Return of Rowen

Chapter 6

By Rowen

The ante room was a sea of darkness. The blackness cloaked the entire chamber, only allowing the faint outline of a figure to penetrate its murky depths. Two spheres of red

light momentarily flared to life, illuminating the form, revealing Talpa' sinister gray armor, every plate seemingly crafted to serve evil. His face was composed of jagged metal,

giving it a menacing appearance. A mysterious skull gaped from his chestplate, as six long blades spanned his back, rising threateningly into the air. While the armor forming his

lower body was less ornate, the length and thickness of his legs told of the demon's immense power. His heavy footsteps resounded against the walls as he moved deeper into

the room.

"Such and incredible power! I now understand your interest in capturing Rowen of the Strata. Possessing the Armor of the Heavens will make one invincible," proclaimed

Talpa.

"And you shall have it," a voice whispered into his ear before breaking into evil, high-pitched laughter that filled the air.

"Badamon! Show yourself!" he growled, causing an eerie green flame to rise from one of the altars at the back of the room. Trails of smoke spiraled upward and slowly

melded into the Lord of the Netherspirits' shape.

"What brings you here?" demanded Talpa.

"It is time for us to strike, my lord. We have been presented with an opportunity to seize the Armor of the Heavens," he answered.

"Explain," he commanded.

"Cyboth is weak from his battle with Strata and has become impatient for victory. He wishes for you to join him in battle against the Ronin Warriors. You shall destroy Ryo of

the Wildfire, Sage of the Halo, Cye of the Torrent, and Kento of Hardrock, while Cyboth captures Prince Rowen," he said.

"You fool! Fighting for Cyboth will not bring me any closer to obtaining Strata's armor!" he roared.

"Master, have patience. I have yet to inform you of the entire plan," said Badamon. Talpa's white hair billowed from under his helmet, whipping violently around his face, as his

red eyes blared ominously. However, he remained silent and Badamon continued.

"My lord, Cyboth has ordered me to restore the Dynasty's control over Strata. I have something else planned for the Warrior of Life. In my hands he will meet his doom and

his armor will be yours."

"Excellent. You may proceed, but do not fail me, Badamon," he warned.

"I shall succeed my lord. Now go. Cyboth awaits you," he assured and vanished, leaving Talpa alone in the chamber. For a moment he stood in place, his mind visualizing

victory.

"Talpa," boomed a deep voice, interrupting his thoughts. His jaw dropped open slightly as he turned to find the imposing figure of his master looming over him. The plates of his

armor clanked against each other as he kneeled before Cyboth.

"Emperor,"

"Rise my faithful warrior. I have important matters to discuss with you," said Cyboth.

"Your strategy for defeating the Ronin Warriors, I presume," started Talpa as he stood.

"Yes. Come with me," he ordered.

"As you wish, my lord," he replied.

Hikara Sugiyama sighed as she wearily eyed the lights of Osaka sparkling in the night sky outside her office. It had been another week of intense research with nothing to show

for her efforts. "What am I doing wrong? I haven't obtained any meaningful data for the past two weeks," she thought, absent-mindedly tapping her fingers against her desk, in

time with the rhythmic flashes coming from planes headed toward Kansai International Airport. "Things were going so well the first six months. How could things have turned so

quickly?"

"Hikara," called a voice interrupting her from her thoughts.

"H...hi Dr. Hashiba," stammered Hikara, as she turned to find her mentor standing behind her.

"Is something wrong, Hikara?" he asked, a look of worry crossing his brow.

"It's nothing really. I‚m just troubled by the fact that I haven't made much progress in the laboratory these past couple of weeks," she replied.

"Don't let it bother you too much. It happens to everybody," he said comfortingly. She slowly nodded her head, but a sullen look remained in her green eyes.

Genichirou smiled at his student, placed a hand on her shoulder and continued. "Why don't you take a few days off? Taking a short break won‚'t interfere with your studies too

much, and the time away from your experiments will allow you to relax."

"Maybe you're right," said Hikara, as she rose from her chair and began to file a stack of papers on her desk. She paused for a moment and turned to him. "I'll think about it,

Dr. Hashiba, and if you don't see me tomorrow, you'll know what I've decided."

"All right. Well, I should be getting back to work. If you need anything or want to talk about anything, I'll be in the lab," he said.

"I will," she assured. "Goodnight, Dr. Hashiba."

"Goodnight, Hikara," he replied as he closed her office door. He started walking down the hall, but stopped after a few steps. "Something's not right. I can't place it, but...Huh?

Is someone following me?" he wondered, whirling around to see if he was being pursued.

He was alone. "I'm probably just imagining things." Then it the feelings of dread hit him again, only stronger. His fear turned to pain as vivid images began racing through his

mind. He could see a blue-haired boy that looked somewhat like his son... No, it was Rowen. The short, wild, sapphire hair, that pale ivory skin, and those intense blue

eyes-he would know his son's face no matter when or where he saw it. Genichirou gasped in horror as he watched demons ravage Rowen's body with their dark energy, and

could feel the torment in his soul as they attempted to possess him. Suddenly, everything stopped. His chest was heaving, and his heart was pounding furiously, but he was still

in the corridor, just outside Hikara's office.

Mia sighed as she gently closed the bedroom door behind her. It had taken almost two hours, but she had finally convinced Yuli to go to sleep. The Ronins had been planning

on taking some time alone to talk about the recent turn of events, but he had wanted to participate in the discussion. She could still hear his voice in her head, begging Ryo to

let him stay, whining in protest as she dragged him up to his bedroom, and bombarding her with questions about the Ronins as she tucked him into bed. Although Mia knew

that it was best for Ryo, Kento, Cye, Sage, and Rowen to be left alone while they talked about their last battle, she could not help, but feel a twinge of guilt at keeping Yuli

away from his five best friends. "He's always trying to help them, but sometimes he gets in the way... Not that he does it intentionally, but it happens," she thought, trying to

calm her guilty conscience as she descended the stairs of the Koji mansion.

"Finally got him to go to sleep?" asked Ryo, as he looked up to see Mia walking into the living room.

"Yes," replied Mia, as she sat down next to him. "It took longer than I expected. I'm sorry I kept you all waiting so long."

"It's all right, Mia. We've kept ourselves entertained with the U.S. Open Men's Championship," said Cye.

"I see. So who is winning, Rowen?" she inquired, causing the others to turn their attention to him. However, he remained silent, his deep blue eyes glued to the television.

Sage had felt something was wrong after the first set of the tennis match. When Rowen watched tennis, he was usually intently focused, taking note of the angle of the racquet

chosen while attempting a drop volley, the placement of the ball during serve, and the strategies employed in selecting shots. "A serious student of the game.... Always an eye

on improvement..." was how his father had described his best friend's dissection of the smallest details of the game. Today was different. Rowen had been watching the match

with little interest, gazing blankly at the screen, despite the fact that Pete Sampras, his favorite player was playing for the title. It did not matter that Marat Safin was whipping

the American great into submission. Rowen's studious manner of a tennis match remained intact until it was completed, regardless of what was happening to the players he

admired. Something much deeper was bothering him, but Sage could not determine what it was. "I know something's not right, Rowen. What is it?" he wondered.

"Nice forehand by Safin... a little high, but still a nice shot. Sampras counters with a cross-court forehand down the line. Absolutely beautiful! Sampras has broken Safin for the

first time in the match!" blared the commentator. As if to celebrate, Rowen suddenly rose from the floor, muttering something under his breath.

"Damn? Why do you say that, Rowen? I thought you wanted Sampras to win," said Kento with a quizzical expression on his face.

"What is it, Rowen?" asked Cye, simultaneously.

"No... I said dad," Rowen replied, shaking his head. "He's in danger. I have to go save him." His friends watched in bewilderment as a deep blue glow began emanating from

the Ronin of Life. The light intensified, and spread first across his torso, followed by his legs, finally encapsulating his body in a bubble. It rose from the ground and toward the

ceiling. Seconds later he disappeared.

As Ryo, Sage, Kento, Cye, and Mia slowly recovered from their shock at Rowen's sudden action, a voice from upstairs cried "Hey everybody! Look outside!"

Mia rushed over to a window just in time to catch a glimpse of the blue sphere streaking through the sky toward Toyoma. "Well, that's one time I can be thankful Yuli didn't fall

asleep when I put him to bed," she thought to herself.

"Rowen's headed for the city!" exclaimed Yuli as he tore down the stairs. "What is he doing guys? Why aren't you going with him?"

"Well for starters, he took us by surprise," answered Cye.

"But don't you worry Yuli, we'll be going after him pretty soon," added Ryo.

"Wait a minute.... Why Toyoma?" wondered Sage. "Rowen's dad lives in Osaka. Not Toyoma. Rowen could be falling into a Dynasty trap. We can't just follow him without

some sort of plan."

Kento shook his head at Sage's idea. "No, we can't just sit here and do nothing. We need to follow Rowen so we can be there to help him if it is a Dynasty trap."

"Right. If we lose track of Rowen now, we might not be able to get to him before the Dynasty does," agreed Cye.

Sage sighed in defeat. Although he did not like rushing into a situation without formulating a course of action, the bearer of Halo knew that his friends were making a valid

argument. "Yeah... I guess you guys are right."

"Then it's settled. Let's go," said Ryo, standing from his seat on the couch. A flash of red light covered his body as he donned his sub-armor. Kento, Cye, and Sage followed

suit, and followed Mia and Yuli outside.

"Can you still see him?" asked Mia as she began backing her jeep out of the driveway.

"Barely. All I can see is a really faint outline of his bubble. It's only a matter of seconds before we won't be able to see him." replied Sage. He closed his eyes, trying to clear his

mind of all thoughts. As he concentrated his thoughts on the tiny speck of blue cruising through the night sky, the image grew more vivid. He could see Rowen standing inside

the dark blue sphere of energy. His best friend wore a calm expression despite the urgent manner in which he had acted earlier. Sage let the image of his best friend's face slide

out of focus and shifted his attention to the path of his flight. Having determined Rowen's destination he opened his eyes. "He's headed for city hall, Mia."

"How do you know?" inquired Ryo.

"It's hard to explain," started Sage, but was cut off by the loud screech of the jeep's brakes. The jeep swerved violently off the road, throwing him against Kento. The Warrior

of Light rubbed his head gingerly, as he looked outside to see what had caused Mia to make such a sudden stop.

"No way," he heard Ryo whisper as he turned from his window to the windshield. Standing in the middle of the road was Talpa.

"He's here," thought Rowen as he landed on the roof of Toyoma's city hall.

"I've been expecting you, my son," called his father's voice.

He felt a lump in his throat as he saw the figure of his father. His arms were extended toward him as if to invite him into a father's warm embrace. His eyes were warm and

moist with tears and seemed to speak of a father's longing to be with his son. Then, there was that look. The look which spoke of a father's pride in his son. It was there right in

front of him : the father he had longed for his entire life. His mind told him it was real, and he listened to it. However, in his heart, Rowen knew it was all just a mere illusion. It

knew the way his father really felt about him, but his mind pushed him closer and closer to him. "It's not real!" protested his heart as he took step after step.

"It is real!" countered his mind.

"It's only an illusion" his heart boomed, as Rowen moved within inches of the figure's hands. Rowen felt his hands shaking as he tried to raise them.

"Go on, Rowen. All you have to do is touch him, and your dream will come true," urged his mind. Rowen looked at the figure standing before him again, but saw Cyboth

instead of his father.

"Father?" whispered Rowen.

"Yes, Prince Rowen. I am your father," replied the figure.

"No... you're not my father," replied Rowen, shaking his head as he slowly backed away from it. Suddenly, everything was becoming clear. "It was all an illusion... but... why

am I not falling for it any more? I guess I can figure that out later. I've had enough of Cyboth's games," he thought.

"Well, now that you've managed to see through my little scheme, let's move onto the business at hand, shall we?" asked Cyboth.

"What do you want from me?" demanded Rowen.

"Let's just say that there was a point to the exercise I put you through. I wanted to test your powers as well as your loyalty to your loved ones... particularly those that seem to

care nothing for you," he answered.

"Test my powers? For what? You already know what I can do," he scoffed. "And what does all of this have to do with my dad?"

"On the contrary, Prince Rowen. Your abilities are far greater than you know, and you will use them to serve the Dynasty. As for your father... I would like to make a little

bargain with you," replied Cyboth.

Rowen shook his head. "No. I don't make deals with anyone from the Dynasty."

"Oh, I'm sure this will be an offer you can't refuse, Strata," countered the emperor of the Dynasty. With a wave of his hand, Genichirou Hashiba appeared beside him.

"Dad!" cried Rowen, as his father kneeled before Cyboth. "Let him go!"

"Are you willing to pay the price for your father's freedom?" he asked, a smug expression on his face.

"Yes. Anything. Just let him go!" pleaded Rowen. Cyboth laughed sinisterly at his desperation. He was going to surrender without a struggle, just as he had planned.

"Very well, then. Join me, and I will free your father," he said.

Rowen started to move toward Cyboth, but stopped after a few steps, puzzled at the sight before him. The man that appeared to be his father was now Cyboth, while

Cyboth's form had transformed into that of his father. They were one and the same. "Who is my father? Is it Cyboth? Or the man I came here to save?" he wondered.

Cyboth smirked at the warrior's confusion. The dark emperor knew that the Ronin of Life was unfailingly loyal to those his friends and family. As a result he had spent hours,

corrupting every single emotion and event he had ever experienced into some twisted version of the truth, in hopes that those ties would become blurred. He had succeeded.

The warrior's indecision was evidence that his loyalties were no longer limited to his loved ones, but included the Dynasty as well. However, now, Cyboth needed Rowen's

feelings for his father to push him to the dark side. "Have you made your choice, Prince Rowen?" he asked.

"I....I..." started Rowen.

"Perhaps this will help you make up your mind," said Cyboth. The bearer of Strata could only watch in horror as the ruler of the Dynasty drew a sword and placed it against his

father's neck. "Join me, or your father will die."

"No!" gasped Rowen. He had no other choice. He could not let his father die. "Forgive me, my friends," he whispered as he approached the emperor of the Dynasty.

"Welcome home, Prince Rowen," greeted Cyboth, as the fallen warrior kneeled before him.