Welcome to the second chapter of my Ace Attorney fanfiction.

In this chapter, Manfred's death appears on the news and hope arrives for Elise.

I only own Elise, Marcus Jacobson and the guard in the reception area at the prison. The rest of the characters in this story are owned by Capcom, Shu Takumi, A-1 Pictures and Cloverworks.

Without further ado, please enjoy chapter 2 of Turnabout Justice.

A puzzling case

January 11th 2019 09:55 AM

Wright and Co. Law Offices

Phoenix Wright yawned and stretched slightly as he watched the news on the television, the jacket of his blue suit hanging over the back of the couch he was sitting on and the golden attorney's badge on the jacket's lapel shining brightly in the winter morning sun. Nothing note-worthy so far, he thought as he drank his coffee when suddenly the atmosphere on the screen changed and a headline appeared that caught Phoenix's attention; 'Breaking news: Brutal murder at L.A. prison, von Karma dead at 66!'

Then a reporter started speaking. "I'm standing here outside the Los Angeles State Prison, which has become the scene of a horrific crime. The victim, former prosecutor Manfred von Karma, was found murdered early last night from multiple stab wounds in the office of prison warden, Marcus Jacobson. Mr. von Karma had been serving a life sentence at the prison for the murder of defense attorney, Gregory Edgeworth, a crime he managed to escape justice from for fifteen years, and for orchestrating another murder that took the life of a second defense attorney, Robert Hammond, which was committed by ex-court bailiff, Yanni Yogi, over two years ago. However, it seems justice has been done far more quickly for Mr. von Karma's death as a suspect has already been arrested. The victim's sixteen-year-old daughter and defense prodigy, Elise von Karma, was found at the scene knelt by the body, holding the murder weapon. She is now in police custody and awaiting trial tomorrow." the reporter explained as a shocked Phoenix watched on in disbelief.

Just then, Maya Fey, an eighteen-year-old black-haired spirit medium in purple robes, wooden sandals and a beaded magatama, walked into the office, looking happy and care-free as she always was first thing in the morning. She was Phoenix's assistant and had been one of his closest friends since he had defended her and later himself when they had both been accused of murdering Maya's older sister and Phoenix's mentor, Mia.

"Good morning, Nick!" Maya said happily as she sat down next to him. However, as soon as she noticed his expression, her cheerful mood became one of concern. "What's wrong?" she asked before turning to watch the news with him, immediately noticing the headline. "What?! von Karma's dead?!" she yelled, not quite believing what she had just read. "Yeah, he's gone. What's worse is that they've already arrested his daughter for his murder." Phoenix said, feeling sorry for the young prodigy. "They arrested Franziska?" Maya asked sadly. Phoenix shook his head. "No, they've arrested her little sister, Elise. She's a defense attorney." he told her somberly. "A defense attorney? But aren't the rest of her family prosecutors? Why would she choose to defend people?" Maya asked in confusion.

Just then, Phoenix's phone rang from the left inside pocket of his jacket, the theme song of Steel Samurai muffled by the fabric. "I think we're about to find out more about the murder first." Phoenix said as he took his phone out of his pocket and accepted the call. It was Edgeworth. "Wright, I need you to come to the police station right now. It's a matter of the utmost importance." he said, his voice filled with a sense of urgency. "I know, it just came up on the news. We're already on our way." Phoenix said seriously as he hung up, put on his jacket, put his phone away and headed for the door. "Come on, Maya. We need to get to the bottom of this." he said, ready to investigate this case.

January 11th 2019 10:20 AM

Los Angeles Police Department

Criminal Affairs Department

Phoenix and Maya walked into the police station, eager to get started with their investigation. Unfortunately, as soon as they stepped foot into the Criminal Affairs Department, Phoenix was immediately greeted with the sharp crack of a whip and the presence of an eighteen-year-old girl with silver-blue shoulder length hair, dressed in a black and gold dress with white puffed sleeves, brown tights and black boots and gloves. This was none other than Elise's older sister; the whip-happy prosecutor, Franziska von Karma.

"Where have you been, you foolish fool?! Do you have any idea how long we've been waiting?!" she demanded angrily. The blue jewels that adorned her ears, sleeves and the white bow around her neck shone brightly in the department lights as she held her whip above her head menacingly, ready to strike again. About ten minutes would be my guess, Phoenix thought nervously.

"We got here as soon as we could, Franziska." he said in exasperation at Franziska's less-then-friendly greeting. "Papa is dead, Elise stands accused of his murder! That should have been more than enough incentive for you to get here faster!" Franziska yelled furiously as she whipped the gap between Phoenix and Maya, causing the two to dodge out of the way to avoid getting struck.

Thankfully, before the bad situation could escalate any further, a brown-haired man in a maroon suit appeared before them. It was a man who Phoenix had known and respected for a long time. His childhood friend and courtroom rival, Miles Edgeworth. "That's enough, Franziska. Attacking the defense is not going to help Elise's case." he told the younger prosecutor scoldingly, redirecting her rage to him. "It makes me feel better!" Franziska argued back. "If Elise has any chance of being declared innocent, we must co-operate with each other." Edgeworth said, stamping down his authority and making his adoptive sister back down.

"Edgeworth." Phoenix greeted respectfully, acknowledging his old friend and silently thanking him for his assistance. "Wright, thank you for coming so quickly." Edgeworth replied, his mind filled with relief that help had arrived for his youngest sister. "I've heard everything but I want your opinion as a prosecutor. How bad is it?" Phoenix asked, knowing from experience that arrests made so quickly in a murder investigation were never good. "It's as bad as it could possibly be for Elise. Her fingerprints are all over the handle of the murder weapon, there's blood on her clothes from last night and there's several prison guards and police who saw her at the crime scene." explained Edgeworth, looking away in frustration that he could do so little to help the defense prodigy.

"I see." Phoenix said, crossing his arms and resting his hand on his chin. It was certainly a difficult case but, then again, he specialised in difficult cases. "Elise is in the Detention Center. I hear she is willing to see visitors so if you will all follow me, we can hear her side of the story." Edgeworth said, guiding the group of four to the visitor's room.

January 11th 2019 10:30 AM

Detention Center

Visitor's Room

Phoenix looked wearily around the small visitor's room of the detention center with an unfortunate sense of familiarity as he, Maya and Franziska all stood behind Edgeworth. The grey walls, the bulletproof partition window with a small microphone for communication, the basic office furniture and the security camera that watched their every move. All of this made for a dreary and depressing place.

From the outside, he could hear the guard telling Elise that she had visitors and minutes later, the youngest von Karma came into view. She was now dressed in clean, blood-free clothes, very similar to the clothes she wore on the day of her father's death. This family don't seem to care much about having a varied wardrobe, Phoenix thought as Elise sat down opposite her brother.

"What do you want, Miles? I already know how serious this is." she said abruptly, crossing her arms and turning her head away. Though he did not show it, Edgeworth was highly amused by the young defense prodigy's behaviour. Elise had been born just a week before he had arrived at the von Karma household. Even when she was just a week old, she had been the most arrogant of his three adoptive sisters with Franziska following close behind.

Edgeworth knew the truth, though. Behind the arrogant and calm attitude, Elise was just a shy and frightened young girl who had been trying to make a name for herself, away from her father's corrupt legacy, and ended up being accused of the same type of crime he had committed. "I never doubted your knowledge about the weight of your situation, Elise. I'm actually here to offer you some assistance in regards to your trial." he said, directing her attention to Phoenix. "I see. Very well, let him speak." Elise said, sounding dismissive even though she was scared.

As Edgeworth got up, Phoenix thought about his first opinion of his potential client. She certainly had her family trait of being arrogant but something about her did not seem to fit with what he had seen from all three of the prosecutors in her family. For example, her choice to defend rather than prosecute. Sitting down, Phoenix was eager to learn more about the youngest von Karma.

"Mr. Phoenix Wright, I presume." Elise commented dismissively. Off to a good start, Phoenix thought nervously. "Miss von Karma, I have heard about the details of your case on the news." he said. "Then you know that I was caught red-handed. I'm almost certainly guilty." Elise said, hiding the helplessness she felt beneath a mask of bored confidence.

"I don't believe that for one second. I'd like to hear your version of what happened last night." Phoenix requested, knowing that there was more to this case than what he had seen and heard so far. "Very well, I shall tell you my perspective of what transpired in spite of how hopeless my case is." Elise sighed pessimistically. By the sound of it, you've given up already, Phoenix thought as the younger defense attorney on the other side of the glass started speaking.

"I was visiting the prison to speak with the warden, Marcus Jacobson, to arrange an interview with an inmate regarding a prosecutorial misconduct case I was investigating. I arrived there at around 04:00 PM. The situation was normal until we arrived at his office. Just as I was about to sit down to begin our meeting, I felt a sharp pain across the back of my head. I fell to the floor and then everything went dark." Elise explained. "Did you hear anything before you lost consciousness? Did your assailant speak at all?" Phoenix asked, knowing that this information could be important. "N-no, they didn't speak. All I heard was some sort of beeping, like a code being entered, and a door opening before darkness took over." Elise admitted, embarrassed that she had been caught off guard so easily.

"I see. Please go on. What happened next?" Phoenix said, becoming more convinced that something was wrong with this case. "Well, when I awoke, I found myself in some sort of strange room. It was completely empty, save for myself. The door of this room was opened so I walked through it and found myself back in the warden's office. By then, the room was in complete darkness so I could only assume night had fallen. I struggled to the warden's desk and managed to find the lamp. When I turned it on, I saw..." Elise said, breaking down as she recalled the horrific sight that was revealed to her. "Your father's body." Maya said, finishing Elise's sentence for her as the young prodigy mourned her loss, her calm and arrogant façade finally falling apart.

"I'm so sorry, Miss von Karma. I can't even begin to imagine how terrible that sight must have been." Phoenix said sympathetically, feeling in his gut that Elise was innocent. Killers did not normally grieve the deaths of their victims. Behind him, Maya looked at the young defense attorney sadly, feeling nothing but sympathy for her. Edgeworth looked away in disgust that his youngest sister had been arrested when she had clearly been framed while Franziska looked down at the ground, clutching her whip angrily, knowing there was nothing she could do to help Elise.

"Miss von Karma, if you don't feel comfortable carrying on..." Phoenix began, not wanting to put Elise through any more stress then she had already been through. "No, no, it's alright, Phoenix Wright. I shall tell you more." Elise said, drying up her tears. "Okay, if you're sure. Please continue." Phoenix said, already dreading what the girl would say next.

"When I saw Papa's body, I was in complete shock. I can remember walking over to him and falling to my knees. After about a minute of just staring at him, a glint of silver caught my eye. I picked it up and found it was a blade; a letter opener." Elise explained. That's why her fingerprints were on the murder weapon, Phoenix thought. "Before I had time to consider the possibilities of what had happened, the prison alarm system went off and the guards and the police came rushing in. I was arrested on the spot and brought here." Elise concluded sadly as she turned her head away, unable to look at anyone on the other side of the glass anymore.

Phoenix thought for a moment. All the evidence currently in the case pointed to Elise. Her blood-stained clothes, her fingerprints on the murder weapon, the fact that she was found at the scene with a knife in her hand. But, on the other hand, this one conversation with her had pointed out a few contradictions to what that same evidence showed. Then there was that room that Elise had woken up in after clearly being knocked out.

Determined to get to the bottom of this, Phoenix made his decision. "Miss von Karma, I'm afraid I can't believe that you're guilty." he declared, causing Elise to look back at him in shock. "But, Phoenix Wright, the evidence..." she began but Phoenix shook his head. "The evidence doesn't match what you've just told me. You've also revealed information that was not included in the news report or in the initial police investigation. That's why I'm taking your case." he said triumphantly.

"But you can't...!" Elise protested. "Why? Did you kill your father?" Phoenix asked, already knowing the answer. "No, of course I didn't! I would never hurt Papa, no matter what he did or who he killed." Elise said insistently. "Then I'm taking your case. I won't rest until you're proven innocent." he said. "Thank you, Phoenix Wright. Thank you." Elise said gratefully, smiling for the first time that day. "It's no problem. Just hang in there. We'll get to the bottom of this." Phoenix said as he and Maya left to begin their investigation. Their first stop would be the scene of the crime. The warden's office at the prison.

So Phoenix takes the case and his investigation into Manfred von Karma's death can begin. What will Phoenix and Maya find in the warden's office?

As always, I do not own any of the characters except for Elise, Marcus Jacobson and the guard in the reception area at the prison.

I hope you have enjoyed this chapter and I hope to have the next chapter posted as soon as possible.