Chapter Twelve

Strata's Test

Then next day Ryo noticed that his friends were acting a bit off. They seemed dazed, confused and lost. When he questioned them about it they didn't have an answer to why they felt like that. "It's because they came close to the truth."

"Huh?" Ryo looked at Lira.

"The others erased their memories of something that they uncovered yesterday while you were gone. It's...what you figured out," Lira replied, she refused to look him directly in the eyes.

"Why don't you just tell them?" Ryo asked.

"It can't be done that way. They must not know. You shouldn't know either,"

"You going to erase my memories?" Lira stared at him.

"No," She turned and walked away. "There wouldn't be any point."

Ryo watched her go then turned and headed to find his friends. He found some of them outside. Rowen, Sage, Rena and White Blaze were sitting out in front of the castle. Rowen was laid back on the ground looking up at the sky, Rena was sitting beside him with Sage beside her, Sage was picking flowers and sticking them in her hair. Rena smiled and smacked his hand. - Will you stop that? The gardner isn't going to be happy with you picking his flowers. -

"So? You look cute with flowers in your hair," Sage picked up a strain her of hair in his fingers. Rena blushed and looked away from him, trying to suppress a smile.

"Hey," Ryo greeted them as he sat down by White Blaze.

"What's up, Ryo?" Rowen asked.

"Uh," Ryo debated whether or not to tell them what he knew. "Nothing. Where's Mia, Kento and Cye?"

"They went off to the village," Sage replied.

Rowen looked at Ryo who had a distracted look on his face. "Ryo, you ok?"

"Yeah. I'm fine," Ryo smiled at him. "So, who's test is next?"

"Mine," Rowen replied.

"Then why are you still here?" Ryo asked.

"My test has to be done at night," Rowen sat up.

"At night?" Ryo asked. "Why?"

"Because we're going into space,"

"Space?"

"Yup," Rowen continued to stare at the sky.

- Forgive him. He's a bit distract about going back into space. He's excited to see if this space here is the same as home. -

Later that night, the group stood outside the castle. Rowen kept staring up at the starry sky. Rena rolled her eyes at him. There was no way he was going to pass this test if he kept dosing off like that.

"Sir Strata, this is the Field of Stars. Your test is to stop the on coming comet field that is going to slam into our home. But first you must breathe the breath of space life into the princess. Be as one with the world of space," Sky spoke. Rowen looked at Rena and Cye when they snickered at the breath part of the warning. "Heed the warns as before. Be not a destructive force or thou shall not pass this fateful test. If thou fail Princess Rena will no longer exist in the world of the living. Be not hasty. Think on this journey to the center of yourself held within thou armor bestowed."

"Be careful, guys," Ryo said.

"Don't worry, Ryo. We'll be fine," Rowen nodded. "You ready?"

Rena and Cye were still snickering when Rowen turned to them. Rena nodded then joined Rowen and Sky. Sky engulf the three into a bubble and they disappeared.

"What's with the snickering, dude?" Kento asked.

"Oh, nothing. It's nothing," Cye blushed and smiled then ran towards the castle.

"What was that about?" Mai asked.

"Don't have a clue," Ryo shrugged as they headed for the castle. Sage was the only one to stay back. He looked up at the sky for a while before going back into the castle.

"This is as far as I can bring you. Remember my warnings. You can't go any farther until the princess has the abilities to breath in space," Sky said before disappearing. She had brought them to the edges of space.

"How are you suppose to be able to breath in space?" Rowen asked. He looked over at his female friend. Rena was still laughing and blushing. "What? What's so funny?"

- Uh, Rowen, dear, you have to kiss me. -

"H-Huh?" Rowen blushed bright red. "I have t-to what?"

- You have the ability to breath in space here without your armor. You have to give me that ability to me by kissing me. -

"I...uh...ok...," Rowen scratched the back of his head. Rena loved how embarrassed he looked. She shook her head with her hands on her hips.

- What is it with you boys? Am I really that intimidating to kiss? -

"No. It's not that. It's just that it feels weird. I mean, you're practically my sister," Rowen looked at her. "Wait, what do you mean 'what is it with you boys?'? Who have you been kissing?"

- No one! No one! -

"The only one who needs to breath in a different...HEY! Did Cye kiss you?" Rena blushed and turned away from him. "What? Why did you kiss him?"

- Oh, let it go! He had to to pass his test! You have to too! Now just kiss me! -

"Uh, right. But I'm going to have a long talk with him when we get back," Rowen fumed. He took a hold of her shoulders and leaned down. Rena could feel him shaking as he closed the gap between their lips. She tilted her head a bit as he pressed his lips to hers. Both could feel his powers flowing over into her. Rowen pulled away from her, face redder than a tomato. "That...was really awkward."

- Yeah. - Rena nodded.

"I do love you but not like..."

- I know, Ro. I love you too. - Rena smiled at him. He smiled back then the two face towards the stars.

"Ok, so I have to stop those comets from crashing down onto this planet but I can't destroy them," Rowen said. "This is going to be tricky."

Rena nodded. Rowen placed his hand on the bubble that was holding them. "I wonder if I can move this thing."

Rowen closed his eyes. He was searching for the power he knew this bubble held. If they had the ability to breath in space then they didn't need to be inside this thing. That means Sky left this bubble with them for a reason. He placed his other hand on the bubble. He could feel it's power. Rowen opened his eyes and pulled his hands away. The bubble came with his hands. It was like magic string. "Wow!"

- What is it? -

"I think I know how to stop them,"

- Ok. - Rowen began to explain what they were going to do. - You sure about this? -

"Yeah," Rowen nodded.

- Ok. -

The two go on the outside of the bubble. "Be careful, Rena."

- You too, Ro. - Rena flew away from Rowen. Rowen sat in a cross legged position and closed his eyes. His part of the plan was to make the bubble larger and gather up the on coming comets then push the back into space. Rena's part was to keep the comets from hitting him while he did his part.

Rena used her power to deflect the comets. It was working but more and more were coming. She looked back at Rowen. He wasn't making much progress. This is a good plan. But Rowen doesn't have much practice with this kind of power. There's no telling how much time he will need to make that thing big enough to hold all these comets.

Rena was too focus on Rowen that she didn't notice a large comet coming right at her until it smashed into her. Rowen looked up. "Rena! NO!"

Rowen screamed and his gem appeared on his circlet. His power exploded and the bubble enlarged at great speed. He gathered up the comets and threw them back into space. He took Rena in his arms. "Rena?"

Sorry, Rowen. Looks like I goofed.

No. It was my fault. I wasn't strong enough to make my plan work.

What are you talking about? You passed.

But you're hurt.

I'm fine. Just smashed my shoulder. Rena smiled as she held her right shoulder.

"Let's get you back to the castle," Rowen said then they headed home.

Sage was lying in his bed when he suddenly got a bad feeling about Rena. He sat up in bed and gasped. "She's hurt."

Sage bolted out of his bed and made it outside just as Rena and Rowen landed. "Rena!"

"Sage?" Rowen asked.

"She alright?" Sage asked. Rena smiled at him, still holding her right shoulder.

"She got hit by a comet. We should get her to the healer," Rowen said. The boys took Rena to the healer.

"Oh dear. Please, out her on the bed," Lady Healer said. Rowen sat Rena on the bed. Lady Healer gave the boys a glare. "I cannot heal the princess with ye boys standing there."

"What? We're not...," Sage started. Rowen placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Come on, Sage. We'll be just outside," Rowen said before stirring Sage out of the room.

"Boys. So clueless they are," Lady Healer nodded. "Right?"

Rena smiled and nodded. "Alright then. Let this old one check ye out, princess."

Lady Healer carefully removed the princess's shirt. Once she was done bandaging up Rena, she let the boys back in. Sage went over to Rena as Rowen thanked the healer. "Thank you."

"Not a problem, young sir," Lady Healer nodded then went about her business.

"You ok, Rena?" Sage looked at her with worry filled eyes. Rena nodded and smiled. She looked at her arm. It was put in a sling. Lady Healer order her not to use her arm for a while. She wasn't going to be able to sign to anyone for a while. "Rena, I don't think you should continued with these..."

Rena leaned forward and kissed his cheek. She placed her forehead to his. Sage relaxed and understood what she was telling him. "Alright, Rena. I just want you to be safe. I don't like it when you get hurt."

"Everything ok here?" The two looked up to see an annoyed Lucio.

"We're fine," Sage glared at him. Rena sighed and shook her head. They were never going to stop fighting each other. While those two continued with their glare stare, the rest of the group came in.

"One more test to go," Kento said.

"Yeah. One more then we have to battle the shadows," Cye added.

"Uh, Cye, buddy," Rowen placed a hand on Cye's shoulder. Cye looked back at him, with an uh oh look on his face.

"W-What is it, Rowen?" Cye asked, his voice shaky.

"You know perfectly well!" Rowen screamed. Cye jumped and bolted. "You get back here! I've a serious bone to pick with you!"

Everyone, but Sage and Rena, looked down the hall as Rowen chased after Cye.

"What was that about?" Ryo asked. The fairies and Rena began to laugh.

"What? What's so funny?" Kento demanded.

"Why is everyone laughing?" Mai asked.

"Oh, it's nothing," Sky smiled as she wiped away a tear from her eye.

"Well, something's going on," Ryo said.

"True that, Sir Wildfire," Current replied.

"But we already have Sir Strata chasing down Sir Torrent, who will probably end up in the care of the healer, we don't need to add Sir Hardrock chasing after poor Sir Torrent," Rin said. The remaining clueless looked at the laughing fairies.

"What's going on?" Sage looked at Rena. She just smiled at him and patted his cheek.

Notes: Alright here's Rowen's test. I know it's not as long and hard as the others but I'm just running on empty for this fanfic. I don't want to stop it so I'm just gonna have to make Rowen and Sage's test quick and simply, maybe even the rest of the story. Sorry. Hopefully the story will pick up once I get through Sage's test. And Sage is turning out to be the hardest one to figure out what to do with. T.T