Letters from Xifer

[fierybluebird]

A series of correspondence letters between a phoenix and his boy.

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4/15/2014

[fierybluebird]

Dear Roxas,

Hello!

This is my first letter to you. I am having the first mate, Mister Marco do the translating and writing for me (known together as transcribing) and he has agreed to hold onto any return letters you wish to write for me. Luckily, I can read well, but writing is very hard! It all comes out as phoenix scratch! Haha.

Hello again. It is nice to be able to say that. If you ask Thatch enough, I bet he'll teach you how to say it in phoenix too, and then you could say it to all the other birds you've met too!

I was really impressed when you said you sparred with Naesala! He's the king of the crows, and even for a phoenix like me, he would be a very tough foe! He's very protective of the heron, Leanne, and that is right. She is strong on her own, but she is better at healing everyone or helping us go faster. Actually, healing is really complicated for me. I know you're friends with the other phoenix, Ikki, though he doesn't look like me, he is my little brother! So you've probably heard that we can heal on our own. But the way we heal is so different from Leanne's ability that the last island was a little difficult to deal with.

That's why I wanted to make sure you got this letter today. It really helped that you were willing to play with me and keep me company. I wasn't able to sleep at all on the island, and today I am under Captain Ace's orders to rest up and keep watch with him and the first mate. Nevertheless, thank you very much for keeping watch over me and coming flying! I had a lot of fun, and I'd like to take you flying again sometime if you're willing.

I also wanted to thank you for the name Xifer. I have another name, but it isn't nearly as pretty, and I think Xifer is far more suitable for such an elegant bird like me. Lea laughed at it, but I bet he's just jealous.

Speaking of Lea, I'm sorry things have been rocky with you lately. I'm not good with most people either. I guess because I spend too much time with Thatch, or Ikki, or my other brothers, and Thatch says I'm kind of spoiled because I always want my own way. But I think that's just because my way is the best way! I'm glad Ikki's suggestion is working though! I'm just a bird, but I hate when I'm underestimated too, or people don't tell me what's going on.

Sometimes though, I know people can't tell me things because there isn't time or they don't want to confuse me, or scare me. Thatch and I do that to each other a lot. Even though we speak the same language, we still keep a lot of secrets from each other. Sometimes I don't tell Thatch things either, because I don't want him to get hurt, but sometimes because I didn't tell him that thing, he gets hurt anyway, it's very confusing, you know?

Wow! I guess I had a lot of thoughts I didn't get to say before. Would you be interested in learning to speak to birds? Mr. Thatch probably doesn't have enough time for it, but if you want, I can try to teach you the words in bird when you're practicing writing!

You had a lot of questions I couldn't always answer, and I'm sorry that I forget most of them now. I guess you already guessed that my favorite food is sunflower seeds! Thatch is sneaky. He puts them all over in special hiding places, and sometimes he carries some on him. I'm trying to guess Leanne's favorite food, because she won't tell me. Naesala knows, but it doesn't seem sporting to find out through him. I don't suppose you have any ideas, do you? I know it's not sunflower seeds or peanuts though! And she's allergic to meats and fish.

Chef Zeff kicked you, eh? So long as you were able to handle it I think it just means he kind of likes you. He used to kick Captain Ace's little brother's cook a lot. That's Mr. Sanji. Sanji was trained under Zeff and now he does a lot of kicking too, haha. Mr. Marco and I are both kickers too, but I think if you can hold your own in a spar with Naesala, you can handle a grumpy chef! Don't give up! But maybe you should practice dodging just in case. That's how I get my seeds when he's not looking. But don't tell him.

Oh! You mentioned how Kairi and the others haven't seen me around. That's true! I'm usually pretty shy, actually! Mr. Marco and Captain Ace say this isn't true at all, because they say I'm a showoff, but it's different with family. I guess because we're all nakama, we really are all family! Still, sometimes it's hard to get used to new people and you were a lot easier than the others because you reminded me of my first best friend. If you want though, you can bring to meet the others sometime. I'm sure it'll be less intimidating if you're there with me.

I'm really proud of the tattoo you got of the crew, now we both have one! This proves we're nakama and nothing can come between us.

I had a lot to say, but I'm still kind of tired after the island. Next fun island we should go skateboarding and flying again though. Make sure you stay safe in battle, keep practicing, and remember, if you want to write back, you can give Mr. Marco or Ikki any letters for me!

We should also make a secret hiding place on both ships. Right now I have to watch over the Captain, but next month I will try to sleep out on the deck of your ship if you want to find me. You'll just have to tell Thatch you're looking for me, or we can make a secret fort to go to.

Hello again!
- Xifer

5/12/2014

[heartismyown]

Xifer.

Should I call you Marco?

I'm very mad at you right now, but Lea and I have to leave.

I am going to yell at you on the journal later. Promise.

-Roxas

6/20/2014

[heartismyown]

Dear Marco,

I don't know where to begin. Lea told me some things and when I think about them they make me shake. I'm not scared. I'm really, really, really mad. I've never wanted to hurt someone so badly in my life. It's like being really mad and really sad at the same time.

Lea is right. I should never have called you Xifer. It's just that I wanted you to have a name like mine, only I didn't really understand what that meant. Now I know what that means, that stupid 'x' in my name. Lea should have told me.

Our discussion made me remember some things, feelings you know, memories that are kinda hazy but he doesn't know what to make of them.

[His writing is a little uneven, because he's shaking from the anger.]

I don't even know how to explain it. I think I just...I don't know. Everyone might be at risk around me. They're going to come for me. They know where I am. This name of mine, the number, all of this that I carry with me, just allows him to track me. I had no idea. I'm so stupid sometimes. I never even thought something like this was possible. It shouldn't be possible, but I guess you can't name something with a heart.

Lea says I'm a terrible candidate and I guess they were going to get rid of me anyway. It's all complicated and I can't write it in a letter. I guess mostly it's just that they are coming for me.

There's more, I just can't put it into words right now. I'll try later.

- Roxas
I don't even know what to write anymore.