Songs

Confrontation: Recollection- Forgotten Legend (Apollo Justice OST)

Q&A Seminar: Private School Themis Legal Academy (Dual Destinies OST)

Apollo's Investigation: Solitary Confinement (Apollo Justice OST)

Talk with Ethan: Court Begins Abroad [Khurain] (Spirit of Justice OST)

Visiting Apollo in the Hospital: Reminiscence- Smile, No Matter What (Spirit of Justice OST)

Wright Anything Agency, April 6, 1 PM

It had been a week and a half since the night at the basketball game, and the terrifying news that came after.

Phoenix told Iris that he wanted to keep a bit of distance from each other following her brother's warning, not wanting to put her in danger in case the killer was indeed targeting him.

He cycled through the mail for the day, coming across a letter from Themis Legal Academy at the end.

"What's that, Daddy?" Trucy asked, lying on the nearby couch, spending time with him.

"Let's see…" He opened it and pulled out a handwritten letter from the headmaster.

"It's a request to speak at a Q&A session at Themis soon."

"Ooh! Are you gonna do it?"

"I might as well. It's always nice to give some upcoming attorneys some advice."

He called the number left to him in the letter, the headmaster picking up.

"Hello?"

"Yes, hello, this is Phoenix Wright."

"Ah, Mr. Wright! My name is Lance Wilson, I'm the headmaster here at Themis. Did you receive my letter?"

"Yes, that's why I'm calling. I'm going to do the Q&A session."

"Excellent. It's a seminar, so they will be asking you questions about your career, your experiences, things like that."

"I understand."

"In addition, I would like to have a prosecutor there as well to do the same alongside you, but I'm afraid our usual contacts are too busy this time around, Mr. Gavin and Mr. Edgeworth."

'Right, the investigation…'

"I might know someone who could do it. Let me ask her."

"That would be excellent. In any case, please meet me in my office on Monday the 9th at 12:45 PM and I will escort you to the lecture hall for the event."

"Understood. Thanks."

"No, thank you! Good luck with your prosecutor recruitment."

Phoenix hung up and dialed Iris, her phone ringing a few times before she answered.

"Hello? Feenie?"

"Morning Iris. Are you alright?"

"Y-Yes, I'm doing better. I'm sorry I haven't been talking to you as much since...that night."

"It's alright. I know...things are getting complicated. But I wanted to ask you something. I'm going to do a seminar at Themis Legal Academy Monday afternoon, and they're still looking for a prosecutor. Do you want to come with me? I'll be with you the whole time."

"Yes! I mean...yes, that sounds delightful."

"They'll just ask us some questions about our careers. You don't mind, do you?"

"No, of course not. I'll pick you up on Monday morning, then. We can get drinks together on the way there!"

"Alright." He laughed.

"See you then…Feenie."

"Y-Yes?"

"It's good to be with you again." She sighed happily.

"You too."

They both hung up, and Phoenix looked over to the couch to find Trucy now lying on her stomach with her head in her hands, kicking her feet back and forth in the air, with a big smile on her face.

"You love her, Daddy~"

"...I have other things to worry about first."

"Daddy, you're basically going out with her already. Why not just officially ask her out?" He took a few moments to think, then looked at her.

"Because the last two times we were in love, she disappeared shortly after. She disappeared in college because of her sister's actions, and she was arrested later just as I found out that she was the one I was dating all along. I don't want that to happen a third time, I want nothing to stand in our way. I want this culprit to be caught before we get in too deep and she leaves me again, god forbid."

"...Sorry I asked."

"No, it's alright. You did nothing wrong." They sat in silence for a minute before Phoenix redialed Lance's number to tell him that he found someone to represent the prosecution.

Wright Anything Agency, April 9, 11 AM

Phoenix opened the door finding Iris there in her usual work outfit, a dark blue business skirt and blouse, and a magenta trench coat over it, thinner than her wool one now that spring had returned. Not that LA had cold winters, but it definitely wasn't like their springs or summers.

"Ready to go, Feenie?"

"Yeah. Trucy, we'll be going now!" He called out, causing her to rush out and once again slam into Iris' waist.

"Mommy! Have fun, you two!"

"We will, Trucy." Iris giggled, bending down and kissing her on the nose.

As Iris began to drive, Phoenix turned to her, about to ask a question.

"How's the investigation going?"

"I don't know. Ethan won't tell me anything. He's been keeping to himself lately, I'm afraid that he's getting overwhelmed by the pressure from the prosecutor's office to solve the murders and catch the culprit. As the new guy in town, it would be bad for his reputation if he lost his first case, a multiple homicide in their own precinct, no less."

"Yeah…what about yourself? Are you going to be okay?

"Oh, I'll be fine. You don't have to worry about me, Feenie. I have you here for me." She smiled at him.

Themis Legal Academy, 12:30 PM

They pulled into the parking lot and got out, heading to the headmaster's office.

"Mr. Wilson?" Phoenix asked, knocking on the door.

"Oh, Mr. Wright! Is that you?"

"Yes, sir."

"Come in, by all means!" Phoenix opened the door and he and Iris entered the comfy office, standing in front of his desk.

"Ah, Mr. Wright! And this is your prosecutor friend?"

"Yes. This is Iris Hawthorne, my….girlfriend."

It was only one second. He had combed over all of the words he could use to describe his relationship with Iris. But she wasn't just a friend anymore. They weren't exactly dating again, but they were clearly on that track again. There was just no escaping each other.

Lance's reaction was predictable. He was a little surprised, but took his word for it and greeted her with a grin and extended his hand.

Iris subconsciously shook Lance's hand, but her mind was still racing after hearing Phoenix officially call her his girlfriend again. She was mostly flushed with joy, but a small part of her was still conflicted about her reunion with him.

"Well, if you'll both follow me to the lecture hall then." Leaving the office, Phoenix and Iris maintained a bit of distance as they walked side by side.

"Girlfriend…?" She asked, trying her hardest not to look at him, her blush creeping back up.

"I couldn't think of any other word! We're not just friends anymore!" He whispered back, Iris clutching her chest from her heart racing.

"Here we are." He opened the doors to the lecture hall, walking up onto the stage, where two chairs and some water bottles were set out for them. A few students had already begun to arrive, taking their places as Phoenix looked around.

"This is the same lecture hall from before."

"Hm? You've been here before?" Iris asked.

"Yeah, there was a case here before that Athena worked."

"Yes, that...I'm proud to say that we've had no incidents since, but I'd be lying if I didn't think about it frequently as a dark part of our history." Lance grumbled.

"Well, take some time to prepare yourselves however you like. The rest of the students should be here shortly."

"Thanks." Phoenix and Iris nodded, going over to their seats.

Detention Center, 1 PM

"..." The prisoner closed his book as he heard the two guards collapse outside of his cell.

"Hello?" He called out. There was silence, then echoing footsteps coming towards the cell. It was unlocked, and the assailant stepped inside, staring at his next victim with crimson eyes.

"Well now...you must be the killer going around murdering inmates. Am I your next target then?"

There was no response.

"Strange that you're committing your third crime during the middle of the day. Your previous two were performed at night, were they not?"

Again, no response, as the carried katana was pushed out of its hilt by the assailant's thumb.

"I suppose that means that Wright is preoccupied."

This finally got a reaction out of the assailant, who closed his katana again.

"How did you know?"

"It doesn't take a genius. Your first victim was Morgan Fey, and the second was The Phantom. Both were major opponents of Phoenix Wright. As am I. But now that you're here during the day, it must mean that you perform these acts when he's not around to catch you. Which also means that you're an acquaintance of his."

"..."

"You're wearing gloves so as to not leave any fingerprints, and you're also leaving the guards alive as you have no grudge against them. And I suspect that you commit these murders the same way so that the police only think they have to look for one person rather than blame each scene on a different person. It's almost as if you want to be caught."

"...You are rather different than the others, aren't you?" He gave a slight smirk as he began to unsheathe his sword again.

"So what is your grudge against us? I've no idea who you are."

"I have no motivation. I'm just following orders." In one swift stroke, the blade was brought down, and blood sprayed everywhere.

Themis Legal Academy, 1 PM

"If everyone is ready, then let's begin. Today, Mr. Phoenix Wright was nice enough to oblige me with attending this seminar and to be the speaking guest. Not only that, but he brought along a prosecutor friend of his as well, Ms. Iris Hawthorne. Thank you both for being here today." Lance nodded at them, and the students clapped for them as they stepped forward.

"Thanks for having us. So, um...I guess let's start with some questions." Phoenix said, putting his hands in his pockets.

Right away, there were a handful of students who eagerly raised their hands.

"Yes, you there."

"Mr. Wright, Ms. Hawthorne, why did you become a lawyer and prosecutor respectively?"

"Well...a friend of mine was in trouble, and I wanted to reach out to him. I also found myself being defended by the attorney who would eventually become my mentor, which inspired me."

"My brother is a prosecutor, and when I found myself in a spot of trouble, he got me out of it by mentoring me. I studied abroad in London, just like how he did."

Another student was called upon.

"What was the first case you ever worked on?"

"Oh, for me, it was a theft. Some guy worked at a jewelry store and stole a few things but tried to cover himself by the fact that he worked there." Iris said.

"For me, an old friend of mine was the prime suspect of murdering his ex-girlfriend. I got him off. When I came back from being disbarred, my first case was the courtroom bombing that followed the murder of Clay Terran."

The students all began whispering to each other, they all knew how infamous Clay's case had become.

Another student raised their hand.

"Yes?"

"What was the most difficult case you've ever worked on?"

"Well...hmm…" Phoenix thought for a moment. There were a few prospects to choose from, his cases defending Edgeworth against Manfred von Karma, his case defending Matt Engarde, the Hazakura Temple case, the Gramarye suicide case, the UR-1 Incident and Clay's murder…

Phoenix looked over at Iris, who was looking down at the floor conflicted. She was having just as hard of a time with this question. But seeing her standing near him again reminded him of just how much the two had to endure to be able to be this close again.

"I'd have to say...the Hazakura Temple incident, where Misty Fey was murdered. That case had a massive effect on everyone involved, especially mentally."

"Even though this wasn't your disbarrment case?" The student asked in response.

"Yeah. I know what you mean, that case should be the obvious choice, but I think my answer changed when I got to meet Iris again last month. It's been nearly ten years since the first trial for the Gramarye suicide now, but...it also reminds me of how much has happened since the last time that I saw you." He smiled at Iris, who gave him a slight smile in response, but still looked somewhat unsure of what her answer would be.

"Mr. Wright, would you mind giving a short summary of that case?" Lance asked.

"O-Oh, yeah...as concise as I can, at least. Someone that I had already found guilty as a conspirator for murder had devised a plan to have her daughter channel a vengeful spirit and kill her older cousin in order to become the head of their family. This cousin was my old assistant and close friend, Maya Fey, and the younger cousin was my friend and sometimes assistant Pearl Fey. To prevent Pearl from channeling the spirit, Maya's mother Misty, there in disguise and who had been officially missing for quite a few years, channeled the spirit instead and attacked Maya at night, before being killed by a former Prosecutor in order to protect Maya."

Phoenix shrugged, not wanting to mention anything about Iris' involvement to a bunch of students.

"Um...I'm going to pass on that question. Sorry, it's just...for personal reasons." She shook her head a bit, surprising Phoenix.

For Iris, she never really had a crazy difficult case like Phoenix did, but the current string of inmate killings that seemed to implicate Phoenix as a future target made her worried and uncomfortable, so that was her answer, but she didn't want to tell anyone.

The questions went on, having the two revisit their careers over the next hour, and beginning to come to a realization together: dealing with death and criminal cases as a profession can really bring you down.

"And as a final question from myself, to end this seminar. Considering your careers up to this point, do you think it was worth it to become a Lawyer and Prosecutor, and what advice would you give to the prospective students in order to maintain success?" Lance asked, standing up again at the edge of the stage.

"Was it worth it…? I'd say yes, for me. I was merely a nun before I entered into law, and it definitely keeps me on my toes more!" Iris giggled.

"I would say it was absolutely worth it. I've turned so many of my cases around to prove my clients' innocence, and I'm glad I did. I've seen the legal system change over the years, and also seen many seemingly innocent people found guilty and many seemingly guilty people found innocent. But my advice…?" He put his fingers to his chin and thought for a moment.

"My advice is to surround yourself with supportive people. There were definitely some cases that took a lot out of me, and having those people, whether they be your proteges, or assistants, or just friends, be your anchor is what's going to keep you going strong in this profession."

"I agree." Iris nodded. "When I started my career, it was kind of lonely. I had my brother alongside me, but to start a new life in a different country without a way to contact some of your old friends...I'm glad I came back and reconnected with Phoenix." She explained.

The students clapped, and Lance thanked them for their time as they exited the hall, said their thank yous and goodbyes to Lance, and headed back to Iris' car. As they stepped outside, Phoenix felt his phone ring.

"Hello?"

"Boss, it's me! It's happened again!"

"Athena, slow down. What's happened again?"

"Another murder, down at the Detention Center, in Solitary Confinement!"

"What?! In the middle of the day?!"

"Yes!"

"Who was the victim?"

"I-It was...Kristoph Gavin." She mumbled, making Phoenix's eyes widen and his grip tighten onto his phone.

"That's not even the worst part. Apparently, Ethan caught him in the act and they had a fight. He's been injured!"

"What?!"

Iris overheard the conversation and frantically texted her brother, and quickly received a response back, to her relief.

Just left the prison, I'm fine. Only minor injuries. Going to stop home quickly before meeting you at Phoenix's office. Stay with him.

She sighed and showed him the text, making him nod.

"Athena, where are you right now?"

"At the office, with Trucy. Apollo went to grab a few drinks and snacks for later tonight, he'll be back soon."

"Good. Stay there. We'll be back soon, we just got out of the seminar."

"Got it. See you soon, Boss."

"Yeah." They hung up, and there were a few moments of silence before Iris looked at Phoenix with worried eyes.

"They're clearly trying to get to you, Feenie. I don't want you to leave my side right now, okay? I want to know you're okay…"

"I'm okay." He said, making her tear up as they hugged each other tightly.

Hawthorne Residence, 2 PM

Apollo felt guilty for doing this, but it wouldn't stop bugging him until he knew for sure. The other night that they were here, he saw Ethan's shadow disappear into a wall that shouldn't exist. Looking at the outside of the house in the daylight now, where that same window was, there was definitely another small section of the house past that wall. He wondered why Iris wouldn't have noticed it since she lived here, but more importantly, what was in there?

This was an illegal search of someone's private property, but if he could find any evidence against Ethan, it would become legal. He hoped he would find something to justify his actions. To prepare for this, he didn't take Phoenix's car so as not to leave any traces of him being there, and he was also wearing rubber gloves so as not to leave any fingerprints. He had waited for today for a few reasons: it was Monday, so he knew Ethan would be at the Prosecutor's Office continuing his investigation. In addition, both Phoenix and Iris were going to their seminar together, so he would be safe from discovery. He had slipped Iris' house keys into his pocket when Athena and Trucy weren't looking, and lied that he was going to get some snacks for later on in the night. He had an alibi too, if Ethan came in, he would say that Phoenix left something here and Iris let him use her keys. If Iris came in, he would use the same trick to say that Ethan wanted him to grab something from his desk and drop it off at the office. They shouldn't be home together to nullify the statements, considering that he was busy for the rest of the day and she was going to be with Phoenix for at least another hour or so.

He used the house key to unlock the door, and stepped inside, closing and locking it behind him. The house was eerily quiet with no one in it, but he wasn't going to be here for long. Heading right upstairs to the corner office, Apollo began to examine the bookshelf for a classic fake book mechanism to pull, but every one of them came off the shelf normally, and the backs were solid wood, he couldn't see through to what was behind it.

Moving over to the desk, he opened the drawers and looked around the top, but again, there was nothing. As a final attempt, he got down on his knees and looked underneath the desk, where he found what he was looking for: a small button on the underside, right where someone would sit, likely to prevent anyone else from pressing it.

When he pressed it, the bookshelf opened outward, revealing a door behind it, and a small hidden drawer popped out from the desk, with a single key on a cushion inside of it.

Taking the key, Apollo walked over and inserted it into the lock, clicking as he rotated it, opening into a hidden chamber.

What he saw inside shook him to his core. Tools to restrain and torture someone, a wall of weapons, and various japanese scrolls and symbols hanging up. Lastly, there was another desk, smaller and cleaner than the other one, but obviously more important if it was in here.

Carefully walking over to the desk, Apollo noticed a lighter and an ashtray on the surface as well, not for smoking, but apparently for burning letters, since there were a few scraps of black envelopes left. Opening the drawers, there didn't seem to be much in them, certainly not anymore of those letters. He continued searching, hoping to find one of those black envelopes, and at last, he did! In the middle of the desk was a keyhole, and upon reinsertion of the key he already had, the lock clicked open, and a compartment slid out, with a single black envelope on the tray.

Apollo picked it up and noticed that the seal, with a red tiger on it, was already opened, and he carefully pulled out the letter and began reading it: Dated March 16, something about an associate who found themselves in trouble, and instructions on bailing him out of prison time and executing him if he was found guilty...wait, executed?! It also detailed permanent transfer from London to Los Angeles. Signed by someone named Yasutora Takahashi.

Just as Apollo was about to put the letter back into the envelope and leave the place as he found it, he felt a sudden strong hand and chemical-induced cloth tightly held against his mouth and restrained from behind by another, much larger body. He couldn't struggle for very long, as he suddenly fell unconscious from inhaling the chemicals…

Hawthorne Residence, Hidden Room, 2:30 PM

Apollo's eyes slowly opened, as he remembered what happened. He glanced around as he came to, trying to see what had changed since he was up. First, he was handcuffed to the back wall, he could feel it. Second, the entrance to the room was closed. Whoever had knocked him out had closed everything again. Third...Ethan was sitting right there, facing him. He was only wearing a loose white dress shirt and the bottom half of his regular suit, but he was staring intently at him.

"Apollo Justice, look what you've gotten yourself into." He shook his head.

"Ethan Hawthorne...you're the one that's been committing these murders, aren't you?" He asked angrily.

"What gives you that impression?"

"Feigning ignorance isn't going to help you. Look at the room we're in right now."

"That doesn't mean that I did those crimes."

"I read your letter. A famed international prosecutor who has worked in the UK for the past two decades is suddenly permanently transferred to Los Angeles because an associate of yours found himself in trouble. All of a sudden, a succession of murdered inmates occurs, all in the same way, and all having connections to Phoenix Wright, the love interest of your sister. Then, you're put in charge of the investigation to find the culprit, and no significant progress nor any public statements have been made since. You put two and two together, and the answer becomes clear."

Ethan was silent for a few moments before standing up and beginning to slowly unbutton his shirt. Turning around, he slipped it off down to his arms, revealing a massive tiger irezumi tattoo, stunning Apollo.

"First Lieutenant of the Yamaguchi-Gumi, head family of the Yakuza. That's me. Those killings were simply orders." He pulled his shirt back up and buttoned it again, turning back to Apollo.

"You needn't worry Apollo, it's not as if I'm going to keep going around killing every inmate with a tie to Phoenix Wright. My last hit was already completed today, your old mentor Kristoph Gavin." He said nonchalantly, as Apollo's body started to shake on its own.

"But...I also can't have you going around telling everyone that I did it, can I?" He walked over to the weapon wall and pulled his katana off, unsheathing it and walking over to Apollo, readying the sword.

"...So this is how it goes…?" Apollo asked as he eyed the blade.

"Relax. I can't have you dying on me either. But this will hurt. Trust me." He raised the blade up and sliced down in a half moon arc, just like his other victims, but had changed the control just enough that it wouldn't be fatal. Apollo's clothes were slashed open, and suddenly a torrent of blood sprayed out over Ethan's clothes and onto the floor.

"Now then...what am I going to do about this?" His mind worked quickly, planning out how to get out of the situation. First, he had to clean the blood on the floor. He wiped his katana clean and hung it back up, then hurried downstairs to grab a swiffer and some paper towels. Once the floor was clean and he returned the cleaning products to their usual spot, he opened the handcuffs and lifted Apollo up, taking him outside and into his car, closing the hidden room again on his way out. Then, he hurried to the hospital.

Hospital, ICU, 5 PM

Phoenix, Trucy, Athena, and Iris hurried towards the room that Apollo was in. Iris received a phone call from her brother around 3 PM saying that he had run into Apollo on his way back from the prison but the assailant had followed him and attacked the two, severely injuring Apollo, and escaping again. Ethan had rushed him to the emergency room, where they had been able to stop the bleeding and close the wound.

"There you are." Ethan greeted them as they walked in.

"What happened?!" Iris asked before stopping short, seeing that his shirt was covered in blood.

"Sorry, I haven't gotten a chance to change yet. It's not mine though, it's...Apollo's."

In the bed, Apollo was sleeping peacefully.

"What happened?" Phoenix asked, as Athena and Trucy went over and worriedly tried to wake him.

"He's in a coma." His words stopped the girls, looking over at him.

"The killer became daring and killed Kristoph Gavin during the day. I arrived there as part of my investigation shortly after the act was committed and caught him, but he attacked me and fled. My wounds were tended to, and I began to head back to your office to get Iris, but saw Apollo along the way, and stopped to talk to him. The killer followed me apparently, and got the jump on both of us, severely injuring Apollo. I took him here, and he got out of surgery not that long ago. Doctor said there's not much brain activity, so he's in a coma." Ethan shook his head.

"Apollo…" Athena sobbed, sitting by his bed.

"I need to get going, Phoenix. I have to get home to change, and then get to the office to file my report. You can all stay here as long as you like. I hope he gets better." He nodded to them as he grabbed his coat and walked out.

"...Are you going to go with him?" Iris glanced over at Phoenix as he asked her the question.

"No. My place is here right now, with all of you."

They spent some time sitting in silence, worrying about how this case was getting out of hand, before Phoenix clasped his hands together and looked up.

"I'm going to start an investigation of my own into these killings. I can't wait for Ethan anymore."

"Feenie, no!"

"If you're sticking with him, then do it. I won't judge you. But now people who are close to me are winding up in danger, Iris. I can't allow this to happen again. We need to find a culprit."

"...No, I...I want to help. Even if I have to go behind his back to do so...you're right. Let's work together on this."

"Thanks. You two, I want you to watch over him as often as you can. Make sure he's getting proper treatment and that he's not in danger, alright?"

"Yeah." Trucy replied, and Athena just nodded.

"Good. We need to blow this case apart."

End.