Friendship in the Dark
By Mardrena
"Cool! It's a mutant!" Harlann beamed, forgetting his earlier uncertainty.
"Mutant? N-No way! That's c-c-comic books n' science fiction!" Harry croaked. Conan grinned, amused at how quickly Harry's bravado crumpled.
"He's not who we're looking for…" Colby whispered.
"How do you know?" Emma asked, glancing over her shoulder. Colby didn't want to tell them about how ever since they'd entered the sewer he'd been getting strange flashes in his mind; images as if from low on the ground. The strange dark splotches he'd thought he'd seen marking the trail of their target moved past the strange boy, but none of the evil residue marked his body. He couldn't tell if his brain manufactured images out of sensory data or just his mind played tricks on him. He stammered before speaking.
"Snow's reaction. If he were from the Dynasty, she'd be more aggressive towards him. She's cautious of him, but not threatened. He's not our enemy," Colby reasoned and beckoned Snow to return. Snow slowly padded back to his side from where she'd hidden behind the others. He could feel her tense body but not a single warning growl left her lips.
"Well he certainly ain't a friend, that's fo' sho'," Crystal snorted and stepped to the side.
"He's just one guy. I'm sure the ten of us can take 'im," Harry smacked a fist into his palm and took a step forward. The mutant boy growled and bared his teeth, his eyes flashing bright yellow. Harry stepped back just as quickly and gulped. "Or not…"
"Even if he isn't our enemy, whatever it was we saw is still down here, and he's in our way. Emma, it's your call," Edward reminded. Emma didn't answer right away. "Should we fight?"
"No…let's give him some room. I'll…I'll go talk to him."
"You sure that's a good idea? I mean, he looks majorly buff," Archie commented.
"Remember what Anubis said? He said not all battles need to be fought," Emma said.
"I'm not sure this is what he meant…" Conan grimaced and shook his head.
"Don't be silly. This is exactly what he meant. I'll be right back," and with that, before Conan could grab her by the arm, Emma strode forward down the path to face the stranger.
"Oooh boy, Harry, that girl's got some guts…" Crystal remarked. Harry nodded nervously. Conan glanced at him and smirked. That's what he respected about Emma being leader.
"Um…hi there. My name's Emma Coburn, I'm-" Emma raised a hand and waved slightly as she approached the green-skinned boy, who'd folded his arms over his chest.
"I told you to go away! Why did you come closer?" the mutant boy demanded. Emma's mouth hung open and she curled her raised fingers, wrinkling her eyebrows and glancing from side to side. She blinked several times then raised both eyebrows, taken aback by his manner.
"Beeeecaaauuuse, I thought if you could talk you could be talked to…" Emma replied and wove her hands together infront of her stomach, tapping her thumbs together before holding them wide and tilting her head to the side and shrugging slightly. She and the boy stared at each other for several moments. The boy's expression softened.
"You don't scare easy, do you?" he asked in a gentler tone.
"I've seen scarier…much…much scarier…" Emma replied, her gaze growing distant.
"Why are you here?" the boy asked again in a firm tone. Emma collected her wits.
"Well, um…my friends and I were on the surface. And this flaming thing flew overhead. My friend's um…friend, over there…" Emma looked over her shoulder and gestured at the still-mildly agitated Snow. "Sensed it was something bad. Something really bad. You see, there's-"
"You said you wanted to talk because I talk back. Then talk; don't speak to me like I'm stupid or a child," the boy snapped irritably. Emma jumped slightly then recomposed herself.
"Okay then…the thing we're chasing is from the Dynasty. It's an evil kingdom ruled by a powerful demon trying to take over the world. They'll do anything to get what they want, including attacking friends and family…do…do you have any family?" she asked cautiously.
"…a sister…" the mutant boy replied and narrowed his eyes.
"…well…my friends and I, we're called the Neo Ronin. It's our duty to fight the Dynasty and their servants wherever they go." Emma closed her eyes and tried to remember how Rowen put it one time. "We were brought together to work as a team and maintain peace in this world by opposing the forces of evil. Snow can track this evil, and it's somewhere down here. It could be a threat to you and your sister, and it's our duty to stop it before it's too late. The only thing standing in our way…is you…" Emma finished and nodded at him. The boy stared at her.
"You don't know these sewers as well as I do. There's a lot of hazards down here you surfa-people aren't used to. Lead the way. I'll guide you and keep you safe."
"What do you think they're talkin' about?" Harlann asked aloud.
"Child, I don't know…" Crystal replied and shook her head, her beads clacking softly.
"Look! Here she comes!" Pauline exclaimed.
"With a new friend, looks like…" Davie remarked. Emma approached the others accompanied by the mutant boy. The other Neo Ronin regarded him warily.
"Allright everyone, we're moving on," Emma stated and scratched her hair. "This is…um…"
"Adam. Just Adam," the boy provided.
"Adam…that's a nice name…" Emma commented before continuing. "He's offered to be our guide since he knows his way down here. Adam, this is Edward, Archie, Colby, Conan, Crystal, Pauline, Harlann, Harry, Davie, and Snow," Emma introduced her friends. Adam greeted each of the Neo Ronin with a slight nod. He knelt down and held out his hand to Snow.
"You're very big for a cat…" Adam commented as Snow leaned forward and sniffed his fingertips, keeping her ears flattened. She recoiled and kneaded her paws nervously. Adam looked at Colby, who held onto Snow's guide harness loosely. "She's yours?" Colby blinked when he saw an image in his mind again, this time of the stranger he assumed to be Adam, except without color and from a low angle.
"Yes…she can follow the trail left by that force. Snow," Colby clicked his tongue and Snow padded forward past Adam. Adam rose to his feet and stepped to the side to let Colby pass before walking behind him with Emma to the side and the other Neo Ronin following.
"You can control that?" Adam asked Edward when he noticed the light spheres. Edward nodded in reply. "Make more of them. Rats tend to shy away from lights," Adam advised.
"Why should we worry about rats? We're wearing armor for a reason," Davie scoffed.
"You don't know much about sewers, do you? There's rats that can grow as big as your arm and chew through just about anything, including steel and bone." Davie 'eeped' and looked behind him when he heard faint sounds. Edward nodded in agreement and held his light orb with both hands before squeezing it and tossing it up into the air. The sphere exploded into smaller orbs the size of shooter marbles and encircled the group loosely.
"You think we can trust him?" Archie whispered.
"Animals sense people lot better n' people can. Snow woulda said some'n if we couldn't," Pauline reasoned. Adam glanced over his shoulder at them. "I reckon we keep our mouths tight. I think he hears us," she winced apologetically.
Harlann had a lot of questions he wanted to ask directly. However, Conan walked infront of him, blocking his view of the stranger. Harlann found a way around that by reaching up and grabbing Conan's shoulder then springing up into the air each time he had a question, drawing a stare from Conan. "Did you get hit by cosmic radiation?" *clack* "Or toxic waste?" *clack* "Were you experimented on by a mad scientist?" *clack* "Are you an alien?" *clack* "Are you from another dimension?" *clack* "You live in a sewer; does that mean you're a turtle?" *clack*.
"If ya'll excuse my lil' brother, he's got a very colorful imagination," Harry explained.
"I gathered as much…" Adam replied dryly.
"Adam…how did you end up like that?" Pauline asked softly. Adam glanced at her.
"It's not something I like to talk about…for obvious reasons…" he replied stiffly. Emma frowned sympathetically when she noticed the look in his eyes. She got the unnerving impression that he himself didn't know the answer… As they walked they passed several intersections. Snow ignored each of the side tunnels and kept moving straight ahead, following the dark splotches only she could see. Adam glanced from her to another intersection ahead.
Snow stopped and sniffed the walls and floor before turning down the tunnel. "We're getting closer, I'm sure of it," Colby said. Adam narrowed his eyes and turned around.
"Stop! I can't let you go any further," he placed himself between Colby and the others.
"Heeeey! No fair! You promised!" Harlann accused and jumped up behind Conan again.
"Adam, what are you doing? I thought you wanted to help us," Emma argued.
"I know, but you don't realize what you're doing. Your cat is leading us straight back to my home. I can't allow you to go there. My sister-" Adam stammered.
"He's lying." Adam flinched and looked over his shoulder when he saw Colby step close. The blind boy removed his sunglasses and Adam could see his piercing colorless eyes. "I can hear it in his voice. If he were being protective of his sister, he'd sound angry. But he's not. He sounds desperate. He's hiding something…" Colby stated matter-of-factly and scowled.
"The thing we're tracking…you've seen it, haven't you!" Emma exclaimed.
"We…we just met him today. He's our friend-"
"No, he's not! I promise you, he's not! You remember what I told you about the Dynasty, right? How they try to enslave people? They trick people too! Whatever that thing is, it's letting you believe it's your friend when it really isn't!" Emma argued desperately.
"That tears it. I just about had it with this freak," Harry snarled and stepped forward, fists clenched. Adam bared his teeth and splayed fingers tipped with long, sharp nails.
"Harry, no!" Emma intervened and pushed Harry away, startling him. She turned to face Adam. "This thing…has it told you it's from? How it got down here?" Adam said nothing and looked confused and torn. "We've told you all our names…has it told you its name?" Adam averted his gaze and frowned. "Adam, please!" Emma begged, her voice cracking.
Adam lowered his arms and turned around, walking past Colby and Snow wordlessly. "Do we follow?" Archie asked quietly.
"He didn't say not to," Emma said and walked after Adam. They approached a crude door made from scavenged planks lodged into cracks in the walls of the tunnel.
"Stay back here. My sister likes surface dwellers even less than I do," he warned and entered the large antechamber where tunnels intersected, forming a large room with a high ceiling. Old rugs, cracked bookcases, and torn sofas and pillows littered the room.
"Kinda shabby, but looks cozy," Archie commented. Adam glanced at him then walked over to a large sheet of tarp that divided the chamber. He pulled the sheet to the side.
"Sheila, you there?" Adam saw his sister sitting on the ground facing the strange creature they had accepted as a friend. The creature sat hunched over with its many tentacles wrapped around itself. Its sharp teeth gleamed in the light of a small battery-powered lantern on the floor. Adam frowned, hoping Emma had made a mistake. Sheila stood up and ran over to Adam.
"Adam! You're back! Did you scare off those pesky surface dwellers?"
Outside in the tunnel, Snow began growling and her fur bristled. Her ears moved forward then flattened and her teeth bared in a snarl. With a growl, she lunged into the antechamber, dragging Colby with her. "Snow! Stop! Stop! Sit!" Colby struggled to pull her back with the harness. Adam looked over his shoulder, horrified. Sheila spotted Colby through the open tarp flap and her eyes widened then narrowed in anger. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. She does this sometimes…" Colby apologized and wrapped his arm around Snow's chest.
"You brought them here!? Are you out of your mind!?" Sheila shrieked and glared angrily at the Neo Ronin. "Get out of here! You don't belong here!" she stormed out into the antechamber and approached Colby swiftly. Colby saw an image in his mind of a girl with features similar to Adam stalking towards him. Snow apparently ignored her and kept growling at the tarp curtain. Emma heard the commotion and she and the others entered the chamber. The mutant girl named Sheila glanced at each of them in surprise then snarled and splayed her claws.
"Go away! You'll ruin everything!" Sheila's eyes glowed bright yellow. Adam had to put both hands on her shoulder to keep her from lunging at the blind Colby.
"Calm down, sis. They're not here to harm us. They think something might be wrong with our friend," Adam reasoned softly.
"Nothing's wrong with him! He's nice! All they want to do is take him away!"
"I heard shouting. Is something wrong?" The Neo Ronin all looked towards the tarp curtain where a twelve-foot-tall creature stood with one arm lifting the curtain. Emma gasped in shock when she saw the jutting horns, fanged three lower jaws, and thick tentacles. Colby could see once more in his mind the view of the creature as if in grayscale from a low angle, and the glittering dark splotches he'd seen in the tunnel covering the floor where it now stood. Snow arched her back and lashed her tail, growling angrily with claws unsheathed and teeth bared.
"Those symbols…" the creature turned its hideous head towards Emma when it heard her gasp. Its gaze fell upon the Wildfire insignia on her chest plate then drifted to those of the others. "I…I remember now. I remember! ROOOAAAARRRHHHH!" The creature howled suddenly, surprising Adam and Sheila. "Destroy the Ronin Warriors! That is my purpose! Kill them! Rip! Tear! Maim! Crush! Eat!" The creature took a thunderous step towards the Neo Ronin.
"Wait! What are you doing? They're guests! They've done nothing to you!" Adam protested and intervened, raising both hands in an attempt to calm the creature. "You can't attack them for no reason!" The beast backhanded Adam and sent the mutant boy skidding towards the wall.
"Adam!" Sheila hurried over to help her stunned brother while the creature stomped past.
"Kill Ronin Warriors! Kill! Break, snap, grind their bones! Kill, kill, kill!" the beast ranted.
"Emma, this thing's hard-wired to eat us!" Edward exclaimed.
"We have no choice! We have to put it down! SPEAR SCOR-"
"No! Emma, you can't!" Conan warned and grabbed her wrist abruptly. "Not all of us can use our powers down here. Some of us have to sit this one out," he stated.
"CELESTIAL CONCUSSION!" Archie's attack sent the beast staggering with an invisible fist to the gut. The demonic juggernaut shook its horned head, dazed by the attack.
"How come?" Emma argued.
"He's right. Look up there. See those pipes? Those are electrical and gas lines. A single spark in the wrong place and this whole chamber goes boom," Edward explained.
"There's enough mud in the water I can use…" Conan reached out towards the stream and summoned forth multiple wads of silt. "EARTH ENGULF!" He compressed them into stones and pelted the demon with a volley, keeping it off-balance a few seconds longer.
"I think we're the only two with energy attacks. That leaves us out," Edward stated.
"Well last I checked, acid ain't on that list. JJDS! Form up!" Harry shouted suddenly and pointed at the creature. "SPRIT CORROSION!" The creature staggered back, clutching its broad chest and growling in agony. "How'd ya like that spicy meatball!? Harlann, up an' over!" Harlann ran up behind his older brother and leapt up onto his back, using Harry's outstretched arm as a springboard to leap up and catch the pipes running along the ceiling. He swung forward along them like the bars of a jungle gym, his tiny form going unnoticed by the demon as it stepped forward to attack the other Neo Ronin. While Conan and Archie drew the beast's attention, Harlann positioned himself above the creature.
"RAZOR CAGE!" Harlann dropped from the pipes and turned around in midair, splaying his fingers and sending out multiple chains from his palms. The chains hooked into the floor around the creature and spikes protruded from the links, piercing the demon's thick hide. The demon reeled and howled in indignant anger.
"That's my baby bro! Davie, use yer power to weaken it. Crystal, knock it down!" Harry ordered. While he spoke, the demon tilted its head back and peered up at Harlann. Its triple-jawed mouth spread wide in a hideous smile. One of the tentacles near its shoulder snaked up and wrapped around Harlann, pinning his arms to his sides.
"What? Ow! Hey, lemme go you big bully! Put me down right now or my brother's gonna kick your-!" Harlann protested and squirmed furiously.
"What are ya doin'? Put him down!" Harry shouted. The beast chuckled wickedly.
"AAAAAIIIIAAAAHHHHAAAUUUUHHH!" Harlann threw back his head and screamed in agony when the tentacle holding him twitched.
"HARLANN!" Harry shrieked. "NO! LET HIM GO!" Harry shot acid streams at the tentacle, almost severing it. The demon grunted and released Harlann. Davie shot forth streams of webbing, catching Harlann and drawing him back towards the group. Crystal helped him set the injured child on the floor and used her backpack as a pillow to prop up Harlann's head.
"It hurts…it hurts…Momma! Daddy! It hurts!" Harlann whimpered tearfully.
"What'd it do to him?" Crystal remarked in disbelief. Emma and Edward knelt beside him.
"Look at his armor. Something almost broke through it, like a spike," Emma pointed at the various deep dents covering Harlann's armor.
"That ain't right! That ain't right what he did! I'll teach that foo' not to mess with the JJDS!" Crystal stood up and swept her left arm infront of her chest. The demon saw her stand and held its palm forward, displaying a sucker in the middle of its palm. "HOWLING TWI-" Before she could complete the command, a bony spike impaled her arm, buckling the armguard so much the dented metal poked out the other side of her arm. "AAAH! AAHH!" Crystal screamed and stumbled back cradling her left arm.
"BLEEDING SILK!" Davie shot strands at the demon, snaring its tentacles and arms. The demon managed to tear off some of the strands, but couldn't remove the others as easily as the web drained its strength. Emma and Edward watched in amazement as some of the strands snaked back and wrapped around Harlann, as if cradling him. Harlann's sobbing eased as the glowing strands caressed his body.
"Unreal…Davie's fixing Harlann…" Conan remarked.
"WATCH OUT!" Pauline shrieked when the demon spread its tentacles, displaying the multiple suckers running along the undersides. Ivory white spikes appeared in each of the suckers and the tentacles contracted, firing off a swarm of spikes. Edward, Emma, Crystal, and Harry hunkered down near Harlann while Davie had to let go of his silk strands and duck. Archie fired air bolts in a straight line, obliterating spikes before they reached him. Pauline clawed at the air, sending out small crescents of high-pressure water that sliced up the spikes. Conan raised his arms and summoned up clumps of silt to wrap around the spikes and weigh them down, drawing them from their course. The demon fired another spike from its other palm and it headed straight for Conan's face. Conan only had an instant to gasp in shock and squeeze his eyes shut.
He heard a smack and cautiously opened his eyes a crack. He gulped when he saw the spike suspended a mere hairbreadth away from between his eyes. He saw a hand grasping the spike and shakily turned his head to the side, his gaze following the arm belonging to Colby. "Whoa…h-h-how did you-?" he stammered, shocked and amazed.
"I-I-I can see!" Colby croaked. "I-It's not perfect…b-b-but I can see!" He tilted his head down at Snow, who had refrained from joining the fight and instead crouched on all fours. "It's Snow. Somehow, she's letting me see through her eyes…" Colby saw himself in his mind's view as Snow glanced at him. He saw the burly Conan when she glanced at him, and the other Neo Ronin as they recovered from the demon's assault. "What a beautiful gift, Snow! What an amazing, magnificent, wonderful gift! Thank you!" Colby whispered, tears sliding down his cheeks. Snow's attention snapped towards the demon as it readied to fire another volley. "DARKNESS DEVOUR!" Colby called up a curtain of shadow that swallowed up the spikes, sending them harmlessly into the abyss. Harry stood up to contribute to the defense.
"Harry, what should we do? I've never been in a fight like this before. You know more about fighting than I do, and Davie and Crystal-they listen to you. Maybe-" Emma struggled.
"They don't listen to me cuz I tell them what to do. They listen cuz we're friends," Harry interrupted. "We've known each other for years and we trust each other. I made a bad call sendin' Harlann in like that. I didn't wait, and my brother almost died cuz of me. Ya wanted to talk to Adam when I woulda punched him in the face. I'm no leader; I don't look at things that way. Make the call. We'll follow," Harry pledged. Emma drew in a breath and set her jaw as realization kicked in: She had to be more than just leader in name.
"TSUNAMI SLAYER!" Pauline lashed her arms at her sides and sent a wake of water hoping to cleave the demon in two and end the fight. The demon shot a swarm of spikes, each spike plowing into the leading edge of the wave. Despite being sliced in half, the spikes served to diffuse the wake, essentially negating both attacks.
"We won't beat it like this. We have to hit it with everything we can all at once. Our powers are just like the other Ronin Warriors right? You said if we used our powers we'd start a fire," she said to Edward. "What if we get Archie to help focus our attacks so we just hit the monster."
"I can do that! You mean like a pipe, or tube, or-" Archie commented over his shoulder.
"Or a cannon," Harry added, remembering his personal weapon-of-choice.
"We'll need an added punch too. Crystal, can you still use your power?" Emma glanced at the injured Neo Typhoon. Crystal gave her such a glare, Emma wondered if she would listen to her.
"Girl! I don't hear no fat lady singin'!" Crystal kept her impaled left arm close and rose to her feet. "HOWLING TWISTER!" she pushed her right palm forward, fingers splayed.
"Adam! Adam, wake up!" Sheila shook Adam by the shoulder desperately. "Adam! Wake up! They're killing him! We have to stop them!" Adam groaned as he stirred and blinked.
"Wha?" He opened his eyes to the sight of the Neo Ronin battling the monstrous horror.
"ROAAAAAHHHHARRR! Kill the Ronin Warriors! Must kill! Must kill!" The demon chanted its twisted mantra and shot more spikes from its palms and tentacles. Colby and Conan used their powers to nullify the attack. "Kill kill kill kill!" the beast cackled in murderous glee.
"Adam, did you hear me?! We have to stop them!" Sheila begged. Adam merely stared.
"CELESTIAL CONCUSSION!" Archie created an invisible jacket around Crystal's Howling Twister, keeping the violent winds from affecting the delicate pipes on the ceiling.
"BLEEDING SILK!" Davie snared the demon's tentacles with webbing once more, holding it fast where it stood. Smaller strands of web covered up the suckers on its tentacles.
"EARTH ENGULF!" Conan used his power to encase the demon's hands and feet in stone.
"SPEAR SCORCHER!"
"THUNDER ANVIL!" Emma and Edward sent in their attacks and a seething flaming javelin and a crackling bright mallet hurtled through the tunnel.
"SPIRIT CORROSION!" Harry threw his own fury into the mix and streams of acid arched through the tunnel. The separate attacks ultimately merged into one destructive fist that struck the demon square in the chest. The beast wailed in genuine agony from having its flesh simultaneously scorched, flayed, crushed, scoured, and melted. "Hold fire! I think we finally got it," Harry called. The other Neo Ronin paused in their attacks as the creature faltered.
"Must…kill…Ro…Ronin…Warr…iors…" The beast sank to its knees and its tentacles fell limp down its back and sides. The Neo Ronin tensed as the tentacles twitched and began to rise, but once more they sagged. "Must…k-k-kiiiiillll…" With a final rattling wheeze, the demon collapsed face-first onto the floor. Its back rose and fell as it breathed its last. The tips of its spines, horns, claws and tentacles began to crumble into black dust.
"No! NO! Inconceivable!" Bautan yelled as the illustration on the scroll seemed to melt into a puddle and drip off of the parchment itself. "Kyurashaa was one of the most powerful demon servants in the Dynasty's ranks, and these brats defeated him?! A thousand years ago children their age would have quailed at the sight of such a creature as Kyurashaa! What manner of children are these?!" Bautan clutched the top of his head, crumpling his ornate hat.
Emma sank to her knees and sat back on her heels, spent from the ordeal. She stared at the ashen remains of the demon and took a deep breath and heaved a ragged sigh of relief.
"RAAAAIIIAAAHHH!" Her gaze snapped to the side as Sheila lunged shrieking at her. Emma stumbled to her feet but not in time to stop Sheila from tackling her and knocking her onto her back against the floor. "You killed him! He was our friend! He was our friend and you killed him! ARRRRAAIIIGH!" Emma held her arms close to her face, using the metal armguards to shield herself from savage swipes by Sheila's claws.
"Get off her!" Conan grabbed her right arm and pulled her away. Sheila pulled back her left hand and prepared to dig her claws into Conan's pudgy cheeks. Harry intervened and seized her left wrist. The mutant girl hissed and shrieked like an enraged cat and struggled violently. Conan remembered the training session between Emma and Anubis and hooked his left foot under Sheila's right ankle, forcing her onto her knee. Emma stood up shakily and held out a hand.
"Not so rough on her!" she pleaded. Conan and Harry exchanged glances and complied while still maintaining a tight grip on Sheila's arms. Sheila glared at Emma and snarled.
"Sheila, stop. Listen to me," Adam began and stepped up beside Emma.
"No, you listen to me! You never should've brought these surface dwellers here! He was nice until they showed up! He would've stayed our friend if they hadn't come here!"
"Sheila, I'm sorry, but that creature wasn't really your friend. It came from the Dynasty, and they have no friends. Even if we hadn't come down here, it might've remembered on its own and it could've killed both you and your brother. Do…do you understand?" Emma asked softly. Sheila had her gaze to the floor and her dark greasy hair sheltered her eyes. Emma opened her mouth to speak but paused when she saw tears running down the mutant girl's green cheeks.
"…just go away…get out of here…" Sheila sniffled. "You surface dwellers always ruin everything…" she sobbed. Conan and Harry felt her relax and released their hold and Sheila curled up sitting on the floor, burying her face against her dirty sleeves.
"Sheila…" Adam began and reached out to put a hand on her shoulder.
"Get them out of here!" Sheila hissed angrily, her snake-like eyes narrowed in a glare. Adam frowned and withdrew his hand before stepping away from his sister.
"Adam…" Emma opened her mouth to speak as he walked past.
"There's a shortcut to the surface not far from here. I'll show you." He saw Pauline and Davie kneeling beside Harlann, preparing to slip their arms under his body. "It's okay. I'll carry him," he assured. Davie scooted to the side and watched as Adam effortlessly and smoothly lifted Harlann off the floor. Adam headed for a tunnel leading out of the antechamber, followed by the rest of the Neo Ronin. Emma paused and looked back at Sheila, who sobbed uncontrollably.
Edward re-summoned his light orbs and resumed his spot in the center of the group. Adam walked ahead of them, cradling Harlann in his strong arms. Harry walked just a step behind, his face stoic. "Harry," Edward began. Harry glanced at him over his shoulder. "When Harlann got hurt...I heard him cry for his mom…but, I thought you said your parents were divorced."
"He was crying for his real parents," Harry replied. "They tried to get him back when he was still little, but the judge refused. They don't even get to visit him."
"Does…do you think he wants to go back?"
"…he did at first…but now…we're brothers. We don't need a judge to tell us that," Harry declared, his eyes slightly watering. Edward nodded: It took more than blood to define a family.
"This is the exit." Adam stopped abruptly and looked up at the covered maintenance shaft. "I'll get it open. Hold him," Adam handed Harlann over to Conan and Edward. He climbed up the ladder and pressed one hand against the cover, lifting easily what had taken all ten of the Neo Ronin to lift last time. He slid it to the side but hissed, shielding his face with his arm.
"Adam, what's wrong?" Emma ran over to him, concerned.
"It's the sunlight. It bothers me…" Adam growled softly.
"Don't worry, dude. We can take it from here," Conan assured. Davie nodded and scampered up the ladder. Once outside, he held out his palms and sent down silk strands to make a sling for Harlann. Conan set him inside carefully and climbed up the ladder under Harlann as Davie lifted him out. Harlann barely stirred, half out of his mind with pain despite the energy Davie had siphoned from the demon. Davie set him on the ground gently and created more strands, weaving a hammock out of silk. Conan stood up and held his hands out then clenched his fingers as if gripping something. Loose dirt rose from the ground and compressed into a rod of stone.
Harry and Archie scaled the ladder next, followed by Pauline and Edward. Colby climbed up on his own but turned around and reached down towards Crystal. She kept her injured arm close and carefully made her way up one rung at a time. Once close enough, she grabbed Colby's extended hand and he helped pull her out on to the ground. Davie took the ends of the silk hammock and looped them over the stone rod Conan had made, and Archie expertly knotted the strands, securing them to the rod. Harry carried one end while Davie lifted the other.
"Adam…I'm so sorry. Maybe Sheila's right and your friend wouldn't have-"
"It's nothing." Emma flinched and averted her gaze guiltily, but noticed the sorrowful look in Adam's eyes. "He was never really our friend. Not after what he did to Harlann and Crystal…" Emma said nothing and stood near the base of the ladder while Adam stared at the floor. "It's my fault really…it's always been the two of us together, on our own...since we don't trust surface dwellers. I was so happy to have found someone else like us… I wanted so much to believe he could stay good if we wanted him to, and I ended up trusting him more than the people who deserved it. It's my fault more than anything."
"There's nothing wrong with wanting a friend…" Emma consoled. Snow padded past on her way to the ladder and rose up on her hindpaws, setting her forepaws on the rungs. Emma glanced at her then back at Adam. "Maybe you can get a pet! You know, like a dog or cat?"
"That…wouldn't really work for us…" Adam said uneasily and grimaced.
"Why not? They need a lot of care but they can be very sweet and adorable," Emma smiled.
"It's not that…it's just…well…you see we…um… Well we never go to the surface…not even to scavenge for food…so we kind of…uh…" Adam's cheeks darkened as he blushed and he hunched his shoulders, scratching his ear lobe. Emma blinked, confused by his expression.
"OH MY GOSH!" she gasped and covered her mouth as she put two-and-two together.
"I know. We're horrible…" Adam admitted, looking even guiltier than Emma had earlier.
"Well…I guess you gotta do what you gotta do…I guess…" Emma shrugged and scratched the back of her head. Snow stiffened and glanced down her back at them, apparently catching the meaning as well. She snorted angrily and sprang up out of the shaft and onto the surface. Emma fingered her braid while Adam folded his arms over his chest and bit his lip. An awkward silence settled between them. Emma furrowed her brow then looked at him. "Maybe we can be your friends!" she blurted hopefully. Adam raised an eyebrow. "Wait, no, that sounded dumb. I'm sorry. Forget I said anything," she wrung the tip of her braid with both hands sheepishly.
"No. It's not dumb at all," Adam said. Emma glanced at him and their gazes met. "I...I think I'd like that. Maybe even Sheila will too…after she has time…"
"Cool. I…I-we should get going. Harlann needs help. So…I guess I'll see you around…if we're in the area…" Emma smiled weakly and brushed strands of her hair behind her ear. She backed up awkwardly and grabbed the ladder while keeping her gaze on Adam.
"You know where to find us," he said and backed away into the dark. Emma climbed up the ladder while glancing at him. She reached the top and turned around, kneeling by the edge. She could just barely see him in the shadows; his eyes shimmered like those of a cat. Then he receded into the dark of the tunnel completely. She lingered there at the edge for several moments, part of her wondering if the entire ordeal had been an adventurous daydream. She shook her head and brushed her braid over her shoulder before standing up and turning around.
She recoiled slightly when she saw Pauline and Crystal standing there grinning broadly at her. Pauline had her arms folded over her chest and Crystal had her right knuckle braced against her hip while she kept her left arm raised. "What?" Emma blinked and frowned. "Whaaat?"
"Giiiirl, yo' liiiike that boy," Crystal drawled.
"He does look kinda hunky in a strange sorta way," Pauline commented and cocked her head.
"Oh please! None of us are old enough to think that way!" Emma protested, fuming.
"Aw shucks, look at her blush an' all!" Pauline giggled.
"Mmmmhmmm! Yo' know what they say about the Nile…" Crystal bobbed her head.
"Come on. We should get back to the estate. Our parents are probably worried about us…" Emma huffed irritably and stormed off after the others, who'd walked further away down a path. Pauline and Crystal turned and watched her leave, the grins never leaving their faces.
"The kids have been gone an awful long time," Eliza Archer commented from where she leaned against the doorframe staring out at the dining room downstairs.
"They're probably just playing. This is a nicely forested area," Jessica Bauer shrugged. She heard a door slam and saw Eliza stiffen where she stood.
"They're back! Oh my God…some of them are hurt. Ian, I think one of them's yours!"
"What!?" Ian Holmes sprang to his feet and hurried to the door. He gripped the banister and peered down at the dining room as he saw the children file in. Harry and Conan carried a motionless Harlann in a crude hammock made from spider silk and stone. "Harry!"
"Ryo! Where's Ryo! We need help!" Harry shouted and set Harlann on the sofa near the wall. Ian bolted downstairs and ran over to the sofa.
"Harlann! No! What happened?" Ian croaked, horrified by Harlann's injuries.
"Crystal! Lord A'mighty, what happened to yo' arm?!" Jeremy Hacker exclaimed upon seeing the long ivory spike embedded into Crystal's left arm above the wrist.
"Looooong story," Crystal shook her head and took a seat at the dinner table. Chester Yama took Pauline into his arms and hugged her tightly in relief. Archie walked over to Eliza and she brushed the top of his head. Jessica grabbed Conan's shoulders and examined him briefly before hugging him as well. Davie stood near the foyer while Patricia Osmond hovered worriedly at his side. Adrian Coburn remained at the top of the stairs and leaned against the rail, gazing down at Emma. Colby sat down on the lowest stair and Snow collapsed into his lap, exhausted.
"Poor girl…no wonder you're so tired all the time. You needed an outlet for your power…" Colby whispered and stroked the tiger's shoulders. Snow dozed off and lashed her tail briefly.
"Hey." Colby looked up when he heard Conan's voice. "I didn't get the chance to thank you. You really saved my bacon. Though I guess I should thank Snow too since she helped."
"Yeah...I couldn't have done it without her," Colby admitted and rubbed Snow's ears. "By the way, I was right; you do sound fat," Colby chuckled. Conan smirked warmly.
"What's wrong?" Ryo asked as he entered the room. He saw the battered Harlann and Crystal with her impaled arm. "Sage, I need you up here right away," he spoke into his wrist-com. "Emma, what happened out there?" he demanded as Emma approached meekly.
"It's my fault! I was being stupid. There was this Dynasty monster that went into the sewers, and I said we should follow it and stop it. I was stupid! I should've come here for help first!" she admitted guiltily, declining to mention the mutant children Adam and Sheila.
"It's okay. You're all alive and that's what matters. Tell us where it is and we'll handle it."
"Oh, we already got it," Emma stated. Ryo blinked and glanced from side to side.
"What do you mean? Did you-you mean you killed it?" Emma nodded and hummed. "By yourselves? Just the ten of you?" Emma nodded again. Ryo raised both eyebrows in amazement. "Huh…that's…that's pretty impressive. Look, don't beat yourself up over it too much. Remember I told you you'd have to make tough calls as leader. I forgot you kids don't have wrist-coms like we do. I'll talk to Tar about getting some made just for you all."
"Hang in there lil' bro…" Harry whispered, his voice cracking as he knelt beside the sofa.
"I-It's okay, H-H-Harry…I-I squished my guts…y-you know; like H-Harry Houdini!"
"Yeah, an' he died cuz of that!" Ian growled tearfully.
"No one's dying here today," Sage stated as he arrived and approached the sofa. "Edward, I'm going to need you over here," he beckoned. Darrel Connolly wiped his hand over his mouth and paced near the base of the stairs as he watched his son walk over to the injured Harlann.
"What do you need me to do?" Edward asked, slightly nervous.
"He's stable for now, but there's a lot of broken bones and internal bleeding." Ian whirled around and raked both hands through his hair upon hearing that. "The Armor of Halo is capable of healing. You should be able to help heal Harlann. Think back to when you overloaded yourself in the Roost. You used energy without a real purpose. Try reaching inside yourself and drawing that energy back out, only this time direct it into Harlann."
Edward bit his lip then closed his eyes, taking a few deep, calming breaths. He spaced his hands apart and summoned another light sphere. Sage prepared to summon his own power but paused when he saw the light change color from soft green into deep emerald. Edward had his eyes closed as if in a trance and the sphere sank into Harlann's chest, spreading a strong pulsing glow over his entire body. The other parents watched amazed as the glow filled the entire room before fading gradually. Ian collapsed to his knees and braced his hands against the sofa arm. Harlann opened his eyes briefly and smiled at him before dozing off into a deep sleep.
"He'll be fine after some rest. Good job," Sage patted Edward on the shoulder. "Why don't you go look after Crystal," he encouraged and stood up and walked back over to Ryo.
"Nice work, Sage," Ryo complemented as Edward stood next to Crystal and Jeremy Hacker. While Harry kept vigil over his newly healed brother, Ian glared up at Ryo angrily. He slowly rose to his feet and stepped away from the sofa. Ryo and Sage stood on the wall beneath the stairs on the opposite side of the dining table. Neither of them paid attention to him moving.
"I didn't do anything. That was all Edward…" Sage admitted, impressed. Ian rounded the table corner and set his jaw, keeping his fists clenched at his sides as he quickened his pace. "He's definitely a Halo." Ryo and Sage watched Edward as he prepared to tend to Crystal. Healing the arm meant having to remove the spike, and that meant pulling it out abruptly. Crystal yelped and spat out a string of swears potent enough to rival Tanya herself.
"Girl! Yo' watch that mouth o'yos!" Jeremy scolded.
"Aaand she's definitely a Typhoon…" Ryo chuckled. Sage saw movement out the corner of his eye but noticed too late to stop what happened next.
"Allright Sanada, what in the HELL kinda show ya runnin' here!" Ryo didn't have time to react as Ian Holmes grabbed him by his sub-armor collar and swung him to the side, slamming him against the wall hard enough to crack the surface. The act startled the other parents and Neo Ronin, as well as Ryo who could only blink in shock; he'd never been thrown by a civilian before. Ian held Ryo several inches off the floor and his face looked flushed with rage. "I nearly lost BOTH my sons cuz of you!" he shrieked.
"Dad! Chill out, 'aight! Harlann's fine!" Harry protested and scrambled to his feet.
"Stay out of this, Harry!" Ian growled. Emma ran over to the table corner.
"Mister Holmes! It's my fault! I take full responsibility for what happened to your son!"
"What? No way! He's my brother!" Harry argued and pointed at his chest.
"It was my decision to go down there without permission," Emma shook her head. Harry stared at her in disbelief. Ian glanced over his shoulder at her, face wrinkled in a snarl.
"Listen, Mr. Holmes. I understand you're upset but-" Ryo began.
"YOU shut yer pie hole 'fore I pop you so hard ya'll go straight through the Earth and out into China!" Ian roared and jabbed a finger at Ryo's face.
"Uhhhh…" Ryo grimaced and decided against trying to correct the man's geography.
"Davie…" Patricia Osmond put her hand on her son's shoulder and turned towards the door. "I think we should leave. I don't want you playing with those kids anymore. I think they're a bad influence for you," she chided softly and tried to pull Davie toward the door.
"What? Mom, are you serious!?" Davie protested and pulled away, confusing his mother with his defiance. "They're my friends! I can't bail on them!" Jessica Bauer scowled at the exchange.
"So what, you think this is a camp? Oh, so your kid stubbed his toe now you're gonna pull him out and keep him at home?!" she shouted, storming over to Patricia and startling her.
"Now hang on just a minute there!" Eliza Archer spoke up from where she stood with Archie. "I'm not sure I appreciate the comparison! I may not have seen Archie fight, but I certainly heard enough to know he was in real danger! A child has no place being in the line of fire."
"Mom, I can handle myself…" Archie protested before his mother shushed him.
"I'd be dead if my son hadn't put himself in harm's way for my sake. I'd have the scars to prove it too if they hadn't done such a good job healing me," Jessica roared and slapped her hand against her chest. Conan nodded grimly, remembering his first battle against the Dynasty.
"Edward was by himself when he was attacked. I didn't even find out about what happened until after I got home from work. He wouldn't have survived if he didn't have the strength on his own to fight. He's always had strength in him," Darrel reasoned and shrugged.
"We never signed up for any o' this!" Ian argued.
"Precisely. We didn't. Our children did," the other parents looked up as Adrian Coburn descended the stairs. Emma threw a hopeful glance at her father. "They pursued this not because they were told to, but because they wanted to. This is a duty they've taken upon themselves."
"Ya out of yer mind! This ain't mowin' lawns or takin' out garbage!" Ian bellowed.
"Is it not in a fashion? Each of us have suffered great ordeals in our lives. Our children have had to bear witness to and endure extraordinary trials growing up, and we in the process of raising them have spent much of our strength caring for them in their time of need." Adrian Coburn, used to having to diffuse hot tempers in the board room, employed his skills to placate the outraged Ian Holmes. "Is it not fitting for them to take responsibility and protect us, who have protected them for so long? This is not something that was forced upon them. They were presented with an opportunity, and they accepted and embraced it. They have succeeded where others would have failed or given up, and it is not a chore or job, but a choice for them."
Ian glared at Adrian, seething and shaking. Ryo glanced from him to the other parents, not sure if he should say anything. They still seemed divided; Patricia, Ian, Eliza, and Jeremy opposed while Jessica, Darrel, Chester, and Adrian firmly supportive. The children remained quiet and watched anxiously. Jeremy Hacker frowned and glanced at Crystal then at Ian.
"I dunno Ian…maybe they're right. Most times if kids know 'bout some'n more'n the parent, it's best just to leave 'em be…" he muttered. Ian's face remained fixed in a snarl.
"For gosh sakes man, open yer eyes! Can't ya see this is bigger than ya worryin' yerself more'n yer sons?" Chester Yama hissed.
"I once considered my former coworkers evil for what they did in the board room. My daughter has faced truer evil and shown herself more than capable of doing so. If I can trust in her, you should afford your sons the same respect," Adrian added. Ian looked like he still wanted to throttle Ryo, and Ryo remained hanging there in his grip awaiting the final decision.
"BAH!" Ian suddenly thumped Ryo against the wall and released him before stepping away and throwing his arms in the air. "None o' this makes any sense to me…" he grumbled and walked back over to the sofa. He seated himself on the arm and gazed down at the sleeping Harlann, keeping any further comments to himself. Ryo rubbed his neck and raised an eyebrow, finding it hard to understand what had just happened. Eliza and Patricia resigned themselves to their sons' choice, and Jeremy sat down next to Crystal and talked to her softly. The rest of the parents looked like they got along more or less; a final victory for the day.
Ryo looked up when he saw movement and saw Kayura and Anubis standing in the door to the nearby hall. Kayura waved Ryo over urgently. He glanced at the parents and Neo Ronin once more before walking towards the doorway to meet with Kayura and Anubis. Sage walked over to talk with Darrel Connolly and Edward while Conan and Jessica stood near Colby, Jessica marveling at Conan's energetic retelling of Snow's surprise talent.
"Emma," Emma looked up at Harry as he approached. "What was that all about? Why'd ya stick yer neck out for me?" Emma fidgeted and glanced at the departing Ryo.
"I'm supposed to be the leader. I have to be responsible for things."
"Leader? Wait, what…oh…oh. Oh ho ho ho…" Harry started snickering and Emma hunched her shoulders, blushing. "Ya thought I was out for yer job? Hah hah hah!" Harry guffawed while Emma pouted. She felt silly. She deserved to feel silly for being so petty. "Naw, ya don't have to worry 'bout any of that. I got the plans, but ya keep the peace. Most of the others haven't known each other that long an' they get along real well cuz yer such a good talker."
"It's still a big responsibility. I'm still real new to this. Tanya says there's never been a girl Wildfire before…" Emma said and fingered her braid tip.
"Well…I notice Ryo don't do everything on his own. He's got help to back him up when he needs, like Rowen an' Anubis. If ya want, I'd be happy to help ya when ya need. Kinda like…a…a…a co-leader!" Harry stated enthusiastically. Emma smiled and nodded.
"Sure! I can live with that," she said and offered her hand. Harry accepted and they shook on it, having earned each other's trust and friendship, united in cause.
Ryo glanced once more over his shoulder, satisfied that the parents and kids had reconciled their differences and mingled peacefully. He looked at Anubis and Kayura, who seemed distressed. "Hey, what's up?" he asked and entered the hall and leaned against the doorframe.
"Ryo, we have a problem," Anubis began.
"I've scoured every possible thread in the Ancient's memories, and I've found not a single reference to the creation of the Neo Armors, not even in concept," Kayura added.
"Leonardo da Vinci did not possess an aptitude for magical disciplines. He concerned himself primarily with the practical, the mechanical. He had neither the time nor desire to study magic. Even if he did design the armors, he could not have built them on his own. The materials and the energies bound to them are far beyond his capability," Anubis elaborated.
"The members of the Mystic Alliance did not work independently of each other. The Ancient oversaw all of their successful creations. If they had assisted Leo, the Ancient would have known about it, but they did not. Leonardo da Vinci didn't create these armors on his own. He couldn't have!" Kayura explained worriedly. Ryo frowned and furrowed his brow.
"Waitwaitwait…I'm not sure I understand where you're coming from. What are you saying: Where did these armors come from?" he asked, shaking his head and waving his right hand. Anubis looked grim and glanced at Kayura.
"That's the thing, Ryo; I have no idea!" Kayura shook her head, wide-eyed with fear.
Burning sparks flew high into the air like the spray from ocean waves. Steam and smoke wafted towards the gleaming vaulted ceiling. Thunderous beats pressed against the eardrums as hundreds of hammers struck hundreds of anvils. Deep crooning bellows mixed with melodious rising cries. Fire belched out of live forges from air being pumped out of the massive bellows.
The mightiest of the Nobeyls manned the bellows, heaving up and down without straining themselves. Colorful-haired Thangien males labored alongside smaller Nobeyls to hammer burning metal into just the right thickness. Thangien females worked opposite Khamens to add finer detailing to pieces of armor and weapons. The Nobles belted out deep moaning roars, accompanied by wailing hums from the Thangien males. The Commons contributed chants in the Thunthen language while the Thangien females finished with a shrill cry.
Chi Chi Lina, Australa glanced up from where she worked on finishing a sword hilt. Her partner sitting opposite of her seemed utterly absorbed in his work. He didn't wear protective eyewear like Australa did, since Thunthen had a high tolerance to heat. The little Common blinked, noticing her attention. Australa smiled brightly, never imagining in her lifetime she'd work side-by-side with Thunthen. The Common's cheeks brightened as he blushed enough to stand out amid the glow of the furnaces. He ducked his head close to his shell and refocused on his etching. Australa giggled and resumed her own task energetically.
"Li-li-like the hymns of a choir, their songs fill the air as they remember their love of metal. Their sweet resonance brings relief to their souls, and all hostilities burn away in the flames of the forge." Silver hair shimmered with an almost molten glow in the light of the High Forge. The gray sash crossing the chest fluttered slightly from updrafts from the bellows. Yellow-gloved hands brushed strands of silver hair over the high white shoulder crests. Black eyes with steel-gray pupils turned their gaze out upon the laboring artisans.
"Tyatatiante knew his craft well. Replicating his methods is proving to be a great challenge, even for me. So, how fared the prototypes?" Platinum hair hung past the black high-spired crown. Blue-gloved hands paused in lifting a mallet and black eyes with bronze pupils looked upward. The tall silver-haired woman folded her arms over her chest.
"Better than we could have ever expected. They-who shared such sorrowful, storied pasts-now stand united against all odds. They so elegantly embody my domain…and at such young an age," the silver-haired woman chuckled deeply, her mirth resonating through the vaulted ceiling of Peirolyth. The artisans below paused briefly upon feeling the air shudder.
"Their energies hold true. Shall we proceed with the rest?" the platinum-haired woman inquired, casting a glance at a row of paper banners stretched over the far wall. Each banner had a design painted in deep black ink, portraying a different shape.
One showed a circular emblem of the head of a bear and a series of thin exploded-view outlines as if drawn in red charcoal. Another depicted the head of a stag and a different set of components. Designs patterned after other creatures such as a crocodile and a seal adorned the rest of the banners. High above these smaller banners hung five larger banners showing designs based on immense, fantastic beasts; Mastodon, Amaru, Bunyip, Unicorn, and Mokele-mbembe.
"The energy bound to the physical forms grants their wearers great power, but the strength they wield is theirs and theirs alone." The tall silver-haired woman squared her shoulders and stood straight, the flames of the High Forge casting her imposing shadow over the facilities below. The platinum-haired woman smiled and resumed her hammering. With each mighty stroke, sparks flew from her anvil and hung in the air, sparkling like stars.
Author's Notes
Rewriting this particular sub-series provided quite the challenge, with the original drafts being an attempt to create an entirely new main cast around which would evolve stories set parallel to the main Age of Defiance universe. While most of their backstories remained the same, I decided to give more characterization to the parents so that we see the impact supernatural events have on the everyday person. Stories that focus on a bare handful of main characters tend to be dull in comparison to stories where a central core is defined by supporting characters. Villains are designed to serve as either foils or be foiled by the protagonists. Friends, allies, and acquaintances serve to shape prominent characters. In this does a universe feel more alive.
A curious fact; it turns out that Emma Coburn is the name of a professional track star. This is purely coincidence but it seems to fit. I expanded her backstory with more of a tragic element to give her purpose. In the original characterization she was naturally confident. This time around I felt she needed to grow into the role of being leader to truly become the first ever female Wildfire in history. Her design remains mostly the same with the exception of her hair color. I changed it to brown to avoid having her look too much like Ryo. She is 10 years old.
Originally Conan was the one with an abusive father. That didn't seem to fit so well in the re-write, so I ended up altering his backstory to create more nuances. His design also underwent significant changes. In the original draft he was basically a mini-Kento. He's a bit of a chunky munky in the rewrite, as well as somewhat of a closet nerd. He is about 11.
Edward's backstory and design remains unchanged from the original. In the grand tradition of having Halo bearers with wild hairstyles, he sports more of a Jewfro. He is just under 13.
I felt that having characters built too heavily around abuse would bring too much negativity into a story initially structured with a more light-hearted feel, so I ended up redoing Archie's backstory. Originally he was the oldest of the Neo Ronin at fourteen. I decided to reduce his age and put him around the same as Emma, at 10.
Colby's original characterization came off as too helpless, almost feeble. I felt he should be more self-reliant. The idea for this came from-oddly enough- an episode of CSI: Miami where a witness is able to identify a criminal based on his voice alone. He comes off as a bit more surly and bitter in the rewrite, but he is helped by Snow, who seems to have inherited the lion's share of her dad's mystical powers. He rivals Harry and Edward for oldest Neo Ronin at 13.
Pauline went through a significant redesign. Originally she came off as hostile, completely refusing to be a Neo Ronin. She knew what had happened to her parents and this made her very bitter. I decided to change that and have her start off as more bubbly and energetic, but she retains her natural strength. However as we've seen with Yulie, as these children grow older they're bound to learn more about the world. There is a very tragic story concerning her and Emma, and when the day comes that she does find out the truth about her parents, it will impact more than just her own life. Her initial age put her at 14, but in the rewrite she is about 12.
Harry's character remains mostly the same as the original with additional details to flesh out his past. I had not seen the OVA's at the time of writing the original, but after seeing Gaiden I decided it would add an interesting element to have him witness the events in New York. Born and raised in Long Island, he sounds more New Yawkah than Rowen. He has a passion for gadgetry and mischief that'd put Bart Simpson to shame but abides by a strict moral code. He's tied with Edward and Colby for oldest at about 13.
Harlann went through a significant age reduction in the rewrite. His original age has him around 10, as old as Emma, but I felt he should be a bit more precocious. Think Goten or T.K., though perhaps not as naïve. The original draft had him use a specially-made suit to scale sheer surfaces. I decided to drop that and have him be naturally agile. He's more outgoing towards the other Neo Ronin and the youngest Ronin in history at age 6.
Davie's original nickname was Copperfield, but I decided to use the more classical 'Wizard of Oz' title. He had an innate power to alter space/time and dabbled in chemistry and spiders. I decided to ditch that and have him instead rely on traditional sleight-of-hand, drawing on Oscar Diggs from Oz The Great and Powerful for inspiration. He's also got a passion for a wider range of bugs and crawlies than just spiders. There is a plot thread concerning his parents, but that's another story for the future. He's slightly older than Conan, leaning more towards 12.
Crystal's original characterization aimed to put her attitude on par with Tanya, but with more of an aptitude for computers. Her personality is based on a combination of people I've known throughout my time at work, though in contrast very few such people I've known have been technically inclined beyond the use of smartphones. Her story's slightly more fleshed out but remains mostly the same. There is a common thread her father shares with some of the other Neo Ronin, and what it leads to remains to be seen. She is older than Emma at 11.
The Neo Ronin is to be considered a spinoff of the Ronin Warriors centered upon a younger team of heroes in the vein of child-hero teams such as the DigiDestined from Digimon (the first series, because after that the show went full-on LOST to me…) It began as an experiment in creating entirely new main characters, and over the years I strove to refine it to be less of a merry band of Marty and Mary Sues and more in the spirit of the original animated series. There are more stories to pursue containing them and will be written alongside the core Age of Defiance universe. They will face challenges of a different sort than what the older Ronin are used to, and must engage these problems in ways only they would understand. The story behind Adam and Sheila remains to be seen, and an even more profound revelation lies behind the truth of the creation of the Neo Armors. Instead of having ten random children picked by destiny, these are children whose upbringing has given them unique strength of character. They are tied together by more than just the title of Neo Ronin. We'll see them grow up and mature as characters.
My own mother tried to teach me how to crochet, but it just never stuck with me. I always felt more at home weaving strands of words. When starting a project, you never stick with one strand of yarn for the entire piece. Once the current skein gets used up, a new one is pulled out, and ultimately all strands come together in the finished piece. This is how multiple storylines can shape an even greater tale. With the Neo Ronin, that project has just begun.