Work Text:
The circumstances of Franziska von Karma's arrival in the United States were perfect.
As to be expected.
It had been only a few days since she departed from Germany and touched down in California. The paperwork confirming her transfer to the Los Angeles County Prosecutor's Office had been finalized. She barely had time to move everything into her new apartment before she got a call from an informant--an old friend of her father, who she tasked with keeping her in touch about the career of a certain defense attorney...
"I've just received word that Phoenix Wright will be appearing in court tomorrow. It's a murder case--involving a doctor who was found dead in some rural village in the mountains."
"Excellent!" Franziska said. "Get me on the phone with the Chief Prosecutor. I'll be taking this case for myself."
No one tried to argue with her. Everyone knew that the reason von Karma's daughter had come to LA from Berlin was precisely to take on Phoenix Wright--presumably to avenge her late father. The Chief Prosecutor, in fact, seemed to be anticipating Franziska's call and immediately granted her request. Within an hour, she was at the Detention Center where she met with one of the detectives assigned to the case.
"Miss von Karma! I-It's nice to meet you! I'm Detective Dick Gumshoe! At your service!"
Franziska looked up at this obviously frightened, scruffy-looking man wearing a filthy trench coat. She grinned. He seemed like the cowardly type who would be easy to manipulate. Yes, he'd make a perfect pawn...
"Er...it's...it's truly an honor to work alongside you, miss!" Gumshoe said, eyeing the whip in her hands. "I heard your a prodigy back in your home country? Where did you come from again? Was it Switzerland or Denmark or--?"
Franziska struck the floor next to him with her whip. Yelping, he jumped backwards, raising his hands in the air.
"Spare me this meaningless small talk, Detective!" Franziska said. "I did not come to chat with you about such nonsense! Tell me everything you know about this case. Now!"
"Yes! Right away!" Gumshoe said. "Uh...l-let's see here...um...the guy's name was Grey Turner...or, was it Turner Grey--?"
Franziska reached for her whip again. Gumshoe shuddered.
"Sorry! Er...yes, it was Dr. Turner Grey!" Gumshoe said, consulting the case file he was holding. "He was the victim, you see. Killed yesterday afternoon in Kurain Village. The accused is Miss Maya Fey. She was a local spirit medium. She and the victim entered a locked room, and when the doors were opened, he was found dead and she was covered in blood. So, y'know...seems like a pretty open-and-shut case to me, pal!"
"Maya Fey..." Franziska said. "That's the defendant's name, you say? Where is she?"
"Here, at the Detention Center!" Gumshoe said. "I can bring her to you for questioning if--"
"Bring her here, immediately!" Franziska said. "I shall have your pay docked if you stand around and blather any longer! Go!"
"Right away, Miss von Karma!" Gumshoe said, rushing off down the hall. Franziska grinned as she entered the interrogation room, took a seat, and waited.
__
After a few minutes, the door opened. A girl around Franziska's age wearing an odd costume entered. Looking solemn, she was led by Gumshoe to her seat across from Franziska. Gumshoe then hurriedly left the room as Franziska leaned forward, trying to force this girl to make eye contact with her.
"Miss Maya Fey..." Franziska said. "...That is your name, yes?"
"Y-Yeah..." Maya said, continuing to look to the side.
"...Look at me when I speak to you!" Franziska said, whipping the table.
"GAH!" Maya jumped out of her seat in surprise. "What the--!? Is that a whip!?"
"Sit." Franziska said. Maya sat. "...Good. Now then, Miss Maya Fey...I took the liberty of reading over the case files before your arrival. There's no doubt about it...you killed Dr. Turner Grey. In this case, you are the murderer."
"N-No! No, I'm not!" Maya said. "I'm not a killer! I swear! Tomorrow in court, Nick's gonna prove it!"
"Nick...?" Franziska said, before throwing her head back and laughing. "...You must mean, Mr. Phoenix Wright, yes? How foolish for you to believe that pathetic man can save you now."
"Nick's a great lawyer!" Maya said. "He's never lost a case! Ever!"
"...True, but he's never had a worthy opponent." Franziska said. "Just because he defeated that fool, Miles Edgeworth...that doesn't make him a great attorney. That just means he's above average. He has not had to face someone like myself! Miles Edgeworth is a stiff breeze. I am a hurricane!"
"You're the prosecutor, then?" Maya said. "...You look like you're the same age as me! You won't stand a chance against Nick in the courtroom."
"Age has nothing to do with it." Franziska said. "I have been a prosecutor since I was thirteen. I have far more experience than Phoenix Wright. Tomorrow, in the courtroom, you shall see for yourself the true power and potential of a prodigy! I shall show the world that you did indeed kill Dr. Grey. And you shall spend the rest of your life rotting behind bars, cursing your decision to have that fool of an attorney represent you! ...But it doesn't have to be this way, you know."
"What are you talking about...?" Maya said.
"There is absolutely no chance that Phoenix Wright will be able to acquit you." Franziska said. "No defense attorney could. The case against you is airtight. However...I may be able to agree to a plea bargain. Yes, Phoenix Wright could make a rather convincing argument that you acted in self-defense. You would still be found guilty, of course, but you'd receive a much lighter sentence."
Maya fell silent. Franziska smiled.
"Sounds like an enticing offer, doesn't it?" Franziska said. "Think on it, Miss Maya Fey. Tomorrow, in the courtroom, I shall make the same offer to your attorney, Phoenix Wright. If he gracefully surrenders and grants me the victory I desire...then your life may be spared."
"Victory...glory...perfect winning streaks..." Maya muttered. "...Is that all you prosecutors ever think about!?"
Franziska was a bit taken aback. Maya slammed her fists on the table.
"People like Nick and my sister...they fight for truth and justice!" Maya said. "But all you prosecutors seem to care about is your reputation! Don't you know people's lives are at stake!? Don't you see how callous and cruel and...not to mention how utterly stupid this all is!? Trials aren't boxing matches where you can settle grudges and compete for championship titles! Why can't people like you understand that!?"
Franziska whipped the ground beside her. Maya flinched.
"Your naivety is adorable!" Franziska said, tilting her head to the side and smiling sardonically. "You have much to learn, little girl. ...Return to your cell. I have no more time or patience to listen to your inane idealistic ramblings."
Gumshoe entered the room and led Maya back to her holding cell. She shot Franziska one last, vengeful glare before stepping out of the interrogation room. Franziska merely laughed. No wonder she chose Phoenix Wright to represent her in court. She was just as big of a fool as he was...
__
A few hours later, she found herself in Kurain Village, where she was determined to spend the rest of the day investigating. She had already looked around the crime scene for many hours, collecting every relevant piece of evidence she could find. All that remained was speaking to potential witnesses. She learned there were quite a few visitors at Fey Manor during the time of the murder, including a college student named "Ini Miney." Franziska found her in the Manor's Side Room doing yoga.
"Huh...?" Ini said, in the middle of practicing her downward dog pose as Franziska slid open the door and walked inside. "More visitors, already?"
"Are you Miss Ini Miney?" Franziska said.
"Yeah...like, who's asking?" Ini said as she began to do a handstand. Growing frustrated, Franziska whipped the wall of the room, causing Ini to fall over and crash land, sprawled out on the carpet.
"Enough with the yoga!" Franziska said. "I've dealt with quite enough New Age hippie types like yourself today! I am Franziska von Karma, the prosecutor handling this case! And you will treat me with respect!"
"Alright, alright, just chillax, m'kay?" Ini said, yawning as she stood up and walked over to grab a pot of tea, pouring a cup for herself and for Franziska. "How about some nice, soothing tea? It's chamomile..."
Franziska whipped the porcelain tea cup out of her hand. It landed on the floor and shattered.
"...I'll take that as a no." Ini said, looking quite unfazed as she said on the floor, crossing her legs. "What can I do for you, Miss van Caramel?"
"Von Karma! My name is von Karma!" Franziska said. "...Oh, never mind! I've come to question you about the murder!"
"Well, like, what do you want to know?" Ini said, rubbing her temples.
"First of all, who are you and why are you here?" Franziska said. "According to my reports, you told the police you are not a local."
"That's right." Ini said. "I'm a college student. I'm, like, visiting Fey Manor for a research project I'm doing. I study the occult and stuff like that."
Franziska scoffed.
"Honestly, American universities are a joke!" Franziska said. "What kind of shameless degree mill would offer courses in such an inane subject!?"
"You mean...you don't believe in the occult?" Ini said. "Ghosts and seances and stuff like that...you don't think it's real?"
"Of course not." Franziska said. "There's no such thing as ghosts. The dead are merely dead. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a lunatic!"
"...I think you'll find that the past is never really past." Ini said.
Franziska rolled her eyes.
"I don't have time for your bogus lesson in pseudo-philosophy!" Franziska said. "If you have nothing to tell me about this case, then I shall take my leave!"
"Well, I basically slept through the whole thing anyhow..." Ini said. "And, like, I've never met that doctor before in my life. Soooooo...does this mean I'm off the hook for questioning? I really need to finish my yoga session."
"Yes." Franziska said, turning around and opening the sliding door. "It's clear to me this is a waste of time. If you have nothing to do with the murder, then I have no reason to speak with you!"
"Alrighty then." Ini said, calling after Franziska. "...But, hey, think about what we discussed, m'kay? You may not believe in ghosts now...but everyone find themselves being haunted sooner or later!"
Franziska slid the door shut. Walking down the Winding Way, she muttered to herself, shaking her head.
"Ridiculous..." Franziska said. "Ghosts...hauntings...there's no such thing."