Hey everyone! I cba with putting up this authory stuff at the top when I first published this, so if you were thinking 'Um, where the HELL did that come from??', you're not going crazy. This is a fic I started on holiday a fair while ago, but hadn't finished... I was cleaning up the other day, and found it (I had handwritten the first two chapters). Sooo as chapter 2 made me laugh a bit, I thought I'd put it on here. xD Although now I have to put effort into finishing it. Lol! Well please let me know what you think of it, even if you hate it, rofl! I'm an attention whore so I'd much rather get ridiculous hatred in my reviews than get none at all. All the same, be kind. ;P

So yes! About the story! It's set between the 4th and 5th case of the first game, though there may be one or two ambiguous non-spoiler references to things that happen in T&T. Nothing major though. It's another murder related to the DL-6 incident, as it says in the description... not much else to say without spoiling it, lol! Well I hope you enjoy, anyways. =)

I don't own any of the characters, etc ,etc. Except Winston Payne. Let's face it, EVERYONE owns him.

Chapter 1: Old Wounds

January 19, 02:50 pm, 2017.

Thin shafts of light pierced through the grey blinds in the shadowy law office. A wilting pot plant and a fading poster were the only decorative items in the otherwise blank room. Sitting beside a bookcase jam-packed with apparently unread, dusty tomes, sat a tall man in a crisp dark blue suit and red tie, his black hair carefully styled into porcupine-like spikes that shot out behind him. This daring look was the only indication of the youth of the man, who otherwise looked old beyond his age. In his hand he held a thin, wrinkled piece of paper, which fluttered gently in the breeze from the partially opened windows. He stared at this delicate item with unblinking eyes, wise and thoughtful. He started suddenly at the sound of two loud knocks on the dull, rectangular door, and quickly stuffed the paper into his pocket.

'Phoenix Wright?' For someone who knocked so vehemently, the voice was surprisingly gentle and feminine, with a slight musical quality. Phoenix looked up. Before him stood a short young woman, with sandy hair, long and flowing. She had big, round, iridescent azure eyes and a smooth pale face, like an elliptical pebble washed upon a deserted beach. A few freckles dotted her cheeks, and over her shoulder hung an expertly coiled rope, supported by one hand. She was wearing a billowy pale blue dress that perfectly accentuated her figure, and she wore practical, but pretty indigo sandals. Upon her wavy hair rested a white captain's hat, and flapping through the open door came a bright scarlet streak, that sent neon flashes of multi-coloured feathers floating through the air before perching upon the coiled rope and preening its wings. 'I'm Miranda Ross. Oh, and this is my parrot, Polly.'

Phoenix's eyes widened sharply. 'Polly…?'

'Yes, that's right,' confirmed Miranda, oblivious to the defense attorney's curiosity, 'I… I'm in a bit of trouble.' She looked away sadly, her large eyes sparkling with newly-formed tears. 'But it wasn't him! I swear!' The woman let out something between a cough and a sob, hugging herself tightly and shaking. As if hearing her for the first time, Phoenix drew his attention away from the parrot and focussed on Miranda instead. Remembering his manners, he stood up from the fairly basic red sofa and gestured towards it.

'I'm… sorry to hear that. You'd better sit down.' She walked over, a little unsteadily, and lowered herself onto the edge of the seat.

'It's my father,' said Miranda, sniffing and drying her eyes, 'He's been arrested for murder. But, but I know he didn't do it! He would never do anything like that. No-one believes me, no-one will listen. So I came here… you will represent him, won't you? He's innocent. He… he has to be.' Phoenix leaned against the grey bookshelf, pondering. What question do I ask first? And that parrot… it couldn't be the same one, could it? Best to begin at the beginning… wherever that is…

'Could you tell me about the victim?' Miranda glanced up at Phoenix to acknowledge his question, before slowly returning her gaze to the carpet, 'If it's not too much trouble?'

'Well… I don't know much about him. He was a friend of my father's, but I never really saw him that often. I used to take care of his parrot when he went on holiday. At around Christmas, he gave her to me, but not in person. My dad brought her back for me after a visit. And now… well, I'm all the parrot's got, now that…' She interrupted herself with a loud sob that somewhat ruined her graceful first impression.

'Do you remember anything at all about him? There must be something!' Phoenix's hand tensed as his fingers gripped the shelf. It's too much of a coincidence!

'I'm sorry, no, I don't.' Phoenix's hand relaxed and he slumped back against the bookcase. There's one thing I could try…she'll think I'm weird, though. Eh, never stopped me before…

'Polly? What's the code to the safe?' The parrot cocked one eye up at Phoenix, and seemed to be somehow smirking at him.

'SQUAWK! 2612, SQUAWK!' Phoenix froze, trembling slightly. He gulped.

'Mr. Wright, are you okay?' The famous attorney pulled himself together, blinked, and turned to face Miranda, a calming smile upon his face. It's like Mia always said…

'Yes… yes, I'm fine, thanks. I've just realised something. That's all.'

…you can't show a face like that to your client.

Later that afternoon, after Ms. Ross had left, Phoenix had settled back down on the red sofa, sipping a steaming hot mug of coffee. The sunshine had dwindled now, so that the blinds had been closed and artificial light was glowing from a dying office lamp. He had yet to investigate the case further, or even talk to the defendant, even though he knew that the trial couldn't be far away. But he didn't know if he could bring himself to do it. All that mess with the DL-6 incident was meant to be over, all dealt with. Even if I can handle this, what about him? I can't keep thinking about this…

'Hello? Wright?' This time there was no mistaking the voice. Perfect timing… Phoenix sighed wearily. He hoped desperately that the visitor had not heard of the murder.

'Come in,' he said, adjusting his tie and dusting himself off, the way he always felt inclined to when Edgeworth visited. The prosecutor stepped inside the Wright & Co. Law Office, smoothing down his hair in one graceful motion. Phoenix still found it a shock to see Edgeworth in casual clothing, even though they'd been meeting outside court as friends for a while now. His old rival was wearing a long black coat over an equally black polo-necked shirt and dark jeans, which suited him oddly well in spite of the fact that he usually wore a pink, ruffled ensemble. 'Good to see you again, Edgeworth.'

'Drop the small talk, Wright. Have you heard the news?' Please say that he's referring to a half-price sale on doilies…

'Which news do you mean?' Phoenix asked, avoiding Edgeworth's gaze.

'I know you know about Yogi.' Edgeworth strode over irritably and sat down beside Phoenix, opening a can of beer from the small crate he'd brought with him. Edgeworth? Beer? This can't be good…

'How'd you work that one out?'

'It's past 5:00 pm and you're still in your office clothes. You've obviously had a bad day. Besides….' Said Edgeworth, looking smugly up at Phoenix, 'There are parrot feathers all over the floor… I suppose you've got a client.'

'Are you prosecuting?' There was a slight pause. Phoenix blinked. Should I have said anything?

'No. I've had enough of this.' Edgeworth swigged his beer in an uncontrollable manner that unnerved Phoenix. Edgey's obviously not holding up too well, then…

'Edgeworth... are you going to be okay?' Asked Phoenix, his face etched with concern. Edgeworth laughed out loud, although his voice sounded hollow and mirthless, and he seemed to be doing his best not to look Phoenix in the eye.

'Don't be ridiculous. Of course I'll be okay.' Another swig of beer. Phoenix reached over Edgeworth towards the beer crate and picked up a can. It was surprisingly cold. Edgey must have come over here pretty quick…

'So what're you going to do?'

'Nothing. I'll just lay back and wait for the results of the trial. With any luck, the three cases will be unrelated, but… I don't suppose that's likely. Is the investigation going well?'

'Ah. Well. I haven't started yet,' Edgeworth stared at Phoenix in disbelief.

'You're… not serious?'

'I couldn't face going back to all of this.'

'Wright, the trial is the day after tomorrow,' Phoenix shrugged it off, smirking.

'I've had worse. Besides… I know a lot about it already from… the other time. It was on the news as well, with Yogi escaping from death row last week. Nobody expected that he, the killer, would end up dead. Quite the news story…' The two lawyers remained silent, occasionally drinking their beers.

'So, what do you want to do?' Edgeworth inquired, after some time. There was a slight pause as Phoenix thought of his answer.

'Steel Samurai?' He offered, grinning. Edgeworth glared at him icily, 'Alright, alright, we'll play chess or something then.'

'Much better.'