The Missing Warrior

With two days worth of traveling, the Element Warriors finally reached the bridge connecting the fire island to the earth island.

"Hault," yelled the water soldier. His wind manipulating partner stood beside him. "We have a warrant for your arrest."

"Oh no, a warrant. I guess you better cuff us," replied Aki with a laugh. She stuck out her wrists to add more emphasis to her joke.

The soldiers just looked at each other questionably. Sonny calmly walked up to them and said, "Do you really think you can bring us in?"

The water soldier backed away from Sonny. He said, "I'll show you!" With the motion of his hands, a tower of water rose out of the river.

Aki laughed. "Oh, I'm so scared. I'm shaking in my boots."

This made the soldier even more angry. He made the top of the water tower rush towards the girls. When this happened, Odin sent out a gust of wind that knocked the soldiers down. The soldier lost control of the water, and it fell right on top of them.

"Wow, you really showed us," said Aki as she laughed. When the soldiers got back on their feet, she said, "Now see what I can do."

With the motion of her hands, she made the water remaining on the ground rise into the air. Quickly, the water gathered together to form a water dragon. The soldiers stepped back in fear. The wind soldier repeated Odin's move and pushed a gust of wind at Aki. It backfired because Odin jumped in the way and formed her wind shield.

Aki yelled, "Gotcha."

The soldiers were completely unaware that while Aki was having fun with her water dragon, she was controlling a bunch of ice spears floating in the air behind them. She kept her one hand raised to control the dragon, and the Water Warrior took her left hand and brought it down to her opposite side. The ice spears flew down at the soldiers and sliced through their clothing to immoblize them.

The girls walked by them and traveled along the bridge. Before doing so, Rose made sure to leave behind her four-rosed flower. The water soldier yelled back to the girls, "We'll get you Element Warriors. You just wait and see."

"Really? You'd think they would come up with something more creative then just Element Warriors. Whoever came up with this story didn't have much of an imagination," said Aki.

"What are you talking about?" asked Sonny.

"Oh, you know me. I'm just joking around," said Aki.

They all laughed as they continued on.

It was around the afternoon when they reached the end of the bridge, and the Element Warriors had very little trouble dealing with the soldiers on guard. They continued their journey until later on in the evening when Odin decided to set up for the night.

"You know, I think I saw a fruit tree a little while back. I'm going to check it out," said Rose. With a smile, Rose left for the tree. She didn't return after half an hour later, and Sonny started to worry.

"Where could she be? I highly doubt that fruit tree was that far away," said Sonny.

"Oh no, we won't have fruit for dinner," said Aki.

Her sisters looked at her with serious expressions. She cleared her throat, "I mean, oh no. Rose is missing!"

Sonny walked over and grabbed her bag.

"Where are you going?" asked Odin.

"I'm going to look for her. You two just stay here so we can find you," said Sonny.

Odin wasn't crazy about the idea of another sister walking off alone, but she knew she wouldn't be able to stop Sonny anyway.

After walking for about ten minutes, Sonny spotted a fruit tree. When she got closer to it, Sonny immediately saw an ice spear in the side of the tree trunk. The Fire Warrior got a closer look at it, there was a red cloth lying on the ground. She picked it up and could tell it was from the sleeve of Rose's uwagi. Sonny looked around and saw fresh soil on the ground nearby. She walked over and the soil clearly said, "I told you we'd get you."

Sonny gripped the cloth in her hand. She looked around and didn't see any footprints.

"Great," she thought. "How am I going to find her?"

Sonny took a step and heard a familiar voice. "See the heat, Sonny."

She looked around and didn't see anyone. Sonny could have sworn she heard Keiko.

"See the heat? What could that possible mean?" said Sonny. She pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. "See the heat."

When she opened her eyes, Sonny's sight was completely different. Her pupils and irises were glowing red. She could see glowing red footprints on the ground.

"Hold on, Rose. I'm coming."

She ran as she followed the footprints. It was night before Sonny finally found them. The two soldiers were eating their dinner while they had Rose hanging on a spit over their fire.

Sonny couldn't see right because of the heat the fire was giving off, so she closed her eyes to change them back to normal. The Fire Warrior got furious at the sight of her sister hanging over a fire. Using her abilities, Sonny made the flames die down.

"Hey," said the water soldier. "Check on the fire. I don't want it to go out."

When the wind soldier approached the fire, it flamed up. The soldier backed away in surprise.

"What are you doing? Stop messing around," yelled the water soldier.

"I didn't do anything," said the other soldier.

The fire went out, and the water soldier yelled, "I told you to keep that burning. You want that reward, don't you?"

The wind soldier quickly ran over to the fireplace. He blew on the hot embers and the fire started again. When Rose looked up, she saw Sonny standing behind the water soldier. Sonny kicked him in the back, and he fell forward. The wind soldier sent out a gust of wind at her. She dodged it and drew out her sword. With a swing of her blade, a slash of fire flew towards the wind soldier. He tried to dodge it, but the fire caught his arm. While he was patting his arm to put out the flames, the water soldier ran towards Sonny. She posed herself to strike him with her sword.

"Sonny, don't," yelled Rose.

Sonny widened her eyes in shock. A second later, she was hit by a blast of water. She flew back, hit a tree, and fell on the ground. She was so upset with herself.

The water soldier stood over her. "Well, they're just falling one by one. I can't wait for the others to come to the rescue, especially that water girl."

Sonny looked at Rose with sadness reflecting in her eyes, and Rose returned the look. The water soldier turned away and said to his partner, "Get some rope to tie this one up."

The wind soldier walked out of the fire light to get the rope. Rose mouthed to her sister, "Get up."

Any other time Sonny would have, but she was too discusted with herself.

"Sonny, please," yelled Rose.

The water soldier laughed at her. "You silly girl, placing all your hopes into your weak friend."

Sonny got up and grabbed her sword. She put it back in its sheath and unbuckled the strap. The water soldier heard this and quickly turned around. Sonny punched him in the face, and he was knocked to the ground.

"I'm not her friend. I'm her sister. Get it right," said Sonny.

The water soldier got to his feet and threw a water blast at Sonny. She twisted her torso and leaned back to avoid it. Sonny rammed her sheath into the soldier's abdomin. He leaned over and grabbed his belly in pain. When he did, Sonny swung her sword upwards and smacked him in the face. He flew back and hit the ground. The Fire Warrior checked him, and the soldier was unconscious.

Sonny heard a twig snap and realized the wind soldier was coming back. She signaled to Rose to be quiet, and the Fire Warrior hid behind a tree. When the soldier walked into the light, he saw his partner and went to his aid. Sonny buckled on her sword. The wind soldier heard the noise and stood up. He dropped the rope and said, "Where are you?"

Sonny pulled out her sword. Hearing it, he went in the direction. The soldier stopped at the treeline to look around. Sonny carefully placed her sword at the man's throat. She said, "Don't move."

The wind soldier froze.

"Good. Now slowly turn around and walk towards your partner. If you try anything funny, you'll be sorry," said Sonny.

The man did what she told him, and Sonny followed him with her sword. Keeping the sword ready, she carefully picked up the rope. The Fire Warrior tied his hands together and did the same with the water soldier's hands. Sonny walked over to Rose. She lifted the spit at one side and brought it away from the fire. She untied her sister, and Rose got to her feet. When they went to leave, Rose stopped at the soldiers. She puzzled over the matter for a moment and decided against leaving her rose.


For a long time, the two sisters walked in silence.

"I'm sorry."

Sonny looked at her sister, "What for?"

"For distracting you. I just didn't want to see you kill him," said Rose.

Sonny stopped, and Rose stopped walking a little ahead of her. When Rose looked back at Sonny, the Fire Warrior had the same look of disgust that she had at the campsite.

"Sonny, you didn't do anything wrong," said Rose.

"Yeah, but if you wouldn't have said something, I would have," said Sonny. She looked away from Rose and said, "What good am I if I don't keep my word?"

"Sonny, everyone makes mistakes. You just need to control you anger a little bit more. Don't be upset with yourself about it," replied Rose.

Sonny looked at her and away again. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

They started walking again when Sonny said, "So, why didn't you leave your rose behind?"

"Well, I just figured that all the times before we fought soldiers because they were performing their duty to Lord Oromashi. I don't think that water soldier tied me up over a fire for the lord," said Rose. "Besides, I wasn't exactly sorry that time."

Sonny laughed, and Rose was glad that her sister was no longer upset about her actions. By the time morning arrived, they found Aki and Odin.

"You two had all the fun without me. No fair," said Aki, pouting.

Sonny and Rose looked at each other and smiled. Aki laughed at herself, and the girls got ready to move on.