assume this matches with her testimony to police, Ms Von Karma?"

"Maybe so." Ms Von Karma is unperturbed. "But why believe the claims of a murder suspect? How convenient she 'just happened' to 'pass out' in time for the killing blow!"

Godot's ready with explanation. "Maya Fey pulled the knife out of her side – perhaps this action lead to greater bleeding and injury, the physiological trauma causing her to lose consciousness!"

"That raises a point, Ms Von Karma," decides the Judge. "Could Maya Fey have actually stabbed the victim in that manner after receiving such injuries?"

"Of course, Mr Judge." She curtseys pretentiously. "Doctors examined Maya Fey thoroughly. Shortly after the injuries occurred, Maya Fey would have been quite capable of standing and using the right side of her body normally, including stabbing the victim. Her poor physiological condition on discovery was caused mainly by loss of blood as time wore on. The adrenaline rush from the situation – thinking she was about to be murdered – would allow her reflexes and instincts to quite competently protect her just after her injuries. Here is the medical report!"

"HOLD IT! This report merely says it's 'possible' she retained consciousness for some minutes after the knife's removal. It doesn't say she did! That's hardly conclusive!"

"Who cares. The report proves Maya Fey could well have performed the murder. And she is guilty until proven innocent! What evidence do you have to support your claim, Mr Godot? Nothing but the defendant's lies!"

"Mr Godot also makes up foolish conjecture to compensate since his little story has no actual evidence to support it! He claims Phoenix Wright seized the knife in the folds of his cloak. Would he really go to all this ridiculous forethought in the heat of the moment?"

"Of course." Mr Godot tilts his mug in taunting relaxation. "An axe murderer will not cut himself with the axe! Mr Wright was a defense attorney until a year ago. Even in such an immediate situation, he'd instinctively know not to leave his own prints before committing murder. And if a third person's hand grabbed the knife, the victim would likely notice. In the darkness, his dark sleeve would go un-noticed. Furthermore, Maya Fey was stabbed twice. It's possible he observed –and planned- his attack for some moments before making his move."

"None of your little theory is based on sense or conclusive evidence, Mr Godot," retaliates Von Karma, smirkishly brandishing her whip. "It's decisively proven Maya Fey was present at the time of the victim's fatality, it's decisively proven she handled the murder weapon just before it was stabbed into the victim's heart, and decisively proven she had a clear and direct motive to such violence – the victim had attacked and twice stabbed her!"

"All your claims over Phoenix Wright are based on nothing but a foolish product of your imagination. Clearly, Maya Fey's guilt is the only reasonable scenario. Case closed."

"OBJECTION!" roars Godot, slamming his mug and spraying half the courthouse with coffee. "The entire premise is ludicrous. Elise was actually Maya's mother, Misty Fey." He enters the relevant police records and ID into evidence.

"Why would she want to kill or attack her only surviving daughter? It's proven Maya Fey was stabbed twice so clearly attacked – and Elise received no notable injuries other than the fatal blow, so Elise was not 'attacking in self defense'."

Von Karma smirks and curtseys. "Of course I knew Ms Deauxnim's true identity, Your Honour. I just did not wish to overly complicate the case unnecessarily."

I feel my stomach cringe at Mother's name. It's still so hard to accept the truth. Through the sickening tremours I can't help wondering why Mr Godot's raising this. I guess he's forcing Ms Von Karma to come up with a motive, thinking she can't.

Both Mr Godot and Ms Von Karma know about the Kurain Technique and channelling. I wonder if either will raise the topic to the court? Probably not unless they are forced to do so – it's still considered a fraud, and the Judge may disregard their arguments.

Mr Godot knows I was chased and attacked by somebody being channelled – and that she is Dahlia Hawthorne, Morgan's other daughter. "Somebody who looked a lot like Sister Iris but wasn't," I described her as. "I thought she was Sister Iris, right until she tried to stab me." I think the questioning police thought I was making it up, which didn't help my case at all.

Or maybe Mr Godot WANTS the channelling raised, thinking Ms Von Karma won't be able to handle it? Surely he won't claim Nick stabbed me as well. Nobody would ever believe that.

"Hmm, then why don't we let Maya Fey herself testify? I'm sure that would *greatly* support your theory of Phoenix Wright's guilt. She can tell us herself of why and how the fatal mother-daughter spat occurred, as she did in questioning. By the way, Mr Godot, I can enter her previous statement to police as evidence, so if it's changed unreasonably, we will know she is or was lying."

Mr Godot's responding coffee-gulping suggests he'd prefer I did not testify, but to express this would cast more suspicion on me - what am I hiding? A suite of guards escort me to the witness stand again.

Somehow, I numbly force my legs to obey. The courtroom wavers up and down like a toxic ocean. I try to focus like in spirit training so I won't just fall apart or throw up or something. I'm not sure why she's so eager to have me testify, but all I can do is try to tell the truth, again.

TESTIMONY: Maya Fey

"I was doing a spiritual training course in the cavern, when Sister Iris unlocked the door and came in."

"Sister Iris told me Pearl was missing, did I know where she might be? She said they thought they heard her screaming somewhere. I was really worried so I decided to help look for Pearl."

"Iris and I decided to split up and look for Pearl faster. I ran away."

"I searched around the complex. After a few minutes I noticed someone was sneaking up behind me. At first I thought it was Pearl."

"Then the person appeared and I thought it was Sister Iris - they looked exactly the same as Sister Iris. I turned to greet her. She walked beside me for a minute. Then suddenly she leapt on me – I noticed she was holding a knife, and she tried to stab me."

"I flung myself away and managed to roll out of the path of the knife just in time. I was confused, but I started to run away. I think I'd hurt myself avoiding the knife the first time. I soon found I'd been chased down a dead end."

"The woman pushed me against this big stone pillar. I still thought she might be Sister Iris, but the way she talked and acted didn't sound like her. She tried to stab me again, and I tried to move out of the way, but the knife stabbed my arm, and I fell down. I was confused about the talisman I saw fall out around her neck."

"I think she then taunted me about how she was going to kill me slowly, and see me in hell, and I knew I was going to die. Then I felt her stab me in the side. I thought I was dying."

"I realised the knife must still be stuck in me, because I could feel it piercing into some part of me. I got really scared. Sort of automatically, I pulled the knife out of me. I held it in my hand for a moment."

"Then my memory stops. It's just a blank. Probably I passed out."

"The next thing I remember, I woke up later and I saw my mother's dead body on the ground in front of me."

*Don't think. Don't think.* I focus my attention all on Ms Von Karma, to blank out the thought and image of M..Mother…

"See?" My ears fill with von Karma's displacing jubilant cry. "Maya Fey is obviously guilty, because she is lying! She keeps testifying she saw Sister Iris, but this is proven totally impossible, as my next presentation will describe. Then she claims she was chased and stabbed by this 'person who looked like Sister Iris' but the only other fingerprints on the knife she claimed stabbed her belong to Elise Deauxnim! And as we can see, the victim looks nothing like Sister Iris, even in the dark! Furthermore, she testifies she saw the victim's dead body shortly after, and identified it as her mother! 'My mother was dead.'"

"That's very interesting, Ms Von Karma," reasons the Judge appreciatively. "Could not this 'Sister Iris' have chased Maya Fey, and then Elise Deauxnim ambushed and attacked Ms Fey? Why is this 'Sister Iris' not a suspect?"

"Thank you for raising that, Mr Judge! The next part of my presentation proves it was impossible for Sister Iris to have been present at the murder, or to have aided in the final battle! All claims have been verified with decisive evidence and multiple independent witnesses and alibis."

VON KARMA: Impossible for Sister Iris to be present at murder – events reconstruction

"During the evening, another guest, 8 year old Pearl Fey went missing. Naturally, Sister Iris and Sister Bikini were alarmed, especially due to the snow and freezing weather. By around 10pm, Pearl Fey still had not been found."

"Sister Iris unlocked the cavern where Maya Fey was doing a spiritual training exercise, and asked her if she knew where Pearl might be, it being an emergency situation. Maya Fey demanded to help search for Pearl Fey, and Maya Fey and Sister Iris then exited the cavern."

"Sister Iris suggested they could search faster by splitting up, and Maya Fey immediately ran off, out of Sister Iris' sight. "

"A few minutes later, Sister Iris decided she should not leave the cavern open and unattended. Sister Bikini would arrive shortly for her turn on watch, and would be alarmed to find it unlocked and Sister Iris and Maya Fey both missing. "

"Sister Iris went into the cavern to wait, closing the door behind her."

"A minute later, someone else arrived, and locked the cavern. It could not be locked or unlocked from inside." Ms Von Karma here presents into evidence the Psyche-Lock in question and its properties. "Sister Iris assumed it was Sister Bikini, and went to ask to be let out, but there was no one there."

"Police examined the lock for fingerprints. Apart from Sister Iris' fingerprints, explained from locking Maya Fey in the cavern earlier that night, there were fresh prints from two individuals:

The victim, Elise Deauxnim,

and Phoenix Wright."

The audience and Judge begin to gasp theatrically. I try to avoid just flattening my head to the... well there isn't much in the way of comforts near the defendant's chair.

"Seemingly unaware of Sister Iris," smirks von Karma in continuation, "Phoenix Wright testified to police that he went to the cavern looking for Maya Fey, trying to determine if she was inside, but the cavern was already locked. He did not know how to open it, and since Maya Fey did not reply, continued to search elsewhere. This was at least 5 minutes BEFORE the murder – clearly Sister Iris was already locked inside."

"Sister Bikini arrived for her guard shift a few minutes later, unaware of the murder. She checked the lock, and it was secure at that point. She assumed Maya Fey was training inside, so she did not disturb her by announcing her presence."

"Sister Bikini stood guard continuously at the cavern entrance until police arrived at the cavern around 30 minutes after the murder, and unlocked the cavern for police to find Sister Iris still inside, conducting a prayer meditation."

"The evidence proves Sister Iris could not have taken part in the murder, she was locked in the cavern for the duration! Either Elise Deauxnim or Phoenix Wright locked her in!"

"HOLD IT!" Godot is ecstatic.

"Ha...! Doesn't this just add to the suspicious body of evidence against Phoenix Wright – locking away a potential witness to his crime!"

"OBJECTION! No, Mr Godot. Nowhere in your foolish little theory have you claimed Phoenix Wright planned his supposed 'murder' in intricate forethought detail. Our interrogators drilled him quite thoroughly, and he genuinely seems to have gone to check if Maya Fey was inside and was distressed he could not unlock the cavern to find out. You yourself claim his motive to allegedly kill was protecting Maya Fey – so his motive to visit the cavern appears genuine. You must agree, to not do so would be contradictory."

"And regardless, even if he did lock the cavern, it changes nothing! Sister Iris was inside, and locked in, BEFORE the murder. Perhaps, in the confusion, Phoenix Wright locked the cavern for security purposes, knowing it should be locked, on the off-chance Maya Fey still was inside?"

"But our investigation believes it was Elise Deauxnim. If she intended to pursue Maya Fey, perhaps she had observed Maya Fey and Sister Iris exit the cavern to search earlier, and then locked Sister Iris in to prevent her intervening in her subsequent attack on Maya Fey."

"Well, that seems very conclusive!" appreciates the Judge. "It appears an unnecessary delay, but I suppose it's within your rights to demand testimony from Sister Iris to verify matters, Mr Godot?"

"Indeed, I have Sister Iris present right in this courtroom, if necessary," curtseys Von Karma arrogantly. Mr Godot glances at her whip's direction. It's probably not noticed by the court, but he then starts chugging coffee in his 'hyper-agitation' ritual.

I glance at Sister Iris too. I can't really tell anything's amiss from here, but he's a lot closer.

"No, Mr Judge, I think that's conclusive enough at this point in time. Maybe it will be required later."

"Very well. I'm hungry, so I think it's time for a recess…"

"HOLD IT!" The Judge blinks in recoil at Mr Godot's sudden volume. "Ms Von Karma has spent tedious lengths of time proving Sister Iris was not present at the murder. Yet she has failed to account for Maya Fey's own repeated claims she saw 'someone who looked like Sister Iris' pursue and stab her! This is a clear and unexplained contradiction!"

"Oh, that is easily explained. Perhaps the defendant was still delusional, recently having come from her meditation trance, and since Sister Iris roused her from it originally, assumed in the dark her pursuer was the same."

"Or perhaps she cannot consciously deal with the guilt of murdering her mother, or the trauma of her own mother attacking her, and her imagination has since altered events to make it seem this 'imaginary person like Sister Iris' was the one who pursued her and she stabbed as a psychological defense. She seemed to be unaware the victim was her mother until after she was dead – this would be a severe psychological shock."

"Indeed," muses the Judge, "a tragic case, but all this confusion or lying does seem to indicate Maya Fey's guilt."

My head could just split. I'd been keeping myself immersed in the present, shallow moment, trying not to think too hard about it, but suddenly the full tide of the prosecution's accusations stop delaying and punch me through the face. *Maybe I did kill Mother*. Some things are off, but too many of Ms Von Karma's main ideas make all too much sense.

I'd vowed to stay strong at the trial but suddenly I feel I'm about to just collapse.

*Focus, Maya! Don't cry..*

Under the waterfall, we train ourselves to just endure, and endure...

But some weak, stupid part of me keeps screaming that the physical assault of the freezing water is somehow different to this tourture of the courtroom. This could kill me - irrespective of how much I doggedly endure - in a very different way. And now I don't seem to be able to concentrate at all.

Worse, I suddenly remember *who* I used to think of to endure the waterfall tourture.

Hastily I remember the meditations to stay afloat. *Clear. Your. Mind...*

"OBJECTION!" I startle as Godot slams his coffee with greater-than-usual enthusiasm.

"Maya Fey is not lying, or delusional."

"As you are aware, I know, Ms Von Karma, this was a training site for spirit mediums. Elise was currently channelling a spirit. From her description and family background, I believe it was Dahlia Hawthorne, who was executed last month. She is a relative of Iris of Hazakurain, hence the description."

Ms von Karma directs one of her underlings to search up some information in police records about Dahlia Hawthorne, and her own records of the Kurain situation from State vs Maya Fey [2017]

"And I believe this belief in Dahlia Hawthorne was also shared by Phoenix Wright, Ms Von Karma?"

I expect her to object, but she looks shaken. Clearly this is exactly what he testified to police.

But a second later she jerks back into vengeance.

"Just further motive to suggest Maya Fey's guilt! This 'Dahlia Hawthorne' is the defendant's cousin, and a potential threat to her succession as Master! Maya Fey was probably unaware of Ms Hawthone's mortal status, and thought she was engaging in clan warfare to slay a clearly antagonistic rival to the Master position! She had no idea of the irony it was actually her own mother. The shock of the victim's transformation back into her dead mother likely caused the defendant to fall into unconsciousness."

Now the channelling's out on the bench, Mr. Godot is hyper-cocky. I know he has some plan in mind around this. But Ms Von Karma seemed prepared. She whipped her subordinate into bringing up some files and information, and the way she is smirking, she's also hyper-confident about whatever Plan B she's switched to here.

"A dramatic story, Ms Von Karma. And all a lie. Maya Fey didn't know who Dahlia Hawthorne was – she thought she was Iris! But yes, Elise Deauxnim was channelling the spirit of Dahlia Hawthorne at the time of the attack and murder. This accounts for the defendant's supposed 'confusion' and continual description of her attacker and pursuer as 'someone who looked like Sister Iris', despite Sister Iris' proven presence in the cavern."

"And there was one person present who did know Dahlia Hawthorne –and had a clear grudge and motive to kill her in his own right – Phoenix Wright!"

"Phoenix Wright had a second clear and decisive motive to murder the victim – his proven pre-existing antagonism against Dahlia Hawthorne. Dahlia Hawthorne is Phoenix Wright's ex-lover, who 5 years ago betrayed him, framed him for murder, and planned to poison him. I will prove it, with clear and decisive evidence!"

The Judge blinks in bug-eyed shock, the audience stands erupt.

"TAKE THAT! I present to the court, State Vs Phoenix Wright 2013. The trial video and transcript is there in total for the court's examination. Now I will demonstrate excerpts from it illustrating Mr Wright's clear dual motives to commit murder!"

"The murder Mr Wright was framed for and put on trial for was actually committed by his then girlfriend, Dahlia Hawthorne! Her guilt soon became clear to the court, his defense attorney and probably Mr Wright himself. Yet he continued to protect his girlfriend out of obsessive loyalty to her, even though this thwarted his defense attorney clearing his name and risked death to himself. The same insanity which leads Mr Wright to protect his 'female interests' from death in the courtroom – also leads him to defend – even commit murder – when she's under attack. In State vs Wright 2013, he testifies how he violently shoved that case's victim because he simply said a bad word about his girlfriend. Imagine what he'd have done if he'd come across someone stabbing her!"

"And we also have an even clearer second motive! Later in that same trial, Phoenix Wright discovered that Dahlia Hawthorne had not only betrayed his trust and relationship, but had planned to poison him!" [Godot plays a string of scenes from this betrayal revelation now, poor Nick a sodden, sobbing and congested mess.] "His reward for such loyalty to his girlfriend was that she was going to murder him!"

"5 years later, when Phoenix Wright finally meets Dahlia Hawthorne again, she's in the act of attacking and stabbing Maya Fey! Naturally, Wright was outraged not only by the attack on Maya Fey, but seeking vengeance on the woman who betrayed him, tried to poison him, and framed him for murder. Strip the coffee of its sugar, and it's again bitter as hell!"

"Phoenix Wright observed Maya Fey being attacked by Dahlia Hawthorne, saw his opportunity, seized the knife, and stabbed the victim. His motives: directly protecting Maya Fey and vengeance on the woman who betrayed and tried to murder him. Case closed."

From the chaos of the crowd, which the Judge spends a lengthy period slamming his gavel to eventually silence, I can't help thinking they've been converted to Mr Godot's story. I wilt in my chair; it's all like a bad dream and I don't really want to think any of this is happening at all. But the Judge is now speaking.

"This is a very interesting theory of the defense. But I have a serious qualm with this alledged 'channelling' of Dahlia Hawthorne. Mr Godot! Can we even prove this 'channelling' occurred? Might it not be a lie or delusion concocted by Maya Fey and Phoenix Wright? What if it didn't really happen? Doesn't that render your theory impossible?"

But Godot doesn't miss a beat.

"Whether it occurred or not is irrelevant, Your Honour. All that is required is that Phoenix Wright believed the victim was Dahlia Hawthone when he decided to stab her. In the darkness, hiding behind the stone, perhaps he did not get a clear enough view of the victim to make him believe otherwise. Mr Wright himself testified to police he thought Dahlia Hawthorne was after Maya Fey – and acted accordingly. It's hard to drink an antidote for poison of the mind."

"Ms Von Karma," queries the Judge, "does this not support Mr Wright's guilt over Ms Fey?"

"Of course not! As for Maya Fey, she had just been roused from a deep meditation and trance by the real Sister Iris. In the darkness, confusion, and subsequent recollection of such traumatic events, it must be difficult for Maya Fey to accept she was attacked and twice stabbed by her own mother - and then murdered her in instinctive retaliation. It's quite likely, at the time or later, her imagination did perceive the attacker as someone else.

"As for Misty Fey stabbing Maya Fey – perhaps she was in her delusional trance where she believed she was channelling a spirit? It matters not if the entire exercise is fraudulent – the participants merely had to believe enough for their own confusion to occur."

"An intricate, foolish theory by the defense," Von Karma continues in jubilance. "But you have failed to give any evidence Phoenix Wright was yet on the scene, and thus your theory of motive is still BASELESS CONJECTURE! Maya Fey was proven to be on the scene, and her prints are on the murder weapon. No evidence or testimony at all that Phoenix Wright was present at time of murder exist! In no way have you proven Maya Fey innocent!"

"I have to agree, you have a point, Ms Von Karma," the Judge admits. "Mr Godot, your theory seems very solid, but without a shred of evidence to support it, I can only dismiss it and accept the prosecution's theory as the reasonable one. Maya Fey's prints are on the murder weapon. She herself claims not to even recall the moment of stabbing, but admits she handled the murder weapon just before. Most obviously, in the panic and confusion of the attack and 'channelling', she instinctively struck back in clear self-defense. A tragic case, but murder is illegal, even in such horrific circumstances.."

"OBJECTION!"

"Silence, Mr Godot. I'm ready to give my verdict."

In spite of myself, I notice my body has begun to shake.

"I'm afraid there's not enough evidence of insanity to rule manslaughter. I now pronounce the defendant, Maya Fey, GU.."

"OBJECTION!"

Something instinctively jars and surges through my body at the interruption from my fate. My mind catches up through the surrealistic fog, then returns to it. *It's not the same as it was then*.

"Who was that? New evidence, Mr Godot?"

"Bailiff, restrain him!"

"I believe that was Mr Wright over there, Your Honour. Maybe he wishes to testify – with a confession?"

"Very well. Bailiff, escort Mr Wright to the witness stand. What was your outburst, Mr Wright? I'm ready to charge you with contempt of court."

"I wish to testify. I've withheld information from the police and court!"

"Then I'm charging you with perjury as well, Mr Wright. Do you accept?"

"OBJECTION!" Ms Von Karma whips the floor like a child. "Your Honour was giving a verdict! No further foolish testimony is required!"

"I believe it is – on the grounds Mr Wright is making a confession of significance. If not, I will rule Ms Fey guilty of murder immediately. Mr Wright must state something which proves Maya Fey could not have stabbed the victim!"

"Can I cross-examine.."

"No. I will only accept decisive proof, not more theories and inconsistencies. Okay, Mr Wright, you had better have not wasted our time!"

The contents of my digestive system had lurched themselves into a knot as soon as Nick had started leaping up and yelling. I temporarily cease to notice my own situation and turmoils as I'm consumed with watching his approaching figure. I haven't seen him since… t-then. The CCTVs of the courtroom fill with his image as he ascends the stand.

The darkened eye rings and scattered hair spikes suggest someone sleepless and emotionally frayed, but Nick's eyes are contradictorily set with a sort of jaded and resigned resolution.

Has he found a contradiction which will save me? Some stupid, naive part of me still flares with hope.

But no, those eyes are nothing like when he'd throw evidence and objections in peoples' faces back then. But he hasn't fallen apart either. His expression is quiet yet chilling. I don't know what to think of it.

Testimony: Phoenix Wright

"I met Mr Godot. He explained there was a 'killer on the loose, targeting Maya Fey.' He directed me to go and search for 'her'."

"Since he was with the justice department, I obeyed his instructions."

"Mr Godot went away to the other side of the mountain, I assume searching like he said he would."

"I first went to the cavern. I thought Maya Fey might still be inside, doing her training course, but there was no answer. There was a lock on the door that I couldn't open."

"Then I started checking the area in methodical order as directed. Suddenly, I heard screaming and noises. I looked in the direction they came from and saw flashes of red light. I ran toward where the light and sounds had come from."

"When I got there, Maya Fey was passed out near the stone pillar. I was almost sure she was unconscious, and she was badly wounded from Dahlia's attack. A knife was lying nearby on the ground, I could see it because of one of the lights. I hid behind the pillar and grabbed it before Dahlia could. I grabbed it using the folds of my sleeve, both to obscure myself in the darkness and provide some slight protection from attack."

"Dahlia was focussed on Maya Fey, and hadn't observed me properly. I was able to leap out and stab her cleanly before she had properly registered there was a third person on the scene. Her brief attempts to fight back did little but tear and damage my clothes, which I was still using to shield myself. I knew I shouldn't leave prints. I was unaware Maya Fey had touched the weapon previously, so I did not think to wipe her prints off."

The courtroom falls into stunned silence for a moment.

This is surreal. It can't be – isn't – happening.

"Why, this changes things significantly!" concedes the Judge.

"OBJECTION!" To my amazement, Ms Von Karma is complacent and smirking.

"No cross-examination, Mr Godot? Because Phoenix's Wright's 'confession' is all a contradictory LIE! It does not correspond with the facts of this case. He continually testifies about lights, YET THERE WERE NO LIGHTS AT THE SCENE! And his own testimony of them contradicts his usage of darkness to facilitate committing the murder!"

"I see no reason that this is significant enough grounds to doubt his confession, Ms Von Karma. He has explicitly confessed!"

"Oh, but Your Honour, Phoenix Wright's 'confession' should be ignored. He has a history of such criminal tactics to protect murderers. And I will prove it!"

"No, Ms Von Karma. Phoenix Wright has pled guilty to murder. Any discrepancies can be uncovered at his retrial. In light of this, I'm ready to give my verdict. Pending retrial, Phoenix Wright is gu.."

"OBJECTION!"

My body's taken on an instinctive life of its own. I've leapt out of my seat, ignorant of the pain of the injuries, the security freaking out, my physical distress.

"DEFENDANT! Restrain her!"

"No!"

A guard is crushing me back into my seat. My muscles resist, but have no effect.

Ms Von Karma speaks up. "Oh, but the defendant hasn't had an opportunity to make her own confession. Let her speak.'

"Nick, why?"

"Why? Why.. what?"

"Why now? Why then? Why ever? State vs Engarde.. why did you do it?"

"I.. I couldn't let you die. Not for anything."

Nick…

"You heard him!" I yell at the Judge. "'I couldn't let you die, not for anything.' He's only 'confessing' to protect me." Nick's eyes well with fear. But thankfully the Judge seems to be reconsidering making a verdict.

"And do you have proof to support this, Ms Von Karma?"

"Of course, Mr Judge! There's a reason I charged him as suspected accomplice or accessory to murder," she continues. "Ever since we've brought him into questioning, he's suspected of protecting Maya Fey!"

"TAKE THAT! The evidence for Phoenix Wright's motive to lie has already been entered – State vs Phoenix Wright 2013! Phoenix Wright protects Dahlia Hawthorne, well after she is clearly shown guilty of murder in the courts, even though this means a guilty verdict and death penalty for himself – when he knows he is innocent! He is repeating that proven precedent behaviour here!"

"And I will enter additional evidence: State vs Matthew Engarde 2018! Let me explain with this evidence how Phoenix Wright is clearly lying to protect Maya Fey! Here is the trial video and transcript, should I replay or have read the relevant parts now?"

"Oh, I understand now!" exclaims the Judge. "Was he in love with Matt Engarde?"

"No, Mr Judge. Matt Engarde hired an assassin who kidnapped Maya Fey, with Matt Engarde's acquittal the requirement for her release. Without a thought, Phoenix Wright attempted to get Matt Engarde acquitted, using every lie and obvious dirty cheat imaginable, and became the disgrace of the nation. Phoenix Wright had built and constructed a reputation and sure lucrative career as a promising attorney. Yet he threw it away without thought, exposing himself as the sham he was and forcing him to disappear from society in disgrace. All to protect Maya Fey!"

Now one of her underlings is playing a select highlight from State vs Engarde on the courtroom TVs. I never really watched this part properly with Mr Godot – I was too floored by this point, and he seemed to consider it unimportant.

de Killer: I think your cross-examination has clearly demonstrated

something to me.

de Killer: You... You must wish to break your end of our agreement!

Phoenix: No! That's not...

de Killer: That's enough! If that is your intention, then there is only one thing for me to do!

Phoenix: W-Wait! Please!

de Killer: Gentlemen, ladies, please excuse me. I have a matter that I must attend to.

Phoenix: *HOLD IT!* N...No... Please... Not that... Please wait...

de Killer: Mr. Attorney! Bring this trial to a speedy end, and I may stay my hand! Otherwise...

Phoenix: Nnnngh...

Gnwaaa aaaaa aaaaa aaaaa aaaaa aaaaa aaaaa aaaaa aaaaa aaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!

Judge: What in the...? Mr. Wright...?

Are you...?

Phoenix: ...

"All the assassin has to do is allude he might harm Maya Fey, and Phoenix Wright will perform any lying, unethical act in a court of law to save her!"

The Judge's eyes bug. "A fascinating claim, Ms Von Karma. But isn't pleading guilty to murder just a little too extreme?"

"Not for Phoenix Wright with his proven history, Mr Judge. I will show the court the relevant sections of the evidence. Here again is State vs Phoenix Wright 2013!"

Von Karma is buoyant as she directs the Judge's attention to a part of the trial, with promise she'll now assemble more to support her claims for the court to view. "Phoenix Wright has a proven track record of lying in court to protect his female interests. He does not have a proven track record of murder or violence! Maya Fey is clearly guilty, and Phoenix Wright is covering for her, in identical fashion to his covering for the obvious murderer, Dahlia Hawthorne, in State vs Phoenix Wright 2013!

"But is it proven he would protect Maya Fey to the same extent?" questions the Judge.

"Of course, Your Honour. You yourself presided over State vs Matthew Engarde last year. As I explained earlier, Phoenix Wright lied compulsively, used every dirty and dangerous tactic to get an obvious murderer declared innocent, and threw away a promising law career. All to protect Maya Fey, who was taken hostage!

"OBJECTION!" Godot's throwing coffee now. "Does this mean you're now retracting your earlier theory Phoenix Wright was absent from the scene at the time of murder, Ms Von Karma?"

"Of course not. Phoenix Wright will protect Maya Fey whether he saw the actual murder or not. He did not see the actual murder in State vs Phoenix Wright 2013 , but he protected his ex-girlfriend by default, blindly assuming her innocence in his insanity of loyalty to her! This is a clear repeat. And if he did see her commit the murder, it just gives him further motive to give a 'confession' to protect her, instead of letting the courts decide the truth! He protected Dahlia Hawthorne well after it was obvious his faith and trust was in error. He even ate evidence which threatened to conclusively prove her guilt!" [Ms Von Karma takes the opportunity to replay this unfortunate moment on the courtroom's TV monitors now.]

"He only stopped protecting Dahlia Hawthorne when it was revealed she betrayed him – not because she was a murderer!"

Ms Von Karma brandishes her whip with the other hand whilst one of her underlings hastily runs up the relevant sections of State vs Phoenix Wright [2013] to prove her claims. As well as the existing entire video and transcription of the trial already in evidence, we now get Ms Von Karma's latest director's cut in addition.

"OBJECTION! Mr Wright never confessed to the murder in State vs Wright 2013. The prosecution's parallel is flawed!"

Ms Von Karma is instantaneous in reply. "But Dahlia Hawthorne was not the defendant and Phoenix Wright was. All that was required to protect her was to fail to prove Dahlia Hawthorne's guilt, not her innocence. He didn't need to confirm his own 'guilt' to protect her. In this trial, he can only save Maya Fey from her deserved verdict by 'proving' her innocence!"

But the Judge is unmoved. "I'm sorry, Ms Von Karma. State vs Phoenix Wright 2013 still seems to support the Defense's theory better than the prosecution. It gives Phoenix Wright a clear pre-existing motive for antagonism against the victim – after such loyalty, his ex-lover not only betrayed him but tried to murder him! And it confirms he will go to extreme lengths to protect his female interests – and given the situation and particular circumstances, it's highly reasonable to imagine this would include murder in Maya Fey's direct defense."

"That's right!" thrills Mr Godot. "A clear dual motive! I think the evidence just now speaks for itself. 'I couldn't let you die, not for anything!' He'd kill to protect her! And who would NOT have a grudge against the ex-girlfriend?"

He treats us to yet another replay of part of State vs Phoenix Wright 2013 – Nick sobbing pathetically over 'Dollie's' betrayal, being told she was going to murder him. I can't help feeling a little sorry for Nick, having this most traumatic of skeletons from his closet shoved in his and the court's face repeatedly – on such a bad day too.

"He's had 5 years to stew over the betrayal. Then when he does meet Ms Hawthorne again, she's in the act of stabbing Maya Fey, who he'll do anything to protect. He was clearly seized by anger and performed the murder, probably unaware Dahlia Hawthorne was channelled."

"Hmm, yes. Even I may be tempted into violence in such a situation." The Judge brandishes his gavel, reminiscent of Nick's artwork. "But murder is illegal in any circumstance, Mr Wright. Thank you for your belated confession."

"Ms Von Karma claims he's protected Maya Fey in questioning? Yet more to allude to his own guilt!"

Ms Von Karma's falling apart. She's bashing her desk futilely. "He's insane and lying! His testimony is clearly contradictory!"

The judge ignores her. "I've delayed my verdict long enough.."

"OBJECTION!" I just fold at trying to think of anything reasonable to say – it's all I can do to suppress being drowned in a useless stream of tears - so all that comes out is "Nick wouldn't stab my m-mother…"

"Ms Fey," Mr Godot is slow and almost compassionate. "Mr Wright didn't know it was your mother. It was dark, too, remember."

"What about the lights?"

"There were no lights. It's proven the lantern wasn't lit, and there were no lights in the area."

"But Mr Wright testified he saw lights! Red ones!" I'm sure this is some kind of contradiction. It's the only one we seem to have, but Nick would bluff with these to buy time…

Ms Von Karma appears to have regained some fight. "Exactly, Mr Godot! Explain this severe flaw!"

Godot seems unconcerned. "Mr Wright is probably lying. Anyway, how does the fact there were lights or not change the fact Mr Wright stabbed the victim. It's already established he hid behind the stone lantern and his black cloak. A poisoned mug in a lit room is still poison. A 'light' would just make his brutal stabbing of the victim easier!"

"OBJECTION!" Ms Von Karma is back to her arrogant self. "If you claim he's lying, is not the rest of his 'confession' an untrustworthy lie also?"

"Indeed. Both Ms Von Karma and Mr Godot raise important points. I fail to see how whether there were 'red lights' or not has any relevance to the actual murder. But this is also a discrepancy with Mr Wright's testimony. Did you see these 'red lights' Ms Fey?"

"I..I can't remember properly! Maybe I did!"

"Does the defense have any theory to account for Mr Wright's claim?"

"Of course." Godot seems untroubled. "It's just more evidence Mr Wright indeed committed the crime."

"Mr Wright was really at the murder scene, stabbing the victim, so he constructed a lying account of seeing the location from afar which makes no sense."

"While Mr Wright was attacking and brutally stabbing the victim, he probably saw flashes from the lightning which occurred during the night."

"A huge amount of blood was spilt during the tussle and murder, and Mr Wright was covered in it upon police discovery. Obviously, some blood dripped or sprayed in his eyes and line of sight. When illuminated, that would account for things seeming, well, 'red'."

"Indeed, that's a very reasonable and solid theory," muses the Judge appreciatively. "It well accounts for Mr Wright's 'confusion'. What about Maya Fey?"

"Ms Fey was in a poor physical state upon discovery, concussed, and testifies herself about losing consciousness. Vision disruption, including what might be interpreted as 'red flashes', are a common symptom of this."

"Very well, that does seem rather conclusive. In light of the overriding evidence of Phoenix Wright's confession, I declare…"

"OBJECTION!"

"Ms Von Karma! Stop interrupting!"

"But Maya Fey has not had an equivalent opportunity to make a confession, Mr Judge. It is only fair."

"Very well. Maya Fey will take the stand. Did you stab Elise Deauxnim, or this Hawthorne person you may have perceived her as?"

Nick's locked petrified eyes on mine. One word is emanating from them. No.

"I…I can't remember anything. There's just a blank. I don't remember stabbing her. I don't know what happened. I don't think M-Mr Wright did it. Maybe something else happened?" I look to Mr Godot, pleading, but his eyes are, as always, not there to read.

"That's not a confession, Ms Von Karma. It's quite plausible Maya Fey had indeed fallen into unconsciousness or petrification during the murder by Phoenix Wright. Mr Wright's confession is by far the most conclusive evidence we have in this case. I will accept no further interruptions."

" In light of the overriding evidence of Phoenix Wright's confession, I declare Ms Maya Fey Not Guilty of the charge of murder, and Phoenix Wright guilty of the murder of Elise Deauxnim, pending retrial."

###