163 Hearts On Fire

Let your lover be for your heart and not your ego. Choose him for his soul, for his wish to protect, his soft hands that reflect his true self. Choose him for his quiet warmth, not the burning of one who possesses, not the chill of one who is further away than it appears. If you are a light upon a grassy hill, let him be a light on that same hill, content to shine for you as you shine for him. One who would cover your light must leave; one who would strive to outshine you so that you feel so dull seeks no company, only to support a failing ego. One who guards with a jealous heart will make it so that around you all appears dark, as if there is no reason to shine, or foolish to do so. So let your lover be the light next to you, each able to shine however God intends them to, company for each another, sharing their light freely, joyfully.

Sister Bikini and Mystic Matilda
The Ballroom, Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel
June 16, 2026 11:20 PM

“I now have the esteemed Mystic Matilda, head of the village elder council, who was pretty much one of the fairy godmothers in making tonight’s fairytale wedding a reality, and Sister Bikini.” Jesse pointed the camcorder at the two distinguished Kurain matriarchs. “Your turn to give Larris their well-wishes!”

Matilda smiled into the camera.

“Two souls with but a single thought, two hearts that beat as one. All the best on your wedding day! Wishing you both a beautiful life as husband and wife. May your years together be full of love, joy, and blessings!”

“Wonderful! Over to you, mother of the bride!”

The elder reflexively handed her companion a tissue in preparation, and Sister Bikini dabbed at her once again welling eyes as she sniffled with emotion, then flashed a watery smile at the camera.

“To my darling daughter and new son! Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be the warmth for the other. Now there is no more loneliness, for each of you will be a companion for the other. Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you. Go now to your dwelling place to begin the days of your life together. May your days together be good and long upon the earth! All my love to you both!”

The sweet nun just barely managed to get her loving well wishes out before she erupted into another round of happily blubbering on Matilda’s shoulder.

Maya Fey and Mia Fey
Vestibule, Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel
June 16, 2026, 11:23 PM

Spotting the younger Fey approaching her, Mia rose from the hall couch and felt her eager anticipation expressed as the slightest curve at her mouth’s corner morphed into a delighted smile upon seeing her no-longer little sister again after so long, this time not downtrodden and in a cumbersome bridal gown at the altar, but now appearing as a stunning vision with a graceful stride, the skirt of her lilac strapless evening number swishing around her legs with every step.

The sight of her baby girl, all grown up, resplendent, and dressed to the nines, made a glow of satisfied pride course within the legal legend as she noted the dignified aura Maya exhibited while promenading towards the brunette. She radiated indelible, regal confidence, worn in a light raise of the eyebrow above quizzical, joyful dark orbs as they rested upon her elder sibling, at last, beaming a smile so bright, it would have put the sun to shame.

My Maya … she’s always had inner happiness, one utterly independent of the outside world. Her actual, genuine smile – not the one she uses to mask her pain – it’s like it bursts from within, instead of being worn like an obligation in the way others often do. May that be something about her that will never, ever change!

Maya’s heart came to a full gallop at the sight of the beloved, unexpected figure standing only a few yards away from her now. It was as if she’d won the lottery, but better!

I can’t believe it! I’m not dreaming! Sis is here! She’s really here!

The spirit medium’s eyebrows arched towards the sky, her mouth huge and raised into an ear-to-ear grin of surprised glee. Even the sparking diamond rhinestones and crystals on her gown couldn’t outshine her smile, and her steps had a bounce to them as she bounded into her sister’s outstretched, waiting arms. In the seconds that followed, she could feel Mia’s arms tightly squeezing around her waist, and her own reciprocating. No longer was the elder sibling merely the fleeting angel that’d assisted in thwarting the nuptials earlier, who’d then vanished before the Master could even reach out and touch her; this time, Sis was warm, fragranced, and soft, and Maya yearned to make the moment last forever.

“Sis!” The village leader cried elatedly, burying her head against Mia’s shoulder as a single tear rolled down her face. “I’ve missed you so much!”

“You saw me just a few hours ago, silly girl.” Mia lifted her sister’s chin and maternally stroked her cheek. “Honey, you’ve no idea how uplifting it is to see you smiling again, after mournfully gazing down upon your perpetual heavy-hearted state for so long.”

“I know I saw you earlier, but I never got to hold you!” Maya sniffled through her happy tears, which always tended to surface whenever she and her sister were reunited. “Nor did I get a chance to even thank you for what you and Mom did for me earlier, saving me from going into a doomed marriage! My mysterion beau merely told me that someone wanted to talk to me privately outside in the hallway, then jetted off to see Miles. He didn’t tell me anything else, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, or when I’d ever be able to express my gratitude for all you’ve done. I can’t believe you’re still looking out for me, even from beyond the grave.”

Mia noted her sister’s voice was trembling with emotion, and as much as she was rejoicing in this reunion as well, she couldn’t allow time to be wasted by holding a weeping sibling in her arms any more than she’d been able to indulge her Ace Idiot, future brother-in-law! It was high time to take the reins on this metanoia that she fervently needed to have with Maya before she could move on to the rest of her prerequisite duties!

“You’re lucky it was just me and mom with our short and sweet objection, and not Fey Clan founder Mystic Ami who’d brought things to a halt!” She teased Maya, attempting to lighten the mood. “I can only imagine how long-winded things would’ve gotten if the inventor of the Kurain Channeling Technique was the intervening party! Her refusal to bestow her imprimatur to that godforsaken union would have been epic!”

The elder sibling then cleared her throat and dissembled her best censure-laden air and resonance.

“Nay! Good women of Kurain, lend me your ears, for I shall not allow this travesty! I do not bless the Master’s nuptials to this nouveau riche, as the result would be our order falling into utter extinction! Lady Mistress Maya Fey has already found her match and he has loved, worked, and sacrificed his all for the sake of her well-being for far longer than any of you have! Even now, he has been protecting her by suffering a life of solitude through the constant watchful eye of a madman! Their union has been foretold in the codex of destiny, which entwines the fates of the Ao-fushichou and his 
Senjo-hime! This hair boy may be a fanshi Kujaku but he is no Ao-fushichou to speak of!”

Maya’s jaw first hit the floor at Mia’s eldritch ability to speak of their clan eschatology with such flawless hauteur, but a split-second later, her staggered state was replaced by one of utmost merriment.

“Oh, my stars and garters, Sis!” Her poignant tears were now replaced by ones of mirth as she doubled over. “Did you seriously just refer to Nick, me, and Longines as the blue phoenix, his fairy princess … and a fancy peacock – in Japanese?!”

Mia was now officially on a roll, never breaking character for a second. She held up her hand to pause any further interlude.

“Silence! The purpose of the Elders Council is to advise, not to rule, thus reducing the title of Master or Mistress to little more than a figurehead! Therefore, our sacred leader has nary cause nor need for advisement from materfamilias who continues to believe in apocryphal tales and bear antiquated ideals! Mindless harridans, who are more concerned with digging their heels into the dirt rather than moving on with the times and going forward with their lives!”

The brunette’s amber orbs were twinkling with mischief whilst she continued her mock diatribe.

“I know you’ve all been taught to believe that men are altogether nigh worthless, devoid of reason, and should not be taught how to harness their spiritual powers, even if they’re highly gifted. Well, in life, I had only ever known men who sought something from me, whether I gave it freely or not. Such is not the case here with the Ao-fushichou! This man will never falter in loving and protecting Mystic Maya, and has sworn an oath to do so! I warn you now, traditions are only that, something to help honor and remember the past, basic general guidelines. Do not treat them like gospel or strict rulebook which you cannot deviate from, as that will only lead to stagnation! I decree a new palimpsest is to move forward and bring us into the 21st century, or by Holy Mother, Kurain shall fall!”

The last line was so over the top and melodramatic that by the time Mia was done, even she could no longer withhold her own twittering, and the two sisters fell into one another’s arms, giggling maniacally for several moments.

“Gosh, Sis, you kill me!” Maya gasped, wiping her eyes when the two broke apart at last. “I didn’t think I’d laugh again so soon! I thought was all guffawed out from witnessing Miles being the world’s most reluctant dance partner tonight – but thanks for proving me wrong!”

“Oh?” The buxom beauty raised a quizzical brow. “I take this to mean Luke passed on my instructions for you to keep the surly, and slurry, prosecutor occupied on the dance floor – and away from the bar?”

“Yes, he gave me those exact instructions,” the younger Fey affirmed. “Although at the time, I had no idea why! Yet he looked so earnest, I figured I’d just oblige rather than give him a hard time and ask unnecessary questions. The poor guy’s endured enough tonight with Pearly.”

“He’s a great kid.” Mia’s voice was laced with affection. “And such a little gentleman, too! Aside from the initial few embarrassing seconds when he was leaning down towards where he thought Pearly’s face would be– it’s a good thing this gown has such a modest-cut neckline, so my modesty isn’t threatening to spill out as usual! – Luke didn’t make any unseemly straying of eye contact! Not even once!”

“Hee! No peeking at the Fey twins whatsoever? That is mighty impressive!” Maya snickered. “Layton’s greatest achievement is moulding that boy to be every bit the British gent that he now is; one anybody would be proud to call his apprentice!”

The dearly departed smiled fondly as her sister carried on.

“Such a chivalrous lad! I’d already danced two turns with the loopy lawyer before we switched partners with Iris and Larry. Then Luke ever-so-gallantly saved Miles from Sister Bikini’s bone-crushing clutches! The good nun, who’s always harbored a crush on a certain handsome prosecutor, insisted on clinging to him like a vine for the next three dances in a row! His face was the same shade of wine as his suit! Nonetheless, I’m uncertain if it was due to embarrassment by her effusive attentions, or the fact that such a diminutive woman was somehow clinging to him so tightly, I fear he may have been in dire need of oxygen!”

The legal legend was flat-out cracking up now as she pictured this hilariously described tableau.

“I have to give Edgy credit. Despite all his faults – including inappropriate moments of laughter! – and even in his questionably dour state, he remained in somewhat customary debonair, genteel mode. It seems not even Miles Edgeworth would be truculent enough to be slighting that tiny ball of sunshine, lest the sweet lady resumed her bawling yet again! I don’t think he could have handled history repeating itself by having yet another female blowing their nose on his cravat!”

“Gah! The humanity! Poor Edgy!” Mia sniggered, clapping a hand over her mouth. “So who’s watching over him now?”

“Miles was in the less suffocating hold of Matilda by the time Nick came in and told me to come out here, but I have no idea who’s playing the current Ginger Rogers to his Fred Astaire!”

“I’m amazed he’s not tripping over his feet, considering how many he’s put away,” Mia murmured to herself. “I shall have to check up on him before I give Pearly back over to Luke. Luckily, I’ve managed to figure out things between the two.”

She caught her sister’s look of confusion and smiled indulgently.

“Oh, that’s right, I forgot! Phoenix was the only one who knew of my specially bequeathed privileges on this date! It seems the Man Upstairs foresaw how much my services would be required, so I’ve been given the ability to retain the memories of everything I’ve been looking down upon from the heavens today. That includes noticing how drunk my favorite cinnamon roll has been getting tonight, and the little lover’s quarrel Pearly and Luke had earlier.”

A slight smirk played upon Mia’s lips.

“That’s also how I was able to determine that you weren’t going to be a GILF before the age of 30! Hee! Seriously, girl! As much as I appreciate how the fear of becoming a grandma was a legitimate concern – whatever were you thinking, asking the poor girl such a mortifying question?! Were you trying to make little Pearly die of embarrassment?!”

“Come on, Sis!” Maya whined, a rosy tint coming to her cheeks at the memory. “What else was I supposed to think when my 16-year-old daughter was suddenly so obsessed with having her teenage boyfriend practically swear a blood oath that he was going to marry her?!”

“Well, I suppose it’s a good thing Pearly opted to evade her boyfriend for just a little bit longer, and decided to call upon me! I guess she was hoping I could attempt to sort things out for them while determining what Luke’s intentions truly were.”

“Ah, so you were able to get to the bottom of all this teen soap opera drama?”

The earth angel nodded and gave her sister a brief synopsis of the conversation with Luke, swearing the necromancer to secrecy about divulging any information to Pearl before the English lad was able to do so himself.

“Look at you, legal legend and love counselor extraordinaire!” The village leader praised, then stopped as a slight scowl marred her features. “Since you seem to be everybody’s confidant tonight, I assume you talked to Nick as well? Were you able to ascertain what bug is up his butt, and why he’s been acting strangely ever since we got here?”

“I’m glad you asked! This brings me to the perfect intro as we now venture into the other little task I need to take care of before I can go to Miles!” Mia broodingly tapped her thumbnail against her teeth. “I’ll need to make this quick, as I’m not sure how long I can trust Phoenix to keep Miles away from the bar – or even remain at this party! – given the poor guy’s current state.”

“Poor guy?” Maya was hopelessly lost. “Edgy is another mystery! What’s his damage? You told me his actions of throwing Luke under the bus by tossing the garter at the unsuspecting kid was the prime catalyst for the big blow-up with Pearly! Said action, along with his entire miserable disposition tonight, still makes no sense at all! The man is engaged to one of my closest friends – at least he was, last time I checked! What gives?!”

The former defense attorney’s countenance abruptly changed from contemplative to outright condemning as she treated the flummoxed spirit medium to a baleful stare.

“Maya, I say this as your sister who loves you more than anything in the world,” she began firmly, her stern gaze never wavering from the Master’s suddenly wary one. “But Miles Edgeworth’s love life is absolutely none of your damn business! You, my dear, have bigger fish to fry! Moreover, I certainly hope you have some space left in those six stomachs of yours because you have a lot of crows to eat!”

The Kurain leader was taken aback by the unanticipated words, as well as the unmistakable disapproval in her sister’s normally dulcet cadence.

“Good grief, you legitimately have no clue, do you?” Mia sighed, shaking her head. “Maya, I want you to think back to the events of this evening, including, but not limited to when you got to this reception hall. Are you truly unable to pinpoint what might’ve caused Phoenix’s change of mood?”

The spirit medium looked upward as she wracked her brain, tapping her index finger against her chin as she did so.

“Nick did initially seem blown away by how lavish this place is, I guess. I didn’t think twice about it because since losing his badge, he hasn’t exactly been rolling in the dough! Ergo, I know he hasn’t been traveling in the same kind of wealthy social circles I’ve been to, but I didn’t think he’d be intimidated by it all! I just assumed he was a little bit uncomfortable being in such unfamiliar surroundings…”

Mia remained silent and nodded encouragingly, as though coaxing Maya to continue her train of thought. Suddenly, the Master snapped her fingers, and her eyes lit up, as though a lightbulb had just gone up over her head.

“Wait! I also seem to recall he looked pretty upset when Lotta the Loudmouth decided to rub his face in the fact that this was a swanky affair and I’d never be able to grow accustomed to such splendor because Nick is so broke! That’s it! I can understand how it would’ve been embarrassing to have his lack of stature pointed out in such a debasing public manner! Nevertheless, that walking Brillo-pad is nothing more than a gate-crashing Philistine herself, so I’ve no idea why he’d even care what she thinks…”

The busty brunette had had enough of the village leader’s obtuseness.

“Dammit, Maya!” The brunette snapped, startling the smaller girl. “Don’t you get it? That Douche-Fro was just the cherry on top of the craptastic sundae that’s been mounting for the poor guy all day! As I reflect on his actions, I can also guarantee you that Mildew’s final two cents played a huge factor as well! Recall how right before Luke exposed her to everybody, that wretched harpy just had to sling one final spur at your beau on how nothing’s truly changed, and how Phoenix is still a nobody compared to you…”

“Curse that piece of human excrement!” Maya seethed, puffing out her cheeks. “How can that abominable Dragon Lady, who’s going to spend the rest of her remaining years rotting in a prison cell,  continue causing such a negative impact on my life?! I swear to Mystic Ami, the minute I get my hands on that harridan’s scrawny neck –”

“Hold it!” The elder sibling exploded wrathfully. “Just –stop, already! I can’t take it anymore! Neither Mildred Latrine nor Lotta Hart was the cause of this latest blow to Phoenix’s already non-existent self-esteem, you oblivious … nincompoop! For your kind information, the true catalyst to this unwitting calamity to your relationship – the one who said the ugliest words – is none other than you, Maya Uma Fey!”

Maya reeled back as though she’d been slapped as Mia stepped up her argument.

“One of the things to love most about Phoenix is that despite all the hardship he’s endured, he has a heart of gold. However, gold is not a hard material; it can easily be melted, reshaped, and broken apart. And his heart was smashed into smithereens when you loftily informed him that suit or no suit this was what he really was underneath:  A derelict, ne’er-do-well, nobody. The degenerate hobo bum, phony pianist turned shady poker player at a dive bar amongst fellow plebian riffraff, who fittingly fraternizes with the underbelly wastrels and lowlifes of society!”

The Master’s eyes widened in disbelief as the harsh reality sunk in, and she shook her head vehemently as if trying to block out the horrible memory of the atrocious barbs she’d hurled at the love of her life.

“Oh, God, no!” she whispered, her dismay evident as the repressed pre-ceremony memories from her dressing room began flooding her mind. “That can’t be! Nick has never been the thin-skinned type – he’s always been such a tough cookie, against all odds! Plus, I sincerely believed we’d since kissed and made up! I’d figured he ultimately knew I never truly meant any of the terrible insults I churlishly resorted to while to hurt him back the way he’d unwittingly hurt me!”

“It’s because he loves you so much that it’s you who wields the power to hurt him the most, Maya! You and Phoenix have always been fiery and hot-blooded – both as a couple and as individuals. It seemed so fitting when you two fell in love and took your friendship to the next level, slipping briskly into a fervent intimacy from which you never recovered. Intimacy creates understanding and understanding creates love. The two of you have always shared a very passionate dynamic, so I have no doubt you honestly did believe he made you immortal with a kiss and that searing embrace would’ve erased all pains, doubts, and uncertainties betwixt you, just like in the past.”

Mia’s matter-of-fact tone turned more solemn.

“Trust me, as someone who was with a firey, muy caliente Latino for a very long time, there’s a glaring problem that can often occur when there’s that much passion; at times, we mistake sex for romance. Guys are taught that pushing a girl up against a wall is romance. Sex is easy; you can do it with anyone, or even by yourself. What I’m talking about is romance. Romance, for most people, is what they do when they want something, whereas sacred love is a function of giving, not taking. The conditionality of most love is that romance stops if the response we get is not what we expect. Romance is a sacred way of giving love. But sacred love is about giving, not giving to get, giving to love.”

The subdued diviner nodded slowly as her sister continued.

“For the vast majority of lovers, romance fluctuates. Sacred Love simply means appreciation. We know there are two sides to every coin, and with sacred love, we see both, yet focus on the positive. This way, we are treating people as we wish them to become, rather than focusing on the negative and wishing them to change. Romance is when someone you love walks into a room and they take your breath away. When two people are dancing and they fit together perfectly. When two people are walking next to each other and all of a sudden, they find themselves holding hands, and they don’t know how that happened. Romance is the underlying foundation of all scared, everlasting love.”

“What are you trying to convey to me?” Tears trembled on the edge of Maya’s lashes and her distress was evident. “Are you claiming that all Nick and I have is a purely sexual relationship, with zero substance?”

“No sweetie, not at all. I know what you and Phoenix have is every bit as real as what Diego and I had! You two are so much like we were! I love how you guys have allowed yourselves to be wild and crazy and drunk with love, for I believe if you are too careful, love will not find you!”

“I can’t say we weren’t guarded at first, though,” the Kurain head admitted shyly. “After all, we were at a stalemate for years, pining for and loving one another, but being too afraid to take a risk. Therefore, we just sat around languishing in wait for the other to make the first move.”

“The point is you both finally took that chance, Maya. To say that one waits a lifetime for their soulmate to come around is a paradox! People eventually get sick of waiting, take a chance on someone, and by the art of commitment become soulmates, which takes a lifetime to perfect. But the art of perfecting your union doesn’t always mean smooth sailing. Remember that it doesn’t lessen the depth of your love if you need to weather storms together. Love, real love, like the one you two share, is always chaotic at some point. You lose control; you lose perspective. You lose the ability to protect yourself. The greater the love, the greater the chaos. It’s a given and that’s the secret.”

Mia’s voice gentled as she saw her sibling’s welling orbs.

“Don’t you dare start crying again! You’ll flood this damn place and there’s no Noah’s Ark in sight!” She jibed softly. “Heaven knows Sister Bikini alone has created enough of a Niagara Falls effect tonight to challenge even the Hoover Dam! I know all this may have been hard to hear, Maya. It’s gut-wrenching to know that you could have unintentionally broken the heart of the one you love the most, but you need to know: The quality of your love is the quality of your life. And at times, even those who love you can cause you pain, whether they mean to or not. Pain is a part of life.”

Maya sniffled slightly but bravely nodded her understanding as Mia pressed on.

“At times it’s a big part, and other times, it isn’t, but either way, it’s a part of the big puzzle, the deep music, the great game. Pain does two things: It teaches you and tells you that you’re alive. Then it passes away and leaves you changed. Sometimes it leaves you wiser, sometimes it leaves you stronger. Either way, pain leaves its mark, and everything important that will ever happen to you in life is going to involve it to one degree or another. The truth is everyone’s going to hurt you; you just need to find the ones worth suffering for.”

“Nick is worth it! All of it!” Maya cried. “Surely he must know that much at least?”

“He does know it, Maya. And Phoenix decided a long time ago you were worth all the pain, as well,” Mia reassured her. “He isn’t holding any of this against you, but being a tough cookie doesn’t mean he can’t feel the occasional sting of that forked tongue of yours, missy! Love doesn’t necessarily make you immune to pain, nor does it ever exclude you from needing to apologize if you ever cause it.”

“We just have to own up to when we’ve hurt one another, talk it out, and ask for forgiveness, not just sweep everything under a euphoric rug of carnal bliss, right?” Maya’s cheeks colored slightly. “Is that what you’re getting at, Sis?”

“That’s exactly it. Sometimes, two souls are created together and in love, before they’re born, and you must have faith that things will always work themselves out because you and Phoenix are true soul mates. Souls recognize each other by the way they feel, but nobody’s lives just magically fit together. Fitting together is something you work at. It’s something you make happen – because you love each other.”

“I think I get it now,” Maya said slowly. “I’m just trying to absorb all this! After all, Sis, you and I have always tried to live by the motto: sticks and stones can break your bones, but words can never hurt you…”

“Silly words cause trills because they’re ludicrous and funny. Happy words paint endless smiles and swallow troubles whole. Thoughtful words are thus because they make the day feel sunny. But hurtful words are such that pierce the heart and weigh the soul.” Mia’s eyes were somber as they peered into her sister’s stricken visage. “What a terrible thing it is to wound someone you deeply care for and to do it so unconsciously. You never know how long your words will stay in someone’s mind, even after you’ve forgotten you spoke them.”

“I confess to being guilty of buying into the naïve notion that love could heal all wounds,” Maya’s lips trembled. “Nick has been unbreakable enough to survive so many physical atrocities, one which would’ve killed any other mortal! I guess I couldn’t fathom that mere words could have such a negative profound effect.”

“Unless you believe them. Then, words can destroy you.” Mia’s expression was fervid and pleading for Maya to grasp the weight of the message she was conveying. “That whole adage about words not mattering is a filthy lie! What we say matters greatly. The unkind things we communicate can spoil even the best of relationships; despite the deepest of regrets…what lingers is a stain of hurt that may fade, but will never truly go away. The wounding words we say are like feathers released in a harsh wind, once said; we will never get them back.”

“Then enlighten me on what I’m supposed to do to fix this then?” The psychic stifled a sob, such was the weight of her repentance. “I’m in absolute agony knowing I’ve caused Nick so much anguish, especially after everything he’s done and continues to do for me! Tell me how to remedy this, Sis!”

“I honestly don’t know,” was the sad reply. “As much as you and I have tried to repeatedly assure Phoenix he’s still the same beloved man of valor that he’s always been despite his fall from grace, he’ll continue to be filled with self-loathing and deem himself unworthy as long as he’s without his badge.”

“But you’re Mia the Mirific!” The Master cried in panic. “You always come along and miraculously make everything better! You can’t just tell me my relationship is in shambles and then not give me sage advice on how to fix it!”

“I’m hardly meritorious for such a title, little sister,” the humble wise one replied with a blend of wryness and vexation. “Give me a break! I’m dead, not Yoda! I can somewhat figure out what you have to do, but no idea how you’re going to do it!”

“Throw a girl a bone, Sis!” Maya pleaded. “What is it I need to do to right the wrong I’ve done?”

“I think we’ve been going about this all wrong.” Mia closed her eyes in deliberation. “I don’t think there’s anything we can say to convince Phoenix that he remains a man of significance, despite his lowered rank in society. What we need to do is turn around our way of thinking. If we can’t make your boyfriend believe he’s still a worthy individual, both as a person and your lover, we change strategies. What you have to do is find a way to show, not tell him, that despite being an alleged forgin’ attorney, allying yourself with him is entirely inconsequential to you, in any way, shape, or form!”

“Ugh! I have no inkling how to do such a thing!” The psychic moaned. “I mean, Nick’s seen me defend him and tell off Mildew and the elders whenever they’ve disparaged him! He knows I don’t care about his lack of funds, especially since I have more than enough of my own! Hell, I’ve even offered to grab the girls and run away with him!”

“I’m afraid that just like I told Phoenix earlier, I can’t stand here and mull things over with you any longer Maya,” Mia susurrated regretfully. “I’m needed elsewhere now. My purpose for summoning you to me was to bring things to light, so you could go about fixing them yourself. After all, you’re a grown woman now. Heck, you’re old enough to have almost been a grandma!”

The elder Fey giggled slightly at the other woman’s yelp of indignation, then smoothed back a stray strand of onyx hair from her sister’s forehead, an angelic smile on her face.

“My darling sister, I know that in the end, you and Phoenix will work things out. I’m only cutting things short because it’s getting late. Alas, like Cinderella, I will need to return to my spectral pumpkin form in the sky at midnight, since I’m only here on borrowed time – it’s not that I’m trying to ignore your dilemma, nor trying to undermine how much you both mean to me. Please know that I’ll forever be watching over you; that my dream is always for you to be happy, even if I’m not able to be walking by your side.”

Mia’s unending love was the sea, and the village leader felt every wave. Despite the explicit order not to cry, the Kurain leader’s face was drenched as she whimpered slightly, buried her head in her sister’s shoulder, and clung to her tightly.

“Oh, Sis!” Maya wailed plaintively, her voice shaking with emotion. “No matter what, you always know the right thing to say! Thank you for everything! I –I love you so much!”

Mia stroked the Master’s raven head softly for a few moments before she gently pulled away.

“Whether it’s here or earth, or from the heavenly skies above, my love is eternal. I’ll always love you, Maya.” The legal legend smiled lovingly. “Now, let’s get back to that party! I have uncertainty about your lover’s ability to keep Miles away from this bar for much longer – unless, of course, Phoenix has taken it upon himself to be that cinnamon roll’s next dance partner!”

Both Feys snickered at the notion of the two courtroom rivals swaying in each other’s arms on the dance floor.

“Regardless, even if his endeavors weren’t successful in thwarting the prosecutie, undoubtedly, doubt heads will roll once Edgy approaches the bartender! Let’s just say that just like the rim of a margarita glass, he’s going to get mighty salty …”

“Salty? Why do you say that? Just what could make Miles Edgeworth, a man who’s been so cantankerous all night that even Snow White’s Grumpy the Dwarf is taking notes, get even worse?”

“How about realizing he’s been reduced to nothing stronger than grape juice for the rest of the night?”

“Yowza! That’s a good call  … but would you know about this, Sis?”

“Simple.” Mia smiled smugly. “Who do you think was the one who cut him off – right before she stepped outside to counsel Luke?”

“Oh, no, you didn’t!” Maya clapped a hand over her mouth to smother back her laughter. “Edgy is going to blow a gasket!”

As the siblings loped back to the ballroom the diviner noted the brunette gesturing to The Pink Tacos guitarist on stage while whispering something into his ear. Then she trailed her sister to the bar, where they spotted Phoenix and Edgeworth. The magenta-clad man was impatiently shrugging off his spiky-haired companion’s futile efforts to join him on the dance floor.

“Come on, Edgeworth!” Phoenix wheedled anxiously, perturbed that his friend had finally run out of dance partners. “If you could boogie down with Larry, you should have no problem doing so with me, too! I promise not to step on your toes!”

“I’m through with being Mr. Congeniality!” Grumpy Dwarf incarnate fumed. “It should suffice that I not only danced with Regina, Maggey, and the elders but also succumbed to the pressure of dancing with the bride and then the groom! It’s like some conspiracy amongst you lot – every time a song ended and I tried to wet my parched throat, someone new would accost me and whisk me off to dance with them!”

Phoenix gulped. He was amazed how, despite having enough alcohol in him to float battleships, Edgeworth had been astute enough to discern his friends’ conjoined ploy to keep him away from the booze!

“And, for the record, Wright, I only indulged in shaking my groove thang with Butz to Kool and the Gang’s Celebration because it was a fast number!”

“But –”

“No Butz! I am giving my aching, abused feet a rest, as I am sick and tired of reluctantly being steered about like the Titanic!” Edgeworth barked. “Moreover, I refuse to fuel any Wrightworth rumors by allowing myself to be seen swaying in your arms – whilst dodging your two left feet – to what is presently a love ballad! Now then, bartender, give me another! And make it a double!”

Mia and Maya had just closed in on the bar when they heard the barrister’s thunderous bellow, even over the band’s loud music.

“What the hell do you mean, I’m cut off?!”

Dick Gumshoe and Maggey Gumshoe
The Ballroom, Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel
June 16, 2026, 11:43 PM

“Here we have two dear family friends of the groom, Dick Gumshoe, and his lovely wife, Maggey!” Jesse beamed from behind the camera. “What does this long happily married couple have to say to the newlyweds? Care to go first, Chief?”

“Of course! Larry, remember never to laugh at your wife’s choices because you are one of them! Also, both of you need to grasp that marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right, and the other is… a husband!”

Gumshoe flashed a shit-eating grin at the camera as Maggey snickered beside him.

“Also, if at first, you don’t succeed – try doing it the way your wife told you! However, if you didn’t follow these instructions, then the five magic words for a successful marriage will always be: I’m sorry, it’s my fault! Last but not least: keep your fights clean and the sex… dirty!”

“That was awesomesauce!” Jesse was nearly snorting with mirth. “Over to you, Mrs. Gumshoe!”

Maggey gave a mock salute and faced the camcorder.

“Iris, know that husbands are the best people to share secrets with… because they never remember anything!”The pert brunette playfully stuck out her tongue at the camera.

“I kid, of course! Now, I’m going to be serious! Love is a vessel that contains both security and adventure, and commitment offers one of the great luxuries of life: time. Marriage is not the end of romance; it is the beginning! So, don’t ever worry things will get boring after getting married, as nothing could be farther from the truth! Marriage brings with it its own special brand of romance, and it grows and transforms over time. All the best to you, Larry and Iris!”

“Pals, you were meant to be, just like me and my Maggey!” Gumshoe pressed a gentle kiss on the blushing Maggey’s forehead as he beamed at the lens. “May your love be strong and bright, may your life be filled with light, may all your dreams come true, and wishing all the best things in life for you two!”

Mia Fey and Miles Edgeworth
The Ballroom, Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel
June 16, 2026, 11:44 PM

“I’ll sue you! I’ll sue the pants off the whole lot of you at this blasted establishment!” Edgeworth roared, glaring menacingly at the man behind the bar while ignoring Phoenix’s fruitless attempts to calm him down. “I have danced off most of my previous buzz, and I command another Earthquake, posthaste! I also demand to know whose authority has been obliged by terminating my consumption of spirits?!”

“I’m terribly sorry, sir.” The apologetic bartender withered slightly at the attorney’s hostility. “But the brunette in the pink maid of honor dress gave me explicit instructions, just over an hour ago. She decreed you’d had enough, and that I was not, under any circumstances, to give you any more alcoholic beverages…”

“How dare you! Do you even know who I am? I am High Prosecutor, Miles Edgeworth!” The infuriated lawyer hollered. “What kind of cockamamie excuse for a bartender are you to be taking orders from a mere slip of a teen, who is not even old enough to drink alcohol herself?!”

“I beg your pardon Mr. Edgeworth, but the vision in pink was no girl and indeed all woman. She also had quite the air of authoritative allure to her which no man alive would be able to resist – not even me – and I’m gay!” The mixologist raised a shaking finger as he pointed behind the two men. “Er, that’s her, right there!”

“I don’t give a damn if she had noble intentions and is practically your daughter, Wright!” The cravat-wearer glowered as he spun around to confront the female whom he’d naturally assumed would be Pearl. “She has grossly overstepped her boundaries and will get a severe tongue-lashing, I swear it! Young lady, you have quite a bit of explaining to do…”

The words died in his throat as he came face to face with a thoroughly entertained Maya…standing next to none other than the smugly smiling Mia!

“Mia Fey!” The prosecutor face-palmed. “I should have known! How is it you’re able to continue toying with me so ruthlessly, even from beyond the grave?!”

“Because, Mr. High Prosecutor, you need another drink like you need a hole in the head,” his tormentor replied sweetly, then winked at her tittering sister. “Looks like I got here just in time! I told you he’d be salty, Maya!”

The Kurain leader was still too busy giggling helplessly against Phoenix’s shoulder at the outraged but defeated look on the legist’s mien to even respond.

At that moment, Jesse popped up out of nowhere, as was tradition. Ignoring the death glare he was receiving, the persistent videographer poked the camcorder almost right into Edgeworth’s scowling mug.

“Mr. Edgeworth, you’ve dodged me long enough!” The determined cameraman declared. “I’ve recorded the well-wishes of everyone but you…” his eyes widened as they settled on the bombshell in the pink gown. “…and this mysterious beauty! How would the two of you like to give the newlyweds your well-wishes … together?”

“We’d love it!” Mia planted herself right next to the unsmiling attorney. “Larry, Iris … Everyone around you must be handing out loads of advice along with their wedding gifts. Here’s one worth remembering: Don’t fret too much about any advice given!”

The busty vixen beamed benignly at the camera.

“This day has been one of joy; when two hearts and lives were united and two separate people became one family. Treasure the vows that you recited today. Hide them deep, deep in your hearts. This will be your refuge when faced with life’s unexpected storms. May you be blessed as your family grows and may your love endure to the end of time. Hearty congratulations on your big day!”

“Wow, that was amazeballs!” Jesse gushed, unable to hide the besotted note in his voice as he all but swooned at Mia. Clearing his throat, he turned to the stony-faced man in magenta. “Er, your turn now, sir?”

The coerced into sobriety wedding guest stonily eyed the camera.

“Love is a temporary madness, it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides, you must make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because that is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion, it is not the desire to mate every second minute of the day, and it is not lying awake at night imagining that he is kissing every cranny of your body. No, don’t blush, I am telling you some inescapable truths. That banality is merely being in love, which any fool can do. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident.”

Deafening silence followed this unconventional testimonial to love. For once, even Jesse was rendered speechless. Phoenix, Maya, and even the bartender gawked at the prosecutor, unsure of what appropriate reaction would be following such a heavy statement!

Mia reacted the fastest. Making sure that the camera was only shooting her and the prosecutor from the waist up, the irate former defense attorney decided to mimic her previous fail-proof method with Phoenix every time he had said something stupid in the courtroom. Without prelude, she stomped down on the prosecutor’s foot with the kitten heel of her pump. Hard.

Edgeworth gasped in startled pain and turned to glare at the incensed Fey sister, only to have her grab him by the cravat, as though drawing him down for a kiss, but instead hissing ferociously in his ear.

“Listen here, you miserable, ornery curmudgeon! I have tried to remain sympathetic to your predicament, but enough is enough! It’s one thing for you to do your Oscar the Grouch impersonation off-camera, but this is my dear cousin’s commemorative wedding video! Therefore, you have exactly three seconds to say something nice and less prickly than that poor excuse for a congratulatory message – or else I will not hesitate to strangle you to death with that cravat of yours, and have you join me in the after-life!”

The prosecutor sucked in a deep breath. He was usually accustomed to being the one dishing out heeds and disciplinary measures, not being the recipient of them! Swiftly determining that Mia’s warning was not a threat, but a promise, he wisely opted to obey the menacing directive. He jutted his chin at Jesse, signaling there was more to say as he smiled thinly at the camera.

“Be that as it may, in your case, dear newlyweds, even a blind man could deduce that you two most assuredly fit the bill of everlasting love, in every way possible. They say a good beginning makes a good ending and today was a very exciting day – the beginning of your family life. Being a member of a family is a great pleasure, though also a big responsibility. However, I believe you’ll both cope with your new duties perfectly. Enjoy family harmony in full. Congratulations, Larry and Iris!”

“Perfect!” Jesse gave a thumbs up. “Thanks a lot!”

The moment the videographer had left, Mia arched a brow at the irate Edgeworth, looking not in the least contrite for her strong-arm actions.

“Now, was that really so hard, Mr. Permascowl? For one usually full of more gentility than a member of the British royal family, it’s mindboggling how it was like pulling teeth to obtain even the bare minimum of decorum from you! And all because you felt like being a recalcitrant twit about having to face the rest of this reception sober!”

He refused to return the devilish smile she gave him.

“With the information which you became privy to on our flight to Kurain, Mia, I’d have hoped that you would sympathize with my need to indulge,” the slate-haired man replied tightly. “After all, this is a wedding, and what’s a more ameliorate way to celebrate than with some quality spirits?”

“There is a foolproof, even better way to cut loose than hitting the bottle!” The former head of Fey & Co. Law Offices grabbed him by the hand as the band began to play an upbeat song. “And that’s by rocking your body to the beat! Come shake your moneymaker with me, He-Of-Ever-Furrowed-Brow! I refuse to have anyone but a man with Moves Like Jagger twirl me on that dance floor!”

Without any preamble, and with surprising strength, the determined Fey continued to tug the grumbling lawyer toward the crowded dancing area. As Mia began swinging her hips in graceful rhythm to “Wonderful” by Gary Go, the grumpy barrister continued to stand on the outskirts and just stare at her defiantly, his arms folded across his chest.

“Come on, Miles! I specifically requested this tune for you!” Mia smiled cajolingly and yanked him onto the floor with her. “The last time I danced was over a decade ago with Diego, at Marvin Grossberg’s birthday party! I need someone who can demonstrate some updated moves, in case mine have gotten stale! Show me what you’ve got, Twinkle Toes!”

Edgeworth remained frozen in place, his hands limp in hers as he listened to the words of the song that had been chosen for him.

 The person that you were has died
You’ve lost the sparkle in your eyes
You fell for life into its traps
Now you wanna bridge the gaps
Now you wanna bridge the gaps
Now you want that person back

Mia forcibly raised his arm while extending her own out and spun herself in a delicate circle, her rose skirt billowing around her shapely legs, before grasping both his hands again and attempting to lead his rigid form into a rapid two-step in time to the beat.

And that was when Edgeworth’s long-suppressed Fred Astaire feet kicked into high gear. Without a word, he seamlessly switched the positions of their clasped hands and grinned down wickedly at his dance partner.

 And all your ammunition’s gone
Run out of fuel to carry on
You don’t know what you wanna do
Cause what you want does not want you
If what you want does not want you
And you’ve got no pull to pull you through

“There’s no way I am going to be led by you, Mia Fey! At the very least, the dance floor is the one place where the man will always take the lead! So, show me see what you’ve got, you maddening woman,  you!”

Mia laughingly gazed up into his handsome face, which now wore a smile of grim determination while his smoky eyes glimmered with reluctant approbation.

“So be it! Lead on, Miles Edgeworth!”

If what you’ve lost cannot be found
And the weight of the world weighs you down
No longer with the will to fly
You stop to let it pass you by
Don’t stop to let it pass you by
You’ve gotta look yourself in the eye

The music spun around them, lifting away gravity. She couldn’t count how many times the two of them laughed breathlessly while their heels clicked over the ballroom floor as they continued to pirouette and twirl. The other guests eventually stopped dancing and formed a circle around them so they could admire the two lawyers’ professional caliber performance.

Edgeworth ruefully acknowledged that it was impossible to be angry or sullen while listening to such uplifting lyrics, which Mia for whatever reason, had chosen to direct at him. He watched as her long, caramel hair spun out and bounced more with each move and beat, while marveling at how well the beauty’s moves complemented his, despite being out of practice for so long.

The bartender was right. There’s no man alive who could resist the enthralling charms of this woman. This is perfect. This is dancing and art coming to life. Strong, pointed moves don’t matter here. All that matters is the person in front of me. I haven’t danced like this in years! This is what I think I sorely needed!

Mia used to love things like this, the pressure of a strong hand on her back and the feeling of her small agile feet gliding along the floor. She had always felt like a small bird learning how to fly, flailing around, and finally taking off with outstretched wings and wind-swept feathers. And the genuine smile on Edgeworth’s face as he led her about was the greatest gift of all.

 Say “I am”
Say “I am”
Say “I am wonderful”
Oh you are

“This song is how we all see you, Miles!” She shouted in his ear over the loud beat. “For who you are…for all you do for your friends, despite feeling down! You are simply… wonderful!”

Cause we are all miracles
Wrapped up in chemicals
We are incredible
Don’t take it for granted, no
We are all miracles
Oh we are

Edgeworth knew he shouldn’t have been surprised by the proclamation, but he was. Pleasantly so. Knowing that a woman he held in such high esteem, both professionally and personally, thought so greatly of him almost melted the glacier around his heart.

 Say “I am”
Say “I am”
Say “I am wonderful”
Oh you are

The song was drawing to a close, and he decided to wrap things up with a grand flourish, taking Mia’s hand and extending his arm to spin her away before quickly pulling her back against him, then smoothly dipping her back over his arm, much to the enthusiastic whistling and ovation from the onlookers.

Don’t take it for granted, no
We are all miracles
Wrapped up, yeah we’re wrapped up
Oh we are wonderful

The crowd was still applauding as the band launched into a slow number.  She gazed up at him questioningly as he pulled her back into an upright position but kept his hold on her.

“May I have the honor of another dance, good lady?” He asked grandly while noting her cheeks were pink with slight exertion but raised into a broad grin as she nodded. “I promise to take it easier on you this time!”

“Hey! I think I held my own pretty well, all things considered!” Mia twittered as they fell into an easy box step. “Thanks for indulging me, Miles. For a minute there, I was worried I was going to have to resort to playing the whole you can’t say no to a dead woman schtick!”

“Surely, thou jest?” Edgeworth cocked a good-humored brow. “That would have been a pretty low trump card to play, madam!”

“Yet it’s the only ace up my sleeve that I’ve got!” She retorted shamelessly. “Works every time, too! Even on those who pretend to be heartless, like you!”

“What makes you think it’s all a façade and not legitimate?” His smile faded slightly. “Why are you so determined to believe I’m more than the uncaring, aloof man I show the world I am?”

“If I made it my creed to always believe in my clients, I can certainly believe in my friends,” she answer back sincerely. “I know you better than you think, Miles. Your acts of kindness towards your loved ones speak volumes, more than any curt utterings attempting to disguise them. I know that you’re even more wonderful because, after everything you’ve been through in your life, you could easily be heartless, yet you’re not. I also know that those who appear to be heartless … once cared too much.”

Edgeworth cleared his throat, appreciative yet overwhelmed with how well she knew him, despite having spent limited time together.

“Is there anything else you know?” He inquired tightly, in an effort to mask his emotion.

“I know you’ve been miserable tonight because you’re lonely. And that loneliest people are the kindest, the saddest people smile the brightest, and the most damaged people are the wisest. All because they do not wish to see anyone else suffer the way they do.” She peered up into his shuttered visage. “Look, I’m deceased, not a telepathist! If I’m wrong, then tell me so, and I’ll shut right up, Miles. You have my word.”

“I am lonely,” he conceded. “But it’s nothing new. I’ve been like that since I was young. There was a time the pain had ultimately taken hold, sucked me into a black hole, and convinced me that disappearing from this earth would be best for me, so I vanished for a year. I’ve accepted that perhaps I am a person that needs to be lonely.”

“I can empathize with the pain of losing your soul mate.” Lucent amber orbs met lachrymose steel ones. “Sometimes you end up never speaking to someone who meant the world to you. And that’s OK. You cope and you survive. Take all the time you need to heal emotionally. Moving on doesn’t take a day. It takes a lot of little steps to be able to break free of your broken self. Don’t let your losses keep you back from new gains.”

“What new gains do you speak of?” He asked guardedly.

“The capacity to be alone is the capacity to love,” she counseled. “It may look paradoxical to you, but it is not. It is an existential truth: only those people who are capable of being alone are capable of love, of sharing, of going into the deepest core of the other person – without possessing the other, without becoming dependent on the other, without reducing the other to a thing, and without becoming addicted to the other.”

Edgeworth shut his eyes as a wave of melancholy washed over him, and his tenor was filled with languor as he spoke.

“Mia, this is very kind of you, attempting to placate my heartache with purple proses. Even so, with all due respect, I’m afraid telling me, even in lyrical verse, how someday my heart will go on just won’t suffice. I’m sorry, but that’s just how I feel right now.”

“Fair enough. This isn’t a triteTV sitcom, and I can’t solve everyone’s quandaries in a half-hour episode, minus commercial breaks.” Mia looked him right in the eye. “It’s fine if you feel less vulnerable by going back to being en garde with me, my friend. Being guarded is fine. Taking calculated risks is fine. But when you have been doing it for too long, you no longer get anywhere new. At some point, you have to break your rules, the rules that have kept you safe all your life. And make new ones that will make you alive.”

“Break rules? You’ve lost me, Mia. I am a man who upholds the law and rules alike. I don’t believe in breaking either one. It goes against my creed.”

“Your greatest need is to clean out the enormous mass of mental and emotional rubbish that clutters your mind. You need to learn how to select your thoughts just the same way you select your clothes every day. This is a power you can cultivate. If you want to control things in your life, work on controlling your mind. In most cases, that’s the only thing you should be trying to control. Right now, Logical Genius, you need to lean on your friends – specifically Phoenix and Maya – and utilize that control freak nature to make new rules in our judicial system.”

“What are you saying?” He drew back slightly and studied her sedulous face in confusion. “New rules? Judicial system?”

“While I don’t have the cure for your heartbreak Miles, I do know what it’s like to lose the love of your life. Diego was lost to me even before I died, which is why I threw myself headfirst into investigating Redd White. There’s nothing like hard work to be the best distraction of all,” Mia insisted passionately. “I know you and Phoenix are going to be investigating Mildew, but he needs you for more than just that. He won’t be able to get his badge back without you, and both of you need my sister. As Master, Maya has a lot of influential and political connections, because a lot of your prior contacts have become stale after being out of the country for so long.”

Edgeworth nodded, listening with great intent as she further expanded.

“The Dark Age of the Law is upon us now, and there’s much that needs to be done in order to remedy this. First of all, I want you to know that something is amiss in the prosecutor’s office. There is much corruption, and it goes far back longer than you’d think, which is why Redd White was able to bribe his way out of every misdeed for so long! He only got caught when he got his own hands dirty.”

“I see. Please continue.”

“Furthermore, former prosecutor Simon Blackquill sits on death row as we speak, and all my instincts tell me he’s innocent of the crime he’s been convicted of! Also, the Chief Justice, who I knew back when I was an attorney, has a deathly ill teenage son, whom I knew as a boy. I can feel the faint signal of his soul on the cusp of the Twilight Realm. I’m also having premonitions about how this particular information will lead you to the path you’ll need to follow, as it’ll correlate to the matter you’ve been trailing all this time. And it will happen very soon.”

Her voice took on a more light-hearted inflection.

“I do hope that passport of yours is still updated, Miles! My Spidey Sense is telling me that not only will you be heading overseas again in the near future, but that perhaps the court systems implemented in Europe… need a closer inspection? They don’t have just one judge for their trials over there, do they?”

“No, they also operate via jury structure.” A thoughtful frown creased his brow. “I comprehensively studied that legal system, and its vast effectiveness, during my travels eight years ago. Are you alluding that we may need to implement the jurist system here, to combat this Dark Age?”

“I’m saying that Phoenix needs to look at every option out there, even ones not available here. Additionally, he needs you to be his investigative partner for more than just putting away the Dragon Lady,” she informed him. “In the meantime, allow yourself to lean on your friends for comfort, especially your best friend. Logically, friendship is essentially unnecessary, like philosophy or art. It has no survival value, yet it is one of those things which give value to survival.”

“I’ve been a lone wolf all my life, Mia. You know it’s not easy for me to lean on people. It never has been.”

“Presently, though, you are a lone wolf by choice, not circumstance. It doesn’t have to be that way! More than anything right now, I want you to thoroughly grasp what you have with Phoenix – this brother from another mother who would do anything for you, Miles. I watched you two together today – you standing by him and trying to help him reunite with Maya, and then he in turn was your constant companion while you attempted to drown your sorrows tonight. Now I fully comprehended the magnificence of your rare bond. Tonight, I witnessed what true friendship was. Someone who would always love you – the imperfect you, the confused you, the wrong you – because that is what real friends are supposed to do.”

He swallowed heavily, feeling the credence of the comforting words in his heart, while his no longer clouded mind already racing with all the legal paths and possibilities she’d presented.

“I need to go now,” she stated regretfully as the song ended, already reaching into Pearl’s clutch and quickly typing out a hasty text for her cousin to read. “With all my heart, I hope you take heed to everything that I’ve told you.”

“Yes, I will. Thank you, Mia. You have my word that I shall do just that,” Edgeworth promised. “You’ve given me a lot of tantalizing distractions to ponder for some time. I profess, in light of all these matters that I now need to focus on, the desirous effect of my broken heart taking a temporary back seat looks like it shall be the end result.”

“After all you’ve done for my loved ones, I’m so glad I could do that much for you. Because in the end, I care deeply about your well-being. Also, I like you very much, Miles.”

Placing a hand on his shoulder, Mia peered up into his eyes with an expression of combined sympathy and caring.

“You’re truly a wonderful person, and my sister and Phoenix are so blessed to have you on their side. You have my eternal reverence, for you are a man of more greatness and strength than you realize. Someone like you, who’s been brutally broken, but still has the courage to be gentle to others, deserves a love deeper than the ocean itself. Despite the current depths of your sadness, I still  hold faith and pray for the day that you do find love because once you do, there will be no looking back.”

Edgeworth stared down into Mia Fey’s affectionate visage and found himself at a loss for words to convey what was in his heart, which had completely thawed out in that instant.

“It’s rare to meet someone with a mind just as beautiful as their face,” he stated sincerely, taking the hand which had been resting on his shoulder and holding it in both of his. “But it’s me who’s the fortunate one, for I have known you, Mia. Nothing against Wright, but had you lived, I know that it would have been yourself, not him, who would have been my most historically formidable courtroom rival.”

“I should hope that Phoenix remains your greatest courtroom rival, Miles Edgeworth!” Topaz eyes twinkled impishly as she kissed him on the cheek. “After all, who do you think taught him everything he knows?”

“Do I have you to blame for his shameless bluffing as well?” He chuckled, but the legal legend never heard the query, as in the next instant, her body shimmered slightly, and then he found himself holding the waifish form of Pearl Fey in his arms.

“Pearl!” Edgeworth gasped, still unused to seeing the channeling technique in its entirety. “You’re back!”

“Hi, Mr. Eh-ji-worth!” The girl smiled up at him uncertainly. “Um, look, we’re … almost dancing?”

The prosecutor glanced down at their rigid, unmoving feet amongst the other dancers around them and chuckled slightly as he slowly led them into a two-step.

“I’m sure your boyfriend is most eager to have you back, Pearl,” he said warmly. “But before I turn you over to Luke again, you do owe me a dance. After all, I was the one who actually caught that garter!”

Pearl Fey and Luke Triton
Vestibule, Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel
June 17, 2026, 12:00 AM

“Thanks for agreeing to come out here and speak to me,” Luke began cautiously. “I was afraid it was going to be difficult, tearing you from the clutches of a handsome prosecutor when I cut in on you and Mr. Edgeworth earlier, but thanks for proving me wrong!”

“He confessed that he was the one who caught the garter, so knowing you weren’t lying to me earlier, I realized that I couldn’t keep running from you forever,” Pearl acknowledged sheepishly, dropping her gaze. “I um, am really sorry for springing Mystic Mia on you like that though. I hope all went well with her?”

“The fair lady was quite happy to have me carry on as your continued suitor.” He grinned at the fond memory of the feisty brunette, who reminded him so much of his girlfriend, for more reasons than just their similar coloring. “Although … what’s more important is knowing if that’s what you still want?”

“You can’t be serious! I never wanted to break up with you, Luke!” She exclaimed with exasperation. “I was just mad at you!”

“I wasn’t sure what to think! When you left the dance floor you made it sound as though you thought I’d been wasting the past year of your life.” He chose his words carefully. “While you were channeling your cousin, I spoke not only to her, but also to Sister Bikini, Matilda, and even Maya to get some further insight on why this whole marriage thing is so important to you. I think I have a better grasp of why you are so desperately in need of that extra reassurance. I’m terribly sorry that at the time, I dismissed it as simple wedding fever and was unable to give it to you.”

“Luke, I know you love me.” Pearl’s gray eyes were serious. “It’s just that, I looked at my sister, and my cousin, and their Special Someone’s … and something just got triggered. It’s hard to explain. Although Mystic Maya and Mr. Nick aren’t married yet, he made it clear that he intends to make her his wife someday. I can’t help but wish I knew for sure that I was going to get the same happily ever after ending! Because all I’ve ever known are broken homes and disastrous marriages.”

“I understand. But both those couples are also much older than we are, and I felt like if I told you I wanted to marry you right now, it would sound like some sort of pipe dream.” Luke’s expression was pleading for her to understand. “Marriage does not guarantee you will be together forever – it’s only paper. It takes love, respect, trust, understanding, friendship, and faith in your relationship to make it last. I believe we do have that, Pearl. Don’t you?”

“I think so…” she said slowly. “I do hear what you’re saying. I guess I just wish I had something more … I dunno, guaranteed, more permanent to hold onto, that’s all. I love you – I do – but I am afraid of making that love too important. Because as long as I’m here, and you’re in England, you’re always going to leave me …We can’t deny it.”

“Wait for me,” he begged, wishing he could tell her more, but knowing he couldn’t just yet. “I’ll be back. I swear I’ll come back for you.”

A heavy stillness followed his pledge.

In his expression, Luke knew there was a mixture of apprehension and fear because he’d heard horror stories about distance and how it destroyed people; that love did not last when entire oceans separated two individuals, no matter how tightly they held each other and promised to try.

“Did Mia leave you any sort of message on your cell?” He asked hopefully, unable to bear the agonizing silence any longer. “Have you checked it?”

She shook her head, her satiny waves swishing about her shoulders.

“Not yet…”

Pearl hesitantly reached into her purse and withdrew her phone. Mia’s unread text to her was the first thing on the screen. Aware of her beau’s watchful eyes on her, she opened the message, and immediately felt her heart take flight.

Dear Pearl. Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction – and in this case, forward, into the endless horizon. As much as you trust me as your kinswoman, I can swear on my own grave that you can put your full belief and faith in Lucas Gabriel Triton. You’ll never need to look anywhere else for your Special Someone. You have a place in his heart no one else could ever have. Believe me, sweet girl, he’s The One. And he’s not going anywhere.

Pearl wordlessly let the mobile fall back into her bag and dropped her head, shutting her lids until she felt the stinging sensation behind them subside at last.

Luke still hadn’t pried his eyes from her downcast visage. He desperately tried to scrutinize her unreadable expression, and he felt as though his heart was in a cold vice as the silence went on. She continued to leave his view of her face obstructed as she looked at the ground, her hair falling on either side of her face in a silky toffee curtain.

After what seemed like agonizing eons had passed, Pearl finally lifted her head, and his gaze was met by resilience and gentleness, and he saw her lips curve into a loving smile.

This girl. Her smile could brighten the darkest corner. Her eyes are full of mysteries that have yet to be solved. Every time she’s around people, they are left wanting longer after she’s gone. But this girl…She gives too much. She cares too much. She cares about others more than herself. Her well-being is never at the top of her list, but it doesn’t matter. This girl bottles up her feelings until it all explodes like a bottle of soda. But no one would ever suspect it. Because this girl. This Pearl. Boy, is she something. She’s such a lovely storm, wrapped up in a hurricane. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“You don’t need to ask me to wait,” she avowed softly. “If I could, I would cross entire galaxies for you, and the oceans are nothing compared to galaxies.”

She swallowed back the tears building in her throat and raised limpid doe eyes to meet his dark ones.

“Luke, as much as I try to be soft-spoken and well-mannered most times, I know I have also inherited not only the legendary Fey mystical powers but a darker, tumultuous side as well. I’m awfully difficult. I get too emotional. I have a temper. But I do know when I love someone, and I’ve loved you ever since I can remember.”

His heart soared at the words, and his voice was hoarse as he spoke.

“Princess Pearl, in my life, I was so used to cold hearts around me, that when I met yours, burning, alive, I jumped into your fires. You are beguiling and mysterious and enchanting. I love you madly. You’re beautiful, intelligent, and virtuous, and that’s the rarest known combination.”

Luke’s tone turned husky as he pulled her into his arms.

“Pearl, there are stars in your dark side brighter than the sun. You have opened the doors of my heart to a whole new world. And you have me. Until every last star in the galaxy dies, you have me.”

His fingers stroked her neckline, and the sensation inside her grew warmer and spread out from her chest, down through her body, out along her arms and legs, to the tips of her being and she felt as though she would burst into flames if he didn’t kiss her there and then. She reached up for his neck, and as he pulled her up by her waist onto her tiptoes, she started to feel breathless in a new and fascinating way.

Then she kissed him until the sky seemed to fade out and all her smiles and tears vanished in an ecstasy of eternal seconds as the space around them evaporated.

His lips were hot and soft against hers – still tentative, and after a moment, he pulled back far enough to stare deeply into her shining eyes.

“Luke, you’re all that I’m thinking of, no matter where I am. You’re all that I’ve ever known or want to know, and whenever you smile, I know my face always bares an equal glow. You turned my life around, you picked me up when I was down. I thank God every day for sending me your love.”

She raised a palm and caressed his cheek.

“I cherish every touch, every word, and every hug. And though for now, I can’t be with you every night, know my heart is by your side. I love you so much.”

He took the hand that was stroking the side of his face and dropped a gentle kiss upon it.

“I am so grateful for you, Pearl. I will never find another lover sweeter or more precious than you.” He held her tightly against him. “When we’re apart, I miss you, body and soul, so strong that it takes my breath away. I breathe you into my heart and pray for the strength to stand the days until I’m in your arms again. I don’t know why you have to be so far away, but I know that this is shall ring true – we’ll make it through. Because you love me, and God help me, I love you. I believe I’ll love you all my life. I’ll never know what the future brings, but I know you’re here with me now. We’ll manage the miles apart together because I know it won’t be this way forever. Moreover, I hope with all my heart that you are the one I share my life with.”

This time, it was more of a thought than a feeling, a soft heat that began at her mouth and unfurled through the rest of her. One of his hands slid behind her neck and drew her nearer, lips parted. He bent down towards her, and when their mouths met again for the second time, something like magic ignited, and the kiss deepened.

What had begun as love, at first sight, had become love eternal: a feeling unknown, unhoped for, unexpected – in so far as it could be a matter of conscious awareness. It took entire possession of them, and at that moment, they both understood, with simultaneous, joyous amazement, that this was for life.

Larry Butz and Iris Hawthorne
The Ballroom, Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel
June 17, 2026, 12:24 AM

The wedding cheesecake – the one made of literal cheese – had been cut and served ages ago. Slowly but surely, the massive crowd of invitees was thinning out, as everyone seemed reluctant to leave such a swinging shindig. Larry had made the last of the rounds of mingling with his guests, and now he had no idea what protocol dictated. All he knew was that he was dead tired, and now, more than anything just wanted to have his gorgeous bride to himself at last.

Subsequently, the groom approached the one person more versed in propriety than anyone he knew.  By the time he reached the urbane Mr. Manners, the magenta-clad man was draining the last of what appeared to be a glass of only fizzy water with lemon.

“Hey, Edgy!” The groom greeted his friend, who’d just risen from his seat. “Question for you, since you’re better at this etiquette stuff than me; I think by now it’s late enough to play the last dance and then leave, don’t you?”

“I’m glad I caught you, Larry. I’ve already bid your lovely wife adieu and made my rounds, so I was just about to take leave. However, you appear to be more in a rush to exit than even I am.” The barrister’s tone was rich with amusement. “In a hurry to start your honeymoon, are you?”

“You wouldn’t believe the kind of hurry I’m in!” Larry joked. Reaching out, he shook Edgeworth’s hand in a heartfelt clasp, but he didn’t thank his friend for the years of unflagging friendship where there were many favors. His gratitude was too deep for that, and they both understood it. A flicker of warmth flashed in the prosecutor’s eyes, then he gave a slight bow and swiftly headed for the exit.

Pausing to ask the lead singer to play a particular song, Larry went to retrieve his wife. The bride had been dancing with the best man, whom she abandoned with gratifying speed. Phoenix chuckled and graciously inclined his head at the newlyweds as he left the dance floor, while Iris came into her husband’s arms and smiled into his eyes.

“It’s about time you came to get me,” she said to him softly.

“Ready to leave?” He asked her as the current song came to an end.

Iris was dying to go away with him and be alone together. She nodded and started to move away, but he shook his head and smiled mysteriously.

“After the next song.”

“What song?” She asked in the silence, just as he smiled, and then the introductory music of the requested tune began.

“This one,” Larry said meaningfully as the sweet lyrics began to play Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You. He took his bride in his arms and the lovebirds began to move in time to the romantic melody.

Her dark orbs shone like stars as she fell under the spell of his inviting smile within seconds. Oblivious to the crowd who was turning to watch them, she moved closer to him, her body matching his subtle movements while he slid his hands around her waist, holding her closer.

So come with me and share the view
I’ll help you see forever too
Hold me now, touch me now
I don’t want to live without you…

“Do you like this ballad, milady?” His eyes were filled with love as he gazed down at his ethereal new bride. “I wish I could sing the lyrics to you, to emphasize how nothing will ever change my love for you, but I wouldn’t want to ruin a perfect love song, or this romantic moment, by letting you know so early in the game that you married a man who’s got the singing voice of a seagull!”

“I adore this song, darling.” Her lips curved up into a coy smile. “And I feel the same way about you. But do you want to know what I’d love even more than being in your arms on the dance floor?”

“What’s that?” He asked tenderly.

“Being in your arms …” Her voice was heavy with intent. “With perhaps … not so many witnesses afoot?”

“Are you trying to hint it’s high time the guests of honor leave their own shindig?” He teased. “Shall we begin making our way towards the honeymoon suite which, on top of this reception hall, a certain altruistic billionaire has also kindly bequeathed to us?”

The sensual smile he received in response was the only answer he needed. Lifting Iris’s hand to his lips, Larry pressed a kiss upon it.

“If we sneak out now before the song is done, nobody will even notice.”

Phoenix Wright and Maya Fey
The Ballroom, Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel
June 17, 2026 12:25 AM

“This is such a beautiful song,” Maya remarked as she swayed dreamily in Phoenix’s arms amidst the remaining entwined couples on the dance floor. “I know Larry picked it out as a message to convey to his bride, but you really should know that’s how I feel about you, too, Nick.”

Nothing’s gonna change my love for you
You ought to know by now how much I love you
One thing you can be sure of
I’ll never ask for more than your love…

The pianist didn’t reply. He merely smiled and pulled her closer, which worried her somewhat, since her lover was no stranger to the power of music and using it to express words of the heart.

While her enlightening conversation with her sister earlier that evening had clued her into the fact that the two of them would need to have a much-needed chat about what was troubling him, she still had no idea how she was going to remedy the situation.

She couldn’t help but curse her own dimwittedness for not noticing his discontent from earlier that evening. How could she have been so wrapped up with the festivities that she’d neglected to pay mind to her swain? Moreover, how could she have been obtuse enough to overlook the fact that since he’d lost his badge, the spiky-haired man had perfected the art of putting on a happy face (a skill the diviner had also honed many years ago) and no longer possessed that customary visage that was as easy to read as a weathervane?

It was a sharp reminder that her beau had very much remained the same eccedentesiast he’d been even before they’d separated last year; had joined the ranks of both Maya and Edgeworth as someone who hid their pain and misery behind a fake smile.

Nothing’s gonna change my love for you
You ought to know by now how much I love you
The world may change my whole life through
But nothing’s gonna change my love for you…

“Thanks for rescuing my lonely self by coming to fetch me for this dance.” She attempted to change tactics and lighten her boyfriend’s obvious subdued disposition. “Sister Bikini and Mystic Matilda are getting tired and weren’t conversing much anymore! Poor things are only awake because someone needed to hold onto Feyt while his newly schmoopy parents – who you couldn’t now separate with a crowbar! – and the Gumshoes cut a rug on the dancefloor, where Max and Regina have also remained all night! These circus folks sure have stamina!”

Phoenix only continued to smile indulgently, yet remained silent. Maya desperately kept babbling, knowing it was probably no use, as he was completely closed off from her now, but knew she had to at least try to get him to open up.

“I’m not quite sure what message Sis left behind for Pearly after she was channeled, but it seemed to have righted things between her and Luke once again. That’s quite a relief as the adorable Disney duo are too damn sweet to ever be at odds!”

He murmured noncommittally in agreement, leaving her no choice but to continue what now felt like a monologue.

“Anyway, in a nutshell, thanks for rescuing me, as I was sitting all by my lonesome at the table while you were dancing with Iris because Miles also snuck out like a thief in the night without even saying goodbye!”

Phoenix spoke at last, although his fixated smile couldn’t quite mask his slightly strained tone.

“He’s not the only one. It seems the newlyweds couldn’t even wait till the song was over before making their hasty retreat! But as for Edgeworth, he kept telling me he was going to leave and mumbling how he needed to be up early to have the marriage license ready for Larry and Iris tomorrow morning. I think he knew if he tried to say goodbye to us, we would’ve attempted to extend his presence and he just wasn’t having any of it. The poor man was beyond miserable tonight, and more than a little drunk.”

“I knew something wasn’t right with him,” she admitted. “But I wasn’t about to pry. I’m not quite sure if you’re sworn to some sort of best friend secrecy oath, but … did his surlier-than-normal disposition have anything to do with the fact that I haven’t heard from Franziska in over a year, despite my efforts to reach her?”

“Something like that,” he sighed. “It’s a long and rather depressing story, and I’d rather not get into it right now. However, I think Edgeworth may have had the right idea about ducking out early. I think we should follow the bride and groom’s example and call it a night, too.”

“You want to leave already?” Her heart sank, but she attempted to lighten up the situation with a joke. “But it’s only half past midnight, Cinderfella! You’ve already surpassed the fear of turning into a pumpkin!”

“I have to be up early too, to be at the prosecutor’s office for 9:00 tomorrow morning, Maya.” Phoenix averted his gaze. “After all, I did promise to be there as a witness to sign the marriage license, before I head down to the courthouse to see Trucy and Apollo.”

“But it’s our first night together after a million years, Old Man! I was so looking forward to spending some solo time with you since I have no responsibilities to worry about for once, what with the Gumshoes kindly offering to let Sister Bikini, Matilda, and the kids spend the night at their place. Why are you being such a party pooper?”

Maya had stopped dancing and her bewildered eyes now stared searchingly into the shuttered indigo orbs.

“Nick, what’s going on here? Why are you being this way? You still love me, don’t you?”

The pokerface wavered for a moment, but the reassuring look in his eyes was unmistakable even before he answered.

“You should know that by now, my heart is ever at your service, my love,” he stated simply, the sincerity evident in his tone. “Never doubt this.”

The spirit medium tightly gripped his shoulders, almost as if fearing that, despite his assuring words, if she released him now, he’d be taken away from her again.

“And just like the song says, nothing’s gonna change my love for you, Nick! You oughta know by now how much I love you! The world may change my whole life through, but nothing’s gonna change my love for you!”

“I know that, Maya. But just as our love will never change, nothing else has changed for me either!” the hobo cried, his mask shattering so she could see the long-suppressed distress in his eyes. “It’s just as Mildred said to me tonight: you’re still a prestigious Master, and I am still a socially outcast pariah who is far beneath a woman of your stature!”

Mildew. Maya shut her eyes and mentally subjected The Dragon Lady to the eternal fires of Abaddon for creating such havoc in her life.

But she could curse Yzma incarnate’s existence later.

Right now, she had a boyfriend who was a flight risk, and as much as she believed in Phoenix and their love, she had a sickening paranoia that if she didn’t do something drastic, now, things were about to get much worse.

“Nick, what more can I do to convince you all I want in this world is you?” She cried frantically, feeling at her wit’s end. “How can I prove that all I want is your lips bruising mine and your fingers between my thighs?!”

In the meantime, Jesse was presently filming the nearby Luke and Pearl’s well-wishes on the dance floor.

“You kids are the last ones to give their well-wishes tonight!” The videographer informed them cheerily. “So let’s make it memorable!”

Never once letting go of his tiny girlfriend, Luke kept his arms wrapped possessively around her waist as he smiled at the camcorder.

“Larry, Iris …today is the beginning of your new life as husband and wife, and I wish that this life is full of happiness and joy, and may it never end! Cheers!”

Pearl was positively glowing as she waved at the camera from the shelter of Luke’s embrace.

“To my big sister and new brother-in-law: Happy marriages begin when we marry the ones we love, and they blossom when we love the ones we marry. Today two souls of yours have turned into one. Wishing you joy and lots of fun! Have a magical married life!”

“Good stuff!” Jesse smiled and gave a thumbs-up as he shut off the camera. “OK, I guess that’s a wrap…”

Suddenly Maya had a brainstorm as she recalled Mia’s advice about her situation.

“If we can’t make your boyfriend believe he’s still a worthy individual, both as a person and your lover, we change strategies. What you have to do is find a way to show, not tell him, that despite being an alleged forgin’ attorney, allying yourself with him is entirely inconsequential to you, in any way, shape, or form!”

“Hold it!” The Master shouted, pointing her finger at the videographer. “Jesse, don’t you dare move! I have plans that pertain to Nick and me, and that includes the use of that camcorder!”

Everyone turned to stare at the now crimson pianist and village leader, both of who were completely red-faced as Jesse coughed awkwardly and muttered: “Phrasing!”

“Um, objection?” The poker champ called out weakly, blushing to the roots of his hair. “Video camera?! My love, what on earth are you planning, and why do I not get any say in this!?”

Maya ignored her boyfriend and was already rushing towards the band, frenziedly whispering into the ear of the lead singer before he smilingly nodded and reached down a hand to pull her up onto the stage as everybody that had remained present – easily still a few hundred guests – looked on curiously.

Phoenix just remained frozen on the dance floor as waves of dread washed over him.

Holy Mary, Mother of God! He moaned softly to himself as he buried his head in his hands. What in thunderation is that crazy girlfriend of mine up to now?!

John Cafferty – Hearts On Fire (Rocky IV)
Maroon 5 – Moves Like Jagger
Kool & The Gang – Celebration
Gary Go – Wonderful
Glenn Medeiros – Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You