"What is wrong with you woman?"
"What's wrong with me? Good sir, I am your wife and you should know better than to speak in such a manner!"
"Don't talk to me like I'm your child! Not that you're any better with her!"
"How dare you?"
Pearl poked her head around the corner of the wall, watching her parents fight again. This wasn't the first or even the third time this had happened, much to her dismay.
Dahlia stepped up behind her baby sister and put and hand on her shoulder.
"Hey Pearly," she whispered. "Again, huh?"
Pearl nodded her head solemnly. "I don't like it."
"Yeah, I know. It's tough," Dahlia said. "Would you like me to get Dylan? She always makes you feel better."
"Yes, please," Pearl said.
"Alright, come on," Dahlia said.
"I don't like him, Da," Pearl said. "Is that bad?"
"Who?" Dahlia said.
"Daddy," Pearl said. "He's mean to Mama. Just because she's not the Master."
Dahlia knelt down and hugged her sister. "It's okay Pearly. I don't like my dad either. Dad and she who shall not be named."
"Voldemort?" Pearl gasped.
"No, and how do you know about Voldemort?" Dahlia said.
"Mystic Maya," Pearl said.
"Of course," Dahlia said.
"I think… Daddy is going to leave," Pearl said glumly.
"Yeah, that might happen," Dahlia said, not wanting to mask what she knew was true. "But don't worry about it."
"Why did he marry Mama in the first place?" Pearl said. "Mystic Mia said that when you meet your special someone, you can tell when they're the one and you stay with them forever. Why did Daddy change his mind?"
"It's hard to explain," Dahlia said. "Just understand that there are some men that don't think about love when they marry. And Mother can be a little gullible."
"Don't think about love when they marry?" Pearl said. "But that's what marriage is all about. I can't believe Daddy would be so misguided and foolish."
"Those are some big words… that you got from my diary, right?" Dahlia said.
"Mystic Maya helped," Pearl said.
Dahlia shook her head, smiling. "And they say I'm the one messing you up."
"I needed help," Pearl said. "I'm 2."
"And adorable," Dahlia said.
"There's Dylan!" Pearl said, pointing down the hallway. She picked up the doll and pointed it forward. "Dylan, use water gun on Daddy."
Dahlia covered her mouth with her hand. "Aw."
"What?" Pearl said, tilting her head curiously.
She began to wonder if Pearl could get any cuter.
Pearl opened mouth wide to yawn. A squeak came out.
Dahlia lifted her sister. "You're so cute."
"Tee hee," Pearl smiled.
"Come on Pearly," Dahlia said. "Time for you to sleep. You've had a bust day so far."
"I'm not tired," Pearl said.
"They never are," Dahlia said, laying her down in her crib. "But you'll have sweet dreams anyway."
"I will?" Pearl said.
"Only one way to find out," Dahlia turned off the lights and stepped out I'd the bedroom.
Dahlia purposefully strode down the hall. Anyone who'd ever met her knew she had her game face on. She turned the corner and entered the living room to find her stepfather alone.
"Hi Dahlia," he looked at her face. "I guess you've got something to say to me too."
"You're leaving, right?" Dahlia said.
"And we get right to the point," he sighed.
"You're leaving Pearly," Dahlia said.
"Look Dahlia, I'm not leaving because of Pearl," her stepfather said. "Actually, it's because of her that I didn't leave sooner. I know how you feel, so I know you won't mind me saying it's because if your mother."
"My mother has nothing to do with your selfishness," Dahlia said. "You never take care of Pearly."
"I take care of her," he said. "In fact, I'll come back for her."
"See, you're being selfish again," Dahlia said. "Kurain Village is all Pearl knows. So you're just going to waltz back in here and rip her away from her entire world?"
"What do you want me to say?" The caramel haired father said. "How am I supposed to make it up to you?"
"To me?" Dahlia said incredulously.
"To Pearl," he corrected.
"Why don't you just stay here?" Dahlia said.
"Pearl would be better off without me," her stepfather said. "And she has you."
Dahlia put her head down. "Not for much longer."
"I'm sorry, but it's okay for you to leave? But not me?" Her stepfather said.
"The difference is I'll be coming back," Dahlia said. "Once you leave, you're gone. I will never abandon Pearly. We're Feys."
"Well," her stepfather said. "If that's enough, than I'll be leaving tomorrow. We both know Pearl never came to like me, she's not going to miss me. If we ever see each other again, I highly doubt she'll recognize me. So this is good bye Dahlia. I don't know what you plan on doing, but I sincerely hope you do."
Overcome by rage towards the insufferable man in front of, she slapped her stepfather and stomped out of the room.
In the kitchen, Morgan was preparing tea. She turned around. "Hello, Dahlia."
"Mother," Dahlia said stoically.
"Do you need something? Is Pearl okay?" Morgan said.
"Pearly is fine," Dahlia said. "She was tired so I put her down for a nap."
"That's good," Morgan said. "Well, let's not mince words dear. I assume there's something you'd like to say?"
"I'm leaving the village," Dahlia said bluntly.
"You're what?" Morgan said. "I forbid it!"
"You can't, I'm 19," Dahlia said. "I could have moved out a year ago."
"Then why are you suddenly proposing this?" Morgan said. "It's because of that Mia Fey, isn't it?"
"In part," Dahlia said. "But it's more than that. I won't have any kind of career in the village; it's time I did something with my life. And now I've found a purpose, and to do so I need to go and become a lawyer."
"Become a lawyer?" Morgan said. "So you're planning on dropping everything you have here to follow that ridiculous Mia Fey?"
"You've wanted me gone for 10 years, Mother!" Dahlia said. "Now, when it's my idea, you're against it?"
"What's wrong with the life you have here?" Morgan said. "I am not going to have both my husband and my daughter leaving me again!"
"Then you should have learned from your mistakes!" Dahlia said. "Look, there's nothing you can do to change this. I'm just telling you what's going to happen."
"Dahlia," Morgan said sternly. She faltered. "I love you."
"You should have loved me before it was too late," Dahlia said. "Maybe now you'll finally figure it out, and you'll make sure Pearly turns out okay."
Morgan was silent, her expression a mix of anger and sadness.
Dahlia turned on her heels and walked away. "Now if you excuse me, I have to finish packing. Oh, and one more thing."
She turned around, and stared straight into her mother's eyes. Her voice was drenched in spite and distaste. "I love you too, Mother."
Leaving her mother, Dahlia strode out of the room and headed for her room. As soon as she turned the corner though, she froze.
"P-Pearly?" Dahlia said.
"You're leaving too?" Pearl said; her head down.
"You heard everything, huh?" Dahlia said, rubbing her arm.
Pearl nodded her head, hugging her Cyndaquil doll. "I wasn't sleepy, and I heard voices."
Dahlia knelt down and held the toddler in her arms. "I'm sorry Pearly, but this is something I have to do."
"But you said Feys stick together," Pearl said. "I don't want you to be gone."
The scarlet-haired girl's heart shattered when she felt a tiny tear land on her shoulder. "There, there, now. There's a difference between leaving and gone."
"Really?" Pearl said.
"Gone is when someone isn't in your life anymore," Dahlia said. "Leaving is what you have to do to come back."
Pearl sniffed. "Why can't you just stay?"
"Because there's something I need to do," Dahlia said. "I'm going to be a lawyer, like Mia. And Mia came back, right? She came back to her little sister."
"What is a lawyer?" Pearl said.
"A lawyer is many things," Dahlia said. "A good lawyer searches for the truth, and fights on no matter how tough it gets. They don't cry until the end."
"And you're going to be a good lawyer?" Pearl said.
"Of course, I'm me," Dahlia said. "And since I'll have you with me the whole way, I know it'll turn out okay in the end."
"I'll be with you?" Pearl said.
"In spirit," Dahlia said. "We're Feys, it's what we do."
"Promise?" Pearl said.
"Cross my heart," Dahlia said. She lifted her baby sister. "Come on, let's get you back to bed."
Pearl clung to her older sister. "Don't leave yet."
Together they ventured down the hallway and entered Pearl's bedroom. Dahlia sat in a rocking chair in the corner and cradled Pearl in her arms.
They gently rocked back and forth, relaxing in each other's company amidst the peaceful silence. Time passed by, and Dahlia was pretty sure Pearl had fallen asleep some time ago. She kept rocking though. She wasn't ready to let go just yet.
Dahlia kissed Pearl's forehead. "I'll miss you too, Pearly. The entire journey, I'll be fighting so I can see you again."
The train whistle blew, and the doors opened to let the passengers come and go. Dahlia, Mia and Diego stood side by side, facing Morgan, Maya and Pearl. Pearl's father had left earlier before anyone had woken up.
"Good-bye guys," Dahlia said.
"Bye," Pearl said sadly.
"What's this little kitten so down about?" Diego said.
"My big sister is leaving," Pearl said.
"Mine too, Pearly," Maya said, putting on a brave face. "But they'll come back."
"That's right," Mia said. "I'm sure Dahlia has told you how Feys are special."
"We can channel spirits," Pearl said.
"We can connect with those that aren't there anymore," Mia said. "We're living proof that just because someone isn't there anymore, they're not gone. Even when we're miles apart, we're still together."
"In spirit?" Pearl said.
"There you go," Dahlia said.
Maya stepped up and squeezed each one of them. "I'll miss you guys, but when you come back you'd better be victorious."
"Like I'm going to drop something once I've started it," Dahlia said.
It was Pearl's turned, and she hugged everyone's legs. She held onto Dahlia's a little longer.
"Bye Da," Pearl whispered.
"Bye Pearly," Dahlia said. "I love you."
"I love you too," Pearl said, walking back over to her mother.
Morgan just nodded at each of them, and took a sip of her tea.
"We'd better get on the train," Mia said. "Let's go."
The two lawyers, and the lawyer to be turned around and walked away. When Pearl couldn't see her face anymore, Dahlia dropped her smile and stared at her feet.
"Are you sure you want to leave?" Mia said.
"Definitely," Dahlia said. "This is what I'm going to do with my life."
"Well then you can't cry yet," Diego said. "A lawyer doesn't cry until it's over. We haven't even boarded the train yet."
Dahlia smiled. "You're right. This is just the start."
Dahlia's eyes fluttered open, and she looked around. She was in the defendant's lobby, lying on the couch. She sat up groggily, the weight of sleep still in her head.
"Good morning," Phoenix said, grinning from ear to ear.
"What did you do?" Dahlia said.
"We didn't do anything," Larry said, the same guilty smile on his face. Edgeworth did as well, though he kept quiet.
"Guys, it's like someone 'Guilty' on your foreheads," Dahlia said.
"Funny you should word it that way," Edgeworth said, staring at the ceiling.
"And why is that?" Dahlia said.
"No reason," Edgeworth said, not making eye contact.
Dahlia turned to Phoenix, knowing he'd be easier to break. She stared at him, just waiting for him to crack.
Phoenix's smile twitched.
Dahlia stared.
"'Fiery Fey' written on your left cheek, 'Crazy' written on your left, 'Mostly Innocent' written on your forehead, and various doodles across your face!" Phoenix blurted.
Dahlia nodded her head. "Good boy."
"Don't rub it in," Phoenix said, deflating.
Pearl rolled up her sleeve.
"It's okay Pearly," Dahlia said. "We'll let it slide this once."
"Are you sure?" Pearl said?"
Dahlia nodded. "They can live."
The three men exchanged worried glances.
"14-15-20 space 5-22-5-14 space 1 space 7-12-1-18-5," Larry whispered.
"9 space 11-14-15-23," Edgeworth said. "9 space 20-8-9-15-11 space 19-8-5-19 space 12-15-19-9-14-7 space 9-20."
"4-1-8-12-9-1 space 8-1-19 space 10-21-19-20 space 2-5-5-14 space 20-8-18-15-21-7-8 space 20-15-15 space 13-21-3-8," Phoenix said.
"19-20-9-12-12," Larry said.
"9 space 11-14-15-23. 13-5 space 20-15-15," Phoenix said.
14-15-20 space 5-22-5-14 space 1 space 7-12-1-18-5. = Not even a glare.
9 space 11-14-15-23 = I know.
9 space 20-8-9-15-11 space 19-8-5-19 space 12-15-19-9-14-7 space 9-20. = I think she's losing it.
4-1-8-12-9-1 space 8-1-19 space 10-21-19-20 space 2-5-5-14 space 20-8-18-15-21-7-8 space 20-15-15 space 13-21-3-8. = Dahlia has just been through too much.
19-20-9-12-12. = Still.
9 space 11-14-15-23. 13-5 space 20-15-15 = I know. Me too.