Sorry for the wait, I've been putting stuff off and planning for NaNoWriMo this year. :)
And playing Dual Destinies and Professor Layton VS Ace Attorney! They're both amazing games, I love them :DDD
I've got Tomodachi Life, too. Miles and Franziska were married once :3
I did some calculations (and I bet I'm wrong), but the Gavins were about Miles and Franziska's ages back then. Miles is 13 in this, Franzy is 7, Kristoph is 12 and Klavier is about 5. They obviously would have lived in Germany during their childhood, so I've included them in this. :D
The last chapter's coming soon! :)
Franziska von Karma walked slowly along the corridor towards the kitchen, contemplating exactly how she was going to help Miles Edgeworth celebrate his birthday. As she travelled onwards she looked solemnly at the walls, adorned with the most perfect of oil paintings, and discovered that the expressions of the people in the portraits- grave, serious and not cheerful at all- reflected the mood that Miles had been in when Franziska had come to confront him. Franziska's grip on her riding crop tightened as she remembered her talk with her father less than ten minutes ago.
I can't say that I disagree with Papa- I mean, Miles had no reason to talk in such a foolish manner towards someone else- but I must help him. I know how angry Papa can get, and I-
Franziska shook her head; these were foolish thoughts that she was thinking and she would not tolerate them staying in her mind.
It would be foolish and impolite of me to think of Papa that way.
Franziska stayed silent for the rest of her journey, stopping occasionally to think of an idea but deciding that it was useless, and making sure not to drop Miles' calendar she had brought with her for no reason in particular. When the door to the kitchen was in sight, she had a great idea, causing her to gasp loudly and nearly trip over.
"Eureka!" she shouted, realising only too soon that was Miles' catchphrase. Laughing at the irony, Franziska thought for a moment. Eureka. She liked that word.
What was it that Miles told me he and his father used to make together…?
Cakes, that was it! I'll make him a cake.
Franziska considered the types of cake she could make for Miles as one of his presents. She had seen birthday cakes of high quality that she knew would please anybody, but they were too large and too advanced for her to create. Thinking in a completely different direction, she remembered that she had once made biscuits and stollen with her father; the only problem with that idea was that she had only helped out, knew nothing about the recipes, and- quite frankly- biscuits were plain and boring.
She was not one for plain and boring things other than law books, tests, and Miles Edgeworth.
Then she had an idea- she'd make him a muffin. Yes- muffins were light, easy to make, used little ingredients, and, depending on how you made them, didn't necessarily have to be plain and boring. Franziska was confident and happy with this final idea, and was sure Miles would like it.
As Franziska boldly stepped into the kitchen with a smile on her face, she remembered that she had no idea how to make a muffin. Her good mood being completely forgotten about, Franziska stormed in the opposite direction, prepared to give up- when another idea came to her. Turning towards the door she had just passed in front of, she lifted her already-clenched fist and knocked three times.
"Who is it now?" asked a loud, seemingly annoyed voice from inside the room, followed by the light scratching of a recently sharpened pencil on paper. Franziska remembered the pencil she had lended
earlier on and smiled.
It is befitting of a von Karma to always have the most perfect tools with them at the most perfect of times.
"Father?"
"Yes? What do you want?"
"May I go over to the Gavins'? I would like to ask them about something I do not understand and would like to know about."
Silence came from inside the office in front of her and when he spoke, to Franziska's great shock, there was, albeit a slight hint of it, genuine worry in Manfred's voice. "You need to travel by public transport to get there, Franziska. Will you be alright to travel on your own?"
"Father, there is no need to worry," Franziska reassured him, "for I am a von Karma- and a von Karma accepts nothing short of perfection. In the same way, I will travel from here in the most perfect level of safety."
Franziska didn't know if she was hearing things, or if a sigh of relief did just escape Manfred's lips.
"Then you have my permission to go."
As if by default, Franziska curtseyed, even though she could not be seen, and left.
"Thank you, Father."
When Franziska had taken the short bus journey to where the Gavins lived and arrived on the neighbouring street, she couldn't help but notice the houses as she walked along the pavement. Big stone houses with deep blue doors and double-glazed windows, cars that from Miles' information ran much better than your average vehicle and neatly trimmed bushes alongside them- of course, the houses were of course not as big as the von Karma estate, but they were adequate enough for Franziska to take an interest in. It wasn't long before she reachedthe house she wanted, and contentedly walked up the steps towards the door.
As she wasn't tall enough to reach the buzzer, Franziska settled for knocking on the door instead, and after waiting a short while a small, blonde-haired boy with the strangest haircut answered the door. The boy looked a few years younger than her and was evidently quite dazed when he saw her- after all, this happened with a few other boys at her school too. She hit said boys with her crop accordingly.
"H-Hallo, Fraulein! Ich-"
Before the red-faced boy could continue his sentence, another one showed up- this time appearing to be around Miles' age with glasses, the same blonde haircut and a suit. He frowned at the younger boy and shooed him away, turning to Franziska once this was done.
"Sorry about him, Klavier's just a little bit hyper today. I believe we may have met…?"
Franziska curtseyed politely and couldn't help herself from grinning. This was her favourite part of meeting new people, and she would pull out all the stops this time.
"My name is Franziska von Karma, true heir to the von Karma name and child prodigy. I am currently training and studying to become a great prosecutor like my undefeated father, Manfred von Karma. I have a little brother named Miles Edgeworth who lives with me and Father, but he's not related to me. Father took him in four years ago, and today is his birthday."
Kristoph raised an eyebrow. "Oh, is it? I forgot about that. Here, let me go get his present…"
"Excuse me, but I'm not finished yet," Franziska said, tapping him with her crop. "I need you to help me, if that would be alright. You also haven't introduced yourself."
Turning back around, Kristoph glanced quickly at the crop before speaking again. "Terribly sorry. My name is Kristoph Gavin, heir to the Gavin name. At least, more of an heir than my annoying little brother Klavier. I am currently studying to become a defence attorney, which is quite ironic considering your studies. What do you need?"
Franziska pondered on this 'Kristoph Gavin' for a moment while looking at him closely. He seems responsible enough. It seems that Miles has a good taste when it comes to choosing friends.
"I need you to show me how to make a muffin. Or two muffins. I'm not quite sure yet."
Kristoph nodded, smiling. "Come with me."
They made their way into the house, Klavier closely following at their heels.
As Franziska wiped the last of the muffin crumbs from her mouth, she smirked and nodded her head, turning to Kristoph who was sat next to her on the kitchen. There were two muffins left, stood in a plastic bag on the table with letters iced clumsily onto them.
"Hm. They were good, weren't they?"
"Yes," Kristoph replied, standing up from the table, "they were. But surely you should be getting home now? Your father will be worried."
Franziska smiled. "Not at all. He deems me responsible enough to keep safe on my travels, and I will be leaving now anyways. My father will be proud of me, if anything. Goodbye, Kristoph Gavin."
And with that, Franziska stood, picked up her muffins and left the kitchen, only stopping short when a small finger tapped on her shoulder. Turning around, she saw Klavier standing behind her, looking flustered and holding an equally small guitar in his hands.
"Oh, hello, Klavier. I was just about to leave. What is it?"
Klavier didn't speak, but began to play his guitar. Franziska had to admit, he was a good player for such a young child- perhaps he was a child prodigy too. Or maybe he would be when he was a little bit older? Franziska couldn't tell, but waited for the boy to finish before she spoke to him.
"Firstly, I would like to say that you are quite good. You might become famous when you are older, since you can play so well at this age."
Klavier beamed.
"Secondly…"
Klavier winced in pain as the riding crop came down upon his shoulder. Father often said that the shoulder was a very painful area of the body, and therefore she never hit him or Miles there.
"That was for wasting my time. Goodbye, Klavier Gavin."
Franziska turned, opened the door, and left.