Ace Attorney Nutcracker AU: Act 0 (Prologue)
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Yes, you...you right there! Welcome to my humble abode. Which books would you like to read?
Ah, here's a classic right here.
Now I'm sure you've all heard of the tale of the Nutcracker, correct?
You know, that story about the girl who's toys came to life? With a Nutcracker, a Rat king, and Sugarplum Fairies?
That's the one, but what you probably don't know is that the story you heard isn't what really happened. Oh no, it's merely an inaccurate retelling.
How do I know, you ask? Well, I'm known as the Storyteller, The one who tells all the stories of our land, and please, sit down, relax, and allow me to tell you the true story of what happened.
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Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, a land known as Japanifornia, there was a Palace ruled by a king, King Gregory Edgeworth.Now, King Edgeworth was a fair and just ruler; his subjects loved the King as he would go out of his way to help out families in need and make sure the citizens of his Kingdom are safe. But the most important person to him would have to be his son, Prince Miles Atticus Edgeworth. After the queen died in childbirth, King Edgeworth grew protective of his son.
Young Miles ended up a little shy and nervous but made friends with two young boys around his age.
Phoenix Wright, a young boy with brown and blue eyes and known for wearing blue, being a crybaby and having a big heart, willing to do anything to make sure those he cares about aren't hurt.
And with him, Larry Butz, an Orphan adopted by Phoenix's Family known for wearing yellow. He may be the youngest of the trio, but he also had a big heart and a fiery temper, willing to fight anyone who would hurt his friends.
The Prince's two friends would usually sneak in to Visit him, with Gregory Edgeworth allowing it, growing fond of the two boys.
(The Prince and the Boy in blue also fell in love, but sadly, they never told each other..But that's for later in the story.)
Now then, it's Christmas Day, a few days away from the Prince's 11th birthday, and the King was preparing a surprise for his son, but Tragedy struck on that instant. You see, the King had a Royal Advisor, Manfred von Karma. Von Karma was nothing like the King, being cruel and only caring for himself, and his own brand of justice, with anyone against him being criminals. He was jealous of the King and wanted power, so he shot the King, killing him instantly on that Christmas Day.
Unknown to the Royal Advisor, the Prince's friends found him and were shocked. A third person also saw it but supported it. Her name is Dahlia Hawthorne, and she's a member of the Fey clan, who are potent mages, along with being the Duchess of the Hawthorne Clan. Now, she can't control Magic on her own but uses a pendant to increase her power. Though she's a year younger than the Prince and only a child, she is a megalomaniac, and seeing the King assassinated, she saw her ticket. If she could get rid of witnesses, she could prove that the Advisor can trust her, and so, she cast a curse on the two boys.
For the Boy in Blue, he was Shrunken down, and his clothes turned into a suit that one of the royal soldiers would wear, his skin turning from flesh to wood, as he became a Nutcracker. He didn't know it at the time, but he could move; although his body felt stiff, he thought he couldn't. As for the Boy in Yellow, he also shrunk down, but his whole body changes, bones, skin, and everything. Grey fur grew on him, and after about a minute, he was a Mouse. He couldn't believe it and was panicky, squeaking, not even knowing what to do.
But the Advisor and The Duchess? They came up with their plan to gain power.
The Advisor told the people of the King's death, taking the throne as Regent and adopting the young Prince, raising him alongside his young daughter, Princess Franziska von Karma. In return, the Duchess was betrothed to the Prince. The People of Japanifornia Mourned for the King's death allowed the Regent to rule over them with ease, trusting him when he said the two boys killed the King and putting a bounty on them to be captured, Alive or otherwise.
Now, for the Mouse, he managed to escape the Regent, hiding in the Castle, but became a human at night, trying to find a way to break the curse. The Nutcracker, on the other hand, was stuck in his wooden form, being given as a gift to the Prince Each year, taken away, and then regifted to the Prince as a 'new' Nutcracker. As the Prince Changed, The Nutcracker watched as the Prince cried for his father's passing and became colder to people, not trusting
While researching for a cure, The Mouse met a member of the Fey Clan, Maya, whose Magic was powerful. She helped him with his research and asked her sister to aid her, but neither could. Until they remembered the Grand Wizard, one of the most powerful Mages in History, regarded as a Legend, a Myth by many. If anyone could break the curse, he could. Sadly, the Duchess Found out and cursed Maya, turning her into a wooden doll given to the Princess. The doll observed as the Princess would put up a facade to make it look like she was calm and confident, but would also hear her insecurities when she thinks she's alone in her room. Unlike her brother, the Princess cared dearly about her gift from the Regent and took good care of the doll.
It has been 14 years since the King died, and the Regent still rules over Japanifornia. Once a Beautiful Land, it is now cold and dark due to the tyrannical ruler, yet the people continue to follow the Regent because if anyone crosses him, they disappear without a trace. The Kingdom lost its light, falling to darkness and corruption.It's the start of December, only weeks away from the Prince's Coronation, and the Doll, Mouse, and Nutcracker only have until Christmas to break the curse. This is because the Duchess made it so that the curse could be broken for a limited time. Once it turns to Midnight on Christmas Day, the Wooden Doll and Nutcracker would lose their lives, becoming a lifeless doll and Nutcracker, respectively. The Mouse would no longer be able to turn into a human form, being stuck as a mouse for the rest of his life.
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Now then, the Mouse, Nutcracker, and Doll Work on Escaping the Kingdom to find the Grand Wizard, but what happens next? Do the Prince and Princess find them? Or is it the Regent? The Duchess? The soldiers? Who knows?
