Beatrice the Golden (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ahaha_wav) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
itsaboxstravaganza2014-10-22 04:35 pm
ahaha_wav) wrote in itsaboxstravaganza2014-10-22 04:35 pm
Entry tags:
Turnabout Chessboard: Prologue
[[Next: Chapter 1]]
[The time: Not long after the Labyrinthia Incident comes to a close. The place: Uh... where is this, exactly?]
[Phoenix and Maya find themselves in some sort of parlor, with no clear sense of how they got there, or what they were doing a moment ago. Outside the windows, nothing but a swirling blue void. There is a tray on the table bearing black tea and biscuits. They are both excellent.]
[Before you have too long to consider the strangeness of the situation, the one door to the parlor opens slowly, admitting a woman in a very expensive-looking outfit, pipe in hand, trailing a small cloud of golden butterflies in her wake.]
Phoenix Wright, and Maya Fey. I trust that the summoning was not too unpleasant for you?
[The time: Not long after the Labyrinthia Incident comes to a close. The place: Uh... where is this, exactly?]
[Phoenix and Maya find themselves in some sort of parlor, with no clear sense of how they got there, or what they were doing a moment ago. Outside the windows, nothing but a swirling blue void. There is a tray on the table bearing black tea and biscuits. They are both excellent.]
[Before you have too long to consider the strangeness of the situation, the one door to the parlor opens slowly, admitting a woman in a very expensive-looking outfit, pipe in hand, trailing a small cloud of golden butterflies in her wake.]
Phoenix Wright, and Maya Fey. I trust that the summoning was not too unpleasant for you?
no subject
Maya blinked slowly, her brain taking a moment to truly connect with her eyes. There was no way this was the office. It was far too expensive looking and tidy.
Slowly, she picked herself off the couch she was sitting on and-Oh! Biscuits. Those look nice. But wait, she was still stuck in some weird place with... who was that.]
....Hey, Nick? [The spirit medium turned to her friend, who was there too, thankfully.] Where are we? And who's that?
no subject
I... I don't know, Maya. Either of those questions. How did we even get here?
[Please tell me there's some other ludicrously implausible but at least natural explanation for this.]
Who ARE you, ma'am?
no subject
My, my, how long has it been since I stood before somebody who didn't know my name or face? What a refreshing start to the festivities! I knew this was a good idea.
Very well. I am Beatrice, the Golden Witch. Before I get down to business, I would like to congratulate you for emerging victorious from Labyrinthia. It was a most entertaining Fragment.
no subject
"Golden Witch"...? Huh, I never heard of that one before. [Hmm, but hey! Her face lights up.] Hey! Hear that, Nick? We've got a fan!
no subject
[He turns to Beatrice.]
What do you mean "fragment?" And how could you possibly know about our experiences in Labyrinthia? We never really told anybody about it!
no subject
I wish to hire you as a defense attorney. However, this will not be like any trial you have ever experienced. The culprit stands before you, and your task will be to deny me.
In a sense, I will be both your defendant and the prosecutor in this battle.
no subject
[Maya shook her head.]
How does that work? I mean, you would have to prosecute yourself, right?
no subject
Is there any actual point to this? Because I've got more to do than just play silly games, you know.
no subject
[[BGM: Mind]]
[Beatrice extends her left hand, and something like a bubble appears over it. As she speaks, images of horrific, impossible murders flicker of it. Running victims hunted down by flying spears. Bodies disappearing into thin air amidst whirlwinds of gold.]
October 5th, 1986. On the island of Rokkenjima, a great many people were slain, but the nature of the killings and the final outcome remain undetermined. I, the Golden Witch, claim that I killed every one of the victims myself, using my vast powers, in ways that are impossible for any mere human. So long as that claim remains unopposed, my full powers will be realized, and Rokkenjima shall be consumed by the spirit world. The souls of the departed shall be mine to toy with for all eternity, and not a single human shall survive to hear the seagulls cry on the morning to come.
The only way that this fate can be opposed is by a second claim. As long as one person continues to claim that the deaths of Rokkenjima were the work of humans, and not a witch, my power is diiminished, and some hope will remain on that island. The souls of the dead may be able to find peace, and someone might even be able to escape alive. However, unless there is somebody who can both make the claim that all the crimes were committed by humans, and defend that claim with perfect clarity, Rokkenjima shall be mine.
Do you understand the severity of what is at stake in this game now, Phoenix Wright? Do you have the power to oppose my claims of magical slaughter?
no subject
Wait a second! What gives?! You just decided to make yourself the culprit or something?
[She turned to Phoenix, speaking to him in a hushed tone.]
Nick, this sounds really fishy. All the magic in Labyrinthia was fake, she can't be doing real magic, right?
no subject
Of course magic is fake. Remember? Mr. Layton pretty much toppled that entire theory.
[Even if the solution was almost more improbable than the lie.]
[He turns back to her.]
Speaking of, that's right! Why should we believe this is anything other than smoke and mirrors? And if you just want someone to prove that there's no magic, why not Mr. Layton? I just defended my clients. He's the one that proved what was going on there, which you'd know if you've really seen what happened!
no subject
However, your method was more entertaining. When faced with a world of powers and rules beyond your understanding, you blindly hurled yourself into the reality of the case, as if you had been a denizen of that magic world for your entire life. I want to see what you do when you are faced with even more impossible crimes, and then denied that option.
I assure you, there will be no improbable scientific excuses or dodgy last-minute reveals. What lies trapped in the past of Rokkenjima is either true magic or total logic.
Will you accept my offer, or will you leave the souls of the murdered in my control for all time? I'll even give you the background on the case before the trial starts! See, doesn't that make me more accommodating than most of your clients?
no subject
[Which is to say that she had the upmost faith in him. They hadn't failed yet, right?
Maya crossed her arms, thinking about what Beatrice just said. It just didn't add up to her, but she couldn't put her finger on just what was wrong.]
I don't know Nick. What do you think?
no subject
I don't really know if we have much of a choice. Regardless of whether magic is real or not, if it's true she's got these people in the palms of her hand, the only thing we CAN do is try to find the truth to help set them free. Not that I understand what any of this MEANS yet.
no subject
October 4th, is the day of the Ushiromiya family's annual conference. As 1986 approached, each year would be spent with the family gathering to discuss the matter of the inheritance to be passed down as soon as Kinzo, the head of the family, died. Come 1986, there was no longer any chance that Kinzo would survive to the next year, so the matter of his inheritance absolutely needed to be settled before they returned home.
Of the thirteen living members of the Ushiromiya family, twelve were present. In addition, Kinzo's doctor, Nanjo, plus five servants in employ of the family were present on the island. Beyond those eighteen, there was not a single person anywhere on Rokkenjima.
I shall add the names of the family and associates to the Court Record. It's fine if you don't memorize them all at once. Is this fine so far?
[[List of Suspects added to the Court Record.]]
no subject
So, there's only that many people on the island? And they were here this whole time. [She frowned in confusion.] Guess we're gonna have to talk to all of them, Nick.
no subject
Looks like it. Except... Wait, which one of these guys is the victim, anyway? It doesn't say in the Court Record.
no subject
That will be revealed in due time. As of October 4th, all eighteen of them are still alive, but rest assured that this shall change.
Setting that aside for the moment, there is a seldom-spoken rule among this family. In Kinzo's mansion, an Epitaph is written under a portrait of the Golden Witch.
[Looking a bit more serious for once, Beatrice waved her pipe like a wand, and a wall of text appeared in golden letters beside her.]
This epitaph, it is said, is no mere poem, but a riddle. The solution to the riddle reveals the location of Kinzo's true fortune - a hidden chamber containing no less than twenty billion yen worth of solid gold. It is said that Kinzo received this gold from the witch herself, and used it as collateral to start his business empire.
The truth of this rumor is contested, but one thing is certain: If anyone were to solve this riddle, all matters of inheritance and succession would be resolved. That person would become the new head of the Ushiromiya family at once.
Of course, I don't expect you to solve it when so many tried and failed for years, but you would do well to remember the words of this epitaph.
[The Witch's Epitaph added to the court record.]
no subject
[She smirked coyly, clapping her hands together.]
Aaaaaalright! Just leave it up to Maya the Magnificent, and her assistant, Nick. We can solve that puzzle! We solved a ton of puzzles back in Labyrinthia with the Professor and Luke!
[...Perhaps Maya was a bit too excited about this. And far too trusting in her own abilities.]
no subject
["The witch shall revive... and none shall be left alive?!]
How... many people are dead at the end of this incident?
no subject
If this conference ends with the ritual being fulfilled, and my power reaches its zenith, then not a single one shall survive.
no subject
Maya suddenly felt a sinking feeling in her guts, and it didn't mean she was hungry. It was that cold feeling she felt every so often she was on cases, usually when she saw a body outline.]
....So, you'll really kill everyone?
no subject
OBJECTION!
no subject
no subject
The thing is, I can't help but notice two problems already. The first is in the epitaph itself. You indicate that everybody will die when your power reaches its peak. But if that's the case, then the epitaph would have no reason to keep going past the phrase, "none shall be left alive." In other words, somebody HAS to be left in order to completely obligate the prediction in the epitaph.
And the second problem is in your counting. You tell us that thirteen sacrifices are needed in order to fulfill the epitaph.
[He pats the papers with the pictures and descriptions.]
But if you'll look at the evidence you've already provided, there's a clear contradiction. Namely, Ange. According to this, she isn't a part of what happens on the island.
[For lack of anything better to use, he slams a couch arm.]
In other words... there are only twelve people available to "sacrifice" for the ritual, and thus it's impossible to complete!
no subject
You're every bit as bold as I thought you would be, Phoenix Wright! Indeed, only twelve members of the Ushiromiya family are present on the island. However, Nanjo and the servants are also present! Nothing in the epitaph says that the sacrifices must be restricted to the family itself!
[What happened with her voice just now? It was almost like...]
However, I think we've wasted enough time for now! Before the trial can begin, we're still missing our final guest of honor! Come, Ushiromiya Battleeeeeeeer!
no subject
I'm not sure how I like you calling for me just whenever you feel like it, Beato. I'm not one of your servants, you know.
I'm not sure I like you bringing more people into this game, either. I can't object to another cute, young girl, but what's with the old man?
no subject
....[Her expression softened.] You think I'm cute, huh? Thanks! I try.
no subject
no subject
Do you have any final statements to make before I begin the opening ceremonies?
no subject
[Bleeeeeh.]
Um, how about.... How many times have you played this game?
no subject
So Battler here is one of the survivors, then? That sounds rough...
no subject
no subject
Since our lawyer friend seems so eager to start thrusting that finger and shouting "Objection!" at people, I see no need to continue this small talk any longer. Let us proceed to the main event!