Chapter Text
(Trucy Wright POV)
Nov 8 4:45 AM
Cafv’aa Cafe
Trucy, Maya, Ema, and Valant are all sitting down and waiting for their food to arrive.
Trucy: Thank you for being here, you two!
Maya: Of course! It’s always a great day when I get to spend time with you, Trucy!
Ema: I’m just in it for the ride, and by ride I mean some good Khura’inese cuisine.
Maya: Girl same! The food in Khura’in is just too good!
Valant: The two of you are quite the pair. I can see a great future for it.
Ema: You didn’t need to tell us, we already knew that.
Maya: Awwww, you always say kindness things to me, Em's!
Ema: … What?
Maya: I thought that I should give you a nickname, and that’s what I landed on. Do you like it?
Ema: … You know what? I do. But now I have to think of one for you.
Maya: It’s okay, “babe” is enough for now. We can come up with one later if you really want to though.
Ema: … Sure.
Trucy: Looks like you were right, uncle Valant.
Valant: And without any room for doubt!
Trucy: (I know Pearly is in Kurain right now, but why do I feel like she’s spying on them right now.)
Trucy: So, what are your plans for being here, Maya?
Maya: Two of my cousins are going to train at Hazakura temple sometime this week, and I wanted to be there for them.
Ema: And I’m going too just for the heck of it.
Trucy: That’s good to hear! Just make sure you wear your coats there.
Valant: Hazakura temple…? Could one of you elucidate me about what it is?
Maya: After a specific… incident happened, it became a go to training spot for young spirit mediums!
Valant: Oh ho ho! So it’s basically a school!
Ema: I guess that’s one way to describe it.
Maya: I probably wouldn’t say that. The standard training there is mainly meditating under a waterfall or on a block of ice during the winter.
Valant: … Honestly, the Trope has done more dangerous stunts than that in the past.
Maya: Speaking of which, are you guys planning on another show at some point?
Trucy: Not at the moment, we’re taking a small break after the Halloween show.
Valant: But fret not, we will be back in action before you know it!
Ema: Well that’s good. Your last show was really satisfying to watch.
Trucy: …
Valant: Is something wrong, Trucy?
Trucy: It’s nothing, uncle Valant. It’s just… I’ve been thinking about if we could get new members.
Valant: New members, you say? Hmmm… I’m not against that in any way. Do you have anyone in mind?
Trucy: There’s not a lot to pick from. There are very few magicians in town, which is a huge crime!
Valant: That is unfortunately very true.
Maya: The only other magician who I can think of is Maximilian Galactica, but he works for the Berry Big Circus.
Ema: Don’t even bother with him. The most he is “flying”, but you guys can immediately take off a straitjacket while inside a security safe that was just thrown out of a cargo plane.
Valant: Aha ha hah! If you are saying that as an exaggeration, Ms. Skye, then you should be stunned to know that Magnifi has actually done that decades ago!
Ema: … Please don’t do that, Trucy…
All Trucy did in response was a huge grin.
Trucy: (We’ll see.)
Valant: How about the twins who had helped you before? You said they’re names are Betty and Bonney de Famme, correct?
Trucy: That’s right, and that’s who I’m leaning towards right now. But I don’t know if they would want it.
Maya: It wouldn’t hurt to ask them.
Trucy: Yeah, but also worried that they would probably feel left out…
Ema: Why exactly?
Trucy: I mean… you’ve seen what uncle Valant and I are capable of doing, right? I just thought that maybe… they would feel like they don’t belong because of what we can do…
Valant: You shouldn’t have to worry, Trucy. Your parents and I were nothing but amateurs way back in the day. Who’s to say that we can’t help with practicing?
Trucy: … You’re right, uncle Valant. I don’t know what made me think that. Okay, I’ve decided. They won't be assistants anymore, they’ll be new members for the next time I see them.
Valant: Now that’s more like it! Do you have any idea where they are?
Trucy: Last time I saw them was before the Halloween show, when they asked me if they could spend the holiday with their family. I haven’t seen them since.
Maya: I’m sure they’ll turn up sooner or later.
Out of completely nowhere, a woman with a very recognizable hairstyle runs past the table.
Maya: … Or maybe now.
Ema: That could’ve been anyone.
Betty: Trucy Wright! Where the hell are you!?
Trucy: Jeez… who spit in her cereal?
That’s when Bonny entered the cafe, trying her best to follow her sister. She slowly moved to where Betty was, until she saw Trucy sitting down.
Bonny: Hey, Betty!
Betty: What?!
Bonny: U-Uh… Trucy is right here.
Trucy: Hi!
Betty: There you are!
Betty runs to the table with fire in her eyes.
Betty: Finally! Do you know how hard it is to find you?!
Bonny: We weren’t looking for that long, all we did was ask her dad in his office.
Betty: I know that! I was trying to be dramatic!
Ema: … Glad that the relationship between me and my sis hasn't been like this for years now.
Valant: Salutations, Betty and Bonny de Famme! It is a great pleasure to finally meet the two of you!
Bonny: Wait… Valant Gramarye!?
Valant: The one and only!
Bonny: Wow… We knew that Trucy had hired you, but I didn’t think we would meet you this soon! We’re both huge fans of yours!
Betty: … Yes, we are…
Trucy: (Why does Betty still struggle with admitting to others?)
Maya: It’s actually a huge coincidence that you made it here, we were just talking about you two.
Betty: What?! Were you guys badmouthing and laughing about us!?
Maya: H-Huh? Of course not! Why would we ever do that?
Betty: …
Bonny: It isn’t really nice to jump to conclusions, Betty.
Betty: Don’t boss me around!
Ema: Healthy advice is considered bossy to you?
Betty: … Okay, I’m sorry. I’ve just been stressed out about something, and it’s made me more agitated as a result.
Trucy: It’s okay, we all have days like that. But what were you stressed about? Is it something that I can help with?
Betty: … I guess it is. After spending time with our family for Halloween, we’ve been thinking about something, something we can only ask you about, Trucy.
Trucy: What do you mean?
Betty: I wanted to- I mean, we wanted to ask you if we… that we… we could…
Bonny: If we could be new members of Gramarye Land and not just as assistants.
Betty: Hey! I was going to say that!
Bonny: S-Sorry… I only thought that you were struggling with saying it.
Maya: Huh, I guess today is an all coincidence you can eat buffet.
Ema started snickering from her girlfriend’s joke.
Maya: Come on, Em’s. It wasn’t that funny.
Ema: Do I need to remind you that I sometimes act like a completely different person when I’m with you?
Bonny: Another… coincidence?
Trucy: Yeah! I was just talking about getting new members, and you two are on the top of the list!
Betty: … You mean it?
Trucy: Of course! You’ve helped me out with your incredible tricks in several of my shows this year alone! Why wouldn’t I consider you two being promoted?
Betty didn’t know what to say, so she just stood still with a small smile on her face.
Bonny: But… everyone knows about our signature trick now… and we don’t really have a clue how to perform jaw dropping tricks like you guys…
Valant: Nonsense! Did you think that we wouldn’t teach you what we know? Even if one soldier is down, that doesn’t mean they lose the battle! There are many other magic tricks that you can learn and perform!
Bonny: R-Really?
Trucy: Yep! We’ll teach you all of our tricks, or just the ones you're comfortable with doing.
Betty: As long as I get to use that grasshopper as my puppet in a show when he gets back.
Trucy: No problem!
Maya: Poor Apollo…
Betty: He deserves it for revealing our secret!
Ema: Who knows where he’ll come back here. Last time I checked, Khura’in is still recovering from the DC Act. It could take years before he gets back.
Betty: Perfect. More time for me to plan my revenge.
Bonny: I don’t think that’s healthy…
Trucy: (Tell that to aunt Ziska.)
Trucy: Anyway, from this point forward, you guys won’t be assistants anymore.
Trucy got up from her seat and held Betty and Bonny’s hands.
Trucy: Welcome to being the new stars of Gramarye Land!
Bonny wasn’t able to keep in her excitement, so she gave Trucy a hug. Betty once again stood in place, with a bigger smile this time.
Betty: … Thank you.
Bonny: Yes, thank you. We will do our best on stage for you.
Trucy: Great! And you’re welcome!
Valant: ALAKAZING! The troupe is now bigger and better!
Maya: Congrats, you two! I just know you’ll make it big on stage!
Ema: Yeah, definitely already looking forward to seeing what you bring to the table.
Valant: *whispering* … I hope you’re seeing this, Thalassa. Your daughter has grown up so much since we lost you. I just know without a doubt that you are tremendously proud of her.
As all of this was happening, a waiter showed up with Maya’s food on a tray.
Waiter: Excuse me, ladies. Could you please move out of the way?
Betty: Don’t ruin the moment, buster!
The waiter ended up getting scared by Betty’s yelling, so much so that he lost balance and accidentally made the food fall to the floor.
Maya: MY RAMEN BURGERS!
Betty: … Shoot.
Bonny: That’s not good…
Ema: Great job, you have just made my girlfriend hangry.
Maya: You! Pick those up and pay for them!
Valant: I mean… Trucy or I could take care of it.
Maya: No! You didn’t do anything! Only Betty is to blame for this, and should face the consequences!
Betty: … I’m not doing that.
Maya: YOU BETTER!
Trucy: Let’s just hope we don’t get banned from this…
_____________
5:25 PM
Police Department
Chief’s Office
Franziska is in chief Fidel’s office. She just finished her reasoning as to why she doesn’t trust detective Hydra.
Franziska: That is all I had to say to you, Milo Fidel.
Fidel: Hmmmm… so that’s what you believe she’s like?
Franziska: Precisely. I don’t believe that she even cares if a case has casualties or consequences. She looks at everyone around her like they're lower class, just like what my father was like during his terrible reign.
Fidel: … If you think that detective Hydra had done more damage than what you are aware of during your trial, you are strongly mistaken.
Franziska: … Elaborate further.
Fidel: I talked to her about it not too long ago, and I can tell you that she didn’t have any motives for putting detective Smith on the case. All she did was put him on the spot. His own actions are to blame.
Franziska: … While I agree with that, there must’ve been something that she has done in the past to make her act this way.
Fidel: I apologize, Ms. von Karma, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Franziska: …! How could you be so sure?
Fidel: I talk with detective Hydra pretty frequently, and the usual conversation is typically being thankful that a difficult case had been taken care of.
Franziska: … Did everything that I’ve said to you mean nothing!?
Fidel: Listen, Von Karma. I have looked through all of the files detective Hydra took part in, and none of them had anything to what you described to me. If there were, she would’ve been discharged years ago.
Franziska: You weren’t there for all of them, you fool!
Fidel: I could say the same thing to you. Tell me, what was it that made you think this way about her in the first place?
Franziska didn’t have an answer, much to her dismay.
Fidel: A gut feeling, perhaps? Maybe you made the wrong assumption in the past.
Franziska: … I had already told you that Dawn Hydra reminds me too much of what could’ve happened to me or Miles Edgeworth if we didn’t escape my father’s parasitic prosecutors path.
Fidel: And I just don’t see it. If someone were using your late father’s teachings, they wouldn’t be walking in a house, but a jail cell instead.
Franziska: … That’s…
The chief quickly glanced over to his watch.
Fidel: I’m afraid this is all the time we have. I have a very important meeting in a few minutes.
Franziska: …… Very well, Chief Milo Fidel. You should know that what you said hasn’t changed my opinions.
Fidel: If you say so. But if you want to talk with someone else about this, it should be detective Smith.
Franziska: I don’t believe that I should trust that fool. However, perhaps his side of the story could shed light on what I said.
Fidel: Knock yourself out, I’m not stopping you.
Franziska: I will be taking my leave now.
Fidel: Of course. Thank you for your time, prosecutor Von Karma. Have a good day.
Franziska walks out of the office and shuts the door.
Franziska: … There is something that detective Hydra is hiding, I’m sure of it. There must be a reason as to why I have my suspicions with her. I know that I’m not going foolishly crazy, that’s one of the last things that would happen to me. Miles Edgeworth will be having that meeting with her soon, so there is a chance that she will say her reasons for taking part on my case. If not, I’ll have to a talk with her myself.