Chapter Eleven

Maya

(Present)

Mystic Maya!" I open my eyes from my meditation.

"Oh, hi Pearly," I say as my cousin runs over and hugs me. "Is it lunchtime?"

"Yeah, sure is," she says. "So Aunt Morgan said to come get you."

"Alright, I'm coming," I say standing up and stretching. Meditating for hours is such hard work. I hope it does help me channel better.

After all, I was practically useless in the last trial.l If it weren't for Nick, Ms. von Karma and even Larry the case would have ended badly.

I guess I did get that bullet from Mr. von Karma, but Ms. von Karma had to help us out. I still feel bad for her.

She and Mr. Edgeworth have to go through so much just for that man and he doesn't even seem to care.

I know I can't really say much because I don't know the man, but really though. Why'd he have to try to destroy his own adopted son?

I wish I could just ask for those kinds of questions, but there's no way.

Just another limitation I guess. When I summon someone I'm replaced by them so even if I could summon to ask the only way I could hold a conversation is if we wrote notes to each other.

Then again…

I wonder if Mr. Edgeworth would feel better if I summoned his father for him when I'm better trained.

I know he doesn't believe in spirit channeling, so I guess that wouldn't really be something he'd want.

I suppose I can't really blame him though? After what happened and what my mother accidentally caused I can understand his hesitation.

Still, he's seen it a few times! He's seen me channel Mia.

Mia...

I wish I could have called her during the trial. She would have been way more help than I was.

All I did was get held in contempt of court!

Which was so stupid mind you! Like I had to make sure that I was held instead of Nick because if he couldn't defend Mr. Edgeworth then who would?

Could he have defended himself? I mean Nick did during that one trial, but then again he's an attorney.

But Mr. Edgeworth's father was a defense attorney. Somewhere down the line, he had chosen to become a prosecutor.

And it was because of Mr. von Karam.

He was such a creep trying to prosecute his own son, but Ms. von Karma and Mr. Edgeworth seemed to want to defend him regardless.

Though no the truth is out: Mr. von Karma killed Mr. Edgeworth's dad.

That's still a shock. I always thought spirit channeling was amazing, but I guess there are limits to all power.

Aunt Morgan said that it was because my mom got involved with the police that she was ruined, but I don't think that was it at all.

I think she really wanted to help, and I think that's what we're supposed to do.

It's not her fault that Mr. Edgeworth didn't know who killed him or that he'd be hurting so many people including his son by doing what he did.

I wonder if I could channel him. If I could write down what happened and see what he said.

Though I think Mr. Edgeworth should really be the one to talk to him about it.

It's so confusing really.

I wish Mia or Mother were here to help me with this. It's so confusing, but I don't think Aunt Morgan would be much help. Maybe I could write Mia a note and she could give me guidance.

"Umm… Mystic Maya?" Pearly asks looking up at me.

"Oh… what's up, Pearly?"

"You were just spacing out, I didn't mean to bother you."

"It's okay Pearly," I say ruffling her hair playfully. "Let's go get some lunch."

"You can talk to me if you want, I'm not a little girl," she says as we walk through the manor.

"Thanks, Pearly," I say with a smile. Though I'm not sure that she'll really be able to help me very much.

"Is it about Mr. Nick again? Were you thinking about him a lot?"

"Pearly!" I exclaim blushing a bit. Pearly's got this really crazy idea that I'm in love with Nick, but that's just not true.

"I mean you talk about him a lot, so…"

"It's not like that, I just worked with him on a few different cases. It's not really about him. I mean he was involved, but…"

"But what? Mystic Maya, you better not be looking at other guys."

"Pearly!"

I guess I can't blame her for hoping Nick and I will get together. After all, she's seen so many unhappy marriages here in Kurain village that it's no wonder she's trying to hope that she'll see one that's different.

Pearly herself never knew her father, and mine died when I was really young.

"Will you ever introduce me?" Pearly asks.

"Well maybe, but you know I'm doing my training. Maybe once I'm done I'll see if you can meet him, okay?"

"Yay!" she cheers.

I laugh a little bit. To be fair, I was hoping to ask him to come to my first real channeling. After all, I might need his support. I know he won't be able to watch, but even so.

Plus, that would be the only way Pearly would be able to meet him. She's not allowed to leave the village. I think that's kind of stupid.

I mean there are so many great things past the village! Maybe I should sneak her out…

No, if Aunt Morgan found out she'd be really mad at me. She really wants Pearly to stay in the village and I suppose I should respect her wishes even though it sucks!

I mean apparently this huge circus is going to be in town this year with the best magician in the whole world or something. Man, I'm sure Pearly would love it, but of course, there's no way the circus would come to Kurain so I guess she can't, which is totally lame!

I get she needs to train and all, but sometimes you need fun too, you know? I mean Kurain is a great place, and I love it, but man I'd be so bored if I couldn't go into the country sometimes.

Though right now I've been focusing on my training. I will become the new master someday for one thing, and also I don't want to ever have the same problem as I did in the last case. I want to be able to at the very least channel Mia when I really need her. I can't slack off on my training any longer!

That's why I won't go see Nick or even try to call him. I refuse to talk to anyone until I've finished this part of my training. That way when he sees me again I'll be big.

I won't have to beg Ms. von Karma to waste her time helping me with some basic law. She didn't seem too upset by it, but still…

I'm sure she's gone back to Germany again, it's her home after all. I do wonder if we'll ever see her again though.

I kind of hope we do actually. I want to see her prosecute!

She was pretty abrupt at first, but I suppose I can't blame her, she was caught in a fight between her "brother" and father. I'd have a hard time too if that were the case.

I don't think I could even do it. I'm not sure how she stayed so strong.

Then again she did get really upset after she met with Mr. von Karma. I wonder what happened between them. Nothing good I can guess.

Still, I guess I'd best focus on my training more than what's going on between my friends. I mean I want to help them as best I can, and the only way I can do that is by becoming the best medium ever!

I'll train so hard that Nick won't even recognize me. I'll be able to channel any spirit I want and no one will be able to stop me!

"Come on, Mystic Maya!" She says already halfway to the dining room.

"Coming Pearly!" I say racing after her.

Then I stop. Something just felt… off for a second. I wonder what that was… It just felt like…

I shake my head. It was probably nothing.

I probably just imagined it.

Yeah, that's probably it. I'm probably just hungry and tired from all my training.

I follow my cousin ignoring the strange feeling.

Phoenix

I sigh having to decline another request to defend. I know I shouldn't e doing this, but I just… can't…

I know I shouldn't be so upset right now, but… Edgeworth…

And to think we were finally getting to know each other again.

After I saved him.

Maybe I'm just misreading things. Edgeworth was always cryptic with his messages, so maybe it doesn't mean what I think it does…

Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth chooses death.

I mean what else could that possibly mean? What else could "choosing death" mean?

I mean I get that whole trial was crazy but did he have to go and…

Ms. von Karma's gone so I can't even ask her. I bet she went back to Germany, I mean why else would she stay here since…

Does she know something I don't?

Does she know what that message means?

If I had her number I'd call her, but I don't even know what time it is Germany, and she'd probably not want to talk to me anyway.

She was just using me to help Miles, nothing more. Now that that was over with I'm nothing to her.

Especially if Miles is…

But why would he? I saved his life. I know he had to know the person he was raised by actually tried to get him convicted and killed his father so I guess I get it but at the same time…

I swear this is the time when I really just want some grape juice…

It's not that I drink the stuff too much, but I got a liking of it since Larry dragged me to a bar when he was finally legal to drink. He was so excited and got completely wasted. It was kind of embarrassing. I had to take him home.

But since I'd never really been excited to drink, but I liked regular grape I decided to try sparkling grape juice and it tasted just as good as the regular thing so…

But now isn't the time to wallow in such things. I mean I have far better things to do than start drinking. I don't want people to think I've completely lost it.

It's not like Edgeworth and I have ever been particularly close to each other.

I mean I called him my friend back in grade school, but that's not really saying much. He was always very quiet, and we only really got to know each other because Larry stole my lunch money, and Miles stood up for me.

To be fair we had some adventures before the DL-6 incident, but nothing too major.

(Past)

"And this is my bedroom!" I say with a flourish opening the door. It's my favourite room in my house of course!

"Wow, it's very bright," Miles says looking around. He was allowed to come over for a sleepover. Larry couldn't though because he was grounded for skipping school. He really does get in a lot of trouble.

"Oh… you don't like it?"

"No, that's not what I meant at all! I was just saying it's bright."

"Yeah, I begged my parents to paint my walls blue. I mean blue is such a pretty colour you know?"

"Well actually I prefer reds and magenta."

"Huh? Oh, well that's okay, but you have to admit blue is cool, right?"

"It's an alright colour, though I suppose it is on the cooler end of the spectrum while red is a hotter colour. I suppose it's because blue represents things like water and ice while red is most assosiated with fire."

"Huh?" I ask him cocking my head to the side. I swear he's like a walking encyclopedia sometimes.

"Did you know that pink used to be a boy colour because pink and red were considered very passionate and strong colours while blue was for girls, but at some point, the two colours were swapped to the genders we know today."

"You know for a guy who sucks at art you know a lot."

"Just because I can't do art, doesn't mean I haven't looked into the topic," he says pouting.

I wonder if he looked into art because he doesn't know how to do it so he was hoping researching the topic would help him be better at it. Typical Miles, always thinking.

"So then which of us is girly?"

"What?"

"Well, if pink and blue were switched then which one of us is girly?"

"First of all, I like magenta, not pink."

"They're the same things, Miles."

"No they're not!"

"Yes, Magenta is just a type of pink."

He makes a kind of funny face as if just realizing that face. "Well," he says composing himself. "If we're going to talk about that we should go based on the current state of affairs."

Why does he have to speak so eloquently? Then something occurs to me. "So… you're the girly one?"

"What?"

"Well if we're going to go based on the current gender association with colours then that means that since you like pink… excuse me, magenta, and that's a girl colour based on today's standards that would make you girly."

"Phoenix!" He exclaims making that funny face again. "I'm bot girly!"

"Just wait until I tell Larry tomorrow!"

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Oh yeah? And how are you going to stop me?"

"You have no evidence!"

"Are you sure Idon't?"

"Ngooh!" He exclaims making that face again.

I laugh. "That face is so funny."

"What? I'm not making a face."

"You totally are. It's a really funny face too."

"You better not tell Larry."

"Or what?"

"I'll tickle you."

"What?" I ask before my new friend starts tickling me mercilessly.

"Say it, Phoenix!"

"Okay, okay I won't tell him," I say, laughing.

He grins stopping. "Good."

"Anyway, what do you think? Do you like my phoenix?"

He looks at the wall over my bed. "That's really pretty."

"I drew it. I mean I didn't draw it on the wall, but you know."

"I didn't know you were good at art, Phoenix," he says pouting. I guess he is kind of the only one in our little circle who isn't. Larry is actually better than I am.

"Don't feel bad. You're good at things I'm not. Like that game you play with your club after school all the time."

"You mean the chess club?" Miles asks. "Most of the kids don't know the difference between a rook and a bishop."

I'm not going to tell him that I don't know the difference between teh two pieces.

"I'd much rather play with Father."

"You're father's a defense attorney, isn't he?"

"Yeah, he's one of the best! I really look up to him! And he plays with me, but only when he has time, and that's not really that often."

"So umm… how do you play?"

"Huh?"

"I mean… I'm not very great at logicy stuff, but I don't want you to be lonely either, and I know you don't talk to a lot of people so I thought… I mean…"

"You want me to teach you chess?"

"Sure, if you'd like."

He seems so happy, but also sad when he talks about his father. It's like he's happy to have him, but also feels really upset. I guess it does make sense. His father isn't really around very much. He's usually working on a case.

"Well alright, I'll teach you how to play chess,but under one condition."

"Yeah, what?" I ask. I wonder what he wants to ask. He blushes a bit so now I'm even more curious than before.

"Umm… will you teach me how to do something artistic. I mean... "

"You'll have to be a bit more specific. I mean I'm not great at everything to do with art. Like I suck at music.

He blushes harder. "Teach me how to fold a paper crane."

He still hasn't let that go since we had to do it in class?

"Well alright, I'll try my best."

"Thank you, Phoenix."

"You're welcome," I say with a smile. I'm happy to have a friend like Miles. I hope I never lose that friendship. He and Larry really make me so happy. If I were to lose them...

(Present)

And then the DL-6 incident happened and Miles had to move away. It was hard enough for both of us to deal with. I wasn't sure what to think about him being gone. It felt like a part of me had left with him.

I wanted to send a message to him, but I wasn't sure where he moved to, and even so, I wasn't really sure if I should bother him. I hadn't really known much about the DL-6 case at the time.

All I knew was Miles was gone, and when I started hearing about him again it was about a "Demon Prosecutor" or something. It seems so strange that I felt I needed to know.

And now that I finally understand and cracked the case now this…

Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth chooses death.

Damn it all, Miles! If you were going to do this you should have stayed gone!

Gumshoe

I sigh a little bit. I've been working odd jobs with different prosecutors, but it just hasn't been the same.

Ever since Mr. Edgeworth left things have been so sad. I miss him a lot.

I really just want to send him a message to make sure he's alright, but I promised him I wouldn't bother him unless there was an emergency.

He and Ms. von Karma are on a journey to find themselves.

I know they feel like they need to after what happened, but it just feels so wrong. I've always worked with Mr. Edgeworth ever since my first day.

After all, he saved me from being accused of murder.

He believed in me back then and I need to believe in him as well. I need to trust that he'll be alright and that he'll be back.

Though now I'm not exactly sure what to believe.

I mean I never believed that Mr. von Karma would turn out to be the reason that Mr. Edgeworth lost his father. I would never have seen that coming from a mile away.

I mean the guy was scary, but he always seemed so focused on the law that to think he would be a criminal is just crazy.

But I knew Mr. Edgeworth wasn't a murderer, and at least I was right about that. I knew Mr. Edgeworth was far better than that.

He's such a great man and a great partner.

I hope I can work more cases with him in the future.

I know he "choose death" but really he's just trying to find himself and when he comes back he'll be even greater than before.

Yeah! That's it! I'll just do my work and help the new recruits while I'm at it, and then when Mr. Edgeworth comes back I'll work with him again and it'll be just like the good old days.

I'll make sure that he's got all the best cases and always gets the guy with my great Gumshoe investigations.

Maybe if Ms. von Karma comes to work here in LA I'll help her as well.

She's grown up a lot since I last saw her, but that's to be expected. She's quite a nice woman other than the whip.

That thing is seriously scary!

But if I just do the best job I can maybe she won't whip me.

With that decided I start looking through cases. I know I'll be able to get some practice in. That way I can be even better. I almost want to whooop.

"Detective Gumshoe!"

I look up to see one of the officers running over to me. "Yes, pal?"

"It's an emergency, come quickly!"

"What's going on?" I ask jumping up.

"Just come on," he says and he runs off and I follow after on earth is going on?

Translations:

German→English:

Japanese→English:

Preview

Miles

"She gets upset because Miles helps me, but Miles is just better at English because he comes from an English place!"

"But I'm still your tutor, Fräulein."

"I don't care! Miles!"

"Enough, Franziska, you know better than to behave like this."