Author's Note: Okay so while I am planning on some hook ups between the Ronin and the Winx I don't really know what pairings except for a few. Also because this week I've been insanely productive with writing here is a third chapter.
Disclaimer: Again like before, I don't own either the Ronin Warriors or the Winx Club, and I make no money off of either.
Chapter 3) Flowers and Light
The night had rolled into its peak, the moon high in the sky but Flora couldn't sleep. She'd left the bed and was staring out the window at the city her arms crossed shielding herself from unknown forces. True she spoke of love and finding it again but Flora doubted she would. It had taken so long for her to admit anything to Helia, she was just too timid for love. She could feel tears touching her brown lashes as she stared out the window. Flora looked back at Musa and Techna as she wiped the tears from her eyes. Why did this happen? Had it been prompted by Riven leaving, or was a dark fear of hers right. Was this something that had been coming for a while. She needed to get out to be surrounded by nature it was the only way she would be calm enough to sleep.
Quietly Flora transformed and snuck out the window. She flew over the city and didn't stop till she reached a forest. She nearly sighed with happiness and relief as her feet touched the ground. She walked among the trees her fingers trailing over the bark. Flora closed her eyes and listened to the voice of nature hearing it rejoice in this small paradise. A river, and waterfall near by and maybe animal lived within this forest. It was relaxing and peaceful. She was connecting to the forest forgetting about everything around her.
"Agh!" Flora pulled her hand away from the tree and clenched her head. Suddenly part of the forest was screaming. There was something hurting it tainting it and it pounded through her head. The forest's fear and pain tore through her like lightning. She could feel in fearing a cruel and harsh presence the growling of wolves, and glowing red eyes. Ice over taking everything killing everything without remorse. Flora crumpled to the ground her hands clutching her head as she tried to pull away from the forest, but she couldn't she was connected now whether she wanted to be or not. She could at least pull back and lessen the screams but even that wasn't enough. Then like a slow wave over the sand, voice of nature slowly stilled to a whimpering plea, with a touch of hope. Nature hoped for a protector to save it, to dull the pain of the corruption flooding the air.
Flora stood up her hands shaking and she could feel the pure evil in the air. She could feel how it twisted the nature of things and destroyed them. With a heated look of determination her wings fluttered against the night air zooming her towards the source of the forest's anguish. Flora braced herself lifting her hands up to guard herself as the dark energy, the forest feared washed over her. When she could look she saw Darcy and many of the soldiers that Musa had described. There was a gate standing tall before her opening slowly and evil was seeping out of it. Flora was reaching for her phone when she felt pain lance through her back. She fell a bit before catching herself to look up at Darcy while the other Darcy faded away to nothing.
"Well it looks like I get the bragging rights of the day." Darcy laughed the soldier were all drawing closer.
Flora gasped as she watched the dark energy swirl around Darcy. Her head still pounding with nature's cries making it harder for her to concentrate. "What are you doing Darcy!"
"Getting rid of a pest, I thought that was obvious." Darcy mocked her with a dark chuckle. "Shadow Vortex!" Darcy called out pointing the spell at the dazed fairy of nature. Darcy's glee though turned quickly to a pout as her target was whisked out of the range of her spell. "Hey." Darcy snapped with a glare.
Flora couldn't focus or dodge so when someone grabbed her and pulled her out of the way she was grateful. The voice of nature quieted at the presence of this person taking reassurance in a guardian it knew. Flora opened her eyes and looked at who was holding her. She gasped at the shocking violet gaze that was fixed on Darcy.
"Why are you opening a gate to the dynasty!" The man demanded. His green armor was almost glowing in the night. He glanced only at Flora for a moment before letting her go and shifting his grip on the large nodachi, the sword had a few edges that made it look similar to a lightning bolt.
"Like I'd tell you boy scout!" Darcy sneered. "Get them! Blast of Darkness!" Darcy called her spell but she was already moving a copy of herself.
Both Flora and the warrior were able to get away from the blast of darkness. It wasn't like Darcy to give such a weak attempt, and that's when Flora realized what the witch was doing. The green warrior was busy cutting through the darker green soldiers that he hadn't seen Darcy move behind him.
"Blast of Darkness!"
"Look out!" Flora yelled flinging herself in the way of the dark blast just as the green warrior turned around. Flora cried out in pain as the blast hit her instead of the warrior. He hurt but she was still conscious and trying to stand again. As she struggled she felt a hand grasp her elbow and help her steady herself.
"Just like Rajura…" Flora heard the warrior mutter lifting the sword so the image of Darcy reflected in the sword. It showed the real Darcy moving as the fake faded off the blade. "That trick won't work twice!" He declared lifting the sword. "Thunderbolt cut!" White and blue energy charged forth as he cut the air.
"Autumn Wind!" Flora called out adding her own attack to the green warriors. The flowers and leaves swirled around the lightning the powers coming together like when she'd used convergence with her friends. Flora could see Darcy trying to flee the attack but it was just too much. There was a scream of pain and as the blast faded Darcy was left weak and wounded. No soldier to defend her and no way to fight on.
"Damn it." Darcy cursed blood was dripping down her face. It was all she could do to teleporting away from the two feeling dizzy and finding it hard to breath. "Enjoy this for now!" Darcy glared at both of them as she appeared before the gate diving into it as it slammed shut the forest rejoicing as it vanished.
"Good.. She's ahng." Flora whimpered as she tried to stand up on her own. Her side and arms were badly hurt from Darcy's magic. She fought the tears that wanted to come from pain. Her side was scraped up and bruised, and her arm was scrapped up deeply and ached down to the bones.
"Why did you do that?" The green warrior demanded turning her so she was looking at him. His violet gaze flickered over her wounds before going back up to her face.
"You would have been hurt." Flora countered though her gaze dropped at the harsh look he had on his face. A few tears slipped out between the accusation in his tone and the pain. As she heard a sigh Flora glanced up again and was shocked to see a pained worry on his face instead of the cold mask that was there a moment ago.
It was never a strength of Seiji's to let another help him, especially if they ended up hurt. It bothered him deeply though most took it as a cold and callous nature, instead of wanting to protect those he cared for. "You still shouldn't have, my armor would have protected me just fine." Seiji stated before reaching out a metal clad hand. He gently moved her arm while his other hand rested on her hip to steady her. The red blood of her wounds touched the white metal of his glove and reflected in the moonlit in an muted way. "Just stay still for a moment. They don't seem to be life threatening but it is still best to heal them." He said softly as if he was talking more to himself than her.
Flora blinked in realization that this was the healer Musa had told them of. He wasn't nearly as cold as Musa had made him sound. Flora could see the flicker of concealed emotions playing through his eyes, and even the forest around them knew his concern and worry. Even his touch was soft and gentle despite the cold metal covering his hands. She also noted how the sword he'd been holding had been dropped carelessly so he could steady her and examine her. Flora watched him close his eyes and and steady his breath before a warmth began to spread through her arm at the wrist where he was holding her. Her green eyes flickered down and watched the soft glow of green light from his hand against her skin. She watched in awe as her split skin and bruises vanished mending with the aid of his power. The warm, wetness of the blood that had stained her outfit, and skin was still there but the pain was gone and the wounds healed.
Flora watched him move his hand from her wrist to her hand, the blood that had been on the glove smeared over her skin. When she looked up at him, he was opening his eyes. There was almost a glow to the soft violet eyes that were staring at her.
"Thank you for aiding me, you didn't have to." Seiji finally spoke breaking the silence that had befallen them. He found that right now his tongue felt heavy and tangle as he stared at the fairy. Her rich skin was beautiful and her honey brown hair and light brown bangs just made her green eyes sparkle. Shin may have been in awed of the first fairy but he was entranced by the one before him now.
"You helped me first." Flora smiled softly. "I couldn't focus with nature screaming in pain." Flora admitted her gaze flickering down over the man's armor actually taking in the detail of it. It looked so strange but it also looked heavy and made her wonder how strong this man was. She also saw the emblem with a lightning bolt down the center wondering if he was connected to storms... Then again the way the armor and his eyes seemed to glow maybe it was light?
"... It's because of the dynasty soldiers and the gate that almost opened. It's like poison to everything here. I wouldn't be surprised if it's still healing from the last time we faced them." Seiji said his gaze shifting to look around the forest. "I wish we had been able to stop them from doing so much damage." Seiji sighed as he remembered the animals that had been killed, how the forest and much of the natural landscaped suffered under the corruption that had been brought forth.
"It did but its healing just fine. The forest seems to know you as someone who will protect it." Flora said and the blond looked back at her with a look of pure surprise. She moved to tuck a loose strain of hair back and that's when she noticed they hadn't moved. His hand was still on her waist and her hand was in his. Flora blushed and and the man followed and he suddenly let her go with a fake cough and his own look of embarrassment.
"Please forgive me." He said bowing his head slightly.
"It-Its okay." Flora said grasping her upper arm while she looked at the ground. When she stole a glance back up at the blond he was watching her. "I'm Flora, the guardian fairy of nature. Can I know you're name?" She asked though she had a feeling she knew who he was.
"My name is Date Seiji, warrior of Halo… But you may call me Seiji." Seji stated and Flora smiled. There was a moment of silence both shy and unsure as the two looked away from each other.
"I should really get back." Flora said knowing it was very late and she needed sleep. Seiji hummed and nodded and she turned to leave. She'd started to fly into the night trying not to look back scared she'd land and try to talk with him more.
"Flora, if you need help, we'll be around. You can find me by the waterfall in the mornings." Seiji called to her trying just like Shin had to pull the fairy into trusting them and allowing them to officially join against this new looming threat. Seiji couldn't tell if Flora heard him, and cursed himself for being rude enough to hold her through most of their conversation even if it felt nice. Still he needed to inform Ryo of a grim fact. It looked like something might have happened to their allies in the nether realm. There was no way Anubis would let a moody woman with a sadistic streak run around there, not with how protective the blue haired swordsman had become of Lady Kayura.
~~~~~~~(Scene Change)~~~~~~
The next morning Flora groaned as she felt pressure dip her bed. Even though she was still sleepy she couldn't help but smile as the warm light of the sun touched her face. It felt just like his touch last night.
"Who's Halo?"
Flora gasped and shot up to see all the girls around her. Everyone of them was dressed and ready for the day except for Stella who was finishing brushing her hair. Flora flushed slightly wondering when she had said that name. She also felt a ping of guilt that she was finding him attractive after having her heart broken by Helia. Wasn't it too soon to move on? If it was why did the thought of Halo and his eyes ease her pain.
"Morning sleepyhead." Musa teased and the others giggled. "So who's Halo?"
"Um well…" Flora felt her cheeks turn pink as the girls waited. "I kinda couldn't sleep last night so I went to listen to the voice of nature." Flora explained as Techna sat on the bed next to Musa and Stella put her brush down. "While I was out there the forest started to scream and I saw Darcy, and those soldier things Musa told us about." Flora said looking to Musa and there was a wave of concern that overtook the girls.
"Are you okay?"
"You should have tried to call us!"
"I'm fine… I met a warrior in green armor. He pulled me out of Darcy's range, but she nearly hit him with a second attack but I covered him. We we're able to beat Darcy and the soldiers, and I don't think she'll be ready for a fight for a bit. He told me his name was Seiji the warrior of Halo…" Flora finished sheepishly looking away as Musa and the others gasped.
"Wait Seiji?! But he'd been so cold to me." Musa stated remembering the healer and the look he wore while she'd talked with him and Shin.
"But he is nice, and is concerned with the welfare of others. He was very upset when I'd been hurt-"
"Wait you were hurt?" Techna interjected folding her arms over her chest. "You really should have called us." Techna pointed out not liking that two of her friends had been attacked while alone. Even more Techna was wary of these warriors that were just showing up to help out. It seemed too coincidental.
"He almost got hurt, so I tried to help him. It's okay though, he healed me. Though Bloom you're from earth have you heard of the dynasty? He said that something like this happened before." Flora asked looking to Bloom. She was both curious and hoping to deflect anymore questions.
"No I haven't… I think we should contact Faragonda and see if she's heard of it." Bloom said with a small shake of her head.
~~~~~~~(Scene Change)~~~~~~
Back at the manor Seiji sipped on the tea Shin had made. He hadn't been able to return to sleeping after his run in with Flora in the forest so the strong taste of chai blend was appreciated.
"So there are at least two fairies, maybe more." Touma noted looking to both Shin and Seiji. Ryo and Shu had volunteered to go into the city for the day and watch for trouble. Once Seiji was more awake it was decided that he would try and contact the Anubis, Rajura, Naaza or Kayura. Touma did hope they were all okay, especially Kayura. After all he at one time liked Kayura and when things ended they had tried to go out but it seemed their attraction wasn't deep and some more hormonal youth.
"My guess would be yes. I did try to give Flora a way to meet us." Seiji said as he set down the cup of tea. "I have a feeling though we won't be able to ask them not to get involved. Their too brave, and pure of heart." Seiji said unaware of the soft smile that had graced his lips, a smile both Shin and Touma noticed.
"Really all that from a short meeting?" Touma asked raising an eyebrow and Seiji shot his best friend a glare.
"Actually Touma I think Seiji is right. Even Musa had tried to stay in the fight even when hurt. Though I don't enjoy the thought of another battle, I think that this time we'll have allies who fight just as hard as we do to keep the peace." Shin reasoned out leaning against the counter. The pained look on his face made both Seiji and Touma frown. Shin was sometimes to soft for battle, but they knew he would carry the burden as they all did.
"Well I just hope this time we will be able to deal with the dynasty quickly." Touma finally said and the other two nodded.
