Made some minor changes in this one. I am a bit confused. People were saying that they liked the new Chapter 1 much better than the old one... but it was the SAME EXACT CHAPTER. Huh.

Ugh, finals. Finished biology, world geography, P.E, and Spanish... just math and English left. No final for band, because my teacher is lazy. (I never want to see him wear shorts again... -shudders-) Not to mention my stalker ex-boyfriend, who's constantly telling my friends what a bitch I am and how he's going to commit suicide on my birthday. How lovely.

All right. Thanks for all of the lovely reviews. I've been trying to juggle my time with this, and I want to acknowledge your support throughout this whole thing. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

By the way, floofehone and simimaelian did fanart for me. -squeals- Unfortunately, doesn't allow links, so I'll just give a general description.

Chapter 1 hairbrush dialogue thing (it's a close-up Miles and Phoenix): simimaelian.deviantart

Chapter 15 trial comic thing (featuring Maya, Larry, Phoenix, and Miles): Um, go to community.livejournal/narumitsu... it should still be on the front page, but if not, click "Previous 20".

Again, enjoy!

Chapter 2

March 6

12:05 P.M.

Burger Joint

As Pearl and Edgeworth entered the restaurant, the aforementioned prosecutor sighed slightly. He didn't know why he was doing this, and with Wright, of all people. The only one who had ever defeated him in court. Not that he cared as much about winning. His abrupt departure a year ago had been good for him, and he had learned much about himself.

Maya paused in her eating as the two approached the booth. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she started poking Phoenix insistently. As he turned around, rubbing his shoulder, Pearl noticed a strange flash of... something in his eyes, which was quickly disguised by a mix of irritation and friendliness.

"Edgeworth! What are you - " He was cut off by Edgeworth's raised hand.

"Calm down, Wright. I was invited by this young lady here, and I might as well enjoy a free meal on your tab."

"Hey, what?!" Phoenix cried, but Edgeworth had already squeezed his way into the small booth, followed by Pearl. Sandwiched between a ravenous Maya and a smirking Edgeworth, Phoenix had to admit to himself that this was not the best of days.

"Don't look so dismayed, Wright," commented Edgeworth, helping himself to a French fry from the heaping plate. "If you are truly approaching bankruptcy, then I suppose I could allow you to mow my front lawn once in a while. It's common for those in need of money to do such things."

Phoenix would have slammed a hand on the table, but his arms were pinned to his sides.

"Don't say it like you're offering me a big favor, Edgeworth. It's not like I have to borrow money from the bank to pay for a meal."

Maya paused again, cheeks bulging.

"But Nick, didn't you say - "

"That's enough out of you!" Phoenix interrupted hastily. Edgeworth raised an eyebrow delicately, but abstained from commenting. Interactions with Phoenix Wright never failed to amuse him. Lately, he had been spending more time with his old friend than he used to, strange though it was to him. Shaking the thought out of his head, he finished eating his lunch and dabbed his mouth with a napkin.

"Well, Wright, as enjoyable as your company is, I have other things to do, and I must be off." Pearl slid out of her seat to let him pass, and he gave a slight wave as he walked out the door. Maya and Phoenix stared after him.

"Did he just say that your company was... enjoyable?"

"Yeah, I think so," Phoenix replied, a bit dazed. He couldn't help but swell a bit at the compliment, even though Edgeworth was probably being sarcastic, or else beating his head on the wall for letting something like that slip. Maybe their friendship could be salvaged...

Maya shoved the last bit of burger into her mouth.

"Oh! I forgot to invite Mr. Edgeworth to my nineteenth birthday celebration! I knew there was somebody I had left off the list! Can we go over to his house, Nick? Pleeeeeeeease?" She looked at her friend with large, innocent eyes and pouted slightly. Pearl smiled at her cousin's behavior.

"I suppose," Phoenix gave in with a sigh.

March 6

1:00 P.M.

Miles Edgeworth's House

Edgeworth stared at the company assembled on his doorstep.

"One would think that you desired to remain in my company, Wright. Unfortunately, I must ask that you leave. I am a bit busy."

Phoenix flushed slightly, while Maya smiled cheerfully.

"Mr. Edgeworth, it's not like that! I just wanted to ask you if you would come to my birthday celebration next Saturday. Although I'm sure Nick wouldn't mind spending time with you, either. You're his friend, after all. Right, Pearly?"

Pearl nodded solemnly.

"He was very upset while you were gone, Mr. Edgeworth," she affirmed. Phoenix clapped his hands over their mouths, very red in the face.

"So, um, that's all we wanted to know," he chuckled, embarrassed.

"Hmm." Miles Edgeworth was, for once, at a loss. He was not accustomed to social gatherings, and to think that he had been willingly invited... it was strange, to say the least. Not to mention Pearl's comment...

"I suppose I could stop by," he decided. "I don't believe I have any prior engagements. Just promise me that if Larry was invited, tell him to refrain from bringing that cheap alcohol of his. We don't need everyone getting drunk... least of all you, Wright."

"Can we please let that incident drop?" Phoenix muttered.

"When it makes for such good conversation? Please, Wright. Unless you outdo yourself, which you undoubtedly will, I hardly believe that anyone will let that memory slip."

"Gaah..." Phoenix, now completely humiliated, clenched his hands in his hair. Why must Edgeworth have such biting wit, while he, Phoenix Wright, tended to scrabble frantically for a comeback? Glaring at the other man only made him chuckle.

"Well, I suppose I shall be seeing you around, Wright. If you wish to visit any further, it will have to wait until Monday. Be sure to let me know it you are in need of a hairbrush." With those parting words, Edgeworth closed the door. Maya and Pearl looked up at Phoenix, curious about the incident that Edgeworth had spoken of, but they sensed that now was not the best time to bring that subject up.

March 8

3:00 P.M.

High Prosecutor's Office

"Here." Phoenix dropped a thick stack of files on his friend's desk. "You told me to bring these over. Mission accomplished."

Edgeworth, needless to say, was a bit surprised at Wright's abrupt intrusion, but he quickly composed himself.

"I could say more for the presentation, Wright."

"Ah, be quiet. At least I brought them on time. Anything else you need while I'm running around?"

"No, that will do," replied Edgeworth. "My thanks."

They were interrupted by a tentative knock at the door. Maya rushed over to answer it.

"Mr. Edgeworth?" A girl with a white jacket, white sunglasses with unusually pink lenses, and a large shoulder bag strode into the room purposefully. "Lana wants to ask you if - oh, sorry. I'll come back later."

"No, that's okay," assured Phoenix. "We were just about to leave anyway." He turned to Maya and Pearl. "This is Ema Skye. She's a scientific investigator. Ema, these are my assistants, Maya and Pearl Fey. They're spirit mediums."

"Wow! Really?" Ema pushed her glasses up onto her forehead. "It's very nice to meet you! Oh, right!" She looked over at Edgeworth, who was drumming his fingers on his desk impatiently. "Lana wanted to know if you had the TW-7 file."

"Ah, yes." Edgeworth walked over to a shelf and removed the hefty file. "Take this to Ms. Skye, and give her my regards."

"Will do, sir!" Ema started to leave, but she turned and addressed the other two girls. "You wanna come along?"

Maya smiled.

"Sure! See you later, Nick! Come on, Pearly!"

They exited the room, the door swinging shut behind them.

"So, how old are you, Ema?" inquired Maya.

"I'm seventeen. And you?"

"Oh, I'm turning nineteen in a few days. Pearly here is nine." They walked in silence for a while. "So who is this "Lana" you kept talking about?"

A sparkle came into Ema's already bright eyes at the mention of Lana.

"She's my older sister, and the Chief Prosecutor."

"Wow." Maya nodded, impressed. Pearl looked a bit confused, but listened politely.

"Mr. Wright defended her in a huge case last year."

"WHAT?! He never told me about this! I'm going to kill him!" Maya ground her fist into her other hand.

"Haha, don't worry. I'm sure he'll tell you; he probably forgot."

Pearl finally spoke.

"So, do you see Mr. Edgeworth a lot?"

Ema smiled at the younger girl, nearly dropping her file in the process.

"Maybe a couple of times per week. Lana often sends me to help him. Although..." she paused, "he's been acting... a bit off lately."

"What do you mean?" asked Maya, concerned.

"Well... he stops working a lot, and just stares off into space for a few seconds. Sometimes he works on a picture, or maybe a letter or something, when he thinks I'm not looking. If I ask, he pretends that he doesn't know what I'm talking about."

"Hmm. Nick seems strange lately also. I wonder if they're sick?" Maya rubbed her chin, deep in thought.

"It's a-a misty-rey!" exclaimed Pearl, determination flashing in her eyes.

"I suppose it is a mystery," said Ema. "They may be suffering from the same thing, and... I guess it's up to us to figure out what!"

"All right!" grinned Maya. "Let's get to the bottom of this!"