Chapter Three: Three Days...
Ancient's Shrine, Japan - Ronin Warriors/Sailor Scouts
"Well done, that was quite a show you put on for us," said Ryu.
"Can it Ryu, come down here and fight me like a man!" said Ryo.
"If that is what you wish, but first allow me to introduce my associate's. You have already met the Ronin Warrior of Darkness, now let me introduce his real name, Kage Date!" said Ryu.
"No you lie Kage would never become one of you willingly!" yelled Sage.
"How you have grown brother, but I have joined them willingly, now I offer you a choice, join us and our master or perish!" offered Kage.
"Never, I would rather die than join you if you have sold your soul to the Dynasty!" replied Sage.
"How very amusing, but on with the introductions! To my left is the Ronin Warrior of Souls, Scythe Nori, he is the exact opposite of you Torrent. To my right is Ken Tri Kron, the Ronin Warrior of Doom, the exact opposite of you Hardrock. Now last but not least, the Ronin warrior of the Strata, Ronan Mizuno Hashibo!" exclaimed Ryu.
"What!?" said Rowen and Mercury at the same time.
"Its true cousins, I am apart of the these Ronin Warriors and ironically enough am the new Strata. I have been chosen to wear your armor Rowen, you are no longer fit to wear it!" said Ronan.
Rowen's armor and sub-armor disappeared and reappeared on Ronan, who was smiling such an evil smile. He pulled out the bow and arrow and fired the Arrow Shockwave attack at Rowen who was too shocked to move. So Mercury threw herself in the way of the attack and it pierced her through the center of her chest and she fell to the ground bleeding to death.
"You have three days to prepare yourself for your doom," said Ryu as they disappeared, along with the Nether World gate.
Rowen sat cradling Mercury now detransformed back into Amy in his lap crying as she was slowly dying and he could do nothing about it. When she was taken inside and stabilized Serena decided it was time to bring reinforcements into the picture.
Phone Conversation
???: Hello?
Serena: Amarra, its me Serena, we have a problem.
Amarra: What is it kitten, what's wrong?
Serena: Its Amy, she's dying and we have a new enemy. Do you remember the prophecy about us having a new enemy and others having a new enemy that would join forces?"
Amarra: I remember, what about it?
Serena: That part was bogus, my heart tells me so and the crystal glows at every part but that area.
Amarra: I see so you met these others that you are supposed to help?
Serena: Yes, but the enemy shot Amy through the chest and we have three days to prepare for their arrival or else they might go after our families.
???: Serena listen we'll be on our way their right away, but where are you currently?
Serena: I'm a few miles east of Toyama at a small lake and shrine. Please just have Trista bring you along with Hotaru, I have some questions for her. Come quickly Michelle, Amarra, I don't know how long Amy can survive.
Amarra: ...Trista says we'll be there in a little bit, she's scared Serena, as are we all.
End Phone Conversation
Moments later Amarra, Michelle, Hotaru, and Trista appeared. They came in to the house to see nine men either leaning against the wall or sitting in chairs praying for Amy's survival. Amarra's first reaction was to obliterate them all, but Michelle stopped her cousin. They saw the scouts in the kitchen cooking and talking trying to lighten the mood, with another two women, one that was obviously up to date with the modern day era, while the other looked ready for battle. Amarra noticed one of the boys look at his watch and get up and go into a room and gently close the door. Amarra had seen Amy lying in bed breathing slowly, when the door reopened and the boy came out and went outside, Amarra followed him out, much to the protest of Michelle.
"Who the hell do you think you are, just going into her room without permission from her friends who know her best?" demanded a ticked off Amarra.
When Rowen didn't answer she slugged him hard on the right cheek and continued to beat him until she noticed the tears coming from his eyes. Amarra tried to hit him again, but for some reason all anger drained from her as she saw the guilt and pain in his soul, when she looked into his eyes.
"Who are you? Why didn't you ask one of her closest friends who know more about her than you? Who have known her longer than you ever have?" asked Amarra.
"Tell me did she ever tell you her full name?" asked Rowen.
"Once, but she told me to only tell a boy who asked me," replied Amarra.
"What was it?" asked Rowen.
"Amy Hashiba Mizuno, why do you want to know? Who are you?" demanded Amarra.
"My name is Rowen Mizuno Hashiba, I have known Amy longer than anyone in that house. I'm her cousin and I've failed to protect her," said Rowen.
Amarra was shocked to hear that he was her cousin and realized that she needed to see Serena right away about the others.
'Anyone who can openly admit they failed to help protect someone and feel so guilty about it, has to be genuine. So much sadness in his eyes, strangely I must admit that he is the only other male besides Darien that has earned my respect.' thought Amarra.
Trista stopped Amarra from going into the kitchen, because Serena came out of Amy's room crying. Rowen looked at her, but she couldn't meet his gaze and he ran out of the room and jumped off the balcony to the ground below and ran crying.
"What happened kitten, how did this happen?"
Flashback w/Serena's Narration
The remaining three warlords had just finished off the Dynasty soldiers when they appeared. They were Dark Ronin Warriors, they had been greatly tainted by evil.
"Well done, that was quite a show you put on for us," said Ryu.
"Can it Ryu, come down here and fight me like a man!" said Ryo.
"If that is what you wish, but first allow me to introduce my associate's. You have already met the Ronin Warrior of Darkness, now let me introduce his real name, Kage Date!" said Ryu.
"No you lie Kage would never become one of you willingly!" yelled Sage.
"How you have grown brother, but I have joined them willingly, now I offer you a choice, join us and our master or perish!" offered Kage.
"Never, I would rather die than join you if you have sold your soul to the Dynasty!" replied Sage.
"How very amusing, but on with the introductions! To my left is the Ronin Warrior of Souls, Scythe Nori, he is the exact opposite of you Torrent. To my right is Ken Tri Kron, the Ronin Warrior of Doom, the exact opposite of you Hardrock. Now last but not least, the Ronin Warrior of the Strata, Ronan Mizuno Hashibo!" exclaimed Ryu.
"What!?" said Rowen and Mercury at the same time.
"Its true cousins, I am apart of the these Ronin Warriors and ironically enough am the new Strata. I have been chosen to wear your armor Rowen, you are no longer fit to wear it!" said Ronan.
Rowen's armor and sub-armor had disappeared and reappeared on Ronan, who was smiling such an evil smile. He pulled out the bow and arrow and fired the Arrow Shockwave attack at Rowen who was too shocked to move. So Mercury threw herself in the way of the attack and it pierced her through the center of her chest and she fell to the ground bleeding to death.
"You have three days to prepare yourself for your doom," said Ryu as they disappeared, along with the Nether World gate.
Rowen had sat cradling Mercury now detransformed back into Amy in his lap crying as she was slowly dying and he could do nothing about it. When she was taken inside and stabilized Serena decided it was time to bring reinforcements into the picture. He would check in on her every half hour on the dot, and each time he would apologize to her for not protecting her.
End Flashback w/Serena's Narration
Ronin Warriors
Rowen kept on running though the woods until he was nearly exhausted and that's when he saw it. Somehow he had been transported to the place known as Ama-no-Hashidate. Aside from going into space itself this was considered where the sky met the earth. He knew the area well enough to know that only one being could have brought him to the spot in the blink of an eye. He turned around and sure enough the spirit of the Ancient stood there.
"Rowen of the Strata, what troubles you so much that your soul calls for my guidance?"
"Its my cousin or I should say cousin's, one of them is one of the protectors from the latest prophecy, while the other is a Ronin Warrior as well, but corrupted by evil. He is also a wearer of the armor of the strata, I thought I was the only one. Does this mean that I am no longer suited to wear the armor of the strata?"
"I see, a difficult dilemma you have, you are loyal to both your cousins, yet one is evil now and I suspect he harmed your other cousin in someway."
"He killed her using the armor and the powers of the armor."
"Then there is your answer, if your kanji is life and you have not killed anybody, even when you had the chance to do so. You have remained true to your kanji, which is Life, while your cousin's is obviously the opposite. He may have taken the armor you had been wearing, but the armor was just a physical manifestation. Attempt to summon the armor of the strata and we will see what happens."
Rowen nodded and said, "Armor of the Strata, Tao Innochi!"
Rowen expected and believed that nothing would happen, but not always is the case that what one expects and/or believes will happen. The armor of the strata appeared on Rowen and he could feel its new found power of the twin inferno armors joined together and the armors own power granted by the Ancient and inadvertently Talpa as well. He noticed that the Ancient was gone and awoke to find himself wearing the armor of the strata, he realized that the ancient had come to him through a vision of life. He was surrounded by life and he could feel his kanji glowing on his forehead. He took to the air and was happy that he hadn't lost his armor, but then reality struck him and he realized that his cousin was dead. He flew back to the house where the others were sleeping except for the outer scouts who were on guard duty. He landed and started walked towards the shrine but was stopped by Neptune. He turned to go towards the lake but was stopped by Saturn, he turned towards the forest, but was stopped by Pluto, then he tried the house, but again he was stopped by another outer, this time Uranus.
"Hold it right there scum, we won't let you bring any harm to this place. You wear the armor that now represents death so now we shall punish you for taking the life of one of our own!" said Uranus.
She lifted her sword to strike him, but a voice cut through the air. "Hear the scream of my Star Swords Scream!"
The attack knocked Uranus's sword from her hands, Lady Kayura landed next to Rowen in a battle stance, ready to help Rowen survive.
Uranus screamed, "I knew you were working with the enemy, once an enemy, always an enemy for your kind!"
"Shut up hag, I can see the wrinkles forming on your face! So Strata, always in this much trouble with others?" asked Kayura.
"You know Kayura, when it comes to these type of odds, I almost wish I were facing Talpa again instead of fighting people who are supposed to be my ally," stated Rowen.
"Yes, Talpa would be a relief when compared to the wench in front of us," agreed Kayura.
Uranus angry with rage attacked Kayura, but she blocked each strike with ease and swiftness and in no time at all, had disarmed Uranus, and had her pinned on the ground with her swords in a cross on either side of her neck.
"Do you yield Sailor Uranus or do we really have to continue this senseless fight?" asked Kayura.
Uranus glared at her venomously and in one swift movement had taken Kayura's swords from her and slashed at her with them. But instead of hearing a scream of pain all she heard was a clang and when she looked Kayura had blocked the attack with the Ancients staff. Uranus leapt back a few feet and moved into a charging position, but Kayura hefted the staff into the air and slammed it straight down onto the ground. She let go and the staff stood perfectly straight up and down and soon an almost ringing type sound could be heard and a bright light erupted from the staff.
"Ah, my eyes, I can't see, what are you doing?" asked Uranus.
"I am doing nothing Sailor Uranus, this is the power of the Ancient's. The power of my clan, which I inherited from the Ancient One. Tell me does the light merely blind you or does it also burn?" asked Kayura.
"It blinds me, but it doesn't burn, now make it stop," said Uranus.
"I cannot, you must admit to your own wrong doings in attacking and accusing before knowing anything of the situation. You attack Strata, the bearer of the kanji of life and not even bother to yield when I could have easily have killed you," explained Kayura.
"Alright I'm sorry, now can you make this light go away?" asked Uranus.
"The light as already passed, when you first asked it to, you have admitted out of your own conscious that you were wrong," said Kayura.
"You tricked me!" yelled Uranus.
"In a way yes, I see Strata that your armor has fully incorporated all its new power now?" asked Kayura. "It would be a shame if that were not the case."
Rowen nodded and then pushed past Uranus and entered the house and went straight to Amy's room and saw her lying there.
'She looks so peaceful, yet sad' though Rowen, who then said to Amy, "Amy I'm sorry for all that has happened to you because of me. The only thing I can offer is my pledge to help Ronan and protect this world."
A single tear fell from his eyes and it landed on her forehead and it started to glow. 'Ancient One, what do I do now? I would gladly surrender my right to wear this armor and all my power to give Amy a second chance.' cried Rowen mentally.
"Rowen of the Strata, in light of your willingness for your noble sacrifice, you have been granted your hearts desire, but you shall not loose any of your powers or the armor. Princess Amy Mizuno also known as Sailor Mercury shall live again. Remember you are the holder of the kanji of life and you have proven yourself worthy to wear the armor of the Strata," said the Ancient's spirit.
Amy began to breathe again and her wound miraculously healed and disappeared. She woke to see Rowen sitting next to her bed in his armor and she saw the tears coming from his eyes, she also noticed he was sleeping while sitting up. She smiled gently to herself and gently nudged Rowen who stirred a little but still didn't wake. She decided to go a little further and she pushed him out of his chair and he toppled over to the floor. He quickly awoke to see Amy sitting up and smiling at him. He quickly detransformed into his sub-armor and gave her a swift and strong hug.
"Okay Rowen, I'm glad to see you too and thank you for choosing to give me a second chance rather than extracting revenge," said Amy.
"If I extracted revenge then I would not be worthy to wear this armor or hold the kanji of life. Everyone will be so happy that your alive again. We have two more days to prepare for battle against the Dark Ronin's," explained Rowen.
They left the room and everyone was happy to see her alive again, each of the girls gave her a hug. They decided that they would get to know one another that night.