"Nick! Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick!" Maya called in the empty lobby. Strange. She was never the first one there. "Did you fall asleep in your office again? Gosh, Nick… One disastrous case is not gonna be the end of you!"
Maya walked into the private office and looked around, "Niiiiick! Come on, wake up- oh." There was no one there, "Okay, what gives! This is some crummy joke, Nick! You better come out of hiding!" She got no response, and she just let out a sigh, "Geez…"
Her gaze flew over to the empty desk, where she spotted her glowing magatama just sitting there. She moved over and picked it up, looking it over, "Huh… He must have left it here…" Maya looked back at the desk, spotting something golden, "And his attorney's badge?! He never goes anywhere without it!" Upon further inspection, there was something that was initially beneath the magatama: a note that read 'to Maya' on the front. Maya placed the magatama on the desk and picked up the note, opening it and reading it, even if the writing was god awful.
Dear Maya,
I'm sorry I have to tell you like this! Archer called me last night requesting me to meet with him to 'fix the mess I made' today. I left immediately, but I have a court case that I absolutely cannot miss. So… I kinda need Edgeworth to fill in for me. I left everything he needs. Please show him this note so he can help.
The client's name is Daniel Tanner. I'm sorry to burden you all with this, but I'm afraid I have to see this through so Archer doesn't disappear forever. Surely Miles will understand. I'll make it up to everyone later!
- Phoenix
Maya slowly lowered the note back onto the table, fuming silently. "That idiot…" She grumbled, suddenly snapping and gathering everything in her arms and running out of the office, "He's gonna owe me big time for this! Burgers on him for a week! No, a month!"
Balancing everything in her one hand, Maya furiously knocked at the door with her free hand to what she hoped was Miles' home, not even taking a single second break.
The door flew open soon enough and Maya just ended up knocking the air for a few moments as she was not letting up, "What on earth is it?!-" Miles spat, but he recognized Maya soon enough, "...Oh. Maya. Is there something I can help you with?"
"Nick is so stupid!" Maya fumed, stomping her foot.
Miles furrowed his brow and blinked in response, "I'm sure you're correct, Maya, but what has he done this time?"
"He upped and left, that's what!" Maya let out a heavy sigh, calming herself somewhat, "And he's leaving us to clean up after his messes."
"That certainly sounds like him.." Miles pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, "What does he want us to do now?"
Maya shoved the note towards Miles, "You read it for yourself…" She said, huffing.
Miles squinted. He didn't have his glasses at the moment as he was in too much of a rush to answer the door, but he eventually decoded the note and let out a disapproving grunt, "Typical Wright. I'm afraid I can't help you with this, Maya."
"What?!" Maya threw her arms down in surprise, "W-Why?!"
"Because I'm prosecuting Daniel Tanner in his trial tomorrow." Miles closed his eyes and sighed, "I can't switch sides, either. My name's already tied to the prosecution's side. If I inexplicably drop the case then mysteriously appear at the defense's bench, I'd be discovered in a second's notice. I'm truly sorry, Maya. My hands are tied."
Maya groaned, tapping her foot stubbornly, "Oh, man… What are we gonna do…?"
Miles rubbed his chin for a moment, pondering everything over for a minute, "I may have an idea, but it's a long shot. I'd honestly be surprised if it worked."
"What other option do we have…?" Maya asked helplessly, shaking her head.
Miles stepped back and aside, gesturing for Maya to step into his house, "Come inside. I have a phone call to make, and we can discuss things further."
Maya forced a grin for a split-second, "You're a lifesaver, Miles. I don't know what we'd do without you."
"Sometimes I ask myself the same thing." Miles flashed a smile back.
Sometime later, after Maya somehow managed to convince Miles to make her lunch and some tea, someone knocked at Miles door.
Maya, mouth filled with food, peered over towards the door, "Who's that?" She said, voice muffled from the food in her mouth.
"Our saving grace, if we're fortunate enough. Please, do not get your hopes up. I'd hate to disappoint." Miles sighed, standing up and walking towards the door. He opened it wide and immediately stepped out of the way, not even looking at who was at the door. Miles has done this enough times to know the routine by heart by now.
Franziska von Karma easily strolled in through the door, arms crossed and her coiled whip in her hand. There was a prideful grin on her lips.
"Well, well, well…" Franziska hummed, glancing about as she walked inside before her gaze settled on Miles, "Calling for your big sister to save you? I must say, it's strangely uncharacteristic of you, Miles Edgeworth. Have you decided you needed a true prosecutor to take over your case to show you how it's done?" As if it were even possible, Franziska's smirk grew even more.
"Whaaaaaaaat?" Maya tilted her head, her expression a cross between surprise and disappointment, "Franziska's gonna help us out? Does she know how to do that? I don't think she's ever even said the h-word in her life!"
"What scornful words from such a dainty young girl…" Franziska teased, obviously amused and not even fazed by Maya's words.
Maya was in the middle of chowing down on food again, "Hey!" She shouted with her mouth full, "I'm the same age as you!"
Franziska furrowed her eyebrows, "Really? Hmm. Who would have thought…" She shrugged easily and turned back to Miles, "Well, anyways. I'll take your spot as prosecutor if it truly pleases you. I'm sure I would do better than you would, Miles Edgeworth."
Miles shook his head, "You misunderstand. That is not what I was asking."
"I misunderstand?" Franziska tilted her head, "Then do enlighten me as to where I'm wrong."
"I do not need you to take over as prosecutor. I need you to take over as defense." Miles looked sternly over towards Franziska, taking on a completely serious aura.
Despite the serious air about them, Franziska had to stifle a laugh, "Ha, please… Enough games, Miles Edgeworth." She maintained a simple grin for a moment, but it slowly started to fade as she noticed Miles wasn't kidding, "...You...actually mean this…" She trailed off, knitting her eyebrows together.
Maya had finished the rest of the food and walked over to the two of them, and she pressed her index fingers together idly, "...We're kinda in a rough spot. We need your help."
Franziska recovered from her surprise and shook her head, "I'm a prosecutor, not a defense attorney. I know Miles has had a brief stint as defense, but I'm not interested in doing the same."
Miles sighed and shook his head, crossing his arms, "And here I thought you would be jumping at the opportunity…" He muttered.
Franziska stifled another laugh, glancing back over at Miles, "If you truly believed that, Miles Edgeworth, then you are delusional. I would never be a defense attorney."
"You haven't looked at the whole picture, have you?" Miles tilted his head, taking a few steps closer to Franziska slowly, "I'm the acting prosecutor for this case. You have the opportunity to take up the defense for Daniel Tanner. That gives you a one-on-one confrontation with me in the courtroom. You've always expressed your desire to surpass me, and you've always expressed disdain for me leaving you behind. This case gives you the opportunity to catch up and pass me. This is your chance to defeat me, once and for all."
Franziska looked Miles over as he spoke, brows furrowed and her expression clearly conflicted. Suddenly her mindset shifted from how she wouldn't be a defense attorney to how exactly she could pull something like that off, "I'm not agreeing to anything, but how would this even work should I agree?"
"Wright left me his badge and his magatama to use, but since I won't be prosecuting, I'll pass them over to you. Maya can help you investigate." Miles let out a pensive sigh, "I'll pull some strings to get a specific judge, one that doesn't know you so you're not at risk for being exposed. I managed it once before. Surely I could do it again."
Maya clasped her hands together and looked as sympathetic as she could, even if part of her thought Franziska lacked a soul to empathize with her, "Please, Ms. von Karma… We're counting on you and your amazingness to help us out here…!"
That pandering to Franziska's ego helped greatly to sway her decision. Eventually she closed her eyes and exhaled sharply, "...Fine. I'll do it."
Maya let out a happy squeal, and unable to stop herself, she tackled Franziska in a hug in the heat of the moment, "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Franziska grimaced, staying completely still until Maya unhanded her, "Refrain from touching me at all times, Maya Fey. I've done nothing to deserve such an embrace to begin with. I'm solely doing this in the interest of my own revenge. Nothing more, nothing less."
Wincing slightly, Maya just recoiled and wrapped her arms around herself, "Okay, okay… I got it."
Miles nodded once, "Thank you, Franziska."
Franziska closed her eyes and shook her head, "I don't understand why you're so eager to remedy Phoenix Wright's blunders. It was a risky move in attempting to get my assistance for it, too."
"I owe a lot to him. This is me repaying my debt to him." Miles explained simply. Franziska appeared appeased.
"Come on, Franziska!" Maya cut in, regaining her usual bubbly attitude, "We got a case to investigate!"
Miles agreed, "Yes, there's no time to waste." He passed Phoenix's attorney's badge and the magatama to Franziska.
Franziska, understandably, was perplexed as to the importance of the magatama, "It's charming, I will admit. However, I'm afraid I'm wearing the perfect amount of accessories as is. I don't need another adornment."
Maya shook her head, "Pfft! That's not what makes this magatama important! It's a way to tell if someone is withholding the truth. It's filled with a mystic power that unveils the truth to whoever holds it! Things called Psyche-Locks appear around someone if they're hiding something from you. It's really helpful!"
Franziska arched a skeptical brow, "Is that so?"
"I can vouch for its efficacy." Miles added, "I've used it once. It's incredible."
Franziska nodded, more sold on the magatama now, "Alright. Come, Maya Fey. We've stalled long enough. We must visit Daniel Tanner immediately."
Maya balled her hands into fists and nodded enthusiastically, "Yes! Let's go!"
"Wait." Miles interrupted, "Franziska, there's something else you must know."
"Please state it quickly. There is a lot of ground I must cover today." Franziska sighed.
"You've made quite a name for yourself in America, and while that is not a bad thing, it may hurt you in this trial. You cannot draw suspicion as to your true identity unless you wish to perjure yourself. That means no whip. It's quite an identifying mark of Franziska von Karma's presence." Miles said.
A brief wave of anger flashed over Franziska's face, but it quickly vanished once she thought it over more, "...Fine, Miles Edgeworth." She walked over and held out the coiled whip in her hand, "No whip."
Miles took it gingerly and nodded, "Thank you for your understanding. The moment this trial is over, you may have it back and deliver your lashings to your heart's content. I promise you that."
"Hmph." Franziska merely sounded in response, leaving Miles's home with Maya at her side.
The second the door closed behind them and they were walking down the path to the road, Franziska let out an audible sigh and glanced briefly in Maya's direction, "I understand that there's a great deal of trust between you and Phoenix Wright, is there not?"
Maya nodded, "Mhm. Everything would be pretty difficult if we didn't trust each other."
"Then I suppose I must be completely honest with you as well. I have my apprehensions about whether or not this will actually work…" Franziska shook her head, "It seems like a longshot."
"It's not...an ideal situation." Maya admitted, "But it's the only option we have left. It has to work."
"I don't normally ask for this, but in this case I must make an exception. I'll need your help, or else this will fail. My abilities, however impressive and incredible they may be, will not be enough on their own this time around." Franziska said, her voice lower and quieter than usual. Her discomfort at disclosing such a thing was obvious.
Maya knew better than to tease Franziska about something like that, so she just nodded and forced a grin, "Don't worry. I'll teach you everything I know about being a defense attorney! In fact, I bet you'll be better than Nick himself!"
Franziska grinned in amusement at that, perking up a bit and letting out a content hum, "Please.. As if there was any doubt!"
