"The Search Begins"
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Season
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1
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Episode
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4
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Original Airdate
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June 29, 1995
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Running Time
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No information
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Directed by
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No information
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Translated by
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No information
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"The Search Begins" is the fourth episode of Ronin Warriors. It was originally broadcasted on syndicated television during the summer of 1995, and was eventually aired through reruns on the SciFi channel, as well as part of Cartoon Network's Toonami programming block.
Summary
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Ryo, Mia, and Yuli go to see Mia's grandfather in order to find the four Ronin Warriors. However, the evil of the Dynasty is at work and a life is lost as a result.
Synopsis
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Captured civilians
White Blaze runs alongside Mia's jeep as it drives down the road. Yuli sleeps in the backseat while Mia and Ryo discuss going to see her grandfather at the university. She believes he'll know more about where the other Ronin Warriors are. Ryo hopes she's right. He confides that he can't remember how he ended up in the volcano after the battle with Anubis in Toyama.
Dark clouds cover the sky over the university. A toxic mist covers the grounds, killing all the plants on campus. Sekhmet appears, cackling wickedly.

Yuli finds the dead plants

Arriving at the university
Some time later, they finally pull up to the university to find the place covered in the power of evil. Mia brings her friends to her grandfather's office, where he is sitting in the dark. She introduces Ryo to him and asks for his help in finding the others. Dr. Koji, however, responds by telling her to accept the end and that finding the four Ronins won't help. Mia can't believe he'd lose hope and decides to search the computer files herself.

Ryo poses for Yuli
Yuli, while exploring the room, finds an old camera, which he starts playing around with until he sees something unusual. One of the suits of armor in the glass cases has glowing red eyes. As he stares at it, it turns it's head to face him. Yuli calls for Ryo, who attempts to calm him down. But White Blaze is growling at the armor, as well, which forces Ryo into action. He barely has time to warn Mia before the suits of armor come alive and attack him.
Ryo and White Blaze dispose of the possessed suits of armor, with some help from Yuli. The struggle is far from over, though, as Mia is attacked by her own grandfather, who has also been possessed by a Dynasty spirit. Ryo attacks the old man, despite Mia's protests. He stops short of landing a devastating blow, but it's enough to banish the spirit from the professor's body. Mia rushes to her grandfather's side. Unfortunately, he is beyond saving, having been infected by their poison. Using the last of his strength, he gives them the clue on how to find the other four Ronin Warriors before passing away.

Mia in tears after her loss
Following the death of her grandfather, Mia is distraught, but decides to focus her grief into cracking the code that was left for her. Ryo tries to suggest that she rest, but gives up after seeing how determined she is. Even Yuli agrees that she has to find the other four.
Outside, Sekhmet waits as well for the information on the Ronins, but he is found by White Blaze, who could sense his evil presence.
Mia is quickly frustrated by her lack of progress. Ryo tells her not to be too hard on herself, but she reminds him of the consequences if she cannot figure out what it is her grandfather was trying to tell them. Ryo reassures her that he can fight alone if necessary, and Yuli quickly offers to help. Just then, they notice the light coming from out the window, signalling a battle on a nearby rooftop.

Sekhmet's six arms
Mia continues to struggle with the code while Yuli watches the battle from the window. Suddenly, she remembers the poem her grandfather used to tell her as a little girl. Mia realizes that the poem is the key to finding the other Ronin Warriors.

Yuli's picture saves the day
Back in the jeep driving away from the university, Ryo thanks Yuli for his help. Mia informs the Ronin that she's solved the riddle and that their next stop is the Catasota Gulch Pinnacles. Unbeknownst to them, Sekhmet emerges from the rubble of the university building, very much alive. He plans on following them straight to the other Ronins.
The group stops for a bit by the ocean to watch the sun set. Yuli asks Mia if they're gonna be able to save his parents. Mia tells him they will, and Ryo says that their first priority is to gather the rest of the Ronin Warriors to defeat Talpa. With their goal in mind, they set out for the Pinnacles.
Continuity
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- Ryo, Mia, Yuli, and White Blaze continue to search for the other four Ronin Warriors, who were separated by Talpa in "Glory for Anubis."
- This is Sekhmet's first battle against any of the Ronin Warriors.
- Mia has finally returned to her grandfather with Ryo, the Ronin they saw on the news in "Shadowland."
- Dr. Koji is killed by Sekhmet's poison.
- Ryo, Mia, and Yuli believe that Sekhmet perished in the battle.
- Ryo, Mia, and Yuli make their way to the Catasota Gulch Pinnacles, where Mia believes they will find another of the Ronin Warriors.
Title
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The "search" referenced in the title is the journey to find and reunite the Ronin Warriors. In this episode, Ryo and his friends gather information that will help them find the other four, which is the first step and the start of their quest.
Cast
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- Ryo of the Wildfire — Matt Hill
Mia — Lalainia Lindbjerg
Yuli — Christopher Turner
Talpa — Mina E. Mina
Anubis — Paul Dobson
Sekhmet — Ward Perry
Kale/Dr. Koji — Richard Newman
Dais — Matt Smith
Narrator — David Kaye
Yuli's Mother — Sara Anne Dafoe
- Ryo of the Wildfire — Matt Hill
Quotes
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"I am pleased you see the mistakes of Anubis so clearly. I won't expect you to make them again. You realize that, although we now have millions of human souls under our control, my goals for this world are unobtained?!"
— Talpa is beginning to lose his patience.
"I've been thinking about it, why I survived. I can't remember how I ended up in that volcano. How did it happen? I'm fighting, next thing I know, I'm covered in lava."
— Ryo contemplates what happened to him after the battle with Anubis.
"I'm gonna fight the Dynasty with you! We'll beat them, then I'll rescue my parents!"
— Yuli finds his resolve.
Ryo: "Uh, it's kind of pointless to water plants when they're almost dead."
Mia: "Hmph-hmph!"
— Mia calls Ryo out for being insensitive.
Yuli: "AAH!!! Ry-Ry-Ryo, the armor moved!"
Ryo: "Heh, I didn't know you were such a chicken. Armor can't move by itself."
— Famous last words.
"A Dynasty spirit has possessed the doctor!"
— Ryo, stating the obvious.
"That does it! I don't wanna end up like sliced salami."
— Ryo's done fooling around.
Yuli: "Just two of them are his real arms! He's just moving them really fast!"
Ryo: "Tell me about it. So, Sekhmet, you power isn't just overwhelming body odor, but slight of hand, too."
— Yuli and Ryo figure out Sekhmet's trick.
"That's right, find your comrades. Then I'll slaughter you all."
— Sekhmet continues to scheme.
Cultural references
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Goofs
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Animation Mistakes
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- When Ryo goes to congratulate White Blaze after fighting off the possessed suits of armor, the tiger's entire snout is black, including the fur. It happens again while he battles Sekhemt alone.
- During the fight with the possessed Dr. Koji, pausing at just the right moment will reveal that Ryo's gauntlet is missing. Instead, his entire hand has been painted white. This is exactly what happened to Rowen back in "Glory for Anubis." Perhaps the gauntlets were an afterthought?