After what had become the most stressful vacation of his life, things were starting to settle down once again at the Wright Anything Agency.
They all felt the loss of one of their own, but even that was beginning to heal, day by day.
Phoenix was in the back room, sitting at his desk and feeling confident about what his protege had made of himself. Everything had gone perfectly.
"Phoenix Wright."
It was amazing how quickly someone could go from serene to terrified.
There was no way Phoenix could mistake the owner of that voice, even after all these years. Fight or flight kicked in, hard, and the answer was obvious.
"Oh, um, excuse me ma'am, but Mr. Wright is-"
Athena was trying to intercept for him, but even though Phoenix appreciated the sentiment, he knew that was hopeless. Still, maybe she could distract her while he got away.
As quietly as he could, Phoenix left his private room and started moving towards the door.
He didn't make it three steps.
"I left my wife under your care."
Franziska von Karma, a bit taller and much more mature than she'd been when they first met almost a decade ago, was blocking his path, though she hadn't touched him, yet.
It was very hard not to start hyperventilating and instead force his brain to say something. "And she's fine!" His voice came out far too squeaky for that to sound assuring.
The international prosecutor took a step closer and kept going, backing Phoenix into a corner as his daughter and employee watched. "She was kidnapped."
"True, but it's not like it was the first time!" Maybe Phoenix really was a fool.
The room was deadly silent. "Phoenix Wright." Franziska didn't sound angry anymore, so Phoenix tentatively let himself hope. At least, until he saw the tears in her eyes. He knew Franziska well enough to see that for what it was. "You told me you would protect her. She was kidnapped and you didn't tell me! Maya Fey went nine years without being arrested for murder, then you come to Khura'in and she is immediately on trial. Again."
The anger was back, and from that point on Phoenix didn't get another word in edgewise.
Having no clue who this woman was, Athena had decided to watch from the sidelines, shouting out things like, "Fight! Fight! Fight!"
Trucy, meanwhile, didn't seem bothered by it at all. What she did do was get up and approach them, asking, "Aunt Franziska, I was going to go get some snacks. Did you want anything?"
Like a switch had been flipped, Franziska turned towards the teenager with only warm affection to show her. "No, but thank you for asking, Trucy." With a wave, Trucy left the office, and Franziska went right back to ranting at all the many failings of the pitiful man before her.
Luckily for Phoenix, Franziska stopped after an hour or so before apologizing to Athena for the spectacle. They were properly introduced, and Phoenix promised to have dinner with Maya and Franziska as soon as possible.
If someone had told Phoenix years ago that marrying Maya would somehow make Franziska even more scary, he wouldn't have believed them.
