D.H. A.N.:I hope you are all ready for another ASR Chapter. This Chapter takes a few twists, so bear with me. Enjoy Chapter Eight: No Armor Is Impenetrable. Please Review.

Chapter Eight: No Armor Is Impenetrable

Mhera and Nazuna entered the cave with at grateful slow pace, Mhera still gawking at the grandeur of the cave's interior. "Perhaps it would be best to light our path. If I am not mistaken you have powers of light, do you not?" Nazuna asked intently.

Mhera only nodded, pulling light energy from her body, and accumulating it in her hand, until she was holding a small ball of white energy. She led them deeper into the cave with little idea of where she was going. Only constant reassurances from Nazuna kept her going forward. "Stop!" Nazuna mentally yelled, causing Mhera to stop right where she stood. "Release it." The Dragon sighed

"Release what?" Mhera asked, partially confused.

"The orb in your hand!" The Dragon almost yelled again.

"You are really hard to understand sometimes." Mhera sighed almost resignedly, releasing the orb of light, after which she had to jog to keep up with it, until she reached three indentions within the wall, of equal size and distance from each other.

The luminous orb fit into the central indention, which had two vertical lines, one extending from the top, and one from the bottom. The light flowed out of the orb, through the lines, and surrounded the other two indentions.

"A Ring of Light shall protect the Burning Passion and Cold Seclusion; Fire and Ice." Nazuna recited from memory calmly.

Fire and Ice? Mhera thought questioningly. That made her think back to something she had heard earlier. Two Powers, rivals it seems, but from their union, life itself teems. Locked in an everlasting feud, they are. But what matters most, lies at the heart. Her eyes sparked, That's it! Fire and ice are the two Powers spoken of!

"Is there a reason there are three indentions instead of two?"

"Yes. What is on that chain around your neck?" Nazuna asked as she eyed the silver chain around Mhera's neck.

"A…a ring. Why?"

"Place it into the indention, and find out."

"I don't want to. It is…very special." Mhera hesitated.

"Why?" Nazuna asked

"Someone special to me gave it to me, twice."

"Why would they need to give it to you twice?" Nazuna asked.

"Because my father took it from me once." Mhera answered very softly, as it was a touchy subject she did not wish to discuss further. She undid the chain, removing the ring, whose stone was beginning to glow, and placed it into the central indention. The amethyst stone glowed dimly first, brightly for a few seconds then ceased completely.

"Get your ring." Nazuna suggested, after which Mhera had to almost tug it out, threading it back through the chain in a reverent manner. "Now, touch the ring." Nazuna almost commanded. Mhera did so and felt a strange feeling. She glanced down at her hand, only to find it coved with a silver colored material which had holes for her fingers.

"Armor?" Mhera asked calmly.

"Yes, now although I wish not to need to ask you to do this twice, there is something else your ring must obtain for you." Nazuna sighed, knowing that the reaction would not be very fast, but time was something they could spare. "Take as long as you need." Nazuna sighed as she set her head on Mhera's shoulder, as it was the closest thing the dragon had to hands.

Seto Kaiba's eyes had finally adjusted to the cavern's lack of light, only to find himself blinded by cavernous honey almond eyes. After two minutes he managed to pry his eyes loose from the gaze. But in the back of his mind, he yearned for the chance to lose himself again in those orbs to present itself. But rather than expressing his inner desires, Kaiba expressed his outer desire to find their charge and leave. "Have you found her yet?" He calmly asked Serenity, as if she were an associate.

"No, but there is someone who has seen her." Serenity said as she indicated Rione.

"Do they know where she is now?"

"He doesn't." Serenity sighed, failing to notice Seto tense when she had said "He"

Why did I just do that? I can't be falling for her, can I? Kaiba caught Serenity's eyes again and inaudibly sighed dreamily.After the thought crossed his mind a small smile crossed his face.

He's so handsome when he smiles that way, instead of smirking like he usually does. Serenity sighed somewhat dreamily.

Felicity broke the silence. "You can't go looking for your friend, at least stay for the night. Allow me to show you around." Felicity showed Seto and Serenity to their quarters, side by side rooms, with two beds apiece a small closet each. She then took Rione, aside smiling, half-mischievously.

"Did you see how those two acted around each other? I think it's time that we play matchmaker." Rione smiled softly. Felicity smiled too. "Perhaps Serenity has a point, I see the resemblance."

Noah meanwhile waited for his escort to return. Where is that Dragon Lord? Noah thought impatiently, but found that a woman was busily hanging clothes on a line. This will occupy my time. He bent down to pick up the shirts, saving the woman the trouble of bending over to grab the clothes.

The brunette smiled slightly, "Thanks, you would be really helpful. "

"No problem." Noah sighed, glad he could do something to occupy himself while he waited for Lord of D. to make his appearance.

When the Dragon Lord returned to Noah, he smiled when he saw that Noah had helped someone. He's on his way to recovering nicely.

"Want Resi to give you the tour?" He intruded on Noah's thoughts.

"How do you know her name?" Noah asked, astonished at what happened next. The Dragon Lord was immersed in a warm black, and after a few seconds, there was a man, wise with age.

"I am Dranin, the leader in proxy of the resistance until the two new leaders arrive, after which I will be able to move on to the next life." The man replied. "Tonight is a very special celebration, in which there are two people, one man, and one woman to be chosen to lead us in our celebration."

Felicity & Rione bumped Dranin. "We've found our leaders!" They both exclaimed

Back in the Real World

Tea saw Mokuba come through another entrance, and she was very thankful, as she would be at a loss for what to do if a computer broke down. "Has Seto found out yet?" Mokuba asked sheepishly.

"Found out about what?"

"About the flash drive and what was on it. Somehow, I just happened to have a flash drive on me during the Finals." Tea gave him a blank look. Mokuba sighed, "Remember Noah?"

Tea was completely puzzled as to why the younger Kaiba would ask that. "Of course I remember him. I have an excellent memory when it comes to noting people who need to be avoided. Why?"

"Promise you won't tell Seto?"

"Promise."

"His data space was just enough for the drive, and before the island blew up, I was able to download it onto the drive. But I knew that Noah didn't want to be stuck on a drive for the rest of his life, so when Seto talked about creating another virtual world, I knew that was where Noah would be safest; I know he has changed for the better, even if Seto will never see it that way."

"You're right, you know." Tea said agreeably

They both contented themselves with watching the computer screens.

DH: I hope that wasn't too bad a cliffhanger. I want to thank you for your patience and support. Please bear with me as I may not update for a while. Fear not, I have plenty of story ideas, but due to lack of multiple computers, it makes it difficult. Thanks for understanding.