This chapter is slightly different with the way I've written it. Basically, I'm trying to catch everyone up with the month that has passed by since the day Apollo was found innocent. Even though this took me a long time to write out, I actually kind of don't mind it. But anyway, hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Ace Attorney series characters!

Chapter 16 – Turnabout Perspectives

? ~

Secrets. In the rarest cases, they're necessary and help maintain relationships. But most of the time, they are the cause for relationships to break apart. I fear that…the latter is the case when it comes to me. Life has been one huge secret for me, it seems. They're such hard things to carry in one's mind and heart. A heavy burden. I wish to be released of it, but fear…it has a strong hold upon my already weak heart.

I need to fight against this crippling fear, make it release its grip on my heart, so that I may confess to those who I care about deeply. I know I must do this soon, for my time is limited. I consider myself quite lucky to even be here now, the way I am.

I was released from the darkness, only to be slowly consumed by it. Before it swallows me whole, I must bring the truth into the light.

Miles Edgeworth ~

Even after a month, that man remains missing in action. I fear that he has long left the city, probably laughing at his victory of having escaped from the law. To think a murderer is living outside of prison…it makes my blood boil.

I paid a random visit to the Wright Anything Agency not too long ago, but only Trucy was there. I have to say, it was rather odd, seeing her there all by herself. Usually, one of the three lawyers are there, if not all of them. I have seen Wright recently, however. He seemed a bit…closed off, I believe would be the correct way to put it. He's acting rather suspicious too, but I didn't bother to ask him what was going on. Perhaps I should've?

No. I'm sure whatever it is that's bothering him, he'll be able to deal with it. I shouldn't pry into his personal matters anyway, especially with everything I already have to worry about. A criminal on the run, botched autopsy reports, and all of the other crimes that have been occurring. When will this madness end?! I would like to say soon; however, that would be a blatant lie.

It is far from over.

Kay Faraday ~

I may not show it on the outside, but I am just as angry as Mr. Edgeworth is that there's a murderer still on the loose. I can't believe he could've slipped under our noses! But then again, it's really the fault of Officer Meekins. Seriously? Why is that guy still working at the police office?! He could barely handle being the Blue Badger at Gatewater Land!

In other news, I haven't seen Athena or Trucy for a while. I was kind of hoping I'd run into them. Mr. Edgeworth sure could use a distraction. He's getting more frowny-faced than normal, and I'm worried he's only going to develop more lines on his forehead. He has more than enough of them already! And what better distraction than a date?! Although, I've gotta say, he's proven to be very difficult to find a compatible person for.

I thought maybe Serena might be a good candidate, but according to Athena, their personality types are 99.99% incompatible, and Trucy told me that she isn't looking for a relationship right now anyway, so there goes that idea. I've been trying to find someone who's just like Mr. Edgeworth. We tried the opposites attract method, and obviously, that's failed. Maybe he might be attracted to a woman who's just like him.

…Maybe.

Athena Cykes ~

Iris's upset. Apollo's upset. Mr. Wright's upset. Trucy's upset. I'm upset. The once safe, happy haven that is the Wright Anything Agency has become a place that I quite honestly dread going to everyday. Sometimes I debate whether I should just make up an excuse and try to avoid coming here sometimes, but…I just can't do it.

I've been trying to put on a brave face. I really am, especially in front of Simon. I don't want him to know that I'm really anxious about this whole issue. He's already got enough to worry about anyway. He doesn't need this.

I want to say that I'm glad that no one says much when we're in the office, save for Trucy (although despite how hard she tries to hide it, I can faintly hear the discord in her heart). Because I know…if everyone spoke up, I'd be able to hear all of the rampant, conflicting emotions…and quite frankly, I don't think I can handle it. I can't even handle the silence that consumes the office, even when we're all there. It's suffocating and yet, it's also saving me.

Saving me from hearing what's really inside everyone's hearts.

Simon Blackquill ~

I don't need to look at Widget to know that Athena is troubled. She tries to hide it from me, but she doesn't realize how well I know her. Almost better than I know myself to be honest. She hasn't been talking much about what goes on at the office, and she's been quite gloomy lately.

It's driving me insane. She is not the kind of girl who should be so upset and worrying. Also, she's usually quite skilled at masking her emotions, but it seems that the situation has reached the point where she can't even hold it in anymore. She's almost beginning to remind me more of the young Athena I met so long ago.

That thought terrifies me. She has come such a long way to be the person she is today. She's the sunshine that came to help emit her rays of light on the Dark Age of the Law, and…she's the warm light that unfroze my cold, isolated heart. She saved me. Now, I want to save her.

I've been trying my very best to distract her, to engage her in activities which couples involve themselves. Of course, this has proven to be quite difficult for me. I don't exactly have a good handle on this whole 'boyfriend' thing, and I don't who to ask advice for. I can't ask Wright-dono, because he is apparently, as Athena had put it, 'the worst boyfriend ever,' although I think she might be being a little too harsh. Chief Prosecutor is out of the question (quite frankly, I'm positive I know much more than he does when it comes to these kinds of matters).

And then there's that glimmerous fop, Gavin. He's probably the one person I could ask who'd provide me with some useful information, but I refuse to ask him. That would make me seem desperate, and I don't want him of all people to think that, although that isn't far from the truth. I am desperate.

Desperate to see her happy once more.

? ~

I should probably feel bad. Guilty, like an awful person, for what I'm doing, and you know? I kind of do. Kind of. 1% of me feels guilty, but then I remember that I shouldn't feel guilty at all. Why should I be? I'm doing this for myself. I don't need to be concerned about how she feels or will feel. Whether she likes it or not is no concern of mine. All I need to do is follow the instructions I've been given...

And I'll be greatly rewarded.

Iris Fey ~

I've been going to the Wright Anything Agency less and less. I can't face him. Feenie…

I wish I knew what was going on. Ever since that day he yelled at me, I sort of stopped talking to him, and him, me. He's so different. He's guarded and secretive. He's certainly not the same Feenie he was when we met in college, but…I didn't expect him to have changed so much.

Maybe I was being too naïve, to think we could even try to go back to what we were so long ago. Maybe we aren't meant to be together, despite my heart's protest otherwise. Maybe he's realized we aren't meant to be together too, and that's why he's distancing himself from me. Yeah, that's probably it, but I hope it isn't.

I was finally beginning to feel comfortable being at the Wright Anything Agency. It was awkward when I first starting dating Feenie again. I felt rather out of place, but everyone welcomed me with open arms. They accepted me. Even if things remain the way they are now, I'll never forget that feeling. I still have a couple of months before I begin my classes at the university. I'm considering whether I should go stay at Hazakura Temple until then, given how the situation is here in the city right now. I don't want to leave, though. What I want to do is run back to Feenie and apologize. For what, I don't know.

I just want him to hold me in his arms, to wipe the tears I've cried every night since that day…to kiss me, to say he loves me, and to tell me…despite the way I feel…

Everything will be alright.

? ~

Things are very strange around here. I don't know what it is. I feel like I'm being surrounded by something…evil. Some kind of conspiracy. I don't understand why though. Maybe it's just my paranoia getting to me, but…I can't get rid of the feeling, like something huge is going to happen. But one thing's for sure. Whatever it is…

I'm not going to like it. Not one bit.

Juniper Woods ~

I don't need to be at the Wright Anything Agency to feel the tension that exists there. I can see it Apollo's eyes. I wish there was something I can do, some way I could bring everyone back together again. I know Apollo's secret, what he's been hiding from the others. Personally, I think he should tell them too, and I even suggested the idea once, but he refused. Why? Because he didn't want them to feel rejected, but for someone with strong, perceptive eyes, he can blind to some of the most obvious things. I don't think they'd feel rejected if they knew. Rather, they probably feel rejected now, given the way he's been acting around them. But I don't say anything to him anymore. Because I know, when the time is right…

Apollo will tell them.

Apollo Justice ~

Family. Not something I can say I know much about. It wasn't even something I thought of much. Not until recently. I've been here at the Wright Anything Agency for almost two years now. I can still remember the first time I walked in here, back when it was the Wright Talent Agency. I was pretty skeptical of the place, not to mention the people there. But…it's grown on me. They've grown on me. It's nice to be in a place where you feel like you belong. Like you were meant to be there.

Like you're a part of a family.

But now, it seems like as the days go on, this family is falling apart, and it's partially my fault. Family members shouldn't keep secrets from each other, and I am, but so is Mr. Wright. I would tell them. I want to tell them, but…I don't want to hurt them. I don't want them to feel bad or guilty. I wish I knew what to do, but I don't.

I sometimes wonder what Clay would do if he were ever in this situation. How would he handle something like this? When I think that way, though, I know one thing: he wouldn't have kept the whole thing a secret. From the very beginning, he would've told everyone about it, unlike me. These are those moments when I miss him the most. But Juniper's by side always, so that's comforting. I'm shocked she hasn't broken up with me, after knowing what's been going on in my crazy life. I know she doesn't fully understand my situation, but I appreciate that she's trying.

She's the only one who knows my hidden agenda.

? ~

I love her. Yes, I can confirm this fact. I have no doubts whatsoever. I love her. She's the one for me, I just know, even if she doesn't. She'll realize it eventually though. She's just holding herself back. I can tell she loves me too, the way she acts around me. She just doesn't understand how she feels towards me. But no problem, for I shall confess my love to her, and she will do the same and thank me for making her see the light. And then…

We will live happily ever after.

Phoenix Wright ~

There have been so many cases to handle this past month, it's crazy! So crazy that Athena, Apollo and I are each handling our own cases. Ever since Apollo's trial, we haven't worked together on a single case, which was quite the rare occurrence, but now, it's part of the norm. I'm to blame for this, I know that.

Apollo and I haven't had a normal conversation with each other ever since Athena and I got him his not guilty verdict. He's keeping a secret from us, just as I'm keeping a secret from everyone too. I want to talk to him, I really do, but I just can't look him in the eye without having guilt consuming me. He has changed though. Heh. Usually, he's the loudest one at the office, practicing his Chords of Steel here because he got too many complaints from his neighbors. He doesn't anymore. He barely says anything at all, unless it has to do with a case.

Then there's Athena. She's onto me, I can tell. She secretly gives me these looks, all of which say basically the same thing: you're hiding something from us. I act like I don't notice them. I deserve them, after all. I'm surprised, though, that she hasn't badgered me about the matter. It's…not like her to leave something like that alone. I guess she must've realized that I won't tell her, despite how much she'll try. Honestly, I wish she did ask me. To know she's given up so quickly, it's almost frightening.

Iris hasn't come to the office in a while. I feel awful for yelling at her that day. We haven't spoken to each other since. She doesn't deserve a guy like me, who yells at her for no reason and keeps things from her. She deserves someone better. However, she might be the only person who I can talk to about this, but I don't know if I want to take that chance. What if I tell her, and she hates me for it? No…I don't want her to hate me, if she doesn't already.

And finally, Trucy, my little girl…I never hide anything from Trucy, and she doesn't hide anything from me either. She appears to be the least affected by my secretiveness, but she can't fool her father. I know, deep down, she's worried, but I can't do anything to change that. At least, I can do anything easy to change that. The easiest option would be for me to reveal everything to her, but that's too complicated.

I'm a horrible boss to Athena and Apollo, a bad boyfriend to Iris, and worse of all, a terrible father to Trucy.

I can't tell anyone. Especially not them. They'll never forgive me for this. None of them would. I just know it. They'll accuse me of betraying them, for lying to them. I wish I hadn't gotten myself involved in this. I should've said no. I should've refused, but…I couldn't help myself. Now I'm in too deep to back out. Every night, I ask myself the same question: "Why am I doing this?" Most of the time, I regret it.

But sometimes, I don't.

? ~

Revenge. A seven letter word; the source of motivation for me to stay alive and sane. Hmph. They think they've stopped me, that I'm not able to do anything where I am now. How wrong they are. They don't see what I've got in store for them. I will complete my mission. I will succeed, and no one shall stop me, no matter how much they try. From the information I've been given, my plan is working quite well. At this rate, I am sure that I will ruin her life and his life too.

I will ruin them all, just as they ruined me.

Trucy Wright ~

Things seem…strained, in the Wright Anything Agency. But maybe that's because everyone here has had case after case to take care of. Polly is uncharacteristically quiet, Athena isn't in her usual high-spirits, and Daddy…Daddy's hiding something. Not just from all of us, but more importantly, from me. What could it be? I don't understand why he would want to keep something from me. We always share our secrets with each other. When I asked him about what was bothering him recently, he first tried to deny it, but…I could perceive it, his apprehension. When I asked him a second time, he said he really didn't want to talk about it, and that everything was fine. He's keeping a secret.

And I don't know what's going on with him and Iris. I thought their relationship was going great! But now…they barely talk to each other, and she barely comes around to the office anymore. She's still very nice to me and Athena and Polly, but…she doesn't say a word to Daddy, and he doesn't say anything to her either. It's like they don't exist to each other.

But what's worst of all…is that it seems like we're all growing apart from each other. I remember the times when we'd all just sit in the office lobby, watching movies together or playing games. And when I'd drag everyone to sit down and watch me practice my magic. It didn't matter what we were doing, only that we were doing it together. But now, everyone's been going their separate ways. I've found myself at the office, all alone. I'm not scared of being alone in the office, but…still.

I keep putting on a smile for everyone though. I don't want anyone to know how I'm really feeling. Maybe this is conceited of me to think this, but I can't help but feel like I'm the one who keeps everyone together. The glue that holds the pieces of Wright Anything Agency together. I need to make sure we all stay close, but my efforts don't seem to be working.

I usually look forward to having magic shows to perform, but I don't have one scheduled anytime soon, and honestly, I'm actually really glad. Why, you ask? Because I feel like the magic at the Wright Anything Agency…has disappeared. And what breaks my heart is…

I don't know how to bring it back.

Yeah, so I thought I'd tried writing the perspectives of the characters, although looking back on it now, I'm not sure how well I did. I guess I can leave you guys to judge my work. But I hope you liked it. Feel free to leave a review or private message me. Thanks!