Hey guys, I'm back! And I am so freaking excited! Why, you ask? Because we are now on case 4 of AA meaning I can finally get some more Jasmine/Miles and more of Jasmine's past is revealed in full! YAY! Okay, so thanks to Kylink, Guest, Sylanc, SonicMaster95, MaxKnight1010101 and Yoshikuni Kiyoko for reviewing/following/favoring along with all 3,167 readers! I hope you guys enjoy this extremely long and worthwhile chapter if you ask me. Remember to leave a review to let me know what you think and enjoy!
December 25th, 10:08 AM
Wright and Co. Law Offices
"Hey, hey Nick!" Maya said, standing in front of the older twin as he watched TV while Jasmine just sat in a chair writing lyrics for a song she had started a while ago. "Do you know if there's any good waterfalls around here?" Maya asked.
"Waterfalls...? Dare I ask why?" Phoenix asked in response, completely confused.
Well, of course he's confused! Mia never needed to train and he's never been to their village or met Maya before Mia's death. Jasmine reminded herself. Since she had been friends with Mia and Maya before Phoenix and her graduated from college, she had learned all about what it was like to be a spirit medium so stuff like this wasn't weird to her anymore.
"Duh, Nick! Isn't it obvious?" Maya asked, slightly surprised Jasmine hadn't told her brother. "I need a waterfall to stand under! Preferably a freezing one!"
"...Oh...Is that part of your spirit medium training?" Phoenix asked.
"Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!" Jasmine quipped.
"Of course! Except, I've been slacking of lately..." Maya admitted, though she had a wide smile on her face. She always enjoyed explaining the way of life of a spirit medium and was happy Jasmine hadn't told her brother. It just made his facial expressions all the more funny to see! "I need to brave the elements and be forged anew under the rushing spring waters!" Maya explained.
"Umm...Okay..." Phoenix said, unsure.
"You've been slacking because of the cases, haven't you?" Jasmine asked, raising an eyebrow at the teenage girl.
"Umm...yeah, kind of." Maya admitted, giving the aide a sheepish smile. Jasmine shook her head with a small smile on her lips.
"Just like when you used to visit Mia...only this time you're reminding yourself." Jasmine teased.
"Anyways, so Nick, are there any waterfalls nearby?" Maya asked.
"I don't know about any falls per se, but Gourd Lake is pretty close..." Phoenix answered after a minute. Maya's eyes had widened upon hearing that there were no waterfalls nearby.
"Oh. Darn." Maya said, discouraged.
"And that is why Mia always sent you back to Kurain to train." Jasmine smirked as she kept on writing.
"Sorry, but them's the breaks." Phoenix added, "Couldn't you just take a cold shower or something?"
"...Good idea!" Maya grinned, nodding enthusiastically. Jasmine shook her head, feeling as if this was about to go wrong...very wrong. Jasmine continued writing, ignoring the news until she heard,
"Nick?" She looked up and saw Maya standing in front of her brother, looking sad.
"?" Phoenix didn't understand why she was sad.
"What's wrong, Maya?" Jasmine pushed the girl.
"The water pressure's kind of low in that shower." Maya explained. Jasmine resisted the urge to laugh, knowing that was much better than what she had imagined.
"...You want more pressure, huh? Why don't you go down to the fire department and have them spray you with the hose?" Phoenix suggested sarcastically.
"...Good idea, Nick!" Maya grinned before she ran out the door. Jasmine started laughing and shaking her head, knowing that since the shower didn't go wrong, than this definitely will.
Strange occurences continue at Gourd Lake...But this time, it's murder! As she heard that, Jasmine laid down her pencil and turned to the TV, interested now. The body of a man was found in the lake early this morning. A suspect was apprehended. Sources inside the police department revealed...that the suspect's name is Miles Edgeworth, age 24.
"What?!" Jasmine cried, standing up and going to stand behind the couch Phoenix was sitting on. Her heart was pounding faster than it ever pounded before in her life, that she could remember, and her face had gone a ghostly shade of white. M-Miles?!
Edgeworth was an up-and-coming prosecution attorney, known for his skill and connections. He was guaranteed a long and rewarding career...has he thrown it all away? The news reportred.
N...no...
"What's going on!?" Phoenix finally cried.
"T-took you l-long enough!" Jasmine stuttered, something she only did when she was terrified which was only known by those closest to her.
"Edgeworth would never do something like-" Phoenix continued when Maya made her appreance known by saying,
"Nick?" The twins whipped around and saw the girl standing there, looking down sadly.
"Yipes! M-Maya!" Phoenix cried in shock.
"The fireman yelled at me when I called him." Maya explained, tears forming in her eyes. Normally, Jasmine would have comforted the girl but she was too shaken up to do anything at that moment.
"We've got bigger things to worry about than that!" Phoenix cried, "They arrested Edgeworth!"
"What? You mean, the prosecutor?" Maya asked, shocked in her own right.
"Yeah, he's a suspect...in a murder!" Phoenix added.
"Whaaaaat!?" Maya cried in absolute shock, finally understanding why Jasmine was so white and quiet. "When? Where? Whom? Why? How?" Maya asked in quick succession.
"I-I don't know!" Phoenix stuttered.
"Let's go find out, Nick!" Maya said, determined. That seemed to snap Jasmine out of her stupor as she cried,
"Yeah! Miles needs our help!"
"Alright, alright." Phoenix agreed before the trio hurried out of the office and practically ran to the Detention Center.
December 25th
Detention Center
Visitor's Room
"You know, Nick...We've all been in here one time or another, haven't we?" Maya asked sadly.
"I guess it comes with the territory." Phoenix stated.
"I'm not sure it's something we should mention to too many people..." Maya trailed off and heard Jasmine mutter in response,
"Good idea." Maya smiled slightly, glad she was bringing Jasmine back to reality and herself. Just then, Edgeworth came in and sat down.
"Aah!" Maya cried in shock as the prosecutor glared at them. Edgeworth got up to leave and started heading for the door.
"...Hey! Edgeworth! Come back!" Phoenix cried. Slowly, Edgeworth came back and sat down before he looked away and demanded,
"What are you doing here!?"
"Nick, Jazz, I don't think he's in a very good mood." Maya stated.
"Well, he is in detention." Phoenix whispered to his sister and assistant. "Were you in a good mood when you were in here?"
"So, you've come to laugh at the fallen attorney? Then laugh, laugh!" Edgeworth said before he turned to glare at them, crying, "Well? Why aren't you laughing?"
"Nick, Jazz...Should we be laughing?" Maya asked.
"No." Jasmine stated, staring directly into Edgeworth's gray eyes.
"Nah. It's a trick." Phoenix added, "Laugh and he'll get mad...or burst into tears." Jasmine slapped her brother's side while not even looking at him, a feat she mastered when they were in college. "Edgeworth. We don't have so much free time that we can spend it coming down here to laugh at you." Phoenix stated.
"...Yes you do." Edgeworth stated, almost getting a laugh out of Jasmine. After a pause, the prosecutor broke his gaze with the aide, saying, "...I hoped you wouldn't come. I didn't want you to see me. Not like this." Jasmine raised a hand to touch the glass, her eyes filled with sorrow.
Miles...
"Edgeworth. Tell me what happened." The defense attorney requested.
"...Why should I? What are you going to do about it?" Edgeworth asked instead.
"Duh! We're going to help you, that's what!" Maya cried.
"Miles, please...trust us." Jasmine practically begged.
"...! ...Help me? You? Don't be ridiculous." He stated.
"Sorry...?" Phoenix asked, confused. Jasmine, however, knew where this was going.
"You're a novice! You've only been in three trials!" Edgeworth cried.
"H-hey!" Phoenix cried, feeling insulted.
"Sure you got lucky and won all three...But your luck's bound to run out some day!" Edgeworth said, "You need real skill, Wright. Expierience!" Jasmine just tuned out what Maya said next as she gripped her pendent tightly, fighting off the urge to black out and allow memories to overwhelm her.
Not now. She told herself. You can't black out now! Be strong, Jazz, for once! Be strong!
"The murder took place at Gourd Lake, correct?" Phoenix asked, helping snap Jasmine back to reality.
"Yes...late last night." Edgeworth confirmed.
"The lake is a long way away from your offices and the court..." Jasmine said softly, trying to fight off her black out by joining in the conversation. She looked up and met Edgeworth's gray eyes once again. "Why were you down there?" Edgeworth turned away.
"...I see no need to tell you." He stated.
"M-Mr. Edgeworth!" Maya cried, "You...you didn't really...?"
"...Gourdy." Edgeworth finally stated.
"Huh?" Maya asked. Edgeworth turned to face them and explained,
"I went to see Gourdy."
"'Gourdy'?" The girls asked in unison, since neither saw the news report.
"What's that!?" Maya added, looking at Phoenix excitedly.
"I'll...tell you later." Phoenix answered.
Miles...why won't you talk to us? Phoenix took off his attorney's badge and showed it to the prosecutor.
"Your attorney's badge...?" Edgeworth asked, slowly understanding what Phoenix was saying.
"Edgeworth. Let me defend you." Phoenix requested.
"...Hah! Hah hah! Good one, Wright." Edgeworth said, "But I'm not that hard up. Not yet."
"Wh-what do you mean by that?" Maya stuttered, confused.
"Me? Trust a wet-behind-the-ears lawyer with only three trials under his belt? Never!" Edgeworth simplified.
"Wh-what!?" Maya cried angrily.
"My case is near hopeless, Wright." Edgeworth explained, "Every defense attorney I've talked to has turned me down."
"What?" The twins asked in unison, though Jasmine still spoke in the same quiet tone.
"Simply put, they were afraid they'd lose." Edgeworth explained, "It occurred to me that it might be my fault that they lack confidence. After all, I did get every single one of their clients declared 'guilty'."
"I don't believe it!" Phoenix cried.
"Regardless, I don't want you involved in this." Edgeworth stated, "You two in particular I cannot ask to do this."
"Edgeworth...this is really hard for me to ask...But...you didn't do it, right? Right?" Phoenix asked.
"..Think what you will." Edgeworth answered vaguely. "I have only one request."
"Huh?" Phoenix asked. Edgeworth's gaze turned cold and sharp as he finished,
"Stay out of this case."
"Why!?" Maya cried, "B-but Nick and Jazz are trying to help you!"
"I know...! I know that!" Edgeworth cried, "But I don't want your help, okay?"
"! Why not?" The girls asked in unison, Jasmine slightly quieter than Maya.
"...Look, just go away and leave me alone!" Edgeworth ordered. With that said, the prosecutor stood up and stormed out of the visitor's room.
"Nick...Mr. Edgeworth did it, didn't he." Maya stated.
"Maya! Let's go investigate elsewhere." Phoenix stated.
"But Nick..." Maya whispered.
"Come on, Maya...we have to at least try to help Miles." Jasmine stated as the three walked out. As they walked, Maya grabbed Jasmine's hand, trying to comfort her. Jasmine smiled at the younger girl, grateful for any comfort she could get.
December 25th
Gourd Lake Park
Entrance
"This is where it happened?" Maya asked as the three stood outside of Gourd Lake Park.
"Yeah. Gourd Lake is in the middle of this park." Phoenix explained.
"I can see some police walking around in there." Maya pointed out.
"Questioning, probably." Jasmine said.
"Hey! Isn't that Detective Gumshoe over there?" Maya asked. Sure enough, the now familiar detective came over, yelling,
"Well, pal!? There's enough of us here! Anyone found anything?"
"S-sorry, sir. Nothing." A police officer answered.
"Idiot! The trial's tomorrow!" Gumshoe cried, "We need clues, on the double!"
"B-but, sir...There weren't any clues...that's why we arrested that attorney, Mr. Edgeworth!" The same officer called back. "It's clear, sir. He's the one who-"
"Shaddup!" Gumshoe yelled, "Just you try saying that again! I'll...er...I'll make you sorry if you do! I mean...just, get outta my face, pal!"
"Y-yes, sir!" The officer saluted before he ran off.
"Detective Gumshoe's kinda scary today!" Maya said.
"He's really taking his job seriously today." Jasmine added with a small nod.
"Recruits...peh!" Gumshoe said, "...Aah!"
"Eek!" Maya cried, startled.
"Hey, you're that Harry guy! Harry Butz!" Gumshoe cried. Jasmine bent over laughing, the most she had laughed since she heard about Edgeworth's arrest.
"Wright! Phoenix Wright!" Phoenix corrected in the same style as Gumshoe.
"And just what are you doing here, pal? Investigating!?" Gumshoe cried.
"Huh? Um, well, yes. I suppose." Phoenix stumbled.
"Yes, we are investigating." Jasmine rephrased, sounding more confident than her brother, which was nothing new.
"Well I'm here to help! Ask me anything you want!" Gumshoe offered, "Bring it!"
"He seems different than usual. I wonder what's up?" Maya whispered to Jasmine, who was giggling, before she told Gumshoe, "Umm...Mr. Edgeworth hasn't actually asked us to defend him yet..."
"Huh!?" Gumshoe cried, "Oh? Y-you don't say..."
"Detective Gumshoe? Do you know what happened here?" Phoenix asked.
"Huh? You don't know, pal?" Gumshoe replied, confused.
"No..." Phoenix trailed off.
"Wow, okay, Mr. head-in-the-fluffy-pink-clouds Lawyer." Gumshoe said
"Head-in-the...huh?" Phoenix tried to repeat, confused.
"Never mind, I'll tell you." Gumshoe said, "It happened last night, about 15 minutes after midnight. There was a boat out on Gourd Lake. In that boat were two men. One of those men shot the other with a pistol."
"And...the shooter was Mr. Edgeworth?" Maya asked.
"A cop who arrived on the scene arrested him." Gumshoe confirmed sadly.
"How did he get there so fast?" Jasmine asked, slightly shocked.
"Well...there was a witness."Gumshoe answered, "When the report came in, we raced to the lake."
"A witness?" Phoenix asked, probably already feeling as if the world was crashing around him. And he wasn't even on the job yet!
"You don't think Mr. Edgeworth is a...murderer!?" Maya asked.
"Absolutely not! It's impossible!" Gumshoe cried, "I don't care if there's a witness either! I don't believe a lick of it!"
"R-right! Who care what the witness says!" Maya agreed with a smile.
"...You really believe in him, don't you, Gumshoe?" Jasmine asked with a soft smile.
"Course I do!" Gumshoe said, "But...the police are pretty sure he's the killer. Nobody's even really taking this investigation seriously."
"Oh no!" The girls cried.
"After all the help Mr. Edgeworth has been to us...Hard to imagine that no one's standing up to take his side." Gumshoe said.
"Well, at least you are, Detective. At least you are." Maya said.
"I-is it true?" Jasmine asked, "No one will take Miles' case?"
"Yeah...He's a bit of a celebrity." Gumshoe explained, "If you defended him and lost, your reputation'd be sure to suffer. What's more...The case against him is...well, it's pretty solid." Seeing the look on the defense attorney's face, Gumshoe cried, "Hey! Pal! Don't tell me you're going to turn your back on him too!? Remember the Steel Samurai! Mr. Edgeworth helped you get your client declared innocent!"
"I...I know." Phoenix nodded, "I went to Edgeworth. I tried. He really doesn't want us to represent him. Especially not us, he said."
"What!?" Gumshoe cried, "W-well, that doesn't make any sense, pal! You should have heard him talking about you after the Steel Samurai case! He kept saying "Wright, Wright, Wright" over and over."
"...Nick? I'm not sure that's a good sign." Maya whispered to the twins.
"Neither are we..." Phoenix whispered back and Jasmine nodded in agreement.
"Why wouldn't he want your help? I don't get it." Gumshoe said sadly.
"Who was this witness?" Phoenix asked.
"Er, sorry, pal. That's confidential." Gumshoe said sadly. "Anyway, the witness saw everything, apprarently. I'm sure they'll turn up at the trial tomorrow."
"Was there only that one witness?" Phoenix asked.
"Yep. It was pretty cold out on the lake last night." Gumshoe explained, "And, it was Christmas Eve after all. Still, we're being thorough. You never know when you're going to turn up another witness. That's why we're here today, checking things out. So far, we're coming up empty."
"Oh! It's Christmas today! I'd forgotten." Maya said, "What're you getting me for Christmas, Nick?"
"Talk to Santa." Phoenix quipped, earning him a hit from his sister.
"Detective Gumshoe, sir!" The police cried.
"What? Find something!?" Gumshoe cried.
"Um, no, sir. Not yet." The police said, "But there was a call from the precinct. They want to hold an investigation briefing..."
"A briefing? Right! I'm off!" Gumshoe said, "Oh...Sorry, pal. I guess you heard. I gotta go. Any last things you want to ask me about before I head back?"
"Well, yes. Do you have any information on the victim...?" Maya asked with a smile. How she could do that amazed Jasmine. Gumshoe scratched the back of his head and answered,
"Sorry...They haven't worked up the autopsy report yet. I'm still waiting for it myself. Actually...Say, if you get the time, drop by the precinct! We can talk more there, pal!"
"You're not coming back, Detective?" Phoenix asked.
"Erm...Probably not, pal." Gumshoe confirmed.
"So what should we do if we have something to talk to you about...?" Jasmine asked.
"Ah, right. Here, I'll show you how to get to the precinct. Come down and see me anytime." Gumshoe offered before he wrote down the directions and passed them to Jasmine, who put them into her violin case which she just so happened to bring to the office that day. The aide smiled in thanks as she put the directions away.
"Oh, hey! Detective Gumshoe!" Phoenix called.
"W-what!?" Gumshoe asked, obviously in a rush.
"Um, we'd like to take a look around the park." Phoenix explained, "Can we walk around?"
"Yeah! No problem, pal. You got my permission." Gumshoe agreed before he ran off.
"You know, Nick. I think there's something to be said for talking to people when they're busy." Maya said.
"Yeah. They don't have time to think about not giving you permission." Jasmine smirked as she crossed her arms, still fighting off a black out.
"Right! Now, let's get investigating!" Maya grinned before she and Jasmine grabbed Phoenix's arms and dragged him further into the woods, with Jasmine noting how Maya had grabbed Phoenix's hand just like she had at the beginning of their last case.
December 25th
Gourd Lake
Public Beach
"Wowsers! This is 'Gourd Lake'?" Maya asked with wide, childlike eyes as she saw the lake.
"Yup. I'm not sure it warrants a 'wowsers' though." Phoenix said. Jasmine giggled at that, feeling a memory trying its hardest to sneak through but she refused to let it slip in. She couldn't black out yet!
"Hmm. Probably not." Maya agreed. "But hey, look at that snack stand!"
"'Samurai Dogs'...?" Phoenix read.
"They weren't here the last time I was here...though that was months ago." Jasmine said.
"I wanna Samurai Dog! Please!" Maya begged, pulling the puppy dog eyes. "I bet they're great!"
"With a name like Samurai Dog, how could they not be?" Phoenix asked sarcastically.
"They're a little behind the times, though." Maya noted, "The kids are all into 'The Pink Princess' now. I mean, like, y'know!?"
"Yes!" Jasmine grinned as she high fived the spirit medium, knowing this would help her for a little while longer. Jasmine walked over to a bench and picked up the party poppers there. "Huh. Someone left one of those poppers here." She pointed out.
"You know, you pull the string..." Maya started to explain to Phoenix but the attorney finished,
"...and it goes 'pop'. Yeah, I know the ones. You see them a lot around New Year's."
"Hey, Nick! It might be a clue!" Maya grinned, "Let's take it."
"Maya could be right, Nick. We'd better take 'em." Jasmine agreed.
"C'mon, admit it. You two just want to pop them, right?"
"Was it that obvious?" The girls asked in unison while grinning widely. Phoenix sighed before he answered,
"I suppose it couldn't hurt. Huh? Where'd it go?"
"I already put it in my pocket." Maya smiled.
"Come on, let's get going." Jasmine grinned as they made their way to the woods.
December 25th
Gourd Lake Woods
"I like it here, Nick, Jazz." Maya smiled as the trio reached the woods. "Look...someone's camping!"
"That looks like fun!" Jasmine grinned.
"They've got guts, camping at the scene of a murder." Phoenix stated.
"Hey, hey, Nick, Jazz!" Maya said as she realized something. "If they were camping here last night, they might know something about the murder!"
"Good call, Maya. Let's go talk to them." Phoenix smiled.
"That might have to wait, I don't see anyone anywhere." Jasmine said, "We'd probably be better off investigating the area first." Her older twin and friend nodded in agreement when Phoenix noticed something.
"This camera has a mic and some sort of attachment. It must take pictures when triggered by a noise." Phoenix said.
"Wow! Cool! Let's try it out!" Maya grinned before she coughed to clear her throat. ""Hi, I'm Nick!"...Maybe I'm not saying it loud enough. "HEY! I'M NICK!"...Huh. NIIIIIII... ... IIIIIIIICK!" Jasmine was gigglingwhile Phoenix only cried,
"Will you stop that?"
"Maybe it's broken?" Jasmine suggested. Maya shrugged and started to kick the camera.
"D-don't kick it! Maybe it isn't set to respond to voices?" Phoenix suggested.
"Well what then? I know!" Maya grinned.
"The party popper...?" The twins asked in unison, Jasmine grinning widely while Phoenix simply raised an eyebrow. Maya grinned as she set the popper off. Suddenly, the camera began taking picture after picture in quick succession.
"That's a yes." Jasmine stated as she blinked the small spots she saw out of her eyes.
"...Yep. It responded." Maya stated, her eyes wide in surprise.
"Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw! Hey, you! Git your hands offa' that!" Suddenly, a woman with a red haired afro wearing a green sweater appeared out of nowhere, yelling at Maya with an obviously Southern accent.
"Eeek!" Maya cried as she hid behind the twins.
"What in the Sam Hill...!? Look what ya done now! There goes a whole roll of film!" The woman continued angrily.
"Ah? Wha... huh? S-sorry!" Maya cried as she peeked out from behind Jasmine.
"Sorry's nice but it don't pay my bills! Y'all know how much a roll of that film costs!?" The woman cried.
"I-I'll pay you back!" Maya stuttered.
"What were ya'll thinkin' settin' off a party-popper in a place like this!?" The woman yelled.
"Uh... well..." Maya muttered as she finally managed to stand beside Jasmine again.
"What! Don't try to play stupid with me just 'cause you think I'm some country bumpkin! Yeah, I know how y'all Yanks think! "I say, those southern folks talk with that exaggerated drawl, why they must be dumb!" Well let me tell you, just because I might be dumb don't mean we all are!" The woman ranted.
"N-Nick, Jazz, help!" Maya pleaded.
"And who are you, now? Her chaperones?" The woman asked, turning her glare to the twins.
"Yeah, uh, no, rather, uh... we're sort of... friends?" Phoenix stuttered, unsure. Jasmine hit her brother before she stated,
"We are her friends and he's my twin."
"Just' figure out what y'all are gonna say and say it for bejeezum's sake! Gawd, I'd rather sit through one of papa's drawls than listen to you stutter all day." The woman complained. "Watch it!"
"Yes, ma'am." The twins chorused.
"I'm really sorry!" Maya apologized again.
"Umm..." Phoenix said.
" What!?" The woman cried, irritated, "Can't ya see I'm changin' the film on my camera here! Someone-I'm not namin' any names-but someone used up a WHOLE ROLL.
"Sorry..." Maya apologized again, looking down while Jasmine rubbed her arm to comfort her.
"I, er, this is my badge." Phoenix said, showing the woman his attorney's badge.
"Huh? Aren't badges supposed t'be all shiny and impressive? You a cop or something?" The woman asked.
"Umm... I'm a lawyer and my sister here is my aide." Phoenix answered.
"Wh-what!? Y'all ain't gonna try and pull one o' them lawsuits on me over that film now? Cause I'll have y'all know I'm a fighter and I wrassled meaner lookin' things'n you!" The woman threatened.
"N-no, that's not it at all." Phoenix stuttered.
"We're here investigating a murder that took place here, on the lake." Jasmine explained as Maya hid behind her.
"A murder...? ...Sounds cool! Why didn't y'all say that in the first place! Go ahead, ask me anything ya like! You too. Y'all can come out of hiding now. I won't bite. Hard." The woman smiled. Maya stepped out from behind Jasmine and stuttered,
"S-sorry...I-I was feeling a little overwhelmed. The culture gap and all..."
"Never you mind, honey. I kin talk Yank for ya if... ahem... if it pleases you?" The woman offered.
"Th-thanks. I think I'll be okay." Maya smiled, making Jasmine feel better.
"Great then! I'm Lotta, Lotta Hart, but y'all can call me Lotta! I'm here photographing meteor showers for a research project. Mighty pleased ta meet ya!" The woman, Lotta, smiled.
"Pleased to meet you too. I'm Jasmine Wright, but you can call me Jazz. This is my brother Phoenix Wright and his assistant, Maya Fey." Jasmine smiled as they each shook Lotta's hand. Once everything felt safe, Jasmine felt herself falling into her black out and this time, there was nothing to stop her.
Phoenix, Jasmine, Larry and Miles sat outside their school, waiting for their parents. It was the last day of school before winter break and they were all excited.
"I bet I'm gonna get a ton of presents this Christmas!" Larry bragged.
"Not if Santa put you on the Naughty list and you get coal!" Phoenix teased his best friend with a grin. Jasmine giggled, since she was the quietest member of their group and rarely spoke at time, though she had grown more confident since they all became friends.
"Jasmine..." Miles suddenly spoke up. "I forgot something in the classroom. Would you come with me to get it?"
"Sure Miles." Jasmine smiled as she stood up and dusted off her jeans before she followed her best friend into the classroom. Once they reached the classroom, Jasmine asked, "What'd you forget, Miles?"
"Nothing, I just..." Miles trailed off causing the young girl to turn towards him. His back was towards her and she stared at him, worry and confusion written on her face.
"Miles?" She asked. Miles suddenly turned around and kissed her on the cheek.
"I...I wanted to be alone to tell you...I like you." He admitted, blushing bright red. Jasmine grinned before she jumped into her best friend's arms and hugged him tightly.
"Good thing I like you too, than!" She grinned, "Why else did I always run to you when Larry chases me?" Miles chuckled at that as he returned her hug.
"I have something for you." He said as he pulled away. Miles reached into his pocket and took out a box. "My dad bought it for me after I asked him to." He explained as he gave it to the girl. Jasmine opened the box and gasped. Inside was a silver chain with a small circular pendent at the end. Engraved into the pendent was a heart if Jasmine looked close enough.
"Miles...I love it." She breathed, too shocked he would actually get something like this for her. She hugged him again and kissed him on the cheek before she whispered, "Thank you." The two stayed like that for a while and when they pulled back, Miles put the pendent around Jasmine's neck. Grinning, the two rejoined their friends and spent the rest of the time they were waiting happy.
"J! A! Z! Z!" Maya's screaming shot Jasmine straight back to reality.
"Huh? What?" Jasmine asked as reality caught up to her and she noticed they were no longer at Gourd Lake park but in front of the police station.
"Jazz, are you okay? You haven't said anything since Lotta introduced herself!" Maya cried, worry and anger both in her voice.
"I-I'm fine." Jasmine stuttered, playing with the pendent she had kept around her neck faithfully for 15 long years. "I j-just zoned o-out."
"More like blacked out." Maya quipped as she shook her head.
"You're fine though, right?" Phoenix asked.
"Yeah...I'm fine..." Jasmine said.
December 25th
Police Department
Criminal Affairs
"...I guess Detective Gumshoe is still in that meeting." Maya stated. However, a second later, the burly detective came in, crying,
"Hey! Thanks for coming down, pal!"
"Detective Gumshoe!" The girls cried in unison.
"We just finished the meeting. For better or for worse..." Gumshoe said and he looked extremely sad when he said that.
Oh no..we've just been screwed all over again.
"Do you know anything about the victim yet?" Phoenix asked.
"No, no...still can't ID him." Gumshoe answered, shaking his head.
"Has Mr. Edgeworth said anything?" Maya asked.
"Not a word." Gumshoe stated sadly.
"So, um, how did the meeting go?" Jasmine asked, still shaken up from her black out and the memory it contained.
"I can't tell you, pal!" Gumshoe said, looking away. "You're a lawyer and his aide!"
"T-true..." Phoenix stuttered.
"...Y'know...I don't know what to believe anymore." Gumshoe confessed, "Sure, Mr. Edgeworth's human like you or me. Still...I get the feeling that if he'd done something wrong, he wouldn't go hiding it. That's just the kind of guy he is. Why can't anyone else see that!?"
"So, they think that Mr. Edgeworth did it...?" Maya asked, looking down sadly. Jasmine wrapped the younger girl in her arms, still taking on Mia's responsibility of caring for her. Besides, she did this even when Mia was alive.
"Well, the trial's starting tomorrow, as scheduled." Gumshoe said.
"I see..." Maya whispered. Gumshoe only looked at the sadly, remaining silent.
"Umm...hey, in the end you did tell us about the meeting!" Phoenix said. That earned him an extremely hard hit to the back of his head, courtesy of one defense aide.
"...Don't go telling anyone else, pal." Gumshoe stated.
"Y-yes, sir!" Phoenix stuttered and Jasmine thought he was going to salute, which would've earned him another hit. Thankfully, he didn't do anything like that.
"And...do me a favor! Stand by Mr. Edgeworth!" Gumshoe requested, "He needs help and you're the ones to help him! I'm sure he's got some reason why he won't talk to us." Jasmine reached up and held her pendent tightly, remembering the Miles Edgeworth she met 15 years ago...her best friend and...crush, at the time.
"Thanks, Detective Gumshoe." Maya said, tearing up slightly.
"I promise, we will always stand by Miles. He would never do something like this, not even if he went insane." Jasmine said softly, looking down. "Deep down in his heart, he's a good man, despite that his 'creed', and I know he has a good conscious too. Something or somebody else is at work here, I just know it."
"Detective Gumshoe...How come you trust Mr. Edgeworth so much?" Maya asked after a long pause, the group having been stunned by Jasmine's words.
"Well, I'd think that was obvious." Gumshoe said, "We got a strong working relationship, us two. We trust each other, and that's how it works."
"A 'working relationship'?" Maya repated, confused.
"See, Mr. Edgeworth always gets his defendants declared 'guilty' every time." Gumshoe explained, "Yeah, his methods might be a little extreme at times. But...there's a reason! He trusts our investigation, see? He trusts us to get the right man! That's why I work extra hard, pal. We've got to earn that trust he places in us."
Trust in the people he works with...trust in your client...his lessons really stuck with Miles for the rest of his life...
"I see..." Maya whispered, tearing up again.
"Aw, Maya, don't cry." Jasmine whispered as she squeezed the girl's hand and smiled at her. Once Maya seemed more calm, Jasmine released her.
"Mr. Edgeworth is a man you can trust...And you have my word on that!" Gumshoe cried.
"I was wondering, did you ever get that autopsy report?" Phoenix asked, changing the topic.
"Oh, that? Yeah, I made a copy for you." Gumshoe said as he handed it over to the defense attorney.
"Thank you." Phoenix smiled as he looked it over.
"Nick?" Maya cut in.
"Huh?" Phoenix asked.
"Can you show me that photo of the victim?" The spirit medium asked. Once it was given to her, Maya studied it. "...That face...!"
"Who is he?" Jasmine asked, also thinking the man was familiar, yet she couldn't place him.
"Someone you two know?" Phoenix asked.
"I...I don't know." Maya said as Jasmine shook her head. "I just have this feeling that I met him somewhere a long time ago."
"Me too." Jasmine nodded in agreement. Great, now this is gonna bug me all day. The aide sighed as they left the precinct.
December 25th
Gourd Lake Woods
"Hey y'all!" Lotta greeted the trio as they arrived at her camp site.
"Lotta!" The girls grinned in unison.
"Wait up a sec! We got bingo!" Lotta cried happily.
"Bingo...?" Maya asked.
"My automatic camera took two pictures last night!" Lotta exclaimed.
"Huh?" Jasmine asked, confused. "What'd I miss?"
"Lotta thinks the gun shot last night triggered her camera!" Maya explained excitedly, "And it looks like she got a picture of the crime!"
"Sweet!" Jasmine grinned. Just then, Lotta came back from her SUV and showed them the picture.
"This is them. Take a look!" She urged.
"Wait...!" Phoenix said as they saw the picture of two men in a boat with one holding something.
"See? See? He's shooting him with that pistol!" Lotta pointed
"I-it looks like that, yes." Phoenix stuttered.
"But you can't really tell who that is shooting." Maya pointed out.
"Yeah, well there was enough fog out there last night t' strangle a bullfrog." Lotta said, crossing her arms. "But y'know...seeing these photos reminded me of something."
"What...?" Jasmine asked, wary.
"I saw the murder happen. I'm a witness!" Lotta smirked.
"Whaaaaaaa!?" The girls cried in complete shock.
"A-are you serious!?" Phoenix stuttered.
"Course!" Lotta grinned, looking pretty confident. "Y'all reckon I should tell the cops?"
"I...reckon no!" Phoenix tried to impersonate Lotta. Jasmine bit down a retort as Lotta cried,
"What's that? Now don't y'all think y'all can pull one over on me just because you speak the lingo! I know enough to know that when you see a murder, you'd best tell the cops! It's my obligation as a citizen! Hey, so, I'm off to talk to the cops. Y'all can have this photo. Later."
"W-w-wait! Lotta!" Phoenix cried, stopping the Southern woman.
"What? Can't y'all see I'm kinda busy?" Lotta asked.
"T-Tell us what you saw, too! Please?" Phoenix tried to ask nicely.
"Nice try, honey, but I wasn't born yesterday. I'm a witness, and that means I'm on the side of justice, and that means the cops! I'd sooner eat the south side of a north-bound skunk than tell you!" Lotta cried.
"L-Lotta!" Maya cried, shocked.
"Don't let it get your skivvies in a bunch. Friends today, enemies tomorrow! Or was that the other way round? No matter. I'm gone! Hey! Maybe they'll let me do some testifying! Hot darn!" Lotta grinned before she ran off.
"She left..." Jasmine stated bluntly.
"...Well, that's one more witness. What do we do now, Nick?" Maya asked. Phoenix had no answer and simply pocked the picture before the trio walked out, feeling the hopelessness of the case weighing down more on them.
December 25th
Gourd Lake
Public Beach
"Looks like the police have given up their questioning." Maya noted as the three reached the beach again.
"Hey!" A voice cried.
"Aah!" Maya cried in fear as a man in a Santa suit appeared out of nowhere. "N-Nick! Jazz! I think Santa's mad at you!" Maya cried as she clung to Jasmine's arm in her fright.
"Long time no see, Nick, Jazz." Santa said.
"Guys...you know Santa!? Wow...Nick and St. Nick with Jazz in the middle...Hey! I see the connection!" Maya gasped.
"Don't be ridiculous!" Phoenix cried as Jasmine began to laugh.
"Dude, it's me!" Santa said before he removed his hat and beard and revealed a grinning Larry Butz.
"Larry!" The twins cried in unison, though Phoenix stuttered slightly. Jasmine groaned aloud as Phoenix cried,
"What are you doing here!?"
"Isn't it obvious? I'm working my day job!" Larry grinned, "I sell Samurai Dogs! Want one? Gotta get money for dates, you know. My girl Kiyance deserves the best!"
Kiyance? Better not be another model! Though, knowing Larry, she probably is. Hey, at least he's been off me for years, who knew threatening him as a kid would work that well?
"Oh, Kiyance's a fine, fine woman, Nick." Larry grinned as he winked at his childhood best friend. Jasmine groaned again, her head falling to the side this time. "It was her idea that I wear this costume! She was all "You go girlfriend!" Y'know? She bought this costume for me!"
"That...that's great, Larry." Phoenix said, handling the conversation as usual. Jasmine would refuse to talk to Larry at times because if he pushed her too far, the results would be deadly...for Larry, that is.
"Wow! A Santa costume! She must be really nice!" Maya grinned, her eyes wide in childlike awe.
"Whoa! Cute!" Larry cried as he finally noticed the young Fey. "Nick! Who's she? She's not your...?"
"Not my...what? N-no, she's not!" Phoenix stuttered, realizing what Larry was implying. Jasmine quickly got in Larry's face and snarled,
"Stay away from her, Butz." Not hearing her, Maya smiled,
"I'm his partner, Maya Fey. I'm, uh, the little sister."
"Sister...? ...Wow, Nick, must be tough." Larry said, "Working nine to five, having to take care of a little sister..." Jasmine smacked her forehead.
Is Larry really this stupid? I'm Nick's only younger sister, he should know that, he's known us since we were 9 years old!
"N-no, I'm not Nick's sister, I'm my older sister's little sister..." Maya explained when she realized Larry didn't understand.
"Huh. Sounds great!" Larry grinned as Jasmine groaned again.
"Hey, Larry." Phoenix said, "There was a murder here last night...You work here. Have you heard anything?"
"Nick, you're wasting your time." Maya said, "Last night was Christmas Eve! He was with Kiyance, obviously! He wouldn't have been standing out here in the cold!"
"Oof!" Larry grunted as he looked at the three pathetically. Jasmine laughed, even if it wasn't nice.
"?" Maya didn't understand what she said.
"I think what you just said caught him off guard, Maya." Jasmine managed between her laughs.
"N-no, it's just...Kiyance's not in town right now." Larry explained, "She...she's in Hawaii on a photo shoot."
I'm not even surprised...
"Well, anyway, there was a murder here on the lake." Phoenix said, "The trial's tomorrow."
"Huh. Neat." Larry smiled.
"The defendant is Miles, Larry. Miles Edgeworth." Jasmine added the same second her brother said,
"The defendant is Edgeworth. Miles Edgeworth."
"Um, Nick, Jazz? Why would Larry know Edgeworth...?" Maya asked.
3, 2, 1...
"Whoa, Nick, Jazz!" Larry cried, "You don't mean THAT Miles Edgeworth!? Old Edgey!?" Jasmine held her pendent tightly as Phoenix answered,
"Yeah. He's a murder suspect."
"Wh-whoa! Murder?" Larry said.
"Huh? You know Mr. Edgeworth, Larry?" Maya asked.
"Yeah! Of course!" Larry grinned, "Edgey was in the same class as us in grade school!"
"Whaaaaaaaaat!?" Maya cried while Jasmine only looked down. "Umm... umm... tell me about the dogs!"
"Huh? Oh, you mean the Samurai Dogs?" Larry asked.
"W-why are they Samurai Dogs? I...I mean they kind of look gourd-shaped." Maya pointed out.
"Oh, well originally, they were Gourd Dogs! Y'know, like 'guard dogs'?" Larry grinned.
"Ouch..." Maya whispered to Jasmine, getting a small smile from her.
"The Samurai thing was Kiyance's idea. Oh, she's my woman, y'know. She was all "change the name and you go girlfriend!" She made me that banner! Man, the kids can't get enough of those Samurai Dogs!" Larry explained.
"Erm...Something about that just seems...wrong." Maya whispered.
"Agreed." Jasmine whispered back.
"Oh, and guess what? We're getting a ton of customers here at the lake, what with the big news!" Larry grinned.
"The 'big news'...?" Maya asked.
"Yeah! Gourdy!" Larry answered.
"G-'Gourdy'...?" The girls asked, confused, though Jasmine didn't stutter.
"So, Mr. Edgeworth was your classmate, Larry?" Maya asked, changing the subject.
"Yeah, Nick, Jazz, him and I used to hang out all the time, though we would split up between Nick and me and Jazz and Edgey." Larry smiled.
"Wow...I never knew." Maya said. Jasmine placed a hand on the spirit medium's shoulder as if to say 'sorry'.
"Don't get me wrong. He's always been kind of a stick in the mud." Larry continued, ignoring Jasmine's glare as he did. "Studying all the time, trying to 'be like father'." Jasmine eyes widened and she looked down, her hands gripping her arms tightly, as if that would shield her from reality.
"Like his father...?" Maya asked.
"Yeah. Edgey's pop was a famous defense lawyer back in the day." Larry explained.
"Wow. Wait...You said 'defense lawyer'?" Maya asked.
"Yeah." Larry confirmed.
"Wait a second! But Mr. Edgeworth is a prosecuting attorney!" Maya cried. Jasmine buried even more into herself, trying to hide away and save herself the pain and the...darkness.
"What? Edgey's got a proboscis on his knee!?" Larry asked, not understanding.
"No, no-he's a 'prosecuting attorney'." Maya explained, "That's like the total opposite of a defense lawyer!"
"...Huh. Go figure." Larry stated, "He always used to talk about defending the 'weak' who were 'unable to defend themselves'. Man, he used to go on and on about man's duty to society and all that. What a bore! I wonder what changed his mind, though? Do you guys know, Nick? Jazz?" The twins remained silent as Jasmine buried more into herself.
"Nick...? Jazz?" Maya asked, concerned. Still, neither twin spoke, even if...one knew she knew the answer but just...couldn't remember. "Umm... what's 'Gourdy'?" Maya asked instead.
"Huh? You mean you don't know? It's here, in this very lake! A giant, mysterious monster! Gourdy!" Larry exclaimed.
"A... monster?" Maya asked.
"Yeah. Check it out. This is an article from yesterday's paper. There's a photo!" Larry said as he handed the trio the newspaper.
"Wow!" Maya gasped, "It's r-really real! Nick! Jazz! A monster! A real monster!"
"Um... yeah." Phoenix said before he started to read the article aloud. "Hey... there's a quote here from the person who took the photo. Hmm? What's this? "I set the camera to automatic, and when we got into the frame...I heard a loud 'bang'! Like an explosion...followed by the sound of something slipping into the water...""
"I wish I could have seen it!" Maya sighed.
"Larry. Could I borrow this article from you?" Phoenix asked.
"Sure, no problem. That'll be one million dollars!" Larry grinned.
"O-one million...?" Maya stuttered while Phoenix rolled his eyes as he put it away. Jasmine, on the other hand, was still shielding herself, as if that would help keep everything away.
The trio returned to the office when Phoenix noticed how quiet Maya was in comparison to normal and, well, Jasmine at the moment.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Oh. Nothing...just, something's been bothering me." Maya admitted. "...Could you show me that autopsy report once more? …...Hey! I-I remember now! This guy! This is a lawyer that was at that office Mia worked at!" Jasmine looked up at that, Maya's voice snapping her straight back to reality and looked at the man's face again.
"Oh yeah! Now I remember!" Jasmine grinned at Maya. "He was always there whenever the three of us met up!" Maya nodded in agreement, happy her friend was back.
"That office? Wait...You mean Grossberg's office?" Phoenix asked.
"Right! That guy!" Maya grinned as both girls nodded repeatedly.
"Yeah!" Jasmine added in agreement. "Let's go talk to him, Nick!"
December 25th
Grossberg Law Offices
An extremely loud clearing of the throat greeted the trio upon their entering the office. Jasmine smiled the slightest bit as Grossberg noticed them.
"Ah hah! You two are Mia's...something, are you not?" Grossberg said.
"I was her understudy, yes, and she was her friend. Phoenix Wright and this is my sister, Jasmine." Phoenix nodded.
"Ah hah! And you, you're Mia's...something too, are you not?" Grossberg asked as he turned to Maya.
"Her little sister, yes!" Maya grinned as she nodded with her hands clasped.
"You've grown!" Grossberg smiled, "You've come to look a lot like your sister, you know? It takes me back. 'Ahh... the days of my youth...like the scent of fresh lemon...' you see."
"Um, Mr. Grossberg, sir?" Phoenix said.
"Hmm...? Ah, yes. I beg your pardon." Grossberg said, "Of course you came here to discuss something. What is it then? Something the matter?"
"There was a murder last night..." Phoenix started.
"A murder?" Grossberg asked, shocked.
"You haven't heard...?" Jasmine asked.
"I, er, just got up, you see." Grossberg explained.
"Well, Miles Edgeworth shot someone with a pistol." Phoenix stated bluntly. Jasmine resisted the urge to smack her brother.
"Edgeworth!? What!? W-who!?" Grossberg cried.
"Well, the identity of the victim is still unknow..." Phoenix trailed off.
"T-this is terrible news indeed!" Grossberg stumbled. Silently, Jasmine took out the autopsy report and held the picture of the victim out to Grossberg. "Hmm? Strange...I feel as though I've seen this man somewhere before!" Grossberg said, "...Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
"Did you remember!?" Phoenix cried.
"He was a lawyer! Here, in my office!" Grossberg cried, "That's Hammond! Robert Hammond!"
"Mr. Hammond...?" Maya said.
"And you say this is the man Miles Edgeworth shot?" Grossberg asked. Jasmine only nodded wordlessly.
"Who is this Hammond guy, anyway?" Phoenix asked.
"Mr. Hammond...He was the defense attorney in that case..." Grossberg said.
"'That case'...?" Phoenix asked.
"Yes, the 'DL-6 Incident'." Grossberg said.
"'DL-6'...?" Phoenix repeated.
"Perhaps you remember?" Grossberg asked. "That was the incident where the police were so at a loss they used a spirit medium."
"...!" Both Maya and Jasmine were shocked at that, their eyes wide.
"Wait...you don't mean?" Maya asked, "Was that medium my mother?"
"Yes, my dear." Grossberg nodded, "The spirit medium, Misty Fey, your mother, contacted the spirit of the victim. But...the case was a loss. No conviction was made. The DL-6 Incident, yes...Happened 15 years ago. A very strange case, indeed."
"They never caught the criminal, right?" Phoenix asked.
"Correct." Grossberg nodded, "Misty Fey used her powers to talk to the spirit of the late victim. Her testimony led to charges being laid against one man. But Mr. Hammond won the case and the suspect was declared innocent."
"...And the police blamed my mother, calling her a fraud." Maya said as she looked down sadly. Quickly, Jasmine wrapped the younger girl in her arms to comfort her. "You were the one to help her out then, right, Mr. Grossberg?" Maya asked as Jasmine eventually pulled away.
"Er...y-yes. Yes, quite." Grossberg stuttered.
"Thank you!" Maya smiled.
"N-no...please. D-don't mention it." Grossberg stuttered again. Jasmine looked down, already feeling that she knew where this was going...but she had to know.
"But wait...What does that case have anything to do with Mr. Edgeworth?" Maya asked.
"It has everything to do with Mr. Edgeworth, my dear!" Grossberg said, "The victim in the DL-6 Incident was none other than his father, Gregory Edgeworth!"
"Wh-what!? His father!?" Maya cried. Suddenly, Jasmine cried out as she grabbed her head in pain. She fell to her knees, unable to hear the cries of everyone yelling her name. She could only cry out in pain until she closed her eyes and the images flashed through her mind.
"Jasmine, would you like to come watch my father's trial?" Miles asked shyly. Jasmine grinned,
"I would love to, Miles!"
The two walked out of the court, both shocked at the outcome when the crowd increased.
"Miles!" Jasmine cried but he was too far away. When the crowd finally cleared, she was alone in an empty hallway. The young girl started running around the court, trying to find Miles, Mr. Edgeworth or even his assistant. Anyone she recognized who have done! Suddenly, out of nowhere, an earthquake struck. Jasmine screamed as she was knocked off her feet and onto the ground. She hit her head and the next thing she knew was darkness.
A scream. That's what woke Jasmine from unconsciousness. Following the scream she watched as an elevator door opened and she saw three people inside. Miles, Mr. Edgeworth and another man she didn't exactly know. Someone was standing in front of the elevator but the real Jasmine having the flashback couldn't see them, her memory still not clear. The young girl watched as the man picked up a gun from inside the elevator and pointed it at Mr. Edgeworth before he shot him. Jasmine's eyes widened as she saw the blood and everything else from the now dead Gregory Edgeworth. Jasmine ran straight out of the court and reached her house only to fall and land on the ground. Being so young and seeing something so awful and traumatic as a murder right in front of her very eyes...Jasmine's small mind buried the memories in order to protect her.
Jasmine's dark blue eyes shot open and she blinked the tears away.
"Jazz?" Maya asked.
"Are you alright, my dear?" Grossberg asked as well.
"Nick...do you remember that day 15 years ago where I came home with no memory of where I was?" Jasmine whispered to her twins. Phoenix nodded, confused. "Well, I remember now...I was a witness...to the DL-6 Incident."
"What!?" All three cried.
"Do you know who the killer is?" Maya asked. Jasmine shook her head.
"It's too fuzzy...I can't remember that much yet, but I remember everything else." She whispered, "Oh God, Mr. Edgeworth...oh God..." Jasmine didn't listen for the rest of the time and Phoenix and Maya had to lead her out.
December 25th
Detention Center
Visitor's Room
"What's this?" Edgeworth asked as he sat down to see the trio in front of him yet again. He also took note of Jasmine's tears and how she appeared to be more shaken than normal. "I was hoping you'd gotten my message the first time."
"Edgeworth, what about your defense?" Phoenix asked.
"...! It's no concern of yours." Edgeworth stated, looking away.
"Can I ask you about the murder?" Phoenix asked.
"Wright. I'll ask you again, just leave me alone." Edgeworth said, "Please try to understand. I'm not doing this to prove I'm tough, or because I look down on you. I just don't want you anywhere near this case. Understand?" Phoenix remained silent as he took out a picture of Misty Fey that Jasmine guessed Grossberg gave to him when she wasn't listening.
"...! ..." Edgeworth sure gave a reaction when he saw that picture, looking away roughly.
"Edgeworth?" Phoenix asked while Jasmine looked further at the prosecutor, knowing he was about to talk.
"It's only been a matter of hours since you last visited." Edgeworth stated, "Yet you've made incredible progress in your investigation. I'll admit it, I'm impressed, Wright. You were always single-minded in your work, though. Once you start something, you always see it through, don't you?"
"About the 'DL-6 Incident'..." Phoenix said and both the defense attorney, spirit medium and prosecutor noticed how Jasmine flinched extremely violently when the case was mentioned. Of course, the memory was still fresh and was starting to haunt her at that moment.
No wonder I buried it down unconsciously. It's an awful thing to remember!
"Right...DL-6." Edgeworth said, "I didn't want you to find out about it. That is why I refused your offer to defend me. I'm sorry if it sounded like I thought you weren't up to the job. I just wanted to keep you both away from DL-6."
"We understand, Miles." Jasmine said softly.
"So...do you still think it would have been better for us to stay away?" Phoenix asked.
"I don't know." Edgeworth said, "But...I see no point in hiding anything from either of you now. Very well. Ask whatever you like, and I will answer to the best of my abilities. The 'DL-6 Incident'...was when my father died." Jasmine's hands grabbed her arms again as she tried to shield herself from the world and her newfound memories. "Right before my eyes...He was shot and killed, and I saw it all."
"...!" Maya was shocked. Both Edgeworth and Jasmine were witnesses to the same murder, the murder of Gregory Edgeworth.
"My memories from that time are...foggy." Edgeworth continued, "I suppose it's a self-defense mechanism." Jasmine nodded, knowing what her childhood best friend was saying was the truth. "In any case, a suspect was arrested...a man. It's pretty clear he was the only one who could have killed my father. The spirit medium they used to talk to my late father said the same thing. It was an attorney by the name of Robert Hammond that cleared the suspect's name."
"And Hammond...is the victim in the Gourd Lake murder?" Phoenix added.
"Correct." Edgeworth nodded.
"Umm...That spirit medium...that was my mom." Maya said.
"What? You mean you're...?" Edgeworth asked. "...It's strange. I thought that terrible incident was about to end, and now...this."
""About to end"?" The twins repeated in unison, confused.
"The DL-6 Incident happened 15 years ago." Edgeworth explained, "15 years ago...on December 28th."
"December 28th?" Maya asked.
"The statue of limitations on the case runs out in three days." Edgeworth explained.
"What!?" Phoenix cried while Jasmine's eyes only widened when normally she would have spoken in unison with her twin. That was another hint that she was still shaken.
"Um, Nick? What does that mean?" Maya asked.
"When a case's statue of limitations runs out, legally, the case never happened." Phoenix answered.
"Three days from now, DL-6 will be closed...forever." Edgeworth said.
"What happened to the suspect? The one who got off innocent?" Maya asked.
"I don't know...He disappeared from public view. Nobody knows where to." Edgeworth answered, "If he's still alive, he'd be about 50 years old now."
"Umm...so, was your father a lawyer?" Maya asked, changing the subject.
"He was...Gregroy Edgeworth. He was quite famous at the time, apparently." Edgeworth said.
"Miles, he was famous. Both you and me idolized him." Jasmine said, her voice slightly louder as she grew more comfortable with the new memories. Of course, I helped him in one case but that's beside the point.
"So, you were sort of trying to follow in his footsteps." Maya stated.
"...I'd rather not talk about it." Edgeworth stated, looking away again. "Hmph...Who would have thought there'd be a photo...?"
"Edgeworth...Did you shoot him?" Phoenix asked.
"...What do you think, Wright?" Edgeworth asked instead.
"I don't think you're the kind to point a gun at anyone, no." Phoenix answered.
"Me either." Jasmine said in agreement.
"So you didn't shoot him?" Maya asked.
"No, I didn't. It wasn't me." Edgeworth said calmly. "...Wright."
"?" Phoenix didn't know where this was going but Jasmine did.
"It pains me to ask you this now..." Edgeworth continued but Maya cut in,
"I know! You want us to defend you!"
"Yes...Will you?" Edgeworth asked, looking away.
"Ah, who could have guessed this day would come?" Phoenix asked.
"Not me." Edgeworth stated.
"This is my chance to finally pay you back." Phoenix smiled. Jasmine started to smile as well, knowing exactly what her twin was talking about.
"Pay him back...?" Maya asked.
"Pay me back?" Edgeworth said, "For what? I don't remember ever doing anything for you."
"Never mind...I guess you don't really need to know." Phoenix said, shaking his head.
"Huh...My letter of request. Please give it to Detective Gumshoe." Edgeworth said as he slid the letter to the older Wright twin.
"Well, I guess we should..." Phoenix started when the ground began to shake.
"Oh no..." Jasmine whispered as her eyes widened in unimaginable fear and she heard nothing. As the shaking increased, she fell to the floor, trembling like a leaf as she closed her eyes as tightly as possible and told herself to breath and that it would be over soon. When it stopped, she slowly stood up, shaking still. Ever since DL-6 happened, Jasmine had had an unimaginable fear of earthquakes, though she could never remember why until now. She used to run, roll up in a ball or even faint whenever an earthquake struck but with her brother, mother and several therapists' help, she had stopped all of that, only shaking violently now.
"Huh? Where's Edgeworth?" Phoenix suddenly asked as Jasmine became aware of reality again.
"...There. He's on the floor in a ball, shivering." Maya said, "I guess he doesn't do so well with earthquakes. Well, I guess we're done. Mr. Edgeworth doesn't seem like he's going to stand up any time soon. Let's go, Nick, Jazz."
"Uh...right. We have to give Edgeworth's letter of request to Detective Gumshoe." Phoenix agreed. The attorney and spirit medium moved to leave when they noticed Jasmine wasn't with them.
"Y-you guys g-go ahead. I-I'll catch up with y-you." Jasmine said, trying to control her stutter. Phoenix and Maya nodded before they left. Jasmine knocked on the glass and got the guard's attention. "I-I can help h-him. Please...let m-me come in." She requested. The guard thought about it for a minute before he unlocked the door, letting the aide in. Jasmine smiled before she requested he'd leave them alone for a couple minutes. Reluctantly, the guard agreed and Jasmine bent down to Edgeworth's level. "Miles...focus on me." She whispered as she placed her hands on his shoulders. Edgeworth blinked several times, still shaking but focusing on her nontheless. "Come on, Miles, you can do it. Focus on me and nothing else." The girl whispered. It was obvious helping Edgeworth was now helping her as well. Slowly, Edgeworth's shaking subsided and he relaxed. Jasmine breathed a sigh of relief before she hugged him tightly. Slowly, Edgeworth's arms came to wrap around her as well, resting on her lower back. "I know how you feel about earthquakes, and I know why." Jasmine whispered, "The same thing happened to me all those years ago...remember?" Edgeworth nodded before he asked,
"How did you get out of the court?"
"I...I found my way out..." Jasmine whispered. She didn't want to lie but he couldn't know she saw his father's murder yet. When the time was right...she would tell him. And that time would be when she remembered who the killer is. Edgeworth didn't push her, having learned a long time ago that Jasmine wouldn't reveal anything when pushed, she would only close up more. Instead, he'd simply have to wait and hope she would tell him soon. When the door opened and the guard returned, Jasmine stood up, Edgeworth following, and left, waving goodbye to the prosecutor as she did before she called her brother, making sure they were all set for the trial tomorrow.
OH MY FREAKING GOODNESS! If I'm right, that was the longest chapter I have written yet! Wow, that took me a very long time to write, two whole days at that! I hope you all enjoyed! The fact that Jasmine witnessed DL-6 is owed to pyrosaurus X (thanks again for the great idea!). Please review to tell me what you think and I might, might, be able to update again soon. Happy New Year!