Author's Note: Okay, once again, this chapter has had a bit of a change from it's original posting, as it is now from Seiya's point of view, literally. I'm going to extend the action section so I don't have two chapters of pure introduction and exposition. You'll thank me if you read the first draft. And if you didn't, doesn't the boys meeting by working together against a common foe sound better than meeting after defeating a common foe? I thought so.

Golden Inferno

Pegasus was in a black, stone chamber illuminated by brilliant blue-white torches. The light was dispersed by a thin, grey mist spread throughout the room. Seiya was floating about fifteen feet off the ground, quite securely chained to an almost invisible yet very hard and sturdy material in an upright position, arms outstretched, legs together.

Directly in front of him was a more muscular and less conscious young man held in a similar position to Seiya's. This was truly how the Bronze Knight could tell anything of his own restraints. But what most earned Pegasus' attention was the stranger's armor. It was orange, and somehow uncomfortably similar to that of the Warlords'. It seemed intimidating, even discounting the sturdy staff strapped firmly to the young man's back. Over the right breast was a gold insignia on a black background. It appeared to be a stylized version of the warrior's own helmet. For some reason, Seiya had the sense of earth from the husky fighter.

Beyond burly, Cale also hung suspended, his head down and his weapon across his back. 'I suppose this means that they aren't the ones behind this. I hope that's a good thing.' Seiya bit his lip worriedly as he continued his glancing appraisal of the strange room.

Above Seiya's right hand, Pegasus could see a boy with a few strands of black hair escaping his red helmet. He bore two katanas, not unlike those Sekhmet had used. His symbol was four diamonds forming a diamond of their own, displayed on either shoulder. His build was closer to Seiya's own, somewhat slender but with unmistakable strength underneath. Seiya was a little surprised that while the bigger boy and Cale looked far more like Ikki, there was something about this red-clad figure that felt to Pegasus like Phoenix. There was a definitely dangerous quality, a burning power just below the surface. Seiya made a mental note to watch his step until he'd learned more about these people. Across from the fiery young man was Shiryu.

Below and further to the right of this "pair", a very tired looking Dais had his head resting on his chest. His white hair shadowed his abnormally pale features, and his weapons were just behind him, yet well out of reach.

Below Seiya's right leg, a slender boy was resting in similar straits. His armor was pale blue, his sign a simplified yin-yan, and his weapon a spear with three prongs, the two outer of which were wickedly curved, while the center was stunted. In fact, it was only because of the weapon that Seiya could tell the boy's device at all! His build was lean, even compared to Pegasus and fire-man, but Seiya somehow knew messing with him was about as smart as ticking off Shun. Across from blue boy was Ikki. Seiya couldn't help musing that Phoenix managed to look angry even in his sleep.

On the upper left hand of the orange guy was Shun, and below him, Hyoga. Across from the gentlest Knight was a green clad boy with a sword very similar to Cale's, which did not help Pegasus in feeling any better about this situation. His shoulder bore an upside-down lightning bolt as token. A thick lock of gold fell between his closed eyes. Despite the obvious similarities in coloration between the stranger and Swan, Seiya thought the sworded blond's features closer to Shun's -- delicate to the extent of being feminine. This did not make Pegasus doubt for a minute that the fellow knew full well how to use that nodatchi of his to cut just about any opponent to ribbons. In a weird way, Seiya was almost reminded of Shaka by the other blond.

Across from the Siberian was another blue boy. This time the bearer was tall, a lock of dark blue hair softening the effect of a long, pointed helmet. His emblem was one of an arrowhead with three tails, again emblazoned on his shoulders. Fittingly, his weapon was a very compact bow, from what Seiya could make of it.

To the left and between these two sets of fighters, Kayura had her pretty head down as if asleep. And she looked exhausted. Her jitte were gone; in their place a gold staff glowed dimly from her right hand, despite the fact she too was restrained in the same fashion as everyone else. Her grip on the object was just about the only thing assuring Pegasus that the young Empress was even alive!

'This is too weird.' Pegasus muttered finally as he struggled with his bonds. 'Uh oh. Looks like I got something's attention.' No sooner had the words come to mind, the light mist began gathering between himself and hefty, taking the form of a woman in silvery garb with obsidian hair flowing behind her. When she spoke, it sent shivers down his spine.

"Ah, my little pony wishes to be free. Can't have that." She crooned.

"Ereshkigal, I take it." He replied coldly to the sugary tone, his temper simmering at being called little and pony in one breath.

"Aren't you the clever one. Like that one, over there. But you weren't supposed to wake up yet!" Seiya glanced quickly at Dais, following her gesture, then returned his gaze to the woman, her crimson lips drawn in a cocky grin across her pale face. Her eyes were very, very red. "You see, this is my little party. We are celebrating my coronation to a brand new title -- Queen of Every World. You and my other guests are going to give me a wonderful present. The Golden Inferno Armor!" She exclaimed, settling in the air between and above the larger boy and himself.

"The WHAT?!" Pegasus couldn't help but scream, his gaping mouth continuing to gesture without adding any further articulations from shear disbelief. ''Is she crazy, or should I be worried? And why do I always have to find this stuff out from the bad guys?! Shouldn't being a good guy come with a manual of abilities, or first dibs on info, or something? And why is Kayura shaking?!'

"That does it!" But before Seiya could say anything further, the other female's voice filled the chamber.

"Ronin Warriors, TO ARMS!" As the Empress called, not only could Pegasus now see she had been laughing, but her staff began to resonate, and glowing kanji appeared on the foreheads of the strangers. It seemed even the Warlords had symbols that flared more dimly. These kanji warrior's, upon awaking, also developed glowing bubbles, somewhat like cosmos, in the same colors as their armor. On top of this, when these aura's touched his friends, their cosmos reacted and glowed gold until they, too, had awoken. But the strangest part was that Pegasus now realized the Jewel from what he had assumed to be a very twisted dream was hanging around his neck, glowing and resonating with the staff.

Amid the screeching laughter of the fog-like freak-show, everyone found out their chains were not breaking any time soon!

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? Who are you?" Ikki started with a bellow, but his voice lowered menacingly once his eyes leveled on the woman's as she turned to face him. It seemed to Pegasus that Phoenix almost bristled, like he was convinced suddenly that there was a threat.

"Where are we?" Shun queried in a gentle, almost drowsy voice before catching Ikki's soft, dangerous tone and looked up sharply, fully awake. A rustling around the slight Knight told Pegasus the Nebula Chains were also bound.

"Oh, I didn't tell you, little lamb, your darling toys won't work against my barrier."

"My. . . hey!" Andromeda called indignantly, turning his attention from his chains to her with a glare.

"Are we sure she's sane?" Yin-yan asked no one in particular with a mildly amused and somewhat confused British accent.

"Of course, I'm perfectly sane, little fish."

"If you call one more thing little. . ." Helmet began to retort irritably for the warrior Seiya assumed to be orange-armor's friend, but was cut off in turn by their captor.

"And what, little mole?" Ereshkigal goaded "You'll threaten me some more?"

"MOLE! What the. . ."

But hefty's rant was once again interrupted by a polite yet cowing tone from an unexpected quarter. His steely violet eyes flashed a warning as sword boy turned them towards the woman. "Listen lady, what do you want from us?" His low voice fairly growled, bringing a surprised yet somehow approving look from Ikki, and a lopsided grin from arrow head. Even Dragon sported a bemused smile, but Kayura, who was still shaking -- with laughter -- was sufficiently quieted. A space of silence followed the words.

"Well, well, my little glow worm, you've grown quite a tone." While he had flustered her momentarily, Ereshkigal collected herself quickly enough. "But, you will give me what I desire. Now!" The witch's voice rang clear, filling the chamber as she ascended further above her fourteen prisoners, arms flung wide, cackling hysterically.

The silver restraints that held the fighters began to glow as her mirth subsided into an incantation. None of them could make any of it out. Finally, Kayura's staff's ringing reached its height, and the armor of the three Warlords lit with energy. Kanji flared again as the five other armors followed suit, and the golden cosmos of the Knights intensified. It felt to each that he or she was having all the energy they'd ever known sucked out of them. Just as it seemed they could give little else, and they could no longer avoid crying out, their pain subsided.

An ear splitting scream diverted their attention, and a form of earthy, natural colors materialized in the center of the formation. The ache continued to dwindle as the figure became more clear. Red hair was seen floating around a brown human shape. Energy was still being taken, but more gently now, until at last the face of the final new comer was seen and the energy flow stopped.

"Anubis?" Six boys asked with varying degrees of confusion, disbelief and joy as there could no longer be any doubt. The four other Knights shared the questioning look of the new boys towards Pegasus, while the Warlords and Kayura simply smiled. From Dais' good eye, a solitary streak of felicity graced his somewhat gaunt cheek.

"What?! How could you? My beautiful plans! HOW DARE YOU TRICK ME!" I'm not finished yet! AWAY WITH YOU!" The voice came from above, it's speaker growing immaterial as the redhead became more substantial. A sweeping gesture from what the onlookers assumed to be their captor's arm dematerialized her completely, but also sent the fifteen other people in the room flying in nine directions!

Seiya summed up the only thought anyone seemed capable of, given their surprise, with a groaned "What now?"

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Yes, what now indeed. You'll just have to wait until next week to find out, because I'm not telling yet.
About the yin-yan / ying-yang thing. The way I understand it is, the proper spelling is yin-yan, but we Americans or whoever spelled it differently corrupted it. If I'm wrong about that, feel free to correct me and I'll do further research on my own to remedy my ignorance.