Flash smirked at the anger Cain was giving off. They were in full force battle now, each one trying their best to defeat the other, and the Guardian had yet to injure her as she was moving too fast for him to see.

“Blasted! Fight like a man!”

Flash laughed, almost mockingly. “Fight like a man? Why would I want to do that for? This is way much more fun. Or do you mean for me to surrender myself and let you kick the crap out of me? Well, if that’s the case, I don’t think so.” With a sudden front snap kick to the chest, she sent Cain flying several feet backward. The Guardian tumbled to the ground and rolled several times, before he skidded to a stop a half mile away. He slammed his fists into the ground angrily, and leapt to his feet.

Flash stood there, unmoving, watching his every move. “Ready to play more?”

Cain let out a scream of rage as he leapt to his feet and made ready to attack her as he reached out with his hands.

Flash suddenly grabbed them both at the same time, holding them tightly. She raised her knee and slammed it into his torso, causing him to groan with pain as his front half dropped over. She grabbed him by the shoulder and suddenly threw him over her shoulder where he crashed hard into the ground with a deep painful groan.

Flash stood over him, watching him. She knew if she let her guard down there might be a chance he would attack unexpectedly. Cain made no move though. She carefully stepped out around him, and just when he was about to lash out, she gave him another good kick, sending him into unconsciousness.

Flash stood quietly for a moment and looked up, her cerulean eyes narrowed as she thought. And then suddenly she became a burst of speed, traveling at least 2000 mph, heading eastward.

Tutock sat grinning, watching his tortured prisoners scream their agony. Any moment and Flash would be there. Only this time, he wouldn’t play stupid. This time, he would have her begging for mercy as he wrapped his fingers around her throat, choking her slowly, causing her to feel pain, more than she ever had before in her entire lifetime. Then he would drain her energy and feed upon it, and become more powerful than ever in his life, and with this power he would rule the entire universe, and every living being would bow and serve him, and those that wouldn’t, would be forced, and those that couldn’t be forced would be destroyed. His laughter rang through out the castle.

Blaze came to a stop before a wide ravine. White Blaze stood beside him, over looking it. He looked at the wolf. Why are we stopping here?

And just how are we going to do that?” White Blaze asked him.

The wolf merely smiled as the Ronins began to wonder if there was another way across.

“There’s gotta be a bridge around here!” Kento muttered.

“They wouldn’t be that dumb to leave a bridge up, Kento,” Rowen reasoned. “They probably use something else to get back and forth.”

“Maybe this ravine is not open like this all the way,” Ryo suggested as he looked up and down. “Maybe there’s a land bridge somewhere around here that they use.”

Rowen shook his head. “That would be like with the bridge, Ryo.”

Ryo looked at him, raising a dark eyebrow curiously.

“Then how do they get across?” Cye asked.

Sage was the first to notice the light blue glow coming from Blaze. His eyes widen as he saw the glow light up to reveal a bridge they hadn’t seen before. Blaze suddenly darted across the bridge with White Blaze following behind him. Sage ran after them unaware the others weren’t following them.

“I don’t know,” Rowen said with a deep sigh. “All I know is…” he suddenly stopped as he saw the bridge with Blaze, and White Blaze, and Sage all running across it. “Now how did that get here?!” he cried out with shock.

“It doesn’t matter!” Ryo said as he noticed it as well. He ran across the bridge, and then Rowen followed, then Cye, and finally Kento.

Once on the other side, the crystal around the wolf’s neck stopped glowing, and the bridge vanished from their sight. Rowen puzzled over that, but he figured there would be more time to learn about it. Right now they had to find Flash’s friends, and hopefully Flash herself.

Blaze led them clear across the land as they struggled to keep up with his speed. Even White Blaze seemed to be having a difficult time. And then the wolf skidded to a stop, and narrowed his eyes.

The Ronins came to a stop and watched as both White Blaze and Blaze began growling dangerously. They looked around them seeing nothing there at all, not even a sound. What was going on? And why were White Blaze and Blaze just standing there, growling off into space like that?

Kento hesitantly reached forward, but Rowen grabbed him back. “Wait, there’s a reason they’re growling like that.” He summoned an arrow and cocked it on his bow, and then released it, sending it for the area the two large animals were growling at.

Spectrums of energy shot up and cackled and literally melt the arrow in into nothing as they stared in shock. The energy seemed to shoot right at them, causing the five and the tiger to scatter in opposite directions.

Blaze stood there. The moment the energy came at him, light flared from the crystal, hitting it. There was a loud explosion and a bright light which caused the Ronins to shield their eyes for a few moments, each thinking this was the end. However minutes passed, and they opened their eyes, to see a calm Blaze staring back at them, almost asking if they were coming or not.

Ryo was amazed to say nonetheless.

Blaze turned his head and suddenly took off again. White Blaze followed after him with the Ronins behind them.

Blaze darted across a piece of landstrip, and as they followed, they could see a figure in the distance. As they got closer they could see who it was.

Ryo’s face brightened happily as he ran faster the others.

Flash looked up, and smiled a bit as they joined her. “Hi there.”

“Flash, are you… are you okay?” Ryo asked between breaths.

Flash smiled brightly. “I’m fine. And you guys?”

“We’re okay,” Cye assured her.

Flash nodded again and turned her head to gaze forward. The Ronins followed her look and discovered they were at a moat whose water looked as if it was made of blood. They saw a single island in the center of the moat with no ways to gain access to, and on that island was the strangest castle they had ever seen. It was taller than they blood red sky, rectangular shaped but upward it seemed to be rounded off into more of cylinder shaped. There were no windows and no doorways, and no telling just how high the castle went up, and it was completely surrounded by a forcefield.

“Now what?” Kento asked for them all.

Flash slowly turned as her eyes flashed. “We go in.”

Snow opened his eyes painfully as the torture seemed to stop. He let out a shaky breath and wondered just how much more he could take of this. He had already lost count how many times the force from the energy had knocked him out. He clung to the hope that Flash would soon be there. He bit his lip, then realized that was just adding more pain to his misery so he stopped. He tried to open up the mind link to talk to the other Warriors, but he was too weak. His head dropped to his chest and he became completely still.

How could anyone be this evil? he wondered miserably. He would have given anything to find himself back at home. He would have even rather be picked on by Marcus Dialanto, a boy at school who teased him constantly for having a high IQ. Anything other than this, would be better.

“Hurry, Flash,” he whispered weakly.

Flash ran down the hall as the Ronins tried their best to keep up with her. They could hear terrible moans and groans, and the stench of death was in the air, burning their nostrils, making their skin crawl uneasily. Even through the armor they could feel the horribleness trying to get to them, to take them over completely.

Flash’s symbol was going off wildly as she made a sharp left turn. Immediately her fist connected with the face of a soldier knight, knocking it off its feet. The soldier knight crashed and broke right on the floor, releasing a dark eerie looking mist out of it, that slowly faded from view.

Suddenly Sage jerked violently, yelping in response. His eyes turned from violet to deep crimson red as his entire body began to shake violently.

The other Ronins stopped and stared in shock at their friend. Ryo was concerned. “S..Sage?”

Instead of answering, Sage let out a inhuman growl as he attacked them.

Ryo blocked him, in shock as he began backing up. “Sage, what’s gotten into you?!” He blocked again, nearly getting his head cut off in the process.

“SAGE!!” Rowen cried as he tried to grab his friend. Sage flipped Rowen over his shoulder with one hand, sending him crashing into Kento and Cye who fell hard onto the floor. He turned to Ryo and attacked again, making Ryo back up with each force of the blade.

“Sage!” Ryo tried again, grunting as he defended himself from the wild swordsman.

A cruel smile appeared on Sage’s lips as he raised his sword for the final blow. Ryo’s eyes widened with horror.

A flash of blue and white suddenly intercepted. Sage’s sword flew from his hand and tumbled end over end in straight arc of descent. Sage scowled and glared murderously at Flash as he prepared to attack her with his bare hands. She was too quick. She placed one hand on his forehead, and another hand over his heart, staring deep into his eyes, sending him into trance. All time seemed to stopped as they stayed that way for several minutes.

“What is she doing?” Rowen asked quietly as he, Kento, and Cye had finally gotten their bearings and were now all watching this particular scene take place before their very eyes.

“She looks like she’s hypnotizing him,” Kento said softly.

Ryo was still a bit shaky as he watched the whole thing. He had no idea what Flash was doing, but whatever it was she had stopped Sage from trying to kill him. But why had Sage attacked him? It didn’t make any sense. Unless………

Sage suddenly blinked several times, his eyes going back to their normal violet color. He frowned in confusion as he continued to blink and look around uncomprehendingly.

“Sage?” Rowen tried.

Sage blinked again and looked at Rowen. “Yeah?” he replied in his normal voice.

They sighed in relief, and Ryo looked around for Flash. She was already heading off, following Blaze and White Blaze. They quickly caught up to her, and Ryo wanted to ask what she had done to Sage to help him, but felt it was not the time to do so. They were here to rescue her friends, and that was all.

Thunder cracked an eye open when the door to his cell opened. He shut his eyes against the brightness entering through the cell, and turned his head weakly away. Below him, grinning up at him with the intense thought of torturing running through his mind stood , Razor the Guardian of Despair. Silently he gazed up at the blond haired Warrior, Tutock’s orders still fresh in his mind. He was to take Storm down from the Dragon’s mouth and place him in the secret dungeon, where Firestarter would not be able to find him. As for the other Warriors they were to be killed.

Calmly, Razor walked forward, making no sound as he did so. He jumped into the air, landing next to the chained Warrior.

“Your friend is here,” he whispered coldly in Thunder’s ears, “but she will not find you. Not even that stupid wolf will be able to find you. Tutock has a special plan for you.” A smirk came to his lips. “And I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.”

Thunder was silent and he made no move as he felt the Guardian unchaining him. Had he not been so weak, he would have kicked Razor out of his way and escaped. But he could barely even move, let alone think.

As his second hand was released, he started to fall forward until Razor yanked him back by his hair. A small yelp echoed through his lips, and he sank to his knees.

Razor stretched his arms painfully behind his back and bound them with chains, then flipped the boy over his shoulder and leapt down to the floor. He opened the door, preparing to leave, and met an armored fist connecting with his jaw.

He staggered back in surprise and hit the floor, Thunder landing nearly on top of him. Razor pushed the bound warrior away from him as he stared up at his assailant. It wasn’t who he expected.

“Who are you?!” he demanded to the warrior in the orange and brown armor.

The warrior smirked. “The name is Kento of Hardrock.”

Razor sneered as he leapt to his feet. “And do you dare oppose a Guardian of Tutock? You are mistaken, little fat man!”

Kento was offended. “Hey! I’m not fat! I’m just big boned!”

Razor laughed. “That’s what they all say! Now if you want to live, boy, you’ll back away while I take Storm out of here.”

Kento looked past him at the still figure on the floor. His eyes narrowed, and even though he did not personally know the boy, but he could understand his pain and torment, and that set fire to the warrior of justice’s heart. He glared up at Razor. “I don’t think so,” he said in a calm firm voice that could have frozen a hot spring.

Razor only laughed though. Do you dare try to stop me?!” With a scream of rage he charged at the warrior, wielding his sais expertly, forcing Kento to raise his staff to defend himself, and attack back.

Thunder’s eyes opened weakly and he watched as the mysterious warrior protected him from Razor. Who was he? Wait, now he remembered. The vision he had earlier, that must be one of the boys. But where were the other four, and where was Flash?

Kento suddenly slammed Razor against the wall, and brought his staff down on his helmet covered head, hard, cracking his helmet, then striking him again to knock him out. Razor slumped to the floor, motionless.

Kento turned back to the Warrior. “Oh good, you’re awake. You okay, man?” he asked as he hurried over and broke the chains off. Thunder rubbed his wrists several times as Kento waited for a reply. And then suddenly Kento’s eyes widened with surprise and shock as the boy in front of him began to glow red, a lightning bolt appearing brightly in his forehead. And then the boy’s wounds seem to heal right there.

“You.. you’re a healer?” Kento asked amazed.

The boy looked up at him, and for one moment Kento thought he was seeing Sage. If it hadn’t been for the fact this boy’s left eye was covered, his eyes (eye) light blue, and his hair longer than Sage’s he would have truly believed he was Sage.

Thunder stood up, holding onto the wall for support. Despite the fact his wounds were gone, he was still weak from hunger and thirst. He couldn’t remember the last time he had food or water.

Kento frowned, concerned. “Hey, come on, let me help you, okay?”

Thunder gratefully accepted as Kento began to lead them out of there.

“Wh.. where’s Flash?” he asked weakly.

“She and my friends are getting the rest of your friends out. My name is Kento Rei Faun, or Kento of Hardrock.”

Thunder managed a smile as Kento supported him through the halls. “My name is Thunder Copiel. Thunder of the Storm.”

Kento stayed by Thunder’s side, supporting him through the halls as they searched for their other friends. He could tell the boy was in no condition to fight, and if any evil goons were gonna mess with him, they were going to have to deal with Kento of Hardrock first. But one plaguing thought entered his mind. What did that Guardian mean back there when he said his master had special plans for Thunder?

Kento had no time to ask that, cause he suddenly found himself and Thunder completely surrounded by soldierknights. A smirk came to his lips. “Ready to rumble you tin can freaks?”

The soldierknights made no replies as they suddenly attacked him. Kento blocked a blow, kicked a weapon away from one, and met the blow of another. This was tougher than he had thought. More ganged up on him, and he was worried he wouldn’t be able to take them all down.

Thunder watched weakly as the battle progressed on. He didn’t know Kento very well, but that didn’t matter. They were on the same sides, and right now the boy needed his help, otherwise they would both end up as prisoners, and who knew what Tutock would do to Kento? With all the strength he could summon, he called his armor to him, and suddenly attacked.

Kento dropped another soldierknight, then looked in surprise when he saw Thunder fighting as well. The guy was good in combat, he fought very valiantly, and it appeared almost as if he were dancing gracefully while twirling his large blade, a nodatchi up, over, under, across, outward and in, defeating soldierknight after soldierknight. It was truly amazing!

Kento suddenly remembered where he was as he felt the impact of a sickle connect with his head. It snapped him back to reality as he disconnected his staff, turning it into a

nunchuck, then began to twirl both ends as he let them bash against the soldier knights, while at the same kicking them down.

Thunder knocked another soldier knight down, then used his blade to propel himself into the air where his armored feet smashed into the chest of another, knocking it backward which caused a domino effect.

Kento smashed another soldier knight against the wall, then heard a yelp, followed by a groan. He looked over and his eyes flamed as he saw Thunder bending over clutching his stomach in pain as the soldier knight standing over him slowly brought his sickle down toward the Warrior’s head.

He never got that chance. Thunder’s nodatchi was suddenly sticking straight through the chest, and out of the back. The soldier knight collapsed as the armor vanished.

Kento took care of another soldier knight by taking its head off with three chained staff. He glanced worriedly at Thunder as they finished the last two off. “Hey, you okay?” he asked in concern.

Thunder nodded. “Yes, thanks for helping me and for asking.”

Kento nodded with a smile. “No problem.”

Thunder managed to smile back, then let out a sigh. He could only hope his friends were all right.

Sage entered the dark room, and looked around. He couldn’t see a thing, it was so pitch black, and for one moment it almost scared him. But then he remembered his promise to Flash earlier. He would do what he had to help save her friends. The six of them had agreed to split up and explore the entire castle in search of her imprisoned friends. True it was dangerous that way, it was also more quicker. Sage allowed his spirit to guide him and now he here he was, in the pitch dark, hearing some type of ragged breathing.

“Hello?” he called gently, yet firmly.

There was silence at first, only that quiet breathing. Finally a small feminine voice called back weakly. “Who’s there?”

Sage raised his sword up high and summoned his light power. Light filled the area, and Sage found himself standing in a bare room with a huge stone dragon standing a few feet away from him. He followed the neck up and up and up, and there he saw her. A young girl, thin, with long red hair past her back. She was dressed in regular clothes, and he could see the number of cuts, burns, and bruises on her frail-like body. It was almost unbelievable that she was a Warrior. He saw that her wrists were chained above her head, hidden from view by the dragon’s large fangs which seem to almost hide her from view.

Sage was suddenly reminded of his time spent in the Gargoyals, where he suffered the worst pain he had ever felt in his life. He quickly shook his head, remembering what he was here for. He called back to her. “My name is Sage! Sage of the Halo! I’m a friend of your friend Flash! I’m going to get you out of here!”

Chilie managed to open her eyes and stare down at him. She was amazed. There stood a boy about her age, maybe a year or two older, in a green samurai armor, holding a large nodatchi with a shuriken head at the blade’s helm. This must have been one of the boys Thunder saw in his vision of Flash!

Sage’s eyes lifted further upward until he found what he was looking for. There was a jewel in the center of the dragon’s forehead. Flash had said earlier to strike at the jewel. He raised his sword up high above his head as he began to charge up his power, the light building and building as it cracked and cackled with energy and might.

Chilie shut her eyes against the light, and then she heard him shout a sure kill out, which sounded almost like Thunder’s Lightning Bolt Strike.

“Thunder Bolt Cut!” Sage leapt high into the air, and sent his attack against the jewel and landed back on his feet. Just as Flash had said, the jewel suddenly shattered, and the chains holding the Warrior snapped loose. She tumbled forward, tried to catch her balance, but fell anyway, right into Sage’s arms.

Chilie let out a small sigh of relief, then opened her eyes to look her rescuer in the eyes. His eyes were violet, a color she had never saw before, unless he was wearing colored contacts. His face was handsome and seemed to hold wisdom and inner grace. He smiled at her, and for one moment she thought she was in love.

“Are you okay?” he asked her gently as he laid her down.

Chilie nodded, taking the time to get her strength back. “Yes, thanks to you. How did you find me?”

“I followed my spirit,” he answered as he gazed into her green eyes. He mentally slapped himself. No time to consider asking her out for a date! You have to get her out of here!”

Chilie tried to stand but she was too weak and still in pain. Sage frowned and placed his hands on her. A soft green light lit up around them, and Chilie was shocked to discover that her pain and wounds were fading. A healer, she noted. He was a healer like Thunder! This was either a blessing or it was too strange. Just how much was this Sage like Thunder? How much were the others like any of her or her friends? Chilie didn’t know. And right now that didn’t matter. What mattered was getting out, finding the other Warriors, being reunited and destroying Tutock’s butt once and for all!

Sage helped her to stand. “Come on, let’s find your friends and my friends,” he said.

Chilie nodded in agreement and summoned her armor to her. She kept her weapon firmly in her hand as she followed Sage toward the door.