Chapter Fourteen: It's Over

(Ariel)

Starr, Skye, and I waited patiently by the window with Mia, waiting for my father, grandfather, and their friends. I was nervous. Were they okay?

"Look!" said Skye. We looked up and saw the Ronins coming back. I squealed and immediately rushed outside to meet my father. "Ariel!"

"Daddy!" I cried, running into my father's waiting arms. My father smiled and picked me up. He was just in subarmor, so there wasn't any bulky armor making my hug difficult. He smiled back at me and kissed my forehead.

"Hello, there, little one," he said.

"You're all okay! You're all safe!" I said.

Mia and my friends joined them. "What happened?" asked Mia.

Kojiro sighed heavily. "Well, it looks like Talpa is very, very dead, and Robyn was the one that got rid of him."

I looked over at Robyn. She looked tired, but happy. "You did it!"

"Tell me about it," said Robyn.

"What happened?" asked Mia. "You've got to tell us EVERYTHING."

I listed as they all started to talk at once, except for Pops. He just shook his head and rolled his eyes. He hit Dad on the head with the Staff to get his attention. My father blushed sheepishly and I laughed. The others stopped talking and started to take turns telling us what happened. Basically they rescued Robyn and Rowen, then went to fight Talpa, who was killed by Robyn using a very powerful attack.

"Cool," said Starr. "But what about my mom and dad?"

"What about my parents, too?" asked Skye.

Pops sighed heavily. "I looked for captured civilians, but there were none. The attack was very small on the entire population. I'm afraid if they were taken, they might not come back."

Starr and Skye looked ready to cry. Mia knelt down and hugged them both. The Ronins, Robyn, and Pops bowed their heads in silent respect. I just helped Mia hug my mourning friends. "It's okay to cry," I said. "It's all right to cry."

(Cye)

Later that evening, Starr and Skye were in Ariel's room, consoling each other and getting away from everyone. I was in the living room, curled up in a ball on a big, comfy chair. I could feel the mental block beginning to weaken. Now that Talpa was destroyed, it was all right for my bottled emotions to come out.

I felt someone sit next to me. I looked up to see Robyn smiling down at me. The young red head had changed back into a pink T-shirt and tight jeans. She looked very pretty. She slowly ran her finger through my hair. "Suddenly you're emotions are coming back, aren't they?"

"A little," I said. "It's weird. One minute I'm rejoicing that Talpa's gone, and now I'm all of a sudden remembering the details from a horrible experience."

"It's all right. She won't be bothering you for a long time. At least not while I'm around," said Robyn. She joined me on my perch. I sat up and brought my legs up o my chest, resting my chin on my knees and looking at Robyn. She smiled sweetly. "I won't let her harm you again."

"I know," I said.

"How do you know?" asked Robyn.

I smiled. "I'm not sure, I just, know, that's all."

"Well, how much time do you think you'll need to heal?" asked Robyn.

"Probably a few days. The first time was harder because I didn't mention it to a soul and it was a shock. This time, I feel safer to be open about it, and since it's already happened, it doesn't feel as hard. It's still unsettling, but not as earth-shattering as it was all those years ago," I said.

Robyn sighed heavily and readjusted her position. "Well, how was she in comparison to any other girlfriends you had?"

"I never had a girlfriend before her. I had a first kiss, but not a girlfriend. Shelia was my first date, my first relationship, and sadly, my first time in bed, even if it was against my will," I said.

The Maiden of Crystal cocked an eyebrow. "Who was your first kiss? How'd that happen?"

I smiled. "Her name was Megan. I was eleven years old and we were in school together. She had pretty blonde hair and big, green eyes. Once, a bunch of boys dared me to go to the playground late at night and wait until mid-night. Megan was there, on escape from her father. We talked for a while, then she thanked me for letting her spill her guts and kissed me right then and there. A week later the authorities arrested her father and she was sent to live with relatives in Australia. I never saw her again."

"That's sweet," said Robyn. "For a guy whose destiny is as a warrior, you really are a sweet guy. It's really a shame your destiny likes to throw so much crap at you."

I blushed. "Really?"

"Really," said Robyn. "I'm glad it's over. For now."

"But, when are they going to come back? Osiris certainly wasn't joking around. They will come back with that Omega character," I said.

Robyn closed her eyes. "There's no telling when that'll happen. All we can do is wait. Who knows? Maybe it'll be past your time."

"Huh?" I asked. "What, you mean after I've passed on?"

"No, you can't have that armor when you're a little old man. You're getting past your prime. Ryo and Rowen were talking about that earlier. They're getting tired out easily and are having a harder time fighting Dynasty soldiers. Your armors are probably all starting to get ready for their next bearers," said Robyn.

I blinked. "That'll be weird. I've felt so connected to the darn thing for so long, how am I going to take something like that?" I asked.

"I'm sure you can handle it. By then your emotions will have healed completely. Don't get mad at me for this, but I have a feeling I know who's next in line for the Armor of the Torrent." Robyn looked up and stared across the room. Ariel was coming out from the den and heading towards the kitchen.

"Ariel?" I asked.

Robyn nodded. "She's a direct descendant of three armor bearers, you, Sheila, and Anubis. Torrent, Autumn, and Spring. She's seen the Dynasty's handy work for herself. She'd know what to expect from a battle. Yes, that little girl might be following in her father's footsteps one day."

I gulped. "I don't like that idea. Some of the stuff I've battled is just. . . awful. When I first got her, I was perhaps a little frightened that the Dynasty would come after her because of me. They did, too. Sehkment kidnapped her in the middle of the night. It was awful. That was the night Kojiro first got his armor."

"Sehkment, the Dark Warlord of Venom. He's dead, right?"

"White Blaze ended his life. He had some sick plans for her. I don't even want to know what he said to her, but whatever it was, Lord knows a four year old shouldn't have heard any of it. That was two years ago. She seems to be fine, but. . ."

"The memories live on," said Robyn. "Well, I would go back to my apartment, but it kinda got incinerated. Looks like I'll be crashing here for a while."

"And you know you're welcome to stay," I said. Robyn was about to stand up and leave, but I got to my feet quicker. "Robyn?"

"Mmm?"

I nervously shifted. "Would you like to go and see a movie sometime?"

"Alone? Just the two of us?" asked Robyn with a sly grin.

I nodded, smiling myself. "Maybe get a bite to eat afterwards?"
"Sounds like a plan to me," said Robyn. "How's Friday night sound?"
I nodded. "Friday night it is."