Chapter Two

Phoenix

After getting Miles' request to give to Gumshoe and giving it to him Ms. von Karma surprisingly asked us to come to Edgeworth's place to talk.

"Wow!" Maya gasps. "Mr. Edgeworth actually lives here?"

"Of course. And I do too when I'm here."

"You have a key to his house?"

"And he has one to mine. Are you jealous, Mr. Phoenix Wright?" She asks a wicked glint in her eyes.

"Umm… no…" I mean it's a nice house.

"Nick! Nick!"

"What, Maya?"

"Mr. Edgeworth has a limited edition Steel Samurai tea set! There were like only three made ever!"

"What?"

"Yeah! It's so cool!"

"If you break it my little brother will cry in a corner for days."

"Maya, please try not to break Edgeworth's things."

"But Nick! He's a fan! I wonder who his favourite characters are!"

"Maybe you two can discuss children's shows when he's acquitted."

"Umm… sorry…" Maya says.

Ms. von Karma doesn't respond. I wonder if she's acting like this because of the news Edgeworth dropped on us.

"Are you really going to help us and go against your father?"

She plays with her whip as she gives Maya a look. "Ms. Maya Fey, ask me again and you will give me the option to second-guess myself."

"Oh… sorry…"

"Is your father really as bad as Edgeworth claims?" I ask. Maybe I shouldn't with a whip in her hands, but…

"We may have been going a bit overboard with our doubling, but my Papa embodies the word perfection. Decisive witness, decisive evidence, what else do you need?"

"But how can you know before you start?"

"He can and he will; defense attorneys fall before him like flies."

"Doesn't he have a weakness? I mean no one can be perfect."

"A von Karma is perfect in all things. In and out of court."

"You've said that."

"And I mean it, Mr. Phoenix Wright."

"So he's never lost ever?"

"Never, but there was one time…"

"One time?"

"It has no connection to this case!"

"Oh come on! You can't just say that and not tell us."

"I'm not under any obligation to disclose any information that does not pertain to this case. It's bad enough that I'm helping you in this case. I'm not looking for friends or allies. I just need you to help Miles."

"So what you're saying is you're using us."

"You're a fool."

"You don't even know me!"

"Nick…"

"You… you ruined him! You are perfect! You aren't supposed to be, he is! This is your fault!"

"Hang on! Nick isn't perfect and it's not his fault Mr. Edgeworth is in trouble. He's helping him!"

"I think she's trying to say I never lost. I didn't because my clients were innocent. I stand to protect those who have no one on their side like Edgeworth did for me!"

"You mean the case of the stolen lunch money."

"What are you talking about?"

"Didn't you know Mr. Edgeworth's father was a defense attorney?"

"Of course I know that. I know of Gregory Edgeworth. He and Papa-"

Why does she keep cutting herself off?

"Well when they were younger Mr. Edgeworth defended Nick when he was accused of stealing his lunch money. He was like a real defense attorney."

Ms. von Karma says nothing the only sound was her whip cracking against the floor. I flinch a bit. I hope she leaves me alone with that thing.

Then she breaks the silence. "What do you know so far?"

She seems to have calmed down. Maybe talking about cases instead of "personal" things makes her less defensive.

"Well we know there was one witness, she got a picture of the crime apparently."

"Did you see it?"

"No, she refused to show us."

"Well then you're screwed unless that picture is utterly useless."

"Withholding evidence is a crime," I say bluntly.

"It is?"

"Yes, if you have evidence you have to show it to the court, how else would you know."

"That's such a cruel thing. It's bad enough he's prosecuting his own student."

Ms. von Karma's eyes flash.

"Maya, lay off," I say softly.

"Ms. Maya Fey, if you don't know anything about law I would advise you to try not to announce it in court tomorrow." She says though I think I may detect a hint of… softness?

"I… I know I don't belong…"

"You do though! You're a great help, Maya, and Edgeworth needs you there."

"You think so?"

"Yeah."

"Thanks Nick!" She exclaims hugging me.

I hug her back. "I'll take whatever he throws at me."

"Good, because there are no second chances, Mr. Phoenix Wright."

Miles

I walk down the hallway with Wright, Ms. Fey and my sister.

I'm surprised she even showed up at all she'll come face to face with her father. Of course she knows that.

I may be the only person who can see the slight slump of her shoulders as if ready for a reprimand from him.

I'm glad I warned her about the fact he was prosecuting, but this is torture for her. I can't imagine how much pain she must be in right now.

"Franziska…"

She turns to look at me. Her knuckles must be white under her gloves since she's holding her whip too tight.

"I'm fine, Miles Edgeworth."

That's a lie, but I won't call her out on it.

"You don't have to be here," Wright tries to help.

"I'm aware of that, Mr. Phoenix Wright, but I'm here and I'm not leaving. A von Karma does not run away."

Wright looks at me as if he's asking if my sister is always this stubborn.

I nod discreetly. Oh yeah! Franziska has always been stubborn.

Though speaking of von Karma…

I look down the hallway seeing him coming down the opposite direction to us.

Franziska moves a bit closer to me as if maybe second-guessing a von Karma not running. Yet, he's seen us so the opportunity for that is gone now unless she wants to be called out for "weakness".

We all stop at the base of the stairs looking at each other. My grey eyes meet his for a bit.

"You've fallen so far," he says breaking the tense silence between the five of us.

"I realize that, Sir."

"I'm very disappointed in you; I trained you better than this."

The verbal reprimand hit harder than a slap.

"You did, Sir. I apologize for disappointing you."

"You have fallen a great deal. It is one thing to lose a case or even two, but to a rookie."

I see Wright flinch out of the corner of my eye. He's getting the von Karma treatment when it's not even directed at him.

"With all due respect, Sir, th-"

"I'm not interested in your excuses, Edgeworth."

"Sorry Sir." I say looking at the ground. I look at Wright trying to silently ask him not to jump to my defense on this. He doesn't need a von Karma's ire before a trial.

Besides… I deserve it anyway…

"And now for you to be accused of murder. I was right, an Edgeworth could never deserved to bare the von Karma name and do it properly."

"I never meant to fail you, Sir."

Right… I'm an Edgeworth and he hates the name. I feel sorry for Wright, von Karma's on the warpath.

He then turns his attention to his true successor.

"Franziska, shouldn't you be in Germany?" I'm surprised he didn't drop into German, maybe it's so everyone can understand.

"I was, Papa, but I didn't have a case so I wanted to see Miles."

"I see, and now you are spending time with a criminal and his defense."

"I…"

"I taught you better. Defense attorneys are merely bugs to be squashed, especially when it involves an Edgeworth."

Years of hearing him slander my father's name means I barely notice the jab.

"I apologize, Papa."

"I hope you're not as much of a disappointment as Edgeworth," he says turning and walking up the stairs to the courtroom.

I look at my companions. Franziska is trying to hide the slight paleness in her face. Wright and Ms. Fey, on the other hand, were not trying to hide the anger in their faces.

"That was your mentor?" Ms. Fey asks.

"The one and only."

"He's such a creep! Oh… no offense, Ms. von Karma."

Franziska merely shrugs already having climbed half way up the stairs. "Let's go."

"I can't believe you put up with that."

I get up the stairs before replying, "save your anger for court, Wright, you'll need it."

Franziska

I know what Papa was trying to tell me was to leave, but I won't.

Miles…

Mr. Phoenix Wright and Ms. Maya Fey seem really upset about what happened. I don't see what the big deal is.

We all walk into the defendant lobby and wait for the doors to open. We look at each other for a while. I move a bit closer to my brother.

He puts a hand on my shoulder and I feel how he's trembling. Of course he is. And he knows he just threw Mr. Phoenix Wright into the storm that is my Papa.

We look over at the defense attorney and his assistant. They seem to be whispering about something and Ms. Maya Fey seems a bit upset.

"What are you two whispering about?" Miles asks.

They look at us. "Umm… nothing."

I open my mouth, but the bailiff comes out. "The trial is about to start soon, please enter the courtroom."

We all gather in the courtroom. I head up to the gallery. It's been a while since I've sat here.

Mr. Phoenix Wright and Ms. Maya Fey take their places at the defendants bench while Papa takes his place at the prosecution bench. It's bad enough sitting in the gallery, but seeing Miles in the defendant's chair…

The judge starts and of course Papa runs the show.

But… this is the first time it doesn't fill me with pride.

Papa first calls the detective in charge.

Scruffy… it's been a while since I'be seen him of all people.

His testimony is so vague and full of holes. Papa clearly organized it. Papa is also coming down on every attempt Mr. Phoenix Wright makes. It's typical and yet it's not.

I grip my whip tight feeling my knuckles go white.

You really are going to tear him down, aren't you, Papa?

I can't deny that Mr. Phoenix Wright, despite his naivety, is faring better than expected against Papa.

Yet, he's fighting an uphill fight and losing his footing fast. Papa is truly being ruthless today, but… why?

The court finally breaks for ten minutes and the four of us head back to the defendant lobby.

"You were not kidding. He's intense."

"Yes, and he's determined to prove my guilt."

"Why is he doing this? This is harsh even for him."

Miles looks at me. "I'll be honest with you, Franziska: it's because you're here."

"Me?"

"It took him by surprise and he wants to keep you on his side. He wants to turn you against me. It's not the first time we've had to have a rivalry."

"So if you're convicted I'll be my fault?"

"Edgeworth won't be convicted."

"No, that's not what I'm saying."

"Then what, Mi-mi?"

"You are between the two of us, 'Ziska. You're a von Karma, but you also have what I've imparted to you. He knows we are close; he knows you love me and he wants to break that because it isn't "perfect" I'm ruining your perfection."

I stare at my brother for a while then storm out of the room. Maybe it'll be better if I'm not there.

Not to mention…

I hold back the tears. A von Karma does not cry and if they do they never show others their tears.

Maya

She sighs. "That's very dangerous. You can get in serious trouble. You need to be careful."

"I know, but I have to help Nick and Mr. Edgeworth and I can't call Sis so…"

"And that's why you want me to teach you law?"

"Yes! I want to be useful!"