Dragon Zone: The Code Of Heart and Hate

Chapter 11: The Burden Of The Guilt

CHAPTER 11: THE BURDEN OF THE GUILT

"It's time to move on Ryu," Michael said silently.

"Let's give this place a name Mikey. We've experienced so many different feelings here, it almost feels like home," Ryu said.

"I'd like to call it Ryu no kokoro (Heart of the Dragon)," Michael said.

"It's perfect. You made it what it is Ryu. Wow, I even felt at home," Nadia said.

Atlanta remained silent.

"Let's go then! I don't care if I'm now just a mukenin, I'm still going to fight Shekan to the death, avenge our home, the Crystal village, the Fire Kingdom, the Water village and Dad," Ryu said. Michael nodded and raised his ring, there was a flash of lightning and Hurricane appeared. "Take us to the Earth Ryu" Michael ordered.

Hurricane flew the friends towards the "Lost Mountains" where the Earth ryu was rumoured to be. The journey was a silent one. Soon they arrived on the top of the tallest mountain which seemed to stretch on forever. "Shouldn't this be the Wind ryu's dwelling place?" Michael asked.

"That's the strange thing, this must be genjutsu!" Hurricane realised. Ryu, Michael, Nadia and Atlanta formed the release seal, "RELEASE!!!" they called and dispelled the genjutsu. They discovered that they were in a valley and surrounded by EARTH NINJA!

"Out of the frying pan and into the fire huh?" Michael said.

"Calm down guys, we're friends," Ryu said.

"We have no friends," the leader of the Earth Ninja said.

"It's déja vu already?!" Ryu exclaimed in disbelief.

"They are friends" Hurricane said.

"We do not listen to you or any other saint except the two Earth Saints, Crystal and Terranica" the leader said.

Ryu frowned.

"Fine then," Ryu said as he began to raise his hand.

There was a flash of Lightning and the Earth Saint Terranica appeared. "Stop son of Gaiden, do not summon Crystal" Terranica said.

"O-kay," Ryu said uncertainly as he lowered his hand.

He hadn't even realised that he had returned Crystal's summoning ring to Atlanta.

Terranica turned to his people and roared in rage.

"YOU FOOLS! HOW DARE YOU CHALLENGE A DRAGON SAINT?! Have you so soon forgotten who it is that creates the water that sustains your LIVES?!" Terranica roared.

The Earth ninja bowed. "We're sorry Terranica, we thought they were enemies," the leader of the ninja apologised.

"I'm disappointed Rokkan, after all these years you should have learnt to distinguish friend from foe," Terranica sighed.

"It will never happen again," Rokkan said.

"Very well, take good care of them. Hurricane, we need to meet with the others" Terranica said.

"Very well" Hurricane said as a flash of light announced the departure of the dragons.

"Follow me" Rokkan said leading the companions into a forest.

Rokkan whistled thrice and the ground beneath them began to rise. As the ground rose higher and higher, the companions could see houses hidden among the branches of the great trees. They didn't think there could actually be a village that lived in the trees. It felt like a fantasy.