Authors Note: None of the characters in this story belong to me, unless you've never heard of them before. Please do not sue me; I have no money, so you won't gain anything from it. This is my version of what happened after Talpa was "defeated", so to speak.

Dragon Flames

by Malaca

Prologue

Hey family!

How's everything over there in the states? Don't worry I'm fine over here. I found the rest of the Ronin Warriors again, and it turns out that I'm one of them. How strange is that? We discovered that I have a 'virtue' just like them. My virtue is Friendship. I miss you all so much, so I'll explain all that is happening over here, starting from the beginning.

Ryo had been injured by one of Talpa's warlords, Salee. I found him and took him back to my campsite. He eventually healed enough so that I could go after his friends and bring some of them back to him. But when I got there,] I sure got a warm welcome. The hardheaded one, named Kento, charged me thinking I was one of the Dynasty's henchmen. Boys, they never learn. The one they call Sai, the warrior of trust, and the one called Sage, the warrior of wisdom, followed me back to Ryo. From there we became friends after fighting off Salee. Ryo got worse; we had to find a way to get him back to Mia's, their friend, house. I offered to teleport them all, a new skill of my armor, but they thought I was too weak from Salee's onslaught. That night was the night I met Revenge, the wolf. He had been sent by the dragon to aide me. He suggested, as you must realize I can communicate with animals, that we build some kind of sleigh. Quickstrike, the stallion, offered to help pull it to the edge of the forest.

We reached the forest's edge sooner than expected. I gathered my strength and envisioned the image of the mansion. I felt my energy in the form of blue fire stream around us. I didn't have enough; somehow the Ronin's, Sage and Sai, knew this. They added their own energy, green for Sage and sea blue for Sai. I felt their energy and used it with reluctance. I don't remember much after that. I do remember opening my eyes and seeing us all standing in front of two very awestruck boys. (Rowen and Kento had chosen not to go with us.) Both now stood gapping at the sight of Ryo and the others standing right in front of them, where just a few seconds ago there had been nothing but the TV in front of their eyes. The next thing I knew was the feeling of lightheadedness rolling over me. My eyes were greeted by darkness. I don't know what really happened after I fainted, besides what the boys have told me.

Rowen told me that we appeared in a flame of sapphire. I had looked around once then fainted. Rowen jumped to his feet realizing that I was the same girl that had been there just a few days ago. Sage and Sai looked tiredly down at Ryo and me. I guess they knew that I'd be all right. Sage told me that they moved us to some beds. Ryo to his own and me to a guest room down the hall. I guess that was when Mia came home with Ulie, for they both told me that they were surprised to see Sage, in the kitchen drinking some coffee. Sai's account was that I was out for a couple days, only a day longer than Ryo. Ryo, home after a long fight, recovered quickly. Quicker than expected. Kento doesn't speak much to me at all. I still thinks he doesn't trust me very much. I just wish I knew why.

This is the end of my letter. I hope to see you all soon. Don't worry, Talpa will never find you all. Say hi to all of my friends.

Niccole

Malaca put the letter into a small envelope and called a falcon to her side. After briefly instructing him to take the letter directly to her mother, Malaca sat quietly looking out her window. Tomorrow would be a different day. Laying down, she closed her eyes and dreamed of what she had not placed in the letter.

The next thing I had remembered was waking up in a strange room. I sat up and looked around the room. I saw Ryo curled up in a ball in a chair placed close to the bed I lay on. I guess he was worried about me. I smiled, for I was glad that Ryo had recovered. Stretching, I stood up and slowly walked over to the window, so as not to disturb Ryo in his sleep. The view was magnificent. A large forest expanded for acres around the mansion, I guess for privacy. I had sighed, then jumped as I heard something in the distance. Turning around quickly I relaxed as it was only Sage leaning against the door frame. Smiling slightly in his direction, I turned around and watched the birds flocking together in an intricate dance. Sage moved closer so I could here his whisper.

"He'll be glad your up."

I nodded.

"He was really worried that you wouldn't wake up," Sage said with little emotion in his voice.

I turned looking at him not sure what to think.

"Come on lets go downstairs so we don't wake him."

I nodded again, following Sage softly down the stairs and into what seemed to be a large living room. Following him closely, I saw that a large debate was being held between Sai, Rowen, and Kento. Mia sat quietly listening while she typed furiously at her keyboard.

"I don't see why we have to trust her! She came out of nowhere saying that she wants to help us! DOESN'T ANYONE THINK THIS IS A LOAD OF BULL CRAP?"

"Kento, you don't know that she isn't telling the truth," answered Rowen exasperated.

"Yeah, Rowen's right, how do you know?" Sai asked.

"Gut feeling, guys, gut feeling. She's not telling us everything!"

My stomach jumped like two feet in the air.

"She's got to go! We can't trust her or even each other while she's around!"

My eyes filled with tears, "If that's the way you feel, maybe I should go!"

The guys turned around in shock, as did Mia. There they saw Malaca standing there with an embarrassed Sage. I quickly turned on my heel and ran. I had no idea how to get out of the house, so I jumped out the first window I saw. Not knowing that the window was two stories up. I twisted into a flip, landing on my feet. I heard the others run out the front door, but I wouldn't let them stop me. Running quickly I called on my sub armor for more speed. Friendship, my kanji, appeared upon my head as a hand grasped mine, turning me around to see Ryo. My kanji flared up again, startling Kento and Rowen.

Since they were distracted, I pulled free of Ryo's grasp. Ryo tried to grab me again, but I pulled away, distrust in every feature.

"I'm sorry, Ryo, I can't stay here no matter what the dragon says. I can't stay in place where nobody trusts me. We must trust each other to win this battle."

"I trust you," he said mournfully.

"It's not enough," I said turning away.

"Malaca?"

A loud whistle interrupted Ryo, I was calling. A large stallion screamed rearing up on it's hind legs. The black stallion stopped in front of me, I noticed it to be Quickstrike.

"Bye, Ryo," I said quietly mounting the saddle less horse.

Revenge trotted quickly to Ryo's side. I groaned.

~Don't even tell me that your taking his side~

Ryo looked at me in surprise, then down to the wolf as he answered.

~Of course, not why would I do a thing like that?~

I rolled my eyes. Then looked up at the other Ronin's. They stood staring at the wolf.

"You can hear him!"

Ryo nodded.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING, WOLF? ARE YOU TRYING TO GET THEM KILLED! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA THAT TALPA CAN HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS?"

~Why would I do a thing like that?~

~BREAK THE MIND LINK NOW!~

~What will you do if I don't?~ the wolf asked mockingly.

I kicked Quickskrike over to his side. Malaca stood tall as Quickstrike raised up again. Fire appeared over her hand forming the sword. She pointed it at Revenge.

~I'll barbecue you without a thought~

~The lunar eclipsed sword. I'm impressed. All doubt that you are not the chosen have been erased. I bow down to your command.~

The mental link snapped echoing the yard with its snap.

"Eclipsed sword?" I asked in confusion.

~Yes, one the two made~

"Two?" I spoke out loud for the Ronin's benefit

~Yes, the Lunar and Solar?~

"Lunar and Solar?"

~Yes, yours is the Lunar~

"Lunar is mine?"

"What the heck are you talking about!" Kento yelled.

I looked over at Kento. A cold shiver rolled through my body, something was coming. My eyes darted around and was soon joined with Revenges' eyes.

"There here. They sensed your communication with the Ronin's," Malaca said quietly.

"Who's here?" Kento yelled.

"The Dynasty."

Ryo looked up as several arrows shot through the trees heading straight for him. I moved Quickstrike in front of Ryo and blocked each arrow with my sword. A laugh echoed through the forest.

"TALPA SHOW YOURSELF!" Malaca yelled.

"Why of course, Lady Malaca."

"I knew that she couldn't be trusted! She's one of them!" Kento yelled.

I ignored Kento's raving, something was up.

"Talpa, what are you trying to prove?"

"HAHAHA, just that you can't be trusted!"

Talpa's head appeared over the lawn laughing cynically.

"What do I have to do to kill you Talpa? Couldn't you get a hint when I destroyed Salee and Kazul that I have more power than you reckoned?"

"I wouldn't be so worried about what I'm doing here. From the looks of it, Hardrock is ready to bash your head in! HAHAHAHA!"

I turned around to see Kento fully armed and attacking with his sure-kill. I was stunned that Kento would attack me. Luckily, Quickstrike was paying attention and jumped out of the way of the Iron Rock Crusher. I dismounted, not wanting Quickstrike to come to any harm. I didn't call my armor, I fought Kento in just my sub armor. He wasn't my enemy, he was one of Ryo's friends. I dodged each attack he threw, trying hard not to hurt him. The Eclipse sword came in handy, it apparently could block any attack Kento threw. I didn't notice Talpa's warlord, Artus, move up behind us. She hit Kento hard causing him to fall down. I screamed.

The buzzer went off making Malaca fall out of her bed.

"These things are always to damn loud!"

~Well they're supposed to be so people like you can wake up in the morning~

"Haha, Revenge. I'd like to see you do the same thing. Is anyone up yet?"

~None of the boys are up. Mia's researching on her laptop in the kitchen~

"Thanks, I'm going to take a shower now."

~Good, you stink of human~

Revenge was hushed by a clock flying at his head, "I'm a human you idiot!"

Malaca looked around her room slowly as she stood up. It was a nice little room. Mia was kind enough to give her. It even had a small bathroom with a shower. Malaca liked the bay window the best. She could see for miles on a clear day.

She sighed, "Well I guess I should get ready for my first day of school."

The shower answered with a fizz and then a constant stream of water. She jumped into the water bracing herself from the cold. Malaca shivered.

"I ain't staying in this any longer"

She jumped out quickly, breaking the worlds' record for the fastest shower. Blowing drying her hair she became frustrated. Instead of waiting for the blowdryer to dry her hair, she called upon her own energy to warm her thoroughly. Malaca smiled at her reflection.

"If only I knew how to do this when I was living in America."

Thoughts of her old home plagued her mind as she pulled on her school uniform. Even the thought of wearing a skirt failed to catch her attention, as she lost herself in a wave of loneliness. Looking again in the mirror, Malaca began to pull her hair back. Her shoulder length hair had always been one of her best physical features. Dark blonde hair, almost brown, had been lightly layered to frame her face. Streaks of lighter blonde darted among the darker strands. She pulled her hair back into a tight bun, allowing her slightly shorter blonde bangs hang down. They too, were lighter blonde and gave her the appearance of spending a lot of time out of doors. Her skin was tanned a golden brown and her hazel eyes sparked in anticipation. Malaca smiled again, glad that she finally was getting a somewhat normal life back.

Shouldering a small black backpack, Malaca ran down the stairs, taking them two at a time.

"Malaca, what are you doing up so early?" questioned Mia as the younger girl walked into the dinning room.

Mia sipped from a small mug, inhaling the coffee's rich aroma. She had been startled to see the foreigner up so early.

Malaca shrugged in answer to Mia's question, "I try to get up early on school days. It helps me get a grip on things."

Mia raised her eyebrows and looked outdoors. The sun had yet to rise, the dark still surrounded the forest in it's cold embrace.

"Malaca, it's four in the morning."

"I know, why do you not want me up at this time?"

"No, it's just *cough* abnormally early for anyone to be up."

"I'm used to early hours. What are you up to?" Malaca asked changing the question.

"Well," Mia said taking another sip from her coffee, "I couldn't sleep so I decided to research the new Dynasty and your armor. But-"

"But what?"

"I can't seem to get by this block. It's almost like something is trying to prevent me from entering these files."

"Are they classified?"

"*Cough*, yes."

"Well, let me try."

"Are you sure?" questioned Mia looking at Malaca uncertainly.

"Yep, if there is one thing we American's know how to do, we know how to hack into computer systems."

Mia laughed at this. She moved over, allowing Malaca to reach the keys.

"What's so funny?"

"You are!"

"Whatever?"

Both women cracked up in some much needed laughter. Tears began to flow and stomachs began to hurt.

"I can't stop!" Mia exclaimed.

Lightning flashed and thunder rolled starling both out of their laughter. They listened carefully and heard a loud storm break. Rain pattered on the roof, echoing through the rooms and hallways of Mia's mansion. Looking at each other, the two girls shrugged and turned their attention back to the illuminated screen of Mia's laptop.

"Let's see, hum-, what do we have here? One coded password, pathetic. Type in code word 79-fr/5h. That should work. Good, it worked. Now lets see what is so special about this document?" Malaca muttered to herself.

Mia watched from behind Malaca's shoulder.

"What the?" Malaca exclaimed.

Before her, on the screen of the laptop, lay the most extensive knowledge of the original Ronin armors and the Celestial Element Armors. Shown in pictures under the Celestial Ronin armors was Malaca's own armor of the Dragon, along with the armors of the Centaur, Phoenix, Serpent, Griffin, and Pegasus. Mia and Malaca exchanged looks in pure amazement. There was other armors related to the mythical creatures. This they had to save. This they had to learn. This they had to find. And the rain continued to pour.

To be Continued...

So what do you people think of this for a new story line. More armors and armor bears to be written in, oh joy! PLEASE E-MAIL ME! I don't care if they are flames or praise, I just need feedback on my stories!

Another note: My marching band, Osceola High School of Seminole, Florida, did participate in the Mobile, Alabama bowl. We also performed in their "Mardi Gras Parade". We placed silver over all and third in our division. Wish us luck in our concert season.

Another note: Thanks to Skysong985 for giving me the idea for the title of this current series.