A/N: Guess who spent the summer writing? If you said me, you're right. I did. That is, until August when my A drive left me. Thus, I can't work @ home and bring them to school to put up for all you happy peoples to read. Damn damn damn. Anyway, thankfully, all my finished stuff was on a separate disk as the one in the drive that was ruined when it died. But, that means you'll have to wait patiently for the rest of this series because a lot of stuff was on the disk. Sorry!! Anyway, I DO love you all, 'cause you're still here, even though this is incessant ranting to no end. Bya!!
Blood of the Eternal Star-Stories of the Lost Ones: Captured By Will
Prologue(Nicka)
Kento wrapped his arms around my shoulders and I sighed happily. At last, a moments peace. And I was with Kento. What more could I possibly ask for? Well... maybe there was something, but it was okay if I didn't have it.
"How ya' doing?" he asked. I glared contemptuously at my math book.
"What exactly would I have to become to know how to multiply binomials?" I said darkly.
"What?"
"Binomials. Something like 3x plus 4x."
"Oh. And you have to know how to multiply them?"
"You betcha. See?" I pointed towards the open page and the problem I was stuck on. Stuck isn't the word. Didn't want to do is more like it. "7x squared plus 4 multiplied by 6x squared plus 10. It's a definite pain in the ass."
"Not a bigger one then I am, I hope." I looked up and he smiled.
"Of course not, Kento. No one's a bigger pain in my ass then you are. That's why I like you." I gave his arm an affectionate pat as Briana came tearing out of the kitchen after Yuli.
"Give me that back, Darn it!" she yelled. "Yuli!" I shook my head sadly and set the pencil down on the table.
"Okay, that's enough math," I said, standing up. "I've been at this stupid book for an hour. It's time I took a break."
"Come swimming with Saki, Cye, and me," he said. I grinned.
"Alright. Let me get my suit." I ran upstairs, just slightly above you average happy.
Chapter 1
I opened the mailbox and pulled out a stack of... stuff. No way around that, is there? And stuck between the various things I could've cared less about were five postcards. One of the Pinnacles (Sage to Ariogya), of the river and the bridge (Cye to Saki), one of the ocean and a setting sun (Rowen to Brin) and a picture of a volcano (Ryo to Mia?) I chuckled as I took out one of a field and... cows?
Hey Nikki,
No much going on. Maybe I'll finally get to relax. I thought you'd like this one because it has cows and I know how much you like cows.
Kento
"You're a moron, Kento Rei Faun," I whispered to myself. "But you're my moron." Brin lifted her head from her book.
"Moron? What? Me?" I rolled my eyes and threw Rowen's postcard at her. "For me?"
"Space cadet," I muttered, heading into the kitchen. "Mail call."
"Really?" asked Saki.
"About time," added Ariogya. "Geez, how long does it take them to write a freaking postcard?"
"They're guys, Ary. You have to give them a margin of error," said Saki calmly.
"Yeah, of about a week either way," snorted Ary. "Did you already read yours, Nick?" I nodded and handed her the one from Sage, then passed Cye's to Saki. She smiled and sat down at the table to read it.
"I'm gonna take the rest of this to Mia," I said as I headed out the door. Brin was back to her book, but she had a trace of a beam in her eyes. "Hey, spacey, did you read yours?" She glanced up, nodded and returned to... Dragons of Spring Dawning. I had yet to read it, not that I wanted to.
"Hi Nicka," said Mia when I opened the door. She had somehow managed to solve whatever dispute between Briana and Yuli they had gotten into that day(there's always one[or three] everyday, so you don't get confused) and had them sitting quietly on the floor, reading through some books. "Is that the mail?"
"Yup." I set it down on the desk and leaned against the opened window frame. A pleasant breeze blew in, but when you have a voice in your head who was raised listening to the wind, you tend to be able to pick up the slight hint of a faint odor of dead fish in the air.
Hmm, that's odd, I thought. What could have killed enough fish to make the smell come out this far?
A lot of fish dying naturally?
Maybe. I snapped out of my trance and stood up. "Is it alright if I head into to town for a little bit? I want to look for something to wear to that concert thing Friday night." She nodded and I started downstairs. Okay, so it was a complete lie, but I didn't want to worry her with the guys alone and by themselves already. If the Dynasty was back, they were easy targets, unless they truly did find the spirits of the armors in time.
I walked from the shadows and found myself at the river.
And why are we here? I asked.
Dead fish, Nikki. This is a river. This is where fish live.
I knew that, damn you! I just wanted to know how you managed to travel in my body.
It's not a big issue. We do share the same form, after all.
Whatever. I climbed down the rocks slowly to the stretch of sand that really can't be called a beach. Further out, the twin whirlpools churned the deep blue water, but at my feet lay the bodies of hundreds of fish. I stepped around them until I reached the water. I'm going to get to the bottom of this, I said as I dove beneath the surface. The current swept me up instantly, but I didn't fight it. My subarmor gave me enough lung capacity to stay down for a while and if I needed, I could call my armor and breath under the surface, but there was no need to call attention to myself.
Why is the water dark? wondered Linja. .
Pollution, maybe?
Or poison, she answered darkly. Sekhmet.
Don't jump to conclusions. We won't know for sure unless we find some hard evidence.
Ask any of the animals. I'm sure they know what happened.
I will not talk to fish.
Then how about a killer whale? They're not fish.
Are we going to have this discussion again?
Maybe.
Fine, I ask the damn mammal fish. I swam around the first pool and met up with a very large killer whale on the other side. He nudged my side, pushing me further from the spinning water, more towards the calm of the ocean. I laid my hand it's beak and concentrated my thoughts. Images flashed through my mind. Cye, swimming in the whirlpools. Okay, that was okay. Then there was a flash of him in his armor, facing himself in his armor? No, there was a difference. The other Cye wore dark, almost blood, red armor and something curled around him in the water. This faded away and I was back in the ocean. My breath was running short, so I thanked the 'mammal fish' and kicked my way to the surface. There was a beach nearby and I managed to stagger onto the shore. You didn't say it would take so much out of me.
You didn't ask. Look! I lifted my head and saw a battle scene. The sand was burned to almost glass and a stench hung in the air. There was a pile of... something close to the water and I didn't dare to touch it. A yari lay in the dune grass further back, lacking the symbol that Cye's carried. What the hell was going on?
Then it fell into place.
"Cye came here to find the true armor power," I said out loud. "He was attacked by some carbon copy, made of poison. Their battle took them from the torrents, to this beach. The copy was defeated, but so was Cye."
If he used his sure kill to destroy the copy, it could have taken its poison to him. I nodded grimly and bent to pick up the abandoned weapon. Something behind me growled and I whirled around. Somehow, the blob had become Cye's copy again.
"You're not Torrent, where is he?" it asked coldly. The yari vanished from the grass and reappeared in its hand. "You're one of the traitors!"
"You're about as quick as the real Cye," I retorted. "Armor of Water Star! Tay Ri!" Power rushed through me and I fought to control it, instead of it controlling me. The copy attacked just as I finished my transformation.
"Master Talpa will be happy with a traitor's armor," he said. Geez, he sounded a lot like Cye. But it wasn't him, I reminded myself. It definitely wasn't the Cye I knew.
"Why don't you shut up and sit down?" I said coolly, slamming the end of my yari into its chest. He hit the ground hard and I stopped the point inches from its chest. "Where's the real Cye of Torrent?"
"How do you know I'm not the real Torrent?"
"Because, jackass, I know my friends and your not one of them." I sliced through him and stepped back as the armor fell back into a shapeless blob. Then I stepped on the yari, snapping it in half. Both parts faded, with the blob.
"Very nice, Nicka. You possess more brains then the real Torrent, apparently." Hario appeared and a snarl escaped my throat. "What? You're not happy to see me?"
'Why would I ever be happy to see you?" I said with frustration. "Do you just get dumber every day, Hario, or is it my imagination?"
"Probably both, Nikki. We all know what an overactive imagination you have."
"I'll take that as a compliment, thank you very much. So did you come here only to praise me or are you looking to get your ass kicked?"
"I came to tell you of the current whereabouts of your Ronin boyfriend," he said, running his fingers through his hair like it was no big thing. I realized he wasn't in his armor, whereas, I had my yari raised, ready to strike if he did. Sighing, I sent my armor away.
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"You're Ronin, Kento of the Hardrock, willingly came into the Dynasty to save his friends Cye of the Torrent and Sage of the Halo. Now all three are trapped and their armors are being used to give strength to the rest of the Dynasty." I stiffened and bit down a cry. No, it couldn't be true. But if Sage and Cye were trouble, Kento would try to save them.
"You're... lying," I said, forcing myself to stay up. "Why are you telling me this? Why?"
"Do give you an opportunity." He shifted his gaze to over the water. "This world has nothing to offer for you. You're not even a whole person, only half of a greater force. Join me in the Dynasty and you and... Hardrock could be together forever with nothing to come in between you." Tears of rage and pain stung my eyes.
"How dare you?" I whispered fiercely. "How dare you manipulate my emotions?! Die, you lousy son of a bitch!" I dove for him and my hands wrapped around his neck. Almost instantly, my own air supply was cut off, but I'd have rather died then that let that pain in the ass live. Slowly, darkness settled into my mind and I slipped from consciousness...
Chapter 2(Saki)
I bolted from my sleep, sweating and shaking. My eyes landed on Nicka's empty bed. She had been gone since that morning. Mia said she was going into town, but she never came back. The numbers on my alarm clock glowed brightly in the darkness. It was three thirty. What had woken me up?
They've got her... murmured Nycoelle, still somewhat asleep. Those Dynasty bastards have them... Then I remembered. Micael, leading me directly to my friends, trapped and in pain. I heard Nicka's screams and Cye's. Sage, Kento... All of them, in the Dynasty. Micja and Laori were there, but they weren't able to help.
I groaned and stifled a sob.
"You want me to come, you son of a bitch?" I asked to the shadows. "Then I will come." I stood up and focused on my sub armor. The night closed in around me and suddenly, I saw a golden palace in the distance. A river ran a dusky yellow below the steep ledge I was on.
"You're brave, for a pacifist with no will to fight." I whirled around and sent a spray of rocks over the edge. "You look surprised, Sakimata. Why?"
"You!" I hissed angrily.
Be careful, said Nycoelle. A cliff is not a place for a fight
"Are you in search of the Ronins of Torrent, Halo, and Hardrock? Or the bitch that bears the Water Star armor?" he asked curiously.
"C)," I replied coldly. "All of the above. Where are my friends?"
"Enjoying the hospitalities of Master Talpa. You could too, you know. All you have to do is agree to give me your armor and you're free to live the pleasures of the Dynasty." I glanced around for some way out of a fight. I could run, but to where? This was the Dynasty. Soldiers around every corner, not to mention Micael would always know my exact position, thanks to that damn bond from the separation.
Then there was plan B. Considering the circumstances, it was worth a try.
"I'll never give in to your darkness," I said, backing up slowly. "Never."
"Oh, don't be stupid," he said, figuring out my idea. "You won't survive." I gave him a small smile.
"Exactly." I turned quickly and dove, headfirst, off the cliff into the river below.
Chapter 3(Ariogya)
The snow swirled around me. A wonderful, glorious storm of white, perfect for working with my armor.
Keep your focus, said Senaara. This isn't the time to let your mind wander. With this much power-
The armor could over throw and destroy me. Yes, I know, Sena, I answered. My spear glowed with an unnatural light. "Ice Sheet Hail!" I yelled. The storm doubled in strength and froze solid the waterfall to my left. I whipped my spear over my head and directed the blast of energy at the colossal icicle. It exploded into a thousand shards and new water flowed to fill its place. The storm subsided and the clouds parted. I breathed in and out slowly, trying to slow my pulse to normal.
Not bad. Though, you could have been more subtle.
True, but where's the fun in that? I sent my armor away and stood on the rock over the chest deep snow. It was going to be a pain in the ass to get back to the trail, if I could even find it now. So instead, I sat down and laid back, looking up at the sun in the pale blue sky. I wonder what Sage's doing.
You shouldn't become too close with that Ronin. You don't know what might happen in the future. You may end up having to kill him. The Ronin Armors were once part of Talpa-
Oh, shut up, you big party-pooper. I'll like whomever I want, thank you. And why in the world would I ever want to kill Sage, other then he's an overprotective jerk, but I never really mean that.
Yeah right.
I don't! Whenever he's around... I don't know. My temper flares, but some part of my sanity returns to control it.
Most of the time...
Okay, so occasionally we have a little argument. It's not like I'm the one who starts them. He knows what rides my nerves and he likes to get me angry. That's just the way he is. Besides, you're not one to talk about liking Ronin Warriors.
How was I supposed to know he would become a Ronin Warrior?! she said hotly. Okay, so you have a point. I won't tell you who you can like and you don't bring up Micru, deal?
Deal. I stood up and tested the snow with my foot. It felt solid enough, so I stepped onto it. Immediately, it collapsed beneath me and I plunged into a flurry of white. Senaara seemed to find this incredibly hilarious. Shut up, I muttered, climbing out of the hole. And how exactly are we supposed to get back? Wait for spring?
"Having problems, Ariogya?" Grant appeared, balanced on top of the snow with amazing grace. I don't care how he did it, he had no right to be there. The mountain was too beautiful to be marred by the darkness of the Dynasty.
"Go away, pretty boy," I said. "I don't need your editorials right now."
"Such a pity too, because I bear a message from Sage of Halo." I almost lost my balance.
"What? Sage? What have you done to him, you piece of shit excuse for a human being?"
"Tsk tsk, Ary. Such harsh language doesn't become a lady. The Ronin you care so much for, plus two of the other trash, not to mention Saki and Nicka of the Star Gaze armors are being held in the Dynasty."
"What?!"
"Are you completely deaf or is it just part of being a dumb blonde?" he said. "They're ours now, Ariogya, and you can save them."
"How? Tell me what I have to do."
"So you're willing to do it, whatever is it?"
"Maybe."
"I see where your faithfulness lies. Just as well-"
"Oh, shut the hell up. I'll do it, damn you."
"Give your armor to Master Talpa." I raised any eyebrow.
"You're nuts. There's no way I'm turning my armor over to the likes of you."
"Then join your friends in the Dynasty's darkness!" Cold ran through me, more intense then my armor. Like getting ice down your back, only several hundred times worse and throughout my entire form. I shivered and collapsed into the abyss of white beneath me...
Slowly, my eyes opened. Someone was whimpering. Me, maybe, I couldn't tell. Then I realized it was me and I stopped. My wrists were bound over my head and I wore my armor, minus one spear.
"Ariogya!" said a voice below me. I looked down and saw Sage, his eyes full of pain and worry. "Are you alright?"
"What the hell is going on?" I asked, twisting in my bonds. They only tightened, so I stopped. "Where are we?"
"The Dynasty," came Saki's voice from behind me. "You, me, Nicka, Kento, Cye, and Sage. There's no way of getting out from the inside. If we do escape the chains, then the Nether Spirits will take our souls and we'll lose anyway."
"That's helpful, thanks Saki," muttered Nicka. "I'm gonna murder him. Do you hear me Hario?! I'll kill you!"
"Chill, Nikki," said Cye. "It's not going to get us anywhere."
"So is there anything we can do?" I asked.
"Until Brin, Rowen, and Ryo figure out what's going on... no."
Chapter 4(Brin)
*And why didn't you tell me I have daggers?
Because you never-
Because I never asked. Figures. I resheathed my katanas and withdrew the two daggers from my shoulders. They flashed in the light of the magma and reflected the tendrils of smoke rising from the surface. "Dragon's Dagger Strike!" Six exact copies lanced the air around me and seemed to strike harmlessly into the rock in front of me. There was a flash of light and it crumbled. I lifted my arm to protect my face from the flying molten rock as well as the regular kind. You know, of course, that I'm gonna get a kick out of these, right?
You bet. I grinned and started to jump up the sides of the rock wall. At the top, I took in a deep breath and sighed. I was worried about Nicka, we all were, but my other friends were safe, I hoped. Saki had left *really* early to go to the Pinnacles, or where ever she was going, and Ariogya and I had left at about the same. Briana and Yuli were back at Mia's, keeping up with their studies.
Something flew through the air and slammed into the boulder behind me. I jerked backwards. Ariogya's spear? But how?
"Who are you?" I asked, turning around.
"I'm Lady Kayura of the Dynasty and your friends are all prisoners of ours. Keep the girl's spear as evidence that I'm not lying. When I come to retrieve it, I plan to retrieve you and the other two as well." The figure vanished as I heard someone yelling my name. Ryo and Rowen came up the side of the mountain, fully armored. Rowen carried Sage's nodaochi and Ryo had Cye's yari. I closed my eye, swallowed tears and pulled Ary's spear from the rock.
"Brin-" started Ryo. I turned around and her weapon glinted in the sunlight.
"I know guys," I said quietly. "I know."
Chapter 5
If 6x by 4 is 24x and 6x by 8x squared is 48x cubed, then how many times will I have to kill Kaji to make him pay for this? I lifted my head and frowned. What in the world did that have to do with my math homework?
"Brin?" I turned and saw Briana standing in the doorway. My watch said it was almost midnight. Shouldn't she have been asleep?
"What's up, kid?" I asked, standing up.
"I can't sleep. Ryo and Rowen are fighting."
"Again?" I said in exasperation. "Okay, you lay down in here and I'll get them to quiet down." She shuffled over to my bed and was back to sleep before she hit the pillow. I headed down the stairs and could here them fighting before I reached the bottom. "Guys," I said. "Briana and Yuli need their rest as much as we do. Why are you still up?"
"Where have you been?" asked Ryo angrily. "We've been trying to figure out a way to free the others."
"Leave her alone," said Rowen. It was him I glared at.
"He's right," I said, sitting down in the chair across from them. The three weapons were laying on the table. "I'm too furious to think. I wouldn't be much help to you at the moment, but they are my friends too, you know. I have every opportunity to free them, but there's no way I, or any of us, can do it alone. We've got three people against the entire Dynasty, five if I can find Micja and Laori. Those are the worst odds in the history of the world, both worlds, but I'm not giving in until I'm dead and even then it's debatable." I looked down into the cup of tea Mia had given me and focused on not crying. I had to stay strong, for my friends, for my world, my family.
"Brin..." Rowen trailed off as I lifted my head.
"Don't try and protect me from what's right," I said softly. "I can handle myself, Rowen." I stood up. "If you do want my help, I'll be in my room. And try and keep it down. Yuli and Bree are trying to sleep." Thankfully, the tears stayed until I was back in my room. Then I collapsed into the chair and cried. What could I possibly do now? My sanity was on trial and I was failing big time.
"Don't cry, Brin." Briana wrapped her arms around me and I pulled her onto my lap.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," I said. She shook her head.
"I wasn't asleep anyway," she lied. "Why are you crying?"
"Because I can't do anything to save the people I care about the most."
"Like daddy?" I nodded, even though I hadn't really thought about that in a long time. Not that I had given up on my father, just for some reason, it was further from my mind then destroying the Dynasty.
"I don't know what to do, Bree. They're depending on us and Ryo and Rowen can't even control their tempers."
"They're guys," she said simply. Geez, I wonder who had taught her that? "They don't necessarily have the ability to control their tempers. Like Ariogya, only different." I chuckled.
"You've been spending too much time with me," I said, hugging her. "Thanks Bree. I need that."
"Can I go to bed now?" I nodded and she climbed off my lap and back into the bed. She was asleep a few minutes later. I sat up for awhile, until I heard Ryo and the others go to bed. At least, it sounded like all of them, so I crept downstairs. The doors to the balcony were open and a cold air blew in. My instinct kicked in. What if something was out there?
All I found was Rowen.
"I thought you'd be asleep by now," he said quietly. I shook my head.
"I don't think I'll ever get to sleep. Rowen, I'm sorry, about earlier. I shouldn't have snapped at you."
"You were right though. Ryo and I weren't getting anywhere fighting."
"Did you get anywhere after I left?"
"Not really." He laughed and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. I smiled inside and out. Sometimes, it was nice having Rowen with me. I would never do anything to hurt him, or Bree, or Yuli or any of them. They had always been there for me and I would always be there for them. "What's wrong?"
"Hmm? Nothing, I was just thinking," I answered. "Six of us are down. How long until we're all taken?"
"I won't let them take me and if I can help it, you. I'll always protect you, Brin, whether you like it or not."
"I know, know," I said with a sigh. "But you can't die because of me. Then I'd have to kill you again for being a moron."
"Me? Never." He grinned and I smiled back. The breeze picked up and I shivered. Rowen held me closer and I decided that there wasn't a moment I would let him protect me, especially because with the way things were going, we might end up in the Dynasty itself and no one stood a better chance of surviving there then me.
You know you always lose your mind around this guy, said Keshen.
Shut up, I muttered. I'm not losing my mind. You were raised in the Dynasty and thanks to you, I know every nook and cranny there is.
He's a Ronin Warrior, Brin. How much do you think he's incapable of? He's not six years old.
Just be quiet.
"You should get some sleep," said Rowen. I nodded and reluctantly started inside. Then I turned and kissed him as firmly as I could manage with my stomach churning in knots. A plan was starting to form in my head, but I had to do it without him.
"Brin..." He brushed a loose strand of hair out of my face and I fought off tears.
"I'm... gonna go get some sleep," I said, heading back inside. Once I was past the door, the knots grew worse. "I promise you," I whispered from the top of the stairs. "I'll set them free."
The sun was just coming up over the horizon as I tucked Briana back into to her own bed. White Blaze growled softly at me.
"Shh," I said, holding my finger to my lips. "You're staying too. I need you to watch them for me, all of them, got it?" I scratched behind his ears and slipped from the room. If I could free them from the Dynasty, my friends who were there, and keep the ones who weren't from going, then I'd have done what I was born to do.
The wind was as cold, if not colder, then it had been five hours before. I slipped out of the window, into the shadows by the house. The balcony stood empty, but even if Rowen still had been there, he wouldn't have seen me.
Quickly, I slipped between worlds. I sensed something. There was a sort of... taint. I don't know what to call it, but the movement sent chills down my spine. Just as I reached the Dynasty, it attacked. It wasn't a taint! It was creature of the shadows! Keshen tried to yell its name to me, but I passed out before I could understand her.
Chapter 6
Water lapped around my legs as I struggled to get up. My head was pounding,
And you couldn't have warned me about that before?
How was I suppose to know he would put those there?
Well, for one, Talpa knows we can shadow travel. The water was shallow, but stretched on forever and a fog hung over everything. If I walked long enough, I'd find a gateway to the Dynasty. But in what direction?
Out of the fog formed three shadows. I stood up and prepared myself to fight. They were somehow familiar, but I couldn't think clearly.
You must have hit your head pretty hard, said Keshen. Calm down. I think it's only the guys.
Oh, shit. They're gonna fry me for running off on my own. I stepped back and hit an unshallow hole under the surface. Dark water closed around me and something caught my ankle. I fought to reach the edge of the hole but all I found was more water. Whatever had me was dragging me further from the surface. Just as my lungs started to collapse, something grabbed my wrists and pulled me free. I blacked out before I reached air.
I stifled a groan and raised my head.
"You're awake." I jerked in surprise and fell off of White Blaze's back, into the water. Rowen started laughing and Ryo joined him.
"Hilarious." I stood up and ran my fingers through my hair, which was remarkably dry. "Why did you come?"
"We thought the Dynasty had you too," said Rowen. "So we came to rescue you."
"Great. Just great." I retied my bandanna and glanced into the fog. "Tell me you didn't bring Yuli and Briana." Ryo shook his head.
"Why did you go off on your own?" asked Rowen.
"Why? Because this is the Dynasty. There are a thousand new ways for Talpa and Kaji and Badamon to turn me against you, on top of the thousand that have always been there." I turned away and lowered my head. "I couldn't give them the chance to alter my life to suit them, not if it meant killing you." Ryo laid his hand on my shoulder.
"The reason we fight with you is because we trust you, Brin, all of you. We always have, even after you said that the Dynasty could become your master again. Nothing will change that."
"I can't believe you thought we didn't trust you," said Rowen with a hint of hurt in his voice. I sighed.
"I barely trust myself. Why should you trust me?" A huge gateway towered over us. "Whoa and not good."
"Same thought?" asked Ryo with a small smile.
"Hell yes. Let's get this thing open."
"Wait. What if it's a trap?" said Rowen. "And, since Sage isn't here, do we have a plan?"
"No, and if it is a trap, we'll improvise," I said, starting for the door. Ryo caught my arm.
"You let us guys handle this," he said, his grin getting bigger. I stepped back with a shake of my head.
"Fine. I'll just be back here if you need some help." I crossed my arms over my chest and waited. They threw their weight against the door, and slowly, very slowly it started to open. Too slow for my taste. "Come on White Blaze, let's see what we can do." He growled and we both pressed against the doors on the inside. Now we were getting somewhere.
Chapter 7(Laori)
"They've made it as far as the Spirit Gate." I lifted my head from my book and my smile turned to a complete frown. The soldier I had recruited to tell me their progress left quietly and quickly, knowing I was going to get severely angry.
"Son of a bitch," I cursed.
"They'll be fine," said Micja, putting down her pencil and sketchbook.
"It's not the guys I'm worried about, it's Brin," I said, standing up. "The Nether Spirits will sense what she is and use it against her. Come on." I grabbed her hand and we both teleported as close to the Spirit Gate as we could get without being noticed by the spirits. "Let's do it."
"You gotta love the death behind that phrase," she said with a wicked grin. "Armor of Acid Air! Tay Neia!"
"Satanic Earth Star! Tay Sarie!" I held the orange light at my chest and kept my focus on fighting the taint that swirled in the center. Rocks tore from the ground and disintegrated to dust before rejoining to form my armor. My staff was built from the rock as well and quickly grew from both sides of my hand. Micja kept the light at her chest too, then opened her arms wide. The force of the sudden movement caused the light to spread and connect behind her. It started spinning, a line of black clearly visible in the hoop that created a huge whirled wind that circled her and finally disappeared, leaving her in her armor.
"Can we kick some ass yet?" she asked as some of the Nether Spirit surrounded us. I shrugged.
"It's your choice, but personally, these things have always gotten on my nerves." The sharp blade on my staff sliced through some spirits and I focused my power. "Rock World Shaking!"
"Armor of Fire Star! Tay-" Brin was cut off abruptly. A spirit entered her body and Micja swore.
"Like hell! Gale of Destruction!"
Compassion
Spirit The Nether spirit was taken from her by the power of her armor combined with Micja's. Brin finished her transformation.
"Go!" she yelled to Rowen and Ryo, who were combating the other Nether Spirits. "Free the others! e'll catch up!"
"Be careful!" shouted Rowen. She nodded.
"I will. Dragon Rage Attack!" The two Ronins left as the battle was just beginning.
They are escaping. They are not armed. They will be vulnerable.
Of, for the love of- SHUT UP! The spirits swarmed around me now, sensing the darkness.
"Send your armor away!" I hollered at Micja, seeing the flash of pain on her face. "Do it!" I forced myself to let go of the power and strength. I wasn't going to let that damned voice take over. "Are you alright?"
"I sooner we get rid of those bloody voices," she said. "The better."
The End
A/N: Ooo... it just ends, don't it? Anyway, it's just beginning. Talpa's still kickin' and the Dark Stars aren't gonna go down easy, so... here we go! For the next story, I only have about four pages so far, so there isn't a whole lot to it. Plus, since Cartoon Network took the Ronins off, I don't have anything to compare my story to, so if anything seems wrong, feel free to flame, just understand I don't have anything to look at for reference. Hmm... disclaimer: I own not the Ronins, nor the warlords, nor Talpa and the Dynasty people, but I doth own my characters, so if I found they have been stolenth, someone's gonna get run through with the sharp end of a ten foot pole... th.