Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with ace attorney, it belongs to Capcom :(

Chapter 12

Date: 18th June 2026, 10:00

Location: Courtroom 4, California

Emma and Apollo were standing side by side behind the defence desk while Klavier was behind the prosecution desk. The judge had just sat down and called the court to order when he saw a new face at the defence table.

"Mr Justice, who is with you today?" He asked. Emma cleared her throat.

"Emma Wright, Your Honour. I am Mr Justice's temporary-stand-in-mentor for the day. She grinned while Apollo rolled his eyes at how ridiculous that sounded.

"Temporary-stand-in-mentor?" The Judge mused on this for a while before his eyes widened. "Do you mean THE Emma Wright, a Forensic Investigator whom is also a defence attorney and prosecutor?" He asked. Emma just raised an eyebrow and nodded slowly.

"Um, yeah that's me." She said cautiously. The judge hummed in approval.

"Well I must say it is nice to meet you. My cousin is a judge in England and he has spoken about your actions in court and how you are a role model in the world of law across Europe." He said. Emma just nodded slowly and cleared her throat.

"Yes well, let's get on with the trial shall we, Your Honour." She said. The judge nodded.

"Okay, well, court is now in session for the trial of Wocky Kitaki." Apollo looked over at Emma, who smiled and nodded at him before looking straight ahead.

"The defence is ready Your Honour." Apollo said.

"…Prosecution is warmed up, and it's a sold-out house." Klavier said. Emma raised an eyebrow for a couple of seconds before smirking and silently chuckling.

"Very well, to recap…" The judge said. Emma closed her eyes as she listened, arms crossed. "While yesterday's witness seemed more guilty than any other party…" Emma quietly snorted at that and opened her eyes before glancing at Apollo who gave her a glare, to which she shrugged her shoulders and carried on listening to the judge. "We did find out one thing for certain. There were three people in the park at the time of the murder: the witness, the victim and the defendant." Emma frowned. That's what we know so far, not for certain… She thought. Klavier spoke up.

"… Correct, Herr Judge. And today, I'd like to do something a little new age." Apollo raised an eyebrow while Emma cocked her head to the side. "I'd like to look at this horrible crime… from the outside."

"The 'outside'…" Apollo murmured to himself, pressing his finger to his forehead. Klavier carried on speaking.

"The acquisition of the murder weapon… The preparation for the act… Our poor defendant told all, you see. …To his betrothed." Emma's eyes widened at this information.

"His… bee trove?" The Judge asked. Emma looked over at the judge, her expression being that of unbelieving.

"…His fiancée, Herr Judge. His partner for life… with no chance for parole." Klavier said. Emma just rolled her eyes and smirked again before crossing her arms and looking over to the witness stand. The judge banged his gavel.

"Very well, you may show the erm… 'lucky' lady to the stand." He said. Alita stood up at the witness stand. Emma looked over her and noticed how she looked slightly tense as she stood there. Interesting… She thought.

"… Your name and occupation, Fräulein." Klavier asked.

"Alita Tiala. My occupation… is future wife." She said. The Judge then spoke up.

"Ah, traditional values! I respect that. Too many brides these days can't even weave baskets blindfolded… underwater. Yet you're here today as a witness for the prosecution?" Emma froze slightly at the Judge's comment. Seriously?! I just want to hit my head against the table. I can tell he's related to the Judge back in England though… She thought. She shook her head and concentrated on what was being said.

"To be honest, I didn't want to testify at first." Alita said, looking slightly shy. "But… I couldn't hide the truth." The Judge nodded in agreement.

"Hmm. Honesty! Another admirable trait." Klavier spoke up again.

"…Fräulein, is it true that, on the day of the crime… The defendant, Wocky Kitaki confessed his plans?" Klavier leant forwards. "His plans… for murder?"

"…Yes." She said.

"The witness will please give her testimony to the court!" The judge said. Emma stood up straighter and focused on listening to the witness testimony.

**Witness Testimony**

-Wocky's Plan—

"It was the day that the family health check-up results came back."

"When Wocky found out that Dr. Meraktis had lied, he flew into a rage."

"'I'll teach him!' he said. He took one of the Family's pistols…"

"…And, you already know what happened that night."

"I… just don't see how anyone but Wocky could have done it."

**End of Testimony**

"So, the pistol did belong to the Kitaki Family, then…" The Judge spoke up. Emma was going over what Alita had said in her head. Something seems off with that testimony… She thought. She listened in on what was going on as she thought about Alita's testimony. Klavier began to speak.

"Yes. With regards to this, an investigation is underway at the Kitaki mansion on charges of the possession of illegal firearms."

"And the bullet that took the victim's life? Was it…" The Judge asked.

"…Fired from the pistol the defendant procured? Yes, this has been proven." Emma looked over at Klavier.

"Rifle markings from the bullet match the barrel of the gun then?" She asked. Klavier nodded. Apollo then spoke to Alita.

"And when did you first hear about Wocky's plan?" He asked.

"It was the day of the murder. I… I should have stopped him! I didn't think he would actually do it!" She exclaimed. The Judge banged his gavel and then spoke.

"…Very well. The defense may begin the cross-examination." Emma looked over at Apollo and nodded her head at him. He returned the nod and focused on the cross examination.

**Cross-Examination""

-Wocky's Plan—

"It was the day that the family health check-up results came back."

"When Wocky found out that Dr. Meraktis had lied, he flew into a rage."

"'I'll teach him!' he said. He took one of the Family's pistols…"

"…And, you already know what happened that night."

"I… just don't see how anyone but Wocky could have done it."

"HOLD IT!" Apollo said. Emma winced slightly at how loud he was. He thumped his fists against the desk. "How can you say that for certain? How!?" Emma tapped her right hand on the desk gently.

"Apollo…" She murmured quietly but it seemed as if he didn't hear her.

"Ah…" Alita started before she was interrupted.

"OBJECTION!" Klavier shouted. He thumped the wall behind him with his fist. "Herr Forehead, you will refrain from badgering the Fräulein. It was the defendant… erm, Wocky, was it… who took the pistol from his home. We know this for a fact now." The Judge nodded in agreement.

"I suppose we do." He said. Klavier spoke up again.

"So, how could anyone else have used this pistol to the victim?" Klavier leant forward again. "They could not. Simple logic, ja?"

"…That does seem to be the case" The Judge said. "Does the defence have anything to say regarding this point?" He asked. Emma cocked her head to the side and had a blank look on her face as she thought. A couple of seconds later she lifted her head again and looked over at Apollo, a smirk on her face. Got it! She thought.

"Another person could have used the pistol…" She said. Apollo looked at her. "Who else knew about the pistol?" She asked, looking at Apollo. Her eyes glanced quickly over to the witness stand before looking back at Apollo. Apollo's face lit up in recognition. Emma smiled and Apollo faced forward.

"Based on your testimony, th0ere was clearly another..." He thumped his fists against the desk again. "One other person had access to that pistol!" He said. Klavier spoke.

"What's this…?" The judge started to talk.

"Hmm… Interesting! Let's ask the defense then… Tell the court who this other person with the access was!"

"TAKE THAT!" Apollo presented a photo of Alita Tiala. "Well, of course, I mean you, Ms. Tiala." Alita looked shocked.

"…! M-Me…? But why…" Apollo spoke up again.

"You were quite clear when you told the court: you heard about the pistol from the defendant on the day of the murder. In other words, you knew what he was planning."

"OBJECTION!" Klavier shouted. "Let me get this straight… You intend to tell us that this lady stole the pistol from her fiancée…" He banged his fist against the wall again. "…and killed a man in cold blood on his behalf?" He asked. He then started to laugh. "I've heard of people doing strange things for love, but this…" He trailed off.

"It does seem a bit… unfathomable, to be sure." The judge commented. "I'm all for romance, and for supporting your partner in life, to be sure. But I think I would hesitate at murder!" Emma looked up at the Judge with wide eyes before slowly turning back to face the witness stand. I would hope you would do more than hesitate Your Honour… Apollo thumped his fists against the desk again, knocking Emma out of her thoughts and her attention fully back on what was occurring.

[To be continued]

I used the dialogue from the trial for the courtroom chapters and just added to it. Please review and tell me what you think! :D