~~~~ Chapter 4 ~~~~

By: Cat Paws

            The next morning came as always, with the guys slowly pouring in for breakfast. Mia was cooking eggs, bacon, and home fries with a little help from Sage and Ryo. "Any of you know how the statue was put back together?" asked Mia over the frying of the bacon.

            "Maybe Rowen did it after the rest of us called it a night," Ryo said as he and Sage cranked out the toast.

            "Maybe. It surprised me when I came down this morning to find it finished. By the way, I'm making scrambled eggs, so don't make any special requests."

            "It's safer with Kento around'" said Sage.

            "So true."

            "Good morning," said Cye coming into the kitchen. " Is there any thing that I can do to help?"

            "No, we've got this covered. But thanks for asking," said Sage.

            "Actually, could you try and keep Kento out?" asked Ryo.

            "I'll try, once he wakes up."

            "The smells should revive him."

            "Speaking of which." They heard footsteps moving around upstairs.

            "Here he comes. I'll distract him." Cye went to act as diversion.

            "White Blaze can help. Were is he anyway?"

            White Blaze came in and gave his master an innocent look, as though he was guilty of something. " What's with you?"

            He roared and walked over to Cye, as if asking him for protection.

            " Come on White Blaze. Let's go and stop Kento." They left the kitchen together.

            " White Blaze did something," said Ryo. He knew his tiger fairly well and it was clear that he was guilty.

            "Maybe he was the one who knocked the statue down last night," said Sage calmly.

            "He knocked down my poor statue?!" claimed Mia, swirling around with the spatula in her hand. " That's probably why he disappeared until this morning. He was hiding his guilty self all night. Then, when the statue was fixed, he figured the coast was clear, so he came out of hiding. The weasel." She narrowed her eyes and glared in the diction the elusive tiger went.

            "Aren't you being a little hard on him?" asked Ryo.

            "But he knocked down my statue!"

            "But it's back together. All except for one piece," said Sage.

            "There's a piece missing?"

            "Well, yeah. Kento managed to glue one to his pants."

            "How convenient," moaned Mia. Sage shrugged.

            They eventually did get to eating breakfast. Even Rowen managed to make it in time, before Kento polished off the scraps.

            Once things were cleaned and put away, they all gathered in the living room at the request of Sage. White Blaze even made an appearance.

            They took their seats; Kento, Cye, and Ryo on the coach, Mia and Rowen on the love seat, and White Blaze lying down next to Ryo's feet. Sage stood before them. He took a deep breath. Where to begin?

            "I have asked you here to tell you that I have a strong feeling the Evil Dynasty is back in action."

            "The Dynasty?! But, we kicked their butts all over the Nether Realm." Kento said.

            "Yeah, we beat Talpa. The Dynasty crumbled after that, didn't it?" asked Ryo. All seemed to be in disbelief at what Sage had said. Could the Dynasty be rearing its ugly head again?

            "How do you know this, Sage?" asked Cye, a quizzical look on his face.

            "For the past few nights, I have been haunted by these strange dreams. I don't remember anything about them, nothing, once I wake up. The only thing that allowed me to realize they were connected was a feeling. It was a feeling that I was being pulled away from this world. There was, also, a melody that was being played in the dream. The same melody that Ryo and I heard yesterday, if you remember the battle? The only force that powerful, to my knowledge, would be the Dynasty. I ask, have any of you had these dreams or a strange feeling?"

            They looked at one another. No one spoke an answer, only shaking their heads 'no' in response. " Then I must be the first to be attacked. Perhaps they were planning on getting us individually. Wearing us down before they strike."

            "Ronin Warriors." Sage turned around to see Lady Kayura of the Dynasty. Everyone stood quickly. Kayura stepped forth, the ancient's staff clanging. "An evil being has emerged and taken hold of my world. He moved quickly, sweeping the land with his armies of minions. He caught us by surprise and so captured much of our forces. Two of the Warlords were taken prisoner. I'm not sure of the third. I was able to escape by the powers of the ancient's staff, though I don't know how long it can protect me. Will you help us to stop him?"

            "Of course we will," said Ryo. The others shook their heads in agreement.

            "Who led the attack?" asked Sage.

            "Helios. There is no more time for discussion. I will take you there." The ancient's staff began to glow, preparing to transport the Ronins and Kayura back to the Dynasty.

            "Mia, you should sit this one out." said Sage.

            "But..." They glared at her and so she stepped back. " All right," she said, defeatedly. White Blaze jumped up and joined them as a bright, yellow light surrounded the warriors and sent them to fight for their lives.

            " May the gods protect you, Ronin Warriors," whispered Mia.

************

           

            They arrived in front of the gates to the Palace of Talpa and were greeted by a large army of Dynasty solders. "All right! Instant action! I like it. Armor of Hardrock! Toa Gi!" Kento transformed into his armor, soon followed by the others.

            Fully armored, they engaged in a great battle. They soon realized that these solders were not the same as those that they had fought before. These solders were fiercer and seemed to know what they were doing. They proved to be formidable enemies.

            The Ronins, themselves, seemed to be in an enhanced state. They fought separately, yet together. They were in total sync with one another, using little to no words of communication.

            Lady Kayura also took part in the battle. She fought with great might, however, her thoughts were else where. She wondered how the solders had known were she was taking the Ronins. She wanted to get closer to the demon before attacking his troops. Could the ancient's staff be failing her?

            A breeze drifted over the battlefield. The cool breeze carried with it the soft sound of a flute playing a mesmerizing tune. It danced its way around the warriors, carefully doing its deed. It delicately snipped the strands of mental connection between the Ronins. It did this so gently that they did not notice. The flute's melody then became more aggressive, surrounding the warriors in a paralyzing spell.

            "What's going on?! I can't move!" yelled Kento.

            "We're sitting ducks like this!" said Ryo. He and Kento desperately tried to fight this unseen and unheard force.

            "This battle was a diversion. To catch us off guard," said Rowen. He too was trying to fight. Kayura was stunned. How could such a thing happen without her sensing it or without some warning from the ancient?

            "I don't like this," said Cye. He noticed that the solders were backing off and slinking away to their dark corners. White Blaze whined. "The solders are retreating."

            "Come out and face us, you coward!!" shouted Ryo. He hated feeling helpless, and being frozen did not make it much better. Who ever was doing this was a coward for not facing them head on. His anger began to flare.

            He was answered by light laughter. "Poor, little warriors. I have what I want. There's no need to fight you for it." said a gentle voice. The hold the flute had on them vanished. Again came the sound of laughter. It echoed off the walls and buildings.

            "Who are you?!" Ryo shouted. Silence. His eyes searched the surrounding buildings and rooftops. "Answer me!!" Still, silence. Believing to have seen something move on one of the rooftops, he was about to take off and chase it down. Cye and White Blaze stopped him.

            "Ryo, no! We need to stick together. This could be what they want if we split up," he said, White Blaze agreeing. Though he would follow his master anywhere, White Blaze would look out for him, as well. The tiger knew someone was missing and he did not want his master to be next.

            "Where is Halo?" asked Kayura, the staff clanging as she turned around. Being somewhat of an outsider to the group, she noticed his disappearance more quickly then the others.

            Kento looked at her and asked, "Halo? Who's...." then realization came over them. "SAGE!!!" they yelled in unison.

            "But, how? I mean, we're always aware of each other. How could we not have noticed them taking him?" asked Ryo.

            "It must have been during that mock battle. We were distracted, so enabling them to unleash that paralyzing spell and take him away. Remember, that voice said it already had what it wanted. It was Sage. What I want to know is why it seems like we walked right into this and what it has to do with Sage." said Rowen, looking to Kayura for answers.

            "I have no idea what is happening here, Ronins. I am as in the dark on their intentions as you are."

            "But can't the ancient's staff show you something?" asked Cye.

            "I'm afraid not. The staff's power is no longer functioning reliably. It seems that I am powerless."

            "Man, this must be some pretty powerful force to take out the ancient's staff," said Kento.

            "Well, who ever, or what ever, has Sage. Come on guys, we have to find him," said Ryo. He and the others reverted to sub-armor and took off toward the Palace of Talpa. " Kayura, you coming?" called Ryo.

            She stood there for a moment hesitant, looking at the staff, and then ran to catch up.