The Phoenix's diving speed was incredible, and it took all of Cyrus, Kyra, and Taizen's junctioned agility to dodge the GF. It quickly ascended back up towards the Fire Cavern's ceiling, once again waiting to see what the mortals would do in response.

Cyrus, still seething, started to recklessly toss several Blizzara spells towards the Phoenix, sending giant icicles flying upwards and hoping to connect. The Phoenix, however, was able to deftly dodge most of the Blizzaras and destroy the rest with a flamethrower-like attack from its open beak. Cyrus cursed vehemently as he focused on conjuring another series of Blizzaras when Kyra grabbed his arm.

"Knock it off, Cyrus!" Kyra shouted angrily. "I know you're pissed, but you can't keep doing this! Too many more errant Blizzaras and you'll bring this whole cavern down around our ears!"

"Then what would you have me do, Kyra?!" Cyrus snapped back, shocking the red-haired fighter. Cyrus, noticing the look in Kyra's eyes, immediately softened his tone and said, "Kyra, I…"

"It's coming again!" Taizen stated as he tightened his grip on Griffin's Heart. Cyrus and Kyra quickly spun around to see the Phoenix within feet of them, once again trying to swoop on top of them. It was too close to dodge, so Cyrus used Inferno to block the Phoenix's beak and hold it back. As Cyrus struggled against the mighty Firebird, he nodded to Kyra who brought her hands up and shouted, "Blizzara!"

This time, the Phoenix was unable to dodge as the Blizzara spell connected with its left wing, encasing it in ice. The Phoenix shrieked in pain as it backed off and receded back into the lava pools. Cyrus, suffering from burns from the Phoenix's fiery feathers, grabbed a potion from his vest and drank it down as Taizen said:

"It will recover soon. Perhaps we should take this opportunity to come up with a plan of attack."

Kyra nodded. "This thing's made of fire, so ice and water spells are the way to go. The only problem is this narrow path we're on. It's really making it hard to dodge that damn bird and that flame stream attack it likes to use. Any ideas?"

"Just one," Cyrus answered somberly. "But Ifrit's not going to like it."

"What are you talking about, Cyrus?" Ifrit demanded before finally realizing what Cyrus meant. "Oh, you cannot be serious…"

"Afraid so, partner," Cyrus replied internally. "If we don't do this, we can't win. I'm sorry…"

Inside Cyrus's mind, the SeeD could hear Ifrit grumbled and groan before finally relenting. "…Very well. Do it."

Cyrus nodded and turned to Kyra. "Summon Shiva. Freeze the lava ponds. It won't stop the Phoenix, but it'll expand the playing field."

Kyra nodded as she summoned Shiva, who proceeded to direct her icy magic towards cooling the molten magma until the entire area was surrounded by solid rock. Cyrus knew that the underground magma streams would change all that after a day or two, but it at least gave the SeeDs enough room to put up a decent fight.

As Shiva finished her task, the Phoenix erupted once again, this time through the freshly-cooled rock. It looked rather angry as it reeled back and prepared to launch its flame stream.

"Damn it! Shell!" Cyrus shouted as he cast the protective magical barriers on himself and his teammates. The Phoenix's flame stream washed over the SeeDs, and while they felt the searing flames tear into them, it was stymied by the Shell spells. Cyrus and his friends shook it off as Cyrus began to focus his energy.

"Leviathan! Get out here!"

Just like back at the missile base, the floor of the Fire Cavern was quickly covered in knee-deep water as the Protector of the Sea emerged from the murky depths. Leviathan looked at his summoner and simply stated, "Do I need to ask what you need from me?"

Cyrus shook his head. "Take down the Phoenix. Hold nothing back."

Leviathan nodded as he faced the Firebird, who was reeling back for another flame stream. As the Phoenix unleashed its inferno, Leviathan responded by mimicking the Phoenix's movements as he too reeled back and unleashed a high-pressure stream of water. The two GFs continued to pour on the power from their respective attacks as the Phoenix and Leviathan struggled to gain an advantage.

Fortunately for the sea serpent, Shiva was still materialized and willing to provide backup. The Ice Maiden took the opening provided by Leviathan and unleashed her Diamond Dust attack. Shiva's most powerful ice spell hit the Phoenix and froze both of its wings as well as two of its pinions. The lost of mobility forced the Phoenix to fall to the ground as it landed on its feets, staring down the SeeDs with blind determination. Shiva and Leviathan disappeared in a flash of ice and water as Cyrus, Kyra, and Taizen all readied themselves.

"Now! Rush it!" Cyrus shouted as all three SeeDs lunged at the grounded Phoenix. Still willing to fight, the Phoenix unleashed yet another fire stream that was blocked by Griffin's Heart. Cyrus and Kyra took advantage of the opportunity that Taizen gave them to close the distance between them and the Phoenix as both warriors drove their respective blades deep into the Phoenix's neck.

The Firebird, surprisingly still alive, thrashed about in pain as it send Cyrus and Kyra flying in opposite directions; Kyra left and Cyrus right. Both SeeDs got back to their feet as the Phoenix concentrated its energy and summoned a maelstrom of flames around it, melting the ice on its wings and allowing the GF to return to the skies. The Phoenix then turned its attention to Cyrus as it gained more altitude.

Knowing another dive bomb was coming, Cyrus attempted to run. However, he noticed that his foot was jammed into a crack in the former magma pool. Cyrus frantically tried to free himself as the Phoenix halted its ascension and hurled itself downward towards Cyrus, its razor-sharp beak aimed directly for his heart.

Cyrus, unable to free himself, brought Inferno up in an attempt to block the Phoenix's assault. However, even he knew that the Phoenix's velocity would be able to shatter Inferno easily. As the Phoenix got closer and closer still, Cyrus closed his eyes and prepared himself for the inevitable collision…

…only to open them again to see Kyra standing in front of him, the Phoenix's beak piercing her abdomen.

"Kyra!" Cyrus shouted as he finally free himself, grabbed Kyra, and drove the Phoenix back with Inferno. Taizen quickly rushed over to provide cover as Cyrus asked the fallen fighter, "Why? Why the hell did you save me?"

"You idiot," Kyra muttered as she tried to halt the bleeding. "This isn't just your journey, you know. You have to stop trying to carry the burden alone and let us bear it with you…"

Kyra passed out as Cyrus tried to shake her out of it. When his actions gained no response from Kyra, Cyrus gently laid her on the ground as he stood up and faced the Phoenix with fire in his eyes. He said nothing as he grabbed Inferno even tighter as he rushed the flying GF.

Confused, the Phoenix once again tried to attack with its flame stream. Cyrus, not even so much as flinching, took the attack head-on as he powered his way through the fire and jumped up towards the Phoenix, driving Inferno's blade deep into the GF's stomach. Then, using every last ounce of his strength, he swung the scythe and its captured prey down hard onto the floor as he landed several yards away. He then shouted, "Taizen! Hit it with everything you got!"

Taizen nodded as he and Cyrus unleashed a massive barrage of Blizzara spells on top of the fallen Phoenix. The GF screeched in agony as the two SeeDs continued their assault. Finally, after expending their entire stock of Blizzaras, the Phoenix finally submitted to Cyrus and Taizen and reduced itself to ashes, leaving only a pile of dust and one of its pinions behind.

With the Phoenix defeated, Cyrus immediately rushed over to Kyra and knelt down beside her body. Cyrus checked for her pulse and was horrified to find that she had none…

"No, not again!" Cyrus screamed as he conjured up healing spells, one after another. None of them seemed to have any effect as Cyrus frantically tried to think of a way to save Kyra.

"Kyra! Damn it, Kyra…don't you do this! You're not the type of person to just give up like this! For fuck's sake, Kyra…SNAP OUT OF IT!"

"Cyrus…" Taizen said in a somber tone, "It's over. She's gone…"

"Shut the hell up, Taizen!" Cyrus shouted at his muscle-bound teammate. "It's not over! I can save her…I will save her!"

Out of the corner of his eye, Cyrus saw the pinion that the Phoenix had left behind upon its demise. Cyrus quickly ran and collect the fallen plume and just as quickly returned to Kyra's side. He held the pinion tightly in his right hand as he looked into the blank face of Kyra.

Cyrus had heard the legend of the Phoenix…hell, every SeeD had at one time or another. The story of the Great Flame of Resurrection that could defy death time after time, only to rise again…

"Please…" Cyrus quietly muttered as he focused whatever energy he had left into the Phoenix's pinion. "I don't want to lose her…I don't want to lose anyone ever again. Phoenix, I beg you…lend her your divine power…bring her back to life!"

Seconds later, the pinion started to glow white-hot as Cyrus dropped it in shock. The pinion fell gently on top of Kyra's wounded abdomen as it started to pulsate. Kyra's body began to throb in rhythm with the pinion as the light surrounding the fallen plume grew brighter and brighter. It finally became bright enough to envelop Kyra's entire body, shielding it from sight as Cyrus and Taizen turned away from the blinding light. Several seconds later, the light subsided and disappeared along with the Phoenix's pinion.

"Kyra?" Cyrus quietly asked as he cautiously approached Kyra's body. To his relief, he saw that Kyra's wound had closed and that her chest was heaving up and down, meaning that she was alive and breathing again. She opened her brown eyes and turned her head towards a kneeling Cyrus. She asked in a sleepy tone, "Cyrus? What happened? Am I dead?"

"No…" Cyrus managed to say as he fought back a tear. "You're alive. You survived…"

"The power of the Phoenix saved you, Kyra," Taizen stated from a distance. "And if I'm not mistaken, it seems it has made another decision about you…"

Kyra looked confused until she sat up and looked down at her stomach. There, just above the naval, was the branded tribal image of the Phoenix soaring towards the sky. Kyra looked at Cyrus and asked, "Did I…did I junction with the Phoenix?"

Cyrus nodded. "Well, to be more accurate, it seems the Phoenix junctioned with you. I used one of its pinions to try and save you, and I guess the Phoenix took the opportunity to choose its summoner."

"I see," Kyra said as her eyelids became very heavy. "Well, that's nice. I think I need a nap, though…"

With that, Kyra passed out as Cyrus caught her with his right arm. He smiled as he gently picked up the red-haired fighter and carried her bridal-style towards the Fire Cavern's exit. Taizen simply shook his head as he sheathed Griffin's Heart and followed his captain as if nothing was different...

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

It was close to midnight in the town of Balamb. Cyrus had rented a room at the hotel for the night and had let Kyra rest with Taizen guarding her. He, however, was about to have a conversation long overdue…

"Get out here, Leviathan."

Cyrus, sitting on one of Balamb Harbor's docks, waited patiently as Leviathan emerged from the sea and faced his summoner. He cocked his head quizzically as he asked Cyrus, "What is it, young warrior?"

"I have some questions for you," Cyrus simply replied.

"And you couldn't have asked me telepathically?" Leviathan inquired.

"I could have. But I wanted to have this conversation face-to-face. You have information about the Seraphim Society…information I need if I'm going to take them down. Tell me everything you know about them."

Leviathan sighed as he lowered his gaze. "What the Seraphim Society is and their goals are, even I don't know that. But what I do know is how they have acquired their power."

Cyrus crossed his arms. "Go on."

"Long ago, in the days of the Centra Empire, a means of extracting magic was developed by several scholars and magicians. Via a series of complex incantations and symbols, the Centrans were able to draw magic from their environment and several magical hotspots across the world."

"What's so special about that? We human can draw magic from monsters. What's the difference?"

"The difference is that the Centrans were not junctioned to GFs," Leviathan explained. "Back then, we were simply regarded as protectors of the elements. The idea that we could bond with mortals was simply never thought of. Even so, the Centrans managed to develop a method of drawing magic without the aid of Guardian Forces."

"How?"

"The Centrans discovered a cache of magically-infused crystals. They soon realized that these crystals in conjunction with the then-common knowledge of sorcery could actually draw magical energy from a variety of sources. The Centrans scoured the world for more potent sources of magical energy and harvested the crystals to absorb the power."

"Those crystals…" Cyrus muttered as he came to a realization. He was about to declare his revelation before Leviathan interrupted him.

"Yes, those are the same crystals that Siren, the Brothers, and I were imprisoned in. Apparently, the Seraphim Society has rediscovered those crystals and its members are using them to acquire their expansive magical power. However, what they aim to do with that power eludes me…"

Cyrus, taking a few seconds to digest what Leviathan had just told him, finally stood up and said, "Thanks for the information, Leviathan. You can return now."

"Cyrus?"

His arms still crossed, Cyrus explained to the sea serpent, "If what you said is true, then the Seraphim Society is only going to get stronger the longer we wait. Even if we don't know what their plans are, I have every intention of stopping them. And I'm going to need the help of all my friends. Can I count on you in the battles to come, Leviathan?"

"Of course," Leviathan replied with a nod as he started to de-materialize. "My strength is yours to borrow whenever you need it."

"And mine as well," Ifrit chimed in from the recesses of Cyrus's mind.

Cyrus smiled as he looked out towards the sea. The full moon reflected off the water as it illuminated the docked Valeria. He breathed in the night air as his fingers lightly brushed Inferno resting on his back.

Tonight, he and his friends would rest.

Tomorrow, the hunt for the Seraphim Society and Balamb Garden would begin.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Author's Notes:

Somebody actually died...only to rise again! Rebirth Flame FTW!

But seriously, hope you all enjoyed this battle. I think I do my best work with fight scenes, so I hope this one was of the same quality that you've all come to expect from the Exile.

Seven reviews away from 100! Thanks to the Duelist of Dawn, BestInInfluence, ExtremeuGamer, Hiiro Mizutani, ZantokXIII, and Ally Todd for the reviews. Let this be the chapter that gets us over the edge! To 100 and the glory therein! BOOYA!

And now ladies and gentlemen...Mr. Conway Twitty!

Nah, I'm just kidding. Review!

See you all on the Long and Winding Road,

"The Exile" Cyrus Truth