Fire and Ice

Disclaimer Mumbo Jumbo: I don't own Ronin Warriors. They belong to Sunrise, etc. Any characters other then that, belong to me^_^ Well, except for Nora and eventually Storm, they're my friend Sharon's characters. But I have permission to use them! :) I'm not making any money off this, it's for your enjoyment only! ^_^

"The Command and the Vision" (chapter 1)

The tall man walked through the long dimly lit hall, carrying a torch. He was on his way to see his master who had demanded that he come to his chambers at once. Something was bugging him, and he knew what it was. According to Auror, two new armors had been found, and his master wanted them before the bearers awakened with that knowledge. The man's handsome face twisted into hatred, how could this have happened? There was only suppose to be five of those annoying brats.

Finally reaching two large, wooden doors, the man straightened and pushed them open.

"Master?" he called into the torch-lit room.

"Come in Ares," an unholy voice called back from within.

Ares walked in, depositing his torch into a holder by the door, then approached the throne. On it sat an older man dressed in black. His short hair was red like fire, while Ares' was white like snow.

"Master, about these new armors__"

"Ares," his master cut him off. "I want you to find and dispose of them. We cannot afford to let them discover their power. Not when we're so close to our goal. Do you understand me?"

Ares bowed. "Yes, Master."

"Good. Now go."

~*~

The fourteen-year-old girl stood in almost total darkness. It was almost as if light was trying to shine though a black cloth, and was only partially successful. The girl's hair was raven-black, and was up in a high, thick ponytail, reaching her thighs still, easily. Her unruly bangs hung into her eyes, which were crystal-blue. Thick pieces of her hair hung in front of her ears, just reaching her shoulders. She was dressed in bedclothes: a spaghetti-strap tanktop which was red, and matching loose pants of the same cloth material with an elastic waist. Her white-socked feet were hidden by the mist that covered the floor. The girl turned her head sharply, looking around her. A flash of mixed color got her attention, and she took a step back in fright. A gasp escaped her lips at what she saw.

Five figures stood before her, their faces hidden by the dark. Their bodies were clad in different colored armor of some kind, but it was too dark for the girl to make out totally.

"Torch of spirit," a strange voice began, echoing all around. "Sought through five. Drinking strength from immortal fire. The darkest prison sheds the light. Churning beneath a swirl of salt. Burning within a throne of rock. Floating among the eyes of ages, unmoored in the stream of the sky."

The five figures vanished from sight, and in their place, a wall of fire erupted.

"Strength of two," the same voice continued. "Born from power. Fire is light. Ice is the beginning of creation."

The girl didn't move as the fire advanced on her. She wasn't afraid, it almost felt... right.

~*~

"Jessie! Wake up!"

The black-haired girl slowly opened her eyes at her name, feeling someone shaking her. She sat up, looking at the girl beside her. She was the same age, and had brown hair that reached her mid-back, she also had hair hanging in front of her ears, but not as many strands and they reached her chest. Her eyes were also blue, but darker like midnight. She also wore bedclothes, but hers was a purple baby-tee and grey cloth shorts.

"Nora? What happened?"

The brown-haired girl, Nora, frowned in worry. "I don't know Jess. You were reading by the fire, and suddenly you were totally out of it."

Jessie looked at the sacred fire, which burned before her. Her pale eyes studied the flames as they danced, remembering her vision.

"What did you see?" Nora broke her thoughts.

There was a moment of silence before Jessie answered, her eyes never leaving the fire. "I saw five figures of different colors and power. Then there was a voice echoing some sort of incantation, or poem of some kind. Then fire, approaching me. I.. I felt something inside me. Some strength that I've never felt before. It was amazing." She finally looked at the girl beside her. "Nora, something's happening. I think we're about to learn something about our selves that we never knew was possible."

Nora broke eye contact, looking into the fire. "You've never been wrong before Jessie. What is it? What could it be?

"That, I don't know, but I have a feeling we'll be finding out soon."

A/N: Arigatoudomo to Firestorm-chan, who gave me the beginning of this story and (hopefully) helped me break free of my writer's block. Thanks so much girl!