Phoenix has finally reached the last, center circle. Will he be able to conquer this circle and rescue his belovèd?
Circle VII - Pride
Can one sleep within a dream? A strange question,
One that the law man blearily pondered
As he lifted his head, rejuvenated.
He saw that he was alone, his dear mentor
No longer present to guide him. He had learned
All he could to face the last trial on his own.
"Chief," he said softly, and hoped she would hear,
"Thank you for everything." He looked all around
To find where he should face his final test.
Past the flower field a tower had appeared:
Stark against the sky, it stood 'neath the gloaming,
Tall and foreboding, its shadow cast long.
Phoenix rose from the grass and took a deep breath;
With trepidation and determination
He crossed the meadow toward the distant structure.
Swift on his feet, the law man made great haste.
Sunflower and tulip faded to dirt,
And the air grew sweltering as he approached.
Phoenix reached the edge of a great chasm,
An angry gash in the earth filled with fire:
A molten inferno before the tower.
High above on the rooftop shadows moved,
Hundreds of creatures roaming over the top;
Phoenix wondered if his love was among them.
A rickety bridge spanned the fiery moat,
But before Phoenix crossed, a great shadow loomed;
A new silhouette alighted the tower.
Mighty in size, it unfurled leathery wings
And revealed the horned figure of a man,
Who roared a mighty bellow that shook the stones.
Silvery eyes pierced the night like beacons,
And silvery hair framed the figure's face;
Beautiful and terrible, the demon woke.
Enormous claws plucked a creature from the roof;
A wriggling thing, the demon considered it,
And cast it into the fire to its death.
Over and again the demon swept his hand,
Eyes shining with righteousness, and more creatures
Plummeted, wailing, and were turned to ash.
Phoenix felt a tremor of fear take hold
As he stared at the great figure up high,
But he firmed his resolve to move forward.
In his heart Phoenix understood his task:
His belovèd was not trapped in the tower,
But instead ruled it from the perch high above.
The shadowy form, overbearing and proud,
Was his rival, his counterpart, his dear friend –
The demon prosecutor come to life.
The law man took a deep breath, craned his head high,
And shouted with all his might: "Miles Edgeworth!"
Even so far above, the demon paused.
Continued Phoenix: "Have you forgotten
All you have learned? Has your heart faltered so?
Why are you yet a demon? You've cast this off!
Come down from your tower, let go your turmoil.
Stop throwing these creatures into the fire,
For surely not all deserve to be punished."
The demon leaned forward past the tower walls
And looked close at the little man far below.
And the demon replied, voice deep and loud:
"This tower is the place of their judgment.
All are guilty, for they have laughed at me.
They questioned me, doubted my ability.
But my record is perfect! There is no flaw!
I will show neither pity nor remorse.
They will pay for their sins in the fire."
Arrogant and haughty, the demon seemed sure
That he had no need to question himself,
No need to make himself vulnerable.
But the law man heard the tremble in that voice,
That subtle note of fear as he spoke of doubt,
And knew the demon was guarding his ego.
Said he to the demon: "Let go of your pride!
Remember the truth is what is important,
And that you can trust me to help you find it."
The demon drew back at these words, stood tall,
And answered: "I do not need aid from you.
You would only laugh were I to accept.
And there is no need, for my actions are just.
I possess all the virtues these circles teach!
To demonstrate, I'll kindly allow you to leave."
The demon seemed to grow larger and darker,
Face twisted in a snarl, arms folded tight;
But an aura of pain surrounded him.
Phoenix cringed at what his love had become,
But he vowed to stay. He pondered what virtue
Could defeat his belovèd so filled with pride.
The demon above glared, intimidating,
And Phoenix urged himself to think, consider;
And the answers soon came to his sharp mind:
Show the demon that he wouldn't laugh, that he cared;
That he did not need to guard his heart so close,
And to allow himself to be human.
Teach the demon humility, humbleness.
But how? Phoenix yearned for his dear mentor,
But all he had left were her final words:
'Reflect on all you have learned.' He'd learned of sins,
Of the virtues needed to overcome them,
And he knew the virtue to defeat pride.
'The greatest sin, which begets all others.'
Pride must therefore foster the remaining sins;
The demon claimed he had all the virtues,
Yet he still lacked one. Into the fire
Phoenix gazed to find his inspiration.
He smiled as the pieces slid into place.
The law man, defender of the innocent,
Named for the bird of fire who oft rose
From the ashes of destruction in glory,
Was in his element. He would rise from this!
He understood the secret to this circle:
All he'd done before, he must turn it about!
As each virtue could defeat its matching sin,
So too the opposite: vice could best virtue.
To be humble, one must acknowledge their sins.
"Edgeworth!" cried he, "My dearest Miles, listen.
You may have virtues, but you also have sin.
You too have indulged in all the vices.
To lessen your pride, teach you humbleness,
I'll prove to you that even you are human,
That you feel, you err, and that it is all right."
And amidst the demon's echoing roars,
Phoenix hurried across the wooden bridge
And pushed opened the doors of the tower.
As they slowly swung open, Phoenix whispered:
"I will free you from this circle, my love.
I will save you from yourself – I promise!"
