Guardian Souls
By: Ghost of the Dawn
Chapter 17: Chosen
The sky was such a brilliant blue and he could see for miles and miles up here. To an eight year old, it felt like the top of the world. It was a perfect day to try. He put on his goggles and adjusted his helmet. He checked the straps of his makeshift parachute. A sheet stuffed inside a backpack. It would work, he was sure of it. He would soon join all the great daredevils of science. He would fly like dragons soar in all the books he had on his shelf. The glider he had made and measured would hold the weight of him and his deep blue wagon, so said all his calculations.
How he ached to be in that brilliant blue sky. So many lazy summer days were spent on his back, staring at it. Holding outstretched hands to it; wanting it. The great spread of empty, bright space called to him, mocked him. Told him he could never reach that far. But he could never take that as truth. There had to be some way within his power to get there; he could feel it. Now he was so close to reaching it. He would be caught up in that blue, bright emptiness. Away from all that held him below and he was not afraid of it.
He pushed off from the shingles and grabbed the wagons handle to steer. The wheels picked up speed as he zoomed down his parent's roof, faster and faster. He could see the edge coming at him now. As he hit the end of the runway and took off into the air, he heard his mother scream his name. He knew that scream. It was the one she used when caught working on any one of his projects. When he was found at the top of any tree, house, or anything else high he could get his hands on. That sound always ruined his plans. But this time, his mother's scream came too late.
He was already in the air and no one could stop him now. For one brilliant moment he was free. Nothing was around him but sky. This was where he belonged. But reality was already pulling him down. The sky was fading and the ground below him was rushing up closer and closer. He jerked to get away and was sent into a spin. Ground, sky, ground, sky. They flew around him dizzily. Then, he was separated from his flying apparatus. Now he really was free. Not even his little wagon was there to remind him there might be ground below. It was just him and the sky. So high up and still, he was unafraid.
The ground and darkness rushed up to meet him and he was merely disappointed. It was not where he wanted to be.
Then, the dark burst into a blinding light and the ground was gone. He looked around with wide eyes and all around him was nothing but sky. He stayed there without falling, and he was free.
You called me, my master.
The child looked around. There was a mass of light that was dark blue, and yet brighter than the sky around it. How was that possible?
"I didn't call anyone," the child responded, shielding his eyes from the blinding power.
What is your name? The bulk of light spoke to him without a mouth.
Even though his mother had warned him about giving strangers such information, the child spoke his name with out hesitation.
I have been claimed by many wearers who have searched me out and awakened me. But you are the first who has called my power to you. You are unique, child, for you stand with one foot in the science of mortals and one foot in the magic of my world. And you are fearless in my domain. You ARE my master. If you will accept me.
The child just blinked at the presence, trying to make sense of it all. "Accept you to do what?"
A breeze flew in on the child. The kind of breeze that stirred his soul and made him restless when it played through his wild hair.
To be free, it whispered.
The child smiled and let the sky and the wind and the deepness of space embrace him. Freedom.
"I accept," he nodded.
The glowing column of light formed and solidified into a hulking, shining mass of dark blue. The armor towered over the child and then slowly melted into him, combining with his soul.
So let it be, the voice drifted to the child's ears. I will aid you in all that you are destined to achieve. And remember always that this power sought you out and chose you of it's own free will, Rowen of the Strata.
Rowen opened his eyes. He was no longer in the sky, but laying on the ground in his sub armor with a blanket over him. It was still fairly dark in the camp site, but the sky past the treetops was growing lighter, signaling the sun was up and it would only be a matter of time before it made its way past all the tree branches down towards them. The young man lay there for a while, not moving. His brain was still clutching to the remaining grasp of sleep and he had a hard time recalling if what he remembered was just a dream or a real memory from his childhood. At the moment, it all seemed like the same thing.
The young man sat up and looked around. Cye and Ryo were still sleeping. Sage was gone. Rowen was not surprised. Just because the sun reached the forest ground later than the rest of the world, didn't mean Sage would sleep in to wait for it. Throwing off his blanket, Rowen set off to find the spot he was certain his friend would be.
It was a small clearing. Just big enough for one or two people to get direct sunlight. No one went there at night because the flat ground abruptly dropped into a steep ravine between the trees. Here, Sage sat on a large, flat boulder right at the tip and bathed in the morning rays.
"Sleep well?" Sage asked as Rowen plopped himself next to him. His sub armor clanked on the hard surface.
"I guess," Rowen said tiredly, rubbing his face. "All that crap you threw at us last night about Minami not being Minami and Akuma being next in line for the throne, I'm still trying to process it all."
"Yeah..." Sage trailed off, looking at the ravine. Then he glanced back at Rowen. "We should have more missions. It's the only time you'll wake up of your own accord before noon."
"Hey," Rowen warned. "Let's be nice. Especially after what you pulled on me last night."
Sage knew exactly what Rowen was talking about. When he had returned from his talk with Robyn (who claimed to be possessed by someone who wasn't Minami but someone who was also named Robyn) he still had the Wildfire sword with him. When Rowen approached him to ask where he had been, Sage had casually thrown the sword at him with a "Catch, Rowen."
Rowen caught the sword easily, but freaked out and dropped it when he had a good look and realized exactly what sword he was holding. Rowen didn't appreciate the prank at all, even after they had all passed the sword around, marveling how they all could touch it without being burned. It had always been assumed they could not and no one had ever tried until then. But then Ryo had spoken up and said he could tell the sword was none too happy with being passed around so much and MIGHT start burning people if he didn't get it back. Whether or not Ryo was making that up, no one questioned and promptly returned it.
Sage's attention was turned to the metal clanking as Rowen leaned back on his hands and tapped his armor coated fingers on the boulder's surface.
"I kind of miss my sub armor," he admitted. It felt safer with it on, but he didn't say that one out loud.
"Yeah, it's weird not seeing you in it," Rowen agreed. "But we'll figure out a way to get it back. Even Robyn and all her personalities are trying to get it back for you, too, according to what you said. I bet you also miss Halo, right?"
Sage didn't reply.
"You DO miss your armor, too, right Sage?" Rowen tried again.
It took Sage longer than was comfortable to respond.
"I'm...not really sure. You have to agree, Halo's been...a lot of trouble for me in the past."
Rowen actually took a bit of offense to that. He stood up, hands on armored hips. "Well that's just too bad, Sage. Halo is your responsibility until IT is done with YOU. It doesn't work the other way around. You agreed to accept it the first time it came to you, did you not?"
Sage furrowed his brows. Did that ever happen to him? In all honesty, most of his childhood were blurred memories--some of which he was happy to forget. He really couldn't recall when it was he received Halo. It just seemed like he always had it without any choice given to him.
"It doesn't matter," Sage sighed as he stood as well. "We've got something more important to do today. Robyn's going to try to find me in a few hours and I still don't have that sword."
"Are you going to tell Myune that Robyn's looking for it? Or that she's not really Minami?"
"I'm sure she already knows from Diana," Sage replied. "As for Robyn wanting Halo, it might be safer to keep Myune out of it until we figure this out. Besides, the bigger problem is the fact that Robyn is still losing blood. That wound Myune gave her isn't healing."
Rowen stared at him, looking a bit alarmed. "And when were you going to mention this to us?"
Sage looked down at his feet. "I wasn't sure if it was a good idea to tell Cye or Ryo. It wouldn't have made any difference. There isn't anything else we can do until she shows up later today."
"And we can't let her leave," Rowen said sternly.
Sage nodded. In more ways than one, this was not going to be an easy task.
"Are you sure this is what you want to do?" Darris looked down from his horse at Rowen, Ryo, Sage, and Cye as they stood before him, looking determined.
"We have to," Ryo confirmed. "If she attacks your army again, there may not be anything left. We have to stop her now."
"I see," the Captain nodded. "We cannot stay with you. I must march on. There is still a war to fight."
"That is fine," Ryo nodded. "But let me ask you one thing. Why didn't anyone tell us that Akuma was related to the queen and next in line for the throne?"
Darris looked a bit surprised that they had happened upon this information. All four warriors were looking for him for answers. And maybe, some reassurance they were still doing the right thing.
"He used to be the queen's brother," the captain explained. "But he was consumed by an evil demon before he could ascend the throne. Unfortunately, there was nothing that could be done to reverse his condition. The only thing the royal family could do was build another castle for him, outside the borders of Falnan. Anything that lived there had to be under a spell and several seals were placed all around the castle to help prevent the demon from growing inside our prince. So that he might have a normal life as long as possible.
"In his condition, he could not become king. The fact that he is now actively trying to take over Falnan means the spells are weakening and the demon is growing inside him." Darris looked a bit sad. "If time did not stop here, he may have lived his entire life in peace."
He then straightened and turned to the warriors with all seriousness. "I apologize that this information was kept from you. I suppose it did not seem important at the time. The fact remains that there is an evil force threatening to destroy Falnan and we need to do everything in our power to save it."
Ryo nodded. "We understand. We believe that capturing Robyn may be the best we can for you right now."
"We're going to help," Myune announced as she walked up with Miniko and Diana at either side. Her far shorter hair showed evidence of Myune trying to even out the crude, unexpected hair cut she got the day before. She still looked stunning no matter what her hair length. "If this spirit really isn't Minami then we might have an even bigger problem on our hands. We need to find out who she really is and what she wants from us."
Some of the Ronins looked pointedly away. They already kind of knew what Robyn was after and why they needed Sage to stay behind as bate for this plan to work.
"All of you then," Darris said without question in his voice. "Very well. May you be successful."
"Good luck Captain," Ryo said earnestly. "We will catch up with you later, if we are at all able to." He looked towards the four horses tied up in the trees. No doubt the three priestesses had some others hidden elsewhere.
Darris nodded and ordered his men to march on. As they left, Ryo turned to his friends.
"Alright," he announced. "If anyone has ideas on how we're going to catch Robyn and contain her without killing ourselves, I'd love to hear it."
"CATCH her!" Myune demanded. "Are you insane? She's going to try and kill us all and you want to catch her?"
"She didn't try to kill me," Sage put in. "If we can attempt to reason with her today instead of just attacking her, we may be able to get her to cooperate and find out exactly who she is and why she's here."
"We should definitely give that a try," Cye agreed.
"And then...what if she turns violent?" asked Miniko, looking genuinely worried.
Ryo took a deep breath, trying to stretch out the tightness in his chest. "We'll prepare for the worst. But we ARE going to do everything my way." He looked over at Myune. "If anyone has a problem with that, they should leave right now."
Myune gave him a hard look, but she didn't move. She was still a lower level than an armor bearer. And, of all the armor bearers, if Wildfire was suddenly going to start taking charge of the situation, protocol demanded that she listen.
It was approaching mid day; the time Robyn promised she would visit again. Sage picked a wide open spot with few trees to wait. This way he could see anyone who was coming. The three Ronins talked it over, wondering where they should wait. It was decided that they would remain in the open. Near Sage, but not too near. Rowen pointed out how Robyn seemed paranoid about being ganged up on the last time. So the three of them sat together in their sub armor, trying to look as unthreatening as possible, hoping their presence would not scare or upset Robyn when she came. The last thing they wanted was another fight.
Myune's approach was different. She had Diana, Miniko, and herself waiting up in the trees, out of sight. This suited Ryo just fine. In the clearing, the trees were pushed back and Ryo really wanted Myune to be as far away as possible when Robyn showed up. But they would still use the priestesses as a trump card if the situation suddenly turned ugly. Even though he greatly stressed they were to try to catch Robyn without killing her, Ryo still worried what would happen if this whole scenario did turn violent.
Sage stood by himself for a while, but then sat down to meditate and wait in the sunshine. There wasn't much else for him to do. Rowen glared at his friend a bit. Sage passed time so much easier than anyone else he knew. Minutes would go by like seconds when he was in that state. It was annoying that the rest of them had to wait on pins and needles in normal time. And it was too quiet. Usually Kento would have voiced those same thoughts about Sage's meditation by now, lightening the mood the way he always did. Everything felt heavier these days without him. The whole team felt lopsided. And that gaping whole was what really made him dubious about this mission being successful. Without all five of them, it just felt like...nothing would work. In the stillness, Rowen wondered if the others felt the same.
He glanced over at his friends. Cye and Ryo had nearly the same expressions in their faces. So grim, so serious and worried. Rowen was starting to understand why Sage held back the information about Robyn's wound. Cye, though looking a bit apprehensive, could keep it together. Rowen knew this. But Ryo had been in this heavy funk since yesterday. He swore he could almost see Wildfire slowly unraveling in the situation. He had seen it before when Ryo's swords broke and also when Cye, Kento, and Sage had been captured by the Dynasty. To his credit, Ryo was a strong fighter; stubborn, loyal, with a large heart to keep him going when everything else seemed impossible. However, Ryo just did not handle the stress of waiting very well and it showed.
Rowen patted his friend on the shoulder to pull Ryo out of the current mental abyss he was drifting through. Ryo looked up, a bit annoyed that his angsting was being interrupted. Rowen gave him an encouraging smile anyway and part of it caught onto Ryo's face. He gave a crooked, half smile back and Rowen, now satisfied, leaned back to wait.
Up in the trees several yards away, three pairs of eyes watched them.
"Why are they so relaxed," Myune whispered. "Those idiots have no idea what kind of situation they're getting in."
"They're just trying to pass the time," Miniko offered. "The wait has got to be killing them, too."
"What I don't get," Myune then said. "Is why she said she would come back during the day. Night is the Hardrock's power and she still has that somehow--whether or not she really is Minami. Why during Halo's hour?"
"Maybe she thinks Sage will be able to take back the armor during this time if she helps him," Miniko offered.
Myune glared from the tree tops. She didn't like the sound of that one bit. That blonde idiot down there was going to have to pry the armor from her cold, dead body if he and that girl wanted it so bad.
"One thing is for sure. If they do manage to catch her, we need to get her away from them so WE can question her. All of them are so infatuated with that girl still and she's not even in control of her own body. It could be dangerous to let her talk to them for too long. She might sway them to her side."
"You honestly don't think she'll get them to turn on us?" Miniko demanded with wide eyes.
"All I know is that they practically did everything that girl asked them to while she was still in control. What if the spirit found that out and used it to her advantage? As long as they listen to her, there is a danger. That's why I took the Halo armor back," Myune admited. "We're far better on our own power than having to worry about our partners turning on us. I would suggest the two of you do the same."
Miniko bit her lip. Take Rowen's armor? She didn't know him that well, but did she really have such a severe lack of trust to do that to him? But if she hesitated not to, was it worth the price of the kingdom if Myune was right?
Diana, who has been silent most of the day, finally spoke up. Whether or not she had been listening to the previous conversation didn't show. "Guys...do you suppose...never mind."
"What?" Miniko asked.
"About Minami?" Diana tried again. "She said that wasn't her last night. Do you think that maybe even the previous life, she wasn't--"
"Shh!" Myune quickly shushed them.
"What?" Miniko whispered.
"Listen," Myune whispered back. "Everything is so quiet."
The Ronins had noticed it, too. All the wildlife that was buzzing and chirping around them suddenly stopped. Something was in the woods. The three ronins on the outskirts of the clearing all tensed, but stayed sitting. Sage didn't move or made any sign that he noticed the atmosphere had changed. The bushes behind him rustled and a figure walked out of the midday shadows as if the slightly darker areas conjured her up out of thin air.
The three ronins carefully got to their feet when Robyn appeared and walked into the clearing. Sage finally opened his eyes and stood up slowly, turning to face her. His expression was still as calm and stoic as usual. Robyn glanced at the three Ronins standing behind him, not looking to happy to see Sage had company this time.
"Too afraid to be alone?" she accused of Sage.
Cye was beside himself. It was the first time he got a good look at her. It hardly looked like Robyn at all. The way she carried herself; the way she looked at him so coldly without recognition. It churned the pit of his stomach and made him sick.
Sage glanced at the three in an "oh, them?" type manner.
"They will not do anything to you. That other Robyn who's body you share, they are her friends. They are worried about her."
A smile crept along Robyn's face that none of the Ronins really liked.
"I see," she said with almost a purr in her voice. "Interesting that this Hardrock priestess is so popular. Quite a change from the last time..."
Her eyes locked with Ryo's for a moment and he held his breath, praying in the inside Robyn's face would change to something of recognition. It never happened.
Robyn turned her attention back to Sage. "So that Halo sword, do you have it for me?"
Sage was silent for a moment, piercing her eyes with his. He searched for the words that would some how get through to her.
"Please, come with us," he said gently. "Whatever it is that you're trying to do, we can help you."
Robyn suddenly looked bored. "You don't have the sword, do you? That stupid Myune still has you thinking she has your armor." She smirked towards the trees and that was when Sage realized she knew Myune and the other priestesses were there.
Robyn turned her attention back to him and smiled with a smile Sage did not feel comfortable with at all. She stepped towards him, leaning against him and snaking her arms around his neck. "You'll do ANYTHING to help me?" she whispered in his ear in a sultry voice.
All words were lost in Sage's throat. His ear tingled where she breathed on it. But her body was cold where it should have been warm. That alarmed him most of all.
A bolt of lighting shot out from the trees and Robyn suddenly pushed Sage away, grinning madly. She really had no interest in the blonde young man at all. THIS was what she was fishing for.
"Minami!" Myune screamed, not having any other name to call. "I'll fight you here and now! Only one of us is walking away from this!"
Robyn continued to grin.
"There you are, trying to control everything as always. Like the haircut I gave you, MYUNE?"
Myune seethed. She hated that smirk and she hated the way that...being said her other name. She hated what she did to the only thing Myune took any pride in. She lept from the tree tops, raining lightning down on Robyn. The red head threw up her hands, not being affected by the attack at all. The second Myune's feet touched the ground, she was done for. With alarming speed, Robyn rushed forward. Her hand was in a death grip around Myune's neck and before she knew it, she was forcefully pinned against a tree.
"You know what Myune?" Robyn asked calmly as Myune struggled and clawed at the hand crushing her wind pipe. "You are a lot like lightning. Anyone can see you coming a mile away and you strike without any reason." She gave a hollow laugh. "But then again, not even lighting is stupid enough to strike the same place twice."
Robyn's expression turned dark. Myune's eyes went wide. She meant to kill her this time. But then she was suddenly free. Myune fell to the ground, gasping for air. Above her, Robyn just stared at the white and light blue hand holding her other wrist. Her gaze traveled up the arm to Cye's pleading face; his eyes starting to pool with tears. Robyn then blankly looked back at the arm Cye was holding and then her other arm that had fallen limp at her side as if she no longer had control over either. She reached up to touch a single tear running down her cheek and looked at the droplet on her finger.
"What," she whispered in a confused voice. "Are you doing to me?"
"You're insane!" Myune rasped as Diana and Miniko helped her to her feet. "Whether or not you're telling the truth about being Minami, we will have to stop you."
Robyn's expression darkened. She regained control of her limbs again and tore her wrist from Cye's grip. He winced a little at the sudden movement of his bruised ribs, but Robyn hardly paid attention.
"You three," she told the priestesses. "Are just pests. You can't stop me."
She held out her hand, palm down and the ground below the three women grew soft and sucked them under until they were up to their waists in sand. Then the ground solidified again. They were stuck.
"As for you," Robyn turned to look at Sage again. "Something tells me you aren't too willing to get that sword for me."
Sage did not back down from her accusing glare.
"I don't have it," he said simply. "Just because you want me to take back the Halo armor, it doesn't mean I can."
Robyn walked toward him, her pace quickening and purpose in her stride.
"Oh you can," she informed him. "You just might need the right incentive."
The other three Ronins called out to their friend, but Sage was already skidding to a halt on the ground when Robyn round house kicked him. Sage tried to blink the stars away from the attack. She moved so fast. How was she doing that? Before he knew it, Robyn was already straddling his chest, fist poised to smash his skull in.
"Maybe if I mess up that pretty face of yours you'll try harder to get that armor back."
In a flash of red and white, Robyn was gone as Ryo tackled her. Despite her greater strength, with his sub armor on, Ryo managed to pull together enough power to hold her face down on the ground with an arm twisted behind her back.
"I got her!" Ryo cried. "A little help here!"
Rowen was instantly at his side, using his own body weight to help hold Robyn down.
"Now that we got her, what do we do with her?" Strata worried. None of them really thought past catching her. How were they going to make her stay caught?
"Nothing," Robyn replied as she started to sink into the ground.
Like sand through their fingertips, she slipped from the two Ronin's grasp and disappeared beneath the earth. Cye was helping Sage up when a heavy force rushed his back and he flew face down into the ground. Sage hardly had time to look before he was backhanded with tooth-jarring force. Another fist was rammed into his gut and his knees buckled. Robyn grabbed the front of his shirt before he collapsed, holding him up.
"Are you going to give me that armor yet?" she growled lowly.
Sage just glared at her, a stream of blood dripping from the side of his mouth.
"No matter what you do to me, I can't give you what I don't have," he spat.
Robyn paused, looking thoughtful. "Fine," she consented. "If I can't beat Halo out of you, maybe I can force you to call it to save your friends."
She threw Sage into a hefty tree trunk. He gritted his teeth as he hit his head on the bark and then slid down to sit at the base. His vision was swimming once again and he fought to control it. Robyn was already stalking towards the other Ronins.
"You'll do just fine," she grinned, zeroing in on Rowen.
Cye, who was closest to her, tried to stop her advance. Robyn threw him aside and, with a wave of her hand, hefted a few large boulders out of the ground and waved them over to drop them on top of the Bearer of Torrent. He gave out a startled cry before they were dropped with a sickening crunch.
"Cye!" Ryo and Rowen called.
But Robyn was already standing in the way, preventing them from helping their friend.
"Rowen, get Cye!" Ryo called as he lunged at Robyn to distract her.
Before he could reach her, Ryo was caught in by a wave of dirt and rock as the ground snatched him right out of the air. Ryo let out a surprised yelp before he was covered completely in a blanket of earth.
The only one left was Rowen. He glanced from the rock pile where Cye was being crushed, to the moving mound of earth where Ryo was buried alive, unable to breathe. He was torn in two directions. What was he supposed to do? Who should he try to help first? Rowen made the mistake of looking into Robyn's eyes and he was frozen. Why were those eyes so haunting? Why didn't they look at him they way they used to? Why--
Robyn's fist connected with Rowen's jaw and he fell backwards, out cold. She caught him by the neck, lifting him off his feet.
"Halo!" she called, making sure she had Sage's attention.
She did.
Robyn stamped her foot and a large, deep fissure split the earth next to her. She swung around, dangling Rowen's lifeless body over the deep abyss.
"What will it be Halo? I want that sword. And even though they won't be the first Armor Bearers to go prematurely, I doubt you want your friends to die."
There was a thumping coming from the dirt into Sage's palms–strong but steadily growing weaker. He lifted up his hand in horror when he realized what it was.
"Can you feel it?" Robyn sneered. "Wildfire's heartbeat is getting weaker. Don't you want to save him from such or horrible fate? Or what about Strata? It can't be any more pleasant falling to your death. Though for Torrent, it might be already too late..."
Sage's heart was picking up as he felt the sickening rythem of Ryo's slowing down beneath the ground. His struggles were becoming weaker, but there was nothing Sage could do. His vision was still swimming. Even if he was running at full capacity, he still would be no match to Robyn's strength and speed. Sage had never felt so helpless. It wrenched in his gut. He had more power to do something once, but it was gone now. It wasn't coming back. His friends were dying all around him and the piece of himself he hated, the one he wished would never come back, really wasn't going to help him. Damn that armor!
Damn you, Halo!
Sage's eyes went wide, for a moment, he felt a familiar brush of power. Was Halo still there...somewhere? He struggled to his feet, fighting to stay standing and to reach for that pull he felt a moment ago. Where did it go? Halo couldn't just remind him it was there and leave him! That damn, irritating armor!
"Now Halo!" Robyn demanded. "Produce that sword or I drop him!"
"Don't do it," Sage coughed. He had to lean back against the tree for support. "If you drop him, you'll regret it, Robyn."
At those words, Robyn's face turned from hard to mournful. "Do you think there is a single thing I've done that I haven't regretted?"
She turned to drop her victim and Sage's world suddenly hit hard reality. What would he do without Rowen? That arguing, obnoxious voice that was always next to him. His life wouldn't be the same without it. Not without Ryo's mood swings and Cye's nagging. How could he live without those? What would he tell Kento if he lost them all? Would he be able to bear the loss to live long enough to do that?
"NO!" He cried out, dropping to his knees. He had never dropped to his knees to beg anyone. "Please don't do it!"
But Robyn didn't even notice. She was too busy looking at her hand. The hand that wouldn't let go of her victim. She had fully meant to drop Strata to teach Halo a lesson. But the hand wouldn't let go. She used her free hand to clutch at it, trying to pry the fingers open.
She was so engrossed with the task of fighting her own, disobedient body that she didn't notice Rowen stirring in her clutches. His vision came sparkling back to him and Rowen wasn't really sure where he was or what was going on. Even the hand at his throat didn't really catch his attention. The only thing he saw was that spot of red, slowly seeping through the material at her side. All his concentration focused on that spot as he clenched his fist.
Robyn may have been stronger than Rowen, but she wasn't taller. Even though she was holding him out over a large fissure, he still had enough height on her to reach a foot out to the ledge for some leverage. Once that was achieved, he pulled back and shot all his remaining strength into a punch into that red spot. Right in Robyn's side.
"I'm sorry, Robyn."
She gasped in pain upon impact and her body immediately crumpled to the ground. Rowen managed to catch his balance as her hand went limp and she dropped him. The lump of earth nearby grew soft and Ryo broke free, gasping and coughing for air. Sage limped toward him.
"We need to help Lord Torrent," Diana urged as she clawed her way out of the ground as well. She seemed frantic as she barked for Myune and Miniko to help move boulders as quickly as possible. All three women together managed to heave the largest boulder off the top and the second that happened, the smaller boulders gave why as Cye pushed them off. He climbed out of the pile, panting.
"My Lord, are you alright?" Diana crooned, grabbing his face to check him. He was bleeding at the temple, but otherwise looked in good condition.
"I'm fine," Cye said, a bit shakily but with a smile. "That's what subarmor is for, right?"
"Oh! I'm so glad!" Diana exclaimed, clutching him to her.
Cye made an "oof" sound and then his face went beet red as it was thrust into her bosoms. He struggled a bit, but she probably wasn't going to let go any time soon.
With that crisis over, Miniko's medical training kicked in. She ran off to where the horses were and fetched a canteen of water. Then she hurried back to where Sage was patting a coughing Ryo on the back. His eyes were closed, probably full of dirt as was the rest of him. Ryo looked absolutely horrible and he wasn't sounding too great either.
"Here," Miniko said, giving the water to Sage. "Clean out his eyes first, then give him some to clear out his throat.
"You guys okay?" Cye asked as he made his way over to them. "I didn't see what happened."
Sage didn't look up from his task.
"He'll be fi--Ryo, don't touch your face! Call off your subarmor before you do that. It's caked in filth!"
Ryo did so. As soon as he had clean, non armored hands, he pushed Sage aside and insisted he could rinse himself off and didn't need Sage to be his mom.
Miniko then asked Cye if he wanted his head looked at. He said she should look at Sage's split lip first and went over to check on Rowen who was hunched over on his knees, his back to all of them.
"Rowen, how about you? You okay?"
Cye could now see he had a body in his arms. His right hand was smudged in light red while the body, Robyn's body, was leaking blood all over the armor on Rowen's stomach as he clutched her tightly to him. Cye's face paled at the sight. He had no idea what happened. The lifelessness of Robyn's body and the paleness of her skin was alarming.
"Rowen! What--"
"I didn't have a choice," Rowen whispered, pulling her closer. "I'm sorry, I didn't know what else to do."
Ryo and Sage came up behind Cye. Ryo looked like he was going to start losing some color in his face now, too. Sage looked stern.
"We need to get her to a doctor."
"You might want to tie her up," Myune said from further behind. "The second she regains consciousness, she'll attack again. With or without that injury. She doesn't feel any pain."
Rowen didn't say anything, he just clutched the body tighter. He seemed willing to take any punishment that might be coming to him if Robyn were to wake up.
Sage grabbed Ryo's sleeves and tore them off without asking. He did the same to his own shirt and then knelt next to Robyn, coaxing Rowen to let her go and put her on the ground. Ryo ventured a few more steps forward.
"She's not...she's going to make it, right?"
Sage placed one hand on Robyn's bleeding abdomen and another on her forehead. She was way below body temperature. That wasn't right at all. She should be having a fever unless she was dying. Sage didn't want to think about that. And he sure as hell wasn't going to tell any of the other Ronins that was what he was suspecting.
"Rowen, put on your armor."
Rowen sat there on his knees. His face pale and blank from shock.
"Rowen, put on Strata! Now!"
The force of his voice was enough to startle Rowen to his feet. Though he still didn't look sure why he was doing this.
"She needs a doctor," Sage explained. He was already stuffing material over the soaked, red area on Robyn's body and tying it firm to try and slow the bleeding. "The closest doctor is with Darris' army. You need to fly her over there as fast as you can."
Rowen nodded solemnly, his wits now back about him. He ceremoniously called forth his full armor and then held out his arms for the precious package.
"Don't leave her for a minute," Sage whispered as he handed the body over. He immediately regretted his words when Rowen shot him a hard "You don't have to tell me that" type look.
Strata stepped back and a blue tinted bubble formed around him. He floated slowly up into the air, taking one last look at his friends before taking off towards the horizon in the direction the army had marched earlier. Sage watched until the bubble was out of sight. Then he looked over at his friends and Ryo swore he could see all Sage's resolve and strength leave him. He looked tired now; lost. It was time to take over.
"Let's follow," Ryo announced. "If we hurry, we'll catch up before it starts getting dark."
The group all trudged back to their horses. It was a heavy silence; grim.
"Why the HELL does she need the sword of Halo?" Myune broke the silence. "This makes no sense! First she's Minami and now she's not and THEN she needs the Halo sword? What is going on?"
"Now Myune," Diana tried to keep the peace. She worried about the three warriors at her back. Everyone had been having a hard time as of lately, but Diana worried Myune was going to start a fight with the three young men if she didn't keep her trap shut. "Please calm down, this is confusing for everyone. Getting all riled up when there's clearly nothing we can do at the moment isn't going to help."
Myune simmered down a bit, but she still looked like she was keeping some frustration in.
Diana glanced back at the warriors. They didn't look angry at all. Instead, the three men looked tired, beaten, and wounded on the inside. Diana sighed to herself. This was going to be a long ride back.
"Now that I think about it," Miniko announced as she checked her saddle. "I remember Minami took a sudden interest in the last Bearer of Halo, too. It was close to when..." Miniko paused to choose her words. "..near the end. She was suddenly following him around and asking some weird questions about his armor."
"So that means she was lying," Myune concluded. "She lied to Diana the other night when she said she wasn't Minami. There's no way they are two different people if they're both interested in the same thing like that."
"Unless..." Diana spoke up in an uncertain voice. "Hardrock's previous incarnation wasn't Minami either."
The women all fell silent. The three warriors at their backs were quiet, too. They had been listening to the conversation.
"That makes even less sense!" Myune finally sputtered. "No impostor can just come in and pretend to be the reincarnation of a priestess! You know that, Diana! There are magicians who study their whole lives for the soul purpose of being able to find the reincarnated soul of a priestess when she is reborn. Not to mention the ARMORS would know the difference. It's utterly impossible. She HAS to be Minami. There's no other soul in this world that would have it out for Falnan as bad as she does."
She angrily ran some fingers through her hair and then scowled. She hated short hair. Damn that Minami!
Diana nodded silently as she mounted her horse.
"What I worry about," Miniko said. "Is as soon as she regains consciousness, we're going to have to do this all over again. Even if they do tie her up back in camp, with that strength of hers, there isn't anything that can hold her for long." Her head turned towards Diana as a thought hit her. "How did you do it last time?"
"Huh?" Diana's head shot up at the question.
"Hey, yeah," Myune chimed in. "She killed both of us, but you managed to capture her by yourself, right? You caught her without killing her and brought her to her trial. How did you do it?"
If Diana was alive with real blood flowing through her, she probable would have paled at that moment. However, she did notice Cye had pulled up beside her on his own horse, his eyes wide.
"Do you really know how to catch her?" he questioned.
Diana slumped, her chest growing heavy.
"No, I don't," she said, her voice cracking a little. "I never caught her. She came to me. She appeared in my room one night." Diana looked down at her hands. They were starting to shake. "She was filthy; caked in blood and dirt. Her eyes were red, bloodshot. Eyes that have cried until there was nothing left in them to cry. I had never seen any person look so beaten and broken as I did on that night. And I will never forget what she said to me. "I am finished. There is no strength in me left to hate. I am done. But I will never surrender to the enemy; only to a friend." And she dropped her sword at my feet. I took her to trial and she herself allowed her own death sentence as the people saw fit. It was through no power of mine."
Diana's voice was shaking as she looked up at Cye with sorrow in her eyes. "I'm sorry, I have no idea how to help you."
Cye put a hand on her shoulder. "It's fine," he whispered. "We'll think of something."
Diana silently agreed and they all rode off towards the direction Rowen and flown earlier. They had been riding for over an hour when the horses encountered severely chopped up and uneven earth. The horses reared up and whinnied; unwilling to walk over it.
"What is that?" Miniko wondered. "It looks freshly dug up. But why and it's such a big space."
The chopped up earth expanded for miles in both directions. It was a very odd obstacle in their way.
Ryo dismounted and slowly walked over the torn up ground. He kicked at a large piece of earth that jutted up at a strange angle. He then jumped back with a startled cry when a stiff, dead hand was found underneath.
"It's Akuma's army!" Cye cried.
"Minami must have buried them all last night!" Sage put in. "The entire thing!"
Myune seemed less surprised and disgusted. "Yes, though I don't know why she would be trying to help our side out like this. Either way, that means Darris' army wouldn't have gone far after encountering this massacre. I doubt he would have his men try to walk over it."
"Over that way," Diana announced. There was a bit of smoke and the silhouette of tents off in the distance where she was pointing.
Twenty minutes later, the group rode into camp. The three warriors were instantly shown towards the medical tent as they demanded and the three Priestesses held back as they conferred with Captain Darris over what had recently happened to both them and the army.
"Oh, My Lords!" A doctor stepped out of the medical tent before the three warriors could go in. "Sorry, you surprised me. Are any of you injured?"
"We're fine," Ryo said hastily. "How's..." He held back, not sure to how he would refer to Robyn to this stranger. She was Robyn to him, no matter what. But to the members of this camp, she was Minami.
"Lord Strata is in there with the girl," the doctor answered for him. "When she was brought in, her situation was quite serious. It still is, I'm afraid. I won't lie to you. At the way she is, the girl will probably die. Lord Strata..." He looked towards the tent, a bit of confusion on his face. "He asked me to do something but, I don't really understand what he's trying to do. Something from his world, he said. It's beyond me. I'll leave you, My Lords."
The doctor walked off, shaking his head while the three men ran into the tent.
Robyn's body was laying on a crude cot about a foot off the ground. She looked deathly pale. Rowen was sitting on the ground beside her, his full Strata armor still on. All except for the metal plates on his right arm which had been removed all the way up to the shoulder. Shoved crudely into the flesh of his arm was a long plant--a hollow reed of some kind. The other end connected into Robyn's pasty skin. Rowen didn't look up or even move when his friends came in.
Quietly, slowly, Sage approached and placed a hand on his armored shoulder. "Rowen, what are you doing?"
Rowen's hard gaze refused to leave Robyn's face. "Praying," he whispered. "To Strata, to God, to anything that has the power to help me. I don't even know if our blood is compatible, but...but the doctor said she had been losing blood for several days. She needs it or she's going to die."
Cye turned around and loudly let out a word his friends never thought they would ever hear him say. They stared at him as he proceeded to viciously kick at anything that happened to be laying around the tent.
"What the hell have we been doing!" He screamed at them. "Why didn't we go look for her when this first happened instead of going on this daft, bloody war! We're the ones who made her come here and we didn't help her when she needed us! If she dies it's our fault!"
Rowen hardly reacted to Cye's outburst. Ryo just starred at Torrent blankly. Sage walked up to his friend and put a hand on Cye's shoulder.
"Take it easy, Cye. Calm down. Getting worked up isn't going to--"
"You shut up Sage!" Cye cut him off, tearing away from Sage's touch. "Don't tell me what's going to help the situation! I KNOW there's nothing I can do! But just because I'm not as perfect as you and able to stay so damn calm all the time, doesn't give you any reason to use that condescending voice on me! The hell! Like you bloody care anyway!"
The shouts from the medical tent was drawing quite a lot of attention. But no one was prepared when two bodies came diving out of it, fists flying. Sage had a harder time getting a grip on Cye's sub armor than Cye did on Sage's clothes. But Sage still managed to get on top and landed a vicious blow to Cye's face.
"You don't know me!" Sage barked back. "At least I'm not going around pretending I'm the only one who gives a shit about anything, you self-righteous bas--"
Cye managed to get a hand up and delivered a good hit with an armored fist to the side of Sage's face, knocking him over. Torrent was on top, about to tear into him when both young men were suddenly grabbed and pulled away from each other.
"That's enough, you two!" Darris ordered, looking the whole scene over with a disapproving gaze. "What is this about?"
There were two soldiers holding back each of them. Sage still managed to tear free, but made no more advances on Cye. For his part, Cye just hung there in his captor's grasp, glaring. Sage was breathing hard when Darris looked to him for answers, but Sage just turned his back.
"Don't let him back in that tent," Sage told Darris before walking toward said tent himself.
Ryo was in the entrance way, looking baffled at the sight of his two friends at each other's throats. Sage put a hand on his chest and pushed him back into the tent as he came in himself.
"Sage...what? Why?" Ryo fumbled.
Sage ignored him and looked down at Rowen who still wasn't interested in anything going on around him. Sage finally figured out why.
"Rowen, how long have you been hooked up like that?"
Rowen slowly raised his head. His face was pale and his eyes were a bit glassy.
"Okay, you're taking that out right now. Ryo, what blood type are you?"
Ryo blinked at the blonde. "Uh...O, I think..."
"Good, I thought so. Sit."
Sage took out a small dagger he had been carrying and went to clean it off. After a few minutes, Ryo was hooked up to Robyn, sitting cross legged next to her cot and grumbling about Sage's poor bedside manner. Rowen was getting his arm bandaged by one of the doctors.
"Make sure these two get something to eat and some water," Sage ordered before stepping out of the tent.
The blonde thought he was done until he saw Cye stalking back up to him. Sage let out a heavy breath. This never seemed to end.
"Sage," Cye said in a warning voice. "You--"
"Please Cye, not now," Sage begged, raising a hand to silence him. "I can't do this now, I just..."
And Sage was done. He collapsed in Cye's arms, out cold.
Diana watched it all. The whole thing. The yelling, the flying fists. She heard the words exchanged and she was disheartened. This wasn't how they were supposed to be. Her precious Lords of the Armor were not supposed to fall apart so easily; so fast. What was going on? Why were they acting like this? And now, of all times?
"This isn't going to work," Myune said as she came up behind the Torrent Priestess. She had been watching as well. "They're turning on each other, they're falling apart, and they're not listening to reason. All because of that girl. They won't tie her up and they're sure as hell not going to let any of us near her to properly question her. The second she wakes up, she's going to try to kill them or just fill their heads with more nonsense. Either way, none of them are going to take the proper action."
"So what are we going to do?" It was Miniko who has asked that as she approached both of them.
"We need to get her away from them?" Myune replied. "It's for their own good. They aren't helping anyone acting like this. If worse comes to worse ladies, we may have to try and take down Minami ourselves. You might even be forced to take back Torrent and Strata if they get in our way."
Diana looked worried. "Myune, that's a bit extreme. I don't think--"
"Look, it's your decision, not mine," Myune cut her off. "All I am saying is they might get in our way and we are doing this for our kingdom. We may have to do some things we don't like for the greater good. My Halo powers aren't as strong without a bearer, but if you two take back your armors as well, we should be able to gain power from each other. The after affects won't be so bad and we should have enough power to take Minami down."
Diana cocked her head. "You still think that the soul in Robyn's body is Minami?"
Myune looked hard towards the medical tent. "It has to be. Who else is there?"
"Fine," Miniko agreed, looking determined. "I will agree to at least questioning her. I don't know about the rest, but I do think we need to find out exactly who this is we're dealing with. Whether or not it really is Minami. We need to find out what their intentions are and then I will take whatever action is needed of me for Falnan."
Myune nodded. They both looked towards Diana. They needed her special power for this to work.
"Okay," Diana sighed. "I'll help you question her while she sleeps. I make no promises after that."
Sage came to with a pounding in his head. He opened his eyes to see Cye's face looming over him. It took him a moment more to realize he was laying on the ground with a wet cloth on his forehead and his head in Cye's lap.
"Ugh, what am I, your girlfriend?" he asked sardonically as he sat up.
He sat up too fast and his headache came full force. Cye didn't look too sympathetic.
"It's not my fault you've hardly eaten or slept for days. If you would take better care of yourself, I wouldn't have to baby-sit you so much."
Sage gave him a stoic look as he pulled the cloth off his forehead. It was dark now and he could only see Cye by the light of the fire. Torrent's left eye was swelling shut from when Sage had punched him.
"Nice black eye."
"Yours is pretty nice, too," Cye shot back with a bit of humor in his voice.
Sage reached up to touch the side of his face. It felt swollen and stung where the skin had been cut by Cye's sub armor.
"How's everyone else?" Sage then asked, dropping his hand tiredly.
"Robyn's still with us," Cye replied calmly. "She's got a bit of color back in her. Though you certainly won't hear me complain if she sleeps for a couple days. Ryo and Rowen are a little anemic, but they know how to take care of themselves better than you do."
Sage glared at him, but then let out a heavy breath. "You should be with her, not out here."
"Robyn's fine. She has plenty of company. Ryo and Rowen both refuse to leave that tent. A whole horde of demons probably couldn't drag them out of there. I'm of more help right here watching you." Cye slid a plate of food towards him for emphasis. "I'm not moving until you eat everything on there."
Sage took the plate and sighed. He took a few bites in silence as if it were a punishment and then looked at Cye again.
"Cye, I really do care. It's just that I...I don't..."
"I know," Cye replied, patting him on the back. "I know."
In the middle of the night, a mist drifted into the medical tent. It was a strange mist, almost clear like steam. But it sparkled somehow like tiny stars glittering. Miniko stepped into the tent as the mist floated around her, her eyes glowing very faintly. Her powers connected with the night sky; this would keep all inhabitants sleeping while they entered.
Robyn's body was still lifeless in her cot. Beside her on the ground slept both Ryo and Rowen. None of them stirred as the three priestesses entered. Diana was the last to come in, but the other two moved aside to make room for her as she walked up to the head of Robyn's sleeping form. Diana placed her fingertips lightly on Robyn's forehead and they glowed a dull blue in the darkness. Everything was quiet for a moment.
"I feel her soul stirring," Diana said after a few minutes, not opening her eyes. "She should be able to hear you without waking now."
Myune stepped closer.
"Minami."
No response from Robyn.
She looked over at the concentrating Diana and then tried again. "Minami. I know it's you. Respond! Minami!"
Again, no reply. And then...
"There is no one of that name here..." the unconscious Robyn replied in a quiet voice.
"If you're not Minami, then who are you?" Myune demanded.
"Robyn," Robyn replied.
"No, not you! The other one in your body!"
"...Robyn," she repeated.
Miniko looked at Myune, worried. Myune shook her head in agitation.
"Stop playing with me! Are you the Guardian of Hardrock?"
"Yes..."
"The previous Guardian of Hardrock?"
"Yes..."
"Then you're Minami."
"No..."
Myune swung her head in Diana's direction. "Is she lying to me?"
"Her soul isn't fully conscious," Diana explained. "She really shouldn't be aware that she's being interrogated. The truthful answer would be an automatic response."
Miniko looked worried. "Myune, is it possible, even with all the tests, that we swore in a false priestess last time? What if all these horrible things happened because of that? This whole world is being punished because we--"
Myune held up a hand to keep her silent. "It doesn't really matter now, does it?" She turned back to the sleeping figure. "What do you want with the Halo sword?"
"Akuma...to his castle.."
"You're going to take it to Akuma?" Myune demanded, her anger flaring again.
"I...promised..."
Miniko looked around, alarm clearly written on her face. "If she's sided with Akuma..."
"Diana, can you put Robyn back in control of her body? We can't let her wake up and side with him," Myune ordered.
Diana looked dubious at the request. "I'll...try..."
She placed both hands on Robyn's head and concentrated. It was only a few seconds before her eyes fell open and she all but jumped away from the body, panting heavily as if she had just been chased by a wild beast.
"What? What is it?" Miniko asked.
"There...there's something in there," Diana whispered, her voice shaking. "Something hiding her spirit. Something dark." Her voice started to crack as if she was going to cry. "Minami's not in there anywhere. Where is she?"
Myune looked from the sleeping girl to the two startled priestesses. She clenched her fists.
"Alright, we're taking her," she announced. "Far away from here. We can't let her wake up again. Tie her up."
"Don't touch her."
Myune froze as she felt the tip of something sharp at the back of her neck. Rowen stood behind her, a dagger in his hand. Miniko's sleeping affects obviously did not work on him so well.
"You will leave this tent," he said calm, but with authority. "If Robyn has to be taken any where, we will do it."
"You're damning this whole world by taking her side," Myune hissed, but didn't move. "Your friend isn't in there any more. That's nothing but a killing machine. You're fools for trying to protect it. You need to let us take care of it or we all might die."
"I won't let you have her," Rowen retorted, real venom in his voice this time. "Step away."
Miniko, rushed him. In the dark, in that small space, Rowen did not have time to react. She had no weapon, but she placed a hand solidly on his chest. Rowen almost swore her hand went inside him. For he felt a hand close over something that had always pulsated in the very core of him. The hand closed around it and pulled. It pulled so hard, Rowen felt the breath knocked out of him. But at the same time, as Miniko pulled, Rowen felt something else inside him pull back. Something deep and stubbornly rooted. It pulled back even stronger than Miniko's pull.
Remember always that this power...chose you of it's own free will...
Rowen gritted his teeth against the internal tug of war. "You can't take it from me," he growled at a wide eyed Miniko. "Strata is mine!"
"What are you doing? Take the armor from him!" Myune urged.
Miniko's face was starting to perspire from the strain. "I...I can't!" she grunted. "He's pulling back! It's...too strong!"
Something solid hit Rowen's head with a heavy blow. He crumpled to the ground. Diana stood over him with a large rock in her hands.
"Whatever works," she mumbled.
Myune stared at her, then smiled. "So you're helping us, then?"
Diana gave her a hard look. "This changes everything. Let's grab her and get out of here."