Dragon Zone: The Code Of Heart and Hate

Chapter 15: The Rebirth Of Ryu

CHAPTER 15: THE REBIRTH OFRYU

"Are you ready to make that sacrifice?" Dragon Lord asked.

"We are!" they all replied.

"Very well then, LET THE DRAGON ZONE BE REVEALED!" Dragon Lord called as a sacred circle of yin and yang appeared on the ground.

Sacred positions for each dragon and human saint appeared within the circle.

"Put Ryu at the centre of the Dragon Zone" Crystal instructed.

Rokkan carried Ryu to a smaller circle of yin yang within the Dragon Zone. Then he returned to his position.

"Now someone will have to convince his spirit to return" Dragon Lord said.

"I will go. I know him and understand him since I am the spirit of fire that lives within him" Molten said.

"Very well, walk to the centre of the circle" Dragon Lord instructed.

Molten did as he was told. When he reached the centre, the smaller circle descended a few feet into the ground.

"All that's left now is the sacrifice and the ritual will begin. It must come from a human saint" the Dragon Lord said.

"I haven't known Ryu for long but I know that, he died protecting my home. For Ryu, I'll trade my sacred pendant, the last gift from my master, before he died" Rokkan said.

The Dragon Lord narrowed his eyes.

"You haven't known Ryu at all. The gift must come from someone who has known Ryu for a while longer" he said.

"When Ryu was alive, to me, he was just a pest who liked to annoy me, but now he's gone, I feel a familiar silence and loneliness. For Ryu, I'll sacrifice my Water Element powers" Nadia said.

"Without your elemental powers, you won't be able to seal Shekan, something else" the Dragon Lord said.

"Ryu is my brother. I've seen him, the real him. Without him...I am nothing, my circle of karma is incomplete" Michael said. "For my brother, I'll sacrifice my Water Ring, my power to summon Hurricane" he offered.

"You have been with Ryu but...you haven't shared his loneliness. The sacrifice must come from someone who has shared Ryu's pain and loneliness, someone like you...Atlanta. What will you trade...for Ryu?" Dragon Lord asked.

Atlanta remained silent for a while.

"Back in the Fire Kingdom, I was mocked by other Fire ninja. I had no fire abilities. My father was ashamed of me and kept me away from society. I was born there but it was never my home. I was locked up so that I wouldn't bring disgrace to the royal family. But when Ryu first looked at me...and said...'we're getting you out of here whether you like it or not...!'" Atlanta recalled as tears began to stream down her face. "...I knew that he wasn't just going to get me out of prison...but out of the prison of loneliness. When I was with Ryu, I felt accepted for who I am. I never felt lonely, I had a home! And that is why...for Ryu, I'll give up that home, my home and return to the pain of loneliness!" Atlanta cried.

The others stared at her in shock. Even the Dragon lord opened his eyes in amazement.

"That...is a huge sacrifice. You are willing to return to the darkness of pain? Why? Why would you do something so crazy?" the Dragon lord asked.

"Because...because he rescued me from my pain, because...I LOVE HIM!" Atlanta confessed.

"There are many forces in this world but the only one that transcends death...is love. However, love is not something I or the others created. It was born in you...as it was in us" the Dragon Lord said. "It may seem like I am cold hearted but in truth, I love Earth and all its creatures. When I said dragons should rule over humans, I meant the best...to protect them and to be close to humanity. Obviously, Gaiden misinterpreted my intentions and thought I craved power. For a long time since then, I have hated humanity and my own creations...however; you all have opened my eyes to the love that lay hidden beneath the surface. I will rejoin you all and by your combined powers, I will come to your aid" the Dragon Lord said as he breathed a breath of power over Ryu, and then the others.