Saved From Stoning

Chapter Eight: Manfred von Karma, Defense Attorney

As Phoenix Wright and Emperor Asahi Yoshida were discussing the charges against Danzo and his cronies for the trial, the Enchanted Express pulled into the Kimon Station. Among the people getting off the train was an elderly man with gray hair and in a fancy blue suit. In his hand, he held up a black suitcase that held all of his essentials.

"To the dungeons of Kimon City," he said in a deep foreign accent to a taxi man who then took him towards Kimon Castle. Upon arrival, he got out and approached the doors into the castle. But before he could enter the dungeons, he was stopped by two guards who crossed their spears.

"State your business," they said sternly.

"I am Manfred von Karma," replied the man. "I wish to see my clients in the dungeons of this castle. Please let me through."

The guards looked at each other and nodded to one another before turning their attention back towards Manfred. As far as they were both concerned, this man was just another citizen of Azura and wasn't going to be treated any differently than any other citizen.

"Please present your credentials," they demanded and rolling his eyes, Manfred presented his identification to the guards who looked at the small card and once they confirmed that it was truly him, they allowed him to pass into the castle.

Manfred made his way down to the dungeons and saw his clients all locked up in the cells like wild animals. Danzo was delighted to see the lawyer who had bailed him out so many times before was now coming to the rescue of him and his comrades once again. But Manfred had a look on his face that showed he was not as confident as he was before. Still, he kept it hidden to himself as he was in the presence of the people he had helped get off from previous crimes in the past.

"Ah, my dear Manfred," chuckled Danzo. "At last you have arrived to try and help us get out of this situation like all the times before."

"How are you, my master?" asked Manfred.

"Longing to be free, my loyal counselor," answered Danzo happily. "But we all know that we have been in situations like this before and you shall be the one to save us once again. So what kind of defense are you planning this time?"

Manfred place his suitcase down on the ground and opened it, taking out several pieces of paper and placing them in his hands.

"A defense that says that the Monarchs had unlawfully forced you out of office," he answered. "And that your recent actions against the woman you call Sakura was justified in their own rights."

"Of course they were justified, Herr von Karma!" cried Sasuke, clutching the bars of his prison cell. "She betrayed me and needed to be taught a lesson! What laws were broken in teaching her a lesson?"

"Laws that the Royal Monarchs don't agree with," remarked Manfred. "And furthermore, laws that people like Phoenix Wright will counter and say that they were unconstitutional. There are two different kinds of law and the law you all carried out was justified, nothing more."

All the captured people nodded in agreement upon hearing this. However, they noticed that Manfred was starting to become very wary of the situation that they were all in.

"I know you don't want to hear this, my friends," he sighed. "But I am afraid that this trial is not going to be like all the other scandals that we have all gone through together. I warned you all many times that attempting to kill the Royal Monarchs would result in severe consequences."

This made Danzo feel very cross.

"What did you say, Herr von Karma?" he growled, with his mood going from happy to angry. "Are you saying that we are going to lose this trial?"

"It's only a matter of time, Shimura!" retorted Manfred. "I will help you all, but I am saying that we may not win this time! We have to prepare for the inevitable that lies before us all and I fear that this trial is going to bring about the end of you all!"

"Traitorous scum!" snarled Police Sergeant Otsutsuki, throwing his body against the bars of his prison cell. "How dare you say we are going to lose this case? Just shut up and do your job, Herr von Karma! We are going to win this case as long as you don't screw up!"

The sound of Police Sergeant Otsutsuki's angry voice caused a sharp chill to run down Manfred's spine. He had been in this situation before and even though he himself didn't want to believe it, this was a trial that they were not going to win.

Meanwhile, in the Grandall Empire, a high-speed train departed the station and inside the train was a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl sitting in her personal car, writing down what appeared to be notes on how to deal with a certain situation.

"We should be in Kimon City very shortly, Your Highness," said a guardsman to Princess Barbie, briefly interrupting her work that was being done.

"Thank you," replied Barbie as the guard left and she returned to the notes that she was making to herself. "Now if only I can find a way to try and help this woman who is residing in Kimon City. I know that I am the Princess of Love, but even I am somewhat baffled by what is in front of me. Well, at least Asahi and Honoka can help me shed some light on the situation."

Barbie continued to sit in her car and think of how to help Sakura. For the next hour, she continued to try and think of ways to confront the situation, but to no avail. Finally, after a few hours, the train made it into Kimon City and Barbie got off, meeting a pair of guardsmen waiting to escort her to Kimon Castle.

"Thank you for coming, Barbie," said Asahi as he awaited his friend at the front door of the castle and the two embraced one another. "It means a lot that you are here right now."

"I came as soon as I heard," replied Barbie as they broke apart. "So, this woman was in a situation that she didn't want to be in and was targeted for death because of it?"

"Yes," answered Asahi. "Honoka and I were lucky to spare her life when we had the chance. The leadership of Konohagakure has become corrupted and the time has come to end it."

"But I cannot help but wonder, Asahi," remarked Barbie. "Why did Danzo become mayor in the first place if he is such an evil man who has no heart?"

"Because he used lies disguised as the truth to get where he is," answered Asahi. "We are looking into all of the details, Barbie, on whether or not he and his campaign party had corrupted the voting system to obtain the office. If he did, then I will have no choice but to add a charge of voter fraud to the list of charges that he and his comrades are facing. The odds are against him, Barbie, and he will not get away with any of this."

Barbie silently nodded as they neared the guest room where Sakura had been staying. But before they could enter the room, Sakura came out of the room and faced the two royals.

"Sakura," said Asahi. "How are you feeling?"

"Better to say the least, thank you very much," replied Sakura, bowing to him and Barbie. "How do you do, Princess Barbie?"

"Very well, thank you," chuckled Barbie, trotting over to Sakura. "Emperor Asahi has asked me to come and help you with the situation that you were involved in. As the Princess of Love, it is my duty to help you find someone that would be willing to love you for who you are."

"Well, I am honored really," remarked Sakura, flattered. "But I can't leave Sasuke. He's my husband and..."

"You will never be near him again," interrupted Asahi firmly, holding out a piece of paper that documented the annulment of Sakura's marriage to Sasuke. "As of this moment, you are free from his control."

Asahi showed Sakura the document and the young woman's eyes widened in shock. Sakura didn't know whether or not she should be happy that she was freed from Sasuke's evil personality or was afraid of the consequences that she would receive because of this.

"Did you tell Sasuke?" she asked.

"Not yet," replied Asahi, taking the scroll away and making it disappear with his magic. "But he will soon learn the truth, Sakura, and there will be nothing he can do to stop it."

With that said, Barbie led Sakura away to her chambers and once the door was closed, Asahi left to continue preparing for the trial that was to take place in the days to come that would soon bring about the end of Danzo Shimura and his reign of terror in Konohagakure forever.