008 [video/private texts]

[miniworth]

[The feed turns on at past one o'clock in the morning, a deliberate post from our ever-insomniac future-prosecutor as he and his Pokémon wander aimlessly down Route 31 on the night of the attempt on Phoenix's life. At first, Edgeworth doesn't do much other than hold his Gear, the camera focused instead on Pess's concerned face as her trainer stood there, silently, before her.

After a while, Pess whines softly, jolting him out of his thoughts, and the boy finally speaks, turning the camera towards himself and -- huh, what is with that depressed-looking face?]

.....This is a message for everyone who saw Phoenix Wright's video earlier today:

He'll be all right, now. Help came early, and he was able to be properly treated. He won't be at his best, but at the very least, he should be able to move around a little by this weekend, although I don't think having him travel would be a good idea. If only Pess could evolve without a Fire Stone; those stones are so expensive..

In any case, his life won't be in immediate danger anymore...

[It is here that he pauses, seeming to hesitate. And a flash of guilt flits across his face right before that forced calm of his crumbled. Whatever it is that's on his mind, it's clearly a big deal to him, and his frown deepens, eyebrows knitting together. His eyes almost look like their watering.. After almost a whole minute, Edgeworth pulls a Pokéball out of his pocket.]

I caught an Spinarak here, earlier.. I've been here all night searching for Pokémon, since I don't want something like this to happen again. I have to be stronger, so that I don't cause everyone trouble... Besides, what happened today was--

[And his voice breaks off as he averts his eyes. He raises his hand to his mouth and struggles with the words, managing to choke out: ]

.....What happened today was all my fault. I could have stopped it.

[And then there's a strange sound, like someone starting to cry out loud, as Edgeworth abruptly ends the feed. At least he was able to send out the message about Phoenix. He himself had a couple of messages to send, but because he was crying now, he resorts to sending texts:]



I'm sorry I did not reply to your message immediately, Merlin. I saw Wright's video myself as well, but thank you for trying to inform me.

Mr. Gumshoe, where are you right now? I'll be heading to the next town as soon as Wright heals, and I will probably go to Goldenrod before turning back. I'd like to meet up with you.

Comments

[voice]

[shellderkillder.livejournal.com]

You are young. I don't think it is very fair for you to blame yourself.

[voice]

[miniworth]

Age has nothing to do with this, sir.

[Audio]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[.... Heather is turning the orangish stone she picked up months ago and hasn't had the nerve to use over and over in her hands. She's not sure she wants to give it up, but... well, she's gotta be honest with herself-- when's she ever gonna use it? She might have gotten over her mild fear, but she's been too much of a wuss to want to think about owning a fire-breathing dog that's even BIGGER than Cujo...]

[But jesus, maybe little Edgeworth could use it better than she could.]</sub>

... It wasn't your fault, kid.

So... is he really going to be all right?

[Audio]

[miniworth]

He'll probably be feverish and sick and unsteady on his feet, but I'm sure he will recover, since he was given an antidote quickly. He'll probably still want to leave Violet once he's awake, but I'm not sure if he should make that walk to Azalea.

[voice]

[useddestinybond.livejournal.com]

It is a good thing to become stronger. To do that however you can't dwell in the past or on the problem. You have to move past it and vow that you will never let it happen again.

[There's a pause as he tries to switch gears. Miles needs more than a lecture here.]

I am glad to hear that Mr. Wright is going to be fine. Any leads to where the woman from the video is?

[voice]

[miniworth]

I won't fall into that hole of self-pity anymore, Ciel. Not this time.

But before I can move past it, there are... there are people I must apologize to, for not being able to keep my promise. After that, I'll make sure Wright will be safe.


....Miss Hawthorne left down Route 32. She wouldn't head to Cherrygrove, since that would be a dead end.

[video]

[overthedratini.livejournal.com]

Hey... Hey, it's not your fault - not at all. You can't think like that, even for a second.

What matters is he's going to be okay, right?

[video]

[miniworth]

....He will be. He's probably resting at the Pokémon Center right now.. I'm not sure if he's awake, though. Route all day, traini

[voice]

[usedsubstitute.livejournal.com]

Miles it's alright. What happened wasn't your fault so please don't blame yourself. This is my sister's doing not yours.

Thank goodness Feenie is alright. _{[She seems relieved, but her determination to reach Violet doesn't seem to have ceased as the sound of running can be heard faintly in the background.]}

[voice]

[miniworth]

I could still have prevented it.

I could have told Wright what you told me, that the Dahlia Hawthorne he knew was you - then he wouldn't have tried to figure it out on his own, he wouldn't have asked her that, alone, and he wouldn't have.. he wouldn't have--

[This was just like that day in December. If only he'd told his father that the pet store didn't close until late. If only he'd said that, Gregory wouldn't have rushed onto that elevator and he wouldn't have been shot. If only he'd told Gregory the truth, if only he'd told Phoenix the truth.]


....I'm sorry. Miss Iris, I'm sorry -- I promised. I promised I'd protect him and I still...

[video]

[totesaladder.livejournal.com]

... Miles?

[video]

[miniworth]

....Miss Fey.

...I'm sorry.

[audio]

[bottletothehead.livejournal.com]

I hope you didn't leave any suspicious notes before leaving for your little adventure. [ You know, something like "Elementary school student Miles Edgeworth chooses death". ]

In any case you aren't the one at fault. Thinking like that others could have stopped the unfortunate event as well, but didn't do that for one reason or another. [ Kristoph himself was hoping that maybe Dahlia would be smarter and would perhaps even manage to finish Wright off for good. But you can't always get what you wish for. ]

[audio]

[miniworth]

A suspicious note...?

I'm afraid I didn't leave anything, actually. I left to train on the Route as soon as I heard that Wright would be all right.

[video]

[darkenedgales]

That was Phoe-- [uh. he didn't know that.]

... Hey, kid? It's not your fault. So stop blaming yourself, okay?

[video]

[miniworth]

..I still could have done something to prevent this. There was something I should have done to stop this. But I didn't.


Just like back then. I don't want to repeat the same thing ever again.

[video]

[itsthebutz.livejournal.com]

At least he's alive... I think I can finally rest a little easier now.

... Hey, don't blame yourself, Edgey. A lot of us knew about it and could have done something. Especially me.

[video]

[miniworth]

I could have told Wright the truth about Miss Iris and Miss Hawthorne. I'd known for a long time. If I'd told him, something might have been different.

It was the same, that time too. In December..

[video]

[alpha_stigma.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear he'll be okay.

[He's still a bit upset with his own inability to do anything to help - alas, the perils of long-distance communication and the lack of magic. But as long as he'll be okay, then that's what matters, right?]

[video]

[miniworth]

[Arriving a few hours later, Edgeworth's response is a murmur of agreement. He'd been training on the Route all day with his Pokémon today, and he's exhausted, so his sentences are short, often incomplete.]

[action]

[justicepuns.livejournal.com]

[Things have finally calmed down as much as they could. Apollo noticed that Miles had left and, being really on-edge, hurried out to find him. Nobody should be on their own right now. He shows up shortly after the end of the transmission.

Oh, Miles. Apollo walks up and places a hand on his shoulder lightly.]

[action] 1/3

[miniworth]

[HAND SUDDENLY ON HIS SHOULDER FDSAHKFDJH

Is it Dahlia? Kristoph? Manfred von Karma

Edgeworth enters a near-panic state as he immediately stops crying and instinctively pulls away from Apollo, turning in alarm.]

Who are--

[action] 2/3

[miniworth]

[Suddenly he sees the bright red vest and the golden band on Apollo's wrist, glinting in the moonlight.]

Ah-- Mr. Apollo...!

[video]

[puzzling]

It's not your fault, my boy. No matter what you may think that you may have prevented it, you mustn't blame yourself, but rather focus on helping Mr. Wright on a full recovery. I am sure that is what he would want.

[video]

[miniworth]

[The reply comes more than half a day after that, near the evening, from a rather exhausted, raggedy looking Edgeworth. He'd been training on the Route with his three Pokémon all day without returning to Violet, so it's safe to say that he looks a mess, covered in dust and a few small scratches here and there, as training without a trainer to fight against meant deliberately walking into wild-Pokémon-infested bushes.

He looks better than he had last night, emotionally at least, but he shakes his head at the professor's words solemnly.]

I understand that, Professor, but I can't forgive myself. If this isn't the first time Miss Hawthorne's tried to hurt Wright, this isn't the first time that I could have, yet didn't do something that could have saved another person, either.

[Text] Oh jeeze I'm so far away from everything... :C

[guyyoucantrust.livejournal.com]

[Gumshoe had just finished paying at the counter at the shop in Mahogany Town when he saw Edgeworth's video. Seeing him like this is startling, and Gumshoe can feel the anger rise up in him again. That horrible woman! Oh, if he ever finds her....

[He's not sure how to respond to Edgeworth at first: as an adult he was very introverted and most attempts at comfort were either brushed off or scolded away. On the other hand, this is a ten year old kid who watched his best friend almost die.

[Gumshoe settles for a pair of text messages for now; if Edgeworth doesn't have to show his face he might be more willing to talk.]

I'm still in Mahogany Town, but I'm leaving towards Route 44 in a couple of hours. I'd be happy to meet up with you, but I don't know how long it'll take me to get to Goldenrod.

Sir, it wasn't your fault. Even if you knew what she was up to, I don't think you could have stopped her. And she didn't really succeed, right? Mr. Wright's still alive.

[He wants to add "Please don't do anything stupid like chase after the mass murderer," but he's afraid that might be overstepping his boundaries. Besides, Edgeworth's a smart kid. He knows better... he hopes.]

[OOC: I have to take Route 44 because I don't think I have the moves/pokémon to get me through Route 42 right now; unfortunately that means I'm still about 3 weeks away from Route 29, let alone anything past that. D: I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the next plot will have another "speedy travel" aspect to it. :P]

[Text] Gumshooooooeeeee. I pine for thee. <3

[miniworth]

[By the time Edgeworth replies, it's past sunset. He'd been on the Route all day, training with his Pokémon, and they were heading back now. He was checking his Gear as they trudged back, exhausted.]

I'll make my way back to Violet as soon as Wright is safe in Goldenrod, Mr. Gumshoe... It might be about a month until you get there.

[And it's almost as if the child read Gumshoe's mind as he sends another message shortly after.]

I won't do anything yet. I'm still too weak to do anything, so I want to train. But Dahlia Hawthorne will not be allowed to impunity, Detective. I'll make sure of it

[[ooc; Awww Gummy why you so far awayyyyy. I hope the next one has some sot of speedy travel, too, yeah! Edgeworth will stay with Phoenix's group until the guy safely reaches Goldenrod, and he'll either already have or will evolve Pess into an Arcanine and make his way back to Violet, so that even without the speed-traveling, he and Gumshoe will probably arrive in the area around the same time! :3 ]