Hey guys! The time has finally come for me to post my resbang story! I am waaaaay super excited after all those months of hard work and I hope you enjoy! Please be sure to check out my artist's, snowbunnie13, artwork (which is super amazing by the way). Huge thanks to my betas rebornfromash, sandmancircus, hidding-in-shadows, and epicminion for all the laughs and help. Love you guys~ Alright, here we go!

A kingdom ruled by fire

An heir to rule from fire's ash

For those who die in flames

Shall rise again to claim

The throne.

This was the law or their land, the written rule, a rule that had not been broken for generations. Until now.

"In the beginning of this kingdom, a wise phoenix ruled. She was kind and all knowing and cared for her subjects. It was a happy time. However, many people from other kingdoms were jealous of the phoenix's power. They wanted it for themselves, but realized that her power was something unattainable... so they decided to destroy her. Witches, warlocks, demons, ogres, and humans, invaded the kingdom and slaughtered the phoenix and everyone else in it, setting fire to the remains. For several days after, the invaders rejoiced in the destruction of the kingdom, enjoying the spoils of their villainy. However, after several weeks, someone noticed that a new kingdom was built in its place; it was small, but it seemed to be growing larger by the minute. And suddenly, the phoenix rose into the sky from the ashes, more beautiful than before. Every one of the invaders began to cower in fear, and with good reason! They did not realize that "The Phoenix" was not merely a title, but a truth. They didn't know she would come back, stronger than before. As her magnificent wings beat against the sky, she spoke,

"Death by fire, born from ash. Let no harm come to this land. For in spirit I will always protect, and an heir, born in the same way shall rule!"

And the phoenix began to spread her wings wide, a magnificent light shining from beneath her. She looked down at the monsters that destroyed her kingdom, spoke no words, but allowed her actions to speak for her. With a single flap of her powerful wings as her only warning, she easily knocked down her enemies, swooped down and gobbled every one of them up. After her meal, she went to find her heir, taught them everything that they needed to know, and then left for the realm of spirits. The people of her kingdom forever protected."

"Mama?"

"Yes, dear?" answered Lucretia, wife to the current Phoenix heir.

"How come you always tell us this story at bedtime?" asked her youngest son, Soul.

Lucretia laughed airily. "Well, I had always thought you liked this story, I thought it was your favorite!"

"It's my favorite mama!" Wesley, her eldest, said smugly.

Soul gasped indignantly. "It is not! You told me that that story bored you to tears!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

"Did! Too!"

"I! Did! Not!"

"Yes! You! Did!"

"Boys!"

Both boys turned towards their mother. Lucretia was quite an imposing figure, her stature in the face of the public graceful yet unmoving, her heart-shaped face, roman nose, and deep brown eyes struck admiration, and very rarely, fear, into the heart of her subjects. Her long brown hair was woven into neat little braids that held the jewels of the queen on her head. Yes, Lucretia was quite a sight, though at the moment, she looked tired more than anything.

"Would you like to hear a different story?"

"Ooh, ooh I wanna hear one about a dragon!" Soul stated excitedly

"Yeah, mama! Tell us a story about a great, big dragon!" Wesley agreed.

Lucretia was beginning to regret giving them such a choice.

"Pleeeease?" the two boys pleaded harmoniously, both on either armrest of the chair their mother was sitting in. Lucretia looked down to see two pairs of bright, sparkling eyes. One pair a deep brown, like hers, the other a molten ruby, like her mother's.

"Mama?" Soul inquired softly, while tugging slightly on his mother's nightgown. "Can we please hear the story about the dragon?"

She smiled softly, and looked at both of her children, and said, "Right. Let's get on to it, shall we? You two have to wake up early in the morning for your lessons."

Both boys groaned at this.

She laughed.

"Once upon a time… There was a great, big dragon..."

Both boys fell asleep in the middle of the dragon story.

Lucretia stood from the plush chair in the middle of their beds, kissed both their foreheads and began making her way towards her own sleeping chambers.

"Finally asleep, now, are they?"

Lucretia jumped slightly as the doubled doors to her sons' bedroom closed.

"Alistair! You frightened me."

The Phoenix King chuckled lightly. He was a man of tall stature, broad shoulders, strong jaw, angled chin, and his overall physique made Lucretia the most envied woman in the kingdom. His face was oval, framed with light golden hair. His features consisted of a strong nose, tired eyes the color of the sky in midday spring, and thin lips. Yes, Lucretia was most envied.

"May I accompany you to your chambers?" Alistair requested charmingly.

"Well, aren't we quite daring?" Lucretia goaded, joining in on the game. "What would the maids think if they saw you walking the queen to her bedroom? How indecent! I can't even bear to imagine the rumors!"

"Well… there's nothing wrong in my guiding you to your quarters. The real scandal would be if I followed you into them," Alistair expressed with a devilish smirk.

"Oh my!" Lucretia exclaimed. "Well, what are we waiting for?"

The two royals laughed carelessly. Alistair held out his arm for Lucretia to hold and they made their way to their bedroom.

"Your majesties! Wake up! It's an emergency!"

" What in the Great Phoenix's name is going on?" Lucretia yawned.

"There's an invasion."

"...What?" Alistair gaped disbelievingly.

Lucretia began to act quickly. "Get the children! Get out there and make sure my boys are safe!"

The young mage ran out to do what he was told.

Alistair rose from the bed and went to a wall in the room that held several weapons; he picked out a sword. It was beautifully crafted, flames spiraling up the hilt with a central ridge made of solid gold. It had been passed down in his family for centuries, and was the only thing that had survived the town's fire, apart from himself.

"You stay here," he ordered.

"Are you mad?!" Lucretia asked, exasperated. "What, shall I just sit here and wait for my death?! No. I am coming with you."

"Lucretia, please!"

"Do not get loud with me, sir!" Lucretia said indignantly and turned away from him.

Alistair sighed, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Please, Lucretia, I need you to st-"

"Alistair?" Lucretia turned around, only to find her husband on the floor, an arrow sticking out of his stomach.

"No…" she whispered, distraught, as she ran to him and ran her hands across his face.

"Yes."

Lucretia looked up to see a hooded figure, armed with a bow and arrow aimed at Lucretia's throat.

"Who are you?"

"Protector of the sacred rule. 'Only those born from ash will rule.' Sound familiar? It should, you only tell the story to your heir every night," the unknown figure spat, disgusted.

"Please. Just... don't kill them."

Lucretia couldn't see their face but she heard the smirk in their voice.

"Too late."

The invader released their hold on the arrow, and it was soon embedded deep into Lucretia's throat.

There was a matching one lodged in her heart.

"Maka, my dearest daughter, I'm home!" squealed Spirit, highest ranking knight of the King's Order.

Silence was his only answer.

"Maka?"

Once again, no answer.

Spirit was a greatly feared, beloved, and despised man. He worked diligently and religiously to earn his position in the ranks, being the youngest, at age 19, to ever become a Grand Knight, and became a lord shortly there after. Now at 35, when he led his men into battle, he led with an iron fist and a heart of gold. He was an imposing figure, with his blazing red hair, sea foam eyes, and square jaw. Every woman wanted him (and he gladly reciprocated) and every man envied and loathed him. Yes, Spirit Albarn was quite the impressive man.

"MAAKKAAA! WHERE ARE YOU? ANSWER YOUR PAPA, PLEASE!"

Though, at the moment, he wasn't quite so impressive.

Spirit scurried all around his magnificent, yet comfortable home, startling the maids and causing a general ruckus.

"WHERE'S MY MAKAAA!?" Spirit wailed.

"She's in the garden, my lord," a young maid answered meekly, hoping to get Spirit to calm down.

"The garden! Of course!" Spirit placed his large hands on the maid's tiny shoulders, gave her two slobbery kisses on both of her cheeks and then made his way to the garden.

"M-m-my Lord! The madam has made it very clear for no one to disturb her!" the maid yelled after him, flustered.

"Oh, but she will be so happy to see her Papa!" Spirit stated giddily.

The maid stared after him with furrowed eyebrows, her wet cheeks rosy red as she twisted her hands. "I have a feeling you are very wrong, my lord," she sighed, exasperated.

"Oh, Maka! Your dearest father is ho~ome!" Spirit exclaimed, bursting open the doors to the modest garden.

There, his daughter sat, a true vision of grace and beauty. Her posture immaculate and focused as she sat akimbo, reading a book (one she must have read a thousand times, for it was weathered at the edges and appeared to be falling apart) in a mint green house gown. Her soft, round face was framed by ash blonde hair, twisted into one, long braid. Her thin, pink lips were pouting slightly, her large, jade green eyes focused on the words on the page, and her round, upturned nose slightly twitching from the pollen being blown in the light summer breeze.

She was her father's pride.

However, the feeling wasn't so mutual for Maka.

"MAKA! WHY WON'T YOU SPEAK TO YOUR PAPA?!" Spirit cried, knees to the ground and looking pleadingly to his daughter.

Maka sighed, rolled her eyes, and turned a page in her overworn book.

"Oh. Papa. You've returned," Maka stated blandly, her eyes never leaving the pages.

"YES!" Spirit crawled over to her excitedly. Maka inched away from him. Paying heed to his daughter's annoyance, he cleared his throat and tried to calm himself down.

"Yes, I have returned. I missed you very much!" Spirit smiled brightly.

Maka turned the next page in her book.

Spirit's smile faltered a bit. "Did anything exciting happen while I was gone?" he chuckled nervously.

"No."

"O-oh."

A light breeze shuffling the leaves only seemed to intensify the silence between them.

"Uh, um. What are you reading?" he asked while looking over her shoulder.

Maka huffed, slammed her book shut, picked up the long skirt of her house gown and strode purposefully and quickly into the house.

"Maka!" Spirit yelled as he scrambled to get up and follow her.

When he finally caught up with her, she was sitting in the main sitting room by the window, the sunlight hitting her face in way that made her look just like her mother and made his heart ache.

"Maka…" he started softly, making his way over to the equally lavish and plush chair adjacent to hers.

"Yes, Papa?" she said, her tone falsely innocent and highly dangerous.

"Are-are you not happy to see your papa?" Spirit asked cautiously.

"I believe I'd be much happier to see you if you actually cared to inform me that you were going away in the first place," she replied with the same innocent smile on her face, but her tone distinctly opposite.

Spirit balked. Had he really not told her that he was going away? Oh right, it was such a last minute mission that he barely had any time to inform the servants to inform his daughter that he was leaving.

"I-I told the maids to tell you that I was leaving and to tell you all the details!"

"Oh, please, they knew no better than I did. Except that you left in such a rush, that you couldn't even say goodbye to your only daughter."

"I-!"

"And I highly doubt you even went on a mission! Never has there been a mission without a sufficient amount of days of training!"

"Maka-!"

"Am I such miserable company? Well, I'm sorry that I have no friends because you want to lie down with every man's wife-!"

"ENOUGH," Spirit bellowed, the commander in him coming out to silence his daughter. Yes, he has done many disgraceful things in his life and sometime his eyes wander much too far, but this was getting out of hand.

Maka was shocked. Never had her father gotten so terse or angry with her before. And it hurt. She had never felt so vulnerable and it showed. Spirit instantly regretted yelling at her.

"Maka…" He reached for her hand, but she snatched it away. Her face was guarded, her jaw set and her eyes were looking forward.

"I am sorry if I upset you. Father."

Spirit had never heard her talk like that before and it worried him.

"Mak-"

"Now, if you don't mind, I will be excusing myself. Welcome home, Papa."

Spirit could do nothing more than watch her slowly walk out of the lounge room. He put his head in his hands and sighed.

He always screwed something up.

As soon as she stepped out of the lounge room, she began to run. Hot tears began to stream down her face and she continuously tripped due to her long dress.

"Pig! Pig! All of them! Pigs! Idiot!"

But she did not stop, not until she reached her destination.

The stables.

When her mother was alive, she used to take one of the stable horses and ride them all around town, with Maka in tow. Now, she came here, whenever she was especially sad, angry, or disappointed, in hopes to regain that feeling of pure happiness again.

It never really worked, but she always felt her mother's presence there.

The stable hands were quite acquainted with Maka's habits and mostly just stayed out of her way, sometimes bringing her food, a book, or a blanket on her particularly bad days. Today being one of them.

She walked up to the holding pen of her horse, Artemis. She opened the gate, petted her horse, and made herself comfortable on the straw. She was asleep within seconds.

She woke up to a thin blanket on her person.

And the smell of smoke.

She rose immediately and saw that a lantern that one of the stable hands probably left for her, had been kicked down by one of the horses.

She got out of Artemis's pen and ran to the entrance to escape and set the other horses free.

It was locked.

"HELP!"

She began to scream and kick the door. The horses began to panic.

"It's alright."

Maka turned towards the voice and saw a figure beginning to form in the fire.

It looked just like her mother.

"Mama?"

The figure smiled and suddenly began to shift into the image of a magnificent bird. The bird cawed and flew towards Maka, and it's wings, made of fire, wrapped around her.

The heat was calming.

She had never felt so loved.