It's Jess (hey!) I decided to update this for Pippa. Her job requires her to use her computer and, well, it makes her sour to get on. And since I was updating Hostage, I decided to update this for her. I plan to make her even more sour with a salty flame *smirks*

Chapter Three

Miles

"It seems I've racked up quite the debt," I say staring out the window in the defendant lobby.

"What do you mean, Edgeworth?"

"I mean Ms. Fey. Tell her… tell her to watch what she says in court." I'm grateful, but… she could get in serious trouble.

"... okay…"

"Another thing… go pick her up. I'll post her bail." It's the least I can do.

"You sure?"

"Yes Wright."

"What about your sister?"

"What about her?"

"Will she be okay?"

"I'm not sure…"

"This is really upsetting her."

"Of course. She's at war with herself. She has to fight with what she was taught and what she knows in her heart. She's having it shoved in her face with something so personal."

"I understand that."

We stand in silence for a while. I stare out the window. I know von Karma would rather she have stayed out of this and in some ways I wish so too, but I know she wouldn't. She's here and I can't change that now.

"Edgeworth, can I ask you something?"

"What is it, Wright?"

"Why do you look up to him?"

"Von Karma?"

"Yeah, I mean he's really bad to you and even Ms. von Karma and now he's actively trying to get you convicted."

"After my father died, I was left with no one to turn to. I was lost and alone and he came to me. He took me in. He raised me."

"So because of that he can treat you two like that?"

I shrug. "Wright, I don't question how you grew up. You don't need to examine my personal life."

"Edgeworth, it does matter! He is literally withholding evidence to ensure you're proven guilty!"

I turn to look at my childhood friend. "Wright-"

"Don't start making excuses for him, Edgeworth. Maybe he took you in, but because of that you changed."

"Even before that I wasn't sure I wanted to be a defense attorney, Wright."

"Why? You used to want to be just like your father, Edgeworth."

I turn around again sighing. "DL-6."

"What about it?"

"That defense attorney… he defended that man…"

"What?"

"I didn't want you to see me like this much less be involved in DL-6, but there's no going back, but Wright, my relationship with von Karma is not related and thus is no concern of yours."

Before he is able to respond, I leave guards meeting me to take me back to my cell.

Wright doesn't understand, he doesn't need to. He and Larry couldn't hope to understand.

I sit in the corner of my cell the nightmares making sleep an unattainable luxury.

"H-help! I can't breathe!"
"Quiet! I said quiet! You're not making this any easier!"
"I want to get out! Help! Get us out!"
"Don't shout! You'll just use up more oxygen!"
"I... I can't breathe! You... you're using up my air!"
"Wh-what!?"
"Stop breathing my air! I'll... I'll stop you!"
"Aaaah! Wh-what!? What are you...!?"
"Stop breathing my aaaaair!"
No! Father! He's attacking Father!
Then I see the pistol lying by my feet. I don't know if it was evidence from that day in court, or the bailiff's... In a daze, I pick up the pistol...
Get away...! Get away from my father!

Then there's a bang and a terrible scream.

Maya

Mr. Edgeworth paid my bail?"

"Yeah, and we had a bit of a fight."

"About what?"

"Mr. von Karma."

"That guy is such a creep! He walks all over Mr. Edgeworth and Ms. von Karma and yet they look up to him! Doesn't he see how he's hurting them?!"

"I'm not sure if he cares. Edgeworth seems to think there's no connection."

"It's like he's trying to cover for him," I say eating my burger. "I feel sorry for Ms. von Karma."

"Maybe you should talk to her then."

"Maybe I will! Unless she's gone back to Germany."

"I don't think she would," Nick says eating his burger.

"Why?"

"I think she might see that as running away."

Maybe I should. She might be able to…

"But we at least have another day to search for evidence."

"Yes, but we'll really have to try hard to get anything we can."

"Maybe Ms. von Karma can help us investigate?"

"If you can convince her."

"I'm going to go then!" I say jumping up and eating the rest of my burger before running out.

I head to Mr. Edgeworth's house hoping Ms. von Karma is there. I knock on the door.

After what feels like forever the door opens. I look at the woman on the other end. She looks like she's been crying, but I don't think I should say that.

"Ms. Maya Fey?"

"Hey, umm… can I come in?"

"Very well," she says stepping aside to let me enter. "What brings you here?"

"Well I thought you'd want to know about the trial and I had a favour to ask."

"What is it?" She asks heading to the kitchen and starting to boil some tea.

"I… I want you to teach me law."

"What? Why?"

"Because I don't know anything and Nick and Mr. Edgeworth are busy and you're my age, but already so successful and…"

"You assume I'm not doing anything right now."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean…"

"In this case you assume correctly. There are no cases that currently demand my attention. So I suppose I can instruct you. But I have a question."

"Yes?"

"You said you were the youngest daughter of Misty Fey ergo you have at least one older sister."

"Yes, I had an older sister, Mia Fey."

Mia… it's still hard to believe she's gone.

"I see, my condolences for your loss."

"It's okay. Why do you ask?"

"My brother's first case was against your sister."

"Really? Mia talked about that case. It shook her really bad."

The kettle boils and she busies herself making tea instead of responding.

"So when did you become a prosecutor anyway?"

"When I was thirteen?"

"Thirteen?!"

"Yes, I told you I was a prodigy. I grew up on law books."

"Man, that's no fun. I mean Mia used to read me so many books!"

She shrugs. "I don't see what this has to do with anything."

Seems she and Mr. Edgeworth have the same reaction when they don't want to talk.

"So you want to know about the trial?" I ask taking the mug she hands me.

"Do tell. I guess by your face it didn't end in defeat."

"We have another day," I say as we head to the living room and sit down.

"I should say I'm impressed."

"Yeah, but it wasn't easy, Nick had to fight for it and I…"

"You what?"

"When we were cross-examining the witness Mr. von Karma said if we couldn't find anything he'd get the judge to hold us in contempt of court."

"Are you telling me you were held in contempt of court?"

"Yeah, but Mr. Edgeworth paid my bail."

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!"

"I see, well go investigate more and I'll help you afterward."

"Really? Are you sure?"

"I have nothing better to do currently."

So is she only doing this because she's bored? Guess I can't blame her. "Thanks, I hope I'm a good student."

"I'll try not to demand you be perfect. It's not easy to break the habit."

I can't blame them. Mr. von Karma seems very convinced about being perfect. I can't imagine what kind of childhood she had.

"I'll see you later, thank you. I'm sure it means a lot to Mr. Edgeworth too."

"I'm sure it does. I… thank you."

"You're welcome."

After finishing my tea I leave to go find Nick again. We need to save Mt. Edgeworth!

Franziska

After Ms. Maya Fey leaves I clean up the mugs and head to my room. Am I really doing the right thing?

I pick one of my old law books dusting the cover and opening it. Two pictures fall out when I do and I kneel down to pick them up. One is of Miles and me when we were younger. Taken very shortly after Miles moved in with Missile. Miles is trying to smile, but it's clear he's still hurting. Missile sitting on his lap and me next to him. The second is of us when we became prosecutors. Of course, we're much older and Missile isn't in the picture.

Miles…

I didn't think this would be this hard to do.

I open some doors at the bottom of the bookshelf revealing a secret stash of children's books and novels that Miles secretly bought me.

I look between the simple and elegant law books and the loud colourful novels.

Papa taught me perfection.

Miles taught me fun.

Miles was not wrong. Papa did often try to pit us against each other. Whether it was our tutors making a deal of who was "better" and as such "winning" or if it was mock trials that usually had Miles playing the defense and weighing it in the prosecution's favour.

Papa was strict about perfection. Maybe it's why I still feel the need to hide the colourful books that refuse to be perfect!

But in a way that refusal is exactly my life.

A part of me that won't stay perfect.

And what if that part of me is called Miles Edgeworth?

What if that part of me are the seeds of another answer?

Of long nights sitting up talking quietly to not being heard?

Of nights cuddling and waking up early to get back before wake up?

Of secret notes passed during lessons?

Of impromptu trips for secret gifts?

Of days off watching shows and playing around with said gifts?

Of reading together until we slept?

Of sitting there while we cried our pains and admitted our fears?

What if all that perfect chaotic imperfection was exactly that.

Like the eye of a storm. Where within the chaos, stillness reigns.

What if that was Miles Edgeworth?

And the only one who could save that was a fledgeling defense lawyer whose foolishness is so strong that he must be the storm itself.

And his reckless assistant who would throw herself in harm's way just to be called "useful" equally foolish!

Miles Edgeworth

Phoenix Wright

Maya Fey

Papa

It's a paradox.

If A happens then B will be bad, but if B happens then A will be.

By the end of this trial one will fall.

And I could manipulate it, or let it be.

But a von Karma doesn't run away.

I'm here… I must face this fight!

I sit down opening a notebook and writing notes about what I've been told. Making a detailed report.

I'm so busy identifying possible connections when I hear the door.

I sigh getting up and letting Ms. Maya Fey back in.

"You won't believe what we've found out?!"

"Won't I?" I ask as she bounces in.

"Nope! But I'll tell you anyways! Okay, so we went to the boat shack and there was this old man, and his parrot knows DL-6."

"Did you say a parrot knows DL-6?"

"Yeah, it was weird! Like it just said it!"

"DL-6 is a sorting code. Members of the general public don't know it which means that man must have a link to DL-6."

"Yeah, and we looked at the case files and it's so weird because that gun was shot twice, but there was only one bullet found."

"Do you believe in coincidences, Ms. Maya Fey?"

"Huh? I'm not sure. I've never really thought about it."

"My brother doesn't, and I'm inclined to believe him."

"What do you mean?"

"Two murders, two defense attorneys killed by one bullet with a gun that fired twice, both by a shooter that "doesn't exist"."

"I…"

"I'll come to court tomorrow and if things go the way I suspect I will help you with the search."

Preview

Franziska

"I… I don't even know why I… I just… I just acted… I didn't think about it I just…"

"You used your whip on your father in order to protect Wright and Ms. Fey, didn't you?"