Chapter 31 (Battle planning)
"So now what do we do?" Kat asked absently.
"Well now that we've regained our memories, I know there is one thing I want to do," said Irene. click Alexis sheathed her nodachi in response, "Destroy Bademon."
"We need to make out plans for doing that before we actually try it," Kat stated.
"The last thing we need to do is jump in head first into a battle with Bademon," Irene remarked, looking down at a sketch she had absentmindedly drawn on a napkin.
She smiled sadly at it before she crumpled it in her hand and tossed it to the floor. No one else seemed to notice.
"Well, do we blow him up or cut his head off," asked Kat jokingly.
"How about both, we can cut his head off, then blow him up.," Alexis said. A grin went across her face as she thought of the pain she could inflict upon Bademon.
"Right, but then we have to get close enough without getting ourselves blown up. And figure out how to hurt him. Last I remember swords didn't work to well on spirits."
"True, but where there's a will there is a way," Irene said. "But um, why don't we ask the Ronins?" Irene turned to the five young men who were just sitting there staring at the girls.
"Well, they hadn't said anything yet so I figured we had an audience." Kat turned to the guys. "Well? You guys have any ideas?" Kento turned to Cye and whispered in his ear. "They're not even with the dynasty any more and they're still Mocho Chicks bent on world destruction!"
"I heard that," Alexis said throwing a pillow at him from the couch she was sitting on.
"And besides, we're not bent on world destruction anymore. We're bent on Bademon destruction." Irene said looking at Kento with an evil sort of smile. Cye immediately recognized it from that temporary case of insanity that had plagued her just a short while ago.
"We're Warlordesses, we're supposed to be violent when we're talking about fighting," Kat said proudly. "But should we get back to the battle planning? How do we get in the castle for one?"
"What do you think Rowen, Sage? You two are supposed to be the genius's when it comes to the planning of battles." Irene looked at the blue haired and blond haired boys.
"Wait, don't you guys remember? There are three main entrances that are heavily guarded."
"Yeah, but how are we supposed to get through all the guards," Irene asked.
"There's a secret entrance that isn't guarded." Alexis stated.
"Hey, I just got the most wonderful idea! Since we have our way into the castle now, supposedly, why don't we not simply kill Bademon, but plague him for a while," Exclaimed Kat.
"How do you mean?" Alexis asked a very worried and confused expression on her face.
"Hehehe, I mean, let's tick him off. What are all the small things you know that always made him mad? He has his morning coffee with sugar in it, so we sneak salt in instead! I just want to get him so mad he doesn't know what he's doing."
"That or we could make him mad and he could kill us all that much easier." Kento stated quietly to himself.
"I heard that too!" Alexis threw a pop can at Kento.
"I think it sounds fun. And besides, have you ever known anyone with super powers to know what they're doing when there's steam coming out their ears," questioned Irene, who was starting to warm to Kat's devilish sense of humor.
"But you still need to get into and out of the castle, probably more than once," said Ryo.
"That's what you guys are for." Alexis looked at the five young men of whom suddenly all had a look of fear as to what was going to happen to them. "You can be the diversion while we sneak in."
"Say WHAT?" Yelled Kento.
"No way!" Yelled Sage.
"Man, I think they're just acting like they're not still evil," mumbled Rowin.
"What do you mean, Rowin," asked Kat innocently. "Don't you like us?"
Chapter 32 (annoyances)
Bademon's voice boomed and echoed through the giant stone castle. "Dynasty soldiers report to the throne room NOW!" In an instant over fifty soldiers appeared before their master. Bademon began to grumble something to his warriors before bellowing, "Find them, find them now!" The soldiers dispersed leaving their fuming master behind.
(a few minutes later)
Three young girls hid in a cave just outside of the dynasty palace.
"He's awfully mad Kat, what did you take from him?" Irene asked.
"Oh, just this little static electricity thingy." Kat pulled out a large glass ball with blue, green, and pink bolts of static electricity surging through it. Kat put her hand on it and her hair stuck into the air, "Cool" she giggled.
Both Alexis and Irene just stared for a couple of minutes before falling over laughing. Irene thought to her self, Look how much we've changed after leaving the dynasty, I am my old self once again, were Kat and Alexis the same way before we met each other, till that one-day when I found my armor?
"So," Kat said changing seriously once again, (after a major effort of smoothing down her hair), "what should we do next?"
"Oh, I think I've got an idea," cooed Alexis with a mischievous grin.
Bademon stepped out of the shower, a towel on his head. He walked over to the mirror to admire himself before getting ready for the day ahead of planning on how to obtain world destruction. He slowly towel dried his hair before removing the towel. His eyes went wide when he saw the horror that lay beneath, his hair, it was PINK! His greenish skin went pale and his eyes bugged out in disbelief.
"ALEXIS THAT WRETCHED GIRL! SHE DID THIS TO ME! SHE SHALL PAY FOR HER INSULENCE!" As Bademon angrily stormed out of the room he slipped on a bar of soap. Angrily, he picked himself up as flames grew in his eyes.
In a small cave a few miles from the castle, three ex-warladies laughed in hysterics as they watched the scene through a small glass orb.
"You've done it now Alexis." Irene got out between her laughter.
"You dyed his hair pink, his precious hair. He's sooooo pissed, you're gonna get it, if he catches you that is." Kat tried to stop laughing.
"Yeah, key word being if he can catch me." Alexis looked with laughter in her eyes at the fuming spirit with bright pink hair. "How do you like my calling card Bademon." She said into the ball.
The voice echoed through Bademon's mind. "Wretched, wretched girl!" He snarled.
Kat came up and looked into the sphere. "I know you are, but what is she?" She asked amusingly.
"You Warlordesses will PAY!" He said menacingly. Irene was next to look into the sphere to say her part in torturing Bademon. "Yeah, sure master," She said in a sarcastic tone of voice, "That's if you can catch us."
"YOU'LL PAY!"
The vision faded as the girls put the orb into a large bag.
"So, what shall we do next?"
"Plan on how we're going to destroy his sorry ass." Kat looked at the suddenly serious Warlordesses.
Chapter 33 (midnight moon)
Irene chuckled to herself as she recalled the pranks they had pulled on Bademon. It may have been silly but it sure had been a lot of fun. But the games and jokes were over now, soon they'd begin to get serious. She was sitting outside on a ledge of the huge mansion, the sun had set many hours earlier and now the full moon shone bright like a pearl in the sea of beautiful blue fabric of night, with a few glittering diamond stars beginning to appear. As much as she loved Kat and Alexis, sometimes she needed to be alone, just to think. So she let her mind wander, her eyes on the horizon.
When a hand touched her shoulder she jumped two feet into the air surprised by the disturbance. For a minute her heart beat very fast as she looked at the silhouette of a person that she could not recognize until her eyes adjusted to the light. It turned out to be Cye. Irene turned back around embarrassed. For a long moment neither one spoke.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you," said Cye slowly. Irene wasn't sure what to say. Ever since the moment she had told him that her affections were pretend they had both avoided each other. All the other Ronins she was very comfortable with. She and Sage would admire the forest, Rowen would share his books with her, Kento would have eating contests with her and remark that she could cook just as good as Cye, even Ryo would play basketball with her! But Cye and her would barely murmur "Hi" in the hallways.
"No, it's alright," she finally answered. Cye timidly sat down next to her. For some reason she now felt awful.
"I.. I'm sorry if I hurt you." She said rather quickly. Cye blinked for a few minutes before shaking his head
"No, it's alright Irene, at the time I was angry, it was wrong of me to be ignorant of your situation." He said apologetically, then quickly changed the subject. "So what are you looking at?" He asked gazing in her direction.
"The moon," she said wistfully.
"Why?" He asked curiously. For some reason Irene wanted to tell him.
"Because when I'm lonely it makes me feel better. It's so peaceful, so tranquil, so beautiful, floating in a sea of stars..." she blushed as she realized she must sound extremely pathetic, especially to someone who barely knew her. But Cye smiled in complete understanding, his face lit up by the moon.
"That's how I feel about the sea," he sighed lying on his back. "I go there to sort out my thoughts, especially when I'm mad or something."
"Cye do you think I'm boring?" Irene queried.
"Huh?" He asked, bewildered by the question.
"It must sound incredibly stupid, I know," she said. "But I've wondered since you never really talk to me and..." If Irene could have seen Cye in the dark she would have seen a crimson blush, spread through Cye's cheeks to his ears, that would rival Ryo's armor color.
"Not at all," he whispered quietly. The two continued to watch the moon for several more hours.
Chapter 34 (Unspoken Feelings)
The fireplace roared as Alexis sat on the comfy couch reading one of Rowen's books on Astrology. Sage walked into the room and sat down quietly in one of recliners all the way on the other side of the room. The two ignored each other the way they had since Alexis and the other two girls had joined forces with them to defeat Bademon.
Alexis threw a quick glance at Sage and saw that he was silently staring at her over his cup of tea. Sage quickly looked away and Alexis turned back to her book. 'Sage is such a stubborn fool, if only he would apologize like a true man.' Alexis thought. 'Why can't he just realize what everyone else has found out already. We had no choice in the matter. We were possessed.'
Sage looked up again at Alexis but turned to the fire place within a few seconds. 'She had a choice in whether or not to follow Bademon... didn't she? If only she would talk to me. Is she still mad at me for what happened that first night she was back?'
"Sage," Alexis whispered. "Could you put some more wood in the fire, it's getting chilly in here." She said coldly.
"I happen to think it's rather warm in here."
"I don't care what you think, I'm cold." Sage got up and put more wood in the fire then headed up stairs to bed. 'A demanding brat, that's what she is. She's got some nerve speaking to me like that.' Sage's eyes grew soft. 'A demanding brat that I happen to be in love with. What a life this is, can't even find a girl that doesn't have to do with the dynasty. There has got to be some way for me to live a more normal life.' He thought exasperated.
Chapter 35 (Kat Concedes)
Kat sat snug among the deep pillows of the window seat in the study. The open book in her lap was forgotten as she stared blankly out into the rain. Though deep training prevented her from starting, she was snapped back to reality as the door opened. In the reflection of the window she saw the Star warrior walk up and study the books on one shelf, quietly ignoring her. She seethed inwardly and tried to remember what had been projecting itself on the rain in her minds' eye. But she could not forget that he was in the room.
She was deeply aware of his presence and hated herself for it.
Finally, she turned and watched as he scanned a shelf a second time, pausing where there was an empty space in the well-stocked line. "Looking for this?" she asked blandly, holding up the Moorcock novel she had attempted to finish reading. He nodded and she closed the book and held it out to him in as casual a manner as she could manage. She forcefully repressed a shiver as he took the proffered book.
Pausing as he turned, their eyes met, and she again plunged into the blue depths of the star warrior's eyes. Beautiful, deep, horrible because she knew, whenever she looked, she would find exactly what she had been trying to escape since they first met. He was almost out the door when she opened her mouth and managed a soft sob.
"Wait." She tried again, but faired no better and making a strong sound. She cursed herself and struggled out of the warm embrace of pillows as he turned and looked at her expectantly. 'Damn' she thought. 'Now I'm committed, I have to keep going. Why doesn't the human language have a word for 'I'm sorry, forgive me, I love you, but don't forget I could beat you any day of the week!'
"Kat?" he asked patiently. Again she cursed herself for having called out. She nervously stepped up to him. She looked up into his eyes, again plunging into the blue depth no matter how hard she tried to resist it.
"I'm- I'm sorry, I." She couldn't finish. There was too much to say, even if he did know what she wanted to say. The tears in her eyes couldn't let her see his face well enough to know if he understood. She braced herself and did the only thing she could think of. She leaned forward and kissed him, however weakly, on the lips.
She was too shocked to move or resist as his arm wrapped around her waist almost instantly, as if he had been expecting it. He pressed her close, prolonging the kiss and deepening it. Finally, she felt time returning to her bewildered senses as he released her and she took a startled and shaky step back.
"You've never had to deal with affection and love before, have you?" It was almost an accusation as he said it, his eyes sparkling with some strange hidden emotion similar to what was fluttering within her stomach. She glared at him and tried to set herself in a defensive stance, but he turned and left. She stared after him a moment before collapsing to the floor. She hugged her knees to her chest and tried vainly to stop confused tears as the door slowly closed on spring hinges, blocking out the sight of the retreating blue angel.
Chapter 36 (A Walk in the Rain)
Kento groaned as he looked at the window "Oh great, it's raining, now I have to stay inside!" Pouting on the sofa, Kento looked more like an overgrown child than ever. Rowen rolled his eyes as he looked over his book at the grumbling figure clutching his stomach. "Cye I'm hungry!"
"Kento, you're always hungry, (what's new?), so stop whining so I can finish this book will ya." Rowen retorted.
Sage walked down the stairs, his hair unusually screwed up, grumbling to himself, incoherently, about how because of the rain he couldn't go out side and meditate. Ryo followed suit, also griping about how awful the rain was.
Cye on the other hand was going through their empty refrigerator. (AN: Kaylee: Yeah, I spelled that last word right without spell check:singing: Celebrate good times come on! Noin: ehehehheheeh, on with the story!)
"We're out of food again." Cye said in a whisper, not meaning for everyone to hear.
"KENTO!" All the guys turned to the whining Ronin laying on the couch.
"You ate all the food AGAIN!" Was all Ryo could get out.
"I was hungry." Kento said pouting.
"I'll go with you to get more groceries, Cye." Irene called turning from the window that she had been watching the rain from.
"Ummm ok, I guess..." he said turning slightly pink. He paused. "Uh guys... Mia took the car... didn't she?"
"Well I guess we'll have to walk then," grinned Irene grabbing an umbrella from the closet. They walked outside, Irene blissfully enjoying the rain hitting her face, she discarded the umbrella entirely, leaving it with a surprised Cye. "Come on!" She called laughing as she raced down the driveway.
"Are you okay Irene? Maybe you should stay here, I don't think you've entirely recovered from that small episode of insanity you had." Cye called after her a smile on his face.
"I'm perfectly fine Cye, now come on! Enjoy it while you can, after all, aren't you supposed to like the water, Mr. Torrent?" Cye ran to catch up with her. When he had, he caught her arm gently and turned her to face him.
Already soaked to no end, the two stared at each other for several moments. Cye lowered his lips to hers, gently, and ran his knuckles lightly against Irene's pale wet cheeks. She pulled away, looked up into Cye's eyes, before Cye's lips once again covered hers.
A million thoughts raced through Irene's head. As she tried to sort them all out Cye released her and started walking to the grocery. Irene ran to catch up.
"Hey, hold on a second," she breathed, gasping for air "Aren't you gonna say anything to me?" He looked at her for a moment and ran his hand through her damp hair. Cye held Irene close to him, leaning down once again. This time Irene leaned into him relaxing for a moment, forgetting everything.
"I didn't think I needed words. I love you," he said. She blinked several times, steadying her heartbeats, before replying.
"Well I guess that's saying something to me." She whispered a smile on her face. The two continued their walk hand in hand.
Chapter 37 (Beneath the Willow and Cherry Blossom Tree's)
Alexis sat in a high branch of a drooping willow tree staring into the sky. After awakening from a dreary-afternoon nap, she'd decided to sneak out her window and go into the woods. The Cherry Blossom trees were in bloom and she needed to get away from everything... even more so when it came to Sage.
The rain still fell but the branches of the ancient tree kept the cold drops from reaching her. Her attention was diverted from contemplation of the sky to someone walking along the forest floor, as leaves and twigs crunched under their feet...
"Sage..." She trailed off. The whisper was just soft enough so he wouldn't be able to hear it. "Sage," The whisper slowly grew stronger, a tremble could be detected, as she felt her heart beat faster and her breaths quicken while more and more butterflies fluttered in her stomach. "Sage, don't leave me!" She called out as tears dropped from her cheeks falling to the ground beneath.
Sage quickly turned around, looking for the source of the voice, when a figure dropped from an old willow. The figure quickly turned and ran, Sage had the feeling Alexis wanted him to follow her, so therefore... he did.
When she stopped they were standing in a field of Cherry Blossom trees all in perfect bloom, their soft silken petals spread apart creating a blanket of pink, white and faint red letting in only small patches of gray blue from the sky.
"Sage..." Her voice was back to a faint whisper. He walked over to her. Alexis retreated within herself trying to escape the look she saw in his violet eyes... the same look she had seen on the day they first met and sparred in the back room of the sword shop. It seemed like so very long ago. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't escape though.
Sage walked even closer and, quickly pulling her close to him, lowered his lips to hers. The kiss was sweet like sugar or honey. She didn't know any other way to explain it. She pushed herself away and stumbled back several steps before running to him and burying her face into his chest crying. Sage wrapped his arms around her. They stood like that for several minutes before he left her, standing in the field of Cherry Blossom trees with tears trickling down her cheeks.
Alexis hugged herself to block out the cold that didn't come from being outside but from the new lack of coldness in her heart and the lack of Sage's warm body when he held her, and his sweet kiss.
Chapter 38 (Challenge Given)
Cherry blossoms swirled lightly around them, though no trees of the sort grew in the nether realm. Eight warriors waited for their vision to clear from the shock of being sucked into the vortex and traveling across the dimensions. Though they had all been in different places, doing different things, feeling different sorrows, they had ended up here together. Bademon's voice flashed around them as the heat of desert in which they stood rose up to pull sweat from the brow.
"Mortals, and those immortal to age, you think you can defy me and intrude on my meditations. I choose the time and place if you would dare to challenge me. You will not win, by the laws of the universe, or by your own devices." The demon's voice faded and they were left in the swirling sand of the barren land far to the south of the castle.
"Man he makes me mad!" Cried Alexis, breaking the silence.
"He drags us out to the middle of the desert and expects us to run over and let him kill us!" Complained Kento. "He's got a thrashing coming, if only I could get my hands on him!"
"Cool off Kento. He didn't want us to be prepared. He's putting the odds in his favor." Reprimanded Sage calmly. They all looked about them, trying to figure what to do.
"So let's get out of here. Just because he dumped us here doesn't mean this is where we start." Stated Kat, who was scanning the sky as one hand searched in her pocket. She began to draw her hand out, as a blue flash enveloped her, and she stood moments later in her sub-armor, pale blue body enforced by the armored white plates. (inverse of the Ronin's which are white bodies with colored plates) Two more flashes and Irene and Alexis were similarly armored.
"What are you planning?" questioned Ryo, who was holding his own armor orb in a tight fist.
"Simple, we fly. The three of us can fly on our own." Kat indicated the three Warlordesses. "And between our energy and Rowen's we can create and energy bubble to support us all."
"Flying might be too dangerous. After all, it would be easier for him to spot us from the air. That's if he isn't already watching us." Stated Irene.
"True, I think we should walk." Alexis said.
"What about this heat?" Rowen asked.
"Easy, we have four people with armors that can be perfect relief sources from heat." Kat turned to look at Cye and the other two girls in turn.
"Snow, Water, Forest, and Wind. I think it would be best to use Snow." Sage looked at Alexis coldly.
'What a jerk, right back to the cold way he treated me before.' Thought Alexis, 'He has some nerve.' "Guess that means it's up to me to keep all of you from dying of heat stroke. My armor keeps me cool anyway. I'll do what I can." Alexis called upon her full armor. "SNOW STORM BLAST!" A wave of cold turned the once burning desert into a vast, frozen tundra.
Chapter 39 (First Attack)
They'd been walking through the now cold desert for only half an hour when sudden thunder caught their attention. A dark storm loomed low on the horizon. Only it wasn't thunder.
"What's that?" asked Ryo as they halted and stared.
"Soldiers and spirits." Mumbled Irene. The shapes began to sharpen as they came into view. Animated suits of armor, carrying spears, pikes, swords, and tritons, in such numbers that their advance made a sound like the dull roar of the sea. Lesser spirits streaming along above them, darkening the sky.
"Armor up, looks like we've hit the first of the forces," called Rowen as they all pulled weapons from assorted holding places.
As the small army converged upon them, the first few fell swiftly. Suddenly surrounded by the pure numbers of the army, all eight warriors fought with vigor and began to work their way through the masses. Swords slashed and soldiers fell and even a few of the spirits were caught by swinging blades or weapons.
Once, when they were cornered within the mass of dynasty tin cans and spirits, they found themselves fighting back to back in pairs. Rowen and Kat, Ryo and Kento, Cye and Irene, and Alexis and Sage.
"If we don't finish them off soon we're going to be too weak to fight them!" Alexis shouted over the clanging of metal on metal.
"Leave that to us!" Shouted Ryo. He drew his tachi's together and yelled out his sure kill, the other Ronin's followed suite.
"FLARE UP NOW!"
"ARROW SHOCK WAVE!"
"SUPER WAVE SMASHER!"
"IRON ROCK CRUSHER!"
"THUNDERBOLT CUT!" The wave of energy swept over the soldiers in five directions, beams of deadly light, wiping out a good third of them.
"That wasn't enough Wild Fire." Kat said with a grin that mocked the young man. "Now it's our turn. WINDS OF FURY!"
"FOREST VINE LASH!"
"SNOW STORM BLAST!" This time the blasts swept out in huge wedges of destructive force, frying both soldiers and spirits where ever they touched. The warriors, with new adrenaline pumping from the show of power, finished off the last of the army and powered down to their sub-armors.
"That just isn't right, how can three armors take out a majority of soldiers when five can only talk out about a third?"
"We couldn't have taken them out that fast if it hadn't been for you guys taking out that one third first." Irene admitted.
"Are you kidding! We could easily have taken them out by ourselves by putting together our attacks." Kat boasted. Alexis just stood in silence staring at Sage, she still wondered why he had been so cold when they first got torn from their places and thrown into this desert. Even after their kiss. Sage evidently didn't realize that she was staring at him because he didn't even glance over at her.
Kat glanced at Alexis and noticed who she was staring at, then averted her gaze to Rowen who she found was returning her gaze. Kat looked at the ground beneath her feet and a crimson blush spread through her somewhat pale skin, which seemed paler in the cold climate of the vast tundra. Irene also noticed the look that Alexis was giving Sage, and felt herself grow mad that they couldn't be more adult. Irene threw a quick glance in Cye's direction then turned to speak to everyone.
"I think we should continue on our way before it gets darker. I'd say about two hours remain. We'll have to stop in an hour and a half to set up camp for the night."
Alexis finally spoke, "I agree Irene, let's get going." Alexis was the first to start walking, most of the guys slipping and sliding behind her on the slick ice.
Chapter 40 (Camping Out)
Ryo melted the ice within a 1-mile square radius around them and Irene created a dense outcrop of forest within that space to conceal them, with the help of Cye creating a small stream around that going through the middle of the tiny forest to give the plants water. This barrier of plants would give them some protection through the night and also give them a warning if anyone tried sneak through the forest.
"I don't know about you guys but I'm exhausted." Rowen said pilling together a bundle of large pine branches to create a bed. The others did the same.
"Yeah, well, get your sleep, we've got another long hike ahead of us. I'd say we'll get to the castle at around noon. I remember coming out here before, it was peaceful and seemed safe then." Alexis said sullenly.
"So this is where you would disappear to for days at a time." Kat said in a sort of sudden revelation.
"You always were the odd one Alexis." Irene said jokingly. Alexis and Kat smiled.
"Look who's talking." Alexis reputed. "Couldn't keep decently feminine clothing around without hiding it so long as you were there."
"Yea Kat, you have something against looking civilized when we got the chance to go out to eat?"
"Civilized? I'm not the one who made the solarium look like a jungle and spent every third night in there."
The guys listened to the girls friendly bickering for the next half hour or so, lying on their backs on the pine needles. The girls eventually got into talking about their pasts and families, talking about what they remembered of the few good moments that happened while with the dynasty. And what they could remember of their first meeting. Eventually the guys drifted into a restless sleep.
Irene and Kat got up from their beds and walked over to where Cye and Rowen lay. Taking their places next to the young men, Irene snuggled her back closely against Cye feeling his warm breath against her neck. Kat did the same, laying next to Rowen. Soon they had all drifted off to sleep, even Alexis who proudly stayed right were she was in her own comfortable bed.
Alexis woke up at around midnight to a stinging feeling on her back. She had long ago banished her sub-armor and now found herself laying on her back, the one place she tried not to lay. Silently getting up and bringing with her a tube of cream from her pocket, she walked over to wake Kat up.
"What's it?" Kat asked groggily. Alexis showed her the cream, "oh, yeah, alright...a min.." she disentangled herself gently from the blue-haired ronin who'd become her teddy bear and managed to stand, stretching sleep away slowly. The two girls went to a small thatch at the distant end of the make-shift forest and sat down. Kat sat behind Alexis and began to gently rub the medicine into the still healing wounds of all the torturing she had received. Alexis winced at Kat's touch.
"I'm sorry about all this Alex."
"No need to be. It wasn't your fault. None of this was any of our faults."
"Your wounds are healing nicely. You should only have a couple of scars by time their completely healed." Alexis gave a small laugh. After Kat finished, Alexis crawled back into her bed and went to sleep. Kat on the other hand, couldn't get back to sleep. She roamed restlessly about the edge of the trees, stalking shadows, and thinking...
Chapter 41 (Anger Releasement Therapy)
Irene awoke late that night to the sound of a loud thumping, what it was she couldn't quiet make out. Silently, she sat up in the dark and squinted her eyes to see what she could in the darkness of night. Their camp fire had gone out long ago and was now smoldering on what embers were left.
Peering around the wall of trees and shrubbery, Irene's eyes fell upon a figure in blue and silver armor. 'Kat, what is she doing?' Irene asked herself mentally.
Kat hit the strong tree with her fist again and again. 'Damn spirit, I'll get that stupid Bademon back for ruining my life. He'll pay, I'll blow him to bits.' Kat growled to herself.
"Are you alright Kat?" Irene asked, walking up to stand beside her, looking concerned.
"No, I'm not alright!" She reputed.
"Well ya don't have to kill the dang tree!"
(silly version: Irene suddenly went chibi and smacked Kat so that she flew into the air and landed a couple feet away. "What was that for!" Kat went chibi as well. "Oh, stop, here take this Pepsi and be quiet." Irene reached into hammer space and pulled a can of cold soda from the black nothingness.)
Irene suddenly hit Kat, sending her flying backwards to land with a thud.
"What was that for?"
"Just chill out will you?" Irene turned to go back to bed. Kat just glared at her.
Chapter 42 (Meeting for the battle)
The edge of the forest came into view as the warriors continued moving toward the castle. They had been planning on coming up on the castle from behind and attacking with as much of a surprise as they could get with Bademon's Guard constantly attacking them at irregular intervals. Finally, they were out from under the covering foliage and they stopped to get their bearings.
Cye fell to the ground with a sharp cry. Irene darted to his side as the others took fighting stances and scanned the sky. A deep rumbling laughter filled the air, and an armored figure appeared in the sky overhead, surrounded by nether spirits.
He had a shock of flame red hair and bright green eyes. He wore a leather armor vest, leaving his arms bare. A long scar ran jaggedly down his left arm. He wore brown leather pants and dark army boots. He had a strong, lithe build, with well-tanned skin. Around his neck hung a simple silver chain. In his right hand he held a long, red handled scythe with a spike extruding from its base. At his belt hung a glass tipped whip.
"Hey, who's the dude?" Asked Ryo sarcastically.
"I'm Iraxis. I'm here on orders to destroy you. I will make it a quick and painless death if you surrender now."
"Hey Irene! Is Cye ok?" Yelled Kat, glaring at the floating figure.
"Yea, he's OK. He got hit in the arm, but no damage." Irene replied, helping Cye up.
"Surrender? You gotta be kidding me!" Yelled Kento.
"Bring it on!" Challenged Ryo, preparing to call up his armor. The spirits attacked before he could.
The odd humming voices from the spirits increased suddenly, the orbs around them flaring with blue lights and jumping with electric energy. The bolts jumped out at the Ronins, throwing Kento to the ground with repeated jolts. Sage and Ryo blocked bolts with their swords. Finally, Iraxis began to lower to the ground, holding his scythe at the ready. He charged at the group as he touched the ground, and his blade was met with a clash by Alexis's No-datchi. Quick on his feet, he was around her defense and attacking from a different direction in a split second, making her work hard to continually block his blows.
Irene was getting quite mad, dodging bolts of the deadly lightning and blocking some with her staff. She jumped to miss one that landed where she had been standing, blasting a burning hole in the grass where she had been, then had to block another. The force of it hitting her staff knocked her backwards, and she had to flip to land upright on a tree limb behind her. Using it as a springboard she jumped back at the spirit and sliced through it with the bladed end of the staff. It flickered, shrieked, and disappeared.
"Yes!" exclaimed Irene, reveling momentarily in her victory. A moment was all it took for a nearby nether spirit to focus its attack on her. She hit the ground with a hard thud, repressing a moan of pain.
"Irene!" both Kat and Cye exclaimed, rushing over toward her while fending off more attacks. The spirits were attacking ferociously, drawing power noticeably from each hit. Sage was fighting desperately along side Rowen, four nether spirits closing around them.
"Hey Sage!" called Rowen over his shoulder, "On three! THREE!" they both jumped and slashed at opposing spirits, destroying two.
Alexis dodged an attack from Iraxis, caught another blow to her chest, and she fell backwards. Their swords clashed and it became obvious that Iraxis was more then a warlord.
"What are you?" yelled Alexis, backing away against his onslaught of attack.
"Do you really want to know?" Iraxis grinned evilly, and swung once more at Alexis's breaking defense before bounding back a short distance. "Do you want to really know what I am? What I can become?" He waited grinning for their response.
Alexis looked around herself. The remaining nether spirits were drawing back. Though she knew many had been destroyed from the flashes and strange screams as they perished, there seemed to be just as many as had originally attacked. Kat was back to back with Sage and Rowen in a small circle, watching wearily as the spirits withdrew. Kento had risen and was with Cye, bent over Irene, who was herself recovering quickly. Ryo was moving up to stand with her.
"All right Iraxis." Alexis called. "I asked once, now let's get the answer."
Chapter 43 (Demon Within)
The figure of Iraxis began to glow and morph horribly. Though the bright blue glow obscured most of the details, the sight still made Cye turn away in disgust and Irene's eyes widen. His skin darkened as if it were burning from the inside, and he began to stretch and change. His face elongated, forming an ugly snout and deep-sunk eyes. Two horns sprouted from odd angles on his head.
The clothing shredded as the body grew, the arms becoming large with muscle, oversized hands ending in sharp claws. The legs twisted in strange ways, looking deformed as they moved to support the large frame. Each leg ended in a large half hoof-half claw. The mouth cracked open to reveal rows of sharp teeth and a double set of fangs. The wicked smile was turned toward them, blasting them with foul smelling breath.
"What do think of this form," the creature laughed, raising his claws toward the heavens, basking in his new powerful form. The warriors could only stare, the horror etched on their faces. "It's too bad about you three," said the creature with mock sadness. "You could have been so glorious, stronger than the warlords, and outshining the stars! But I suppose you were stupider than I thought for turning down such an offer, so now I'll have to kill you. I would have eventually done it... but it's more disappointing this way."
"It's Bademon!" Ryo exclaimed. Alexis elbowed him hard.
"Congratulations for stating the obvious, once again." Muttered Kat, glaring at him from behind.
"That thing makes Godzilla look like a teddy bear...," whispered Irene.
"So what's with the monster form, Badey?" asked Alexis, faking a nonchalant tone.
"I've taken this form to destroy you, to better focus my power."
"Oh, so you admit you couldn't have beaten us in the spirit form."
"Insolent fool!" Bademon screamed, diving at Alexis, teeth snapping like a giant whip. Alexis jumped out of the way, pushing Ryo out of the way as she did. Bademon hit the ground, but came up immediately, knocking Alexis as he did. She flipped, and landed near Kat.
"Hey Alexis, nice of you to drop in. Think we should beat this guy now?" Asked Kat, taking a new grip on her swords.
"You think we're going to let you fight this yourselves!" Asked Sage, stepping up next to Alexis.
"You think you have a choice?" Alexis shot back, as they had to duck away from another attack from the monster. The thing was now nearly four times the height of a man, and the scales now prominent on it's hide shone like armor. Claws glimmered as they cut through the air, striking toward the prepared warriors. The Final Battle had begun.
Authors note: insert funky music here :D
Chapter 44 (Final Battle)
Metal clashed on the sub-metal substance of Bademon's claws as Kat, Irene, and Alexis all attacked at the same instant. He stepped forward, trying to crush the Ronins scattered about the ground. Before the three girls eyes, as they were diving and dodging, all the while trying to think of the beast's weak spot, the Ronins fell, leaving them alone to face Bademon...
"Where is he getting all this power from?" Shouted Alexis, a faint tone of fear could be detected but not easily.
"I remember Cye telling me about the past battle with Bademon, he was never able to transform into this monster before!" Irene yelled back.
"Just hold still and die!" screeched Bademon sneeringly.
"He must have found some sufficent energy source from something!" Kat yelled as she ducked one of Bademon's tremendous blows.
Would you like to give me an example Kat? What'd he do eat a sack of batteries or something?" Alexis asked sarcastically.
"I don't know!" Kat yelled back, frustrated, making a semi-elegant flip at the same time.
"Can't we just pull the plug or something?" Irene joked tiredly.
"Well I'm glad you've still got a sense of humor." sighed Kat. "But should we try attacking him all at once instead of yacking our heads off!"
Kento pushed himself off the ground and looked around to where the others were also getting up, except for a figure in dark blue armor. "Row?" Called Kento, but there was no response. Kento looked up to where the girls were bearly holding bademon at bay, then saw Sage stagger upwards. "Hey Sage, help me get Rowen out of the way, I think he was knocked out!"
"What?" gasped Kat, hearing Kento's plea. "Row, Rowens hurt!" she turned and glared at Bademon. "Monster... MONSTER!" she raised one sword high into the air, feeling the imence power that comes from anger rushing through her. A strong gusting wind howled around her, quickly creating a swirling tornado that picked up the debris of smashed tree and up-thrown dirt. "We'll not stop till we kill you, you hear me!" she yelled, as the twister spun out of her control and was flung toward Bademon.
"You've done it now Badey!" Alexis giggled in a mock tone, having seen Kat loose her temper only once before. "You're sooo gonna get it." Alexis held her daggers of ice out infront of her and closed her eyes, feeling a rush of power. The power was odd though, the source wasn't from anger. It was from the pure will to help her friend. It was a power that came from deep within, something that hadn't been awakened before.
Snow, ice, and hail swirled around her small, armored figure, gathering speed and strength as it went. Once it was powerful enough and she could no longer control the force it soared toward the monster in front of her, joining with Kat's twister. The attack became all that much stronger. Alexis drew her nodachi and yelled our her sure-kill.
"SNOWSTORM BLAST!" The frozen bits glowed with her energy, the attack was stronger then it had ever been for her. This would be the end.
Irene looked over at her two friends, their power gathering every second. But how could she help? They both had a strong reason to fight, what was she fighting for? She narrowed her eyes in thought
...For Cye, as she looked over at his crumpled body trying desperately to move. For Mama Marie and Rosalie... for all the Ronins, to help the world, for the hope of the world! To destroy this monster that has ruined so many lives, so many wishes, destroyed them slowly. There was a burst of green light on Irene's forehead and there, vibrantly shinning, was 'hope'.
"VINE WHIP LASH!" Irene screamed. Plants shot out of the earth and twisted around her arms turning into tight vines. Irene let them burst forth, winding around Bademon's hidious form, strangling his body and holding him in place so tight they were cuting into the creature's flesh, while Kat and Alexis's power blast rushed toward him.
The raw energy gathered around the three filled the air. It reached out and filled the Ronins as well, drawing them up from their momentary defeat and together from being scattered by Bademon's wild attack. Whether it was the effect of the the channeling fo the three storm armors, or the simple need that accomplished it, the energy revived the warriors. Four armors glowed.
"ARROW SHOCK WAVE!"
"SUPERWAVE SMASHER!"
"THUNDERBOLT CUT!"
"IRON ROCK CRUSHER!"
Ryo let their minds form the slightest of bonds, felt the wild, searing heat as he called up the sparkling rainbow-white armor. He melded with the energy surging in the air.
"RAGE OF INFERNO!"
The power was immense. Together, wind, ice, and flame melded and exploded. It lit the eerie yellow dynasty sky.
And Bademon fell. His form reduced from the monsterous one to that of Iraxis. Blood dripping from his many wounds, his burned and charred body tried to move. Failing the attempt, he lay there jerking wildly, small lighting bolts of fading energy danced in the sand/dirt around him.
Finally, he lifted up his head to look at the three Warlordesses. On their foreheads he could see three bright symbols. Shining in blue on Kat's forhead was Love; radiating the color of her armor, Eternity shone bright on Alexis's forhead; Irene's symbol of hope glowed with her newfound reason. His dying eyes filled with fury. Many times he opened his mouth as if speaking, but no one heard any sound.
Finally he lay back, closed his eyes, and grinned his last, malicious smile. The world exploded. The entire desert shook and the air was filled with purple light. Everyone was thrown backwards and the Ronins saw nothing for hours except black.
Epilog
Slowly Sage opened his eyes. The desert wind breezed across his face and whispered in his ears.
"Where am I?" He thought dimly.
Then he remembered. He looked wildly around for the others. He began to see the other Ronins as dark shapes coming toward him.
"Where is Irene?" Came Cye's choked voice.
"I don't know!" Said Sage, pushing himself up and looking desperately for any sign of the three Warlordesses in the endless sand.
"I can't find them either." Rowen replied sorrowfully.
"We'll keep looking!" Ryo said.
"Hey guys! I think I found something!" Kento shouted across the raging wind. All four of the Ronins rushed toward Kento's voice, stopped dead in their tracks, and stared. There in the sand lay three orbs. One ice pink, one forest green, and one pale blue. Each shining with a different kanji; Eternity, Hope, and Love. The last traces of the three warlordesses.
Elsewhere, four girls awoke in their own beds to stare at the oncoming daylight through their windows.
"EMERIS!"
The End