Ever since Ryu and Rokkan left for the Light Ryu, Michael and the others worked hard to form a resistance. It consisted of ninjas they had met on their journey as well as old friends and masters. Ryu no kokoro was their hideout and main base of operations. Michael, Nadia, Atlanta, Ken and Tanya however made sure not to stay in one place for too long. They constantly switched locations between the Fire Kingdom, Hurricane's Domain and Ryu no kokoro as they waited hopefully for the return of Ryu and Rokkan.
Nemesis monitored their movements closely and finally decided to end their quest once and for all. He sent his newly appointed General, Shroud and an army of fifty elite Shadow ninja to destroy them all. General Shroud immediately departed with his army.
Meanwhile, Michael and the others ignorantly remained at Hurricane's Domain.
"It's been a year since Ryu and Rokkan left for the Light Ryu. What is taking them so long?" Atlanta said to Tanya and Nadia.
The three girls had grown more beautiful in the past year. There was a greater look of confidence in Tanya's eyes. Atlanta had grown a little softer though she could still be very harsh with her words and Nadia…well if anything at all, she had grown much fiercer in battle. Apart from their physical looks, they had also grown stronger with their individual elements. Nadia had mastered ice jutsu after her constant training with Torpedo. The elements of the others had also evolved to some extent.
"All they had to do was find the Sword Of Rai. Is it really that difficult to find?" Tanya said worriedly.
"Or could they possibly be…" Atlanta thought with a frightened look on her face.
She couldn't even possibly bring herself to think that Ryu and Rokkan had lost their lives.
"H-Hey! Don't even think that! Ryu and Rokkan are strong. They won't go down so easily!" Nadia scolded her.
"Easy for you to say, you don't know how it feels to have lost Ryu three times already. You always have Michael beside you" Atlanta said sadly.
"Ever since Ryu left…Michael has worked so hard to create and maintain the resistance. He keeps travelling to all the ryu and now he has to keep moving between this place and Ryu no kokoro! Don't you dare stand there and accuse me of having Michael beside me all the time!" Nadia scolded Atlanta angrily.
Atlanta realized her mistake.
"I'm sorry Nadia" she apologized.
"There is no need to argue. I believe Ryu and Rokkan are on their way back already" Tanya said.
Michael and Ken were training at a river somewhere in the Forest of Hurricane's Domain.
"What could be taking Ryu and Rokkan so long?" Ken unknowingly repeated Atlanta's question.
"Perhaps they are training in the Light Ryu" Michael said.
He had grown more muscular and taller in appearance and his hair had turned from a light brown to a bright golden colour. Ken had also grown taller than the previous year and his red hair looked wild and unkempt.
"If that's the case, I wonder how much stronger they've become" Ken said with a sly smile.
"You don't have time to be distracted! WATERWHIRL ELEMENT! GRAND DOUBLE HEADED WATER DRAGON JUTSU!!!" Michael called as he formed seals.
A tremendous dragon formed from the water in the river rose and charged towards Ken. Ken looked unperturbed.
"GALE ELEMENT! SAHARA WINDS JUTSU!" Ken called as hot winds crashed into Michael's water dragon jutsu.
However, Michael's water dragon jutsu was more powerful and pushed right through Ken's winds. Ken realized that he could not conquer Michael's technique due to its strength and speed so he resorted to evading it instead but Michael continued to direct the technique towards him.
"ICE ELEMENT! ICE TORPEDO JUTSU!" Nadia suddenly called as a storm of ice froze Michael's water dragon.
"Nadia! You're ruining my moment!" Michael complained with a disappointed look on his face.
"Sorry Michael, I couldn't help it" Nadia giggled.
"What are you doing here?! I didn't need your help!" Ken yelled angrily.
"Hmmph! What a rude way to say thank you" Nadia scoffed.
"What do you need?" Michael asked.
Nadia stared at Michael and smiled.
"Actually, I'm here to find out if you need anything. You've been at this for hours" Nadia said.
"Thanks for the concern" Ken grumbled.
Nadia ignored him.
"We're actually kinda hungry" Michael said as he put on his jacket.
"Ken, let's call it a day" Michael suggested.
Ken wore his jacket and they all returned to the clearing where Atlanta and Tanya were waiting for them.
"We've prepared some food for you" Tanya said with a smile.
"And you'd better not leave any leftovers or else…I don't even need to tell you what will happen" Nadia warned.
"You'll punch our light out!" Michael and Ken chorused, and then, they laughed.
Nadia served them both.
"Won't you join?" Michael asked the girls.
"No, we've eaten already" Atlanta said.
"Okay" Michael said as he and Ken began to eat.
"It's really delicious!" Michael and Ken exclaimed in joy.
"REALLY?!" the girls asked expectantly.
"Really! It's even better than the food at the Dancing Dragon Restaurant!" Michael said excitedly.
After Michael and Ken were done eating, the girls cheered themselves happily.
"Just wait till Ryu and Rokkan get back!" Atlanta laughed.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
The companions talked for hours about their plans after they had completed their quest. It was almost sunset and the shadows of the trees had begun to expand. As they talked, they suddenly felt an evil presence around them.
"Something's wrong! Quick! Let's get out of here!" Michael ordered.
"TOO LATE!" a familiar evil voice said.
"Commander Shroud!" Atlanta growled angrily.
"Actually, it's General Shroud now" Shroud boasted as he walked out of the shadows the trees had created.
Michael and the others found themselves surrounded by fifty shadow ninja.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT?!" Michael roared angrily.
"Do you really need to ask?" Shroud said with a sinister grin.
"Actually, no" Ken said with a raised eyebrow.
"ATTACK! SHADOW NINJA!" Shroud ordered.
"Michael and the others performed seals. The Shadow ninja did the same.
"SHADOW ELEMENT! DARK DRAGON BLIZZARD!" the Shadow ninja called.
Shadowy figures of Dark Dragons appeared and blew a storm of dark mist towards the companions.
"WATERWHIRL ELEMENT! GRAND DOUBLE HEADED WATER DRAGON JUTSU!" Michael roared.
"WIND ELEMENT! SHADOW OF THE MIST!" Ken called as a thick mist surrounded the area.
"Good going Ken! Now they can't see us! Their attacks are completely useless!" Atlanta complimented Ken.
The companions could hear Michael's jutsu dealing the Shadow ninja some serious damage.
"Even if we can't see you, the Dark Dragon Blizzard Jutsu has another special property. It alters the terrain to the disadvantage of Lightside elements and absorbs the chakra of Lightside element users. You should feel your power seeping away!" Shroud laughed.
"SHOOT!" Michael exclaimed as his water dragon technique disintegrated.
"How do we dispel the technique?" Ken asked.
"Since it is a Shadow element jutsu, it can be dispelled by its exact opposite element, a Light element jutsu!" Atlanta said as she began to feel a strange weakness envelope her body.
"What of a fire jutsu? Can it dispel this jutsu?" Michael asked.
"If powerful enough, yes" Atlanta said.
"Then let's summon the Dragon Saints!" Michael suggested.
"I WILL NOT LET YOU! SHADOW ELEMENT! BLACK ENCASEMENT ORB JUTSU!" General Shroud roared and in an instant, Michael and the others found themselves trapped in a Black Orb.
"You cannot defeat me! That orb too will keep absorbing your chakra till you die! Die a slow and terrible death while cursing your own weakness! To think fools like you dared to challenge Lord Nemesis! Ridiculous!" Shroud roared angrily.
"OH NO!" Tanya exclaimed.
"The orb is solid! I could drown you all if I use a water jutsu!" Michael exclaimed worriedly.
"My crystal jutsu would also be disadvantageous in this situation. I don't want to hurt any of you!" Atlanta declared.
"My winds will make it a little difficult to breathe but just hold your breath for a while. WIND ELEMENT!" Ken called.
"No Ken! Your winds are sharp enough to tear us all apart!" Michael warned.
"I'll try playing Memoires Of Ryuujinn. I'm sure Ryuujinn will create a miracle for us!" Tanya declared as she began to play her flute.
The others could feel strength returning to their bodies and the Black Orb began to expand to give them more space.
"Ryu…" Atlanta shut her eyes and prayed.
"Rokkan…" Tanya thought as tears flowed down her face.
"WHERE ARE YOU?!" the companions all thought together.
Suddenly, there was a brilliant flash of light and a sound came from outside the orb as though someone had just landed on the ground.
"Sheesh! We leave you guys for a year and you're practically helpless" a familiar voice sounded from outside the orb.
"I know that voice…THAT'S RYU!" Atlanta exclaimed joyfully.
"You guys leave it to us!" Rokkan's voice sounded.
"And that's Rokkan!" Tanya exclaimed.
"So you two finally arrived huh?! I guess I'll let your friends have the luxury of seeing you die!" Shroud said with a menacing look as the Black Orb became transparent.
"Ryu and Rokkan folded their arms and stared at Shroud.
"You're quite the sadistic one aren't you?" Ryu said calmly.
"If you don't act fast, your friends will die!" Shroud said with a wicked sneer.
Ryu smirked.
"Rokkan, why don't you do the honours?" he asked.
"It will be a waste to use my abilities on this guy. Let's decide Ryu, should we use ninjutsu, kenjutsu or taijutsu?" Rokkan asked.
"Lemme see. We can't use kenjutsu(swordsmanship techniques) because I don't yet have a sword. Besides, a sword would be dangerous even if we used the blunt side. Ninjutsu will kill all the fun and end it in one strike so let's go with…taijutsu" Ryu said with a confident grin.
Rokkan smiled.
"I thought you'd say that" Rokkan said as both boys suddenly disappeared.
In a flash, they stood before the Shadow ninja. Rokkan and Ryu took down the first ten Shadow ninja with a quick succession of body blows. The next thirty were taken out with lightning fast whirlwind kicks. The Dark Dragon Blizzard immediately disappeared after more than half of the Shadow ninja were taken out.
"Amazing! Their taijutsu has improved immensely!" Tanya exclaimed in awe.
"Impossible! Those were my best soldiers!" Shroud exclaimed in shock.
The remaining ten Shadow ninja rallied around Shroud to protect him. In a flash, Rokkan stood before them and overwhelmed them all with a powerful blow. Shroud leapt back to evade Rokkan's blow. Rokkan quickly leapt over Shroud as Ryu who used Rokkan to hide from Shroud's range of vision suddenly appeared.
"I LEARNT FROM WATCHING! TAKE THIS! DRAGON CRUSHING DUAL STRIKE!" Ryu roared as he gave Shroud Master Hiroku's special taijutsu move by striking Shroud with the fist of one hand and the elbow of the other, then suddenly, Ryu released an explosive force from his fist and elbow that sent Shroud flying.
"Impossible! Such insane strength is…inhuman!" Shroud screamed as he flew and crashed into a tree.
As Shroud lost consciousness, the Black Orb shattered.
Atlanta wasted no time in running into Ryu's arms.
"Ryu! You're finally back! I'm so glad, I missed you so much!" she talked hysterically as tears streamed down her face.
"I missed you too Atlanta. I couldn't stop thinking about the day I'd see you again. My goodness, you've become so beautiful" Ryu said in a way that made Atlanta laugh.
"You've grown even more handsome than before" Atlanta laughed.
"I have haven't I?" Ryu boasted.
Atlanta drew back and tried hard to regain her composure. She was so excited.
"But you're still as immature as always" she said seriously.
"You wasted no time in dropping that bomb. And I was hoping to make a good impression too" Ryu said with a disappointed look on his face.
Rokkan and Tanya were also locked in a tight embrace.
"Rokkan, you're finally back. I thought…I thought it was all over and then I prayed to Ryuujinn to send me a miracle and he sent me…you" Tanya cried.
"I'm glad we made it in time Tanya. You've grown even more beautiful than I imagined" Rokkan said.
"TCH! And he wastes no time in stealing my line" Ryu scoffed.
Ken and Michael laughed.
"Good to see you again bro!" Michael said as he patted Ryu on the head.
"I'm not a kid anymore, Little Mikey! You don't need to keep patting me on the head!" Ryu said angrily.
"I'm not even going to waste my time arguing with you" Michael sighed.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Hours later, the Shadow ninja began to regain consciousness.
"Atlanta" one of them called with a feminine voice.
Atlanta opened her eyes in shock.
"I-I know that voice! It's you isn't it? Anna!" Atlanta said as she walked to the Shadow ninja and took off her mask.
It truly was Anna.
"Anna! Why did you attack us?! I thought you were my friend!" Atlanta exclaimed in dismay.
"I am your friend Atlanta but my loyalties lie with the Dark ryu…with Nemesis" Anna said sadly.
Atlanta looked at Ryu.
"Ryu you…" Atlanta left her sentence hanging.
"All life is sacred Atlanta, my Master taught me that. I can't kill without justification" Ryu said.
Atlanta smiled.
Anna turned away.
"Nemesis has gotten hold of Tristran's counter seal" Anna said suddenly.
"Tristran's counter seal?" Ryu and Atlanta repeated.
"What's that?" Ryu asked.
"It's a reverse seal that can break even Gaiden's Dragon Seal if used at the right time and under the right conditions" Rokkan said.
"How do you even know this?" Ryu asked.
"Master Hiroshi told me about it. I assumed Master Hiroku did the same with you?" Rokkan replied.
"To some extent, yes" Ryu said.
"What are the conditions and when is the right time?" Ryu asked.
"The sixth moon of Tristran will appear on the next new moon. The fifth moon appeared while you were away" Anna said.
"Ryu, that's three days away!" Atlanta exclaimed in horror.
"On that day, the six moons of Tristran will align and unite with the seventh soul of Tristran and the soul that is hidden in light and fire" Anna said.
"What's that supposed to mean?! We don't have time for more riddles! Shekan's unsealing may be three days away!" Ryu demanded a straight answer.
"There is an ancient legend that has been passed through generations of Dark ninja. It says that part of the darkness will be cloaked in Light and Fire. When all the souls of Tristran unite, the world will face the fires of indignation and judgement. If the world survives, it will forever be free from evil but if not…all life as we know it…will come to an end" Anna explained.
"Where will Nemesis unseal Shekan?" Ryu asked.
"All Nemesis said was 'where it all began, there also will the end of all things be'" Anna said.
At that moment, Shroud woke up.
"ANNA! YOU HAVE BETRAYED THE DARK RYU!" Shroud roared angrily.
"I'm trying to save Nemesis and the Dark ryu! Nemesis is so blinded by revenge that he fails to see what is best for the Dark ryu and the world! If he succeeds, there will be no Dark ryu!" Anna declared.
"Give it up already Shroud!" Ryu ordered.
Shroud sighed and relaxed his features.
"Fine, I will tell you. I owe you my life anyway and I always repay my debts" Shroud said. "Ryu, Nemesis' story began with Gaiden but I can't tell you more than that. The beginning he is speaking of however is the beginning to the end of his sufferings. Nemesis' beginning is you Ryu. He tried to kill you when you were only children but he failed and you grew to inherit your great elemental powers" Shroud explained.
"Hold it right there! I now remember the legend. Shekan was sealed in stone with the Dragon Seal and the Power Of The Crystal Clan. The gem Nemesis stole, Meena said he could use it to unseal Shekan. To do that, all Nemesis needs to do is place the counter seal on the gem and fix it…OH MY GOD!" Ryu exclaimed suddenly.
"What?" Michael and the others asked.
"IT'S CRYSTAL VILLAGE ISN'T IT?! NEMESIS PLANS TO UNSEAL SHEKAN IN CRYSTAL VILLAGE! Damn! It was so obvious! How could I not have seen this?!" Ryu scolded himself.
"I must warn you Ryu. The other ryu are just as vulnerable. On the next new moon, Nemesis will launch a full scale invasion of all the ryu!" Shroud warned.
"I must send messages to all the ryu and warn the resistance as well!" Michael said.
"Let's just send the Dragon Saints to warn everyone. It will be much faster" Rokkan suggested.
The others agreed.