Chapter 39

A/N: impromptu birthday chapter XD I figure by now Phoenix would have her birthday lol.

Gandus came barging into Ianite's and my room the next morning.

"Nix!" She yelled, smacking my bad shoulder. I yelped, both in pain and surprise. I looked at Gandus. She looked very apologetic. Ianite had also sat bolt upright from the sudden noise. "Sorry sis, Ianite. But happy birthday Nix!" She let off a confetti popper.

"Nix, it's your birthday?" Ianite asked.

"I... dunno... is today really February 14th?" Ianite grinned.

"Valentine's birthday, huh? How romantic." I blushed.

"Yeah, well... I never asked to be born on Valentine's day..."

"Oh, don't be embarrassed. It's just a birthday."

"That may be, but also, it's Valentine's day, a day for love. How will we balance that and my birthday?" I asked. Gandus shrugged.

"Dunno sis, but, how about we go to Dine at Nite for breakfast? My treat." I smiled at Gandus.

"Thanks Gandus, I'd appreciate that very much. Lemme get my bandage changed and we'll head out." She nodded and left the room, shutting the door behind her. I took off my sleep tank top and peeled off the bandage slowly. Didn't hurt as much as before. I looked at the wound and it was looking really good. "Hmm, what'cha think Ia? Is it healed enough to leave the bandage off now?" Ianite checked out my shoulder.

"Not sure Nix. Looks good to me, but we'll have to ask Dec and Dianite to know for sure. They're more the first aid guys." I nodded, sounded good to me. I just put on a fresh bandage and got into my High Priestess dress.

"I'm ready." Ianite and I walked out to the living room where Gandus was waiting.

"Alright, when you teleport to Dine at Nite, teleport me to you first Ianite, ok?" Gandus asked. Ianite nodded.

'Why? Hmm, maybe it's because she probably wants the table to look nice,' I thought to myself. Ianite teleported to the diner, then teleported Gandus right away. It took a bit to get to me though. Last minute adjustments, I figured. When I fully appeared at the diner,

"Surprise!" Everyone was here. Even Grandma and Grandpa! My mouth just hung open out of, well, surprise.

"Dude! Gandus, did you plan this?" Gandus grinned at me.

"Yup. All while you were with Grandma and Grandpa in the guest room, planning and while you had stayed with them after Ianite and I came back home. Very last minute because I had looked at their calendar on their wall and realized what day it was. I uh... kind of kept track of the days while I was plotting things of the evil kind." I was very impressed with her.

"This is the best birthday ever, thank you Gandus." I hugged her closely.

"You're so welcome. I wanted to do something special to make up for the times I was mean to you before you got through to me." I smiled gently.

"Gandus, you don't have to do anything extravagant to 'make it up to me'. All you have to do is just keep trying to do the right thing and keep on trying to be good. We all know you've repented and that you've seen your mistakes and are trying to do better. That's all we ask for and that's all you need to do. But I do appreciate the surprise party. It's very impressive that you were able to pull it off last minute. Like, very last minute." Gandus was very proud of her ability to do so as well. Gandus led me to a table that definitely looked like us three girls belonged there, Grandma and Grandpa sat there as well. The other tables were filled with all the other guests. A, B,C, and D were here too, but as servers and cook.

"What would you like for breakfast My Lady, High Priestess, Gandus, Debbie, Ernest?" A asked my table. We gave our orders and A took them to C. After everyone gave their orders, we all conversed as our food was being made.

"So, Phoenix, Valentine's birthday, eh?" Tom asked.

"Yeah yeah... I hate it."

"Oh come on, it can't be that bad."

"Try being a Valentine's baby and your parents spending time with you instead of going on a date for themselves or being able to even celebrate the holiday together. I wish I was born either the day before or the day after. I just feel bad that they never got to celebrate to holiday for themselves, and now they never can." Ianite gently rubbed my back.

"Hey, don't blame yourself Nix. There's nothing you could have done about it. That's the day you were born and there's really nothing to do to stop that." The others voiced their agreement and I sighed lightly.

"I guess."

"So, got anything planned for you and Ianite tonight, Phoenix?" Karl asked. I thought about that. Well, this surprise party won't go on all day. I think I could plan something for us for the evening.

"Not yet, but I'm thinking we could definitely do something for the evening. I'll have to give it a good thought throughout the day." At this point, our breakfast was served. Everything looked and smelled delicious. C really is a good cook for a fox. Choruses of 'mmm' rung throughout the diner and A, B, and D all giggled as they made their way to C. The foxes ate next to my table and after breakfast, they gathered up the dishes. As the foxes did the dishes, we gathered outside around a firepit. I lit it with my soulfire magic. For some reason, just seeing the soulfire makes my heart happy. I leaned against Ianite, looking into the fire thoughtfully.

"What's on your mind, Nix?" she asked, wrapping an arm around me. I took a slow, deep breath.

"Nothing, really. The fire is just... soothing, familiar, makes my heart just really happy. It might have something to do with my magic with soulfire, but... who knows, really."

"You'd be right. Because soulfire is part of your magic, it calls to you," Dianite explained. I just nodded in acknowledgment. I saw something flash in the fire as I nodded to Dianite. I got confused and leaned in closer.

"What was that?" I asked quietly to the fire. It flashed again and this time I saw. Darkness had me... wait, this looks like either a dream or vision I had before. So... it's coming true, is it? Hmph, bring it on. I'm strong. I can beat the Darnkess. After the vision of the fire went away,

"Phoenix?" multiple people said. I looked up and described what I saw. They looked highly concerned.

"Don't worry about me. I'm the High Priestess. I'm immortal. I'm unbeatable. He can't get into my head. I'll come back to you guys when it happens. I don't know when it will, but when it does, I'll be ready. Mentally and physically. Oh, speaking of physically, Dianite, Dec, could you come look at my shoulder? I think I'm done with bandages, but Ianite told me to check with you guys first before doing away with them." They nodded and I led them away from the others and Dianite put up walls for a makeshift first aid room. I took my arm out of my sleeve and Dec carefully peeled off the bandage and looked it over.

"It's healing very nicely Phoenix. I think you can go without bandages now. You're completely bandage free." I breathed a sigh of relief and put my arm back through my sleeve. This dress has loose, super short sleeves, so it's easy to take an arm out and put it back in.

"Best birthday present ever." They chuckled and Dianite took down the walls. We walked back over to the others and I sat back down next to Ianite. "So, no more bandages or patches. I'm finally healed!" Cheers from everyone, even the foxes who must have come out while Dianite and Dec were checking out my shoulder. And because said shoulder is exposed, due to my new outfit, I looked at it. It looked really strange. Darker than my normal skin and so not smooth looking, due to scarring. "Ugh, as awesome as it is to not have bandages anymore, this is gonna have to be my new normal. It looks so weird." I ran my fingers over it. "And feels weird... Damn Darkness..."

"Oh, come now. I think it gives you character. Gives you... battle scars, if you will. I thought you were all about battle scars?" Ah fuck... how did I not feel his presence?! I stood and immediately erected a soul barrier around everyone. Thank fuck everyone's here.

"My soul friends, protect everyone!" I felt the barrier strengthen. Good, now I can focus on the Darkness.

"Surprise, surprise, you have a new look and stronger powers." I gently guided Ianite behind me out of instinct.

"I do, and you'll do well to not mess with me or my friends. I can, and will, kick your butt." Darkness scoffed.

"Sure you can. Just like you can worm your way out of this." He put out some of his Darkness smoke to attack, but my barrier nullified its power and dissipated the smoke. I smirked.

"Too bad, so sad Darkness. You can't mess with me that easily anymore. I have soul magic and soulfire magic. I can, and will, endure anything you can throw at me."

"Oh, don't threaten me with a good time High Priestess." I raised an eyebrow at him.

"One, ew. Two, you won't be having a good time. I know you, Darkness. You'll just get frustrated that I won't be bending to your will or whim."

"You don't know me... Fine, yeah, I'll get frustrated, but that's the only thing you know. You don't really know me like you say you do." I just shrugged. I had nothing more to say. "Watch your back High Priestess. I'll come back with a vengeance."

"Oh, don't worry, I will. And I'll beat you, save this world, and restore the peace in my Lady's presence." Darkness 'hmph'd' and disappeared. I made extra sure he was gone with my presence sensing before feeling safe enough to take down the barrier. I was still on edge though. Ianite held onto my arm, very concerned for me. Everyone else gathered around me. They too, were concerned. "Guys, I'll be fine. Like I said, I can take whatever he throws at me. You won't lose your High Priestess that easily."

"I hope so... I don't wanna lose my older sis again so soon after reuniting." I hugged Gandus close.

"I know, and you won't. For now, let's just focus on getting my birthday over with." My birthday party continued, but with me keeping a feel out for Darkness' presence. When it came time for cake, C wheeled it out on a cart. It was so pretty! All decorated to my aesthetic. What with soulfire and soul magic, and the whole soulfire blue color... yeah, you get it.

"C, I knew you liked to cook, but this is amazing," Ianite complimented.

"For real. I love it C, thank you!" C had a proud look on his face and began cutting the cake so everyone can have a slice. As he was handing out slices, I felt Darkness' presence once more. I put up the barrier, yet again... I sighed to myself. This is getting old... "Why must you interrupt our cake time?"

"Cake, huh? Who's birthday am I crashing?" I raised my hand halfway. "The High Priestess, eh?"

"Yes, me..." I looked to Ianite, to C, then back at Darkness, wondering why I'm about to even do this. "Would you like a slice, Wot?" I felt everyone's surprise and my friends' concern.

"Why would you offer your enemy a slice of birthday cake?" Darkness asked. I shrugged.

"Why not?" He looked at me skeptically. I went over to the cake and picked up a slice, bringing it out of the barrier, which let me through, and offered it to Darkness. "No tricks on my end. It's a genuine offer."

"You're playing with fire, Phoenix," Mianite stated. I smirked back at him.

"Fire is my specialty."

"You're bold, High Priestess, but I do thank you for the cake. You're the only one to ever show me any kindness. True kindness."

"I may be bold, but I feel like I should do the right thing by offering you a slice of cake. You may be our enemy, but can we have a truce, at least for today? A birthday present from you to me?" I doubt he'll agree, but it never hurts to ask. Worst he could do is say 'no'. He took a bite of the cake and gave a sarcastic thoughtful look.

"I don't think so. But who made the cake? It's actually pretty good."

"I did!" C said, hopping up on Ianite's shoulder.

"A snow fox? You've got to be kidding?" All of us shook our heads. Darkness was really surprised. He finished the cake, in thought. I looked back at the others, who had also finished their slices by now. I hadn't had mine yet. Ianite came up to the edge of the barrier with my piece in her hands. I smiled and took it from her, wanting to scarf it down to catch up with the others, but not doing so. Once I took that first bite, it was amazing. I still kept up the barrier. As nice as I was offering the cake, he is Darkness after all. As I was almost finished, Darkness pulled a fast one and teleported me to a cell, in a new location. I sighed. I figured something was gonna happen. I just finished my cake in peace while he let out some sort of speech to the others.