Shitza. I will finally make a more explaining chapter about things that have happened through the story. I won't explain all, but some things like for instance Kohaku, Lin with more. Everyone has a tale in this story, and don't hate me for having chosen this character to tell them.

So, to summon things up. I have been checking back on the whole story and put out most things that will need some kind of explanations or has anything of an explanation in it. So sorry it has taken a while to update. Yes, some of it has been laziness, most of it I haven't got time since I've had a huge amount of homework and essays to do. But now, it's here, finally! The continuing of the story.

Shitza

Ps: Good news, this will be a long chapter ;)

Pps: bad news: Once there existed a part about Lin's background that I deleted. So my plans for her changed, so if there is anything you would like to commentate, do so cause I actually have no idea at the moment what I deleted and what I wrote.

Chapter 32 Different Tales

Chip sat in the secret cave he had been hiding in, keeping an eye out for trouble. After all, the Phoenix of love and Chihiro still hadn't completed their battle, and so he waited. But not for too long, for as soon as he saw the coast was clear enough to sneak away in, he hurried down to free his friends. Yet on his way he managed to make a huge mistake, and was caught on the way.

'Now Chihiro will really have a reason to kill me' he thought as one evil looking guard carried him by the tail. It was awful being so small and defenceless at these situations.

But it didn't take long for Chihiro to begin her miraculous transformation, and for the Phoenix of love to finally listen to her heart instead of her instincts. He saw enough to see the Phoenix carry Chihiro out of the room. Chip gasped as the woman put her on a soft bed to rest. The guard, who had grabbed him, dumped him down onto the floor.

"Where is the dragon?" The Phoenix asked without turning to face him. She was tending to Chihiro's minor wounds.

"W-why should I tell you?" Chip said dangerously preparing to give that thing a good shock.

"Pull down your useless bolts fox and answer me. I need to know, I will let your friends out as well."

Chip didn't believe her. Not until the doors opened and three demons were dragging Xing, Deko and Lin after them. With Lin none of the demons treated her somehow friendly, while the other two still looked rather okay, Lin had been transformed into a wreck.

The three demons opened the chains on the so-called prisoners and flew away. "now can you answer my question?" the phoenix asked more polite.

Chip sighed. "I can go and get him!" he said. His real thought was to get Kohaku away from this place, but he couldn't leave his others friends behind this. Not with that thing over them!

Yet Chip didn't have time to make any movements until two demons flew in with the exhausted form of Kohaku. The phoenix pointed at the bed where Chihiro slept in and the two creatures gently lay him down beside her.

The phoenix sighed and murmured to herself. "Now all we need is Destiny to arrive and then we can get started.

Whatever she meant with Destiny Chip had no idea off. How could destiny help in this?

The hours went on and the Phoenix invited them for a late dinner. Her demons carried huge filled plates of all kinds of tropical fruits and tasty bread. At first no one touched anything, but soon hunger took over and they all practically grabbed what they could get. The Phoenix watched it all with a smile on her lips. Chihiro and Kohaku still hadn't awoken.

I was night already when they all of sudden heard flapping wings and saw a brown shape fly down to them. As it landed they saw a man walk through the caves towards them. It was the Phoenix of destiny who had landed, bringing more knowledge then anyone. He had a small pouch containing herbs from his own territory. As he entered the chamber where the sleeping spirits and the phoenix sat in, he smiled. This was after all a common sight.

"What took you so long?" the Phoenix of Love asked.

"Ravens and Bats. That witch is pulling out every army she has. We are lucky to be alive you know, you should be extra careful now because she is moving again, and she will get close to you, you know."

"Old news Destiny. I am glad you're here, but you could have hurried so that they didn't have to fall asleep while waiting. Oh, go get some rest and you can tell them everything you know tomorrow."

Unknown to them, Chip heard the whole conversation. Yet sleepy as he was, he didn't care that much.

The sun slowly rose and the beams even more slowly reached the small window like holes in the caves. Chihiro woke up wondering where she was. She could smell heavy perfumes in the air, not to mention all of that essence that made her wrinkle her nose. Essence of the Phoenix she had encountered.

But there was something more and she turned her head slowly to look upon Kohaku as he slept peacefully. A hair had fallen down over his face and she tried to move her hand to put it away. To her surprise she found she couldn't move them.

She turned to face the rest of the room. She saw her friends by the wall, all asleep. Lin slept by Xing's chest and the older spirit held his arms around her waist in a protective manner. Chip was hugging Deko in his sleep, like a son hugging his father. It was obvious how close they had become.

Chihiro at least managed to lift her hand to her eyes and saw a heavy bandage around it. It smelled softly of herbs, yet how she had gotten like this she had no idea. She didn't even know where she was.

"Your questions will be answered soon, Chihiro. Just be patience." A mysterious voice said. Chihiro slowly sat up to face the eight Phoenix. The Phoenix of Destiny sat in a chair, smoking a pipe. He didn't look that old, but still he was nearing his 5000th birthday.

"Who are you?" Chihiro asked.

"Like I said, your questions will be answered soon. How is your arm? You're surprised for being here?"

Chihiro nodded slowly, wondering how he could know so much. She hoped this would be the one to answer their questions.

Meantime everyone else was waking up. Even Kohaku opened his eyes, and received a morning kiss from his girlfriend. Lin yawned wildly, Deko stared at the still sleeping form of Chip that was hugging him. Content the mute spirit leaned back, with a broad smile over his lips. Silently he hugged him back, while resting.

Breakfast was served by two small demons, carrying trays of fruits again, some bread and cheese. Everyone ate, even Chihiro and Kohaku managed to take several bites. Soon all the food was gone, and Xing was picking the rest of it away with a small toothpick.

The doors all off sudden opened furiously, and a very sleepy Phoenix entered. Her usually silk hair was all a mess as if someone had been making it all up. "God morning, I do hope you have liked your stay. Destiny, why didn't you wake me up before you went back here?"

The man in the chair smiled. "If I would have, you would have knocked me down with one of your vases. I thought it was better with a row then a vase!"

The Phoenix of Love sighed. "You're impossible!"

Chihiro followed the whole conversation with confusion She didn't understand a thing.

It looked like no one had.

The Phoenix of destiny, as he was called stood up and cleared his throat importantly. "I think we better start from the beginning, by telling you all what the whole thing is all about…"

How it all began

"All in all there exist different worlds. Or dimensions, each one specified for it's own purpose. For example, this world that balances the power between nature and evolution. All these worlds somehow circulate one particular small one, called Earth. This is where we all know humans exist, and to that world there are several gates.

From the beginning, when the worlds were really young, nothing was needed in order to keep the balance since all dimensions worked in harmony and it all seemed to go to a bright future of piece. This was all in one era, where peace ruled.

But one day, the whole balance was disrupted, and it actually happened in this world. In one of the ancient cities there was a pair of brothers, excellent craftsmen and wonderful makers of rings. For a long while their stores bloomed as every spirit travelled miles to buy their jewellery. They had good skills and knew were to find the right jewels for their tings and necklaces. It was a small hill where it was told diamonds bloomed on the ground and emeralds grew from the grass itself.

But one day, as one of the brothers walked up to the hill he already saw a shadowy figure standing there picking stones into a casket. He got so angry, since as the years had gone he and his brother had so much as claimed the hill as theirs. Without taking a further look he drew his bow and killed the figure on the hill. It turned out to be his brother.

Completely destroyed, as he soon saw what he had done he returned home and buried his brother in the mountains. He didn't tell anyone what he had done, but people soon found out and started to avoid him. The store didn't go as well, because the beauty at the crafts they made had been destroyed. The lost brother went to a wise witch in the mountains, to ask her to give the jewellery its beauty back. She said yes, on one condition. He would have to make a ring, out of cold iron for her. He did, and that s how the first of the iron rings were made.

Now the witch he had met wasn't nice, like most witches really are. As soon as she got the ring she used an evil spell on it that would allow it to drain it's bearer's powers until he or she was dead and gone. In disguise she went back to the brother, and quietly slipped it on his finger. When the brother next day woke up, he was terrified of that curse he had on his finger and the witch told him, if he wanted it removed, he would have to make more rings for her.

And so he was trapped, he lived long enough to supply her with enough of these evil things to destroy the whole spirit world. It would have gone further, but the witch didn't have so long to live because it is said that the first ten phoenixes hunted her and soon found her. They struggled long until all eleven soon died, bearing most secrets about life with them. But as the balance now was disrupted, ten new phoenixes were born, and continued taking care of the lands in this world, as well nurture the other worlds as well. But as life continued the remaining rings were slowly forgotten, and only the Phoenix of destiny knew about them, but like always was forbidden to tell.

It isn't until now that those cursed rings have fallen back into this world, in the wrong hands. Yubaba has already killed and drained a good deal of spirits, and she will have more if no one stops her."

The Phoenix of destiny finished the first legend, before letting the group of friends question both he and Love. Most they had to recall pieces of the legend, but now and then a good question came. Like: "How come it all happens now, why's that?" Chip asked.

"As the crack between the dimensions are now very vulnerable, it was said that a selected team of spirits would be able to seal it for good and that the balance would return to the world. But only if they could summon their strengths and defeat the centre of the evil itself, which isn't Yubaba as you think. It's the evil that controls the witch that you will have to destroy."

"Then how can you explain why we are the selected ones to bring it down?" Chihiro asked.

The phoenix smiled knowingly. That is an excellent question, and indeed that one too has its story. We can start from the beginning.

The Chosen Travellers

"If you haven't heard there is a Prophecy made for this epic, describing the fate of two lovers and their task they have. The first time you entered Kamikakushi Chihiro; you opened one sealed crack into this world. In order to close it, you must restore the balance and by that destroy the evil and find the new Phoenix of peace, our dear sister who died. But your tale also is a reincarnation of something that happened once before when the cracks were opened. You see, you aren't the first human who has entered here. Once, it is said that a princess from your world fell in love with a mysterious dragon of this world. Yet forbidden as it is said their families and world tore them apart, and sealed them away from each other. It was their destiny to be together, but their worlds will to be apart. Another balance was disrupted and the two lovers soon died, far away from each other.

But before they died they said they would be together again, either in their death or in a new life. Your tale is almost identical to theirs, yet as Chihiro was chosen to meet you before your love for each other grew to much, it looks like the worlds have accepted your fates, all though it still put obstacles in your journey, does they not. Love was one example, isn't it? But I can say you two fights really good to stay together.

Now, there is of course more to that legend, but those details are not necessary. However there are more reasons for you all being selected. Xing for example is from the small branches of his family tree the last remaining living heir from that brother I talked about, the one who wasn't killed. That is why you have to be here. And Deko, is another story, he is perhaps mute, but that runs in his family, for the witch had a servant, who knew the formula, and that servant became mute as he continued helping her in her horrible experiments. This stays in his blood, it's a curse that remains. Unfortunately there are no known ways of curing it. Deko and his sons and daughters will have to remain mute for all eternity.

Chip, your story comes from your father, who was the one forcing the dragon and the princess apart. It's a good thing Kohaku managed to get rid of him, but because of you being in his blood, whether you like it or not, you have to witness what is happening here. Not to mention, you are a thief, and so your powers will come in handy, as you have demonstrated here.

Lastly, we have Lin who can remain a mystery since her background is forgotten, very much thanks to Yubaba, but I will give you your memories back. But none of them, will be nice to know."

Arika-Princess in her Own World

"Your own story is legendary, and I guess you don't remember anything from it anymore. You were born in a village, close to Livia Lake. That village is destroyed now, Yubaba has destroyed almost everything now and nothing exists any longer. Only memories, like the ones haunting your sleep.

You don't remember them, but your parents were both Water Spirits. Proud silver fishes that swum the lakes. Your fathers name was Etexor and your mother Aikala. You were their only daughter, and now that they loved you because they did, very deeply.

I do recall, once I flew over your village, you sitting with a group of boys, telling them stories about great deeds and historical events. That was your gift Lin you weren't like normal spirits. You were something else. Your gift was something you had inherited from a Mist Goddess. A gift you valued deeply.

Then it came, a day your family died from some unknown decease and you were taken to the bathhouse. You started working for Yubaba, who also drained your gift from you, as you were mighty. She knew, and now you know.

The importance in your story is that you are the only one who can put this story to an end, but you have to reclaim your powers as well. No Lin, you are not a mere mortal. You are something much more then a usual spirit. You can decide fates, and make people bend to your will by your stories.

Your name, I suppose you want to know this, is Arika!"

Lin was shocked. She had heard that name before, and slowly pieces fell together and she started crying. She cried for her name, for her life and for the life she could have had. She cried for her parents as the images of them finally became focused. Xing hugged her tightly trying to calm her.

"There is something more too," the Phoenix said. "You have perhaps noticed the demons dislike for you. That comes with your powers, since they don't want to be here, yet the cracks around make them come. They think it's your fault everything of this happened to them. As soon as you get your powers back, you have to get them back to their own world, and let them at peace."

"Okay," Kohaku said. "You have given us much information about us and this ring and why we are here. But you haven't told us much about you Phoenixes and there is something that has been bothering me. I know now what you phoenixes are, but why aren't you ten like you should be? I heard that one of you died, but aren't Phoenixes supposed to be immortal?"

"Indeed we are, but we can be killed. Most we decide to die in order to protect the balance, but Peace didn't die because of that. Listen to this…

Hit by a force
Fallen to darkness
Reach the water
With no turning back

It all means simple. Yubaba ordered someone to kill her right over the pool of dead. It wasn't the arrow she was hit of that caused her death, only her fall. But once the dead gets hold of us they tears us into pieces. They take our souls and trap it down there. We are dead when we fall into it."

"What is the Pool of Dead?" Chihiro asked.

"One of the cracks, between the dimension of death and this world. Life lives close to that dimension, but not close enough. That pool haunts us, and it never stays in the same place. Yubaba tried to kill me in that way, but failed. I was happy to have foreseen it."

The Phoenix of Love suddenly pointed at one of the windows, and as everyone turned to it they saw probably the deepest blackest holes of all time. From it they could hear the dead calling, wailing their sorrow, cursing their living. Both Phoenixes backed away from it…

TBC

To Reviewers:

big book worm: I really liked that too! I think Kohaku has saved her almost too many times thinking of his strength. I do hope you liked this chapter as well, even if it was long.

LadyRainStarDragon: Chip is one of my favourites and I really like the idea of him being this sneaky little figure that you don't know where he is. And I can't commentate much about the fight here, or there would be huge spoilers in this fic. All I can say is that the fight has great importance to the end of this story.

Storm-Maker: There is a reason for the change, didn't end up here but once you will read one of the last chapters you will understand why she changed as she did. All I can say is that something really did happen with Chihiro that was meant to happen. And to be honest, I am not sure exactly how many chapters there will be, it can be less then fifteen if you want to know. We are almost there! Hope you liked this chapter, longer then usual, wasn't it?

Wild Stallion: Yes, not all Phoenixes are nice and the Phoenix of Ice can be described as almost evil. That can have a reference to the reason for her being Ice and cold. Sorry for the late update, but this took a while to type.

Winter –iel –o burzum: Oh, I am just happy whenever I read you reviews, so there isn't anything you've done wrong. And about what she saw… sorry can't say! Will spoil the whole story if I did. Sorry, but I hope you continue reading. It isn't much more left…

End Notes: Was that counted as a cliffhanger? I am terribly sorry for keeping you all so excited about what Love saw in this, but can't say! Don't try to get the answer from me until I get to the end and my special little goodbye. (For anyone who has read HotF, you will know what I meant) Thanks for reading, GTG, I have an exam tomorrow so can't stay. Counting the days so far, it's soon my 17th Birthday, hurray!

Shitza