Disclaimer: I dont own any of the characters of Ace Attorney or the upcoming Ace attorney chronicles, the rights to both belong to Capcom.

Birth of a Phoenix

Several years later...

"Do you have your cold killer X?"

"Yep."

"What about your Nipponese passport?"

"Yes."

"Your hair brush and toothbrush?"

"Uh-huh..."

"And your phone?"

"Yes, grandpa Ryu, I've got everything."

Ryūnosuke and Phoenix, who was now 18 years old, walked through the airport as they headed straight towards the terminal.

Phoenix dragged a big blue suitcase behind him and sniffled due to the fact that he was still recovering from a slight cold. His heart felt heavy in his chest and he had this guilt that was gnawing away at his mind to the point that the wall between him breaking down into tears and just trying to hide all his negative emotions had been reduced to a paper thin wall.

Ryū struggled a bit throughout those first couple of years raising Phoenix.

When he endured the odd visit from social services but he'd manage to stay under their radar until the time finally came when he decided to make it official and adopted the boy. As the old attorney-at-law was familiar with a courtroom already (even though he was more suited to homicide cases rather than adoption cases like that), he didn't struggle too much with successfully adopting the boy even though he was on the receiving end of some dubious inquiries regarding how old he was.

After the adoption was made legal, Ryūnosuke happily raised Phoenix and cared for him like a son.

The decision was eventually made that Phoenix needed to travel to get the best opportunities he could.

Phoenix was growing into a young man who had dreams to follow in his late mother's footsteps to become an artist with aspirations to follow his great grandfather's footstep to become an attorney; he had always been intrigued about becoming an attorney but he also wanted to honour his mother too.

Ryū had visited America and the big city of Japanifornia (with Phoenix being placed in the school there temporarily) frequently in order to scope it out to see whether or not it could make a good home for his great grandson and to see what he could learn; it was a large city with lots of culture that almost reminded the elderly retired attorney of his home country and there were also some skyscrapers that could almost brush the sky in length as well as huge opportunities for Ryu to get his dear grandson into a fantastic college or university.

Even though it crushed him that he was going to have to send the young man away, he knew it was the best thing for him...besides, had toiled long and hard to get to the point where the lad could properly adjust to life in Japanifornia.

When Phoenix was small, Ryū had decided to temporarily enrol him in a small school in Japanifornia for a few months where the poor lad had his first taste of how cruel life could be; little Phoenix was accused of stealing money from one of his classmates and everyone set up this crude trial in the classroom and treated him poorly by pointing fingers and probably making the lad feel so tiny and insignificant...

...This was until two young boys stood up for him.

Ryū wasn't thrilled that his beloved great grandson was being treated like he, himself, had been treated all those years ago -especially at such a young age- but he was happy that someone had his back. While the incident itself bothered Ryūnosuke, he knew that Phoenix could have the world in his hand if he chased after all of those opportunities that the big city provided.

He knew that it was time for his little fire bird to rise from the ashes.

The two raised their heads when an overhead speaker sounded off.

"Attention please: This is the final boarding call for passengers waiting to board the flight to Japanifornia, please head to terminal 456 to board the plane. Thank you."

The lady speaking through the speaker couldn't have sounded less enthused but neither spiky-haired men could really bring themselves to care for it right now and they both refocused their attention on one another.

Ryū gave a single nod of acceptance before he raised his arms and rested both hands on the spiky-haired lawyer and proceeded to brush any dust or anything dirty that might have accumulated on the fabric of his shirt off, making sure he didn't have even a speck of dust or dirt on him.

Phoenix gave a slight nod of gratitude.

The airplane to Japanifornia was waiting.

The pair stuck close together as they approached the airport terminal until they finally reached the gate which was the point of no return.

Phoenix stared at his great grandfather with anxiety etched all over his face and he was emitting apprehension from every pore. The adolescent young man with the jet black spiky hair could be quite nervous and naive on some occasions, especially occasions such as now where he was about to leave his great grandfather's side for a very long time.

"Are you...sure you can't come with me?" He asked, his voice carrying a quivering undertone with a pinch of anxiety.

Ryūnosuke just chuckled at the innocent question, earning a soft look of confusion from the young man stood beside him.

He knew that his grandson was just seeking reassurance and was nervous about going on his big trip to the other side of the world. He sympathised with the young man because he remembered how scary it was when he, himself, was smuggled onboard a ship by his very best friend...where he was later accused of his friend's murder but the post was he knew the reluctance of leaving your home to parts unknown.

He hung his head and shook it and smiled a warm smile while he touched the younger man's shoulder and gave it a few gentle pats.

"I am a really old man who already made his mark on the world...now it's your turn and I can't wait to hear what 'Phoenix Ryuchi-Nicolas Wright' will do when he makes his own mark."

Phoenix couldn't help it as his lips curled despite them quivering.

He spared a glance to look behind him at the plane and softened his gaze.

He couldn't help but feel apprehensive, he had always had his great grandfather by his side and now he was going to a different country to live without him. His shoulders shook and he felt sweat start to seep through every pore, his wiry brows knitted together to paint a look of fear on his face. He could feel a certain heaviness in the atmosphere that felt like gravity was trying its best to crush him, kind of like the weight of this reality hammering in.

Phoenix knew he should move but he'd try and command his legs to do so and they just wouldn't budge. He tried to move his body but they just wouldn't do what he wanted them to and that just served to increase both his reluctance and his frustration. He swallowed hard to try and keep himself from breaking down into hysterics on the spot.

How could he move without humiliating himself further!?

Why was his very own body failing him!?

The younger spiky-haired man was jolted from his mental self-berating tirade when his great grandfather put a gentle hand on his shoulder, cringing a bit at how tense his muscles had become but he hid it with a warm smile.

Ryūnosuke didn't like to see such fear on his great grandson's face, actually it was pretty reminiscent of the face he wore on his very first day of school, but he knew exactly how to assure him that everything was going to be alright; the old man gently grabbed his great grandson's shoulders and looked him in the eye with a unique blend of compassion, sternness, wisdom and patience glimmering within his coffee brown pools.

"Listen to me carefully, son," He said gently. "It's only natural for living creatures to be scared and to fight to protect their own lives. But what makes us human is that we fight for others. But who do you fight for? How hard must you fight? That's the true measure of what human life is worth. Lawyers such as myself are warriors who are constantly challenged by that question and, even when the battle is over, and the bonds that connect us are severed, we always return time and time again."

Phoenix's wiry brows furrowed and his lips curled slightly upwards.

"Is this one of your cool lawyer speeches, grandpa Ryū?"

"Indeed. Did that help calm your nerves a bit?"

Phoenix looked down at his own front in deep thought, once again thinking about it.

That did quell his fears considerably, he didn't know why but he would always make sure to lock away each and every one of his great grandfather's words of wisdom/anecdotes away in his heart and always made a promise to follow them to the letter. However he could still feel a bit of doubt begin to seep into both his heart and mind, thus threatening to make a second wave of uncertainty hit him hard.

Ryū seemed to notice this and proceeded to reach behind his own back and produced some sort of item.

"Here. This is what I wore when I first came to England with your grandmother all those years ago."

Phoenix was stunned beyond words as he felt his grandfather place something firmly atop his spiky head. He looked up to see what it was and was taken aback, astonished, by the sight of it; he had seen this object many years throughout his life but never thought he'd actually get to wear it.

"...Your hat?"

Ryūnosuke smiled and nodded, his smile broadened when he saw the incredulous expression on his great grandson's face.

Phoenix stepped back, hat perched perfectly atop his head, the tip of it clutched in his fingers as he readjusted it so it was sit better atop his head. He couldn't risk it blowing off of his head. He just couldn't believe that his great grandfather had entrusted his hat to him —him! His great grandfather had worn that hat quite a few times throughout the years and, not once, did Phoenix think he'd ever get the chance to wear it...let alone have it bequeathed to him!

His lips quivered and his eyes started to water while he started to take to clutching the handle of his suitcase tight, and had began to drag it along behind him as he walked towards the plane.

He felt constant pangs of pain hit him right in the heart as he walked further and further away.

It felt as though someone had reached into his chest and grabbed his heart in a vice-tight grip, practically squeezing it with as much force possible. He couldn't help but fret over leaving the only parent he had ever known especially considering how old he was and he didn't want his great grandfather to get lonely during his absence.

His mind started to race as many thoughts darted through his brain:

What would happen if his great grandfather fell and broke a leg and needed help?

What if old age claimed him while he was away?

What would happen if something bad happened and he wasn't there to lend a helping hand?

Each one of those terrifying thoughts caused his heart to constrict more and more as he started to let the paranoia and fear build up inside of him. Each fear was like lactic acid bubbling and oozing in his gut as the force of each thought was tantamount to a swift and solid punch to the face with a few additional side swipes to the gut. How could he leave with such thoughts pumping through his brain?

That was when he stopped for a few moments.

Then he spun round, pivoting on his feet, and ran right back to lunge himself at the old man.

Phoenix threw both arms around his great grandfather's neck and he started to burrow his face into his shoulder, the hat sat on his head was knocked askew and he started to sob uncontrollably. He just kept gasping and weeping, speaking even though his words ever so slightly muffled due to fact that his face was buried in the fabric of his grandfather's shirt.

Ryū had a bit of trouble catching the teen and stumbled a couples times due to the surprising new but he pulled himself back to steady himself and he firmly wrapped one arm around his mid-section and furled the other around the back of his head and neck.

"I'll...I'll miss you..." Phoenix whimpered.

Ryū felt his eyes start to water as he gingerly embraced his great grandson, holding him even tighter. He didn't expect to start crying before his He moved his lips to his descendant's ear in order to whisper something to him. He unhooked one arm from around the teen's neck and patted it a comforting manner, Phoenix's sobs and whimpers started to dwindle in volume.

"I'll miss you too, lad..." He hushed soothingly. "...but I have faith in you that you will most certainly make the most of what this world has to offer you."

The great grandfather and his great grandson pair stayed in their loving familial embrace for what felt like an eternity.

Neither one wanted to relinquish hold on one another, but, alas, time moved on even without them and both Phoenix and Ryūnosuke reluctantly parted and the two spiky-haired men stared at one another once again but not before the former gave his grandfather a half-hearted smile.

The plane won't be there forever and they both knew it.

"I won't let you down, grandpa Ryū..." Said Phoenix as he wiped a lingering tear from his own eye. "I'll make you proud."

Phoenix tipped the hat at his great grandfather and once again started to walk away with the suitcase dragging along behind him. His shoulders shook and trembled but he steeled himself as he kept right on walking, even though this was difficult he knew that he needed to do this.

He was an adult and he knew that whatever destiny awaited him would be great and rewarding.

Ryūnosuke finally allowed himself to cry as soon as Phoenix was out of sight.

This was, however, not out of sadness but out of pride since he had raised Phoenix since the day he was born after his mother had died and now he had successfully let his boy, his Phoenix finally take flight —pride couldn't even begin to describe how he felt. His heart swelled and he was smiling from ear-to-ear.

"You already have...go on and make your name known, Phoenix Wright."

A/N: Here's the epilogue/final chapter.

Ryū sends Phoenix off to his own destiny and we all know how he ended up! I'm sorry that this story is so short, everyone, I just thought I'd make a nice short story to celebrate the newest Ace attorney game.

I hope you guys are having a wonderful day/evening!

-Chloemcg