Disclaimer: we already know we don’t own them, but our own characters!

Thunder stared at Mesu, keeping silent. One could already imagine what he was thinking of and whatever it was it wasn’t good at all. Then again he wasn’t sure he wanted to know. He had a pounding headache and was so hungry he was actually considering on eating the dirt off the floor. But he wasn’t that desperate. Not yet anyway.. Vaguely he could feel within him, that Flash was in the realm somewhere along with the others. He kept a smile to himself. He knew he could always count on her.

He tried his best not to give away that he knew she was there and so he kept silent as he laid inside his fortress with a sigh.

Meanwhile several soldiers were attacking the Ronins, the Lady Guardians, and Flash. All of them were putting up a good fight. Ryo was attacking left and right, shredding them to pieces. Kento used his weapon to give them all a smashing ride. Cye was stabbing them as he spun right through them. Hana was knocking their heads off with her nodatchi. Amara was kicking soldiers behind her while stabbing soldiers before her. Josephine was practically playing golf as she used her own weapon to send the soldiers flying several miles away. Flash was using her martial arts skills and bringing the soldiers down one by one. She flipped in the air, and kicked a soldier into Hana’s sword, then rammed her arm into its stomach, then kicked it in the face.

The soldiers were losing the battle, but more came to take their place. As they were all fighting no one was aware of the silent figure that was somehow sneaking its way toward Mesu’s castle.

Rekino stared up at the castle before her. She continued to ignore the pain in her knee, then she rubbed her hands together and begin to climb the castle walls. She climbed slowly, hoping that no one would stop her. She would rescue Thunder and kick Mesu’s ass, then she would kick Brock’s ass. Seemed like a good plan to her. It took a while but she finally found herself inside the castle. She dropped down to the floor, wincing a bit, before rising back up. She took little time to glance around, and begin to make her toward the throne room where she knew Mesu would be.

She sneaked through the dark halls, keeping her eyes and ears alert in case soldiers would suddenly come and attack her. She wanted to keep most of her energy for Mesu and Brock. They would pay for hurting her friends.

She continued on until she reached the throne room.. She sneaked in, and saw Mesu sitting on his throne with his eyes closed, then she spotted Thunder inside a fortress like cell. She frowned deeply and sneaked over to him. She would get him out first, then go after Mesu. She reached the “cage” and called to Thunder softly. “Thunder?”

Thunder turned his head and looked right at her. He seemed little surprised to see her, but he was surprised nonetheless. Rekino put a finger to her lips. “Shh. I’m going to get you out okay?”

Thunder made no reply, but just nodded lightly, keeping his eye on her.

Rekino begin to look for a way to set him free. Little did she know Mesu had spotted her.

“And what do you think you’re doing, Lady Wildfire?”

Rekino turned angry eyes on the leady of the new Dynasty, “I came here to free Thunder and kick your ass!” Rekino grunted in pain when Mesu shot an energy blast…at her knee. She fell to the ground and clutched her injured area with tenderness, “Damn you!”

“I found out your weaknesses, Rekino. I bet you never would’ve thought that it was I who took out Strata…with the help of Brock that is,” Mesu chuckled evilly and stepped down from his thrown. He drew out his sword and pointed it towards Rekino, “It’s too bad the others aren’t going to be here when I kill you.”

Rekino stood up on shaky legs, “I’m not going to die. Not here,” She drew out her swords and positioned them to her advantage. Her eyes hardened at Mesu and she cocked her head to the side, signaling for a duel.

“Are you challenging me, Lady Wildfire?” Mesu asked. He didn’t see her move but noticed her eye color darken, “So be it. You’ll regret this though,” Mesu took the lead and charged at Rekino with full speed. His sword collided with Rekino’s twin katanas as sparks flew from the metal.

Rekino drew up her strength and pushed Mesu back a couple of feet. She dodged energy blasts from left to right. While Mesu was preparing to summon enough strength for another blast, Rekino used her speed advantage and kicked Mesu in the face and stabbed him in the arm with one of her swords. She screamed in pain when Mesu countered with his own attack to her knee again. She dropped down on her good knee as Mesu pulled his sword out of her armored leg. Both were on the ground waiting for the other to make the next move.

Mimicking something out of an action movie, both Rekino and Mesu jumped back. Rekino twirled her body in the air and landed on perfect feet. Mesu back flipped and landed as well. Both of the warriors didn’t seem to give into the others glare. Mesu decided to spice things up a bit.

“I loved the look on Strata’s face when Brock attacked him that day. It was a priceless moment I will never forget,” Mesu slipped back down into a fighting stance and waited for Rekino to make a move.

I’m going to kill him! Rekino’s mind screamed. She positioned her swords again and ran towards Mesu at full speed, “You’re mine!” Their swords collided once again in a heated position.

*~*

One the battlefield, Flash and the other were having a hard time getting through the soldiers. After once batch was killed, more kept coming towards them. Ryo was moving back and forth slicing down soldiers. His thoughts kept floating back to what Hana had told them earlier. She had received a message from Sage. He told her that Rekino had jumped out the of the hospital window. Ryo was afraid that Rekino would’ve followed them to the Dynasty. He hadn’t seen her anywhere since the battle had started. He just couldn’t shake the feeling that she was still here.

On the other side of the battlefield, Josephine and Amaya fought back to back while Mia and Hana were close by. Josephine picked up and soldier and threw it at Amaya, who used her Yari to slice the soldier in half. Mia was shooting off arrows at her enemies. Hitting them with perfect aim. Hana use her nodatchi to an advantage and pole vaulted over some soldiers. When she landed, she spun around and the soldiers fell apart at the waist. Flash wasn’t far from them. She jumped into the air and landed on a soldier’s head. She quickly jumped from one soldier to another using them as stepping-stones. Once Flash landed, she turned around and kicked her powers into action. Her hair flew behind her as she watched soldiers melt from the intense heat. Kento and Cye stuck beside Ryo. Aiding one another when needed. Cye opened the man catcher part of his weapon and dug it into one of the soldiers, removing its arms. Kento was having a ball fighting the soldiers. The Hardrock bearer picked one soldier up and threw it at a group of oncoming ones. That battle was heating up as more soldiers came onto the battlefield.

“We can’t keep this up for much longer, “ Amaya screamed to the others. She dodged an attack from one soldier and countered with a kick to its stomach.

“I know, Amaya. They just keep coming,” Cye replied to his guardian.

Hana took down three more soldiers when she did a complete 360 with her nodatchi pointed outwards, “Here’s an idea. Let’s find our way to the middle, while facing the soldiers, and use our surekills. That’ll destroy everything within a two hundred mile radius!”

“Good idea, Hana,” Ryo said, “Let’s do it then!”

The three Ronin Warriors, four Lady Guardians, and Flash pushed through the sea of soldiers. Killing them if needed. Once they found their way into the center, they all formed a tight circle. Most of them stood back to back.

“Let’s kick it up a notch, guys!” Kento screamed and readied his naginata.

“Right!” All of the warriors, except Flash – who was using her powers, prepared to use their surekills.

“Flare Up Now!”

“Super Wave Smasher!”

“Iron Rock Crusher!”

“Angel’s Heavenly Cry!”

“Explosive Lightning Storm!”

“Deep Aquamarine Illusion!”

“Rolling Earth Crush!”

The powers of the Ronins and Guardians collided together with a big bang. Flash added to the power by using her pyrokinesis to increase to power of Ryo’s attack but to also destroy more soldiers. Once ten attacks died down, nothing stood in the area between them and the castle. Josephine and Kento gave a whoop and a high five to one another. While they were rejoicing, an awful blinding light from inside the castle interrupted them. They heard a female scream with it.

“That sounded like Rekino!” Mia said.

Another light from the castle brought another scream from the female inside.

“That is Rekino!” Flash screamed.

“Let’s go. She needs out help!” Hana said and started to run for the castle. The other weren’t far behind her.

Ryo followed the other and kept his sister in his thoughts. Please, be okay, Rekino. I don’t know what I would do if I lost you. You’re the only family I have left. If Mesu’s done something to you, I swear I’ll kill him!

*~*

Inside the castle, Rekino and Mesu continued to fight; however, it seemed that Mesu had gained the upper hand. Rekino didn’t know how long she could last. She felt her power decreasing every minute. It got worse when Mesu shot those juiced up energy blasts at her. Then, he would use the advantage to strike at her with his sword. Rekino’s silk in her armor started to fall apart. She started to pray when Mesu got her down on the ground and held his sword at her throat.

“Any last words before I kill you?” Mesu asked.

“Yeah,” Rekino started, “Rot in hell!” She kicked Mesu back and returned to her feet.

The two engaged in battle once again. They didn’t notice the ten figures running into the room and stopping to watch the fight.

Ryo had entered the throne room first and saw Rekino fight hard against Mesu. He couldn’t contain himself, “Rekino!”

The raven-haired Lady Wildfire stopped fighting. She turned around and saw Ryo, Flash, and the others standing in the doorway of the throne room. She inwardly smiled to herself. They were safe. Rekino never noticed Mesu raise his sword above his head. While her back was turned, he slammed his blade into her back and it came out through her stomach. Rekino’s blood fell the to ground slowly while she fell swiftly.

Mesu laughed and withdrew his blade, “One down and nine to go!”