JCdrawings88

Warning: This is a little retcon with Trucy past in this AU.

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"How can i be so stupid?" was the thought of a young girl as she watched the chaos unfold before her—a chaos she had unwittingly caused.

The lawyer defending her father had just used illegal evidence, something the prosecutor noticed immediately. Now, the lawyer was being accused of forgery.

Maybe you’re wondering: how did things get to this point?

Well, for starters, the trial was against her father, who was accused of possibly murdering her maternal grandfather. That’s why he hired a defense attorney, hoping he could get him out of trouble… even if he did so just a few hours before the trial began.

Phoenix Wright was the name of the attorney who accepted the case, despite having almost no time to prepare. The girl could easily tell that he was very nervous, and she didn’t blame him. This case was extremely important; it concerned the Gramarye family, a world-renowned group of magicians.

Her father, Shadi Enigmar, also known as Zak Gramarye, was the accused in the case. He stood accused of murdering her maternal grandfather and the current head of the Gramarye troupe, Magnifi Gramarye.

The prosecutor, a rookie, was giving Mr. Wright a tough challenge in court. Klavier Gavin was not one to be taken lightly, that was certain.

Though the case wasn’t exactly going WELL, there still seemed to be a chance of victory—until she made a big mistake.

During one of the breaks, a man had asked her to deliver what appeared to be a journal page to the attorney in charge. Being an obedient child, she did as she was asked.

After that, the trial resumed.

At a given moment, Prosecutor Gavin presented Magnifi's journal as evidence, claiming that he hadn’t written in it after his death. Phoenix seemed to feel defeated until he remembered the page she had given him. He analyzed it quickly and concluded that it was the proof he needed to show that Magnifi HAD indeed written after Zak’s visit.

And that’s how they arrived at this moment...

She had just condemned not only her father but also the lawyer, who was innocent of any wrongdoing. And worst of all, the prosecutor had a witness who could testify about the forged evidence. There was nothing more to be done...

No...

She wasn’t going to let things end like this...

She would rectify her mistake—or she would no longer call herself Trucy Enigmar!

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 “Too bad you didn’t think this through before disgracing yourself…” Klavier said arrogantly.

“I see no need for further discussion on this matter,” the Judge declared. “The special witness is dismissed!”

The courtroom fell silent. It seemed there was nothing more to say to clear up this embarrassing situation, but then…

"OBJECTION!!"

After that shout, all eyes turned to the little magician. There was no turning back...

"Stop everything!" she cried, determinedly.

"Trucy!/Ms. Enigmar!" Shadi and Phoenix exclaimed in unison.

"M-Ms. Enigmar! W-What is the meaning of this?" the Judge asked, surprised.

"This witness has not incriminated Mr. Wright in any way!" she cried, summoning all the courage she could.

"OBJECTION!!"

“That’s a bold attempt, fräulein,” Klavier said before exclaiming, “But unfortunately, it won’t make a difference since the witness confirmed the evidence was falsified!”

"OBJECTION!!"

“Shut up, you rock boy!” she exclaimed, irritated, pointing her finger at him. “How did your informant know the evidence was forged, anyway?!”

“What...?” Klavier murmured, taken aback. She scoffed angrily before turning to the Judge.

"Your Honor, this witness only said that the evidence was forged!" she declared confidently. "He did NOT say that Mr. Wright requested it!"

"OBJECTION!!"

“What other reason could someone have to forge evidence for this trial?” Klavier exclaimed.

“Well, to incriminate him with it, duh!” she replied. “And I can prove here and now that Mr. Wright had nothing to do with this evidence! Just give me a chance, Your Honor!”

The Judge fell silent for a few seconds before sighing. “Does the prosecution agree to allow Ms. Enigmar to testify?”

Klavier crossed his arms. “…Ja. The little fräulein has shown great resolve at this moment. I believe she deserves at least a few seconds of our time.”

The Judge nodded. “Very well. Ms. Enigmar, tell this court what you believe proves that Mr. Wright did not forge this evidence.”

Trucy glanced at Phoenix, who looked at her, bewildered. She gave him a thumbs up along with a small smile.

Then she returned her gaze to the front. “Your Honor, the simplest, most straightforward proof that exists to disprove this accusation… is time!”

The courtroom seemed to analyze the little magician’s reasoning. But they were interrupted when Phoenix exclaimed, stunned: “Y-You’re right! There wouldn’t have been time to make this forgery!”

“Mr. Wright.” The Judge addressed the defense, now consisting of both the lawyer and Trucy, who had moved to his side. “Could you elaborate on Ms. Enigmar’s idea?”

“Of course I can, Your Honor!” he replied, crossing his arms. “To create a forgery of this level, it would take at least a few days of work.” He looked at the surprise witness, “Isn’t that right?”

Mr. Misham hesitated a bit before responding. “Y-Yes, it was a process that took a week. I needed the original diary, you see, to make the forgery. First, I needed the extensive handwriting sample I found in the other entries. I needed to match the pen, the ink, and also needed to create the exact same type of paper. Then there’s the matter of perfectly matching the torn pattern of the diary. It’s a very complicated task.”

“…So, you needed access to the actual evidence to produce this forgery?” Trucy asked, thoughtful.

“Yes, dear. Without it, there’d be no way to replicate either the handwriting or the tear pattern accurately. Photographs simply wouldn’t work for that.”

Phoenix smiled confidently. “… Your Honor, I received the case file, including the evidence, only this morning. The diary has been in the prosecution’s exclusive possession since this case was sumitted to trial. It would have been impossible for the defense or anyone else to forge this document…”

“. . . Unless that person had access to the prosecution’s evidence vault.”

That last comment brought all eyes in the courtroom back to the little magician, who was glaring at the prosecutor. He quickly understood what she was insinuating.

“WHAT?!” Klavier exclaimed, shocked. “This is completely unfounded!”

“It’s the only thing that makes sense! This is your first trial, and you wanted to make a great impression! Just look how flashy you are!” she exclaimed, following her train of thought. “It would make sense that you’d do everything possible to defeat a legendary lawyer like Phoenix Wright!”

"OBJECTION!!"

“I have no interest in winning!” Klavier retorted angrily. “My only interest is serving justice!”

“Then tell us who gave you the tip!” Nick exclaimed. “How did they know about the alleged forgery?!”

Klavier looked incredibly nervous, and it was clear to everyone that he was unsure of what to do at that moment… but something seemed to click in his head, making him suddenly serious.

“Herr Wright, fräulein Enigmar…” Klavier said seriously. “You both claimed that only someone with privileged access to the evidence could have committed this forgery, correct?”

Phoenix frowned. “Yes, that’s what we said. What about it?”

Klavier removed his sunglasses, revealing determined and saddened eyes. “The thing is… I was not the only one with that kind of access to the evidence…”

“WHAT?!” Phoenix exclaimed, shocked. Trucy was equally stunned.

“Mr. Enigmar… I believe you mentioned that you hired a defense attorney before Herr Wright, didn’t you?”

Shadi, from the defendant’s seat, responded, “Yes… I didn’t have a good feeling about him, so I fired him and hired young Wright this morning.”

“And could you tell the court the name of that attorney?”

“. . . Your brother, Kristoph Gavin.”

"OBJECTION!!"

“KLAVIER!! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” a man, who had just entered the courtroom abruptly, exclaimed. His appearance was very similar to the prosecutor present.

“Speaking of the devil,” Shadi muttered.

"OBJECTION!!"

“I am pursuing the truth, just as you said, brotha!” Klavier replied. “And the truth I just uncovered is that you planned to use this illegal evidence in our encounter, and since I’m your brother, you thought I’d let it slide… It’s disappointing, to say the least…”

"OBJECTION!!"

“You can’t… YOU CAN’T HOLD THIS AGAINST ME!” Kristoph exclaimed, pounding the witness stand, startling Mr. Misham a bit. “I did EVERYTHING to make your career successful. I found legal loopholes to every problem JUST to make things easier for us!” He looked up, fury in his face. “And this is how you repay me?! With disgrace?!”

"OBJECTION!!"

Klavier struck the wall. “Brother, the ONLY thing I want to know is why you obtained this forged evidence, okay?” he exclaimed. “Or else I’ll have to press charges, ja?”

Kristoph looked at him with rage. “This… THIS IS RIDICULOUS!”

"OBJECTION!!"

“It isn’t, Mr. Gavin,” Phoenix says, making the blonde attorney turn to look at him. “If we call Mr. Drew Misham back to testify, we can uncover the truth, right?” He crosses his arms, “Let’s do just that, Klavier.”

“That was exactly my next move, Herr Wright,” Klavier agrees. “Your Honor, the prosecution would like to call Drew Misham to the stand once again to testify.”

"OBJECTION!!"

“I won’t allow this, Klavier,” Kristoph says. “You should know better than—”

*Gavel bang*

“Mr. Gavin, please step down from the stand and allow Mr. Misham to take the floor,” orders the Judge.

“Grr… for Christ’s sake…”

After only a few seconds, Misham was back at the witness stand once again.

“Well, Mr. Misham. I believe you’re aware of what we’re going to ask, aren’t you?”

“Y-Yes… And yes, I can confirm that Mr. Gavin here… was the one who asked me to forge the document…”

“Hah… in the end, the truth has come to light…” Klavier says, before looking at the defense. “Moments ago, I was asked who tipped me off about this, right?” He crosses his arms, “My brother here was the one who told me about this page. He said Herr Wright would use it in court to cheat… He was trying to make Herr Wright look like a lowly cheat.”

“But now we know the truth! That guy is the biggest cheat of them all!” Trucy exclaims, upset.

Phoenix nods. “And because of that, he now faces charges for evidence tampering, especially in such a high-profile case as this,” he says, smiling. “So, Mr. Gavin, do you have any last words?”

“This… THIS IS RIDICULOUS!” Kristoph says, enraged. “I don’t need this badge… I don’t need my reputation… I don’t need it… I don’t… I DON’T LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!”

Moments after that emotional outburst, Kristoph looked noticeably more worn down, surprisingly so, as minutes earlier he had seemed like royalty.

“You’ve caught me, brother… I was the one who asked Drew Misham to forge the evidence… ALRIGHT?”

"OBJECTION!!"

“Brother, surely you realize that Herr Wright and Fraulein Enigmar helped to bring you down.” Klavier smiles, slightly saddened. “But I’ll take that as a compliment… Goodbye, brother.”

“Oh yes… I’ll be leaving here… but…” Kristoph mutters, tensing everyone in the room. “I’ll take at least one of you with me!”

Out of nowhere, Kristoph pulls out a revolver and points it directly at the defense. Phoenix quickly places Trucy behind him. The jury goes into chaos, and everyone wants to escape. The Judge calls for the bailiffs. Klavier moves from his desk to try to stop his brother.

Kristoph looks around like a cornered animal. But all his attention focuses on one person, who made a noise. Shadi had risen from his seat, intending to go to his daughter.

But the deranged attorney wasn’t going to let that happen… so, aiming his gun, he pulled the trigger, and the bullet flew from the weapon… striking Shadi in the head, killing him instantly.

“DADDY!!” Trucy screams, held back by Phoenix. She watches as her father’s lifeless body falls to the ground.

Before Kristoph could claim another life, Klavier reached him from behind and tackled him to the floor, restraining him there. He only laughed maniacally, his main reason for doing this… now dead.

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POV Trucy

The trial had to be suspended that day. Kristoph Gavin was taken to prison for forging evidence to distort the Court and for the murder of my father, Shadi Enigmar.

He now faces up to 20 years in prison or the death penalty, as he’s being tried on two counts of serious charges, especially because of the case and the importance of the victim.

But his laugh that day… it was the laugh of a maniac…

…A laugh that will probably hunt me for a very, very long time…

But putting that aside, it seemed there was no need for another day in court. Since it was proven that Dad wasn’t responsible for my grandfather’s death, thanks to the forensics’ discovery of the real page that left my grandfather’s magic rights to my dad. Proving that when my dad left my grandfather’s room, he was still alive.

So the force of justice changed their objective, since if my dad wasn’t the one who killed him, by process of elimination, the only one left was Uncle Valant. But he wasn’t charged with murder either, as he revealed that my grandfather had taken his own life, and he only altered the crime scene to make it look like my dad was guilty, so he’d be arrested and Valant would get the rights to his magic.

…So… there was never a true culprit… only three very proud, but selfish magicians…

…So, even though Dad is now gone, at least his public reputation remains intact…

… But now that I think about it… why would my dad ask me to create a distraction if something went wrong?

...

… What a silly question… I know exactly what the answer is… he was going to leave me behind to fend for myself…

Just as he has done it now with his death…

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General POV

…A few hours later…

These were Trucy’s thoughts as she silently cried. She was sitting on the courthouse steps. No one seemed to pay any attention to the little girl there, as everyone walked by, maybe feeling a bit sorry for her, but doing nothing to help.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard two voices she recognized instantly.

“So, are you retiring as a prosecutor?”

“Ja, I don’t think I can continue down this path after what happened today. So, I think I’ll stick to my music career instead. There isn’t as much… blood in it.”

“Mmm… Alright then. The only thing I can do is wish you luck with that.”

“Same to you, Herr Wright. Until we meet again.”

Trucy watched as the prosecutor, er, ex-prosecutor, quickly got on his motorcycle and rode away. Maybe he didn’t want to stay around any longer. She didn’t blame him. If she could, she would have left too.

“What are you still doing here?” someone asked behind her.

She turned to look. Yes, it was the attorney Phoenix Wright. He looked at her with concern in his gaze. Before she could respond, she sneezed.

“I-I’m… cold, really cold…” Trucy mumbles, trying to warm herself with her cape.

The little girl felt something heavy being placed over her shoulders. She looked down, realizing it was a blue coat, the same one the attorney had. So she figured he had given her his coat to keep her warm.

“Th… thank you…”

“Don’t worry,” the man replies, as he sits beside her. “But, you still haven’t answered my question. What are you still doing here? Isn’t anyone coming to see you?”

She slowly shook her head. Small tears began to form at the corners of her eyes. “The only people I had… are gone forever…”

Phoenix remained silent for a few seconds, before looking around for a few more moments. After his inspection, he returned his attention to the little girl.

“L-Look, Trucy… if you’d like, you can come to my apartment to rest for today,” Phoenix suggests. “Tomorrow we can look for somewhere for you to stay, alright?”

Trucy remained silent, but nodded.

She felt herself being lifted by the attorney, and she had no energy to protest about him carrying her like a baby, so she simply rested her head on the man’s chest and closed her eyes… she was very tired.

Phoenix planned to take a taxi, but he suddenly saw a red sports car parked in front of him. When the window rolled down, he saw his best male friend, Miles Edgeworth.

“Hey, Edgeworth.”

“Get in. I want to know what happened.” He glances down at Phoenix’s arms, “…Why are you holding that little girl?”

The attorney, not wasting any time, got into the car. “It’s… a long story.”

Miles nodded, accepting the response. “Alright, you can tell me while I take you to the orphanage.”

“That won’t be necessary, just take me to my apartment.”

Miles raised an eyebrow, looking at him.

Phoenix sighed. “She’s… very tired and stressed with everything that happened today. I just don’t think it’s right to take her to an orphanage in her current state, you know?”

The prosecutor shook his head, with a slight smile. “Yes, sure, and then you’ll end up adopting her, just like you did with Alexia Fey, Miss Maya Fey, and her cousin, Pearl Fey, right?”

“First, I haven’t adopted them, or at least not Alexia yet. And second, you talk as if I adopt every orphaned child that crosses my path,” he adjusts Trucy, “which I don’t do.”

Miles glanced at him sideways. “Whatever you say, Wright. Whatever you say.”

At this moment, Miles was watching from the jury box on the prosecution's side. Today was the day of the second trial in which Trucy Wright would be heading the defense, with Apollo Justice by her side as her co-counsel.

It was incredible what Phoenix Wright had managed to achieve with his youngest daughter.

But even more incredible was the fact that Miles had done something he never imagined he would end up doing—adopting a child simply because he didn't want her to be alone... just like his friend had done.

In the prosecution's bench, his daughter, Athena Edgeworth, waited patiently for the trial to begin. This wasn’t Athena’s first trial, but it was the first time she would directly face Trucy.

"Hey! Am I late?" someone asked, sitting down next to him. The prosecutor turned to see none other than Phoenix Wright.

"No, but I think you’re in the wrong place," Miles replied. "The defense is over there."

Phoenix smiled. "I know, but I just couldn’t resist seeing the look on your face when my daughter defeats yours."

Miles snorted, adjusting his glasses. "It seems you have high hopes, Wright," he said, crossing his arms. "Although, I do hope Trucy gives a much better performance in her second trial," he added with a mocking tone, "or at least one better than the one you gave in your second trial."

Phoenix laughed. "Oh, I’m sure she’ll do much better."

Ema Skye. That was the name of a girl passionate about forensic science. Her dream was to become a forensic investigator—not just because she found experiments entertaining, but because she believed that science could reveal the truth, no matter how complex a situation seemed.

Since the SL-9 case, which deeply impacted both her and her older sister, Lana Skye, Ema had grown into a determined teenager. Her eyes still shone with the same resolve as in her childhood, though now she understood the fragility of justice and the dangers within the judicial system. To Ema, science was the only reliable means to ensure that the innocent would not pay for the crimes of others.

After leaving Los Angeles, Ema enrolled in a university in Europe to specialize in forensic science. The experience was tough, both because of the academic demands and the distance from her sister. But every sacrifice brought her closer to her goal: to become an exceptional forensic scientist and, one day, return home to prove that science was the answer to many injustices.

…But luck wasn’t entirely on her side…

Ema had failed the exam required to enter the forensic division of the police. As a result, she didn’t qualify for the role and was instead hired in the Criminal Affairs Department as a homicide detective.

And that’s how we find her now, waiting to be assigned the prosecutor she would work with.

“This is such bullshit…” Ema muttered, irritated. “I just hope the prosecutor I have to work with isn’t an idiot…”

Her thoughts were interrupted when someone entered the break room reserved for detectives. When she turned to see who it was, she recognized a familiar face.

“Chief Detective Gumshoe. A pleasure to see you again,” Ema greeted politely.

Even though she was rather bitter about having been forced into the role of a homicide detective, she wasn’t going to take it out on someone she owed a great deal to for what he did during the 'Lana Skye v. State' trial. She literally owed him her sister’s innocence…

“Hello, pal!” Dick Gumshoe replied with his characteristic grin. “Looks like you’re following in my footsteps here in the force, huh?”

Ema sighed, annoyed. “Yes, much to my dismay—no offense intended,” she crossed her arms, “But what about you, Detective? Are you on break?”

“Oh, no, not really, pal. I actually came to give you a message.”

She raised an eyebrow, curious. “A message? From whom?”

Gumshoe shrugged. “I couldn’t tell you much, pal. All I know is that Mr. Edgeworth sent me to find you. He wants to assign your prosecutor personally,” he scratched his head, “So, yeah. You should probably go see him at the prosecutor’s office now. Mr. Edgeworth doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

That took Ema by surprise. Of course, it wasn’t what she’d call a miracle—if it were, Gumshoe would have said that Miles Edgeworth wanted her to be his detective. But that would mean letting Detective Gumshoe go, something she doubted Edgeworth would do.

Still, if he himself wanted to assign her prosecutor…maybe… this might not be so bad after all…

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2029 - PROSECUTION OFFICE, Chief Prosecutor’s Office

Miles Edgeworth is currently in his office, reviewing and documenting cases that pass through his desk before assigning them to prosecutors by a random draw. However, if he feels that a particular case is significant for the State, he will take it on himself. But that hasn't happened for some time, so he has mainly focused on office work.

His attention shifts when someone knocks on his office door. Miles doesn’t stop what he’s doing, as he knows who’s likely to be visiting. "Come in," he says without looking up from his documents. He hears the door open.

"G-Good afternoon, Mr. Edgeworth," says a voice familiar to him, and he looks up to see none other than Ema Skye, the person he called in.

“Good afternoon to you as well, Detective Skye,” says Miles cordially. “Do you know why I called you here?”

“Well, according to Chief Detective Gumshoe, you wanted to see me to personally assign me to a prosecutor of your choice,” she replies.

Miles nods. “Exactly, Detective Skye.” He takes out his phone. “Allow me to call in the prosecutor who will be under your care.”

Ema remains silent. After a few moments of total silence, the office door opens. Miles is the first to direct his gaze to the new arrival. “You kept us waiting, Athena.”

Ema also turns to look at the newcomer. The first thing she notices is that the person is a young woman, not older than eighteen. She has orange hair tied in a ponytail that reaches a bit below her lower back, and her irises are sapphire blue.

The outfit she’s wearing consists of a long, unbuttoned yellow blazer that reaches below her knees over a black vest with gold buttons, which is over a white shirt. She wears a skirt matching her blazer, black leggings underneath, and low-heeled black shoes. She also has a white cravat tied around her neck, along with a gray device with a light blue screen hanging like a necklace.

Based on her attire alone, Ema can almost guess she’s Mr. Edgeworth’s protégé, or perhaps someone even closer. Her guess is validated when the young woman speaks.

"I'm sorry, Father. I ran into Prosecutor Eustace Winner, and we lost track of time while chatting," Athena apologizes, making a small bow.

Miles doesn’t seem to mind. “It’s fine; no need to apologize. I know how Eustace can be when having a conversation.”

“F-Father?” Ema murmurs, failing to hide her surprise. Miles looks at her with a slight smile.

“Yes, Ema,” says Miles, standing from his desk and moving to stand beside Athena, placing a hand on her shoulder. “This is my daughter, Athena Edgeworth.”

“Nice to meet you, Ms. Skye,” Athena greets. Ema, coming out of her shock, nods in acknowledgment.

“If you haven’t yet figured out why I called Athena here,” Miles says, prompting the brunette to look at him, “it’s because I want you to be the detective in charge of her cases.”

Ema was practically pinching her arm to make sure she wasn’t dreaming, because this moment was simply too good to be true.

Not only had Miles Edgeworth, the chief prosecutor, called her aside to personally assign her to a prosecutor. But he also trusted her and her skills enough to pair her with what was surely the most important person in her favorite prosecutor’s life—his daughter.

“M-Mr. Edgeworth,” Ema began firmly. This was a matter to be taken seriously, at least from her perspective. “It will be a great honor to work alongside your daughter,” she said, looking at Athena. “Ms. Edgeworth, I can guarantee that my science-based methods will ensure each and every one of your cases is built on solid, indisputable evidence.”

Athena offered a small smile. “I look forward to working with you, Detective Skye.”

“So do I, Ema,” Miles added.

Ema was beaming with excitement. This was just too perfect for it to end well... and as if some deity had heard her thoughts, someone suddenly burst into the office, prompting everyone to turn and look.

“OBJECTION, Mr. Edgeworth!” a young woman exclaimed as she entered the office with determined strides.

The first thing they noticed about the newcomer was that she was a young woman, no older than twenty-five (twenty-three). She had long, wavy black hair tied in a ponytail with a pink hair ornament and a golden pin that resembled a large key with three smaller keychains dangling from it. Her eyes were emerald green.

Her attire consisted of a pink vest with rolled-up red sleeves, over which she wore a gray trench coat full of bullet holes, probably from past incidents. She wore a blue scarf, fastened with a golden brooch shaped like a three-legged bird. She had a dark blue skirt, short brown gloves, mesh stockings, and black boots, along with a pink belt holding a brown bag.

Ema quickly recognized the girl who had entered. Her name was Kay Faraday. They had first met at Gatewater Land when Mr. Edgeworth was competing with Agent Lang of Interpol to see who could solve a murder case at the park more efficiently. Of course, Mr. Edgeworth won and caught the real culprit.

Although she contributed a bit with her forensic knowledge, Mr. Edgeworth only solved it with the help of Kay and her device, Little Thief, which could accurately recreate existing locations (provided by previous blueprints that were available). And when additional data was added, it could almost perfectly recreate a crime scene.

Her thoughts were interrupted when the chief prosecutor spoke. “Kay! What is the meaning of this? Didn’t I tell you not to barge into my office like this?!”

Kay, unfazed, responded, “I’m sorry, Mr. Edgeworth. But there was simply no other way for me to get in.” She crossed her arms. “I had to come as quickly as possible to prevent you from making a grave mistake.”

Miles was taken aback. “W-What? Me?”

“Um, Kay,” Athena said, catching her attention. “Could you clarify what mistake you think my father is making?”

With a confident smile, Kay walked over to Athena and, without hesitation, gave her a tight hug, which, while making her smile, left her even more confused.

“Athena, don’t even think for a second that I’d miss the chance to be your detective. I’m here to make sure I’m the one by your side,” declared Kay, casting a challenging look at both Miles and Ema. “And nothing, and no one, is going to stop me from doing so!”

Ema took a few seconds to process what was happening, but when she finally did, she frowned in irritation. Miles, on the other hand, rubbed his temples. “Let me get this straight. You’re saying you want to be Athena’s detective? Is that correct?”

Kay nodded firmly. Miles sighed, exasperated. “Kay, you’re aware that you’re already Eustace’s detective, right? You can’t simply serve as the detective for two prosecutors at once.”

“OBJECTION! That’s not true!” Kay exclaimed, countering, “As far as I know, Gummy was the detective for five different prosecutors, maybe even more. So it is possible for a detective to work for two or more prosecutors at once.”

Miles grumbled softly. He couldn’t deny it—after all, the fact that he’d worked for Franziska alone validated Kay’s point.

“HOLD IT!” Ema exclaimed, drawing attention to herself. In a tone that denoted professionalism, she said, “Detective Faraday, this is not a competition over who Ms. Edgeworth appreciates more. She needs someone who can provide a practical and precise approach in evidence analysis. That someone is me. This isn’t about friendship; it’s about who can offer the necessary support in the cases she’ll take on.”

Kay smiled, not backing down an inch. “And do you think that’s enough? Athena needs someone who can understand her on a more personal level, someone who can support her emotionally as well. Support can’t be reduced to simple data and science. Athena is my friend, and I know I can give her the support she truly needs in this profession.”

Athena’s face reflected a mix of nerves and surprise as she watched both detectives defend their points. Kay had always been a close friend, more than that—practically an older sister. They had shared experiences during her studies at Themis Law Academy, solved mysteries together with her father, and shared a deep connection beyond simple friendship. But on the other hand, Ema’s offer was more structured and practical, something she knew would be a great help in her role as a prosecutor, especially now that she was a rookie.

Miles watched the two detectives in silence, analyzing each argument. He knew both had valid points and recognized the value each would bring to Athena’s growth. But he also understood the importance of balancing emotions and objectivity in an investigation. For now, though, he decided to observe the scene in silence.

Kay seized the moment of silence to continue her argument. “Look, Athena, we’ve known each other for a long time. Do you remember that time at Virtual Mind Inc., when we solved that little mystery about the case of who killed the manager to steal the database? I told you then that I’d always be there for you, and I mean it. I don’t need science or evidence to prove that I’m by your side.”

Athena nodded slightly, recalling those days. It was true; Kay had always been there for her through good and bad, and her loyalty to her was unquestionable.

Ema, however, wasn’t about to back down so easily. “That’s very touching, Detective Faraday. And it’s not something I plan to dispute. But this isn’t Ms. Edgeworth’s internship phase anymore. In the real field, emotional loyalty won’t always be enough. Believe me, I know what I’m talking about.” She crossed her arms, “She needs concrete evidence and scientific analysis to build her cases. And honestly, I don’t think that’s your strong suit.”

Kay let out a soft laugh and tilted her head. “Oh, sure, because a case is always solved with evidence and analysis, right, Detective Skye? Have you ever considered that emotions also play an important role? It’s not all about rules and formulas. If you don’t believe me, why don’t you ask Damon Gant?” This made Ema step back slightly, and both Edgeworths looked at her in surprise, seeing that Kay could be that direct. Without giving Skye time to recover, she continued, “Emotions are something Athena knows how to handle, and she’s not alone in that. I’m sure she’ll need someone to support her emotionally, not just with data.”

Athena parted her lips, trying to interrupt, but the intense gazes of both detectives held her back. Both were so engrossed in their arguments that they didn’t notice her unease.

“Real evidence doesn’t lie, Detective Faraday,” Ema continued in a firm tone. “It’s our duty to seek objective truth. Ms. Edgeworth will face endless evidence and documents in cases, and I have the experience to help her handle that. I don’t mean to say friendship isn’t important—it is. But in this profession, evidence is what matters the most.”

Kay crossed her arms, smirking slightly. “Sure, sure, the scientist has the final say. But, Detective Skye, let’s also remember that in court, evidence isn’t always the only piece of the puzzle. Athena will need someone who understands the nuances of testimonies and can catch contradictions that documents don’t show. It’s more than just scanning a crime scene,” she smiled, victorious, “and I already have a year of experience to back my words. And I haven’t even mentioned Little Thief in all of this. Now, tell me, what do you have to back your words, Detective Skye?”

Ema and Kay exchanged one last look, challenging but without malice, as if each wanted to make their point clear, and then waited in silence for Miles’ final decision.

Miles, who had listened to every word attentively, took a deep breath and spoke with a solemn calmness. “My decision isn’t based solely on individual skills, but on what I believe will be best for Athena’s development as a prosecutor. You’ve both raised valid points, and I don’t doubt that either of you would be an extraordinary choice.”

Athena looked at him with a mix of anxiety and curiosity, her fingers interlaced as her thoughts swirled. In her mind, both perspectives continued to resonate, and although she wished to keep Kay close, she also understood the importance of Ema’s objective approach.

Miles first turned his gaze to Ema, who looked at him with a mixture of nerves and hope. “Athena needs stability in this initial stage. A focus on precision and practical analysis will allow her to build a solid foundation for her cases. Therefore, I’ve decided that Ema will be the detective assigned to assist her.”

Ema’s face lit up with a mix of relief and satisfaction. Still, before she could express her thanks, she noticed Kay’s look.

Kay, though clearly disappointed, gave an ironic smile. “Well, Detective Skye, I suppose you’ll have all the time in the world to teach Athena how to examine a piece of evidence under the microscope. But don’t think I’ll let you have all the fun. I’ll be watching you, and I’m sure Athena will need my ‘perspective’ at some point.”

Ema gave a controlled smile, trying to keep her composure and hide her nervousness. She had only just realized the scene she’d created here in front of both Edgeworths. “Don’t worry, Detective Faraday. Ms. Edgeworth will be in good hands. Although, if you feel the need to confirm it, you’re welcome to see us in action.”

The two exchanged one last challenging look, with a playful touch of hostility that told Athena that, while the rivalry was real, there were no ill intentions—or at least, that was what she hoped.

After a final farewell, they left the office.

Silence returned to the room, and Miles turned to Athena with an understanding expression. He knew this decision hadn’t been easy for her.

Athena took a deep breath, releasing the nerves she’d been holding back all this time. “Father… I know it was the right decision, but somehow, it’s hard to imagine myself without Kay by my side. I feel like I’m leaving something important behind.”

Miles approached her and gave her a pat on the shoulder in a paternal gesture. “I understand how you feel, Athena. Sometimes in our profession, we must make difficult decisions that don’t always satisfy all our desires. Still, I know this choice will help you grow as a prosecutor. And you don’t have to worry about Kay being away from you, because I’m sure that even if I tell her not to interfere with your work, she’ll still be close by.”

Athena nodded, feeling relieved to know her bond with Kay wouldn’t be affected by this decision. “Thank you, Father. I’ll do my best to show that your choice was the right one.”

Miles nodded, pleased. “I know, Athena. Now go, you have work waiting for you out there as a prosecutor. And though Kay won’t be by your side today, you’ll always be able to count on her support… and mine.”

2027, Wright & Co. Law Office

Trucy Wright was flipping through a thick law book, her eyes shining with excitement as she reviewed the sections she had highlighted. The afternoon sun poured through the office windows, illuminating the cluttered desk where her father, Phoenix Wright, sat. Ever since Trucy had decided to follow in his footsteps as a defense attorney, she had devoured every case, every article, and every legal text Phoenix provided.

Phoenix watched her from his chair, smiling proudly. He still remembered the day Trucy had expressed her wish to become a defense attorney. He knew it hadn’t been easy for her to turn away from the magical legacy of the Gramarye troupe, but he and her sister were there to support her every step of the way as she forged her own path.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Before Phoenix could respond, the door swung open.

“I’M HERE!” a cheerful brunette shouted.

Phoenix sighed, feeling a bit weary. “Alex, if you’re going to burst in like that, why knock at all?”

“Hello, sis,” greeted Trucy without looking up from her book.

Alexia walked into the office, still smiling widely. “Hehehe! Greetings to both of you!”

“What’s got you in such a good mood?” the lawyer asked, rising from his desk.

“Oh! It just so happens that I was wandering around Themis Legal Academy,” Alexia answered. “And… I brought something, or rather, I brought someone.”

“Oh? And what were you doing at Themis Legal Academy?” Phoenix crossed his arms. “And who did you bring?”

“Well, listen up, Phoenix. To be honest, I was just strolling around there for fun, reminiscing about my time as a student, chatting with a few professors who taught me, and catching up with some old classmates. But while I was walking around the academy, I ran into several students who are fans of our great work.”

Phoenix chuckled. “Well, that’s something new. I never thought I’d have fans because of my profession.”

“That’s right, and I suppose it’s no surprise some of them asked me if I could pull a few strings so they could gain experience here.”

“Here?” Phoenix echoed, wanting to be sure he’d heard correctly. Alexia nodded in confirmation. “I see... Well, that explains where you were and what you were doing. But you still haven’t told me who you brought along.”

“It’s a friend who’s studying at the academy to become a defense attorney. And let me tell you, he’s the top of his class and generation, so you could almost say he’s a prodigy,” Alexia explained. “Although, of course, that was only after I graduated early from our class, but I think he still deserves a lot of credit.”

Alexia’s description of the young man piqued Trucy’s curiosity, and she glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, momentarily distracted from her book.

“Besides having a strong sense of justice. Something that I think fits quite well with his last name.”

Phoenix now looked at her with interest, “Interesting… is the kid here?”

Alexia grinned. “Of course he is! Otherwise, I wouldn’t have mentioned it!”

He settled back into his chair. “Let him in.”

“Aye aye, sir!” Alexia replied, turning toward the hallway outside the office. “You can come in now, Polly.”

“Polly?” Trucy thought, raising an eyebrow.

The door opened further, slowly, revealing a young man with dark brown hair styled into two horn-like points and a serious but slightly nervous expression.

“Come on, come on, Polly. Don’t be shy…” Alexia teased, a small sweat drop on her forehead. The boy took a deep breath, exhaled, and composed himself a bit.

“G-Greetings, Mr. Phoenix Wright. My name is Apollo Justice... Um… Alexia here said I should come with her to this address to discuss an employment opportunity…”

Trucy looked up from her book, intrigued, and fixed her gaze on the newcomer. Something about him seemed familiar, though she couldn’t quite place it.

Phoenix welcomed him with a warm smile, “Ah, yes. She just filled me in on that. I hope you feel welcome, Apollo. From what little I’ve heard from Alexia; you seem to have a lot going for you. Why don’t you take a seat?”

Apollo nodded timidly and sat in the chair across from Phoenix’s desk, stealing a quick glance at Trucy. He hadn’t expected to find a young girl reading a law book with such focus in a place like this… no, that was a lie. This was literally a law office, and considering her guardians were lawyers, it was fairly predictable that she’d have at least some interest in the subject.

After that, a brief interview ensued between Phoenix and Apollo, with occasional interjections from Alexia. Several minutes into the interview, Phoenix asked Alexia to accompany him to his office to discuss something, presumably about integrating Apollo into the law firm.

With the two senior attorneys out of the room, the two younger ones were left alone in the reception area. Trucy figured it was only appropriate to greet the new guy—after all, he’d be working here.

Yes, she was quite sure he’d get the job; it seemed obvious. She didn’t know what her father wanted to discuss with her sister behind closed doors, but for now, she decided it didn’t matter and walked up to the young man.

“So your name is Justice Apollo, huh?” she said, making Apollo look up at her. She extended her hand. “Nice to meet you! I’m Trucy Wright, the boss’s daughter and Alexia’s little sister.”

Apollo couldn’t help but smile a bit at the young girl’s energy and confidence.

He shook her hand, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Wright.” He glanced curiously at the book in her other hand. “What are you reading?”

Trucy chuckled, “Come on, no need to be so formal. Just ‘Trucy’ is fine, and feel free to speak informally. As for your question, what I’m reading is…” She dramatically snapped the book shut. “Criminal law! I’m learning everything I can to become a defense attorney like my dad.”

Apollo blinked, a little surprised.

“A defense attorney? Really?”

Trucy nodded, “That’s right! My dad and sis always say I have a keen eye for details, and I want to use it to help people who can’t defend themselves,” she sighed, “In the past, I had another reason to use my perception, but I suppose, as I said, that’s all in the past. Besides, I feel like I can do more as a lawyer than what I wanted to be before.”

Apollo nodded slowly, impressed by Trucy’s words. He had decided to become a defense attorney for personal reasons and knew what a commitment like that entailed. It seemed she had several reasons of her own, more than she was letting on. But he wasn’t going to pressure her to reveal them; if she wanted to tell him someday, that would be her choice.

“That’s quite admirable, Trucy. The path to becoming a defense attorney is a great challenge, but it can also be very rewarding,” he smiled at her, “I hope this path is as fulfilling for you as it’s been for me.”

Trucy grinned widely, encouraged by Apollo’s words.

“Thanks, Apollo. I’m sure we’ll make a great team when you start handling cases on your own!” she said, beaming.

Phoenix and Alexia watched the interaction from the head office in silence, satisfied with the instant bond that had formed between them. They knew that with Apollo as a partner and Trucy with her unstoppable energy, the future of both was in good hands.

“You planned this, didn’t you?” Phoenix asked, raising an eyebrow. “You knew exactly this would happen, didn’t you?”

Alexia let out a small giggle, “Maybe yes. Maybe no.” She gave him an innocent smile. “I just wanted Trucy to have another older sibling figure in her life.”

“Just a ‘figure’ of an older sibling?”

Ema Skye seemed quite pensive. That was something Athena didn’t overlook; she could practically feel the confusion in Ema’s heart. Currently, the two of them were taking a small break after investigating their first crime scene, having been paired together by the chief prosecutor. So, it wouldn’t hurt to ask what was going on with her investigation partner.

“Is something wrong, Detective Skye?” Athena asked, making the brunette turn to look at her. “You seem deep in thought. Is it about the case?”

The detective gave a small jump. “Huh? You noticed?”

Athena raised an eyebrow. “It’s obvious, detective,” she said, crossing her arms. “What’s up?”

“Well… it’s just…” Ema said, slightly nervously.

“What is it?”

“It’s just that… I’m still surprised that Mr. Edgeworth has a daughter…”

The prosecutor looked at her, curious. “Why does it seem so unbelievable that he’d be my father?”

“If you’d met him before, you wouldn’t believe it either,” Ema murmured, pulling some Snackoos from her bag.

After a small sip of coffee, Athena looked at the sky, a thoughtful expression on her face. “I think I understand what you mean, but I suppose he felt indebted to my mother, and that’s why he adopted me.”

That caught the detective’s attention. “Indebted to your mother? Could you tell me how? Only if it’s okay with you, of course…”

Athena shook her head. “No problem at all. We’re going to be investigation partners for a long time, so I think it’s only right that we know more about each other.”

“I suppose I should start with how we met….”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Footsteps echoed in the hallway of the orphanage, breaking the silence reigning over the place. Miles Edgeworth, always with his elegant demeanor and severe expression, stopped in front of a door marked with a worn-out number. The orphanage director, an elderly woman with tired eyes, nodded before opening the door.

Inside the room, a little girl with orange hair sat on the bed, hugging a small plush doll tightly. Her large, deep blue eyes stared out the window, though she didn’t seem to be looking at anything in particular. It was as if she were trapped in her thoughts, tangled in a past she couldn’t quite understand.

The prosecutor noticed the headphones the girl was wearing. “So, she’s still using them, huh?”

“Athena, you have a visitor,” the director announced softly.

Athena didn’t react immediately, but when she finally turned her head, her gaze met Miles’s. The prosecutor, famous for his coldness in court, felt a knot in his stomach at the sadness in those eyes, which seemed far too large and heavy for such a small girl.

“Hello, Athena,” Miles said, kneeling down to be at her level. He wasn’t a man who usually interacted with children, but he knew that there was something about this girl that had driven him to come. Something he couldn’t ignore.

Athena looked at him with a mix of curiosity and caution. “Who are you?”

“My name is Miles Edgeworth. I’m a prosecutor,” he replied, feeling the awkwardness of trying to smile. It wasn’t something he did very often.

“Oh… you’re the prosecutor that prosecuted Simon’s case, aren’t you?”

Miles nods, “Why yes. That would be me”

Athena now looks at him with full caution, “And… why are you here?”

“I knew your mother.”

The mention of her mother made Athena lower her gaze, clutching her doll even tighter, as her pale blue necklace shifted to a bluish gray. Miles cursed himself internally for that slip, but he knew he couldn’t avoid the subject forever.

“Athena, I know you’ve been through a lot,” he said softly, trying to make his words sound less harsh than they usually did. “And I know nothing I say will make the pain go away. But I want you to know that you’re not alone.”

The girl raised her head, her eyes filled with held-back tears. “Why did you come to see me?”

Miles sighed, thinking of all the times he had felt loneliness like a bottomless pit. Every night, remembering his father, his best friends, and the life he’d loved. It was a pain he knew all too well…

But he also had the chance to escape from it. He’d been shown that even in the darkest moments, there was always a light, however small. Phoenix had taught him that… now it was time for him to teach it to someone so she wouldn’t go through the same pain he did.

“Because I want to help you,” he said finally, his voice firm but warm. “I want to give you a home, Athena. A place where you can feel safe and start to heal.”

Athena looked at him, bewildered. No one had offered her anything like that before. No one had promised her a home. Her mother and Simon didn’t count because they loved her unconditionally. But she was sure that her relatives abroad wouldn’t have been as kind to her as this man was being. Proof of that was that even after a week since Simon’s trial, she hadn’t heard a word from them.

Meanwhile, this man, who was only an acquaintance of her mother, had come to offer her a hand… He was already a better option than her relatives, and that was saying something. But there was also something in the prosecutor’s voice that made her want to believe him. She could practically hear the sincerity in his voice…

“Would you come live with me?” he finally asked, extending his hand toward her.

The girl was silent for a moment, looking at the hand extended in front of her. Then, slowly and trembling, she set the doll aside and took the man’s hand. Her hand was small and fragile compared to his, but Miles held it gently, as if it were the most valuable thing in the world.

“All right,” Athena murmured, her voice barely a whisper. “I’ll go with you.”

Miles gave her a real smile, a small one, but it lit up his serious features.

“Welcome home, Athena.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“Awwww! Mr. Edgeworth was that sweet to you?” Ema exclaimed, amazed. Her eyes shone with warmth.

Athena chuckled. “Yes, he has a side he only shows to his closest people. So I’m not surprised you haven’t seen that side of my father.”

Ema placed her hands on her cheeks. “Oh! How I would’ve loved for Mr. Edgeworth to act that way with me at your age…” She sighed dreamily. “It would’ve been a beautiful image…”

“(Well, I don’t know how beautiful my father can be to the female public),” Athena thought. “(But… I can’t deny it was a beautiful moment in my life.)”

“A-and, what about your mother? How did he know her?” Ema asked, excitedly.

“Well, he told me when…”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A red sports car was cruising down the highway. Its two occupants were a gray-haired man and an orange-haired girl. After their conversation a few minutes ago, both had left the orphanage and got into the prosecutor’s car.

Athena glanced at what she could now call her new father. She had no doubt he was a kind person, and there was no reason to distrust him. But she couldn’t stop thinking about something he had said when he spoke to her in the orphanage.

“I knew your mother.”

“What kind of relationship did they have? Was her mother accused of something? Was she a witness to a crime?” Those and more questions occupied Athena’s mind, but she couldn’t find any answers.

“Is something wrong, Athena?” Miles asked, snapping Athena out of her thoughts.

She looked at him, seeing that he was looking at her out of the corner of his eye.

Miles spoke again. “You’ve been pretty quiet. It doesn’t bother me, but I’d think you’d have some questions you’d like to ask.” He returned his gaze to the road. “Is there something on your mind?”

The girl hesitated but gathered the courage to ask, “How did you know her?”

“Know who?”

“My mom…” Athena said. “You said you knew her. But you didn’t say how you met.”

Miles hummed softly, perhaps thinking about how to respond to the girl’s question. It wasn’t that he didn’t know how to answer; he just wanted to choose the right words to reply.

“Your mother was a brilliant scientist specializing in the research of psychology and mind-related technology. Her work in these fields had caught the attention of many in the scientific community, but it had also piqued the interest of law enforcement, given its potential application in criminal investigations.”

Athena looked at him, intrigued. “Criminal investigations?” Miles nodded.

“One day, I received a particularly complex case. A murder had occurred where the circumstances were so convoluted that even the usual physical evidence and testimonies didn’t seem enough to solve it,” he frowned slightly. “So, upon investigating further, I concluded that the accused’s behavior was deeply influenced by psychological factors that couldn’t be deciphered through traditional methods. An example would be his perfect control over his emotions."

“So... that's when you went to Mom for help and met her?”

"That's right. In seeking a way to address these psychological aspects, I became interested in Dr. Metis Cykes' work. It was said that she was developing technology capable of analyzing a person's emotions and thought patterns in real time, which could provide the necessary perspective to understand the defendant's mental state at the time of the crime."

"Which is why I decided to visit her in her lab. There, with no intention of exaggerating, I was utterly impressed by her professionalism and dedication to science. Though I won’t deny that, at first, I was skeptical about the idea that emotions could be measured and analyzed objectively, she showed me how her research and technologies culminated in the prototype of an object called the Mood Matrix."

"T-The Mood Matrix!?" Athena exclaimed in surprise, only to quickly cover her mouth, embarrassed by her reaction.

Miles merely chuckled. "That's right, Athena. It’s the very same program that would later be perfected and enhanced for you and your widget." He sighed. "But back to the story. Over the course of our collaboration, Metis and I developed... mutual respect."

Athena asked, "Mutual respect? Why?"

"I admired Metis' ability to combine science with a sense of justice, while what she respected in me, according to her, was my integrity and commitment to the law. Although our relationship was strictly professional, there was an underlying connection based on our shared desire to seek the truth and protect the innocent."

Athena was deeply moved by what she’d been told. And if she was honest, she was also completely thrilled by it. Her mother had worked as a pseudo-assistant to the current chief prosecutor, helping to uncover the truth in a case, thanks to the Mood Matrix…

She cast her gaze upon her Mood Matrix, Widget. Could she do something similar to her mother? Could she help free Simon in that way?

Miles glanced over at her once again, noticing she was deep in thought. But this time, she wasn’t lost in her thoughts the way she had been a few moments ago—now, she was focused on something decisive.

Though he wasn’t usually the type to intrude on others’ matters, he couldn’t help but feel curious about what Athena was now thinking after having shared this little story of how he’d met her mother.

But he got his answer when Athena spoke up, asking another question. And as if history were repeating itself, she asked him, "Could a prosecutor help free Simon?"

His eyes widened a bit, surprised by the girl’s question. But thanks to his years of experience in the courtroom, he quickly regained his composure.

Though Miles hesitated slightly before answering, he managed to give a response that, though simple, was also somewhat satisfying. "...Only a well-prepared prosecutor, with the right evidence, could accomplish that. Of course, that's if a second trial could be arranged to prove his innocence."

"...Could you help me...," Athena said shyly, but for Miles, it was more than clear what she was going to ask.

So, without any fear of being wrong, he asked, "You want me to help you become a prosecutor so you can catch the true culprit?"

Athena nodded, determination shining in her blue eyes.

"I could help you... but ONLY if you still want to be one when you’re older." Miles replied, before adding, "Even so, I can still teach you some simple things, but all in due time. Do you accept my conditions?"

"Y... Yes, please!" Athena exclaimed with determination.

A father-daughter relationship still seemed a bit rushed, but a teacher-student relationship felt appropriate at this moment for both of them, and he could be much more in tune with her, almost as he had been with that man…

But unlike him, Miles would do things right. He would teach her the right way, so she could avoid each and every one of the mistakes he had made. And even if she did make mistakes, she would still be perfect… she would be perfect in his eyes…

It was time for his name to be carried with true pride and honor… he only hoped he could do as well as his father had done for him.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"...Wow…" Ema gasped, stunned.

"Yeah, I was just as blown away when he told me," Athena murmured, a small smile on her face.

Ema had thought she could never feel more respect for Chief Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth, but this had just proven that her respect for him was far from reaching its limit.

Athena stood up from the bench where they’d both been sitting. "Well, that was an entertaining chat, but we have to get back to the investigation." She looked over her shoulder. "If you want to know more about my father and me, you’ll have to wait until later."

Despite her eagerness to hear more about what her prosecutor partner had to share; Ema had to admit Athena was right; it was time to get back to the investigation.

But this little interaction with the prosecutor only proved that Athena was the best partner she could have asked for. Literally the only good thing she had gained since becoming a criminal detective! She would have to prove herself up to the chief prosecutor’s choice—and to his daughter’s investigation partner as well!

"Right! I'm excited to use my forensic techniques!"

On a normal school day, Trucy and Pearl were walking together through the schoolyard. It was recess time, so they weren't the only little ones there.

They both planned to go to their favorite tree, where they always went to sit under its shade to talk and catch up on what was going on in their lives. Trucy at the Wright & Coop. Law Office with Phoenix and Alexia, and Pearl at Kurain Village with Maya.

It was their favorite spot in the yard since it was one of the few trees that were away from where the other kids were, so it was a place that was pretty quiet. A perfect place for what they both wanted to do.

But, just before the two reached their destination, Trucy suddenly stopped walking, making Pearl look strange at her behavior.

Before Pearl could ask what was going on, Trucy says, "Jeez, looks like someone already beat us to it," as she pointed at the tree they were sitting under.

Pearl's gaze landed right where Trucy was pointing. And sure enough, there was someone there who beat them to the tree.

The girl has orange hair, which is tied back in a long ponytail, reaching down to her lower back, and has sapphire-colored irises in both eyes. And she was wearing pink headphones, which are shaped like bunny ears. Considering where she is, they are probably for listening to music.

Pearl sighs, disappointed. "Looks like we'll have to go somewhere else…"

She was about to start leaving if it hadn't been for Trucy grabbing her forearm, stopping the girl from moving.

"Wait. Doesn't that outfit look familiar to you?" Trucy asks, pointing at the stranger, or more specifically, her clothes.

Pearl looks at her confused before listening to her best friend and looking more closely at the outfit that the girl is wearing.

From what she could see, the outfit she was wearing was made up of a buttoned black suit jacket, a white shirt with long sleeves, a somewhat short dark yellow skirt, and white formal shoes. But what caught her attention the most about her outfit was the white crabat around her neck.

The medium looks surprised, "Isn't that something only Mr. Edgeworth and Ms. Von Karma wear?"

Trucy nods. "I highly doubt anyone else who isn't related to them would wear something like that. It's just too… out of the ordinary, isn't it?"

"I agree, Trucy." Pearl looks at the orange-haired girl more closely. "She seems to be alone…"

"Yeah, she seems to be… Hey! Why don't we go keep her company?"

"Are you sure? I don't want to bother her."

"If we do bother her, she'll tell us and we'll leave her alone."

Pearl sighs, although still hesitant, she nods her head, implying that she agrees.

Both girls approach the lonely orange-haired girl. She senses them coming, so she glances at them out of the corner of her eye.

Trucy shows her a big smile. "Hello! I'm Trucy Wright!" She gestures to Pearl, "And this is my best friend, Pearl Fey!"

"H-Hello," Pearl greets shyly.

"G-Greetings…" The orange-haired girl says, with the same level of shyness.

Before she had even realized it, Trucy sat to her right. Pearl, just following her friend's example, sat to the orange-haired girl's left.

"So?" Trucy says expectantly, making the nervous orange-haired girl somewhat nervous.

"W-so what?" She questions confused.

Trucy puffs out her cheeks in annoyance. "What do you mean 'so what?'?" The brown-haired girl smiles again. "We already gave you our names, how about you share yours with us?"

The orange-haired girl hesitated a little. She glanced at Pearl out of the corner of her eye, who showed her a small, comforting smile.

Even though the brown-haired girl was much louder than her friend, she could hear that their hearts were quite calm and tender, without the slightest hint of ill intention… that feeling relaxed her enough to answer:

One ordinary day, Trucy was looking at one of her dad's many lawyer business cards on the desk. The golden gleam of the letters and the engraved name, "Wright & Co. Law Office," fascinated her more than usual today.

“Daddy... what was it like when you decided to become a lawyer?”

Phoenix turned toward her; a bit surprised by the question. “Oh, well… it wasn’t something I decided on at a young age. In fact, it was something that happened a bit by ‘accident.’ But when it did, I figured it was the right thing for me.”

Trucy crossed her arms, thoughtful. “What made you realize that?”

“Hm… I think it was the desire to help others. Knowing that I could defend innocent people who had no one else on their side to defend them. That motivated me…” Phoenix replied, before glancing to the side with a slight blush on his cheeks. “And… a few other things…”

She nodded slowly, processing the answer. “And what has your life as a defense attorney been like so far?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Why are you interested in that?”

“Curiosity, I guess.”

“Hm… I suppose I can tell you a few things…”

Trucy was showing a strong interest in the life he had led as a defense attorney so far, and Phoenix was more than happy to reminisce with her about his old cases, from circuses to kidnappings… In retrospect, Phoenix admitted he probably shouldn’t have been talking about murder cases with a girl her age… or with Alexia and Pearls a few years earlier, for that matter… But at that moment, he was just happy to see her so engaged.

Finally, Phoenix remembered something. Trials are usually recorded, aren’t they? The next day, he met with Miles and asked him a favor. He wanted a copy of the recording of his first trial, and if possible, those of his other trials as well.

Miles wasn’t thrilled about the idea of going to the courthouse to request something like that, but he did it for Phoenix, as he still felt he owed the lawyer for everything he had done for him and his adoptive sister… and besides, is not like he haven't done the same for his own daughter...

That night, Phoenix and Trucy watched as many recordings as they could together, laughing at how things were back then. But Phoenix noticed something in her eyes… something in these recordings had sparked a fire in her gaze.

For the rest of the night, Trucy was very cheerful and excited. Phoenix loved seeing her so happy, but he couldn’t help but wonder what it was about these recordings that had inspired her so much…

One morning, while Phoenix was trying to wake up, he heard banging and Trucy’s voice. If there was one thing Trucy definitely wasn’t, it was noisy. She was quite cheerful, but not loud. In general, although it didn’t seem like it, she was a very calm child. So something was definitely off.

He left his room to investigate and found Trucy pounding her hands on the coffee table and pointing to the walls, whispering things like, “OBJECTION!” “HOLD IT!” “TAKE THAT!”

Amused by her behavior, Phoenix asked what she was doing. She turned to him and, without hesitation, declared, “I think I finally understand, Daddy! I know what my new goal is! I’m going to become a defense attorney, just like you!”

Phoenix smiled and ruffled her hair. “You’re saying you want to be a defense attorney like me? Really?”

Trucy nodded quickly. “Yes. I don’t want to continue with magic, like my birth family.”

He straightened up, surprised by what he’d heard, and asked, “Are you sure? Don’t you want to continue the Gramarye legacy?”

She sighed, tired. “No. I don’t want to carry on the legacy of that group of selfish traitors,” she looked to the side. “If I want people to remember what I do and what my predecessors did, I don’t want there to be such a dark past. And also… if I can help people avoid what I went through in court… I want to help those people… I want to defend them…”

Silence filled the room as Phoenix took in Trucy’s words. He hadn’t expected his daughter to make such a decision so soon. He wouldn’t deny he felt incredibly proud of Trucy, though he could already feel his wallet hurting at the thought of paying for her studies at Themis Law Academy… Even so, he encouraged her and said he could teach her all his old tricks, which she eagerly accepted.

From that day on, Phoenix never saw her act as if the world was just a game, without worries or consequences. It was now clear to him. She had a firm goal in mind. And he was going to be by her side every step of the way.

Over the years, Trucy’s interest in becoming a defense attorney remained strong, and thanks to the cases she’d been working on with Alexia and his new protege, Justice Apollo, it probably grew even stronger. And finally, one day, it happened. Phoenix told her joyfully that he had saved up enough money. She was going to become a defense attorney. Trucy was very excited and thanked him endlessly, starting to “practice” once again right away.

Before Phoenix knew it, he was finding her in blue suits, dress pants, and red ties, looking like a Phoenix Wright cosplayer. Alexia had said she looked spectacular, and he and Apollo agreed, but they encouraged her to put her own spin on the role of defense attorney and not limit herself to being his shadow.

Trucy took that very seriously, and soon Phoenix was seeing her in new and stylish outfits every day, trying to find the one that she felt truly represented her and her legacy…

Finally, one day, she found it and excitedly presented her new look to her adoptive father.

Her outfit consisted of an unbuttoned white tailored coat over a black dress with golden diamonds reaching mid-calf, tucked into pants the same color as the coat. She also wore a bluish cape with hearts and clubs, held in place by a green diamond with silver edges and a red scarf around her neck. She wore earrings that were golden diamonds, short white gloves, and brown boots.

Phoenix looked curiously at her cape. So he asked her about it, making Trucy sigh: “Well… you could say that over time… I was able to think things over about the Gramaryes… Don’t get me wrong. I never plan to return to magic, let alone continue Shadi and Magnifi’s legacy… But I thought… my birth mother has nothing to do with them. In fact, she died because of them…”

She took her cape. “So I thought of wearing something that was hers so she could be remembered by someone… at least she deserves to be remembered…”

It was an answer that surprised the lawyer a bit, but he understood that if that was her wish, then so be it. After all, Alexia wore a cream scarf to honor her own biological mother; why couldn’t Trucy do the same for hers?

In conclusion, Phoenix loved her new look, and it was clear that Trucy did too. After showing it to Alexia and Apollo, both quickly agreed that the brunette looked amazing in her attire.

“Well, let’s see what we can find here,” Apollo murmurs.

Trucy looks around, as if she’s searching for something or someone, a detail the rookie attorney doesn’t miss.

“Is something wrong, Truce?”

She turns to look at him. “Oh, it’s nothing. It just seemed strange to me that we were able to get in here so easily. Normally, someone is watching to make sure unauthorized people don’t enter.”

Before Apollo can say anything, someone interrupts him.

“Hey! Stop right there!” a woman calls out.

When they both turn to see where the voice came from, they spot a brunette woman running toward them.

She stops in front of the two young people, “Phew… I made it in time…”

Now that they have her in front of them, they can see her much better. The woman has long brown hair with a bow, two strands over her shoulder, and bangs in the front. Her irises are a grayish sapphire color. She’s wearing a pink shirt, a green vest with gold buttons, a white coat reaching below her knees, brown capri pants, black high heels, and a red tie.

Trucy nods to herself, “I thought it was strange not to see anyone watching over this place.”

“Uh… who are you?” Apollo asks.

The woman seems to catch her breath. “I’m the detective in charge of this place. My name is Ema Skye.”

“Ema… Skye…?” Trucy murmurs thoughtfully, before something seems to click. “Oh! You’re Miss Skye!?”

‘Ema’ looks at her with curiosity, “Do we know each other?”

“What?!” The girl looks at her, annoyed. “How can you not know me?!”

Apollo looks at her, intrigued. “Truce, do you know her?”

“Well, yes! She was Alexia’s assistant when she defended Ms. Lana Skye.”

This response makes the woman’s bored expression brighten a bit, “You know Alexia Wright?”

Apollo answers, “Um… She’s Trucy’s older sister, and she’s also my senior colleague at the Wright & Co. Law Offices.”

“What?! Alexia Wright has another sister?!”

“You seem surprised. I bet she hasn’t said anything about me, has she?” Ema shakes her head, “I thought so… I’ll have a good talk with her later…”

“W-well, if you’re Alexia’s little sister and you her junior colleague… then I’m available to help you in any way I can!”

Trucy smiles. “Great.”

“Oh, uh, thanks,” Apollo murmurs, relieved. “Could you tell us a bit about the case?”

“Sure, what would you like to know?”

Apollo thinks for a few seconds, “I already know the main details of the case thanks to Detective Faraday…” before asking, “So, why don’t you tell me something about who’s handling this case?”

Ema smiles. “You mean the prosecutor?” she turns, pointing off into the distance. “That’s her. Prosecutor Athena Edgeworth.”

“Edgeworth, huh?” the attorney murmurs, “That’s quite a name around here.”

As soon as Trucy hears the prosecutor’s name, she turns her gaze toward where the detective pointed, indeed seeing a girl with long orange hair tied in a ponytail and wearing yellow clothing. There’s a visible boredom on her face as a police officer reports on the investigation.

The prosecutor senses someone watching her, so she turns toward the direction from where the gaze came, and the two girls lock eyes. The legal assistant in blue waves toward her. Athena returns the greeting with the same gesture, though more calmly, as a small smile forms on her lips. After a few seconds, she turns her attention back to the officer, once again with a look of total boredom.

Trucy chuckles a bit nervously, “(It must not be such an interesting case if someone like her is acting like that.)”

But, well, she couldn’t get distracted by her friend right now; she needed to pay attention to everything the detective was telling them.

"(My name is Trucy Wright, and I am the youngest adopted daughter of the famous defense attorney, Phoenix Wright. Although, in truth, my biological parents are Thalassa Gramarye and Shadi Enigmar, but I think that's all in the past… literally. Anyway, as I was saying, even though I come from a family of magicians capable of performing unimaginable magic tricks, I chose to become a defense attorney like my adoptive father and sister. What else can I say? Oh, technically, I have two sisters. The older one is Pearl Fey, who is like another big sister to me, and the other is Alexia Wright, who was adopted nine years ago when she fully moved in with her biological father. I also have an aunt/adoptive mother, her name is Maya Fey, and she’s the master of the Kurain channeling technique.)"

"(I also have a senior colleague, aside from my sister. His name is Apollo Justice, someone who came to ‘Wright & Co. Law Offices’ thanks to Alexia’s recommendation. He arrived when he was still a law student at Themis Legal Academy and took all the experience he could here, being dad’s protégé and Alexia’s legal assistant, before becoming a full-fledged defense attorney.)"

"(But anyway, you might be wondering, why am I so nervous? Well, it’s my first case in court, and I’m the one handling the defense, of course. What’s the case about? Well, it’s not that simple…)"

"(A young, famous actress, Liliana Strato, has been accused of murdering the director of a play during rehearsals for her latest production. The director’s body, Julius Clair, was found in the theater’s prop room, with a ceremonial dagger embedded in his chest. But according to her, she would never do such a thing, which is why she asked me to defend her, even though I’m just a rookie.)"

"(Or, well, technically, the case was taken by Apollo. But it seems he thought it would be funny to leave it to me as my first case… I guess he didn’t appreciate me teasing him a bit when I was his legal assistant back when he first started taking cases on his own.)"

"(Why couldn’t I just pass this case to my father or my sister? Well, I could… if they weren’t both visiting Kurain to see Maya and Pearl. At least Apollo took pity on me and will stay by my side as co-counsel.)"

"(But even with all that, I can’t help but feel nervous. When I was a legal assistant, the attention would be on me for a moment, and then Apollo would take over, but now the eyes will be on me the entire time. And even if I wanted to, I can’t back out now. I’ve already made a promise to get a not-guilty verdict, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do!)"

"Come on, Truce. Show them this is where you belong."