Phoenix sat at the oak desk, thumbing through the case file. It had been an hour since he had returned to the hotel with his companion, and he was starting to feel the effects of the meal he had hastily consumed since then. No matter how much he concentrated on a specific section of text, everything would inevitably blur together and he would have to blink it back into focus.

Maya sat on the bed, surrounded by several manila folders. In one hand, she held a set of papers, and in the other, a disposable cup with a straw. "So, was there anything we missed? With the whole Misthallery thing, I mean."

"Not much, I think. I do-" Phoenix made a face as the young woman noisily slurped down the last of her drink. "Ahem. I do wonder how the houses got rebuilt so quickly. If there's any lingering damage to the streets of the town, I imagine Mr. Sycamore would be made to pay for it, in some way. Even if not, there's probably a hefty fine in there somewhere."

"Speaking of payment, do you really think he cheated those institutions?"

"I don't know, Maya. On the one hand, they really didn't tell him he could do all that crazy stuff. On the other, all that crazy stuff is what led to the discovery of those Azran sites. It doesn't look like anyone wants to press charges over it, though, so it might not matter." He leaned back in the chair, his gaze drifting toward the clock on the wall. "Oh, it's almost five thirty. We'd better get going."

"Good evening, Mr. Wright, Ms. Fey," Sycamore said to his visitors through the glass.

Both Phoenix and Maya returned the greeting as they sat down. Phoenix then asked, "By the way, Mr. Sycamore, as Professor Layton been by?"

Sycamore nodded. "He has, but he had to go home for Flora's sake."

"I see..." Seeing the man's somber expression, Phoenix added, "Whatever Flora finds disappointing about the situation, I'm sure she'll come around."

"Thank you, Mr. Wright, but...I'm not as confident. But let us not dwell on that tonight. You wished to discuss the events at Ambrosia?"

"Uh, right. I wanted to know more about what happened during that time. The professor said something about a theater turning into a ship? I wasn't sure I heard him right, but..."

"You did."

"Oh, uh..." Phoenix started to feel hot beneath his suit. Why can't I ever get a normal case for a change? "Well, he also mentioned people being transported to an island. Can you expand on that, and talk about the people you interacted with most during that time?"

"That was..." Sycamore brought a hand to his chin in thought. "That was when I created a contest, a game if you will. The participants were required to attend an opera in a theater building called the Crown Petone. And yes, it was disguised as a ship."

"Going by the case file, a lot of people showed up," Maya said. "What exactly was the prize?"

"On the surface, eternal life. But in truth, it was not that simple." To his visitor's perplexed faces, he added, "Perhaps...it would be better if I started with the preceding months. Shortly after I left Misthallery, I discovered an island where the second Azran site was located. Upon its shores, I found a crest with strange markings, which I analyzed. Imagine my surprise when the markings turned out to be music notes!"

"Really?" asked Maya. "So that's why, with the opera and all..."

Sycamore nodded. "I sought out the opera composer, Oswald Whistler, in the hopes that he could help me decipher the music. It took a bit of coaxing, but he and his ailing daughter Melina joined me on the island. His daughter sang, and it was my desire that she assist us in resurrecting the city of Ambrosia. It would, after all, respond only to the songs in the crest. Sadly... Melina's condition worsened, and it became clear she did not have long to live. Because of this, it fell on me to construct a unique device. Commissioned by Whistler, it was a machine that not only played an orchestra's set of instruments all at once, but could also excavate, and store the memories of the dying woman."

Sounds ridiculous, thought Phoenix. "Is it even possible for one machine to do all that?"

"With my funding, I made sure that it did. Called the Detragan, it was finished just in time to collect Melina's memories. Fortunately, I had convinced him that there was a way to bring his daughter back. It would involve luring a compatible person to the island, and then subjecting them to the machine. The Detragan would transfer the memories into the individual, allowing Melina to live again."

"But she wouldn't really be alive."

"No, she wouldn't," Sycamore replied. "It would only be a temporary state, a fragile, residual effect. Truthfully, one would need to be subjected to the process for as long as that person resisted the lack of control over his or her own mind. But even the Detragan couldn't store the memories forever."

Geez, talk about being a prisoner in your own body...at least for a while. "Then...why did you feed him that story about bringing his daughter back?"

"His daughter...I couldn't bear to-" Sycamore's mask briefly slipped, his brow furrowing. "That is, I just...I needed his cooperation. I needed someone to learn the melody and sing it. It could have been anyone, but perhaps Melina was the best choice. I even called upon Melina's friend, who sang in the opera. Meanwhile, writing that opera was the best distraction for Oswald, but it wasn't enough. We lured several young girls to the island until finding an adequate match in a seven-year-old. Being so young, she was...impressionable. The memories easily took her over, and for a while, Oswald was happy to have 'his daughter' back."

Wow, they weren't kidding about those kidnapping charges, Phoenix thought, dismayed.

"While that was happening, I sent out word of the event. 'Attend the opera and you will have the chance to achieve eternal life,' or something vaguely phrased. It was highly tempting to the terminally ill, the elderly, and the maimed, and they were willing to spend any amount of money. They were unaware of the game itself until they were in those theater seats."

Phoenix grew more uncomfortable. And exploitation...hello, civil suits.

"In case you were wondering, yes, the money funded the contest itself. And...I made it clear to the attendees that participation was mandatory. Layton and Luke attended for the sake of the young woman starring in the opera, so they were unaware of the performance's purpose initially. When the opera ended, that's when the contest began, and the ship broke away from the building. After each round, I ordered my henchmen to escort the losers to the escape pods, to be brought back to land. At one point, the winners were transported to the island of Ambrosia and lured to the castle, where Oswald and Melina once lived, and I carried out my operations. At the end, the winner was brought before the Detragan."

If not for the kidnapping and deception, this contest would actually sound like fun, thought Phoenix. "So where were Professor Layton and Luke during this time?"

"Layton had gone off to do his own investigation, I presumed, while Luke was among the group of finalists. Still, they all ended up where I needed them to be. A schoolgirl named Amelia was named the true winner. She wished only to save her ailing grandfather, but she had no idea her fate was to be abducted and brainwashed, that the only 'eternal life' to be found was in the memories of Melina. Oswald wanted his daughter back, while I needed a person who could sing the melody to the Ambrosia song. Eventually, we learned that Melina's memories were already active in her friend, the woman from the opera. With her help, and...Layton's...the ruins of the city rose from the seas. Even...even Luke had a hand in ensuring this happened."

"That's...incredible," Maya said.

"Yeah." Phoenix suddenly recalled Clark's words from earlier. "Um, by the way, what is this about making an attempt on Luke's life? Did you really try to kill him?"

The mask slipped again, this time for good, as Sycamore appeared genuinely remorseful. "It...wasn't planned, but...yes. I was furious...after combining the two songs, the city would not rise, and so, I decided to force it. In my anger, I had pushed aside the young woman, who was only trying to stop me from wreaking havoc on everything around me. She...was put in a dangerous position, and Luke was trying to save her. He was also trying to stop me, so...I reacted with violence. Fortunately, Layton came at the last minute to push him out of harm's way, and despite the danger, they both survived without a scratch."

"I see."

"When I look back at all the times I justified my behavior by saying I was only reacting..." the man continued, a mix of pain and loathing in his eyes. "I'm appalled, horrified at what I was capable of, and ashamed. That little boy could have lost his life. Clark could have lost his son. I would have been responsible for causing another father to lose his child..."

Phoenix looked at him in confusion. Another? "What do you mean? You're not saying you had something to do with Melina dying, are you?"

"N-no..." Sycamore's mood quickly shifted. "I'm sorry, Mr. Wright. I just...meant...we all make mistakes, even when we don't intend to."

That doesn't clear it up... Just then, Phoenix noticed something. There's a lingering sadness in his eyes. I wonder...could it have anything to do with what he and the professor were talking about earlier? The evil forces that tore their family apart... "Well, speaking of Oswald Whistler, there's a rumor going around that he'll be a witness tomorrow."

"That's not surprising. I caught a glimpse of him among the crowd today. I'm sure he'll be glad to do his part in ensuring my incarceration."

"You don't know that, Mr. Sycamore," Maya murmured. "And no one can say for sure how this trial will turn out..."

"Ms. Fey, please don't waste your kindness on me, not for this. I've done terrible things."

"Sure, but...people don't just wake up one day and decide to be cruel to others. There's something else going on. I can see that you're a good person. Maybe nobody held a gun to your head, but something must have driven you to carry out these plots. Something big."

Sycamore gave a soft groan, breaking eye contact with his visitors.

To the man's growing discomfort, Phoenix said, "Mr. Sycamore, I know we can't make you talk about that, but as this case goes on, I think it's crucial. Please, at least think about it. I don't know much about your life outside of what you and Professor Layton discussed in front of us today, but as I said back in the lobby, I'm guessing your motives are related to whatever Targent is. You're not the type to seek fame and riches, though you had a pressing need to uncover the Azran's secrets before anyone else could. I'm not exactly sure what role Targent played in all of this, but I'm guessing they're the evil force that destroyed your family when you were a child. And...I can see that's not all that happened."

The words left Sycamore stunned...and speechless.

I knew it. "Mr. Sycamore...can you tell me what happened back then? You don't have to get too deep into it if it's painful...even technical terms will do-"

"They're murderers," Sycamore spat out before Phoenix finished his sentence.

Maya gasped.

"Did they murder someone close to you?" Phoenix asked.

Sycamore took a moment, looking as though he were steeling himself. "My wife and young daughter."

"No...!" Maya cried out, horrified. "Mr. Sycamore, I'm so sorry...!"

Now Phoenix was the speechless one. No way...

"Perhaps it's not fair for me to apply the charge," the man explained. "After all, they weren't supposed to die. It was me Targent wanted. I had a special interest in the Azran, and they wanted to use me for their purposes. They intended to punish me for refusing, but instead..." A turn of the head ended the thought.

"I don't...know what to say, Mr. Sycamore," Phoenix told him. "I've had loved ones in danger before, but somehow, I was mostly lucky. I've only lost one person truly important to me, but I was able to push forward and see justice done. I can't imagine being in a position where I wasn't able to do that..."

Sycamore's expression hardened. "I don't want to talk about this. Please..."

"Nick," Maya said.

Phoenix nodded. "Okay. I apologize for making you relive those memories, Mr. Sycamore, but I think I understand better now, so thank you. And thank you for telling me about Ambrosia. I'll be better prepared for what Edgeworth throws at me tomorrow."

The familiar sound of the gavel captured the attention of everyone in attendance, and the judge's voice sounded throughout the room. "The court is now in session for the trial of Desmond Sycamore."

"The defense is ready, Your Honor," Phoenix said.

"The prosecution has been ready for a while, Your Honor," Edgeworth said.

"Then let us begin," said the judge. "Yesterday, the prosecution uncovered the extent of the crimes in Misthallery, as committed by a masked man known as 'Descole,' but unfortunately could not connect this man to the defendant. However, we also heard from a witness that Desmond Sycamore revealed himself to be Descole, and we also know that a costume worn by the defendant is in possession of the police. It will still be a day before analysis on the costume is complete."

"Speaking of that, Your Honor," Edgeworth interrupted, "I have received a preliminary analysis of the costume." He produced a small stack of papers, clipped at the top left corner.

"You do, Mr. Edgeworth?"

"I had a hunch after Mr. Sycamore mentioned being present at the airship crash site, so I requested some additional tests. It appears that not only was Mr. Sycamore at the site, but he was also wearing the costume at the time. This is evidenced by damage to the fabric - tears, burns, and soot. But more importantly, there was dirt on the suit and cape." He flipped over the front sheet of the report. "Further analysis revealed that it matched the dirt from the shallow grave there."

There were murmurs among the audience.

Geez, Phoenix thought. Given how delayed the original analysis was, I wonder where he found the time and people to conduct the new tests.

"A match, you say!" exclaimed the judge. "So...what does that mean?"

"Mr. Sycamore, or in this case, Descole buried the man known as Raymond. That much is true. Additionally, the grave was marked with a broken piece of polished wood...and had the defendant's fingerprints all over it. They were positioned in a way one would hold a stake just before inserting it into the ground. As far as concealing a death goes, the evidence is overwhelming. However, as Mr. Sycamore has been cooperating with the police, they will not pursue new charges. Incidentally, I also received a copy of the autopsy this morning." Edgeworth lowered the first report, picking up a second stack.

There was a soft gasp from Sycamore's direction.

"According to the report," Edgeworth went on, "Raymond had multiple bone fractures, including those on his skull, arm, hip, spine, and seven of his ribs. Also, his leg was shattered in three places. Since the body was partly decomposed, it was difficult to determine the extent of physical trauma to the flesh. However, no other wounds were found, no foreign objects were detected, and given the state of the airship, no foul play is suspected. Raymond died as a result of the crash, nothing more."

Well, that's good, thought Phoenix. Well, not GOOD, but...at least this isn't one more thing they can pin on Mr. Sycamore.

"We also managed to speak to the doctor that examined the defendant, and obtained a copy of the exam itself." There was a familiar smirk on Edgeworth's face as he lowered the autopsy report. "Evidently, it was a miracle he survived the crash, let alone in the condition that he did. Mr. Sycamore suffered extensive bruising to his torso, but somehow avoided any internal injuries or head trauma."

"He tracked down Mr. Sycamore's doctor too?" Maya remarked, sounding impressed. "That's some fine stalking- err, detective work."

The judge appeared to be in awe of the report itself. "Still...he was able to bury a body in that condition, and then find his way back to the city? That is a miracle."

"I couldn't agree more, Your Honor. It's almost enough to make a man wonder if some unknown force was...looking out for the defendant."

Something about the man's expression left Phoenix unsettled. Okaaayyy... Mr. Spiritual, Edgeworth is not. Why do I get the feeling he knows something we don't?

Edgeworth then cleared his throat. "Additionally, we are in possession of the airship's black box and are investigating the claim that the engine was not functioning properly. The company that builds these engines has a good reputation, but there have been few reports of the latest model malfunctioning. There was even one report of an airplane catching fire, prompting the flight crew and passengers to flee before the plane could take off. Fortunately, no one was hurt."

"Hmph...well, aside from the untimely death of Mr. Raymond, that is good to hear," said the judge. "Anything else?"

"Not at this time, Your Honor," Edgeworth replied.

"Then let us return to the trial itself. Mr. Edgeworth, did you have further evidence or testimony regarding Misthallery?"

"No, Your Honor, I believe we have sufficiently established that Mr. Sycamore caused damage to the town and injury to its people. Today, the prosecution will focus on the second site from Mr. Sycamore's plot - an island where the ruins of the ancient city of Ambrosia now lie. I will detail this most unusual tale, rife with mystery and thrills from beginning to end."

That seemed to get the judge's attention. "Oh ho! Why, this sounds like the latest motion picture."

"Not quite, but there were various forms of entertainment for a captive audience. The defendant hosted an opera in a seaside theater, luring into the seats a gullible crowd. He went on to kidnap all of them, forcing them to participate in a game where the prize was eternal life. At the end, the winner was not to receive eternal life, but something akin to brainwashing - this individual would be taken over by the memories of another, and be forced to live life as an entirely different person."

"Mr. Edgeworth!" the judge exclaimed. "I'm not entirely sure I can believe what you are saying."

Despite the fact Phoenix had heard the story before, he could only stand there, feeling uncomfortable. They say the truth is stranger than fiction...

"Believe it, Your Honor," Edgeworth told him. "I have multiple witnesses willing to testify about the facts as I have presented them. In fact, my first witness is a young woman who made it to the final round of the game, and won its 'prize.' I will bring her out momentarily."

A blonde girl in her late teens made her way through the courtroom. Dressed in a stylish plaid knee-length skirt and matching jacket, she took her place behind the witness stand.

"Witness, your name and profession, please."

"My name is Amelia Ruth. I'm a first year student at Gressenheller University."

"Ms. Ruth," said Edgeworth, "you were invited to come attend the opera at the Crown Petone, correct?"

Amelia nodded. "That is correct."

"Please testify to the court about the events that transpired there."

"I had just turned sixteen, so this was a rare opportunity for me. The one who invited me was Mr. Oswald Whistler, the man who composed the opera. Oh, it was beautiful...but when it was over, the game began. Some felt intimidated and even threatened by the rules, but not me. I was determined to win that prize! I managed to make it to the end...only to see it had all been a lie."

"Hmph..." The judge took a moment to absorb the testimony. "A night of opera, followed by an exciting game...except for the deceit, it sounds like my idea of a good time! Err...Mr. Wright, you may cross-examine the witness."

"Ms. Ruth, you said you were invited, but something compelled you to attend, didn't it?" asked Phoenix.

"Yes," answered Amelia. "My grandfather."

"What about him?"

"He didn't have long to live. Most knew about the chance to gain 'eternal life' when they attended the opera. And even the story depicted a queen's loyal subjects creating the elixir of eternal life...I desperately wished for it to be real. I wanted to give the prize to Granddad so that he could live just a while longer."

"Can you tell me more about the game itself?"

"Well, we didn't find out about it until the performance ended, so it was actually a surprise...but it involved a series of puzzles..."

Of course, thought Phoenix.

"Those who guessed the right answer were allowed to advance," Amelia continued, "while those who didn't...they were collected by henchmen. We found out later that those people were safely transported back to land."

"It is said that the game ended on the island. Can you tell me how you ended up there?"

"Well, the solution to the second puzzle involved climbing into lifeboats and paddling away. Eventually, someone else took control of the boats remotely, bringing us to that island."

"So the game resumed then?"

"No, not right away. It seems Descole - the man behind everything - wanted to reward the winners up until then with a feast and a moment's rest. And then...he set the wolves on us."

"W-wolves?!" Phoenix cried out, unintentionally causing the word to echo throughout the courtroom.

"Descole was...controlling them somehow," Amelia explained. "There was some kind of device on their ears. We were chased into the forest containing the third puzzle. Once we solved it, we made our way toward the castle."

"So Descole, rather Mr. Sycamore, was controlling the entire game, from beginning to end," Edgeworth said.

Amelia nodded. "Yes, but at the time, we didn't know who was behind it."

"Ms. Ruth, once you had entered the castle, you were declared the winner of the game. Please tell the court what happened when you received your 'prize.'"

"The castle...it was intimidating at first, but inviting on the inside. At least, until we entered one of the rooms. That's when a masked man presented himself as Descole and separated us. He ordered his guards to escort me to another room where a machine known as the Detragan awaited...with Mr. Whistler. That's when I realized the man who invited me was in on it too. He declared me the winner and ignored me when I said I wanted the prize to go to my grandfather. He tried to hook me up to that oversized organ...it seemed it stored the memories of his deceased daughter, and I was the best candidate to resurrect them."

A hush fell over the courtroom as Amelia concluded her testimony. The judge blinked, uncertain of how to process it. "Ms...Ms. Ruth, what a terrible betrayal, but I don't understand what you mean by being 'hooked up' to an organ or 'resurrecting stored memories'?"

"There was a helmet attached to the Detragan. Mr. Whistler tried to put the helmet on me to transfer the memories from the Detragan to my brain."

"Wh-whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!"

"It sounds unbelievable, but it's true, Your Honor," said Edgeworth, looking smug. "The defendant designed the Detragan for multiple purposes. One could say he deceived many with it. He worked especially hard to get those precious memories in there and-" He paused with a chuckle, feigning shock as he turned toward the defense. "Why, Mr. Wright! I'd almost forgotten you were there! It's time for your cross-examination, isn't it?"

Sometimes I think he enjoys making my life miserable, thought Phoenix. "Yes, if you're done talking. Ms. Ruth, may we assume Mr. Whistler did not succeed in implanting his daughter's memories into your mind?"

"Yes, Mr. Wright," said Amelia. "Fortunately, Professor Layton and his friends interrupted the process."

"You said Mr. Whistler was 'in on it.' Did he mention anything about why he invited you in the first place?"

"Well, he initially claimed it was because he wanted to give an opportunity to a person as gifted as his daughter. Being a chess champion at my school, I fit the profile. But now I see he wanted someone compatible with her memories. After all, he had failed with the little girl. But then..."

"Wait, what little girl?"

"The little girl who was with Mr. Whistler. I think her name was Nina. She was kidnapped and given the 'memory treatment' as well. It worked for a while, but she broke free mentally."

Phoenix felt his face grow hot. Oh...oh yeah. Mr. Sycamore did mention something about that...

"As usually happens with those who are not willing," Edgeworth chimed in, looking deep in thought. "And so, Whistler and Descole found a more fitting candidate in you."

"Yes, Mr. Edgeworth," Amelia replied. "I resisted too, but as I said, I was saved. After that, it was revealed that the experiment had already succeeded...on the woman from the opera, Janice Quatlane!"

"You say the experiment worked on Ms. Quatlane?!" asked the judge, stunned. "That means... er, what does that mean?"

"It means, Your Honor," Edgeworth started, "that Mr. Oswald Whistler attempted the experiment on multiple people, including Janice Quatlane. During the event at Ambrosia, Melina Whistler had been, for lack of a better word, 'resurrected' for some time. Her memories existed within the mind of Ms. Quatlane."

The judge gasped. "That can't be..."

"It is, Your Honor," Amelia told him. "After this was revealed, Descole forced Janice, rather Melina, to sing the melody while he played on Detragan's keyboard. He was trying to summon the ruins of the ancient city, to make it come up from the water."

"What a show that must have been!"

Really, Your Honor? Phoenix thought, his feelings of embarrassment proportional to the judge's unabashed enthusiasm.

"Oh, I suppose," Amelia said. "It was hard to see after a while, with all the destruction occurring, but the music itself was pretty. Mr. Whistler used variations of it in his opera, too."

"Hmph..." The judge thought for a moment. "I should very much like to look into this Mr. Whistler. I think I would enjoy his operas."

"Is that a fact, Your Honor?" asked Edgeworth, as smug as ever. "Because today, your wish comes true. He is the next witness."

And there's confirmation, thought Phoenix. I'd better get my notes ready.

"But before that," Edgeworth continued, "Ms. Ruth, I can't help but notice you spoke of destruction while music was playing. Can you elaborate?"

"Descole...failed to bring the city of Ambrosia to the surface," Amelia responded. "He...grew increasingly frustrated and irate, and so he turned the Detragan into giant weapon that could walk around and tear at the land. We were surrounded by forest, so many trees were damaged in the rampage."

"So he lost his temper when he didn't get what he wanted, and chose to destroy everything?"

"That's the way it looked, yes. It was even worse after Professor Layton was able to summon the ancient city when Descole couldn't. Descole became angrier...unhinged, even...he engaged the professor in a swordfight...and the Detragan went out of control, eventually coming apart and crashing around the shore."

Phoenix sighed inwardly. Painting my client as a violent psychotic, one. My case for presenting him as a sane human being, zero.

The judge shook his head. "Oh, my..."

"That must have been frightening," Edgeworth said.

"Yes," Amelia replied. "It's a miracle no one died, or was gravely injured."

"Yes," Edgeworth repeated, the smirk back on his face. "We seem to be discovering many miracles as of late. Ms. Ruth, thank you for your account of the events at Ambrosia. This has been...most enlightening."

What is he up to? Phoenix wondered nervously.

"Nick," Maya whispered, "I don't like where this is going either, but you've got to stop freaking out every time Mr. Edgeworth acts like he has everything figured out."

"Oh...y-yeah..."

Shortly after Amelia's testimony concluded, a middle-aged man with small, circle-framed glasses and curly, graying hair appeared at the witness stand.

"Witness, please state your name and occupation for the court," said Edgeworth.

"My name is Oswald Whistler," the man replied. "I am an opera composer."

"Mr. Whistler, you composed the opera, 'The Eternal Kingdom' for a special occasion, did you not?"

"I did."

"Please testify to the court about how you came to compose the opera."

"Ah, that was... several years ago, now? My Melina was still alive, though barely holding on. The man named Descole approached me one day with a discovery...and a request. He had found an ancient crest on an island several hundred kilometers from the main land. Suspecting that the markings on the crest indicated music, he requested my help in deciphering it. I reluctantly agreed...and extracted the melody from the crest. It was beautiful...one of the things that helped me through that difficult time. When Melina passed away, our last hope was the opera, which I was all too eager to compose...after Descole asked me."

"Hmph..." The judge absorbed the testimony. "I am sorry to hear of your daughter's passing. I can see how the memory of a loved one could be the driving force behind one's actions, even if someone else made the request." He glanced over to Phoenix. "Mr. Wright, you may cross-examine the witness."

There's something I'm still not clear on, thought Phoenix. "Mr. Whistler, what did you mean when you said the opera was your last hope?"

Oswald was surprised by the question at first. "Oh, I...I was devastated when my only daughter passed away. I wanted a way to preserve her memories, so Descole constructed a machine that would do precisely that, among other things."

"That machine would be the Detragan mentioned earlier?"

"Yes."

"What were the other purposes of this machine?"

"It had rows of keys, and could be played like an organ. The difference being, the output was comparable to that of a full orchestra."

"Simply amazing!" exclaimed the judge. "I would like to hear this music."

"Alas, Your Honor, the Detragan is locked away with the police archives," Edgeworth cut in. "It would require a long process with extensive paperwork in order to release it."

The judge looks positively heartbroken, Phoenix observed. "I bet the sound was just beautiful. So you used this Detragan in the opera itself?"

"That is correct, Mr. Wright."

"You were previously convicted of being an accomplice in the abductions that took place then. This Detragan was used to transfer the memories of your daughter into the minds of two people, one being a young girl called Nina. According to the case report, you and my client lured her to the island, where you performed the experiment."

Oswald pressed his lips into a thin line, a hint of remorse in his expression. "That...that is true."

"How long did you keep Nina there until the opera's debut?"

"Several months, I believe."

"But why?" Phoenix asked.

Oswald looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"You had transferred the memories of your daughter to this new girl. Why did you keep her around and still go through with the opera and the game?"

Whispers sounded across the audience.

"The results...were imperfect," Oswald explained. "It's true Nina held Melina's memories, and often presented herself as my daughter. However, every now and then she would experience an episode and realize who she truly was. I had to act fast, and put her through the procedure again. And... not being musically inclined, she had difficulty learning the melody of the 'Song of the Sea.'"

"That doesn't explain why you kept her around..."

A dark cloud appeared to pass over the man's eyes. "Mr. Wright. That...is personal...but...I suppose I cannot hide the truth. The only reason I kept her around is because I desperately wanted my daughter back, no matter how impossible that was. I was grief-stricken and in denial. I couldn't let her die again."

Hmm...so far, this is aligning with everything Mr. Sycamore told me, thought Phoenix, and was then interrupted by a nagging thought in the corner of his mind. Wait...that's it. The thing that connects them. "Mr. Whistler, Descole permitted the girl to stay, despite the issues with the experiment, correct?"

"Er, yes, well, he was only concerned with finding someone to sing the melody. As long as he had that, he did not object to what I did. I found that most strange at first, but I assume he was willing to do anything to ensure my cooperation with the plot."

"Yes, I believe that was part of it," Phoenix said with a nod. "Mr. Whistler...are you aware my client also once had a daughter?"

"He..." Oswald's face filled up with pure surprise. "Well, no. He never spoke of his life. All I knew was that he was a scientist pursuing a mystery about an ancient civilization. But...now that I think about it, it would explain some of his behavior."

"What do you mean?"

"As I said, he allowed Nina's presence on the island, even as we moved forward with the plot. I thought it was my imagination at first, but there were brief moments I sensed him staring at the two of us. I had expected him to demand I return to work...but then, he would just walk away. He was enigmatic...but even he couldn't hide everything about himself. He gave off an aura of despair, regret. I never acknowledged it because I was still dealing with my own grief."

"So you do you think Descole felt regret when he saw the two of you together?"

"Objection!" Edgeworth interrupted. "Mr. Wright, try to stay on topic. We are here to talk about your client's crimes, not his feelings about whatever relationship his cohort had with an abductee!"

Phoenix placed his hands on his hips, a triumphant smirk on his face. "But Mr. Edgeworth, I am very much on topic here. You don't think it's interesting at all? A masked man who abducts people and causes destruction in pursuing an ancient civilization...letting people go unharmed, preparing feasts for winners, and...allowing a man who recently lost his daughter to be reunited with her, if only through a memory?"

"What are you getting at, Mr. Wright?" Edgeworth asked impatiently.

"The same thing I've been getting at these last two days. This goes beyond a person being complex. In the testimony we are hearing, the motive is slowly being revealed. Haven't you noticed?"

A great silence fell over the courtroom, stopping Phoenix's momentum dead in its tracks. What's with everybody? he wondered, as nervous as he was annoyed.

"If you're done making a fool of yourself," Edgeworth started calmly, "we are currently discussing the crimes themselves. We are still a ways from discussing motives. And so I say again, Mr. Wright, stay on topic."

The groan Phoenix expelled in response was a perfect companion to the souring feeling in his stomach. "F...fine." I'll just have to bring this point up later. He then turned back to the witness. "Witness...was there anything else you noticed about my client? That is, did he keep you in the loop regarding his plans?"

"Not for everything," Oswald replied. "I knew there was to be an opera, followed by the game, which would conclude at the island. My roles were to compose and perform the opera, and to ensure the 'winner' received her prize."

"So Nina wasn't involved in the plan."

"No, she wasn't."

"Mr. Whistler, one last thing. You mentioned that you had to keep performing the brainwashing procedure on the girl because she kept breaking free of the memories, which she ultimately did since she was able to return to her family. What caused the final break? Did it occur as a result of your arrest?"

Oswald shook his head no. "She broke free shortly before that. It was...it was due to that man."

"Which man? Are you referring to my client?"

"No. The man who fought your client when his plans fell apart. I refer, of course, to the gentleman in the top hat sitting in the audience... Hershel Layton!"

The name hit Phoenix like a sack of coins. "Gah...!" Why do I keep doing this to myself?

"Oh no," Maya whispered in understanding. "With the professor's name popping up again, you know Mr. Edgeworth will jump on him as a witness."

"Yeah. I was hoping we could have another day before that happened. I really wanted to speak to him more about what he witnessed at these ancient sites."

"Hershel Layton?!" exclaimed the judge. "Well! You must tell us how that happened."

"I wasn't there when it happened," Oswald told him. "He somehow coaxed her out of her trance, but I don't know any more than that. You would have to ask him."

Edgeworth only chuckled in turn. "It would be my pleasure, Mr. Whistler." He took an exaggerated bow. "I thank you for sharing your story with the court today. Your Honor?"

"Yes, Mr. Edgeworth?" responded the judge.

"The prosecution requests twenty minutes to prepare the next witness, as I am calling him ahead of schedule."

"Request granted. We will reconvene in twenty minutes."

Screwed, Phoenix thought as the gavel slammed the sound block. I am so, so screwed...

A/N: Oops, those pesky months keep slipping by. I'll try to be better about that. To pk: Thanks for your kind comments.