Chapter 1: Rebirth Flame

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy and despite the fact that most of this story is my own ideas and plot, I still give credit to the creators of Final Fantasy for hooking my gaming for the last six years of my life.

A teenage boy, along with five other people, walks through a bustling town. The leading person simply says, "I can't believe we're here. You know, to get here was not really the most pleasant way but hey… We're here. Now, can we go and check out blasterball?"

Another person walks out of the group and smiles at the person who just asked the question. "Why not, Jaxen?" the person asks.

The teenage boy jumps up in the air before saying, "Okay, then! Let's hit it!" The other four people pass as the teenage boy thinks, 'Yeah, the way to get here wasn't as pleasant as I wanted it to be…But, hey, things turned out pretty well…'

A phoenix flew through a forest, followed by a dark figure. It flew up into the sky as the dark figure followed. Once the dark figure had gotten close enough to grab it, the phoenix launched a fireball at the figure, hitting the figure back before it kept on flying towards the horizon. Nevertheless, the figure regained its composure and began rushing towards the phoenix as the phoenix kept on flying towards the horizon. A boy standing by could hear the words, "Help me," as the phoenix kept on trying to fly away from the dark figure. The boy looked at the phoenix as darkness and fire collided with each other, pushing the boy back and off his feet. The boy jerked his hand up, almost as if he was trying to grab something, as he fell. The phoenix took another look at him before it said, "Ca-," The boy couldn't heard the rest as he fell down further, towards what seemed to be darkness below. The boy closed his eyes and let out a breath before he collided with the darkness, as if he was landing in water.

"What's up? What do you need me for?" The boy asked. "Why do I keep on having these strange dreams? Elder said that it was just a phase… That I will get over it soon. But, each dream is more intense and now they're happening more frequently." The boy closed his eyes as he drifted deeper into the darkness. He felt his body collide with something solid before he opened his eyes again. He found himself staring down a grassy landscaping, with a road, which seemed to drift off in the distance. The boy sighed as he stood up, seeing people walking past him. He raised his hand up to say, "Hey!" before he felt a chilling sensation. His teeth chattered as a small boy, who looked no more than six-years-old, walked through him. The boy sat down by the edge of the road letting out yet another sigh. He closed his eyes again.

All of a sudden, the same boy woke up. He shook his head as his silver hair rustled above him. He gripped onto his gloves as he looked out his small crack of the tent, seeing the rising sun and sighed. "Another restless night… That same phoenix was there, too. I thought this was just a phase or something," the boy said, sighing as he stood up and scratched his head, trying to get ready for him to leave. He looked around the small room; mostly everything was already in his small bag. He never really had a lot of stuff. The only thing that he left was his bed and he knew that he could not take it with him. The boy walked around his room, looking at the growth chart that had started for him ever since he was three-years-old. It wasn't really much, it was just a piece of paper with various markings on the side. Due to the fact that he stayed in the inn and it was really a poorly structured tent, he didn't want to ask "Eleven years… At least I know I've grown quite a bit."

The boy laughed, slightly, before he put on his olive green shirt, black jeans, primarily black jacket, and black shoes. The girls usually said that the outfit usually clashed with his dirty gray hair and stunning red eyes. His 5' 10" appearance, however, seemed to tower over part of those girls but his supposed skinny and lanky appearance would not have intimidated the girls into stopping the comments about him. Instead, he guarded them against a monster, instead. He laughed as he reflected on that memory and laughed as he remembered the girls' faces. 'They were so freaked… It was pretty funny to see…' The boy ran his hand through his hair.

It was summertime and he did not want to get too hot so he put a pair of sandals in his bag, as well. The boy smiled as he looked back at the small room, one more time, before walking through the crack in the tent. Noticing that the other two beds next to his were empty, he walked around the tent, apparently looking for someone. Looking at the tent, he said, "I guess I'm going to miss this place. They were nice to let us live here, in this inn." The boy smiled as he looked up and saw two people in the road and ran over to them. The boy looked to the two people, two brown-haired teens, who stood before him, saying, "I'm guessing that you two are ready to go."

One of the people revealed to be a girl, smiled at the boy, saying, "You took forever, Jaxen! How do you expect us to travel with you?" The brown-haired girl was almost Jaxen's height, stopping short of him by just two inches. Her strange but beautiful violet eyes caught much boys' eyes while her stay here. Her excellent physique, along with her chest seemed to drag perverts around with them. She wore a one-piece white mini-skirt, which was so revealing that the boys could see the straps of her bra. On her chest and on both of her wrists were straps that were neatly tied into a bow. The sleeves on the outfit were barely attached to the strips of mini-skirt, revealing her shoulders. She wore a yellow ribbon in her hair, which separated the neat part of her hair from the strands on which the hair ended. On her feet were open-toed sandals, which the gray-haired boy had made for her.

The girl winked at him, meaning that she was just kidding before the other brown-haired person turned around, paying attention to a girl that was walking by. Easily judged by the person's un-groomed hair and the fact that they were about to smack the girl's butt, it was easy to tell that it was a boy. The girl hit the blue-haired boy on the head. "Lyo, pay attention!"

The boy laughed before he rubbed the back of his head, mostly to soothe the pain from the girl's hit and said, "Sorry, Mom." The blue-haired boy on the other hand, was a towering 6 feet. His black leather jacket and blue jeans would probably give someone the distant idea that he was actually serious and that people should stay away from him. A white t-shirt kept people from seeing his muscular figure and when the gray-haired boy saw the black sneakers on his feet, he thought, 'He's going to get hot in those… Aw, well. That's Lyo for ya. I'm not really ready for the heat, either…' With his green eyes, and various other differences between the two of the people, it would be hard to believe that the two of them were related, even more, brother and sister.

"Wha-?" The girl yelled out before she raised her hand to hit him, again.

"Okay, okay! Sorry, Liena!" The boy yelled out, trying to hold her hand back.

The other boy laughed before saying, "Well, we'd better get going. We still have a few other things to do before we can leave." Both of the people nodded before they rushed off towards a group of tents. He walked past two little boys, looking no older than five-years-old does, who were playing ball. The boy caught their ball before he tossed it back to them. The boy looked down the long row of tents and sighed before he rushed towards a tent that seemed larger. The boy entered the tent as he looked at the person who sat in the tent, meditating. The boy was crouching because of the size of the tent. 'Man, this isn't really comfortable…I could've sworn that I told the guy to make this thing bigger!' The boy raised his hand, letting out a little, "Uh…" Soon, the person opened his eyes and got out of his meditative stance. The person stood up and looked at the boy before the boy brought his hand down.

The person smiled before saying, "You want your stave blade, right, Jaxen?"

The boy nodded before he was handed a sword, the top of the blade pointed like a phoenix. The boy gasped at the sight of the blade, with a red and blue handle and a keychain with a pair of blue and black feathers dropping down from it. The boy grabbed it, right away before he swung it, saying, "This is really mine?"

The person sighed before saying, "It would have been… But, I need a power source in order for the mage part of the blade to work."

The boy looked at the blade, getting a vision of the phoenix that he saw in the dream before the boy said, "Don't worry. I'll find a power source for it. If I get the power source, then you'll let me use this stave blade, right?"

The person nodded before saying, "But, remember that it needs to be compatible with this Stave Blade's preferences, Jaxen. This stave blade will only have its normal sword form enabled, at the moment. I can't help you besides from that."

The boy nodded before he rushed out of the tent, looking up at the sky before saying, "I will find a power source… This seems like a sign to me." The boy took a step forwards before he suddenly felt himself falling backwards.

He woke up in a nest, looking up at a phoenix and taking a step back. Compared to the phoenix, he was the size of a grape. The phoenix placed its wing down near Jaxen, indicating that it wanted Jaxen to get on. Jaxen slowly walked over to the phoenix, getting onto its back as the stave blade that he had received earlier appeared in his hands. The phoenix took flight but as the phoenix flew through the air, a dark figure began following it. Jaxen gasped before he looked at the phoenix, trying to tell it to hit it with a fireball. The phoenix gathered a fireball into its beak before it launched t at the dark figure. However, the dark figure emerged from the flames, scarred but still heading towards the phoenix and Jaxen. Jaxen took out the stave blade as the dark figure flew near him. Jaxen threw his stave blade, saying, "Strike Raid!" The stave blade hit the dark figure, coming back like a boomerang to Jaxen's hand before he threw it, again. He repeated this for another few rounds before he saw the dark figure fall back a little. Afraid of what could happen if the phoenix was to do anything that he wouldn't expect, Jaxen grabbed onto the phoenix's feathers as the dark figure flew over him, trying to hit Jaxen off of the phoenix before the phoenix did a barrel roll to the right, shooting a fireball at the dark figure. Jaxen grabbed on tightly and was ecstatic once the move was done.

Jaxen, now feeling a new resolve, stood up on the phoenix's back. The air blew in his face as Jaxen took out the stave blade. The phoenix screeched out as the dark figure came towards them. The phoenix rolled under it as Jaxen held his stave blade up, holding on tightly to the phoenix with his open hand. The dark figure felt Jaxen's small blade cut across its stomach multiple times before it fell back further. Jaxen loosened his grip on the phoenix before he stood in a stance, trying to get a balance, while opposing the wind. The dark figure flew above them and descended so it could fly side-by-side with the phoenix and Jaxen. As the dark figure charged towards the phoenix, Jaxen yelled out, "Roll dodge up!" Jaxen pointed up before he held on tight and the phoenix propelled itself up, ending up in a perfect condition to hit the dark figure. "Hit him with a fireball, phoenix!" The phoenix shot a fireball towards the dark figure, which had enough time to turn around before the fireball hit it dead square in its stomach. The dark figure spiraled up into the air, towards the phoenix as it hit the phoenix its torso.

Jaxen felt a strong force pushing him up before the phoenix caught him in mid-falling by its claws. Jaxen smiled at the phoenix as the dark figure flew beside them. Jaxen gasped before he said, "Phoenix! Try using some fireballs!" The phoenix shot three fireballs, trying to slow down the dark figure as he came towards the phoenix's claws. It hit the claws and Jaxen was sent down, again. Jaxen reached out his hand as he kept on falling, towards the rapidly approaching ground, closing his eyes. Jaxen opened his eyes to reveal that he wasn't only on the ground; he was back in his village. Jaxen looked at the sun as it was slowly climbing up to the high part of the horizon before Liena walked towards him. Jaxen blinked before asking her, "What's up?"

Liena looked at the stave blade in Jaxen's hand before asking him, "So, that's your stave blade? It looks uncompleted."

Jaxen sighed before saying, "Probably because it needs a power source to have me use the magic elements."

Liena smiled before asking him, "No luck, huh?"

Jaxen shook his head, saying, "Unluckily, no. But, I just feel as if I'm supposed to use this thing…"

Liena scratched her head. "Oh. That is understandable. Well, anyways, Lyo and I are done with our preparations. We're just waiting on you. You try to find the power source you're looking for."

Jaxen nodded before Liena walked away. Jaxen looked at the stave blade before he asked himself, "How will that phoenix come back, again?" Jaxen shook his head before he looked up in the sky, looking at the stave blade. "What about that dark creep?" Jaxen sat down and began thinking about what happened. "I remember fighting him… Then, oh yeah! He knocked me out of that phoenix's claws. That sounds right." Jaxen nodded. "I wonder what happened after that… at least to the phoenix." Jaxen looked down at his stave blade, again, as he saw a cloaked person walk past him in a hurry. Jaxen scratched his head before thinking, 'If he's a new person here, then maybe he could have some money that I can use to buy a new power source for the Stave Blade…' Jaxen rushed after the person, who went into the forest. Jaxen stopped before the forest, remembering one thing that he had learned. "Never go into that forest… It's said that it produces strange creatures due to the fact that it's near Death Country…" Jaxen scratched his head, thinking the reason why the person would go inside. 'The creatures in here are troublesome… I don't think I can go in there by myself. Maybe Lyo and Liena can come if I ask them. Now, where would they be?' Jaxen looked around, trying to see if they were in his line of sight before he thought, 'They're probably near the village entrance.' Jaxen ran through the rows of tents to find the other opening to the village, which let out into the desert. There, Lyo and Liena were standing, talking to each other as Jaxen walked over to them.

Liena smiled at Jaxen before asking him, "You're ready to go, Jaxen?"

Jaxen shook his head before saying, "I found this guy who may have a power source or who might give me the money for a power source. The problem is… I couldn't get the chance to talk to him because he went into the forest."

Liena nodded before asking, "And you can here to ask us if we can come along with you?"

Jaxen nodded before saying, "Yes, please!"

Lyo looked at Liena's face before he said, "Well, since I don't want to be left out, then I'll go."

Liena smiled before saying, "Okay, then. Let's go!" Jaxen nodded at the two of them before they started walking towards the forest. Once they had arrived there, Liena asked Jaxen, "So, the monsters are strange here. Why?"

Jaxen shrugged his shoulders before saying, "It's close to the Death Country. But, besides from that, I wouldn't have a reason. The monsters are weaker here than they are all across the world. Yet, the weakest of them can probably outmatch any man thrown at it."

Lyo asked, "Why don't we hear about this? And why do the monsters stay secluded if they can defeat us so easily?"

Jaxen scratched his head, thinking, before saying, "I couldn't even guess the reason why they stay in the forest, especially for the fact that they can probably destroy the village if they try hard enough. But they never attack us and we don't want them to so we don't really think of the reason why."

Lyo nodded before he walked inside. Liena looked at Jaxen, saying, "That makes sense. Let's go in. We need to ask that creep quick so we can go."

Jaxen nodded and said, "Okay." As soon as he said that, he and Liena met up with Lyo in the forest. The road looked dark and damp as the trees covered most of the sunlight. Whatever sun did come through seemed to come through like a flashlight in a dark room. Jaxen, Liena, and Lyo kept on walking, keeping their eyes on the road and what was ahead of them. No one really bothered to talk, mostly because all of them wanted to find the person, ask him for help, and then immediately leave the forest.

After a few minutes of searching, Lyo felt he had to ask, "Jaxen, are you sure you saw that guy enter the forest?" Jaxen nodded before Lyo scratched his head, saying, "Maybe he just doesn't want to be found."

Jaxen shrugged his shoulders, taking what Lyo said into consideration. Soon, Jaxen saw a sparkle of light. Jaxen looked ahead to see the cloaked person before Jaxen started to walk over to him. Lyo pulled Jaxen back and put his index finger on his lips, indicating for Jaxen to keep quiet. Jaxen raised his hand before he was about to open his mouth as footsteps could be heard near them. They looked as Liena walked up to them and the light intensified. Jaxen looked to see a small ball of light, near a tree, before the cloaked person appeared to be holding his hand out. As Jaxen crept closer to him, Jaxen noticed that the cloaked person was feeding the ball something that he couldn't see. Jaxen took another step and accidentally cracked a branch before the cloaked figure turned around. The cloaked figure looked at Jaxen, taking out his katana before charging towards Jaxen. Jaxen took out his stave blade, thinking, 'Why me?' Jaxen blocked the person's blow before he pushed the person back before he took off his bag. Lyo and Liena appeared out of the shadows, with their bags off, before Jaxen said, "We just want to talk!"

The cloaked person swung his katana at Liena, who dodged the swing before throwing a shuriken at him, hitting and sticking in his shoulder. Then, Lyo rushed up to the person, swinging his katana before the person guarded. Then, from behind, Jaxen hit the cloaked person with his stave blade, forcing him forward. Soon, Lyo rolled out of the way and let the person fall down on the ground before Jaxen walked over to him. The person got up and swung its katana at Jaxen, which had Jaxen and the cloaked person clashing swords. Jaxen felt as if he was about to lose the clash so he jumped back, trying to plan a counter-attack. But, the person reacted too quickly for Jaxen to get away and Jaxen felt a sharp pain on his leg. Jaxen, ignoring the pain on his leg for a little, landed on the ground and charged towards the person. He dodged out of the katana slash before he hit the person with his stave blade, hitting him back. Right at that moment, Lyo charged towards the person and rammed his head into the person's stomach. Almost immediately after Lyo was out of her range, Liena threw six shuriken at the person, pinning the person to a nearby tree by the well-placed shuriken. Jaxen looked at the person as he pinned to the tree by the well-placed shuriken on his lower right and left pant legs, upper right and arm sleeves, and the last two had scratched both sides of his face. The two shuriken that did that were resting in the tree, a few centimeters away from the person. The person growled at Jaxen before asking him, "Why don't you leave me alone? I have a job to do!"

Jaxen sighed before saying, "We weren't trying to stop you from doing your job, I was just wondering if you could have a power source or give me money to by one for my stave blade."

The person sighed before a phoenix flew out of the ball of light that he was standing at earlier and latched onto him. Almost a second after the phoenix landed on the cloaked person, the phoenix and the cloaked person disappeared in a big burst of white and red fire. Jaxen looked where the person was before he looked at the ball. He saw a phoenix come out of it, again, this time towards him. Jaxen had no time to dodge so he put out his stave blade to block it. The phoenix collided with the Stave Blade and a large light soon followed, engulfing Jaxen, Lyo, and Liena.

Jaxen, Lyo, and Liena ended up in an area filled with light. Lyo and Liena started to walk around the area as Jaxen looked around the area. Jaxen walked over to Liena as Liena said, "I wonder where are… I hope we can get out of here."

Jaxen smiled before saying, "Of course we can. Remember, you still owe a tour of your house, Liena."

Liena giggled before saying, "Yeah. I guess I still do."

Jaxen looked over to Lyo and walked over to him. Lyo, seeing Jaxen, said, "At least none of us are hurt. That would be bad for us."

Jaxen nodded before saying, "We still have a journey to go on, Lyo. I expect that we'll look out for each other, right?"

Lyo smiled and nodded before saying, "Of course."

Jaxen looked up, seeing nothing but a bright light. Jaxen looked behind himself to see a phoenix. Lyo and Liena saw it as well and approached it. Jaxen approached it, as well. The phoenix opened its beak before a voice was heard, "Ah. The one who Phaonin has chosen."

Jaxen blinked before thinking, 'Did that thing just talk? No way! Unreal!' Jaxen crouched down near the phoenix, asking, "The one? Who is that person that you're talking about?"

The phoenix looked at Jaxen before saying, "You are the person, child."

Jaxen pointed at himself before looking down at the ground, thinking, 'Those dreams… Phaonin… That must have been the phoenix that I fought with!' Jaxen looked at the phoenix before asking, "Where can I find Phaonin?"

The phoenix nodded before the area became engulfed with fire. As the fire got closer to Jaxen, Lyo, and Liena, the three of them moved back, standing in a triangle formation that was closing quickly. Liena looked at Jaxen before saying, "Jaxen! Try out some Spirit Magic!"

Jaxen blinked before saying, "I don't know anything besides from 'fire' Spirit Magic… Sorry?"

Lyo sighed before saying, "Its okay." Lyo looked around, realizing that the area had changed. They were now on a platform, surrounded by statues. "Where are we, now?"

Jaxen shrugged his shoulders before he started to look at the statues. Jaxen said, "I barely even was aware that we were in a new place."

Liena sighed before thinking, 'Hopefully, we'll get out of this mess…' Liena shook her head before saying, "We should go and look around. Maybe we'll get some clues as to how we get out of here." Jaxen and Lyo nodded before they all started looking at the various statues as a phoenix appeared near Jaxen.

Jaxen stepped back, slightly, before saying to Lyo and Liena, "I think I may have found something that can help us." Liena and Lyo looked towards Jaxen before they saw the phoenix and walked over to Jaxen. Jaxen looked at the phoenix and reached his hand out to touch it before he asked, "What am I supposed to do?" Jaxen retracted his hand as phoenix just looked at him. Jaxen nodded before saying, "Phaonin, I call for your help." The phoenix squealed before it disappeared into Jaxen, partly scaring Jaxen before he saw his stave blade activate. "It's a power source… But it seems different! Thanks anyways, Phaonin!" The phoenix's squeal that soon followed could be heard throughout the whole area. All of a sudden, Jaxen, Liena, and Lyo notices the area had changed and the three of them landed on the ground, looking at the ball of light, which was brightly glowing before it suddenly disappeared. Jaxen looked at his stave blade before he said, "Okay. I'm ready to leave, now."

Liena nodded as the three of them got up. Liena said, "Let's go, then. We'd better get to the entrance!"

Jaxen nodded before he said, "I just need to pick up my bag." Jaxen put his bag on before Lyo and Liena did the same. Then, the three of them ran out of the forest, realizing that it was noon, now. Jaxen, Lyo, and Liena arrived at the entrance in no time, at all. Jaxen looked at Lyo and Liena before saying, "Okay, then. Let's go, you two."

Lyo and Liena nodded before Lyo asked, "Where are we headed towards?"

Jaxen snapped his fingers before saying, "Oh, yeah! I didn't tell you where we were going! We're going to Flamar. It's a port city, the only that Zaon has."

Lyo sighed before saying, "Hey, let's get going. We have a long way to go, especially since we have to cross that desert."

Jaxen said, "Okay, then. Let's go. We have a ship to catch." Jaxen fixed his bag before looking at his stave blade. 'Finally, I found the power source that I was looking for… At least it seems reliable.'

All of a sudden, a person rushed towards Jaxen, Lyo, and Liena. Out of breath and tired, the person was barely able to say, "A monster… Is coming… From the forest!"

Jaxen, Lyo, and Liena looked at each other before they dropped their bags and rushed towards the entrance to the forest, hoping that they had nothing to do with this sudden attack. Once they had arrived at the forest entrance, Jaxen, Liena, and Lyo looked at the monster as it rapidly approached them. It was as big as the trees, which seemed to be pushed out of the way as the monster ran. The monster itself looked like an earth-bound dragon, with its piercing claws and teeth. Its wings expanded on either side, which cut through any tree on either side of the dragon as it charged towards them. It was dripping blood, not its own blood, but one of anther monster. But, due to its blood-like color, it was hard to tell.

Jaxen, Lyo, and Liena were at the opening for the forest and the village was right behind them. Jaxen sighed before he said, "Sorry, Lyo… Liena. Do you guys mind if you-?"

Liena smiled before she shook her head, saying, "Jaxen, this is your home. We would be selfish if we weren't going to help you protect it."

Lyo nodded before Jaxen smiled at both of them. Jaxen said, "Thank you." As soon as he said that, the monster rang out a piercing roar as Jaxen took out his stave blade, Liena took out two of her shuriken, and Lyo took out his katana. Lyo and Jaxen charged towards the monster as Liena stayed in the back, throwing shuriken at the monster, barely missing Jaxen and Lyo. Once the shuriken hit, Jaxen swung his stave blade in the same part. The monster roared out in pain as it swung its tail at Lyo. Lyo flew back once it hit and Jaxen swung the stave blade; hitting the shuriken out of the monster before he yelled out, "Flame!" Fire shot out of his stave blade and hit the monster, dematerializing during impact and hurting the monster. The monster swung its tail, hitting Jaxen before Jaxen regained his composure and landed on the ground as Lyo jumped on Jaxen's back, jumping up one more time and hitting the monster on its torso. The monster didn't even flinch before it threw its claw towards Lyo as he fell out of the air. It hit Lyo into a tree and Lyo fell down, holding his head once he got on the ground. Liena ran over to Lyo, noticing that his head had a bruise on it. Besides from that, there seemed to be nothing wrong. Meanwhile, Jaxen was trying to take on the monster but to no avail. His Spirit Magic was proving to be inadequate.

Lyo picked up his katana as Liena tried to lead him away from the monster. Jaxen kept on trying to dodge out of the monster's tail as Liena said, "Jaxen, I'm going back to the village to treat to Lyo's head! Can you hold on for a little bit?" Jaxen nodded before Liena and Lyo rushed out of the forest. Jaxen looked at the monster as it roared at him. Jaxen bit his lip before the monster swung its tail towards Jaxen. Jaxen quickly ducked down as the monster tail passed over him, ramming into a tree. Jaxen jumped back and casted a fireball that hurtled to the monster's torso. The monster swung its claw at Jaxen, knocking him down to the ground. Jaxen groaned as the monster opened its mouth and a ball of fire hurled towards him. Jaxen sheathed his stave blade before he rolled to the side before he got up and rubbed the bottom of his mouth. Jaxen took out his stave blade and swung at the monster's leg. Jaxen rolled out of the way of the monster's tail before Jaxen got up and shot a fireball at the monster's leg. The monster roared out in frustration at Jaxen and jumped up, slamming on the ground with enough force to propel Jaxen into the air. Jaxen felt a hot sensation in his stomach as the monster hit Jaxen in the stomach with a fireball. Jaxen hit the ground before his stave blade flew out his hand and landed on the ground, a few feet away from him. Jaxen got up and wiped the blood from the side of his mouth and shook his head before rolling over to his stave blade, getting up, and picking it up.

Jaxen looked at the monster before thinking, 'This is not fairing well… This monster seems to be invincible to all of my magic and my stave blade doesn't have the power to pierce his armor.' Jaxen sighed before the monster roared, once again. 'Man, can't that thing stop roaring for once? It's starting to give me a headache! I just need to hold out until help comes. I just hope that it comes soon…' Jaxen gulped before his bit his lip. As soon as Jaxen got ready to charge towards the monster, a pair of shuriken passed him on either side and hit the monster on its legs. The monster roared out in pain before Jaxen looked back and saw Liena. Jaxen laughed before yelling out, "Liena!"

Liena ran up to Jaxen and looked at his wounds, saying, "Jaxen! You're hurt!" Liena looked at Jaxen, worried.

Jaxen shook his head before he said, "I… am okay, Liena. Don't worry about me." Jaxen heard the roar of the monster, once again, which didn't calm his nerves much. But, he felt calmer once he knew that he would receive help from Liena. Jaxen looked up at the small amount of birds that the forest had flew up into the air, most likely scared by the monster's roar. Jaxen looked at Liena, saying, "Time for us to go to work, Liena! You up for it?"

"Of course, Jaxen!" Liena yelled out before she took out two of her shuriken and threw them at the monster, puncturing its skin on its legs. The monster roared out in pain before Jaxen used 'flame' on the puncture wounds, making the monster roar aloud. The monster stomped on the ground, furiously, before Liena jumped up into a tree and threw a set of three shuriken at the monster. One of the shuriken pierced the monster's left leg, one of the shuriken pierced the monster's right leg, and the third shuriken pierced the monster in its torso. Jaxen jumped back and shot a fireball at the monster's left leg. The monster roared out in pain before it swung its claw at Jaxen. Jaxen collided with the claw and hit the ground. Once he had gotten up, he coughed, spitting out blood. Jaxen wiped his mouth before he sighed. He looked at Liena, basically showing her that he couldn't take much more of these hits. Liena looked at Jaxen before the monster roared and charged towards him. Liena gasped before she hopped out of her tree and landed in front of Jaxen. Jaxen focused a fireball as Liena prepared three for her shuriken. Liena threw her shuriken before Jaxen's fireball collided with them, creating a barrier of fire around the shuriken. The shuriken pierced through the openings that Liena made earlier and the shuriken pierced through the ligaments of the monster's legs, making them no longer useable and hurtful. Meanwhile, the third shuriken broken through the part of the torso that was pierced through before and the monster roared out in pain before Jaxen rushed towards the monster, smirking.

Jaxen held his stave blade in a lunging position before he jumped up, heading towards the monster's torso. When Liena noticed that Jaxen's jump wouldn't make it to the monster's torso, she jumped up grabbed Jaxen's foot as leverage before Jaxen jumped, again, yelling out, "9-Star Slash!" Jaxen, to the human eye, passed right through the monster, as Jaxen really hit the monster 9 times, all on its torso, because it was so big. The monster suddenly began to spurt out blood from nine separate holes, as it began to disappear. Jaxen landed on a tree branch, smiling at Liena, as the monster disappeared, completely. Once Jaxen was sure there were no more enemies, he hopped out of the tree and landed on the ground, before he sat down, breathing heavily.

Liena rushed over to Jaxen and kneeled down near him, saying, "I'm sorry. I tried to get here sooner…"

Jaxen shook his head before saying, "Lyo was in trouble. It's not like I could blame you for helping him. We should get going once he gets better."

Liena quickly shook her head before saying, "We shouldn't leave, yet! What about your wounds, Jaxen? You can't travel like this!"

Jaxen blinked before asking, "You are that worried? I didn't want to make you worry. Besides, we need to get you home, soon."

Liena looked at Jaxen before she smiled at him, saying, "You don't need to do this for me… I'm a big girl."

Jaxen laughed, slightly, before saying, "And I'm a big boy. Let me decide what I want to do. It's not your fault if I lead myself into oblivion."

Liena looked at Jaxen, concerned, before Jaxen smirked at her. Liena got up and held her hand out, to help Jaxen up. Jaxen got up, with Liena's help, and started walking towards the village. Liena just looked at Jaxen before thinking, 'He's different from other boys that I've met…I guess it's a good thing, though.' Liena smiled before she caught up to Jaxen. Once they had entered the village, they heard claps coming from the crowd of people who were standing near a tent, applauding Jaxen, Liena, and Lyo's courage. Jaxen and Liena pushed through the group of people, entering the tent to see Lyo resting on a bamboo-made bed. Jaxen looked towards the person he talked to earlier before Liena said, "Elder… Thank you for helping my brother."

The person turned around, after tending to Lyo before saying, "You two are welcome. Oh, yes. I have something to give you, Jaxen."

Jaxen scratched his head before asking, "What is it, Elder?"

The person handed Jaxen a group of papers. They looked somewhat old but the printing was still legible. Jaxen sat down on a chair as Liena sat across from him. Jaxen blinked before the Elder said, "It was left behind when a person came into the village, today. It strange to look at, at first glance. But, these locations are far beyond Zaon's borders. Due to the fact that you are leaving our village and all, maybe you can make some sense out of these papers."

Jaxen's eyes moved from side to side before he said, "This is the first report of…" Jaxen rubbed his eyes before he tried reading the paper, again. "I can't make heads or tails of the name of these reports." Jaxen bit his lip before he said, "I'll try to figure out what this thing must mean." Jaxen put the report in his pocket, because his bag was still near the entrance. At that moment, Lyo got out of the bed and looked towards Jaxen, Liena, and the Elder, not paying attention to the people who were huddled outside of the tent. Jaxen smiled at Lyo before he flicked his nose and said, "Nice to see you're awake, sleepyhead!"

Lyo rubbed his eyes before he held the back of his head. The pain on his head was dividing his concentration. Lyo was able to force out, "You two are done, already? Man… I wanted to get a piece of that monster."

Jaxen chuckled before saying, "Sorry. Next time, remind me to bring back a leg or an arm." Liena giggled before the Elder chuckled.

Lyo sucked his teeth before he said, "Real funny, smart guy but there won't be a next time. I promise you, that!"

Jaxen waved his finger before he said, "Okay, then, Lyo. I'll take your word for it." Jaxen looked at Liena and Lyo before he said, "Why don't we get going?"

Lyo nodded before Liena yelled out, "Jaxen! Lyo's still hurt and you're going to need to tend to those wounds of yours!"

Jaxen sighed before Lyo said, "I'm fine and, anyways, we need to get back home, soon and our only ticket is leaving in a week. Therefore, we need to get through, soon. Anyways, Jaxen's just fine. Trust me; Jaxen can handle the desert, even with his wounds."

Liena looked at Lyo and Jaxen before she smiled and nodded. Liena started to walk out of the tent before she turned around and waved her finger t Jaxen and Lyo, saying, "You two should watch yourselves. If either one of you get hurt, it'll be on your heads!"

Lyo looked towards the top of the tent before he flicked his hand, saying, "Thanks a lot, mom! We'll keep an eye out, okay?" Jaxen chuckled, slightly, before Liena walked out of the tent. Lyo looked towards Jaxen before saying, "Let's get going, Jaxen."

Jaxen nodded before he looked at the Elder, saying, "Thank you, Elder. We'll be okay, I promise."

The Elder nodded, saying, "I will pray that the four corners of Geno protect you during your journey."

Jaxen and Lyo nodded before they walked out of the tent, heading towards entrance to the village. Jaxen and Lyo nodded towards Liena before Liena nodded back. Jaxen and Lyo picked up their bags and fastened them to their backs before they walked out of the village. Now, on the road, Jaxen and Liena were looking at the scenery as Lyo looked at their map, which the Elder gave him when he first arrived to treat his head injury. Jaxen pointed out a group of mountains to Liena as Lyo looked at the two of them and smiled. Walking further down the road, everyone stopped and sat down, taking out sandwiches. Jaxen immediately bit into his sandwich before Liena and Lyo looked at Jaxen and laughed, slightly, before they bit into their sandwiches. While the three of them were eating, Jaxen was telling them about the rumors of the desert that they were about to enter, known as the Sakaboku Desert. Jaxen looked at the two of them, saying, "There is said to be a Desert Palace in this desert, hidden away under the sand for thousands of years."

Liena shrugged her shoulders before she asked, "Well, why don't the archaeologists come here and excavate, then?"

Jaxen sighed before he said, "Because this whole country has technophobia. Everyone in this country despises technology remember? The only place that has technology is Flamar and that's only because the ferry's there."

Lyo scratched his head before snapping his fingers, saying, "Yeah, I remember. Why is that, Jaxen?"

Jaxen shook his head. "I couldn't guess. But, I guess this country just couldn't keep up with the technological giants of the other countries or something… Who knows? It was long before our time when this barrier began." Jaxen bit into his sandwich, again.

Lyo looked at Jaxen. "Barrier? Come on, Jaxen. It's not that serious, is it?" Lyo bit into his sandwich before saying, with a full mouth, "It's not like its keeping the countries from getting along, you know? We have the ferry system, still."

Jaxen shrugged his shoulders. "I guess so. But, don't you think that it's strange? How and why would they restrict technology from this country?"

Liena sighed before saying, "Well, yeah. But, it's not like it's going to change anytime soon, you know?"

Jaxen and Lyo looked at each other and nodded before Lyo said, "Yeah that is true."

Jaxen stood up before saying, "Enough talking. We should get going, you guys." Lyo and Liena nodded before they finished their sandwiches and stood up, looking at Jaxen. Jaxen nodded towards the two of them before they nodded back. Jaxen turned around and looked ahead, barely being able to see the desert. "Let's get going." Liena and Lyo nodded before all three of them began walking down the road, again. This time, all three of them stayed quiet, at least until they arrived near the desert. Jaxen looked at Lyo and Liena. "This is the Sakaboku Desert."

Liena scratched her head, asking, "If we spend a night here, won't we be completely cold?"

Lyo sighed, saying, "Also, we'll need some serious amounts of water."

Jaxen shook his head before saying, "Don't worry. I brought about a few water bottles. That should hold over for us. Also, this place never gets cold. It's kind of creepy but it's true… Even at night, it can still maintain a good sixty degree temperature." Jaxen began walking into the desert, with Lyo and Liena close behind. As they walked, Liena realized that a strange sound was emitting from the ground.

Liena yelled out, "Jaxen! Lyo! Something's under us and gaining quick!"

Jaxen took out his stave blade and Lyo took out his katana. The sand in front of them began to rise up before three green ogre-like monsters emerged from the sand. One of the monsters held its hands out in front of itself. The ground began to rumble beneath Jaxen, Lyo, and Liena before jagged rocks appeared on Lyo's left side. Jaxen and Lyo jumped onto one of the miniature sand dunes, waiting for the attack to finish. But, Liena threw three of her shuriken at the monsters, piercing their heads. Jaxen jumped off of the sand dune and yelled out, "Flame!" A fireball formed on the end of Jaxen's stave blade before Jaxen pulled the stave blade back and the fireball cut through the air, heading towards one of the monsters. At that very moment, though, one of the other monsters stuck its hand into the ground. Before Jaxen even had a chance to recover from the magic spell that he just casted, he was swept higher into the air by a large fist, made of sand. Jaxen cried out in pain and closed his eyes as he was swept further up into the air. All of a sudden, he could feel someone touching him. Jaxen opened his eyes to see Liena's face. He was still in the air but somehow, she was able to reach him. Jaxen smiled at Liena before saying, "Thank you, Liena."

Liena smiled before saying, "I told you not to push yourself so hard, Jaxen!"

Jaxen looked to the side before he smiled. He looked back at Liena, saying, "You did, didn't you?" Jaxen closed his eyes and smiled wider. All Jaxen could hear in response to his comment was a small, and yet satisfied sigh. The two of them landed on a sand dune, with little-to-no difficulty. The monsters were gone and Lyo was tending to the wounds that he sustained from the battle. Liena slowly let Jaxen down before Jaxen nodded towards her and said, "Let's keep on going. We can't let up, now." Lyo nodded at first response as Liena put her hands on her shoulders.

"You just got knocked about 20 feet off the ground and yet you still want to continue? You're hurt, Jaxen. You shouldn't push yourself so hard…" Liena said.

Lyo walked behind Liena and put a hand on Liena's shoulder before saying, "Jaxen… Can you give us a minute?" Jaxen nodded before he walked off in another direction, looking at the long stretch of sand that they were to travel on. Lyo looked at Liena before saying, "He shouldn't push himself so hard…"

Liena gasped as to what Lyo said before responding, "If you feel the same way as I do, then why don't we try to convince him to pace himself?"

Lyo looked at the ground. "Listen… Unlike us, Liena, Jaxen lived in a poor and destitute country. Think about it, would he have pushed himself so much if he hadn't worked so hard to get the tickets?" Liena gasped before Lyo continued, "You didn't know? He ran courier services to the other villages. Every single penny he got, he saved as he heard us talk about our home. He couldn't tell us to just 'shut up.' He's too nice for that and… He's fascinated by the outside world. So, you see, Jaxen doesn't want us to let up so he can reach his dream and we can reach our home." Lyo began walking towards Jaxen and nodded towards Jaxen as he passed. Jaxen looked back at Liena before he smiled at her. Liena couldn't help but smile back at him before she ran towards him.

Jaxen, Lyo, and Liena kept on walking further into the desert, paying attention to the sounds around them. 'Thus far, no monsters have hit us, yet… Better keep our eyes peeled.' Jaxen looked up at the sky. Jaxen covered his eyes to shield himself as he saw the sun slowly but surely sinking near the horizon. "We'd better stop for today, you two. It'll be harder to go ahead while it's dark." Lyo and Liena nodded and both of them lay down, against their own perspective sand dunes. Jaxen walked up to Lyo before asking, "How're you holding up?"

Lyo smiled at Jaxen, indicating that he was fine. As Jaxen turned his back to Lyo, Lyo laughed slightly before saying, "You'll like our country. I promise you." Jaxen nodded before he walked away from Lyo, heading towards Liena. As Jaxen neared her, Jaxen noticed that Liena was looking at the sky.

Jaxen waved his hand in her face before he asked her, "What're you looking at?"

Liena smiled at Jaxen and said, "The sky. Its amazing right before sunset. Especially in the desert, where there is not city skyline or any smoke to hide its beauty, you know?" Jaxen nodded before he sat down beside her, looking up at the sky before Liena spoke up, again, "I didn't know… That you tried so hard to have us get that ferry, Jaxen." Jaxen looked at Liena, surprised. "So, you intently didn't tell me?"

Jaxen looked to the side, saying, "I didn't think it mattered. It was your home. No matter what I do… I wanted to make you and Lyo's dream come true. And I want to see 'blasterball' and 'fireworks.' Your country sounds so exciting!"

Liena laughed. "Well, my country sounds exciting because it is exciting. I mean, there's always something to do and you never get bored. Then there's blasterball… Playing on motorcycles and having such a blast… I'll be your own personal trainer once we get to my house! I'll treat you to anything you want!" Liena nodded. "We'll be able to have fun, just the three of us!" Jaxen nodded back before he stood up and walked towards another sand dune. For some strange reason, he felt sleepy, already. Jaxen just leaned against the sand dune and rested his head on it. Jaxen slowly closed his eyes.

"Huh…?" Jaxen walked around a dark area filled with mist. "Where am I?"

"Ah… You're still unseasoned. Unprepared. Unsure." Jaxen blinked. He looked around, quickly, seeing a cloaked figure. "So, you can see me. Bravo."

"You don't strike me as the happy type. Who are you?" Jaxen asked.

"All in due time, my boy," the cloaked figure said. "Now, let's see that phoenix of yours…"

Jaxen shook his head before saying, "The phoenix isn't with me!"

"Of course not. Now, look," the area strangely got filled up with light as a cage landed between the two people. Within, was a red and blue phoenix. Jaxen just held his head as the phoenix squealed. Jaxen got his knees as the cloaked figure walked towards him. "Ah… The magnificent Phaonin. Such a beauty, isn't it, Jaxen?"

Jaxen shook his head before he said, "Not as much of a beauty as your face will be once I'm done with you…"

The cloaked figure chuckled before saying, "I'd love to see what you'll do to me but unluckily for me, I have no time to waste and you should be on your way soon. Even the phoenix can easily say that you won't stand a chance."

Jaxen growled at the cloaked figure and threw a punch towards him. But, before it could hit, the cloaked figure vanished. Jaxen looked at where the cloaked figure stood before he looked at the cage at where the phoenix was being held. Jaxen looked up at the phoenix before a tear fell onto the ground, creating a lush meadow. Jaxen covered his eyes as pigeons flew up in the air. Jaxen opened his eyes and glanced up quick enough to see the pigeons flying towards the horizon. Jaxen looked back, seeing the phoenix still stuck in the cage. Jaxen walked up to the phoenix before he reached out and touched its beak. "You're Phaonin, aren't you?" Jaxen asked. The phoenix squealed, forcing Jaxen to cover his ears. "Ouch… I know. You want to leave, right? I don't know how I can help…"

Jaxen shook his head before saying, "Of course! I'll use my Spirit Magic!" Jaxen ran back until he was a few feet away from the cage before crouched down, raising one of his hands up as he closed his eyes. He slid his right foot forward as fire began to appear in his hand. Jaxen slowly imitated as if he was about to throw it but then slowly retracted his hand and held his hand near his stomach. Jaxen suddenly opened his eyes threw the fireball towards the cage, as if he was thrusting with his stave blade. Jaxen looked as the cage proved to have no type of trace on it. Jaxen bit his lip out of frustration. "What's up?" The phoenix squealed, again as Jaxen covered his eyes, again. "I know… But, I don't know what I should do…" Jaxen walked up to the phoenix as sighed. "I only know fire magic…I don't know what I should do…" The phoenix turned its head before Jaxen touched its beak, again.

The phoenix dropped a tear onto Jaxen's hand. Jaxen looked at the tear, saying, "I know… You want to get out." Jaxen looked at the phoenix tear as it dissolved into his skin. Jaxen blinked as he began to glow red and blue. "Wha-?" Jaxen looked up at the phoenix. "So, this is what you wanted. I wonder what you did." Jaxen looked up at the phoenix, again, before saying, "I'll try again." Jaxen ran back, again, and held his hand up, closing his eyes. Jaxen felt his hand get extremely hot as he opened his eyes. Jaxen swung his hand around in a circle before he threw the fireball, almost as if he was throwing a baseball. The fireball collided with the cage and a cloud of smoke soon appeared. Jaxen couldn't see anything besides from a shadow flying up into the sky. A few seconds later, the smoke was being quickly blown away. Once Jaxen could see, he looked up towards the sky, seeing Phaonin flapping its wings, thus blowing the smoke away.

Jaxen smiled up at Phaonin before he heard the words, "It is done… The rebirth has begun."

Jaxen looked around before saying, "What rebirth?"

"The Rebirth Flame…The rebirth of Phaonin, the Phoenix of Rebirth. Now, Jaxen… Rest. You will know what to do when the time comes."

"Would you please stop talking in riddles and just tell me what's going on? Huh?" Jaxen asked. All he could hear in response to that comment was a soft chuckle in the distance. Jaxen tried to move in the direction of the voice but, was engulfed by light before he could get closer.

Suddenly, Jaxen woke up, noticing that Liena and Lyo were standing a few feet away from him, staring at him. Jaxen chuckled nervously before saying, "Hi, you guys. What's up?"

Lyo stared at Jaxen before saying, "You tell me." Jaxen gulped before Lyo continued, "You seem to be a little… off." Jaxen looked at Lyo strangely before Lyo returned the look with a glare. "I'm surprised that you didn't try to sleep with Liena." Lyo felt Liena's hand collide with the back of his head before he rubbed the back of his head.

Liena looked at Jaxen, looking completely embarrassed before she said, "Lyo's such a pervert so he expects you to be one, too." Liena and Jaxen looked at each other and smiled "Let's get going. Its day now."

Jaxen nodded and stood up, looking at his Stave Blade and smiling before he looked towards the sun. 'You keep an eye out for me, Phaonin…And I'll try my best to keep an eye out for you. There must have been a reason why you asked me to help you and I promise you, I'll help you anyway I can, okay?'

Lyo walked past as Liena waved to Jaxen, saying, "Come on, Jaxen!"

Jaxen looked at Liena saying, "Coming Liena!" Jaxen looked at his stave blade as he felt a warm sensation. Jaxen nodded and ran up to Liena before the two of them ran after Lyo, who was about thirty feet in front of them.