A/N: I missed writing this story. So here's the latest adventure of Juniper in this alternate world! All I will say is that the situation doesn't get much easier for her. Enjoy, my readers!

Chapter 4: Fraught Mediation

January 10, 2028

Woods Residence, Juniper's bedroom

8:15 a.m.

After listening to the story Athena pondered what Virginia Woods told her. It sounded hard to believe, but the proof was right there in how Juniper remained unmoving in her bed. Even as her anger wanted to just lash out, Athena did her best to calm down and think this situation through.

"I can't believe you did this to Junie!"

Even if Widget never helped in that regard. To her credit, Virginia Woods took the comment in stride. The old woman understood full well how deeply Athena cared for Juniper. If anything, Virgina felt like she'd failed as Juniper's guardian, and so deserved the defense attorney's ire.

"Please don't apologize. I deserved that," Virginia said. "Right now I need you to talk to my granddaughter."

"Oh, are you saying that wherever Juniper is, she might hear me? Sure, I can manage that," Athena said.

Suddenly, Juniper seemed to twitch, which caused the two women to immediately go to her side. As they continued to watch over her, Juniper made more small movements. Finally she muttered under her breath, "Where am I? It's so dark…"

"Junie! Junie can you hear me?" Athena asked frantically.

"Thena? Is that you?" Juniper said, before falling silent again. Then she was just as still as she was before, and no attempt to rouse her seemed to work.

"Call Juniper's other friends. I really do believe that wherever Juniper is, we can reach her," Virginia Woods said.

Athena immediately took out her cell phone and started dialing numbers.

January 12, 2028

Alternate O'Conner Residence

11:40 a.m.

When they finally arrived at Hugh's house, Juniper knocked softly on the door. As expected, Hugh answered, smiling at the sight of Juniper. The minute Hugh lay eyes on Robin, however, his smile vanished. To his credit, unlike Robin, Hugh waited for Juniper to explain herself even as his eyes narrowed.

"I've been talking with Robin, and I believe that it would do us all good to listen to what he has to say," Juniper explained.

"You really decided to go along with this?" Hugh asked Robin.

"I'm not pleased about this either! But somehow, Juniper convinced me to give you another chance," Robin said. "Don't make me regret this!"

"Hmph. I suppose the least I can do is play the gracious host," Hugh said, opening the door to let everyone in. "Myriam arrived earlier, though, and she was in a good mood. So you'll excuse me if I'm not optimistic about this."

Suddenly, Juniper actually found herself wishing for the kinder Myriam she'd met a few days ago to come back. The judge student had to admit that that version of Myriam was much less of a thorn in… well, everyone's side.

January 12, 2028

Alternate O'Conner Residence, living room

12:20 p.m.

Of the four people in the room, Myriam was the only one that was smiling, and it was her malicious smile for whenever she detected trouble. The atmosphere of the room was unbearably tense, with how Hugh and Robin stared each other down. It was all Juniper could do to keep from bursting into a coughing fit.

Just as he said, Hugh played host and escorted everyone to his home's living room, where they say on couches around a table. Then the defense attorney student served everyone potato chips and water, which even after five minutes had yet to be touched.

"I like visiting here, Hugh," Juniper said, wanting to break the ice.

Robin sullenly looked around the residence, with it's deep blue walls and light green furniture. "I gotta admit, this place feels very cozy. Who decorated it?"

"It was my parents," Hugh said, rubbing his neck as he did whenever he was distressed.

"Huh? What's with that look?" Robin asked, actually looking a little concerned.

"I'm not very happy with my parents right now," Hugh said, looking away from Robin.

"Because you found out that your parents were bribing Professor Means behind your back, right?" Juniper said softly.

"Wait, that wasn't your idea?!" Robin exclaimed.

"As a matter of fact, it wasn't. Turns out the great Hugh O'Conner wasn't the genius everyone thought he was," Hugh said, scowling. "But then, you already knew that, as a real genius."

Juniper spotted the way Robin's fists curled at Hugh's response, and knew she had to immediately intervene. "Robin, calm down, Hugh didn't mean anything by that! And Hugh, please don't try to provoke Robin."

The two men looked at Juniper, and she did her best to meet their gazes. Thankfully they did seem to settle down, relaxing their aggressive body language. Meanwhile, Myriam was writing… something down in a notebook as she listened to the conversation around her.

"I don't know where you got such a stupid idea, but I'm not a genius," Robin finally said.

Even as the insult got under Hugh's skin a bit, he kept his temper this time and said, "What do you mean? You're the student council president and the top student of the Prosecutor course. I think you might have the highest grade out of everyone in the school!"

"That's true. But that's because I spend every single day studying! In fact, I've been training to become a prosecutor for as long as I can remember," Robin said intensely. "I can't afford to be anything but the best if I'm going to catch criminals!"

"I don't think you need to be your best all the time," Juniper said softly. "It's enough that you have such a noble motive to become a prosecutor. But please don't exhaust yourself needlessly."

For the first time, Hugh looked at Robin with empathy instead of dislike. "You know, I decided to become defense attorney because of the example set by Phoenix Wright. Even after he was disbarred, I swore that I would surpass him as an attorney."

"I- I didn't know," Robin said, looking startled and ashamed. "I was always told to never trust a defense attorney."

"Is that why you told me what you did, in the mock trial," Hugh said, leaning in towards Robin while glaring. "About how there was no place in the legal system for people like me?"

"You said that, Robin?" Juniper asked to the prosecutor student. Every time Juniper thought she'd found out everything, some new unsettling aspect revealed itself.

"You were the judge for that mock trial, Juniper," Myriam said, raising an eyebrow. "In fact, if I remember correctly you really lay into him…"

October 23, 2027

Themis Legal Academy, Mock Courtroom

1:30 p.m.

After helping his dad expose the fraudulent Professor Means, it was time for Robin to strike down his student. While this was a mock trial, the prosecutor student was determined to have his performance here reflect how he would approach real trials.

So after Robin presented evidence that the defendant used an ice pick to kill the victim, he put on the fiercest glare and said,

"Well, looks like the great genius turned out to be nothing but a great fraud, just like his teacher!"

Robin felt intense satisfaction at Hugh's distressed expression. Robin smacked the bench with his left hand, drew back his arm, and pointed at Hugh befored shouting,

"I hope this defeat teaches you one thing: There is no place for people like you in the legal system!"

Hugh fell onto his knees as the crowd in the audience burst into chatter. For the most, however, the general sentiment seemed to agree with Robin. So the prosecutor student was soaking up the praise when-

"That was out of line, Robin!"

From the judge's podium Juniper gave Robin the coldest expression he'd ever seen on her. The usually shy girl was gone, replaced by what seemed to be a fierce, angry force of nature. To Robin's surprise, Professor Courte was looking down at him with a similar expression.

"It's true that you've presented a compelling case, but your attitude is a different story," Juniper continued. "I- I thought that you were a better person than this, but it looks like I was wrong."

"I find myself in agreement with Miss Woods," Professor Courte added. "This will reflect negatively on the graded portion of this mock trial."

"What, why? What did I do wrong?!" Robin exclaimed.

Professor Courte shook her head, a disapproving expression on her face. "You still have a lot to learn about what it means to be a prosecutor, Mr. Newman. For now, I hope you take this lesson to heart."

"Juniper… Professor Courtre… Thank you," Hugh said, recovering from Robin's verbal attack. "I apologize that I have no case to present, though."

"As the judge in charge of this mock trial, I have no choice but rule in the prosecution's favor," Juniper said softly. Her face grew cold again. "But as far as I'm concerned, you're the one that doesn't belong in the legal system, Robin!"

The previously friendly audience turned on Robin, and a few people even began to boo the prosecutor student. What was one of Robin's greatest triumphs a few minutes ago had now turned into a nightmare.

"How- how dare you do this to me!" Robin shouted, red-faced. "Juniper, Hugh, I- I will never forgive you for this!"

January 12, 2028

Alternate O'Conner Residence, living room

12:40 p.m.

"...Why do you think I've been trying to stop you from setting up this meeting, Juniper?" Myriam asked after the story finished. "Actually, I was starting to think you wanted to see some fireworks and that's why you were so insistent on this, sss sss sss."

"That's what I've been wondering. Ever since a few days ago you've been acting really strange," Robin said.

"Come to think of it, you told me you never wanted to see Robin again," Hugh added. "And I agreed with you. So what's with this sudden change of heart?"

The various ways in which Juniper was different from her counterpart in this world were coming back to bite her something fierce. Just how was she supposed to explain this?"

"It's been something that I've been thinking about for a while now*cough cough*" Juniper said, frantically trying to improvise. "It's true that I was really angry at the time, but… then I remembered how Robin helped me when I felt like I had no one else to turn to. How could the Robin that was so nice to me and so cruel to Hugh be the same person?"

"Well, I thought that Hugh was complicit in the bribery for his grades!" Robin exclaimed. "I didn't mean to be cruel, I was just striking down a villain."

"Presuming that I was a villain was quite a leap in logic," Hugh said. "On the other hand, I suppose I should have questioned why my grades suddenly became so good. I do bear some responsibility for what happened."

"We all came to some very wrong conclusions. But I don't think there's a reason for us to be angry with each other anymore," Juniper said. "So could we perhaps all start over?"

Hugh seemed to be in agreement with this and even Myriam seemed to be grudgingly considering it. Robin's expression, however, was very pained.

"Even if we bury the hatchet now," Robin said. "When we meet in court it will be as enemies. A prosecutor and a defense attorney can never be friends!"

"What gave you that idea?" Juniper asked, her heart sinking.

"It was something that my fa- nevermind," Robin said, cutting off whatever he was going to say. "Thank you for having me over, Hugh. But I have to go!"

Before anyone could stop him, Robin fled the house. Hugh, Myriam, and Juniper could only sit there, drowning in the silence left by the prosecutor student.

A/N: Yeah, some aspects remain sadly the same. Next chapter is the end of this first half. So stay tuned to see how Juniper gets out of the current mess. See you next time! Please review.