Summary: Returning back from Germany, Franziska feels like she had lost in her mission for revenge. At times like these, it is always good to go back to your roots. Returning home to her Mama, Franziska learns that even a loss can be a victory.

It was supposed to be relieving, a time to celebrate her glorious victory in defeating Phoenix Wright's winning streak. Franziska had finally brought her cowardly little brother out and had been a witness to seeing the defeat of Phoenix Wright. While it had not been her to prosecute, due to the obvious gunshot wound on her shoulder, the fact that  she managed to help out bringing Phoenix Wright his defeat was good enough. So long as Phoenix Wright was defeated, Franziska saw no complaints. So then, why did it feel like she had lost?

Had Phoenix Wright responded in defeat, perhaps it would leave Franziska with satisfaction in getting the revenge she long sought, but he was happy. Phoenix Wright had faced defeat with that annoying smile on his face and Miles Edgeworth was completely fine with it. This was no victory for Phoenix Wright. How could it? Franziska could not accomplish her objective in taking her revenge on both Miles Edgeworth for leaving her and Phoenix Wright for being responsible for Miles Edgeworth leaving her. Both of them would celebrate with pure joy and victory, while Franziska would leave in shame and defeat. Where did Franziska go wrong?

There was one thing that Phoenix Wright did leave Franziska with, besides defeat, it was a new prospective of Defense Attorneys. In the past, Franziska had thought every Defense Attorney were nothing more than abettors for criminals. Phoenix Wright was the first Defense Attorney that only sought to save those that were falsely accused. It was only from the Maxamillion Galactica Case that Franziska realized this. It made sense now why her little brother would be so close to someone like Phoenix Wright of all people. He was a true genuine Defense Attorney.

But then, where did this leave Franziska? She sighed as she listened to the pilot announcing their landing in Germany. Perhaps seeing Mama will lift her spirits, even if just a little.

Arriving back home in the limousine, the driver opened the door for her, handing her luggage. Franziska made her way to the mansion where her family lived. Seeing Mama with her black dress with white polka dots and collar made her smile. Franziska didn't hold back hugging her Mama, who was overjoyed in seeing her daughter.

"It's good to see you again. You had your Mama all worried. I was afraid I'd have to go over to the states myself, Darling," Mrs. Von Karma said.

"I was perfectly fine, as always, Mama," Franziska replied, showing a softer and more genuine smile.

"Hm... did you remember to visit your Papa?"

"Yes. He says he was happy to see my face again. We made small talk and nothing else. I didn't want to bring up anymore drama."

"That's good. Be sure to visit him as much as you can. He is still your papa."

"What about you, Mama?" Franziska asked, furrowing her eyebrows slightly.

"I will make time for visitations, as any wife would."

"That's good," Franziska replied, then showed a slight frown. Even seeing Mama could never get rid of the defeat she felt in her heart.

Mrs. Von Karma frowned slightly, then said, "Come in, Franzy. Mama will make you tea and your favorite cake." She smirked proudly.

"You made Lime Cake for me?" Franziska asked with her face full of surprise.

"With sprinkles shaped like stars. Just the way you like it," Mrs. Von Karma winked.

"Perfect in every way as always."

"I am a proud Von Karma no matter what anyone says."

Franziska had almost forgotten the level of ridicule her mother had endured from the public ever since word got out about her Papa's arrest in the states for murder. Her mama was bombarded with reporters asking of her opinion and if she was going to divorce her husband. The Von Karma wife had not made a single comment for the entire month, then finally she told the News that she would not divorce her husband. "The moment I walked down the alter, looked at my husband in the eyes and said 'I do,' I meant every word of it. I will stay with him until death do us part." From there, rumors spread like wildfire. She had been ridiculed for sticking with a crooked man, a murderer, even questioning if she had been an accomplice.

Many friends were lost, but Franziska watched her Mama continue to live her daily life with a smile on her face. She continued loving her children, caring for her mother-in-law and being a beacon of hope for the Von Karma family. Non would have held it against her for filing for divorce, but she chose not to. It was clear she was in pain from what had became of her beloved husband, but chose to not allow it to effect her family. She would make due with the situation she was placed in.

Franziska drank her warm tea. Her Mama was so strong. She stood her grounds and convictions. She never allowed ridicule to get her down when given the chance. Franziska could never be as strong as her mama. She felt a hand on top of hers.

"Is something the matter, Darling? If you do not feel comfortable talking about it, I won't push you, but your Mama cannot help but worry," Mrs. Von Karma said.

"I could not gain victory. I lost... every single time... to that Phoenix Wright," Franziska confessed, grinning with frustration.

"Oh, that is too bad. I'm still proud of you either way."

"But then... that cowardly Miles Edgeworth shows up out of nowhere and had to take over in my stead. I was shot. He was able to gain victory over Phoenix Wright. I thought it would be enough, but... then that disasterly fool smiled. He smiled!" Franziska seethed, hitting her fist against the table. Her mother barely flinched. "I don't understand. How can a foolishly foolish fool just smile after suffering his first loss, after so many foolishly Not Guilty verdicts!?"

"Hm... perhaps not every victory is a winning victory."

"How can you say that, Mama? Y-You're a Von Karma!"

"I am and it is because of that I stand by it. It was what your papa also once stood behind."

"I... don't understand," Franziska said. Her father believed that even losing can count as a victory?

"I knew something had changed in your papa when you were barely 2. I now realize it was because he had murdered a little boy's father. Had I known, I would have tried to seek help for your papa. I don't think that murder came without some form of trauma. As you know, your papa also lost his father as a child and it was the reason he became a prosecutor."

"Y-Yes... Papa told me."

"When he started, he always believed that anyone that achieves perfect scores without studying cannot achieve perfection. He believed that with all his heart. To stoop to cheating or not work at all were acts of a fool. Your siblings grew with that kind of father and that is why they are succeeding. They grew up with a father, who believed hard work and sacrifice will achieve perfection. Ergo, whenever Serena did not have her designs accepted or Fredrick was proven his client was a criminal using him to cover his tracks, they considered their loses victories. Serena made the decision to sell her designs other ways and Fredrick had handed reports from his findings, even when they proved his clients were criminals. That was the kind of perfection their papa had taught them growing up."

"... that's not what Papa had taught me. He says I have... to achieve perfect victories... no matter what."

"I know," Mrs. Von Karma said sadly, sighing. "I really have tried convincing your papa to come over and visit us. I knew something had happened, but it was becoming hard to confront him. Even during the times he came to visit us, he often avoided the topic. I wish he could've opened up to me instead of doing so in letters."

"Has Papa told you...?"

"He told me everything... about murdering Gregory Edgeworth," Mrs. Von Karma confirmed, sipping her tea. "He said he didn't want to get me involved in his own sins. It was very heartbreaking for him, because he did care about Miles a lot. Now, we can never see each other and he knows that word has gotten out here. It kills me I can't reach him, except in the states and behind a glass wall."

"Mama..."

"Franzy, I want you to stand strong... for Papa. Take this as a lesson. Perfection cannot be achieved through wins alone. If I wasn't to take a loss as a victory, then I would have shunned Miles from our family. I cannot live my life like that. Fred might have been arrested, but that loss only helps me in achieving perfection. The moment I had made the statement that I would stick by my husband no matter what anyone said or what he did, that was the perfect victory for me. I stood for my own convictions and no one can take that away from me."

"... you're always so strong, Mama," Franziska finally sobbed as she felt gentle arms around her shoulder and a pat on her back. "I wish I was as strong as you!"

"Darling, you are much stronger than you think. You may have not won in getting your revenge, but you did achieve victory."

"H-How, Mama?" Franziska asked, her tears rolling down her cheeks.

"You made a friend, you brought Miles back and you brought him back with his friend. You know, if it weren't for Phoenix Wright, we would have lost Miles. Your papa is only given a life sentence."

"A friend, huh?" Franziska asked, her eyes turning to her whip. While it was Miles that gave her back her whip, it was given to him by Phoenix Wright himself. "Perhaps."

"I think your father would've made a friend too... had he given that man a chance," Mrs. Von Karma said with a smirk up her lips.

"Papa, friends with a Defense Attorney? But..." Franziska said, sweating, not even wanting to think of the possibility and yet...

"Papa was very close with Miles and I have no doubt he resembles a lot of his father. Think of it this way: what if Papa never shot that man? Could he have trained Miles and called him his star pupil in a more healthier way?"

"I... suppose that's... possible."

"And, he would have kept Miles' respect for him. If that isn't victory, I don't know what is."

"Hm... you are always right, Mama," Franziska said, taking her whip into her hands. "Perhaps even a loss can also be a victory for me. I will work to achieve perfection and I will not soil the Von Karma name with something so petty." Victoriously, she cracked her whip, then held it high. "I will do my part in reviving the Von Karma name! As for Papa, I will see to it he is well cared for, while he's serving time. I will even take you and Grandmama with me."

"That's my girl!" Mrs. Von Karma grinned, clasping her hands together. "A little cake and tea always makes the world glow brighter."

"That it does. What will you do when you see Papa?"

"I will be sure that he's fed and treated properly. If not," Mrs. Von Karma said, then got out her whip, cracking it before raising up high. "I will have a little chat with the Warden."

"Perfect as always."