Disclaimer: Hello everyone! I'm back with another chapter of Fire Emblem. This chapter will not be Speed Metal. Instead Terra and Cliff are about to embark on a journey of discovery. We will not be getting back into the show until Sick Mind. Instead I present to you the Phoenix Rising arc! Let Cliff's return commence!

Last time on Fire Emblem..

I opened my eyes and yelped as I saw a red Autobot standing in front of me. He was bit on the bulky side, but his carefree and charming smile took away from that. However, that wasn't what I was staring at. No, I was staring at his helm.

He was missing a horn.

"Oh my God." I breathed.

The 'Bot got down on one knee and smiled. In a very cheerful voice, he said, "Nice to finally get to speak to you Terra. I'm Cliffjumper, the not so dead Autobot who needs your help getting out of this limbo state!"

*Dreamscape*

"Holy frag." I breathed. I snatched my sunglasses off to make sure I wasn't seeing things. "It really is you."

"In the metal." Cliff bent down to my level and winked. Then he winced. "Or dead metal, I guess."

"Bad joke Cliffjumper. Very bad."

"Too soon?"

"How are..? I mean, how am I supposed to help you?" I was one second away from pulling my hair out.

"You mean you don't know?" If Cybertronians could pale, I'm sure Cliff would have turned the color of snow.

"You thought I knew what I was doing?!" I nearly screamed. How could he possibly have thought something like that?!

"Well, yeah!" Cliff managed to stutter out. "When I found out I couldn't enter the well, a bright light appeared and do you know what was there? An image of YOU. So quite naturally I used my dead guy skills to try and contact you."

"Why would my face appear?" I murmured, choosing to ignore the term "dead guy skills".

Cliff sighed. "You guess is as good as mine. Whatever the reason, my life, or lack of life if we're being honest, is in your hands. Just so we're on the same page, I don't like being dead."

"I'm sure you don't." I remarked dryly. Arcee was right. Cliff most certainly was a character, that's for sure.

Around us the world started fading out. I was waking up. I turned to Cliff and said, "Don't worry. I'm getting you out of here."

He smiled at me, albeit nervously. Can you blame him?

I sat up in my bed, gasping for air as if I had a nightmare. In reality, I think the shock of what I had to do was setting in. Someone. who obviously had a lot more faith in me than I did myself, entrusted me to make sure Cliff made it back to the land of the living. The only question was how?

I quickly showered and got dressed before grabbing my old laptop from my nightstand. After sending a quick text to Jack to tell him I wouldn't be coming to base today and not to check on me (Arcee would have a spark attack if she found out what I was up to), I decided to take a chance and search 'resurrection' on the internet.

"This is going to be a ridiculously bad dead end." I muttered as I started to scroll through the results. I came across various voodoo "spells" and a few biblical things. Even a couple youtube videos of those board games people used to call out to spirits. Just when I was about to saw forget it and walk to the library, I hit the jackpot.

"Phoenix," I read. "It's sometimes used as a symbol for...rebirth. Holy crap. I need to go!" I scrambled to put some shoes on. I grabbed a random pair of gym shoes and ran out of my house.

After making sure nobody was around, I lit my feet on fire and took to the skies. I would get to my training spot a lot faster if I flew. After making it in record time, I searched the vicinity for any dead animal carcasses. I scowled in disgust at the sight of a dead rat. I landed a few feet away.

"Okay. I don't really know what I'm doing, so time for a test run." I mumbled as I slowly powered up the phoenix tattoo. Solaria told me it meant speed and grace. Hopefully it could be a saving grace instead of simply meaning graceful.

I held my hands out in front of me and watched as a small bird like creature formed. I slowly spread my hands and watched it grow. The bird even flapped its wings a few times like it wasn't made completely out of fire. I grunted and thrust the phoenix, at least I'm sure that's what it was since I was using the tattoo, in the direction of the dead rat. I watched in amazement as the phoenix circled the rat. The majestic bird was then absorbed into the rat. I yelped and flew in the air as the rat twitched and suddenly scurried off into the dessert.

"What the actual heck?" I breathed. "That shouldn't even be possible." Then again, I could control fire and that really shouldn't be possible. "It worked on a dead rat, but would it work on a Cybertronian?"

Only one way to find out.

I set fire to my feet and flew in the direction of base. Thankfully my old training grounds weren't far at all. I carefully landed at the top of the silo to avoid setting off the proximity sensor. I walked over to Cliff's grave. His single remaining horn gleamed in the sunlight.

"Let's get you home bud- GAH!" I yelled as the serpent tattoo burned at a dangerously high temperature. I fell to my knees and clutched the poor tattoo as the serpent, made entirely of flames mind you, circled Cliff's grave.

Eye of fire. Use it.

What does that even mean?! I scowled and stared at the grave site. I almost jumped out of my skin when suddenly my vision went orange and I could see inside the grave. I didn't even dwell on my new ability because Cliff's grave was suddenly staring at me inside out. And boy was it a sight.

"God.." I breathed.

Cliffjumper's body was mangled. The phoenix could repair it. That wasn't the issue. The issue was the small, but most certainly visible, dark energon remains dried up on his...do Cybertronians even have skin? If they did, then it was there. I didn't know the effect the phoenix would have on the energon but if it was revived with Cliff, then I wouldn't be doing him any favors. He needed to be cleansed of any dark energon before I could make my move. But how?

The serpent flew in front of me and stopped. I blinked. "Am I supposed to get on?"

A nod.

"Are you even SOLID?"

Another nod.

"My life is a mess." I muttered. I spoke up, "Where are you taking me?"

Energon.

"How would that..." I cut myself off with a sigh. "You know what? Take the lead serpent. I have absolutely nothing to lose."

The serpent looked like it was laughing at me. A rein manifested in front of me and I gripped it tight. The serpent took off and heading off into the desert. I really hoped this guy knew what it was doing.

If not for my sake, then for Cliffjumper's.

Short, I know. Cliff's return could really be written in one chapter, but where's the fun in that? *grins* Suspense is always nice. However, it's currently about to be 4 in the morning where I'm at so I'm about to head in for the night. Until next time, Shadow out!