Chapter Five: Comet's Conversion

  "Rowen of the Strata is alone. May I bring him here?" asked Amy, bowing to Scarbna.

  "Go, and do not fail me!" said Scarbna. Amy left and headed toward Rowen of the Strata.

  "I hate it when they interrupt your train of thought," said Scarbna as she resumed her calculations.

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  Rowen walked along a mountain trail to reach the top. The sky was clear and the sun was shining. A brisk wind blew and Rowen fixed his hair. His blue eyes took in every little detail.

  "It's too good of a day for a Dynasty attack. But I know better," said Rowen to himself. He listened to the birds as he neared the top. Having an ear for music, Rowen started whistling along. Soon, he realized it had gotten quiet. He stopped whistling and became aware of every noise he heard. He spun on his heels as he heard a crunching of some leaves. He let out a breath as he saw that it was only a squirrel. He turned around again to see a figure leaning against a tree.

  "Rowen of Strata, I thought you'd get here faster," said Amy.

  "Listen. I don't want to fight you. I just want to help you," said Rowen.

  "Too bad. I presume that you are alone and that you need to arm yourself," said Amy, revealing that she was fully armored and had an arrow drawn. She let it fly. Rowen flipped out of the way. While in the air, he put on his sub armor. Landing, he said,

  "Armor of Strata, Tao Chi!" His armor formed around him. He drew an arrow and let it fly at Amy. She hopped back and smiled.

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  "So, Selene. Can you tell us anything about the Dynasty?" asked Sai.

  "I don't know what will be useful. But I'll tell you what I know. I know that Empress Scarbna needs a lot of energy for something. She is saving it up but I'm not sure what it is. I also know that she wants the Inferno armor. She wants to have it on our side. But I doubt she'll get it. Any way, if we get all the girls on our side, then she'll be after the Cosmos armor. Remember, it beat the Inferno armor to a pulp, in one strike," said Selene.

   "Do you have to bring that up?" said Ryo, with a hint of embarrassment.

  "Does Scarbna have any attack plan?" asked Sage.

  "Now that I think about it, she wanted to have each of us battle each of you one on one, to bring you to our side. I failed, and I'm sure that Amy will be here soon," said Selene.

  "Why do you say that?" asked Kento.

  "I thought you knew. Each of us has a power equivalent to your own. Volcano and Wildfire are both derived from fire. Strata and Comet are both from space. Cavern and Hardrock are both made from the element of earth. Torrent and Tidal Force are water born," Selene explained.

  "What about Sage," asked Kale.

  "Yes, you forgot the girl in purple," said Dais.

  "Didn't Kayura already explain it?" said Sekhmet.

  "I did. That armor is just like yours, only it's made from the power of the spirits. Hard to explain, really, but I'll figure it out eventually," said Kayura.

  "But if that is so, shouldn't we go after Rowen?" said Sage.

  "I believe it is his fight to overcome," said Selene.

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  Amy looked at Rowen as he looked at her. She brought up her bow and held it in front of her. She then threw it on the ground.

  "Through down your weapon, Rowen. Let's have a fair fight, shall we?" Amy asked. Rowen dropped his bow to the ground.

  "Right-o. But I don't want to hurt you," said Rowen. Amy just shrugged her shoulders. Without warning, she charged at Rowen, and tried to get a punch in his face. He blocked it and held onto her wrist. She tried with her free hand, but Rowen grabbed her wrist again.

  "I really didn't want to do this," said Rowen as he threw her into a tree. She slowly got up and wiped off the dust. She charged at Rowen again, but this time, she jumped over him. She landed, turned, and connected a kick to his back, sending him flying.

  "Sorry. I hope your baby blues can still see the fact that I'm going to win," said Amy.

   "Well," said Rowen as he stood up, "I wouldn't want to hurt someone as good looking as you."

  "Are you mocking me?" Amy asked angrily.

  "Maybe, maybe not," said Rowen, smiling slightly. Blinded by rage, Amy ran toward him. Rowen stepped to the side and did a spinning kick to her back. She landed next to her bow. She picked it up. Rowen was no where near his.

   "Yo lady, you said no weapons," said Rowen as he backed up.

  "I lied. Comet's Revenge!" said Amy as an ice ball, surrounded by flames, formed at the tip of her arrow. When it was about the size of a baseball, she let it fly at Rowen. He flew himself at the ground. The ball of fire and ice flew harmlessly into the sky. Rowen stood up and was almost to his feet, when the end of a bow slammed into his back. He hit the dirt and coughed as the wind was knocked out of him and dust filled his lungs.

  "That was for mocking me," said Amy. She raised her bow again and slammed it into Rowen's back. He laid still and didn't move. Amy hesitated as she thought, "I killed him." But in that sort period of time, Rowen grabbed his bow, jumped up and put it around her neck. Grabbing hold of the other end, he pulled back. Amy dropped her bow as she tried to push the bow away from her throat. Rowen pulled back till she was gasping for breath. He let her fall to the ground. He armor slowly powered down and Rowen pulled the choker off with little effort. A huge black mass appeared and shot into the sky.

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  "I hate those Ronins! Crystal!!!" yelled Scarbna. I ran into room as I heard my name. Panting, I recieved my orders.

   "Go to the mountain on the outskirts of town. Do not let Strata take Comet away!" Scarbna retorted. I teleported there immediately.

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  "Yo lady, are you all right?" asked Rowen as Amy stood up.

  "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for asking though. But how did I get here?" asked Amy.

   "He kidnapped you and took you away from us," I said, jumping into sight. Rowen stood in front of Amy and said to her,

  "Get out of the way before you get hurt!" I laughed at him and said,

  "What an ego! Are you trying to be Mr. Hero before you die?" Rowen glared at me, his eyes starting to show anger. He took an arrow, strung it on his bow, and said,

  "Yep, but I'd like to leave this world with a bang. Arrow Shock Wave!" Massive energy formed at the tip of his arrow. It flew at me and I jumped to the ground to avoid it.

   "Very good. I almost got hit," I said in a sarcastic tone. I was too busy laughing at him, that I didn't hear footsteps behind me. I turned my head too little too late. Amy, now back in her Comet armor, had put her bow around my neck and was slowly choking me.

  "I am not going back there!" yelled Amy. She pulled back tighter and I grabbed the bow, trying to stop the bow from suffocating me. Amy pulled back one more time and let me drop to the ground. I watched them walk down the hill together before I teleported safely back to Scarbna's lair, where I blacked out.

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  The guys and Selene turned around at the sound of a slamming door. Selene smiled and said,

  "Hey, Amy! Welcome to the good side!" Rowen sat down next to Sage. Kento reached for the bag of chips and started to eat them.

  "Slow down, Kento, before you get a stomach ache," said Sai. Kento shrugged and kept eating.

  "Hey guys, we're in luck. The girls can still use their armor," said Rowen.

  "Yeah, we'll be unbeatable," said Ryo.

  "I doubt it. We have no idea what we're up against," said Sage.

  "I can tell you that. Scarbna is pretty powerful. In fact, I wouldn't plan on taking her on any time soon. She's here and wants revenge," said Amy.

  "For what?" asked Selene.

  "Easy. Her husband's death," said Amy.

  "Do you know how strong she is?" inquired Dais.

  "About five times that of the Inferno," said Amy.

  "You sure?" asked Sekhmet.

  "That's only an approximation. She could be hiding her true power," said Amy.

  "Is she powered more by light or darkness?" asked Kale.

   "Good question. I'm not sure. Sometimes we see her when the room is lit by candles. Other times, we see her in a fully lit room," said Amy.

  "Last question. Do you know if she has the power to bring Talpa back?" asked Kayura, speaking up for the first time since Amy arrived.

  "I don't know," said Amy.

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  "Two of my warriors gone! Why do I have to live with failure!?!" said Scarbna to herself.

  "Mistress, how can it be that the Ronins have turned Amy and Selene against us?" asked Rose.

  "They have the power yes, but how they use it, I don't know. Lita!" yelled Scarbna.

  "Yes, mistress?" replied Lita.

  "Go and get some rest. You have a job to do tonight," said Scarbna. Lita nodded her head and left the room. Scarbna flicked her hand, giving us the signal to leave as well.

  "Soon, the deed will be done and I will have no use for these girls," said Scarbna.

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  "Hey guys, I'm going over to the volcano to check things out," said Ryo as he picked up his jacket and slung it over his shoulder.

  "Why?" asked Sage, who was the last one up. Well, almost, if you count Rowen being engrossed in a book asleep.

  "There's something wrong. It looks like it might blow its top. That's an inactive volcano. Something's got to be up," said Ryo as he put on his jacket.

  "Be careful, ok? Don't fry," said Sage, grinning slightly.

  "Don't worry. If it is someone from the Dynasty, then it's them who is going to learn not to mess with fire," said Ryo as he walked out the door.

   "Rowen?" said Sage after Ryo closed the door. There was no response.

  "Rowen!" said Sage in a near shout. Rowen tilted his head up slightly, keeping his eyes on the words, and said,

  "Yeah?"

  "I'm leaving to keep an eye on Ryo. Don't do anything without me, ok?" said Sage.

  "Yeah," said Rowen as he went back to his book. Sage just rolled his eyes and grabbed his coat. He shut the door quietly and zipped up his coat as he realized it was colder outside then he thought. Sage looked around and saw Ryo disappear over the hill. Sage walked after him, making sure to keep his distance.