PWAA: Turnabout Zoo Ch. 1

Ch. 1- An Old Friend Returns

January 22nd, 11:15 AM

Wright Anything Agency

 “Is she here yet?”

 “Almost, Mr. Wright. Trucy just called and said she’s right around the corner.”

 “Perfect! Everything’s all cleaned up!”

 Things are certainly buzzing today at the Wright Anything Agency office. It has been over a month since the infamous Phantom was put behind bars, and things are steadily turning back to normal, especially after New Year’s Day. However, things were about to get even more exciting around here.

 Just ask famous attorney, Phoenix Wright.

 “You certainly are excited, aren’t you, boss?” asked Athena Cykes, pouring some dust and bits of paper into the trash.

 “You almost look as giddy as a schoolgirl,” Apollo Justice quipped with a chuckle.

 Phoenix chuckled and sheepishly scratched at the back of his head.

 “Is it that obvious?” he asked.

 “Hey, we understand!” Athena said. “Your old friend is coming to stay for the weekend, right? Who wouldn’t be excited!”

 Phoenix smiled warmly at this.

 Just last week, he had gotten a letter from his old assistant and closest friend: Maya Fey, a spirit medium-in-training. She is now the master of Kurain Village after the death of her mother, Misty Fey, and it’s been 8 years now that Phoenix has last seen her. However, that would soon change, for Maya was coming to spend a week’s vacation with him!

 “I wonder how much Maya has changed,” Phoenix said.

 “It’s been 8 years since you last saw her, right?” Apollo asked. “Who knows? Maybe she’s gotten a bit mature, these days.”

 “Maya?” Phoenix asked. “Well…somehow, I doubt it.”

 Athena suddenly looked to the door and gasped excitedly.

 “I hear footsteps coming this way!” she said. “It’s probably them!”

 Apollo looked out the door, just a crack, and he smirked.

 “Here they come!” he said.

 Soon, Apollo opened the door all the way, allowing Trucy to enter.

 “Hi, Daddy!” the young magician greeted. “We’re here!”

 Not long after she says this…a woman in her early 20s entered the room, carrying two suitcases in each arm. She is dressed in purple robes, has long black hair that went passed her waist, and around her neck is a necklace of some sort with a magatama in the middle.

 It is none other than a 24-year-old Maya Fey.

 “Maya!!” Phoenix exclaimed, happily.

 “Nick!!” Maya shouted before she put down her bags and ran into Phoenix’s arms. Apollo, Athena, and Trucy smiled at the reunion.

 “It’s so good to see you, Maya!” Phoenix said.

 “You, too!” Maya said. “You’ve hardly changed, since I saw you!”

 “And it looks like you’ve hardly changed, either!” Phoenix added. “Well, except that you’ve gotten a bit taller, and your hair’s gotten a little longer, too. And your chest has…err…” the attorney found himself trailing off when he found that Maya’s chest has…filled out a bit more.

 “What is it, Nick?” Maya asked.

 “Oh! Uh…nothing,” Phoenix said.

 Apollo cleared his mouth.

 “It’s a pleasure to meet you at least, Miss Fey,” he said. “I’m Apollo Justice, Mr. Wright’s protégé.”

 “Oh, you guys don’t have to tell me who you are!” Maya reassured. “Nick’s told me all about you. You’re Apollo, and you two girls are Athena and Trucy, right?”

 “That’s us!” Athena said, smirking confidently while Trucy giggled.

 “Allow me to take your bags,” Apollo said as he picked Maya’s luggage.

 “Oh, you don’t have to do that-” Maya said.

 “Now, Maya, don’t even think about saying no,” Phoenix said. “You’re our guest, here, remember? And as long as you’re here, you’re going to relax and enjoy your vacation, no questions asked.”

 “Yeah! Take a load off!” Athena added.

 “Well, since you put it that way,” Maya said, “I guess I could just kick up my feet and relax a little.”

 “That’s more like it!” Trucy said. “Maybe I could entertain you with one of my magic shows!”

 “And maybe later, we can go down to Eldoon’s Noodle Shop for some noodles,” Phoenix added.

 “Ooh, sounds perfect!” Maya said. “I can’t wait!”

 Phoenix chuckled.

 (Yep.) he thought. (She hasn’t changed at all…for better or worse, I guess.)

 Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

 “Huh?” Phoenix asked.

 “Who could that be?” Trucy asked. “Daddy, are you expecting anyone else?”

 “No, I don’t think so,” Phoenix answered.

 Apollo opened the door, revealing…Joey Keeper, who is dressed up in his zookeeper uniform and holding and twisting his cap in his hands.

 “Uh…can I help you, sir?” Apollo asked.

 “Huh? Oh!” Joey said. “Y-yes. Is this the office of Phoenix Wright?”

 “This is the place,” Athena asked. “And who might you be, sir?”

 “I’m Joey Keeper,” said Joey. “I’m a zookeeper at the L.A. Zoo…and…I’m here to ask Phoenix Wright for his help.”

 “Me?” Phoenix asked.

 “Yes,” Joey Keeper answered. “I’m seeking a lawyer for a friend of mine.”

 “A friend?” Trucy asked.

 “Yes,” Joey answered. “You see…this friend of mine is being accused of murder.”

  Everyone gasped at this.

 “Murder?” Maya asked. “But…who got done in?”

 “…My sister,” Joey answered, grimly. “Her name’s Zoe. It happened, two nights ago. I was busy, finishing up cleaning the elephant closure…”

 Apollo seemed to grimace upon hearing that.

 “But then, my boss shows up,” Joey continued, “and he told me something happened in the wolf enclosure. When we got there…we saw Zoe…dead.”

 “…That’s awful,” Maya said.

“And that’s not the worst of it,” Joey went on. “When the police investigated, they said that my friend murdered her, and they said she should be killed immediately!”

 “What?!” Maya questioned in shock.

 “She doesn’t even get a trial?!” Apollo asked.

 “I’ve tried getting other lawyers to do it, but they say it’s ridiculous!” Joey said. “I mean…what lawyer would defend a wolf?!”

 “A wolf?!” Athena questioned.

 “Yes, a wolf,” Joey answered. “Why are you surprised? Did I forget to mention that?”

 “Up until now, yes!” Apollo said.

 “Oh…err…sorry,” Joey muttered. “But anyway, Mr. Wright…please, you have to believe me, my friend is innocent! She wouldn’t hurt a fly! I’ll even pay you my life savings if you do this! Just…please…you have to help my friend. I’m coming to you as a man with no other options!”

 Joey then got down on his hands and knees and bowed his head in front of Phoenix.

 “Please, Mr. Wright,” he said.

 Phoenix looked at Joey, then at Trucy, who smiled at him, and then at Apollo and Athena, who nod their heads and give him confident grins. Last, but not least, he looks to Maya, who smiled at him and nodded her head, too.

 Phoenix chuckled.

 (Well…I guess this isn’t the first time I’ve defended an animal in court.) he thought.

 “You will?!” Joey asked before he ran up and unexpectedly hugged Phoenix, who was taken by surprise. “Oh, thank you, Mr. Wright! Seriously, you don’t know how happy this makes me!”

 “Don’t mention it…!” Phoenix grunted. “Um…could you let me go, please?”

 “Whoops!” Joey said before he let Phoenix go. “Sorry about that. I guess I let my emotions get the better of me, sometimes.”

 “Say, Nick?” Maya asked.

 “Yeah?” Phoenix answered.

 “I was wondering…do you mind if I help you out on this case?”

 “W…what?”

 “C’mon! It’ll be like old times! You, me, investigating and solving a murder! Please? I’m only here for the week, I might as well you help out, right?”

 Phoenix put his finger to his chin, thoughtfully.

 “Hmm…” he hummed…before he grinned. “Well…I guess it is your vacation. If you really wanna spend it this way, then I don’t see why not!”

 “Yes!” Maya cheered. “Nick and Maya, together again!”

 Phoenix chuckled at this before he looked at Athena, Apollo, and Trucy.

 “We’ll hold down the fort while you’re gone,” Athena said, grinning.

 “And if any other cases happen to turn up, we’ll work on them while you’re busy,” Apollo added.

 “Good luck, Daddy!” Trucy said, giving Phoenix a big hug.

 “Thanks, Trucy,” Phoenix said.

 “So, where to?” Maya asked.

 “The Los Angeles Zoo, of course!” Joey replied. “Come with me!”

 And with that, Phoenix and Maya followed Joey to the Los Angeles Zoo, where their investigation would soon take place.