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“Stella! Stella!!” Kay shouted enthusiastically as she ran across the front lawn of the von Karma Estate and into the foyer. “The mail came!!” She proclaimed, bounding to a stop beside her friend.
“Kay…” Stella’s cowlick twitched as she brought a finger to her chin in confusion, “The mail comes every day?”
Kay paused to think. “Well, yeah, but it’s like the mail. Look!” She handed Stella a crisp white envelope with a golden, regal-looking seal.
Stella took the mail from Kay, quiet shock evident on her face. “This is-”
“I know! You totally gotta open it!” Kay cheered, grabbing Stella’s shoulders. “Wait right here.” she said before running off again.
Stella turned the envelope over in her hands, in awe and anxious at the same time. Kay’s call of “Mr. Edgewoooorrrth!” resounded further and further down the halls. This was it. After months of preparation and an entrance exam, this could be her chance to start over. To be a real prosecutor.
Or it was a rejection letter and Stella really was a dumb, stupid, good-for-nothing brat who’d do anything for attention and then Mr. Edgeworth would give up on her and then she’d be all alone again and no one would ever love her and her father was right all along and-
“Stella!” Kay grinned, dragging Mr. Edgeworth behind her like an overactive dog straining against a leash.
“Kay. Please. I am perfectly capable of walking on my own.” Mr. Edgeworth grimaced.
“Yeah, whatever. You’re too slow, Oldworth.” She dropped his hand and practically jumped on Stella’s shoulder. “Come on Stella, what’s it say?”
“Um, well…” Stella broke the seal and pulled out the letter. It was on stiff, fancy paper and folded up all proper-like and she took a little longer fumbling with it then she would’ve liked. If her incompetence bothered Kay or Mr. Edgeworth, neither of them showed it.
Stella cleared her throat. “Uh, okay… Dear Stella Winner, we have reviewed your application and would like to congratulate you. Themis Legal Academy welcomes you as a member of the upcoming first-year class!” She looked up at Kay. “I did it! I got in for real!”
Mr. Edgeworth had less than a split second to prepare himself before the girls started squealing.
“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!”
“This is so exciting!”
“I’m so proud of you!”
“Kay!!”
“Stella!!”
They were hugging and jumping and spinning. Stella, for her part, was not crying.
Mr. Edgeworth approached when they had (somewhat) calmed down. “Congratulations, Stella.” he praised. Much to his surprise, he suddenly had a noseful of soft hair and his arms full of gangly limbs. Quickly recovering from shock, he returned the embrace.
“Yay! Group hug!” Kay exclaimed, wrapping herself around the other two.
They stayed like that for a while until Mr. Edgeworth spoke up. “Have you decided what school you want to go to, Kay?”
“Huh?” Kay cocked her head to the side. “Whatdaya mean? I finished school.”
“You need further education if you want to work in the Prosecutors’ Office with Stella and me,” he pointed out.
Kay was appalled. “I’m a Great Thief! I don’t need to go to school anymore!”
“Great Thief isn’t a legal paying job.” Mr. Edgeworth sighed.
“Aren’t you on sabba-whatever break?” Stella asked.
Kay got flustered. “I’m doing just fine as a Great Thief on sabbatical!”
Stella smiled playfully and poked Kay in the side with her baton. “A certain somebody helped me study for my entrance exam to Themis. Maybe I should return the favor?”
“But I don’t need to…” Kay’s eyes widened as she stepped back, “Noooooooooooooooo!!!!” she cried, running away through the mansion. “I don’t wanna go to school again!!”
Mr. Edgeworth brought a hand to his face and shook his head in exasperation.
Stella burst into laughter watching the scene unfold. Tears of joy pricking the corner of her eyes.
She was going to move forward with her life. Authentically this time.