Eagle Mountain stood proudly above the green countryside and the busy city, a place generally untouched by humans. The lonely peak expects snow all year round, and the cold winds harshly blow across the snowy landscape. The only place of shelter was a lonely temple situated on top of Eagle Mountain, perched like an eagle's nest on the high mountain. And a bridge spanning across a great gap, below is the menacing Dusky River, for those that fall would never be seen again. That temple had seen its share of bloodshed, and the tragedies that befell others. Now it is a different story, could love now blossom on the icy peaks, or friendships tie bonds as strong as the river itself? Now, the question shall be answered with a heartwarming tale of new love being blossomed, friendships made, and old flames ignited once again to heal those ugly scars of the past.

"Ugh, I'm so tired,"

Apollo slumped onto the couch, he had just finished a case, his third case in a week. His throat was sore from overexcertion of his Chords of Steel in the courtroom and Prosecutor Gavin had given him a hard time, not only was he playing Guilty Love in the courtroom at maximum volume again, Apollo was sick of his jokes regarding his forehead. And worse, his client happened to be a pottymouth and was 'excused' from court for swearing and annoying the Judge.

"I wish I would never get near that loudmouthed jerk of a client again, and if Prosecutor Gavin makes another forehead joke again..." Apollo grabbed one of Trucy's posters of Klavier and ripped it into half. "There! Looks way better."

"You know what you need? A vacation!" Trucy suggested in her normal cheerful self, even if Apollo did rip up her poster.

"Now you tell me?" Apollo grumbled. Mr. Wright was working him to the bone for the month, his bracelet had also formed a bruise on his wrist from the overwork. His eyes were red and puffy from the sleepness nights and his hair was considerably droopy. He looked pretty much half dead.

"Hey Polly! Look at this!"

Trucy was ectastically waving a postcard in her hand, Apollo took the postcard and looked. It was a view of a snowy mountain at sunrise, the words below read: Eagle Mountain.

"You thinking what I'm thinking?" asked Trucy.

"Yup."

'Hiking?" both said simultaneously.

"Maybe we could bring Vera too, we could help her open up." suggested Trucy.

"Sure thing." replied Apollo. "I'll write to her now."

~

"(Vera...she spent so much of her life secluded in her home, she was almost kidnapped once, her father got killed and got accused for it and got poisoned by the killer. Even after I helped her clear her name, I still feel...concered for her...why? I don't know..." Apollo thought as he lowered the pen.

Vera sat in front of an empty canvas, the brushes and paints neatly placed by the canvas. Although she had did this for more than seven years, it was so hard to draw now. Her mind was completely blank, as blank as the canvas that sat in front of her. She felt so... alone. Normally, her father would sit beside her and giver her ideas and some inspiration. Now, he was gone and she did not have a clue of what to do.

"(Maybe I could check the mail,)" she thought. "(Maybe I could get some inspiration.)"

Among the usual bills and newspaper, a scarlet letter stood out distinctively from the mail. As she expected, the letter was from Apollo. She had felt that undying sense of gratitude ever since Apollo had helped clear her name. Sure, he had caused her to bite her nails and get poisoned, but that changed her life completely, she was not the girl secluded from the outside world and living with her father anymore. Yet she felt so empty inside.

"(A hiking trip on Eagle Mountain? Sounds great, I better write to Apollo saying that I'm going.)"

~

"Hiking trip?...Eagle Mountain?" Phoenix asked.

"Yeah Daddy! So can you come with us please? " Trucy asked, trying the puppy dog eyes on her father.

"No thanks."

"Aw come on... we need a responsible adult!"

"Apollo can supervise, can he?"

"Yes Mr. Wright... Hey!" Trucy had nudged Apollo aside.

"Why Daddy?" Trucy asked, her patience getting weary.

"I... just...don't like trips." Phoenix replied.

"(I felt my bracelet react! But what is Mr. Wright hiding? I can't prove anything yet...)" Apollo thought.

"Anyway, feel free to join us! It isn't too late!" Trucy replied enthusiastically.

"(I have my own reasons of not going, I'm just...too ashamed to see them...or her...would they forgive me?"

Apollo and Trucy both waited at the platform, soon enough, Vera came in with her knapsack and carrying a large black case.

"Vera, I'm so glad you made it!" said Apollo excitedly.

"What's in the case?" Trucy asked.

"My art supplies, I want to do some drawing when we get to Eagle Mountain, anyway, where's-"

"Daddy's not coming, besides, Apollo's looking after us." Trucy replied eagerly

"Oh...I thought...I could..."

"Never mind, he's okay with it! Come on! Let's get on the train!" as Trucy sped towards the train door.

It was an hour's ride to the foot of Eagle Mountain, Vera instinctively reached for her sketchpad to sketch the passing landscape while Trucy decided to whip out her magic tricks. Apollo drifted off to sleep halfway from boredom and found out that Trucy was poking at the spikes in his hair with her wand and Vera giggling.

"What do you use to keep those spikes up? They're rock solid!" Trucy asked. A pink tinge appeared on Apollo's face, trying to control his anger.

"I...You...Trucy...Ugh! Are we there yet?" Apollo impatiently asked.

"Yup!" Trucy exited the train.

Apollo was awed at what he saw. Eagle Mountain was colossal, part of the snow-capped peak hidden by the clouds. The mountain seemed... intimidating... He also saw the many people wrapped in coats and scarves, they didn't seem afraid to conquer Eagle Mountain.

"Come on Polly! Last one up is a rotten egg!" Trucy rushed towards the stone stairs leading up the mountain.

The rocky mountain trail was the only way up Eagle Mountain, nothing seemed to grow except a few clusters of mountain flowers, grasses and lichen among the rocks. Trucy took out a camera and start to snap pictures, Vera occasionally stopped to admire the view while Apollo just kept walking. As they went higher and higher up the mountain, the air got colder and stronger. They eventually got worn out and decided to take a rest at a pavilion.

"Man...that was some climb. And that was some mountain." Trucy panted. "You tired Vera?" Vera nodded in agreement. "Apollo?" He nodded instinctively. "We'll reach the top soon, in about fifteen minutes or so?" Apollo checked the map of Eagle Mountain.

"Brrrgh... its freezing Polly! I don't mean cold I mean cold as in real cold!" shivered Trucy.

"Apollo...what's going on?" asked Vera meekly.

"Looks like a blizzard is coming our way, you guys grab on to me so that we don't lose each other, we can't stay here until the blizzard passes."

"On count of three.. one...two...three!"

The three, each gripping each other hands tightly, struggled to make it out of the blizzard. The chilling wind blew right at them, the blizzard apparently showing no mercy with its bone-chilling wind which felt like blades across their faces and the blinding snow, which obscured their sight with a curtain of white. Soon after, their view slowly returned and the wind weakened as they continued to trudge through the blizzard.

"We made it! Yay!" Trucy cried ectastically.

"Come on, we could seek some shelter at the temple ahead!" Apollo rushed towards, what looked like an old temple gate. The sign read clearly: Hazakura Temple . As they stepped throught the temple gate, they noticed a short, elderly nun walking towards another building and apparently massaging her own back.

"Excuse me? Do you mind if we take shelter here?" asked Apollo politely/

"More visitors? You're lucky to get out of the blizzard safely." replied the nun pleasantly.

"Did you say more visitors?" queried Apollo.

"Why yes, two young ladies came in earlier. Anyway, let me introduce myself, I'm Sister Bikini of Hazakura Temple. Wa ha ha ha!" chuckled the nun.

" Do my ears deceive me? Sister Bikini? Seriously. And what's with the laugh? Is she some kind of mad scientist? " Apollo thought. Trucy and Vera could not help but laugh.

"We'll talk later, come in and have some tea first." Sister Bikini invited them in warmly.

"Brrrgh...the Main Hall is even colder!" complained Trcuy.

"Silly me, I forgot to turn on the radiators! Excuse me please," as she trotted over to the switches powering the radiators. The Main Hall wasn't all that big or impressive unlike those in other temples. But the one thing that caught Apollo's eyes was the oversized large green jewel shaped like the number nine in front of the altar, many bright candles surrounding it. Somehow, it gave the main hall an aura of holiness.

A slender lady, also wearing nun's robes, with a considerably smaller version of the 9-shaped jewel, though without wearing a hood, came out from one of the sliding doors. She had fair skin, about the shade between snow white and mother-of-pearl, with a semi-translucent glow, her hair was jet-black and neatly braided, matched with a set of jet-black eyes. Somehow, her eyes had a shine of sincerity in them and her warm smile caused Apollo's heart to melt like butter in a frying pan. She was also about Phoenix's age too.

"Iris, could you get these visitors a warm cup of tea, they just made it out of the blizzard." Sister Bikini instructed her.

"Yes Sister Bikini, by the way, the two girls are coming in soon." she gently replied. Her voice seemed like a warm spring breeze on the freezing mountain. She disappeared behind one of the sliding doors leading to the kitchen.

"Is it me or does she look familiar? Her name seemed familiar too." Apollo and Trucy both thought in unison.

"Excuse me, but who is that lady?" Apollo asked.

"Oh, that's Sister Iris, she's quite the looker isn't her eh? I'd say she looks kinda like me." Bikini chucked joyfully.

"I did hear that name before! It was Mr Wright's second-last case! State vs Iris! Though the outcome was quite unexpected..."

"Wait, didn't I hear Daddy mumble her name sometimes? Maybe she's a new mommy!" Trucy joyfully cheered.

"Sister Bikini? May we come in?" rang a joyful voice.

"Come in dears," Bikini voiced out.

Two young ladies slid the door open, one was about Trucy's age, with slender legs and a lilac robe. She wore the trademark 9-shaped jewel around her neck and her chocolate brown hair was in a butterfly bow. The other was about Apollo's age, her long purple robes gave her an aura of elegance, yet her expressions gave her a sense of casualness. Her hair was ebony-black and the top of her hair was in a bun and two ponytails hung down, with a jade sphere on each side. She also wore a jewel like Iris and the younger girl, along with a red talisman, with a yellow emblem consisting of the jewel and wave-like patterns.

"Who are they Sister Bikini?" asked the younger girl.

"Oh, these poor young souls just made it out of that nasty blizzard, Iris is getting them some tea. You girls want tea too?"[

"No thanks," voiced the older girl, sound way more elegant than the younger girl, her voice laced with a sense of warmness to it.

She turned to Apollo and said, "Hey there, hope you're alright especially after that blizzard,its so common in the mountains. Anyway, I'm Maya Fey, I'm 24 and I'm the Master of the Kurain Channeling Technique. And here's my cousin, Pearl Fey, she's a spirit channeler too! She's 15 this year."

"Hi!" Pearl eagerly exclaimed.

"Ugh, the thin mountain air must be messing with my head. First a nun named Bikini and now, spirit channelers. I need a hot cup of tea now. Yet she seems nice, won't hurt to introduce myself." Apollo thought.

"Anyway, I'm pleased to meet you. I'm Apollo Justice, I'm 22 and I'm a defence attorney." he calmly replied, hiding his thoughts behind a wide grin.

"He's a defence attorney? Just like Nick! Could he be?" Maya and Pearl thought.

Iris came in with a tray with a teapot and cups of hot tea, laying the tray gently on the floor and disappeared through a door.

"So, where do you work at?" Maya queried as she also tried to suppress her thoughts. Pearl seemed to be worse at hiding it, as her smile was starting to quiver.

"The Wright and Co. Law Offices? Why?" Apollo answered curiously.

"The Wright and Co. Law Offices?! You know Phoenix?" she exclaimed, unable to suppress her inner emotions, all in one outburst.

"Why yes, he's my boss actually. Anyway, you seem familiar, have I seen you somehwere? In a case file or something?" he replied calmly.

"He saved my life, twice actually, I was accused of murder twice. Once for my sister, Mia and another for a customer asking for a channeling. Its been seven years since we saw him. And I saw on the news he had turned in his badge. We never saw him since until that car accident, we brought the tons of DVDs for him. I wonder if he still remembers us... Is he alone for all these years?" Maya replied in an unusually moody tone, tears nearly coming to her eyes, now filled with sorrow. Pearl was also experiencing the moodiness and the butterfly bow on her hair seemed to droop slightly.

"Not really, he has me. I'm Trucy Wright! I'm 15 too, Magician Extrodinaire and Phoenix Wright's daughter."

'What!? Daughter? Oooh... Nick has better have a good explanation for this! How could he cheat Mystic Maya?" Pearl suddenly snapped angrily in an outburst of her own suppressed emotion.

"Oh no.. she's adopted." Apollo tried to calm the infuriated teenage spirit medium.

"Oh... that explains it. So is she looking for a new mommy?" Pearl replied, having cooled down.

"I always wanted a new mommy, but I never expected to find one here, so Daddy and Maya were dating?" Trucy queried curiously.

Maya's cheeks flushed red with embarassment. "Oh come on Pearly, we so didn't date." she calmly replied. "Anyway, I think the Nickel Samurai is about to start, wanna watch with us Trucy? Apollo? Oh yeah, how about you? I forgot to ask you, forgive me." Maya cheerfully asked.

"Isn't that for 5-year olds?" Apollo thought.

"Oh...I'm Vera Misham, I'm an artist...and..er..no thanks...I'll think I'll go sketch." Vera shyly replied.

"She's kinda shy around strangers," Trucy said. "So, let's go watch!" as the three girls sped toward's Maya's room and out of sight while Vera grabbed her coat and left.

"Sigh...I guess I'll join them..." Apollo reluctantly walked toward the three ectastic girls.

Meanwhile, Iris was behind another door, she couldn't help her curious nature, especially when it came to the one she loved.

"Feenie...It's been so long..."

"Did you see that just now? That was so amazing!"

"Yeah, the Nickel Samurai was so powerful, the Oni King didn't stand a chance!"

"Glad I got that over with, I guess I'll check on Vera. Maya said she was at some bridge." Apollo said.

"Wait for me!" Trucy chased after Apollo.

Fifteen minutes later, they came to the bridge. The bridge seemed so new, yet it seemed like a death trap. Beside it was a stone that read Dusky Bridge. Vera was sitting on a rock, gently sketching the mountain view.

"Hey Vera," Apollo gently spoke.

"Hello," Vera answered calmly.

"Mind if we take a look?" Trucy asked.

Vera's sketch seemed too real, she just used a pencil and she brought the bridge to life on her sketchpad. You couldn't blame her, she was probably the best artist around.

"Look what we have here,"

Apollo looked behind, he saw a skinny man with spiky brown hair and an artist's beret, he was also about Phoenix's age, like Iris. He was also wearing a pink shirt to cover his clothes beneath.

"Hey, do you mind? I'm trying to sketch here." he said.

"Oh...We're sorry...We were just sitting here." Vera shyly apologised.

"Hey I know you! You're Uncle Larry, Daddy's old friend! Didn't he help you on his first case? He always said, Whenever something smells, its always the Butz!" Trucy exclaimed.

"Phoenix has a daughter? Sniff...and he even mentioned good ol' Uncle Larry here!" his reactions changed dramatically.

"Excuse me, I'll just be going now...You can continue with your drawing." Vera calmly replied.

Larry's eyes shifted to Vera, and he was momentarily stunned. Her snow-white complexion and her azure hair, she reminded him of a fairytale princess. He felt pleasant just looking at her.

"Oh no, you can draw too...as long as you stay here with me...And your sketches too, they are just as beautiful as you,gorgeous..." Larry suddenly stroked through his hair.

"Apollo...what's wrong with you? Your look kinda green..." Trucy queried.

"Ugh, doesn't that old coot just leave Vera alone? She needs her space too! And who's he to put his arm around her? He better back off before I strangle him!" Apollo angrily thought, his eyes were, unusually, green with envy.

"Wait...why am I feeling this way? Why am I so jealous all of a sudden? Its not like she's my girlfriend or anything? Aaargh... Justice calm down..." as Apollo calmed himself down with a long breath.

"Oh... I'm just going to return to the temple...See you..." Vera hurriedly walked.

"That was...unexpected...and speaking of unexpected...did Apollo just seem...jealous just now?" Vera thought as she paced towards the temple on the snowy road.

"I guess I'll find Pearl, she said she was going to help me do my hair!" as Trucy sped off.

Just then, Maya strolled towards Dusky Bridge. She just wore a jacket over her robes. In her hand, she held a white flower. Her face was slightly moody, contrary to her normal optimistic nature.

"Excuse me Maya, Where are you going?"

"You're awful curious are you, if you want to know, follow me." as she slowly crossed Dusky Bridge.

Halfway through, Apollo's legs seemed to turn to jelly as he saw the raging Eagle River below the rickety bridge. It looked like an awful long drop down and whatever or whoever did would get washed away and would never be seen. Well, except Mr Wright when he did. He gripped onto the rope tightly and slowly tredded across.

The other side was completely different. A row of little statues stood neatly by the stone path. There was also an incinerator almost covered with snow. The Inner Temple was a small wood building that was built into a side of the mountain and it was covered by the tall pine trees and mountains. Maya opened a small gate by the Inner Temple as Apollo followed.

It was a tiny garden beyond the gate. A small tree grew from the side near a stone basin with water in it with a thin layer of ice on top. There were also four torches surrounding the most prominent sight, the stone lantern. And at its base was a small stone plaque. It read," In Memory of Misty Fey, 1969-2019 Dearly missed by family."

"This was where my mother was killed. Did you know about the case that happened here?" Maya said in a reserved tone.

Apollo had remembered. It was State vs Iris, The Master of the Kurain Channeling Technique, Misty Fey died as Elise Deauxnim, the famous picture book writer. He also remembered seeing her picture in the case file. Her hair looked like a beehive, though brown, she had that heart-warming smile that made so many children happy with her books, and a wooden staff with the amethyst on it that gave her an aura of wisdom, yet she seemed mysterious. Maya was also 19 then, and she was a witness in the case. She had saw her mother whom she had never seen for many years murdered right before her own eyes. How tragic was that?

"Yes, I'm so sorry..." Apollo said in a sad tone.

"Its okay, I don't really mind." she said, a smile appearing on her face as she laid the flower on the plaque. "My cousin Pearl was hurt way more than me..."

"How?"

"Her mother was convicted as an accomplice in a murder case, and I was the prime suspect. And even if her mother was in jail, she made Pearl follow her evil plans just to regain the lost honour when her younger sister, my mother take over as Master. Pearl felt so guilty... and she was just 9 then."

"So...what kept you moving?"

"Faith, trust. Pearl has faith in me and trusts me like I trust her and have faith in her. So... how about your mother? How was she like?" Maya asked.

"I'm an orphan, I never knew my mother... But they told me that she was beautiful and kind...The only thing that reminds me of her is this." Apollo pointed to his bracelet.

"I'm sorry, I never knew how painful it is to not even know your own mother... Anyway, I thought there was something about that bracelet the first time I saw you." Maya said.

"This bracelet helped me in court many times, it reacts to when people are lying. I don't know why I have this power to perceive the truth, nor who passed the power to me... But's that's why I want to find out..the truth."

"You're just like a split image of Nick...anyway...thank you."

"For what?"

"For listening to my story, you don't have a lot of these people who can really listen to you." Maya smiled, her smile seemed like a ray of sunshine, illuminating the hearts of others and dispelling the shadows within.

"No problem...and thank you too."

"No problem, anyway, I gotta help Pearl with her training. See you later!" as she trotted offf.

"This woman, Maya, she's wise, smart, and pretty too. A lot of bad things had happened to her...yet she emerged as a strong young woman, not afraid of the world. She's so brave, yet because others have faith in her. And others have faith in her as well, its not everyday you meet someone like this."

Apparently, Apollo was still curious as the attorney he is. How did Maya meet Phoenix in the first place? Luckily, Maya was pacing awful slowly, as if she was thinking of something.

"Excuse me! Maya!" he called out.

"Yes?" she turned.

"I just wanted to know... how do you know Mr Wright. Like when was the first time you met him." he asked.

"Curious aren't you? You're just like Nick. But normal people won't believe me when I say it. Its an awful funny story." she replied cheerfully.

"Believe me, I've seen a lot of funny." Apollo sighed.

"I was accused of murder, for the murder of my sister, Mia Fey. She was also Phoenix's mentor..."

"Mia Fey, Phoenix's mentor, she was the reason why that stupid plant is so important."

"I read the case file, some lady used a wiretap on the office's phone and she was actually working in a blackmailing company. The CEO wanted Mia dead as she had information that could expose him. But the way the trial ended was strange though. It said that you channeled Mia's spirit to help you." Apollo curiously asked.

"Exactly."

"But I thought..."

"Spirit channeling doesn't exist? I get that all the time. Even when Nick first met me. Here, I'll call Mia's spirit to explain."

"Er...Maya?" Apollo stuttered. But he wasn't looking at Maya anymore, well, suddenly Maya didn't look like Maya anymore, he was staring at a completely different face. The face he saw had the same onyx eyes as Maya, though without the childish sparkle, her lips we cherry red with a mole near her mouth. This was definately not Maya, whom for a young lady in her mid-twenties seemed to give off an sense of maturity with the hint of child-like cheerfulness, like a ray of sunshine. This face was calm, composed and with the same maturity as Maya.

"Oh, let me introduce myself, I'm Mia Fey, I'm being channeled by my sister right now. I was a defence attorney when I was alive." she smiled.

Apollo froze. He believed there was no such thing as spirit channeling, yet it was Mia Fey he saw in front of him. It was as logical as it was ilogical. The plain truth was that Mia Fey was standing right in front of him.

"I'm..Apollo Justice...and I'm a..defence attorney too." his voice stuttering with apprehensiveness.

"Don't worry, I'm not a harmful spirit." she giggled. "So, you're Phoenix's apprentice?"

"Not exactly, but I work for him."

"So...what's your first case?" Mia asked.

"I was supposed to defend Mr Wright. He was framed for killing a traveller at a restaurant. You won't believe it, but the murderer was my ex-boss, Kristoph Gavin. But Mr Wright ended up using forged evidence to do it." Apollo replied. His mouth felt poisonous after mentioning Kristoph's name.

"Kristoph Gavin...my ex-boss. He was the one who killed Zak Gramarye at that Russian restaurant. And he killed Vera's father, and tried to kill Vera himself too." Apollo choked back a sob.

"Forged evidence? That's not Phoenix Wright, the attorney I know." her voice amplified with a tone of harsh seriousness and a slight wave of anger swept over her. "He framed an innocent man with forged evidence?"

"No, not exactly. Mr Gavin did commit the murder. The only way to prove it was to use forged evidence. Besides, technically he wasn't an attorney then. Oh yeah, he changed the court system to the jurist system some time ago, pretty impressive."


"I'm glad to hear that.I would expect that from Phoenix. But I still need to talk to Phoenix about this. Anyway, did he come with you up here to Eagle Mountain?" she asked, with a sense of relief.

"No, he didn't.

"Anyway, I have something to give you." Mia reached into her pocket and drew out a similiar 9-shaped jewel that the Fey girls and Iris wore around their necks. It had a bright shine to it after polishing and it had several white streaks.

"This is a magatama. Its the symbol of the Fey clan and it helped Phoenix in his investigations."

"How?"

"It needs the be charged with spiritual energy for it to work. Maya should be low after channeling me, ask Pearl instead."

"Thanks, I guess I should be going now."

"See you later, Apollo."

"So, how's the chat with my sister?" Maya was back in her own body.

"Maya, there's something else I need to know."

"Yes?"

"Normally the eldest daughter of the Feys would be the Master right?"

"Exactly."

"Then, why did Mia choose to be a lawyer instead of the Master?"

"Good question, she had never had the intention to fight with me for the position. Besides, she was curious about where our mother was."

Maya could still remember, Mia had boldly refused the title and set off for law school. She had called her many times to stay in touch. Whether is it Law School or in the city, they had never lost touch as sisters. Until that fateful day, when Maya had went to visit Mia in the city, Mia was brutally murdered. She could still remember the horror and grief she felt. First her mother, now her sister. Maya, a village girl of 17, all alone in the world. Until he came...

"That's pretty noble of your sister..."

Apollo wished he had sibling to count on, to share joy or sorrow with or to have someone to be at your side when you need it most. Like a brother...or sister...
~

Apollo tapped the sliding door of Pearl's room and slid it open. Pearl was helping Trucy with her hair. She held a blue hairbrush in her hand, he recognised it as Trucy's, when she needed to brush up before a show.

"Apollo, what are you doing here?" asked Trucy.

"Oh, Maya asked if Pearl could charge up this for me." he held out the red magatama.

"Hey, I seen that before, Daddy has one of those in green. Its called a mega-or maga-something right?'

"Its a magatama, besides, Maya gave it to you right? I'll help you charge it up. Here, stick out your hand." Pearl placed her hand over the magatama. For a moment there, Apollo felt an odd sensation when Pearl charged it. When she removed her hand, the jewel was literally glowing with a mystical light.

"Mystic Maya says that a charged magatama could see the lies in peoples' hearts as locks, the more locks there are, the more secrets."

'Wait, but he already has his bracelet, it helps him look for nervous habits in others, its basically the same."

"But if anyone doesn't have nervous habits, he could use the magatama right?"

"Good point."

"But you need evidence to prove what you said though." Pearl siad.

Apollo remembered, the golden rule in a court of law. Evidence is everything.

"Sorry to break up this little party of yours, but we have some bad news."

Apollo saw Bikini behind him, her expression did not seem pleasant.

"It looks that that blizzard is going to last for a few days or so. Which means you're pretty much stuck here."

"But... I haven't packed extra clothes!" Trucy exclaimed.

"Don't worry, I've helped you pack some."

"Thanks, how about Vera?"

"Yes, I packed some clothes too." Vera appeared behind Bikini.

"Ugh, this is one of the worst blizzards we had. And my back is aching more than usual, here, let me show you to your rooms."

Apollo took a glance at his room. For a temple, it seemed...rather well-furnished. The bed was on the tatami floor near a short table with a lovely flower centerpiece. A television set was also tucked in a corner. The bathroom had hot water running and the bamboo tub was rather spacious. Trucy's room seemed a little bit smaller with her magic props tucked away everywhere and Vera's seemed to be a little more, artistic in a way. The flower centerpiece was more elegant and there were a couple of hanging scrolls and even a painting.

"Iris had prepared your rooms just the way you like it. You should thank her when you have the chance." Bikini chuckled, she did not seem bothered by her back then.

"There's something about Iris that bothers me, maybe the magatama could help me."

Chapter 8:
Daybreak


Dinner was just as ordinary as usual, at least, that was what Apollo would expect. Dinner with the Feys was completely different. Trucy, Pearl and Maya were all jabbering away excitedly about the Steel Samurai and the other usual topics, occasionally spooning some of Iris’ roast chicken into their mouths, their voices choppy from their mouths being stuffed with meat. Bikini and Iris were also chatting, but not as excitedly as the girls did. Vera was sketching yet again. Apollo meanwhile just slowly ingested some of the dinner.

“Man, this is like my mum’s cooking. Oh wait, I don’t have a mum.” Apollo forcefully gulped down some water to choke back a sob.
After dinner, Maya and Pearl helped Iris and Bikini clear the dishes while the enervated Apollo, Trucy and Vera groggily headed back to their rooms.
“Maybe a long, hot soak could relax me.”
Indeed it did. After a hot soak in a bamboo tub, Apollo was fast asleep under the covers. Not even the freezing winds of Eagle Mountain could disturb him now.
*
“Wake up!”
“Ugh…Mr. Wright, that’s the tenth case you laid on me so far…”

“WAKE UP!!!”
Apollo could barely hear a loud voice by his ear and the excited thumping of the ground.
“Don’t make me get out the water!”
“Water...What?”
Barely a second later, Apollo was instantly drenched with freezing cold water. His eyes instantly shot open to see Bikini standing in front of him, holding an empty wooden bucket. The chilling water was like liquid ice, the chill surging through his body.
“Sister Bikini, its six-thirty a.m!” he complained.
“Exactly why you must hurry! Here!” she threw a towel at Apollo. “Dry yourself off and just get dressed, hurry!”
Apollo groggily sauntered into the bathroom and glanced in the mirror.
“Darn, the water just messed up my hair… I have to gel it all over again!” he dried himself off while trying to hastily brush his teeth.
Exiting the door, he spotted an equally groggy Trucy and Vera. Both were in nightgowns and were cloaked in parkas. Pearl, Maya and Iris looked lively and ready though, both fully dressed hair neat and ready to go.

“Maya? Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise...” she said the words with a mysterious tone as they continued down the snowy trail and across Dusky Bridge. Crossing the shaky bridge at this early a time did not do Apollo good.

"Nice hair , by the way." Trucy and Maya both remarked.
"Thanks." he replied sarcastiaclly.

"You should keep it this way." said Maya.

"..."

"Nah." Apollo and Trucy said in unison.

“We’re here.”
The sky was a dark blue as the snowy ground was slightly illuminated.
“Just about time too.” Iris checked her watch.

The sky transformed from a dark blue to a rainbow of colors. The sky was now a gentle pink with streaks of red, purple and orange and the sun peeked from behind the mountaintops. Golden rays of sunlight shot at the snowy ground, illuminating the Inner Temple, the row of statues by the path and Dusky Bridge.

Daybreak.
“Wow, this is magical.” said Trucy.
Apollo was also briefly awed by the scene. He had never saw something like this in the city. Yet in this temple on a lonely mountaintop did he start to see Nature’s magic at work and maybe, start to look at the simple things in life. He felt as if that sunrise had just enlightened him.

“This is… so beautiful.”
However, he wasn’t the only one enlightened, Vera’s eyes were gleaming, as if she was also inspired. Her hand instinctively reached for her sketchpad, like a true artist. The rush of inspiration flooded her body, giving her an ecstatic boost. Her pencil energetically tried to capture the lovely moment. After being stuck in her house for years, she had felt like she was free. She could see the whole world.
The feeling of that happy care freeness was ecstasy. No need to rush for work or school, no need to worry about bills or homework. Nothing to care about. The feeling was pure bliss.

Maya, Pearl and Trucy had decided to play in the snow before returning to the temple for breakfast. Iris had left to prepare while Vera sat on the snow, silently but eagerly sketching while Bikini sat on a nearby rock.

“Iris, why did she come here in the first place?” Apollo asked.
“It’s a long story, but I guess it wouldn’t hurt.”
“Her father was a rich jeweler who had Iris and her twin sister, Dahlia. He only wanted one child to take care of, so he left Iris here.
“What kind of father is he?” he angrily asked.
“The lousy kind that is. I didn’t like the first sight of him, to think he was the father of sweet, little Iris.” Her tone was harsh yet gentle when she mentioned Iris.
“I remember when she came her. It wasn’t pleasant. Poor girl wanted her sister badly.”
~
“Dollie! I want Dollie here!” the girl sobbed loudly. Her black eyes brimming with tears.
“Hush hush, Dollie is probably off, on a trip.” Bikini tried to calm her.
“Dollie…trip? Why didn’t she take me?” Iris questioned. Her eyes full of the innocence of a three-year old. Bikini’s heart ached as she answered.
“It’s very important, but she’ll be back someday.” Bikini forced herself to lie.
“Mr. Hawthorne, how could you do such a thing?!”
“When?”

“Soon my dear, soon.” She comforted her. “ Let me get you some soup.” She gently set the bowl in front of her. She didn’t drink it, even though it was her favorite, mushroom soup.
“You don’t want it?”

“I want it, but Daddy always say he has to start first, or I’ll get punished.” Her head drooping slightly.
“Well, your daddy’s not here, so you can go ahead!”
“Really? Thank you Sister Bikini!” Iris grinned as she happily finished the soup.
The next day…
“Sister Bikini? What’s going on? Why am I waking up so early?”
“I want to show you something dear,” as Bikini carried little Iris across Dusky Bridge.
“Wow! It’s so pretty!” she awed at the view of dawn. “Daddy never showed us this before!” Iris then noticed the red streaks in the sky, those memorable red streaks. They were like her hair when they were flying kites. Dahlia…
“What’s wrong deary?”
“The sky, it’s like Dollie is smiling at me.”

“I’m sure she’ll come back here, and when you see her, I’m sure you’ll both be so happy.”
“Oh yes! We will be so happy!”
“Come, let’s make breakfast. Your favorite, pancakes!”
“Will there be syrup?”
“Yes, of course.”
Iris cheered excitedly, she got to see the magnificent view and have pancakes for breakfast. Again, it wasn’t the same without Dahlia. Like when they laughed and smiled at the table at breakfast while her father read the Wall Street Journal. She wished Dahlia was beside her.
“You stir the mix like this,” Bikini demonstrated as she stirred the pancake mix. “Help me get that plate please.”
Iris tiptoed up to the countertop and extended her short fingers to reach the plate, she almost got it, when it slipped and fell into multiple shards as she recoiled from the shock.

“Iris! Are you ok?”
“I’m sorry Bikini, I didn’t mean to break it…”
“There there, it’s just a plate.” as she swept up the bits. “Are you hurt?”
Iris extended her wounded finger, it was a slight cut on her finger, blood trickling out. Bikini leant forward to kiss the wound and got out long, white bandages from the cupboard. Iris felt the pain go away, as she looked at her bandaged finger, good as new. Her father would have beaten her for breaking a plate, less likely help her with her wounds. It was Dahlia yet again who played doctor for her, she was the patient and Doctor Dahlia would make it all better.

“Come on now Iris, we don’t want to starve.”
“Okay!”
~
“That was amazing.” Apollo remarked.
“Now, Iris is a grown woman, she could take care of herself.”
*
Iris was slowly stirring the pancake mix, she remembered helping in the kitchen years ago and getting herself injured. She couldn’t help but give herself a silly grin when she thought about it. Bikini was the one that gave her the love she needed when she left Dahlia. Things had changed now, ever since Dahlia turned to a life of crime and murder nad got executed for it. Also, she felt happy right here in the temple. She had complete freedom. But yet something still troubled her. She obviously knew what the reason was…
The man she loved…she was so close to seeing his face once again.

Breakfast was yet again lively like dinner last night, only Maya and Vera had left slightly earlier to prepare for training and to get ready the art equipment respectively. Trucy and Pearl had went back to their rooms to do each others’ nails and ogle at pictures of the Gavinners while Apollo needed to fix his hair that Bikini helped to mess up.

“I guess I’ll go take a walk then.” He thought idly. Suddenly he’s starting to miss work. He didn’t have any clients, paperwork, investigation or anything. He was attached to the job. In fact, he hadn’t said or shouted the word ‘Objection’ on the trip to Eagle Mountain at all. He felt like his voice was rusting up.

As he reached Dusky Bridge, he noticed Vera there. This time, she had an easel mounted near the bridge and was painting her completed drawing.

“Hey.”

“Apollo, morning.” She hadn’t turned her head. She was still engrossed with painting. Apollo stepped closer and watched. Her brush was slowly brushing the area of the sky with a brilliant red. It was like a ballerina, slow yet graceful. There was something about her art, something beautiful. Apollo never thought he would be… mesmerized by her art. She made painting seem so simple, yet so complex and elegant at the same time. She was like a goddess, bringing her creation to life with her magic brush…

“Hey, look who we have here!”

Apollo turned his back. It was that same man again. That Larry guy… He still had that pink shirt with him and that beret. Plus that cheeky grin. Even though he was his boss’ friend, there was something appalling about him.

“For some reason, that guy makes me sick, but I can’t put my finger on it…” he thought.

“ Hey there beautiful, your painting is just as beautiful as the artist itself…” Larry grabbed Vera’s hands. She stood, momentarily stunned by that odd man.

Apollo felt his anger surging up. That old guy and Vera? No way. That guy wasn’t a kid anymore. What kind of person is he, doing something like that?

He subconsciously felt his leg kick back. A rather big rock right behind was pushed into the Eagle River below to be swept away by the freezing white water.

“Sorry about that, I didn’t mean to.” He could not believe that. He felt like his leg had a mind of its own. At least he felt himself calming down after that jolt back into reality.

“Well, I better get going. I’m going to go help Iris out! Smell ‘ya later!” he rushed back to the path to the Main Hall.

“That sure was quick.” Apollo thought. At least he wasn’t bothering Vera any longer.

“Lovely painting you got there.” He choked up the words hastily.

“Thanks, Apollo…could you help me get the purple paint?” she asked with a slight hesitation.

“Sure.”
He saw the purple paint among Vera’s multi-colored paints. As he reached for it, Vera’s hand simultaneously reached for yellow while she reached for another brush on her left. Her right hand did not touch the jar of paint. It was something warm. Apollo’s hand. He also felt hers, it was equally warm and gentle. Both of their hands backed away instinctively. Pink tinges appeared on both of their faces, showing slight embarrassment.

“Sorry about that. I guess I’ll go check on Trucy now.” He coughed up the words.
“Okay, bye.”

“Is it me? Or did I just like it just now? Argh! Justice… you have to be thinking of something like that now?” his mind reprimanded himself.

Crash!

Apollo had just bumped into Iris. Both were knocked down by the impact. Iris’ broom had dropped onto the snow, but something else as well. Something like a piece of paper, that just dropped from her pocket. A photo.

It was Mr. Wright, or what looked liked him years ago. He was wearing a ridiculous looking pink sweater with a giant red heart with the letter P on it. Beside him was a girl about the same age. Her light pink dress was the same color as her parasol, giving her an impression of innocence and kindness. But one thing that caught Apollo’s eye was her looks and hair. Her kind expression, with the flowery grin. And her neatly braided hair, only in a bright red. The girl, she looked just like Iris.

“Sorry about that Sister Iris, but I have a question to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“Why do you have a picture of my boss, Mr. Wright, and why is there a girl that looks just like you in there.
She was at a loss for words. Then Apollo saw it coming. The locks and chains. Five red locks. The Magatama in his pocket was glowing furiously. His bracelet also sensed her tension and contracted tightly around his wrist. Now he wanted to find out. The truth about her.
“Sister Iris, there’s something about you that I want to know, something you’re hiding.”

“Er… he’s just a distant relative…and call me Iris please.”

“Ok Iris, you claim he’s a distant relative and you’ve never met him before?”

“Yes…” she felt her face heat up.

“Do you remember the murder case here in this temple 7 years ago?.”
“…”
“You were the accused, and Phoenix Wright helped defend you.”
“So he has.”

The first lock shattered.

“Besides Phoenix Wright being your attorney, do you have any other connections to him?”

“…No…” she felt like she was being interrogated again.

“The answer to that is in this picture.”

“Eh?”

“This girl, she looks exactly like you except for her hair, and she looks like she’s dating Mr. Wright in this picture? It’s Dahlia Hawthorne. Your twin sister if I’m not wrong.”

“You are right, Dahlia is my twin sister.”

The second lock shattered. Three locks remained, holding firm her secrets.

“So what if my sister is dating your boss? There’s nothing wrong with that. Isn’t that?”

“No. But this is completely different.”

“What?”

“Your sister, Dahlia if I’m not wrong?”

“Yes?”

“She tried to frame Mr. Wright for a murder once. If that isn’t abnormal I don’t know what is.

“…”

Iris was at a loss for words. The young attorney had broken through her lies one by one. Now two locks remained. Pretty soon she might have to spill the beans pretty soon.

“Dahlia tried to kill your boss, I know. I pretty much know all about him and that case.”

“Dahlia’s case? How did you know about it?”

“At the Detention Centre of course,”

His bracelet tightened around his wrist. She’s lying.

“Again, I would like to believe you, but I can’t.”

Iris stepped back for a moment. His brown eyes have suddenly turned a deep blood red.

“If you are telling the truth, why are you gripping the photo tightly in your hand?”

“…”

“You know all about the case? How? Did you have something to do with it?”

Iris had started to break out in cold sweat.

“I…helped my sister in a way.”

Apollo saw a lock starting to crack. Iris…helped her sister?

“You…helped your sister?”

“Yes, remember when she poisoned the lawyer in the Courthouse cafeteria?”

“Uh huh.”

“She passed the poison bottle to Phoenix. Then she needed it back. I had to get it for her. I had to be her. But I can never get it back.”

“How come?”

“I…loved him.” Iris held back the urge to sob. “I never felt such kindness from a man like him before.”

“What made you love him?”

“He was kind to me, and his love, was genuine. He was concerned for me, he had faith in me. Why? Do you feel that way towards someone?”

“W-What? No!”

“Sounds like you’re getting nervous yourself too.”

“Guess so.”

Her locks both broke, the chains sliding out of view.