To answer the guest's question. The best pokemon shipping in my personal opinion is advanceshipping. I really like Ash and May's friendship in the show and I love a lot of the fics and fan art the couple have and as a long-time supporter of the ship, I think the shipping has inspired the most fics out of me as a writer. Thanks for the reviews so far.

The State VS. Hikari Yagami

The first bang of The Judge's gavel was the birth of a new trial. May held onto her pokéball attached around her belt for support with her left hand. She clutched her ribbon inside her pocket with her right hand. May took a deep breath as her eyes were locked in a piercing stare match between herself and the lady in the prosecution bench.

It was Franziska Von Karma: the one who prosecuted Ash five years ago. A self-proclaimed prosecuting prodigy with a whip, and she wasn't afraid to use it. Even the sternest of judges cowered before her. Franziska grinned at May as if to say that she had already won. If she was able to end Ash's trial so quickly five years ago, May dreaded to think how much she might have improved since then.

"I'm facing her..." May muttered.

Trucy leaned over in May's ear and whispered, "You'll have to be careful. She once whipped Daddy so hard, he ended up unconscious."

May no longer felt prepared.

"The court is now in session for the trial of Hikari Yagami," the Judge announced. "Are the prosecution and the defence ready?"

May bit her tongue before she spoke. "The defence is ready, Your Honour."

"Let's get down to business," Franziska cooed. Her cuddled her whip with both hands. "Miss May Maple, I never thought nor desired I would see you again after your foolish shenanigans five years ago."

"Believe me, Miss Von Karma, the feelings are mutual."

"You're still chasing that foolish illusion that your boyfriend is innocent," Franziska waved her finger as her whip sparked around the courtroom. "Now you work for the most foolish of fools that I've ever had to encounter: Mr. Phoenix Wright."

"You better watch what you say about my daddy," Trucy wailed out. Her arms tightened together as if she was going to start a fight.

Franziska crossed her arms and closed her eyes. "I'm surrounded by foolish fools."

The Judge steered his head towards Franziska. "Prosecutor Von Karma, have you been made aware of the new policies?"

"What policies?"

"Due to the recent attack on Prosecutor Gavin in this court," the Judge explained. "All barristers, must be accompanied at all times. This is for your own personal safety."

"I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself," Franziska muttered as got a pink pokéball out of her pocket, "but if you insist."

"Frosslass!"

"This Pokémon is a present from my dear mother," Franziska announced with curled lips. She patted Froslass all over her white skin skin. "She's a gym leader in Sinnoh."

"Can we have your opening statement please?"

"The victim called himself John Doe. He worked as a janitor for the Digimon Centre in Pewter City. It was due to be opened on the day of the murder. The victim was shot multiple times in the head and in the chest and then thrown out of the window in the ladies bathroom on floor 3. The defendant, Hikari Yagami was arrested quickly. She was the only one in the bathroom, so she's the only one who could have done it. Further investigation showed that John Doe is in fact, Shelly De Killer: the famous assassin."

The Judge gasped. "I don't believe it! Shelly De Killer has finally been caught. But..." the Judge paused as his eyes became fixated with Kari's pale skin. "What would possess a young lady like the defendant to murder a man in such a brutal manner?"

"Someone might have hired him to do a job," Franziska suggested. "Hikari Yagami stopped him before he could kill anyone else."

"Do you have any proof that somebody did hire him?" May asked.

"The evidence will reveal itself when the the time is right."

"That means no...OUCH!" Franziska waved her whip towards May's arm. May's knees crashed to the floor and Trucy held onto May's hand for support.

"Don't you dare try and muck about," Franziska ordered. "This is a court of law."

"Yes," the Judge stammered. "You're quite right, Prosecutor Von Karma. Would you please send in your first witness."

Detective Gary Oak marched to the witness box. Not even five seconds in, Franziska's whip lashed onto Gary's shoulder. "Stop pulling foolish faces. And state your name and occupation."

"Objection!" May shouted. The whip landed on her shoulder too. "Your Honour, how is this whip being allowed in court?"

Franziska's slick grin reversed into a big frown. She gritted her teeth and tightened her whip in between both hands. "Miss May Maple... how dare you question my authority? You shall respect my authority!"

"Yes." the Judge nodded. "Prosecutor Von Karma's authority shall be respected in this court."

"Is he really that much of a pushover?" May asked loud enough for only Trucy to hear.

"He's always been like that," said Trucy.

"Oh boy, I better get prepared for trouble."

"Whatever trouble there is," Trucy told May. "You can always be assured that the prosecution will make it double. You'll be fine. You're going to protect the world, I mean...innocent clients from devastation."

"I'm Detective Gary Oak." Gary rubbed his shoulder as he spoke. "I'm the detective in charge of this investigation. We've been looking for Shelly De Killer for a long time."

"And you found him," Franziska said, "being thrown out of a window."

"Detective Oak, may we have your testimony please."

"The Digimon Centre in Pewter was due to be open on the 5th August. However, things changed at the last minute. A murder happened in the lady's bathroom on the second floor. Shelly De Killer, posing as janitor, John Doe was shot by his own gun and then thrown out of the window. On arrival we found the defendant knocked out in the middle of the bathroom. The murder was in the girl's bathroom, so only a girl could have done it. Hikari Yagami was the only girl there, so it must have been her. She was arrested on the spot and taken away into police custody. "

"Are you sure that there couldn't have been anyone that could have done it?" the Judge asked Detective Oak. May had noticed that the Judge was fiddling with gavel much more than the previous two trials.

"I think the Judge is on our side today," Trucy whispered to May.

"What makes you say that?"

"The way he's playing with his gavel and that big frown on his face," Trucy explained to May. "I've never seen him like this before. Usually the Judge finds people guilty until proven innocent."

"It should be the other way around," May muttered.

"He's questioning Kari's guilt," Trucy pointed out. "That alone makes it clear that luck is on our side. We can do this, May!"

Gary shook his head. "Kari was the only one there. Her fingerprints were all over the murder weapon and her clothes were covered in the victim's blood."

"Miss Maple, you may begin your cross-examination."

"Detective Oak, you say that the murder happened on the second floor."

"That's correct." Gary nodded.

May presented a map of the Digimon Centre to the court. "But according to Prosecutor Von Karma's opening statement, the murder happened on the third floor."

"You foolish idiot," Franziska barked as she whipped Gary on his healthy shoulder. "Stop slacking off and concentrate you fool."

"He might be able to concentrate better if you stop whipping him every five minutes," May yelled.

"Who's right then?" the Judge asked May. "Prosecutor Von Karma or Detective Oak?"

"On this occasion it would seem that Prosecutor Von Karma is right," May explained, "according to this map there is no bathroom on the second floor. So the murder must have taken place on the third floor."

"Of course I'm right." Franziska smirked.

May said afterwards, "I have a question."

"And what would that question be?" the Judge asked.

"Why was Shelly De Killer in the Digimon Centre?"

"We don't know," Gary admitted. "But we're assuming he came to kill somebody."

"Out of curiosity," May asked. "Do you know the exact height or weight of the victim?"

"His height was six feet and three inches, and his weight was 88 kilograms. It says so in the autopsy report."

"Well my client is well under half the victim's size," May stated. "I would say that it would be practically impossible for her to physically drag the victim from the bathroom and out of the window."

"Maybe she had one of her Digimon pals to help her," Gary suggested.

"Then that would contradict your testimony," May confronted Gary. "You said that Kari was alone."

Gary made another suggestion. "Maybe she shot him and it caused De Killer to jump out the window?"

"If that was the case, then there wouldn't have been so much blood on the floor."

"A good argument," Franziska hissed. May was surprised. She couldn't believe she was being complimented by Franziska Von Karma. "The defendant may look week, but she could be stronger than she looks. Why don't you prove your point."

"How am I going to prove it?" May asked herself.

"Do you have any Pokémon with a similar height and weight to the victim?" Trucy asked. "Mr. Piplup and Thalassa aren't the right shape, but maybe you've got one."

"Come to think of it... I think I do."

"You can't prove it," Franziska assumed. "Can you, Miss May Maple?"

"Miss Franziska Von Karma, as a matter of fact: I CAN!"

Franziska gasped. "What?"

"How are you going to prove this?" the Judge asked May.

"Pretty simple," May replied. "I'm going to ask Kari to physically drag and throw one of my Pokémon in the exact say way as the prosecution describes. And if she can't lift it: acquit! Blaziken, come on out!"

"What's with this foolish abomination!" Franziska cried out. She tried to whip both May and Blaziken, but May was able to dodge the whip whilst the whip has no effect on Blaziken.

"Blaziken is the same height as Shelly De Killer. Their weight is roughly similar too," May explained. "That's why I've sent out Blaziken."

The blazing Pokémon glared at Franziska and then glanced over to May.

"Blaziken, all I want you to do is lay on the floor and relax, " May ordered. Blaziken grinned as he rolled onto the floor. As the red Pokémon stretched his arms out, May walked over to Kari. "Now Kari, I want you to try and drag Blaziken to the defence bench and lift his body on it."

"Um...okay then."

"OBJECTION!" Franziska screeched with her whip flying from either-side of her. "I've had enough of your foolish little games, May Maple."

"I'm beginning to have doubts myself," the Judge admitted. "I fear this could be dangerous."

"The danger in this courtroom at the moment is that whip," May stated.

Kari walked over to Blaziken and knelt down towards him. "I'm sorry if I hurt you," she said before tucking her arms under Blaziken's fluffy armpits and tried to pick him up with all his might. May paid close attention to Kari's face. She was gritting her teeth and grunting loudly. Slowly she was able to lift his upper torso up, but as soon as Kari took one tiny step, she tumbled onto the floor.

"Kari!" Tai, the defendant's older brother cried out in the court. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah I'm okay," Kari admitted as she rubbed her red knees.

"This proves my point," May announced. "My client is innocent. The fact was unable to drag Blaziken proves that it would have been physically impossible for her to drag Shelly De Killer and throw him out the window."

"Objection!" Franziska yelled out again. "This does not change Hikari Yagami's guilt!"

May shook her head. "The defendant's innocence has been made perfectly clear."

Franziska also shook her head. "It only shows that she had an accomplice."

"But Detective Oak testimony means that would be impossible" May reminded the prosecution.

"We've already determined that Detective Oak's testimony is debunked," Franziska hissed. "Now I shall call my next witness: Brock Harrison."

May had an urge to vomit as she head the name of the new witness. Why was Brock a witness for the prosecution? Brock took Gary's place in the witness box and he couldn't keep his eyes off Franziska or Trucy.

"Witness!" Franziska bellowed. "State your name and occupation."

"I'm surrounded by beautiful girls!" Brock cried out in the court. Franziska whipped him and he cooed. "That was nice," he said. "Feel free to do that anytime."

"All I'm asking for is your name," Franziska hissed again.

"What great friends you have," Trucy told May. Pikachu sighed as he slouched on the bench.

"Oh... right!" Brock sighed. He quickly shook his shoulders and bowed. "My name is Brock Harrison. I am the leader of Pewter City Gym. I'm also a Pokémon breeder in my spare time. And also looking for love."

"Gym leader of Pewter City Gym would have done," the Judge scolded him. "So it was your duty to open the Digimon Centre."

Brock nodded. "That's correct, Your Honour."

"I see. You may begin your testimony."

"I was amazed by Kari's beauty. I had to know more about her, but she was so shy. She ran and I chased her down to the girl's bathroom. I saw Shelly De Killer look at me and he told me the bathroom for men was on the right. Then I realised it would soon be time for the grand opening, so I went down. I did see another beautiful lady pass by though."

"There was also another girl?" the Judge gasped.

"Another girl?" Franziska glared at Brock. "Witness, why did you not inform me of this?"

"I didn't want you to get jealous," Brock stammered with his hands in the air. "That's all."

"Describe what the girl looked like," May requested.

"She had skin like chocolate buttons and big beautiful purple hair. And she looked just like a princess."

Franziska chuckled. "Stop blurting out rubbish and tell us the truth."

"He is telling the truth," May yelled at Franziska. "I know Brock, he may come across as perverted, but he would never lie in a court of law."

"You mean... Mr. Harrison is telling the truth?" the Judge asked with his eyes wide open. "Aren't you not going to cross-examine the witness?"

"I don't need to," May declared. "His testimony is fine. He's given me quite a good detail of what this mysterious girl looks like. That's all I need to know who he's talking about!" May looked up to see if a woman matching Brock's description was in the room. And in the fifth row behind Franziska, there she was sitting next to a man with red hair and his body wrapped in a black cloak.

"Iris!" May cried out. "You were the last one to enter the bathroom."

"No I wasn't," Iris yelled out. "I never went in the bathroom."

"Does that mean Iris is the killer?" Trucy asked.

May took a deep breath as she held onto her ribbon. "It seems to be the only solution. If the murderer is a girl... it means Iris is the one who did it."

"What?" Iris giggled as her hand slapped air in May's direction. "Don't be so childish!"

"Kari..."

"Yes?"

"The voice you heard in the bathroom? Who's was it? Does it resemble?"

"It was her voice!" Kari screamed out and pointed at Iris. "I'm pretty sure it was hers."

"Enough!" The man sitting next to Iris stood up. "I confess to the murder of Shelly De Killer."

"Champion Lance?"

"You fool!" Franziska barked aiming her whip aimlessly at Lance. Lance remained still as he covered himself with this cloak. The whip bounced back to Franziska."Trying to defend a killer. We've already established that the killer is female."

"It was my cloak the defendant saw," Lance confessed. "It was me that pulled the trigger."

"Lance... I'm not buying your confession."

"Miss Maple," the Judge said as he peaked below his bench. "Do you have any evidence to support your views?"

May lowered her head and shook her head. "Sadly I don't."

"Shelly De Killer has been trying to kill me and his wife for a long time," Lance told the court. "I was simply protecting my family. He had been stalking Iris for a long time, so I took matters into my own hands."

"Bailiffs," the Judge gulped. "Please arrest Champion Lance Den Immediately."

"Miss May Maple...You finally got your revenge on me," Franziska hissed as she raised her whip with both hands. "THE GREAT FRANZISKA VON KARMA!"

"This has got nothing to do with revenge," May told Franziska. "I came here to prove my client is innocent. Nothing more, and nothing less."

Franziska threw her whip around the courtroom and aimed it at May. Both May and Trucy ducked down as the whip landed on the table.

"FRANZISKA NO!" May heard a woman scream. It was her Aunt Maya's voice. Both May and Trucy jumped up from behind the desk and saw Maya grabbing onto the tip of Franziska's whip. "You can't whip her," Maya told Franziska.

"And why not?" Franziska's eyes had widened. She tried to pull the whip away from Maya's grip, but Maya held the whip with both hands.

"Because she's my niece!" Maya announced in front of the whole court. "And that makes her your niece too. Besides, Mia wouldn't be happy when she finds out that you've been whipping her daughter."

"Since when did your sister ever have a child?" Franziska asked.

"It's a long story," Maya said. She released the whip and looked up at the Judge. "I'll talk to you about it later, Franziska. I think we should all hear the verdict."

The Judge nodded. "For the murder of Shelly De Killer, the court finds Hikari Yagami not guilty." The Judge banged his gavel on his desk. "That is all, the court is adjourned."

Everybody seemed to celebrating in the defence lobby. Davis and Tai's pleasure could be heard from outside of the court as crowds rushed around Kari to congratulate her on her aquittal. May knelt over in the corner of the room as she watched Gary shake hands with Davis and Brock bowing before Tai. It looked as if the Digimon Centre will be opening the next day.

May lowered her head. She didn't feel as if she had won anything. She believed that Iris had murdered Shelly De Killer and she didn't think it was fair that Lance would be punished for her crimes. Lance's words echoed in May's mind. He was trying to do what was best for his family, but being arrested would mean that Iris would be raising her three kids on her own.

"Why are you looking so sad, May?"

May lifted her head. "Mom?"

"You closed that case really quickly," Mia said as she hugged her daughter. "And you really thought outside the box, especially using your Pokémon to prove your point."

"But the real killer is still on the loose," May said. "If I had just a second longer..."

"I don't know if Iris is truly guilty, but if she is, one way or another, karma will get to her."

"Hey May!" Trucy scurried over to May.

"What's up, Trucy?" May asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Professor Oak just received a phone call from The Chief Of Police."

"What about?" May could feel her heart thumping as she jumped out of her seat.

"They're reopening the case," Gary announced as he walked over to May. "The hat that you found turned out to be the hat that was stolen from Ash during Delia Ketchum's murder. And a new witness has come forward."

"Your time has come at last," Mia said to her daughter. "Just remember to keep on smiling, no matter how bad it gets."

"MAY MAPLE!"

The doors to the lobby opened wide open and Franziska Von Karma marched towards May as she placed her whip in her pocket. "It's clear to me that you still hold some resentment towards me. Even though you won, you didn't seem happy."

"That's because an innocent man has been arrested while the killer is walking away."

"Allow me to help you release those tensions," Franziska offered. She opened her hands out towards May with a pokéball in her hand.

"What are you talking about?"

"You foolish fool," Franziska giggled. "Can't you see? I'm challenging you to a Pokémon battle!"

"Now hold it!" soared the voice of the Judge as he marched into the lobby with his suitcase. "Did I hear somebody say a Pokémon battle?"

"Yes, Your Honour," Trucy replied. "Miss Von Karma has just challenged May to a battle."

"As I was preceding the trial," the Judge responded waving his gavel in the air, "it only makes sense that I am the referee in this battle too. Courtroom 10 is quite big and it's currently empty. I suggest to everyone who wants to watch should go there. Miss Von Karma, Miss Maple... come with me."

The Judge began to clap his hands and smile. "This is the first time in the history of this court that we've ever had a Pokémon battle. I am excited!"