Fixing My Mistakes:
New Years Day Brings Changes
By: Kongu123
Disclaimer: I do not own Phoenix Wright, Ace Attorney, or any of the related characters, logos, ect.
Originally, this was going to be Turnabout Big Top. But, since that pretty much wrapped up in everybody being all happy and stuff in the last chapter, this is simply a new years piece, with Armando getting released from the hospital, and Nick getting a little boost of hope.
Enjoy, as always. Rated T for implied pairings and a great movie.
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January 1, 2018, 7:00AM
Phoenix Wrights Apartment
I woke up to snoring next to me. Naturally, I panicked, pulling the sheets with me as I fell off my bed. I sat up on my floor to come face to face with a snoring Larry Butz. (Wait a minute, we didn't... no... what happened last night? We didn't... what is Larry doing in my bed? He said he wasn't into men, did he get drunk or something? Did I get drunk? Did we... I can understand being lonely enough to find a girl for new years, but LARRY! Oh God... this is giving me multiple mental images that I do not need...) Larry opened his eyes, and stared at me dumbly before his eyes widened, "Whoa! Nick, why am I in your bed? We didn't... did we?" He looked as horrified as I felt.
I suddenly remembered, (Wait a minute. Didn't we just fall asleep here thumb wrestling? Oh yeah...) "We were thumb wrestling, remember? We probably just fell asleep here." I looked down and noticed that I was still wearing my suit. "I don't think anything weird happened. I think we're good." I got up, "But I would appreciate it if you left." Larry sniffed, "Hmph. You aren't a very gracious host, Nick. You could at least offer me breakfast." He got up himself, still clad in his orange jacket, and stretched. I chuckled, "Feel free to help yourself." I gestured toward my small kitchen. Larry smiled his thanks and walked over.
I began brushing my hair and teeth when Larry confronted me, "Nick, there isn't anything in your kitchen except for a loaf of moldy bread and some eggs!" I turned to him, "Well then, you should go home and get some food." Larry shrugged, "All right. See ya later, Nick!" Larry opened my door and left, leaving me alone in my boring apartment. (Hmm... its new years day, I'm starting a reputation for myself again, and I need companionship. Where should I go?) The answer was obvious. I grabbed my coat and headed to the office.
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January 1, 2018, 8:00AM
Fey & Co Law Offices
Diego had been released from the hospital a month ago. I had been swamped with cases, so I hadn't been there when he had completely taken over my office space. It wasn't that he took my desk. It was that he took my desk and replaced it with his damned coffee machine. The thing looked like a mechanical popcorn maker with at least twenty different knobs and buttons. It took up the space where my desk used to be. What was worse, the coffee it made was bitter and hot, not at all sweet like it was supposed to be. And, when I complained to Mia about it, she shrugged and said, "Hey, at least he isn't kicking you out of the office all together..." It made me almost want to poison the idiotic thing, see if he could wake up from a second coma...
So, it was no surprise when I came into the office to the smell of coffee. "Whats going on, Wright?" Diego was sitting at a chair, sniffing a white mug of coffee. I snorted, "Not as much as you, apparently. I expect it must take hours to do basic maintenance on that thing." Diego laughed, "Ha! Not so long. I think you are still hurting over the fact that there is less room in here." I rolled my eyes and sat at my cramped workspace. Diego looked from his machine, "What are you working on?" I opened my desk and began taking out files and paper, "Paperwork. The last case still isn't completely done." Diego nodded, "Huh." He turned away and went back to his silent contemplation, as he liked to call it.
I looked out my window. One of the pluses of moving my desk was that I got a clear view from the window. It was a beautiful snowy morning. Nobody was really out, and it reminded me of the reason of why I came to the office. I began working on the oh-so-dreaded-paperwork, letting my mind wander as I did so. About twenty minutes later, Maya and Pearl passed me, "Hey, Nick. You wanna make a snowman with us?" I looked at the two spirit mediums. They both looked like puffy marshmallows in their winter gear. "No thanks, I'll pass. I have some paperwork to do." I turned back, as the two girls took on disappointed expressions. I heard a sniff from behind me, "Fine, be a grumpy old man. C'mon Pearl, I'll teach how to make a snowman shaped like the steel samurai!" The two of them went out the door. Two minutes later, I saw them outside on the snow covered sidewalk, making a masterpiece. I sat back for a moment, looking at the two girls, reminded of another new years day that wouldn't happen for another two years...
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January 1, 2020, 6:00AM
Wright Talent Agency
"Daddy! You have to wake up! DADDY!" I woke up with a start, "Trucy, whats wrong?" I was rubbing my eyes and trying to wake up. She looked panicked, "Daddy, I accidentally set the oven on fire!" I stared at her for a second, then I leaped out of bed and ran downstairs at top speed. I was downstairs and in the kitchen when I saw the table. Two plates bulging with food were set on it, looking exceptionally appetizing. Trucy ran after after me and yelled, "Happy New Years, Daddy!" I chuckled, "Thanks... um, why did you say the oven was on fire?" She sighed, "Because I wanted to make sure you got up, Daddy. Ever since you got that job at the Borscht Bowl Club, you have never gotten up before noon, unless I get you up!"
I sighed, "All right. Well, I'm here." I sat down, but before I could grab a fork, Trucy grabbed and looked at me authoritatively, "Daddy, before we eat breakfast, we have to make New Years resolutions! I resolve to learn more tricks and get a job somewhere performing magic! And I think you should resolve to get up earlier!" I laughed, "Deal. Can I eat this delicious breakfast you made, or are you going to make me stare at it?" Trucy frowned, "Daddy, how can I take you seriously when I know you just want the food?" I laughed, "Well, you got me there. I guess you will just have to trust me." She smiled at me, "Of course I trust you Daddy!"
She suddenly looked concerned, "Daddy, whats wrong, why are you crying?" I noticed that a tear had slipped past my defenses, I laughed, "Its nothing, Trucy, I'm just glad you're here..." I wordlessly pulled her into a hug. (Never change, Trucy. Never change.)
We ate breakfast, and as I was preparing to get in some serious napping, Trucy began pulling on a coat. "Going somewhere?" I asked, wondering why she looked like she was preparing to go to Alaska. "Well, Daddy, we are going to go make a snowman! Come on, you need a coat and some boots!" She pulled my winter things from the closet, leaving a small mess of things that fell out in her search, "C'mon, Daddy!" She said, holding open my coat." I rolled my eyes and smiled, "All right of course we can make a snowman, we can make an army of snowmen! I bet mine will be better!" I pulled on my coat and opened the door into the chilly January morning.
While we lived on a normal street, normal people don't usually get up at 8:00 in the morning. Trucy went to nearby sidewalk, "Okay, Daddy, we need to make a family of snowmen! You can make the parents, and I will make the children!" I laughed, "all right, you're on!" We began scrambling to get what snow we could. Our snowmen began to gradually take shape. I brought my camera from the apartment and began snapping pictures of Trucy making her snowmen, while she took pictures of me making mine. About an hour into our little project, Trucy through the first snowball. It me right in the spikes, and I looked up at my daughter who was grinning impishly and preparing another snowball. I grinned back, "Oh, you think you can take me on? Well, Take That!" I used Larry's 'Instant Snowball' technique and knocked her hat off. She gasped and threw her snowball while ducking behind her snowman child. I threw another snowball, but I missed and it hit someone who had just turned the corner. I was running up to apologize when I recognized him,
"Miles?"
Edgeworth wiped the snow off his face, "I am sure there is a logical reason for why you are throwing snowballs at a time when the average citizen is suffering from a hangover?" I shrugged, "The average citizen doesn't have Trucy as a daught-" I broke off as a snowball was up my shirt. I tried to get all of the snow out before it melted, "Trucy!" She was giggling, and she started laughing uncontrollably when I grabbed her and started tickling her unmercifully, "Daddy! Stop, Daddy! DADDY!" She squealed, unable to stop laughing. I let her go, "That's what you get, stuffing snow up peoples shirts..." I hadn't been able to get it all out, so it had melted and frozen my shirt.
Miles eyebrow shot up, "So, how was your new years?" I laughed, "Pretty much like this, all of last night. Why are you here, by the way. Not that I am complaining..." Miles shrugged, "I'm on my way to a crime scene. An... um..." He glanced worriedly at Trucy, "...robbery. They think it was by someone who does this... um... repeatedly." I nodded, "Sounds bad. They haven't caught him, yet?" Miles straightened, "We have a suspect. If we can link him to other... ah... robberies, then we can put him away for good. Anyway, this was just on my way." I nodded, "Well, I won't keep you. Good luck." He nodded, "Thank you, Phoenix. Happy new years." He began walking down the street. Trucy looked after him critically, "I think he needs a hug. You should have given him one, Daddy."
I laughed, "He would have just found it embarrassing. I think he will be fine. He does have someone after all..." (I wonder how Franziska is doing? I haven't heard anything about her since she and Edgeworth cracked that smuggling ring...). Trucy pointed at the rapidly rising sun, "Hurry, Daddy! People are going to be coming out soon! We need to finish making the snowmen!" We began feverishly working to finish the little snowmen family. We gave them each a little snow instrument to play and made a snow guitar case on the ground. After we were finished, we stepped back to admire our handiwork, "And now we have a snowman mariachi band." Trucy clapped her hands in delight, and then shivered slightly.
I looked at the flag raised outside the nearby shop. It started fluttering, "I think its time we go inside, Trucy." Trucy was openly shivering now, but she was also vehemently shaking her head, "Daddy, I want to stay out-" She was cut off by a strong gust of wind. I picked her up and carried her inside the office. We started getting out of our now wet winter clothes, "You get into some warm pj's, and I'll make us some hot chocolate. I'll even put in some marshmallows." Trucy smiled and ran up the stairs. I went into the kitchen and heated up a pot of water. Trucy came downstairs wrapped in a blanket and sat at the table. I brought out two steaming mugs of hot chocolate. We sat at the table, and drank cocoa to warm up. "Why did it have to get cold, Daddy? I had a fun day planned and everything..." I smiled, "And you think I didn't have something planned as well?" Trucy lit up, "Ooh, what are we going to do, Daddy?" I laughed, "Make your way to the couch, my little magician. I have a special movie presentation only for people who are related to me."
Trucy got up from her chair and ran to the couch with her blanket. "I'm ready, Daddy!" I laughed, "All right, let me get the movie." I went over to the closet and pulled out the movie in question. I handed her the cover and let her look at it. "The Princess Bride?" She asked in confusion, "That doesn't sound very new years, Daddy." I laughed, "It isn't really, Its just something I saw at the video store. I remember watching this as a kid." I got the disk out and put it into the player. I went back to the couch and sat down. Trucy covered both of us with her blanket, and we settled down as the opening credits started. "Is there going to be any gushy love scenes, Daddy?" She asked. I chuckled, "Trucy, this movie has everything, including a gushy love scene." She giggled, "Everything? Does it have a magician?" I turned to her, "Yup, his name is miracle max."
The grandpa walked into the room. "Daddy, hes reading him a story, just like you always do for me when I'm sick." I nodded, "Yeah." She leaned up and gave me a kiss on the cheek, "Thank you, Daddy. I love you" I hugged her in response, "I love you too, Trucy."
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January 1, 2018, 8:15AM
Fey & Co Law Offices
I was brought back to reality by the eruption of a snowball fight. I almost reeled in the memories, and suddenly, as if bidden to ruin the moment, came those five words which spoke of everything I had lost,
My price... is your life.
The pen I had been holding broke. I looked in surprise at the pen I had broken in half with my grip. Then, Diego spoke up. "You only live once. And every cup of coffee, no matter how similarly we make it to the last one, is a unique experience." I turned to him, "What?" He chuckled, "We only have one chance to take an opportunity. I always take an opportunity for fun. Its one of my rules." He got up and left the room toward the apartment he and Mia now shared. I looked back at the pen, then at the two spirit mediums outside. I got up and put on my coat.
The funny thing was, they liked the Princess Bride too...
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This was inspired by my family tradition of watching the Princess Bride every year at new years. It was also inspired by a Calvin and Hobbes comic I read. When you read it, you will know it.
Thank you for reading my little peaceful interlude. We haven't reached the climax of this story yet. We still have an evil actor, an ace detective, a Brooklyn native, and an evil Defense Attorney to deal with after all...
Thanks for reading, and as always, I appreciate reviews.
Kongu123