The Dark Sorcerer

Disclaimer: I don’t own Ronin Warriors or any of its characters. Only Sapheem, Riona, and Riona’s pets are mine. Finally, I’ll be bringing Rowen back into the picture after a long reprieve. Riona will finally put her plans into action during the battle. Please read and review.

Sweat formed on Rowen's brow as he struggled against Sapheem's power. The battle for Earth had finally begun, and Rowen was determined to do all he could to help his friends win...even if it cost him his life. Rowen grunted and groaned as the constant surge of magically energy sent waves of pain and exhaustion throughout his body.

“Guys…no…can't…let…Sapheem…win!” he managed to grind out through gritted teeth.

There was an especially large surge of power, and Rowen's body jerked in reaction as sharp pain pierced him right to the core. He didn't know how much longer he could stand it, but he had to try. He prayed that his friends could stop the evil sorcerer and free him from the mage's spell.

Ryo dodged aside just as an arrow whizzed by his head. The battle was now in full force as the Ronin Warriors desperately tried to develop a plan of action. They kept their attacks at a minimum for fear of harming Rowen, but they fought back as best they could. Ryo reminded himself of Riona's promise—all they had to do was keep Sapheem occupied long enough for her to free Rowen. But that task was not as easy as would be expected. Unlike the Ronins, the wicked mage was not holding anything back. Rather, he was using the full extent of his powers and the powers of the Armor of Strata to give the warriors a hard time of it. Ryo didn't expect the mage to be so skilled with hand-to-hand combat.

Hang in there, Rowen. Ryo thought silently. We're gonna get you out…somehow.

“What's the matter, Ronin Warriors?” Sapheem taunted. “Afraid of unleashing you're full powers? I'm afraid if you don't fight any better than you are, this battle will soon be over.”

“In your dreams, you demon!” Kento countered as he locked weapons with the mage. He slammed him hard, sending him flying backwards into a tree. He winced inwardly at the knowledge that he was also hurting his friend. Sorry, Rowen, but I'm not letting this guy win.

“Don't count on winning this battle so easily, Sapheem,” Sage shouted. “You may be using Rowen's power, but that's not going to stop us from defeating you.”

Sapheem picked himself up and shook off Kento's blow. He turned to face the warriors once more and flashed his usual cocky grin. “We shall see…Arrow Shock Wave!”

Sapheem suddenly charged up the armor's ultimate attack. The warriors were so stunned at this new knowledge that they had no time to prepare themselves. Sapheem released the arrow, sending a powerful blast of energy straight into the group of warriors. The boys screamed in pain as they were thrown back from the impact of Sapheem's attack.

Sapheem's evil laughter rang through the air as the Ronin Warriors struggled to get back on their feet. “How does it feel to know that your friend's armor will be your destruction? You might as well surrender now. You will not destroy me so long as I am linked with Rowen. You are only putting your own lives in danger by not fighting to your full extend. If you surrender now, I may consider sparing your lives and making you my personal servants!”

“Full power or not, we will defeat you, Sapheem…and make you pay for hurting our friend!” Sage challenged.

Ryo grunted and stood to his feet as the others quickly gathered around him. “You may control the Armor of Strata, but it will take far more to defeat us than you cheap tricks. You will never conquer Earth so long as the Ronin Warriors stand against you.”

Sapheem growled angrily. This battle was not going exactly like he had expected. He had been confident that the warriors would surrender rather than risk the life of their fellow warrior. It mattered little to the mage. He was still confident that his powers were far greater than theirs. If they wished to die fighting rather than become slaves, then so be it.

Riona continued to watch the battle with interest. The Ronin Warriors were not doing very well against Sapheem. She knew that as long as they held back the full power of their armor, Sapheem would easily defeat them. It was now or never.

“Come on, you two…it's time to put our plans into action. We have to save Rowen and stop Sapheem…NOW!”

Nightshade yipped in response and Sharpeyes screeched eagerly. Riona ran from the mirror room and hurried to the dungeon. Her pets followed closely behind. She ran over the counter-spell in her head once more. She was ready…and Sapheem was going to pay for all the pain he had caused.

Sapheem continued to face down the Ronin Warriors. He smirked once more. “Very well. It matters little to me if you four would choose death rather than slavery. But I warn you, your deaths shall be far from painless. I WILL conquer this world and all who life here…including your little friends hiding in the house.”

“Leave Yulie and Mia out of this!” Ryo shouted. “Enough of this talking, Sapheem. Fight us now!”

Ryo angrily charged the mage, taking a large leap into the air and bringing his swords above his head. Sapheem fired an arrow at him, but Ryo easily blocked it. Sapheem brought the golden bow up just in time to block Ryo's swords.

“My, my, Wildfire. Aren't we testy today? You really should control your anger better.”

Sapheem began to glow again as he summoned his powers. Ryo's eyes widened in surprise as he felt himself lifted of the ground. The other Ronin Warriors watched in amazement as their leader was suddenly flung through the air and landed hard several feet away.

Ryo struggled to sit up despite the pain shooting through his body. He was determined to make Sapheem pay for what he had done. He remembered his promise, and decided that he really should control his anger better. If he let his temper get the better of him, then he may accidentally destroy Sapheem…and Rowen as well.

“Get it together, Ryo,” Sage said. “We have to work as a team if we ever want to end this.”

“How about I save you all the trouble and end this myself?” Sapheem interrupted. He put away the bow and began to channel a powerful spell. The Armor of Strata glowed brightly and the sky grew darker.

“I've got a bad feeling about this, guys,” Ryo told the others quietly as they gathered around him. “I don't know if we can keep this up much longer.”

Everyone's thoughts turned to Riona and Rowen. She was their only hope of stopping this fiend. But if she didn't interfere soon, it may very well be over.

Rowen continued in vain to fight against Sapheem's power. He could sense that his friends were in grave danger, but there was nothing he could do to stop it. Sapheem was channeling even greater power through his body—so much power that Rowen was quickly losing his strength. He was so busy with his fight that he didn't even see or hear Riona and the animals enter the dungeon.

Riona ran closer to Rowen and watched him with great worry. She knew that Sapheem's power was growing…and Rowen would not last much longer. She was pleased that Rowen hadn't noticed her yet. His eyes were closed tightly in concentration. She had to act quickly before Sapheem realized her plans.

Riona closed her eyes and began to chant the counter-spell that would free Rowen from Sapheem’s grasp. Her amulet began to glow with energy. Soon her entire body was surrounded by a bright gold light.

Rowen sensed her power nearby and opened his eyes. He was surprised to see Riona standing by him—apparently deep in spell-casting. Her hawk sat on the back of a huge black wolf that was standing beside her. He didn't remember seeing the wolf before.

What is she doing? Rowen thought to himself. Is she trying to help Sapheem…or maybe she's trying to help me?

Rowen soon learned the answer as Riona finished the spell. The gold aura around her body shifted and surrounded Rowen's body—fighting against the blue glow all ready around him. Rowen expected the pain to grow worse…but instead the pain seemed to weaken and disappear. He slowly felt his strength returning to his body…and his link with Sapheem seemed to be weakening. All at once, Rowen knew what Riona had done…the counter-spell…she had somehow learned and cast the counter-spell that Sapheem had mentioned before. Relief and gratitude filled his mind. He would soon be free…

Sapheem laughed evilly as the Ronins waited in tense anticipation of what the mage was planning for them. Suddenly Sapheem stopped in mid-casting and lurched forward. He clutched his head as an intense pain swept through his mind. He screamed in agony and fell to his knees in the dust before the startled warriors.

They continued to stare as the Armor of Strata began pulsing with energy. As suddenly as it had begun, the armor's glow intensified—and then the armor disappeared, leaving Sapheem back in his robes.

The mage continued to hold his head, desperately trying to will the pain away. He felt his powers die away…back to what they had been before. But, how?! He couldn't think straight…the pain was too much.

The golden light around Rowen continued to pulse briefly as the spell completed its purpose. Riona chanted the spell that lowered the chains holding Rowen. He collapsed on the floor…still exhausted from the battle. He could feel that his armor was back to normal—he was freed from Sapheem's grasp. He sat up weakly as Riona quickly knelt beside of him. Rowen looked up to meet her gaze…and was surprised at the emotions he saw stirring there. He could see Riona's concern for him…and the guilt of her previous actions.

“Rowen,” she asked him, never breaking eye contact, “are you all right? Can you stand?” She quickly unlocked the chains on his hands and feet with another small spell.

“I…I'm not sure. I'll…try,” Rowen answered weakly. He struggled to stand, knees shaking. Riona helped him off of the floor, letting him apply most of his weight on her body.

“Come on…we have to get out of here before Sapheem returns and finds us.” Riona urged. “We can ride on my wolf, Nightshade. Here, boy.”

The wolf trotted over to them and Riona helped Rowen onto his back. She climbed in front of him as Sharpeyes moved to her shoulder.

“Riona…thank you.” Rowen whispered as he leaned against her back. “I knew…that you weren't like Sapheem.”

“Shh…enough talking,” Riona calmed him. “I'll explain everything later. Just hold on tight. It's time for you to go home.”

Riona quickly summoned a portal to Earth, and Nightshade jumped through. She closed the portal behind them, and then looked around to get her bearings.

“That way,” Rowen pointed over her shoulder. “Straight ahead…you can't miss it.”

Sapheem's thoughts soon began to clear as the pain gradually subsided. He looked up to see the Ronins approaching him cautiously but deliberately. This was starting to look bad for him. He still was unsure of what had happened. He tried to reconnect with his prisoner…to call upon the Armor of Strata again…but he could no longer sense its power. The connection had been broken, but how?

“Looks like you're all talk after all, Sapheem,” Ryo taunted him. “You don't control the power of the Armor of Strata anymore…and that means we don't have to hold back.”

Uh, oh, Sapheem thought with dread. He was fully aware of the Ronins' power…and in his current condition, he had little hope of resisting a full-blown attack. He had to fall back and regroup.

“This has only been the first round, Ronin Warriors…but mark my words, I shall return to destroy you once and for all!”

He waved his hand causing a bright flash of light to temporarily blind the four young men. While they were disoriented, Sapheem quickly used his powers to teleport away from the battlegrounds and back to his own dimension. The light faded, and the warriors saw that Sapheem was gone.

Ryo turned back toward the house. “Let's head back and make sure Yulie and Mia are ok. If we're lucky, we'll see Riona and Rowen again really soon. I have a feeling that she's responsible for what happened.”

The others nodded in agreement. They all dismissed their armors and returned to the house. They could only hope to see their friend again soon.

Riona and Rowen continued to race through the forest toward the mansion. Rowen shook his head, the breeze helping to clear his senses. He studied Riona's face carefully. She was definitely softer than before. He was certain that her brash treatment of him before had been to fool Sapheem…but he had to know.

“Why? Why did you help me? I always suspected that you were kind at heart…but why?”

Riona didn't answer right away. She had expected this, but that didn't make it any easier for her to tell him the truth.

“Well…I had to stop Sapheem…before he destroyed your world like he did mine. And…I promised your friends I would help you. I met with them earlier…and I warned them before Sapheem attacked this morning. I…I couldn't bear to see you in such pain.” She looked down sadly, a few tears starting to form in her eyes. “I…I'm so very sorry for treating you so badly, but…I could let Sapheem know that I planned to betray him.”

Rowen felt a pain in his heart. So…that was it…the tragedy that he had sensed in her before. He hated to ask, but he had to know.

As they continued, Riona told Rowen everything she had told his friends about her past. Rowen listened quietly to her story, offering her his sympathy and understanding. “I hate that he put you and your friends through all this misery,” she finished. “I'm sure it hurt them deeply to have to risk killing you to try and stop Sapheem.”

“I know it did…but they did what they had to. I wouldn't expect anything less of my friends.” Rowen smiled kindly to Riona. “But I’m sure they'll be grateful for your help...if it hadn't been for you…we could all be dead now. Thank you…for everything.”

Riona blushed. “I…I don't deserve your forgiveness, Rowen…not after what I’ve done…you're too kind to me.”

“You only did what was best,” Rowen assured her. “Please don't feel guilty. I understand why you had to treat me the way you did. Otherwise…Sapheem might have won today.”

“He may still if we're not careful,” Riona cautioned. “If I know Sapheem…which I do…he'll be out for revenge once he realizes that I’ve betrayed him. But I may know how to stop him. I…just hate to put you all in any more danger.”

“You're not causing us any trouble,” Rowen said. “Sapheem's still pretty mad at us anyways…and he will certainly attack again. The Ronin Warriors won't let that madman conquer Earth. Besides, with a powerful mage like you to help us, there's no way we can lose.”

“Maybe you're right, Rowen,” Riona answered. She was beginning to spot the mansion as they approached a large lake. “Looks like you're almost home.”

Riona turned to the hawk on her shoulder. “Sharpeyes, fly ahead and let the Ronin Warriors know we're coming…and make sure the cost is clear.”

Sharpeyes screeched and flew off toward the house. Nightshade paused by the lakeside and let out a long, drawn out howl into the air as the sun began to come out over the lake. Soon, they would be home.

Hope you guys like this chapter. It took me a while to decide how to write this one. This story is a little harder to write than I expected…and I’ve been having a hard time just sitting down to work on it. Please read and review. You're comments encourage me to finish my story. Any tips or helpful comments are appreciated, but no flames please. For the long-time fans of this story, thank you for your patience and support. Next chapter coming soon…I hope.

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