January 27, 9:45 AM

District Court

Defendant Lobby No. 1

"Well, today's the last day, Mr. Justice," Angel Starr said in the defendant lobby. "In honor of that, I would like to present you the lucky special." She held out a pink box filled with what appeared to be four-leaf clovers.

"Look," Apollo said confidently. "I was wondering if you could give me your testimony again. It's the most decisive bit of evidence I have right now."

"I don't see why not," Angel said. "I saw a woman carry two bodies across the A block of the parking garage. That's it, in a nutshell." Starr's Testimony added to Court Record.

"Thank you," Apollo said.

"So I'll be heading inside," Angel said fleetingly. "Good luck, Mr. Justice. You're going to need it." And with that, she left, and Apollo began pacing around the defendant lobby. Ok, so it all ties back to that German serial killing essay Mr. Wright showed me yesterday. That serial killer has to be the culprit. Why else would anyone want to kill Maddie? But what does Mina have to do with it? … maybe she knew too much… The door to the defendant lobby swung open, and Tyrell Badd walked in.

"Getting cold feet, kid?" he asked, sucking on his lollipop.

"Mr. Badd!" Apollo yelled, stopping in his tracks. "What are you doing here?"

"I came… to watch the trial," Badd replied slowly. "Did you… figure everything out?"

"Almost," Apollo answered. "It all ties to this essay here." He handed the paper to the ex-detective, and Badd began reading it carefully. "It was written by the victim a while ago, and it was published in a newspaper. But why the defendant and the main witness are involved…"

"Look down here," Badd said, pointing to the bottom of the essay. Special thanks to… Ruka Mills and Mina Asou? "They probably edited the essay or something."

"Or maybe they contributed to…" Apollo said faintly, trailing off, feeling an overwhelming sense of dread. "Oh… my god…" Eyesight… fading…

"Pull yourself together, kid!" Badd said gruffly, shaking Apollo by the shoulders. "So you've got a serial killer on your hands. You're in court now, and they can't touch you here. All you have to do is get them a guilty verdict." Badd sighed and reached into a pocket in his hole-filled coat and pulled out a new lollipop. "Here," he said, handing it to Apollo. "When in doubt… suck on this… It'll help you think."

Apollo took a few deep, calming breaths and took the lollipop. "Thanks, Mr. Badd."

The corner of Badd's mouth quirked into a sort of half smile. "Now go get 'em, kid." Apollo smiled and nodded as he stepped into the courtroom.

German Serial Killings Essay updated.

January 27, 10:00 AM

District Court

Courtroom No. 2

The courtroom was oddly silent as Apollo took his place and the judge banged down his gavel. "Court will now reconvene for the trial of Miss Ruka Mills," the judge announced. "Yesterday, it was proven that the victim, Maddie Thompson, was assassinated by the contract killer Shelley de Killer. Have the defense and prosecution looked into this turn of events?"

"Yes, Your Honor," Klarissa von Karma answered before Apollo could even open his mouth. Apollo glared at the woman across from him. And we still have you to deal with… "The prosecution looked into this matter, and has come up with a possible theory. It is still entirely possible that the defendant is behind all of this. To clarify, I would like to call Miss Ema Skye up to the witness stand." There was pin drop silence. "Ema Skye?" No answer. Klarissa sighed and shook her head. "That silly girl… this will not reflect well on her—"

"SHUT UP!" Apollo yelled, causing Phoenix to jump next to him.

"Easy, Apollo…" Phoenix muttered.

Apollo slammed his fists on the table and pointed at Klarissa. "That's bullshit, and you know it!" he yelled.

"M-Mr. Justice!" the judge gasped. "I will have to ask you to watch your language!"

"Sorry, Your Honor," Apollo said quickly, "but she's lying! Ema Skye is currently in the hospital, recuperating from a bullet wound to the shoulder that she received from Shelley de Killer last night!" The spectators in the courtroom began murmuring to each other, and the judge banged down his gavel.

"Order!" the old man yelled. "Order! Order in the court! Mr. Justice, why—"

"He shot her because she shot him after he tried to kill Trucy!" Apollo yelled.

"Apollo," Phoenix said firmly. "Calm down. You're getting too angry, and it's making you blubber. You're not making any sense."

Apollo sighed and unwrapped Badd's lollipop. He stuck the stick in his mouth and let the sweetness envelope his tongue. "Your Honor, the defense would like to call Miss Trucy Wright to the witness stand."

"Wait, Apollo!" Phoenix yelled. "Wouldn't you rather call Mr. Gavin?"

"No," Apollo replied, a bit more calmly. "Trucy was the intended victim. I believe the court needs to hear what she has to say." Within a few minutes, Trucy was standing at the witness stand. "Trucy, can you tell everyone what happened yesterday?"

"Sure!" Trucy replied cheerfully, bouncing.

Apollo hung his head. "You know, you were the intended victim. Couldn't you act a little… I don't know… more depressed?"

"Well I survived, didn't I Polly?" Trucy asked, straightening her hat. "And Ema's fine too! Well… sort of…"

"Get on with it!" Klarissa shrieked, snapping her fingers.

Witness Testimony: de Killer's Attack

So yesterday, Apollo, Ema, Mr. Gavin and I went to investigate the crime scene again.

You know, the place where we found that black car?

By the way, the car really does belong to Shelley de Killer. His license plate says so.

Anyway, while we were investigating Shelley de Killer showed up.

He… he grabbed me and held a gun to my head.

But then Ema saved me! She shot de Killer in the knee, and he dropped me.

I escaped, but then de Killer shot Ema in the shoulder and left before we could catch him…

"Miss Wright!" the judge gasped. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, Udgey," Trucy replied cheerfully. "I mean, Your Honor." Did… did she just call him… "Sorry…"

"That's perfectly all right," the judge replied, shaking his head. "And now, the cross examination."

Cross-Examination

So yesterday, Apollo, Ema, Mr. Gavin and I went to investigate the crime scene—

OBJECTION!

Klarissa snapped her fingers and cut off Trucy. "This is a farce! This is clearly a ploy by the defense to gain time!"

Apollo crossed his arms and smirked. "Is it now?" he asked confidently. "Your Honor, I believe I know the true mastermind behind this whole case."

"Apollo, are you sure?" Phoenix asked, frowning.

"It's now or never," Apollo whispered. "I've got to do this." Apollo discarded the lollipop. "The defense accuses Klarissa von Karma of serial murder!" The courtroom grew very noisy very quickly, and the judge banged his gavel.

"Order!" he shouted over the spectators' raised voices. "Order! I want order!"

"E-Excuse me?" Klarissa stammered, flinching. "Just what are you implying?"

"Oh, I'm not implying anything," Apollo said firmly. "I'm outright saying it! You're responsible for the deaths of Maddie Thompson and Mina Asou!"

"Why on earth would I—" Klarissa began.

"Yeah, why would you conveniently be present at the crime scene just minutes after the body was found?" Apollo asked. "Well, Ms. von Karma?"

"Th-This is absurd!" Klarissa squeaked.

"Your Honor," Apollo said, turning to the judge, "I would like to question Ms. von Karma."

"B-But Mr. Justice!" the judge protested. "That would require another prosecutor to be present! How can Ms. von Karma prosecute and testify at the same time!"

HOLD IT!

Franziska von Karma stood at the witness stand, crossing her arms and frowning sternly. "Then I will gladly fill in for her," she said smoothly.

"F-Franziska…" Klarissa practically growled, glaring at her younger sister.

"Just do it, Klarissa!" Franziska snapped. "If you really are innocent, then you have nothing to hide!"

The judge banged down his gavel once. "Very well," he said calmly. "The court will hear Ms. von Karma's testimony, and for the remainder of the trial, Ms. von Karma will prosecute." There was pin drop silence in the courtroom, and no one bothered to correct the judge.

"Fine," Klarissa said, sounding a bit deranged. "If that's the way you want to play…"

Witness Testimony: My Story

Why should it matter why I was there at the crime scene the night of the murder?

There was a murder, and I simply accompanied Ema Skye to the investigation. Is that a crime?

After all, now we know it was Shelley de Killer who murdered Maddie Thompson, so why should it matter if I was there?

It all comes down to this, Apollo thought, clenching his fists. I'm going to put an end to this once and for all!

Cross-Examination

Why should it matter why I was there at the crime scene the night of the murder?

There was a murder, and I simply accompanied Ema Skye to the investigation. Is that a crime?

After all, now we know it was Shelley de Killer who murdered Maddie Thompson, so why should it matter if I was there?

OBJECTION!

"Actually, Ms. von Karma, it does matter," Apollo said, crossing his arms and smirking triumphantly. "According to a previous witness, Angel Starr…" Apollo slammed both fists down on the table. "It was a woman who carried the victim's body away from the real crime scene!"

"Gah!" Klarissa shrieked flinching.

"OBJECTION!" Franziska shouted. "I'm sorry, Mr. Justice, but how exactly does that tie my sister to this case? Angel Starr's testimony simply stated that a woman carried two bodies from one area of the parking garage to another. There is nothing in that testimony that incriminates Klarissa."

"Objection sustained," the judge agreed.

"Actually, I do have something that ties Ms. von Karma to this case," Apollo said slowly.

"Mr. Justice," Franziska said quietly, staring at Apollo intently. "Do you really wish to use that right now?"

Apollo nodded confidently. "Yes, I do. TAKE THAT!" Franziska's eyes averted to the floor, and Phoenix sighed heavily. "Th-This is an essay written by the victim." Apollo swallowed thickly and found it difficult to keep his hands from shaking. Damn it… I feel terrible… I'm about to unmask the real killer! Why does it feel like I'm kicking a puppy or something? "Last year, there was a series of serial killings in Germany, and Maddie Thompson deduced that the culprit came from law enforcement. Ruka Mills and Mina Asou are mentioned at the bottom. It's only natural that—"

"OBJECTION!" Klarissa shouted. "Are you insinuating that I am this mysterious serial killer?"

"The serial killer was never found," Apollo continued. "What if she fled? What if she fled to this country?"

"OBJECTION!" Franziska yelled, sounding a bit uncertain. "Mr. Justice, I…" Her eyes drifted over to Phoenix, and she crossed her arms confidently. "What you are insinuating is pure speculation. Maybe this serial killer really did murder those two students. Why do you think my sister is responsible?"

"And why would I do such a thing?" Klarissa asked, raising her eyebrow and smirking. Apollo simply frowned and clenched his fists.

This is it… I've got to present it now! Otherwise… "Ms. von Karma… both of you… I would like to present my last piece of evidence. Evidence that proves, beyond a shred of a doubt, that Klarissa von Karma is the true culprit." Apollo reached into his pocket and pulled out Shelley de Killer's calling card – the one with Phoenix Wright's face drawn on it. "Take that."

Both von Karmas flinched. "Th-This is…" Klarissa mumbled quietly.

"Mr. Justice…" Franziska whispered.

"This card is the only thing that doesn't quite fit in this case," Apollo explained. "Everything else is connected to the victim and the defendant, or to Shelley de Killer somehow… except this. Why would a card belonging to the chief prosecutor be here?"

"Because the chief prosecutor was responsible!" Klarissa answered.

Apollo simply shook his head. "No. Because the chief prosecutor was framed. Someone tried very hard to conceal their crime – hiring an assassin to murder an innocent college student, not committing murder. This serial killer from Germany is Klarissa von Karma." Apollo pointed his finger at the woman on the witness stand. "She is the only one who would have access to this card, or who would even think of framing the chief prosecutor!"

"So why isn't it the chief prosecutor?" the judge asked. "Because Franziska von Karma looks equally suspicious."

"No, Your Honor," Apollo said, shaking his head. "The serial killer is the one who murdered Maddie and Mina. Franziska von Karma couldn't possibly be the serial killer because she was here, in this country, while the killings took place. She would have to have been here, considering she was promoted to chief prosecutor of this district. That only leaves Klarissa von Karma."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Justice," Franziska said, sighing heavily, "but your evidence is a bit… circumstantial."

"I agree," Phoenix said. "You fought well, Apollo, but this isn't something we can really prove. Not without more evidence."

"But… we can't just let her get away!" Apollo protested.

"Then let's turn this trial over to the jury," Phoenix suggested. "Remember, our task is to prove that Ruka was not responsible for Maddie and Mina's deaths, and I think you've succeeded."

The judge banged down his gavel. "Very well," he said. "This has been a long trial, and, without further ado, I will hand it over to the jury." The courtroom went silent, and Apollo sighed. It's over… It's finally over…

HOLD IT!

"Wait, Your Honor!" a bailiff yelled.

"What is it?" the judge asked impatiently. "The fate of the defendant lies in jeopardy."

"Th-That's the thing!" the bailiff stammered. "The defendant is dead!"

"What?" Apollo yelled. "That… No… Ruka! No, she can't…"

The spectators grew agitated. "No… that poor girl!"

"Somebody call nine-one-one!"

"Mommy, what's going to happen now?"

Apollo gripped his hair tightly. "No…" he whimpered. "This can't be happening…" He placed his head in his arms, slamming it down on the table. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

January 27, 12:00 PM

District Court

Courtroom No. 2

Apollo stood at the defense's bench, his head in his arms, sobbing. The spectators had cleared out, and the courtroom was completely empty save for him, Trucy, Maya, and Pearl. "Apollo?" Pearl said quietly. "Are you okay?" Apollo looked up slowly. His face was red, and there were tear-stains on his cheeks.

"What the hell happened?" he yelled. "Ruka was as good as free! Why did she have to die?"

"It's okay, Apollo," Trucy said consolingly, patting his arm.

"No, it's not okay!" Apollo yelled, swatting Trucy's hand away.

"Do you want me to channel her?" Maya asked. Apollo took a deep, shuddering breath and shook his head. The doors to the courtroom swung open, and Phoenix entered, his face grim.

"Ruka had a cup of coffee this morning," he said morosely. "There were traces of poison in the coffee. They're treating this as a suicide."

"How could it possibly be a suicide?" Apollo yelled. "Someone murdered her!"

"Maybe…" Pearl said quietly. "Maybe she really did commit suicide… She did lose her two best friends, after all."

"But she was innocent!" Apollo protested.

"But how could she just go back to normal life after something like this happened?" Trucy asked.

"What happened to von Karma?" Apollo asked Phoenix.

"She was called in for questioning," Phoenix replied, "but I don't think they'll hold her for too long. Your argument was certainly valid, but your evidence, as Franziska said, was really circumstantial and vague." Apollo simply stared at the floor. "Apollo, look at me." Apollo stared at Phoenix with wide blue-green eyes. "What happened today has nothing to do with you or your skills as a defense attorney. You fought well, but an acquittal simply wasn't going to appease Ruka. What she was dealing with was something more harsh and cruel, and it had nothing to do with you. Don't think that what happened today was your fault."

"But…" Apollo protested feebly.

"Let's just head home, okay? We'll discuss this later when you've calmed down a bit."

Apollo sighed and nodded. "Okay…"

And that was my first – and hopefully my only – mistrial. Oh don't get me wrong, I hated Ruka at the time for what she did, but there was still a part of me that insisted that she really didn't commit suicide, that someone murdered her… and I had a strong feeling Klarissa von Karma had something to do with it.

THE END.

XX

Whew, I'm finally done with this case. Sorry for the little Diabolus ex Machina at the end, but it serves a purpose, I promise! Anywho, NEXT TIME ON APOLLO JUSTICE: NEW BEGINNINGS…

Lamiroir returns, and long-held secrets are finally revealed. However, things are not easy, as someone very close to Phoenix, Maya, and Pearl is found dead, and Apollo agrees to defend the man accused of his murder, someone Ema loathes with a passion. With his friends stacked against him, will Apollo succeed in finding the truth?

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