Here we go, the final part of Episode 3, enjoy.
Disclaimer: I own nothing in this.
Note: I am not at all intersted in commisioning for artwork so please do not message me about it.
DM77's Ace Attorney Justice for All Chapter 24
Motive and True Target
December 30, 2:17 PM, District Court, Defendant Lobby No.5
J and Jaden meet with Trixie in the lobby who was concerned and said while J drinks some oil "I can't believe it! Hazel?!"
"It's pretty shocking, isn't it?" J said understanding Trixie's disbelief.
"It definitely is!" Trixie tells her worried "And to think he was always the most straight-forward of the group. Sweet Celestia…Am I THAT hated?!"
Someone clears there throat but was unnoticed as Jaden said concerned "Hazel tried to pin the murder on you on purpose…"
"He…He did?" Trixie asked shocked.
"Pssst! Psst!" The person trying to get their attention lets out and fake coughs but again the three don't take note.
"But, but…I'm nothing but a little old nobody, you know…?" Trixie said to the two.
"But you're not…which is kind of the reason why…" Jaden said sadly.
He was cut off as the figure coughs and loudly said "Hey! Hey, buddy!" The figure turned out to be N who was a bit annoyed as he said "You're going to ignore me after I went to all this trouble to bring you some evidence?!"
"Ahh…Detective N…" Jaden said surprised.
"Ahh, forget it. I'm going home. This girl deserves to be guilty anyways…." N said looking away pouting.
"Now, now, Detective. I'm sorry." J said to N "Look, why don't you relax a little."
"We've got some really tasty milk you can try with some oil!" Jaden added smiling
"How about a card trick, Detective?" Trixie offered
N smiles and laughs saying "Well, if you insist…"
"Now about that evidence you mentioned…. What is it?!" Jaden asked smiling
"Here you go." N said smiling and hands the group a familiar piece of evidence, it was Gretchen's scarf that she wore before the incident six months ago.
"Huh?" Jaden said surprised "This was…Yesterday in Hazel's room…"
"Yup! And I included forensic results…" N said smiling happily "Take a look at it later."
"Won't Miss. Courtney be mad that you're doing this?" Jaden asked him concerned.
N thinks for a moment and says "That's why this is all a secret."
"Huh?" J said at that.
"Look, details are on a need-to-know basis." N vaguely explains "And we're not really allies or anything…But everything that's happened in court up until now has gone according to our plan."
"I don't know…Miss. Courtney didn't seem in control of things in there just now…" Jaden said thinking on it.
"You'll figure it out eventually buddy…" N said with a smile "Yesterday, our final plans were set into motion."
"'Final plans'…?" J asked confused.
"Uh huh. That reminds me…I've got a message from the prosecutor for you." N said to J nodding "'Nothing is ever truly decided until the very end.' That's it. And that's it for me too, buddy. I'm out of here" He chuckles and leaves
"What did he mean by that…'the very end.' part." Jaden asked puzzled.
"I'm not sure…It was all pretty cryptic to me…" J said thinking.
"Oh…One more thing." N said suddenly returning
"Ahhhhh! Don't scare me like that!" Jaden said jumping
"It looks like there's a large care package from the circus for the defendant." N tells them.
"What? For me…?" Trixie asked.
"It's milk." N states to them "The reception area looks like some kind of dairy, so hurry up and drink it all before it spoils." He smiles
"An entire dairy's worth of milk…For me?!" Trixie said surprised
December 30, 2:27 PM, District Court, Courtroom No. 2
Everyone had regathered into the courtroom once the break was done and took there places again, Hazel once again was up on the witness stand.
Maccadam bangs his gavel to silence the audience and said "Court is now back in session. Miss. Wittebane. Please continue from where you left off."
"I'd like to continue with Hazel's testimony, starting with his relationship to the victim." Courtney tells the court. "I'd also like to get proof from the defense…Proof of what kind of motive Hazel would have to commit this crime."
"Understood." Maccadam said nodding "Now, Mr. Rainart."
"Yes, Your Honor." Hazel said looking at the judge.
"Please proceed with your testimony." Maccadam tells him.
"Finally we get to the motive!" Jaden said but see a concerned look on J's face "Wait…J, are you okay?"
"Just do me a favour and don't ask questions you don't want the answer to…" J said in response, this make Jaden look concerned and gulp nervously.
Hazel then gives his testimony on 'About the Ringmaster' saying "When we were little, we were abandoned by our parents. That's when the Ringmaster of the Clockford Big Circus, Harvey Clockford, took us in. I became an acrobat at around nine years old. I wanted to find a way to repay the Ringmaster. That was my sole purpose in life…"
"Hmmm….You're such a thoughtful young man." Maccadam said thinking.
"As you heard, the witness deeply respected the victim." Courtney states smiling "I wonder how anyone could think that Hazel would kill the man he held in such esteem."
"You are absolutely right…" Maccadam said nodding "How could anyone think that, Miss. J? Which is why there's no real need for a cross-examination, is there?"
'Actually, that's the question I'm trying to answer myself… 'Why would Hazel kill the Ringmaster?'…This might be my last chance to answer that question.' J thinks but decided it be best to cross-examine and said "The defence has a right to cross-examine the witness!"
"Hmph. You're so tactless, Miss. Serial Designation J." Courtney said smirking. "You don't care about justice, do you? You just want to fabricate a motive…"
Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "Very well, Miss. J. Cross-examine the witness."
J starts with the first statement about Hazel being abandoned by his parents saying "Hold it! 'We'?"
"Yes. My sister Gretchen and I." Hazel said nodding
"What? You have a sister?" Maccadam asked surprised
"How old were you when this happened, Hazel?" Courtney asked.
"I was eight years old, and my sister was four." Hazel said smiling.
"Hmmm…. Your parents were very cruel, weren't they?" Maccadam said shaking his head
"Nowadays, we aren't bitter about what happened to us." Hazel explained "Because it allowed us to meet the wonderful people at the Clockford Big Circus."
Maccadam eyes twitch sadly and Jaden noticed and said "J, Maccadam is getting misty eyed."
'He's got a soft spot for sob stories, it looks like…' J thinks
Maccadam is then whipped "OWWW!" He sniffs sadly.
"No crying in court! Let's keep going!" Courtney states.
J nods and presses the next statement about the Ringmaster taking Hazel and his sister in saying "Hold it! How would you describe your relationship with the Ringmaster?"
"He was like an uncle, a father, and a big brother all rolled up into won." Hazel responds with smiling "The Ringmaster and my sister were the only family I had…"
"Hmm…What about other people at the circus?" Maccadam asked curious.
"This was over 15 years ago…" Hazel explained "Back then, there were very few customers coming in, so no one really had the time to look after us. They were worried about other things. But the Ringmaster…He would always come see us with a laugh and a smile."
"What a beautiful story…" Courtney said to that.
"That's why I was always thinking of what I could do to help. I wanted to thank him." Hazel said smiling
"J! Isn't Hazel such a wonderful person?!" Jaden asked J.
"I know. He seems like a nice guy…" J said nodding and thinks 'Which is what makes this so difficult.' She then presses the third statement about Hazel being an acrobat at nine years old saying "Hold it! You started off as an acrobat at that early of an age?"
"I begged the Ringmaster until he finally agreed to let me do it." Hazel said nodding. "Ever since then, I've been in incredible physical shape. That's also when I decided to form a group with my sister. We called ourseves the Flying Hanzal-and-Gretal. It's nearly a household name."
"I've even heard of them in Hoenn…" Courtney said with a smile.
'Liar!' J thinks sweat dropping.
"The point is that I wanted to be of some use to the circus." Hazel states..
"Hmm…You are truly a remarkable young man." Maccadam said to that smiling
'The judge keeps looking at Hazel almost like a proud father…' J thinks sweating
"Hmph…" Courtney said smirking.
J presses the final statement about Hazel wanting to find a way to repay the Ringmaster saying "Hold it! Did you ever have any trouble with the Ringmaster?" She is then whipped "OWWW!"
"How could you ask such a thing, Miss. Serial Designation J?!" Courtney told her. "Do you have some sort of fundamental misunderstanding of this witness's testimony? Or the heart-felt emotions contained within? You better think about this, Miss. Serial Designation J! You better think hard!"
J was then whipped two more times and she lets out "OWW! OW-OW-OW-OWWW!"
Maccadam thinks and said "Hmm…No matter how you look at it, there's no way I could see this witness ever taking the victim's life."
Courtney then whips the bench and then does a courtesy like bow and said "Exactly. I've been waiting for you to say that, Your Honor."
"J, I hate to say it, but I agree with them." Jaden admits.
"I was trying to chase down the truth, bur I ended up just looking like a jerk…" J said thinking.
Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "I think that will be enough for now. Pondering weather or not this man would kill the Ringmaster leads me to believe that…" He shakes his head "It is pretty unlikely."
"Exactly right, Your Honor." Courtney said smiling.
"Miss. J…. I'd like to ask you a question." Maccadam said looking at the drone.
"Go ahead, Your Honor." J said nodding.
"I would just like to know: can you provide an explanation as to why Hazel would want the Ringmaster dead?" Maccadam asked.
J thinks for a moment going through all the info and Jaden looks at her and said "J…?"
'Yeah…I didn't even have to think about it…It was obvious from the start!' J thinks and then said smiling "Your Honor. The reason that Hazel killed the Ringmaster is something that can't be proven."
"W-What?!" Maccadam said surprised
"That's because Hazel had no reason to kill the Ringmaster at all." J said pointing but is then whipped "OWWW!"
"Your foolish attempts to fool us like foolish fools is so fool-heartedly foolish!" Courtney said annoyed "Did you forget?! You made an accusation against this witness, did you not? I believe it was…'This is the real killer of Harvey Clockford, Ringmaster.'"
"If you want to jump to the end of things….Then, yes, that sounds about right." J said to that.
"The end of things…?" Maccadam asked confused.
"Hazel." J said looking at him and asked "You didn't plan to kill the Ringmaster at all, did you? The Ringmaster wasn't your target that night."
"What did you just say?!" Courtney asked surprised.
"I'm saying that the target of this witness's murderous plot was not the Ringmaster." J told her and slams her hands down and points at Hazel while saying "Because it was never his intention to kill Harvey Clockford to begin with!"
"W-WHAAATT?" Courtney winces at that concerned and Camerupt comforts her.
This statement made the audience chatter in shock as well. Maccadam bang his gavel and said "Order! Order!" He then looks at his Bailiff Law Trooper and tells him seriously "Bailiff, I don't care who it is, smack anyone who's loud in the face! Twice if you must!" He then looks to J "Miss. J! What in Primus' name are you trying to do to my court?!" He was whipped "OWWW!"
"Miss. Serial Designation J! What in the world are you trying to do to his court?!" Courtney asked annoyed. "Are you attempting to imply that Hazel was trying to kill someone else?!"
"Take that!" J calls out as she presents on the screens Fubuki's profile.
"Fubuki Clockford…?" Courtney said surprised and confused.
"This young girl is the Ringmaster's daughter, correct?" Maccadam asked surprised.
"Hazel." J said looking at the man in the wheelchair "You were really aiming for her that night, weren't you?" Hazel looks serious but says nothing.
"Objection!" Courtney called out and said worried "You don't need to answer that! It's a mean-spriited leading question!"
"Objection!" J said and countered with "He could easily answer this question! If I'm wrong, all he has to say is, 'You're wrong.' That's it."
"That's it, huh Miss. Serial Designation J?" Courtney states angry.
Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "Enough! Miss. J, allow me to…" he was whipped again "OWWW!"
"The only thing allowed to interrupt me is death itself!" Courtney said firmly.
"Huh?!" Maccadam said surprised.
"And that goes for you, too…Miss. Serial Designation J!" Courtney said glaring "Show me evidence! Now! I want to know why Hazel would want to kill Fubuki Clockford!"
J was surprised at that and Maccadam said "Y-Y-Yes! Me, too! I demand to see some proof! Present evidence that proves Hazel was out to kill this young girl!"
"Take that!" J said as she brings up the Note on the screens in the court room and said looking at Hazel "Hazel…You remember this, don't you?"
Hazel looks serious as he looks at the screen and said "That's…"
"It's a piece of paper that we found inside the Ringmaster's tailcoat." J explained to the court.
"Inside the victim's tailcoat?" Maccadam said surprised.
"Hazel wrote this note." J began to explain "It's ironically entitled 'To The Murderer!'…Its purpose was to call someone to the plaza at 10:00 PM." This made the audience murmur in surprise.
"So, you're saying that he called Harvey Clockford with that note…?!" Maccadam asked surprised.
J nods to that and said "Yes, but there's just one little problem…"
"Problem?" Maccadam asked.
"Hazel did indeed place this note into someone's pocket." J said and slams her hands down "However, that someone was not the Ringmaster!"
"You mean…It wasn't for the…" Courtney said worried.
"That's exactly what I mean." J said with a nod and points as she said "The person this note was intended for was none other than…Fubuki Clockford!"
This made the audience chatter in shock and Maccadam bangs his gavel "Order! Order! Order! M-Miss. J! This little theory of yours…"
"It's the truth, Your Honor. It isn't a theory." J said firmly. "Simply put, Fubuki didn't think the note was meant for her. Which is why, the morning of the crime, she place it on the cafeteria bulletin board."
"That's when her father…I mean the Ringmaster…saw the note?" Courtney asked a bit unnerved.
"That's correct." J said nodding and explained "The Ringmaster ended up in that plaza instead of Fubuki! And he was killed because of that mistake…instead of Fubuki!"
"That's…That's…That's incredible!" Maccadam said in shock.
"Remember the testimony that Hazel gave us earlier today!" J told the court.
J plays the recording of Hazel saying "Lifting the bust and looking out of the window would've been impossible. There's no way I could have exerted that kind of force on my lower body. If I were to do that, I'd end up falling out the window myself."
Once the recording was done J said "Hazel had no idea who it was that arrived in the plaza…Because he couldn't look down out of his window to see who it actually was."
"I've got it! I've got it! Hazel thought it was Fubuki down in the plaza…" Maccadam said to that.
"And that's when he let the bust fly." J said with a nod. This made the audience chatter in shock.
"Hey, J…Isn't Fubuki listening to all of this from the audience?" Jaden said concerned.
"She is. Unfortunately, it's only going to get harsher from here." J said sighing.
"I hope Fubuki can handle it…" Jaden said worried.
Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "Hazel wrote this note to Fubuki…"
"Objection!" Courtney said then said annoyed "Foolishly foolish fool with foolishly foolish fool ideas of foolish tomfoolery...You're so foolish, you've even made me sound like a foolhardy fool…" She then brings up the note again "Very well, Miss. Serial Designation J. If you're so sure, then tell us about this line! 'I have conclusive evidence of what took place.'"
"Yes? What about that line?" J asked.
"Well, if the note was meant for Harvey Clockford, it would mean that…this note is declaring that Fubuki Clockford is a murderer!" Courtney states.
"You don't get it, do you?" J said smiling.
"What?! …What did you just say?!" Courtney asked shocked.
J slams her hands down and said "The Ringmaster knew what the note meant! Which is why he went to the plaza. …In place of his lovely daughter!"
The audience chatter in shock and Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "H-Hold it right there, Miss. J! What is this incident that is alluded to in the note?"
'The incident six months ago…' J thinks and said "An incident occurred six months ago…And now I am more than ready to show this court what happened at that time!"
"…Moron!" Courtney said annoyed.
"Wait! Are you sure that it relates to the present case?!" Maccadam asked.
"It does indeed, Your Honor!" J said nodding and slams her hands down "Everything in this case has its start in what happened six months ago!" The audience in shock chatter loudly.
"Really, J?" Jaden asked.
"I…Umm…I think so." J said thinking on it.
"Well then, if that's the case, hurry up and tell us about it." Courtney demanded. "What is this 'conclusive evidence' mentioned in the note? I know I'd certainly like to know what it is!"
'If I can't answer that question, the judge is going to think I'm bluffing!' J thinks and says "The 'conclusive evidence' about the incident six months ago is actually…Take that!" She shows on the screen the Small Seasoning Bottle.
"…Hmm…" Maccadam lets out thinking looking at it and sniffs it and then proceeds to sneeze a lot and whipping couldn't stop him.
"What kind of spict joke is this…Miss. Serial Designation J?" Courtney asked annoyed.
"It isn't a joke at all." J said smiling "It's the decisive evidence you asked for."
"W-W-What do you mean?" Maccadam asked.
"Recall that the victim was trying to take the wooden box away with him." J explained "He was doing so because this piece of decisive evidence is what was inside!"
"Another unbelievable conclusion!" Maccadam said in shock. "Very well, Miss. J. So what exactly are you saying? Are you claiming Fubuki Clockford killed someone with a small bottle of pepper?!"
"Taking the note into account, that's the only logical conclusion you cand draw..." J tells the court.
"Objection!" Courtney called out and said "…Foolish fool who never tires of her own foolish ways…If you're so sure, Miss. Serial Designation J, then answer this question! Who was Fubuki Clockford's intended victim?"
"Take that!" J said as she presents Gretchen's profile on the screens.
"Who is this…?" Maccadam asked confused at the person on the screen.
"That is Hazel's younger sister." J replied.
"Objection!" Courtney called out and said "What does this prove? His younger sister isn't dead!"
"Technically, that's true." J said in agreement but adds "However, Gretchen has been in a coma for six months now…It's not a stretch to see how Hazel could feel that his sister is dead!"
"Fubuki…She did that to her…?" Maccadam asked looking serious.
"Do you spend your entire life dreaming up new ways to be a fool?!" Courtney asked grinning. "Natually, the prosecutiuon has looking into Hazel's sister, Gretchen Rainart. Six months ago, she was bit by a Pyroar and fell into her current comatose state!"
"A P-P-Pyroar?!" Maccadam said surprised.
"Fubuki…I mean, Miss. Fubuki Clockford is an animal tamer by trade." Courtney explained "However, no tamed animal in that position is ever trained to attack another human! They wouldn't understand the command! Moreover, Miss. Fubuki could never do something like that! It's just not in her."
The members of the audience chatter with them confused on how to understand this. Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "Hmm…So then what happened to Hazel's sister?"
"She's not the victim of an attempted murder, she's the victim of an accident." Courtney explained.
"I see…" Maccadam said thinking
"Now what do we do?" Jaden asked J concerned "No one seems to be going along with your theory. Do you think what happened to Gretchen was actually accident?!"
J slams her hand down and said pointing "The Pyroar biting Gretchen was no accident at all!"
"W-WHAT?!" Maccadam said shocked.
"You're such an amateur, Miss. Serial Designation J!" Courtney said. "There is no way that Fubuki would ever incite her Pyroar to attack another human being!"
"She may not have incited the Pyroar to attack another human being, but Fubuki is responsible for making the Pyroar bite Hazel's sister, Gretchen!" J said and presented the Scarf saying "Take that!"
"That's…That's just a scarf." Maccadam said surprised.
"Hazel." J said looking at him who keeps silent as J asked "This scarf is something that Gretchen used to wear, correct?"
Hazel looks serious and said "That's right…"
"And who is the one that gave this scarf to Gretchen?" J asked.
"F…Fubuki…Fubuki gave it to her…" Hazel said sadly.
"Fubuki…" Maccadam said serious looking.
"There is something more than just blood on this scarf, Your Honor." J points out.
"…And what might that be?" Maccadam asked.
"Pepper." J said simply.
"Pepper?" Maccadam said surprised.
"Pepper." J repeats and slams her hands down and points "Fubuki gave this scarf to Gretchen right before the accident! And she covered it with as much pepper as she could!" Everyone remains silent at this no saying a word. J sweat drops and thinks 'Hey…What's with the silent treatment?'
"Umm…Excuse me, Miss. J." Maccadam speaks up "You've done a good job of fingering a criminal…But out of curiosity…What was her crime?"
"Ummm…" J lets out.
"Miss. Clockford gave a pepper-covered scarf to Gretchen as a present." Maccadam states "Where's the crime in that?"
'It still seems like Maccadam just doesn't get it…' J thinks
Courtney concerned as she seemed to have figured it out and asked "Miss. Serial Designation J…Wasn't it said that the Pyroar seemed to be smiling?" Hazel eyes widen a bit at that.
"Smiling? The Pyroar was smiling?" Maccadam asked surprised.
"Right before Gretchen was bit by the Pyroar." Courtney explained "For a moment, the Pyroar's mouth changed and it looked like her was…smiling."
"Pyroars…smile?" Maccadam asked confused.
"I've never heard of them smiling; however…" Courtney said concerned.
"Lions sneeze." J finished that sentence smiling.
"W-W-W-W-W-W…" Maccadam lets out shocked.
J slams her hands down and said "Pyro wasn't trying to bit Gretchen at all….In reality, all he actually did was sneeze. He sneezed because of all the pepper on the scarf!"
"W-W-W-W-WHAT?!" Maccadam lets out in shock.
"YOU FOOOOOL!" Courtney winces at that holding herself and Camerupt nuzzles her. The audience chatter at that loudly.
After a while when the audience calmed down Maccadam said in disbelief "….You've got to be kidding me!"
"Objection!" Courtney lets out but says nothing.
"W-What's the matter, Miss. Wittebane?" Maccadam asked.
"I…I…I object…For objections sake…" Courtney said to that. "Miss. Serial Designation J! You…This theory…You believe it?" She whips her bench and holds her whip ready "You really intend to say that this is how this joke of an accident actually happened?"
"Of course I do! It's the truth." J told her. "The Pyroat sneeze due to the pepper, and that's when Gretchen…lost consciousness. Hazel nearly lost his sister due to this accident! Or this 'joke', as you put it. Which is why he tried to get his revenge…against Fubuki."
"You foolish idiot!" Courtney said
"Ha…" Hazel lets out speaking up after a long while of silence smiling and chuckles "Ha, ha, ha…It almost does seem like a terrible joke…doesn't it…? Once again, I'm impressed by your imagination, Miss. J." J was surprised by that "To think that there's someone who treats this accident with the respect it deserves…"
"Are you telling me that what I said was…true?" J asked surprised. Hazel however remains silent.
"H-Hazel…" Jaden said hopeful.
Courtney shocked said "..You don't mean?! You can't mean?! Witness…?!"
"A-Are you confirming this defence's claim…?!" Maccadam asked shocked.
Hazel keeps quiet then said "…Miss. J. Unfortunately, your imagination is not enough to find me guilty of murder."
"…What do you mean by that?" J asked him.
"The pepper…The scarf…The Pyroar…I see where you're going, but it's a bit hard to swallow…" Hazel said smiling "Not to mention the fact that there's an even bigger problem with your theory."
"What would that problem be?" Maccadam asked.
"The same problem it's always been…Evidence." Hazel said in response. "If I dropped Trixie's bust on top of the Ringmaster…" He then looks serious "Where is the evidence that proves that claim?"
"Uhh…" J lets out sweat dropping.
"Hmmm…You mean the 'conclusive evidence'?" Maccadam said thinking.
"The biggest problem is the murder weapon, or the lack thereof to be more precise." Courtney points out.
"The murder weapon…" J said to that.
"The 'bust' that the defence claims was used…" Maccadam said thinking "If that were to be found in Hazel's room, and itf it was covered with the victim's blood, that would be awfully conclusive in my eyes."
"Yes, it would be…" Courtney said nodding.
'The 'bust'…' J thinks.
"J! You've got to do something…!" Jaden told her.
'This is the last step…If I get this one right, the case is won!' J thinks then thinks 'It might be worthwhile to search Hazel's room, but…'
"W-Why aren't you going to search his room?!" Jaden asked concerned.
Courtney smiles and said "…It looks like you finally figured things out, didn't you? Now you know the true meaning of 'Wittebane Total Justice'…"
"I guess…" J said with a shrug and nod "I figured with you, that's the least I should expect. You'd leave no stone unturned."
Courtney whips her bench and says "A Wittebane never leaves anything to chance! We already searched Hazel's room yesterday!"
"W-What did you find?!" Maccadam asked.
"There's no reason to even say it." Courtney told the court. "If we found what you think we found in that room, Hazel would not be here as a witness. But to put a point on it, Trixie's bust was not in the room! The murder weapon is still unaccounted for."
"You see, Miss. J." Hazel said smiling "The bust wasn't in my room."
"Furthermore, Detective Serial Designation N executed the search by complete surprise." Courtney added in. "And we took Hazel directly to the Prosecutor's Office after that." She courtesy bows finishing with "End of story…"
'J-Just wait a second…Something's funny about all this…' J thinks sweat dropping.
Hazel chuckles and siad "It looks like you lack the final nail to put into my coffin."
J slams her hand down and said "But…But…What about the scarf?! What about the note?!"
"What about them, Miss. J?" Hazel said with a calm smile "No offense, but the only evidence that is relevant here is that which pertains to the death of the Ringmaster. You should know that by now."
"Arrgh!" J lets out.
"Do something, J! Don't let this case slip away!" Jaden tells her. "The bust…Where is it now?"
'Hmm…Where's the bust right now?' J thinks on it.
"You're Serial Designation J! You know where that bust is! I'm sure you do!" Jaden told her.
'There's not even a single clue…How am I supposed to know where the bust is?!' J thinks worried.
Maccadam bangs his gavel and then said "It seems this case is coming to a close…" He shakes his head "The defence's counter-arguments look to have fallen short."
Courtney smiles and courtesy bows and said "Thank you for your support…"
"…Ack!" J lets out.
Hazel looks down sadly and said "I'm terribly sorry, Miss. J…"
Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "I think that brings to an end the cross-examination of this witness!"
"Hold it!" A voice called out stopping everyone, it was revealed to be Jaden who said "Where is Trixie's bust…? The defence needs time to prepare to present its lace…" He then rubs his head and added "I mean case. Sorry, I'm a bit nervous and I just bit my tongue."
"Huh?" Maccadam said surprised
"What?!" Courtney said suprised
"We need time to do WHAT?!" J said just as surprised and is then whipped "OWWW!"
"Why are YOU the most surprised here?! He's YOUR aide, isn't he?!" Courtney asked annoyed.
"D-Do you really have a-a case to present, Miss. J?!" Maccadam asked.
"W-Whaaa-?! Are you asking M!?" J asked confused and sweating.
"The rest is up to you, J! Good luck!" Jaden said smiling.
"H-Hey…Wait…You can't be serious…" J said at that.
"Acrobats always have their lives on the lines, don't they?" Jaden asked thinking then adds "That's how Hazel's lived his life up until now. Now it's time for us to walk across our own tightrope! If we don't, we're certain to lose!"
Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "Very well…The defence may proceed.
Hazel looking serious said "She doesn't have a clue…And I don't think she'll be finding one anytime soon."
'…Walking on the tightrope of logic…There's no room for a false step!' J thinks nervous as in her mind palace looks at the gathered info on all of this case 'Sink or swim…The only way through is forward!'
J whips her bench and readies her whip as she said "The murder weapon…Where is Trixie's bust now?!"
J thinks and notices Hazel had a blanket which surprises her. She nods and slams her hand down and said "It's obvious! The bust is inside this very courtroom!"
"It…It's obviously WHERE?!" Maccadam asked shocked.
"Allow me to pinpoint the location of the bust once and for all!" J said and points right at witness stand and then said "Hazel…I'm sorry to ask this, but do you mind if I take the blacket off your wheelchair?"
Hazel remains quiets before then said "I'm sorry, I didn't quite here you, Miss. J."
"Well…You are a big guy….And you have a pretty big wheelchair because of it…" J explained as she and Hazel appear in the black void as she continues while looking at the blanket "I just want to make sure you weren't hiding anything under that blanket. Because it seems to me that it'd be really easy to say…hide a bust under there…"
"…Hah, hah, hah, hah, hah…" Hazel said smiling and chuckling "Once again, your penchant for humour hits me where it hurts, Miss J."
Once the void fades J said "I think it's pretty amazing that you can laugh in your position…However, your light-heartedness doesn't change the fact that the bust is under there." Hazel remains silent still smiling "We all know that you can't leave the lodging house by yourself in your condition. That proved inconvenient when Miss. Wittebane happened to search your room yesterday. If she had found the murder weapon in your room, it would have been all over. Which is why you had to hide it. In the only place that you could hide it…Under your wheelchair." Hazel still keeps quite which J then says "Which is why, Hazel, I have to ask you again. Would you please remove the blanket from your lap?"
Hazel smiles and said "…Well done, Miss. J. Masterfully played.
Everyone was shocked and Courtney angry bangs her bench and said "…You! You fool! How could you…?!"
Hazel sighs looking down sadly and said "You got me. I've been bagged by a real pro." He then smiles "Actually, two of them…2
'Two of them…?' J thinks confused
"Miss. Courtney Wittebane and Mr. Serial Designation J." Hazel said seriously.
"…What?!" Courtney said still annoyed.
"There's just one thing I'd like to know…" Hazel said and asked "How did you know to launch the surprise search on my room last night?" Courtney looked confused "There were two pieces of decisive evidence…The cloak and the bust…I burned the cloak in my room and threw the ashes away with the trash…Fubuki always took my trash out every morning, you know. But the bust…Obviously, I couldn't throw that away. When you executed your search, all I could do was try and hide the bust. And the only place that I could hide it quickly was under this wheelchair."
Hazel smiles and said "Miss. Wittebane, you had things all figured out, didn't you? I was completely sucked in by your calculated strategy…And now to be caught in the middle of court hiding the murder weapon…There's no way I can escape that." He sighs lookin up eyes closes "So you've got me. Well done, Miss. J. Well done, Miss. Wittebane."
"Hmm…It all makes sense now." Maccadam said thinking.
"I can't believe that Courtney thought that far ahead…It's amazing!" Jaden said surprised.
"Uh huh…You definitely couldn't tell by looking at her." J said thinking seeing the angry annoyed look Courtney had "I know I sure couldn't."
"…I can't believe it…Me…! Make a mistake!" Courtney said annoyed. "Why did I order a surprise search of your room…If only I hadn't done that…"
Maccadam bangs his gavel and said "It seems we've finally arrived at the truth. Hazel."
"Yes, Your Honor." Hazel said looking at the judge.
"Did you kill the Ringmaster of the Clockford Big Circus, Mr. Harvey Clockford?" Maccadam asked
"Yes, Your Honor. I'm responsible for that crime." Hazel said nodding.
"Hazel…" Jaden said sadly.
Hazel then said sadly "All my sister wanted…was for Fubuki to like her. That's why she'd tease her. One day, my sister sprinkled some pepper on Fubuki. She started sneezing so hard…You couldn't help yourself from laughing. That's why Fubuki thought it'd be funny to get her back in the same way…"
"And that's why she covered the scarf with pepper…" J points out.
"I know she didn't mean for anything back to happen…I know this…" Hazel admits sadly. "She just wanted to make my sister sneeze a few times, too…" He then looks serious "But…I just couldn't forgive her! No matter what. What am I truly guilty of? …I'm guilty of never, ever being able to understand her. 'Your sister became a star.' Fubuki believe in that so purely…that she would laugh innocently when saying it…Too innocently…I just couldn't stand it…No matter how hard I tried."
"That's when you decided to do something about Fubuki…" J said to that.
"How…dreadful…" Courtney admits hearing that.
"So, are you saying that you are a victim in all of this as well?" Maccadam asked.
"No…That's not what I mean." Hazel said smiling but tears began to flow from his eyes as he continued "I'm nothing but a murderer. That's who I am…At first, I thought I'd kill myself. Then I pondered giving myself up…But…I couldn't just up and leave…I just couldn't…Not yet…That's why…I tried…to pin this…on Trixie." He looks at where Trixie was and said in his tears "Trixie…I'm so sorry…! I just…I just…I just couldn't up and leave yet…"
A while later the Law troopers found the bust and had helped Hazel out of the courtroom.
"This has been such a strange case…" Maccadam said thinking "It's almost a reflection of the circus itself.
"I'm…An…Idiot…" Courtney said annoyed. "I can't believe it….You…Beat me…Again." J kept her mouth shut, last time she thought about rubbing salt into the wound she was whipped to unconsciousness…. she's learned her lesson not to gloat.
"I believe this case is now beyond any point of possible discussion." Maccadam states "This, I'd like to declaire my verdict. NOT GUILTY!" The audience cheer as confetti falls and Maccadam bangs his gavel "This court is adjourned."
December 30, 4:27 PM, District Court, Defendant Lobby No. 5
J, Jaden and Trixie were in the lobby have some drinks to celebrate. The Magician calm now posses and said "F-F-F-FABULOUS! But to be honest, I can't really be too happy about this."
"Hazel, the Ringmaster, Fubuki, and Gretchen…" Jaden said sadly. "Not a single one of them was a bad person inside, huh?"
"That's a good question. And One I don't know the answer to." Trixie admits thinking.
"Many congrats! But only, at max, a millon of them!" Krusty said coming in laughing.
"T-Thank you." Trixie said at that but not many happy smiles were in the room
"What's with the vibe in this room?" Krusty asked.
"We're just think about Hazel…" Jaden tells him.
"No, no, no, no, no!" Krusty told them. "If you worry about people too much, then you'll be like this forever, and never be happy!"
"Huh?" Jaden lets out confused.
"WAAAAAHHHHHH!" Fubuki lets out as she enters crying.
Krusty sighs and said "…She's been like this for a while now."
"WAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH! IT'S ALL MY FAULTTTTT! WAAAAAAAHHHHH!" Fubuki cries out.
"S-S-Sweetie…Sweetie pie…" Trixie said trying to help calm her down.
"Gretchen and Hazel…They're never coming back!" Fubuki lets out crying. "Now…Now everyone's going to split up!"
"Fubuki…" Jaden said sadly.
Fubuki calms down a bit and looks at J "Miss. J! Tell me something!"
"W-What do you want to know, Fubuki?" J asked
"Hazel said something right at the end…" Fubuki said
Everyone remembers Hazel said in his tears "…I just couldn't up and leave yet…"
"…Doies that mean that Hazel…Is he going to try and get his revenge on me?!" Fubuki asked.
J thinks and shake sher head and said "He's not going to do that to you, Fubuki."
"Are you sure? You're really sure?! I can't believe that…?" Fubuki said concerned.
"Yep. Hazel doesn't have any desire for revenge anymore…" J said nodding.
"If that's true…then I want to see some evidence!" Fubuki asked.
"Huh?" J said confused.
"I want to know you're not just making up that stuff about Hazel not wanting revenge!" Fubuki cries out.
"Take that!" J calls out showing Greatchen's profile and explained "Hazel didn't want to get caught for a reason. He wanted to see his sister open her eyes again…"
"G-Gretchen…!" Fubuki said sniffing.
"That's right, Fubuki…She's still alive you know." Jaden said with a nod.
"I…never knew…" Fubuki said sadly. "But now that Hazel's been caught…"
"Uh huh…" Jaden said sadly looking down.
"I know!" Fubuki said suddenly
"What…?" Jaden lets out surprised.
"I'll do it!" Fubuki said "I'll stay next to Gretchen as long as it takes! Until she opens her eyes…And then until she can meet Hazel again!"
"That's so sweet of you, Fubuki." J said with a smile.
"I'm sorry, Hazel…I'm sorry, Gretchen…" Fubuki said sadly.
'Well, hopefully this is enough to give her a little peace of mind…' J thinks.
"Hey, Trixie." Krusty said as the two share some milk.
"What is it, Krusty?" Trixie asked.
"We really put you though a lot, didn't we buddy?" Krusty said sadly "I'm sorry about what happened. So whenever you'd like to leave us, I'll pay your fee and rip up the contract."
"I understand! What a fabulous thing to do for me…I might even leave tomorrow." Trixie said with a grin but then asked "What's going to happen to the circus now?"
"Ahh…That's the big question." Krusty said sadly "Our Ringmaster was really an amazing person, wasn't he?" Trixie remains quiet as she hears him out "Even though he's not here anymore, everyone is sticking together. The staff, the performers…No one wants to leave the circus. That's why I've made a decision…"
"What is it?" Trixie asked curious.
"I've decided that I will take over as the new Ringmaster." Krusty said firmly then with a serious look adds "I'll turn this circus into the best circus this world has ever seen!"
Trixie chuckles and said "…The best circus the world has ever seen?!"
"D-D-Don't laugh!" Krusty said sadly.
"That's quite the goal…" J said at that.
"Yay! I can't wait!" Jaden said happily.
"Then I guess that changes things…" Trixie said with a smile.
"Huh?" Krusty lets out confused.
"There's only one thing the best circus the world has even seen needs." Trixie told him. "The worlds best illusions…Which means this circus needs the great and powerful best magician the world has ever seen!"
"Trixie…" Krusty said surprised.
"Let's work together and make our circus the Great and Powerful and SUPERE FABULOUS!" Trixie declares posing epically "What do you say, big guy?"
"I don't know what to say…All I can say is thank you." Krusty said crying a bit.
"Umm…Fubuki, you're going to help them out too, aren't you?" J asked the sad girl.
"Umm…I don't know." Fubuki admits sadly "Maybe the circus would be better off without me."
"What are you talking about, Fubuki?" Krusty said to her "Why do yo think that I brought you to court today?"
"Uhh…" Fubuki said thinking.
"We've got to work together to make the Clockford Big Circus bigger than it's ever been!" Krusty explained.
"K-Krusty…" Fubuki said to that.
Trixie poses dramatically and said "Krusty's right, sweetie pie! It can't be the Clockford Big Circus without Fubuki Clockford!"
"T-Trixie…" Fubuki said.
"J!" Jaden said smiling.
"It seems like everything is going to turn out alright here…" J said with a smile.
"I can't wait to go see the best circus the world has ever seen!" Jaden said eager.
"We'll save you the most fabulous seats!" Trixie said posing dramatically.
"It'll take us a while to get ready, but I'm going to order special whoopee cushion seats!" Krusty said chuckling. "Hoohoohoohahaha!"
We then come to somewhere where someone was talking on the phone, the person on the other end was N. The figure asked "I see…What made the case?"
"Yesterday's surprise raid. It really paid off, just like you said it would, sir!" N reported on the phone. He then asked "Umm…You had it all figured out, didn't you?"
"It was just a theory…" The figure told him "If Hazle really was the killer, I thought this was the only way it could end. Especially if 'she' was the defence attorney…"
"You mean Miss. J?" N asked
We then come to an airport where the figure was sitting in the waiting to board section reading a paper as he said "Of course…Well, Detective, my plane is about to leave. As for Mr. Hazel's case, you need not worry. I plant to personally stop by the Chief Prosecutor's office as soon as I get back."
The figure was soon revealed to be a familiar figure in a golden mask and armor with brown gloves and a white hooded cloak with a staff. It was Hunter alive and well.
"Understood sir!" N said "Me and your two Law trooper escorts will be waiting for you…Mr. Deamonne!" The phone is then hung up.
End of Episode 3
So ends the case of the circus, next time one of J's toughest cases. Find out how that goes soon.
Please Read, Review and Suggest. Thank you.