Manfred von Karma was sitting by himself, musing to his lunch.
"Life's not fair, is it? When Gregory Edgeworth ruins your perfect record, you're disgraced. Embarrassed. Shamed by the entire community."
"Didn't your mother ever tell you not to play with your food?"
Manfred looked up to see the Judge (as he was simply known as) staring down at him.
"What do you want?"
"Mr. Edgeworth has requested to speak with you. He wants to know why you weren't at the presentation of his son today."
Manfred sighed. "Now you've ruined my lunch."
"You have bigger things to worry about right now."
The attorney looked at the Judge with an evil grin.
"Manfred, Manfred, don't give me that look--"
He was cut off as Manfred grabbed him by the neck and shoved him up against the wall.
"Put-- me-- down!"
"MANFRED!"
Gregory Edgeworth glared at him from across the room.
"Drop him."
Slowly, Manfred released the Judge, who was gasping for breath.
"Impeccable timing, Mr. Edgeworth." He scurried to hide behind the defense attorney.
Manfred smiled and crossed the room to Gregory. "Why, if it isn't Gregory Edgeworth. The King of Attorneys!"
"Save it. I want to know why you weren't at the presentation of Miles today," Gregory said with narrowed eyes. "As the top prosecuting attorney in the district, you should have been there."
"I'm afraid I was rather busy today. I didn't have the time to worry about some child."
"That child is my son, and he will one day become the greatest attorney the world has ever seen."
Manfred smirked. "Then I shall practice my curtsey." He started to walk away.
"Don't you turn your back on me Manfred!" Gregory called out.
The prosecutor stopped and replied. "No Gregory, perhaps you shouldn't turn your back on me."
The defense attorney growled and ran in front of Manfred to cut off his path. "Is that a challenge?"
Manfred sighed. "Temper, temper. I wouldn't dream of challenging you."
"Pity. Why not?" The Judge squawked from the other side of the room, before ducking behind a table.
"Well, as far as brains go, I got the lion's share, but when it comes to brute strength..." He looked back at Gregory and muttered, "I'm afraid I'm at the shallow end of the gene pool."
With that, Manfred stalked away, leaving his half-eaten lunch still on the table.
The Judge made his way to Gregory, shaking his head. "Thank God he's gone."
Gregory sighed. "What am I going to do with him?"
"You could always get him another penalty on that otherwise pefect record."
The defense attorney chuckled. "We'll see about that."
******************
Maya Fey dipped her brush in the paint and swirled it around. Bringing it to the canvas, she gently applied the final touches to her painting.
After a moment, she examined it. Her work was complete.
"There. There he is."
She looked back at her work and smiled to herself. Not just because of how good it looked. The portait was of the newborn boy that would change the world.
"Miles Edgeworth."
