It's incredible what a person can get used to.
If you had asked Simon when he had just been thrown into jail, if he would ever get used to the small enclosure that was now supposedly his home, always monitored by that camera in the corner.
The tough bed, the tiny little toilet in the corner no more than a few feet from where he slept so the smell of urine would be ever present.
The boring porridge he had for breakfast and the dry bread for lunch, the strict routines, the beatings if you didn't immediately follow order, the other inmates whom could and would beat you up given the chance.

No… When Simon had first entered this world, he didn't believe he would ever get used to it. But that was seven years ago.
And seven years is a very long time when you are locked away from the world, constantly watched by both guards and fellow inmates, but also a third phantom figure.

That had been his life, and Simon had long since given up hope he would ever get to experience anything else ever again.

Even now in his sleep, Simons mind drifted away. He felt the walls closing in on him, the shadows falling over his face as the foot step of a guard echoed down the hallway. hopefully the guard wasn't bored, so he wouldn't start to bang on the bars with his little club. Just to see if it would upset one of the inmates, get a reaction out of them.

Some guards got a absurd satisfaction out of rallying up prisoners, and some of the bigger dumber brutes would bite way to easily. That would always result in loud beatings… screams of agony… and Simon would be robbed of his night sleep.

Simons eyes opened as he looked up towards a white ceiling… He was confused. That ceiling was WAY higher up than it should be.
Not only that, but the bed he laid in was much to soft to be his… Slowly Simon sat up and looked around realizing the room he was in was much larger than his prison cell, even if this was only another mans guest room.

The room was tastefully decorated with good quality furniture, all in the same classic yet simple style. Simon looked around… Where was he?

Oh yes… Prosecutor Edgeworths home… Yesterday, the trial. After seven long years he had managed to finally expose him, the Phantom.

Simon looked down at his hands, noting the lacking chains… Everything had gone so quick yesterday. After the trial had ended and the phantom apprehended they all went celebrating as tradition dictated.

At some place called Eldoons noodles… It was awful tasting food, but the company had been warm and cheery all though exhausting and Simon already didn't have much energy left. Just before he was about to fall a sleep where he stood did Edgeworth firmly grab his shoulder. "Clearly it's time for you to rest." he commented.

Drowsily had Simon looked at the older prosecutor whom had been his guide this past year, it was prosecutor Edgeworth whom had believed him in his phantom story, it was prosecutor Edgeworth whom had pulled the strings allowing Simon to stand on the bench. Simon owed Edgeworth everything.
The man had taken a great risk upon himself if this had gone wrong, and yet he had never wavered.

"I believe so sir." Simon admitted. "Where are we going?" he asked.

"My home has a guest room, it should do for now." Edgeworth stated.

Simon blinked. "Chief Prosecutor?" he asked. "I can't accept."

"Prosecutor Blackquill." Edgeworth stated sternly as he crossed his arms. "The day you were allowed to prosecute again I took full responsibility for you. You're my responsibility and I do not take any of my responsibilities lightly!" he stated. "How would that reflect on me if you got into trouble now?"

Edgeworths tone did not tolerate any objections and Blackquill was not about the argue with this man whom he owed so much. "I see." he nodded.

"Don't worry it'll only be a temporary solution." Edgeworth then stated. "But yes, until you have officially been disbarred from prison I shall act as your guardian and supervisor, so whatever you do will be a direct reflection on me, I do not appreciate my image being soiled without reason. Are we clear?"

"Yes sir." Simon nodded and that was the end of it. Edgeworth had driven them home to his own house. Simon had barely even register the house or the neighborhood as they arrived, he was far to tired.

What he did notice though was a large golden dog running out to meet her master, though the moment she noticed Simon she began to bark.

"Pesu down." That was all Edgeworth had to say and the dog was quiet. She was very well trained.

"I didn't realise you had a dog sir." Simon had to admit.

"I assume that wont be a problem, I did believe you had a flair for animals." Edgeworth commented. "I assure you though Pesu is well behaved."

Simon smiled lightly, if Edgeworth had a dog of course it was going to be exceptionally well trained and behaved. "I quite like dogs." he finally confessed. "It's no problem at all."

"Good then." Edgeworth nodded.

And now Simon was here, laying on his back in a soft bed… the room, it wasn't small it was pretty big, there were windows. Big glass windows revealing the night sky outside, one could almost be fooled into thinking that there were no glass at all, nothing between Simon and the vast space out there…. It was, intimidating.

Slowly did Simon sit up so the blanket fell off him… He was wide awake now, it seemed impossible to get anymore sleep.

Outside he could hear the wind gently rustling in the trees, there were no red light indicating a camera in the corner, there were no sounds of foot steps belonging to guards, there wasn't even that feeling of constantly being watched by a phantom…. There was nothing. Just silence…

Slowly did Simon stand up and glanced down at the messy bed, almost without thinking did he make up the bed nice and easy. It had become habit to him, ones you raise from bed make it up prober or the guards would give you a good beating over the neck.

…. Guards…. emptily Simon looked at the bed. Logic dictated it would be unlikely that he would recieve a big whack over the neck because he didn't make up this guest bed still… it was a hard feeling to shake.

Then Simons head turned towards the door… the door leading out towards the rest of the house.

He was not allowed to leave his cell without permission… usually followed by guards while he was in handcuffs…
But… This wasn't a cell. Beside there was no toilet in here, the bathroom was across the hall, he had to go out if he wanted to relieve himself.

Simon looked at the door knob with an empty gaze… his logical self told him there was no danger, it was just a door…. He could open it up if he wanted.
Then another side of him… a rather illogical but deep rooted side, it screamed at him don't… wait for the guards, don't just wander around on your own, don't touch that door knob it's not worth it. Just don't.

Simon remembered…. One of his first nights in prison. The red light ever present, giving away the location of the camera in the corner.
He was being watched… Always being watched. Then he heard it, a rush outside and Simon sat up straight.
For a moment he sat still, listening intensely… Then he heard it, soft foot steps. It wasn't a guard, guards wouldn't sneak around like that and Simon bolted up and ran to the door, looking out of the tiny little window that allowed him a glimpse of the hallway outside and there he saw it, a black shadow scourting around the corner.

It was him! The shadow! He was right there! "GUARDS!" Simon shouted. If they caught the shadow now, it would proof both Simons and Athenas innocence, they would be all right. "SOMEONE IS HERE! HEEELP!" he shouted.

The shadow was quick as he slipped away, and soon much louder steps of a guard in uniform came running.

"I'm glad you're here!" Simon breathed. "There's an intruder! Lock out the doors, catch the intruder!" he asked. "He's an undercover agent and a murderer he!" just then the door opened wide and wide-eyed Simon looked up at a guard a head taller than himself.

Then the guard lifted a hand, holding a club and it fell down on Simons shoulder. "SILENCE!" he shouted as Simon cried out in pain falling down. "After the lights are out, you need to be silent!" he stated and beat Simon again.

"But." Simon tried. "There's an intruder! It's the phantom! He doesn't want me to spill his secret it ARGH!" he shouted as he he got a boot in the face sending him backwards.

"Nice story." The guard commented. "How are you going to spill any secrets when you're going to be dead anyway?" he asked. "Death row scum."

Slowly did Simon sit back up and then spat out a bit of blood.

"Now be quiet or I will have to use real force." The guard stated slamming his club down in his hand.

Simon swallowed and then looked down. "I'm sorry." he stated only to get an extra whack over the head for good measure.

"I hope that taught you to behave." The guard snorted as he stepped out and the heavy door was closed shut leaving Simon in the darkness, nursing all the brushes's and bumps.

He could feel his face start to swell and now he knew…. No one was going to listen to him, not anymore. From now on, he was alone…. Utterly and completely. In this small space locked away from the rest of the world.

Seven years after, and now this simple door seemed so intimidating. Simon swallowed, but finally reached out a shaking hand and let it rest on the knob… He took in a deep breath and then finally turned it, allowing the door to swing open as if it was pure magic.

Simon held in his breath, as if he had just witnessed some astounding magic act and then he gathered courage as he finally took a step outside and then another one, towards freedom. Before he knew it he was at yet another door, this one leading to the outside world… The vast and unknown… Through the glass door he could see the small garden terrace which like everything else here was well kept. Simon was guessing that Edgeworth hired a gardner to keep it all this neat, even if the flowers were only sparse.

Then he laid a hand on the door and pushed it aside, allowing the fresh night breeze to rush towards him and through his hair as Simon took in a deep breath, allowing the fresh air to fill his lungs.

Up above a familiar bird was flying in circles as he screeched…. Taka…

Simon reached out an arm up towards the bird without even thinking, he let out a short whistle and on command the bird flew straight towards his master landing on Simons arm.

Simon wasn't wearing his thick coat so the sharp talons now bore themselves right into Simons skin and he had to hiss in pain, yet he smiled… It was not a bad pain, it was a good pain… He should have been dead yesterday but he was alive! That he felt pain like this was good!

And as so Simon reached forward a hand gently stroking his trusty bird. "While I was a prisoner, you remained free Taka." he commented. "And because you were free… I could still fantasize about freedom, fantasize flying with wind beneath my wings like you… Yet, you stuck to me, for all this time. Thank you, old friend." he breathed lowering his head, pressing his own forehead against the birds. "You always go wherever the wind takes you, don't you?" he asked. "I wonder… will I be able to do the same thing?" he asked. "Taka…" and he reached out his arm allowing he bird to set off ones again as it flew up towards the night sky Simons eyes following the proud bird and he closed his eyes, with the wind towards his face it was so much easier to imagine he was flying… the wind beneath his things, the land his to explore. No shackles or walls just the sky itself… It was a feeling that felt almost euphoric, but also very scary and Simon swallowed.

Animals that had been kept in captivity for to long usually had no chance of making it on their own out in nature and Simon couldn't help the unsettling feeling that perhaps his wings had been chipped for good, that he would never be able to truly fly again and he closed his eyes. No… Athena, Edgeworth and Aura, they had all fought so hard to give him this chance. He had to try… He had to.