Thanks for the reviews and helping When Zelda Met Link become my eighth oneshot (and thirteenth story overall) to surpass 1,000 hits!

To answer your question, haha169, yes, I planned the JSAPT thing from the beginning. I had every character's role written down before I started writing anything. But truth be told, there are characters that I tweaked as I wrote, or characters I intended to include but didn't make the final product at all. Such examples are Impa (I originally planned for her to reappear in the Marin arc of the plot) and Nabooru (I wrote her in at first to be an accomplice to the murderer in the Marin arc, but I ultimately left her out).

That being said, please enjoy part one of the finale to Circles. :)

September 5, 2008; 9:57 AM
Hyrule Castle Town, Light Prefecture
Court of the Heavenly Goddesses—Defendant Lobby 5

Link paced the ground nervously, fiddling with the buttons of his gambler's vest. He kept pulling his cell phone out of his back pocket to check the time. It was two minutes before the trial restarted, and Marin Tarin was nowhere to be found.

Dammit, where is she!? Link cursed in his head. Court's about to start!

He had planned to talk to her about what he found out the other day… That she was in fact related to Zelda Harkinian. He had the papers prepared and everything. He planned to stand right in front of the door to the defendant's lobby. The second she walked in, the first thing she would see would be her—Marin Harkinian's—high school profile. It was all planned out perfectly. Except one thing: she wasn't there.

He glanced at a few papers that were resting next to his laptop case on the sofa. Earlier when he walked in, he was given scans of Marin's documents—her passport, her transcript from Tal Tal University, the registration papers from Hyrule University, her ID card, her Koholint driver's license, her social security papers, information of that nature.

"Mr. Avalon," he heard a voice say his name. He turned out, and the bailiff's head was poking out of the crack between the doors.

"We're ready for you."

The blonde grit his teeth together tightly as he furrowed his brow. Dammit, Marin…

He reluctantly grabbed his laptop case from off the sofa and headed to the doors to the courtroom. With one last look to the doors across from him that lead to the hallways, he walked in, nervous of what everyone would think and say when he came in with no client.

- - - - - - - - - -

September 5, 2008; 10:00 AM
Hyrule Castle Town, Light Prefecture
Court of the Heavenly Goddesses—Courtroom 5

Link tapped his foot against the desk and twirled his pen between his fingers nervously. Marin had still not shown up. On the other hand, Ganondorf was at his bench, smiling proudly, prepared and all, and Rauru was giving the blonde a very expecting stare.

"Court is once again ready to begin for the trial of Ms. Marin Tarin." Rauru announced, slamming down his gavel. "Prosecutor Dragmire seems to be ready… You, Mr. Avalon, on the other hand…"

Link flinched slightly at that.

"Do not… Where is Ms. Tarin, anyway?"

The defense attorney chuckled softly. "…You see, Your Honor… I'd kind of like to know myself…"

The audiences on both sides of the courtroom started mumbling softly, but they were silenced by Rauru.

"Doesn't this sound familiar?" Ganondorf mumbled softly, but loud enough for Link to hear. The Hylian glared him down, the fist in his pocket balling up tightly and his heart beating rapidly.

He didn't… He wouldn't dare…

All of a sudden, the doors flew open, and standing before the court was Marin Tarin, clearly out of breath.

"I'm here!" She exclaimed, trying to catch her breath. "I-I'm here…"

"Ms. Tarin!" Rauru met her eyes with a hard look. "An explanation for your lateness, please!"

"The traffic," she simply replied as she walked over to Link's side. "The traffic, Your Honor…"

"Hmm…" He rubbed his chin. "…Make sure it doesn't happen again."

That's assuming there is a next time…

She smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, Your Honor…" She looked over at Link and shot a quick smile. He returned the gesture, albeit weakly.

Marin…

"Now we can formally begin this trial," Rauru said. "We left off yesterday with the testimony of Ruto Rutela. It has come to my understanding that she was released late yesterday, though."

"She has," Link nodded. "Through my investigations…" He stole a glance at Marin, "She is not a potential suspect for the murder of Mr. Ambi like we first thought."

"I see," Rauru replied. "So we're left with one person…" He looked squarely at Marin.

"Unless Mr. Avalon here can somehow find another possible suspect," Ganondorf gestured to Link with his right hand, "I believe so."

"Very well." Rauru stacked a few papers on his desk neatly and clasped his hands together in his lap. "Mr. Dragmire, before court adjourned yesterday afternoon, I asked you to conduct your own investigation, much like Mr. Avalon has done so. I trust that you've come prepared with a new witness?"

"I have, Your Honor."

"In the prosecutor's lounge, I presume?"

The prosecutor shook his head at that. "No, Your Honor… She is in this very courtroom!"

Link cocked his head, as well as an eyebrow, up at that. She's in here? He scanned the audiences. Who is she?

Ganondorf smiled softly. "Ms. Tarin, if you would now?"

The blonde whirled around to the brunette next to him, staring at her in complete confusion. "Marin!?"

The judge silenced the chattering with a swing of his gavel. "Wait a minute! You mean to say that the prosecution's witness… is the defendant herself!?"

"Right, Your Honor," Ganondorf nodded. "Yesterday I had a visit with Ms. Tarin. She volunteered to testify for today's trial… It seems like she has a certain confession to make."

Everyone in the courtroom had their eyes on Marin, who was just looking forward confidently, her back straight.

"…Is this true, Ms. Tarin?" Rauru asked her.

"…It is, Your Honor," Marin nodded without looking at him. Her eyes just stared into space, not making contact with anything in particular.

"…Then by all means," he gestured towards the witness stand.

Link watched her intently as she left his side for the podium that stood before everyone. He was trembling nervously, anxious as to what she had to say. Marin… Why didn't you discuss this with me first?

Marin cleared her throat softly, holding her fist to her hand as she did so.

"Your name and occupation," Ganondorf told her.

"Marin Tarin," she replied. Link said nothing. "I'm a student at Hyrule University."

"Witness," Rauru looked at her. "I'm sure I speak for everyone when I ask this… Just what is it that you want to tell this court?"

She paused for a split second, taking in a deep breath as she did so. "I want to… apologize to Mr. Avalon for the trouble I caused him."

The blonde raised an eyebrow at that. "…Ms. Tarin?"

Her throat muscles were clearly defined as she swallowed hard. "I am the one who killed Raven Ambi."

The entire court was in uproar at that statement. Rauru repeatedly tried to quiet everyone, but to no avail. Ganondorf seemed unfazed by it; he just looked at her emotionlessly, tapping his index finger against the desk. Link, however, was in total shock. He stared wide-eyed at her, unable to comprehend it.

…Marin!? You killed him!? …Are you telling me the truth? Are you telling everyone the truth? All of a sudden… It's so hard to believe anything you say anymore… But I know one thing.

"Objection!" Link slammed both his hands on top of the desk, immediately silencing the entire courtroom. "…You're lying, Ms. Tarin!"

Marin looked at him with an almost pained frown. "No. It's the truth, Mr. Avalon… I've been lying this whole time."

"No!" He shook his head vigorously, unwilling to accept it. "You're innocent!"

"Mr. Avalon," Rauru looked at him sympathetically. "If the accused is admitting to her crime, then there leaves little room for doubt…"

"Avalon," Ganondorf spoke, and the attorney looked at him. "If you're so skeptical, then how about we hear what she has to say? A confession is nothing without an explanation."

"…Ms. Tarin," the judge looked at her. "…Before this trial concludes, please give us your motive for your murder. That would be quite helpful."

"…Yes, Your Honor," she nodded obediently. "It started shortly after Raven and I began dating… Probably not even a day after we started, and there were rumors of him being… unfaithful. I'm new to this country, you see, and Raven was the only person I could confide in. And all of a sudden there were rumors of him cheating on me? I thought my relationship problems finally ended, but it seemed like that wasn't the case… I-I was tired of heartbreak…"

Believably as Marin testified—tears were even rolling down her cheeks near the end of her testimony—Link didn't believe a single word of it. It was obvious she was lying to him, to everyone. For one, she clearly didn't look like a person with the capacity to poison someone. Two, she could have easily avoided this whole thing by ending the relationship—if her story was true. There were so many things wrong with it, he couldn't begin to list them. And most of all, it utterly amazed him that Rauru was buying into all of it. Seems like someone is a sucker for a sob story. I'm sorry Marin, but I'm just going to have to expose you.

"…I have a few questions for you, Ms. Tarin," Link spoke after a silence.

"I don't see any room for questions," Ganondorf shook his head, smirking slightly. "Your client already admitted her crime, and she gave the motive to back it up. What else is there to ask?"

Link said nothing. He gave the Gerudo a hard look before turning to Rauru. "Your Honor, if I may? Just five minutes is all I ask."

The judge nodded. "Permission granted. The defense may question the witness."

"Thank you," he smiled before directing his attention to Marin. "Ms. Tarin… You said you have a past of failed relationships, correct?"

She blushed slightly, wiping her eyes free of tears. "Embarrassing as it is, yes. I just never found that right person. I thought I did in Raven… but obviously not."

"You also told me before that Raven was the only person in Hyrule you knew," Link rubbed his chin slowly, his stubble rustling softly as he did so. "Yet you heard rumors from people of his unfaithfulness?"

"Raven was a pretty well-known prosecutor," she shrugged. "I suppose… I suppose that would allow for rumors to go around pretty fast, wouldn't you agree?"

Link said nothing. He filed through the packet of Marin's papers quickly, trying to find something useful for ammunition. Lies beget more lies, he told himself. That's what Shad always told me. And it's never failed me yet.

"How long have you two been dating?" Link asked. "You and Mr. Ambi?"

"Almost a month leading up to his death," she replied.

Link said nothing. He stared at her for the longest time, both their eyes connecting. "Objection! …Ms. Tarin. It isn't like you to lie."

Her brow shot up. "…I-I'm sorry…?"

"A month leading up to Mr. Ambi's death—your crime, as you claim—would assume you've been in Hyrule for that long, yes? Perhaps longer?"

"…Yes… And?"

"It just so happens that I have a copy of your passport," Link announced as he held up the packet for everyone to see. "…You flew in from Koholint Island two weeks before his death! Under normal circumstances, you could have only dated for a week at most!"

Marin flinched. "N-no! No, wait!"

"Objection!" Ganondorf interjected, but was interruped by Link.

"What?" He cocked an eyebrow. "You gonna tell me that Ms. Tarin has the memory of Impa Inpax?"

Rauru furrowed his brow at that. "…Who?"

"Her very explanation for committing murder contained a contradiction!" Link exclaimed. "And you expect for us to just let that slide by!?"

"… Ms. Tarin," Rauru said to her, "Care to explain?"

She said nothing. "…Does the time we've been dating matter, Mr. Avalon?"

Link looked at her for a second. "…What?"

"Whether the two of us had been dating for a month or a week," she shrugged, "That doesn't matter. What's true is that right after we got together, there were already rumors of him cheating…" She smiled confidently, the same smile that haunted him for years. "All else is irrelevant."

"…!" The blonde struggled for something to say. "B… B-but—"

"It's as she said, Avalon," Ganondorf sighed. "One little slip up in the length of their relationship doesn't detract from what really happened, and that's that Raven was cheatin' on this girl."

"…At any rate," Rauru intervened.

…I-is that it? That's all I can do…? Link started to panic. I can't let him end the trial! …Not yet. I have to find out why Marin is lying about killing Raven… And to expose her for who she really is.

"Ms. Tarin," the middle-aged man spoke, "The court requests that you further elaborate on your crime. Specifically the murder itself."

"…Alright," she nodded. She was still slightly shaken by what just happened. She quickly regained her composure before speaking again. "I requested that the poison be made a few days before the registration. I visited the university's pharmaceutical department's students… I paid them to make the poison for me. After my registration, Raven and I headed to the cafeteria for lunch. I slipped the poison into his coffee on our way there."

"…I have a question of my own," Rauru stated after a few seconds. "But I will allow for Mr. Avalon to question you first. I have a feeling he'll ask what I want to know."

Link raised an eyebrow at that, but shrugged it off for a moment. "Very well… Ms. Tarin, you slipped the poison while you two walked to the cafeteria?"

"Yes," she answered.

"But doesn't that seem odd?" He asked. "Presumably, there's quite the time gap between then and his death. More than five minutes, maybe."

"The poison is very slow acting," she replied, "but very deadly… Even just the slightest sprinkle of it can kill. Or so I've been told by the man who made it for me."

"A man made it for you?" Rauru asked. "…An accomplice, then?"

"I suppose," she shrugged. "Unfortunately, I never caught his name. I paid him the money—13,150 rupees—and it was delivered to me anonymously."

"Thirteen grand…" Link whispered, taken aback slightly. "That's quite the sum of money."

"Then again," Ganondorf added. "She paid him to make poison. And by the description of it, Ms. Tarin got quite the deal."

"…And this poison…" Rauru started.

"It's called atroquinine," she told him. "It's one of the deadliest out there."

There we go!

"Objection!" Link cried out. "Ms. Tarin! Please tell me what's gotten into you today!"

Her brow knit tightly. "…I-I don't understand…"

"Neither do I," the blonde shook his head. "I don't understand why you've been lying since you stepped into this courtroom!"

"Mr. Avalon!" Rauru turned to him. "What are you talking about?"

"Recall what Detective Bellum told us yesterday before his testimony," Link spoke. "Raven Ambi died from a poison overdosage… Potassium cyanide!"

Marin froze, the breath hitching in her throat and her eyes widening. "A-ah!"

"It's even stated in the autopsy!" Link declared. "Where did this 'atroquinine' business come from!?"

The audience mumbled amongst themselves, suspiciously eyeing Marin as her muscles tensed, her fingernails digging into the wooden lectern's sides.

"One would think that the killer herself would know the name of the poison used for the crime," Link smirked. "Especially if she approached the maker of it herself… But she doesn't even know that!" He slammed his hands against the desk. "Why!?"

Rauru slammed his gavel against the sound block. "Ms. Tarin, Mr. Avalon's assertions aren't without merit. Please explain yourself!"

Marin struggled for something to say to back herself up, but she continuously came up short every time she tried. There was nothing she could say. She was out of excuses… not that she had any to begin with. Her mouth opened to speak, but before the words could come out, Link cut her off.

"…Ms. Tarin."

She turned to him. The intensity in his eyes startled her. The seriousness in his expression scared her. The stern tone in his voice made her feel guilty.

"This case brought back so many memories for me," he said. "Everything about it… It made me feel like I was six years in my past. The crime, the evidence, the testimonies, but most of all… You."

She took a deep breath, trembling slightly as she did so.

"You told me repeatedly that you weren't related to her, but now I can't believe that… I can't believe anything you say anymore." He frowned sadly. "Tarin… isn't your last name, huh?"

She was about to speak, but Link already predicted her denial.

"Don't lie to me." He said sharply. "Again."

"Avalon," Ganondorf spoke. "What are you saying here?"

"Zelda Harkinian had a sister," Link told him.

"Zelda… Harkinian?" Rauru furrowed his brow at the mention Zelda's name. He rubbed his chin slowly. "…I remember my brother telling me something about a woman who went by that name…"

"Zelda Harkinian was involved in a crime six years ago… just like this one," the defense attorney told the judge. "Her boyfriend was poisoned to death… She was the one everyone was saying killed him… And I was her defense attorney. Just before her trial ended, she was mysteriously found dead…" He stole a glance at Ganondorf, who didn't say anything.

"I don't know how these two crimes are identical," Link chuckled bitterly, "But I do know how they're related."

"…Well?" Ganondorf shrugged. "How?"

Link picked up Marin's high school profile and held it up so that she could see. When her eyes made contact with it, her eyes widened in shock as she stared right at her own picture.

"You're Zelda Harkinian's sister," Link told her. "Marin Harkinian."

13,150 rupees is equivalent to 125 dollars. Atroquinine poison is a reference to case four in Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, which plays a very important part in that case.

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