SailorStar9: Figured I needed to get this chapter out before you guys hunt me down. So this is Chapter 15. I just rewrote Chapter 14. Read and review.
Disclaimers: Nothing here are mine, well, except the plot.
Chapter 15: The Ancient's Battle
With Anubis in tow, the mysterious Ancient led the group to a deserted park.
Whiteblaze walked towards his former master and growled lowly.
"Whiteblaze, I see that you're doing well." the Ancient turned to the white tiger, stroking him.
Then, he turned to his disciples, "Wildfire, Strata, Halo, Torrent and Hardrock. Brimming with such high spirits, you have strengthened your armor and I believe you are ready to take on Talpa's castle."
"We thank you for saving us from Talpa so many times." Sage told him.
Aside, Yuli tugged Mia's sleeve and gasped, "Mia. Look, that staff!"
Mia nodded in realization.
The Ancient then turned to the non-fighters.
Coming before Athena, he bowed respectfully, "I apologize for arriving so late, Athena."
The Goddess gave him a small nod in acknowledgment.
Just then, the rings on his staff clanged loudly before bursting into a bright golden light as three objects emerged from the staff and floated before the Goddess. A moment later, the three objects flared into a brilliant holy aura. When the light died down, everyone could see there were three additional objects on Athena's body; a golden bird-shaped hair-pin was attached to the right side of her head, a golden arm-ring was clasped around her upper right arm and on her waist, a golden diamond-shaped girdle.
Turning to Mia, the Ancient added, "I apologize for having put you through such difficulty in order to bring the Ronin Warriors together and make them stronger."
"I heard the armor was capable of enormous power when all are united." Mia replied. "Will that power be realized now?"
"Good or evil, the armors contain the power to overwhelm the other." the Ancient replied.
"May I ask Ancient." Rowen stepped forward. "What is the secret of Anubis' armor?"
"The bearer of the Ogre armor, Anubis, he has the same armor as yours." Athena answered.
"What?" Ryo gasped. "So, the four Warlords have the same armor as us?"
"The armors of the four Warlords are under the control of Talpa." Athena replied.
"Athena is right." the Ancient nodded. "And it is those armors that you must win over. Talpa needs the power of the armors. If you lose heart and abandon your virtue for a moment, you will fall under his control."
"Ancient, you need not worry." Ryo assured him. "We will defeat Talpa. We've grown stronger by keeping that belief close to our hearts.
"I feel assured." Ancient nodded.
Just then, Anubis started to wake up. The five Ronin Warriors drew their weapons.
"Wait!" Ancient stopped them. "You must leave him with me. Anubis is human. As he expressed antipathy towards Talpa, we may be able to talk to him. "
"But..." Ryo protested as he withdrew his weapon.
"I don't want to hand Anubis' armor back to Talpa." Ancient told him.
When they were left alone, the Ancient began to speak to the knelt down Anubis.
"Anubis, open your heart and listen carefully to what I say."
Anubis looked up at the monk.
"You were about to be destroyed by your own master." the Ancient told him.
"I own my life to Master Talpa." Anubis retorted.
"Your life?" the Ancient repeated. "I believe not. It's your armor that he wants."
"What? My armor?" Anubis echoed.
"Yes." the Ancient replied. "Your life is not a concern for him."
"My armor?" Anubis replied. "Is there some kind of mystery to my armor?"
"There is." the Ancient replied. "The armors are created from human virtues. Wildfire is 'Virtue', Hardrock is 'Justice', Halo is 'Wisdom', Strata is 'Life', Torrent is 'Trust'."
"The armors are made of human virtues?" Anubis echoed.
"Look Anubis!" the Ancient declared as he raised his staff. A pink light glowed from the orb, forcing Anubis to shield his eyes.
"What are you...?" Anubis gasped, turning away as he walked towards the lake.
"This is..." he blinked as the symbol of 'Loyalty' glowed on his forehead.
"This is the truth of your armor. Loyalty. This means that you're loyal and obedient to your master." the Ancient explained. "But you have the right to choose your master."
"Master Talpa was everything to me." Anubis realized.
"You have been enchanted by Talpa's dark forces for more than a thousand years." the Ancient revealed.
"The armors of the five Ronin Warriors, as well as the fours of the four Warlords, began as one armor." he added before walking away.
"Is this all true, Ancient?" Anubis asked.
"It is for you to decide who is right and wrong. If you live according to the true virtue of your armor, it will protect you and be faithful to you." the Ancient answered.
"Anubis, open your heart and be transformed by your own will." he concluded before the monk disappeared totally into the darkness.
"Ancient..." Anubis muttered.
Back in Talpa's castle, the evil overlord greeted his remaining Warlords, "Anubis has joined the side of the Ancient. I have no interest in him, but I must have his armor back."
"Master Talpa, why are you so concerned about Anubis' armor?" Cale asked.
"Anubis fell to the enemy. Are you not concerned about his fate?" Sekhmet asked.
"Silence!" Talpa hollered. "Find Anubis and bring him to me. There are powers within that armor that you're not even aware of."
"Powers that we're not aware of?" Cale echoed.
"Mater Talpa, what is this power?" Dais asked.
Talpa growled and shot red energy beams from his eyes, binding the three Warlords with his power.
"That is none of your concern!" Talpa told them. "The Ronin Warriors have Anubis. And the Ancient is protecting him as well. Go! The three of you join forces and attack them together."
Back in the park, Anubis was recalling what the Ancient had told him.
Has my fate been controlled by Talpa all this time? Anubis wondered. Did I swear my loyalty to the wrong master?
"This, Anubis, you have to decide for yourself." came a gentle voice.
The Warlord turned around to see the Goddess of Wisdom and Just War behind him.
Walking towards the girl, he knelt before her.
"Athena, please forgive me for recklessly attacking you before." he apologized.
"Anubis." Athena smiled. "I believe now you're willing to fight for righteous and justice."
"Yes." Anubis bowed lower. "I'm willing to give up my life to atone my sins."
Just then, Anubis sensed something as lightning flashed across the sky. Standing up, he placed himself before the Goddess, intent on protecting her. Three streams of lightning came down from the skies and from within, the three Warlords appeared. Seeing who had appeared, Anubis turned to the Goddess behind him.
"Athena, please retreat." he requested.
"But..." Athena blinked.
"Please." the Warlord pleaded.
Athena merely sighed and nodded, quickly withdrawing from the battlefield.
"Anubis!" Sekhmet called out.
"We've come to get you." Dais told him as he hang upside down from a tree.
"All this way." Cale added.
Anubis smirked, "Is that so?"
"Talpa wants you back." Sekhmet told him.
"I'm not going back." Anubis announced.
"What?" Dais demanded.
"Talpa tried to kill me. He doesn't intent on using me." Anubis replied.
"Are you not going to submit to Master Talpa?" Cale asked.
"I'm saying I'm not returning to the castle." Anubis added. "Just get out of here."
Cale chuckled, "You think you can talk your way out of this? Master Talpa said dead or alive."
"Here!" he cried, thrusting his claw at the renegade Warlord and swiping him away.
Anubis fell right into Dais' attack range and the Warlord of Illusion fired his nunchaku at him. Anubis got hit but managed to grab onto one of of Dais' weapon. The Warlord of Illusion released his nunchaku just as Sekhmet unscathed his weapons. As Anubis fell back, the Warlord of Venom thrust his two blades at him. Using Dais' nunchaku, Anubis defended himself. With the two at a standstill, Cale took this opportunity and thrust his claw into Anubis' abdomen. Pain overcame him, the the youngest Warlord passed out on the ground.
"How foolish of him to go against Master Talpa's wishes." Dais remarked as he came down from the tree he was hanging on.
"Let's go." Sekhmet added. He was about to take Anubis back when a golden arrow intervened.
"We're not letting you take Anubis!" Rowen declared, standing on a branch, his bow poised to fire.
"That's right!" Ryo agreed as he and Kento leapt from the bushes. Landing on the ground, he unscathed his swords.
"Where're you looking?" Sage asked, as he and Cye followed suit, jumping down from the trees. "Your opponents..."
"Are over here!' Cye finished the sentence.
"Don't interfere Ronin Warriors." Sekhmet told them.
"We will take care of Anubis." Cale added.
Dais laughed, "Anubis may have turned but we can still use him."
"Anubis is staying with us!" Ryo declared.
"Then, you have to fight!" Cale announced, drawing his sword.
"All right!" Kento cried out, leaping into battle.
Sekhmet crossed his swords to defend himself
"We're not giving you Anubis!" Ryo declared as he struck at Cale, the Warlord using his blade to parry off the attack.
Quickly, the five Ronins squared off with their respective opponents.
Anubis awoke to the sound of battle. Sitting up painfully, he watched as the five Ronins fought evenly with the three Warlords.
The five Ronin Warriors... they have clearly matured and grown. This must be from following the true virtues of their armors. Anubis surmised.
"Yes." Athena replied as she stepped forward. "Five elements and four seasons. Only when all the nine armor bearers work together can Talpa be truly defeated."
"Athena..." Anubis blinked.
The Goddess simply smiled at him before resting her hand on his palm, transferring her healing Cosmo to him.
This feeling... Anubis gaped as he felt Athena's Cosmo flowing through him and healing his injuries. Yes, this feeling is truly suited for the Goddess who protects the land.
Faraway, the Ancient watched as the battle unfolded. Anubis, look at how the Ronin Warriors fight. Their armors are strengthened by human virtue.
Back in his castle, Talpa growled as he watched Athena lead his waylaid Warlord away from the battlefield.
After the battle, the three Warlords then realized that Anubis had slipped out of their grasp.
Cursing mentally, the three retreated back to the castle.
After the three returned, the Ancient appeared.
"Ancient." Sage turned to their mentor.
"As I expected, Talpa clearly seeks the power of the armors. The power of the four Warlords, as well as the power of your armors." the Ancient told the group as Mia and Yuli ran towards them.
"Ancient, don't worry about us." Ryo assured him.
"Talpa's castle is brimming with the power of the Netherworld." the Ancient added. "You must not underestimate it."
"The Netherworld..." Ryo gasped.
"What do you mean by that? Are you implying that there is no way we can get in?" Kento demanded.
"Ancient One, is there a way into the castle?" Yuli asked.
The ancient thought for a moment and answered, "There is a way into Talpa's domain."
"I see." Kento replied. "Now, you're talking."
"Talpa's domain..." Rowen mused.
"Now we can finish this war quickly." Sage noted.
"Yuli, you can leave it to me." Kento told the young boy.
"Really?" Yuli beamed.
"Yeah." Kento replied. "All right, let's get something to eat first."
"I guess Kento fights better on a full stomach." Yuli joked.
"Not always!" Kento protested, causing the group to laugh.
What's wrong, Ancient One? Ryo wondered. The bridge to the castle. What does the Ancient One have in mind? He seems to be agonizing at the thought.
Back in the castle, the three Warlords were greatly surprised when Talpa did not punish them for their failure.
"It's all right." the evil overlord told them. "Anubis will realize that it won't do him good to defy me."
"Master Talpa." Dais spoke up.
"The Ronin Warriors grow stronger by the day and we know we can't defeat them the way we are now." Dais replied.
"We beseech you to infuse the Netherworld's power into our armors so that we can destroy them once and for all." Sekhmet added.
"With the Netherworld's power within us, we will be able to withstand any difficulty." Cale agreed.
Talpa chuckled, "You want the power of the Nether Spirits? Their power is the source of power in the Netherworld. Show me you're ready to take the power of the Netherworld."
"Yes Master!" the three chorused.
With the three out of earshot, Talpa mumbled, "Now that the three are intent on using the power of the Nether Spirits, the five pests will be easily dealt with. But I'm worried about the Ancient. We must defeat him."
In an underground subway, the five Ronins had shed their armor and were waiting for the Ancient's next instructions.
"The Ancient had better hurry or we won't be able to defeat Talpa." Kento complained.
"With the Ancient's promise, getting into the castle should be a snap." Cye soothed his friend.
"But what is the Ancient One thinking?" Rowen inquired.
"The castle of the Netherworld huh?" Sage wondered outloud. "We should follow the Ancient's guidance here."
After a moment of silence, Kento turned to his quiet leader and asked, "Hey Ryo, what are you thinking about?"
"I guess there's no point in thinking too much." Ryo replied. "But I'm wondering about the Ancient's plan for getting into the castle. If the castle is the Netherworld..."
"If the Ancient said he could get us in, he can. He said it himself that we should rest up for the fight." Kento assured him.
"I see." Ryo agreed. "I guess I was thinking too much."
His attention was caught by Yuli's dream-talk.
"Mom... dad..." the boy muttered.
"He's talking in his sleep." Mia told the Ronins.
"Damn, I'd really like to reunite Yuli with his parents." Kento cursed.
Then, Ryo asked, "Where's the Ancient? And Athena?"
"Huh? They were here a minute ago." Cye replied, looking around for the missing two.
Up top, the Ancient was looking up at Talpa's castle with Athena and Whiteblaze beside him. Whiteblaze gently nuzzled his former master.
"Whiteblaze, watch over the Ronin Warriors." the Ancient instructed.
"You're still going to do it, aren't you?" Athena asked the dreaded question.
The Ancient let out a small smile and nodded.
"You know me too well, my child. And yes, I'll have to do it, for there is no other way." He answered.
"But…" Athena protested.
The Ancient held up a hand to silence her. Seeing his determined expression, the Goddess sighed and relented. She stood silently as she watched the Ancient walk off.
Walking some distance away, the Ancient raised his staff, the rings creating a crime.
"Ancient..." Talpa chuckled. "Why are you in a hurry to die?" At that, he disappeared to meet with his nemesis.
The Ancient walked further, taking the battle into a deserted road. Slamming his staff on the road, the rings chiming, the Ancient announced his presence to Talpa.
"Ancient!" Talpa's floating head appeared before him. "I'll have you know that your resistance is futile. I will have all of the Ronin Warriors' armors back in my possession! When that happens, not even your precious Goddess can stop my domination over this world!"
"Talpa..." the Ancient replied. "So you are after the power of the nine armors. But as long as the human spirit stands strong, you will never gain the power of the armors."
"Have you forgotten that I am the master of all the armors?" Talpa reminded him. "I just want them returned. The armors!"
"The human spirit will protect the armor until the end." the Ancient told him.
"Vanish Talpa"' he demanded, the rob of his staff blasting the evil overlord with pink energy.
"I'm no longer impressed with your power." Talpa mocked as the energy beams passed by harmlessly. Shooting a beam of yellow energy at the Ancient, Talpa encircled the monk in a circle of fire.
"Talpa! Do not underestimate the power of their armors!" the Ancient warned. "Even if you destroy me, they'll surely destroy you!"
"Silence!' Talpa hollered. "The armors can either be good or bad. I will be sure to make its power mine!"
His eyes flashed an eerie red and Talpa used his power to restrict the Ancient. Breaking free of his energy bonds, the Ancient knelt and used his staff's power to form a five-pointed star formation, dispelling the fire.
"Weak pathetic thing!" Talpa bellowed, sending more of his power to his mortal enemy. The red thunderbolts concentrated on the Ancient and the monk let out a cry as the thunder struck down on him. Talpa laughed at his enemy's demise.
"This is the end of me." the Ancient concluded. "Ronin Warriors, you must defeat the Netherworld with the virtues of Justice, Wisdom, Trust, Virtue and Life! I'll entrust Athena to you!"
With a cry, he broke free of Talpa's bonds and using his staff's orb, forced the evil overlord back into his castle.
As Talpa's red thunder struck across the the sky, the Ancient merely stood still as he allowed the single, red pillar of dark energy strike him. With the last ounce of his life force, the Ancient created an energy bridge of shimmering blue.
A split second later, Athena gasped when she felt the Ancient's Cosmo die off. Sinking to her knees, she muttered, "Ancient, now I understand your sacrifice."
The resulting impact shook the ground below, awakening Yuli from his nap.
"What is that?" Cye asked.
Moments later, the five Ronins and Anubis rushed to the surface and saw the towering energy path heading up the the sky.
Ryo's attention was diverted by Whiteblaze's mournful wail.
"Whiteblaze, what's the matter?" Ryo asked the white tiger.
"What?" Rowen gasped, realizing what had happened.
"How can this..." Mia muttered, realizing the same thing.
"How dare you Ancient!" Talpa growled in anger. "What a wretched act!"
Then he chuckled, "Ancient, I see you still believe in the power of the Ronin Warriors. So be it, I'll let them into my castle. Come to me, Ronin Warriors!"
"This is the bridge the Ancient promised." Ryo noted.
"Can we get into the castle if we go up that?" Kento asked.
SailorStar9: The good news is this chapter is done. The bad news is the Ancient died in this episode. Read and review.
