Chapter 3: Mysterious.

Date: June 1st, 2005 Time: 4:40 p.m.
Location: Train Station

"Promise you'll visit!" Maya said
"Absolutely." I said. "I'll visit often! You and Pearls!"
"Then we'll be a family!" Pearls exclaimed happily.
One step at a time Pearls. I thought. Besides I wasn't told about adopting them anyway!
I patted Pearl on the head and gave her a big hug.
"Goodbye Mr. Nick!" she said happily. But then her expression saddened, so did Maya's.
"Waaaaaahh!" Pearl cried. "I'm gonna miss you Mr. Nick!"
I gave her another hug.
"I'll miss you too Pearls." I said. "Don't worry, we'll work things out, you two will then live with me!"
Pearl's expression changed again to happiness.
"Yeah!" she said.
"Pearly, can you leave me and Nick alone for a sec?" Maya asked.
"Sure Mystic Maya!" she said, and walked away.

Maya looked up at me, teary eyed. I can tell this was hurting her on the inside, just like myself.
"Nick…" she started. "We've been through so much…It's hard to look now and see that things are changing…"
She's matured…I thought. She's not her happy-go-lucky self. She understands this change just as well as I do…
"I know Maya." I replied. "But don't worry! Things will work out; I'll make sure of it!"
She nodded, her expression unchanged.
"It's just that…" she said. "You've saved me so many times, and you saved our village a few times too. I'm going to miss being your assistant Nick…"
She then broke completely, and shattered in tears.
She ran into my arms and hugged me tightly.
"Oh Niiiick!" she shouted, crying. "I can't do it! I won't do it! I—"
I place my finger on her lips to silence her.
"Maya…" I started. "Why are you worried? Things are going to be different, yes, but it's not forever! Before you know it, I'll be waiting for you right here at the station, eager for your return."
She looked up at me.
"Really?" she asked. "You mean that?"
"Of course!" I said. "Besides, your pretty useless without me Maya…"
She pouted.
"Hmph!" she said in fake anger. "What about all those times I was right next to you during those tough cases huh? Where would you have been there?"
"Bah." I said. "You were just a spectator to my awesome lawyer skills."
She was really steaming now, but it was much better than her crying.
"'Awesome Layer Skills' huh?" she asked cheekily. "The only skills you got is asking Mia for help!"
Oh damn. I thought. So you do have your comebacks…
"That's it!" I said in fake anger. "I'm throwing you on the train!"
I picked her up and hoisted her on my shoulder.
"NICK!" she yelled. "PUT ME DOWN!"
"No!" I said. "Let's go! Your trains about to leave!"
"Grrraaaahh!" Maya shouted. "LET ME GO!" she struggled, waving her hands and legs about.
I finally put her down.
She turned to me, smiling.
"Thanks Nick." She said. "For everything."
She hugged me tightly one last time, and then watched the train arrive.
Pearl soon rejoined us a minute later.
They both walked on the train, and waved as the train pulled away
"Bye bye Mr. Nick!" Pearl called out.
I smiled and waved as the train moved further and further away. Then, the train turned the corner and it was gone.
Things are going to be different now…I thought. But now isn't the time to be sad. I gotta work to free Iris! Ace Attorney style!
I turned and walked to my car, planning ahead.

Okay, I exaggerated that after that moment with Iris, my life crumbled. But things weren't exactly as rosy as they could have been. Don't get me wrong, my cases never suffered, I continued to win, but there was one case that changed everything…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ One Year Later~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date: June 3rd, 2006 Time: 12:20 p.m.
Location: Courtroom 5

"OBJECTION!" I shouted. You unfortunately forgot about where the victim was killed! If the victim was killed here, (Pointing at a point in a picture of the crime scene) then that would have been impossible!"
"Ack!" Payne stammered.
I continued: "However, if Mr. Mandeloon was really where he says he was, than he wouldn't have known about the murder weapon! Care to confess Mr. Mandeloon?"
Mr. Mandeloon clammed up, and then fainted.
"Mr. Payne, where is the witness now?" the judge asked.
"He-He has been arrested on charge of murder." Payne replied.
The Judge nodded. "Well I guess that leaves no doubt left, at least in my mind.
I hearby find the defendant, Mr. Larry Butz-
Sigh. I thought. Larry why always you?

NOT GUILTY

Cheers soon followed the verdict. Before exiting the courtroom, the bailiff stopped me.
"The Judge would like to speak with you." The bailiff said.
I nodded. "Understood."
So I waited for the Judge to leave his high table. (Whatever you call it)
"Mr. Wright!" the judge called.
"Your honor!" I replied.
"Great news, Mr. Wright." The judge said. "Near the end of this year, Iris Hawthrone will be released!"
I nearly jumped 5 feet into the air.
"Really!" I asked, dumbfounded. "So quick?"
"Well Mr. Edgeworth is working on this sentence too now." The judge said.
"Really?" I asked. "He didn't tell me about that."
"NICK!" Larry ran into the courtroom and hugged me from behind. "Thank you man! I owe you one!"
"Don't...mention it." I replied.
"Well, I must be going." The judge said. "I have another case to preside over. It's going to be quite a fight in that next case.
"Oh?" I asked. "Who are the attorneys?"
"Well, prosecuting is going to be Miles Edgeworth." The judge said. "While on the other side is Kristoph Gavin."
"Kristoph Gavin?" I asked.
"You don't know him?" the judge asked. "He's one of the top defense attorneys in the country!"
Sorry, I haven't really kept up with news of other defense attorneys…
"He's a pleasant man." The judge said. "Very talented, and he makes sure his clients get off not guilty, just like you."
"Sounds very dedicated." I said.
"Absolutely!" he said. "I have an idea, since he's been around for a while, how about you and your friend watch the trial? It starts in an hour."
Hmmm. Maybe pick up some pointers from a veteran, not a bad idea…I thought.
"What do you think Lar—ry?" I asked turning. He was gone.
"Sounds like a great idea!" I said. I'll find a seat, but first I'll visit Iris."
The judge nodded. "You know, I can arrange to have the young nun watch the trial too, because Mr. Edgeworth is her chaperone until her sentence is finished."
"Really!" I asked, excited. "That would be great!"
"Then it's settled." The judge said. "I'll arrange for you to join police in escorting her to the courtroom."
"Great!" I said happily. "I'll head down to the detention center right away!"
"And I will see you in Courtroom 4!" the judge said. "Goodbye Mr. Wright!"
He turned and left.
Ok. I thought. To the detention center!

Date: June 3rd, 2006 Time: 12:30 p.m.
Location: Detention Center

"Feenie!" Iris exclaimed. "Is what I'm hearing true?" I get to watch a trial with you?"
"Yes it is!" I replied. "I'm just waiting for the guards to arrive."
Lo and Behold, they arrived a moment later.
"Ms. Iris Hawthorne," One guard said. "We will escort you to Courtroom 4."
Iris nodded. "I understand."
"I'll see you there Iris!" I said.
"You too, Feenie." She said.

Date: June 3rd, 2006 Time: 12:50 p.m.
Location: Courtroom 4

"Iris!" I called to her.
She turned around, and squeaked joyously
"Feenie!" she shouted, and ran into my arms.
I hugged her tightly. It's been so long…Rissy…
"It's been too long…Rissy." I said.
She blushed. "Yes Feenie…I missed you."

I couldn't believe that Iris was finally in my arms, after over a year, even if it was just for a little while, it was the greatest feeling in the world. We were also having trouble keeping control of ourselves…
Iris kissed my neck, and that set me off. I then started planting kisses down her neck and onto her cheek. We're moving very fast…But then I realized where we were….
"Iris…" I started. "As much as I want to continue this…The trial starts in a few minutes, people are going to start flooding in here…"
Iris quickly realized the situation, and blushed darkly.
"Ohhh." She said. "Sorry Feenie…"
Don't apologize…I thought. That felt great! But we just saw each other and…Augh! I'll worry about that later!
"No no! Don't apologize." I said. "Let's just find some seats…"
Soon we got settled in, and people quickly streamed in. Soon the courtroom was full, and both attorneys had taken their places.

"Let us begin, shall we?" the judge said. "Court is now in session for the trial of a Ms. Miranda Fey…"
My head quickly snapped to the defendant. Fey! What? Someone from Kurain!
I looked at Iris, who looked astonished too.
"Iris." I whispered. "Do you know her?"
"Not at all." She whispered back. "It's very peculiar and a coincidence that we find the trial with someone from whom we have associated with…"
She hit the nail on the head there… I thought. Miranda Fey? I'm going to have to call Maya after this and ask her if she knows…Anyway, back to the trial…
"Prosecution, your opening statements?" the Judge asked.
"The defendant, Ms. Miranda Fey…" Edgeworth started. "Has been accused of stealing precious artifacts from her home village, Kurain Village…"
I looked at Iris again, and she looked back at me, confused.
Artifacts? I thought. Aren't most of the artifacts in that museum run by Adrian Andrews?
"Some priceless scrolls, passwords to bank accounts…"
Bank accounts? I thought. I know they have funds, but why steal…Unless they are rich. That means they're hiding something?

"Trust me." Kristoph Gavin finally spoke. "By the end of this trial, Ms. Fey here will be free of all this conjecture."
"What!" Edgeworth angrily spat. "The trial just started! You can't just-!"
"Nervous Edgeworth?" Gavin replied with a smile.
The judge slammed his gavel.
"That's enough!" the judge said. "Is that all the prosecution's opening statements?"
"Not quite, your honor." Edgeworth replied. He continued: "She has also stolen the Shichishito…"
What! I thought. The Shichishito! Shouldn't that be in the evidence room!
"The Shichishito?" the judge asked. "Isn't that evidence from one of our last cases? Why isn't that in the evidence room?"
"The Elders of Kurain village has argued that the Shichishito is owned by Kurain, and that weapon is part of their culture." Edgeworth said. "The Police Department agreed to return it to the village as long as they quit bothering them."

This is much to swallow so fast…I thought. So another mystery? Kurain is never just idle and meditates all day? Jeez…
Iris looked at me.
"Feenie." She whispered. "I feel uneasy…"
"Why's that Iris?" I whispered back.
"That man…" she directed me to Gavin. "He has this dark…Almost evil aura around him…"
Now that she mentions it…I feel a little uneasy too…

Little did I know, that that man would nearly destroy my life.

One thing, last chapter, when I said "My life would crumble from there." Or something, that was a bit premature. I'm sorry about that, I added it for dramatic effect and that nearly screwed up my next chapter... :\