Hello again everyone!

This takes place 20 minutes before Pearl and Trucy show up to see Maya in the hospital, just to clear things up.

Also, I'm sorry this chapter is so short. It's setting up for the very long next chapter, which will FINALLY explain how Phoenix and Maya became a couple! But it was too long to put all in one chapter, so I split it into two parts. So sorry, but still I hope you enjoy!

And please, no matter positive or negative I love knowing what you think. Thanks!

-20 Minutes Earlier-

"Miss Fey? A letter for you."

Maya looked up from her book and held out her hand. The nurse gave her a yellow envelope and walked out.

"A letter...?" She murmured. She quickly skimmed the back of the letter for the return address, and when she found it gave a short gasp.

"Phoenix!"

Maya ripped open the envelope, pulled out the letter with shaking hands, and began to read.

Dear Maya,

I don't know if you've heard, but I have recently been charged with murder.

"Nick! Again?!"

I am in no state to defend myself, after seven years without a single court case. I will have to hire a lawyer and hope for the best. If I don't choose wisely...well, let's just say that the courtroom will be one of the last places I'll ever see outside of a jail cell. And I'm afraid I'll never see you again.

"Not true! I'll visit all the time! You'll be sick of me by the end of the first week!"

You're probably reading this and making lots of promises to come and see me all the time, right? I know you too well. But unfortunately, that's no longer a possibility. In 2024, a new rule was made that says that no one is allowed to visit those convicted of murder. So if I am pronounced guilty, we will never see each other again.

"N-No! Niiiick! I've already waited seven years...asleep or not! I can't wait an entire lifetime!"

But you know me. I never give up, no matter what. I think I have a pretty good idea of what really happened, and who really killed the victim. I know right now everything looks bad, but a phoenix is reborn from its own ashes, right? And that's who I am. Phoenix Wright.

But if I don't make it back, here's something to hold onto, something to remember me by.

I love you.

Nick

Maya sniffed and rubbed at her teary eyes. As she set the letter down, a small purple ball fell out. Maya scrambled to catch it before it fell off the bed.

(What on earth...?)

Maya successfully caught it and began to examine it carefully. She realized it was one of her hair beads. She knew that they must have fallen off when she was poisoned seven years ago. She rubbed the bead around in her hands and understood that this is what Phoenix had been talking about, that this was the thing she was supposed to remember him by. She reached over to put the bead on her bedside table when something on it caught her eye. She looked at closely and saw that some of the purple paint had been scratched away. In miniscule writing on the bead it said:

PW & MF

Maya smiled and gently put the bead down. At that moment there was a knock on her door.

"Mystic Maya?"

Maya hurriedly stuffed the bead under her pillow. She decided that the bead was going to always be her secret.

"Come in!"