The Adventures of the SOL

 "HOTARU!!"

 Amy watched, halfway up the ledge, in horror.  Hotaru fell through the air, still reaching out for the ledge, which was long gone.  She called Hotaru's name again and suddenly Hotaru's eyes seemed to snap awake.

Hotaru could hear the water rushing below her but quickly closed her eyes.  In a matter of seconds she was an eagle.  She carefully began to fly, not wanting to break her wings by a suddenly midair take off.  She managed to get some lift and began to fly back up.

 She flew over Amy’s head.

 Amy sighed with relief and Hotaru landed in front of her.  Hotaru changed back to human and pulled her up all the way.  The two of them sat down for a moment, both of their hearts pounding hard and quick.

 "That was close," Hotaru panted.

 "Too close," Amy agreed, watching the rocks being attacked by the rushing water and feeling the chilly river wind blow her hair.  Her attention turned to the tower Hotaru had been standing on before.  "Now how do we get up there?" Amy asked.

 "Hey, I have an idea," Hotaru said and stepped carefully onto the roof.

 "Don’t fall!" Amy chided.

 "Okay," Hotaru smirked, giving Amy no reassurance, but she kept her balance.  She closed her eyes and started to grow much larger.  Amy stood back.  Hotaru turned gray and Amy’s mouth dropped open.

 "What are you doing?!" Amy asked Hotaru, but she didn’t answer.

 Hotaru was turning into an elephant.  On a roof.  Several feet above a wild river.  Without enough time to turn into a bird again.  Amy could only watch.

 "Trust me," Hotaru said finally.

 Amy heard a snap.  She looked at Hotaru's enormous feet and saw the roof starting to sink in.  Just as the roof caved in, Hotaru turned back into human.  She landed on the ground and covered her head as the roof caved in over her.  She waved up at Amy who had run to the edge of the hole.  She was dusty but okay.

 "We’re back in the castle now!" Hotaru called up to her.

 Amy shook her head and jumped down into the hole.  "That was… destructive," Amy commented, "I feel sorry for whoever has to clean this mess up."

 "Hey, Creton’s castle," Hotaru shrugged, "He has to pay the roofing bill.  Besides we owe it to him for the lovely stay.  Let’s see if we can find everyone else."

 Suddenly a whole group of people came skidding around the corner.  "There they are!" Mina said happily.

 "Mina, Serena, Lita, Rais, Charlie?!" Hotaru asked very surprised, "And… Um…. Who are you…?"

 "I’m Ran Whiska, Private Eye," the cat boy said.

 "I see," Amy said slowly, then turned back to Charlie wide eyed, "Is it you?  Charlie where have you…?"

 "Not now, Rei’s in trouble," Charlie held up a hand silencing both girls, "We have to find her before Creton can do something to her."

 "Rei?  Is she here?" Hotaru asked.

 "Yes," Rais nodded, "Ends up Daunus betrayed Lawrence when they were partners but Rei didn’t remember it."

 "So that means…?"

 "Oh no!" Amy cried, "Why did you wait around for us?  Let’s go!  There’s no telling what’s been happening to her while we’ve been running around like chickens with out heads cut off!" She ran down the hall.  "Come on, come on!"

 They all followed after her.

 Creton watched the door a moment after Daunus had left and he now turned back to Rei.  "I wish he would be here to see this though.  He always insisted that we take care of you as a child.  Maybe he was right, but this is much more enjoyable."

 Rei didn’t say anything.  She glared up at him.  She didn't feel as if she could speak.  All she knew was pain at the moment.

 "You have nothing to say in your defense?" Creton asked her, "Maybe you understand the pointlessness your words would have."

 He knocked her against the wall and held her there.  She felt the breath forced out of her lungs.  She tried to breathe but she found herself attacked again by an energy attack, and fell to the ground.

 "Have you had enough?" Creton asked.

 She didn’t answer, just stared.

 "Very well," he said, and she hit the next wall.  She bit down hard on her lip to avoid crying out.  Still she couldn't stand, she knew she couldn't.

 "Please Rei," Brashear said inaudibly, "Just say yes.  Just say yes and it’ll stop.  Ask for mercy and it's over, Rei"

 Rei found Creton standing over her.  "Will you ask for mercy?" Creton asked her.  She looked up, one eye still closed.

 "No," she closed her eyes and shook her head.  I'm going to die here.  I'm so sorry, Daddy, but I'm going to die here.

 "You will," Creton replied, and fired a blast at her.  She flipped over and felt her head hit the floor.  She sat up and looked at her hands.  She could see her own blood on them.  She was scored with burns and scratches and blood.

 Creton back-handed her and she landed on her back.  She stared up at the ceiling, her eyes taking on a far away look.  She was reaching breaking point.  She couldn't last much longer.  She tried to think of her father but she couldn't concentrate.

 "Do you hate me, Rei?  Do you hate everything about me?  Do you want to maybe destroy me?"

 "I feel sorry for you."

 Creton’s eyes widened for a moment and he leaned back in surprise.  "You what?"

 "I feel sorry for you because you can’t understand what life is," Rei's voice was quiet, shattered, "I feel sorry for you because of the way you must see the world.  I feel sorry for your son who has had to listen to the hateful words come out of your mouth from the time that he was very young.  I feel sorry for whatever happened to you that made you like this.  I pity your outlook on life.  I pity your inability to love anything."

"Enough," Creton's voice was stiff, "The time has come."

 He placed a hand forward and Rei felt her whole body press into the floor.  She was slowly being crushed by some invisible weight.  She thought her chest would collapse.  It felt like her skull would shatter.  She let out a scream. She couldn’t hold it in any longer.

 The floor underneath her started to crumble in from the pressure.  She sank an inch deeper into the ground, cracks running out of the floor.

 ‘Yes!" Creton cried, "Scream, Princess! Scream!"  He laughed and kept adding weight to the attack.  Rei felt her chest caving into itself…

 The stone floor broke in and she yelled a little louder.  She could feel herself leaving. She couldn’t breath.

 "STOP!"

 Creton stopped.  He slowly looked back to where the throne was.  His eyes narrowed.  Brashear was standing up, tears streaming down her face.

 "Stop Creton!" she sobbed, "This has gone too far!  I wanted you to take care of her!  I didn’t want you to kill her!  Please stop!"

 Creton turned to Brashear.  "Isn’t this what you wanted?  You came to me with such a lust in your eyes for the ending of her life.  This is what you wanted isn’t it?"

 "No!  Not anymore!  Please Creton, not anymore!  Don’t kill her!  She’s suffered enough," Brashear tried to wipe the tears from her face.

 "You always were weak," Creton growled, "I knew it the minute you let me sit in your throne.  I knew it the second you said you wanted Rei and her kingdom taken care of.  I knew it when you called me to your kingdom."

 "Please…" Brashear said.

 Valerie looked from Brashear to his father, uncertain.  He didn’t know whether or not he should say something.  He thought maybe he should tell Brashear to be quiet.  Not to anger his father.  Valerie knew what the consequence could be.

 He knew it was too late.

 "It’s time that the weakness was gotten rid of," Creton informed her.  He held up a hand.  Brashear’s eyes widened and Creton sent an orb at her.  It surrounded her and sent a bolt of energy through her body.  She let out a scream and fell to the ground.  She had no magical energy and therefore no defense.  She was as good as dead.

 Valerie’s eyes widened and before he could stop himself, he ran towards Brashear.  "BRASHEAR!" he cried and stopped by her side, taking her head into his hand, "No.  You're alright.  No Brashear…"

 "Valerie?" Creton asked, surprised.

 "Don’t die!  Oh God, please Brashear!" Valerie shook his head, "Don’t die!  I never told you but I loved you, please don’t die!" He took her hand and watched her helplessly.  Her eyes were closed and her breaths were coming in and out labored.  Blood stained the front of her dress.

 "What are you doing Valerie?" Creton asked, appalled.

 "Stop father," Valerie never even looked at him.  His back was to him the whole time but for once he didn't care. "Just stop everything!  You’ve hurt her!  May have even killed her!  Do what you want with the Princess but leave her and me be!"

 "What is this?" Creton growled, "My own son?  You don’t love this girl.  She is nothing but a foolish child seeking what she cannot have."

 "Why?" Valerie whispered, holding Brashear’s hand to his cheek, "Why?  Why father?  Why so much pain and suffering?  Why all of the blood?  Why do we do this everywhere we go?"

 "Why?!" Creton yelled, "You want to know why?  I’ll tell you why!  Power!  That’s all that matters is power!  This is the only way to get what you want!"

 "I don’t care about power!" Valerie screamed, "I don’t care about power or your stupid revenge!  I don’t care about you or the destruction you cause!"

 "What will you do Valerie?" Creton asked, walking towards him, "She will die.  You know it.  What will you do?  Kill me?"

 "If I have to," Valerie said and put Brashear’s hand on her chest.

 "Valerie…" Creton warned.

 Valerie stood up and faced his father.  A tear ran down his cheek and he stared Creton in the eye.  Still he stood ready.

 "So be it," Creton smiled, knowing Valerie was no match for his power. "I’ll let you take the first shot… Son."

 "Okay," Valerie nodded.  He braced himself and a spell of white built up in his hands.  "Transport!" he yelled.

 "What?" Creton yelled, surprised by the choice, then disappeared.  Despite Valerie's trouble at spell learning, he had always been rather good at the transport spell.

 Valerie ran to Rei who was trying to breathe.  He pulled her out of the hole that Creton had caused.  She managed to get on her knees.

 Rei coughed.  "What…" she coughed again.  "What did you do?"

 "I transported him away from here.  He won’t be back until he can figure out where he is, which won’t be long," Valerie said urgently.  He helped her stand and walk to where Brashear was, "Please…  Please, you’re the one with pure powers.  Save her.  Please.  I won’t ever bother you again.  I’ll fight my father with you.  Just please save her."

 Rei looked at Brashear helplessly.  "I can’t."

 "You can’t?" Valerie said, leaning towards her.  He grabbed her by the front of her shirt desperately.  She just looked at him. "If you can’t, then who can?"

 "I don’t know," she shook her head, "Valerie, I…"

 "I love her!" he cried and took her hand to his heart, "It wasn’t suppose to be like this.  She wasn’t supposed to die.  I would have told her, I would have taken her away from here.  She would have gone.  Why was I so stupid?"

 "You really do love her?" Rei asked, "Don’t you?"

 Valerie nodded.  "More than life itself."  He looked at Brashear's face.  She looked as though she could be sleeping but her breathing said otherwise.  She was dying.

 "Take that love," Rei spoke up suddenly, "You can feel it, I know.  Use it like magic."  She put her hand on his heart, "It’s right there."

 "I… feel it," Valerie said, eyes wide, "I can feel it."

 "Like magic," Rei sat back.

 He closed his eyes and put his hands forward.  A small sparkling white ball of energy entered his hands.  Rei put her own hands forward, chanting words under her breath.  She felt the pain rise in her body, but she ignored it.

 A piece of her own power soared from her hands and into the orb that Valerie held.  It gave a small flash, but Valerie didn't even notice.  He let it go and it flew towards Brashear and surrounded her.  Rei sill kept her eyes closed, controlling it.

 At first it looked as if nothing would happen but before Valerie's eyes the blood began to dry.  The wound disappeared.  Brashear's breathing came back to normal.

 The glowing stopped.

 As soon as it stopped Rei fell backwards.  Brashear took a deep breath in.  Valerie could see she would be all right.

 She opened her eyes.  "Valerie…"

 "Oh God," he took her hand again, "I thought I lost you… I thought you were gone forever.  Don’t ever do that again…"

 She sat up.  "What are you...?  But how…?"

 Valerie hugged her and she hugged him back.  "It was the Princess," Valerie said, then realized she had said nothing, "She… Princess?"

 He looked at Rei lying on the ground.  He took her hand and felt for her pulse.  Brashear watched anxiously over his shoulder.

 He put his head down.  "She’s dead."

 "She’s…?" Brashear paused, "She can’t be dead."

 "She must have used the last of her energy helping me," Valerie said, wiping away the tears from his face, "After all I’ve done to her, she still helped me."

 Brashear sobbed.  "I thought I wanted her dead, but I just couldn’t watch him…" she cried and Valerie held her.

 Valerie looked at Rei.  He wished he could help her.  He didn’t quite understand why, but he wished he could.  For what she had done for him.

 Suddenly the doors opened and the whole group of SOL ran in.  Valerie looked up and held Brashear away from them.

 "Rei?" Rais pushed forward through everyone else.  He saw her on the ground.  He stood for only a moment.  "REI!"  He ran towards her, stumbling in his hurry.  Everyone followed behind him.

 "Rei?" he asked, and lifted her head up, "Rei?  Are you okay…?  Rei?"

 "She’s dead," Valerie told him.

 Rais looked up at him.  "No…"  he shook his head. "What did you do?  Rei…?" The girls all just stared.  Lita looked away with a pained look.  They were too late.

 Charlie leaned down next to her.  He placed his hand around her neck.  She felt cold to the touch and was limp.  He felt hard for a pulse but received none.

 "He right," Charlie said sadly, "She’s dead."

 "She’s can’t be dead," Rais shook head, looking hard at Charlie, "You're wrong!  SHE’S NOT SUPPOSE TO BE DEAD!"

 "I’m sorry, Rais," Valerie whispered, shaking his head and holding Brashear close, "I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean for it to happen.  I’m sorry."

 "Your sorry…" Rais stared, "You killed her!" Rais cried and started to stand up, but he felt a firm hand on his shoulder.  It held him back and whirled around.

 He turned and saw Charlie.  Charlie was looking at Valerie and the sobbing Brashear.  "Calm down Rais."

 "Calm down!?" Rais cried, grabbing Charlie by his shirt, "I can’t calm down.  Look what he’s done to Rei!  Look at her!  She’s dead Charlie!"

 He turned his face away.  "What exactly happened Valerie?"

 "What…?" Valerie looked at him.  He shook his head.  "Father… I got rid of father but he could be back at any minute."

 "What happened?" Charlie asked him urgently.

 "Father was about to kill her when Brashear stopped him," Valerie said, "He turned on Brashear and…" He swallowed.  "I almost lost her.  I transported father elsewhere.  When he figures out where he is he’ll be back.  Then Rei… She helped me find a way to fix Brashear, but she used some of her own energy and…"

 Charlie nodded.  "She isn’t dead yet."

 They all looked at him.

 "She used magical energy," Charlie told them, "Magical energy always returns to its source as soon as it’s no longer needed.  She'll be weak but she will be alive.  And once she has a little energy in her body we can help her."

 "So how long will that be?" Mina asked.

 "As soon as Brashear comes back to full strength," Charlie looked at her, "Then her energy will return.  Rei's a smart girl.  She won't die so easily."

 "But I’m fine," Brashear told him, shaking her head, "More awake than I was before.  She should be back.  What's wrong with her?"

 "I don't know what could have happened..."

 "I did."

 They all snapped around to see Creton standing across the room.  They all tensed up and glared at him.

 "Here," he said, "I believe I have your weapons."

 Suddenly, Serena’s scepter, Amy’s bag, and Rais’s sword appeared in front of their proper owner.  Rais watched his sword land in front of him.

 "And I’ve been here for quite some time… Son," he told Valerie.  Valerie pulled Brashear closer, protectively.

 "What did you do?" Charlie asked him, standing up.  His hands were clenched into fists.  No one had seen him angry before.

 "My other traitorous son," Creton smiled, "How welcome you all are.  I knew things were going too well with you for you to have rejoined my side."

 "Well, I learned from the best," Charlie replied.

 "Too true," Creton agreed.

 "What have you done to Rei?" Serena yelled.

 Creton was about to answer when Daunus walked in.  He looked surprised to see all of them and started to walk out.

 "We have to get him," Lita hissed.

 "Got it," Ran gave a small bow, "He is, after all, the guy I came here to get, right?  So if you'll please excuse me."  He ran towards the door.

 Daunus saw Ran and took off out of the room.  Ran went after him his tail flying behind him.  "Halt!  Special Forces!" he called and then disappeared.

 "Let’s take care of this while he’s taking care of that," Amy said, grabbing her bag.  She narrowed her eyes at Creton.

 "Wait for a moment," Charlie said, then to Creton he said, "How did you do it Creton?  We’re all waiting."

 "I do wish you’d call me Father," Creton said.

Everyone stared at Charlie, who cringed.  "That won't work.  Tell us what you've done, Creton."

 "Now, Creton," Hotaru hissed.

 "If you must know," Creton held up a glass sphere with a white glowing ball inside.  They watched it move.  It sparkled so much.  It was almost beautiful. "This is the last of the energy.  All I have to do is absorb it to keep it from ever going to Rei.  Her life is holding on a very thin thread.  In fact, if she stays the way she is, eventually even this won't help her."

 Rais got down on one knee.  He grabbed the hilt of his sword and stood up.  He looked up at Creton and stepped past Charlie.

 "Rais, what…?" Charlie asked.

 Rais put his hand up, stopping Charlie.  He took a second to look at Charlie then walked forward.

 "Surely you know better," Creton smiled, "You lived under my roof, Rais.  Surely you know better than to go against me."

 Rais stopped just in front of Creton.  Lita looked at her companions and walked forward too, standing just behind Rais.

 "Isn’t that sweet?" Creton asked, "Standing beside you companion.  You still can’t win with the two of you combined."

 Amy stood next to Lita, and both Mina and Serena stood next to her.  Charlie stood behind them all.

 Valerie looked at Brashear and she nodded.  He stood up and stood next to Charlie.

 "Both of my sons," Creton smiled, "Surely."  He was mocking them but he didn’t seem so sure anymore.  They all stared at him.

 "This is it Creton!" Rais yelled, closing his eyes, "Now you will finally experience the pain you have caused each of the victims of your hatred."

 "I’m scared," Creton drawled, and Rais could feel the smile behind his mask again.  And for once he was not scared.

 "Good," Rais said and held up his sword.

 Lita ran forward, and Creton held up an arm.  She flipped back.  Just then Serena fired a large blast at Creton.  He hissed as he broke apart the attack.  Amy let Sady out of her stone and she fired at Creton.

 At the same time TK fired a blast at Creton and he knocked away both attacks.

 He let out a growl as he tried to avoid all of the attacks.  Hotaru changed into a lion and clawed at his cape.  He knocked her away.

 Rais sat behind it all with Valerie and Charlie.  He was focusing on his sword very carefully.  Creton was trying to fend off the girls all at once and was very distracted.

 Valerie finally ran forward and attacked.  Charlie placed his hand on Rais’s shoulder.  Rais looked at him and shrugged it off.

 "Rais, I don't think you should..."

 "Leave me alone!"  Rais stepped away.

 "Wait!" Charlie said as Rais ran forward, sword poised for an attack.

 Creton saw him a split second before Rais jumped into the air, sword held back.  Creton took his chance and held the sphere that held Rei’s life up.  Rais’s eyes went wide as his body collided with it.  He felt a buzzing sensation as it sank into his body.

 Everyone stopped all at once as Rais fell to the ground, landing on his side.  He was right at Creton's feet.

 "Looks like I didn’t need to absorb it," Creton told him, "You took care of my little problem for me.  You just killed Rei."

 Rais was looking at his chest where the sphere had entered his body.  He was breathing heavily.  He started shaking his head, eyes wide with terror.

 "Inside me…?  She’s inside…?"

 Everyone glared at Creton, ready to attack again.

 "EVERYONE STAND BACK!"

 They all turned and saw Charlie behind Rais.  Charlie stepped over him and approached Creton.

 Charlie stopped just in front of Creton.

 "You wanna know what the best moment of my life was?" Charlie asked, "The moment Lawrence killed your wife."

 Creton stopped for a moment.

 "The best moment of my life was the day you disappeared," Creton growled and sent an attack at Charlie.   Charlie put a hand forward, stopping it before it even left Creton's hand.  Everyone watched as he used all of his strength to push it away from himself.  Creton let his power flow in one steady stream, making the attack stronger, trying to overpower Charlie.

 "NOW!" Charlie shouted and all at once they understood.  They continued their attacks, but this time Creton was too preoccupied to knock them away.

 As soon as they started to attack, Charlie lost control of the attack and was knocked backwards, across the room.  As soon as he could, he sat up and watched.

 It had worked.  Creton was unable to block any of the attacks that the girls and Valerie were able to dish out now that it had started.

 He got up and ran to Rais.  He found Rais on his back, shaking his head.  He had his hands over his head and there were tears streaming down his face.

 "Inside of me!" he said, "She’s inside of me…"

 "Get up!  Hurry, before it’s too late!" Charlie said and dragged him over to Rei.  Rais went along, staring at Creton helplessly.  He looked so lost.

 "Before the energy becomes yours, you have to give it back to Rei," Charlie grabbed him by the shoulders, "Hurry."

 "What do I do?" Rais asked.

 "If you really want to save her, you’ll know," Charlie stood over them, "Now think hard.  Think of why you want to save her."

 Rais thought about how they first met.  He had been trying to kill her.  But she hadn’t killed him at first chance.  Instead she put him in the dungeon and acted like it was so bad that she could have done such a thing.

 Then she had let him go.  She gave him back his sword.  She even offered him a home.

 He remembered staying in the forest alone for all those weeks.  He remembered seeing Valerie had struck down Rei and Serena and Valerie told him to attack.

 He came so close to shoving the blade right into Rei’s heart.  But for the first time in his life, he couldn’t kill the enemy.  For the first time he couldn’t bring the blade down.  And still she invited him to come to the castle with her.  She invited him to spend Halloween with them.

 She treated him like a human, a treatment that he never received from his time with Creton.  A treatment that he didn’t know he deserved until he had met Rei.

 And everyone else.  Everyone was so nice to him no matter how he had tried to destroy them all.  No matter what he did, they forgave him.

 And he knew why.

 He looked down at Rei’s face.  She was dead.  It was for certain.  He couldn’t stand to see her that way.  The others couldn’t either.  And without thinking he leaned forward and kissed her.

 Charlie watched anxiously as Rais pressed his lips against hers.  Still he was surprised.  He had suspected it before, but now he knew.

 "He’s in love with her," he muttered, "He’s really in love with her…"

 Rais held the kiss and felt the coldness in her lips become warm.  Suddenly he felt her breath into his mouth but he didn’t pull away.

 She was needed right now more than he was.

 He continued to feed her energy.  Her eyes fluttered open, and with a small blast of light, Rais fell backwards.

 "Rais?" she asked, surprised, "Where am I?"

 Rais was unconscious on the floor.  "Is he…?" Charlie asked and Rei looked at him.  Her eyes went wide.

 "Charlie?" she asked, "Is it really you?  Where am I?  What happened to Rais?"  She looked over at the girls and realized they were fighting Creton.  "Is everyone okay?"

 Charlie was about to answer when suddenly Rei heard, "Miss Rei!" and felt arms around her neck.  She turned and saw Brashear was hugging her.

 "Wh-Wh-Wh-Wha?" Rei asked confused.

 "Rei," Charlie said, "Rais gave you a lot of energy.  Use it."  They locked eyes and Rei blinked.  She wasn't sure what was happening but...

 Rei stared at him.  She remembered what had happened before she had been dead to the world.  She nodded and stood up, facing Creton.

 She felt her mind leave her for a moment.  About that time Creton finally managed to get his attackers away from him.  They were all knocked back and he looked up to see.

 "Rei?  No… Impossible!" he cried.

 Rei glowed a blue and rose into the air.  A glowing white ball of energy appeared in front of her.  It was the same as all the other  attacks except for one small difference.  Instead of a blank look she was smiling.

 "Many have suffered at your hands, Creton," Rei said in a voice that was not quite the same as her own.

 "What is happening?" he cried.

 "You shall be punished for the actions you have chosen to take," Rei continued.  She held up the attack and threw it forward.

 A large red blast shot from the glowing white orb and fired straight at Creton.  He tried to block but he was hit.  He let out a cry as the attack began to eat at him.  The red surrounded him and he looked up at Rei.  Her eyes were glowing a bright white as she stared at him.  Her face was now impassive.  She didn’t seem to be all there.

 Creton's mask began to crack.  Blood began to fill his eyes.  His energy was being stolen away in record time.  He was dying.

 "You haven’t seen the last of me!" he shouted and disappeared.  Rei stopped glowing and the blank look faded with it.  She landed on her feet.  She watched as Creton’s mask whirled up into the air and came back down, breaking into several pieces.

 "Rei?" Serena asked timidly.

 Rei looked up at her and everyone watched, holding their breath.  "What, were you expecting the Easter Bunny, French-fry?"

 "Rei!" Serena cried and ran forward, locking her in a hug.

 "Get off French-fry, I'm okay!" Rei laughed.  Everyone else ran forward to see if she was okay.  She laughed again as they surrounded her.

 "Are you sure you’re okay?" Mina asked as Rei petted TK.

 "Never been better, why?" Rei looked at all of them, "Should I not be?"  They all looked at each other.  "Jeez, you’d think I had been dead by the look on you guys’ faces."

 They laughed shrilly.

 "Dead?" Lita laughed, waving her away, "Why would you say something like that?" Lita coughed and turned away.

 "Dead!" Amy looked away, "What a kidder.  You shouldn’t say things like that Rei…" She laughed a little more.

 "Forget me, are you guys okay?" Rei asked them.  They all nodded.  "Oh!" she said and ran over to where Charlie was.  "Charlie!  Where have you—"

 Charlie was looking over Rais.

 "Is he…?"

 "No," Charlie smiled over at her, "Just severely weakened.  We need to get him home and quick."

 "He did… something important didn’t he?" Rei asked Charlie.  Charlie looked at her and smiled.  She was clueless.

 "More important than we’ll ever let on," Charlie smiled and picked Rais up.  "Let’s get him home."  Rais was surprisingly light.

 "Hey wait," Serena looked around, "What ever happened to that Ran guy?"

 All of a sudden, Daunus ran in being chased by the Felinus Sapien.  "You can’t escape the law!"

 Daunus ran behind Creton’s throne.

 "Daunus," Rei growled and walked over to him.

 "Rei, help!  This guy won’t leave me alone!" Daunus pleaded.  Rei just scowled down at him.  He looked up at her.  "I'll fight for you! I will!  Please!"

 "Hey Doll, would you mind terribly if I asked you to nab this guy?" Ran panted, "I’m all out of breath."

 "Rei…?"

 She smiled at Daunus widely and he stood up.  "Thank you, thank you, thank you," he said, bowing to her.

 "No problem, old friend," Rei said and pegged him right in the temple.  Daunus fell over unconscious.  Ran nodded with approval.

 "It’s about time this guy was brought to justice," Ran winked at Rei, "You pack quite a punch there Doll."

 "I’m not a Doll," Rei said very flatly.

 "Did I say you were a Doll?" Ran asked nervously, "I meant to say that you were… tall…."  He coughed and stuck his hands in his pockets.
 

 "Whatever," Rei shook her head, "Need help getting him out of here?"

 "Naw," Ran scratched the back of his head, "I’m fine.  But maybe one of you gals could help me out." He looked at Serena.  "I haven’t had a nice kiss in a long time and I am kind of a hero right…?"

 "Annihilation!" Serena threatened with her wand.  It didn’t go off but Ran got the picture.  He shrugged innocently.

 "So I’ll be seeing you Dolls around, right?" he asked, and created a transport portal, tossing Daunus in, "And remember, always follow the magical use codes."

 He stepped through while tipping his hat.  Rei shook her head.

 "Who was that?" she asked.

 "Ran Whiska," Serena said in a drawling voice, looking severely annoyed with the whole situation, "Private Eye."

 "Impossible," Rei turned to her, "He’s sixteen or seventeen.  You can’t be a law enforcer on this continent until age twenty one."

 "Maybe he looks young," Mina shrugged.

 "He’s lying," Rei frowned, "Oh well, I have the feeling we’ll see him again…"

 "I hope not," Serena frowned, "He was annoying.  Though I guess I should have apologized for kicking him in the head when we first met..."

 "Girls?" Charlie put in, "Rais?"

 "Right," Rei said, looking at Rais with worry.  She then turned to Valerie and Brashear, "What about you two?  Are you coming?"

 "We’ll stay at Reptopia," Brashear told her, "I think Creton will be gone for a little while.  We should be safe."

 "Good," Rei smiled, "Stay out of trouble you two."  She started to follow the others out the door, wanting to catch up to Charlie.

 "Rei?" Valerie asked and she turned around.  "Thanks.  A lot.  I mean, that is... I'm sorry too, but for what you've done... I just..."

 "No problem," Rei smiled warmly, "Just stay away from Creton and I think you’ll do fine, Valerie."  Rei smiled.  "More than fine actually."

 Serena created a transport warp and they went back to Lizerton.

 Charlie and Rei sat on top of one of the hills surrounding Lizerton.  The sun was going down, the wind was blowing in a small breeze and Rei heaved a sigh.  Charlie had already told his story to the others.  They knew his past.  Surprsingly enough, at least to him, they all seemed glad to have him back anyway.  Now Charlie told Rei her own story.

 "So I was dead?" Rei asked.  She fidgeted a little and Charlie looked at her.

 "Almost dead," Charlie reminded her, "There’s a difference.  We thought we had lost you when Creton put the last of your energy into Rais."

 "He gave it back though," Rei looked at Charlie, puzzled, "How did he do that?  Doesn’t energy transfer of that kind involve more than just a simple spell?"

 "I don’t think that’s my place to tell you," Charlie smirked at her.

 "What does that mean?" Rei asked, creasing her eyebrows, "That was way too mysterious.  What's the big deal?"

 "Nothing," Charlie said, looking innocent.  Rei stood up and placed her hands on her hips, then gave him a long stare.

 "Charlie?"

 Charlie smiled up at her, put his hand over her mouth and pushed her backwards.  She fell to the ground and he got up, starting to run.

 "Charles!" Rei cried, "You come back here and tell me what happened back in that stupid castle, or I’ll… I’ll… injure you!"

 She chased after him.

 "Well, she seems to be back to normal," Serena said, watching Rei go after Charlie.

 She and the other girls sat on a picnic blanket, having another outdoors picnic.  This time closer to home than the last.  She was after her fifth sandwich.

 "Lucky girl," Lita sighed, watching Charlie.

 "I’m glad he’s home," Amy watched Rei chase him down the hill.  Charlie was laughing, easily outrunning her. "I don’t think we could have lasted very much longer without him."

 "He’s definitely one of us," Hotaru smiled as Rei finally tackled him.

 "So how did Rais get her energy back to her?" Mina asked, "Did any of you happen to see what happened after Charlie created that diversion?"

 "No," Serena shook her head, "I was kind of busy trying to hurt Creton and all."  She shoved the sandwich into her mouth.

 "And what about Brashear?" Amy asked, "And Valerie?  I didn’t know they had it in them.  But I guess love does conquer all."

 "I hope they’ll be okay," Mina said thoughtfully.   "After all, if Creton comes back he might go after them…"

 Lita’s face darkened.  "Maybe he’s gone for good.  I hope so.  Whatever Rei did to him it was fast and to the point."

 "I’m just glad to be out of there," Hotaru told them, "That place was starting to give me the heeby jeebies.  Those soldier themselves were pretty freaky."

 "What about Ran?" Serena asked thoughtfully.

 "What about him?" they all asked.  Serena looked at each of them in a moment’s panic and they waited for her to answer.

 "I just wanted to know what happened to that stupid Cat Boy, okay?" Serena yelled, then got quieter, "I mean, he did help us find Rei and whatnot."

 "You think we’ll see him again?" Amy asked.

 "I’m almost sure of it," Hotaru looked to be thinking for a moment, "He’s a mysterious character isn’t he?"

 "Yeah, but this story is full of interesting characters," Mina replied.

 "So how is Rais?" Lita asked.

 "Getting better," Amy said, "That kid is persistent.  He’s definitely used up all of his sick days."

 "How much longer?" Serena asked, "It’s already been a day.  He must have given Rei more than just her own energy back."

 "But how!" Hotaru slammed a fist against her knee, then winced. "I must know!  I know I missed something important.  There’s something I think is suspicious about that…"

 "I know," Amy frowned, "Well, I guess it’s between Rais and Charlie, after all they were the only ones there besides Rei, and she doesn’t remember.  She keeps bugging Charlie about it and he won’t give away a word."

 "What about Daunus?" Serena asked suddenly, "If Ran isn’t a cop, then why did he go after Daunus like that?  Maybe Rei’s wrong."

 "I’m never wrong."

 "Hey Rei," Serena said, not looking too worried about the fact that she had heard her say that.  "We were discussing Ran and everything else."

 "So what happened after we left anyway?" Hotaru asked, taking a bit of her sandwich, "Well, I mean after we were so rudely ambushed by those stupid Evilopolis soldiers."

 Rei put her head down and her eyes changed a little.  "I’d rather not talk about," then she smiled at them, "That’s between Daddy and me."

 "What?" they all looked at each other and she flashed them a peace sign, then took off towards the castle.

 "I will never understand that girl," Mina shook her head, frustrated, "One minute she has the world’s biggest attitude problem, then she acts like she’s five, then she’s a wise adult."

 "Not Princess like at all," Amy smile din her direction, "I think that’s why we all like her.  She’s definitely something else.  And she’s a lot happier now that Charlie’s back."

 "And Charlie seems a lot nicer too," Serena took another sandwich and shoved it down, "I guess he finally likes us all."

 "Who says I didn’t before?"

 "Would you people quit doing that?" Hotaru growled, "Just sneak up on us while we have an adult conversation why don’t you?"

 "Sorry," Charlie smiled, "Got room for one more?"

 "Right here, Charlie," Serena said, calling for him to sit in the empty spot next to her.  Lita looked up with a frown.

 "Right here!" she insisted.

 Charlie just laughed and sat down where he stood.

 "So what happened when Rais gave Rei back her energy?" Lita asked, "That’s the only thing that really bothers us."

 "I’ll tell you what I told Rei," Charlie said, making himself a sandwich, "It’s not my place to tell anyone what happened.  If Rais says something then it’s his decision.  I wouldn’t pester him about it, I don’t think he’ll feel all that well about the situation."

 "Why’s that?" Serena asked hoping for some answers.

 "Couldn’t say," Charlie winked at her and everybody groaned, "You girls just need to let nature run its course.  You are still young after all."

 "What’s that supposed to mean?" Mina asked.

 "Whatever you want it to mean," Charlie smiled at her.

 "Grr," Mina responded and folded her arms.

 "So are you happy now that you’re back in good old Lizerton?" Amy asked, hunting for the deviled eggs.

 "You bet," Charlie smiled at all of them, "I missed you guys more than I thought I would, that’s for sure."

 "I really missed you Charlie," Serena told him, smiling very largely in his direction.  He smiled a little nervously back.

 "Not as much as me," Lita said, glaring at Serena.

 "I missed him more!" Serena yelled.

 "No I did!" Lita yelled back.

 Charlie just smiled and started to eat a sandwich.

 Rei ran up to the castle and went into Rais’s room.  She carefully shut the door behind her and walked over to his bed.  He lay sleeping.  He tossed his head back and forth and his forehead was gleaming in sweat.

 "Rei…" he murmured.

 "I’m here," she said quietly, "I’m right here Rais.  You’re okay.  I’m right here with you."  She sat down next to his bed.

 "Don’t die…" he still muttered, "You can’t die… I love you…"

 Rei jumped up in shock.  Her back hit the opposite wall and her heart skipped several beats.  She looked very carefully at his face.  She was almost sure he meant it.  She took a step forward, and making sure no one was watching, she leaned down and kissed him on the lips softly.

 "I love you too," she whispered and he settled down.

 She stood by his bed for awhile looked down at him.

 Why do I feel like this?  He’s just amercenary.  He’s just another boy.  Why do I feel like this?  I hate men.  Remember?

 She was lying to herself and she knew it.

 She turned around and walked out of the room.  She shut the door behind her and leaned her back against it with a happy sigh.  She looked over her shoulder at the door, thinking of Rais.

 She laughed and ran down the hall and back out the door.

 The others had brought out a ball and were playing soccer.  Rei saw the ball coming at her and kicked it, then joined in the game.

 She laughed along with the rest of her friends as she played, but the whole time the only thing on her mind was Rais.

 She didn’t quite understand it, but she wasn’t sure she cared.

 And in his sleep, Rais smiled.

 "Creton…"

 "Who’s there?" he called, hiding in the shadows of some unknown forest.

 "What do you desire?" the voice whispered to him, "Do you desire strength?  Do you desire the power you have asked for?"

 "Yes!" Creton cried, standing in spite of his injuries, "I want to make them pay for what they did!"

 "So be it," the feminine voice said and Creton disappeared from where he stood.

 A small bird watched as he disappeared and took flight when he reappeared.

 Creton appeared larger in silhouette, though that’s all the bird saw was his silhouette.  It could here his cold laugh as it flew away.

Now that's just scary... Chapter 14