"The Power of Love"
Part Two
   "Please, can't we stop this? I don't want to train! I want to have a snack and take a bubble bath! At least let me have my armor!"
   "Sorry, Mia, but you have to learn how to fight."
   Mia jumps from one branch to another, dodging Sage's attack. "This isn't fair, you guys. It's raining. I can't see you guys in the rain." All the guys surround Mia in their armor.
   "You gotta learn how to fight, Mia. You can't always depend on your staff."
   "We all had to go through training, and so do you." They attack and Mia dodges. She goes from branch to branch dodging the guys' moves. She avoids every attack and later lands on the roof of her house. She sits down and takes a breather.
   "Why was I chosen to wear this armor? I don't even want it."
   "You gotta stay on your feet, Mia!" Ryo comes by and swings his swords at Mia, but she gets up in time.
   "Mia, you gotta work harder. Try to attack us once in a while."
   Mia slowly steps toward the edge of the roof. "But I don't want to fight!"
   "Hey, Mia! Coming at you!"
   "What?' A flash of lightning appears. Once it disappears, a beam of light comes straight towards Mia. She freezes in surprise, gets hit and is knocked off the roof.
   "Hey! Where are you guys?" Yuli looks up and sees Mia coming down toward him. "Mia!"
   Mia opens her eyes and sees Yuli. "Oh, no!" Mia bounces off the wall of the house right above her and rams into the car. "AH!" She sits up with her back against the jeep and her head towards the ground.
   "Mia! Mia, are you okay?" Yuli and the other guys run toward Mia. Yuli puts his hand on her shoulder and shakes her a little.
   "AH!"
   "Oh, Mia."
   "How is she, Yuli?"
   "I think she's really hurt, Ryo."
   Ryo picks her up gently. "We better get her to the hospital."
   "I'll get the car, Ryo." Kento rushes inside to get the keys to the van.
   "Loess, I'm putting you in charge of destroying the girl. Do you think you handle this big of a job?"
   A woman with green hair and a black crescent moon on her forehead steps forward. "I am sure, Master Dasha. It will be a pleasure to serve you. I will not let you down like that fool Persha did."
   "Good. I want all this to end as soon as possible. I'm getting impatient."
   "Don't worry. I know exactly what to do."
   Ryo carries Mia in to the ER with everyone else following. Sage runs ahead up to the desk. "Excuse me, but we need a doctor right now."
   "What exactly is the problem sir?"
   "Our friend is badly hurt."
   The nurse looks at the Mia in Ryo's arms. "What happened to her? She looks like she has been toppled by a dozen cars." She presses the announcement button and announces, "Doctor needed in the ER lobby immediately." A doctor with three nurses and a stretcher rushes into the lobby. "Put her on the stretcher sir. We'll make sure she's okay." Ryo puts Mia down and the doctor and nurses leave.
   "I hope she's going to be okay. She took a really bad fall," Kento says.
   "This is all my fault."
   "What are you talking about, Rowen?" Ryo asked.
   "I was the one who attacked Mia and made her fall off the roof. I shouldn't have done that. I knew how bad the weather was."
   "It's not your fault, Rowen." Cye puts a hand on his shoulder.
   "But it was my fault!" Rowen slams both fists on the wall. "Now Mia's hurt because of me. What happens if Dasha sends someone? We won't be able to fight it."
   "My plan is perfect. Nothing can stop me now," Loess says, looking down at the hospital. "I will defeat this girl with no problem."
   "Excuse me, sirs, but your friend is up and I came to tell you that you can see her."
   "Is she all right?" Rowen asked. The doctor looks at his clipboard and flips through the pages.
   "Well, it looks like she had some severe bruises, a couple of hairline fractures, and she needed a few stiches. Luckily, she had no internal bleeding and is still alive."
   Ryo opens the door and peeks in. "Hey, Mia, are you okay?"
   "Hi, Ryo. I'm fine." Mia attempts to sit up, but winces in pain and holds her ribs. Kento and Sage come over and help Mia sit up. "Thanks, you guys."
   "No problem, Mia. We're just happy you're not dead."
   Rowen hangs down his head and leaves.
   "Kento!"
   "What?"
   "Rowen, come back here." Cye follows Rowen out the room.
   "What's wrong with Rowen?" Mia asks.
   "Nothing. He just needs some fresh air."
   "Rowen, come back here." Cye chases after Rowen out the door. "What's up with you?"
   "I don't want Mia to know that I did it."
   "The guys probably already told her by now. She won't be mad at you."
   "Cye, I almost killed her. My symbol is life. I'm supposed to be trying to protect lives, not trying to destroy them." Nearby, a flash of light appears in the middle of the street.
   "What was that?" Cye and Rowen run toward the flash.
   "Well, it looks like I've found the Ronin Warriors, or at least two of them." A woman appears in a navy blue armor.
   "Who are you?"
   "My name is Loess and I've come to destroy the girl on behalf of my master."
   "There's no way you're getting her," Kento says. Kento, Ryo, Sage, Yuli, and White Blaze run over.
   "So, it looks like the whole group is here. Won't this be fun?"
   "What are you guys waiting for? Let's show this creep a thing or two."
   "Armor of Wildfire, Halo, Torrent, Hardrock!"
   "Rowen, why aren't you in your armor?" Ryo asks, ready to fight.
   "I can't do it."
   "Don't worry about it, Ryo. We can deal with this loser without him," Sage comments.
   "It's your funeral, Ronins."
   "I don't think so. Super Wave Smasher!"
   Loess jumps out of the way. "Nice shot, Torrent."
   I wish I could help, but I can't, Rowen thinks as he sees each of the guys attack, but gets knocked down.
   "Moonbeam Shatter!" A dark ray of moon shapes head straight for the guys and hits them.
   "AHHHHHHHHHH!"
   "Ryo!" Mia wakes up and pops up. "I gotta help the guys." Mia swings her legs to the edge of the bed, but the nurse in the room looks at her before she gets her feet on the ground.
   "You can't get up, Ms. Koji, you're hurt too badly."
   "I'm fine. Really." I gotta get out of here. She puts both feet on the ground, but the nurse comes over and tries to hold her down. Mia struggles to get out; the nurse continues to hold her down. "Let go of me right now!" Another nurse peeks in and enters.
   "Hey, Katie, can you help me here?"
   "Sure." She takes out a needle and places it in Mia's IV. Mia breaks away and knocks both of the nurses against the wall and takes out the IV.
   "Sorry, girls. Armor of the Sprits!" Mia appears in her armor and sneaks out the window.
   "Well, I'm waiting. When are you guys gonna strike?"
   "Just wait and see! Flare Up Now!" Loess dodges the attack, but gets hit in the head with a stick. She brings her hand to her head.
   "What was that?"
   "That was just nothing compared to what you are going to face." Mia steps out from behind a building and grabs her staff. "You want a challenge, well, you've got one!" All of a sudden, Mia stumbles over her own feet, but puts her hand on the wall to keep herself steady.
   "Mia, what's wrong? Shouldn't you be in bed?"
   "I needed to help you guys, Sage. But I think that sedative the nurse gave me is kicking in."
   "So, you're the one who destroyed Persha. You don't look that powerful. I have no idea how you destroyed Persha, but there's no way you're going to defeat me, girl." Loess comes straight for Mia and the others, but they all leap out of the way. Loess heads straight at Mia with her staff, but Mia blocks it. "Come on, girl. Show me your real power."
   "Mortal Spirit Blaze!"
   "Moonbeam Shatter!" The attacks clash, but Loess' quickly subdues Mia's. It hits Mia and she groans in pain as she comes in contact with the wall of one of the buildings.
   "Thunderbolt Cut!" Loess quickly dodges the attack and kicks Sage in the face. The others attack, but get grounded. They lay across the ground, attempting to get up.
   "Why don't you just leave them alone, jerk?" Loess turns her head and looks straight at Rowen.
   "And why isn't Strata fighting today?" She pauses. "Well, I'm waiting. Why aren't you talking? If I can't get a few more words out of you, then maybe I can get a few screams out of you." She holds her staff in front of her, pointing at Rowen. "Moonbeam Shatter!" Rowen freezes in place as he sees the blast coming toward him. It hits him and knocks him into a wall. He struggles to get up. "Well, wasn't that fun, but you know what? I want to hear you scream some more. Get ready, boy."
   Why isn't Rowen fighting? He should be in his armor, Mia starts to think, and suddenly remembers Rowen leaving the room. No way! Rowen was the one who shot at me. That's why he left the room so quickly. Oh, Rowen, why didn't you tell me? I don't want you to get hurt. Love.
   "Get ready, because this is your last battle. Moonbeam Shatter!" Rowen freezes once more.
   "Rowen!" Mia jumps in front of Rowen and holds out her staff. "Mystic Barrier!" The spirit orb begins to glow and Mia points it toward the attack. A giant gold disc appears in front of Mia and blocks the attack, splitting it up into many tiny beams. Mia stands her ground to hold back the attack as Loess continues.
   "This can't be! Moonbeam Shatter!" Mia slides back from the impact.
   "I told you you've got a challenge. Mortal Spirit Blaze!" The two powers crash and Mia's starts to overpower Loess' attack, but starts to weaken as Mia gets weaker.
   Mia's risking her life to save me after what I did to her. I can't let her down. "Armor of Strata! Arrow Star Shock!" A beam of stars comes from Rowen's arrows and combines with Mia's attack, which overpowers Loess.
   "I was so close!" In a flash of light, Loess disappears and Mia collapses to her knees. She looks at Rowen.
   "Thanks, Rowen."
   "Hey, you two, are you okay?" Cye says as everyone comes over as Rowen helps Mia to her feet.
   "Yeah. We're fine. I just want to know where that power came from?"
   "That was awesome, Rowen," Yuli says.
   "Hey, you guys, can we go home? I think that sedative has fully kicked in."
   "Sure, Mia." Mia falls forward as she falls asleep, but Rowen catches her before she hits the ground.
   "Now Strata has a new power and the girl has just found another part of her armor. I don't know if I should be scared because of their power, or excited because their power will make our fight more exciting," says the figure in the hourglass, "but whatever happens, I know it will be worth it."
Part Two
   "Please, can't we stop this? I don't want to train! I want to have a snack and take a bubble bath! At least let me have my armor!"
   "Sorry, Mia, but you have to learn how to fight."
   Mia jumps from one branch to another, dodging Sage's attack. "This isn't fair, you guys. It's raining. I can't see you guys in the rain." All the guys surround Mia in their armor.
   "You gotta learn how to fight, Mia. You can't always depend on your staff."
   "We all had to go through training, and so do you." They attack and Mia dodges. She goes from branch to branch dodging the guys' moves. She avoids every attack and later lands on the roof of her house. She sits down and takes a breather.
   "Why was I chosen to wear this armor? I don't even want it."
   "You gotta stay on your feet, Mia!" Ryo comes by and swings his swords at Mia, but she gets up in time.
   "Mia, you gotta work harder. Try to attack us once in a while."
   Mia slowly steps toward the edge of the roof. "But I don't want to fight!"
   "Hey, Mia! Coming at you!"
   "What?' A flash of lightning appears. Once it disappears, a beam of light comes straight towards Mia. She freezes in surprise, gets hit and is knocked off the roof.
   "Hey! Where are you guys?" Yuli looks up and sees Mia coming down toward him. "Mia!"
   Mia opens her eyes and sees Yuli. "Oh, no!" Mia bounces off the wall of the house right above her and rams into the car. "AH!" She sits up with her back against the jeep and her head towards the ground.
   "Mia! Mia, are you okay?" Yuli and the other guys run toward Mia. Yuli puts his hand on her shoulder and shakes her a little.
   "AH!"
   "Oh, Mia."
   "How is she, Yuli?"
   "I think she's really hurt, Ryo."
   Ryo picks her up gently. "We better get her to the hospital."
   "I'll get the car, Ryo." Kento rushes inside to get the keys to the van.
   "Loess, I'm putting you in charge of destroying the girl. Do you think you handle this big of a job?"
   A woman with green hair and a black crescent moon on her forehead steps forward. "I am sure, Master Dasha. It will be a pleasure to serve you. I will not let you down like that fool Persha did."
   "Good. I want all this to end as soon as possible. I'm getting impatient."
   "Don't worry. I know exactly what to do."
   Ryo carries Mia in to the ER with everyone else following. Sage runs ahead up to the desk. "Excuse me, but we need a doctor right now."
   "What exactly is the problem sir?"
   "Our friend is badly hurt."
   The nurse looks at the Mia in Ryo's arms. "What happened to her? She looks like she has been toppled by a dozen cars." She presses the announcement button and announces, "Doctor needed in the ER lobby immediately." A doctor with three nurses and a stretcher rushes into the lobby. "Put her on the stretcher sir. We'll make sure she's okay." Ryo puts Mia down and the doctor and nurses leave.
   "I hope she's going to be okay. She took a really bad fall," Kento says.
   "This is all my fault."
   "What are you talking about, Rowen?" Ryo asked.
   "I was the one who attacked Mia and made her fall off the roof. I shouldn't have done that. I knew how bad the weather was."
   "It's not your fault, Rowen." Cye puts a hand on his shoulder.
   "But it was my fault!" Rowen slams both fists on the wall. "Now Mia's hurt because of me. What happens if Dasha sends someone? We won't be able to fight it."
   "My plan is perfect. Nothing can stop me now," Loess says, looking down at the hospital. "I will defeat this girl with no problem."
   "Excuse me, sirs, but your friend is up and I came to tell you that you can see her."
   "Is she all right?" Rowen asked. The doctor looks at his clipboard and flips through the pages.
   "Well, it looks like she had some severe bruises, a couple of hairline fractures, and she needed a few stiches. Luckily, she had no internal bleeding and is still alive."
   Ryo opens the door and peeks in. "Hey, Mia, are you okay?"
   "Hi, Ryo. I'm fine." Mia attempts to sit up, but winces in pain and holds her ribs. Kento and Sage come over and help Mia sit up. "Thanks, you guys."
   "No problem, Mia. We're just happy you're not dead."
   Rowen hangs down his head and leaves.
   "Kento!"
   "What?"
   "Rowen, come back here." Cye follows Rowen out the room.
   "What's wrong with Rowen?" Mia asks.
   "Nothing. He just needs some fresh air."
   "Rowen, come back here." Cye chases after Rowen out the door. "What's up with you?"
   "I don't want Mia to know that I did it."
   "The guys probably already told her by now. She won't be mad at you."
   "Cye, I almost killed her. My symbol is life. I'm supposed to be trying to protect lives, not trying to destroy them." Nearby, a flash of light appears in the middle of the street.
   "What was that?" Cye and Rowen run toward the flash.
   "Well, it looks like I've found the Ronin Warriors, or at least two of them." A woman appears in a navy blue armor.
   "Who are you?"
   "My name is Loess and I've come to destroy the girl on behalf of my master."
   "There's no way you're getting her," Kento says. Kento, Ryo, Sage, Yuli, and White Blaze run over.
   "So, it looks like the whole group is here. Won't this be fun?"
   "What are you guys waiting for? Let's show this creep a thing or two."
   "Armor of Wildfire, Halo, Torrent, Hardrock!"
   "Rowen, why aren't you in your armor?" Ryo asks, ready to fight.
   "I can't do it."
   "Don't worry about it, Ryo. We can deal with this loser without him," Sage comments.
   "It's your funeral, Ronins."
   "I don't think so. Super Wave Smasher!"
   Loess jumps out of the way. "Nice shot, Torrent."
   I wish I could help, but I can't, Rowen thinks as he sees each of the guys attack, but gets knocked down.
   "Moonbeam Shatter!" A dark ray of moon shapes head straight for the guys and hits them.
   "AHHHHHHHHHH!"
   "Ryo!" Mia wakes up and pops up. "I gotta help the guys." Mia swings her legs to the edge of the bed, but the nurse in the room looks at her before she gets her feet on the ground.
   "You can't get up, Ms. Koji, you're hurt too badly."
   "I'm fine. Really." I gotta get out of here. She puts both feet on the ground, but the nurse comes over and tries to hold her down. Mia struggles to get out; the nurse continues to hold her down. "Let go of me right now!" Another nurse peeks in and enters.
   "Hey, Katie, can you help me here?"
   "Sure." She takes out a needle and places it in Mia's IV. Mia breaks away and knocks both of the nurses against the wall and takes out the IV.
   "Sorry, girls. Armor of the Sprits!" Mia appears in her armor and sneaks out the window.
   "Well, I'm waiting. When are you guys gonna strike?"
   "Just wait and see! Flare Up Now!" Loess dodges the attack, but gets hit in the head with a stick. She brings her hand to her head.
   "What was that?"
   "That was just nothing compared to what you are going to face." Mia steps out from behind a building and grabs her staff. "You want a challenge, well, you've got one!" All of a sudden, Mia stumbles over her own feet, but puts her hand on the wall to keep herself steady.
   "Mia, what's wrong? Shouldn't you be in bed?"
   "I needed to help you guys, Sage. But I think that sedative the nurse gave me is kicking in."
   "So, you're the one who destroyed Persha. You don't look that powerful. I have no idea how you destroyed Persha, but there's no way you're going to defeat me, girl." Loess comes straight for Mia and the others, but they all leap out of the way. Loess heads straight at Mia with her staff, but Mia blocks it. "Come on, girl. Show me your real power."
   "Mortal Spirit Blaze!"
   "Moonbeam Shatter!" The attacks clash, but Loess' quickly subdues Mia's. It hits Mia and she groans in pain as she comes in contact with the wall of one of the buildings.
   "Thunderbolt Cut!" Loess quickly dodges the attack and kicks Sage in the face. The others attack, but get grounded. They lay across the ground, attempting to get up.
   "Why don't you just leave them alone, jerk?" Loess turns her head and looks straight at Rowen.
   "And why isn't Strata fighting today?" She pauses. "Well, I'm waiting. Why aren't you talking? If I can't get a few more words out of you, then maybe I can get a few screams out of you." She holds her staff in front of her, pointing at Rowen. "Moonbeam Shatter!" Rowen freezes in place as he sees the blast coming toward him. It hits him and knocks him into a wall. He struggles to get up. "Well, wasn't that fun, but you know what? I want to hear you scream some more. Get ready, boy."
   Why isn't Rowen fighting? He should be in his armor, Mia starts to think, and suddenly remembers Rowen leaving the room. No way! Rowen was the one who shot at me. That's why he left the room so quickly. Oh, Rowen, why didn't you tell me? I don't want you to get hurt. Love.
   "Get ready, because this is your last battle. Moonbeam Shatter!" Rowen freezes once more.
   "Rowen!" Mia jumps in front of Rowen and holds out her staff. "Mystic Barrier!" The spirit orb begins to glow and Mia points it toward the attack. A giant gold disc appears in front of Mia and blocks the attack, splitting it up into many tiny beams. Mia stands her ground to hold back the attack as Loess continues.
   "This can't be! Moonbeam Shatter!" Mia slides back from the impact.
   "I told you you've got a challenge. Mortal Spirit Blaze!" The two powers crash and Mia's starts to overpower Loess' attack, but starts to weaken as Mia gets weaker.
   Mia's risking her life to save me after what I did to her. I can't let her down. "Armor of Strata! Arrow Star Shock!" A beam of stars comes from Rowen's arrows and combines with Mia's attack, which overpowers Loess.
   "I was so close!" In a flash of light, Loess disappears and Mia collapses to her knees. She looks at Rowen.
   "Thanks, Rowen."
   "Hey, you two, are you okay?" Cye says as everyone comes over as Rowen helps Mia to her feet.
   "Yeah. We're fine. I just want to know where that power came from?"
   "That was awesome, Rowen," Yuli says.
   "Hey, you guys, can we go home? I think that sedative has fully kicked in."
   "Sure, Mia." Mia falls forward as she falls asleep, but Rowen catches her before she hits the ground.
   "Now Strata has a new power and the girl has just found another part of her armor. I don't know if I should be scared because of their power, or excited because their power will make our fight more exciting," says the figure in the hourglass, "but whatever happens, I know it will be worth it."
