It took a couple of weeks for Ryo and Rowen to regain their strength.  But they finally did.  All through it Rowen had horrible nightmares, many times calling out in the middle of the night.  All the others could do was promise him that they would free Cora.  They just hoped that they could keep this promise that they were making so often.  But finally, Rowen was back to his old self once more; though at some times, more sober than they knew him to be.  Many times they found him outside on the balcony staring at the moon, thinking.  When they asked what about, he wouldn’t answer; only stare at the moon, as if he were talking with it.  Making a promise to it.
 One morning, Rowen awoke feeling completely healed.  He had this sudden energy rush, and decided to get rid of some of that energy by going for a walk/run in the woods.  After telling Mia that he was going for a walk, he headed out at a light jog.  Finally, out of that house in two weeks.  Sometimes he couldn’t stand to be cooped up in a house for very long.  He never was really, in the summer, he was usually outside.  After about 10 minutes, he slowed to a walk.  Rowen reached inside his pocket and grasped the armor orb, knowing that someone could attack at any time…

~Somewhere else…

 "Ahh, excellent.  Rowen of Strata is out on his own, the fool boy, he will meet his demise today!  Go Cora!"  Tulpa commanded.
 Cora looked up, an evil gleam to her eyes, an evil smile on her face.
 "As you command Master Tulpa," she replied in a voice hardly her own, and disappeared.
 

 Rowen stopped for a rest and gazed at the trees around him.  Everything was quiet.  As quiet as a forest could be anyway.  The birds chirped, and was as it should be.  A light, warm breeze blew through the trees, gently rustling the leaves, creating a sound like a wave softly crashing on the shore.  Rowen walked a little farther in the woods, admiring the gently beauty of the forest.  Suddenly, he got a sense that the Dynasty was nearby.
 Rowen, out of paranoia mostly, grabbed his crystal and transformed to his sub-armor.
 "Where are you?"  He demanded.
 A silvery laugh filled the air, tingling Rowen’s every nerve.  He tensed.  Who was it?  Cora, or Kayura?  He didn’t recognize it as Cora’s voice, for it sounded…different.
 The laugh continued, then it called his name.  "Strata, why are you out here by yourself?"
 Rowen looked around.  Now he knew, it was Cora-but her voice-it was different.
 "Cora," he whispered.
 A piece of air in front of him shimmered, and Cora’s graceful figure appeared.
 "Rowen of Strata, I see you have recovered from our last battle, I hope the others are doing as well," she said in an eerie voice.
 "I’m sure that you really care," he said cautiously.
 "Now now, I’m just trying to make friendly conversation, don’t be so negative," she said, walking closer into sight.
 "Sure, then you’ll kill me," Rowen said with slight sarcasm.
 "It is true, Master Tulpa does want me to kill you and the other Ronins," she said, stepping closer to him, close enough for him to reach out and touch her.  She continued: "But I don’t really want to have to kill you, if you really want to know."
 Cora stepped to stand right beside Rowen, only facing the other direction.
 Rowen kept staring straight in front of him, not moving a muscle, except for the occasional blink.
 Cora turned to look at him, curiously.  She touched his face near his eye, her fingers caressing his cheek.
 "Such beautiful eyes, it’s funny though, they almost look sad.  Are you sad Strata?  Your eyes give you away."  She said soothingly.
 Rowen tried to contain himself.  He barely flinched when she touched him.  He was sad.  Sad that she was not herself, that she was full of Dynasty evil and Netherspirits.  Rowen had an urge to grab her hand and stare in her eyes, to try to tell her to battle the evil within her.
 Cora’s eyes narrowed at his silent response and backed away.
 "You will fight me, if not, I will kill you anyway," she sneered.
 "Cora, I won’t fight you," he said slowly.
 Cora’s jade eyes flashed, and in the blink of an eye, she drew her sword, grabbed Rowen and pressed her sword to his neck, threatening to draw blood.
 Rowen gasped for air.
 "Now Strata, if you even want a chance of living, you fight me," she snarled.
 Rowen closed his eyes, and then opened them again.  A rush of adrenaline hit him full force.  He decided that he would have to fight her if he ever wanted to free her.
 Cora gripped tighter and pressed her sword closer to his neck, the steel nearly cutting his flesh.
 "What do you prefer," she whispered sweetly in his ear, "Rowen?"
 That nearly choked him right there.  But he knew that he had to do something, or she would kill him, and this time, there wouldn’t be a fight back, no tears.  Rowen grabbed her sword hand, pulled it away from his neck, and flipped her over him onto the ground.  She got up quickly and flipped a couple of times to put distance between them.  She smiled at Rowen.
 "So you decided to fight me?  Oh good."
 "I had to make sure you didn’t kill me, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to fight you," he said.
 "Hmm," Cora responded.
 Then the others caught up with them.
 "Rowen!"  Sage’s voice called.
 Cora glanced behind Rowen.  She smiled as a thought came to her mind.
 "If you won’t fight me then Strata, I hope you don’t mind if I kill your friends," Cora laughed, and then jumped over him and landed behind him to fight the other four Ronin Warriors.
 "What?!" Rowen shouted at her.
 Cora laughed and disappeared to find the other Ronins.  Rowen took off running at full speed after her.
 Cora appeared before the other four.
 "Cora!" Ryo said.
 "Hello Ronins, I hope you didn’t miss me too much," she said smiling.
 "You were gone?" Kento asked, sarcasm scarring his voice.
 "Why Hardrock, I don’t believe you really cared," she stated.
 "How’d you figure that one out?" Kento retorted.
 "Enough Kento, she is here to fight, so lets give her what she wants," Ryo said.
 "Well then, you’re very much different than your friend Strata, he refused to fight me, and he nearly lost his life because of that."
 "Enough Cora, Ronins to Arms!"  Ryo shouted.
 Cora threw her sword, spinning in its purple glow at them, distracting them from calling their armor.  It crashed into a tree; splintering the wood and making it fly everywhere.
 "No, I’m sorry, you’re not going to call that armor of yours just yet," she said sweetly.
 The Ronins picked themselves up from off of the ground.
 "What are we going to do?  We can’t call our armor, she won’t give us the time," Cye asked.
 "We’ll just have to fight her without it," Sage said in reply.
 Cora put away her swords, and waited for them to attack.
 Ryo was the first, he charged at her, coming at her with his fist.  Cora sidestepped him, then grabbed his arm and flung him in the direction that he was going.
 "Aaaaahhhhhhhhh!" Ryo yelled as he flew through the air.  Suddenly, he hit hard against a tree and fell with a thud.  He was hurt badly, but not unconscious.  Ryo struggled to get up, but found it almost impossible.  He stayed down where he was.
 "Ryo!  Cora, you’re going to pay!"  Kento screamed at her.
 "Please, put it on my bill Hardrock," Cora responded with a sneer.
 Kento charged at her.  He thrust a fist at her head.  Cora ducked and slammed her own into his stomach, and then she kicked him away.  Kento went flying through the air and hit the ground with a thud, taking him out just as quickly as Ryo.
 "Man I’m really getting sick of you Cora," Kento gasped between stings of pain.
 "You will be silent Hardrock, or I will kill you now instead of later," Cora told him.
 Kento shut his mouth and Cora focused her attention on the other two, Sage and Cye.
 "Sage, should we try and call our armor?" Cye half-whispered to Sage so that Cora would not be able to hear.
 "I wouldn’t, Cora doesn’t seem to be bluffing when she says she’s going to kill us," Sage said, a hint of sadness underscoring his voice.
 "So, what should we do?" Cye asked.
 Sage gave no response to that.
 "I am not going to let you just talk, this time, I will attack first," Cora shouted to them.
 Sage and Cye looked at her, ready for whatever she might throw at them.
 Literally.
 Cora drew her swords and crossed her arms in front of her.
 "Swords of Agony Spin!" she commanded, and flung her swords at the two.
 Sage and Cye jumped out of the way of the spinning swords, but one sword boomeranged back and caught Cye off guard.
 "Aaahh!" Cye cried as the pain racked through his body.
 "Cye!  No!" Sage called to his friend.  That was it, Cora had to pay, she was evil now, and it wouldn’t hurt her much.  Who knows, it might actually do her some good.  Heaven only knew what she did to Rowen.
 Cora caught her spinning swords and sheathed them.
 "Don’t be so concerned for your friends, Halo, worry about what will happen to you," she growled.
 Sage glared at her.  Cora could feel the vibes coming from him.
 "Come on Cora, let’s go!" Sage challenged.
 "Ha!" Cora shouted as she ran towards Sage.
 Sage ran towards her as well, keeping to the plan that had come to him easily.
 Cora made a move to kick at him, but when she landed, Sage was gone.  Cora got up quickly and spun around, looking for him.
 "Halo, you have to come out someday, otherwise your friends meet a nearer demise," she taunted.
 Cora continued to turn slowly around, looking in each direction.  Suddenly, Sage jumped out of the trees and tried to pin her down, but Cora ducked and let him land a few feet away from her.  She lashed out with a kick, which Sage avoided easily.  Cora jumped to her feet.  She blocked some of Sage’s blows and he in turn blocked some of hers.  Then Sage dealt Cora an unexpected blow that knocked her off of her feat.  Sage stood over her.
 "Stay down Cora," he commanded.
 Cora scowled up at him.  Then she kicked back at him.  Hard.  Sage stumbled backward from the shock and pain.  She got up quickly and dealt another blow that hit Sage against a tree.  Cora drew a sword and put the tip against his throat.
 "Don’t move pretty," she said sweetly, but with a cruel smile look on her face.
 The other Ronins were beginning to get up.  Ryo first, since he had been taken out earlier.
 Just then Rowen burst into the clearing.   He noticed Cye, not to far away from him.
 "Cye!  What happened?!" he asked quickly.
 Cye struggled from the pain, but could not answer Rowen’s question.  Rowen made sure that Cye would be okay if no one bothered him, then looked around.  He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Cora, holding Sage at sword point.
 "Cora!"  Ryo yelled at her.
 Cora looked sharply at Ryo.  "If you want Halo to live, you don’t move another muscle," she threatened.
 Sage looked from Cora, to the sword, and back to Cora again.  His back pressed firmly against the tree.  He gulped in air.  How could he have been so stupid as to fight Cora without his armor?  If he dies, he would have only himself to blame for his stupidity.
 Rowen walked silently to the angle where he could see both Cora and Sage from a side view.  His plan was simple enough.  Tackle Cora off of Sage.  Easy.  Not.  But Cora would kill Sage otherwise.  He didn’t have any choice.  He took off at a run, and before Cora knew what was happening, Rowen had her pinned to the ground, but not for long.
 She struggled.  Lashing out at him.
 "Get off of me Strata!" she screamed, but did not give Rowen time to reply; instead, she threw him off.  Rowen scrambled to his feet.
 "Well look who decided to show up and save his friends," Cora jeered at him.
 Rowen glared back.
 "You think that I would let you kill them?  I don’t think so," he replied.
 Cora moved to attack him, but was stopped by Sage, who grabbed her arms and held them behind her.  Cora struggled against him.
 "I am getting really sick of you Halo," Cora growled at him.
 "I’m not terribly thrilled about it myself Cora," he replied through his clenched teeth.
 Cora broke Sage’s hold, and flung him away.
 "Ah!" he cried as his back smashed into a tree.
 "Spin my Swords of Agony!" Cora cried, and spun both of her swords at Sage.
 Sage was struggling up from the pain when he saw the attack coming.  He knew that he could not get away in time to avoid the attack.  The swords came, spinning in their purple aura.  Soon they spun around him, creating a void of pain that felt as if it might kill him right there.  But pain is far worse than death.
 "Sage!" Rowen cried after his friend.
 Sage collapsed on the ground.  Nothing would be able to rid him of this pain.  It stung like a million wasps, he wanted to cry out from the torment, but his body did not have the energy needed to do even that.
 Ryo struggled to move towards his fallen friend, but his limbs were still practically numb from being flung against the tree.  Fighting in sub-armor was not fun.  He tried to walk but found himself too weak for it.  Even if he could call his armor, he didn’t have the strength to be able to use it properly.  Ryo collapsed to one knee.
 "No, Sage, Kento, Cye…I…I won’t let you die, I won’t let her kill you.  Come on Rowen, she’ll kill all of us if we don’t hurry," Ryo whispered to himself.
 Cora caught her swords and looked coldly at Sage’s motionless body.
 "The next time he crosses me, I will kill him immediately," she said with the iciest voice anyone could ever have.  She noticed Ryo and his weak attempt to help his friend.
 "I’m sorry Wildfire, but you’ll have to stay where you are, you can’t do anything for Halo at the moment," she yelled to him.
 Ryo looked up at her, then looked over to Sage, and then hung his head in sorrow.
 Rowen looked around at his fallen friends.  He could feel the anger – and the tears – building up inside him.  That was it.
 "Armor of Strata…Dao Inochi!" Rowen yelled as he called his armor.
 Cora spun around.
 "W-what the?" she asked in amazement.
 The blue light sprang from Rowen’s hands, as the colored paper flew around him.  In a burst of cherry blossom petals, the mystical armor of Strata formed.
 Cora glared in a fury of anger.
 "Now it’s gonna be a little bit harder to kill me isn’t it Cora?  Now that I have my armor, you can’t take me out as easily as you did the others," Rowen said to anger her further.
 "Well, since you have your armor, I’m going to assume that you intend to actually fight me this time.  Otherwise, I kill you and the other Ronin Warriors," she sneered back.
 Rowen unfolded his bow, drew, and knocked an arrow.
 "Let’s go Strata," she called.
 "Whatever you say Cora," he called back.  Rowen let the arrow fly.  Cora jumped out of the way and drew her swords in the air, then brought them down upon him.  Rowen blocked her swords with his bow, and then threw her off.  She landed as gracefully as a cat on her feet.
 "Are you holding back on me?!" She cried.
 "Do you want me to defeat you?!" Rowen cried back.
 Cora glared back in response.  Then she prepared for her vicious attack, crossing her swords in front of her, and then flinging them out.
 "Spin Swords of Agony!" she screamed.
 Rowen braced himself for the attack, trying to fend it off, but he knew that it would be difficult.  The swords came, their purple haze surrounding him, filling him with pain.  But he wouldn’t take it nearly as bad as Sage would, for he was wearing his armor, when Sage hadn’t been.  The attack backed off.  Rowen sank to one knee, leaning on his bow for support.  The Cora’s foot came into his sight and her sword point very near his neck.  Again.
 "Kill me Cora, just do it," he said.
 Cora just looked at him, then she said: "You know, it’s the strangest feeling.  I have this inner voice almost, that is screaming out not to kill you.  It’s pleading, crying, weeping.  That is the weak part that I choose to think that is not a part of me.  It is not in control, so I don’t have any reason to obey its pleas.  But I who am in control, doesn’t care if I kill you or not," she finished with her voice underscored with a sneer.
 "Maybe you should listen to your voice," Rowen said with a mix of sadness and sarcasm.
 Cora seemed amused.
 "Oh no, I think I’ll kill you instead.  Then I’ll kill the other Ronin Warriors, starting with Halo after you, and return to Master Tulpa victorious," she stated with a small evil laugh.
 Rowen looked up at her.  Cora’s green eyes flashed with an unnatural evil light.  She was filled with the Netherspirits.  Her true inner self was crying out in sorrow and pain.  Then she turned and walked a distance away.  Suddenly she released her Agony Spin once more.  Every nerve of Rowen’s body was shocked with the sudden, intense feeling of pain.  He cried out with agony, then collapsed, just barely alive.