It started when Maya came to talk to me. She explained how she had such a good time with me and that we were the perfect team. But then she told me that perfect team does have to break up eventually. She was moving back. Back to Kurain Village. She refused to return. After all, she had a duty now, as the Master. She couldn't multitask like that.

I was still holding up. I had a name for myself, as a successful lawyer. And I still had my close friends, like Edgeworth, Franziska, Gumshoe and Ema. But gradually, they slipped away from me. Franziska left for Germany. Gumshoe got married and promoted at the same time, so he was always busy. Edgeworth was also promoted, to the chief prosecutor, no less. And Ema was constantly in Europe, doing her training.

In short, I had no one.

And that made me careless. Careless enough to present false evidence in court. It was that young prosecutor. And I didn't blame him for exposing me. It was my fault. I was stupid enough to take a random piece of paper and throw it in the judge's face. I should have checked it or verified it or something.

And so, on that day, I fell. Down, down, deeper and deeper. I lost my career. I lost my badge. I lost my fame, dignity and worth. I was suddenly nothing.

So I considered whether 'nothing' would be missed.

First, I considered moving out to Kurain, or if I could bear it, Germany, to be with someone. Although I couldn't say if Franziska would provide the best help.

I spoke to therapists. They helped in no way.

Until I got work, although it was probably the most stressful work I've ever received.

All of a sudden, I was a father.

The defendant, who disappeared before the end of the trial, left his daughter in the world. I suppose he trusted me to find someone for her. She stayed with me for the first few nights. I did some digging, but I found no living relatives of hers.

So I told her about her options.

I told her that she may will have to find adoptive or foster parents. She was upset, and it made me upset too. I had grown fond of this little girl. So the words sort of tumbled out of my mouth.

"I suppose you could live with me, Trucy."

Her face perked up. She smiled for the first time in a week. I thought through what I had just said. But her face seemed too happy to deny.

Almost immediately after that, she began calling me Daddy. Within a week, she had become part of my heart.

And that gave me a reason to live.

If I cut myself out of the picture, I would cut out this girls' smile. She would be adopted by someone she didn't know, and probably someone who she wasn't as happy with.

So I decided I was going to fight on.

I retreated in the public eye, and found a job. Trucy and I were constantly moving house, trying to find somewhere to settle. Eventually, we founded the Wright Talent Agency. I played piano and poker, whilst Trucy, an aspiring magician, performed locally.

We made enough to live on. And slowly but surely, we rebuilt our lives.

Then came Apollo, a young defence lawyer. He had confidence, and we eventually took him on as part of our agency. He defeated many criminals. At one point, he managed to clear my name, even though I still blamed myself.

I could reclaim my fame again, if I wanted. Not that I needed to. Apollo was a good source of income.

But I got I call. It was a favour from an old friend. It was quite a big favour, as it involved getting my defence badge back.

At the same time, Athena Cykes joined our agency. Between me, her and Apollo, we were unstoppable. We took down a terrorist with no emotions. We banished the dark age of law far away.

And all this happened because that one girl smiled. She hasn't stopped smiling. None of us have.