Chapter 13 - Rising from the Ashes

Authors Note: Hellfire has its own chapter. Please be patient.

A shriek of incredible power echoed across the city as Mount Fuji erupted. A purity to counter the chaos that was Ashura. Hariel was awake and pissed off.

Earlier Ryo had gone to face the Chaos Warrior and failed. The Mark of Chaos was now on the leader of the Ronins. The Four Guardians knew what was coming. Only one armor was spoken in fear in the old days of the Nether Realm. The Hellfire. The only armor that was designed to bring hell to earth.

Ryo writhed in bed, kicking off the covers and breaking from the restraints several times. His sign had cracked and even Wildfire wasn't responding to Ryo.

"So it is true...a broken virtue and the pure armor leaves, replaced by a corrupt one of the same element." Reinhardt said softly.

"No! Reinhardt you can't be saying that--"

"Aye...he has called to Hellfire."

"Oh hell no!" a voice said startling them all. Sapphire eyes smoldered.

"Hari!" Ramzal yelped. "I..."

"Quiet, Ramzal. I will not have my heir call to that cursed armor."

"But he is cursed." Sanjuro stated bluntly.

"Gee thanks for pointing that out, Guardian of the Obvious!"

Sanjuro stared at Hariel wondering why the leader of the Five Guardians was so bitter. He then knew. Of couse that did not stop Sanji from stating points to Hari.

"Hariel, we have to consider if this was written in his fate. You died to become the Phoenix. Maybe he has to fight this chaos off to follow your path."

"I see... still I do not like it. It seems I have no choice. Sleep Ryo." Hariel commanded. The last two words he said carried the weight of a spell.

Hariel sighed. 'Prepare your kin for the worst...Ryo will not know them.."

The Phoenix had finally arrived, but it was too late.

It was now time. Alec had to how himself. Donning once more the Darkness that was Castor and the Soul Armor, he appeared before the manor and alerted all the Guardians with just his presence.

Inside they felt it. They knew who it was. Sanjuro sighed.

"So it is time...The traitor and kinslayer Castor has arrived." The Guardian of Air said somberly.

"Indeed. He must die. I do not care who he is." Hariel said his voice quiet.

The four stared at the Fire Guardian. Geez this guy was bitter.

Sanjuro sighed. 'Fine, but I will not join you. I am not a kinslayer."

"WHAT! You mean this TRAITOR is YOUR KIN! Sanji damnit, why didn't you tell us?" Hariel raved.

"For exactly that reason dragon breath! Now calm down...we cannot just up and kill the son of Kaosu! He bears the dark half of the Armor of Ages! I will not kill him!"

Hariel stared at the others after a while and he had time to calm down. "Sorry guys...I am a spirit of vengeance until my death is avenged. It was Ashura who betrayed me. He is the reason I died the way I did.

Sanjuro smiled gently. 'Leave the revenge to us... your friends for a millenia. We will avenge you..."

Naste was looking in her grandfathers files again and manged to decode this:

When Fire is dark and hope is lost

The Spirit of Light shall prevail.

Hellfire and Phoenix cannot mix

But throw in the Dreamwalker and they fit.

"Guys look! I found something. The sane warriors and Jun rushed to Naste. Sanjuro smiled. "So it is true...there is a Dreamwalker...but only he can meld the soul of Hellfire with the purity of the Phoenix... this will split the Phoenix armor... Gold and Jet."

"Gold and Jet, Light and Dark. When the Phoenix is two the Phoenix twins are revealed..." Hariel added softly.

Authors Note: Another done. Who is the Dreamwalker? Why the Phoenix Twins? Castor, a mystery in itself. The answers come...next chapter. NOW REVIEW DAMNIT!