Ria's POV (5 years later)

I'd be lying if I said I hadn't died at least once.

Most people would see me and say that I looked like I had a nice long full life ahead of me, and well that's true. . .but false. Yes, I'd live a long time, several lifetimes actually if I was lucky, but since I live in the most destructive and dangerous guild in Fiore, well. . .I can't get that lucky.

So, my life deal is now that I have thirteen lives, but everytime I die, Phoenix gets to take over my body for a space of time. Unfortuantely, when she does this, I have no way to control her at all. So if I die on a job, or even training, it's like letting a freedom hungry super charged flamethrower loose on the world. Not the best image.

How do I know all this? Well, the spirit told me when I was first possesed. And since then, I've died three times. The first was when I jumped off a cliff, to test my powers. The second was during a job with my family, when we were fighting a dark guild and I got too close to a water mage. And the third happened during a battle against a guy from a rival guild, Sabertooth. He put me six feet under, and Phoenix nearly buried him in the lake.
Each time though, my family had been around to stop her, so not too many people were harmed.

But enough with explaining, I need to focus.

I had been minding my own buisness in the guild, just looking around since after five years I still hadn't gotten used to it, and suddenly a kid with short purple hair asks me for a fight.
With no idea of what to do, I said no. I mena, who just randomly asks to attack you? The kid didn't get that I was clueless about it, and thought I was jocking, so. . .he punched me in the face.

I flew through space into a chair, hitting it with my back and head, then slumped to the ground. It felt a lot like when Phoenix had first taken over, but this time I had more control, which was exactly why I jumped up and kicked the kid in the chest. Exactly.

He tried to punch me again, but I was ready and ducked, jabing out my leg again to catch behind his knee, bringing him to the ground. I pounced, and we were rolling across the floor in a flurry of punches, kicks, and bites. I twisted his arm, and her somehow untangled enough of his black clad leg to push me away. I got into a defensive position, and got ready for round two.

The kid just stood and bowed. What?

"Huh?"

"You are a very nice opponent. It's nice to fight someone who isn't too afraid." His eyes met mine, and I straightened, adjusting my red skirted dress.

"Why in the heck would I be afraid of you?"

He waved to someone from accross the hall. "Parents."

I nodded, it was a problem for me as well. "Oh, well in that case, I know what you mean. By the way, I'm Ria."

"We know," a new voice joined us, accompanied by a boy looking almst the exact same, except for his scarlet red hair. "That's actually why Erx wanted to fight you. That, and he's an idiot. I'm Jerlac." He held out a hand which I took.

"It's nice to meet you both, I guess," an awkward silence filled the air and I stepped back. "Well, I've gotta go. My mom might want me."

But before I could make my not so subtle exit, two hands grabbed mine. The brothers were both looking at me in slight apprehension, and I couldn't figure out why until Jerlac spoke. "Wait, Ria. Erx also fougt you to test your strength."

"My strength?"

"Yea," the other boy said, "you see, we want to make a team, but we can't have just the two of us, so we wanted to know if you would. . .would be on it with us?"

I just stared, because of all things, this had not crossed my mind. I was part of a guild now, so why wasn't I taking missions and having adventures? Why was I just sitting here? Why wasn't I with someone?

It took me a split second to know the answer. It was because I didn't have anyone. Or at least, no one outside my family. It took me another second to say the words. "Yeah, of course I'll be on your team!" We hugged, kinda, and I ran off to my mom to tell her the news.

She smiled and patted me on the head, saying that it was about time.

"Why's that? I thought you would have told me to wait a couple years."

"Oh, Ria. Sweetie I know you, and I now that in a couple months you'll be itching to go out there and do stuff. So I'm no going to stop you."

I jumped about hree feet in the air, this was AMAZING! Until she talked again. "But, that does not mean that you three can go out alone now."

"Wha-why?" I honestly felt cheated.

"Ria," she chided, "you're tweleve. I love you too much to let you go now. So, for the next two years you and your team have to with at least one adult, preferrably either your father or I. Then you guys can go alone."

"Bu-but. ." I stuttered. But there was no point, she had made up her mind.Why?

My mom just smiled again. "Because Ria, what if something happened to you guys? Something that we couldn't help?"

I knew what she was referring too, and so I didn't push the subject. Sometimes, things like that didn't need thinking about. Especially if I want to keep living.

Okay, I know short chapter, but this was really just a filler before we get to the real story.

Now, the next chapter won't be a story one, it'll just be hisical descriptions of the major OCs, because I can't r eally find a way to put them into the story. Sorry.

See ya!