Chapter 30:

Forever

Phoenix kept his eyes tight shut, blocking out the nightmare visage of Morgan Fay. She howled and shouted and heat radiated from her, burning his hands and his face. But he held on to her.

"Maya, don't let her..."

"Nick..."

"Clear the area!"

Edgeworth was shouting and pointing, "Pearl! Do it now!"

Pearl ran out onto the open floor and set the haniwa on the ground. Then she stood over it and stared at the raging spirit.

"Wright! Bring her toward the statue!"

Phoenix startled for a moment at the order and almost lost his tenuous grip on Maya.

"Stay with me, Maya," He said.

Standing on stone

Phoenix didn't see what they were doing. All he could focus on was holding on to her.

The heat intensified. The howling of the spirit grew louder, until all he could hear was that piercing wail and the sound trilled through his body. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been so frightened. His life flashed in fleeting pictures behind his closed eyes.

Trucy would be so upset if he didn't come back. She didn't even really know what he was up to.

Apollo would come back to find the firm deserted. Pearl would lose the last remaining shred of her family.

"Maya..."

"Nick..."

You stand beside me

Just as suddenly as it began the storm was quiet. The silence fell around them like a warm blanket.

"Open your eyes, Nick."

He hesitated and then complied and looked up into her beautiful eyes. She was on top of him on the woven mat flooring of the Master's house. The channeling chamber was wide open before them. Empty and cold as if nothing had happened.

Maya was smiling down at him from where he was still holding her.

(This feels...)

"You did it, Nick," she said wearily.

(..so right...)

"What did I do?"

"You saved me... again..."

(oh... yeah... I guess...)

"Maya," he said and she put a finger to his lips.

(Don't ever leave me again...)

He released her then and brought his hands up to her face. Cradling that beautiful visage he pulled her closer and kissed her.

And honor the plans that were made

Pearl gasped and then put her hands over her cheeks, smiling happily.

Edgeworth made a noise and stepped over some debris to examine the haniwa standing on the floor beside the happy couple.

"Get a room," he said. But Phoenix could hear the mirth in his voice.

A/N: THE END!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for making this my most widely read story. Each and every reader is special. Special thanks too for the folks who made time to review! You complete me!

One last note on this story:

Someone pointed out that this story was kind of a teaser. I guess you could say it's almost like watching a movie preview. But then, that's how it played out in my head. A few weeks ago, shortly after my return from hiatus, I sat down with the first several chapters and tried to expand on them. But I found that I couldn't. Because that wasn't what I had set out to write.

That being said, I am aware of the loose ends and plot holes in the story. I know that there are so many other details that can be filled to remake this work as a longer story. But I simply have no interest in expanding this. I am open to anyone who wants to take this and do a proper narrative treatment of it. I don't own the characters, or the song that inspired this, just the scraps of plot that put it together. And it's FAN FICTION. Someone else is bound to have a better take on this than me.

So, yes, if you want to take this idea and flesh it out, go for it! Please just let me see what you've done!

Thanks for Reading! Until next time!

~Sally