The Consequences of Fallibility

Part IV - The Coronation

Kayura sat alone on the tatami mat floor of her Dynasty hut.  She stared out into space, her eyes clouded and faraway.  Inside her mind Rowen’s voice seemed to echo the words he had spoken to Sage the previous night. “But now, every time I see her, I hear her voice, taunting me, and laughing at me, and I feel like I’m back in the Dynasty about to die again.”  “I never wanted to hurt him,” she whispered.  But it was a lie, Lady Kayura, her evil self had taken great pleasure in all of her battles with Rowen.  From the doorway Kale watched her silently.  He knew that Kayura was hiding something from him, and he had begun to think it had something to do with the Ronin Warriors.

Kubi walked into a large Chinese-style building, flanked by Warlady Sarah and Empress Katie.  They entered into a large spacious room.  In the center of the room was a long wooden table.  The table was surrounded by upper level Warlords, who smirked at the three warriors as they approached. 

“So, the great Kubi has graced us with his presence,” a Warlord at the head of the table laughed.  The Warlord was wearing black and red armor, which was partially covered by a blue cape. 

“Ah so good to see you again Juru.  How long has it been, five hundred years?” Kubi asked.  “Though I believe the last time I saw you, you were running away like a scared dog,” Kubi laughed.

“Things have changed Kubi.  I have become stronger, and more than capable of leading the coup to unseat Lady Kayura and her band of traitors,” Juru responded.

“That’s why I’m here Juru.  I see you’ve assembled a nice group of warriors.  I have also formed my own little clan of warlords.  I’ll make my intentions clear Juru, I plan on taking over the Dynasty and becoming Emperor, taking up the throne Talpa was forced from.  But for my plan to succeed I need most of the upper level warlords on my side.”

            “You’re hilarious Kubi.  What did you think I would do, just agree with your little plan and start calling you master?  Well like I said, I have my own plan for this realm, so I suggest you leave, before you further insult me and my warlords,” Juru said, staring at Kubi and laughing.  Kubi took a step toward the table, and three Warlords stood up to block his way. 

            In a flash of red light Warlady Sarah knocked down one of the warlords.  Then on Kubi’s other side, Katie took down the warlord in a shine of blue.  Then Kubi mutilated the last warlord, shredding his armor, and leaving him lying prone on the floor.

            Juru stopped laughing.  “So I see you have those two little girls fighting for you now,” Juru said, his voice hard and cold. 

            “We’re not exactly ‘little girls’ as I believe Katie showed you,” Sarah laughed.  Juru narrowed his eyes at her. 

            “So Juru, what will it be?  Will you and your warlords join my troupe, or would you like to take our disagreement outside?”  Juru looked from Kubi, to Sarah, to Katie, and then to his three battered Warlords, then back to Kubi again.  Juru stood up at the end of the table and stared straight at Kubi.  His Warlords also rose to their feet.

            “Well, what are we waiting for?  Let the coronation begin!” Juru shouted.  Kubi smiled and nodded.

            “Kayura!” Kale said, standing in the doorway to Kayura’s room.  Kayura wiped the tears from her eyes and faced him. 

            “What is it Kale?”

            “Something is about to happen, something dark.  The demon spirits are restless…” he began.  Seckhmet and Dais appeared in the doorway behind Kale.

            “Warlords are on the move, they are congregating at the palace,” Seckhmet announced.

            “Well then, let’s see what they’re doing,” Kayura said, picking up her staff.

            A large group of warlords and warladies assembled in a darkened cave.  The cave existed beneath the palace.  The cave was circular, with levels of seating carved into the rock walls.  Lower level Warlords took their places on the seats, eager for what was about to occur.  In the center of the room, a pool of bubbling red liquid boiled in anticipation.  Then a light shone through the opening to the cave.  All attention turned to the opening.  Battamon, the demon priest entered, his hand filled with flames to illuminate the procession.  He stood at the very back of the cave.  Then a procession of Warlords and Warladies began.  These upper level fighters formed a circle around the pool.  The last to arrive were Juru, followed by Sarah and Katie.  Juru entered the circle, but Katie and Sarah stood on either side of the opening.

            “Prepare to meet your new emperor!” Battamon shouted.  This shout was met by cheers from the crowd.  “Emperor Kubi!”  Then Kubi entered, a lone armored figure, met by screams and applause from the crowd.  Kubi stepped through the opening of the circle and into the bubbling pool.  Then Katie and Sarah closed the circle. 

            “Nether spirits!” Battamon shouted.  “Arise!  Arise and christen your new master!  Akurei no okoru!  Okoru!  Okoru to atarashii koutei no kurisuten!  Okoru!  Okoru!” Battamon chanted.  The other warlords picked up the chant.

            “OKORU!  OKORU!” They screamed, stomping their armored feet.  Then they arose, one by one the Demon Spirits levitated out of the pool, surrounded in a sphere of dark power. 

            “Let it be know that all who stand around me today, are hereby dedicating their lives to me, and me alone!” Kubi shouted.  “And that betrayal is not an option!  So come, come join in this ritual, if you are ready to call me ‘master’!”  The warlords and ladies cheered again. 

            Dark power from the nether spirits formed around the cave and its occupants.  Lightning bolts of power descended onto Kubi, who stood with his arms raised, greedily consuming the energy of the nether spirits.  The bolts of lightning hit his followers as well, bestowing upon them greater dark power. 

            Kayura, Seckhmet, Dais, and Kale all entered the cave together, and watched as the group of warriors before them gained energy.

            “A dark coronation,” Kayura whispered.  “STOP THIS!” she screamed.  The warriors turned toward her, and as they did a single bolt of dark power struck Kayura.  She staggered, taking a few steps backward. 

            “Kayura!  Are you alright?” Dais asked. 

            “Yes, I’m fine,” she responded.  By now she had the attention of every warlord and lady in the cave. 

            “Well, well, well, look who came to join in the coronation, never can avoid dark energy when it’s been unleashed, can you Kayura?” Sarah mocked, turning to the heiress to the Ancient’s staff. 

            When Sarah turned toward Kayura, the rings on the staff began to shake, clanging against each other.  “You…  you’re…” Kayura began.  “But you shouldn’t…”

            “A little tongue-tied Kayura?  What’s wrong, am I that frightening?” Sarah responded, while the warriors laughed. 

            Kayura shook her head and held out her staff.  The ball at the top began to glow, blinding the warriors in the cave.  “Whatever plans you had for taking over the Dynasty end here,” Kayura said in a warning tone.  Katie and Sarah alone seemed unaffected by the staff.  “And the two of you should never have been in this realm in the first place,” she added in reference to the girls.  Katie and Sarah brandished their weapons at Kayura, but suddenly a black hole formed behind them.  Kubi’s eyes were glowing red, suggesting that he had created it.  He held his hands out before him, emanating a strong dark energy.  This energy blocked the power of Kayura’s staff.  The warlords and ladies hurriedly jumped into the black hole.  Katie and Sarah showed no signs of retreating.

            “Sarah, Katie!  Get into the vortex!” Kubi shouted.  After a moment of hesitation, Katie and Sarah turned and entered the vortex.  “This isn’t over Kayura,” Kubi warned, before he too entered the vortex and disappeared.