HERE IT IS! The Chapter that started this series! You have no clue how much I wanted to write this one. But I wanted to do the first two chapters first.
IN THIS CHAPTER: Apollo's feeling better and Trucy decides to mentor him in all things magic. What could go wrong? There's a lot that can go wrong when Apollo's mind drifts to sadder things.
(In other words, I'm tagging past-Claypollo. Because it's the angst ship I love.)
(Also, here soon we're gonna be seeing the awesome duo, Sebastian and Kay! I'm doing a rp with a friend and I play both of them, and it's actually really fun! Not so much for Klavier though, who had them both with him in court. But I really like Sebastian.
Aaaaaand I have zero idea how some investigating works. So creative liberties are used, and I'm sorry if it's way off the mark.
For those of you who have read my Free! Story, you know I have limited knowledge of the German language. So when I use it, if it's the completely wrong thing or worded wrong, TELL ME PLEASE. I'm still learning and any and all help is appreciated.)
AND I GOOFED UP. IN THE FIRST CHAPTER I PUT 'QUEEN OF ACES' AS A CARD. I MEANT QUEEN OF HEARTS.
The third time Apollo consciously uses magic, it has very interesting results.
"No Polly! Not like that." Trucy sighed, sitting down on the couch. "Maybe we should start with card tricks?"
It had been three weeks since Apollo had tentatively made his way back to the WAA. Edgeworth had led him in to a frantically pacing Phoenix, who trapped Apollo in a hug and refused to let go for the better part of a day. The smaller man had complained at first, but then resigned himself to his fate and squirmed in the tight hold until he could get comfortable.
If only he could have found a way to make Athena's phone disappear that day. Three weeks later and he still hasn't heard the end of it from Klavier, who had been one of the recipients of her picture texts.
Then there was the problem of Apollo's own phone. The screen was damaged beyond repair and now was a part of Trucy's magic act. Phoenix had declared Apollo couldn't go without a phone, and Apollo felt a twinge of guilt that he was only so adamant about it because it was one less way for him to stay in touch with the others.
So a new one was ordered behind Apollo's back. He had only been informed of it the day after the fact when Edgeworth had passed him in the courthouse and mentioned it. He had no clue what sort of phone it was, or the price for that matter.
But knowing the two lawyers behind the scheme, it was something practical, but also a ways out of his paycheck's reach.
"Perhaps try the magic panties trick aga-"
"NO!" Apollo shrieked. "No panties!"
That earned a quizzical look from Athena, who was borrowing Apollo's desk as she sorted through evidence for her latest case. "What do you have against panties?"
"It's a long story." Apollo sighed. He could go his entire life without ever retelling or reliving that story. "Maybe I'm not cut out for more tricks." So far he had turned paperwork into origami, made things disappear, made things explode, and made things reappear. He practiced the second and third trick enough that he felt he had a good grip on things.
Phoenix had put a ban on exploding magic though, after a file of important cases had gone up in flames. In Apollo's defense, he had no idea how it happened. Trucy gave the explanation that it was probably because of stress that the magic had reacted.
He felt like a character in one of the books Clay loved. Apollo wasn't a huge Harry Potter fan, but he had read the books and seen the movies- only for Clay would he sit through an all-day marathon in a theater full of people and his bracelet threatening to detach his wrist from his arm- so he knew how their magic worked.
"It couldn't be more different Polly!" Trucy had exclaimed when Apollo mentioned the comparison. "We don't need a wand for starters!"
Not for the first time, Apollo wondered what Clay would think of all this. No doubt he would say that it was amazing. Magic wasn't his most favorite thing in the entire world, but it was just below space and Apollo himself. He would beg Apollo to do tricks, and give Clay a chance to guess how they were done.
Apollo would reply that it was simply magic. He couldn't explain it. Clay would give him a smile that softened the more he looked at Apollo, before drawing him in for a short but sweet kiss.
But that couldn't happen. Not now, and not ever.
"Don't say that Polly! You just gotta practice!" Trucy smiled widely. "You're just starting out. I've been doing this stuff for years. Which is why I'm going to teach you everything about magic, and the first thing I taught you?"
"Stay focused to keep the damage you can do at a minimum." Apollo said absentmindedly, twisting the ring on his left ring finger around. Trucy frowned at the movement, and Athena gave him a sad glance. They knew what the ring was.
A simple gold band with a ruby and moonstone similar to Athena's earring cast into it. There was a matching one, buried with Clay. They had been found with the rest of Clay's things at the Space Center. And while most of the items went back to Clay's family, Ema, who had taken over as lead detective once the Phantom had been discovered, found the rings while searching for anything that could be used in the case. And in a magic trick of her own, made sure the rings found their way to Phoenix and Edgeworth, who in turn gave them to Apollo.
He had broken down then, a mess of sobs and cries and screams. It left him hoarse, and left his parents- he guessed it was the easiest way to explain Phoenix and Edgeworth now- to call in a doctor when his voice hadn't gotten better.
Those weeks of silence after the Phantom trial were hell.
Athena frowned, hearing the pain in Apollo's heart. "Hey, how about a break? I got some files that need to go to the Prosecutor's Office, wanna come with Pollo?" She didn't wait for his answer, herding him towards the door and out into the busy world.
"Sorry Athena, guess I'm a bit too loud today?" He frowned.
"It's nothing! Really!" She reassured him. "You're allowed to grieve. Don't worry about me. I'm not expecting you to be happy all the time." Athena smiled.
"Just be you!" Widget blurted out.
Apollo gave her a sad smile before turning in the right direction for the Prosecutor's Office. "Come on, we won't get anything done just standing around here."
What was supposed to be a short trip to the Prosecutor's Office, turned into one long game of hide-and-seek.
Athena's files were supposed to go to Edgeworth, who wasn't in his office and directed that all files be left with Prosecutor Debeste. But when the two looked for Sebastian, they found that he had been called down to the Police Department in Edgeworth's place to help Kay with something.
Edgeworth's secretary then told them to try Prosecutor Gavin's office, only for them to be turned away by Ema, who was scolding Klavier for something and pelting him with Snackoos. He looked at the two Defense Attorneys for help, only for Ema to slam the door on them.
"I'm just gonna give these to Simon before we're directed to one of the Paynes…" Athena sighed, moving her hands from her ears. "I wonder what Klavier did to deserve that anger."
Apollo adjusted his grip on the files before shrugging. "Knowing Ema it could be something as simple as insulting her snacks." Apollo had learned a while ago that saying anything against Ema's food choices was a terrible idea. No one was safe from that rule, not even Phoenix and Edgeworth, who she had pelted with the things more times than anyone else.
Athena sighed again, taking the folders from Apollo. "Come on, I'm sure Taka will be glad to see you."
He couldn't help but groan at that. "On second thought, maybe I should wait here for Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth."
"What, you think papa can save you from the big bad birdie?" Athena teased.
"Oh like you've never called him that!" Apollo protested with a glare. "I slip up one time and you and Trucy refuse to leave it alone. At least I don't call Mr. Wright daddy."
"Well it would get confusing, calling him and the Chief Prosecutor the same thing." Athena pointed out. "And you call him dad."
"Once!" Athena flinched at the loud outburst.
"Liar liar!" Widget supplied.
"More than once," Athena grinned, "face it Polly, if we were any younger they would've signed adoption papers for us years ago."
Apollo looked down at the floor. Years ago, his heart would've leapt out of his chest at that. But once he hit eighteen, he gave that dream up and threw himself into law school.
He didn't allow himself to think of what happened during and directly after that.
"I think we've all slipped up at some point." Athena continued as they headed for Blackquill's office. "Well, all of us except Simon. They have a hard enough time getting him to call them anything without '-dono' at the end."
"I doubt Prosecutor Gavin's ever slipped up." Apollo added.
"Objection!" Athena smiled. "I got to witness him calling the Chief Prosecutor Vater on more than one occasion. And remember when he fell from the support beam on the Harrison trial?"
Apollo wished he could forget that trial. It was a high profile case, an actor in an upcoming move had been murdered and Phoenix had taken the case. Blackquill was the prosecutor, but Edgeworth had come on as co-council due to just how much evidence and how many contradicting statements were being said.
It was the only case in years to break the "three day" rule, eventually turning to the still new Jurist System. Most other cases were put on hold for the trial, so that both the defense and prosecution could have a full team working to find out the truth. Phoenix had even called Maya down to assist.
Day four had been the mad scramble for key evidence that was missing. Apollo, Klavier, and Maya had gone to retrieve it, only to find its location was in a less than perfect building. The director of the film had told them it was a prop house, typically used for when they needed to destroy rooms in a fight scene or for horror films.
The evidence, which was a necklace given to the actor by his mother-in-law before the woman's passing, was found hanging in the rafters. Klavier had offered to go up, being the lightest out of the three. Unfortunately, the director had forgotten that the house had been used in a scene only a few hours prior, and the repairs hadn't had time to set correctly.
Klavier's fall had scared the three- four, Apollo corrected, remembering the quick Channeling Maya had done- of them more than it had hurt anyone. But it was enough to get Klavier to panic, calling for Edgeworth and using the German term Athena had brought up. He had called for Phoenix too, in English, and Mia had been the one to comfort him until the two lawyers could get there.
They were scratched up, but nothing too terrible.
Apollo pointedly ignored the fact that he had called for Edgeworth and Phoenix much the same way Klavier had once everything settled and the fear kicked in.
"Just don't expect me to start calling Prosecutor Von Karma 'Aunt', because it's not gonna happen." Apollo grumbled.
His companion laughed. "I think Trucy's the only one who can get away with that." She had yet to meet the Chief Prosecutor's sister in court, but had heard the horror stories from Phoenix. "Isn't she the reason he banned whips from the agency?"
"That she is." Apollo grimaced. "And for a good reason."
Simon's office was close, and they were greeted at the door by Taka, who was cleaning his feathers on a perch just inside. He stopped once he saw the two, flying over to perch on Apollo's shoulder.
Better than my head at least. He made a mental note to make sure he still had hair gel at the office as Taka began messing with his hair. "I know, you want it down, but too bad." He frowned. "It's my hair, not yours."
"Athena, Justice-dono." Blackquill greeted them from his desk.
"What have we told you about that, drop it." Apollo sighed. "Just Justice or whatever else." Anything but Herr Forehead please!
Athena skipped over to the desk, setting the files down in an empty corner. "Congratulations Simon! You're the proud guardian of some of the Chief Prosecutor's files until he comes back!"
"Is he not back yet? He left two hours ago…" Blackquill looked up from his own paperwork.
"He's gone, Sebastian's gone, and Klavier got Ema mad again. So it was either bring them here, or leave them with a Payne." Athena explained.
"Pain in the ass!" Widget said before Athena could cover the AI.
"Got that right." Apollo muttered, absentmindedly bringing one hand up to pet Taka. The hawk was much more likeable when he wasn't trying to scratch Apollo's eyes out.
The short visit turned even longer as Athena sat them both down to talk with Simon. Apollo didn't really mind though. It gave him a chance to practice more magic, turning a few scrap pieces of paper into different animals and watching as Taka would stalk some, and grow confused at others.
He even managed to get a laugh from Simon when he transformed a few papers into a hawk that looked almost exactly like Taka. The bird's feathers were ruffled at that, taking offense to being compared to some silly paper.
"Watch out Simon, if you're not careful we may just turn your sword into a cat if you use it in court." Athena teased.
"Who's 'we'?" Apollo asked, getting the paper hawk to fly around. Taka had grown used to it and didn't seem to mind sharing the air. He looked to be enjoying himself, finally having a friend to fly with. Apollo wondered if there was a way to keep it like that.
It would give him a good way to distract Taka in court. Perhaps…
"Please work…" He whispered, concentrating on the paper hawk. Trucy had explained the magic to him once. Apollo hadn't been listening as well as he should have been, since she decided to tell him at a crime scene. But he did remember her saying something about directing it.
So he tried. The bracelet on his arm contracted for a second before shivering. He found it reacting to his magic more often, ever since he summoned it from his apartment while at Edgeworth's. Trucy had smiled at that information.
"Of course it will!" She nodded while explaining. "Like the symbol on my cape! Daddy- my first one- his symbol did the same. It's a way to tell us when our magic is trying to act on its own."
Please magic…just let me do this one thing? He focused, realizing that Simon and Athena were watching him. Apollo tuned them out, keeping his eyes on the hawk and Taka. He studied how Taka moved in the air, every little detail in his wings, his head movements, the way his feathers seemed to shiver as the air passed over them.
Apollo wanted every detail to be right. He slowly began to twist the details into magic, guiding it into the paper. He was almost finished…
When the door opened, the sudden sound snapped his concentration. Oh no! He tried to reel in the magic as the two hawks flew over the person in the door way.
"Oh shit!" Athena slapped her hands over Widget as Simon stared wide-eyed at the person.
"What on earth?"
Edgeworth stood in the doorway, looking at the two hawks that had taken to circling around him. "You're getting better Apollo." He commented, looking at the three lawyers in the room. "What's wrong?"
"Um…Mr. Edgeworth…" Athena tightened her grip on Widget. Simon quickly turned his attention back to the work on his desk, pretending to busy himself as Taka and the paper perched on his shoulders.
Apollo paled. That was not how things were supposed to go. "I'm sorry!" He blurted out, making the others cover their ears. "I don't know what happened, I was just trying to make the hawk stay for a bit longer."
Edgeworth frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Athena reached hesitantly into her bag, pulling out a compact mirror and passing it to the Chief Prosecutor. "You might want to see for yourself…"
Edgeworth opened the mirror, looking into it and freezing.
Shrinking back in his chair, Apollo wished he had paid more attention when Trucy was talking about vanishing acts. Maybe he could get himself back to the Agency. Or Japan, that was even further away. Or maybe to the sun, where he could suffer in peace.
"Apollo." The prosecutor didn't sound angry. He actually seemed impressed, behind the embarrassment. "You…do know how to revert this, correct?"
"N-not yet…" He admitted. "Sorry papa…" Athena couldn't help the small giggle at that, and Apollo glared at her.
"What? You called him papa again." Athena was outright laughing. "And you gotta admit Mr. Edgeworth, pink is so your color."
Nevermind the vanishing into the sun act, Apollo wanted the earth to swallow him whole.
He had turned the Chief Prosecutor's hair pink.
END NOTES: I'm really on the fence about the Apollo ship I want here, besides the past, angsty Claypollo. I love Klapollo…but Simollo has been the pairing I look up most recently and I really like it… I might do one of those, or maybe have an OT3 thing going on. Or keep it as a "friends who cuddle and kiss sometimes" thing for them. I'm not sure yet.
The main focus of this story though is just Apollo getting a feel for magic and getting in trouble along the way. (And thank my wifey Mel for the idea of Miles with pink hair. That was all her idea.) So really the only romance to be found here in this one will be Wrightworth, maybe hinting at Athena having a significant other. (Who will either be Juniper or Simon depending on what route I take Apollo on)
One last thing, I have finally decided exactly what I'm doing with AA6, which is ignoring it plot-wise. There are two characters that'll appear later, and by later I mean WAY later. I have a lot planned for this series. I'm sure it'll stretch past September. But for those of you who know who/what I'm talking about, expect the chapters with them by October at the earliest.
ONE MORE LAST THING: It was only slight in the first chapter, but I am counting PLvAA as canon. HOWEVER, where it fits into the timeline has changed drastically. Mainly because I had Luke still at 12-13 during the first chapter, when he should probably be around 20 if I kept it where I usually see people having it at (Which is before Trials and Tribulations and before Unwound Future I believe). And it will be talked over in a later chapter, but I'm putting it within the 7 year gap for Phoenix (I 'm thinking about middle of year 6 maybe), and between Azran Legacy and Curious Village for the Professor. Azran Legacy is going to have a somewhat huge part in this, AND I'M IGNORING THE END OF UNWOUND FUTURE. The very end of it, where Luke leaves. He didn't leave. I hated that part. Let's just say he tried to leave but Descole kidnapped him and dropped him back in London yeah?
…So I just thought of something…the way I usually have the Professor Layton timeline, is about 8 months to a year between Diabolical Box and Unwound Future. And Luke's at least 13 in UF… well then GUESS WHAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING IN THIS SERIES.
