Butterfly
by Cyberchao X
Summary: It's amazing how drastically the course of history can be altered with just the slightest difference in a single event. In the world of Ace Attorney, the first quarter of the 21st century was shaped by one single moment.
CCX: To anyone who read Chapter 2 before this was posted, I made some corrections.
December 25, 2000
10:24 AM
Courtroom #2
"Court will now resume for the trial of Pierre Hoquet for the assault of Dane Gustavia," the Judge intoned.
"Attempted murder," corrected Manfred von Karma.
"Er, yes, and attempted murder."
"And the kidnapping of Simon Gustavia."
"Another charge?"
"Your Honor, the charge was filed prior to the start of the trial. It should be in your briefing."
The Judge checked the papers he'd received. "Ah, yes, here it is."
"OBJECTION! I did not learn of this alleged kidnapping until just before this last recess."
"You could have your client plead guilty to the kidnapping right now," von Karma suggested.
"Let me consult my client on this." A pause. "My client is willing to plead guilty to the kidnapping under the condition that the details of the kidnapping be left out of the proceedings for the assault and attempted murder charges."
Manfred von Karma shook his finger. "That won't do. This testimony is very important to proving that this was attempted murder and not merely assault."
"Objection! We haven't even proven that it was assault yet!"
"To be clear, Mr. Edgeworth, exactly what is it that you're objecting to?" the Judge asked.
"Prosecutor von Karma's statement is prejudicial! I still intend to prove that this wasn't assault!"
"Objection sustained. Prosecutor von Karma, call your witness."
"Very well. The prosecution calls Simon Gustavia to the stand."
Simon looked frightened. "Simon, could you please tell the court a little about how you help your father?"
"I don't want to! You're scary-looking!"
Manfred von Karma scowled for a moment, but quickly recovered. "…I'm sorry, I don't think I can do anything about the way I look. Mr. Gustavia, if you would please help?"
"Wow," Raymond said to Gregory, "it's like he's a completely different person."
"Even the god of prosecution has a soft spot for young children. Though I've heard he's a demanding father once they get past a certain age."
"Simon, it's okay. Tell them about how you help me."
"But you said that was supposed to be a secret."
"…The secret's already out."
Simon nodded.
Helping Out Daddy
"Daddy is losing his sense of taste, so he lets me try out his new dishes to see if they taste good."
"…Was that all?" Gregory asked. "That's not exactly new information."
"Okay, now, tell them about what happened two days ago."
Horace's Dad and My Dad
"Horace's dad and my dad were working together in the contest. Horace's dad was fine with me being there early on, but then he said I couldn't be there for the final round. When I didn't want to go, he told Horace to tie me up to keep me away. Horace said he was sorry and didn't want to, but he had to do what his dad wanted."
Cross-Examination
"Horace's dad and my dad were working together in the contest."
"HOLD IT! Now, when you say 'Horace's dad', you're referring to…"
Simon pointed at Pierre Hoquet. "That man right there. Horace is a friend of mine from school."
"Horace's dad was fine with me being there early on, but then he said I couldn't be there for the final round."
"HOLD IT! Why would he have been okay with it earlier, but not for the finals?"
"I don't know. I was surprised, too."
"When I didn't want to go, he told Horace to tie me up to keep me away."
"HOLD IT! So then you were tied up when your father got hurt?"
"Yeah." Simon nodded. "Horace was in the car, too."
"…Car? You didn't mention a car."
"Horace's dad took us over to his car and put me inside, and Horace tied me up and locked the doors from the inside."
"The defense requests that this statement be added to the witness's testimony."
Simon looked confused, unsure what Gregory had just said. The Judge approved his request.
"Horace said he was sorry and didn't want to, but he had to do what his dad wanted."
"HOLD IT! Had Horace ever said anything about his dad being scary when mad?"
"I don't think so. Why?"
"Yes, why indeed?" Manfred von Karma asked.
"You tell me, Prosecutor. As I recall, this is your character witness, since it's been established that he didn't actually witness any crime other than his own kidnapping. Unless you'd like to recant your statement that this is a very important witness to your attempted murder case?"
"The prosecution will do no such thing. Get on with this charade already."
"Horace's dad took us over to his car and put me inside, and Horace tied me up and locked the doors from the inside."
"HOLD IT! So then who was it who set you free?"
"That was Horace's dad, too. He set me free and apologized, but I didn't think he was really sorry."
"Objection; opinion that should not be taken into account."
"Upheld," said the judge, and even von Karma couldn't argue that.
"Do you know why he set you free when he was the one who had you tied up to begin with?"
"He said there was no longer any need to keep me there."
Simultaneously, both von Karma and Edgeworth asked that this statement be added to the witness's testimony. Since they were obviously in agreement that this was important, the Judge immediately did so.
"Later, Horace's dad said there was no longer any need to keep me there and set me free."
"HOLD IT! So then there was a need before?"
Simon nodded. "He didn't want me helping my dad out anymore."
"OBJECTION!" Present: Angel's Recipe Photographs. "It's already been established that my client didn't learn the real reason that your father wanted to win the contest until just before they fought, when your father was taking pictures of the Angel's Recipe. Therefore, his reason for getting you out of the way couldn't have been because he knew your father couldn't win without you."
Manfred von Karma looked smug. "And so then what was that reason?"
"…"
"To make sure that there was no one else around when he attacked Mr. Gustavia."
"OBJECTION! However, he did learn of Mr. Gustavia's condition before they fought. With Simon out of the way, Mr. Gustavia didn't have any chance of victory. There would've been no need for my client to attack him! …Whereas Mr. Gustavia would've had plenty of motive to attack my client."
"OBJECTION! The defendant was motivated by greed. Not knowing the true reason that Gustavia wanted to win, he broke off the collaboration because he didn't want to split the money earned by selling the Angel's Recipe. He probably just figured that Gustavia was planning to photograph the entire thing."
"OBJECTION! Again, speculative!"
"Objection upheld."
"… The defense has no more questions at this time."
"The prosecution is done with this witness as well. We feel we have done enough to establish the type of man that Mr. Hoquet really is. Your verdict, your Honor?"
"OBJECTION! The defense would like to call a witness!"
"OBJECTION! Witnesses are called by the prosecution!"
"OBJECTION! And the only witness you've called that actually saw the altercation is the plaintiff himself! There are no corroborating witnesses! Therefore, the defendant has the right to tell his side of the story!"
"…As irregular as it may be, I'll allow it."
"…The prosecution requests a recess to prepare for this."
"You have 5 minutes."
December 25, 2000
10:49 AM
Courtroom Lobby
"So why were you willing to plead guilty to the kidnapping in order to keep Simon off the stand?"
"…Do you have any children, Mr. Edgeworth?"
"I do. My son, Miles, is 8 years old."
"Then you should know that a parent will go to any lengths to protect their child."
"…Right; Simon's testimony makes your son an accomplice, doesn't it?" Raymond said.
"Indeed."
"Well, you're going to get your chance to tell your story now," Gregory Edgeworth said. "Hopefully it'll be enough to prove that you were the one who was attacked." (Justifiable though it probably was.)
December 25, 2000
10:54 AM
Courtroom #2
"Court will now resume for the trial of Pierre Hoquet for the assault and attempted murder of Dane Gustavia and the kidnapping of Simon Gustavia. The accused will be taking the stand."
What Really Happened
"I enlisted Dane Gustavia's culinary abilities to help me win the Angel's Recipe with the intent of selling it. I had always planned on double-crossing him in the finals. I didn't know his reason for wanting the Angel's Recipe until I saw him photographing the pages regarding his condition. I told him I'd keep quiet about his thievery if he didn't expose me as a fraud chef, but he no longer trusted me and attacked me."
"OBJECTION!" boomed the prosecutor.
"I know you don't have much experience cross-examining witnesses, but that's not how it works," Edgeworth said.
"I'm saving time. The only statement I have a problem with is the final one. If the only price he had to pay for your silence on both his condition and his illegal photographing of the Angel's Recipe was to keep his own mouth shut, he'd have no reason to attack you."
"OBJECTION! My client had knowledge of the plaintiff's condition, one which would've meant he could've easily sabotaged the plaintiff even further."
"OBJECTION!" two voices rang out.
"Witnesses are not allowed to object, and besides, that's your lawyer!" the Judge addressed Hoquet. "Prosecutor, your objection?"
"My objection is that the sabotage would've been pointless, as the defendant had already all but secured victory due to the plaintiff's lack of aesthetics."
"HOLD IT! There were still other contestants!"
"OBJECTION! Hoquet knew that Delicia Scones was also a cheater!"
"OBJECTION! But Jeffrey Master wasn't, and my client would never have been able to win a second competition if Master had won the first one because he'd already betrayed Gustavia's trust!"
"…Witness. I take it by your outburst that you had further testimony you wanted to give?"
Hoquet nodded. "More and more with every supposition you two make."
The Lawyers Don't Have the Facts Straight
"I couldn't have sabotaged Dane's sherbet even if I wanted to. Each contestant had their own room in which to work, and once I'd severed our partnership, I no longer had access to Dane's. I didn't know about his condition until after that time. Furthermore, I only learned that Delicia Scones was a fraud when Dane was trying to bargain with me."
Cross-Examination
"Each contestant had their own room in which to work, and once I'd severed our partnership, I no longer had access to Dane's."
"OBJECTION!" Present: Injury Report. "This 'altercation', as the defense prefers to call it, occurred in the Spring Palace, one of the four rooms being used for displaying the finals entries. Specifically…Jeffrey Master's entry for the finals."
"…We were all to use Master's entry as a baseline. As the host, he wasn't concerned about winning, merely setting a guideline for the other entrants to aspire to beat. Therefore, his door was left open."
"…"
"…"
"…Go on with your testimony!"
"Isn't the procedure generally for the witness to craft a new testimony when their last one has been picked apart?" the Judge asked.
"I'm not done with this one yet," von Karma replied.
"Furthermore, I only learned that Delicia Scones was a fraud when Dane was trying to bargain with me."
"OBJECTION!" Present: Gustavia's Testimony. "So then, you are confirming that you tried to extort money from Mr. Gustavia."
"I beg your pardon?"
"In his testimony earlier, Gustavia mentioned offering to turn in the other cheater in the contest so you'd have no competition, as part of his attempt to bargain with you as to the cost of your silence. While he also later alleged that you already knew of Ms. Scones' deceit, I figure that you would've turned her in yourself had this been true, and so…I am inclined to believe his earlier testimony regarding your extortion attempt."
"…Nothing gets past you, Mr. Prosecutor. Except, of course, for the fact that my attempt at extortion only gives Dane a motive for attacking me."
"Your motive is that he was willing to get you disqualified from the competition rather than paying your bribe."
"He wouldn't dare. I'd have revealed both his condition and that he'd tried to steal the cure, and he'd have been left with a destroyed reputation and no cure. To get his cure, he'd need my silence. And he chose to try to get it through violence rather than bribery."
"Bah! Either way, you're just adding to your list of crimes."
"If you're quite finished, Mr. von Karma, I believe I'm ready to render my verdict," the Judge interjected.
"The prosecution is ready for the verdict."
"The defense is also ready."
"HOLD IT!"
"That will no longer be necessary," von Karma said. "I'm…no longer convinced that it is in the court's best interest to file that."
"Sir?"
"I believe the police were overreaching. Judge, the verdict?"
"Er, yes. On the charge of assault, this court finds the defendant, Pierre Hoquet, Guilty. On the charge of kidnapping, this court finds the defendant, Pierre Hoquet, Guilty. On the charge of attempted murder, the court finds the defendant, Pierre Hoquet, Not Guilty."
"…Wait, what?"
"Don't look so surprised," von Karma said. "After all, that charge had never formally been entered. I do believe I said at the beginning of this trial that I wasn't going to push for attempted murder, as well as that the police were the ones calling it an attempted murder. While the amount of blood lost certainly was sufficient to believe that Mr. Gustavia would've died if left untreated, the fact of the matter is that he only received such prompt treatment because Mr. Hoquet himself immediately called for help."
"And yet you're still willing to call that assault?!" Raymond Shields burst out.
"Quiet, you. Of course. I believe that Mr. Hoquet had every intention of knocking Mr. Gustavia unconscious, but when his very first strike proved potentially fatal, he had no choice but to call for help, as murder was never his intent."
"Objection! That contradicts what Mr. Gustavia said on the stand!"
"…An unfortunate miscommunication. It was the police who were pushing for attempted murder. I was willing to go along with it if enough evidence could be found to support it, but I had doubted the viability of that charge from the very start—and rightly so."
(That sounds like revisionist history to maintain his precious perfect record…but at least these charges are mild enough.)
"Furthermore, the prosecutor's office will decline to charge Horace Hoquet as an accomplice to the kidnapping. Given his young age, he was merely following a parent's orders despite his misgivings, and for that, we cannot condemn him to a juvenile detention center."
December 28, 2001
2:00 PM
Hoquet Residence
RUMBLERUMBLERUMBLERUMBLE!
"W-W-what was that?!" Horace asked.
"I think it was an earthquake," replied Miles Edgeworth. "I think I can remember the positions of the pieces if you want to continue."
"No, we'll start over. You were winning by quite a bit anyway. You always do."
"…Do I really?"
Horace, his mother, and Miles's father all agreed, "Yes, you do."
The Hoquet residence was outside the range of the blackout caused by the earthquake, so the two young boys were immediately able to begin another game of chess. Gregory Edgeworth was happy that he'd found a friend for Miles that was close to the boy's own age, as he'd worried that Miles was trying to grow up too quickly—although he had to admit that chess was an awfully high-level pursuit for a pair of grade-schoolers to bond over. Over at the courthouse, when the earthquake hit, Manfred von Karma had just left the building after yet another perfect case. A court bailiff named Yanni Yogi had been stuck inside an elevator when the power went off, but as he was alone in the elevator, there was enough oxygen to last him the entire 5 hours until the power returned despite his panicking, though he was by all accounts a bit delirious when he finally escaped.
CCX: And thus was the DL-6 Incident prevented. After all, while Manfred von Karma is still an evil man, his crime was one of opportunity—and here, he didn't have the opportunity, as Edgeworth wasn't working a case when the earthquake hit thanks to IS-7 being averted. The ripple effects of this will be…vast.