Chapter Thirty-Two: The State VS. The Joker
May never thought that the day would come where she would have to defend a notorious villain. The Joker and his companion, Harley Quinn had between them committed endless crimes in their lifetime and it had seemed that they had returned from the dead to commit some more. Despite Harley Quinn and The Joker's guilt being clearly established, there were still many mysterious going through her head. How were they connected to Ash? Why did they attack the Duke and Duchess of Caloris and more importantly what was their motive. Although it was going to be made clear that Harley Quinn was guilty, proving it and explaining the bizarre circumstances would be a completely different matter.
There would be four witnesses for today's trial. The first one would be Charlie, the blue dragon who still pines for the wife he lost centuries ago. He saw Harley Quinn attack the victims and Ash with his very own eyes. The second would be Lillie. The Duchess of Caloris, Lusamine was her mother and also a fellow classmate of Ash. The third would be Ash, he was also a victim in the attack, however unlike the others he came back unharmed. The final victim would be the assailant herself, Harley Quinn. Even though The Joker was the defendant, if there was any evidence to suggest that he provoked the attacks in any such way, then he would be found guilty anyway.
May knew that this was a trial that nobody would win.
Harley Quinn marched all around the lobby with a bat hanging from her shoulders. She chewed her gum away and she blew kisses at The Joker who only smirked. Harley Quinn then glared at Ash and she looked as if she was ready to attack him with her bat. May shook her head.
"If you want this trial to end quickly, then you have to listen to me," May demanded. "You can't attack anybody."
"You cheated," Harley Quinn spat as her bubblegum popped in her face. "How did you know the password?"
May shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. Maybe I googled it."
"It wouldn't be on google."
"Maybe I guessed it," May admitted .The password for the entrance of hell was Latin for dark league. Anybody with basic computer skills would be able to decode it in no time, along with anyone fluent in Latin Hell's entrance was flawed which would explain how Harley Quinn, The Joker, and perhaps many other demons were able to stroll out into Earth and live by the mortals. The only thing that didn't make sense was...May had to think it all through again. There was a lot that didn't make sense. And just as she was about to solve one more mystery, more were puzzling her mind.
If Ash were hit on the head as badly as Charlie had described, then how come Ash didn't complain of any head injuries. Ash was sitting in the defence lobby as if everything was fine.
"May," Trucy whispered. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"What are you thinking?"
Trucy's whispers became even more discreet. "Well don't you think it's strange how they're all chilling?"
"It is strange."
"Why whisper?" The Joker hissed. "Whatever you've got to say can be shared with the world. The Joker stretched out his arms and crossed his legs. "This trial is going to be...fun!"
"Fun?" May asked. She had a very bad feeling about things. For the time being, the maniac couple were calm, but as soon as the trial begins, May dreaded what tricks they had up their sleeves. She hoped that there wasn't any booby traps and monkey mafias floating about in the courtroom.
"I see you play dirty," The Joker said. "You rescued Ash out of Hell. I like how you play. You do anything to make ends meet."
May shook her head. "I was doing it in the name of justice."
"And what has justice ever done for you?" The Joker asked. "You're here sticking to the truth and clearing people's names. But why follow the rules all the time, when they were made to be broken."
"Justice has given me a career," May responded with a smile on her face. "A reason to live and something worth fighting for!"
"You've got a wonderful mind," The Joker said. "You're a bright lawyer for your age."
"I agree," Harley Quinn groaned as she slapped the bat with her hand. She would not be satisfied until she killed somebody that day. May was sure of it. Harley Quinn and The Joker were monsters.
"The trial is about to start," Trucy announced. "Is everyone ready?"
May didn't reply. How could anybody be ready?
The Judge presiding the trial looked like a slimmer and younger version of the the judge that presided all of May's trials before she came to Alola.
"The court is now in session for the trial of The Joker."
"The defence is ready, Your Honour," May said with a confident smile. Iris, who stood on the other side of the courtroom grinned. They had hatched a plan, and May had hopped that Iris' plan could mesh with hers.
"The prosecution is also ready," Iris announced.
"Oh it's Miss Maple and Mrs. Den," the Judge noted. "My brother has told me a lot of things about you two."
"Would you like my opening statement?" asked Iris.
"You're keen," the Judge commented. "Yes please!"
"This case is a mysterious one," Iris admitted, flicking back her purple hair. "I have so many questions in my head right now. And I'm sure everyone else in the court today feels the same way. I hope that the defence will help me solve this riddling mysteries. I already know that this is a trial that I won't win."
May was surprised at how similar her train of thoughts were to Iris. Just over a month ago this would have been impossible. Memories odd the bitter stares and verbal battles during the State Vs. Serena Yvonne case began floating in her mind. Ever since realising that Iris was the one that killed Delia Ketchum, May had considered Iris her greatest rival. Yesterday they were civil and today, she appeared to be almost friendly.
"Why won't you win?" the Judge asked, scratching his head. "This tells me nothing so far."
"The victims were the Duke and Duchess of Caloris," Iris explained. "They were bludgeoned to death outside the dragon ruins in Haina Desert. The Joker, our defendant was arrested for the crime, but that's only the beginning."
"The beginning?" the Judge hissed. "Can the defence add anything to this?"
"This is getting good," The Joker laughed, rubbing his hands together. "I almost want to cry...with laughter."
May nodded. "It wasn't The Joker that killed the duke and duchess. It was his girlfriend, Harley Quinn. She bludgeoned them to death with the bat she's smacking in her hand. She also assaulted Ash Ketchum and brought her to Hell."
The Judge dropped his mouth in horror as the people's whispering in the gallery began to echo. "Now you've completely lost me," the Judge confessed.
The Joker and Harley Quinn exchanged grins as they sat calmly watching the trial go into chaos.
"Since we know that Harley Quinn is the culprit," Iris explained. "Then one would think that this trial can come to and end and The Joker can walk free."
"Then I must deliver my verdict!" the Judge cried out, clenching his gavel.
Iris shook her head. "No. There's too much that hasn't been covered. I want to solve these questions. First of all, why were the victims at the desert? Where were they going? What were they doing before the attack? Our witnesses can help solve this. Before I begin with my second question, I have some evidence that I would like to submit to the court."
The Judge nodded. "Go ahead!"
May predicted that they would be the two death certificates that Iris had shown her yesterday. She was right. A bailiff passed the documents over to the Judge.
"These are the death certificates for Doctor Harleen Quinzel and Mr. Joseph Kerr. Both off them were notorious criminals in Gotham City. They are better known as Harley Quinn and The Joker."
The Joker began to clap slowly, and then provoked the audience to give a round of applause. The audience seemed startled, fearing what was hiding inside his jeans. "Gee, I wish I had some popcorn right now."
The Judge shook his head side to side. "Even if you did have popcorn, it would be redundant: eating is strictly forbidden in my court."
"So," May said, trying to get back at the topic at hand. "They've either faked their deaths or they've died and returned to earth as demons."
The fearful whispers had returned. The Judge slammed his gavel. "Enough of this..."
"If the latter is true," Iris interrupted "And the defendant is actually dead. Then do we as mortals have the right to put a dead person on trial? Should we be allowed to judge someone who now lives in Hell? Are we able to punish a demon?"
"Do you believe that the defendant played a role in these murders?" May asked Iris.
"Yes!" Iris said. "Harley Quinn would do anything for him. The fact that they're dating is proof enough for me."
"But the dragon witnessed only Harley Quinn and never saw The Joker. Can you prove that The Joker's guilt? And if you can, what is their motive?"
"They're both insane," Iris said, looking down on the maniac couple. "They destroy things for fun. They don't need a motive. Though one thing, May, how can you be so sure that the dragon didn't see The Joker? Did he that he did."
"I think so," May mumbled. "Actually, to be honest, when I questioned him, he never mentioned The Joker."
"Enough of this demons and dragons nonsense," the Judge demanded. "This is a court of law, not a place to promote foolish fan fiction. I want to hear from the witnesses."
May took a deep breath. The Judge's stubbornness was rubbing her the wrong way, and she didn't want to put her job at risk because of it. "This might be a lot to take in," May warned the Judge with great determination. "Butt dragons and demons are real? Haven't you seen any dragon pokémon in your time?"
"Miss Maple you are clearly insane!"
"OBJECTION!" Iris yelled. "Your Honour, I find that statement highly unprofessional. And the defence isn't crazy, and I can' prove that. I would like to bring King Clarence to the stand!"
"KING CLARENCE?" roared the Judge jumping from his seat. "There hasn't been a King Clarence in over 800 years."
"Indeed," Iris said. "But here is something that they've never taught you at school. He likes to be called Charlie. And he is in fact the dragon husband to the late Queen Olive: my ancestor."
"Iris managed to get Charlie here?" Trucy exhaled with her back against the wall. "I thought he was immobile.
Iris' haxorus escorted a man in a wheelchair towards the witness box. The man was in a blue samurai suit that hugged his muscular frame. He looked just like the man in Charlie's painting. It was Charlie in his human form.
"This is a human boy!" the Judge shouted. "I've had enough of everyone's mindless tricks."
"Your Honour," May gasped. "This is not a joke. Please be respectful. He's eight-hundred-and-twenty-seven-years-old.
"Your Majesty," Iris said as she bowed before Charlie. "Show them your true form."
Then Charlie's handsome figure melted away to reveal the old blue dragon that they had met in the ruins. Out of everyone in the court, the Judge appeared to be the most mortified.
"Grandpa Charlie" May smirked as she spoke. She was starting to think that being an ancestor to a dragon was pretty wicked. "Please confirm your name and occupation to the court."
"My name is Charlie," he said. "As you can see, I am a dragon. Everything that the prosecution says is true. The legend of Queen Olive is real. I should know, I was her husband."
May allowed everything that Charlie said to sink in before she continued to speak.
"And you saw the Duke and Duchess be killed with your very own eyes.
"I did."
The Judge cowered under the table. "I'm sorry for not believing in you before. The court humbly requests that the witness shall return to his human form immediately"
"Actually," May said, shrugging her shoulders. "I think he's fine the way he is."
Iris agreed, which May didn't find surprising as she was a huge dragon lover. "Me too."
Charlie gazed upon the Judge. Although he appeared to be viscous with his golden eyes, he was actually kind and gentle. His head was squashed by the ceiling. "It's because I'm ugly, isn't it?"
Iris firmly shook her head. "You are certainly not ugly," she told her ancestor. "Now tell us everything you saw."
"Yes!" roared Charlie. "I will!"
Charlie began his testimony.
"I saw four people outside the ruins. Two men and two women. One of the women suddenly started attacking the other three. She left two of them for dead as she dragged the young man into Hell."
"Incredible," the Judge gasped. "But how do we know if you're telling the truth?"
"One thing that sets dragons apart from humans," Iris pointed out. "Dragons don't lie."
"It's not everyday that you get to cross-examine a dragon," giggled Trucy.
"I think it's quite brilliant," May told Trucy. "Well, I better begin my cross examination!" May hopped of the defence bench and approached Charlie. "So you saw four people outside the ruins."
"Yes I did."
"Can you confirm who these four people were."
"It was the victims," Charlie confirmed. He pointed his claws at Ash. "That young man over there." He turned and faced Harley Quinn. "And that woman over there. She was the one that attacked them."
"Prior to the attacks, did you seen them before?"
Charlie shrugged his shoulders. "I've only seen the young man with black hair around at night. He had a Pikachu with him. He's opened the gates of Hell more than once."
"That seems to fit Ash's description," added Trucy.
"Did you ever get a chance to have a conversation with them?"
"No. They didn't see me."
"How come you never did anything to help?" the Judge asked.
"I'm not as fast as I used to," Charlie admitted. "An old injury has immobilized me."
"You could have still phoned the police."
"I don't have a telephone," Charlie admitted, showing the holes in his wings and his swollen feet. "My wings and my feet are in poor condition. If I could have done more, than I would have done."
"I see," the Judge said. "Anyway, thank you for your time. You may leave the witness box, unless you have anything else you wish to say."
"No Your Honour," Charlie replied, returning to his human form. He relied on the bars behind him to keep his composure until his wheelchair became available."I've said everything that I've wanted to say."
"I would like to bring Detective Looker to the stand," Iris requested. "Then afterwards we can speak to Detective Oak."
"Very well, Detective Looker! Come forward please," the Judge announced.
Detective Looker came to the stand.
"Please state your name and profession."
"Detective Looker: I'm in charge of the investigation of the murders."
"Why did you arrest The Joker?" Iris asked him.
"As soon as I heard that The Joker was around, I knew that it had to be him responsible for the murders."
"On the night of the murder, Ash Ketchum was kidnapped. Why didn't you investigate the kidnapping?"
"Because Detective Oak was in charge of that case!"
"Why were the disappearances of Ash Ketchum and the two murders considered different cases?"
"I didn't see the connection at the time," the Looker admitted. "Had I have had the nerve to investigate the dragon ruins, then the connection would have been made clear."
"So you're admitting that you've made huge errors in your investigation?" May asked.
"They're not huge errors," Looker insisted. "Just simply things that we were not aware off. I didn't know how dangerous the dragon ruins would be. I didn't want to put my colleagues in danger."
"I get it," Iris pointed out. "You were scared."
"No!" Looker insisted. "I wasn't scared at all. It was all a big misunderstanding on my part."
"Right," May noted. "And I'm the Queen of Sheba."
"Now if you excuse me," Looker said as he crept away from the stand. "I think Detective Oak has some very urgent information for you."
"That can wait," the Judge said. "I want you to talk about the case at hand."
"The bodies were found on the morning after they had died. A pikachu reported both the murder and the kidnapping at the police station." Detective Looker's eyes began flicker as his body swayed side to side. It appeared as if he was under the influence of some sort of illegal drugs.
"Detective Looker!" Gary said. The crowds gasped as Gary stood up from his seat. "What's up with you? This isn't like you at all."
"I'm fine," he persisted as he held the side of his head. "I need to sit down."
Harley Quinn started giggling like a school girl. It was no way to behave in court.
"Something's up," Trucy whispered to May. "There has to be."
"It isn't the Looker that we know," May whispered back.
Trucy signed. "I've got a bad feeling about this."
The green gem in the brooch that clipped Trucy's cape together began to glow. The gem created a luminous beam that darted towards Looker. The lights went out and Looker's silhouette had vanished into thin air. When the lights came back on, it wasn't Looker in the witness box, but a demon. The demon was a cross between a bat and a human. The gasps grated May's ears as some people in the gallery escaped with unpleasant imagery in their mind.
"I've been sussed out," the demon announced as he faded away.
"What ever shall we have next?" the Judge pondered. "Rabbits jumping out of hats?" A white rabbit crawled out of Trucy's hat and jumped into the Judge's lap. "What a cutie."
"My worst fears have been realised," Trucy admitted, clutching onto her gem. Even though Trucy had been wearing the cape ever since the day that they first met, she couldn't believe how she had only just started to notice it now.
"What are your worst fears?" May asked.
"You'll find out soon enough."
"Let's all hear what the witnesses have to say before the whole court turns into a doll house," the Judge suggested. "But, before we do it," he raised his index finger towards the ceiling, "I would like Detective Gary Oak to come forward."
The trial continued. Detective Gary Oak explained how the victims died in gruesome detail. He also went on about the pokémon league in Hell and how Ash was interested in it. he also confirmed that Charlie's testimony in the trial matched the account that was given yesterday in the dragon ruins. After Gary spoke, the Judge ordered him to go back to his seat and sent Harley Quinn and Ash Ketchum up on the stand.
"Now then," the Judge said. "I want both you to give me..."
"Hold on!" cried a blonde girl in a white hat and summer dress. "I want to say something."
"Go on!"
"I'm Lillie," she explained. "I'm Lusamine's daughter. I know why they were at the desert. Ash was in my class. My mother and stepsister were interested about the pokémon league in the underworld. But my stepfather was concerned and decided to take Elodie's place."
"Why did he take her place? " May asked Lillie
"It's a long story," Lillie admitted. "My mother was sick and Queen Elodie healed her. My mother was so thankful. She met Queen Elodie's father and they hit it off right away. They married each other a few months later. There were rumours about an underworld pokémon league. That's why they were all there."
"Thank you," said the Judge with no sense of gratefulness at all. "Now Mr. Ketchum you shall start, then Harley Quinn will talk next."
"I didn't open the entrance to hell," Ash declared with a clenched fist. "I skipped class one day to talk to Lusamine. I wanted to enter the dark league. I wanted to challenge myself as a pokémon trainer."
"And what about you?" the Judge started at Harley Quinn. "You've been accused of murder. Did you do it?"
"Yeah," Harley Quinn admitted with a cheeky smile. "I killed them. So what? They were so boring that they had to go."
"DEMON OR NOT," the Judge cried out. "YOU CANNOT JUST SENSELESSLY MURDER PEOPLE JUST BECAUSE YOU FIND THEM BORING!"
"I just did," Harley Quinn said as her eccentric laughs echoed in the courtroom.
"Did the defendant make you do it?" the Judge asked.
Harley Quinn shook her head. "Na, I just did it for the lolls. And also to troll Elodie."
"This cannot be considered trolling," May snarled at Harley Quinn. "If you really wanted to troll Queen Elodie you would have ranked her. Anyway, I've also noticed that my client has been awfully silent. I hope we haven't made you sleep."
"Not at all," The Joker said with his arms crossed. "I am really entertained at the moment."
"Then you can stop being entertained at once," the Judge demanded. "This is not a theatre or a casino! Now does the defence and prosecution have anything to say regarding the circumstances?"
"Somebody is lying," Iris noted.
"Who's lying?"
"Ash Ketchum is the one lying," Trucy announced with her eyes closed. May didn't want to hear it, but deep down she knew that it was true. Ash had opened the entrance to Hell.
"You can't prove it," Ash snapped.
"I know we can't," May said to Ash. "But we're one step closer towards the truth. And you lying isn't going to save your skin."
"Ash Ketchum was not the one that was kidnapped," Trucy announced. "Though Harley did wack him, she didn't provide him a fatal blow. How could a woman with a small figure like Harley Quinn be able to both drag a muscly guy into the entrance of Hell, and a bat at the same time. It's the Looker that's been kidnapped."
"Trucy's right," May announced. "Ash has been going into Hell by his own free will. Maybe he wanted to save Looker."
"I'm sorry," Ash said to May. "I'm an idiot! I should have told the truth from the very beginning."
"So other than the fact we know the defendant is dating the witness, I don't think we can condemn The Joker. So the court finds The Joker... not guilty."
The Joker and Harley Quinn celebrate and just as they were about to walk out of the front door, Trucy's gem unleashed another aura and destroyed them both. It was unlikely that anybody would be seeing The Joker and Harley Quinn again unless they were in Hell.