25Hey everyone, so this is my first Ace Attorney story. I only got into the series a while ago, so I'm not the most well versed in it, and to be fair I haven't finished Dual Destinies or Spirit of Justice, but since this won't go to that point I don't think it really should matter very much. It's a great series, and there are many ideas I want to share so I'm going with it. I hope I do well with this. I have other stories that I have to work on, but I want to do this story, so I'm going with it. I will try to update regularly, but I'm trying to find a job and all sorts of things, so really just life stuff. I won't go into great details. Anyway, enough rambling.
Anyway, so the idea of this story came from me reading about that Franziska was only introduced in Justice For All because the creators didn't want to have Miles (a very popular character) constantly lose to Phoenix. This means that she hadn't been thought of when writing Turnabout Goodbyes. Though given hop much she looks up to her father and Miles I wondered what would happen if Franziska HAD been in the story at that point, so I wrote this story to see what would come of it.
Just as a disclaimer this story will involve a lot of trauma. Mentions of suicide will come up in the story, attempted kidnapping, violence, self-harm, and other Ace Attorney worthy warnings. I won't go into great detail, but they'll be there. If that upsets anyone then I'd advise you be a bit careful going forward regardless
Also, I don't own Ace Attorney or any o the characters involved in the series. I wish I did, but we can't have everything, right? Haha.
Chapter One
Franziska
I sign the report perfectly signing my name before filing it away looking at the clock. 6:30 exactly. Perfect timing.
I look at the calendar. December 25th? Really? Whatever. I have no time for holidays. Justice doesn't take holidays.
But… I suppose I do have time to at least call my little brother. I pull out my phone dialing his number and letting the phone ring.
And keep ringing…
Really, Miles?
When the phone goes to the answering message I frown. Maybe he's busy right now. It is early there.
So if he won't pick up what now? Stupid Miles, I finish work early and you're not even around.
I walk out of my office and into my living room turning on the TV flipping through the channels for a bit getting to the news.
"Now for some breaking news. Late last night legendary LA prosecutor Miles Edgeworth was arrested on suspicion of murder-"
I throw the remote against the sofa managing to turn the TV off in the process.
"Miles Edgeworth!"
I storm back to my office pulling a drawer open and pulling out two newspaper clippings reading them.
"Legendary prosecutor Miles Edgeworth suffers first defeat to rookie attorney Phoenix Wright."
Phoenix Wright… that name. Miles used to always say that name.
"Miles Edgeworth suffers a second defeat at the hands of Phoenix Wright."
A von Karma is perfect in all things.
Miles Edgeworth is a von Karma.
Miles Edgeworth lost.
Miles Edgeworth is a murder
suspect.
Miles Edgeworth is not perfect!
Phoenix Wright has never lost.
Phoenix Wright is a defense attorney.
Phoenix Wright is a rookie.
Phoenix Wright is perfect.
Objection! This is not acceptable!
I pick up my phone again. I will set this straight. No one harms my little brother! Much less him!
One phone call, some packing and a bit of time later and I'm on a jet to California. I watch the clouds go by as I play with my whip. It's been a long time since we've seen each other.
I should be excited, but I'm more angry, angry at him and the foolish fool who dares destroy my brother!
When the jet finally lands I get out and call up a limo to take me to the detention center.
A von Karma does not take a simple taxi.
I guess I could have called someone who works for Papa, but he'll tell him and I really don't want to have him ask questions right now. I will see Miles first.
I get in when it arrives and head to the detention center watching LA pass by.
"Defense attorneys are as bad as the criminals they defend."
There was the ghost of sadness hidden behind the impassive look in Miles' eyes.
"As a prosecutor, you must ensure the guilty are punished."
"But Sir…" it was a soft protest.
"What is it?"
"What if… the defendant isn't guilty?"
"Ma'am?" I'm broken out of my memory by the driver.
"Yes?"
"We're here."
"Thank you," I say paying and grabbing my stuff. I guess I should have stopped off at Miles' house to drop my stuff off, but I don't care right now. I'll do it later. I want answers first!
I walk through the hallway of the detention center.
"What if… the defendant isn't guilty?"
You idiot!
I head to the visitor's room gripping my whip in one hand on my bag in the other.
Two people come out of the first door to my left and I look at them carefully.
One was a man, probably my brother's age. His blue suit and spiky hair along with the attorney's badge gave me the evidence to assume he was Phoenix Wright. I grip my whip tightly. Maybe I should give him a good hit. Make him stay away from my brother! I hope he didn't come to make fun of him!
"Defense attorneys are worthless fools who try to get guilty men innocent."
The girl next to him can best be described as eccentric. She's probably my age, and her clothes seem to suggest she's one of those spirit mediums this place has an odd belief in.
If so then she also has some nerve approaching my little brother after what that woman did to Miles!
They're about to pass me when I stop. "You're Phoenix Wright, correct?"
"Huh? How did you know?"
"You've become rather famous." Hasn't he noticed? Fool!
"Nick! You're famous!"
"Umm… thanks, and who are you, may I ask?"
I look at him then curtsy. "I am Franziska von Karma, International Prodigy Prosecutor."
"You're a prosecutor like Mr. Edgeworth?" The girl asks.
"Of course. Why would I be any different? I am a von Karma," I scoff.
"So it's like how I'm a Fey so I'm a spirit medium?"
"If you wish to make that correlation."
"So why are you visiting Mr. Edgeworth?"
"I'm allowed to meet my little brother, aren't I? I don't think I need explain myself."
"Edgeworth has a sister?"
"Little? But aren't you my age?"
"Are you defending him then?" I ask avoiding the stupid questions.
"He won't let us!"
That look in that man's eyes…
"But… father was a good man who believed in his clients."
"Your father spent time defending people like the person who murdered him. Don't speak about things you don't understand, boy."
I turn away from them starting to walk to the door.
"Well, that was weird! Come on, Nick! Let's go gather information!"
"Alright, Maya."
Phoenix Wright…
Maya Fey…
How foolish!
I open the door to the visitor's room whipping out my whip hitting the wall. "Miles Edgeworth!"
"Franziska von Karma," he sighs looking at me over his shoulder. "Aren't you supposed to be prosecuting right now?"
"I could say the same to you, little brother."
He sighs heavily walking back to the chair and sitting down. I can see how tired he is. Clearly, he hasn't been sleeping. Is it the nightmares?
"Well I can't exactly do that right now, can I?"
"I can't believe you'd ever be on that side."
"You think I expected it. I'm supposed to catch criminals, not be one."
"Did you?"
"Of course not! What do you take me for?"
I didn't think so, I just wanted you to say it."
"So are you here to lecture me about how I'm a fool and failing the von Karma name?"
"You aren't supposed to lose."
"They were innocent, it's only right they were found as such."
"A von Karma is perfection."
"You don't deserve the name von Karma!"
"Really?" He laughs dryly.
"What's so funny?"
"Don't kid yourself, Franziska, you sound like a spoilt brat. You're upset that I lost two cases because it ruins my win record so you'd be asking me to convict innocent people just to stroke my ego," he turns around. "The truth is I lost sight of what really mattered."
"That's just the foolish ramblings of a loser!"
"Think about it!" He exclaims turning around and slamming his palm against the ledge that's part of the partition between the two sides. "How can we claim all defendants are guilty before we even step into court? Think about it, if you had to prosecute this case would you say I was guilty just to stay "perfect"? Just think about it, 'Ziska! Think for yourself!"
I jump a bit at his outburst and feel a bit sick at what he's suggesting. "But…"
He sighs rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Sorry, 'Ziska, I guess I'm just tired. I never wanted to see that man again."
"Phoenix Wright."
"I'm saddled with all these unnecessary feelings such as unease and uncertainty."
I sit down across from him. "Mi-mi…"
"It's been a long time since you called me that."
"Well, you've been calling me 'Ziska."
"I see your point. But you hit me last time I did."
"I could come in there just to whip you," I say hitting my whip against the floor for emphasis.
"You could," he acknowledges. "But please do consider what I said. You can run back to Germany if you want to avoid the question, or you can face this head on."
"Foolish fool! A von Karma doesn't run!"
"Then you will have to face the fact that in order to see perfection I will have to be convicted of a murder I didn't commit or you will have to accept that my life would be in the hands of a defense attorney."
"Father used to tell me prosecutors and defense attorneys were meant to work together to find the truth…"
"Defense attorneys are foolish idiots, they are your enemies."
"Would be?"
"No attorney would take my case. Not shocking really."
"Except him."
"He is not allowed to get mixed into this case, Franziska."
Phoenix Wright is perfect.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want-"
The ground shudders and Miles' face goes pale. The earth continues to rumble as the earthquake hits and my brother drops to the ground curling up in a corner shaking violently.
I storm out of the room to go inside the other area. Pulling my prosecutor's badge out to show the guard. I walk into the room sitting next to my little brother.
The earth trembles violently and he huddles in the corner of the room hugging Missile like his life depended on it.
I sit down touching his shoulder.
"I… can't… need air…"
I open a window letting the night air fill the dark room. "Are you…?"
"It all started…"
It all started…
It all started with an earthquake.
December 25th 2016.
December 28th 2001.
"I believe there are no chance or random occurrences."
Three days away from fifteen years.
Fifteen years: Statute of limitations on unsolved cases.
Three days: Length of trials in LA.
December 28th 2001: DL-6!
Miles
I can't breathe… I can't see anything… I can't…
Father!
One gunshot.
And a single horrible scream!
When will it end? When will it all end?
I look up blearily to see my sister sitting next to me once the quake leaves. Her stormy grey eyes watching me with heavily veiled concern.
A von Karma does not show compassion.
But my mentor's daughter was too soft. Otherwise, she wouldn't be here looking like she's ready to whip anyone in a fifty-mile radius.
I know her looks well, I can also tell when her genius brain is connecting the dots.
The dots of a truth I don't want to admit.
I need to keep him safe from that even if it means I have no defense."
"Mi-mi…"
"What is it, 'Ziska?"
"Who died?"
I have no reason to hide the truth, the truth she already suspects. "Defense attorney Robert Hammond."
Her hand tightens around her whip. We both see the pieces falling into place. "You've guessed it, this case is closely linked to DL-6. Now, do you see why I want him out of this case?"
Phoenix… Wright…
"It's three days until then. The statute of limitations."
Hammond called me out to the lake to talk to me. But 'Ziska…"
"What?"
"I touched the gun. I held it. My fingerprints are all over the murder weapon."
"Why?"
"I don't know… I was in a daze. I… I couldn't think…"
"Foolish fool!"
"Always with the "fool"," I try to tease her. Whenever she gets upset or flustered he resorts to saying variations of the word "fool".
"Shut up, little brother!"
I lean my head on her shoulder looking up at her. "I… I can't do this."
"Miles?"
I sigh. "I don't regret losing. I don't feel bad. I feel good." I get up and start pacing back and forth. "I can't be "perfect" I… I'm an Edgeworth."
She tenses a bit.
Edgeworth… my father… that name was almost taboo in the von Karma household. A whispered name between the two of us. A secret, we had so many secrets.
"Gregory Edgeworth's teachings."
"I can't escape them. I'm a prosecutor, but I can't follow those rules. Watching him makes me think of father."
He's the only one who can save me…
But…
The prosecutor…
Franziska is too stubborn to leave…
But…
If she stays then by the end of this case…
She stands up walking over to where I stopped pacing. "So you aren't a von Karma?"
"If I say "yes" would I still be your brother?"
"You'll always be my little brother."
"'Ziska…"
She pulls her badge out of her pocket. I wonder if she's debating helping the defense. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, and anyone who hurts me is her enemy.
But what happens if the prosecution is…
"I'm a von Karma… I can't turn my back on that name like you can."
"What are names?"
"What?"
"If they were all that I would be a defense attorney."
"Tell me what to do…"
Sometimes it's hard to remember that the international prosecutor is seventeen and never had a childhood to speak of except for snatches of a lost childhood.
"What your heart tells you.."
She slaps her whip on the floor. "That's no help!"
"I can't give you an answer, Franziska, you have to find it yourself."
"This is your fault!" She snaps cracking her whip and hitting the wall a few inches from me.
"My fault?"
"You… you had to get yourself accused of murder! And now I'm saddled with unnecessary feelings too!"
She storms out of the room. I wonder if she's going to realize that she left her things here.
I hear a yelp from outside and I sigh.
Is she whipping Wright now? Good grief!
The door opens and Wright and Ms. Fey enter again.
"Didn't I tell you I didn't want to see you? Though I feel I should apologize for my sister. She gets a bit violent when she's stressed."
"I… think she hates me."
"Don't take it personally." To be fair the fact she knows I love him doesn't help. "Regardless I-"
"We know about DL-6."
At those words, a few things happened at one time for me.
My mind reeled at how much he'd found out in so little time and I was amazed and a bit awed at his single-mindedness. He hasn't changed.
Meanwhile my sister, who must have heard through the door on her way back to grab her stuff, burst through the door whip ready.
Before I even register my own thoughts I hear myself ordering "Franziska, genug!"
I don't know why I dropped into her native tongue, but it shocked all four people in the room.
She drops her whip the sound of it clattering to the floor the only sound between the four of us. Two pairs of blue eyes and one grey pair stare at me with different emotions. Of course Wright and Ms. Fey don't understand what I just said.
"Bedauere," she mutters breaking the stunned silence. She picks her whip up and walks to her bag grabbing it.
"Bitte bleibe, ich brauche dich."
"In ordnung."
"danke, nur... bitte ihn nicht schlagen."
"Gern geschehen und ich nicht für Sie"
"Umm…" Phoenix clears his throat and we look at him.
"Sorry Wright. German is just my sister's native language."
"But you don't have an accent," Ms. Fey says.
"I can if I want to. I just don't want to."
"Want to?"
"A von Karma is perfect," we say in unison. Grey eyes meeting grey in remembrance of the von Karma creed.
"I didn't even know you spoke different languages."
"I grew up in Germany to some extent and I learned a lot of different languages over the years, Franziska did too."
"You're pronunciation is rusty, little brother."
"And you say "fool" too much big sister."
"Fool is a good word."
I roll my eyes at her with the tiniest hint of a smile. I can see one creeping up her face too.
"Anyway, where were we?"
"Edgeworth, we know this case is connected to DL-6 and we know how it connects to you."
I sigh. "You haven't changed. Still so single-minded. You won't let go of something when you've started."
"I owe you one after all."
"What are you talking about, Wright?"
"I… nevermind."
You don't owe me anything for that.
"Nick really wants to help you."
"You seem pretty adamant yourself, Ms. Fey."
"Well… I'm the youngest daughter of Misty Fey."
Franziska and I lock eyes then I look at the other girl. "I see, so you are linked to the case by the medium." Long practice has taught me to keep the disbelief and anger out of my voice. She has to be a scam!
"Yes, so please let Nick defend you!"
"Edgeworth, Gumshoe is worried about you too."
"Detective Gumshoe, huh?"
"Yes, we're all worried!"
I sigh. How can I say no? And yet… he has no idea what he's getting himself into!
"Alright, Wright. I'll let you lead my defense."
With those words, another quake hit hard and fast and my world goes black.
Phoenix
"Edgeworth?!"
"Miles!" A crack of leather hitting the wall accompanied the outburst from the German prosecutor.
"Mr. Edgeworth is cowering in a corner," Maya says.
Edgeworth was never scared of earthquakes when we were kids!
"Mr. Phoenix Wright, Ms. Maya Fey, come on."
"Where?" I ask a bit annoyed she's just ordering us around, but I think I detect a hint of concern behind her glare.
"Unless you would rather just stare at my little brother."
"We can actually go in there?" Maya asks.
"With me there, yes."
"Wow, Nick, prosecutors get to do anything! Maybe you should have become a prosecutor."
"No, that wouldn't work."
"What do you mean?"
"It goes against why I became a defense attorney."
"Oh yeah, to protect those who had no one on their side."
Ms. von Karma, who had walked to the door at some point, gripped the doorknob hard.
"Are you okay?" Maya asks.
"Yes, now come on," she snaps walking out and we follow her to the other side.
Ms. von Karma sits next to Edgeworth holding him. Maya and I walk over as well.
Edgeworth mutters things in German and Ms. von Karma quickly hushes him.
"I wish he could get some air," Maya says.
"I'll take him out later."
"You… need to help them…" Edgeworth rasps.
"Miles…?"
"They'll need you, sister."
"If he's-"
"No!" Somehow Edgeworth seems to have gotten more energy as if worrying for us was making him push his pain aside. "You don't get it."
"What do you mean? It's just another prosecutor."
"No, Wright… the prosecutor for this case… is Manfred von Karma."
Ms. von Karma face goes pale as she stares at her brother. "Papa?"
"Manfred von Karma?"
"You haven't heard of him? He's a god of prosecution, he taught Franziska and me everything we know."
"But if he's your mentor maybe he'll go easy on you."
Edgeworth laughs hollowly. "He hasn't lost a case in forty years, he's not about to start now. He's ten times more ruthless than me."
"That's saying something."
"As I said, twenty times."
"Forty."
"Eighty."
One-hundred sixty."
"Three-hundred twenty."
"Six-hundred forty."
"One-thous-"
"Stop!" I plead.
"Wright, you haven't had a case until you faced von Karma."
"But why, Miles… why is Papa…?"
"I don't know, maybe because I'm not perfect or maybe because I'm the last stain of the name Edgeworth, who knows, but regardless it is what it is."
"But Papa…"
"I won't ask you to help, but…"
You kind of already did, Edgeworth.
"Mr. Phoenix Wright…" her grey eyes bore into mine. "I hate you."
Ouch! I don't even know her and she hates me!
"Franziska…"
"I hate you, and yet… you are my little brother's only hope. I will not allow him to get killed."
"What about your father?" Maya asks.
The whispered words were so quiet I barely caught them. Just like how I could easily think I imagined the tears that escaped for just a second. "Miles Edgeworth is my true family."
I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. I'm going to post the translations of the German here as a note, and I will do that when it comes up. Granted I use Google Translate to get the translations so I know that it's not always the most accurate. If anyone knows German and is willing to correct my translations I'll be very happy to hear them. I try my best with it, but I'm not sure what other tool to use. Anyway, here we go:
genug - enough
Bedauere - Sorry
Bitte bleibe, ich brauche dich. - Please stay, I need you.
In Ordnung. - Okay
danke, nur... bitte ihn nicht schlagen. - thanks, just... please do not hit him
Gern geschehen und ich nicht für Sie - You're welcome, and I won't do it, for you.
So that's what they said. I hope it looks good to everyone. Anyway, now for a preview of the next chapter to send us off for this chapter.
Miles:
"I'm aware of that, Mr. Phoenix Wright, but I'm here and I'm not leaving. A von Karma does not run away."
I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and will continue to enjoy the story as a whole and any other idea I come up with in the future.