"Summer, you made to my show!" Trucy yelled, running to her friend.

"Of course, I wouldn't miss it!" Summer said, catching Trucy in a friendly hug.

"I thought you might have gone to the trial instead. Even I almost went instead." Trucy said.

"Well, I thought about it, but my presence wouldn't mean anything there. Even if I went, it wouldn't change anything. You'd actually miss me though." Summer replied.

"That's true. Nobody else could make it, so I'm glad at least you could. Still though, I know Mr. Steven is almost like a father to you."

"Well, he is certainly important to me, but I don't want you making me feel bad for not going now, so I'm just going to stop you in your tracks. I was here to support my friend Trucy and that's what matters." Summer said.

"Thanks." Trucy replied. "Still, we have time to go see how everything went if you would like to go."

"I would love too!"

The two of them raced to the courthouse, but by the time they got there, Apollo had already left.

"Where's Apollo daddy?" Trucy asked.

"He went to go investigate." Phoenix replied.

"Investigate? What do you mean, how did the trial go?" Summer asked.

"Well…" Phoenix explained what happened during the trial.

"Serial murder?!" Summer and Trucy shouted.

"But there is no way!" Summer yelled.

"I know, I know. But it looks like there is a possibility that the lawyer killer is the one behind this, and until we can find the person truly behind it, Steven is the main suspect." Phoenix said.

"Well, then you better find who's behind it." Summer said. "I'll help in any way I can."

"Thank you Summer, but let's leave this to the professionals." Phoenix said, giving a light smile to the girl.

Summer looked down sadly.

"Come on, Iris. Let's head on out." Phoenix said walking away.

"O-okay." Iris said, following behind.

Phoenix and Iris walked silently from the courthouse back to the agency. The trial had gone so poorly, Iris couldn't stop thinking about what would have happened if Phoenix had been the one to do it. What had happened to him for him to lose his badge? She knew she asked this question to herself, but someday she wanted to ask. She just wanted to come out and say…

"Phoenix, what happened?"

As soon as she said it out loud, she caught herself and put her hand over her mouth. Phoenix turned around to face her.

"What?" He asked, surprised.

"I-I'm sorry. Just forget I-"

Phoenix raised his hand, stopping her. "No, it's okay." He said. "I just want to know what brought this up."

"It's just, this trial… I just wonder if someone more experienced might have saved Steven. Not that Apollo is a bad lawyer, he did great, it's just that it's a hard case and I've seen you solve difficult cases before and…" She ranted.

Phoenix smiled. "I know what you mean. And your right, Apollo is still a rookie, but to be honest, I probably wouldn't have done any better. After all, he was just searching for the truth, and I have a feeling he's on the right track."

Iris put her head down as Phoenix started walking away.

"But you… you didn't answer my question." She said.

Phoenix turned back around. "Oh. Then go ahead and ask it. Properly this time."

Iris put on a determined face and looked up. "Phoenix Wright, why aren't you a lawyer anymore?"

"There we go." Phoenix said looking down to his right and giving a sad smile. "I guess since it's over it won't hurt you to know. All right." He looked up. "I'll tell you everything."

Iris just stood there shocked, and prepared herself for what she was about to hear.

Summer and Trucy passed by the comic book shop, and Summer looked at it longingly.

"You okay?" Trucy asked her friend, unsure of what to say.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Summer replied. "I just miss him is all."

"I know. But don't worry, Polly will get him out of this, just you wait!" Trucy said happily.

"I know he's going to try but…" Summer looked down. "He's really important to me, you know. I don't really have any family, and he treated me like I belonged somewhere."

Trucy put an arm around her friend. "I know."

"I… I just can't wait for Apollo to get things right. I have to talk to your father about this."

"You what?" Trucy said, startled.

"Your father has to have better advice, and he'd know what to say to Apollo. I want to voice my concerns and hope he joins the defense team."

"That's crazy talk!"

"No!" Summer turned to her friend, tears in her eyes. "It's all I can do!"

"So that's… that's everything?" Iris asked.

"Yeah." Phoenix replied.

Iris thought for a moment. "It's a lot to take in."

"Yeah."

"Still." She fumed a little. "I can't believe that man would do that to you! What a horrible person!"

Phoenix chuckled a bit. "Thanks, but it's over now."

"No, it's not over yet. It's not over until you get your badge back!" Iris said.

"Wh-what?"

"Phoenix, you have saved so many lives, exposed so much truth, you can't just throw that away now. It's too soon."

Phoenix looked down to the side, a sad grin forming his face once more. "I've thought about it, and Edgeworth certainly wants me back but…" He looked up. "I've been in this life for far longer than I've been an attorney. While I want to go back, it's not some sort of easy task for me to do."

"When have things ever been easy for you though Phoenix. Things constantly come to burn you down, but you always come out of the fire stronger than ever. Don't let this burn you, it doesn't define you."

"But I…"

"No buts!" Iris said sternly. "Everyone believes in you, Phoenix. I believe in you."

Phoenix stared at her for a bit before letting out a genuine smile.

"There it is, that smile I've missed so much." Iris thought.

"You're right, Iris." Then he tried to change the subject. "What do you say we finish our shopping? We got so distracted last time we forgot to buy anything." Phoenix said.

Iris stood there shocked, and then smiled back. "I'd like that."