The final segment of Turnabout Arcade is now up and ready. Thanks andreaprilonofan for adding it to your favorites. The final segment of Reunion and Turnabout will also be included.
Disclaimer: Ace Attorney was created/copyrighted by Capcom. Chris is Chris Ketchum's OC.
Turnabout Arcade-Trial II
Chris woke early the next day to get ready for the trial, got dressed and had a quick breakfast before heading to the Courthouse. His thoughts dwelled briefly on Prosecutor Whiteshore and Arcadia Smithson and part of him wanted to visit Maya, but that would have to wait.
Several families from the Arcade and two people he assumed were Jared and Alicia's parents were also headed into the court, Chris had a feeling they've taken an interest on the possible outcome of Jared's trial.
'Uncle Nick, Maya, hang on a while longer. Maybe I can go watch your trial after this' he thought.
The grey-bearded Judge's brother was apparently still presiding over the case, and Prosecutor Whiteshore stood behind the Prosecution's Bench, looking as stoic as she was yesterday.
"Court is back in session" The blond Judge announced"Are the Defense and Prosecution prepared?"
"I'm ready, your Honor" Chris replied taking his place at the Defense Bench.
"The Prosecution is ready" Priscilla stated, as resolute as ever.
The Judge nodded"Now, then. Prosecutor Whiteshore, have you any new information to share for the opening statement?"
Priscilla nodded"Yes, and no. The Prosecution's position has not changed from the possibility of Jared being the Killer, but the Prosecution would like to thank the Defense for providing the court with two potential Key Witnesses."
"Really?" Chris meeped.
"Indeed, Mr. Wright" Priscilla confirmed"And honestly, the arcade was not that big of a place. At any rate, the Prosecution would like to call forth its next witness, a young man and avid Arcade Player who is apparently a "friend" of the Defendant and his sister."
The Judge nodded"Very well, send him in."
Chris steeled himself for what's coming next, hoping that Zachery will be up for it. Priscilla had turned and gone to the Witness Lobby to send for Alicia's boyfriend.
Within a moment, the semi-quiet young man came into the room and went up to the Witness Stand. Chris silently wondered how the young man's voice is doing, but kept quiet.
"Witness, please state your name to the court" Priscilla requested.
The young man pulled out an-Pad, typing something onto word once he was online and showed it to the Judge'My name is Zachary Smithson, I'm the local Arcade Owner's son.'
"Witness? Is there a medical reason why you are using your I-Pad thingy to speak?" The blond Judge asked, sternly. Unlike his brother, he had little patience for eccentricity.
"Your Honor" Chris interjected"He has been rendered almost mute in an accident."
The Judge was surprised"Dear me. Prosecutor Whiteshore, why did you not mention this?"
"There was no need to unnecessarily invade the Witness' privacy" Priscilla said, simply as though it was most obvious"Whether he testifies vocally or not should not matter."
"No, I suppose you're right" the Judge relented"Witness, you may begin your testimony."
Zachary nodded, deciding to try speaking"I was there the day before yesterday... It was late afternoon, shortly before closing time. Victor and Jared were playing on a two-player Arcade Racing Game. All three of us were on the second floor."
"Hold it" Chris interjected"Didn't the Autopsy Report say that the scene of the crime was on the first floor?"
"Don't be so hasty" Priscilla interrupted"The report didn't specify such, although that was indeed where the victim's body was found."
"Oh, right, I forgot" Chris said sheepishly.
The Judge banged his gavel"Assuming we don't have anymore unnecessary interruptions, the Witness may finish his testimony."
Zachary nodded"When Jared and Victor were done, I heard them arguing right when I finished the last level of the game I was playing... By the time I got to them, Victor had already been pushed downward."
Chris thought for a moment"Weren't there any other Players on the same floor as you?"
"Yes, but they were too occupied to notice anything" The young man nodded, his voice cracking"Urgh... Guess I need to stick to my I-pad."
"Well, it looks like suspicion has fallen back upon your Client, Wright" Priscilla stated"The only possible suspect is Jared, most unfortunately. And I do believe that it turned out that no murder weapon was involved."
"Objection!" Chris cried"Mr. Arcadia Smithson showed me a slightly bloodstained ball he had kept from his Championship days at a Bowling Alley. That would make it the murder weapon, wouldn't it?"
"Objection!" Priscilla shot back"Even if that were so, how do you know there were any fingerprints on it or if it wasn't just ketchup that he'd somehow gotten on it and neglected to wipe it off? And there was no bruise on the victim's chest. Can you refute that?"
Chris shrugged"I don't have anything conclusive, but I'm positive that might be the weapon."
Zachery paled and typed on his I-Pad'You don't really suspect my dad, do you? He's the only family I have left after my mother.'
"Well, your testimony has given you an ironclad alibi" Chris stated"And about your accident, can you tell us about it in more detail?"
"When I was on my bike, a car smashed into me and sent me flying onto a fence at my house" Zachery wheezed, typing out the rest'I barely survived, but my vocal chords were damaged. That's why I'm having trouble speaking.'
Chris thought for a moment"Well, it looks like the joke is on you and your dad. And did you know about the bloodstain on the second floor steps of the Arcade?"
Zachary frantically nodded, typing'Yes.'
Priscilla rolled her eyes in annoyance and shouted"Hold it! The accident has no relevance to the case on hand. What are you getting at with these questions? This is hardly important information."
"Objection!" Chris shouted again"I think its important."
"You are blatantly invading the Witness' privacy" Priscilla pointed out"This may be a Court of Law, but there are boundaries."
Chris shrugged"I know there are boundaries, but I think its important."
The Judge banged his gavel"Stop bickering, you two. I don't think this is anymore relevant than Prosecutor Whiteshore says, Mr. Wright. And I must ask, are you implying that the third-person that may be involved in Victor Thompson's murder is Mr. Arcadia Smithson?"
Chris shook his head"I'm not so much as implying it as I have a very good idea it was him, Your Honor. Prosecutor Whiteshore, the Arcade Owner is the other Witness you had in mind, right?"
Priscilla hesitated, then sighed"Yes, although It looks like I underestimated you, yet again." Addressing the Judge, she said"The Prosecution calls Mr. Arcadia Smithson to testify."
"Very well" The Judge nodded"We'll have a ten minute recess in the meantime."
Zachery paled and stood back"To think... That my dad might be a Murderer... I feel faint" he collapsed.
"Not here, you don't" Priscilla went over to help him"I'll take you to the Infirmary to get some rest."
Chris went back outside to get his facts in order. Alicia filed out after him.
'Well, looks like I just about won this case... But why do I have the feeling I haven't figured out the entire truth?' he thought. He believed that his Client was innocent, but he felt slightly empty.
"Chris" Alicia came out"You were brilliant, and I'm glad that Zachary was innocent the whole time."
Chris nodded"Yeah, I just need to piece together what I've learned and try to figure out the whole story behind this case. Prosecutor Whiteshore really isn't making this easy, but its her job to try to prove the Defendant's guilt, anyway."
Alicia nodded"She's actually a good person, huh?"
"Yeah, but I still don't know much about her" Chris shrugged"If I win this trial, this might be the last time we see each other, I'm going to be busy."
"Well, I'm going to join the police force, so we might end up working on another case together, sometime" Alicia said, hopefully.
Chris smiled"That'd be nice. Oh, and tell your parents they don't need to worry about payment, I can always take a side job if business at my Uncle's law firm is running slow."
Alicia nodded"Thank you, And I wish you luck in the future. Oh, and I hear that the courtroom next to this one is currently holding Miss Maya Fey's trial. I read about her in the newspaper."
"I feel bad for the Publisher who has to help with the Retraction if it turns out she's innocent, but that's just how is goes" Chris said"Maybe I'll go watch it after this case is over. My Uncle is handling her case."
"He's a magnificent man, isn't he?" Alicia asked"I read in the news about some of his cases, notably where he exposed the former Police Chief Damon Gant as Prosecutor Marshall and Detective Goodman's killer. And I read about Prosecutor Edgeworth's trial. I'd probably lose it if I was the Officer who arrested someone who turned out to be innocent after the said person's trial, but a Cop's gotta do what a Cop's gotta do."
"Yeah, that's why I look up to my uncle" Chris nodded.
One of the Bailiffs came up to the two after a moment longer"The Trial is about to resume."
"All righty" Chris headed back into the Courtroom.
The Judge and Prosecutor have returned to their benches after a break as well. The Judge spoke"Court has resumed."
Priscilla nodded"We're ready, your Honor."
The Arcade Manager entered from the Witness Lobby and took to the stand, sneering at Chris before speaking"Good day, I am a very busy man, so I'll try to keep this brief. My name is Arcadia Smithson, owner of the Smithson Arcade."
"Sorry about putting pressure on your son" Chris spoke from the Defense Bench"But I think he's going to be all right."
Arcadia nodded"I appreciate you letting me know, but you're dead set on suspecting me, aren't you?" He glared.
Chris shrugged"Well, I don't have any other Suspects."
"Mr. Smithson, if you want to clear yourself of suspicion, we need your testimony" Priscilla prompted.
Arcadia sighed"All right, well, here's the scoop. I was in my office doing paperwork shortly after hiring a Mechanic to fix one of my Arcade's broken cabinets. But then I heard a scuffle and a crash, so I hurried outside to investigate. By that time, Victor Thompson had already pushed up daisies."
"I don't believe you, what of the bloodstain on your bowling ball? And I think you might've stolen it at some point" Chris noted"Because normally, Bowling Alleys don't let its players keep their ball."
"Hey!" Arcadia cried indignantly"I earned it."
Priscilla was speechless for a moment"Mr. Smithson, why did you withhold this from me?"
"It wasn't any of your beeswax you Naïve, good-for-nothing Prosecutor, I thought you would've been able to sweep all this under the rug" Arcadia snapped.
Priscilla became red-faced with fury for a moment"Naive, good for nothing you say!?"
The Judge banged his gavel"Witness, I find that attitude towards women to be very disrespectful."
"My bad, I was just frustrated" The Arcade Owner shrugged"Anyway, back to my Testimony. I went downstairs to see where the Victim had landed, he was laying sprawled on the floor, there was quite a bit of blood on him."
Chris took this information in for a second"Well, I think this links to a certain piece of Evidence. And that evidence is on the Murder Weapon, your stolen bowling ball, right?"
"Give me a break, kid" Arcadia shook his head"That's not evidence enough that I had committed the crime."
'I don't believe that for a second' Chris shook his head, then addressing the Judge"The Defense moves to indict Mr. Arcadia Smithson for the murder of Victor Thompson."
"Objection!" Priscilla shouted before the Judge could speak"Mr. Wright, do you have any evidence?"
Chris nodded"You bet. All we gotta do is get that "stain" on Mr. Smithson's bowling ball looked at. Only, I don't have a Forensics kit, as I'm no Forensics Scientist."
'Shoot! I should've disposed of that thing' Arcadia mentally cursed, but then said"That's a blatant invasion of my private property. Certainly, there's no need for such antics."
"Well, your behavior has made it increasingly obvious" Priscilla stated, before addressing Chris"Defense, I must warn you that if you can't conclusively prove that this Witness was the true culprit as you claim, well, let's just say that you may lose your badge. I have certain... Connections, shall we say. Otherwise, you can always just back out and avoid any critical errors that may disgrace both your Profession and your family's name."
Chris smiled wryly"Except I won't have to in this case." Addressing the Judge, he said"Your Honor, can we get the bloodstain on Mr. Smithson's so-called prized "bowling ball" analyzed? That may be just conclusively prove that he's the killer."
The Judge nodded"Very well, then. Bailiff, get a Forensics Expert in here on the double to perform a DNA test."
Arcadia paled, closing his eyes as he grew deathly pale and groaned"Man... The things I do for my family... That cheeky Lawyer and naïve Prosecutor don't help things one bit..." He then snapped open his eyes to seemingly find himself in a black void with a green background where something punched him upward onto the top of a building, where what looked like Jumpman and a Donkey Kong character lifted him up and tossed him down. Within moments, he was back in reality, screaming while in a falling motion for a moment.
"Well?" Priscilla prompted him.
Arcadia sighed after he'd fully recovered from his breakdown"That was well-played, boy" he said to Chris"I cannot deny it any longer, Victor was actually the one who caused my son's accident. I confronted him that day, not long after he'd finished playing with Alicia and Zach."
"So, then, you DID have a personal vendetta with the victim" Priscilla noted"But why keep it a secret?"
Arcadia went quiet for a moment"My son felt a bit guilty that Victor's car had a slight dent from the bike and tried to take the blame by claiming he wasn't abiding traffic laws. I couldn't let him be sued and put our Arcade out of business by Bankrupting us."
Chris blinked"But why did you not approach me or my uncle? We could've found a way to help all three of you. Was the accident why you killed him?"
"Truth is" Arcadia sighed"I was mad, that was true, but not ticked enough to actually commit murder. It'd be bad form if an Arcade Owner killed one of his own costumers, It would shut down my Arcade. I confronted Victor in front of the stairs to the bottom floor and asked him why he hit my Son the way he did. That struck a nerve, causing him to draw his pocketknife and try to stab me, I got my ball out and knocked the knife out of his hand, it cut him on the foot. He stumbled from the impact and then fell down to the first floor."
The Judge was shocked"I can't believe what I'm hearing, this case was a waste of the court's time?"
"Yeah, and I tried to save Victor" Arcadia nodded, bowing his head"But I wasn't fast enough to break his fall. Afraid that dire consequences would befall me and my son, I panicked and did the only thing I could on the spur of the moment to keep my arcade in business: I tampered with the evidence, discreetly broke one of my game consoles and then tried to make It look like a homicide by pinning the blame on Jared. But then, well, Alicia must have panicked."
"So, an Arcade Owner accidentally killed one of his own customers, then tried to pin it on another... You're a Coward" Priscilla hissed.
Arcadia sighed again"I don't deny it. Miss Whiteshore, you and Chris are every bit as brilliant as I surmise the legendary Phoenix Wright and the famed Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth would be, perhaps a little too brilliant. I planned to hire a Lawyer to overturn Jared's guilty verdict once the incident was covered by claiming to have found new information and evidence, but I suppose it was unnecessary in the long run."
"Mr. Smithson... I had no idea" Chris whispered.
Priscilla took a breath"You're not such a bad person after all, though your little façade and cover-up scheme nearly had this court fooled entirely."
"Thank you" Arcadia whispered, then said"But now that this little misunderstanding is all but cleared, well, if my late wife were here, she and my son would both undoubtedly be ashamed of me and what I'd almost done... All just to protect one person."
"You're wrong, father" Zachary reentered the courtroom, accompanied by a Forensics expert and a Nurse from the infirmary.
"Zach!" Alicia and Jared rushed over.
Arcadia glanced over"Son... You heard everything?"
"Yes" Zach nodded"Actually, Alicia snuck out a minute ago to let me know how the trial was going. I can't believe you'd go that far just for me."
The Judge closed his eyes"The bond between father and son is always good to witness. However" he opened his eyes again"Mr. Arcadia Smithson, I must insist that you enter Rehab and get some Therapy. Beyond that, I hereby find Mr. Jared Clementine: Not Guilty!"
The Gallery cheered, while Detective Seeke discreetly threw confetti over to the stand. Zachary smiled and nodded his congratulations to Jared, while Alicia raced to hug her brother. Arcadia went over to Jared to offer free Arcade tokens as an apology.
Priscilla looked at the sight silently before turning to Chris"Christopher Wright, though this is the first time I lost a case, as other Attorneys feared me merely for being Prosecutor Edgeworth's Understudy, I commend you for being the first to arrive at the truth."
"Heh" Chris flushed"Well, I was just doing my job, but thanks for the recognition."
The Judge banged his gavel"If that Is all, Court is adjourned."
The Galley filed out, Chris and Priscilla following suit.
Alicia, Zachary and Jared came out to meet them at the lobby of the courthouse. The younger girl addressing Chris and Priscilla"Thank you for saving my brother. You two were amazing."
"It was nothing" Chris smiled.
"The Forensics Expert was annoyed at the waste of time, though" Jared shrugged.
Chris addressed Zachary"I'm sorry about your dad."
"Its no big deal" Zach shrugged"He'll be back. Until then... I will take over management of our Arcade."
Chris then glanced over to another courtroom"Well, you guys go ahead and leave if you want, there's a trial I wanted to watch after I had cleared Jared's name. My uncle is the Defense at Miss Maya Fey's Trial."
"Actually, I planned on watching that trial and see how it turns out before going back to the Prosecutor's office, so I'll be going as well" Priscilla stated.
"Jared and I are coming, too" Alicia said.
"As am I" Zachary said, weakly.
Chris smiled"Okay, then. Let's go."
They headed for the courtroom where Maya's trial was taking place at, only to find a Bailiff standing there"Hold it, Trial is in session."
"Actually, I'm Christopher Wright" the brunette Lawyer replied"I'm a relative of the Attorney representing the Defense in Miss Fey's trial. And this is Prosecutor Whiteshore. We're mostly here to provide moral support."
"All right, but proceed quickly, the woman who is the Prosecution of the trial is a bit scary, I'd stay out of range of her whip if I were you" The Bailiff shuddered, he'd seen Prosecutor Franziska Von Karma before.
The group entered the courtroom where Phoenix and what appeared to be an Older Maya were facing off a bluish-haired Prosecutor in Court, the current witness was a woman with reddish hair.
"Excuse the interruption" Priscilla strode forward into the room, first.
"What sort of foolishly foolish fool walks into the midst of a Trial and interrupts the said session? Was the Bailiff napping on the job!?" The blue-haired Prosecutor scowled, clenching a whip.
"Miss Von Karma, I'm terribly sorry, but Christopher Wright and I had just finished wrapping up a Murder Mystery that occurred at the local Arcade and thought we'd come watch" Priscilla stated.
Phoenix and "Maya" turned to see the group as well. The presiding Judge, who Chris guessed is the younger Judge's brother, had a look of disapproval on his face.
Prosecutor Von Karma was sorely tempted to whip Priscilla, but she simply sighed"Very well, just don't let it happen again." She muttered something uncomplimentary about "foolishly foolish fools" before turning he attention to the Defense Bench.
Priscilla nodded her thanks and headed for an empty seat where the Gallery were watching the Trial.
Chris went to join Phoenix and "Maya" at the Defense Bench"Hey, Maya, Uncle, sorry about this. Wait, you're not Maya, are you?"
"Don't be" The woman stated"And Maya isn't conscious at the moment. I'm her older sister, Mia. Phoenix and Maya will explain things to you after the trial. Just stand quietly, okay?"
Chris nodded.
The presiding Judge spoke up"Now, where were we when we were so rudely interrupted?"
Phoenix pulled out a newspaper and presented it to the Witness"Do you remember this article, Miss Miney?"
"Hm?" The woman feigned ignorance, looking blankly at the older Attorney. She had paid no heed to Chris and Priscilla.
"It's an article about the accident. You had said this in it: "But I opened the right door, and, like, got out"... That's correct, isn't it?" Phoenix pressed.
"Why are you suddenly asking me about that?" The red-haired Witness demanded.
Chris stole a look at the article"Its kinda like an American Car, except the Driver's side would be on the right, as would be on a British Vehicle."
The Judge frowned"So that means, The two of them were riding in a British car! In that case, the passenger side would be the left side!"
"Exactly" Phoenix nodded, before turning his attention to the Witness"Ms. Miney! You said that you had escaped using the right side door of the car! But if you were sitting there, then that means you were in the driver's seat!"
"Aaagh!" Screamed Miss Miney.
Franziska scoffed"Mr. Phoenix Wright is blabbering nonsense again! Ini said the person who was driving was her older sister, Mimi Miney!"
Phoenix nodded"Exactly. But that is where her story falls apart. Somewhere, all of us made a big error in our assumptions!"
Mia, who is still being channeled, smiled proudly"Phoenix. It looks like you've finally found the real root of this murder!"
"I don't know all of the details" Chris said"But Ini or Mimi - who was really driving that night?"
"Uncle, I know I should've asked you first before helping out, but this girl at the witness stand Is called Ini, right? Is that not her real name?" Chris asked.
Phoenix shook his head"No, that's not her real name. In fact, I have a very good idea who she is." Turning back to "Ini," he said"Mimy Miney is your real name, correct?"
"Objection!" Franziska shouted"What is this foolish drivel? How do you explain her appearance!?"
"When she was admitted into the hospital, this witness was suffering severe facial burns. So they used a picture for the purpose of facial reconstruction" Phoenix stated.
The Prosecutor was shocked"Reconstruction Surgery?"
Phoenix nodded and presented a picture"This is the picture she gave to her doctors at the time. That's right! It's a picture of her younger sister!"
"NOOOOOO!" Screamed Mimi.
The Judge stuttered"B-But... Mimi Miney... She died... In the car accident!"
"So she didn't die from the car crash" Chris noted.
Franziska frowned, confused"Th-Then, the body they found at the crash site..."
"That was the body of the real Ini Miney. Isn't that right... Ms. Mimi Miney!?" Phoenix asserted.
Mia turned to the Judge"I'm sure you can now see why Mimi had to kill Dr. Grey, your Honor."
The Judge was shocked"Wh-What do you mean?" He screamed as Franziska whipped him.
Chris shook his head at the sight.
Phoenix continued"Dr. Grey wanted to call back the spirit of a dead person. Specifically, the spirit of his nurse that died, Mimi Miney. However, that would not have been possible. Because Miss Mimey was still alive. And that fact would have been discovered had the channeling been conducted. So this witness had to stop that from happening."
Franziska stammerd"That's why she had to kill Dr. Turner Grey? Is that what you're saying!?"
"Yes. Before the channeling, Dr. Grey had the misfortune of consulting this witness about communicating with the dead" Phoenix explained"His fate was sealed at that moment."
"Seems I've been unmasked" Mimi smiled"That's right, I admit it. Mimi Miney was my real name, that Quack of a Doctor got what he deserved, I was so close to finally ditching "Mimi" too. So close... "
"Why would you go so far to throw away your self...? To become your own sister!?" The Judge asked.
"The Malpractice incident, wasn't it? Too bad it came back to bite her in the end" Chris smirked.
Phoenix nodded, then continued"Dr. Grey was right. The mistake was caused by the nurse. A nurse called Mimi Miney. That's right, the person standing before us today. And a few weeks after this mishap, Mimi Miney had a car accident, in which she lost her younger sister."
Franziska frowned"Th-The timing couldn't have been worse..."
"Her sister's death and that of the fourteen patients was too much for her to bear" Phoenix added.
Mimi bowed her head"I found a way for myself to escape it all... The only way..."
"She lost everything in the flames of that accident, her sister and her own face. This was her last chance... Her chance to throw away her past and start a new life as her "sister"..." Phoenix stated.
"If only that jerk hadn't thought of that channeling mumbo-jumbo... Becoming Ini has been the most horrible experience in the world. Spirit channeling, the occult... I hate it! I hate it all!" Mimi yelled.
The Judge nodded"I believe there are still a few unsolved riddles here... Why did you set a murderous revenge plot into motion? And why did Ms. Morgan Fey agree to help you with the plan...? Regardless, I believe one thing has been made crystal clear."
"The innocence of the defendant, Maya Fey..." Phoenix agreed.
Franziska clenched her whip"This is preposterous! I... I'm perfect! Me... Franziska von Karma..."
Phoenix smiled"I'm going to enjoy the news tonight, Ms. von Karma. How about you? It's going to be broadcast all over the world, right? Your defeat, that is..."
Franziska furiously proceeded to lash Phoenix with her whip, only for Chris to grab the whip.
"Chris" Phoenix glanced at his nephew, relieved, though he was close to losing consciousness.
Franziska yanked her whip free and instead lashed Chris once"This court is a fraud! A sham!" She yelled.
Priscilla shook her head from where she was watching from the Gallery'That girl needs to let it go and move on, she wouldn't have lost her father had he not tried to take vengeance on Edgeworth over something so petty as a ruined win record.'
As the Bailiff proceeded to arrest Mimi, the Judge declared"Now, I will go ahead with my verdict: This court finds Miss Maya Fey not guilty."
The Gallery cheered, while Chris and Phoenix were supporting each other.
"Court is adjourned" The grey-bearded Judge stated. Franziska had left in a huff.
Phoenix, Chris and Mia headed back out to the Defendant Lobby. Zachary, Priscilla, Alicia and Jared joined them there.
"That whip chick sure was a wacko" Jared commented.
"Congratulations" Mia stated to her sister.
Priscilla glanced at Phoenix and Chris, worriedly"You two got quite a lashing. Will you be okay?"
Phoenix nodded"Yes, we'll be fine. But more importantly, what would've happened if Mimi hadn't shot Dr. Grey?"
Mia thought for a moment before responding"I think Mimi Miney had planned to open the door to the Chamber herself. Then you, Chris and and Lotta would have witnessed quite a scene; A "possessed" Maya Fey, who had just committed a murder."
"So she had it all planned out" Chris remarked.
Mia then left Maya's body, the latter calling"Chris! Nick!"
"Congratulations" Chris smiled.
Maya beamed"Thanks! Well, Nick, you sure busted me out of another jam."
"It was nothing" Phoenix nodded.
"I really don't want something like this to happen ever again, though" said Maya, sadly"Every time something happens, I lose someone special to me. First my sister... And now my aunt..."
"I'm sorry about all this... Never would've guessed Morgan Fay was a rotten skunk, though I did have a bad feeling about her" Chris nodded. The police had gone to arrest Morgan for her part in the murder not too long ago.
Maya bowed her head"Why would my aunt help Ms. Mimi with a plan like that!? I just... I just don't understand it, Nick..."
"Its over, but you probably still want an answer to that, I bet" Chris nodded understandingly"I still don't know all of the details. Uncle, do you have any idea why Morgan tried to do that to her own Niece?"
Phoenix reluctantly nodded"It has something to do with Pearl."
"Pearly?" Maya blinked, confused.
Phoenix nodded"A new Master will be "born" into Kurain Village in four years. That person will be you, Maya. But, if you weren't there... Then the main family's blood-line would disappear..."
"And what would happen then?" Chris pressed.
"My Aunt would take over?" Maya paled.
Phoenix shook his head"No, Morgan's spiritual power is too weak. The next person would be... Pearls. Everything was done so that Pearls would become the next Master."
Chris clenched a fist"Who would've thought that a Spirit Medium would go that far over something as petty as that?"
"Spirit Mediums are still people, Chris" Priscilla reminded him"We must all take the good with the bad."
"And you must be Prosecutor Whiteshore" Phoenix addressed the blond Prosecutor.
Priscilla nodded"Yes, I saw that you were every bit as good as your Nephew. He got Jared, here acquitted, turns out that the Arcade Manager panicked after he accidently killed Victor Thompson."
"I see. Well, congratulations, Chris" Phoenix smiled.
"Thanks" Chris smiled back for a moment"But what about Pearl? I mean, she's still a kid."
Maya smiled reassuringly"Pearly will be staying with me and Nick."
"That's a relief" Chris said.
Priscilla turned to go"I must get back to the Prosecutor's Building, gotta turn in my paperwork before that hardhead, Blaise Debeste comes down hard on me. The new Chief Prosecutor is two-to-three times stricter than Prosecutor Skye."
"Good luck. Looking forward to facing you in court again, sometime" Chris said to Priscilla.
"Same here, Chris" Priscilla nodded as she headed on out.
Jared, Alicia and Zachary headed back to their homes.
Chris, Maya and Phoenix went to meet up with Pearl and head back to the Law Office.
Finally got this chapter ready, hope it was enjoyable. And honestly, while I made Arcadia's breakdown a bit over-the-top, breakdowns like that are implied to be psychological in the series. Oh, and I hope you enjoyed the way I incorporated part of Reunion and Turnabout. As for Blaise Debeste, that might not actually be Bansai Ichiyanagi's official localized name if AAI2 ever gets an official English release, that's just the name used in the Fan Translation in case anyone reading this doesn't know that.
I hope this chapter was enjoyable.
