Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Phoenix Wright has suffered a lot in his life. Ever since he became a defense attorney, it seemed all the things in the world wanted to injure him in usually comically painful ways, taser, tiger, god knows how many whip lashes, coffee mugs, a fire hydrent…That last one should've done worse to me. He thought as he ran onto the rickety bridge.

The old burning wood gave way under his feet, with nothing left to stand on, Phoenix began to plummet to the rapids below. Flames that began to sear his robes quickly extinguished, Phoenix froze up, the cliff edge rapidly shrinking as he fell.

Phoenix jolted his hand up to the magnatama around his neck hoping something will miraculously save him, that feeling quickly fading away as he felt the smooth magnatama in his fingers. Nothing, what was he thinking?! He's got nothing! Is this the end? If it is…I don't want to go yet! Iris is innocent! Is Maya going to be okay?! This isn't my time yet! Please! Ran through Phoenix’s mind as he screamed a horrid scream that was wretched with terror.

Whatever benevolent force that watched over him had now turned a blind eye, tears formed in Phoenix’s eyes as the fires on the former bridge slowly ceased to be, ashes and bigger burnt debris falling down with Phoenix.

Everything became numb, they say that your life flashes before your very eyes when you’re about to die. At the rate Phoenix was falling, he wasn't sure if he was going to see it all.

At least…no, how can I be happy!? There’s still so much to do!

The last thing Phoenix felt before his world plunged into darkness was pain exploding on his head and a sudden cold enveloping his entire body. The last thing he saw was red intermingling with blue and tinges of green shining in the murky depths of the rapids.

I don't want to die...

Chapter Text

February 11th 9:32 PM Phoenix's apartment

Miles Edgeworth lingered in front of the apartment door marked 202, a hint of nerves quashed before it could even hold his soul. He quickly checked his phone, this was Phoenix’s apartment for sure. He would've been here earlier if he wasn't held up by having to refuel his car. Miles checked his wristwatch. 9:32 pm

“Wright…” Miles tapped his foot while he lightly knocked on the apartment door, he crossed his arms, impatiently tapping his arm with a finger. It squeaked open to the tapping, already unlocked. Hmph. Miles thought to himself as he was suddenly assaulted by a wave of heat emitting from the apartment. It's near the end of winter Wright, does it really need to be this warm? Might as well note this down.

Even though it wasn't polite to walk into somebody’s place without them knowing, it would be a nightmare if something bad happened to Phoenix…again. Miles shivered, the images of the trial from yesterday seared into his mind. 

Miles entered with little hesitation So this is Phoenix’s Apartment. If he had to be honest to himself, it was exactly what Miles imagined in his head. If any of the lights were on that is.

“Wright!” Miles called out, shutting the door behind him with a quick click of the lock. “I have got your badge.” Miles slipped Phoenix’s defending badge out of his pocket. Placing his free hand on the entryway wall, feeling out a jacket pocket. 

Miles took a deep breath, squinting into blurry darkness and vaguely familiar shapes helped with smatterings of moonlight. "Where's your lightswitch?!” he asked, slipping the badge into the jacket pocket. Next to the jacket was a light switch, he quickly flicked it on to no avail.

“Strange, did you forget to replace your lights, Wright?” Miles quietly noted to himself, tapping his temple in contemplation.

There was a shudder, a crash and a crunch, snapping Miles out of his thoughts.

Lights out, unlocked door, no response from Wright, looks like someone made themselves privy to Wright’s apartment. Miles walked further into the apartment, noting the shapes that resembled a couch, a tv and a desk. Maybe Wright got himself injured again facing this intruder. Miles thought to himself, worry clear on his face.

A rustle caught the attention of Miles, he turned his head to the noise. Found you.

Miles glared, now that he could see the intruder amongst moonlight was…was…if he had to be honest, he didn't know at all. He was getting shortsighted and he knew it. All that he could see clearly though was a pair of glowing white lights where the eyes would've been. Eyes, call them eyes for your sake.

“Who are you?” he called out.

The Intruder didn't respond, instead those pure white eyes dug into Miles’s soul, almost glowing with desperation. Lunging towards him, the Intruder’s hand grasped Miles’s left hand. Miles winced, a surge of icy pain rushing through his body. He yanked his hand out of the Intruder’s grasp, hearing the unmistakable sound of a body crashing into a wall, he looked up at the Intruder.

Framed in dashes of shuttered moonlight, Miles swore he could see blisters on deathly pale skin leading to blackened fingers that stiffly move up to their face. The Intruder shivered, closely watching Miles as he felt out the desk’s lamplight switch.

With a flick of the lamp light, Miles held back a scream. Even though he still maintained a stoic look, horror was all he could feel while staring at the Intruder’s slightly clearer form. The Intruder had a myriad of burn scars on their face, their ice tipped hair looking like it was drenched with water and that wasn't the start of it.

From what little Miles could properly see of the Intruder with a bit of squinting, he could see black that reached halfway down every finger. Small blisters and burn marks were on the hands, leading to the arms that were hidden by a long sleeved dark blue sweater. It was safe to assume that similar scarring would be on the rest of the Intruder’s body too.

“What the…” Miles trailed off in shock.

The Intruder lunged forward again, Miles quickly backstepped out of the Intruder’s reach, watching them crash to the ground. The Intruder coughed out a bit of blood or at least a congealed red liquid that resembled blood. They then, with a sudden burst of adrenaline, crashed into Miles with their whole body. Sending the prosecutor down onto his back.

The Intruder raised their right arm, bringing it right down. Miles steadied himself in anticipation, staring down the Intruder despite slight aches. The Intruder’s hand suddenly lingered over Miles’s face, never touching and yet so close to skin, holding their right arm back and shaking against their own strength before they toppled off of Miles.

“No.” Miles said, the tiniest bit of fear in his voice now.

He's prosecuted a case or two with a corpse in this state before. There was no denying it. This was a case of frostbite. Although frostbite usually did not cause zombies as far as he knew. That was utterly impossible, a creature only found on the silver screen right in front of him?! And yet… Miles stood up, dusting himself off.

The Intruder suddenly stiffened up as they slowly got up to their feet, slightly hunched over while looking down at their hands with a dawning horror on their face.

They then looked at Miles. “Help…me…” The Intruder croaked out, weakly touching their own face with panic clear in their eyes. Colour drained from Miles’s face, that voice…it can't be.

“Wright?” Miles started, approaching the shivering man, his voice shaking and unusually soft. “Is it really you?”

The Intruder cocked their head in confusion before slowly nodding. A soft green glow began to pulse weakly in their chest, nearly hidden by the thick sweater. Miles quickly made a mental note of that. Unusually warm apartment, soft green glow… it all makes sense now, as absurd as that thought is.

"Wright, tell me truthfully. Did you die?” Hung in the air before Miles could bite his tongue to stop the words from coming out.

Phoenix nodded again, aimlessly running his fingers through his wet looking hair. He blinked a couple of times, his eyes regaining colour. His left eye glowing green with the same soft light that was in his chest while his right stayed a pale brown.

“...Edgeworth…Help…Me…” He said, arms wrapped around himself. It was 24 degrees celsius in the room yet he still shivered as if it was 0 degrees. Miles slowly approached Phoenix, his hesitation giving way to a concern Miles wished he could hide.

“Please tell me…What’s happening… to me?” Phoenix managed to get out, his teary eyes darting down to Miles’s injured hand.

Miles looked down at his own shivering left hand. On his palm was a pure black mark that resembled a thumb print. He then turned his hand around, similar markings were wrapped round, resembling the rest of presumingly Phoenix’s hand. 

Three words that Miles hadn't said together in a long time were said that night. It felt almost a tiny bit sickening to say aloud but in the face of all that had happened over the last ten minutes, it was the only thing he could say.

“I don't know.”

Chapter Text

February 11th 9:00 pm Phoenix’s apartment

On a full moonlit night in his apartment, Phoenix Wright shivered, tapping a pen on his temple idly while letting out a heavy sigh. His desk lamp and only the lamp was framing a small pile of important documents. 

Taxes…they didn't have to make it so hard to do, I wonder if dying and coming back on the job is tax exempted? Phoenix thought to himself while leaning back on his chair. His free hand unconsciously feeling out the warmth of the magnatama in his chest. It's been a few days since he’s died and if Phoenix had to be honest, he was still so confused over it.

He died, people usually die when they fall into a freezing river from 40ft high. Yet he's still here, alive, kicking and ready to defend the wrongfully accused for another day. 

There has to be a catch to this, right? Phoenix spun his pen in quiet contemplation, he's seen enough movies where death defied lead to horrific consequences. His free hand voluntarily reached for an eye to rub the non-existent tiredness out of it.

Phoenix shook again, his teeth clattered as he got out of his desk chair. He hurried over to the thermostat, setting it to 24 degrees celsius. There we go. Phoenix smiled, enjoying the warmth.

An agonizing pain bloomed over his head, exploding without warning or reason. Phoenix opened his mouth to scream, barely a noise coming out as he fell to the floor, he didn't feel the impact of it at all. Bitter cold wrapped around his whole body, Phoenix weakly got up onto his own two legs, looking down at his hands. 

His fingertips were slowly darkening and numb to the touch. Skin started to blister and welt before his very eyes as a hazy fog started covering his mind.

Phoenix tossed his head back in pain, hands holding hair while letting out a silent cry for help. What’s happening to me! Was the last coherent thought that rushed through his mind before once more everything went dark.

February 11th, 10:00pm, Phoenix's apartment.

“And that is what I last remember…Don’t tell anyone about this Edgeworth…Not even Maya…I don't want her…To worry about me.” Phoenix pleaded, the colour in his face slowly returning.

"Wright…Fine I will. Do you have any tea in this humble abode?" Edgeworth asked, his mind off of recent events. Now he could see semi clearly. The apartment was exactly as he imagined it in his mind. There was a huge pile of documents on the nearby desk, he was sitting on top of an old couch and the tv across from him was from the mid 90s.

"No theres...only coffee." Phoenix chuckled, the fog in his mind lightening up. Edgeworth however in response did his reserved for court smug shrug. "Tsk Tsk Tsk. Unfortunate, you should always provide for your guests Wright."

Phoenix’s eyes darted down to the marks on Edgeworth’s hand for a moment before looking back up at Edgeworth. 

"I will…Edgeworth, call me Phoenix." Phoenix rubbed the back of his neck with an embarrassed smile. Edgeworth looked back down at his watch with a bit of frustration. 

"Phoenix, I'm afraid I have to catch an early flight tomorrow. I do recommend some bedrest would be the best for you...I'll be in Germany for a month so I suppose in my off time I could see if I could find anything on your...condition." Edgeworth stood back up, walking to the front door.

"Okay, bye Edgeworth! Thank you!" Phoenix grinned, his mask of confidence slipping back on while turning around on the couch to face his rival.

Edgeworth remained quiet, lingering by the front door before he turned back to Phoenix with the smallest of all smiles that Phoenix has ever seen. "Please Mr Wright. Call me Miles." Miles closed the door behind him.

Phoenix stared at the door for a few more seconds then he would like. "Miles..." Phoenix wistfully sighed, could he still feel now that he's died? What sort of question is that Phoenix?! Of course you can. Phoenix shook his head before walking to his bathroom, he's going to freshen himself up before bed.

Phoenix didn't know what he expected when he went to the bathroom, although a slight squeak of shock escaped his lips. The face in the bathroom mirror was always the face Phoenix had seen before getting ready for the day ahead, except…his face wasn't this scarred.

There were plenty of scars on his face, most noticeable was his eyes, his right had lightened to a pale brown while the other had now become green, faintly glowing with spiritual power. Framing his now green eye was patchy red burn scars that welted a little bit, his eye slightly shut from that.

Phoenix focused on his right eyebrow, feeling it out with a shaking hand. A little bit of it was lopped off, however what was more unfortunate was that one of his prized spikes had drooped, curling a little bit. Phoenix slicked the curl back, watching it flick back into its curly state. Phoenix sighed a little in frustration, turning his head side to side to check if there were any more scars. A couple of his prized spikes were now lopped off unfortunately.

Nothing more, good, of course there's the rest of my body…There’s worse things to think about right now then a couple of scars Phoenix thought to himself, feeling out the tiny nick of a long forgotten scar made clear on his lips. Like the marks on Edgeworth’s hand. Phoenix shuddered for the first time that night not out of cold.

Phoenix gripped the sides of the sink, looking up at himself with a new found confidence. “Phoenix Wright, you are alive.” Phoenix reassured himself with a weak smile.

At that statement, a sharp pain grasped his head, his left eye began to glow even brighter than before. One half of Phoenix’s world plunged into darkness, chains violently wrapping around his body and locking into two and a half Psyche locks. 

Phoenix involuntarily covered his right eye, the rest of the world plunging into darkness soon after. Chains unseen by all but him locked into the rest of the red locks, numbering to five red Psyche locks all together

I can…of course I can see it. I shouldn't be surprised but I am. Phoenix closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as the warmth in his chest spiked before easing back down to a tolerable level. He opened his eyes, the locks and chains vanished before his very eyes. Phoenix rubbed his eyes once more.

Bed, he needed to go to bed right now, maybe he can try to go to sleep now. It wouldn't be that hard, Wright-right?

February 12th, 03:25 am, Phoenix’s apartment

Even in the early hours of the morning, Phoenix stared at the ceiling. Clad in light blue flannal pjaymas and a sleeping mask hiding his droopy spike. His face was framed by the soft glowing light in his chest.

Phoenix pushed the sleeping mask down and closed his eyes, a few agonising minutes passing as whispers of sleep didnt even come to him. Phoenix slipped the mask back up, he can’t sleep, he hasn't felt the need to for a couple of days now and the weirdest thing about it? His body should protest against that, he should be tired to the point of fainting, that's how a human body works. Phoenix sat up.

“...” Phoenix held a hand to his chest, fingers dancing from the warmth of the magnatama to an approximation to where his heart should be. He closed his eyes, feeling and listening to a slow but consistent badump under his fingers.

“Hang on.” Phoenix muttered, one missasipi badump, two missasipi, badump, three… Phoenix’s eyes snapped open. Drawing his hand back, Phoenix grabbed his blanket as tight as he possibly could, wrapping it around himself.

Phoenix opened his mouth before he snapped it shut. He balled his right hand into a fist tight enough that he could see thick blood drip out of his hand. This is your reality now. Say it, say the truth.

Phoenix could feel tears well in his eyes. He mustered up his usual confident smile, wavering before settling into how he always did it. His voice was soft and defeated on a night he never thought he would live in.

“I’m not human.” Phoenix smiled. His left eye twitching. The Magnatama quickly dimmed. Pain bloomed over his head once more, now familiar.

Not enough to stop him from screaming.

February 12th Apartment block Backstreet 07:02 am

Phoenix opened his eyes to small bones in his hands. The magnetama in his chest glowing brighter than it ever has as far as he remembered before it eased away into a steady slightly brighter than usual glow. 

The whole world felt alive, warmer, his skin no longer had the deathly pallor that so haunted him over the last few days.  Phoenix smiled, blinking a couple of times before his smile vanished.

It's been a long time since he's seen a skull, last time he saw one it was a cheap plastic one for halloween but resting in his hands was a small skull with a beak.

"No…" Phoenix dropped the bones with a clatter. Slowly backing away from the bones all he could do during the evercroaching dawn was run.

Chapter Text

February 12th, 07:30 am Phoenix’s apartment

Phoenix sat on his couch in absolute despair, head down, hands gripping missing spikes. Last he remembered, he was in bed screaming with the world's worst pain in his head and how the hell did he come too holding a pile of bones anyways. Phoenix gritted his teeth in frustration. Hands quickly making their way down to the buttons on his flannel pjs. If I really want to see the rest of the damage, I might as well see it all. 

Phoenix vaulted over the couch and onto his feet, he rushed to the door across from his bedroom, breaking himself just as he was about to run into the bathroom door a little too late. With a loud crash, Phoenix fell to the ground.

“Ow?” Phoenix expected to wince in pain. No such sensation ran through his body. Phoenix’s eyes widened in horror. He fell face first after all! Humans feel pain! He felt it last night before…Humans… Phoenix grabbed his flannel shirt, ripping it off with one semi smooth motion before flashing a fake smile.“Stop thinking about that! You’re not human anymore! Accept that!” Phoenix laughed, the bathroom door opening up with a loud slam!

He rushed to the bathroom mirror, grasping the sink tightly, head looking down at the toothpaste stained sink before raising his left hand into a fist.

I’m not human!” Warm tears formed in Phoenix’s eyes as he laughed.You’ve already said it aloud but say it again! Nobody will hear you, then again! Nobody is going to believe you anyways! They’ll think you’re loony!

Phoenix screamed, anger almost burning behind his fist.“I’m not human!” Glass began to crack under the extra force of the second punch, Phoenix wound his fist back again.

“I’m not human!” Phoenix punched one more time, expecting stinging pain to zip through his hand. A shard of glass fell out of the mirror and into the sink, Phoenix could see his green eye was red with tears, droplets of blood pooling on the sink as his fisted hand shook with anger.

He took a deep breath, an anger that was so akin to a person being found out to murder faded away. “...Deep breath Phoenix…Lawyers smile at their worst times, right?” A smile crawled up on lips, trying to maintain itself on his face.

Phoenix looked in the mirror with his weak smile. What he could see through the new spider’s web of cracks spreading over the mirror was the scarring on his face. or rather the lack of it. It faded overnight, resembling closer to how scars would look like after a couple of years. Phoenix’s eyes darted to the faint nick on his lips, you fully know about that fact. 

How in the hell? Phoenix thought to himself, feeling out the faint scars around his right eye. This has to be another supernatural thing for sure. No use questioning it really… Phoenix sighed. I should investigate this further to get my mind off of all of this…

Now that the anger in his mind had faded away, locked away even. Phoenix traced over the scars on his chest. On his right shoulder and down to his breast were the reminders of a time when a tiger attacked him, intertwining with a myriad of whiplashes that painted the rest of his chest like haphazard brushstrokes. His hand was about to reach for the soft glow in his chest before he brought it back down.

“Phoenix” he started before shutting up, I need to focus on finding out why. Before that though, I need to check the office, there might be a couple of cases gathering dust on my desk.

Phoenix let go of the bathroom sink, taking one last good look at himself before a shiver ran up his spine. Phoenix grabbed the frayed toothbrush, looking straight in the mirror as he brushed his teeth with a dull look in his eyes.

Chapter Text

February 12th, 12:30pm, Wright and Co Law office.

Maya waited impatiently in front of the Wright and co law offices, leaning on the entrance wall and checking the paper. It's been a few days since the big trial and honestly? The lack of Nick was starting to worry her. It didn't help that she can barely remember what happened during the trial. Apparently she got possessed by the vengeful spirit of Dahlia Hawthorne while the old bridge broke down and… Maya gripped the newspaper tighter in frustration, closely reading every single word on the trial.

This gap in her memory shouldn’t frustrate her. It was a given in being a spirit channaler, for the mere presence of a spirit causes a state of unconsciousness in the channeler and unsurprisingly, a gap in memory.

Although there was a reason why channeling usually only lasted for minutes at best and she was staring right at the reason why.

“Prosocutor Godot arrested in explosive trial?! No wait, I already read that part. Wait…Edgeworth stepped in as a defense attorney after Phoenix Wright fell off of Dusky bridge?! I have to read this!” Maya quickly flipped to the part of the article that talked of Phoenix falling into the river.

“Maya, I didn't expect you to be here” an all too familiar voice called out, Maya looked up from the paper. A beaming grin wide on her face. She took a running start, crashing into Nick and wrapping her arms around him.

“Nick! you’re okay!” Maya hugged Nick as tight as she could before easing it up to look over him. For a guy who fell into THE Eagle River, all he really was coming out of it was looking a little pale. He was also wearing his usual suit and tie combo mixed with a long red scarf that reached halfway down his back and a long beige coat, although that made his pale complexion a little more predominant though.

“I guess I am huh? Has anyone told you what happened during that trial?” Nick nervously chuckled, doing his little tic of rubbing the back of his neck when doing so. He walked past her to unlock the Wright and Co law office. Maya quickly followed in with paper in hand.

“Not everything but I've got a decent idea about what happened in the trial.” Maya frowned, paging through the paper once more. “Hmm. How did you survive anyways?” She touched her chin with a finger while letting out some exaggerated hmming noises.

Nick was lingering over his desk when he heard the question. He froze up, his whole body shivered before he pulled his longcoat closer to his body. “You know me Maya, I've gone through worse.”

“Right…” Maya said. “Come on! Let's go and get a celebratory ‘end of the trial’ burger.”

“Maya, I'm not hungry.” Nick said dully

“Nick, are you saying that to get out of buying lunch?” Maya smiled with a cheeky little smile and a sing-song tone at the end. She spun on her heels before filling up a cup with water. Charley needed water after all.

Nick rubbed the back of his neck, nervously laughing once more. Maya’s smile dropped into a pout. How dare he try to skip the end of trial burgers? It’s our little thing togethor.

“I am I am!” Nick said, looking right at Maya. Now that he was looking at her for more than one second, she could see a slight, one may say a contradiction with his appearance. Sure her recent memory has been missing but she sure hasn’t forgotten what he looks like!  

“Say Nick, did you always have a green eye?”

Nick answered just as she said the word "eye”. “Yes.”

Liar Maya thought as she closely watched Nick look anywhere except straight at her. He then clapped his hands together and made a quick motion for Maya to follow him.

Nick. What’s going on with you? Ran through her mind as Nick locked the office door behind himself.

February 12th, 1:00 pm, Burger Barn

Burgers has always been a little bit of Maya’s life ever since she first visited Mia after she became a defense attorney. She never had one until all those years ago in the exact spot by the window she was sitting in now. Weird to say but it reminded her of Mia because of that.

People around her were staring at her. A lot less than it was the first time Nick and her had a celebratory ‘End of trial Burger’, or maybe she’s gotten a lot better at ignoring all the weird looks people gave her. What mattered right now was the quality of the meal right in front of her.

Maya picked up a chip, biting into it, there was a little less salt then there would usually be, disappointing really, but not really the end of her world as she knew it. However playing it up in front of Nick was always a good time to have.

“How's yours? My chips don't have enough salt on them.” Maya pouted.

Nick was looking out of the window in contemplation, almost ignorant of Maya. A half eaten chip was in his hand, his burger didn't even look like it was touched. “It’s…fine I guess.” left Nick's lips while he idly nibbled on that one chip and watched the dark clouds loom in the sky.

Thirty minutes later. Maya clapped her hands together in a small prayer, looking down at her empty plate and then across the table. Nick had only half eaten his burger and chips. Is the lack of salt really that much of a dealbreaker for him? There was a heavy rumble from outside. Nick got to his feet, rushing to the cash register with credit card in hand. Maya quickly followed behind him, more confused than ever.

The pair stepped outside, rain lightly pittering down on them both. “Nick, you’re hiding something from me, what is it?”

Nick opened his mouth, clearly about to say something when clouds exploded with rain, cascading down on the pair and soaking them from head to toe. Nick wrapped more of the red scarf around himself, his hands shaking as he did so. Maya on the other hand broke out into a sprint, unbothered by the rain. 

“Maya…” Nick called out, his voice far but not far enough to not be heard. Maya stopped in her tracks, looking behind herself. Nick started to stumble towards an alleyway, looking slightly sick in his face. He wavered from side to side as if he was drunk on a tv show. Maya raised an eyebrow as she ran back to Nick’s side.

“Nick? Are you okay? It’s not that late to be this tired.” Maya asked. Nick wrapped his scarf even closer to his neck, was that a trick of the eye or was his soaked hair sparkling like it had been frozen? Horror appeared in Nick’s eyes as he pushed her away.

“Nick. What’s gotten into you?! You’ve been acting weird this whole time.” Maya stumbled back involuntarily, her gaze fixed on Nick and only Nick now.

“Maya please! Stay away!” Nick grabbed his head in a desperate struggle while letting out pained groans, Maya could only watch Nick run off deeper into the alleyway.

Maya swallowed her fear, striding forward into the alleyway. Rain drenching her hair and clothes even further, smells of wet pavement starting to waft in the air. “Come on Nick. Are you trying to freak me out or something cause that isn't going to wo-” Maya called out, her words cut off by a pained squeak.

“Nick?”

A light splash brought Maya to the attention of glowing white eyes shone from the deepest, darkest part of the alleyway. Her steps became slower now, more deliberate and careful of where to tread, reminding her of approaching a wild animal rather than a close friend of hers. A mournful almost otherworldly moan shook Maya to her very bones.

Maya clapped her hands in prayer for the second time today, muttering a small prayer for Mia to come around under her breath. Please come…maybe you know what’s going on here!

The last thing she saw before blacking out was a corpse pale, black tipped hand holding a mangled mess of rat shaped muscles, skin and bones, the body still twitching as fingers greedily wrapped around the fleshy pile.

—

Phoenix came too with bones in his hands again, light shivers crawling up his spine. Did Maya see me in this state? Phoenix groaned and grabbed his head again while the echoes of pain faded away akin to a really bad dream.

“Phoenix Wright.” An older woman’s voice broke him out of his thoughts.

Phoenix blinked the fog out of his head, standing in front of him was Mia being channeled by Maya, wearing the most serious look he's ever seen in memory. “Chief?!” 

“Phoenix, you need to go to the village right now. No ifs or buts, you will be staying there for a little while.” Mia said, dialing in a message for Maya. She then pointed to Phoenix’s glowing magnetama. 

“Until we figure out what is really going on with you.” Mia said, in a moment, Mia turned back into Maya. Maya looked down at her cell phone and back at Phoenix with the most confused look Phoenix has ever seen in his life/death.

“It says…Maya, Phoenix Wright is undead, take him to the village right now. Mia. What does that mean Nick?”

Chapter Text

Febuary 12th 2:10 pm Phoenix’s apartment

“Are you really going to wear that sweater after all of…oh. You don't fully know yet do you?” Maya said, taking in Phoenix’s apartment. Phoenix looked down at himself. He had ditched the suit and long coat for a rather nostalgic outfit. It was a bright pink sweater with a handsewn red heart complete with a bright yellow ‘P’ insignia on it. He was also wearing warm black slacks and dark blue sneakers. 

Phoenix wrapped his long red scarf around his neck, a little bit of it still trailing behind him. Phoenix dug his hands into his slacks pocket, slightly slouching.

“I already know and it's warm…it’s nothing much.” Phoenix turned away from Maya, focusing more on gathering warm clothes. She knows now, I know she thinks I'm a freak. How did I even lose it! Unless…Phoenix grabbed a grey hoodie, tossing it into the suitcase behind him. Same with a black beanie and a couple of extra shirts. “Warm, I need to be warm.” Phoenix whispered under his breath, his magnatama pulsing as he said those words.

“Nick. Can you stop ignoring me, you’ve been like that on the entire walk back!”

Phoenix sighed. “I'm dead Maya, what’s more there is to say.” Phoenix’s voice was harsh, his words once more reaffirming a truth that was now his reality.

“Plenty! Dead men don't walk.They don't eat and they certainly don't reduce a rat to a fleshy pile.” Maya shuddered at the last one, she probably wasn't going to sleep tonight as far as she knew.

Is that what happens to living things I touch in that state? Phoenix paused his packing, staring out to the distance with a look of abject horror. Is Miles a pile of flesh now! Is he dead?! Phoenix pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind. Miles didn't end up half dead. Miles is okay. Miles is… 

Should you care about him anymore? He left minutes after he found out. You hurt him Phoenix, he’ll never come back Phoenix idly played with the tassels on his scarf. A pinky finger wrapping around one of them.

A beautiful red headed lady hands me her scarf on a cold winter day, her smile soft, mouth moving. I can't hear her melodic voice, her face is missing. I wrap my new scarf around my love necklace.

If only I knew what meeting her would do to me. Phoenix blinked the memory away, his hand resting over where a little glass necklace would have been all those years ago.

Febuary 12th, Bus to Kurain village, 4:00 Pm 

The bus ride to the village was a quiet one, Phoenix looked out of the window, rain whipped the bus’s windows, trails of water rushing down the glass. Phoenix softly smiled, it reminded him of times when he was a kid happily looking outside when it got especially rainy, hot choclate…Warm blankets…comfy sweaters.

Phoenix looked down at the bus floor uncomfortably. Why? Why am I so obsessed with warmth all the sudden? It’s because I'm…No…You’ve already thought about that enough. This is your undeath, you’re-

Phoenix ignored those thoughts, his hand once more hovering over the spot where the magnatama is, he gripped his sweater tightly, before closing his eyes. It was reassuring, it was familiar to have a nap.

Phoenix’s eyes snapped open after a few minutes, It was impossible. He's already reached that conclusion, was there anything else he could mull over about his brand new reality?

Nothing, he’ll find other reasons to mope about this condition in the future but now…but now…now what? Questions that didn't get the chance to be entertained tried to form in his mind, Phoenix drummed his fingers on his forehead. Each touch silences another attempt to linger on his state, from the corner of his eye, Phoenix sees Maya sitting across from him. She was looking down at her phone presumably at the message the Chief left her.

Phoenix hurrumphed, turning away from Maya. This is why I didn't want Maya to know, she worries too much about me already. 

Chapter Text

February 12th Kurain Village 6:15 Pm

Phoenix blinked back into reality as the bus slowed down at Kurain village’s bus stop. He got up onto his feet with a slight groan, a hint of warmth curling inside before settling down. He could see in the distance a younger girl dressed in similar clothes to Maya running towards the bus.

“Mystic Maya! Mr Nick!” Pearl Fey called out, waving to the pair exiting the bus.

Phoenix groaned while he heaved his suitcase out of the bus, Maya was already by Pearl's side. “Pearls, hey…” Phoenix glanced away from Pearl in guilt. I can’t tell her my secret at all...

“What’s the matter Mr Nick?” Pearl asked, Maya whispered into Pearl’s ear, pointing to Phoenix right at the end of the whispering. Phoenix rolled his suitcase over to Maya’s house, listening closely to the pair talking to each other until…

“What do you mean by that Mystic Maya?” Pearl said, slightly confused. “Of course you’re human, Mr Nick.” Pearl joyfully smiled, trying to ignore Maya’s panicked look. 

At those words, Phoenix froze, his left eye aching sharply. If he could compare it to anything, it felt like someone had thrusted a knife into his eye, slowly twisting the handle and digging the blade further into his skull. Phoenix grabbed his eye.

“Nick?!” Maya ran to Phoenix’s side, nearly touching his shoulder when he stepped away from her in pain. Pearl’s smile transformed into a look of concern, she slightly tilted her head with her face framed in green glow. “Mr Nick?”

“Pearls…” Phoenix started, bringing his hand to his right eye, his left eye glowing brightly in the darkness that consumed the whole world, chains wrapped around Pearl with two Psyche locks aggressively manifesting in front of her. Pearl gasped in shock, transfixed by the glowing light in Phoenix's uncovered eye.

“It still works.” Phoenix continued, in him or not, this was something familiar enough to do. Phoenix stood up straight, looking down at Pearl’s Psyche locks.

“Pearl Fey, you know what’s going on with me, correct?” Phoenix started sternly.

Pearl tugged at her robes, breaking out of the trance of Phoenix’s eye, her voice quivered. “I…I may have read a scroll talking about this before. That was years ago though, it might have scared me to the point of nightmares.”  Pearl rebutted, the left Psyche lock did something Phoenix has never seen for as long as he's had the Maganatama.

The lock shuddered. A mysterious weight manifested in Phoenix’s hand. It was vaguely key shaped, red smog trying to hold its helpful form. An intense fire spiked in his chest, spreading throughout his whole body, burning him from the inside out. Phoenix closed his eyes, on the count of three, he opened to the sight of the village at the cusp of night and a very scared Pearl still not looking at him.

“W-why don’t we go and have dinner.” Maya stuttered out, dragging Phoenix away to her place with Pearl soon following them.

Dinner was an awkward affair for Phoenix, he looked down at his plate of Japanese curry. He held the spoon with shaking hands. It’s human to eat, pretend to be that. Phoenix sighed a long and heavy sigh.

Maya and Pearl on the other hand were happily eating. Might as well dig in Phoenix dug his spoon into the curry, biting into a huge spoonful of it. Heat burned his tongue, not of the spicy type however. Phoenix stared far into the distance.

If the flavour of the curry had to be compared to anything, would nothing be a rather apt description? Whatever the flavour was, it sure tasted like the burger from hours ago. Great, another thing to mope about my brand new life.

“How's the curry Mr Nick?” Snapped Phoenix out of his thoughts, his spoon slipping out his fingers with a light clatter. What should I say? if I say nothing, feelings will be hurt but if I say the wrong thing… Phoenix stood up, dusting himself off with the fakest smile he could muster. “It’s good” left without emotion.

It was all a blur after that.

February 12th Kurain Village 11:34pm

Phoenix paced on the front yard, once again, he couldn’t sleep. Cool wind nipped his fingers, his breath precipitating in the air. Phoenix looked up at the night sky, he shivered while wrapping his scarf around himself. Come on Phoenix, think. How can a Magatama end up inside of you? The light in Phoenix’s chest dulled away.

“I was nearly across Dusky bridge when the wood gave way under my feet.” Phoenix said aloud, his hair starting to droop from nothing in particular, the tips freezing up, Phoenix nervously pulled at his sweater.

“I then started to fall…that much is true.” Phoenix paced further away from Maya’s house and into the village. A metaphorical vice appeared on his head and grew tighter by the second. Phoenix held his head in his hands, suddenly stopping in his tracks. 

“...The last thing I saw…It’s all still blurry…To me…was green” Phoenix slurred, his eyes turning white, fog growing in his head by the second. He can't think straight…it’s so cold…his head hurts…it’s so cold… He’s…Phoenix collapsed onto the ground. Unmoving.

For a few seconds, nothing moved. Then a hand twitched, digging into the grass, each blade quickly wilting away into brown. With a burst of sudden strength, the hand dug deeply into the earth. Each heave of the arm moving him forward, leaving a trail of dead grass behind Phoenix.

Phoenix dragged himself over to the tree, placing his hands flat on the blossoming cherry blossoms' roots. In a half daze, he looked up at the nearby flowers. Pink began to drain from the petals, all falling off around Phoenix like a sudden downpour. Fog in his mind rapidly dissipated, the slow reality of his situation dawning on him. 

Phoenix tried to draw his hands back from the cherry blossom, his body disobeying his very commands. He could only watch as his frostbitten fingers and blisters eased away, green light slowly filled his vision as the roots became brittle to the touch. A welcoming warmth spread throughout his body, thawing his hands enough to rip them away from the tree.

Phoenix blinked, mouth agape in shock. In mere minutes, a once thriving tree was now rotted and gnarled, standing out in the village on this cold dark night. Clear black handprints marked the corpse of who did it. Who would be bothered to test that out though? Phoenix thought. “...So this is what happens…” left his lips instead. A pained sob followed his knees giving way to lay amongst dead grass.

Footsteps approached Phoenix, he tightened up. Who would dare to approach him after all of that? He was a freak, a monster, he was…Arms wrapped around him, putting him into a careful and soft hug and snapping him out of his thoughts. Phoenix, through his slowly welling tears lowered his hands to be face to face with the hugger.

Maya Fey hugged him a little tighter.  

“Maya you’re awake…Why would you…approach me? I’m not human…” Phoenix shook in her embrace, tears he tried to hold back broke through, he hugged back.

“Why wouldn't I? Dead or alive, it’s still you.” Maya whispered.

Phoenix couldn’t help but finally, after a couple of long and tumultuous days, genuinely, after some deliberation, smile. She worries too much about me.

Chapter Text

Feburary 8th, Wedio general hospital 1:53 Am

Phoenix opened his eyes. His head was lightly throbbing. Low beeps, harsh smells but at least the hospital bed was rather comfy this time. Small victories Phoenix, small victories… Although the air conditioning seemed to be turned up rather high, he shivered. Somehow, he’s alive. Last he remembered was a sharp pain in his head, was that a dream?

“Shit. How am I going to continue investigating now?” Phoenix mumbled, blinking a couple of times in confusion.

There was a soft green light somewhere in the room, casting small shadows all around him. Phoenix blinked a couple of times, rubbing one of his eyes. Strange, I should be tired but…I’m not, makes sense considering I've been out for a while. Phoenix sneezed. Now where is that light coming from? Phoenix hmmed to himself, glancing around the room for any source of green light.

While there was one machine that monitored his condition, there wasn't really a light bright enough to be the green light. Phoenix rubbed his chin in contemplation, his eyes wandered around the room once more. What if…Phoenix looked down at his scrubs, his whole body seizing up in shock.

Phoenix shivered as his fingers slowly undid the scrub buttons, exposing a bit of his chest. Green light framed his shocked face. The light was steady and rather dim, buried under flesh, muscle and bone. Now that it was a little more obvious, the glow resembled very close to the Magatama he was given a year ago. His hand touched the glowing light, feeling out a hint of warmth in amongst the unearthly cold that he was feeling.

“Am I…” Phoenix whispered, his voice shaking. He didn't want to say it, he needed to say it, there was no use in denying it at all. “Dead?”

February 13th, Maya’s house 12:00am

“And that’s how I realised I died.” Phoenix sighed, he was currently laying on a futon, now clad in his plaid pjs and sleep mask, his scarf still around his neck. His room was formally the sleeping quarters of one Mrs and Mr Fey. Phoenix’s clothes were messily strewn across the floor and his back pack spilled some paperwork out of it.

“No way!” Maya whispered as loud as she could, she then assumed her thinking position.“It's all still a little insane though, I mean you came back from the dead and you just saw what you can do.” 

Phoenix let out a knowing and agreeing hmm. Even when looking at himself without a mirror, he sure looked a lot closer to living then dead when compared to the last couple of days, with the colour now returning to his skin and how faint his burn scars on his hands were. Now why is that Phoenix? Consider that every time you fall into that…state you've seen, maybe you can…

Before he could think any more, a wave of tiredness suddenly hit the Attorney. Phoenix  stretched for a long and hard time, he lightly chuckled at the end of the yawn accompanying the stretch. 

Maya yawned back in response while rubbing her eyes. “Man, your condition keeps getting weirder and weirder. Well, I better get to bed now, I have a free day today and that’s perfect for finding information. Oooh it’s going to be like an investigation I hope.” Maya perked up a little before yawning again.

“Alright alright, I'm going to bed. Night.” Maya mumbled, sliding the bedroom door shut and flicking the light off.

Phoenix stared at the ceiling, god he needed answers for this whole thing and soon, sure didn’t help that the glowing rock in his chest was glowing pretty bright. Did Godot sleep with his visor on? Wait, that’s like thinking Franzisca sleeps with her whip! Phoenix thought, the mental image of Franzisca hugging her whip in bed clear in his mind.

Smiling at the image, Phoenix slipped his sleeping mask down, a forgotten sensation of sleep coming quickly to him.

??? ??? ???

Phoenix opened his eyes to the snow covered forest near Hazakura temple, soft snow gently falling from the sky, Phoenix took a deep breath of mountain air, carefully taking in his surroundings. Trees blanketed with winter’s embrace was all he could see with nary a building even on the horizon.

“...Hello!” Phoenix cupped his hands over his mouth, the word echoing across the vast amount of trees. Phoenix wrapped his scarf close to his body, taking a step into surprisingly deep snow that reached halfway up his lower leg.

Indiscernible whispering rang in Phoenix’s ears, drowning out the crunchy sounds of boots trodding through snow. “Hello!” Phoenix tried again. Only his own voice answered back. 

A vague red shape shimmered in the distance, slowly turning into Miles in his long black coat. Facing away from Phoenix, snow layering white in amongst the light grey of Miles’s impeccable hair.

“Miles!” Phoenix called out, Miles didn't react nor turn to the sound of his voice.

“Come on Miles! We need to prove Iris isn’t…” Phoenix grabbed Miles’s left hand, a sickening crack leading to a now wooden left hand cleanly snapping off of the prosecutor. Phoenix screamed, backing off with the wooden hand in…hand? He was dreaming! He knew that! Why can't he wake up?! Another sickening crack rang Phoenix’s ears. Miles’s head slowly turning towards the Defense Attorney sans the body following.

Wind and snow picked up around the pair, Phoenix watched his own hands turn black from frostbite. As white filled Phoenix’s vision, he could see Miles’s eyes were hollowed out into deep black voids that were crying.

An empty voice reverberated through Phoenix’s body, he screamed. The last thing he saw was a blanket of snow surrounding his whole body.

Guilty

February 13th, Maya’s house 7:30am

Phoenix bolted up screaming, cold sweats running down his forehead. Sharp, quick breaths did nothing to speed up the inhumanly slow beating of his heart. Phoenix slipped off the sleep mask with a harsh sun glare beaming into his eyes.

“What a nightmare…” Phoenix mumbled, stretching his arms out with a yawn. Maybe it means something? Nah, I'm not psychic, sort of…Phoenix lightly chuckled to himself. “Does it count if you’ve got a magic rock in your chest?” he said aloud.

With no answer, Phoenix got to his feet, ready to start the day with the lingering sense of dread holding over his head quietly ignored.

Chapter Text

February 13th, Kurain Village, 9:00am

A few people were gathered around the dead cherry blossom, whispering and talking amongst themselves. Phoenix couldn’t look away from the tree, his hand nearly darting up to his chest again now out of habit.

The tree looked a lot worse now that it was daytime, the very bark was peeling off of the tree, piling onto the dead grass around the corpse. Each branch that was once adorned with pretty pink cherry blossoms was curled at the tips and a dark brown. 

“Oh…” Maya stared at the tree. “We need to find out what’s going on with you and fast. Mia knows something about this, maybe I could…” Maya closed her eyes, hands in prayer, a few awkward seconds passed before she opened her eyes again, disappointed, she slumped over.

“I may be getting stronger...nevermind.” Maya sighed, swiftly switching back to a smile that looked forced. She perked back up. Both didn't say a word for the rest of the way to the channeling chamber.

At the channeling chamber, Maya gave the one year old reinforced doors a hard push, the mystical room lit by a myriad of candles. She walked to the back of the room, keeping a close eye on Phoenix, even though her smile was wide, Phoenix had been around her enough to see her smile waver. 

Maya…Don’t give me that look. Phoenix winced, the light of his glowing chest rock imbuing light green into the sown on heart.

“Got it!” Maya held up an old scroll, opening it up and reading over it. “Nick…you need to get over here.”

“Maya what is it?” Phoenix ran over to her side.

Maya passed the scroll over to him. “Read it for yourself.” Phoenix unfurled it delicately, coughing as dust filled his nose. “Maya, it’s in Japanese.” He spied however a traditionally drawn picture of a Mystic placing a magnatama utop of a dead body.

“I know.” Maya giggled. “I’ll read it out for you.” Phoenix handed the scroll back, Maya cleared her throat.

“If a spirit does not want to move to the lands beyond, it can be placed in a magnatama and then on top of the recently passed body, the magnatama must be filled with spiritual energy for the resurrection to start.” Maya paused, glancing up from the scroll.

"Be warned, for the result from this forbidden ritual will be a being neither alive nor dead, forever craving for the life of others…” Phoenix shivered, knees on the ground. He leaned forward, digging his hands into his hair and ruffling his spikes up.

“How could that have even happened to you Nick?”

Wait…

“Hang on! I know exactly how that happened. I fell into the Eagle river wearing Kurain robes, complete with my magnatama around my neck! It must’ve used most of the charge that Pearls gave me and that’s why…” Phoenix trailed off, holding back his right hand from touching the magnatama core.

Maya slammed her fist into her hand in triumph, she then pointed at Phoenix in a fun mirroring of his own famed finger point.

“You’ve been ending up in those Dead states!”

“Are you really calling it that?” Phoenix sighed. I supposed it’s better to distinguish it from me, I would’ve gone with Corpse myself.

She nodded, reading further into the scroll, ready to let Phoenix know what he was. Once Maya gives something a nickname, she sticks to it

“Wait, Nick, you haven’t touched anyone in your Dead state have you?” Maya asked, looking up from the scroll pale as a ghost, her voice quivering.

The words struck through Phoenix like a knife, slowly processing in his mind and filling his ears with white noise, it was deafening to listen to. 

“I…” 

February 13th, Von Karma manor, 6:37 PM

An itch had started when the plane had taken off. It was the kind of itch that while it would be easy to ignore, if it stayed that way.

By the time the plane touched down after a fairly uneventful flight where the most interesting thing that happened was Miles spilling some water on himself after a patch of turbulence, that bothersome itching had grown. Slowly yes but still rather annoying.

Miles lingered at the entryway, contrary to the many rumours that spread in prosecutor’s offices and policemen who only knew him through newspapers, tabloids and the like; Nobody greeted his arrival. And I would rather it stays that way, especially with this brand new mystery to explore. Miles sighed, blinking jetlag out of his eyes.

That trial alongside Phoenix’s situation has opened my eyes to the truth. Miles's eyes flared with renewed determination. There is a life after death…as absurd as that sounds. Miles shuddered Perhaps…I could…no, I can’t bring my father back. Miles pushed the thought down, calmly walking into a house that if the walls could speak, the stories to tell would be enough to fill a 700 page book.

Miles ascended the stairway, stopping midway to look to the left of a rather striking painting. It was of two children and a towering older man together, the younger sister clutched her cat doll tightly, her smile was one that wasn’t hardened yet by the years of living in the shadow that would soon be cast.

The brother on the other hand possessed a haunted stare that was exasperated by grey eyes and a blank expression, his posture straight. The older man’s left hand was on the boy’s shoulder, Miles looked up at the man’s eyes, they were stern and his smile while proud that with hindsight had a malice that nearly made Miles retch. 

Icy pain wrapped around Miles’s left hand, he grabbed it, his whole body seizing up.

The marks on the back of his hand began to transform before his very eyes. It was forming and melting together into an indiscernible shape and blooming across his hand. The smell of rotting flesh caused him to gag a little, a bit of skin melting off of his pointer finger much like dripping wax from a candle, curling and rotting away on the bannister into dust.

Holding down horrified screams, Miles grabbed his cravat, undoing it with a swift motion that was second nature to him at this point. He wrapped the cravat around his rotting hand as tight as he possibly could. 

With a burst of adrenaline, Miles went down the stairs, clutching his wrapped up hand with his right hand. Nearly tripping over his shoelaces in panic, Miles winced. The pain in his left hand was starting to ease, while that would've been good, the smell had only grown stronger.

Miles slammed the back door open to the courtyard, a blast of cold air causing him to let out a panicked noise. He began to pant, years of walking up and down 12 flights of stairs had built Miles for a marathon, not a sprint. His legs began to burn in tiredness as he crashed into the gardener’s shed door.

“NGHOOOO!” Miles screamed. It’s locked! 

Anger that was screaming his mind gave way to desperation that had Miles tossing his whole body onto the door. Again and again and again until the hinges of the door gave way.

Inside the shed were all the tools needed to maintain the manor, hedge clippers, weed wacker, a hack saw, hammer…

Miles slammed his left arm onto the shed bench, a bit of blight peeked out of the makeshift bandage now. Miles let out a pained sob, grabbing a hammer with his free hand. He raised the hammer, what little hesitation that was in his heart died, Miles gripped the hammer tightly, bringing it down.

“112, what’s your emergency?”

Chapter Text

Febuary 13th, Maya’s house, 10:32 am

An hour had passed since Maya had the displeasure of witnessing Nick’s retreat back into her parent’s room. His wails unstopped and now she had to check on him.

“Nick?” Maya knocked on the door.

A long, mournful sob answered her question.

Maya steeled herself. Alright im coming in.

She gently opened the door. The whole room was dark, the only source of light being a dim, sickly green outlining Nick who was curled up on the futon with knees up to his chest. 

“G-go away.” A nearly unheard plea whimpered out of Nick. Maya ignored said plea, kneeling next to Nick instead, placing a hand onto his shoulder.

Nick remained quiet, slowly sitting up with light framing an infinite sadness in his eyes that Maya had never seen before.

“No, I-I can’t c-cry. I’m still smiling, It’s not over so go away…” Nick said, shivering, the light in his chest shining bright. He grabbed Maya’s robes tightly before drawing his hands back.

“It’s not over…” Nick repeated over and over again, tears streaking down his face. Turning away from Maya, Nick punched the pillow. Maya could feel herself back away, exiting the room. 

As much as she wanted to help, she has seen Nick in this volatile state that was once hidden through forced smiles and stacks of cases piling up on his desk.

“How’s Mr Nick? Is he still heartbroken?” Pearl looked up with wide, inquisitive eyes. She held a cup of tea in her hands that smelt of chamomile.

Maya, ignoring the last part of Pearl’s statement, sighed while sliding the door shut. “He’s not improving at all…He keeps on repeating that “It’s not over.” over and over again.”

“Perhaphs Mystic Mia could help.” Pearl suggested.

“That’s the clinch, I still can’t channel Mia one hundred percent of the time.”

Without saying a word, Pearl closed her eyes with her hands together in prayer. In a single moment Mia took the place of Pearl, she dusted herself off with her free hand and slid the bedroom door open. 

“Come Maya.” Mia said sternly.

A pang of jealousy made itself welcome to Maya, worming deep into her heart and whispering a single thought. Why do you always make it look so easy, Pearl? She followed Mia deep into the lair of one Phoenix Wright.

–

Two contacts so soon isn’t normal, it must be about Phoenix. Mia thought to herself. Looking down at the cup of tea in her hands, Mia placed it on the side table.

“It’s not over, it’s not over, it’s not over…”

Oh boy time to roll up your sleeves.

Mia cleared her throat. “Phoenix Wright.” 

Shuffling of bedsheets told Mia that Phoenix was looking in her direction and the one glowing green eye was hypnotising What the hell are you thinking?! “Mia-Chief I mean.”

“Phoenix, right now call me Mia. What happened?”

“Does the court of law recognize supernatural murders?” Phoenix laughed nervously.

YOU KILLED SOMEONE?! Mia thought, the words nearly being spoken.

“He-he’s dead, Miles is really dead…I touched him.” Phoenix continued, the lights flickering on and showing him in a glory that shan't be called such. Hair disheveled and skin corpse pale with face red with tears, he was by all definitions a mess.

Right then, let's start Mia sat Phoenix up, he swayed left to right in a daze before stiffening up in shock, slowly taking in Mia.

Maya sat next to the two. “He might not be dead! Maybe if he-”

“HE’S DEAD! Don’t give me hope. Not again…not after that.” Mia flinched. There was a venom in Phoenix’s voice that in all of her living memories, Mia had never heard of. She placed a hand on Phoenix’s shoulder.

“Wry.” Mia said delibretly.

“It’s Wright…” Phoenix muttered out, laughing.

Here we go.

“I know. There is a hope, you need some…How should I say this as gently as possible? You need practice.”

“With what?!” Phoenix’s voice cracked in panic.

Mia didn't say anything, she instead laid her hand over Phoenix’s chest, feeling out the slow and steady badump of his heart. 

“Phoenix, listen, how can I explain this? You have a fire burning that always needs new fuel. A fire that can be controlled with a little something...” Mia said, hoping her horror couldn’t be heard deep down.

Maya gasped, “Wait wait wait!!! Are you implying he goes under training!?”

“Cheif, that’s a huge call to make!” Phoenix said, his grief transforming into shock before Mia’s very eyes.

“I know, he needs it. Good luck Phoenix.” Mia said, closing her eyes and with that she was back to the spirit realm.

–

Maya stared at Nick’s flabbergasted expression. He blinked a couple of times before rubbing his eyes in shock.

Once again Mia has dropped quite the bombshell onto both of them without fully explaining what’s going on.The more Maya thought about it though, the more it started to make sense that Nick should go under training.

The problem wouldn’t be the training itself (Although she wasn’t looking forward to all of the complaining he would do, especially with his sudden obsession with warmth.) But the fact that in the history of the village, only women have trained and harnessed the spiritual.

Even though she’s next in line to be the Mystic, it’s still going to take a little explaining to do why Nick has suddenly started accompanying her to the waterfalls.

Pearl grabbed the now lukewarm cup of tea, handing it over to Nick.

“For you Mr Nick, do you drink tea?” Pearl said.

“I don’t but it’s the thought that counts.” Nick said, having calmed down.

“We’ll start our training tomorrow morning, nobody can know about this though.” Maya put her best serious face on. “Pearl, I want you to cross your heart over this, if anyone, I repeat anyone finds out about Nick’s condition, who knows what they’ll do to him.”

Pearl crossed over her heart and rolled up her sleeves.

“Do not worry Mystic Maya, nobody will find out that Mr Nick is really dead. I’ll make sure of that.” 

“M-maya, Pearl…Thank you.” Nick weakly smiled, sipping on the tea with shaking hands. The glow in his chest returned to a steady level.

“Aw no problem, I’ve always got your back as the one and only Ace Assistant.” Maya could feel a smile return to her face, a cheeky one too as she ruffled Nick’s spikes. He laughed in response, pushing Maya’s hand out of his hair.

Tomorrow is going to be fun…

Chapter Text

February 14th Maya’s house, 5:37 am

Maya really didn't want to get out of her futon today, the world was hard and cold, the futon was comfy and warm.

Although her alarm clock had it out for her, ringing in her ears and breaking any attempt to go back to sleep. Maya slammed her hand on her Steel Samurai themed clock and sat up, pushing her bed hair out of her face.

“Yawn.” Maya said aloud. After changing into her robes and doing up her hair, Maya checked out the window. With the beginning of dawn lightening up the darkness of night, it was time to wake up the one and only Nick.

With a spring in her step, Maya walked to Nick’s room, a light snore could be heard from beyond the door. Maya slid the door open and her hand hovered over the light switch, Nick was snoring. The glowing light in his chest showed Maya that Nick had his mouth open and was drooling.

Maya smiled at the sight and took a deep breath, cupping her hands over her mouth.

“UP AND ATTEM NICK!” Maya yelled, flickering the lights on and off for a few seconds. Nick moaned in the way one would do when they were woken up during a perfectly good dream. 

Nick slurred out some words that probably resembled complaints about being woken up at, by his definition an “ungodly hour in the morning.”. Maya grabbed his hands and yanked him up onto his feet.

“Good morning to you too Nick.”

“Mrphm.” Nick pushed his sleeping mask up, his eyes half closed.

Maya placed her hands on her hips, stifling down the urge to yawn herself. “You have to get used to waking up early, it strengthens the mind and soul. Firstly we need to go to the waterfalls before we have breakfast.”

Nick stared at her for ten seconds too long, Maya swore she could see the steam leaking out of his ears as he processed what she just said.

He eventually spoke, gently pushing Maya out of the room as he did so. “Let me get changed first.” followed by the shut of the door.

Maya leaned on the wall and looked up at the ceiling nonchalantly, she couldn’t show it to Nick but she was nervous herself. She’s trained Pearl to harness her own abilities but if she told her past self about this whole situation, Maya was sure past her wouldn’t believe her.

Her thoughts were destroyed by what Nick was wearing.

Nick was wearing his funny pink sweater and jeans again, red scarf around his neck like a lifeline at this point. Hardly the clothes to wear when meditating under a waterfall at all. 

Maya massaged the bridge of her nose much like Nick would when he was fighting an internal battle to not say what he was thinking during a particularly ‘wacky’ trial. 

“Really, you’re going to wear that to the water-”

“It's cold outside.” Nick cut in, digging his hands into his jeans pocket.

Not again 

“Last I checked, wool and water don’t really mix.”

“I know, I'll take the sweater off when we get there.” Nick laughed.

“And the scarf.” Maya added on, grabbing Nick by his hand and leading him out into Kurian village.

February 14th, Kurain Village Waterfall, 6:21am

Maya really hoped every session wasn’t going to be filled with Nick complaining about the cold. She was meant to be the annoying one for crying out loud! He kept on moaning and groaning, seriously! 

“I’m so cold…” Nick pulled at his scarf.

Maya could feel her eyes nearly roll to the back of her head. “I know, tell me something I don't know.”

The two walked in silence for a bit, the crunch of sticks under her Geta provided little comfort for Maya.

“Maya? This isn't usually like you.” Nick eventually said.

Maya turned back to look at Nick, who was trailing at her feet with unease and uncertainty that was once witnessed a few years ago.“That isn't usually you either. We’re here.” She motioned to the grounds.

The training grounds were in the midst of the Kurian woods. It was high enough to the point where Maya could see her breath if she concentrated enough. Moss covered rocks decorated a cascade of ice cold water fresh from the mountains, a few of them were sharp enough where with one wrong move would bring one to the spirit world earlier than expected.

“M-maya…” Nick whimpered out, backing away from her, he shuddered. Whether it be out of fear or the cold, Maya couldn’t tell which.

“Who are you?” Maya asked, leaning in and placing a hand on Nick’s cheek. 

“I’m a perfectly good lawyer known as Phoenix Wright. Why do you ask?” Nick’s voice cracked, his lip quivering before collapsing into sobs that brought Maya back to Mia's tale of when she defended Phoenix Wright.

A lone ravan caws to announce the arriving sun.

Maya held out her hand and grabbed Nick’s hand. She looked up at him. “You can do it Nick, just keep ahold of my hand and it will all be okay.”

Nick didn’t say anything, instead he only nodded. Both walked to the edge of the waterfalls, standing in front of some slightly pointy rocks, Maya felt Nick’s hand tighten around hers.

“I…I…Maya, I'm sorry…Can we do plain old meditation first? No waterfall or ice cold river involved?” He weakly laughed and rubbed the back of his neck in nervousness.

“Why?” Maya tilted her head. “You need to control the energy inside of you, this is the fastest way i can think of-”

“I’m scared.” he cut in, paler then usual.

“Of the water?”

Nick whimpered at the thought and stepped on his laces, tripping over them and breaking his grip on Maya, time slowed to a crawl.

Nick stopped screaming.

Maya could only stare at the body that was laying lifeless on the nearest rock in the river, congealed blood slowly leaking out from the back of Nick’s head, his eyes devoid of life, body unmoving. 

Maya knew she should scream, she should be scared. This wasn’t the first time she’s seen a dead body, this won’t be her last unfortunately.

She froze in place as Nick’s body slid into the water with a light splash. 

–

You are burning

–

Death had always been a part of Maya’s life, for to wield the power to contact spirits is to accept that death is not the end of life.

Ever since that September night, the concept of death made itself more known to her. With every murder she had to help solve alongside Nick, with every one she was accused of causing, death haunted her. 

Some may call it a coincidence, some may call it tragic, Maya calls it a curse.

But Nick didn't need to know about that. He worries too much about her. 

A pale hand rose up from the shallows. Stiffly and slowly, blackened fingers dug deep into its palm. Nails drawing thick red sludge that trailed down the pale arm, staining the pink sweater in scarlet.

The other arm rose up as well, a familiar moan rang in her ears, nearly freezing Maya in place.

Run! You need to run! Screamed in Maya’s mind and yet her body refused to move. Once again, a constant in her life has come to be.

Phoenix Wright fell into the water.

Death emerged from the water.

–

You are cold

Your body jerks involuntarily as if it was pulled on by a puppeteer. Each step your waterlogged shoes squelches in the mud.

You see in your twisted new world naught but fire that beckons you closer.

A deep, primordial Urge burns deep in your body, you know it hijacks your body, makes you desire, makes you hunger.

You are not meant to be alive

The Urge knows that, it drags your body and makes you run, eyes locked on a purple fire shining brighter than any other flame that surrounds it. You feel your body stumble and trip over itself, you get a faceful of dirt for that attempt.

You are not meant to run

You are meant to shine, seek the fire and make it your own.

The Urge plays among the embers of your own weak fire, smothering all rational thought and reason that begged to hold onto you. It is something greater than you ever will be.

You ignore it, keeping eyes on the burning fire that draws closer with every single step. 

You are meant to rise from the ashes 

An unearthly moan leaves your lips.

You have become something else

The purple flame that has enraptured you has come to a stop, flickering, dancing and brighter than any flame that surrounds it so

You raise your arm, now knowing fully well what would happen when you take a flame that burns brighter than yours.

Yet you grab your arm again, holding it back with a strength that you didn't know you have in this state.

The Urge screams, gnawing away at what little self control you have managed to muster up even when you are this close to the flame.

You are meant to take

You hear a plea, it is desperate, a woman’s voice that causes you to pause.

Her voice makes you waver again. Make you question.

The Urge jerks at you again

The Urge

You lay your punishment on a fire next to the purple flame.

You register hard wood under your fingers, the green fire dimming away by the second.  

You are warm