A/N: Hi! I've always wanted to go to one of those fancy mystery dinner shows where the audience has to band together to solve a murder case. Seems fun...and kinda scary. So it has to be better in the AA universe, right? Right. Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Ace Attorney series or any of the characters therein. I just own the characters created for the purpose of this story.

May 15, 2028 2:10 PM

Wright Anything Agency

How do I keep getting clients who refuse to pay me with money? How? Phoenix Wright peered into the sparkling, silver envelope given to him by a client he recently (and miraculously) defended with the help of Apollo and Athena. This client's case was up there on the weirdness scale; it had something to do with a bowling ball and a talking toaster oven—which Phoenix shut memories away from in order to sleep at night—a decent payment was highly anticipated after all was said and done. And this wasn't it.

A part of Phoenix wanted to give the envelope to Trucy just so she could make it vanish from his life forever, and a part of him actually wanted to make use of its contents. Either way, he'd be screwed. There wasn't much money to pay the rent or his employees, and if he were to use what was in the envelope, what little time he set aside to actually relax or gain actual money would have to be squandered.

Phoenix sighed, reaching into the envelope to take out a card. The card was a formal invitation to some mystery dinner show, promising "elegance, suspense, and wonderment." Inside the envelope were three more cards for possible guests to experience the "enchanting road to mystery" as well. Huh.

"Whatcha got there, Boss?" Athena was standing over Phoenix's shoulder, eyeing the cards skeptically. She laughed when Phoenix jumped up, startled, and let out a yelp.

Nothing but a heart attack! Geez! Phoenix fought to catch his breath. "They're...invites. To some mystery-dinner-theatre-show thing." He handed Athena a card.

"Did someone say...'dinner'?" Trucy rose from behind the Agency office's couch.

"Did someone say...'mystery'?" Apollo strolled into the room from his office in a casual manner, as if he hadn't been eavesdropping on the entire conversation.

"Yes, and yes." Phoenix grumbled, passing out cards to Apollo and Trucy.

Here we go. Everything goes belly-up in three...two...one...

Athena let out an ear-piercing squeal of pure joy. "I get to wear my gown! I'm so excited!"

"Excited? So am I." Apollo agreed in a mocking tone, "I was beginning to wonder if those were the only clothes you owned, Athena." He smirked, motioning to Athena's usual attorney outfit. That smirk of his disappeared when Athena punched him in the arm.

"You jerk!" Athena screamed.

Meanwhile, Trucy bothered herself with listing all of the foods she could possibly order at the theatre, "Mac and cheese, burgers, pot roast, chocolate cake, spaghetti, tacos, ice cream..."

Phoenix, who stood between Trucy's musings and Athena and Apollo's bickering was slowly getting a migraine. "Guys...Guys! Calm down! Please!"

The junior members of the Wright Anything Agency paused mid-sentence and looked up at Phoenix with blank stares.

"Initally, I was going to throw these cards away. We've been...uh...not doing too well in terms of money, and sadly...with the clientele...it doesn't look like it's going to get any better." Phoenix explained, "I won't be able to pay you this time around, Athena and Apollo. It's not that...I'm trying to buy you with these invitations or anything, but I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your help here."

"Oh, wow...Thanks, sir." Apollo was genuinely touched by the sentiment. He gripped the card in his hands if it had some significant meaning.

"Yeah." Athena gave a nod, "I think I speak for the both of us when I say 'we appreciate you'!"

"You're the best, Daddy!" Trucy quipped.

Phoenix grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "Aw, shucks...No problem."

"So...This event is called 'A Lovely Night for Murder.'" Athena read from the card, "Hosted by a Ms. Terry Ross."

"...And it takes place tonight. At seven." Apollo added.

"T-Tonight?" Phoenix gulped, "Whoops, I should've gave these things out way in advance! Better late than never, right...?"

Apollo gave Trucy a teasing smirk. "There's nothing on here that says this event is appropriate for kids, either."

"Polly! How dare you!" Trucy hissed, "I'm not a kid, I'm a young lady!"

Phoenix rubbed his chin in thought. "You know...Apollo's right, Trucy. I don't know what this thing is rated."

"And there's nothing on the card that says the show isn't for kids. So there!" Trucy pouted and folded her arms. When Phoenix wasn't looking, she stuck her tongue out at Apollo.

"...You just admitted to being a kid, by the way." Athena said.

Trucy thought for a moment, before putting a hand to her mouth in shock. "You're right! Darn!"

"Okay, okay...fine. Everyone can go. Let's say we meet up here around 6:30 and walk to the theatre together?" Phoenix suggested. Thank goodness for conveniently-placed theatres.

Apollo shrugged. "Sounds like a plan."

"All right!" Athena punched the palm of her hand, a grin spreading on her face, "I'm pumped!"

"Good. Now we should get back to work—" Phoenix began, but Apollo and Athena had already left the building.

Trucy giggled. "I guess the real mystery is how they left so quickly...huh, Daddy?"

No. The real mystery here is how the heck I'm supposed to get all this work done by myself...