Chapter Text
February 28, 2019, 9:03 AM
Pearl's Seat, Train to Los Angeles
Pearl sighed as the horn sounded and the train lurched, leaving Kurain Village behind. Its noble buildings shrank as the unopened flower buds of the cherry and plum trees blurred into dots of pink and white. She tried to imprint every detail of the landscape into her memory, despite the tears streaming down her face.
After a few minutes, she could only see the blur of green mountains and trees as the train followed its windy path, so she dug in her bag and pulled out a story book. She traced the embossed letters on the cover, trying to sound out the words without an adult to help her. Pearl opened the cover and looked at the picture of Elise Deauxnim—Mystic Misty— printed there. Now, she could see the resemblance to Mystic Maya and her own mother, and she wondered how she didn’t notice until it was too late.
Pearl bit her thumb looking at the picture book, her mind unable to leave Kurain. When would Mystic Maya notice? Would she be angry? Would she be happy? Would she understand that Pearl was only doing this for her sake?
Before Mr. Nick arrived in their lives with a gunshot and a busted lock, Pearl never thought she would leave Kurain. Even after her mother was arrested, she assumed that someday Mystic Maya and she would return, Mr. Nick would marry Mystic Maya and come home with them, and everything would be okay. But now, two weeks had passed since Mystic Maya had become Master of the Kurain spirit channeling technique. Two weeks since the trial ended. One week since Mystic Maya explained that she and Mr. Nick were never going to get married. One week since Mystic Misty’s funeral. Mystic Maya had looked so small, wrapped in white robes and clutching Mr. Nick’s and Pearl’s hands.
Mr. Godot is in jail. Sister Iris is in jail. Mystic Misty is dead. It’s all Pearl’s fault.
But Mystic Maya was still so kind to Pearl, even though Pearl had caused her so much pain through her entire life. She must hate her, at least a little bit. Of course, she would never tell Pearl, because Mystic Maya was the kindest, strongest, funniest person in the whole world. So Pearl decided that she would return the kindness Mystic Maya had shown her, and she would never hurt Mystic Maya ever again.
Pearl would leave Kurain Village and never return.
Two hours later, Pearl arrived at the train station in Los Angeles. She put the picture book back in her bag of belongings and disembarked the train, and she tried to remember which tunnel leads to the busy streets of the city. She realized that this was her first time at the train station without Mystic Maya or Mr. Nick, and that the world was suddenly much louder and noisier without their hands to hold.
Pearl hesitated. Maybe she could just get back on the train. She could be home before dinner, and Mystic Maya would never know that Pearl had left. She could spend the rest of her life with Mystic Maya and Mr. Nick, watching Steel Samurai and helping Mr. Nick with his lawyer paperwork. Pearl turned and looked at the train preparing to return to Kurain Village. It wasn't too late.
Pearl closed her eyes and shook her head. No. She had already caused them enough pain. From now on, she would have to be brave, the way that Mystic Maya and Mr. Nick always were. Pearl steeled herself and followed the ocean of adults out of the train station.
Los Angeles was chilly, and Pearl was glad she remembered to wear the Steel Samurai scarf that Mystic Maya bought for her. She started walking down the streets, not sure where she should go but certain that once she was there, she'd know. But she realized, not even five minutes later, that she was impossibly hungry. Pearl remembered that while she ate breakfast before leaving the village, she didn’t bring lunch or any snacks in her bag. She hoped no one was able to hear her stomach growling.
Pearl didn't remember how to find the district with all Mystic Maya's favorite street food vendors. Normally, she would walk there with Mystic Maya and Mr. Nick, or they would ride his bicycle. Pearl even got to wear a Pink Princess helmet that had arrived at the office a few days after Mr. Edgeworth scolded Mr. Nick for allowing Pearl to sit on the back of his bike without one.
Pearl bit her thumbnail. No time to think about her old life with Mystic Maya and Mr. Nick. She would have to find something to eat by herself. Pearl took a deep breath, sniffing the air of Los Angeles. Something sweet drifted upon the breeze amid the scents of litter, gasoline, and cigarette smoke. Mouth watering, Pearl followed the smell down the block to an elderly woman selling red bean manju. She stood on the tip of her toes as she ordered and handed the lady a five dollar bill.
The manju was perfect in every way, and Pearl had finished before the vendor could finish counting out her change. With a chuckle, she handed Pearl another manju, free of charge. Pearl tried to refuse politely, but she found herself purchasing another instead. She was very hungry, after all.
With a kind smile, the vendor asked where her parents were. Pearl was unsure whether she should lie or tell the truth. Instead, she bought yet another manju, thanked the woman, and scurried away before she could ask anymore questions.
Pearl meandered through the streets, eventually making her way to a park. She practiced reading the sign at the entrance: Gourd Lake. Pearl thought maybe she would ask Mr. Nick what a "gourd" was later, until she remembered she probably wouldn't see Mr. Nick for a while, a thought that made Pearl's stomach sink. She tried to shake off the feeling and entered the park.
Despite the chill, it was a lovely day. Many of the trees were sporting buds that would soon turn into leaves and blossoms. Pearl even saw a few squirrels and rabbits, and she was avoiding the geese on the walking path when she ran into someone on the path. Pearl fell backwards with an oof and scrambled back to her feet, apologizing profusely. She stopped with wide eyes when she realized who stood before her.
There must be zillions of people living in Los Angeles, but of course, Pearl had the luck to run into Detective Gumshoe on his day off.
“Hello, Mr. Detective,” Pearl said, pointedly avoiding eye contact.
“Hey, pal! What are you doing out here?" The detective smiled, and Pearl quickly thought of a lie.
"I wanted to go... swimming." Pearl didn't even know how to swim.
Detective Gumshoe frowned. "Really? Listen, pal, don't go swimming in the lake this time of year, it's too cold. You'll catch, well, a cold!" Pleased with his wordplay, the detective started laughing again. Sirens blared in Pearl's head. She had to find an escape. He was a detective after all; he would surely figure out what Pearl was really doing and try to stop her.
"Um, Mr. Detective, I have to go-"
"Hey. Where's Maya? And Wright! I almost never see you without them." No! "Miss Pearl, are you lost?"
Pearl blinked and tried to smile sweetly. "No..."
"It's okay, Pearl! I'm here to save the day!" The detective smiled again and held out his large hand to Pearl. "Let's head down to the station, and your friends can come get you."
"Um, Mr. Detective, but..." Desperation set in. "You... but it's your vacation day! I can find my way home by myself, and I will go do that right now!"
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that." Detective Gumshoe scratched the back of his head. "It's not safe to be walking around by yourself. You could get hurt, and who would help you?" He brightened up. "Besides, pal, you can come visit Missile at the station! Do you like dogs?"
Pearl did like dogs. Out of options and lies, she sighed and took the detective's index finger in her hand. Together they walked down the busy sidewalks to the police station. Pearl told the Detective Gumshoe all about Mystic Maya’s ascension ceremony, her medium training with the elders, and the new books she’d been reading. He told her that Mr. Edgeworth was thinking about adopting a dog, and he had asked the detective to accompany him to the shelter as an "expert witness." (The detective laughed when he told her that part. Pearl wasn't sure why, but she laughed, too, so she wouldn't be impolite.)
They arrived at the station, square and imposing. Pearl hadn’t been here in a few weeks, not since she’d returned to the village with Mystic Maya, and she’d only ever been with Mr. Nick leading the way. Detective Gumshoe led her to a chair in his office and left to find Missile the dog. He returned with a noble-looking Shiba Inu, and after a few minutes of playing with the dog, Pearl could confirm that he really was a good boy.
A few officers stopped by the office. Each of them greeted her, petted the dog, and gave the detective a curious look. He merely shook his head and waved them away. Pearl had just been starting to teach Missile how to shake her hand with his paw when she heard a commotion outside of Detective Gumshoe's office. She walked into the main office, Missile a step behind her. A sweaty, broad-shouldered man with spiky hair was bent over at the waist and panting just inside the office entrance.
“Mr. Nick!” she cried in surprise. Phoenix Wright immediately stood up straight. Instead of his regular business suit, he was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and gray shorts.
“Pearls!” Mr. Nick ran to where she played with Missile, pushing past detectives and desks, and scooped her into a tight hug. Forgetting that she was supposed to stay away from Mystic Maya and by extension, Mr. Nick, Pearl hugged him around the neck. He released her and then placed his hands on her shoulders. “What are you doing here? Where’s Maya?”
Oh no. Pearl stared at Mr. Nick, fighting back tears. She was going to be in so much trouble.
“Pearl, what happened? Are you okay? Is Maya okay?” All Pearl could do was nod and throw herself back into Mr. Nick’s arms, sobbing as he rubbed circles into her upper back. He whispered softly into her hair as she cried loudly. “It’s okay, Pearls, you’re okay, we’re gonna get you home soon.”
They waved goodbye to Detective Gumshoe and Missile and left together. Pearl cried the entire walk to Mr. Nick’s office, holding the hand that wasn’t balancing his bicycle. He sheepishly explained that after the detective called him, he’d forgotten the helmet he kept for her in his hurry to get to the station. So they walked slowly and with no shortage of tears.
When they arrived at Mr. Nick’s office, he led Pearl to the couch and sat beside her, a warm hand on her upper back. “Pearly, Maya is already on her way, but we’ll stay here together until it’s time to meet her at the train station.”
“Okay,” Pearl whispered, hiccuping wetly. She brought her thumb back to her mouth and avoided Mr. Nick’s eyes.
“Do you want to watch Steel Samurai while we wait? Maya told me there’s a marathon this week. And I might have some candy somewhere in my desk drawer, how does that all sound?” Mr. Nick’s voice was softer than usual as he brushed Pearl’s bangs out of her face.
Pearl nodded, because even if her attempt at running away had utterly and completely failed, she really did want to watch Steel Samurai and eat candy on Mr. Nick’s couch. And she did want to see Mystic Maya again, even if she knew it would only cause more problems for her cousin.
Mr. Nick’s mouth settled into a soft frown, the same one he wore while investigating. “Pearl,” he asked, “why did you leave without telling Maya? Did something happen?” Pearl shook her head and wiped her eyes. “Are you sure? Because, Pearls, if something did happen, you can tell me. And you can tell Maya. If something's wrong, we won’t be mad, I promise. We just want you safe. Okay?” Pearl noticed that Mr. Nick was still wearing the magatama Mystic Maya gave him on a black string around his neck. Her throat felt tight.
“Okay,” Pearl whispered, and the magatama glowed faintly. She figured that one more small lie wouldn't hurt, even though Mr. Nick knew she was lying, even though her mother had told her over and over again that she shouldn’t tell lies because lying is wrong. But maybe that was another thing that Pearl’s mother said and didn’t really mean.
The next hour passed pleasantly. Mr. Nick wrapped Pearl up in a thick maroon blanket on the old blue couch that had belonged to her cousin, Mystic Mia, and together they watched the Steel Samurai resist the Evil Magistrate and his assorted forces of evil. Mr. Nick didn’t even complain about the “contrived” plots this time, whatever that means. The whole experience was so pleasant that Pearl almost forgot that Mystic Maya was on her way. Almost.
But of course, the time came for Mr. Nick and Pearl to begin their walk back to the train station. This time, they left Mr. Nick’s shiny blue bicycle and walked through the streets hand in hand. Mr. Nick pointed out different birds that flew overhead and flowers along the sidewalk. He’d started some new hobbies at the suggestion of Mr. Edgeworth, and Pearl wondered if she could start bird watching too. She’d have to find some way to entertain herself when she left the village for good.
The train station came into view, and Pearl began to drag her feet. It was dirty and childish, and her mother would have hated it, so Pearl dug her heels into the concrete and tried to stop Mr. Nick from walking closer to the station, where Mystic Maya would be, surely so disappointed and so angry.
“Pearl? C’mon, Maya’s train just arrived, we have to go meet her— ow! ” Mr. Nick’s messy eyebrows knitted together as Pearl roughly tugged on his arm. She let go of his hand with a gasp, apologizing through the tears that were suddenly falling down her face again.
“M-Mr. Nick,” she sobbed, “please don’t make me go home!”
Mr. Nick knelt beside her. “Oh, Pearly, you need to go home. Maya is going to take care of you, though, and we can visit each other, and you can call me everyday if you want, but—” Pearl could no longer hear Mr. Nick’s voice over the sound of her sobbing. He tried patting her shoulder, but it was more awkward than comforting, so they just blocked the flow of pedestrians until Pearl was calm enough to begin walking again. She took Mr. Nick’s hand again, and he gave hers a gentle squeeze.
The inside of the station was busy, like always, but it wasn’t hard to find Mystic Maya in her white and purple robes. She looked as though she hadn’t waited to change out of her new Master robes in her hurry to leave. Pearl was sick to her stomach. She had caused trouble for Mystic Maya, on top of everything else her cousin had to handle during the day.
When Mystic Maya saw Mr. Nick’s spiky hair, she cried out their names and pushed through the mass of disgruntled passengers to reach them. To Pearl’s surprise, Mystic Maya’s eyes were red-rimmed, and her face was swollen and flushed; she must’ve been so angry. Regardless, she wrapped Pearl in a tight hug, and she kept whispering, “thank goodness, thank goodness, thank goodness you’re okay.”
So of course, Pearl began to cry again. She was so horrible that she couldn’t even run away properly, she had to get caught and cause Mystic Maya even more pain and suffering and inconvenience.
Mystic Maya and Pearl purchased tickets that would take them home. When the train arrived, they hugged Mr. Nick and boarded the train, sitting side by side. The first thirty minutes were silent, other than their sniffling and the voices of other passengers. Right as Pearl’s eyes began to droop with the weight of her exhaustion, Mystic Maya cleared her throat.
“Pearl,” she said, “did something happen?”
“Nothing happened,” Pearl whispered.
Mystic Maya’s shoulders slumped forward. “Pearly, I know that’s not true. Why did you leave without telling anyone?”
“I just wanted to see Mr. Nick,” Pearl lied. Another lie.
Mystic Maya sighed. “You should’ve told me. It's... it wasn't safe." Her voice hardened. "You could've gotten hurt, and I wouldn't have been able to help you, Pearl!"
Pearl shrunk into herself, overcome with shame. Mystic Maya immediately smiled gently at her.
"Next time you want to visit Nick, just tell me, okay?" Mystic Maya wrapped an arm around Pearl. Pearl stiffened, then leaned into her cousin's warmth. Mystic Maya really was the kindest person in the world.
"Okay," Pearl said. She closed her eyes and let the train rock her to sleep.