Chapter Five

The Koji household was relatively quiet for the first time all evening. Kento was contentedly munching on a large slice of chocolate cake; a peace offering from Cye for losing his cool earlier. Rowen and Mia were reading quietly on the love seat. Sage, Ryo, and Cye were sitting on the couch watching T.V. and Whiteblaze was comfortably stretched out in front of the couch dozing.

Anglarana watched this scene of peaceful calm through the open door from her place on the porch. She stood leaning against the rail enjoying the warm evening breeze listening the quiet symphony of crickets. She smiled and returned her gaze to the moon, now rapidly swelling to show its full size. It's light was bright bathing the earth with a sereal glow. The light outlined her features and set off the mark on her forehead with a silver- green glow. From inside, she could hear a murmured exchange amongst the warriors followed by a hearty laugh. Anglarana sighed as her heart clenched with the familiar tug of loneliness. 'Where is everyone? I can't feel the presence of even one of my people. Am I the last...?'

She suddenly jerked upright and stared intently into the darkened forest surrounding the mansion. The crickets had fallen into a hush as she scanned the trees, a sense of unease gripping her powerfully. Her mark throbbed in time with her heartbeat, it's glow intensifying. Anglarana spun on her heel and raced into the house. "Beware! He comes!" she called. Everyone stood in unison and ran out the door.

"Can't he just attack during the day like normal villains?" Sage muttered.

"Hey, at least he isn't attacking during dinner like last time," Kento replied cheerfully. Now that his stomach was full, Kento was ready and eager for a good fight.

The Ronin Warriors stood in their sub-armor a few yards in front of the mansion nervously staring into the gloom. Everything remained quiet and deathly still save the wind now increasing noticably. In one moment; the empty, quiet clearing burst into action. Demon soldiers burst from the forest by the dozens and immediately started to attack the Ronins. Mia and Anglarana stood ready on the porch watching the event. An immense shadow suddenly covered the moonlight, casting the fight into ominous darkness. Sage shivered and looked up to see Crynis hovering in the sky with a menacing grin on his face that revealed his long, sharp fangs stained red at the tips.

Mia tried to focus on the overwhelming odds against them and concoct a plan that would at least ensure an escape if not victory but was distracted by a pulsing light immediately to her right. She have turned and gasped; Anglarana, staring at the fight with pursed lips and hard eyes, was well illuminated by the bright light of the mark on her forehead. Her entire siluete was aglow with a silvery-green light that somehow seemed to distort her lines. Anglarana's eyes slid to Mia and she took in her confusion and fear. Anglarana gave her a smile that was both confident and gentle then returned her steady gaze to the chaos. The Ronins fought admirably disposing the weaker soldiers easily enough but the sheer number of them would soon wear even the most skilled warrior down. Crynis watched the show from well above giving every indication of pleasure at the slaughter. Anglarana closed her eyes taking a deep breath then walked off the porch into the melee.

"I was wondering how long it would take your master to get serious about this." She addressed Crynis skirting around the myriad of combatants. Anglarana held up her staff and the mark on her forehead began to glow a fierce silver-green. Crynis grinned in reply to her challenge. He lowered himself to the ground and stood only a few feet in front of her; his soldiers shied away from him like nervous ponies.

"My master bade me to bring you to him intact. So be a good girl and come quietly. I sure would hate to have to mess up that pretty little face of yours." Anglarana laughed in her characteristic clear and musical voice, "Then let us not keep him waiting." She pressed on the center of her staff and two foot long blades shot out of either end. The light from her mark shot down her arm and spread over the staff and the blades. Crynis raised his hand, his claws making a metallic ring as they scraped against one another.

Meanwhile the Ronins continued to struggle with all the demon soldiers aware of her encounter but unable to free themselves to get to her. "Man, we gotta help her! Anglarana can't face that thing alone!" Rowen cried as he killed another soldier.

"Yeah, but we can't get to her right now. I think that she can take him," Ryo replied while fending off two soldiers.

"Forget this, let's waste these guys and go get that monster!" Kento exclaimed.

"Right, let's armor up!" Cye agreed. "Armor of Torrent!"

"Armor of Hardrock!"

"Armor of Halo!"

"Armor of Strata!"

"Armor of Wildfire! Dao Chi!" Once in their full armor, the guys began to destroy the soldiers with their special powers trying to clear a path to where Anglarana grappled with Crynis. Crynis's claws struck Anglarana's staff with horrible force making her take a step back to brace herself. The mark on her forehead shone with a blinding light and was still getting brighter beaching her features. For a brief moment the battle stopped and all stood amazed at the light.

Mia gasped from where she stood, she felt a burning sensation coming from within her chest. Not like fire, but stronger and more demanding. For no reason she could think of, Mia ran inside to her room. Something was calling her.

Minutes later a pink light erupted from an upstairs window and joined the light surrounding Anglarana. With the increased strength from the pink light, the light on Anglarana's blades ran up Crynis's arm and smoke and a sizzling sound accompanied it. With an angry cry, Crynis disengaged and backed up a few paces clutching his arm to his chest. All the demon soldiers paused looking to their leader, then retreated back into the forest as one. Crynis moved his hands to call upon his elemental attacks, but was stopped by a shimmering in the air to his right. A man appeared, with blonde hair and bored brown eyes. "Enough, Crynis. You have failed. Return to the castle for your punishment."

"No, Master, please! I had her, but some outside force assisted her, I swear it!"

Justin narrowed his eyes. "Are you defying my orders?"

"No, of course not, my master. It is as you will it." With that Crynis rose into the air and disappeared. Justin then turned his attention to Anglarana who was eying him with shock. By now the light had faded to a faint gleam and the pink light had disappeared all together. The Ronin Warriors stood together directly behind her with their weapons raised wearily.

"Ah, Lady Anglarana, how pleasant it is to see you again. I trust you are well?" Justin said in an affectionate voice as he bowed deeply. Anglarana's eyes softened sadly. "I thought it might be you but hoped fervently that it wasn't. What do you want with this world?" Her tone was weary and timelessly sad. Justin advanced a step. "Why, just to reclaim you, my dear. And perhaps to enjoy the fruits of Earth for a while." Anglarana closed her eyes and lowered her staff. The light on her forehead began to increase in intensity again. Justin grinned, "Not this time." He held up his hand and a gray light surrounded her like a mist. Her eyes flew open and she threw back a hand to grip the nearest Ronin, which happened to be Ryo.

"Quickly! Hold hands, he means to drag me to his castle so that we will fight alone. Or," her voice dropped in emotion, "not at all." The Ronins nodded their heads and gripped each others' hands. Justin frowned. "Clever, my lady. The spell is too far progressed for me to stop it. Bring your precious humans, this fight shall be in my domain where my powers are greatest. When I put the Earth's strongest humans to shame, then I will have the true battle." As he spoke the gray light wound around the group. The scenery around them faded away and blackness took its place.

Mia only vaguely heard the shouts and clash of metal on metal of the battle. The calling emanating from her room was too great. When she opened the door, she was blasted with a bright ray of pink light. The light filled the room and was pouring out of the window and now open door. She barely had time to register the power of the light before it faded to a sullen glow on her bookshelf. Mia went over to her shelf and picked up a small, purple box. Once it was in her hands, the light increased although it was now as gentle as a caress.

Mia slowly opened the lid to reveal the Jewel of Life. It was pulsing quietly with its hot light and her desire to touch it was almost painful. Without thinking of the consequences, Mia took the jewel from its box and held it before her eyes. The box fell from her numb hand to the floor unheeded as the light from the jewel intensified and enveloped Mia in its soft, warm light. The jewel glittered faintly beneath her awed gaze and she was overwhelmed with a sense of rightness and of quiet power. A wave of understanding and acceptance rippled through her filling her mind and heart completely. The light from the jewel began to increase again with feverish pitch.

When it reached its peak, a piercing pain sliced through Mia's chest and brain. She clutched her chest with both hands and fought against the surging tides of unconsciousness. She tried to look to see what was causing the horrible pain, but the light was too bright. Belatedly, she recognized the feel of the jewel against her flesh but when she tried to pull her hand and the jewel away her effort was rewarded with an extra burst of pain. Mia fell to the floor writhing in agony. It felt like someone was piercing her heart with a flaming sword. Then, as if the pain had never existed, it was gone. Mia lay weak and drained on the floor. Through the mist of exhaustion, Mia could tell that something had changed in her body but blissful unconsciousness took her before she could contemplate on what.

Somewhere, in a dark castle, Anglarana felt a pang of awareness jostle her from her comfortable sleep. Something very important had happened somewhere; something of severe significance. All she could do was smile, despite the fear and the pain. For she remembered the pink light and the last name of the gentle, intelligent woman who assisted the Ronin Warriors. 'Finally, the last piece has fallen into place. I thought that the Jewel of Life would somehow fall into Mia's hands.'

Anglarana cast a tired glance around the dark room to reassure herself that the Ronins remained with her. Satisfied, she lay her glowing staff on the ground. It would alert her to when the others awoke, or when another presence was near. For now she could rest and regain her shattered strength. She sighed and let blissful sleep reclaim her.

This is my first fan-fic so please review me. I wouldn't even mind a few flames so long as my e-mail isn't looking like the day after the atomic bomb was dropped!! ;P It's Humor me. I get awfully lonely. :D