Disclaimer: I think you can guess.
Note: This story takes place about one year after Talpa's defeat. Due to instances of graphic violence, language, and sexual innuendos, I'm rating it PG13, so don't say I didn't warn ya.

Kento looked around himself during a short respite from the heat of battle. The Dynasty's evil soldiers had come from every direction, hitting hard and with lasting effects. The first wave had been nothing, never stood a chance against four Ronin Warriors, much less all of their friends. But they hadn't been expecting so much back-up to follow.

The smoking black hull of a Dynsaty soldier - Ryo's work, surely - smashing to the ground next to him alarmed Kento, causing him to jump to his feet and automatically scan the lawn-turned-battlefield for threats.

Dozens of fallen warriors cluttered the lawn of the illustrious Ronin Manor. Dozens more still stood, adding to the clutter as they battled against his friends, the Ronins and former Warlords.

Since they were nowhere to be seen, Kento figured that Yuli and Mia must have gone in the house to wait it out.

The green grass had been all but scorched by the sure-kills released. Where grass still lived, most had been torn away from the Earth in large chunks by the impact of bodies and releases of energy.

Across the lawn, just far enough away for him to feel calm for a second, Kento watched as the little war seemed destined for a stalemate: there were too few Dynasty creeps to beat them, but the Ronins and Co. were quickly wearing down as they continually hacked and sliced their way through the legions of soldiers.

Kento was more than a little surprised to find that the former Dark Warlords were the ones doing most of the work. Kayura was able to use the Staff of the Ancients to strike down a five soldiers at a time, and even when they came too close for that, she was still able to use her superior martial arts abilities to fend off the wicked intruders. Dais, Sekhmet and Cale were having similar luck, minus the Staff and plus the heavy-duty martial arts required in their situation.

It was interesting to watch them because they worked in close proximity with one another fabulously.Centuries of fighting togther had shown them one thing, despite all of their rivalries and loathing in the past. And that lesson was that when they were weakened they had to rely on each other to stay strong no matter what else happened. This was just a prime example, with the four of them staying almost back to back the entire time, immediately covering each other when it seemed neccesary. Even the Ronin Warriors of this generation hadn't worked things out that well yet.

Speaking of which, Kento had his eyes on them as well. The four Ronins on the battlefield were more spread out than their friends, with just about one of them at each corner of the immense property. Being far off to the left of the house, Kento was finding himself devoid of action at the moment, while his three teammates were plenty busy for the time being.

He glanced to his side and cringed as he caught his first look at the house since this had started. Fire was climbing up the wood paneling on the far side, and had already spread beyond to the porch. In another minute, the doorway to the house would be completely blocked by flames.

It didn't take much to make the connection. The spatula Cye had been using earlier to swat his enenmies could only mean that he had been in the middle of cooking when they'd all heard Mia's scream. He wouldn't have thought about turning off a stovetop if an emergency popped up. And now they were paying for that.

Kento took off at a full sprint, barging through clumps of soldiers, jumping over soldiers, dodging and hacking his way through soldiers, seemingly swimming in them just to get to the porch as quickly as possible.

But just streaking through wasn't a breeze by any means. As he sped among them, all of the soldiers tried their best to hurt him in any way possible. By the time he finally made it across the entire lawn, he had many a bruise, and even one particularly nasty cut on his shoulder that had gone straight through his armor and bit into the flesh underneath.

Is it just me, or have these guys gotten a lot stronger than they used to be?

At the front door, where the fire was just creeping up close enough to swallow it, Kento turned around, back to the battlefield.

"Cye!"

Cye looked up from his position fifty yards away.

"Fire! Take care of it!"

Seeing his English buddy begin to fight his way in the direction of the house, Kento turned back around and plunged in through the open doorway, even as the flames leapt across to keep him out.

A current of thick, black smoke consumed very nearly every breath of air in there and pushed against him as it billowed out the entrance. It stung his eyes and curled around his throat as if to choke him - which it was perfectly capable of - but Kento fought his way through, following its trail back to the source.

Just outside the kitchen, Mia was blasting away at the flames snipping at her flesh with a garden hose pulled in through a window in another room. The green plastic hose could barely make it to the doorway, but it seemed to at least be keeping the flames at bay for the time being.

"Mia!" Kento shouted above the roar of the crackling flames.

Mia's eyes found Kento, filling her with relief.

"Kento!" Yuli jumped out of nowhere and attached himself to Kento's armor-clad leg.

"Hey, buddy. Glad to see you, too. Um... Could you let go of my leg, please? Thanks."

"Kento," Mia shouted. "Rowen's upstairs. You've got to get him and Yuli out of here!"

"No way, Mia! You're coming, too!"

"But-"

"Don't argue with me about it! Just c'mon!"

Reluctantly, Mia dropped the hose. She jumped backwards as the fire spurted at her furiously in retaliation. Kento gently took her arm and guided her to the front door as he carried Yuli in the other arm.

Luckily for them, Cye had unleashed a minor flood over the whole front porch just before they got there, leaving only the side of the house still burning.

Outside, Kento qiuckly gave Yuli over to Mia, took a deep breath, and plunged back into the dark, smoky depths.

Rowen could almost taste the metal as the sword came flying straight for him with such force he could feel the wind long before the blade.

"Rowen!" he heard Randi cry.

Too late.

Rowen held his breath and squeezed his eyes shut, knowing that there was only one thing left to do. He had to survive.

A stirring inside himself, a sensation not unlike nostalgia, a flare of white in his mind that burned away all the shadow...

Rowen opened his eyes tentatively.

"Rowen?"

"Yeah," Rowen exhaled.

The sword that had been about to slice him in two was pressed snuggly against his forehead, but it was perfectly still, as was the soldier who was holding it and his two companions who held Rowen's arms.

"What happened? Are you okay?"

Rowen pulled away from the bone-crushing grips and backed several steps away from the sharp blade.

"Yeah... I'm okay."

"Um... You have a...symbol on your forehead..." Randi gesticulated.

Rowen touched his hand to his forehead. "Oh, yeah. I know. It's..sort of a birthmark, I guess. But look, let's just get out of here and talk later, okay? I've never done that before, and I don't know how long it will last."

Randi stepped past a couple of inanimate warriors and next to Rowen, staring at the frozen bodies of armor in awe.

"You mean those guys?"

"Yeah. Now I know how to get us out of here." He furrowed his brow. "I think."

"Well?"

Rowen closed his eyes, his concentration all pouring into the image of the place he had come to think of as home. He envisioned himself and Randi in it, safe and far from their Dynasty friends.

With his aim set, he felt a rise of something unimaginable within himself. The sensation was breathtaking and spread through his entire body like a magnificent drug. Suddenly he knew exactly what to do, as if a part of his mind had just reawakened from a long sleep.

Using the strange, exhilerating power coursing through him, he sent out a command to the Gatekeepers who control access to all the worlds and planes in existence. He'd never known they existed until it was already done, and by then he was lying in a vaguely familiar bed, under about two tons of blankets and on top of about the same amount of pillows.

A muffled groan at his side made him sit up in a flash.

"What's the matter, honey? Couldn't sleep?" Randi smiled coyly at him, just before a low snarl caught her attention. Luckily for Rowen, she missed the wince of pain his sudden movement had caused him.

"Woah! Nice tiger. Down, boy," Randi sat on her heels and said softly.

White Blaze sniffed at Randi suspiciously, then turned a curious gaze on Rowen.

"It's okay, boy. She's a friend." Rowen coughed. "Hey, what's with the smoke?"

Just then Kento ran in, almost hitting the ceiling when he saw Rowen, fully awake, with an American girl on the bed who was making acquaintances with White Blaze.

"Wh-what the...?"

"Hi, Kento. Do you know what's up with all the smoke outside?"

Kento moved his jaw, but nothing came out.

"Well?"

"Uh, um, yeah. Fire. There's a fire."

Rowen walked over to the open window. Smoke was starting to drift in in large quantities that made him uneasy.

"In the kitchen. But Cye's handling it."

"Having a few other problems, I see?"

"Dynasty. They're everywhere."

Rowen sighed, looking pretty irritated. "I suppose I should help out. Randi?"

Randi snapped out of some sort of daze, turning her attention away from Kento's bright orange armor and looking at Rowen.

"Huh?" she said in a far-off voice.

Rowen furrowed one blue brow slightly and said, "Remember those big brutes from a few minutes ago?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, we've got a few more to deal with. Up to it?"

"Sure," Randi smiled widely, her blue eyes twinkling. Climbing off of the bed, she walked over to Kento, smiled at the two Ronins and said, "Lead the way."

"Wait a minute," Kento objected. Cautiously, he asked, "Rowen, are you sure you're really up to this? You've healed a lot, but... Are you okay?"

"Yeah, sure," Rowen waved him off and quickly led Randi from the room.

Rowen stepped off the blackened front porch and stopped to scrutinize the scene spread out before him. Randi just stood next to him, temporarily stunned by her surroundings. A sharp battlecry followed by the clang of metal against metal spurred Rowen to action and he sprinted away and out of sight. Randi began to follow, but a terrified little boy was thrown into her lap before she got more than five steps from the porch.

Rowen rounded the corner of the house just as a Dynasty soldier sent Cye flying through the air - straight toward him. Just when Cye was about to collide with Rowen, he felt a sudden force "catch" him in middair and set him gently on the ground.

Cye blinked in surprise when Rowen kneeled over him and asked, "Are you all right, Cye?" Cye just stared at him blankly.

Rowen asked again, "Cye, are you okay?"

Cye's voice trembled very slightly as he spoke, their eyes locked. "Rowen? You're awake!"

As Rowen extended his hand to help him up, he caught sight of the strange, metallic bracelet on his wrist. The kanji ball set in it was filled with shimmery swirls of silver that reminded him of drops of dye dispersing in water. The kanji of Life shined brightly, midnight blue in color.

Cye caught the direction of his gaze, and stared at the bracelet as well. His brows raised in surprise. "Where'd you get that?"

There was a tingling sensation at the base of his skull and Rowen whipped his head back to glance suspiciously toward the front lawn where he'd left Randi, just as the daylit sky flared blindingly whitish-blue and the air rang with the boom of an explosion.

"Rowen," Cye said in the aftermath. "Wasn't that your surekill? The blast...it had to be..."

Rowen stood and walked toward the blast. Blue and silver subarmor replaced his clothes so quickly Cye thought he was imagining it, and had to blink a few times to make certain it was real. Is this what the Warlords were telling us about; the changes in him and his armor? Cye wondered.

His confusion increased even further when several Dynasty soldiers flew at Rowen. In a second flat he had drawn the mysterious katana with the blade that was imbued with a pale ice blue color from empty air and sliced the soldiers in half, who went up in smoke - literally. He didn't even miss a beat, continuing on like he'd never even seen them.

A safe, but short distance away, a heavily shadowed figure watched the scene very intently. "Rowen of the Strata... You will be mine," the person vowed. A small shaft of light slipped between the leaves of the trees that shrouded the person, revealing a bronze star painted over one eye.

Evil laughter hung in the air like icicles even after the figure had disappeared in a strange, swirling fog.

"Oof!" Randi winced as the projectiled child collided with her and she made a rather rough landing on the solid ground. The little boy climbed off of her and brushed himself off.

"Hey, who are you?" he asked accusingly.

"Oh, that's alright. I'm fine, thanks." Randi stood up and rubbed her sore rear-end. "Randi. Et toi?"

"What?"

"Nevermind; it's French. Wha-"

Randi was cut off as a couple tons of metal rammed into her. She reacted instantly, using the soldier's own momentum to roll onto her back and throw the man over her and right into Kento as he came out the scorched front door.

Randi cringed. "Sorry!"

Yuli wailed and Randi turned to see one of the robot-like soldiers holding the boy up by his shirtcollar.

"Hey!" Randi yelled. "Let go of him!"

The soldier looked straight at her, holding Yuli out as if to say, "Come and get him."

"Fine! Just remember: you asked for this."

Reaching inside a pocket, she withdrew a shiny clear ball that rested perfectly in the palm of her hand. The kanji of Life glowed within, emanating with a warm blue light.

"Armor of Strata! Dao inochi!"

The air filled with the scent of sakura. Long bolts of dark blue silk fell around Randi, draping themsleves over her suddenly naked body and forming plates of metal - forming the familiar blue armor of a Ronin Warrior. She stretched out her right hand, and a piece of silk draped itself over it in the form of a helmet. Randi placed the helmet over her head, saying, "Alright, buddy! Now you're in for it!"

She leaped into the air with the swift grace of a pouncing cat, using the momentum to nearly knock the soldier's head off with a front kick. As she landed back to the earth, she spun and delivered another, a crescent kick, directly to his jaw. The soldier dropped the boy and fell backwards, but at the same time, two more rushed toward her.

Randi's focus was at its peak, making her more than ready to handle them. Drawing back on a golden bow that she had seemed to pull out of thin air, she yelled the incantation, "Arrow Shockwave!" Streams of bright blue light gathered around the arrow, and when released, the lightning-like arrow pulverized all who made the mistake of getting in its way.

Every Ronin Warrior, former Dark Warlord, and related friend in the vicinity was suddenly very aware of the strange young girl who donned the Strata armor. For her part, Randi smiled meekly and wished she could make herself disappear like Rowen had done earlier.

Yuli stared at her, looking angry, if anything. "Why do you have Rowen's armor?" he demanded.

"Huh?" Randi responded blankly, wondering when that had become a customary expression of gratitude for saving someone's life.

"You heard him," Sage hissed in her ear, his sword suddenly very snug against her throat. "Why do you have the Armor of Strata?"

"Sage, that's enough!" Rowen commanded.

"Rowen?" Sage's voice was filled with disbelief.

"Get away from her," Rowen said, a note of a threat in his tone. "She's on our side."

"What the hell is going on?" Ryo demanded, joining the small congregation.

Exactly what I was wondering, Mia and all reflected as she, too, joined the group.

Mandilyn entered her chambers, worried about what Master Talpa would do to her if she didn't deliver Rowen of the Strata. She passed her cauldron that bubbled something orange over a cold fire. All around the evil mage was the ever-lasting hum of the Nether Spirits. She stood in front of her pride and joy - her millenium-old spell book. She started to turn the ancient book's pages, looking for something especially devious for the elusive Ronin.

"May I suggest something, Mistress?" asked a soft, yet evil voice.

Mandilyn didn't even turn around to meet the voice. "What do you suggest, dear Cat?"

'Cat', as she was known as, came into the limited light. Her long, black-brown hair was pulled into a think braid as her hazel eyes flashed and pulsed of evil's red. Her outfit was very similar to the one Lady Kayura once wore, in the days before she turned good. Her leggings were black and the tank-style bodysuit was a deep, charcoal gray. Over her C-cup breasts was a bronze metal, extending over the shoulders and down to the wrists. Around her waist was the same metal, styled like the Ronins' armor, protecting her upper legs and butt. From her knees down were her shin guards. Over one eye was a painted bronze star, which was whole when her eyes closed. Settled on the side of her left hip was a large bronze ring, and behind her, resting on the upper thigh, was a bronzed metal staff. "Perhaps Master Talpa would listen to my suggestion himself."

Mandilyn smiled. "Afraid that I'll pass it as my own?"

"Of course. I'm not stupid. Toodles!" With a laugh not quite there with her sixteen years, she vanished in a swirl of slightly yellowed fog.

"I have waited for you, dear Cat." Talpa's voice greeted Cat upon her arrival. "I believe you want to speak with me?"

Cat kneeled before Talpa, showing him the respect that she felt he deserved. "Master Talpa...I wish to battle the Ronins."

Almost concealed shock came to Talpa. "And why would you challenge them?"

"You need Rowen of Strata. As you know, ever since you told me of this Ronin, I only wanted him to lead us Warlords." Her voice was hardened from years in the Nether Realm, but a tiny bit of the child that was still within came with the voice as well. "I believe that by attacking them, Mandilyn will have the time necessary to capture Rowen."

"You have been the most patient of all of my Warlords, Cat. I didn't allow you to battle the Ronins during my attempted takeover of their world. I believe it is time for you to prove to me how well I have taught you. Go now, my dear bearer of the Crescent Sun. Show them the mark of the eclipse."

"Yes, Master." Cat got to her feet and saluted the emperor before leaving the thrown room. Waiting outside in the hall was her animal companion, Sapphire. Her companion was a lioness, trained by the now-deceased Saber-Stryke to protect her. She was pale blue in color with bronze-colored eyes. "Let's go, Sapphire. Time to teach those mortals not to mess with Master Talpa."

"What is going on here?" Ryo repeated. "Who's the girl? Rowen, what's up with your armor?"

"Her name is Randi," Rowen said softly, still a little angry. "And she saved my life, so I really don't think that anything else matters right now except getting rid of the rest of those Dynasty creeps."

"Well I think it does matter. Look, if we're gonna beat these guys then you're gonna have to tell us what happened to you in the Dynasty or we can't help!"

"Who said I wanted you to help!?" Rowen yelled, straining his weakened body just a little too much. He grunted in pain, his hands across his abdomen, and might have fainted if Sage hadn't caught him.

"Rowen! What's wrong?" Mia cried.

"I'm fine. Really, it's nothing," he insisted, but continued to use Sage's shoulder for support.

"Look, Ro," Ryo said much more gently, "I know you don't want to, but we really have to know what happened in there! For Heaven's sake, you were missing for two weeks! We thought you were as good as dead!"

"Rowen was put through hell and you want him to give details!? Lay off, Ryo!" yelled Sage. He stood in front of Rowen, with the bearer of Strata leaning against his best friend for support.

"We need to know what Talpa's up to, Sage! He's the only one who might know what it is!" Ryo yelled back, his anger peaking.

"Both of you, stop it!" cried Rowen. "I'm tired of this! Ryo, I can't tell you what he wants except that he wants me." Rowen met Ryo's eyes. He wanted so badly to tell him that Talpa wanted him, him of all people, to lead his Warlords. But the words never left his mouth.

"Well he can't have you!" Cye retorted.

"No way, man. No how!" added Kento.

A soft, gentle laugh interrupted the Ronins.White Blaze growled for a few moments before stopping. Kayura held the staff up slightly, ready to attack.

"Something...evil is here..." Randi whispered anxiously.

Laughter rich with evil permeated the air, echoing all around them. The last soldiers left on the field suddenly vanished, freeing the others from their battles.

"You're quick, foreigner," the same evil voice said. "I only hope you prove to be as quick on the battlefield."

"Catelyn! It's you, isn't it?" Kayura yelled.

Again, the incessant laughter sounded all around them.

"Where are you?" demanded Dais.

"Really, Dais. You can't see me? That's really sad. I liked you." Suddenly, a small ring came at Dais, gutting him almost completely as he fell. The ring embedded itself into a wall, his blood staining it.

"Dais!" Cale, Sehkmet and Kayura ran to him.

"I wouldn't do that. Touch him and die," the omnipresent voice announced.

"Why should we belive you?" asked Cye.

"Why? That's a good question. I could be lying right now. But what if I'm not?"

"Shut up and fight!" yelled Kento.

"I always wanted to fight you, Hardrock. I am considered your equal in strength. But Master Talpa thought Dais could do the job."

Cale was outraged now. "Show your self, Cat. And maybe I won't kill you."

"Without your armor? I don't have time to kill. I want Strata. Now." The voice turned deadly serious.

Kayura checked Dais' pulse. It was starting to fade. "Hang on, Dais. Sage! Quick!"

Rowen stood on his own as Sage moved to help Dais. An energy beam ripped through the air and nabbed Rowen. His strangled cry got everyone's attention.

"Rowen! Not again!" Ryo jumped into the beam as it pulled Rowen upward.

"Yes, Ryo. Rowen will finally be ours!" Catelyn laughed triumphantly.

"Not on my watch," Randi said through the sights on her bow. Aiming at a seemingly empty patch of air just over the roof of the house, she let three golden arrows fly. An agonizing scream filled the air as one of the three arrows met their mark.

A swirl of sickly yellow fog, and Catelyn appeared, clutching her forearm where an arrow had gone straight through.

Before anyone could even react, she leapt into the air, telescoping her bo staff out to its full length, and lunged straight for Randi's throat. Randi sidestepped her blow, grabbing onto the staff and using it to throw Cat, who executed a perfect roll fall, quickly caught herself and readied for any attacks.

"Who are you?" Randi asked boldly.

Cat laughed again. "I am Lady Catelyn, Talpa's greatest Warlord. I am the one who will defeat you all."

"Hate to break it to ya babe, but the odds aren't in your favor," Kento pointed out. Which was true. Twelve to one should have been terrible numbers from her point of view. But, call her thick-headed, Cat just didn't see it that way.

"Nevertheless, you shall all feel the burn of my Crescent Sun Armor!"

"We'll see about that!" Ryo yelled, charging forward with both of his swords ready to strike her down where she stood. Catelyn easily deflected each swing with her staff and threw him into Cale and Sekhmet, who crumbled in a big heap under the weight.

I miss my armor, Sehkmet whimpered as he tried to push the armored Ryo off of him.

Mandilyn threw back her head in ecstacy as the evil power coursed through her ancient veins. Cackling, she continued to perform her magickal spell, the spell that would call forth the great mistress of the Nether Spirits.

Raising her arms above her head, the brew in her cauldron's steam stroking her deeply-wrinkled face and arms, she called out, "By all things negative and destructive in all the universes here and beyond, I Mandilyn, last of the Dark Sages, call forth from the void the one I demand. Azuren, Spirit of Destruction, here my call and obey only me!"

The droning hum of the Nether Spirits rose to a deafening roar. The cauldron's contents bubbled and cracked with increasing rapidity, turning up so much steam that Mandilyn had to back away just to see her hands waving in front of her face. The churning liquid combusted into emerald and gold flames that leapt so high they blackened the ceiling. Several scraggly silver-grey hairs on Mandilyn's meager forelock curled back from the heat, but she did not move.

The flames flickered and danced ten feet in the air as one giant flame. As Mandilyn watched, the pulsating fire molded itself into the figure of a woman. Her long, wavy hair flew all around her head and shoulders. A long gown with billowy sleeves and a wide skirt flowed over her smooth, flawless form. Her neck and spine arched back and her perfectly shaped mouth opened in a wide 'O' as it emitted a screech so inhuman and unholy it made adrenaline rush through Mandilyn, who was surprised she could still fear anything but Master Talpa.

The beautious demon stared at Mandilyn with contempt. "Why hast thou risen me, foul wench?" Azuren commanded, her voice deep and smooth like the river that runs through Hades' domain, and thick like blood congealing in a cooling corpse.

"I have another task for you," Mandilyn said, her voice barely under control. She held no doubts that Azuren would murder her in an instant if her spell did not prevent it.

Azuren waited, her hunger for blood evident.

"Good. Perhaps you will cooperate for once. Azuren, I command you to bring to me the Ronin Warrior known as Rowen of Strata. Go now, and do not fail, or your punishment will be most severe."

"Yes," Azuren hissed. "I shall bring the boy to you."

Mandilyn watched the flames lower, then slowly die, and the black liquid ceased its churning and crackling. Her large, black eyes glittered. "Yes," she whispered. "Master Talpa will be most pleased."

Catelyn laughed at the feeble attempts of her opponents as they came after her again and again, each time being thwarted by her superior reflexes and strength.

Her lioness, Sapphire, seemed to be having equally good luck as she battled the tiger, White Blaze.

Rowen stood back and watched as Ryo, Kento, Cye, Randi and Kayura launched attack after attack unsuccessfully, the boys and Randi with their armor and Kayura with the Ancient's Staff. The others wanted to fight so badly they could taste it, but didn't dare get involved without armor or weapons to protect them.

Something didn't feel right about her attack as Rowen watched her. It was like she was toying with them. She hadn't made any serious offensive moves, but she continued to easily deflect everything they threw at her. Rowen tightened his grip around he hilt of his katana, studying every move she made. She was either enjoying the foreplay very much, or she was stalling them for some reason.

His body swept through like the wind as he ran, slipping between his comrades and moving in on Catelyn before anyone knew he had taken a step. He swept her legs out from under her and pushed her down by the flat, bony area at the top of her chest. The tip of his blade bit into the dip at the base of her neck where he held it, drawing a single tear-shaped drop of blood.

Catelyn lay flat on her back, her eyes wide in surprise and her lips curled up in satisfaction. Her hand found his knee where it was pressed against her hip to keep her down, and she trailed it upward over his thigh and across his buttocks.

"I like a man who takes charge and shows me how he likes to play," she teased seductively.

Rowen pressed the sword just a fraction further, making her wince in pain. "No games, lady," he growled.

"Why not? Wouldn't you like to play with me, Rowen?" She gazed deep into his eyes, as if she were trying to mesmerize him, make him surrender his will to her.

A feline roar diverted his attention as Sapphire leapt for his throat with her teeth bared. Rowen went down, the lioness pinning him to the ground as she wrestled with him.

Cat jumped to her feet and grabbed the eight-inch bronze ring at her hip. As the Ronin Warriors surged forward to attack her, she threw it, screaming, "Crescent Ring Shot!" The moment it left her hand, the ring divided into five, each eight inches in diameter, that screamed as they shot through the air. Randi, Cye, Kento, Ryo, and Kayura were thrown backwards in midair as the rings hit them. One sliced straight through a tree as Cale watched, though it moved so fast that all he caught was a blur and airborn wood chunks. Each ring flew in a wide circular pattern, eventually regrouping into one ring that returned itself to its master.

"It went right through my armor!" Ryo observed as he fingered the small chunk that was missing on his left shoulder. Any deeper and it might have punctured his arm as well.

Cye, Sage, Kento and Randi were stunned by similar marks in their armors, and even more stunned that something that had barely made contact with them could have thrown them a dozen feet back in the middle of an attack.

Kayura was red-hot with anger. Her vision filled with red as she watched Catelyn laugh with glee. If she had her way, she'd make the girl choke on that laughter very shortly. Vowing victory, Kayura threw the Staff of the Ancients at her like a spear. Golden-yellow beams of power trailed behind it like a tail as it sped with deadly accuracy. It would have hit its mark exactly, but a second before it struck a pale blue blur was thrown into its path.

Catelyn screamed as her lioness fell into her lap, impaled by the Staff. The feline squealed in pain as the blood poured over her side. Cat yanked the Staff out of its side, throwing it as far away from her as she could.

Rowen stood nearby, watching the girl and her lioness very closley, without even a hint of remorse in his eyes.

"You!" Cat screached at him as she held her animal companion. Her eyes glowed with evil. "I'll kill you for hurting Sapphire!"

"Hold your tongue, girl," a low, menacing voice reverberated all around the warriors gathered on the lawn.

A bright flare of fire, emerald and gold in color, blazed in the air between Cat and Rowen. In its wake materialized a woman, or the spirit of one, with wavy hair that shone like gold. Her emerald gown billowed out, concealing her slender form only barely, and her shocking emerald eyes blazed like the fires of Hell. Turning them on Catelyn, she spat, "Do not claim honors not yours to have!"

"Azuren! No, not yet! Let me finish my business with him!" Cat shrieked, half demanding and half pleading with the spirit.

"Hast thou forgotten so soon? Your part in this says nothing of elimination, only diversion!" Azuren admonished.

Catelyn could barely hold back her rage. With these last words she and her wounded lioness vanished: "The days of the Ronin Warriors are numbered. I will have my revenge soon, Rowen of the Strata!"

All eyes were fixed on this mysterious, obviously powerful spirit from the Nether Realm. Her eyes, however, were fixed on Rowen. Without a word, her 'body' flared like fire and she flew at him, enveloping him in her energy. Both figures disappeared from view. All any of the terrified people watching could see was the large, pulsating, emerald and gold ball that had their friend captured.

A high pitched whinny startled them.

Dear Gods, what now? was everyone's primary thought.

A dark blur sprinted across the grass at the speed of light, shooting straight through the center of the fireball. When it emerged on the other side, it arched its path and ended up right next to Mia and Yuli. Clutching to the horse's mane with one leg swung over its back was a weak - but alive - Rowen Hashiba. Realizing they had stopped, he let go, slumping to the ground with a thump.

"Rowen!" Mia exclaimed, kneeling at his side.

The horse, a fine black creature with a bright silver star nestled between its eyes, reached down and nudged him in the side with his muzzle. Rowen groaned and opened his eyes.

"Ronin Warrior!" Azuren shrieked in fury. Even her human-like form was blazing like fire now. "Thou cannst elude my wrath forever! Face me!"

Rowen's crystalline eyes hardened and Mia felt chill just looking at them. He rose to his feet, a fury of his own building inside him.

The horse standing by his side watched him with soft grey eyes that almost seemed like they were scolding him. Rowen returned the gaze, engaging in a silent conversation with the animal. When he finally ended the exchange, Rowen walked straight toward Azuren, staring her down the entire time. He was less than thirty yards away from her when he stopped and stood there, completely silent, still staring right into Azuren's eyes without a trace of anger or hate to be seen. Azuren floated just above the ground, studying her target and weighing her options.

Everyone watched, each of them wanting to say something, to intervene, but not one of them making a move. The tension was so thick that it seemed to hold them all in place, to prevent them from saying or doing anything but watch and wait.

Right in the middle of their staring contest, Azuren disappeared.

"Hey, she wussed out!" Kento exclaimed in shock.

Then she reappeared, inches in front of Rowen, screaming bloody murder as she attacked him. Simultaneously, a brilliant blue light emanated from Rowen's body, and his full armor appeared, thick plates of midnight blue armor streaked with a silver mist covering him from head to toe.

Like someone just plucked him right outta the sky, Randi mused.

Azuren's attack ended before it even began when an arrow charged with an evil-destroying white light was shot an inch away from her head. A gaping hole was left in it and her 'body' dissipated into nothing.

That was hard. Rowen's inner monologue dripped with sarcasm.

"Curses!" Mandilyn screached as she witnessed the end of the demon she had conjured in her reflecting pond. Her fury at the young Ronin boy knew no depths in that moment.

"Serves you right for sending such an incompetent creature to finish your task for you," Cat laughed behind her, her tone mocking and cold.

"What do you want, you insufferable brat?"

"I come only to deliver a message, dear mage," Catelyn said innocently. "Talpa wants to speak with you - now."

Her gleeful laughter filled Mandilyn with even more rage. "Is that beast of yours dead yet?" she said cruelly as she brushed past the Warlord on her way to Talpa's throne room.

Catelyn's expression became one of bitter loathing. "Watch your step, dear Mandilyn," Cat whispered after she had left. "You might just step in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Whoa! That was a doozy! I just spent the majority of the last day and a half writing this chapter! With the help of a super special young lady named Janine, that is. Janine deserves a lot of credit because she came up with Catelyn's character for me, and even wrote some of the parts in this and upcoming chapters. So if you liked our new resident Warlord, blame Janine. If you hated our new resident Warlord, blame Janine. jk She did a great job, right minna? Right.

Okay, a brief explanation if this chapter made no sense to you: Keep reading! The plot is slowly unraveling, so you've got to stick around if you want to know more!

Aleksa ~~~<~~@