Sage nodded. Ryo followed behind the group silently thinking about what his friends had just told him. He was silent until they reached another set of double doors that had all five of their kanji engraved in their colors. Elder Ryo closed his eyes. The younger group watched as he was surrounded by a red light. When it died down, they saw that he was wearing a red kimono with a golden belt with the kanji Jin on the front.
His kimono comprised of a white under shirt that was seen where the kimono was slightly open at his collarbone. His raven black hair was pulled into a neat ponytail at the nape of his neck. Upon his forehead they saw the kanji Jin glowing softly. The group was surprised.
As they entered, an unknown man called out, "All stand! His Esteemed Lord, Master Wildfire!"
The younger Ronins felt their jaws drop as the older Ryo sigh and said, "All in attendance, please be seated. Master Halo is out scouting the land. Until Master Strata, Master Torrent, and Master Hardrock get here please continue with what you were doing. But first, allow me to introduce to you the Ronins of the past. These are the master's and my self's past selves. Mistress Phoenix went into the past to retrieve them for us. They will be helping in the battle."
"Master Wildfire, how will they help us? They aren't as powerful as you are." Pointed out a teenage boy with dark brown hair.
"Riyon, (Ri-e-on)! Stop. Master Wildfire knows what he's doing." Came another voice as a young man with dark brown hair and dark brown eyes.
"Thank you Sir Yulie. Now as I was saying…" continued Ryo as he was interrupted by a boy's exclamation.
"YULIE?"
Ryo turned to the little boy and said in an unemotional voice, "Well what did you expect? Mistress Phoenix did tell you that you lived here with us did she not?"
"Well, ya." Said Yulie after he figured out that Mistress Phoenix and Makoto were the same person.
"Well what did you think you did, wash Lord Hardrock's dishes? No you are an advisor to the council and a master swordsman. You help train young men and women that wish to learn, so they can protect themselves against Dynasty soldiers that get past our defenses."
"Oh." He replied in a small voice as his older counterpart walked up and said, "Hi Yulie. How are you?"
"Um, I'm fine, you?'
"Good."
Before they could continue, Yulie's son asked, "Well how can they help us?"
Master Wildfire frowned slightly, almost to the point where you couldn't see it unless you looked hard enough, and said, "Riyon they can form the Inferno Armor where we cannot. That is how they will help us. Now, please quite down."
The young teenager closed his mouth and sat down.
Ryo sat down at an available chair, which happened to be beside his elder counterpart, and asked, "Master Wildfire?"
Ryo smiled a bit sheepishly and asked, "I guess Mako did not tell you about the Ronins becoming world leaders did she?"
The Ronins with wide eyes shook their heads 'no'. Ryo smiled and opened his mouth.
Before he could say anything though, the double doors opened and the announcer called out, "All stand! Their Esteemed Lords: Master Strata, Master Torrent, and Master Hardrock."
Ryo smiled and cast a sidelong look at the younger Ronins as their older selves entered the room. Cye was wearing what looked like sub-armor but it was skintight. It was light blue on his shoulders, chest, arms, legs, hips, and feet like his original sub-armor and white everywhere else. You could see every muscle ripple as he moved.
The guys had the same kind of outfits on except in their own colors. Their muscles were visible too.
Ryo whispered, "Why are they so tight?"
Elder Ryo answered in a whisper, "We don't really know, that's what we got when we transformed."
The elder Ronins nodded and Rowen said, "All be seated please. Master Wildfire please transform into your sub-armor."
Ryo rolled his eyes but nodded. He closed his eyes and the group watched as a burst of fire appeared at his feet. It grew brighter and brighter and formed a column of fire that surrounded him. When the blazing flames died down, Ryo was wearing an exact duplicate suit like Cye's except it was ruby red. His muscles rippled as well as he sat down.
"Master Torrent, where are the Mistresses?" asked Ryo unemotionally as the elder Ronins sat down.
"They will arrive soon, Master Wildfire. Mistress Dragon went to awaken Mistress Phoenix, Mistress Sea Serpent went to get her something to eat, Mistress Centaur went to take the children to the nursery for the babies were outside with White Blaze, Orion, Light Beam, Seacil, and Terra, and Mistress Gargoyle went to tell the Heirs what is going on." Replied the warrior as unemotionally as Ryo did.
"Very good."
"Master Wildfire, where is Master Halo?" asked Elder Kento as the doors opened and revealed the Ronin's wives.
"Master Halo is scouting the lands." Ryo was about to say something else when the announcer called out,
"Announcing the Mistresses of the Stars! Guardians to the Lords! Mistress Phoenix, Mistress Centaur, Mistress Dragon, Mistress Gargoyle, and Mistress Sea Serpent!"
As the Mistresses walked in the guys gasped, for they were wearing kimonos of some of the sheerest material they had ever seen. Mistress Phoenix, Makoto Senada, was wearing a ruby red kimono that had golden diamonds decorating it. Under the red kimono was a pure white under dress that sparkled in the light.
Around her waist was a golden cloth belt, about three inches wide with the sign of Virtue in the middle of it. Also her red hair was piled on top of her head in a tight bun with golden bun picks poking out from the bun itself. Around her eyes were red sparkles that made her emerald eyes stand out. Around her neck was a golden necklace with a ruby red crystal, the size of one of the armored orbs, hung. On her feet was a pair of ruby red slippers.
Mistress Centaur, Korin Hashiba, was wearing dark blue kimono with golden stars decorating it, under the kimono was a pure white under dress, around her waist was a golden cloth belt about three inches wide with the sign of Life Force in the middle of it, her raven hair was pulled into a low bun with silver star clips in her hair, and her feet were encased in dark blue slippers. Around her neck was a similar necklace with a sapphire crystal.
Mistress Dragon, Miaka Date, was wearing green kimono with golden thunder bolts decorating it, under the kimono was a pure white under dress, around her waist was a golden cloth belt around three inches wide with the sign of Wisdom in the middle of it, and her dark brown hair, which was down to her thighs, was braided. It was looped around her head like a crown with luminous string weaved throughout her hair, and her feet were surrounded by green slippers. Also around her neck was a golden necklace with an orb-sized emerald hanging on it.
Mistress Gargoyle, Noriko Rei-Fuan, was wearing an orange kimono with silver crescent moons decorating it, under the kimono was a pure white under dress, around her waist was a silver cloth belt about three inches wide with the sign of Justice in the middle of it, and her hair, which was silky black, the top half, was pulled into a high ponytail that looped into an orange tie. The other part of her hair was braided with orange colored rose petals weaved throughout it, and her feet had orange slippers on them. Also around her neck was a silver necklace with a topaz colored orb-sized crystal.
Lastly, Mistress Sea Serpent, Yui Mouri, was wearing light blue kimono with many silver/black yin-yang symbols decorating it, under the kimono was a pure white under dress, around her waist was a silver cloth belt about three inches wide with the sign of Trust in the middle of it. Her mid back platinum blond hair was parted into three separate pieces. Each piece was braided and had light blue sparkles in it. The three pieces were then braided into one large braid with a light blue sheer fabric weaved into the overall braid. Also around her neck was a silver necklace with a teal blue, armored orb-sized crystal. Lastly, her feet were encased in light blue slippers.
"Please be seated Mistresses of the Stars." Said Ryo with a swift nod.
Makoto looked at him with a straight face and said evenly, " 'Tis not the Star's way. We shall stay standing my Lord."
Ryo returned her cold reply with one of his own, "As you see fit Guardians."
The younger Ronins were baffled.
Elder
Cye saw this and thought to them all, 'don't worry. The girls
have to act like this because the guardians have a legend that tells
about them. Since you can't talk back to me I'll explain. The
Stars are the Super Ronin's Guardians, OUR guardians.
Anyways, there is poem about them that says 'In the night
of the Emperors reign, the Stars shine brighter than the elements
that they guard, with cold words but warm hearts they take to the
night and sing to the lights, Stars of earth, fire, wind, water, and
light they keep the elements warm at night.' 'You
don't get it, I know. All will be explained later.'
The
younger Ronins nodded in acceptance.
"Now, down to business." Said Ryo as he began.
"We know the enemy is near, the black clouds are the perfect sign. Now, they have not sent their new Warlords yet, but it can be safe to assume that they will be here soon. When they do appear the Masters and myself will go out to meet them and test their abilities…"
"My lord I must push the extreme measure at which you are discussing." Said Phoenix as she continued, "The Guardians and myself will be there to take on the Warlords. You are needed here to keep the castle under control. When we have tested these new Warlords we shall come back and report to you on them."
Ryo frowned and said, "It is appreciated Stars but we can handle ourselves very well thank you."
Makoto cast a cold look at him and opened her mouth. Dragon placed and hand on her arm and her eyes flashed green. Phoenix nodded as her eyes flashed red.
Centaur spoke up, "We know you are capable of handling your selves Ronins. That is not in question, but it is our job to protect you so it is only logical that we go first."
Rowen cast a sidelong look and Ryo and said, "Even though I agreed with Master Wildfire, the Stars are right. We cannot deny them their jobs, My Brother Lord."
Ryo glanced and him and nodded.
Makoto looked between them and said, "It is agreed then?"
"Yes Mistress Phoenix, it is agreed, in your favor."
Sea Serpent straightened and said, "Then we shall be off Elements…time is of the essence here."
Gargoyle nodded and said, "Farewell, we shall report back in one to two hours time."
The Stars took a step back and Makoto said, "Fire Within me!"
She vanished in a burst of red flames that started from the very center of her heart and surrounded her in a column of fire.
Korin was next.
She called out, "Space Above me!"
She vanished in a cloud of dirt, air, and small comets that started from above her and assailed her form.
Miaka spoke next, "Light Around me!"
Her body was embraced with the light within the room that shined through from the top windows. The light gathered in her hands and then surrounded her.
Noriko went next.
She called out, "Earth Beneath me!"
An orange light appeared and when it died down the earth that was under her feet surrounded Noriko. The earth under her feet cracked and crumbled and started to form around her body. As the rocks encased her body they vanished.
Yui closed her eyes and said, "Water Surround me!"
Suddenly her body glowed brightly with a light blue light and turned into liquid. The water briefly took on the form of her body then fell to the earth. As it formed a puddle, the puddle shrank and grew smaller. The puddle vanished a moment later.
"That was interesting." Said Cye as he asked, "So, could you explain this whole mess to us please?"
His Elder said, "Well this is how it is…"
"What about the gi…Stars?" asked Ryo concerned for the five pregnant women."
"They will handle themselves." Said his older self with a cold voice.
The Ronins were surprised that they could be so cold.
Elder Cye continued, "This is what we DO know. The Dynasty has a new ruler."
"Wait it isn't Talpa?" asked Kento.
Master Hardrock, elder Kento, replied, "We defeated Talpa for the final time a thousand years ago. No this is his grandson, Sulapa. He is four times stronger than Talpa ever was: angry, happy, mad and or otherwise."
"Oh." Answered Kento.
Master Torrent smirked slightly and said; "Now as I was saying, the Dynasty has a new ruler, Sulapa, since we destroyed Nappa, Talpa's son, two hundred years ago. When Nappa died, Sulapa said he would be back to get his revenge. Looks like this is it. When they attack, it will probably be an all out attack against the castle and if it is…"
"If it is, we will need Yulie and Riyon along with every advisor here to get the refugees of the city and earth, and take them to the hidden passage into the other dimension. Lady Kayura along with the Light Guardians and Lady Mia are there and ready to take in every last human here in our protection." Finished Master Strata.
"Since we have know idea what Sulapa can do or what his Warlords can do until the Stars get back, we will give an overview to the younger Ronins of what has occurred during the last thousand years." Said Master Wildfire.
Before they could begin they saw a green light phased in and out. The older Ronins paid it no mind while their younger selves watched in awe. When the light finally settled, it stopped in the only remaining seat, which was beside the two brother-n-laws, Rowen and Kento. When the green light vanished it left behind Sage Date.
"Well what did you find out Master Halo?" asked Master Strata.
He schooled his features and said unemotionally, "The new Warlords are here. They have a power equal to that of ours almost. The Stars are handling them very well. None have had any problems handling them. Sulapa has left a battalion of a few thousand to surround and charge the castle."
"Everything is going well then." Said Master Wildfire.
"How can it be going well!" asked a man with silver armor that had chain mail under it.
Master Torrent said, "It is going according to plan because the shield that Lady Kayura and ourselves cast to protect this land and castle is firmly in place. As long as even ONE of the original casters is still alive the field will not shatter."
"And we shall go to the cannons and fight from there." Said Master Hardrock.
"Super Ronins, go to the cannons!" ordered Ryo as he continued, "Younger Ronins you can go with your counterparts. Everyone else, secure the castle and get armed."
The other masters looked at him with curious looks.
The younger Ronins were surprised. The curious looks were the first sign of emotion since the meeting started.
Mia whispered to her friends, "I can't believe you guys become so cold during these things." They nodded.
"I believe it to be better safe than to be sorry. It has saved us from being killed in the past. Lets just say I am putting my faith in it to keep us safe again." Replied Master Wildfire.
