Dahlia put her hands on her desk, ready for action. I need as much information as I can get. Here we go.

Cross-Examination

It happened a few months ago, we had just finished a show.

"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "Was there anything distinct or unique about this particular show?"

"Well, I'd say the Berry Big Circus always puts on a special performance," Regina said. "But I get what you mean. No, there wasn't."

I went into my dressing room and I saw a blue scarf on the table.

"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "The scarf that was covered in pepper?"

"Yes, but I didn't notice at the time," Regina said. "Although, I think I might have sneezed. Pepper always makes me sneeze."

"Where did the scarf come from?" Dahlia said.

"I just found it on the table that night," Regina said. "I had never seen it before."

I didn't think it belonged to me, or anyone else in the circus, but I thought Bat would like it.

"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "What made you think to give the scarf to Bat?"

"I thought it would look better on him than it would on me," Regina said. "Plus he was such a nice guy; I thought it would be nice to give him something. Even if I didn't buy it myself."

I gave it to him right before rehearsal that night.

"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "The same night that he was put in a coma?"

"Yes, that night," Regina said, playing with her wand.

"What happened?" Dahlia said.

While I was practicing with Leon, Bat came up to me and made a bet.

"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "What was the bet?"

"That if he could put his head in Leon's mouth, I would go to a movie with him," Regina blushed. "I would have gone with him anyway, but I wanted to see if he could do it. I trusted Leon; I didn't think Bat would get hurt."

He stuck his head in Leon's mouth like I always did, except Leon suddenly closed his mouth on Bat.

"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "Leon sneezed, right?"

Regina nodded her head, looking downcast. "It was my fault. But since it was an accident I didn't get arrested. Bat's brother, Acro, didn't press charges either."

"Do you remember anything else?" Dahlia said.

"Well, Iris was there too. She called the police I think," Regina said.

"Which reminds me," Payne said. "This testimony was meant to prove Ms. Iris Hawthorne's guilt, was it not? I fail to see how it has done so. For one thing, why would she have called the police if she was the cause of the tragedy?"

"To throw us off," Dahlia said. "Iris thought of the incident as a murder, even though everyone else thought it was an accident. She thought of it as a murder because that's what the original intention was."

"Objection!" Payne said. "That's not enough to incriminate her, Ms. Hawthorne!"

"Objection!" Dahlia said. "There are other reasons to suspect her, Mr. Payne!"

"But Iris Hawthorne has no reason to want the acrobat dead," Payne said.

"You're forgetting that Regina was the one meant to get bitten," Dahlia said.

"She has no reason to want Ms. Berry dead either," Payne said.

"Objection!" Dahlia said. "That's not true. Iris Hawthorne does have a reason to want Regina Berry out of the picture."

"And what would that be?" Payne said, condescendingly.

Dahlia was too sure of herself to care about the prosecutor's tone. "Iris and Regina both go to Ivy University. From what I've heard, they're not exactly the best of friends."

"Objection!" Payne said. "So they don't like each other. That's not enough to kill someone over. I imagine you have a couple people you'd like to drop off the face of the Earth, but you wouldn't go through with such a deed now would you?"

"Regina," Dahlia said to the girl behind the witness stand. "Tell me, exactly why don't you and Iris like each other?"

"I've always suspected Iris was up to no good," Regina said. "Plus, she was always kind of stuck-up. Daddy never liked stuck-up people and neither do I. I keep trying to tell people. Honestly; you have to be girl to notice the evil side of her. Iris has men wrapped around her finger."

"Really? The judge said. "She seems so nice."

You would think that wouldn't you, Mr. Judge? Dahlia processed the information. That sounds like the Iris I know and don't really like. Looks like I was right, Regina saw through the butterflies and sugary voice.

"Even if these young ladies do not favor each other," Payne said. "That is not enough reason for Iris Hawthorne to try to kill Regina Berry."

"Objection!" Dahlia said. "You can't be sure about that. Iris might feel differently. The only way to find out the truth is to ask her herself!"

The judge put his head down, thinking. "This has been a long trial day. In order to find the truth though, we should hear Iris Hawthorne's testimony on the matter once more. I will allow her to testify again, but she will ultimately be the final witness. Are we clear?"

"Yes, Your Honor," Payne said.

"Yes, Your Honor," Dahlia said.

"Very good. Bailiff, bring Iris Hawthorne to the stand," the judge said.

Regina left the courtroom and Iris soon took her place behind the witness stand.

"Ms. Hawthorne, the witness that is," the judge said. "Ms. Hawthorne, I mean the defense-"

"You know what, Your Honor?" Dahlia said. She put her hand to her neck and brought out a red Magatama on a chain that had been kept underneath her hoodie. "Call me Ms. Fey."

The judge seemed to be confused. "Why?"

"Fey is my mother's maiden name," Dahlia said. "And frankly, I prefer it."

"I suppose if you prefer it, and it does make things easier," the judge said. "So Ms. Hawthorne, as you know Ms. Fey has accused you of both murder and attempted murder. Do you have anything to say in your defense?"

"Yes, Mr. Judge," Iris said. "I never killed anyone, or even tried. Can I testify, please?"

"Of course," the judge said.

Testimony

I wouldn't kill Regina; I have no reason to do that.

I never gave Regina a scarf, she gave one to Bat.

I had nothing to do with that incident; I was just there when it happened.

And I have no reason to kill Maxi either.

There was nothing found at the crime scene to connect me to the murder, right?

"Ms. H- Ms. Fey," the judge said. "You may begin your cross-examination."

"Yes, Your Honor," Dahlia said. Time to go all out. No mercy!

Cross-Examination

I wouldn't kill Regina; I have no reason to do that.

"Objection!" Dahlia said. "You have a motive, Iris! Ever since she had met you, Regina had been against you. She believed wholeheartedly that you were no good. She started openly discussing why she didn't trust you. Your cutesy, girly, sickeningly sweet blah act would only last for so long, what if people started listening to Regina? Your image would be wrecked!"

"But…" Iris said. "Wait, sickeningly sweet blah? What's that supposed to mean?"

"My point is you have a reason to want Regina dead!" Dahlia said.

"I couldn't have caused all that!" Iris said.

I never gave Regina a scarf, she gave one to Bat.

"Objection!" Dahlia said. "Regina got that scarf from you! Though you didn't give to her in person, you left it in her dressing room!"

"That's not true!" Iris said, clutching her parasol. "How could I have gotten into her dressing room?"

"It's quite simple, really," Dahlia said. "In your earlier testimony, I believe you mentioned charming your way into the back stage via Maximillion Galactica. That's why you started dating in the first place, I'll bet. You used him to get into the backstage, where you had access to the cafeteria with the pepper and Regina's dressing room. The unlocked dressing room, I might add."

Iris was blown away. "Stop! I didn't do it!"

"Liar!" Dahlia said, slamming her desk. "You did do it, just admit it!"

"No!" Iris wailed. "I'm not going to confess to anything I didn't do!"

"I didn't ask you to do that, I asked you to confess to something you did do," Dahlia said.

"Just shut up Dahlia!" A shadow cast over Iris Hawthorne's face, a white fire in her eyes. "Just shut up already you stupid, ugly, idiot!"

"Ugly? We're identical twins, genius!" Dahlia said.

Iris gritted her teeth. "Grr, just stop it already!"

I had nothing to do with that incident; I was just there when it happened.

"Objection!" Dahlia said. "That's a lie! When you saw Regina stick her head in the lion's mouth, you saw the perfect opportunity to rid yourself of her. You took a scarf and brought it backstage to the cafeteria using Max. Once it was covered with pepper, you took it backstage and planted it in Regina's dressing room for her to find. But Regina didn't wear the scarf, instead she gave it to Bat the acrobat! He ended up sticking his head in the lion's mouth and fell into the trap you had set up for Regina!"

"No!" Iris said, her voice drenched in acid. "I deny everything! It's just crazy!"

The judge stared at Iris. "Ms. Hawthorne?"

Iris covered her face with her parasol. When she revealed her face, it was once more the picture of innocence. "Yes, Mr. Judge?"

Too late! He's seen the real Iris now! Dahlia gave a menacing smirk.

"Oh no, now you think I'm a killer don't you?" Iris said, on the verge of tears.

The judge was at a loss for words.

"I really didn't kill anyone! That motive Dahlia mentioned is crazy. I wouldn't kill someone just because they didn't like me."

And I have no reason to kill Maxi either.

"Objection!" Dahlia said. "Your reason to kill Max is the same reason you tried to kill Regina. Your image."

"What?" Iris said.

"Regina had been talking to Max at the party the night he died. Naturally, Regina was trying to convince Max that you were up to something."

"But my Maxi-Waxy loved me! He would never believe Regina," Iris said.

"But what if he did? What if Regina got through to him, what if he started telling other people? Your cover as Miss Perfect could be blown to bits!"

"You can't prove I killed him!" Iris said.

There was nothing found at the crime scene to connect me to the murder, right?

"Objection!" Dahlia said. "True, the police found nothing to tie you to the murder. But that was because someone took that evidence with them!"

Dahlia presented a white rose. "When Regina discovered the body, she found this. I recall her saying that white roses were a symbol of the love between you and Max. Regina knew that, and you used it as a warning. Regina must have been nearby when you murdered Max, so you knew she would find the body first. You left the rose as a warning to her to keep her mouth shut!"

"That's ridiculous!" Iris said. "I did no such thing!"

"Oh, but you did," Dahlia said. "Since you can't seem to remember what happened that night, allow me to explain."

"Wait, Dahlia," Mia said. "Are you sure you know what happened?"

Dahlia nodded her head. "I think I got this. If I talk it out, it should all come together."

Dahlia slammed her desk. "That night, you poisoned Max's water. But atroquinine is a slow-acting poison; it usually takes about 15 minutes to take effect. In that time, Regina pulled Max over to talk about you. Noticing this, you decided to listen in on the conversation. I suspect you didn't like what you heard. Max was starting to listen to Regina, and what he told someone something important before he died? You had to act quickly, so as soon as Regina was gone you sprang into action. You took some faulty wires from the speakers nearby and electrocuted Max into silence. Then you left the white rose as a warning to Regina and fled the scene. When the police got involved, you needed a scapegoat. And so Lotta Hart, the miffed ex-girlfriend, was dragged into this mess."

Iris was silent, looking at the floor and gripping her parasol.

"Iris, look at me and answer my question. Did you kill Max Galactica?" Dahlia said.

Iris looked Dahlia in the eye, glaring. Dahlia just glared right back. The entire courtroom was quiet as the two sisters had a silent battle between them. Everyone just stared at them, but they took no notice. As far as they were concerned, time had frozen. Finally, they slipped back into reality as Iris' hands started shake, shaking the parasol with it. Iris screamed.

"NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! No no no no no no no!" White hot fury burned in her eyes as Iris lost control. "Shut up! Just shut up! You win, happy? I did it; I killed that idiot of a magician! He was a waste of air! He made white roses our symbol because my name is Iris, how stupid is that? They're both flowers, big whoop! I was sick of him the moment I met him!"

"But why would you date for so long then?" the judge inquired, startled by Iris' outburst.

"Because he saw me!" Iris yelled. "He saw me in Regina's dressing room; I had to make sure he didn't tell anyone! But I couldn't take it anymore; I had to get rid of him! Then just when I thought I was safe, Regina came and I couldn't let Max live for one more second!"

Iris breathed heavily, eyes bulging. Payne and the judge stared at her, eyes equally wide. Though, Payne's glasses made it hard to tell. After a moment's pause, the judge spoke. "Bailiff, I believe we need Ms. Hawthorne escorted out the courtroom."

Iris was taken away, but not before giving Dahlia one last glare. Dahlia just watched. Finally, it's over.

The judge banged his gavel. "I believe it is time for me to hand out my verdict. Does either side have anything else to add?"

Payne mumbled something incoherent.

"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" the judge said.

"I lost to a rookie, her first trial and she beat me," Payne said, in a daze. "Me, Rookie Killer Payne, brought down by a greenhorn. My decisive witness was a murderer."

"Mr. Payne, are you alright?" the judge said, being to worry.

A lock of hair fell off Payne's head. It was almost audible when it hit the floor. Everyone just watched as the hair came off, lock after lock. Payne's reaction was not subtle. "MY HAIR! NO!"

All the hair on the top of Payne's head flew off, and the rookie-killing prosecutor could only scream in protest. It wasn't pretty, and after the ordeal was over Payne was left quivering to himself.

"Is that all?" the judge said, perplexed.

"J-just end the trial, Your Honor," Payne said.

"Very well," the judge said. "This court finds the defendant…"

"Not Guilty."