Disclaimer: I like my ending... Ahem, I don't own the trademarks.
Chapter 8: The Flame of Faith
An hour exactly later the mighty fine crew departed from the S.S. Nails. "Thank you old friend." Orion bowed, and Nails nodded. "T'was only fate that I should help your quest commence. Good luck to all of ya!" He winked, and they left the Island of the Phoenix. "Hey, what's that in the distance?" Joey asked, squinting to see distant speed boats. "That my friends is the police! Looks like more suspense then we expected." Tory called, and we ran farther inland. "Now where's this so called "Cave of Fate" Katerina?" Vince questioned, running with us. "It's left of the Pinnacle of Hope and right from-" I stopped, pointing at the map. I was interrupted though by Joey's hand grabbing mine as he forced me to run. "No time unless you want your journey to end here!" Ishabi called, back as Joey nodded. "I think then the cave should be... Here! Is this it?" Tory asked, smiling at a giant cave. "Good navigating... It shall be your last Tory, my promise." Nichiro laughed, and out came Lance by his side. "Puppets aren't they, these humans... Expose their weakness and they'll do anything to survive." He cackled, and stepped into the complete light to reveal the saber against Lance's neck. "Your a fool Nichiro! Thinking that bringing back slavery will end the grudge." Zip snapped. "SILENCE!" Nichiro called, and brought forth his mighty claw. "Stop right there." The Policemen called, and we were surrounded.
"Oh, look they have guns..." Nichiro laughed, "Boomerang Shot!" And the saber, under his power sliced every single one of the policemen's pointed guns. "Weak, there is there weakness." He sighed, finding this mere child's play. "Leave them alone! I have no weakness!" I roared, knowing this was the biggest lie I've ever told. "Ha! I know yours without even trying!" He snickered, and went over to Tory. "Now, about that promise..." He hissed. "No, leave Tory alone!" I called, and I came out behind him. He flung around with the saber inches from my neck. "Come on Katerina punch me... Punch me and I will slice your neck in half, I dare you." He hissed into my ear menacingly. "No, you'll kill me with your-no, my-OUR saber!" I roared, and backed away at once. "You're a confused lost child... Weak and vulnerable, useless at all costs... Your a no one, a loser, a-" He started, but my anger kicked in. "STOP IT!" I cried, making my hands fists. Tears began to swell up in my eyes. I looked away to shake them off. "Weak spot, I smell a-" He began again, but again he was stopped. "I turned to see who. "Joey no!" Clarice cried, afraid for her friends safety.
He knocked him down and Nichiro crowed, "Why you little!" And he clasp the saber in his evil claws. "Joey watch out!" I screamed, too late. With fast reflexes of the Naga he stabbed Joey... In the stomach! "Joey! No, Joey!" I cried, as tears seeped down my faced. "Weakness again found in you Katerina." Nichiro smiled, and took the saber out of him and left his limp body on the ground. I ran to him and fell to my knees. "That would be murder monster." A policeman snapped, and pulled off a tab from a sheet of paper. "So , I've done that before." Nichiro laughed. "I'm afraid the monster race is at stake from that remark." Another Policeman sighed. "No, we're not all murderers!" Smasher roared, refusing to be called so. "You have no proof and from here on out we may be forced to act." He said, and looked over at me. The limp body of Joey was cradled on my arms sadly.
"I'm sorry miss, we'll get them back for that." The Policeman insisted, and all the monsters looked at me. "NO YOU WON'T! They did nothing! It was Nichiro and that's all, don't count this against anyone." I yelled at them. "I'm sorry little girl, we'll take you back to your mom." Another replied, trying to comfort me. But not one of those words comforted my broken heart. "Little girl? Little-girl?! I travel from my home, my safe home out to this island to be taken back with the death of Joey and my very first monster and so many others?!" I crowed, and I slowly laid Joey's body down. "I don't think so... If I'm going to do anything I'll find the Phoenix, either that or die trying, like Joey." I insisted. "I'm so-" The Policeman began. "DON'T SAY SORRY! That's not what I want to here, for it's not your fault..." I sighed, and turned to Nichiro.
"Ah, ah, ah Katerina... Grudges is Ganki's reason for losing, and your about to, again." Nichiro cackled. "No! The Phoenix is waiting for me and it's my destiny!" I cried and I felt something in my hand. I opened my fist to see a bright shining ball of light. "Joey's faith." I whispered, and I knew where to put it this time. I touched my heart and that's where it was... All along. I looked back at my frightened friends and I could take the pain no longer. I ran inside quickly and say only darkness. I didn't care how far I had to go, or whether I never came back out again. "Phoenix, I call to you it's your one life that remains still true!" I called, and it echoed into the cave the words right back. "Focus on the reason for our journey Katerina...The love of our family, the hope of the past, and the faith of the forgotten and yet remembered friends." I said aloud, and I saw it. The dim shadow of a bird... A giant bird!
I ran to it to find a sulking Phoenix. "Phoenix help us! We need you now!" I crowed, coming up to it bravely. "I can't help you Princess..." It sighed. "Princess? Grrrr, that's not important." I reminded myself. " Yes, you can Phoenix! I believe!" I roared, looking up at the real live Phoenix. "Look, I disappointed that Ganki kid, I refuse to lose again." The Phoenix sighed. "No, you won't lose! Ever again, I have their faith now... Something Ganki never got when he went the distance." I insisted, and looked up at the angered legendary bird. "LISTEN! You're no different then that other kid okay? And he lost too." It said, and looked away. "Then let me lose, let me fall to the despair and disappointment. But I can go home knowing that I didn't give up... Not like I have anything else to lose now." I sighed, and fell to my knees. I seemed to be having a flash back of everything out of no where. I saw the forgotten monsters in the valley, I remembered Hank's death, I heard Mac's final words, and I felt Joey's death.
"You... You are the one that contains the Faith of the Fire... My fire." The Phoenix triumphed and stood up. I then ran out of the cave with the light of the Phoenix's mighty flame. The same brilliant flame my mother told me in stories, fairytales that even at this age blossomed in my heart as a true story. When Nichiro caught sight of the Phoenix he stumbled into the Policemen's hands and was cuffed up. I ran over to Joey's side to show the Phoenix he was the one I would never forget. I then stood up and looked at the hopeful Phoenix. "Though the Phoenix's flame was forever, an everlasting rise of faith, its shine was lost. The ghost of the disks were faded out but now they believe... Phoenix, I give you all of their faith that they kept in their hearts." I recited, and extended my arms into the air.
A million colors flashed into the air and I saw the Phoenix rise with little effort of it's giant wings of beauty and grace. "Ha, it can't stop me." Nichiro laughed, even though the police held him back and he was unable to attack us. "I doubt that Nichiro." Abe insisted, and the police dragged him into the speedboat and tied his stinger up too. "Now, with this faith that you have given me I will shine on the world and revive those who have awaited their rebirth. I wish that you would take the honor of coming with me." The Phoenix asked, but I shook my head sadly. "Though it would be a great honor Phoenix, I still have some matters to deal with." I smiled, and looked back at Joey sadly. "As you wish." It sighed, and flew away forming a wonderful rainbow. I smiled even as tears fell on Joey's cold face. The Phoenix, though hid power is great, cannot revive Joey. "Katerina, I'm sorry." Clarice gasp, seeing Joey in my arms. "No, you don't have to apologize, no one does." I said, as a Policeman tried to take him away. "Stand back, everyone." I sighed, and I put him down again to get the legendary Crystal Saber.
"How will-" The policeman asked, but my words hushed them. "Crystal Saber, do no wrong fix this now!" I called, but nothing happened. "Crystal Saber save him!" I cried, and threw it down. "I thought it could heal... It can't even heal a broken heart." I said, and lifted up his head to stare into his sad face. "Joey, come back! I-I love you okay? You said we would get the crystal back together, and well I need you." I cried, and put my face on his chest giving up and crying. Nothing worked.
"K-Katerina?" Someone asked, and I felt someone's fingers touch my hair. I picked up my head to see Joey! "Joey! Joey, you're alive! Look, the saber!" I yelled, and the saber lifted itself up and the crystal dropped out of it and the saber itself was gone.... Just like that. "I had a feeling it was only there to help us." I sighed, and Joey put his hand on my shoulder. "We did it!" Clarice laughed. "But we couldn't have done it without Katerina!" Abe called, and I smiled at all of them. The monsters and the humans together for the first time ever understood each other. "Katerina, the famous Katerina we'd like to know how you feel about saving the world." A news reporter asked, and I sighed. "It wasn't just me, it was the bond of the monsters and the humans that helped us preserve." I smiled. "Okay, then what about the fuss about the act against monsters that the police just attempted to file." He asked, and I looked over at all my monster friends. "That won't happen, the culprit monster is behind bars at the moment and other monsters shall not be charged for Nichiro's evil intentions... The lost disks are, at this moment being reborn to new life." I sighed, and I gave Zip a high five in front of the camera.
"Well, for as young as you are you sure have a pure heart... Let's give them all a big round of applause." The camera man smiled, and down flew a helicopter where the camera man came from. A great clapping came from the helicopter and out came our parents and Petunia! The pink tiger galloped over to me and wagged its tail. "You did it Katerina, I knew you could... You have all the heart in the world and the faith of the Phoenix." Petunia sighed, and I hugged her. I stood up and looked over at everyone with their families and I smiled at the camera. "Look!" Someone shrieked, and the Phoenix landed behind me and opened its beautiful wings. They all gasp but I looked back at it. "In commemoration of this very day I give you, Katerina the Phoenix pendant to protect you forever. Remember me until your final days and never forget Princess, your father is very proud of you." The Phoenix said, and left into the cave without another word.
"Father?" I asked, but it was long gone. Coincidence that he knew my father called me Princess? I don't think so... I picked up the pendant and I figured out what it was. I opened up the Phoenix shaped necklace and I saw a picture... On one side was of my father and me and the other one was of the whole group Tory's gang, my friends and even Mac.... They all were there, by my side for when I'm in trouble. "Is this possible that the Phoenix could be your biological father?" The camera man asked, and camera's flashed and all the news stations came. "I think that's for everyone else to decide... Don't you think?" I asked, and my friends and I hopped into the helicopter, without another word.