The Fire Witch - Transcript



Chapter 2 The Fire Witch

Phoenix: (Wh-what... What is this place? The room is lit but it's still somehow dark. And the atmosphere seems...heavy.)

Maya: Nick! What are we doing in a place like this...?

Phoenix: H-how should I know?! We're just a couple of bakers...but I don't think they brought us here to make bread... (Yikes... Is it me or is that guard staring daggers at us right now?)

Mr Wright! Maya!

Maya: Ah! Espella! What exactly's going on?

Espella: I'm sorry...I was the one who sent for you both...

Phoenix: You...sent for us?

Espella: I...I'm being put on trial.

Phoenix: W-wait, what?! What happened?!

Espella: I don't know! I just don't understand what's going on... I-I didn't do anything wrong! I couldn't possibly...murder anyone...

Maya: M-murder?

Espella: I beg you, Mr Wright! Please, I need your help... Just one more time...

Phoenix: Huh? You need MY help? What could I possibly do?! Espella, I'm just a baker... The only thing I know about law is how not to get on the wrong side of it.

Maya: ............... Wait, hold on a sec! Espella... What did you just say? You said you needed Nick's help "just one more time"...

Phoenix: "One more time"...?

Espella: I'm not quite sure myself... But when the knights came and took me, a vision suddenly appeared in my mind. It was Mr Wright... He was fighting for me...defending me! That brave blue figure... It was clear as day.

Phoenix: I was..."fighting" for you? N-no way... That's impossible! I mean, it's like I already said...I'm just a baker! I have a hard enough time rolling dough, let alone defending someone in court!

Espella: I thought the same thing too, at first. But...I don't think that's quite true. You...and Maya... At some time, somewhere...you helped me. You fought for me, as a defender.

Phoenix: (A "defender"...) ............

Maya: What's wrong, Nick?

Phoenix: (I wish I knew, Maya... But hearing Espella mention a "defender"... I can't help but feel something inside of me just burning at the mention of it!)

Knight: Accused! Defender! It is time. Head forth, you two.

Maya: "Head forth"...? Um... Where are we going exactly?

Knight: To the courtroom in which today's trial will be taking place...the Chamber of Fire!

Maya: Ch-Chamber...

Phoenix: of Fire...?

Knight: Make haste! If you are but a moment late, a guilty verdict will be delivered immediately!

Maya: Whaaaaaat?! N-no way...

Espella: Mr Wright... I...I'm truly sorry, Mr Wright! I know this is all so sudden... It's a lost cause, isn't it...?

Phoenix: ......... Well then, let's head inside, Espella.

Espella: Huh...?

Phoenix: This overwhelming pressure...it feels so familiar somehow. Almost like déjà vu.

Espella: M-Mr Wright...

Phoenix: Let's go, Maya. Maybe we'll get a better idea once the trial gets under way.

Maya: ......... Aaaaall right! Let's do it to it, Nick!

Maya: So? How are you feeling, Nick?

Phoenix: ......... I'd forgotten what this felt like up until now.

Maya: ...Huh?

Phoenix: The butterflies in my stomach...and tension so thick you could slice it with a knife... All of these feelings... (...These are all feelings that I'm definitely familiar with!) Anyway... We're here to fight for Espella...and get her out of this place!

Maya: That's right!

Judge: The court is now in session for the trial of Espella Cantabella. ...Defender.

Phoenix: Yes, Your Honour?

Judge: Yours is a face I have not seen in any past trials... But no matter... Start by stating your name, defender.

Phoenix: Yes, Your Honour! My name is Phoenix Wright, ace baker!

Judge: A baker?

Espella: I asked him to come, Milord! I want him to represent me. This court dictates that the accused is free to assign a defender of their choosing...Milord.

Judge: ......... Hmm, very well. At any rate, the result of this trial shall not change...

Phoenix: ...!

Judge: That aside... I have not yet seen hide nor hair of the inquisitor assigned to this trial.

Phoenix: ("Inquisitor"... Oh, right. I should've noticed earlier. No one's there...)

Judge: Should the assigned inquisitor fail to appear in court, I will have no choice but to dismiss all charges. He is an inquisitor of high calibre. But if he does not come forward soon...this trial will end, and victory will then be declared in favour of this baker!

???:

Judge: Knights of the Court, I have but one question for you both... Are you prepared to cross swords?

Barnham: I, Inquisitor Zacharias Barnham, am indeed prepared to do battle, My Lord!

Phoenix: .........

Judge: ...Something amiss, baker?

Phoenix: Sorry, Your Honour. I just didn't realise we could have swords here in the courtroom.

Barnham: It is the way of the Court Knight. A knight must always ensure that he rides with a blade at his side. Now then... State your name, Sir Blue Knight.

Phoenix: ...Huh? My name is Phoenix Wright. I'm a baker. (How many times will they make me say it...?)

Barnham: ......... A baker?

Maya: Nick, quit with the long face! You look miserable!

Barnham: No need to waste your breath. This trial will be over before you can utter a single objection.

Phoenix: ...!

Barnham: For the security of all of Labyrinthia...my blade shall rend your defences swiftly and without mercy!

That's it, Barnham! Put another one out of their misery! This trial is pointless! Hand down the verdict already! Put that doughy defender on trial too, I say! Barnham! Barnham! Barnham! Barnham!

Phoenix: (Oh boy... What's with all this excitement? You'd hardly think this was a courtroom... The crowd doesn't seem very interested in law, that's for sure. It's like they're all just hoping for a guilty verdict...)

Judge: Inquisitor Barnham, you may begin your opening statement.

Barnham: ...As you wish, Milord. First, let us begin by recounting the events leading up to the murder. ...Is that acceptable, Sir Apprentice Baker?

Phoenix: Uhh... "As you wish"...

Barnham: The murder occurred this very evening. Yesterday, there was heavy rainfall in the area. Eventually it gave way to sunshine...which came just in time for today's parade. Although a few hours after the parade ended, the rain set in once more.

Phoenix: (That must have been when Espella and the others were at the Great Archive...)

Barnham: It continued to rain until just before the incident, which took place on a small path leading to the market. The accused had been out doing some shopping at the market. She returned home on that very same path. And on that forest path, two rogues, named Robbs and Muggs, are said to have accosted the accused. One could assume the accused simply acted in "self-defence".

Judge: I see. Robbs and Muggs...those two have appeared in court a number of times in the past.

Phoenix: (Two rogues, huh?)

Barnham: So far, it may appear that the accused was more the "victim". However, the situation soon changed. That's right. The accused, Espella Cantabella...knowingly and mercilessly murdered her two assailants!

..."Cantabella"... ...That girl, isn't she...? I always knew she looked suspicious! Shh! Not so loud...

Phoenix: (Y-yikes... There's that weird excitement again...)

Judge: I believe we now fully grasp what happened. It is getting late already. ...Let us begin the trial. Inquisitor Barnham, you may now begin.

Barnham: As you wish, Milord. The inquisition will now hear eyewitness testimony regarding the night of the murder.

Phoenix: ("Eyewitness testimony", huh...? Looks like this trial is finally getting under way... I can't back down now... I have to fight! But I'm just a simple bread-making baker...living a simple bread-making life... Urgh... This situation is more twisted than a pretzel...and I'm smack in the middle of it. But I have to do this to save Espella! Okay, let's see if I can untwist this testimony and put this thing to bed!)

Barnham: Allow me to welcome you all. Now, would each of you please state your name and occupation.

Phoenix:

Phoenix: W-wait a minute! Wh-what's going on here?!

Barnham: As I already explained, Sir Apprentice Baker, this is the "eyewitness testimony".

Phoenix: Yes, I understand that, but... There are four witnesses!

Judge: Indeed. This many people inside the courtroom could pose a health and safety issue...

Phoenix: Your Honour... That's, err...not quite what I meant! Witness testimonies are supposed to be done one-by-one... As in, one witness at a time...

Mary: What are you talking about, child? We'd be here all night if we did that!

Wordsmith: That's right, young man. We have witnessed the very hand of fate reach out to us this evening!

Kira: Um... Could we hurry this along, perhaps? These flowers won't sell themselves...as much as my boss wishes they would.

Knightle: The path to knighthood is an arduous one, but I remain steadfast in my resolve, as I travel down this long road! I shall not falter! I will be victorious!

Who cares?! Just question them all at once! We already know the girl in the cage did it! Let's get on with it! Yeah! Finish this already! I'd like to go back home and get to bed! Barnham! Barnham! Barnham! Barnham!

Judge: ...Witnesses. Again, state your names and occupations.

Wordsmith: I am known as Wordsmith. But what is a name? How doth one describe an occupation? Like the bubbling of a babbling brook...I flow gracefully around the rocks and debris that is life, nary a worry in my mind.

Phoenix: (Right...so I guess that means he's jobless.)

Mary: My name is Mary. And this darling kid is Snowy.

Snowy: Baaa!

Mary: Snowy and I often travel to the edge of town to sell delicious fresh milk. Milk like that doesn't happen overnight! I work my hands to the bone squeezing each drop out...literally!

Phoenix: (That sounds pretty frightening...)

Kira: I'm Kira... I'm a flower seller. If you would all be so kind, feel free to purchase one of my beautiful flowers at any time during the trial. There's no way I'll sell them all by morning. Oh, the life of a flower girl is so hard...

Phoenix: (Yeesh, talk about a hard sell...)

Knightle: My name is Knightle! I aim to join our town's order of knights! I study night and day, though I am still but a mere squire... Joining the Knights of the Inquisition is my life's ambition! And I, Knightle, will do whatever necessary to join!

Phoenix: (...So he's jobless, too.)

Barnham: Honourable witnesses, I ask that you show this court your best when delivering your testimonies. Now, tell us what exactly you all saw on this ill-fated eve!

Witness Testimony

-- What We Saw Tonight --

Wordsmith: The delicious scent of mid-evening dinner permeated the air, and a soft light shone faintly in the distance.

Mary: Muggs grabbed the girl by the arm. It looked like he almost pushed her to the ground!

Kira: I heard a faint voice cry out. The next moment, those two villainous men burst into flames!

Knightle: There was not a trace of fire to be seen in the area! Without a doubt, "magic" must have been used!

Phoenix: M-magic...

Judge: Sir Apprentice Baker, you may now begin your interrogation.

Barnham: I have but one piece of advice. I suggest you pay it heed. Do not waste the court's time by grilling these witnesses over irrelevant nonsense, Sir Apprentice Baker.

Maya: Are you all right, Nick? They sure love calling you an apprentice baker, huh?

Phoenix: I'll be honest with you, Maya, I have no idea how I'm feeling right now. But...I know it's all up to me. As her "defender", Espella's fate is in my hands.

Maya: ...!

Phoenix: I have to believe in her... And I'll need to start believing in myself. I can do this... I believe Espella is innocent... And I'll fight until the end to prove it!

Maya: ...Yeah, that's the spirit! We can do this thing, Nick!

Cross-Examination

-- What We Saw Tonight --

Wordsmith: The delicious scent of mid-evening dinner permeated the air, and a soft light shone faintly in the distance.

Mary: Muggs grabbed the girl by the arm. It looked like he almost pushed her to the ground!

Kira: I heard a faint voice cry out. The next moment, those two villainous men burst into flames!

Knightle: There was not a trace of fire to be seen in the area! Without a doubt, "magic" must have been used!

Phoenix: (Espella was carrying a lantern at the time of the murder... That fact definitely contradicts a certain witness' [sic] testimony!)

Maya: That's right! But... Even if we know what the contradiction is, where do we go from there? I mean, what CAN we do? We're just a couple of bakers, after all...

Phoenix: ...No, Maya. I think you're wrong.

Maya: Huh?

Phoenix: I don't know why, but I feel like...I know how to do this. (If you're going to speak up in court, there's only one thing that people will listen to...and that's evidence. I just have to try and present evidence whenever there's a contradiction in one of their testimonies!)

Maya: Okay, Nick! Let's give their testimonies another listen!

Phoenix: ...... ...... ............

Judge: Wh-what is the matter, defender?

Phoenix: ............ (...Wh-what is...this feeling? ...I just felt the urge to shout out... ...right from the bottom of my lungs... ...while pointing my finger! "Objection"... I can't help but feel that's a word I've used quite a bit in the past... That's it...I remember now! I remember everything! The Legal League of Attorneys' exchange... Espella's trial... And then...that strange book... This feeling... It feels like I can take on the world!) ...Witness!

Knightle: Wh-wh-what's with the sudden pointing?! I-I am a soon-to-be member of the honourable Knights of the Inquisition! I accept your challenge! Have at you!

Phoenix: You say that no fire was present at the scene of the crime, meaning the defendant must have used magic. Unfortunately for you, that is not the case.

Barnham: ...What do you mean, Sir Apprentice Baker?

Phoenix: What I mean is that the defendant was, in fact, carrying a lantern. ...A lantern containing fire! Those two "rogues" were actually burned by the flame that was inside that lantern... That is the only logical explanation!

Barnham: My, what a startling conclusion you've come to, Sir Apprentice Baker.

Phoenix: Wh-what do you mean?

Barnham: "The only logical explanation"...? Do you agree with this statement, honourable witnesses?

Wordsmith: It is presumptuous for a man that knows nothing to claim that he knows something about which he really knows nothing!

Phoenix: ...Huh?

Mary: ...Besides, how could one teeny-tiny flame be strong enough to set them both ablaze like that?

Phoenix: ...Uh.

Kira: There were two of them. How could that flame engulf them so fast?

Phoenix: ...Ah.

Knightle: Furthermore! If they did burn as you claim they did, do you mean to suggest that they were soaked in oil or something?

Phoenix: ...Oh.

Barnham: Well, Sir Blue Knight? It would seem you have bitten off more than you can chew.

Phoenix: Aaaaaaaarggggh! (I definitely didn't see that coming...)

Barnham: What say you, Milord? Do you have any thoughts on the proceedings thus far?

Judge: ............ Given the testimony as we have heard it...this court has come to its conclusion. 'Twas a truly gruesome and merciless act. An act for which only one thing could be held responsible... The nefarious crime of magic!

Phoenix:

Phoenix: W-wait! Wait just a second!

Judge: ...Is there something you have forgotten to mention, defender?

Phoenix: Not exactly, Your Honour. It's just that...I mean... You just said..."magic"... That can't be right, can it?!

Barnham: What are you suggesting, Sir Apprentice Baker? Witches use magic, which in turn brings about disaster. ...Such is the way of this world, is it not?

Phoenix: W-well, yeah... (That may seem to be the case...but no way is that actually possible!)

Judge: This court finds Espella Cantabella, the accused, charged of being a witch.

Phoenix: E-Espella...a witch...?

Barnham: A witch's existence in this world is a crime in itself.

Judge: The ability to use and control magic is a criminal offence, indeed... As such, any witch found practising magic will be sentenced to death by fire!

Espella: N-no! You're wrong! I'm not a witch!

Barnham: Sir Apprentice Baker, I do not envy your current predicament. Milord! Hand down your guilty verdict against this witch immediately!

Phoenix:

Phoenix: B-but! There's no evidence to prove that any "magic" was really used!

Wordsmith: Put a sock in it, bread boy! We all heard her cast the spell!

Phoenix: ...Huh?

Mary: That's right! Snowy and I heard it! Isn't that right, precious? We heard that incantation quite clearly!

Phoenix: ...Uh.

Kira: That frightening voice! There's no mistaking it! It was Espella's voice!

Phoenix: ...Ah.

Knightle: These ears do not lie! I clearly heard an incantation most sinister! "Ignaize", it went!

Phoenix: "Incantation"?

Maya: Ignaize...?

Phoenix: (It's no good! I just can't wrap my head around this topsy-turvy, other-worldly court.)

Barnham: Well then, it would seem the defence has no further objections.

Judge: ...It appears so. The court finds the use of magic at the time of the murder to be an undeniable fact. Furthermore, the honourable witnesses have stated that they each heard an incantation being recited. The court finds no reason to delay its verdict any longer.

Maya: Nick! We have to do something...

Phoenix: I-I know! But... What exactly can we say? Here, in this world, our sense of logic is completely useless!

Judge: This court is ready to hand down its verdict for the case of Espella Cantabella!

???:

Layton: Your Honour! I request that the court hold its verdict a moment longer...

Judge: What-what is the meaning of this intrusion?

Layton: I have something I believe will be of use to the defence... A weapon, of sorts.

Phoenix: Th-that's...

Layton: ...The Grand Grimoire. All of this world's magic is contained within its pages. Without it, this trial cannot reach a satisfactory conclusion.

Phoenix: The Grand...Grimoire...

Layton: We meet again, Mr Wright. Well now, it seems things are already afoot here. Although the real contest begins now. ...Are you fully prepared?

Phoenix: So...are you here to help us?

Luke: Of course! The professor always helps people in trouble! "It is the duty of every gentleman", right, Professor?

Phoenix: P-Professor...?

Layton: ...There is a saying that I find quite useful in situations such as this. "There is a time for words and a time for action."

Phoenix: R-right...

Layton: You have been working as a baker in this town up until now, have you not? I must say, I am a little mystified. I'd have expected you to be more familiar with this world and its "system" of magic.

Phoenix: Ah, yeah... How can I put this... I guess that's not quite the full story.

Layton: Is that so...?

Phoenix: I kind of had an epiphany just now. I remembered all sorts of things... Like how I'm not actually a baker... And, well...how magic can't really exist!

Layton: ............ Then it would seem I was correct about you, Mr Wright. You are not, in fact, a citizen of this town... Is that correct?

Phoenix: ...Right. At least, it seems that way.

Layton: However, for now, we have no option but to accept this world and its rules as a reality. Without first understanding those rules, I'm afraid you will not be able to save Miss Cantabella.

Phoenix: B-but...things like magic only exist in fairy tales and make-believe!

Layton: I'm afraid, Mr Wright, it would seem magic does in fact "exist" in this world. Such a truth cannot be denied.

Phoenix: ...!

Layton: Indeed...that is why the Grand Grimoire is a weapon well suited for this witch trial. At the moment, you are tantamount to a knight without a sword.

Phoenix: (I feel more like an attorney without a chance, actually...)