And his OC is getting slipped in.
http://dragonknight12.deviantart.com/ar ... -136858908

Franziska Von Karma was the best ballet dancer of the class, whilst Maya was the clumsiest. They were both the tender age of twelve, and Maya knew they were both different in terms of personality. She was a perfectionist, never resting still she nailed it. However, Maya only card about enjoying herself. Being a junior spirit medium was hard, but ballet put her off most things. Her older sister, Mia was going to be lawyer and she didn't know where her parents had gone. Their ballet tutor, Elise had set her class into pairs and she paired Franziska with Maya. The little dancers didn't really know why Elise had paired the most gifted person with the clumsiest.

“Franzy, you know you're really good.” Maya hid her shaking hands behind her back. “I wish I was as good as ballet as you.”

“But I see the effort you make,” Franziska said. “Maya Fey you are still a feeble excuse for a dancer.”

“I know,” said Maya. “I love dancing though.”

“So I see.”

“You're much better than you think Maya,” Elise interrupted them. “I think you and Franziska would make a good duet together.”

“You really think so?” Maya asked.

“Of course I do.” Elise nodded and patted her shoulder. “If you get your footing right, with the help of Franziska and myself you'll get better.”

“You're so nice Elise,” Maya replied cheerfully. Elise left and played the cassette music. The classical music was sweet, uplifting and had a beautiful flow. Maya followed Franziska who went to collect something from her bag. Her parents were rich and could afford posh bags like the one she was digging into. The bag was wider then her and looked like pure silk. silver hearts and encrusted sapphires. She got out what seemed to be a stick.

“I like your bag Franzy,” Maya said in a hyper voice. “It's so pretty.”

“Thank you Maya Fey.”

“I'm fine with just Maya.”

Franziska held the stick in her hand. “Open your arms like so.” Franziska's leaped out and had her arms in a long line. “Hold on, you're shoes are on the wrong feet.”

“Does it matter which way they go?” Maya asked.

“Sit down with your legs spread out,” Franziska requested, and Maya did as she was told. Franziska went on her knees to undo the messy ribbon on her left foot, repeating it on her right foot. Maya was giggling from the sensation of Franziska touching her feet. Franziska looked her like her school teachers in a bad mood. Franziska put her ballet shoes in the right feet and then tied each shoe in a beautiful ribbon. Franziska thought that it was sort of cute the way she giggled. She then asked Maya: “Why are you laughing?”

“Sorry,” Maya chuckled, “I'm really ticklish on the feet.”

“Now back to where I was,” Franziska intrusted Maya, “open your arms out and have your back facing me.”

“Like this Franzy?” asked Maya. Her head was titled back and her arms were out straight. She turned to have her back facing Franziska just as she was requested to do.

“Yes.” Franziska nodded and gave her next step. “Bend your knees, jump up and twirl. Perfection is the only route Maya Fey.”

Maya gulped. Twirls were her weakness that was the part where she usually ends up flat like a pancake. “So it's bend, jump up and twirl,” Maya muttered to herself. She closed her eyes, bent her legs jumped up and with her left foot she bounced on the wooden floor and made a twirl into Franziska's chest. She head-butted Franziska by mistake and she got hit on the stick for it. “Sorry Franzy,” Maya quickly squealed.

“You little fool,” Franzy muttered giving a bitter tone. As Maya stood up again, she Franziska thought the way her cheeks sparkled in pink was strange. “You're more foolish than I thought...”

“I'm kinda proud of myself actually,” Maya admitted. She scratched her back and held Franziska's hand. “It was the best twirl I've ever done. Most of the twirls I've done, I end up on the floor.”

“Time to perfect the twirl,” Franziska decided. “Straighten up your back and do what you just did again without the foolish falling over. No stopping until you get it right!”

“Okay.” Maya attempted the twirls slowly, so she could get the hang of it. She wondered how Franziska could do it so flawlessly without getting so dizzy.

“Do it faster now,” Franziska demanded like a strict teacher.

“How do you do this without being so dizzy?” Maya asked in curiosity. “I'll get dizzy if I do it faster.” And Maya spin successfully five times, each one faster than the previous one. Her head fizzed as her mind felt like jelly. Her feet gave in and dropped to the floor. Luckily Franziska grabbed Maya by the waist. “You see?” Maya moaned. “I told you I would get dizzy.”

“I'll show you how not to get dizzy,” Franziska said as she helped Maya right back up. “Now find a spot to focus on,” she instructed. “As you turn keep focusing on that spot.”

“Okay,” said Maya. She focused on Franziska's eyes and she turned, her eyes never turning away from in between Franziska's eye lashes. After a few slow spins, she managed to create some quick spins without getting dizzy. For once, Maya had not slipped. Franziska had a gentle smirk across her face. “I'm doing it!” she cried. She stopped when her hands reached the bar, then skipped over to her. “Thank you so much for helping me, Franzy.” Maya hugged Franziska and kissed her cheek. Her skin was delicate but powdery.

“Well done girls,” Elise said.

Franziska stood silently with flushing cheeks then went to murmur, “we should get our duo piece working together.” It was just enough for Maya to hear.

“Okay!” Maya screamed. “We're gonna make a great team Franzy!”

“I'd rather go solo,” Franziska muttered.

“Franzy you need to be more open-minded,” Maya said hopping around the spot. “You've worked wonders with me so far. If we keep going like this, we're going to be a really to be a really class act.”

“It night ruin my chances of perfection,” Franziska warned Maya. “I have to be perfect.”

“Aww,” moaned Maya. She held Franziska's pale hand and swaying as she twirled.

“Stop this foolishness right now!” Franziska demanded throwing herself away from Maya.

“Calm down Franziska,” requested Elise. “That behavior is far from perfect you know.”

“Maya's been foolish,” growled Franziska. “I can't be perfect around her.”

“No one's perfect you know,” Maya said, twirling faster.

“I will be perfect,” Franziska said in determination.

“You could have a little bit of perfection if you think outside the box you know?”

Franziska gave Maya a dirty look. “You talk a lot of foolish foolery from the foolish destination of the foolish land for the land of the fools.” The pace of her voice was fast and strained.

“Didn't you come to ballet classes to enjoy yourself?”

“I'm not allowed to enjoy myself! I have to be perfect or Papa won't love me.”

“I'm sure your parents will love you, just the way you are.”

“They won't!”

“Why not!”

“Mama left me because I was imperfect in exams.” Maya could see that Franziska was trying hard not to cry. Her eyes welled up, but no tears would fall on her eyes – they were imperfect.

“Why?” Maya asked.

“I got some foolishly easy questions wrong and my perfect grade dropped. The next day, Mama left.”

“I'm so sorry...” Maya patted her back and snuggled her. “That doesn't mean they don't love you. My mother left when I was two, but I still like to thing that she's out there and that she still loves me. One day both our mothers will come to us.”

“What about your papa?”

“He's in heaven. Do you want to have some burgers with me after class?” Maya's eyes lit up in hope Franziska's face would lift up.

“Burgers? That filthy foolish fast food?”

“I'm sure you'll love it once you try it.”

“I have no intention of eating vile junk food.”

“It's not vile at all, no need to be scared.”

“Where on earth did you get the foolish idea that I was scared?”

“Cause you just said you won't try it.”

“That doesn't mean I'm...”

“You'll love it! Trust me.”

“We should just get on with our routine,” said Franziska.

“I'm glad you got your spirit back!”

“I can't be perfect without that spirit and I'll look foolish without it.” Maya and Franziska stood into the center of the room staring at the mirror. Maya was a diagonal step behind Franziska, whose arms flew up till her fingertips faced the ceiling. “Arms up, now bend, and twirl and slide to the right, twirl to your left and spin to me”

“So what's next?” asked Maya. The pair of them gave a pleasant stare. Fingertips were wrapped around Maya's waist. After a feeling of something pressing her waist her toes were flown from the ground, and her whole body went too. Maya felt like a dove with her arms reached out. She looked down and saw Franziska trying hard to keep her up.

“Keep your arms the way they are,” Franziska said. Maya nodded and closed her eyes and felt a spinning sensation. When she opened her eyes, she saw all of her other classmates with their eyes on them. Maya was always the center of attention, but this time it was in a positive light.

~*~

“Well done girls you've all done really well.” Elise always praised them without exception. She believed all of her students could be excellent. Maya liked Elise: she was very considerate, gentle and loving – just like a mother. “Next week I'll read you a preview of my next upcoming book: Ballet To The Valley.”

“That sounds awesome!” cried out Lotta and some of her friends.

“I can't wait to read it,” Dahlia agreed giggling as she spoke.

“I know it will be great,” Maya said.

“I'll see you all next week,” announced Elise. “Have a good day!”

All of them ran out to their parents apart from Maya and Franziska who still remained in the spot they danced in.

“I'm going to have to make my own way home,” said Franziska. “It's not far from here.”

“When my sister picks me up, you can come with us for dinner.”

“I think I'll pass... Oh never mind I'll accept your offer.”

“YAY!” Maya hugged Franziska and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “It's going to be fun. My sister's a lawyer and she's so cool. But her boyfriend drinks a lot of coffee.”

“A lawyer?”

“Yep,” Maya nodded.

“This time next year, I'm going to be a prosecutor just like my Papa and little brother.”

“That sounds very ambitious.”

“That's how I like my goals,” Franziska confessed as she curtsied in front of her.

A tall woman entered the room; a busty brunette with a yellow scarf wrapped around her. Maya ran towards her whilst holding Franziska's hand. “MIA!” she cried.

“Hi there,” Mia said smiling.

“This is my new friend, Franziska. Can I bring her to dinner please?”

“Sure, I don't see why not,” Mia replied, nodding as she smiled. It was defiantly one of Maya's best dance lessons ever.

Perfection deserved it's rewards. A dashing meal with fine wine, limousines and lots of pampering. Franziska found she deserved it after hard work in trials. The hotel she was staying at was lovely. A pleasent view of the wondering sea and the melody of seagulls made her feel like this was a vacation.

Then there was Maya Fey tickling her. At first she thought she was a foolish fool; she still thinks that but in an adorable way. No! Something wasn't right, thought Franziska and she was not having it. She would never let a man dominate her like this, so why let Maya crawl on top of her? Franziska wanted the to be at the top, and the top she will stay.

She pushed Maya off her. Hearing Maya's gasp, Franziska grabbed Maya's breasts as soon as she could and pinned her to the bed. Franziska fondled Maya's black locks of hair and smirked. "This feels much better!" she exclaimed.

"F-Franziska..." Maya moaned. "You're holding on me really tight. Can't I get back on top?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I am Franziska Von Karma!" she announced shaking her blue hair. "I'm dominant in the court, and I will be dominant in the bedroom!" She spoke with fierce order, and she loved it. And Maya had better be loving it.

“Jean?”

“Oui, oui?” Jean yelled in glee.

“I don't think you should add perfume or cum in the stock,” Iris told Jean.

“Mon cher,” said Jean. “They are both moi own brand. I feel I should add my heart and soul into my cooking.”

“I understand, but if your costumers knew you add perfume and cum to your stock, they might be a little frightened to come.”

“I think we can get away with it,” Jean smiled. He squashed Iris in his arms. “I've always done it this way.”

“Why don't you add chicken in the stock?” suggested Iris.

“How about letting moi add some oh la la to your life,” Jean smirked bouncing his belly onto Iris. “You are so beautiful. I would so go lesbian for you.”

“Jean?” Iris fainted, flustered in Jean's arms.

Slender in a little black frock, Maya felt cooler in the red dress. Miles, who kindly accepted Maya's shopping invitation, nodded. His eyes flickered at the pleats of the crimson dress.

“You're thinking what I'm thinking aren't you?” asked Maya.

Miles raised an eyebrow. “Pardon?”

“I'm on about the dresses!” Maya clapped her hands.

“What am I thinking then?”

“The red dress is much more better!”

“Well,” Miles stuttered, “I like it, especially how the pleats remind me off...” He grabbed onto his silky cravat.

Crawling to Miles, Maya grabbed him saying, “I like it for that reason as well.”

They were all snowed in. It was a good thing Bikini had given Iris, Lana and Machi all blankets. The three of them were snuggled up together with three cups of hot lemon tea besides them. Meanwhile, Bikini lit up each and every candle she could find. The room became much lighter, but it was still chilly. Machi gritted his teeth and held onto Lana as if his life depended on it. Iris gave her blanket up and wrapped it around the blonde teen.

Machi Tobaye was Lana's long lost son. And Iris had been Lana's secret lover and best friend. Iris finally felt a sense of home at last. Machi also felt like the child she never had and she knew Bikini would be a wonderful grandma figure to him. And Bikini couldn't look the temple by herself, no. Iris still wanted to stay here. She thought it was a shame Ema was still working.

There Iris was, stuck in the temple with her beloved family.

"Mama I still cold," Machi mumbled. His father, Damon Gant had blackmailed Lana to give the child up. He then dumped him at Borginia. Gant had passed his love for playing the organ down to Machi, who was now a popular pianist. But it was only until after the Machi was found not guilty of murder, Lana had discovered him. Klavier had commented that Machi and Lana had the same smile and that Machi's glistening eyes were the same as Lana's.

They got the maternity test and it proved that Lana Skye was Machi's son. Machi wasn't used to cold weathers like the frost outside. His world had always been sunny and rich. The three of them had all been accomplices to murder, some time in their life. Iris was just being co-operative, Lana didn't want Ema to go down for murder and Machi was desperate for money. But they all forgave each other's sins. Lana had cradled Machi like a baby in her arms -- because he was her baby.

"Here Machi," Iris said taking her cloak off. "This should keep you warm." She wrapped her head cloth around Machi and he almost looked like an angel.

"Thanks Iris."

"It's lovely to see you three getting along so well," Bikini said as she smiled with the odd tears down her cheek. It should all calm down in a little while and hopefully you guys will get to make snowmans hahaha!"

Machi slept as Lana and Iris held hands.

Franziska was perfect. And had lost her virginity at the tender age of thirteen. The same age she became a prosecutor. Now her age had doubled, she knew how foolish it was to give it away at an age where she was still developing. She couldn't believe she let guys touch her with the horrible zits she had to suffer with at puberty. She had kept her libido hidden from the family to keep her reputation. The only time she had ever got caught was when her adoptive brother, Miles Edgeworth walked into her losing her virginity to Damon Gant. He made Miles join in and made him keep quiet about it.

After losing her virginity, she felt a desire to top Miles in every shape or form. But the night afterwards, he was gone. She loathed and loved him ever since.

Being a tough prosecutor and school work piled a lot of pressure on Franziska. The only free time she ever had was sleep. Still she wanted to know why Miles left so suddenly. She missed him. She had to rely on comfort sex and the taste of victory for fun times. She never got a sexual transmitted diseases or anything grizzly like that, she was too careful and used the right sort or protection that worked to perfection.

She had hidden this from so many of her other lovers; like bitter Godot, deceiving Dahlia, wimpy Iris, playful Maya, hunk Klavier, another hunk Shi-Long Lang, bouncy April May, liar Luke, and the foolish Phoenix Wright, although Phoenix was just a foolish one night stand.

If Franziska was a prostitute, she could have been a millionaire. Taking that lifestyle into a fierce career would be something she wouldn't want. She was happy to be a prosecuting princess, who was both a womanizer and a man-eater.

It was one of those moods, where you were so tired, but you couldn't sleep and had to occupy yourself by doing something. Godot hadn't logged into MSN in years. The last person he spoke to on there was Misty Fey, who joined her daughter in heaven. He knew he was getting a one way ticket to hell, not even his own son could take him there. No one to left to blame but himself at the end of the day. Coffee was his most trusted companion in this cruel world – always there for him though the good times and bad. As usual he was greeted with the morning cup, which would lead to another four or more.

It wasn't bright, but it wasn't dark either. The hands of the clock stood vertically together. On six and twelve to be precise, Apollo managed to get some sleep two hours ago. After re-installing MSN he inserted his log in details.

Address: Coffeelovingsexgod@live.com
Password: Miamyangel

Wiping off the dust of his laptop he watched the windows pop up in a que. The majority of email had to be some old spam sleeping on his inbox for years. He could have done with some internet clearing. His computer lagged like a snail in a marathon, so he hopped off for another cup of coffee. Something to keep him busy till the lagging calms down. The rough snoring was the background sound coming from the kitchen. Peering through the spare room Apollo and Trucy were sleeping, the snores became violently louder. It certainly couldn't be Trucy; she was flat out cold. No lady, let alone a girl soon to be sixteen could snore like a siren.

A clicking sound startled Godot. He went to his laptop and put it on mute. A flashing tap with Lana written on it had showed up. He opened the window and a message for him by Lana appeared. There was a display pic of her dancing that night when she met Apollo.

Lana says:
Hello. Nice to see you on MSN again.

Coffee is the best medicine (R.I.P Mia Fey) says:
Morning Lana, you never used to be an early bird.

Lana says:
How are you? Yeah I'm up early because I'm meeting Mike Blitz in town later.

Coffee is the best medicine (R.I.P Mia Fey) says:
Who's he? I remember Von Whippingburg was bitching about him.

Lana says:
He's a friends of mine. I Meet him through Mia. He has a thing for my sister.

Coffee is the best medicine (R.I.P Mia Fey) says:
She's dating that Gavin dude right?

Lana says:
Well Ema doesn't really like him, to be honest. She should dump him. I don't like him, he's a vile glimmerious fop.

Coffee is the best medicine (R.I.P Mia Fey) says:
That's a change. Everyone I know seems to adore him.

Lana says:
I saw him kissing April May...

Coffee is the best medicine (R.I.P Mia Fey) says:
April May as in the scallywag who helped that twat kill Mia?

Lana says:
Yes

Coffee is the best medicine (R.I.P Mia Fey) says:
...When was this?

Lana says:
That night we were out dancing.

Coffee is the best medicine (R.I.P Mia Fey) says:
Ha! Good times it was. But yeah, Klavier's a nasty man hoe!

Lana says:
It's horrible enough seeing him cheat on Ema like that but with HER! That bitch!

Coffee is the best medicine (R.I.P Mia Fey) says:
Well I guess Ema's gonna dump him in no time.

Lana says:
I hope so. Judge Albert Salsa is going to be meeting up with us as well.

Coffee is the best medicine (R.I.P Mia Fey) says:
He knows how to keep it cool.

Lana says:
He's really nice outside the courtroom.

Coffee is the best medicine (R.I.P Mia Fey) says:
He kept calling Polly-Pocket gay in the trial cause he wouldn't say Whippingberg was hot. Lol

Lana says:
I hate that bitch. And Salsa gets side tracked very easy and effects his decisions. Like letting female criminals get away with everything.

Coffee is the best medicine (R.I.P Mia Fey) says:
Well he only punished Mrs. DeLite with a slap on the wrist.

Lana says:
He let Yew... Shi, Ga whatever her name was get away with it by only throwing her into rehab.

Coffee is the best medicine (R.I.P Mia Fey) says:
Ah Yew, she was always laughing at Grossberg cause of his size. I heard she's still in a looney bin.

Lana says:
With insane laughter like that, no wonder.

Coffee is the best medicine (R.I.P Mia Fey) says:
LOL! So how's Machi doing?

Lana says:
He seems really happy at the moment. He's sleeping over at Wocky's house at the moment. I'm picking him up in a couple of hours time. He rang up saying he's got a girlfriend.

Coffee is the best medicine (R.I.P Mia Fey) says:
Trucy?

Lana says:
I think so. He told me he liked her.

Coffee is the best medicine (R.I.P Mia Fey) says:
Cool.

Lana says:
I heard the Kitaki familly were quite the ruthless ones, but they had a change of heart.

Coffee is the best medicine (R.I.P Mia Fey) says:
Yeah, they used to be hardcore gangsters.

Lana says:
Thier son still looks like he wants continue the gangster road.

Coffee is the best medicine (R.I.P Mia Fey says:
I wouldn't worry. He was a total teddy bear in prison.

Lana says:
Really?

Coffee is the best medicine (R.I.P Mia Fey) says:
He won't want people knowing he's just a mega softie. How else would a little Kitty like Pearl date him?

Lana says:
I suppose. He got a woman pregnant didn't he?

Coffee is the best medicine (R.I.P Mia Fey) says:
Indeed. Mrs. DeLite he knocked up.

Lana says:
Lol. The DeLites always were a lot of trouble.

Coffee is the best medicine (R.I.P Mia Fey) says:
By the way, it's a marvelous day for some coffee. I might meet up with you later on. I need to look around for some jobs anyway. I can't be a lawyer anymore cause of... you know.

Lana says:
That's funny, they let me work there. It was a hassle but I got there.

Coffee is the best medicine (R.I.P Mia Fey) says:
But I murdered someone, you were innocent the whole time.

Lana says:
It's still hard to imagine you as a killer Diego.

Coffee is the best medicine (R.I.P Mia Fey) says:
A lot of things can change in a decade.

Lana says:
Well that's certainly true. Anyway I have to go. Nice talking to you Diego.

Coffee is the best medicine (R.I.P Mia Fey) says:
See ya later kitty.


Albert Salsa and Mike Blitz were both men who were a little too proud of what they got. They like the bickering brothers that just won't get on with each other even if they agreed with something. Salsa plus Blitz equaled rivalry, competition and full heated debates. It would take one's mind back to the fond school memories. This was why Lana didn't want to meet both of them at the same time, they would stray off topic about flings which Lana didn't give a damn about. She was here for serious business with Mike.

Mike's black bandanna hid the combination of red, blue and white hair dyed in his roots. Green eyes and sharp smile. A huge trench coat made him appear bigger than he actually was in reality. Salsa was in a yellow tuxedo and his hair in braids. Mike used to a be a gang leader, and Albert used to be in his rival gang. Lana knew Mike despised Klavier and fancied her sister, so he was the perfect accomplice. Salsa might have seemed like an idiot, however he had a creative way of thinking.

Salsa whispered to Lana, “A total womanizer this dude is!” He whispered it, loud enough for Mike to hear.

“You're just jealous that I slept with Von Karma,” Mike said to Salsa.

“I've never been jealous in my life,” objected Salsa. “I've never needed to be. I like my life just how it is.”

“Why else would she be so pissed off at me and go bisexual?” Mike asked.

“The answer is simple: bad sex.”

"Just cause I've had more sex than you."

"Them cigs have been fucking your mind up!"

"What I smoke is harmless, unlike the horrible cannabis you smoke."

"You know nothing about what I smoke!"

“It was pretty obvious when you like a huge criminal like Yew to get away with murder based on personal appearance.”

“I felt sorry for her, she was beautiful and troubled. She reminded me of the legendary Lady Gaga.”

"You should be grateful you still have a job!"

"Why don't we go back on topic," requested Lana relaxing her back against the chair. “We all agree that Klavier has to suffer for cheating on my sister.” Instant silence with two nodding heads thrown in. "There's plenty of ways to do it. We could kill him slowly and painfully, embarrass him, expose him, silently knock him out of existence, the list goes on. "

"I've got a magnum I use for self-defence so I could kill him that that," Mike offered.

"You use ice-cream for self-defence?" asked Salsa, who laughed his head away.

Mike punched his face and replied with, "the gun, Salsa!" Then flashed a silver magnum in his face.

"I suggest we push Mike out of the window." Mike glared at Salsa and spat on his face. "Hey MIKEY I WAS JOKING! But I do have a real suggestion."

"Just cause Adrian Andrews slept with me and not you," Mike muttered.

“You dirty lying bastard,” Salsa bursted out giggling afterwards.

“Watch it you,” Mike said pointing at him. “You push your luck a little too far sometimes.”

"Luck is my first born son!"

"I feel sorry for your partner and kids," Mike confronted him. "How they put up with your dumbness is beyond me."

"Can you two stop bickering please," Lana growled punching the table. The two men were silent and Lana looked at Salsa. "You said you had a suggestion," Lana reminded him.

"Yes, this is my suggestion," Salsa announced. "I'm pretty creative, so I know how to do this. It's very simple: we drag Klavier's ass to court! Me as the judge, you Lana the prosecutor and you Mike as the detective in charge of the case. The three of us are gonna kick his ass.”

“What if his lawyer is Apollo or Mr. Wright?” Lana asked.

"I heard he's re-taking his exam very soon," Mike said.

"Even if he passes, there is no need to worry yourself darling," Salsa said, smirking away. "I'll hire an actor. Then the whole trial will go through without any problems. Lana can kill herself and we'll pin it on Klavier. Then the acting lawyer will rest and he'll get found guilty in no time."

"... Do I really have to die?" Lana gasped, her face dropped to the table.

"I'm all up for locking Klavier up," Mike told Salsa. "But I don't think you get it. If Lana dies, that will upset Ema. The plan is for me too hook up with her and stop her from getting hurt. It won't work if Ema thinks her sister was killed by her cheating ex-boyfriend. Lana and I only want Klavier to suffer."

"Well you can kill April then," Salsa suggested to Mike. "You hate his guts and since you're friend with Phoenix you can convince him and Apollo not to take the case if such a thing is to happen. "

"I don't think we have to resort to killing anyone," Mike objected.

"For goodness sake man! It's obvious you want to stab Klavier and April to death."

"Why don't you do it?"

"This hair is very precious," Salsa said fondling his braids. "My mama taught me how to braid my hair and we used shampoo with gold extracts. No blood shall lay on my hair."

"Salsa, you're like a girl when it comes to hair."

"Unlike you I care for my about my appearance!"

"Sometimes they like a bit of scruffiness from time to time. "

"I am the king when it comes to the clubs."

"I'm getting the women, not you!"

"Well I don't go round breaking marriages up."

"I'll do it!" Lana snapped in order to stop the two from bickering off-topic. "I'll kill Miss May."

"Are you sure?" Salsa asked.

"Yes," Lana said. "I have my own personal reasons to want April dead, as well as keep that beast away from Ema."

"We've almost settled it," Salsa confirmed to Mike. "Lana kills April. Lana incriminates Klavier, you help Lana do so. I'll be the judge on the trial, Lana's the prosecutor, the fake lawyer, you as the witness and me handing out the guilty verdict. "

"Sounds good." Lana nodded her head.

"And Klavier being exposed as a cheat and a liar isn't going to help his case either," Mike added to the plan.

"Ema's gonna break up with him one way or another," Lana assured them. "But if anyone treats her badly, they'll pay deadly." Lana glared at Mike throughout the sentence.

"You got told!" Salsa grinned.

"And please you two." Lana pleaded. Her arms stretched out with her palms on the table. "Stop bickering like two little kids. You're both over thirty and should be mature enough to work together for once in your life. None of this is going to work if you keep bragging about who's life is better. Shut up about it and focus on keeping Ema safe. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes Lana," Salsa and Mike said in unison.




“And when Pearl and I get married that will make lots of money,” announced Wocky as he drove around the city. Pearl was sitting in the front seat in glee with her present. At the back was Trucy, Apollo and Klavier. Apollo was still angry at Klavier for what he did to Ema. Wocky was starting to hate his guts but had to tolerate him for Pearl's sake. “I hope you like the present I gave you Pearl.”

“I do,” Pearl squealed holding onto a pink fluffy pistol. “It's so pretty. And our wedding is going to be amazing.”

“Isn't it a bit too soon to talk about marriage?” Apollo asked Wocky.

“You wouldn't know,” Wocky replied. “You've never had one.”

“What about Trucy?” Pearl asked. “I thought they were twins”

“No Pearl they're siblings and incest don't count,” Wocky told her.

“What's incest?” Pearl asked.

“You don't know what incest is?” Klavier asked, a little bit shocked.

“She doesn't have to know,” Wocky snapped. “I had enough of you and Apollo talking about it at that club. Now I'm on the wrong side of the road because of you guys.”

Klavier bounced back with, “Not our fault you're a bad driver!”

“Shut up you,” “Losing your virginity to your brother. Whacked up jerk.”

“... EWWW,” Pearl shrieked. “Do you have any dignity? Why are you being so naughty?”

Klavier faced the floor in silence. Then he threw his hands in air. “What can I say?” he smirked, “I've been cornered.”

“TOO RIGHT YOU'VE BEEN CORNERED!” Pearl screeched. She held the pistol in her hand. Although she had no intention in shooting him, her eyes filled with fierce anger that anyone could predict a murder. “Why would you wanna cheat on Ema? She's so nice.”

“Wocky do you think you can slow down a little?” Trucy asked. “You're going a little too fast for me.”

The car skidded on a bump. The wheels screeched on the road. Wocky steered the wheel just in time of preventing a car crash from happening. A loud bang was what pushed all but the driver on the edge of their seats. Pearl's seat-belt had saved her from smashing her head against the window. All of them had been lucky. Apollo had never been so scared in his life: he could have lost his friends, his sister or his life. Curious about the entire silence, Wocky turned around to see Klavier holding tight to his right leg. Red stains formed on Klavier's jeans.

“Holy shit it's real,” gasped Wocky.

“OBJECTION!” Apollo screeched his lungs out. There was a sudden urge to protect his sister. She had been put in danger and he partly felt responsible, but wanted to blame Wocky. “WE COULD HAVE ALL JUST DIED AND ALL YOU CAN SAY IS HOLY SHIT IT'S REAL!”

“Apollo you're squashing my tits,” Trucy shrieked.

“SORRY!”

“Gee, can you calm down you're making Pearl cry,” Wocky requested.

“HOW THE HELL CAN I CALM DOWN?” Apollo spat. “That gun could have almost killed Trucy and we could have all died!”

“Look, I didn't know the gun was real,” Wocky explained. Apollo was anything but convinced. "I bought it on Amazon for Pearl and it said on there it wasn't real nor loaded."

“YOU'RE ALWAYS SAYING YOU'RE A HARDCORE GANGSTER. SO YOU SHOULD KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A REAL AND A FAKE GUN!” Apollo roared, even madder than ever. His heart pounced all over the place and gasped in a violent breath.

“This shit is hilarious...” muttered Wocky keeping his laughter to himself.

“It's not funny when someone gets hurt,” wailed Pearl. One look could show she was apologetic.

“Yeah it was funny until Pearl started crying.”

“And if Pearl wasn't crying it would be even more hilarious would it?” Apollo croaked. His chords of steel had been used up.

Wocky nodded. “Yeah...”

Apollo had enough. He leaned over and punched Wocky in the face. He didn't panic anymore.

“Watch it, I don't have a drivers license, and I'm not going to court!” Wocky snapped. “I've already been there enough times.”

“Well I'm definitely not defending you,” Apollo told him. He breathed slow, then exhaled in relief.

“Are you okay Klavier?” Trucy asked. “We need to get you to the hospital.”

“I nearly got shot in a bizarre place,” Klavier croaked. “But I should recover.”

“I'm not going to Hotti's place,” informed Wocky steering the wheel in a rough grip. “He's a creep! I don't him touching up Pearl.” He took a deep breath and pressed the play button on his car and soulful music pumped up the mood in the car. Apollo thought the song was nice, despite it not being his cup of tea.

Ain't no running from
Karma ain't no running
Ain't no running from
Karma ain't no running

“This is a great song!” Wocky nodded his head throughout the entire song. “Karma's a bitch.”

“Sorry for shooting you down there, Mr. Klavier,” Pearl sobbed. Something was telling Apollo that Pearl was willing to take the whole responsibility. “We'll get you in a hospital as soon as we can.”

"I love this dress!" Alita praised the apple green velvet hanging from her shoulders. Brighter sequins wrapped around her waist and flowers sewn across the pleats.Something about the tone of her voice made her look like she was lying. She was the type who liked the finer things in life; diamond rings, nothing but the prettiest clothes and jewelery. Larry bought this dress for Alita for five dollars in a charity shop. And he had a feeling that she despised charity shops with a passion. After all, they don't exactly give her the most finer luxuries in life. Everything had to be platinum. If it wasn't pretty, then Alita had no interest in it. Larry considered himself a lucky man for having a girlfriend with a divine taste.

"So are they're fine with you running away from the temple?" asked Larry. She wasn't doing a good job of doing what she was told. "I told you to stay! There is no way Wocky or the police will find you."

"Raising your voice in the street's not going to help either."

"Bikini and the nuns will protect you. They'll give you everything you need."

"It's poverty!" Alita snapped. "I hate it! We have to pray and do horrible chores."

"Somebody has to do them," Larry told her. "I bet you do a really good job at it too. Bikini's had a bad back for years; I don't think it's going to recover anytime soon."

"She's got the money to treat it and plenty of other nuns can do the work for her. I need her money more than her, I'll take it."

"NO!" Larry barked before getting slapped by Alita. "Stealing from a nun is one of the most meanest things you can do. You don't want to sink down to Wocky's level."

"I guess not..." Alita mumbled. "But don't you think I've already sunk down to his level by killing his doctor?"

"No," Larry quickly replied. "You did it in self-defense and the court didn't understand you."

"I guess that works."

"Don't worry about it; it's all in the past and one day we'll be gone from this place for good. I'm not letting anyone in on your secret."

"Maybe you shouldn't raise your voice then," Alita whispered. Larry had only just noticed how loud he was actually speaking. The streets were deserted from all but groups of party people. "So how long do you think I'll have to stay in the temple? I'm really hoping it's not too long."

"Ideally I want you to stay in the temple until February," Larry sighed before telling her. He could see in Alita's eyes it was not the news she wanted to hear. "But that gives you plenty of time for Wocky to pay back what he owes you."

"How di-"

"I read your text messages."

For that, Alita smacked his arm. "What did you do that for?"

"I was looking out for you!"

"Sticking your nose when were it shouldn't be is protecting me?"

"I gotta make sure you're safe. I gotta make sure the people you talk to won't betray you."

"You don't have to be paranoid," Alita told him. "He's the last person I would screw."

"I wouldn't believe for one second you could cheat on me."

"What!"

"Listen here," Larry grabbed her hand. "I told you once, twice and three times a lady; everything I do is just for you."

Alita giggled and wrapped her arms around Larry, holding onto his back. "You're so stupid in a cool way. I don't think I'll be able to cope in the temple for much longer by the way..."

"Why's that?"

"The one who drove me there seemed a bit worried," Alita replied. "Always following me then getting flustered when I see her."

"I don't think it's anything to worry about," Larry thought. "You'll still be having your dates with me."

"Where we going?" Alita asked. "We've been walking around for a long time."

"We're gonna have some fun in the casino," Larry said. Larry had a plan. If they won a little bit of money, he would propose to her tonight. He was already wanting to put a ring around her one way or another. If they make a loss for tonight, he would ask her later on. He was concerned that Alita would go crazy if he wasted the money they had been saving for the get away.


"Casino?" Alita murmured. "We have to save money, not splash it out."

"Come on, it will be fun. We'll go on a roulette machine and we'll put all our chips on red 23!" Larry shouted, "YAHOO!"

"You're crazy!"

"I know." Larry kissed Alita's hand. "I feel a great thing is coming tonight."

"You're convinced we're gonna win?"

"I can feel it in my bones,"

"Sure you do."

"The wheel will be our blessing!"




Apollo almost felt sorry for Klavier for getting shot, then dumped by his girlfriend in the same day. But he didn't. He cheated and suffered the consequences. He was not going to defend Wocky in court, not this time. It was completely out of his hands now. He might be called to be a witness but he could see Wocky and Pearl getting into trouble. He didn't know if the two of them got arrested for shooting Klavier, but he didn't see him dropping the charges any time soon.The incident in the car thrown aside, Apollo was really worried for Trucy's welfare. She was coming home late all the time due to skipping detention from bringing alcohol into school. Naturally, skipping detention made her have more detentions and to top that she had one on Saturday!

Apollo had never heard of having detention on a Saturday. He never really had any since he was just the nice quiet guy who always did what he was told. When he was training to be a lawyer and was under influence by Kristoph, he was determined to boost his confidence. His chords of steel where a way to get out of his shell.

Apollo was going to spend the night at his dad's house and Trucy decided to tag along. She's been less flirty with him since dating Machi, but he was concerned she was flirting elsewhere. They spent the day with their mother, Thalassa for the day, then drove to Godot's flat.

When the two of them walked into Godot's apartment, Godot was already standing there with a cup of coffee on each side. "Polly-Pocket we need to talk," Godot announced. His tone waa deep and his voice was cold and serious.

"You mean now?" Apollo asked. There wasn't really anything else he could say.

"Now and in private," he replied. He glared at Trucy and said, "Trucy, you can get ready for bed."

"Follow me son!" Godot told him. So Apollo did what he was told. He was lead into the kitchen with a chair. Apollo had a feeling he knew what Godot was going to talk about: Trucy. "Sit down and help yourself to some coffee," he said. "It's gonna be a while."

"If it's in private, why do you have the door open?" Apollo asked.

"So I can see if Trucy tries to overhear the conversation."

"Okay."

"Have any idea what I want to talk to you about?" Godot asked, removing his mask.

"Uhm... Trucy?"

"You got it in one!" Godot smirked and clapped his hands. It was the first time Apollo ever saw his father without his mask on. He looked... different and older than the man in the picture his mother showed him. "Well this 'relationship' she seems to be so proud off with you seems to be pushing your buttons. I don't wanna hide anything else from you anymore so I'm gonna keep the record straight: Incest is wrong no matter how much Trucy tries to sugar coat it. You agree with me right?"

"Yeah Dad, I do."

"She's not treating you like she should be," Godot snapped. "I'm not letting Trucy think she can have you as her bit on the side."

"I don't think you understand..."

"It's not me who doesn't understand; it's you."

"You know... Trucy's young and wants to be free. I don't like some of the things she does or the people she hangs round with but she's still cool."

"That doesn't give her the right to cheat on you!"

"Dad it's not like that!" Apollo snapped. "It was just twice."

"Not to her it wasn't!" Godot corrected him. "She's using you as a bit on the site. She needs to grow up, stop being slutty and start getting back to school and you need to be manly enough to stand up to her flirts!"

"You don't understand. You're making her sound like something she isn't."

"I think she's a slut," Godot whispered slurping down her coffee.

"DAD THAT'S GOING TOO FAR!"

"Like mother like daughter!"

"NOW YOU ARE GOING TOO FAR!"

"I'm trying to help you out," said Godot. "Stop shouting."

"HOW IS BASHING MY SISTER AND MOM HELPING ME?" roared Apollo. "It's not doing anything!"

"Look Apollo, she's under-aged, " Godot reminded Apollo. "They're not gonna care if she made a move on you. All they're gonna care about is that you shagged a minor. I don't want you going down the same route as me. You've got great things ahead of you. And I don't want you getting clogged up with hatred... like me. I thought it would make things better, but it drove me to kill."

"I'm not gonna kill anybody," Apollo promised his father, "I wouldn't."

"I care about you, and if things continue the way they are, then you probably will end up like me. Haters are gonna hate but don't dive in it too much? You know if you and Trucy stop sexing it up now, you two could pretend it never happened and Wright would never have to know."

"You think it's fair on him keeping a secret like this?" Apollo asked. "I work on getting the truth out, wouldn't that make me a hypocrite and I don't want to be a hypocritical."

"Some things are best left unsaid," Godot told him. "In this case, the truth is too bitter to let out."

"You know if you really had a problem with me you could have said it to my face," Trucy sobbed. Apollo knew it, she was listening the entire time.

"What can I say?" Godot asked himself. "The truth hurts."

"You could apologize," Apollo suggested.

"Nah!"

"You should!" Apollo barked.

"Don't raise your voice at me like that son."

"I'm not a kid anymore."

"You'll always be a kid to me."

"Dad can you please apoligize to Trucy for me?" he requested. "Trucy and Phoenix have helped me out on a lot of things and you should be grateful for the both of them. I know Phoenix would be really pissed off if he found out what you called her. And it would be really nice if I could peace for once in my life."

"Okay you got me! I'm sorry Trucy."

"Apology accepted I guess," Trucy smiled.

"Oh yeah, Maya and Lana's trying to convince Klavier to drop the charges on Wocky and Pearl. Looks like it's working. Big Wins is still pretty pissed off though."

"If Klavier does drop the charges, then Wocky and Pearl are REALLY lucky," Apollo said.

"At least every thing's all settled then.



"Hey Lana what's up?" Mike asked as he picked up the phone.

"Better not waste your opportunity Mike," Lana said. "She's dumped him today. She found out about the cheating."

"That's good," Mike grinned as he spoke. "That's beautiful news. "Looks like we don't have to go that far after all,"

"I still going ahead with Salsa's idea," Lana told Mike. "It will be much more entertaining."

" I personally think Salsa's plans aren't necessary any more," Mike said as he sat down with a herbal cigarette. "She's safe from him know. And your sister's strong, he won't be able to win him back easily."


"I'm beginning to think you're only saying this cause you hate Salsa."

"It's got nothing to do with Salsa okay?" Mike objected. "As far as I'm concerned we don't need him. Look Lana I love your sister and I want the best for her. I just can't stand that bastard taking advantage of her."

"I love her too," Lana agreed. "Now if you can win her heart, your job is pretty much done. I'm still going ahead with the original plan. By the way if you upset Ema I'll kill you."

And Lana hung up.

"That's fine by me."

Ron shivered even from the warmth of the fire, hugging himself. His arms shook like a vigorous tree in a tornado about to crash. His eyes wondered to the locked door, then bowed his head in shame. "I've been useless all these years," he sobbed out. "It's all my fault, I DESERVE EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED TO ME! I couldn't even give my wife a baby."

Ron knew he would not be saved whether he'd cry or not. His abductors left him to fend for himself as if they had a small amount of faith in him. Ron found it was the perfect time to cry and reflect on the troubles in his life. Dessie and Ron had done so much for each other, they both work, Dessie gave up her shopping addiction and Ron didn't need to steal anymore.

Ron's work was dodgy, but at least it was putting money on the table. They had been saving up for a baby for five years ago. Dessie had always wanted a baby, they had been trying since they got married, but no conception. Last year they had discovered the main root of the cause; Ron was sterile. Dessie managed to get pregnant in the end but it would never be his child. He knew he would feel awkward having raise a kid that is not biologically his, and would take a while to get over the affair but he wanted to be there. He wanted to hold Dessie's hand in labor. He wanted to be the good husband he wanted to be.

Naturally, it would be very difficult locked up in a flat in the middle of nowhere. No television, phone, computer or any fancy gadgets for convenience. Pushing his head deeper into his cushion, he stretched his legs out as his foot tapped the mattress. He yawned as he forced himself out of bed and tip toed to the fridge. He wanted to return to his dreams but he knew he had to eat something, even if it was only pork pies with an over-powering pepper flavor. He fancied some boiled eggs now he saw three eggs in the tray, but the room didn't have a cooker, oven or microwave; just a humble kettle plugged in next to the sink.

He wasn't sure if a kettle would boil an egg but he was gonna give it a shot. He picked up two and saved the other one for tomorrow.



For everything Pearl hates about Wocky, there was two traits she liked. She didn't like his whole gangster image, but loved his bravery and the way he treated her. She hated some of his habits like drinking and smoking, but she liked how she was able to tame him when he needed it. Pearl suggested Wocky to give up smoking so Plum wouldn't go mad next time she smelt tobacco.

"Are you going to Mystic Maya's party?" Pearl asked. "I'm sure the clan would love to see you again; that's what Mystic Maya said. She says she has a big announcement too."

"I guess I could come," Wocky said. "Is Maya getting married or something if she says something about some announcement?"

"I'm not sure," Pearl said. "She hasn't told me so it must be big; she usually tells me everything. You know I always wanted her to get married and have babies with Mr. Nick but he's engaged to my half-sister. Maybe it's for the best, only time will tell."

The bold words in today's newspaper lured Pearl's eyes into the article.


"Loads of people escaped jail last week..." Pearl mumbled. The first couple of pages about the killers on the loose. Some of them which, Pearl vaguely remembered when Phoenix was a lawyer. Some of them were new names to her, but she still felt concerned that the killers could be behind them right now or crawling around them. "Alita's one of them."

"That newspaper got it wrong," Wocky said. "Matt and Luke have been out of prison for a while now. And I know Alita's been out longer than a week."

"How do you know?" Pearl asked.

"I've seen her around," Wocky said. "I saw her the night we were out with Matt in that club."

"Did she speak to you?"

"Yeah she did," Wocky said. He saw no point in lying. He didn't want to tell her, but since they both had brought Alita up it would have been better to just tell the truth.

"What did she say?" Pearl asked. "Did she do anything to you?"

"Gotta give her some money..."

"MONEY?" Pearl shrieked. "Give HER of all people money? She's given you pain and you wanna give her money."

"Pearl you don't get it?"

"Then why?"

"She's gonna kill you if I don't!"

Pearl gasped then remained silent. "You still shouldn't give her a penny!" Pearl snapped. "You should have reported her there and then. I'll give her a piece of my mind once I see her. The money you were gonna give Alita should be spent on your child."

"I don't want you getting hurt you know?"

"We've got loads of people to support us," Pearl said. "That's something Alita hasn't got."

"Whose gonna kill who?" A man behind them asked. Mike Blitz had been listening to their conversation.

"Uhm... sup Mike?"

"Just doing my job," Mike replied, confiscating Wocky's bottle, then consuming some vodka for himself.

"What stealing wives or dropping into people's private conversations?" chuckled Wocky.

"No my actual job, investigating... wife stealing doesn't apply today one cause the girl I wanna woo is single," Mike sighed. "Anyway I got some questions for you."

"What kind of questions?" Wocky said. "If it's about the car incident the other day, I'm not talking about it."

"Actually, I wanted to talk about Matt and Luke," Mike said.

"What about these Matt and Luke dudes?" Wocky asked, snatching his bottle back.

Mike sighed again. "You know who I'm talking about; the dudes you met in prison." Wocky looked at him blank and Mike asked again, "have you heard from Matt and Luke since they escaped prison?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"I know you really get along with them so don't lie out of this one."

"Well I ain't seen them since I left prison."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure"

"Lying to the police is not a good thing," Mike warned him. "I will find out. Oh and was it you who shot Klavier?"

"It wasn't me if was my girl Pearl," Wocky answered.

"I swear it was an accident," Pearl squealed.

Mike tapped Pearl's shoulder and said, "good on you."

"Back to your wife stealing now," Wocky laughed.

"Watch it you!" Mike warned Wocky. "I can get you arrested for being cheeky."

"Yeah right!" Wocky muttered. "Why do you wanna know about Matt and Luke anyway?"

"Working on a case," Mike announced. "Dessie DeLite's husband has gone missing. He was kidnapped on the night after Matt and Luke escaped prison. We believe the two cases are connected."

"Damn really?"

"Yep," Mike replied. "One of the prison officers believes you Wocky, are working as their accomplice."

"Why would I wanna help kidnap her husband?" Wocky snapped.

"Well the prison guard thinks you wanted revenge on Dessie for setting you up, so you team up with the one person she disgusts the most and his lover to set it up."

"Surely his name is not Larry."

"Yes, you've been in some trouble with him have you?" Mike asked.

"He's dating my ex and he pushed me down the stairs."

"I taught Mr. Butz a lesson though!" Pearl said putting her fist up.

"Come to think of it," Mike thought,"your ex escaped prison too. Larry couldn't stop crying."

"He helped her! He pushed me down the stairs the day he helped Alita escape."

"I'll look into it ASAP Mike said. "After I've finished talking to Ema I'll help look into Alita and Larry's history. Anyway I'll see you later Wocky and Pearl," Mike said then walked up to Ema's apartment at the more upscale side of town with a bag in one hand and a watermelon scented herbal cigarette in his other hand. His mind drifted back to his conversation with Lana and how it ended on somewhat tense terms.

"If you upset Ema, I'll kill you." She had warned him. "And that's fine with me," was his reply, despite the fact that she hung up before he could even say it.

Truth be told, he always had a soft spot for the teenage scientist that always looked up to him in Europe when he said she could be his partner in investigation. She was always perky and full of energy. He could also tell she had a crush on him and he was banking on her having that old flame still burning somewhere inside of her as he went to woo her.

What he had heard from Lana wasn't all that pretty. Ema had changed a lot in the years he had not seen her. She was more beautiful, for sure by the pictures he was given. Yet he heard she was also jaded from apparently not getting into CSI like she had wanted. Ema had become somewhat bitter, eating snackoo's like there was no tomorrow. If he knew that she would get so addicted to them, he would have never given her that bag such a long time ago.

Before he knew it, he was in front of her door. Resigning himself to being taken, if this flirting worked, he knocked on the door after taking a deep inhale of his cigarette and letting the fruity scent out.

"Who is it?" came a muffled female voice.

Deciding to tease her a bit, he lowered his voice one octave. "Snackoo delivery for Ema Skye."

He heard the sound of someone walking to the door and grumbling, "That had better not be you fop or I'll...." whatever else she was gonna say was lost on her lips when she opened the door and saw him.

Mike's eyes glinted with amusement as a grin made its way to his face. "Hey Ema, miss me?"

He was ready for the hug she gave him.

"Mr. Blitz! It's been forever! How are you? Come on in we need to....." Mike put a finger on her lips as she started to say the words too fast for comfort.

"I'm fine and thank you for inviting me in." he told her, playing the suave gentleman as he went inside.

He heard Ema close and lock the door behind him as he looked at her place. It was clean, that was for sure. It was also full of scientific equipment. Her living room looked like a lab.

"Ehehehe........sorry...I wasn't expecting company today. If I knew I would've moved all this stuff." Ema said, blushing slightly out of embarrassment.

"You never change. Is that your kitchen over there?" he asked, pointing to a door next to a TV stand with a plasma screen on top of it.

"Yeah. There's also an ashtray there. Honestly Mr. Blitz, you really need to kick that habit. Non nicotine or not, that stuff will be the death of you." Ema said as she opened the door for him. "What's in the bag?"

Walking over to the kitchen counter, he turned his bag upside down, revealing a gallon container of chocolate ice cream and a dozen bags of snackoo's.

"Heard about your breakup from your sister. She wanted me to see if you were alright so I thought, 'why not just drop by for a chat while I'm here as well?'" He explained as he watched her grab a bag of the snacks with a scary speed before starting to munch them down.

"Yeah....Klavier was a real gentleman. I always thought of him as a fop, but a good person overall. He was sweet to me on our dates, but apparently I didn't give him what he wanted." Ema said, bitterness and anger lacing her voice.

"That would be?" Mike asked, grabbing the ashtray she pointed out to him and dumping a bit of the ashes of his cigarette in it before taking another breath of the addicting substance.

"Sex....I refused to sleep with him.....then he goes and cheats on me with some big titted cow cat girl!" Ema said quietly at first, but eventually her voice rose up to shouting level.

"Heh." Mike knew this story all too well. Being the ladies man he was, he had seen and done a little bit of everything that did not require him to bow at a woman's feet.

"If I ever see that fop again I'm gonna punch him in the face!" Ema continued to rant before munching on her snackoo's at a wild pace.

"Simmer down there speedy. Let's just go towards the good times and try to forget about this 'fop'." Mike suggested, rummaging through her kitchen drawers before pulling out an ice cream scooper and getting two bowls before putting a generous amount of the ice cream in them.

"You're too sweet Mr. Blitz. You always put me first, back then." Ema said with a somewhat sad smile as she remembered her adventures of sorts in Europe.

"I'm still putting you first now." he pointed out as he led her to a sofa that was put up against a wall across from the TV stand.

"Yeah...." Ema said with a blush on her face.

'Such a troubled girl.' Mike thought as he sat down next to her.




"You must be Phoenix Wright," the woman spoke. Phoenix shook hands and said, "I'm Kay Faraday, Edgeworth's told me a lot about you."

"It's nice to you again," Phoenix said. "I see you haven't changed much."

"Yeah," Kay replied. She removed her scarf which was just a lighter shade of blue than her hair. "So what did you want to talk about?"

Phoenix grinned, then looked seriously asking, "I was wondering if you could do me a favor?"

Trucy was rather pleased with her birthday present from her dad: a new best friend. Apollo didn't know why Phoenix couldn't just admit that he forgot to buy her a present and just introduced a friend to her. The new friend was called Kay Faraday. Her smile was just as optimistic as sunshine. Apollo was relieved that Trucy had finally found a new friend seemed nice. Phoenix thought Kay would be a calming influence on her. Apollo didn't exactly agree; it would take a miracle for Trucy to be calm. If Kay becomes a calming influence on Trucy, Apollo would eat his hair.

“Thank you for my present Daddy!” cried Trucy giving Phoenix a kiss on the cheek. “This is the best present ever!”

“You're welcome.”

“Better get dressed in your best clothes,” Phoenix told them. “It's Maya's party tonight. My friend Larry's gonna drive us there.”

“Pearls said there was going to be a big announcement,” Trucy told her dad. “Maybe she's gonna announce its my birthday too. What do you think the announcement is going to be?”

“I haven't got a clue,” admitted Phoenix. “The only I can think of is something about burgers of Steel Samurai.”

“Me neither,” Apollo agreed.

“Ill third that,” said Kay. “I hope it's a very good one.”

“Maya is pretty unpredictable,” said Phoenix. “She might say something that will shock the elders. They're very sensitive.”

“Is that why they slapped you on the face for breaking that vase?” Trucy asked.

Phoenix remained silent then replied, “yeah. A very hard one too. Trust you to remember that.”

“Where's Iris?” Apollo asked. “She seems to have vanished.”

“Iris is at work,” Phoenix replied. “Working in some shabby French restaurant with a disgusting guy!”

“I don't think you should say that about Mommy Iris' boss,” Trucy told Phoenix.

He smiled, looked down on his drink and said, “it's the truth.”

“The party is going to be fun,” Kay giggled to Trucy, “don't you think that too?”

“Yeah it's going to be amazing!”

There was a saying that friendship was the greatest gift, something Trucy and Kay were going to prove.



~*~



The party was better than Apollo had expected. There was vodka being distributed around Kurain Village but Phoenix had been keeping an eye on Trucy. She had stuck with Kay at all times, just like Phoenix instructed her to do while they were in the car with Larry. They spotted Pearl running around trying to make sure everyone was behaving themselves for Maya's party. He turned his head when he saw Franziska von Karma sitting in the corner with a glass of wine. (He was more surprised she had no whip on her. Perhaps Pearl and Maya confiscated it for the night.)

"Hey Pearls come here!" Trucy called.

"Hi there Trucy," Pearl said, dashing towards her. "Mystic Maya's going to be so pleased you. Happy birthday to you too! I haven't got a present yet but I'll send it to your house tomorrow."

"Thank you," smiled Trucy."Pearls, this is my birthday present, Kay Faraday."

"She's your present?" Pearl asked.

"Well daddy forgot to buy presents for me again, so he got me a new friend. She's really nice!"

"Wow, Mr. Nick is so thoughtful," Pearl cried out. "Nice to meet you Kay."

"Nice to meet you too Pearl," Kay smiled, shaking her hand.


Maya stood up on the podium and tilted her head to the microphone. "Good evening everyone. Thank you for coming to my 26th birthday party. I've got two announcements, first of all I would like to say happy birthday to Trucy who is sixteen today.”

“Now for the big announcement. I wasn't sure weather to do it the easy way to put it on facebook or announce it in person. In the end I decided to do it on my birthday...”

“What is it Mystic Maya?” Pearl asked. She jumped in excitement. “Is it a baby?”

“No,” Maya said. “I am happy to announce that I am a very proud lesbian.”

"Is that it?" Phoenix asked.

"Yeah," Maya replied. "I love girls," she grinned.

Everyone was silent. All but one of the shrine maidens who gave Maya an applause. Then everyone else started clapping apart from some of the elders who crunched their lips. Pearl saw a couple of the elders, who were close friends with her mother, smiling and winking at Pearl. Where they thinking, what Pearl thought they were thinking?

“I would also like to say something too,” Pearl said. “I'm not going to tolerate anymore silly or outrageous plots in this family anymore.” There might not even be any plots, but Pearl wanted to make sure her opinion was out there to her clan. She lost her mother and aunt to the madness, she wasn't going to lose anyone else for it. "...Uhm," she ran out of things to say when Maya stared at her with wide eyes. "Let's make sure Mystic Maya enjoys the rest of her day."

Mike could have had a wonderful good night sleep tucked with Ema after a wonderful date. But no, Albert Salsa had to wake him up just to introduce someone to him. He gritted his teeth, feeling tempted to punch him. He didn't even give him time to put some outdoor clothes on. Seething at Salsa, who was dressed in an orange suit and bright pink leather boots up to his knees. Not just any old boots either; they lit up in the dark. His cowboy hat, decorated in sequins glistened from the lights of the boots.

"Would you care to explain why you've taken me into a deep forest at two o'clock in the morning?" asked Mike, gritting his teeth, although he'd like to know what made him think what he was wearing was a good outfit.

"I already said, " Salsa replied. "I need to introduce to someone." Salsa was also humming to himself as he tiptoed into the forest hearing nothing but the birds singing and the owls howling.

"You can at least tell me who?"

"I can't say who just yet," Salsa whispered, then hushed. "It's a surprise."

"This better be worth it," Mike muttered, still growling his teeth at him.

"Sadly it's not Ema Skye in case you're fantasizing about her."

"Damn!" Salsa just had to rub it in his face.

"You won't believe your eyes."

"I don't plan on sleeping with anyone either." Mike had a feeling Salsa was going on about a hot lady he met in the club.

"Mike, this is strictly business. I've got everything under control. I've got a plan B in case my epic plan A to lock Klavier Gavin goes wrong."

"Our Plan A actually," corrected Mike. He didn't want Salsa claiming all the credit. "And it was Lana who started the plan." Mike got out his torch, since Salsa was shaking his torch about too much. His torch was larger, thus Salsa was able to find his way. A man was standing in the middle of a cottage. By the way he dressed, he seemed to have been a butler. His uniform blended in with the dark when Mike lowered his torch.

"Good morning gentleman,"the man said. His tone was deep. He sounded like a gentleman of business. Salsa smiled as if he recognized the man's voice.

"Hey Shelly DeKiller how are you?" Salsa said.

"Very well thank you." DeKiller bowed and asked, "What brings you gentleman up at this hour?"

"I was going to introduce Mike to a friend of mine."

"Not popping round to see your godmother?" DeKiller wondered, "she makes exceedingly pies."

"That's exactly where we were heading to," Salsa said, grinning. He tilted his sunglasses as he asked, "what about you Shelly?"

"I'm on quest for blood on behalf of Mrs. DeLite," he announced.

"You mean Mrs. DeLite has hired you?" Mike asked. He was positive that this was more than just a pure coincidence.

"Indeed," DeKiller said. "It is quite beneficial for the pair of us. I've always liked to kill Mr. Engarde for his unforgivable betrayal. Atmey on the other hand, still owes me money. I am also going to send her husband home: dead or alive."

"Well that sounds cool. Good luck on that." Salsa said, approaching DeKiller to shake his hand.

"Thank you," DeKiller said. "Unfortunately I have no time to chat. I bid farewell." And Shelly DeKiller walked away, blending with the night.

Salsa looked at Mike and said, "Okay now let's go in." Mike nodded and followed him into the cottage. As they walked in they could see fur all over the place and cats sleeping in harmony. "Pussies galore," Salsa whispered to Mike. "You like that don't you?"

"Not the cat version," Mike spat.

"Hey Namow," Salsa called. "It's me."

"Watch it!" a croaky voice called. "You're going to wake the cats. Oh..."

A woman had walking in, wearing her white gown, contrasting to her chocolate skin. She held a knife in her hand, but lowered it when she saw Salsa's face. "Albert! So nice to meet you."

"This is my friend Mike Blitz," Salsa announced.

"Hey," Mike said, wondering why Salsa had forced him to meet serial killer, Namow Lantem.

"Would you two like some pie?" Namow asked.

"I'm okay thanks, I'll have some tea though," Salsa replied as he removed his sunglassed.

"What about you Mike?"

"I'm okay thanks,"

"You know where Luke Atmey and Matt Engarde are hiding don't ya?" Salsa asked.

"Oh yes," Namow answered with a grin. "They were foolish enough to trust me." Funnily enough, Mike thought Salsa was foolish for dragging him out of bed to visit a killer.

"Maybe you can tell us," Mike said.

"Jacques Portsman said he visited them. He and Matt used to be good friends he says."

"Great another of the killers who just escaped jail." Mike yawned watching one of the cats throwing up in the sink. This was no way for a cat to live, it wasn't rocket science. Since Namow had brought him up, he had to ask her, "do you know where Portsman is..."

Namow said nothing but grinned as she gave Salsa his tea.

"You're silent, you've done something to him haven't you?" Salsa said.

"Maybe I did," Namow whispered, "but maybe I didn't"

"What have you done to Jacques Portsman?" Mike asked, trying to cut the chase.

"I turned him into pie and ate a bit of him," Namow admitted.

Salsa spat his tea out laughing, splattering on the cat that being sick. Mike had nothing else to say other than, ".... Why?"

"He kicked my cat, Ribbon!" Namow barked. "Served him right the little pest."

"That's not a legit reason to eat somebody," Mike said. "Let alone kill."

"Do you want to be in my pie then?" Namow asked grinning like a Cheshire Cat.

"NO WAY!" Mike shouted. "Let's go!"

"Hold it Mike!" Salsa chased him. "She can help!"

"We should hand her in," Mike snapped, cold and clear. "I can't bare to have her walking around eating people."

"You gotta watch what you say about Nomow," Salsa warned him. He managed to get Mike to stop running by holding his arm.

"Why? She's dangerous she needs locking up!"

"Dude, you could have been killed."

"You could have been killed too,"

"I know her, she's my mama's best friend." Salsa roared. "I know she's crazy, but she's my godmother for a reason. She is a great ally to my family. She gave my bullies diarrhea."

"Do we have to bring your family life into this?"

"Oh whatever!" Mike sighed. "The point is Mike, you do not mess with her in anyway. She's an expert in romance!"

"Yes," laughed Mike clapping his hands. "That's why she flushed her husband down the toilet."

"That's why you don't mess with her or her cats," announced Salsa.

"The woman is a freak show," Mike said out aloud. "She's not going to help us. If anything she'll make things worse."

"Listen here Mike, you said that you were prepared to get your hands dirty for the truth and for peace."

"Yes I stand by that still."

"Namow has harmed her enemies many times before, but she loves her allies so much, she'll do the dirty work for them. Give her a chance, she's actually helping you."

"Handing herself in will be a great help."

"Just go back and listen to her," Salsa muttered. "Please?"

"Namow has about a million cats in that den of hers," Mike brought up.

"There is plenty of room in your car so maybe we can offer some of them a safer place." Salsa said. "She's had some of them cats for ages. She don't need all of them."

"Maybe we can get her to make a deal with us," Mike thought. "It's not nice for her or the cats to be living in such a junk room." He took a deep breath, wishing he could go back to see Ema.

Salsa tapped his back and told him, "now don't worry Mike. Once everything is sorted you can go home."

"Yay," boomed Mike. "Let's go back in again."

"Hello again," Mike said as he walking into the cottage. "Sorry about earlier, just a little tired."

"It's okay," Namow said. "I scare everyone in prison."

"Hey Namow, Mike and I got a proposal for you," Salsa told her.

"Nice what is it?"

"You help us catch Luke Atmey and Matt Engarde and lock Klavier Gavin in jail and in return, we'll help put your cats in a safer environment and give you a nice place to live," announced Mike.

"That means I'll have to say goodbye to all of them?" Namow asked. Mike could see a tear floating in her eye.

"Yeah," Mike said. "Sorry..."

"But they'll have a happy home and they'll still be able to chill out with each other," Salsa rambled on. He wrapped his godmother around his arms and continued, "They'll make new friends and some might even be stars."

"I'll miss them so much!" Namow wailed.

"Okay Namow don't cry," Salsa begged. "One day you'll realize it was the best thing to do."

"My words exactly," Mike said.

"I'll help you,"she sobbed out finally. "I'll send all of the Portsman pies to Luke Atmey's shelter. So it looks as if Luke made the pies. You two shall help me."

"I promise we will Namow," Mike and Salsa said together.

"Albert you were always a good boy inside," Nawmow smiled. "But whatever you do, don't report DeKiller," she warned the two men. "He's helping us out a lot."

"We won't," Mike promised.

"And one more thing," Namow said. "Before I forget. Do you guys know the Kitaki family?"

"Of course we do," Mike quickly responded. "Why?"

"I've seen their son, Wocky bring some of his friends over to have a party," Namow slipped out. "They very wild and loud when he's around. I know it was Wocky cause seeing Little Plum carrying him around in the pram."

"Well, thanks for the info," Mike said.

"It's a pleasure."

He was pleased that tonight wasn't a complete waste of time, they now had extra help in his investigations and his quest to protect Ema from harm. Despite all this, he wasn't sure that Lana would approve. She will kill him if he fails, but the chances of his failing seemed to be light years away unless Salsa messes it up.

She was born an unloved daughter and consumed her life as a shrine maiden, and a servant to her sister.Her life had lacked the spice and variety she so secretly desired. The past year for Iris had been life changing. She had spent most of the year in jail and now she had re-prised her role as a waitress in Trés Bien. She hardly recalled working there much, she only did it in her twin sister's shadow. Now working as herself, Iris Hawthorne. She was surprised at how easy the job was. Not many people come to Trés Bien, the food was expensive and tasted poor.

She had often found herself staring at the window gazing at the people passing by. Her boss never had a go at her but the customers did. I could really use a wish right now, she thought as she twisted her black hair around her fingers. She fluttered her eyes at the same time as she thought about love.

Love is kind, patient and full of sincerity, something Iris felt she had. There was lots inside her, but nobody to accept it. That was how she thought of it anyway. She didn't blame them either, she had betrayed everyone in the worst way possible. She couldn't even preserve her promises to Dahlia.

Work was deserted and Iris could only hear herself humming tunes around the tables. She didn't understand why not many people came to the restaurant. The place was clean, tidy and full of charm. She felt like she was in her dreams with all the pink fluff and flowers scattered around. Iris enjoyed how her orange maid uniform made her stand out from all the pink. She tiptoed as she removed the dust from the ceiling. She decided to twirl her way onto the floor where she landed on her face.

"I have a tendency to forget I'm in high heels," Iris said to herself. "I'm lucky that I didn't hurt myself."

"IRIS?" yelled her boss. That emotional French accent made her wonder if he was actually a Frenchman - it sounded too over-the-top. He tumbled in from the door in a bright pink chef uniform with orange curls as his beard. "Iris ca va?"

"Huh?" Iris glanced at him. "Can you say that again, Jean?"

"Oh non!" bawled Jean. "You are not very well." He fiddled with his hat as his jaw shook. "You might have to go home, but je n'aime pas to be alone."

"Jean..." Iris stumbled as she got up. "I'm okay, so... you don't have to worry." She pulled a fake smile to convince him.

"DO NOT LIE TO ME IRIS!" Jean roared as his voice squeaked. "It breaks my heart when people lie to me." He threw a fit of tears and Iris stood there blankly at him. As much as she would like to help him, she didn't know what to do.

"I'm sorry Jean," whispered Iris. She approached him with a smile and hugged him. "I know you've had a hard time running the restaurant all by yourself but we'll help improve this restaurant together."

"Zi restaurant is my life," announced Jean. "But I feel hurt that nobody really likes zi effort I do. All my employers have left work and I'm not getting any profit."

"Cheer up," Iris said. Surprisingly Jean wiped his tears away and gave a quick smile. "The only problem with this restaurant is the food and the price. If we lower the prices and improve the food, then we'll be getting the money in no time."

"If only life was more simple."

"We can buy convenience meals from the supermarket and instant coffee!" Iris suggested as an idea.

"You naughty girl," Jean snarled. He gave her a harsh spanking which made Iris fall over again. "That is cheating!"

"I'm sorry Jean," Iris mumbled as she rubbed her backside. "I didn't mean to upset you."

"Oui," Jean cried. "You have a good heart. You have truly lifted my spirits high. J'adore life! J'adore food! J'adore cooking! J'adore work! J'adore Iris! J'adore dance! J'ADORE! J'ADORE! J'ADORE! What do you think Iris?" Jean held Iris into his arms and squished her about. "We will make an excellant duo. We shall make beautiful muffins together, non?"

"Too much J'adore," admitted Iris, "but I like it anyway."

"VIOLA!" Jean cried again as the pair of them danced at work. After all, they were both alone, love was in the air and the room temperature was spicy.

Trucy waited until Apollo had fallen asleep to leave her home. Phoenix was out somewhere and Iris was at work. She received a text message by Wocky asking if she and Apollo were interested in partying at Matt's place. Trucy replied yes, even though she never told Apollo. She could feel it in her bones that he would one-hundred percent say no. So off she went, taking the key to the house with her. Once again she was daring with what she wore: a black mini-skirt, red corset, and high heels to match. At least Apollo would have her trusted Mr. Hat around.

She had severe trouble walking down the steps with her high heels. She was worried about a lot of vain things such as her hair, or if her shoes broke or what to do if she had any funny looks from the guys. These heels were from her future step-mother, Iris. Almost falling down the stairs five times made her wish that she had worn flat shoes.

Needless to say, she was relieved when she reached the ground floor. No more steps for a while. Trucy knew she could walk fine in heels on a flat ground. She knew she would need lessons in walking in heels. She eventually met Wocky in the car park.

"Hi Wocky," she said as she approached him. "I'm excited for tonight aren't you?"

"Yeah," Wocky said. "Is Apollo coming?"

"Apollo didn't want to come," said Trucy. "Apollo's still shaken up after what had happened. He's not ready to go out yet."

"Guess it's just me, you and Machi going to Matt's place tonight."

"Where's Pearl?" Trucy asked.

"She's gone on a trip with Maya," Wocky told her. "She's not back until next Monday."

"You look nice today," Machi said smiling.

"Hi Trucy, you going somewhere?"

"Oh hi Kay," Trucy shouted. She held onto her heart, took a breath then hugged Kay. "You have me a shock there. Your hair looks cool tonight," Trucy complimented on Kay's blue curls. She faced the boys and said, "Wocky, Machi this is my new friend, Kay."

"Nice to see you Kay." Machi bowed as he shook her hand.

"Yo!" Wocky gave Kay a high-five.

"Nice to meet you two," Kay said scratching her neck. "So where are we going?"

"We're going to Matt's house," Trucy told her.

"Who's Matt?"

"He's Wocky's friend," replied Trucy. "I met him while we were having a nights out once. We got on really well, we almost kissed."

"That's cool."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine, nothing wrong with me at all."

"So how long is this party going to last for?"

"A long time."

"Define a long time."

"Till 6am."

"That's a long time, shouldn't we let your dad know?"

"He wouldn't let me go if he knew,"

"He'd be worried if we don't tell him were you're going."

"Just relax, we'll be safe."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah!" Trucy looked behind her and asked, "Are you excited Machi?"

"Yes, very much."

"It's gonna be fun all round, do you know how many people are going Wocky?"

"No," he replied. "Matt said there would be lots of people. So I don't know. The car's over here. I borrowed pop's old car."

"It's a pretty cool car," Kay said, impressed with nostalgic appeal of the car yet have a modern touch to it at the same time.

"Hop in guys," Wocky demanded as he opened the doors to the car.


Forty-five minutes later, they had arrived to a cottage in the middle of the forest. Lying on the doorstep was Matt Engarde himself. As expected he had a crate of beer next to him. Trucy peeped through the cottage's window and saw lots of guests inside and outside. As the car doors opened, the smell of tobacco and drugs filled the whole car, and they hadn't even been in for five minutes. "That's weird," said Wocky. "None of the cats are about."

"Hello guys!" Matt had dressed up well, his fringe hid his scars and the bronze suit nearly blended with his hair. He flashed his teeth and leaned against the car.

"Where are the cats that belonged to that mad old witch?" Wocky asked.

"The mad woman gave them all up for Mike," Matt replied. "He kept two of them and got his girlfriend to try and home the cats."

"To Mike Blitz of all people?" Wocky chuckled.

"Yeah, he met up with her for a threesome with Mr. Salsa."

"You have got to be kidding me?" Wocky almost jumped out of his chair.

"You know what they're both like?" Matt said. "Mike would screw anything and Namow is a mental woman."

"Yeah I see what you did there."

"And who's this sexy chick?" Matt asked looking up Kay's skirt.

"Kay Faraday," said Wocky.

"Why Hello there," Matt purred. He licked his lips, moving his head near Kay's blue hair.

"Uhm... hi..."

"You know how to impress a friend Wocky," Matt told him, patting his shoulder. "We've got lots of good guests inside," Matt added, "you'll all enjoy yourself here."

"Is Luke in there?" asked Wocky.

"Nah." Matt shook his head and spat on the floor. "He's fucked off somewhere."

"Guess we'll see him later,"

"Yeah."

"Trucy, I need a word with you in private."

"Okay," said Trucy as she stepped out of the car.

"I'll be there in a minute, I'm gonna park this thing somewhere." Wocky locked the door and drove near the trees.

"Will Trucy be fine?" Kay asked.

"Course she will," Wocky repllied, smiling. "Matt won't hurt a fly."


Meanwhile, Matt had led Trucy into a bedroom. He had locked the doors immediately after they both entered the room. Trucy was quick to notice the modern style and bright red furniture. "Nice room," said Trucy.

"Thanks," Matt said. "Why don't you sit down on the bed."

Trucy had a feeling that Matt was going to kiss her. She wasn't sure what would happen, but the jiggling in her stomach felt there was an invisible fire in the room. As she was instructed, she sat on the bed. "So what did you want to talk about?" she asked. She watched Matt remove his blazer and undo a couple of his buttons. He pounced on the bed and glared at her. "Sorry, did you not hear me?"

Matt chuckled. "Oh I heard you well. It's just I know your father very well."

"Really?" Trucy gasped. She leaned her head closer towards Matt. "You two are friends?"

"Not really," Matt admitted. He began to tickle her neck. "But we did have a nice conversation."

"About what?"

"Just a general manly talk." He lay on his bed, stretching his arms out and shook his hair. "He's an alright dude, you're lucky to have him as a father. Even though he got both me and my boyfriend in jail."

"What did you do?" Trucy asked. The curiosity about Matt suddenly increased from the minute she stepped into his room to that very moment. She felt like the princess surrounded by a pack of hungry wolves.

"I hired someone to kill my rival."

"How come?"

"Because, my rival had bullied me all my life. He made me feel worthless, but I wouldn't stop chasing my dreams just because he had the same ambitions as me."

"Why couldn't you have just made up with each other?" Trucy wondered. "It would have been much more easier."

"I tried to once," Matt said. "He threw me in a bin for it. My rival and I had been in a war for many years, and I decided it was time to make it stop."

"Then you met Luke?"

"I met him about a week after I was sent down." Matt told her. "We didn't get along at first, but one day we had to share a cell and things just clicked. And eventually we were partners."

"So what's it like dating a guy?"

"No difference to dating a girl."

"It's nice to get out you know," Matt confessed, then roared with laughter.

"Out where?"

"Jail, not easy when a lot of people are out to get me." Matt went below the bed and reached out a bottle of whiskey. "I miss the old days like these."

"So what do you think of me?" Trucy asked. "It's kinda clear that you trust me."

"You're pretty," Matt grinned. "And very reliable. You wanna do it?"

"Okay," Trucy said. "We've got nothing to lose."

"It would be best not to tell ya dad."

Trucy was right. They did end up kissing in the end.

~.~


"Where's Trucy?"

Phoenix's angry voice woke Apollo. His footsteps were as loud as his fists flying around the doors. Phoenix didn't need to shake his shoulders to wake him up. Apollo was struggling to open his eyes and yawned.

"Isn't she in her room?" Apollo mumbled.

"We've looked everywhere," replied Phoenix. "She's not here."

"Really?" Apollo yawned again. "Are you sure she's not hiding."

"We are very sure she's not hiding," Phoenix snapped. "Any idea where's she's at?"

"With her friend perhaps, she should be home soon."

"It's midnight, we've been searching for her for half an hour. The door has been left open."

"Feenie some of my stuff are missing!" cried out Iris.

"What's missing?" Phoenix shouted. Apollo had never seen Phoenix so mad.

"My red high heels, my make-up bag," Iris confirmed. "Maybe Trucy wore it."

"She's gone out partying," Phoenix said to himself. He glared at Apollo and asked, "any idea where?"

"With Pearl?"

"Pearls has gone on holiday with Maya," Phoenix roared. He removed his beanie and buried his head in his hands. "I've gotta found out where she is! She might be dying."

Apollo had also never seen Phoenix squeal so much before.

Phoenix grabbed his phone out of his pocket and placed it near his ear. "POLICE! .... YES um hi Gumshoe my daughter has gone missing! ... WHAT YOU'VE FOUND HER WHERE? ..... PARTYING WITH MATT ENGARDE! ... GET HER OUT NOW! .... HALF AN HOUR! OH GOD WHERE IS THIS PLACE? ... Okay, I'll be at the station."

"They found her?" Apollo asked.

"Yeah she was parting with that SCUMBAG MATT ENGARDE!"

"Any chance Matt as in the one with the scar on his face?" Apollo asked. "I never liked him."

"Yeah," Phoenix sighed. He punched the table, and then Apollo's stomach. "YOU KNEW MY DAUGHTER WAS HANGING ROUND A MURDERER AND YOU NEVER TOLD ME?"

"I didn't know he was a murderer okay?"

"Have you read the newspaper?" Phoenix roared. "He's a wanted man!"

"Damn!"

~.~

"Hi Kay," Trucy cheered as she hopped around the room. "What's with the serious face?

"Trucy, it's time to go," Kay told her straight up. Her tone was sharp and agressive.

"Is it?" Trucy asked with a disappointed smile. "I wanted to stay here all night."

"Mike said the police are going to be here soon."

"Who's Mike?"

"I work with him and he's your dad's friend."

"I wanna party all night," Trucy repeated herself.

"I'd like to too but it's time to go." Kay was strict and pulled Trucy with her arm.

"Why?"

"Cause the police are coming any minute and we'll all get arrested."

"Really?" Trucy shouted.

"Yeah and Mike is gonna drive us home?"

"Ah, you've found Trucy," Mike said as he saw the two girls on their way out. "Take her to my car, I'm gonna find Wocky." Just as he said it he saw Machi and Wocky walking around the room with cans of beer in their hand. "Hey!" Mike called as he leaned against the wall next to Wocky.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" spat Wocky.

"You know it's a stupid thing to lie?" joked Mike. He just loved rubbing mad people the wrong way.

"Stalking me isn't cool either."

"Shut up and get in my car!" Mike demanded.

"No you can't tell me what to do," Wocky roared.

"Why?"

"I've already got my own car and anyway, I didn't do nothing wrong!" Wocky growled.

"You put your friends in danger and chill out with criminals and you say you're doing nothing wrong?"

"They're my friends," Wocky hissed.

"You should learn the difference between your fake friends from your real friends, and don't bother mixing them up either."

"Shut up I'm having fun!" Wocky announced. "I'm not taking shit from someone who had a threesome with Namow Latnem and Salsa!"

"... where did you hear that from?"

"Matt."

"Well it's not true... Just go in my car before the police arrive," Mike whispered in a serious tone.

"As if any police officer is going arrive," laughed Wocky.

"They will, I just rang them!"

"You cunt!"

"Don't fight Wocky, it will make things worse," Machi begged. Just as Wocky's fist was about to crash in Mike's face, Machi counted his arm.

"Yep we're going to have have to run!" Wocky said with a look of concern.

"Follow me guys," Mike announced. "We might be able to get home in time." Machi, Wocky and Mike all walked out of the party and Wocky was anything but impressed. He felt his perfect night out was ruined by mike, again.

"EVERYBODY FREEZE!"

A large group of police officers had surrounded the area. Loud sirens scared the birds away and two men stepped out of the black car. One was Gumshoe, the other man was someone who Mike had seen around. A man named Lang who was as fierce as his intentions where. His blond spikes stood out from the torch lights.

"Where do you think you're going Blitz?" Lang asked Mike.

"Aww we were just heading home," Mike sighed.

"Well you guys can wait for a while," Lang told Mike. "And what are them kids doing here at this time of night?"

"Beats me," Mike answered. "I was just about to take them home."

"They can stay in the car, you can help me with the investigation." Lang told them. "We got questions for them anyway."

"You guys gotta wait patiently in the car for me," Mike told them.

"Listen up everyone, there are killers on the loose and they are in this area." Gumshoe roared. "Everyone get on the floor right now!"

Nothing happened. Lang held his pistol and fired it on the roof.

"Anyone who does not cooperate in the next 10 seconds will be arrested!" roared Lang. "NOW GET ON THE FLOOR!"

Everyone apart from a rowdy crowd got down and they were escorted by the police. "Search all the rooms," Lang announced. "Check the kitchen Mike!" Lang ordered. "Gumshoe examine the bedrooms! The rest of you ask everyone questions. Feel free to arrest anyone suspicious."

"That was just where I was going to go!" Mike said as he walked into the kitchen. "I think the kitchen is the only place we need to investigate."

"I'll be the judge of that!" Lang responded.

"Look what I've found," Mike shouted as he walked into the kitchen. Matt Engarde soaked in red with his face covered in pies. A seashell card with writing stood out on the bloody floor. Mike bent down to see it. In cursive writing, the card said:

Pleasure doing business with you Luke.

"We'll also need to check the pies too," Mike said.

"Why are you packing your stuff for?" asked Trucy. Her stomach jumped, and her back bounced upon the wall. "Where are you going?" she stuttered again. She was startled by Apollo's movements and they seemed to be far too hasty for his own good. She didn't want him to go, she'd had almost nobody to keep her company. She flicked her hair, rolled her skirt up to see if he would notice.

"Moving in with my dad," said Apollo who had all his stuff packed. and on his back. "I think it's the best thing to do. To spend some more time with my dad." Apollo faced the wall when Trucy's skirt shrunk.

"No it isn't."

"How do you know?"

"Cause I'm grounded and I need some company."

"Like I said I need to spend more time with my father. He's helping me out on a case."

"I'm going to be all alone for the next few weeks."

"No you won't," replied Apollo. "You'll have your dad and Iris."

"No list of boyfriends, no partying, no getting drunk."

A pause of noise and then Apollo said, "I think it's exactly what you need."

"You should be supporting me!" shouted Trucy.

"I think one boyfriend is more than enough anyway."

"Nothing went wrong," Trucy defended herself. "I had a fantastic time."

"You could have been arrested," reminded Apollo. He despised seeing Trucy in such a state, the sooner he left, the more time she could spend to recover.

"Arrested for what?" Trucy seemed to be completely oblivious about last night. "The police arrived cause they wanted to arrest Matt."

"You don't have any idea how serious this is don't you?" Apollo glared at her.

"What are you talking about?" giggled Trucy. One minute she was panicking, next she was angry, or giggling then returns with a vicious cycle. "I'm grounded for two weeks and Daddy will get over it."

"You were partying with a killer!" Apollo grunted. He dropped his luggage and screamed. "More than one actually, Matt was murdered last night, Luke's been arrested for it."

"Matt's dead... That can't be true."

"Well it is," Apollo announced in a more colder tone. "Never liked him anyway."

"You can at least show some respect for the dead."

"He could have hurt you maybe even killed you."

"Well he didn't!" spat Trucy. "He liked me Apollo."

"You can't be serious."

"I am because I slept with Matt!" Trucy announced it like a prostitute with no remorse. it wasn't the sister he adored anymore. "You're just making this up to just to wind me up because I can't remember what happened last night." Apollo very truly wished this was the case.

"I really wish you were lying about sleeping with Matt," Apollo muttered.

"I wish we were never related now!" Trucy faced the wall and refused to look at him. "I wish we never met."

"My dad's waiting for me, bye." Apollo held his head down and scurried his way out. The door slammed in time with Phoenix's fist on the wall.

"That's four months you're grounded," announced Phoenix.

"Shit!"

"And another," Phoenix shouted again.

"Why is it three months? Don't tell me you were listening to me."

"I heard every word of it!" "And I'm disgusted by the way you're reacting right now. You slept with a killer and pushed your brother out the house and there's not even any remorse in you. That is not the daughter I knew and love. You worried the hell out of us and you're just acting like it was an amazing. Tell me, why are you being so out of character lately?"

"I... thought it was fun."

"What makes it fun?"

"Being the center of attention."

"For all the wrong reasons."

"I guess I just got owned."

"Yeah, you got owned big time."

"Five months of freedom down the drain."

"Look Trucy, everyone was worried sick about you. I was screaming the whole place down and Iris thought we had a robbery." Phoenix felt like a tear had leaked out of his eye. "It was the first time in my life since Iris' trial that I had a panic attack so severe. "

"Will I still be able to do my magic shows?" asked Trucy. She couldn't really think of anything else to say. Her apology was stuck in her throat.

"I guess so," said Phoenix. "And you're allowed out in town, but you have to stick with Kay or Iris at all times. If you do make up with your brother you might only be grounded to two months again. Am I being fair?"

"No, I'm only joking Daddy you're being more than fair." Trucy had finally noticed how awful her judgment was with alcohol. She massaged her forehead, knelt her head down and wished she never had said them horrible things to her brother. She wanted to chase Apollo right now.

"Iris will have talks with you later. For now why don't we see what's on TV?" suggested Phoenix. Trucy nodded and reached out for the TV remote.

A gang of police officers slammed through the door. Without a care in the world, Lang marched inside held Trucy against the wall and handcuffed her without another word. He tossed her to the police as if she was a piece of meat being thrown at a wolf.

"What do you think your doing?" Phoenix shouted.

Lang turned, grinning he said, "I'm arresting her for the murder of Matt Engarde."

"Lang is it?" Phoenix said. "Edgeworth's mentioned you a couple of times. Have you ever heard of knocking?"

"I'm innocent!" Trucy squealed.

"Nobody is innocent in this world, lady!" Lang roared.

"YOU LET GO OF MY DAUGHTER RIGHT NOW!" Phoenix shouted as he followed Lang and the others to the police station.



Apollo didn't know. His eyes were beginning to droop. He was fighting with himself to stay awake. He couldn't afford a wink of sleep, thanks to Wocky's firm belief he was set up and Godot's belief Trucy killed Matt. In an ideal world, he would straight away have disagreed with both of them. It was the spur of the moment that he chose to accept to defend Luke, and they haven't met properly yet. Although he had heard some good words about him from Wocky.

The case was now a double murder. Matt's death bed was nothing more than murderer pies. Apollo yawned, stretched his arms out and stared at all the court records. Apollo asked himself why he took on this case when he knew he was going to lose it. The answer; he wasn't so sure. In fact he didn't have a clue. Wocky and Godot were sitting on the table when Apollo received a phone call from Ema. He always knew her as a moody madame, but her tone though the telephone represented rage flooding his ears.

"So what's going on Ema?" Apollo asked.

"Bad news is bad," Ema muttered, her clattering teethe could be heard from the phone. "Lang's arrested Trucy, and they're questioning her."

"... What?"

"They're wasting their time. Atmey turned Jacques Portsman into pies, Matt found out and killed him for it. CASE CLOSED."

"I heard Ron DeLite was related to the case as well." Apollo wanted to rage, but right now didn't seem like the right time. Just how his dad taught him to be; smooth and calm. He expected Trucy would be suspected, but it didn't make the news sink in any deeper.

"DeKiller spotted Ron around the area Matt was killed. Also the secret location to serial killer, Namow Lantem. But she's gone too, Mike's been re-homing her cats and he's kept two himself. He gave me their kitties."

"That's nice." Apollo was pleased to have one nice comment of the day.

"How is a serial killer on the loose nice?" Ema snapped.

"I didn't mean that I meant the cats," Apollo said.

"Oh..."

"What are they asking Trucy?"

"They're asking her about what happened in the bedroom and if there were any arguments.I gotta go now, they just told me to turn my cell phone off."

"I don't think we have a chance at proving Atmey innocent of murder," admitted Godot as the call ended.

"Luke never even showed up last night," Wocky responded to Godot. "It couldn't have been him. I've met him in prison and he's really nice. Not as bad as everyone made him out to be."

"It's pretty pointless defending him," stated Godot. "Even if he's found not guilty he'll still be thrown back in jail."

"But he's my friend," Wocky said.

"I know," Apollo said. "And we're going to get to the bottom of this. Dad, what do you mean defending him will be pointless? If it wasn't him then we've got to find out who is. So any news on detective Blitz?"

"He didn't catch Shelly De Killer," confirmed Godot. "However, he managed to get a statement from him. Here it is:

I has hired by the delicate beauty, Mrs. DeLite to snatch her husband from Mr. Atmey. When I met him, he confessed to holding DeLite hostage and refused to hand him over. Mr. DeLite was tired up in a bed with harsh scratches on his back. I have heard that Engarde had escaped jail, and that he was assisting Atmey. he then gave me an offer I couldn't refuse, he would let me kill Engarde for an offer of $1000 to take home to Mrs. DeLite. He also gave me a letter, written by Mr. DeLite to send to his wife. After killing Matt, I tried contacting Luke with no response. I hunted around to see if Mr. DeLite was around, but no success."

Apollo read it twice and showed it to Wocky. With no hesitation, his eyes rolled an he objected, "Luke wouldn't just let Matt get killed like that. De Killer is working with Mike."

"Really?" Apollo asked. "You think that Mike guy is behind this?

"Well Mike was a gangster," added Godot.

"He still is," Wocky shouted. "I'm sure of it! I hate him. He tried to split my parents up and he's always stalking me."

"He didn't seem that bad when he was over," said Apollo.

Godot finished his coffee and said, "Trucy was in the room that night. If we can prove Trucy killed Engarde then we'll have a case."

"No." Apollo shook his head. He knew he had to disagree. "She doesn't have a motive."

"She shagged him for the money then killed him and dragged his body to the kitchen."

"If that was true, Trucy would have blood on her clothes, but she hasn't."

"How do you know she didn't have any secret clothes or changed them?"

"She used Iris' stuff and came home in them."

"Are you sure it's Iris' clothes?"

"Yeah," Apollo replied. he hated to admit but Godot had made good points. "Iris said some of her clothes went missing and Trucy came home wearing the clothes."

"Apollo," Godot's voice became slow and his tone lighter. "As much as you don't want to hear it, Trucy could have killed Matt."

"Just because you don't like doesn't mean you have to frame her. Wocky what time did you see Trucy leave Matt's bedroom?"

"I dunno dude," replied Wocky. "It some sometime between nine and ten."

"The autopsy report said he died at 11:30 pm."

"Close," Godot said. "But no cigar." Just as Apollo thought he had convinced him. Looked like he still had a lot to prove to his dad. "Trucy could have still knocked him out."

"She was hanging round with Machi at 11:30," Wocky confirmed. "Trucy followed Machi to the forest."

"It wouldn't be that hard to get defend Trucy," Apollo admitted. "If we're lucky she might be released without charges." He decided he was on Wocky's side. As much as he would love to agree with this father, he just couldn't. He will never believe Trucy was a murderer, no matter how hard the evidence.

The phone vibrated in Apollo's jacket. He picked up his phone in a split second as if his life had depending on it. "Hello, hi Ema what is it?"

"Trucy's been released without charges. I'm driving her to your dad's house."

"Great news," Apollo cried out. All the tension had seemed to vanish when he heard Ema's voice. "Tell her I'll see her in a bit!" As the phone call ended he punched the air and said,"Trucy's been released without charges. She's coming round now. Maybe she can help with the trial tomorrow."

"Are you sure you're going ahead with this?" Godot asked. "Can ya do it?"

"Can I do it? Yes I can!" Apollo roared with enthusiasm.

"Even if Franziska Vonwhippingburg is the prosecutor tomorrow?"

"...Maybe." Apollo knew that Godot was hiding a smirk, slurping his millionth cup of coffee. "Thanks for being a moodkiller dad."

"My pleasure son."

"My pops is like that with me all the time," said Wocky.

Wendy and Victor sat in the left wing at box number five in the theater. They held their hands and jiggled their toes. Victor hummed along with the music fromSteel Samurai - The Opera. Victor had bought it for Wendy's birthday present with the assistance of his niece.

To the pair of them, this was one of the most romantic dates. Wendy had been a strong supporter Steel Samurai and faithfully followed the series. With precious grace, she persuaded Victor to watch all the original seasons of Steel Samurai and he loved it. He knew she had a splendid taste in almost everything.

It took him back to the time where Victor was teased as a young boy. He had a rare skin condition that caused his nose to overgrow and swell. When a group of fat boys took him to the ground, the class rep Wendy Oldbag marched towards the boys and told them, "You should spend more time trying to lose weight and less time beating up innocent people. You can start by giving me back my marshmallows."

Victor and Wendy had been in love ever since.

"This is such a wonderful show," Wendy whispered into his ear.

"What makes it even more wonderful is that you're here besides me, my dear." Victor couldn't help but blush. His cheeks matched the color of his nose. Tonight he knew he had to buy some roses and chocolates very soon. He also reminded himself to buy a pair of tissues: her favorite actors always get murdered.

He never had a girlfriend in his life. He didn't really have many close friends too when he was at school. Hos solitude and struggling at school lead him to become passionate at drama. In drama he could be whatever he wanted to be; a king, a police man, a hero, a villian or even a princess. His drama teacher never gave up hope on him despite letting nerves constantly getting the better of him.

Reading the Battle Royale novel had changed his life. He didn't want the storyline to become reality and there was so much on the telly not appropriate for children anymore. He wanted to star in a show suitable for all ages.

The school pervert Salucious Manella (but everyone called him sweaty Sal) had a dream. A dream to create an epic adventure that would sell millions. Never would Will have thought that he would never have Sal as a colleague in years to go. Still, it was no surprise that Sal had not changed one bit since school.

He had an amazing time achieving his dream and even achieved more than he ever wished for. It was not his decision to drop down from his roll to be replaced by Matt Engarde, but Sal and Will's dreams have come to life. Will couldn't have asked for anything for. He had a confidence shake up when being accused of murdering Jack Hammer but he's hoping he's man enough for winning Adrian Andrews over.

The chances of Adrian hooking with Will were very slim. Then again, so were Will's dreams of being an accomplished actor. He asked himself why would Adrian want him when there was much more attractive men in the celebrity world. He had heard all sorts of rumours about her live life and sexuality. He bought some flowers for her for doing such a good job for Matt.

Will had sprayed his feet with odour spray ten times and brushed his teeth five times. He was hoping to dress to impress Adrian. A bucket of roses grasped firmly in his hand with a bright grin on the go.

"Okay," Will said to himself. "Here goes!"

A lot of things were swimming in Will's head right now. Will Adrian snap at her for being too mushy? Will she cringe at him being too romantic? Will she just laugh or throw the flowers back in her face. Or will simply nothing happen at all? The more nervous he got the more questions he started to ask himself, none of them he could give a clear response to. What was a man to do in a situation like this?

He walked up to Adrian's dressing room or office as she would like to call it. He had around thirty seconds to wash his nerves away. It reminded him about the time he once asked a girl out and someone threw milkshake in his hair. The girl said no but said something at the end as well. Then a light bulb flicked on in his brain and he remembered it! The girl told him to be himself. In 8th Grade he tried to be as manly as he could, hiding his shy feminine side away. But the girl used to have a crush on him until after 8th grade.

It wasn't the news he wanted to hear, but he was glad he was turned down because he learned a lesson. Even with all the acting he still had to be himself.

He took three deep breathes and knocked on the door.

No response.

"Mr. Powers," a voice behind him gave Will a jump and he accidentally pushed the person behind him to the floor.

"Oops..." Will Muttered, then when he noticed it was Adrian Andrews he pushed to the floor. He went on to roar, "I'm so sorry Adrian!"

"It's okay," Adrian replied. "I'm not hurt at all."

"Oh by the way I got you some flowers for your hard work," Will mumbled very quickly.

"Sorry?" Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Can you that again I couldn't hear. Nice flowers by the way."

"Yeah thanks," Will chuckled soothing to itch on his head. "I actually got them for you," he passed them over.

"Aww thanks," Adrian smiled. "That's so nice of you."

"I was actually wondering if you wanted to have a date with me some time? You know like a dinner?"

"Sounds okay, I'll have to see when I'm free. I'll think about it," Adrian replied. "I'll call you. Right now I'm pretty busy."

"Yeah," Will said. "I'll..." he gave an award pause. "I'll see you later."

"Bye."

Will was in great hope he was hoping to hear something by the end of next week. However, a couple days later some things didn't go quite to plan. It caused Adrian's response to be more than a little delayed. Juan Corrida was murdered and Matt hired Shelly De Killer to do the dirty business for him. The man he saw so much potential in had been a villain and blackmailer the whole time.

And he only just found out how much Adrian was truly suffering. And once he got the chance to see Adrian, he was going to give her a great big hug.

Dear Will,

I'm sorry it took a long time to reply. There's lots of things that have been going on lately. If you can meet me outside where Bluecorp used to be. I'll be waiting outside there for you.

I've quit my job, I've tried too hard to be like Celeste and failed. I'm seeing a therapist at the moment and hopefully I'll get a huge confidence boost. I know I'll manage to pay my bills fine, I've saved lots of money and I've never treated myself.

So I guess the dinner is on me. I've changed my number, so I'll give it to you tomorrow at 6:00 PM. I know you'll be there.

Your friend, Adrian.

Just the thought of food excited Maya Fey. But she was more excited about what she was going to: bath in chocolate. A new spa had opened up near her village which offered chocolate baths. She had booked an evening at the spa to relax. She deserved it; being a the master was not an easy task, on top was being Pearl's legal guardian. Yes, you get the picture now. The young woman of twenty needed a rest.

One thing was on her mind right now: the tasty wash in store for her. Instead of buying the regular burgers, Maya bought a lilac bikini with crimson flowers swirled around the fabric. She bathed at six this morning and was ready to head back off to the spa.

Another thing that was on her mind was Phoenix. He lost his job as being a lawyer and was now had his own daughter. She hadn't helped him as much as she would like to. If she could find some free time, she'd pop by his office to say hello. Phoenix looked like a mess the last time she saw him. But his daughter, Trucy was so adorable and she knew Phoenix would get back to his old self. Personally, she didn't like Phoenix's new friend – Kristoph Gavin – another defense attorney and the only one who stood up for him from what she heard. Something about him just seemed a bit... fake. Nevertheless, she wouldn't let that stop Phoenix being friends with him; as long as he was happy. He deserves to be happy.

Perhaps she should have invited Phoenix. Maybe next time, thought Maya. If the spa was brilliant, she'll drag him to the spa whether he liked it or not.
~*~
The journey to the spa by foot was better than she thought it would be. The hills were nowhere as steep as she thought it would be. The receptionist seemed very please to her and she managed to get in for a cheaper price for being the Master Of Kurian. Maya scurried into the changing rooms, and to the nearest locker she stripped down to her bikini. Her heart raced and her blood bumped; it was just as exciting as seeing a new Steel Samurai movie. Placing her acolyte costume in a locker, she followed the cocoa fragrance into a large room with three large chocolate baths in it. The left one was white, the right one was brown, and the middle was close to black.

For each pool there were two fondant fountains, apart from the the middle one which had just the one - that was the one that took her fancy the most. The other two pools were full and there was only one person in the middle pool. The person in the middle pool looked familiar. She wore an aqua bikini to match her shiny hair. She seemed a little lonely without the whip. It was Franziska Von Karma, a prosecutor from Germany.

“Hello Franziska!” Maya waved, jumped in and swam towards Franziska.

“Evening Maya Fey,” said Franziska.

“The spa's amazing, right?” Maya exclaimed. She stood besides Franziska and saw the queazy look in her eyes. “Hey you look a bit queazy, are you okay?” A spoon splashed out of the chocolate and into Maya's mouth.

“I'm fine,” Franziska replied, “I just didn't expect to see you here.” Franziska was lying, she had to be lying. Everyone knew that Maya loved her food and could never say no to a chocolate bath. “What are doing with the spoon?” Franziska asked with added disdain.

“Eating,” Maya responded with a grin. “It's delicious.”

“You fool,” Franziska muttered, floating on her back. Meanwhile Maya swam and licked the pool, taking Franziska's words like a gentle compliment.

“So what brings you here Franzy?” Maya asked, splashing her way back to her. Franziska sunk from the short sharp shocks from the splash, but bounced back up. “You must like chocolate,” Maya confirmed, “me too. I love chocolate too.”

“Not exactly for that reason,” Franziska replied. “Work's stressful, I need to relax and I'm getting foolish zits on my cheek.”

“No you haven't,” Maya objected. Franziska's skin was flawless compared to Maya's skin.

“Are you blind Maya Fey?” Franziska snapped. “IT'S RIGHT HERE!” Franziska's fingernails pointed in the middle of her left cheek.

“Nothing to worry about,” Maya responded. “I get them all the time. And you're pretty anyway.”

“Thank you for the compliment Maya Fey,” Franziska said.

“You're welcome.”

Maya splashed the chocolate on Franziska's cheek. She thought Franziska could do with a little bit more sweetness to her life. Maya watched her glare as the prosecutor's fist dived into the pool. There was no stopping Maya trying to get Franziska in the mood.

"You okay Franziska?" asked Maya.

"Yes, I am perfectly fine you fool."

"You say fool a lot."

"Yes, what's that got to do with anything?"

"I'm just saying," Maya smiled and swam closer to Franziska. "It's actually really cute you know." Maya winked as her tongue reached for Franziska's cheek. Franziska bounced back and landed against the rim of the pool. "I think you need to relax more," Maya said laughing away.

"You fool," Franziska snapped. "Why did you lick me for."

"Because you're yummy."

"What kind of a foolish response to a foolish action. Maya Fey you are a foolishly foolish fool who should be foolishly locked up in the foolish world for foolish..."

Maya interrupted her with a kiss. Franziska gasped and remained silent and Maya continued to lick and kiss away the chocolate droplets from her face. "All done," giggled Maya as she petted Franziska on the cheek. "How did that feel?"

"That was foolishly... enjoyable."

Chapter Twenty-Two: Chess Part I

"It's a big day, I've given you 3 cups just in case!" Godot announced. "There's enough coffee for everyone of us, especially for me."

"You know too much coffee can kill you?" Apollo asked. "I haven't known you for very long and I don't want you to just die on the spot."

"Where did you hear that?"

"Fox News this morning," Apollo replied. "More than ten cups a day can be fatal."

"Well it's a lot of bullshit," said Godot. "I used to have over 500 coffees a week and I'm still alive."

"Just make sure you save some for everybody else, okay?

"Sure." Godot didn't seemed too pleased after that.

Atmey's trial attracted a lot of unwanted press and Franziska attracted a lot of unwanted nerves. Salsa being the judge of the trial had bound to make this trial become a mess. The court room was filled today, and Salsa had just finished a packet of crisps and passed it over to a bailiff. He was also carrying a wooden box. Not a big one, and not a small one either, but it pipped the attention of the room. Everyone stood in silence as if they were in a school assembly.

"You may all sit," Salsa told them. "Now the court is now in session for the trial of Luke Atmey. The charges are as first degree murder, cannibalism, kidnap, blackmail and escaping prison is that correct Miss Von Karma."

"Yes, Your Honor," Franziska answered. "Completely accurate. " Like the previous trial, she was smug and Apollo knew she would vow to defeat him in court as if it was a personal battle. She was the court-room diva, if things didn't go her way, drama would explode.

"Good," Salsa said. "By the way it's My Lord, not Your Honor. I can't even let ladies with you get away with that one."

Apollo and Trucy had to battle the temptation to laugh. Franziska looked annoyed and whipped Salsa. After all, Franziska still had her whip and she was not afraid to use it in front of anyone. She even whipped Maya for falling asleep, so if her assistant is getting whipped today: a whip is guaranteed for everybody. The strange thing is Maya didn't even seem to bothered being whipped so much. She yawned and then smiled. Apollo saw Phoenix laughing next to a man with a less satisfied man in a maroon suit.

"Your statement please Miss Von Karma," Salsa requested.

"Yes, My Lord. Luke Atmey was a well known wanted fugitive. Eight years ago he was convicted of blackmail and murder. As soon as he escaped, he returned to his dirty habits and killed fugitive Jacques Portsman and turned him into pies with the help of Namow Lantem and hired De Killer to murder Matt."

"And I thought Ijizzin Mipants was insane," Salsa interrupted. "But today's defendant is something else."

"You seem impressed My Lord," Luke told Salsa. "I've always been surrounded by envy because of my amazing talents."

"Well you've failed," Salsa said. "Cause we caught you. And you're dumb enough to plead not guilty."

"Because the charges put against me are insane," Luke admitted. "I would never eat a human."

"Twenty years ago, you said you could never kill anybody!"

"What I said twenty years ago has nothing to today," Luke snapped. He closed his eyes and glared at Salsa.

"You Lord, I have some evidence to prove he's a blackmailer," Franziska announced. "Maya, pass me the letter. Thank you. This letter was written after Atmey's first escape addressed to Mr. Apollo Justice."

"That letter sounds familiar, pass it over," demanded Salsa. He got the note, read it with care and gasped. "Wow, this is the same letter used in the Kitaki vs DeLite trial. I don't know how you got this, but I think it's very important evidence that the defendant is a blackmailer." He banged his gavel and looked at Apollo. "Apollo, were you blackmailed by the defendant?"

"No I wasn't blackmailed. My friend asked me to defend him."

"You're an interesting guy," Salsa said. "I don't know anyone who would defend their own blackmailer. He dated the guy who raped your sister."

"Raped?" Apollo whispered to Trucy.

"I said I was raped so they could drop the charges on me," muttered Trucy.

"I wouldn't whisper anything here," advised Godot. "It might get leaked."

"Do you think Luke Atmey is innocent?" Salsa asked.

"This is a trick question," Godot said. "See how Franziska is smirking."

"No..." Apollo admitted. "But he didn't kill this time. He was set up."

"Okay," Salsa said. "Now we do have a list of witnesses, lets see for the defense we have Trucy Wright, Wocky Kitaki and Machi Skye and for the prosecution we have Detective Ema Skye, Mike Blitz, De Killer. Mike and Ema are still in bed. I'm assuming they're having sex for breakfast. They've handed all the statements and evidence to Miss Von Karma, have they not?"

"They've handed all the evidence and statements last night," confirmed Franziska.

"The only witness present in court today is Trucy," Salsa said, scratching his head. "I really want this trial to be over by today. Since I had a feeling a lot of the witnesses were not going to show up, I collected all the statements, photocopied them and make them into a booklet with pictures of the evidence and information. The jury will have time to read the booklets later while making their verdict. For now we will call Trucy to the stand."

"For the sake of the Courts Records, state your name and occupation," Franziska requested no nicer or meaner than before. Her face was frozen and lacked expression.

"No!"

"Now is not the time to be a rebel," Salsa advised.

"Now is the perfect time to have some coffee," Godot announced. "Here Apollo have the rest of this."

"I'm not thirsty."

"Drink it for my sanity and for the sake of making this trial better."

Apollo didn't know how coffee would improve the trial, but he had to drink the overpowering black liquid weather he liked it or not. So he had to drink coffee while Trucy was being a pain in the neck at the trial stand.

"Where's my coffee?" Salsa asked.

"You're not getting any," Godot announced. "All the coffee belongs to me and I'll decide who to distribute the coffee to. You know me My Lord: coffee is my life."

"The court thinks you should get a life."

"I have one thanks."

"Just give me some FUCKING COFFEE!" Salsa roared.

"Since no one is going to listen to me I'm gonna go," said Trucy. "I think I might go shopping."

"OBJECTION!"

"Okay Franziska no need to scream. You're not a lead singer of a hardcore metal band."

"This foolish coffee talk is foolishly disturbing this foolishly foolish easy trial. The defense is surrounded by fools."

"Guys just calm down!" Apollo screeched. He was about to say it was more like a jungle then a courtroom then realized that he made the loudest and strangest squeal. At least he got the trial back to business. "Trucy, get back on the stand. Dad give Salsa some coffee and Miss Von Karma please stop whipping everyone."

"NOBODY TELLS FRANZISKA KARMA WHAT TO DO!" Everything Apollo said only fueled her anger. The flying whip was her fury and slashed Apollo's jacket. He fell with his coffee flying in mid-air. The cup splashed onto the cravat of the gentlemen next to Phoenix. When Apollo got up he saw the man standing there, holding his cravat and horrified with the stains on his jacket. He couldn't blame him; the suit looked expensive.

"Sorry sir," mumbled Apollo.

"How dare you throw coffee at Miles Edgeworth!" Franziska shouted even madder than ever. This time when Franziska had another anger fit, Maya was holding her arm trying to stop her from causing harm.

"Man this is getting so tense," Salsa said as he chuckled away. He clapped in no intention to stop and he was cheering on Franziska. "Hey Godot are you gonna throw coffees?"

Salsa was left gob smacked with cold coffee on his face. It would have been too bad to let all this coffee go to waste so he agreed to share the coffee to everyone.

The whipping ceased. Maya confiscated the whip from her and asked Franziska, "are you okay?"

"No, this trial has just been one foolish event after another."

"Now that things have all settled down, I think we may proceed back to Trucy. How ya doing sexy?"

"Excuse me My Lord, I'd appreciate it if you don't call my daughter that. It makes things very awkward for me." Phoenix stood up and looked a little shook up.

"Very well, sorry Nick."

"Thank you," said Phoenix as he sat down.

"We've wasted so much time now we should go back to basics. Carry on Franziska."

"Your name and occupation, Trucy Wright."

"My name is Trucy and my occupation is being AWESOME!"

"That's awesome!" Salsa shouted.

"You're proper occupation please?" Franziska muttered.

"It is my proper organisation. I occupy myself by being awesome. I flaunt all my skills and get help with my magic panties."

"Prostitute?" Maya asked.

"NO Aunt Maya you silly thing," Trucy replied. "You do make me laugh sometimes but I'm a magician from the Wright Anything Agency."

"Then why didn't you say you were a magician the first place you fool?" Franziska asked.

"Cause bitches like you need to lighten up."

Nearly everyone chuckled in the room, perhaps they believed what Trucy said was true.

"That's not a laughing matter," announced Franziska. "You are in a courtroom not a theatre."

"Trucy can you please confirm that this statement belongs to you:

On the day of Matt's death I met up with Wocky, Machi and Kay and drove to the cottage in the woods where they lived. Matt came over to us and asked for me to have words with him alone. He lead me to his bedroom where he complimented me. He kissed me then raped me and I walked out the room with me. I had to act calm as I walked out the room with him. That was the last I saw of him. Luke never showed up to the party.

Are you happy with this statement? "

"Yep," replied Trucy.

Trucy was hands down lying about being raped. He could see it and he knew it. Phoenix knew she was lying too because he was there when she confessed to sleeping with him.

"Is there anything you want to change in this testimony while you have the chance?"

"No."

"After a long delay, you guys may now cross examine the witness."

"What happened when you were in the bedroom before you were raped?" Apollo asked.

"He offered me alcohol, he sat me down on his bed and laid down next to me. We talked about things and then he kissed me."

"What did you talk about?"

"Matt talked about himself and his relationship with the defendant. He started wrapping his arms around me and said that he was bullied at school by his rival and then he had to end it by hiring someone to kill him."

"Did he mention his rival's name?"

"No," said Trucy. She shook her head and continued, "he never mentioned his rival's name but he did say my dad knew him very well."

"The case was nine years ago," Franziska announced. "The victim was Juan Corrida."

"So Engarde wasn't lying for once," added Salsa.

"ZVARRI!" Luke jumped out his chair and shouted in rage. "The child is a traitor! She lies! That fool is wrong! Matt only loves me! He would never cheat on me! She lies that little slut!"

Apollo was torn. If he took Luke's side like he should do as a lawyer, he would hint Trucy as a liar. In this situation, Trucy was fibbing. He couldn't bring himself to betray his sister.

"Hey Luke, if you don't wanna die, don't insult your laywer's sister?"

"But Trucy is lying!" Luke whined.

"How do you know?" Salsa asked. "You were hiding DeLite the night everything happened."

"Matt is my lover, he would never do that to me."

"He just did."

"Damn you all!" Luke cried out.

"We have plenty of evidence and statements but only one witness," Salsa said.

"Lots of invisible evidence indeed," Godot thought out aloud.

"I thank Miss Wright for being the only witness to pluck the courage to speak out. The court advises if you think someone is a murderer to avoid having sleeping with him or her for safety reasons. Did they ever find Mr. DeLite?"

"He is dead," Franziska announced. "He was a good husband and will be missed."

"Objection My Lord," Apollo snapped.

"You rang Apollo," Salsa said.

"How do you know he's dead?"

"Cause he would have been found by now."

"Maybe the defendant moved him while he was away from the cottage. That might be why Luke was away to hide Mr. DeLite from the guests."

"You make a very good point Apollo," said Maya. "But you're not really sticking up for Luke. You're hinting he might have killed Ron and it kills your theory Luke was framed."

Judge Salsa frowned like a child who lost his toy. Salsa stared at the ceiling. He turned to the jury and asked, "members of the jury, what is the verdict for Atmey? Is he guilty or not guilty of 1st degree murder?"

"The jury feels we can not reach a verdict at this present time."

"Very well," Salsa said. "Thank you for your time."

"So what does this mean My Lord?" Luke asked.

"You will receive your verdict," vowed Salsa. He pointed at Luke and tapped the table. "No matter what happens, you're guilty. Weather you killed your lover or was set up: you're guilty. Still everyone is mixed in this case. There is strong evidence that you were set up, whilst your previous crimes and De Killer's statement contradict it. We all agree that you are an insane monkey."

"Why thank you, My Lord."

"That wasn't meant to be a compliment," admitted Salsa, "but at least you are grateful."

"JUST GIVE HIM THE GUILTY VERDICT HE DESERVES!" Franziska roared throwing her whip at the judge.

"My dream has finally come true," announced Salsa.

"That's not something to be proud off!" Franziska snapped. "YOU SHOULD FEAR ME!"

"Calm down baby," Salsa whispered. "We will get a verdict. And since we really need to get it over and done with I have decided the verdict to Luke Atmey ...will be decided over a game of chess."

"...What?" Apollo asked. "The verdict will be decided over a game of chess?"

"Yes," replied Salsa. He banged his gavel and announced, "The prosecution and the defense will play a game of chess to determine the verdict and Atmey's fate. If Apollo wins Luke will be found not guilty and will be thrown in the loony bin. If Franziska wins, he will be found guilty and beheaded."

"I'm not good at chess..." Apollo muttered. He knew he was going to lose, and Franziska was most likely an expert in chess. Luke was getting sent down either way, but he disliked the death penalty. Having his family supporting him made him feel more comfortable facing Franziska in trial. He finally saw that she wasn't so scary as she wants to be.

"So when do you guys wanna play chess? Should be do it now or tomorrow?" Salsa asked.

"I think tomorrow will be the best option," said Apollo. "I haven't really played chess before and need practice."

"Objection!" Franziska smirked as she said, "But Salsa, you promised me in the prosecution lobby a verdict will be delivered today. I want it now!"

"I've got it!" Salsa shouted as he waved his hands in the air. "Tonight at eight, Apollo and Franziska will play chess to determine Luke Atmey's fate. We are gonna do this in this very courtroom. Feel free to bring all your friends. This is the trial of the year! You may all go, but be back at 8 P.M sharp!"

"I want you to win," Godot told his son. "I know you can. I don't care about Atmey. I want you to wipe that smile of Miss Whippingburg's face." Godot grinned as he spoke. Slurping what was left over from the coffee. "I'm gonna be saving some for tonight. I'll save the best blend for you. If Franziska pisses you off, feel free to throw coffee on her face. Knowing her she is going to cheat."

"How do I know if she's not cheating?" Apollo asked. "I don't get chess at all!"

"That's why I'm teaching you," Godot announced.

"I'd get disqualified if I throw coffee at her," Apollo reminded Godot.

"How do you know?" Godot asked. "I would laugh so much. Mia would too. I'm getting Pearl to channel Mia tonight. So she can see her step-son serving justice."

"Well I am Apollo Justice."

"Ha! I know you are," replied Godot. "Just listen to me and I will help you wipe that smile of her face. For your defendant it's insanity or death!"

For Luke Atmey this game of chess would be one of the most important things of his life. All that stood in-between this fate was Apollo, Franziska and a chessboard. Tonight's game was not for slackers. Once the game started there would be no lifelines, no hints, no gimmicks. Chess was a board-game that had survived for centuries. It was a test of wits, tactics and strategy. It would have been the first time in Los Angeles court that the verdict would be decided over a game of chess. Perhaps the first time in any court that the case would be settled over a game of chess. It could be professional suicide for everybody taking part. If they did something like this all the time the justice system could have a serious scar in the faith by the public.


The courtroom was packed. There were even a couple of camera men in the room. Luke Atmey stood in the defense chair, helpless and alone. No matter what the verdict, the criminal genius was going down. The game of chess will mean everything to him. If his lawyer won, he would spend the rest of his life in a detention center made especially for the criminally insane. If he lost, he would lose his life and rejoin his lover. Maybe it was a one way ticket to Hell but if Matt was there, it would be paradise: not Hell.


Everybody was all hyped up for this trial and rather interested that the trial would be going ahead in this way. Luke was guilty: no matter what. Still, Luke always admired chess so at least he'll be getting entertained before he gets sent down.


The chessboard was all set and everything was ready apart from the contestants: Apollo and Franziska. The pair of them were still talking to their colleges and avoiding all contact with each other until the match.


Judge Albert Salsa walked up to his podium and stood on top. He banged the gavel until everyone was silent. "Can everybody rise and put your right hand up." Everybody stood up and raised their hand. "Now repeat after me, I solemnly swear that I will not provoke the trial in any way. If I am to break this vow, I will accept the consequences."


"I solemnly swear that I will not provoke the trial in any way. If I am to break this vow, I will accept the consequences."


"I will behave just like how I should do in any normal trial," Salsa continued. "I will remain silent at all times to ensure the game is fair and square."


"I will behave just like how I should do in any normal trial. I will remain silent at all times to ensure the game is fair and square."


"Thank you," Salsa announced. "You may now all sit. I would like Mr. Justice and Ms. Von Karma to sit on the table with the chess set please. While these guys take their seats, I feel I must explain a couple of things. You guys will wonder why it's all had to come down to this. I will tell the truth. Only one witness showed up to the trial, all the other witnesses failed to turn up. We wanted to get a verdict by today and the jury felt like the couldn't deliver a verdict until they did the trial again and drag the witnesses along. Just not my style, I like things smooth, swift and exciting. I'm sure most of you agree that this trial has been exciting and will only get even greater. I mean this is the first time this court has ever had to sort a verdict out like this. There's danger and there's risks, but that's what makes this trial so unique. We have two of the best attorneys on the table, we have a criminal mastermind, and of course the paparazzi and the wonderful crowd here."


Salsa paused and drank some water. "Now before the game begins, I feel we should run through the basics of chess. Chess is a board game designed for two players. There are 64 squares arranged by an 8 by 8 grid. Each player has sixteen pieces: a queen, a king, two rooks, two knights, two bishops and eight pawns. You have to checkmate the king."


Luke thought it was one of the most intelligent speeches Salsa had ever spoke. Luke assumed that he had ripped it off by Wikipedia.


"Now for the pieces can do. The king can move one square in any direction it wants. The rook can move any numbers of squares but it can not leap over pieces. The Bishop can only move diagonally but can move in any number of squares it wants to. The queen is the most powerful piece of the game; she can move where she wants. The only piece that can leap over pieces is the knights, they move to form an L shape. And the pawns can move forward to any free square. There are plenty of special moves and illegal moves in chess, but I'm not going to go through them. There are many ways to play chess, I'm not gonna run a time limit but I'll let the players have a break at every half hour. The game will end by submission, or when all the pieces from one player are checkmated. The whites always play first. Since that's you Apollo, the game will begin as soon as you make your move. I ask that everybody in the room remains silent."


Apollo moved the pawn from the right forward. Franziska moved the pawn from the left. This was the beginning of the end of the trial. Apollo tried his best but he had a feeling that Franziska was going to tear him apart on the chessboard, but he wasn't nervous anymore. He was starting to get into the hang of it. All the practicing with Godot was paying off.


As he got into the game, Franziska had taking two pawns and a knight. Apollo had only only checkmated one of Franziska's pawns. The night was still young and he had plenty of time to catch up. Franziska had just wiped out the last of Apollo's knights. She smirked and leaned her back against the chair. Apollo stared at the board and noticed that the queen was in front of the pawn. Now he had a choice, to lose a bishop or to take Franziska's queen. Every piece was important and then he remembered what his father said: wipe that smile of her face. Franziska had abused the queen throughout the game and he had a feeling that she had swiped a few illegal moves with the queen.


Franziska had her eyes set on the bishop: it was her next target. So Apollo moved the pawn forward, swiping the queen. Franziska looked horrified. She glared at him whilst her whip got out. She shamelessly whipped Apollo. In return he threw the rest of his coffee at Franziska's face. It was an instant reaction which he couldn't help. At least he knew his father would be pleased that he threw coffee at her. He turned around and saw Godot absolutely delighted. There was a woman next to Godot laughing besides him, resembling Pearl: Mia channeled by Pearl.


"It looks like the defense and the prosecution could do with a rest," Salsa said. he banged the gavel down and announced, "the game will be paused for fifteen minute interval. Refreshments will be made available in the lobbies."

She didn't mean to disappoint Mia or Godot, but Pearl wanted to see Wocky. Since Matt's passing, Wocky's face had been rather sour.

Pearl dogged Wocky's steps as he stormed forward to the car park. He hurled himself at the wall, staring at mid-air. Pearl sighed. Leaning against the wall, sliding down to the floor. She looked up: it felt like midnight, an active breeze and black sky.

A friend dead, another accused of his murder. Both were dangerous criminals but that wasn't how Wocky saw Matt and Luke. He knew they were crazy, but they helped him escape prison fair and square. He didn't have to knock, he could just walk to them and they'd listen. The press branded them as monsters, but to Wocky they were just ordinary people. He knew his opinion would be disagreed on, but he met them in jail. Everyone was on the same in prison; they were sinners told to make atonement.

"You've been quiet," Pearl said. "Are you upset about Luke and Matt? You should have showed up this morning. The trial wouldn't have turned into that mess."

"Shouldn't you be there too?"

"I told them I had to see you," replied Pearl. She held onto his hand asked, "Has Alita contacted you lately?"

Wocky shook his head and closed his eyes.

"That's good. Hopefully she'll get locked up again soon."

"Then she can shut up about the money I apparently owe her."

"I heard that!" Heaven's gone and Hell was here. There was everything to fear. Alita tiptoed along the lines. She bowed, then walked like a ballerina dancing the time of her life. "How's my money coming along?"

The cheeky bitch, thought Pearl. Alita emerged from the shadows demanding money like a prostitute. "Go away you're getting nothing!"

"Oh little slut," Alita sighed. "I have to kill you if Wocky doesn't give me the cash."

"I'M NOT SCARED OF YOU!" Pearl yelled.

She flashed a knife. Alita dragged Pearl onto the floor and sat ontop of her. The silver was pointing at Pearl's neck. Her arms performed a routine of moving the knife up and down. Everything was silent, except Alita who released a laugh most foul.

"Now are you scared of me, little slut?"

"You're the one who should be scared," Wocky roared. He pulled a gun out of his pocket and aimed at Alita. "I'm really gonna kill you now."

"Sticks and stones may break my bones," Alita murmured. "Words can't hurt me like they hurt you. Your face is so ugly is funny. You're not even gonna shoot me cause you know your precious little Pearl won't like you killing. What's the matter Wocky? Will I break your heart? I know its pretty much dead anyway."

Wocky's gun hit the floor. The tip of the knife was close to Pearl's brain. Alita was enjoying it like a child in the candy shop.

"Typical of you Wocky," Alita said. "Always cowering out on the last minute. I'd be so mean to just kill Pearl right now. She's so dumb and naïve." Alita played with Pearl's hair and asked, "do you know how Wocky treated me?"

"He treated you like a princess," Pearl said. "You threw it back in his face."

Alita sighed. She lifted Pearl's head up and showed her the red scars around her neck. "These scars, I got these from Wocky."

"YOU LYING BITCH!" Wocky roared again. He picked up his gun and said, "YOU KNOW WHO GAVE THEM YOU!" He still held the gun, aiming at Alita, but he didn't shoot. He had to wait for the right time. He didn't want to accidently gun down Pearl.

"He used to strangle me once a week." Alita's voice of cruelty melted into a soft gentle accent. A voice, Wocky knew was fake and hoped Pearl didn't fall for. "He tried to get back me lots of times since I escaped Prison. He even lied about Larry beating him up. I guess he blackmailed you into beating Larry up, didn't he? He always loves to act hard cause he's too chicken to walk the walk if you get what I mean." Alita hugged Pearl and moved the knife away. "You don't have to suffer the way I did."

"Alita..." Pearl whispered. She pushed herself away. She stared at the floor and her eyes wandered to the tip of the knife. "I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologise."

"I'm sorry that you're a filthy liar!" Pearl pushed Alita who gritted her teeth and tried to stab Pearl. Alita just about missed Pearl who slid under her and ran to Wocky.

He pulled the trigger and heard screams.

It didn't come from Pearl.

It didn't come from Alita.

"You two should be careful next time," Alita announced. "You're both alive for now. I'll now be wanting that money by next week."

"Your words aren't gonna change anything," Wocky snapped. "You're still not getting nothing from me."

"I'll make sure of it too," vowed Pearl.

"By the way Wocky," Alita laughed, "you're a dumbass if you think that Luke and Matt actually wanted to be you're friends. They only used you to get back at Dessie and they gave that retard Ron to me. They were playing you the whole time and you fell in their trap. Well they're both screwed so I guess it don't matter anymore. Still its hilarious how you fell for it. Have fun looking after that ugly child of yours. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaa!"

"Where have you hid him?" Pearl asked.
"As if anybody's gonna find him." Alita faced Pearl and before she went said, "I threw him in that river near Harazuka temple. So cute watching him drown."

She ran out of the park laughing without a care in the world.

Running out from the shadows was Godot. He was out of breath and covered in blood. "You guys okay? What happened to you guys? "

"Geez Godot what the fuck happened to you?"

"Thalassa was asleep and I can't wake her up," he stated. "I just can't seem to wake her up no matter how much I try."

"What's with all that blood on you?" Wocky asked. "Imagine how Apollo's going to react."

"Blood?" Godot asked. His voice became faint as did his expression. "I can't see any."

"You can't any?" Wocky snapped. "Its all over you. Its on your hands and everything!"

"Wocky," Pearl said, tapping on his shoulder. "Mr. Godot's site isn't perfect: he can't see red very well. We'll have to check Miss Thalassa to see if she's okay."

The three of them went over to the other side of the car park and saw Thalassa laying hopeless on the floor. The red puddle and wounds near the heart was enough for Pearl and Wocky to know Thalassa was dead.

"She's dead isn't she?" Godot asked.

"She's defiantly gone," Wocky said.

"Poor Apollo," said Pearl. "He's only just been reunited with his real parents and he's just lost one already. This is so sad."

"Any idea who did this?" Godot asked. He knelt over Thalassa's body and touched her cheek. "I heard Pearl screaming not long ago. Whoever tried to harm you could be the killer of my son's mother."

"One of my crazy ex-girlfriends named Alita," Wocky replied.

"Any chance she dates a man named Larry Butz?"

"Yeah," Pearl said. "How did you know?"

"When I was in prison," Godot said. "Larry smuggling some instant coffee into the prison for me. Since last year, he's always gone on about a girl named Alita. He spoke non-stop about her. Sometimes I wished he would shut up."

"He helped her escape," Wocky said. "I know he did. Anyway Godot shouldn't you be at the courtroom thing?"

"I left during on the intervals," replied Godot. "I walked away satisfied cause Apollo threw coffee at Franziska's face."

"Really?"

"Yeah," said Godot. "It was hilarious. I'm glad you didn't show up in court, the trial is bonkers."

"I ain't into chess anyway," Wocky said. "I would have been board and left."

"Larry always seemed to be nice," Pearl said. "We need to find where Larry is hiding Alita. I'm going to call the police as well. We should have done that by now!" She held the phone by her ear and requested for the police. "Hello, sorry for disturbing you guys at this hour but there's but Alita's just killed Miss Thalassa! She told us that she has drowned Ron too. You gotta get to the car park near the courtroom as soon as you can. Okay! Thank you Mr. Dick, get here soon."

"I guess I'll have to go into court this time," said Wocky.

"I know you don't want to go to court, but you'll have to this time."

"Pearl's right," Godot said. "And don't be surprised if I get arrested for her murder."

"Mystic Maya isn't answering her phone," Pearl gasped. "I'm going to try Mr. Apollo... his phone is switched off. Mr. Nick should answer his phone... Hello? Mr. Nick?... Oh its you Iris. ... Uhm, Mr. Polly's mother has been murdered and we know who did it. It was Alita, she said she drowned Ron in the river in Harazuka. I needed Mr. Nick's help on something. ... Yeah we called the police, I'll see you at the station."

"The trial is still going ahead," said Pearl. "The police should be coming soon."

Gumshoe walked onto the park with police officers and investigators behind him. Gumshoe was carrying his son, Copper in his arms. "The police are here!" Gumshoe announced. Copper burped and spat on his father's coat. "Sorry guys I had to bring the baby into work this morning. Maggey's working at night and we couldn't afford a babysitter. You guys know what to do, I need to go and sort this little monster out."

"Alright guys?" Mike asked. "So you guys seen Alita?"

Pearl nodded. "She says Luke handed Ron over to her and she drowned him. "
"Looks like we're onto something," Mike said. "You guys think Alita killed Thalassa?"

"I know she did," Wocky said.

"Did you see Alita do it?" Mike asked.

"No," replied Wocky. "We didn't know anything about Thalassa until Godot came covered in blood thinking she fell asleep."

"Why don't you arrest me?" Godot asked. "You all want to arrest me anyway. I can see it in the papers, killer set free to kill again."

"Well I don't," Mike admitted. "But that attitude is not going to help you clear your name. Its not good for Apollo either."

"Okay guys any clues yet?" Gumshoe asked. He held Copper in his hands who drooled onto his coat.

"One of the guys are checking the security cameras right now," Mike told him. "Also just been told by Wocky and Pearl that Alita was here. They suspect fugitive, Alita Tiala is the one we're looking for."

"That's good," said Gumshoe. "But I'm afraid we'll have to arrest Godot."

"Already?" Mike said. "Shouldn't we spend more time investigating?"

"I've got to pick up Maggey tonight and get Copper asleep," Gumshoe said. "I'll leave it to you and Ema."

"What do you think, Ema?" asked Mike.

"She's had lots of severe stabbing," said Ema. "Looks like it could have been more than one person."

"Not just Alita?" Pearl asked.

"She looks like she's been dead for no more than half an hour. The killer must have silenced her by trapping her mouth with her veil. She was stabbed near the legs first then the killer made it's way to the arms, then after the final blow removed the veil and stabbed her in the heart."

"This is awful," Pearl said.

"When did you hear the screams?" Ema asked.

"We heard it when Alita was about to stab Pearl," replied Wocky.

"It couldn't have been Alita then," Ema confirmed. "If Pearl or Alita didn't scream then it must have been Thalassa if you were the only people in the park."

"Oh man," moaned Wocky. "Alita is the only one I can imagine killing her."

"Do you anyone who could help Alita?" Ema asked.

"I know who helped her get out of prison," Wocky said. "Larry Butz could have killed her."

"Makes sense," said Mike. "Larry was fired yesterday for being caught with dirty pictures of Alita. He was last seen at the casino at 12:00 A.M."

"So where has he been hiding Alita all this time?" Ema asked.

"We have to investigate Larry's address for any clues," said Mike. "After you get some sleep Ema, go ask people you know from prison about Alita and Ema."

"Sure," sighed Ema. "Apollo's mom dead, and his dad's been arrested for his murder... Great. How are we suppose to tell him this."

"Good news!" Mike shouted. "They found Ron. Don't worry: he's alive."

"That's good," Pearl said. "So it looks like Alita was lying about Ron."

"Alita lies about a lot of things," Wocky said. "I'm gonna go home now. You coming? Mama won't mind you sleeping over."

"Okay then, I will."

"Ema, I've just got a call from the police," Mike told her. "They've arrested someone else for the murder!"

"Really?" Ema said. "Who?"

"The game is almost over," Salsa hissed. "I have never dealt with trial so full of drama and tensity. Each player has thier king alive. The kings have lost all their army. This has been a great game, my money's on Franziska."

"Nice to know," Franziska said. "I will win this game and justice will be served."

"The game's still young," said Apollo. He looked around, where did his dad and girlfriend go? They were nowhere to be scene. Why did they vanish at this important stage of the game?

"Okay guys, let's go back to the game," Salsa told them.

Franziska moved her king forward, and Apollo moved his to the right. They both repeated their moves. It was getting to the point where he wanted to give up. Trucy looked very tired. He didn't know what time it was, he knew it was late. Come to think of it, Apollo was feeling the pressure of exhaustion too.

A large thump on the floor. The crowd gasped and the cameras clicked away. Trucy collapsed. She was hurled over the corner of the room. Apollo jumped off his seat and lifted his sister. Her forehead was burning and her eyes where shut.

"Trucy are you okay?" Apollo asked in a hurry.

No response.

"We'll have to take her to the hospital," Phoenix shouted.

Apollo lifted Trucy and carried her out of the courtroom. Phoenix exited court.


"The defense has resigned from the game. Which means Franziska wins the game," Salsa banged the gavel and gave a harsh stare at Luke. "Luke Atmey, the court has found you guilty of all charges set against you: two counts 1st degree murder, cannibalism, escaping jail, assisting people to escape jail, and kidnap. We might have to add another count of 1st degree murder if Mr. DeLite is found dead. You are a man with criminal intentions, you are a danger to the public and a traitor. The court finds you'd be better off dead. You will be hung in five hours time. This case is now over!" Salsa banged the gavel one last time and everybody was on their way to leave.

A police officer marched into the room. Grabbed Franziska by the arm and said, "Franziska Von Karma, I'm arresting you for the murder of Thalassa Gramarye."

"What!" Maya gasped. "Are you mad?"

The officer handcuffed Franziska and continued his words. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law." Franziska was took away in the back of a police car with Maya following them.

Nobody won.

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

"FRANZISKA?" Ema gasped.

"Yeah." Mike sighed and returned his phone back into his pocket. "Why would they want to arrest her for Thalass'a death? She was in the courtroom."

"There's a possibility that she could have hired someone to do it," Ema thought. "I finished writing the notes down on this murder scene. I should get an autopsy report ready for the morning."

Mike's phone rang again. He picked it up, and saw Lana's name pop up. He answered without any doubt. "Hey Lana. Why are you ringing me at this time, I'm kinda busy right now."

"Ema's not in bed," Lana said, "Where is she?"

"She's with me," Mike replied. "We're working on a crime scene together. Her friend's mom just got murdered."

"What a tragedy," Lana hissed. "Still it's good that she's in good hands with you... for now."

"I'll pass her over to you if you want," Mike offered.

"I just wanted to speak to you for now Mike Blitz if that's okay." Mike knew Lana was telling her this with a smile curled onto her lips. "That little plan of ours, I've got everything we need locked up in my office. I really wanna kill April right now, but I got a feeling it's best to wait until the relationship with Klavier and April soars."

"I think pateince is a good virtue," Mike told her. "I'm going to have to interview April about Alita Tiala tomorrow so I guess I can press on her for some information."

"Not that sort of pressing."

"Of course not," Mike replied. "Don't be so silly."

"I'll see you later than." Lana hung up.

"What did Lana want to speak to you about?" Ema asked.

"She was asking about Christmas presents," Mike lied.

"I'm looking forward to Christmas this year," admitted Ema. "This is gonna be the first good Christmas in a long time."

"I'll make sure you have a lovely life," Mike promised. He wrapped his arm around Ema and kissed her cheek.

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

Not even her perfect ambitions prevented Franziska from landing in this cell. They confiscated her whip, and took away her confidence. Confined in the detention center, she felt worthless. She was afraid to let her family down. Tarnishing the reputation of perfection was a distaster for her. If her father was still alive, he would have no doubt disowned her. She didn't deserve to be disowned either, because she didn't murder anybody-she swore on her father's grave.

Franziska fiddled with her hair and sighed. Tears rolling down her eyes for the first time in years. Her head hurt. She couldn't believe how easy it was to feel ashamed. Her perfect world had been disturbed.

The way she was treated as if she was some kind of monster was foolish. She could really do with a hug right now, she thought. At the same time, she didn't want anybody to catch her crying again. Not Maya. Not Egdeworth. Not anybody.

"Franziska, you okay?"

It was Maya's voice. No doubt about that. The silly fool was skiving her duties in Kurain just to see her.

"What are you doing here you fool?" sobbed Franziska.

"I came to see you," Maya said. "I'm sorry they did all this to you. It's one of the most foolish acts of all time and the police officer is a foolish fool. See what I did there?"

"You're a fool for copying me."

"They say imitation is the best form of flattery?"

"Foolish phrase?"

"Cheer up okay, I've got everything sorted."

"Cheer up?" Franziska spat. "How can I? I'm in this foolishly cold cell, in these foolish building in this foolish... and I'm probally the most foolish one out of everybody." She cried even harder. Maya held her hand against the glass, wishing she could just smash it and hug Franziska.

"Hey it's okay," Maya whispered. "I'm here for you. No one can hurt you."

"What do you mean?" Franziska widened her eyes. She pinched her own shoulders with both hands.

Maya annonced, "When your trial comes up, I'm gonna be your lawyer."

"You fool!" Franziska gasped. "You have no experience."

"My sister's been a good defense attorney, and I was the assistant of Phoenix Wright, I think I have plenty of experience," Maya explained. She grinned throughout, as if she knew what she was doing. Franziska thought Maya had no idea what she was doing, and had gone madder than ever. "I've even got this..." Maya held a golden pin from her pocket. Franziska knew what it was: it was a lawyer's badge.

"Did you take the exam?" Franziska asked.

"No," Maya confessed, "I stole it from Nick. That's why Kristoph raped me. He thought I was going to give it back to him."

"Why did you steal it from him?" Franziska questioned Maya. "Stealing is a crime."

"I didn't want Phoenix to give up, so I took it and used it as a treasure for all the good times we shared."

"You fool," Franziska muttered. "You could have thought of better ways to cherish them memories of that fool." All the crying had turned into small giggles.

"At least your smiling now." "You know I love you and no fucking court is gonna send you down. I've even asked Judge Salsa to be the judge."

"Why that fool?" Franziska sneered. "That fool can't judge to save his life."

"Cause he always lets the females out and he knows you're innocent so it works," Maya replied. "Salsa has a crush on you, and that detective that's dating Ema does too. So they'll defiantly help you out."

"I don't want that foolish Mike Blitz helping me out," said Franziska. She looked away and faced the floor.

"Why not?"

"He slept with my ex-wife," Franziska told Maya. "He ruined my marriage and that fool touched areas of me that he shouldn't off."

"Was he good?" Maya asked.

"...Only my fool, Maya Fey."

Maya didn't get the clear response she was expecting. She smiled, then winked. "I'll think I'll have to take that as a yes."

The sound of the ocean was just a doorstep away. The moon was sleeping and the sun wide awake. Standing on a white balcony was Alita and her former cellmate, Lana. They had just reached their hidden location and were grateful no police stalked them. The two of them didn't expect to meet each other at a murder-scene-to-be.

Alita and Lana found each other interesting, but didn't expect to stay in touch after leaving prison. Now they had become overnight partners-in-crime. For the two of them, time had been frozen. They could relax and stare at the ageless sea.

Lana passed Alita a cup of tea. Alita accepted and held the cup with her hand. "Thanks for your help last night Alita," Lana bowed and shook Alita's hand. "I appreciate your support."

"You know I'm always happy to help a friend," Alita said.

"Men are all a waste of space. I can make it better so you won't have to worry about money or men at all," Lana assured Alita. She held onto her scarf and flicked it on her head.

"How would you do that?" Alita asked. "I'd find my life very diffulcult without a man or money."

"I'd kill you."

"Oh Lana," chuckled Alita. "You're full of cruel jokes. So last night you said you teamed up with Albert Salsa and Mike Blitz."

"They're not just the only people, I've had a quick deal Kristoph Gavin."

"Ironic," Alita reasponded. She patted Lana's back and contunied with, "since you're trying to frame his brother for murder."

"By the way I planted evidence that Franziska hired you to kill Thalassa," Lana confessed. "I hope you don't mind?"

"Those two brats have probably told the police I killed her anyway," replied Alita. "You're hoping Klavier gets into this case..."

"Yes," confirmed Lana. "Kristoph being snapped in the car park with that lady who looks like Iris should be enough to lure Klavier in. If he chooses to prosecute Franziska, it will be even better. Salsa is the judge for that trial and he will make sure he will fail the trial."

"Surely it's going to be equal if Maya has no experience."

"Maya's Mia Fey's younger sister," told Lana. "She's stronger than she looks. I'm sure she knows the tricks and tools of the trade."

"Do you think they'll find me here?" asked Alita, changing the subject. "If Larry fucks up and the police come here I'm doomed."

"I might have almost tarnished you from that fake evidence," Lana muttered. "Since they didn't catch you, you're fine. I'm the last person they'd expect to help you. If Everything goes to plan, you and Larry will have your happily ever after, Klavier will be executed, Mike and Ema will be married and I will runaway with my son."

"You just said men are a waste of space," Alita reminded her.

"To me they are," Lana replied. "But Mike really fancied Ema, so I used him. I told him to date Ema and he agreed to help me frame Klavier. And Machi is my son, so he's the only exception."

"So when are you going to kill that bitch April?" Alita asked. "Now seems a bad time to do it."

"New Year," Lana announced. "I've got everything all planed."

"I'll be long gone from here by then," Alita mumbled. "Larry bought me a new ring and he's says we're moving to this town called Blackpool."

"Where's Blackpool?" Lana asked.

"He said it's far away from here," Alita replied. "That's good enough for me. Lana you said you had a son named Machi."

"Yes."

"He's friends with them two brats that saw me," Alita admitted. "A few of them are a huge threat to them. There's my ex-fiance and Machi's girlfriend."

"Trucy?" Lana asked. She raised an eyebrow. "How is she a threat?"

"She might be a little love rat," Alita replied. "A bad one too."

"Where did you hear this?"

"From Larry," said Alita, "he tells me everything. He told me about this rumor that Trucy slept with her brother and slept with Matt Engarde."

"Where does Larry get this information from?"

"Word of mouth," Alita said. "These things can leak easy nowadays. Weather they're true or not, I don't know. Still, you should keep an eye out on Trucy. You don't want her to hurt Machi."

"If anybody would want to hurt Machi," Lana told Alita, "I'd kill them too. If them rumors are true, I'm not afraid to let Trucy suffer for it."

"I like you Lana," Alita said. "So clever."

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

"Fuck my life," muttered Apollo.

"Don't be so hard on yourself," said Trucy. "You only lost because I fainted. You probably could have beaten her easily if it wasn't for me. I'm ready to go now."

"You have to wait until the nurse says something," Phoenix told them. "They did a check up on you."

"All I did was faint," moaned Trucy.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Iris asked. "You gave us all a heart attack."

"Yeah I'm fine," Trucy replied. "The nurse will say the same thing to me as well."

"Do you know what happened last night?" Apollo asked.

"What happened last night?" Trucy asked.

Apollo turned to Phoenix and Iris. "You guys tell her about our mom?" Apollo asked Phoenix.

"Not yet," Phoenix admitted. "I was going to tell her when we got home."

"What happened to our mom?" Trucy asked. "How come she hasn't turned up?"

Phoenix bent down to Trucy's bed, held her hand and said, "Mom won't be turning up: she was murdered. They've arrested Godot and Franziska for the murder, but they suspect Alita Tiala."

"Really?" Trucy gasped. "That's so sad. I can't believe it. So that's why Apollo's saying his life sucks right now."

"Got it in one," moaned Apollo.

"Good morning Trucy," called the nurse as she walked through the door. "We've had a check up on you and we've found what happened to you."

"What is it?" asked Trucy.

"I am sorry for inform you that you've had a miscarriage," announced the nurse in the hospital room. The news had made Apollo, Iris, Trucy and Phoenix gasp in unison. A silent shock shaking their sanity to rock bottom. Everyone was speechless. Phoenix removed his beanie and looked at Trucy with a mixture of anger and sympathy. His eyes had widened and the words were stuck.

"I was pregnant?" Trucy stuttered

"You were pregnant," the nurse told them. "You were in your eight week of pregnancy."

"I didn't... know I was pregnant," Trucy cried. "I didn't get morning sickness or anything like that."

"Did you have any cravings at all?" asked the nurse.

"I had one for vodka if that helps..."

"The alcohol might have killed your baby," said the nurse. Trucy knew she was trying to hold back the anger. She knew that woman had no pity for her; only sympathy for the child that never got the chance to live. If Trucy knew she was pregnant, she would have been determined to stop getting drunk from time to time. She would have been a lot more sensible.

It was too late; she had lost her mother and child in the same day.

"Daddy..." Trucy whispered. She hid her face and bawled her eyes out behind the plain hospital quilts. "This is my fault, I'm so s-sorry."

"You guys are free go home," the nurse informed them, "but we advise that you stay for little longer. I'll leave so you can guys can have some time to grieve." The nurse left the room and the silence continued.

Iris knelt over the bed and hugged Trucy whilst Phoenix's head lay still on the bed. Apollo was getting the feeling that his family was cursed. He knew things couldn't have gotten any more worse than they are now. Apollo thought who would have screwed Trucy eight weeks ago. The very answer of his own question disturbed him. He knew only one person that could have gotten Trucy pregnant at that time: him.

Apollo slapped his forehead, sighed and leaned his back against the wall. He had no idea how he was going to handle defending his father in court. Things had gotten worse.

Who would have thought of Lana Skye to be such the nasty type? Everybody in prison thought she such a lovely and kind-hearted... what a lot of fail those girls were. If she was really that kind-hearted she would never have landed in that dirty cell in the first place. I knew Lana was a piece of dirty work right from the moment I saw her.

Prosecutors were usually commit the biggest crimes, because it's so easy for them to get away with it. Lana used to be a police officer as well. I'm not so sure what happened next. She told me she hated being a prosecutor and that she was blackmailed. The blackmailer was the father of her child and he said he would kill Ema if she ever rebelled.

It's sad really. But I think it's the best thing that ever happened to her. The father of her son had turned her into a crazy bitch: and I liked it. Bitches are always more interesting than nice ones. I'm not really so sure why Lana and I get along: we just do.

As much as Wocky and his slut assume I murdered that lawyer's mother, I actually had nothing to do with it. It was by sheer luck that I met Lana that day. She told me her plans to destroy Klavier Gavin for revenge on cheating on her sister. I'm supporting her because I don't like him either, well of course I wouldn't; he caught me out.

I don't know about this deal she made with Kristoph, but I don't care about it since I don't know him that well. Larry hates his guts and with horrible fake blond hair I can see why.

After I met up with Lana, I heard Wocky and Pearl's voices. I went over to them just to pay them a visit. I wanted to know how much work he was putting in to my lovely pocket. As I expected, he wasn't going to give me any of it. They were such cheeky little monsters. I should have killed Pearl right there, but Wocky's heart is still damaged, I wouldn't wanna break it... just yet.

Screw Wocky's money though, Larry and I have got a fortune. So glad I left that stupid temple. It was all work and no play, the women in the temple were boring. They drove me insane. I hate Larry for forcing me to go into that awful place. I pushed one of the nuns who were stalking me into the river. Don't think she's ever coming back. That silly woman showed me were Bikini (what a stupid name for a nun) hid her money. I filled an empty suitcase of it and ran off in Larry's car.

Larry had always been there for me ever since I was convicted. I hate him; he's ugly, annoying and had no sense of style. I also think his dedication and determination to make me happy is also kinda cute. Still, he makes me cringe. That orange jacket he wears all the time is just bright and hideous. If I had known him before, I wouldn't have even approached him.

He does so much for me, if I was any nicer I would feel so sorry for him. I should let him go, I'm constantly taking advantage of him. Nah! That's way too soppy, that's not the real me. The real Alita is a bitch, and proud to be one. I'm not like Iris, who gets beat around the bush with no idea what I want in life.

I know exactly what I want: money and a rich husband. I'm half way there, Larry isn't exactly rich, but he's been robbing banks and saving money to buy me fabulous gifts, it's almost too much. I know he loves me, but I'm too much of a bitch to love him at the moment. Maybe I could love him someday. Right now I only love the attention he gives me. If more people were like this to me, I would have probably turned out better.

Not that it matters anymore. It won't be long until I can finally have a chance to have the wonderful life I deserve. I will have money that will never run out and a man who genuinely loves me. Oh how the ladies would envy me. I can't help it that I still live in a teenage dream, I love it. I don't wanna grow up at all.

But no one can be perfect can they?

Last night wasn't very good. Maya crossed out wasn't very good in her mind and replaced it with an epic disaster. The trial was unorganized and a mess, a murder took place, Franziska was arrested and Pearl's life was put in danger. Alita Tiala had to be found and Franziska had to get her name cleared.

Nostalgia hit her. In a situation like this, Phoenix would ask her if she had any ideas. They would discuss what to do and they would head off to investigate the crime. When she worked for Franziska, they were straight there. Maya was on her own and she had her friend's old lawyer badge. She knew everyone would be shocked and advise her to stay away, but she had just as much right to help solve the murder case as anybody else.

Maya felt guilty that she hadn't spoken to Pearl since the trial. Even more now she heard that she was in danger. Pearl was her cousin, but they were more like sisters than anything else.

The police were pushing all the crowd away. Thalassa had just started to make a name for her self as a singer. She got negative press for abandoning her son and not telling the father for it and now everyone's praising her because she's dead. Paparazzi loved to stick their nose in where it shouldn't be. They don't care if it promotes or tarnishes a person's reputation. As long as people read it, they'll blend the facts and opinions then sprinkle some white lies to make the article interesting.

She didn't think of Thalassa as the type of person who would dump a child, quite the opposite. She had only met her the few times and she sounded like a lovely person. She couldn't think of anybody who would want to kill her. Apollo had a reason to be annoyed with her, but not enough to kill. She didn't know Apollo very well, but her instincts didn't tell her he could be a murderer.

Everyone had to be treated as a suspect, even those who were present in the trial. There were many possibilities to be considered. No matter how crazy the idea was, she still had to note it down. The only three official suspects were Godot, Franziska and Alita. She was on Franziska's side, and had planned everything planned out to clear her name.

Maya had to know how and why she was framed? What false evidence was planted to suggest Franziska was behind it and to see if there was any chance Godot was innocent. The easiest way to clear Franziska's name was to believe that Godot had murdered Thalassa. However, the easiest is not always the best. She had to sort out what was right and what was simple.

She saw Gumshoe sighing behind his car. His eyes seemed like he was out of space, which was strange for Gumshoe as he's always the one to show his determination to solve the case. She called out his name. No response. She marched over to him and patted his back. He jumped, gasped, then faced Maya.

"Hello there," he chuckled. "How's Franziska been?"

"She's seen better days," Maya admitted. "Poor Franny is petrified inside. I promised her that I would clear her name though."

"That's the spirit," Gumshoe said, smiling. "I've got some good news to. There was evidence to suggest Franziska hired Alita to kill Thalassa. They found a diary, a phone number a stun-gun: we can confirm the diary is a fake! The stun gun belonged to Manfred Von Karma but it was stolen from one of the lockers. The phone number written in the diary was a stripper. Ema's going to examine the finger prints, if none of them match Franziska, it's great news, pal!"

"Franziska will be cleared?" Maya asked. Gumshoe nodded. Maya grinned. "This is great news, but like any lawyer, I have to ask..."

"HOLD IT!" Gumshoe interrupted. "When did you become a lawyer?"

"I've been one for a very long time," lied Maya.

"... what?"

"Here's my badge to prove it!" Maya flashed "her" golden pin to Gumshoe. He widened his eyes and gasped again.

"Holy crap! That's awesome!"

"Now you're going to tell me about the murder?" Maya asked. "I know Franziska is going to be found innocent but just in case them fools try to take her to court."

"I'll ya everything you wanna know pal," Gumshoe announced. "Last night, the victim was killed in his car park. The estimated time of death is half ten. She was stabbed all over her body. Meanwhile Alita blackmailed Wocky by attempting to stab Pearl in the neck. Alita was also seen talking to fugitive Kristoph Gavin. We believe these two met after escaping prison."

Gumshoe passed Maya a photo of a tall man with blond hair passing a knife to Alita. If was Kristoph Gavin. She was sure of it.

"So why would they wanna team up and get revenge?" asked Maya.

"Kristoph and Alita were both convicted and exploited by Apollo. Kristoph's brother helped out too." Gumshoe told her. "Them two trials are stories that fend for themselves. I guess they wanted to attack Apollo by killing his mother."

"It makes sense," said Maya. "So are the police looking for Alita and Kristoph?"

"The police are hunting as we speak," Gumshoe announced. "We've found a fugitive named Edward Fartalot, we believe that he may help us with the case."

"So what about Godot?" asked Maya.

"He's the prime suspect now," Gumshoe said. "Won't be long until Franziska gets her name cleared."

"I'd like to think he's innocent too..."

"Well I bet his son is gonna help clear his name," Gumshoe announced. "We're all going to have to really work as a team if we want to lay Thalassa to rest."

Maya took a deep breath and sighed. "You're right Gumshoe. I want to talk to Nick soon, things are going to be really tough for him. Trucy's going to be so upset."

"You can go to him if you want?" Gumshoe said. "He could really do with a friend right now. You've got Franziska sorted. All you have to do it assure her it's fine and let us do our jobs."

"Thanks Gumshoe!" Maya said. She hugged him then ran away.

As she dashed to Phoenix's place, she wondered did she really solve this case alone? Was there a greater challenge to come? Proving Franziska innocent just seemed too easy, but it didn't mean that she expected it to happen. She was hoping he would be at home, with the family. She hoped they were coping.

She truly did.

At last, she reached Phoenix's department and banged on the door. She waited and got a slow response. The door swung open and her eyed widened. Phoenix resembled a zombie. His eyes were half open, his scruffy hair and clothes made him look like he had slept in a bin.

"Nick..." Maya asked. "Are you okay?"

"Not really," he admitted. "But it's nice to see you Maya."

"What's wrong?"

"Shit happens," said Phoenix. His eyes had been red as if he had been crying. "Come in."

Maya walked in and to her surprise, the house was tidy. Of course this was the work of Iris. If he was single the place would have been a lot worse. "I'm sorry to hear about Thalassa," Maya said.

"Thanks," said Phoenix. "I'm really going to need the support. Pearl came over earlier."

"She did?" Maya asked. "I haven't seen her since last night. Is she okay?"

"She's fine," Phoenix said. "She wanted my help on something."

"What was it?"

"She wanted to talk about Larry and Alita," Phoenix said. "She wanted to help track Alita down. She wanted my opinion of where Larry was hiding Alita. We managed to find it out. Larry had been hiding Alita in Harazuka Temple."

"Wow!" said Maya. " That would have been the last place I'd imagine her to be hiding."

"Larry's smarter than we thought he was," admitted Phoenix. He passed Maya a beige piece of paper stabled together and said, "Larry sent me this letter today."

Maya unfolded it and read it. The feminine patterns on the page were the first things that grabbed her eye. The wild writing layered on top had her shaking her head.

"Hello Nick!

I hope things are doing great out there! I'm so happy right now. This letter alone could never describe either the quality nor the quantity of my joy. I was always the happy monkey at school.

We've had great times. You're my best friend but I'm afraid this is where I have to say goodbye to you. You'll always be close to me by heart. We've done so much together and so much for each other. You've been there when I lost my jobs and girlfriends, but being a prison officer is my best job of all. I lasted longer than I ever did, and I found my true love.

You see all the pink polka dots, yellow flowers and glitter on this page. Aww it's so cute. Everything that's cute reminds me of Alita. She's one of the most beautiful women in the world. She's a survivor! She's had such a tough life, but now I'm going to give her the happy ending she deserves.

Alita confided in me about her deepest secrets that she never told. She told me all about her life. How she had to sin to find redemption and freedom. It's enough to make me cry. I loved her from the moment I saw, but when she broke down, it was painful to find it adorable. I gave her a big hug and she cheered up. All she wanted was a bit of love, which nobody around her was willing to give.

Alita had come from an abusive childhood. Her mother was a prostitute and her father was so addicted to food that she had to eat his own vomit or the crumbs on the floor. She was so skinny when I first met her, prison had reminded her of the time where she was locked up in the attic for three days when she was three.

When her dad died, her mother sold her like meat to some sick perverted doctor. Once he got locked up to grooming girls on the Internet, Alita was moved around foster parent after foster parent. She became confused, but once she settled in school, she really got drilled in class. She became a nurse, but she still wasn't happy. I know how she feels, some people can make you feel worthless at work.

Not to mention getting strangled all the time by Wocky. The scars still remain in her heart.

I know the media describe her as a bitch and a whore, but she isn't. She's a sweet person. She's been through so much. She never got a chance of a good life and when she tried, she ended up in jail for it. Everything was in self-defense. Her own employer went against her, and Wocky had abused her. I'm so worried that he's going to do the same to Pearl.

She might have said nasty things to Pearl but that;s because she's trying to show her the monster that he is. He tried to turn Alita into a monster and it almost succeeded. I'm glad she's under my care now. Alita will be treated like a goddess.

I'll tell you the truth, yes I did help her escape prison. If you were still a lawyer you probably would have found that out, but you're not, so I'm safe. Alita agreed with me as well, so that's a plus. Wocky tried to stop me letting Alita go, but I sorted him out. He would have been better off dead in my opinion. He needs to stop trying to add poison in my relationship with Alita.

Since hiding Alita, I gambled, robbed banks and cheated in the casinos. It was an excellent second income for the great pay I already get in prison. I would have got to stick around for longer, had I not lost my job yesterday. It's okay now, I'm packing up for the new adventure of my life with Alita.

Sorry I can't invite you to the wedding. By the time you've read this, I'd be a wanted fugitive. I took Alita to the casino one night, won a lot, asked her to marry me and she said yes. I believe I am the happiest man in the world right now. I'm not letting anybody lift me off the ground now. Happiness is a human right and not a privilege.

Wow I've written so much more than I expected: I could be a novelist. I've sold all my artwork now, so I've got all the money I need for a happy life. I'd love to have babies, but I don't think Alita's ready. She's still young. I guess we should wait until she is thirty, but I might accidentally get her pregnant way before then. never-mind, as long as we're together we'll be great. I have a feeling, Alita and I will both be legends. We will become the new Romeo and Juliet & Bonny and Clyde. Only unlike them we will have a happy ending and have brand new identities.

I hope you have a good life too, Nick. I'm sorry I can't make it to be the best man at your wedding. Miles or Apollo could always do it. Well I guess you wouldn't want to have Apollo as a best man after all the rumors that he slept with Trucy. I hope they're false: incest ain't good.

Give my regards to my sweet Iris, Maya, Franny and Gumshoe next time you see them.

Your friend forever,

The legendary Larry Butz. "

"Larry's been fed lies," Maya snapped. "How on earth could he fall for that rubbish Alita gave him."

"Reminds me of myself a long time ago with Iris and Dahlia," Phoenix admitted. "I was a mad boy in love."

"I guess you're still are," said Maya.

"Sometimes I wonder if I made the right decision," Phoenix admitted. "I knew being a father wasn't going to be easy, but I didn't know it would be this hard! Apollo's had it rough too, I don't wanna ask questions that will destroy the entire family."

"Nick, you've done so well."

"Would you say that after I tell you this?

"What?"

"Trucy had a miscarriage," announced Phoenix. "She didn't know she was pregnant either. I don't know what to do with her. She slept with Matt Engarde, now I dread to think who else she's slept with. These thoughts are making me sick."

Maya jumped over and hugged him. "Who cares what anybody else thinks," Maya whispered. "I know you're a good father. You guys will all need to talk it through and be honest."

"Apollo was covered in psyche locks," Phoenix told Maya. "I'm too scared to open them, because I won't like what I see."

"The truth can hurt," Maya said.

"Yeah," muttered Phoenix, "it does."

"We'll all get through it," Maya promised. "Even if we don't like the truth, it's going to come out soon." Maya bounced away from Phoenix and showed him the lawyer badge she stole him all those years ago. "Do you remember these?" Maya asked.

"Of course I do," replied Phoenix. He wiped his eyes and started coming his hair. "It's a lawyer's badge! I've got my new one in my room. Why do you have one? You're a lawyer too?"

"I'm defending Franziska in court if she goes on trial," replied Maya. "She was a bit shocked at first but she warmed up to it. We do love each other after all."

"That's cool," said Phoenix. "Congratulations on passing your exam. It was tougher than the first time I took it all them years ago."

"Thanks Nick," said Maya.

"When did you take the exam?"

"I didn't," Maya admitted. There was no point in lying. "I stole it after you handed it in."

"Why?"

"Because I needed something to remember you with," Maya said. "And I didn't want you to give up being a lawyer. But since Franziska got arrested, I found a need for it."

"You can keep it then," Phoenix said. "I've had this magatama of yours for years anyway. So what's it like being a lawyer?"

"It feels great," Maya responded. "It looks like Franziska is going to get cleared of murder."

"That's good news," Phoenix said. "Well done."

"Well I didn't really do much, Gumshoe did most of the work for me."

"Good old Gumshoe then."

"Anyway, it was nice to see you," said Maya. "I gotta go to the detention center again to visit Franziska."

"You take care," said Phoenix. "Thanks for coming."

December 15th 2027

Lana could feel the winter storm that was ready to take rampage. The fog hugged the windows and the coolness of the pillows. She sat on her bed, facing the window and spacing out. She touched her red silky dress which was a present from Damon Gant, the biological father of Machi. In nine days time, she was going to make Ema one of the happiest girls in the world. She had the help of Albert Salsa and Mike Blitz. None of this would have happened without the two of their personalities clashing. All these days of planning and by next month, it could all be over.

Her first year of freedom had made a lot of dramatic turns. Franziska von Karma had been dropped from all charges. Maya and Franziska had announced thier relationship and took a holiday. They promised to return in time for Christmas. Godot was still trapped in jail, and Thalassa's murder was far from solved. Lana had a feeling Kristoph murdered Thalassa, or one of the members of his gang.

Alita and Larry had made the runaway that they had desired. Lana only wished it was that easy for her. USA was no longer the place for her anymore, and she didn't want Ema to stick around for long. She wanted Ema to achieve her dreams, do the things that Lana never got to do. The same had applied for Machi, Lana wanted him to speak fluent English. He was improving greatly at school. Lana wanted Machi to travel with him.

Machi had inherited a great sum of money by Thalassa. The two of them had been looking out for each other for a while, still it had surprised Lana that Machi had received more money than Apollo and Trucy. Apollo hardly got anything compared to Trucy and Machi. The poor woman had died thinking the pair of them would have a happily ever after.

Lana wondered if the reason Apollo didn't get as much was because she knew about the affair and blamed it on her eldest or something much more complicated.

Lana knew she had to kill this habit of stalking Ema one of these days. It made her feel unhealthy, but she knew it had to be done. Lana had spent nearly a decade apart with her younger sister and felt like she had to protect her. She had always told herself this; it made her feel less guilty about her dreadful plans.

She was paranoid for Ema. It was coming to the point where she was ignoring her son.

Machi was head over heels for Trucy, while she seemed to be just wanting some teenage fun. She knew Trucy was cheating on her son. She had lied about being raped by Matt Engarde. Phoenix had went to Lana and told her Trucy had lied about it. And last night, Lana had lost and regained respect for Apollo. However, Lana would never kill Apollo: he was a good friend of Ema. He had to trust her a lot to confess to them naughty things he did with Trucy.

Naughty confessions where not the only thing that were going on last night that would be considered immoral. Last night, Lana had been spying on Ema just to make sure she was fine. Mike Blitz was at work, and Ema had invited Apollo to stay for the night. Apollo told her that he had sex with Trucy and regretted it. He also stated the miscarriage was a slice of karma.

Ema had snapped at him. Called him a coward. Lana laughed and continued to watch. In return Ema had told Apollo some secrets of her own. Lana listened on. She was curious to see if her name would be dropped into the conversation.

Ema had three secrets. The first one was that she had a short fling with Trucy. Trucy had begged her for alcohol. Ema rightfully refused, but got herself drunk and ended up having sex. Lana shook her head wishing it was all false, but she knew that Mike would like the idea a little. A few minutes ago, she lost respect for Apollo for sleeping with Trucy, but now the respect had returned. He just needed a thicker skin like Ema. If Trucy was planning on being Lana's daughter-in-law, all that promiscuous activity would have to be chucked in the bin.

The second secret; she had a small crush on Klavier. Just a small one, but even a small one was not acceptable for Lana. Lana wanted Klavier to be forgotten. Just the sound of his name made Lana's skin crawl in disgust. Ema admitted to sending messages to Klavier and had formed some cyber relationship. Oh dear, thought Lana. Mike had to be alerted about this. Lana didn't want Ema to be tricked by him again,

As for the third one; Lana assumed it would be something like she was bisexual or that she fancied Apollo. Ema had told Apollo, "I think Lana is up to something." She wasn't wrong with that at all, but Lana felt it was for her own good that she didn't know a thing for now. Ema had mentioned the day of Thalassa's murder and that Lana had called Mike and not her.

"I got that feeling that Mike's cheating on me to get to Lana..." Ema told Apollo. "Every guy I've dated has cheated on me so I won't be surprised if Mike was sleeping around. I heard that he broke a marridge up once."

"I'm sure he wouldn't do such a thing," Apollo said.

They talked and laughed. The pair of them drunk their issues away, got tipsy and shared a passionate kiss. Lana knew that Mike Blitz used to be a bad guy, but she could safely say he had turned his life around; assuming he ever had one. She was glad that she was spying on her sister now, she knew her plan wasn't going as well as she thought it was going.

Reflecting on last night, she decided a change of plan was needed. She composed an email to Salsa and summoned Mike into her bedroom.

"What was the email you sent Salsa?" Mike asked. He sat down on the chair near Lana's bed. She reached her phone and read out the email she sent the quirky judge.

Albert,

There will be several changes to the plan. You know which plan I mean. Ema still has a crush on Klavier and has seemed to have lost her way. She thinks Mike and I are having an affair and that idiot has gotten a hold of her again. But we are going to change that! I want to meet up with you today at the church where your brother works. I want to talk to you two and arrange a wedding for 24th December at 11:00 PM. April May's death will be on 1st of January. Klavier Gavin's trial shall take place on 5th December. Needless to say we know what the verdict shall be. I will be discussing the honeymoon arrangements with Mike this morning.

"Does Ema know about the wedding?" Mike asked.

"It's a surprise," said Lana. "She knows we're up to something."

"So I see," said Mike who sighed. He rolled his eyes away from Lana. "I don't think the wedding is going to solve anything."

"You don't wanna marry her?"

"Of course I do," replied Mike. "But... only when she's ready."

"I think this is the best thing for Ema right now," Lana announced. "She kissed Apollo, she's admitted to having a fling with Trucy. She needs you to assure her that everything is alright."

"I will do that," said Mike. "We'll have some talks to each other."

"Good," chuckled Lana.

"Salsa will tell you what you need to do," Lana instructed. "You will marry my sister on Christmas Eve. You will spend your honeymoon in England. You are to not to come back until Klavier is dead."

"What about Klavier's trial?" Mike inquired. "I would like to see the look on Klavier's face when he goes down."

"Sadly you will be missing the trial," Lana announced. "You will wonder why."

"Yes, I am."

"You or Ema would be the prime suspect of April's murder," Lana said. "I don't want either of you to be arrested, so if you two go to England for the whole month, then they'll suspect you. We'll make a nice little runaway to the country where nobody can stop us. Sounds tempting dosen't it?"

"Yes," admitted Mike. "But what if it's not what Ema wants? What if she wants to stay here, with her friends?"

She smiled. "You really do love her," Lana confirmed. "I was right about hiring you."

"Get out Apollo!" Phoenix roared. He punched him in the face and roared again. "How can you betray us like this?"

Back to square one again.

Apollo had been kicked out of Phoenix's home. Hadn't heard a thing from Trucy since seeing her hospital. He spent the night at Ema's place and was now living at Godot's old department.

He met his father for the first time in a few weeks in prison. He looked well as if he had just accepted his fate. He smiled at his son and said, "it's nice to see you again. Things are tough, but I know that things will be good for you again. I'm screwed, I'm going to get executed. They should never had let me out but at least I got to see you."

"But you didn't kill Mom," Apollo reminded his father.

"I know that," Godot muttered. "I'm not innocent, so it will be useless trying to save me."

"If didn't commit the crime then you shouldn't do the time," shouted Apollo. "We're going to find Alita and bring her back to court!"

"Son..." Godot whispered. His voice was weak, his confident ego begun to fade. "They've investagated and it couldn't have been her."

"She's got something to do with it," Apollo said.

"They'll consider the case closed when I die."

"Well its not," Apollo snapped. "I'm not giving up, neither are you. Anyway, I got a question for you," Apollo mumbled.

"What is it?"

"What would you have done if my Mom had dropped me at doorstep."

"I would have brought you up," Godot admitted. "I would never have abandoned you."

It was just as he thought he would say.

Phoenix hated gossip: his family had almost crashed and burned.

"I'm sorry Phoenix," Kay Faraday said. She bowed her head and whispered, "I failed Trucy didn't I? I wasn't there where she fainted. She told she miscarried Apollo's kid. That's so sad."

"I actually think you've done really well," Phoenix admitted. He smiled and patted her strands of blue hair. "You told me everything I needed to know and you've been a good friend to Trucy."

"So how is she?"

"She's with Iris," Phoenix told her. "I'm keeping Trucy away from a lot of people at the moment. Including Apollo, I've been avoiding him."

"Must have been awful," Kay said. "I can't believe that the two of them did that. "

"To be honest I had some suspicions," Phoenix admitted. "I should have acted on it sooner rather than now. Trucy could stay over at your house tonight, if it's okay with you."

"Of course it is," Kay assured Phoenix. "If Trucy's fine with it."

"She'll be fine with it." Phoenix stared in the mirror and saw the reflection of a lost man. He had a happy family and good friends. It seemed like he just looked away, turned back and everything seemed fine until he blinked. His great friends were moving on with their own lives and his family had been torn.

He was going to get married soon, but he didn't feel the excitement of being a married man. Not because he didn't love Iris anymore, all the issues have made him almost forget the date of his wedding. Right now a wedding wasn't what he wanted: he wanted a miracle or a wish to turn back time.

Back to the days where Kristoph was put to justice. Trucy was performing magic tricks and when the pair of them were innocent. He should have told them about their mother right there. He was sure that the mess would have been avoided.

He hoped Trucy would have told him the whole truth, she should have known he had ways to find it out. He just didn't want to find it out the way he did.

Trucy told Kay, who told Phoenix. But she was already beaten to it. Larry's letter caused tension. Apollo told Ema, which Lana overheard and Lana told Phoenix the day after. Now that he knew the truth, he wished Apollo and Trucy could have just spoken to him or Iris.

Godot knew about it as well, and he kept silent about it. Phoenix believed that Godot murdered Thalassa so she would never know about it.

It would never sink in. Phoenix put his hand on his head and asked himself, does nobody trust me? He felt invisible to his own family. Just like the time he lost his badge he became hero to zero overnight.

He even got a new lawyer badge for passing his exam, but he didn't feel like using it. Not until he sorted his family issues out.

He was scared and feared nobody cared. Even in a conversation right now it felt like he was in a frozen solitude.

"I'll see you later then," Kay said. She hugged Phoenix from behind and left the room. Phoenix knew what Egdeworth saw in her.

Phoenix went to check his email and found an a message written by Kristoph Gavin. It was tempting to just delete it at first site, but he wanted to see what was written. It could have been just a silly prank or a serious talk. Avoiding temptation, he opened the email.

Dear Phoenix,
I understand things are hard at the moment. I thought writing you an email would make you relax. We were very good friends after all. I do miss your frequent visits, asking me the same things over and over again. Annoying as it seemed, it was quite amusing. I am very sorry to hear about your grandchild. She died before she even got a chance to live. What a shame, you would have made an interesting grandfather, but you have a long way to go.

I hope you're not treating Apollo too harshly. I looked at him like a son, we're more of a fatherly figures to him than those good-for-nothing parents combined. Godot is a mad man: he's in no fit state to be a father.

You may be wondering where I get this stuff from, but these things spread like wildfire these days. Let's just say someone has been leaking information deemed... very confidential.

The very same person met me at the day of Thalassa's murder. I gave her a deal; as long as my brother and Apollo were safe from harm, I in return would not danger the public.

You do remember sweet old Dahlia don't you? I've met up with a witch called Castilo Yew, and she's managed to rise Dahlia from the dead. The police officers are wasting their time hunting Alita down, for it was Dahlia that brutally murdered Thalassa that night. I'm telling you this, because nobody could ever convict her nor prove it. Nobody would believe this email.

Nobody said it was simple nor did any one mention it would be this tough.



Meanwhile, lazy raindrops landed wherever they pleased. Lana, dressed in black was the only person walking the streets. The roads where wrapped in inpatient cars and she had just spent the five minutes finding somewhere to cross the road. An umbrella covering her hair as she reached the church. It could have easily have been a miserable Monday, but it was a wet Wednesday.

Albert Salsa was standing in the hallway of the church. He smiled and waved his hand. As Lana approached him, he began to rub his hands from the cold.

"Good Morning Albert," Lana greeted. "Didn't expect you to be here before me."

"You made a really bad typo in that email Lana," said Salsa. "You put the 5th of December instead January. Never mind, we know what you mean. All this careful planning is finally starting to pay off. So don't hit yourself over some stupid typo."

"I'm not."

"My brother is waiting for us," said Salsa. "Is Mike coming too?"

"I'm not sure," Lana replied. "I'm hoping he's gone to sort things out with Ema."

"Very well," Salsa said. "Now let's come in we've got a Christmas wedding to arrange." Salsa opened the door for Lana and the pair of them walked down to the stage. "Brother," Salsa called, "I'm here!"

"I'm coming Albert!"

To Lana's surprise, Salsa's brother didn't sound Jamaican at all. To an even greater surprise, Salsa's brother had white pale skin. The way Salsa had talked about his brother, Lana expected the two of them to look alike. How wrong was she?

"Good morning, I am Reverend Jack Salsa," his brother said it in a very unconvincing Irish accent. He looked at Albert and said, "It's good meet you brother Albert. I trust that the court keeps you busy."

"Yes, it keeps me busy indeed."

"What is it that you two would like to speak to me about?"

"I would like to arrange a wedding for Christmas Eve," Lana announced. "At 11:00 PM."

"Are you two getting married?" Jack asked.

"No," Albert replied. "Lana is arranging a surprise wedding for her sister and her boyfriend."

"That sounds very sweet!" Jack exclaimed. "Who are the lucky couple?"

"Ema Skye and Mike Blitz," said Lana. "The groom-to-be knows about it, but he needs a little persuasion."

"I see," Jack said. "What kind of persuasion?"

Lana said, "Ema is having trust issues and is starting to fall back into the arms of a cheating ex-boyfriend. We think the marriage will make her avoid temptation."

"I think we should discuss the plans with the groom," Jack thought.

"No need, he's already agreed with the plans," Lana assured. "I've arranged the honeymoon. The bride and groom are having words with each other. You may see him soon."

"So you've been arranging everything then?" Jack asked. "May I see them?"

"Sure," Lana replied. She smiled as she passed Jack the notes.

"To confirm," Jack started reading, "the wedding of Iris and Phoenix Wright will be on Christmas Eve. During the after party, the church will be arranged for the surprise wedding of Ema and Mike Blitz's wedding will take place in Saint Catherine's church on the same day at 11:00 PM. After the ceremony they will be taken straight to the airport to go on their honeymoon."

"Yes," Lana announced. "That's how I would like the wedding to be."

"As long as Ema and Mike sort things out, then I can see the wedding going ahead."

"Thank you."

"It would still be nice to speak to the groom before the ceremony," Jack told her.

"Sure," Lana said. "I'll let him know. Speaking of which, here he is now."

"Can I speak to you Lana?" Mike asked, muttering, biting his tongue in a bitter voice.

"Sure," Lana replied. "Let's go outside." Lana and Mike went outside. Mike stormed out the church contrasting the soft tip-toeing from Lana's footsteps. "What's up with you Mike?"

"I'm not ready for this," Mike snapped. "I can't do it!"

"You're marrying her weather you like it or not," Lana replied. "This is meant to be the happiest day of her life and I don't need your childish whining right now."

"We can't just force Ema to marry me," Mike spat out. "Nobody can. I'm only going to marry her when she's ready."

"I can and I have," Lana announced. "I chosen everything, the time, the place, the honeymoon, the things you two will wear and you two will be staying in England until Klavier is dead."

"Can't we just kill him, frame April and get it over and done with?" Mike suggested. "That way he won't have to runaway?"

"This way is much more fun," Lana admitted. "Now get in there and say that you will marry her otherwise I'll kill you."

"Death threats won't get you everywhere," hissed Mike.

Lana followed Mike into the church. She smiled, patting his back and said, "Mike is now happy about the plans aren't you?"

"... Yeah," Mike stuttered with a fake smile on his face. "I'm excited."

"Its completely normal to be nervous," Jack told Mike. "This is amazing news. Two weddings on Christmas Eve. Both will be fantastic!"

"There's a double wedding?" Mike croaked. He jumped and landed against a bench.

"Iris and Phoenix are getting married in the morning," announced Albert. "Gonna be a great party. Even greater on Valentines Day."

December 15th, 2027

It's Christmas in ten days... I should be excited, but I'm not. The rain is starting to turn into icebergs and it's freezing: even with four jumpers on.

My love life currently sucks at the moment. I know many girls like the idea of having around three guys that have a crush on you, but it's not glamorous to me. My ex-boyfriend is still sending me messages and I reply to them. He's apologized and I forgave him. I made out with a friend who made out with his sister, and I suspect my boyfriend is cheating on me with my sister. I know, it's confusing. I still don't understand it.

I still like my ex and I don't even know why. He embarrassed me, he cheated on me and he's so vain he looks at himself in his iPod's reflection and grins a lot. He drives me nuts. I'm Twenty-Six, I shouldn't be having these stupid crushes anymore.

I love Mike, I really do. He's nice and all, but I think he can be too nice. First few weeks of dating were great but his smoking habit pisses me off. I don't care if it's electric or fake; it's still scientifically smoking. That's just a silly thing though, I can do whatever I want and he'll let me get away with it. Even when I look like a tramp he says I'm sexy.

Though it was since I began sending dirty pictures to my ex that I got suspicions that Mike was cheating on me with my sister, Lana. I haven't told Mike because I don't want him to fight with him, so it's better left unsaid. Knowing my ex, he'll most likely leak them or show them to my friends, but I don't care.

The reason I think Mike and Lana are having an affair is because the two of them are always together and instead of ringing me, Lana rings Mike. The two of them are always spending time alone with each other. I asked Mike about it at work and he said they were planning a Christmas present for me.

I'm disabling comments on this entry at the moment. I'm not really in a mood for talking right now.

December 20th, 2027

I've been so busy in the past few days. An hour after I wrote the last entry, Mike came in the room and gave me a hug. He talked about our relationship and how I think it could be improved. We both said the same things: no more secrets and no more lies. He bought me a really huge bag of snakoos and we shared them while we were watching documentries. Mike promised that he'd spend much more time with me.

And he was true to his word. We visited Apollo to see if he was okay, he's been having a really bad time lately. I'm hoping Christmas and Phoenix's wedding will help mend things up a bit. It's not good for him spending hours in jail trying to clear his dad's name. I still text my ex sometimes, just not as much. He asked me for some more pictures but I declined. Fifty pictures are more than enough and being sexy is seriously hard work for me for goodness sake.

I don't think things are going too well with his girlfriend. His girlfriend left prison some months ago and now works as a stripper. The two go rather well together if I do say so myself.

Mike also made a Snakoo sandwhich, in which he made the loaf himself. It was bloody delicious, I could taste the raisins, almonds and honey in the loaf and the awesome taste of the snakoo. A great muncher. Sex with Mike has been very good lately.

I haven't even got Mike a present yet. What do you guys think I should get him?

(10 Comments)

Magic_Panties16: SEX!

BOXERS!

THONGS!

SEX TOYS!
Kay_Faraday: Only you Trucy.
Queen_Of_Science Nothing rude please.
Magic_Panties16: How is my brother? Is he okay? Why don't you buy Mike video games, he seems to be the type who likes them.
Queen_Of_Science: He seems fine when I saw him. Thanks for the suggestions.
Magic_Panties16: I'm looking forward to Christmas Eve! My Daddy and Mommy Iris get married and I'll meet Apollo for the first time in ages.

Sucks2be_Maggey: Nice to see things going well for you Ema.
Queen_Of_Science:Thanks Maggey. How are things with your family?
Sucks2be_Maggey: They're very good. Working at McDonalds at the moment. Dick still has to bring Copper into work sometimes, but not as much now.
Queen_Of_Science: That's good Maggey!

December 23rd, 2027

Tomorrow is Phoenix's wedding. I'm really happy that Phoenix has made up with Apollo again. Mike said at that Phoenix announced on the stag night that he's a lawyer again, but he's not working until after his honeymoon. Even greater news. I'm going to be one of the bridesmaids with Maya, Pearl and Trucy.

But why are Lana and Mike packing my stuff into a limosine?

(4 Comments)

Sucks2be_Maggey: That's weird.
Queen_Of_Science : I know!
Sucks2be_Maggey: It's good to see Mr. Wright back on track again though.
Queen_Of_Science: It is!

Weddings. They're suppose to be one of the most happiest times of one's life. A moment to cherish till the day you die. It should be free of stress, pressure. Blooming with bliss to share with the world. Mike Blitz's wedding day was going to have none of that. He disliked arranged marriages and hated that his future sister-on-law had arranged everything without his permission. He found it unfair on Ema as he knew that she wasn't ready and if she wasn't ready: Mike wasn't going to be prepared.

It was Iris and Phoenix's night and if the arranged wedding goes ahead it will steal their limelight. He expected that Phoenix would at least catch that something wasn't right with Mike but he was too busy gelling his hair. In a tight blue tuxedo, Mike sulked in the mirror. The sequins around the suit dazzled, but it was not enough to stop Mike from cringing from the light green cuffs. He couldn't help it, the suit that Lana had chosen for him was dreadful.

Lana had went through the itinerary with Mike in every detail. He prepared a suit for himself to wear on the day, but Lana confiscated it and packed it for the honeymoon. Lana had become an insane perfectionist and planned everything that Ema and Mike wore from head to toe. He had no idea what Ema was wearing because Lana wouldn't let Mike see her at all. Lana reminded Mike it was bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony.

Just what was her problem? Mike asked himself but could find to answers. In his opinion, she wasn't being a very good friend to Iris. It was the day Iris had been waiting for all her life and Lana was pushing the limelight away from her without her knowledge. Being the good convincer that Lana was, Iris would most likely fall for Lana's rubbish and say she was doing it to make Ema's Christmas happy. Mike and Lana wanted the best for Ema, but they both had different ideas to what was best for her.

Lana seeking avenge on Ema's behalf on Klavier was something he understood. Being away from her sister for so long had made her overprotective. The thing that Mike didn't understand was why Lana had to be so obsessive over every little detail. It was Christmas, it was a time for celebration though at times it was stressful. For a lot of people Mike knew, this year had brought in a lot of tears, laughter and pain. He knew Iris and Phoenix's wedding would lift everybody's moods again.

Phoenix Wright could easily be considered a hero. He inspired Mike to change his ways and bring some light into his life. He had helped so many people in many magnificent ways by just doing his job. He could have picked any woman to marry but he chose the humble-like-apple-pie Iris. No doubt a lot of people were going to attend the wedding. The town had seen him rise and fall and rise again. The day will never belong to Mike and Ema, as it belonged to Phoenix and Iris, Mike thought.

With nothing much to do unless accept scolding demands by Lana, Mike marched across the churchyard. As he marched he began to think about his task of catching Alita. She murdered Thalassa and Mike was going to hunt her down after Lana's plan had been completed. Alita was beginning to create a list of victims but there would only be one person who would be scared for a life time: Larry Butz. He had no idea how much danger he was in. What makes it worse is that Larry will give up anything for this criminal: even his own life.

Mike liked Larry, he was a poor liar and could be unreliable sometimes but he always looked on the bright side of life and didn't let anyone get in his way. At times he was still a child, but at the same time, Mike found him very likable. Mike frowned at the fact that Larry was going to miss his best friend's wedding. He could have been the goofy best-man making a speech with the bad one-liners thrown in. He was about to loose it all for Alita. She lied, and he believed. Mike feared that Alita will change him to the funny dude he once was to a jerk.

Though trusting his instinct, Alita had bewitched him and transformed him into a jerk. The chances of saving Larry were slim and even if the police were to arrive in time. Larry would never have the freedom he sought in Alita. He would end up in prison and find it hard to get a job. Mike himself had a tough time finding a job without a criminal record, so he could only imagine how tough it would be for Larry. Whatever Alita felt for Larry; it wasn't love.

In some degrees, Mike saw similarities in Wocky and Larry. The two of them could have easily been friends. But Alita had made them feel disdain against each other. Somehow, Wocky managed to recover, even after almost being locked up for a long time for a rape. Social-networking did horrors to him, but they also gave him a blessing in disguise. Pearl had been pushing him in the right direction. It was nice to see the two of them walking around the church too.

Pearl's lavender dress matched the cotton petals on her Alice-hair-band. Mike found it strange to see Pearl with her hair down. He had no idea it was that long. To Mike's surprise, Wocky was looking rather smart for a change. Was it even Wocky at all? Mike thought. A black suit, a tie and his hair tied back was the last thing that Mike would imagine Wocky to wear. Though knowing Wocky, he was forced to dress that way by either Pearl or Plum. Plum and Lana were both persistent women and Mike wasn't surprised the two of them were enjoying a long conversation

"You two are looking rather smart today," Mike told the pair of them.

"Thank you," Pearl said with a smile on her face. She held onto Wocky's arm in pride.

"Especially you Wocky," added Mike. "I mean I can't believe I'm seeing you dressed so smart."

"Yeah," yawned Wocky. "Cody's got a fancy dress party tonight so wearing this is going to be convenient."

"Oh really?" Mike asked. "Who are you going as?"

"I'm going as... uhm... Sailor Moon's boyfriend," Wocky replied with a shrug.

"Tuxedo Mask!" Pearl snapped. "We were watching Sailor Moon since 3 O'Clock this morning and you're forgetting his name already. I've showed you the pictures about a thousand times..."

"Sorry Pearl," Wocky muttered. "You know I'm not a morning person."

Mike chuckled, then said to Pearl, "I take it that you will dressed up as Sailor Moon!"

Pearl nodded.

"That's good then."

"At least all I have to do when I get home is but then white shades on, that long hat and a cloak," Wocky thought. "Pearl's got her costume at my house."

"You two will be enjoying yourselves."

"Would you ever marry Ema?" Pearl asked. It was a simple question, but one that blew him away. The words were stuck in throat like a door unwilling to open with the right key.Pearl stared at Mike asking, "you wouldn't marry Ema?"

"I'm just nervous about the thought of marriage,"Mike lied.

Lana watched her friend tip-toe
Down the aisle,
While petals curl alive
While squirrels peek inside.

Rejoice butterfly~
Wear your flames in the winter sky~

Glitter written on a wedding dress
Blending with her flesh.
Iris is marrying a phoenix by heart and soul.

Lana will take away her light.
She's the witch hunting in her sister's name.
Her vengeance takes flight!
Lana wishes
They are prepared for evening pride,
For the red bridesmaid will be another bride.