The Adventures of the SOL

 She pressed through the landscape with determination on her face.  She held her wand tightly by her side as she marched towards Lizerton.  She felt herself growing angry all over again.  She was going to resolve the issue once and for all and if anyone tried to stop her...

 With a small squeak a smaller form ran after her and she slowed down a little letting them catch up.

 "Sorry, Cloud," she apologized, "I didn’t mean to get ahead."

 Cloud shrugged and they kept walking.

 The girl had semi-long bright red hair that waved to her broad shoulders and fell into her eyes.  She wore a black outfit that showed her pierced belly button and used dark makeup.  She wore a pentagram pendent around her neck.

 She was a woman on a mission.  She held up the note that she was on her way to Lizerton about.  She had had enough of this and was on her way to Lizerton to find out the truth.
 Cloud pulled at the cape behind her.  She turned around.

 "What?"

 He pointed to the note and shrugged.

 "Oh.  This?" she pointed to the note, and read the note outloud, "Dear Jade, I have gone to Lizerton to rescue a Princess.  I’ll be gone a few weeks.  See you later."

 Cloud sighed and she shrugged back at him, then took out another note.

 "This one is weirder," she told him and read, "Decided to stay awhile.  Say hi to everyone."  She put the note in her pocket.  "Isn’t that just strange?  I mean, why would she stay in a place so different from home, like Lizerton?"

 Cloud shrugged.

 "I know!" she cried, "Who does she think she is.  As her big sister, I’m going to figure out just what’s happened to her!"

 Cloud sighed and looked at the ground.

 Cloud had blonde hair that spiked all over the place and a purple outfit with baggy pants.  Big round glasses filled his face.  He was much shorter than the girl, who was very tall compared.

 "Well, we’ll find out if it’s true what they say," she said, "If rumor has it, the Princess of Lizerton is responsible for what happened to her.  We’ll find our vengeance."

 Cloud just stared at her.

 "What?" she asked, "I think that it’s true.  We know she’s dead, and it’s time she was avenged.  After all, no one can cross me, Jade!"

 Cloud sighed and shook his head.

 "That’s an insult!" Jade declared.

 Cloud shrugged and kept walking.

 "Oh yeah, thanks for coming," Jade told Cloud and he just smiled.  They continued down the large hill that they had come to pass.  "If the rumors are right we can find the Princess in a big castle in the middle of the town.  We’ll go straight there and question this Princess ourselves."

 Cloud stared at her.

 "I know, I know, there’s a chance that she’s stronger than me, if she did kill my sister, but I mean, she’s a Princess, how strong can she be?"

 Cloud held out his hands signaling that she could be pretty strong.  Jade frowned and folded her arms.

 "This is about vengeance Cloud, it doesn’t matter how strong she is.  She’ll pay for killing my sister."

 Cloud just sighed again.

 They walked over another hill.

 "She’ll pay alright," Jade gripped the already crumpled note in her hand tighter, "She’ll pay for killing my sister, Twiggy."

 "I’m going to hurt you!"

 Serena was running down the hallway, away from Rei.  Rei was chasing after her.  Serena made a sharp left and Rei followed with a vengeance.

 Luke had left and so had her suitors.  Things were slowing down again at the Lizerton Castle.  Or at least they weren't speeding up.

 "That’s mine French-fry!" she yelled as she chased the blonde.

 Serena was clutching a scrapbook in her arms with a big grin on her face.  On the cover was written "Charlie."  It was a photo album.

 "I might need that for some reason!" Rei cried as they made another round through the castle.  Serena ran past Mina and Amy.  As Serena passed, Mina plucked the book from her and handed it to Rei as she came around.

 "Oh thanks Mina," Rei said, and gave Serena a dirty look, "Stay out of my room, French-fry!  This is my own personal private, top secret, never-to-be-seen-by-the-likes-of-you property, so butt out!"  She stuck her tongue out and Serena frowned.

 "I can’t just see it?  You’re so unfair, you big meanie!  It’s not right!  I should have a chance to just see a few pictures," she sat down on the ground and pouted.

 "You're after more than just pictures, I'd warrant, wouldn't you Mina?" Amy said knowingly, "How about it Mina?"

 "Maybe, maybe not," Serena said, looking at the album, doing all but licking her lips.  The other three exchanged glances.

 About then a guard came in.  He stood in front of Rei who looked at him inquiringly.  "Your highness, you have a visitor."

 "Oh really?" Rei asked, "Was that on the schedule, Mina?"  She can't believe she actually asked what was on the schedule.  Normally she was trying to get things crossed off the list.

 Mina looked over her clipboard.  "I don’t think so.  You don’t have any visitors listed, though you have been known to have a few secret ones."

 "She didn’t have that clip board a second ago…" Amy whispered to Serena.

 "She scares me like that sometimes," Serena replied.

 "Well, I guess I should go see what our visitor wants," Rei shrugged.  She walked to her room and put up the photo album, giving Serena a dirty look. "Coming or going girls?"

 "I’ll go," they all said at once and followed her out to the throne room.  The visitor met them halfway.  They stood up on the throne platform and the visitor marched in, looking up at them from the audience level.

 She was a very tall and very darkly dressed young lady.  She looked a year or so older than Rei.  Behind her trailed a bored looking, and definitely shorter, boy.

 "You!" she cried, pointing at Rei.

 "Me?" Rei asked confused.  The girl marched up the steps towards Rei.  Rei was a little surprised and took a step back.

 "My name is Jade the Witch, and I believe you are responsible for my sister’s death!" she cried, getting very close to Rei’s face.

 "Look, lady," Rei said, frowning at the girl, "I’m not quite sure who your sister is, but I’m almost sure that if I killed her, it was for a very good reason."

 "It was murder is what it was!" Jade cried, "You shall suffer for Twiggy’s death!"  She whipped out her wand.

 "Twiggy?" they all asked and looked at each other.  Rei was busy staring at the wand, whose tip was an inch away from her nose.

 "You don’t understand," Amy said, smiling a little nervously, "It wasn’t—"

 "Easy?" Jade demanded to know, "Of course it wasn’t.  We are talking about Twiggy here.  I remember the time that that bossy old man next door was trying to get her to turn her music down and you should have seen the look on his face when…"

 She continued to talk, and the girls all looked at each other in confusion.  None of them knew that Twiggy had a sister.  This was just weird.  And was she was actually implying that they had been the ones responsible for Twiggy’s death.

 Rei frowned at the talkative witch.  "I didn’t kill your sister," She told her in a very level voice, carefully shoving the wand away. "I find it insulting that you would suggest I would have.  Twiggy was my friend and she proved great loyalty to us in the very end.  So maybe you should find a new place to search because her death is not on my hands."

 "And who’s hands is it on?" she asked.

 "Creton’s," Amy spoke up, "I was there when it happened.  He killed her in an attempt to kill me.  Twiggy saved my life."

 Jade was very quiet for a second.  Cloud looked up at her and she looked down at him.  They both shrugged and Jade turned back to the girls.

 "Where is this Creton?" she asked.

 They all looked at each other.  "What will you do?" Serena leaned over the banister, "If we tell you I mean."

 "I will kill him," Jade said.

 They all looked at each other again.  Finally, Mina snorted and they started laughing.  Jade blushed and looked at each of them in a moment’s panic.

 "What?" she asked, "What’s so funny?  Do you think I don’t mean it?  I will destroy him for what he did to my sister!"

 "Jade, is it?" Rei asked, "I honestly can’t think of a single person who is strong enough to destroy Creton.  You can’t fight him alone and win, and the idea itself is pretty funny."

 "You’ll see," Jade growled and marched away.  Cloud watched her go, waved at the girls and ran off.

 "Who was he?" Serena asked of him as he ran as fast as he could to catch up with the much taller girl.

 "I dunno," Mina shrugged, "Doesn’t talk much does he?"

 "Or at all," Rei said.

 "Do you think she really means to go after Creton?" Amy asked, having a seat on the steps.  She looked a little worried and upset.  Rei could see why.

 "No," Rei sounded very sure of herself, "For a very simple reason."  She looked at the door and waited.  Suddenly, Jade ran back in.  She was blushing again and looked from each of them.

 "By the way—"

 "I don't know for sure, but I'm assuming he's in the big dark city to the northeast of Reptopia," Rei told her and she nodded.  She was out the door again and they all watch confused.  "Now I think she really does mean to fight him."

 "But we don’t even know how strong he is now," Serena blinked, "Didn’t that hypnotist say he was even stronger?  We haven't seen him since Rei got him."

 "Well, that doesn’t mean anything," Amy reminded her, "I mean, since when is evil known for telling the truth?  For all we know Creton's dead and that was one of his minions trying to avenge him."

 They were quiet for a second.  They all seemed to be thinking.  Rei sat down in the throne with a slump.

 "I can’t believe she was Twiggy’s sister," Mina blurted suddenly, "She’s so different.  I mean, she was so loud, and she talks a lot.  Twiggy was a little smart aleck but she wasn’t so… so…"

 "Open?" Amy asked.

 "Yeah!  And they don’t look that much alike anyway," she continued, "And Twiggy never mentioned she had a sister."

 "Do you have any siblings Mina?" Rei asked.

 "Er," Mina blushed, "Yeah, a little sister and an older brother.  Why?"

 "You never told us that either," Rei pointed out, "And I didn’t tell you about my siblings until we had known each other for awhile.  What about the rest of you?"

 "I have little sister," Serena said.

 "Only child," Amy smirked.

 "What about Hotaru?" Mina asked, "Does she?  Or Lita?"

 "I know Lita’s an only child, I don’t know about Hotaru," Rei shrugged, "See, so it’s not that strange."

 "What about Rais?" Serena asked.

 They were all silent.  If Rais had brothers or sisters that would be something indeed.  Where would they be?

 "Probably shouldn’t ask him," Amy said.

 "Good idea," Mina nodded.

 "So what are we going to do about this Jade character?" Rei asked, "We can’t let her run into Evilopolis and get herself killed.  Even if Creton's not there, there are some pretty nasty creatures living there as it is."

 "I guess you're right," Mina sighed, "But hopefully she won’t find it.  I mean, no offense to Twiggy's sister but she didn't look like she had a good sense of direction."

 "I wouldn’t put it past her," Amy held up a finger, "She didn’t seem like one for directions did she?  And it’s a little confusing to go through that forest."

 Mina sighed.  "I’ll go find everyone else."

 "This forest is kind of spooky isn’t it Cloud?" Jade asked.  Cloud shivered a little and grabbed her cape for support.  "Here, I know what will help.  How about some soothing music?"

 She pulled her wand out and cast a music spell, which some witches were famous for.  It began to blare out.  Heavy guitar and screaming voices could be heard.  Jade smiled.

 They were making their way through Nymph Forest.  They walked along a small path into the forest and in between the Reptopian Swamp.  But Jade didn’t know any of this.  She just knew she was in the Very Very Creepy Forest, going through the God Knows What Swamp.  She began to wonder if that Princess and her little friends had lied to her.  After all, would they admit it if they did kill Twiggy?  She thought not.  After awhile of walking, she and Cloud came out into a town.

 "This must be Evilopolis," Jade said and continued through before Cloud could stop her.  She marched through the town till she reached the castle, where she walked right in.  She walked straight through and went through the double doors at the back.

 "You!" she cried.

 Two surprised people looked at her.

 One was Queen Brashear, the Queen of Reptopia.  The other was Valerie.  They both had been talking when the very strange looking girl entered.

 "You killed my sister!"

 "Did I?" Brashear said, still confused, "Um, who are you?  If you have a complaint or business, then…"

 "I have a complaint!" Jade said, "I have a complaint on how you killed my sister!  Now you must pay!"

 "Who’s your sister?" Valerie asked, leaning back in his chair and considering her, "I’m sure this is a mistake."

 "Twiggy," Jade spat and was about to launch into another one of her speeches.  She felt tugging on her cape. "What is it Cloud?"  She turned around and he pointed up.  He looked and saw a large sign that read "Reptopia."

 "Oh."

 "What’s wrong now?" Brashear asked, now just annoyed.

 "I think I have the wrong castle," she said, "Which way is Evilopolis?"  They both looked at each other and pointed northeast.  "Thanks."

 She turned and walked out.  Cloud bowed to them and left behind her.  She left, slamming the door with a loud bang.  Brashear and Valerie stared at each other.

 "What was that about?" Brashear asked, "Wasn’t Twiggy--?"

 "The girl that my father killed," Valerie nodded, "The only SOL member he successfully killed.  I guess she’s after revenge."

 "How did she know to go to Evilopolis?" Brashear asked.

 "Who knows," Valerie said, "Something she heard.  Though I can’t figure out how you could mistake Reptopia for Evilopolis."

 "Is she going to go after Creton?" Brashear asked him a little wide eyed.

 Valerie thought for a moment.  "Probably.  Should we try and stop her?  I mean, I don't know if he's even alive but Evilopolis is no place even for a witch."

 "What can you do?" Brashear asked, shrugging helplessly, "I don’t think she’ll listen if he killed her sister."

"You’re right," Valerie frowned, "But maybe we should try.  After all, if her sister's already dead, I don't think she should have to die."

 Just then the doors opened and none other than Princess Rei and the rest of SOL entered.  They both were almost as surprised to see them as they had the witch.

 "Miss Rei, what are you doing here?" Brashear asked.

 "Did you see a tall witch named Jade?  Red hair, raving about revenge?" she asked, sounding casual, as though they had randomly run into each other.

 "Came and went," Valerie pointed to the northeast again, "We were just discussing if we should try and stop her from going to Evilopolis.  I take it she paid you a visit also?"

 "Yep, and we told her Creton killed Twiggy," Rei nodded, "A mistake on our part, now she’s trying to go after him."

 "We noticed," Brashear looked at Valerie, "What will you do if she doesn’t stop at the Evilopolis borders?  She’ll never make it."

 "We’ll see," Rei smiled, "We can’t just let Twiggy’s sister die.  She was a good friend and it would be a shame.  Besides, she seems kind of nice when she isn’t accusing you of killing her family members."

 "Rei, we should go," Charlie told her.  He seemed uncomfortable in Reptopia under such friendly terms.  Some things never changed, Rei supposed.

 "Okay," Rei nodded, "Be on the look out will you?  If she comes by tell her not to move and send me a message Valerie."

 "Can do," Valerie nodded.  They walked out, leaving the two Reptopian rulers to themselves to discuss what had just happened.

 "Where are we going?" Lita asked Rei, "We can’t go to Evilopolis.  Can we?  I mean, if Creton is stronger..."

 "We have no choice," Rei replied, "Because of her relation to Twiggy, we have to look at Jade as one of us.  After all, we have to respect Twiggy’s wishes and I’m sure she wouldn’t want her sister to burst in on Creton and get killed."

 "But…" Hotaru gulped.  No one looked too keen on headed back for Evilopolis.  They had all they wanted to do with Evilopolis and it’s soldiers.  Or even worse it’s ruler.

 "Rei, the last time we went face to face with Creton…" Rais was looking her right in the eyes as he talked, "I don’t think we could stand it if something like that happened to you again.  What if we couldn't fix it this time?"

 "Or any of us," Lita added.

 "Maybe we should let her realize it for herself," Serena looked at the ground, "I mean, once she sees Evilopolis, surely…"

"Have you never been to Gothopic, where she and Twiggy are from?" Rei asked Serena, "It’s dark and full of monsters and vampires.  Witches and goblins and sorcerers.  The mountains above cast an everlasting shadow.  The people walk around enjoying and basking in the darkness as another Wiccan ritual is held in the middle of the Town Square."

 "Is.. Is Gothopic an evil place?" Serena asked.

 "No," Charlie looked at Rei as if scolding her, "Not at all, but one that could be judged that way by the close minded.  What Rei is trying to say is that Evilopolis will look like home to her.  Even if it’s not quite so nice."

 "If you call that nice," Mina muttered.

 "So what are we going to do?" Hotaru asked.

 "I’m going," Amy said.

 They all looked at her.

 "I’m going," she had her fists clenched and she was staring at the ground, "Twiggy sacrificed herself to save me even after I accused her of so much.  Just because she was a witch, I thought she was evil and unloyal.  Twiggy still saved me and if it hadn’t been for her, I wouldn’t be standing here trying to make this decision.  So I’m going.  I owe Twiggy at least that much."

 They were all quiet.

 "I’ll go," Rais said.  He had seen Twiggy die also.

 "Count me in," Lita smiled at Amy and put an arm around her.  Amy smiled a little bit and looked at the others.

 "I’ll go," Mina nodded.

 "Me too," Charlie said.

 "If Charlie’s going, I’m going," Serena smiled purposely at Amy.

 "I think your all nuts, but I guess someone has to make sure you don’t all do something stupid and get yourselves killed," Hotaru said, "I’m in."

 "Good," Rei said, "But if we go in there, we're going to get in, grab her, and get out, got it?  We aren't taking any chances."

 They all sighed and began to walk to Evilopolis.

 "This is Evilopolis?" Jade asked, "It doesn’t look that bad.  Maybe those Lizerton people did lie to me.  After all, it looks almost like home."

 Jade stood at the entrance of Evilopolis, looking it over.  The fog was heavy and it was darker there than it should have been.  Dark clouds lingered heavily over the town.  There was no color anywhere in the town.  It seemed to be composed mostly a large gray rocks with holes in them.  Eyes peeked from almost every crevice.

 Jade loved it.

Cloud was staring at it suspiciously.  He lived in Gothopic but he was born in Wet.  This place didn’t have a very good feel to it.  Jade began towards the town and Cloud grabbed hold of her cape.  He was dragged a little of the way before she finally stopped.

 "What?" she asked as she turned around, "What’s wrong with you Cloud?"  She bent down so he could whisper something in her ear.  "Nonsense!" she stood up, "How could a place that looks so cool be evil.  You’re imagining things.  But never the less, either way, this Creton guy is gonna pay for what he did to Twiggy."

 Cloud squeaked as she continued through the town.  He followed, staying very close to Jade.  After awhile she didn’t feel so sure that this place was so cool after all.  Those beady eyes were following them everywhere.  She made her wand appear in her hand, ready.

 Nothing seemed to be happening as they walked the crooked gray path to the castle.  After all of the rock there were several buildings.  All of them were tall and black, with dark corners everywhere.  She could see the glowing eyes watching them.  Cloud kept watch all around.

 She was still determined to get to the castle, so she just kept a close look out.

 Finally, she reached the castle and paused.  Surrounding the castle was a raging river.  How was she supposed to get into it?  The drawbridge was up.

 She decided to fly up and cast a spell on herself.  With an exasperated sigh, Cloud cast his own spell and followed her up.  They landed on the top and looked around.  "Looks like the coast is clear."

 They continued around, looking for a door.  Jade finally found one and went towards it.  She tried to open it but it didn’t move.  She kept pulling but to no avail.

 "Locked," she said and pulled a hairpin out of her hair.  She started to fiddle with the lock.  Cloud watched unimpressed as she continued to twist and turn the hairpin.

 Cloud looked around boredly.   Then he let out a startled squeak.  He stared right at an Evilopolis soldier.  It’s black armor and darkened face loomed over him.  Cloud reached behind him and started to pull at Jade’s cape, not taking his eyes off of the soldier.

 "What is it Cloud?" she asked, never looking away.  He tugged harder.  "What do you want?"  Still he only tugged.  "Cloud, what is it!?"

 Finally he jumped over her head, turned the lock in the door, and pushed it open.  Then Jade lost her balance and they fell down a long row of stairs.

 "What did you do that for?" Jade yelled at Cloud.  Cloud just looked up and they saw the soldier coming down the stairs towards them.  Jade yelped and they both took off down the hallway.  They ran for awhile, not exactly sure where they were going.  Finally, they stopped and caught their breath.  No sign of the soldier anywhere and they hadn’t seen anymore.

 "That was close," Jade said, "Why didn’t you just tell me?"

 Cloud frowned at her.

 "What?"  He shook his head and they walked out into the main hallway.  "Now if I was Creton, where would I be?"

 Cloud shrugged.

 "You're no help."

 They marched down the hall, looking for anything that looked like a throne room.  Finally they stumbled onto two large double doors.  Jade looked up at them in awe for a minute and reached hesitantly for the handle.  She pulled away for a moment, then grabbed the handle.

 She pulled and it didn’t open.

 "Another locked door?" she asked.  Cloud gave her a look and pushed.  The door creaked open.  Jade laughed a little sheepishly.  "I knew that."

 They both pushed it open a little more.  The dark castle became even darker in the room.  Jade looked inside and found she couldn’t even see passed the door.

 "Hello?" she asked and her echo answered her.

 She took a step in and Cloud followed closely.  They looked around trying to see anything.  Suddenly, the door behind them slammed and they both jumped.  Then the torches along the walls each lit one by one.  Jade gasped as they lit all the way to the back.

 "Welcome."  They couldn’t see the face of the man in the back but he sat on his throne, legs crossed.

 "You!" Jade cried.

 "Yes me," Creton smiled in the darkness, "How may I help you?"

 "You killed my sister!" Jade cried, "You must pay for that!  Prepare to be thwarted Creton!  For my wrath is strong!"

 "Indeed?" he asked.  They still couldn’t see his face, "And am I to inquire as to who your sister was?"

 "Twiggy the Witch," Jade said.

 "Oh," Creton said, "Her.  Yes, I remember it well; I was trying to kill that other little SOL brat when she got in the way.  There’s a moral to every story.  That one was not to get in my way."

 Jade growled.

 "What are you going to do?" Creton asked.

 "I’m… I’m…" Jade held up her wand.  A blue light appeared out of nowhere and flew to it.  Then she aimed it at Creton.  "Bolt!"  A bolt of lightning flew at Creton.  He held up a hand and it broke apart.

 "Wh-What?"

 "So have you challenged me?" Creton said, "I haven’t had a chance to try out my new form.  You might be the perfect way to start."

 Jade shrunk back a little.  This wasn’t going at all the way she planned.  She took a step backwards and waited to see what he would do.

 At first he just smiled and she still waited.  "Well?  Are you going to try again or should I give it my best shot?"

 Jade said nothing.  Cloud trembled behind her.

 "Well, then," Creton said and put up a hand.  He fired a single blast at Jade and she flew backwards.  She hit the far wall with a bone splitting crack.  Who was this guy?  Where did he get so much power?  It was almost impossible.

 "Pity, I was hoping you were stronger," Creton smiled, "Oh well."  He was about to attack again, when suddenly the doors to the room burst open.

 "Hold on one second Creton!"

 He looked to the entrance and silhouetted against it were some very recognizable shapes.

 "If it isn’t the SOL.  So glad to see you," he smiled, "You’re just in time to see me destroy this witch.  Have you met her?  She’s quite nice."  Everyone stared for a second.  He wasn't wearing his mask but they couldn't see his face.

 Rei frowned.  "You’ll do no such thing.  Not while I’m around."

 "I wouldn’t play with me Rei, things are much more different," he sat down, "Though all of you are looking rather tasty…"

 "What?" Hotaru said.  She didn’t understand.

 Creton stood up but they still couldn’t see his face.  "Let me show you what trouble you have caused me."

 He stepped forward.  They all looked at him.  His tall figure loomed over them.  He looked very different from when they last saw him. He wore a long cape going behind him instead of around him.  He had heavy black armor on.  There were three spikes coming from his back.

 Rei's eyebrows creased.  They could no see his face but where she had so distinctly seen scars and battle damage, their way now only a normal face.  It made him look so much like Charlie...

 "Nice makeover Creton," Rei said, "I’m not impressed."

 "I haven’t began to show you," Creton looked at her lustfully, "You zapped so much of my energy the only way I can stay alive is to eat other energies."

 No one understood what he was talking about so he decided to demonstrate.  He snapped his finger and the group jumped back with a gasp as the doors opened and a soldier came in.  It walked right up to Creton and stopped.

 "Watch carefully," Creton told them, "You might learn a little something."  He paused for only a moment.  Then he faced the soldier.  He spread his arms and it didn’t seem like anything was going to happen.

 They watched carefully as something started to happen to the soldier.  It was like he was bending towards Creton.  Then all at once it broke into bits of energy and went towards Creton.  He absorbed the energy and smiled at them.

 "That is what I must do to live, and the power it gives is incredible," Creton told them, "You really should try it."

 They were all staring in shock.  He had just eaten his own soldier.  He had eaten him.  Eaten him.  Rei blinked several times.  "You monster."

 "I’ll say," they heard and Jade was standing next to them, "No matter what you are, I will still have my revenge!"  She was up and ran towards Creton.

 "No!" Rei cried.

 She jumped into the air.  Her wand in the air, she cried, "Blizzard!"  A blast of cold wind flew out and towards Creton.  He made no move to stop it as it surrounded him.  It rose above him and turned his entire body to ice.

 "She didn’t!" Amy cried.

 "She did!" Rais answered.

 "Oh no she didn’t!" Mina said as Creton broke free from the ice.  Jade gasped and he looked at her.  He aimed another attack at her.  Jade covered her head as it soared at her.

 Then Rei was in front of her.  "Shield!"   A large bubble appeared around the two of them and the blow hit the shield.  Rei gasped and turned around.  She tackled Jade to the ground and the attack broke the shield and flew over them.

 "What are you doing?" Rei yelled at Jade, grabbing her by the front of her cape.  Jade was too surprised to answer for a moment.

 "Getting my revenge!" Jade yelled back suddenly and stood up.  "Fire!" she cried as she sent another blast at Creton.  He deflected it again and it left harmlessly.

 "Is this it Witch?" Creton asked, "Is this all you have?"  All of a sudden he was hit from the side.  The attack made contact and Creton let out a surprised cry.  It was a fire spell and it surrounded him.  He spread his arms and the flames dispersed.

 He saw Cloud standing there.  He growled and fired a blast at the short boy.  "Twilight Technique!"  Rei cried and it hit Creton’s attack, changing its course.

 Serena than ran forward with a cry and yelled, "Cover!"  The room began to fill with a pink fog.  Creton couldn’t see them through the fog and was unable to attack.  Rais then took action and said, "Transport group!"

 They were blinded for a moment, and then they were just outside the castle.

 "What did you do that for?" Jade yelled at Rais.

 "Because you almost got us killed!" Rais yelled back and everyone stared at him in shock, "Now get off of your revenge and think about Twiggy instead of yourself!"

 Jade seemed taken aback.  "Wh-What do you mean?  That’s what I’ve been doing.  I’ve been doing this all for her."

 "No," Amy said quietly, "You’re doing it for yourself, to release your anger at Creton for killing your sister.  If you were thinking about Twiggy you would have stayed home."

 "But..." Jade started.  She looked at Rei who was staring very hard at her.  She seemed unsure.  They couldn’t be right could they?

 "Stop sacrificing lives and save your own," Rei said.

 "I didn’t ask you to help me!" Jade spat.

 "No," Serena replied, "But it’s what Twiggy would have wanted from us, so now we have to protect you from yourself."

 "I can take care of myself!" Jade folding her arms and looking at the ground.  The SOL all looked at each other.

 "Apparently not," Hotaru pointed out, "You almost got you and your little friend here killed.  If anything you could have at least thought of him!"

 Jade looked at Cloud.  "I’m sorry Cloud, they’re right.  Are you okay."  He nodded.  "I guess you guys are right," she said, "I guess I was only thinking of myself after all.  I’m sorry."  She started to walk off.

 Rei watched her with her arms crossed.  The corner of her mouth twitched and she dropped her arms.  "Jade, come back."

 She turned around.

 "Are you coming?  I’m going back to the castle," Rei said, "Your welcome to stay if you want to rest from your journey.  Gothopic is a long way off."

 "Really?" Jade asked, "You mean it?"

 Rei nodded with a smile.

 "Okay!"

 "I thought I was doing the right thing," Jade told them later on in the lounge of Lizerton Castle, "I just wanted Twiggy to be avenged.  It wasn’t fair that she should have to die."

 "No," Amy said, "It wasn’t."

 "But killing Creton wasn’t the answer," Mina told her, "And neither was almost getting yourself killed."  Jade hung her head.

 "Well, at least you understand now," Lita said.

 "I do," Jade said.  Then after a minute, she brightened.  "So what kind of music do you like?"

 They all started discussing music.  It ended up that Jade, like Twiggy, was a major heavy metal fan.  They talked with her for awhile.

 "So what do you make of her?" Rei asked Charlie in their own little corner while the girls and Rais talked to her.

"She’s a little naïve but she’s got a good heart," Charlie told her earnestly, "She just needs some time to get over Twiggy."

 "I wish I had thought to send something to her family explaining the situation, but I never thought to."

 "How could you have?" Charlie asked, "I mean, you didn’t know who her family was or anything."

 "I wish Twiggy had been around a little longer," Rei said, "It’s just another reason that Creton should go."

 "Creton…" Charlie murmured.

 "I can’t believe that he just ate that soldier like that," Rei shook her head in disgust, "What does this mean do you think?"

 "I think it means we have a whole new set of troubles that we really don’t need," Charlie picked up a tea cup and took a sip, "I was so sure we got rid of him."

 "How did he restore himself?" Rei asked, "I mean, he said something about having to live like that now, but how did he get like that in the first place?"

 "I don’t know," Charlie shook his head, "I guess we may find out before long.  But whatever we do, we have to be more careful, and we desperately need to work on teamwork."

 Rei nodded.  She was watching Jade.

 "Jade?" Rei asked, "Do you want to take Twiggy’s place in SOL?"  Everyone stared at her.  Jade seemed taken off guard.  She blinked.

 "I—I—I…  Wow that is a question…"  She thought about it, "On one condition."

 "What’s that?" Rei said.

 "That Cloud gets to too," Jade said.  The little boy had been sitting silently next to her the entire time.

 "Okay," Rei nodded.

 "Okay then," Jade said, "I’d be glad… but…"

 "But?" they all asked and she smiled.

 "I think I’m going to take a little while, and you know, try and find myself," she said, "Maybe someday I’ll come and be a full fledged member of SOL, but for now I’ll just be sure and pay a regular visit okay?"

 They all said okay at the same time and Rei glared at each of them.  "Who’s the Princess around here?"

 "Me!" they all cried at once, except Rais who diligently replied, "You."

 "You guys wish," Rei said, flipping her hair behind her shoulders.  They laughed and continued to talk to Jade.

 "This is the last time that they escape," Creton smiled, "With this new power, there is no way I can lose.  They will be mine."

 He was staring into an orb of light.

 "Gather as much energy as you can, Creton," a voice floated from it, "I need more so I can break from here.  Then together we can destroy all of them."

 "All of them," Creton laughed, "Yes, we can destroy all of them."

 "What is your next plan?" the voice asked.

 "It’s ingenious and they’ll never see it coming.  Trust me, this one will work.  As long as no one interferes it’s as fool proof as it comes."

 "I wonder Creton," the voice said, "You had them in your castle and you were still unable to take care of them. I want to see results, and I want to see them soon.  I gave you this power and I can take it away.  Don’t fail me Creton."

 "Yes, My Lady," he said, bowing a little.

 "Then go," she said, "Make more plans and try to defeat them.  They are the number one obstacle in my resurrection."

 "Yes, My Lady.  They can not stop us now.  Or ever."

 "So what do you make of them?"

 "What do I make of them?  Well, they’re very strong.  And they’re all talented, but I wouldn’t say that they work with each other that great."

 Two dark shapes sat in the forest, looking out over Lizerton.  They were purposely in the shadows, trying not to be seen.

 "Are they who we’re looking for?" one of them asked.

 "Yes, I know it," the other said, "I saw one of them perform one of the ancient spells.  Almost all them have done it once.  Except for the Scout and the Animist, but not all of them may be involved, just a few of them."

 "So they are the prophesized ones?"

 "Yes, I’m almost sure of it, but it won’t be easy to approach them.  Especially while they’re being led by that Princess.  She’s pretty protective of them and getting past her… well, she’s stronger than you or I or anyone else, I know that much."

 "Well, we’ll have to ask a favor for a favor then," the first responded slyly, "We must try to help them in their struggles and in return maybe they will fight for our cause."

 "I’m just saying, don’t get your hopes up," the second insisted, "They’re all almost as bad as that Princess."

 "And she’s the daughter of Lawrence the good?"

 "Yes.  And as talented.  It’s not hard to believe."

 "What about the boy?"

 "The white haired one?"

 "No, I know he is the son of the one they call Creton.  The other one.  Who’s he?"

 "The long haired one?  He’s a talented swordsman.  He carries a lot of emotion.  Someday, he will be the best of the best.  A lot of them will."

 "Who would be the easiest to approach?"

 "The animist.  She has shown signs of being trusting, maybe too much so.  Still, she’s cautious and struck me as observant.  If you come off in the wrong way she’ll know immediately.  She can spot a character a million miles away."

 "Can she?  We’ll see about that.  After all, I think I can work this in our direction.  I just don’t want to give them the wrong impression."

 "Do you have a plan?"

 "Yes."

 "Shouldn’t you talk to Donavan?"

 "No."

 "If you say so."

 "I do.  I think we’re going to have to be straight forward and I think I’m the only one who can do it right."

 "What about me?!  They already would recognize me."

 "I think I should handle this.  I have a way with people.  And if the animist can recognize true intentions so quickly, than she’s my girl.  Maybe she'll recognize that mine are good, no?"

 "I just hope you know what you’re doing."

 "I do too."

 They stayed a moment, staring at the castle, then retreated into the darkness of the forest.  The town didn’t feel their presence or sense them nearby and everything went on as usual.  The members of SOL didn’t know that they were being spoken about as they talked to Jade and Cloud about their travels.  They didn’t know what these strangers had in store for them.

 They just knew that they had a huge problem.

 And whether he could help or not, he didn’t know, but he would try.

 After all, he had to save not only Lizerton, but the entire world.  And he needed their help.  So as he retreated, he prayed to some nameless god that he would be successful and that Mina wouldn’t find him suspicious.

 And as for Jade, she was happy among the SOL.  It was nice to forget about Twiggy's death for awhile.

 And it looked like she and Cloud ended up exactly where they belonged.

Well ain't that nice? ^_^ Chapter 16