77 Papa You Floored Me

“Papa You Floored Me”
Sung to the tune of “Mama Who Bore Me”
from the Broadway show Spring Awakening

Franziska von Karma’s mind was laid waste by the earth-shattering news.

“I’m sorry, Franziska. I don’t know what else to say…”

“Curse you, Miles Edgeworth!” She gripped the phone receiver so tightly, she could feel the seams of her leather gloves threatening to split open, just as much as her heart had been a minute ago when her foster brother had called her with the news about Manfred’s fate at the hands of der Scheißkerl defense attorney! “I suppose this is your idea of thinking justice has finally been served! I bet you and that foolish Schwein, Phoenix Wright, are gleefully celebrating my Papa’s downfall together!”

“Franziska, I can understand how this news is devastating but you couldn’t be further from the truth.” Miles sounded more tired than triumphant. “I couldn’t possibly have wanted any of this! You should know me well enough to know I’ve never been the bloodthirsty nor vengeful sort. I was as utterly blindsided by all of this as you were! Please believe that I had nothing but great respect for Manfred as my mentor…”

“He was your mentor, but he was – is! – my father!” She shouted, cutting him off abruptly. “My flesh and blood! There’s no way any of this could possibly be true!”

She angrily brushed away the tears of rage beginning to trickle down her cheeks.

“Papa was a genius! A legal legend who remained undefeated for 40 years! There is no way such an esteemed man of his office would stoop to such atrocious acts like forgery or murder!”

“I know you must be in shock right now,” Miles said wearily. “But as a man who has made it his newfound mission to uncover the truth, regardless of the costs, I can tell you, Big Sister, that denying the truth will only make things more difficult for you in the long run…”

She couldn’t hear another word. The news passed through her like a hurricane. Everything she and worked and struggled for now lay in ruins. But she’d be damned if she let her fool of a Little Brother be even an ear witness to her falling apart!

“Fahr zur Hölle, Miles Edgeworth!” Her throat aching from unshed tears, the tempestuous German prosecutor slammed down the phone as hard as she could before dissolving into a watery mass onto her bed, her body shaking with the force of her sobs.

Papa, how could you? You couldn’t possibly have reared an innocent child in your own image just to spite his father, whose life you took away by your own murderous hand! How could you do such a horrendous, evil thing? How am I supposed to defend you and uphold any pride in the Von Karma name now, when deep in my heart, I know that fool Miles Edgeworth has never been one to lie about anything? How can I do anything but admit to myself that as gut wrenching as it is,  deep down , I know all this is somehow actually true…?

The desolation she felt was all consuming. Her mind became an icy wasteland, the wind howled in her soul and wrapped icy tentacles around her heart so tightly, it almost stopped beating.

 [Franziska]

Papa you floored me
Papa you shamed me
Our famed von Karma name
The stigma’s now so bad

 Blood crimes and cheating
My Papa’s the Devil
No hope for heaven
Just Abaddon

 Someday I hope and pray, I can stop this bawlin’
Transcend your disgrace, and cast off your shadows
I won’t just sit still here, sighing, lamenting all your mayhem
My day will come, and then the world will know
(My strength will show!)

 Papa you floored me
Papa you shamed me
Our famed von Karma name
The stigma’s now so bad

 Blood crimes and cheating
My Papa’s the Devil
No hope for heaven,
Just Abaddon

 How am I ever going to survive this dishonor, which shall now forever plague our prideful family name? How will I ever hold my head high again?

She felt emotionally bankrupt. The was nothing left to feel, nothing left to say, nothing left but the void that enveloped her mind in swirling blackness.

Was this all life would have in store for her, hence?

No! She would not cower and be weak, or continue to wallow in self-pity! Such were the actions of weak, pathetic plebeian fools, and Franziska von Karma, above all else, prided herself to never being anything of the sort!

Yes, I am a von Karma, but that also means I am strong. I will survive this. I will create my own legacy, separate from Papa’s, that will leave behind these bloodstains behind me. And somehow, someday, I will make my own name for myself.

She steeled her jaw and clenched her fists.

And so help me Gott, I will transcend…