New Friends and New Enemies
Chapter 8
Where do your Loyalties Lie?
"This is terrible," said Sailor Moon, "what do we do?"
Ryo had a look of feirce determination on his face. "We're gonna get 'em out." He sheathed his swords and picked up Cye's spear and Sage's sword. Rowen grabbed Kento's staff while Sailor Mars gathered the scouts' tiaras.
"Let's go to Mia's," said Rowen. "We've got to talk about what to do next." He looked at Sailor Mars and Sailor Moon. "You should come with us."
Sailor Mars and Sailor Moon exchanged glances and they followed the boy to Mia's place. They took off their armor and sat down at the table while Mia went to make tea. The two sailor soldiers remained standing in their fukus. Rowen looked at them.
"Hey, you don't need to remain in costume," he said. "You can trust us."
"No point," said Sailor Mars. "We're about to go to the Netherworld, aren't we?"
"No, I don't want to lose anymore friends," said Sailor Moon.
"Sailor Moon, we haven't lose them," said Sailor Mars. "We can still get them! We were just on our way to save Darien, this is not different!"
"Yes it is!" Sailor Moon shouted. "When we left to save Darien, there were five of us, and now only two. We can't go unless we know what to do. Not only do we have the Negaverse to worry about, but these Dynasty maniacs."
"Yeah, espeically Lady Kayura," said Rowen. "Havent' come across her before."
"Lady Kayura?" said Mia.
"Well she said, that Talpa sent her," said Rowen. "And she's unlike any of the dark warlords."
"Forget about her Rowen," said Ryo. "We've got to rescue the others from Talpa right now."
"Cool it Ryo," said Rowen. "We have to think about this."
Ryo slammed his hands on the table. "No we don't! Our friends are getting tortured. While we're busy thinking about it here, Rowen."
"Hey, take it easy, Ryo," said rowen. "If Kayura has her way then we're pretty sure we'll be heading into a trap."
"I dont' care," said Ryo. "Someone has to rescue our friends!"
Rowen got out of his chair. "Hey, don't forget, they're my friends too!"
They boys started growling at each other. Mia vocally told them to settle down while Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars stepped between the two arguing boys.
"We shouldn't be fighting amonst ourselves."
"Yeah, you're right, Sailor Moon," said Rowen.
The lights flickered and Yuli screamed. The four ran out of the house.
"Yuli, what's the matter?" asked Ryo.
"There!" Yuli said, pointing ahead.
"What is it?" said Rowen.
"I don't know," said Ryo.
They saw before them a structure of the dynasty, Talpa's castle. The three captured Ronins wewre hanging, unconcious and many nether spirits sat around them.
"There are the guys," said Sailor Moon. "But what about Sailor Mercury and the others?"
As if on cue, a giant hand came out of the ground, holding the three captured sailor scouts.
The netherspirts' glowed and the six captured heroes felt escrutiating pain.
"No!" cried Sailor Moon, covering her face.
"Stop it, you're killing them!" yelled Ryo.
Petals began falling and three womans voices filled the air with their laughter.
"Don't worry Wildfire," said Lady Kayura. "I know you miss your friends, but you'll be together soon enough."
"It's her," said Rowen. "Lady Kayura."
"And she brought the negasleaze with her," muttered Sailor Moon.
Lady Kayura walked out onto the water with Azure and Blaze. Ryo and Rowen were shocked to see that she was human, but Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars were not.
"I bet you Beryl did something to her mind," said Sailor Moon. "Like to Darien..."
"Now would be a good time to put your armor back on, guys," said Sailor Mars.
"To arms!" cried Ryo.
"Armor of Strata...Tao Inochi!"
"Armor of Wildfire...Tao Jin!"
The guys put on their armor, ready to battle Kayura and the negamonsters.
"You guys handle Kayura," said Sailor Moon. "And we'll take these two."
But the guys did not handle Kayura very well at all. When Ryo went his wildfire flare at Kayura, it went right passed her. She countered with her powerful Star Sword Scream that nearly destroyed the four heroes. Ryo and Rowen had only a second to shield the two sailor soldiers.
Rowen pushed himself up and looked at Ryo, who was laying atop Sailor Mars. "Ryo, you okay? What about Sailor Mars?"
"Yeah," said Ryo. "Hey, Sailor Mars?"
"I'm fine," she grunted. "You didn't have to protect me."
"But you don't have armors of your own," said Rowen. "Sailor Moon, you all right?"
Sailor Moon rubbed her neck. "I think so...but I don't think I can take another hit like that."
"If only I can transform into the white armor," said Ryo. "Then maybe we would have a chance."
Kayura stood on a branch with Azure and Blaze. "Sorry, Ryo but as much as I would like to see you transform into the Inferno so I could see its power, I'm afraid that would impossible without your friends."
She and others jumped off the tree branch. She held her swords in the shape of an "L."
"I call forth the gate!" she cried.
There was a strong wind and a gate appeared. Though Sailor Moon was injured, she stood up to her feet. "Sorry, Lady, but we'll go to the Netherworld our own way!" She circled her h ands and her crystal wand appeared in them.
"That must be the crystal Queen Beryl told me about," said Kayura.
"Yeah, and ify ou want to see its power," said Sailor Moon. "Then stay right there for a front row seat!"
The Ancient's staff landed in the ground between the two warring parties. The rings jingled and it glowed, connecting from Sailor Moon's crystal, to Rowen and to Ryo. Ryo found the power to transform into the white armor.
"The white armor?" mumbled Lady Kayura. "No, how could the monk have done this?"
"COSMIC MOON POWER!"
"RAGE OF INFERNO!"
The two combined attacks destroyed Blaze and Azure and injuring Kayura as she tried to leave. The dynasty gate was destroyed.
--
After the fight, Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars shed their sailor fukus for they no longer had the power to keep them. Ryo was just as eager to go skipping off to the Netherworld yet Rowen was hesitatant like Serena. Mia gave advice to the ronins while Raye and Serena continued to talk.
"Going inthere half cocked is exactly what Talpa wants you to do," said Mia. "If the Ancient is still out there, he'll help you."
"That's probably how I was able to get the armor of inferno," said Ryo. "That definently looked like his staff and there was no way I could transform with the other's help."
"Yeah, but he's the only one we know who is stronger than Talpa," said Rowen. "So come on, Ryo, who else could it have been?"
"I think I know what it was," said Raye. "Sailor Moon's Crystal. It has a lot of power."
"Well, even if my crystal helped," said Serena. "Maybe the Ancient has a younger brother or something you guys didn't know about it."
"What makes you say that?" asked Rowen.
"I saw someone that looked like the ancient the day I came looking for you," Serena explained. "But he didn't look like a ghost. He looked like a real person, with red hair."
"Red?" said Ryo. "But the Ancient--"
"It's white, I know," said Serena. "He came to us as a spirit the day we got here, but he's not the same guy I saw in the forest. Someone has to be acting in his place."
"Well, with his help or not," said Raye. "We've got no choice but to go to the Netherworld to save our friends. If we do it together, we'll be all right."
"That's the only way to do it," said Rowen. "Together."
Ryo, Rowen, Serena and Raye all put their hands in a circle to make their promise of unity before setting out on their quest to save the six captured heroes.
--
Rowen placed a bag in the back of Mia's jeep. "We haven't been to the city in a long time," said Yuli.
"this isn't exaclty a pleasure trip, Yuli," said Rowen.
"Yeah, I know," said Yuli as Rowen moved to closed the back door.
"Okay," said Rowen.
"White Blaze," said Ryo, calling for his tiger, but he didn't come. "White Blaze?"
"I think he's with Serena," said Rowen.
"That Meatball Head, does she have to be late for everything?" mutterred Raye, who was already in the front seat of the car, ready to go. She stuck her head out of the window and looked at Rowen. "Can you go get her, Rowen?"
"No problem," said Rowen and he walked to the back to find her. She was sitting on the grass, leaning against Whiteblaze.
"Sahrena?" Rowen mumbled, coming up behind her.
Serena gasped, hearing her voice. She rubbed her eyes. "Oh, is it time to go?"
"Yeah," said Rowen, "hey are you okay?"
Serena stood up and turned around. She forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine."
Rowen walked closer to her and he hugged her. "Hey dont' worry, Sahrena. We'll get our friends back."
Serena nodded. "Okay."
"Come on, let's go," said Rowen, stepping back with his arm around her. He led her to the jeep with White Blaze right behind them.
White Blaze growled and Serena looked down at him.
"What is it, White Blaze?" said Serena.
There was the familiar jingling of rings and person dressed up in robes and a hat started walking to them. Mia looked on in shock from the driver's seat.
"I don't beleive it," she said.
"Is that the ancient?" said Rowen.
"No," said Serena. "It's the guy I saw from the forest. But how did he find us?"
The man came closer and everyone but Serena and Raye recognized him as Anubis, the former warlord of Cruelty. Mia came out of the jeep, followed by Raye.
"It's been a long time, Ryo of Wildfire," said Anubis.
"Anubis, you're alive?" mumbled Ryo.
"Who?" said Raye.
Anubis introduced himself Serena and Raye, explaining his dark past with the evil dynasty and how he changed. Ryo gazed at the staff in surprise.
"So that's the staff of the Ancient one, huh?" said Ryo.
"Yes, I'm still learning its power but my heart is ready," answered Anubis.
"Sorry, Anubis," said Rowen, "but how do we know this isn't a trick? Right, Ryo?"
"True," said Ryo.
"I understand," said Anubis, "I know that no good can come from the evil of the dynasty but I now follow the will of the Ancient One. Know that I cannot protect you from every danger though. You must be careful of Lady Kayura, she is treacherous."
"Yeah, we know about her," said Ryo. "But we're on a mission to save our friends from Talpa."
"There is a difference between dedication and recklessness," Anubis looked at Ryo and then back to the water. "The Dynasty is not hte same world you know. Common sense and logic will only get you so far. You must be wary or you will fall into Talpa's traps."
"I know that," insisted Ryo, stepping up next ot Anubis. "But if we dont' do something soon, Talpa will finish off anyway."
"Yet if you leap without looking the game will be over before you've even begun to play," Anubis counselled.
"But Anubis," said Serena, "we really haven't had a chance to warm up for this game. We've got to find away in. Can't you help us?"
"All rigbht," said Anubis, putting his hat back on. "If you are that determined I will not block you. Just remember what you've learned thus far. I will help you all I can." Anubis walked away and the two ronins looked on in amazement.
"Wow, I guess Anubis really has changed, huh?" said Rowen.
"Yes," Ryo said with a smile, "he has."
--
The two ronins and sailor scouts rode up with Mia and Yuli tothe city and they were intercepted by Lady Kayura. They quickly transformed to fight with her. She was a tough opponent. Whiteblaze scratched her, angering Lady Kaura more. It seemed for a moment she got the best of them when Anubis showed up
"It's Anubis," Sailor Moon called out.
Anubis threw down the staff and a pillar of light appeared. Ryo, Rowen, Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars, and White Blaze traveled up the pillar of light up to the Netherworld.
"They are free because you cannot enter the purest of light," said Anubis
"Well, it's lucky for them you arrived," said Lady Kayura. "Oh, but I will get them, and don't you forget it."
Anubis stood and watched the four four humans and Whiteblaze travel to the Netherworld. They only had each other now.
TO BE CONTINUED
