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"...C'mon, pal, please tell me you've gotten to the bottom of this case by now!"
Phoenix turned around and saw Detective Gumshoe walking towards him, frowning and scratching the back of his head. Phoenix wiped the sweat from his brow as he smiled to Gumshoe and nodded. It was an unusually warm and cloudless day in September. The heat made investigating Exposé Park with Maya and Pearl a bit agonizing, especially considering the two of them kept getting sidetracked while Phoenix wanted to wrap up the investigation early so he can get back to the office, so he could shower, bask in the air conditioning, and get a good night's sleep ahead of tomorrow's trial. Still, by the end of the day, Phoenix felt quite satisfied, even if it did take a bit longer than he anticipated. He was confident that he would be able to acquit Maggey Byrde at tomorrow's trial.
"Don't worry, Detective." Phoenix said. "I think we've cracked this case wide open, actually."
"Really!?" Gumshoe said. "You know who the true killer is?"
"Not exactly." Phoenix said. "But we've linked the murder to a ring of con artists. I'm confident one of them is behind this. I asked Maya to do some digging into these con artists but...well, she and Pearl saw an ice cream truck pass by and ran off after it. But regardless...I think we've got this one in the bag."
"Oh, good!" Gumshoe said. "That's great news, pal. That means Maggey's gonna be alright!"
"If all goes according to plan, then yes." Phoenix said. "But who knows what the prosecution has up their sleeve for tomorrow's trial."
"Speaking of, I was able to get the name of the prosecutor assigned to the case." Gumshoe said. "Some guy named Winston Payne. That name mean anything to you, pal?"
"...Nope, can't say that it rings a bell." Phoenix said. "Maybe he's a rookie who's taking this on as his first case."
"For Maggey's sake, I sure hope so!" Gumshoe said, smiling. "Though that's some pretty rotten luck, going up against the legendary Phoenix Wright for your first ever trial."
"L-Legendary...?" Phoenix said, chuckling. "Well, I don't know about 'legendary' exactly but..."
"Mr. Nick! Mr. Niiiiiick!"
Pearl came running towards Phoenix and handed him a half-melted ice cream cone.
"We got you some ice cream, Mr. Nick!" Pearl said, as she licked the other cone she was carrying. "You gotta try this stuff! It's delicious!"
"I've had ice cream before, Pearls..." Phoenix said, laughing as he took a bite. "...But I suppose maybe this is your first time trying it."
"It's a pretty mind blowing experience, isn't it, Pearly?" Maya said, catching up with her cousin, carrying a popsicle. "One of the worst parts about Kurain is there's nothing but boring food! Seriously! No ice cream, no ramen, no burgers, no pizza...you're lucky if they let you put soy sauce on your rice!"
"Oh...but Mother's cooking is good too!" Pearl said. "She makes the most wonderful curry! When she gets back home from her vacation, I'm gonna ask her to make me some!"
Phoenix and Maya exchanged glances. They had tried to explain to Pearl that her mother was not, in fact, traveling--she was stuck in prison, for being an accomplice to murder, and she wasn't coming back for a long, long time. Pearl would always nod and say she understood--then go back to talking about her mother was merely "taking a vacation" and act like everything would go back to normal soon enough. Phoenix hoped that the child psychiatrist he'd recently hired to do weekly sessions with Pearl would help her to come to terms with the truth. In the meantime, he and Maya recognized this mindset for the coping mechanism it was and decided not to press the issue too hard...
Thankfully, Pearl handily allowed them to change the subject when some of her melting ice cream landed on Gumshoe's left shoe.
"Ah! Mr. Scruffy Detective, sir!" Pearl said. "I'm so sorry!"
"Oh, not to worry, kiddo!" Gumshoe said, laughing. Pearl knelt down and tried to wipe the ice cream off with the sleeve of her robes. "These shoes of mine are always getting dirty. I've stepped in all sorts of nasty things. Mud, garbage, blood--"
"B-BLOOD!?" Pearl said, jumping to her feet and backing away from Gumshoe's shoes.
"Well, yeah, I am a homicide detective after all!" Gumshoe said, chuckling.
"...Make sure you wash your hands when we get back to the office, Pearls." Phoenix said, sighing.
"Honestly, Detective Gumshoe, you ought to take better care of your shoes!" Maya said. "Those are some very nice loafers you've got there! You should wear some cheaper, more disposable shoes while you're out investigating."
"...They are pretty nice, huh?" Gumshoe said, looking down at them. "The funny thing is, pal, these were actually a gift from Mr. Edgeworth!"
"Edgeworth...?" Phoenix said.
"Yup." Gumshoe said. "Years ago, when we first started working together, he noticed that I only had one pair of tattered sandals that I wore day in and day out--even during the wintertime! I couldn't afford new shoes on my salary, you see. But as thanks for my hard work on a case, he actually bought me these."
"Aw, that's sweet!" Maya said. "Just goes to show you that Edgeworth can be pretty darn nice when he wants to be."
"I'll say." Gumshoe said, sighing. "I hope he's doing alright...wherever he is."
Phoenix looked at Gumshoe, and for the first time, he realized that he wasn't the only one who was feeling the impact of Edgeworth's sudden disappearance. Gumshoe had worked with Edgeworth for years, so naturally, he was quite worried about him too. And that was on top of the stress he was feeling at his friend, Miss Byrde, being arrested for murder. At tomorrow's trial, Gumshoe would be forced to testify against her, summarizing the police's investigation and their reasons for arresting her...even though he clearly cared for her quite a lot and didn't think she was guilty whatsoever.
Maya, too, seemed to recognize in that moment how stressed Gumshoe felt, because she suddenly hatched a plan to help them all unwind a little ahead of tomorrow's trial.
"...Say, Detective?" Maya said. "Did you know that the new Pink Princess movie was just released on DVD?"
"Pink Princess...?" Gumshoe said. "What's that mean, pal?"
"It's a spin-off of The Steel Samurai, duh!" Maya said.
"Steel...Samurai...?" Gumshoe said.
"Oh, come on, how have you forgotten who the Steel Samurai is already!?" Maya said. "Don't you remember the case we both worked on last year--that murder at Global Studios?"
"Hm...oh, yeah!" Gumshoe said. "That does kind of ring a bell, I guess. The Steel Samurai..."
Maya looked from him, to Phoenix, who merely glanced back at her with some confusion.
"C'mon, doesn't anyone see where I'm going with this?" Maya said. "We should all get together and watch it! Tonight!"
"Tonight?" Phoenix said.
"Yeah! We can have a movie night at the office!" Maya said. "After a day like today, I think we've all earned a night of R&R!"
"Actually, I was kind of planning on heading to bed early tonight--" Phoenix said.
"You're such a grandpa, Nick!" Maya said. "You can't stay up a little later to watch an awesome superhero movie? It will be tons of fun. We can make popcorn!"
"Where are we gonna get the popcorn, though?" Phoenix said.
"...Well, obviously, you're gonna have to go out to the store and buy some, Nick!" Maya said.
"But...all I wanted...was to sleep...!" Phoenix said before sighing. "...I don't really have an option though, do I?"
"Nope!" Maya said. "The movie night is mandatory! What do you say, Detective? Will you be able to make it?"
"You...You're really serious about this, pal?" Gumshoe said. "You'd invite me over to watch a movie with you guys?"
"Absolutely!" Maya said. "So...is that a yes, Detective?"
Phoenix stared at Gumshoe, hoping that he would turn down the request and have this "movie night" cancelled. Surely, Phoenix thought, a grown adult like him wouldn't be interested in coming over to watch some children's flick about superheroes--?
"Sounds like a plan, pal!" Gumshoe said. "Oh boy! No one's ever invited me over to this kinda thing before!"
"Really?" Maya said. "That's...kinda sad, actually."
"Well, there's a first time for everything!" Gumshoe said, laughing. "I'm just happy to be included at all."
"Um...Mystic Maya?" Pearl said. "Will I be allowed to watch this...'mo-vie'?"
"Of course, Pearly!" Maya said. "I haven't forgotten about my mission--to convert you into a diehard Steel Samurai fan!"
Phoenix sighed. As with all of Maya's harebrained schemes, it seemed like there was no way he was going to get out of this...
__
At around seven o'clock that evening, Detective Gumshoe showed up.
"Mr. Scruffy Detective, welcome to our humble abode." Pearl said, bowing to him as she answered the door. "We are grateful you have decided to grant us a visit, and in the name of the great Ami Fey, we promise to be gracious and hospitable hosts..."
"Oh, erm...thanks?" Gumshoe said.
"Pearly, there's no need to be so formal--this isn't the manor, you know!" Maya said, appearing at the door. "Glad you could make it, Detective! Come on in! Nick's working on the popcorn!"
And indeed, Phoenix found himself in the kitchenette, wearing a pink apron that was several sizes too small for him, messing with the dials on the stovetop, trying to find out the right temperature to cook the popcorn at without burning it. Ever since he sold his apartment and began living in the office a few months ago, he barely used the stove, instead subsisting almost off TV dinners and other meals that required only a microwave. It was just one of many aspects of his life at the office that reminded him of living in a spartan apartment during his college years. He slept on an air mattress, washed all his clothes at the twenty-four hour laundromat down the road, and (save for Charley) had little to no decorations. Maya and Pearl had helped him a little in this regard by dolling up the apartment with their own unique brand of Fey charm. Steel Samurai action figures guarded the window sills. A huge chest full of toys for Pearl's enjoyment now sat by Phoenix's desk. The equipment Maya and Pearl used for their spirit medium training--scrolls, talismans, Magatamas, and more--were scattered all over. Photos now hung from the fridge with magnets. Some of them were newer, like the roll of film Maya and Pearl received after visiting the photo booth in the mall. Others were older--like the picture Lotta took after Edgeworth's trial, or photos from as far back Mia and Maya's childhood. The office had definitely gotten a lot more messy and chaotic in recent months, but Phoenix didn't mind. Whenever he found himself tired or frustrated with a case he was working on, all he had to do was look around to be reminded of the small, makeshift family that had formed in this most unlikely of places. With Maya and Pearl's support, it was never hard for him to find the motivation to keep going...
"Hey, pal!" Gumshoe said, walking into the kitchenette with Maya and Pearl.
"Hello, Detective!" Phoenix said, turning around and waving to him. "The popcorn will be ready in a little bit."
"Alright!" Gumshoe said. "In the meantime...I went out and bought a little something for our get-together!"
Gumshoe placed a bag on the table and removed several cans of soda--specifically, the cheap, knock-off brands with spoonerized names you'd find being sold for remarkably cheap prices at convenience stores and gas stations. Phoenix and Maya didn't mind, as they knew that Gumshoe's financial situation was...dire, to say the least. And Pearl, of course, didn't know the difference between soda brands. She grabbed one of the aluminum cans and stared at it in awe.
"It's 'so-da'!" Pearl said. "Mystic Maya! Mystic Maya! Can I have some? Please?"
"Of course you can." Maya said, grabbing the can and popping the tab before giving it back to Pearl. "But don't drink the whole thing, OK? Remember what happened the last time I let you have a whole can of soda late at night?"
"She didn't get to sleep until three in the morning..." Phoenix said. "...I should know, because I was the one who stayed up with her to watch those Kids' Masterpiece Theater VHS tapes over and over again until she finally dozed off."
"I promise, it won't happen again!" Pearl said as she took a sip of the soda. "You can count on me, Mr. Nick and Mystic Maya!"
"...Ah, there we go!" Phoenix said, as he heard the popcorn begin to crackle and watched the foil expand. "The popcorn's almost done."
"Good!" Maya said. "Thanks, Nick! C'mon, Pearly! You can help me find the remote so we can cue up the movie!"
__
Phoenix was a bit relieved to find out The Pink Princess: The Movie: The Revenge of the Dark Empress!! was only an hour-and-a-half long. He was anticipating something up to two or three hours, but then he remembered this was a film for kids, and they didn't necessarily have the longest attention spans in the world. But oddly, as they neared the end of the film, Phoenix almost found himself wishing it was a bit longer--just so he could bask in this moment a bit longer. He hated to admit it, but Maya was right--he was wrong to be grouchy. They did end up having quite a fun and relaxing time. Everyone ended up enjoying the popcorn, making Phoenix quite proud...despite the fact that all he did was follow the simple, three-step instructions on the packaging. The soda Gumshoe brought was also a hit--though even half a can ended up being too much for Pearl, as soon she began to tap her feet frantically, then started to pace around the room and do cartwheels (something Maya taught her a few weeks ago). Phoenix resigned himself to another long night of staying up with her to watch Kids' Masterpiece Theater...but he was OK with that. Pearls was a sweet kid, and he had begun to view her like a little sister, just like he did with Maya. Sometimes, taking care of Pearls and Maya made Phoenix wonder if he would ever like to raise a kid of his own--though he'd quickly come to his senses when he began to consider just how much more difficult (not to mention costly) fatherhood would be. Still...it was something that kept popping up in his mind every now and again...
As for the movie itself, Phoenix found it enjoyable enough. He understood more of it than he anticipated, mostly thanks to the crash course he (unwillingly) received on the "lore" of the Steel Samurai series from Maya (seriously, she could write an entire thesis about the show, he thought). Pearl and Gumshoe were a bit lost, but Maya made sure to fill them in on any of the context they were missing (loudly announcing, for instance, that such and such scene was actually a reference to season five, episode thirty seven of the original 1982 Steel Samurai series, or explaining that the reason the Pink Princess' sword could talk was because it is possessed by the ghost of an ancient dragon goddess, and so on and so forth). And even though Phoenix would never admit it...he did end up enjoying the action scenes and maybe almost teared up during the film's emotional climax. This was in stark contrast to Maya, Pearl, and even Gumshoe--who all ended up bawling their eyes out when the Pink Princess' former-rival-turned-best-friend, the Magenta Marchioness, sacrificed herself to save the world from being taken over by the Dark Empress and her mind-controlling powers.
"It...It's so beautiful..." Gumshoe said, as Pearl passed him a box of tissues. "...Why!? Why does it have to be this way!? After everything she's gone through...oh, God, it's just too tragic to watch!"
"I know how you feel, Gumshoe." Maya said, patting him on the back as he sobbed into his hands. "I cried so loudly when I first saw this scene that I was nearly thrown out of the theater!"
When it was all over, Gumshoe was still drying his eyes, Maya had fallen nearly fallen asleep in the recliner, and Pearl was hopping up and down on the sofa. They all bid Detective Gumshoe good night as he thanked them one last time for keeping him company.
"...I really do appreciate it." Gumshoe said. "You know, I...I say this a lot but...I truly do think you guys as my pals."
"You're our pal too, Detective." Phoenix said. "We'll see you at the trial tomorrow."
"Good night, Mr. Scruffy Detective!" Pearl said.
"G'night..." Maya said, yawning loudly and stretching.
"Night." Gumshoe said, waving as he headed out.
"...Right!" Phoenix said, as he closed the door and turned to Pearl and Maya. "Who wants to help me clean up?"
"Um...I'm good..." Maya said, walking off towards her bedroom. "Let me sleep on it and...I'll let you know in the morning..."
"...I should've expected that." Phoenix said. "Well, Pearls, looks like it's up to you and me."
"OK!" Pearl said. Following Phoenix's lead, she knelt down and began picking popcorn kernels up off the carpet. "...I had a lot of fun tonight, Mr. Nick."
"...I did too, Pearls." Phoenix said. "Maya was right after all. Getting to hang out with you guys...it was nice."