Chapter Text
My name’s Phoenix Wright, and I’m the head attorney of the Wright Anything Agency. I’m also several seconds away from losing the greatest love of my life.
You would think that after everything I’ve been through, I’d be well equipped to handle any and all emergencies that come my way. My cases alone had me ride to Hell in a handbasket. If you’re even a little familiar with my wild and crazy adventures, you know my family and I have been through quite a few astounding escapades. Our latest and greatest adventures took place in the Kingdom of Khurain, pitting us against the diabolical Queen Garan. Let me tell you, I couldn’t have been any prouder of Apollo as we took a final stand against her destructive power. Leaving Polly behind was a nightmare all on its own, as I felt the girls and I were leaving behind a piece of our hearts, but the dawn of a new, bright age in Khurain led to a new day for all of us. A bright, happy future was in store for all of us, and it was a future I couldn’t wait to see. But just when I thought there couldn’t possibly be anything else in store for us, just when I thought we were finally in for a break, another nightmare jumped out of the shadows.
Just a few minutes ago, one of the nurses at our local hospital called me with news I never thought I’d hear. I couldn’t believe it-I still can’t believe it. Even with the world moving, shaking, breathing with a beat all its own, I can’t believe I’m not trapped in some crazy nightmare. Just when I thought he’d always be there, just when I thought all I ever had to do was call him and he’d answer, she called me. And in just a few seconds, everything I never thought I’d lose slipped right through my fingers. The sense of security, that normalcy-it all disappeared, just like that..
Lesson number one: never take anyone for granted ever again. Lesson number two: don’t ever take forever and a day to tell anyone you love them. If you wait a minute too long, you may not ever get the chance to tell them how you feel. Lessons I’ve had to learn the hard way.
Even though he was sitting in Hope Hospital’s waiting room, he still couldn’t believe it. Even though the gentle, urgent explanations from doctors and nurses were still ringing in his ears, he couldn’t believe it. He was sitting in a waiting room, head in between his hands, barely able to move-let alone breathe-without entertaining the incredibly high risk of vomiting.
Chief Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth was in critical condition. Wrestling against three gunshot wounds.
Phoenix Wright was waiting for relief he knew wouldn’t come. There wasn’t a quick and easy end to the nightmare. No amount of pinching would put an end to the early morning avalanche consuming him whole. However, he kept clinging to the slim possibility that maybe, just maybe, he’d wake up and everything would go back to the way it was. It was either hold onto that painfully thin hope or run out of the hospital screaming. Fortunately, two pillars of strength were there to keep his seams together. Detective Gumshoe would’ve been there if it hadn’t been for paperwork and reporters, and others were on their way, but at least Athena and Trucy were at his side for the time being. Both of them were ridiculously, incredibly strong, never failing to surprise the veteran attorney at every turn.
The tiny magician was having a little trouble keeping herself together, trembling with her mind reeling from the morning news, but there were very little tears. There was only fortitude and warmth, the drive to remain strong for those around her. Then there was Athena. The same fortitude and warmth were on her face, bright beacons of power in a nightmare that threatened to tear her commanding officer apart. Immense worry and anger were also pieces of the picture, raging within her eyes like a thunderstorm, with very good reason. Her personal encounters with the Chief Prosecutor weren’t great in number, but that didn’t stop her concern from reaching astronomical proportions. Fortunately, they wouldn’t have to shoulder the burden of looking after Phoenix by themselves much longer. “Apollo said he and Klavier are taking the next flight back home,” Blackquill’s old friend told Nick, rubbing circles into the latter’s back.
With his head still in between his palms, the older attorney grimaced. Apollo and Prosecutor Gavin putting a premature end to their honeymoon in Khurain? Not much to be proud of.
Athena continued rubbing circles into her mentor’s back, her face wreathed in compassion. “I’ll go and meet them at the airport once their flight arrives. Simon’s on his way, and Detective Gumshoe should be here soon, too. He’d be here sooner if there weren’t so many reporters to take care of. Pero espera ahí, jefe. We’re going to get through this. From what you’ve told me, Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth’s a pretty tough cookie.”
Trucy balled her hands into fists, facing her father with a resolute look. “She’s right! And you know that better than anyone, Daddy! Mommy’s the toughest cookie of them all!”
Heart swelling with pride over the two young women, Phoenix settled his hand on the top of his daughter’s head. Her signature blue hat was missing, deemed unnecessary for their early morning nightmare, so it was easy for him to ruffle her hair. “Unfortunately he’s not as tough as you are, Pumpkin,” he chuckled at the tiny magician weakly, a small, hoarse sound. “If I could, I’d ask the two of you to be in there with Edgeworth. Unfortunately, they’re not letting anyone see him right now.”
Athena pawed at her crescent moon earring. Her tone was as soft as moonlight, careful and kind. “That’s understandable, considering the condition he’s in. But you’ll see. In just a little while, we’ll be able to see him. We just have to wait. And you know what they say-patience is a virtue!”
It was at that very moment bison stormed through the hospital doors, the very picture of rage and heartache. The bison was in the form of one Detective Dick Gumshoe, drenched head to toe in rain and trembling from fury much colder and darker than the early morning rainstorm. All eyes dove right onto the detective, while all hearts and souls waited for the future with bated breath. Breathing would disturb what was already a fragile nightmare-the best thing to do was remain still, and wait. Wait. Every second was no different from an hour, but all they could do was wait. Wait and-
Watch as Gumshoe picked up and shook Phoenix Wright by the shoulders. “Hey! Are they letting us in yet?! We can go see the Chief now, right?! We’ve gotta get in there and see him, pronto!”
As Athena and Trucy scrambled to wrench the detective off of Phoenix, the veteran attorney stammered out an answer: “No, no, not yet! I just checked with the hospital staff! We can’t see him yet!”
Gumshoe set the attorney down with a thud. Athena and Trucy drew him back, each one holding him by the arm. “Dammit, we’ve gotta get in there,” the detective roared, his voice almost matching the volume of Apollo’s voice, the sadness and frustration within his voice an inch away from shattering the hospital’s windows. The young women exchanged silent agreement on issues with a nod: the morning’s nightmare wasn’t letting up any time soon. Meanwhile, Phoenix took the stand in search of information. He spoke as gently and calmly as he possibly could, knowing he had to remain calm for Gumshoe because after a lifetime of being by Edgeworth’s side, their new responsibilities took them down different paths, resulting in the detective not being anywhere near Edgeworth that morning.
“Trust me, Detective, words won’t ever do justice to how much I want to see Edgeworth right now. But we’ve got to wait. In the meantime, were you able to get any more information on what happened?”
The rain-soaked detective had his heart wrenched out of his chest, by an invisible set of bare hands. Sure he hadn’t slept a wink, thanks to a pile of duties that snowballed before the Chief Prosecutor was shot. The early morning storm left him with no room to think or even breathe. But despite his mind and body reaching astronomical levels of exhaustion, an equally powerful amount of adrenaline drove him on. “It happened while he was on his way to work, pal,” Gumshoe said breathlessly, wiping a wave of rain from his brow. “They weren’t able to catch the bastard responsible for what happened, but it must’ve had something to do with the case he’s been working on!”
Trucy squeezed her father’s arm. “What kind of case was Mommy working on?”
“A high-profile case for the President of Zheng Fa. Had something to do with some new syndicate that’s been causing trouble.” And knowing he was approaching delicate territory, Gumshoe took the intensity of his tone down two notches. “Detective Lang’s on his way, even as we speak,” he revealed slowly, softly, taking immediate note of the horror on Phoenix’s face. “I know you’re not psyched about seeing him, Mr.Wright, and with good reason, but the guy wants to lend a helping hand. And he probably feels responsible for what happened.”
Athena seized the painfully fragile opportunity to stir up a diversion, pushing ahead with her decision to do so while wearing a smile. “What’s up with this Detective Lang? Don’t tell me you’ve got competition, Boss.”
Phoenix hung his head with a sigh, taking both of the young women’s hands and giving them a firm squeeze. “Right-you weren’t a part of our firm back then,” he replied, referring to memories he wished could have remained buried. “A little while ago, Edgeworth-”
Edgeworth. Damn it.
Trucy gave her father’s hand a firmer squeeze. Phoenix took a deep breath, wrapped an arm around her waist, then pressed on. “Edgeworth decided he needed a personal sabbatical and traveled to Zheng Fa, where he took on a few cases,” the veteran attorney explained, his voice small and strained. “He didn’t tell me about it himself-Gumshoe did. He kept in touch with me whenever he could. And that’s where he met the dashing, debonair Detective Lang.”
“And here we have jealousy rearing its ugly head,” a blue Widget chimed in sadly, echoing its owner’s emotions. Athena returned to caressing her commanding officer’s back, her face and tone luminous with tenderness. “From the look on your face, and from what I’m hearing, I can tell Detective Lang is definitely a sore spot. And we don’t need to poke at any more of those. Sorry, Boss.”
Trucy dropped her father’s hand and folded her arms. “Don’t be sorry. If Daddy had just told Mommy ‘I love you’, Detective Lang wouldn’t even be an issue! But no, now we’re dealing with a love triangle all because Daddy’s been too shy!”
Spirit swelling once again with pride, Phoenix once again ran his hand through his daughter’s hair. “You know what? I could take the stand and argue against you all day, saying ‘it’s not that easy’ or ‘it’s not the right time’, but it wouldn’t change the fact that you’re right. And I’ve told myself those things all this time, only to end up where we are now.”
All eyes darted to a new figure a second later, a worried young man clad in a hospital uniform. Gumshoe was the first to speak, echoing the thoughts piercing the minds of the others: “What is it, pal? Got anything to report?”
The young doctor nodded, lavender eyes pierced with compassion, his voice filled with urgent messages but soft.
“I do, sir. Pardon me for interrupting, sir, but my team and I just wanted to update you on Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth’s condition. As of right now, we’re operating on the three bullet wounds our patient’s suffering from. Two of those wounds are about five inches from the patient’s heart, while the third wound struck the patient’s neck. We’re addressing damage to the patient’s vital organs, in addition to on-going bleeding, and so far, the patient hasn’t been as responsive to the treatments as we need him to be. But we’re doing everything in our power to keep the patient with us.”