Peace Is Threatened
Chapter 4
In a dark, evil infested place, Mesu walked around in his thrown room. Pacing back and forth, "Those damn Ronin Warriors and Guardians, now I know what Talpa was talking about."
He stopped to sit down in his thrown. He brought a hand to his chin, "Who in the hell were those two people with them? They didn't look of Japanese decent. I wonder who they could be."
Just then, a knock at his door brought him out of his thoughts, "Yes guard, you may come in."
The Guard stepped forward, "Mesu sir, I have some interesting news," He paused before he continued, "it seems that the allies the Ronin Warriors and Lady Ronin Guardians had with them were from America."
"How do you know this, General?" Mesu asked.
"The girl known as Flash said so herself when she challenged the soldiers," He stopped, "seems they have some crazy powers too."
Mesu just grunted, "Yeah, I seemed to have noticed that."
The Guard spoke again, "If I may sir, the two known as Flash and Thunder fought against Tutock if that helps any."
Mesu's eyes widened. Tutock. Why didn't he think of that!? He jumped up from his throne, "That's great! Now, all I have to do is go and see him!"
"Um ...sir, Tutock's dead," the Guard said quietly.
"Well, Gosh Damn! I can't believe ...of all the ...son of a bitch!" Mesu screamed, "What can I do to get them now?" He sat back down in his throne to think again, "Wait! I've got it!"
"What is it sir?" The guard asked.
"The Lady Ronins each have a respective ...love ...in each of the Ronin Warriors ...I just don't know who though," It didn't take him long to figure out a pair, "Rekino of the Lady Wildfire and Rowen of the Strata are ...a couple ...so, all I need is to..."
The guard interrupted, "Sir! You don't mean a shape shifting ceremony, do you?"
Mesu laughed, "Yes, I do. I will take on the form of Strata. That way, I can have Lady Wildfire's trust, since she cares for him so much," Mesu stopped, "While I'm at it, go and see what you can find on those Flash and Thunder characters. Research from Tutock's allies that he had. Find out their powers, allies, and etc."
The guard bowed, "Yes sir!" He then ran out of the room.
"Finally, I will have my revenge. Once Lady Wildfire sees me as her beloved Strata, she will NOT be able to resist me. I've always wanted to see what she was like," Mesu stopped, "Plus, I find out about those two newbies. This is turning out to be an excellent day!"
The five Ronins, the five Lady Ronin Guardians, the two mysterious teenagers, and the two animals all sat together inside Mia's house in the living room. All were staring at the two waiting for answers.
Cye had made tea for everyone, but Flash had politely declined.
"No, thanks, I'm allergic," she said.
"Oh, sorry." He took the tea away and got her water instead.
"Thanks," Flash said as she took it from him. He welcomed her and sat down next to Rowen.
"Now you said you'd explain everything to us," Ryo began.
"First of all where did you two come from, what were those powers and just who are you?" Rekino demanded.
"Rekino, take it easy," Rowen said as he gave her a kiss.
"It's alright," Flash said. "I'd do the same thing. About almost two years ago, eight teenagers from across the world all had dreams or vision of an evil coming to America. An evil so great so powerful it would give anyone a bad feeling just thinking about it. I was already living in San Francisco, California. I was also having the weird feelings and dreams. Then one day I was walking Blaze, my wolf, and I came upon this old man fighting these punks in a subway. He had beaten most of them off, but the last one pulled a gun out on him. I caused the gun to overheat, then disappeared from the area. The next day I met Thunder at my school. We were then joined with seven others."
"SEVEN OTHERS?!" Josephine exclaimed, her eyes wide open with shock. Flash nodded her head, and picked up right where she was cut off at, never missing a beat.
"We were trained by the same old man that I had seen in the subway. His name was Chinook, and he was a Mystic sent to gather and train eight teenagers known as the Warriors. There was an American Legend that spoke of the Warriors. This is how it goes: 'a great evil has come to the Land of Freedom. It has one thing in mind, to destroy the world and rule it with an iron fist. Eight Chosen Ones are all that stand in its way. Together they rise to defeat this evil, knowing they are greatly outnumbered. Their armors have chosen them, and they gain strength from the elements. They stand strong together to defeat this evil and will triumph.' The next line that follows is this: 'The Chosen Ones have been called the Warriors; their armors have names and powers to go with it. Firestarter, the leader. Firestarter is the only Warrior who can use the power with or without the armor. Storm, Current, Fade, Ataxia, Heart, Shock, and Hail. Together they rise and stand strong against this evil to conquer it.'
They all stared at her and Thunder with shock. Silence swept through the living room as they let this play through their heads. Finally someone broke the silence.
"Ok," Amaya said, "we understand that part, but what was that power you two showed earlier today. Neither one of you were wearing an armor!"
"The power I have is known as pyrokinesis," Flash explained. "I was born with it. And because I was born with it and with my symbol faith I have complete control over all flames and heat, and all fires must obey me, whether started by me or not."
"Hey, you hear that Ryo and Rekino!" Kento smirked. "You two have to obey her!"
Both fixed Kento with a look and the bearer of Hardrock looked away.
"Please continue," Cye said.
"Each time I used my power it grows stronger. I can't be controlled by anything nor possessed. I am also known as an evil spirit slayer. If a person is possessed I can send my own spirit into their body and battle the spirit inside, killing it and freeing the possessed person."
"Just how do you do that?" Rowen asked.
"I put them into a trance, both the possessed and the evil spirit. I simply place my hand on their forehead and stare into their eyes, sending them into a trance. Once they're in it, I will my spirit into their bodies, and I use my special dagger to kill the spirit inside."
"Wow, that's sounds cool," Josephine said. "What about night of the living dead over there?" She pointed at Thunder with a thumb. Through this whole time, he had been quiet and mostly staring at the floor
"Thunder comes from Germany actually," Flash explained. "He is the Storm Warrior. He is able to heal any wound there is, he can heal himself. He also has the power to bring back those who are killed by violence whether done to them by someone else or by their self. He himself cannot die by force. Sadly though he feels pain ten times worse than any other being out there. Like if he got a paper cut on his finger it would feel like his finger had been ripped off him."
They all grimaced at that, but let her continue.
"Now you wanted to know about the armors. My armor is known as the Firestarter. I hardly wear it because of the fact if I get water splashed on me while in armor I'm pretty much done for. And even though Thunder would bring me back, I'd be in great pain while water was being splashed on me. Thunder's armor is called Storm. Because of his armor he grows strength from lightning and electrical currents provided rubber does not surround it. And like me, he himself cannot be turned to evil nor be possessed."
"Well, that's a cool thing," Ryo said as he crossed his arms behind his head.
"So what about you guys?" Flash asked as she stared at them all.
"Well, you see it's like this…" Hana began before Kento interrupted her.
"I got this," he said as he stood up and cleared his throat. "A thousand years ago a demon known as Talpa came to our world plotting to take over it and destroy it. Then a wise old powerful man came hopping like a bunny and single handedly defeated the jerk. Then because he didn't want Talpa coming back he took the large armor and divided it into nine mystical armors, creating the armors Wildfire, Halo, Torrent, Hardrock, Strata, Spring/Cruelty, Darkness/Winter, Venom/Summer, Illusion/Autumn. Oh yeah and there was this cool poem that went with it too. It went something like this." Kento cleared his throat and began speaking. "Torch of spirit, sought through five, drinking strength from immortal fire, darkest prison sheds the light, swirling beneath a sea of salt, buried within a throne of rock, floating amongst the eyes of ages, unmoored in the stream of the sky."
"Oooooohh!" Josephine cried suddenly, "Got to tell her about the Ronin Guardians!"
"I'll handle this one, girlfriend," Mia said. "Then the ancient one decided to provide protectors to the five Ronin Warriors and he took a piece of each of their armor and created the five Ronin Lady Guardian Armors, and there was a poem that went with us as well. It went something like this. Torch of spirit guarding the chosen five Imbibing energy from imperishable fire,
The indistinctness penitentiary showers the light, Stirring below a sea of salt, Relaxing in a throne of granite, Soaring amongst the seer of duration, Unmoving in the current of heaven."
"Wow," Flash said, totally amazed as she listened to all of this. "That is amazing!"
"Yep!" Kento said proudly. "All five of us Ronins and Ronin Lady Guardians!"
Up until now Thunder had been silent, but now he finally spoke. " Do any of you know Mesu and have any of you ever fought him before?"
All of them jumped as they stared at him in shock. It was the first time he had spoken since they had met the two.
"IT SPEAKS!" Josephine and Hana exclaimed. Thunder just sat there, waiting for their answer.
All of them shook their heads. None of them had fought Mesu before and none of them knew who he was exactly.
"Just where did he come from?" Hana demanded.
"He said he was Talpa's cousin," Rowen mused as he crossed his arms.
"Is that all we have to go on though? It seems there's more to him that what meets the eye," Mia said softly.
Rekino sighed deeply, staring down at the floor as if in misery. She hid her emotions well though as no one could guess the inner battle she was having within herself. She stared out the front window, not facing the others.
Rowen frowned as he looked toward her, knowing that look from anywhere. He walked over to her and stood in front of her, before he spoke softly. "You're blaming yourself again, aren't you?"
Rekino didn't answer right away and Rowen continued. "Come on, Rekino. You know you can talk to me about anything right?"
A few more moments of silence and then Rekino spoke. "It's my fault, Rowen. If I had been more careful, more prepared none of this would have happened. Thunder wouldn't have been hurt, those innocent girls wouldn't have been killed, and the other Ronin Guardians wouldn't have suffered. The only way we even defeated Mesu was when Flash strengthened Ryo's attack with her power."
Rowen shook his head, staring down at her. He brought her head up gently and stared into her eyes. "Rekino, you know that wasn't your fault right?" There was no answer for a moment and he repeated her name, worried about her. "Rekino?"
"Yes, it was, Rowen. It was my fault… I should have known more about him instead of being so overconfident!"
Flash overheard the two and walked over, smiling a bit encouragingly to Rekino. "Rekino, I don't much about Mesu myself, but I will say this, I'll work with you to beat him, and together we'll send him back where he came from. What do you say? Partners?" She held out her hand.
Rekino stared at the newcomer for a few minutes before she smiled and shook her hand. "Partners," she said.
"Hey, at least we know Mesu's name means bitch!" Hana declared.
Rekino laughed. "Yeah, he got pretty mad when I said that to him."
Flash smiled at her and then clapped her hands. "Now I'm hungry. I say we order pizza!"
"Yeah!" Kento cheered. "Food! Food! I am starving!"
"That's nothing new!" Cye teased Kento.
Flash raised an eyebrow at Kento. "Is he always like this?" she asked.
"Yep," Ryo said. "He and Josephine are known to have big appetites. They both eat a lot."
"Food, food!" Kento cheered.
"I swear that's what all men think about, food and sex!"
"No I don't!" Kento said. "I think about fighting too!"
Rekino watched them all and smiled a bit as she felt Rowen's arms wrap around her. "No more guilt trips?" he said softly in her ear. She nodded and he gently turned her face toward his and kissed her. Little did they know they had an audience.
"Whoooo! Way to go, Rowen!" Sage cheered.
"Ten points, Rekino!" Hana clapped.
"Rowen and Rekino behind a bush and all I hear is whoosh whoosh whoosh!" Flash sang, causing the couple to turn bright red.
"Hey, were the pizzas ordered yet?" Rekino asked, hoping to distract everyone.
"Yep, I just ordered them not long ago."
"How many did you order?"
"Oh, um...Ten."
"TEN!!" Mia shouted, her face turning red.
"It slipped I swear!" Kento was running with all his might as Mia took a frying pan and chased after Kento. "RYO SAVE ME! I DON'T WANT TO BECOME SHISKABOB!!"
Josephine watched Mia chase Kento throughout the house, shaking her head. "Amaya, can you get me a pen and paper please?"
"Sure," the girl said and got them for her. "What's it for?"
Josephine sat down at the table. "I'm writing out Kento's last will and testament, in the event if Mia kills him, it'll ensure I get something as well."
"Good point," Amaya nodded in agreement.
Just then the doorbell rang and Rekino and Flash both answered it. There stood a pizza delivery guy on the porch. "Ten pizzas for your phone numbers," he said smiling coolly.
"No, thanks," Flash said, narrowing her eyes at him. "I only eat the pizzas, not date the guys who deliver them."
"Me either, and besides I have a boyfriend, already," Rekino spat, signaling to Rowen to get her checkbook. "Now how much?"
His eyes flashed angrily as Rekino turned toward Rowen, her back facing him. So she didn't see his eyes turn red, but Flash did. She let out a small gasp, wondering if her eyes were playing tricks on her, but she was certain she had seen them turn color. She would have to tell Rekino soon. $128," he said.
Rekino's mouth dropped. "$128?!"
"And 83 cents," he smirked at her.
Rekino glared at him as Rowen brought her checkbook to her and she filled out a check and handed it to him. He gave the pizzas to her and Flash and Rekino handed some to Rowen who took them into the kitchen.
"Have a good day," the pizza man said coldly, and turned and left. Rekino turned and carried her box of pizzas into the dining room, but Flash stayed behind, frowning deeply as she stared after the pizza guy. Something wasn't right about him, she thought with a frown. Could that have been Mesu?
She lingered for a few minutes longer, wondering if she should tell Rekino and the others what she saw. She didn't know if they would believe her and she was worried about the pizzas being poisoned. But she knew she had to try. She shut the door and went to the dining room where everyone else was eating.
"Hey, Flash what kept you?" Hana said. "Kento ate most of the pizzas already!"
Flash didn't answer as she grabbed a slice of pizza and held it before her, thinking deeply at what she had seen. Her eyes drifted over to Thunder and watched him carefully. He remained where he was, staring at his pizza. He still hadn't spoken much, only asked those two questions, and then he went back to being quiet again. She was worried about the pizza being poisoned or even enchanted, but so far no one else seemed to act different. Still, that didn't calm her nerves down. She sent Thunder a telepathic message. "Thunder, switch to Second Sight and check these pizzas out, please."
"I already did," Thunder replied in the same manner she was using, "I saw Mesu as the pizza delivery guy. So I checked the pizzas as they were being opened. They're safe, Flash."
"Alright, thanks, Thunder. But still, we should tell the others that it was Mesu. Who knows what he's up to?"
Thunder made no reply, but he didn't need to. She already knew the he agreed with her.
"Hey, yo, Flash? You gonna eat your pizza?" Kento asked.
"Yes, I'm going to eat, Kento," She replied.
"Oh darn!"
Flash just smirked and took a bit of her pizza. In a way, Kento reminded her of one of her friends back at home, Ice. Ice was one of the Warriors, bearer of the Shock Armor. He was African American and was the identical twin to Snow, who was also a Warrior, the bearer of the Hail Armor. Ice had his front tooth chipped though, courtesy of her. Ice was a teen who loved to eat, and a lot of it. He could eat for eight people and still be hungry five minutes later! He loved fighting, playing violent video games, and his favorite sport was baseball. She ate her pizza as her thoughts turned to other matters as her eyes narrowed. Just what was Mesu up to?
Flash quietly ate her food, wondering how she would tell the others of what she had seen. She didn't know if they would believe her or not, but she knew she would have to try sooner or later. Thunder watched Flash almost sadly as he ate his own pizza. He had a bad feeling something was going to happen sooner or later and they would all be fighting for more than just their lives again.
"Man, you two look like someone died," Josephine stated.
Both looked at her once, and then Thunder looked away, silent as ever.
"Is he always this quiet?"
"Only until he gets to know you better," Flash replied.
"Oh."
"Well, a hot looking boy like him doesn't need to be quiet," Hana declared as she smiled at Thunder.
Thunder made no reply nor did he blush. Instead, he finished the last of his pizza and left the room, going outside and sitting on the front step of the porch.
Hana frowned, "Did I say something wrong?" She asked.
"Way to go, Hana!" Rekino rolled her eyes, "You scared the poor kid!"
Flash frowned, looking toward the front door, watching her friend just sit there. He was always so miserable and she wasn't exactly sure how to help him.
"Flash, why is he so sad all the time?" Ryo asked softly.
"Yeah, I've never seen anyone looking so sad before," Cye put in with a frown.
Flash also frowned as she turned her back around. She sighed deeply, but it was a sad sight, one filled with hurt and sorrow for her friend, "Three months ago, there was a huge battle between us Warriors and our number one enemy, Tutock. We fought long and hard, never stopping to rest. Attack after attack was made, and we all called our surekills at the same time. Tutock and his Guardians, there are nine of them, seemed to dodge everyone and retaliate with their own. There were also soldierknights attacking us left and right. Soldierknights are huge soldiers wearing iron armor with huge spikes covering them. They're big, at least seven feet, but they move fast for their size. I was fighting hard next to the Warrior of Ataxia, Shades. She was creating illusions, has one hell of a temper, and loves to fight and read, and is a math whiz. She was creating illusions to help us defeat the enemy while attacking bodily as well. The battle didn't seem to end. Four Warriors were injured badly. Scorpio, bearer of the Current Armor, and Thunder's best friend, Chilie AKA: Queen Flirt, and bearer of the Heart Armor, Ice, bearer of the Shock Armor, and Thunder. They rest of us tried to keep fighting, but then, suddenly, there was this huge earthquake. Because Ice was unconscious he couldn't stop it, and we were tossed around like rag dolls unable to stand. Before I could figure out a plan, Tutock teleported beside Thunder, picked him up, slung him over his shoulders, laughed at his, then vanished, taking Thunder with him."
Flash paused for a few minutes as if fighting with herself to go on. The Ronins and Guardians waited patiently for her to continue, and she did, "It took us a long time to rescue him," she said sadly, "Tutock blocked him off from the rest of us. He couldn't send us messages nor could he hear us at all. There was a wall of some kind of fortress guarding the entire realm keeping us from getting inside. We had to use Blaze to get in, and even when we did get in, it was still rough. We fought soldierknight after soldierknight after soldierknight, and every monster seemed to appear to block us. And we fought the Guardians as well. When we finally reached the castle, I battled Tutock while the others searched for Thunder. More soldierknights attacked us as well as spirits called Tophetian Spirits. Scorpio and Snow were possessed and I had to stop battling Tutock to free them. Once they were free, I went back to fighting. The battle was getting tough though, tougher than it usually was. Finally, Ice had found Thunder and was holding him in his arms. And Thunder's condition was terrible. He was covered with bruises, whip slashes, cuts, abrasions, his ribs were showing from lack of food and other nutrients, his lips had been cut, his right arm and left leg broken, and even though he was weak, he struggled to got out of Ice's arms, not recognizing him for some reason. I became very angry, angrier than I had ever come before. It started getting hot, extremely hot as if there were ten volcanoes about to explode at the same time. I ordered the other Warriors to get out and take Thunder home, and they listened to me. Then, once they were gone, I unleashed all my anger out on Tutock."
"And ...you killed him?" Rowen asked softly.
Flash nodded, "Yes, and even if he is dead, I won't forgive him for the pain and torture he had done to my friend."
Rekino frowned deeply. Never before had she heard a story like that. She looked toward the front door and saw Thunder sitting out there. She felt more than sorry for him now. She was sympathizing for him. She stood up and walked out of the dining room, through the living room, and cam to stand behind Thunder on the front porch, just watching him sadly.