Ace Attorney: Web of Mistrust

Turnabout Masquerade Part 10 (Niamh)

//December 11, 2029. Defendant Lobby No. 6, 9:26 AM//

After Yuri had explained the results of her investigations to me, I was in shock. The puzzle pieces were starting to come together. Ms. Shield half listened in silence. She seemed distracted by something, not that I blame her. She was on trial, after all.

"That's..." I finally said after silence reigned over our conversation for what felt like hours.

"Insane?" Yuri finished with a small head cock. "I agree. To think that the victim is alive is pretty crazy."

"Crazy or no, I hope you guys can win this trial for me today," Ms. Shield told us.

"We'll get you out of that cruddy detention center for sure, Lily!" Yuri exclaimed. Ms. Shield shot her a small, thankful smile. I hoped that things wouldn't get too ugly today and that Ms. Lesa wouldn't lost her mind like she did yesterday.

My thoughts were interrupted by the doors to the lobby flying open. I looked up to see Nevada running up to Yuri, Ms. Shield, and I. "Tennisball!" she yelled, much to my dismay as well as my ever decreasing pride.

"Nevada!?" Yuri gasped. "What are you doing here?!"

"I want to help you out in the trial!" Nevada exclaimed. "Bloomy won't let me help her!"

"Why do you want to?" Ms. Shield asked suspiciously.

"I just have... Connections with the witness. That's all," Nevada answered, clearly ready to let the subject go as soon as possible.

"I guess there isn't any harm in it," I shrugged.

"Will the defense and defendant please proceed to the courtroom now?" a bailiff cut in.

"That's our cue," Yuri said. "Let's go in there and prove who the victim really is!"

//December 11, 2029. Courtroom No. 1, 10:00 AM//

"Court is back in session for the trial of Lily Shield. Are the defense and prosecution read-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! It's you!" the judge gasped, glaring at Nevada accusingly.

"Get over it, Lord Beards A Lot," Nevada told him, rolling her eyes. "We have a trial to get to.."

The judge cleared his throat before continuing. "Prosecutor Bloom, please call your witness."

"Razi Lesa, back up on the stand," Prosecutor Bloom instructed. The light brown haired girl did as she said, fingering her gloves nervously. She looked around, unable to stop fidgeting.

"What will you testify about?" the judge questioned.

"Witness. Tell the court about who you are. We have to assure the defense of your identity before continuing," Prosecutor Bloom said.

"Alright..." Ms. Lesa whispered, looking down at the floor silently.

WITNESS TESTIMONY: RAZI LESA- WHO I AM

-I don't remember all that much...

-But I do know anything that happened after December 8th.

-I don't know why this matters, though...

-Why should we care about who I used to be?

"I guess the Chief Prosecutor told Prosecutor Bloom about yesterday's investigation," Yuri concluded.

"Come to think of it, I did hear Pops talking with Bloomy yesterday," Nevada commented.

"The defense is ready to begin the psychological cross-examination," I announced.

"Go right ahead," the judge nodded, ignoring Prosecutor Bloom's pleas and cries of argument.

PSYCHOLOGICAL CROSS-EXAMINATION: RAZI LESA- WHO I AM

-I don't remember all that much...

-But I do know anything that happened after December 8th.

-I don't know why this matters, though...

-Why should we care about who I used to be?

"GOT IT!"

"During your testimony, Ms. Lesa, your voice was shaking in terror of something. And I believe that I know what," I told her with a smirk.

"O-oh...?" Ms. Lesa stammered. "What do you have in mind...?"

"I think that it's because your entire testimony was nothing more than a well-fabricated lie!" I shouted. "But your lie has just been blown wide open!"

"Eeek!" Ms. Lesa shrieked in shock, holding her hands up defensively in front of her face. "Y-you have no proof...!"

"Actually, we have a lot of proof, 'Ms. Lesa'!" Yuri retorted, a triumphant aura surrounding her.

"T-that...!" Ms. Lesa began, only to hesitate in her speech and give up on trying to fight back for the time being.

"You claim to not remember anything before December 8th, the day of the crime. This would match up with when the victim was 'murdered.' Yesterday, we proved that the victim survived the attempt on her life, though she faked being killed. This begins to point to the fact that you are the victim." A fire inside me ignited as I pulled out what Yuri would call 'the big guns.' "I accuse you, Razi Lesa, of being the victim and an evidence forger!"

Ms. Lesa let out a small squeal of shock. "T-that... That can't be right!"

"Tennisball!" Nevada suddenly roared. "Are you TRYING to make her cry?!" Nevada stomped over to the witness stand and began to console Ms. Lesa, whispering supportive phrases in the brunette's ear.

"Thank you..." Ms. Lesa told her gently. "Whoever you are..."

"How could you have forgotten me...?!" Nevada muttered. "I can't believe it..."

"The victim also wore glasses, though none were found on the body. Ms. Lesa here clearly wears glasses, making her an even more likely suspect," I continued.

Ms. Lesa began to hold her head, no longer soothed by Nevada's serene murmurs. Her eyes were closed and she began trembling. Nevada was glaring me down, irritated by my pressuring the witness. Blood began slowly dripping down Ms. Lesa's cheek, coming from somewhere on her right temple.

"The victim also got a head wound. The witness is beginning to bleed from this area. If we tested her head wound, we would find that it matched. Or the witness could show the court where the victim got strangulation bruises," I said.

"Tennisball! Shut up! She's going to start crying and you and your glare are going to be blamed!" Nevada yelled. "She's already getting scared!"

"The witness claimed to be suffering from amnesia, but her nervousness during her testimony says that she remembers all about who she once was!" I shouted.

"Stop accusing her already! You'll stress her out!!" Nevada screamed.

"You don't have to defend me anymore. It is the job of the defense to do such and not the prosecution, correct?"

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if you want spoilers in the author's notes cruz i'm so mean that i don't give you cliffhangers that end in a nice place, then go somewhere else

cruz i'm not allowed to give out spoilers or else vito will get mad at me

he's already mad at me for saying his name so much

-Digital