Never in his entire life, had Phoenix felt this nervous, not even when he got to stand in court the first time, back then, he at least had had Mia to guide him, and the stakes hadn't been this high.

Now though, Phoenix felt his heart thumbing loudly, his eyes blackening out in front of him, cold sweat dripping from his forehead, his hands shaking so badly that he could barely hold the papers in his hands.

Everything he had worked so hard for, every thing, it was coming down right now, and yet he couldn't even concentrate on that, because the stakes were so very high.

Maya Fey, Mias only sister.. Phoenix knew the young girl was innocent, he knew it with all his being, he could not allow her to be convicted.

And of course, it was now when Phoenix all ready had that on his mind.. That he was finally going to face him.

Phoenix felt his body shaking even more by the thought.. Miles Edgeworth, he.. He was in the building, in the next room in fact, in a matter of minutes, Phoenix would see him again, for the first time in nearly fifteen years!

Had he been an idiot to ever even belive that he could help? Had all of this been for nothing?

Gathering all of his courage Phoenix tried to call Mia forward in his mind, her calm attitude, trying to find strength in what she had taught him.

As it had turned out, after their initial getting to know each other faze, Mia and Phoenix, had actually ended up having a rather fond relationship.

Mia was always smiling and calm, taking such good care of him, encouraging him in all that he did, the final evaluation she had given him for his bar exam, had been glowing to say the least. calling him and unconventional genius, it might not reflect on his grades, but that was just because Phoenix's mind was such a unique working engine, which was sure to be put to good use in court. She had written that Phoenix Wright was the exact kind of person the court system had needed, a comment that had made Phoenix blush deeply and embarresed, letting out an awkward laugh.

Mia had been the first to congratulate him when he passed, meeting up personally at the academy, and immediately, offered him a more permanent position as a lawyer and student in her firm, Phoenix had only been so happy to agree at ones.

Never had he imagined that Mia would be dead one short month after that.

It seemed so unreal, that she was gone.

Mia had seemed such a rock, such a constant strong support, it was inconceivable to imagine she wasn't even there anymore. In fact.. it probably hadn't really sunken in for Phoenix yet as he had so many othe immediate pressing manners on his mind.. Maya.. Miles.. still he remembered, her kind words of encouragement.

Phoenix remembered how kind she had been, one afternoon while the television had been on in their office, there had been a news reportage about Edgeworth.. About his demon ways and the speculations about his methods, that perhaps, shadier things were happening behind closed doors.

Phoenix couldn't say he liked to hear any of that, there was a surprisingly dark look over his eyes as he sat in front of the television, looking at footage of the handsome looking red clad prosecutor with silver hair.

Phoenix's hand were folded under his chin as he frowned, looking at the man on the television screen, listening to the words.

"Phoenix?" Mia asked looking a bit surprised at him, then she looked up at the television screen. "Ah, more gossip about prosecutor Edgeworth I see." She commented.

Phoenix frowned lightly. "They never leave him alone do they?" he asked. "And.. there isn't even any proof, I mean.. It's not true is it?" he asked looking up at Mia.

Mia shrugged. "I really don't know." She told. "But, you know our creed, innocent until otherwise is proven, and you're quite correct, nothing has been proven against prosecutor Edgeworth, as a colleague, he deserves our benefit of doubt and initial trust at least." She told.

Blinking Phoenix looked up at Mia as he swallowed, wetting his tong, before finally, he dared to ask his next question. "So… Have you ever faced Edgeworth in court?" he asked a little nervously.

"Well.." Mia hesitated. "A few times yes." She then admitted. "In fact, he was my very first opponent the very first time I got to stand in court myself."

"Wow really?" Phoenix asked wide-eyed, gaping slightly.

Mia nodded thoughtfully lifting her teacup to her lips. "Since then, I think I met him in court.. Maybe twice, and suffered crushing defeat on both occasions, I suppose you're going to be facing him yourself soon enough when you are ready to be in court yourself."

Phoenix smiled, then his smile faltered slightly. "So, how is he to face?" he asked.

"He's.." Mia hesitated. "A very dangerous prosecutor indeed, they are not kidding when they call him a genius and a bit of a demon." She commented. "He's calculated, extremely calculated, somehow always having been able to see three steps ahead and put up traps for the defence using this ability. It seems like he's figured out how not to be affected by the people in court or any emotions, he cuts right through all of that, without letting it sway him, and sticks to hard evidence and testimony without straying or doubting his course.. He's a demon all right." She nodded thoughtfully. "I've never seen him have any sympathy for any defendant or be touched the least by anyone's tears, no matter who it is, or how they plead. An Ice man Phoenix, you can't sway that one with emotions, only hard evidence. And even that is hard, because somehow he just always knows what tricks you would pull, he is not afraid of withholding information he already figured to set up his trap."

"That's…" Phoenix looked up at Mia. "So hard to believe." He commented looking back at the screen.

"Well, some prosecutors are going for the perfect win, some defence attorneys to, it brings prestige so the field becomes competitive." Mia told.

"That's not what I…" Phoenix frowned looking at the television screen. "Can people really change that much?" he then asked.

Mia blinked, then looked at Phoenix. "Excuse me?" she asked.

"What you just said that's… that's the total opposite of what Miles idealised when I knew him." Phoenix commented frowning at the screen. "Back then, he was filled with emotions himself and would always stand up for those who couldn't themselves.. I seen him charge a whole gang of three bullies twice his seize, just so the little kid they bullied could know he wasn't alone." He smiled lightly. "Miles had no hope of actually winning even while he charged, he just wanted that kid to know." He commented his eyes shining warmly by the memory. "He made a great deal out of listening to everyone so everybody could be heard, and he always said that.. Well." Phoenix blushed slightly looking down. "No one should stand alone, ever, that's why he wanted to defend those whom needed it." Then he looked at the screen again. "Then he vanished.. Into thin air.. I wonder what happened." he commented biting together.

Mia looked at Pheonix, stunned but then sighed sitting down beside him on the couch. "I see." She finally nodded. "I see, that friend you wanted to save." She commented tugging a strain of hair behind her ear.

Phoenix smiled lightly at her, almost apologetic.

"I can't say I know a lot about Miles Edgeworth." Mia admitted in a deep sigh. "When he appears in court, he always seem like such a strong ice man, whom has no troubles or worries cutting through the defence with his testimony.. How-ever, what I've come to learn is, the stronger the icy façade, the greater the inner struggle." She then admitted. "The first time I met him in court, I thought he seemed strange to me, and the way he reacted to the outcome of the case, even stranger." She admitted. "I think he was touched, but didn't want to let the world know how touched he was.. Prosecutor Edgeworth, sure is a man shrouded with plenty of mystery, also he is obviously a very private man whom doesn't appreciate being asked into. I don't know if you can ever reach that person you knew, obviously, something happened to him, something huge, something life changing. However, even though he looks like it, I don't think Miles Edgeworth is a bad man at all." She smiled making Phoenix look at her. "He's not a bad person, he's just really good at his job." Mia confirmed in a smile. "Just look at the police department, they all adore him and adore working with him." Then she chuckled amused. "I ones saw a police detective really jump a defence attorney, because the attorney had spoken ill about Edgeworth in public, wauw did that attorney get the shock of his life, and that police officer, I'm pretty sure he would defend Edgeoworth to the last." She chuckled amused. "You don't just get that kind of devotion from the police force, you earn it. Clearly there are sides of prosecutor Edgeoworth we aren't even seeing. He's obviously a private man, but that doesn't mean he has less feelings than the next person on the witness stand."

Phoenix lightened up then smiled. "Yes sir!" he told. "Thank you!" he grinned.

"Just don't let your own emotions distract you the day you face him in court." Mia instructed padding Phoenix's hand. "Ones you stay there, you'll be a defence attorney and he'll be a prosecutor, you'll each have a job to do, and any personal feelings you might have, will have to wait, that day, you need to be a professional and be there for your client, that is your job after all." She commented.

"Right." Phoenix nodded stiffly. "Got it!" he stated before he grinned again. "Thanks Chief!"

That conversation… it seemed so distant now, like it had happened in another life.

Now it was all here, it was all so real, all that Phoenix had fought for, now it was time for him, to stand the real test.

Could he even be the person he wished to be? Had any of his had work paid off in the slightest?

Would he ever be able to safe Maya Fey and bring his mentors real murderer to justice.. could he make Miles Edgeworth corporate with him to reach this goal?

One thing became apparent though as Phoenix finally saw him, standing there right in front of him.. Miles Edgeworth.

One thing had been seeing this man on television and in the news paper, then Phoenix had mostly felt confusion and a bit of worry.

What he hadn't anticipated, but was very evident right now… was that this man scared the crap out of Phoenix!

In person, Miles Edgeworth was deeply intimidating, there was a strong authority all around his figure, his eyes were sharp and cold, his finger judging, his frown deep, his voice steady, deep and secure, cutting through any arguments Phoenix made. The nick name 'demon prosecutor' was only well earned, Prosecutor Payne seemed like an innocent lamb in comparison, this in front of Phoenix, was the real deal, and it didn't take long before Phoenix got the big urging of just run and hide from this person!

Phoenix had to hang on though, for the sake of Maya! For the sake of Mia, to find her true justice.. for the sake of Miles.

He could not let Miles get an innocent person a guilty verdict! That would utterly destroy the Miles Edgeworth Phoenix had known, and that person whom cared so much about justice, still had to be in there somewhere.. right?

Behind this ice cold fortress that was prosecutor Edgeworth… this incredible, scary, vicious, ice cold fortress…

Yeah, Phoenix constantly had half the mind just to run for it and never look back!

He sincerely had no idea, no idea in freaking hell how he pulled it off! Finding the real murderer and getting Maya off the hook, as the verdict was handed down Phoenix beamed and looked up at the prosecutor, expecting Edgeworth to at least look just a little happy that justice had found its way to surface.

If that was what Phoenix had thought.. he couldn't have been any more wrong! It looked like someone had smacked Miles right over the face and then kneed him in the stomach, the prosecutor looked furious.

Wide-eyed Phoenix looked at him and then Edgeworth noticed as he looked up, and shortly met Phoenix's eyes.

If looks could only kill… Phoenix would have died a thousand times over and then be send straight to hell with that single look alone.

Edgeworths angry gray eyes seemed to burn themselves into Phoenix's skull while the prosecutor hissed like some wild animal that had been caged in, his fingers tightened into tight fists threatening to pull the papers on the desk into pieces, his otherwise handsome marble like face retrieving into furry and anger.

… Was it to late to make a run for it?

Then Edgeworth turned around breaking the short eye contact, almost slamming all of his papers into his suitcase before he walked out of court in big stride steps.

Phoenix gaped, they had just gotten the verdict, he couldn't just leave so quickly! Phoenix were just about to reach out an arm, taking a step in the direction the man had left, but was stopped as a whirlwind of purple jumped him and embraced him.

"NIIIIIICK!" Maya exclaimed clutching to his neck making Phoenix stumble under the young woman's weight. "You did it! I knew you could, you found the truth, you found out why Mia died!" she cried hanging on to him. "Thank you so much! I don't know if I can ever, NICK YOU WERE SO AMAZING!" she cried clinging to him.

"Ma.. Maya?!" Phoenix blinked wide-eyed, surprised over the showcase of affection, really he had only met this girl three days ago, and then her sister had just died, so that Maya had this much energy inside of her.. Was kind of a surprise to Phoenix really, she had seemed rather quiet and depressed throughout all of this, not that phoenix could really blame her. "Erhm, that is, I mean… Are you okay?" he asked more quietly, gently wrestling her hands of his jacket.

"I can't say I am entirely okay." Maya then admitted as she sniffed, whisking away a couple of tears. "But, I know I will be." She told beaming at Phoenix, giving him a broad, bright genuine smile Phoenix had never thought would be possible coming from this girl, but there it was, and seemed so natural on this face. "Thanks to you!" she told.

Phoenix smiled amused. "Well, that's good." He nodded. "I'm glad I could help." He told.

And Maya beamed. "You sure are a great friend to have Nick." She told, then grinned at him again. "Thank you."

Phoenix smiled at her, then turned his head, towards the door Miles had exited through, the prosecutor was already gone, and with the speed he had had, he was probably way outside of the building all ready, there was no way Phoenix was ever going to catch him and… Miles hadn't exactly seemed in the talking mood.. At all.

Phoenix swallowed as he bit his lip looking at the door.. What on earth had he gotten himself into with this?

Now he had made one of the most respected prosecutors in the country, and his old friend, hate him..

How-ever, it was very difficult to be to sad, with that young woman standing right next to him, now smiling and being a bundle of happy energy.

It was actually.. Kind of nice. Right now in this moment at least.