A year or two ago, I watched Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright, and absolutely loved it. This past summer, the original Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy came out as a digital download on 3DS. I decided to get it, and fell in love with the series. I just finished watching Apollo Justice today, and while I admit it wasn't quite as good as Trials and Tribulations, it was probably my second favorite. So, that means that Dual Destinies is next, but I want to play both it and Spirit of Justice, instead of watching walkthroughs like I did for Apollo. In the meantime, I'm going to watch Dai Gyakuten Saiban: Naruhodou Ryuunosuke no Bouken, otherwise known as The Great Ace Attorney. I've only just started it, so I will not contain spoilers or anything about the game. I simply know the characters' names. I am going to make a slight change about Barok van Zieks. I hope you enjoy!

Summary: Franziska von Karma is back in town for a short time, and while going through some things at her house, she discovers some items that should really be in Phoenix's possession. She invites him over to show him. Takes place between Apollo Justice and Dual Destinies.

Franziska sighed as her driver pulled up to the von Karma estate. She paid him the proper amount of money and he helped her bring her things to the front doorstep.

"Will you be needing anything else, Ms. von Karma?"

"No, thank you. I will be fine by myself now. You may go."

"Understood. Take care." He got back in the car and drove off.

Franziska took a few moments to look at her house in its entirety. It had been 5 years or so since she had been here. She'd been out of the country for a long time. She grabbed her things and went inside.

X

"Hey Daddy, can I ask you something?"

"Yes?" Phoenix asked. They were cleaning up the office, since Phoenix had just recently passed the bar exam, and was officially an attorney once again. Thus, he told Trucy and Apollo to help him clean up the place and redecorate a bit.

"What do you know about your family? Like, your family history?" She asked, picking up a box.

"Hm? Why ask something like that?" She looked down a bit.

"Well, the trial a few months ago got me thinking. My family is pretty much gone, so...I'd like to know more about yours!"

"Umm...hm. Well, I know my family came over to America from Japan in the 1940s or so. I didn't really know my grandparents too well, and my mom and dad were usually busy with their jobs."

"What did they do?"

"My dad was a businessman, and my mom was an attorney."

"Oh! Is that why you became a lawyer too?!" she asked excitedly.

"No, actually. Originally, I went to school as an Art Student, but after a certain case my freshman year…" Phoenix thought about that day. He shook his head. "In any case, something happened, and I was accused of a crime I didn't do." he rubbed his head. "The lawyer that represented me, Mia Fey, got me a complete acquittal, and I was inspired by how passionate she was defending me. I then changed my major to Law, and I ended up working at her Law office, this building, after I graduated."

"This place? What happened to her?"

"You can probably guess…"

"O-Oh...That's why you took over?"

"Yes. Actually, Mia's not gone for good. I mean, she is, but I told you about how my friend and former assistant Maya can channel her spirit, right?"

"Yeah." Phoenix's phone went off.

"Huh?" He looked at it. A text from Franziska? "Since when does she text me of all people?" He read what it said:

Phoenix,

I'm back in town for a short while. I'd like you to come by my place later today.

I found a few items of interest that I'd like you to have.

Yours,

Franziska von Karma.

"She called me Phoenix too…" he mumbled. "I wonder why? Normally she calls me by my first name, or just 'fool.' Oh well. I guess I'll go see what she wants." he shrugged.

"Let me come too, Daddy!" Trucy pleaded.

"I think I should go alone this time. I don't want anything to happen to you two…" he thought about Franziska's habit of whipping people she wasn't fond of.

"I'm off. Clean as much as you can, then you can take a break." He grabbed a coat and went out the door and into his car.

X

Phoenix went up the driveway to the von Karma manor and parked. He walked out and knocked on the door. Franziska answered only moments later.

"Ah, thank you for coming on such short notice."

"Sure, no problem."

"Come in." She opened the door and stretched her arm towards the main foyer. Phoenix walked in.

"So, why call me here all of a sudden? Besides, I heard that you've become quite the prosecutor in Germany. Why come back here?"

"I've been in Germany for quite a while now, and I don't have any cases to deal with at present. So I thought I'd come back here and relax for a short time. How are things with you? I heard about the case 7 years ago, and that it was finally resolved a few months back. Feel nice to have your Attorney's Badge back?"

"Yeah...while I may be good at Poker, and bad at Piano, Defense is my true calling."

"I see. So you're still going to use the same office?"

"Yes. My apprentice and daughter are there redecorating as we speak."

"Daughter? Ah, you mean that young magician girl, Trucy, I believe. So, you finally tied the knot with that sweet girl Iris, did you?" she chuckled.

"Wh-What? N-No, I...She's adopted!"

"I know, I'm just teasing. I watched that trial. Your apprentice, Apollo Justice, is quite a prodigy, like you."

"He's good, but he's still a little rough around the edges."

"I see…"

"Franziska." Phoenix said seriously. "While I enjoy the nice little chat we're having, I'd like to know why you brought me here. And why you're being so nice to me. You used to just whip me whenever you saw me, most of the time without a reason."

"Ah, I did, didn't I…?"

"What is this really about? What are these items of interest you mentioned?" She sighed.

"Follow me." She led him up to the attic. "You see, because I haven't been home in so long, I decided to do a bit of 'spring cleaning' myself. And I discovered something that really should belong to you." Phoenix looked confused. They finally reached the attic, and right out front was a large painting of a man who looked just like him. He wore an old-fashioned Japanese student uniform, maybe 100 years old or so, had a sword strapped to his waist, and wore a cloak around his neck and shoulders that covered his upper body.

"Wh...Who is this?" he asked, looking the painting over again.

"According to some documents I found, this is Ryuunosuke Naruhodou, your Great-Great Grandfather. He was born around 1876, and was a University Student in Japan, but studied abroad in England, and became a Defense Attorney, working alongside Sherlock Holmes."

"COME AGAIN?!"

"Here, it's all in here." She handed him some papers that he looked through.

"My Great Grandfather, Ludwig von Karma, was the one who began a career of Prosecution in our family. His mentor was a famous English prosecutor named Barok van Zieks, who was a rival to your ancestor. While studying under him, Lord van Zieks had my Great-Grandfather right down certain traits about other lawyers he found interesting. Your's being one of them."

"So he was assisted by Sherlock Holmes...Wow...But that means that our ancestors knew each other, maybe even personally, right?"

"It is highly likely. An interesting twist of fate, is it not? That our families would remain rivals after all these years? Even your mother faced my father in court once, though she lost the case."

"Mm...And what about you? It's been awhile since we went head to head with each other, but do you still have this rivalry with my family? Or have you gotten over it?"

"You can take that painting with you. I have a few other things to show you. Come." Phoenix carried the portrait downstairs carefully and she helped him put it in his car. They went back inside, and into the library. In the center of the room was a large desk, and on the wall behind it, two large portraits.

"Those are them. Barok van Zieks on the left, and Ludwig von Karma on the right." He looked a lot like Manfred, but maybe more dignified, and not as evil looking. Barok was handsome and distinguished, but he looked a lot like he could be a vampire if such things existed.

"Barok was known as the Courtroom's 'God of Death' because every person he prosecuted, whether they were found guilty or not, ended up dying later some way or another.

"Quite the man to learn Prosecution from, no?" Phoenix sweatdropped. Franziska laughed.

"Yes. I wonder sometimes how things might be different if we had learned from someone else. Look, Phoenix. If you recall our first trial together, you may remember that I stated I held no ill feelings about my father and was not facing against you because of revenge for what happened to him. I told myself that it was because if I could defeat an attorney that Miles Edgeworth could not, I would finally have caught up with him. Alas, that dream did not come true. But now that I look back on it, it might have been because of this rivalry and that I wanted to defeat your family once and for all."

"I see...And do you still feel that way?"

"...No. We may not be on the best of terms at all times, but I think we get along well enough that we can put this silly 100-year old conflict aside and agree to be friends, for the rest of our days. What do you say, Phoenix Wright?"

"I say it sounds like a deal, Franziska von Karma." They shook on it.

"With that, I have one last thing to give you." She walked over to one of the display cases and carefully took out a white katana wrapped in red cloth. She walked over and presented it to him.

"Is this…?"

"Ryuunosuke Naruhodou's sword. Please accept it." Phoenix took the sword from her and they went out and put it next to the painting.

"I do not know why these items were here, but as you know well, my family's choices over the years have been...less than generous. Mine included…" she looked down.

"Hey, it's okay. Because you broke the cycle and decided to give them back to its rightful owner. Thank you, Franziska." She smiled.

"Come by the office sometime, and see everyone. I'm sure they'd love to meet you."

"Thank you, I will. I'll talk to you later, I suppose." She stretched her hand out for a handshake but instead she got a hug, which she was not expecting. It made her blush.

"See you later." He waved, as he got in his car and left.

"...Phoenix Wright...What an interesting man."

X

"Oh, there you are, Daddy!" Trucy ran out and hugged her father.

"How did everything go?" Apollo asked.

"Good. It was nice to see her again after a while. She gave me a few things." Phoenix took out the sword.

"Trucy, can you take this in?"

"A s-sword?!"

"It was my ancestor's, so be careful with it."

"Um...okay." She carried it in.

"Apollo, help me with this painting." He did as he was told, and they hung both items up on the wall behind Phoenix's desk.

"So who's that?" Trucy asked.

"Ryuunosuke Naruhodou. My Great-Great Grandfather. He was a defense attorney in Japan and England who helped Sherlock Holmes."

"Law runs in your blood, then." Apollo smiled.

"I suppose it does."

"Daddy, can we go to England?"

"Already been there, Trucy."

"Can you take me with you?"

"Well, I suppose. It would be nice to see Espella and her friends again."

"Who's Espella?" she asked.

"Ah, that's a long story for another time. But sure, I'll take you."

"Daddy, is Franziska gonna be my new mommy?"

"WH-WHAT?! NO!" Trucy giggled.

End.