"Wright! Wright! Wake up!" Edgeworth patting Phoenix's cheek frantically. But Phoenix didn't move and didn't respond. Now, all the guests standing around Phoenix who were unconscious on the floor. Detective Gumshoe knelt down and checked Phoenix's wrist.
"My goodness, his body was so cold. His pulse was very weak. Mr. Edgeworth, he should be immediately taken to the hospital," said Detective Gumshoe.
"Quickly call Doctor Canizares, Maya! His name card is in my bag," Edgeworth commanded to Maya. Maya nodded, and ran to call Doctor Canizares.
"He should be put to bed first, Mr. Edgeworth! We must straighten his legs and arms!" said Will Powers.
"Right. Please help me carry Wright to his room," said Edgeworth to Larry, Detective Gumshoe, Will Powers, and Mr. DeLite. Simultaneously, they lifted Phoenix carefully and carried him into his room, while Maya called Doctor Canizares. Edgeworth then prop Phoenix's head with two pillows.
"What's wrong with Mr. Nick? I-is M-Mr Nick will going to die, Mr. Eh-ji-worth?" sobbed Pearl. Edgeworth didn't know what he should do besides trying to comfort the little girl.
"N-no, Pearl. Maya is calling a doctor now, the doctor will save Wright. Wright will not going to die."
Shortly afterwards, Maya came into Phoenix's room.
"Doctor Canizares is on his way here, Mr. Edgeworth. He said he will arrive in about half an hour."
Half an hour later, Doctor Canizares finally came. With a little hysterical Maya greet him, and dragged him into Phoenix's room.
"What happened?" asked Doctor Canizares to all of them.
"We're celebrating his birthday, and Mr. Edgeworth sang for him. After Mr. Edgeworth finished singing, he suddenly lost consciousness. His body was so cold," sobbed Maya. Doctor Canizares then examine Phoenix, while all of them watching anxiously.
"We must bring him to hospital immediately. I have to do a CT scan on his head. It seems this has connection with his accident." said Doctor Canizares after finished examined Phoenix.
"All right, Doctor. Larry, Detective Gumshoe, Mr. Powers, can you help me carry Wright to my car?" said Edgeworth while looking for his car key. But Doctor Canizares shook his head.
"No need, Mr. Edgeworth. I'll call an ambulance. If you bring Senor Wright to the hospital with your car, it will take quite a long time. We don't want to be late."
"Oh, okay... okay, Doctor."
Doctor Canizares called for an ambulance, and shortly afterward, the ambulance came. The EMT breaks into Phoenix's room, and simultaneously lifted Phoenix to a stretcher. Maya and Edgeworth pick up their bags before walking toward Edgeworth's car. Edgeworth turned to the guests and apologizes to all of them.
"I'm very sorry, guys. You've been taking your time and instead, the party ended up like this," Edgeworth murmured.
"It's okay, Mr. Edgeworth. The important thing is Mr. Wright's health. I hope he's okay. Please inform us of Mr. Wright's progress," said Adrian Andrews.
"Say hello to him if he wakes up, Mr. Edgeworth," said Iris.
"We will visit him later, Mr. Edgeworth." continue Mr. and Mrs. DeLite.
"Thank you very much, everyone. Thank you very much also for coming. Come on, Maya, Pearl." Edgeworth guided Maya and Pearl to his car, and set off to follow the ambulance to Canizares Hospital.
In Canizares Hospital...
Maya, Edgeworth, and Pearl waiting in the waiting room while Doctor Canizares checking Phoenix. They pray silently, hope everything will be fine. Hours by hours have passed, but Doctor Canizares still didn't appear. Pearl begins sobbing, while Maya looks agitated.
Oh God. There must be something serious with Wright. Edgeworth repeatedly looked at his watch, then glanced at Maya and Pearl. Both girls looked tired now. Then, both of them ended up sleeping in the waiting room.
Edgeworth wants to sleep as well, but he can't. He tried to close his eyes, but open it again after a few seconds. One hour. Two hours. Three hours. He can't take it anymore. He stood from his chair and pacing restlessly. He then pulled out photograph of him, Larry, and Phoenix when they were in elementary school from his pocket. He stared blankly to the photograph. His heart felt shattered. And suddenly, his mind drawn in one of his elementary school memories with Phoenix.
"Here, Wright. Drink this. My Dad always said, tea is good for make fever goes down."
*cough* *cough* *cough* "Thank you so much, Miles. You're the best friend in the world."
"Nah, it's nothing. How do you feel?"
"I feel better now because your tea. I think I can get out of bed now. C'mon, we play ball, Miles."
"Hold it. Your fever still high. You won't go anywhere. You can't wake from this bed until your fever goes down."
"You sounds like my Dad."
"And I am now, because your parents still go abroad. I'm your Dad, Wright. I'm your Dad and I will take care of you until you recover."
"OB-JEC-TI-ON. You and I are in the same age. You can't be my dad!"
"But what if I want to?"
"Heh, Miles, you never succeed in making jokes."
Chuckling at the memory, Edgeworth stared to the photo again.
God. I really miss you, Wright. I really miss battle with you in the courtroom. I miss the old you. I miss your 'OBJECTION' and 'TAKE THAT'. I miss your 'turnabout'. Please. Please, Wright. Please keep fighting. Please don't lost in your fight.
Doctor Canizares finally appeared and approached him. Hastily, Edgeworth puts back the photograph to his pocket and gently wakes Maya and Pearl.
"Maya, Pearl, wake up, the doctor had finished checking Wright." Edgeworth murmured softly.
Maya and Pearl awoke with a little shocked. Pearl immediately jumped from her seat.
"How's Mr. Nick, Mr. Doctor? Did Mr. Nick d-d-died? Waaah….waaahhhhh!" Pearl sobbed loudly. Doctor Canizares smiled a little, then knelt in front of Pearl.
"No, pretty young girl. Your beloved Mr. Nick is still alive. But, I can't promise anything about his condition."
Edgeworth frowned. "And what does that mean, Doctor?"
"I've done a CT scan on Senor Wright's head. And it turns out, Senor Wright suffered quite serious blood clots in his brain. This is due to the heavy impact on the back of his head."
Maya clutching her mouth, while Edgeworth swallowed. "And then?" asked Edgeworth nervously, afraid to heard what will Doctor Canizares said next.
"Senor Wright had to do blood clots in brain surgery. It's just…"
"Just what, Doctor ?!" cried Maya, her face was completely red now.
"Well…yeah…. It leaves us with two hard choices, Senor Edgeworth, Miss Fey. If Senor Wright carry out blood clots in brain surgery, the risk would be enormous. There will be a possibility he will be suffered total paralysis from his neck to toe. And he must wear a breathing hose for all time. But, if he's not operated, he could die."
Edgeworth stunned. While Pearl and Maya now hugging each other and crying.
How much more suffering Wright must experienced? Wasn't it enough Wright lost his memory and considered himself as a child? And all of this because of him. Because of his stupidity. Because of his selfishness. If only he could be a little patient. If only he could turn back the time. If he had not been driving that damn car.
All. All of this was my fault. My fault. My fault. My sin. My sin. This is how I returned the favor to Wright after all he had done for me. After he saved me from death penalty. After he revealed who killed my father.
'Miles Edgeworth. Demon Prosecutor. '
Demon. Maybe they're right for calling me "Demon Prosecutor '. Maybe I am truly a demon. A demon that doing anything to get guilty verdict. A demon who doesn't care whether the defendant was not guilty and punished for a crime they did not commit. A demon that only cares about winning record. A demon didn't even know how to thank you. And a demon that could make his friend suffer like this after all the good deeds he had done.
He wanted to cry as hard as possible. He wanted to run. Run away from all of this. Forget everything. But he can't. He can't cry in front of Pearl and Maya. He must be strong for them. And for Wright.
"Hello? Earth to Senor Edgeworth?" Doctor Canizares waving his hands in front of Edgeworth's face. "Are you okay?"
"I? I, oh yeah, I'm fine."
"Ok. Well, the decision is yours, Senor Edgeworth. Considering now technically you're Senor Wright's family. Do you allow if Senor Wright carry out blood clots in brain surgery or not?"
Edgeworth sighed deeply. He hesitated. Between death and Wright suffered total paralysis. Which one he must choose?
"What do you think, Maya?" asked Edgeworth quietly to Maya, who now was busy wiping tears from her eyes. Maya shrugged.
"I don't know. It's up to you, Mr. Edgeworth. You always pay for all Nick's needs, it's up to your decision."
Wright died vs. Wright suffers total paralysis.
Well, at least, if Wright suffers total paralysis, they still can talk to him, make him happy, and see his smile, isn't it? Isn't life, no matter how bad it goes, much better than death?
"All right, Doctor Canizares. I allow Wright to be operated."
Doctor Canizares smiled a little, and gently patted Edgeworth's back.
"Okay. I will talk with my team. I'll tell all of you when Mr. Wright will do the surgery. Remember to always pray to God, Senor Edgeworth, Miss Fey. Remain optimistic and still believe. Remember, this is only a possibility, it doesn't mean it will become reality. Oh yes, we had moved Mr. Wright to room number 290. You may see him now, if you want to. He will wake up in a few minutes." As he patted Edgeworth's back again, Doctor Canizares left them.
"He'll be fine, isn't it, Mr. Edgeworth? Nick will be fine. Nick always ended up fine. He falls from Dusky Bridge and came out only with a cold. He beaten many times but never get serious injured. It's only a possibility, isn't it?" asked Maya with stammered.
Edgeworth don't know how to answer. Should he say yes? Should he give false hope to Maya? Eventually, he forces a smile.
"Yes, Maya. Wright will be fine."
The three of them then walked into room number 290. Maya held Phoenix's left hand, while Pearl held Phoenix's right hand.
"Mr. Nick…I beg you to wake up…. Please get better soon…...I miss the old you, Mr. Nick…." whispered Pearl.
Phoenix slowly opened his eyes.
"Hi, Feenie. Finally you're awake. We are worried sick of you, you know! Don't make us scared like that again!" said Maya.
"Yes, Mr. Nick…please don't do that again…. We're very worried that you will going to die," Pearl muttered, held Phoenix's right hand more tightly. Phoenix frowned, then roughly pulled his hand from Pearl's grip.
"Why are you holding Feenie's hands? Feenie don't know you. Feenie don't like Feenie's hands gripped by people who Feenie don't know," Phoenix snapped. "Papa, Mama. Tell that strange girl to get out from here. Feenie don't like her."
"Wright, you should not behave like that. It's not polite. Pearl is not a strange girl. Pearl is your friend. Come on, apologize to Pearl," Edgeworth said softly. Pearl bites her lip, then moving away from Phoenix's bed.
"I-it's okay, Mr. Eh-ji-worth. Mr. Nick doesn't remember who I am. I guess I'd better go now," Pearl muttered quietly. "I wish you a speedy recovery, Mr. Nick."
Phoenix snorted and staring at the ceiling. Why the little girl liked to look for his attention? He don't know the girl. Why Papa said that strange girl is his friend?
"Come on, Pearl," said Maya. She held out her hands and leading Pearl out of the room.
Edgeworth then sat beside Phoenix's bed. "How are you feeling, Wright?"
"Feenie's head very hurt and Feenie feel dizzy, Papa. Papa, where are we? Isn't Feenie in Feenie's birthday party?" Phoenix asked innocently.
"You're in the hospital, Wright. You suddenly fainted at your birthday party. So we brought you here."
When Edgeworth had just finished speaking, a nurse who looks very young entered. She smiled pleasantly.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Edgeworth, Mr. Wright. Introducing, I'm nurse Perfecta. Glad to see you finally wake up, Mr. Wright. It's time to put an IV."
Phoenix jerked his head. "What is an IV, Papa?"
Before Edgeworth answered, nurse Perfecta pulled out several IV needles from her pocket. Phoenix's eyes bulging when he saw the needles. Suddenly, he sat on his bed, and clutched Edgeworth's cravat.
"Papa, what would she do with Feenie? Why did she take the needle?" cried Phoenix.
"It's called an IV, Wright. IV is usually installed for sick people. You're sick now, and you need an IV for your hands. IV can make you get better quickly," said Edgeworth patiently. Nurse Perfecta smiled again while approached Phoenix's bed.
"Come on, Mr. Wright, give me your hand. Don't worry, it won't hurt. Come on," persuaded Nurse Perfecta. But Phoenix's glared getting wider, and he gripped Edgeworth's cravat harder.
"Feenie don't want to! Feenie afraid of needles! Tell her to go, Papa! Feenie don't want to!"
"Don't be afraid, Wright. Come on, give Papa your left hand. Just hold Papa's hands, Papa promise you won't feel hurt." Edgeworth murmured as he holding out his hand. "Come on, hold Papa's hand. And give your right hand to that nice nurse."
Phoenix finally calmed down, and held out his right hand. Nurse Perfecta begin inserting a needle into Phoenix's right hand. Phoenix started crying and screaming in pain.
"Ouch! Ouch! Ow! Ow! Hurt, Papa!" sobbed Phoenix. Edgeworth tried hard to calm him down.
"It won't be long, Wright. It will finish soon. Patience, okay? Just hold Papa's hands more tightly," Edgeworth whispered as he stroking Phoenix's hair. Phoenix then gripped Edgeworth's hand tighter, and hold his pain.
"Alright, finished, Mr. Wright. Remember, Mr. Edgeworth. If the IV fluid runs out, immediately push the buzzer. Good afternoon, gentleman."
"Good afternoon, Nurse Perfecta."
"Is Feenie can go home and play again, Papa?" asked Phoenix after Nurse Perfecta go.
"Yes, if you recover. The faster you recover, the faster you go home. So you have to be a good boy and not naughty here. You must obey all Papa, Mama, doctors, and nurse's words. So you can quickly play again. You promise to Papa?"
Phoenix nodded. "Yes, Papa, Feenie promise won't be naughty. Feenie wants to play ball with Papa if Feenie go home! Papa want it, play ball with Feenie?"
"Of course, Wright. But you have to recover." said Edgeworth. But suddenly, Doctor Canizares words echoed again in his ears.
It would be possible after Senor Wright carry out blood clots in brain surgery, he became paralyzed from the neck to toe. And must wear breathing hose for all time.
Edgeworth closed his eyes for a moment. What if that possibility becomes reality? How could I explain to him? What if I can't fulfill promises to play ball with him?
"Ouch," complained Phoenix suddenly. "Feenie's head hurt, Papa."
"Here, Papa massage your head to make the pain reduced," Edgeworth murmured. Carefully, he enforced Phoenix's head, leaned over, and began massaging Phoenix's head. When he bent over, photograph of him, Larry, and Phoenix while still in grade 4 that he took from Phoenix's apartment fell out of his pocket.
"Papa, Papa's stuff fell," Phoenix pointing his finger at the photograph lying on the floor. Edgeworth stop massaging Phoenix's head and picked up the photo.
"What is it, Papa?" asked Phoenix again.
Edgeworth bit his lower lip, and shows the photo to Phoenix. Phoenix stared at the photograph for a few seconds. That photo is a photograph of three boys, hugging each other in a courtyard. A boy who standing in the left corner has spiky hair, and wearing a blue shirt, smiling quietly, his face very similar to the photo that he saw in the apartment. A boy who stands in the middle, has gray hair, and the tallest in the photo. He frowned when he saw the boy standing in the middle. His face was very similar to Papa.
Could this photo is a photo of Papa's childhood?
He looked at the photo again, and saw the boy standing on the far right, has a spikey brown hair and his face was very similar to one of the men who come to his birthday party. If he's not mistaken, his name was Harry Butz.
"Who are those, Papa? Why did his face look a lot like Papa?"
"It's a photo when you were in school, Wright. They are your friends. You don't remember at all?" whispered Edgeworth. Phoenix wrinkled his nose and shook his head.
"No. Feenie not remember Feenie ever go to school. Feenie always playing at home with Papa."
Disappointed, Edgeworth slipped the photograph back into his pocket. Then he return massaged Phoenix's head again.
"Is your head still hurt? Is Papa's massage reduces the pain?" asked Edgeworth after nearly half an hour massaging Phoenix's head.
"Yes, Papa, Feenie's head didn't hurt anymore. Thank you, Papa. Feenie loves Papa!"
"Nice. Now, go to sleep, so you can quickly recover and play again. Okay?"
Phoenix nodded, and closed his eyes slowly. He fell asleep in an instant. Edgeworth pull out a chess set he had brought from home, and started to play with the pawns. Many times he glanced at Phoenix who had fallen asleep. What will happen after Wright finished blood clots in brain surgery later? Saw him like this, I can't bear. What if he'll actually suffer total paralysis and had to rely on a breathing hose?
"Mr. Edgeworth? Nick had gone to bed?" Maya had just returned. Edgeworth turned slowly.
"Hi, Maya. You're finished dropping Pearl? How is she?"
"She…she's very sad, Mr. Edgeworth. She says she really wants to take care of Nick… but she was afraid to make Nick felt uncomfortable. By the way, is Doctor Canizares has tell you when Nick will be operated?"
Edgeworth shook his head. "Not yet. He hasn't met me again."
"You look tired, Mr. Edgeworth. Come on, we eat in the cafeteria." said Maya soothingly. Edgeworth shook his head.
"No, Maya. You just go, if you hungry. I don't want to leave Wright for a single moment."
"Come on, Mr. Edgeworth. You can get sick too if you don't eat. If you're sick, you can't take care of Nick. Come on. Nick will be fine even if we leave him for a while," persuaded Maya again. Edgeworth finally gave up, stood up from his chair and go to the cafeteria along with Maya.
When both of them eat at the cafeteria, visitors of the hospital cafeteria look toward Edgeworth with disgusted look and whispering very loud.
"So, another innocent person was sent to jail again today. The defendant's attorney was so incompetent."
"If only Mr. Wright didn't get the accident."
"This country's law missed and needs Mr. Phoenix Wright. He always managed to save innocent person. Ah, I really hope he will get better and can come back to courtroom soon."
"I heard Doctor Canizares talking to Mr. Edgeworth about Mr. Wright's condition. He said, Mr. Wright suffering quite serious blood clot in brain. And Mr. Wright in risk of being paralyzed from neck to toe."
"I'm disgusted with that Edgeworth's guy. Certainly that dude upset because Mr. Wright always defeated him. I bet that's not an accident, but he hit Mr. Wright with his car on purpose. I bet he cheered triumphantly of Mr. Wright's condition now."
"I believe that too. After all, he's a Demon Prosecutor. He always do everything just for guilty verdict. Of course he will do everything too for throw away his rival."
"Disgusting human being."
Edgeworth sighed deeply, feels so uncomfortable. He wants to stand up, but Maya hold his hands, and shook her head.
"Don't listen to their words, Mr. Edgeworth. They don't know what you've been through. They even don't know you well. You're a good person. It was an accident."
It was an accident. Yeah.
An accident that makes someone suffered so much.
"Thief! Thief! Thief!"
"Only him who stays in the classroom! It's obvious he did it! Surely he who stole Miles Edgeworth's money! Just admit it, Phoenix Wright! No one wants to play again with you!"
He looked around. He was in a classroom, standing alone in the middle class, trembling. Approximately 30 children surrounded him, all hands pointing at him. All of them looked angry and disgusted to him.
"Thief! Thief! Thief!"
Why do they call him a thief? He's not a thief! He will never take something that wasn't his belonging! But who would believe him? All children were standing in front of him… No one believes him. He couldn't do anything but cry. Crying out loud.
A woman wearing large glasses then approached him.
"Well, Phoenix, it isn't good for taking your friend's money. Now, apologize to the class."
He didn't understand. Why was he told to apologize for the mistake he didn't do?
"Objection!" shouted one of them suddenly. He stared at the boy. The boy had gray hair, and wearing a maroon-colored shirt and a bow tie.
"All of you are very stupid! My Dad always said, during the trial, evidence is everything! Then, where's your evidence? Just because Wright absent in PE class, you immediately accused him? That's what you call 'proof?' You should be ashamed! It's a shame for accused an innocent person! Stop crying, Wright! Keep your head up!"
"Miles? But it's your lunch money that stolen," said the woman, looking shocked.
The boy now standing on the table.
"And he doesn't need to apologize, because he isn't responsible! Give me some decisive evidence that he who took my money, if you can show it, then he can apologize! Where? You can't prove it, isn't it?"
"Edgeworth! Why are you defending the thief? Why do you want to be friends with naughty boy and like to steal?"
"Yes! Why be friend with the thief! We don't care about the proof! No one wants to be friends with him!"
"THIEF! THIEF! THIEF! LIAR! LIAR! PHOENIX WRIGHT THE THIEF! PHOENIX WRIGHT THE NAUGHTY BOY! PHOENIX WRIGHT IS A LIAR!"
"Stop it... I didn't do it ... I beg you ..." He sobbed harder.
"HE'S GUILTY! GUILTY! GUILTY! REMOVE HIM FROM THIS SCHOOL! WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE THIEF AND LIAR IN CLASS ! GET OUT FROM HERE, PHOENIX WRIGHT! GET OUT!"
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! STOP IT! FEENIE ISN'T A THIEF! PAPA! PAPA! FEENIE NOT A LIAR! FEENIE NOT NAUGHTY!" shouted Phoenix. He then sat on his bed. Cold sweat dripping profusely from his head and forehead. His head was going to explode. It really hurts. Then he looked around.
It was very quiet. Children who accused him of stealing and lying aren't there anymore. In front of him just a white blanket. He's still in the hospital. It's just a dream.
But, why the dream felt so real? Why did he feel he actually have experienced that dream before? The boy who defend him in the dream... named Miles Edgeworth? Edgeworth? Isn't that Papa's name? He felt recognized the boy who appeared in his dream ... Isn't the boy in his dream, is the same boy in the photograph that Papa's shown before?
Actually who is the boy? Why did he appear in his dream? Why did he felt he had visited that frightening classroom before?
What is the dream mean? Who am I? Who am I actually?
To be continued...