152 You’ll Be In My Heart

Come stop your crying
It will be alright
Just take my hand
And hold it tight

I will protect you
From all around you
I will be here
Don’t you cry

For one so small,
You seem so strong
My arms will hold you,
Keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can’t be broken
I will be here
Don’t you cry

‘Cause you’ll be in my heart
Yes, you’ll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
You’ll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You’ll be here in my heart
Always

Why can’t they understand the way we feel
They just don’t trust what they can’t explain
I know we’re different, but deep inside us
We’re not that different at all

And you’ll be in my heart
Yes you’ll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more

Don’t listen to them
‘Cause what do they know
We need each other, to have, to hold
They’ll see in time, I know

When destiny calls you, you must be strong
I may not be with you
But you got to hold on
They’ll see in time, I know
We’ll show them together

‘Cause you’ll be in my heart
Believe me you’ll be in my heart
I’ll be there from this day on
Now and forever more

You’ll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You’ll be here in my heart
Always

Always I’ll be with you
I’ll be there for you always
Always and always

Just look over your shoulder
Just look over your shoulder
Just look over your shoulder
I’ll be there
Always

Phoenix Wright
Hickfield Clinic
June 16, 2026 1:00 PM

“Maya!” Phoenix hollered desperately, swallowing back the discomfort in his damaged ankle as he limped towards the door. “Wait! Come back!”

He was well aware this was all an exercise in futility; knew that his ex-girlfriend had probably sprinted the moment she’d left his room much faster than he would ever be able to catch up, even if he’d been at his best, never mind in his currently injured state. However, he’d hate himself even more than he already did if he didn’t at least try to right the terrible wrong he had just committed against the woman he loved.

The ex-attorney had no idea how much of a head start Maya had gotten when she had torn out of his room, nor was he aware of how much pointless time he’d spent pathetically attempting to drag his sorry excuse of an ankle to the exit. Nevertheless, he had nearly reached the door when he suddenly heard the brisk, determined click-clack of steps heading in the direction of his room.

Women’s footsteps.

Gah! Don’t tell me it’s Karin! The hobo cringed, thinking at this point, the flirtatious caregiver was the very last person in the world he needed to see right now. Of all the rotten luck! Nurse Good Touch has caused me enough grief already!

The spiky-haired man was not prepared for the sight that greeted him in the next instant.

It was definitely an attractive, shapely brunette at the door. However, despite bearing similar-sounding heels that had mimicked his overly friendly nurse’s footfall, this person was not wearing a uniform.

Instead, his unexpected visitor wore a fierce expression of such unmitigated rage, it rivaled even that of the recently vacated, formerly bouquet-wielding bride herself, who had insisted on using it as an effective weapon against his recently maltreated (and still smarting) kisser!

As the astounded Phoenix, at last, met those very familiar, and extremely ferocious eyes, he almost fainted on the spot.

No freaking way! I must be hallucinating again! It’s got to be the meds! There’s no way in hell it could be…

He was so taken aback upon discovering his new guest’s identity that he was unable to react in time to halt the oncoming ambush coming his way – yet again.

She’d normally prided herself on being a pacifist and levelheaded person. However, these particular circumstances had resulted in nothing but 100% exterminated patience and a flaring temper that could not be controlled as rage boiled throughout her body. She barely had a chance to think about her actions. The only thoughts running through her head were: you irredeemably stupid, selfish, black-hearted, ass hat!

She pursed her lips, raised her hand back, and threw it forward as hard as she could, whipping it across the startled man’s completely unprepared mug.  The loud crack of skin contacting skin reverberated off the walls. Vibrations of stinging pain started in her palm and spread all the way to her fingertips. Her palm was bright red, the same rosy mark that matched the one on Phoenix’s face. His head sharply rolled to the side from the force of the blow, before finally coming back to meet her fiery gaze. He stared at her with her widened eyes as his hand slowly made it to his inflamed cheek.

She should’ve felt some kind of remorse, but she didn’t. Not one organ in her body could produce guilt for her actions, or for the wounded, bewildered, puppy dog eyes now staring back at her.

“Jumping elephant fleas, what is it with you Fey women abusing me today?” He cried accusingly. “Do you mind telling me what the hell did I do to deserve that five across the eyes… Chief?!”

Pearl Fey and Dick Gumshoe
Hickfield Clinic Parking Lot
June 16, 2026 12:56 PM

“I know Mystic Maya told me she wanted to be alone with Mr. Nick before I went to go see him.” Pearl nervously bit her thumb as she glanced worriedly at the
police Chief. “But she’s been gone for almost an hour now, Uncle Gumshoe! Should I go check on her?”

“You can if you want, pal. Heaven knows I can’t leave this spot due to this whole bumper blunder.”

The big man frantically shot off a text to his wife to keep her abreast of the situation while distractedly casting a hopeful gander around the lot and towards the entrance doors to see if the owner of the damaged BMW seemed likely to appear.

“You never know, kiddo. If Maya’s been gone this long, it could be a sign that things went beyond the simple get-well wishes! Isn’t that what we both ultimately hoped would happen?”

“Of course it was! And by the way, I’m grateful someone finally let me know the patient has nothing more than a merely sprained ankle, by the way!” Pearl muttered darkly, shooting him a baleful scowl. “Thanks to the cryptic messages my best friend has been leaving me regarding Mr. Nick’s condition, I’ve only been dying 1000 different heart attacks for the last two days while worrying about him!”

“Sorry, pal,” Gumshoe grinned sheepishly and tucked away his phone. “I’m as completely onboard Operation Get Those Two Crazy Kids Together as you and Trucy are! I have no doubt that’s why she left you such ambiguous voicemails. It’s not because she was trying to be intentionally sadistic, any more than I was! But I knew there was no way Maya would’ve left in such a panic to rush Phoenix’s bedside if I’d let her know he was perfectly fine!”

“What do you think is taking her so long?” The maid of honor wondered, idly jotting down some important notations into her mobile, in case they would need to be referenced later, which she intuitively sensed that they would be! “Do you truly think this is a good sign?”

“Well, at the very least, visiting him in person means Phoenix wouldn’t have been able to subject Maya to his familiar game of ducking and dodging, which, as I mentioned to you, he’s done with me, Larry, and Mr. Edgeworth,” Gumshoe sighed. “After being out of touch for so long, I’d honestly thought after his court trial that he and I had finally reconnected. Before that, I hadn’t heard from him in almost a year – perhaps not so coincidentally after he and your cousin broke up. I guess he just didn’t want to be associated with anyone partaking in your cousin’s wedding. Either that or he was just paranoid we’d bring up the painful subject and wanted to avoid it because he just went right back to being an underground mole who nobody could reach after that, even after he got acquitted.”

“I guess this means he wasn’t too happy about you and Mr. Larry going to the wedding,” Pearl surmised thoughtfully as she continued tapping down some information into her cell. “But since Mr. Eh-ji-worth declined his invitation, I wonder why he and Mr. Nick aren’t talking?”

“I wish I could tell you, pal.” Gumshoe shrugged. “Mr. Edgeworth can be every bit the man of few words Phoenix has turned into since he lost his badge. And it’s not like he outright confided in me that the two of them weren’t talking since he got back to town. It wasn’t so much what he said to me per se; it was more of what he didn’t say. He pointedly would keep changing the subject whenever I asked if he’d heard from Mr. Recluse, or he would specifically ask me how Trucy was doing without mentioning her father. Stuff like that.”

“I don’t get it! Mr. Nick was the one who broke up with Mystic Maya, allegedly for Iris! So why would he be so bothered about my cousin’s wedding, to the point where he would be evading anybody involved with it?” Frustration began to creep into the acolyte’s voice at this unresolved mystery. “It just doesn’t make any sense!”

“Your guess is as good as mine. I wonder if we’ll ever find out the truth about that whole thing…”

The Chief’s words were cut off as he and Pearl glanced up then and saw Maya racing out of the main entrance doors. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she frantically appeared to be scanning around, as though forgetting where she was in her distracted, emotional state.

“Hey, pal!” Gumshoe called, waving his hands. “Over here!”

The bride’s watery eyes swiveled in his direction, the expression on her tear-stained face turning incredulous as she saw he remained stuck in the parking lot! She studied him questioningly for a split second, and as he raised his hands helplessly to indicate he was still unable to leave, the woman in white abruptly turned away.

Then she simply waved down the nearest taxi parked in the lineup of idling cabs out front, hopped right in, and sped off as though the hounds of hell were on her tail!

“Holy runaway oxen, Batman!” He gasped in disbelief. “Did Maya just legit take off without even bothering to wait for us?”

“I’m calling her right now!” Pearl was already dialing her cousin’s number. “Hello?! Mystic Maya! Why did you just leave it like that?! What happened? Are you OK?!”

She listened with an aggrieved expression for a split second to the garbled reply on the other end, and then the call abruptly ended. The spirit medium steeled her jaw as she met her uncle’s anxious gaze, one foot already out the car door.

“Where is she headed, little missy?” His thick brows were knitted with worry. “What’s going on here?”

“The bride is on her way back to Kurain,” Pearl replied tightly, her concern rapidly obliterating and being replaced by righteous anger. “Her exact words were: ‘I can’t stay down here another moment, because I can’t risk that bastard coming down to find me. It’s totally over now – he’s broken my heart for the last time. He never cared about me. You guys can meet me back at the village. I have a wedding to get to.’ She managed this mostly incoherent conversation while crying her heart out, by the way!”

The spirit medium spun around on her heel, reflexively shoved her sleeve up to her elbow, and brusquely began making purposeful strides towards the entrance doors.

“Hey, pal! Where do you think you’re going now?” Gumshoe called after her. “What is this, the Case of the Disappearing Feys?! You know I can’t even come up with you since I have to wait around for this BMW guy!”

“Stay right here! I’ll be back before you know it, Uncle Gumshoe,” the normally dulcet-sounding teen tersely responded over her shoulder. “I waited and held up my end of the bargain – Mystic Maya’s gone, so it’s now my turn to pay Mr. Nick a friendly little visit!”

Having caught the infuriated sparks flying out of the fuming Pearl’s typically serene eyes before she’d stormed off, the Chief let out a distressed moan and quickly shot off another text to Maggey.

Maya will probably get back there before we do! It’s a long story, and I don’t know all the details yet honey… But even though Phoenix has only been hospitalized for MINOR injuries, I get the feeling he’ll be EXTENDING his stay here really, REALLY soon…

Phoenix Wright and Mia Fey
Hickfield Clinic
June 16, 2026 1:00 PM

Mia couldn’t remember the last time she had paid her loved ones an earthly visit via channeling. This was not to say that she had not been summoned before that day in the recent past. At least, she assumed it was recent. It wasn’t as if there were calendars in heaven or anything!

However, this was the first time she’d ever made an otherworldly visit where she hadn’t needed to be told what had occurred or why she had been summoned!

Therefore, she had zero qualms whatsoever in letting Phoenix Wright know exactly why she had just subjected him to the mother of all backhands!

“Don’t you dare ‘Chief’ me!” She snarled, her hand curling up into a fist. “How can you have the gall to look me in the eye and ask me what you did to deserve that way overdue whack? I saw everything from my omniscient JumboTron screen in the heavenly skies! You’re lucky I didn’t revert to thumping you over the head with that atrocious beanie of yours, which I see you still insist on wearing! And believe me, with the way I’m feeling towards you right now, I would have loaded it up with marbles, first!”

He instinctively began backing up back into the room as she advanced on him menacingly, her pretty face still contorted into a portentous glare.

“Sorry! It was a reflex action! Have mercy… Mia!” Phoenix gulped and protectively clapped his hands over his tender cranium, which hadn’t yet stopped tingling from Maya’s prior attacks. “I have a head injury! At the rate I’m going today, it may never fully recover!”

“It’s only because of me that all you have is a minor injury to that thick skull of yours!” Mia couldn’t resist giving him an additional shot to the shoulder. “After singlehandedly recusing your sorry behind from the clutches of death twice now – this is my reward? You breaking my baby sister’s heart, yet again?”

The pianist cringed and reeled backward slightly, more from the bilious words than the actual physical bicep jab, which although had packed impressive force, still hurt considerably less than Mia’s initial opening slap attack. He didn’t know which staggering news had him more blown away; the fact that his ex-boss appeared to have some sort of sagacious knowledge of what had occurred on earth without needing to be told, which had never transpired before, or the fact that she was the one responsible for the fact he hadn’t joined her in the heavenly gates – and on more than one occasion!

“If you’re going to insist on hitting me, can you please leave my poor noggin alone?” He pleaded. “Maybe just kick me in the butt?”

“Don’t tempt me, Phoenix Wright!” Her nostrils were flaring with temper. She slammed the door shut behind her and continued stomping towards her former protégé, forcing him to back up until he was finally sitting back down on the hospital bed while she stood, arms akimbo, glowering down at him. “It’s taking all my willpower not to resort to stomping on your foot as I used to behind the defense bench back in the day, whenever you were this much of a moron!”

“Please don’t! Did I mention I have a sprained ankle, too?” He gestured pitifully towards his bandaged foot. “For what it’s worth, Mia, you did manage to give smack-down to the same side of my face that Maya also managed to bludgeon – and with a thorny bouquet, no less! I imagine these used to be some sort of … roses.” He waved his hand at the strewn petals and colorful floral heads, minus their stems, scattered on the floor. “Or they could’ve been mums … I can’t tell anymore!”

“Some Romeo you were!” She snorted. “I’m guessing you never gave my sister flowers too often if you can’t tell the difference between mums and roses!”

“Well pardon me for only knowing like maybe three different types of flowers!” He protested lamely. “But that’s beside the point…”

“Yes, the points are all in your hair… you porcupine-headed prick!” Mia grumbled, which almost made the musician smile, as it was reminiscent of something Maya had called him once… many moons ago. He quickly ducked his head before the dearly departed could see the flicker of sad amusement on his face and shrunk back at the scornful look she gave him.

“H – How do you know what just happened?” He stammered. “Normally you need to have a handwritten note to keep you up to speed, and I know you’re not in Maya’s body; you’re in Pearl’s. And she was nowhere around when the incident occurred…”

“The Man upstairs has given me some frequent flyer privileges!” Mia informed him acerbically. “Apparently since I saved you from joining me in the Twilight Realm on two occasions now, our benevolent Father decided my third visit to you would allow the fulfillment of my request to retain my memories of all events that I’ve been gazing down upon today! So I know everything that just happened between you and Maya, you…you… imbecilic, hobo bum, dipstick!”

“Guilty as charged.” Phoenix bowed his head in ignominy, then risked peeking up at her to quickly ask his second question. “Um… Did you really save my life… twice?”

“A decision I continue debating whether or not to regret!” She grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest. “Yes, I’m the one who intervened both times when you would have otherwise been rendered plant food;  that time when you fell off the burning bridge and now this hit-and-run.”

“Wow.” Phoenix awkwardly scratched the back of his head, flashing a grateful, embarrassed grin. “I never would have had the foggiest notion about being the blessed recipient of such miracles! Um, thanks, Mia.”

“Holy jumping Moses in a sidecar! You had no idea that you might have been the recipient of some sort of divine intervention?” Mia gawked at him in disbelief. “Exactly how did you think you otherwise survived these situations, which would’ve killed anyone else?! Did you believe you were somehow invincible or something?!”

“I dunno … maybe?” His voice trailed off as he flushed with embarrassment. “Um, I –I guess I’ve been so grateful for being alive that I’ve never really given much thought as to how I still am.”

“Unbelievable! You seriously thought all this time that you were some sort of unbreakable Superman?” Mia shook her head at him in disgust. “How, in the name of all that is holy, could you have been such an unmatched genius in the courtroom … and such an incredible Ace Idiot the moment you stepped outside of it?”

“Er, I practice?” Phoenix had been so relieved his old mentor seemed to have simmered down from full-blown rage to seething contempt that he spoke without thinking, not unusual for him, and was rewarded with a look that could’ve bored holes through a wall. “Oops. Bad joke. I’m sorry.”

“Yes, you most certainly are,” she grumbled in sarcastic agreement, then expelled a long breath and closed her eyes. “Grrr! I’ve never been a violent person, yet all I want to do right now is just slap you silly for the endless banality coming out of that blathering pie hole of yours! I’m trying so hard to steer this towards a proper tête-à-tête with you and to get this acrimony out of my system, Phoenix, but you’re not making it very easy by being such a voluble dunderhead!”

“I’m cognizant of that already,” he replied miserably. “I’ve always been terrible with words, Mia, and you know it! I don’t know what to say! Just know there’s nothing you can possibly say or do to lambaste me to make me hate myself more than I already do! Please forgive me.”

“Oh, Phoenix.” Her expression softened slightly as she saw the genuine lugubriousness in his eyes. “It’s not my forgiveness that’s required here, nor me who you ought to be apologizing to.”

The legal legend came and sat down next to him on the bed, patting him consolingly on the back as she saw he was fighting back tears.

“How could you let Maya run out of here like that, after saying what you said?” Mia asked softly, now sounding more genuinely puzzled than provoked. “Why didn’t you just apologize immediately for the whole mishap and slip of tongue?”

“I have no excuse! I –I’m not in my right mind, Mia.” The card shark buried his head in his hands. “And it’s not just the heavy-duty medications and tranquilizers I’ve been on. I – I haven’t been anything even close to the man who you used to know since Maya and I split up.”

“You and my sister were so good for each other,” she lamented sadly. “And obviously, Maya never stopped loving you, Phoenix, otherwise she would never have run out on her own wedding day! This could have been the perfect opportunity for you to patch things up!”

“Don’t you think I realize that?” His face was a mask of anguish. “Don’t you think I’ve been kicking myself over and over again from the moment I let her slip through my fingers and rush out that door? For the second time in my life, I’ve had to endure the agony of knowing I’ve broken that girl’s heart! And all because my injudicious, careless words, made her question everything she ever meant to me! I – I’m nothing but a low-life, no-good … shit heel!”

Mia didn’t even bother arguing with him on that one. She truly was done with the jobation of her old understudy, knowing from experience there truly was nothing she could say or do to him that would be worse than the mental lashes and abuse he was capable of heaping upon himself.

“Maya accused you of being unfaithful to Iris because you weren’t thwarting your overly flirtatious nurse’s advances readily enough,” she said quietly, studying his morose features. “How did you go from being a defense attorney into an overly defensive ex-attorney, Phoenix? What I don’t understand is why, rather than flat-out denying the baseless allegations, you instead chose to unnecessarily defend your actions!”

“It sounds even worse when you say it!” He yanked off his hat and raked an agitated hand through his spikes. “Although I suppose … that was the point?”

Rather than reply, Mia only continued to gaze at him with mute reprobation, and his cheeks turned pink.

“I suppose you won’t allow the plea of me simply being every bit the Ace Idiot you accused me of being as an acceptable defense, will you?” Phoenix mumbled. “The truth is, I thought she was coming at me simply under the air of outraged dignity on her cousin’s behalf for my objectionable, allegedly womanizing ways! I was so damn fed up at that point of always being blamed for stuff I hadn’t done that
I – I inexcusably took it out on your sister.”

He turned away, shamefaced, while she continued to just stare at him silently.

“It never occurred to me to genuinely believe Maya rushed down to my side because she still loved me,” his voice was hollow. “I hoped it and I wished it, but I never let myself believe it was the case. It also never occurred to me that an ascendant Master could be marrying this celebrity, golden-boy billionaire and somehow possibly continue loving a big, fat nobody – a socially outcast pariah – like me.”

Mia’s heart lurched with pity. There really had been no point in further reproaching the man for anything. His nonexistent sense of self-esteem, coupled with his feelings of unworthiness when it came to her sister, obviously hadn’t changed from the last time she had spoken to him. Moreover, his depression and self-loathing were far more deeply entrenched in him enough already without any additional help being required. Therefore, she remained quiet as he went on with his tale of woe.

“When she came at me, questioning my supposed seraglio, as well as my moral turpitude and misconduct when it came to Karin, I honestly thought she was reprimanding me with an air of general feminine indignation, partially on behalf of her kinswoman. I figured Maya would no longer detest Iris anymore since she had clearly moved on and was set to wed another!”

Phoenix continued to speak, his words still directed to the ground.

“It was completely misconstrued, and I was just so frustrated Maya wouldn’t let me get a word in edgewise and had convicted me without a trial, just like … well, you know. I digress. Anyway, it was an idiotic reflex action on my behalf in attempting to justify my behavior, never dreaming in a million years that doing so would lead her to begin doubting everything regarding us, from when we were together as a consequence!”

He slapped his forehead with his palm in chagrin.

“It wasn’t until she’d run off in a flood of tears, taking my heart with her, that I realized the truth when it was too little, too late – that your benign sister had run to me, not on behalf of Iris, or mere friendly concern, but because she’d managed to find it in that big beautiful heart of hers to somehow, someway, still love my completely undeserving and unworthy ass!”

Phoenix ground his eyes with the heels of his palms, but his shoulders were shaking, and that was when the late lawyer realized he was now silently sorrowing.

“And now it’s too late. Maya hates me more than ever. She’s probably halfway back to Kurain now, set to marry another man, believing I never truly loved her, and never knowing how far from the truth that is!”

“Why did you let her believe that you were still with Iris?” Mia halted for a moment as a revelation dawned on her just then, and she leaned forward to get a glimpse of his downcast profile. “You’re not, are you?”

“No!” He choked, turning watery, red-rimmed indigo orbs towards kindhearted amber ones. “I never was! I – lied to her about that, Mia. I lied to her about everything!”

“Jesus on toast!” She gasped, clapping a hand to her cheek in shock. “What are you saying, Phoenix?! For the love of the saints, why would you have ever done such a crazy thing?!”

And so the despondent beanie wearer told his former mentor what had happened. For the first time in ages, he gave a voice to all the emotions bottled up inside of him. All the events that he’d kept a secret … he held nothing back. The conversation ended with Mia holding the disbarred attorney while he let it all out, cradling him in her arms like a little boy, just as she had six years ago in the hospital waiting room when Maya had been in ICU.

“Killing me softly is how I feel when I see a grown man cry.” She blinked back her own tears of sympathy. “Don’t cry just yet. A lawyer can’t cry until it’s over,
remember? Maya still loves you, Phoenix. This was all just a horrible misunderstanding, but there’s still hope for you two. You can’t give up already.”

“I did what I had to do, even if it meant your sister would be alive and hating me, rather than have her die for loving me.” His tears soaked the puffy sleeves of Pearl’s maid of honor gown as she cradled his head against her shoulder. “It just kills me that she’ll never know how everything I’ve ever done is because I loved her so damn much.”

“You poor, sweet boy,” she whispered, rocking him back and forth as if he were a baby, uncaring of the fact  Phoenix was now older than she was. Underneath that scrofulous, atrabilious, reticent exterior, he was still that same gamine with the heart of gold she’d first met. “Maya is more blessed than she or anybody could’ve ever realized to have somebody who loved her so deeply, he would’ve endured so much self-afflicted agony for her; that he would willingly sacrifice his own happiness in exchange for her safety.”

“I vowed to you I’d protect Maya with my life, Mia. She’s everything to me.” His shaky voice was muffled against her dress as the droplets continued to fall. “If nothing else, at least you know I kept that promise.”

Reaching into his pocket, he showed his friend first Pearl’s forged note in Maya’s name, explaining the whole “kid” misunderstanding in more detail, before hesitantly passing her his own tragically soul-baring letter which he’d penned. Mia’s expression grew more forlorn as she read it with a hand clamped over her mouth to muffle her barely suppressed sobs, and when she handed it back to him, her eyes were filled with tears.

“Please, Phoenix, forgive me for ever saying, even in a moment of ignorance, that I regretted saving your life. It’s only due to your everlasting valor that my baby sister is still alive and well. There are no words to convey my eternal love and gratitude to you for that, dear friend. My soul is at peace, knowing you’ve never ceased being Maya’s hero, even when she hasn’t known it.”

Mia reached under his hat and softly soothingly stroked his spikes as his sobs finally abated.

“How can you keep saying that you’re nothing, Phoenix Wright? Even without your attorney badge, you’ve still got the badge of a fighter on your noble heart and a more spirited sense of courage which is unsurpassed by anyone I’ve ever known! Moreover, while you have the pockets of a peasant, you bear the honorable soul of a poet. Nobody will ever love Maya the way you do! In fact, I can honestly say, with all my heart, that I don’t think any man has ever, ever loved a woman as much as you love my little sister.”

“I’m no martyr, Mia.” Phoenix ducked his head bashfully at the lavish, unaccustomed praise. “I just did what any man who truly loves a woman with all his heart and soul would have done.”

The humbled former attorney gratefully accepted the tissue she discreetly passed him with one hand to wipe his eyes while he composed himself. He then chuckled ruefully when she returned a moment later with a washcloth she’d swiped from a trolley in the hall, wrapped around some ice cubes she’d gotten from the nearby water dispenser.

“I’m sorry that I hit you.” She pressed the makeshift icepack against his battered cheek. “That was completely uncalled-for on my behalf.”

“Don’t be.” He smiled dolefully as he continued to hold the cooling package against his face. “Regardless of how well-intended my intentions were for breaking up with your sister, I committed an unpardonable sin with her just now, and needed somebody to try to beat some sense into me.”

“Thank you for confiding in me,” Mia said kindly. “This was the last piece of the puzzle that needed solving. I can understand now why you’ve completely ostracized yourself from your friends again. The first time was to protect those you cared for from that deranged, psychopathic stalker, and the second, more polemic time around was because it was too painful to associate with anybody who kept bringing up my sister’s wedding.”

“Um, I only told you about my reclusive actions and motives leading up to Kristoph. I never mentioned my recently self-imposed exile to No-Man’s Land, so how do you know about that?” He goggled at her in surprise. “My admittedly cowardly and unjustifiable disappearing act with my friends isn’t a present-day thing! I thought you were able to retain your memories of all that you’ve been seeing from today only?”

“Well, you can thank new-age technology for keeping me in the loop on that one!”

Mia flashed a cheeky grin as she held up Pearl’s cell, showing detailed notes typed on the screen, which the spirit medium had been diligently jotting down instead of the pen and paper note that was traditionally left behind for the spectral guest to be brought up to speed regarding earthly activities.

“As you can see, my little cousin, like most teens, is an avid typist! Also, my latent lawyer document scanning skills still allow me to be one helluva fast reader, from the trip in the elevator to your room, to get caught up about what else has been going on and leading up to the wedding.”

“Ah, Pearls. That kid is truly something else, what with her never-ending matchmaking and calling upon spiritual plenary to assist in her deeds,” Phoenix laughingly shook his head with reluctant admiration. “She’s the original Phaya shipper, even though I must have broken her heart in the end when I split with Maya.”

“I have very little doubt about that being true. After all, you were the only father figure she ever knew.”

“I’m sure she despises me as much as Maya now does,” he speculated sadly. “Somehow I’ve lost my way – lost sight of who I really am, and failed everyone who’s ever meant anything to me. I have no clue how to get back on the right path, Mia! I just don’t know what to do anymore.”

“You need to stop being so lackadaisical about everything for starters, and become master of your own fate!” she lectured, putting her hand on his shoulder and giving it a firm shake, as though trying to jostle him from the self-pitying spiral he was looming towards. “Never be like a flag, dependent on the capricious breeze for its direction. Be the captain of your own ship; chart a course and navigate with determination in choppy waters! You alone are the master of your own destiny and responsible for the keeping of your humanity in the harshness of life. Do that and no matter what happens, you will be proud of who you are.”

“Master of my own destiny,” Phoenix repeated thoughtfully, as snippets of Edgeworth saying similar words of wisdom flashed through his mind. “Hmmm….”

Mia interrupted his train of thought by lightly nudging him in the ribs and eyeing him pointedly.

“You can mull over my sage advice about no longer needing to be fortune’s fool later! Right now, let’s get back to your immediate situation. You’ve got a bad ankle, and a wedding you need to stop in its tracks, ASAP, Phoenix! How do you plan to go about doing that?”

“It’s going to take a freaking miracle!” He groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “I have no idea how I’m going to be saved from this latest tumultuous mess I’ve gotten myself into!”

“Stop being so dramatic!” She admonished. “You’re the hero in this story Phoenix. You don’t need to be saved.”

He blinked as those meaningful words sunk in, grateful for the new light in which to view things, yet fearful of getting his hopes up at the same time.

“Nevertheless, even heroes need a hand every once in a while. Ergo, I do have a few ideas…” Mia thoughtfully tapped a finger to her chin as she quickly typed a few notes into the phone for Pearl’s knowledge. “And I get the feeling you haven’t seen the last of me just yet! However, before I turn you back to your favorite slap-happy spirit medium, you need to promise me more thing.”

“Just name it and it’s yours,” he agreed immediately, his face wreathed with the customary earnestness of the old, beloved Phoenix she’d once known. “Anything you want, you’ve got it.”

“When not if, you manage to do the ultimate turnabout and resolve this mess with my sister, Phoenix Wright….” She friskily snatched the beanie off his head and affectionately tousled his hair for old-time sake. “I need your utmost, solemn word… That you’ll invite me to the wedding.”

“You can count on it. And thank you for still believing in my ability to turn things around … Chief.” He held out his arms, and Mia stepped forward, enveloping him in a warm hug as she rested her head on his shoulder. “It means the world to me.”

“You mean to the world to us Feys, Phoenix.” Mia smiled lovingly at him. “Each and every one of us loves you no matter what because regardless if you’re a lawyer or not, you’ll always be the greatest man we’ve ever known… even if you are an occasional bumbler with a permanent foot-in-mouth disease! Stick with letter writing from now on, you adorkable nincompoop!”

Her beautiful brown eyes were twinkling impishly as she smirked at him, and with that, she lightly smacked him upside the head with his beanie, which had still been in her hand, one last time for good measure, giggling mischievously as he yelped and made a move to grab it back.

“Hey, cut that out!”

Phoenix reached for the hat and yanked it back over his spikes just as Mia’s statuesque figure faded away, and he found himself staring down at the sylph form of Pearl Fey in her stead.

Phoenix Wright and Pearl Fey
Hickfield Clinic
June 16, 2026 1:20 PM

The teenage spirit medium blinked her doe gray orbs, somewhat disoriented from the channeling, and seemed astonished to find herself hugging the very man she had fervently wanted to be hitting instead when she’d stomped into the hospital from the parking lot!

Her sharp, inquisitive eyes took in the somewhat reduced swelling on his cheek, and a wry smile tugged at her lips as Phoenix warily took a step back, uncertain of what sort of reception he was going to be getting from the youngest member of the Fey clan.

“It’s been a while, Pearls,” he ventured cautiously. “I’ve missed you. A lot.”

The acolyte ignored the greeting and instead scrutinized his face for signs of injury, as her palm still bore a slight stinging sensation, and found the corresponding handprint on the side of his face.

“Jeez, that looks painful,” she remarked innocently, pointing to his marked visage. “Did I do that?”

“Technically, yes, but no,” he grinned, despite himself. “That would be the handprint of my former boss you’re currently admiring right now, Pearls. Nice job there, calling out the big guns to first take a crack at me before you could.”

“Mystic Maya was in tears when she left here, and I know it was your fault, one way or another, Mr. Nick!” She growled unapologetically. “I figured Mystic Mia could get the point across much more effectively than I could!”

“Don’t sell yourself short there,” he responded playfully. “Even back when you were a little girl, you were able to do some serious damage every time you wanted me to repent for any perceived wrongdoings against your cousin!”

“You deserved it every time, you know!” She put her hands on her hips, apparently in no jocund mood. “However, I’m still pretty sure my slapping power has probably diminished with time. You can thank Luke for that – dating an English gentleman has resulted in quite the calming influence over me.”

“More than just about anybody, I’ve always been cognizant of protective you are of your kinswoman, Pearls,” Phoenix sighed, his voice heavy with resignation. “And you’re right, I acted very foolishly with your cousin and hurt her very badly. I deserved everything Mia dished out at me and more. Moreover, I know Maya isn’t the only one I’ve distressed with my actions.”

The pianist squatted down slightly so he and the petite teen were at eye level.

“Even though it wasn’t on purpose, Pearls, I know I’ve caused you great pain, as well. I wouldn’t blame you if you still wanted to hit me.” He tilted his chin slightly and pointed to his good side, which had not been maimed by a Fey female as of yet. “Go ahead, hit me with your best shot.”

“You better believe you did!” She snarled. “Believe me, you don’t need to ask me twice!”

Pearl glared at him and rolled up her sleeve, her incensed gaze never once wavering from his remorseful one. Her lips began to tremble slightly as she faltered mid-action, dropping her hand just before it came into contact with his visage, and her face crumpled.

“I – I can’t do it!” Her eyes began welling up. “I can’t just hit you on command! That’s not the way this works!”

“Don’t I deserve it though?” He remained crouched down before her. “After all, I hurt you, didn’t I?”

“Yes, you did! You hurt me so badly, Mr. Nick!” Her eyes were brimming deeper and deeper with tears as her voice broke. “But I can’t just go ahead and try to hurt you back the same way even though you tore me and Mystic Maya apart when you left us!”

“And why not?” He prompted.

“Because I still love you too much!” With that confession, Pearl Fey buried her face in her hands and began to cry.

Phoenix remained frozen as he helplessly watched the girl he’d loved as a daughter for over half her life fall apart, right before his woeful eyes. The last time he had seen that cherubic face so drenched with tears had been when Maya had been kidnapped. It had nearly killed him back then, and it was positively gutting him now, knowing that he’d been the cause of it.

But this time, unlike with Maya, he reacted much more swiftly, as though he’d somehow been prepared for this confrontation. He didn’t hesitate even for a moment in his actions and simply drew the sobbing teenager into his arms, clasping her head against his shoulder while she cried her heart out.

“Why did you leave us, Mr. Nick?” She sobbed, drenching his sweatshirt with her weeping. “What did we ever do to make you stop loving us?”

“Pearls, that’s not true!” He insisted, hugging her even more tightly, desperately trying to convey his love with his actions, as words always seemed to get in the way! “Please, don’t cry. You’re breaking my heart.”

Pearl remained inconsolable as her body shook with sobs, and the torrent of tears seemed to be never-ending.

At a loss of what else to do, Phoenix began rocking her in his arms and softly singing a tune he’d long thought he’d forgotten, as it’d been in another lifetime.

Come stop your crying
It will be alright
Just take my hand
And hold it tight…

Pearl was still bawling slightly, but her sobs had now been reduced to snuffles as she listened to the strangely familiar tune that’d been buried in the recesses of her memory, which she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Encouraged, Phoenix continued to murmur the song in her ear as he soothingly rubbed her back.

 Flashback…

Phoenix Wright and Pearl Fey
Wright & Co. Law Offices
March 21, 2018, 3:00 AM

The shrill scream in the middle of the night jolted the defense attorney out of bed from his restless slumber.  He rushed into Maya’s room across the hall to find the little girl curled up into a ball and blubbering into her pillow, which she had clutched against her chest.

“Pearls, what is it?” Immediately Phoenix sat down beside the child on the bed and gently stroked her silky tawny hair. “What’s wrong?”

“I had a nightmare!” She wept, springing into his arms and clinging to him for dear life. “I dreamt that horrible man who took Mystic Maya away said he’d gotten rid of her and I was next and…” She couldn’t even continue as her words were interrupted by a fresh flood of waterworks.

“Calm down,” he soothed, holding her tightly as her tiny body shook with sobs. “Nobody is going to hurt Maya, Pearls. We’ll get her back! And nobody will ever hurt you, alright? You have my word!”

“Really?” Pearl hiccupped slightly and buried her head against his chest. “You won’t let anything bad happen to her, Mr. Nick?”

“I promise,” he vowed. “I’m never going to let anything happen to either one of you.”

“I’m so scared, Mr. Nick!” She wept, nearly wringing his heart out with her tears. “What if that bad man comes back?”

“Shhh. It’s OK, Pearl’s. I’m here now. Nobody’s going to hurt you. Try and get some sleep.”

“I can’t!” She cried hysterically.  “Every time I close my eyes, I keep seeing that bad man again!”

In a burst of inspiration, a song from a Disney movie the three of them had recently all watched together on TV suddenly rang to mind, and without thinking, Phoenix began singing the very song Tarzan’s adopted mother had sung to pacify him.

 Come stop your crying
It will be alright
Just take my hand
And hold it tight

I will protect you 
From all around you 
I will be here 
Don’t you cry

Pearl’s sobs had subsided somewhat, and she appeared to be calming slightly. Expelling a relieved breath, Phoenix continued to croon the comforting lyrics to the drowsy child in his arms.

 For one so small, 
You seem so strong 
My arms will hold you, 
Keep you safe and warm 
This bond between us 
Can’t be broken 
I will be here 
Don’t you cry…

‘Cause you’ll be in my heart
Yes, you’ll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
You’ll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You’ll be here in my heart
Always…

End Flashback

Pearl had stopped crying by now but remained in his warm embrace, as memories from nearly a decade ago swarmed in her mind. Phoenix’s reassuring hug and lulling voice were just as effective now as they’d been back then, during one of the worst times of both their lives. And even though Maya’s kidnapping had meant enduring his own nightmarish ordeal, the kindhearted man had still ensured a motherless young girl, terrified of losing the sole remaining family she had left, had felt as comforted and secure as possible.

Just like a father would have done for his actual offspring.

Her childhood recollections resurfaced as she vividly recalled just how much she’d loved him then.

The pianist was still singing the lyrics to “You’ll Be In My Heart.”

Why can’t they understand the way we feel 
They just don’t trust what they can’t explain 
I know we’re different, but deep inside us 
We’re not that different at all

And you’ll be in my heart 
Yes you’ll be in my heart 
From this day on 
Now and forever more…

“I remember you sang me this song when I had that nightmare. It was the night Mystic Maya was taken away.” She pulled away from his hold and stared up at Phoenix’s fond expression with misty eyes. “You stayed with me all night, didn’t you?”

“I did.” He affirmed with a tender smile. “I let you fall asleep in my arms for most of the night, just in case you woke up again and needed me.”

“I can’t believe you did that for me.” Her voice shook with emotion. “Th- that was so nice of you, Mr. Nick.”

“Actually, I stayed with you for both nights,” he told her. “The second night, I just stayed in your room until you fell asleep after I sang that song to you, as a sort of lullaby. Then I slept on the corner armchair so I wouldn’t wake you up if I stirred. I finally crept back to my room close to dawn each time.”

“You must’ve been so tired the next day, and had probably lost enough sleep already for the entire time Mystic Maya was gone.” Pearl gaped at him in astonishment. “And yet you still took the time to be there for me?”

“It was no big deal, Pearls,” Phoenix said quietly. “Any man would have done that for a child he’d come to love like his own daughter.”

The words hung, suspended in the air for a brief moment, before they sunk down upon her like a warm blanket, wrapping her up in its tender, nurturing embrace and slowly healing the battered heart of the young girl with it.

“You truly did love me?” Pearl asked hopefully as she felt the tears building again. “Like a real father, Mr. Nick?”

“I never, ever stopped,” he replied softly. “When I fell in love with your cousin, I already knew you were part of a package deal. Usually, when someone grows up thinking about their future partner, an instant family isn’t part of the plan. As I hope you know, my experience was different. When you came into my life, you were 8 years old, and I actually couldn’t wait to have you as part of my family. I never faked my enthusiasm. I loved every minute of those years you, me, and Maya were a family together, Pearls.”

“Sometimes I felt like I got in the way,” Pearl admitted, hanging her head. “Like, maybe you and Mystic Maya would’ve gotten together sooner if I hadn’t been there as an additional burden.”

“You were never a burden, Pearls,” he stated firmly. “Nor were you ever seen as an add-on or additional responsibility. You were the adopted daughter of the woman I loved, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I knew you were someone special from the start, and I have always claimed you in my heart as my daughter. Moreover, you chose to love me, too. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for giving me the gift of fatherhood even before I became Trucy’s legal father.”

“You really see me that way?” She swallowed back another sob building within her chest, but this was one of barely constrained joy as the last year of pain and misery slowly, ever so slowly, began diminishing. “You loved me like you love Trucy?”

“Sweetie, I want to tell you something I wish I’d told you long ago. It was solely because of those magical years you let me be like your father that I even allowed myself to think I would be able to handle adopting a little girl.”

Phoenix brushed a stray strand of hair off her face as he continued regarding her with loving eyes.

“Trucy is my daughter in every sense of the word, as close as law and love can make us. But you, Pearl Fey… you were the one who I loved first. No matter what happens between Maya and me, you will always be there as the first daughter of my heart. My wish for you is that you know how much you are loved.  And I want you to know how much you’ve changed me and my heart as a man and as a father.”

With a wordless cry, Pearl lunged into Phoenix’s outstretched arms, tears of happiness spilling from her eyes. He held her close and continued to speak from his heart, smiling down into the angelic, tear-stained face beaming up at him.

“I know your life hasn’t been easy, Pearls. You fear losing the love in your life, fear being abandoned and misunderstood. There’s a lot of fear in you actually, mostly manifesting as anxiety and pain. You find the world around you confusing. You know things are messed up and you don’t know what to do about it. You feel powerless to make a difference. Don’t say anything, you don’t have to. I can tell from your face that it’s true. That’s why you came to see me, isn’t it?  Of course, it is, and I’ll gladly help undo the damage of this last year of heartache and misunderstanding.”

“I just don’t understand why you left us if you love me so much, though?” She bit her thumb, those Bambi eyes regarding him with a baffled expression. “And don’t you still love Mystic Maya?”

“More than the air I breathe,” Phoenix replied simply, wishing it had been as easy for him to confess this to the woman he loved rather than just to her daughter. “I love her more than words can describe and nothing will ever change that. I never stopped loving her either, Pearls.”

“Then why…?”

“Pearls, I can give you all the major details later. For now, what you need to know is that there was a very evil man who wanted to hurt Maya in order to get to me. Your cousin would never have left me if I told her it was dangerous to be with me, so I needed to lie to her about being with Iris so I could ensure her safety. Yours as well.”

His eyes were pleading for her understanding.

“I have no guarantee that monster wouldn’t have come after you, as well, if he knew how much you meant to me too. You have to believe me when I tell you that leaving you and Maya behind was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my whole life.”

The weight and sorrow from the past year had now completely lifted from her shoulders, and the radiant smile aimed at Phoenix now would’ve put the sun to shame.

“I do believe you. Never in my life have I seen God’s hand so obviously at work than on the day you first walked into our lives. You filled a gaping hole in our family that we were trying so hard to pretend wasn’t there. Never in my life have I been as thankful for someone as I am for you.”

She kissed him on his stubbly cheek, her eyes shining with filial affection.

“Thank you for loving Mystic Maya so selflessly that you did everything you could to keep her safe, even though doing so subjected you to so much misery as a result. Thank you for being the father I never had, that you didn’t have to be for me, but chose to be. Most of all, thank you for loving me so much. Just know that no matter what happens, I love you, too, Mr. Nick.”

“Thank you, Pearls.”

Phoenix placed a light, fatherly kiss onto the beaming girl’s forehead, then looked down at his watch and groaned in frustration.

“As lucky as I am to have your love and support, Pearls, I somehow get the feeling convincing Maya of my love will prove to be slightly more difficult, though! Not to mention the fact that I’m in a time crunch to be able to relay that message to her since she’s gotten about a half-hour head start ahead of us!”

He cast a furtive glance at the cell in the spirit medium’s hand.

“Did Mia leave behind any sort of suggestions or any kind of game plan for you on that phone?”

“Um, yes, she did.” Glancing down at her screen, Pearl immediately began following the first set of instructions with her nimble teenage fingers. “OK, step one, done!”

“Which was…?”

“I just texted Uncle Gumshoe and told him a workaround situation if he’s still stranded in the lot, and to just hurry up and follow the bride back to Kurain,” the girl elaborated. “I told him I’d explain later, but he needs to stall that wedding and it’s actually better if I’m not with him. He can find some sort of excuse to make for my absence, but Mystic Maya can hardly get married until I get there, since I’m the maid of honor!”

“I don’t even want to know about what circumstances would lead Gumshoe to be stranded in the parking lot in the first place!” Phoenix said dryly. “Knowing that man, I can certainly hazard a guess though! What’s next on the list?”

Pearl showed him what was on the screen, and the poker champ grinned knowingly.

“I figured as much! I do like the way Mia thinks! I was going to do that anyway, but before I do this next step of the plan…” There was a wicked glint in his eye. “Can you do me one quick favor, Pearls?”

Miles Edgeworth
High Prosecutor’s Office
June 16, 2026 1:25 PM

Miles Edgeworth was having a non-eventful day at the office, much like nearly every single one he’d had since returning to town. He supposed that was an annoying side effect of showing up for work three months prior than anticipated. It meant absolutely zero cases were assigned to you, as you hadn’t even been expected to be back in the country until later in the summertime!

The prosecutor was sipping his tea and brooding over what move to next play in his makeshift game with the magenta and cobalt piece chess set on his coffee table when the phone rang. He smirked when he saw the caller ID which still read: Phoenix Wright, Idiot Attorney.

“It’s been a while,” the charcoal-haired man intoned sardonically by way of greeting. “I was wondering how much longer you were going to hold out before I heard from you again.”

“Sorry about that!” An unknown feminine tone, which most definitely was not his best friend’s, even though the call was coming from Phoenix’s phone number, tittered coyly. “I know it’s been nearly a dog’s age since we last spoke, but I had to wait until my feet were on once again on terrain rather than clouds before I could reach out and touch you, Miles! Somehow, I was under the impression you would have refused a collect call from heaven because you wouldn’t want to pay the charges!”

“Ngh!” Edgeworth nearly did a spit take on his tea, and just barely managed to catch the steaming liquid dribbling down his chin before it soiled his pristine cravat. “This isn’t – it can’t be?!”

“Yet, indeed it is!” The woman’s voice sing-songed gaily. “It is I, Mia Fey! Back on friendly earthen soil yet again!”

“Miss Fey?” He echoed incredulously, his eyes nearly bugging out of his skull. “The Fey & Co. Law Offices defense attorney?”

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten your first-ever courtroom opponent already?” She trilled. “I’d always prided myself on being a wee bit more unforgettable than that! Is your memory fading with age, Miles? Because I could’ve sworn the last time we spoke, we’d agreed to be on a first-name basis and I’d asked you to call me Mia!”

“Apologies … Mia. Er, hello.” The flustered man tried desperately to regain his composure. “Just to make sure we’re on the same page, this is still the same Mia Fey who last time I checked, had been deceased now for a decade?”

“Verily, that would be moi!” She told him cheerfully, obviously enjoying herself immensely. “I’m only here to pay a short visit, and can’t extend my stay, unfortunately, which is why we’re having a quick game of catch-up over the phone, instead of in person!”

“And you’re still dead … I mean, departed?” He corrected quickly, cursing himself for yet again being subjected to this awkward situation. “Is that accurate?”

“Dead Lawyer talking!” She affirmed with sham solemnity. “It’s not just a bar cocktail anymore!”

“Ah, alright …” His voice trailed off adroitly. “Well, um, just as last time … my condolences then.”

“Why, thank you, good sir!” Mia chirped, sounding as though she were fighting back laughter. “Still as polished and refined as ever after all this time – don’t ever change! Anyway, it’s been so nice attaining your sympathies yet again, Miles, but I really should skedaddle, so I’ll pass the phone over to Phoenix now!”

The line was quiet for a quick moment as Edgeworth heard mostly dead but not really Mia Fey howling uproariously in the background.

“Thanks a bunch, Phoenix! That was even more fun than I thought it was going to be!”

The prosecutor already had his famous irate forefinger tapping against one arm by the time his friend came on the phone.

“Hey, Edgeworth.”

“You have a sick sense of humor, Wright,” the unamused chess lover stated curtly.

“Sorry!” The pianist chuckled, not sounding overly apologetic in the least. “As Mia has stated, the dead don’t get too many opportunities to have fun anymore!”

“I’m sure. I was wondering when I’d hear from you again. I trust the Hickfield staff is treating you accordingly?”

“Yes, they’re great … HOLD IT!” The former defense attorney sounded indignant. “Do you mean to tell me that you knew I was in the hospital, and still didn’t bother calling me or visiting me? Were you honestly planning on clinging to that petty grudge even through these extenuating circumstances?!”

“You sell me way too short, Wright,” the prosecutor derided, pleased to have regained the upper hand. “Based on the fact that I was aware you were admitted to the hospital, but hadn’t paid you a call or visit as of yet, should also have been indicative it’s because I was privy to the information that you were not severely injured, save for that minor head injury and sprained ankle.”

“Why do you always know everything?!” Phoenix demanded disbelievingly. “They don’t disclose that kind of information over the phone!”

“To me they do,” the barrister informed him smugly, taking another pleasurable sip of tea. “I do hope you have been in good care under the watch of Nurse Jenson.”

“How did you get a hold of that information?” Now the card shark was beyond perplexed. “Did you have my room bugged or something?”

“I have my sources,” Edgeworth replied mysteriously, a slight smile playing on his lips as he realized just how much he had missed this ridiculous sort of banter with his childhood chum. “None of whom I shall disclose at this precise moment, however! So tell me, to what do I owe the pleasure of what started as the world’s most ill-humored prank phone call, and instead ended up with finally hearing from my all-time favorite courtroom rival?”

“Would it make you happy if I were to say the words out loud?” The spiky-haired man already seemed as though he’d resigned himself to the answer. “Is that what you want?”

“It would certainly help speed things along if we got it out of the way,” the debonair man replied blithely. “I’m a patient man. I can wait till you’re ready.”

“I’m ready now,” Phoenix sighed resolutely. “Let’s start this call from scratch, shall we?”

“As you like it. Proceed with The Call We Both Know Is Way Overdue, take two.”

“Ring, ring.”

“High Prosecutor’s Office, Miles Edgeworth speaking.”

“Hi. It’s me.”

“Good Day, Wright,” he deadpanned. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this call?”

“Edgeworth, I wanted to let you know – I finally pulled my head out of my ass.”

Phil Collins – You’ll Be In My Heart