Chapter Fourteen

Enemy's Power/It's Your Fault

Rena's eyes drooped as she slowly walked down the hall. Her body felt heavy and she would get a chill through her body every once in a while. What's going on? Why do I feel like such crap?

"Rena?" Rena flinched at Lucio's voice. She leaned against the wall as she turned to face him. His expression was blank as he looked at her.

- Lucio? -

"It's time. The shadows are on their way," Lucio said. "Are you ready?"

Rena nodded. Lucio nodded then escorted her to the throne room. The Ronins and other fairy warriors were standing there waiting for them. They all were wearing traditional soldier outfits of this world, each wearing their respective color. Rena looked at them all. The Ronins wore worried faces while the fairies were unreadable.

"Be careful, guys," Mia said.

"Don't worry, Mia. We'll be fine," Ryo nodded.

"Yeah. Let's do this," Kento clenched his fist. "I'm so ready."

"Let's go then," Lucio said calmly. He walked passed them all. He whispered as he passed by Sage. "You better take care of her or so help me I will find away to come back and kill you."

"Huh?" Sage gave him a puzzling look. "What do you mean by that?"

The group headed outside. Over in the distance the shadows had already began to make their way into the territory of the kingdom. The group headed out to face it. Rena stood at the front of the group. Her mind was racing. She didn't know what she was suppose to do. She didn't know if her power was going to be enough. She didn't even know if she was going to keep standing as her head began to spin.

"Rena, are you alright?" Rowen asked.

"You don't look so good," Kento added.

I'm fine. Just a little tired I guess. Plus, I'm nervous as all get out.

"Relax. Everything is going to be fine," Lucio said. Kento and Rowen looked at him. Lucio was acting so weird.

Soon the battle began. Shadows were forming into creatures, with human like figures, but no clear faces. They didn't seem so strong as the Ronins took them down easily with basic self defense moves.

"Something doesn't feel right about this," Cye said.

"Yeah," Ryo nodded. "I was thinking the same thing."

"They really aren't that strong," Sage noted. "Maybe it's a trick?"

Ryo looked at the fairies. They were flying in the air and firing shots at the enemy. Ryo's eyes then wondered to Rowen, Kento and Rena. They were fine but Rena looked like she was about to drop. Which she was.

Rowen, Kento? I don't feel so good. Rena was so out of it that she didn't even know her mind link was open up to all of the Ronins. Rena placed a hand on her face before collapsing to the ground.

"Rena!" The boys ran over to her.

"Rena?" Sage lifted her off the ground.

"So, she is weak," The shadow creature finally showed himself. He laughed. "I knew this would be easy! I knew ever since she was taken away from her guardians in the human world."

"What's he talking about?" Cye asked. "What guardians? Her parents?"

"No. That's not who he's talking about," Lucio said. He was standing still with a sad expression on his face.

"Then what? What is it?" Cye asked.

"You fairies will never change. Why must you constantly hide the truth from humans? Do you really think it's going to make any difference hiding the fact that you all are going to sac..."

"Shut up!" Lira screamed.

"What's going on?" Kento asked.

"Pathetic," The shadow creature suddenly flared up with power and his minions became a thousand times stronger. None of them was able to put up much of a fight against them now.

"What is he talking about?" Kento directed this question at Lucio. "What guardians?"

"Why aren't you answering us?" Cye asked.

"Enough!" Rowen shot up and grabbed Lucio by the front of his shirt. "You tell us what the heck is going on or I'm going to be the one kicking your butt!"

"Don't touch me!" Lucio pushed Rowen away from him. "This is your fault!"

"What?" Rowen asked.

"You and Hardrock! It's your fault!" Lucio screamed.

"What's our fault? Boy, you better start making some sense or else," Kento warned.

"Do you really think that meeting Rena was just an accident?" Shadows fell over Lucio's eyes as he spoke.

"Lucio?" Lira asked. She, along with the other fairies landed on the ground.

"You were suppose to protect her. Guide her in using her powers. You weren't suppose to let her go," Lucio mumbled.

"What are you talking about?" Rowen asked.

"Princess Rena was entrusted into your care before she was even born," Sky replied.

"You were suppose to protect her with your own powers of your armors, even though you knew nothing of them at such a young age," Current added.

"Had she stayed with you two in Japan she wouldn't be in this weak, sick state," Rin said.

"Her powers would have grown with you. Without the help of Hardrock and Strata, Rena's powers weakened over the years," Lira said. "You two were suppose to stop her from leaving. When you didn't stop her, Lucio had to step in and protect her from then on, resulting in Halo's headaches when she did return to Japan."

"But we didn't...," Kento started.

"How could we...," Rowen looked at Kento.

"It doesn't matter anymore. The time has come for the princess to vanquish the shadows," They all looked at Lucio. The shadows cleared from his eyes as he smiled at them. "This is in your hands now, Ronin Warriors."

"What are you talking about?" Cye asked.

"Wait! You can't!" Ryo yelled.

"Can't what?" Kento asked.

"Sorry, Wildfire. It has to be this way," Lucio turned away from them and charged right at the shadow creature.

"Is he insane?" Kento and Cye asked. Everything seem to speed up from that point. They had no choice but to sit still and watch as Lucio charged. He engaged in a short battle with the shadow creature before the shadows formed a spear and plunged it into Lucio's chest.

The Ronins all gasped at the sight. Rena's eyes widened. The shadow creature pull back the spear. Lucio stumbled back. "T-Take care...of t-things...It's...u-up to you know, p-princess."

"No!" Lira cried out as she watched her brother fall.

"H-He...sacrificed himself? But why?" Cye asked. They all watched as Lucio's body turned into pure energy, green in color, and it flew over to Sage. Sage looked at it before it entered into his gem. Sage felt a strange power rush over him. Lucio's glow became his.

He turned his attention to the stunned girl in his arms. He closed his eyes and engulfed her in the glow as well. He could feel that his new power was healing her. He could also feel that her mind had slipped away. She was totally catatonic. Lucio's sacrifice hit her hard.

Everyone stood around, not know what they should do. Part of each other them was burning with anger and wanted to fight while another part was confused and just wanted to go home. They felt completely lost without their protective armors around their bodies. They have never felt so out of their elements before.

The fairies sensed their distress. They looked and nodded at each other. It was time to end it all.

Notes: A bit short but I don't like writing battle scenes since they are hard to describe. Also you can just imagine what you want their battle uniforms looks like. I couldn't decide what they should look like. Next chapter will be long cause I'm making it a songfic.