Chapter Seven: Talpa's Plan
(Robyn)
After a good night's sleep, all who would be battling were ready to go. Mia stayed back with the girls. Ariel and her friends looked worried. "Don't worry, Ariel, I'll take care of your dad," I said.
Cye blinked. "Huh?"
"I'll make sure you come home to her okay," I said. I smiled. "Just relax."
Anubis sent me a look. "Why do you seem so protective of my son?"
I sent him a smile. "Hey, he's cute," I said. Cye blushed as the other Ronins snickered. "Lay off." That effectively shut them up. I grinned. "And he does have some hidden emotional problems. He's gonna want a mature female sounding board once it wears off."
We all took off towards the city. I did not know what to expect, except that I should probably go with what I was good at, which right now consisted of shooting energy balls at the enemy. Whatever worked. I couldn't worry about style. I had to worry about what worked.
"Well?" asked Ryo. "Anyone have an idea? NOT involving dead hamsters?"
Kojiro fumed. I wasn't sure I wanted to know why.
"We need to get inside and find our what his plan is. THEN we can come up with a plan that will work," said Rowen.
"Why?" asked Kento.
"Can you use a strategy for basketball in baseball?" asked Rowen.
Kento's face scrunched up like he was thinking about what Rowen had just said to him. "No. Oh, I get it," said Kento.
"So we send our stealthiest person in," said Ryo. "Rowen?"
Rowen gulped, suddenly not so sure about his plan. "Why do you say I'm the stealthiest?"
"Because your weapon makes you the best sniper, you're the fastest, and you're the most likely to sneak up on someone," said Kojiro. "Good luck!"
Rowen frowned. I laughed. "Oh, don't be afraid, you'll do fine. I'll go with you if it'll make you feel better," I said.
"Uh, thanks Robyn," said Rowen.
"Now that that's settled, let's send you two inside," said Anubis. "Robyn, you can get the both of you out of there, right?"
"I think so," I said. I concentrated on a tree. "If I can teleport into a tree, can I teleport across dimensions?"
"Most likely," said Anubis. I nodded, trying to do that. I closed my eyes, tapping my staff to the ground. I opened them perched on top of the tree. I jumped down, taking a bow.
"Ham," said Kento.
"Now I'll try and bring Kento with me to the top of the tree," I said.
"Wait I-" said Kento as I brought us to the top. "AH! NO! I HATE HEIGHTS!" I saw Kento clinging to the next tree over. I snickered as I brought us back down. "That wasn't funny."
"Yes it was," said Sage.
"C'mon, Rowen," I said. Rowen nodded. "Okay, grip the staff, because this time it's going to be different."
"I understand," he said. I concentrated after he gripped the staff.
(Rowen)
Robyn and I found ourselves in the rafters of Talpa's throne room. Below we could see the three Dark Warlords, two Warladies *cough, cough* witches *cough, cough*, and Kayura. Talpa sat on his throne, like a meeting was about to begin.
"Sheila, report what you have come up with on the capture of the Maiden of Crystal," said Talpa. Sheila stepped forward. I looked her over. From when I'd first met her, she seemed much, much less appealing. Given she did have a nice body and nice hair, but she was evil, and she'd done something to one of my best friends that could never be forgiven.
"Well, the little Chrono brat told her about her destiny so she was already in her robes when I attacked her. However, I did learn that earlier today she was flirting with my former boyfriend. So I decided to play a game. I told her he'd live if she came with me, but she freed him and then hit me!" said Sheila.
"That's what you get when you don't take care of your toys, Sheila, and if I do remember, did Torrent not knock you up last time you played with him?" said Cale.
"Shut up, and I've since had my reproductive organs removed," said Sheila. "So I could play with him all I want and never get anything. Which is what I wanted to do! I'm going to have to go catch him again."
Robyn seemed to be watching intently. They were planning on capturing her. I had to make sure that didn't happen. We continued to watch on.
"Why do we even need the Crystal Maiden?" asked Dais. "She is just a girl with a staff. All it has done is shot out harmless energy balls."
"They're PAINFUL, you dolt," said Sheila.
"She is the last of the Maidens, as you know. That means the powers off all the Maidens have entered that staff. If I can control that staff, I can control the Mortal World," said Talpa. "Then those pathetic Ronin Warriors will be no match, with or without Hariel's armor of Inferno. Even that little Chrono brat can't stop THIS from happening. I'll go into the Chronos and impale him myself. With the very staff he presented to the Maiden of Crystal. Won't that be ironic?"
"It's that powerful?!" said Osiris.
"But Talpa, I thought only the Crystal Maiden can wield the staff," said Kioko.
"True, very true, but I WILL harness that power!" said Talpa.
"We've figured them out," I whispered. "Let's get out of here." Robyn nodded, then, disaster struck. The beams we were hiding in cracked and fell.
"WAHHH!"
"Ronins!? Crystal Maiden!? They were spying on us!" said Kioko.
I stood up, taking a fighting stance. Robyn held her staff at the ready, pointing it at Talpa. "I'll destroy you, Talpa! I will!" said Robyn.
"No you won't," said Talpa. He stood up and took out a sword. Robyn threw a ball at him. It bounced off Talpa and hit Sheila. Talpa hardly noticed Sheila's grumbling as he struck Robyn down with a black ball of energy.
"Robyn!" I cried. Before I could try to help her Cale and Dais grabbed me. "Hey! Let me go you losers!"
Talpa laughed to himself. "I want them both in the darkest dungeon. Badamon shall help me with my new toy."
"You'll never get away with this!" I cried as Cale and Dais dragged me away and Osiris hefted Robyn over his shoulder. I continued to struggle, even after they threw me into the shoot leading to the dungeon.
(Robyn)
I awoke sometime later. I was in a dark, dank dungeon, lying on a cool, damp floor. Hard, like cement. Question was, where was I? Where was Rowen? I had to know if he was okay! "Rowen?" I asked. "Are you there?"
"Yes. Talpa has your staff. He's going to try and use it," said Rowen. He was leaning up against a wall about ten feet away from me, his arms crossed and a faraway look in his eyes. I guess most geniuses have that far away look, you know?
"But if he does that, then the world is in danger!" I said. If he got so much as a fraction of it working, the other Ronins could be in serious trouble! And it sounded like even Yuli couldn't help. Talpa seemed to have some sort of a grudge against the Guard at the Gates of Time. I'd have to ask the others later.
"That's why we have to get out of here, before he does figure out how to use it," said Rowen. "We have to hope the others come through, or else all is lost."
All would be lost. I let the words sink in. This really WAS serious. More serious than I'd thought. I had a huge responsibility to take care of. One that a whole world depended apon. But, could I handle it?