Disclaimer: I DO not own phoenix wright and any other characters. They belong to Capcom. I own David Silverine though.

Author's note: Thanks for those who have been following this fanfic and for the reviews. I apologise for the lateness in update since I was off on a slight holiday trip. Anyway, I'll give my word that familiar faces will make a return. Anyway, this is going to be quite a long chapter...

Chapter 3: Resolve

Phoenix looked towards the man once known as Diego Armando and now known as Godot. His hair was still the same white color, he still bore that ever familiar visor. Phoenix merely said, "We meet, Mr Armando. Though I am pretty… glad somehow to see you I guess. Though it's a surprise. Weren't you sentenced to lif-"

Godot cut in just then with a sigh, "Trite. There's something called a parole. Somehow the officers were sympathetic to me and also I had displayed a good enough conduct for them to justify me being released on parole. Also, I prefer being called Godot."

Phoenix merely looked at him and then said, "Okay then, Mr Godot. It is certainly a coincidence that we meet each other again in a place like this."

Godot merely remained silent as he finally said while sipping coffee with his usual white mug that appeared out of nowhere, "Trite. Now that we finally meet… I see it. Your hesitation. Your fear. I heard about your big mess up seven years back. Mind you, it was a big surprise and a disappointment. Mia's student, forging evidence? Then a few years later, right before my release, I hear news that it was a set up. However… you never returned to the courtroom. Even after getting your badge."

Phoenix looked at Godot. He had a feeling that the former Diego Armando had a slight idea of why He was refusing the return to the courtroom….. and true enough, Godot said, "The answer for that is simple. You can never forgive yourself. Just like the kitten. Mia could never forgive herself for the death of Terry Fawles, her first defendant. She blamed herself for being so incapable… yet she still persisted to try and bring that woman to justice."

Phoenix merely remained silent at the mentioned of Mia. He knew her past, of the first ever court case she handled… where her defendant died. Even then, what was he getting at? Why this nonsense about her? He had left the courts. And somehow he stupidly went back for the bar exam when he should not have done it. That was all. He was not meant for the court-

Godot then said with a smirk, "You, Trite… are trapping yourself in a cage. You refuse to continue on with life. You choose to harp on that moment long over years back. The day you gave a piece of forged evidence, set up by Kristoph Gavin. You have yet to let go of your pain and hurts. Even though you brought him to justice… You still continue to trap yourself in that cage. Mia was once in that cage, but she broke free of it. You choose to be a bird that decides to remain trapped in that cage. Pitiful, Trite. And to think your protégé's last hope is you."

Phoenix's eyes widened opened as he said, "What are you talking about? How do you… know about this?"

Godot merely replied, "Its elementary, my dear Trite. One, Your protégé has a reputation… and there are rumors and news spreading about his 'crime'. Two, you are outside a defense attorney's office. One and one, add them together and you get two. Mere deduction, Trite. However.. the current situation is grim. No defense attorney will take up your protégé's case. No sane attorney that is. The prosecutor handling this case is a famous man… well known for his prosecution tactics. Every case he handled… is an absolute Guilty verdict with all doubts erased. With no false evidence. That man, David Silverine… any defense attorney who tried to go against him would lose. That is the reason why your requests were rejected."

Phoenix then looked at Godot… finally understanding where Godot was going. He knew what Godot was hinting at… Nobody will be able to defend Apollo. Nobody. A lost case. Just then, Godot said, "For all the wits and wild guesses you had in your youth… you sure do not understand what I'm hinting at. I said… No Sane attorney. Before me, stands an attorney who for being a rookie still dared to take on the demon prosecutor, Miles Edgeworth in his prime and performed feats beyond the likes that the world has never seen before."

Phoenix gaped at what Godot said. He then retorted when he had recovered, "Oh sure, but the attorney before you is a man who screwed up, ruined his client's life. This attorney… who made a stupid blunder that was obvious. How can he take up this case... and ruin his protege's life? He no longer trusts himself."

Godot paused for the moment. He finally said after a long awkward silence and with a chug of his coffee, "Trite. In life, we make mistakes. However, you're no longer the same old Trite that I once fought in the court. Were you that trite, I am pretty sure you would have rushed in and took up that case immediately, regardless of what happened. Trite. It's time for you to think about it… Mia suffered a setback that I'm pretty sure you know what it was. However, she never gave up. She merely waited for her chance to return. What about you, Trite? The chance for you to once again return to the courts… is waiting. Are you going to mope around? Are you going to disappoint the lady who had taught you to be an attorney any further? What would SHE even say if she were here right now? Trite. Stop being a wuss about it. Get your butt off the fence and just defend your protégé. You cannot deny the part of you that has always yearned… to fight for the truth. I'm pretty sure that prosecutor was hoping you would do the same too… However, that is all I can say. A man decides for himself what to do. Just as how one decides whether to drink coffee, to face up to the bitter darkness and drink it. Ah well, enough of this. I will see you around then, Trite… hopefully in the courtroom. And tch, I ran out of it."

The masked man walked away with his white mug in hand, leaving Phoenix to think. Phoenix at the moment understood whatever Godot was trying to say. He thought about it. As much as he had his hesitation… it no longer mattered. He remembered what Mia told him before he took his first case, "It does not matter, Phoenix, as to whether you win or lose a case. What matters… is getting back up on your feet from a painful defeat and continuing on to defend many others who will need your help."

He then recalled what Edgeworth mentioned that night, "Finding the truth is hard. Trying to protect innocents is difficult. There will be losses... However, no matter what happens, choosing to get back up and seeking the truth once more without looking back. That's the more important thing than moping about past mistakes."

Phoenix nodded his head and rushed back to his house. Changing out of his hobo outfit, he took the blue suit that was hanging in the cupboard. Patting away the dust on it, he quickly put it on, along with his collared shirt, tie, etc. Finally, he looked at the golden badge he had placed on his bedside desk. Picking it up, he pinned it on his collar. He looked at the mirror. Once more… he resembled the very lawyer he was at his first case. the very determination he had to defend his clients. He was ready and less panicky. He was in familiar fields, not like the him he once was when he had started off his first case. All he had to do for now was to head to the detention centre.

When he arrived, Trucy was in the visitor's room, trying to assure a panicked Apollo. Finally, he gave a slight cough to signal his arrival. Trucy turned around and gaped for the moment when she saw Phoenix in his lawyer's suit. Phoenix just merely walked towards Apollo, who was equally as stunned and said, "So… no attorney wishes to defend you?"

Apollo quickly recovered and said, "Yeah… all of them say the case is hopeless. That I am obviously… Guilty."

Phoenix noticed the despondent face. It reminded him of Larry when he first visited him, of the many faces filled with despair when he first visited them, devoid of hope of ever having a tomorrow… He knew what he had to do. This was what he was SUPPOSED to do. He looked at Apollo with determined eyes and said, "If nobody does, I do. I believe you. And I… will take up your case."

Apollo stared at Phoenix for the moment and said, "W-what? Are you serious, Mr Wright? I thought you no longer wanted-"

Phoenix cut in, "I decided that maybe I should be returning after all."

He gave a slightly awkward laugh and said, "If that is that, I'll try and prepare your case. Either way, do remember to send those papers."

He walked away from the detention room as Trucy started to gave a slight cheer for Apollo and him. Right now though, He had a case to settle. And a client to prove innocent! This time for sure… He would unveil the gem of truth by his hand and once more… show the miracle of the turnabout.

Author's Note: Look forward to the next chapter... and i give my word, Expect Psyche Lock breaking.