A/N: The final trial begins with this chapter. Even with all the questions still hanging in the air, they will slowly be answered one by one. This long running narrative is coming to an end. Enjoy, my readers!

June 7th, 2029

12:00 p.m.

District Courthouse, Defendant Lobby #1

"This is the second day of this trial, and I still don't understand so much of what's going on," Juniper said, grasping her hands together. "It's clear that Mrs. Newman has a plan in mind, but I can't imagine what she's hoping to accomplish."

"My knowledge of Mrs. Newman's inner workings are limited, but it seems she is attempting to draw information out of the Chief Prosecutor," Bailey mused. "I can't say what information that is, though."

Bailey's expression grew serious. "Perhaps we should focus on what our Mom told us yesterday: that the 'true killer' and the culprit that stabbed the body are different people."

"Mr. Edgeworth seems to believe that Mrs. Newman is the one that stabbed the body. But presuming that to be true, then who would the 'true killer' be?" Juniper asked, thinking out loud. "And how can a 'true killer' exist in a suicide case?"

"That is the question, isn't it?" Mrs. Newman entered the defendant lobby. "I am hoping the answer to that will be made clear by the end of the trial."

Behind Mrs. Newman was quite a large group: Robin, Hugh, Myriam, and Miles Edgeworth. They all looked various levels of apprehensive.

"Before the trial resumes, I thought I would give you an opportunity to talk with the witnesses," Mrs. Newman said. "And gather as much information as possible. I've already asked them everything I want to know."

"What are you hoping to accomplish, Mrs. Newman?" Juniper asked, being direct since the opportunity presented itself.

"I'm not a witness, so I'm not obligated to answer that," Mrs. Newman said, smirking. "I may consider giving an answer if you entertain a question from me."

If it means learning more about Mrs. Newman's motives, I think I can answer a question. Juniper nodded her head.

"Why are you standing at the defense's bench right now, Junie?" Mrs. Newman asked, looking Juniper right in the eyes.

That's not the kind of question I was expecting! Juniper closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. I'm here to defend Bailey. But something tells me that's not the answer Mrs. Newman is looking for. Yesterday, I was given the chance to step down as the defense. Why didn't I take it?

Juniper opened her eyes again, only to see that Mrs. Newman had left. "Why did she ask me a question then not stick around to hear the answer?"

"I think she wants to hear the answer when court begins," Robin speculated. "Because that's when you'll physically be back at the defense's bench."

"You should not waste your time on Mrs. Newman's mind games," Mr. Edgeworth said. "I will not stick around for long, for I have my own measures to take. However, I would like to remind you of something crucial: you are the defense. Your role is to advocate for the defendant, and nothing more."

"Yes, that is what a defense attorney does," Hugh said dryly. "But why are you saying something so obvious?"

"Because there are times when it's necessary to return to the basics," Edgeworth said, adjusting his glasses. "Mrs. Newman will likely try to manipulate you in the coming trial. Stay true to your purpose, Miss Woods."

Mr. Edgeworth left the defendant lobby, after which Myriam approached Juniper. "I thought he would never leave! I have important information for you, sss sss sss!"

At this point, Juniper noticed a strange smell in the air. "Does it have to do with this mysterious odor?"

"It has everything to do with it, so you better appreciate what I had to do!" Myriam began her story: "Yesterday, I decided to dig around the trash room of the Smokes Manor, to see if anything was missed during the investigation. I heard someone coming, so I hid in one of my boxes."

Being in a room filled with garbage definitely explained the smell that clung to Myriam. Juniper kept listening to her friend.

"Detective Skye and the Chief Prosecutor entered the trash room. The detective rummaged around as well, and found something that she gave to Edgeworth," Myriam continued. "Makes me wish I had found it before! I should have an eye for this, as a journalist!"

"No use crying over spilt milk," Hugh said. "Did you at least get a look at whatever Detective Skye gave to Edgeworth?"

"I only saw it for a second, but it was something rather flat," Myriam said. "Slightly bigger than Detective Skye's hand. Shortly after Edgeworth took the item, Mrs. Newman showed up to subpoena him and the detective."

Mysterious Exchange added to the Court Record

"Well, this meeting will probably come up during the trial itself," Juniper said, mulling over what Myriam told everyone. "Still, knowing about this ahead of time could be a big help. Thank you very much, Myriam."

"You better treat me to something nice when this trial is over, Kahk Kahk! I've taken three showers since yesterday and I still can't get the smell off!" Myriam yelled.

"Okay, we have limited time before the trial resumes, so we need to decide our strategy," Robin said urgently. "The first thing that will happen is that my mother will respond to the accusation that she stabbed the body!"

"The first objective would be to crack her alibi," Juniper said, running her fingers through her own hair. "But I can't imagine that she'll make that easy."

At that moment, Juniper's phone rang. Juniper checked it to see that it was Athena, then answered it. "Has the trial started again, Junie?"

"The recess is going to end in a few minutes. What do you need, Thena?" Juniper asked.

"Me and Sheila have been doing further investigation at the Smokes Manor," Athena explained. "And I think we can get you a helpful clue. You just need to hold out until we get there!"

"What kind of clue are you searching for? Knowing that may help us," Hugh said. "That way, we can lead the trial in that direction."

"It has to do with the blackout that hit the manor. Sheila doesn't think it happened naturally," Athena said. "So she's looking into what caused it. I'm helping her out, so I'm sure we'll find an amazing clue to help Junie!"

"I feel a lot more relieved knowing that you've got my back, Thena," Juniper said, smiling softly. "We'll keep the trial going as long as we can."

After Juniper ended the call, she summed up the conversation to everyone else in the courtroom.

"You are truly blessed to have such a large group of friends," Bailey said, a bittersweet expression on her face. "They must be what has carried you this far in life."

"You're right, Bailey. I'm lucky to have so many wonderful people supporting me." Juniper put her hand on Bailey's shoulder. "But they are your friends too. After you get acquitted, you don't have to keep your distance anymore."

Bailey put her hand on Juniper's hand. "I believed that my role was to stay in the shadows. Yet, being indicted in this case has pulled me from those shadows, and into the warm embrace of this group. Strange how the whims of fate hide a blessing within the darkness."

"The whims of fate have nothing to do with it! We all stick with each other through thick and thin!" Robin exclaimed, showing off her Proof of Friendship. "That's how we're going to solve this case once and all!"

Hugh touched his bracelet on his neck. "This may be the final stretch of this trial. Let's go into it with a united front."

Juniper grabbed the bracelet on her wrist. "If we're going in with a united front, then it should be with a determined attitude. So… this will be the final stretch of the trial. We will solve this case!"

June 7th, 2029

12:30 p.m.

District Courthouse, Courtroom #4

"Court is back in session for the trial of Bailey Courte," The Judge said. "Before the recess, the prosecution was accused of being the one that stabbed the victim's body. How do you plan to respond to this, Mrs. Newman?"

"As I said before the recess, the best way to approach this accusation is to get a clear picture of everyone's movements." Mrs. Newman slammed her hand on the bench. "So I will now call all the witnesses!"

I'm still not entirely sure what she means by that. But hopefully, it will make solving the case easier.

Several witness stands were brought out, and placed next to each other. Shortly after this, a group of people entered the courtroom: Ema, Klavier, Mr. Newman, Bailey, Edgeworth, Myriam, Hugh, and Robin, who all stood at the makeshift long witness stand.

Edgeworth, in the middle of this group, let out a weary sigh. "Mrs. Newman, what is the meaning of this?"

"You wanted to expedite this trial, right? Then instead of having witnesses give their testimonies one by one, they'll give it all at once," Mrs. Newman said, as if this were self-evident. "Given that the current discussion involves both sides of the manor, this is the most efficient way of doing this."

"I did not think I would ever meet someone with so much contempt for the legal system, but you continue to surprise me," Edgeworth said, massaging his temple with his fingers. "Surely the Judge will not approve of this."

The Judge closed his eyes. "This is unprecedented in the history of this court. However, that makes the idea rather appealing. I am interested in seeing where the prosecutor plans to take this."

Edgeworth's eyes widened in disbelief. "What possible point is there to entertain this charade?"

"I turn to the defense for this matter." The Judge looked over at Juniper. "Do you give your assent to continue this trial with all the witnesses at the stand?"

Up to this point, Mrs. Newman has approached this entire case with a clear plan in mind. This strange request to hear all the witnesses at once must be part of that plan too. Juniper took a deep breath. "The defense does not object to this arrangement."

"I already have a headache," Edgeworth said, his brow furrowing. "And the trial has only begun."

"Since both the prosecution and defense are in agreement, the trial will proceed," The Judge said. "The witnesses will give their testimony."

"To be specific, I want to hear testimony on what everyone was doing the morning of the crime," Mrs. Newman said. "Before the blackout."

Witness Testimony

Before the blackout

"I believe I arrived at the manor first, because I had prior business there," Edgeworth said. "But I was told by Detective Smokes to wait."

"Like I testified during the previous day of trial, I went about my normal business," Bailey said, dusting the stand with a feather duster. "I do not believe I need to retread much more than that."

"I was with Das Chief at the manor, and I decided to speak with Bailey while I was there," Klavier said, snapping his fingers. "We discussed the sealed case file that has been the focal point of this case."

"I arrived at the manor because I planned to meet my friends there later!" Robin exclaimed. "While I was there, I debated with the Chief Prosecutor!"

"It was less of a debate and more of an exercise in talking with a brick wall," Edgeworth said, rubbing his temples. "And about as productive."

"I was there with my wife and daughter," Mr. Newman said. "We were all at the east side of the manor when the power went out."

"Me, Juniper, and Myriam all arrived at the manor at roughly the same time," Hugh said, rubbing his chin. "We first encountered Prosecutor Gavin and Bailey talking with each other."

"After that, we went to go talk with Robin, in the middle of her conversation with Edgeworth," Myriam said, twirling a pen in her hand. "The blackout happened shortly after that!"

"I didn't enter the manor until after the crime happened, so I don't think I have much to add to this testimony," Ema said, pouting. "Not sure why I'm even here."

End Testimony

"I must say, I am beginning to see what the prosecution meant! Having the testimony all laid out like this makes it much faster!" The Judge said, his eyes wide. "I don't understand why we've never done this before!"

"In the course of my studies, I found that several countries used to have multiple witnesses on the stand," Edgeworth said. "These various legal systems eventually phased it out because groups of witnesses would devolve into arguing with each other and stall the trial."

"I certainly will not allow such a thing to happen here," Mrs. Newman said, drumming her fingers against her bench. "Because we need all the witnesses on the stand if we are to get a full picture of everything that happened the day of the crime."

"I should hope that we arrive at that point sooner rather than later." The Judge looked over at Juniper. "The defense can now begin its cross-examination."

"You say that, but I'm not entirely sure where I'm supposed to start," Juniper said, nervously running her fingers through her hair. "There's so much to sift through. What do you think, Robin?"

Juniper looked to her right, only to see that the bench was empty. At the witness stand, Robin waved at her. "Juniper, I have to stay here to give my testimony!"

If Robin has to stay at the witness stand to give testimony, that means… Juniper could feel herself break into a cold sweat.

"That's right, Junie. It's just you and me," Mrs. Newman said, smirking. "A one on one showdown, here at the end. And because this is the end…"

Mrs. Newman smacked the witness stand behind her with her open palm, and an icy aura erupted around her.

"That's… that's just like what Robin can do!" Hugh exclaimed, his eyes wide behind his glasses. "But where Robin is passionate fire, Mrs. Newman is a devastating chill!"

"You have it backwards, Mr. O'Conner. Robin watched me prosecute from the visitor gallery since she was a little," Mrs. Newman said. "She's seen me do this plenty of times, and picked up a few things. This is what happens when I stop holding back."

"If you're giving it everything you have, Mrs. Newman, then I will do the same." Juniper slammed her bench with her palms. "I will acquit Bailey, no matter what!"

"It seems as though the defense and the prosecution have steeled their resolve," The Judge said. "In all my years on the bench, it is only when the defense and the prosecution see eye-to-eye that they manage to uncover the truth of the case."

Wait, is that what's happening right now? I'm seeing eye-to-eye with Mrs. Newman? Juniper looked at Mrs. Newman in the eyes, and saw an intense determination in them. I do understand that Mrs. Newman has something she wants to do at all costs. Even so, if defending Bailey means stopping Mrs. Newman, then that's what I'm going to do!

A/N: The path to the full truth of this case has begun. So I will ask: given the circumstances and the body of evidence, what does everyone think happened? I look forward to the theories as this trial session continues. See you next time! Please review.