Blooming Sages

Chapter 4- Uproar in the City of Flowers

The Tsugimoto residence

The next morning Ken didn't wake up to the smell of a nice breakfast, instead to the sound of anarchy outside. "What the-?!" Outside a car was tipped over and on fire, parts of people's houses were broken, it looked like everyone was out of control. Ken, however, didn't turn the disappearance of the Sages into an excuse to go crazy. He prepared himself for school.

"Mom-" "Kenny! Why are you dressed!? Where could you be going at this time!?" Ken sighed, seeing as his mom was still hysterical, "To school mom. The Lily Institution is uptight, remember?" "Do you not feel anything for the loss of your father!?" "I never said-" "Are you heartless!? You cared so much more outside the walls, but now you've got a big head! You're too entitled-" "MOM! DAD'S ONE OF THE FIVE SAGES! IF ANYONE CAN SAVE THEM IT'S THE SAGES THEMSELVES! I'M STILL A STUDENT!...What else could I be able to do?" His mother was silent. She walked over to the t.v. and turned it on. She watched the live anarchy on screen. "With the Five Sages absent the city has undergone robberies, accidents and even murders. People have gone hysterical without the strongest Mages. They think it's the end of their world. The Mayor, Aiko Masami, has said to have gone into hiding as the perpetrators might come back for her." Taylor started to cry, Ken hugged her, "This is awful." "Do you have any idea who could've done this, Mr. Aries?" The second reporter was the man with red hair Ken ran into yesterday, "But of course. The only, one being able to do this is Lord Mars, the God of War!" "W-What? Who is Lord Mars?" The red-haired man threw off his suit and exposed his red and tan colored armor, "He's this cities downfall!" he pulled out a sword coated in fire and killed the man. "Kenny....did he just..." "Mom don't freak out."

"The Red Army has taken possession of your strongest warriors. I am Aries and this is my partner, Scorpio, along with two wizards from this city." Out from the dark came the man with droopy eyes and black hair, in black and purple armor, along with Ace and Spade. "Send the New Sages to this big tower place before the end of the day. Or else your annihilation starts now." The program shut off with the camera being destroyed. "Why would they want you all? What's going on? I can't let you go, Kenny!" "Mom. I don't think you have a choice. If I don't go, everyone in the city will die." Deep down Ken didn't want to do it. He felt like he really couldn't do it. Taylor hugged him with great force and told Ken, "I love you. If anyone can do it, I know it's you." Before Ken could respond, there was an explosion right outside the house. "Bring out Tsugimoto!!" "Or we'll bring him out ourselves!" Ken and Taylor looked out the window and saw people outside yelling and threatening them. "Oh my." "Gloomy Rye." someone casted a spell that made black roots come from the ground, tying up the citizens. Itari and Finn walked through the crowd, "Hey, Ken! We came to escort you!" Finn yelled. "Good luck, Kenny. I love you." "I lo-" before Ken could finish his sentence the ground shook making dishes and things all around the house start to fall and break. A crack opened up under the house which Taylor fell into, "KENNY!!" "MOM!" Ken's arm couldn't reach her, and she fell. "Ken did your-" Itari stopped Finn from talking. Ken kept staring, wide-eyed at the ravine that seemed endless. A circle of fire surrounded him as he whispered,

"Mom."

Just then, a purple light shot from the ravine and out of the house, toward the Lily Institution. "MOM!" Ken yelled as he used the fire to propel him forward, chasing after her.

The Hikari Forest

"You sure you want to do this, Kusuri? It's gonna be tough." "I have to mom! To get back dad and the others! I'll be okay." Kusuri and his mother embraced.

Kusuri ran out of the forest dodging the public eye. "I gotta find one of the other four...." he thought, just before Frankie came dashing down the street with a mob of people following her, "Hey, Frankie!" Frankie ignored him and kept running with a look of great responsibility in her eyes.

"Those two idiots! I never thought they'd join ranks like that!" Frankie thought. Kusuri caught up with her, "Hey, Frankie!" "Ah! Oh, it's you." "Guess we're on the run together! Hehe." Frankie went silent as the two ran towards the institution. They spotted Mira who was standing in front of the tower, visibly afraid of what was going to happen to her. "I can't do this...I'm gonna die....go out the walls!? As if I'd survive..." she thought before Kusuri interrupted her melancholic thoughts, "Mira!!" "Ah- Hi Kusuri. And-" Frankie ignored Mira and ran into the Institution. The other two followed.

Lark stood at the elevator and turned around when he noticed the others. "It's broken." Frankie grunted and started running up the stairs, "I have to get them back!" Frankie thought. "She's gonna take the stairs? Doesn't the Institution have 120 floors!?" "With a height of 980 feet. She's stubborn." Lark sighed, "I can propel you two up there. What you do from there is up to you." "WHAT!? You're gonna launch us 980 feet into the air!?" Mira felt queasy just thinking about it. Kusuri laughed, "Let's do it!" Lark nodded and the three of them went outside in front of the tower.

To the Institution, Ken

Ken flew through the city, burning the street as he chased after his mother's light. The light rose and started to go to the top of the Lily Institution so Ken followed. "Isn't he that Tsugimoto kid?" Kimoto and Koko watched him fly away. Itari and Finn ran past them, "Sorry!" they said not stopping. "Oh my goodness, Mira could be in trouble!" The girls took off.

The doors of the Institution

"Are you two ready?" Lark asked Mira and Kusuri. Kusuri nodded, while Mira was a bit petrified. "Uh- We won't die right?" Lark replied coldly, "Maybe." Mira held her face in her hands. Lark summoned his wand, the Sonic Wand, and began moving like a conductor, "Get ready." The two of them braced for impact, "Sonic Boom!" With a final upward motion the ground under Mira and Kusuri shattered, with the sound of a thunderclap following. "If I was stronger maybe I would have been able to send them light speed..."

Inside the Institution

Meanwhile, Frankie had gotten to the 15th floor fairly quickly. "What're those numb skulls thinking!? Siding with invaders!" As Frankie ran up the next flight of stairs she was attacked by someone with a sword of flames. She evaded his attack just in time, "Hello! I am Aries, the Ram Solider of The Red Army, led by Lord Mars-" "I don't care who you are. If you stand in the way of the leader of the Black Rabbits, I won't hold back. Quasar Guns!" Blue twin pistols manifested in her hands, "Heh. Lord Mars only said to contain you all, luck you. Let's see if you can survive my fire tech!" Aries pointed his short jousting sword at Frankie, which engulfed itself in flames.

Frankie wasted no time, she shot a few rounds at Aries, who dodged them all. He jumped down the stairs and clashed weapons with Frankie. The fire from the sword started to burn her fingers so she jumped back, "Flying Sandals!" she called out, equipping the white, winged footwear. She also brought out her Millennium Axe, "So, we're changing up tactics? Nice! Valiant Pressure!"
Aries thrusted at Frankie with intense speed, not showing signs of letting up. But Frankie was strong and challenged the onslaught head on! "I need to get past this guy...I have to get to Ace and Spade!!" Frankie thought.

Along the side of the Institution

Mira and Kusuri flew along the side of the building. Tears streaming down Mira's face, she began to pray, "OH, PLEASE! OH, PLEASE! OH, PLEASE! DON'T LET ME DIE!" Kusuri laughed, making faces in the wind, "Mira, we're almost to the top! Get ready!" Suddenly, a light passes them and the fiery, Ken follows.
All three of them made it to the top. Mira coughed wildly as Ken approached the magenta colored light. "M-mom?" he asked, as he reached out.

"I'm sorry..."

The second Ken came in contact with the light, it enveloped the entire Institution.

"Huh? Where'd she go?" Aries looked around for Frankie. Scorpio walked out from the shadows, "The light seems to have taken the New Sages away. I would assume to outside the city." "Hmm. Then let phase two commence! Ha!" The two of them along with Ace and Spade left.