Ace Attorney: Web of Mistrust

Turnabout Masquerade, Part 15 (Yuri)

//December 12, 2029. Defendant Lobby No. 1, 9:27 AM//

"Cotoli! Calm! ...Not you too, Nev! ...Anton?! Geez, people like arguing with me today!"

The first thing I noticed upon entering the defendant lobby was the argument ensuing between Chrysalis, her brother, and her best friends.

"If you don't listen to us, I'm calling you Starry again!"

"That's going a little far, don't you think?"

"Don't interrupt me, Morix!!"

I stared at the quartet for a few seconds, blinking in confusion. I had no idea what to do here due to Niamh not being here yet. So I did what I do best: make it funny. What? I'm a comedian, according to my mom. "The weather sure is nice today, isn't it?" I cut in.

Anton stared at me with his confused cinnamon bun face. "H-huh...?"

"Rinky! Tell your agency friend that she's out of her mind for testifying with her head all messed up like that!" Nevada yelled at me, pointing at Chrysalis, who was facing away, arms crossed.

"Nev, calm. Besides, what choice do I have? We're talking about a life here," Chrysalis told her.

Nevada and Mr. Morix opened their mouths in sync to retort, but Niamh and Lily's arrival cut them off. Lily was smiling like a giggly maniac. "You're okay!!" she exclaimed, her eyes not leaving Chrysalis.

"Yep! A little boo boo on my head isn't going to stop me!" Chrysalis grinned.

"But your neck," Mr. Morix reminded her.

"And your arm," Nevada continued.

Chrysalis sighed and shook her head. "Whatever."

"A-are you sure y-you'll be okay t-to testify today C-Chrysalis?" cinnamon bun stuttered.

"I'll be fiiiiiiiiiine. You three worry too much," Chrysalis replied.

"Do you blame us?" Mr. Morix frowned.

"Y-you could have b-been k-k-k-!" Anton couldn't even get the word out of his mouth.

"Heck, I've had to DRUG myself just to sleep at night since I was so worried!" Nevada yelled.

Chrysalis looked down at the ground guiltily. "I said I was sorry... I'll explain it in the trial... You'll understand... I had no other options!"

Niamh finally broke her silent streak after hearing this statement. "No other options?" she echoed, somewhat intrigued by Chrysalis' phrasing here.

"The culprit could have come after you guys thinking I was still around! If I left, he would have left you alone!!" Chrysalis explained.

"He?" I repeated. The truth was beginning to make itself clear.

Chrysalis' eyes went wide as she realized her slip up. She growled slightly as the bailiff called for us to enter the courtroom for the trial.

"I think the culprit is one we know all to well, Yuri," Niamh whispered to me as we walked inside ourselves.

"Really? Who?" I asked curiously.

"You'll see soon enough," Niamh replied. "I think I know how to get him on the witness stand, and it involves Detective Umber's knowing about the glass shard being the cut weapon."

I gasped. "You think she was an accomplice?"

Niamh nodded. "Yes. Though I still don't understand the big reason for this case occurring in the first place: why attack Chrysalis in the agency?"

"It's finally time to lay this web of mistrust to rest!" I exclaimed, parading in after her.

//December 12, 2029. Courtroom No. 1, 10:00 AM//

"Court is now in session for the trial of Lily Shield. Are the defense and prosecution ready?" the judge asked.

"The prosecution is ready, Your Honor," Prosecutor Bloom answered.

"The defense team is also prepared," Niamh agreed.

"Good. How about the victim? Will she be making an appearance in court today?" the judge questioned.

"I will be," Chrysalis told him from the witness stand, arms crossed. She had a small frown on her face now, most likely from Niamh's cornering her in the lobby.

"Oh! She's already here!" the judge gasped. "Would you please begin your testimony, witness?"

"Alright," Chrysalis said, closing her eyes slowly.

WITNESS TESTIMONY: CHRYSALIS STARR- MY ATTEMPTED MURDER

-I was chilling in the agency when...

-This man comes in and attacks me!

-They hit me in the head with a statue and strangled me. Not fun.

-The guy cuts my wrist with a glass shard before I passed out in a pool of my own blood.

-There weren't any witnesses to the crime other than myself.

"That's horrible!" the judge exclaimed once Chrysalis was finished.

"Yeah, yeah... I know..." Chrysalis whispered. "It was killer on the head, no pun intended."

"I haven't found any contradictions in her testimony!" I hissed at Niamh. "It's foolproof!"

"I haven't found anything either, but I think I have a plan to call an unwitting accomplice to the crime to the stand," Niamh told me. "It's a stretch, but there's a small chance it could work."

"Unwitting accomplice...?!" I gasped.

Niamh nodded. "You'll see what I mean momentarily.

CROSS-EXAMINATION: CHRYSALIS STARR- MY ATTEMPTED MURDER

-I was chilling in the agency when...

-This man comes in and attacks me!

-They hit me in the head with a statue and strangled me. Not fun.

-The guy cuts my wrist with a glass shard before I passed out in a pool of my own blood.

-There weren't any witnesses to the crime other than myself.

"OBJECTION!"

"There is one person who I believe to have seen the crime, or at least the weapon used on your arm," Niamh told Chrysalis.

"Really? Why didn't I see them?" Chrysalis cocked her head in confusion.

"Because they saw the culprit take the weapons to the agency, but nothing more," Niamh replied. "And as for who it is, it should be someone you know all too well, Miss Understudy."

"Are you talking about when I was arrested the performance hall a while back?" Chrysalis questioned.

Niamh nodded. "Yes. The person who saw the weapons get removed was the same one who arrested you back then."

"The rest of the court won't know this. Who is it already, Tenniswood?" Prosecutor Bloom asked impatiently.

Niamh pointed at the stand. "The defense wishes to call Abilene Umber to the witness stand!"

---------------------------------

Bet you didn't see that coming.

But yes Abilene is back and she's going to reveal the midnight discord culprit yay.

-Digital