Chapter 1

Yup, This Is Really Happening

[ August 23, 8:30 AM, Wright & Co. Law Offices ]

It started out like any other morning. Phoenix Wright, Ace Attorney, was watering his plant Charley. Charley is one of the last things Phoenix's mentor, Mia Fey, left him before she was brutally murdered a few years ago.

"Here's your breakfast, Charley." said Phoenix as he poured cold water onto the plant from a watering can. Phoenix set the can down and then plopped his ass into the desk chair. He had just got back from London not too long ago and hasn't had any cases since. Phoenix picked up his cup of coffee and began reading the funnies section of the newspaper.

"NICK!" came a shout from the other room. Phoenix jumped and spilled hot coffee all over his blue suit.

"AH! HOT! HOT!" exclaimed Phoenix as he leaned down and grabbed the watering can from beside him. He began pouring the cold water onto himself to ease the burn.

His office door burst open and in came rushing a petite girl in spirit medium attire.

"Maya! What is it!? Are you hurt?" asked Phoenix, still tending to his third degree burns.

"Nick! It's terrible! I just saw on the news that they're cancelling the Pink Princess!" said Maya. Maya Fey is Phoenix's assistant and Mia's little sister. Her ability to channel spirits, including her dead sister, has bailed Phoenix out of more sticky situations than all the banks George Bush bailed out in 2008.

"That's it? I thought you were being murdered or something. That happens a lot around here." said Phoenix, kinda disappointed.

"Nah, not this time. Although now that you mention it... It has been rather quiet around here lately." Maya thoughtfully tapped her index finger to her chin.

"I for one don't mind a little peace and quiet after that fiasco in Labyrinthia." said Phoenix, leaning back in his desk chair and putting his hands behind his spiky head.

Labyrinthia, for those who don't know, was the main setting of Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright. It was a pretty alright game, you should check it out maybe.

Just then, the door to the office slowly opened.

"Um, excuse me?" said a young blonde haired woman who walked through the doorway, "Is this the Wright & Co. law offices?"

"Yes we are! Finally! A new case!" exclaimed Maya, pumping her fist into the air.

Phoenix readjusted his tie and tried his best to hide the coffee stain on his blue suit before introducing himself.

"Uh, hello! I'm Phoenix Wright." he said as confidently as he could.

"Wow, so you're the legendary defense attorney Phoenix Wright? You're shorter than I expected." said the woman. Maya stifled some laughter.

"Well, if the TV can add a few pounds to your weight then the courtroom can add a few inches to your height I guess," said Phoenix, a little embarrassed.

"I bet your height isn't the only thing you wish could gain a few inches," said Maya snarkily.

"Ahem, anyway, so… may I ask who you are?" asked Phoenix.

"Oh! Sorry, my name is Angie Thompson. I'm a nurse for Caduceus." Angie gave Phoenix and Maya a courteous bow.

"Caduceus? That sounds like a cranberry flavor of ice cream." said Maya, her mouth starting to water.

"I think I've heard that name somewhere before. It's like a really big hospital or something." said Phoenix, trying to recall where he had heard that name before.

"Not just a really big hospital," Angie corrected, "but it's an arm of the World Health Organization that specializes in exterminating intractable diseases that threaten mankind."

Maya gave an impressed whistle. "Wow. That sounds really important."

Phoenix touched the back of his neck and said, "Um, Ms. Thompson, in case the sign on the door wasn't any indication but I'm a lawyer. Not a doctor. I'm not sure how I could be of any help to your organization."

"More than you know, Mr. Wright. And please, call me Angie." urged Angie.

Maya playfully punched Phoenix on the arm. "Yeah Nick! Performing surgery is a piece of cake! I've played a video game like it once and if I can do it then so can you!"

"No, no. I'm not asking you to perform an operation. One of our own doctors has been accused of murder." Angie said gravely.

"Say no more, Angie! Murderers are our speciality!" Maya said confidently, "C'mon Nick! Let's go!" Maya tried to pull Phoenix's hand out the door. He wiggled his hand free.

"Go? Go where? We haven't even heard what Angie has to say."

Maya shrugged and said, "What's there to say? We've done this only a hundred times! We go down to the detention center, talk to our client, investigate a crime scene, present every piece of evidence in court until we pick the right one, and then we win!"

"We don't even know who we're visiting in the detention center." Phoenix reminded Maya.

"Oh! Right! So Angie, who's the poor bastard on death row?" Maya bluntly asked.

Angie lowered her eyes to meet both Phoenix and Maya's gazes before answering. "He's one of the top doctors at Caduceus and a very close friend of mine. His name is Dr. Derek Stiles."

"Derek Stiles. Got it! Let's go, Nick!" Maya rushed out the door, but not before bumping into the life size cutout of Shu Takumi they keep in the office. It fell over onto the coffee table and miraculously landed on the TV remote which turned on the television. A news report appeared on screen. It showed a reporter reporting from outside the detention center. Other reporters and news vans could be seen.

"This is Guy Davidson reporting live from outside the detention center where star surgeon turned murderous menace, Dr. Derek Stiles, is being held for questioning."

Phoenix and Angie both stare at the TV in surprise. Angie's jaw drops as she watches.

"It's already all over the news!" said Angie in surprise.

"Well, that's the 24 hour cable news cycle for ya. Everything is breaking news." said Phoenix, shaking his head.

"We better get down there!" said Angie. So Phoenix, Angie, and Maya hauled their asses to the detention center.