Okay. This is it. The chapter I've been fearing all this time. This could potentially break it for me. I hope you guys don't hate me or think I'm completely ridiculous once you read this. I think I've said enough…Brace yourselves, I suppose is all I can say at this point…

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Ace Attorney series characters!

Chapter 26 – The Insane Turnabout

"Polly. Wh-where are we?" The young magician whimpered.

I wish I knew, Trucy. He glanced over at his little sister. Trucy's being was shaking, and she held her hands together in front of her, her lower lip quivering. It had started off as a simple visit to their mother's grave. They were using the time alone to build their sibling relationship, and in a sense, spend more time with their mother. Next thing they knew, someone had been grabbing them both from behind and covered their mouth with something.

Now, here they were, in some kind of hidden room of sorts. It would've been pitch black if it weren't for the few lanterns propped up on the walls. Apollo was sure they were in some secret underground location.

"Are we going to get out of here, Polly?"

He wrapped his arms around her, trying to squeeze the fear out of her. "I don't know, Trucy, but I promise. I won't let anything happen to you."

They sat there like that for a few minutes, holding onto each other. Apollo was trying to figure out a plan to escape. If they could escape.

How are we going to get out of here? And even if we do find some way out, how do we know we won't be led to the people who brought us here in the first place? He was anxious. They had no idea where they were, or why they were there. I guess we should just…sit here…and wait.

His eyes stared at the dirt ground. That's when he saw something twinkle in the light. Like a star.

A star.

Clay.

Hm…what would…Clay do in a situation like this? He began thinking back to his best friend, who was now amongst the stars. If Clay were in this situation, he wouldn't just sit back and mope! No…He would get up, say he's fine, and try to find a way out of here! That's right! What was I thinking?! To sit here and wait?! We've got to do something about this! I need to be strong and brave! For Trucy! I am her older brother after all! I need to protect her, and get her to safety!

Trucy felt Apollo's grip on her loosen, and she tilted her head up to see that he was now standing. "Polly? What are y-"

"I'm Apollo Justice, and I'm fine."

What?! Is he really practicing his Chords of Steel now?!

"I'm Apollo Justice, and I'm fine! I'm Apollo Justice and I'm-"

"Polly!" She yelled, almost as loud as him. "What are you doing?!"

"Come on Trucy! Do it with me!"

"But…why?!"

"We can't just sit here, Trucy! We've got to find a way out! I know we can do it! Now come on! Let's build up our confidence!" He watched her gradually get to her feet. "That's it. Now say, 'I'm Trucy Wright, and I'm fine.'"

Well, I guess I could give it a try. Clearing her throat, she spoke aloud, "I'm Trucy Wright, and I'm fine."

"Come on, Trucy! I know you can say it louder. Now come on!"

Trucy stared at Apollo. He seems…really excited about this. Well, I guess if he's feeling confident…I bet we can get out of here!

Feeling her confidence beginning to increase already, Trucy clenched her fists in front of her, a determined look on her features. "I'm Trucy Wright, and I'm fine!"

"Alright! Let's say it together, three more times!"

"I'm Trucy Wright…"

"I'm Apollo Justice…"

"And I'm fine."

"I'm Trucy Wright…"

"I'm Apollo Justice…"

"And I'm fine!"

"I'm Trucy Wright…"

"I'm Apollo Justice…"

They now faced each other, and at the top of their lungs, they yelled aloud: "AND WE'RE FINE!"

"Let's get ourselves out of this creepy place, Apollo!" Trucy was feeling much better, and was now getting back into her groove. She took hold of Apollo's hand, and they were poised to run down the tunnel to their left.

"Wait!"

Hearing the voice, they searched around to find the source. Upon finding it, they both gasped.

Solitary Confinement Cell Number 13. Home of the man who was instrumental in bringing in the Dark Age of the Law.

"Miles Edgeworth. Chief Prosecutor of Los Angeles. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Edgeworth almost snorted. Oh, I feel quite welcomed. The man was sitting at his chair, reading a book.

The prosecutor was surprised to see how well-furnished the prison cell was. A mulberry fabric-covered chair with a beige pillow on it. A huge bookcase that lined the wall. A small coffee table, which had a huge book on it, and another little side table, which had a vase of roses and a nail polish bottle on it, shaped like a hand.

Edgeworth had to admit. The man did seem to have a decent sense of taste when it came to furnishings; however, that didn't change the fact that the blonde-hair and blue-eyed man was in prison. Even with being a prison inmate, the man seemed to be getting away with a lot.

Edgeworth glared at the former defense attorney turned vile criminal, who now stood in front of him, tall and proud-looking. "Tell me, Mr. Gavin. Where are they keeping Mr. Justice and Trucy?" Silence. "How about Ms. Sterling?"

The man was busy examining his nails. "Who cares where she is? She's nothing more than a sniveling little doctor who just had to get in the way," he snarled. Immediately, he was all cool and collected as he smoothly added, "There's no need to give out her location, is there?" He had a relaxed smile on his face.

"Fine then. What about Trucy and Mr. Justice? I know Mr. Justice did help to convict you, but what did she ever do to you? If I recall correctly, she actually, even if it was unknowingly, helped you to falsely accuse Wright of forging evidence. And now…you're threatening to have them killed?"

The blonde criminal sighed and shook his head. "Mr. Edgeworth. Surely you don't think it was me who's behind all of this, do you?"

Well, you haven't exactly been denying anything.

The prosecutor's eyes flashed. "Tell me the truth, Kristoph." Edgeworth was done using formalities with this guy. "Why did you turn to a life of crime? Whatever happened to defending your client?"

"Do you know who Thalassa Gramarye is?"

Edgeworth was taken aback by the random question. "She is…or rather, now was, once a part of Troupe Gramarye, and daughter of Magnifi Gramarye. After losing her memories, she lived with amnesia in Borginia as a blind singer and called herself Lamiroir."

Kristoph sneered. "She was also the mother of my former employee, Apollo Justice, and of Phoenix Wright's daughter, Trucy."

"Hm…Yes, that's true." Edgeworth didn't think to bring that up. "What does that woman have to do with you?"

"What does she have to do with me? Nothing, of course." He then glared. "Except that she is my half-sister."

"Wh..WHAT?!" That can't possibly be true!

"Don't be so surprised, Chief Prosecutor. We share the same mother, but different fathers."

Edgeworth could not believe his ears. Could he really believe what this man was saying? This…deeply disturbed man? "Then…Prosecutor Gavin…does he know?"

"No. I didn't want him to know. He was never to know."

If what he said is really true, then that means Mr. Justice is…Prosecutor Gavin's nephew? Oh my. I think this might give me a headache. No. I need to focus on the situation. Get as much information out of him as I can.

"Who? Who did it?"

"Did what, Chief Prosecutor? You'll have to be more explicit."

"Who killed Ms. Sterling?"

Kristoph laughed that maniacal, blood-curdling laugh that was a signature of his. "You actually expect me to reveal such sensitive information to you? No way. Just know that she's dead."

"But…why? Why resort to murder?!"

"Sources told me that that doctor had somehow put the pieces together and was too close to finding out my dark secret. Exactly the reason why she had to be eliminated."

"She wasn't looking into that. She was much more interested in finding out about why that other doctor had taken up such an interest in Ms. Gramarye's records. Not to mention, she wanted to know how Ms. Gramarye had passed away."

"How else did she pass away? She was killed. Murdered. By a doctor, no less. Quite ironic. One who's entrusted with people's lives…only to take them."

"If you're suggesting that Ms. Sterling killed her, yo-"

"No. That doctor is too much of a coward to be able to kill someone. No. That bumbling fool, Otis. He snuck into the room and slipped something into the IV. I was quite impressed. I didn't think he had it in him to do so."

Of course. I knew it. Dr. Emilio was the 'he' she was referring to. She must've figured it out too. "As per your request, I'd assume?"

"Hm…very good, Chief Prosecutor."

"But why? If she was your sister…"

"Half-sister. And why you ask? Because she got the better end of the bargain."

"What are you talking about?"

"Our mother. Hera might have been her name. She left Magnifi Gramarye for our father, Cedric Gavin. Then my father found out about Magnifi, and he found out that not only did our mother have a daughter with him, but she was actually still contacting him! They both got divorced immediately, right when Klavier was only a couple of years old. That woman…she left us, and our father…his mental condition slipped." The man scowled. "My life was perfect until then. It would've stayed perfect too, if it hadn't been for what happened."

"So then what was your purpose for killing Shadi Smith…or rather, Zak Gramarye? Why did you even bother to defend him in the first place?! You even forged evidence so that he could be proven innocent! Was it really just so that you could claim glory from winning a high-profile case?"

"Because I wanted to get close to him. Close enough…so that I could kill him then. He was the husband of my half-sister, a man she loved. I wanted to destroy him and her. All of them. Seek revenge for the sin our mother committed, and get rid of everything she loved and had nearly left us for."

"Then…your reason for hiring Mr. Justice…did you know…"

"Yes, I did. I knew. The moment I saw those eyes of his, I didn't have a doubt in my mind that he was the son of my pathetic half-sister. The bracelet was just evidence. Besides..." The man smirked. "I was keeping tabs on her. I found out about her running off and marrying a stage magician, and how she had a child with him."

"You do realize everything you just told me is going to be used in court, correct? None of this is off the record."

"Oh, I'm fully aware of that." The man dipped into his nail polish and began doing his nails. "I've succeeded in my most of my goals, although, I do have two more targets left. I have no need to care about what you do with me. My fate is already set in stone, correct?"

Edgeworth really wanted to break that stupid bottle of his. The gall of this man to act so normal when he had his own sister killed! He then considered what Kristoph had just said. Two targets? No. He…he must mean Mr. Justice and Trucy! He eyed the man as he delicately polished his thumbnail. This man…is seriously perverse.

"What about your brother, huh Kristoph? Do you know how much you personally put Prosecutor Gavin through? Don't you at least care for him?"

"Hmph. My brother is pathetic. Not only did he become a prosecutor, but to be a part of a musical band? Disappointing, not that I ever told him. I…didn't have the heart to do so."

Hmph. As if you had a heart to begin with.

"Although, I guess I should be thankful for his being in a band. That's how I got acquainted with that buffoon, Otis. He was a drummer in their little group."

The Gavinners, wasn't it? But wait! That would mean…Dr. Emilio was once part of the police force?!

"What did that man do in the police department?"

"An officer, I think he was. Not an exceptional one. Klavier liked him for his flirtatiousness towards the ladies, his appearance, and his skills as a drummer, hence why he was asked to join the band." Kristoph smirked, shaking his head. "He proved to be quite useful though."

"But…why make him pose as a doctor?"

"Oh? That? Well, I needed someone in the health profession to help cover up some of the things we had to do. Namely, the autopsy report for that man Huntley, and to get to dear sister's medical documents from there, and find out what exactly was happening to her in regards to her ailment. I wanted to know just what was going on. Besides, it's always good to have connections in all the different fields and professions, correct?"

Edgeworth didn't bother to dignify that question with an answer. "So you're still unwilling to disclose where Mr. Justice and Trucy are." Of course. I never expected it to be that easy. "Very well then. I suppose I should be off."

As he was leaving, he heard the suave voice speak from behind. "Oh, one request, Chief Prosecutor." Edgeworth glanced over his shoulder. "Say hi to Wright for me, and tell him I hope he's doing alright."

"Hmph."

For any Klapollo shippers out there, you probably hate me immensely right now (although you should know that that's not the ship I write). The rest of you are probably thinking, "This person is crazy." Well, maybe I am! I came up with this crazy head canon a couple of months ago that Kristoph and Klavier were Lamiroir/Thalassa's half-brothers. But in my defense, if people can go and claim that Misty Fey is Edgeworth's mom, and that Maya and Mia are his half-sisters, or that Damon Gant is Apollo's father (oh yes, there's a theory like that in existence, I kid you not), then I think it's perfectly okay for me to say this. *shrug* Anyway, yeah. I hope you guys aren't going to flee away from this story and me! (I posted a sort of kind of chapter detailing this crazy head canon I came up with).