Chapter Fourteen: Into the Dynasty

That night I didn't think I could be anymore relieved. Ariel was safe and sound. I didn't let her out of my site and woke up periodically to check on her. Still safely asleep under my safe and secure arm. She was seemingly doing all right, considering what she'd been through. Once this was all over, I knew that I was probably going to be helping her come to terms with what she'd been through. She was only four, she didn't need this.

The following morning, Anubis agreed to the bring us all into the Dynasty. That was a relief. I was getting worried about the guys. What was Talpa doing with them? As it was Sehkment was going to be hurting once I got a hold on him.

"Ariel, be careful, all right?" I said. Ariel nodded. "The Dynasty is very dangerous, but it's too dangerous to leave you or Mia here. Stay with Mia as much as possible."

"Here," said Yuli, giving Ariel the Jewel of Life. "When I was little, well, not as little as you, I didn't have this armor to protect me. I had this. It's called the Jewel of Life. It's a very powerful talisman that will protect you from some of the bad things in the Dynasty, okay?"

"Okay," said Ariel. I picked her up. Ariel gave me a hug and rested her head on my shoulder. Since I'd gotten her back, Anubis had provided her with a small blue kimono, socks, and sneakers. The blue kimono, he explained, had the Torrent attack symbol and well as a symbol that stood for the Ancient's clan. It looked something like the top of the Staff. Basically it was a warning to Dynasty priests and warriors that if so much as a hair was removed from her head they'd have to answer to me and/or Anubis.

Anubis held the Staff upright. "Cye do you remember the bridge into the Nether World from Talpa's first assault?"

"Yes," I said. "It was like a tornado of some sort- that's the bridge we're using, isn't it?"

"Tornado?" said Kojiro.

"It's not so bad," said Yuli. "Ride with White Blaze and Mia if you're scared."

"I'm not scared if you're not scared!" said Kojiro.

Yuli grinned. "Suit yourself."

I laughed. "You just got-"

"I know, I know," said Kojiro. "Rub it in why don't you?" I decided to let him stew for a little while. "So, Mr. Ronin with experience, what do I expect?"

"Well, the Tin Cans you already know about. They're easy enough to defeat. Knock a body part off or puncture a hole and they're dead. Sometimes taking one of their spears is a good idea," I said.

Anubis snorted. "You were the master of it," he said.

"Thank you," I said. "You'll also run into four Dark Warlords with armors similar to ours, but more evil and deadly looking. Now, so you don't mix them up with my friends, Cale wears a tan armor with a big red cape- can't miss him. Sehkment is the ugly green and red one with the spikes, but let me deal with him. We have some personal matters to discuss. Dais seems to have an eye missing and usually wears a magenta armor with two green spiky horns on his helmet."

"Osiris is the last Dark Warlords you need to learn. Black helmet, red face plate, and a black, brown, and yellow overcoat. I used to wear that armor, but I lost it. Kayura you've already met," said Anubis. "I still need roughly five more minutes."

I nodded. "Ryo wears a red armor. He's not that hard to spot. White Blaze will probably be nearby once he finds Ryo. Rowen is in dark blue. He might be flying around or 'flirting' with Kayura. Sage has the green armor. If he doesn't have his helmet on look for a blonde head. He has to carry a big sword since he lacks a place to keep it. Kento is in the orange armor with the helmet that looks like it might belong to a Viking."

"Gotcha," said Kojiro.

"Ready!" said Anubis. The winds started to pick up. I held Ariel tightly as I felt my feet leave the ground. Ariel had her face buried in my shoulder. Yuli seemed to be enjoying himself, and Kojiro looked like he was going to be sick.

"I shouldn't have look down," he said miserably. I almost laughed. Poor Kojiro.

"Just look up and we'll be on solid ground soon," I said.

"Daddy, look at the view! It's way high up!" said Ariel.

Yuli laughed. "Koji's afraid and the kid isn't," he said. "I find that funny!"

"Shut up," said Kojiro. But he didn't say anything for the remainder of the trip.

We arrived on Dynasty grounds shortly afterward. We were in an abandoned part of the old "city". "Okay, from here, Cye, Kojiro, and Yuli should take to the tops of the maze. Once the horns start blaring- which they will- drop down into the maze and be careful. Mia, White Blaze, Ariel, will go through the low way. Clear?" said Anubis.

"Crystal," said Kojiro, jumping onto the roofs. Yuli and I followed. I took the lead as we carefully made our way through.

BLEEP! BLEEP!

"Hey, he knew that was going to happen- YAY! UGLY THINGS!" screamed Kojiro.

"Drop down!" said Yuli as he twisted the arm on one of them. He seemed to be doing all right for a beginner. As I became to fight against the others, I absently wondered if he was thinking back on the days when he would pretend he was one of us. Was he glad he got his wish? Or was he deeply regretting it?

"UGLY THING'S GOING DOWN!" screamed Kojiro and he ripped a speak out of the hand of one of the Tin Cans. He also ripped its arm out. "COOL!!" He held out the blade and swirled around, taking out half a dozen heads.

"Would now be a good time to call up our armors?" asked Yuli, how had his hands gripped on a staff held by a Tin Can.

"Ronins, to Arms! I've always wanted to say that. Armor of the Torrent, DAO SHIN!"

"Armor of the Icefire, DAO KINOSEI!"
"Armor of the Chrono, DAO YUUKOU!"

In a burst of light and cherry blossoms, we stood armored and ready to go. "All right, dumb heads, let's get it on!" I said. Now that I had my own familiar weapon, I was doing much more damage.

I briefly checked on the other two. Kojiro had taken to swinging his battle ax along with a series of kicks and blocks. Yuli was leaping through the air, slicing at the Tin Heads with the staff. "Don't be afraid to use your sure kills!" I yelled. "SUPAH WAVE SMASHA!" Roughly a dozen soldiers were out for the count.

"All right! SNOW STORM BLAST!" yelled Kojiro. A bright purple energy gathered along the huge moon shaped blade as he swung it. A few dozen Tin Heads were frozen solid.

"SILENCE TIME SLICE!" he yelled, slicing through the remaining soldiers.

"Okay, we make an awesome team," said Kojiro. "Now, how do we plan on rescuing your friends?"

I closed my eyes. Rowen busted myself, Kento, and Sage out by the pit. "I think we need to go to the Pit."

"The what!? A Pit?" asked Kojiro.

I shrugged. "It's this creepy cavern located underneath Talpa's castle. That's where- that's where we're going to look," I said.

"Huh? Did you just cut yourself off?" asked Kojiro.

"It's best to not ask," said Yuli. Kojiro blinked, then nodded. The three of us took off deeper into the maze, not knowing what we'd find.