Dahlia Fey: Ace Attorney- Turnabout Weird

by AceFangirl

This is an AU fiction created by supersexyghotmew95. She was having difficulties posting it, so I'll be doing it in her stead. But this her fanfic, not mine. A bit of a disclaimer there. Now, imagine what would happen if Dahlia Hawthorne were raised at Kurain Village and became a defense attorney like Mia. it would go something like this. Rated T for the same reasons the game is.

57. Turnabout Crisis-Chapter 3

Dahlia clutched her Magatama. "So what are we going to do?"

"Investigate of course," Maya said. "Nick and I can do it."

"You and Nick?" Dahlia said, something tugging on her subconscious.

"Sure, why not?" Phoenix said. "I've been to crime scenes with you plenty of times."

"Twice," Dahlia said.

"Really? It feels like more," Phoenix said. "Well, point is we know what we're doing. Maya and I are on the case."

"Okay, but…" Dahlia slowly brought the chain up from around her neck and held out her Magatama. "You'll need this."

"Are you sure Dahlia?" Maya said, stunned. "You never take your Magatama off!"

"It does seem really important to you," Phoenix said. "Besides, I know you explained the Psyche-Locks and everything, but I still don't understand how it works."

"It's not too complicated," Dahlia said. "When people lie, they trap their secrets inside themselves. For protection, they surround their soul with chains and lock them in place. For even the smoothest liar, it's a burden. There's where the Magatama comes in."

Phoenix nodded his head.

"You see, everyone has a spirit. It's part of who we are. So, everyone has spiritual energy. Feys just have a better connection to it. Normal people use their spiritual energy to hide the burdens in their psyche, but they don't realize it. But that's how the Magatama can break through their walls; it's got powerful spiritual energy. When people see it, they're locks and chains are revealed and you can work your way through them."

Again, Phoenix just nodded.

"A lot of people don't realize this, but it's not actually the locks that hide the secrets. It's the chains," Dahlia said, in full lecture mode. "The locks are what keep the chains in place. As you work your way through a person's secret, you weaken the locks and eventually the chains fall and the secret is released."

"So… how do I use it?" Phoenix said.

It was then that Dahlia noticed her assistant's eyes were completely glazed over. "Hold onto it, and when you see a person with Psyche-Locks you show it to them and get them to admit what they're hiding."

"Okay," Phoenix said. "Still makes no sense but I'll go along with it."

"What doesn't make sense?" Maya said. "Dahlia's the best girl there is with Magatamas!"

"I suppose if you grow up with spirit mediums it makes sense but…" Phoenix scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

"When he sees it for himself he'll understand," Dahlia said, transporting the Magatama from under the glass.

Phoenix lifted the Magatama carefully. "It does have a very… powerful feel."

"Locks will kind of just pop out of nowhere," Dahlia warned. "Don't get too surprised, only those who've had contact with a charged Magatama can see them. And don't drop it. If you break that thing I will hurt you."

"Well with that attitude you'll get off the hook in no time," Phoenix said, putting the Magatama in his pocket.

Dahlia watched intensely as Phoenix put her Magatama in his pocket.

"What's this?" Phoenix said.

"It's my Magatma," Maya said.

Phoenix examined the emerald green charm. "Thanks Maya, but… what do I do with it?"

"Show it Pearly," Maya said. "She'll explain it. I really think it will help."

"Alright then," Phoenix said. "I'll take good care of it."

"Great!" Maya said.

"I'll see you later Maya," Phoenix said, putting the Magatama in his pocket.

"Dahlia?" Phoenix said.

"What the…?" Dahlia whispered.

Phoenix shifted in his chair. "You're staring at, uh… me."

"What?" Dahlia said, snapping back into attention.

"What's going on?" Phoenix said.

What is going on? Mia… I'm worried. Dahlia shook her head. "Nothing. I have to get back to my cell alright? Uh, Maya whack Nick in my place alright?"

"Okay," Maya said, caught off guard by the sudden change in conversation.

"Later Dahlia," Phoenix said.

At the Fey & Co. Law Offices, Phoenix and Maya were staring at the white outline where Mia's body used to be.

"This is… eerie," Maya said.

"A little, I guess," Phoenix said.

"So… where do we start?" Maya said.

"Let's investa-gate," Pearl said.

"Pearly?" Maya said. "When did you get here?"

"Just now," Pearl said. "Mother said it was okay."

"You're sure?" Phoenix said. He wasn't sure how he felt about a little girl in a murder investigation.

"Yes Mr. Nick," Pearl said. "Should we talk to that stupid detective that arrested Mystic Dahlia?"

On second thought, this girl looks to be tougher than nails. Phoenix nodded his head. "Yeah, but I usually call him Miles."

"So where is he anyway?" Maya said.

"4-15 space 25-15-21 space 18-5-1-12-12-25 space 20-8-9-14-11 space 19-8-5 space 4-9-4 space 9-20?"

"Oh no, I thought we were done with that code," Maya said, exasperated.

"That was definitely Miles," Phoenix said. "But why would he be talking in code? Excluding me and Dahlia, the only other person who understands it is-"

"15-6 space 3-15-21-18-19-5 space 14-15-20. 2-21-20 space 23-8-1-20 space 3-8-15-9-3-5 space 4-15 space 23-5 space 8-1-22-5?" Larry said.

"I was afraid of that," Phoenix winced.

"What's Larry doing here?" Maya said. "He's not…"

"If he is, I'm pretty confident it wasn't his idea at least," Phoenix said, starting for the next room. After the von Karma trial, Larry, Edgeworth and Phoenix reformed their friendship. Having been 'one of the guys' by nature, Dahlia had ended up becoming part of their group.

"23-5 space 11-5-5-16 space 6-9-14-4-9-14-7 space 5-22-9-4-5-14-3-5 space 2-21-20 space 19-20-9-12-12…" Larry said.

"9 space 1-7-18-5-5," Miles said. "23-5 space 3-1-14-20 space 10-21-19-20 space 9-7-14-15-18-5 space 5-22-5-18-25-20-9-14-7. 8-15-16-5-6-21-12-12-25 space 1-14-15-20-8-5-18 space 16-15-19-19-9-2-9-12-9-20-25 space 23-9-12-12 space 5-13-5-18-7-5."

"4-5-20-5-3-20-9-22-5 space 1-14-4 space 16-18-15-19-5-3-21-20-25-18 space 9-14 space 3-8-1-18-7-5 space 18-9-7-8-20?" Phoenix said. "20-15-21-7-8 space 2-18-5-1-11."

"23-18-9-7-8-20," Larry said, surprised.

Edgeworth rubbed his arm. "19-15-18-18-25 space 16-1-12. 20-8-5 space 15-20-8-5-18 space 15-6-6-9-3-5-18-19 space 23-15-21-12-4 space 8-1-22-5 space 3-1-21-19-5-4 space 16-18-15-2-12-5-13-18 space 9-6 space 23-5 space 8-1-4-14-20 space 1-18-18-5-19-20-5-4 space 8-5-18."

"1-14-4 space 9 space 4-9-4-14-20 space 6-9-14-4 space 15-21-20 space 1-2-15-21-20 space 20-8-5 space 19-21-19-16-5-3-20 space 21-14-20-9-12 space 1-6-20-5-18 space 9 space 7-15-20 space 8-5-18-5 space 9-6 space 25-15-21 space 3-1-14 space 2-5-12-9-5-22-5 space 9-20," Larry said.

"25-5-1-8 space 20-8-9-19 space 23-1-19 space 16-18-5-20-20-25 space 19-21-4-4-5-14 space 8-21-8?" Phoenix said.

Pearl stopped glaring at Edgeworth and looked up at Maya. "Mystic Maya, what are they saying?"

"That's a very good question Pearly," Maya said.

Larry looked at Pearl curiously. "Hey, don't I know you from somewhere?"

"Hmm?" Pearl looked up at him.

"Wait, that's right," Larry said, snapping his fingers. "You're that girl that was shipping Wright and Fey."

"Shipping?" Pearl said. "If that's another of way of saying they're soul mates then yes, that was me."

"Seriously?" Phoenix said, face palming. "That's how you remember Pearls?"

Larry shrugged sheepishly. "Well, with the way you both freaked out it left a more lasting impression."

Phoenix groaned. Larry, you little… Suddenly, inspiration for revenge struck him. "Hey Pearls, Larry once flirted with Dahlia."

"What? No I- OW!" Larry put a hand over his cheek, which now had a stinging little red handprint.

"Mystic Dahlia already has a special someone!" Pearl said.

Phoenix smiled triumphantly. To add insult to injury, even her tough voice sounds like a baby pixie.

"Phoenix, do I need to point out that you relied on a little girl to- Ow!" Edgeworth jumped when Pearl smacked him. "What was that for?"

Pearl glared at him. "Don't mock me you stupid detective. I'm still mad at you."

Pearl then proceeded to smack Phoenix.

"Hey!" Phoenix winced in pain.

"Man up and start defending Mystic Dahlia yourself," Pearl said.

"Uh, Pearly," Maya said wearily. "Why don't we go, um, somewhere else for a bit?"

"Fine, but I'm watching you Mr. Nick," Pearl said before walking away with Maya.

Phoenix, Larry and Edgeworth shared an awkward silence for a few moments.

"Uh, want to pretend none of that ever happened?" Phoenix said.

"Why not?" Larry said nonchalantly.

"Works for me pal," Edgeworth said.

"So… do you mind if we look around?" Phoenix said.

Edgeworth and Larry looked at each other.

"It's your call," Edgeworth said.

"Hmm, we can work together on this one I suppose," Larry said. "Just let us know if you find anything, alright?"

"Sound reasonable," Phoenix said.

"Great, now go save your special someone," Larry said.

"Grow up Larry," Phoenix said.

"I'm perfectly capable of being serious Wright," Larry said. "We are in the middle of a murder investigation after all."

"What exactly happened anyway? I know Dahlia's cousin died, but not much beyond that."

"The victim was stabbed," Edgeworth said. "She died of blood loss."

"What was she stabbed with?" Phoenix said.

"This knife," Edgeworth said, bringing out a plastic bag with a bloodied blade inside.

Phoenix looked the knife. The blood was dry, but the blade still shined. The wooden handle was very glossy, but he could see smudges.

"Are those fingerprints?" Phoenix said.

"On the handle? Yes," Larry said.

"They're a little smudged, but not so much that we couldn't do a comparison," Edgeworth said. "Care to guess the results?"

"Um… not Dahlia?" Phoenix said in vain hope.

Edgeworth shook his head.

Phoenix sighed. "Yeah, I thought so. Anything else?"

"Actually, there was something I wanted to ask you about," Edgeworth said. He showed Phoenix a flower with petals the color of shadows. "Fey seemed rather shaken up by this. I know it's a dahlia, but I wouldn't expect it to affect her so badly."

"A black dahlia…" Phoenix stared at the flower thoughtfully. "You're saying it really bugged Dahlia?"

"She basically confessed after looking at it," Edgeworth said.

"That doesn't sound like her," Larry said. "I assumed she was trying to rip some guards head off."

"No, she doesn't remember what happened," Phoenix said. "She really is worried she might have killed her cousin."

"All because of a flower?" Larry said.

"I'm positive it influenced that behavior in some way," Edgeworth said.

"Strange," Phoenix said. "I wish I knew more about flowers. Where did this even come from anyway?"

"We're looking into that right now," Edgeworth said. "Apparently these aren't very common flowers, so with any luck we might be able to track down where this came from. Still, it won't be easy."

"Hey Mr. Nick, Mr. Butz, Mr. Jerk! I found something!" Pearl said, running over to them.

Phoenix smiled apologetically at Edgeworth, and then turned to Pearl. "What is it?"

Pearl held out a couple slips of shiny paper. "Are these helpful?"

"They look like receipts," Larry said.

"Yeah, let me see those Pearls," Phoenix said. They were definitely receipts, two of them to be precise. "Uh, Pearls? Where did you find these?"

"In Mystic Dahlia's wallet," Pearl said. "She left it under the coffee table."

"I was afraid you'd say that," Phoenix muttered, looking deflated.

"What are they for?" Edgeworth said.

Phoenix handed the receipts to Larry, who read them aloud. "A 10-inch steel knife and one black dahlia."

"4-15 space 25-15-21 space 18-5-1-12-12-25 space 20-8-9-14-11 space 19-8-5 space 4-9-4 space 9-20?"

= "Do you really think she did it?"

"15-6 space 3-15-21-18-19-5 space 14-15-20. 2-21-20 space 23-8-1-20 space 3-8-15-9-3-5 space 4-15 space 23-5 space 8-1-22-5?" = "Of course not. But what choice do we have?"

"23-5 space 11-5-5-16 space 6-9-14-4-9-14-7 space 5-22-9-4-5-14-3-5 space 2-21-20 space 19-20-9-12-12…" = "We keep finding evidence but still..."

"9 space 1-7-18-5-5. 23-5 space 3-1-14-20 space 10-21-19-20 space 9-7-14-15-18-5 space 5-22-5-18-25-20-9-14-7. 8-15-16-5-6-21-12-12-25 space 1-14-15-20-8-5-18 space 16-15-19-19-9-2-9-12-9-20-25 space 23-9-12-12 space 5-13-5-18-7-5." = "I agree. We can't just ignore everything. Hopefully another possibility will emerge."

"4-5-20-5-3-20-9-22-5 space 1-14-4 space 16-18-15-19-5-3-21-20-25-18 space 9-14 space 3-8-1-18-7-5 space 18-9-7-8-20? 20-15-21-7-8 space 2-18-5-1-11." = "Detective and prosecutor in charge right? Tough break."

"23-18-9-7-8-20." = "Phoenix."

"19-15-18-18-25 space 16-1-12. 20-8-5 space 15-20-8-5-18 space 15-6-6-9-3-5-18-19 space 23-15-21-12-4 space 8-1-22-5 space 3-1-21-19-5-4 space 16-18-15-2-12-5-13-18 space 9-6 space 23-5 space 8-1-4-14-20 space 1-18-18-5-19-20-5-4 space 8-5-18." = "Sorry pal. The other officers would have caused problems if we hadn't arrested her."

"1-14-4 space 9 space 4-9-4-14-20 space 6-9-14-4 space 15-21-20 space 1-2-15-21-20 space 20-8-5 space 19-21-19-16-5-3-20 space 21-14-20-9-12 space 1-6-20-5-18 space 9 space 7-15-20 space 8-5-18-5 space 9-6 space 25-15-21 space 3-1-14 space 2-5-12-9-5-22-5 space 9-20." = "And I didn't found out about the suspect until after I got here if you can believe it."

"25-5-1-8 space 20-8-9-19 space 23-1-19 space 16-18-5-20-20-25 space 19-21-4-4-5-14 space 8-21-8?" = "Yeah this was pretty sudden huh?"