Return of Rowen

Author's Notes

by Rowen

Motivation

I decided to write this story after reading Aurora's 'A Simple Wish'. I thought that it was an excellent story. However, I did not like the ending, especially since Rowen is my favorite character. At the time, I was trying to come up with an idea for my first fan fiction. I decided that the end of Aurora's story would be a perfect place to start. I reread the story a few times to find a way to connect mine to hers. Eventually I found one. In 'A Simple Wish' Rowen's mother is abusing him (verbally for the most part), and Rowen makes the wish that he could have the family life that he has always wanted. However, this wish costs him his friends, health, and armor. Rowen still has his memories. This is where my story comes in. I found it interesting that Rowen still had remembered Ryo, Kento, Cye, and Sage, even though everything else was gone. For me this fact was the basis of my story. I then had to choose between two story lines. One in which everything turns out to be an illusion created by the Dynasty, and another in which losing his friends and armor was temporary(I may publish another continuation based on this idea in the future). As you know, the first story line won and here we are.

General Notes

I have tried to stick to facts, parts of the Ronin Warriors/YST story. In other words, you will not see a slew of new characters or changes in the history of the characters.  There are only three places I have taken a liberty of changing the original story. First, I have introduced a new character as the ruler of the Dynasty. Second, I have delayed the capture of Kayura by Talpa to until she is 15(I remember reading somewhere she was taken from the village when she was 8). The purpose of this is to facilitate a flashback which will occur near the end of the story. Third, Rowen and Kayura are going to be a couple in my story. Other people have used this and I liked it, so that's what is going to happen in my story. That's all I have to say right now

Rowen (Paul)

Return of Rowen

Chapter 1

by Paul Endres

My story starts immediately after A Simple Wish (which was written by Aurora). I didn't like the way it ended, so I wrote my own continuation of it. Basically it turns out that

the Dynasty is behind everything and is trying to make Rowen evil.

As a tear rolled down Rowen's cheek, images of his friends flooded his mind...

[flashback]

A quiet afternoon at Mia's house. Rowen is reading from a physics book when Kento bursts in.

"Hey Rowen! Are you going to finish those crackers? I'll eat them if you don't want them. Wouldn't want good food to go to waste. Besides, I'm starving!" exclaimed Kento.

"You can have them," said Rowen.

"Thanks, man," was his friend's reply...

[end of flashback]

"Kento," thought Rowen sadly...

[another flashback begins]

The scene is the cafeteria of a school. It is his first day at this school after his parents' divorce.

"Do you mind if I sit here?" asked a friendly voice as Rowen quietly ate his lunch.

"Go ahead," replied Rowen with as smile as he looked up.

"I thought you'd like some company. My name's Cye," said Cye.

"I'm Rowen," said Rowen as he extended a hand to Cye.

"The school genius," marveled Cye as he shook his hand.

"It's not always a blessing. A lot of kids are envious of me. At my old school I got teased a lot," he said bitterly.

"Things will be different here. I'll be your friend Rowen," said Cye.

"Thanks," said Rowen...

[end of flashback]

"Cye!" he cried to himself...

[another flashback]

"I'll never give in to the Dynasty!" yelled Ryo as he lunged toward Sekhmet.

"We shall see Ryo of the Wildfire! Snake Fangs Strike!" countered the dark warlord of Venom.

"Uh!" groaned Ryo as he dodged the attack.

"Quake With Fear!" shouted Anubis. Ryo gasped as he saw the kursari gama flying toward his head. He closed his eyes to brace for the attack, but it never came. Ryo opened

his eyes as he heard Anubis cry out in pain.

"Why you!" growled the warlord of Cruelty. Ryo looked up to see Rowen, his crossbow still smoking from his attack.

"Rowen! I knew I could count on you," smiled Ryo.

"Just doing my job," said Rowen modestly.

"Oh Rowen, You're the best!" said Ryo...

[end of flashback]

"I'm sorry Ryo. I can't help you any more," thought Rowen...

[another flashback]

"What's the matter Rowen?" asked Sage, as he watched his friend sitting in a chair dejectedly.

"Oh nothing," he replied.

"You can tell me," assured his friend.

"It's nothing really," insisted Rowen, but the quivering tone of his voice gave him away. Sage got up from his desk and moved closer to him and looked into Rowen's eyes. He

could see the anguish and sadness. He put his hand comfortingly on Rowen's shoulder and his friend began to cry.

"Things at home," started Sage. Rowen nodded.

"It's not your fault Rowen. You've got to remember that," he continued.

"Why? Why me? Is it too much to ask to have a mother who loves me? Sometimes I feel like ending it all!" cried Rowen. Then it all came out- the fights, the abuse both

physical and verbal.

"Rowen, I'm sorry. I knew things were bad, but I didn't know things had come to this. I'll do everything I can do to help. I promise," said Sage.

"Thank you Sage. You're the best friend I've ever had," said Rowen. "And you Rowen, are the best friend I've ever had," said Sage...

[end of flashback]

"Sage! I miss you so much!" cried Rowen, his tears now coming out in a steady stream. Suddenly he rose up from his pillow. "Wait a minute. If my wish came true, why do I

still have memories of my friends? It doesn't make sense! All other mementos of my friendships with the guys were lost, but not my memories. Why? I wonder why mom doesn't

remember them," thought Rowen as he started to get out of his bed. Then, his eye met the telephone.

"I have another idea," he thought to himself. He picked up the phone and dialed Sage's number. "Date residence. How may I help you?" asked a business-like tone. "Hello

Mrs. Date! It's me Rowen. May I speak with Sage?" said Rowen.

"Why hello there Rowen! How are you doing?" asked Mrs. Date her voice changing into the warm tone reserved for friends and family. "I'm feeling a lot better," said Rowen.

"That's good to hear. Now, I'll get Sage for you," she said.

"This is really weird," thought Rowen, "How come Sage's mom remembers me?"

"Hello?" said Sage.

"Sage, it's me," replied Rowen.

"Rowen! What's up? Mom says you're feeling better. That's great to hear," said Sage.

"Thanks. Listen, some really weird things have been going on ever since I got out of the hospital," said Rowen.

"Like what? Is it the dynasty?" asked Sage in a very concerned voice.

"Well, I don't even remember leaving the hospital, but all of a sudden I was at home. My mom said that I had forgotten my inhaler and that I passed out on my way home from

school. Then she said that I should walk home from school with my friends. I told her that you walk with me, but she didn't know who you were," said Rowen.

"You mean, you're not calling me from the hospital?" asked Sage. "No, but that's not the end of it. The house is totally different too. It's like before my parents got divorced.

My tennis trophies are gone too. All of my pictures of you guys are gone too. To make things worse, my armor is gone" he explained.

"But how?" wondered Sage.

"I don't know. What really baffles me is that all traces of my association with my armor or you guys have all been wiped out- except for my memories," he continued.

"Let's get the guys together and talk this over," said Sage.

"I'm with you," agreed Rowen.

"I'll be over in a few minutes," said Sage.

"Great! Well until then, goodbye my friend," said Rowen as he hung up the phone. Rowen lay back on his bed and quietly pondered all that had happened since the night he

spent at Sage's house. "Let's see. Now after Sage's mom left those attacks came. I passed out and woke up in a hospital. Then, mom and dad visited me. They started fighting

and the pain I felt," shuddered Rowen as he pulled a navy blue blanket over his muscular shoulders.

"Rowen?" called Mrs. Hashiba as she gently knocked on his bedroom door.

"Yes, mom?" he replied.

"Somebody's here to see you- a friend!" she said warmly.

"He can come in," said Rowen. The door slowly opened and in walked Sage.

"Rowen, I've been so worried about you. It's good to see you're doing fine," said Sage.

"I'm glad you came," said Rowen.

"Have you had any more of those attacks?" asked Sage.

"No..." started Rowen.

"Do you feel that?" he broke off suddenly.

"Feel what?" asked his best friend.

"That, tha..." gasped Rowen. Everything was becoming black and he felt as if the darkness would swallow him. "Sage!" yelled Rowen, but his friend was gone. As Rowen lost consciousness, he heard a sinister laugh.