Disclaimer: I do not own Ronin Warriors, I wish I did. However I do own Wintrin and Calisto and any other original characters in this fic. If you wish to use them e-mail me first.

Sorcery and Royalty
Chapter I

The young woman fled the castle holding tight to the precious bundle in her arms. Her long blonde hair whipped madly behind her as it came free from the red scarf and her green eyes were wild with fear as she heard the screams of death still emitting from the once peaceful castle. Her fear for the safety of the infant in her care gave her strength to reach the forest where she could end her madden flight.
Soon she reached the forest, she continued her trek until she reached a clearing. There in the center were two men, both were old.

The older was had long white hair and his robes were of a long vanished sect of monks known as Ancients, he was probably the last of them in this world. The other had light blue hair and gray eyes, his clothing was foreign to this world and looked as though it would prove most difficult to replicate here. The elder walked towards here.

"Do not be frightened," he said, "We are here to help."

"Who are you? Her Majesty bade me to protect the princess," stated the maid.

"I am called Kaosu. I brought this man, Yamato Koji, here to protect the princess. He will raise her in his world where she will be safe," answered the monk.

"I will do my best to protect her. What is her name?" asked the man.

"I am Naidir Ravenspur. The princess is Miriamele Faramiir," answered the girl.

"Too long, I'll call her Mia." As he said this Naidir placed the baby in his arms.

"The obligation of protecting her is now yours," she said and then she left.

As soon as she was out of sight Kaosu used his staff to create a portal back to Yamato's world.

"Raise her to be kind and intelligent professor."

"That I shall do," promised Professor Koji as he entered the portal that closed behind him.


~Four years later~
"Grampa please tell me again, please!!!" begged a little girl with reddish-brown hair and gray-green eyes. She was wearing a pair of pink pajamas.

"Alright Mia. Once upon a time there was baby princess. One day her kingdom was taken over by an evil and sadistic wizard. A maid was sent by the queen to take the princess away to safety. She protected the babe until she gave her to a man to protect her in another world.

"The princess grew up ignorant about her history until her eighteenth birthday when all was revealed to her. She returned to her kingdom and found it destroyed and her mother killed, angry she left to become a powerful sorceress and returned to face the wizard. Her powers strengthen with her love overcame the wizard and his hateful heart. After she restored her kingdom she lived happily ever after."

"The poem too, please."

"Alright, but after this you should go to bed.


"Torch of Spirit sought through five
Drinking strength from Immortal Fire
Darkest prison sheds the Light
Churning beneath a Swirl of Salt
Buried within a Throne of Rock
Floating amongst the Eyes of the Ages
Unmoored within the Stream of Sky."

~Thirteen Years Later~
"Professor Koji! You can't die!" exclaimed the teenaged boy who had just forced the evil spirit possessing the professor out of his body. He had long black hair and tiger blue eyes.

"I'm dead already, the dynasty poison was in my veins before you got here," as he continued to speak his thoughts were different, 'Goodbye young princess, I am so sorry. And good luck to you young warrior, at my death the obligation to protect her falls on you, and your very arrival means she'll need it.


~In another world~
Naidir shivered as she fell the death of the princess' guardian, she also felt the obligation pass on to another, one younger than the princess herself.

"But who will tell her now?" she said to herself, "Wait! Of course Calisto."


~One year later--the day before Mia's birthday~
Two teenaged boys were walking together at the downtown mall.

"So Rowen what are you going to get Mia for her birthday?" asked the first. He had long black hair and tiger blue eyes. He was wearing a blue t-shirt and a pair of denim blue jeans.

"I got her some new software for her computer. How about you Ryo?" replied the second, Rowen. He had short blue hair held out of his blue eyes by a non-effective blue headband. He was wearing a white shirt and a pair of khaki pants.

"I don't know yet. I want to get her something nice. But if the Zoo gives me first choice for letting them use Blaze, then I've got half of it." answered Ryo." A tiger cub and something else, sounds like a good present so far. I think I'll check out the bookstore while you look around."

"Alright, I'll look for you there when I find it. Then we'll check with the Zoo."

About two hours later Ryo found Rowen and showed him a small lavender box tied with a pink ribbon.

"I've already paid for this so I'll wait for you."

"No need, I've already bought one," replied Rowen brandishing a copy of 'Lord of Chaos.'

The two teens left the mall and proceeded to the Zoo. The zookeeper was all too happy to offer Ryo first pick of the litter in return for Blaze's service.


~The next day--Mia's Birthday~
"KENTO GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN!!!!!" yelled a teenaged boy about sixteen years old who spoke with heavy British accent. He had long auburn hair and seagreen eyes. He was wearing a blue long-sleeved t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans, over this he wore an apron that stated in bold black letters 'Only Real Men Cook.' His hair and apron were covered in flour and in his hand was a wooden spoon. The teen he was yelling at had long ash- blue hair that was held out of his blue-gray eyes by a non-effective yellow headband. He was wearing a light orange shirt underneath a pair of blue jean overalls. The reason for his abrupt expulsion from the kitchen became apparent when he began to lick the sticky cake batter from his slightly pudgy fingers.

"Why not help us in here Ken?" asked another teen with short blonde hair and lavender eyes one nearly completely covered by his perfect hair. He was wearing a white shirt underneath a green jacket and tan pants. He was holding up one end of a banner, the other end held up by sticky tack, as Ryo, now clad in a red shirt, was using more to hold it up in other strategic places. Rowen, now wearing a blue t-shirt and white pants, was setting the table with a few added decorations and birthday hats.

"Yeah you could arrange the living room to fit more people, Kayura and the warlords are coming too," suggested Rowen.

"Sure," replied Kento as he got to work.

"Did everyone get her presents?" asked a boy about eight years old. He had short brown hair and blue eyes. He was wearing a blue shirt and blue jeans.

"Yeah, they're in the kitchen. Kento nicked some cake batter when he put his in there and got banished from the kitchen again," answered Ryo.

As he said this a portal opened beside the table and four people stepped through and the portal closed behind them.

The first was a young woman who appeared to be fifteen. She had long blue hair held up in a high ponytail and blue eyes. She was wearing the robes of the ancient and held the staff of the ancients in one hand and a wrapped gift in the other. The second was a man who appeared to be seventeen with short green hair and beady green snake like eyes. He was wearing a green kimono and also held a gift. The third was a man who appeared to be twenty-eight. He had long white hair and a single light blue eye, his left eye was obviously missing and the hollow was covered by a black patch. He was wearing a light pink kimono and held a gift like the others. The last was a man who appeared to be twenty-one. He had short midnight blue hair, matching eyes and a cross-shaped scar over his left eye. He was wearing a black kimono and like the others he held a gift.

"Why don't you guys get changed into some normal clothes? I'll take your presents to kitchen for you," offered Kento.

"Oh no you won't!" yelled Cye from the kitchen.

"I'll take them to the kitchen," said Ryo, "Sage, Rowen take Kayura and the guys upstairs and find them something to wear. Your wardrobes for the guys and Mia's for Kayura."

"Why ours?" asked Sage.

"Because Kento, Cye, and I are too short," Ryo explained.

Half an hour later they came down stairs. Kale was wearing a plaid shirt raided from Kento's room and a pair of Sage's blue jeans. Dais was wearing a loose white shirt that belonged to Sage as well as a pair of blousy pants that also belonged to him; the combined effect of the outfit and eye patch made him look like a pirate. Sekhmet was wearing a green shirt which matched his hair, that belonged to Sage and a pair of Rowen's blue jeans. Kayura was wearing a white blouse and a yellow skirt that went to her midthigh, and her long blue hair was now tied back with a yellow ribbon. By this time the dining room and living room had been decorated and the birthday dinner was nearly done.

"Wow, you guys look cool in normal clothes, and Kayura wow," remarked a stunned Rowen.

"Ryo and Sage are helping Cye in the kitchen, but Rowen and me aren't allowed in until the food is done. So unless any of you want to help, you could watch TV or something," explained Kento.

"I can't cook," explained Kayura as she sat down on the couch, "Talpa didn't really think it was a necessary subject when he was training me to be a fighter."

"I'll help in the kitchen," said Sekhmet as he walked in the kitchen.

"He's the only one of us who can," explained Dais, "I just about gave everybody food poisoning the last time I cooked."

"Just about only excludes Sekhmet and Kayura, he's immune to poison and she didn't eat it," clarified Kale. Once this was said Kento turned on the TV and sat down.

"Oh c'mon Kento, change the channel will ya," complained Rowen because the show on the screen was Jerry Springer.

"It's a lot more interesting than those stupid documentaries you like." protested Kento.

"One, they're not stupid, you actually learn something from them. Two, ancient history and science is a lot more interesting than watching dysfunctional couples and families fight," argued Rowen.

"Point," said Kayura as she ignored the program.

"Well I don't know about that last one. This is kind of funny," said Kale, he even laughed as a man, who had just found out his wife was really a man and was cheating on him with another woman, tried to hit her with a chair.

"Well I think it is childish and what is with all the beeps?" said Dais.

"I don't know, but there sure are a lot of them. Maybe they like the beeps," guessed Kayura.

"Hey Rowen, what are the beeps for?" asked Kale.

"The beeps are put in after filming to filter out the explicative," explained Rowen.

"But a lot of the words left in are worse than cursing," Kayura said confused.

"What's a hermaphrodite?" asked Kale suddenly. Rowen leaned over and whispered the answer in his ear.

"Gross!!!! Can't they do something about that? I didn't even know that was possible!!!"

"Guys will ya be quite!" shouted Kento, "Leslie is about to tell her boyfriend that she's pregnant and the baby is really his brother's whose wife doesn't know that he's been cheating on her in the first place."

"You can actually follow this crap?" asked Rowen incredulously as he grabbed the remote and switched over to TLC which was showing a documentary on lions.

Chapter II

Rowen watched the documentary with interest, while Kento became bored quickly and began to play his gameboy. Kale watched the documentary for about a minute before he began to stare intently at the gameboy’s screen, apparently Golden Sun was far more interesting than TLC. Kayura watched the show without much enthusiasm, while Dais gave up on the show ever becoming interesting and found a book to read.
About an hour later Ryo switched of the television.

"Mia should be getting here any minute now," he said as he replaced the remote in its holder. Soon the lights were dimmed and the nine armor bearers were hidden in the living room.


* * *
Meanwhile

Calisto Wyvrn was the very figure of an Elf. She had long black hair that fell wildly down to her waist. Her eyes were emerald, and her skin was tanned golden. She was wearing a makeshift outfit made mainly from leather and bone. Cloth was a luxury that only the Humans of Sephera cared to own.

Well, not only them, as the elfin young man sitting underneath a nearby oak tree proved. He was clad in a white, cloth suit. The shirt of his outfit was held together with blue buttons made of the same material as the thick beads that held back his light blue hair that fell to his knees. His eyes were the same icy blue color and his skin was pale. It was not hard to guess that, unlike Calisto, he was a Mage. His name was Wintrin.

Calisto looked up at the sky just in time to see the fiery glint of a phoenix.

"Then it is me," she stated as she raised her bow to the sky. The old phoenix hovered directly over her and waited. When the silver arrow came it allowed it to strike its heart. It didn't even give a final cry as it fell gracefully from the sky and into Calisto's waiting arms.

A single tear fell from its eye becoming a blood red ruby. Calisto quickly filled a small vial with its fiery blood before she placed the dying bird gently on the ground. Once she did the body burst into flames leaving a much younger phoenix in its place. The young on left as suddenly as it had came.

"Sometimes I envy you. I could never even touch such a creature and live afterwards," said Wintrin quietly.

"That is indeed the curse of an Ice Mage," said Calisto as Wintrin slowly stood up and walked over to her.

"What message did she bring?" he asked just as quietly as before (AN: Wintrin always speaks in a near whisper unless otherwise noted).

"I am to return Miriamele to Sephera."

"The Princess? Yes that is worthy of a phoenix bearer."

"It is indeed."

Chapter III

Mia entered the darkened living room and looked around. She was slightly puzzled that no one was home, Ryo should have been here at least. 'Oh well,' she thought to herself as she switched on the lights.

"SURPISE!!!! Happy Birthday!" yelled a chorus of voices as all nine armor bearers as they left their hiding places.

Mia smiled, "I should have known! How long have you guys been planning this?"

"About a week," answered Ryo.

"So, what first? Food or presents?" asked Sage.

"Please pick food, please!" begged Kento who hadn't had anything to eat since lunch. Everybody laughed at that.

"Okay Kento, we'll eat first," said Mia, as she set down her things from work.

*** Meanwhile
"Look," said Calisto as she paused at the edge of the cliff. Wintrin looked where she had indicated. At the base of the cliff was a ruined temple, a small altar, made of a white stone the color of ivory, stood in the center of the ruins. Beside it was a circle that was made of the same stone.

"The Temple of Tranquility," stated Wintrin with a hint of awe in his voice, "So that is why the tear was needed."

"Yes," agreed Calisto and then she began to climb down to reach the temple. Wintrin followed quickly behind.

Once they reached the altar, Calisto placed the Pheonix Tear in the center and began to chant in a strange tongue that Wintrin could not decipher. When the chant reached its end a silvery portal opened.

***
Back at Mia's
After supper was over it was time for Mia to open her gifts.

"Hmmm... I wonder what this is?" asked Mia as she picked up a large box wrapped in blue holographic paper. The tag announced that it was from Rowen. She carefully removed the paper to reveal software.

"Thanks Ro, I needed to upgrade my PC," said Mia as she picked up her next gift. It was the small box that Ryo had bought the day before. Mia gasped when she opened it. Inside was a silver necklace with a small ruby pendent.

"Ryo, it's beautiful!" exclaimed Mia then she hugged the warrior of virtue. Her other gifts were:

Love Story from Cye A PC game from Kento A few books on Greek Mythology from Sage, and a pair of silver earrings From Kale, who had no idea what she would like, she received a few forgotten texts from his old clan. From Sekhmet she received a bracelet with a scale pattern From Dais she was given a crystal pendent that would make her immune to illusions as long as she wore it. Kayura gave her a silver orb that would allow her to communicate telepathically with any of the nine armor bearers on the same frequency of their armor link.
"The last one is in the kitchen," said Ryo as he went to retrieve it. He soon returned holding a small white tiger cub with a pink collar around her neck.

"Oh, she's gorgeous! What's her name?" asked Mia as she took the cub from Ryo's arms.

"She doesn't have one, yet. I was hoping that you would want to give her one."

"I know! Her name will be Aurora," said Mia as she gazed adoringly at the cub's bright brown eyes, a trait she must have gotten from her sire.

Suddenly a silvery portal appeared in the center of the room. Their was not much time for anyone to investigate it however, because within seconds a tall elfin woman stepped out of the portal and into the living room.


Melissa aka WildfireDreams