Phoenix smiled back, then kissed Edgeworth's cheek. "But why are Papa crying? Papa cried because Feenie is naughty, right, Papa?"
Edgeworth shook his head vigorously. He then wiped his eyes. "N-no, Wright. My eyes hadconceded dust, so P-papa 's eyes is watery. Papa didn't cry, and you didn't make Papa cry."
"Then, Feenie want to read bedtime story by Papa! Feenie want to hear a fairy tale! Papa want it, read stories to Feenie?" asked Phoenix with half jumping on his bed. Edgeworth nodded slowly.
"Al-alright, Wright. P-papa had to take the book first, you just wait here, sit here, okay dear?" whispered Edgeworth, again failed to suppress his quivering voice. What did I just say? I call him 'dear'...
Phoenix nodded, and sat back in his bed. "Alright, Papa! Feenie will wait for Papa here! But Papa don't long! Feenie is afraid to be left alone!"
"No, Wright, P-papa will never leave you alone," Edgeworth murmured softly. He rose, stroking Phoenix's hair again, and walked into the library. He began to dismantle one by one the books on the shelves. He wondered to himself, if he still has a children's book from his childhood. After about nearly 20 minutes of searching, he finally found a worn green book titled Cinderella. "Cinderella" is the last story that was read by his late father, Gregory Edgeworth, two days before he died. Suddenly he drowned in his childhood memories.
"And finally, the prince who finds the glass shoes, met with the owner of the shoes, Cinderella. Then Cinderella and the prince get married and live happily ever after. Cinderella finally free from her cruel stepsister and stepmother."
"Dad, I want to meet with Cinderella and marry her. Can I meet with Cinderella, Dad?"
"Sure, once you grow up, my son. You will find your Cinderella and you'll get married and will happily ever after with your Cinderella."
"If I find my Cinderella, and marry her, will you come to attend our wedding, Dad?"
"Of course, my son. How could Dad missed my own son's wedding party?"
Smiling a little, and wiped his eyes, Edgeworth took the book and went back to Phoenix room. He then sat next to Phoenix.
"This is it, Wright, P-papa will read a story for you. The title was Cinderella."
"Sindriella? What was Sindriella, Papa? Feenie never heard Sindriella story."
Edgeworth giggled softly, heard Phoenix calling the "Cinderella" with "Sindriella." As he kissed Phoenix's head, Edgeworth said, "She is a poor girl who lived with her cruel stepmother and stepsisters."
Phoenix shook his head. "Feenie don't like! Feenie don't a sad story! Feenie want a happy story! Feenie don't like a story about bad people!"
Edgeworth trying not to laugh. "Easy, Wright, this story is not a sad story, this story will end happily. You know, this story is the last story read by my father before he died."
Phoenix eyes sparkled with delight. "Papa's father? Papa mean, he is Feenie's grandfather?"
"Eh," Edgeworth confused what to say other than, "Y-yes, he is your grandfather. Can we start now? Listen...Once upon a time, there lived a girl named Cinderella... She lives happily with her father and mother... However, her happiness was very short, because shortly afterwards, her mother died of terminal illness ... Her father remarried with another woman who already had two children, and they were very nasty to Cinderella ... When her father went traveling for business, they always told Cinderella doing household chores all the time, making her face becomes dirty because too often exposed to dust .. but when her father came home, they pretend to be nice to Cinderella ... "
"That means they're lying! Right, Papa? Feenie not like people lying!" Phoenix suddenly interrupted. He folded his arms, pursed his lips, and his face become looks very cute. Inevitably, Edgeworth felt exasperated with him.
"Yes, you're right, Wright. They are bad people, so they lied. People who lie, certainly is a bad people."
"Feenie don't want to lie! Feenie don't want to be a bad person! Feenie want to be a good person!"
Edgeworth snorted a laugh, then continued the story. "One day, Cinderella's father died on his business trip, making Cinderella became lonely, and her stepmother and stepsister have full control of her house. There was no one who protected Cinderella, Cinderella had only two rat friends which living in her room. Then one day, the kingdom held a party at the palace, Cinderella wanted to attend, but her stepmother and stepsisters forbid Cinderella to go. They said, How could you go to a party with dirty clothes like that? Unless you have a nice dress!"
"After her stepmother and stepsisters headed to the party, Cinderella back to her room, and wept. I could not go to the party with dirty clothes like this, but I'd love to go,' sobbed Cinderella. Shortly afterwards, she heard a voice that comforted her, said the voice, 'Cinderella, stop crying."
"It's a ghost, right, Papa? Feenie afraid of ghosts!" interrupted Phoenix again. "Feenie don't like a ghost! Ghost is creepy! Ghost make Feenie scared!"
Edgeworth chuckled and shook his head. "No, Wright, it's not a ghost. She is the fairy godmother, fairy godmother with a kind heart who will help Cinderella."
Phoenix's eyes flashed full of fantasy, then he clapped again. "If a fairy godmother, Feenie like it! Feenie like a fairy godmother!"
"Fairy Godmother was then conjured Cinderella's mice friends and a pumpkin into a very beautiful carriage, complete with horses and handsome horse carriage riders. Fairy Godmother also conjured up Cinderella's dirty clothes into a very beautiful dress, complete with a very beautiful glass shoes. Then Fairy Godmother said, Cinderella, this magic effect will disappear after the bell at 12 am stop. So, go home before midnight. Then Cinderella went to a party at the palace. In the palace, she met with the prince who were fascinated by her beauty. Prince asks, Will you dance with me, Cinderella?"
"Then they get married! Isn't it, Papa?"
"Yes, Wright," Edgeworth said patiently, "but we have not been up there ..." – Edgeworth's words were interrupted by Phoenix's yawn. "Are you sleepy? You want to go to sleep again now?" Edgeworth put his hand on Phoenix's forehead. "You still have a fever, Wright, better you go to sleep again, so you can recover soon."
But Phoenix shook his head. "Feenie not sleepy! Feenie wants to hear the story until the end! Come on, Papa! Feenie wants to hear more!"
"Alright, Wright, this is what happens next. Cinderella danced with the prince, because she was too happy to be dancing with the Prince, Cinderella forgot about time. Suddenly the bells began to ring 12 times. Cinderella finally left the party in a hurry. Since she ran too fast, one of her shoes was off, but Cinderella kept running. The Prince then took the shoe, and want to find out who the actual owner of the shoes. The prince sent the guards to come to the houses with girls across the country to match the shoes, but no one matched. Until finally they come at Cinderella's home, and Cinderella's legs are the only one that match with the shoes. So you're the princess, said the guards. Cinderella and the prince then eventually get married, and live happily forever."
"And that's the end of the story, Wright. Did you like the story?"
"Yes, Papa! The story is nice and beautiful! Feenie also wants to be a prince! Feenie wants to marry Cinderella! Papa, Feenie could be a prince, right?"
Stroking Phoenix's hair with affection, Edgeworth nodded firmly. "Of course, Wright. You're going to be a prince. A great prince who will always be able to save those in trouble, and those who were alone."
Shortly after, the house's bell rang. Wondering a little, Edgeworth got out of Phoenix's bed to open the door. It's unusual for him to receive visitors at this hour.
"Wait and sit here, understand, Wright? P-papa had to receive visitor first. If you're sleepy, just sleep, okay?"
Edgeworth stepped into the living room, and opened the door. It turns out that who comes was Maya Fey. Edgeworth could felt his heart beating faster than usual three times. Maya didn't know what had happened...Maya didn't know how Wright's condition... Maya will directly hang me if she knew what had happened... Hopefully her arrival here has nothing to do with Wright ...
"Uh, h-hello, Maya. Long time no see," Edgeworth murmured awkwardly, as he shake hands with Maya. "Is there something you need to come here, Maya? It was almost late at night."
Maya put her hips in front of him. Suddenly, she pinched his cheeks very hard, making Edgeworth's cheeks turn red in an instant. Her eyes bulged, and she looked very angry. Uh-oh... Is she had known everything? What should I do? Looks like she was ready to mutilate me into a tasty meat now!
"What's wrong, Maya? Why are you suddenly pinching me like that? It's hurt, you know," Edgeworth rubbing his cheek.
"You, you're the one who I should ask what's wrong with you, Mr. Edgeworth!"
"What do you mean, Maya, I don't get it-"
Before Edgeworth prepare and covered his ears, Maya shouted very loudly. "YES, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU, MR. EDGEWORTH?! WHY ARE YOU HIT NICK! WITH YOUR OWN CAR! YOU WANT TO KILL NICK? AFTER HE DEFEND YOU AND MAKE YOUR NIGHTMARES FOR YEARS GONE? IS THAT HOW YOU RETURN THE FAVOR TO HIM? AND WHY YOU DIDN'T TELL ME FOR WHAT HAD HAPPENED, MR. EDGEWORTH? CHICKEN?!"
"Maya, I beg you, keep your voice down, don't shout, you will disturb the neighbors! And ... from where you know what had happened, Maya?"
"I read it in a magazine! PROSECUTOR MILES EDGEWORTH, THE DEMON PROSECUTOR, HAD HIT MR. PHOENIX WRIGHT WITH HIS CAR. THE DEMON PROSECUTOR IS A VERY APPROPRIATE NICKNAME FOR HIM, HE HIT HIS BEST FRIEND, HIS BEST FRIEND WHO DEFEND HIM IN COURT. I almost had a heart attack while reading the magazine's article, Mr. Edgeworth! I almost made a cake which the recipe I learned over the months into a charred! Mr. Edgeworth, I am the most loyal Nick's assistant, how could you let me know what happened to Nick through the magazine?!" Maya shouted again, and now tweaked Edgeworth's ears.
"Oouch, Maya, sorry, really, I just didn't want to upset you or worry-"
"Where's Nick? How is his condition? Take me to see him! Now! Or I'll take the knife from Kurain to make you into a delicious meat!"
Edgeworth sighed. He then get rid of Maya's hands from his ears. "Come on. But I plead with you, you should be prepared to accept." He murmured softly as he held out his hand and guided Maya into Phoenix room.
"That's him," whispered Edgeworth as he pointing toward Phoenix who was sitting in bed, watch My Little Pony Tail, and humming to the cartoon's song rhythm. Maya hugged her mouth with her hand, ran toward Phoenix, and hugged him tightly.
"Nick, hi, Nick! This is me! You're fine, right? Is Mr. Edgeworth making you badly hurt? But you seem to be fine, no part of your body bandaged, no scratches or bruises, oh Nick- "
"Mama?" called Phoenix suddenly as Maya off her arms. Maya was stunned.
"What did you say?" Maya burst out laughing. "Nick, my name is Maya, not Mama! Nick, I didn't wrong to call you grandpa, you're very easy to forget-"
"MAMA!" exclaimed Phoenix again. He hugged Maya tightly. "Feenie loves mama! Mama loves Feenie too?"
"Papa, papa loves Mama?"
Maya glanced angrily and asked Edgeworth. "Mr. Edgeworth! Can you explain all of this? Why Nick called me Mama? Why did he called you Papa? Why is he watching cartoons?! And why his body is hot as hell? Mr. Edgeworth! Answers my questions!" Maya shouted angrily.
"D-doctor who handled him, Doctor Vincenzo Mortensen, said that he suffered severe brain damage. W-when I hit him with my car, he was thrown into the air and his head hit the streets. Because of that, his brain becomes damaged, so he doesn't remember who is him anymore, can't remember his name, his profession, and he also has a mind like a 3 year old child. When he woke up at hospital, he immediately called me Papa, and he really thinks I am his father now." said Edgeworth stammered. He sobbed then.
Maya gaped to hear Edgeworth's explanation. She watched Phoenix from head to toe. That's right, Nick is not himself...
"F-forgive me, Maya. Indeed, this is all purely my fault! I...I just got back from Fernando Galca's trial and I felt very tired and sleepy ... B-but I'm still driving because I want to go home quickly... I'm driving drowsy…. And I could just pull over to sleep for a while ... that's why I hit W-Wright ... and ... .because that I bring Wright to stay with me ... that's why I decided not to tell you ... I felt embarrassed with you ... ..I want to atone for my sins to him alone ... I want take care of him, devote all my life to him…because, as these are all purely my own fault ... F-forgive me, Maya, really! I know how much Wright important and meant to you!" He sobbed louder. Maya walked up to him, then SLAP! She slapped Edgeworth.
"T-thanks, Maya. You may slap me many times as you want. 100 times also allowed. B-because I really, really deserve it." whispered Edgeworth stammered, still sobbing.
"You're a foolish fool, Mr. Edgeworth! That's why you didn't tell me?! It was an accident, Mr. Edgeworth! No need to felt embarrassed! I'm also very, very concerned about Nick, therefore, you don't need to face it all alone, because of course I'll help you! We'll get through this together, for Nick! Because we love Nick! Understand, Mr. Edgeworth? And remove your tears, crybaby! You said you want to atone your sin to Nick, and if so, did your mistake can pay off with useless tears that don't have any advantage for you other than just make you look like a weak woman and make your eyes sore!" Maya said firmly.
Edgeworth smiled weakly. He then wipe away his tears. "T-thanks, Maya." He said softly. "You are right. I must be strong. For Wright. Crying is useless."
-TO BE CONTINUED-