Heart: A Ronin Warriors Fanfic

By: Malaizjan De Jesus

Author's Notes: This story was inspired by a young woman only known as 'Aleksa.' No one seems to know what happened to this young woman except that others are claiming to be this woman, and I am assuming that this is a woman, and that is simply not true. I do not know who this person is but I have thought of writing such a thing and I hope that this is almost at the standard of the other author that I mentioned.

Story Notes: I an focusing on Sage of the Halo, or in the Japanese version, Kourin no Seiji. I will stick with the American version names and armor, except for Sage. I am using the name Seiji. However the other Ronins will call him Sage. Secondly, This is part of a concept that I came up with and I am using it. There are others out there that are trying to use such a concept. This is mine and cannot be used without permission.

Chapter 8

Alecto sat on the coffee table, trying to figure out where he should begin. Everyone present looked at him expectantly, looking for the story to ease the minds of two best friends that couldn't fathom the possibility that Halo's twin was just as strong as a fighter as Halo himself.

But before he could start, Mia cried for all of them to come to the den. Everyone did, thinking something was wrong. When they got there, Mia was all excited. "Mia?" asked Ryo. "What's wrong?"

"I found the info on the Crescent Sun Armor! Looks like my grandfather was aware of the Ancient Armors. In fact, Inferno is an Ancient Armor itself."

"My armor?" asked Ryo. Then he thought about it. It was powerful and it was what Talpa had first wanted since he knew Ryo was its keeper. "How many?" he asked.

"A couple. But he had the most info on the Crescent Sun Armor." Mia got comfortable in her chair and began to read out loud. "The armor was created by the Mayan Sun God, K'inich Ajaw. He was sometimes refer to as Kin Ajaw. He was a god that was second in importance to the Mayan pantheon. He was either associated with the high creator god, Itzamna or his son. I think the jury's out in the accuracy of the translations…Um…he was a powerful figure associated with the institution of divine Maya kingship. He was also closely connected with war, human sacrifice and royal blood-letting rituals."

"Hold up. The people cut themselves as a way to worship him?" asked Kento. "What the hell!"

"Back then, I believe it was an acceptable practice," Mia explained. "This sun god possessed many aspects related to his journey across the sky by day and through the underworld by night, which were connected with the Mayan notions of life, death and rebirth. He was represented in many different guises in Mayan art. One of K'inich Ajaw's most common transformations was his aspect as the "Jaguar Sun" of the underworld…"

"Mia, what does this have to do with the Crescent Sun Armor?" asked Cye.

"This is the story of how the armor came to the people of the Maya." Mia read a few sentences ahead before telling the others. "Slightly over a thousand years ago, an evil shadow of the underworld came to cover the Mayan Empire with his power. Battles ensued. Many Mayan warriors died with the evil armies of the evil shadow…"

"Talpa," whispered Anubis. "The story talks of when Talpa invade the lands you call South America."

"There was a pinnacle point in time, toward the end of the 900's, that the Maya were going to lose. The king prayed for the sun god to intervene. Kin Ajaw sent the king the Armor of the Crescent Sun to save his people. The king drove back the evil shadow and his armies in one fierce battle that supposedly lasted five days."

"Six," Anubis corrected. "That battle lasted six days." He saw the looks the Ronins gave. "I was there."

Mia nodded, then continued. "The victory marked the near-end of the Mayan empire. Disease and destruction wiped out many city-nations and the crops were gone."

Rowen whistled softly. History said that the Mayan Empire was on a steady decline during the 900's because of those very same reasons. But no historian knew why it happened. Now he knew. Talpa. "So, what can the armor do?"

"Let's see…based on what my grandfather could decipher…eclipses. I'm thinking that in an eclipse, the armor is at its full power or get power from it. If it is based on K'inich Ajaw's own abilities, I would say maybe life and death as well. The primary weapon is a ring that can grow as large as five feet wide to as small as five inches. It's jagged with symbols of protection etched on it. That doesn't mean that there aren't other weapons…" Mia stared at the screen. "There's something here that's interesting."

"Like what?" asked Dais.

"Because it was sealed with Mayan blood, only a Mayan can wear it."

Everyone looked at Dais, sizing him up. Dais grew self-conscious. "What?"

"Your sister wears the armor," said Kento. "Are you two Mayan?"

"No! At least, I don't think so…," Dais amended. "Are you sure?" he asked Mia. That was something even he wasn't aware of. But that would make sense, considering what he knew of the truth behind Catelyn's resurrection.

"Very sure. It was the one thing my grandfather noted above anything else."

Silence. An uncomfortable one.

Alecto cleared his throat, which earned him some glares. "That would make sense. Especially because my story ties into that armor."

"In what way?" asked Sage.

"If I tell this tale Sage, you and Rowen need to understand one thing…"

"What's that?" asked Rowen suspiciously.

"It is Sage that must save this world, not just the Ronin Warriors. The prophecy in the Dynasty says that a set of twins would save the ningenkai from the dark emperor. It would mean his death and the destruction of the Dynasty," Anubis explained.

Sage's eyes widened. "That can't be…"

"That's why my story is so important, Sage. It will be hard to hear. But your sister loved you. Felt that Ro could protect you better than she could. The only thing she wanted was control."

"Control?" said Sage, thinking hard about those words.

"Her powers…Sage, he's talking about her powers," said Rowen.

"I…"

"Let me tell you my story. Then decide." Alecto took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "In the beginning, the Dates and Augustos were close friends. There was a time that my parents were friends with them too. But they moved to America, taking me with them. Both Sara and Princess Angelica were expecting their first borns. My mom was also expecting."

"Wait. So all three of you were born in the same year?" asked Dais.

"Within a month, actually. Angelica was the destined Mayan Queen."

"Wait. So if she was Mayan, she had the Crescent Sun Armor," said Kayura. "So how did Talpa get the armor?"

"Let me finish please! As I was saying, she was rumored to have the armor. And she was being hunted for it while pregnant. It caused…complications. Sage was born first to Sara. Ten minutes later, Angelica had Katerina. Knowing that her daughter would always be in danger, Angelica asked the Dates to take her and raise her as their child. So they did."

"What happened to her?" That question came from Mia.

"She was captured and then executed. The rumored armor stayed a rumor until 5 years ago." Alecto looked pointedly at Dais. "When your sister came back."

Sage sagged against everyone that was holding him back. He still wanted to kill Alecto. But knowing the truth hurt. "Her family…they're gone," he whispered.

"So Sage doesn't have a twin," said Ryo.

"Not in the biological sense, no. But in every way that mattered, yes. They're twins." Alecto stared at Sage. He still wanted to hurt him. He glanced at his brother and saw the same look. "It's similar to what Rowen and Sage are. They're closer than brothers. They could be called twins as well. They are different, but the same. It's hard to explain. Because both Sage and Katie were born on the same day, it was easier to say they were twins. After all, they don't look Japanese. They were the Date Twins. Sage was the natural healer, the Warrior of Light. Katerina was an accidental pyro. Who learned the powers of light." Seeing the skeptical looks, he elaborated. "Sage is the epitome of control. Always was. Katerina couldn't control her powers. It was widely accepted that she was meant to be destructive."

"That wasn't true! It wasn't her fault-" Sage started.

"No, it wasn't," Alecto interrupted. "She was taught to suppress her powers. To hide the fact that she was a fire element. DO you know that when Hariel realized that she was a fire element, that he wanted to train her? To have someone like her, a dual element, on our side when we attacked was an asset we couldn't ignore. She was such a let down at first. NO armor, no real training, nothing. It took everything Hariel had just to help her use and control her fire powers."

"I…what could she do?" Sage asked. He tried to imagine his little sister using her powers when she wanted to, not when they decided to flare up.

"Start and manipulate fires. Even put them out with scary ease. Once that control was learned." Alecto smiled, more to himself than anything. "She made the sun shine for the first time in the Dynasty. She then eclipsed it, bringing her armor to full power. That made Talpa think of all the dormant power she had to have possessed. He's not aware of all that she can do. I know. I've done enough research on it to know that she can summon the Phoenix at will. To save or to destroy."

Rowen and Sage stared at each other, shock on their faces. Little Katie having that much power? That was unheard of!

"You do know that she was the one that got the Crescent Sun Armor?" Alecto continued.

"Then how come Catelyn's wearing it?" asked Ryo.

"Katie fought for that armor and won. Her demeanor changed. She became aggressive. She became the Mayan Princess that I knew she would be someday. I wasn't expecting her to be one so fast, but with mastering her powers and armor, our rebellion grew. With me, her, Hariel and Sabre-Stryke, more tribal lords joined our cause." He grinned. "She was Talpa's greatest threat. He was in no hurry to do battle with any Maya."

Sage suddenly smirked. "She didn't just change. She found herself."

Rowen stared at Sage. The Warrior of Light was still angry, The faint bolts of lightning streaking in his visible eye was a strong indicator. He knew his twin better than anyone-or did, anyway…

"What happened to your rebellion?" Ryo wanted to know.

"On the eve of our first planned attack, assassins got Hariel. Poisoned him. For three days, Katie tried to get rid of the poison but couldn't. She settled for delaying the poison for a month. He took that time to make sure that Inferno would never fall into Talpa's hands. When he finally died, the pieces of Inferno went to the rest of the Ronin Armors…and I had one of those pieces.

"A second date was set. It was based on the rumor that Talpa had another Ancient Armor in his possession. Katie used a 'dream walk' to learn which one he had. He had mistaken the name of the armor but he was after a Date. You." Alecto glared at Sage.

"She wanted to move fast," replied Cye.

"Yes. She did. So our rebellion attacked. Sabre-Stryke and I divided up our army to attack two different areas while Katie went to retrieve that armor. We never heard from her again. In the morning, we were winning. By nightfall, we lost. Sabre-Stryke got away. Most of our armor was slaughtered that day. I was captured, along with the survivors." Alecto's eyes grew haunted as he continued to relay his tale. "At my execution weeks later, I saw her. She stood there, next to Talpa, emotionless and Stoic. She watched me die slowly. As my blood ran from my limp body in pools, I willed Strata to you, little brother. I saw one lone tear fall from her eye just before I took my final breath. I believed I knew what happened to her, and it was only confirmed when I ended up in the Spirit World." Alecto closed his eyes, taking a breath. He didn't want to reveal what he knew, for it would devastate two brothers.

"Spit it out." That came from Rowen.

"Talpa used…he took Catelyn's soul…"Alecto shook his head. He felt the guilt of his actions on his own shoulders.

"SPEAK!" Dais bellowed, startling the others. His visible blue eye was hard as steel, boring his way into Alecto's eyes.

"He had Katie tortured until she was too weak to resist having Catelyn's soul put into her body. Kenishen then went inside to keep her quiet so Catelyn would be the dominate spirit." Alecto fell to his knees in defeat.

"No." A whisper of denial from two Ronins.

Sage and Kento.

Sage because it was his sister, his twin.

Kento of Hard Rock's eyes went wide, as if he knew on some level that Catelyn wasn't really herself. It was now confirmed. So he wondered who saved him and Cye from the Warlords: Catelyn or Katie?

Dais let it all sink in before speaking, "How do we separate the two?" He would not think of the alternative, which was one had to lose his sister. Halo had suffered enough.

Alecto looked up at Dais. "One of them has to die. Katie's soul is far weaker than Catelyn's."

"That's not acceptable." Tears threatened to fall from Ryo eyes. "Neither of them should die. This will end with us, Alecto. We need your help. Is there anyway you can stay and Anubis can return?"

Alecto and Anubis stared at each other. "I think Anubis is the better option. And I should go."

"No. Alecto, I can always return. You are younger and have more knowledge of the Ancient Armors. You are also a fighter and the Ronins needed every fighter possible. I can check to see if there is a way to separate the two girls without one dying. I will go." Anubis looked to the Ronin Warriors. "I will return…with good news, I hope. Stay true to your virtues." Anubis closed his eyes…and faded out of existence.

"Sage, when did you get back?" Mia asked, steering the topic to something else.

"Ah, a while ago. I didn't go to the lake," he stammered out.

Rowen knew Sage wasn't being level. Being Sage's childhood friend, he knew that Sage was capable of things that he hadn't done in years. Like teleport. He did get there and back using such a power. No one could smell the lake water on him. Not even Cye, who was one with all water.

"What brought you back?" Kayura asked.

"Maybe we better go check on Catelyn to make sure that this Kenishen isn't in control," Cye commented.

Kento bolted up the steps first, Dais right behind him. The bearer of Hard Rock threw open the door and found nobody in the bed and a wide-open window. "No…" he whispered.

"She's, uh, they're both gone!" cried Dais.

TEN MINUTES EARLIER…

She woke up. It was a sudden alertness she wasn't use to. Groggy and sore, Catelyn sat up slowly, looking in at her surroundings. The soft, wide bed, the desk with chair and lamp, the long dresser and mirror and the closet door gave the story. "I'm in the ningenkai," she whispered. Eyeing the mirror, she slowly rose from the bed, her battered body telling her the story. Standing before the mirror, the first thing she noticed was the missing makeshift armor. The metal was completely gone. Her tank and leggings were torn, dried blood marking where her wounds should have been. But there were none.

"Boy I look terrible," came her small voice.

'Looks like Sapphire saved us.' A second voice next to her.

Catelyn looked hard into the mirror, peering to her left. The ghostly form of Katie Date, torn jeans and all, appeared next to her. "No kidding. That cat of your is on notice all the time."

'Now you understand my fascination with felines?' Katie asked her.

"No, not really." Catelyn paused for a moment. "I sense our brothers downstairs. What should we tell them?"

'Nothing. Let's go back to the Dynasty. I have a mission to complete.' Katie's anxious eyes darted back to the door. 'We're too big of a risk if we stay.'

Catelyn gave Katie a knowing smile. "You're scared to see your brother."

'You are too,' Katie countered.

Catelyn stopped smiling. "I hate it when you do that."

'I promise, we'll come back as soon as I complete my mission.'

"Taking out Talpa?" asked Catelyn.

'No. Getting that Ancient Armor out of his hands.'

That gave Catelyn pause. After a few minutes of thinking it over, she said, "Okay. We'll go." Sighing, Catelyn left the mirror and went to the window. Opening it, she peered out to ground. "Too high up," she whispered.

'I got this. Switch out.' Katie closed her eyes.

It took several seconds for Katie to adjust to the shuffle shift but once she did, she opened her eyes and felt Catelyn drift off to sleep. She stepped out of the window and onto the roof. "You boys will understand someday. Just forgive me for running away…" Katie leaped off the rooftop.

"Now what?" said Rowen.

"We pack for the Dynasty," said Sage. "I'm going after my sister."

"Me too," said Dais. "I don't understand why they left."

"They are protecting you two," Alecto spoke up, getting glares from the others. "And…it might sound crazy but Katie may be trying to complete her mission."

"The armor?" asked Mia.

"Yes. She has a determination of the likes that I've never seen. But I must warn you-the Dynasty is not what it once was. Kayura, you and Dais will have to be our guides," he said.

"Dais?" said Kayura.

"Catelyn's second palace. That's where we'll make our plans. It's a day's journey by horse to her main palace. It's also one of two structures that are fully intact, including crystal shields. It also have a portal maker so we can get to the main palace in 10 minutes time." Dais's eye danced at being at his sister's palace.

"Am I going?" asked Mia.

"You have to," Ryo said. "Talpa could come after you. I'm not risking that." Ryo kissed Mia on the cheek. "Go pack. We all will be."

The guys nodded and took off to pack.

Ryo knew that Mia would pack a few things for him so he went to Alecto. "You better not think about going after either of them without us."

"I wasn't-"

"Stop. Don't lie. Just know that if they both die, I'm letting Sage and Dais go at you. They're not going to care that you're Ro's older brother. And neither am I." Ryo turned on his heels and left Alecto there, stunned.

"Seems like you rubbed those boys the wrong way," Kayura commented.

"That's the understatement of the century."

"You know Catelyn's second palace better than me," said Dais. "You going to play tour guide for us?"

"You plan on doing the same at her main palace?" Alecto questioned.

"No doubt."

Alecto nodded and then went to talk to Rowen and Sage privately.

Kayura held Dais from behind, arms around his waist, her body pressed suggestively against his back. "Are you okay letting the Ronins into your family life?"

"It doesn't really matter if I am or not, love. I will save my sister. And Halo's. I appreciate that Wildfire wants them both alive. But Catelyn died already. I want them both alive, don't get me wrong. But I know the odds of that happening are non-existent. If it comes down to choosing, I will choose Halo's sister. She has done nothing wrong to deserve the fate that was given to her."

"You would have been an amazing emperor."

"With you at my side, I would have been."

Emperor Talpa finished his meeting with Cale. Satisfied that Cale was indeed on his side, he handed the warrior his armor and sent him on his way. The Dark Lord stood, leaving for the day. But Matriatrix and her daughter, Leigha-Shae entered his throne room without notice. The two were accompanied by a few of his warriors, including Battletrex and Ka'Ishiaria. "Matriatrix, why are you here, I did not summon you."

"I am here because you are obsolete. I plan to take over. We can do it the easy way or the hard way. You choose."

Talpa roared with laughter. "And how will you accomplish this, witch?"

"Like so." Matriatrix raised her hands to the ceiling. "I call upon the dark powers of Ku'Isu. Lend me your power to lock away a relic of his time." A dark beam of power, mixed with lightning, fire and ice hit the aged sorceress with such force that the walls of the palace were blown out.

Talpa was blown to the side, as he felt tethers of sorts latch onto his dark soul and pull him bodily toward the witch that was looking younger by each minute. "Release me this instant!" he demanded.

"Dear Talpa, did you think my daughter and I would continue to serve you when all you want is trick victories? I offer true victory. You do not. I now claim the throne for my line. Master Ku'Isu, lock away this demon!" She pointed at Talpa and he roared in pain as his soul was forced from his body.

"Catelyn will not take this lightly. She will destroy you all!" he cried.

"Catelyn has freed herself from my spell. The Mayan is back in control. You have lost, Talpa." She watched him fade away, gripped by specter hands.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Then he was no more…

Catelyn paused at the door to her suite. Hearing the echo of pain in the halls jolted her from her resolve. She looked around, feeling exposed out in the hall way. She opened her door and quickly closed it behind her. She was startled.

The suite was completely void of all her luxuries. Ina and Amari had packed away her items and were gone. She was shocked to see the suite so bare. "They're gone," Catelyn whispered.

'Your palace. Something's wrong here, Catelyn. Can you not feel the darker evil covering this place?' Katie had asked.

"We'll go to my palace." Decision made, she went to her door and left the suite, knowing that she would never return to her main palace.

Catelyn swiftly made her way to Alia's chambers. The succubus warrior was her closest friend and she did not want to leave the woman here in the main palace with such evil madness. The door was slightly ajar and with a quick knock, Catelyn opened the door. And gasped.

Alia lay so still on the floor, blood pooling under her. The wings of the succubus were injured and upon closer inspection, were not torn off. Catelyn gently rolled Alia onto her back. The hole in Alia's stomach knotted Catelyn's stomach.

"Alia! Please, open you eyes! We're in danger!" she hissed, feeling Katie look behind them, to make sure no one would come upon the three.

Alia moaned.

'Catelyn, I have some healing ability. Allow me to help her.' Katie reached out to touch the woman's shoulder. Catelyn watched in fascination as the ghostly hand flowed with light energy, and Alia's stomach wound had closed with little effort. The cut on the arm had begun to heal, as well as the bruises that marred the woman's body. Catelyn, glanced to her side as Katie pulled back her power…and she looked even fainter. Catelyn reached out to her, forgetting that Katie was in ghost form and her hands went through her. "Katie?"

'Tired.'

"Go back inside me, rest. And…Arigato, princess." Catelyn felt Katie slip inside their body again.

Alia opened her eyes. "Catelyn?"

"Alia! Thank goodness, you're okay!" Alia sat up and the eager princess hugged her fiercely. "We have to leave. We're not safe here."

"I've could've told you that." Alia saw the goodness of Catelyn, the true Catelyn, shine through. "You're…free?"

"Hai! And it's thanks to my curiosity." Catelyn smiled again. "We need to leave." Catelyn helped Alia to her feet. "And I need your help."

"With…?"

"Help me be free from this body. Princess Katerina is dying because of what my father did to us. I want her to live." Catelyn watched Alia's eyes. To see if the succubus-sorceress would help.

"I'll do my best, Catelyn. But is that what you want? To die again?"

"I don't belong here, alive. I belong with Hariel and Lai in the Spirit World. Just do me one favor, Alia."

Alia stood up and reached over for her bag, which had not been disturbed. "Anything."

"Protect this Date. Her power is intense and if Talpa gets his hands on her power…"

"I understand." Alia turned to leave her room, as she had intended hours ago. "Where will we go?"

"My secondary palace." Catelyn took the lead, looking out into the hall before turning her head. "Ina and Amari already went there."

"We can defend that palace well. Lead the way, princess." Alia followed the freed princesses down the hall, knowing that every moment in this main palace was a danger of great proportions.

"We must free Sehkmet before we go. You up for that?" Catelyn whispered to Alia.

"Always." That was the succubus talking. She would have to show the young princess what she really did, but seeing that the young girl was taking the leadership roll, she needed to know the truth about everything.

And at the moment, they were not safe. No one was.