The Power of Love"
Prologue
The end of all life will come to us soon,
Just as our hearts are consumed by blackness,
The devil will appear from its cocoon,
And across the land will spread its darkness.
When darkness slowly swallows ev'ry light,
And the planets form into a straight line,
Be prepared for a long and costly war,
'cause war will start that you cannot deny.
When the darkness has finally been burned,
Then will become strong the bonds of true love.
It is then when the light will be returned,
For everyone to see up and above.
When it seems like the end will come to all,
Only love will completely stop the fall.
Part One
   Persha enters a dark room and goes up to an hourglass-looking object. As he passes two candles, they both light up. The hourglass glows and shows the figure of a woman with long hair. She opens her two cat-like eyes. "Persha, you have failed me. You were beaten by that girl in only five minutes. I thought you could handle this job. Maybe I was wrong."
   "Please forgive me, Master Dasha. Kryos said the girl was developing her powers, but I didn't know she would develop them so quickly. It was a bad judgment on my behalf. Please give me one more chance, Master."
   "Fine then, Persha. I will give you one more chance, but this fight will be to the death, whether it be hers, or yours."
   "Thank you, Master Dasha. I have a plan to destroy the girl and the Ronins, but I need some help from the Dynasty spirits."
   "Do whatever you need to destroy them, Persha. Just destroy them."
   Mia stands alone in fighting stance, ready to take on the oncoming soldiers. She begins to fight when she suddenly hears a scream and sees Sage starting to disappear. "Sage!"
   "I'm sorry, Mia." She hears another scream and sees Rowen start to disappear.
   "Sorry, Mia." Next it was Kento and then Cye.
   "No! Don't leave me, please, you guys. I need you!" She drops to her knees and begins to cry. She jumps as someone puts his hand on her shoulder. She looks behind and sees that it was Ryo. "Ryo, I'm so glad you're still here."
   "I'm so sorry, Mia, but remember I'll always be there for you." Ryo backs away and starts to disappear.
   "Ryo! Please, don't you leave me too! I don't want to be alone. Please, Ryo! I need you! Ryo!" She pops up in bed in a cold sweat and starts to cry loudly, bringing her knees to her chest.
   "Mia! Are you all right?" Ryo sits down on the bed and Mia looks straight at him.
   "Ryo! You're all right!" She throws herself into his arms and starts to cry more. Ryo holds her, trying to comfort her.
   "What's wrong, Mia? We heard you screaming. What happened?"
   "I, I had a dream where you and the others were disappearing one at a time and leaving me alone in this dark room. I was so scared. I didn't want you guys to leave me."
   Ryo kisses her head and strokes her hair, hoping to calm her down more. "It's okay, Mia. Everyone is all right and we're all right here."
   "Yeah, Mia. Nothing can hurt us," Kento says.
   "We won't ever leave you," Rowen says. Ryo slowly pulls her away from his shoulder, but she still sulks her head while Ryo tries to look into her eyes.
   "You see, Mia. Everything's all right. Are you okay now?" Mia lifts her head and looks straight at Ryo, nodding her head yes.
   "I have an idea, Mia." Mia looks straight at Cye surrounded by the other guys by the door. "How about I go downstairs and make something for dinner and then we'll go out for dessert?"
   "That sounds great, Cye! Well, what are you waiting for? You gotta cook." Kento grabs Cye's wrist and drags him downstairs.
   "Everything is almost set. Now I just have to wait for the right moment," Persha says, standing on a cliff on a nearby mountain. "That girl will pay for what she has done. No one gets away with embarrassing me like she did." He clutches both hands into a fists and punches the mountainside, leaving a dent. "She won't have a chance."
   "Here we go. Hope spaghetti's okay for you. Eat up, Mia." Everyone starts to eat. Ryo takes some and gives it to White Blaze.
   "Like it, White Blaze?" He roars in approvement and Ryo smiles. Ryo looks at Mia and sees her staring at her plate. "Is there something wrong with your food Mia?" Everyone stops eating and looks at Mia.
   "No. I'm not hungry, that's all."
   "Are you sure, Mia? You should eat something. You went through a lot."
   "I'm sure, Rowen."
   "Then can I have yours, Mia?"
   "Sure, Kento." Kento reaches to grab the plate and takes it.
   "Hey, Mia. I wanted to ask you what happened to you when you were under Persha's influence, like what happened to your hair?" Everyone stops eating and looks at Mia and then Kento.
   "What's your problem, Kento? Mia's just remembered who she is and just found out about her armor and just finished a huge battle. Let her rest a while. She's already been through too much."
   "I just wanted to know, Sage. Don't freak out." Kento takes another bite.
   "It's all right, you guys."
   "Mia, you don't have to say anything if you don't want to."
   "I'm fine with it, Rowen. I remember Persha messing around with my head. He made me his loyal servant. After the first time we fought, Persha thought I wasn't able to kill Ryo because I wasn't ready to fight. So, he did something to me. I think he tried to make me the same age as you guys are. He thought I was too old to fight and thought if I was younger, I would be able to fight better. I remember my hair being long like this and before some of my clothes were too big on me. After that, you guys know the rest." Mia slowly raises off her seat, hanging her head. "I'm sorry to leave you guys, but I have to do something." She runs out the door and everyone watches.
   She is really upset about this.
   Mia sits by the lake and looks at her reflection. What's going on here? I really wish I knew.
   "What are you doing out here, Mia?"
   Mia lifts her head. "Ryo? Um, I'm just thinking."
   "You look so sad. Why don't you try to smile? It will make you feel better."
   "I don't feel like smiling right now, Ryo. I just need some time alone." She looks back down at the lake. "Ryo, I need to tell you something."
   "What, Mia?"
   "I don't think Persha was the one who started all this. When he was controlling me, I remember seeing him talking to someone else, calling them 'master'."
   "You're just paranoid, Mia. Hiro never mentioned anything about someone else other than Persha." A sudden blast lights up the sky. Ryo and Mia look back in the direction of the house.
   "What was that?"
   "I don't know, but we better find out." Mia and Ryo get up and start running. Once they arrive, the guys come out of the door with White Blaze behind. "Did you guys see what happened?"
   "No. We just heard a noise and came out to see what it was."
   "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb all of you." Persha appears from behind a nearby tree.
   "Persha? I thought Mia destroyed you."
   "I disappeared before I could be destroyed, Halo. Now, I'm back to finish my job. So, are you guys ready to fight?"
   "We sure are. Ready, you guys?"
   "Ready!" they say in unison.
   "Ready, Mia?"
   "Ryo, I don't think I'm ready. I don't know how to fight."
   "You'll do fine, Mia. You fought before, you can fight again."
   "All right, I guess."
   "Armor of Wildfire, Halo, Strata, Torrent, Hardrock!"
   "Armor of the Spirits!" The guys stand in front, ready to battle, while Mia stands behind, looking frightened.
   "Well then, I'm sorry to say, Ronin Warriors, but you won't be part of this fight."
   "What?"
   "It's just going to be me and the girl. She's the one who I want. She's the one who destroyed my plans and made me look like a fool in front of Master Dasha. She will pay."
   "Mia was right. There is someone more powerful than Persha."
   "What are you talking about, Ryo?"
   "Mia told me that she thought there was someone more powerful than Persha, and she was right."
   "And how are you expecting to keep us from fighting, Persha?"
   "What a good question, Torrent. See, I picked up a little trick from an old friend of yours, Talpa, and I think it will be very effective."
   "I don't think so." Kento charges toward Persha. Persha holds his hand out, palm face away from him, and Kento freezes in place. "What's, what's going on here?" The guys try to move, but are frozen in place too.
   "That was the little trick I picked up from Talpa. Don't forget, your armor was once Talpa's and he had the power to control your armor, just like I did. I froze you in place so you can't interfere in my little fight. The girl's armor, on the other hand, didn't come from Talpa, so this little trick won't affect her. So, girl, ready to fight?"
   Mia starts to walk backwards slowly, until Persha charged toward her. She jumps into the air and Persha misses. "Persha, please leave us alone. I don't want to fight anyway."
   "I can't take that chance. My master wants you dead, and you will die. Just give yourself up, and we won't have to fight anymore."
   "All right then."
   "Mia, what are you doing?"
   "I don't want to fight. I can't fight." Mia drops her staff in defeat.
   "I must say, you made a very wise choice, girl. Dark Destruction!" The attack goes straight for Mia, but White Blaze comes and picks Mia up before it hits her. "Stupid tiger!"
   "White Blaze, what are you doing?" Mia asks White Blaze looking at him. Persha tries to attack, but White Blaze out maneuvers him. "White Blaze." Persha appears from behind and knocks Mia off of White Blaze and sends her to the ground. She sits up and White Blaze comes next to her.
   "It looks like your friends don't want you to give up your armor. Well, I won't let a stupid tiger or anything get in my way." A smirk appears on his face as he screams, "Dark Destruction!" White Blaze stands in front of Mia and takes the blast. Mia looks at White Blaze and hugs him.
   "Oh, White Blaze!" She gently pets White Blaze on the head and he roars out in pain. "You stupid tiger. Why did you do that?" Her eyes start to fill up with tears. "You shouldn't have done that. Persha, you're going to pay for what you've done!" She stands up and holds out her hand. Her staff floats off the ground and comes to her hand.
   "So, you want a fight?"
   "I'm not giving up that easy, Persha." Persha takes his sickle and clashes it with Mia's staff. They begin to fight, clashing with each other's weapons and seem to be a match for each other.
   "You know what? I'm sick of fighting like this. I think we should finish this off right now."
   "That's fine with me."
   "Mia, be careful!"
   Mia looks over at the guys. "I'll be fine. I'll show this person who's in charge."
   "Dark Destruction!"
   "Mortal Spirit Blaze!" The two sure kills clash and meet in the middle in a flash of light.
   "Well, girl, it looks like this is going to be quite a challenge."
   "I can wait as long as I need to. I'm going to teach you and your master a lesson or two about messing around with my friends."
   "I don't know why you hang with these guys. They're so weak. You are much better than them. Why don't you come with me? We can be the most powerful people in this world."
   "I don't think so, and no one ever insults my friends. Take this, Persha!" Mia's attack becomes stronger and overpowers Persha. Persha finally gives up, as the attack is about to hit him.
   "I'm sorry, Master. I don't deserve to live." Mia lands on the ground as the guys are freed.
   "Well, it took you long enough, Mia."
   "Just be glad you're free, Kento." Mia goes over to White Blaze who is still on the ground, hurt. She puts her arms around and gives him a hug. "Thank you so much, White Blaze. You showed me what I had to do." All of a sudden, White Blaze starts to glow and in a matter of seconds, the glow disappears. He lifts his head and licks Mia on the face. "White Blaze, you're okay!"
   "Hey, Ryo, do you think Mia did that?"
   "I'm not sure. Maybe it's a special power of her armor."
   "Hmm," says the strange thing in the hourglass, "that girl is stronger than I thought. She will be a worthy adversary. This is going to be lots of fun."
Prologue
The end of all life will come to us soon,
Just as our hearts are consumed by blackness,
The devil will appear from its cocoon,
And across the land will spread its darkness.
When darkness slowly swallows ev'ry light,
And the planets form into a straight line,
Be prepared for a long and costly war,
'cause war will start that you cannot deny.
When the darkness has finally been burned,
Then will become strong the bonds of true love.
It is then when the light will be returned,
For everyone to see up and above.
When it seems like the end will come to all,
Only love will completely stop the fall.
Part One
   Persha enters a dark room and goes up to an hourglass-looking object. As he passes two candles, they both light up. The hourglass glows and shows the figure of a woman with long hair. She opens her two cat-like eyes. "Persha, you have failed me. You were beaten by that girl in only five minutes. I thought you could handle this job. Maybe I was wrong."
   "Please forgive me, Master Dasha. Kryos said the girl was developing her powers, but I didn't know she would develop them so quickly. It was a bad judgment on my behalf. Please give me one more chance, Master."
   "Fine then, Persha. I will give you one more chance, but this fight will be to the death, whether it be hers, or yours."
   "Thank you, Master Dasha. I have a plan to destroy the girl and the Ronins, but I need some help from the Dynasty spirits."
   "Do whatever you need to destroy them, Persha. Just destroy them."
   Mia stands alone in fighting stance, ready to take on the oncoming soldiers. She begins to fight when she suddenly hears a scream and sees Sage starting to disappear. "Sage!"
   "I'm sorry, Mia." She hears another scream and sees Rowen start to disappear.
   "Sorry, Mia." Next it was Kento and then Cye.
   "No! Don't leave me, please, you guys. I need you!" She drops to her knees and begins to cry. She jumps as someone puts his hand on her shoulder. She looks behind and sees that it was Ryo. "Ryo, I'm so glad you're still here."
   "I'm so sorry, Mia, but remember I'll always be there for you." Ryo backs away and starts to disappear.
   "Ryo! Please, don't you leave me too! I don't want to be alone. Please, Ryo! I need you! Ryo!" She pops up in bed in a cold sweat and starts to cry loudly, bringing her knees to her chest.
   "Mia! Are you all right?" Ryo sits down on the bed and Mia looks straight at him.
   "Ryo! You're all right!" She throws herself into his arms and starts to cry more. Ryo holds her, trying to comfort her.
   "What's wrong, Mia? We heard you screaming. What happened?"
   "I, I had a dream where you and the others were disappearing one at a time and leaving me alone in this dark room. I was so scared. I didn't want you guys to leave me."
   Ryo kisses her head and strokes her hair, hoping to calm her down more. "It's okay, Mia. Everyone is all right and we're all right here."
   "Yeah, Mia. Nothing can hurt us," Kento says.
   "We won't ever leave you," Rowen says. Ryo slowly pulls her away from his shoulder, but she still sulks her head while Ryo tries to look into her eyes.
   "You see, Mia. Everything's all right. Are you okay now?" Mia lifts her head and looks straight at Ryo, nodding her head yes.
   "I have an idea, Mia." Mia looks straight at Cye surrounded by the other guys by the door. "How about I go downstairs and make something for dinner and then we'll go out for dessert?"
   "That sounds great, Cye! Well, what are you waiting for? You gotta cook." Kento grabs Cye's wrist and drags him downstairs.
   "Everything is almost set. Now I just have to wait for the right moment," Persha says, standing on a cliff on a nearby mountain. "That girl will pay for what she has done. No one gets away with embarrassing me like she did." He clutches both hands into a fists and punches the mountainside, leaving a dent. "She won't have a chance."
   "Here we go. Hope spaghetti's okay for you. Eat up, Mia." Everyone starts to eat. Ryo takes some and gives it to White Blaze.
   "Like it, White Blaze?" He roars in approvement and Ryo smiles. Ryo looks at Mia and sees her staring at her plate. "Is there something wrong with your food Mia?" Everyone stops eating and looks at Mia.
   "No. I'm not hungry, that's all."
   "Are you sure, Mia? You should eat something. You went through a lot."
   "I'm sure, Rowen."
   "Then can I have yours, Mia?"
   "Sure, Kento." Kento reaches to grab the plate and takes it.
   "Hey, Mia. I wanted to ask you what happened to you when you were under Persha's influence, like what happened to your hair?" Everyone stops eating and looks at Mia and then Kento.
   "What's your problem, Kento? Mia's just remembered who she is and just found out about her armor and just finished a huge battle. Let her rest a while. She's already been through too much."
   "I just wanted to know, Sage. Don't freak out." Kento takes another bite.
   "It's all right, you guys."
   "Mia, you don't have to say anything if you don't want to."
   "I'm fine with it, Rowen. I remember Persha messing around with my head. He made me his loyal servant. After the first time we fought, Persha thought I wasn't able to kill Ryo because I wasn't ready to fight. So, he did something to me. I think he tried to make me the same age as you guys are. He thought I was too old to fight and thought if I was younger, I would be able to fight better. I remember my hair being long like this and before some of my clothes were too big on me. After that, you guys know the rest." Mia slowly raises off her seat, hanging her head. "I'm sorry to leave you guys, but I have to do something." She runs out the door and everyone watches.
   She is really upset about this.
   Mia sits by the lake and looks at her reflection. What's going on here? I really wish I knew.
   "What are you doing out here, Mia?"
   Mia lifts her head. "Ryo? Um, I'm just thinking."
   "You look so sad. Why don't you try to smile? It will make you feel better."
   "I don't feel like smiling right now, Ryo. I just need some time alone." She looks back down at the lake. "Ryo, I need to tell you something."
   "What, Mia?"
   "I don't think Persha was the one who started all this. When he was controlling me, I remember seeing him talking to someone else, calling them 'master'."
   "You're just paranoid, Mia. Hiro never mentioned anything about someone else other than Persha." A sudden blast lights up the sky. Ryo and Mia look back in the direction of the house.
   "What was that?"
   "I don't know, but we better find out." Mia and Ryo get up and start running. Once they arrive, the guys come out of the door with White Blaze behind. "Did you guys see what happened?"
   "No. We just heard a noise and came out to see what it was."
   "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb all of you." Persha appears from behind a nearby tree.
   "Persha? I thought Mia destroyed you."
   "I disappeared before I could be destroyed, Halo. Now, I'm back to finish my job. So, are you guys ready to fight?"
   "We sure are. Ready, you guys?"
   "Ready!" they say in unison.
   "Ready, Mia?"
   "Ryo, I don't think I'm ready. I don't know how to fight."
   "You'll do fine, Mia. You fought before, you can fight again."
   "All right, I guess."
   "Armor of Wildfire, Halo, Strata, Torrent, Hardrock!"
   "Armor of the Spirits!" The guys stand in front, ready to battle, while Mia stands behind, looking frightened.
   "Well then, I'm sorry to say, Ronin Warriors, but you won't be part of this fight."
   "What?"
   "It's just going to be me and the girl. She's the one who I want. She's the one who destroyed my plans and made me look like a fool in front of Master Dasha. She will pay."
   "Mia was right. There is someone more powerful than Persha."
   "What are you talking about, Ryo?"
   "Mia told me that she thought there was someone more powerful than Persha, and she was right."
   "And how are you expecting to keep us from fighting, Persha?"
   "What a good question, Torrent. See, I picked up a little trick from an old friend of yours, Talpa, and I think it will be very effective."
   "I don't think so." Kento charges toward Persha. Persha holds his hand out, palm face away from him, and Kento freezes in place. "What's, what's going on here?" The guys try to move, but are frozen in place too.
   "That was the little trick I picked up from Talpa. Don't forget, your armor was once Talpa's and he had the power to control your armor, just like I did. I froze you in place so you can't interfere in my little fight. The girl's armor, on the other hand, didn't come from Talpa, so this little trick won't affect her. So, girl, ready to fight?"
   Mia starts to walk backwards slowly, until Persha charged toward her. She jumps into the air and Persha misses. "Persha, please leave us alone. I don't want to fight anyway."
   "I can't take that chance. My master wants you dead, and you will die. Just give yourself up, and we won't have to fight anymore."
   "All right then."
   "Mia, what are you doing?"
   "I don't want to fight. I can't fight." Mia drops her staff in defeat.
   "I must say, you made a very wise choice, girl. Dark Destruction!" The attack goes straight for Mia, but White Blaze comes and picks Mia up before it hits her. "Stupid tiger!"
   "White Blaze, what are you doing?" Mia asks White Blaze looking at him. Persha tries to attack, but White Blaze out maneuvers him. "White Blaze." Persha appears from behind and knocks Mia off of White Blaze and sends her to the ground. She sits up and White Blaze comes next to her.
   "It looks like your friends don't want you to give up your armor. Well, I won't let a stupid tiger or anything get in my way." A smirk appears on his face as he screams, "Dark Destruction!" White Blaze stands in front of Mia and takes the blast. Mia looks at White Blaze and hugs him.
   "Oh, White Blaze!" She gently pets White Blaze on the head and he roars out in pain. "You stupid tiger. Why did you do that?" Her eyes start to fill up with tears. "You shouldn't have done that. Persha, you're going to pay for what you've done!" She stands up and holds out her hand. Her staff floats off the ground and comes to her hand.
   "So, you want a fight?"
   "I'm not giving up that easy, Persha." Persha takes his sickle and clashes it with Mia's staff. They begin to fight, clashing with each other's weapons and seem to be a match for each other.
   "You know what? I'm sick of fighting like this. I think we should finish this off right now."
   "That's fine with me."
   "Mia, be careful!"
   Mia looks over at the guys. "I'll be fine. I'll show this person who's in charge."
   "Dark Destruction!"
   "Mortal Spirit Blaze!" The two sure kills clash and meet in the middle in a flash of light.
   "Well, girl, it looks like this is going to be quite a challenge."
   "I can wait as long as I need to. I'm going to teach you and your master a lesson or two about messing around with my friends."
   "I don't know why you hang with these guys. They're so weak. You are much better than them. Why don't you come with me? We can be the most powerful people in this world."
   "I don't think so, and no one ever insults my friends. Take this, Persha!" Mia's attack becomes stronger and overpowers Persha. Persha finally gives up, as the attack is about to hit him.
   "I'm sorry, Master. I don't deserve to live." Mia lands on the ground as the guys are freed.
   "Well, it took you long enough, Mia."
   "Just be glad you're free, Kento." Mia goes over to White Blaze who is still on the ground, hurt. She puts her arms around and gives him a hug. "Thank you so much, White Blaze. You showed me what I had to do." All of a sudden, White Blaze starts to glow and in a matter of seconds, the glow disappears. He lifts his head and licks Mia on the face. "White Blaze, you're okay!"
   "Hey, Ryo, do you think Mia did that?"
   "I'm not sure. Maybe it's a special power of her armor."
   "Hmm," says the strange thing in the hourglass, "that girl is stronger than I thought. She will be a worthy adversary. This is going to be lots of fun."
