Life and Soul Reunited

By CypherCA

Here’s the next chapter! Thanks again to the RWML and Joanie and everyone else that I’ve met! Again, creative license, so go easy on me. Another thing, the sub-plots get large here, but they disappear shortly. That’s all. Enjoy!

Chapter 19: Fighting for Freedom

“Hello? Is anyone here?” Rowen pulled out an arrow and prepared for an ambush.

“Your weapon is unnecessary Strata.” A girl’s voice said. Rowen lowered the bow.

“Where did the Talisman disappear to?” When the cloud surrounded him, the Talisman had vanished.

“With us.” Another girl’s voice told him.

“Who are you?” Three girls stepped into view. They were no older than ten or eleven. The one to his left had black hair and blue eyes. Facing him was a brunette with green eyes. To his right was a blond with brown eyes. Rowen wouldn’t have been able to tell them apart if it weren’t for these differences.

“We are what has been.” The black haired one said.

“What is.” The brunette continued.

“And what will be.” The blond finished.

“Okay, um, may I have the Talisman?”

“You have faced much, Warrior of Air.” The blue eyed one said.

“This challenge we shall help you with.” The green eyed one told him.

“But you must face future challenges with Polestar alone.” The brown eyed one warned him.

“Is that all?” Rowen was somewhat confused about what was going on, but they had what he needed to get Rich back, so he would listen to them.

“Take our words to heart Strata. You will get few warnings. Now go, save your brother.” The three girls stepped back into the clouds and disappeared. The grey cloud faded shortly afterward, and Rowen found himself floating over the lake and holding the Talisman.

“I’m coming Rich. Hang on.” He muttered as he sped upward to the stratosphere.

“I don’t even know why Master Talpa perceives you as a threat.” Polestar said as he slashed Cale across the chest.

<I’d better hurry.> Rich’s spirit had watched the whole fight, fascinated at how fast he was. It started out with the usual threats, then his body lashed out at Kayura, who hadn’t donned the full armor. From there, it was all downhill, from the Ronin perspective. <Almost there.>

<I can’t let him win. I’m sorry Ro, but it’s either him or me.> Ryo climbed to his feet and looked at Polestar’s back. He connected the hilts of this swords together and jumped into the air. “Flare Up Now!” Ryo landed and sagged as he saw Richard getting off the ground. His attack only made the boy pissed, and Ryo saw it.

“You will pay for that, insolent mortal. Star Vortex Destroy!: The destructive energy’s of Kayura’s ex-attack headed for the tired Wildfire.

<Now!> Rich unleashed his pent up energies into his mind and quickly regained his body, eyes returning to normal. “Yes!” Then he saw Ryo. He looked around but no other Ronin was close enough. “I know I’m going to regret this.” He ran with his newfound speed and protected Ryo from the deadly attack by taking the brunt of it himself. “You okay Ryo?”

“Huh?” Ryo looked up into deep blue eyes. “Richard?” Inside Rich’s mind, a battle was taking place that Rich was losing.

~That was foolish Polestar. You no longer have the strength to protect your body from us.~ A Nether spirit told him.

<If I keep this up, they’ll soon deplete me of all my energy. Oh well.> Rich formed a small box of mental shields around his spiritual form.

~Fool. Now you’re a prisoner in your own mind.~

~So what.~ Outside, in the physical world, the blue eyes returned to the blood red.

“Sorry Wildfire.” The spirit attempted to punch Ryo, but instead howled in pain.

“Curse you Polestar!” The Nether spirit teleported Rich back to the Dynasty to be healed.

“Ryo! You okay?” Sage yelled, running towards him.

“Yeah..yeah, I’m fine.”

“Why did that traitor save you?” Sekhmet asked.

“He’s possessed. But for a moment, I thought it was actually Rich.” Ryo told them.

“What’s that?” Cye asked, pointing to a fast moving dot in the sky.

Rowen felt his brother’s presence for one moment, and willed himself to go faster. As he approached the field however, he could clearly see the battle was over. He landed and walked to the guys.

“What did I mis?” Eight pares of eyes glared at him. He either didn’t care or hid his nervousness. Cye finally decided to tell him.

“Just your brother beating the snot out of us.” Rowen half grinned.

“Well, he IS my brother after all...”

“Rowen!” Ryo yelled. “We nearly got killed and you show up to tell jokes?! What have you been doing?!” Rowen held up the Talisman.

“Getting this. It should save Rich.”

“How’s it work?” Cale asked.

“I don’t know yet, but let’s get you guys back to the house to rest up.” With that, he put the Talisman away and helped Sage and Cye back to the house, the other Ronins limping not too far behind.