Chapter Three-Ikki's Iron Fist

"So, do you know how to get us there?" Seiya asked Princess Sienna once they were outside in the courtyard. Hyoga had taken Cyla, and left for town already.

"I have an idea, yes. But tampering with the time stream is a delicate process."

"You got that right." Shun remarked. "I'm not even sure I wanna know what happened to Hyoga."

"We can all guess the answer. But it must be discovered how. At this very moment, Ikki could be planning what would lead to the future." Sienna told him. "I know you love your brother Shun, but it seems to me he might be responsible for Cyla's homeless status."

"I hope you're wrong, Princess. Ikki should know better than that after what we've been through." Shun replied quietly.

"It's okay, man." Shiryu put a comforting hand on Shun's shoulder. "Maybe something drove him to it. At any rate, we know she makes a connection with you in the future just by how you two were interacting this morning. So it could still wind up okay."

"We're not going to change the future. It's too risky." Seiya decided. "If need be, Cyla can stay with us here."

"Yes. That's what I was thinking. Are you three ready?" Sienna asked.

"Yeah. Let's go." Shun replied, a new strength in him. After a minute, Sienna had the portal open, and the three knights followed her into the future.

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Meanwhile, in town, Hyoga was carrying Cyla on his shoulders, while they looked in the various kids' clothing stores. "There's nothin' here of interest! Not to me anyway. You see anything you want, Little Swan?"

"ooh….tandy 'ticks!" The little girl reached for the candy on the counter of one shop.

"Alright alright. Just don't go gettin all sticky on me, okay?" Hyoga bought the entire canister of cinnamon sticks. Once they were paid for, he indulged himself, and took one as well. "Here half-pint." He handed the rest up to her, with a smile. This Daddy stuff is easier than I thought! He looked up ahead, and nodded. "Alright. We're going to this store for clothes. No more candy, okay?"

" tay." Cyla let him put her down, and hold her free hand.

"Aww man….you're all sticky! No no…don't cry. I ain't mad or nothin'." He smiled, squatting to her level. "But we can't try on clothes if you're all sticky…" He looked around for somewhere to clean her up, and nodded, seeing a café nearby. "Alright. Right there." He scooped her up,putting the rest of the candy in his back pocket. Hyoga carried her to the café to use the restroom.

"I'm sorry, Sir. Patrons only." A woman with brown hair stopped them.

"I just need to clean my daughter up really fast. I promise "

"Well…." The woman seemed to stare at the young girl for a minute."Alright. Really quickly."

"Thanks!" Hyoga replied gratefully, carrying her into the men's room. "Take a good look around, Little Swan….this is the last time you'll be seein' this bathroom." He gently cleaned her up. "Here. Throw that one out. You got fifteen more in my pocket, remember?"

"Uh huh." Cyla threw her half-eaten stick away. "We buys cwoves now?"

"Yep! C'mon,you cutie." Hyoga found himself really becoming attached to his future spawn. They walked out of the café and returned to the store. "Now we'll find you clothes that will make you look like you belong to the Knights of Athena!" He led her in by the hand, and they began to search for clothes they would both be satisfied with her having.

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"Whoa….this place looks even worse than the future we were in!" Shun remarked, looking around what had become the embassy district. "I wonder if any of us are still living with you, Princess…."

"I bet you Seiya is." Shiryu quipped. "He really does like her."

"Hey!" Seiya jabbed the Dragon with his elbow. "That was between us!"

"It slipped."

"Come on you guys. We're going to have to find out what's going on." Sienna broke up the small argument,and led the way into the Embassy. They stopped in the foyer, hearing two people talking. "It's my future self."

"I wonder what's goin' on. Who's the lady with the baby?" Shun wondered aloud.

"Come on. We can probably hear better this way." Seiya headed closer to the foyer. "They can't see us, right?"

"No. And they can't hear us either." Sienna pointed out.

"Good." They all stopped again, when the woman in rags began to speak.

"Please, Princess. I can do things for you. Lord Ikki and his knights destroyed my house when they killed Hyoga. The streets is no place to raise the child of a knight!"

"I want to help you. I really do. But if Ikki finds out I've interferred with his rule again….I did a brave thing as it is, sparing Cyla."

"How could you not?! She's done nothing to Ikki!" The woman held on to the fussy baby. "I'm sure Hyoga would've expected nothing less." Tears threatened to spill.

"Ever since the knights disbanded…I haven't heard from anyone except for Seiya, and he's going mad with anger over the loss of Hyoga."

"What of Lord Ikki's brother? How is Shun?"

"I honestly don't know, Monera. As I said, I haven't heard from any of them." The future Sienna sighed deeply. "I'm so sorry for your loss, Monera. I do know that Hyoga loved both of you very much. His loss was not in vain. The future of the Knights still lives." She reached out,and played with the baby's little fingers, as they wrapped around her own. "My only suggestion is for you to find Shun. I'm sure as Cyla's god-father, he would be more than willing to take care of her for you."

"Yes. If only I knew where he had gone to. Thank you, Sienna…I am sorry about Tatsumi as well."

"Yes….It seems we are losing everyone. I have to take Seiya his lunch now. You know the way out?"

"Yes." Monera left the embassy, heading for the graveyard, where her beloved Hyoga laid to rest.

"That creep!" Seiya clenched his fist, as they followed the futuristic apparition. "He left them on the damned street!"

"That's not all he did." Shun said, quiet rage burning. "He killed one of our own. That destroyed us."

"Well, he won't get the chance to even attempt it!" Seiya swore, as they approached the grave yard.

"Shh….I know they can't hear us, but this is still a graveyard.." Shun put a hand on Seiya's shoulder, as they watched Monera again.

"Oh Hyoga…I can't do this. Not without you. Cyla will fall ill in the next few months, as the summer turns to fall. Lord Ikki has shut everything down I could've used for us." Her baby daughter touched the cold tombstone,babbling. "Yeah,baby…that's where Daddy is. He's in a much better place than we are." Monera hugged Cyla tightly. "I'm going away now, Hyoga. I have to find your friend Shun. He's our last hope for survival in Ikki's world. I promise, I will return." She stood up, and turned to go.

"Monera. Leaving so soon?" Lord Ikki stood tall in his Black Phoenix armor.

"L-lord Ikki…" Monera held her child even tighter. "I…was just going to visit your b-brother…"

"I see." Ikki glinted at her coldly. "Have I not made it clear that no one leaves town without my exclusive consent? Shun has moved out of town."

"Please, Lord Ikki. Your brother is Cyla's godfather. I want him to take her in. I could careless if I die of cold, but Cyla…she doesn't deserve that."

"I have a better plan." Ikki replied. "You and your child may house with me in my castle. You will repay me by doing as I ask." Ikki told her.

"I…" Monera looked back towards Hyoga's tombstone. She knew that's not what her beloved would've wanted. "I cannot accept your offer."

"Then I condemn you both to death!" He moved to snatch the child away.

"No! I'll do it." Monera remembered what Princess Sienna had said. "I'm only doing this for Cyla. Not for you, or even myself."

Ikki nodded. "I admire your courage,Woman. But you will not speak so boldly to me again!" He backhanded her,but not strong enough for her to drop Cyla. "Let us go. We're losing the light."

Monera touched her cheek where Ikki had slapped her. "Forgive me, my beloved Swan…" She followed Ikki now, uncertain of her own future, and not caring, as long as her baby survived.