So… this one is NOT in my little crazy future!universe *le gasp*. :D
The scene takes place during "Justice For All". It's a scene from Franziska's POV after the first day of Maya Fey's trial ended. And the second part is her POV after she lost the case.
The italicized phrases are quotes from the game. You can also see it as Franziska's memories. ;)
Even though it is a fanfiction about Phoenix and Franziska, I slightly included EdgeworthxFranziska in here. Because I think that Franziska's feelings for Edgeworth (romantic or just brother/sisterr – see it which way you want) had been a VERY significant thing when she met Phoenix for the first time.
She was in her office and looked at the case file once again. Her plan! Her perfect plan! Ruined. By. This. FOOL! How could that happen!? Everything seemed to be settled. Of course, she knew already that Morgan had something to do with it and Maya might be innocent. But it wouldn't be the first time she sent someone into jail who was actually not guilty. Her perfect win record is the only thing that mattered to her.
Those of von Karma blood have only one fate. And that is "perfection".
She wasn't here to take revenge for her father. How foolish of Phoenix Wright to think that – because he will definitely think so! This was all about her brother. It had been the defense attorney's foolishly foolish ideas of "Truth" that poisoned Edgeworth's mind. Not to mention that this fool corrupted every sense of fame her family received through the von Karmas' marvelous win records. How was such a foolish man able to defeat Miles Edgeworth and her father!?
A part deep down inside her was aware of the fact that Phoenix Wright had nothing to do with Edgeworth's decision. Nevertheless, she felt like he was the best one to blame for it. Perhaps she was too pride about her family name to see that only her father could be cursed for the whole chaos. But it was Phoenix Wright's appearance that ripped everything away from her. Even though she had been all alone in her life anyway.
However, her father's detention and her little brother's disappearance – especially this – were something entirely else. When she heard about it in Germany, she first couldn't believe it. Her brother had been the best one for her to relate to. Although, they drifted apart at some point. But there had been the sureness that he would be in America, believing in her family's education – just like she did – because she has never known anything else. She even forgave Miles that her father gave him much more attention than her. Most of the time, she recognized that Miles had been the only one who cared for her a bit. And she felt helpless when this little hold was taken away by this fool.
And some part of her couldn't bear that she alone was not reason enough for Edgeworth to come back.
So her sadness turned into rage. Against her little brother and against this foolish defense attorney. A thin voice inside her head kept reminding her that she was only angry with herself but Franziska was not willing to listen. In her whole life full of loneliness and misunderstanding? She had no intentions to blame herself for all that! For all that she missed and the rising bitterness she felt during those eighteen years she spent on this earth? No, she refused to say that this was her fault in any way.
She made sure that her case would destroy him. What would have been better than bringing his former assistant, his friend, a participant of the DL-6 incident, behind bars? His defeat give her a much greater taste when he failed in defending the precious Maya Fey.
If that's how you want to play it, Mr. Phoenix Wright…
But he wasn't that easy to defeat. How could the trial went like this? Phoenix Wright was a man without strategy, knowledge or even convincement. Still, he brought second thoughts to the case. He had his own way to deal with things. He saw right through the contradictions. Sometimes it had been quite difficult for her to keep calm. Especially near the end. She was about the rip his throat out because she couldn't believe that this fool just destroyed her perfect case.
Very interesting. I would love to see where this "flaw" is! Show me something that contradicts my explanation!
The worst thing was yet to come! Her fails today had been her own fault. She should have investigated the crime scene much more and then told Morgan to do something to hide the bullet hole on the folding screen! The gunpowder burns there saved his client from the near guilty verdict.
A von Karma's case is perfect. Absolutely flawless.
She tried her best to beat him. But he was different from the other defence attorney's she met in her five years as a prosecutor. This look in his eyes when he found the thing that was going to save the defendant. And on top of all, he was such a foolish bullhead! Nevertheless, it helped him to stay away from the "self-defence"-theory.
You are such a smart man, Mr. Phoenix Wright. To think that you've been able to take a completely hopeless case to this point… Now I know why papa had a tough time with you. Hmm, you amuse me…
There had been this moment… She actually was impressed by him. Not only because she underestimated him in the first place. Slowly, she started to recognize that simply his will to save his client might be reason enough to win all those hopeless cases. And it was so unbelievable! He seemed like an amateur! His ideas sounded ridiculous!
Foolish fool spouting foolish foolishness, just as I expected of a foolish fool as you.
But this helped him to get out of her trap with the photo. Luckily the Judge was more confused than clever. Else the old man would have sensed that she actually was supressing evidence. Argh! Phoenix Wright wasn't supposed to see that the bullet hole was missing on the costume-
She automatically stopped her thoughts. No! There isnothing she knew with it! All that mattered was convincing everybody that Maya challenged her sister and failed terribly which lead to the doctor's death. But it seemed like she was surrounded by fools! Seriously: Put Ini Miney's profile picture beside the photo and you saw everything. Morgan just told her that she would help to get Maya Fey into jail. But she did not tell Franziska the whole intrigue. So the prosecutor decided to let Morgan have her way with it. Asking any question would not help her to defeat Phoenix Wright.
I am a prodigy! I have never lost a case! And I don't intend to lose here in this courtroom to a fool like you!
The point she really began to worry was when the defence showed the court the key – the ultimate proof that Franziska von Karma's logic actually had some "flaws". And it nearly killed her to feel losing control. Her anger burned suddenly brighter. Now he also intended to ruin her own win record. She never had a case where a second day was needed. Usually she won after the first cross-examination took place!
And why in the foolish seven hells did no other in the courtroom noticed that Peal Fey challenged a ghost during the trial!? Especially since this case was about a medium!
I will get my guilty verdict.
She had to investigate much more today. There was no way she'd led this foolish excuse of a man win that case! Still, there was a strange kind of fear inside her. The thought of losing terrified her. It could break her! Winning against Phoenix Wright could prove to her that the von Karma's logic is still perfect. Yes, she would be better than her father who always saw himself as the number one. She would be better than Edgeworth who left her. But losing…. It showed that she was not better than them. The only evidence her loss would bring is that she was a little, lost girl with nothing left to hold on to…
Phoenix Wright seemed to be a greater enemy than she expected him to be.
Not guilty! Not guilty! Not guilty!
This two horrid words echoed through her head. Her whole life just turned around. Everything she believed in was shattered. She felt like her soul was a broken mirror which pieces laid on the ground. The shame, the frustration and the anger mocked her about today's trial.
Mr. Phoenix Wright, I look forward to tonight's news with great joy. The image of your defeated face will be transmitted all over the world!
She was so sure that she would win! Fine, she might tried to suppress all she felt with big words. So her image looked more confident. Yet, she trusted faith in winning with all those things Morgan Fey and Ini Miney were about to say! Perhaps she was quite stuck-up as soon as she saw Phoenix Wright's foolishly foolish face on the other side of the room.
The famous one is me. I'm the prodigy who has never lost a case since becoming a prosecutor five years ago. Naturally, the world's eyes are on me, as I conduct my first trial in this country!
This time the uncertainty portrayal of the defence had nothing to do with foolish behaviour anymore. Now, he started to act much more precisely, more cautious. Especially when Ini Miney entered the room as a witness. It was not hard to see that he tried everything to find an evidence to blame her. And it hit the prosecutor: He knew.
Why… Why do I feel like you're about to ruin my beautiful day…?
Franziska never gave that much attention to other defence attorneys. Simply, because their ambition to win their cases faded away very fast and they just wanted to leave the courtroom. But he was different. Actually there had been a point when the Judge wanted to announce the verdict. Everything seemed at a loss. And somehow, he was not willing to give up. He still fought.
I'll let you have your chance, Mr. Phoenix Wright.
To be honest, she could have won the case when she had been quiet at this point. On the other side, her revenge did not feel fulfilled at all since he fought back. His will was not broken yet. This wasn't the way she wanted this to end. She wanted him to suffer when he lost the case.
A von Karma only cares about the perfect win. As long as you have the will to fight, I will knock you down, Mr. Phoenix Wright.
And so the game continued. A sudden rush of anger took over her when she saw him during the break, talking with Maya Fey like he could save her from her misery. It had been not only him who she despised. His assistant belonged there, too. Maya Fey: same age, perhaps an even more tragic family background and yet much weaker. All Franziska could see was her childish behaviour. The voice in her head judged her that she was only frustrated and jealous of god-knows-what Maya Fey had!
She sensed the anger in their voices. Maya Fey's defending tune for "Nick" and Phoenix Wright's rising annoyance to her appearance. Some part of her enjoyed the fact that she got on his nerves after all. She had no intentions for him trying to get along with her. Enemies were enemies and not meant to be friends in any situation! Especially since all she wanted was to destroy his image and to set things they used to be! Everything had been okay – or at least good enough to be pretended to be okay – before Phoenix Wright started as a lawyer!
My goal is to defeat you, and let the world know of your defeat.
She wanted him to feel the same pain he brought to her. In that moment the meaning of "right and wrong" did not mattered to her at all. She just wanted someone – something – to blame. Perhaps she lived in a pretty illusion but she wasn't ready to see. At least not during that time…
Let's bring this match to its conclusion. And then we'll know who the real winner is.
Ironically, she lost.
All her predictions had been true. Morgan was the villainess and Ini Miney – fine, Mimi Miney ached to keep her secret hidden from the world. Somehow, Franziska felt some kind of compassion. She did not observed that until Mimi busted out that she hated it being her sister. That she hated it to be someone she wasn't. Not to be true to herself… Franziska got attached to it for a moment but she pushed that feeling away quickly.
She needed a bit time to realize that she actually lost the case. Perhaps she already muttered angrily. But the reality hit her when Phoenix Wright used her own words against her.
I'm going to enjoy the news tonight, Ms. von Karma. How about you? It's going to be broadcast all over the world, right? Your defeat, that is…
She lost it there. Completely.
It was a wonder that no one stopped her from whipping him senseless! If it had been in her power, she might even killed him in front of the Judge! And it was so foolish! She always had been in control of everything! Now he made her even lose her temper! A dark part of her understood now the rage which brought her father to kill Gregory Edgeworth!
She hated him! His smirk when he said those words! His ability to solve the worst cases! His foolish belief in the truth! His unworried countenance after this chaos! His fault! And he was responsible!
One day she might overlook it all. In the future, perhaps, it all will get better. But for now all she felt was her world falling apart. She tasted defeat. The reality in its cruellest form – and she hated it.