A/N: Thank you for the reviews correcting my mistake! Much appreciated, though I will be keeping the age difference for the sake of the very fragile timeline I have established in my head. I'll post them every author's note at the beginning from now on.
Miles, Pheonix, and Larry: 12
Franziska: 8
Jade and Ruby: 10
Kyle: 18
Ruby got up early in the morning, her body clock already completely adjusted to the time zone. She always woke with a start, sitting up in her bed and stretching her arms up with a wide yawn, and today was no exception.
"Jay-Jay!" she shrieked. "Wake up, wake up!"
"WHAT?!" Jade's head shot up from the sheets. "I'm trying to sleep! The sun isn't even up yet!"
But Ruby was persistent. Grinning, she pulled the blankets from her sister (ignoring her screaming protests). "It will be soon! I'm going to explore this place, and you're coming with me!"
"Noo…"
"Yeeesss!"
And so Ruby dragged her tired twin along in the dark, Jade occasionally hitting her toes against the walls. The house didn't remain unlit for long, the sun steadily making its way up the horizon. Ruby quickly threw breakfast together like a whirlwind, toast and half-fried bacon flying through the air and onto plates.
"Oh, give me that," Jade growled when the sunlight finally hit the kitchen, snatching the greased frying pan from Ruby. "You're not poisoning me this early in the morning…" If she noticed Ruby sticking her lip out in a pout as she cooked their meals properly, she gave no sign that she did.
The pout disappeared soon after, though, Ruby's countenance resembling a hungry dog when Jade replated the food. The bacon was perfectly crisp, crunchy, and most importantly—cooked through. The toast had been put back in the toaster to be heated for longer, and there was a nice char around the edges. It wasn't perfect, but it looked delicious.
"Let's dig in."
"Don't have to tell me twice, eheh! Mm! You're such a good cook, sis!"
"Compared to you, maybe."
"Hey!"
Jade dodged the slice of toast that came flying her way. "Don't waste your food like that!"
"Nyaah!" Ruby stuck her tongue out in response.
A footfall subdued her taunting into a quiet giggle, Jade rolling her eyes but smiling when their father appeared in the kitchen, his hair dishevelled from sleep.
"Good morning, girls," he said through a wide yawn, his daughters echoing his greetings. "Is that bacon?"
"Yep." Jade, casually switching to Cantonese, pointed at the pan that was still on the stove (which was turned off, thankfully). "There's still extra for you, Baba."
The reply was in English for Ruby's benefit. "Aww, you're too kind, pro. You didn't have to make bacon just for me." Chuckling, Jet ruffled her hair, making her giggle.
"Hey! Bacon was my idea," Ruby snootily declared, pointing an accusing finger at them. "And you know I don't talk Chinese!"
"Which you would have totally ruined if I didn't take over," retorted Jade. "Case closed!"
"And if you want to know what we're saying," Jet added, raising an eyebrow. "Maybe you should start learning…"
Ruby winced, her father's disappointment palpable. "Oops…" Shouldn't have brought that up. If I didn't look exactly like Jay-Jay, everybody would think that I'm adopted… "Uhh, where's mom?"
"She had to get up earlier to get started on the house," Jade answered swiftly, sensing Ruby's discomfort. It was no secret that Jet badly wanted both of his daughters to speak their native tongue, and was disapproving of Ruby's unilingual status. "Don't you remember? Dummy."
"Oh, yeah! Totally forgot, yep, that's right…"
Jet gave them a half-smile. "Nice use of teamwork, but you two aren't fooling anyone."
Ruby shrugged. "Worth a try."
As Jet boiled water in the kettle for his instant coffee, he asked them, "What are you girls going to do today?"
"Read," Jade said simply.
At the same time, Ruby declared, "Do something really fun outside! I think I saw a stable over there!"
"Over there…?"
"Yeah, sis, over there."
Jet let out a belly-deep laugh. "Well, whatever you two decide to do, I hope you have fun. These summer holidays won't last forever, you know. You'll be moving into middle school this September."
Ruby gave Jade a glance. "I'm more excited about our birthday, to be honest. We'll finally be eleven… and just before school starts, too!"
"We'll still be younger than most of the grade."
"So? That makes us even more awesome!"
"They could pick on us."
"We won't let them! We'll stick together, till the very end. As your big sister—"
"Three minutes, Ruby. Three. Minutes."
"—I promise you that!"
Jade's expression softened. "Yeah. I promise, too." Then she shouted when Ruby snatched the last piece of bacon off her plate.
"Mine!"
"Hey, give that back!"
Jet smiled contentedly into his cup of morning coffee.
Miles suppressed a yawn, walking today in a tired slouch rather than his usual upright posture. Padding by his side was his ever loyal Pomeranian, Missile. Occasionally, he would circle Miles' feet, and the boy would have to watch his step or else risk trampling on the dog.
"Come on, Big Brother!" A crop rider lashed through the air, and Miles grimaced as he instinctively leaned backward. Franziska had never struck him before, but he wouldn't take any chances, dodging her air strikes. The crop rider snapped on the ground, sending a small cloud of dust flying up Missile's nose.
"Do you have to do this every time we come here?" Miles asked between Missile's sneezes. He crouched down to stroke the dog's furry head. Mr. von Karma's lessons don't begin until ten o'clock—I could easily still be in my warm bed right now...
Franziska scoffed. "But of course!" Then she smiled innocently, and a little part of Miles' heart melted. The blue-haired girl pointed her apparatus forward. "To the stables!"
Carrying Missile in his arms, Miles walked a little faster to keep up with his foster sister's pace. For someone with such short legs, Franziska could move awfully quick.
There was a single horse in the stables—a beautiful mare with the creamiest coat that Miles had ever laid eyes on. Franziska clicked her tongue, and the horse stirred from behind the barrier, her ears flicking in recognition.
"My beautiful Ilse," Franziska cooed, reaching up. The horse pressed her snout against her open palm. "It's been too long, Liebling."
"And what do you want me to do?" Miles drawled when Franziska was on top of the horse.
"Open the gate, dummkopf." Franziska, now wearing a riding helmet, smirked. "After that, you can try to keep up, but don't get too close! Or you might find yourself the poor victim of a hoof to the head!"
The gate swung open, and then Franziska and Ilse were off, galloping away. Miles raised an arm to block the cloud of dust that had been sent flying up, Missile yapping in excitement. His gut lurched at the trembling of the earth, which Ilse's giant hooves had produced, but the feel of Missile pressing against his chest soothed his nerves.
In the distance, Miles could see his adorable sibling yelling "Hyaah!" as she tapped Ilse with her riding crop, careful not to whack her too hard, lest the mare become frightened. They didn't seem to be stopping anytime soon, so he settled himself on a haystack, hugging Missile to his chest.
To be able to get on a horse like that... she's braver than people give her credit for. He, for one, would never be able to manage it. The constant vibrations of the earth would never allow him to feel at home on horseback. In a way, he envied Franziska, the eight-year-old little girl riding her beloved horse like there was no tomorrow. Sensing his subtle shift in mood, Missile whined, pressing his furry head against the underside of Miles' chin.
"Good boy..." Miles' eyes became half-lidded in content, and he yawned, starting to miss his bed a little more. It would have been much more preferable than this spiky haystack that reminded him a little too much of someone's hair.
Franziska made a few rounds around the entire estate before she led Ilse to a trot back to where Miles was waiting for her, occupying himself by playing with Missile. Her cheeks were flushed apple red, and when she took off her helmet, her hair was an absolute mess.
"Enjoyed yourself?" Miles inquired, his tone more than a little dry at the fact that Franziska had dragged him all the way out here just to leave him behind.
Franziska beamed. "Immensely, Little Brother."
Despite his misgivings, Miles couldn't help but watch with unguarded interest as the young girl proceeded to take care of her horse, feeding her oats and grooming her coat.
"I'll have to get Miss Ellen to check her hooves," Franziska said when she caught Miles looking.
It made sense, Miles thought. It wouldn't be very safe for an eight-year-old to shoe a horse (if it came to that), however tamed the horse in question was. If she got hurt, von Karma would probably verbally murder the both of them.
"Come on," he beckoned in the end, holding out his hand. She took it. "Let's get back inside before your father realizes we're missing."
"I wish he wouldn't worry so much sometimes," Franziska said honestly. "I've been on horseback since I was five. I'm more than perfectly capable of riding without Miss Ellen or Papa around."
Miles' tone was patient. "He's a prosecutor, Franziska. He's seen the worst sides of people, and the even worse things that they've done. He just wants you to be safe is all."
"I..." Franziska hesitated. "I suppose."
"Don't worry though." Miles winked at her. "I have no intention of blabbing."
"You'd better not, Little Brother." Franziska's look was decidedly smug. "If you talk, the both of us will be in trouble."
Yeah, Miles silently agreed. Especially me. Ultimately, if it ever comes down to it, he'll choose you over me every time. But if our situations were reversed, wouldn't my father do the same thing? Miles slowed down a little, allowing Franziska to pull ahead. Confused at his sudden change of pace, Missile tilted his head up to eye him quizzically, tongue wagging.
And then it was as if Missile's dark eyes told him the answer, for it came to him suddenly at the speed of light.
No, he rectified, his insides feeling colder than before, he would have found a way to save all of us.
"Hurry up, Miles Edgeworth! You're starting to look like a deer in headlights. Show that foolish face in court and you'll only embarrass yourself!"
Miles rolled his eyes as Franziska tapped her foot impatiently, twirling her riding crop in her fingers. "Coming, Franziska."
The head von Karma of the household would be awake at any moment now. They had to be back inside soon.
So when they were nearly to the house, Miles inwardly cursed when somehow Missile wormed his way out of his arms and ran off.
"Missile!"
"Miles Edgeworth, where is that foolish fool mutt of yours going?!"
"I don't know, but after him!"
"I—hey, wait up!"
Jade poked her head out from behind a tree, her lips pursed in a thin line of nervousness. A bead of sweat was dripping down her temple, her freshly-cut nails digging into the tree bark. "Ruby!" she hissed. "Get back here or else!"
"Or else what, Jay-Jay?" Ruby said innocently, pacing back and forth in front of the stables to try and take in every angle of the single majestic horse occupying the space.
"Eek!" Jade took a step from her tree when Ruby got too close for comfort. "Don't touch it!"
"Aww, why? She's friendly, see?"
"She?" The bigger twin shook her head. "Look, just come back here! I don't want you to get hurt, Ruby."
Unfortunately for Jade, Ruby had no intention of abandoning her quest to pet the horse. Slowly, Ruby lifted her palm toward the mare's snout, an almost puppy-like look of adoration on her cherub face.
"Ru-Ruby!" Should I get Baba over here?!
"Relax," Ruby said, and Jade wasn't sure if she was talking to her or the potentially dangerous and violent animal less than three feet away from her sister. "We're okay..." The horse gave a friendly snort, pressing her snout into Ruby's open palm. Jade sagged in relief when nothing happened, using the tree for support.
"Ruby... You really should be more careful..." A friendly bark caught her attention then, and Jade looked down at her feet to see the cutest, most fluffiest Pomeranian pup glancing up at her, tongue hanging out. Oh my gosh! She's adorable! Ahh! A red flush spreading across her cheeks, Jade momentarily forgot about Ruby and squatted down, lifting her hand toward the dog. "Hi there, girl."
An agitated yap.
"Oh. Uh, boy then?"
The dog yipped almost happily. Smiling, Jade patted the dog's head, yelping in surprise when the Pomeranian jumped right into her arms, knocking her over.
Even as she stroked the dog's fur, she wondered, Who does he belong to? One of the other servants? She found it hard to imagine that the von Karma family would keep any kind of pet in their household. The horse was an obvious exception, as she was relatively exotic as well as living outside of the actual manor.
"Hey!" Ruby and Jade simultaneously glanced to where the voices had sounded, both blinking in unison at the sight of the von Karma girl and the Edgeworth boy racing toward them like nothing else mattered.
What happened next was something that a Cantonese saying from Jet would aptly describe. It would sound strange in English, Jade thought, as it literally translated into chicken feathers duck blood, but the chaos implied was definitely there.
"Shoo, brat!" Ruby squealed when von Karma Junior unleashed a riding crop on Ruby's arm, chasing her away from the mare.
"Did you just whip me?! What the heck?!"
"Missile!" Jade stumbled when Edgeworth practically dove at her. Luckily he had the decency to pause before he whacked right into her.
"E-excuse me." The boy cleared his throat, tugging a little at his cravat. "He belongs to me, Miss Leong."
"I..." She took a deep breath, vaguely aware of Ruby and von Karma Junior getting into a screaming match. "I'm sorry? Here." Awkwardly, she handed the dog to him.
"Ah, don't hold him like that. You have to support him like this." Edgeworth demonstrated his hold on the little Pomeranian, who admittedly looked much happier in the arms of his master.
"Oh, sorry." Jade mustered a sheepish grin. "I don't have much experience with animals."
"STOP WHIPPING ME!"
"Get back here, foolish fool!"
Whatever moment of bonding over Missile they'd just had was instantly broken.
Edgeworth looked faint. "Franziska!"
"Ruby!" Jade shouted at the same time, horrified, lifting her hands to her mouth.
With coal practically burning in their eyes, the two girls whipped their heads to them and screamed in unison, "WHAT?!"
Manfred von Karma stared dully at the scene unfolding before him. They were far away, but he could see his daughter and adopted son getting in some sort of kerfuffle with the Leong children from the windows of his study room.
Someone knocked on the door.
"Enter."
Alex Leong opened up. "Breakfast is ready, sir."
von Karma gave her a curt nod.
Happening to go in the same direction, Alex dutifully stayed a respectable distance behind von Karma. She startled when he addressed her without turning around.
"Ms. Leong, are you aware of the whereabouts of your children?"
And Alex could have groaned in frustration. Had they gotten in trouble already? "I'll make sure to speak to them about their behavior," she promised earnestly.
"No need. I am not concerned about their... behavior." Not at this moment at least. "This is something for the children to sort out between themselves."
Alex let out a silent, relieved sigh. Oh, Jade, Ruby... What are you two up to this time? I hope you don't fight with von Karma's kids for long, or consequences for us could be dire. I hope you tone down when Kyle joins us again. Little did she know, von Karma was having similar doubts. He hadn't raised his children to be ruffians.
That morning, servant and master unwittingly shared concerns about their respective spawn.
A/N: Franziska being a fan of horse-riding has always been my head-canon ever since I saw that riding crop of hers in the anime.
