12. Chapter 12: The End (1/2)

yo.

i don't normally include notes likes this, but surprisingly i got quite a few followers now so i thought i should this time. this is the final chapter, and it's been a pleasure to write. it's easily the longest fanfiction i've ever written, and if even one person enjoyed reading it, then it was all worth it.

i'd like to thank anyone that showed their support for this story. sometimes i just wasn't feeling it, but knowing there were people that actually looked forward to the next chapter kept me going. i saw potential to explore dahlia's character here, and overall i'm happy with how it turned out.

it's always great to see a new review in my inbox, so if you have any constructive feedback, please let me know! ace attorney is my all-time favourite video game series, i'd love to write more fanfic on it and my creative juices are still flowing but i have no idea which characters to write about next, so if you have any ideas, include that in the review too.

anyway, enjoy!

...

january 27th 2019, 2:42pm, church

'i suppose i should say my goodbyes.'

'what?' morgan replied, sneering, 'you're telling me you actually made friends in this place.'

'some.' dahlia admitted, 'and there are others i need to... settle the score with, before my execution tonight.'

'hmph, do what you will. just don't forget your part of the plan. pearl has agreed to channel you on the agreed-upon night, the rest is up to you.'

'i'll do my part.' dahlia said lazily. she looked at her mother. 'this will probably be the last conversation we ever have. any final words for your daughter?'

morgan fey stared back at her, and dahlia looked for any trace of emotion in her expression. there was none.

'thought so. i'll see you in hell.' dahlia said, turning her back to morgan as she left.

3:12pm, courtyard

'i can't believe this is happening, ms. hawthorne.'

'sorry frank, but this day was going to arrive sooner or later.'

dahlia had begun her round of goodbyes, and who better to start with than her first companion in the prison, frank sahwit? he was clearly shaken at the thought of living in the prison without dahlia to follow around. he had been loyal to dahlia ever since their first meeting, and she wasn't one to let loyalty go unrewarded.

'i've arranged your transfer to another prison facility. i know you won't want to stick around here after i'm gone.'

'y-you would do that for me?' frank asked. he seemed genuinely surprised by dahlia's offer.

'of course. i've made sure you'll get an upgrade in living standards, and i hear they even allow pets where you're going. who knows, perhaps you could become a pet trimmer like you always wanted.'

'i-i don't know want to say, ms. hawthorne. would it be... presumptuous to hug you right now?'

'yes it would. but i suppose you can kiss the back of my hand.'

frank did so, kneeling down to take dahlia's hand in his own. afterwards, he left the courtyard in a daze, conflicted between happiness at his transfer and grief at dahlia's imminent passing. oh well, dahlia had done what he could for the poor man, he'd have to look after himself now.

dahlia walked over to a small corner of the courtyard, where the gravestones of matt engarde and manfred von karma stood. their bodies had been buried elsewhere, of course, but the warden had thought it a good idea to have a memorial of sorts planted inside. dahlia stood in front of manfred's grave, clasped her hands together, and uttered a short prayer in honour of his memory. then she turned to engarde's grave.

'see you soon, matt.' dahlia said quietly. she kicked the gravestone down and walked away.

3:36pm, li

ary

dahlia entered the li

ary, looking for a book titled how to pass the time in the afterlife, when she overheard an unusual conversation.

'honestly damon, we're supposed to be friends! and yet when i was being dragged to court by that spiky haired nincompoop, you stood by and did nothing!'

'haha, sorry redd, i thought you could handle yourself against a rookie attorney. but we're both stuck in here now, so let's try to get along!'

'well i don't know about you two, he was a pro by the time i encountered him! i take pride in the fact that it took a legendary defense attorney to defeat this ace detective!'

dahlia sighed, and made her way to the three most annoying inmates in this damned place. redd white, luke atmey and damon gant were clearly well acquainted with each other before arriving here, as dahlia had seen them together numerous times around the prison. she waited until she had their full attention before speaking.

'gentlemen, you should know that i'm due to be executed tomorrow.'

white hid his expression well. he acted like he was upset, though dahlia could see the relief in his eyes. atmey, to his credit, looked legitimately saddened by this news. gant, however, laughed and clapped his hands together.

'that sick of me, eh ms. hawthorne? i'll be sorry to see you go. how about one more swimming race for old times sake?'

dahlia ignored him for the time being. she turned to redd.

'no doubt you're happy about this, mr. white. this means you no longer have to fear me.'

'i suppose it shall be nice regain a sliver of freedom while i-'

'so i'm transferring all my control of you to dee vasquez.' dahlia finished

'what!' redd exclaimed, slamming his fists on the table.

'didn't think you'd be off the hook that easily, did you?' she continued, smirking, 'don't worry, dee is far more tolerant than me, but i expect you to follow her orders perfectly, or i'll be back to haunt you.'

redd had nothing to say. he simply let his head fall onto the table, sobbing like a child.

she turned next to atmey, who

aced himself as if a hurricane was about to strike. but dahlia had no quarrel with him.

'detective atmey, thank you for helping me out of my depression. i hope you have a lovely time here.'

atmey was stunned, but he stood up and bowed nonetheless. she curtsied back, and finally locked eyes with damon gant. she'd be waiting for this moment.

'as for you, former chief of police.' she said, 'i've done my research on you, and on sl-9. imagine a esteemed detective falling so far that he would commit murder.'

'yes yes, i'm aware that i'm a criminal, ms. hawthorne.' gant replied casually, 'if you're trying to anger me by questioning my integrity, then i'm afraid-'

'not your integrity, mr. gant, but your skill. you weren't just a criminal, you were bad at being a criminal. now not all of my crimes have been perfect, but compared to you i'm practically a mastermind! you left behind bloodstains, critical evidence, and hell, you couldn't even get rid of the body properly. having all that power and authority makes it even worse! how much of a moron do you have to be to lose with all the odds stacked in your favour?'

dahlia stopped her rant to laugh, right in his stupid orange face. gant was silent, his amused expression gone.

better wrap this up before he flips out. dahlia thought.

'that's all i came to say, mr. gant. you've created a facade where you act aloof but are secretly really smart, am i right? but that's all it is; a facade. i've made sure everyone in this prison knows what a colossal failure you truly are. so no, i think i'll pass on the swim. but thanks for the offer, chief.

dahlia left before gant could respond, and before she could lose control of her laughter.

4:06pm, clinic

'hi there, dahlia. thanks again for helping me settle in.'

'ah, dahlia. what can we do for you?'

mimi miney and acro sat in the clinic together, chatting idly until dahlia entered the room. mimi seemed to have fractured her wrist, as far as dahlia could tell, though she didn't know how it happened. acro was, of course, here for his daily leg therapy.

'mimi, wheels, good to see you both here. i'm just saying my final goodbyes to everyone before they send me to the gallows.'

'oh no!' mimi cried out, hands covering her mouth. acro was also shocked by the news. clearly they didn't partake in prison gossip or they'd be aware by now.

'not to worry, it's by my own choice.' dahlia said casually, 'i'd be stuck in here for life anyway, so i might as well bite the bullet before things get boring.' there were other reasons of course, but there were too complicated to get into now.

mimi got to her feet and quickly hugged dahlia before she could react. dahlia was stunned, but didn't struggle.

'i'm sorry you feel that way.' mimi said, voice shaking as the tears rolled down her cheeks, 'i don't suppose i can convince you otherwise, but i want you to know that you've given me a life worth living here, and i thank you from the bottom of my heart.'

she pulled back from the hug and looked dahlia dead in the eye.

i can't remember the last time anyone hugged me. dahlia thought to herself. but it was too late to get emotional now. the plan was set.

'my pleasure, mimi.' dahlia responded sweetly. she looked past mimi towards acro.

'well, wheels? do i get a hug from you too?' she said cruelly, knowing full well it wasn't possible for him.

acro laughed quietly, 'well, i'm not usually one for hugs, but i'll make an exception.'