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Cheese rolling wasn’t something Phoenix Wright usually did with his time. But he had travelled all the way to Gloucester for the cheese rolling festival in a packed car with Maya, Edgeworth, Ema and Franziska, which was a slight nightmare, with Edgeworth and Franziska’s constant sniping at each other. It took Ema threatening to bang their heads together from the passenger seat to get them to quit. While Maya was suspiciously quiet. She had headphones in to block out the chaos, but Phoenix was used to her chattering away, and her closeness with Franziska too. He still had no idea how those two had started dating.
It was Phoenix’s first time doing this, and he was already slightly frazzled by the whole thing.
“This is going to be fun. I’m glad I’m just watching. I’ve been helping Maya train.” Ema said from the passenger seat of the car.
Maybe leaving Edgeworth, Franziska and Maya in the backseat of the tiny car wasn’t the best decision, especially when they were right next to each other.
“Ohh… that’s why Maya’s been running a lot. Makes sense. But on the way back, we can’t have those two sitting next to each other.” Phoenix kept his voice low so only Ema could hear him over the blasting radio.
It definitely didn’t help that they had taken an early flight to Gatwick, and nearly everyone, apart from Maya and Ema was tired and grumpy. They were yet to reach their accommodation, and had multiple suitcases stuffed in the boot of the car as they travelled down the M5. Their original flight from LAX was cancelled, they had originally booked a 8pm flight, and ended up having to book onto the next available one, which was a 4am one. The flight was very long, 10 hours and 25 minutes, and it would take 2 hours and 25 minutes to travel from London to Gloucester.
“Yeah, good point. Maybe put Maya in the middle. Or maybe not… She’s just as serious about the whole thing.” Ema said.
“Looks like one of us will have to…” Phoenix trailed off, when he noticed Ema playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons on her Switch. She found a Double Gloucester cheese on her island.
“Isn’t it cool? It’s because of the event.” Ema said as she selected the cheese.
“Definitely cool.” Phoenix looked down at his phone as his sat nav gave him instructions, and he moved lanes to turn off down the Gloucester motorway exit.
They had booked a cottage for accommodation, and they needed to check in by 2pm that day.
It didn’t take much longer to get to the small cottage, and they picked their rooms and unpacked. Jet lag was making it hard to stay awake, but if they slept when they got there, they’d struggle to sleep that night.
The cheese rolling event was the next day at Cooper’s Hill in Brockworth, and they spent the rest of the day exploring. Maya had visited Gloucester multiple times, and was helpful for pointing out places to eat, and being a good tour guide.
When everyone loaded into the car the next day, Phoenix made Ema take the middle seat to keep Franziska and Edgeworth separated, and had Maya in the passenger seat instead. He plugged in his phone, and plugged in the post code.
As he looked up from his phone, he noticed how jittery Maya was next to him, and looked at her. He was on recording duty, with Ema.
"Nick, I come from a long line of cheese rollers, this is very important to me! Don't screw it up!"
"...I thought your family did spirit stuff, Maya Fey."
"We have a thing called weekends, Nick."
“Ah… Got it. Was Mia the cheese roller before you?” He asked then, remembering how Mia had photos of Double Gloucester cheese on her wall.
“Yes! But I’ve taken up the mantle. You seem shocked. Remember when I took a week in May off last year?” Maya said as she looked at him.
“Oh! Okay…Considering how I didn’t even know it existed until we booked this trip, I had no clue.” Phoenix winced when he noticed Maya roll her eyes at him.
“Keep up, Nick! Shall I trust Ema to record over you? She seems to have more of an idea about the importance of this event.”
“Yes. I’ll just be the chauffeur, shall I?” Phoenix shrugged as he started the car.
When his boyfriend Edgeworth had suggested this event for their holidays, Phoenix had just gone ahead with it. But he now realised he had bitten off more than he could chew. Especially when himself and Ema were the only ones in the car who didn’t come from a long line of cheese rollers.
“No arguing, please. Save the competition for the actual cheese rolling, please.” Ema said, as she sent a glare at Edgeworth and Franziska, who were both glaring at each other.
It didn’t take long to get to Cooper’s Hill, and park up. But the tension in the car was so thick you could slice a knife through it.
As they got out, and made their way towards the top of the hill, Phoenix nudged Maya. “So… what’s with the tension between you and Franziska? Is she a cheese roller too?”
“Of course she is, Nick. We’re both the current leaders of our lines of cheese rollers. We bonded over it.” Maya explained.
Both Maya and Franziska were holding hands as they walked over to the tent to get their bracelets for the women’s race, leaving only Edgeworth and Ema standing with Phoenix.
“I don’t know how you didn’t know that. But you didn’t grow up doing this, right? Both of them have never missed a year of the competition itself.” Edgeworth said.
“Nope. This is my first time. But I heard people do get injured and it’s pretty dangerous.” Phoenix said as he looked down the steep hill with trepidation.
“It’s my first time too! I’m excited. And I’m also on camera duty.” Ema said.
Edgeworth nodded. “I’ll get my bracelet, then we can watch them race.”
They joined the queue, and once Edgeworth had his bracelet, they joined the people sitting at a safe distance on the side of the hill to watch as the women crowded onto the hill ready to run.
There was someone standing by the cheese ready to roll it, and as they counted down, they pushed the cheese hard. It came hurtling down the hill with the women in pursuit. Phoenix cheered for Maya, risking Franziska’s wrath in the process. Some people fell as the race went on, Franziska being one, but the cheese stopped for no one. Maya was right by the front, and was the first over the line. Once the cheese stopped rolling, Maya captured it and held it up with a smile to have photos taken, then she hurried over to join the others with a huffy Franziska in tow. Her dark hair was streaming out behind her, and she plopped down with the others.
“Aww, Franzy. Next year’s your year. Are you okay? But this time, that’s how I roll.” Maya held up her cheese, and Franziska grumbled.
“Hmph. I suppose you won it fair and square. And it’s only your second year competing. And don’t worry, I’m gouda. Just took a hit to my pride…” Franziska let Maya hug her, and nestle close to her begrudgingly, and Ema snapped photos with her phone.
“My race is in four races, so I should go up to the top.” Edgeworth said as he stood up.
“That fool better not win. His streak is unbroken.” Franziska grumbled.
“You’re not too sharp, are you? Just because you fell doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a chance.” Maya said.
The next four women’s races went by quickly, then it was time for the first men’s one. Ema was ready with the camera, while the others just watched peacefully.
As the cheese started rolling down the hill, the group gave chase. Phoenix watched for Edgeworth, and noticed he was in the middle group, with people in front and behind him. Three of the leaders all tripped over the cheese, giving the people behind the time to overtake. Edgeworth was now in the lead group, and it was too close to tell who was ahead, but by a whisker, Edgeworth caught the cheese at the finish line.
After having photos taken, he joined the group with his cheese. Franziska was still sulking, and when Edgeworth tried to alert her to the cheese, she looked away.
“Don’t gloat, little brother. It’s not becoming. It’s foolish I lost.” She grumbled.
After the races, they all went to the pub for a pint. It was hot under the warm sun. Franziska and Maya quickly split off from Phoenix, Edgeworth and Ema, Franziska still fuming from her loss, and clearly not wanting to be near Edgeworth.
“Maybe next year I’ll compete? Looks fun.” Phoenix said.
“Why not, Wright? You won’t lose against me. I bet this cheese on it.” Edgeworth held out his hand, and Phoenix shook it.
“We’ll see next year, shall we.”
“I’m definitely joining. And inviting my girlfriend Alecto for the fun too. Maybe Lana might be up for it?” Ema’s eyes were sparkling as she spoke.
“I don’t see why not. Besides, we can be trusted to take it a little less seriously.” Phoenix shrugged.
“You’re right about that. Franziska’s still in a huff at her loss. But she was competing against Maya this time. Maya broke her streak last year. The Feys are notorious for being good at cheese rolling.” Edgeworth said.
“Edam it. It’s supposed to be fun. Don’t gloat at her, if you would. You two were horrendous after we got off the plane.” Ema said.
“I won’t. You’ll probably have more to worry about from those two. Can I have the front seat this time?” Edgeworth asked.
“Nope. I’m taking it. I’m fed up with being the middle person. Alecto’s competitive, but not these two’s level. But she’s more scientifically oriented.” Ema said.
“She’s doing her A Levels, right? You can have the front seat on the way back to the cottage, but Edgeworth has it on the way to the airport. Hopefully Franziska will cool off a little. At least she didn’t bring her whip on holiday.” Phoenix said.
“That’s fair. And Alecto is, yes. She lives in Cardiff with her family, so I’d have somewhere else to stay. It’s cramped with five people in the cottage.” Ema said.
After they finished their pints and had food, they got back in the car. Phoenix turned up the music just in case there was another argument, but the backseat seemed suspiciously quiet.
They went straight to bed once they got back because it was late. The rest of the holiday flew by, and soon they were on the plane back to Los Angeles, with the cheese in tow.