Title: A Disgraced Attorney
Summary: Years and years of fighting... all taken and destroyed in a single instant, by a mere scrap of paper. The courtroom war had ended for Phoenix Wright. His drive... his purpose. Now, however, a new Phoenix rises from the ashes. A new era awakens. Maybe eventual Phaya. Haven't decided yet.
Characters: Phoenix W./Nick, Trucy W., Miles E., Maya F.
A/N: So, if you're all as much as an Ace Attorney nerd as me, then you know that in the canonical timeline, Phoenix's disbarment is set from April of 2019 to 2026. So, my long term goal with this fic is to write about various events from this period. It will be a very long term fanfiction, and I am trying to set this as a staple for me to improve my writing.
This story is loosely based on Turnabout Everlasting, in the sense that the premise of a disbarment era fic will be the same. Major props to JordanPhoenix for writing the amazing story.
Updates will most likely not be frequent, unless I feel very motivated to write about this.
But enough about that. I hope you all enjoy this testament to the now disgraced attorney, Phoenix Wright.
The disgraced attorney fell back onto his couch. He shut his eyes tight, hoping with all of his might that he would appear in his bed again, waking from a nightmare. It didn't happen.
It had been eight days since his disbarment, yet it felt like several years had passed. He never would've expected it all to disappear in an instant. A young prosecutor beat him. He never could've imagined that he would be defeated by a rookie prosecutor at their debut.
His mind wavered to all of the experiences he'd had within those short few years. All of the cases he'd won, all the near death experiences he had, and of course, every interaction with his friends. The anxiety in his head grew. What would they think of him?
For all intents and purposes, he was a hobo. He had practically no stocks to fall back on and no job to make more money. He'd lost it all. His livelihood, his purpose, and soon enough, his office. He curled up on the couch. The realization that he'd lose the building that inspired so many memories in him was heartbreaking.
For the first time in two years, the attorney began to cry. He wasn't wailing. His breathing hitched as the salty liquid trickled down his chin and onto the couch. The only time a lawyer can cry is when it's all over... and now... it really, truly is all over.
He sat on the couch, curled up. Despair. He pushed his thoughts out of his mind and remained still. A shell of the man he once was.
He reached under the couch and pulled out a bottle of grape juice. He popped the cap open and began to chug it. The bottle was drained dry in less than a minute. Phoenix began to squeeze the bottle, shattering the glass in seconds. A deep gash formed in his hand. He swore under his breath.
He got up and quickly bandaged his arm. He didn't care if any of the shards got stuck inside his hand. He set the first aid kit back in the cabinet. He was about to return to sulking, when he was interrupted by a refined knocking at the door.
"Come in," he grumbled. The door was nudged open. Miles Edgeworth, the genius prosecutor, stepped inside the office.
"Wright..."
"Edgeworth," he spat his name with venom. He didn't know what to say. Edgeworth gripped his arm.
"Are you... ok, Wright?" said Edgeworth. Phoenix didn't meet his gaze. He didn't say a word. Edgeworth practically felt the shame that emanated from him. The faint shadow of a man was all that loomed. Phoenix scoffed.
"What do you think." His voice was sharp and rough, unlike his usual clear way of speaking. The situation is far worse than I thought.
"Listen, Wright. I know what happened," said Edgeworth. "And-." Phoenix laughed.
"What a surprise! I'm pretty sure that all of L.A. knows about my failure," said Phoenix. Edgeworth paused.
"What happened? I need to know! There may be something I can do!"
"I forged evidence and was disbarred for it. That's all there is to it," said Phoenix. Edgeworth glared at him.
"Very well then. You leave me no choice." Edgeworth visualized a chessboard around him. He saw Phoenix's defenses, A queen, a knight, and two pawns in front of them.
"The news stories weren't wrong." Phoenix turned away, closing his eyes. Edgeworth faced him. This isn't going to be easy.
Logic Chess
BEGIN
"What was the case about?" asked Edgeworth. Phoenix stood in his courtroom pose, facing the rival prosecutor.
"The cards were clearly stacked against the defense," said Phoenix. "So, I forged evidence. Is there something wrong with that!?" Edgeworth took a step back. So, he's trying to push his story onto me. Clearly, he doesn't want me around.
"How were the cards clearly stacked against the defense?" asked Edgeworth, trying not to push him too far.
"The prosecution had so much evidence, and I knew that Mr. Enigmar had to be innocent, but there wasn't enough evidence," said Phoenix. Edgeworth smirked.
"How did you know he was innocent?" Phoenix leaned over, giving Edgeworth a death glare. Edgeworth leaned back, unaccustomed to Phoenix's sharp venom.
"H-he-he had a daughter. She was so kind and I found it hard to believe he'd murder someone," said Phoenix. Edgeworth shook his head. This will be a useful clue.
"Then how come you never forged evidence when Maya was the defendant? Surely you realize the gap in logic here. It is completely illogical to say that you forged evidence in this case!" Phoenix reeled back.
"G-grrraaaaahhhh!" he cried. Edgeworth saw his pawn fly forward and shatter Phoenix's pawn. Edgeworth smirked. I knew that something was off from the beginning, but he isn't the same. It's as if he's grown apathetic to all of this. No matter, I must wring the truth from him.
"So, do you plan on telling me about what really happened?" asked Edgeworth.
"I'm a different person now, Edgeworth. When I was defending Maya, I was different. Now, I have to prove my clients innocent when I know they're innocent, by any means!" Edgeworth crunched his face. H-he's really doubling down on this ridiculous notion?!
He decided to play it calm.
"May I ask what inspired such a change? If the man standing before me is a completely different person, than why?" asked Edgeworth. Phoenix lifted his hand to his chin.
"I made a decision. That's all," said Phoenix.
"Surely something must've provoked you if you were willing to risk your job," said Edgeworth.
"I made a decision. That's all," said Phoenix. "After the Hazakura Temple case I decided that people didn't deserve to be trapped in the detention center so I decided to use any means necessary to get them out." Edgeworth reeled back. He glared at Phoenix with rage.
"Wright! Enough of this! Why are you so adamant on hiding what really happened?" said Edgeworth. The chessboard faded around him. He couldn't think straight anymore. It hurt to try. It hurt him more than being attacked by a man in a badger suit. It hurt more than nearly being mauled to death by an assassin's dog.
"Edgeworth, I-."
"Why are you still refusing to talk to me about what happened?" his voice was hoarse. "I am a prosecutor. There is so much I could do to help you." Phoenix turned to the ground. He clenched his teeth. He was ashamed. Edgeworth could tell. He was hurting too. So why? Why was he being such a damn fool about it?
"I-I told you what happened."
"Stop forcing that line of crap down my throat! You and I both know that's not the case. You should be able to give me an answer!" Edgeworth's rationality was fading.
"You should know the answer all too well," mumbled Phoenix. "The demon prosecutor, wasn't it? You just left everything you believed in behind and became a ruthless prosecutor."
"So that's what this is about? Wright, that was three years ago! You know more than most that I've changed!" Phoenix didn't say a word. He closed his eyes, still wearing a forced smirk. Edgeworth was in disbelief.
"I'm tired of being the one who has to wring the truth from you! Tell me what happene-."
"Edgeworth... get out. You can't do anything at all," said Phoenix. "Just go." Edgeworth turned away for a moment. H-he's acting so childish. I can't let up here. Not now.
"Wright, you and Maya were the ones who stuck with me three years ago and showed me the light," said Edgeworth. He pointed his finger at the former attorney. "I will not stop here!" The chessboard faded into Edgeworth's mind.
"Edgeworth, that sentiment is touching and all, but really... it doesn't change anything at all," said Phoenix. His expression was grim. Edgeworth watched as his defense was raised to two queens. Ngh! I only expected as much. He's not planning on going down without a battle. I need to get his reasoning behind it all, but first, I need to break his defenses. This isn't going to be an easy battle, but when has going against Phoenix Wright ever been easy?
Logic Chess
RESUME
"So, what do you plan on doing now that you've lost your badge?"
"Nothing. There's nothing left. My client's gone, my badge is gone, I just need to move on with my life," said Phoenix. Edgeworth smirked.
"Hmm, I thought that you mentioned that he had a daughter? Do you know what happened to her?" asked Edgeworth. Phoenix was visibly shaken. He began to sweat. His Queen was not broken, though.
"I-I haven't seen anything from her. I-I'm sure that she found something else with her life," said Phoenix. Edgeworth paused. He is being so damn stubborn. I have a feeling that I need to break him down before I get anything from him... but I don't want to destroy him. What do I do...?
"Wright... it's b-because of your actions that t-The girl is without h-her father," he stuttered. D-damn it! This has never been difficult before. Why can't I do this?
"Come again?" asked Phoenix.
"If you forged evidence as you claim to have, then that means that you were responsible for her father's disappearance and her becoming an orphan," said Edgeworth, regaining his composure. "Would you like to live with that burden?" Phoenix began to sweat.
"N-no, it's not my faul-."
"Who's fault is it then? Are you admitting that you weren't the one who forged evidence?" Edgeworth's queen slammed into one of Phoenix's, shattering it.
"I'm a flawed person, aren't I? Can't even keep that a secret," said Phoenix, apathetically. Edgeworth sighed.
"Please tell me everything."
"No, I didn't forge the evidence. I never could. I was handed the journal page by a little girl... the defendant's daughter," said Phoenix. Edgeworth could see his friend's resignation.
"What do you plan on doing now?" asked Edgeworth. Phoenix chuckled.
"I've been looking to see if Trucy has any living relatives, and at the moment, it doesn't seems as though she does have any. I think I-I might take her in." Edgeworth's eyes widened.
"And?"
"And what?" said Phoenix. "That's all I'm doing. I'm gonna find a new job to support us." Edgeworth was bewildered.
"You... you're not going to try and get your badge back?" asked Edgeworth. "You say you didn't forge evidence, which means that someone else must've been the one to do it." Phoenix faced the ground, wearing a mysterious grin.
"I don't care about the law, not anymore," said Phoenix, still wearing a mysterious grin. "It's on a dark path and I don't want to go anywhere near it."
"And what makes you say that?"
"You've seen everything going on, Edgeworth," said Phoenix. "The increased number of prosecutors filing false charges, the defense attorneys forging evidence."
"Th-that's ridiculous! You and I both know that is a thing of the past!" yelled Edgeworth. "I dealt with two prominent figures in the law who were exploiting the system! I helped convict them both!"
"There are so many more, Edgeworth." Edgeworth looked solemn.
"And one of those people is the one you think forged the evidence."
"Well, yes. I think I know who specifically tipped off Klavier Gavin," said Phoenix. He was still calm.
"I'm surprised that you don't resent Mr. Gavin," said Edgeworth.
"I'm definitely beyond those kinds of grudges, Edgeworth. The kid was just trying to do his job," said Phoenix. "And besides, the one who forged evidence wasn't him. It was Kristoph Gavin." The final queen shook, but didn't shatter.
"So, you know who forged the diary page, and yet, you don't want to do anything about it? I find that hard to believe." He smirked.
"Y-you think I care about my badge? No, I couldn't care less."
"I have evidence showing that you definitely still care for your badge. Even more so, it proves that you are actively attempting to retrieve it!" He lifted his finger, pointing it at the debased man. "I can see the evidence and the notes on your desk. I can see Gavin's name on it several times."
Phoenix winced as his final queen was shattered and his defenses were completely destroyed. Edgeworth couldn't bring himself to declare checkmate.
"Heh. I'm really losing my edge, aren't I? You're right. I haven't stopped investigating this case," said Phoenix. Edgeworth was puzzled.
"Why were you so adamant on hiding this from me?"
"Because, I'm going into a dangerous situation. If the rumors are true, than Kristoph Gavin likes to tie up loose ends. It's almost a certainty that he'll go after you or Maya, but only if you stay. I need to sever these ties," said Phoenix. Edgeworth glared.
"Th-that's it? That's your only reason for hiding this?"
"Edgeworth, you know I couldn't live with myself if I was the reason that Gavin went after either one of you," said Phoenix. "Please, try and discourage Maya from coming. Tell her whatever you need to." Edgeworth shook his head.
"No. I will not. Maya is not a child anymore, and neither am I. You present the facts to her, and she will decide if she wants to get out of your life."
"Ngh! This is why I didn't want to tell either of you! You two are both too damn stubborn for your own good!" Edgeworth smirked.
"That's rich coming from you of all people," said Edgeworth. "Your investigation should take first priority."
"No."
"What?"
"I won't stop investigating, but for now, I need to focus on Trucy. The poor girl just lost her father," said Phoenix. Edgeworth nodded understandingly.
"Wright, I refuse to back down. My life has been targeted on multiple occasions, and this is not something I am defenseless against." Phoenix looked at him with concern
"Please, be careful." Edgeworth smirked.
"Don't worry Wright. You forget that I am a capable prosecutor. I am not careless." Phoenix sighed.
"Tell Maya whatever you want, just please ask her to listen to what I have to say and not to be stubborn," said Phoenix.
"Farewell then, Wright. I wish you well." Miles Edgeworth stepped out of the office, leaving Phoenix with his thoughts.