I know it's been over 2 weeks since I updated last, but I had a lot to think about. Not to mention I'm now dealing with school again. I can give you a little something though. I have over 4,000 words on this chapter. That is about twice as long as the average chapter. The reason for such a long chapter. I wanted to get to a certain plot point. So without further to do I present chapter 10.

They reached the top the room; it was not like the previous two courthouses. The room was almost empty, save many piles of bones scattered all across the floor. They spotted someone off in the distance. That someone was none other than Dahlia, in visible spirit form.

"D-d-dahlia, how are you here? You should be dead." Phoenix tried to rub the sand out of his eyes.

An evil laugh came from the now dead demoness. "Hmph, I became a necromancer. I don't follow the typical rules for death like the rest of you." She flashed an evil grin, a grin so wicked it could give one chills up their spine. "I just need a body for my resurrection to be complete. I don't want my old body. It's probably rotting away in the ground or non-existent. I want something a little more… lovable. I think that girl's body holding onto your hand would do the trick." She stretched out her ghostly finger at Maya.

Maya was shaken by the thought. "I'm not giving up my body to some sort of creep like you!"

"I wasn't asking if you wanted me to. I will have that body. It will be my ultimate revenge on Phoenix Wright. The girl he loves, lost forever in the spirit world. He will never be able to look at your face ever again without seeing me."

Phoenix stood in front of the medium, arms outstretched. "As cliché as this might sound, you will have to go through me first."

"Very well." Dahlia's spirit flew at the swordsman. The apparition passed easily through Phoenix and disappeared into Maya.

Her body was starting to tremble. "N-nick help me!" The shaking grew more intense every second. "Nick! If I never see you again I wa…"

The once cheerful girl flashed an evil eye. "No time like the present to cause some chaos. Here's Dollie!" She forced Maya's body to raise her arms. "Almeca coridona xin eohp bast yami!" A greenish mist settled in the rather open room. The bones on the floor started to rattle.

"W-what is going on Mr. Nick?" Pearl started to clutch onto the vigilante's arm, scared of what was to come.

The man drew his sword. "It looks like she is raising an army of the dead."

"Wrong! I am making my ultimate beast. It's so original I don't know what to call it. I think I will call it my pet. It's only fitting."

The bones that once lay on the floor were now levitating. They swirled around a centralized area. The bones came together one by one. The spines all joined together to make an incredibly long backbone. Then all the ribcages attached to the spine. Then the head came next, it was a single skull. The bones that once comprised arms and legs attached to the ribcages and became the arms and legs once more. Some of the arms were broken in half to create a blade like weapons. Complete arms had skulls attached to them. A few of the legs did that as well. However, most of the legs had a foot attached.

After the entire assembly, the skulls' eye sockets all turned red. The beast came to life. It scurried about like a centipede all over the floor and ceiling. The entire beast was ridiculously huge.

"HAHAHAHAHA!" Dahlia laughed maniacally as her monstrosity came to life. "This is the power of necromancy. I still am getting used to this body though. No matter, I will kill both of you… starting with the little girl."

The behemoth pile of corpses rushed at Pearl. She stood there frightened, unable to move. Phoenix ran at the girl and snatched her up. Not a second too late I might add, because the centipede like creature caught one of its jagged bones in the flooring.

Suddenly Pearl's body grew heavy. Phoenix had to drop the body. "Ouch! Uh… where am I?" It was Mia now inhabiting the body of the 8 year old. "Fantastic, I have to deal with this witch again. I see that I was a failure at preventing her escape from the spirit world. Is she…? No, she didn't…" She was staring at the Maya's possessed body. "I guess it's time to remove her from the body before Maya's soul is pushed out."

"What!?"

"I'd say we have five minutes before Maya's spirit is pushed out by her possession."

"Then we'll have to do something about it." Phoenix rushed in to grab the medium's body. He was attacked from the side by the undead creature. The monster slashed with its shattered bones and it scratched the swordsman.

Distracted from the main task, Phoenix engaged the monster. He ran under the beast slashing it multiple times with his sword. A few bones broke but a skull that was where a hand should have been looked at him at smacked him several feet.

He sprung back to his feet charging again. He was knocked back once more. This continued for several more attempts until Phoenix was lying down battered and defeated. I'm so pathetic. I can't even save the people I love.

As he thought about his situation a small glimpse of hope appeared. It was Maya's voice. "NICK! Please I'm trying my best to hang on. It's very tough, but I wanted to say that…"

"Shut up stupid girl, you dare defy my control." The body started to contort: an inner struggle between the two souls was commencing. The monster, in the meantime, was starting to fall apart due to lack of control.

Phoenix sat there unable to move. I can't help at all urgh.

A voice pierced the room, "Hey Trite, I see you've grown more powerful since we last met." It was Godot, who was more than pleased to make his appearance. "I see you've found my now dead lover." He winked at Mia for a brief second. "I'll help you only because number one, Mia is here right now and two, I hate necromancers."

He brought his sword in the air. "Necromancer, it's time to go back to the hell you've come from." Light shot out of the blade and pierced through the body. As painful as it might have looked, it caused no damage to the body. Instead a shrill was heard, then silence. Maya's body collapsed on the ground.

Mia sighed, "I guess that might not be the last. At least I know my sister is safe." Mia left the young girl's body. Pearl slowly came back to her senses.

"I've overstayed my welcome. I would give you a proverb, but I don't feel like it." Godot disappeared into the darkness somehow. He left Phoenix to think over the entire incident.

Some hero I am… An embrace came from Maya, who had by chance, fallen right next to the swordsman. "Don't beat yourself up about it. I'll always be there for you no matter what."

Pearl bounced in and hugged, "Group hug!"

"Heh heh, you always know how to make anyone's day brighter. Let's power up this sword and go home."

He placed the sword in the center of the large room. The darkness that once lay in the room fled. It gathered into the blade. It accepted the light and the blade gave off a bluish glow.

The Justice who resided in the blade appeared. "I guess now it is time to tell you everything. The sword you carry is an ancient artifact from the long forgotten kingdom of Turnaboutia. It is one of two pieces of equipment. This is the Blade of Truth, the other was known as the Shield of Retribution. They both possess powers beyond belief. If one were to hold both, you would gain immense powers. This however led to the civilization's downfall."

"The last of the kings of the civilization was power-hungry. He thought it was best for him to rule with complete power, so he grabbed the two artifacts. When he touched them he completely destroyed the kingdom because he couldn't handle such power." I can't give more details. It was absolutely horrendous.

"That is where you fit in. You have the blade of truth. If only I knew where the shield was we could restore the kingdom, king."

Phoenix was shocked, "King? I've been a wanderer for most of my life and now you say I am a king."

"Yes"

"Didn't you say a person can't have both artifacts in their possession or else…"

"I never said you had to have them both. I was thinking about the shield being for the woman, known as Maya. It is rumored that if two lovers have the artifacts they can do great things. What, you might ask? I don't know. It's never happened before."

"I see…"

"I'm bored, so I'll see you later."The Justice disappeared into the sword from which he came.

A king… does that mean… or is it… "Maya, Pearls, I think it is time to make this kingdom a reality. It could be the chance I have been waiting for, to stop all the injustice in the world."

Maya stood up slowly off the ground. "Are you just going to sit there we have a world to change." Her face slowly smiled as she reached out a hand to Phoenix. Phoenix grabbed her hand and brought himself up.

Pearl looking onto the scene was overjoyed. "Mystic Maya, I know you two can do anything through the power of…"

"Love almost got both of us killed!" They replied in unison.

Pearl put her hands on her face giving the dreamy stare into space. "Aww, you two are so adorable."

Phoenix rotated his shoulders. "I think we should be leaving now we have a new quest to make."

Maya crossed her arms. "But what about our quest rewards? I'm not leaving until we have something that says that we did it."

Phoenix flashed the blade of truth on his back. "This thing is proof, geez."

"Well, I think we can leave now. Off to find the shield." And with those words they jumped back into the elevator and made their way back down the tower.

Maya bounced herself and decided to make an announcement. "And now a word from our sponsors…"

A voice change to a lower more gruff voice was given by the medium "SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY! See the monster trucks right off of…"

"Maya, this isn't a movie intermission. Who wants to see the monster trucks anyways on, Sunday, Sunday, Sunday?"

The 19 year old gave a quick reply. "I do. I want to see the bigger trucks smash the smaller trucks."

"How much is to see everything on Sunday?"

Maya started to count on her fingers. "Carry the two… It costs $14."

"That isn't too bad…"

"…Per person, plus we need souvenirs, snacks, drinks, and we can't forget about the VIP passes."

No my wallet. She's going to starve my wallet to death. I got it! "And now back to our scheduled programing." Maya forgot all about the ridiculously modified and dangerous trucks and turned her eyes back to the story.

They were trekking into Cohdopia at the break of a cloudy dawn. Just as soon as they got to the beginning of the lush fields another familiar voice met their ears. "Wright, I hope you plan on surrendering the girl at once." The small army and Edgeworth appeared from a few shacks dotted around the field.

"I don't understand. Are you really that jea… er, I mean that sensitive to giving up prisoners?"

The large group moved in closer. "That woman next to you is a highly dangerous and a deceptive spy."

"Spy!? Spy!? How can someone as young as her be a spy!? Show me the smoking cannon!"

"Well, umm… I was told so by the king." Edgeworth crossed his arms in a defensive way. "That is all the proof I need."

"Objection! That was a very objectionable reason."

"Now that I think of it, I will have to take you into custody as well."

"For what?"

"Interfering with the army. However, I can let you go if you give up the girl."

Phoenix stared intensely at his old friend. I can't believe you would think of this. This is an injustice. It seems as if he has forgotten the old days. His thoughts kept mixing over and over again. The vigilante's emotions were sloshing around with sadness, anger, and pity as the main three.

Maya who was completely dumbfounded about the situation was turning pale. Phoenix swung his head around. He sighted the smaller medium balling on the ground scared and Maya looking at him waiting for his next action. Seconds seemed drawn out as Wright kept thinking over the possibilities in his mind. NRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH! I can't just abandon her and let her go to who knows where, but if I resist I might me captured as well. If I remember correctly there is one big weakness in good old Edgey. "I challenge you to a duel!" Phoenix pointed his blade forward at the captain.

Edgeworth was gazed upon by his men ready to charge at any moment. "Very well then, I accept your barbaric challenge. The one who is slain first is the loser. You know what will happen if I win."

Of course I do. Besides, you fell right into my trap. You have one weakness: your pride. "If I win Maya will be free to go."

Edgeworth held his hand up to put his men at ease. "Gumshoe, my swords please." The man pulled out two one-handed blades from a chest that was being carried along. He placed one in each of his hands. "If anyone makes a move that would seize the girl without my permission, put them to death for treason."

"Um, I don't really like kind of stuff, sir."

"Deal with it, or no leather rations for you."

Maya, whose fate was going to be decided by two 25 year old men banging swords at each other like small children fighting over a toy shouted, "NICK! DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME! DON'T GET YOURSELF KILLED!"

Thanks for the pep-talk; of course I'm not going to leave you like this. "WRAAAAGGGGHHHH!" Phoenix charged wildly at Edgeworth who was still stretching. Phoenix sliced from overhead. The pink armor suited man brought his swords crossed overhead to block. The blades tangled as a struggle for dominance commenced. Lighting flashed in the background as an electrical storm approached.

"Wright, did you really think that a simple chop over my cranium would be enough to take me down?" The captain pushed the other swordsman's sword back, and stabbed. It missed the torso and glanced off of Phoenix's chainmail. Edgeworth stabbed with his other blade missing altogether.

Phoenix seized the opportunity by striking the opponent's swords down into the ground. It was a partial success; one of the swords was knocked out of Edgeworth's hands. "Face it friend, you were never able to beat me in the past, so why now."

"Because you never have fought me with only a single sword." He thrust the sword precisely toward the abdomen. Phoenix brought his blade to block the attack, the sword however went around and stabbed the right side of his chest. Phoenix was in pain; fortunately it was only a flesh wound with no damage to the innards.

Phoenix had enough with this fight he brought his sword back, he knocked the blade away. Then the vigilante knocked some dirt into Edgeworth's eyes. This of course blinded the captain.

"Coward! A real man would…" Edgeworth felt something pricking at his chest. That something was the tip of cold steel. "This is impossible; no sword has ever penetrated my armor this easily!"

Phoenix was now holding the blade of Truth with both hands aimed at the heart. "Let's just say this isn't your average sword. Aside from that I don't want to kill you. What I want is for Maya to be let go. Say for all your troops to disband."

"I'm sorry the duel isn't over. Go ahead and kill me."

"No! I won't! You can't give up so easily. What happened to that guy that would lead us around and drag us into situations for the good of all? He's way different than the guy I'm looking at. The old you wouldn't just wish to die." Phoenix was tensing up his eyes were twitching.

Edgeworth gave a cold glance elsewhere. "Things… changed, this way I know that I died with honor."

"You idiot! If you want to die so badly fine. This hurts me more than it hurts you" Phoenix's eyes started to moisten. I can't cry this is what he wants He positioned himself to kill his best friend. He slowly moved the blade back to pierce the heart. Some friend I am…

"Don't move, or else she dies." A man wearing black cloak was position right behind Maya with a knife at her throat.

Phoenix turned around, bringing the blade away from Edgeworth. "Edgeworth you ba…"

("Nick! Watch yourself! Pearly is hearing everything you say."

"Oh, er… I guess I was a little too carried away in the moment."

"I don't get what's going on here. Mr. Nick, are you trying to say a bad word?"

Wait didn't I swear before in this story…

"I can understand damn, because Morgan would always yell that at me in front of Pearly, but try to make sure she doesn't learn any new words. Maya Fey, your girlfriend, commands you to!"

"Sorry, geez, can I get a little slack. I was just going for dramatic)

"Edgeworth, you bad person!" He was not really thinking about what was spewing out of his mouth. "You knew I would become sentimental. You were going to take her all of this time!"

"Yes, in a way. I have to do this for the greater of all people."

"People! What's your problem, Maya wouldn't be a spy."

"I see you have become infatuated by her womanly ways."

Maya thought in the background. I wouldn't really consider myself to be all that irresistible… oh well. I gotta escape somehow. She quickly elbowed the hooded man, who was Shelly, in the ribs.

"OOF" Maya tried to escaped, but only ended up with a cut on her cheek. Shelly regaining his strength looked to find the slight trickle of blood on the medium's face. "Mission complete."

Edgeworth was stunned, "Mission complete?"

"Yes…" De Killer answered, "…my job is almost complete. The girl will be dead in under a few minute now."

Phoenix was completely destroyed on the inside. "Dead! She can't die, not yet!"

The assassin lifted up his hood to reveal the scar on his face. "There is a fatal, yet humane poison on my dagger. Right now the toxin will be making its way to her little heart and stop it once and for all."

Maya was starting to become weak and fell to the ground. Phoenix ran towards her as fast as possible. "MAYA!" He got onto his knees. His face was next to hers. "Don't die!" He was then accompanied by Pearl saying, "Please don't leave me, Mystic Maya."

She was slowly breathing and she could barely make audible words. "Nick, Pearly, thank you…" *GASP* "Especially you… Nick." She was holding on with every last bit of her strength to see them right in front of her eyes. "I know that sometimes… we argued, but I had… so much fun. I hope that you don't mind if… I feel one last thing…" *GASP* She shook as she brought her head up. Phoenix knew exactly what she wanted. He slowly made his lips met hers. They were still warm, but the icy chill of death was encroaching slowly.

Her lover slowly brought his face away in tears. "Maya, if I could I would die instead of you."

"You need to stop… trying to save everyone." She smiled as her condition continued to deteriorate rapidly. "I'll see you on the other side… Pearly can channel me too…"

"It's not the same."

"I find it somewhat funny that I die first…"*GASP* "I was hoping to help you see your perfect… world." The breathing became shallower as she battled to keep her eyes open. "Nick, I lo…"

She could not make out the last words as she died. The light from her eyes faded. Her face was beautiful in death as in life. She was still giving a smile. A smile that says I'm thankful I met you.

"Maya! Wake up! Dammit wake up!" His eyes continued to pour out the salty solution as he tried to make a straight face. Every second his face grew more downcast. "I don't want you to leave yet!" It was no use, he started to shake her lifeless corpse. Pearl started to wail as loudly as possible.

"Mystic Maya!" Phoenix slumped over and cried right into Maya's acolyte uniform. There were lighting flashes, but no rain. It was like all the rain was being poured out onto Maya's body from a single man.

Edgeworth was outraged at this. "I told you to capture her, not kill her!" He ran over to the assassin and shook him violently.

"Don't you know that whoever pays more wins the assassin's heart?"

"Who paid you to do this?"

"I did!" Manfred was riding towards the scene on the royal horse. He dismounted and walked forward with delight. "This was my only task, to gain power for absolute perfection."

The captain sunk his head. "Was I just a pawn to you?"

"Pawn, I wouldn't say that. More like a knight, my wild card."

"What would drive you to kill that girl?"

"Fool, don't you know that the Feys have passed down unknowingly a special ancient artifact. The only way to retrieve it is by killing the member of the main family who carries it. I've already killed her mother by using Morgan and her sister by my special police. Neither brought the power I was looking for. So it had to be her." He pointed to where the body lay. "Now I will be retrieving the shield of retribution." Manfred saw the sword attached to the mourning swordsman. "It looks like I get myself double-prizes, perfection at its best."

Edgeworth was mentally blown away. He thought this was all done for the protection of the people, not for some desires of an evil tyrant. The lies he was told compounded on his heart. He was a pawn of the entire event. "I… have brought dishonor on myself." He slowly walked away. Miles Edgeworth choses death.

Manfred slowly made his way over. Suddenly de Killer was clutching his chest. "URK!" He collapsed onto his stomach as he was gasping for air. Then he died as well in a matter of minutes.

Manfred was puzzled to this event, but moved closer. Maya's body started to yield something from the inside. It was almost like a submarine emerging from the water. It slowly rose up until it was fully visible. Manfred was delighted. "Yes! Our dream of perfection can come true. Now I will take this back along with the sword and…"

Phoenix grabbed the shield. In his haste the magatama slipped off his neck and hit Maya's body, "Heh heh heh! I might not be able to save her anymore, but I can take revenge on you! I don't care anymore. You murdered her! I will be victorious! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Time for you to DIE!" That was the last moment Phoenix had consciousness until he woke up a long time later.

Phoenix opened his eyes blinking. Where am I? I'm sleeping on some sort of bed. He saw spell circles around himself. Aren't these preservation spells? If that is so, then… What's this clasping my hand? He looked around and saw a woman with long black hair holding on crying. She started to look over towards his eyes.

Her face immediately cheered up she was of course crying still, but these were tears of joy. "NICK!" She hugged him as tight as possible. "I thought you were never going to be awake again. Pearly was worried sick…"

"How do you know Pearls?"

"Of course I know Pearly, it's me, Maya!"

"Maya… I don't know what you are talking about."

"I can explain why I'm not dead yet."

"What do you mean? I've never met anyone named Maya."

Maya's heart was pierced to the core, torn, and shattered into tiny little chunks.

*SNIFF SNIFF* "Nick, you will always remember me right?

"Of course Maya, of course." He embraced her as she left a few tears on his blue suit. The mediums lay down to mull over the story so far.

Phoenix left the room to go over to the couch. I hope they know how close I was to losing them today. Not only that, my job, reputation, income… We all dodged a bullet this morning in court. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if Maya wasn't here today? I guess I will always be grateful that those two are in my life and just continue forward.

A/N You might be wondering what is going on in the outside world. I have two things to say. One, it is an alternate universe, some people would refer to such as alternate timeline. Two, the question comes up, "Its sounds like a story is on the outside of this one. Is there going to be a story about the outside world?" The answer to said question is yes, there will be a story based outside of story time. Just thought I would clear that up.

Second portion is address the question "What happened? So Maya died and then came back?" There are probably a bunch of other questions rolling around in your head as well. Many of these questions will be addressed in the next chapter.

Lastly, thank you for reading this almost climatic chapter. If you would like to leave a comment about the story, review it. If you have any questions or anything else, don't be afraid to PM me. Thank you for stopping down by at my story and have a nice day.