I'M BACK! Sorry for taking so long but I'm back now with no excuses and just offering this chapter as a condolence. I've honestly wanted to update this story for a while now but the chapters take so long to write that I couldn't find the time but I'm here now! Thanks to jckgwk (I'm glad you like it and here's the update.), pyrosaurus X (Oh, thank you so much! Honestly, everything I've done with this story so far wouldn't be possible if you hadn't reviewed that one chapter a long time ago and convinced me to do something completely different from the game, which I don't do often. And I'm very excited because your idea is FINALLY being used fully and I hope I do it justice, no pun intended.), Beatrice (Thank you so much, I'm so glad you like the story and Miles x Jasmine. This is one of the stories I'm most proud of but we've still got a long way and a long ride to go for everything to turn out okay, including a midquel and a sequel to this story. Stay tuned and keep on enjoying!), brellaindigo (You really mean that? Thanks!), JordanPhoenix (Thank you so much, I spent a lot of time reading fanficitons and watching the games before this story came to mind and then I searched the wikia like crazy to get all the information I needed but I'm so glad you like it! It makes the work worthwhile!), Gilgamesh The King of Heroes (Yeah, it'll be interesting to say the least.), ShadowPhoenix34 (Time to put your idea into play, and you're right about that, I just didn't know what it should be and you gave me it. And trust me, you may have cried at NatM 3, I know I almost did but held them back, but this story will have you sobbing because Jasmine will BREAK eventually and it is the most heartbreaking thing I know I have to write and it happens more than once with each time getting worse but it only makes her stronger in the end.),Karugdi, SleepyBella, limeemil1, Neredia, AnimeWriter45, Don't question it, georgiafan8, KirikaAndo, Gem Rose and EreinionGilgad03 for reviewing/following/favoring along with all 8,592 readers! Okay, now it's time to get down to business because this is where everything comes out, and I do mean everything. Also, if any of you want to see what Jasmine looks like, go to imgur dot com / omY7GJp to see her in AA and in AJ. Pyrosaurus X made them and even if they aren't exact, they are pretty close, just imagine Jasmine's AA, the left picture, look with slightly longer hair and when we get to AJ, imagine her AJ, the right picture, look with her new outfit. Now enjoy!
December 27th, 2:11 PM
Wright and Co. Law Offices
The trio were silent as they entered the office, all feeling hopeless in one form or another. Maya broke the silence with a question.
"What was Mr. Edgeworth talking about…?" She asked, "Do you really think Mr. Edgeworth killed…?"
"H-he couldn't, he wouldn't, ever." Jasmine whispered as she looked down and played with her pendent, feeling Phoenix reach over and grasp her elbow, as if to assure either of them that the other was still there.
"…I don't believe it. Not Edgeworth." Phoenix shook his head. "Some painful memory has been troubling him recently…But he'd never take someone's life! Never!"
"That isn't him!" Jasmine added, just as fiercely as her twin.
"Nick…Jazz…" Maya whispered as she reached her hand out towards Phoenix, an action that didn't go unnoticed by Jasmine. Just then, the door burst open, causing Maya to jump back in shock and Jasmine to gasp when Larry suddenly stood in front of the three grinning.
"Yo! How's everyone doing?" He asked, "Whaddya think of my performance today? I had 'em swooning in the aisles! Huh, Maya?"
"S-swooning? Me?" Maya stuttered. "Oh…oh, yes. I do remember feeling faint."
"Maya, don't encourage him or he'll go after you next." Jasmine whispered as she grabbed the spirit medium's wrist and pull her to stand beside the aide and the attorney.
"Right on! Tell me the truth, it was like love at first sight, right?" Larry grinned, "Right, Nick?"
"H-Huh? Me!?" Phoenix cried, shocked. Not for the first time, Jasmine thanked whatever God was up there that Larry went to Phoenix first and then her. "I…uh, well, maybe my heart skipped a beat or two…"
Yeah, from stress and fear, both because of Larry.
"…I think you can do better than that!" Larry said as he shook his head disappointedly, causing all three members of the defense team to look at him quizzically. "C'mon! I saved Edgeworth in there, dude! Edgey! You guys should be bowing before me! Yeah! Bow before your hero!"
"Yes, he has always been this nuts." Jasmine whispered to Maya, who was opening her mouth to ask the aide a question.
"How'd you know that's what I was gonna say?" Maya asked.
"Because everyone asks it." Jasmine answered matter of factually. Phoenix sighed and shook his head.
"Larry…you really helped out in the trial today." He said.
"You did!" Maya nodded in agreement as she bounced on her heels in a childlike way. "If you weren't there, Larry, I'm sure Mr. Edgeworth would have been found guilty!"
"I can't believe I'm even saying this, but thank you for being you, Larry." Jasmine smiled a little as shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
"Hah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah hah!" Larry laughed before he turned serious. "But, seriously, Nick, Jazz. That boat shop caretaker guy is pretty suspicious…But Edgey ain't off the hook yet!"
"No kidding." Jasmine sighed as she ran a hand through her hair.
"Way to spoil the mood, Larry." Maya added as she crossed her arms and looked down sadly.
"Hey, I'm just a guy sitting in the audience, you know?" Larry said, "But from where I was sitting, Edgey seemed pretty…edgy. I mean, can you really know he's telling the truth about that night?" The twins were silent.
"Nick?" Maya asked, concerned, "Jazz?" Jasmine looked at Phoenix and he told her with his eyes to be silent as he began to speak.
"I don't know. But…what I do know is…I'm going to believe in you three until the end." He stated, his voice soft, as if what he was saying was a precious treasure.
"Us two?" Larry asked.
"Edgeworth and…who else? You mean me and Jazz right?" Maya asked.
"Nah! He means me and Jazz! Right, Nick?" Larry asked.
"Yeah, you and Jazz, Larry." Phoenix nodded.
"Not…me?" Maya asked as tears formed in her eyes. Instantly, Jasmine hugged the girl tightly, giving her brother a glare as she did so. Maya suddenly pushed Jasmine away and cried, "B-but why you, Larry!?"
"Huh? Um, actually, yeah. Why me, Nick?" Larry asked, sounding happy yet confused. Phoenix was silent though.
"Nick, please answer." Jasmine said softly. When the soft approach didn't work, Maya cut in.
"Hmph. Enough with the silent treatment!" She cried, "Nick, Jazz…why do you trust Mr. Edgeworth so much? I mean, he's changed recently, true. But when we first met him, he was kind of a jerk, don't ya think?"
"You didn't know him back then." Jasmine said softly as she played with her pendent and looked down, her hair slipping into her eyes.
"Back when he wanted to become a defense attorney." Phoenix finished as he placed an arm around Jasmine's shoulders and she leaned into him.
"Wait…was that when you three were classmates?" Maya asked.
"Yes. In grade school…They saved me…Miles…Jazz…and Larry. They saved me and I'll never forget it. That's why I became a defense attorney, you know."
"I had a stronger influence then that but it did play a portion in my choice to become an aide." Jasmine added softly as she buried her face into her older brother's shoulder.
"Whaaaat!?" Maya cried, her eyes wide and her mouth hanging open as she tried to make sense of it all. "Hey, hey, Larry. What're they talking about, they're using that twin telepathy or whatever again!"
"Huh? Uh…umm…" Larry mumbled, "Er, sorry. I kinda forgot."
"Useless." Jasmine muttered into Phoenix's shoulder.
"Hmph. Okay, Nick. Out with it! I'm going to hear this story today, and that's final!" Maya cried as she glared at Phoenix in frustration.
"Okay, okay." Phoenix conceded, "It's kind of a long story, so hang in there. …It was the beginning of spring, 4th grade. I was on trial. A class trial."
"A c-class trial!?" Maya cried.
"You remember, Larry? Spring, 4th grade?" Jasmine asked as she looked up slightly. With the way she was acting now, both Phoenix and Larry were reminded of 4th grade, back when Jasmine Wright had been too shy to speak, let alone brave enough to. "A kid in our class got his lunch money stolen."
"Lunch money?" Maya asked.
"Our school was really small." Phoenix explained, "Every month, kids would bring in an envelope with money for lunch from home."
"Huh, I see." Maya nodded.
"Anyway, this kid's envelope disappeared. With $38 still inside." Phoenix continued.
"Oh…yeah, now that you mention it, I do remember that!" Larry suddenly spoke up, his eyes wide in realization.
"I can see why you'd forget, though." Phoenix shrugged, "You were out of school that day. Anyway, the envelope had been stolen during PE class. I was coming down with a cold, so I skipped PE that day."
"When don't you get a cold?" Jasmine teased softly.
"Jazz…" Phoenix said.
"Not the point, sorry." Jasmine apologized to which Phoenix only shook his head to.
"I was the only one not in class." Phoenix continued.
"So…they thought you did it?" Maya asked.
"Yeah. The kids in class said I should be put on trial." Phoenix nodded.
"Trial…?" Maya repeated.
"So the next day we held a classroom trial, with me as the defendant." The attorney stated. Jasmine closed her eyes as she heard the voices from the trial in her head, as if she was back in 4th grade, forced to watch her brother stand trial for a 'crime' he didn't commit and too scared and cowardly to do anything about it. She remembered how easily she could speak when she had helped Mr. Edgeworth but around anyone her own age, she was quieter than a mouse.
"I…I didn't do it!"
"Guilty!"
"He did it!"
"Guilty!"
"It was you!"
"Thief!"
"Give me my money back!"
"You're such a meanie!"
"No one play with him!"
"Just admit you did it!"
"You can't hide the truth!"
"Tell us the truth!"
"We're not gonna play with you anymore!"
"Yeah, and no more borrowing my eraser!"
"He shouldn't be allowed in the relay race!"
"Or on the library committee!"
"Give me back my 50 cents I loaned you!"
"Hey, did you rob that bank the other day?"
"Now, Phoenix, you know you shouldn't steal people's money! It's not right."
"In the end, even the teacher thought I'd done it."
"Apologize to the class, Phoenix."
"I…I didn't know what was happening. I was so sad…I couldn't stop crying. Everyone was staring at me like I'd done it…I tried to apologize. I went over to where the boy was sitting…That's when it happened."
"OBJECTION! He shouldn't have to apologize! The only thing that belongs in a trial is evidence! Anything else has no place! You should all be ashamed…amateurs!"
"M-Miles?"
"It wasn't you who stole my money, was it?"
"No…"
"Then you shouldn't apologize!"
"Everyone's been shouting you did it, but no one has any proof! That is why, Your Honor, this boy is innocent!"
"B-but Miles, it was your money that was stolen!"
"Yeah yeah!"
"He's did it! He's the one!"
"They kept shouting, it seemed like they wouldn't stop, but then something that shocked everyone happened."
"HOLD IT! Every defendant has a defense attorney to prove they're innocent, yet you're all just shouting that he did it! That, on top of having no evidence, makes this trial a mistrial! There are two sides to every story and you aren't seeing my brother's side of it! You people are the real meanies!"
"We don't need proof or a defense attorney!"
"Make him say he's sorry!"
"Why don't you all just shut up! This is always how it is, everybody ganging up and picking on one person. Just think how he feels! He said he didn't do it, so he didn't do it!"
"…Very well. I will replace the money myself. This class trial is over."
"That's how it happened. After that, the four of us were always friends, though I was closer with Larry and Jasmine was closer with Edgeworth." Phoenix finished.
"That was the first time I ever spoke up in class, it made me confident for the first time." Jasmine explained softly as she slowly picked her head off Phoenix's shoulder, though she remained under his arm.
"Wow…I had no idea!" Maya gasped as she tried to wipe her tears away.
"Yeah…I had no idea either! I mean, I forgot." Larry sheepishly scratched the back of his neck.
"That's when I learned what it meant to be alone." Phoenix added, "Totally alone, without a friend in the world."
"That's when I learned what it meant to be brave." Jasmine admitted, "I'd always been alone and scared, even if I did have Nick. Seeing Miles stand up for him gave me the courage I needed to speak up. Hearing Larry stand up for him made me feel as if I had friends besides my brother for the first time."
"You did a good thing, Larry!" Maya managed between her tears.
"Um, yeah, well…I was just lucky that I took the day off from school." Larry admitted, "If I'd been there they would have thought I'd done it! So, I took it kind of personally, see."
When something smells, it's usually the Butz.
"Anyway, Edgeworth and I talked after that class trial." Phoenix continued, ignoring Larry. "That's when I heard his father was a defense attorney and that Jazz knew him."
"You knew Mr. Edgeworth's father?" Maya asked in shock as she looked at Jasmine.
"Yeah, he was the first person I felt comfortable enough around to talk to. Besides, he taught me that every person accused of a crime should have a defense attorney and the court needs evidence for a verdict." Jasmine explained.
"I remember, his eyes would shine when he talked about his father." Phoenix added.
"I'm going to become a defense attorney, just like my dad! A famous defense attorney!"
"Then, a few months later, he suddenly transferred to another school." The older twin stated.
"The DL-6 Incident…" Maya whispered. At the mention of the incident, Jasmine cringed.
"Right. I'm not sure, but the transfer probably had to do with his father's death." Phoenix nodded as his arm tightened around Jasmine.
"That's so sad!" Maya cried.
"…It was several years later when we heard Edgeworth's name again. Jazz went to a trial he was working, not on purpose, and there was an article about him in the newspaper." Phoenix explained, "The headline was something like 'Dark Suspicions of a Demon Attorney'. Fabricating evidence, manipulating testimonies, covering up facts…the article said he'd do anything to get a guilty verdict."
"Anything." The twins repeated in unison.
"But why?" Larry asked, "What happened!? I mean, that's not the Edgey I used to know at all!"
"That's what we thought too." Jasmine agreed.
"I tried to get in touch with him I don't know how many times…He never replied." Phoenix sighed.
"I went to every trial I could, hoping to find him and talk to him, but I never got to him in time…" Jasmine sighed.
"I guess he didn't want to see or talk to his old friends…" Maya said sadly as she looked down and reached for Jasmine's hand.
"I couldn't just drop it though." Phoenix said. "I wanted to meet him, to learn why he had become who he became. That's when I decided."
"…! Wait…you don't mean…?" Maya asked cautiously as she stared at Phoenix in shock. Phoenix met her gaze head on, his eyes determined. "That's why!? That's why you became a defense attorney and Jazz became a defense aide!? To meet Edgeworth!?"
"If I was a defense attorney and Jazz was a defense aide, I knew he'd have to meet us whether he wanted to or not. In court." Phoenix nodded, his eyes locked on Maya's. "…Edgeworth believed in me and I believe in him."
"Me too. He's in pain and no one's on his side…" Jasmine added as her free hand clutched her pendent tightly.
"We're the only ones who know the real Edgeworth. We're the only ones who can help him." The twins said in unison, though Jasmine said Miles instead of Edgeworth.
"Whoa…Nick, Jazz. S-so, is that why you guys helped me out for free?" Larry asked.
"Uh…yes." Phoenix said, unsurely. "We helped you because we believed in you."
Except the free part is a lie.
"Aw, Nick, Jazz! Nick, Jazz!" Larry sobbed before he hugged the twins tightly.
"Nick! We have to save Mr. Edgeworth if it's the last thing we do, okay?" Maya asked, her eyes sparkling with the same determination as the twins' as Larry released them. Jasmine grinned at Maya and pulled her closer, releasing her hand in turn to wrap her arm across the spirit medium's shoulders.
"Right." The twins nodded in unison.
I owe him, just as Nick does.
"First, there's that rental boat shop caretaker." Maya said, "We need to find out who or what he is!"
"I'd settle for who." Phoenix stated dryly.
"Let's do this." Jasmine ginned at Maya. The attorney threw out the unnecessary evidence before he turned to the girls.
"Okay, let's go!" Phoenix nodded. With that, the three headed out, Larry leaving behind them.
December 27th
Gourd Lake Park
Entrance
As the three reached the entrance to Gourd Lake Park, none other than Gumshoe ran up to them.
"Hey, pal! Long time no see!" He greeted.
"Oh! Detective Gumshoe!" Maya greeted.
"Good to see you again." Jasmine smiled.
"You too, but man, close one today, eh!" Gumshoe said, "I got so worked up, I snapped my tie in half!"
"Uh…sorry about that." Phoenix apologized, unsure.
"No prob, pal! Thanks to you, we now know who really did it!" Gumshoe grinned.
"You mean the boat shop caretaker?" Maya asked.
"Look, I'll make you a promise! I'll have that scoundrel in my custody by trial time tomorrow!" Gumshoe swore passionately, or was it the fact that he was so worked up? "Come what may! It's my duty to you as a police officer! Now, I'm off to catch me a criminal!" With that, the detective ran off.
"…Detective Gumshoe sure is…active today." Maya commented.
"We're lucky to have an ally like him." Jasmine smiled.
"Oh, one other thing!" Gumshoe suddenly returned.
"Eek!" The girls cried, not expecting him to show up out of nowhere.
"No one can go into the woods today." He continued on, as if the girls hadn't screamed.
"The woods?" Maya asked while Jasmine was thinking,
Does he know he referenced a play just now?
"Where Lotta was camping?" She said aloud. Gumshoe scratched the back of his neck sheepishly before he answered,
"The woods are off-limits to camping, and apparently the park ranger found out. He got pretty mad. No one can go in for a while."
"I guess Lotta's in a 'lotta' trouble." Maya joked.
"Bad pun, Maya." Jasmine commented, though she was smiling slightly as she said it.
"Anyway, I'll be seeing you tomorrow!" Gumshoe grinned before he ran off again.
"Well, we'd better get moving." Phoenix said once Gumshoe was out of sight.
December 27th
Boat Rental Shop
"That old caretaker got away…" Maya commented as the trio reached the boat shop. She looked down sadly, her bangs hiding her eyes as she did so.
"Yep." Phoenix agreed sadly.
"I never imagined he might be the real murderer!" Maya said.
"The murderer isn't always who you think it is, that's what we're here for, to find the truth." Jasmine explained as she coaxed Maya to lift her head.
"Ah-HHHHEM!" A throat cleared itself quite obnoxiously, something Jasmine remembered being annoyed with even 3 years ago. "Ah, hah, hello! What might you be doing here?" Grossberg asked, "Out for a walk, hmm?" Jasmine began to tune the man out as she fingered her pendent and her suppressed memories came to mind again.
Why can't I remember who the murderer was? I know it isn't Miles but…who else could it be? It couldn't have been Yogi because I saw the murderer. So, who was it? That's the one piece of the puzzle I'm missing and the answer is in my own head yet I can't find it! Ugh! Maybe…I need a trigger? Oh, but what kind of trigger would work, does one even exist? I need to figure this out and fast otherwise who knows what'll happen.
"JAZZZZZZZ!" Jasmine jumped as Maya shook her violently to get her out of her trance. "Are you back?" The spirit medium asked, as if she hadn't sent the aide on what felt like a tornado shake.
"Yes, I'm back. What'd I miss?" Jasmine asked as she shook her head to clear it.
"We're gonna open the safe because Polly knows the code!" Maya grinned excitedly.
"What is it?" Jasmine asked.
"1228!" Maya answered before she turned to Phoenix, "Let's open it, Nick! C'mon!"
"I'm sure there isn't any money in there." Phoenix stated dryly.
"Aww…" Maya sighed, "But hey! He keeps it locked, right? So there must be something of value in there!"
"I'm not so sure…" Phoenix said.
"Come on, Nick! Let's just see what's inside!" Jasmine insisted. The attorney sighed before he complied.
"The only thing in here is a letter." Phoenix said as he pulled said item out.
"A letter?" Jasmine asked, curious.
"Aww…boring!" Maya sighed in disappointment, though she stood closer to Phoenix to try to read the letter along with Jasmine.
"'Get your revenge of Miles Edgeworth.'…" Phoenix suddenly read. "Edgeworth!"
"Miles!" Jasmine cried at the same instant as her twin, though her voice was far more scared then his was.
"N-N-Nick! Why would Mr. Edgeworth's name be on here…?" Maya asked, scared.
"How should I know!? I'm going to read the whole thing…!" Phoenix said, sounding less scared then the girls. "'Get your revenge on Miles Edgeworth…' It also says: 'This is your last chance! Now is your time to get revenge on the two men who ruined your life!'"
The letter went on to describe exactly what Nick suggested in court, in perfect detail at that! So it's obvious the boat rental guy killed Hammond but…someone else was behind the scenes, pulling the strings, all to get Miles arrested.
"What do you think it means, Nick?" Maya asked, worried.
"I don't know…but it looks like these are instructions for that caretaker." Phoenix offered, "When he killed Robert Hammond and called out Edgeworth, he was following instructions!"
"But who could have written that letter?" Jasmine asked as she crossed her arms and bit her lip thoughtfully.
"And…what does it mean, to 'get your revenge on Miles Edgeworth'…?" Maya asked, her eyes filled with worry and concern.
"Look, I don't know, okay? But one thing's for certain. This letter is an amazing clue!" Phoenix said.
"We'd better go visit Miles." Jasmine suggested.
"Good idea." Phoenix nodded as he led the girls out of the boat shop.
December 27th
Detention Center
Visitor's Room
"You look as grim as always." Phoenix commented as Edgeworth sat down in front of him.
"Hmph." Edgeworth mumbled, refusing to meet his old friends' gazes. Jasmine's hand unconsciously rose to touch the glass until she forcefully grabbed it and held it at her side. She didn't need her brother suspecting anything about her.
"Um, Mr. Edgeworth? I heard the story about the class trial…" Maya spoke up. Edgeworth looked up, confused.
"Class trial?" He repeated. "What do you mean?"
"You…don't remember?" Maya asked, shocked.
"No, I don't." Edgeworth answered, looking away again, gripping his arm tightly.
"Your lunch money was stolen, wasn't it? In 4th grade…?" Maya asked.
"Lunch money…?" Edgeworth repeated, "Oh…oh, right. I seem to remember something like that."
How could you forget? It was the day we first became friends…the day that led to where we are now, to what we are now.
"Nick. I think you and Jazz're the only ones who really remember." Maya whispered.
"Well, it probably only mattered to me anyway." Phoenix commented.
"It mattered to me too." Jasmine insisted.
"Mr. Edgeworth, didn't you know? That trial was the reason Nick became a defense attorney and Jazz became a defense aide!" Maya explained with a smile as she faced the prosecutor.
"…Ridiculous!" Edgeworth said, "That said…it does sound like the kind of thing you'd do, though Jasmine I do not understand."
"Your father was the bigger reason I wanted to become an aide, that trial just sealed the deal." Jasmine explained, trying to keep her voice level when mentioning Gregory Edgeworth.
"That sounds more like you." Edgeworth stated softly, still refusing to look at the twins. He did face them, however, when he said, "Neither Jasmine nor you has changed a bit, have you, Wright? So…simple. To a fault, even. While Jasmine remains deeply loyal to those around her, to just a fault as you."
"Well, maybe yeah, but…I think you changed too much, Edgeworth." Phoenix commented. Jasmine remained silent, biting the inside of her cheek to do so. There were so many things she wanted to say, from how she knew her Miles was still there just buried to how she desperately wanted to tell him of her suppressed memories. Phoenix and Edgeworth didn't notice but Maya did and she made a note of it mentally.
"…Perhaps." Edgeworth agreed.
"Miles, why did you become a prosecutor?" Jasmine asked softly, trying so hard to control what she said. "You used to look up to your dad…"
"You said you wanted to be a defense attorney, right?" Phoenix added.
"…I couldn't let myself deny reality like you." Edgeworth said, not looking at the twins.
"What do you mean?" Phoenix asked, confused.
"My father was taken from me, and you want me to defend criminals?" Edgeworth said, "I'm sorry, Wright, but I'm not that good of a person!"
"One suspect was apprehended in your father's murder, right?" Maya asked.
"Yes. The man trapped in the elevator with my father." Edgeworth nodded stiffly. "His name…was Yanni Yogi. He had to be the shooter, any way you look at it! Yet…he was found innocent. That defense attorney got him off the hook! On that day, 15 years ago…the three of us were trapped in that elevator for five hours. When we were rescued, we all suffered oxygen deprivation. I had lost all memory of the murder."
"Lost your memory?" Phoenix repeated as his eyes darted to Jasmine the slightest bit while Maya looked at her for a second. Jasmine, however, gripped both of her arms tightly as she began to turn pale but kept her eyes focused on Edgeworth, knowing they suffered through the same thing, even if he didn't know.
"Even now, I can't recall what happened in that elevator." Edgeworth admitted. "That was the crux of Yogi's attorney's argument in court. He claimed Yanni Yogi had been 'not of sound mind' due to oxygen deprivation. Yogi was released due to a lack of evidence…innocent. That's when I changed my mind. I started to hate defense attorneys." This time, Jasmine couldn't force her hand back down as she reached out to place it on the glass separating her from Edgeworth, tears forming in her eyes.
I could've done something, all those years ago, and in that moment I felt the true weight of regret settle on my shoulders. If I hadn't run, if I hadn't forgotten everything, even if that part wasn't my fault, I could've helped Miles, could've have at least proven there was another suspect, someone else who killed Mr. Edgeworth. Even if nobody would've believed me, I could have set the way for Nick or someone else to discover the truth ahead of now. I never felt such guilt and regret before and I knew if I voiced it, Nick, Maya and Miles would've said it wasn't my fault and that I shouldn't blame myself. But I had unconsciously hidden all of this away for 15 years, never knowing these memories, while Miles suffered alone, being molded by von Karma into the prosecutor he is today. I felt responsible in that moment and nothing and nobody could rid me of that guilt.
"What's your relationship with von Karma?" Phoenix asked, changing the subject.
"He's my teacher, and a man who deserves respect." Edgeworth answered, carefully hidden relief in his voice. "I learned everything I know of courtroom techniques from him."
"So, he's like my sister was to you, Nick." Maya commented thoughtfully. Slowly, Jasmine retracted her hand from the glass and blinked back her tears, holding her arms tightly as she bit her lip to remain in control.
"He is a perfectionist in all things." Edgeworth continued. As he said that, Jasmine mumbled a bitter agreement. "In court…in his personal life…he is obsessed with doing everything perfectly."
"Perfectly, huh?" Maya asked.
"To an evil degree." Jasmine whispered to Maya in response.
"In all the cases he has taken on, none were left unsolved." Edgeworth added, "And not one suspect was declared innocent. Ever."
"Not even with Mr. Edgeworth." Jasmine whispered, her voice sounding choked up as she remembered the first defendant she had ever seen in her life, Gregory Edgeworth's last.
"But…but that's…" Maya stumbled over her words.
"I know. It's possible some of the suspects were indeed innocent." Edgeworth said, his voice containing a hidden sadness for those who were innocent, something only Jasmine heard. "However, it is impossible for us to accurately determine that in every case. All von Karma does is his job, to find the suspect guilty, perfectly. In any case…it's nigh well impossible to find a weakness in him. Should a weakness appear, he would do everything in his power to make it go away."
"Um, Edgeworth?" Phoenix cut in. "If what you're saying is true, you're headed for a guilty sentence tomorrow!"
"H-he's right!" Maya cried as Jasmine bit her lip harder to control the shiver of fear that ran down her spine. "Now's no time to praise the enemy, Mr. Edgeworth!"
"Mmph…" Edgeworth mumbled, seeing the duo's point and noticing the fear in Jasmine's eyes as they met his own. In that moment, the prosecutor silently wished that whatever was causing her obvious insomnia and fear was something he could get rid of, if only to see her smile again. "It's a strange situation in which I find myself, I'll admit." Phoenix nodded in agreement as he and Maya both grabbed one of Jasmine's arms, though Phoenix let go after squeezing her arm once while Maya held on, both effective in bringing comfort to the aide. Phoenix slowly pulled out the letter and handed it to the prosecutor.
"Edgeworth…see this letter?" He said.
"Hmm?" Edgeworth mumbled as he took the letter. As he held it, Phoenix explained,
"This came out of the safe in the shack where that boat rental caretaker lives."
"I see…" Edgeworth nodded before he read the letter. "…! Revenge…one me?"
"Who is that old guy, anyway!?" Maya cried, frustrated, though she kept a steady hand on Jasmine.
"I…I don't know." Edgeworth admitted.
"Could he be an innocent defendant you got declared guilty or something?" Phoenix suggested.
"Nice, Wright. But I don't remember that old man. Not at all." Edgeworth shook his head.
"So, he was following this letter, then?" Maya asked.
"Which means there was someone else behind it!" Edgeworth and Jasmine said in unison, though Jasmine whispered it softly.
'Now is your time to get revenge on the two men who ruined your life!'
"Two men…meaning myself and Robert Hammond?" Edgeworth asked.
"It also says: 'This is your last chance!'" Maya added.
"Last chance…?" Phoenix repeated softly. "Wait, maybe…maybe he's talking about the statute of limitations on the DL-6 Incident!"
"…Wait…wait, that old man!" Edgeworth said.
"Wh-what is it!?" Maya asked as she saw both Jasmine and Edgeworth's eyes light up with an idea. "Do you know who he is!?"
"Yogi…" Jasmine whispered.
"Could he be Yogi!?" Edgeworth finished as the prosecutor met the aide's eyes.
"Yogi?" Maya repeated, looking from Jasmine to Edgeworth and back.
"The suspect in the DL-6 Incident. The one who was found innocent." Edgeworth elaborated. "Yanni Yogi was a court bailiff at the time. We just happened to be in that elevator together 15 years ago, Jasmine would have been with us as well, had the two of us not been separated. The quake was incredibly strong…Before I knew it, everything was dark. We were there for so long, it felt like forever. The air thinned…and the darkness closed in on us in that little box. We became…unsettled."
"H-help! I can't breathe!"
"Quiet! I said quiet! You're not making this any easier!"
"I want to get out! Help! Get us out!"
"Don't shout! You'll just use up more oxygen!"
"That's all I remember…" Edgeworth finished. "When I came to, I was in a hospital bed, staring up at the ceiling. The first thing I did was ask where my father and Jasmine were. The doctor and nurses told me about my father but they didn't know anything about Jasmine so I hoped she was safe." Neither Phoenix nor Maya noticed the light pink dusting Jasmine's cheeks as she heard that, Edgeworth didn't pay attention either, his eyes unfocused as he delved into the darkest part of his past, one he didn't know he shared with the aide in front of him. "In court, Yanni Yogi's mental condition was called into question. They claimed the oxygen deprivation and stress caused temporary insanity. In the end, the claim passed the court, and Yogi was found innocent."
"Huh…but isn't that strange?" Maya asked as she looked at the attorney, the prosecutor and the aide one at a time. "This letter tells him to 'get revenge on Edgeworth'…why would he want to take revenge on you?"
"…Wright." Edgeworth stated.
"Yeah?" Phoenix asked.
"There's something that's been troubling me these last few days. I…didn't know whether or not I should tell you." Edgeworth admitted.
"Miles, we were, and still are, your friends. You can always trust us." Jasmine said, her hand touching the glass again.
"You mean the nightmare?" Phoenix asked, his voice taking on a gentler tone, knowing this subject was just as hard as the last.
"…It's…a nightmare I've had. A memory of a crime…that I committed."
"A crime you committed?"
"A memory…of a murder."
"I think…I think the time has come to tell all." Edgeworth said, his hand unconsciously moving the slightest bit closer to the glass, as if he wanted to reach out and clasp Jasmine's hand in his own again, if only for courage. "For the last 15 years, I've had the same dream almost every night. I wake up in a fearful sweat, every time."
"What kind of dream?" Maya asked, concerned, while Jasmine's hand pressed completely onto the glass, where once it was simply her fingertips, it was now her entire hand.
"It's a dream about my father's killing…in the dark." Edgeworth explained.
"H-help! I can't breathe!"
"Quiet! I said quiet! You're not making this any easier!"
"I want to get out! Help! Get us out!"
"Don't shout! You'll just use up more oxygen!"
"I…I can't breathe! You…you're using up my air!"
"Wh-what!?"
"Stop breathing my air! I'll…I'll stop you!"
"Aaaah! Wh-what!? What are you…!?"
"Stop breathing my aaaaair!"
"He was attacking my father. Then I see the pistol lying by my feet. I don't know if it was evidence from that day in court, or the bailiff's…in a daze, I pick up the pistol…and I threw it."
Bang!
"Uuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!"
"And with that scream, I wake." Edgeworth finished. Jasmine's eyes were wide as she recalled her own dream from the night before. She had heard those words…she had heard that bang, the gun going off…she had heard that scream that echoed in her ears, even now…she must have fallen unconscious near the elevator and been close enough to hear…close enough to be even more of a witness… "It's a bone chilling scream. A scream that has rung in my ears for the past 15 years."
"…B-but…that's just a dream, right? Right?" Maya asked.
"…That thought is the only thing that has kept me sane for the last 15 years." Edgeworth admitted. Once again, Jasmine felt the guilt and regret push down on her. "But what if I'm wrong? What if it's real? They say that sometimes people shut out memories in self-defense. Maybe it was I who killed my father!"
"What!?" Maya cried.
"No!" Jasmine cried, her voice desperate.
"If you think about it that way, this letter makes sense." Edgeworth explained logically, though there was pain clear in his eyes. "'Get your revenge on Miles Edgeworth.' Think about it. Yogi was really innocent. That's why he wanted revenge against me!"
"Wait, Edgeworth! You…you mean…!" Phoenix stuttered, shocked.
"It was me. I was the true criminal of DL-6. I shot my father!" Edgeworth stated.
"This is bad…" Phoenix said, running a hand through his spikey hair.
"What are we going to do, Nick, Jazz? What can we do!?" Maya asked.
"I don't know…" Phoenix admitted. "I don't think there is anything we can do. Like it or not. If there's someone else who knows a lot about the DL-6 Incident, maybe…"
"…! There is Nick!" Maya grinned, "There is someone else who knows about DL-6, besides Jazz!"
"You two go, I need to talk to a couple people." Jasmine said. Nodding, the attorney and spirit medium left while the aide sat down. "Miles…there's something you need to know." Jasmine said as she spoke slowly, trying to keep herself from bursting out everything.
"What is it?" The prosecutor asked, not meeting her gaze.
"15 years ago…when we were separated, I…I looked for you when the earthquake struck." Jasmine explained, "I tripped and was knocked unconscious but I think…I was somewhere near the elevator where you and your father were trapped. I…I heard the conversation you remember and I woke up when the gun went off and heard that scream…"
"You…you did?" Edgeworth asked as he slowly turned to meet her eyes, only to find them closed as the images of that horrible, horrible day raced behind them. Jasmine nodded.
"Yes, but I don't think you killed your father…I…I saw someone else and the elevator opened…I watched that person kill your father before I ran…" She admitted.
"Do you know who it is?" Edgeworth asked. Jasmine shook her head.
"No…that's the one thing I can't remember, no matter how hard I try to." She whispered as tear began to fall down her cheeks. Edgeworth's hand pressed against the glass, trying to reach her but failing. "But I will remember and…and I'll save you with them."
"If you cannot, the memories you have will not win the case, you have no evidence." Edgeworth spoke softly.
"But Nick will, I know he will." Jasmine whispered. "And I know just the way to remember. Trust me…please." Edgeworth nodded as the aide opened her dark blue eyes to meet his and an unheard message shot between them before Jasmine wiped her tears away. "Officer, I would like to speak to another prisoner please." She requested.
"Alright, who would you like to see?" The officer asked.
"Jeff Master, sir." Jasmine requested, her voice steady despite the memories of the man racing through her mind.
When the white haired pastry chef was led inside and sat down, Jasmine took a deep breath and smiled.
"Hello, Mr. Master." She greeted.
"Hello, may I have the pleasure of knowing the name of the young woman who asked for me?" Jeff asked politely. Jasmine nodded,
"Of course. My name is Jasmine Wright, we met 16 years ago." Jeff stared at the young woman before his eyes widened.
"Little Jasmine? Mr. Edgeworth's apprentice?" He asked. Jasmine blushed and looked down.
"I never was his apprentice, but yes, it's me." She smiled as she slowly looked back up before her smile fell. "I'm sorry it took me so long to come see you again and that the last time we met, things didn't end well for you."
"No, it's alright, I'm still cooking, after all." Jeff smiled.
"Really?" Jasmine asked, surprised.
"Yes, the prisoners here love my chocolate and I have learned how to make it just as I used to." Jeff smiled, "Would you like some?"
"Yes please." Jasmine smiled as the chef passed some chocolate into the aide's hand. Slowly, she unwrapped the chocolate, knowing very well that this was why she requested to see him. She hoped he still had some chocolate and that it would do the one thing she had been trying to do for several days now. Taking a deep breath, she slipped the chocolate into her mouth and moaned at the sweet flavor when her eyes suddenly closed and memories overwhelmed her.
She heard the voices yelling from the elevator before the gunshot went off and the scream rang in her ears. Her eyes opened and she slowly pushed herself up to a sitting up position only to watch as the elevator doors opened and she saw Miles, Gregory and Yogi unconscious inside. She watched as the figure in front of the doors bent down and picked up the pistol at his feet and raised it at Gregory before the single gunshot went off, ringing in Jasmine's ears. Her eyes widened as she watched the blood spill out of Gregory's heart before her eyes raised and saw the face of…Manfred von Karma, grinning evilly in satisfaction.
Jasmine screamed as her eyes snapped open and she gasped for air.
"Jasmine, are you alright?" Jeff asked.
"Is everything okay, Ms.?" The officer asked at the same minute.
"Y-yes, I-I'm f-f-fine." Jasmine stuttered as sweat beaded down her forehead and she continued to gasp. "I-I have t-to g-g-g-go." With that said, the aide ran off, dialing her brother's number on her phone as she ran to the precinct. "N-N-Nick, m-meet me a-at the p-pr-precinct." She said. "I-I'm f-fine j-j-just meet m-me a-a-at the r-r-r-records r-room."
Jasmine ran into the precinct only to literally run into Maya and Phoenix.
"Whoa, Jazz! Slow down!" Maya cried as she grabbed the aide's arms to keep her from falling over.
"S-sorry." Jasmine stuttered. "Wh-wh-what did you f-f-f-find o-out?"
"von Karma wrote this letter." Phoenix answered, showing his younger sister said letter, causing her eyes to widen. "What'd you want to tell us?"
"L-l-let's g-go to t-the re-records r-room and I-I'll explain t-there." She answered. The duo nodded and led her into the room.
December 27th
Police Department
Records Room
"Dusty as always." Maya muttered as they entered.
"We were only here just yesterday. I'm sure they just haven't had time to clean…" Phoenix said.
"What's wrong, Nick?" Maya asked as the attorney fell silent, staring at his sister.
"Nothing. I was just noticing that he isn't here." Phoenix answered. "von Karma…" Jasmine cried out as she heard that name, stumbling back until she hit the wall and trembling violently as the attorney and spirit medium both grabbed her instantly to keep her on her feet.
"Jazz! Are you okay?" The two cried in unison.
"I-I-I'm f-f-fine. J-just g-give m-me a-a m-m-minute b-b-before I-I t-tell y-you w-what I-I n-n-need t-to t-tell y-y-y-you." Jasmine stuttered. The two nodded when Maya noticed something.
"Huh? One of the drawers here is open." She pointed out.
"Someone must have been looking in it recently." Phoenix stated as he kept his eyes on his panting twin while the spirit medium walked over to the drawer.
"The label says, 'Unsolved Cases: Evidence'." Maya read before she began to look through it.
"Hmm…'unsolved cases'?" Phoenix repeated.
"Nick! The file for DL-6…it's completely empty!" Maya cried.
"Wh-what!?" Phoenix cried as Jasmine, still hyperventilating, looked up with wide eyes.
"What are you doing in here!" A voice suddenly yelled, a voice that caused Jasmine to cry out and almost run into the wall again, had Phoenix not had a firm grip on her trembling form.
"Eeek! V-v-von Karma!" Maya cried in shock as she jumped back to clutch one of Phoenix's arm in fear from the sudden appearance of the veteran prosecutor.
"You…! …How do you know my name?" von Karma asked.
"Huh?" Maya asked, surprised.
"Have we met?" von Karma asked again.
"W-w-what are you saying!?" Maya cried, "We see each other every day, don't we? We're Miles Edgeworth's defense team!"
"Defense team…?" von Karma repeated. "Ahem. I beg your pardon, you see, I rarely remember defense attorneys. They are like bugs to me. Needless things that need to be crushed." The evil smile he wore was so similar to the one Jasmine remembered that she began to tremble harder, fear evident in her eyes.
"Uh, umm…Mr. Edgeworth was your student, right?" Maya asked, changing the subject.
"…A romanticist who could never shed that veneer of amateurism. Just like his father. Always second rate." von Karma stated.
"H-how dare you!" Jasmine cried angrily. "Miles and Mr. Edgeworth are first rate attorneys!" Before she could continue, Phoenix cut in,
"Mr. von Karma…you had an axe to grind with Mr. Gregory Edgeworth, didn't you?" Jasmine was seething at this point, glaring at the unknown murderer.
"Me? A grudge against a mere defense attorney? Why?" von Karma asked.
"Because he dealt a blow to your otherwise perfect trial record?" Phoenix answered, almost as if he were guessing.
"Hmph." von Karma mumbled as that evil smile spread across his face again, causing fear to fill Jasmine's eyes again.
"So you did…but what I don't get is…why did you take his son under your wing afterwards? The son of your most bitter rival?" Phoenix asked.
"…That, my dear attorney, is none of your business." von Karma answered. "Tomorrow will be the last day of this trial. It's been a while since I've had a defense attorney last this long. Still, you will lose in the end. Miles Edgeworth will admit his own guilt."
"His guilt of 15 years ago, you mean?" Phoenix asked as he raised an eyebrow.
"…You're quite the researcher. If you've done your homework so well, the certainly, you must understand." von Karma said, "You know what Miles Edgeworth will tell the court tomorrow." Jasmine continued to tremble as she tried to glare at the man she hated so much. Phoenix squeezed her arm, stopping her as he pulled out the letter and held it out to the veteran prosecutor.
"Mr. von Karma, have a look at this." He requested. von Karma read through the letter silently as Phoenix continued, "This was you, wasn't it? You instructed Yanni Yogi to commit murder."
"…Yanni Yogi…how many years has it been since I've heard him called by that name." von Karma said, "He's a fool. I told him to burn it after he read it."
"…! S-so you admit it!" Maya stuttered angrily. "You…you wrote Mr. Yogi this letter!"
"Yes, my dear defense attorney. Thank you for taking the trouble to bring it to me. You've saved me from a lot of needless hassle." von Karma said, that evil smile on his face looking more insane by the second. As he continued talking, Jasmine's stomach turned to ice and she felt dread filling her entire being alongside the fear that had already flooded her system.
"Wh-what!?" Phoenix cried.
"N-Nick! What is that thing!?" Maya cried as von Karma pulled an item out of his pocket.
"A stun gun. For self-defense…usually." Phoenix explained, dread filling his own voice.
"Indeed. 600,000 volts will course through your body like a dog touching an electric fence." von Karma explained.
"Six hundred thous…!?" Phoenix gasped.
"Oh, don't worry. People don't die from it, usually." von Karma said wickedly. "Now, give me the letter."
"Nooooooooooo!" Maya cried as she jumped onto von Karma.
"Whoa! What are you-!?" The veteran prosecutor cried in shock.
"N-Nick! Jazz! Run!" Maya yelled before the stun gun hit her and electricity coursed through her body. "Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!" She screamed before she fell to the ground.
"M-Maya!" Phoenix cried in fear as she landed on the ground while Jasmine froze.
"Out of my way!" von Karma cried before he shocked Phoenix.
"Waaaaaaaaaaaah!" Phoenix screamed before he, too, fell.
"No!" Jasmine shouted, finding her voice suddenly. She looked at the murderer in front of her in fear before she threatened, without even thinking, "Don't come any closer or I'll tell everyone tomorrow that you killed Mr. Edgeworth!"
"Then I guess you'll be useful." von Karma's smile was the sickest, most evil thing Jasmine had ever seen before he shocked her.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" She screamed before her world turned dark.
Electricity coursed through my body as every memory I had of DL-6 came to the forefront of my mind, playing over and over, as if it were trying to remind me for an infinite amount of time that I had failed to do anything for it for 15 long years, that I failed both Miles and Mr. Edgeworth by forgetting and that I failed to get von Karma his justice when he deserved it. It was like I couldn't remember everything else except those few horrific moments I witnessed with my own two eyes, watching as von Karma shot Mr. Edgeworth before I ran like the coward I was and always will be. I thought that class trial made me brave, that being around Nick, Miles and Larry made me the brave person I viewed myself as today. But now I can see that all I ever was, and all I'll ever be, is a cowardly girl who can't do anything to protect herself or those she cares for.
Jasmine opened her eyes to a dark room.
"W-where a-a-am I-I?" She stuttered as she twitched from the electricity still coursing through her.
"That isn't important." von Karma's voice, the voice that filled every nightmare she ever had, whether she realized it or not, spoke. "What is important is that you will testify tomorrow and declare Miles Edgeworth guilty of killing his father."
"A-a-and i-if I-I-I d-d-don't?" She asked, though she didn't sound brave at all. Instead, she sounded like the coward she truly was.
"Then both Edgeworth and your precious brother's careers will be ruined and they will both be arrested for murder while you simply disappear." von Karma threatened. Jasmine's eyes widened in fear at that.
I had no choice, it was either Miles is declared guilty or both Miles and Nick are ruined and arrested while I can do nothing because I will probably be dead. I couldn't let that happen and, as much as I hated this, I did the only thing I could do. Most people would call it brave.
Jasmine closed her eyes and whispered a single phrase.
"I'll do it."
I call it being the coward I know I am and always will be.
There's the chapter! I hope you guys enjoyed because it took me around 6 hours to write. The original idea for how von Karma figures out Jasmine knew he killed Gregory and Miles found out Jasmine was a witness to DL-6 was different but I thought this worked better. And Jeff Master is a character in AAI2 or PP (Prosecutor's Path), as I will now call it, and is Gregory's last client, the one he defended and lost the case for on the day he was killed. I figured that if anyone could create a trigger for Jasmine, it was his chocolate. Anyways, the ideas used belong to ShadowPhoenix34 (the trigger) and pyrosaurus X (the idea of Jasmine being a witness and being kidnapped which I have been planning to use for a long time now and once again thank you!) so thank you to you both for the great inspiration! If anyone else has an idea, I'll try to incorporate it somehow. Please review to let me know what you think and I'll do my best to update soon but no promises considering how long it takes to write one chapter, even if the next one will be slightly shorter. Later!