#i am like a phoenix rising from the ashes of my burn-out

[sugarsnappeases]

guys!!!! i am reading!!!! and i am writing!!!!! and i am having visions about this cool art thing i wanna do when i get home!!!!! my zest for life is sooooo back baby oh my god

[azrielslightintheshadows]

Princess

Azriel x f!Reader.

One of the series I’m currently working on. Enjoy!

Summary; Reader is Mor’s new friend that she found in the winter court while she was away for business. Y/n has been raised as a princess since her parents wanted to wed her to a noble fae in order to climb the social ranks. When her parents are brutally murdered y/n is left alone without a clue about the harsh reality or the brutality of the world. Mor finds her and takes her back to Velaris afraid of what might happen to her if she was left to live on her own. Will y/n survive the hate she will receive from certain members of the inner circle -including her mate- regarding the way she grew up?

Warnings; angst, mentions of abuse, trauma and death, swearing

Masterlist.

Princess Masterlist.

Chapter 8

How did she know? Does everyone know about the bond? Am I trapped here?

Some people say that the best kind of love is the one that awakens the soul, that makes us reach for more, that plants the fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. They are right, that’s the reason why you and Azriel would never work, you didn’t want to reach for more, he planted a fire in your heart, but it wasn’t one that kept you warm, no… it burned your heart to ashes and like a phoenix it rises from them to give him the pleasure of burning it again and again. And peace to your mind? That’s a nice joke.

You kept crying until your body collapsed, pulling you harder against the floor, and your lungs clenched choking you with all your sorrows.

“This monster will always have a claim on you.”

Your blood boiled at the thought, and your body twitched with the need to get as far away as possible, to never look back and if necessary… to end your life so he will never be able to touch you.

You felt soft hands wrapping around you in a warm embrace.

“My sweet girl what did I do to you by bringing you here?” Mor spoke and her eyes watered.

“Its okay” you croaked. “You didn’t know that this would happen.” “Such a kind soul” she whispered and caressed your hair.

“Mor… please help me get out of here… please”.

“Where do you want to go?” she asked.

“Rita’s”

She nodded and got up. You grabbed a bag and filled it with a few clothes making her furrow her eyebrows.

“I’m not leaving Velaris, I will stay with a friend for a while.” You reassured her and she nodded.

You both tiptoed out of the house, and she winnowed you to Rita’s. “Do you want me to come with you?” she asked, and you shook your head.

“I’m fine, thank you for your help. I would really appreciate if you kept this a secret for now.”

“Okay but you will meet me here in three days. I want to make sure that you’re okay.” She spoke.

Make sure that I’m okay or that I didn’t leave? Am I your prisoner? You wanted to scream but the fear of returning to the house of wind choked you and the unspoken words pierced your mind like thousand blades making you flinch.

With a nod you entered the club and almost crawled to the bar, staring at Aeden’s eyes desperately. Your friend immediately read you and jumped over the counter, hugging you tightly and kissing your temple.

“What happened dollface?” he asked.

“I…he..all of them…” you sobbed each word and he shushed you.

“It’s okay… I’ve got you. You’re safe.”

Clover glanced at you worriedly and cocked his head in question making Aeden shake his head. They had a conversation with their eyes and after a nod from Clover your friend grabbed your bags.

“Let’s get you out of here.” He said softly and guided you outside.

You walked down the road and turned right.

“Here” he said and climbed a few steps. The building looked warm and welcoming, just like Aeden and you couldn’t help but smile.

You entered his apartment, and it was just like how you imagined it, cozy and warm, a proof of his friendly character. He immediately placed your bags in a small closet and hurried to the room to change the sheets.

“I don’t want to be a burden…I can go if you want it’s okay” you sniffled.

“Nonsense, you’ll stay here for as long as you need, heck even forever.” He chuckled “But if you decide to stay forever you will pay half the rent.” A breathy laugh left your lips.  “Thank you.”

“Well it’s been a while since I had a beautiful female in here so thank you for making me look cool to my neighbors” he winked and finished making the bed.

“I will make something to eat” he stated and walked back into the small kitchen.

You followed him and grabbed his hand “Let me…as a thank you”.

He smiled kindly and nodded, taking a few steps back and sitting on the kitchen table.

“You know we’re going to eat on the same surface that your butt is currently touching” you wrinkled your nose.

“Thank the Mother I washed it today” he feigned a relieved expression and you giggled.

“You’re disgusting”

“I’m letting you stay here, and you treat me like that?” he gasped “You’re such an ungrateful little lady”.

You shook your head with a smile and started exploring the kitchen gathering everything you needed.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

Mor returned to the house of wind and rolled her eyes when she noticed everyone there sitting around the dinner table. She took a seat next to the warlord making Azriel quirk a brow.

“You usually sit here” the shadowsinger spoke.

“And today I’m sitting here.” She scoffed.

“We should wait for y/n before we start eating” Feyre said, and everyone hummed.

Mor lowered her gaze at her plate not wanting them to suspect something.

“I’ll go get her” Rhys said and walked to the hall.

“I don’t think she wants to sit with us.” Cassian spoke.

Rhys froze beneath the arch of the hall. “Why?”

Elain lowered her gaze and Cassian stared at the shadowsinger.

“Az?” Rhys questioned.

“We had a fight, I said some horrible things.” Azriel said with a cold expression.

Nesta scoffed making everyone turn to her. “Oh your quiet and kind spymaster has fucked up everything”

“What do you mean?” Rhys pushed, glaring at his brother.

“He has been spending his nights in Gwyn’s bedroom, lying in bed with her and reading books, my poor friend is completely in love with him, and he is taking advantage of that to feel less lonely. He didn’t even tell her that he has a mate, Emerie told us today. Do you know how bad I feel for them? I told poor y/n the other day that I could see something between the two of them and that he spends his nights with Gwyn as a heads up. I feel so stupid for telling a female something like that about her mate.” Nesta was glaring at Azriel.

“She wants to break the bond” Elain joined the conversation. “And I told Azriel because of a vision I had.” She glanced at Cassian for help.

“He burst into her room…” Cassian’s face flushed with embarrassment for their actions. “Many words were said. He told her that the monster -he will always have a claim on her.”

Azriel stared at the wall across him with a cold expression.

“Are you kidding me?” Rhysand was seething, his night-kissed power trembled the house. “We brought a scared and lost female here to help her find herself and you all treated her like shit?”

Feyre gaped at them, and disappointment flashed in her eyes. “She is such a kind soul…”

“I knew you two had problems, but I never expected this from you.” Rhysand told Azriel.

“She annoys me Rhys. I couldn’t believe that I have such a weak mate. You know how many enemies I have…. If I pursued her, I would put her in danger. Everyone who wants to get to me will target her. So, I decided to let her go but I can’t reject her… you know how faes have gone mad after rejecting the bond.”

“She wants to break it, if she can do that there won’t be any remains to make you go mad” Mor finally spoke.

Azriel shook his head and glanced at Elain “She will die”.

Everyone frowned.

“I saw her dying while breaking the bond… Azriel is strong enough to survive but she isn’t.” Elain informed them “That’s why I told him. I didn’t want to tell her because I’m afraid I will destroy her future, I don’t know how my powers work yet and I’m not willing to test them on her life.”

The High Lord took a deep breath. “Okay we won’t tell her but you will leave her alone. You will either become her friends or just leave her alone. If you can’t do that, me and Feyre will take her to the River House.”

“She enjoys training, I think its best if she stays here. Emerie and Gwyn want to be her friends and I think I want that too.” Nesta shrugged.

“There won’t be a problem with Gwyn?” Feyre quirked a brow.

Nesta snorted “It’s Azriel’s fault, and Gwyn knows it. She actually feels bad for Y/n and herself”.

Azriel nodded “I won’t bother them again”.

“Good I’m going to fetch her and all of you will apologize” Rhysand used his High Lord voice, and everyone nodded.

They remained silent and all snapped their heads to Rhysand when he came back, his face pale.

“What?” Azriel asked and raised from his seat.

“She’s gone” the High Lord mumbled.

“What do you mean gone?” the shadowsinger asked again and sprinted off. He entered your room, his shadows darting away covering every corner of the house.

She’s gone. Some of her clothes are missing too. His shadows whispered and then he felt them piercing his mind.

Idiot. We’re losing her.

Azriel walked into the dining room again, his whole body shaking.

“I’m going to find her” and with that he walked out and jumped from the balcony, his wings stretching wide and his shadows scattering around the city, making it look darker like it was mourning. Mourning a love that never happened.

If I forgot to tag someone please let me know. What do you think?

@glitterypirateduck, @zara-aliza08, @mika-no-sekai-blog , @purpleshoelaces , @act1839 , @fasoaurore , @pinksmellslikelove, @bunnyredgirl, @lectoracronica , @tuggboatfishin, @sunnysideup000 , @blessthepizzaman, @universevsd, @raisinggray, @ssmay123 , @kalulakunundrum, @justasillylittlegoofyguy , @tsunami-of-tears, @just-a-social-casualty-1, @thelov3lybookworm , @saltedcoffeescotch, @justdreamstars , @strangersunghoon , @sosuitcandy , @cat-or-kitten

[the-nation-of-today]

Actually no I AM gonna go on a rant about Vale because it kills me and the way it's treated compared to the other albums KILLS ME.

I get why they don't like to acknowledge it I really do. It was not a great era for the band overall and Vale is sort of the representation of that. I've seen the videos of them performing Vale (This Is Where It Ends) with tears in their eyes. But that's ALSO WHY it's so heartbreaking that it's barely acknowledged. Not only is it musically a good album, conceptually it is the crystalized form of all of bvb's struggles and hardships. It is the most desperate sounding album, it's a cry for help. But here's the thing, to acknowledge that cry for help is IMPORTANT. Vale is the final chapter of the wild ones yes but that veneer is SO thin like it doesn't take much critical thinking to understand that Vale is at its core about the band itself. To acknowledge that your band was at the brink of destruction, that this thing you nurtured since you were 16 years old was dying, it's as important as saying that you're here. Because you're ACKNOWLEDGING that you survived. Here's all of the hardships and struggles and look at us we made it out alive. You cannot have a phoenix rising from the ashes without it first burning alive.

And on that note yes they play Wake Up it's a setlist staple BUT reducing Vale to just Wake Up doesn't do the album justice at all, in fact I think it does it a disservice and that's coming from THEEE Wake Up girlie. Wake Up is, arguably, the most and one of the only triumphant songs on the album, maybe only My Vow could be considered triumphant as well. Wake Up is the classic bvb battle cry, the rally to say that we will be here even when they're all gone. In its own context, that's all it is. But what about all of the other songs? Most every other song in some way has that tone of desperation or dread or anxiety. I swear this time is gonna be the last one, I'm gonna get out if it's the last thing that I do, I'm not the hope, I could keep going and naming lyrics but the fact of the matter is that this album is not appreciated the way it damn well should be.

And maybe in the future they'll come back around to it. Maybe in the future we'll get an acknowledgement on the album's anniversary and they'll play more songs from it. Maybe in the future it'll have a resurgence and be as respected as the rest of bvb's discography. But until then, I'm gonna scream it from the fucking rooftops even if I'm the only voice that does. Vale is a good album. It is part of your history. It is a battle scar, and one that should be worn proudly.

[alexiafeyblogpost]

RISE FROM THE ASHES 7/? (Alexia AU)

(Sorry, there won't be any drawing in this one)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

February 22, 09h34 – District Court, Defendants' lobby No. 2

Lana stands in the center of the lobby when Alexia and Ema arrived. Her face is expectant.

"How was the investigation yesterday, Ms. Fey?" Lana asks.

The young girl shakes her head slowly. "Frankly, there are still many... gray areas.

"Or rather, this is all a big gray area..." Ema snaps.

The Chief Prosecutor shrugs, not the slightest trace of concern on her face. "Don't worry about me, no matter the outcome. I am ready to accept my fate."

"I believe in you, sister!" Ema says, determined.

"Let me offer you some advice, Ms. Fey." Lana says crossing her arms. "A defense attorney should never ‘believe’ his client.”

Ema recoils as if she had been burned.

"The defendant is called to trial because they are suspected of having committed a crime! Never forget that." Lana says serious.

Alexia stares at her, unfazed by the prosecutor's words. "Miss Skye, you... you remind me a lot of Mia. But there is a decisive difference between you and her."

"Which is?" Lana asks intrigued.

"You're not a defense attorney." Alexia says hardening her gaze. "So, I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t underestimate Mia's vision without ever having been in her shoes. And especially if you're the one saying it..."

Lana looks away, with an expression on her face that Alexia couldn't place. "I think it's almost time for trial. Good luck, Ms. Fey."

With that said, she enters the courtroom to go to the defendant's place.

"(My first trial as head of the defense... without Lady Maya helping me with Lady Mia, and without Phoenix to take the lead when I get knocked down... No one is going to rescue me this time... I'll be alone there... So, I have to find out the truth on my own!)" Alexia thinks with some nerves.

"Let's do this, Miss Fey! I'll be with you all the way!" Ema says excitedly.

Alexia looks at her out of the corner of her eye and shows her a half-smile. "Thank you, Kitten. Since it is very likely that he needs a lot of moral support..."

Ema looks at her with curiosity and confusion.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

February 23, 10:00 a.m. – District Court, Courtroom No. 2

They are all in the courtroom. Ema is next to Alexia on the defense side. The audience that will watch the trial is in the gallery. Lana is seated primly in the defendant's chair, almost statuesque. In front of the two girls, Miles is crossed with his arms crossed, tapping his finger on his arm. The judge sits high above all of them and hits his gravel.

"The court is now in session for the trial of Ms. Lana Skye." The Judge announces.

Alexia nods her head. "The defense is ready, your honor."

Edgeworth looks up. "The prosecution has been ready for a while, your honor."

"(Miles Edgeworth... It's been two months, but I haven't been in a courtroom since his trial...)” Alexia thinks nervously.

Edgeworth turns to look at her. "I hope personal feelings are not part of today's process, Ms. Fey."

"What do you mean by that?" Alexia asks, with a snort.

In response, he taps the side of his head with his finger. "I will choose the path that I believe is right, regardless of what those around me say. The judgment to be taken here is in our hands, not anyone else's."

Alexia sighs, to calm down. "Yes, I hope it is like that too..."

"Very good, if both parties are ready. Mr. Edgeworth, your opening argument, please." Says the Judge.

Edgeworth stares at Lana. "Chief prosecutor Lana Skye has committed an unforgivable crime. Not only this, but she was reckless enough to commit it in the parking lot of the Prosecutor's Office!"

Ema adjusts her coat. "Wow... It's much more forceful in person. I suddenly feel like confessing everything!"

Alexia rolls her eyes at that.

"However." Everyone is looking at Edgeworth. "Now she will pay with his life for her recklessness. There was a witness to her crime... A "professional" witness!"

The Judge applauds. "Well then, call your first witness, Mr. Edgeworth!"

"The prosecution calls its first witness, Ms. Angel Starr, to the stand." Edgeworth reports.

"The Deep Throat Queen..." Alexia mutters to herself. Ema looks at her confused, so the lawyer only makes a gesture to ignore her comment.

Moments later, on the witness stand, Angel appears as alert as ever, leaning over her lunch bag.

The Judge raises an eyebrow at her. "Hmm? Haven't I seen you somewhere...?"

Angel brings out a lunch. "You ordered the Caviar Lunch, right?"

"Ho ho!" He practically jumped when she handed it to him. "Caviar! I've never eaten caviar before!"

Alexia only limits herself to looking at the one who is supposed to be the moderator of that trial. "(The judge is really devouring it...)"

Then Angel turns to the defense. "Oh, and for you... I have a Fiesta Bowl."

"Eh... Thank you, I guess..." Alexia says, while the witness left the bento on her table. Actually, it doesn’t look bad. And yesterday's lunches weren’t bad at all. "Do you want some too, Kitten?"

"Oh, okay." Ema says smiling.

Edgeworth now decides to speak. "Will the witness give her name and profession?"

Alexia is absolutely sure that she heard him, but instead she continues with her lunchbox act. "Ah, and you sir... Did you ask for the ‘Fingerprint” lunch box?"

"Woah! ' ow di' she arang' de content of de bosh li'e dat?!" Ema asks, still with her mouth full.

"Kitten, don't talk with your mouth full." Alexia scolds.

Of course, a certain prosecutor was not impressed. And we are not talking about Lana, who has rolled her eyes at least twice during this event.

"It's too early for lunch." Edgeworth says impatiently. "Your name and profession, please."

Once again, Angel ignores him. Instead, she addresses the judge. "Well, your honor, what does it taste like?"

"That's why everyone praises caviar! It's so tasty it hurts! I always thought caviar would taste like pickled tapioca." The Judge responds.

Angel laughs. "I think it's safe to say you’re enjoying it."

"(How disgusting!! What the hell does pickled tapioca taste like!?)” Alexia thought horrified.

A bang echoed through the room. The eyes pointed to where it came. Edgeworth's eyes were narrowed. Between his teeth, he says: "Name. Profession. Now!"

Angel blinks innocently. "Me? My name is Angel Starr. Don't forget. I'm currently running Lunchland." She grabs her lunch bag. "Is it... Is that what you wanted me to say, Mr. Edgeworth?

The prosecutor rolls his eyes before continuing. "Very well, witness. Please describe the incident to us.”

"The prosecution will wait!" The Judge exclaims, redirecting attention to him. "I haven't finished eating..."

"(Hurry up! Even we didn't finish my lunch, which was much bigger than his.)" Alexia thinks desperately.

"Mmmm..." The judge buzzes, wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his robe.

"Kitten, write down; "Note to self: To become an authority of the law, table manners are not an obligation to have"." Alexia murmurs. Ema, obediently, writes in her notebook.

"Very well, Mr. Edgeworth. As you know, we usually call the police to provide a description of the crime..." The Judge says intrigued. "What is the reason for this change?"

"Your Honor, may I?" Angel tilts her head toward Miles. "As Mr. Edgeworth has said in court ... I'm a... "professional"."

"Eh... Huh? What does that mean exactly?" the judge asks, curious.

"It means that until two years ago, Ms. Angel Starr was a special investigator for the police," Edgeworth explains. "She was a top-notch homicide detective."

"W-whaaaaaat!? Ms. Starr was a detective!?" Ema says surprised.

Alexia nods, unsure. "That seems to be."

"Aaaaah! That's why I recognized you!!" The Judge is shouting a lot today "Cough-up...!?"

Angel smiles. "Cough-up Queen Angel Starr, your honor. Long time no see."

"V-v-very good! You can continue with the description, Miss Starr!" Says the Judge.

"Who is this woman?" Alexia murmurs angrily.

Angel snaps his fingers to get attention. "If you’ll allow me to bring the court's attention over here... The parking lot of the Prosecutor's Office is divided into two blocks. Block A is for the staff of the Prosecutor's Office. Block B is for visitors and clients... A barbed wire wall separates the two blocks.

She pulls out some blueprints of the lot for all to see.

The Judge reflects on this. "I guess that's to prevent visitors from occupying the prosecutors' spaces."

"The crime was committed near a car in the back of Block A, in the trunk of the car." Angel points to the only car in the plans that is defined. "The murderer stabbed the victim with a knife and went to remove the body. Unfortunately for her, there was a witness and an arrest occurred on the spot."

"And who was this brave 'witness'...?" The Judge asks.

"Well, it was me, Your Honor." Angel replies proudly.

Parking floor plans added to the Court Record.

"Witness, did you see the very moment of the crime?" The Judge asks.

"Of course, your honor," Angel replies as he walks back to the podium. "Immediately afterwards I arrested the chief prosecutor."

"Hmm..." The Judge buzzes as he glances sideways at the girls. "Sounds like a pretty simple case, doesn't it? Well, Ms. Fey."

Alexia shakes her head. "I cannot agree on principle, your honor."

Angel snorts. "It seems that some poor souls are unwilling to accept the truth, your honor. Should I proceed to crush what few hopes they have left?"

The Judge slams his fist against his open hand. "If you can, then give them your worst, Miss Starr!"

"Tsk, what a way to be impartial, your honor." Alexia growls, annoyed.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Beginning of Witness testimony – Angel Starr's Statement, Witness's Account

"I always knew that this moment would come. I was on my way to deliver lunch to my boyfriend... When I felt something... Perhaps it was my fine police instinct, which got to work. Then, through the fence, I saw the chief prosecutor next to a very garish car. The chief prosecutor had a knife in her right hand... Then she stick the sharp point of the knife into Detective Goodman's chest!"

End of Witness testimony – Angel Starr's Statement, Witness's Account

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Hmm... Bring your boyfriend a lunchbox? How touching!" The judge is almost enthusiastic.

Alexia is so eager to slam her palm against her forehead right now.

Miles, as always, is unfazed. "As you can see, there is no room for doubt."

Angel smiles at the defense now. "So... how does it feel to be so completely crushed?"

“… I reserve my comments..." Alexia murmurs frowning.

"It's just a fresh wound, Miss Fey!" says Ema.

"I know that. Anything else?" Alexia murmurs volleying her to see.

"Well, scientifically speaking... Ms. Starr's testimony..." Ema says thoughtfully before sighing depressively. “… it's perfect."

"Well, that's great to hear..." Alexia growls angrily.

"W-what do we do!? Is this all? Is my sister guilty!?" Ema says desperately.

"Let's keep a cool head and put some pressure on the witness, shall we?" Alexia says, with seriousness in her voice. "(For some reason, having her panicking next to me puts me at ease a bit...)"

"D-don't smile like that!" Ema says blushing.

"All right, you can cross-examine the witness, Ms. Fey," the judge says.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Beginning of Cross-Examination – Angel Starr's Statement, Witness's Account

"How were you so sure that a day like this would come?" Alexia asks.

Angel snorts. "I respect prosecutors' basic abhorrence of crime. However, their methods are ugly and twisted. Twisted methods will always lead to tragedy."

Miles rolls his eyes and crosses his arms. "The uninformed opinion of the lunch lady is noted."

She looks at him. "Since they're used to erasing inconvenient evidence at will, killing a detective who knew too much is simply an extension of that."

This time, Edgeworth says nothing. So, Ema is the one who speaks.

"Miss Starr... do you have anything personal against the prosecutors?" She asks.

"Ah, I think I already answered that for you, did I? No matter, I can answer again." Angel says as she fiddles with the strap of her purse, her hair on the other side of her head. "I felt like I had found my dream job when I became a detective. And if those prosecutors over there hadn't fired me, I would still be."

"So, it's true. She was fired. But why?" Alexia mutters to herself.

"To me, prosecutors are nothing more than worms." Angel shrugs. "That said, I'm a professional, as you know. My testimony is unbiased... and impeccable."

Alexia clicks her tongue. "(Impartial? Definitely not. Impeccable? We'll see.)" she leans against the table. "Which boyfriend was he? The detective?"

"Ms. Fey!" Ema says scandalized.

"What? A person who has multiple partners does not deserve to have their privacy respected." Alexia murmurs with a frown. "What's more, write down what I said in your notebook."

Angel seems unperturbed by this. "It wasn’t that boyfriend. It was the security guard."

"Do you have more than one?" The judge, on the other hand, is surprised.

"Yes." She taps her fingers. "'This' boyfriend, 'that' boyfriend and 'the other' boyfriend. Want to join? The position of 'another' boyfriend is still open for applicants."

It takes him a little while to say something. "I'll keep lunch, thank you."

"Note to self: The judge thought about it before answering," says Ema, as she writes in her notebook.

"The security guard's room is on the lot, in Block A." Angel touches the area marked "Security Room". "It's on the second level, so you can see everything from there."

"Did you bring your lunch boxes in a car?" Alexia asks.

She nods. "However, I had to walk the rest of the way. I'm technically a visitor now, so I parked in Block B."

"Good. We remember her car through the fence. So, she was in Block B when she witnessed the crime." Alexia murmurs, before asking. "So, did you have a premonition? You mentioned that you felt something."

"It felt like... how would you say... Oh yes... it was like the feeling you get when you see a pumpkin full of seeds!" Angel replies with a nice smile.

The judge looks at Angel, confused. "I have no idea what that means."

"(Anyone does??)" Alexia thought angrily, "Speaking of 'detective instincts'... Wasn't the victim, Mr. Bruce Goodman, also a detective?"

"Yes. But it was a young cheese." Angel answers.

"What does that mean...?" asks His Honor.

"(Angel, you're confusing him!)" Alexia exclaims in her mind, frustrated.

"A pale white cheese, not yet spicy from the experience on the streets. A rookie." Angel explains.

"Hmm... I, of course, am hard, yellowish, sharp as a tack." The Judge says, proudly.

Alexia shakes her head. "Sharp?"

"I bet he stinks, too," Ema says mockingly.

Even if Edgeworth didn't say it out loud. He would like to be as young as our protagonists to be able to say that kind of things more often.

"Anyway, by 'very garish car' you mean Mr. Edgeworth's, right?" Alexia asks.

Angel nods. "Yes."

"Wait, was it in Mr. Edgeworth's car?!" the judge exclaims.

"That's right. By the way, the knife with which the victim was stabbed was also Mr. Edgeworth's." Angel adds as his gaze rests on Miles. "Wasn't it?"

"Indeed, it was." Miles seems a little awkward, something you'd miss if you weren't staring at him.

"Hmm!" says the judge. "What a strange case this is. And the person who saw... are you sure it was the accused?"

Angel raises his right hand. "I saw her from no more than ten meters away. I'm sure it was her."

"(If she's right, we're doomed!)" Alexia thinks nervously.

"Do what you can!" says Ema. "Even if we don't have any proof, we can always complain!"

"It's called being picky!" Alexia corrects her. "(Although it's not like I have any other options to get out of this...)" Are you not a biased witness? In your testimony, you clearly stated that prosecutors are nothing more than worms..."

Angel stares at her. "Maybe you want to keep those silly opinions to yourself in the future, rookie."

"They are not mere opinions, when I can back up my words." Alexia responds by crossing her arms.

"Are you willing to risk the consequences of doubting me? I'll fry you like a fritter! Crispy on the outside..." She hits the bracket. "Chewy inside!!"

"Inspiring!" The judge might well have stars in his eyes.

Ema taps her pencil on the side of her head. "I think I've heard that slogan in other places... could you say plagiarism?"

"What would be the point of doing that, Kitten?" Alexia asked, rolling her eyes.

"I may be relegated to the humble position of luncheon... but my instincts are fine-tuned!" Angel exclaims as he holds something over his head. "Feast your eyes on this!"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"A photograph! You took this!?" the judge asks.

The defense can't help but look at it. "(How did she get this?)" Alexia thinks starting to sweat.

"The moment I witnessed the crime, my reflexes took over and shot up! I took a photograph. In fact…" She holds out another box. "One of my lunch boxes has a camera."

"(How do you know which lunch boxes to have at any given moment? Then again, I guess that's more exciting than just hanging a camera around your neck.)" Alexia reasons.

Miles stares at him. "Why am I seeing this now?"

"Ha!" Angel says. "As if I was going to show it to a prosecutor! Think again."

Of course, that answer takes Edgeworth by surprise.

"I have a boyfriend in the photography division of Criminal Affairs." Angel reveals, as if nothing had happened.

"This lady has a boyfriend everywhere!" Ema says shocked.

"Do you see why I call her 'Deep Throat'?" Alexia murmurs annoyed.

The judge nods. "Well... this is surely the accused!"

Photo of the crime added to the court record.

Angel places it on the left side of the shots.

"Okay, tell us about the knife," Alexia asks massaging her temple.

"I would say the blade was about 10 centimeters long." The Choking Queen turns to Miles. "Is that so, Mr. Edgeworth? After all, it's his knife."

He sighs. "Yes, that's right."

"Prosecutors, by nature, know well the location of a man's vital organs." He takes a lunch box and spins it on his fingernail. "I'm sure it was easier than boiling an egg for my surprise egg salad set."

Alexia grimaces. "How can you testify to her ability to kill an egg... *Cough* I mean, a person!"

"Maybe a set of chicken salad would have been a better metaphor?" Ema comments before exclaiming, "Is there any chance we can get one?"

Alexia looks at her, with a drop of sweat. Angel throws them a specific lunch box anyway.

Alexia catches it and passes on to the scientist. "Why didn’t you try to stop her?" She asks. "You saw her raise the knife, right?"

"I tried..." His face becomes somber. "But it was too late to do anything. She had already put down the murder weapon!"

"And did you witness that? Did you see Miss Skye stab the victim with the knife?" Alexia questions.

The lunch lady is getting frustrated. "Yes! I swear by my best lunch ever 'Salmon Swirl'!" She quickly brings it up. "How many times do I have to say it?!"

"Hmm!! I'm sure it's a good lunch!" says the judge. She throws it at him.

Before Alexia can speak, Ema beats her to it: "This is weird." The girl says, as she walks to the evidence desk and takes the photo. "If you took this at the very moment of the crime, why is my sister here without a knife?"

Angel and Miles stare at her. Just like Alexia, who turned pale, when she knew where Ema was going to get into.

The Judge is the one who must break the silence. He clears his throat. "Mr. Edgeworth, Miss Fey, what do you think of what little Skye just talked about?"

He says one thing. "Objection.", in the most normal tone in the world.

"OBJECTION!!" Alexia exclaims at the top of her lungs, pushing Edgeworth back for catching him by surprise. "The witness's statement contradicts in its entirety the photo that Ema is currently showing! Because she said she took the photo 'at the moment' when she witnessed the crime!"

Angel shrugs. "Well, it seems that it was not so clear. My apologies."

In the silence that was created by what the witness said, Alexia rushes out to take Ema's hand and immediately returns her to her side. "For God's sake, don't do that again! I don't think I've bluffed that much in my life!"

Ema lowers her gaze, "I'm sorry..."

"Before speaking, please. Tell me what's on your mind first, and then I'll see if I'll let you continue with your idea." Alexia murmurs exhaling.

"Is that all...?" Edgeworth asks the witness, "Is that all you have to say?"

She snorts. "If you run out of lunch, you ask for a few seconds. Problem solved! If you don't like it, try ordering the jumbo lunch from the start."

"I'm not sure I understand it, but it's good advice," says Ema, wanting to do comedy. Alexia just snorts.

Angel continues, stomping his heels. "I didn't have time to stop her. Prosecutor Skye was cold, calculating, like a robot. He killed without pain or remorse! It was a premeditated murder!"

"Wait, wait, wait!" Alexia put her hands in the air. "Where did you get that?!"

"Look at Ms. Skye's hands in the photo," Miles says.

"Let me see the picture, Mr. Edgeworth." The prosecutor proceeds to show the photo to the judge. "Wait! Are those gloves?"

"Whaaaaaat?!" Alexia exclaims, snatching the photo from them to see. "(. . . Yes, there are dark gloves on Lana's hands . . .)"

Miles walks away. "Most likely, they are surgical gloves made of thin rubber. Why would she wear them?" Before Fey could speak, he continues. "If it hadn't been premeditated, she wouldn't be wearing those gloves!"

"Ah!" Ema shudders. Alexia looked at the prosecutor, nervously reflected in her eyes.

"These gloves seem to tell a story of premeditation!" declares the judge.

Angel nods. "A felony."

"Update your testimonial by adding this!" The Judge demands.

"With pleasure." Angel says with a beautiful smile.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The statement "was a premeditated crime! Rubber gloves prove it!" was added between the statements "The Chief prosecutor had a knife in her right hand..." and "Stuck the sharp point of the knife into Detective Goodman's chest!"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

"This is bad... She has made them think that this was all premeditated... If she manages to prove this claim, the trial is already over! We have to think of a way to prove that this was not premeditated!" Ema says desperately.

"I know, I know... I think I know how I can prove that it wasn't premeditated." Alexia murmurs

"Really?!" Ema says surprised.

"Well, it won't work to cease suspicions about Lana, but it will work to get a few more minutes of trial..." Alexia murmurs.

"Of course, go ahead!" Ema exclaims excitedly.

End of Cross-Examination – Angel Starr's Statement, Witness's Account

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Miss Starr?" Alexia says as she pulls out a certain red knife. "Do you know what this is?"

Angel, annoyed, gestures outwards. "Are you trying to test me? I make a living selling box lunch, you know? That's a knife. THE knife. The knife that was in Mr. Edgeworth's trunk!"

"That's right, that's my knife." Miles replies looking up. "But I still don't understand what your point is, Miss Fey"

In the audience, people are talking again.

"What's up with this case?!"

"The murder weapon with blood, a red car... all belonging to the prosecutor over there?!"

"The defendant is the chief prosecutor, right?"

"Mommy, are prosecutors bad people?"

"This is my point." Alexia looks at them. "you say the gloves mean the crime was premeditated. Okay, then, let me ask you a question." Then she points to Lana's photo. "If wearing gloves is a sign that she planned to commit the crime beforehand, why didn't she also plan the weapon to commit it?!"

The lady at lunch is quiet. "Oh..."

"What do you think Lana would have done if the knife wasn't in the car?" asks Alexia. "You don't forget the murder weapon when you plan an assassination!"

"Yuck!" Angel throws some of his lunches into the air.

As the judge tries to calm the gallery, Ema begins to celebrate a little.

"Good show, Miss Fey!" says Ema. "My sister is practically free!"

"HOLD IT!" snorts Miles. "I think the next lunch Miss Skye will eat is a humbling cake!"

Ema does her best to calm herself down, and then asks, "Why?"

"You’re deluding yourself into thinking that 'the tide has turned'. And for such an insignificant detail, no less!" Edgeworth exclaims.

"Doesn't this blow a hole in all that premeditated theory?" asks Ema.

"Yes, it does. But that's why I said my argument would only work to buy time. For what Lana is being charged with is not "Planning and Perpetrating the Murder of Goodman," but only "Perpetrating the Murder of Goodman." Alexia explains in a cold sweat. "So Lana is still in the same place..."

"I don't think I could have explained better. As Miss Fey said, the prosecution wouldn't care less about that." Miles says before gesturing. "The only one who seems to care is the lunch lady over there."

Angel is currently sweating. His face is twisted with anger.

Miles continues. "The defendant, Lana Skye, murdered a detective with a knife. That's all the prosecution needs to prove. Nothing more."

A slow applause sounds in the room. And it comes from our resident Cough-up Queen. "Very well, Mr. Prosecutor," he says, "I suppose you think you're clever now. But you know as well as I do that she planned to kill him! It was planned! If it wasn't, why should it do so while wearing..."

The judge interrupts her. "I think I'd like to hear your testimony again."

"Witness." Miles moves a finger. "Tell us what you saw, not what you thought."

"How dare you!" she snaps. "My powers of deduction should not be underestimated!"

Alexia shakes her head slowly. "Are you sure not?"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Beginning of Witness Testimony – Angel Starr's Statement, Angel's Deduction

"Lana Skye intended to murder Inspector Goodman! That is why he made the victim go to the prosecutor's office. I am sure that the chief prosecutor had some debt to settle with the victim. Nothing else could have prompted her to stick the knife again and again..."

End of Witness Testimony – Angel Starr's Statement, Angel's Deduction

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Was the victim summoned from the Police Department to the District Prosecutor's Office?" the judge asks. "Sounds a lot like premeditation, doesn't it?"

Ema grimaces. "If I order pizza, does that mean I plan to kill the delivery man?"

He doesn't respond to that. "In any case, the defense can now cross-examine the witness."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Beginning Cross-Examination – Angel Starr's Statement, Angel's Deduction

"Okay, I think it's better to make this clear right now. And that's you have no evidence that Ms. Skye called Goodman to the prosecutor's parking lot." Alexia says without mincing words.

"You have no proof that she didn't!" Angel answers. "Prove that it is not like that!"

Alexia shakes her head. "You are the one who is proposing this possibility. So it is you who must back up your argument with evidence, not me."

The lunch lady just grunts in annoyance.

"What do you think, Mr. Edgeworth?" the judge asks.

Miles shakes his head. "There is no record of a call made on the defendant's phone. So the argument of the defense is sustained."

"She could have written a letter!" Angel suggests.

Alexia rolls her eyes. "How do you come to propose a letter without even proposing a public phone first?"

"In any case, the detective ended there. That's undeniable," says Miles. "Go ahead with cross-examination."

Alexia sighs before asking, "A debt to settle? What kind?"

Angel shrugs. "I don't know."

"Of course not," Ema snaps. "There's not even one here."

She pulls out a lunch box. "What's in here?"

"How would we know? It's closed." Ema murmurs annoyed.

"Exactly. We agree that there is a lunch box here, but we don't know what's inside! A person's life is like a lunch box with pretzels. Don't you agree?" Angel explains.

Alexia grimaces. "Why pretzels?"

"I get it!" says the judge. "That's why my lunch was so salty!"

"It's clear that he doesn't get it," says Alexia. "Anyway. How many times did she stab him? You say 'over and over again'..."

Angel snorts. "What difference does it make if the act is done!?"

"Calm, calm. There's no need to get so defensive." Alexia says with a small smile. "I'm just asking because I find that pretty weird."

"And why is that?" The Judge questions intrigued.

"Can you give me the autopsy report, Kitten?" Ask for Alexia. The little scientist passes it on. "Miss Starr, there's no way you witnessed this repeated stabbing you claim!"

The next lunch box that Angel opens is completely green inside. "Don't test me! Surprise moss on the way, rookie!!"

It looked like Miles was going to say something, but he was interrupted by a knock that the lawyer was giving to her desk. "Unfortunately, that moss grows under our feet while we wait."

"Why?!" asks Angel, lowering the box.

"What do you figure?" says the judge.

She walks to the stand as she speaks. "The autopsy report indicates that the death was due to blood loss... for ONE stab wound."

Angel jumps shocked.

"Ah, ha! You’re right! Nice show, Miss Fey!" The Judge alleges.

"Great, Miss Fey!" Ema faints. "I'll become your fan, really!"

Alexia blushes slightly. "Oh, uh, thank you..."

"Well, witness?" The judge looks at Angel.

She shows another lunch box, this one with a fork pointing upwards and something red forming a puddle around it. "You have the crime scene set, right?"

"What's that?" Ema looks at the box. "Kepchup?"

"I always believed that no one could mistake ketchup for blood." Angel puts lunch on the table. "But now I realize that those mistakes are possible."

Miles grimaces. "Did you mistake something for blood?"

"Yes." Angel takes the hat off his head and scratches it. "When she raised his knife, I thought I saw blood on her chest... blood splattered from her victim! That's why I thought she must have stabbed him at least twice."

"Then tell us what you saw, and thought was blood! Testify!" the judge demands.

She sighs before speaking. "Okay, Your Honor."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The statement "Her red scarf of the brand "Scapa" looked like blood to me... That's how dreadful the whole scene was!" was added at the end of the testimony."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"You mean her scarf, right?" Alexia asks.

Angel nods in confirmation. "Yes. The Chief prosecutor always wears one around her neck. So I guess you can easily hang it up at any time..."

"How did you mistake that for splattered blood?" asks Miles in disbelief.

Angel doesn't say anything, so the judge does. "Well, people often mistake my beard for a bib."

"I was already wondering why this place sometimes looks so much like a kindergarten." Alexia murmurs with a drop of sweat.

The lady at lunch looks to the side. "Actually... I do think I saw some traces of blood on her chest..."

"However, the autopsy report is clear about this." Alexia remembers, with the report in her hand. "There was only one knife wound. How would the blood have gotten there?"

Angel is silent again. She is not even entirely sure of her own testimony.

"This is our chance!!" says Ema.

"Yes, I think I can do something with this..." Alexia murmurs, taking the photo of the crime.

End of Cross-Examination – Angel Starr's Statement, Angel's Reasoning

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Ms. Starr. Without the intention of offending, I don't think you’re fit for detective work anymore." Alexia says seriously.

Before Angel could say anything, Fey continued talking. "Look at this. The suspect was not wearing a scarf when she allegedly stabbed the victim. You proved it yourself with this."

"Huh?! That can't be!" Angel screams.

Miles shakes his head. "Hmph. Only a 'true professional' could be so clueless. But don't worry, I'm sure you'll be a good lunch lady. ".

The lady at lunch, of course, is agitated.

"Harsh words! But good!" says the judge.

Ema raises a fist in the air. "Look at that! Mr. Edgeworth prevails!"

Alexia folds her arms. "That comment was savage; I have to give it to him."

"I swear!" Angel begs. "There was something red there! Really!"

Miles taps his hand. "You have given us an entertaining interlude; Now let's get back to the matter."

"Hey!" Angel exclaims annoyed.

"In any case," the judge says, "you saw the crime and arrested the suspect ... tell us."

She wrings her hands. "Very good. At least I remember some things accurately."

"We haven't gotten rid of the important part yet." Alexia says, somewhat tired.

Ema asks, "What would that be?"

"The part where your sister apparently stabbed the victim!" Alexia says, frustrated. "And for a change, I'm learning as I go!"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Beginning of Witness Testimony – Angel Starr's Statement, Apprehending the Suspect

"After the crime, the suspect tried to flee behind the division of her area. I caught her quickly, read her rights, and arrested her instantly. Ah, yes... When I arrested her, she mentioned the muffer! That's why I got confused in my previous testimony! Chief prosecutor tried to run away, but it's useless to resist Angel Starr!"

End of Witness Testimony – Angel Starr's Statement, Apprehending the Suspect

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"You're very determined about this scarf, aren't you?" the judge asks.

She shrugs. "I trike like a snake and bit like a cobra! That's me, Angel Starr."

Alexia rolls her eyes. "Cobras are snakes, Ms. Starr. Please try again."

Her hand taps her hat, which she left on the stand. "Don't bother me with details, unless you want to be bitten!"

"Go ahead, I invited you to try..." Alexia growls, squinting.

"Note to self: Attorney Fey looks scared when she’s bother..." Ema says as she writes, annoying Alexia a little.

"Keep it up and I'll force you to give your notebook to Maya." Alexia threatens, confusing Ema.

Ema tilts her head, confused. "Who is Maya?"

"Someone you wouldn't want to leave your notebook with. So don't tempt me." Alexia murmurs angrily.

"The chief prosecutor tried to resist, but her efforts were in vain. He hit my hands, kicked a drum of oil..." In this last part, Angel takes a step back and kicks high to prove his point.

"How does she kick so high, and in that dress?" Alexia murmurs. "(I remember one of the two oil drum we saw was lying on the ground. But I can't believe Lana kicked it.)"

"Oh, it's beautiful, but deadly! This is a predator! A leopard woman!" Angel returns to the stand and makes a scratching gesture. "Rawr!"

The judge says, "Miss Fey, your cross-examination, please."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Beginning of Cross-Examination – Angel Starr's Statement, Apprehending the Suspect

"Where's the partition?" Ema asks.

"Miss Fey, please." Alexia walks over and gives Miles the plans. "Thank you." He lifts them up so she can see them, pointing somewhere at the top. "This is it. It's this wall right next to where my car had been."

"It was about 3 meters tall, wasn't it?" Says Alexia, leaning against the prosecution's bench.

"That's right." Miles replies.

Angel crosses his arms. "Obviously she was trying to hide. It's quite natural for a criminal!"

"What did she say about the muffler?" Alexia asks, next to the prosecutor's bench.

"If I knew exactly, I would have said it!" Angel snaps.

"Don't be shameless..." Alexia murmured and Miles in unison, but they were not heard by the others.

"That's all I heard her say. She wasn't talking to me; she was on the phone!" Angel exclaims.

"So you never saw it." Alexia says with a raised eyebrow. Angel is still.

"She couldn't have done it," Miles says of agreement. "The image is proof of that."

Angel nods. "I admit it."

"This is strange!" Ema says, confused. "First she mistakes a scarf for splattered blood, now she says she didn't see any scarves!"

Alexia takes note of what Ema said. But first, she clarifies some doubts. "How did she manage to 'escape'?"

Angel gestures outward. "She pushed my hand away and started running! It was a terrible sight to watch, like a spoonful of lard in a foie gras pate! He even kicked me into an oil canister!"

(Leaving aside the strange metaphor of food, he mentioned the oil drum again.)" Alexia thinks.

"What I want to know is this." Miles looks at the test table. "If she wanted to escape... why didn't she run to the other side?"

"Ah, you mean the entry of the cars!" says the judge.

Ema nods. "Exactly! Was she trying to get caught?"

Angel can't answer that. She doesn't know how to do it.

"It seems that we have more mysteries," Alexia murmurs, returning to the defense bench. "Better to try to solve them from the beginning."

Fey connects her gaze with that of the witness. "Miss Starr, how close were you to the suspect so you could catch her 'quick'?"

"I think I said this 9 meters." Angel says.

"So the place where you parked is 9 meters away from where you found Miss Skye?" She says

"Yes, that's right." Angel answers.

"Wait, there's a fence between all that, right?" Says the Judge.

Angel shakes his head. "Obviously I scaled it."

"In that short time?" Alexia grimaces.

"Amazing!" says the judge. "The Cough-up Queen, the Luncheon athlete lady."

Ema folds her arms. "There's no way she could get to my sister so quickly. It would take her a while to climb that fence in flat shoes or sneakers, let alone heels!"

"And the fence was 3 meters high," says Alexia. "I find it strange that your sister didn't run away."

Alexia, holding Lana's phone, turns to Angel. "You said she was on the phone when you mentioned the muffler, right?"

Angel shrugs. "Yes, ultimately."

"Ultimately?" asks Miles.

"At first she tried to use the phone hanging on the wall. But apparently it was broken." Alexia answers.

"Hmmm..." says the judge. "Good witnessing, witness!"

"(What happened to good testifying?)" Alexia thinks with a drop of sweat.

"You should, of course, add this to your testimony."

Angel rolls her eyes. "The things I do to please newbies." She grabs her hat and tries to straighten it. "I saw it all: how she tried to use the phone on the wall. she stopped trying and just used her cell phone!"

"Can you rephrase everything? For the court?" Ask for Alexia..

The judge nods. "I was going to ask for the same thing!"

"Very well." She comes out from behind the witness bench and walks to the center of the room. "I'll only say this once, so listen carefully, all of you. The chief prosecutor stabbed the victim and ran behind the partition. She then picked up the emergency phone that was on the wall, but as it was out of order. She took her own cell phone out of her pocket."

"And while she was doing that, you climbed the fence..." Says the Judge.

"Yes, your honor. I bravely grabbed her arm, and she hung up the phone!" Angel exclaims proudly.

Alexia taps her arm with her finger, as Miles does sometimes. "Uh huh. And did you see this?"

Everyone is looking at him. "What?"

End of Cross-Examination – Angel Starr's Statement, Apprehending the Suspect

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"This contradiction leads me to conclude that he has a personal grudge against Ms. Lana Skye!" Alexia points directly to Angel.

"OBJECTION!!" Miles exclaims. "The witness is a former detective. Her testimony is not clouded by personal prejudices."

Angel clasps her hands together. "Good, good! Who would have thought that you would be my knight in shining armor, prosecutor? You, who kicked me out two years ago... with the Chief Prosecutor!"

Of course, she has no response from the prosecutor for this.

"Nice try, Ms. Starr." Alexia says as she walks to the prosecutor's desk. "Mr. Edgeworth, the blueprints, please."

Miles, confused, pushes them over.

Fey walks over to Angel, "Explain this," she says, as she shows her the blueprints.

"Explain what?!" Angel blurts out.

"It's pretty straightforward. Could you explain how you could have seen Ms. Skye make the phone call from where she was?" Alexia points to the area where Angel says he was.

Yes. She has already seen the problem, so she backs away in shock.

"I think you understand what I mean. That emergency phone was in the back of this partition," Alexia says, pointing to it. "If you were really in Block B, you couldn't have seen it!"

"No!" Angel exclaims, dropping her bag.

There goes the gallery. Alexia and Ema cover their ears while the Judge silences them.

"What is the meaning of this?" The Judge demands to know.

"Easy!" says Alexia. "She's not coughing up lunch; she's coughing up lies!"

Angel growls, picks up her purse, and returns to the witness stand. Miles points to Alexia.

"Okay, Miss Fey. Can you tell us what she lied about?"

"Well, lying about the phone doesn't make sense." Alexia shrugs. "And if she saw Miss Skye use it, that means she saw all this from somewhere else!"

"Ha!" Miles shakes his head. "That's a useless lie if I've ever heard one!"

"OBJECTION!!" Fey moves one of her bangs, a small smile on her face. "Don't write it off so quickly, Mr. Edgeworth. Don't you think you should at least listen before you judge?"

"Objection admitted," says the judge. "Please show us where the witness should have been."

Alexia directs the shots towards the judge. "She was here!" She points to the security booth.

"But why?" asks the judge. "She could have seen it from anywhere else."

"Your Honor, she can't park in Block A!" Alexia reminds him. "There aren't many other places where she's been in that case. Plus the fact that she said she brought lunch to her boyfriend at security!"

Angel stomps her feet. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"

"Order, order!" the judge shouts. Finally, the gallery is silent. "Witness! What have you done!? You used to be a detective! I should know better!"

"I don't care!" Angel yells in response. "I'm not going to back down! The guilty will be punished, and I will do whatever is necessary to ensure that justice prevails."

"(I'm sure she's talking about Lana, but why the hell is for...?)" Alexia thinks intrigued.

"Hey, Miss Fey?" Ema says, catching the lawyer's attention.

"Yes, Kitten?" Alexia asks curiously.

"I don't understand this. Why did Mrs. Starr lie?" The little scientist says confused.

"Well... probably because the fact that she saw the crime from another place would cause there to be a big hole in his testimony." Alexia suggests thoughtfully. "It is not the first time that a testimony has been modified for convenience, nor will it be the last."

"You sure?" asks Ema unsurely. "I don't see how that changes anything..."

"Exactly!" Miles exclaims from across the room. "This photograph says it all! It was the defendant who stabbed the victim! That truth still stands!"

Alexia shakes her head in negative. "No, it doesn't."

Edgeworth shudders. "What?! How so?"

"Angel knows full well that she would be guilty of perjury if she was caught." Alexia says, turning to look at the lunch lady. "She wouldn't take a chance without a good reason!"

The Judge is intrigued, "Why don't you tell us what it is, Miss Fey?"

"It changes the distance between her and the crime scene!" Alexia exclaims.

"Miss Fey, may I?" Miles puts his hands behind his back. "My deepest condolences, but with a look at the plans it is quite clear. The distance between the crime scene and the guard station is 9 meters. I don't see how that would change what she was able to see."

Alexia shows a foxy smile. "I'm not worried about what she might be able to see there. I'm talking about how long it would take her to get there!"

Miles backs away in surprise.

"Mrs. Starr, how long did it take you to get from that station to the scene of the crime?" asks Alexia.

She stares at them but says nothing.

"Witness?" asks the judge.

Take out a lunch box again. "You ordered the squid wheels, right?"

"How disgusting!" both girls say in unison. The quality of lunches has gone from excellent to low to inedible.

"Anyway," Angel says, "I would bring my boyfriend a PB&J lunch with fresh blackberry jam."

The judge reflects on this. "Hmm... Mora for the bridegroom!"

"He wasn't at the station, so I waited." Angel approaches where we are and points to the plans, which are on the defense bench. "I witnessed the crime from the glass-walled station... And before I realized what I was doing, I found myself running toward the scene." He traces the path he was trying to take, which seemed very short. "But... The door was locked. I couldn't open it." She then charts the new path she was forced to take. "That's why I had to go through the visitors' parking lot in Block B."

"Show me too, will you?" The Judge requests. She picks up the plans and traces them again for him. "That's a big turn-off."

She shrugs. "I wouldn't say it. It only took me five minutes to get there."

"What?!" They all exclaim in unison.

The gallery begins to talk to each other, but not loud enough to ignore a loud bang from the sledgehammer.

The judge pulls his beard. "This changes things considerably!"

"But it was that woman who was there in the defendant's chair who stabbed him! I know! I have photographic evidence!" Angel exclaims, as he raises his right hand again. "I swear... I swear by my best plastic fork!"

The judge shrugs. "He is right. And the fork is a wonderful invention."

"Do you want another caviar lunch?" Angel says as he holds it.

"Absolutely!" The Judge exclaims excitedly.

Alexia sighs wearily as Angel brings it closer to the supposedly impartial authority of the room.

"Miss Fey!" says Ema. "Do something!"

"I'm going, I'm going, I'm going!” Alexia murmurs before exclaiming. "OBJECTION!!" and slap the table with their palms, "Five minutes between the testimony of the murder and the arrest? Think about it! You could make pasta in that time if you like al dente!"

"Ha!" Angel holds another box. "I have lunch boxes that tie knots with the pasta, rookie!"

"It's not the point." Alexia answers, before continuing with her line of reasoning. "Doesn't this five-minute blank space seem strange to you?"

"Is it strange how...?" asks Miles.

"Your Honor!" Alexia turned to the judge. "If you were a criminal, what would you do with five minutes of total solitude?"

He shrugs. "I guess he would run away." Then he jumps. "Hey! Don't get the wrong idea! I didn't kill anyone..."

"Yes, but you have the instincts of a murderer! You'd run away from before anyone arrives!" Alexia says with a half-smile. "But this time it was different! Ms. Skye stayed at the scene of the crime... she even got careless enough to have her picture taken! No real criminal would act this way! It's inconceivable!"

At this final statement, Angel exclaims furiously as she throws her bag across the room, straight into the gallery.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Everyone looks at the Judge, waiting for him to speak.

"Okay, then. It seems that we have reached the end of this testimony," he says while pointing the gavel towards Angel. "She holds a grudge against the defendant and there is a gap in her testimony."

The Cough-Up Queen is growling from her stall.

He turns to look at the prosecutor's office. "Mr. Edgeworth, is the next witness ready?"

Miles sighs. "Unfortunately, it appears that I have overestimated this witness because of her professional history."

Ema applauds. "Way to go, Miss Fey! We fucked up that closed can!"

"That was too close." Alexia murmurs, deliberately ignoring the slur that Ema said.

The judge folds his arms. "I'm afraid the Choking Queen has been dethroned. And with that, the session is adjourned!"

But while he raises his sledgehammer...

"HOLD IT!!"

Everyone turned their heads towards the lady at lunch. She calmly bends down and picks up one of the lunches from before. "Mr. Edgeworth, you ordered the Squid Wheels, didn't you?" he asks, pulling him closer to him.

Once again, the two girls shudder. That's the one she tried to give them.

Miles raises a hand. "I'd rather not take leftovers from the defense team. Do you have anything else to say?"

She puts a hand on his hip. "Maybe. I have decisive evidence that can save you."

"What was that?!" asks the judge.

"Uh, is this one of your tricked-out lunch boxes...?" Alexia asks tiredly.

The Judge shakes his head. "Anyway... we have no more questions to ask you, Ms. Starr."

"Maybe this will change your mind?" Angel says as he holds the biggest box he's ever had today. "Is this your giant lunch box?"

Jokes aside, the judge actually applauds excitedly. "Whoo hoo! A triple floor!" As soon as he has it in front of him, he says, "Out of deference to the determination of the witness, I will allow one more testimony! Let's listen to this decisive evidence."

Angel bows. "As Lunchland's motto goes, you won't be disappointed!"

Alexia growls annoyed. "What will she take out of her lunchbox now?"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Beginning of Witness Testimony – Angel Starr's Statement, Conclusive Evidence

"I should have mentioned those 5 minutes during which I didn't see the crime scene. But now, let's talk about the victim's shoe... Hadn't I told you about the matter...? Tests show 2 types of blood in the shoe! One was the victim's, of course. But the other one was—" it was the blood of the defendant, Ms. Lana Skye! This shoe proves it! It's an impeccable test!"

End of Witness Testimony – Angel Starr's Statement, Conclusive Evidence

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

During the testimony, Angel took out some gloves and put them on her hands to hold the shoe in question. Everyone is amazed at it.

"Is there blood on that shoe?!" The judge is incredulous.

Angel smiles and goes over to go get her bag from the gallery. "Try Lunchland, for all your lunch needs and decisive testing!"

"Why did I just find out about this?" demands Miles.

Alexia raises an eyebrow. "Mr. Edgeworth, I'm sure she's already made it pretty clear that she doesn't trust you with proof!"

"How is it possible that this girl seems to understand better than you?" she asks. "In any case, I did my own research."

"And did you do blood tests?" asks Alexia.

"That's what I did. Didn't I mention that I have three boyfriends in forensics?"

Ema rubs her temples. "How many are already going so far?"

"Six, and most likely, still counting," says Alexia.

"Anyway, I can't take this as proof!" Miles snaps.

"Why not?!" Angel demands.

" You must know the two rules of Evidence Law, Mrs. Starr! Rule 1: No evidence will be shown without the approval of the Police Department! In other words, this shoe is illegal evidence! At least, for the time being!" Edgeworth exclaims. 

Alexia just watches. "(Looks like Mr. Edgeworth is celebrating.)"

Ema looks at Alexia. "Is that so, Miss Fey?!"

"Theoretically. But it seems that Mr. Edgeworth is forgetting a detail." Alexia says, drawing attention to her.

Edgeworth looks annoyed. "And what would it be that I'm forgetting?"

"It's that Ms. Starr said that this shoe was analyzed by a member of the forensic department. So yes, we like it or not, she complies with the first rule by having the approval of the police department. In addition to the fact that the general public also has the right to upload evidence, as long as it is related to the case." Alexia explains in great detail.

"I couldn't have explained it better." Angel says with a wicked smile. 

In response, he dropped his head by banging on the table. "Argh!"

"(Mr. Edgeworth looks rather sullen.)" Alexia thinks.

The judge rubs his forehead. "Despite the complaints of the prosecution... It seems that this evidence satisfies the first rule of the law of evidence. It looks like you have yet another count against you, witness."

Angel shrugs. "Whatever is necessary to ensure that the guilty are properly tried."

Place the shoe on the right side of the photo, which has been returned to the table along with the plans.

The victim's shoe was added to the court file.

"There's blood on the toe of the shoe." Alexia whispers, looking at the shoe.

"That blood... it's my sister's, right?" Ema says fearfully.

"That's what it looks like." Alexia says. "Remember that Ms. Lana's right hand was bandaged when we saw her in the detention center. It must have been cut off at the time of the crime..."

"My poor sister..." Ema murmurs sadly.

"It also looks like there's blood on the sole of the shoe." Alexia comments. "It has to be the victim's. He must have stepped into a small pool of his own blood."

"All this blood... It's horrible," Ema says trembling.

"(Hmm... This blood could be an important clue...)" Alexia thinks seriously.

"Alright, Miss Fey, you can question the witness!" Says the Judge.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Beginning of Cross-Examination – Angel Starr's Statement, Conclusive Evidence

"How come you lied about the five minutes?" Alexia asks.

"I guess you could say I just wanted people to see the results," Angel replies.

"What does it mean...?" Alexia questions.

Angel exclaims, frustrated. "How many times do I have to say this? I saw the chief prosecutor stab the victim before my very eyes! Compared to that, a five-minute 'blank' means nothing!"

"Then why didn't you tell the truth?" asks Miles. Wow, he looks so tired of this...

Angel crosses his arms. "Don't make me laugh! We are dealing with the most untrustworthy of the vile known as prosecutors! Falsified evidence, fixed testimony, erasing and manipulating evidence!" She grab a lunch. "When you fight monsters, you must use all the tricks in the book!"

With that, he throws lunch into the prosecution bench. Miles has to get out of the way. "Hey!"

"How does that make sense if the suspect admits she did it?" Alexia whispers to herself.

"False testimony is the most despicable crime of all, Ms. Starr. Let's end this once and for all," says the judge.

"If not, I'm imagining things. I would say there's a critical problem with this evidence." Says Alexia, before exclaiming, "A clear contradiction!"

"Wait!" says Alexia. "I see it!" She takes the gloves out of her bag and picks up the shoe. "Look at this! The blood here on the shoe is a contradiction!"

"That sparkle in your eyes... You're still young, rookie." Angel comments mockingly. "Now I'd give you peppery fish guts, but I doubt very much you can handle that heat, right?"

"Let's listen to what Mr. Fey has to say!" the Judge proposes, "what is contradictory about the victim's shoe? Show us the problem with this evidence!"

Alexia taps the table with her palms. "It's more than clear, and there's blood on the sole of that shoe!"

"It will be your blood on my shoe if you don't explain!" Angel snaps.

"Miss Fey! What could be contradictory about the blood on the sole of his shoe!?" asks Miles.

End of Cross-Examination – Angel Starr's Statement, Conclusive Evidence

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"You've seen the crime photo, right?" Alexia says taking the photo of the crime. "Do you see any traces of blood somewhere here?"

"In this photo there is only a part of the floor!" Miles rebukes her. "There might have been some off-camera."

"That's impossible," says Alexia. "We were there, and we didn't find anything remotely resembling a footprint made of blood. And I doubt very much that the police did, otherwise they would have said something about the presence of any there."

The gallery is again amazed. It seems that Lana looks annoyed by this whole thing...

"Order! Order! Order!" shouts the judge. "Explain yourself, witness!"

Angel looks like a deer in front of the headlights of a car. "What?! Hey? I, uh..."

"Way to go, Ms. Fey!" Ema says. "But now we have to ask ourselves this: why were there no footprints there?"

"That's true! There has to be a reason why there wasn't a footprint!" says the judge.

"The only explanation that comes to mind right now is that Lana either killed this man somewhere else, or she was just the one who found the body, eliminating the possibility that she killed him." Alexia deduces, crossing her arms. "Unless there is a method so that in just 5 minutes or less, she had the time to clean the blood, I only see how you validate these two options..."

"...'Unless there is a method to clean the blood in as little as 5 minutes or less'..." Miles murmurs as he looks at Lana. "I see... Now I understand."

Alexia raises an eyebrow, intrigued. "Understand what?"

"Understanding that our witness is more devious than I thought!" says Edgeworth, pointing to Angel. "We were deceived to the end! But she made a mistake! There is a vital hint of truth in her testimony."

"And what is that, Mr. Edgeworth?" asks Alexia.

"Remember what you told us about detaining the suspect ... I thought it was a strange thing for a normally serene chief to do."

"Wait a minute, are you referring to when she kicked that oil drum?" Alexia says intrigued. Miles nods in confirmation.

"Now, witness. Let me ask you a very simple question." Edgeworth says with a half-smile. "That oil drum she kicked... was it empty?"

Angel shakes his head. "I wasn't. It was full of water."

"What?!" says Ema. "That means...?!"

"Yes, it is, Miss Skye." Miles smiles. "Your sister knocked over that gas can for one and one reason only: To erase the bloodstains that would become evidence against him!"

"Nooooo!" Ema screams. Alexia simply remains stoic.

"Good!" The judge applauds. "That ties things together pretty well! The blood stains left on the victim's shoes clearly link her to this murder! Then, after committing the crime, he overturned the oil drum to erase the telltale signs!"

Angel mocks. "Wow, that's a prosecutor's specialty... erasing evidence!"

Alexia followed the situation stoically, with a rather calm expression. Something that began to bother Angel; "What's going on, rookie? Do you have anything on your mind?"

Fey shrugs. "Only one. I was remembering when you said something about when you have to fight monsters, you have to use all the techniques in the book."

"Yes, I said that. So what?" Angel replies angrily.

"Well... Couldn't you be in cahoots with the prosecution? You could have lied about the water..." Alexia says as if she doesn't want the thing.

Angel looks as if he wants to pounce on Alexia. She just smiles slyly, "(The lure is ready. Let's see what's bigger, your grudge or your pride?)"

Edgeworth looks annoyed by the defense's words; "Enough! There's no need for any more debate," he turns to the judge, "The verdict, Your Honor!"

"Well..." The judge raises his sledgehammer. "I see no reason to prolong this trial."

Tears slowly form in Ema's eyes. "No! Miss Fey, do something!"

"Don't worry, Kitten." Alexia says with a small smile. "You will see that we do not have the need to speak for this trial to last any longer..." Ema looks confused at the lawyer

The judge raises his gavel more. "This court finds the defendant, Ms. Lana Skye..."

"HOLD IT!!"

It's Angel again. Her face is contorted with fury.

"I told you..." Alexia whispers. Ema is simply surprised.

"Rookie. What the hell did you just say?!" Angel growls, annoyed.

"Me? What did I say?" Alexia says pretending not to understand.

"You just said I was on the side of the prosecution?!" Angel exclaims angrily.

"Isn't that right?" says Alexia, shrugging. "It was you who say that Miss Skye is hiding evidence by erasing the traces of blood."

"I have the feeling that you have offended her...", says Ema, looking at her nervously, as she wipes away the tears that escaped her.

"You bet she did!" Angel snaps. "I thought you had your fill, but here you are, demanding a second helping! Another lunch box..." The one he holds seems to be hslf-half. "A lunch box called 'evidence'!"

The judge is taken aback for a moment. "Do you have anything else, witness?"

"Your Honor, you have reached your verdict!" Miles hisses. "Any further comments will be considered contempt of court!"

With a foxy smile, Alexia says; "Mr. Edgeworth, as if that has stopped people in this courtroom before."

"Besides, your threats don't scare the Cough-Up Queen!" Angel shows another photo. "Look at this! I kept it in case anyone dared to say that this shoe didn't belong to the victim!"

The judge studies it. "I don't see any margin for error in this evidence."

"Ah!" shouts Ema.

"T-The asphalt..." Ema murmurs in shock.

"Indeed. It's wet..." Alexia says calmly.

The judge nods. "Erasing the last trace of doubt from the mind of the court. Immediately after the murder, the crime scene was washed with water!"

Ema's face twists to be sadder than before. "I'm sorry. I guess... I couldn't help after all."

"(Oh no, now it sounds like Maya two months ago. But this is not her fault. We knew that this case was almost impossible to win. And it seems that this is what her sister wanted anyway!)" Alexia thinks, looking between the Skye sisters, before returning her gaze to the photo presented and studying it as quickly as she can. "(But, even though I know it's impossible to win, I'm not going to fall until I take my last breath...)"

And she found just what she needed... in the form of a cloth inside of a car’s muffler. "(Bingo...)"

"Very good! This time I would like to declare a final verdict!" Says the Judge.

Before he can hit the sledgehammer, the five of us shout, "Your Honor! HOLD IT!".

That makes him nervous. "What about all of you?! Can I no longer render my verdicts in peace? Whatever it is, can't it wait?!"

"No, it can't wait! Then it will be too late!" Alexia exclaims annoyed. "Since you can't give your verdict because there's a problem with this evidence!"

"What could it be, Miss Fey?" Edgeworth says.

"This one!" Alexia exclaims, pointing to the car's pipe. "Look!"

Miles looks at him closely, before realizing, "Wait! Something is sticking out of the car's muffler!"

"Ah! What is that sticking out of there?" The Judge says intrigued.

"It doesn't matter!" Angel says. "It has nothing to do with the case!"

"Actually, it does," Alexia says crossing her arms. "You were the one who told us how important it was!"

Angel backs away. "When?!"

"Don't you remember?" Alexia says, as she slowly moves Lana's phone with her hand. "He said he heard her mention a muffler! She was probably referring to the one in the car, which means that this piece of cloth could prove to be vital evidence for the case!"

"AAAAAAAAAAH!!!" Angel throws her bag behind her, toward the double doors, and crushes her hat once more.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Once the lunch lady is a little calmer, the judge says, "It looks like we'll have to stay the proceedings."

"sus... SUSPEND!?" She asks.

"I wonder about that piece of cloth. If we leave any questions unanswered here, we don't do the law any favors! Have the car inspected at the crime scene immediately and bring me that cloth!" The Judge orders. "The verdict will wait until after we have seen all the evidence. Okay...?"

Miles sighs. "I suppose so."

Ema gasps. "I can't believe it... it was too close...."

Alexia nods her head. "But we've made it... (at least for now...)"

"The court will adjourn for a thirty-minute recess!" The judge lifts the giant box, which is one place below. "After all, it's time for lunch!"

"Are you still hungry?!" Both girls say in unison. More were silenced by the blow of the Judge's mallet.

[kojoty]

The thing about identity is that it changes with the tides of what is happening to you, just intrinsically, so it is very difficult to pattern map exactly what is exacerbating what facet. But, astutely, it has been made known to me that summer Michael is far more stable in identity than winter Michael. Which makes sense. Because when I over book myself to the brim with friends and community and outdoors and tasks in the caliber that one can in the heat and sun-- going honeybee mode-- a lot of the dips and crests even out through sheer pleasant and earned exhaustion by the end of the night. Whereas in the winter.... Not as much to do and far more time spent stuck inside my own brain and head landscape. But then also it is true that I pretty much...... Hm

To say I'm different than last year is no joke, and to say that the me from before June 8th feels like a Ghost is also no joke. But it's not as though I'm completely fresh and new--phoenix rising metaphor and all, even if I cauterize and burned myself down to the ash, the ash still had.... Me...? Inside it. It's like taking a sickly tree and cutting it down to the trunk and letting it grow back stronger. It's different! But the same in many ways. And I have spent month-- 12of them-- crawling out of the controlled burn and trying to map myself. So the 'patterns' I'm noting are, to an extent, not just new, but patterns that I am cultivating and honing and shaping. So much of this is new again. Even without a dissasociative condition-- of which I generally exist in shades and facets of three different main Genres , I've found-- so much of post addiction is looking back at your self in addiction and not recognizing the person in the mirror. Many memoirs and accounts of addiction talk aboht this. They feel alien to you even as they feel the same as you. It feels like a version of you that lies dormant. A bundle of every bad habit and unhealthy coping mechanism rolled into one person that becomes VERY good at lying. But when you cauterize that, you don't just *develop* health over night. You have to work on it.

And that's what I've been doing and will continue doing. Sobriety has helped me prioritize the greatest and most personal project I will ever have the honor of completing-- me. This is all over the place. I guess.... Pattern mapping and finding the patterns in yourself is cool. But I'm just now, a year in to Michael Whit Misha whatever able to see just the beginnings of what that looks like, with a healthy body, a healthier mind, a more keen outlook and insight.

Identity is funny and silly and if nothing else, the freedom to demand and assert that I can be whatever identities I choose to form with deliberation has been monumental in letting those cauterized ashes lay to rest, because at the core of it, addiction personalities are formed from a desire to not just appease those who aren't you, but to delete the aspects of yourself that ARE authentic. And in authenticity I have lost some of those that aren't me. But I've gained a hell of a lot meaningful relationships the more I've been unapologetic and taken accountability for the spaces I should and shouldn't inhabit. And my community and my relationships are the reason for doing it and I am so full to the brim with love every day of my life now. Even on the hard days, at least, I can say without lying that I am trying my fucking best. And I can mean it. Anyways.

Project year 1 complete 👍

[taylortruther]

Fire imagery is my eternal hyperfixation...and on this note I'll like to point out that Taylor burning down the Lover house and the line "I'm getting tired even for a phoenix, always rising from the ashes" both being in reference to the Joe breakup situation have insane connotations.

I know she probably didn't intentionally frame it like that, but the idea of her burning down her own house that she built so painstakingly for 6 years (very powerful btw) and then being a phoenix being reborn from the ashes of the place....ahhh. It's giving "she lost him but she found herself" and I am HERE for it.

My brain is immensely fried from all the sleep deprivation rn so BEAR with me even if it makes no sense, but I really believe that Taylor has changed a great deal ever since April 9th...like she's really winning the idgaf war and has probably felt like a new person herself too since a major chapter of her life had ended.

Burning down any reminders of the past and starting off with a clean slate is a very common theme in literature and I'm gonna draw parallels between everything the blonde woman does bcz I want to.

i just rbed something you'll like! but I'm sooo curious to see if this house/fire symbolism reoccurs because, to be honest, the lover house burning on tour always kinda confused me. i believed it had to do with reclaiming her masters and ownership of her work, freeing herself from her past... but the way that could parallel the lh mv, burning down the past with joe... oof

[msfantasy-anime]

From the Ashes the Phoenix Rises

Enji Todoroki X Reader

Summary: Dabi wants to punish Endeavour by slaying his girlfriend on Live TV for the whole world to see

Warnings: Character death, torture, description of murder.

Masterlist - Tip Jar

His malice laughter rings across the speaker.

There’s absolutely nothing Enji could do but watch in abject horror unfolding on the screen before his eyes.

His girlfriend Y/n sitting in an uncomfortable awkward position. Her wrist are bound behind her, stuck to a hook on the wall making her shoulders shoot out unnaturally, her arms look like they’ve been dislocated from her shoulder. Her head is hunched over, fainted from the excruciating torture Dabi was putting her through.

“Quickless little bitch! Wake up!” Dabi growls, he places his hot hand on her thigh, searing the meat. She squirm under the painful flame that burns her flesh. A scream pierces his ears, a painful level of which Enji has never heard her achieve.

He feels utterly defeated watching his first born torture his beloved. Watching helplessly, unable to do anything.

Dabi stares blankly at the camera as her soft sobs echo in the background. “I’ll ruin your chances at happiness just like you ruined mothers.” A sick smile stretches across his face.

Panic rising within Enji he watches his son shove two fingers own her throat. His hand ignites blue flames making the fire burn down her throat, killing her from the inside out. The camera captures the very moment the light left her eyes and begins to melt in her skull. Her flesh shrivelling forcing the liquid to the surface and evaporating under the extreme heat.

“Endeavour! We located Dabi and Y/n, they underground on railroad 7, approximately 4.8km from the manhole 94 located on Debussy Street.” One of the computer technicians yell, wholly unaware of her demise.

Enjis knees give out beneath him, staring at her body dissolving to ash. Dabi echos a sick laugh as he flees the scene.

The feed continues rolling as the fire is completely burnt out leaving nothing more than a pile of ash. Enji would have to be sure to collect the ashes, she deserved that much. He would also have to tell his son Shoto about your death, Shoto will be devastated. His brain switches off emotions, fully focused on the methodical tasks he will need to complete in your death.

“Look!” One of the other agency technicians yell pointing at the screen. The ashes begin to sift as a naked woman springs out into a sitting position, gasping for air clutching at her throat she continues to heave heavy breaths, leaning back she lays back down into the pile ashes, her breathing finally slows down. Her hair cascades to the floor to reveal Y/n’s face.

It couldn’t be, maybe it’s a hallucination, maybe it’s a sick joke. But all doubt falls away as he watched her scrunch her face in that way she does when she’s upset.

“Enji.” She moans with a wobbly lip, tears streaming from her eyes. “Enji!” She screams hysterically, tears falling from her eyes in fat blobs. “ENJI!” Her screams pierced his heart. Though screams were distressed, they filled his heart with utter relief.

———————————————————————————

They stand in a tight embrace together in their shared home.

He holds her tightly, terrified that she would disintegrate all over again, terrified that this part wasn’t real and that Y/n really was dead.

“H-how?” Her sniffles began to subside, taking deep breathes she finally speaks.

“I have a Phoenix quirk, when I die I’ll burn up and turn to ash to be reborn at my current age. My life span is 500years.” She pulls her sleeve down to reveal her familiar tattoo with the numbers 300 printed on her wrist. “But I can sacrifice 100 years to bring back another person, it doesn’t matter how many times I die though, it won’t effect my life span.”

“So how old are you then? Why didn’t you ever tell me about your quirk? I thought you were quirkless.”

“I am the age you know me to be, I sacrificed 200 years for my loved ones. I don’t tell anyone out of fear that people will kill and torture me since they know I’ll come back to life anyway, that’s why I moved to Japan. Where no one knew who I was, so they couldn’t do what people in my home town did.” Enji pulls his beloved girlfriend back into his chest.

He has no idea how anyone could do that to you. He doesn’t even understand how you have such a bright and loving smile, how you are so welcoming and loving when you have such a quirk that people turn evil all around you.

He will protect you from the world.

He cannot bare the feeling of loosing or watching you be tortured again.

[snor-re]

I want to scratch off my skin

I want to rip myself apart from within

I want out

I want far

I want away

Away from here

Here, I, me

I want out of me

I crave to rip and tear

Scrape out my eyes,

Hunt down every tear

I want to break my bones

Sink my teeth in every fear

And then burn myself to ashes

In flames that nightmarishly roar

I want to rise from those same ashes

Fuelled solely by pure rage

I want to be the spitting volcano

That makes fear clamp down your ribcage

I want to destill you to fear

You should weep and beg

Spluttering through floods of tears

You should beg at my feet

Voice hoarse and weep

Weep like the dog you are

Because you are responsible

For my deepest scars

You are the one who has beaten and bruised

And the stuck me into too big shoes

The shoes of the one responsible for the situation

While you are the one who blew everything out of moderation

You tied me to you again and again

Just to cut me lose and cut me down

When I dared tenderly hope again

And all through this shit

I have loved you with every one of my bits

With all of my shards that you have scattered so far

Did you really have to go to war

With your daughter?

I wasn’t even 16

When you ripped me apart by the seams

The last time

For I could not bare one more

You should have taught me love

But all I have of you

Is hurt

And a shattered image of my self worth

A shattered guide to love

And a shattered relation to trust

I am no Phoenix

I won’t survive to be burnt

So all that’s left for me to ask:

Are you proud of all my hurt?

22:32 11.05.2023

[yrmont]

"The Rising Sun"

Tossed into the deep Trying to find my soul Something to keep Holding close to my heart

Dragged into the mud Trying to keep from crying To embrace the flood Waiting for it to die

Forced in toxicity I did not ask for this Trying to find serenity Never wanted this

Living with these scars All the pain within Looking up at the stars What happened to heaven

Caught in the darkness Not like this Is this the end Nothing is a godsend

Not in this life Not in this world Want to take the knife Cut the cord

I will leave One day I'll be gone Someday

Looking back An every time I was under attack Wanted to believe in more

More than this This painful hope Without hope The pain of faith

Dealing with the devil An all his evil One of these days I will be gone

And the memories All the scars Without meaning Without hope

Nothing left Naught but ashes The ashes of me My love has died

The heart inside Black as the night The smoke all around Burning in the fire

My coffin My turmoil The fire Hellbent

To fight Unto the end of time Nothing will shine I see my ashes

The pain of a million faces The pain of mine Painful sorrow No one would borrow

This is my story My lost soul My Humanity I'm out of time

Dying within Dead before it began Burnt to nothingness Looking for righteousness

I am What for Therefore Nothing more to fight for What for Wherefore Has life been a lie When I die, will I fly Or fall to the ground I'm bound to the battleground Will I Shall I Beating to the ground Listen to the drum sound Transform in another form to be reborn Nothing shall fix When the nail hammers in once again on my coffin Nothing will fix what happens next Burning this time as I am out time The clock counts down from midnight It'll be a fight to rise with the sunrise At the burning sun I never wanted this again Oh father my God from heaven Where art thou What happens to me now

Tic, Tic, Tock Look at the clock Put the Glock to my head There is no bread No life left Like a thief in the night He stole my heart Can't feel my heartbeat to the beat of the musical sheet I repeat Can't feel the heartbeat in my chest when I open the locked chest once again Can't feel the beat within my hollow chest, I say again Can't feel my heart torn apart from the start in the dark, light the spark, I repeat again The nail is in within an upon my coffin again without hope to cope as I look into the scope Set a flame within to ignite in the darkest night as I fight for my life at the end of the knife Will it fix or start or begin again from the beginning to the ending Will it be a surprise within my eyes what never dies

Rise and never look back to the attack of your heart and mind

Rise

Never look back

Never give up

Be the Phoenix and Rise

[alicianaidoo1234]

Hallucination

The flickering firelight danced across the cell walls, casting grotesque shadows that writhed and twisted like living things. Azula stared into the flames, her reflection a mask of icy calm, but her mind was a battlefield.

“Mother?” she whispered, the word a fragile breath.

A figure materialized from the flames, tall and elegant, her eyes burning with a familiar, searing blue. Ursa.

“Azula,” Ursa said, her voice a silken whisper that carried a haunting echo. “You look…lost.”

Azula's hand clenched into a fist, the fire in her eyes flickering. “Lost? I am the Fire Lord’s daughter. I am destined for greatness.”

“Is that what you truly believe?” Ursa asked, her gaze piercing. “Or is that a lie you tell yourself to drown out the pain?”

Azula scoffed. “Pain? I know only power. And I will have it, even if it means burning the world to ashes.”

Ursa’s lips curled into a sad smile. “You are a phoenix, Azula. But phoenixes rise from ashes. They do not set the world on fire.”

“You think you know me?” Azula spat, her voice laced with venom. “You left me. You abandoned me to this…this hell!”

“I did what I had to do,” Ursa said, her voice softening. “And I am here now, not to judge you, but to offer you a way out.”

Azula scoffed. “A way out? From what? From my destiny? From my birthright?”

“From the fire that consumes you,” Ursa said, her voice filled with a strange, mournful beauty. “The throne is not your destiny, Azula. It is a prison, a cage built of ambition and fueled by pain.”

“You are wrong,” Azula hissed, her voice rising in pitch. “I will not be another pawn in your game. I will be the Fire Lord, and I will rule with an iron fist.”

Ursa’s eyes glistened with tears. “You are strong, Azula. You are powerful. But you are also broken. Let me help you heal.”

The firelight flickered, and Ursa began to fade.

“No!” Azula screamed, her voice cracking with desperation. “Stay! Please, stay with me!”

But the figure was gone, leaving only the echoing silence of the cell and the whispering flames that danced and died. Azula slumped against the wall, tears streaming down her face, the weight of her own power pressing down on her like a crushing burden. The throne was not her destiny. But what was? And how could she find a way out of the inferno that raged within her?

[thenixkat]

Dancing in the Light of a Burning City (Phoenixes) by Flobots

Lyrics:

Dancing in the light while the city still burns Different kings still waiting for their turn I never owned what I've never earned But I know that I will with you

Dance in the fire light Wonder what this side is like Pour the oil on the rising flames And wonder what dying's like I more like dionys Coming back again And I'm trying twice Face the mic Face the life Now I'm just facing those flashing lights Mm. like a flash-lights More like a lightsaber Don't fear the father Ain't been a slave Don't fear no darth vader Naw, I just mob daily I'm up on my intercom baby Calling out to the stars and in the darkest hour Which one of y'all will be my savior

I'm on fire I'm okay

Dumpsters flame still flicker in the dead of night Red and white See the rust and embers charred and bleeding still bleeding I can't go home Hear shots and bickerings ricochet And dissipate If I can't find anyone to believe in I'm leaving Okay I am a sleeping giant Deep inside I want peace and quiet When unheard I may speak in riots When unhinged the country's on fire When unquenched the thirst brings empires To their knees and unspins the spires Pillars fall when umpteen town criers Become choirs unseat the sires Sirens blare with unmet desires Justice rolls down like muddy waters I'm a mouthful of sea change Make you rethink everything prior I was born a young boy james laurie Silver spoon on my tongue same story You'd assume from what's come before me But not everything's honkey dory

I'm on fire

Born of the ashes Heir to the flame Lit by the fire We look the same

[madamlaydebug]

I AM A NEW GENERATION FEMININE LEADER

I've gone deep down into the underground to reclaim my soul.

Being my vulnerable and authentic expression is my goal.

I use my fiery passion to cleanse and purify my self-doubt.

Burning through this ignorance is what I'm all about.

Layers upon layers stripped and peeled off, my old self dies...

I feel reborn, like a Phoenix out of the ashes I rise.

Now, my sister, it is your turn to let go of the past.

To draw a line in the sand and say "I am the last!"

... to play small, to stay silent, to shrink back, to be suppressed.

Women, we will no longer be oppressed.

For when we come together in Sisterhood there is nothing we lack.

Sister, you can surrender into the feminine; I've got your back!

You are enough, You are strong.

You've done nothing wrong.

You are a new generation feminine leader and in this tribe you belong.

I give you full permission to be YOU just as you are.

Unleash your power... It's time we raise the bar.

To take a stand for this dream of freedom that we've had from the start.

~Tanya Lynn

Gratitude to the unknown artist

[juls-pools]

Sana's tarot reading

Disclaimer: it's just for funzies. Don't take it seriously. And never ever make your life choices based on readings. Also this is my first time ever. So this is new for me.

So let's begin!

Main personality trait

The tower

Damn! Wow... Sana... She is intense. She is emotional, not stable, her mind and emotions are all over the place. I am feeling so much pain, so much angry, dark, destroying energy. But also she is very powerful person. She can live through hell and still be alive. She is used to changes, to chaos, she's a flexable girl. She's good at destroying things but also good at rebuilding them after. She good at handling stress in her life. She's like a phoenix, you know. She can burn herself completely but then rise from the ashes again and again, making herself stronger with each time. Also I guess she can be going through something right now. Maybe she is in current type of energy because she is going through some hard times.

Just hope she is going to be okay and wish her peace and well.

Her best quality

Nine of coins

Generous, kind, hedonist. Knows how to make money, very lucky. She's like a magnet for a good oppotunities. She knows her value, what she's worth and capable of. Hardworking, determined, stubborn. She knows what she wants and she will go for her dreams. But at the end of the day she's not going to forget about her loved once and share with them her wealth. She's a positive person, knows how to be happy and appreciate good things in her life.

Her worst quality

The emperor

Lmao... Well... Sana is too bossy. Too much pain in your ass. She wants everyone to do as she says. She's too much demanding and too much powerful. She wants to rule the world. She can even manipulate people to feel power over them. She could be easily get offended if someone would try to cross her road or try to take over her power or authourity.

What type of friend is Sana

Four of cups

Oh.. I guess Sana is just dissopointed in friendship right now. I mean, girl is just too passive and apathetic. She's bored. Maybe she's just having a mental burn out in this aspect of her life. I see this as a sign that maybe someone hurt her too much and she's just put on this mask of a cold friend who only looks at others, talks to them but feels just nothing. It's like she has a void inside her heart. But I see that it's all in her head. She's just need to belive in friendship again.

What type of girlfriend is Sana

Six of cups

How cute! Sana is a romantic soul, good flirt (of course she is). She's good at making feel her partner at home with her. She's cozy, almost motherly to her partner (as her worst quality is Emperor it's funny to me). She's a dreamer, good at making strong and deep emotional connection. She would like to talk about her past and get to know her partner. She's empathetic, soft and can be vulnerable with a right person. But she needs to know this person very well. She needs time. Also I feel like she can be too nostalgic for her own good. Feels like she can stuck in her past and compare her new partners with her exes.

What type of wife Sana can be

Six of coins

Sugar mommy is it you? Hahha.. She wants to be a breadwinner in her family (once again this Emperor can't let me go). She's very generous, wants to pamper, to help her spouse. She will save them and then... Make them codepened. But I mean it in the most soft and gentle way. She wants to be needed, wanted, desired. I guess this is how she is. She will be more powerful and the leader in her family. She will run the show and rule the world with her more submissive and dependent partner. But I feel like she gives too much and she expects as much from her spouse. It doesn't mean that her partner needs to give her money, no, they can be poor but they need to love her and treat her like a queen. She needs to be respected and loved from her partner. It's a card of mutual help. So she needs something in return too.

[rphelperblog]

Kingdom of the Wicked Book Quote rp meme- part one

“Love is the most powerful magic. Above all else, remember that. It will always guide you where you need to go.”

“love and hate are both rooted in passion- strange how that line becomes blurred over time.”

“Tell me you hate me, that I am your worst enemy. Better yet, tell me you don't want to kiss me.”

“acta non verba; actions, not words”

“A woman with a little power was terrifying to some.”

“Bravery might be the absence of fear in most cases, but it also seemed a little like acting foolishly for a good cause.”

“Life often deals you a hand you didn't choose. It's how you end up playing it to your advantage that counts.”

“The stars are out and they’re falling like feathers”

“I wanted to kiss him. Possibly break a bottle and stab him first. But then definitely kiss him.”

“As a witch, I really needed to stop thinking some creatures were mere myths and legends.”

“I believe I’m powerful, therefore I am.”

“There was something about him that came across as lethally angelic. But if he ever had a halo, it was broken now.”

“Magic was life and life was made by making love and feeling good and our bodies constantly tried to remind us to live.”

“Every tall tale was rooted in truth.”

“I will not appear weak for you to maintain strength.”

“A true leader delegates. Just as your're doing now. Never doubt your courage.”

“Life often deals you a hand you didn’t choose.”

“For the living embodiment of sin, you aren't very sinful.”

“I always knew you. And always will. Your soul calls to mine. It’s a feeling of coming home. Of peace. No magic can duplicate it.”

“Stories make everything possible.”

“Every tall tale was rooted in truth.”

“Fear made monsters of men.”

“Assumptions are the death of truth.”

“Why is it whenever a man throws a tantrum a woman is blamed for his poor behavior?”

“Astra inclinant, sed non obligant; The stars incline us, they do not bind us”

“Real life certainly wasn't anything close to a romance novel, but there was still a small part of the old me left that hoped for a happy ending”

“What if I'm the villain? One who's so vicious, so terrible, I was punished to forget?”

“A phoenix rises from the ashes for a reason. Your world must be destroyed for you to rise anew. And rise you shall. Just as they feared you would.”

“I do not wish to taint my body with the foulness of human food,"

"But desserts are acceptable.”

“Your pride didn't appear in that bone circle the night you spilled blood and summoned me. It was your wrath. Your fury.”

“Forging a bond made from love is as dangerous as those made through hate.”

“At times my simmering rage was the only indication I was alive.”

“Man had a funny way of blaming the devil for things he didn’t like.”

“It was strange that we were called evil when humans were the ones who enjoyed watching us burn.”

“His annoyance joined mine in unholy matrimony.”

“Why do villains always wear black?”

“Of course. There is nothing more dangerous than a woman who owns who she is and apologizes to no one.”

“Love and hate are both rooted in passion.”

“Find forgiveness and acceptance in your heart, or darkness will seep in and destroy you.”

“You are not his intended.You are mine.”

“I hoped the kingdom of the wicked was ready for a vengeful queen.”

“One day you might beg me to kiss you.”

“Names have power. Titles are a show of power.”

“Never forget: forging a bond made from love is as dangerous as those made though hate.”

“Live long enough to hate me for this”

“Young women died. Life resumed. Such was the way of the world, at least according to men.”

“He was death and rage and fire and anyone stupid enough to forget that would be consumed by his inferno.”

“In the end, the monster we feared didn’t come from Hell. He came from privilege.”

“Only you can decide how to move forward”

“Someone’s cocky.”

“Instead of being ruled by fear, I could become fearless.”

“I am your favorite sin.”

“The stars incline us; they do not bind us.“

“Your heart will conquer darkness. Trust in that.”

“You always have the power of choice, even when those choices seem limited. Never forget that.”

“Others would always be out there, trying to knock me down, to tell me who I was or who they thought I should be. People carved words into weapons often, but they only had power if I listened to them instead of trusting in myself.”

“One day you'll call me Death.For now, Wrath will do.”

A good book was its own brand of magic, one I could safely indulge in without fear of getting caught by those who hunted. I loved escaping from reality, especially during times of trouble. Stories made everything possible.”

“Fate may deal it's hand, try encouraging our path or intervene, but we are ultimately free to choose our own destiny. Never doubt that.”

“Perhaps we’ve finally found your Achilles’ heel, your majesty.”

“It’s a game of scopa, not a battle between life and death. Are you always this dramatic?”

“Pretend there's no curse. No magical betrothal. Or romantic urges created by our bond. Would you choose me? To reign beside you. To be your queen. Your friend. Your confidant. Your lover... If I am still yours, I would tell you that you are mine. That I am choosing you as my husband. There is no one I'd rather confront my demons with, no soul I'd travel through Hell with. And no one else I want standing beside me.”

“This was not the kind of prince written about in fairy tales. There was no golden crown sitting atop his dark head, or promises of safety waiting in his sculpted, tattooed arms. He was death and rage and fire and anyone stupid enough to forget that would be consumed by his inferno.”

“I don’t know how you’ve fooled humanity for so long, but it’s as Envy said. You are the most skilled liar of all. Samael.”

[essentiallykpopandbl]

I don't normally talk at lengths about kpop related things, especially on Tumblr, because I feel there are enough other fans in the world adding to the conversation. Yet, I am going to break that for a moment because I finally got around to watching RM's mv for Wild Flower that came out a few days ago. Do you know when you watch something and the meaning comes across loud and clear and it hits you and you just sit a little stunned but also a little sad. And you know you will never see that thing the same way again? Well that happened this morning. I have had Wild Flower on repeat since it came out but due to my lack of fluency in korean, all I could go off of was a few words I picked up, the vibe, feeling, and emotion of the song. I had a feeling RM was singing about his struggles with his life in BTS. But oh boy did was I so unprepared.

"When everything I believed in grew distant.

When all this fame turned into shackles.

Please take my desire away from me.

No matter what it takes.

Oh let me be myself"

That part almost broke me. I can't imagine what it is like to be in his position. Leader of arguably the best known K-pop group. Often the voice of an entire industry due to the position his group is in. The pressure to be what his members, company, industry, and country needs him to be. He is RM of BTS. And I know he has talked about this before but he is also Kim Namjoon. A boy who fell in love with music with no idea what he will become. And I am worried it is what he has become that will one day break him. But it's his second verse that made me want to write this.

"Where's my end finally gonna be?

Everything's so exhausting from A to Z

When's this wretched mask finally gonna come off?

Yeah, me no hero, me no villian

I'm barely anything

Idling repeats, memories turning vicious

Lying in a field, I set my sights on the skies

Now, I can't remember what I wanted so badly

I trusted I was happy, now a mere memory

Yeah I been going, no matter what's in front

No matter what it may be

Memories of holding onto dawn's edge and spitting things out

Society's all for the loudest voice

And here I am, still speaking silence

It's an aside, a boat in full bloom

To face all the prejudice and misunderstandings

I dont care much for being tossed into the air

Grounded on my own two feet

Amongst the flowers without names

I can't go to the stars again, I cant

Underfoot I just go

To a destination without a purpose

Not even knowing my own sadness

Even making friends with the shadows

I be gone"

You can feel his heart as he is rapping this verse. The sadness and fear he has at losing himself. I think as fans, we often forget what some people give up when they reach that level of fame. But on the flip side, no one truly knows what it means to be RM of BTS. Even the other members, RM's biggest support system, dont know that feeling. They know what it means to be a member of BTS, but to be the voice that RM is always expected to be? They don't know that. But when RM talks.... is it his voice? Or is it the collective voice of the other members and the industry he is representing? Does he answer based on what he thinks is expected of him? And if so, does that cause him to have even less of a voice? At what point does the need to speak for others suffocate someone.

I find it interesting that he brought up the shadows, because SUGA also raps about the shadows often. How they grow and can overtake everything when the light on them becomes too strong. I find it terrifying the thought of it being easier to be swallowed, or friends, with those shadows then to keep looking at the light. But when the light is blinding and the stars are scary, maybe the darkness is comforting.

While the song is sad it is also hopeful. When he talks about burning fireworks to flowerworks, it feels very reminiscent of the Phoenix. Something that rises from the ashes and comes back more beautiful. I think RM is battling those demons and what is threatening to burn him down but I believe what comes out of it is that much better. And I hope that is what we are seeing through this song. That RM is finding a way to be Kim Namjoon. That the world has not taken everything from him in their expectations of who he is. That somewhere, Kim Namjoon is finding his own voice. And that voice will be just as loud and beautiful as RM's is. Because I have a feeling Kim Namjoon has very interesting things to say.

[inviouswriting]

Free write - Phoenix

There are dusty feathers on the ground,

 they once belonged to me they're reminders of the things I've lost. 

Hands that have plucked each one till there is nothing left 

Till there is only bare and tender behind. 

Another piece of me taken till there is only a shell left

 I am sure there was once a storm that raged

 the winds that scatter the feathers to and from

 Now just a dull wisp of air.

 I can curl in on myself, 

let everything sink in, 

let them win little by little. 

The air is dry, water is nearby but the raw anger inside keeps me from it. 

An offering from those who think I need a muddy puddle that will suffice. 

There is a spark within my soul like lightning, it starts as a small ember. 

Suddenly everything is aflame, 

everything matches what I feel, 

what I want to scream out. 

I feel the flames as it roars higher around me, but there is no pain. 

 Nothing is more painful than the betrayals I once felt, 

a little fire is nothing when your nerves are already numb. 

It's fire that revives my soul, it brings forth a reminder that 

I am worth more than the words of small minds. 

That all others can do is watch as the flames revive the shell before them. 

Giving life back to what was left as nothing, 

giving color that matches the emotion I feel. 

Rain can soothe the soul momentarily, 

but it is the fire that burns bright 

the choice of renewal of a phoenix. 

Destruction within oneself to give yourself a new life and path. 

I leave nothing behind except the ashes of a former self, 

and stand with more love for myself that no one can touch. 

The embers alone are a reminder that even a small one can start the process.

 I am me and I will always be me. 

Now watch me burn all that I left behind and rise from the ashes.