Nick Wilde: Ace Attorney

Chapter 3: Bad Mojo

Written by Berserker88

Edited by Mind Jack

Cover art by Quirky Middle-child

11: 25 AM

Zootopian Central Courthouse - Courtroom No. 2

"Court is back in session," Clawhauser announced cheerfully, clearly because of his passion for the law and not the new strawberry-flavored, heavily-sprinkled, jelly-flooded donut stuck on his gavel. "Prosecutor Hopps, what was the result of the ZPD's search?"

And that was the only question that mattered to Nick right now. He shared an uneasy glance with Finnick, both knowing their case rided on the answer. Dawn Bellwether had returned to the stand as well, visibly hoping for a different one.

Judy's response wasn't reassuring for either of them. "I am pleased to report that they have found something."

(Pleased? I have a bad feeling about this...)

"I knew it!" the feline exclaimed. "That'll be twenty bucks, Bailiff."

"I told you, I wasn't betting!"

The gallery immediately took interest, filled with speculation and astonishment that the defense was actually onto something. Nick wasn't feeling particularly satisfied, not until he knew what he was dealing with. "So, uh...what exactly did they find then?"

"A box," Judy answered calmly. "Small and wooden, ancient Pandese in design."

(Is she trying to build suspense or just screwing with me?) "Can I assume something was inside the box?"

"I believe what you mean to ask is may you see-"

"What's in the damn box, lady?!" Finnick snarled.

If she was intimidated, she didn't show it. What she did show was the contents of the box. "Here. Maybe this will help to calm you down."

In Judy's outstretched paw were a set of long, stick-like objects that Nick recognized instantly, to his great displeasure. "Is that...incense?"

"There! Are you happy now?" asked Bellwether, two parts annoyed and satisfied. "I wanted to keep my special set of incense onhoof to cool my head after the murder and knew that the nosy cops might confiscate it from me. I'm sorry for lying about it, but I didn't think it was going to be such a big deal!"

(I hate her. I hate her so very much.) "Then...this entire line of questioning was…"

"Pointless, yes."

Finnick at least wasn't surprised. "You think they allow incense in prison?"

"Finn!"

"What? I'm just thinking of our client. Ain't that what we're supposed to do?"

"If all of this is settled now," Bellwether said impatiently, "I would like to go home. I think I've had enough excitement for one day."

Clawhauser pouted. "This was awfully anticlimactic, but I guess you can go. Thank you for your time."

Bellwether smiled, and with another curtsey, she turned to leave the stand.

Objection!

"Nick, seriously, I think it's time to let this go," Finnick urged quietly.

"Did that sound like me to you?"

"I don't recall giving you permission to leave," Judy said, her glare stopping the ewe in her tracks.

"W-What? I thought we were done here."

"Far from it. I was just waiting for you to confirm that this is, in fact, yours."

"Do you have some kind of problem with the witness's incense?" Clawhauser asked. "Don't worry if it smells funny, they all do. Not...that I would know or anything."

"Oh, I have a problem with it alright. Observe." She casually lifted one stick in front of her...and snapped it in two. The purpose soon became clear as a dark purple powder spilled out onto her bench.

Finnick leaned as far across his own bench as he could manage. "What the heck is that?"

"I've never seen anything like it," Nick admitted, despite his wealth of experience in such matters.

"I have," Judy said simply. And so did Bellwether, judging by the sudden horror on her face. "For the past few months, the ZPD has been investigating a new street narcotic believed to originate from the Mystic Spring Oasis."

(Haven't you only been with them for like, a week?) "And that...demonic-looking stuff there is it?"

"It's been given the moniker 'Mystic Mojo'." A roll of her eyes showed just how much she cared for that name. "It's a powerful hallucinogenic drug with dangerous side-effects, but that's exactly why Mystic Spring and its lack of inhibitions is a perfect venue to sell it from. The ZPD have been searching for a lead, but were never able to get anything solid on where it was coming from. That is, until now."

Mystic Mojo added to the Court Record

Clawhauser was nothing short of awestruck. "Wow, so the darling little lamb is actually totally evil? You're as incredible as they say, Prosecutor Hopps!"

"Just making the world a better place."

(Excuse me? Hello? Did we all forget who actually flushed this out in the first place?)

"But of course, it's really Mr. Wilde we should be thanking. After all, he's the one who actually flushed this out in the first place."

Nick tried not to let his surprise show. He was getting increasingly uncomfortable with how easily this bunny could catch him off-guard. "Uh...you're welcome?"

Hold it!

"Now wait just a minute!" Bellwether snapped, her hoof stomping loudly on the tiled floor. "I had no idea something like that was in there! You can't prove a thing!"

Nick shook his head, almost pitiably. "Don't even need an objection for that one. Didn't you just say that this was your 'special set' to 'cool your head' after the murder? If you had used that incense even once before, you would know what it really contained."

Her bout of confidence evaporated quickly. "I...er...just...bought them?"

"Bought? No, it sounds to me like you were more of a seller. And that's why you so desperately tried to hide this from the police." He smirked, the full picture finally coming together in his mind. "No wonder you don't like working at a naturalist club, Ms. Bellwether. Because in the end," he pointed fiercely, "you're just a liar in sheep's clothing!"

It was the first time he had ever seen "deer in the headlights" on a sheep. "I...I...I-I-I-AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" This time, her wool didn't

puff out; it outright exploded off of her body in a shower of fluff that enveloped the entire courtroom. When it was over, all that was left was a shivering, hairless ewe.

From somewhere behind her, Yax cheered loudly. "Yeah! Way to embrace the naturalist spirit!"

"Oh my!" Clawhauser shouted. "Bailiff-"

"On it," Bogo said, already doing his best to sweep up the wool.

"Hmph." Judy casually flicked a piece of wool off of her nose. "I believe that about settles the matter, wouldn't you, Mr. Wilde?"

Nick hacked up some wool that got stuck in his throat. "Ugh...I'll say. But why are you suddenly so interested in helping me?"

"I'm not."

"Yeah, I know, you're just making the world a better place and stuff."

"You misunderstand," she replied, her tone suddenly a lot more confident. "What I meant is that nothing I just presented helps your case at all."

"You can't be serious," Nick shot back. "Your witness is a drug dealer! If that doesn't make Hellwether a murder suspect, I don't know what does!"

"On the contrary, that very fact has eliminated Ms. Bellwether as a potential suspect." Ignoring his look of disbelief, she flipped open a folder and continued. "We now know that Bellwether's true goal was to hide her contraband of Mystic Mojo from the ZPD, a move she was forced to make due to stumbling in on a dead body. But if she had been the one to kill Nangi in the first place…" Judy snapped the folder shut, "...she would have removed it then, safely away from prying eyes."

(I'm starting to wish she HAD just taken credit for this.) "That's...a tragically good point."

"Which means that our only suspect remaining is the one found at the scene...Yaxley Matton!"

"COME ONNNNNNNNNN!" Nick screamed, reeling back.

"So I guess this whole thing really was pointless, huh?" Finnick asked.

"Not helping!"

The gallery went wild, but not for Wilde. "Order! Order! The prosecution makes a compelling point," Clawhauser stated. "Unless you have anything more conclusive, I can't allow you to indict this witness for murder, naughty as she may be."

(But...but this was supposed to be my big turnabout! I had the music playing in my head and everything!)

"Don't feel too bad," Judy said. "You still helped to catch a dangerous criminal today. It's more than I expected out of you."

Objection!

"Aren't you forgetting one thing, Carrots?"

"Like how you keep forgetting my name?"

He pointed a thumb towards the frightened ewe. "Like how we're supposed to analyze any and all new facts that come to light during a trial. If Lambchop really is behind this Mystic Mojo thing, I want to hear it straight from her."

"Such facts will be analyzed at her own trial. There is no need to hear anything more about it now."

"That has yet to be determined. Coincidence or not, that case overlaps with this one and we owe it to the court to see if there's any further connection."

Judy was not amused. "You don't know when to quit, do you?"

(Don't think I know how either.) "Am I wrong?"

It was a few more seconds facing that steely glare before she relented. "...No, no you are not. Very well."

Hold it!

"Hey, don't I get a say in this?!" Bellwether yelled, no longer shivering from cold but trembling with rage.

"No, no you do not. The only thing I want to hear you say is what really happened. Now talk."

That shut her down remarkably fast. "Fine. It's as you said: I found Nangi dead in the water with the defendant and a sledgehammer next to her. Since I couldn't just ditch the scene of a crime, I knew I had to hide my Mojo somewhere before calling the police. But I had lost my key to the storeroom, so I pulled out the hammer and-"

Hold it!

"Wait, what do you mean you pulled it out?" Nick interrupted. "I thought you said it was lying next to the victim?"

"It was," she insisted. "Mostly, anyway. It was sticking up out of the water."

"Why didn't you say that the first time?" Judy asked harshly.

"Because I didn't think you lawyers would be so dang obtuse about every little detail!" she yelled back. "If I had, I might still have my wool!"

(I think the wool is the least of your problems right now.) "That's certainly an odd way to leave the weapon. Was the killer trying to hide the thing or not?"

"How should I know?! As we've just established, that wasn't me!"

Sledgehammer updated in the Court Record

"Is there anything else that stood out to you?" Nick pressed. "Anything at all?"

She seemed about ready to chew him out again, but a quick look at Judy's face stopped her. "No point hiding it now. There is something else." She sighed, her anger fading away into resignation. "When I busted the lock and went to move my stash, I noticed...some of it was missing."

Nick was taken aback by that...and a little amused. "Wait, so you really were robbed?"

"Yes, yes, I get the irony. But I'm certain there was less than I had the day before! They hired me as inventory manager for a reason, you know."

"Interesting, but hardly surprising," Judy said dismissively. "We already suspect someone stole the storeroom key, but that still isn't necessarily connected to this case. For all we know, one of your customers just needed a bit extra that day."

"I'm so sorry that my confession isn't good enough for you."

(I'm the one that's sorry. Now what am I going to do?)

"Anyway, that's when I buried the rest of it. I knew I couldn't afford to take chances now, so I sunk the hammer and washed the mud off my hooves."

"So that's how the mud got in the water," Finnick noted. "She must have really dug it in deep to leave that much though, yikes. Like a freaking landslide in there."

Not a detail Nick cared about too much right now. "Are you sure there's nothing else?"

"Nope! Sorry, fox, you're out of luck." She smiled at him coyly, knowing exactly how much she was screwing him over.

"Now then, I would like to bring this cross-examination to a close," Judy announced. "Unless, of course, you've got anything more to add, Mr. Wilde."

"Oh, I'm sure he does," Clawhauser chuckled. "That guy always has another trick up his sleeves."

"She sure knows how to put us on the spot, huh?" Finnick grumbled.

"Yeah, and it's not a nice spot to be in. We need to find some way to connect Mystic Mojo to the murder or that's it."

"Did it ever occur to you that maybe it's not connected?"

"Well, yeah, but I'd really like it to be."

"And I'd like for Buddha Boy not to go to jail, but we can't always get what we want."

(Hey...wait a minute, that's it!)

Judy almost looked disappointed. "It appears that his sleeves are, in fact, empty, Your Honor. So without further ado-"

Objection!

"Not yet, they're not!"

"Were...were you just waiting for me to start talking again?"

"Maybe, maybe not. The point is, I know a way that Mystic Mojo might be connected to this case after all!"

"You do?" asked Clawhauser.

"You do?" asked Finnick.

"Another ridiculous bluff, no doubt," said Judy. "Show us then, just where you think this connection lay."

"Not where, dear Carrots, but who," Nick clarified. "I would like to call to the stand...Mr. Yaxley Matton himself!"

"Wait, what?!" Finnick looked nothing short of horrified. "Are you crazy?!"

"Like a fox. But it's not like we have anything left to lose. Except our dignity."

"You mean my dignity! Yours is curled up in a little ball and crying!"

"I knew it." Judy smiled. "This level of desperation is almost saddening. But I won't allow you to drag out this trial just because I feel sorry for you. What does the defendant have to do with this drug?"

"Let me answer your question with a question: what exactly are these 'dangerous side-effects' you mentioned?"

Judy returned him a look he recognized. It was the same look she had given him back in the lobby, still trying and failing to figure him out. Sighing in annoyance, she pulled out a file to answer him. "Like I said, it's a powerful hallucinogenic, one that can even distort a mammal's memory and the passage of time through prolonged use. If inhaled for too long, it overwhelms the user and causes them to fall into a semi-conscious state before passing out completely...oh, you have got to be kidding me. You can't possibly suggest-"

"That our good buddy Yax may have been drugged by this stuff?" he asked innocently. "I can, I will, and guess what, I have."

Mystic Mojo updated in the Court Record

"If you insist on embarrassing yourself, go right ahead." She leaned in comfortably, looking forward to the show to come. "The prosecution accepts the defense's proposal. Defendant, please come to the stand."

Even just seeing Yax walk up to them weakened Nick's resolve. The bovine kept that goofy smile on his face the whole time, continuing to scratch at his forced suit while using his other hoof to wave to the crowd.

The crowd was not moved.

"Look at him, acting all innocent!"

"Not the least bit sorry about what he did!"

"Mommy, are naturalists bad mammals?"

"Hey, it's good to be here, guys! Thanks for having me!" he called back eagerly.

(Ten seconds in and already regretting it.) "I'm...starting to think this may have been a bad idea."

"Gee, I can't imagine what gave you that impression," Finnick said, just trying not to throttle them both. "He's here now, so might as well get it over with. Like tearing off a really hairy band-aid."

Nick forced down his rising sense of dread. "Yax, do you know why I called you up here?"

"Not really. I was kinda zoning out for a while there."

(Sure, not like this is going to decide your entire future or anything.) "Well...we were talking about Mystic Mojo and-"

"Oh yeah, I know all about that stuff! Ask away!"

Judy was struggling not to laugh, something Nick would appreciate if he wasn't struggling not to cry. "I have to say, this is turning out even better than I'd hoped."

Nick slammed the desk in a futile attempt to calm his own nerves. "Yax! Tell us about what happened the night of the murder! Every last detail you can think of!"

Yax used the hoof that wasn't scratching his body to scratch his head. "Okay, sure, but I have to warn you, my memory about that is a bit fuzzy."

"Don't worry, I'm sure it will be enough," Judy said. "To seal your fate, that is."

"Alright, sounds good!"

(No. Please. You've already helped soooooo much.)

Witness Testimony - What I Remember

I went to the front desk to work the night shift at 9:23 PM.

Nangi came out to check in on me at 9:47, about two and a half minutes earlier than usual.

Then she went back to take her bath at 9:50. As she was going, I spotted this mole on her left cheek that kinda looked like my mom.

Anyway, I didn't see anything else weird, aside from this big spider web on the ceiling. It was like...34 inches in diameter.

So I just meditated with some incense until 10:00. Well, more like 9:59:57 I guess.

After that, I'm not really sure. Told you my memory was fuzzy.

The entire courtroom was silent. Nearly everyone in attendance found themselves afflicted with wide eyes, a gaping jaw, or both. Even Judy had caught the former, one of those eyes twitching uncontrollably.

"What the hell?" Finnick asked, dumbstruck. "Has he seriously been able to do that this whole time?"

"Huh. Guess this worked out better than I thought…" (What is he, a cyborg?)

Clawhauser had froze in place, donut nearly inside his mouth, but not quite. The ability to halt such a journey was impressive indeed. "...You...may cross-examine...the witness now...mmmph!" But it couldn't stop him for long.

Finnick finally shook the shock off. "I hate to say it, Nick, but as detailed as that was, I'm not sure any of it is actually gonna be useful."

On the other end of the courtroom, Judy had also recovered and was back to that same, unnerving smile. "As a matter of fact, I believe it's already proven useful. "

"As much as I'd rather not ask," Nick said hesitantly, "what do you mean?"

"For someone with such an exceptional memory, it's quite convenient that it should fail him within the very timeframe of the murder, don't you think?"

"You said yourself that Mystic Mojo exposure could cause memory loss, and Yax has testified that he mediated with incense during his shift. Sure seems like a clear connection to me."

"No, I agree. I now believe your theory to be partially correct."

"But let me guess, I'm also partially wrong?"

"So you are learning," she said condescendingly. "Indeed, this does not prove the defendant was drugged, only the possibility that he may have been inhaling Mystic Mojo at the time of the murder. Now the question remains...whether or not he was doing so intentionally. We do have a potential drug thief on the loose, remember?"

The gallery remembered.

"I knew it! He's a murderer AND a thief!"

"That filthy junkie!"

"Mommy, what's a junkie?"

"Oh, is that what that stuff was?" Yax furrowed his bushy brows in confusion. "Would explain a couple things fer sure."

(I finally gain another foothold and she's already found a way to turn it back on me. Which means this is either going to be my second wind or the final nail in Yax's coffin.)

Cross-Examination - What I Remember

I went to the front desk to work the night shift at 9:23 PM.

Nangi came out to check in on me at 9:47, about two and a half minutes earlier than usual.

Hold it!

"Usual? So this is what she normally does?"

"Yup. She teaches her late class from 6-8, then the place closes to the public, so she has dinner in her office, a tuna casserole that night by the smell of it, then comes to see me before her bath."

"I...see. Did she say anything unusual that night?"

He put a hoof to his chin, as if actually having trouble remembering. "Can't say she did. All she said was, 'Good evening, Yax,' and then I said, 'Evening, Nangi,' and then she said, 'Lovely weather tonight,' and I nodded and said, 'Sure is,' and then she sort of-"

"Okay, okay, we get it! Nothing unusual!" (Besides you.) "So what happened next?"

Then she went back to take her bath at 9:50. As she was going, I spotted this mole on her left cheek that kinda looked like my mom.

Hold it!

"About how many mammals would you say know that?"

"Anyone who got a good look back there, I imagine."

(TMI, buddy.) "About Nangi's schedule!"

"Oooooooooh!" He nodded fervently in understanding. "Seven."

"Why...that very specific number?"

"Because that's how many members we have on staff. Actually, I guess it's six now."

"Screw you, hairball!" shouted Bellwether from the sidelines.

"In other words," Judy said, "those are the individuals most capable of pulling this off. Which of course includes you, the only one there with her that night."

"That is correct, ma'am."

"What else?" Nick asked, suddenly not wanting to stay on this line of questioning any longer.

Anyway, I didn't see anything else weird, aside from this big spider web on the ceiling. It was like...34 inches in diameter.

Hold it!

"Then nobody else came in? At all?"

"Like I told the big horsey guy, no one."

"But what if someone just hadn't left?"

"That's also a negatory. I checked the whole building before setting up out front. There wasn't a soul to be found. I'm very vigilant."

(Unfortunately, you've proven that beyond a shadow of a doubt.) "You really checked every room?"

"Sure did! Can't be too careful."

"Not careful enough apparently," Finnick shot back.

"Wait a minute, Finn," Nick said, paw raised to stop him. "Don't you think there's something odd about that?"

"What, like 'every day of this job' odd, or 'add that to the testimony' odd?"

"Yax, please add that last statement to your testimony."

"Well okay then."

(Things are going to get worse before they better, but...I think I can finally turn this around.)

I checked every room of the building, but there wasn't anyone else there.

Objection!

Nick decided to cut to the chase this time, knowing how bad it looked to object to his own client. "Yax, you say that you searched every room, but I'm afraid that's impossible. There's one room you could not have entered."

"Huh?" The bovine's mane rippled, sending flies scattering. "Like what, man?"

"Bailiff, you know the drill," Clawhauser whispered. The buffalo muttered bitterly as he once again retrieved the diagram to display.

Nick gave him an encouraging thumbs-up, then pointed. "The room Yax could not have entered is here!"

Got it!

"The storeroom, of course. According to Ms. Bellwether, that room should have been locked at the time as business hours were over. Which makes you being able to enter very interesting indeed."

"Do you practice yoga, Mr. Wilde?" Judy asked. "Because you seem quite capable of sticking your foot in your mouth."

"Oh? Whatever do you mean, Carrots?" He tried to ignore Finnick nervously nudging his arm next to him. Turning just slightly, he winked at the smaller fox, then turned back to her.

"You really don't get it? I actually expected more out of you. Think, if the defendant could gain access to a room that should have been locked, then the most likely conclusion was that he had the means to unlock it." She smirked, pointing at the confused ungulate. "Which proves that he is the thief of the storeroom key!"

"Woah, woah, I didn't steal anything," he defended, though not very defensively. "Yeah, the door was open, but that's because it was already unlocked. I don't know why."

"Hmph. You don't honestly expect me to believe that, do you?"

"Don't be so hasty, Carrots," Nick smiled. "Maybe he's telling the truth."

"You stay out of this!"

"Alright, don't say I didn't warn ya…"

Clawhauser was beside himself. "Prosecutor Hopps, do you mean to indict the defendant with larceny and possession of an illegal drug on top of the murder charge?"

"I do indeed, and the proof is right in front of you, courtesy of Mr. Wilde."

"You're welcome, by the way," the fox said. "But before you get too ahead of yourself, there's something I would like to present."

The cheetah's attention shifted just as quickly. "Oh, what's that?"

Judy's smile slowly faded, realizing too late that something was wrong.

(You're not the only one who can lay a trap, Hopps.) "Just a piece of evidence I thought might be relevant."

Take that!

"The storeroom key?"

"Let's recap. Lambchop loses the storeroom key the day of the murder, but because of the evacuation, she doesn't notice it's missing until the next morning. That means that when she left the Oasis, she thought it was still safely locked. But that contradicts what Yax just told us. Yax, when did you check the storeroom?"

"9:16."

"Thank you, Yax. Meaning that sometime after the theft occurred, but before Bellwether discovered the body the next morning, the storeroom was locked once again." He crossed his arms, staring challengingly at the bunny. "But if Yax is the thief, then I need you to answer one question for me, Fluff. Where is it?"

Her smile was gone now. "W-Where's what? The Mystic Mojo had already been-"

"I'm not talking about the Mojo. I mean the storeroom key that my client allegedly stole it with. I'm sure you won't argue that he was passed out at the crime scene for the rest of the night, so if he really had just committed a theft…" He slammed his paw down, as if to close the trap he had set up. "...that key would have been found on his person!"

"Ummmmph!" Like a rubber band, both of Judy's ears whipped back into her face in unison. They slowly peeled back off, revealing the most hilariously indignant expression Nick had ever seen.

"Which proves that the defendant is not the thief. If he was high as a kite that night, it was not by his own right."

"Be that as it may, it doesn't matter," Judy countered.

(She sure changed her tune fast.) "How so? This means that a third party was clearly involved."

"The prosecution concedes that the defendant seems to have been unintentionally drugged." Very reluctantly, by the sounds of it. "But what you have yet to answer is why. Perhaps this was simply a mean-spirited prank on behalf of a co-worker."

"On the very night of the murder?"

She scowled. "Don't even try to tell me that's too farfetched after what you've pulled so far. Can you deny the possibility, Mr. Wilde?"

Before he could answer, Finnick suddenly burst out laughing. "She's using your own tactics against you! That is gold! Bwahahahahaha!"

"I'm just gonna choose to take that as a compliment…"

"Take it as the end of the trial," Judy continued. "Because if your client can't remember anything else, there remains nothing to prove his innocence."

"Hey now, I didn't say that," Yax pointed out.

"...Excuse me?"

"I just said my memory was fuzzy during that time. So I still remember stuff, just like, not as clearly."

Her large teeth gritted."And you didn't think to mention that earlier?!"

"You guys said to tell you what I was doing before the murder, right? Well, the murder happened sometime after I went all far out, so I didn't think that, you know, counted."

Judy was trying very hard to keep her cool, and she wasn't the only one. (How can he be so smart and so stupid at the same time?! Yax is the biggest contradiction of all!)

"So just to be clear, we're not done yet?" Clawhauser asked for clarification, eyeing an empty gavel. Several shaking heads answered him. "Then it's a good thing I brought extras this time!" He popped on another donut and took a bite. "Defendant, please testify for us once more."

"A lost cause, but you may proceed," Judy sighed. "I can't believe this still isn't over…"

"Well...okay," Yax said, "But I should warn ya, things might get a bit weird at this part."

Witness Testimony - What I Sorta Remember

So I was just minding my business in the lobby, chilling with my incense…

...when suddenly, Nangi comes back in! Except now she's all pink and glowy.

Then she starts talking to me about my past and stuff, no idea how she knew about the jellyfish incident.

She tells me she wants to take me somewhere, and suddenly we're both flying through the clouds. Weeeeeee!

All these images were floating past us of guys I used to know. I tried to wave, but Nangi had a really tight grip on me.

After that, we finally landed. Then Nangi turns into a statue and just stops moving.

Then I guess I must've passed out. Man, what an experience though.

For the second time in less than an hour, Yax had rendered the courtroom speechless. (What is this testimony I don't even)

Clawhauser tried several times to bring the donut to his mouth, but this time he couldn't manage it. "I'm suddenly not hungry. Mr. Wilde, you may cross-examine...that."

"I will certainly try, Your Honor."

Objection!

"No," Judy said firmly. "No, no, no! I've forced myself to stomach your shenanigans all morning, but cross-examining the defendant's drug trip is where I draw the line!"

Objection!

"I have the right to cross-examine whatever I dang well please! Even a parrot if I have to!"

Objection!

"It is a needless waste of the court's time and a potentially corrupting influence on the children in the gallery!"

"Mommy, what's an objection?"

Objection!

"The pursuit of the truth knows no bounds!"

Objection!

"Not even moral bounds? I can't say I'm surprised, coming from you."

Objection!

"And I'm not surprised that you've got a stick so far up between your bun buns that-"

"ORDER! ORDER!" Clawhauser screamed, banging his gavel more vehemently than anyone in the history of the Zootopian Central Courthouse had ever seen. "Do I have to get Bailiff Bogo to come discipline you two?"

The buffalo cracked his knuckles. "Just give me an excuse."

Both attorneys were cowed instantly. "No, Your Honor."

"Good. Now I have a compromise. Mr. Wilde, you may cross-examine the defendant. However, there will be no needless pressing just for fun or you'll face the wrath of a penalty." He added a surprisingly-threatening hiss for emphasis.

(Note to self: do not deprive Judge Clawhauser of his sweets.) "I don't do it for fun…"

"So you admit that you press things needlessly?" Finnick grinned.

"I'm just gonna go ahead and get on with this now."

"You do that."

(Definitely the most surreal testimony I've ever dealt with, but this IS Yax's recollection of what happened. Just gotta find something to make sense of it.)

Cross-Examination - What I Sorta Remember

So I was just minding my business in the lobby, chilling with my incense…

...when suddenly, Nangi comes back in! Except now she's all pink and glowy.

Hold it!

"Do you mean to say that Nangi came back out during her bath?"

"Totally!" He paused, no longer so sure. "I mean, except for her color...and the glowing...and she was a lot smaller...and I think she had a third eye…"

Judy shook her head. "In other words, you were visited not by the victim, but a hallucination. Your Honor?"

"Sorry, Mr. Wilde, but you were warned about this nonsense." He struck his gavel hard against the podium, signaling a penalty.

The fox winced, as if it were him that had been struck. (You can't give me a mulligan on something like THIS?)

Then she starts talking to me about my past and stuff, no idea how she knew about the jellyfish incident.

She tells me she wants to take me somewhere, and suddenly we're both flying through the clouds. Weeeeeee!

Hold it!

"Then you left your post at some point?"

"Of course he did," Judy answered for him. "How else would he have made it into the lounge when we found him?"

"W-Well, I mean how did he get there?"

"Didn't I tell you?" Yax asked. "I flew!"

"I...feel like this isn't going anywhere."

Clawhauser disagreed. "Au contraire, it's a one-way ticket to a penalty!"

(I wonder who he hates more right now, me or Yax?) "This could be going better."

"Sure seems like you're having trouble there, champ," added Finnick, still snickering.

"This is ridiculous. How am I supposed to tell what's the real life and what's just fantasy?"

"Hey, you're the one who wanted to cross-examine it so bad, you figure it out."

"You know, for a co-counsel, you could stand to do a little more counseling."

He rolled his eyes. "Ugh, playing that card again? Fine, then here's my suggestion. Stop focusing on what Yax saw, and try a different approach."

"That's it?"

"Yeah, that's it. I'm an assistant, not a damn walkthrough."

(Actually...I think that might just be enough. Even for a hallucination, there's something off about this. No, ESPECIALLY for a hallucination.)

All these images were floating past us of guys I used to know. I tried to wave, but Nangi had a really tight grip.

Hold it!

"Correct me if I'm wrong, Yax, but would that mean you actually felt Nangi?"

"Yeah, she was holding me from above as she carried me across the sky."

"Then you weren't both flying?"

"Of course not! Yaks can't fly!"

(Ignore it, Nick. You have a case to win.) "Can you describe what she felt like?"

Yax took an uncomfortably long time to respond. "Hmmmmmm...well, she was a lot hairier than I expected. With long claws too. And she was wet, going by how damp my fur felt afterwards."

"What is the point of this?" Judy asked. "Were you really expecting that description to sound anything like the actual Nangi?"

"No, I didn't. And that's exactly what the point of this is."

Clawhauser was just as confused. "Nope. Not following. I guess I should just give you another penalty."

"W-Wait, hold on!" He quickly got to said point. "Just pay attention to Yax's testimony so far..."

"I was trying not to."

"...and you'll see that he only references things that are familiar to him. Nangi, past memories, mammals he knew before. But for a hallucination vivid enough for him to feel who he thought was Nangi, isn't it odd that his impression of her should be so distinctly wrong?"

"I have no idea! Not like I've ever been high or anything before!" He stared uncomfortably at his still untouched donut.

(That answers one question and raises several others.) "It's inconceivable that Yax's subconscious would dream up such a weird construct for no reason."

Judy leaned in, narrowing her eyes. "Then what is the reason, Mr. Wilde? Because you'll need to do better than that to convince me."

"If you insist. The reason is because Yax did not leave his post of his own volition. Rather, he was dragged into the lounge in his drug-induced state...by the real killer!"

"That's stupid," Judy replied bluntly. "And you can't prove it."

"Maybe not, but if Yax's hallucinations really do line up with what actually happened, I believe there's even more clues to uncover."

Finnick stared blankly at him. "Are you seriously putting all of our hopes on Yax being coherent?"

"Sure, just think about what happened next. He and Nangi landed in the same spot, and then she was suddenly still as a statue, which I can only assume is when he saw the real Nangi, dead in the water."

"Because that's what you want to assume," Judy insisted, gritting her teeth even harder.

Yax raised his hoof. "Actually, that reminds me, I think there was water around the statue."

"You mean around the dead body."

"Yeah, that. I wasn't sure what it was until just now though. It was all red and brown and purplish, not what you'd expect from water."

"Thank you for the insight," she said sarcastically. "Now if this farce of a testimony is done with, then-"

Objection!

"Will you stop interrupting me?!"

"Carrots...did you hear what he just said?" Nick gulped. If he'd heard that right, he almost wished that Yax was just imagining it. "If the red Yax saw represents the victim's blood, and the brown represents the mud, then what about the purple color? There's only one thing that comes to mind."

She understood instantly. "N-No...you can't be serious…"

Clawhauser did not. "What? What's everyone getting so dramatic about?"

"You never finished explaining the side-effects of Mystic Mojo, Carrots. I really think you ought to."

"Yes…" she said hesitantly. "While intended to be burned and inhaled, it is believed that long-term exposure to the physical powder can cause a sudden closing of the airways, resulting in...asphyxiation."

Mystic Mojo updated in the Court Record

Finnick's eyes widened. "You serious? Then, the autopsy report…"

"That's right," Nick confirmed. "If Nangi suffocated underwater, she likely would have taken some into her lungs before she died. Anyone would think she had simply drowned."

"Th-That can't be." If only he could add the look on Judy's face to the Court Record. "That can't be! My entire theory can't be wrong!"

"First time for everything, Carrots."

"Then the sledgehammer...why the sledgehammer?!"

"Simple. To throw us off of the scent and make us come to a totally different conclusion. You know, just like you did."

"Kh!..." She could only let out a choked gasp.

"We'll need to study the water in the pool to know for sure, but Yax's testimony plus what we know of the crime is something we can't just write off as a coincidence. Get it now, Your Honor? I propose that Nangi's true cause of death was Mystic Mojo poisoning!"

It was as if the entire courtroom had come down with some kind of poisoning with the way the crowd was yelling. "Order! Order! Order!" Though Clawhauser was hardly any better. "Prosecutor Hopps, order an analysis of the pool water immediately!"

She barely budged, her only movements the result of her shaking with poorly-concealed shock and rage. "How? How did you flip my entire case upside-down?! Just who do you think you are?!"

"Chill, lady," Yax said calmly. "All he's saying is the truth. And the truth will set you FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Without warning, he reached up and tore the suit clean off his body, baring it all for the courtroom.

"MY EYES!" Judy yelled, stumbling back until she fell clear off of whatever support she was using. As the bunny tumbled behind her bench, several sheets of documentation flew up into the air.

"Well well." Nick couldn't help but laugh. "Looks like the prosecution no longer has a leg to stand on."

The gallery screamed even louder and Clawhauser joined right in. "Bailiff, do something!"

"On it!" Bogo careened across the floor and tackled the dancing naturalist to the ground.

(Hope that doesn't damage his credibility, not like he had much to begin with. Still...I should probably make note of that testimony.)

Yax's Testimony added to the Court Record

"Bellwether!" Judy pulled herself slowly up to the bench again. It was the angriest he had ever seen her. "Answer me this and I may just lighten your sentence...how many employees of Mystic Spring did you sell your supply of Mojo to?"

"Are you crazy?" the hairless sheep scoffed, stepping around Bogo and Yax to get back to the stand. "Selling it to the employees would be the fastest way to get myself caught. I limited myself to the local nutjobs who came in looking for more than just spiritual enlightenment or whatever."

"But is there a way any of them could have known about it?" Nick asked.

"I'm not sure. To be honest, I tried to stay away from most of the long-term mammals because of, well…" She pointed at Yax, now being escorted out of the courtroom. "The only employee I spent any real time with aside from Nangi was the aerobics instructor from that class I mentioned. He seemed like another fish out of water, so I chatted with him for a while, even if it was a bit hard to keep a conversation going…"

"What was his name?!" Judy demanded.

"Weston, I think. Mr. Weston." She smiled at her hopefully. "So, can we discuss that lighter sentence now?"

"Bailiff, take her too."

"H-Hey!" In a heartbeat, Bogo grabbed Bellwether as well and dragged her out.

(Weston. Why does that name sound familiar?)

"This seems like as good a time as any for a recess," Clawhauser said, sighing in relief that he finally had the excuse. "I'll give you twenty, no thirty minutes to get a lab result on that pool water and to subpoena this new witness in the interim. Court is now adjourned."

"Heh. Looks like we've finally gotten a real lead on the perp," Finnick said, for once actually confident. "I don't know how you keep doing it, but we're still in the game, Nick!"

But Nick was suddenly not so confident. "Actually...I think we may have just lost this one…"

"Wait, what? How?"

"Because I just remembered where I've heard the name 'Weston' before." He let out some combination of a sigh and a whimper. "It's Flash's last name."

Clawhauser's gavel struck, bringing an end to the session.

And the plot thickens. At this point, it got so thick that I had to start going back and changing things in earlier chapters to make sure everything flowed correctly. Seriously, this whole thing has given me a new appreciation for the guys who put this stuff together in the games. It's no small feat.

Court Record:

Attorney's Badge

The symbol of my profession, icon of my status, yadda yadda. It's not exactly pretty, but it does let me keep my job.

Nangi's Autopsy Report

Death caused by drowning after being struck with a sledgehammer. Estimated time of death is between 10 and 12 PM on July 12th.

Crime Scene Photo

Shows the victim slumped over in the Pleasure Pool, small and large rocks surrounding her on each side. The victim's blood can be seen mixed into the water along with a large amount of mud. Hardened concrete residue can be seen behind the victim. Yax is lying nearby, unconscious.

Oasis Diagram

A simple diagram showing the lobby and the main lounge, with the doors connecting them. The Pleasure Pool is shown in the middle of the lounge. The storeroom is at the back and Nangi's office in the upper-left corner. The renovations area is directly behind the pool, obscured from view. Other attractions like the volleyball court and mud pit are also labeled.

Sledgehammer

Used to render the victim unconscious. Blood splatter and location of the wound shows that it was swung from overhead. Was found submerged in the Pleasure Pool after being used by Bellwether to bash open the storeroom. Before which, it was partially submerged already.

Renovations Photo

Shows the area the workers were reconstructing after the pipe burst, the pipe itself with a giant hole left in it. A pool of wet concrete shows clear hoofprints. Water is still flowing through.

Storeroom Key

A key used by Dawn Bellwether to open the storeroom. Went missing the day of the murder and is believed to have been stolen.

Mystic Mojo

A powerful hallucinogen illegally peddled out of the Mystic Spring Oasis. Potential side-effects include memory loss, distortion of time, and asphyxiation through long-term exposure to the physical powder.

Yax's Testimony

As Yax was dragged from the lobby to the lounge, he identified the mammal who dragged him as hairy, wet, and with long claws. He also spotted that the water around Nangi was a mix of red, brown, and purple.

Sometime

Profiles:

Nick Wilde

Age: 32

Me, myself, and I. I've been a defense attorney for a long time now, but I'm still not exactly what you'd call a professional. Good thing I'm not asking you.

Finnick

Age: 35

The ray of sunshine who serves as my co-counsel. He may not be very confident in the job, but he knows how to keep me going in his own special way.

Yaxley Matton

Age: 28

A long-time member of the Mystic Spring Oasis, and a firm believer in all things natural. He's a nice guy, but could do a better job keeping his mouth shut. Was found konked out at the crime scene, which is how he got himself arrested.

Judy Hopps

Age: 24

The prosecutor on this case. Apparently a big deal out in the sticks, and not exactly the sweet, cuddly bunny I would expect. Seems to have some weird knack for being able to empathize with any species, but clearly not me.

Bailey Oates

Age: 46

A veteran detective on the ZPD, but that doesn't mean he's wise with experience. I'd say his old age is getting to him, but it sounds like he's always been kind of a kook.

Dawn Bellwether

Age: 36

A neurotic sheep who interns at Mystic Spring in the storeroom. Doesn't have much of a commitment to the lifestyle. May also be slightly insane. And a drug dealer.