Turnabout Rewritten

DISCLAIMER: There are no original characters in this story so everyone belongs to Capcom, prologue is written as a novelization of the flashback case in Apollo Justice case 4

Prologue, Pt. 1

Seven years ago, an infamous case was tried in court. The ramifications scarred the attorneys involved and even the legal system as a whole.

The defense attorney in court that day was none other than Phoenix Wright, a determined and passionate man with a desire to uncover the truth. Known for his talent for reversing his fortunes in the darkest times during a trial, nothing could escape his ability to point out a contradiction. Opposite him stood prosecutor Klavier Gavin. Smooth and stylish, the young prosecutor was prosecuting his first case in the district that day. Rocker by night, defender of law by day, Gavin was an intelligent and versatile individual.

The defendant was stage magician Shadi Enigmar, better known to the world at large as "Zak Gramarye" of the popular magician group "Troupe Gramarye". He was being accused of murdering his deathly ill mentor, a crime most serious.

So why has this trial left such a stain on the lives of the players in this sordid tale? Thanks to the abrupt end brought about by Phoenix's presentation of a piece of illicit evidence, the case never reached a conclusion. Doubt clouded all those involved while Zak made a grand escape with the help of his daughter, never to be seen again. The once-great attorney now cast in shame, it would take seven long years before the pieces fell into place and justice finally came. Phoenix was cast out of the legal profession and became a changed man as a result; resigning himself to a quiet life as a piano player and father to the now-fatherless Trucy Enigmar, the defendant's daughter.

However…this misfortune relies on a single pivotal moment: the moment when Phoenix Wright presented that fabricated evidence to the court. If not for that…what would have become of the case? How would things have changed?

Let us now rewrite that moment…and change the course of history.

Every story must have a beginning…for ours, we join that famous case seven years ago at its origin.

April 19, 9:27 AM
District Court
Defendant Lobby No. 2

Whew…It's been a long time since I felt like such a rookie. Phoenix thought as he tried to psyche himself up for court. Having taken the case just the night before, his nerves were understandably on-edge. Got to try to relax, he mentally reassured himself.

Just then, an imposing man wearing a complex stage costume stood before him with his hands at his hips. He wore a silk hat upon his head and a cape with a clover-like clasp at the front. The man's color of choice was a soft pink and he kept a tidy mustache upon his upper lip.

"Ah, good morning, Mr. Enigmar," Phoenix said, greeting the gentleman. It was the defendant, Shadi Enigmar, or "Zak Gramarye" as he was better known. Zak apologized for the sudden request for Phoenix's counsel. Phoenix agreed that things did seem rushed, as he only had been handed the files to the case the night before.

"…I understand that I am asking the impossible of you," Zak told his attorney.

"Yes, well, you haven't really told me what happened yet!" Phoenix retaliated. "All we did…was play cards." He was clearly annoyed by his client's choice to be vague and unforthcoming about his actions the night in question.

"And that was enough," Zak replied, flatly. Phoenix mentally chastised his client for not understanding the gravity of what was being asked of him and how a card game alone would not suffice.

At this time, a little girl approached the two men. She had on a costume almost identical to Zak's with the only difference being the cape clasp. She had a bright smile and was looking enthusiastic.

"Ooh! Morning, Daddy!" the child said with exuberance while imitating Zak's pose. Zak greeted the girl, indicating he was her father. "You OK, Daddy? They picking on you?" Zak let out a jolly laugh in response and reassured her that he was not under any kind of duress. Phoenix complimented her on outfit, though was slightly confused by her response that today would be her "first show."

The girl pulled out a sheet of paper and handed it to Phoenix. It was folded and looked as if it had been ripped from something. "What's this?" he asked, curious as to why he was given the paper.

"I dunno," she answered. "I just got it over there in the hall. They told me to give it to the 'old boy in the blue suit with the spiky hair'. They said it was really important!"

"…What's this? A memo for you or some such?" Zak asked, also unclear on what the page was meant as.

It seems Fate's clock will make me wait a little longer. …At least, only less than ten swift minutes remain. To all those who have supported me in my life's work, I give thanks.
Farewell!

Magnifi Gramarye

"Hm…not from the looks of it," Phoenix said. What is this? Looks like a page from someone's diary, he thought as he glanced over the document. "I'll give it a read later," he finished.

"Well, how do you feel about the trial today?" Zak asked, getting back to the subject of the trial.

"We'll get through it. Somehow," Phoenix said, still with an air of uncertainty in his voice. "Incidentally, the prosecutor is a new guy, I hear."

"Ah…An easy win then, yes?" Zak said, trying to encourage his attorney to be optimistic about the situation.

"They're calling him a 'true thoroughbred in the history of the prosecutor's office'," Phoenix said. "…Of course, there's one of those every year."

"…The switching of attorneys just before the trial…I know it is a difficult situation I put you in," Zak said, apologetically. "But…allow me to say one thing, Mr. Wright."

"Yes?" Phoenix said curiously.

"They will not be able to pronounce me guilty today. So, do your best, but do not worry," Zak answered mysteriously. It was clear by the sound of his words that he had something in mind but was not willing to reveal it.

First time a defendant's given me a pep speech… Phoenix thought in response to the confident words from his client. "I'll do what I can," he replied.

Zak laughed. "I see you do not understand. You see, it will be impossible for them to declare a verdict," he said.

"I-Impossible?" Phoenix said, obviously confused by such a bold remark.

"Yes. Isn't that right, Trucy?" Zak asked his daughter. She cheerfully agreed with her father. "I believe the curtains will be lifting any time now," Zak said. "I am in your capable hands, Mr. Wright."

Phoenix was left stumped by his client's strong-yet-indirect words and could only reflect on what little he knew about the case from the day before.

The court bailiff entered the defendant lobby. "The judge is requesting all involved parties please proceed to Courtroom No. 7," the bailiff announced.

"Well, guess that means it's time," Phoenix said. "I don't really get why you're so full of confidence today but…it's a nice change to see a defendant so well-prepared for court."

"Remember what I said, Mr. Wright," Zak said, reminding him of what he had told him. "Whatever happens today, no verdict will be read."

"I'll…do what I can, Mr. Enigmar," Phoenix said as they made their way to the courtroom. A confident client who believes that no verdict will come today and a piece of paper from out of nowhere handed to me by his daughter…What a weird way to start a day in court, Phoenix thought, puzzled by the chain of events that had transpired.

April 19, 10:00 AM
District Court
Courtroom No. 7

The judge banged his gavel to usher in the start of court. Phoenix confirmed that the defense was ready to make their case. However, the prosecution remained silent. Standing across from Phoenix was a young man of no more than 17 years of age. He had on a dark purple shirt and dark cargo pants with combat boots at his feet. A metal chain encircled his waist, acting as a belt. Around his neck he wore a silver pendant attached to a chain in the shape of a stylized 'G'. His hair was short blonde and he had on a pair of thin, European-styled sunglasses.

"Is the prosecution ready?" the judge asked, unfamiliar with the prosecuting attorney.

"I was just thinking, is this what all the fuss was about?" the prosecutor replied, flicking his hair casually. He spoke in a slightly disinterested tone. "Bit of a buzz kill, really." The judge was confused on his choice of words. The unknown prosecutor was emanating an air of style and coolness. "This is a trial, ja?" he asked. "Where are the sweaty palms? The pounding hearts? A Gavinners concert has got ten times the thrill this gig's got."

"Who…were you again?" the judge said, wanting to identify this suave individual who stood behind the prosecutor's desk.

"Klavier. Klavier Gavin," he replied, confirming his identity. "I came...to get the party started. Legally, ja?"

"Gavin? Defense attorney Kristoph Gavin's…" the judge said. The prosecutor's family ties rung a bell with the judge.

"Ah, figures my bro's more famous in this part of town," Klavier said. Phoenix pondered the prosecutor's background as the lead singer of a popular band. He viewed the young man as a fish-out-of-water in his world. "I know what you're thinking: 'You're out of your league, rock-boy'," Klavier said, confirming Phoenix's opinion of him aloud. "True, my debut single, '13 Years Hard Time for Love', went platinum overnight…but that's just a hobby to me compared to this, ja?" he retorted, attempting to assure Phoenix he was more than capable.

"…Talkative, aren't you? I like your affected Euro-rock accent, by the way," Phoenix replied with confidence, his view of his opponent unchanged.

"I'm just getting warmed up, Herr Attorney Wright," Klavier bit back.

The judge requested Klavier to recap the case for the court. Klavier called the detective assigned on the case up to the stand. The detective was a familiar face and was clearly more pumped and ready than Phoenix had seen him in the past. He introduced himself as homicide detective 'Dick Gumshoe' and stated that he was out to trump Phoenix once and for all.

"Herr Detective, this is my stage. Can the antics," Klavier told Gumshoe, trying to get him back on-topic. He informed Gumshoe he wasn't there to hear banter between him and Phoenix.

The judge brought his gavel down. "…Very well, Detective Gumshoe, if you would," the judge said. "Please tell us about the case at hand."

Gumshoe complied and outlined the facts of the case. He stated the crime had taken place six days prior, presenting a photo showing the scene in question; a hospital bed with an elderly man lying dead under the sheets, a pen and an open book resting on his chest. Gumshoe directed the attention of the court to the fatal gunshot wound clearly visible in the victim's forehead. A gun lay on the bed's table, presumably the murder weapon. The judge offered commentary on the victim's high standing as 'Magnifi Gramarye', a legendary stage magician with a talent for the impossible. Klavier agreed, though he pointed out that those days were behind him and that his influence was no longer felt among those in Klavier's generation. Instead, he had passed on his skill and performance talent to his disciples, "Troupe Gramarye". Gumshoe indicated that the victim was already deep in the final stages of liver cancer (though his choice of words, "mall ignorant tumor", was obviously incorrect). Klavier confirmed this fact with the medical records and also announced the victim was a mere three months from death as it was. The judge was perplexed by the choice to murder a man who was already known to be so close to the end of days. Klavier's agreement implied that this fact is where the heart of the murder now lay.

In addition, Gumshoe confirmed the victim had already been suffering under the effects of diabetes; it was clear Magnifi Gramarye had not been in good health. Shortly before the murder, he was to have taken his insulin injection. Klavier pointed to the syringe visible in the crime scene photo, saying the syringe remained unused as the killing took place before he was able to inject himself.

"Hm…I believe the question before us is clear, then," the judge said once the facts of the case and the victim's background had been established. "Why did the killer have to shoot this dying man? What reason could he have had?" Klavier smiled at the remark and smugly requested that Gumshoe offer testimony to the circumstances of the murder.

"Actually…the victim kind of ordered the defendant to do him in," Gumshoe began. "A few days before it happened, the victim sent a letter 'ordering' his own murder. The defendant did what was asked of him and shot the old man in the forehead! The bullet was fired from the pistol found at the scene, no doubt about it. And the pistol definitely belonged to the old man, sir!" Gumshoe testified.

"Wh-Whaaat!?" the judge said in awe, taken aback by such a testimony. "You're saying the victim ordered his own shooting?"

"Those are the facts," Klavier replied. "I have here the letter in question," he said, presenting the letter requesting that Zak kill his mentor. Phoenix and the judge examined the contents of letter.

To my beloved student, Zak.

To you I entrust the task of lowering my life's curtain. Come on the 13th, 11:05 PM. I will ready a gun with which you will shoot, one shot, square in the forehead. You cannot refuse and we both know the reason why.

Magnifi Gramarye

"…Very unusual, indeed!" the judge said once he had read over the letter. "Although, could such a thing as a letter really cause one to pull the trigger, I wonder?"

"I believe the answer to that question can be found at the end of the letter," Klavier said. The judge read aloud the final sentence in which Magnifi professed that there was a reason that his disciple had to accede to the letter's grim request. He asked for an explanation from the detective.

"Unfortunately, even the defendant won't say a peep about that bit, sir," Detective Gumshoe said glumly.

"One thing bothers me about this," Phoenix said, stepping into the discussion. "Why didn't he just say '11'? Why have him come at '11:05' without some specific reason…?"

"The devil is in the details, Herr Attorney…" Klavier responded. The judge asked for clarification. "As it turns out, there was [a reason]. Every night, for a half hour, starting at 11:00, the victim, Magnifi Gramarye, was given an IV." Klavier pointed to the IV in the picture. "At 11:00, a doctor would come to set up the IV. Thirty minutes later, he would come back for the empty bag. This happened every night without fail," Klavier coolly explained to the court.

"So that was the only time they could meet without the chance of an untimely interruption," Phoenix surmised. "During his IV."

The judge once more pounded his gavel, indicating the start of the cross-examination phase of the testimony. "Very well, shall we begin? …Mr. Wright, your cross-examination, if you would!" Phoenix mulled over the 'reason' mentioned in the letter and fumed once again over his client's silence on the matter.

Phoenix opened his cross-examination by pressing the detective's statement that the defendant absolutely followed through with his orders to murder the victim, as per the request. Detective Gumeshoe was as smug and confident as he when he entered the courtroom, talking down Phoenix's reliance on the findings of his investigation.

"First, we got this letter," Gumshoe said, logically. "It says 'shoot…in the forehead' loud and clear."

"I can see that. But I still wouldn't do it," Phoenix refuted. The detective replied with an obliviously callous remark about not having the spine to shoot someone, to which Phoenix was left dumbfounded.

"We also found the defendant's pistol at the scene," Gumshoe continued. Klavier added that traces of gunpowder residue indicated the weapon was used in the period close to the murder. The judge agreed that nothing about what was presented to that point showed signs of an incorrect investigation. Phoenix, however, believed that there was a missed piece of information in the photo. He examined the photo closer and discovered that not only was there a bullet wound in the victim, but the clown doll to the victim's right also bore the mark of a bullet. This at least opened up a route for further examination.

"Looking at this photo, another possibility occurs to me," Phoenix said, triumphantly slamming his desk like he had done so many times before when a moment of clarity had hit him. "What does the letter tell us? That the defendant had a 'reason he couldn't refuse' his teacher's wishes." Detective Gumshoe seized on Phoenix's supposed admission of his client's guilt and explained that it would give motive for the killing.

Phoenix clearly had another scenario in mind. He shook his head with confidence. "Oh? The defense disagrees," he countered. "You see, the defendant had another choice he could make."

"OBJECTION!" cried Klavier. He slammed his fist against the wall behind him to emphasize his point. "What, and you can prove that with this photo!?" he said, trying to call the defense's bluff.

"…I can prove that he had a choice, yes," Phoenix answered with a nod.

"'The defendant might have fired, like he was ordered'," the judge paraphrased Phoenix's words. "'But he didn't shoot the victim's forehead.' Well, let's hear what you're thinking, Mr. Wright. If he didn't shoot the victim's forehead, what did he shoot?"

"TAKE THAT!" Phoenix said as he produced his response. He pointed out the second bullet hole in the picture, resting in the clown's forehead.

"The clown doll…?" the judge said.

"Take a closer look. See? It's been shot in the forehead, too," Phoenix said as he put his hands on his hips.

"Ah…! There's a hole in its forehead!" the judge remarked, now seeing the defense's argument.

"Yes, and a hole in the prosecution's claim!" Phoenix said, finishing his argument strong.

Klavier objected again, this time with a defiant laugh. "And I suppose you have a reason as to why he'd shoot the clown doll?" Klavier inquired.

"He didn't just shoot the doll. He shot the doll's forehead," Phoenix said.

"His 'forehead'…? Ah!" Klavier now saw his argument was indeed flawed.

"Let's read the 'orders' once more, shall we?" Phoenix said, producing the letter for the court again. "…'You will shoot, one shot, square in the forehead.' …Which is exactly what he did." Phoenix recited from the letter. "He shot the clown doll square in the forehead!" he concluded, pointing at the prosecution with zeal. The gallery in the courtroom bustled with clamor over this revelation. The judge brought his gavel down to restore order.

"The defense has raised an intriguing possibility," the judge remarked, complimenting Phoenix's assessment. "That hole in the clown's forehead…It definitely looks like it's been shot! Bailiff! Send someone to investigate this matter!"

Another objection rang out from the prosecution bench, as did another slam of the wall. "I admit, I'm impressed," Klavier said, now with more seriousness in his voice. "But I expected nothing less. Still, this doesn't mean he didn't shoot the victim!" He echoed Phoenix's gesture back at him.

This time it was Phoenix raising an objection. "Perhaps he did have to shoot a forehead, as ordered," Phoenix said, walking through his logic. "But the letter says nothing about whose forehead…This was the only way he had to follow his orders without taking a life!" Phoenix declared.

"Hm…the bullet hole in the clown doll's forehead does demand an explanation," the judge said. "It might very well be a clue. Yet Prosecutor Gavin is right. It alone does not prove the defendant's innocence. You cannot say for sure the defendant didn't shoot the victim."

"So sorry, Mr. Wright. How sad it is to see the mighty fall," Klavier said arrogantly, pleased the judge took his side in the issue.

…How sad it is to see the novice's overconfidence, Phoenix thought knowing that his battle has yet to come to its end. He doesn't realize just how big this little "hole" is going to get.

The judge requested that Gumshoe amend his testimony with consideration given to the second hole at the scene of the crime. "So what if he shot the clown? He still shot the victim, pal!" Gumshoe said, unshaken by the change in facts.

Phoenix's next point of attack was to address the murder weapon itself. He pressed on the detective's statement that the pistol was the property of the victim's. The detective pointed out that the pistol was part of a stage show Zak put on involving firing live ammunition at a female standing between Zak and his partner Valant. The bullets would miss her but connect with other objects surrounding the stage. The act has since been ended but Magnifi still kept the pistols from that show.

The judge requested the pistol from Detective Gumshoe to examine. Gumshoe explained the pistol is only capable of chambering a single round at any time and that it was currently empty but showed signs of having been fired in the recent past. Phoenix asked the detective about possible fingerprints but Klavier stepped in to say that the defendant was likely wearing gloves, which made the point moot. However, due to the lack of fingerprints, it is apparent if it was fired, it was fired by someone who did not expose their fingers, which once more cast a shadow on the defendant. Furthermore, the weapon's rifling marks were already confirmed to be the same as that of the bullet removed from the victim, something Klavier had stated earlier. The gun was admitted into the court record by the judge following the discussion.

Understanding that the gun is only capable of firing one round before reloading, Phoenix realized that the scenario no longer added up. Being that there were two bullet holes at the scene but the pistol is incapable of shooting more than a single round at a time, an inconsistency is raised.

"OBJECTION!" Phoenix announced, ready to pull the case into his hands. "The trickiest cases often seem the simplest," he began. "Prosecutor Gavin, you missed the bullet hole in the clown's forehead. If you hadn't missed that, you might have come to a very different conclusion. …Understand?"

"Y-Yeah, but like I just said, pal," Detective Gumshoe tried to explain, "after he shot the victim in the forehead, he went and…"

Phoenix didn't allow him to finish as the argument was no longer valid. "…Did nothing of the sort to the victim," he interrupted while shaking his head. "The pistol proves he could not." The judge pushed the defense for an explanation. "It's quite simple, Your Honor. This pistol only holds one bullet at a time." Gumshoe was starting to catch on. "If he had shot the clown in the forehead, he couldn't have shot the victim, too!" Phoenix said with authority.

Klavier snapped back at Phoenix, not ready to let his fight go. "Th-That's not a contradiction. Not even close! All he had to do was reload the pistol after the first shot!" he attempted to rationalize.

"Oh?" Phoenix objected as he thrust his palms onto the desk. "Where did he get the extra bullet? They're not easy to come by, you know. If you claim the defendant 'had one ready', then prove to us how he got it!" Phoenix said, challenging Klavier to solidify his statement. Unfortunately, Klavier was unable to meet the challenge and frustration overtook his expression before he began to laugh quietly to himself.

"I had a feeling this wasn't over yet," he said, now ready to begin a new plan of attack. "No…this party's just getting started," he embellished with a stylish snap of his fingers. "And I haven't proven anything yet, beyond my good looks, and startling record sales." Phoenix mentally scoffed at the young prosecutor's overflowing lack of humility.

"Hm…Ah…what's this? It seems the prosecution has another witness prepared," the judge said, realizing where Prosecutor Gavin was heading.

"Like I said, Herr Detective was just the warm-up act," Klavier said, snidely looking Phoenix in the eye through his shades. Detective Gumshoe grew dejected when he heard that he was not the prosecution's primary weapon in the trial. "Now that the audience has gotten a taste of what's to come, they're ready."

"…Ready for what?" Phoenix asked his counterpart.

"For my decisive witness, of course," Klavier said. He had snapped back from his earlier faltering and was eager to show off his strength. "A witness who, you will find, can prove one thing for us: that it was Zak Gramarye who shot the victim in the forehead!" Klavier hit the wall with his fist then pointed at Phoenix with fire in his words.

The judge hammered his gavel. "…Very well. We will pause for a 15-minute recess. Court is adjourned!"

This might be my lucky break, Phoenix thought. I'll need that 15 minutes to talk to my client…Zak.

To be continued…

(A/N: The next chapter will cover everything from the recess to the moment Phoenix is to present the piece of fraudulent evidence. If you're interested in viewing what I'm describing, please watch ZSlyzer's YouTube video of case 4, starting from part 4.

11-29-13: I've gotten around to playing Apollo Justice again and I'm starting to work on this story again as a result. Not much changed here in this chapter but it was edited slightly to better reflect the dialogue from the game, clean up some typos, and reword a few phrases I thought sounded weird.)