A Twisted Destiny
By: Kallie
Chapter 3
Yulie watched in horror as Mia and Ryo got sucked up in the power and disappeared. He stood where he was for a minute after the floating head disappeared. Then he ran as fast as he could back to the house. He saw the guys coming around the side of the house and ran up to them panting.
"Woah there Yulie. Where's the fire?" Sage asked with an eyebrow raised.
Yulie stood there panting. When he caught his breath he raised his head and everyone saw the horror on his face. He had tears streaming down his cheeks. "He took them. They're gone." Yulie wailed.
"Who took who?" Rowen asked.
"Ryo and Mia."
"Ryo took Mia?" Kento asked.
Yulie started to cry really hard. Cye made everyone else back up. "Yulie, calm down. What happened?"
In between sobs Yulie got out "A big floating head sucked them up in swirly stuff and they disappeared."
"What's he talking about? A floating head?" Rowen wondered out loud.
Dr. Koji pushed past Cye. "Yulie this is very important. What did this floating head look like? Did they say his name?"
"Yulie shook his head. "He had white hair, and his face was hidden behind a really scary red mask."
Dr. Koji patted Yulie on the head. "You did a good job Yulie. Now lets go inside."
Meanwhile in the Dynasty . . .
Mia groaned and came to. She was getting tired of waking up like this. She looked around and grimly realized she was back in the dungeon. Over her imprisonment she'd come to think of it as hers.
She stood up and proceeded to walk around the room. She got three steps before she tripped over something. She looked down to see what had tripped her, and found it was Ryo. She got up and kneeled next to him. He had a huge bruise on his cheek. She gingerly laid her hand over it.
Mia was shocked by the feeling she got. She snatched her hand away and sat there studying his face. Why'd he do that for me? They would have been better off if I'd been taken away. She wondered to herself. Just then Ryo groaned and rolled over. Mia stumbled back.
Ryo opened his eyes and groggily sat up. He gave a start of surprise when he didn't recognize his surroundings. He looked around and saw Mia a few feet away looking startled. "Where are we?"
Mia snapped back to herself. "In the Dynasty. Where else?"
"Oh." They sat there in silence. Then Ryo stood up and started looking intensely at the walls.
"I've already scoured these walls, there's no way out." Mia said when she realized what he was doing.
"Well then what are we supposed to do?"
"We can sit here and save our strength."
Ryo started to pace back and forth. After awhile Mia snapped. "Would you sit down already! You're making me nervous."
"Sorree." Ryo said sarcastically.
Mia looked at Ryo out of the corner of her eye. "Why'd you do it?"
"Do what?" Ryo was utterly confused.
"Why'd you help me? You would have been better off if you'd left me."
"I couldn't do that!"
"Why not?"
"Because it's not right. Besides you're not that bad that I'd leave you to Talpa."
Mia turned and looked Ryo right in the eyes. Their gaze held for several minutes, and in that time they came to an understanding. Somehow they both realized they had a lot in common.
They both turned when the door opened. Talpa strode in grinning maniacally. " I do hope you've enjoyed your stay."
Mia just glared at Talpa. "Now don't give me that look. You brought this on yourself. And since you've both been so good, I have a proposition. "
"Like we're gonna do anything for you." Ryo snapped.
Talpa continued as if he hadn't heard anything. "I'll let you both stay in Mia's old rooms. But you each have to beat a warrior of my choosing."
"We'll do it." Mia quickly replied.
Talpa grinned. "I thought so." he threw a big pile of clothes on the floor. "I want you changed into those when I come back. You've got half an hour." And he walked out the door, slamming it on the way.
"What do you think you're doing?" Ryo demanded.
"Trying to give us an edge. My rooms are much better than this, in more ways than one." Mia threw Ryo his clothes. "Now put these on."
Mia gathered up her clothes and started to unbutton her vest. She stooped and looked over at Ryo who was staring at her. She blushed and motioned for him to turn around. "Don't peek." Mia quickly changed into her new outfit, which consisted of shorts, and a tank top. She pulled her hair into a braid, and wrapped the braid around the outside of her head. "All right, I'm done now. "
Ryo changed into his outfit while Mia had her back turned. His outfit was a long-sleeved shirt and pants. He then changed into his sub-armor. " So, now what?" He asked.
Mia was about to answer when the door opened again. Talpa and his warlords walked in. "I decided to speed things up. Let's go."
Ryo and Mia were led down hallways and up a few stairs, before they ended up in an arena. Ryo was motioned forward.
"Wildfire will go first. (AN: remember he's wearing his sub-armor) You will fight Anubis."
The two walked into the arena. They got into position and waited for the match to begin.
Meanwhile, back at the mansion . . .
Dr. Koji sat Yulie down with a movie and White Blaze to watch him. He and the Ronins gathered in the office.
"What do we do now?" Rowen asked.
"We go back to plan one. We'll just have to find a way into the dynasty without Mia's help."
"Man this sucks! Just as I was starting to like her too." Kento shouted in frustration.
"How are we gonna find a way into the dynasty? We don't know where to start looking." Sage commented.
"Actually we do. There's a place near here where the gateway between worlds can be opened by the right ones."
"So we have to go find it?" Cye asked.
"Exactly. I will stay and watch Yulie. But before you go you must find the Jewel of Life. It will help you open the gateway, and the jewel lies where the gateway is. I will give you a map, but you must hurry. "
"We're on it!" Kento said with enthusiasm. He ran out the door and the others followed, except for Sage. "I'll take the map Dr."
"Thank you Sage." Dr. Koji handed Sage the map. "And protect Mia. I believe she may hold the key to winning this battle."
"We will, don't worry." And Sage left.
Dr. Koji looked down when he felt a small hand tug at his sleeve. "Where are they going?" Yulie asked.
"To find Mia and Ryo."
"Good, Mia's nice. I hope they're OK."
"Don't worry about it."
As the guys raced towards where the Jewel lay hidden, someone followed. When the guys stopped at a small shrine next to a lake, they seemed to reach a dead end.
"Aw man. There's nothing here." Kento whined.
"Patience Hardrock." A voice from behind them said.
"Ancient! Boy do we have a lot to tell you!"
The ancient stepped into the light; "I know all that has befallen you since last we met." He stepped to the shrine and placed his staff in a special slot. A path through the lake appeared to shrine in the middle. "Follow me." He said and started walking.
In the middle of the lake was a small shrine. The ancient walked into it and the Ronins followed. They went down a corridor with ancient armor lining the walls and ended up in a large room. At the other end was a podium with a large ruby looking jewel floating above it. They walked over to it and stood staring at it.
"Well, are you going to look at it all day?" the Ancient asked.
"No of course not. But, Umm, what do we do with it?" Rowen asked.
"First of all pick it up." The ancient said amusement clear in his voice.
Rowen blushed, "I knew that." He muttered. He reached over it grabbed it by its chain. "Very good." The ancient said. "Now, someone will keep it tied around their neck until you find one of pure heart. Don't give me those looks, you don't qualify because you have the armor."
The others nodded and turned around to leave, but they didn't take more than one step when Dynasty soldiers attacked them. "Oh great! Just what we need." Cye yelled. The soldiers surrounded them, but they started to fall. The Ronins looked up to see the warriors from the hall fighting the soldiers. They made quick work of the dynasty soldiers and the leader turned to the group. "Thank you." He said in a rusty voice. "Now we can rest. It's been so long since an owner of the jewel. Make sure nothing happens to her." and they all collapsed.
The guys walked out of the shrine silently. When they reached the shore the Ancient placed his staff back in the slot and the shrine was hidden again. "I will open a gate to the dynasty for you. But hurry, your friends won't last long. And keep the jewel out of sight."
The Ancient raised his staff and the rings started clanging together. A loud rumbling was heard and a gateway appeared. When the guys turned around to thank the Ancient he was gone.
"Man I wish he'd stop doing that." Sage said.
"Okay guys, whose gonna keep the jewel?" Rowen asked.
"You." Cye said.
"Why me?"
"Because you already have it."
"Fine." Rowen put it around his neck and under his clothes. They walked to the gate and Kento opened it. Then they went through. They weren't ready for what they saw. They were met with a beautiful land that could have been ancient Japan. In the distance a large castle stood.
"Our best bet is there." Sage said pointing. The others nodded and they started towards it.
In the castle . . .
Mia watched as Ryo and Anubis fought. Ryo started out strong and was wining, but Anubis surprised him and gained the upper hand. Ryo threw a punch, which Anubis blocked, but caught him off guard with a kick to the stomach.
Anubis retaliated with a roundhouse kick and Ryo flew back a few feet. Anubis continued with a volley of punches and kick and within a few minutes had Ryo beaten. Anubis stood up grinning. He walked out of the ring and sat down nest to Talpa. Mia went and picked up Ryo. She dragged him to a chair and propped him up. "I'm sorry Mia."
"Shush, it's OK. He used to beat me too at first."
"Enough stalling Mia. It's your turn." Cale interrupted. Mia turned around and glared at him. "Fine!" She marched back into the arena and took a stance. Cale stood opposite her. He was grinning wickedly. "I'm gonna enjoy this." Mia just glared at him. The gong sounded and the fight started.
Cale threw the first punch, which Mia blocked. She brought her leg up kicked him hard in the kneecap. His leg crumbled and he lost his balance. Mia threw a punch at his face but he blocked it and grabbed her arm. He twisted it and yanked her down. Mia rolled and turned around ready to fight. Cale was back in action. He ran towards Mia, but she flipped over him. Then she kicked out with her leg and knocked him down again. She sat on his back and hit him hard over the head. Cale lost consciousness and the fight was over.
"Very good Mia. I see you still have your touch. And since I anticipated this I have another warrior for you to fight. The score is tied, if you win this you get your rooms. But loose and its back to the dungeons. " Talpa sneered. He motioned and Sekhemet went to get the other warrior. He returned and Mia gasped when she saw who it was.
The warrior striding towards her was Kayura. But she was dressed in a funny armor. Kayura bowed low to Talpa. "How may I serve you Lord Talpa?"
"Kayura no!" Mia yelled. "What have you done to her!"
"Merely changed her for the better my dear. Now Kayura you're to fight Mia. She betrayed us."
Kayura glared at Mia with much hatred. " As you wish my Lord." And she strode into the arena. "I won't her." Mia said. "Then Wildfire over there might not last the night." Talpa replied. Mia turned to see Dais with a sword at Ryo's throat. "I also anticipated this, so I took precautions to make sure you'd listen."
Kayura pulled out a pair of jittes and stood ready. Mia sighed and pulled hers out. The gong sounded and they started to circle each other.
Kayura shot forward aiming a kick at Mia's stomach. Mia easily parried. She threw a punch at Kayura's head. The two continued their even-matched fight for several miunutes. Then Kayura knocked Mia off her feet. Mia flipped to her feet immediately, but Kayura threw a volley of kicks and punches. Mia blocked as best she could, she took several blows.
Mia backed away to get her barring. She felt someone behind her and instinctively lashed out. She whirled around and threw a punch, which found its target. Then she executed a roundhouse kick. Kayura fell, dazed. Mia used this to her advantage and knocked her out.
"Very Good, Mia." Talpa praised. "As we agreed, you get your rooms."
Mia glared at him and knelt next to Kayura. "I'm so sorry. Please forgive Me." she whispered.
Sekhemet grabbed Mia's arm and Ryo's. He dragged them through twisting hallways to Mia's old rooms. "These will be your quarters for now. Guards will be posted at all the exits. So don't try to escape." And with that he left.
Mia moved around her rooms enjoying the fact that she was home. Memories flooded her, but they were interrupted by a thud. She turned around to see Ryo collapsed on the floor.
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OK. Sorry it wasn't out in a week. But I had LOTS of projects to finish. I'll try to get the next one out sooner. Reviews are always welcome.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Ronins or any of the other characters in the show.