“The doc says we’re clear to go.”

Alexi walks out of the infirmary with Kay, scanning the many disgruntled faces in front of him. “I’ve got a lil’ shoulder fracture, but it’s nothing too bad. I’m still good to play tonight.”

“Are you sure, Lexi?” Klavier tilts his head a bit. “I can’t have you holding anything back tonight. It’s all or nothing -- you rock, or you rest.”

“I’m ready to rock. Don’t you worry.”

Mr. Edgeworth looks pretty miserable, his eyes heavy and his hand clutching his sleeve.

“Kay,” he says quietly, “I am so sorry. I couldn’t--”

Without a word she rushes head-on towards him, throwing her arms around his waist. “It’s okay! I’m the one who’s sorry. We were supposed to just have fun tonight, and...”

Shaking his head, Mr. Edgeworth raises a trembling hand and places it gently on the back of Kay’s head. “It’s alright.” After a moment’s hesitation, he wraps his other arm around her back, holding tight. “Don’t blame yourself.”

“Uncle, I said uncle! Lemme go!”

The tender moment shatters as the Bad Badger, strong-armed by Daryan, is dragged into the room. His puffy blue arms and legs flail, struggling to break free. Alexi winces. He’s not makin’ this easy for himself. Still -- Klavier, unfazed, storms forward and yanks the headpiece off of the suit.

Mr. Edgeworth stands upright, the fires of hell smoldering in his eyes.

“Larry.”

“Larry?” Alexi repeats, raising a brow. “Who the hell is Larry?”

“I-I didn’t mean to! Wait! I can explain, I swear!” Larry blubbers loudly, curling in on himself. “Look, you just don’t understand! I needed to borrow that guitar, that’s all! I just had to borrow it for a little while before the show, I swear I was gonna give it back!”

“And why, pray tell,” Mr. Edgeworth snaps, “did you do that? Do you realize the full extent of the harm you’ve caused, you imbecile?!”

“Eep! Don’t hurt me! Look, it’s just… i-it was for her! The love of my life, the total babe who’s trapped in that Pink Badger suit! She works long hours, tirelessly… I’ve never seen her face, but I know she must be beautiful! Like a rose in a case of glass, doomed to never feel the sun. I just wanted to play a song for her… to woo her with my newly-acquired musical talents! I’ve been taking lessons. I can even play Hot Cross Buns!”

“That was almost poetic. You were so close.” Klavier sighs. “Should we arrest him, Herr Edgeworth?”

Looking into Larry’s wet, wobbly eyes, Mr. Edgeworth sighs. “He’s learned his lesson… one can hope, anyway. If he does it again, I’ll see to it that the punishment is befitting of the crime.”

“Y-yeah! Sure thing! I’ll be good, Edgey, I swear! Thanks… oh, hey! You!” Larry points at Alexi. “You can have your bass back.” Daryan finally releases Larry with a tired grunt, eyeballing him hard as he scurries to hand over the bass. “It’s pretty nifty. Did you paint that weird thing on it yourself?”

“Y’know, yeah,” Kay taps her chin, “I’ve been meaning to ask you that this whole time. What is that thing on there?”

Soon as it’s back in his hands, Alexi plays a spunky, upbeat riff on his bass. His fingertips thrum with raw, glittering joy. “That weird thing? That’s my ‘badgersona’.”

“Mein gott, not again.” Klavier sighs, laughing. “Don’t get him started.”

“What’s a badgersona?” Kay pipes up. “It looks really cool!”

“A badgersona,” Alexi snaps his fingers, “is the ultimate expression of one’s desire to do justice. Each badger that walks around Gatewater Land has a different purpose, a different creed.” He strikes a dynamic chord. “The Blue Badger, protection. The Pink Badger, nurturing. The Bad Badger, chaos. And the Proto-Badger, tradition. All these elements control the balance of justice in this world. They’re present in all of us. To become an agent of justice, you must possess all of them in equal measure… protection to guard those in need, nurturing to free them from pain, chaos to act quickly when the situation demands, and tradition to follow the letter of the law as best you can. This badger on my bass -- the Crimson Badger -- he stands for my own creed, my fifth element: repentance.”

“Repentance.” Miles repeats flatly.

“A Crimson Badger in search of redemption, always shedding a tear as a reminder of the fallen, and of his own responsibility to do justice… it’s perfect!” Kay clenches a fist, shaking it ardently. “I, the Great Yatagarasu, must have a badgersona of my own!”

“Really?! You mean it?” Alexi perks up, twanging a high note (or as high as a bass can go, really). “I’m so down -- I’ll help you design it after the show!”

“Mr. Edgeworth,” Kay whirls around to face him, “we need to get you a badgersona too! We can match!”

“N-no! I have no interest in that sort of thing.” His eyes dart both ways. “I do not need a ‘badgersona’. That’s ridiculous!”

“Oh, c’mon! He could be the same magenta as your suit, and he could even have a little cravat! Maybe his element could be… repression!”

Mr. Edgeworth opens his mouth to protest when a high-pitched wail sounds off.

“Edgey-poo! Is that you over there?!”

“Ahh, oh no!” Larry shields his face. “The Pink Badger, my love! She can’t see me like this! I’ll never-- Edgey, where are you going?!”

In the blink of an eye Mr. Edgeworth is off, sprinting back towards the concert area. The Pink Badger reaches the rest of the group and yanks off her mask. Larry’s face pales. “N-no! My love is… nooooooo! Not you, Ms. Oldbag!”

“Shut your trap, whippersnapper! Where’s my Edgeypoo?” Sniffing the air as if she might catch his scent, Ms. Oldbag turns on her heel and spots him. “Come back here, darling!”

Kay, Alexi, Klavier, Daryan, and Larry all exchange glances. They take off in unison, rocketing all the way back to the stage. Alexi laughs, slinging his bass over his shoulder and holding it tight as he goes. “Yo, Kay! Need a lift?”

“Sure!” Grinning, she runs at Alexi and hops onto his back. She points toward the fiery horizon, the sun at her fingertips. “Full speed ahead, Crimson Badger!”

“You got it!”