In the middle of the woods surrounded by the mountains, a small camp fire crackled.  It's light filling the darkness that loomed around the four sitting at it's base.
    "Kayura, something has been bothering me this past week," Kale stated as he poked the fire with a stick.
    "What is it Kale?" Kayura asked looking over at the Demon of Darkness.
    "How did you know that girl had the armor?" her asked looking up over the fire and into the surrounding darkness.
    "Because I knew her ancestor," Kayura replied.
    "Her ancestor?" Dais asked from where he laid on the ground.
    "She was a princess.  She often traveled with her parents on journeys.  Once every year she would come to the village of the Ancient One to visit.  I was just a child then and she was my best fiend. She was there the day I was taken. I remember she was to meet with someone, but it was too long ago," Kayura sighed remembering the life she once had.
    "All right, so you knew her ancestor.  How did you know that the armor was passed down to her?" Sechmet asked as he played with a little snake that had slithered into the camp sight.
    "I can't explain that now." Kayura stated ending the discussion.
 

    The last bell of the day rang in the middle of Tokyo, and kids from the ages of 13 to 18 rushed out of the school in a hurry to get to their clubs or just to hang out.
    "A school trip where?" Sarah asked the six of them walked out of the school behind the rush.
    "We're going somewhere in the mountains," Ryo explained shrugging, "I'm not for sure exactly where."
    "But, why?" Sarah asked again, totally confused.
    "They think the students need to get out of the city and into nature.  The entire school will be empty for those 10 days," Sage explained his uniform still perfect while the others have shed their coats.
    "Do you think we should go?" Sarah asked looking up into the clear blue sky.
    "Why not?" Kento asked as he turned around and started to walk backwards.
    "What if Red Wing appears when we're gone?" Sarah asked looking down at Kento.
    "Sarah, he's after your armor.  If he's going to show it will be wherever you are," Rowen stated from behind his book.
    "But won't we be endangering the students?" Sarah asked tilting her head, "But then, if I stay here it would be the same."
    "Come on we got to get home and pack," Sage said unlocking the van.
    "Why, when is this trip?" Sarah asked hopping into the back seat next to Cye.
    "We're leaving tomorrow," Kento said hopping in behind Cye and reaching in back for some extra snacks.
    "What!? They only gave us one day notice?" Sarah asked in surprise.
    "Actually we knew about the trip for about a month now. We were going to tell you but something came up and we totally forgot about it," Ryo said laughing.
    "Well, we better get going. I've got to see if I have anything to wear," Sarah stated as they took off.
    "Um, Sarah, we have to wear our uniforms," Ryo informed looking back at her.
    "What? You mean I have to wear this stupid skirt for the next ten days?" Sarah whined.
    "I'm afraid so," Kento said laughing.
    "I'm still taking some pants.  Maybe I can convince the teacher to let me wear them a couple of days," Sarah said with some hope in her voice.
    "Don't raise you hopes too high," Rowen advised as he fished out another book.
    "You do realize you are no fun at all, don't you?" Sarah asked sticking out her tongue.
 

    The sun shone brightly through the trees as class 3-1 makes their way down the neatly made dirt path.  Near the end of the line of students were six that decided to just take their time, so they could talk about other things.
    "It is nice out here isn't it?" Sarah stated as they walked along.
    "Yea, it's nice and quiet," Sage added as he suddenly bumped into Sarah who had suddenly stopped.
    "Sarah, come on," Kento urged, "I'm getting hungry."
    "Kento, your always hungry," Cye joked.
    "Sarah, what's the matter?" Sage asked putting his hand on her shoulder.
    "Wha..." Sarah jumped at his touch.
    "What's the matter," Sage repeated looking very concerned.
    "This place.  It looks familiar.  Like I've been here before," Sarah stated as she veered a little off the path.
    "Sarah, come on. You have to stay on the path," Rowen urged looking over his physic book.
    "Guys, follow me," Sarah stated as she walked farther into the woods.
    "Sarah come on," Cye said a little louder.  Sarah ignored them and continued farther in the woods.
    "Well, we just can't let her go alone," Ryo said running off the path.  Cye looked back at their group who was now farther down the path and then followed the others.
    "Hey, Sarah, slow down," Kento yelled after her.
    "Sarah, where are you going?" Sage asked as they caught up.
    "I'm not sure."
    "What?!" the five yelled as they stopped.
    "Guys, come on!" Sarah urged.
    "Sarah, where not going anywhere until you tell us where your going," Rowen informed her.
    "I'm going that way," Sarah said pointing, "Now come on."
    "Next time be more specific," Kento spat at Rowen.
    "Hey, there's a clearing up ahead," Cye said catching up to Sarah.  They emerged from the wood into the clearing where scattered worn down huts stood, some that were burnt.
    "It looks like some kind of old village," Sage commented looking in one of the old huts.
    "I feel like I've been here before," Sarah said standing in the middle on the clearing.
    "What do you mean?" Cye asked.
    "It's like Deja-vu,"  Sarah replied walking over to what looked like the main structure.
    "This seems to be the only structure that is still completely standing," Rowen commented looking closely as Sarah walked into the structure.
    "Sarah, be careful," Kento warned.
    "I will," Sarah said looking back.  In the back of the structure sat a small shelf.  Sarah walked back to it and felt around the bottom of the shelf and found a loose board.  She lifted it up revealing a small hole, she reached her hand down the hole and pulled up a book. "What's this?" Sarah asked lifting it up to eye level.
    "What did you find?" Sage asked joining her.
    "It looks like some kind of old book," Sarah responded opening the book, "That's odd..."
    "What is it?" Rowen asked from the door.
    "It's in English," Sarah stated turning around to face the others.
    "We need to head back," Ryo said looking at his watch, "Bring it with you.  We can look at it in the lobby."
    "Right," Sarah said as she placed the loose board back and joined them outside.
 

    It was dark by the time the six returned to the hotel.  They had little trouble sneaking past their teacher who was on the lookout for late ones sneaking off for minuets alone with others of the opposite sex.  The night had turned rather cold after the heat of the day.  They decided to sit in front of the fire that others had started.
    "Do you think it's safe to read it here?" Sarah asked looking down at the old book.
    "If anything, they'll just think your reading an American story," Rowen reasoned.  Sarah nodded and carefully opened the cracked leather cover.

     To anyone who finds this. Contained in this book is a collection of events that occurred with in a two year period. These event truly happened. I know because I was there.

     My name is Katelynn.  I am a princess, but I will not tell of where.  My family loves to travel and does so often.  This tale starts when I was seventeen years old.  My parents decided that I should have knights to be my personal guards.  They did not like it when I ran off by myself.  While we were traveling in a small country in the Asia's, I became friends with a boy named Shu.  He was very funny, and I loved being around him.  I learned that he was an excellent fighter and begged him to try out for knighthood.  He agreed only if I allowed his friends to do the same.  Of course I allowed it. They all tried and achieved it.  I then asked my parents to let them be my guards, and with some begging on my part they said yes.  So, now I have five Asian guards that had become my best friends.  It was only a few months later one of those nights had become closer then friends.  We had fallen in love. Of course it was forbidden, not because he was a knight, but because he was Asian. He was taken from my side and given the post of a normal knight of his rank.  I was forbidden to see him, but that did not stop me. I saw him several times and even my own knights allowed it and helped us get together.

     On my eighteenth birthday I got the surprise of my life - that I didn't want.  It was announced that I would be wed to another prince from a country far away.  My parents explained that with this joining it would expand the borders of our kingdom.  I didn't care.  This prince I was to marry was ugly. I know I'm a princess and shouldn't say things like that but he was. I could see why they had to arrange marriages with him.  I got into a rather heated fight with my parents that night and ended up crying myself to sleep.  The following day would change my life forever.  It was a beautiful spring day.  We were back in that small Asian.  We had decided to come at least once a year to this small, peaceful, world.  I had come to know a small village in the woods where we always set up camp. I would visit every year, and while I was there I would meet up with my love....

         "Ah, Katelynn.  It is good to see you," A man with silvery white hair spoke walking up to the princess, his eyes covered by a straw hat.
         "It is good to see you too," Katelynn replied bowing as her knights had taught her.
         "Are you going to meet him tonight?" The man asked looking down at her.
         "Yes, with your permission of course," Katelynn replied blocking the sun from hitting her eyes.
         "You know I don't care.  Now come I know someone that is eager to see you," The man said as he led her farther into the village.
         "Katelynn!" a small girl yelled as she ran towards the two of them.
         "Ah, Kayura. You sure have grown haven't you?" Katelynn said looking her over.
         "Can we go for a walk in the woods?" Kayura asked.
         "I don't care, but you better ask the Ancient One first," Katelynn replied.  Kayura looked up to the man,
         "May we please go?"
         "It is fine with me.  Just make sure your back by sundown," The Ancient One explained.
         "Don't worry, we will," Katelynn smiled and took Kayura's hand as they headed back to the woods, and had just lost sight of the village when the sky grew dark.
         "We should head back.  Something doesn't feel right," Katelynn said walking back towards the village, Kayura followed.  They arrived at the village where several huts were being burnt to the ground. Katelynn and Kayura snuck around the back of some huts until they came to Kayura's home.
         "Kayura, stay here.  I'm going to find the Ancient One," Katelynn instructed and left through the front of the hut.  Outside were soldiers in samurai armor, their face plates were down, but no eyes stared out. They set fires to the huts, and killed the people of the village. Katelynn looked around the village for the Ancient One but could not find him. Behind her she heard Kayura yell as her parents were slain before her eyes.
         "Kayura!!" Katelynn yelled as she tried to reach her before a soldier picked her up carried her toward the big red gate that stood in the middle of the village.  Katelynn started to run to her, but another faceless soldier blocked her way.  Looking around the village she looked desperately for someone to help.
         "Shin!!" Katelynn yelled to her love as he rushed out of the woods.
         "Katelynn, I'll save you," He yelled slashing soldiers down as he went.
         "No, save Kayura!" Katelynn yelled pointing to the soldier that had the young girl under his arm. Shin abruptly changed his direction and headed toward the girl in distress. Using his sword he slashed through it letting the grayish cloud arise from it. Kayura fell to the ground and started crying.  Shin bent down to pick her up when everything went black. "SHIN!!" Katelynn screamed. The leader of the attacking army had stuck him on the head with the hilt of his sword knocking him out.
         "I'm sure the master will reward me with this!" The leader sneered evilly.
         "Leave them alone!" Katelynn yelled as she attempted to find a way past a couple of soldiers.
         "Katelynn? Where are you?" A voice came from the far side of the village as her four knights entered the village, sensing the distress of their friend.
         "Ryo, Seiji, Touma, Shu!" Katelynn screamed.  The four knights ran towards there fallen friend cutting soldiers down left and right, but more kept popping up. The leader laughed as he held the two unconscious bodies.
         "You will never win!!" He then stepped through the gate and it disappeared.
         "Shin!!! Noooo!" Katelynn gasped as all the soldiers disappeared. She tried for the gate, but was held back by someone.
"Let go!" Katelynn yelled.
         "It's too late.  They're gone," Shu said holding onto her.  She turned and cried into his shoulder.

     After the gate disappeared I stood up and walked to were Shin had fallen.  On the ground was a crystal orb.  I knew it was his armor.  My five knights wore magical armor. Nobody but the Ancient One and I knew.  Anyone else would have thought they were demons or wizards. I was the only one that had seen them armor up.  I gave the orb to the Ancient One who had been helping with the injured.  He returned it and said that I should be the one to keep it.  I carried it on me as a symbol of good luck.  After we returned to camp and reported the loss we found out that a great war had started in our kingdom.  We were to leave right away.  Upon returning Home our lands were destroyed. My knights were called on to fight in the army. They said good bye, and never returned. They were all killed in the battle. The messenger that brought the message also brought their crystal orbs saying that they wanted me to keep them.

     That was a year ago.  I'm back in the Ancient One's village, or at least what remains of it.  I'm to marry that ugly prince in one year.  I'm afraid I may not make it that long.  What remains of the people of this village is few.  I don't think that they will survive past this winter.  I've returned only to give the Ancient One the five mystical orbs.  I feel he will be the only one who knows what to do with them.  I also plan to make a small grave for each of my fallen friends here.  This will be my last visit to this village.  I'm leaving this book as a reminder to what had happened here. So it will never have to happen again.

    Everything was silent when she finished reading.   Several other students stopped and listened to the story, but then left when she had finished.
    "That was just after Talpa's first invasion," Rowen stated looking into the fire.
    "Do you think those knights really wore the armors?" Ryo asked.
    "Who knows..." Sage responded.
    "Guys, we have to go back," Sarah stated with certainty.
    "But, we're not scheduled to be anywhere near there for the rest of the trip," Cye stated looking around to make sure no one was listening.
    "We have some free time on the last day don't we?" Sarah asked.
    "Well, yea, but were not allowed to leave the grounds," Kento replied.
    "So? nobody will know," Sarah whispered.
    "But Sarah- " Ryo started but was interrupted by their teacher.
    "Come on, kids.  Time for bed."
    "I'll see you in the morning," Sarah said as the guys walked down one hall and she walked down another.  She walked into her room and flopped down onto the floor.
    "Sarah you really should be careful, you're still in a skirt you know," Sarah's roommate, Yuki, stated.
    "Sorry, I keep forgetting," Sarah said as she straightened her skirt.
    "What is wrong with you?  Ever since we got back from the hike you've been acting strangely" Yuki replied, with a concerned look on her face.
    "Huh?  Oh, um, I think I'm just getting a little homesick," Sarah replied as she changed into her PJ's.
    "Are you sure that's it?" Yuki asked concern in her voice.
    "Yea, that's it. Oyasumi," Sarah said covering up.
    "Oyasumi..." Yuki replied as she rolled over, 'I know something is up with you, Sarah. I don't know what, but I can feel it,' Yuki thought as she drifted to sleep.