Snow and Scorpio were searching the woods carefully. Both Warriors were concerned, and could only hope they would find Thunder soon. They marched on, searching behind every plant, every tree, occasionally scaring away a rabbit or a bird. But one thing bothered Scorpio. Why did Chilie and Shades go off together? It was suppose to be Chilie and T-boz, and Ice and Shades. But instead, T-boz had gone off with Ice. What was up?

But then, T-boz must have been extremely worried about Thunder. She might have meant Ice and her, Chilie and Shades. It was all he could come up with.

Snow let out a sigh as he scanned the area. All he could were plants, plants, plants, and more plants. "I don’t get it," he said quietly. "We should have found him by now."

Scorpio nodded and tugged his earring in his left air. He always tugged it when he was worried or nervous, like Chilie biting her nails. "We have to keep searching for him. We can’t give up."

"You’re right, and we won’t. Let’s keep looking."

Scorpio nodded, and the two set off, as several feet behind them, a pair of cold dark eyes followed their every move.

After walking for awhile, and having no luck finding Thunder, Scorpio suddenly paused with a serious intense expression on his face. "Snow, did you feel that?" he asked quietly.

Snow nodded. "I did. Someone’s here."

"How perceptive of you," came a sinister voice. Both of the boys turned and found themselves face to face with a Guardian. He was dressed in a black and purple armor. The helmet was Roman shaped but instead of the soft feathers making up the brush on the helmet, there were spikes, the shoulder pads were squared and narrowed down to a point. The breast plate was circular shaped with three rings intertwined with one another. The guards on his arms were cylinder shaped with a set of claws on each right by the elbow. The guards on his knees were triangular shaped with two deadly spikes protruding just below the knees. He was carrying a large deadly looking sword with a skull head on to the tip of the handle. There was a sneer on his face.

"Malice, Guardian of Terror," Scorpio said, staring hard at the Guardian.

"So it seems I’ve found two little Warriors all by themselves today!" Malice cackled.

"Oh yeah? Who says we’re alone?" Snow said, his eyes narrowing slightly. He was watching the Guardian for any sudden moves. Who knew what was up Malice’s sleeve.

Malice rolled his eyes. "Oh please, I scanned the area. No one else is here but you two and I."

The boys glanced at each other briefly, then back at him. Without warning, Malice charged, his battle cry was loud, scaring away a dozen birds, four rabbits, and at least three deer.

The boys quickly leapt apart, Scorpio going left and over Malice’s head, as Snow leapt back, somersaulting four times, until he came down on his feet. Both armored up, using the Armor call up, ‘Armor of the Warrior. Now come!’ Snow was dressed in a black and orange armor, the helmet was squared shaped but rounded off at the top. Two flat horns with sharp end points were on either side, the shoulder pads were rounded and smooth, the arm guards were squared and slightly raised with four spikes coming out of them. The breast plate was also squared with four large spikes protruding out of it, two side by side and below one another. The knee guards were rectangular shaped with two horns sticking out of the kneecaps. His visor appeared over his eyes, and two numchucks appeared in both of his hands.

Scorpio stood ready in his yellow armor, a spearstaff was ready in his hands. (I haven’t drawn Scorpio’s new armor, since the one I first drew him with sucked when I created him. So just your imagination here.)

Malice stared at them coldly. "Are you ready now?"

Scorpio’s answer was a fist to the face. Malice stagger back and punched back, getting Scorpio under the chin. The Warrior did a front snap kick and sent the Guardian flying back. Malice flipped over twice and came back full speed, elbowing Scorpio under the torso. He grabbed the Warrior by his helmet and threw him across the wooded area. At the same time Snow dropped in on him from above. Malice flipped Snow over him, but Snow grabbed his wrist and brought him down just as fast.

Malice suppressed a slight groan, and Snow moved away quickly. He joined Scorpio’s side and the two waited to see if there were any other moves the Guardian was going to make.

The blow came, fast and quickly. The two were thrown back several feet apart. Each hit a tree full force. Snow hit the three backwards, the blow stunning him, as Scorpio hit a tree sideways. Both crashed to the ground, and breathed heavily as they struggled to their feet again, ready to fight. This time they were ready to use their surekills.

They never got the chance. Malice raised his sword outward and began swinging it up and down in a left and right motion, finally the arc of flight got wider and he cried, "Pain of Fright!"

Both of them screamed in terror. Snow saw a horrible vision of his tribe being attacked by the rival tribe, he also saw slavery, horrible people who captured his people and used them cruelly. Scorpio’s vision was frightening as well. He saw himself drowning with every sea creature dying around him. Both collapsed to the ground, screaming in terror, sweat drenching off their heads, and their bodies shaking.

Malice cracked an evil grin. He went to Snow first and suddenly connected his fist to the boy’s forehead, knocking him out cold. He moved onto Scorpio and slammed his face into the tree, knocking him out as well. He dragged Scorpio by his helmet over to Snow, then grabbed Snow by the wrist. A black hole appeared in the sky, and the Guardian went through, taking his prizes with him.

Kento let out a sigh as he scanned the area. They had finally come to a small restaurant where they could buy some food and rest and think things through. The day at the Airport had been a hectic one, and they had barely managed to escape the News people. Now here they were, sitting at a booth table, and he was waiting for the waitress to bring back their meals.

"Where is she?" he muttered.

"Kento, be patient," Rowen said. "The food will get here."

Kento didn’t respond. Instead he glanced off toward Ryo. The bearer of Wildfire had a serious yet soft expression to his face. One could tell he was thinking of something. Cye himself was busy looking at the menu, probably trying to see if he could up with new ideas with the recipes already listed there. Sage was sitting back with his arms folded, his eyes (er: eye) closed. It almost was if he were asleep. Rowen was busy reading a book an intense look on his face. And Flash was using the phone that was attached to their booth. During the walk to the restaurant Flash had been quiet. She had walked quickly down the roads, with them nearly jogging to keep up with her. Kento had suggested they used their subarmor to do so, and Ryo nearly tackled him for it. Now here they were, waiting for their food, and all thinking in the back of their minds of the battle to come. Would it be the same as their battle with Talpa? Or would it be easier? Would they lose someone they held dear to?

Flash got through to the Japanese operator and began to speak. After a few minutes she was connected to the place she wanted. She switched to English. "Master Chinook. Yeah, it’s me. I’m fine. Yes, I know. I’ve been sensing it since yesterday. What?! Thunder’s missing?! For how long? Since 4 P.M. your time? The others went to look for him? Yes, I know. Alright. I’ll be there when I can. I’m bringing help with me. See you soon. Bye."

Flash hung up and they all stared at her. Kento had a look of confusion on his face, while Ryo, Rowen, and Sage stared with a serious, determined look on their faces. Cye had a worried expression on his.

"Flash?" Ryo said quietly. "What happened?"

She looked him in the eye, glanced at all of them. "It’s of my friends, Thunder, he went for a walk around 4P.M. eastern standard time, and he hasn’t come back since. The others are looking for him, and so far nothing’s been found of him." She shook her head and stared at the table, worriedly. "This is very bad."

Shades’ eyes opened and the first thing she noticed was that she was totally alone in a darkened room. She felt her arms stretched above her, and tried pulling them down, only to hear a metal clanking and to have them jerked back up. Her eyes narrowed angrily. "Great! Just what I needed!!" She growled angrily and yanked against the chains as hard as she could. But it was no use. She was stuck. Another thought entered her mind. Chilie. Where was Chilie? She glanced around in the pitch blackness. "Chilie," she called out softly. The only sound was her voice echoing in the room. Either Chilie was unconscious, or she wasn’t there. She let out another sigh again, just as a door opened somewhere way below. Shades shut her eyes at the brightness, then reopened them. She found herself to be staring at Tutock.

"You!!!" she growled angrily.

Tutock’s lips turned into a cruel smile. "Well, it’s good to see you have finally awakened, Ataxia. You’re not too comfortable are you?"

"Fuck off!" she snarled.

Tutock cocked an eyebrow. "Still have that temper do you? Well, it won’t help you. I have captured you, Storm, Heart, Hail, and Current. And I will get the others soon. And as for Firestarter…" he paused to add effect… "consider her dead."

Shades spit at him, missing him by an inch. Tutock smirked at her, and pointed to the diamond jewel within the dragon’s forehead. And then suddenly Shades screamed in pain.

Scorpio was trying to figure out what had happened. He knew he was a prisoner, that he was alone, and that somehow both he and Snow had been captured. But where was Snow? He glanced around the darkened room, frowned. It was so dark in here. It was like he was suspended above a bottomless pit. He kept calm, but the temptation to panic was slightly rising. No. He wouldn’t do that. He would stay calm and figure a way out of this mess.

The light suddenly came to life and he closed his eyes against the brightness.

"Good to see you’re awake, boy."

His eyes snapped open, and he stared down in surprise. "Tutock!"

Tutock laughed evilly. "Enjoying your stay, boy?"

"Actually, I prefer the beach."

"Silence!!"

Scorpio cocked an eyebrow as if saying, ‘why are you telling me what to do?’ But he kept silent, knowing that Tutock could torture him painfully and that there wouldn’t be anything he could do about it. He kept his mouth shut.

"That’s better," Tutock approved. Scorpio bit down on his tongue, keeping himself from saying what he would end up regretting. He let out a sigh.

"As you may know, I am holding you and four of your prisoners."

Scorpio glared at him as Tutock gave a cold, cruel smile. "They are enjoying their stay here. Especially Storm."

"You filthy monster!!!"

Tutock’s laughter echoed off the wall. "He was easy to capture. In fact he never even struggled."

Scorpio continued to glare angrily at him. The anger was rising. He wanted to smack that smirk right off his face, and shove it down his throat.

"In fact, he is enjoying himself right now as I speak," Tutock continued. "Just as you will enjoy yourself." He pointed to the diamond jewel in the dragon’s forehead, and Scorpio was suddenly surrounded by incredible pain. Tutock laughed wickedly as the boy’s screams echoed off the walls. "Enjoy your stay, Current!!" And with that he left, leaving Scorpio with his tortured agony.

The Ronins, Flash, White Blaze, and Blaze traveled down the deserted road. All of them were running very fast, and Flash kept her pace low so they could keep up. She was worried about her friends, and wanted to get to America as fast as she could. She knew that Tutock would have her friends killed if she didn’t save them.

Her eyes narrowed suddenly. "I swear if Tutock hurt any of them, he’ll pay!!"

"And we’ll back you up!" Ryo promised as they ran.

Flash only nodded as she went through several plans in her head. She would get back to America, check with Chinook, and save the others. And then she brightened. "At least I don’t have to worry about Thunder getting killed."

"Why do you say that?" Cye asked in confusion.

"Because, Thunder can’t be killed by violence. Everytime he got injured really bad in a battle, he never died. Just lapses into a coma. They keep trying to kill him, but he doesn’t die."

Sage thought that was odd. How could someone not die? It was impossible. Wasn’t it?

"Hey, let’s stop talking about this, and get there already!" Kento said impatiently.

Rowen had to smile. Kento always loved a good fight, but you could tell the Chinese Ronin’s heart was huge. "Kento’s right. Hey, look!"

Everyone followed his look to see an abandoned ship just sitting near the dock at a huge amount of water.

"The Pacific Ocean!" Ryo exclaimed.

"Alright!!" Flash cried. "That’s our ticket to America!" She ran down the hill toward the boat with the others right behind her.

Within minutes all of them were on the boat. Cye looked around and got the boat started as the rest of them found places to sit down.

"Everyone ready?" Cye asked. They all nodded firmly, and Cye drove the boat across the ocean, heading for America as Rowen navigated.

Thunder could barely lift his head. The pain he had received was so intense, it was as if his entire body had been literally stretched apart by the muscles. All he knew was pain and hunger and loneliness. Vaguely he was aware of the other Warriors being held somewhere in the dungeon. He knew they were feeling the same things he was. He weakly lifted his head and stared through the inky blackness. He closed his eyes and focused. A lightning bolt appeared on his forehead. Knowledge!

A vision filled in his mind. He saw Flash and with her five boys. He had no idea who these boys were, but he knew they were the same age as he and the other Warriors were. And he also sensed a power coming from each of them. He began to look deeper, to find out this power.

And then suddenly pain lanced through his body and he cried out in pain.

"Now, now, Storm. None of that!!"

Thunder lifted his eyes to view his enemy. Tutock sneered up at him as the Guardian Razor appeared beside him.

"Enjoying your stay, Storm?" the Guardian asked coolly.

Thunder’s eyes narrowed angrily, but he dared not to struggle. He needed to keep his strength. He knew Flash was on her way and apparently the boys with her were going to help.

Tutock’s eyes flashed as he smiled at the young boy. "It appears our young guest has lost his will to fight, eh, Razor?"

"Yes, my lord. Perhaps I will be permitted to play with him for awhile?"

Tutock shook his head. "It is not needed, yet." His eyes took on a hard cold look, and Thunder glared angrily as Tutock stared into that one visible eye. At times Tutock wondered why he kept the right eye hidden. Had the boy lost it? Was it a different color? Who knew? And who cared?

Razor nodded, staring up at the boy with exceeding hatred. The desire to torture was pleasant to him.

"Come, Razor!" Tutock ordered impatiently. Razor followed him out, and once again, Thunder was left alone in the darkness. He opened up the Warriors mind link, and began to call to the other Warriors. ‘Scorpio?’

‘Thunder, it hurts. It’s too much!’ the Scandinavian’s voice came back.

‘I know, but Flash is on her way.’

‘Flash is coming!’ Snow said despite his pain. ‘I knew it!’

‘Good! And I want to see her kick Talpa’s ass!’ Shades exclaimed.

‘She’s bringing five guys with her,’ Thunder reported.

They were all surprised about that. Why would Flash be bringing people with her. Was she crazy? But then, they erased the thoughts from their heads. Flash was their leader. They would trust her.

‘So are the guys cute?’ Chilie asked innocently.

All the Warriors groaned. ‘What?’ Chilie asked.

‘Chil, you are impossible!’ Shades said.

‘Thank you.’

Ryo let out a silent sigh as the boat continued to carry them across the ocean. Everyone was asleep now, and he was keeping watch. He looked down toward Flash. She was lying next to Blaze, with her head propped up on his massive side. The wolf’s left paw was wrapped around the girl, almost protectively, it seemed.

Ryo watched her face. She looked like an angel, he reflected. A beautiful angel, made only more beautiful the way the moon reflected off her face. How he wanted to just lean forward and take those lips against his own, to send sparks of fire shivering through her body. He wanted to hold her close, feel her against him, he wanted to touch and caress her.

The wind blew softly as he looked up at the star-field sky. But does she feel the same way about me? he wondered. What if she denies me after this? I wouldn’t bear it!

The boat continued on as Ryo kept these thoughts in his head. Slowly the sun began to rise, and Ryo lifted his eyes. They slowly widened as it took in the familiar golden bridge of San Francisco and the ports of California harbors.

"Guys!!" Ryo cried, his voice startling them awake.

"What is it?!" Rowen screeched. It was rather surprising to see him wake this early. Sage looked ready for a fight as did Kento, and Cye was glancing cautiously around. All he saw was ocean and…

"The Golden Bridge!" Flash cried out elatedly.

Ryo stared in awe as the boat continued. "We made it!! We made it to America!!