Tanya threw Rokkan's pendant to the ground in anger. Rokkan walked away. Suddenly, the Wind ryu disappeared and he found himself in a forest.
"Huh? What's this? Is it Genjutsu?" Rokkan wondered.
"Where's your Dragon Zone now, Rokkan? What can protect you from me?" a sinister voice spoke from the trees, its bearer hidden in shadow.
Suddenly, a kunai flew out from amongst the trees and headed for Rokkan. Rokkan dived out of its path. He looked down to check whether he had some weapons and found himself without a single weapon. Another kunai headed for him. He formed an earth seal but could feel no power within himself.
"Huh? What's going on? I can't feel my power!" he exclaimed in surprise.
Suddenly, shadows bound him tightly to the ground. He couldn't move and another kunai was making its way towards him. A shadow of the pendant appeared around his neck and a shadow of the kunai was deflected. The shadow of the pendant disappeared and the real kunai pierced Rokkan. There was a splash of blood and…
Tanya jolted from her bed. She was sweating profusely. It was morning.
"Rokkan" she sighed and wiped sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.
"Rokkan is in danger! I've got to stop them from leaving today!" Tanya thought as she hurriedly freshened up and put on her ceremonial costume.
Then she ran out of her house.
"Tanya, where are you going?" a voice called.
Tanya shut her eyes.
"F-Father, I'm sorry but I've got to leave. I must stop Rokkan from leaving today" Tanya said.
"Hmm Tanya, you really like that boy don't you?" her father asked with an omniscient look in his eyes.
Tanya opened her eyes in surprise and blushed in embarrassment.
"What makes you say that?" Tanya asked.
"You're my daughter. What kind of father would I be if I don't even know my daughter?" her father said.
"You're right father" Tanya sighed.
"However Tanya, you shouldn't try to convince Rokkan to stay. The more he delays his journey, the more an evil much worse than Nemesis awakens" Tanya's father said. "You see the pain Nemesis has caused? But he only attacks in order to find the Dragon Rings and the Saints however…Shekan, Lord Shekan attacks, kills, and destroys lives for pleasure. Even if Rokkan were to stay for your sake, both of you will never be happy together as long as Shekan is revived" Tanya's father said.
"I see. In that case…" Tanya said as she bowed before her father. "…I would like to leave with Rokkan and the others, to fight with them and stop Nemesis, and in the worst case scenario, reseal Shekan with them!" Tanya declared.
"You are not an elemental ninja Tanya. You are very vulnerable out there!" her father cautioned her.
"On the contrary, I am the least vulnerable out there. The elemental abilities of the other ninja as well as the Saints suppress their humanity. Their trust in their powers has suppressed their survival instincts. Mine are sharper because I depend on them every day. I may not be a Saint father, but I can help them" Tanya said.
"So the cub finally becomes a lioness. I have waited for this day all my life" Tanya's father said with a smile.
"What?" Tanya stared at him in surprise.
"The day you would gain confidence, accept yourself and follow your own path. Go my daughter, save Rokkan and help the others" her father bid her farewell.
Tanya bowed in respect and then paused.
"W-Wait a minute, I didn't mention that Rokkan was in danger and…how do you know so much?" Tanya asked.
Her father made a swooping motion with his hand and a rainbow coloured flute appeared in a sparkle of light.
"A dragon sage knows everything. One day, you'll understand. You are my daughter after all. Take this flute with you. It has the power to soothe the fiercest beast. Each special tune you learn while on your journey will have a special effect" he said.
"How do I play it? I don't know any tune and I don't know how to play a flute" Tanya said.
"You will learn the tunes on your own for they cannot be taught. In this world, the tunes you will learn will be the closest thing to the way gods communicate. Oh, and one more thing my daughter" Tanya's father said.
"Yes father?" Tanya looked on expectantly.
"Don't forget your staff" he said with a smile.
Tanya ran inside to get her staff. It was just a rod then. She twisted it quickly and it reduced in size till it was just the size of a baton. Then she strapped it to her waist. She hugged her father after that.
"You can do this, I believe in you" he whispered to her. "Go now" he said.
He watched Tanya as she left. As she faded into the distance, he muttered to himself.
"She reminds me so much of you old friend. Don't you think so…Gaiden?" he muttered and walked into the house.
Tanya ran to the park and searched for Rokkan's pendant. She found it where she had thrown it. She picked it up and ran to the Temple. She met Ken outside.
"Thank goodness! Is Rokkan still around? I thought you guys had left already" Tanya said.
"Tanya, you're a little too late. They left at dawn" Ken said.
"Ken! I've got to get to them quickly! They are in danger. But how do I leave the village?" Tanya asked.
There was a flash of lightning.
"Take Tornado" Ken offered.
"You're letting me ride your dragon?" Tanya asked.
"Maybe, but don't give me time to change my mind" Ken said with a smirk.
"Thank you so much Ken" Tanya said as she leapt unto Tornado's back.
"And one more thing Tanya" Ken said.
"What?" Tanya asked curiously.
"Don't puke" Ken said.
"Tornado, take me to Rokkan!" Tanya ordered.
"Hang tight, Dragon Sage Tanya" Tornado said a little slyly as he spread his wings and kicked off.
Ken shielded his eyes from the wind and dust caused by the beating of Tornado's wings.
"This is amazing!" Tanya exclaimed once they were airborne.
In the blink of an eye, Tornado disappeared from Ken's sight.
"Whoa! That girl sure can ride" Ken said in admiration.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Meanwhile, the others were flying over a dense forest. The journey was quite silent, awkwardly silent. Rokkan looked glum, Atlanta looked heartbroken. Nadia and Michael seemed to be reflecting deeply on their actions. A strange air of silence governed the journey. Michael tried to cheer Atlanta up.
"Atlanta, I know Ryu can be melodramatic at times and I accept we never gave him the chance he deserved but I don't think he meant what he said" Michael said with a forced smile.
"Thanks for trying to cheer me up but when someone's almost dying words to you are 'I hope I never see you again…I hate you', it's a little hard to cope, don't you think?" Atlanta sighed sorrowfully.
"Yeah, it's kinda like someone telling you in the face 'I don't need you…don't ever come back'. I think I understand what you feel much more than I'd like to and I don't want to tell you 'I told you so' but hey, I told you so" Rokkan said with a laugh.
"Rokkan, don't pretend to be cheerful just to make us happy. You're also hurting" Atlanta said.
"Wh-What? Tanya actually said those things?!" Nadia exclaimed in shock.
"Yeah, she thinks I'm ditching her because she's non elemental" Rokkan said.
"That's stupid. I'd say you're not really an elemental kind of guy" Nadia joked.
"Wow, I feel better already" Rokkan said with a bored look on his face.
"This is one of the team's worst moments" Michael said and they all sighed.
More awkward silence followed. Slowly, shadows began to appear. The sky was becoming darker and heavier with rain clouds, almost as though it sympathized with the comrades' sorrow. The sound of thunder rumbled in the distance as droplets of rain began to fall.
"We should find refuge in the forest. Sounds like a storm is brewing" Michael said.
The companions searched below for a clearing.
"Hmm…this forest is so dense. It's really difficult to find a clearing" Michael complained moments later.
"Found one" Rokkan said as he pointed to a point where the trees seemed to give way.
"Good going Rokkan. Now, to get away from the rain" Michael said as he descended with Hurricane. The others followed.
Rokkan created an earth tent for shelter. It was large enough to accommodate all of them comfortably. The dragons disappeared.
The companions sat in the tent, around one another.
"It's cold and dark…without Ryu, in all meaning. I mean he used to go poof and a fire would be created. It's funny…" Rokkan said in an attempt to be cheerful.
"This reminds me of the first time I learnt that I was…my elemental affinity was crystal…" Atlanta said with a nostalgic smile. "…except this time…" she sighed and left the sentence hanging.
"Something moved!" Rokkan suddenly exclaimed.
"We're in a forest genius, any animal could have moved!" Nadia said a little angrily.
"You know what I mean…human steps, swiftness, agility, unusually light-footed and uh…leaves a bit of dark power in the ground, sound familiar?" Rokkan said.
"Sheesh! These guys keep finding us! What are they, leeches?!" Michael growled angrily.
"I was thinking…" Rokkan was saying when Atlanta cut him off.
"Dark ninja!" she roared.
"I was about to say best friends…best friends I'm gonna beat like there is no tomorrow!" Rokkan roared as he broke out of the cave.
Lightning flashed across the sky.
"WHERE ARE YOU?! I KNOW YOU'RE AROUND!" Rokkan yelled.
The rain pelted Rokkan till he was dripping wet but he didn't care. He was so angry with the Dark ninja for no particular reason.
"Rokkan…DEN" a shadow-like voice hissed as it called to Rokkan. "THIS WAY" the voice hissed.
Rokkan tore through the woods towards the direction of the voice.
"ROKKAN WAIT!" Michael ordered as he led the others towards Rokkan.
"That's the voice of…" Rokkan panted as he raced through the dense jungle. "It's him!" Rokkan frowned.
"ROKKAN! SLOW DOWN! THIS MIGHT BE A…" Michael called as Rokkan leapt through a thicket.
Michael and the others crossed the thicket and found Rokkan hanging upside down from a rope tied to his right leg.
"Trap" Michael completed his sentence as he stared in shock at Nemesis who was standing beside a tall oak tree, smiling triumphantly.
"NEMESIS!" Atlanta scowled.
"Atlanta, haven't seen you since you turned against me. Do you really think you can stop me? I should destroy you but instead, I'll give you one more chance to join me. Ryu is no longer alive. He is not in the way. It's either them or me. I need to be clear on one thing so choose quickly!" Nemesis ordered.
"You're so persistent. Why do you need me so badly Nemesis? It's almost as if there's something more" Atlanta said tauntingly.
"Hmm, Atlanta, Atlanta, my dear little Atlanta, don't misunderstand me. I want to know once and for all whether I can view you as an ally or foe!" Nemesis said with a very sinister glare.
"Let's just say, I'm your Nemesis!" Atlanta yelled as she hurled shuriken at him.
The shuriken passed right through Nemesis as though he were made of smoke.
"You always were rusty when it came to playing Nemesis. Isn't that so…Shroud?" Atlanta smiled in satisfaction.
"You knew from the beginning?" the figure of Nemesis said as it transformed into Commander Shroud of Nemesis' army.
"Nemesis isn't so indecisive and he never forgives a betrayal. Besides, you always had a bad habit of making yourself feel invulnerable. The kunai passing through you is proof of that" Atlanta said with a sly grin.
Rokkan freed himself.
"You're a waste of my time! GET LOST! EARTH ELEMENT! CRUSHING GATE JUTSU!" Rokkan roared.
"NO! ROKKAN STOP!" Atlanta ordered but it was already too late.
Two rectangular blocks of earth arose from the ground and crushed Shroud. At least, it seemed that way.
"I have to do something fast or he'll…CRYSTAL ELEMENT! CRYSTAL PRISON JUTSU!" Atlanta called as a glassy cave of crystal enclosed the dust, the blocks and Shroud.
"Whew!" Atlanta sighed as she wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. "That was close! Did you just turn completely insane?! You are supposed to evaluate your enemy's strengths before attacking! If the dust had risen any more, we'd be dead!" Atlanta yelled at Rokkan.
"Dust…in this rain?! I think you're overthinking things. Let's just get out of here" Rokkan said.
"What's bugging him" Nadia asked rhetorically.
In the sky, the clouds were beginning to part. A huge cloud moved away to reveal…THREE MOONS OF TRISTRAN!!!
Atlanta's crystal prison technique began to crack.
"What?!" Atlanta exclaimed in shock and fear.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Somewhere a little further from the forest, an evil Ryuugan had activated.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Tanya raced through the sky on Tornado. Rokkan's pendant was glowing brightly.
"What's the meaning of this? Rokkan's pendant is glowing so brightly" Tanya murmured.
"Tanya, listen carefully. That pendant is not ordinary. It obviously sent you the dream concerning Rokkan!" Tornado said.
"How do you know about my dream?" Tanya asked.
Tornado remained silent.
"Of course, you also played a part in the creation of this world. What is this pendant?" Tanya asked.
"Tornado stared ahead.
"It's half of a Dragon Zone" Tornado replied.
Lightning illuminated the sky as a strange darkness covered the earth.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
The shadow with the evil Ryuugan leapt from the skies and descended from the clouds. It's dark cloak, twirling in the wind. Black mist surrounded the shadow.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Tornado opened his eyes in realization as a memory struck him. He recalled a fateful day in the past, eight dragons struggling to reseal the darkness that had plagued the world. The Dragon Zone was generating intense power but the evil wasn't losing in strength. Gaiden and the evil were locked in a tight sword battle.
"G-Gaiden! He's too strong! Even we, the Dragon Saints cannot hold him for much longer!" Crystal gasped as though she was being choked.
"Just a little longer! Hold the Dragon Zone for just a little longer!" Gaiden pleaded.
"We'll try!" Hurricane grunted in pain.
"UNNHH!!" Crystal struggled.
"Sister!" Tornado called as he charged towards the two combatants locked in a fatal sword clash, of which the least mistake could cost either one their lives.
The evil figure turned its head to look at Tornado, with its piercing Ryuugan. Tornado fell to the ground, faint with fear.
"TORNADO!" Gaiden called out, then he growled and turned to face the shadow.
"Shekan! There is more to you, much more! I can't defeat you yet but…we'll clash again, centuries from now, in a different way…UNNH!" Gaiden struggled. "I promise you…I will defeat you then…BEFORE THE MOONS OF TRISTRAN RE-ALIGN AND YOU GAIN FULL POWER!" Gaiden declared as he grunted in pain.
The Sword Of Rai and the Death-Sabre were locked in a tight struggle.
"Foolish talk Gaiden" a whisper of a voice spoke.
"I can't defeat you but…I'll postpone this decisive duel on this Dragon Zone" Gaiden said with a smile.
Shekan's eyes widened in shock.
"Damn you Gaiden! You couldn't have!" Shekan roared.
"Brothers! Sisters! Lend me your strength. I've overused you Dragon Zone but please…just once more…" Gaiden said as he shut his eyes. "Just…this last time…" Gaiden said as the earth began to tremble. A golden light began to emanate from his body. "GIVE ME MORE POWER!!!" Gaiden roared as a sudden burst of power from the Dragon Zone engulfed him. His Ryuugan turned golden.
Gaiden growled as the Sword Of Rai flashed. The Death-Sabre shattered.
"WHAT?! WHERE IS THIS POWER COMING FROM?!" Shekan screamed in shock.
"DRAGON SEAL!!!" Gaiden yelled as a bright light engulfed the two combatants.
When the light disappeared, the two combatants had disappeared. All that was left of Gaiden was a golden pendant. The Dragon Zone too had disappeared.
Tornado recalled Shekan's gaze, a gaze so full of power that it petrified him.
"This evil feeling, it is too familiar for my liking. I didn't think he'd make a move so soon. He was supposed to have been sealed away. Nothing can break the Dragon Seal…not unless…?!" Tornado realized. "No! No! That can't be possible!" he denied the very thought.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
More cracks appeared in Atlanta's technique.
"Impossible! How is my crystal prison jutsu cracked…so easily?! CRYSTAL ELEMENT! CRYSTAL DOME JUTSU!" Atlanta roared.
"TOO LATE!" Shroud's voice sounded from inside the Crystal Prison.
At that moment, both of Atlanta's techniques shattered. Shards of the crystal flew about, scratching Atlanta and the others. They shielded their faces.
"You always thought you knew everything. Nemesis' most precious asset! Look how far you've fallen Atlanta!" Shroud's voice sounded from a thick smoke of dust.
"Wh-What's going on?! Why can't my techniques hold you?!" Atlanta shivered in fear.
"You have forgotten what drove you to conquer all Nemesis' foes. Vengeance, Atlanta, VENGEANCE! The forbidden feeling gives so much power! How did your new friends take it away from you?! I would like to finish you off. All of you but…that would be a waste of my talents. Shadow will do an excellent job" Shroud laughed as he slowly disappeared.
"Your hopeless quest ends here" a voice said as a dark whirlpool of clouds formed on the ground.
"This is bad! We need to fly out of here now!" Atlanta ordered as she raised her ring.
Nothing happened.
"Wh-What's happening?!" Atlanta exclaimed in shock.
"The mist of Shroud that clouds the face
Of the Dragon Saints and their Holy Place"
Shadow's voice repeated the prophecy. Lightning struck as Michael recalled the horcrux of Shekan.
"Who are you?!" Michael asked.
The cloud of darkness materialized.
"YOU!" Michael exclaimed in shock.
"I'm pleased to know that you still remember me" Shadow said.
"B-But…you began our quest! You told us…" Michael recalled.
"Shekan will reawaken and so the powers of Light have chosen you to battle his forces. Seek the Dragon Saints of each ryu, the Sword Of Rai and seal Shekan before he fully regains his powers" Michael recalled the words of the horcrux aka Shadow.
Now he wasn't just a statue anymore.
"You threw a beam of light over us. You activated our latent powers!" Michael exclaimed in shock.
"Who is he?" Nadia asked.
"I'm sorry Michael. When Nemesis invaded your village, he transmuted the horcrux after taking the gem" Atlanta said apologetically.
"Nice guess but you're sadly mistaken. I was created in the image of Shekan, by Shekan himself. I was always evil. I said those words to gain his trust…and his body….just like I did your ancestors" Shadow said.
"His? You mean Ryu!" Michael realized as a flash of lightning illuminated the forest.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
The shadow with the evil Ryuugan had almost reached the forest. Tanya too was nearing the location of Michael and the others. The pendant was glowing much brighter than before.
"Take this pendant to its owner quickly or it all ends today. Tornado, receive my gift" a voice spoke from the pendant as a bright golden light engulfed Tanya and Tornado.
"DRAGON JINN STATE!!!" Tornado roared as his eyes turned golden.
Tornado became much faster than before. Tanya held on tightly.
"What did you do to Ryu?!" Michael demanded an answer.
"Ryu had a lot of guilt and pain within his heart. I sensed it and entered part of the evil spirit into him. It fed on his pain, guilt and loneliness and grew stronger. All his outbursts, insecurities, all his guilt and pain, I amplified them and…" Shadow's ecstatic smile turned into a frown.
"I was supposed to take total control of his body when he died but…because his death was an act of love, I couldn't transmute my whole being into him…but I corrected that thanks to you three, Michael, Nadia…and especially you Atlanta. You have my utmost gratitude. If Ryu had any lingering feelings of love, you utterly crushed all that. His second death was an act of self-pity. I must say, that feeling was delicious" Shadow said as he licked his lips.
"What are you trying to say?" Michael asked.
Rokkan scowled.
"I'm saying dear Michael that…I'm no longer a stupid statue. There are now two ways for me to revive. I can either be unsealed by my boy Nemesis, or await the appearance of the other three moons of Tristran. Either way, you're out of time!" Shadow said with a malicious grin.
The others stared at him in horror.
"And one more thing, the next time you meet Ryu…" Shadow began to say.
The Shadow with the evil Ryuugan appeared on the branch of a nearby tree as a flash of lightning illuminated the forest.
"…will be your last!" Shadow growled maliciously. "But now…" Shadow said.
"Why are you always like this?! YOU ALWAYS TRY TO KILL ALL HOPE!" Rokkan yelled angrily.
"Always? Hope?" Shadow muttered as he stared at Rokkan in surprise.
"I see, Gaiden. So this is the boy you've chosen. Interesting, fate really is a funny thing however…I have no intention of ever being sealed again! DARK ELEMENT! SHADOW HOLD!" Shadow called.
The ground began to grow dark. Shadows rendered Rokkan and the others immobile.
"Wh-What's this?! I cannot move…and I can't feel any power within me!" Rokkan struggled.
"Try all you can. I want to see you fail this time…Gaiden!" Shadow roared.
Lightning flashed. The light from the lightning temporarily disabled Rokkan's immobility and he leapt unto a tree.
"Lightning element? I should have remembered. That was your ultimate elemental affinity. Even gone, you still interfere! How long do you think you can protect this boy from me?!" Shadow roared.
A bolt of lightning hit the ground and a bright image of Gaiden appeared.
"Just long enough…Shekan" the image said and faded away.
Rokkan stayed on the tree and analysed Shadow for any signs of an opening. He put his hand in his pouch.
"No tools?! I must have been so depressed that I forgot to pack my tools!" Rokkan exclaimed in horror.
"I won't waste my time playing games with you Gaiden. I have another way to bring you out. I'll hurt your friends. I'll make them suffer, just like I made your precious Dragon Saints suffer. DARK ELEMENT!"
"STOP!" Rokkan yelled as he leapt to the ground. "Let them go Shadow!" Rokkan pleaded. "I surrender. Just don't hurt them".
"Whatever you're thinking…I hope you have a plan, Rokkan" Michael thought.
"Still unwilling to make a sacrifice? You're so predictable Gaiden. You are weak, just like he was back then. I've strengthened him now and he knows what he must do. He has done it until now and until I'm unsealed, he will continue to. But for now…I'll make a dream come true…DIE ROKKAN!" Shadow roared as he hurled a kunai at the immobilized Rokkan. "You cannot change your destiny!" Shadow smiled as the kunai headed towards Rokkan.
"THEN I WILL CHANGE IT FOR HIM!!!" Tanya yelled from above. "ROKKAN! GO LONG!!!" she roared as she hurled the pendant towards Rokkan.
"Tanya?" Rokkan murmured in surprise.
He could see the glowing pendant. In the darkness, it gave Tanya a divine appearance. Rokkan smiled as he felt strength flow from his heart. He struggled to move.
"I've lived in shadow for too long! I've suppressed my feelings for too long. I refuse…TO DIE HERE!!!" Rokkan roared as he broke free of the shadow hold technique and leapt for the pendant.
The Shadow with the evil Ryuugan leapt towards the pendant. Rokkan was stretching for the pendant and then…!!!