Disclaimer: Ahh you read it enough, you really don't need to read it again,
despite the fact that Alithiel did write pages 5-14. My computer has taken
a one way ticket t lala land and doesn't seem to want to come back, plus I
am a full time student in college, and have a part time job. But don't
worry, Christmas break is just two weeks away and I'll have a month off
from school. I will be invading Alithiel's house to use her laptop. But
enough of me yapping, on with the story. Warning: LOTS OF SAP!!!! More than
a forest of maple trees. Take it as you wish.
Arlyssa
Quote of the day: "Harry? If you die down there, you are welcome to share my toilet." Moaning Myrtle: Harry Potter ad the Chamber of Secrets.
Blood Ties Ch. 5
Lair, to say the least, was going ballistic. How could she have forgotten to tell her father and uncles who the enemy was? She ran down the stairs and into the living room. They weren't there. She ran into the kitchen to find her mother and aunts playing cards at the kitchen table. Her aunt Mia didn't look so good. She had taken it really bad when Delphyne disappeared. Personally, Lair refused to believe that she is dead. Not just yet, Delphyne was stronger than that.
"Mom?" She asked getting everybody's attention, except for Mia, who looked ready to break into little pieces. "Where's dad?"
"He's outside training with the guys. Why? You look like you've seen a ghost."
The expression in her eyes chilled her mother to the bone.
"I have." With that she flew out the door.
Rowen deflected Kento's bo attack, then attacked in response with his own weapon. Kento blocked his counter easily. This is going nowhere. If this kept up then no one would win this sparring match. And if that happened what good will it do for Delphyne? She'd been gone for a week and a half. And Lair either didn't remember who the enemy was or she forgot to tell them. Of course Lair was always forgetting things like that, and besides, it was partly his fault for forgetting to ask her.
Ugh!! This is so stupid! He thought as the pace of his attacks increased. What good is it all if we can't do anything to help her, let alone having a son who might not be able to wear my armor? Ugh!! Once again this is so stupid!
Rowen didn't realize he had put all of his anger behind his attacks, because the next thing he knew Kento was on the ground.
"Oops! Sorry Kento" said Rowen, putting out his hand to help Kento up. His friend just smiled and took his hand, pulling himself up.
"It's ok man. But.did you have to hit so hard? I've never seen you do that before. I'm battered into next week!"
"Yeah Rowen. It's not like you to go all out like that except on the enemy." said Sage now coming over from his spar with Cye.
"I don't know. I just have a lot on my mind right now." Rowen sat down on a heap of earth near by, trying desperately to slow the beating of his heart.
"Well if it helps. Were here if you need to tell us anything." Said Sage as he wiped sweat from his brow.
"It's about Rasami and the Armor of Strata, isn't it, Dad?" They all turned to find Lair standing behind them, looking winded like she just ran three miles. Rowen just looked away from his daughter and down at the ground. "I knew it! Dad, when will you realize that Rasami is exactly like you? Well except for the low blood pressure and not being able to cook. I got that instead. But Rasami is a complete carbon copy of you. I think you should listen to the Armor of Strata. It's trying to tell you something and for the first time it can't get through to you."
Rowen looked up at Lair. He saw that she was right. Damn! What happened to him? What made him not listen to his armor anymore? Lair kneeled next to her father and took his hand.
"Dad, it's been five years. Five years is a little long to not be listening to your armor. Don't let Uncle Ryo's death be in vain. Besides Dylan has already done that."
With that name, everybody's head went up. Rowen stared at his daughter.
"What do you mean, Lair?"
Lair took a deep breath. "Dylan was the one that attacked me. He's the one that caused Delphyne to disappear. And he's very much alive, and believe it or not, I think he's stronger than when you last met him."
All four Ronins looked at each other, anger now heating their veins.
****
Dylan smiled. He had gotten rid of both Wildfires. The first one easy enough, but the second one was way too easy. He frowned at this. He had expected the daughter of Wildfire to put up more of a challenge. But apparently she was too low of a level. He smiled again. Didn't matter now. She is dead, and with her gone it will be easy to get rid of the others. With them getting older, they'll be slower and easier to pick off one by one. He laughed. This will be so much fun.
Then of course there is the issue of the armor. Wildfire was gone, but that doesn't matter, the others are just as powerful. If he thought back he'd be the only ruler of the Dynasty who didn't want the armor if Inferno. Sure it was powerful, but come on; it is old news after all. He did not need the armor of Inferno to prove his strength. He proved his strength by destroying it. And he would do it again by destroying the others. With them gone no one would be able to stop him from ruling both worlds. Armors? Who needs them?
Besides, it's been long enough, he thought, standing from his seat, A week and a half is long enough for the Ronins to mourn their "new" leader. With an eerie laugh he disappeared from his throne room.
Alithiel's Cheap Border ^
The Ronins were wandering the streets of downtown again, and so far Delphyne wasn't anywhere they looked.
It wasn't as if they expected her to be.
But Sage didn't like this one bit. For one, people did not just disappear into thin air. Sure, normal people would have given up by now and let the police deal with the case, but they all knew that they would nothing. Besides Sage loved Delphyne like she was his own daughter. Like Ryo, she could slip into the hearts of anyone she looked at. When she was little all she had to do as look at you with her big tiger blue eyes. Even now that all she has to do and you melt to goo. Sage smiled at the memory. Ryo looked like the happiest man on earth when Delphyne was born. He loved her very much. You could see it in his eyes, even in his pride. Sage gave a little chuckle. Delphyne and Mia. Ryo called them his girls, and took every opportunity to spoil them rotten. But when he left, he took a lot of laughter with him, and his girls were left without a husband and a father. It took Mia a long time to get over what had happened, but what kept her going was Delphyne. Mia knew she had to be strong for her. Sage looked at his friends. They all had to be strong, for everyone's sake and theirs. He looked at Rowen who was gazing at his kanji ball in deep thought. Sage knew what he was thinking about. Ryo's death affected them all, for better, or for worse.
It was then when Sage felt it. It was a feeling that he had hoped would never come into play again: The feeling of a Dynasty warrior who is nearby. Sage looked around, but found no abnormal activities. Of course it all depended on your opinion of normal. Then Sage pinpointed the enemy's location.right behind them. Sage turned around quickly. The others apparently also had felt the presence and turned around with him. There, there was someone they had not expected to see. Dressed in mortal's attire was Dylan, ruler of the Dynasty.
"Well, Ronins, it's nice to see you. I must say five years is way to long." Dylan said in a calm voice. The Ronins went into a fighting stance.
"What have you done with Delphyne?" Yelled Sage, whose anger was soaring to new heights at the sight of him.
"Hmm? Oh, you mean the daughter of Wildfire." Dylan smiled sinisterly. "Dead."
It was like somebody had stabbed a knife into Sage's heart. "Wha.what did you say?"
"I said she is dead; along with her father."
The knife twisted painfully.
Dylan continued. "Though I must say, I was expecting more of a challenge from her. I guess the saying is true after all: 'Like father, like daughter'. But I didn't come here to tell you that. I came here tell you to meet me on your little ground you call 'Private Property' I mean after all, we can not fight here. People might get hurt. Besides I need them to populate my new kingdom. So don't worry about finding me. I'll find you. I hope to see you there soon, or else your loved ones may suffer a terrible death. And terrible is a nice way to put it. Of course, we wouldn't want that, now would we?" With that, Dylan disappeared.
Kento punched his fist into an unoffending brick wall. "Man is this guy gonna get it! I'll show him, first Ryo and now Delphyne. Then he threatens MY family!? Ohh no it's just not done that way. He's gonna pay." He felt a hand on a shoulder and looked back to see Sage behind him.
"Don't worry, Kento. He's gonna pay all right. And will all do it together. But my only question is: Why did he choose our home?"
Rowen then walked up. His forehead was creased with worry. "I don't know Sage, but we do know for sure that the Armor of Inferno was not on his things to do list. He killed the only two people that could summon it. I just don't how to break it to Lair and Kasha.or Rasami."
"Don't worry," piped in Cye "We'll figure out a way, but for now let's focus on the thing at hand. He wants us on our land and I say we go there and humor him. Like the rest of you guys I don't take death threats to my family lightly."
They all nodded their agreement and took off running toward home.
Dylan smiled as he saw the last of the Ronins come onto their property.
How foolish humans were when their emotions were stretched to their limit.
Rowen led the three other Ronins to the wooded area, as far as they could get from the house and the kids. The woods were eerily silent, even at midday.
"Stay on guard, guys." Cye said.
"Thank you, Captain Obvious." Kent snapped, clutching his armor globe.
They stood for several more moments. Suddenly, a strong wind whipped through the clearing.
"He's here!" Sage shouted.
"Ronins!" Rowen cried. "TO ARMS!"
Rasami, Kasha, Raiker, Lair, and Bow had been sitting on the veranda when they felt it. A deep rumble shook the ground, and there was a bright flash from the woods.
"What the HELL?!" Raiker exclaimed as he jumped from the step.
"They're fighting!" Kasha said in surprise. "Dad and the others!"
Lair stood from her seat and began to walk toward the woods.
Raiker leapt up. "Lair! Where are you going?"
She stood with her hands in her pockets, back to her best friends in the world. A soft glow developed around her body. It grew in intensity, and when it vanished she was garbed in the golden yellow and white sub armor of Solaris.
She looked back over her armored shoulder at Raiker and the others.
"This is something I need to do. For Delphyne, and the rest of you as well."
Lair took off running toward the woods. Raiker moved to follow her, but Bow laid a restraining hand on his shoulder.
"Raiker, she has armor. She's better off than we are: we need a plan."
He agreed reluctantly.
"We've got to help them.but HOW?" Rasami slammed his fist into his shin in frustration.
Kasha thought a moment, then smiled widely at her friends.
"I have an idea."
Dylan smiled widely at the four remaining Ronins standing before him.
"So, it has come to this, hmmm? Well, you may as well surrender. I really wouldn't want to have to use my full power so close to the ones you love. Why, I may accidentally level your house, and that would be sooo wrong, wouldn't it?"
"Shut up and fight, you son of a bitch!" Cye ground out in a deadly voice.
Kento blinked for a moment. "Dude, that is so not like you."
Dylan smile faded. "I see, so you truly think the four of you can beat me?"
"MAKE THAT FIVE!" Yelled a voice from the trees. Dylan turned to the source. A slim girl stood at the edge of the clearing, garbed in yellow Ronin sub armor.
"Ah, the lovely daughter of Strata." Dylan said mockingly, bowing, then turns to Rowen. "Boy, Strata, you really can make them. Though the Daughter of Wildfire wasn't that bad looking either. I have yet to see the third one."
Rowen grumbles underneath his breath, as everybody sweat drops. If looks could kill, Dylan would be dead from the look that Cye was giving him.
"Lair?" Sage said
"What the HELL are you doing here? Run!" Rowen yelled at his daughter.
Lair glared fiercely at her dad. "As much as you don't want to admit it, Dad, I AM a Ronin Warrior, just like you. So I don't run. Even if all of you are too dense to listen to your own armors and pass them on already! So." She smiled, raising her hand over her head. Pointing her finger to the sky. The dark clouds opened, and Lair was bathed in a beam of sunlight. "I'm gonna make sure you don't get your ass fried! Armor of Solaris, DAO AI!!!"
The Ronins covered their eyes as a brilliant flare of light filled the clearing. Even Dylan flinched away, it was so bright. The light vanished, and Lair was in the brilliant glowing golden Armor of Solaris. With a spin of her naginata, she dropped into a fighting stance.
"Like my uncle Cye said before. Let's fight, son of a bitch!"
Kento grinned and began to spin his bo. "Such language from a lady."
Rowen shook his head as he drew his bow. "She's definitely not a lady."
Dylan gritted his teeth. Now this was an unexpected problem. He had no idea the girl would have enough guts to fight him again. No matter, he thought as black energy formed in his hands. Just another bug to scrape off the windshield.
Kasha called to Bow from her hiding place behind the tree.
"Ready?"
Bow hefted the large rock in his hand and gave her a thumbs up.
"Great! Let's go!"
Dylan fired a ball of black energy at Sage, but he nimbly leapt out of the way. He tried to jump high enough to slash, but Dylan dodged, only to be nearly skewered by one of Strata's arrows. He rounded on Rowen, but then something slammed against the side of his helmet hard enough that he saw stars. He turned in the direction it came from.
No one was there.
He felt another slam into his back. He spun quick enough to see a shadow duck behind the trees.
Kento took the opportunity to fire up his sure-kill.
"Iron Rock Crusher!"
The flying rocks sped toward Dylan with deadly accuracy.
At the last moment, he jumped high into the air.
"Shit!" Kento cursed.
Dylan landed not too far from Kento. What he didn't expect was for Lair and Cye to be right behind him. The two smiled at him as they attacked. Dylan tried desperately to dodge the flurry of blows directed at him, but even with his superior speed, he was not able to do so. The blade of Lair's naginata sliced through his body covering and into his skin. Immediately the wound began to burn, as the pure energy of light cut through his flesh. At that moment Cye fired his sure kill.
"Super Wave Smasher!"
The wall of water knocked Dylan over and caught him in it. Still, he was able to get out of the stream of the sure kill.
"So, you have improved much since our last meeting, Ronins." He smiled darkly as he wiped a thin trickle of blood from his lips. "But you are still not strong enough to defeat me."
"Shut up!" A voice yelled from the trees.
Dylan was able to catch the rock that was thrown at him. "Tsk, tsk, kiddies. So unfair to be helping!"
"Thunderbolt Cut!"
Dylan cursed as he caught the full force of the lightning attack. The kids were a distraction! He clutched his chest as Sage laded, swinging his no-datchi. He could feel the air whistle past his blade as he tried to dodge. He called upon the dark power of his armor and leapt, remaining suspended in the air.
"Ha! Well done, but your meager attacks are doing nothing."
"Ah, but you are wrong, Dylan." Rowen said as the arrow he had knocked in his bow started to glow.
"Because you haven't seen ours yet!" Lair's naginata blade began to glow as well. "This one's for Delphyne!"
Dylan smiled.
Their attack would do no good. He was ready. A small ball of black energy formed in his hand.
"Oh, crap!" Rasami said. "Take cover!"
"Huh?" Raiker said puzzledly. He couldn't see Lair, no matter how hard he tried.
"Cause this is gonna hurt!"
"Arrow Shock Wave!"
"Solar Flare Flash!"
The clearing was filled with white light as the father/daughter attack exploded. The sickle light beam of Lair's attack merged with Rowen's golden arrow and screamed toward Dylan.
A ball of black energy met the light beam.
A dark explosion consumed the whole glade. The force of it shook the ground. When the smoke cleared, the five Ronin warriors were scattered around like broken dolls.
Dylan smiled.
"They never had a chance."
Lair was able to struggle to her feet and she staggered toward her father. Somehow she had escaped severe damage, possibly because her father had been standing in front of her. She knelt beside him, and the sight of his wounds choked her with horror. The force of the dark power had ripped the Strata breastplate it two, and the sub armor too, and blood welled up through the hideous wound over his heart.
"Dad!"
Rasami heard her anguished cry and ran to his father.
Sage had been thrown into the trees. Raiker ran to him, knelt down beside his dad, and took hold of his armored hand. While it didn't seem he had any injuries, he was far to pale.
"Dad."
"Raiker." His father coughed, and blood trickled down his lip. "You must.take.the Armor.of Halo.you'll know how.to use it."
"No, Dad." Tears began to form in his eyes.
"Raiker.you must.use it to find Delphyne.and protect Lair.and the others."
Raiker nodded and clutched his father's hand. Sage glowed green for a moment, then the light formed into a little ball in Raiker's hand. Sage was now in the clothes he had worn before the battle. A tear fell from Raiker's eye and dripped on his clutched hand.
"Wisdom will guide you.Raiker."
Sage began to glow again, but this time white. Then his body began to dissolve into little lights and began to float away. Through his tears, Raiker thought the lights formed the shape of a wolf. The wolf howled, then the lights were gone.
"Bye, Dad."
Cye and Kento had ended up very near each other. Kasha and Bow ran to their fathers.
Cye had taken horrible damage. His helmet was cracked, and a thick stream of blood ran from the back of his head and stained the ground.
Kasha was crying already. "Daddy, please don't die!"
Cye smiled weakly. "Seems I have no choice, love. But at least I know that Torrent will be safe with you."
He glowed blue, a ball of blue light forming in Kasha's hand. She leaned and kissed her father's cold forehead; her tears hot against the chill skin.
"I love you Dad."
"Trust the armor, Kasha. I love you, too."
****
Bow huddled over his dad. The brown and orange Armor of Hardrock was riddled with hairline cracks.
"Dad!" Bow cried, dropping to his side.
"Hey, bud." Kento grinned tiredly.
"You're ok!"
Kento shook his head weakly. "No, I'm not." He twitched, and the whole left half of his armor crumpled. The flesh beneath was riddled with long splinters of wood. The number of them made his skin crawl.
"Oh, shit." Bow murmured.
"Understatement." Kento gasped. " Take.Hardrock.and use it to.protect the ones you love." The armor fragments coalesced into a ball of orange light that Bow let drop into his hand. "I did."
"But.it's broken." Bow choked.
"The only thing broken is me." Kento gasped. "Guess even justice can't survive that."
The light in his eyes began to fade.
"Dad.no."
****
Kasha and Bow stood back as the bodies of their fathers began to glow white. The tiny motes of light that flowed into the air formed the vague images of a stone statue and a figure with a human/fish body. After hanging for a moment, they vanished, taking the bodies with them. Kasha buried her face in Bow's shoulder, her tears soaking his shirt. He wrapped comforting arms around her shoulders.
"I won't let this be in vain, Dad. I promise." He whispered into Kasha's hair.
Lair and Rasami knelt beside their wounded father. Rowen seemed to have taken the most damage from the black blast. He turned tired eyes to his son.
"Rasami."
"Dad.be still." Rasami choked out. His father began to glow a brilliant blue, and the light became a little ball that dropped into his son's hand. Lair began to cry.
"That's the armor."
Rowen smiled as his body began to change to white light.
"The armor of Strata." cough, cough " is yours now."
The white sparkles formed a winged, eagle-headed lion that gave a great cry before it vanished. Rasami clutched the armor ball to his heart as tears dripped from his midnight eyes.
"Dad."
His fist clenched as a scream was ripped from his throat.
"NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!"
Lair stood resolutely then turned toward Dylan. Taking hold of her naginata, the radiance of her armor increasing, she began to walk.
"Now, are all the farewells finished?" Dylan said insolently. The many minor wounds hurt him little. The Ronins hurt much more. "If they are, you better get ready. Don't worry, you'll see them again soon." Amusement crossed his features as Lair approached him. Her helmet had been blasted off in the dark attack, and her long blue hair flowed in the cold wind. Her armor was glowing brightly, hiding her figure in its light.
Lair shut her eyes. "You killed my Dad."
"Yes?" Dylan crossed his arms."
A fist clenched around her naginata. Tears flowed from beneath her dark lashes. A single tear dropped to her clutched hand, and the light reached new brilliance. "You killed my uncles."
He nodded.
"You killed Uncle Ryo.and got rid of Delphyne."
"Your point? I'm losing patience, girl."
She held her naginata out in front of her. Her figure became obscured in the light.
****
Rasami wiped his eyes, struggling to his feet. He staggered over to Bow and Kasha, who were clutching each other like they were the only solid things left.
"Guys." He choked.
He felt a warm hand on his shoulder. Raiker was behind him, tears streaking down his face. A green globe shone in his hand. "Rasami."
Kasha hugged Raiker and Rasami. A strange light drew her attention.
"Look, is that Lair?"
The guys turned to see. Raiker rubbed his eyes, focusing on the glowing golden light facing down the dark Dylan. He had his father's ability to see into the brightest light clearly, but even his strong eyes squinted at the force of this light. The only thing he was able to see was Lair's sea of blue hair.
"That.is Lair." He said in awe. "She's so bright."
"I never imagined Solaris being so bright." Bow said.
"That's her own light, too." Rasami said turning to the woods with a tear stained face. "Maybe we should take cover. Something's happening that's out of our control."
The four new Ronins, the bitter taste of defeat in their throats, moved deeper into the forest.
****
Lair's eyes flew open as she stared Dylan down. He was surprised to see that her pupils had vanished, and her gold eyes had transformed into a sea of light. The tear tracks on her cheeks shone in the intense white radiance of her light. Slowly he started backing up from her. This did not look good.
"The point is.you're about to feel all my anger and sorrow! This is the power of a broken heart!" She spun her naginata over her head.
"HOLY HEARTBREAK!!!"
Lair slammed the shimmering blade of her weapon into the earth. The clearing exploded with light as brilliant rays shot from the ground toward Dylan. It shook the ground, sending Rasami, Raiker, Kasha, and Bow into a pile. The rays pinpointed Dylan, slamming into his body as he was thrown backwards. Stronger than a sure kill, it dissolved his armor like it as sugar, and the bright beams pierced his skin. The light grew brighter, then exploded in white brilliance.
When the light vanished, the surrounding forest was gone.
Lair stood in the middle of the destruction, undamaged. Slowly, her armor changed to golden mist, leaving her in her sub armor. She staggered.
Raiker struggled up from the ground. "What was that?"
"I think she called it Holy Heartbreak." Bow said, emerging from a pile of toothpicks that had once been an oak tree.
"Holy Shit's more like it." Rasami said as he shook sawdust from his hair. It stuck to his damp cheeks and he wiped at them irritably.
"Where's Dylan?" Kasha asked.
"Right HERE!"
Dylan struggled to his feet. He was bleeding profusely from many wounds, but no amount of damage had been able to wipe the smug smile from his face.
"Yes, you have beaten me this fight. But now that I have tasted your power, I will be ready next time. So be on your guard, children of the Ronin Warriors, for I am everywhere. Next time you won't be so lucky." With that, the air rippled and he vanished.
Lair dropped to her knees in the dust of the woods. "I still couldn't save them." New tears flowed from her eyes. She felt a pair of arms wrap around her.
"I've failed." She cried into her brother's shoulder.
Alithiel~ *Typing furiously* Arlyssa SO owes me.
Arlyssa~ *Glomps Alithiel* Ohhhhhh! Arigato Alithiel-chan
Alithiel~ Get off of me *Desperately tries to get Arlyssa off of her* Help me chase evil/ Quatre Aflac duck.
Arlyssa~ *unattached herself* It's your fault he got turned into a duck.
Alithiel~ I didn't see the spring.
Arlyssa~ Sure you didn't. I have to give our adorable readers the description of our so cuddly villain Dylan.
Names: Dylan Eyes: Blood Red Hair: White Age: unknown Armor: Armor of Khaos Element: Plasma Armor Color: Black with crimson sub-armor Weapon: none (He is a sorcerer, he doesn't need weapons) If you want more detail, then ask and I shall respond......hopefully
Arlyssa
Quote of the day: "Harry? If you die down there, you are welcome to share my toilet." Moaning Myrtle: Harry Potter ad the Chamber of Secrets.
Blood Ties Ch. 5
Lair, to say the least, was going ballistic. How could she have forgotten to tell her father and uncles who the enemy was? She ran down the stairs and into the living room. They weren't there. She ran into the kitchen to find her mother and aunts playing cards at the kitchen table. Her aunt Mia didn't look so good. She had taken it really bad when Delphyne disappeared. Personally, Lair refused to believe that she is dead. Not just yet, Delphyne was stronger than that.
"Mom?" She asked getting everybody's attention, except for Mia, who looked ready to break into little pieces. "Where's dad?"
"He's outside training with the guys. Why? You look like you've seen a ghost."
The expression in her eyes chilled her mother to the bone.
"I have." With that she flew out the door.
Rowen deflected Kento's bo attack, then attacked in response with his own weapon. Kento blocked his counter easily. This is going nowhere. If this kept up then no one would win this sparring match. And if that happened what good will it do for Delphyne? She'd been gone for a week and a half. And Lair either didn't remember who the enemy was or she forgot to tell them. Of course Lair was always forgetting things like that, and besides, it was partly his fault for forgetting to ask her.
Ugh!! This is so stupid! He thought as the pace of his attacks increased. What good is it all if we can't do anything to help her, let alone having a son who might not be able to wear my armor? Ugh!! Once again this is so stupid!
Rowen didn't realize he had put all of his anger behind his attacks, because the next thing he knew Kento was on the ground.
"Oops! Sorry Kento" said Rowen, putting out his hand to help Kento up. His friend just smiled and took his hand, pulling himself up.
"It's ok man. But.did you have to hit so hard? I've never seen you do that before. I'm battered into next week!"
"Yeah Rowen. It's not like you to go all out like that except on the enemy." said Sage now coming over from his spar with Cye.
"I don't know. I just have a lot on my mind right now." Rowen sat down on a heap of earth near by, trying desperately to slow the beating of his heart.
"Well if it helps. Were here if you need to tell us anything." Said Sage as he wiped sweat from his brow.
"It's about Rasami and the Armor of Strata, isn't it, Dad?" They all turned to find Lair standing behind them, looking winded like she just ran three miles. Rowen just looked away from his daughter and down at the ground. "I knew it! Dad, when will you realize that Rasami is exactly like you? Well except for the low blood pressure and not being able to cook. I got that instead. But Rasami is a complete carbon copy of you. I think you should listen to the Armor of Strata. It's trying to tell you something and for the first time it can't get through to you."
Rowen looked up at Lair. He saw that she was right. Damn! What happened to him? What made him not listen to his armor anymore? Lair kneeled next to her father and took his hand.
"Dad, it's been five years. Five years is a little long to not be listening to your armor. Don't let Uncle Ryo's death be in vain. Besides Dylan has already done that."
With that name, everybody's head went up. Rowen stared at his daughter.
"What do you mean, Lair?"
Lair took a deep breath. "Dylan was the one that attacked me. He's the one that caused Delphyne to disappear. And he's very much alive, and believe it or not, I think he's stronger than when you last met him."
All four Ronins looked at each other, anger now heating their veins.
****
Dylan smiled. He had gotten rid of both Wildfires. The first one easy enough, but the second one was way too easy. He frowned at this. He had expected the daughter of Wildfire to put up more of a challenge. But apparently she was too low of a level. He smiled again. Didn't matter now. She is dead, and with her gone it will be easy to get rid of the others. With them getting older, they'll be slower and easier to pick off one by one. He laughed. This will be so much fun.
Then of course there is the issue of the armor. Wildfire was gone, but that doesn't matter, the others are just as powerful. If he thought back he'd be the only ruler of the Dynasty who didn't want the armor if Inferno. Sure it was powerful, but come on; it is old news after all. He did not need the armor of Inferno to prove his strength. He proved his strength by destroying it. And he would do it again by destroying the others. With them gone no one would be able to stop him from ruling both worlds. Armors? Who needs them?
Besides, it's been long enough, he thought, standing from his seat, A week and a half is long enough for the Ronins to mourn their "new" leader. With an eerie laugh he disappeared from his throne room.
Alithiel's Cheap Border ^
The Ronins were wandering the streets of downtown again, and so far Delphyne wasn't anywhere they looked.
It wasn't as if they expected her to be.
But Sage didn't like this one bit. For one, people did not just disappear into thin air. Sure, normal people would have given up by now and let the police deal with the case, but they all knew that they would nothing. Besides Sage loved Delphyne like she was his own daughter. Like Ryo, she could slip into the hearts of anyone she looked at. When she was little all she had to do as look at you with her big tiger blue eyes. Even now that all she has to do and you melt to goo. Sage smiled at the memory. Ryo looked like the happiest man on earth when Delphyne was born. He loved her very much. You could see it in his eyes, even in his pride. Sage gave a little chuckle. Delphyne and Mia. Ryo called them his girls, and took every opportunity to spoil them rotten. But when he left, he took a lot of laughter with him, and his girls were left without a husband and a father. It took Mia a long time to get over what had happened, but what kept her going was Delphyne. Mia knew she had to be strong for her. Sage looked at his friends. They all had to be strong, for everyone's sake and theirs. He looked at Rowen who was gazing at his kanji ball in deep thought. Sage knew what he was thinking about. Ryo's death affected them all, for better, or for worse.
It was then when Sage felt it. It was a feeling that he had hoped would never come into play again: The feeling of a Dynasty warrior who is nearby. Sage looked around, but found no abnormal activities. Of course it all depended on your opinion of normal. Then Sage pinpointed the enemy's location.right behind them. Sage turned around quickly. The others apparently also had felt the presence and turned around with him. There, there was someone they had not expected to see. Dressed in mortal's attire was Dylan, ruler of the Dynasty.
"Well, Ronins, it's nice to see you. I must say five years is way to long." Dylan said in a calm voice. The Ronins went into a fighting stance.
"What have you done with Delphyne?" Yelled Sage, whose anger was soaring to new heights at the sight of him.
"Hmm? Oh, you mean the daughter of Wildfire." Dylan smiled sinisterly. "Dead."
It was like somebody had stabbed a knife into Sage's heart. "Wha.what did you say?"
"I said she is dead; along with her father."
The knife twisted painfully.
Dylan continued. "Though I must say, I was expecting more of a challenge from her. I guess the saying is true after all: 'Like father, like daughter'. But I didn't come here to tell you that. I came here tell you to meet me on your little ground you call 'Private Property' I mean after all, we can not fight here. People might get hurt. Besides I need them to populate my new kingdom. So don't worry about finding me. I'll find you. I hope to see you there soon, or else your loved ones may suffer a terrible death. And terrible is a nice way to put it. Of course, we wouldn't want that, now would we?" With that, Dylan disappeared.
Kento punched his fist into an unoffending brick wall. "Man is this guy gonna get it! I'll show him, first Ryo and now Delphyne. Then he threatens MY family!? Ohh no it's just not done that way. He's gonna pay." He felt a hand on a shoulder and looked back to see Sage behind him.
"Don't worry, Kento. He's gonna pay all right. And will all do it together. But my only question is: Why did he choose our home?"
Rowen then walked up. His forehead was creased with worry. "I don't know Sage, but we do know for sure that the Armor of Inferno was not on his things to do list. He killed the only two people that could summon it. I just don't how to break it to Lair and Kasha.or Rasami."
"Don't worry," piped in Cye "We'll figure out a way, but for now let's focus on the thing at hand. He wants us on our land and I say we go there and humor him. Like the rest of you guys I don't take death threats to my family lightly."
They all nodded their agreement and took off running toward home.
Dylan smiled as he saw the last of the Ronins come onto their property.
How foolish humans were when their emotions were stretched to their limit.
Rowen led the three other Ronins to the wooded area, as far as they could get from the house and the kids. The woods were eerily silent, even at midday.
"Stay on guard, guys." Cye said.
"Thank you, Captain Obvious." Kent snapped, clutching his armor globe.
They stood for several more moments. Suddenly, a strong wind whipped through the clearing.
"He's here!" Sage shouted.
"Ronins!" Rowen cried. "TO ARMS!"
Rasami, Kasha, Raiker, Lair, and Bow had been sitting on the veranda when they felt it. A deep rumble shook the ground, and there was a bright flash from the woods.
"What the HELL?!" Raiker exclaimed as he jumped from the step.
"They're fighting!" Kasha said in surprise. "Dad and the others!"
Lair stood from her seat and began to walk toward the woods.
Raiker leapt up. "Lair! Where are you going?"
She stood with her hands in her pockets, back to her best friends in the world. A soft glow developed around her body. It grew in intensity, and when it vanished she was garbed in the golden yellow and white sub armor of Solaris.
She looked back over her armored shoulder at Raiker and the others.
"This is something I need to do. For Delphyne, and the rest of you as well."
Lair took off running toward the woods. Raiker moved to follow her, but Bow laid a restraining hand on his shoulder.
"Raiker, she has armor. She's better off than we are: we need a plan."
He agreed reluctantly.
"We've got to help them.but HOW?" Rasami slammed his fist into his shin in frustration.
Kasha thought a moment, then smiled widely at her friends.
"I have an idea."
Dylan smiled widely at the four remaining Ronins standing before him.
"So, it has come to this, hmmm? Well, you may as well surrender. I really wouldn't want to have to use my full power so close to the ones you love. Why, I may accidentally level your house, and that would be sooo wrong, wouldn't it?"
"Shut up and fight, you son of a bitch!" Cye ground out in a deadly voice.
Kento blinked for a moment. "Dude, that is so not like you."
Dylan smile faded. "I see, so you truly think the four of you can beat me?"
"MAKE THAT FIVE!" Yelled a voice from the trees. Dylan turned to the source. A slim girl stood at the edge of the clearing, garbed in yellow Ronin sub armor.
"Ah, the lovely daughter of Strata." Dylan said mockingly, bowing, then turns to Rowen. "Boy, Strata, you really can make them. Though the Daughter of Wildfire wasn't that bad looking either. I have yet to see the third one."
Rowen grumbles underneath his breath, as everybody sweat drops. If looks could kill, Dylan would be dead from the look that Cye was giving him.
"Lair?" Sage said
"What the HELL are you doing here? Run!" Rowen yelled at his daughter.
Lair glared fiercely at her dad. "As much as you don't want to admit it, Dad, I AM a Ronin Warrior, just like you. So I don't run. Even if all of you are too dense to listen to your own armors and pass them on already! So." She smiled, raising her hand over her head. Pointing her finger to the sky. The dark clouds opened, and Lair was bathed in a beam of sunlight. "I'm gonna make sure you don't get your ass fried! Armor of Solaris, DAO AI!!!"
The Ronins covered their eyes as a brilliant flare of light filled the clearing. Even Dylan flinched away, it was so bright. The light vanished, and Lair was in the brilliant glowing golden Armor of Solaris. With a spin of her naginata, she dropped into a fighting stance.
"Like my uncle Cye said before. Let's fight, son of a bitch!"
Kento grinned and began to spin his bo. "Such language from a lady."
Rowen shook his head as he drew his bow. "She's definitely not a lady."
Dylan gritted his teeth. Now this was an unexpected problem. He had no idea the girl would have enough guts to fight him again. No matter, he thought as black energy formed in his hands. Just another bug to scrape off the windshield.
Kasha called to Bow from her hiding place behind the tree.
"Ready?"
Bow hefted the large rock in his hand and gave her a thumbs up.
"Great! Let's go!"
Dylan fired a ball of black energy at Sage, but he nimbly leapt out of the way. He tried to jump high enough to slash, but Dylan dodged, only to be nearly skewered by one of Strata's arrows. He rounded on Rowen, but then something slammed against the side of his helmet hard enough that he saw stars. He turned in the direction it came from.
No one was there.
He felt another slam into his back. He spun quick enough to see a shadow duck behind the trees.
Kento took the opportunity to fire up his sure-kill.
"Iron Rock Crusher!"
The flying rocks sped toward Dylan with deadly accuracy.
At the last moment, he jumped high into the air.
"Shit!" Kento cursed.
Dylan landed not too far from Kento. What he didn't expect was for Lair and Cye to be right behind him. The two smiled at him as they attacked. Dylan tried desperately to dodge the flurry of blows directed at him, but even with his superior speed, he was not able to do so. The blade of Lair's naginata sliced through his body covering and into his skin. Immediately the wound began to burn, as the pure energy of light cut through his flesh. At that moment Cye fired his sure kill.
"Super Wave Smasher!"
The wall of water knocked Dylan over and caught him in it. Still, he was able to get out of the stream of the sure kill.
"So, you have improved much since our last meeting, Ronins." He smiled darkly as he wiped a thin trickle of blood from his lips. "But you are still not strong enough to defeat me."
"Shut up!" A voice yelled from the trees.
Dylan was able to catch the rock that was thrown at him. "Tsk, tsk, kiddies. So unfair to be helping!"
"Thunderbolt Cut!"
Dylan cursed as he caught the full force of the lightning attack. The kids were a distraction! He clutched his chest as Sage laded, swinging his no-datchi. He could feel the air whistle past his blade as he tried to dodge. He called upon the dark power of his armor and leapt, remaining suspended in the air.
"Ha! Well done, but your meager attacks are doing nothing."
"Ah, but you are wrong, Dylan." Rowen said as the arrow he had knocked in his bow started to glow.
"Because you haven't seen ours yet!" Lair's naginata blade began to glow as well. "This one's for Delphyne!"
Dylan smiled.
Their attack would do no good. He was ready. A small ball of black energy formed in his hand.
"Oh, crap!" Rasami said. "Take cover!"
"Huh?" Raiker said puzzledly. He couldn't see Lair, no matter how hard he tried.
"Cause this is gonna hurt!"
"Arrow Shock Wave!"
"Solar Flare Flash!"
The clearing was filled with white light as the father/daughter attack exploded. The sickle light beam of Lair's attack merged with Rowen's golden arrow and screamed toward Dylan.
A ball of black energy met the light beam.
A dark explosion consumed the whole glade. The force of it shook the ground. When the smoke cleared, the five Ronin warriors were scattered around like broken dolls.
Dylan smiled.
"They never had a chance."
Lair was able to struggle to her feet and she staggered toward her father. Somehow she had escaped severe damage, possibly because her father had been standing in front of her. She knelt beside him, and the sight of his wounds choked her with horror. The force of the dark power had ripped the Strata breastplate it two, and the sub armor too, and blood welled up through the hideous wound over his heart.
"Dad!"
Rasami heard her anguished cry and ran to his father.
Sage had been thrown into the trees. Raiker ran to him, knelt down beside his dad, and took hold of his armored hand. While it didn't seem he had any injuries, he was far to pale.
"Dad."
"Raiker." His father coughed, and blood trickled down his lip. "You must.take.the Armor.of Halo.you'll know how.to use it."
"No, Dad." Tears began to form in his eyes.
"Raiker.you must.use it to find Delphyne.and protect Lair.and the others."
Raiker nodded and clutched his father's hand. Sage glowed green for a moment, then the light formed into a little ball in Raiker's hand. Sage was now in the clothes he had worn before the battle. A tear fell from Raiker's eye and dripped on his clutched hand.
"Wisdom will guide you.Raiker."
Sage began to glow again, but this time white. Then his body began to dissolve into little lights and began to float away. Through his tears, Raiker thought the lights formed the shape of a wolf. The wolf howled, then the lights were gone.
"Bye, Dad."
Cye and Kento had ended up very near each other. Kasha and Bow ran to their fathers.
Cye had taken horrible damage. His helmet was cracked, and a thick stream of blood ran from the back of his head and stained the ground.
Kasha was crying already. "Daddy, please don't die!"
Cye smiled weakly. "Seems I have no choice, love. But at least I know that Torrent will be safe with you."
He glowed blue, a ball of blue light forming in Kasha's hand. She leaned and kissed her father's cold forehead; her tears hot against the chill skin.
"I love you Dad."
"Trust the armor, Kasha. I love you, too."
****
Bow huddled over his dad. The brown and orange Armor of Hardrock was riddled with hairline cracks.
"Dad!" Bow cried, dropping to his side.
"Hey, bud." Kento grinned tiredly.
"You're ok!"
Kento shook his head weakly. "No, I'm not." He twitched, and the whole left half of his armor crumpled. The flesh beneath was riddled with long splinters of wood. The number of them made his skin crawl.
"Oh, shit." Bow murmured.
"Understatement." Kento gasped. " Take.Hardrock.and use it to.protect the ones you love." The armor fragments coalesced into a ball of orange light that Bow let drop into his hand. "I did."
"But.it's broken." Bow choked.
"The only thing broken is me." Kento gasped. "Guess even justice can't survive that."
The light in his eyes began to fade.
"Dad.no."
****
Kasha and Bow stood back as the bodies of their fathers began to glow white. The tiny motes of light that flowed into the air formed the vague images of a stone statue and a figure with a human/fish body. After hanging for a moment, they vanished, taking the bodies with them. Kasha buried her face in Bow's shoulder, her tears soaking his shirt. He wrapped comforting arms around her shoulders.
"I won't let this be in vain, Dad. I promise." He whispered into Kasha's hair.
Lair and Rasami knelt beside their wounded father. Rowen seemed to have taken the most damage from the black blast. He turned tired eyes to his son.
"Rasami."
"Dad.be still." Rasami choked out. His father began to glow a brilliant blue, and the light became a little ball that dropped into his son's hand. Lair began to cry.
"That's the armor."
Rowen smiled as his body began to change to white light.
"The armor of Strata." cough, cough " is yours now."
The white sparkles formed a winged, eagle-headed lion that gave a great cry before it vanished. Rasami clutched the armor ball to his heart as tears dripped from his midnight eyes.
"Dad."
His fist clenched as a scream was ripped from his throat.
"NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!"
Lair stood resolutely then turned toward Dylan. Taking hold of her naginata, the radiance of her armor increasing, she began to walk.
"Now, are all the farewells finished?" Dylan said insolently. The many minor wounds hurt him little. The Ronins hurt much more. "If they are, you better get ready. Don't worry, you'll see them again soon." Amusement crossed his features as Lair approached him. Her helmet had been blasted off in the dark attack, and her long blue hair flowed in the cold wind. Her armor was glowing brightly, hiding her figure in its light.
Lair shut her eyes. "You killed my Dad."
"Yes?" Dylan crossed his arms."
A fist clenched around her naginata. Tears flowed from beneath her dark lashes. A single tear dropped to her clutched hand, and the light reached new brilliance. "You killed my uncles."
He nodded.
"You killed Uncle Ryo.and got rid of Delphyne."
"Your point? I'm losing patience, girl."
She held her naginata out in front of her. Her figure became obscured in the light.
****
Rasami wiped his eyes, struggling to his feet. He staggered over to Bow and Kasha, who were clutching each other like they were the only solid things left.
"Guys." He choked.
He felt a warm hand on his shoulder. Raiker was behind him, tears streaking down his face. A green globe shone in his hand. "Rasami."
Kasha hugged Raiker and Rasami. A strange light drew her attention.
"Look, is that Lair?"
The guys turned to see. Raiker rubbed his eyes, focusing on the glowing golden light facing down the dark Dylan. He had his father's ability to see into the brightest light clearly, but even his strong eyes squinted at the force of this light. The only thing he was able to see was Lair's sea of blue hair.
"That.is Lair." He said in awe. "She's so bright."
"I never imagined Solaris being so bright." Bow said.
"That's her own light, too." Rasami said turning to the woods with a tear stained face. "Maybe we should take cover. Something's happening that's out of our control."
The four new Ronins, the bitter taste of defeat in their throats, moved deeper into the forest.
****
Lair's eyes flew open as she stared Dylan down. He was surprised to see that her pupils had vanished, and her gold eyes had transformed into a sea of light. The tear tracks on her cheeks shone in the intense white radiance of her light. Slowly he started backing up from her. This did not look good.
"The point is.you're about to feel all my anger and sorrow! This is the power of a broken heart!" She spun her naginata over her head.
"HOLY HEARTBREAK!!!"
Lair slammed the shimmering blade of her weapon into the earth. The clearing exploded with light as brilliant rays shot from the ground toward Dylan. It shook the ground, sending Rasami, Raiker, Kasha, and Bow into a pile. The rays pinpointed Dylan, slamming into his body as he was thrown backwards. Stronger than a sure kill, it dissolved his armor like it as sugar, and the bright beams pierced his skin. The light grew brighter, then exploded in white brilliance.
When the light vanished, the surrounding forest was gone.
Lair stood in the middle of the destruction, undamaged. Slowly, her armor changed to golden mist, leaving her in her sub armor. She staggered.
Raiker struggled up from the ground. "What was that?"
"I think she called it Holy Heartbreak." Bow said, emerging from a pile of toothpicks that had once been an oak tree.
"Holy Shit's more like it." Rasami said as he shook sawdust from his hair. It stuck to his damp cheeks and he wiped at them irritably.
"Where's Dylan?" Kasha asked.
"Right HERE!"
Dylan struggled to his feet. He was bleeding profusely from many wounds, but no amount of damage had been able to wipe the smug smile from his face.
"Yes, you have beaten me this fight. But now that I have tasted your power, I will be ready next time. So be on your guard, children of the Ronin Warriors, for I am everywhere. Next time you won't be so lucky." With that, the air rippled and he vanished.
Lair dropped to her knees in the dust of the woods. "I still couldn't save them." New tears flowed from her eyes. She felt a pair of arms wrap around her.
"I've failed." She cried into her brother's shoulder.
Alithiel~ *Typing furiously* Arlyssa SO owes me.
Arlyssa~ *Glomps Alithiel* Ohhhhhh! Arigato Alithiel-chan
Alithiel~ Get off of me *Desperately tries to get Arlyssa off of her* Help me chase evil/ Quatre Aflac duck.
Arlyssa~ *unattached herself* It's your fault he got turned into a duck.
Alithiel~ I didn't see the spring.
Arlyssa~ Sure you didn't. I have to give our adorable readers the description of our so cuddly villain Dylan.
Names: Dylan Eyes: Blood Red Hair: White Age: unknown Armor: Armor of Khaos Element: Plasma Armor Color: Black with crimson sub-armor Weapon: none (He is a sorcerer, he doesn't need weapons) If you want more detail, then ask and I shall respond......hopefully