Earthcub12 Presents
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney ~ Courtroom Champions
-August 22, 3:00-
-District Court-
-Defendant Lobby, No. 4-
"YOU DID IT, PHOENIX!"
Athena expressed her glee to her boss. "You saved Steven and took down that nasty security guard, too! It was just great!"
"You helped me out, too, Athena." Phoenix told her. "Why, if it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have gotten this far! You've grown into a strong, powerful lawyer, Athena. I couldn't be prouder."
Athena blushed, stroking her hair. "Thank you, boss! I think my mother would have been proud, too."
"Congrats, you guys!" Apollo approached them. "Thanks for nailing that jerk right in front of everyone! I couldn't stand his smug face!"
"Apollo…" Athena said to him. "I never got to tell you, but… thanks for defending me earlier. That meant a lot to me."
"Huh? Oh, that!" Apollo blushed, rubbing his head. "Well, someone had to stand up to that guy! Nobody threatens my co-worker and friend like that. It's the least I could do."
Athena smiled at him. "Thank you, Apollo."
"Hey, guys?"
All heads turned to Steven. "I… I want to say thanks. I know I've been a chore to deal with at times, but… I just want to express my gratitude for sticking through for me 'til the end. I feel like…"
Steven stood straight up and smiled. "…Like I finally found meaning. Like I can change things."
"Steven…?" Phoenix asked.
"You see, I'm going through a tough patch right now. We're poor. I'm almost never around. My wife and I… we may be going through a divorce. Times are hard, you see? But… this whole thing is a wake-up call that I need to sort my life out immediately! No more awkward, pitiful Steven Vaughan! Soon, I will be proud and tall Steven Vaughan! I'll be the husband and father they expect of me, you'll see!"
"I'm glad you see it that way, Steven." Complimented Apollo. "Hey, tell your brother I said hi, alright?"
Steven nodded. "Yes! Yes, will do! Hey, so, a great new pizza place just opened up at the mall and has a special going on in Richard's memory. It's called, 'The Supreme-R.I.P.-Richard Pizza'! Why don't we all head over there and grab a late lunch on me? What do ya say!?"
(Nothing against the specialty pizza, but doesn't that seem just a little… wrong?)
Athena gasped. "Of course! I love pizza! Also, why don't we all reward ourselves with a little mall-shopping! What do you guys say?"
"I'm down for some down-time! What do you say, Mr. Wright?" Apollo asked.
"Yeah! Let's go!" Phoenix said. He turned around, but suddenly bumped into a man in a blue hood. The man's face was obscured and wore baggy clothes. The sudden impact caused Phoenix to fall to the ground as his attorney badge fell off. The man lifted Phoenix up to his feet. "Oh! Excuse me, sir!" The man said, wiping dirt and dust off Phoenix.
"I-it's okay!" Phoenix assured. "My bad. I should've been more careful."
Athena, Apollo, and Steven all rushed to Phoenix. "Hey, you okay, Phoenix?" Steven asked. Phoenix turned to them.
"I'm fine, guys. Really." He explained to them. "I guess I just have courthouse fever. Why don't we all go now?"
"Hey, dude, wait!" The stranger said to him. "You forgot something." The man held Phoenix's attorney badge in his hand.
"My badge!"
Phoenix took the badge from the man and clipped it back to his suit.
"Hey, buddy, thanks for-." Phoenix began to say. He pulled his head up and saw that the man was gone. Phoenix looked all around him for the guy.
"Phoenix!" Steven said. "You want me to get that guy for you?"
"Uh… no. No thank you, Steven. Really. He's fine."
(Well, that was weird.)
"Anyway, I just need to get out of the courtroom for a while. So, Wall-2-Wall, anyone?"
"Yeah!" Athena said optimistically. "Let's go!"
The three lawyers and Steven eventually left the courthouse behind them, enjoying the beautiful breeze and the squirrels running about. Enjoying their freedom.
(Well, another case down. Another victory for me and my team. But, of course, winning is not everything. Being a lawyer doesn't just mean proving your client innocent. It's not about the win record, or the money, or anything like that. It's about fighting to get the truth, no matter what. That's what it really means to be an attorney. But who knew that our next trial – a trial involving a seemingly innocent and normal church – would only be the start of our various problems? A trial where one person lured us into their dark, violent past. Where I – and the ones closest to me – would eventually be in harm's way.)
'TURNABOUT FOR A PRAYER' PREVIEW:
-September 2, 8:12 PM-
-St. Owen's Baptist Church-
-Father Owen's Chambers-
Father Owen was in his study chamber late that night. The older man was sitting comfortably at his desk, writing; wearing a blanket with sleeves, and a cup of hot chocolate beside him. Suddenly, he looked up as he heard a door creak open.
"Hello? Who's there?" He called. Nobody in sight. Owen eventually ignored it and went back to his studies, only for a minute later, a man walked inside. "Who-!? Oh, it's just you. May I help you?"
Almost without hesitation, the man walked over to Owen and grabbed him by his shirt's collar and lifted him up. Owen's face expressed great fear. "I don't want to hurt you, old man!" He said. "Just give me the key, and I'll be out of your hair!"
"I-I don't know what you're talking about!" The priest said to him.
"You know what I'm talking about!" The intruder barked. "Cough it up, or I'll give you something to cough up!"
"Okay! Okay! Fine! It's-it's over there!" Owen pointed at the wall. The intruder looked that way.
"Huh? Where? I don't see anything!"
When he was distracted, Owen grabbed his cup of cocoa and smashed it on the intruder's head. Dazed, he let Owen go. Owen dashed for the door, only for the man to grab him by Owen's arm. The man pulled Owen closer as they wrestled. The intruder shoved Owen to his desk and proceeded to strangle him. Owen desperately grabbed for the sharp pencil he was working with earlier and slashed the man's hand, cutting it.
"Ow!" He yelled. "Damn it!"
The annoyed intruder lifted Owen up and pushed him to the wall. A second later, the dizzy Owen opened his eyes, only to witness a bronze statue to hit the top of his head, killing him. Breathing heavily, the man crouched down and began to dig through Owen's pockets. "Sorry it had to come to this, old man. But I have matters to attend to."
Before he could find whatever he could find, a man's voice interrupted. "Father Owen? Father Owen, are you okay?"
The intruder growled and stood up. "Don't go disappearing on me, you corpse."
The intruder proceeded to lift up a large object and fling it at the nearest window. The man quickly rushed out of the room through the shattered window just as a young priest walked right inside. "Hello? Father Owen? Are you alright?" Turning to his left, the priest gasped at what he saw. "F…Father Owen! Father Owen!"
The priest rushed to the dead man's side, moving the statue off his head. He grabbed Owen's head and examined it for any form of life.
"Brother Vaughan? Are you quite-?"
A young lady with her hair tied back walked inside and screamed at the sight of Owen's body. "Quickly! Get help! Get help now!" The young priest yelled. The lady hesitated, then eventually ran out.
"Father, please! Please wake up! Please…"
AUTHOR'S NOTE: HOT DAMN! What a twist! Anyway, so the first turnabout is finally behind us, time for a NEW adventure with Phoenix and friends! Thank you all for the support thus far, and I hope you will enjoy the future turnabouts I have in store! I'll see you all next time!