Everyone, congratulate me! I'm FINISHED! With a multichapter story! AMAZING! You can all go "Ohhh" and "Ahhh" right now. Except... if you remember, I'm NOT finished! I'm still writing up your Easter Egg of happy treats and fluffy chicks! (alright, it has fluffy REINDEERS in it instead, but who cares, really?) This is the end of Phoenix's first trial as a MangaLandian attorney, so give him a cheer! Here we are at the end. Everyone who has read so far, thanks so much! Everyone who has beta'd, from the beginning to the end, You have my sincerest thanks. Now, just wait until I finish the extra, and then I'll go back over the whole thing and find lots of mistakes I should add to and then it'll be even better! Once again, thank you!

So, without further ado:

READ ON!

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Phoenix Wright: MangaLandian Attorney
Case File 1; Turnabout Pirates
Day 6: Trial; Latter

January 22, 12:00
Fangirl Order Headquarters
Courtroom No. 3

The audience was still talking amongst themselves as Luffy and I reentered the courtroom. All eyes were on us, from the shining eyes of Chopper to the glaring slits that were Tashigi's eyes. I smiled sheepishly, and snapped to attention before the Judge, "Thanks, Your Honor. I brought him back just as you asked."

"Well then, let's hurry up and finish this," The Judge replied, slamming her gavel down, "Court is back in session for the trial of Mr. Monkey D. Luffy. Now then, what is the next order of business?"

"The defense asks the witness to continue his story," I said, making Tashigi raise her eyebrow, "He told me that there is one part left unsaid about his testimony that he had forgotten."

"OBJECTION!" Tashigi shouted, "The prosecution refuses to accept Luffy's testimony from here on out! The witness was obviously prepped by his PIRATE attorney during the recess!"

There was murmuring among the audience, and I felt rather sick when I heard such whisperings as, "A pirate attorney? Isn't defending an outlaw the opposite of what a lawyer should do, anyway?"

"Why has he helping Luffy all this time, anyway? Surely he can't believe a PIRATE to be innocent of a crime…?"

"What if he really is in cahoots with the defendant? Does he really deserve that badge? Shouldn't that crappy little piece of iron-with-flaking-gold-plate be ripped from his collar?"

"I wouldn't mind doing it myself… Spiky hair is SO not fashionable anymore. Now he just looks like a Cloud wannabe." I had to keep from reeling. So here it happened… Tashigi was shouting an objection and pointing out my loyalty towards the Straw Hat Pirates, and already the Fangirls were questioning my ability to continue this trial. Heck, even I was questioning my ability to defend Luffy now. My poor ego was being stamped out as they spoke…

"OBJECTION!" Luffy shouted from his seat, and I turned to him with a weak smile. Luffy was such a great captain… sticking up for his Nakama…

"Defendant, I suggest you shut your trap…" The Judge warned.

"Not until I tell you the truth!" Luffy replied defiantly. He pointed directly at the prosecution, who was beginning to sweat, "Before Tashigi starts telling everyone that Nick is bad, I should say that she was telling ME to turn myself in! In fact, she was trying to scare me into admitting guilt that I don't have!"

"You aren't feeling guilty of murdering someone?" The Judge asked incredulously. I gave a sigh and elaborated.

"Your Honor, Tashigi told Luffy to claim that he was guilty, even though he's not!" I pointed at Tashigi, who hissed under her breath, "She is guilty of FORGING evidence by forcing a witness to speak lies!"

"How dare you!" Tashigi screamed as the malicious whisperings from the audience were then aimed towards her, "You… you… PIRATE!"

"Whether I am a pirate or not," I said, slamming my hands down on the desk, "I am a DEFENSE ATTORNEY, intent on getting the clients I trust declared innocent!" My smile was returning. The audience was clapping softly for me, even as the Judge attempted to quell the people by slamming her gavel down.

"Order! Order!" The Judge shouted at the audience, "Tashigi, your objection is overruled. Defendant. Take the stand."

Luffy walked up to the podium, his smile much brighter. I wouldn't be surprised if it was blinding a few of the Fangirls dressed in black up there in the audience. They seemed to be hissing at it as if it was burning them, "Alright, then, defendant. Please tell the court about these gloves."

I smiled a bit as Luffy nodded, "With pleasure, Your Honor!"

"Well, you see… we were in the alleyway around noon … We had the rubber gloves with us…

"But then the sun started to go down."

He smiled sheepishly, "I had to run back to the ship, or else the others would get mad.

He then smiled happily, "So after waving to Imra, I gave her the gloves, and rushed off to the port."

The captain nodded, "That's what REALLY happened!"

The Judge blinked, "But… the end is completely different from your previous testimony! What are you saying now?"

Luffy chuckled, "Nick told me that I may be arrested for perjury, but I can't lie anymore, not when Tashigi told me I HAD to say it otherwise she'd hurt Nick!" There was murmuring among the audience directed towards Tashigi, and I winked at Luffy. Things were going our way, finally.

The Judge slammed her gavel down, "Prosecutor! Is this true?" Tashigi did not speak, and the Judge shook her head, "I… I see… so after all this time…? Monkey D. Luffy… are you retracting your first testimony? If you do… you will be charged with perjury."

Luffy nodded, "I am… perjury can't be as bad as murder!"

Suddenly there was a surge from the audience, "No!" Fangirls and boys of all kinds shouted, "It's not Luffy's fault! He was protecting his Nakama! Perjury is out of the question!"

"Your Honor," I said, "I think the audience believes that Luffy doesn't deserve the sentence. After all, if anyone is at fault, it is the prosecution for attempting to force my client to lie!" The audience was on my side, and they verbally told the judge so. I had never seen Tashigi so scared. She looked like she was about to drop under her desk in fear of the roaring Fangirls, as if she were afraid they'd riot in her direction. Maybe I went a little overboard… after all; she was just doing her job… even if she did do so in such a way… Would it be called "vile" if she was doing it because she believed it was right…?

"Order! Order! If this keeps up, I'll have to suspend the trial for the day!" The Judge said as she slammed her gavel down, "Settle down, now!" I suddenly heard the screaming of Fangirls and Fanboys as Sanji and Zoro prepared to beat the snot out of the shouting women. No way were these people going to get them to have to sit through ANOTHER day of trials!

"That's right!" Zoro shouted as Sanji slammed his foot into a Fanboy's face (As he refused to hurt a woman, after all), "And you'd better STAY seated!" The Judge blinked at the help she had gotten, but didn't mention it anymore.

"Alright, then…" The Judge looked in deep thought as the audience finally died down (and Tashigi and I started poking our heads worriedly out from behind our desks), "After… much deliberation… this court finds that Luffy's first testimony must not be used. It has been stricken from the record… the question that now remains is such: is the defendant guilty of perjury. I must say… that he is not…" I let out an unconscious sigh of relief, even as Tashigi ground her teeth, "Does the defense wish to cross examine the witness?"

"No…" I thought with a little deliberation on my part, "But his testimony must stand in the record. I do believe it is needed when the next witness is brought forward." Luffy hopped from the podium and went back to the defendant's chair, "The prosecution may continue…"

"I… am still, thinking…" Tashigi murmured, "If… I want… I don't have to bring Sakura Tenshi forward, you know. I have not found enough evidence to believe that her testimony will assist this case in any way." I grunted softly when she smiled just a bit, "After all, being the prosecution, I don't have to bring her into this trial unless you're planning on defending her. Well, Mr. Wright?" I hissed under my breath. Tashigi was really getting on my nerves…

"I object!" I said, "We have already asserted that Sakura was wounded that same day, and her blood was on the murder weapon!" Finally! Another dramatic finger point! "I emphatically request that she be subpoenaed and brought before this court to testify about this matter!"

The Judge nodded, "I agree. We will bring the Mary Sue out. She will testify before this court. Bailiff! Bring her out here at this moment!"

Tashigi closed her eyes as the bailiff rushed out to collect Sakura, "So… it has come to this…" She murmured, shaking her head softly, "Perhaps… it is time… Captain Smoker… I'm sorry…" She looked up at me, "I… guess if this is what will happen… then I am powerless to stop it."

"Tashigi," I replied to the woman across from me, "You fought well… but now…" I stopped. The two of us, bound as attorneys, understood what needed to happen, "Pirate or Marine, it is our job to find the truth." Tashigi did not reply, but her crestfallen face told me that she understood the truth of my words.

"I…" The prosecutor sighed, "I just…" Tashigi did not say another word, for that moment, Sakura burst into the room. She was wearing her normal outfit… but she had added a rather large cloak, which made her look slightly more regal, but didn't define her curves that much. Her eyes flared up as she practically slammed into the podium with her body, her anger adding to the force of the assault. I felt sorry for the poor thing, after being shined up by Thera a few days ago, too!

"So," The Mary Sue hissed, "You brought me up here again. How many times do I have to tell you? I saw Zoro-kun pick up that damned Katana! That's all I saw!"

"I don't even have to cross-examine that to know you're lying, Sakura Tenshi!" I shouted, pointing dramatically at her. Now that she was before me again, this was no time to get weak knees, I had her in my grasp! The trap was set. She was mine, "TAKE THAT! This photo shows someone who looks suspiciously like the defendant!"

"And you dragged me all the way over here for THAT?" The Mary Sue growled, "Perhaps you should get your brain checked, you little…"

"I said it looked 'suspiciously' like the defendant," I elaborated, tapping the photo with a grin on my face, "In truth, I know it to be someone much different than the captain!" I pointed at the gash upon the person in the photo, "This shows that it can't be Luffy. He was not hurt at all that day. Someone else was in this photo, and I say, Sakura Tenshi, that it was YOU!"

"You fool," Sakura said, "You can't say that. You simply can't just SAY that it was me. You say I was hurt while killing that woman? I say I was hurt apprehending the innocent Zoro-kun. Unless you can show these courts some evidence that supports your moronic claim, then I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave and go back to my filthy cell, do you hear me, you little…"

This was it. I knew exactly what to do, but feeling it all come down to the wire made me feel a lot more pressure than ever before during this trial. As she shouted obscene names at me (mostly involving what I could do with my spiky hair, which made some of the more innocent members of the audience blush bright red), I pulled out the item that would convict her, the decisive evidence that proved Sakura's guilt! "I'd prefer if you wash your tongue after this, Witness," I replied, "Of course, I have evidence. No lawyer worth his salt would ever make a claim without it! Here it is: the evidence that proves you were the one in that photo!" The entire audience stared at the black rat I held in my hand (I mean, wig, yeah), "I found this in your room, along with a red monkey vest and frayed pants!"

There was silence through the entire courtroom as this information sunk into the peoples' minds, "Uh…" The Judge said in my direction, "All you did was prove that the witness is a cross dresser…"

("Your Honor, get a clue!" I cried to myself, "Besides, females and males can wear stuff like that without prejudice, anyway!") "Your Honor, what do you think I would resemble if I were to apply this wig?"

"Uh…" The Judge seemed to be thinking hard about this, which made me sigh unhappily, "Would you mind putting it on? So I can see?"

"No way!" I cried, sweating, "It'd ruin my hair style! I spend a lot of time to get my hair this spiky!"

"It's as black a charcoal, and looks like a rat nested in it…" Tashigi pointed out (quite literally, as she was pointing with an air of disgust at the wig), "If the defense, or me, for that matter, were to wear it, no doubt we'd resemble the defendant in some way."

"Your Honor!" I slammed my hands on the desk, "You must understand from here that Sakura Tenshi dressed up with the desire to frame Luffy for the murder! In other words, this murder was PLANNED!"

Sakura glared daggers at me, "You actually believe you can beat me? You are a mere human, a MangaLandian Earthling. You have no powers, no abilities. You think you can defeat perfection with nothing but your mind? If you continue this…" She licked her lips like a cat who had found a delectable mouse, "I will bury you…" Now was not the time to show weakness. My knees shook even as I met her gaze and returned it.

"You say I killed Imra Bid, with the desire to frame Luffy?" She hissed, drumming her fingers on the podium with a glare, "Why? Why would I do it? You haven't given a motive. If you can't tell everyone else WHY I wanted to…" She smirked a smile so evil it made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end, "Then you have no case…"

"Mr. Wright, if you didn't even bring this into account…" Tashigi said, adjusting her glasses, "Then… I will have to berate myself for believing in a moron…"

"Come on!" I cried, sweating all over, "Doesn't anyone give me credit anymore?" I pulled out the file, and stared it over, "I'll have to thank Luffy's… my… our navigator again for collecting this. This… is my FINAL, decisive evidence! TAKE THAT!"

"It's… a file…" The Judge blinked at the file as she read off the title, "A club… for ZoroxLuffy supporters?"

"You may look at the two circled names, Your Honor. Do they seem familiar?" I asked. The Judge looked at one name, the one that Nami circled, and the other, that I had hastily circled with my pen.

"DigitalDreamer, and Imra Bid…" The Judge blinked at the names, "Are they related in any way?"

"Indeed not," Tashigi replied, "They have never met before, if I'm right. So then, Mr. Wright, what does this have to do with anything?"

"It has everything to do with this case. This one file has cracked the case wide open. You just… have to think… outside of the box to see it." Tashigi's eyebrow rose at this information, and I smiled, "Sakura… killed the victim because in her mind, she thought of the Fangirl as a replacement for her creator, DigitalDreamer."

Sakura hadn't spoken at all during this time. Indeed, she didn't seem like she was in the mood to speak. She was sweating all over, shivering from the cold sweat as it dribbled down her face, "Let me start from the beginning," I continued, so everyone would be on the same page as me, "all the way to Sakura's creation. DigitalDreamer, this… Fangirl, created Sakura Tenshi as a parody, not even giving her a goal, a purpose in life. She just made the Mary Sue to love Zoro. However, Sakura was immediately abandoned by her creator. DigitalDreamer never wanted Sakura to love Zoro… she wanted Luffy to love the swordsman instead."

I pointed towards the softly moaning Mary Sue dramatically, "You HATED DigitalDreamer for this reason, Sakura! In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the reason you were exiled across the worlds was because of an assassination attempt. Am I right, Sakura?"

"Stop… Stop…" Sakura moaned, digging her fingers into the podium, "I… you can't continue this… Stoooooop…"

"And then… the victim appeared. Not only was she stalking the swordsman you believed should be in love with you, but she wanted the same thing DigitalDreamer wanted. She wanted Zoro and Luffy to fall in love with each other… Blinded by rage, you could not see a difference between the victim or DigitalDreamer! You wanted her dead, in any way…"

"You dressed as Luffy, and attacked the victim in an alleyway. She fought back, slamming the cardboard box of gloves at you. You grabbed it and the box ripped, sending gloves everywhere! Applying one of the gloves, you reached for the katana, but she was quicker. She drew the blade and drew some of your blood."

"Lies…! You're lying!" Sakura screamed grabbing her ears and shaking her head, in an attempt to shut out my voice, "Shutupshutupshutup!"

"You overpowered the victim and wrenched the sword from her hands and drove it into her heart!" I shouted, slamming my hands down on the desk, the camera panning to close up on my face., "You killed Imra Bid, only because you wished, so hard in your mind, that she instead was the woman who created you, DigitalDreamer, instead!"

"KYAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURG!" Everyone jumped when Sakura slammed her head into the podium with such force that it shook, but it didn't stop there. She slammed her head into the podium again and again and again. When she finally pulled her head back, there was a bit of blood trickling down from the place she had hit her head. She was sweating profusely, and her eyes had drawn back so all anyone could see was the whites of her eyes. She was pale all over, and she looked like she was among the undead. With what the Fangirl Order was already planning for Luffy had HE been found guilty, she might as well be a member of the walking dead. Dead before death…

There was silence as everyone stared at the Mary Sue, who had a sliver of drool running down her mouth. No one moved as she twitched, but just as the Judge was about to speak, her eyes veered back to their original position, and I felt a chill run up my spine when the eyes turned to look at me, and her mouth turned upward… she was smiling, "Ha… haha.. hahahahahahahahahahaaaaa! You… you… you almost… did it…" She giggled maniacally, "You almost won… you filthy piece of manure… you… almost won…"

She gave a cackle, lifting her head to the ceiling and cackling aloud, "But you can't prove it! You can't prove why! WHY?"

"Why WHAT?" I shouted, blinking. Through her actions, she pretty much accepted that everything I said was true. NOW what was I supposed to prove?

She looked back at me, her wild smile still plastered on her face, "Why I would frame that piece of crap…" Sakura said, beginning to regain her composure. No matter how beautiful she looked now… I would always remember the way she looked that time, and shudder… "I hate DigitalDreamer, remember? Shouldn't I be framing her instead? Why would I ever want to frame him? You can't prove that, can you?"

I placed my hands on my hips, "Actually, I…" Silence. My mind was a complete blank. I gave a hoarse cry and began to sweat, "Actually… I can't think of a thing!"

"You lose, you monster… you filthy lawyer, and I win…" Sakura laughed aloud, "and that stupid moronic un-hot crappy excuse for a captain will forever be known as the first One Piecian pirate who killed a member of the Fangirl Order! I WIN!"

I gave a cry, and slammed my hands on my desk in frustration, ("Damn it!" I cried to myself, "I was so close! SO CLOSE! Mia… Mia… what would you do? If… if only… I had Maya here to call her spirit…")

"OBJECTION!" Tashigi shouted, and everyone turned to the prosecutor, who was pointing at Sakura with a glare, "It is you who lose, Sakura… Mr. Wright, I can't believe you're that stupid…" She shook her head, and crossed her arms, a smile appearing on her face, "I thought you said you had to think outside of the box!"

I blinked at the prosecutor. She looked… different, somehow… "Think… outside of… the box…?"

"Don't think 'why did she frame the defendant…'" Tashigi said, and suddenly, I felt my former boss', by good friend Mia's, presence upon the woman, "You have to think, 'why she would WANT to frame the defendant!'"

"Who do you think you ARE?" Sakura screeched at Tashigi, even whose smile reminded me of the deceased Mia, "You're the PROSECUTOR, you're supposed to get HIM," She pointed across the way, at Luffy, "Executed!"

"You're wrong, Sakura…" Tashigi murmured, even as I smiled with relief. She slammed her hand down on her desk, and the camera panned to close up on her face, "Marine or Pirate… it's an attorney's job to discover the truth!" Who would have thought that I would see the presence of Mia in the body of the prosecution! I had to take this chance and run with it. I had an idea now… but without Maya there to stop me if I screwed up… I could ruin the chance that Mia and Tashigi gave me! Everything came down to this; I'd better not screw it up!

I slammed my hands down on the desk, "Your Honor, the defense knows why Sakura Tenshi framed Monkey D. Luffy when she killed Imra Bid!"

"Oh?" The Judge seemed to be waking up around now, "Am I able to speak now? Oh, no, I see not, oh well, carry on, carry on." I began to sweat. Poor Judge, she was so totally out of the case right now… must be sad to not be able to do anything during the trial you were presiding over!

"Sakura, you framed the defendant because of one simple thing," She looked away, sweat once again beading over her forehead, "You had competition…"

"COMPETITION?" Sakura screeched. The audience murmured and she continued even as the Judge happily slammed her gavel down to shut them up (hey, at least it was SOMETHING she could do), "You can't say that! How do you compete for love between two people who aren't in love? It doesn't make any sense!"

I pointed at Sakura dramatically, "Oh, but to you, it does! Think back," I tapped the file of ZoroxLuffy supporters, "DigitalDreamer loves the fanpairing, you see, so when she created you, it was ingrained into your brain that if Zoro was going to get together with anyone, it would be with his captain. Luffy was your one and only competition, so you had to get rid of him somehow. It was simple… you were going to frame him, and…" I shuddered, remembering that case so long ago ("Chii-chan…"), "Kill him with the law."

I continued, even as Sakura writhed on the stand, "You dressed up as Luffy, hoping that he would be found guilty, that he would be executed. Then, to you, it'd be simple to worm your way into the ranks of the Straw Hat Pirates. It'd be easy for you to get Zoro to fall in love with you."

"I… never…" She hissed, "worm… my way… anywhere…"

"But you see, even if your plan DID work," I said, putting my hands on my hips, a smile on my face, "You'd be forgetting 'Fanpairing 101'." I smiled a bit from Cody's teachings a year ago. Who would have thought that it'd come in handy someday? "As long as someone THINKS they could be together, there will be a fanpairing. Not only would you have Luffy as competition, but you'd have Nami, Robin, even Sanji as competition!" (I realized later that Sanji should have been FIRST on the list, but I got my message across either way…) I slammed my hands on my desk, and the camera panned to close up on my face, "You lose, Sakura Tenshi! For killing the victim, Imra Bid!"

"No… no… NOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAARRRRRFUUUUU!" Sakura grabbed at her head, clutching her ears so hard that blood began to run down her hands, and she dropped down so she could curl into a ball. She continued her guttural growl, and I began to sweat when she changed her tune. The fetal ball that was once Sakura began to heave: not with sobs, but with laughter, "Fuuuuuuuuufufufufufufufu…" She giggled, "Fuuuuuuuuufufufufufufufu…" The Mary Sue's beautiful hand reached up to grab at the podium, and she dragged herself up so everyone could see her. Her wild eyes were large and her smile was crooked and sinister, "Hahahaha… It… seems… I lost…"

"Give it up, Sakura Tenshi…" I said, closing my eyes, "It's enough. You lost…"

"Oh… I gave THAT up a little while ago," She said, giggling maniacally, "But… you see, you stupid lawyer…" She gave me a smile that made me take a step back and Luffy leap up. She unpinned the cloak and threw it aside, making everyone gasp at what was attached to her hip, "You lose TOO!"

"A Katana!" The Judge shouted, "Bailiff, didn't you search her?"

"Doesn't matter now!" Sakura cackled with delight as she grabbed at the hilt of the sword, "You and your precious 'Truth Detective'-ness… You're DEAD either way!"

"Nick, watch out!" Luffy shouted, preparing to do battle with the Mary Sue. I blinked at the captain and thought fast. Not even Zoro, with his swords, could beat Sakura! Luffy never could have… I grabbed at the young man's wrist and dragged him back, behind me.

"No…" I whispered behind me, even as the captain blinked at me with wide eyes, as if to say "why?" "You… you're just as susceptible to swords as I am… How can the Straw Hat Pirates be pirates without you as their captain…?"

Luffy's eyes widened as much as they could, and I turned to see Sakura leap up on her podium. I closed my eyes, my hand still wrapped around Luffy's thin wrist. I wouldn't let him go… I wouldn't let him die for me… I thought about how I would have to show the others that I wasn't useless… I could protect those who I cared for…

"Maya…" I whispered, remembering my young partner, and the times we had together… The time we fought over the presents at Christmas, another time when I yelled at her for eating the steak I was saving in the freezer for a special occasion… the time she was able to force the wig that Jack Hammer once wore in the movie "Samura Boogie Woogie" on my head… and the time she had gone home… to continue her training… to be a full fledged Spirit Medium… I waited for her all this time to return… and now I would never see her again… ("Maya… I'm sorry," I said my regrets; I engraved them on my heart as I felt the last few seconds of my life ticking away, "I wanted to see you grow up… I wanted to see you summon spirits like your mother… I wanted to see you summon Mia again… I wanted to be there for you when you completed your training! Maya…") I could feel the whoosh of air as Sakura leapt off the podium, rocketing towards me. I heard Luffy scream my name. I shut my eyes tight; I didn't even notice the tear that was running down my cheek, "Maya… please, FORGIVE ME!"

KLANG! There was a sound… so unfamiliar to my ears… It was the sound of steel… on steel… I looked up, and I smiled weakly when I saw Tashigi, standing on my desk, holding Sakura back with her own Katana. A… a swordswoman to the very end… "You… moron…" She flashed a light smile, "You… really… need to learn how to fend for yourself… here in MangaLand…"

"Shut UP!" The Mary Sue screamed. Her power was too much for Tashigi, and she slammed the Marine away. Tashigi fell from the desk, but Luffy and I were able to catch her. She smiled at me, as if to say "thanks", but when she got a look at her OTHER rescuer, she pulled herself away with a grunt. Sakura Tenshi held her Katana high, and she laughed aloud, "You foolish morons! You're DEAAAAAAURG!" She gave a scream when the Fangirls in the audience leapt on her, practically smothering the Mary Sue. They didn't have the time to stop her first attack… but now that Tashigi halted that one, they had the time to tie her up. The Judge was slamming her gavel down, but only because she was shouting to the other Fangirls to drag her away.

I looked to the side, and saw as the other members of the Straw Hat Pirates dropped down to meet with Luffy. Tashigi looked at all the pirates, and, in a huff, hopped back over my desk to walk back to her side. It was hard, being friends with both a Marine and Pirates… I turned back to the others, and smiled at them… and Sanji gave me a sound whack to the head, "You MORON! You nearly got yourself killed!"

"Do you know what Luffy would do if you died?" Usopp shouted.

"Yeah! Luffy would do if you died!" Chopper repeated with a glare. I was berated quite harshly by everyone (aside from Robin), and it made me wish I had gone with Tashigi… Oh yeah, don't thank me for stopping Luffy from getting himself killed!

"Ahhh, I hope I'm not interrupting anything…" The Straw Hat Pirates (including me, of course), looked up to see a lone Fangirl, the one woman who was not assisting the mob. She smiled at me, and I felt something… strange… when I looked at her, like this woman… was the one that started this whole mess, "I just… came to say… congratulations…"

I smiled a bit at her, and she looked like she was in deep thought, "You know… my friend was right about you…" I blinked, and she turned to follow the mob of women, "You certainly are something else… anyway, if you'll excuse me, I've gotta go find a suitable punishment for Sakura. No way does she kill a Nakama of mine and gets away with it." I chuckled a bit as she walked from the room, and I let out a small sigh when I realized… it was all over…

"Monkey D. Luffy, please," The Judge motioned towards the podium, "Take the stand." Luffy nodded, and his crew parted to let him take the stand that had been attacked so hard when Sakura stood there, and the Judge looked down at the pirate, and the captain looked up at the Judge. She smiled happily, and nodded, "You were innocent from the start. I have to hand it to Mr. Wright… he's a great defense attorney…" I blushed a bit. I wasn't THAT good, was I? "I never would have expected him to pull something like this out… it… was almost… miraculous… I'd say… thanks to him are in order, I believe."

"I know!" Luffy said, his smile brightening his face.

"Well then, I guess this is it. This court finds the defendant, Monkey D. Luffy…

"Not Guilty!" The gavel was brought down, and the Straw Hat Pirates rushed to Luffy's side, with congratulatory cheers, and I smiled at the young captain as he laughed with his friends. There was one last person in the audience, Gumshoe, who was clapping and cheering along with the pirates, and I looked across the way, to see Tashigi, packing up her supplies. I sighed a bit. She helped me get the real killer caught, and now she was to return to her boss empty handed… I slipped away from the cheering crowd, following after Tashigi right when the Judge nodded, "That is all; court is adjourned."

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January 22, 4:21
Fangirl Order Headquarters
Defendant Lobby No. 2

"Tashigi!" I called, "Wait!" The prosecutor… no… the Marine, turned when I finally caught up to her, and she smiled at me as I propped myself on my knees and started wheezing, "D… don't go yet…"

"You'd never make it on the sea, Mr. Wright," Tashigi said, chuckling at my position, "You definitely don't have the stamina for it…"

"I'm sorry." She stopped when I interrupted, and I regained my composure, looking her straight in the eye, "I'm sorry we were on opposite sides during court. You know… when I first fought you in there, on the first day, you reminded me of myself, actually, when I first started my defending people." Tashigi blinked at me, and I continued, "But now, today, I saw that it wasn't me that you were like… you were like… my old boss, Mia…"

"What does this have to do with anything?" Tashigi muttered, looking away, "why are you sorry?"

"I saw your justice… your idea of it… It reminded me of Mia as well… If I could…" I nodded a bit, "I would probably have joined the Marines…" She looked surprised at this statement, and suddenly, she smiled.

"I think you're a little too late for that, Mr. Wright. The next time Captain Smoker and I catch up to you and Monkey D. Luffy, you're going to be caught and executed as a pirate," Tashigi smiled, and I returned it, "So…" She extended her hand to shake mine, "Friends today…"

I took her hand in mine, "Enemies tomorrow."

"Niiiiiiick!" I released Tashigi's hand and turned around when I heard Luffy calling for me. The others were probably searching for me as we spoke. I turned back to tell her "goodbye"… but she was already gone. I sighed a bit, wishing I could have given her a proper goodbye, but I was, like usual, too slow. My thoughts were interrupted when Luffy crashed into me, making me cry out and fall to the floor. The other Straw Hat Pirates chuckled as I grumbled at my captain, "Nick! You did it! You're the greatest attorney in all of MangaLand!"

"I've gotta say, Phoenix…" Nami said, chuckling, "You are a great MangaLandian attorney…" I blinked a bit at what she said. MangaLandian attorney… so that's what I was…

"I say we celebrate Luffy's freedom!" Sanji offered, "We'll have a party before we leave the island!" The rest of the group cheered, and I smiled a bit, although in reality I was feeling downcast. After everything was said and done… I was going to have to leave… sooner than I really wanted to… As the crew talked amongst themselves, I suddenly heard the door open and someone rushed in, arms extended, "You did it, Pal!" Came the jolly shout.

"Gumshoe!" I said, smiling as I picked myself up off the floor, "Yeah, but… in reality… I wasn't sure I was going to pull through a lot of those times."

"I know, I was on the edge of my seat!" Nami said. Zoro grunted. He must have been worried about Luffy. If I hadn't got the captain free, I probably would have been skewered by his first mate!

"Hurray, Nick!" Chopper cried, throwing his arms in the air, "We'll celebrate tonight!"

"You aren't getting ready to leave…?" Gumshoe asked. Everyone turned towards him, and the detective looked at me, "You know… I'm leaving tomorrow. I got off a few days on request of the Fangirl Order, but I was away two days longer than I should… I guess I can kiss another raise goodbye this month." I sighed on account of the poor detective, and he smiled again, "Oh well! We're heading home now, right, Wright? Let's head back home!"

"Nick! You aren't leaving NOW, are you?" Luffy pleaded, "Can't… you stay with us just a little bit longer…?" I was torn… should I go home where Gumshoe and Maya both were…? Or stay with my crew…? Really, why stay with the Straw Hat Pirates? They wouldn't need a useless MangaLandian Earthling like me, anyway… I suddenly blinked, and I touched my mouth. Maya… had said that she was useless before she left to continue her Spirit Medium training… and I had gotten her to take back that statement. I suddenly smiled, and shook my head.

"Of course I'm not leaving… now, at least," I turned to the detective, giving him an apologetic smile, "I… think I should keep my vacation running for just a little bit longer…" Gumshoe blinked at me, even as I looked back at the pirates, "If… of course… they don't mind me tagging along for a little while longer…"

Luffy brightened up, and Chopper sniffled. Nami clapped her hands together and Usopp reached out to grab my hands, "Of COURSE we don't mind, right, everyone?"

Zoro gave a smile and walked off, followed by Robin, and Sanji laughed, "We're fine with it… of course…" Sanji walked off after the others, "You have kitchen duty today, cook's orders."

"W… WAIT!" I cried, releasing Usopp to rush after the cook, "I… I OBJECT! WAIIIIIIT!" The others laughed even as I hurried after Sanji…

…

The End…?

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Remember, everyone! It's NOT the end! Keep watching! The extra will be brought up soon! I'm so excited... See you at the end!

Now that the entire trial is over... if you've read this far... then you must have loved SOMETHING! Review! Hurry! Now!