Minutes later, Ponco was summoned to the stand, her screen displaying a curious and bright smile. Klavier pocketed his hands and spoke to the robot. "State your name and occupation."

Ponco's head began to spun as she tilted it back and forth. "Scanning. Searching data...Search Complete! I'm Ponco, a robot helper at the Cosmos Space Center."

Klavier gave her a warm smile as he leaned in forward. "Thank you. Now, I'm going to ask you some questions, ja?"

"Questions? You have questions?" Ponco started to spin around, cheering that she gets to do something. "Hooray! What are your questions?"

"I want to know if you were there at the scene of the murder of Metis Cykes. It was seven years ago, on the 7th of October around 2 PM, in the robotics lab."

"Certainly! Just one moment!" Ponco's head started to spin yet again, as she tilted back and forth. "Searching data... Search complete! Yes, I was there in the robotics lab!"

The blond slammed his hand behind him, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "It looks like Herr Wright's hunch was correct. We DO need Fraulein Ponco's testimony."

"This is great!" thought Phoenix. "I just KNEW Ponco must've seen something important! Maybe even something that just MIGHT save Athena!"

"Well, little Ponco. Do you think you can give us your testimony today? asked His Honor.

Ponco nodded and proceeded to her testimony.

Witness Testimony

- What I Saw -

I went to the robotics lab at about 2 PM for my regular recharge!
Just as I was about to charge up, Athena came in and hugged Mommy Metis!
And then Mommy Metis fell down. After that, I was recharging, so I don't know anything.
After I charged up, I was cleaning the room, and Mr. Simon came in.
And then an error occurred. There is no data after that point.

The judge assessed the testimony and nodded. "Well, it sounds like the defendant was, without question, at the scene. However, it doesn't appear that the witness saw the actual moment of the murder."

"I disagree, Herr Judge. Fraulein Ponco's testimony indicates that Fraulein Cykes DID commit the crime."

Phoenix slumped down, not believing what Klavier had just said. "...What?"

Klavier decided to explain himself. "It's a huge possibility, that Fraulein Ponco misinterpreted some of things she saw. For example, Fraulein Cykes "hugged," her mother and then, later, she "fell down." A parent doesn't usually fall down when they are hugged."

The judge conceded with the prosecution, but was still a bit confused. "They don't, but...!"

"Ja. It could only mean one thing." Klavier slammed his hand right behind him, looking quite serious. "What Fraulein Ponco witnessed was the moment of the crime when Fraulein Cykes stabbed her own mother!"

Phoenix flinched, but quickly recomposed himself once Klavier asked Ponco another question.

"Before Fraulein Cykes hugged Dr. Cykes, did the two of them talk to each other?"

Ponco nodded. "Yes, they did. They spoke to each other very loudly! But I don't know what they said. Athena is usually so quiet, so I was surprised!" she said, going into her idle animation.

"Spoke very loudly." mused Klavier. "One doesn't speak loudly, unless they are arguing."

His Honor considered the prosecution's proposal and nodded. "I see. Murder after a heated argument... And then the victim "fell down." I agree that it does sound like a reasonable interpretation. However, Ponco doesn't seem to remember anything that happened after that."

"When I am recharging, I go into sleep mode. But I remember everything before that! I have a very good memory!"

"As much as I hate to say it, you must admit defeat, Herr Wright. A cross-examination would bore no fruit."

Phoenix didn't back down, and asserted that he had the right to cross-examine the witness, no matter how useless it is.

Klavier lost his playfulness. "Ja, I must concede that a cross-examination is not useless. Until now." In a rare occasion, Klavier banged his fist, not against the wall behind him, but on the bench in front of him. "Think about it, Herr Wright! Robots don't lie. Fraulein Ponco is both an important witness and valuable evidence at the same time!"

Phoenix didn't yield, not just yet. "Nevertheless... I will have my cross-examination!" he asserted.

The blond straightened himself and relented. "Very well then. But you may find this nothing but a waste of time."

"Agreed." spoke the judge. "Even if it may be a waste of time, you may proceed, Mr. Wright.

Wright stood strong, his hands firmly on the desk. "I'll show you both just how fruitful any cross-examination can be!"

Cross Examination

- What I Saw -

I went to the robotics lab at about 2 PM for my regular recharge!
Just as I was about to charge up, Athena came in and hugged Mommy Metis!
And then Mommy Metis fell down. After that, I was recharging, so I don't know anything.

"Hold it!" Wright strummed his chin, thinking of what to say. "I don't want to delve too deeply here, but... Could you tell us how the victim appeared and acted at this moment?" he asked.

"Mommy Metis was very surprised when she was hugged. I heard her heart pound."

Wright was about to ask further, when he remembered the documents he and Edgeworth found during their investigation in the robotics lab.

"Oh yeah... They detect the presence of people by the sound of their heartbeats. But wait a minute... That means...if Dr. Cykes really did die at this moment..." Phoenix brought down his hands, looking right at the robot. "Ponco, how was Dr. Cykes after she fell down? Could you still hear the sound of her heartbeat?"

Ponco searched her database for the answer. "Let's see. The moment she fell, her heart was pounding. After that, I don't know. I started recharging just then."

Phoenix couldn't help but let out a grunt of annoyance. "Of all the unlucky timing! If you had heard anything after that... it could have possibly proved that the hug wasn't actually the moment of the murder!"

The orange robot looked down sadly. "I'm very sorry. I'm afraid I don't know. I'm very sorry..."

Klavier went to his finger snapping, to make things a bit light. "It can't be helped as Fraulein Ponco is designed to go into sleep mode automatically... However, she did detect an increase in heart rate right before she went into her slumber."

Phoenix couldn't but slump down and lightly groaned. Ponco piped in.

"After Mommy Metis's heart started pounding in surprise, she fell by the window. It was the round window, on the workbench side of the room!"

"The workbench, huh...? Ponco must be talking about that table to the right of where that giant robot is now...Wait a minute." Phoenix brought down his hands in a large thud, looking at the judge. "Your Honor! I would like that statement to be added to her testimony!"

His Honor considered it before nodding, looking straightly at Ponco. "Very well. Ponco, could you please add that statement to your testimony? That's a good little girl!" He's clearly still treating her like a granddaughter.

Mommy Metis fell down near the round window on the workbench side of the room!

"Objection!"cried out Phoenix. The defense attorney smirked and looked at Ponco with gratitude. "Ponco, your statement may have just inspired a breakthrough."

Ponco cheered, spinning around, feeling happy that she was helpful. Moving on, Phoenix cleared his throat and continued his objection.

"Just to be sure, let's go over it again, okay? The victim fell near the window on the workbench side of the room. However...her body was discovered on the operating table."

The judge blinked in shock, quick to utter, "B-But the operating table and the workbench are two different locations!"

Phoenix slammed his down on the bench. "Exactly, Your Honor! We've just learned a new, crucial fact! An eleven-year-old girl couldn't have moved the heavy body of an adult. So the only explanation is that the victim walked to the operating table herself. In other words, what Ponco observed near the workbench...couldn't possibly have been the moment of the murder!"

His Honor sighed in relief, shaking his head. "Whew. I am relieved to hear that. Glad to know that the murder wasn't committed in front of little Ponco here."

Wright nodded, conforming with the judge. "Yes, as we just heard in the testimony, Ms. Cykes hugged her mother, nothing more."

"Objection!"

All heads turned to the source of the shout. Wright narrowed his eyes, right at Klavier, who was riffing it out on his air guitar. The blond rock star abruptly stopped and banged his hand behind him, a smirk on his face.

"You presume too quickly, Herr Wright. If Fraulein Cykes couldn't have moved the body, it could also mean that she had it moved for her." Klavier saw Phoenix about to open his mouth but quickly cut him off. "Ja, I concede that there couldn't have been someone else there because of Fraulein Ponco's heartbeat detection."

Klavier leaned in, a shit-eating grin on his face. "And speaking of Fraulein Ponco, let's ask her a question, ja? Fraulein Ponco, did you happen to move something large onto the operating table after Dr. Cykes fell down?'

Ponco nodded. "Yes! Yes, I did! Athena asked me to!" Ponco closed her eyes, bringing up her hands, er, claws, whatever, up to her ears, seemingly in deep thought. "But I couldn't tell what it was."

The judge blinked in shock. "And why is that?"

"Unless something has an ID tag, I can't tell what it is. It's because we robots scan them to tell us things!"

Klavier pocketed his hands, a somber look on his face. "It doesn't take a genius to figure out what she moved, ja?" For the second time, Klavier banged his fist on the prosecution's bench, his face nothing but serious. "Upon Fraulein Cykes's command, Fraulein Ponco moved the body of the victim onto the operating table!"

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!" was the general response of the gallery.

The judge banged his gavel, shouting for order to be restored. Gavin paid no heed and pressed on.

"Give it up, Herr Wright! If the victim's heart had stopped, the robot's detection system would be useless. Additionally, Dr. Cykes only wore her jacket with the ID tag during special occasions. In other words, the victim wasn't wearing her ID tag at the time. From the Ponco's point of view, her body was nothing but another object!"

"Objection! But Ponco is equipped with a facial recognition system! If she really did move the victim, she would have recognized the body as Dr. Cykes! But she didn't, so that means-"

Klavier didn't even let him finish. "Objection! But you forget, the human face can be easily covered by a mask or a piece of cloth! With her face hidden, she couldn't have identified the body as Dr. Cykes!"

Phoenix flinched, internally surrendering that Klavier was right. The blond stood straight and composed himself.

"To summarize, Fraulein Cykes stabbed her mother near the workbench, then, using the Fraulein Ponco... she moved the body to the table, where she removed the sword and was covered in blood."

The gallery began to uproar. The judge responded by banging his gavel with more force than usual.

"Order! But... if that's the case, then I have a question. Why did the defendant move the body to the operating table in the first place?"

Klavier slumped down by a slight inch, his head hanging down as he sighed. Phoenix felt himself panic for a bit. "Why do I feel like I'm not gonna like what he's gonna say."

Klavier stood straight, looking directly at Athena. Phoenix could see a glint of something in Klavier's eyes. A hint of sorrow...and regret.

"Athena Cykes was a but child when it all happened. To her, the table was but a magic box that could make her robot friends appear and disappear in the blink of an eye."

Phoenix caught on to what Klavier was implying and couldn't help but voice it out. "W-wait! You can't possibly suggesting...!"

Much to Wright's horror, Klavier nodded. "Yes, I am." No hint of usually faux German accent anywhere. "Athena Cykes made a childish, naïve, and cruel mistake. She thought that if a robot could be dismantled and vanish without a trace..." Klavier's eyes hardened, as he brought down, not only one, but both of his hands down onto the prosecution's bench. "She thought it would be also possible to make her mother's body disappear as well!"

Wright felt the sweat drip down his forehead, his eye's widened as he felt himself be pushed back by an invisible force."That... That can't be... TRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUEEEEE!"

Once again, the gallery of the court went into an uproar, causing the judge to bark out for things to settle down. "Order! Order in the court! Order in the court, I saaaaaaay!"

Phoenix recomposed himself, slightly glaring at Klavier. "She was just a little kid... How can you say such a horrible thing, Klavier...?"

The rock star prosecutor pocketed his hands, his head looking straight up. "I can only say what the evidence points toward to, disregarding my personal feelings. You know what our job is, and that is to find the truth."

"Objection! B-But dismantling isn't the table's only function! It can make repairs as well! It's conceivable that Ms. Cykes moved her mother to the table in order to "fix" her!

Klavier put that in to thought and looked at Phoenix. "I suppose that could be what happened." He shook his head, very much obvious that he also disliked that results. "But it doesn't matter whatever the interpretation is, Wright."

"What do you mean?"

The blond closed his eyes to contemplate his choice of words. After a few seconds, he opened them up and looked directly at Wright.

"It's possible that Fraulein Cykes must've come to her senses and wanted to make it as if nothing happened. Ergo, that's why she tried to repair her mother. Even then, this doesn't overturn the case, nor does it lessen her suspicion of guilt!"

Phoenix growled, clutching his head in despair. "T-this just can't be true..."

The judge piped up, looking at the defense. "Mr. Wright, do you have any evidence to refute the prosecution's claim?"

Phoenix didn't even bother to look at the judge as the words came out of his mouth, full of sorrow and despair. "I-I'm afraid I... don't have any evidence."

"Cruel as this saying might be, but one life is worth more than that of many. I'm sorry, Herr Wright, but you must accept the fact Fraulein Cykes killed her own mother. Herr Judge, the prosecutions requests for the verdict to be handed down. Let us not make the hostages suffer further, ja?"

His Honor shook his head, a deep frown marring his lips. "What a terrible and tragic conclusion... If the defense has no counterargument, I see no need to further prolong this trial."

Phoenix was still in his state of despair, wallowing that he had failed to save his employee/friend. "Gavin's argument is just too solid!... But... But... There's no way Athena could have ever done anything like that! What do I do?! There has to be something... but I can't think of a single thing...!"

His calls were answered, as someone interrupted the judge's verdict.

"Objection!"

Everyone blinked in shock and turned to face the witness stand to see whoever it was that had shouted the all-too familiar word. There stood, Simon Blackquill, his expression blank.

Klavier clicked his tongue in annoyance as he slumped against the prosecution's bench. "Herr Blackquill! What is the meaning of this?!"

Blackquill's lips curved into a twisted smile, looking right at the Europhile. "Hmph. This is quite the farce you are conducting here. I could die from laughter. Your argument is based on an entirely false premise."

Phoenix quickly piped in to usher Blackquill to continue. "G-Go on. We're listening. Could this be the miracle I need?! But what is Prosecutor Blackquill trying to pull here...?"

The convicted prosecutor momentarily looked to his side as he spoke. "Seven years. For seven long years... this case has been on my mind. Not for an instant did I not think of it. I'm the one who killed my mentor, and don't think you can alter that fact now." He slammed his shackled hand onto the stand, as he practically glared at the judge. "Your Baldness, I will take to the stand, and I won't take no for an answer!

As per usual, His Honor was intimated by the prosecutor and hastily nodded. "O-Of course, Prosecutor Blackquill. Please go ahead."

Witness Testimony

- Seven Years Ago -

I went to the Cosmos Space Center with the intention of killing Dr. Cykes!
But when I got to the robotics lab, I found Athena there instead.
I would not be swayed from my purpose, so I waited for Dr. Cykes to return.
And then, I committed the act. Ah, how cathartic it was!

The judge assessed the testimony and gave out his opinion. "Hmm... But little Ponco here witnessed the victim 'falling'. In other words-"

"Objection!" interjected Blackquill. "I don't need any of your "other words," old man. I can guess what happened."

"Wh-Which would be...?" timidly asked the judge.

Blackquill gave him his infamous smile."She fell means "she fell." Merely that. A mother and child fooling around... Perhaps she tripped. Not that it matters. When I entered the lab, there was no trace of Dr. Cykes to be seen. There was no dead body either, of course, meaning she must have left the room.

His Honor closed his eyes in thought, processing what the prosecution claimed. "So the murder occurred after the time period Ponco described in her testimony?"

"Hmph. You should hardly take stock in the words of a windup toy."

"Objection!" Klavier shook his fist, looking quite annoyed at the Twisted Samurai. "Then would you care to explain what exactly Fraulein Cykes had Ponco move?"

The convicted prosecutor grunted as he reminiscenced about the past and explained. "Athena was always tinkering with robots on the operating table to amuse herself. And she always had Ponco move the heavy ones for her. That day was no different. Ponco moved a heavy robot for Athena."

Klavier didn't seem convinced. "Objection! You better not be lying, Herr Blackquill. Do you not realize that we can finally end the dark age of law today?!"

"Objection! I am but a murderer beyond redemption. Perhaps you should just release me so I finally board the ferry across the River Styx?"

Klavier's annoyance increased and slumped against the prosecutor's bench. Phoenix was in a similar situation, his eyes narrowed. "Prosecutor Blackquill's execution is tomorrow... If the truth doesn't come out now, it's all over..."

Blackquill grunted, getting impatient as the judge remained silent. "Come now, Your Baldness. Let us hear your verdict so I may go to where I belong."

However, Aura, still controlling Clonco, cut in.

"Hold it! Don't you dare, Judge! Don't forget I have hostages over here! And Simon! How long are you going to cover for her?!"

Simon looked to his side solemnly, hearing his sister. "Forgive me, Aura. I never wanted you to do anything like this for me. But you agreed to this trial. If you have a counterargument, then present your evidence. That's the rule of the courtroom." He looked right to his right, his twisted smile present. "Isn't that right, Prosecutor Gavin?

Klavier was not just annoyed. He was also baffled at Simon's action. "Herr Blackquill...! How could you be so-!"

The judge sighed, looking quite as solemn as Simon. "...Well, to be frank, I don't like this, but it's my duty to make a decision. If no one has a counterargument, I will announce my verdict."

"Is this really happening? Is it really going to end just like it did seven years ago...?!" desperately thought Phoenix. "I can't let this happen...! But I just don't have the evidence to counter Prosecutor Blackquill's testimony...!"

"Hold it!"

Phoenix blinked in surprised, hearing the shout come right beside him. He turned to his left, and to his surprise, saw Athena standing right there. "Athena! What are you-?" He cut himself off, remembering her safety first. "Are you feeling okay"

Athena ignored his concern and just said, "I can hear it... I can hear the voice of his heart. He's hiding something!"

Phoenix blinked. "If he really is, I could sure use Athena's help here... Her power might be just the thing to get us through this!"

"Objection!" Simon slammed down his hand on the stand, his shackles clanking. He gritted his teeth in anger, his visible eye glowing for a split second. "Cykes-dono...! No need for you to chime in here. Just accept that you're innocent!"

But Athena wouldn't have any of that.

"Objection!" The last remaining Cykes looked down, her shoulders relaxing. "These past seven years... They've been just as hard on me, you know?"

Simon looked confused on what she meant. "What are you talking about...?

"Do you remember? That... horrible, horrible trial...?" she asked. Athena sighed and put on a mask of confidence. "Even now, every time I stand in a courtroom, it comes back to haunt me. Not being heard, no matter how hard you try... Feeling so helpless... Caught in people's stares, so scared that it feels like your chest is in a vise... I'm terrified of courtrooms. I want to run out of that door even now!"

Phoenix couldn't help but smile at Athena. "And yet, you found a way to keep your fears at bay and became a lawyer..."

Athena slammed down her hand, looking determined. "This day has finally come. The day I've been looking forward to with all my heart. This is why I became a lawyer. This is why I studied psychology. It was all to save you from this false conviction."

"But, Ms. Cykes, do you realize what it would mean? You are the accused, after all. If you prove Prosecutor Blackquill innocent, then.."

Athena shook her head. She crossed her arms, flashing her perky smile. "The only thing that matters is the truth. It's my duty to find out what that truth is. Simon, please give me this chance! The chance to shake off this fear that's been with me for seven years and to face the truth"

Once again, Phoenix smiled as Athena continued on her act. "Athena is being so brave, confronting her past like this... This might really be the last chance to save them both!" Wright slammed down his hands, looking directly at Simon. "Prosecutor Blackquill! Please testify one more time about the incident seven years ago!

Blackquill opted to remain silent. But something inside him spurned to say something. "...Hmph. Fine, but your efforts will surely be in vain. For I am not a man who can be cut down easily!"

Athena smacked her fist into her palm, grinning excitedly. "Here we go, Simon!" She thrust her arm out, pointing at her friend. "Let me hear the voice of your heart!"

The ginger-haired attorney took Widget and activated her. She swiped her hand, and the holographic face showed visual images accompanying Blackquill's testimony.

Mood Matrix - Cross Examination

I went to the Cosmos Space Center with the intention of killing Dr. Cykes.

But when I got to the robotics lab, I found Athena there instead.

Phoenix noticed that despite not finding his intended target, Blackquill felt...happy.

"Got it!" shouted Phoenix. He stood straight and stared at Blackquill. "This feeling of happiness... Even though the person you were looking for wasn't there, you felt happy. Why is that?"

Blackquill merely grunted and gave his explanation. "Simple. When I was looking for Athena, and hadn't found her yet, I grew worried. So when I saw her in the robotics lab, I was happily relieved. Merely that."

NOISE LEVEL
40%

Phoenix quirked an eyebrow, skepticism painfully obvious on his facial expressions. "How odd... you planned to kill Dr. Cykes yet the first thing you do was to look for her daughter?"

The Twisted Samurai titled his head, looking at Phoenix with amusement. "I had no intention of harming Athena, so I wanted to confirm that she was safe first. It was just a part of my plan. Nothing contradictory about that."

Wright internally flinched. "Gah...! The second I find an inconsistency, he cuts it down...!"

Athena analyzed the matrix, giving her input. "Simon knows the principles of analytical psychology. There's less noise now... but I don't see any instabilities we can latch on to."

"I was afraid of that. We'll just have to keep chipping away at him, then, bit by bit!" Phoenix crossed his arms and looked at his employee. "Could you update his testimony, Athena?"

The multi-lingual attorney nodded and did as she was told. "You got it, Boss!"

Mood Matrix - Testimony Update

I went to the Cosmos Space Center with the intention of killing Dr. Cykes.

When I found Athena in the robotics lab, I was relieved.

But I would not be swayed from my purpose, so I waited for Dr. Cykes to return.

And when she did, I plunged the katana in!

Phoenix was bewildered at the emotion that Simon displayed at the last testimony. Sadness. Nonetheless, he pressed it.

"Got it!" Phoenix brought up his hands and slammed it down on the bench. "Evidence can be forged. Testimonies can be coached. But unfortunately for you, Prosecutor Blackquill, emotions can't be falsified."

The Twisted Samurai's eyes glinted for a split second, glaring directly at the spiky haired defense attorney. "Explain yourself, Wright-dono."

Phoenix nodded and stood straight. "When you made mention of killing Dr. Cykes in your testimony, you felt sadness. Why would someone with the intention to kill feel sad at her death?"

Simon smirked. Almost a bit smugly. "That's your attack? Disappointing. Yes, admittedly, I felt sadness, but it wasn't for her. No. I felt sorrow for Athena and her circumstances."

"No... He can't be talking about THAT, can he?!" thought Phoenix as his mind wandered to the various conversations he had concerning Athena and her ability.

"My objective was to save Athena..." Simon slammed his hand on the witness stand, leaning forward. "from an obsessive scientist who treated her own daughter nothing more but a convenient research subject! I went to the psychology lab first. That's where I would usually find Athena playing. But that day was different. I heard someone crying in the robotics lab next door. "Was Athena being subjected to yet another experiment?" I thought as I went to see. Conveniently, Athena had cried herself to sleep, so all I had to do was wait and kill."

"So that's why he felt relieved. Even then, just how much of this story is true?"

Phoenix was dragged out of his thoughts by Athena. Wright looked at the ginger with concern. "You still hanging in there, Athena?"

Athena flashed him a peace sign and a bright smile. "I'm a lot stronger than I look, Boss." She lost her smile and motioned to the Matrix. "Now, take a look at this. The noise level. It increased."

NOISE LEVEL

60%

Phoenix blinked. "That's...never happened before."

Athena further analyzed the testimony before giving her input. "Prosecutor Blackquill is lying somewhere in his testimony. As a matter of fact ...he's piling lie on top of lie, in an attempt to make his claim sound more believable. He's trying even harder to suppress his true feelings, and that's what's causing the noise!"

Blackquill smirked, prepared to accept his fate. "Hmph. There are no flaws in my testimony, and His Baldness is prepared to give his verdict. Give up on this lost cause, and let the law free me of these chains already."

"Objection! Sorry, but not while I'm around." Phoenix faced Athena and nodded. "Let's start by looking for inconsistent emotions."

"Got it, Boss! Just let me know if you wanna look for a contradiction in his statement so I can switch over!"

Mood Matrix - Updated Testimony
I heard crying from next door. Of course I was worried.

I hurried over and opened the door to the robotics lab.

Phoenix immediately noticed the contradicting testimony and pointed it out. "Got it! Isn't that strange. Why would feel surprise after just opening the door to the lab?"

Blackquill growled, but answered him, nonetheless. "Tsk! All right, fine. I'll explain, if I must. What surprised me was... Ponco. That toy figure attacked me. Dr. Cykes knew full well of my plan to rescue Athena. But she couldn't stand guard over her daughter twenty-four hours a day..."

"So Dr. Cykes had Ponco do it instead?"

"Indeed. She ordered Ponco to forcibly remove me on sight. So I slashed Ponco up with the katana that was there in the lab." Simon looked to the side, a frown on his face. "Hmph... That rickety old puppet wasn't worthy of that fine blade..."

Athena reeled in surprised. "Mr. Wright! It's happening again! There's even more noise now!" Now it was back to 100%.

Phoenix growled. "This is getting us nowhere. He just keeps on piling up his lies! He's a samurai, all right. Mind and will sharp as his weapon." Wright looked at Athena and suggested they tackle on Blackquill's testimony.

Athena nodded and switched it over.

Cross Examination - Third Strike

With a feeling of dread, I opened the robotics lab door. Just then...

...Ponco attacked me! I retaliated by cutting it into pieces.

Wright got bothered by the statement and took out the Crime Scene Photo. He looked at it and compared that with the testimony. His eyes fell upon the bloodied katana, as well as Ponco's dismembered arm. His eyes widened as he shouted.

"Objection! Sorry, but compounding lies with more lies is never the answer, Prosecutor Blackquill." He present the photo and directed everyone's attention to it. "Take a look at this photo."

The judge hummed as he stared at it, '"That's the photo of the supposed "moment of the murder," isn't it?"

Blackquill looked at it with indifference, a small, cruel smile on his face. "How many more times must I see that which damned me for my sin?"

Phoenix slipped on his mask of confidence, confusing Blackquill. "Ironically, I think this picture is actually going to be your savior now. See the bloodstain at the end of Ponco's arm where it was severed with the katana?"

His Honor shook his head, assuming what Wright was going to say. "...I hope you aren't claiming it's the robot's blood, Mr. Wright."

Phoenix shook his head and explained what he meant. "No. Most likely, the blood was transferred there from the bloody katana."

Klavier narrowed his eyes, piecing together what was wrong. "Wait. Herr Blackquill claimed he dismantled Ponco first then killed Dr. Cykes." Klavier didn't continue, instead gasping in shock as he figured it out.

"That's right. But, if that's the case, we've found a glaring inconsistency!"

Blackquill narrowed his eyes, a low growl escaping his lips. Phoenix paid him no heed and continued.

"He said in his testimony that he cut up Ponco, and then killed Dr. Cykes. But in spite of that, the victim's blood is already on Ponco's arm in this picture."

The judge reeled back in shock. "What? But that couldn't be!"

Phoenix nodded. "Exactly. In order for the blood to have transferred from the sword to Ponco's arm...the victim must have been stabbed first, before the robot was slashed. In other words," Phoenix brought down his hands and glared at Simon. "Prosecutor Blackquill...your entire testimony is nothing but one giant ball of lies!"

Blackquill gasped and flinched, as if being slashed upwards by a phantom blade. "GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

Phoenix slammed down his hands again, glaring intensely at Blackquill. "Tell the court the truth, Prosecutor Blackquill. Now!"

The Twisted Samurai clutched his chest, panting. He glared back at Phoenix and growled. "YOU...! You have NO idea what you're doing...!"

Athena covered her hears, flinching as she heard so much static from Blackquill's voice. "Unh... His voice... There's so much discord! I'm hearing not just one or two, but a bunch of rampaging emotions here! It's hard to describe... It's like a violent whirlpool or something...!"

"Phoenix Wright...! You will pay for this! Never have I been forced to reveal so much, but the rest I'll take to my grave!"

Wright wasn't deterred, and instead pressed on. "Prosecutor Blackquill, you are on the witness stand. You are obligated to tell the truth. Isn't that the rule of the courtroom?"

Athena frowned as she analyzed the rampaging feelings. "All of these complex emotions... They seem to be flowing from one source. I think whatever he really saw that day is what's causing these feelings!"

Mood Matrix - Root Cause

Following the sound of crying, I opened the lab door. And then...

I saw it! That terrible scene!

Phoenix frowned. All of the emotions seemed to have been cause by not an object. But a person. It was Athena. The head of the Wright Anything Agency probed the image and shouted.

"Got it! When you opened the door and saw Athena, you became overwhelmed by your emotions. Isn't that right, Prosecutor?"

Blackquill's growl became desperate, still not willing to reveal what he had buried. "...You should know better. And though it's pathetic... I admit, I'm terrified to speak of it."

Phoenix stood straight, placing on his professional look. "Prosecutor Blackquill, Ms. Cykes is innocent. I will always believe that with all my heart. Now, can't you find it within yourself to believe in me, too?"

Simon looked down, his face marred by doubt. "Athena is innocent, huh? Can you honestly say you believe that to be true, Wright-dono?"

Wright nodded, undeterred by his tone. "I give you my word. Now tell me what you really saw when you opened that door!"

The convicted prosecutor felt an invisible blade slash him yet again as he yelled in defeat. "D-Damn you, Phoenix Wright!"

Blackquill gritted his teeth, having been defeated. He clenched his fists tightly. A moment later, he stopped and sighed, recomposing himself. He looked directly at Athena and finally spoke.

"It was a tragedy - one I'll never forget. When I arrived at the lab... Dr. Cykes was already dead. She was lying on the operating table... while the bloody katana lay on the floor. And standing between the two, covered in blood, was Athena. She smiled, with a far-off look in her eyes, as she sweetly said..."

Widget started to update with the given information. There, plastered on the screen was something that shook everyone to the core. Athena's child self, covered in blood, smiling sweetly.

"Something's wrong with Mom, so I'm taking her apart to fix her!"

Simon looked away, a deep frown on his face. "That's what I saw. And now you have it - the truth that you so desperately wanted!"

"N-No... Prosecutor Blackquill finally tells the truth... and THIS is what it is...? It's... beyond devastating...!"

Phoenix looked beside him, and looked on in worry as Athena trembled in shock at the revelation. "I-I... tried to take... my mother... apart...? I... I... I... " Athena started to sway in pure disbelief, as some of the memories from the incident came surfing back into her mind. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Athena stopped herself, realization finally dawning upon her. "So it was me... I... I'm the one... who killed... my mother.."

Phoenix could only grit his teeth, feeling helpless that he couldn't do anything to comfort his employee/friend. Klavier sighed, a far-off look on his face.

"At times, the truth is never pretty. I've experienced it firsthand with Kristoph. Murder, attempt on disassembling a corpse, a scientist using her own flesh and blood as a guinea pig... I hate to admit it, but what I've suggested seems to be correct."

"Objection!" yelled out Blackquill. He glared at Klavier heatedly and slammed down his hand on the stand. "It's true that Athena didn't like her mother's research, but...you dare cast aspersions on my mentor by claiming Athena was used in such a manner?! Dr. Cykes could be awkward with people, but she loved her daughter with all her heart!"

Athena, still shook, was surprised. "She... loved me..."

Blackquill nodded and explained. "Your mother hated to see you suffer because you could hear the voices of people's hearts. She wanted to set you free of your pain, so she worked tirelessly on her research. Do you remember those headphones you hated so much?"

The ginger nodded, remembering them. "Yes... My head hurt every time I wore them."

Much to her further surprise, Blackquill shook his head. "No, Athena, it's just the opposite. They emitted sound waves to nullify emotional input from the voices of people around you. Your power was much stronger then than it is now. And those headphones were what enabled you to carry on with everyday life."

"No...!" she yelled in raw disbelief. "That can't be true...! Then why...?! Why would I have done... something like that... to somebody who loved me so much..?!"

Blackquill couldn't help but nod in agreement. "Her love for you was real. That, I can guarantee. That's why I knew... that what happened had to be some kind of mistake. I couldn't let you be punished for it!"

"So instead, you allowed yourself to take the fall? How poetic." said Klavier.

"Ponco was a witness, so I put it in the case, held Athena close, and vacated the lab. I threw Ponco away in the boarding lounge trash chute...and I hid the case on the Space Center grounds." continued Blackquill.

The judge hummed and assessed the given information. "It would seem that we now have all of the facts of this case."

"Hold it!"

Everyone looked at Wright in shock. Looks like he doesn't want things to end just yet.

"No! Not yet! It can't end like this!"

"Objection! Herr Wright, there's nothing more you can do! The truth has been revealed... it is done."

Phoenix clicked his tongue, desperate to save Athena from her fate. Before he could utter a word, Athena had cut him off.

"Mr. Wright... It's... okay. You can stop now... I don't want you or anyone else to suffer any longer for my sake..."

Phoenix flinched and looked at her in shock. "A-Athena! What are you saying?!"

Athena gingerly clutched her arm, a far-off look on her face. "I killed my mother. That's the truth. We have to face it... no matter how much it hurts. I admit my guilt. But could I please be granted... just one chance to tell everyone what I recall...?"

The judge nodded, giving her permission. "Very well. Then if you would, please take the stand, Ms. Cykes."

Athena stood on the witness stand, her face emanating a depressive look. "Thank you for letting me do this, Prosecutor Gavin. And thank you, Mr. Wright and Prosecutor Blackquill, for letting the truth be known. Now we can finally move forward, and everyone's suffering can come to an end."

Both Phoenix and Blackquill gritted their teeth, watching as Athena accepted her fate.

Klavier stood straight and fiddled with hair, uncomfortable with the atmosphere. "I dearly wished this was under better circumstances, Fraulein Cykes. Admit your guilt and Herr Blackquill will be freed, the dark age of law will start to crumble, and everything will come to its conclusion."

Athena nodded and began her confession.

"...I killed my mother. My memory is still a little hazy, but there's no question I remember it. I remember the weight of the weapon in my hands, and the feeling of it stabbing in deep... And I remember the warmth of her blood as it flowed down the handle onto my fingers. Your Honor, please find me guilty."

"Unfortunately, these words could only be truly remembered by a murderer." commented Klavier solemnly.

The judge frowned. "I see. Thank you for your confession. I believe this trial has gone on long enough. But, before we conclude, does anyone have a counterargument?"

There was nothing but silence. The judge sighed and raised his hand to bang the gavel. But-

"Objection!"

Everyone reeled in shock, quite surprised that someone had still had an objection against the confession. They faced whoever shouted with a look of confusion as they continued speaking.

"...I do, Your Honor."