"I've decided to come with you. You saved the Earth Ryu. My abilities will be needed in Dragon Zone" Rokkan said.
Michael agreed.
"Let's leave now. There is no time to waste. The longer Ryu stays in the spirit realm, the more difficult it will be to bring him back" Hurricane advised.
So the companions began their search for the Hidden Ryu of Destiny.
"What's the deal with the Dragon Of Destiny?" Michael asked as they rode on, atop the Dragon Saints.
Molten remained silent for a while.
"He was the Sacred Beast on which Gaiden rode" Molten said as if that answered the question.
Somehow, Michael didn't feel angry with Atlanta. She was cruelly manipulated by Nemesis. She had only done what she felt was best for her people. He would probably have done the same thing.
"Get some rest Nadia, you'll need it" Michael advised.
"What about you?" Nadia asked.
"I'll be okay" Michael said calmly.
"Ryu's coming back. Don't feel so blue" Nadia said as she placed her head on Michael's chest and fell asleep.
The companions journeyed over deserts, plains, forests, mountains, valleys, seas and towns. The journey seemed to have no end. Nadia woke up, when it was sunset.
"I'm sure you're hungry. Here, have an apple" Michael said as he handed an apple to Nadia.
She examined it closely.
"Don't worry. It's clean. I washed it carefully with my water jutsu" Michael smiled.
Nadia took a bite.
"Tastes great. What's going on? I expected us to be there before sunset" Nadia said.
"There's no turning back now. We are miles away from Crystal, Fire kingdom or Water Village" Michael said. "Hey Atlanta! Hungry? Have an apple!" Michael called over the wind as he threw an apple to Atlanta.
Atlanta caught it.
"Th-thanks Michael!" she called back with a smile.
Michael waved.
"We're here!" Crystal announced.
"REALLY?!" Michael called in excitement.
Nadia looked around. "I don't see anything!" she said.
"TO FIND DESTINY, YOU MUST FIRST FIND DEATH!" Crystal, Hurricane, Molten and Terranica recited as they folded their wings.
"Uh-oh!" Michael said.
"What's going on?" Nadia asked.
"Hang tight everyone!" Rokkan called.
"When dragons fold their wings, it always means that they are about to DIIIIIIIVE!!!" Michael screamed.
The ground drew closer but the dragons didn't reduce their speed. In fact, they increased it!
"OH NO! WE'RE GOING TO CRASH!!!" Michael screamed as he shut his eyes tightly, expecting death at any moment but instead, they passed right through the ground and appeared in a cloudy looking place in the skies.
Michael opened his eyes.
"The Ryu of Destiny!" Crystal called as she landed beside the Temple Of Destiny which stood on top of a gigantic monolith reaching all the way to the skies.
"Let's go in" Molten suggested.
The Gates of the Temple opened in response to Molten's suggestion.
The companions walked in. Inside, the illusionary ninja trained physically, mentally and spiritually. A monk came to meet them.
"State your purpose!" the monk demanded in a harsh, yet silent tone.
"A Son Of Gaiden has been lost. His destiny is greater than his present fate. He may be the key to restoring peace and balance to this troubled world" Crystal spoke.
"As always, you never mix words Crystal. Put the boy down" the monk instructed. Rokkan put Ryu's body on the ground. The monk placed his hand over Ryu's forehead as Ryu's past and future were revealed to him.
"Indeed, his destiny is too great to be lost. Go to the Dragon of Destiny's Sacred Hall" the monk instructed as he chanted a string of curious words.
A hidden gate in the Temple opened.
"Go quickly!" the monk instructed.
The companions entered the Dragon Of Destiny's Sacred Hall.
At the foremost end of the Temple sat a gigantic statue of the Dragon Of Destiny.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT?!" the statue roared.
Its voice was very deep and sinister. A terrifying wind blew around the hall as the statue slowly turned into a real sinister looking mean green dragon.
"Who is he? Legend speaks little of him" Michael asked.
"He is the most powerful of us all. We created the world but he created dreams, hope and DESTINY!" Crystal informed them.
"He is so powerful that the Ancients referred to him as the Dragon Lord!" Terranica said.
"The…Dragon Lord?" Michael wondered in fear and amazement.
"I SERVE NEITHER LIGHT NOR DARK, GOOD NOR EVIL. I LET ANY WIN!" the Dragon Lord said.
"Then why did you need to battle Shekan? You could have declared him sealed and it would have happened" Michael asked.
"I thought so too but Shekan doesn't bend to Destiny, neither is he controlled by fate and…his power exceeds mine!" the Dragon Lord said with a strong echoing voice.
"Exceeds yours? That's impossible!" Michael exclaimed.
The other dragons expressed their shock.
"I disbanded myself from you for your weakness! I warned you that you would have to pay the penalty if you ever returned to me! You alone…I would have pardoned but…to add insult to injury, you bring before me humans! Ordinary humans, I would pardon but…descendants of Gaiden, that foolish pacifist!!! Prepare to pay the price!" the Dragon Lord roared in a rage.
An earthquake shook the Temple.
"Crystal! What happened between Gaiden and the Dragon Of Destiny?! Why is he so angry?!" Michael asked.
"Long ago, after Gaiden sealed Shekan, the Dragon Lord felt that Dragons and the Dragon clan should rule over ordinary humans. Gaiden was against this idea since it was the very thing he fought against. He believed that humans and Dragons could co-exist. We agreed with Gaiden and fought the Dragon Of Destiny. It was during this fight that Gaiden was turned to stone. Gaiden, after defeating the Dragon Lord decided that, his duty was done, yet he knew that more evil would return so he sealed himself in stone and waited to pass on his power…or so the legends say. Gaiden's intentions remain unclear…even to us" Crystal narrated.
"To prevent a grudge between humans and dragons, we altered the story. Gaiden was destroyed but his dream lived on and thus…the Dragon clans were preserved!" Crystal continued.
"Enraged, the Dragon Lord disbanded himself from us and ceased to protect Earth. He knows no love, no good, nor evil. All he feels now is rage" Terranica continued from where Crystal left off.
"What do you want?! Why do you disturb my slumber?!" the Dragon Lord roared.
"This warrior lost his life protecting that which you abandoned" Crystal said.
"Restore his life" Molten requested.
"Millions die every day, why should this boy be an exception. I will do nothing!" the Dragon Lord roared.
Molten laughed.
"You may be powerful but…I'm more powerful than you!" Molten roared.
The other dragons stared at Molten in shock.
"Are you crazy? Don't challenge him!" Crystal advised.
"What?! Just because I left you to go freely, you dare challenge me?!" the Dragon Lord roared angrily.
"If you won't bring Ryu back willingly, then I will force you to!" Molten roared.
"If she won't teach you willingly, then I'm going to force her to and she's going to admit that you're a good person!" Atlanta recalled Ryu's promise.
"I see, everyone challenges a power greater than themselves to protect another. Molten, you're just like Ryu" Atlanta thought to herself.
"You will end here! Fate Element! Sudden Death!" the Dragon Lord roared.
"Come on!" Molten challenged.
Dark flames of death escaped the Dragon Lord's mouth and engulfed Molten.
"MOLTEN!" the other Dragons called.
"Don't worry brothers. Today, the will of fire burning in Ryu, in me will reveal…its strength!" Molten struggled to say. "Ryu…Spirit of courage…and hope…GIVE ME STRENGTH!" Molten roared as an outbreak of energy from his body rocked the Temple.
Ryu's spirit became one with Molten's.
"Let's do this together Molten!" Ryu's voice sounded throughout the Temple.
"Good cannot lose to nothing! Today you must choose…Good or Evil!" Molten and Ryu roared together.
"Ryu?" Michael and the others stared at the manifestation of Ryu's power in shock.
The Dragon Lord increased the power of his death jutsu to its fullest potential.
"I guess the only way…is to force you to see reason! Ryu in Molten Secret Art! Jinn State Level two! CHAOS STATE!!!" Ryu and Molten roared with one voice.
"Dark-fire Element! Hell fire Jutsu! Today, the Ultimate Jinn Spirit, Ryuten is born!" Ryuten(Ryu and Molten fused) called as he released his jutsu.
"Stop! I have tested your strength. You have the power to stop Shekan. Very well" the Dragon Lord said.
The Hell fire jutsu was dispelled and Ryu's spirit left Molten. Molten breathed heavily.
"I see. You should have been Dragon Master" Crystal admitted secretly.
"But to bring Ryu's spirit back, one of you must give up what you treasure most" the Dragon Lord said.
"Are you ready to make that sacrifice?" the Dragon Lord asked.
"WE ARE!" they all replied.