Dahlia stepped into the defendant's lobby to find Phoenix pacing the floor.

"Dahlia, hey," Phoenix said.

"Hey Nick," Dahlia said.

"What's with the pacing?" Dahlia said.

"I was just waiting," Phoenix said. "Hope you slept well last night."

"Eh," Dahlia said. "It's a prison, what do you expect?"

"Poor Mystic Dahlia," Pearl said. "I didn't sleep either and I had Dylan. You were alone."

"I wasn't alone, I have a cell mate," Dahlia said. "Remember Viola?"

"Cadaverini?" Phoenix said, shivering.

"It's not too bad," Dahlia said. "Rather her than April May."

"Oh yeah I remember her," Phoenix said.

"I bet you do," Dahlia said. "You were all but seduced by her."

"What?" Pearl said.

"Thanks Dahlia," Phoenix dead panned.

"I can't believe this!" Pearl said. "Mallet me Sister!"

Dahlia smiled. "Looks like Mother didn't ruin you after all. I'm so proud."

"Yes, very heartwarming," Phoenix said, backing away slowly.

"You can't out run Pearly Nick," Maya said. "Thank goodness Pearly doesn't ship me with you."

"Why would I do that?" Pearl said.

To Phoenix's relief, it was enough to distract her from her rage.

"Trial's about to start," a court bailiff said, poking his head in.

"Let's do this thing," Dahlia said.

"You got it," Phoenix said.

Pearl glared at Phoenix. "I'm watching you Mr. Nick."

"Great," Phoenix said. He looked at Dahlia. "Is Pearls bi-polar or something?"

"I don't know," Dahlia said. "It's not like she's ever been to a psychiatrist."

In the courtroom, the judge brought to the court to order with the pounding of his gavel. "Court is now in session."

"The prosecution is ready," Larry said.

"The defense is ready Your Honor," Dahlia said.

"Ms. Hawthorne?" the judge said. "I thought you were the defendant in this trial."

"I will be defending myself Your Honor," Dahlia said.

She felt something smooth and hard slipped into her hand, and heard the light sound of a chain. My Magatama.

"Also, Your Honor, it's Dahlia Fey," Phoenix said.

Dahlia gave him a weak smile, which he returned.

"How did that whole 'Hawthorne' thing get started anyway?" Phoenix said.

Dahlia turned back to the courtroom. "Good question."

"Alright then," the judge said. "Mr. Butz, your opening statement?"

"Yes Your Honor," Larry said. "Two days ago, a defense attorney named Mia Fey was murdered in the law office she ran. She was the defendant's cousin."

The crowd began murmuring, only to be swiftly silenced by the judge. "Continue, Mr. Butz."

"As it is written in the autopsy, the victim was stabbed," Larry said. For a brief moment, Dahlia saw an apologetic look in Larry's eyes. "On the knife were the defendant's fingerprints. But that wasn't the only reason she was arrested. To explain this, the prosecution would like to call the detective in charge of the investigation to testify."

"Very well, bring him to the stand," the judge said.

Moments later, Detective Edgeworth stood behind the witness stand.

"Name and occupation?" Larry said.

"Miles Edgeworth, homicide detective," Edgeworth said, stoically.

"Detective Edgeworth, it says here that you were present when the defendant was arrested," the judge said.

"Yes Your Honor," Edgeworth said, his expression etched in stone.

"Can you explain the circumstances surrounding this?" the judge said.

"Yes Your Honor," Edgeworth said.

Testimony

The evening of the murder, we received reports of screams from other residents of the building.

When we arrived, we found the victim dead with the defendant right beside her.

The victim had a knife in her abdomen, along with a black dahlia in her hand.

She… She admitted to being in the office all day, but claimed to have no memory of the murder.

We arrested her based on circumstance, but afterwards we found much incriminating evidence.

First, the victim and the defendant were confirmed to be alone in the office for several hours.

Second, the murder weapon bares the defendant's fingerprints.

Third, there was a receipt for a knife purchase. Also, there was a receipt for a black dahlia.

Both were under the defendant's name, and were found in her wallet.

"So then the defendant bought the knife that killed the victim?" the judge said.

"So it would seem Your Honor," Edgeworth said.

"Interesting," the judge said. "This certainly is incriminating. The defense may begin the cross-examination."

"Yes Your Honor," Dahlia said.

"You got this Dahlia," Phoenix said. "Don't go easy on Miles now."

"It's not like he's going easy on me," Dahlia said.

"That's just how he is," Phoenix said. "When he's unsure of himself he gets kind of toneless and morbid. He's just doing his job."

"Now that you mention it that does sound like him" Dahlia said.

"It just means he thinks you're innocent," Phoenix said. He looked at Edgeworth and smiled encouragingly.

Dahlia felt her head throb for a moment, and her vision blurred. She quickly recovered, but couldn't figure out why it had happened. For a second there, Nick felt… different. But why? Suddenly, it hit her. A lawyer is someone who smiles no matter how bad it gets.

Cross-Examination

The evening of the murder, we received reports of screams from other residents of the building.

"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "Were there any eyewitnesses?"

"No one actually saw the murder happen," Edgeworth said. "Your neighbors were just reporting suspicious activity."

When we arrived, we found the victim dead with the defendant right beside her.

The victim had a knife in her abdomen, along with a black dahlia in her hand.

"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "Can you go into more detail?"

"Actually pal, I have a photo," Edgeworth said, bringing out a photograph of Mia with the knife still her body.

"The court accepts this into evidence," the judge said.

Dahlia looked at the photo, washed over with sadness. Mia… I'm sorry.

She… She admitted to being in the office all day, but claimed to have no memory of the murder.

We arrested her based on circumstance, but afterwards we found much incriminating evidence.

"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "What kind of evidence?"

"Well, there are 3 main pieces of evidence pal," Edgeworth said.

First, the victim and the defendant were confirmed to be alone in the office for several hours.

"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "How was this confirmed? Because I said as much?"

"In a way," Edgeworth said. "You had recorded a conversation on your phone earlier that day."

Oh yeah, Pearly started playing my cell and now I can't change that back. It feels like so long ago… Dahlia put her hands in her pockets. "Wait, what conversation?"

Edgeworth took out a cell phone, and sure enough it was Dahlia's.

"Hey Nick, what's up?" Dahlia said.

"Dahlia, hey," Phoenix said. "Just working on a couple sketches."

"Still sticking with the whole artist thing?" Dahlia said.

"Yeah, it's fun," Phoenix said.

Dahlia looked at her assistant, who looked astonished.

"Hey Dahlia?" Mia said.

"Yeah?" Dahlia said.

"Have you seen Maya and Pearl?" Mia said.

"Oh, now I remember," Dahlia said. "Maya probably took Pearly to a Steel Samurai street performance. She insisted on it, Maya that is. It's just you and me here."

"Okay, just checking," Mia said. "I haven't seen them around."

Edgeworth closed the cell phone and it was added to the court record.

"… I forgot about that," Phoenix said.

"Yeah, me too," Dahlia said. "It was just the 2 of us…"

"Don't falter at every bit of evidence," Phoenix said."You've gotten out of tougher binds than this one."

"You're just scared of Pearly," Dahlia said.

"I'm not scared of Pearls," Phoenix said. "Though I am concerned for Larry's, Miles', and my well being should this turn out wrong."

Dahlia sighed and faced the courtroom.

"Hey, I was kidding," Phoenix said.

"No you weren't," Dahlia said.

"Not important," Phoenix said, not missing a beat.

"Detective, please continue," the judge said.

"Yes Your Honor," Edgeworth said. "First there was the defendant's lack of abili…"

Second, there was a receipt for a knife purchase. Also, there was a receipt for a black dahlia.

"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "I don't recall ever buying either of those things."

"Well, the receipts were in your wallet," Edgeworth said. "And there was that video tape…"

"Hold it!" Larry said. He pounded his desk, looking frustrated. "What video tape you idiot?"

The detective's hard shell cracked slightly. "I only found out about it recently myself, pal. The department store where those purchases were made, the Lordly Tailor, had security footage of Ms. Fey entering both a flower and a cutlery shop."

"You're kidding!" Phoenix said.

"Edgeworth!" Larry said. "Why am I only hearing about this now?"

"My apologies," Edgeworth said uncomfortably.

Dahlia absorbed the new information. I left the office? Why can't I remember?

"Dahlia," Phoenix said. "Does any of this sound familiar at all?"

Dahlia shook her head. "None of it. Every time I try to remember what happened, all I get is blackness. But if I'm the one that bought those things…"

"Hey Miles?" Phoenix said. "The video shows Dahlia going into those stores right?"

"Yes pal, why?" Edgeworth said.

"Well, how do you know she actually bought that stuff?" Phoenix said. "Couldn't she have bought something else instead? Then later someone else came and bought the knife and dahlia under her name?"

Edgeworth shook his head. "Afraid not pal. The ones working the counter in both stores confirmed that was what she bought. They even gave a physical description of her."

Dahlia was shocked. "Did they match?"

"Yes," Edgeworth said. "Long, scarlet red hair, brown eyes, a little over 5 feet in height, and wore a black hoodie with a golden badge pinned on."

That does sound like me. But why would I…? Dahlia didn't know what to think.

"You really are acting different Fey," Larry said. "I know this is upsetting, but still. You're acting like a whole different person today."

"A whole different person…" Dahlia looked down at the court record. The dahlia with shadowy petals taunted her. Her vision faded again, twisting the light and shadow of the world around her.

Blood dripped down from the wounds and fell into the darkness below. The droplets continued to fall, and just as they were about to land she saw her face in a cracked and jagged mirror. The blood rained down on top of her head slowly, streaking her hair as it continued to slide to the floor until her hair was completely scarlet red. From her view in the mirror she watched herself hold up a knife, the blade coated in red.

Her smile was sugary sweet. "My name is Dahlia, and I am a murderer."

Dahlia took ragged, shaky breathes. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no…"

"Dahlia, are you alright?" Phoenix said, concern evident in his tone.

"No, no, no, I'm not… I'm not…" Dahlia felt her chest grow tighter, and her knees weakened.

Edgeworth and Larry glanced at each other. The detective circled his finger around the side of his head, his expression questioning. Larry glared at him.

"Dahlia, it's okay Dahlia," Phoenix said.

Dahlia hugged her chest, trying desperately to tear the images out of her mind.

"Is something wrong Ms. Hawthorne?" the judge said.

Hawthorne… I'm not… but… Her chest grew tighter and tighter.

"It's Ms. Fey Your Honor," Phoenix, Larry and Edgeworth said.

"Fey…" Dahlia breathed. She looked up and saw her friends.

"Dahlia, answer me," Phoenix said. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Dahlia forced herself to smile. "What did I… Ow, my head."

"Um, I'm not sure the defense is capable of defending today," the judge said.

"I agree Your Honor," Larry said, suddenly looking concerned.

"Perhaps we should postpone the trial for a day?" the judge said.

What's wrong with me? Dahlia tried to calm her breathing. "I'm… crazy."

"I think you need to lie down Dahlia," Phoenix said.

They walked through the hallway in silence, eventually reaching the doors of the defendant's lobby. Dahlia opened the door, and was immediately hugged by Pearl.

"Pearly?" Dahlia said.

Pearl looked up at Dahlia. "Are you okay Mystic- no, Dahlia?"

"Don't worry about me Pearly," Dahlia said.

Pearl hugged Dahlia tighter, burying her face. "No you're not."

"She's right Dahlia, what's going on?" Phoenix said. "You can tell us."

Pearl shivered and pulled away. She stared at Dahlia with big eyes. Phoenix was the same, gripping the red Magatama.

"I don't know anymore, Nick," Dahlia said. "I'm just going to go back to my cell."

"Was it a vision?" Pearl said.

Dahlia froze. Maybe I shouldn't have told her about those.