Twist of Fate

Chapter 0: Where it all began

"I've got to get this to that attorney!"

"Well, this does present a conundrum... Do you have proof?"

"Where do you think you're going little girl?" A yelp and a swish of a blue cape.

"R-right! Proof!" Swishing of papers as they were shuffled.

"I- I just needed to get something to Daddy's attorney! He sent me on an important mission!"

"I- I-!"

"I can take it to him, you must be worried about your daddy."

"The proof-!"

"But... I'm supposed to..." A card snatched from a girl's hands.

"... I don't have any proof..."

"Don't worry. I'll get this to him. You can count on me, Trucy."

"Well then if there is no proof of who this other person was, I'll have to hand down my verdict."

NOT GUILTY

Phoenix Wright was sitting on a lounge within the Wright Talent Agency. The day's events playing in his mind like a broken record. A bottle of alcohol steadily being drained along with the others scattered around. He had sent Trucy over to "Uncle" Miles so she wouldn't see him like this. While the ex-defense attorney normally didn't drink, he did get drunk when the time felt right.

And this was one of those times.

The spiky-haired man took another swig of the bottle in his hand, the liquid both cooling and burning his throat. He could feel more tears start to form so he wiped them away with the heel of his hand before they could fall. Trucy could always tell when Phoenix had been crying and he didn't want her to know he had spent the night drinking and crying.

A fear-filled face filled Phoenix's mind, causing him to put the bottle down. He dragged a hand over his face in a feeble attempt to drag it out of his mind. It didn't work however, and Phoenix could feel himself spiraling again.

"Well it seems as if you were able to get off, old friend."

"So it seems."

"We should be taking our leave, isn't that right Mr. Justice?" Apollo flinched at the harsh tone used with his voice by his boss. The young defense attorney bowed his head, refusing to look at either of the two men in front of him.

"R-right sir..."

"Wait, I need-" Phoenix tried to reach out to the red-clad man, trying to stop him from leaving- from going with HIM- but was stopped when an arm wrapped around Apollo's shoulders.

"I will send the bill to you later, Wright. I expect it to be paid within the week." Apollo was guided out by the older man before Phoenix could say more and he was left alone with his increasingly darkening thoughts.

Phoenix finally managed to shake free of his thoughts, downing the rest of the bottle. In the end however, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had sealed Apollo's fate. The greenhorn had trusted Phoenix to lead the way to the truth, only to come crashing back down to Earth and into the arms of Kristoph Gavin.

One thing Phoenix still didn't understand though, was where the replica went. Trucy had said she gave it to him but Apollo didn't have it by the time it was needed. Phoenix paused in his action of grabbing the last bottle of alcohol.

Who had the bloody Ace of Spades?

"Come now, Justice, you can't still be upset over this can you?" Apollo flinched at the voice flooding his ears. Anyone listening in would have thought the older man was playing the role of a comforting mentor, but Apollo knew better. He knew that his mentor was doing just that: playing, pretending. The young man could hear the underlying tones of rage and disappointment.

"I-I'm sorry sir," Apollo choked out. "I just-"

"Thought you could touch the sun, no?" Apollo shut his eyes, hearing footsteps approach. They were slow and deliberate, meant to fill the small man with fear. Even though the taller man never actually touched him, Apollo could feel his breath on the back of his neck. Apollo tried and failed not to flinch when he heard his boss's voice near his ear.

"I think it's about time you learned what happens when you come crashing back down to Earth, Justice."