A/N: Just completed Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies and MAN did it light a few sparks! This doesn't mean Path of the Power is dead, though. I just had to get this on paper before it was lost forever. WARNING: while there isn't any swearing, some of the dialogue here gets a little disturbing. The games are rated T for a reason.
Pandemonium. That was the only word that could describe the situation. Chief Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth had arrived to his office that afternoon only to see it surrounded with officers, detectives, other prosecutors, and even Judge Courtney, with her gavel in tow. All of them were clamoring for his attention at once, and it took almost ten minutes to restore order.
"Everyone please, one at a time! What happened here to cause such a commotion?" It was like trying to have a conversation during a torrential downpour, but the mass hysteria was finally quelled by a shout of:
SILENCE!
The noise level immediately dropped to zero as all eyes turned to the one who had spoken: former death-row inmate Simon Blackquill. Edgeworth gave him a weary grin.
"Yes, thank you, Simon. Now can someone please tell me what happened?"
After a short pause, detective Ema Skye stepped forward, "Long story short, Mr. Edgeworth, Shelly Dekiller attacked the prison."
Shelly Dekiller?! I hoped I'd never have to hear that name again. Shelly Dekiller was a professional assassin that both Edgeworth and Phoenix had encountered on several occasions but always managed to escape their grasp. The chief prosecutor grimaced in memory but motioned for Skye to continue.
"Well, he managed to kill his target, one of the death row inmates Matt Engarde. But on his way out, he ran into Simon who had been packing up his possessions to leave after his recent acquittal."
Another detective, Dick Gumshoe, cut in, "Mister Blackquill left Dekiller with a few wounds, but could not stop him from escaping.
Typical Dekiller, there one instant and gone the next. "I see, but why are you telling me this now? Why all of the commotion?"
"See, that's the thing Mister Edgeworth sir, In order to get to his target, Dekiller had to open all of the cell doors and a full-blown riot ensued. We rounded up the prisoners as quickly as we could, but in the chaos one of them managed to escape!"
A few tense seconds passed with no one saying anything.
A death-row convict running free? Then why did you see fit to bring everyone here instead of going after him? No, I can't blame the detective. Most likely, he wanted as many people to know as possible, so we'd have the best chance of searching. "Well Detective, which prisoner was it who escaped?"
"We found this in the empty cell." A third person stepped forward. Edgeworth recognized him as ex-rock star Klavier Gavin. But instead of the friendly grin that he normally wore, the youthful prosecutor's face was tense, serious, and showed only a scowl. In his trembling hand, he held out an unopened envelope with a letter inside. Miles tore open the letter and read it aloud for everyone to hear:
To My Dearest Friend,
My time in a jail cell has given me some time to think. Time to think about myself and my actions, to think about you, to think about us. I used to think of you as my greatest enemy. But after an immense amount of reflection, I've come to the realization that you aren't my greatest enemy…you're my greatest creation. I've succeeded in killing Phoenix Wright; the naïve idealistic sham of a defense attorney, and from his remains, I created you, my beautiful wonderful creation. I've spent those seven long years shaping you in my image; molding you, crafting you from that idiot you were into something beautiful. You and I are more alike than you'd like to admit, more than I'd like to admit. Let's look at the evidence, shall we? Let's start with that card…oh wait…that card's not legal evidence. It was forged. By you. Did I push you that far that you'd spit in the face of your dearest mentor Mia Fey by throwing away everything she taught you? I'd love to rip her corpse from the grave just so you could look at her and try to justify your actions. But don't worry Wright; you have a new mentor now…me. And you have made me so proud. Who needs that wretched woman now that you have me, your creator? Between forging evidence and overhauling the entire judicial system for simple revenge, you're beginning to rival me in the overreaction department. You'll obviously deny that part about the judicial system, but deep down, you know it's true. You did it just to catch me. Needless to say, I'm touched. Sure, I was peeved at first but hey, that's all water under the bridge. I am disappointed however. You've been growing soft. Ever since the Misham trial, these fakers, these posers, these two-faced worms who call themselves your friends, have been springing up from out of your past. They're making you soft! Undoing all of the wonderful progress I've made! That's why I broke out. To do one final favor for you. I'm getting rid of these fakers, these parasites who make you weak. The spirit medium looks like she'd love a date with the thinker statue. Hell, even Apollo and your daughter have been causing your armor to crack. Don't worry my child, they'll all be long gone soon enough and you can prosper once again. Who knows? Maybe by the end of it you'll become even more like me by joining me in holding the title of "murderer." I hope to see you soon.
Your creator,
Kristoph Gavin
Edgeworth read these words and his heart almost stopped. Everyone else in the room had gone pale, but he wasn't paying attention to them. He was on the verge of freezing up. His eyes became glassy and unfocused as he wrapped his arms around himself.
Such hatred, such callousness, such pure concentrated evil. I…I haven't felt like this since…
"Edgeworth! You and your father are my curse! Your father shamed me with a penalty on my perfect record, and you…you left a scar on my shoulder that would never fade. I'll bury you with my bare hands! Death! DEATH!"
How could someone…so heartless like him be allowed to walk free? He…he would hide justice and the truth under a pile of rotted corpses. How…why did this happen?
"Mister Edgeworth?" It was Gumshoe again. And that snapped Edgeworth back to his senses. He couldn't panic now. There was work to be done.
"Detective, send a warning to Kurain Village, I want the Feys in protective custody immediately. Klavier, take a squad of officers and start tracking Kristoph. Ema, contact agent Shi Long Lang; we might need Interpol's assistance. The rest of you, form a blockade around the perimeter around the entire county, no one get in or out. And notify the Chief of Police of the situation at once."
"Yes sir!" Everyone ran about on their respective missions. Edgeworth folded up the letter, put it in his breast pocket, and ran for his car. News this important had to be delivered in person.
Elsewhere
A young woman dressed in a blue cloak quietly exited the train. Ever since regaining her memory, she had awaited this moment. Checking the locket around her neck and the bracelet on her wrist for the umpteenth time, she reached into her pocket for her cell phone and dialed a number.
"Are you sure this is an appropriate time, Mr. Wright? What if they don't accept me? I see. You prepared the letters I've written them, correct? Thank you. I cannot even begin to repay you for all that you've done for me and my children. I will see you soon."
Thalassa Gramarye turned her phone off and hailed a taxi.
I'm coming my children. Please wait for me.
A/N: Ace Attorney doesn't belong to me. Neither does Kristoph's letter. I found it on the AskAceAttorney letter blog, and the Moderator graciously allowed me to use it in this fanfiction. So, yeah this might get a little dark. Enjoy. This story can be read without it, but it works a lot better if you've played Apollo Justice and Dual Destinies.