Hey guys, I'm back and I've got some good news. I am now typing this story on Microsoft which means I now have a spell check that actually works! Hooray! But I also have some bad news. This chapter is dedicated to a man by the name of Monty Oum, who died at the beginning of this month at the age of 33. He was an inspiration to me in many ways and have this chapter in his honor. Anyways, thanks to pyrosaurus X (I know how you feel but I have to say, case 3 of JFA is the one I dislike the most. And I'll try but it'll be difficult.), Sorcerer of the Stories (Thanks that means a lot that you like my stories. And yeah, the series itself is intense so I have to make the chapters intense. Jasmine's emotions alone are intense when I write about certain things. But still, thanks a lot!), NostalgiaMaster1996, Ryuzaki 007, OblivionDoctor, JackunzelForever, matthewcortes93, Angel's Angel and Advanced99 for reviewing/following/favoring along with all 4,036 readers! Wow, that's a lot! And you guys can thank JFA for this update since I was playing it and got to the part in case 4 where Edgeworth returns, which is probably one of my favorite moments in the entire series and it will be one of my most favorite moments to write. Why? I get a huge, and I mean HUGE, Miles/Jasmine moment! The next biggest moment I can't wait to write is in DD since a certain prosecutor returns in case 5 and it will be the first time Jasmine has seen him in 8 years while feeling guilty on top of it all! Okay, I'm taking too long. Enjoy the chapter and let me know what you think!
December 26th, 9:40 AM
District Court
Defendant Lobby No. 2
Jasmine paced nervously as she, Phoenix and Maya waited for Edgeworth to show up.
"Jazz? Are you okay?" Maya asked, concerned.
"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?" Jasmine asked, not looking at the spirit medium nor stopping her pacing.
"Cause you keep pacing and you just remembered something terrifying the day before." Phoenix stated as he grabbed his twin's arm to stop her. Jasmine's dark blue eyes darted from the attorney to the spirit medium before she sighed, hanging her head so her hair acted as a curtain around her face.
"Alright…I'm scared." She admitted.
"Did you remember anything last night?" Phoenix asked gently.
"No…nothing about Mr. Edgeworth's murder." Jasmine admitted, "But I did remember more about the case I helped him with."
"What?" Maya and Phoenix asked in unison. Jasmine shook her head.
"It's nothing." She stated, "I'll tell you some other time." Just then, Edgeworth entered the lobby and within minutes, he had Jasmine trembling where she stood.
"Karma…?" Phoenix repeated as Maya wrapped her arms around the trembling aide.
"That's right, Manfred von Karma. He's the best prosecutor there is." Edgeworth nodded, "He hasn't lost a case in his 40 year career. He's a god of prosecution, Wright! A god!"
"I-I remember him. H-he faced a-against Mr. Edgeworth at h-his last trial…" Jasmine whispered. Edgeworth nodded, confirming her words.
"Not a single case?" Maya repeated, shocked.
"He'll do anything to get a guilty verdict, anything." Edgeworth stated.
"Hmm. Sounds like someone else I know, Edgeworth." Phoenix stated, giving his childhood friend a pointed look.
"Nick!" Jasmine cried as her trembling subsided and Maya slowly let her go, rubbing her back for extra measure. Jasmine smiled at the girl in thanks before she returned to glaring at her older twin.
"Hmph." Edgeworth huffed as he looked away, gripping his left arm tightly. "You don't understand. I mean he'll really do anything. Manfred von Karma is a man to be feared."
"He always has to have a perfect trial." Jasmine said.
"Huh?" Phoenix asked, giving his sister a confused look.
"He'll do whatever it takes to have a perfect motive, perfect witness, perfect evidence, perfect everything! He nearly drove me insane the last time I saw him." Jasmine elaborated, ignoring Edgeworth's confused gaze.
"He taught me what it really means to 'prosecute'." Edgeworth added, pushing his confusion aside.
"Wh-what!?" Phoenix cried while Jasmine simply stared. She had known this already, after all.
"Just picture a prosecutor as vicious as me…multiplied by a factor of ten." Edgeworth stated.
"He was absolutely awful." Jasmine whispered.
"Ugh…" Maya groaned before she realized something and asked, "So…so he was your teacher, Mr. Edgeworth?"
"Something like that…" Edgeworth agreed.
"And now he's trying to get you found guilty!?" Maya cried angrily. "What a creep!"
"That I completely agree with." Jasmine stated, raising her hand slightly to show her agreement.
"Oh, wait…Maybe he's planning on losing on purpose to help you out!" Maya suggested, smiling hopefully.
"That I completely disagree with." Jasmine stated, shaking her head.
"Not a chance…" Edgeworth said, "He hasn't lost once in 40 years. 40 years! He's as ruthless as me times twenty!"
"That's pretty ruthless…" Maya said as she looked down sadly. Jasmine wrapped an arm around the girl, comforting her quietly.
"Like I said. He's a god among prosecutors." Edgeworth repeated. Jasmine bit her lip as she remembered the last time she had gone against von Karma. She had just remembered it last night, seeing Mr. Edgeworth stand beside her with his assistant on her other side and von Karma directly in front of her. That man had been ruthless…and now she was facing against him again, this time with her twin on one side, her best friend on the other and Gregory Edgeworth's son counting on all three of them, though he'd never say that aloud. She snapped back to reality as Maya started crying on her shoulder silently.
"My powers are weak again..." The girl said.
"Oh man, what bad timing!" Phoenix groaned.
"I'm really sorry." Maya apologized, "I'll try my best!"
"I hope so!" Phoenix agreed.
"We'll be okay. I mean, we can't rely on Mia forever, after all. We have to learn to stand on our own feet at some point. Consider this trial as a test for that." Jasmine encouraged with a small smile.
"What are you three whispering about?" Edgeworth asked, startling the three before Jasmine released Maya, who had calmed down slightly.
"O-oh, it's nothing." Phoenix stuttered, knowing Edgeworth wouldn't believe that Maya was a spirit medium and that she could actually channel the spirit of her dead sister. "Well, it's time. Let's head in…"
"It's now or never." Jasmine whispered as she took Maya's hand in her own, trying to comfort them both.
December 26th, 10:00 AM
District Court
Courtroom No. 3
"Court is now in session for the trial of Mr. Miles Edgeworth." The judge stated as the courtroom was finally silent.
"The defense is ready, Your Honor." Phoenix stated. Von Karma, on the other hand, remained silent.
"Erm, Mr. von Karma? Is the prosecution ready?" The judge asked.
"…Fool…" Von Karma finally spoke. "You seriously think that I would stand here were I not completely prepared?" Jasmine felt a shiver go down her spine as she heard that all too familiar voice, even if it has been years since she last laid eyes on the man.
"R-right, my apologies!" The judge stuttered, "Very well, your opening statement, please."
"…Decisive evidence…a decisive witness…what else could possibly be required?" von Karma stated.
"Ah…er, nothing of course. That should be fine." The judge stuttered. "The prosecution may call its first witness."
"What's with this guy? Is he royalty or something?" Maya asked.
"He sure acts like it." Jasmine agreed, crossing her arms to hide her shaking hands.
"How am I supposed to fight against this!?" Phoenix whispered, exasperated.
"You just do." Jasmine stated as her eyes returned to von Karma.
"I call the detective in charge of this case, Detective Dick Gumshoe." Von Karma stated.
Last time, Mr. Edgeworth and Ray were in Nick and Maya's spots, von Karma was still there, Detective Badd was in Gumshoe's position and Mr. Master was in Miles' place. Hopefully…this trial will end better than that one did.
As soon as Gumshoe took to the witness stand, von Karma ordered,
"Describe the incident. Now!"
"Y-yessir!" Gumshoe stuttered. "Er, please take a look at the map. The murder happened late Christmas Eve, around midnight. There was one boat in the very middle of the lake. There were two men in the boat. Now, there happened to be a woman camping here on the edge of the lake. At 12:10 AM, she heard two pistol shots. Then the boat started to move. It went towards the boat rental shop."
"Hmm." Von Karma muttered once Gumshoe finished. "Testify to the court about your arrest. Now!"
"W-w-wait! Mr. von Karma…" The judge cut in.
"Yes?" Von Karma asked.
"Actually, I'm the one who's supposed to be handling these proceedings…" The judge said. Von Karma shook his head and wagged his finger at the judge, causing Jasmine to flinch from the memory of that same motion all those years ago.
"Wrong. There is only one thing you need to do here. You will slam down your gavel and say the word 'guilty'. That is your role!" Von Karma stated.
"Y-yes, of course." The judge stuttered, "You're quite right."
He hasn't changed one bit.
"A man called into the station around 30 minutes after midnight. We headed to the scene of the crime as fast as we could. That's where we found Mr. Edgeworth. Now, I didn't suspect him of anything at all. But...the next morning, a body was found in the lake. So we had to arrest Mr. Edgeworth." Gumshoe testified sadly.
"Hmm…I see. Very well…" The judge said.
"Begin your cross-examination, attorney. Now!" Von Karma cut in but this time, the judge remained silent.
"A man called into the station around 30 minutes after midnight. We headed to the scene of the crime as fast as we could. That's where we found Mr. Edgeworth. Now, I didn't suspect him of anything at all. But...the next morning, a body was found in the lake." Gumshoe repeated.
"HOLD IT!" Phoenix cried, "Did you find any clues on the body?"
"A single bullet was recovered from the body. He was shot through the heart...fatally." Gumshoe answered.
"Judge! Here's the bullet...It didn't strike bone, so its shape is well preserved." Von Karma stated.
"Very well. The court accepts this bullet into evidence." The judge agreed. Instantly, Jasmine examined the bullet before she put it away. Nothing was strange about it from what she could tell.
"So we had to arrest Mr. Edgeworth." Gumshoe continued.
"HOLD IT!" Phoenix cut in, "W-why is that?"
"Well, we found the murder weapon in the boat." Gumshoe explained.
"The murder weapon...?" Jasmine questioned, crossing her arms.
"A pistol." Gumshoe elaborated.
"Detective Gumshoe...That is a vital piece of information. Please revise your testimony." The judge requested.
"Right! S-sorry, Your Honor." Gumshoe apologized before he amended, "The murder weapon we found in the boat was decisive evidence."
"HOLD IT!" Phoenix cried, "What about the pistol made it 'decisive evidence'?"
"Tsk tsk tsk…" Von Karma laughed, again causing Jasmine to flinch.
"There were fingerprints on the pistol found in the boat. They were clear prints from Mr. Edgeworth's right hand." Gumshoe answered sadly.
"Wh-what!?" Phoenix cried as he reeled back in shock before he was slouching and sweating.
"No!" Jasmine cried as she too reeled back in shock. The audience began to mutter until the judge slammed his gavel once.
"Order! Order!" He cried, "So Mr. Edgeworth's fingerprints were found on the murder weapon!?"
"Y-yes, Your Honor." Gumshoe confirmed.
"Judge! This is the weapon in question." Von Karma said with an evil smirk Jasmine remembered exactly in her memory.
"A-accepted into evidence." The judge stuttered. Jasmine quickly examined the weapon before von Karma began to speak again.
"Members of the court…We now have the pistol used in the murder and the bullet found in the body!" The veteran prosecutor proclaimed. He snapped, causing Jasmine to cover her right ear as it rang in her mind. "Detective!"
"Y-y-yessir!" Gumshoe stuttered.
"Was the bullet found in the body fired from this pistol?" Von Karma asked.
"Yes. The ballistic markings on the bullet match the pistol." Gumshoe nodded.
"Hmm…" The judge mused thoughtfully.
"Hey, Nick! What does he mean, 'ballistic markings'?" Maya asked.
"Shocking! To imagine someone here does not know something as basic as ballistic markings!" Von Karma cried.
Drama queen.
"N-Nick! Jazz! He's glaring at me!" Maya whispered. Jasmine grabbed the girl's hand to calm her down.
"Tsk…very well, I'll explain." Von Karma said, "Actually, Judge! You do it."
"Eh? M-me? ...Erm, ahem. Ballistic markings are like the "fingerprints" of a gun. The barrel leaves distinctive marks on each bullet it fires. You can examine these "ballistic fingerprints" to see which gun fired the shot. It's quite accurate." The judge explained.
"Indeed. This leads to one, inevitable conclusion: the bullet found in the victim's heart...was, without a doubt, fired from this pistol. This pistol which, as you may recall, was covered in the defendant's own fingerprints!" Von Karma proclaimed.
I stand by my drama queen comment. His snap is still ringing in my ear!
The people in the court spoke among themselves until the judge slammed his gavel down.
"O-order! Order!" The judge cried.
"Nick! What do we do now?" Jasmine cried as worry gripped her. Phoenix said nothing and Jasmine knew he was as worried as she was.
"Well, Judge?" Von Karma asked.
"I'd say it's almost decisive, yes." The judge said, "Honestly, I could declare a verdict at this point. However…" Von Karma shook his head and wagged his finger.
"You wish to hear the witness speak, no doubt." He said, "Very well. I am somewhat fatigued and so I will take a brief break. I will call my witness after the recess. Which will last ten minutes."
He's just trying to get time so he can give Lotta lies to tell!
"Judge!" Von Karma cried.
"Y-yes?" The judge asked.
"What are you doing? A ten minute recess! Now!" Von Karma ordered.
"B-but, wait, I…" The judge stuttered. Von Karma snapped his fingers and cried,
"Just bang your flimsy gavel and get on with it, man!"
"Y-yes!" The judge cried, scared. The judge slammed his gavel down. "Ahem. This court will take a ten minute recess." Jasmine just shook her head in disbelief at von Karma.
December 26th, 11:09 AM
District Court
Defendant Lobby No. 2
As soon as the four entered the lobby, Phoenix turned on his former friend and client and cried,
"Edgeworth! What's going on here!? Your fingerprints were on the murder weapon!"
"Uh…hmm…" Edgeworth muttered.
"And that foggy photo makes one thing clear…The only one who could've shot that man was the person in the photo." Jasmine added as she played with her pendent.
"True…" Edgeworth agreed.
"Was that you in the boat?" Phoenix asked.
"…Yes. It was me." Edgeworth answered.
"What!?" The twins cried in unison, though Jasmine was more in fear while Phoenix was more in shock.
"But…you must believe me. I didn't shoot him." Edgeworth insisted.
"I believe you and I know deep down, Nick does too." Jasmine said.
"Th-then who did!?" Phoenix cried, frustrated.
"I…don't know." Edgeworth admitted.
"You don't know!? Weren't you right there!?" Phoenix cried.
"Nick." Jasmine stated as she grabbed her twin's arm, trying to calm him down.
"…I heard a gunshot from very close by. Then…the other man fell from the boat. I can't say why, but…I thought, at the time, that he had shot himself!" Edgeworth explained.
"Y-you mean it was a suicide!?" Phoenix cried, Jasmine still holding his arm tightly.
"…That's the only explanation I can come up with." Edgeworth answered.
"Huh…" Was all Phoenix could manage. "Say, Maya?"
"Huh? Wh-what?" Maya asked as she was startled out of her thoughts.
"Any progress with Mia?" Phoenix asked.
"Oh…Sorry. It's no good." Maya said, looking down sadly. Jasmine instantly hugged the girl she considered her sister, trying to bring her comfort that she brought to Jasmine herself.
"Ugh…" Phoenix groaned.
"I know…I'm no good for anything, am I, Nick?" Maya said, "If I can't call my sister, I might as well not be here, right?"
"Maya that's not true!" Jasmine cried as she pulled away from the girl. "You are important and both Nick and I need you here for both support and help. So don't you dare go doubting yourself now, do you hear me?"
"But-" Maya started.
"Don't you argue with me! Mia believed in you and so do Nick and I! You are important, no matter what you think of yourself!" Jasmine insisted.
"It's okay, Jazz. You don't have to make me feel better." Maya said as she stepped away from the aide. "I mean, I don't know anything about trials or defense…What's more, I'm a spirit medium who can't even contact spirits…"
"Aww, everyone has their off days!" Phoenix said, trying to comfort her. "I mean, I've just been getting lucky lately…But you never know when my luck is going to run out!"
"Really…?" Maya asked softly, tears forming in her eyes.
"W-w-whoa! Wright!" Edgeworth suddenly cut in and he sounded worried. "Don't jinx this case any worse than it already is! It's bad for my heart…"
"Oh? Oh! S-sorry…" Phoenix apologized. Jasmine shook her head before she whispered to Edgeworth,
"It's always like this for us. Be grateful you're a prosecutor if you don't like to deal with this." Edgeworth gave a barely audible chuckle before they all fell silent once again.
The judge slammed his gave as the courtroom was filled.
"Court is back in session." He stated, "Mr. von Karma, call your witness."
"Yes. Will Ms. Lotta Hart take the stand?" Von Karma requested.
Soon, the photographer had taken the stand with a smile.
"Lotta Hart, you are a research student at a university?" Von Karma asked.
"That I am." Lotta nodded.
"Good. Begin by telling us what you saw the night of the incident." Von Karma requested. "And don't add anything trivial or subjective. Understand?"
"…Y'all need to learn some manners." Lotta stated. Jasmine covered her mouth with her hand to hide her laugh. Von Karma shook his head and wagged his finger at the witness.
"UNDERSTAND?" He repeated.
"Y-yeah, I understand, I understand!" Lotta agreed.
"Er…very well. Your testimony, please." The judge requested.
"It was Christmas Eve, just after midnight, I reckon. I was in my car. I heard this 'bang' come up from the lake. When I looked out the window, I saw two gents in a boat. Then there was another 'bang'...There wasn't nary a thing on the lake but that boat." Lotta testified.
"Enough." Von Karma cut in.
"Huh?" Lotta asked, confused.
"Judge! She happened to take a photo of the incident!" Von Karma proclaimed before he presented the blurry picture Lotta had given the defense team already. "This is that photo. Accept it as evidence." Von Karma ordered.
"W-well! This is a surprise!" The judge stuttered. "This looks like…the very moment of the murder!" The people began to speak in shock. The judge slammed his gavel down three times. "O-order! I will remove you from the court if I do not have order immediately!"
"As the witness testified, she looked at the lake when she heard the shot." Von Karma said, "There were no other boats on that lake! So, the man in the boat with the victim must have been the one who shot him…" Von Karma snapped his fingers before he finished, "Yes. It was the defendant, Miles Edgeworth!"
We're in serious trouble now! Jasmine thought as her heart started to pound harder. Will this…be simply a repeat of 15 years ago? Will von Karma win again!?
"Order! Order! Order…! I will have order!" The judge cried, trying to quiet the court.
"…Well, Judge?" Von Karma smirked.
"The evidence is…decisive." The judge said, "I have very little doubt about this case."
NO!
The judge slammed his gavel once and said,
"Very well, the court finds the defendant…"
"OBJECTION!" The twins cried, desperate. "Wait! Your Honor!" Of course, Phoenix stuttered while Jasmine did not.
"I haven't cross-examined the witness yet!" Phoenix cried.
"A cross-examination?" Von Karma asked. He shook his head, wagged his finger and said, "We have photographic proof! What question can there possibly be!? This photo is worth a thousand words…and they all read 'guilty'! You lose. Or…do you claim to have found a contradiction in her testimony!? Very well. If you have to, you may cross-examine the witness. You will only flounder and ask meaningless questions! You will fail to find anything!" Von Karma snapped before he finished, "And then, I will have you held in contempt of court!"
No!
"Uh, Nick, Jazz…contempt…?" Maya asked.
"'Contempt of court', you know?" Phoenix said.
"I…guess I understand." Maya said, "Well…what are you going to do? Do you really think there was a contradiction with the facts in her testimony?" Jasmine turned Lotta's testimony in her head just as Mia had taught her to. She tried to find any angle at all. Just one was all they needed.
"I…think I noticed one little thing…" Phoenix said, sharing a look with his sister. However, Jasmine's eyes were closed as she tried to find something, anything, in Lotta's testimony. Her eyes opened as she only found one thing, and it was useless. Her eyes met her brother's identical ones and he understood how hopeless she felt.
"Wow, I'm impressed, Nick! I didn't notice anything!" Maya smiled, "Right! Let's take him on!"
"This isn't over yet." Jasmine added in agreement.
"Y-yeah…" Phoenix agreed, sounding less confident than the girls. He slammed his hands on the bench and said, "I understand…I will cross-examine the witness!"
"Tsk tsk tsk…Very well!" Von Karma smirked.
"I pray for your sake this isn't a waste of time." The judge added.
"It was Christmas Eve, just after midnight, I reckon." Lotta repeated.
"HOLD IT! 'Just after midnight,' you say? In other words, it was no longer Christmas Eve... but Christmas Day!" Phoenix pointed out.
"Huh? Uh, yeah, well, yes." Lotta agreed.
"OBJECTION! I know you want to find contradictions, but really!" Von Karma cut in.
"Mmmph." Phoenix grunted.
"I hope your next contradiction is a little more relevant to this trial. Witness, continue your testimony." The judge requested. Even Jasmine smacked her hand against her forehead at her brother's wimpy contradiction.
"I was in my car." Lotta continued.
"HOLD IT! Why were you camping there, anyway?" Phoenix asked.
"I'm a research student at my university. I was taking pictures to use in my research." Lotta answered.
"Ms. Hart. Could you be more specific about your 'research'?" Phoenix asked.
"OBJECTION! What does the witness's motive in camping by the lake have to do with this case!? The answer is 'nothing'! I object to this line of questioning! Objection sustained!" Von Karma cried.
"W-w-wait, now, I'm the one who says that!" The judge protested.
"Well, then say it already!" The veteran prosecutor all but growled.
"Objection sustained." The judge stated.
"I heard this 'bang' come up from the lake." Lotta continued.
"HOLD IT! So, you weren't looking at the lake at that time?" Phoenix asked.
"Nope. I looked after I heard that noise." Lotta answered.
"OBJECTION! She's said that already! I asked you to find 'contradictions'! Not leisurely chat with the witness!" Von Karma asked.
"When I looked out the window, I saw two gents in a boat." Lotta continued.
"HOLD IT! Could you clearly see the two men?" Phoenix asked.
"Just look at the picture! Clear enough for you?" Lotta smirked.
"Wait a second! I wasn't asking you about the photo! I was asking if YOU saw the two men!" Phoenix said.
"Uh, yeah, well, of course…" Lotta stuttered.
"OBJECTION! The witness has testified that she saw them! There's also a photo! You'd best look elsewhere for your precious contradictions!" Von Karma cried.
"Then there was another 'bang'..." Lotta continued.
"HOLD IT! Were you watching the very moment the shot rang out?" Phoenix asked.
"Well, yeah, sure..." Lotta said, uncertain.
"OBJECTION! You're asking meaningless questions! Meaningless! 'Contradictions,' Mr. Wright. Not meaningless babble!" Von Karma cried, stopping Lotta again.
He's definitely hiding something.
"There wasn't nary a thing on the lake but that boat." Lotta finished.
"HOLD IT! Are you sure about that?" Phoenix asked.
"Yeah, sure as a country gal can be!" Lotta assured.
"How come you're so sure?" Jasmine asked, allowing herself to speak once while not looking at von Karma. It was because of him she's been silent for so long anyways.
"Well, heck, I scanned the whole lake." Lotta answered.
"Ms. Hart... you-" Phoenix started.
"OBJECTION! Mr. Wright! The witness has answered the question in full." Von Karma stated.
"Mmph!" Phoenix grunted.
"No need for further questions! Objection sustained!" Von Karma cried.
"U-uh, that's what I'm..." The judge tried to say.
"Sustained!" Von Karma shouted.
"Y-yes, of course." The judge, now trembling in fear, agreed.
Chicken.
"Enough!" The judge said after he slammed his gavel once. "I think we've heard all we need to hear, Mr. Wright. It seems you are unable to find a contradiction in the testimony worth noting."
"B-but, Your Honor!" Phoenix cried as he began to sweat nervously. Von Karma snapped his fingers.
"You keep your promise!" He cried.
What would you know about keeping promises?
"Mr. Wright." The judge said, "I am afraid I will have to penalize any further outbursts…By holding you in contempt of court!"
"And if that happens, you'll have to leave the courtroom immediately!" Von Karma added, "Understood…?"
"Uh…uh huh." Phoenix reluctantly agreed.
"Nick…!" Maya whispered, "Lotta's testimony is fishy, Nick, Jazz! Real fishy!"
"I…know what you mean." Phoenix said, "But…if I can't say anything, what can I do?" Jasmine's eyes went over to Edgeworth before they returned to meet Maya's as the judge slammed down his gavel and said,
"I believe we've covered the evidence sufficiently to make a decision."
"Then, pass your judgment!" Von Karma cried. The judge nodded,
"Very well. Mr. Miles Edgeworth, please take the stand."
"HOLD IT!" Two voices cried out. The entire court froze until the judge asked,
"Wh-who was that!?"
"It…was me." Maya said.
"And me!" Jasmine added as the two girls held their heads up high.
"I-is something wrong? D-do you need to use the facilities?" The judge asked, obviously surprised at the two girls, who had barely spoken aloud during the trial were now shouting for it to wait.
"No, we do not!" The girls cried in perfect unison, standing in similar stances that made both resemble none other than Mia Fey. "Lotta Hart! Your testimony stinks! It's unclear whether you were actually looking at the lake! It's highly doubtful that you actually saw Mr. Edgeworth!" It was as if the two shared one single mind. For a second, both Phoenix and Edgeworth wondered if Maya was actually Jasmine's twin instead of Phoenix himself. "Tell us the truth! This is a matter of life or death!" The photographer reeled back in shock. "Lotta! Did you really clearly see Mr. Edgeworth that night!? Did you see him fire that pistol!?" The judge slammed his gavel.
"You two will stand down!" He cried, "The court does not acknowledge the defense's outburst!"
"Answer us, Lotta!" The girls shouted, ignoring the judge.
"What's the big idea, treating me like some kind of criminal!?" Lotta cried, "I saw him! I swear it! I saw Edgeworth…"
"OBJECTION! Enough!" Von Karma cried and for the first time since the trial started, Jasmine did not flinch at the sound of the veteran prosecutor's voice. "Judge…declare the defense in contempt of court!"
"Y-yes…yes, of course." The judge agreed, "I'm sorry but you WERE warned. Guard! Escort Mr. Wright out of the courtroom! He is in contempt of court and must leave."
Not on my watch! Jasmine thought as her eyes met Maya's once again. They knew what they had to do, it was the only way to save the trial.
"Wait!" The girls shouted at the top of their lungs.
"We were the ones who made the outburst, Your Honor!" Jasmine cried.
"Nick is innocent!" Maya added. Von Karma shook his head and wagged his finger.
"Hah! What's the difference?" He spat, "All that remains is for the guilty verdict to be declared! Isn't that right, Mr. Phoenix Wright!?" Phoenix slammed his hands on the bench and cried,
"Wrong!"
"What!?" Von Karma cried.
"Did you hear what Ms. Hart just said?" Phoenix asked. "She said she clearly saw Mr. Edgeworth! That was not in the testimony! That changes her testimony and I have a right to cross-examine her again!" The court filled with the sounds of people talking until the judge slammed his gavel three times.
"Order! Order! Order! Order! Order! Order!" The judge cried repeatedly.
"You're in contempt of court! It's too late for wild claims!" Von Karma cried, "Judge! Sustain my objection!"
"…I'm sorry, Mr. von Karma, but I cannot." The judge said and Jasmine was grinning as soon as she heard that.
"What!?" Von Karma cried.
"Ms. Lotta Hart has made a new testimony." The judge explained, "The defense does have a right to cross-examine her again."
"B-but he is in contempt of court!" Von Karma cried, obviously not used to be denied.
"No, we are!" Jasmine and Maya cried out. "If you're going to arrest someone, arrest us!"
"Hmm…" The judge nodded, "Very well. Maya Fey and Jasmine Wright! You two will leave the courtroom immediately."
"Nick!" Maya whispered, "We did what we could…You have to do the rest! Good luck!"
"We believe in you. Now don't go letting us down! We'll see you when you come to tell us the good news…and bail us out." Jasmine grinned.
"M-Maya…Jazz…!" Phoenix said, shocked. The girls continued smiling, however, as they were led out of the courtroom and into the police cars.
Maya and I knew what we were doing and even if I hadn't silently agreed, Maya would've done it anyway. She just had that much faith in Nick, just as much as I do or maybe even more. It was moments like that that convinced me there was something between them. As for Miles…I knew he had faith in Nick, he always did, after all. The two of them are as good of a team as Nick, Maya and I are. I knew everything would be alright, I always believed that.
There's the chapter! I know it's shorter but I wanted to show how much Jasmine cared for Phoenix, just as much as Maya. Besides, this won't be the first time she won't see all of a trial. Pyrosaurus X knows what I'm talking about. I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and let me know what you think in a review! Later!