A/N: Hey guys! Here's the first chapter of book 3 of the Turnabout Heart series! For those of you who read STARC, I will finish it. The next chapter is almost done. I just… keep hitting a wall, mainly because I REALLY want to write this, and… well…
Also, don't expect updates to be as frequent as they were in the past. I can't type for too long due to having carpal tunnel in my left hand, and I have to focus on homework and original scripts before I can focus on fanfiction. That's just the way it goes. Sorry!
Also, thank you ALL for your votes! I decided to go with the top three voted worlds. You'll see what they are as I get to each!
Now, ONWARD!
…
Chapter One: The Legal Age
Aurora slammed her hands down on the bench in front of her, startling the current witness.
"OBJECTION!" she yelled, swinging her arm out to point at the man. After her first pointing lesson since returning from world traveling, her cousin, Phoenix, had suggested she not wear her shield-wristband to court. She agreed that it probably wouldn't be her best idea.
"What is it now, Wright-dono?" an annoyed, yet bored voice demanded from the prosecutor's bench. Aurora didn't look up from the witness, however.
"If what you say is true, that the feathers found at the scene were from a real bird, and not the synthetic ones from the pillow, then there's no way my client could have committed the crime!" Aurora announced.
"Wh-what do you mean?" the man on the stand cried. "Of course he did!"
Aurora smiled, resting her hip against the bench comfortably and pulling out a few papers. "This here, is my client's medical charts. Right at the top is a list of his allergies. And the first one? Feathers. That's why he had pillows made with synthetic feathers," Aurora said, before standing up straight and slamming her hands on the bench again. "Thus, he couldn't have been the one to commit this crime, because he would have had an allergic reaction!"
The court burst into rumbling as the witness reared back in surprise, nervously plucking at his clothes.
"Good job, Aurora. Now drive it home," Phoenix said from where he stood next to his cousin. Aurora flashed him a smirk and a nod, before turning back to the witness.
"What does this mean!?" the Judge gasped. Aurora leaned forward over the bench, her hands still planted on it.
"This means that the only one who could have committed this crime must own a real bird, as a pet!" Aurora announced. Suddenly, a feather drifted down in front of her face, before being sliced in half. Aurora jerked back with a squeak of surprise, looking down at the two halves of the feather, and a few strands of her hair that had followed it.
"I hope you're not implying something dangerous, Wright-dono," the prosecutor growled. Aurora finally looked up at her opponent, Simon Blackquill, and paled. He was giving her a dangerous look, his hand at his side like he was about to draw a sword. The feather that was normally in his mouth was gone. Taka, his hawk, was perched on his shoulder, giving her a golden glare.
"Ms. Wright!" the Judge gasped. "Are you accusing the prosecution?"
"Wh-what!? No! Of course not!" Aurora gasped, still leaning against the wall behind the bench. The Judge narrowed his eyes.
"Then you might want to rethink your statement," he snapped, slamming his gavel once. Aurora winced slightly at the sound.
"One doesn't have to own a bird to get bird feathers on them. Think a bit more about it," Phoenix said, crossing his arms with a smile. Aurora nodded, standing straight again, and thinking through everything they had learned. Suddenly, she gasped.
"That's it! It had to be someone who could get feathers on them without having an allergic reaction. There are many ways this could happen. Including," she turned her glare onto the witness, "a window washer who was attacked by a group of pigeons for knocking down their nests."
"What!?" Simon turned his glare onto the witness. Phoenix slumped slightly, sweat pouring off of him.
"I swear, I think he's more passionate about crimes against birds then humans…" he muttered.
"I… I didn't—"
"Witness! You even testified earlier that you'd been attacked at work the morning of the murder! Are you saying it was by a flock of birds!?" the Judge gasped.
The witness's head swiveled between the defense, the prosecution, and the judge, before he finally broke down.
"Alright, yes! I did it! I did it!" he wailed, dropping to his knees. As he fell, more feathers drifted off of him. He began to pluck more vigorously at his clothes, almost like a bird nervously pruning its feathers, while making warbling noises. More feathers were plucked from his clothes.
"Uh…" Aurora muttered.
"Eh. Not the weirdest breakdown I've seen…" Phoenix muttered, scratching the side of his head. Aurora giggled at that.
Finally, a bailiff came and took the witness away, while another quickly swept the witness stand clear of feathers. Aurora's client smiled gratefully at him as he stepped up to it, sniffling slightly at a stuffy nose.
"Well, it seems to be time to hand down my verdict. Not Guilty!"
…
Aurora Wright was seventeen years old, the younger cousin of Phoenix Wright, and the newest member of the Wright Anything Agency, having earned her badge just two weeks ago. She had grown about half an inch since the battle against Organization XIII, and currently had her dirty blond hair pulled back into a bun that was spiky in its own right, with a few strands framing her face. Dressed professionally, she wore a teal business blazer with the sleeves folded up, stopping just above her elbows, with a white shirt underneath and a matching, teal business skirt. Under the skirt was a pair of black leggings, and black, ankle high boots. On her right wrist was a pink ribbon, and she was pulling a black cloth wristband with two silver-metal bands onto her left wrist. On her right middle finger was her class ring from Themis Legal Academy, and a gold, sunflower pin on her right lapel. Completing the look was a black choker with a silver, star-shaped locket.
She had traveled the worlds, faced darkness face to face, and helped numerous people. And yet, this win had her bouncing up and down like a little girl next to her cousin as they exited the court room.
"Your second win," Phoenix said with a grin.
"Yep!" Aurora said brightly, before sighing, reaching up and touching the star shaped locket around her neck. (Too bad Riku wasn't here to see this. I understand though…)
Just a few days ago, right before she took this case, actually, her boyfriend, Riku, and his best friend, Sora, had shown up, just after her first case, at the agency. They couldn't stay long, due to being on their way to Master Yen Sid's for the Mark of Mastery exam. But Riku did promise to return once they were done.
"So, how'd it feel?" Phoenix asked with a grin. Aurora smiled back at him.
"Nowhere near as scary as the first time," she laughed, talking about when she had defended a dear friend against the same prosecutor just last week. Phoenix laughed at that, slinging his arm around his cousin.
"I can imagine! Come on, let's go find the others," he said with a warm smile, leading her away.
…
It was later that night. Aurora was curled up on her bed, trying to focus on the well-worn, blue book in her lap. The outside cover had no title, but the inside page declared it to be called Spell Arts. It had been a gift from Merlin, one of her magic mentors. Her eyes, however, kept trailing to the pictures she had hanging on her wall over her desk.
The first was taken in Hollow Bastion—Radiant Garden. It was herself, Leon, Aerith, Yuffie, Cid, Merlin, and even Cloud – The Radiant Garden Restoration Committee, standing at the Castle Postern, taken to celebrate the day they finally cleaned up and got through all the rubble separating the town from the castle. It reminded her of the purple ID card in her wallet that declared her a Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee Member. (If I ever see them again, I'll have to get that updated…) she thought with a smile. Her eyes then traveled to another picture.
This one was of her with the Twilight Town gang, in front of the Haunted Mansion of Twilight Town. Her, Hayner, and Roxas stood in the back row, with Hayner's arms slung over her and Roxas, while Pence and Olette crouched in front of them. (I wonder how Hayner, Pence, and Olette are doing…)
The last picture was taken at night, with the full moon hovering low over the water in the background. It was taken in Destiny Islands. Riku stood with his arm around her waist, while Goofy stood on her other side, his arm slung over her shoulders. Sora and Kairi were crouched in front of them, with Sora's arms around Kairi's shoulders and Donald's. King Mickey stood on Donald's other side. They had taken it right before she had left Destiny Islands and had returned home.
"You miss them, don't you?" Trucy, who had entered the room, unnoticed, five minutes ago, asked. Aurora jumped, quickly looking over.
"Huh?"
"All the friends you made world traveling. You miss them, don't you?" Trucy asked. Aurora smiled weakly, closing her book.
"Yeah. Yeah, I do," she admitted. Trucy smiled at her, coming over and sitting next to her cousin. She looked at the pictures for a moment, before turning to face Aurora.
"Tell me about them?" she asked, pointing to the RGRC. Aurora grinned.
"Well, first, there's Leon…" she began, telling her how the older man had taught her how to fight, and how he was gruff, but kind, and caring. Aerith was the mother of the group, always making sure we all ate and slept enough. Yuffie was chipper, all the time, and acted as the other messenger. Cid was the old man who was grumpy, but kind, and actually kind of funny. Merlin was a powerful wizard who taught her magic – not just illusions, but real magic. And Cloud was… closed off. He'd help out, but he was dealing with his own darkness that still haunted him. Trucy listened to all of it with a grin.
"I'm kind of jealous, you know. You got to meet all these amazing people, and see some awesome things," she finally said.
"It… wasn't all glam and glorious," she reminded her. Trucy's face grew solemn as she glanced at the picture sitting on Aurora's nightstand.
It showed a younger Aurora, about eleven, getting a piggyback ride from a guy who was about nineteen. He was tall and lanky, with the same sandy-blond hair as Aurora's though his was even more spiky then hers. His teal eyes were bright with happiness that reflected in his carefree grin.
"Right," Trucy said softly. Aurora looked over at the picture, before taking a deep breath and shaking away the glum.
"But anyways, that doesn't matter. I think I'm gonna go to bed, 'kay?" she said. Trucy nodded.
"Alright. G'night, Aurora."
"'Night, Trucy," she said, changing from her business suit into an oversized blue long-sleeved shirt that had a red bull on the front, and black shorts. In black, on the back of the shirt, read Themis Bulls. Aurora pulled her bun out, letting her hair fall around her shoulders, and laid down to go to sleep.
…
When Aurora opened her eyes, she wasn't in her bed. In fact, she was in a large, baron wasteland. All around her, twenty paths cut through hundreds of thousands of dead-looking Keyblades. The paths all lead towards her. She slowly turned, noticing that seven of them were bathed in light, while thirteen of the paths were swathed in shadows.
A blue glow suddenly appeared above her, and looking up, she spotted a heart-shaped moon.
"Kingdom Hearts…" she breathed. Varying temperatures flowed over her, ranging from scalding hot to frigid cold, all from the moon floating over her. (This one is more powerful than that of the Organization's. Is this… is this the real one, while their's had just been a copy? A fake?)
Aurora looked down again, slowly turning on the spot. "What do these paths mean? Seven light… thirteen dark… Like Organization XIII? Does that mean the lights are those who oppose them?" she muttered allowed, turning to face the paths of light.
As she watched, one of the light paths suddenly darkened. The ground splintered and cracked, and darkness oozed from the cracks, taking over the entire path. Before her eyes, it grew just as dark as the thirteen.
"No…" she gasped. "NO!"
…
"-rora! Aurora! Wake up!" Trucy yelled, shaking her sleeping cousin. Aurora trashed away from her hands, muttering in her sleep.
"Kingdom Hearts… Organization…." She muttered. "Darkness… no… no!" Aurora suddenly shot straight up in bed. "RIKU!" she screamed, clutching at her locket. There was a crash from down the hall, hurried footsteps, and Phoenix stood, panting, in the doorway.
"What's wrong!?" he gasped. Trucy looked up at him.
"Aurora… had a nightmare," she said. Aurora closed her eyes, breathing heavily, before diving into her nightstand and pulling out a locked book. The other Wrights watched as the shaking girl unlocked it and began to write furiously.
"A-Aurora?" Phoenix called softly. She finally looked up, and Phoenix could read the fear, worry, and confusion in her eyes. "Are you okay? It's… been quite a while since you had a nightmare."
"I'm… I'm okay," she said in a hushed voice, her eyes flickering back to her book as she continued to write. "It was… different from the ones before," she admitted.
"You called out for Riku," Trucy said. Aurora's pen froze in her book, and she looked over at the girl.
"Did I?"
"Yes. Did something happen to him in your dream?" Trucy asked. Aurora bit her lip and looked between the two, before seeming to decide.
"No, but… I think something will happen," she admitted.
"You mean you had something like… a vision?" Phoenix asked, moving closer.
"Yes? Maybe? I don't know. It… it felt like a warning. Like something was going to happen to one of the defenders of light. And… Riku's heart is the only one I'm connected to," Aurora admitted. She looked between the two, and sighed, explaining her dream. They listened silently for a few minutes, before Phoenix finally came to a decision.
"You… need to find some way to contact them," he said. Aurora jumped and looked up at Phoenix.
"You believe me?" she asked.
"Aurora. I'm dating a Spirit Medium. I see secrets hidden behind big red locks. My cousin can cast magic and sense the balance of light and dark in someone's heart. She's traveled to other worlds and has seen some amazing, unbelievable things. I met someone who is from a different universe, and even met an alternate universe version of someone I personally know. Seeing an omen in your dream? I can honestly say that's not the most out there thing I've seen or heard of," Phoenix said, wrapping an arm around her.
"Heh, right. And… if I have to go away again?" Aurora asked softly.
"I'll think of something believable to tell your parents. Maybe something to do with the Legal League of Attorneys," he said. Aurora smiled and hugged her cousin.
"Thank you, Nick," she said, getting up. She grabbed her shoulder bag, the one Huey, Dewey, and Louie had sold her, and checked inside, noticing she still had some elixirs and potions left over from last year.
"I'm gonna go check out Gourdy Park. That seems to be where all the other-worldly things appear," she said. Phoenix nodded and stood, slipping out of the room to let her get dressed.
Aurora got dressed, wearing a teal, short-sleeved Themis zipper hoodie, hoodie, with the zipper down and a black shirt underneath. On the right breast of the hoodie was the gold, Themis crest, and across the back, in big, bold blue letters, read DEFENDER. On the left breast, Aurora had attached her Attorney's badge and four retro game pins. She wore a pair of denim shorts that went to just below her knees with a teal belt, and Timberland work booths. Around her right wrist was the pink ribbon, with her class ring on her middle finger, and around her left wrist was her black wrist band with the silver bands. The ever present choker and locket were around her neck, and her hair was pulled back into a spiky ponytail.
She packed the Spell Arts book into her bag and made her way out of the apartment and to Gourdy Park.
…
A man, wearing a long, black robe, smirked from where he stood on the roof of the apartment building, listening in to the Wrights' conversation.
"Perfect," he muttered, before disappearing.
…
Between the trees, it was dark and silent. Aurora had her shield activated, ready for anything. Every now and again, there were reports of Heartless popping up in these trees, but tonight, they seemed to be quiet.
When she reached the water of the lake, she sighed, looking up at the stars.
"Riku, wherever you are… I hope your safe," she muttered, putting a hand over her locket.
The water lapped slightly at the shore, and Aurora noticed something floating in it. Bending down, she picked up a purple, star-shaped gem, about the size of her hand. One of the points was formed out of white lightning, and inside, in the center, was the image of a white star, with a white pointed circle around it.
"Wait…" she muttered, reaching into her bag and pulling out Spell Arts, flipping it to one of the last pages that had writing on it. There was a pencil sketch of the same exact gem.
"A Star Shard? It'll… take the user to where they are needed," she read, before her eyes lit up, and she turned to look at the little unassuming gem.
"Really? Then take me to Riku!" she told it. It flashed, before her entire body glowed with a purple light, and she was whisked away.
The man in the black cloak smirked in the shadows of his hood, and vanished in a Corridor of Darkness.
…
As Aurora moved through the Lanes In Between, cloaked in the purple light, she felt something in her heart. Before her eyes flashed an image.
A dark path, with a small bush to the side, leading to the rising sun. Another image superimposed itself over that – a sunny beach, with lush, green vegetation throwing small, cool shadows.
"Wh-what was that…?" Aurora muttered curiously to herself.
…
A/N: TADA! *jazz hands*
Okay! The first world will be a secret until I finish that chapter and post it!