Author's Note: Okay, let me start off that this is my very first story. Please, I'm not used to harsh comments, so if you don't have nothing nice to write, don't bother writing anything at all. However, I will accept suggestions on something you feel isn't right. I'm not very good in grammar, so I apologize if I misspell something absentmindedly, or if I make an grammar error. I try my best to make sure this doesn't happen. Anyways, my all-time favorite character is Clive. So, I was a little surprise on the popularity of VirginiaXJet was here, I've decided to mix it up for a change. Note, I'll be skipping around during the events of the game. This will be focusing on the relationship between Virginia and Clive, with a little hint of Virginia and Jet somewhere later in the story.

Rose of the Desert

By LadyDarkKnight

Chapter 1: The Mistake

Oh no… what have I done? How could I be so stupid?

Virginia ponders as she sits alone on the outskirts of Claiborne. Disappointment overwhelms her. For several months now, she has been the leader of the group. She was the only female out of the three strangers she had met on the train during that stormy night. She was glad she was not alone; she was excited about the new adventures that awaited her. Virginia has dreamed of becoming a Drifter ever since she was a little girl. Her dream had finally come true when she left her hometown of Boot Hill. She misses her aunt and uncle, but her love for the open skies to venture into took her mind off of that. She has the heart of the Drifter.

Yet… She doesn't have the experience.

That all showed today out in the desert. Her brash actions almost got her whole team killed this afternoon. She panicked. Truth be told, she didn't know what she was doing half of the time. Virginia never did think ahead; it was her weakest point. Most of the time, she would just carry on an action, then finding out what would happen without any thought to it.

And it always led her team into trouble.

Am…am I even worthy of being the team leader? Virginia thought. No, I'm not! Jet said it all this evening!

Earlier that evening at the saloon

"What the hell were you thinking Virginia?! You could have gotten us all killed!" Jet shouted at Virginia. "Damn… this is why I hate travelin' with people who don't know what the hell they're doin'! You have no experience at all! You're so pathetic… you're weak, you're so useless! You're not even strong in combat!" The silver-haired boy shouted at Virginia.

Virginia was on the verge of tears as she took the usual abuse from Jet across the table. She took all the might she had to hold them back.

"You have no purpose of being a drifter. You're a nobody!" Jet had been constantly bickering at Virginia ever since they came to Claiborne. He had been biting her head off ever since the incident that afternoon.

"Shut up! I'm not a nobody and how dare you speak like that to me!" Virginia had had enough, so she decided to argue back in attempt to defend herself. "I know that I'm weak… I'm trying so hard to be a great leader! I'm doing the best I can, but it's so hard…"

"Then go back home! You're not ready to roam the open desert. A weak minded girl like you has no purpose of being here. Those monsters were about to have us today out in the dunes."

"It was a mistake, okay?! I didn't know those monsters were at a higher level than us."

"That ain't no damn excuse. All you had to do was use your instinct, Clive sure did. Thank god for him that he saved us! In fact, he told you to avoid those bastards from the beginning, didn't you Clive?"

"I thought I could've handled them… We all make mistakes, don't we? I'm pretty sure you've made some major errors during your time, cowboy."

"Yeah? Well we don't make mistakes like you all the time! I mean, c'mon! This was probably, what? The eight-hundredth mistake you've made so far? Every time you mess up, we all got to pay the price for it, and I'm sick of it! I'm tired of your bullshit Virginia. You either learn how to experience from them, or you get the hell outta here."

"Hey, hey! C'mon you guys! Can't we leave all that behind us? We're all safe now, isn't that what matters?" spoke a giant-built Baskar beside them. The priest was obviously too busy enjoying his meal than paying any attention to Jet's harsh words to Virginia. Gallows was usually upbeat and clueless to what's happening around him. He was just happy to enjoy a good meal and drink.

"Speak for yourself, jackass. All I'm sayin' is that we need to bring this into discussion. This rookie here has messed up so many times that I'm beginning to wonder whether this broad should be the head honcho." Jet said, crossing his arms.

All remained silent at Jet's words. Was he right? Was Virginia really not the one who should play leader?

"Yo, seriously man, you can't continue being the leader here. What if you make another stupid mistake, Virginia? I don't know about anyone else here, but I'm pretty damn sure that it will be the last one she'd make for all of us."

Jet's words cut through Virginia like a knife. How could he be so cruel?

"You're…you're so mean, Jet!" Virginia cried, trying to take control of her tears.

"Yeah? What the hell you gonna do about it, you wannabe Drifter?"

Anger filled Virginia, one tear slowly fell on her cheek. Gallows stared blankly at the both of them, unsure of what to do.

"That's quite enough, Jet. You've caused quite the ruckus in all of us today." A soft, but warning voice said. The man who sat casually beside them stared hard at Jet through his round glasses. His light blue eyes suddenly turned ice cold.

"Listen man, all I'm sayin' is we need Virginia to quit the leadership here. She's just an amateur for god's sake! " Jet said to the man.

"Alright, then what do you propose we do if we discard our fine leader here?" The man said softly, adjusting his glasses.

Jet made a sly smirk across his face, "We get a new, better leader. Obviously, we made the wrong decision back in Jolly Roger."

"What…?" Gallows said absent-mindedly, he had his full attention to the situation now.

Virginia's eyes grew wide in shock.

"How about it, people? We vote for who should be the new leader here, other than Virginia. We need someone who knows what the hell he's doin', knows what actions need to be done, and knows what the hell is goin' on." Jet said, still smirking.

"That's quite introspective of you Jet, but are you sure you can handle being the leader?" The man said in doubt.

"Hell man, you serious?! I was talking about you, Clive! I'm not cut out to be responsible for the actions of you idiots. I'm voting for you to be the next head honcho!"

Clive was completely caught off guard. "Wh-what?! Oh dear! You couldn't possibly suggest that I should--"

"I am suggestin' you, Clive. I mean, think about it! Who was the one that always made sure that we were safe when we venture into a dungeon? It was you Clive. Who was the one who can always sense danger a mile away? It was you Clive. Who is the smartest person here? No brainer, it's you Clive. Who was the one that always remained calm and strategic during a crisis? Hell yes, it was you Clive. Lastly… Who was the one who always fixed a certain someone here'smistake? Damn it! Do I have to keep repeatin' myself?! It-Was-You-Clive!" Jet said.

Clive remained silent and a bit confused. Gallows continued to stare blankly, as if he couldn't comprehend what was going on. Virginia sat silently, looking down at the table.

"Alright, who's up next? What about you Gallows? Who do you think should be the leader here?" Jet said, looking at the Baskar.

Gallows took his time to say anything. Truth be told, he didn't want to vote. He didn't want to hurt Virginia's feelings. He thought that by not saying anything, Jet would eventually turn to someone else. But Jet's cold, purple eyes continued to pierce at him, almost demanding him to give his answer. "Uuuhhh, hmm? Mmm, well I-uh. I kinda like our leader here and I wouldn't change that for anything." Jet's eyes flared silently, "Uhhh! On second thought, I like Clive! So yeah, he's kinda always. . . you know, saving the day and such. He's the strongest person here, ya know? He'd make a hell of a good leader!"

"That's what I wanted to hear. Now… who are you going to vote for, amateur?" Jet said, looking over at Virginia while crossing his arms.

"I…I-" Virginia had never been so hurt in her life. She felt as if her friends had betrayed her. She continued to stare at the table, not looking up. "I agree… Clive is the best choice for being the leader… He should have been the leader from the start… not me…" Virginia said sadly.

"Thank god… someone who agrees with me. Alright Clive, I guess that means that you're the leader now. As it should be." Jet said triumphantly.

"Please wait a moment, doesn't my vote partake in this?" Clive said with concern.

"It really doesn't matter, buddy. If you vote for yourself or not. You're still the new leader. . ." Gallows said, returning to his meal.

"I believe it does matter to me! I strongly believe Virginia can continue providing a safe leadership for all of us! I have faith in her." Clive said, smiling warmly at Virginia. Virginia smiled back at him, mouthing a 'thank you' from across the table.

"Yeah well, it doesn't matter. You're the new leader now. Virginia just doesn't have the skills like you do, man. She'll never amount to anything; she's a nobody." Jet said crossly.

At that point, Virginia couldn't contain her emotions any longer. She burst into tears as she ran out of the saloon. Outside Claiborne, she wept in shame.

"Dear me, Jet. You really are something!" Clive said angrily, standing up abruptly from his chair. He stormed out the saloon after Virginia.

"Sheesh! What's up with them?" Gallows said, with his mouth full of food.

. . . . . .

I'm such an idiot! Clive really should have been the leader all along! Virginia wept bitterly. She was ashamed of her weakness, she was ashamed of herself. Once she looked back, everything Jet said was the truth. It was always Clive who saved the day when Virginia choked up.

Why… Why do I have to be so weak? I'm so….

Virginia's tears continued to leak down her face. She was looking at a beautiful red sunset. Her tears reflected the colors of the red-pinkish sky. It was the most beautiful sunset she had seen thus far through her journey. She loved how the light from the sun reflected on the red rocks of the dying desert. The way the colors formed when the light shined on the desert sands. The desert created sort of a reddish glow that was awe striking.

Virginia hugged her knees as she sat weeping silently to herself. The sunset would have been even more beautiful if she could share it with someone. She didn't want to be alone; that was another great weakness of hers. She hated to be all by herself. Virginia had been attached to her father when she was a little girl. Yes, she had always been such a daddy's girl growing up. But she was heartbroken when he suddenly left her as he walked out into the engulfing desert all those years ago. Even more, she was hurt since her mother died and he'd never bothered to return. She missed her mother dearly. Secretly, she missed her father as well; despite the fact that she had burning anger for him. Thinking about her parents made Virginia cry all the more. The tears wouldn't stop falling.

Doesn't any body care? . . . Doesn't any body care for me at all? No, the ones who love me are gone now. . . Aunt Shalte and Uncle Tesla. . . They still worry about me, but . . . Do they even miss me now. . . or have the forgotten about me? Yes, I suppose no one--

"Virginia?" A calm, soft voice said from behind.

It startled Virginia. She immediately looked around her, quickly wiping away her tears.

"Clive?! Oh! Um, y-you scared me…" Virginia stuttered as she looked away embarrassed. Her face turned crimson red.

"I apologize. . . I just wanted to see if you were alright." Clive said with concern.

"Um, thank you Clive. I'm alright, really!" Virginia said, trying to sound optimistic.

"Virginia, I'm afraid you're not very good at lying. . ." Clive replied with pity.

"No, I guess I'm not." Virginia sighed, as she slumped her head down in defeat.

"Please, Virginia… Never mind what Jet said. It was uncalled for--"

"No! He's right! Someone as stupid and naïve like me shouldn't be the leader!" Virginia shouted.

Clive didn't say anything.

"I'm so weak minded, I don't know what I'm getting myself into half the time and I always drag all of you into it. . . I'm glad you're the rightful leader now, Clive. Otherwise I would have eventually gotten all of you killed someday, just because I didn't know what I was doing!" Virginia hid her head in her knees as she attempt to hide her tears.

"That's not true, Virginia… You have to look at the positive situations. Weren't you the one who got us out of that predicament back in the Ruins of Memory?"

"That was because I followed your advise, Clive!"

Clive thought back. Indeed, he was the one who told what Virginia should have done. "Yes, well I--"

"I'm always asking you for advise! I'm always asking your opinion on things! And I'm always going to you for protection! I can't stand on my own, don't you see? All this time I have been going to you, asking what I should do next when I have to make the leading decisions."

"Yes, I have took note of that recently." Clive reluctantly admitted.

"See?! You really are the leader here, not me! The only reason why we have lasted this far while I was the leader was because I followed your suggestions. Otherwise, we could've had vultures eating our bodies now out in the desert!"

Clive couldn't help but chuckle at Virginia's last statement. But then he regained control of himself, putting on a sympathetic expression. "Please Virginia, believe me. . . I was true to myself when I said you were a fine leader. I really do have faith in you. . ." Clive's words were sincere as he said them.

He softly stroked Virginia's brown hair in a fatherly affection. Virginia finally peeked up at him with her tear stained face. His light blue eyes made her tender at heart. His warm, serene smile made Virginia blush. She quickly looked away in embarrassment. Clive laughed in response. He wrapped his arms around her in a gentle embrace. He gently wiped her cheek full of tears with his gloved hand.

"I really believe you can make a difference," Clive whispered warmly in her ear. "you're just young is all. You're only a fledging Drifter. We all started out that way and we all made mistakes such as yourself. I was just an amateur just like you when I was your age."

"Jet doesn't believe so. . . He thinks I'm a. . . I'm a jackass."

"Jet is jackass."

They both laughed. Virginia continued to smile at him. They both looked at the sunset together.

"Clive? How do you do it? I mean, being so calm and smart as a Drifter?" Deep down, Virginia secretly admired and envied Clive's tranquil disposition. He had a gentle nature to those around him, but he was strong as steel in battle. She wished to be more like him actually.

Clive didn't respond at first, almost as if he was thinking on the question. "Years of experience, I suppose." He flatly said. He continued to stroke her hair.

"It's beautiful, isn't it? Truly one of Filgaia's finest sunsets. . . Don't you agree?" Clive said softly as he adjusted his glasses to gain a better view of the sunset. He stroked back his unruly green hair as he gazed beyond.

"Yes, it is." Virginia whispered in agreement.

They watched until the sun finally disappeared from view, along with the vanishing red sky. Soon after, darkness fell over them and the stars flickered brightly high above them.

"Well, I suppose we shall call it a day?" Clive suggested.

"Yeah, I pretty tired. Let's return to Claiborne." Virginia replied.

As Clive was about to make his way to the town, Virginia stopped him.

"Um, Clive?" Virginia said hesitantly.

"Yes, Virginia?" Clive responded as he turned to her, giving his calm, serene smile. She trembled a little inside. That smile of his secretly happened to be her other weak point.

"Um… Thank you, you're a true friend. . ." Virginia said, looking at her feet.

"You're very welcome, Virginia. We all need a little support now and then, I suppose?" Clive turned as he walked away.

Yes, and thank you for caring for me. . .

For some reason, Virginia had always felt secured when she was with Clive. He seemed to have an aura of calmness around him that rubs off on others near him. Even more, he always seemed to defend Virginia in any situation, whether it was some thrashing words from Jet or from an ambushing monster. He was sort of like her protector; maybe she saw him as an older brother, maybe she even saw him as . . . a father figure of sorts. Maybe it was something even more than just that. . .

Virginia rushed up to meet Clive as they walked toward Claiborne.

A/N: Okay, I know that somewhat kind of sucked. But I assure you, there is more where that came from! But as I mentioned before, this is my first story, so bare with me! I tried to match each character with their personality from the game as best as I could. So I don't know if I did a great job on that. I don't know how long this story is going to last, I'm just sort of making this up as I write along. I'll work on chapter two eventually. . . If anyone cares. . .