Life and Soul Reunited

By CypherCA

Well, finally, here’s Chapter 15. Finally, some action with the villains. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all my friends on the RWML...oh, what the hey, my enemies too.

Toby:: Stop ranting and get on with the fic!

Okay, sheesh. There’s one of my friends now...

Toby:: *holds up a pipe* Get. To. The. Fic.

Yipes! Guess I held out too long. Well, here you go, enjoy!

Chapter 15: A Painful Loss

“Hey, has anyone seen Kento?” Cye asked while spearing another soldier. “I haven’t heard or seen him this entire battle.”

“I haven’t seen him since breakfast. Did he go out?” Rich replied.

“Yeah. He said he’d be in the glade.”

“Okay. I’ll find him.” Rich ran towards the area Cye pointed at.

“Wait up. I’m coming with you.” Ryo said, running to catch up with Polestar. <He’s faster than he looks.>

“What? Don’t trust me to find the glade?”

“No.” <I don’t trust you, period.>

“Look out!” Rich yelled as a spear headed for Ryo, who barely escaped the deadly throw. “There’s more soldiers around here. Watch yourself.”

<Like you have more experience than me?> Ryo ran to catch up with Rich again when a surge of Nether soldiers suddenly attacked him. He soon forgot about the younger warrior.

Rich fought his way past the glade, only to be greeted with more soldiers, but Kento was no where to be seen. “How many tin soldiers are there around here?”

“Too many.” Rich turned to see Kento in full armor behind him.

“There you are. Help me fight, would you.” Rich yelled at him as more soldiers attacked. When he didn’t hear a reply, he stole another look at the bearer of Hardrock. The last thing he saw was Kento’s face before he was struck on the head and fell to the ground, darkness engulfing him as his armor disappeared with his consciousness.

Ryo was getting fed up fighting with the endless supply of soldiers. He had donned his armor shortly after losing sight of Rich. <To hell with the forest.>

“Flare Up Now!”

“Arrow Shock Wave!”

“Black Lightning Slash!”

The trio of sure-kills finally rid the area of the foul soldiers. Ryo turned to his friends, who were catching up to the other two.

“Thanks.” Ryo said.

“No probl-”

“Where’s Rich?” Rowen interrupted, looking around for his sibling. Ryo shrugged.

“I lost sight of him.”

“WHAT?!” The others stood back as Rowen advanced upon Wildfire, who actually was wishing he had kept an eye on the armored kid. “You let MY BROTHER, who has only fought ONCE, out of your sight?!” He grabbed Ryo’s collar, lifted him up, and started shaking him. “IS THAT WHAT YOU’RE TELLING ME?!”

“Rowen!” Sage yelled. “You’re going to-” A groan nearby caused Rowen to drop Ryo and run to where it originated.

“Rich! Where are.....oh, it’s you.” Kento looked at Rowen for a second.

“Good to see you too.” He grunted as he tried to sit up.

“Kento! Are you okay?” Cye asked, helping him to his feet.

“I think.....oh shit! Ro, man, I’m so sorry!” The others looked at him, confused, as Rowen turned to him.

“What happened to Rich?”

“Well...”

Kento wandered to the glade. The birds were chirping, the sun was shining, but he noticed none of it.

<Just who is he really? Ro’s brother? Or a Dynasty trick?> He started practicing some punches and kicks on a tree. Eventually, he changed to sub-armor and started practicing more complex maneuvers.

“Impressive Hardrock.” Kento turned to face a young man, no older than him, wearing dark brown sub-armor.

“Who are you?” The boy chuckled.

“I’m hurt that you don’t remember me. No matter. Badamon! Take him!” Kento saw Badamon appear with some of his Nether spirits.

“Armor of Hardrock, Dow Gi!” In the middle of his transformation, he felt an evil presence start to take control of his armor. He screamed as the presence pushed it’s way into Kento’s body, and he lost control.

“As you can see, I’ve improved my tactics. Too bad it’s not permanent.” The boy commented. Soldiers suddenly appeared.

“Master Talpa, the boy and Wildfire are approaching.” Talpa turned to the soldier.

“Keep them both distracted until Polestar is ours.” Fighting reached Kento’s ears. “And you, Hardrock, will be the one to take him for us. Go.” Talpa faded and Kento felt his body move towards the noise.

“How many tin soldiers can this Dynasty have?!” He recognized the voice as Richard’s.

“Too many.” Kento heard his voice reply. He looked to Rich, but didn’t hear what he said.

<Run kid, run!>

~He can’t hear you Hardrock.~ Badamon told him. He saw himself raise his staff, and bring it down on Rich’s head, hard. Rich slumped to the ground, the soldiers picked up the body, and took it through a doorway to the Nether realm. Then he felt a blow to his own head, as the Nether spirits left his body, and blackness enveloped him.

“....and the next thing I remember is waking up to Ro’s warm greeting.” The Seasonals got into protective stances around Kento in case Rowen decided to attack him as he did Ryo. To everyone’s surprise, Rowen got up and walked to the edge of the glade, notched an arrow, and pointed it towards the forest.

“Ro?” Sage asked, trying to get his attention.

“ARROW SHOCK WAVE!” The rage and hurt from Kento’s story was obvious as he sent his sure-kill into the middle of the forest. As the sur-kill died, Rowen fell to his knees crying. “Why? We just found each other. Why him?” The others came over to comfort him.

“We’ll get him back Ro.” Cye said. He and Sage helped him to his feet as they trudged back to the house.

“Hey guys.” Mia said. She saw the sad and worried faces of the nine warriors. <Wait a minutes, nine?> “Guys, where’s Rich?” Rowen burst into tears again as Ryo pulled Mia aside to fill her in.

“Come on Ro. Let’s get you to bed.” Cye and Sage helped Rowen to bed, before returning downstairs and eating the dinner Mia had finished making in silence.