Midterms and Finals are finally over! It's actually my semestral break, so I get to breathe! Yes!
Btw! I made a special picture dedicated to this pairing! Go ahead if you want to see it. I'd love comments too! (Well, it may not be all-too good a piece though, I've not much confidence in my photo editing skills. xD)
ht t p : / / k i t s u n e y a m i k a g e . d e v i a n t a r t . c o m / a r t / M i l e s - a n d - F r a n z i s k a - 1 2 8 2 1 7 0 8 6
just take out the spaces in between xD
I present to you, Turnabout Destinies – Courtroom, Part 2
-drops of jelly
Standard Disclaimer Applies (Not my game, but my idea. Steal it, you die. Go ahead and make references, but please give me credit at least.)
Eleventh Turnabout
Courtroom – Defendant Lobby
June 7 8: 45 pm
"... Mother... She wouldn't... How could you ever think that she'd hurt me?" Lanette sobbed quietly, whispering every word.
"Some things aren't what they seem, Lanette. I'm sorry. We're here to do nothing but uncover the truth after all." Apollo explained.
"The truth... But it'll hurt mom."
"Sometimes, the truth does hurt a lot of people... But we all become free once it sees the light of day." Edgeworth said poetically.
"I can't believe all this... Why would she want to hurt me?" she pondered.
Motive. It's all clear on our ace, Mr. Edgeworth's phone. But since it's not official evidence, I have to wait for the right time. Apollo glanced briefly at Miles.
"Do you know a man named Stephen Fergusson?" Miles looked seriously at Dr. Steelbird.
"... That man... Yes, a long time ago." She snapped out of her sobbing.
"He illegally sold body organs, until you and your company put it all to a stop, I heard. That was brave of all of you." Edgeworth said.
"Thank you... Everyone... Castor, Fred, Jess, Kyle, Marie and Jack, they really gave me their support in bringing that horrid man to justice." She reminisced, then a look of shock came across her face.
"...! They're all... the victims of this serial killing... aren't they?!" she turned to him quickly.
"Yes. They are." Edgeworth nodded.
"Then... Me, as a suspect? It doesn't fit at all... Could someone really be framing me?"
"We raised that possibility a while ago Lanette." Apollo said.
"But you're accusing my mother... What reason could she ever have to do this to me? She knew my struggle against Mr. Fergusson!"
Should I show her this evidence? No... Maybe she wouldn't let me show it to court. Apollo thought.
"Only Mr. Fergusson would think of framing me like this... And he's been behind bars all these years until now!"
"But Lanette... What if he found a way to escape? And hid himself all too perfectly, and plotted this all along?" Edgeworth said.
"... No... No way!" there was fear in her eyes.
"Try to think about it, and loosen up a little. You'll be okay... somehow." Apollo smiled his best.
"... Thank you... And, here, you two must be thirsty. I got some fruit juice." She handed the two of them a paper cup each of orange and pineapple juice.
"Thanks Lanette!" Apollo and Edgeworth drank the whole cup.
"Pardon my intrusion, Dr. Steelbird, but I have to talk to Miles Edgeworth. It's urgent." Franziska briskly walked into the defendant lobby.
"Hey! Ms. Von Karma, this is the defendant lobby!" Apollo was surprised.
"Hah, only a foolishly foolish fool would care about petty rules when the world is about to end!" she fiercely whipped him hard on the arm.
"OW!"
Lanette was surprised, and Apollo was cringing in pain as Franziska dragged the prosecutor-now-defense-attorney out of the room.
***
"Phoenix Wright is by the jury box, and he needs to speak to you. But before that, I have to ask you something." Franziska lowered her voice as she led Miles into a small, dim lit room by the hall.
"How can I help you, Franziska?"
"How are you going to acquit her of all these crimes in this single night?!"
"These crimes are all connected. They're bound by a patterned thread. Once you unravel the knots on the first, the rest unravels off as easily by itself."
"What do you mean Miles Edgeworth?"
"It's a simple miscalculation on the part of the criminals. The knife, the gap of the footsteps we discovered in the crime scenes, the altered crime scene in the hotel, the lighter, bat and gun... All these gave the real criminal away. There was no way a person like Dr. Steelbird could have done all this." He smirked confidently.
"Then prove it in court. Win this case, although I'd hate you to beat me again." She pouted frustrated.
"I guess... I do beat you every time, don't I?" he couldn't help but switch on his sister-complex and tease her a little bit.
"Don't push it Miles Edgeworth." She whipped him, even if the room was almost as small as a closet and there was a shortage of whipping room.
"We're going to uncover the truth once and for all... And I'll never... ever make you go through something like that again... that terrible experience... I'm sorry." he remembered the kidnapping, his eyes softened as he held her shoulders tightly.
"... You didn't leave me alone. You kept your promise. You have no need to apologize." She turned her head away, her cheeks burning and growing crimson and hardened her voice.
"You're... not using a cane anymore." He smiled.
"Of course! What do you take me for, a helpless fool? Not in a million years." She scoffed.
"Can't you let me take care of you anymore?" he smiled half-sadly.
"... When did you really do that? It was too long ago. We're not kids anymore."
"Of course. We aren't." He loosened his grip on her shoulders, then placed his hands down.
"... Ich liebe dich." She bowed her head in embarrassment.
With that, Miles tilted her head upwards with his finger and neared his lips to hers, looking into her grey eyes, and when he gently touched his lips onto hers, he closed his eyes.
Her cheeks, still burning, she returned his affection as gently and timidly, tenderly embracing him.
"Don't cry... I won't let anything harm you again." His eyes softened even more.
She wiped the tears on her face... The same tears that she deemed pathetic and improper for a perfect von Karma.
"That'll be the only good luck charm that'll make me win this case." He smiled.
"Recess is almost over. Run. Find Phoenix Wright." She recovered into her serious state.
"Right." Then he briskly walked the halls and into the jury box to find a man in a blue suit... wearing a face mask and a few casts, err bandages.
"I'll get straight to the point. *sniffle* Apollo had the decisive evidence all this time." Phoenix said, his eyes looking as distant as before.
"Nnghh... What decisive evidence?!" Edgeworth grumbled.
"Do you remember the night you were captured? You lost your phone that night too, didn't you?... achoo!"
"My phone was lost because the kidnappers took it, I had no way of recovering it." Edgeworth crossed his arms.
"What if they didn't take it? *cough* What if you just dropped it?" Phoenix smiled confidently.
"Then, that means!" Edgeworth started to realize what Phoenix was talking about.
"Yes. You put the recorder on didn't you? And it recorded more than enough for you to win this."
"And, Justice couldn't show the phone to court because he didn't submit it to the Chief of Police..." Edgeworth placed his index finger at the side of his head.
"You need to prepare the stage for that evidence. *sniffle* Get Fergusson on the stand and tie him to the murders and Mrs. Steelbird." Phoenix stated the obvious.
"As if I didn't think about that too, Wright." Edgeworth smiled.
"That's the court bell, I'd better go." Edgeworth said.
"One more thing. This will help you." Phoenix handed him another set of phones.
"This is..." Edgeworth found the phone of one of Fergusson's henchmen, which Phoenix used at one point where Fergusson spoke to him through a voice
"Go get them Edgeworth. I'll be watching this trial." Phoenix smiled.
"Don't be crazy... Rest up, or you can't see Iris this weekend." Edgeworth hurriedly teased him.
"H-h-hey!" he blushed.
"Oh, yeah, your voice sounds funny..." Edgeworth turned away smiling.
O-o-O
"Court will now reconvene for Dr. Lanette Steelbird." The blonde-beared judge said.
"As of now, Mrs. Cecile Steelbird is still unconscious, therefore she isn't able to make any further statements to the court." Klavier explained, snapping his fingers nonchalantly to a rhythm.
"Without a witness to cross examine, there is no case. Shall we continue to where we left off? We stopped at the events of the first murder didn't we?" the judge said.
"Hold it!" Edgeworth cried as the moment required.
"There is another witness the defense wishes to call to the stand." He continued.
"This better be related to the case at hand, and this time, you must produce real results." The judge stated his terms.
Franziska crossed her arms, and squeezed her sleeve with one of her hands.
"Without any further delay, we call a man arrested just yesterday, Stephen Fergusson." Edgeworth said.
O-o-O
"Name and occupation, sir, please." Klavier asked the tall, lean, yet deep set eyed man on the witness stand.
"Stephen Fergusson, convict." He said, annoyed, as if he was disturbed from what he was doing in his cell, whatever it was.
"Do you know what you are here for, Mr. Fergusson?" Klavier began.
"No, kid. You see, I'm supposed to be in my cell counting the drawings I made on the wall."
"These two gentlemen have some questions for you. I'm sure you have heard somehow about the case at hand today." Klavier said, snapping his fingers to a rhythm.
"Again, no. Sorry, but no idea whatsoever."
*vibrate*
He's lying through his teeth! Apollo felt his bracelet's vibration.
"Then, you do know Ms. Lanette Steelbird, don't you? After all, she was the one who brought you to justice from your crime years ago." Edgeworth cast his steely eyes on Fergusson.
"Yeah, I know her but I haven't heard of her in years. What's it to you?" he asked, rudely.
"Oh, it means a lot to us Mr. Fergusson. Please testify to us about five years ago, that incident which had brought you to prison." Apollo prompted the man.
"Me being here better not be useless." Fergusson grunted.
- Five Years Ago –
"I was quite a successful businessman in the UG five years back, until Dr. Steelbird and her posse came and ruined the party."
"She and her people put me behind bars, up until today."
"I have nothing, totally nothing to do with whatever this case is. After all, I was behind bars the whole time."
O-o-O
"Time to pick out the lies and bring it out to light. Do the honors, will you Mr. Edgeworth?" Apollo smiled confidently.
"It's time we fight back." He replied.
-Five Years Ago-
"I was quite a successful businessman in the UG five years back, until Dr. Steelbird and her posse came and ruined the party."
"Hold it!"
"I received a report recently about your actions. You illegally marketed internal organs, am I wrong?" Edgeworth read the sheet of paper.
"You're right."
"Dr. Steelbird and the same victims in this serial killing were the ones responsible for bringing you to justice."
"And man, I sure am lucky someone cared to get revenge on them for me." He laughed.
This seems not to be the right opening yet. I'll ask more questions about other things. Edgeworth thought.
"She and her people put me behind bars, up until today."
"I have nothing, totally nothing to do with whatever this case is. After all, I was behind bars the whole time."
"Objection!" Edgeworth cried.
"You're quite wrong when you say you have nothing to do with the case at hand, in fact, you hardly could be considered innocent after all this evidence and witnesses against you for a certain recent crime." Edgeworth grinned.
"You can't prove I murdered those people!" he laughed.
"No, not yet, but I can prove your connection through testimonies, and evidence."
"What?..." Fergusson's face paled.
"In fact, it's quite clear. After all, this connection is the same reason why you were brought back to jail just recently." Edgeworth wagged his finger.
"What do you mean, Mr. Edgeworth, you are saying that this witness was not in jail until just recently? He had been imprisoned all these years for that crime he had committed five years back!" the judge's shock was visible.
"Yes, your honor. He escaped from jail quite some time ago and began these serial killings and began framing Dr. Steelbird for them." Edgeworth stated an 'assumption' to provoke the witness to speak.
"That's not true! You don't even have evidence to back it up! Haha." Fergusson laughed nervously.
"Who says we don't?" Apollo grinned, and presented Ema's report on the kidnapping issue to the court.
Kidnapping and Attempted Murder Incident June 5
Victims: Phoenix Wright, Miles Edgeworth, Franziska von Karma
Phoenix Wright was tied to a chair awaiting his execution, until he found a way to escape.
Miles Edgeworth and Franziska von Karma were both captured and held in the house of a woman called, Mrs. Cecile Steelbird, who later attempted to murder them the morning after the kidnapping.
The judge scanned the report.
"Hah, what kind of evidence is that?! There's nothing in that report that can harm me! Just that lady stated there haha." He scoffed.
"Turn to the next page please, your honor." Edgeworth said.
Phoenix Wright's method of escaping:
Slipped off the kidnapping setup by feigning death at the site. Two men brought him to Gourd Lake Park to be buried and used the opportunity to drive the men unconscious. He used one of the men's disguises to go back to the base and infiltrate it to investigate. He had a phone conversation with the mastermind in one of the henchmen's phone that he took.
Phone Conversation:
"B5, six cases have been reported so far. Have you anything new to add
"Make that seven, sir. The attorney, Phoenix Wright died earlier and we have disposed of his body at the Gourd Lake Park."
"That attorney, eh… Yes. Let me see his corpse tomorrow. You will take me to where you have disposed of him. He was quite a thorn on my side ever since he took on Dr. Steelbird's case…"
"Yes, sir."
The next day Wright met with the mastermind and captured him and had him arrested. This man was later identified as Stephen Fergusson, an inmate who had escaped this year.
"............ So this man is..." the judge turned to the witness.
"What... So you're saying that Mrs. Cecile Steelbird was my accomplice too? And I used her house to keep my hostages unseen?! I don't even know that woman! She can go to jail herself for all I care!"
"It clearly states on this legal report, and we have witnesses on this story too!" Apollo pointed his finger at the witness.
"I have the phone in question as well." Edgeworth added.
"Objection!" Klavier cried, and hit the wall behind him with his fist.
"You might have forgotten, Herr Justice, Herr Edgeworth, but the one on trial here is Dr. Steelbird, not the witness. We have strayed too far from the topic, and we still haven't found any results." He continued.
"This will eventually lead us to the core of what really happened!" Apollo argued.
*wha-pack*
"So what if Stephen Fergusson kidnapped us? What does it prove? We are trying to find out who really killed those professionals, fool!" Franziska whipped.
"First, it proves the possibility Fergusson and Mrs. Steelbird are accomplices in the kidnapping. Second, Fergusson states the motives for his actions- kidnapping Wright because he took the defense of Dr. Steelbird, and stating how Dr. Steelbird had always been 'a thorn on his side'.
What else can you assume from all of these evidences? Why else would he take kidnapping Dr. Steelbird's defense attorney as a precaution?
This report contradicts everything as we know it now!" Edgeworth stated.
"I will state all of the contradictions so far, then:
-Stephen Fergusson's time in jail
-His uninvolvement with the case at hand
"Explain these issues and their connection to this trial!" Franziska cracked her whip.
"Very well." Edgeworth nodded.
"According to Ema Skye's report, validated by the police, Fergusson had escaped from jail early this year, thus making his claim of being in prison the whole time, and his claim of knowing nothing of the case at hand invalid."
"Second, this recorded phone conversation stated his motives for the kidnapping directly linked to the defendant, and the voice of the phone was confirmed by Phoenix Wright, to have belonged to Fergusson." Edgeworth said.
"Your whole point is?" Franziska eyed him
"Fergusson is the mastermind of the kidnapping incident intended to destroy Dr. Steelbird's hopes of an acquittal for her charges of murder for those professionals. According to these actions, the real killer would be no one else but him! To top that off, he has a motive and an accomplice!" he replied calmly.
"And this accomplice is Mrs. Cecile Steelbird, the defendant's stepmother?" the judge asked.
"Yes." He nodded.
"You are all fond of walking on thin ice, aren't you, Herr Forehead, Herr Edgeworth?" Let's see some proof that Mr. Fergusson and Mrs. Steelbird are accomplices in this kidnapping and murder!" Klavier pointed his finger to them.
"I'll gladly show you proof." Apollo smirked.
"Preposterous!" Franziska lashed.
"Which one will you present first? Proof that they were accomplices in the kidnapping, or proof that they are accomplices in serial murder?" Klavier asked.
"Proof that they are accomplices in both." Apollo said, as he eyed Edgeworth who knew exactly what he was going to present.
The prosecution was silenced.
Finally, the time has come for this evidence to see light! Apollo thought.
The whole room was in a nervous silence, each individual trembling as the truth neared.
Take that!
Apollo presented Miles Edgeworth's cell phone.
"There is a recorded conversation in this cellphone that took place in the evening of June 5, the time when I was abducted." Edgeworth explained.
"I was in a basement trying to rescue, Ms. Von Karma from the mastermind and maybe find out who he is, until I was seized by some men and fell into consciousness from the scent of ether on the handkerchief they let me inhale. However, the recorder on my phone was on, and auto-saved the conversation that took place then." He continued.
Then, he switched the phone on and played the recorded conversation, skipping to the part the dialogue started.
"That'll teach that boy to mess with me. Let's dispose of this guy, that other prosecutor and that attorney at my house."
"Madame Cecile,... your house? That might throw some suspicion on you."
"Nah, they'll suspect that wretched Dr. Steelbird as always. If not for her being alive and free, I would have had all that inheritance to myself."
"I'll let the boss know about their deaths and who handled it."
"You don't need to tell him they're in my house. I want it to be a surprise for him. A perfect close to a perfect chain of murders. Heck, I never cared about those victims. I just want Lanette out of my way." She laughed.
"Yes, 'maam."
*beep*
The whole court was shocked, and silent until a woman's scream broke the silence.
"THAT CONVERSATION IS A FAKE! A HOAX! I NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THAT! YOU'RE ALL TRYING TO PIN ME ON THE MURDERS!
WELL, TOO BAD IT AIN'T THAT EASY, AFTER I WASN'T ALONE IN ALL THIS, IT'S FERGUSSON'S FAULT AND IDEA TOO!!!!!!"
Mrs. Cecile Steelbird screamed just as she had arrived in the courtroom rushing.
The entire courts eyes shifted to her.
"And... that is all, your honor." Edgeworth bowed.
Noise filled the room entirely. The judge's warnings fell on deaf ears and he simply called for a recess.
Courtroom – Defendant Lobby
June 7 – 10:12 pm
"Mr. Edgeworth... What do we do?! She's still in shock..." Apollo looked at Dr. Steelbird with eyes full of concern.
"She can't take the weight of her stepmother betraying her. We'll have to give her some space." He replied.
"You both did good. *cough*" Phoenix Wright came in the room smiling.
"Thanks to you, Mr. Wright!" Apollo smiled back.
"You should have been the one up there, Wright." Edgeworth turned to him.
"No, seeing the turnabout to Dr. Steelbird's favour is enough for me. Thank you, Edgeworth. Achoo!" Phoenix said.
"Well, I guess it's time to clear up everything now." Apollo nodded to Edgeworth.
"Yeah.. Let's..." Edgeworth's last words sounded slurred as he collapsed onto the floor.
"Mr. Edgeworth!!!" Apollo exclaimed.
"Edgeworth! Get a hold of yourself! Hey! Don't faint on me! C'mon, the last act's about to start!" Phoenix tried to shake him awake.
"Somebody call a doctor!" Apollo looked around for Lanette.
"What's the matter in here?" Lanette briskly waltzed into the room with her stethoscope.
"Mr. Edgeworth has passed out!" Apollo explained.
Lanette examined Miles, then a crossed look came upon her face.
"He must have fainted from pain... Do you know what he had consumed over the last eight hours at least?" she turned to Apollo.
"Before coming to the trial, Franziska told me about how he stuffed himself up really fast, which was quite not normal for Edgeworth..." Phoenix said.
"And just during the last recess, you gave us some juice to drink. He got the pineapple." Apollo said as well.
"... Wait..." Lanette hurriedly tried to find that half-litre bottle of pineapple juice she brought.
Phoenix and Apollo tried to fan Edgeworth and laid him on the lobby couch.
"Shoot!!! Aghhh!" she looked at the juice bottle's expiry date – which was 3 days ago.
Phoenix and Apollo flinched at her sudden squeal.
"I'M SO SORRY!!! I'm so SORRRRY!" she kept bowing and bowing her head to apologize to an unconscious Mr. Edgeworth.
"Wha? What's going on doctor?" Phoenix asked with a stunned look on his face.
"... How unprofessional and clumsy of me... I'm supposed to relieve people of their pain... but I guess I have inflicted it upon someone this time..." she mumbled.
"What?" Apollo was shocked.
"The pineapple juice... expired three days ago... He has dyspepsia."
"................." Apollo and Phoenix fell silent.
"AGGGGHHHH!!! OMG I'm gonna faint Mr. Wright! I'm gonna faint and I can't finish the court proceedings! This trial will fall into a premature ending as well!! No!! I can't accept this! I..!" Apollo panicked, not conscious about his accelerating chords of steel.
"Snap out of it Apo- Achoo! –llo! You're not going to faint! ... Isn't that right, Dr. Steelbird?" Phoenix turned to Lanette.
"No... Mr. Justice will be fine.. The orange juice isn't expired." She sighed, but her look of anxiety hadn't diminished.
"Whew! Then... What about Mr. Edgeworth?" Apollo asked.
"He won't wake up for a while He must have been really dizzy and uncomfortable during the trial. He's pushed himself to the limit. Someone will have to take his place." She said.
"Oh boy..." Phoenix groaned.
"Are you ready, Mr. Wright? Are you sure you can take over? I don't exactly recommend it." Dr. Steelbird said.
"Better a lawyer with a cold than a lawyer who can't get up." He wheezed.
"Then, let's go back. That's the call now." Apollo turned to the door.
"Alright." Phoenix replied.
O-o-O
"I can't think of anything to say... This case has certainly taken an unexpected turn. Mrs. Steelbird had confessed to her crimes and explained how the serial murders were done." The judge said.
"It was quite odd, but Fergusson did all the killings using Dr. Steelbird's household items covered with her fingerprints, and even used her shoes to mark footprints around the crime scene." Ema Skye suddenly took the stand.
"Fraulein Detective?" Klavier smiled, not surprised suddenly seeing her there.
"Explain at once Ema Skye!" Franziska crossed her arms and clutched her puffy sleeve.
"Miss Kay Faraday submitted to me the full report, but it is better to hear from Miss Faraday herself." Ema stated.
***
"Please state your name and occupation." Franziska requested the witness.
"Kay Faraday, thief for the truth."
"Please give us an overview of the crimes that happened." Phoenix Wright entered the courtroom.
"Phoenix Wright?!" Franziska was shocked.
"Oh! It's you! Wh... What happened to the other one?.. Er, I mean, Mr. Edgeworth?" the judge asked.
"A... minor case of dyspepsia, your honor... But he is unconscious as of now. ACHOO!" He explained.
"Foolishly foolish fool! You Phoenix Wright are not well. Do you not have to rest at home? Or do you plan on spreading your virus?" Franziska whipped him over and over.
"ACK! *whip* Franzis- *whip* No! I came here *cough* *whip* to finish this!" Phoenix crouched in defense.
"Anyway, carry on with your testimony please, Ms. Faraday." Franziska cracked her whip before keeping it.
"Sure."
-Results of Investigation-
"I went to investigate the crime scenes earlier during the day. Of course, the crime scenes were surrounded by the police 24/7, so I can guarantee you that nothing has been touched or altered."
"Just right after Mrs. Cecile Steelbird confessed to the court, I put her in questioning, and got many details from her. I confirmed my findings on the investigations to be true." She smiled at Edgeworth, from whom she learned the interrogation techniques with evidence.
"Castor Jones was stabbed in the abdomen and heart by a man who wore gloves, and used Dr. Steelbird's shoes to walk around. The fruit knife was taken by Mrs. Steelbird and the shoes were provided by her as well. It was her idea for him to use the shoes to pin the crime on Lanette, but then the distances of the footprints on the floor of the crime scene gave him away."
"The fruit knife, as proven by Mr. Justice earlier in the trial, was a plain contradiction, and I believe he had also explained how this knife was used. His assumptions on the weapon were entirely correct."
"Fred Derby, the second victim who died of electrocution, was found sitting dead at the edge of a bathtub in a hotel room. The evidence found was the same footprint in the first crime scene on the chest of the victim."
"However, the victim couldn't possibly have died of electrocution sitting there. He had protective gear on his body, except his head. He couldn't have died unless he fell into the tub, which was brimming with water."
"Hold it!" Phoenix cried.
"So, he must have died another way?" he asked her.
"Mr. Wright, you can figure it out. It's easy. Take a look at the evidence Mr. Edgeworth and I found this morning." Kay suggested.
"... These are pretty much the only sensible stuff not yet put to use..." Phoenix scanned the record.
Take that! Phoenix presented the coil of wire and set of unidentified fingerprints to the court.
"Please do explain what you think, Herr Wright." Klavier snapped his fingers.
"The footprint, the tub full of water and these two pieces of evidence... If you connect them, what other story could you come up with?" he grinned smartly.
"...I see...!" Franziska gasped.
"Huh? What are you all talking about? Can you tell me if what I'm thinking is right?" Apollo said.
"Mr. Derby was sitting at the edge of the tub. He musn't have noticed the tub was brimming with water since the privacy curtains of the tub were closed, and he left it that way. He continued to fix up the electric outlet, opening it."
"Then suddenly, Mr. Fergusson stormed in and kicked Mr. Derby into the tub, then cut up a wire and electrocuted him there."
"Objection!" Franziska cried.
"Was it proven that he fell into the tub in the first place? Did Mrs. Steelbird also confirms this?" she asked sharply.
"Mrs. Steelbird did not say anything of the like, but the other evidence suggest this." Kay replied.
"So what if there's a piece of open wire and some prints? They could still be in that scene and prove nothing of that sort happened." Klavier said.
*bam*
The doors to the courtroom flew open suddenly, and in came Detective Gumshoe huffing and puffing.
"I c-came here at Mr. Edgeworth's request!!" Gumshoe gasped and gave the defense two pieces of evidence.
"A photo of a... and an affidavit from the bellboy of the Gatewater hotel... Now I get it." Apollo studied the evidence and looked at Phoenix who nodded in approval.
"We have evidence to prove Mr. Derby fell into the tub." Phoenix said.
"Please do enlighten us over this matter." The judge said.
"First, a photo taken this morning." Apollo presented the photo.
"A photo of... a mop?!" Franziska was shocked.
"Second, an affidavit which confirms two things- That he saw that the Mr. Derby's dead body was first discovered drenched in water, and that the mop was behind the bathroom door, recently used then." Apollo continued.
"If he did fall into a tub, he would of course be wet. If the tub was brimming with water, the bathroom floor would become wet, and if Fergusson wanted to alter the crime scene, mopping the floor would be part of the plan." Phoenix said.
"So, he set up the sitting position and the rest." Apollo finished.
"And by the way, the fingerprints on the mop matched the prints on the coil of wire. There's no doubt about it." Gumshoe said proudly.
"Miles Edgeworth... Grrr.. Always a step ahead..." Franziska banged her fists on the desk in surrender.
"Dr. Jessica Fulton died of severe head trauma by use of a baseball bat. Mrs. Steelbird also confessed to planning that crime for Fergusson to execute, and we had Fergusson confirm it. The witness of the event, the security guard told a valuable truth of course. Prosecutor Gavin did the interviewing, didn't you, sir?" Kay turned to him.
"You're right. And I found no need to summon him today." He replied.
"So... He was not lying about seeing a man, not a woman? You believed him Klavier Gavin?" Franziska eyed him.
Klavier merely chuckled. His little suspicion that Dr. Steelbird was not responsible for Dr. Fulton's murder at least, was right.
"The fourth crime was the death of Mr. Paschal, a businessman, by fire. The lighter belonged to Lanette. Mrs. Steelbird also stole this and provided Fergusson the means to kill this man."
"And the last, two doctors were murdered by a gunshot each to the heart. No other prints but Dr. Steelbird's were found on the gun, but Mrs. Steelbird also confessed to stealing the gun and giving it to Fergusson to use as well."
Phoenix shuddered at the memory of seeing those two doctors before the end came for them.
"That's what my report basically states." Kay left the stand.
O-o-O
"This trial... has been the most complicated and longest one yet this year. We have come such a long way and drifted off so far from the original point. However, by all this drifting off, we have come to its ultimate conclusion." The judge said.
Finally... it has ended... A look of relief was visible on both the prosecution and defense's side.
"For the crime of serial murder, The court finds Lanette Steelbird..."
NOT GUILTY
"A separate trial for Mr. Fergusson and Mrs. Steelbird will be held on another date. Court is now adjourned." The judge ended the trial.
O-o-O
"You did great out there Apollo." Phoenix smiled at the attorney who was slumped over on one of the defendant lobby couches.
"That was such an awesome, but stressful trial... We made it Mr. Wright!" Apollo smiled.
Franziska and Klavier entered the lobby as well.
"It's finally ended... Phoenix Wright." Franziska recalled everything that has happened during the past hours. Her heart was becoming heavy and she was about to break down into sobs, but she held them back forcefully.
"It's going to be okay now, Franziska." Phoenix gave her a pat on the shoulder and a warm smile.
"It was a good trial, Herr Wright." Klavier timidly said with a sad smile.
"Thanks for all the help, Klavier." Phoenix looked at him with respect.
"You're... welcome." He turned away. He still couldn't forgive himself entirely for what had happened years ago. He went to talk to Apollo.
Then, he found Dr. Steelbird at the door with someone familiar.
"Mr. Wright, Mr. Justice!" Lanette was genuinely happy to be found innocent. She ran over to them and gave them a light peck on each of their cheeks.
Apollo blushed heavily, and Phoenix blushed, and started blabbering words.
"Nick! Polly! You both were so cool out there!" the Master of the Kurain Channelling Technique greeted them cheerfully.
"Maya! You were watching the trial?! You didn't even tell me." Phoenix smiled.
"I sort of wanted it to be a surprise." Maya smiled back.
", thanks a lot for watching haha. Although I might not really deserve your praise. I had a lot of help from Mr. Edgeworth and Mr. Wright!" Apollo recovered from his red state.
"Oh, don't be silly, Polly! You were good, and in a few more years, you'll be an ace attorney just like Nick! And remember I told you to just call me Maya? Ms. Fey is my sis, Mia." Maya laughed.
"Oh, right. Sorry Maya." Apollo corrected himself.
"By the way, where is Miles Edgeworth now?" Franziska asked Dr. Steelbird.
"He's at the Hickfield Clinic, resting. He still isn't well, I had a call from the doctor in charge." Lanette replied.
"So, the Fraulein Doctor had him sent there instead of keeping him here? Makes sense. After all, you were still on trial." He smiled charmingly.
"She isn't the type to skip on important commitments, Prosecutor Gavin." Ema Skye stepped in, saying the line as if she were trying to hit someone with those words.
They all laughed.
"Anyway, this calls for a celebration! Everyone to the burger joint!! This time, it's on..." Maya eyed Phoenix.
"I have seriously outgrown that prank Maya." He chuckled and thought of how much he had on him currently.
"Polly!" Maya laughed.
"WHAT?!" Apollo exclaimed.
"Thanks a lot Apollo! You're cool." Ema laughed and pat his back.
"I'm glad to be your friend after all, Herr forehead." Klavier laughed.
"Burgers are good once in a while." Franziska pulled out her whip.
"I haven't eaten a burger in a long time. Thank you, Mr. Justice!" Lanette smiled.
"Well, Apollo, don't you just fell like crying...?" Phoenix asked.
"...OBJECTION!" Apollo finished the sentence.
THE END... Or is it?
To be continued...
O-o-O-o-O
Whew!!! This chapter took a LOT of work and a LOT of time! I had to edit over and over again before publishing. I hope you enjoyed it. I know this chapter was a bit too lengthy and dragging, but it had closed all the story plots that had been opened,
Except for what happened next to the fan fiction's key pairing of course, which will be shown in the next, and final chapter of No Way Out.
Thank you very much for reading, and watch out for the next chapter, which will be coming... maybe later. I can't promise since I'll be extremely busy with school.
I'd love it if you'd drop a review!
-drops of jelly