"I love this dress!" Alita praised the apple green velvet hanging from her shoulders. Brighter sequins wrapped around her waist and flowers sewn across the about the tone of her voice made her look like she was lying. She was the type who liked the finer things in life; diamond rings, nothing but the prettiest clothes and jewelery. Larry bought this dress for Alita for five dollars in a charity shop. And he had a feeling that she despised charity shops with a passion. After all, they don't exactly give her the most finer luxuries in life. Everything had to be platinum. If it wasn't pretty, then Alita had no interest in it. Larry considered himself a lucky man for having a girlfriend with a divine taste.

"So are they're fine with you running away from the temple?" asked Larry. She wasn't doing a good job of doing what she was told. "I told you to stay! There is no way Wocky or the police will find you."

"Raising your voice in the street's not going to help either."

"Bikini and the nuns will protect you. They'll give you everything you need."

"It's poverty!" Alita snapped. "I hate it! We have to pray and do horrible chores."

"Somebody has to do them," Larry told her. "I bet you do a really good job at it too. Bikini's had a bad back for years; I don't think it's going to recover anytime soon."

"She's got the money to treat it and plenty of other nuns can do the work for her. I need her money more than her, I'll take it."

"NO!" Larry barked before getting slapped by Alita. "Stealing from a nun is one of the most meanest things you can do. You don't want to sink down to Wocky's level."

"I guess not..." Alita mumbled. "But don't you think I've already sunk down to his level by killing his doctor?"

"No," Larry quickly replied. "You did it in self-defense and the court didn't understand you."

"I guess that works."

"Don't worry about it; it's all in the past and one day we'll be gone from this place for good. I'm not letting anyone in on your secret."

"Maybe you shouldn't raise your voice then," Alita whispered. Larry had only just noticed how loud he was actually speaking. The streets were deserted from all but groups of party people. "So how long do you think I'll have to stay in the temple? I'm really hoping it's not too long."

"Ideally I want you to stay in the temple until February," Larry sighed before telling her. He could see in Alita's eyes it was not the news she wanted to hear. "But that gives you plenty of time for Wocky to pay back what he owes you."

"How di-"

"I read your text messages."

For that, Alita smacked his arm. "What did you do that for?"

"I was looking out for you!"

"Sticking your nose when were it shouldn't be is protecting me?"

"I gotta make sure you're safe. I gotta make sure the people you talk to won't betray you."

"You don't have to be paranoid," Alita told him. "He's the last person I would screw."

"I wouldn't believe for one second you could cheat on me."

"What!"

"Listen here," Larry grabbed her hand. "I told you once, twice and three times a lady; everything I do is just for you."

Alita giggled and wrapped her arms around Larry, holding onto his back. "You're so stupid in a cool way. I don't think I'll be able to cope in the temple for much longer by the way..."

"Why's that?"

"The one who drove me there seemed a bit worried," Alita replied. "Always following me then getting flustered when I see her."

"I don't think it's anything to worry about," Larry thought. "You'll still be having your dates with me."

"Where we going?" Alita asked. "We've been walking around for a long time."

"We're gonna have some fun in the casino," Larry said. Larry had a plan. If they won a little bit of money, he would propose to her tonight. He was already wanting to put a ring around her one way or another. If they make a loss for tonight, he would ask her later on. He was concerned that Alita would go crazy if he wasted the money they had been saving for the get away.

"Casino?" Alita murmured. "We have to save money, not splash it out."

"Come on, it will be fun. We'll go on a roulette machine and we'll put all our chips on red 23!" Larry shouted, "YAHOO!"

"You're crazy!"

"I know." Larry kissed Alita's hand. "I feel a great thing is coming tonight."

"You're convinced we're gonna win?"

"I can feel it in my bones,"

"Sure you do."

"The wheel will be our blessing!"

Apollo almost felt sorry for Klavier for getting shot, then dumped by his girlfriend in the same day. But he didn't. He cheated and suffered the consequences. He was not going to defend Wocky in court, not this time. It was completely out of his hands now. He might be called to be a witness but he could see Wocky and Pearl getting into trouble. He didn't know if the two of them got arrested for shooting Klavier, but he didn't see him dropping the charges any time incident in the car thrown aside, Apollo was really worried for Trucy's welfare. She was coming home late all the time due to skipping detention from bringing alcohol into school. Naturally, skipping detention made her have more detentions and to top that she had one on Saturday!

Apollo had never heard of having detention on a Saturday. He never really had any since he was just the nice quiet guy who always did what he was told. When he was training to be a lawyer and was under influence by Kristoph, he was determined to boost his confidence. His chords of steel where a way to get out of his shell.

Apollo was going to spend the night at his dad's house and Trucy decided to tag along. She's been less flirty with him since dating Machi, but he was concerned she was flirting elsewhere. They spent the day with their mother, Thalassa for the day, then drove to Godot's flat.

When the two of them walked into Godot's apartment, Godot was already standing there with a cup of coffee on each side. "Polly-Pocket we need to talk," Godot announced. His tone waa deep and his voice was cold and serious.

"You mean now?" Apollo asked. There wasn't really anything else he could say.

"Now and in private," he replied. He glared at Trucy and said, "Trucy, you can get ready for bed."

"Follow me son!" Godot told him. So Apollo did what he was told. He was lead into the kitchen with a chair. Apollo had a feeling he knew what Godot was going to talk about: Trucy. "Sit down and help yourself to some coffee," he said. "It's gonna be a while."

"If it's in private, why do you have the door open?" Apollo asked.

"So I can see if Trucy tries to overhear the conversation."

"Okay."

"Have any idea what I want to talk to you about?" Godot asked, removing his mask.

"Uhm... Trucy?"

"You got it in one!" Godot smirked and clapped his hands. It was the first time Apollo ever saw his father without his mask on. He looked... different and older than the man in the picture his mother showed him. "Well this 'relationship' she seems to be so proud off with you seems to be pushing your buttons. I don't wanna hide anything else from you anymore so I'm gonna keep the record straight: Incest is wrong no matter how much Trucy tries to sugar coat it. You agree with me right?"

"Yeah Dad, I do."

"She's not treating you like she should be," Godot snapped. "I'm not letting Trucy think she can have you as her bit on the side."

"I don't think you understand..."

"It's not me who doesn't understand; it's you."

"You know... Trucy's young and wants to be free. I don't like some of the things she does or the people she hangs round with but she's still cool."

"That doesn't give her the right to cheat on you!"

"Dad it's not like that!" Apollo snapped. "It was just twice."

"Not to her it wasn't!" Godot corrected him. "She's using you as a bit on the site. She needs to grow up, stop being slutty and start getting back to school and you need to be manly enough to stand up to her flirts!"

"You don't understand. You're making her sound like something she isn't."

"I think she's a slut," Godot whispered slurping down her coffee.

"DAD THAT'S GOING TOO FAR!"

"Like mother like daughter!"

"NOW YOU ARE GOING TOO FAR!"

"I'm trying to help you out," said Godot. "Stop shouting."

"HOW IS BASHING MY SISTER AND MOM HELPING ME?" roared Apollo. "It's not doing anything!"

"Look Apollo, she's under-aged, " Godot reminded Apollo. "They're not gonna care if she made a move on you. All they're gonna care about is that you shagged a minor. I don't want you going down the same route as me. You've got great things ahead of you. And I don't want you getting clogged up with hatred... like me. I thought it would make things better, but it drove me to kill."

"I'm not gonna kill anybody," Apollo promised his father, "I wouldn't."

"I care about you, and if things continue the way they are, then you probably will end up like me. Haters are gonna hate but don't dive in it too much? You know if you and Trucy stop sexing it up now, you two could pretend it never happened and Wright would never have to know."

"You think it's fair on him keeping a secret like this?" Apollo asked. "I work on getting the truth out, wouldn't that make me a hypocrite and I don't want to be a hypocritical."

"Some things are best left unsaid," Godot told him. "In this case, the truth is too bitter to let out."

"You know if you really had a problem with me you could have said it to my face," Trucy sobbed. Apollo knew it, she was listening the entire time.

"What can I say?" Godot asked himself. "The truth hurts."

"You could apologize," Apollo suggested.

"Nah!"

"You should!" Apollo barked.

"Don't raise your voice at me like that son."

"I'm not a kid anymore."

"You'll always be a kid to me."

"Dad can you please apoligize to Trucy for me?" he requested. "Trucy and Phoenix have helped me out on a lot of things and you should be grateful for the both of them. I know Phoenix would be really pissed off if he found out what you called her. And it would be really nice if I could peace for once in my life."

"Okay you got me! I'm sorry Trucy."

"Apology accepted I guess," Trucy smiled.

"Oh yeah, Maya and Lana's trying to convince Klavier to drop the charges on Wocky and Pearl. Looks like it's working. Big Wins is still pretty pissed off though."

"If Klavier does drop the charges, then Wocky and Pearl are REALLY lucky," Apollo said.

"At least every thing's all settled then.

~*~

"Hey Lana what's up?" Mike asked as he picked up the phone.

"Better not waste your opportunity Mike," Lana said. "She's dumped him today. She found out about the cheating."

"That's good," Mike grinned as he spoke. "That's beautiful news. "Looks like we don't have to go that far after all,"

"I still going ahead with Salsa's idea," Lana told Mike. "It will be much more entertaining."

" I personally think Salsa's plans aren't necessary any more," Mike said as he sat down with a herbal cigarette. "She's safe from him know. And your sister's strong, he won't be able to win him back easily."

"I'm beginning to think you're only saying this cause you hate Salsa."

"It's got nothing to do with Salsa okay?" Mike objected. "As far as I'm concerned we don't need him. Look Lana I love your sister and I want the best for her. I just can't stand that bastard taking advantage of her."

"I love her too," Lana agreed. "Now if you can win her heart, your job is pretty much done. I'm still going ahead with the original plan. By the way if you upset Ema I'll kill you."

And Lana hung up.

"That's fine by me."

Ron shivered even from the warmth of the fire, hugging himself. His arms shook like a vigorous tree in a tornado about to crash. His eyes wondered to the locked door, then bowed his head in shame. "I've been useless all these years," he sobbed out. "It's all my fault, I DESERVE EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED TO ME! I couldn't even give my wife a baby."

Ron knew he would not be saved whether he'd cry or not. His abductors left him to fend for himself as if they had a small amount of faith in him. Ron found it was the perfect time to cry and reflect on the troubles in his life. Dessie and Ron had done so much for each other, they both work, Dessie gave up her shopping addiction and Ron didn't need to steal anymore.

Ron's work was dodgy, but at least it was putting money on the table. They had been saving up for a baby for five years ago. Dessie had always wanted a baby, they had been trying since they got married, but no conception. Last year they had discovered the main root of the cause; Ron was sterile. Dessie managed to get pregnant in the end but it would never be his child. He knew he would feel awkward having raise a kid that is not biologically his, and would take a while to get over the affair but he wanted to be there. He wanted to hold Dessie's hand in labor. He wanted to be the good husband he wanted to be.

Naturally, it would be very difficult locked up in a flat in the middle of nowhere. No television, phone, computer or any fancy gadgets for convenience. Pushing his head deeper into his cushion, he stretched his legs out as his foot tapped the mattress. He yawned as he forced himself out of bed and tip toed to the fridge. He wanted to return to his dreams but he knew he had to eat something, even if it was only pork pies with an over-powering pepper flavor. He fancied some boiled eggs now he saw three eggs in the tray, but the room didn't have a cooker, oven or microwave; just a humble kettle plugged in next to the sink.

He wasn't sure if a kettle would boil an egg but he was gonna give it a shot. He picked up two and saved the other one for tomorrow.

For everything Pearl hates about Wocky, there was two traits she liked. She didn't like his whole gangster image, but loved his bravery and the way he treated her. She hated some of his habits like drinking and smoking, but she liked how she was able to tame him when he needed it. Pearl suggested Wocky to give up smoking so Plum wouldn't go mad next time she smelt tobacco.

"Are you going to Mystic Maya's party?" Pearl asked. "I'm sure the clan would love to see you again; that's what Mystic Maya said. She says she has a big announcement too."

"I guess I could come," Wocky said. "Is Maya getting married or something if she says something about some announcement?"

"I'm not sure," Pearl said. "She hasn't told me so it must be big; she usually tells me everything. You know I always wanted her to get married and have babies with Mr. Nick but he's engaged to my half-sister. Maybe it's for the best, only time will tell."

The bold words in today's newspaper lured Pearl's eyes into the article.

BEWARE: KILLERS ON THE LOOSE!

Following the news of killer Diego Armando being released on compassionate grounds last month, last week it has been reported that over fifty prisoners have managed to escape jail including former Steel Samurai star, Matt Engarde. Many of the them were found within five days of breaking out, but there are still eleven confirmed to be out on the streets. All the prisoners were convicted murderers. Chief Gumshoe pleas the public to remain calm and report with any information they have regarding the missing prisoners.

"We must get these criminals locked up," Gumshoe cried in the official statement last night. "These are very dangerous individuals who should have been executed a long time all need to work together to get them all back behind bars." Ron DeLite was reported missing days after the killers made their escape. Police believe he was kidnapped by Matt Engarde and Luke Atmey, who shared a civil relationship in prison. "DeLite's disappearance has made it even more vital to find them all as quick as we can before they kill again. New procedures are also needed to make sure they don't escape again."

Prison officers have been heavily criticized for sleeping on the time the prisoners escaped. One was even suspected of having an affair with them.

The list of wanted people follows;

Alita Tiala - Used mafia family for inheritance and killed boss.

Matt Engarde - hired an assassin to kill his rival.

Luke Atmey - A blackmailer/con-artist/murderer

Kristoph Gavin - Mentally disturbed. Hacked into the justice system for years. Killed two men and attempted to kill a young girl.

Dee Vasqueuz - Killed colleague Jack Hammer.

Mimi Miney - Faked her death and stole her sister's identity. Used spirit medium to kill her former boss.

Lance Amano - Faked a kidnapping and killed a man to frame his lover.

Ernest Amano - Involved with lots of smuggling and murdering to years.

Jacques Portsman - Smuggler, shot his best friend.

Namow Latnem- Chopped up her husband for falling for another woman.

Edward Fartalot - Killed parents last year using gases.

If you see any of these people report to the police as soon as possible.

"Loads of people escaped jail last week..." Pearl mumbled. The first couple of pages about the killers on the loose. Some of them which, Pearl vaguely remembered when Phoenix was a lawyer. Some of them were new names to her, but she still felt concerned that the killers could be behind them right now or crawling around them. "Alita's one of them."

"That newspaper got it wrong," Wocky said. "Matt and Luke have been out of prison for a while now. And I know Alita's been out longer than a week."

"How do you know?" Pearl asked.

"I've seen her around," Wocky said. "I saw her the night we were out with Matt in that club."

"Did she speak to you?"

"Yeah she did," Wocky said. He saw no point in lying. He didn't want to tell her, but since they both had brought Alita up it would have been better to just tell the truth.

"What did she say?" Pearl asked. "Did she do anything to you?"

"Gotta give her some money..."

"MONEY?" Pearl shrieked. "Give HER of all people money? She's given you pain and you wanna give her money."

"Pearl you don't get it?"

"Then why?"

"She's gonna kill you if I don't!"

Pearl gasped then remained silent. "You still shouldn't give her a penny!" Pearl snapped. "You should have reported her there and then. I'll give her a piece of my mind once I see her. The money you were gonna give Alita should be spent on your child."

"I don't want you getting hurt you know?"

"We've got loads of people to support us," Pearl said. "That's something Alita hasn't got."

"Whose gonna kill who?" A man behind them asked. Mike Blitz had been listening to their conversation.

"Uhm... sup Mike?"

"Just doing my job," Mike replied, confiscating Wocky's bottle, then consuming some vodka for himself.

"What stealing wives or dropping into people's private conversations?" chuckled Wocky.

"No my actual job, investigating... wife stealing doesn't apply today one cause the girl I wanna woo is single," Mike sighed. "Anyway I got some questions for you."

"What kind of questions?" Wocky said. "If it's about the car incident the other day, I'm not talking about it."

"Actually, I wanted to talk about Matt and Luke," Mike said.

"What about these Matt and Luke dudes?" Wocky asked, snatching his bottle back.

Mike sighed again. "You know who I'm talking about; the dudes you met in prison." Wocky looked at him blank and Mike asked again, "have you heard from Matt and Luke since they escaped prison?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"I know you really get along with them so don't lie out of this one."

"Well I ain't seen them since I left prison."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure"

"Lying to the police is not a good thing," Mike warned him. "I will find out. Oh and was it you who shot Klavier?"

"It wasn't me if was my girl Pearl," Wocky answered.

"I swear it was an accident," Pearl squealed.

Mike tapped Pearl's shoulder and said, "good on you."

"Back to your wife stealing now," Wocky laughed.

"Watch it you!" Mike warned Wocky. "I can get you arrested for being cheeky."

"Yeah right!" Wocky muttered. "Why do you wanna know about Matt and Luke anyway?"

"Working on a case," Mike announced. "Dessie DeLite's husband has gone missing. He was kidnapped on the night after Matt and Luke escaped prison. We believe the two cases are connected."

"Damn really?"

"Yep," Mike replied. "One of the prison officers believes you Wocky, are working as their accomplice."

"Why would I wanna help kidnap her husband?" Wocky snapped.

"Well the prison guard thinks you wanted revenge on Dessie for setting you up, so you team up with the one person she disgusts the most and his lover to set it up."

"Surely his name is not Larry."

"Yes, you've been in some trouble with him have you?" Mike asked.

"He's dating my ex and he pushed me down the stairs."

"I taught Mr. Butz a lesson though!" Pearl said putting her fist up.

"Come to think of it," Mike thought,"your ex escaped prison too. Larry couldn't stop crying."

"He helped her! He pushed me down the stairs the day he helped Alita escape."

"I'll look into it ASAP Mike said. "After I've finished talking to Ema I'll help look into Alita and Larry's history. Anyway I'll see you later Wocky and Pearl," Mike said then walked up to Ema's apartment at the more upscale side of town with a bag in one hand and a watermelon scented herbal cigarette in his other hand. His mind drifted back to his conversation with Lana and how it ended on somewhat tense terms.

"If you upset Ema, I'll kill you." She had warned him. "And that's fine with me," was his reply, despite the fact that she hung up before he could even say it.

Truth be told, he always had a soft spot for the teenage scientist that always looked up to him in Europe when he said she could be his partner in investigation. She was always perky and full of energy. He could also tell she had a crush on him and he was banking on her having that old flame still burning somewhere inside of her as he went to woo her.

What he had heard from Lana wasn't all that pretty. Ema had changed a lot in the years he had not seen her. She was more beautiful, for sure by the pictures he was given. Yet he heard she was also jaded from apparently not getting into CSI like she had wanted. Ema had become somewhat bitter, eating snackoo's like there was no tomorrow. If he knew that she would get so addicted to them, he would have never given her that bag such a long time ago.

Before he knew it, he was in front of her door. Resigning himself to being taken, if this flirting worked, he knocked on the door after taking a deep inhale of his cigarette and letting the fruity scent out.

"Who is it?" came a muffled female voice.

Deciding to tease her a bit, he lowered his voice one octave. "Snackoo delivery for Ema Skye."

He heard the sound of someone walking to the door and grumbling, "That had better not be you fop or I'll..." whatever else she was gonna say was lost on her lips when she opened the door and saw him.

Mike's eyes glinted with amusement as a grin made its way to his face. "Hey Ema, miss me?"

He was ready for the hug she gave him.

"Mr. Blitz! It's been forever! How are you? Come on in we need to..." Mike put a finger on her lips as she started to say the words too fast for comfort.

"I'm fine and thank you for inviting me in." he told her, playing the suave gentleman as he went inside.

He heard Ema close and lock the door behind him as he looked at her place. It was clean, that was for sure. It was also full of scientific equipment. Her living room looked like a lab.

"Ehehehe...sorry...I wasn't expecting company today. If I knew I would've moved all this stuff." Ema said, blushing slightly out of embarrassment.

"You never change. Is that your kitchen over there?" he asked, pointing to a door next to a TV stand with a plasma screen on top of it.

"Yeah. There's also an ashtray there. Honestly Mr. Blitz, you really need to kick that habit. Non nicotine or not, that stuff will be the death of you." Ema said as she opened the door for him. "What's in the bag?"

Walking over to the kitchen counter, he turned his bag upside down, revealing a gallon container of chocolate ice cream and a dozen bags of snackoo's.

"Heard about your breakup from your sister. She wanted me to see if you were alright so I thought, 'why not just drop by for a chat while I'm here as well?'" He explained as he watched her grab a bag of the snacks with a scary speed before starting to munch them down.

"Yeah...Klavier was a real gentleman. I always thought of him as a fop, but a good person overall. He was sweet to me on our dates, but apparently I didn't give him what he wanted." Ema said, bitterness and anger lacing her voice.

"That would be?" Mike asked, grabbing the ashtray she pointed out to him and dumping a bit of the ashes of his cigarette in it before taking another breath of the addicting substance.

"Sex...I refused to sleep with him...then he goes and cheats on me with some big titted cow cat girl!" Ema said quietly at first, but eventually her voice rose up to shouting level.

"Heh." Mike knew this story all too well. Being the ladies man he was, he had seen and done a little bit of everything that did not require him to bow at a woman's feet.

"If I ever see that fop again I'm gonna punch him in the face!" Ema continued to rant before munching on her snackoo's at a wild pace.

"Simmer down there speedy. Let's just go towards the good times and try to forget about this 'fop'." Mike suggested, rummaging through her kitchen drawers before pulling out an ice cream scooper and getting two bowls before putting a generous amount of the ice cream in them.

"You're too sweet Mr. Blitz. You always put me first, back then." Ema said with a somewhat sad smile as she remembered her adventures of sorts in Europe.

"I'm still putting you first now." he pointed out as he led her to a sofa that was put up against a wall across from the TV stand.

"Yeah..." Ema said with a blush on her face.

'Such a troubled girl.' Mike thought as he sat down next to her.

"You must be Phoenix Wright," the woman spoke. Phoenix shook hands and said, "I'm Kay Faraday, Edgeworth's told me a lot about you."

"It's nice to you again," Phoenix said. "I see you haven't changed much."

"Yeah," Kay replied. She removed her scarf which was just a lighter shade of blue than her hair. "So what did you want to talk about?"

Phoenix grinned, then looked seriously asking, "I was wondering if you could do me a favor?"

Trucy was rather pleased with her birthday present from her dad: a new best friend. Apollo didn't know why Phoenix couldn't just admit that he forgot to buy her a present and just introduced a friend to her. The new friend was called Kay Faraday. Her smile was just as optimistic as sunshine. Apollo was relieved that Trucy had finally found a new friend seemed nice. Phoenix thought Kay would be a calming influence on her. Apollo didn't exactly agree; it would take a miracle for Trucy to be calm. If Kay becomes a calming influence on Trucy, Apollo would eat his hair.

"Thank you for my present Daddy!" cried Trucy giving Phoenix a kiss on the cheek. "This is the best present ever!"

"You're welcome."

"Better get dressed in your best clothes," Phoenix told them. "It's Maya's party tonight. My friend Larry's gonna drive us there."

"Pearls said there was going to be a big announcement," Trucy told her dad. "Maybe she's gonna announce its my birthday too. What do you think the announcement is going to be?"

"I haven't got a clue," admitted Phoenix. "The only I can think of is something about burgers of Steel Samurai."

"Me neither," Apollo agreed.

"Ill third that," said Kay. "I hope it's a very good one."

"Maya is pretty unpredictable," said Phoenix. "She might say something that will shock the elders. They're very sensitive."

"Is that why they slapped you on the face for breaking that vase?" Trucy asked.

Phoenix remained silent then replied, "yeah. A very hard one too. Trust you to remember that."

"Where's Iris?" Apollo asked. "She seems to have vanished."

"Iris is at work," Phoenix replied. "Working in some shabby French restaurant with a disgusting guy!"

"I don't think you should say that about Mommy Iris' boss," Trucy told Phoenix.

He smiled, looked down on his drink and said, "it's the truth."

"The party is going to be fun," Kay giggled to Trucy, "don't you think that too?"

"Yeah it's going to be amazing!"

There was a saying that friendship was the greatest gift, something Trucy and Kay were going to prove.

The party was better than Apollo had expected. There was vodka being distributed around Kurain Village but Phoenix had been keeping an eye on Trucy. She had stuck with Kay at all times, just like Phoenix instructed her to do while they were in the car with Larry. They spotted Pearl running around trying to make sure everyone was behaving themselves for Maya's party. He turned his head when he saw Franziska von Karma sitting in the corner with a glass of wine. (He was more surprised she had no whip on her. Perhaps Pearl and Maya confiscated it for the night.)

"Hey Pearls come here!" Trucy called.

"Hi there Trucy," Pearl said, dashing towards her. "Mystic Maya's going to be so pleased you. Happy birthday to you too! I haven't got a present yet but I'll send it to your house tomorrow."

"Thank you," smiled Trucy."Pearls, this is my birthday present, Kay Faraday."

"She's your present?" Pearl asked.

"Well daddy forgot to buy presents for me again, so he got me a new friend. She's really nice!"

"Wow, Mr. Nick is so thoughtful," Pearl cried out. "Nice to meet you Kay."

"Nice to meet you too Pearl," Kay smiled, shaking her hand.

Maya stood up on the podium and tilted her head to the microphone. "Good evening everyone. Thank you for coming to my 26th birthday party. I've got two announcements, first of all I would like to say happy birthday to Trucy who is sixteen today."

"Thank you," called Trucy. She smiled and gave a curtsie.

"Now for the big announcement. I wasn't sure weather to do it the easy way to put it on facebook or announce it in person. In the end I decided to do it on my birthday..."

"What is it Mystic Maya?" Pearl asked. She jumped in excitement. "Is it a baby?"

"No," Maya said. "I am happy to announce that I am a very proud lesbian."

"Is that it?" Phoenix asked.

"Yeah," Maya replied. "I love girls," she grinned.

Everyone was silent. All but one of the shrine maidens who gave Maya an applause. Then everyone else started clapping apart from some of the elders who crunched their lips. Pearl saw a couple of the elders, who were close friends with her mother, smiling and winking at Pearl. Where they thinking, what Pearl thought they were thinking?

"I would also like to say something too," Pearl said. "I'm not going to tolerate anymore silly or outrageous plots in this family anymore." There might not even be any plots, but Pearl wanted to make sure her opinion was out there to her clan. She lost her mother and aunt to the madness, she wasn't going to lose anyone else for it. "...Uhm," she ran out of things to say when Maya stared at her with wide eyes. "Let's make sure Mystic Maya enjoys the rest of her day."