AN: Hey guys! This is the first fanfic I've ever written and uploaded, so feedback is greatly appreciated! I don't really know how to write summaries so it might be a bit screwed up, and I still don't know how to correctly use FFN yet, so please be patient as I am a bit stupid. Or really stupid.

Okay so if you've played the first game, like all of it, then you'd get what this is about. If you haven't, TURN BACK. THERE ARE SPOILERS, and I don't want to ruin the experience for anyone.

Don't worry, there isn't any, uh, what do you people call it? Smut? I don't know.

Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of these amazing characters, they belong to Capcom and yeah. I don't know how to do this. Help.

October of 2001

Justice Elementary School

Grade 4 Class

"I… I didn't do it!"

Phoenix's desperate cry rang through the room before an onslaught of insults bit back at him. Why didn't anyone understand? He didn't do it. He wasn't a thief. He was telling the truth. So why was everyone calling him a liar?

"Guilty!"

"He did it!"

"Guilty!"

"It was you!"

"Thief!"

"Just admit you did it!"

"You're a meanie!"

The small boy cowered behind a desk, confused. Why didn't anyone believe him? He didn't take that student's lunch money! Everyone was shouting at him, each harsh word ringing in his ears.

"Just tell us that you did it!"

"You're a thief!"

"You're a liar!"

"You can't hide the truth!"

"If you don't tell us, we won't let you have a turn on the swings!"

"Nobody play with him!"

He was too scared to confront each statement. Everyone was against him; even the teacher! He was fighting a losing battle… there was no point in continuing any longer.

But, he didn't want to apologize for something he never did! Just because he caught a cold and was in the office during P.E. class doesn't mean that he stole the money!

The young Phoenix was stumped. He didn't know what to say, what to do, and what to think. Every biting remark really did bite him; it hurt so much. He felt so sad… the small boy couldn't stop crying.

He never really had any friends to start with; the spiky haired boy was always alone during lunch, and played on the swings by himself until someone kicked him off. Every day during recess he would sit under this huge tree and watch the other children frolic around together, not paying the slightest attention to Phoenix. He would listen to the happy laughter that rang across the field, kids talking to each other, sharing cookies with each other, walking around with each other.

But the key word was "each other". Phoenix was just himself, just Phoenix, just him. There was no "each other" for him.

He had a loving mother at home, but that was at home. At school, he was always alone, alone, alone. Every day he sat under the great tree, sitting by himself in his own lonely despair. And he was like this every single day.

Now things were worse. Everyone seemed to hate him at the bottom of their hearts, and they were never going to be his friends, ever. It felt so sad, so unfair to be rejected by everyone. Everyone in the world, it seemed. No one cared for him, no one loved him, no one appreciated his presence. It just… felt so unfair. Why was the world so unfair?

Why did no one care for him? Why did no one love him? He had never told his mother in fear of making her worried, but there were so many times, so so many times when he wanted to tell someone, to tell anyone but himself. He had tried to talk to a colony of ants in his backyard, some blades of grass, and his favorite little pin. It was circular, gold in colour, and about the size of a hazelnut. To the common person, it was just a piece of cheap plastic, but to Phoenix it was everything. He wasn't sure why, though.

But talking to inanimate objects wasn't going to give him answers. Oh, how he desperately wanted someone to go to. Someone who would listen, someone who wanted to be around him, someone who stood up for him.

Even as a nine year old child, he knew just how impossible that was going to be.

But the Phoenix at that time would never know how his luck would suddenly change. The Phoenix at the time would never had known how much pain it was going to cause him. He wouldn't have known either that when he grew up, he would be a master at turning the tables. He would've never guessed that this event changed his life.

"Now, Phoenix, you know you shouldn't steal people's money! It's not right." The teacher's voice cut through his thoughts. "Apologize to the class, Phoenix," she said coldly.

Everyone was staring at him as if he'd done it… as if he was a thief. A liar. A bad, bad boy. And no one wanted to be friends with a bad boy.

Phoenix timidly walked over to the student whose money got stolen. He drew in a shaky breath, about to apologize, until…

OBJECTION!

The shout echoed its way across the classroom, accompanied by a slam on the desk. "He shouldn't have to apologize! The only thing that belongs in a trial is evidence! Anything else has no place! You should all be ashamed… amateurs!"

"M-Miles?" The teacher stammered in surprise.

Phoenix opened his eyes a bit, tears blurring his vision. He could make out the words "Miles Edgeworth" on the little name tag pinned to a black suit. But what caught Phoenix's attention was his face. It seemed so commanding, so confident, so… beautiful. No, not in a way of love. Miles Edgeworth was like his saviour, his guardian angel who came to save him. He pointed a finger at Phoenix.

"It wasn't you who stole my money, was it?" His voice was so firm, so powerful.

"No…" Phoenix feebly whispered, shaking his head.

"Then you shouldn't apologize! Everyone's been shouting that you did it, but no one has any proof! That is why, Your Honor, this boy is innocent!"

"B-but Miles, it was your money that was stolen!" said the teacher, shocked.

The other children joined in.

"Yeah!"

"That's right!"

"He did it!"

"He's the one!"

"We don't need proof!"

"Make him say sorry!"

"Why don't you all just shut up!" A boy leaning in his chair spoke. The words Larry Butz was printed clearly on the name tag. "This is always how it is, everyone ganging up and picking on one person. Just think how he feels! He said he didn't do it, so he didn't do it!"

The whole class was silent. Then the teacher said, "Very well. I will replace the money myself. This class trial is over."

The squeaking of chairs and desks was heard throughout the classroom as students returned their desks to their original position. Phoenix quickly shuffled back to his desk, already moved by a student. He turned to see Larry give him a thumbs-up, giving Phoenix the notion that he was the one who shifted his desk. Looking back at the blackboard, he was still stunned by what had just happened.

Someone stood up for me… No, two people stood up for me! He grinned in realization. So… they really did care for me… Then he frowned. But I never really talked to them before…

Phoenix had only seen Larry once playing on the playground with a bunch of popular girls, however he didn't know the skinny boy's name back then. But he had seen Miles often, as the grey haired boy would always sit under the pine tree across from Phoenix's oak. Never did Phoenix see Miles without a book tucked under his arm or open in his arms, and he wondered what he was always reading.

"Please take out your math workbooks, and turn to page 31."

Everyone groaned. All the students absolutely despised math, but Phoenix found a certain charm in its straightforward logic and rules. Was he the only one who liked math? he wondered.

He snuck a curious glance at Miles, surprised at seeing him already scribbling down answers with his work all shown in an elaborate and organized manner. Phoenix didn't bother to check on Larry, since he was always the one to moan the loudest. He looked back to his book, and found out that they were continuing multiplication practice.

"Please finish all the questions until page 34."

AN: So... what d'you think?

Okay I know it was pretty bad. But I hope the next chapter isn't that bad! I've already written everything, so I'll upload it as fast as me and my stupid brain can allow me!

Can some experienced person tell me how FFN actually works?