Character: Franziska von Karma

Summary: The last person she expected to give advice to — especially of the romantic variety — was Maya Fey. (In which Franziska sees her promise to the end, a courtesy of sorts.)

Note: FOOOOOOOURTH PIEEEECEEEE OOOFFFFF EVIIIIDENCE. I had to replay a bit of 3-5 for this (so sorry if my 2-4 facts are off-base) and sigh wow I do remember why it was my favorite case in the entire series — though SOJ proved to be a good contender. I do want to write more non-trilogy characters (like uuuugh Trucy and Apollo and Athena) but this one has been sitting in my old phone drafts forever and like Franziska, I needed to see this through to the end. Also, go me for managing to get this up by the 5th!

"This last piece of evidence that never made it to you... I'll take good care of this fourth piece, so I can give it to you when at last we meet again."

It was a promise Franziska had made to herself when she left the States after the events of Matt Engarde's trial. While the card had initially acted as a guide for her to pave her own prosecutor's path, it has long since been casted away as memorabilia of the case that started it all. A reminder of the defense attorney and the assistant that had proved to her, time and time again, that true justice isn't something to be 'won'.

She is still far from her own version of perfection — from being something other than Manfred von Karma's daughter — but it's still something Franziska is fighting for. And for right now, it's enough.

And, just like fate, she finds herself back in America yet again.

Miles requested her help with a special trial as the prosecution, which she accepted gladly. Not only did it give her a chance to challenge Miles Edgeworth face on in court, it just so happened that the case in question involved a certain Phoenix Wright. Seeing as trouble always seemed to follow him around, Franziska should've expected it, honestly.

Given Phoenix's condition, she'd made plans to visit him in the hospital after her investigation to return the card, and then finally move on with her life.

So, to say that she was surprised to see him currently coughing and sweating bullets in front of Hazakura Temple when he was supposed to be bedridden is an understatement. He had foolishly decided of his own volition to continue investigating into the murder with a 102.2-degree fever.

Like Larry Butz so kindly put it, Phoenix Wright looks like he is on the brink of death. (Foolish fool and foolish fooler must've switched places while she was gone.)

It's been a year since they've last met, and Franziska feels like she must explain herself.

"I came here for one thing, and one thing only." (To say thank you.) "To pulverize you." She finishes instead, a smirk playing at her lips. She doesn't mean it, not really, but it's the only thing that felt right.

The way that Phoenix brushes off her comment makes her wonder if he knows she didn't mean it, too.

When he speaks to her about what happened while he was out, she tries to remember what Miles had briefed her on before she came to investigate the crime scene. There was something about the case's connection to his debut as a prosecutor, how Maya Fey was trapped at the Inner Temple… and that Phoenix Wright had thrown himself into Eagle River while the bridge was on fire, so he had to play defense attorney for the day. It was one of the more intriguing things that caught her eye when she first read through the case files on the plane.

Franziska questions his sanity, once.

"Attempting to cross a burning bridge? Did you even consider the dangers?"

And he answers steadily — so serious to the point that she almost wonders if his fever had gone away. "No," he shakes his head, expression hard to read, "The only thought on my mind was, 'I have to get across'."

She doesn't question it again. (Phoenix Wright was always known to do foolish things for Maya Fey.)

.

.

.

The longer that Franziska investigates by his side (out of the kindness of her own heart, mind you), the more that she gets the sense that less of his worries had to do with finding his client innocent, and more about Maya Fey's whereabouts. It takes her back — to a case of desperation, the hostage situation, how far Phoenix would go to ensure his assistant's safety — but Franziska von Karma lives in the moment and not in the past.

Once Scruffy informs the two that the suspension bridge is up – they'd been his first priority, since apparently this had been something Phoenix requested of him earlier – they cross and make it to the Inner Temple with Phoenix hot on her trail.

There, they meet Prosecutor Godot, and while Franziska is less than impressed with him and his distasteful nicknames, he says something of interest. Maya Fey is missing, and Phoenix Wright is in a panic.

The masked prosecutor nods over to the gated door behind him, a large lock keeping its contents chained in. The Sacred Cavern.

"This is the only place that the search party has yet to explore." Prosecutor Godot tells them. He adds, a grim look on his face that she's surprised he can even manage, "Even if she was in there… the chances of her being found alive are slim at best."

With the way that Phoenix is staring at the lock, a part of Franziska believes that had he the choice, he would break right through those chains if it meant saving Maya.

They return to the other side soon after a quick investigation of the garden area, learning that the police are mobilized on an emergency rescue, now, courtesy of that foolish prosecutor. Miles bans every location past Dusky Bridge to the public — which includes Phoenix Wright.

Phoenix's pathetic pleas of "but it's Maya!" fall short to official protocol, and he is left to watch as Miles, Detective Gumshoe, and Iris Fey run toward the Inner Temple. He somehow looks worse off than he did walking across that bridge, and Franziska thinks that it's a sorry sight indeed.

She cracks her whip, and though he doesn't yelp as usual, he's more alert. It's an attempt to get his mind off things — off of Maya Fey's condition. Miles was right when he had told her that Phoenix Wright was pathetic without her. "This is no time to be standing around, Phoenix Wright! Aren't there other things that demand your attention?" (There are other ways to help Maya Fey rather than throwing yourself into the river, you know.)

Phoenix looks as though he could object to that, but it gets caught in his throat. Then, he looks ashamed, of himself, of the situation at hand. "...Thanks. For reminding me."

As she leads the way back to the main hall, she thumbs the edge of the plastic card in her pocket. Not now, not when he is this worried; not when he could jump across the suspension bridge at any second if she so much takes an eye off of him. The next time an opportunity allows itself, she will surely present it to its rightful owner.

For now, there was an investigation to resume — so that they may finally discover the truth.

.

.

.

The wind bites at her neck, her platinum locks curling and whipping against her cheeks. Franziska stands outside Très Bien, her back facing the two double doors into the faux French restaurant. She continues to flip a thin piece of plastic between her fingers restlessly, lost in her own thought.

(Should it be Phoenix Wright… or should it be…)

"Um… Franziska?"

It was her.

"Maya Fey." She responds without moving a centimeter, ever so coolly.

It's strange how it's Maya that comes to get her — there'd been other people in the restaurant that were closer to her by a landslide — but judging by the events of today's trial, perhaps she needed a little space to herself, too.

"Yeah, heh. It's me." It's almost painfully awkward how forced the giggle is, which Franziska attributes to the fact they'd never had a conversation alone before. Maya leans against the side of the open door, almost like she was debating whether to leave her post or not. "We were all just wondering what you were doing outside, since the celebration is sort of… y'know… inside?"

"The food is terrible." She scoffs, crossing her arms and peering at Maya over her shoulder.

Maya grins, but Franziska can see the weariness behind it. "Of course it is, but Detective Gumshoe is paying, so we might as well take advantage of that while we can, right?"

Franziska doesn't respond, still thinking.

"Ohhh-kay, then…" Maya drags the first syllable hesitantly, biting on her lower lip. "Well, you know where to find us, then…"

Franziska stares back down at the card in her hand. She's kept good care of it the past year — in perfect condition, to be quite honest — making careful not to smudge the drawing.

With her flight back to Europe set tomorrow morning, she supposes that it's time.

"Hold it!"

"Y-Yes?" Maya squeaks.

Franziska clears her throat, now turning fully towards Maya. "There is something I've been meaning to talk to you about."

"Me?" She echoes, pointing to herself, as if the very fact that Franziska wished to speak with her was shocking. Then, Maya clasps her hands together, her surprised expression quickly fading as she wanders to where Franziska is standing. "Oh, well, what is it?"

"You remember that trial, I assume? Matt Engarde's." She can hear Maya suck in a large breath – it was a heavy topic, after all. "Around a year ago, a foolish fool of yours decided to defend a guilty man, and you were held hostage under that same man's orders.

"I've been holding onto this since then." Franziska hands her the calling card placed delicately between her index and middle fingers. "I want to return this to you."

Maya leans in for a closer look, knitting her brows together. And then, when she realizes what she is looking at, she jumps back in shock before snatching the card out of Franziska's hand. "W-where did you get that?" Maya whispers under her breath, adding, "I thought it was left at Engarde's mansion…"

"It's the fourth piece of evidence." It's the phrase she's heard repeatedly throughout that day. Realizing there was no way Maya could have known given how… tied up… she was at the time, Franziska is quick to provide context. "Scruffy had been able to get four pieces of evidence from the mansion to prove Engarde guilty before he got into that car accident. Three of them were shown in court… this one, however, was left in his coat pocket." (She never felt the need to show this one.)

"...Has Nick—"

Franziska shakes her head. "Do not worry, Maya Fey. I have shown nothing to him."

Maya sighs in relief, looking back down at the card. For a moment, Franziska swears she can see the hint of a fond look on her face as she traces the drawing with her finger.

"I made a promise to myself to return this evidence to its rightful owner." She cocks her head, placing a hand on her hip. "I've since decided that this was a decision you needed to make on your own."

"Decision…?" Maya repeats, slowly. "I'm sorry, I don't think I understand."

"I'm sure that I'm not the only one to see the connection between you two." Franziska raises an eyebrow. She knew Phoenix was oblivious, but Maya as well? (For such a legendary defense team, they seem awfully unaware.)

"A-Ah! Nick and I — we're nothing like that—" Maya starts, before taking another deep breath. Franziska doesn't think she's ever seen her look this… vulnerable. "I mean… I don't think there will be anything like that. Look, what I'm trying to say is… Nick's special to me, sure, but—"

She tightens her whip but doesn't let it crack. "Whatever it is — I have spent too much time around Phoenix Wright these past few days to know that he cares about you more than anything. When your life is on the line, even Miles Edgeworth seemed like a better defense attorney than that foolish fool."

Franziska pauses, wondering how she can explain it in a way Maya would understand. Then, she realizes that she's been holding the key to the truth all along this past year.

"Evidence is everything, is it not? I could say that you care just as much as that fool does." She motions to the card still in Maya's hands. Franziska says, straight to the point, "You were thinking of him, weren't you? You wanted him to save you." (You knew he would, didn't you?)

"Well…" Maya's face is flushed, and her mouth is slightly ajar.

"If you have something to say… you should say it now." Franziska says. "There is little time before you leave, is that correct… future Master of the Kurain Channeling Technique?"

The small frown on Maya's face tugs at her heart more than she wants it to. They were more alike than they both let on, and Franziska knows all too well the scars a name can leave. She focuses her gaze somewhere behind Maya instead, wishing for the uncomfortable feeling to fade away.

"If I were in your position… after all that's happened," She keeps talking, her hand gripping her shoulder, and Franziska suddenly feels that it's weird that it's Maya Fey, of all people, she's giving romantic advice to, "I wouldn't want to regret anything. There's… one more person you have to be strong for other than Pearl Fey, is there not?"

Maya is surprised again, but it's quickly replaced by a sorrowful look and she kicks at the ground.

"Franziska… I need him, you know? He's one of the few people I have left in my life. Having him here with me, by my side — it means everything to me. I don't want things to change. I don't want to lose him."

"And I don't think that you will. After all, Phoenix Wright is nothing without you." There's a warmth in her voice. "Change is daunting. But without it, how could you grow?" (...Maybe Maya isn't the only one she should be telling this to.)

Maya blinks, opening her mouth, but whatever she is about to say is abruptly cut off by the sound of someone opening the door.

"Maya?" Phoenix's voice travels to the pair as he pokes his head out of the front door to the restaurant. Once he spots them, his worried look fades into a relieved smile.

"Nick…!"

"Hm. Speak of the fool." Franziska fixes her attention onto her whip in an attempt to clear the air. Just because she was more comfortable wearing her heart on her sleeve now, doesn't mean that she would wear it in front of just anyone.

"There you are." He strides over to where they were standing, placing a hand on Maya's shoulder. "I just wanted to make sure I knew where you were. Wow, it's freezing out here." He comments, rubbing his hands together.

Phoenix takes off his coat and wraps it around Maya. Franziska eyes the way they touch, and the way that Phoenix instinctively pulls her closer to him. She feels the corner of her lips twitch. Since when was Franziska von Karma ever wrong?

Franziska clears her throat, tapping her foot against the pavement as she places her hand on her hip.

"O-Oh. Franziska." Phoenix stutters, as if he didn't remember that she was still there. "So this is where you wondered off to."

A crack of her whip.

"Augh!"

"That is Franziska von Karma to you. Well? Shall we empty that scruffy detective's wallet for good?" She tugs on her whip once more, before spinning on her heel and walking towards the restaurant.

"Franziska!" Maya calls, and Franziska freezes in her spot. Phoenix throws a quizzical look their way, a curious expression crossing his features.

The prosecutor looks over her shoulder at the pair behind her. Maya clings Phoenix's coat closer to her body, a small smile forming. She looks exhausted and frail, but it's the first real smile Maya's worn all day. "Thank you. I'll keep it in mind."

The smirk that plays on Franziska's lips is her only response, and she pushes the double doors back into Très Bien, letting the warmth of the restaurant envelop her body. She can hear Phoenix whisper, "keep what in mind?" and the sound of Maya nudging him in the side for "being nosy".

Franziska's done what she's needed to do, and there's a lighter weight on her shoulders. She's played her part — her own way of saying "thank you" without having to ever utter the words.

It was up to them, now.