"Holy Mew," Dahlia said. "You're real. All those things, all those people..."
"Are living, breathing people, yes," Mia said. "Well, except for me."
"I thought I was crazy," Dahlia said.
"I'm missing something," Phoenix said. "I'm sorry but can someone please explain what's going on?"
Dahlia turned to Mia.
"Alright, this is new to me too but I think I've figured out some of it. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong," Mia said.
Dahlia and Phoenix nodded.
"So, there's more than one world out there," Mia said. "This spirit world where I came from, the world I was born in, this one, and perhaps several others. And everything's connected in its own way. Maidens of the Fey clan have always been able to connect with the spirit world."
"Except for me and Iris," Dahlia said.
"I don't know about here, but where I'm from that doesn't happen very often," Mia said. "Not being able to unlock your power fully is one thing, but not having that power to begin with is rare."
"It's like that here too," Dahlia said. "I can't channel spirits, but I charged my Magatama myself."
"It's a little strange, isn't it?" Mia said. "Charging a Magatama is easier, but by no means a simple feat."
"And you're really good with Magatamas, aren't you?" Phoenix said, looking at Dahlia. "Maya and Pearl couldn't stop saying how you were better with them than anyone else in the village."
"I just see them a little differently," Dahlia said. "No one ever pays attention to the chain, but that's what holds the secret back. Psyche-Locks are just a puzzle to keep the chain in place."
"Interesting," Mia said. "So even that is different about you."
"No one's ever walked up to me and said I was good at conforming," Dahlia said.
"I can believe that," Mia said. "Now, exactly how do you know my world?"
"It's a little hard to explain," Dahlia said. "For a while now, I've been getting these completely random visions. Some of them are pretty straightforward, like moments in history, some are just plain weird. Creepy sometimes."
"Visions, huh?" Mia said. "Can you describe one?"
"Well… uh, let me think…" Dahlia said. "I had one just a minute ago, but how do I explain it….?"
"Here," Phoenix said, holding out Dahlia's diary. "You wrote a bunch of them in this, remember?"
"Oh yeah, smart," Dahlia said.
Mia flipped through the red notebook, occasionally pausing to read a passage. "Amazing…"
"So you mean all of this is accurate?" Dahlia said.
"I can't say on those artsy visions, but many of these visions are events that happened in my world," Mia said. "The hanging, Dusky Bridge, the poison-"
"Which one?" Dahlia said.
"All of them," Mia said.
"Dang," Dahlia said. "I'm a real piece of work in your world."
Phoenix snorted. "You are in this one too."
"Ha. Ha. Ha," Dahlia said, rolling her eyes.
"Sorry," Phoenix said. "Say, can I ask what I'm like in this other world?"
"I believe you're a lawyer," Dahlia said.
Mia nodded. "One of the best. Though you have a tendency to speak; then think."
"Okay, that's going to take a while to process," Phoenix said. "And Dahlia is…"
"Your twisted, deceitful, murderous ex-girlfriend of sorts," Mia said. "Sorry, Dahlia."
"It's okay," Dahlia said.
"Of sorts?" Phoenix said.
"That's really the part you're asking about," Dahlia said.
"It's a long story," Mia said.
Phoenix turned to Dahlia. "And you're just taking this in Mia's telling you how her day went?"
Dahlia shrugged. "I guess part of me always knew there was something to my visions."
"That begs the question, why do you have these visions?" Mia said. "Could it be that you're connected to my world instead of the spirit world?"
"I guess it's possible," Dahlia said, playing with her Magatama. "I never questioned it before, but it really is weird that I can use a Magatama so well and not channel spirits. And it does kind of explain why I've been having these visions since I was 17."
"You had your first vision at age 17?" Mia said.
Dahlia nodded. "I remember now, it was after Mother told me she was pregnant with Pearly. I was so excited…"
"It must have unlocked your powers," Mia said. "And from then on, you were connected to my world."
"Crazy," Dahlia said.
"Hold on," Phoenix said. "So Dahlia, and presumably Iris, are connected to this other world right?"
"That's the only explanation I can think of," Mia said.
"But other Feys are connected to the spirit world?" Phoenix said.
"Yes," Mia said. "You've caught on rather quickly, I see."
"That being the case," Phoenix said. "How come Pearls is channeling you?"
"Oh, that's easy," Dahlia said. "She's my sister."
"Quite an amazing child, she probably didn't even know she had channeled me instead of your Mia Fey," Mia said.
"Yeah, she's something else," Dahlia said.
"She certainly is," Mia said. "But I fear my time's running out. I wish I could be of more help."
"Don't even, you were more help than I could ask for," Dahlia said.
Mia smiled. "You know, I like you better than my Dahlia."
"It's because this one is a Fey," Dahlia said.
"Yes, I believe so," Mia said. "So promise me something."
"What?" Dahlia said.
"Promise me you'll take down Dahlia Hawthorne," Mia said. "I'm afraid I can't right now."
"You don't have to tell me twice," Dahlia said. "I'm on it."
"Thank you," Mia said. "Good luck, both of you."
Mia's spirit left her host body, leaving Pearl in her place.
"Hey Pearly," Dahlia said.
"Hi Dahlia," Pearl said. "That felt different from the other times."
"I bet it did," Dahlia said.
"And my chest feels funny," Pearl said, crossing her arms.
Dahlia chuckled. "Yeah, that makes sense too."
Back in the courtroom, the judge called everyone back into order.
"Are we ready to resume?" the judge said.
"Yes, Your Honor," Dahlia said.
"Yes, Your Honor," Larry said.
"Mr. Butz, is our witness still with us?" the judge said.
"Yes, she's still here," Larry said.
"Then let's bring her back to the stand," the judge said.
Moments later, Hawthorne stood behind the witness stand once again.
"Ms. Hawthorne, as I'm sure you recall we left off at a rather confusing point," the judge said. "Do you have anything to say to make sense of it?"
"Yes, Mr. Judge," Hawthorne said.
"Very well then, begin your testimony," the judge said.
Testimony
I'm really, really sorry about that, everyone. I didn't mean to confuse you all.
I'm afraid I haven't been entirely truthfully, though. But I'm ready to tell you what happened.
You see, Mom actually did tell me about Pearl. When she told me about her plan to kill Maya Fey.
But I wanted nothing to do with it, I didn't care about who became the Master.
Mia Fey channeled me anyway though, not that I killed her. That was you, Dahlia.
I didn't want to get you in trouble, Dollie, but it was you that killed Mia Fey.
While I was walking around the office, I ran into you. You weren't happy to see me.
We ended up fighting, like we always did as kids, but you took it too far when you pulled out the knife.
You got behind me and trapped me, then you stabbed me. You let go, and I stumbled back into the wall.
"The end," Hawthorne said. "Sorry, Dahlia."
"Before we begin the cross-examination," Dahlia said. "Was even one of those statements true?"
"Hey, I know you don't want to go to jail like I did, but that was uncalled for!" Hawthorne said.
"Uh, Dahlia," Phoenix said uneasily. "I hate to say it, but her explanation seems… flawless."
"I can't let my doubts get to me," Dahlia said. "I know the truth; now all I have to do is prove it."
"How?" Phoenix said. "Dahlia, I will always believe in you, but how in the world are you going to break this girl?"
"Nick, you're forgetting something," Dahlia said. "I'm connected to Hawthorne over there, she's basically me."
"I know, and no one's more stubborn than you," Phoenix said.
"Yeah," Dahlia said. "But I know all her weaknesses."
Cross-Examination
I'm really, really sorry about that, everyone. I didn't mean to confuse you all.
I'm afraid I haven't been entirely truthfully, though. But I'm ready to tell you what happened.
"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "We're waiting for your confession."
"I didn't kill anyone, alright?" Hawthorne said.
Dahlia just looked at her.
"Now that I'm dead," Hawthorne added.
"Uh-huh," Dahlia said. "Got it, Iris."
"Continue, Ms. Hawthorne," Larry said.
"Okay," Hawthorne said.
You see, Mom actually did tell me about Pearl. When she told me about her plan to kill Maya Fey.
"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "You mean her plan to kill Mia Fey."
"No, Maya was her goal," Hawthorne said.
"Only Maya is still alive," Dahlia said. "If what you're saying is true, Mother just can't win."
"I suppose," Hawthorne said.
"No matter what she does, she'll always lose," Dahlia said. "She'll fail every time, huh?"
"What are you getting at?" Hawthorne said.
"Nothing," Dahlia said. "But man, I hate making mistakes. Especially the same ones."
"Yeah, well, it didn't matter to me," Hawthorne said. "Mom asked me to help…"
But I wanted nothing to do with it, I didn't care about who became the Master.
"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "You're referring to Maya I take it?"
"Who else?" Hawthorne said.
"Yeah, she's the one channeling you actually," Dahlia said. "Kind of convenient. What with Maya's black hair you don't look different at all, Iris. You're exactly the same."
"So?" Hawthorne said.
"Oh, I just noticed that," Dahlia said. "Anyway, this isn't your first time being channeled, is it?"
"No, it's not," Hawthorne said. "Even though I didn't really want to take part in the plan."
Mia Fey channeled me anyway though, not that I killed her. That was you, Dahlia.
I didn't want to get you in trouble, Dollie, but it was you that killed Mia Fey.
"Hold it!" Dahlia said. "Don't call me Dollie!"
"Dollie, Dollie, Dollie!" Hawthorne shouted.
"Errgh! That is so like you, Iris!" Dahlia said.
"Shut up!" Hawthorne said.
"Stupid says what?" Dahlia said.
"I am not going to say what," Hawthorne said.
"Hmm?" Dahlia said.
"Argh!" Hawthorne said.
"You always fall for that, Iris," Dahlia said.
"Stop picking on me, you killer!" Hawthorne said.
"I didn't kill Mia!" Dahlia said.
"Yes you did!" Hawthorne said.
Well this is awkward. We're both right in a way. Dahlia pounded her desk. "I say it was you, Iris!"
"Why would I kill Mia Fey?" Hawthorne said.
"You can't stand anyone who sees through your sweet façade, Iris," Dahlia said. "And Mia saw right through you, the first moment she laid eyes on you."
"That has nothing to do with this!" Hawthorne said, being to look uncomfortable.
"It has everything to do with this," Dahlia said. "You've wanted Mia dead ever since the Terry Fawles trial, haven't you?"
"Why would I?" Hawthorne said.
"Because you were the one to push Fawles over the edge, you gave him the poison, and you got away with everything," Dahlia said. "But Mia wasn't done yet. She and her boyfriend tracked you down, pressed you for answers. And so you brought out some poison again and took Mia's partner out of the picture."
"You can't prove I did that!" Hawthorne said. "Terry, that coffee guy, you can't pin them on me!"
"But it's the truth!" Dahlia said.
"Objection!" Larry said. "Fey, you're starting to make even less sense."
"How so?" Dahlia said.
"Diego Armando was never poisoned," Larry said.
"Yeah," Dahlia said, smirking at Hawthorne. "I know that."
"What?" Hawthorne said.
"But wait, didn't the witness say something about a coffee guy?" Dahlia said. "That sounds like Diego to me."
"Well, I… er…" Hawthorne stuttered.
"Can't back out of this one, can you?" Dahlia said. "You're not Iris, are you?"
"What?" Hawthorne said. "Of course I am!"
"Our dear sister is an idiot, but I don't think she'd make a mistake like that," Dahlia said.
"Wright," Larry muttered. "What's she talking about? Did she just say 'our' sister?"
Phoenix nodded. "You might want to sit down. This is going to be a lot to take in."
"What are they talking about?" Hawthorne said.
"Oh, don't worry about it," Dahlia said. "Now, why don't you tell the court your name? Or shall I do it for you?"
"Ms. Fey, I'm not following this at all," the judge said. "Who is this girl?"
"Dahlia Hawthorne, Your Honor," Dahlia said.
The crowd broke into an uproar.
"SHUT UP!" Hawthorne shrieked. "You're insane, Dahlia!"
"No, you're the insane one," Dahlia said. "You went through so much just for a chance to get back at Mia. You travelled between worlds just to find one where she lived."
"Between worlds?" Larry said.
"You've already seen a glimpse of the spirit world," Dahlia said. "Why does it have to stop there?"
"So wait, are you saying…" Larry couldn't finish his sentence.
"Yes, this girl right here is me from another dimension," Dahlia said. "This is Dahlia Hawthorne."
"But that's crazy!" Larry said.
"It's the truth," Dahlia said.
"I thought this was Iris Hawthorne!" Larry said.
"I did too at first. They're very similar aren't they?" Dahlia said.
"Yeah!" Larry said. "How can you say this is someone else? From another world no less!"
"Well, do you recall Diego getting poisoned in this world?" Dahlia said.
"So, what, you're saying Maya just accidentally channeled a girl from another dimension instead of your sister?" Larry said. "I'm sorry, this is just too much!"
"Yeah, how could Maya call me if I'm not Iris?" Hawthorne said. "Could she even connect to this so-called other world?"
"Maybe not, but Iris could," Dahlia said.
"No she can't!" Hawthorne said. "I mean, no I can't!"
"You're slipping up, Hawthorne," Dahlia said. "I know Iris called you over into the spirit world with her when she died. So when Mia summoned Iris, she got you. And you wanted her dead more than anyone. And when you did your dirty work, you didn't even have to fabricate anything. The perfect scapegoat was right there, me."
"That's not it!" Hawthorne said.
"Yes it is!" Dahlia said. "And now you're here again, just like you were the last time you tried something like this. Behind the witness stand, channeled by Maya Fey, being exposed for the monster you truly are!"
"No!" Hawthorne shouted.
"Nothing has changed, Hawthorne!" Dahlia said. "Not even after all this, you're still alone, you're still dead, and you're still going to fail!"
Hawthorne shook with rage. "You think that's it, huh? Well guess what? You're wrong! I killed Mia Fey with my own 2 hands this time around! And I don't care if I'm dead! I just want those who cross me to suffer! When that fool, Iris, died she contacted me and told me of a way to get my revenge. And all she wanted in return was for me to frame you."
"So I was right then," Dahlia said. "Iris called you so you could do everything."
"Oh, you silly little girl, there's so much more to it than that!" Hawthorne said. Her sneer twisted, and when she spoke her voice ever so slightly different. "Hello, my sister."
Dahlia face fell. "Iris?"
The demented spirit nodded. "Spirits can't channel other spirits, you big-"
"Don't you dare!" Phoenix said.
Hawthorne changed back. "You see? You still couldn't figure it all out. I didn't take Iris' place, we merged together."
"You merged together?" Dahlia said. "You actually became one with Iris?"
"No, I'm still Dahlia," Hawthorne said. "I'm merely using Iris to get to where I need to go."
"You're wrong!" Dahlia said, pounding her desk. "You're so distorted by hate and that bottomless hunger for revenge, you don't even realize what you've become! You've become everything you never intended to be, and lost everything for it. You're barely even Dahlia Hawthorne anymore, you're no different from Iris! You might as well be her!"
"Don't say that!" Hawthorne said. "You don't know what you're saying!"
"I know exactly what I'm saying!" Dahlia said. "Because I am not you!"
Hawthorne paused, squeezing her eyes shut. All eyes were on her as she began muttering.
"No… No, be quiet… I am not… I know, just…" Hawthorne's eyes snapped open, burning white.
"BequietIdon'tcarejustgodieinaholeyoushutup," Hawthorne's speech was rapid, her voice shifting back and forth until it became one distorted tone. "Itdoesn'tmatterit'sallherfaultIknowitiswhat'sgoin gon?"
Hawthorne growled. "What'shappeningarewedonenowe'renotwecan'tbemakeit stopletmestay. It'sallbecauseofherItoldyouweshouldhavekilledherId on'tcarewhatyousaidshewassupposedtogotojailwellshe didn'tandnowlookwhathappenedsheruinedeverything!"
"Send her away."
Dahlia broke away from the scene. What?
"I've been in your situation before. Send her away. Break through the darkness with the light of truth."
Who are you?
"A friend. Now do it."
Come on, you can tell me.
Suddenly, an image blossomed in Dahlia's mind. A man in a blue suit with spiky hair smiled. "Phoenix Wright, Ace Attorney."
Nice to meet you.
"Glad, now go do what you have to do."
Dahlia focused her gaze back the crazed spirit. "Leave. Now. You're done."
"Shut up!" Hawthorne said, her voice layered. "You're so stupid! All of you! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!"
"I said go!" Dahlia said. "You have no place in this world!"
"What gives you the right to say that?" Hawthorne hissed.
Dahlia flashed her red Magatama. "I am Dahlia Fey, a defense attorney. Now leave and return to where you came!"
Hawthorne shrieked, and the lights of the courtroom flickered. Dahlia held her ground, her determined gaze never wavering as she held out her Magatama.
Scarlet red will-o-wisps appeared above the demented, screaming spirit. "Stupid Fey! Stupid Fey! Stupid Fey! Stupid Fey!"
A ghost of red and black was ripped away, revealed to all as the hideous, demonic being it was. All the white it screamed. "Stupid Fey! Stupid Fey! Stupid Fey!"
The spirit rose higher, passing through the scarlet flames. The scarlet wisps broke apart, passing through the spirit and separating it into 2.
"STUPID FEEEEEEEEY!" The Hawthorne spirits went their separate ways, and disappeared.
An echoing of the tortured spirits resounded through the courtroom, until all was quiet.
"Ooaah."
Everyone's attention instantly turned to the witness stand, where a girl barely stood.
"Maya!" Dahlia said.
"What…" Maya murmured, before passing out.
Maya was carried out of the courtroom to be taken care off. Dahlia sighed. Thanks Maya.
"My, my," the judge said, shaking his head slowly. "I still can't process what just happened."
"Madness, Your Honor," Dahlia said. "Pure, unholy, madness."
"Yes, indeed," the judge said. "Well, it feels like we've finally reached the end. I believe we've come to terms on the defendant's guilt or innocence. Right?"
"I think so, Your Honor," Larry said, blinking a few times. "The… the prosecution has no more objections, if that helps at all."
"Very well then," the judge said. "Does anyone else have something they'd like to add?"
No one said a word. Phoenix glanced at Dahlia, and gave her an encouraging smile.
"Alright, I believe it's high time I announced my verdict. This court finds Dahlia Fey," the judge said. "Not Guilty."
In the courthouse clinic, Dahlia, Phoenix and Pearl had gone to check on Maya.
"Hey, guys," Maya said, sitting up.
"Hey there, Master," Dahlia said, rubbing her little cousin's hair. "All the burgers you want tonight, my treat."
Maya giggled. "So I did good then?"
"You did better than good," Phoenix said.
"You're off the hook then?" Maya said.
Dahlia nodded.
"That's so great, Dahlia!" Maya said, hugging her cousin.
"Group hug!" Pearl said, practically tackling Dahlia. Phoenix joined in too, just for the heck of it.
Dahlia looked up, smiling. I did it, Mia. Rest in peace.
She hugged everyone back. I was just found innocent of murder. Phoenix Wright is my best friend. Maya and Pearly, my family, love me. I fought for Mia, who always believed in me no matter what.
Dahlia laughed.
"What's so funny?" Pearl said.
Dahlia just kept laughing. I am definitely Dahlia Fey.