Serenity has really done it now. She was able to use her father's most powerful spell: Scarlight. She decided to use it on everyone there is. That includes the guild, the citizens of Amaryllis, and even her loyal helpers. Even hearing the news her father might be close to death wasn't enough to stop her from unleashing it. Serenity thought she won in the end, but when the light faded away...

"I'm okay..." Rocko said.

"So am I." Skrull said.

"Yukina, are you doing okay?" Phatar asked.

"Yeah. What about Maru?" Yukina questioned.

"I'm fine." Maru said. Not a single one of them was affected by the spell and Serenity didn't understand why.

"What's going on? Why didn't it work?" Serenity questioned.

"The citizens and the rest of the guild were unaffected as well. No one was hurt." All of them looked to the entrance and saw Jake. Battered and beaten, but he was standing there.

"Jake?" Serenity said.

"You haven't mastered that spell as well as you think." Jake said. "That spell only affects those who the caster chooses, but no one was affected by it. Red magic is magic that is tied to one's rage. If no one was affected by that spell, it means that it's not rage that's driving you." Serenity couldn't believe this. That was her father's best spell, and it ended up being a failure. "Perhaps deep down, you never really wanted to hurt anyone."

"It's not rage that's driving her, but then what is it?" Yukina questioned. "If she's not doing this because she's angry, why is she doing this?"

"No, this can't be! I'll take down anyone who gets in my way!" Serenity said.

"I'm not sure if you just haven't simply mastered that spell or if it's because you're hiding away your true feelings, but something is driving you to do this, Serenity." Jake said. "Something of greater importance to you. Serenity, I may have followed your lead through all this because I held great admiration for you, but I can't do this anymore! I can't turn against the guild I've come to call my home! You are important to me, but it's because I care for you that I have to stop this! I was blinded by my devotion, but I see clearly now! While those feelings aren't gone, if I really care, I must stop you from doing something you will regret!" When Jake put things like that, it had Rocko and Skrull think maybe they have gone too far for her. Jake now sees that if he really cares for Serenity and the guild, he has to stop her from making a mistake like this or she'll end up regretting it. "I believe that deep down you feel the same way! You know this is wrong, but for some reason you keep forcing yourself to do this!"

"No, this is ridiculous! I'm the strongest! I have the power!" Serenity denied.

"This nonsense has gone long enough. Go see your father before it's too late!" Jake insisted.

"Let the old man die for all I care!" Serenity claimed with her fire magic building. "He means nothing to me!" She shouted with her magic erupting. They all couldn't believe she had so much power like this.

"Who do you think you are?!" Maru shouted and got her attention. "He's your own father! Who cares if you're stronger than him or not?! Power isn't everything! It can't be more important than your friends and your own flesh and blood family!"

"That's nothing more than a lie sentimental fools like you tell yourself to feel better!" Serenity shouted.

"You should know better than that by now! If you really think this makes you above everyone, you're wrong!" Maru shouted with him attacking.

"And you're dead!" Serenity shouted. It was a collision of fire and light. The power was so immense that the two of them busted through the roof and kept colliding with each other. "How dare you even think of challenging me!"

"I'm gonna stop you, Serenity!" Maru shouted as the two of them kept trading blows. "I won't let you take the guild like this! You hear me?! All you're gonna do is destroy it!" The two of them kept colliding with each other, but Serenity got the upper hand and drove him into the ceiling.

"Just die already!" Serenity shouted as she dove down and smashed into him. It was hard to think rage isn't what's driving her. She grabbed a hold of Maru and kicked him as hard as he could with him bouncing against the roof, but Maru held on with everyone and his fellow guildmates worried about him. "Why won't you give up?!"

"Why won't you? Can't you see? You're fighting a pointless battle!" Maru argued.

"Oh yeah?!" Serenity shouted. She unleashed another powerful blast of fire and hit Maru rather hard. The blast was intense and Maru was knocked down. "That will teach you not to challenge your superiors." Despite that, Maru managed to get up.

"No way... All that and he can keep fighting?!" Rocko said.

"Please be careful, Maru." Yukina said.

"That's it! I've had it with you!" Serenity shouted as she ran out of patience and built power for a grand spell.

"That spell... Are you really trying to kill him?!" Jake called.

"Purgatory Inferno!" Serenity condensed so much fire power into a large orb and then launched it at Maru, and Maru didn't gave the strength to move.

"Maru!" Jake called as they all feared this was it. Just then, another blast came and tried to push the orb away. Phatar used his magic and was able to deflect the orb to cause it to miss, but the force knocked Phatar off the roof. His quick thinking saved Maru because the spell flew past Maru and detonated just outside the town in a huge explosion.

"Phatar!" Yukina called.

"What happened?!" Skrull called.

"He... He used every ounce of strength he had left! It was just enough to deflect the spell!" Jake claimed.

"Get her!" Phatar called to Maru. After seeing someone like Phatar pull a move like that, Maru found the strength within and unleashed all the power he could.

"Damn. I almost had him." Serenity complained, but now Maru has her as he charged right at her and attacked.

"Divine Hammer! Solemn Strike! Shooting Arrow! Angel Wing!" Maru just kept on attacking Serenity with his light and everyone kept gazing like it was hard to look away.

"His power is incredible. It's as if his light comes from the heavens themselves." Yukina claimed with all of them amazed with Maru's power.

"Heaven's Divinity: Celestial Fury!" Maru unleashed one of his best attacks. A barrage of light attacked Serenity like a meteor shower. With the onslaught of attacks, even Serenity couldn't withstand it. It was unreal for the members of Phoenix Flame. One of it's strongest members has just been defeated. Serenity laid there and was actually beaten.

"He did it. He really beat Serenity!" Jake said as this was unbelievable. Maru really is incredible.

...

Later

After all that just happened, everyone regrouped back at the guild. All of Serenity's plans went up in flames and the town is now safe. Everyone was glad it was finally over and they can get back on track and in the festival.

"Glad that mess is finally over with." Mary said with a sigh of relief.

"Yes, but now we have the festival to think about." Aster said.

"We're still going through with that?" Mary complained.

"A lot of people were unsettled with all the fighting and don't even understand or even know for that matter what was going on." Gin said. "We need to go through with our annual parade to help them all feel more at ease, and with some of our members hurt, we're going to need all hands on deck for it."

"He's right. Just look at those two." Yukina said. All of them looked at Phatar and Maru with them looking like mummies.

"Screw your parade. I was never going to take part in it in the first place." Phatar said.

"Don't be that way. It can be a lot of fun." Maru said.

"Maru, are you sure you feel well enough to do the parade?" Sandy asked.

"I'll be fine." Maru said. "It's like Gin just said, all hands on deck. Even the newer members are going to take part. Just look." All of them looked towards Frank, Axel, and Tsubasa. It looked as if they were going to take part in it as well despite being new to the guild. It was actually a great thing to see that even they want to be part of it.

"I'm glad to see everything worked out." All of them looked and saw Velvet up and well. "Now we can get things back on track."

"You really had us scared, Master Velvet. We thought you were going to die." Maru said.

"No. Otin, the cruel bastard, just had you think that to get Serenity to come here." Velvet said. "He said I had a mild heart attack from all the stress I was feeling. I guess it's official. I'm getting old." Everyone had a good laugh from him saying that, but the laughter stopped. Everyone soon looked to the entrance and saw Serenity and the Tri Flame standing there. Though Serenity was beaten rather good with her looking like a mummy herself, they were all on guard around them.

"You wanted to see us?" Serenity said with her facing her father. All four of them knew they were in trouble for their actions, but it looks like they're willing to accept their punishment. It's all in Velvet's hands now. Looking at the Tri Flame knowing their reasons...

"I'll deal with you three later." Velvet said with his focus on Serenity. "Serenity, let's talk in private." He wanted to discuss this matter with it being just the two of them, but Serenity thought differently.

"No. Anything you have to say, you can say it in front of everyone. It's not like I don't deserve it." Serenity said as she was willing to be humiliated. Velvet didn't like this, but he humored her with everyone watching.

"I don't even know where to begin. I've never been more disappointed." Velvet said with Serenity feeling ashamed. "Look at me young lady." Serenity forced herself to look at her father and could feel that disappointment. "A guild is not just about strength. This guild was founded based on friendship, the bonds that were forged, and it prospers because of that. It's not just about raw power or who is stronger than who. You've always acted like you were superior to everyone and wanted to change the guild, but everyone was satisfied with how things were. Your behavior was bad enough, but you forced your fellow guild members to fight each other, and put innocent lives in danger. These kinds of actions are inexcusable! Unforgivable!"

"I'm sorry. After what happened to Mom, I..." Serenity tried to admit the truth, but she just couldn't say it. She didn't need to because Velvet understood.

"I miss her, too, but she never would have wanted any of this." Velvet said. "As your father I understand why you did what you did, but as the guild's master, I have to hold higher standards and not let those feelings cloud my responsibilities. That's why it's hard for me to do this." He claimed with Serenity knowing where this might be going. "Serenity... You are expelled from Phoenix Flame." They were all shocked and surprised that Velvet would actually expel his own daughter.

"Hold on! You can't do that!" Rocko claimed.

"She made a mistake! She sees that now, but you can't just kick her out!" Skrull claimed.

"Master, we're just as guilty as Serenity is. We should at least share in her punishment." Jake claimed.

"No. It's fine." Serenity said as she accepted the punishment. "You all take care." She said with her turning away and keeping her head up. The Tri Flame couldn't accept this and chased after her, but that was still hard for everyone to see.

"Master? Are you sure about this?" Aster asked, but it looked like it wasn't any easier for Velvet.

"Come on. We have a parade to get ready for." Velvet claimed to try and get things moving again. There wasn't really anymore anyone could do.

...

Serenity

"Serenity, wait! You can't just leave!" Rocko called with the Tri Flame going after her.

"If you're leaving, so are we! Why should we stick around if you're not going to be here?" Skrull claimed.

"I don't think that's what the old man had in mind. Can't you guys just say goodbye and leave it at that?" Serenity said.

"I don't understand. We're just as guilty as you are." Jake said. "Why are you alone being punished like this?"

"He knows you guys were just doing what I said." Serenity claimed. "Maybe he thinks without me around, you'll try to get better acquainted with the guild."

"Serenity, you can't just let it end like this." Rocko said. "We should go back and convince Master to change his mind."

"Come on. There must be something we can do. What will the Tri Flame do without you?" Skrull said, but Serenity just kept going. Rocko and Skrull were upset about this, but Jake thought differently.

"I have no doubt we'll meet again." Jake claimed.

...

Later

Later that night, the festival went on. Everyone gathered around for it was time for the parade Phoenix Flame holds. Each of the members took part in a float and used their magic to perform various tricks and forms of amusement. Gin used his guns to set off fireworks. Yukina made it snow and it looked beautiful. Tsubasa and Aster performed together using their skills with weapons. Mary even got with a few other female members and performed flag dances. Even despite his injuries, Maru was able to perform himself with some lights. The whole crowd was loving it. Serenity even stuck around to see it before hitting the road.

"Look. There's Phoenix Flame's master." Serenity looked up and saw her father taking part in it as well. Seeing it all brings back some good memories that Serenity had.

...

Flashback

"Are you ready Serenity? This is going to be your first time performing in the parade?" Velvet asked with Serenity dressed like she was in a marching band with a baton in hand.

"I'm a little nervous." Serenity said.

"Don't be. I'm sure you'll be great, and I'll be watching the whole time. This is your debut." Velvet said. "Although, I must admit that I'm a little nervous with you using fire in your routine. I know you learned fire magic, but do you think you're ready enough to perform with it?"

"I have to be. I wanted to do it like this because we're called Phoenix Flame." Serenity said. Velvet was actually touched by that.

"That's my girl." Velvet said.

End of Flashback

...

That memory felt like it was such a long time ago. Things sure were different back then for Serenity. She doesn't think anyone even tried performing with fire since. Just as she was about to leave...

"Wow! Look at the flames!" Serenity heard that and turned back to the parade. She saw her father set up a special pyro mechanics that displayed the Phoenix Flame emblem in fire. That was when Serenity noticed that all the floats had fire to them. Everyone thought that was just because of their guild name, but Serenity knew that it was a tribute to her, a tribute to a forever phoenix, and she knew Velvet had to be the one responsible for this.

"Dad..." Serenity cried as she was moved to tears.

'I may not be by your side, but you are my daughter and I'll always be thinking of you and watching over you.' Velvet thought in hopes that his message reaches her.

'Thank you, Dad. For everything.' Serenity thought as she knows her father is with her. No matter what, Serenity leaves knowing her father still loves her and will always be part of the Phoenix Flame guild.