Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ Battle of the Elements ❯ Chapter 10

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

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| Ä èC:\WINWORD\TEMPLATE\NORMAL.DOTŒOkay, once again I submit the standard disclaimer. But Anglarana and the villains are mine, all mine!! You cÜ¥e=À e¯p}¯mxlxllxlxlxlxlx&y&y&y&y&y&y
0y&a mp;yá{1@y@y@y@y@y@y@y@yeygygygy$‹y§zÃ{|Tf|¹&a acute;{lx@y9:@y@y@y@yá{@ylxlx@y@y@y@y@y@ylx@ylx@yey€x>&frac 34;xhlxlxlxlx@yey@y%@yOkay, once again I submit the standard disclaimer. But Anglarana and the villains are mine, all mine!! You can't have them! Mwhahahaha! ;p


"Battle of the Elements"By Lady Eclipse


Chapter Ten


Once Anglarana had disappeared into the depths of the shadowy forest, everyone silently left in different directions. Sage, with a stubborn expression on his face, walked into the forest followed by Rowen. Ryo remained sitting where he had fallen, staring absently into space. Mia simply went inside to upgrade the file she had started when the attacks had first begun. She felt a need to regain contact with the analytical world in which she used to live, where no unexplainable surprises existed.


*****


Sage and Rowen followed the cloven hoofprints deep into the forest, then they suddenly stopped. There were no other prints anywhere in the vicinity. Sage sighed and glanced around.
"Now what?" Rowen pursed his lips thoughtfully as he surveyed the surrounding trees.
"Maybe we should call for her," he replied with a shrug. "I don't think it will be that easy. She must be purposely avoiding us." "What makes you think that?" "The last time I came here to look for her, it was she who found me. I think she knows exactly what goes on everywhere in the forest." Rowen slowly nodded as he thought on the matter then cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted:
"Anglarana! Come on out and talk to us!" Sage raised an eyebrow at Rowen. "What else can we do?" Rowen said with a wry grin in reply. Rowen brought his hands to his mouth to shout again but was interrupted by Sage's gasp of surprise. "What is it?" "Do you remember seeing that trail before?" Sage asked pointing at a narrow deer trail lined with weeping willow trees. Rowen slowly shook his head.
"Do you think this is an invitation?" "Well, there's only one way to find out," Sage solemnly said as he started walking down the newly revealed trail. Rowen followed while suspiciously glancing around him as he went. They continued down the sunny trail without an incident. Not a single branch nor root impeded their advance. The air was filled with the fragrant scent of wild flowers and the willows's tendrils floated out in the light breeze.


*****


Anglarana stood next to a large, moss covered boulder in the middle of a clearing filled with tall grass and a carpet of random wild flowers. A small creek flowed quietly to one side running eventually into the lake in front of Mia's mansion. She wearily closed her eyes, wondering what she should do next. Rowen's call echoed through the trees, and the wind whispered their request. She admired their persistence, but had no idea of how to deal with them. Everything was permanently changed now that they knew what she really was; it always did. Soon, the blobs of yellow and red that leaked through her eyelids began to take shape and glow with a calm blue hue. The Ancient One smiled at her warmly as he casually leaned on his staff. If a unicorn could cry, that would be one of the times she would have. "How I have missed your wisdom." "You are older than I; I do not think there is anything that I can tell you that you do not already know," he replied. "You know as well as I that age has little to do with knowledge or understanding. I'm afraid that my self-imposed confinement has left me at a loss on how to relate to humans." The Ancient One moved over to her and placed a gentle hand on her soft neck. "Do not worry, they are ready for you. Already, two eagerly demand answers. This event was a good opportunity for the both of you to come to terms. They need truth if they are going to be of any help to you and your mission. It is time that you stopped hiding from them; they must understand what you face." "There is nothing left for me to tell them about Crynis." "No, I mean Jyserriec," he said sternly. Anglarana blew through her nose, causing her forelock to float up for a moment.
"There is no reason to fear him now. I, with the aid of the Jewel of Life, shall be able to counter his deeds now that he is without the aid of Crynis." The Ancient One sighed.
"You know what I mean, Anglarana." "What does my relationship with him have to do with them? He has let his pain consume him and must be stopped from hurting other living beings." "There is much more to this than that. You know you need to save him just as much as you must save the humans." "I know," she whispered, her head lowered slightly as though she were burdened with carrying the world itself. "Do you think that they can accept what I have to say?"The Ancient One smiled broadly.
"Of course they can; renew your faith. That is the best weapon that you can have in the great battles to come." Anglarana nodded and gave him an equine equivalent to a smile.
"Thank you." The vision faded and she opened her eyes. She still wasn't sure of what she was going to do or say, but she would at least make the gesture. She transformed into her human shape and waved her hand in the direction of the forest to the east. 'Let them come,' she murmured to the air.


*****


Rowen and Sage finally reached the clearing. Anglarana sat in her human form on a boulder with her legs neatly folded up underneath her; her eyes were closed in meditation. They moved over toward the boulder until they were only a few yards away from her. They stood in silence, unsure of how to proceed. "What is it that you wish of me?" she said without opening her eyes. Sage and Rowen exchanged glances before Sage replied,
"This last battle just raised a lot of questions, and we want answers." "So soon?" "Yes, I want to know exactly what's going on here." Anglarana sighed and opened her eyes. She stared at him for a moment then replied,
"What do you want to know?" "Tell me about Justin; you called him Jyserriec, and it seems like you two really know each other well." She frowned as her eyes clouded with memory.
"He's an old friend. We have known each other since we were both yearlings." "Both yearlings? But that would make Justin..." Rowen trailed off as his busy mind began working on all the meanings of that implication. "But that's impossible! Justin can't be a unicorn," Sage cried in disbelief. "Do you really think that any creature is completely immune to all emotions?" "But I thought unicorns couldn't have negative emotions." Sage's voice was lined with incredulity. "Any good emotion has to be coupled with a negative one. Else there would be no balance and we would easily be destroyed. However, a unicorn is born with certain safe-guards to prevent our considerable power from being perverted. There are two emotions that unicorns are unable to feel. They are hate and regret; plus we are born with unending empathy for all living things." "Regret? Why regret?" Rowen injected. "Regret, for an immortal being, is highly dangerous. Regret has a tendency to fester on the soul of an individual leading to bad emotions. Living forever is hard enough; regret would make it unbearable." "So why is Justin so bent on destroying us?" Sage asked. Anglarana smiled faintly; her eyes became soft with a quiet affection.
"Justin's real name is Jyserriec. He was born a unicorn and lived with a sensitive love for all living things. He is one of the finest warriors of my people and is one of the last awake members of the Tsorin." "Then what could have changed him so much?" "He has not changed very much at all. I still see the gentle soul I once knew deep within him. His pain is all that makes him seem evil. "As I said before, we have known each other since we were but foals and have been very close friends ever since. Back before the capture of Crynis, unicorns were never confined to single forests. We used to wander where we pleased and helped the earth's creatures wherever there was need. Unfortunately, envy began to poison the human heart. Some strange rumor began that is was our horns alone that were the source of our power. Humans began to hunt us with blind greed. It was then that we decided to withdraw from humans and go into the forests where we would no longer give them the temptation.In the period before we decided to retreat to our forests, Jyserriec fell in love with a human maiden. She was lovely and very intelligent; unfortunately, though, she was not immune to the power-lust that infected many of the time." Her eyes became sad as the memories passed from her lips. "Jyserriec would often tell me of her and speak of how his love for her would never die. He truly believed that he could make a relationship with a human work. However, that was not to be. Lured under the bad influence of her parents, she went to the forest and lulled Jyserriec into a state of unawareness. Her brother then stole up behind him ready to cut off his horn. Fortunately, at the last moment Jyserriec woke up and managed to escape." "Wait a minute, I thought only an innocent and pure-hearted maiden could touch a unicorn. I don't think anyone who would want to kill another creature by deception is exactly innocent," Sage remarked. Anglarana faintly laughed.
"I'm afraid that bit has been a little romanticized. Any living creature can touch a unicorn. But a unicorn can only be touched if they let the being touch them; at the moment of the touch we are vulnerable to mortal weapons. We can generally tell the true nature of a being, but love tends to make one neglect the truth.Even after the betrayal of the human, Jyserriec came back to her professing his love. He had talked himself into believing that her parents had forced her into the act and that she was still pure and true. In return for his eternal profession, she again tried to lull him and cut off his horn. She would have succeeded had it not been for me and another watching from a distance. We managed to free him and he finally realized what the woman really was. He was heart broken and the sense of betrayal drove him insane. He came to believe that all humans were evil, so he became a hermit and hid from all of us in some unknown place. I have often in the past tried to help him by visiting him and offering my friendship to ease his wounds. But it was to no avail, and I eventually had to sever my ties to him in hopes that the isolation would bring him back to me. He changed his name to Justin and assumed a human form to save the Tsorin from the shame he would evoke for his transgressions. Thus is the power of love and betrayal on even the most powerful of creatures." She looked up at Sage and Rowen with a strong, dedicated gaze. "But even through all his pain and the rage, I still clearly see Jyserriec in Justin's eyes." "That's a kind of poetic justice there. He's doing all this carnage and revenge through the guise of a human," Rowen commented thoughtfully. Anglarana nodded and smiled at him. "So what made him all of a sudden go into action? And what are his plans?" Sage asked. "I do not know the answer to either of those questions. But after what happened with Crynis, I do not think that Jyserriec is your main concern anymore." "So what do we do now?" "We have to assemble our allies and destroy Crynis." "Allies? But everyone we know who can help us is already here." "Not everyone; we have to free my people." Rowen and Sage nodded.
"What do we have to do?" "Come, I know what must be done," Anglarana replied as she slipped off the rock and marched swiftly down the deer track from which they had entered. Rowen and Sage followed eagerly; their minds racing with what had been said and with what was to come.


*****


Crynis stood at the foot of the volcano grinning to himself. Yes, yes; all is coming together perfectly. The area surrounding him was a circle of barren rock surrounded by an impossibly thick tangle of vegetation. Ancient quartz statues with writing etched into them formed a wide square at the edges of the cracked, dry ground. Soon I shall be rid of these man pests! My plan is finally ready and the time for action has come. Placed in a line in front of him were nine fist sized, oval-shaped gems: amber, obsidian, a dark blue stone carved from a comet, gold, a sapphire, silver, a diamond, an emerald, and a ruby. He chuckled to himself, How ironic that the end to the human species shall be brought about by their very defenders! He took a handful of dust and tossed it into the air. "And now it is time for the next stage... the conversion of the Jewel of Life!" With that he leapt into the air with a massive surge of wind and flew toward his next victim hidden in a cloud of dust. The trees shuddered at his touch and dark grey clouds gathered over the sacred ceremonial place. The earth itself knew what was to come, and winced.


*****


While Anglarana told Jyserriec's story to Sage and Rowen, everyone else had regathered, and Mia finally told the them about her family's history with the Jewel of Life and her consequential bonding with it. Anglarana split up with Sage and Rowen to do some 'exploring'. The two groups exchanged stories and discussed the recent events while waiting for Anglarana's return. "You must have known all the time, Kayura." Ryo tried to keep the accusatory tone out of his voice but failed. Kayura nodded slowly.
"The Clan of the Ancients have always been privileged with the knowledge of the Tsorin. We have spent the centuries protecting the last few from the eyes of man and keeping their legend alive within the hearts of all." "But what's the good of a unicorn existing if they never try to help us? There's a lot of sick and dying people out there and they never lift a finger to help anyone!" Kento countered. "Yes, but we must consider that it was man who chased them away. The safety of the last unicorns had to be ensured. Whether you realize it or not, they have always helped humans greatly," Kayura retorted. "How?" Ryo demanded. "Hope; the legend of such a pure and beautiful creature gives us hope. The hope that all evil can be beaten and that goodness and peace shall always prevail. They personify all that is pure and true in this world," Cye quietly replied. A thoughtful silence filled the room as everyone pondered upon that comment. Mia placed a hand on her chest as the tingling began again; however, it wasn't exactly unpleasant anymore. "That is the secret to life." Everyone turned in surprise at the musical voice. Anglarana stood in the open door in human form, smiling at them. "Well done, my friends. You have successfully found the key to the heart of all living beings." "Hope? That's the key to life?!" Kento said incredulously. "Yes, hope is what gives a person the will to keep going, no matter how hard and painful their trials become. Hope is what we can hold on to when there is nothing else left. Now I know you can free my people from their prison." Everyone looked up sharply at her. "Prison?" Anubis prompted. "Yes, in our last battle against Crynis, we only had enough power to trap him. With the power of the Dynasty coursing through his veins, Crynis could not be destroyed, and could not be contained without being constantly surrounded with the power of light. So as a last resort, three fourths of the entire population of the Tsorin surrounded Crynis and pulled him into the earth. For centuries they have been locked under ground forever sending their power to hold Crynis and his vile powers. After that, the scant few Tsorin went about trying to cover for our diminished numbers. We continuously traveled and attempted to help those in need. When we began to be hunted, we decided to eternally exile ourselves to different forests and watch over man from afar. However, just a few months ago, Crynis was able to break the chains of his prison and escape. That in itself is quite unusual, but the fact that he escaped while my people still remained in a trance protecting the empty cell is unbelievable." "Do you know what happened?" Dais asked. "Part of the spell that created Crynis's prison dictated that should Crynis be freed, all would be freed and that the only one who could alter that spell was one of those present at the time of the casting. The only other creatures who could understand and cast such an alteration would have to be Tsorin. So one of the remaining unicorns did it. I'm starting to belive it was Jyserriec. His teaming up with Crynis and his history of bitterness makes him the most likely suspect." She paused briefly and cleared her throat; her eyes would meet none of those who sought them. "At any rate, I believe I have the power to free them. Although, I need all of your assistance. The Jewel of Life must be present to rejuvenate them once they are awakened for they will be greatly weakened from so many years of pouring out their energy with no sustenance to support them. Plus, we need to all stay together; there is no telling when Crynis intends to attack again." "What was the deal with Crynis in that last battle? All of a sudden he just turned on Justin and disappeared," Rowen queried. "I was expecting that schism. The only thing that kept Crynis under Jyserriec's power was that they both wanted the destruction of humans and that Jyserriec was stronger than Crynis. But no amount of time nor pain can truly erase Jyserriec's true nature. His reluctance to carry out his plans of destruction and Crynis's prejudice against his species resulted in great hostility from Crynis. After all, Jyserriec was a part of the imprisonment spell." "All right, then! Let's free your people and kick some serious Crynis butt!" Kento exclaimed leaping from his seat. Everyone laughed and nodded their agreement. However, Anubis had a concerned expression on his face. "What about Jyserriec? Will he prove to continue being an enemy?" Anglarana pursed her lips.
"I do not know. Without Crynis to do the main fighting, he will either back down or confront us directly. Either way, we have not heard the last from him." She lowered her voice so that it was hardly audible to anyone else. "At least I haven't." "Do you know where the Tsorin are imprisoned?" Mia asked. "Yes, I will take you there once you all have recovered." "I think we all have had enough of sitting around, let's go free your people right now," Ryo stated. Anglarana smiled faintly at him and at everyone else's nodding faces. "Tomorrow, then." With that she left with a swirl of silver hair.


*****


Anglarana smiled to herself as she walked into the forest. How she admired the strength and passion of the human spirit. Perhaps that is what came from having a short life. Eternity had a tendency to make one loss perspective on the importance of the act of living. Her smile became sad as her thoughts drifted to Jyserriec. How well he knew that fact, but instead of cherishing his moments of love, no matter how ill fated they where, he became scorched by them and his pain filled heart misled him. She looked up past the wavering branches to the glimmering sun and sighed. "Oh, my Jyserriec, I wish you would let me help you..." A brief startled scream cut her inner monologue short. With a gasp she raced to the source of the scream. She rounded the lake and reached the mansion just in time to see Crynis carrying Mia off into the sky. The Ronins where racing after her hurling attack after attack, but Crynis deftly dodged them while maintaining a firm grasp on the wriggling Mia. "Clouds!" Crynis called and was immediately answered by being surrounded by a thick mass of grey clouds that completely hid him from sight. "Not this time, fiend!" Anglarana called shrilly. The mark on her forehead began glowing fiercely and a shot of light burst from her into the mass of clouds. Mia's shrieks became intensified as Anglarana's beam of light was answered by several pink ones shooting in all directions. Crynis gave a howl of pain and Mia fell through the blanket of clouds plummeting to the earth. Crynis quickly recovered from the attack and dived down after her. Kayura held up her staff and made a thrusting motion toward Mia. The rings on the staff chimed brightly and a yellow light formed around Mia that gently lowered her to the ground. "FLARE UP NOW!" "SUPER WAVE SMASHER!" Each attack hit on opposite sides of Crynis. "QUAKE WITH FEAR!" Anubis cried a second after Ryo and Cye sent out their attacks. Crynis was too busy dodging the other attacks to be able to miss the entangling web of chains that shot out of the ground. "AAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHH! Flaming lightning!" Bolts of burning lightning fell from the clouds cutting away at the binding chains. Crynis landed heavily on the ground, then lifted his hands to the sky in preparation for another attack. "Not this time, buddy," Kento said with a smirk. "IRON ROCK CRUSHER!" Crynis barely got himself into the air before the surge hit him. "ARROW SHOCK WAVE!" The dazzling blue arrow grazed Crynis's arm. "WEB OF DECEPTION!" "SNAKE FANG STRIKE!" As Crynis dodged the strands of Dais's web, Sekhmet's attack managed to hit him full force. A line of blood appeared across Crynis's chest and he growled horribly as he clasped the wound. "Now you die, mortal!" He thrust his hands out in the shape of a "Y" and tossed his head back. "TOTAL ELEMENTAL DESTRUCTION!!" he half-snarled and half-howled. Great vortexes of wind raked across the battle field while acid rain and lightning poured from green tinged clouds. Somewhere in the distance the volcano began erupting as the earth shook so violently that trees where uprooted. Water from the lake rose up in mighty waves and crashed upon any living thing it could reach. "THIS WILL STOP NOW!" Anglarana screamed. She had transformed into her true form and was the only one who was able to stand on the bucking ground and not have to dodge the rain of death from the sky. The area immediately surrounding her seemed immune to the effects of Crynis's attack; even the ground stood still for her. 'To me, Ronins!' she called as she ran for the nearest unconscious figure. Most of the Ronins were so badly battered that they could do no more than pick up their fallen comrades and limp over to the throbbing light of Anglarana's horn. Once everyone was in her protective sphere, Anglarana sent a strong ray of light at Crynis. He mockingly laughed and easily dodged the light. She sent beam after beam, but to no avail. A beat of sweat formed on her brow and her legs began to wobble as her strength began to fade. I must succeed! They are counting on me! she thought and tried to rally what little power she had left to try and strike the grotesque beast. The ground beneath her started trembling slightly as her strength gave way. Suddenly beams of silver-green light originating from another area were piercing the air around Crynis. Crynis gave a surprised grunt as he scanned the area for his unseen assailant. Jyserriec appeared next to Anglarana while still sending forth beams of light at him. Anglarana glanced over and gave him an equine equivalent of a relieved smile. Jyserriec grimly returned it while continuing his assault. Crynis soon lost his pleased expression; his elemental attack gradually ceased as he was forced to concentrate all his energy to dodging the two fatal shots of light. Mia, who had safely reached the ground, stood slowly up with a determined expression. She closed her eyes and the jewel in her chest flared up with intense pink light. She waited until Jyserriec had sent a shot followed by Anglarana sending him into a defensive position with his back to her. Then, with an assured smile, she sent out a bubble of light that surrounded Crynis. Crynis snarled with rage and tried to spin about, but was trapped in mid-air. Jyserriec and Anglarana then sent a simultaneous shot of light that caught Crynis head on. Crynis howled and shrieked like a demon let loose from the bowels of hell. The energy from Jyserriec and Anglarana's attack dispelled the mild capacity of the pink light. Crynis immediately flew up into the cloud and back to the volcano to reclaim his shattered strength and body. Jyserriec sent more shots of light after him, but was stopped by Anglarana. "No more for today. He is gone, and we must recuperate." Jyserriec looked her up and down. Once satisfied that she was physically unharmed, he commented,
"Do not think that I'm on your side. I am only here to destroy the traitorous Crynis. I never leave loose ends in my operations." Anglarana bowed her head lending some energy to heal Rowen who was bleeding heavily from the head.
"Except for me." "Except for you," Jyserriec echoed wistfully. "Why do you help these foul beings?" Anglarana moved on to the next injured human and started healing him. A faint pink light glowed about her giving her the strength she needed to heal. "Because they are worthy of such attention." She looked up at him. "I find that most humans are nobble and compassionate once they are given half a chance to show it." "I have yet to see humans of such character." "Oh, you have hundreds of times. You just neglect to remember them in favor of one evil person. Look at these humans here before my feet; they are ready to give up their lives to protect this world; even though few people will ever know of their great deeds." Jyserriec remained silent at that. "You are going to free them, aren't you?" he asked softly. She nodded slowly as she finished healing Cale.
"Will you attempt to stop me?" "It does not matter to me one way or the other what state our kin is in. Crynis is not longer under my protection." She brought her head up sharply and gave him a harsh stare.
" 'Tis time to give up the past. One should never speak for the whole; you know that, Jyserriec." He refused to meet her gaze and remained silent. She laughed whimsically, "Forgiveness is supposed to be a characteristic of our people, according to some cultures." "Humans over-romanticize things." "Yes, what a wonderful imagination humans possess, and the gentleness of heart to believe in it as well." Jyserriec shook his head and turned away.
"Have fun playing with your precious humans. Once this is done with, my plans shall continue." Anglarana jerked her head up and wearily trotted over to him.
"You shall do no such thing. If that is still your quest, then we might as well fight right now and get it over with." "My fight is not with you." "I promised to protect this world and all the living creatures upon it. By my oath of honor, I shall protect them. If you wish the destruction of the human beings, then I must stop you at all costs." "You are far too drained to fight me." Anglarana tossed her head. "I don't have a choice. It is my duty." "How can one race of beings that eat up the world from underneath them warrant your help? What could they have possibly done to earn such respect and loyalty from you?" "It is their spirit that attracts me. They are one of the rare creatures that possesses the capacity for both good and evil. It is an amazing freedom and responsibility all at the same time. Even we do not have such a skill and inner strength." Jyserriec locked eyes with her, trying to remember the faith in mankind that he had once known.
"Perhaps... perhaps, I shall stay. It should be by my hand that Crynis dies." Anglarana bowed her head slightly in agreement, then went back to work tending to the Ronins. Mia sat silently watching the exchange. She smiled and continued to let a stream of energy flow into Anglarana. For the first time in days; no, in years, she felt at peace.

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A little chatty this chapter, so I threw in the fight scene so that you wouldn't completely fall asleep. This is my first true fight scene so you'll have to tell me what you think of it. Lady Eclipse (nightcloud8@hotmail.com) "In a breath I lost my faith, But by the courage of a defenseless child, it was regained."

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€®m®m1Times New RomanSymbol&Arial"ˆÐhíms†xsÆ(ƒ$¹& #8249;Okay, once again I submit the standard disclaimer. But Anglarana and the villains are mine, all mine!! You can't have them! Mwhahahaha! ;p
Lawrence Wade
Lawrence Wade