Author's Note: Just a couple notes. Just so people understand according to what has been gathered from either the anime or cds of Ronin Warriors Touma has an IQ of 250. I want to state that because Tecna's stated IQ is 150, so in later chapters when Touma seems to pick up on things quickly this is why.
Disclaimer: I do not own either Winx Club or Ronin Warriors
Warning: Violence.
Chapter 16) Virtue
Touma had escaped to the roof, staring at the stars with a tight frown on his lips. Kayura had told them what Tecna had figured out about Flora's dream at lunch. It was slightly after that good bit of news that Nasuti came to them frantic. The Jewel of Life was gone. None of them had felt the presence of anyone touched by the nether realm, and Anubis and Rajura had been rather certain that nothing got by them. So what happened to the jewel? Touma trusted Anubis and Rajura, but he also wanted to plan just in case the enemy had indeed stolen the jewel. Most of the ronin and the warlords had hidden away so that the bad news about the jewel wouldn't worry the fairies. The last thing Touma wanted to cause was worry, and he knew Bloom would put a lot of the burden on her shoulders. He could tell she would, so much about her form of leadership was like Ryo's it was amusing.
"Looking to be alone? Or can I join you?" Touma glanced over his shoulder at Shu and nodded his head for him to come join him.
"What's up Shu?" Touma asked and when he saw Shu's lips peeling back into a goofy smile he rolled his eyes. "If you say the sky I'll leave." Touma threatened as Shu sat down.
"Okay, okay I won't say it." Shu muttered before sitting cross legged next to Touma. Shu leaned back on his hands and looked up to the sky. "So you knew Bloom as a child?" Shu asked a small smile on his lips and Touma couldn't help but smile and shake his head.
"Did you really come up here to ask that?" Touma raised an eyebrow at his friend who only shrugged.
"Nah not really. Just trying to fill the silence." Shu said and Touma frowned.
"How are you holding up?" Touma asked turning to Shu. This was serious and he wasn't about to let Shu joke his way out of this.
"..." Shu had opened his mouth but shut it when he saw the look in Touma's eyes. "I'm hanging in there. Ran into Stella one of the nights I couldn't sleep, but I don't think she suspects the reasons… Shin and Seiji are in worst shape." Shu shrugged his lips tight together as he stared out across the distance hard. "Man this is stupid. We should be fine! It's been years."
"Soldiers suffer PTS for years Shu. You guys were tortured, it's okay to still…" Touma stopped when he heard Shu's aggravated sigh. "Hey, look I know you're strong, we all do. So this is okay. I know the last thing you'll do is put any of us in harms way."
"What if I choke. I did when I thought I could be just like the warlords, and man you have know idea how terrifying it was to be back in the dynasty… Face to Face with the sand demons." Shu ran his hands through his hair trying to calm down. "The spell that witch used… It felt similar to when they would electrocute us." Shu said his voice staying surprisingly even. "I… I couldn't fight them off, what if they capture someone again!"
"Hey, hey… Man don't worry about it. We know that trick and we'll be watching for it." Touma placed a hand on Shu's shoulder and squeezed. Shu might have been the toughest of all the ronin but torture was designed to break even the strongest. The torture that Shu, Seiji, and Shin went through left all three vulnerable. The strongest regret Touma, and Ryo carried was not getting to them quick enough. That their brothers had suffered such a horrible fate.
"Yeah I guess…" Shu sighed not because he wasn't convinced but because he was tired. He was tired of the occasional nightmare. Tired of having flashbacks, and definitely tired of worrying his friends. "So Bloom? Do you like her?" Shu asked trying to get his mind off of the past.
Touma sighed and rolled his eyes at the stubbornness of the earth warrior. Still it was a question he actually hadn't thought about. He'd been so happy to see his friend he hadn't considered how deep he cared for her. "I don't know." Touma answered honestly. True he never wanted her to hurt, but was that a brotherly affection or something more? She was beautiful there was no denying that. Her red hair and sparkling blue eyes. Her courage was attractive too, and her strength. If there ever was a heroine in any story Bloom would have been perfect… She would be perfect for a love story too, he bet.
"Touma?" Shu waved his hand in front of his friends face. Touma jumped blinking wildly in surprise and Shu started laughing. "Man you were really off in space…. Thinking about her?" Shu asked teasingly and Touma shoved him playfully. Touma didn't miss a beat and shoved Shu back both of them chuckling in the little game. They could have gone further with their game but on the roof that wasn't a good idea.
"So you going to come in Shu?" Touma asked as he stood up. Shu considered it for a moment then nodded and stood up.
"Yeah sure, it's late and I should probably attempt to sleep." Shu smiled and joined Touma in heading back in. While Shu had to carefully climb down to one of the balconies Touma just floated down a blue aura surrounding him. "That's cheap." Shu huffed and Touma laughed and patted his friend's back.
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Icy flicked her hair back over her shoulder as she waited. Today was the day they'd get the Ring of Solaria and the Jewel of Life. She'd split up from her sisters hoping that a distraction would give them time to get into the manor and take the needed items. The scouts had been probing the defenses and the edge of the grounds looking to learn about the enemy, and while they wouldn't all leave the manor, a smaller group would be no problem for Icy to destroy. The morning light was beginning to light up the area and Icy couldn't help but laugh after all it would be soon. She only hoped that Bloom would be one of the guards left behind so she could crush her once and for all.
Still she would have a bit of waiting to do. As Icy landed on the ground it instantly froze, the air becoming visible around her as her strength and power now surpassed the limitations of before. Her blue eyes glowing with the power, lit up with glee as she watched nature dying around her. There was no way that warlord of the cold would stand a chance against her. No way anyone would stand a chance against her. Icy couldn't help but laugh hard.
"This time Bloom, I'm finally going to crush you!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(Scene Change)~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Roxy gasped and bolted upright in bed. She'd had another one of her visions, the gruesome results making her cringe and panic. She couldn't stop shaking, and she couldn't get the image out of her head. The frozen blood, the dead eyes frozen open with sheer agony reflected in them as the last experience of life. She could hear Icy laughing, and could feel her long nails pricking her skin as Icy taunted them all. A blue and green orb rested in Icy's hand while Seiji and Touma laid on the ground impaled by ice. Their lips were blue and blood stained the ground. Not far from them Bloom and Flora also lay on the ground. Their wings encased in ice and breaking apart, gashes, and bruises over their bodies. Bloom had been struggling to get up but just couldn't.
"Roxy?"
Roxy didn't acknowledge Stella instead she ran out the room and straight down stairs she had to know it wasn't real. Not yet at least. Roxy hopped on the railing of the stairs and slid down to avoid Ryo and Shu who had been going up the stairs. Roxy didn't stop till she made it to the kitchen where most of the winx girls, with the exception of Stella were eating breakfast. It was Musa to move first to Roxy's side and bring her over to the table to sit down as she was closest to Roxy. She'd barely sat down in the wooden chair before Shin set some ginger tea before her.
"Roxy are you okay?" Bloom asked as Stella, Shu and Ryo gathered in the doorway. Roxy reached out and touched Bloom's hand feeling the warmth and truly confirming that the vision was just that a vision.
"I… I had a vision like I used to only…" Roxy didn't even want to recount what she'd seen but knew she needed to. "Icy must have attacked… Everyone was hurt or, or worse!"
"Roxy it's okay." Bloom said trying to comfort Roxy, and ignoring the surprised and worried gazes flying around the room.
"It was horrible. She was holding something in her hand." Roxy shook still scared by what she saw. After all her vision made it look like only Bloom had survived and even then it didn't seem like she'd live long. Her visions had been bad, and warned of danger but this. This was on a different level.
"You can see visions of what might be?" Anubis asked from his place leaning against the wall.
"What was Icy holding?" Flora asked curiously.
"Yeah, well sometimes… It's been awhile since I've had one, but they've always warned me about danger." Roxy shrugged and Anubis nodded seeming to respect the ability. "I don't know they were like marbles but bigger. One was blue and the other green." A sharp breath from Shin made the girls eyes swivel to the warriors. Ryo stepped towards Roxy he hand pulling out something from his pocket. As he opened his hand there was a red orb glowing and radiating warmth.
"Were they like this?" Ryo asked and Roxy nodded. Anubis snorted as a tense moment flickered around the ronin and the warlord. Roxy was starting to pick up when they were conversing mentally. Shin was the easiest to read as his eyes would flicker to one of the others, and play out many emotions.
"Yeah." Roxy nodded each of the girls staring at the orb wondering what it was. Though Bloom was sure she'd seen something like it.
"What shade of blue? Was it light or darker?" Shu asked his eyes flickering to Shin who just looked down.
"Um… Darker I think."
"So then the armors of Strata and Halo." Anubis snorted and the winx looked at him confused.
"These orbs are the armors, when we aren't using them." Ryo explained and Shu and Shin revealed their own orbs. Shu's was orange and Shin's was light blue. "These are what Arago is after to revive himself to full strength."
"If he gets the armors he'll be nearly unstoppable." Anubis added. "Princess, you need to talk to Touma and Rajura about your vision."
"Please stop calling me princess." Roxy stressed giving Anubis a look, only to receive a hard stare back. More than his two comrades Anubis seemed a stickler for proper titles.
"Why do you want her to tell them?" Tecna asked.
"Because there's no one here who can out think the spider's strategies, and Strata will know better what can and can't be done." Anubis stated. He straightened up and moved to leave the kitchen surely to find Rajura.
"Roxy, was there anything else you can tell us on this vision?" Shin asked gently. He would have placed a hand on her shoulder but Musa and Tecna were comforting her. Shin didn't want to push her but the more they knew the better, like location, or if she could tell the time.
"No not really…. I saw Bloom, Flora, Touma and Seiji and Icy, and… And I can't remember anything else." Roxy shivered lowering her head as Tecna hugged her tighter. Shin, Shu and Ryo exchanged looks each wondering how they could prevent this. Though with everything going on Bloom stood up.
"Hey guys, take care of Roxy I'll be right back." Bloom said and Stella moved to take her seat. Bloom wanted to find Touma, she wanted to be part of the planning, and while Tecna probably felt the same way she was comforting Roxy at the moment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(Scene Change)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Touma rubbed his eyes and glared at nothing. His hair was a mess and right now the only reason he was still with Anubis and Rajura was Anubis brought coffee, sugar, and toast with jam on it. They'd moved to the second floor study so that Touma didn't have to try holding his coffee and eating. Another thing Touma was grateful for, but what he could do without was the smug look on Rajura's face at seeing something that could be a weakness. So he wasn't a morning person and Rajura was he could try not fucking smiling. It was aggravating.
"Are you awake enough for us to begin?" Rajura asked as Touma finished the last bite of his toast.
"No," Touma said honestly before continuing, "but I'll be fine to continue." Touma groaned as he set the plate down and picked up his coffee cradling it close to him. He took a moment to take in the lovely aroma and sighed. Why did things have to happen so early in the day.
"So the little princess Roxy, her vision was only of a small group of us, and Shin add that it seemed to be just you, little princess Roxy, princess Bloom and Halo." Anubis stated and Touma smirked.
"You know Roxy, especially hates it when you call her princess." Touma pointed out, mostly to cover up how uncomfortable he was. Learning Bloom was a princess had been accidental and it was a fact he didn't think of unless rubbed in his face. It was stupid to let a title bother him so much, but it made his childhood friend seem distant and out of his reach.
"Either way, this vision isn't good. Especially since it is so vague." Rajura hummed and Touma nodded. "Anubis go join Naaza and Halo on watching our perimeter, best be ready if this happens sooner than later." Rajura suggested and Anubis nodded agreeing with his second in command. "These women are dangerous and apparently ruthless. Everything we would expect from Arago. To bad it had to shake up Lady Roxy so badly." Rajura stated showing sympathy for the youngest fairy. Touma hummed and nodded, thinking through the information given to them and their allies.
"Um can I join in guys?" Bloom's voice stunned Touma who still wasn't awake enough to be aware of his surroundings fully. Touma blinked and Bloom while Rajura just smiled his eye giving away the enjoyment he was getting from Touma's annoyance.
"Of course Lady Bloom. You're perspective may give insight to something we would miss." Rajura stated and Touma grumbled. Rajura was purposefully being elegant because Touma was still tired and it was harder to follow along than with the blunt statements.
"I think the main thing to consider is why weren't you or any other warlord in the vision." Touma yawned and sank onto the two seater couch.
"What if we were forced to split up?" Bloom asked and Rajura hummed.
"They've already used that tactic and it proved effective, so it is possible."
"It was effective because we were trying to keep the gates shut. How could they split us up now." Touma pointed out and it was a good point.
"I know… Our families, there are three trix and who knows what else they'll have. But if they claimed to have our families, or anyone from earth…"
"We'd have to save them. Damn it. That is the sort of insight I was thinking of." Rajura sighed and ran a hand through his white hair. When he did this Bloom could see the eye patch and the black bands holding it in place perfectly.
"Hmm, I think we are overthinking this." Touma said as he finished off his coffee. "What if we rearrange the groups?"
"Icy might still try and come after my group." Bloom pointed out. Silence fell between the three before Rajura smirked.
"Then what if you were in two groups?"
"What?"
"Of course! An illusion! It shouldn't just be Bloom though. Rajura work an illusion over an entire group and yourself." Touma smiled glad for the prompting of both Bloom and Rajura. "We can have you go with the illusioned group so it looks like that group only has four people."
"Creating a fake weak spot… Interesting idea Strata." Rajura nodded as Touma yawned. "Bloom can I ask do you know the time frame of Lady Roxy's visions?"
"No not really. Though what she sees does seem to happen soon after the vision." Bloom shook her head her braid swaying side to side.
"Hmm, then we should be prepared as soon as possible. I will inform the others of the plan." Rajura said and excused himself from the room. Bloom smiled at Touma and sat next to him on the couch, while he yawned again.
"You're still tired?" Bloom asked poking his arm. Touma stretched and a playful smile came over his lips. As he drew his arms back in, he leaned over and fell against Bloom. "Touma!" Bloom laughed as his eyes were closed but a smile was on his face. He was heavily leaning on her his head against her shoulder and she couldn't push him back to sitting up straight.
"Yeah, 'm tired… I hate mornings." Touma mumbled enjoying the little game, and hearing Bloom laugh as she gave up trying to straighten him out. "That's the second time you've laughed while here."
"Oh yeah?... Are you keeping track?" Bloom was stunned and curious at Touma's observation.
"Hmm." Touma shook his head no against her shoulder. "Not really, its more that I remember things very well. Every one of you girls has been rather down, which is why it's easier to remember." Touma explained. "Plus the mind is funny in that I could have given a random number and that probably would have sounded right as long as it was low, because we are.. Mmpphh!"
"I don't need a lecture." Bloom chuckled as she placed a pillow over Touma's face to stop him from rambling about facts. He did that as a kid too. Always knew so much. When Bloom pulled the pillow away Touma peeked at her with one eye. "You really think this idea will work?"
At the question Touma sighed and straightened up. It was time to stop playing around. "Yes it will." Touma said confident in his decision.
"GUYS! You have got to get down stairs!" Musa exclaimed from the doorway. Bloom looked worried and Touma placed a hand on her shoulder.
"We will win. Don't worry, everything will be fine." Touma assured Bloom as they headed down stairs. Everyone was waiting and poor Roxy was trembling while Stella held her.
"Lady Bloom you were right." Rajura announced grimly. "We have till noon to go to downtown, where Lady Roxy's family and your family are being kept." Bloom gasped fearing for her earth parents.
"Man… This is beyond low!" Shu growled feeling the strength of his kanji of justice burning in him. It was a dirty trick, and not right to pull in the innocent people to get what they wanted.
"It's a cheap trick, that's for sure." Shin huffed folding his arms over his chest.
"Yeah… So two groups should go into downtown leaving one here." Ryo said taking charge. "Bloom I think you and Roxy should both go down town. So Tecna do you mind staying here, with Flora, Seiji and myself?" Asked having a good idea of what he was doing.
"Wait shouldn't I be in a different group then Bloom?" Roxy asked worried that something would be missed and her vision would become truth.
"Don't worry Roxy, Anubis and I will be accompanying the your group while Rajura stays. Besides if things are bad the Ronin still have a secret card to play." Naaza smirked knowingly as the ronins just smiled as the winx looked at them confused.
"Yep, nothing to worry about Roxy. We'll all be just fine thanks to your warning." Shu said as he placed an arm around Roxy's shoulders.
"... Okay let's go before anything happens." Bloom said and her group nodded.
"Just be careful, we know this is likely a trap." Seiji reminded everyone.
"You fret too much Halo." Anubis scoffed as the group left to go outside and transformed. Before they could leave Anubis used the darkness of the shadows to conceal Bloom's departure until they were far out of sight from the mansion.
Ryo looked to Rajura and nodded and the warlord of illusion's kanji of sincerity began to glow. Within the blink of an eye Ryo and Tecna now looked like Bloom and Touma, even to Flora and Seiji. There was a tense stillness filling the air as they waited. Not one of them felt comfortable sitting down, so pacing seemed to be the best option. Nasuti stayed near the hidden warlord as a precaution. Tecna had moved to the window glancing out her hand touching the glass. There was a soft crackling and Tecna looked down at the glass around her fingers as it grew colder and colder.
"Icy's here!" Tecna stated and the group moved quickly outside. "Let's go Mythix!" Tecna and Flora called out, as the guys called on their armor. When their transformation ended Flora gasped in horror, and Seiji glared out towards the forest with pure hate. The trees, plants and even animals were freezing, becoming blocks of solid ice. The trees cracked and snapped as the cold broke their frozen limbs and Flora moved to take off over the forest but Seiji grabbed her arm.
"Don't our enemy is approaching and splitting up is dangerous." He urged and wished he could do more as he saw the hurt and anger in Flora's eyes.
"You should listen to your boy scout. It won't nearly be as fun destroying you if you split up." Icy laughed as she walked out of the forest the ground freezing under each of her steps. The negative energy pouring off the witch was like nothing Tecna or Flora had ever seen or known. Even when the witches stole the power of the Dragon's Flame to raise the army of Darkness. Whatever was giving Icy power now was on a new level. Icy smirked as the group shuffled away a few steps. Flicking her hair over her shoulder she levitated into the air. "This time Bloom, you and your friends are going to die." Icy grinned and Tecna shivered in fear under Icy's gaze. She'd been frozen once and didn't want that to happen again. Tecna could fear her nerves getting the best of her but then Ryo stepped forward his arm outstretched to the side like he was shielding Tecna.
"We're not going down so easy." Ryo stated and while he wanted to draw his swords and fight Touma was a ranged fighter so he had to play defense and leave the rest to Seiji and the girls. "So give it your best shot hag!" Ryo taunted and Icy growled. Her fist clenched and her eyes turned a cold ice blue.
Seiji glanced between Ryo and Icy and knew exactly what Ryo was trying to do. Seiji gripped the sword of Halo and steadied his breath. "Flora be careful." He whispered as a last warning before charging Icy. He leaped raising the sword to strike her. Icy didn't even turn her head, and Seiji couldn't tell if or how she saw him as she blocked the sword. Ice crawling down her skin blocking the blade. Even worst as Seiji landed he noticed the ice was still on his sword crawling down the blade. He narrowed his eyes and the blade flared with light destroying the ice.
"Hag?... You are going to pay for that." Icy glared. She didn't care about the attack the green warrior made. Her rage was pointed at Bloom and the dark blue warrior in front of her. Icy waved her hand and the air began to whip around small snowflakes forming as the air grew colder and colder. Flora and Tecna could feel the wind pulling roughly at their wings. Even Seiji and Ryo had to shield their eyes despite their helmets. Each actively willing the face mask down or together, to help shield them.
Icy started to laugh as the power and wind was beginning to keep the group pinned. The fairies unable to fly in the cold wind. "Come on now I was hoping for more of a fight!"
"Griselda bubble." Tecna summoned the defensive spell that all the fairies knew to try and weaken the wind.
"Ivy wrap!" Flora called waving her wand and the vines rushed towards Icy. Icy laughed harder as the plants froze long before they could touch her. Her grin widened as she waved her hand again and the wind picked up more. Seiji stumbled back unable to keep his footing against the cold wind. The shield Tecna had summoned was freezing over.
"No…. We're no match for her!" Tecna stated in freeze as the bubble started to crack and pop. The ice over taking it and the three inside it staring in fear and worry. This wasn't good!
Icy smirked glad to see the one group would soon be out in the opened. But first she should deal with the green warrior. Icy narrowed her glowing blue eyes at Seiji as he held his old sword firmly.
"Thunder Bolt Cut!"
"Ice Wall." Icy countered easily and yet for all her new strength she gasped as part of the wall chipped and broke under the green man's attack.
Seiji evened his breath the armor of Halo glowing slightly as he couldn't lose. He would do his part to protect Flora, to keep her safe. His violet eyes trying to keep Icy within his watch, but the biting wind was making it harder and harder to do. Icy used the moment he blinked to move to the side.
"Frozen Prism!" Icy yelled throwing her hand out towards Seiji. He leaped to get out of the way but the ice was faster. It shot up out of the ground until it grabbed his leg. The rest of him was quickly encased in ice.
"Seiji!" Flora yelled right as the defensive spell broke and the wind tore her away from Ryo and Tecna with a scream.
"Flora!" They both yelled as the nature fairy slammed against the house her and slumped to the ground. Tecna winced her arms shaking as she outstretched them again.
"Griselda bubble!" She yelled before collapsing. The bubble barely formed before it shattered and Icy laughed.
"Good bye Bloom! I'll finish you last but for now I can't have you in my way. Frozen Prism!" Icy laughed as the ice started to encase Tecna and Ryo. She figured she'd first kill the nature fairy then the green warrior and last Tecna and Ryo.
~Ryo!~
~No stay, there Rajura!~ Ryo ordered as the ice quickly surrounded Tecna and him. He could hear Tecna's panicked breaths. He folded his arms over his chest and sent the armor off him. A red circle and light quickly blocking the ice from getting any closer. The thickness made it so they could barely see outside. ~I've got this, so just protect Nasuti.~ Ryo said easing the warlords worry a little. Ryo looked to Tecna on the ground and knelt next to her.
Tecna was trying not to cry from fear and pain her legs, and wings were frozen and the cold was biting her like a thousand knifes. She knew it was stupid but she feared this fate ever since it happened the first time. She hadn't noticed the ice had stopped spreading until she felt the warmth of a hand on her thigh. Snapping out of her stupor Tecna lowered her arms and glanced at the hand. A metal gloved hand of white with bits of red. She lifted her gaze to Ryo who just smiled as the ice continued to melt.
"Don't worry, I've got you." Ryo said as he placed his other hand on her back between her wings.
"You're armor…. Can you all use it to create barriers?" Tecna asked softly as the ice was melting and the pain and fear subsiding. She was understanding now why Touma wanted Ryo to go against Icy.
"Yeah, but I can't break the protection circle it creates by choice. I'll need the ancients staff to break it."
"So you're defenseless! Why didn't you just leave it on?!" Tecna snapped. Ryo was shocked by the worry in her voice. After all she'd been the most weary of them, but she was a good person.
"The armor would be too hot to touch you in. I'd likely burn you rather than melt this ice." Ryo stated and Tecna fluttered her wings as they were freed from the ice. She gave Ryo a warm and caring look and let herself hug him grateful for what he'd done.
"Thank you." Tecna said no longer shivering from the cold. Ryo was warm and she could feel something coming off him, a sense of right and wrong strong then anything. When she pulled back she saw a kanji lite up in red on his forehead. It translated to virtue, or was it righteousness. It seemed to stand for both, as Ryo did.
"Now let's beat this witch." Ryo smiled as Tenca stood back up and he followed.
"You'll stay here. I'll help the others." Tecna said with a firmer conviction. "Digital Blast!" Tecna yelled breaking through the ice. She could see that thankfully Seiji and Flora had managed to aid each other but both were hurt.
"Ice Blast!" Icy yelled sending both Seiji and Flora flying from the force of her spell. Their cries of pain bringing a smile to her cruel face. It was sickening how Seiji took the brunt of the spell and fall to the ground for the fairy. "Ugh, gag me."
"Flora!... Nothing I have is strong enough to take her down… I need a convergence spell." Tecna said as she nipped her thumb and tried to think of anything that was strong enough to slow or end Icy's attack.
"Rajura!" Tecna glanced over her shoulder when she heard Ryo snap. Rajura had appeared to her left slightly back to see the warlord appearing.
"I think it's best to end our trap. Anything you need Tecna I will try to aide you."
"I need a convergence spell. Combining my magic and energy with another's." Tecna explained and Rajura nodded. He pulled a large weapon off on his back. It looked like six sickles attached to a handle that Rajura could hold on to.
"Will the web of deception work as one you can link through? Or should I try for a diversion Tecna?" Rajura asked still focusing on keeping them hidden from Icy. He winced as he watched Icy slash Halo with an ice spear his helmet flying off. He tore his gaze away as Flora was rushing to help Halo. Tecna and he needed to act quickly.
"I think it could work." Tecna nodded, after all a spider web and her digital web were similar. So it should be almost like mixing two of her own spells. "We have to try." Tecna said as Flora cried out in pain. Ice smirked as the two didn't move from the ground. Turning back to Bloom she gasped as she didn't see Bloom but Tecna standing next to the one eyed warlord and the red warrior behind them.
"What?!" Icy snapped and the warlord smirked.
"You're not the only one able to lay a trap. Web of Deception!" Rajura called swinging the weapon down and the web of the spider covered over Icy, the ground and the air. It didn't her hurt only restrained her.
Tecna placed her hands on Rajura's weapon and focused her magic down it. "Digital Feedback!" Tecna yelled the electricity of her digital spell sparked green before it rushed through every strained of the web that had been created.
"No!" Icy gasped as she couldn't get away from the spell. The joined spell flooding the area and lighting everything up with the green glow of the digital power. The witches form was engulfed by the green light until they couldn't see her anymore.
Tecna gasped as she let go of the spell and of Rajura's weapon. Ryo instantly at her side to steady her just as the warlord was. Tecna lifted her gaze but Icy wasn't there. The negative power she'd been giving off was also gone. For now they were safe again.
"Ryo I've got Tecna go help Seiji and Flora." Rajura said as he placed a hand over Tecna's. The two watched as he hurried over to their friends and Rajura sighed. "You are quite impressive." Rajura complimented Tecna and the digital fairy flushed. Normally Bloom and Stella got all the praise and attention.
"I… Thank you Rajura. It's good to know that we can use convergence with you guys. It will be something to keep in mind." Tecna said and Rajura nodded.
"It is. Let's go inside, you seem drained." Rajura said as he started to lead Tecna inside. Not far behind them came Ryo, Seiji and Flora. Both Seiji and Flora were hurt badly but none of it was life threatening. Seiji's ankle was broken and he had several gashes, while Flora had gashes and bruises. She dropped out of her fairy form as she was set on the couch next to Tecna.
Ryo watched Tecna use her fairy dust, though it wasn't as strong as before. It was taking care of the bruises just fine but the gashes were a different story. It seemed the negative energy of the nether realm was affecting the fairies.
~Hey we're all safe here.~ Ryo sent gently through to Touma, Shu and Shin so not to distract them.
~Great! We just finished up here. It was a trap, but they didn't get the Ring.~ Touma sent back.
~That's good…. The thing that worries me is the witch didn't even try to get the jewel of life.~ Seiji added with a groan.
~That doesn't sound good... ~ Shin mused.
~Yeah, we'll talk more when everyone is back.~ Ryo sighed as he glanced around the room. He was going to leave to check on Nasuti but he noticed Tecna staring at him. "Hey." Ryo smiled and Tecna smiled back. Ryo watched her stand up and walk over to him.
"Thank you Ryo. You saved me…. What I mean is it's dangerous for a Fairy's wings to be frozen, because if they break we lose them. Fairy dust can restore them but it's not working as strongly with all this negative energy." Tecna rambled and Ryo chuckled. She was going to say more but stopped when Ryo's warm gloved hand touched her shoulder.
"We're friends Tecna. I'm not going to let anything happen to you or to your friends." Ryo stated plainly and Tecna smiled at him.
"I… I know. But still thank you." Tecna was finally fully warming up to the ronin warriors.
