A.N: Hello again, everyone! Here is a bonus entry to celebrate the end of Ace Attorney Prosecutor Week 2021! This one features every rival prosecutor in the series! Please, and I can't stress this enough, know that there are spoilers for every game in the series in this fic, and in particular, for AAI2 and The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles! Anyway, I hope you enjoy this bonus fic!
Bonus Day: Meaning
Barok stood over Klimt's grave, his cape floating in the Londonian wind in the silent cemetery. It was finally all over. At last, the whole truth behind the Professor's crimes had been revealed.
And while this had initially hurt the prosecutor, he knew that the truth – as always – needed to be exposed for all to see. Barok now realized that he needed to move on. He knew he couldn't stay in his brother's shadow forever.
"My brother… The curse has finally been lifted. It is time for the Reaper to disappear for the rest of eternity. And with this shall begin a new era of justice for the Londonian courts."
Suffering had struck for far too long now. It was time for things to change for the better. Klimt van Zieks had been a formidable prosecutor; no one could deny that fact, and no one did.
However, it was now Barok's responsibility to bring this well-needed change that the people desired with whoever wanted to turn a new page in the courts of the English capital.
My Nipponese friend… Your determination shall pave the way towards better days for the people of this country. I will make sure to keep our fierce court battles close to my heart as I stand behind the bench as a new man, free from the past.
This, was the meaning of Barok van Zieks's role as a prosecutor.
Asogi stared through the open window, listening to the enthusiastic shouts of the people of London. The English could be fascinating, he recently decided. Their resolve to bring change rivaled that of any people he had met before.
There was a time he thought they were a bunch of blood-seeking cowards, but his time standing behind the bench at the Old Bailey had proven him wrong. Some – of course – had only their own gains in mind. However, what had surprised the Nipponese was to see the people embrace the spirit of change brought by the justice system.
"Father… I know what my mission is now. My place is here as I seek to get rid of the darkness that I have let take over me, even if only for a brief moment."
This feeling, this need for revenge… it had felt overwhelming back then, inside this cabin of the S.S. Balabrock. However, thanks to his friend Ryunosuke and his many companions, Kazuma now knew he could fight back.
And by fighting against the darkness within himself, he would help those in need in their struggle against their own dark side.
Genshin Asogi's name had been tainted in shame. His son swore on his family's honor to give the Asogi name its former glory back for the English people to witness.
Father… I hope you will be proud of me as I help London and its people fight against the darkness and corruption they have suffered from for far too long.
This, was the meaning of Kazuma Asogi's role as a prosecutor.
Manfred watched as the bullet pierced Gregory's heart, effectively cutting the defense attorney's life short. His rage and anger had taken over him. Having this pathetic, useless man put a stain on his record was unacceptable!
It was unfortunate that things had to end this way, but the von Karma name had been smeared, and such an attack could not go unpunished. Gregory Edgeworth had been a pesky bug needing to be crushed for far too long now.
And while other weaklings of his kind standing behind the defense bench were usually destroyed with perfect cases and perfect evidence, he had been defeated by a bullet to the heart. It was cruel; Manfred had to acknowledge it. However, it was all for the sake of perfection.
His perfection.
"Edgeworth… You've made a catastrophic mistake by challenging a von Karma. Fortunately for you, it was your last. Defense attorneys are nothing to me, and you were no exception. You had been in my way for far too long now."
At first, Manfred thought it was a dream. When the elevator doors opened, revealing his unconscious opponent with the young boy and the bailiff, it all seemed way too convenient.
But he soon realized that fate was on his side. It was on the side of the perfect prosecutor, not that of the pathetic lawyer. Perhaps it was unfair… but to maintain perfection in this dark and cold justice system, the end justified the means.
And today, Lady Luck had been on his side.
You will not take anything from me anymore, Gregory Edgeworth… You got what you deserved for daring to get in my way. If you had not been so reckless, you would still be alive. All defense attorneys must crawl before me, for am I a von Karma, the embodiment of perfection!
This, was the meaning of Manfred von Karma's role as a prosecutor.
The plane took off, quickly leading Franziska to look through the window at the clouds beneath her. From up in the skies, she realized just how little one individual was. In the face of the world, they were nothing but small people, trying their best to make their lives worthwhile before they so abruptly ended.
She, too, was very small.
Perhaps she was a von Karma, and perhaps she was supposed to be perfect, but there was only one truth: she was just a single human who meant nothing when compared to the grandness of the world.
The only way people could stand strong and achieve victories was to fight together. Cooperation was key, as the young woman had learned. Combined strengths made for a formidable power.
"Is that why you cooperated with that fool Phoenix Wright, Miles Edgeworth? Is that the reason you cast aside the von Karma creed?"
…
"Is that the reason you've succeeded where I have failed?"
The words still stung a lot. She was a prodigy, acknowledged by all as the best there was. Never in her life had any challenge been impossible to overcome for her.
And yet, she had been following a shadow for all these years while living in another, standing behind a bench that fate had assigned to her. To finally catch up to her foolish little brother. To – as her family name implied – reach perfection.
Franziska had wanted revenge. She sought a perfect victory against the man who had taken so much away from her without even knowing it. However, she had only earned humiliation for her lack of humility.
Perfection seemed so far away now, and yet, when she stared at this seashell card, the proof of one Maya Fey's hope, she felt that, maybe, it was still within reach, somewhere, waiting to be found, where she would never have looked before.
I am a von Karma… My purpose has always been to be perfect in every way. There was never another path for me to follow than that of perfection. But now, as I finally catch up to you, kleiner Bruder, you will see that the perfection I seek will lead me to find my own path, one I can be proud of.
This, was the meaning of Franziska von Karma's role as a prosecutor.
The smell of the steaming coffee was quite enticing. It filled Godot's office as he took a single sip, staring aimlessly into the distance. Now, everything but the taste of his Blend #102 seemed flavorless to the former defense attorney.
He had gone to Hell and back, only to wake in a world that very well might have been just as terrible. Emptiness filled his heart as he thought back to his last moments as Diego Armando when the sorceress had so cruelly killed the man he once was.
How could a woman so beautiful in appearance be so wicked on the inside, he once wondered, only to come up empty-handed. He supposed it was what made her so deceiving, under her angel's disguise.
"Ha! To fall in such a trap… This is a mistake I should have avoided. And yet… all of this is your fault, Trite… If you had not been such a coward, my kitten would still be among the living and this witch would have never have harmed anyone else!"
Under the pressure of his clenched fist, the mug filled with piping hot coffee broke into a million pieces, shattering on the floor with a loud noise. Underneath the monochrome mask, his eyes darkened with anger.
In his fight for justice, Diego Armando had once met a formidable young woman. Oh, how much he would give just to see her again, even only once. Her determination, her strength, her smile… he just loved everything about her.
But whatever happened now, Mia Fey was gone, taken away from him by the wrongs of society. And while he was forced down a trip in Satan's realm, the one who was supposed to be there for her had left her to die.
Whatever happened, he could not forgive him for that. The pain he was feeling hurt him way too much for him to forgive. Losing himself to the poison had hurt, but it paled in comparison to the suffering he was going through now, reborn in a world where things had only worsened and where the woman he loved had been brutally murdered.
I will do battle with you and expose you for the weak coward you are, Phoenix Wright! You were not able to save Mia, and I swear I will make sure you understand that!
This, was the meaning of Godot's role as a prosecutor.
Falling from what he thought to be grace had been the best thing to ever happen in Sebastian's life. Never before had he felt so liberated. Finally, after so long, he had found a reason to be proud of himself, and not of the boy his father had molded.
Perhaps he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but now, the young man had only one goal in mind: improvement. Whatever it took, he would prove Blaise wrong and become a successful prosecutor!
Accepting the truth, accepting that he may not have been the best after all, had hurt him terribly. He had genuinely thought he was a genius who would go unrivaled.
Evidently, that was not the case. But he had accepted that.
"I made a fool out of myself because of my lack of humility… All this time, I was an imposter who naively believed to be the best prosecutor ever… But this wasn't right, and Mr. Edgeworth made me realize that…"
Recent events had been a rollercoaster of emotions for Sebastian. Meeting a rival whose skills easily outmatched his had been a surprise, but to find out that his father wasn't anything more than a worthless criminal who had deceived him had hurt more than anything.
However, in all of this, he had met so many wonderful people and had learned so many new things, about his job… and about himself.
All in all, he was grateful. All things considered, he did not want to complain. He felt he didn't have any right to complain, actually.
Tears of emotions appeared at the corner of his eyes as he realized just how much he had grown in such a short time. It had been a hard pill to swallow, but now, he realized it had been worth it.
Now, it was time for a fresh start, and with the guidance of the best mentor anyone could ask for, he had hope.
Maybe I am not the best, but I will strive to become better in every trial! And with my hard work, I will make sure that no criminals like you can go unpunished, Dad!
This, was the meaning of Sebastian Debeste's role as a prosecutor.
Klavier's fingers touched the cords softly, causing his beloved guitar to make a series of cute sounds. In his times of doubt, the rockstar always enjoyed the company of his favorite instrument.
And right now, in his first time to genuine relief in years, he enjoyed it ten, perhaps a hundred, times more.
He always loved to see smiles on people's faces. To him, happiness was an emotion humans were supposed to feel as often as possible. Being happy was a good indicator of how well your life was going in his opinion.
And today, he'd seen plenty of smiles. Seven years was a long time to be unhappy, Klavier thought, especially for all the wrong reasons. Luckily, this was all over now, and everyone could finally rest easy, knowing that the Devil had been put away.
"Herr Wright and all the others will finally be able to move on… It hurts to know that mein Bruder made them suffer for so long, but… If they're relieved, then it what matters most."
Of course, knowing that he shared the same genes as a psychopathic killer wasn't exactly pleasant. However, the rockstar knew what he was worth, both inside and outside of the courtroom. He didn't have to be like his brother.
The wrongs he had done to the Wrights, he had corrected by helping Herr Forehead and Fraulein Trucy. Justice was a word that meant a lot to Klavier, in more ways than one.
He cared for protecting the innocents, even if many of his colleagues didn't see their job this way. And for him, all losses were unimportant as long as the truth came out.
Being blinded to the truth for so many years had only furthered his will to always have it exposed for all to see, whatever the case, whatever the opponent, whatever the cost.
This is the beginning of a new journey, ja? The mistakes I've made have made me realize that I can still improve a lot, and I will! With Herr Forehead as my opponent… I think I'll be fine… Let's rock!
This, was the meaning of Klavier Gavin's role as a prosecutor.
The rocket took off as Simon stood over a hill, observing as Solomon Starbuck was sent right into space once more with hope for tomorrow.
Freedom. He was free once more. His time behind bars was over now, and this was the beginning of a new chapter in his life. This time of grief, sorrow, and sadness was all in the past.
He knew he partly owed it to Wright-dono and his two colleagues. Their defense had been remarkable. He was also thankful to Edgeworth-dono for always believing in his innocence.
It was all a matter of trust. Simon knew he looked the intimidating type, and for what it was worth, he could be intimidating when he wanted to. But still, they had all believed in him, and everyone now had their happy ending.
Even for somebody nicknamed the 'Twisted Samurai'… it still brought a smile on his face.
"For both me and Cykes-dono to be free at this moment… Maybe this is a sort of miracle. But to overcome this Dark Age… one was probably needed."
Taka flew around in the wind, observing with the samurai prosecutor as the rocket quickly disappeared into the sky.
His story had begun here, seven years ago, with a wrongful conviction. Now, while this wasn't the end for him, it was the end of a chapter and the beginning of a new one.
While he would never admit it, Simon was a real softie inside. If it wasn't so embarrassing, he'd give Athena a tight hug just to make sure that she's still there and that they really both got out of this mess.
However, the one thing he wanted even more than that was to see her grow as a lawyer to prepare for the day they could meet once more in court and fight for justice together.
Cykes-dono…No, Athena… Let us fight to prevent others from suffering as much as we did. We hold the keys to our own shackles… To bring down the phantoms lurking in the shadows… Let us vow to always combat for the truth!
This, was the meaning of Simon Blackquill's role as a prosecutor.
It had been a long time since the people of the Kingdom of Khura'in had last shown such cheerfulness. Nahyuta smiled as he and Rayfa waved at the Khura'inese who had taken the streets to celebrate the Revolution.
To see such a large movement built upon cooperation, solidarity, and unselfishness was relieving for the new regent. An unjust ruler had just been overthrown without any unneeded bloodshed. The country couldn't have asked for a better outcome.
After years of oppression under the Ga'ran regime, people were finally taking back their rights. After years of struggle, the dragon had just shown his might to those who wanted to take him down.
"O Holy Mother… I thank thee for granting the Kingdom such a wonderful chance to start anew. It is the most genuine belief of your humble servant that we shall honor your name forever."
Nahyuta had lived a difficult life. To be separated from his family and manipulated so cruelly… he wished things had been different. However, with the Revolution now complete, was a chance for him to start a new life.
Perhaps Dhurke was gone, but the spirit of the Defiant Dragons would forever flow in his blood.
There were so many allies the young ruler wanted to thank. Of course, by earning the innocent verdict that had started it all, Phoenix Wright would always have a special place in the heart of the people. But the likes of Maya Fey or Miles Edgeworth wouldn't be soon forgotten, either.
But of course, the one who had achieved more than anyone else, was him. Nahyuta knew he had been unfair to his childhood friend. However, he hoped that things could go back to the way they used to be, back when they were inseparable.
And now, they were rivals, too. This could only be a good sign for the future of the country. They smiled at each other as their eyes met.
My friend… Let us fight to bring a rightful sense of justice back to this country… If we fight together to find the truth, there is truly nothing we cannot do. Apollo… thank you from the bottom of my heart. A Dragon never yields.
This, was the meaning of Nahyuta Sahdmadhi's role as a prosecutor.
Nothing was quite as exquisite as a good tea, Miles had once decided. Getting a chance to enjoy a cup by the window of his office as the sunlight gently lit the room was his favorite way of relaxation.
Of course, being the Chief Prosecutor was a lot of work, but it was nothing he couldn't handle. After all, he had always been called a workaholic, which was the truth, to some extent. And he was proud of the work he did, too.
To fight for justice meant a lot to him, on a professional and personal level. Injustice had taken his father away from him. Justice had brought him a new family and friends he would never be thankful enough for meeting, although he would never admit that.
It had been a real journey to get to this point. Years of hardships and happy endings, years of correct and not-so-correct verdicts, years of fighting on the two sides of the courtroom for one thing and one thing only: the truth.
There were so many wonderful people Miles had met during his career as a prosecutor. So many lives he had seen change in a heartbeat, sometimes for the best, sometimes for the worst. But in all of this, there had been one constant factor: his resolve had never weakened to see justice be served, whatever the cost or how dear it might be.
No matter the opponent or how fiercely they fought, there had never been one who could even leave a dent in the prosecutor's will. To protect those who mattered to him, no title or law could ever stop him.
Whether it was an unexpected flight across the ocean, a trip to detention, or a badge he was proud of chicly keeping in his pocket… Nothing would ever mean as much to him as the people his job as a protector of justice had brought him.
But he was only one man. He couldn't save people on his own, no matter how much experience or skills he possessed. And this is why he had rivals – and in particular one, that man.
That man had always been an inspiration for him. Slowly but surely, trial after trial, Miles had begun to believe in that man. He could trust him to make the right decision that would get them one step closer to the truth.
He wished he had the proper words to thank him.
Whenever he stepped inside the courtroom, Miles had only one goal in mind: make sure that justice was served for the people.
"There shall always be innocents wrongfully convicted, and there shall always be criminals who evade their rightful fate. Ergo, my presence inside the courtroom will always be needed, if not for my person, then for my ideals. Justice will never be perfect, and perhaps it is not meant to be. But as we prosecutors move forward, we can ensure that it is fair, which is more than we have any right to ask for."
This, was the meaning of Miles Edgeworth's role as a prosecutor.
The End.
A.N: I hope you liked this bonus entry! I didn't have much time to write it, so I think it could have been much better, but I wanted to post it the day after the week had ended. Writing these seven + one entries was a lot of fun, and I got to read some great fics from fellow writers, too. I really hope you enjoyed reading my fics, as well as others that were posted during this week.
It was great, and I hope to write for this event once again tomorrow!
Please leave a review, and I hope you all have a great day!
Moiloru