The Gatewater Hotel had recent renovations within it to make a grand entrance and mess hall. Along the large corridor heading to the ballroom were beautiful paintings of ancient architects and natural backgrounds of mountains and seasons. The guests crowded into the grand entrance as four suited men stamped the tickets the guests handed to them. Trucy, Athena, Apollo, Phoenix, Pearl, and Maya got their tickets stamped as the men bowed their heads, "good evening."

There stood the chauffeur of the limo that drove in on a platform. Next to him was a white podium that was placed there just for the occasion. The ace attorney gang were against the wall in the crammed and noisy room near a corridor that was blocked by red tassels.

"This place is packed!" Athena shouted, trying to get the others' attention.

"It sure is…" Apollo lightly worked Chords of Steel to make himself audible as well.

The chauffeur tapped the mic on the podium with his white glove. His black hat still covered his eyes along with a white masquerade mask on his face that painted down his sideburns and almost traced to his goatee. The sudden abrupt muffled noises from the overhead speakers got everyone's attention as they focused on the lone man on the stand.

"Ladies and gentleman, tonight you were brought here today by the headMistress." His voice was slurred as if he was purposely trying to cover his actual voice. Phoenix couldn't help, but somehow feel like he knew the man talking on the microphone. "Your contribution of being present here today is enough to please the Hostess. Please, enjoy your night, food is all you can eat and the bar is available until the end of the party."

The man pointed to the direction of the mess hall. Maya's eyes were the size of saucers when she heard 'all you can eat.' She was jumping, bumping onto Phoenix while her hand was still wrapped around his arm.

"Thank you. And now a word from the headMistress." He pointed his hand towards the tasseled corridor where the attorneys, magician, and spirit mediums near occupied. Everyone applauded, turning their heads to the direction of the corridor. The loud clatter was rattling the room. Athena was the only one who wasn't clapping. 'The headmistress?'

Apollo noted how Athena was not clasping her hands together. Apollo was then getting some sort of idea who this 'Hostess' was. He turned his direction towards Phoenix, who had just finished clapping with his head looking at the hallway. "Mr. Wright?"

"Huh?" Phoenix looked to the black vested attorney, serious expression on his face. "Yes, Apollo?"

"Who is the hostess?" Apollo awaited for an answer.

Phoenix gave Apollo and awkward pokerface. He wasn't sure how both attorneys would react if he revealed the truth. "Uhhh… well…" Phoenix started nervously while scratching the back of his head. His worried look was giving him up really badly. "You know that woman who I defended a while back...?"

Athena's head twisted so quickly, that if any faster she would have snapped her own neck. Apollo flinched back, his arms hovering in front of him. "What?!" The young attorneys shouted in unison.

"I didn't know until five minutes ago! I swear." Phoenix was trying to defend himself from the angered and worried attorneys.

"Boss! You said that woman would be out of our hair for good!" Athena said, deception in her tone. She rubbed her arm with her head bobbed down.

"I'm sorry, but… I have to thank her." Phoenix retorted.

"For what, Mr. Wright?" Apollo asked still concerned but trying to keep himself collected.

"She brought Maya back to me." Phoenix peered to his dazzling girlfriend in his arms. She looked so cute to him with those dark eyes staring into his. He turned to Maya and held her by her shoulders, lightly brushing against her skin. "And that is the greatest gift I can ask for. And I didn't ask her. She gave her to me willingly."

His grip tightened slightly on Maya, containing the emotions pent up inside. His eyes closed with a sincere expression. Apollo and Athena gave guilty stares to their boss. Athena felt the sadness and joy singing a melody in his heart. Her expression changed to sympathy, feeling guilty for shunning the woman who brought her boss someone he yearned to see for the longest. "And if you don't want to be here. It's okay. You can go. But I want to greet her personally, and thank her for bringing me the most precious person in the world, who is in my arms right now."

Phoenix opened his eyes to see Maya's eyes pouring tears from the endearing and loved filled compliments she just heard. For the first in a long time, he felt like the courageous and bumbling fool who fell off a bridge, almost killing himself just to save her. He loved his employees, his daughter and Pearl, but Maya was special. That was his special someone. It took years for him to realize. The small, but infrequent visits during his disbarring wasn't enough for him. Those damn master duties always kept her away while he tried to clear his name from the forged evidence all those years. But not anymore. She was there. He wanted her to stay. By his side, just like old times.

A genuine and hearty smile was etched on his face. The spirit medium in his hands was back and it be damn hell if he were to let her go again. 'Never again.'

Athena's eyes were close to balling as she heard her boss's heart somersaulting in his chest as Maya's was doing a complete 360s. She held her fists tightly against her chest, trying her hardest to hold back tears. 'I've been so selfish!'

Apollo patted her shoulder, letting her know everything was going to be alright. He closed his eyes and looked down in thought. His eyes met with his boss one more time as he looked at the admiring older defense attorney, "I'm staying."

Athena fixed herself quickly and gave her signature peace sign as small droplets lashed out her eyes from her jolt forward, "Me too!"

Pearl and Trucy giggled together and rushed to the blue defense attorney and purple spirit medium, holding onto them tightly, finally successful and reassured that their OTP was official. Phoenix shot his arm around Pearl while Maya wrapped hers around Trucy. All laughing and giddy together.

"That's awesome…" Apollo had his arms crossed as he saw the sweet scene in front of him. Light hearted knowing that there was at least one family who could experience something he didn't.

"It sure is, Apollo." Athena wrapped her arm around Apollo's shoulder, leaning on him. He felt a sudden heat on his face as her warmth touched his shoulder. Before he could say anything, there was a loud cheer from the audience while a couple stepped out of the corridor frame.

They all changed their direction to the familiar dark figure and violet woman walking. Their elegance baffled the onlookers. The couple stopped in front of the blue suited attorney and spirit medium. The violet eyed woman lightly removed her mask, showing a figment of her visage before winking at Maya. Maya winked back while sticking a thumb at Phoenix and nodding before wrapping her arm around his. Phoenix blushed lightly as the woman saw the reunited couple in embrace. He nodded thankfully at the violet dress woman. The woman placed her mask back comfortably on her face before placing her gloved hand over her mouth in a small giggle before continuing to walk.

The couple finally made it to the podium, the darkman held her hand in utmost care and led her to the stand. He stood boastfully with his hands behind his back as the chauffeur did the same opposite of him. The two men with Regina in the middle behind the podium. She lightly tapped the microphone before speaking. Everyone fell silent.

"Thank you everyone for being here tonight." Her voice contained grace. "All of you here today have helped me greatly in my conquest of discovery and exploration. And this night is dedicated to all of you." Her hand slowly waved towards the audience especially towards the Wright Anything Agency clan. Everyone applauded swiftly before she continued. "Tonight there will be a feast!" Her emphasis on the word was awry. "Along with a dance. The most superior dancing couple for tonight… will receive quite a reward." She stopped, a minor silence occupied the room. "Enjoy your night, like it was your last!" Her hands braced upward in a flamboyant wave.

Everyone made a quick applaud before making their way to the ballroom. The four men lined up at the blocked tassel path before removing the chain to allow the company to enter. The Agency group were lucky to be right next the hallway, allowing them to be the first to enter the ballroom. It had fabulous navy blue curtains along the giant floor to ceiling windows along with a grey carpet that surrounded the perimeter of the wooden dancefloor. The table cloths matched with the curtains with a white decorative cloth draped over the navy blue cover. The leveled stairs led down to the empty tables, all set up with beautiful table decorations with white roses and tulips as the pièce de résistance. Pearl and Trucy quickly ran to a table near the dance floor about several feet away from the table where butlers and waiters were holding the lids of the scrumptious hot food underneath.

The guests ventured to their tables as the Agency gang reached the tables the two excited girls chose for them. Phoenix sat next to Maya, Trucy near Pearl and Athena near Apollo. Athena was tapping her hands with excitement as she was eager for the fancy feast. However, Maya was more than ready to stage dive on the trays with food they could already smell. The umami scent was infiltrating their nostrils, especially Phoenix's.

A butler, bowed before the table in greeting. "Is there any beverages your taste buds desire, hmm? We have a wide variety of fresh wine, crisp champagne, and soft drinks." His voice was very eloquent and proper.

"I would like… hmmm…" Maya, the eager beaver as she was, pondered on her choice. "Your finest red wine!" Phoenix looked at her in minor shock. "Maya? You don't drink?!"

"Uh! Nick! I'm not a baby anymore! Regina let me have a taste of this fine red wine one time and it was so soft on the lips that I couldn't let it go!" Maya gave Nick a 'why-the-hell-not?' expression.

Phoenix was astonished on how the medium changed from a soda lover to a picky wine drinker. He breathed a laugh before looking back at the butler. "I'll have what she's having too, then."

"Ah! I have just the drink for you. The Mistress has brought her fair share of that wine with her as we speak. I will deliver it personally." His hands clasped together.

"YES!" Maya raised her hands to the heavens before leaning on Phoenix.

The butler unclasped his hands before gazing at the other occupants of the table. "Is there any other requests I may be of service to?"

"I want a cola!" Pearl waved her hands to make sure she was noticed behind the grand center piece on the table. "Same here!" Trucy squirmed to see the butler's face.

"I'll have a lemonade," Athena leaned against the table.

"Shirley Temple, please." Apollo answered.

"Apollo! You drink!?" Trucy gasped at the attorney.

"No! No! I don't! It's like a soda! Only cherry flavored!" Apollo was flailing his arms around trying to justify himself from the angered magician.

"Hmmm. Okay. I don't want Polly drinking. It messes with your head and you won't be at your best in court!" Trucy fingered the direction where Apollo was sitting.

"I know Apollo wouldn't drink." Athena giggled.

Apollo was slightly relieved knowing that someone was on his side for once.

"Delectable choices! I will be with you shortly." The butler bowed before leaving to his duty.

A voice was heard from the the speakers near a small desk with a with a DJ mixer was set up across the top. "Dinner is served! Tables on the left hand side, please rise first. Also, dessert will be served later on after the dance." The person on the mic sassed the last word while looking at the captivating audience.

Phoenix leaned on his elbow against the table, his chin resting on his palms and eyes, half-closed, gazing at her the whole time as she spoke about her training, her duties and how Kurain had become light spirited about the outside world. Phoenix was so delighted to hear such news, he can finally show his face to the village that shunned him for losing his badge, with the knowledge of him regaining that shiny button that resembles his profession.

She finally had time over her Masterful duties to see him regularly because of his recent client. Maya explained that Regina probably bribed the dusty elders with money because their political system is quite lucrative. A knot at his chest that would slowly dissipate every time he saw her. She was so grown, so mature, (in physique that is), and if possible more beautiful in his eyes as a person. It was like his bucket list was half complete.

After the dinner was served, a conversation was happening in the background of the ballroom.

"It's been progressing not as fast as we would like, Madam." The darkman in the masquerade mask whispered to Regina.

"Why is that, doctor?" Regina asked, slightly impatient.

"The cultivated cells we gained are underdeveloped." His voice was slightly hesitant. "The growth and reconstruction are still thriving just not optimally."

"So… we have to change tactics then. I cannot risk any more obstacles to my success. We will continue with the next phase."

The darkman smirked and stood up in his chair. "When?"

"She should be developed by now. I would have her go after the one over there next to the girl in blue."

"The one with the silly hair sticking up?"

"Yessss… I need a variety of vessels before I can begin."

"Hmmm… it would be quite interesting to see what he would develop to be along with his mentor." The darkman laughed lightly.

"I won't lie, he was difficult to wrangle at first, but he is quite submissive."

"And what about tonight? They have to feed later…"

"I can handle that. You deal with the research. I need as much essence extracted as possible."

"As you wish, Madam."

"Tell the DJ over there to initiate the music. I want to see if he's still obedient."

"It shall be done, Madam."

The darkman snapped his fingers to the man in the white outfit near the table surrounded by speakers. The man at the table gave a thumbs up before dimming the lights and playing the music.

"Now, it's a party!"