"Prince Hans had a very bad reputation. When he was found dead, many people in Arendelle celebrated, and they also have solid alibis. I hate to admit it, but Fix-It Felix Jr. is the only suspect."
"Thus you had no choice but arrest Fix-It Felix Jr. Thank you, Fulbright," Judge Udgey said. "Although something doesn't feel quite right. Mr. Wright, I urge you to be extra vigilant during your cross-examination."
Phoenix nodded. "I will do my best, Your Honour."
Judge Udgey nodded back. "Then you may begin."
Prince Hans had a very bad reputation
"Hold it!" Phoenix raised his right arm as the fingers on his left hand crawled around his chin. He had to press the first statement. "Why did Prince Hans have a bad reputation?"
"The victim was the youngest of 13 brothers," Edgeworth responded. "He had no chance of claiming the throne in his own kingdom. So he tried to marry into another."
"But why did he choose Princess Anna over Queen Elsa?"
"Princess Anna threw herself onto him," Fulbright replied. "Hans then had to change his plan to marry Anna and kill Elsa so he could be king."
Phoenix knew there was a contradiction, but he had to press each statement in hope that either Fulbright or Edgeworth present some evidence.
When he was found dead, many people in Arendelle celebrated, and they also have solid alibis.
"Hold it! Why were the people of Arendelle celebrating?"
"Wake up, Wright!" Edgeworth snapped. "They were obviously celebrating the victim's death."
"Don't you think it's strange that the death of one man can cause so much celebration?" Phoenix asked Edgeworth. He wasn't condoning what Prince Hans did, but was it really fair to celebrate the death as if it was a festival? Phoenix didn't think so. And to go as far as to say that everybody had an alibi apart from Felix had an alibi was hard to believe.
"Your Honour," Edgeworth said. "May I present Prince Hans' criminal record?"
"Yes," Judge Udgey nodded. "I believe that it will be relevant to the case." When Edgeworth presented a long sheet of paper, the judge widened his eyes and gasped in horror. A bailiff passed the paper over to him as Judge Udgey slipped on his glasses and read the record very carefully. "Oh my!" he said, "It sounds as if the victim was truly a crook. Attempting fratricide, treason, murder and also theft and assault."
"Attempted..." Phoenix said. "It sounds like he's a male counterpart of somebody I used to know. Everything he she did was an epic fail."
"Yes," Edgeworth said. "I know who you are on about, but get back to the cross-examination please!"
I hate to admit it, but Fix-It Felix Jr. is the only suspect.
"OBJECTION!" Phoenix roared, and it felt good. A spark had been set alight in Phoenix's head. He had found the contradiction he had been waiting for. Athena had quickly updated their records with five quick sweeps on her finger. The evidence had been with him the whole time. The profiles and Han's criminal record. "Although the police believe that my client is the only suspect, the evidence we have state otherwise."
"You think so?" Fulbright asked with a smile on his face. "More suspects?"
"Please repeat the third sentence of your statement," Phoenix asked.
Edgeworth rolled his eyes. "We're not getting anywhere."
"When he was found dead, many people in Arendelle celebrated, and they also had solid alibis."
"You see," Phoenix said. "This testimony makes no sense at all. Many people are celebrating Prince Hans' death. To me that would that would suggest that there are many suspects." Phoenix raised his arm and pointed at Fulbright. "There's no way that my client is the only suspect."
Fulbright jumped out of the witness box and hurt himself in confusion. Phoenix knew that he had hit a soft nerve with Fulbright. Even though this was the first time that Phoenix had met Fulbright, he remembered the way The Phantom impersonated him. The real Fulbright would have hated to falsely arrest somebody. "Detective Fulbright, why did you arrest my client?"
"I was under strict orders by the boss," Fulbright responded. His tone was sharp and his volume was loud. "We found a golden hammer at the scene of the crime. We had it analysed and tested and I handed it over to the boss."
"What did your boss say?" Edgeworth asked.
"It was a very brief conversation," Fulbright replied. "He asked me who the fingerprints belonged to. I said they belong to a Fix-It Felix Jr. Then the boss said I had to arrest him as soon as possible. Then he flew away."
"Is your boss named Lance by any chance?" Phoenix asked.
"Yes!" Fulbright boomed. "The dragon-type master! All-Terrain-Venomoth kicked his ass."
"Please do not use this language in court," Judge Udgey requested as he slammed his gavel.
"Unfortunately Lance is taking part in a tournament in Unova," Edgeworth stated. "We were unable to get a statement from him."
"The defence would like to examine the hammer," Athena interrupted as she slammed her hands on the table and leaned over. "And to call Wreck-It Ralph to the stand." Phoenix looked on Athena like a proud father. She must have figured something out. Ralph jumped out of his seat and stomped his way into the courtroom. The witness box was too narrow for his bulky build. Athena received Felix's golden hammer and she held it tight in her hand. "Now Ralph, I want you break the witness box."
"OBJECTION!" Everyone else in the court cried out in unison.
"Are you insane," Edgeworth asked Athena.
"Just here her out," Phoenix requested. "As insane as it might sound, she's on to something."
"Now Ralph, your job in the game is to wreck everything in sight."
"That's true," Ralph said as he desoloted the witness box with a single punch.
"And it's Felix's job to fix what you've broken."
"That's true!" Felix said with a smile on his face. "That hammer has been in the family for years. It's a very special hammer."
"Well if my hammer touched this pile of wood, then the stand would return back to it's original state."
"It should do."
"Okay then let's try it." Athena bent down and banged Felix's hammer against the rubble and within three seconds the witness box was back to normal. The crowds in the courtroom awed in amazement. Athena held the hammer up above her head. "THIS HAMMER IS NOT THE MURDER WEAPON. THIS PROVES THAT FELIX IS INNOCENT."
"ORDER IN THE COURT!" Judge Udgey demanded. He raised his voice. "I WILL HAVE ORDER."
The silence didn't arrive until the doors slammed open and Lance came walking in. Edgeworth was the first to speak since Lance entered the room. "I thought you had a tournament to attend?" Edgeworth said.
"It's been postponed," Lance replied. "It gave me plenty of time to give my orders. The charges of murder are to be dropped to manslaughter," Lance demanded. "It is clearly obvious that Felix committed the crime. There is nothing you can do to change it." His cape swerved over to the prosecution's bench as he glared at Edgeworth. "Do believe that Felix is the culprit?"
Edgeworth closed his eyes and had a good think. Phoenix clenched his fists. Edgeworth opened his eyes and declared his verdict. "No!" Edgeworth announced. "We have just proven that it is impossible for the hammer to be the murder weapon."
"Nor do I," Judge Udgey admitted. "I believe it's time to end this trial and to reinvestigate."
"NO!" Lance roared. "The defendant will remain behind bars until your so-called-true-culprit is found. If you cannot find the true culprit within the next 24 hours then Felix is to be declared guilty."
"I am truly sorry for this," Judge Udgey announced. "It is with regret, that the court must be adjourned. The trial will continue tomorrow at 9:00AM." He slammed his gavel and the first day of the trial was already over. Within a blink of an eye, Phoenix found Lance surrounded by chains and red locks. He was hiding something. Could he be the killer? Or could Lance be protecting the killer. Phoenix ordered Lance to stop, but Lance ignored him and left the court room.
"I don't get it," Athena said. "Why is Lance so determined and happy."
Phoenix said. "He's hiding something. Surely there must be some laws against this."
"He's head of the police," Athena said. "He thinks he can do what he wants. Especially being a pokemon champion. He's one of the most powerful players in the gaming universe." Athena's widget around her neck glew red as she clenched her fists together. "That horrible man. How on earth could be betray someone so vulnerable. If only I had acted sooner."
"It's not your fault Athena," Phoenix insisted. "You did fantastic. It's just a shame that some people are blind to the truth. Lance is still living as if it's the dark age of the law."
