Kento hung the phone up and looked at Ryo. “I could only get five plane tickets for a flight at 3:00 P.M.”

Ryo nodded and sipped his mug of coffee. In truth he was worried they wouldn’t get there in time. Why did this have to be happening? There was no answer, but he wished this was all a dream. He could only imagine what Thunder must be going through now.

“That’s fine, Kento.”

“Ok, man. I’m going to tell the others then.” Kento left the kitchen to tell the others, while Ryo went upstairs to see how Mia was doing. After the decision had been made by Rekino about who would be going and who would be staying, Mia had gone upstairs to rest. He went down the hall and knocked on their door, calling her name softly. He heard no answer and went in. She was asleep on their bed. He smiled softly and approached her, and lightly kissed her, tucking some hair behind her ear. He really did love her. And he wouldn’t let any harm come to her.

Rekino sighed. She really wished they could get there faster than before 3:00 p.m. But what choice did they have? The thought of teleportation came again to her mind and she yearned for it.

“You’re not going to get there fast enough!” Cye said with worry.

“This is the best we can do,” Rekino said grimly.

Hana was probably more worried about this than any of them. Yet, she said nothing about it. She was still confused about her feelings and she didn’t want to say anything about them not yet.

“I know Cye,” Rekino said with a sigh. “But we can hope we can.” She looked toward Kento. “Did you state out names for the tickets?”

Kento nodded. “Yes, for Ryo and Rekino Sanada, Hana Rae Utano, Rowen Hashiba, and Sage Date.”

“Good,” Rekino nodded. “Okay, everyone go and pack! We may be there for a few days!”

And the three Ronins and two Lady Ronin Guardians headed to his or her room.

Thunder was dodging soldiers and running through the halls, trying to find a good place to hide. There were soldiers everywhere! If this was an attack from their enemy Tutock, he and the other Warriors would have armored up. But since these were humans, they couldn’t use their powers on them. He raced down the stairs hearing the soldiers right behind him and glanced over his shoulder as he neared the bottom. Bad move. He suddenly slammed into a large soldier who quickly took a hold of him.

Thunder struggled to get free, but another soldier grabbed a hold of him, making it impossible for Thunder to attempt to escape. One guard grabbed his walkie talkie. “We’ve got the Prince. Inform his majesty we are bringing him out to him soon.”

“Roger that.”

The guard put his walkie talkie away and nodded to his fellow soldiers. “Let’s go.” He stared at Thunder’s face though. His countenance didn’t seem angry though. Instead he seemed sad… and scared?

Back in the hallway, the Warriors were all frowning when he heard the news.

“I can’t believe this!” Shades yelled.

“It’s not fair,” Chilie said sadly.

“We’re going to get him back,” Flash said firmly, her eyes flashing.

All of them were pretty upset, but no one more than Scorpio. He was loosing his best friend, and would probably never see him again.

The guards led Thunder outside into the parking lot of the school. Every classroom had students or faculty members were staring out the windows, watching curiously. Thunder raised his head and looked toward the King and Queen who were standing about five feet away from him, next to a black limousine. At once he saw them look directly at him and the whole world seemed to just disappear.

The Lady of Wildfire walked into her room, but grabbed the doorframe. She felt sickly all of the sudden. She closed her eyes and her kanji flashed brightly. Something wasn't right. She felt it in her heart that they were already too late. An image flashed in her mind of Thunder being taken back home to Germany unwillingly. The faces of the other Warriors she could see. They were in distress.

Rekino heard someone in her mind. She chose to ignore it.

Rekino of the Lady Wildfire…

There it was again. She must be going crazy. She sat down on the bed.

Her face twisted, "Okay, I don't know who the hell you are, but no one talks to me that way!" Rekino's face went pale when the image of the last living ancient appeared before her, "Oh, Lady Kayura. I didn't know it was you."

"Lady Rekino, it's been a long time. Listen, I know that you're in distress on what's going on, but there's nothing you can do," Kayura said solemnly, "The Warrior of the Storm will be taken back to his home country. I'm sorry, but…"

"Listen here old lady, I know that you didn't come here to lecture me on what we can't do. By God, there's something we can do! I was given this armor to protect and serve. I will not allow anyone to suffer. I, Rekino Sanada of the Lady Wildfire, pledged my allegiance to all protect all warriors no matter where they came from. Now, tell me how to get there or I'm frying your blue head back to the neutral nether realm!" Rekino shouted. Her kanji once again began to flash. It kept getting brighter and brighter, "I will never allow anyone to suffer! Not as long as I have breath in my body! As the Ancient One and yourself told me, I'm the Keeper of the Heart, and I'll make sure everyone has hope, love, and courage in their hearts!"

Lady Kayura smiled, "That's the Rekino I know. Now, gather your friends, you're going to San Francisco without using that…airplane contraption."

"Good. I don't like airplanes. I'm afraid of heights," Rekino said under her breath.

Thunder was brought into the limo and placed inside. Guards were on both sides of him. He felt like a prisoner. His real parents soon climbed in on the opposite side. His father looked rather pleased to see him, but his mother looked…sad. Thunder didn't know whether he or his father caused the sadness in the young woman.

"Hello my son. I'm known as Thaitus, King of Germany," Thaitus nodded towards his wife, "And this is your mother, Lila, Queen of Germany."

Thunder nodded his hello to both of them. He glanced outside of the tinted window to see his friends just standing there. They all held worry and grief on their faces. He wanted nothing more than to get out of this contraption and just go home to his grandparents. The limo start up and drive towards the airport. He saw Flash start running to catch up with the limo, but she didn't want to reveal herself in front of the whole student body. She just stopped and waved a goodbye.

Rekino ran down stairs with Kayura's hand in hers. She was so happy that she could scream. She did, "HEY! NO PLANE! KAYURA HELP!!"

Ryo looked up from his spot on the couch, he had been asleep, "Dammit Rekino, what are you screaming about?" He noticed Kayura, "Oh, Kayura. What's up?"

Kayura forced herself out of Rekino's grip and recomposed herself; "I've come to take you guys to America. Free of charge. Now, if we can gather everyone together and we'll start."

Rekino ran throughout the house quickly to get everyone together in the living room, "Hey! Y'all come on! It's time to go to America!!"

"Okay, what's she talking about? Has she lost her mind?" Kento asked.

Josephine stuck her foot out in front of Rekino and tripped her. "Down girl. What's all the yelling about? Are you all there, Rekino?"

The Lady of Wildfire picked herself up and looked at Josephine strangely, "Now, why did you do that? I was just happy running around like a mad woman."

"Well, you looked like a freak. Anyways, what's up?" Josephine asked.

"Kayura's here! She's going to get the lot of us to San Francisco. Well, the ones that are going at least," Rekino said.

Josephine sweatdropped, "Yeah, I'm stuck here babysitting the pregnant hell demon."

Rekino sweatdropped and leaned close to the Lady Guardian of Hardrock. “Just don’t let her hear you call that. Believe you me..”

Josephine smirked. “Got that, leaderette.”

“Don’t call me that. Now as I was saying..”

“Not to interrupt, Rekino, but I did hear Josephine say that,” Mia said.

Josephine backed up a bit away from Mia.

Rekino gritted her teeth and shouted. “If one more person interrupts me I’ll junction with Ryo and kick your ass!”

Everyone instantly became quiet, their eyes wide, all staring hard at Rekino.

Rekino took a deep breath and composed herself. “Thank you.”

Flash wiped a single tear away then turned when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Snow stood behind her with a frown. “Snow.. you heard?”

The Warrior of Hail nodded. “I saw it through my class window,” he admitted, sadness in his brown eyes. “I knew right away it wasn’t someone kidnapping him because you would have blown the car up.”

Flash nodded sadly. “They’re his real parents, Snow,” she said.

Snow frowned deeply as the Warriors gathered together there. Chilie and Ice were holding Scorpio who had been so upset he had gotten sick. Now the Warrior of Current was slumped against the Warrior of Shock, in exhaustion.

“We’ve got to do something!” Shades declared. “Let’s start a war with them!”

“Shades, are you crazy?” Chilie asked, looking over at the Warrior of Ataxia.

The Russian Warrior looked toward the Warrior of Heart and crossed her arms, raising her eyebrows as if to say, what do you think? And the Jewish Warrior sweatdropped. She should have know that Shades was that crazy enough.

Flash raised her voice a bit. “No one is starting a war anywhere! Look, we all want Thunder back. But we have to realize those are his real parents.. Who have been searching for him for fifteen years.. So.. we have to take the composed approach and hopefully let the king and queen of Germany realize how miserable he would be there.”

The Warriors all nodded. They would have to travel to Germany somehow and prove this to Thunder’s real parents. The question was how?

Thunder eyed the private aircraft that stood in the center of San Francisco’s International Airport. He and his true parents were escorted by plenty of guards who walked in front of them, on either side of them, and behind them. Never before had Thunder felt so closely guarded. He boarded the plane unwillingly with his real father and mother and soon found himself seated across from them again, with the guards flanking him on either side.

“It is good to finally see you, Thunder,” Thaitus said looking directly at Thunder. “I’m sure you’ll have a lot of questions for us.”

Thunder didn’t speak just yet, he remained quiet, staring at the floor, before finally raising his gaze to look at the man who had fathered him. “And I’m sure you will have questions as well.”

Lila smiled gently at her son and took Thunder's hand into hers, "We're willing to answer any questions you have for us, my son."

Thunder nodded his head and took in a deep breath, "Why are you coming to get me after fifteen years?"

Thaitus frowned, "Our country has been at war for seventeen years with Rome. Your mother and I were afraid if I passed on that there would be no one to take the crown and throne. We need a strong leader to rule Germany, and we were certain it was you. That's why we came to look for you."

"We've asked the administration of your school to send a thank you note to the people who took care of you. They did a wonderful job in raising you, son," Lila caressed her son's cheek with her soft, pale hand, "I'm glad that you're coming home with us. This is a dream come true."

Thunder smiled, "I'm sorry that I've caused you pain, mother, but I didn't know where you were. If I would've known, things may have been different…"

King Thaitus frowned. This wasn't the time for mother/son bonding time. It was a discussion flight back home, "Who were those people you were hanging out with son?"

Thunder turned his attention to his father, "Those were my friends: Flash Michaels, Scorpio Lapine, Ice and Snow Thornten, Chilie Davids, T-Boz Rabbiel, and Shades Thopho. Flash has a pet wolf named…"

"I don't care who their names are or what they have. As the crowned prince, you are to never see them again," Thaitus said, “You will not be allowed to associate with those…commoners again. They are a danger to your health and I will not allow it."

At that moment, Thunder thought he was going to die. He wasn't going to be able to see his friends ever again. Flash or the others were to never be a part of his life. Before the plane could take off, he stood up from his seat and made a run for the exit; however, the guards grabbed him from behind. He was struggling to get loose. The Warrior of Storm saw someone walking towards him with a needle. His struggling became fiercer. He felt the utensil prick him in the arm and the cool liquid filled his veins. Flash! Guys! HELP! He tried to send out a message for help, but it was no use. His last thoughts were on his friends and the blonde he left back in Japan…

Flash frowned as she looked toward the other Warriors. She could have sworn she heard Thunder just a little bit ago. She was pretty sure it wasn’t her imagination. “Did you guys feel that?”

All of them were frowning deeply. They weren’t sure what to make of it.. They really didn’t hear anything, but they could feel their comrade in arms was calling out to them. How, they weren’t sure.

“Flash, we’ve got to do something,” T-boz said.

“I know,” Flash nodded in agreement..

“But how?” Ice asked. “Those are his real parents.. If we go over there…”

Flash’s look could have stopped Niagara Falls. “We’re his friends, Ice. And we’re Warriors, a team. We don’t just let our friends go.. Yes, they’re his family, but his family has no right to choose his friends for him. We’ll go to Germany if we have to.”

All of them looked at her, even Scorpio who had paused in his crying to look at her. They could see she was deadly serious, and once Flash made a decision, there was no turning back.

Ryo stared at his sister, the question weighing on his mind heavily. Ok, so they all knew they weren’t taking the plane to San Francisco, but exactly when would they be able to go? He was feeling agitated for some reason and he couldn’t explain it.

“So when do we leave?” he demanded.
Everyone looked at him, rather surprised, and yet not surprised. It had been awhile since Ryo had spoken forcibly.

Rekino crossed her arms. “Just as soon we’re all ready I guess.”

“We’re all ready!” Rowen, Sage, Ryo, and Hana shouted in unison.

Rekino sweatdropped. She should have expected that. “Ok. Then let’s get this started with.”

They all nodded. Rekino called Kayura. In a few minutes Kayura appeared between them. They all stood at attention around her, greeting her. She eyed the five who were going. “Are you ready?”

“Yes,” Hana said.

“Yes,” Ryo, Sage, and Rowen nodded.

“Yes,” Rekino said.

“Be safe, you guys!” Josephine said.

“Do your best to protect Thunder and each other!” Cye said.

“Bring me back some good American food!” Kento said.

Everyone sweatdropped at him. “Kento!”

Kento gave a sheepish smile.

“Come back soon,” Amaya said.

“We will,” Rekino promised. She looked toward Mia. “And don’t go into labor while I’m gone!”

Mia chuckled. “This baby won’t be ready for a few months yet, Rekino.”

Rekino smiled and nodded, and looked at Kayura. “We’re ready now.”

Kayura nodded, and raised her staff. The five grasped their traveling bags in their hands. The staff glowed and surrounded them, and in the twinkling of an eye, the five vanished from the room.

Lila frowned with pity as she looked over at her son’s limp form in his seat. They were now high in the air over the Pacific Ocean, heading back to Germany. He had been out for the past fifteen minutes, breathing quietly, his blond hair covering most of his face. She reached a gentle hand and brushed his hair away from his face. He made no movement. The sedative that had been injected into him was pretty strong. He would sleep the entire flight home and even longer.

Thaitus glanced at his son out of the corner of his eyes. The last he saw his son was when he had been toddling through the long castle hallways, wearing diapers. Now here was nearly a full grown man.

He turned his head away and the flight back to Germany was quiet and uneventful.. Thunder didn’t awake as they landed in Berlin International Airport. Two guards carried Thunder off the plane, while four more escorted the king and queen to the waiting limo. The guards placed Thunder on one seat and sat on either side of him, propping him up so he wouldn’t get a stiff neck while he was out.. His parents sat on the opposite side. The limo was started up and soon drove off.. Thunder did not awake as they arrived at the castle.