//------------------------------// // Episode 11: You Just Got Turned About! Dan Vs. An Ace Attorney // Story: Dan Vs. The Magic of Friendship(Season 1) // by Barrobroadcaster //------------------------------// Sebben & Sebben Law Offices One random Saturday morning Harvey Birdman, attorney at law, sat at his desk and rubbed his temple. This had to be the toughest case of his entire career and his back was against the wall. He'd always been able to pull his clients out of the fire but what was he going to do now that HE was the one in need of help? Finally, Harvey found the nerve to ask again. "Has he moved at all?" Peanut checked the door to the adjacent room for the third time in the past half hour. The cacophony of digital sounds coming from beyond only amplified when he opened the door to visually inspect the room's occupant. "Go 'way!" a loud voice answered. "If you're not room service, go 'way!!" Peanut quickly closed the door. "He's still there," he answered through gritted teeth. "It's been five days!" Birdgirl protested. "I don't know how much more of this I can take!" Birdgirl slammed her fist on the desk. "We must call the Super Friends!" "To do what?!" Harvey yelled, grabbing Birdgirl by the face. "Don't you understand?! Don't any of you understand?! We're all alone! This is on US!" he shook her. "What are we gonna do if Phil-" Just then, the door to the hallway opened and a blonde man in a suit with an eyepatch stepped in. "Ha-ha, timing." "Phil!" Harvey immediately dropped Birdgirl to the floor. "Phil, we've got to talk." "Hold on, don't I usually come barging into your office saying I'm the one that needs to talk to you?" Phil asked. The others stared at him, blank faces made all the more blank by the masks that obscured their eyes. "Isn't that how this is supposed to work?" Again, the others had no answer for him. Harvey walked closer, choosing to ignore the question. "Phil, it's about your nephew." "Frito! That's right- I just stopped by to see how he's acclimating to his new environment. I trust he's already made himself an invaluable part of the team." "Oh, he's acclimated, all right!" Birdgirl shouted. "He's taken ove-" she stopped herself from yelling, then walked over to speak in a normal tone. "He's taken over half the office. He's been in there for five days just watching t.v." Phil looked taken back. "Well, that's all part of his training! After the passed the bar at Costco, I told him to study all the greatest court room dramas to prepare himself for the legal work ahead." The Birdmen's jaws collectively dropped. Peanut muttered a confused "Costco…?" "You… you told him to train for a law practice by watching television?" Harvey asked. "Of course I did! Let's go check on his progress," Phil lead the others to the door and opened it. "Frito, it's your Uncle Phil Ken Sebben!" "Go 'wa-oh, hey Uncle Phil," Frito said over his shoulder. "You studying in there, Fri?" "Uh huh," the greasy, pro-wear dressed attorney responded. "I have to defend this one guy who didn't pay his hospital bill in an hour so I've been watching the basics." The Bird team peered through the crack in the doorway. "He's not even watching a court show," Birdgirl said. "No," Harvey scratched his chin. "He's watching cartoons!" "That makes sense," Peanut commented. "Shut up!" Frito yelled over his shoulder. Phil was unfazed by the outburst; clearly it hadn't been meant for him. "I've been waiting for this episode for like a year!" "Fantastic, Frito!" Phil exclaimed. "What're you watching?" "Dan Vs. The Magic of Friendship," he said, turning up the volume. Phil closed the doorway and turned back to his legal team. "Ha-ha, reference intros." "All right… and, turned to the left," Dan directed through the door. Phoenix Wright, standing on the front lawn of the Golden Oakes Library did as instructed. "No, your other left." Frowning, the lawyer rotated back the other way, holding his arms out so that the targeting system of Dan's security grid could identify him fully. Since returning to Equestria, Phoenix found that many new things had developed in his absence. Foremost in his mind being the massive array of weapons emplacements somehow contained within the tree house. "Okay, now stand on one leg," Dan instructed. "Is all this really necessary?" Phoenix asked, beginning to protest. "It is if you don't want the minefield to trigger." Swallowing hard, the lawyer looked down. The lawn somehow felt more dangerous than seconds earlier. "What?!" "All right, just hold that pose for three… two.. one… aaaaaaaaaaaaaand…" Phoenix felt sweat on the back of his neck. Balance somehow became a near impossible task as he attempted to not put his other foot back on the ground for fear that he'd be blown sky high. "Got it!" Dan finally announced. Phoenix exhaled sharply, staggering back to a standing position. "Is that it?" The door to the tree house opened. "That should be it. Now the targeting system will both protect you from attack or the tree house from you if it recognizes you as a threat," Dan stated, smiling delightedly as he checked the readings from the security grid. "Wonderful," Phoenix walked back inside. "It is also programmed to notify my next of kin when it blows me up?" "Yes," Dan answered casually, still looking at the wall-mounted control panel. "It's for the safety of the library, Nicky. I'm not saying you're going to intentionally try to destroy the tree house but what if someone dressed up as you tried to make it to the front door? Now, we have a way to defend ourselves against impostors." Phoenix looked down at himself, his blue suit and unique attire. "You really think some pony's going to impersonate me to get in here?" Dan finally looked up, still grinning and patted the taller human on the shoulder. "It pays to be prepared, Nicky." "Right…" (Prepared for armageddon in this case.) The pair entered the living room to find Twilight, the Fluffmiester, Chrys and Spike sitting on or around the couch and watching t.v. "Phoenix has been officially registered to the security system," Dan announced triumphantly. "Hooray," Chrys and the others said distractedly. Dan took their accolades as genuine and joined the others on the couch, satisfied. "I know you'll all be happy to hear that his updated security profile is the same as all other members of the household and above the level of guest," he turned a smile back to Phoenix as he sat. "Uh, thanks," the lawyer said awkwardly. "That's actually high praise, Phoenix," Chrys said. "Yeah…" Spike folded his arms. "Took me a week to get him to stop recognizing me as a security risk." Smile unbroken, Dan rubbed the purple dragon's head. "And you certainly earned that, private mailbox." Spike gave a slight shake of discomfort but then resumed watching t.v. Twilight got up and walked over to Phoenix. "Looks like you're part of the team again, Phoenix." "Yeah," Phoenix agreed. "I have to admit, I appreciate the new accommodations." She blushed. "Yeah, well… never knew when you might be coming back. And Dan helped with a lot of the new additions, too." "Yeah…" he rubbed the back of his neck. "I can tell. They seem quite… efficient." "It does seem like overkill sometimes but…" she looked back at Dan on the couch. "Dan's procedures have helped us out a few times." Phoenix nodded. "I don't doubt that."