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Mia rested her head on Diego's shoulder and let out a blissful sigh. Diego looked at her and smiled. He took a sip from his coffee mug and put his arm around Mia, holding her closer to him.
They were both sitting at their favorite coffee shop and had invited Phoenix and Maya to hang out with them. Actually, they had reason to meet. A lot had happened recently. Diego had woken up from his coma, Dahlia's sentence had been carried out, and Morgan Fey's plan had been discovered and stopped. Mia and Diego recently were very busy, but it was worth it. Now they could enjoy each other, without any dangers.
"What about you, Phoenix? I heard you have a new apprentice," Mia asked. She grabbed Diego's hand and held it tenderly, waiting with curiosity to hear what Phoenix had to say.
"That's true," Phoenix replied, taking a sip of tea from his cup.
"Looks like our office is getting bigger," Mia said.
"It's kind of like family, eh?" Diego commented with a faint smile, still holding Mia close. "Another lawyer to guide. It's like raising a child," he summed up his thought with a metaphor. Diego's words elicited a few chuckles, before Maya spoke up and spoke about her training to become a Master.
Mia focused on being a lawyer and had no plans to claim the position of Master in Kurain Channeling Technique. She wanted to end the era of bloody conflicts and conspiracies that tore families apart. Now it was Maya's turn to be a Master.
Diego listened to the conversation, though he didn't understand much of what Maya was saying. His eyes met Phoenix's. His expression suggested he didn't understand this whole spiritual thing either. After all, only Mia and Maya were talking.
It was perfect. All the people who were threatening them were sentenced. Diego could finally spend time with Mia and run their own law firm together, without fear for their lives.
But it was too good to be true.
Diego's face became much more serious, realizing the painful truth. This wasn't supposed to be like this. The table where he and the others were sitting fell silent. Mia moved slightly away from Diego and looked at him with concern.
“Are you okay?”
Diego looked her straight in the eye. He couldn't believe he was about to say that. The truth was bitter, far more bitter than coffee. “But you're dead, kitten.”
“What?” Mia asked, raising her eyebrows. Maya and Phoenix also looked at him in shock at his accusation.
“Redd White killed you,” Diego said. He clenched his fist as he mentioned the name of the man who had ruined his life and contributed to the humiliation of the Fey clan.
Mia stared at him silently. Diego then turned to Phoenix.
“I hated you, Trite. I built the rest of my life on my hatred towards you instead of asking for help. I was a fool...”
*
Diego woke up on his bunk in his prison cell. The dream he just had was still fresh in his mind, though he wished it would last longer. This wasn't the first time when he dreamed of Mia.
He always had pleasant dreams about her. Diego didn't recall having nightmares. But unfortunately, some of his dreams about Mia ended with the terrible realization that he was only dreaming and nothing was real. His first feeling after waking up was disappointment. Despite having come to terms with her death, Diego wanted to see Mia again. This time, the real Mia, just as he remembered her before he fell into a coma.
Diego sometimes wondered why he had such dreams. Was Mia somehow trying to communicate with him through dreams? Diego was rather skeptical and didn't believe in such things, although he knew that the afterlife existed. He wasn't interested in such religious things, but he had seen the spirit channeling. There definitely had to be something after death. But it was enough of these religious and philosophical reflections.
Diego rose from his bunk and sat down. The prison cell filled with the creaking sounds of the bed Diego was on. The cell was empty. All his fellow prisoners had been released some time agi, because they jad shorter sentences. Diego was the only prisoner in the cell, living a solitary life. Perhaps not entirely solitary. Diego regularly received medical and psychological care and participated in an animal therapy program.
When he first arrived at the prison, Diego often had visitors. Phoenix visited him regularly, although at one point he mysteriously disappeared and stopped visiting him. Diego even thought that he died. Some time later, he learned that Phoenix had presented fake evidence during trial and lost his attorney badge. Diego refused to believe it. Someone trained by Mia would never do a such thing. Phoenix was a good guy.
But those were the rumors. Perhaps there was some truth in them, because Phoenix never came to visit Diego again. Or maybe he had more important things to do in his life.
It was the same with Maya. She also often came to visit him and always mentioned how grateful she was that Diego tried to protect her from Dahlia and Morgan's sinister plans. Maya often mentioned that she was training to become the new Master.
But Maya began to visit him less and less. At some point, Maya stopped coming. Diego wasn't angry at her and didn't blame her. Instead, he was happy that she was continuing Mia's legacy. This made him happy because Mia wouldn't be forgotten. From time to time, he received postcards and letters from Maya. Besides, she had her own life and responsibilities, unlike Diego, whose life had long was over.
Diego also wanted to do something and move on with his life. But he couldn't. He had to serve his sentence, whether it was deserved or not. Diego didn't know what to think, but he believed that the Judge had treated him fairly.
He didn't know how many years had passed. Time in prison was meaningless. Every day was and looked the same. But today was different. Yesterday, Diego had been summoned to the prison warden, who informed him that his sentence had ended, and he would be released the next day.
After so many long years, it was time for Diego to leave prison. But he wasn't happy about it. Diego had no idea what he should do after his release. As he pondered this, the door to his cell opened. Diego stood up and was escorted by a guard to the room where his belongings were kept.
The officer in charge of the place placed a container on his desk. Inside were the belongings that had been taken from him on the day he arrived at the prison: shoes, pants, shirt, jacket, tie. The only thing he was allowed to keep was his visor. Without it, Diego would be completely blind, though even with the mask, he couldn't see everything. But it was better than nothing. Diego couldn't wait to put on his old clothes again and get rid of his prison uniform.
Diego changed into his old clothes and was finally free from his striped uniform. Despite the passage of time, the clothes seemed brand new and still fit him. The prison officer gave him some papers to sign. This was the last step before he left the prison walls.
After signing the required papers, Diego was escorted to the exit by a prison guard. He never thought that he would ever leave this place. The air outside was different. It was fresh. The world looked different too, though Diego blamed his mask for that.
He was free now, but he had no idea what to do with himself. During his time in prison, he hadn't given much thought to the future. He had no plan. Dahlia and Redd White took everything from him and ruined his life. Some old wounds had healed, but some remained. Not every wound was visible to the naked eye either.
Diego stared silently ahead, accepting his cruel fate. His situation was even worse than when he'd woken from the coma. Now he didn't even know where to go or what to do. Diego realized that companies might not want to hire a former prisoner. Furthermore, the poison had ravaged his body, and doctor had told him directly that he wouldn't be able to perform certain physical labor tasks.
He decided to check out a few places he remembered. Perhaps some of the people he remembered were still in the city and could help him.
*
The first place Diego arrived was Grossberg's law firm—or rather, what was left of it. This was where it all began. His first internship, then his job, meeting Mia, and their romantic relationship. Diego felt himself growing emotional as he recalled the beautiful memories. He didn't want to cry. His old scar could reopen, and result in bleeding. But then he read the sign above the building's entrance and frowned.
"Skye & Marshall Agency
Diego didn't know what this place was, nor did he recognize the names yet, but something began to ring in his head. He had once known two people with those names. Lana, Jake, Diego, and Mia were once a team until he was poisoned. Perhaps it was just a coincidence.
But one thing was certain. It looked like Grossberg no longer worked here, or maybe he was even dead.
Diego first thought he'd mixed up the addresses, but that was impossible. He knew the address of Marvin's law firm by heart. It had to be here. Diego opened the door and went inside. At least he could ask about the previous owner and what had happened to him.
Diego remembered this place differently. Marvin had always lived lavishly and didn't skimp on spending money on expensive things. He could afford it, after all. Whoever took over the place now clearly preferred a simple, modern look. Or maybe they were just poor. Diego almost blurted out what he was thinking, but he didn't do that.
A very familiar figure was staring at him. That cowboy hat and poncho – Diego only knew one person obsessed with the Wild West: Jake Marshall. After all these years, he hadn't changed a bit and was still the same cowboy he knew.
The man looked at him closely. He smiled faintly and called out to someone else. "Bambina! Either it’s a Fata Morgana, or Diego Armando has returned and came to visit us."
After a moment, another familiar face appeared, though she was no longer wearing her uniform and had no medals. Lana emerged from one of the rooms and stood next to Jake. She was Mia's best friend. Before he met her, Diego had heard many good things about her from Mia, and together they formed a close group of friends. That was until Dahlia put Diego to sleep.
"Diego? Is that really you? Hey, how are you?" she asked.
"Hi. I'm glad someone remembers a fallen lawyer like me," Diego greeted them, breaking the silence. He didn't want to make their reunion awkward. Lana and Jake glanced at each other worriedly after hearing his harsh words about himself.
"Anyway, what are you two doing here? And where is Marvin?" Diego changed the subject and smiled. He couldn't lament the loss of his best years now. Diego was more interested in what had changed while he was rotting in prison.
"We can ask that about you too, pardner. What brings you here? And as for the old man, he's enjoying a well-deserved retirement," Jake commented.
"I understand," Diego replied, nodding humbly. This day had to come someday. Marvin was already getting on in years, and that was understandable. But Diego felt pity for him. He never thought he would miss Grossberg one day. Maybe it was because he owed Grossberg the fact that thanks to him, he had once been one of the best lawyers.
"I got out of prison today and thought I'd visit old places and friends," he continued. He didn't want to be pushy. Diego had already surveyed their office and realized that Lana and Jake might be busy. They both had jobs, unlike him.
"Well, we’re happy to hear that. You're always welcome here. Would you like to grab some coffee? We can talk if you want," Lana suggested with the most pleading smile on her lips.
Instead of being rejection, Diego was met with an invitation. He smiled when she mentioned coffee. It was something he couldn't refuse. In fact, he, Jake, and Lana had a bit in common. They were connected by Mia Fey—someone they all lost, and each had spent time in prison.
"So be it," Diego replied.
"Still addicted to coffee, eh? Welcome to our saloon," Jake commented, taking a sip from his canteen.
"And you still have your cactuses?" Diego replied, noticing a rather large collection of cactuses in the corner of the office. He saw the same cacti at the police station.
"Of course! These are my most prized possessions! Like animals on a ranch! Or a train filled with gold!" Jake began to show off his cactuses. He picked up several and proudly presented them to Diego.
"The police wanted to get rid of them! They were unable to appreciate their beauty," Jake continued indignantly, returning the cactus he'd been holding to its rightful place. "But luckily, I managed to get them back."
"I'm glad you managed to get them back," Diego said, looking around the office.
A framed photo on one of the shelves caught his eye. Diego walked closer, slowly recognizing what it was. It was a group photo taken some time after Mia passed her bar exam and received her badge.
Diego hadn't forgotten that day or rather the massive hangover he had after that. Mia had thrown a small party for her closest friends to celebrate. Diego sighed and smiled sadly when he saw himself in the photo. He still had his normal hair color back then and didn't need to wear his visor.
Mia, with a big smile, showed off her gold badge in the photo he held. Diego thought he was about to cry. He gently touched her face with his finger, running his hand down her cheek as if she were real. He missed it. He longed for tenderness.
“You miss her, don't you, pardner?” Jake asked.
Diego nodded silently and put the photo back on the shelf.
“We all miss her,” added Lana, who had just finished making coffee. She placed three cups of coffee on the coffee table and also brought an extra chair for Diego.
“That should cheer you up,” Lana said, sitting down in the chair.
“Thank you,” Diego said, and he and Jake sat down at the table with Lana. After taking the first sip from his cup, he decided to change the subject. “So, what do you guys do here? What kind of agency is this?”
“Detective agency,” Lana replied, holding her cup with both hands. She sipped some coffee from it and continued. “After I got out of prison, I needed money. I live with Ema, but her salary wasn't enough to cover our expenses.”
"This town needed a good sheriff," Jake chimed in. "I'm no longer a cop, but I gladly became a magnificent gunslinger who could help restore order."
Lana smirked and leaned into Diego, whispering conspiratorially. "Unofficially, we're also helping my sister."
"Ha! You really care about her, don't you?" Diego said. He remembered Ema well when she was just a child. Lana would sometimes ask him or Mia to watch over Ema when she was too busy. Their relationship reminded him a bit of Mia and Maya. Lana started to say something else, but Diego was lost in thought and didn't pay attention to what she had to say.
"What about you? What are your plans, pardner?" Jake asked. Diego snapped back to reality. He and Lana looked at Diego curiously. They told him about what they did since they got out of prison, and now it was his turn. But what was Diego supposed to tell them?
He had no plan and no idea what to do next. He didn't have a badge, so he could forget about going back to work as an attorney. He had nothing.
"Me? Ha! Now that's a good question!"
Diego took a long sip from his coffee mug. He had to admit, Lana made good coffee. It had been a while since Diego had had real, good coffee. The quality of the coffee he drank in prison wasn't very good.
His attention was caught by a passing garbage truck outside, stopped to collect trash from the overflowing containers. Diego set down his cup and continued.
"Even trash can be turned into something new. It can be recycled or something. But me? I'm a wreck, a shadow of the person I once was."
"Diego, think about it. Is this what Mia would have wanted?" Lana said more firmly.
Of course not. Mia wouldn't be happy with the way he was behaving now. She had always been optimistic and believed in her clients completely. That was something Diego admired about her. Her heart and sensitivity, even if he sometimes thought she was too soft.
A lawyer always smiles no matter how bad it gets. There were three things that made him smile— Mia, coffee, and winning cases. Now, Diego only had coffee.
"No," Diego replied to Lana's question.
Her expression softened, and a gentle, kind smile returned.
"I've made mistakes too, and I've been a terrible person, especially to Ema and my friends. But that's the past now, and I want to be a better person."
Lana briefly got up from the table and walked over to Jake's desk, where she grabbed their agency's business card. She returned to the table and handed it to Diego, saying, "If you need anything, or just want to talk... call me. I can also try to find you something to do here."
Diego took the business card. It was simple, with the name of the detective agency and two phone numbers. First belonged to Lana, and the second number belonged to Jake. The address of the agency's building and the services they provide were also listed.
"Thank you," Diego said, tucking the card into his pocket. In reality, he appreciated the gesture far more than Lana and Jake realized. But he still had two more places to visit. They were the Grossberg’s mansion and the Wright law firm.
Diego finished his coffee and set the mug on the table. He stood up and shook Jake's hand firmly. Diego then walked over to Lana and gave her a gentle hug. He said goodbye to them both and promised to visit them again.
*
"Diego! My boy! You're finally back!"
Marvin sat comfortably in his chair and smiled warmly when he saw his old colleague, whom he had once mentored. Grossberg groaned, trying to get up from the chair, but Diego stopped him.
"Mr. Grossberg, please sit down. You don't have to get up."
Diego approached him and shook his hand, greeting his former mentor. His skin was much more wrinkled, but he was still the same old man he remembered.
"I see you're enjoying your retirement," he commented, and sat down in the other chair across from Grossberg.
"Yes, my boy. However... I can't deny that I'd like to return to the courtroom," Marvin replied with a sad sigh.
“Mr. Grossberg?” Diego asked cautiously, noticing something was troubling him.
“I’ve seen a lot of things. DL-6, SL-9, UR-1… Phoenix losing his badge. I’ve witnessed a lot of things. Sometimes I’ve made mistakes. I’ve taught and watched young people become lawyers. Sometimes I wonder… was it worth it?”
“I’m so grateful for what you’ve done for me… And for Mia,” Diego began. “Without you, I never would have become a lawyer.”
“Oh, Diego, I knew you’d say that” Grossberg chuckled, then cleared his throat. Some things never change. “But one day I’ll close my eyes for the last time, and you and Wright will be the last decent lawyers in this country.”
“Come on, Marvin. You’re fine! Just because you have a few extra wrinkles, it doesn’t mean you’re dying,” Diego said, trying to comfort him. Although it sounded more like he was trying to cheer himself up too.
Marvin smiled weakly. Even though he appreciated his attempts to comfort him, he had accepted his old age. Grossberg placed his hand on his and looked at him in an almost grandfatherly manner.
"Do me a favor and retake the bar exam. The legal world needs more people like you and Phoenix. Lana and that cowboy are good kids too, but that’s not enough," Marvin said.
He released Diego's hand and leaned back in his chair. "Nobody cares about finding the truth anymore. These so-called prosecutors and defense attorneys only care about winning cases for their own good. Common citizens don't trust us."
Marvin stopped talking, and he and Diego sat in silence. They both had seen examples of two people who used such methods and wanted to maintain perfect records at the cost of the defendants - Von Karma and Hammond.
Diego shuddered at the thought that now more lawyers were following their example, exploiting someone's tragedy or difficult situation for their own gain. Diego recalled all the people who had been manipulated and put in danger because corrupted individual manipulated them to achieve their own gain: Fawles, Yanni Yogi, Pearl, Lana, Andrews, even Maya and Phoenix.
There could be more people like them. But first, corruption in the legal system needed to end. Diego had been on both sides of the courtroom. He was first a defense attorney, then a prosecutor. He had experience and knew all the dirty tricks used by lawyers. Diego smiled faintly and said, "I think you're right, Marv. I'll be back in the courtroom soon."
*
The office that Mia once had, changed drastically, and it didn't really look like a law firm. It was now more like a magician's office. Maybe Phoenix was a magician now, after he lost his badge? Even the sign said "Wright Anything Agency." It seemed everyone was opening their own agencies these days.
Diego looked around the office, curiously touching some of the props. A plant in the corner of the room caught his attention.
"Charley..." Diego spoke as if the plant could hear him. It was Mia's favorite plant, one that had been with her since the beginning of her legal career. It seemed Wright still cared for it and kept it in the office. In a sense, Mia was still here.
"Welcome to our agency! Do you need help?"
A teenage voice suddenly spoke up. Diego turned and saw a girl in a cape. She was looking at him curiously and had a sweet smile. But what was a teenage girl in a magician's outfit doing here? Was she related to Phoenix? This was the first time Diego had seen her.
"Hey, is Phoenix Wright here? Do you know him?" Diego asked.
"Of course! He's cleaning the bathroom again. I'll tell him that you’re here," the girl said.
She ran out of the office toward the bathroom, and Diego could hear her saying,
"Daddy! We have a guest!"
"Daddy?" Diego repeated her words. Did that mean Phoenix... had a daughter? It was impossible. Even more shocking was the appearance of Phoenix himself, who had just entered the office, holding his hands in the pockets of his gray sweatshirt, and a blue beanie covered his spiky hair.
The rumors were therefore true. Famous lawyer Phoenix Wright had been reduced to an average citizen.
"Trite..."
"Mr. Armando... I see you haven't changed."
Diego chuckled and extended his hand, greeting him normally. "Actually, it's good to see you, Phoenix."
"Same," Phoenix replied, shaking his hand. "They released you from prison, I presume?"
"I thought this day would never come. It felt like an eternity, but my odyssey has finally ended, even though the woman I loved isn't waiting for me, because she's gone. It's time to start the next act and write a new history," Diego said.
"A new history, huh?" Phoenix asked.
Diego nodded and walked over to the shelf where the law books were lined up. They still remembered Mia. She'd bought them. These thick, dusty books contained all the knowledge they needed to pass the bar exam, assuming they were still current, because the law could change.
"Good thing you kept them. We'll need them," he commented.
"We?"
"Wouldn't you like to go back to being a lawyer? Because I do," Diego replied.
Phoenix fell silent for a moment. A return to attorney job was tempting, especially if Diego wanted it too. Trucy wasn't making much money from her magic shows. They needed the money. Together, he and Diego would be unstoppable, able to pass on their knowledge to younger lawyers, thus repairing the broken legal system.
"I've had enough of this boring life. I'm in," Phoenix said, laughing.