Hey guys thank you for reading my first story and I finally remembered to include the disclaimer again ^_^ this will take some time so bare with me.

Disclaimer: I do not own Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies all rights go to Capcom

10 Years in the Past

I was only nine years old, I woke up and began getting ready. I changed into some yellow and orange clothing and slipped on those horrible headphones mother forces me to wear. After I put them on I looked over at the clock on my night stand. Oh no, I'm going to be late, mother won't like it if I'm late. I quickly ran out as fast as my two little legs could go. I must not have been aware of my surroundings since I immediately ran into someone and fell on my bottom.

"Oh my gosh I'm so sorry, here let me help you," I didn't comply right away to the owner of the voice who just spoke to me. Mother always told me to never accept help from strangers so I just stayed on the floor shaking.

"Hey, are you okay? I'm sorry that I bumped into you. Did I hurt you somehow? Come one, let's go find Mr. Starbuck he should be able to help you," said the strange person who I immediately knew was a boy by the sound of his voice. I stopped trembling at the mentioned of Mr. Starbuck's name, how he knew him I don't know but it was then I looked up and I stared at his face.

"Hey I never did properly introduced myself, my name is Clay Terran what's your name?" said the boy who I now know is named Clay.

"M-my name is Athena but you can call me Thena if that's easier for you," I shyly introduced myself to him.

"Athena, that's a pretty name you got there, just like the Greek goddess herself," he said with that smile of his I thought was actually kind of sweet and cute.

I said in a softer voice, "Thank you Mr. Terran f-for the compliment but I need to go now. Mother doesn't like it when I'm late."

"No problem Princess," Princess? "Why don't I walk with you I am part of the reason why you're so late at least let me make it up to you and, plus, if I go I can help explain to your mom why you were so late to begin with," he said again with that same smile. I wasn't sure what to do, at first I wanted to say no but at the same time I actually enjoyed his company so after a while I nodded my head.

"That's great, let's go Princess," and with that he took my hand and held it as we walked down the long, intricate hallways until we arrived at the door leading into mother's office. As soon as we got close I looked to Clay and spoke in a more confident voice to him, "Well this is it thank you for walking with me Mr. Terran."

"Not a problem Princess and you don't have to call me 'Mr. Terran' just call me Clay because we're friends." Friends. I like that word, the only other friend I have is Junie but she's sick now so she can't visit today.

"Okay Clay, would you like to come inside and see my mom?" I asked him, I don't know why I asked him to come inside except that I know it didn't seem right to just leave him here.

"Why, I would be honored Your Highness," he said as he bowed. I couldn't help but giggle at how he was acting. When we walked inside I immediately ran up to mother and hugged her legs and I was able to hear Clay chuckling behind me.

"Athena where have you been? Do you have any idea how worried I was?" mother said.

"I'm sorry but I-,"

"This may be the most important experiment yet, I think I'm getting close, you do understand how important this is to me don't you Athena?" mother asked me. I was about to start crying when she said that. It's always like this, mother seems to care more about her research than me.

"Ummm, excuse me? Miss?" I was startled when I heard Clay spoke, I almost forgot he was still here.

"I'm terribly sorry but I don't have time to talk right now. Athena next time I want you to come when I ask you, a little earlier if possible. Do you understand sweetie?" I couldn't look at her but I nodded politely like the good little girl I was.

"Good, well I won't be needing you now so you can go along and play okay?"

"Yes mother."

I didn't waste any time running out of her office and back to my room. I jumped onto my bed and cried into my pillow when I felt someone hugging me.

"Hey, it's okay, let it out don't worry I'm here and I'm going to make sure you're going to be fine," I turned around and hugged Clay and cried into his chest as he stroked my back and hair and did his best to comfort me. I was surprised he followed me back to my room but I didn't care because I was happy to see him.

"M-mother is a-always like this, I try to make her happy b-by giving her pictures I d-drew and it worked for a moment," I didn't know why I was telling him this but it felt right to just tell it to someone, Junie knows about this very well, I wish she was here too.

"Hey, everything is going to be okay, I'm sure your mom loves you very much," he said in a soft voice.

"I-I don't have a lot of friends, Junie is sick today so she can't come and visit and M-Mr. Starbuck can only play with me until he has to go back to work."

"Well I'm your friend too and I promise you are going to be just fine," he said as he wiped away some of my tears.

"T-thank you Clay, I'm happy I met-er ran into you," I said a little giggly.

"See? You're already feeling better but I think I can help you out just a little more. Now repeat after me I'M ATHENA AND I'M FINE." I stared blankly at him not really sure what to say.

"Ummm, how will that help make me feel better?" I wasn't sure how yelling my name will help my emotions.

"Trust me, by saying that all you sadness will magically go away. Here I'll show you. A-ahem. I'M CLAY TERRAN AND I'M FINE," he yelled with that same cute smile. There was so much happiness in his voice that I thought it does work, somehow. "There, now you try it Princess." Well, here goes nothing.

"I'M ATHENA AND I'M FINE," as soon as I was done I really did feel as if all of my sadness did magically go away. I smiled the biggest smile possible and attacked Clay into a big hug to which he returned.

"Thank you Clay I feel better now."

"You're welcome Thena I'm glad I could help."

"Will you come back again tomorrow? I could show you all my favorite places in the Space Center and tell you some secret places not many people know about."

"Of course I'll come visit you tomorrow that's what friends are for and I promised I won't tell anyone about those secret places you'll tell me."

"Pinky swear?"

'Pinky swear," he happily told me as he hooked his pinky finger with mine.

And ever since that day he came to see me almost every single say. One day I took him up to my secret hiding place in the shuttle cockpit where I liked to go when I want to be alone and another day Junie came by so I introduced them to each other. On my 10th birthday, Clay gave me a pretty blue ribbon he said would look really pretty in my hair. I immediately put it on and Clay said I looked liked a real princess then Mr. Starbuck came out to snap our picture out of no where. My life was great until that day.