A/N: Poor Miles, he's just a little chew toy at this point, isn't he? Jerkass move with the mail, Von Karma. This is why you have no fangirls. Well, that and the fact that you're like sixty, abrasive, have a daughter about the age of most fangirls, and are also That One Boss. But mostly because you make the life of the games' most fangirled character HELL.

So a couple of people have asked/wondered/commented on whether or not this story would continue through Edgeworth's adult life or not. The answer is yes, I plan to run this fic all the way through to the end of the pre-AJ games barring GK2 because I'm still holding out for that fan translation and don't want spoilers. I don't plan to cover any of the Dual Destinies material, because this is a story about Edgeworth's growth from happy precocious child to standoffish screwed-up workaholic to quirkily awkward Holmesian badass and that journey is more or less complete by the START of AAI, let alone the end.

So, considering just how long this looks like it could get, I would actually welcome suggestions on 'lessons' to cover—I plan on sticking with that theme throughout, because it fits Edgeworth's academic approach to the world quite nicely. If any of you have ideas on the 'lessons' he should have during 'Act One'—everything in Edgeworth's life prior to his first case—please let me know via PM! Or in the comments, if you don't have an account. Basically, I'm looking for realisations he comes to as he grows up Von Karma-style, the sorts of things that will slowly mould him into his future self. Not to say I don't know where to go from here—I do—but inspiration is ALWAYS appreciated. ALWAYS.

Here's hoping this will tide you all over until midnight tonight—because I cannot be the only one who's going to stay up and stare at the 'Store until AA5 is available. I know I'm not.

Chapter Seven

Fallen: Lesson Seven

März 2003

"This is…"

"Yes."

"…Wow."

Miles grinned as Franziska's eyes went wide, fixed on the screen. It was Sunday afternoon; their one free day from studies. He was glad Fraulein Kirsch had let him borrow her laptop for this.

"So. How does it feel to know more than Sherlock Holmes?"

Franziska smiled quietly and clicked the mouse, rotating the virtual model of the Solar system.

"That's us, right?" She pointed to the second planet. Miles shook his head and took the mouse, shifting the cursor over to the third planet.

"That's Venus. Its atmosphere is comprised mainly of sulphuric acid; it'd be deadly to breathe. This is Earth."

Franziska nodded, clicking on Earth. The famous Blue Marble picture filled the screen, and her mouth formed an O.

"It's so pretty," she murmured. "And…huge."

"See? Over there, that's Europe." Miles leaned around his sister and tapped a couple of keys, pulling up a map of Europe."

Franziska nodded, a little more at home with geography than astronomy.

"England, France, Spain, Germany. About…here." She tapped the screen, indicating the approximate location of the Von Karma manor. "Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Sicily—"

Miles cleared his throat softly. "Anyway."

Franziska frowned at him. "But Miles, my knowledge of European geography is perfect! I am a Von Karma, you know!"

"Then we shouldn't leave your knowledge of the Solar system imperfect, should we?" Miles countered. He was eleven now, and this emboldened him, making him feel secure in his authority as the older brother—no matter what Franziska called him.

Franziska pouted. "…I suppose not."

"Right, so in order: Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto," Miles rattled off swiftly.

Now Franziska was glaring.

"…Would you prefer a mnemonic?" Miles asked humbly.

So the Kirsch woman was an accessory. That explained rather a lot, Von Karma reflected. He hadn't intended to listen in on his daughter and his ward. They'd forgotten to close the door to their classroom fully.

(Von Karmas do not eavesdrop. Unfortunately, that means that very few of them expect eavesdroppers.)

His brow furrowed as he heard Edgeworth walking Franziska through a basic lesson in astronomy. Astronomy hadn't been included in her official curriculum, of course, but if they wished to study on their free day, who was he to argue? For now, Von Karma decided, he'd let it slide.

So far, he reflected, leaving the children to their discussion, Edgeworth had proven unexpectedly useful, and he'd been forced to scrap the idea of separating them just yet. Franziska's ability with English had progressed by leaps and bounds since they'd begun lessons together. And now he knew where she'd been picking up extraneous scientific and literary knowledge too. The competitive nature of their other work had also driven his daughter to strive for success, for superiority. Perhaps Liesl had been weak, but Franziska—Franziska was rapidly becoming perfect.

If only Liesl hadn't been exposed to Camilla's influence—

No, Von Karma reflected with a pang. Camilla hadn't done anything wrong. Camilla…she had been perfect without ever even trying, or knowing.

Very well. If the whelp wished to be of use, Von Karma would permit it. Of course, now he had one more item he'd need to monitor in the children's progress. It wouldn't do to have Franziska spouting off the elder Edgeworth's philosophies, after all.

"So…in the States…" Franziska's brow furrowed. "The judge is on the left and the witness is on the right?"

"From the prosecution's bench, yes," Miles confirmed. Their lessons might be competitive, but no one had forbidden them to study together. "Otherwise, it's much the same as in Germany, except in America, we still use jury trials."

"Inefficient," Franziska noted dismissively.

"Very," Miles agreed. "A defense attorney can easily sway the jury to his or her way of thinking. A judge is more focused on delivering justice, and more qualified to do so."

Franziska smiled. "Miles, you're beginning to sound like Papa. Your studies have gone by very quickly."

Miles nodded, seeming suddenly abstracted.

(I…do sound a lot like Mr von Karma…)

(…Father…)

"Miles?" Franziska was looking at him expectantly.

"Hm?"

The girl sighed and repeated herself. "The judge asks the defense and prosecution if they are ready to proceed. Generally, the defense replies first, though it's not set in stone. Then?"

"Oh! Right. Ah, the judge asks the prosecution to deliver their opening statement before presenting their case-in-chief. The defense then has the option of giving an opening statement of their own, although they are also permitted to wait until the prosecution has presented its case."

"Usually, they do," Franziska nodded, "in America, at least. After a few cross-examinations, they try to use any contradictions they find as a basis for their defense."

"So we have to make sure there won't be any contradictions," Miles shrugged. "After the prosecution gives an opening statement, they get to call their first witness to the stand, usually the detective in charge of the case…"

But his mind wasn't really on what he was saying anymore. What Franziska had said—she'd meant it kindly, but it had struck him. His father had always gotten that thin-lipped, narrow-eyed look when speaking of Von Karma, a sort of combination of disappointment, anger, disgust, and well-founded caution. Father surely wouldn't be able to understand why Miles would emulate the man, intentionally or not.

And yet…

And yet Von Karma had taken him in when no one else wanted him. Miles's mother, Amelia, was dead and buried; if he had any relatives, he didn't know about them. The Wrights hadn't come forward. Phoenix and Larry hadn't even come to visit him in the hospital—and why should they, he didn't need them—but the point was that after that day in December, the world had become a very cold place for Miles Edgeworth and Von Karma was the only one willing to offer shelter to him.

And now…now Miles would take up the pursuit of justice in his father's stead. Gregory Edgeworth had gone about it all wrong; defending the guilty against prosecution, trying to set criminals free—bah, how had Miles ever seen the use in that? Father had spent his whole life sheltering criminals, and look where it had gotten him. Murdered with another case's murder weapon. By one of those criminals. By—

No. Best not to think of whose hand had been on the gun that day. Or why Gregory had even had it in the first place.

Miles would always hold his father's memory dear to him, and the man would always be sacred to his heart. Lucifer had been held close in the hearts of angels long after he fell; surely in Heaven, the divine place of purest love, the Morningstar had those he cared for and who cared for him? But each and every one of those, in their turn, nodded sadly after the spectre of the One who fell in flame and turned again to be with their Creator, who had pulled them from the aether and crafted them anew. Now Miles, too, had to turn away as the brightest fell, to the one who had saved him and shown him a new way. Miles would avenge his father—but not through petty revenge: through justice.

It was never too late to start again, after all. In the meantime, if he was going to be practicing in America, it looked like he'd need to re-learn his courtroom gestures with the right hand, this time…

Lesson One: Kindness inspires loyalty.

Lesson Two: A Von Karma is perfection.

Lesson Three: Don't cross Von Karma.

Lesson Four: You can't trust others.

Lesson Five: Avoid defeat at any cost.

Lesson Six: What's gone is gone for good.

Lesson Seven: It's never too late to start again.

A/N: Jesus, Miles, getting a little flowery there, huh? Honestly.