A/N: Hope you enjoyed Chapter 2 and the situation it set up. I've never been a huge fan of the disbarment storyline from AJ, so kind of nice to put my own take on it and establish a different timeline. Let me know how I'm doing in the review column below :D

Disclaimer: I do not own Phoenix Wright, Apollo Justice, or any of the properties associated with them, they belong to Capcom.

Chapter 3: Defending Magicians from Rockstars

April 19th, 9:27 AM, District Court, Defendant Lobby No. 2

As the two men entered the defendant's lobby, a wave of nerves suddenly struck them both for their reasons. One entering for the first time as a professional, a small case of the rookie jitters. Another suffering from a long break between cases having a little jittery fearfulness as well. Phoenix looked a lot more perspired then Brady did.

Man, it's been so long so I felt so disadvantaged in a case. Need to compose myself.

Phoenix looked over to his client, Shadi Engimar, or Zak Gramarye as he usually went by to his fan base. For someone whose life was on the line he looked remarkably relaxed compared to the counsels. Phoenix's normally spiky hair had dampened down a little into slumped arrow while his suit had darkened with the amount of sweat that had enveloped it in the past hours in frantic preparation for the trial. Brady meanwhile had a noticeable spike in his own hair having just run his usually short through water and had on a light grey suit, which worked remarkably well at concealing his sweatiness. It could not hide the shaking shoes of his though, as they reverberated throughout the entire lobby of about 5 or 6 people. Zak merely had a smile on his face while talking to a similarly dressed little girl before approaching the two.

"Good morning Mr. Wright, and assistant." He said to the two of them. "I hope you were able to prepare in the short amount of time."

Thanks for learning my name…

"Good morning to you too Mr. Engimar. Too be honest, I wish I could tell you that we're prepared but I can't lie to you, we both feel rather unprepared." Phoenix replied back with the most serious look Brady had seen on his face to this point.

"I understand that I'm asking of some magic from you instead of me, but I have total faith in you two." Mr. Engimar said, his uncanny grin growing the more he spoke. "From what I've heard, you haven't failed a client before so I will believe it won't start today."

That's true, but most of my clients are actually helpful unlike you, Mr. Poker Face.

"Well, I just became your attorney yesterday evening. And on top of that, all we did was play cards…" Phoenix said.

The grin on Engimar's face grew even wider. "And that was enough." As his arms crossed around his body. The closet must be stuffed with skeletons. Who knows what we'll find out today…?

To this point, Brady had been silent both for a lack of something to say and nervousness. His introversion was coming into play at the worst time as not only was he just silently standing, but he truly had very little knowledge of the actual case. He was silently fretting it out inside his own head.

Oh man, this is worse than I expected. Stupid anxiety has to come into play at the worst time.

Suddenly the voice of Mr. Engimar startled him as he had begun to talk to him. "And Mr. assistant, are you ready also?"

Well I'm pretty sure Mr. Wright just said he wasn't ready, but this guy doesn't seem the listening type.

"U-Umm-m, y-yess-s sir…" Brady began trailing off just saying that. "Just r-rook-k-k-i-ie jitt-t-tt-ers." He sounded like Porky Pig instead of a defense attorney's assistant.

"It's his very first time." Phoenix jumped to his defense. "Stars are truly hitting at this point."

Just then the little girl from earlier walked over towards after no one had noticed where she had been.

"Good morning Daddy!" She said towards Mr. Engimar. So I guess that is his daughter. Both men thought the same thing unknowingly.

"Oh sweetie! You already said good morning!" He said, although he seemed much more genuine. His smile of a thousand secrets became a natural smile of joy to see his daughter.

"They better not be picking on you daddy!" She said back, to which he laughed back. "Nonsense, these old boys are here to keep everything straight." Both men just stared back at one another in disbelief as neither was even thirty.

"Now Trucy, we're still talking grown up things so how about you start preparing for our "performance" some more." He said to his daughter.

"Oh right! Today's my first show after all and I can't let the world down!" She said with a proud gleam in her eyes. She then walked off from the adults as they continued preparations. The conversation went on for a few more minutes before it hit a lull as they reached a question Mr. Engimar wasn't intrigued in answering.

I'll admit, for a jerk he's got a cute little kid… Say where did she run off to anyways? Be a shame if we lost her.

Looking around the room, he noticed something odd in the corner of the room. Trucy was talking to someone? Who in the world is that?

In the corner of the room, the little girl was standing there having a conversation…. With a plant.

What the hell is that girl doing? I sure hope that's just a plant she's talking to.

Brady then walked up to the side of the girl, who was just at that time turning around to face him.

"Hey Mr. Old Spiky Boy Assistant!" She said to him full of glee.

Thanks a lot Mr. Engimar. First time I've been called old at 22. "Are you alright? I noticed you were kind of talking, um, with…" Brady felt uncomfortable asking if she was having an imaginary conversation with a tree. Something about it made him fear Mr. Engimar would appear right behind him to terrify him out of such a thought. Still he forced himself to ask.

"Were you talking to someone over here?" He asked.

"Oh yeah!" She said. Before Brady could say anything about trees being objects, she pulled out a piece of paper from her pink oversized hat. "They handed me this." She said as she handed the paper over to him.

"Hmmm, what's this?"" he said, examining the note. It had ripped edges on the side, although the bottom was more intact then the top. He then read the note.

"It seems fate's clock will

make me wait a little longer.

...At least, only less than

ten swift minutes remain.

To all those who have

supported me in my life's

work, I give thanks.

Farewell!"

Magnifi Gramarye"

Magnifi Gramarye? That's the victim! Thank goodness I remembered that much, maybe this is important to our case.

"Little uhh…"

"Trucy?" He said. She just smiled back. Phew. "Umm, where did you get this?"

"They gave it to me and said ""old boy in the blue suit with the spiky hair"" DAMMIT I'M NOT THAT OLD! Stills something sounds off. I feel calling the person they means she doesn't know who it was.

"Did you know who it was?" He asked her. She shook her head back. "Nope, he just said it was really important."

"Well thank you, I'll keep it safe for Mr. Wright." He said back to her. He turned to see Mr. Wright gesturing him to come over. I'll keep this to myself for now. Something about this just seems off, and the less Mr. Wright knows the better.

"Sorry, I was making sure Trucy wasn't talking to plants." Almost falling away from Mr. Engimar as he said this. "Oh you're a riot Mr. Assistant!"

This is going to go smoothly, I can tell…

XXX

April 19th, 9:54 AM, District Court, Courtroom No. 2

Entering the courtroom for the first time, Brady was taken in by the size of it. The stands and benches for both sides looked as though it were made of gold, even though it wasn't. The flags of the state of California and the USA hung above both. It looked…

Kind of small actually. I always envisioned a huge sprawling room with several courts in one… Of course that was when I was about 12 so I guess it was a dumb thought.

He then exited his thoughts to see Mr. Wright not much more relaxed then he had been in the lobby.

"So Mr. Wright, do you think we actually have a chance?" He asked. "I'm becoming more doubtful the more we speak with Mr. Gramarye, err Engimar."

"I really don't think we even know enough. This is very bare bones details even by that definition."

"Right." Brady mumbled.

"Our one saving grace may be that the prosecutor today is as experienced as you are, a rookie himself." Phoenix said. "He's apparently a prodigy of sorts, but the Prosecutor's office always exaggerates that a little. We'll be fine."

I sure hope so. Even if he's a rookie, it's not like we've got the upper hand or anything on him.

"You studied up too of course right?" He asked.

"Of course. The victim is Magnifi Gramarye, the famous founder of Troupe Gramarye. His brand of magic revolutionized the business and he and his disciples flourished as a result. But ten days ago he was found shot dead in the head and Zak Gramarye, legally known as Shadi Engimar, is the chief suspect."

Phoenix nodded in reply. "Good enough, that's why we're here now though. To figure all the details out and find the truth."

"And save Mr. Gramarye?" Phoenix smile back. "If he's innocent that is."

Brady didn't know if that was a slight to their client or some other reference, but he didn't have time to ponder. The judge and prosecution entered their respective benches, and the gallery silenced as the clock struck ten. The trial was set to begin as the judge pounded down on his gavel.

"Court is now in session for the trial of Mr. Shadi Engimar."

"The defense is ready, Your Honor."

A man in a black motorcycle suit stood across behind the Prosecutor's bench snapping his fingers. "Man, what a buzzkill," He said, his accent heavily German.

"A buzz-kill? What sort of crime is this "buzz-kill?" The Judge asked confused. The man grinned back. "Only the worst. Where's the excitement? The heart beating action?"

!

Is that…. The man from the Detention Center last night? Was he spying on us to figure us out?

"Who are you again?" The judge asked.

"Klavier Gavin, here to electrify the legal shows, ja?" He said, his speech still very audible despite the thickness of his accent.

"Ah. Are you perhaps related to Kristoph Gavin?"

"Figures the bro's more known around here." Klavier said brushing a hand through his hair.

The rockstar Prosecutor against the well-worn defense attorney? You're out of your league rock boy!

"I know just what you two are thinking." He said with a grin. "You're out of your league rock boy!" "I'm sure."

"Well damn." Phoenix mumbled to me.

"Well I assure you two, this is the real job, rocking for the frauleins is just for fun I assure you."

The two were silent as the stared down one another before the judge eventually spoke up. "So, let's get this one on the road as the kids would say."

What kids say that?

"I call the lead detective to the stand." Klavier said. Quickly, a huge man wearing a scruffy trench coat appeared before the stand.

"Let's hear the name, ja?" He asked the man.

"Detective Dick Gumshoe, homicide detective at the precinct. I headed the initial investigation into the murder."

Detective Gumshoe, been awhile.

"Hey you! Wright!"

"What?"

"This is the day I finally best you! So get ready to lose!" Gumshoe said with a gleeful smile. Gavin merely shot him a deep glare from the bench.

"Detective, this is my gig. Keep your out of court friendliness that: Out of court."

Gumshoe merely slumped down as he nodded to indicate that he received the message.

"So you know that detective Mr. Wright?" Brady asked.

"Yeah, he's worked almost all my cases. Both a friend and enemy, but above all else a constantly falling salary."

Klavier banged his fist on the gallery wall, annoyed with the two. "Can we get on with this already?"

Why do I feel like we have a gun to our head against this guy? It's like he hated us before we ever said a word. Something's clearly wrong here and I feel we'll have to figure this out soon then later.

"The facts of the case are as follows: The crime happened six days ago. The victim, Magnifi Gramarye, was lying asleep in his hospital bed. Suddenly someone walks in and shoots him in the head and boom. …And those are the basic facts." Gumshoe said.

"Mr. Wright, most cases are processed within a day or so right? What took them six days to bring this one to trial?"

"Ah, Herr Nervos speaks. I was worried your voice went kaput."

Wait, he can hear me? I'm not that nervous… whatever don't intimidated Brady.

"Anyhow a certain detective" He began glaring at Gumshoe "filed everything wrong and it took three days before we could properly prepare a case as a result." Gumshoe just stared at the floor dourly. "Anyhow, the victim was on the verge of death as he's been hospitalized over a year with malgnorant tumor." Gumshoe continued.

"You mean malignant." Klavier finished. "In other words, the man was already knock-knock-knockin on Heaven's door. Just three months to go on his Stairway to Heaven."

Then why bother to kill the man? It's not like he was in the prime of his life. Which means there must be a really strong reason behind this.

"Mr. Wright, why bother killing someone who was this close to death? Especially someone who had essentially made Zak who he is today?" Brady asked.

"That's what we're about to find out, whether Zak likes it or not." Phoenix said confidentially.

"Detective if you would, please testify to the circumstances of the shooting." The Judge asked.

The Circumstances:

Well in truth, the Victim ordered his disciples to kill him.

Not long before it happened, he sent them each a letter ordering them to kill him.

The defendant, Zak Gramarye, did as he was told and shot him in the forehead.

The pistol from the scene is no doubt the weapon, owned by the old man.

Everyone was in a sense of shock from the first statement. "The victim asked for his own death!?" The Judge asked in his own brand of collected shock.

"As the detective said. The Letter in question here reads: To my beloved student, Zak. To you I entrust the lowering of my life's curtain. Come on the 13th at 11:05 PM. I will ready a gun with which you will shoot, one shot, square in the forehead. You cannot refuse, and we both know the reason why. Magnifi Gramarye"

Uh oh, that last line screams of motive. Even vague as it is, it's suspicious.

"Very well, you may cross examine the witness Mr. Wright." The Judge said.

Cross Examination: The Circumstances

"Mr. Wright, Detective Gumshoe seems confident that it was Zak who shot him. Let's press him on that."

2. Not long before it happened, he sent them each a letter ordering them to kill him.

"And you're sure that this was written by the victim?" Phoenix asked.

Gumshoe grew a huge grin on his face. "Oh yeah! We checked it for sure! Score for us!"

"Is he always this boastful, Mr. Wright?" Brady asked. "Not typically, but he's usually not given the chance. He's usually getting his salary lowered by the hour." Phoenix replied.

"Anyways with that cleared up…"

3. The defendant, Zak Gramarye, did as he was told and shot him in the forehead.

"Hold it!" Phoenix yelled. "What makes you so confident that it was Mr. Engimar who shot Magnifi and not the other disciple?"

"Well, it's kind of obvious if you take the facts together!" Gumshoe said. "A letter here that specifically asks the defendant to shoot the victim and the gun he was shot with. Kind of obvious, isn't it?"

"But, I still wouldn't shoot just because the letter said so." Brady said. "I mean if you wrote such a letter I'd just throw it away.

Please tell me that wasn't his argument.

"Well also, there was gunshot residue from the pistol, meaning it had been shot recently to the crime. So the obvious assumption would be the crime."

Brady then stood up for the first time, having seen it in the photo. "Well what about the clown? In the photo here it's shot too!"

Gumshoe suddenly started panting in nervousness.

. You've got to be kidding me. In six days no less.

"The guns only carried one bullet, so how could he shoot the victim and the clown in the forehead? The answer is that he couldn't!" Brady said before realizing he had gotten himself carried away. The Judge just stared at him. "Who are you again?"

"Brady Hastings, future attorney, current attorney assistant with Mr. Wright. Your Honor, this creates a huge hole in the prosecution's argument!"

Klavier just shrugged back. "Why would he bother shooting the clown? There's no use to it!"

"It's not just the clown, but where the clown was shot." Phoenix continued on. "It was shot in the forehead." Klavier stood frozen, realizing the implication. "Uggh, Herr Forehead you say?

"Yep." Phoenix banged his hands on the table. "Which means he couldn't have shot both!"

Klavier looked concerned for a moment before regaining his cool. "Heh. Don't worry Mr. Wright, this was just a warm up for you and your assistant there. The real show's about to get started. For I shall call my next witness, the other disciple of Magnifi Gramarye, Valant!"

The Judge nodded in approval. "But first I believe a brief recess is in order. We shall return in fifteen minutes."

Everyone then stood up to leave to their respective lobbies, both sides not really sure what to read of the others.

A/N: This is the first time I've ever written a trial section so I'm curious how I did, hopefully not too rough. Hopefully I've built suspense for that infamous scene and what changes. Look forward to it on Sunday :D