Phoenix's New Fiancee and other short stories

by MorenoX25

Phoenix Wright never expected that winning a court battle would mean he was also winning a new fiancee as well. Please read the Author's Note at the top.

1. Chapter 1

Important Note:

The following stories/snippets were written a couple of years ago for the Ace Attorney Loops compiled by OathToOblivion, but they were never posted. So instead of letting them go to waste I decided to post them on my own, but they will be considered non-canon to OathToOblivion's compilation which I highly recommend reading if you want some weird and funny AA stories/snippets.

Also if you aren't aware what the "Infinite Loops" are, then let me borrow the explanation from TvTropes:

The Infinite Loops, also known as the Innortal-style Time Loops, are an ever-expanding genre of Time Loop fanfics.

The premise is that something has happened to Yggdrasil, the World Tree computer that contains and runs the multiverse. As a result, the various universes have been put in 'safe mode', time-looping until Yggdrasil can be repaired. Each universe's loop is maintained by the presence of an Anchor, a core person from that loop who is the first to notice their universe is looping. There is always an Anchor in a repairs to Yggdrasil continue, more people in each universe begin Looping as well, but are not necessarily aware participants in every Loop; only the Anchor is so blessed... or cursed. Your mileage may vary. Characters that are aware of the Loops and retain memories of their previous go-arounds are termed "Awake".In addition, Fused Loops allow Loopers from different universes to interact. As a given, Loopers are tremendously stir-crazy due to the loops. Hilarity usually ensues.

---

Phoenix's New Fiancee.

Things were going smoothly for Phoenix Wright in this particular Loop; he had prevented Mia's death at the hands of Red White and helped stop and prevent some of the crimes he knew were coming before they happened. Still, unexpected things always happened and with the variations of the Loops, Phoenix ended up investigating new crimes and defending new clients.

This last case, as always, it was a murder case, and everything looked hopeless for the defendant, since all the evidence pointed towards him as a killer and the prosecutor in charge was none other than Franziska Von Karma.

But in the end Phoenix Wright pulled thru and got that 'Not Guilty Verdict' for his client.

Phoenix sighed as he once again defeated Franziska von Karma for the 'first time', and by the look on her face, she hasn't taking the news very well. But instead of throwing the word 'fool' over and over again and him threaten him with her bullwhip, she just turned around and left quietly.

A very strange reaction for the prideful daughter of von Karma.

As Phoenix exited the courthouse ready to go back to his office, a figured stepped in front of him blocking his path.

"M-M-Miss von Karma!" Phoenix stuttered in surprise.

"Phoenix Wright I need to have a word with you!" She demanded with whip in hand.

"Y-Yes…?" No matter how many times he had looped, no matter what situation he found himself in, no matter how many monsters he fought off inside or outside the court, he would always be on edge when dealing with Franziska von Karma.

All those whip lashes left more emotional scars than bruises.

"I still can't believe a foolish fool like you could ever best me in court!" Franziska said gripping her bull whip ever so tightly. "To be defeated by such an amateur!"

'Hey! I'm no amateur, I've over 5000 cases of experience!' Not that she or everyone else around would know, since none were aware of the Time Loops in which he was trapped.

"Of all the foolish people in the world, why did it have to be one so foolish?!" Franziska continued as she took a step forward getting closer to Phoenix.

Phoenix instincly took a step backwards which prompted the prosecutor to take another step forward, which made Phoenix to take a step backwards and so on and so forth until Phoenix'x backside was against a wall.

"You…you…" She gripped her bullwhip tighter and tighter.

'Oh no, here it comes!' Phoenix closed his eyes expecting to be hit any second now, but to his surprise none ever came.

Instead, Franziska placed her hands around Phoenix's head and brought it towards her to plant a kiss on his sheer ridiculousness and improbability of such an event caused poor Phoenix's brain to froze and then show the blue screen saying that an error had occur and that the system needed to be rebooted.

"There! It is done!" A red faced Franziska said after she retired her lips from Phoenix's. "Now please take responsibility!"

"Done..? Responsibility…?" The confused Phoenix repeated still dazzled by the critical error in his brain.

"Yes, since we are to be wed." She pointed out as a simple matter-of-fact.

"Wait! What? Why?" What was going on?!

"It's because of my vow!" She explained. "When I was little I made a vow that I would wed and devote myself as a woman to the first man to ever defeat me fairly in a court battle!"

"Devote as a woman…?" Then finally his brain caught on to what the prosecutor was saying and blushed while entering in a small panic. "Wait! Hold On! I..I..mean…Isn't it a little excessive?! I mean…"

"Speak properly you fool!" Franziska chastise him by whipping the floor which cause Phoenix to flinch and shut up. "Now, despite our engagement, I still think you aren't worthy enough to stand as my equal in the altar. So from now on I shall train you into the perfect husband! A von Karma deserves nothing but the best after all."

"But…I…" Phoenix tried to protest but Franziska was having not of it.

"Silence. You shall speak only when directly spoken to!" She whipped the wall next to his face to emphasize her point. "Now come and take me on our first official date as a couple!" The she locked arms with him and dragged him away.

'Just what the heck is going on with this Loop!?' Phoenix cried silent tears.

---

"I'm afraid I can't help you Phoenix." Mia Fey, Phoenix's boss and friend Chief said with a sigh, "What she is doing is perfectly legal." She hated being the barer of bad news but that was how things were.

"What?! How can that be?!" Phoenix asked horrified, all he asked was for help to put up a restraining order. "What Franziska is doing is clearly harassment!"

"Calm down Phoenix!" Mia said firmly, and after her protégée finally calmed down a bit, she continued. "Look, I did some digging around and found out about an ancient Chinese law that clearly states that what Franziska is doing is perfectly legal."

"But we aren't in China!" Phoenix protested! Clearly they were in America!

"Well…apparently with the current state of the economy and booming cultural imports from Asian countries like China and Japan from the past decade; some of their cultural laws had been approved by the court is states with heavy Asian population, one of them been California."

"But…but…Franziska isn't Chinese!" Phoenix pointed out, surely the cultural law couldn't be applied to her.

"That's another thing I investigated, and it turns out Franziska is 1/32 Chinese, and her ancestor turned out to be part of a tribe known as Nǚjié zú, commonly known as the Chinese Amazons. So the cultural law applies to her." And boy, it had been hard looking all that up.

"That's…that's…" Phoenix had heard of something like that before! Yes, the Joketsuzoku from a Ranma fused Loop he had a while back. So that means that this strange turn of events was because he was living in a pseudo-fusion with Ranma's Loop.

"I know it is difficult to accept Phoenix, but worry not, I'll try to find I way to help you." Mia tried to reassure him. "You are my apprentice after all!

"Thanks Mia." He thanked her but he knew about 'Amazon' Law. There weren't any exploitable loopholes. The only way he could get out of this was if he died or sired a child and gave it away as compensation. None of them were a viable option for him since the World Tree
Yggdrasil, the supercomputer that run the multiverse, prevented him for conceiving a child. A rule applied by the gods to prevent Looper's grief of losing a children left and right.

"Come on Phoenix, don't look so down!"Mia tried to think about something else to say "Besides, how bad can Franziska really be?"

"She visited my apartment last night." Phoenix said gloomly. "Then she made me rearrange all the furniture claiming they weren't arranged as efficiently as they could; then she proceeded to threw away everything she said were taking unnecessary space; and finally emptied my fridge and cabinets of all the things that were deemed too unhealthy for me."

"Ouch." Mia winced, that was all she could say.

So Phoenix continued to live his life with Franziska constantly pestering him about how he needed to be perfect and all that nonsense, and for many nights he pondered while in bed if he just should say "screw this!" and run away. He could do many things to get away with it too, like transforming into Kamen Rider Eternal, get out of the country and make sure the Amazon Prosecutor never found him. But Phoenix was a firm believer that running away from problems didn't solve them; they just made it worse not only for him but the people he cared about too.

So he continued with the charade. At least for now.

Currently Phoenix was at the office with an 'unawake' Maya by his side. Even after he prevented Mia's death and therefore he didn't ended up defending Maya in court, the young spirit medium had taking a liking to him and served as his assistance from time to time claiming she wanted to see how Mia's and Phoenix's lives were like as lawyers.

Despite her eccentric behavior she was fun to have around and a good friend. Besides, if she had been awake, Phoenix was sure she would just spent the whole loop teasing him and probably making this whole situation with Franziska worse for him by trying to 'help' either side.

Phoenix was finishing some paperwork from a case he had yesterday while Maya was watching television, probably a re-run of the Steel Samurai. One thing he had to admit, because of his 'engagement' he never had to face Franziska in court since it would create a 'Conflict of Interest.' So his court cases weren't as stressful as they had been before. Still it was a small good thing compared to all the stuff he had to put up with.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Phoenix still a little busy, looked up from his papers and looked at Maya. "Could you please answer the door, Maya?"

"Okay!" Since her show was on commercial break she had no objections at all. Maya, then opened the door and greeted their visitor. "Welcome to Fey & Co. Law Offices! Defending you like it's nuttin' baby!"She used that silly slogan she had come up for her sister's business. Mia said she liked it, but Phoenix honestly thought it needed to be revised.

"What a foolish slogan, you need to have it revised!" The person outside the door said, startling Phoenix. "Or are you trying to appeal to the elementary school demographic?" That voice! It could only belong to…

"Franziska!?" Phoenix exclaimed as he got up from his desk. "What are you doing here?!"

"Do I need a reason to visit my future husband at his work?" Franziska walked past Maya not even giving her a second glance and make her way towards him.

'No. But with you there is ALWAYS a reason!'

"I came here to talk about that last case you had." Franziska said calmly enough before busting out her bull whip and deliver several strikes unto Phoenix's desk "What a poor performance! Do you call that defending?"

"B-But I won!" Phoenix pointed out.

"Yes. But you could have done better!" The prosecutor continued with her whipping. "Despite being a Defense Attorney, I expect you to win and in the most dignified and efficient manner possible! As a future husband of von Karma, you need to be the best, I expect no less!"

"Wait just a second!" Maya intervened with a shout. "You can't treat Nick that way!"Stopping her barrage, Franziska turn her head to look at Maya for just a second, before turning back to look at Phoenix.

"Who is this girl, Phoenix Wright? And why does she calls you in such a familiar manner." She demanded in an uncharacteristically low tone. His mind sent Phoenix a danger alert so he tried to avert a 'situation'.

"This is Maya! Maya Fey, my boss' little sister, a friend of mine and occasional assistant." He hope that was enough for Franziska not to jump to some wild conclusion about Maya.

"Funny. You have never mentioned her before."

'I would if you didn't try to whip me every time I open my mouth!'

"Hey! Don't act like I'm not even here!" Maya complained as she stepped closer to the whip wielding prosecutor.

'Maya! What are doing? You are gonna get yourself whipped into a coma!'

Then the whip lashed out and almost hit his face. "You disappoint me Phoenix Wright. I expected better from you! As a future husband of von Karma you should be able to handle your cases alone without any aid or assistance!"

"Hold it! You always have the help of the police in your cases!" Phoenix pointed out only to have his index finger whipped. "Ouch."

"Foolish Fool! I do not have the police 'assisting me'; I'm the one in charge of the investigations, so they are an extension of my reach."

'That still sounds as you getting their help!'

"Hey! Stop ignoring me and stop treating Nick this way!" Maya once again shouted to get Franziska's attention.

"And what say do you have as to how I should treat my future husband? You are but a foolish little girl!"

"Little girl?! I'm a year younger than you are!"

"And yet the gap between us is massive!"

"Why you!"

"Please, everyone calm down!" Phoenix tried to prevent a fight from breaking out, but it seems that it was his turn to be ignored.

"You think you are so great and mighty Franziska, but the truth is that you know nothing about how relationships work!" Maya said angrily.

"And what would you know about them you foolish fool?"Franziska answered back clearly ticked by Maya's words. How dare she claim that a von Karma was ignorant of something?

"Enough to know that Phoenix doesn't even enjoy being in the same room as you!" Maya said pointing to Phoenix who was making hand signs for her to stop.

'Maya! Don't throw me under the bus!' He mouthed to no avail.

"He doesn't deserve to be stuck with someone like you! In fact he is too good for you!" Those words really stuck on Phoenix. Maya, thinking so highly of him, always being a good friend in good times and bad times, no matter if she was "awake" or not.

Franziska on the other hand glared at Maya until she was hit by a sudden realization, which in turn caused her to smirk.

"Oh, I see!" she said still smirking; "You are in love with my future husband, aren't you?"

"WHAT!" was both Phoenix's and Maya's simultaneous response.

"Though for someone like me he isn't much at the moment, I can see why someone of your stature and upbringing would consider him quite a catch."

'I don't know if I shall feel offended or not by that statement.'

"Even so, I must ask you to quit whatever hopes you have for anything but a platonic relationship with him." Franziska stated.

"First of all I don't think of him that way! And second I think he can make a decision himself as for whom he loves!" Maya was getting quite annoyed and angry with Franziska's tone and insults.

"Ha! As if he would ever choose a foolish girl like you without any manners or natural charm!" Clearly, an Acolyte from a mountain village was no real competition for someone like her.

"I can be charming if I want, in fact I can charm anyone better than you!"

"Is that a challenge?"

"And what if it is?"

"Very well, A von Karma never turns down a challenge! I challenge you a competition of womanly charm!" Then she pointed her whip towards Phoenix "With the judge will be Phoenix Wright!"

"Wait what?" Phoenix exclaimed dumbfounded.

"Whoever wins gets to keep him, and the loser renounces him forever!" Franziska stipulated.

"Wait! Don't I have a say on...?"

"You got yourself a deal!" Maya accepted more so to prove Franziska wrong than for real romantic interest for Phoenix.

"Good! We'll compete for him next Sunday!"

'What the heck is going on?!'

---

"You did what?!" came the shout of one surprised Mia. "What were you thinking Maya?"

"I'm sorry sis!" Maya apologized to her sister, "It's just that Franziska was really mean and I kinda lost it!"

"Do you have any idea what a mess you caused?" Mia continued with her rant. "This really complicate things for all of us!"

"How exactly?" Phoenix asked to her angry boss, something he didn't see that often. "I mean, if I chose Maya as the winner, then Franziska would leave me alone!"

"Don't you see, Phoenix?" Mia then directed her attention to her apprentice, "If Maya wins, that means the engagement passes to her and she will not have any other option but to marry you, not only by Amazon law but by Kurain Law too."

"Wait what?" It was now Maya's turn to shout in surprise. "I never heard of such law!"

'Me neither.' And he had studied Kurain laws before; was this a change caused by the variant too?

"Well, it is not exactly a written rule, but once you are engaged you can't turn back or Maya risks her reputation and could be punished for it. So if she's the victor you will have to marry her."

"But…" Phoenix began but he was quickly interrupted.

"And if that happens, you will have to retire as a Lawyer and spent your days confined in Kurain following their strict traditions, especially since you will be marrying into the main family."

"We could divorce!" Phoenix blurted out only to instantly regret it. Because of the village's strict rules and matriarchal nature, most men leave their families leaving behind children fatherless. Something that happened to the Fey sisters in front of him.

Mia ignored his faux pas and shook her head. "It is an option but only after you have sired a child, something that Maya isn't ready for!"

'Nor is it viable thanks to Yggdrasil!'

"And if you try to run away before you conceive a baby, you better not show yourself back around these parts or it would be open season for you" Mia then added. "Not to mention I would be really disappointed in you Phoenix!"

'There goes my idea of living a new life in Mexico. Adios Fenix Wrighto Gonzalez! '

Then again, it wasn't like he could just run away just like that and leave Maya to suffer scorn and humiliation from her clan. His personal code of honor wouldn't allow it.

"Sis, what are we going to do?" Maya asked almost in tears. She didn't expect her little spat with Franziska would turn out to be so bad for all of them.

"There is nothing you or I can do." Mia said as she held her sister in her arms. "The only one that could do something is you Phoenix!"

"Me?"

"Yes, you!" Mia's gaze on him turned harder. "You'll have to choose. Marry my sister or marry Franziska that are your only options!"

'So a lose-lose situation for me!' Sure, he could choose Maya. But been married to his best friend would only be awkward not to mention he would trap Maya into a loveless marriage for the rest of the loop.

"That or you could commit to the abdomen-cutting suicidal ritual to avoid bring dishonor to both families!"

"What!?"

"Yes, then by Kurain Law your soul would be forbidden for summoning by any member of the Fey clan forever."

"Isn't that a little extreme?" Phoenix knew that if he died the Loop would just crash and reset, but that didn't mean he was down for self-disembowelment.

"I'm just telling you your options here!" Mia said still holding Maya in her arms.

"But I…" He really was at loss here. His only options were to die or to marry. Why did he have to be the multiverse's chewing toy? Did it enjoy seeing him struggle in this absurd situations?

"You don't have to choose now." Mia said relaxing her hard tone a little bit. "But if you choose not to die, then the competition is still on." Then she turned to Maya, "I'm going to talk to Franziska to go over the details of this competition"

"Wait Mia, there is no need for that! I'll choose now and avoid this silly competition!" Phoenix said that but he was still unsure about whom to choose.

"No. Kurain law demands a fair duel and a fair witness so that there is no cheating or manipulation from the competitors and the judge."

So like the urban youth would say: When it's on it's on. You can't say it's on and later say it's off, it can't be off when it's clearly on. So it is still on.

"Come on Maya, after I'm done talking with Franziska, we will train together so you can be ready."

"Mia…"

And with that the two Fey sisters left Phoenix alone in the office, with his troubling thoughts as his only company.

'Just what the heck am I supposed to do?'

He knew he was going to keep saying that for the rest of this run.

---

Finally, the dreaded day of the competition came.

Phoenix was sitting within a training hall in Kurain Village. Somehow, Mia had managed to convince Franziska to hold the competition here. He didn't know how or why she did it but frankly right now it was the least of his worries.

"You must be pretty excited Mr. Wright." the person sitting next to him said. "I mean, two women fighting for your love must be the dream of any man."

'If it is, I'm glad am not any man.'

"That's one way to put it, Emma." Phoenix said with a nervous chuckle.

Emma Skye, 16 years-old; Student and forensics fanatic, but today she was going to act as a witness for this competition.

Phoenix couldn't believe it when he first found out she was the selected witness. Apparently, Mia and Franziska wanted Lana Skye, Chief Prosecutor and Emma's big sister, to be witness. But since she was awfully busy with her work, she sent her little sister Emma in her place, claiming it would make a good learning experience.

'Yeah, now she can see with her very own eyes how messed up a person's life can get!'

It was not like he didn't want her here; Emma was a good friend of the family or at least she would be when Apollo comes around. Or who knows? Maybe this Loop where the SL-9 Incident never happened, Emma will pass her test to be a forensic scientist like she always wanted. Either way, Phoenix preferred to have someone he knew was reliable as witness instead of say, I don't know, Larry Butz.

Phoenix sighed. He knew everything would end up in disaster; it was only a matter of time, he only hoped that nobody ended up hurt.

Then the opposite doors on either side of the training hall opened. Through the right side, Maya entered, followed by Mia and little Pearl?!

'What was Mia thinking bringing Pearl here?' After he calmed down from the initial surprise Phoenix try to reason an explanation. 'Maybe something to do with her strong spiritual power, perhaps?' Mia probably wanted her for her ability to see Psyche-locks with ease.

Entering through the left side of the training hall, Franziska walked in followed by Maggey Byrde. Why would Franziska bring Maggey 'The goddess of misfortune' Byrde with her?

'Gumshoe was probably busy and Franziska brought the first police officer that passed by.' Phoenix never thought he would see Maggey this soon, after he prevented the accident that made her quit her job on the force.

Preventing murders and changing the baseline really was biting him on the rear this loop.

'Or maybe some of Maggey's luck passed onto me?'

Soon, both Maya and Franziska standing in front of each other, sizing each other up. Then Mia stepped between the two of them and acted as the referee of this whole thing.

"Now, before we start I just want to remind everyone how we are going to proceed with this competition." Mia stopped until she saw both opponents' nods of confirmation.

"First, and foremost, this competition is to gauge your worth and skills as future wives for the right to claim Phoenix Wright's hand in marriage!"

'Now I know why women dislike been treated as an object to be fought over. It is not a good feeling at all!'

"Each of you will compete against each other in pre-established trials that you both agreed to, with Phoenix Wright as the judge and Emma Skye as the witness, and I, Mia Fey as a referee."

Phoenix wondered why Franziska would allow Mia act as the referee. Then again, He was supposed to be the one who would decide the winner, not Mia.

"Also, each one of you selected a person to serve as aide for this competition. Franziska, you chose police officer Maggey Byrde as aide; Maya, you chose Pearl Fey."

'So both Maggey and Pearls are aides? That makes a little more sense.'

"Now, I don't have to remind you that cheating and sabotaging is out of the question, do I?" Mia ask as she looked directly at a glaring von Karma.

"Of course not. A von Karma doesn't need to rely on cheap tricks and cheats to win!" Franziska said calmly but still annoyed by Mia's insinuation.

"Very well. Then let us begin."

[First Round]

"We'll start simple enough, with a cooking contest!" Mia announced in a grandiose manner. Phoenix couldn't help but think that maybe she was secretly enjoying this.

"Cooking Contest…? Phoenix repeated somewhat surprised. "I didn't think it would start with something so mundane." Then again, he didn't know what to expect.

"Well, Mr. Wright."Emma said besides him "As the proverb says: 'the way to a man's heart is through his stomach', and scientifically speaking, a well balanced diet with a smart combination of flavors can affect a person's health and mood. So being a good cook is an important skill for a good and lasting relationship."

"Really?" Phoenix said not really all that surprised. "I guess old proverbs do have a semblance of truth."

"Some of they do, but only those who are scientifically proven with the power of science!"

Then from the side doors, both Maggey and Pearls rolled in with a portable kitchen counter with stove and grill each.

'HOW IN THE HECK DID THEY GET THOSE!' One would've been ridiculously acceptable, but two? No way, Jose.

"Wow, I didn't know this quaint mountain village could have a luxury item like those!" Emma commented. "I guess you can't judge a book by its cover. Oh, that's a good one! I better write that down!" Emma then proceeded to write in a small notepad of hers.

Phoenix just mentally chuckled at Emma and return his attention towards Mia.

"You two have 60 minutes to prepare one or more dishes that our Judge Phoenix will taste and determine who is better in the kitchen!" Mia explained. "You may have your aides by your side."

"Come on Mystic Maya! Let's win this so you can be with your special someone!" Pearl said excitedly. "We're not going to let whip lady take Mr. Nick away!"

"Pearly, I told you that it isn't like that." Maya replied embarrassed. Despite currently being in a competition to win Phoenix's hand in marriage, she really didn't see him THAT way. He was a friend, nothing else. She was only competing because she was forced to and because part of her wanted to show up to that 'whip lady'.

"For one thing I agree with your statement!" Franziska commented, "You are the one that is trying to steal my future husband away from me!"

"Miss von Karma…"Maggey said behind her, "I don't think it is a good idea to antagonize them." Especially when they were the 'visitors' at the other team's home turf.

"Worry not, Officer Magpie I shall win this competition single handedly!" Franziska said not really acknowledging what Maggey said, nor her reaction. "Now bring me my special ingredients!"

"O…Officer Mag…pie…?" the poor officer repeated while a metaphysical small black cloud formed over her head. "Why my reputation always precedes me?" she then did what she was told to do.

"Are both sides ready?" Mia cut in on the chatter. When she saw both Mia and Franziska agree, Mia brought her hand up into the air. "Let's set….ready….Go!" She shouted as she brought her hand down.

Both sides started their preparations and began working. Phoenix could tell that both dishes were going to involve meat, something that he was pleased with.

'On the positive side , I might get a good bite out of this.'

"Both dishes smell really good, Mr. Wright!" Emma pointed out. "I'm sure both would be delicious, scientifically speaking of course!"

'What does science has to do with cooking?' Then again he wasn't much for cooking even after so many Loops.

Phoenix decided not to voice his thoughts and turned his attention to the competition going on.

Maya style of cooking was a little more forceful while pounding meat than the smooth delicate grace Pearls was exhibiting while cutting vegetables next to her. It was a strange contrast but he knew firsthand that their combined efforts would bear a great dish.

On the other side, Franziska's style of cooking looked more elegant and poised, almost like a true professional chef from a high cuisine restaurant in Europe. And while she was doing all the work, Maggey was standing there staring enthralled by the prosecutor's technique and somewhat relieved that she was doing nothing; a good thing too, or she might had screwed up earning her a whipping from that infamous whip.

The next hour was really intense to watch. Almost like watching Iron Chef America live on the studio. Phoenix couldn't help but feel a little excited, and hungry, while watching both teams competed.

Then a small alarm went off, signaling the end.

"Time's out!"Mia called out. "Now each of you, bring your dishes towards our judge!"

Then a table with the cutlery was set up in front of Phoenix, by Maggey and Pearl while both Franziska and Maya brought their dishes inside cover trays to the table.

"Now, which dish are you going to taste first?" Mia asked putting Phoenix on the spot. He could feel the expectant looks from both Franziska and Maya. Whatever tray he chooses first it would be considered a first small victory for either of them.

"Ehm…I…" Phoenix nervously mumbled not really sure which one to choose.

"Come on Mr. Nick! Please choose Mystic Maya's dish first!" Little Pearl pleaded with those big eyes of hers that only a monster could say not to. Not being a heartless monster, Phoenix opened Maya's tray first. Only to find…

"Hamburgers?"

'Why would I expect something different?'

"Not only that! She also prepared Hamburger Soup!" Pearl proclaimed as if it was the greatest thing in the world. And why wouldn't be? It was made by Mystic Maya after all!

"Ha! Is that all?" Franziska mocked, "A fast food dish and a soup variation? It is clear that cooking isn't really a forte of yours!"

"Why you…!" Pearl took offense for Maya. "Mystic Maya is the best there is and her hamburgers will make Mr. Nick fall in love with her!"

"Pearly please! Stop saying things like that!" Maya intervened not wanting little Pearl to lose her temper and attack Franziska with her tiny fists no matter how much the prosecutor deserved it.

Phoenix by his part took a hamburger and gave it a bite.

'Mmm, tasty just like always.'

Phoenix was already accustomed to Maya's homemade hamburgers ever since baseline. They were good, darn good but they were a little overplayed. The soup on the other hand was something different.

'I wonder why Looping Maya never tried it before.'

After a few spoonfuls, Phoenix gave his opinion.

"Very good, Maya. Both the hamburger and the soup were great." Phoenix praised, earning a smile from Maya and a smirk from Pearls.

"Thank you Nick." Maya was proud and happy that this last days of intense training made her improve and Phoenix' praise was the icing of the cake so to speak.

"See! I told you Mr. Nick would love Mystic Maya's food!" Pearl pointed to Franziska, who was trying her hardest not to snap at the little brat.

"Hm! A foolish plate that appeals to the lowest common denominator would always be met with small praise!" Franziska shot back. "So don't get high hopes just yet. Because next it is my plate!"

Opening the tray, Franziska proudly revealed a dish that Phoenix had never seen before. "Königsberger Klopse, a Prussian specialty of meatballs in a white sauce with capers and for dessert, Bayrisch Crème, with raspberry, apricot and kiwi!"

'Woah! Looks very fancy!'

It was only logical that Franziska went for a European recipe and glamorous presentation, but looks aren't everything. It would be taste what would determine the winner.

With a fork, Phoenix brought one of the white sauced meatballs to his mouth and gave it a try. The texture of the meat was superb, and the spices from the white sauce were excellently mixed together, and the taste was foreign but familiar enough to earn a golden star in Phoenix's book.

As for the dessert, it was very light and fluffy. Not very sweet, but it didn't had to since the combination of the different fruit brought the sweetness home.

"This…this is exquisite…!" Phoenix couldn't lie, it was too good to be able to abstain himself from announcing it. "I..I have no words…" he could only smile in delight.

"Of course!" Franziska said with a smile of her own. "A von Karma always achieve perfection at everything they do!" And cooking was no exception.

"So that means that Franziska is the winner of this first round?" Mia asked Phoenix.

"I guess so."

"Mr. Nick! How could you!" Pearl felt betrayed by Phoenix's decision. "Mystic Maya pour her heart on that dish for you!"

"Pearl it is not that big of a deal!" Maya tried to reassure her little cousin. Sure she put a lot of effort into it and was a little disappointed Phoenix chose Franziska's dish but she wouldn't go as far as say that she poured her heart into it and was crying tears about it.

"But Pearls! It is very good! Give it a try!" Phoenix offered only to be turned down.

"Can I give a try, Mr. Wright? It looks very good!" Emma asked curiously wanted to try the dish he had praised.

"I'm a little curious myself!" Maggey also said. After an hour of seeing both Maya and Franziska cook made her a little peckish.

"Of course you can, that is if Franziska doesn't mind." Phoenix said looking at the smirking prosecutor.

"Hn. I don't mind at all. After all, everyone should have the honor of experiencing the perfection that is a von Karma's cooking abilities!" She declared as everyone hurdle around Phoenix to give her dish a try.

"Oh my goodness! It is delicious!" Maggey cried tears of joy. "I never had something so good in my life!"

"So good! I need to take some back to a lab to analyze it!" Emma also gave her highest compliment she could give.

"Now, I'm curious!" Mia said as she also tried some of the meatballs. "Wow! This is…wow…" She was also without words.

"I..it can't be that good!" Pearl said as she took one meatball and put it in her mouth expecting it to taste horrible. Only to find out that the adults were right.

"So? How was it?" A smirking Franziska couldn't help but ask to gauge the little girl's reaction.

"It…it…it isn't THAT good!" Pearls obviously lied trying to hide the fact that she also enjoyed it. "A..adults have the weirdest taste!"

"Maya! Don't you want to try it?" Phoenix offered only to find Maya stuffing her face with her own hamburgers.

"Nah. I'm alright over here!" Maya didn't mind that everyone preferred Franziska's food over hers. More hamburgers for her that way.

[End of the First Round] Winner: Franziska von Karma.

---

[Second Round]

After the food was eaten and the portable kitchen counters were removed from the training hall, Mia announced the second test for the competition.

"Now for this next test, we need the help of a special guest." Mia announced much to Phoenix curiosity.

'I wonder who it could be.'

"I present to you, the head nun of one of the Fey clan branches, Sister Bikini from the Hazakura Temple!" Mia announced as a very plump woman entered the training hall.

"My, my you don't have to present me so formally, Mystic Mia. I'm just part of the branch family after all." Bikini said as her usual cheerful self.

"But you are doing us a great favor coming all the way here to help us with this contest." Mia said to the nun.

"No, no, no, no. It is my job to assist the members of the main family whenever they request it. The honor is all mine."

While sister Bikini and Mia continue exchanging formalities, Phoenix looked around trying to find someone else.

'If Sister Bikini is here, then Iris must have also come with her!' Phoenix discreetly looked around to find a trace of her presence. But she wasn't in here. 'Guess she stayed at the temple back in Eagle Mountain.' Though he would like to see Iris, a part of him was glad she didn't come to see this whole mess.

After Mia and Bikini finished with their conversation, Mia finally let the head nun take the 'stage' to explained what the second test was all about.

"As per ancient tradition, we are going to determine which of these young ladies, is the perfect candidate to become the bride of that handsome young man by using an ancient form of fortune-telling."

"Fortune-telling?" Phoenix wondered out-loud. That was kind of esoteric for his tastes, but this test were prearranged and accepted by both competing parties; which made him wonder why Franziska von Karma would've accept something like this.

"Of course, young man! This is an ancient tradition from Asia that the Fey clan had practiced for ages." Bikini explained. "This not only will tell us which one of this young ladies is the indicated for you but also can predict the luck the future marriage will have!"

"What kind of fortune-telling is this?" Emma asked intrigued. Though she was a firm believer of science, she wondered if this esoteric fortune-telling could be explained or replicated with the power of scientific investigation.

"Well, with Pelvic Fortune-Telling of course!"

"Pelvic Fortune-Telling…?" Phoenix repeated dumbfounded by the name as he face faulted anime style, probably a left over from his loops as Ryuichi or because this was a pseudo-fusion Loop with Ranma.

'Just how in the heck does one tell the future using a pelvis?'

As if Bikini read his thoughts, she happily explained. "What a man should look for in a wife is not appearance but pelvic strength and big hips! These would help facilitate the birthing process and fill any house with strong kids for the future generations!"

Phoenix thought the whole idea was completely ridiculous, but he didn't voice his opinion. He was afraid of offending not only Sister Bikini, but both Mia and Maya too since this was apparently part of their family traditions.

"I'll have you know that I as a von Karma, would easily pass this test since we strive for perfection, and that includes perfect bone structure!" Franziska boosted, prideful of her bloodline.

"Don't count out my sister yet, Franziska!" Mia retorted, "This is an ancient tradition of the Fey family, so Maya has several generations of strong hips on her side!"

"M-Mia! Don't say embarrassing stuff like that!" Maya reprimanded her big sister with a red face. She usually wore baggy robes in order to hide her hips. Unlike Mia who showed them with pride.

"My, my, what an excited pair!" Bikini commented, "Now let us proceed with the pelvic evaluation before the test of strength!" She said as she took a sit next to Phoenix.

"Sister Bikini…?" Phoenix asked worried. "Are you going to do the examinations next to me?"

"No, no, no." The head nun said with a small laugh, "I'm going to help and guide you through the examinations"

"WHAT?!"

"Of course, it is a man's responsibility to feel for himself the kind of hips and pelvis his future wife might have!"

"But…but…!" Phoenix sputtered. Just what kind of tests was this? And why would anyone would accept to do this?

"Now, now, don't worry my dear," Bikini reassured, "I will guide you every step of the way. And since you have no experience with this, we will run a practice round so you can familiarize yourself with the different type of hips and Pelvis there is!"

" round…?"

"Yes, I'm sure these other ladies here wouldn't mind helping us!" Bikini said looking straight to Maggey and Emma.

" ! Us?" Maggey stuttered as she pointed at herself. "But I..I'm not sure about this being…"

"Officer! Remember why you are here in the first place!" Franziska interrupted her. "You are here as an aide to help in this competition. And that includes submitting yourself as a test subject to this fortune-telling!"

"But…" The goddess of bad luck tried to retort but Franziska gave her a look that discouraged any further objections. Also that whip of hers helped the prosecutor made her point even clearer.

"And that goes for you too!" Franziska then pointed with her whip at poor Emma.

"Why me?" The young scientific investigator wannabe asked.

"Because I won't allow Phoenix Wright to make any foolish choice without having any proper preparation or experience!" Franziska explained and then she turned towards Phoenix. "Phoenix Wright! I give you full permission to touch and feel as many women are necessary for you to grasp the concept of a well formed pelvic bone structure!"

"Wha…?" was all that Phoenix could utter after his brain decided to malfunction for the absurdity of this situation.

"As for you!" Franziska then returned her attention to Emma. "Aren't you an aspiring scientific investigator? Shouldn't you jump at an opportunity like this where you can experience firsthand the complex nature of the human body? Isn't your scientific curiosity peaked?"

Franziska's words rang throughout Emma's own psyche. It was true that she wanted to be a scientific investigator; it was true this was a unique opportunity of study of the human body; it was true that her own curiosity was interested to know more!

"Yes! I accept!" Emma shouted, "For scientific discovery!"

The moment she shouted announcing her decision, was the moment Phoenix snap back from his second mind reboot.

"Wait what?" What was going on again?

"Good!" Bikini said as she cheerfully clapped her hands. "Now you two come here and help us."

Then Phoenix came face to face with Maggey's 'posterior'. "I…I…no…what…em…" Phoenix couldn't exactly for coherent words as his face began to turn red.

"Come on don't be shy!" Sister Bikini said as she took his hands and placed them open handed in Maggey's hips. "There! Can you feel that?" Phoenix felt many things, but whatever Bikini was referring to, he had no idea.

"Now that there is the Ilium, the uppermost and largest bone of the pelvis." The nun explained as she moved Phoenix's hands from the hips to the side of the thighs. "And here is the femur! Can you feel the bone and the muscle surrounding it?" She asked again moving Phoenix's hand up and down in a massage like motion.

Of course, all of this rubbing had an effect on the poor officer who just turned redder and redder. She tried to control herself from these sensations and stay composed; something that was proving to be harder than expected.

Phoenix was still on a daze, not being able to form proper thoughts and kept going through the motions sister Bikini guided him to do.

"Now for the lower hip bone!" The nun announced as she moved Phoenix's hands from the hips and thighs to the buttocks. "Now for this one, you have to press and squeeze hard in order to feel the bone under the gluteus!"She suggested which the dazed Phoenix promptly did.

This sudden movement and pressure made Maggey not only flinch slightly but also let out a moan. "Mi..Mister Wr..right! Please be gentler! This is the first time someone had touched me like this!"

Maggey's moan and words finally distracted Phoenix enough to regain some clarity. And to his rising horror, he realized what he had just done.

"Whaa…!" He retired his hands away from Maggey and look down at his hands in a mixture of horror and disgust.

'What have a done?! How could I?! Bad! Bad! Phoenix!'

Phoenix would've continued his own inner berating, if not for sister Bikini who decided to give her evaluation. "Now just as you felt, this young lady's pelvis is strong but it is narrow, which is a sign of bad luck for child birth!"

These words made another black cloud appeared above the poor officer's head. It seemed that her bad luck extended also into her own bone structure.

"Now it's my turn!" Emma announced animatedly. She walked towards the sitting pair and took Maggey's place, with her own backside towards them. "Please evaluate my bone structure!"

"No, wait just a second!" Phoenix finally said. This had gone too far and he wasn't going to allow for more of this. "I have some serious reservations about this!" Not to mention the fact that Emma was still sixteen. "I will have to refu…"

"Please do me too, Mr. Wright!" Emma interrupted, "For scientific discovery!" She shouted as she pushed her bum towards him. Moving out of instinct to avoid a direct hit from Emma's 'attack', Phoenix brought his hands up to defend his face, making his hands land exactly where he refused to placed them in the first place.

With a gasp of horror, Phoenix's soul almost left his body trying to escape this hell that was this situation.

'I'm touching Emma! The Chief Prosecutor's little sister! I'm so screwed!'

While Phoenix was on the edge of having a meltdown, Bikini clapped her hands excitedly. "Good! That is a very good attitude to have!" She then proceeded to take hold of Phoenix's hands once again and repeat the same process as before, making the unfortunate defense attorney rub and squeeze Emma's posterior.

Emma too had a similar reaction as Maggey's. As Phoenix's hands rubbed and squeezed her posterior, she couldn't help but turn red and let out a few moans. "T..this..feels…"

'Horrible! This is beyond horrible!'

This, right here, was Phoenix own definition of hell. Sure there was no fire, demons or eternal damnation but nonetheless he wanted this 'suffering' to end.

"Now as you can see, this young lady's pelvis feels healthy and with a few more years, these hips of hers will acquire a great form for childbearing!" Bikini once again explained. "I'm sure these hips will bring your future husband great happiness and strong kids!"

"Thank you very much for the examination!" The still red faced Emma said. "I will make a detailed report of this for further research!"

'No, please don't!' If word got out that he felt up the Chief of Prosecutors' little sister, his life would be over! He could see his future now. 'Hello. My name is Phoenix Wright and I'm obligated to say that I'm a registered sex offender.'

"Thank you ladies for your cooperation!" Bikini said to the two volunteers as she turned to Phoenix. "Now, we just need a last test subject before we proceed to your two possible wives."

"A..Another one…?" After what he had just done, they expected him to do more!?

"Now we need one more, but this time we need a more developed woman!" Bikini pointed out.

"Developed…?" As in…

"I would volunteer myself, but I have to guide you!" Phoenix sighed in relief. He REALLY wasn't looking forward to do the same to the head nun. "We could ask Miss Morgan! But unfortunately she is busy!" Thank god! He almost choked on his own spit when she suggested that.

"Mystic Mia! Could you be so kind as to help us?" Bikini asked making Phoenix choke this time.

"W-what?!" Phoenix shouted after a coughing fit. "Are you serious?!"

"Of course! Mystic Mia has well-developed hips, she could serve as a perfect example for you! That is if she wants to help us."

'Good! I'm saved! There is no way Mia would ever…'

"I would be glad to help, Sister Bikini!" Mia answered much to Phoenix's complete horror. "As member of the main family I must honor our ancient traditions!" Even if she really didn't want to.

'Whatever deity that is watching over me right now, why have you forsaken me?'

Phoenix inner faith crisis was interrupted again by Bikini but this time placing his hands in Mia's hips.

"Feel these? These are really well formed hips!" Bikini said, "These are wide enough that any baby would come out flying!"

'Please! In your eyes you have already forsaken me! Just strike me down and end it already!'

Thankfully, Mia remained a lot more composed than Maggey or Emma ever could, but still her face was bright red by the end of it all.

"Good! Now that you have practiced! Let us move to the last young ladies remaining!" Bikini proclaimed happily.

Meanwhile Phoenix had already lost any semblance to his former self. The deity in charge had abandoned him. Reason and sense had abandoned him. So why cling to sanity in a world that makes no sense?

"So which one should go first?" Bikini asked and Phoenix looked up to find that both Maya and Franziska were in front of him waiting for him to choose. With his sense of reason already gone into the recesses of his mind Phoenix had to rely on the instincts of his 'paleomammalian brain'.

These instincts made him raised his open palms and placed them in both Maya and Franziska at the same time.

" Ph..phoenix! Don't be so forceful!" Maya pleaded but the now shell of what once was Phoenix Wright didn't relent one bit. Causing the young spirit medium to moan red faced.

"Phoenix Wright! I will never forgive you if you don't give me a throughout examination!" Franziska 'ordered' but the voice she was making made her sound cuter than menacing, which made the animal previously known as Phoenix Wright to continue with what he was doing which no longer could be considered an 'examination'.

This animal continued making both Maya and Franziska more and more and there was nothing that would make him stop. That is until someone intervened.

"Mr. Wright! Pl..please, I think I need another examination!" Emma pleaded as she shoved her pelvis once more for him.

"Me too!" Maggey also said. "I'm not happy with the results I got, I need a second examination!"

"Do not forget about me!" Mia also joined to form a quintet of eager patients waiting for the doctor to use his magic hands.

As the lustful beast that previously was a defense attorney was about to dive in, a small tug on his jacket stopped him on his tracks.

"Mr. Nick…I too want an examination…!" said little Pearly.

But before Phoenix could say anything a hand rested on his shoulder.

"Hello there Phoenix!" The voice of a man said.

"Who…?" Phoenix snapped out of his crazed mental state and came face to face with a man he didn't expect to meet not even after a million years. "C..Chris Hansen?!"

"Why don't you take a seat? Right over there!"

And that's when Phoenix Wright lost consciousness.

"Phoenix wake up!" Mia said as a splash of water hit him in the face.

"Wait what? What happened?" Phoenix tried to remove the moisture on his face as he sat up and look around only to find himself outside near a waterfall.

"You passed out." Mia said as she helped him get back to his feet. "Just after Sister Bikini announced the name of the event."

"Wha…?" Phoenix uttered while his mind was trying to catch up.

"And because we couldn't wake you up, Maya and Franziska decided to continue with the test anyway. Maya won the test of strength after she pushed Franziska out of the platform with a well planted hip strike!" Making Maya the winner of the second test. "Now we are at the waterfall doing the third test.

"So…everything was just a dream?" Or better said, a nightmare.

"Must have been a very vivid one. You were whimpering and moaning and I think I saw you shed tears at one point!" Mia pointed out. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine! I'm just glad the whole thing was a bad dream after all." Phoenix sighed in relief. "So? What are we doing by the waterfall again?" A waterfall that shouldn't be there according to his memories of Kurain back from baseline.

"The third challenge: Misogi!" Mia explained. "By meditating under the strong torrent of falling water, a person demonstrate not only mental strength but also spiritual. This challenge is to test both Maya's and Franziska's mettle. To show dedication, courage and patience at future adversity that married life may bring."

"Wow!" was all that he could say.

"It also helps purify the soul from evil thoughts and desires of the six elements that make up the human being, the five senses and the mind."

When the word desire reached Phoenix's ears, the overly sensual moans of pleasure from his strange nightmare echoed in this mind. Then in an instant, Phoenix dashed and sat under the raging waterfall between Maya and Franziska.

"Phoenix! What are you doing?!" Mia called out, but Phoenix ignored her and tried to concentrate.

'Purify the soul! Cleanse the mind! Purify the soul! Cleanse the mind! Purify the soul! Cleanse the mind!' He chanted over and over again.

[End of the Second Round] Winner: Maya Fey

[Beginning of the Third Round]

---

Phoenix sneezed. He alongside the girls, were back to the training hall after the third challenge was completed. He also was outside his blue suit in favor or a traditional spirit medium's robes.

"You just had to stand under the waterfall with your suit on, didn't you?" Mia chastised as if he was but a child. "God forbid you catch a cold because of that!"

"Phoenix Wright!"Franziska joined in. "I hate to agree with Mia Fey here, but what you did was foolish!"

"I had my reasons, for doing so!" Phoenix answer back but he wasn't going to tell them the embarrassing truth.

"Although I admire your determination, I still think you are a foolish fool!" Franziska said with a smile, surprising Phoenix.

'Did…did she give me compliment there?'

Barely disguised as a backhanded compliment but a compliment nonetheless.

"Now because of you, the third challenge ended up as a tie." Mia reminded. Although she was currently angry at Phoenix, she had to admit she was impressed by Phoenix's endurance. Not many untrained people could last as long as he did.

Not to mention Franziska who also endure the raging waterfall masterfully. What was it that made her so tenacious to never give up? Was it her pride for her bloodline? Or did her claims of perfection have a semblance for truth?

Anyway, this was not the time for deeper thought evaluation; there was a competition to be held. "Since the Third Event was a tie, I suggest we moved to the next challenge!"

[End of the Third Round] Result: TIE

[Fourth Round]

"Now we begin the Fourth Challenge!" Mia announced grandiosely. "Battle of Any Talents Competition!"

"Battle of Any Talents Competition…?" Phoenix repeated out-loud. Battle was because they were battling each other, but he wondered what sorts of 'talents' they were referring to.

"Franziska, you chose to show your ability with your whip; Maya you chose Traditional Tea Ceremony." Mia announced as she looked at both contestants.

Meanwhile, Phoenix was confused about this challenge. Sure, a nice demonstration of talents sounded nice, not to mention safe, but with those two different styles of talents, how was he supposed to choose a winner?

From what he knew about tea ceremony, from all his loops being Ryuichi, the whole thing took hours to accomplish and was a very quiet and tranquil event. While whip skills, although impressive, they didn't sound something that screamed 'wife' material.

'Why didn't they choose a more appropriate talent like singing or dancing?'

Now that he remembered, Maya really had a nice voice when she was an Idol in Japan during one strange loop. Then again that time she had being practicing since she was little. As for Franziska, he had never seen her sing or dance during base line, or during Loops. So he had no idea how something like that would look like.

"Are you two ready?" Mia asked bringing Phoenix attention back from his thoughts. She was standing between both Franziska and Maya were front and center in the Training Hall, while he and the rest were sitting seated at the edge of a wall.

'Wait! Why are they both going at the same time?'

Yes. Franziska was standing lashing her whip into the floor practicing, while Maya was sitting in Seiza position with her chadōgu. Phoenix blinked perplexed until a thought came to him.

'No way. They couldn't mean…'

"Begin!" Mia called out bringing her hand down from the air and quickly jumped away. Franziska was the first one to move as she lashed her whip towards the still sitting Maya.

"Maya!" Phoenix called out worriedly, but before the whip could make contact with the spirit medium, Maya brought up a hishaku, a bamboo water scoop, and blocked the attack.

After seeing that, Phoenix fearful thought was confirmed.

'Battle of Any Talents Competition…that is basically an 'Anything Goes Style Fight!'" That meant that this test was about Franziska and Maya having a battle using a 'Talent' of theirs as a fighting style.

'I got to do something!' But before he could move, Maya retaliated Franziska's attack by throwing a chashaku, a bamboo tea powder scoop, towards the prosecutor who expertly dodged it to the side and the thrown instrument was imbedded into the training hall wall.

"Wow! I never knew Tea Ceremony equipment could be used to fight like that!" Emma shouted excitedly. "I better take notes!" she said as she brought out her notepad and began writing.

"Please be careful Miss von Karma!" Maggey said. "Those things look awfully sharp!" She only hoped that none of them came flying towards her and impaled her.

"Go Mystic Maya! Show that whip lady how strong and great you are!" Pearl cheered excitedly. This was a lot better than that Steel Samurai show Maya and she watched!

"Impressive, I didn't expect you to survive the first attack let alone retaliate. So congratulations are due." Franziska said with a smirk.

"Save them after I show you the true extend of my abilities." Maya shot back as she twirled her hishaku while still in seiza position.

"Very well! Try to keep up and make this entertaining for me!" The prosecutor laughed as she lashed her whip several times faster than before; All of which Maya blocked with her hishaku.

Phoenix was astounded by all of this. 'Since when Maya could do Martial Arts Tea Ceremony?!'

"She's been practicing really hard these past few days!" Mia explained appearing suddenly by his side. "We both knew Franziska would insist in a combat duel, so she spent most of this time practicing MATC with an elder woman from a branch family. It is outstanding how much she progressed in a couple of days."

'Baseline Maya is many things, but graceful and a martial arts prodigy she isn't.' This had to be more variation brought up by the Ranma side of this pseudo fused loop, were people could pick up skills and techniques at the drop of a hat.

"You are good defending yourself from my whip!" Franziska commented, "But how about this!" She then dashed forward and launched a very impressive kick which Maya barely dodged by bending backwards and letting the kick pass over her. But Franziska wasn't done yet. She use the momentum of the kick to reposition herself over the bent Maya and brought her other leg upwards with the intent to deliver a powerful downward ax kick.

Maya not being able to block such attack, tried to roll out of the way but the kick still grazed her.

"Ha! Your style has a very good stable form, but it is weak against over head attacks!" Franziska scoff at Maya as she jumped to deliver another devastating blow. Unfortunately for her, that was what Maya was waiting for.

"How about you sit down!" Maya brought out a chakin cloth that enveloped Franziska's legs and tied them up causing her to fall on the floor. " It is poor manners to stand during the Tea Ceremony, you know." Maya quipped as she sat back up in seiza once more.

"Go Mystic Maya, Go!" Pearl kept on cheering. "You can do it!"

Next to her, Emma was taking notes. "Simply fascinating! I didn't know it was possible for people to move that fast or fight like that when they're sitting down! This needs further research!"

Besides Emma, officer Maggey didn't exactly shred the enthusiasm of the previous two. "Are you alright, Miss von Karma?" She really hoped the downed prosecutor wasn't hurt at all.

"Why you…!" Franziska growled as she tried to tear the bindings on her legs, ut it was proving to be more difficult than it looked. Then she rolled away as Maya attacked not wanting to give her the chance to release herself. Still, she wasn't going to give up now. Losing was out of the question for a von Karma, especially with what was a stake.

While the fight continued, Phoenix sat there watching feeling aghast. The more they exchanged blows, more and more they tried to hurt the other. After a few minutes in, it no longer look like a competition but a death battle.

'This…this is all my fault!'

Maya and Franziska were in pain and hurting each other because of him; because he didn't stood up against Franziska and for going along with this ridiculous competition. But now he was going to put a stop to it.

"ENOUGH!" He shouted and leaved his seat to stand between both Maya and Franziska, who were tired and in pain. "I can't no longer see through this! I'm putting an end to this!"

"But Phoenix!...There are still… more events… to compete on!" Maya said gasping for air. She hasn't thru with teaching that prosecutor a lesson.

"No! No more! I came to a decision!" Phoenix announced.

"So who do you choose?" Mia asked expectantly. She too, didn't want this competition to happen in the first place, but she was forced to play a part of it for her family honor. "Which one? Maya or Franziska?"

"Neither!" He proclaimed shocking everyone. "I choose to undergo the abdomen-cutting ritual."

It was the only option left. He couldn't choose Maya, because not only it would be awkward for the two of them, he would be robbing her freedom to choose to be with whomever she might love. Besides, the village would demand them to produce a child as soon as possible, something he was unable to do.

And he couldn't choose Franziska, because he knew she was more interested in conserving the honor of her family and vow, and he was just an accessory more than anything.

"You can't be serious Nick!" Maya cried hoping that what he said was just some sort of sick joke. "You can't do it!" Everyone else also agreed and pleaded him to reconsider.

"I am serious!" Phoenix said firmly. "This has gone far enough. In order to preserve the honor of both families, I chose death." Not to mention his own personal code of honor as Phoenix and as Ryuichi, refused the idea of running and hiding away for the rest of the loop. No, it was better to end it and restart the Loop.

'Maybe next time things won't be as crazy next time.'

Then Franziska quickly stepped up to him and gave him a big slap in the face. The silence that followed was deep, but it only lasted a few seconds before it was broken by a crying prosecutor.

"You…You…! Why would you choose death?" she cried as tears began forming in her eyes.

Phoenix rubbed his jaw and cheek where Fanziska had slapped him. "If you mean why I chose it over you, it's because to you I'm just a thing to have." He explained almost coldly. "You only care to fulfill your vow and preserve your honor as a von Karma. So when I'm gone, you are free to fine another man who isn't as foolish and worthless as I am." He threw her insults for him back at her.

"Idiot! Why would you say I don't care? It wasn't because of honor that I help you rearranged your apartment so you have a more efficient morning, or that I changed your diet so you'll be healthier or that I try to push you to become the best man you can. I did so because I care!"

'Then you have a strange way of showing it, with all those whippings I…'

Then Phoenix stopped his train of thought. Franziska had yet to hit him with her whip. Sure, she had whipped at him but she he had been hitting his surroundings, never his body.

"It is true that a von Karma always seeks perfection, and that you aren't perfect at all…you are whinny, annoying and, as they say, a weenie."

'Geez…thanks!'

"But under all of that, there lies the man who could surpass a von Karma in a court battle. The man steel in his voice and fire in his eyes, the man I fell in love with!"

'Fell in love…?!' He couldn't believe these exact words came from Franziska von Karma, and much less directed at him.

Phoenix had been told before that when he is in court defending holding his client's fate in his hands, the expression in his face would change and would he looked like a total different man, a more confident and stronger person. That was what Franziska had seen of him and caught her interest.

"But… the vow…?"

"Do you really believe I grown woman like me would leave her future at the hands of chance and a silly promise I made as a child? If it had been any other man who defeated me, I would've never acted upon it, and I'd forget about it."

"But that means…"

"That I chose you Phoenix Wright, for being you, the man you are deep inside. Not for honor, or for blind luck." Then Franziska planted a kiss in Phoenix's lips to show how serious she was. This kiss was much more different than the first one she gave him. With this one, he could feel the emotions behind Franziska's words.

Phoenix was speechless. He couldn't believe that Franziska felt this way for him. These feelings and emotions for him were true. But Phoenix didn't know if he could ever reciprocate them, but he couldn't deny he was fascinated with what Franziska was offering.

Meanwhile, while the whole thing was playing out, the captivated audience had many different reactions.

Maggey was watching the whole scene with teary eyes. As if this was the grand finale for a soup opera that she had been watching since the first episode. "Miss von Karma…I'm glad you found love!" If only the same thing could happen to her!

Emma was watching with great attention taking notes. This not only would help her with her studies about human psychology and emotions, it was giving her tips for future reference when a man finally caught her fancy.

Maya looked at the scene with surprised eyes. She had been wrong about Franziska and what Phoenix meant for her. Franziska really liked him and if Phoenix reciprocated her feelings, then she will be happy for them.

Little Pearl watched with conflicted emotions. On one hand, the scene evoked a feeling of betrayal for Mystic Maya, but on the other she couldn't deny that what she saw in front of her eyes was a scene of pure love and she couldn't keep her eyes away.

Mia look at the scene expectantly. Sure it was a cute seen, but in the end the competition was still on, and Phoenix needed to declare a winner, or choose Death which wasn't very likely.

"Sorry to interrupt you two, but I believe we were in the middle of something…" Mia intervine causing Phoenix to blush when and look away from his mentor after the kiss with Franziska was over. "So Phoenix…Did you finally decided on a winner or you still choose death?"

"I guess…"Phoenix trailed off for just a second. "I guess Franziska won." He finally declared putting an end to the competition.

'I may not see or love Franziska the same way she loves me, but that doesn't mean I can't care for her. At least in this Loop.'

"Franziska von Karma is the winner! And I declared this competition to be OVER!" Mia declared. Before sighing slightly exhausted. It had been a long day for everyone.

"Congratulations! Mr. Wright! Miss von Karma!" Both Maggey and Emma walked to the new 'couple' with smiles on their faces. "It sure was an intense competition!"

"Hey Franziska!" Maya called out to the prosecutor with a very proper voice. "Just treat him well and make Nick happy, ok? Or you'll have to deal with me again!"

"Of course!" Franziska answered and shook the hand of a now smiling Maya.

"Good, that's all I wanted to hear." Maya then turned to little Pearl who was clinging to her. "Pearly, do you have anything to say?"

"I…I…I congratulate you on your victory!" Pearl finally said. "Just take care of your special someone!" Then she looked up to Phoenix, "And that goes for you too, Mr. Nick!"

"Y-yes, sure!" He stuttered a bit. 'Pearls really take displays of love and romance a little too seriously.' Also, he wasn't really exactly sure if the term 'special someone' really applied to him and Franziska.

Suddenly the side door of the training hall opened and a young woman with spirit medium robes entered carrying a large object with her. "Mystic Mia! I brought the ladder just like you asked for!" The spirit medium said.

"Sorry, It seems that we won't need it anymore."Mia apologized. "The competition is over before all the tests were completed. Sorry for wasting your time bringing it all the way here!"

"Worry not, Mystic Mia. I shall return the ladder to its place, now." She said as she picked up said ladder.

Phoenix, who had heard the conversation wanted to object to something thay said, but Franziska beat him to it. "Foolish girl, don't you see that it is not a ladder but a step-ladder? They are different things!"

'Ok, I give her some brownie points for that one!'

[End of the Fourth Round] winner: undecided.

[End of the competition] winner: Franziska von Karma.

---

Epilogue:

April 20th 4:28 pm.

District Court, Defendant Lobby n°3

"Thanks Apollo, you came through just as I thought you would!" Phoenix Wright, ex-defense attorney, said to the young defense attorney as the case came to a close.

"I'm pretty sure I didn't do anything special…It was you who cornered Mr. Gav…I mean the killer." Even after seven years and currently being a pianist and a professional poker player, Mr. Wright still had that edge that made him famous. Heck that black suit of his, made him look very professional.

"I couldn't have done it myself. You sensed it too, today, didn't you? Your… ability." Wright said cryptically, sticking close to the 'script' of these events.

"Ability…?" Apollo repeated confused.

"Yes a sensitivity that I lack. You'll come to understand it soon enough." What kind of a mentor would he be if he gave Apollo all the answers? No, Apollo needed to realize the answers by himself, he just was there to serve as a guide, nothing else. "You'll have to find the answers yourself."

"The answer…right." Apollo said a little disappointed and slightly annoyed that Mr. Wright wasn't giving him any straight answers. "Today it's been a day of many questions without answers…most of them about Mr. Gavin.

"What possible reason could he have to commit murder? Perhaps you'll learn that in the days to come…" All Wright needed to do was plant the seeds and Apollo's curiosity and drive would make them grow and bear fruit the new age of Law for this country.

"Speaking of days to come, I may be out of a job." Apollo said sadly, "I worked for Gavin Law Offices after all." And getting your employer arrested wouldn't make him any favors when looking for a job in a new law office.

"I may be able to help with that!" Phoenix said with a smile and handed a small card to Apollo.

"Fey & Co. Law Offices." Apollo read in the card. "This is…!"

"The Law Offices that I used to work with." Wright explained. "Go there and say that I send you with my recommendation. I'm sure they'll treat you well." Phoenix was really interested to see how Apollo grew under the mentorship of Mia. That would be a sight to see.

"Mr. Wright…" Apollo said moved by the man's generosity.

"Think of it as repayment for what you just did for me!" Wright gave the young boy a smile.

'Wait a second! Does that mean he isn't going to pay me?' Apollo thought concerned. But before Apollo could even attempt to ask Mr. Wright about it, a person launch itself towards Mr. Wright and wrapped its arms around the man.

"Daddy!" Cried none other than the prosecutor he had just battled with in court. Miss Trucy von Karma! The young prodigy that had become a famous prosecutor at the age of thirteen, now at sixteen, she was already a decorated veteran who had never lost a case before.

Apollo never imagined he would ever stand against her in court let alone win. But now, said veteran, known for her ruthless efficiency at prosecuting, was crying tears in the arms of the man she almost got convicted. A man she was calling…

"D-D-DADDY!?" Apollo was shocked to the core. "Is it true? Miss von Karma here is your daughter?!"

"Yes, Apollo it is true." Phoenix confirmed as he rubbed the back of Trucy's back with his had trying to comfort her just like when she was little. "Trucy here is my Daughter, but she bears her mother's last name."

And boy, that was a story to tell.

After he had chosen Franziska as his fiancée things proceeded as normal. Or as normal as dating Franziska von Karma could be. Sure she still acted a little bit like a tsundere, as Ryuichi would say, but she had come to care deeply for her in this past seven years.

As for cases, some were different but yet familiar. But one that remained the same was Zak Gramarye's case.

Phoenix was conflicted about what he should do. If he won the case, Trucy would remain with her real parents he could keep being an attorney but the first steps for changing the Law system for good would disappear; if he lost, he could adopt Trucy and get Apollo to help him with his plan, something he knew it would succeed.

The only problem with the second option was how Franziska would've reacted after hearing the news about his disbarment. Luckily for him, Franziska was overseas when the case came and Phoenix decided to lose.

Either she would be so ashamed of him that she would never speak to him ever again, or she would be so pissed that she would fly all the way back to Los Angeles just so she could whip him probably to near death.

Unfortunately for him, the second option became true and he had almost died. Fortunately, it was after he had already adopted Trucy and her adorable tears were enough to stop Franziska from putting him in a coma.

After he recovered enough, he and Franziska had a LONG talk. And in order for her to go with his plans, he had to reveal to her his status as a looper and his foreknowledge of the events to come. Of course, Franziska being herself, she didn't believe a word that came from his mouth. That is until he showed her his subspace pocket and transformed into Kamen Rider in front of her.

And that only made their talk a LOT longer, with her asking all sorts of questions imaginable.

In the end, Franziska decided to go along with his plans with one condition: Trucy would bare her last name and Franziska would be allowed to train her to be a prosecutor.

Phoenix was initially against it, because it meant that Trucy would have to travel around the world with Franziska while he stayed in Los Angeles carrying out his plans. But Franziska managed to convince him.

"If what you say is true Phoenix, then that means we could never had children of our own. So I want to be this child's mother for this 'Loop' as you called it. I'll never have an opportunity to be a mother like this ever again."

Phoenix ended up agreeing with a few conditions of his own: Trucy would be allow to practice to become a Professional Magician, besides, if Klavier could be both a rock star and a prosecutor, then Trucy could be a stage Magician as well as a prosecutor; the second was that Franziska would regularly come back and let Trucy stay with him and that he was allowed to spoiled her.

Franziska reluctantly agreed, although she also prohibited him from dressing like a Hobo; and so Trucy grew up as their daughter, calling them both Mommy and Daddy despite them never tying the knot.

Under Franziska's guidance Trucy grew to become a prosecutor much like she was, whip included, not to mention that with Franziska's connections she also learned from the best Magicians around the world. But despite being a fierce girl in the courtroom, when she was with her father she was still the same sweet and energetic girl she always has been.

Trucy was still the apple of his eye.

"If she's your daughter, why would she prosecute against you?" Apollo asked almost menacingly. The idea of family member going against another like that rubbed him the wrong way, especially after growing up without a family.

"Apollo! Enough!" Wright put down Apollo accusation, but when he saw the look they boy gave him he couldn't help but sigh. "Apollo, I want you to remember this. It is something I've learned from my years as a defense attorney."

"What is it Mr. Wright?" Apollo asked intrigued.

"Our current Law System is flawed. And one of the main reasons is the disharmony between the Defense and the Prosecution." Phoenix saw Apollo giving him a confused look, so he continued. "The system gives a lot of advantages towards the prosecution while demonizing the defense and this has caused a rift between them. But Defense and Prosecution aren't supposed to be rivals fighting each other, but companions working together to find out the truth."

"But Mr. Wright, I…" Apollo tried to cut in but Phoenix wasn't finished yet.

"The job of the Defense is to always believe its client no matter what, while the Prosecutor's it's to always doubt. And when one of the sides fails to live up to its job, then truth is obscured and justice can't be done. It's because of the way things are, with the odds against the defense all the time, and the prosecution being favored that this disharmony happens and why I say this system is flawed."

"I…I think I see what you mean Mr. Wright." Apollo rubbed the back of his head. What Mr. Wright said rand true; he had seen many cases in which the judge penalized the defense from minuscule mistakes and the prosecutor make it really hard for them to get anywhere with all those objections.

"But today, both you and Trucy played your roles perfectly."Wright said "Today there was Harmony in courtroom and Justice and Truth prevailed. So congratulations to the both of you!"

"Thanks Mr Wright!" Apollo was a little elated that his idol was giving him such praise.

"You aren't angry at me Daddy?" Trucy asked whipping away her tears.

"Of course not, you were perfect up there." Phoenix reassured her. "You did exactly as your mother would've, and I couldn't be prouder of you." After hearing this Trucy instantly cheered up.

"Thank you, Daddy!" Trucy said, "I was afraid you would hate me for taking this case. But I couldn't let anyone else prosecute against you!"

"I could never hate you Trucy. You are my little girl after all!" Phoenix smiled and gave her a big hug.

It was a cute scene, but frankly it was giving Apollo diabetes for all the sugar in the air. Then Trucy turned and called his name. "Apollo!"

"Yes…Miss von Karma?"

"Silly, you don't have to call me so formally! Trucy is just fine!" The young prosecutor said with a small laugh as she walked up towards him. It was really difficult to imagine this girl as the fierce veteran that he had confronted just a while ago.

"Ok, then. Trucy…" Apollo said. "What do you need?"

"I just wanted to congratulate you for your first victory." Trucy smiled and then showed her hand which Apollo quickly took and shake.

"Oh! Thank you Trucy!" Apollo smiled back. "But doesn't mean that your perfect record is ruined now?" For someone how had never lost a case before in her life, she was awfully chipper. Then again the defendant was her dad.

"I always knew that someday I would lose." Trucy said. It was reasonable to think like that. Nobody could stay undefeated, much less in court. "In fact I'm happy that I get to lose to someone like you!"

Phoenix, who was watching from the side, suddenly had a strange alarm rang inside his head. "No way, she can't be…"

"Wait, what do you mean by…?" But before he could even finish his question, Trucy placed her hands around his face and brought his head down towards her and gave him a kiss in the lips.

'What is happening? Why is she kissing me? And right in front of her dad!' Apollo thought alarmed. 'What would Mr. Wright think?'

On the side, Phoenix was gasping for air. 'Don't tell me, that she also…'

When the kiss finally ended, Trucy looked at the dazed Apollo in the eye. "Please take some responsibility!"

"Responsibility? What?" the poor defense attorney was at loss. Just what was this girl refereeing to?

"Yes, because now the two of us are engaged, Polly!" She answered as she planted another kiss but this time in the cheek.

"Engaged?! Polly?!" Apollo repeated dumbfounded. "Mr. Wright what is going on?" He asked hoping to find some sort of answer only to find Mr. Wright trembling and tumbling into the floor.

"Mr. Wright!" Apollo shouting his name was the last thing he heard before Phoenix slowly drifted in the blissful peace that was unconsciousness. He was going to have a LONG talk with Franziska about this, and an even LONGER talk with Trucy and Polly. But all of that could wait after he returned to the land of the living. Now it was peaceful sleepy time.

'Just what else could go wrong next in this screwed up Loop.'

The End