Chapter Text
August 23rd, 2018
10:13 AM
Wright-Edgeworth Residence
“Apollo, you’ve been staring at that envelope for two hours. I don’t think you’re gonna be able to see through it with x-ray vision.”
“What’s inside this envelope is either a rejection, or an acceptance, and... I’m not sure what’s scarier.”
Phoenix sighed, and Pess whined, rubbing against Apollo’s legs.
“Even the dog thinks you’re stalling, Polly.” Trucy looked unimpressed. “Just open it before you give yourself a stress ulcer.”
Apollo bit his lip, then turned.
“Papa, what do you think-?”
“Open the letter, Apollo. You’ve been stressing out about it since you sent in your application.”
Apollo gave him a look, then turned back to the envelope, his hands shaking as he took a deep breath and broke the fancy-looking seal and opened it. He stared at the letter inside, his expression unreadable.
“Apollo...?”
“I... I got in.”
Trucy gasped, her eyes wide.
“You got in?!”
“I-I’ve been accepted! Into the defense attorney course!” Apollo had the biggest grin on his face Phoenix had ever seen. “I’m going to Themis! With a full scholarship!”
“Oh thank god.”
Miles rolled his eyes.
“Phoenix, we agreed that I would provide the tuition money if it was necessary.”
“Yes, but scholarships are good. Scholarships mean they like him.”
“I’m going to Themis! I-I have to tell Clay! And Klavier!”
“I bet Klavier’s gonna be super happy that you’re going to school together again.” Trucy teased.
Apollo didn’t seem to notice, instead babbling excitedly about all the people he had to tell as he ran back to his room.
“H-Hey! Come back here!” Trucy demanded, chasing after him. “I’m making fun of you, dang it!”
Phoenix laughed, then sighed, leaning back on the couch and throwing an arm over Miles, who was browsing his phone.
“Glad that’s over. I was starting to think he’d get so stressed out his hair would start turning grey, like yours was before you gave up and dyed it.”
“Charming... oh.”
Phoenix frowned at the look on Miles’ face.
“What?”
Miles cringed, turning his phone off and putting in it his lap.
“Nothing!”
Phoenix quirked an eyebrow, then grinned.
“Hey, you know, you never kissed me good morning.”
“Because you have terrible morning breath.”
“Well, I’ve brushed my teeth, so you don’t have an excuse now, do you?”
Miles rolled his eyes, but turned to him and leaned forward. Phoenix did the same, meeting him halfway for a quick kiss, then snatching his phone from his lap as soon as he was distracted.
“Gotcha!”
“Wh-! Hey!”
Phoenix laughed as he held his boyfriend at arm’s length and turned on his phone.
“Oh, right, you’ve got a passcode.”
“Yes, one that you don’t-!”
“Oh three eleven. Seriously, Miles, my birthday? And you call me... cheesy... oh.”
Despite everything, Phoenix’s heart sank when he read the headline that Miles had been looking at.
“Dahlia Hawthorne Execution Date Set for January 12th, 2019.”
“I... I guess I see why you didn’t want to tell me...”
Miles sighed as he took his phone back.
“I’m sorry, Phoenix.”
“N-No, no, it’s okay... she killed two people and got another to commit suicide, she... she’s a bad person.”
“That doesn’t make it any easier, does it?”
Phoenix sighed, leaning back on the couch.
“... I wanted to marry her, ya know? I was even looking at engagement rings...”
“... Weren’t you twenty-one and still in college?”
“I was very, very stupid. Come on, you’ve been young and in love before, right?”
“Yes, and that ended with him getting murdered by the then-Deputy Chief of Police to forge evidence and blackmail people.”
“R-Right, sorry... Still, Dollie... I’d never really felt like that about anyone before. I had a huge crush on you when we were kids, and I love you now, but Dollie... she was my first love. I fell for her at first sight. Her eyes were so sweet and piercing, and there was this kind but strong manner she had... she was the kind of girl I could love forever. I was gonna spend the rest of my life with her.”
“Phoenix...”
“And in my life, I don’t think I’ve ever been so fucking wrong.”
“Swear jar!” Trucy announced as she walked back into the living room, a bemused Apollo following her. “What are you talking about?”
“You remember that girl I told you about, Dollie?”
“The one that tried to frame you for a murder she committed? No, I completely forgot about how nonchalantly you disclosed something hugely traumatic.”
“No one likes a smartass, Apollo.”
“You’re gonna run up your bill, Daddy. What about Miss Mean Murder Lady?”
He sighed.
“They’ve set her execution date for next January.”
Both of their kids’ faces fell.
“Oh...”
“I’m sorry, Daddy...”
“No, it’s okay, she’s a bad person.” He laughed. “Although, you would have had a heck of a time convincing me of that back when it happened. I was convinced of her innocence til the moment she confessed, even when the evidence said she tried to kill me.”
His family was silent, and when he looked at them they all had matching horrified expressions.
“What?”
“She tried to kill you?!” They all yelled, eyes bugging out of their heads.
Oh, right, most people think that’s pretty fucked up.
“Y-Yeah... It was cause of that necklace she gave me. It was evidence that could have gotten her caught in a different case, and she needed it to get away scot-free. I wouldn’t give it back, so she planned to kill me, and... well, poor Doug got caught up in our little tragedy.”
“Ooh, story time!” Trucy squealed, running over and sitting on the loveseat, her brother sitting next to her.
“Aw, come on, you guys don’t wanna hear this story, it’s... well, I acted like an idiot the whole way through.”
“Oh, now I have to hear this.” Miles replied, a smirk on his face.
Whatever happened to “we’re a team?”
Phoenix sighed.
“Fine, fine... it was about four years ago now... I was still a drama major, and my moms hired a defense attorney for me...”
April 11th, 2014
9:37 AM
District Court
Defendant Lobby No. 3
I’m gonna die. I’m totally, totally gonna die, they’re gonna find me guilty, even though I didn’t kill him, I’ll never see Dollie or my moms or Larry or... or Miles ever again!
“Ahem! Mr. Wright?”
Phoenix looked up, then sneezed, coughing a bit.
“A-Ah, yes?”
The large man smiled at him.
“Hello, Mr. Wright. My name is Marvin Grossberg.”
“O-Oh! You’re the lawyer my moms hired, right?”
“That I am.”
He coughed again.
“Th-Thank you for taking this case on such short notice... I-I’ll do my best in court!”
Mr. Grossberg shook his head.
“I’m afraid I’m not the one you have to promise that to, Mr. Wright. I’ll be serving as co-counsel, not the lead attorney.”
Phoenix blinked.
“E-Eh? Then... then who-?”
The doors to the lobby burst open.
“S-Sorry I’m late!”
Phoenix blinked again, then felt himself blush. One of the most gorgeous women he’d ever seen had come strolling into the lobby. She had a very... noticeable figure, but it was her eyes that really caught Phoenix’s attention. They were sharp and grey, filled with determination, and almost weirdly familiar.
They kind of remind me of...
“Objection! He shouldn’t apologize! Phoenix Wright is innocent!”
Phoenix felt himself blush more, shaking his head.
Don’t be weird, Phoenix! I mean, it’s not weird, you’re bisexual, it’s normal, but you haven’t seen him in years, and anyway, you have Dollie!
“Ah, Miss Fey, there you are! Right on time!”
She laughed nervously.
“G-Good morning! Sorry, got caught in traffic... I-I’m Mia, by the way.”
“I-It’s okay, all you really missed was my moms fussing over me...”
How embarrassing. I’m not nine anymore, you know!
He sneezed again.
“Oh, what’s wrong? Do you have a cold, Mr... Wry, was it?”
“Um... W-Wright, actually. Like the guys with the plane... i-it’s okay, people get it wrong all the time... a-and yeah, I have a cold. My doctor told me to wear this mask so I don’t pass it onto others... be kind to people, he says...”
He’s got a point, but I’m not a baby! I’m old enough to drink, dang it! I mean, I don’t, but still!
“Oh, I see.”
“U-Um... I just wanted to say... I’ll do my best in court today! Not to worry! N-No problemo, heh!”
Big problemo, there’s no way I’m gonna be found innocent, and this time it can’t be fixed by apologizing and giving money I didn’t steal back! I mean, I didn’t have to do that, but still!
“Right!”
Phoenix yelped as Mia grabbed him by the front of his sweater and started tugging him towards the courtroom.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Wright! If you’re truly innocent, then you’ve got nothing to fear in court today! I will save you!”
“Stand tall and smile. You’re innocent, right? Then you’ve got nothing to worry about. So dry your tears. Justice will be done.”
Phoenix sniffled for reasons not entirely related to his cold.
“Ngh... p-please let go of my sweater...”
April 11th, 2014
10:00 AM
District Court
Courtroom No. 2
“Court is now in session for the trial of Mr. Phoenix Wright.”
“The defense is ready, Your Honor!”
“The prosecution is ready, Your Honor.”
Geez, look at that guy’s hair. People used to say I look like a porcupine, but this guy’s doing a bad Elvis impression!
“The defense today is...” The judge looked surprised. “Ms. Mia Fey?”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“But... I was under the impression that Marvin Grossberg would be leading today’s trial?”
Mia cringed, and Phoenix’s stomach churned.
“E-Er, well, yes, but... h-he had an emergency! Very last minute, couldn’t put it off!”
“But... isn’t that Mr. Grossberg next to you?”
Phoenix covered his face.
Might as well just hang me out in the prison yard this afternoon. Save everyone a lot of time.
“Y-Yes, well...”
“You’re... you’re just a rookie, aren’t you? Are you sure you can handle this?”
Mia glared at the judge.
“Of... of course, Your Honor! ... I think.”
Phoenix resisted the urge to groan, looking over at the stands. His moms and Larry looked like they were all about to burst into tears, and Phoenix’s heart sank.
Guys... I’m really sorry...
“Very well, then. Mr. Payne, your opening statement, please.”
The prosecutor laughed.
“Well, well, well... I can’t believe a veteran like me has to spend his time babysitting a new defense attorney fresh off the bar.”
Fresh off the bar?! Forget the yard, just take me out back and shoot me now...
“Don’t worry, little girl, it’ll all be over soon.”
Note to self: If you ever have a daughter who becomes a lawyer, keep her away from this douche.
“Now then, I'd like to proceed with a summary of events on the day in question. The incident occurred on the campus of Ivy University. The murder victim was a student named Doug Swallow. He was a fourth year student studying Pharmacology.”
“Hm... sounds like he was a very bright young man.”
Phoenix resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
Bright and flat fucking crazy.
“Yes, well, next we have a photo taken at the scene of the crime. Students discovered the scene shortly after the murder. They found the victim's body... and the defendant, who had obviously bungled his getaway. They then called the police.”
Phoenix cringed, unable to make himself look at his moms and Larry.
“Hmm... that certainly does make the defendant look suspicious.”
But I didn’t do it! I swear, I didn’t kill him!
The judge asked about the cause of death, which a rather smug-looking Payne implored Mia to announce. Mia looked nervous, but after a moment said that it was electrocution. Payne then brought up motive, asking Mia again to tell the court what the source of bad blood between Doug and Phoenix was through evidence.
“E-Evidence...?”
“Ah, no need to get all worked up over this. As I said, all our weapons can be found in the Court Record. Find the evidence you need and then shove it into Ol' Graybeard's face!”
“Y-Yes sir! Into Ol’ Graybeard’s face, got it!”
“Er, Mr. Grossberg, please try to set a better example for the young lady...”
Phoenix was still terrified down to the soles of his feet, but he couldn’t help but snicker at that.
Eventually, Mia brought out Dollie’s picture. Payne confirmed that Dollie was Phoenix’s girlfriend, but had been Doug’s girlfriend up until eight months ago.
What does that matter? She’s mine now. My girlfriend, I mean, I don’t, like, own her. I think she might yell at me if I said that...
“Very well, Mr. Payne, you may call your first witness.”
“If it pleases the court, the prosecution would like to call the defendant himself, Mr. Phoenix Wright, to the stand!”
Phoenix blinked, sitting up straight.
“M... Me?”
“Yes, you.”
“Hm... does the defense have any objections?”
Mia shook her head.
“No, Your Honor.”
“Very well. Mr. Wright, please take the stand.”
Phoenix swallowed hard as the guard opened the gate to the main courtroom, trying not to hunch over as he felt everyone’s eyes on him.
Okay, don’t panic, Wright. You’re an actor, you got a standing ovation last month for playing Jack Kelly! And there aren’t any cameras in court, so you’re fine!
“Name and occupation please.”
Phoenix took a deep breath, then sneezed before he could say anything.
“Gesundheit.”
“Th-Thanks... Ph-Phoenix Abraham Wright. Um... right now, I guess my occupation is suspect...”
“No, no, what did you do before you were a suspect?”
“Oh... um... I’m a drama major at Ivy University. A-An actor.”
“You’re... an actor...?”
Give me a break, I’m on trial for murder, not reciting a soliloquy from Hamlet! Two different things!
“Y-Yes, Your Honor.”
“Hm, I see...”
“Mr. Wright. You understand that you are suspected in the murder of your fellow student, Doug Swa-!”
“B-But I didn’t do it!” He yelled, slamming his hands on the bar of the stand. “I-I’m innocent, I swear! I-I-!”
He started sneezing again, then coughing.
“Will the defendant please refrain from passing on his cold to the rest of us?!”
Phoenix sniffled, looking down.
“S-Sorry...”
“It seems the defendant has something he wants to say.”
“Very well, Mr. Wright. Please testify about your relationship with the victim.”
Huh? I wasn’t in a relationship with-! Oh, he means how I knew him... crap, what do I say? I-I guess I’ll just... leave that out...
“Right away, Your Honor! Um... I-I admit I was there, but I’m not a killer! All I did was find his body! I hardly knew the guy to begin with! I never even talked to that stuck-up British wannabe...”
“Hm... I see. So you hardly knew the victim... very well. Ms. Fey, please proceed with your cross-examination.”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
Huh? But... I’m the client...
“Mr. Wright, you stated the following in your testimony: ‘I hardly knew the guy to begin with...’”
“Y-Yeah, I didn’t know him. I mean, I’m an actor and he was a pharmacology major, so our paths never really-!”
“But that doesn’t sound right. If you hardly knew him, how did you know he was a stuck-up British wannabe?”
Phoenix flinched.
Shit!
“Um... I-I...”
“Well, Mr. Wright?!”
“A-Ah! N-No, it wasn’t me, I swear! I-I didn’t kill him!”
Phoenix told the court about the Union Jack that Doug always wore, which was how he knew he was a British wannabe. Mia brought out the crime photo, which showed him wearing a leather jacket with nothing on it.
“Th-The Union Jack was on the shirt he always wore-!”
He covered his mouth, his eyes going wide when he realized his mistake
Mierda!
“I was under the impression that you accidentally came across the body. But, if that was really the case, then you wouldn't know that, would you? You'd have no idea at all what he was wearing underneath that jacket! Mr. Wright... You've been lying to me!”
“Liar! He’s a thief and a liar!”
“Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!”
To his horror, Phoenix felt himself tear up.
“I-I’m sorry! Please forgive me!”
Stop, stop! You’re not a baby anymore, stop crying!
“Mia! You’ve made our client cry!”
“Let him! That ‘P’ on his sweater doesn’t stand for Phoenix anyway!”
Hey!
Phoenix sniffled, glaring at Mia as best he could before sneezing again.
“By the way, Mr. Wright, you seem to have a rather bad cold. Have you taken any medicine for it?”
“Y-Yeah... I took some, but...”
“Was it perhaps the over-the-counter brand Coldkiller X?”
“Yes...”
“Would you happen to have that medication with you right now?”
“Um... no. I kind of lost it somewhere...”
Payne chuckled.
“Would you perhaps like to know where it is?”
“H-Huh?”
Payne brought out the photo, pointing out the bottle of pills in Doug’s hand. Mia objected, saying that even she had a bottle of Coldkiller X in her apartment, but Payne pointed out that Phoenix’s prints were on the bottle. Phoenix admitted that he’d met with Doug that day, but they’d split up around three. The judge told him he was untrustworthy, and went on to ask for the murder method, which Mia answered by pointing out the severed electrical cable in the photo. Payne then brought up the fact that Phoenix’s palm print was on the leather jacket, meaning he must have pushed him.
“Stick a fork in us, we’re done.” Grossberg muttered.
No... no, please, I don’t want to die, not yet! I... I still have to see...
“I-I thought that was what friends were supposed to... I’m sorry, I’m not very good at this.”
I have to see him! Just one more time, and I’ll let him go, but I can’t die before I see him!
“Hold it!”
“Do you have something further to add, Ms. Fey?”
“Mr. Wright! Is this what you want?!”
Phoenix looked up, his vision swimming with tears.
“H-Huh...?”
“You still haven't told us the truth... the whole truth. If you don't say something now, the judge is going to hand down his verdict!”
“But... but I can’t... if I do, then...”
“It’s okay, Phoenix. You can trust me.”
“T-Trust you...?”
“No matter what it is you have to say... I believe in you and I'll represent you to the very end.”
“Justice will be done.”
“Objection! We’ve already established the defendant’s guilt! There is no need for-!”
“H-Hold it! Please, wait! I-I’ll tell you what really happened!”
“Objection! I told you, there’s no need for-!”
“I-I did it! I did push him...”
Phoenix admitted that he’d lost his temper with Doug when he’d started talking trash about Dollie, and Doug had fallen down on his cheap umbrella. When he came back later, Doug was dead.
“Objection! Mr. Wright, why didn’t you tell me about the umbrella earlier?!”
“B-Because if I had mentioned it-!”
“I would have been able to counter the prosecution’s arguments much earlier!”
Phoenix blinked.
“C-Come again?”
Mia explained that because the umbrella was nowhere near the victim in the photo, Doug must have moved after Phoenix pushed him, meaning he was still alive after that. Payne looked shocked, but quickly recovered, announcing his next witness: Ms. Dahlia Hawthorne.
“D-Dollie...?”
But... why? Why would Dollie testify for the prosecution...?
“Ms. Fey? You seem... happy?”
“Let’s just say I’ve been waiting for this, Your Honor.”
“V-Very well, then this court will take a twenty minute recess!”
August 23rd, 2018
11:37 AM
Wright-Edgeworth Residence
“... Once court was in recess, I-! What’s with your faces?”
“You lied on the witness stand.” Apollo deadpanned.
“That’s perjury, Daddy.”
“H-Hey, don’t look at me like that! I’ve never met a witness who didn’t commit perjury! I don’t even think they charge people with that anymore!”
Miles rolled his eyes.
“I can’t believe you burst into tears on the witness stand.”
“I was scared! A-And I didn’t get to take my anxiety medication before the trial!”
Trucy giggled, then tapped her chin.
“Still... a lot of what Auntie Mia said to you sounds like stuff Papa said to you at the class trial...”
Phoenix rubbed the back of his neck, grinning sheepishly.
“Y-Yeah, that’s... kind of why I decided to trust her and tell the truth. She reminded me of you, Miles. I guess we know why now...”
Miles stared at him, then flushed, looking away.
“Ridiculous!”
Phoenix grinned, leaning over and kissing his cheek.
“I love you toooooo...”
“Stop.”
“Daddy! What happened after that?”
“The... the really embarrassing part.”
“Wait, that wasn’t the embarrassing part?”
“Oh, no, Apollo, that was just the appetizer. The next part is where Dollie came in, and where I got really, really idiotic about everything...”