Hey guys! Dawn here to present you with her first Ace Attorney long fic! This is my first time diving into the whole murder mystery/case working/trial writing aspect of anything and I'm hoping it goes well!

Disclaimer: I don't own Ace Attorney or any of the characters associated with it.

Turnabout Tumble: Introduction

Ace Attorney Does It Again!

In a stunning case that defied all expectation attorney Phoenix Wright has brought to light the truth in not only one but a series of murders and bombings that have been troubling our citizens for years now. Wright has recently returned to law after one of his associates Apollo Justice helped to clear him of all accusations of presenting false evidence eight years prior.

In his most recent case Wright has helped to clear Prosecutor Simon Blackquill of all accusations of murder. Prosecutor Blackquill's and Wright's cases were two of the inciting incidents that caused our great country to fall into the Dark Age of the Law we currently face.

With the clearing of both of these cases, will the dark cloud brought over the court systems because of the Dark Age also be cleared? We think so. After Attorney Wright's latest victory the court system seems to have been spurned into action. A series of thorough investigations have begun and many who practice unlawfully have already been caught.

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"So they think that the dark age of the law is at an end do they? Because of two silly cases being resolved? It will take far more than that to end this period of criminal prosperity." The man stood up, hoisting the newspaper and its front page article in front of him for the crowd of men around him to see, "This article would have you all to believe that our time of prosperity is at an end, but I say that this so called victory for the courts is on shaky ground."

The men cheered and he held up his free hand to silence them, "Shaky ground or not, it has the possibly of making trouble for us. If for some reason the courts do regain public opinion, we are out of a job. Who wants to go back to the time when lawyers and prosecutors worked together to find the truth instead of seeing them at once another's throats? Who wants to see them sharing evidence instead of stealing and forging it? Not me!"

The men below him began to cheer again, many chiming in that they didn't want to see that happen either. When they quieted down again their leader continued, "With that in mind I want each of you to begin thinking about a way to ensure that the dark age of the law never ends. One more major crisis is all the people need to finally lose all faith in their precious court systems, and we will give it to them!"

This time the cheering was unstoppable. A slow smile spread across the leader's face, with all these loyal subjects he was sure he'd never have to relinquish his power over the underground. The dark age of the law would continue and he would rule as its king.

"Polly, come out! I want to see how you look!" Trucy shouted through the door separating her from the bathroom. She'd sent Apollo in over ten minutes earlier and the spiky haired lawyer hadn't come out yet.

"No. I look stupid."

"I'll be the judge of that, so come on out." She tried again.

"Come on Apollo, I want to see too." Athena said from beside Trucy.

An audible sigh came from the desk directly behind them, "If Apollo thinks the costume is terrible I don't think he needs to come out and show you girls. Why not just let him pick one on his own?"

Trucy spun to face her father, "Because, Daddy, the last time I let Apollo chose his own stage costume he just came in street clothes. They don't look good at all on the stage. A proper stage assistant needs to match the magician."

"I stand corrected, continue." Phoenix relented. There was no use arguing with his daughter when it came to magic.

"I knew you'd understand, thanks Daddy." Trucy smiled and turned back to face the door, "I'm not going to stop bugging you until I get to see the costume, so just come out, Polly."

There was a moment of silence from the other side of the door before they heard the lock unclicking and the door swung open. Apollo stood with his arms crossed glaring out at the other inhabitants of the Wright Anything Agency office.

If it wasn't for the top hat and cape Apollo was dressed almost identically in what he'd wear to court. He had on a pair of red slacks with a white dress shirt and blue tie. His vest was traded out for a cape almost identical to Trucy's the only difference being its color. Where hers was blue his was a crimson to match his pants. On his head he wore a red top hat of the same color, it's band blue to match his tie. To complete the image of a magician he also wore a pair of white gloves.

"It looks dumb I know." He said after a moment.

"Dumb? It's the furthest thing! Polly you look amazing! Like you were born to be a magician!" Trucy clapped her hands together.

Athena tapped Widget who snapped a picture, "I agree with Trucy, you really do look like you could be a real magician."

Phoenix stood and came over to get a better look, "They're right, Apollo. The magician's look suits you."

Apollo blushed and started playing with his gloves, tugging and adjusting them, "You guys really think it looks good?"

"Trust me, Polly, you look great." Trucy said.

Both Phoenix and Athena nodded their approval.

"What a hottie!" Widget said.

Apollo raised an eyebrow at Athena, "A hottie? If that's what I look like in this, I may have to wear it all the time." He grinned.

"Polly, I didn't get that costume so you could flirt with Athena, I got it so you could be my assistant. Anyway, I thought you hated it?" Trucy crossed her arms.

"That was before Athena said I looked good in it."

"I didn't say that, it was Widget!" Athena said.

Apollo shook his head, "Widget only says what you're thinking Athena, so technically you did say it."

"Widget can glitch sometimes." Athena crossed her arms.

Apollo rubbed his wrist where he wore his bracelet, "My bracelet says otherwise."

Trucy put her hands on her hips, "Guys? Can you flirt later? I still need Polly."

"I agree, flirt outside of work hours." Phoenix looked up from his desk and winked at Trucy who gave him a thumbs up.

"Yeah listen to Daddy. He is your boss."

Apollo and Trucy slumped, "The flirting operation is a failure!" Widget said causing them all to laugh.

Trucy pulled Apollo aside and positioned him in front of the zig-zag box. It's three sections were pushed together and it seemed to be free of the usual stuff Trucy put all over it.

"Alright, Polly. Get in the box!" Trucy said moving over to it and throwing open it's now single door.

"What? No way! I am not letting you cut me up in that thing! With my luck you'll mess up the trick and that'll be the end of me." Apollo backed away, "This is not what I thought you meant when you asked me to help you out."

Trucy put her hands on her hips and gave him her best pouty face, "Please, Polly? I promise I won't actually cut you in half."

He shook his head, "No means no, Trucy. Anyway, I thought you were too small to use this thing."

"I may not be big enough for it, but you are, which makes you the perfect assistant." She said.

"Why not use, Athena? She's almost my height, besides I'm sure she'd love to be cut in half." Apollo said.

Athena clapped her hands together, "That's a great idea! Trucy can I be your assistant? I've always wanted to be cut in half by a magician!"

Trucy shook her head, "Sorry, Athena it has to be Apollo."

"Aww, why?" Athena asked deflated.

"I'm wondering that as well, don't most magicians have beautiful assistants? Why choose someone scary like Apollo?" Phoenix asked.

"I'm not that scary looking!" Apollo argued.

Trucy tipped her hat and grinned, "I was going to surprise you all with the news, and I guess now's as good a time as ever. I've been asked to do a show at the Green Waterfall Theater."

"The Green Waterfall? Trucy, that's amazing! That place seats over five hundred people, this is a big break for you." Phoenix said.

She grinned, "I know! That's exactly why I need Apollo, I'm putting together a brand new show and I'm going to make it the greatest and most original magic show that's ever been put on. My secret is going to be using a striking male assistant so no one will know where to look!"

"That's a great idea!" Athena said then turned to Apollo, "Apollo! You can't let Trucy down, not in her hour of need!"

Apollo sighed, "I guess I can't say no now can I?"

Trucy clapped her hands in delight, "I knew you'd see it my way sooner or later, Polly! Now let's see how you fit in the zig-zag!"

As Apollo stepped inside the box there was a knock at the door, "I'll get it!" he said hoping to be saved from practicing the trick.

"No you won't, Athena can get it." Trucy said closing the door before Apollo could jump out. She grinned at his sour face through the hole in the boxes, "You fit perfectly!"

"I hope I'm not intruding."

Apollo strained to see the man who was speaking as Athena closed the office door behind their guest.

He stepped into the middle of the room and surveyed the strange sight, "I was wondering…" he pulled off his hat and held it between his hands, "Does this happen to be the Wright Anything Agency?"

"Yes it is! If you need magic or a great defense you've come to the Wright place." Trucy said turning to face him.

He sighed with relief and some of the tension seemed to leave his shoulders, "That's good. I was worried I had the wrong place."

"How can we help you Mr.?" Phoenix said holding out a hand to the man.

"Murphy, Richard Murphy." He said taking Phoenix's hand, "I'm looking for a Mr. Phoenix Wright?"

Phoenix smiled, "That would be me. This is my daughter, Trucy," he motioned to her, "The young woman who let you in is one of my associates, Athena Cykes, and the young man in the box over there is my other fellow lawyer, Apollo Justice."

Richard glanced at the box as if noticing Apollo in there for the first time, "Are you all practicing a magic trick?"

"Yes we were. In fact, I was about to cut Polly here in half." Trucy said, "Would you like to see?"

The man's eyes lit up, "I'd love to, magic has always fascinated me."

"Then you're in for a treat." Trucy said, "Alright, Polly get ready!" she turned to the box and paused before turning back around, "Has anyone seen my saw?"

"Y-your saw? Trucy don't you think this is going a little far?" Apollo asked a slight edge of panic to his voice.

"How else do you think I was going to cut you in half Polly?" she asked.

"I don't know, not with a saw!"

Ignoring Apollo, Trucy looked around the room, "Daddy, do you know where I put it?"

Phoenix thought for a moment before shaking his head, "I wasn't aware you had a saw, Trucy."

"Maybe it's in your magic panties?" Athena offered.

Trucy shook her head, "No, I would have known if it was there."

"Did you even buy one, Trucy?" Apollo asked.

"That's it!" she said, "Polly, you're a genius. I didn't buy one. I got so excited about the trick that I forgot to pick one up." She smiled and bopped herself on the head, "I guess you'll have to wait on the sawing trick Mr. Murphy."

She pulled out her magic panties, "Here's a consolation trick." She said and pulled out a vase of flowers, followed by a candle, and an alarm clock. Finally, she pulled a flyer out and handed it to Richard, "Here's a flyer to my new show, if you're free come by."

He took it, eyes wide, "That was amazing Mrs. Trucy! Simply amazing!" he clapped his hands in a single person applause, "With a trick like that I'm sure the rest of your show will be splendid."

"If no one is going to cut me in half, would someone please let me out of here?" Apollo asked.

Athena unlatched the door and opened it, allowing Apollo to spring out, "Thanks." He sighed, "It was getting kind of cramped in there."

"Mr. Murphy, I'm sure you didn't come for an impromptu magic show, so how can we help you?" Phoenix asked as Athena was helping Apollo.

"Yes, you're right. I have a request I'd like to make of you all. You see my fiancé, Velma DeVile, has been arrested for murder." He said tucking the flyer into his back pants pocket.

"That's terrible." Trucy said.

"You'd like us to defend her?" Phoenix asked.

He nodded, "Yes, she's innocent you see. My sweet Velma wouldn't hurt a fly let alone kill her own brother."

"Why don't you start at the beginning Mr. Murphy?" Phoenix asked.

He nodded, "It happened this afternoon. I dropped Velma off at her apartment building after she got off work and not even a few minutes later I got a call from her. She was panicking, her brother was dead and she had no idea what to do. I was on the phone with her when the police came in. Please won't you take her case?"

Phoenix crossed his arms, "I'd love to Mr. Murphy, unfortunately I'm in the middle of finishing up a case of my own. Would you mind if Apollo and Athena took it? They're both highly capable lawyers in their own right."

Richard looked over at the other two lawyers and nodded, "As long as they're from your agency I trust them. The Wright Anything Agency is well known for always doing the best for its clients."

"Don't worry Mr. Murphy, we won't let you down." Apollo said.

Athena nodded, "We'll defend Miss Velma with everything we have."

"Thank you so much, all of you." He said.

"Is there anything else you can tell us about your fiancé's case?" Apollo asked.

Richard pondered the question for a moment before shaking his head, "No, since I wasn't there I don't really know a whole lot about what happened. I only saw her before."

"And how long were you with her before you dropped her off?" Apollo asked.

"Around an hour, I picked her up from work and we stopped for coffee before I took her home."

Apollo nodded, "That's already an hour we can account for, thank you Mr. Murphy."

The man nodded, "Of course." He pulled out his wallet and took a slip of paper from it, "This has Velma's address on it, along with my phone number. Feel free to call me if you have any questions."

"Thank you, we'll head over there immediately to start our investigation." Apollo said taking the paper.

Richard turned to Phoenix and Trucy, "Thank you both for your time as well. I will be honored to see you preform a full show Miss Trucy."

"And I'd be honored to have you there." Trucy handed him a pair of tickets, "Here take these. You and your sister can come see me after Polly proves her innocence."

And that's it for my opening chapter! I've planned out 75% of this fic which means writing it should be the easy part right? Right? I hope so.

Thank you all for reading the first chapter of this fic, wish me luck on the rest!

~Dawns out