~Black-Jaguar

Ryū II: Love Journey
Episode 16: True Gems
After Dan got poison by Reiku during their last battle, the group is now on a hurry to reach Rockwell Town. They see a road in the forest which leads directly to the bridge and decides to follow it. When they reach the town, they quickly look for an inn.

“Aaaahhh!” Dan shouted in pain.

“He’s still burning with fever. I’ll try to heal him.”

“I will get some water and towel to try and reduce the fever.” Ella said as he runs out of the door.

“We will try to find a doctor in town that might help us.” Hiro said as he and Rai leaves.

“Oh, Dan… Please hang on…”

The group tries their best to heal Dan. After a half an hour, Hiro and Rai comes back.

“Lurina, we’re with someone. Change back.” Hiro signals as he enters the door.

“The people say that there is no doctor in town so I have to call for one from Violet city. But we’re with someone that might help us.” Rai said.

A woman enters the room. She carries a large leather bag with her.

“Let me see him… Hmmm… it seems that your friend here is poisoned badly. I have something that can help you but for a price.” The woman said as she brings out a small bottle.

“How much?” Rai asks.

“Sorry, but I’m not after money. You see, I’m a jewel collector and I saw a pretty nice gem in your pocket a while ago.” The woman points at Hiro.

“I’m sorry but it’s not for sale. We can pay you in cash if you want.”

“I’m sorry but I don’t think I can trade such a valuable medicine just for some cash.”

“Wait! How can you guarantee that your medicine works?” Yuki said.

“You are a pretty wise customer dear. Well, here is a little demonstration.”

The woman places the bottle of medicine below Dan’s nose and lets him inhale some vapor. After a few seconds, Dan’s pain seems to have subsided.

“See? Now if you don’t let him have this antidote soon, he will go worse. So do you want to trade or not?”

“How about I trade you this gem instead?” Kiza said as she pulls out her silver gem.

“Kiza? What are you doing?” Ella asks.

“It’s my fault that Dan is suffering. And I think it’s much better to lose this than to lose Hiro’s gem since he already has a precursor weapon.” Kiza whispers. “I think this gem is enough for the medicine.”

“OK then here you go.”

Kiza gives the gem to the woman while she hands Kiza a different bottle from the bag then packs up. Ella talks to Kiza after the woman leaves the room.

“What do you plan to do? You don’t have your gem now.”

“How about I steal it from her tonight?” Hiro whispers.

“I’m not so sure. I just want to take care of Dan until he gets better.”

Suddenly, there is a load noise and screaming coming outside. The group goes outside and they see the woman laughing with humanoids surrounding her.

“Hey! Those are dangerous! Get away from those things!” Hiro warns. “Wait! Don’t tell me you are…”

“Yes… I am Silca… One of the SPIDERS… Guards of Master Drake.” Silca said as she changes suit. “I have to say, it’s pretty tough convincing you to give me the gem. I have to show the real antidote just so you would believe me. Unfortunately for you, you didn’t notice that I gave you a different bottle. The true antidote is right here.”

“This makes things much easier! Power up!” Hiro transforms to Jaguar. “We just have to defeat you, get the antidote and Kiza’s gem back!”

Jaguar tries to hit Silca but misses when she jumps so high. She then fires a string of web which caught Jaguar.

“Not again. Get me out of here!”

The others transform too and they start to engage the humanoids. Landa tries to hit Silca but her weak wing is making it tough for her to catch up. Fire Ball tries to hit Silca as she land but she jumps right back into the air to avoid the attack and fires a string of web which barely misses him. Dark Phoenix engages her but Silca avoids him by suddenly stopping in mid-air.

“I heard that most of you are used to fighting in the ground but as long as I’m up here, I got the advantage. “Silca said as she remains standing in mid-air.

Kiza tries to catch her but Silca jumps around in mid-air as if there are unseen platforms enabling her to dodge. Silca then attacks and punches Kiza on the abdomen.

“Are you alright sis?” Landa asks Kiza as she glides back down in pain.

“I’m alright. A little stun that’s all.”

“This is becoming too easy. Without your gem, you can’t transform making you vulnerable to my attacks. You’re nothing but a weak powerless human.”

“You’re wrong…”Kiza said as she stumbles to stand up. “You’re completely wrong. I maybe powerless but I am not weak. Deep inside me, I know that there is something that makes me strong.”

Images of Dan start flashing into Kiza’s mind. From the time they first met up to the time Dan save her from Reiku.

“Dan, you’ve always been there for me. You’re very kind and thoughtful. Now that you are injured, it’s about time that I am the one to protect you. Please, please make my wish come true. Teach me what I need to know.”

Suddenly, Kiza’s body begins to glow. Bright balls of light surround her entire body. Then a spark of light appears and materializes into Kiza’s silver gem. It then slowly sinks into her body and when the glow vanished, she was able to transform into Silver Moon.

“Impossible! I have her gem right here!” Silca looks inside her sack. “Huh? It’s gone! How did that happen?”

“I understand now. The gem is not the one that gives us power. It is us that give power to the gems. The gems are not mere objects. They are the materialization of our souls, our desires and wishes. And since it is a part of my soul, you can never take it away.”

“Wow.” Jaguar said in amazement. “So that explains why Landa appears to have died when we are battling with Leo. Her gem got hit directly by one of Leo’s attack which knocks her out.”

“Nonsense! I will get your gems no matter what and serve your heads to master Drake.” Silca fire a string of web to Silver Moon.

Silver Moon dodges the attack by flying up to the air. When she was at the same height as Silca, she counters.

“ Petal Swirl” Kiza shouted as millions of cherry blossom petals swirl around them. As the petals falls, some of them sticks to strings of web making them visible.

“So that’s how she manages to stop in mid-air.” Lizza said.

“Darn, my trick is seen. I have to keep attacking them.” Silca said to herself. “Here is my special move. String Spray!”

“I won’t let you.” Silver Moon said. “Moonlight Petal Dance!”

The petals begin to swirl again and create a beautiful display of flashing lights. It then cuts Silca’s strings to pieces including the one she is standing on. As Silca falls into the ground, the bottle of antidote slips out from her pouch. Landa intercepts her with an Angel Seal while Lizza manages to catch the bottle before it hits the ground. After the commotion, the group goes back to the inn to rest and give Dan the real antidote. Silca also begins to wake up after a few minutes.

“Where… am… I?” Silca stutters.

“Good you’re finally awake. You are here in our room. I am Lurina. We saw you unconscious so we brought you here.” Lurina explains.

“Where are my brother and sister?”

“Brother and sister?”

Yes. I was in the river with my brother and sister when this huge serpent emerges from the water. That was the last thing I remember. I have a picture here.”

The group looks at the picture and realized that Reiku was her brother.

“We saw that guy when we were going here. He was sleeping beside the tree so we didn’t bother to wake him up.”

“We’ll go and get him” Hiro and Shinen said

“Thank you very much. I hope my sister is alright too.”

“Don’t worry I’m sure she is.” Yuki comforts Silca.

“You do realize that if Reiku is her brother then maybe her sister is one of Drake’s guards too.” Rai whispered to Kiza.

“Yes and that means we have to save her too.”