The Adventures of the SOL

 Mina sat up that morning with a loud yawn.  She stretched herself out and smacked her lips, looking around her room with half opened eyes.

 "Good Mornin’."

 "Good morning Cere," Mina said and gave the little squirrel a kiss on the head.  Then, all at once, TK jumped up and onto her chest.  The big white panther knocked her flat and she gave him a look.

 "Let’s go out in the fields, Mina!" he said, "I feel so energetic!  Please?  I’m ready to go."  He got down on his haunches and started to purr.

 Mina laughed and said, "Okay, but only after breakfast."

 "Mina?"

 She looked up and saw a small canary, which had told her his name was ‘Nary.  He was perched on the top of her bed.  "Yes?"

 "Can I go too?" he asked.  He was still a child and talked in a child’s voice.

 "If you promise to be careful," Mina pointed sternly, "I might not be able to watch you if you go to far or too high."

 "I promise!" he said.

 "I wanna go," Cere said, jumping on her head.

 "Okay, fine, we’ll all go," Mina smiled.

 "Oh, not me."

 "What’s wrong Black?" she asked a small cat lying in a padded bed in the corner.  She sounded stuffed up and sick.

 "I think I have a bit of a cold," Black told Mina, "I’d rather stay here and cat nap."

 "Okay," Mina said sympathetically, "We’ll all go after breakfast, okay.  And Black, I’ll bring you some kitty medicine."

 "Okay," Black said, then curled up.  Suddenly she let out a big sneeze.

 Mina smiled.  "Okay, I guess let’s all go to breakfast."

 She got up and changed out of her nightgown.  As she walked out, ‘Nary, Cere, and TK all followed her.  She made her way to the kitchen.

 "Good morning!" she said to the group around the table.  They all stared at her.  The only one who seemed as awake as Mina was Charlie.

 "Morning," he said, sipping his coffee and reading a newspaper.

 Everyone else grumbled and continued eating their breakfast.  Mina sat down.  Rei was poking at her eggs a little viciously.  ‘Nary hopped across the table and stared at her.

 Rei lowered her head down to look at the bird.  "What do you want?"

 ‘Nary chirped and jumped onto her head.  He grabbed hold of her hair and started to dance around, laughing.

 "What is he doing?" she asked as her already wild hair became a bird’s nest.  Not that it hadn't been referred to as that before.

 "He’s saying hi," Mina said cheerfully.

 "You certainly are spry this morning," Amy told her, taking a swig of orange juice.  She gave a huge yawn and stared at her plate as though she wasn't sure what to do with it.

 "Serves you all right for staying up all night," Mina told them, "Best to be in bed early.  Early to bed, early to rise.  Isn’t that right, TK?"  He purred.  "Anyway, we’re all going to go to the fields this morning," Mina said, "They need to release some energy."

 "Taking the morning off?" Amy asked, looking shocked.

 "Mina is?" Serena replied, the same expression on her face.

 "I think she deserves one," Charlie spoke up, setting his coffee aside and turning a page, "She does work very hard to keep you brats in line.  I’m not sure what I’d do without her.  Go ahead Mina, and have fun."

 "Oh sure she deserves one," Lita said quickly, "I just thought that she liked working.  I never thought she’d take a break."

 "Yeah, I know," Hotaru yawned, then turned to Mina, "Oh wait, Mina you can’t leave!  I need you to help me go through my summer clothes!"

 "And who’s going to help me give Sady a bath?" Amy asked, looking down at the sleeping dragon.  She was due for a bath.

 "What about my haircut?" Serena asked, "You always come with me when I get my hair done!"
 "You dye your hair don’t you?" Hotaru asked her suddenly.  Everyone turned to Serena curious and she looked around the table.

 "No!" Serena said, "Would someone who looks so good be unnatural?"

 "I was just thinking someone that stupid has to be blonde," Lita murmured and Serena growled at her.

 "You guys stop being such babies," Mina said, and stood up, "The next thing you know, I’ll have to be changing diapers for you guys.  You got nothing against me going out this morning, do you Rei?"

 They all looked at her.  She was laughing and cuddling with the baby bird.  She noticed they were all looking at her and paused.  Then she resumed a cranky look.  "Yeah whatever, knock yourself out, and take this goofy bird with you, he’s annoying me."

 "Oh, okay Rei," Mina smiled, "Come on guys, let’s go."

 ‘Nary gave Rei a little peck on the cheek and she looked at it on her shoulder.  "Aw, come on, kid.  Your making me look bad…"

 "That’s not hard," Serena smirked at her.

 "Harder than it looks, would you like a go French-fry?" Rei asked her.  Serena 'humphed' and continued eating her breakfast.

 The bird flew to Mina and landed on her shoulder.  Cere climbed up to her other one and TK followed her out.

 "Mina could be a walking zoo," Rais said after she left.

 "Sometimes I wonder," Amy said, "Taking the morning off.  Didn’t she consider my plans?"

 "Or mine?" Hotaru agreed.

 "Did you consider hers?" Charlie asked them, "I think not.  Whatever you need can wait.  She deserves a little break."

 "She should have scheduled it!" Serena slammed a fist on the table, "Like she does for Rei."  Rei cough.  Typically she took more breaks than were scheduled.  "Instead of running out on us.  You never know what might happen when she’s gone."

 "What’s the worse that could happen?  Serena starts whining?" Hotaru asked, "Oh wait, gee that already happened.  God help us all."

 "Shut up Hotaru!" Serena growled, "Why does everyone pick on me?"

 "Because you have a target on your forehead?" Amy asked and Serena gasped, then dug into her pocket for a mirror.  When she saw no target she frowned at Amy.

 "I say give her a break," Charlie said.

 "I guess if you say so Charlie," Serena whined and looked at her plate.  She started playing with her food.

 "She could have invited us," Lita pouted, "I like TK.  I would play with him.  And that little bird.  Or even Cere though he bit me once."

 "Get over it," Rei stood up, "You guys don’t do a lick of work around here, and Mina would clean the whole castle with a toothbrush if I asked her."

 "Liar, she would not."

 "It’s a figure of speech," Rei growled, "Anyway, I don’t need her around this morning and neither do you, so I say let her go do her own thing."

 "Fine," Amy looked at Rei sulkily, "But bathing Sady isn’t as easy as it looks.  Have you seen those claws?"

 "I’m sure it’s not, but why can’t someone else help you?" Rais asked, "After all, Mina wasn’t made to hold the sponge while you hold down Sady."

 "Are you volunteering?" she asked.

 "I suppose," Rais rolled his eyes.

 "Then it’s settled," Rei smiled and stood up.

 "No it’s not," Hotaru cried, "I can’t sort those clothes alone!  I have tons of them.  That's what you get for letting us charge to the castle."

 "I don’t let you..."

 "I’ll help you!" Lita stood up with a broad smile, "After all, you might have something I’d want and how could I pass that up?"

 "What about me?" Serena asked.

 "What about you?" Rei looked at her, "I can’t.  I have some loyal subjects to greet this morning.  I can’t help you babe."

 "Who will I talk to when I’m getting my haircut?" Serena said, all but crying.  Rei was about to tell her to talk to herself when she started to smile.

 "Charlie?" Rei asked.

 "What?" he looked at Rei in surprise, "No, I have to… to…"  He tugged at his collar and downed the last of his coffee.

 "Oh, come on, Charlie," Rei smiled evilly, "Be a good sport.  After all, you were the one who said Mina deserved a break today."

 "Please Charlie?" Serena asked.

 "Oh..." Charlie said, "Fine."  Then he stood up muttering. "Who told Mina she could take the day off anyway...?"

 Lita was looking at Charlie.  Hotaru frowned.  "You already promised you’d help me, Amazon.  Now come on.  To my room we go."

 Serena smiled tauntingly at Lita then grabbed Charlie’s arm.  "Come on Charlie."  She dragged him towards the door, talking about her hair.

 They all left.  Amy stood up and said, "Well, come on Rais, Sady’s waiting."  She nudged Sady with her foot, who yawned and stood up.

 "She doesn’t, um, bite does she?" he asked, getting up.  Amy just smiled and Rais gave Rei a shrug as he left.

 That left Rei alone in the kitchen.  She smiled to herself.  She really didn’t have to do anything that morning; she had just wanted Charlie to accompany Serena.  After all, he needed more social time with the girls.

 Let Mina have her day off, Rei was going to take the morning.  She stood up and walked, smiling, out of the kitchen.

 He had been watching the castle for some time now and he wasn’t quite sure how should approach the animist.  She was always surrounded whenever he saw her.  It seemed like someone always needed her for something during the day.  She was the responsible one.  He admired that.

 Then he saw her come out of the castle.  He thought to approach her right then but she was being followed by a mean looking panther, and wasn’t too sure.

 It didn’t surprise him to see all of the animals.  She was an animist after all.  But where was she going with all of them in tow?  He decided to follow her and find out.

 "Any luck?"

 He was in a tree and below him was another boy.  He was tall, seventeen years old and wore a broad hat.  The SOL had met him once before.  His tail whipped around his legs as he smiled up at the shape in the tree.

 "Ran, you almost scared me," he smile down at him, "I’m trying to do some spy work.  And what are you doing out in the light?  They would recognize you."

 "Calm down, Omi," he said, "They aren’t anywhere near here.  So have you gotten a chance to talk to the animist?"

 "Not yet," the boy named Omi sat down on the limb he had been standing on.  "You haven’t talked to Donavan yet have you?"

 "No," Ran smirked, "I’ve decided to let you handle yourself on this one.  You know Donavan, he’d just plan on taking over.  He is, after all, Donavan."

 "Which is why I don’t want you to tell him," Omi said quickly, "He’ll ruin my approach.  Donavan doesn’t know how to enter a room without attacking someone.  Besides, if you haven't noticed, he lacks social skills."

 Ran laughed.  "Certainly right, Gov’ner.  Well, I see she’s off with that panther of hers."  Mina was disappearing off into the forest.

 "Is it tame?"

 "If she wants it to be," Ran shrugged, "That cat would run twenty times around the castle for any reason as long as she told him to."

 "What’s her name?" Omi asked.

 "Why?" Ran asked him, his ear flicking in annoyance, "Omi, we’ll worry about names later, for now, let’s approach them."

 "I just want to know," he said.  He slipped off of the tree and the light now touched his light brown hair and his blue eyes.  He wore shorts and a back T-shirt.  He was a little short, and sixteen years old.

 "Her name is Mina," Ran said, "Brino I think."

 "She really likes those animals?" Omi asked.

 "Yes, more than life itself," Ran warned him, "What are you planning Omi?  Don’t walk up to her just knowing her name.  She would get very suspicious."

 "I don’t think there’s any way I can approach her without being mysterious," Omi winked, "It’s what makes me attractive to all the ladies."

 "Hmm," Ran snickered, "Whatever.  You may be a better spy then I am but I’m older.  I can tell what’s going on."

 "Oh?"

 "Well, she is really pretty, Omi," Ran shrugged and turned around, "Can’t say I blame you.  Just don’t sacrifice her trust."

 "Excuse me?" Omi asked, whirling around, "No way!  Just because she’s pretty, I—er—I mean… Well, I can handle this and I don’t think she’s pretty.  ...No wait!"

 Ran smiled knowingly.  "Just don’t get too excited about all of those Dolls.  There’s a lot of em and they heavily outnumber you.  See you, Gov’ner.  I’m going to go make sure Donavan doesn’t suspect what you’re up to... that is if he's awake."

 Omi watched him leave, then smiled.  "Thanks Ran."

 With that he began to run in the direction that Mina left in.  He traced her through the forest until he came out into a large field.  He ducked down when he saw movement.  It was her.  She was playing in the field with TK.

 "Now I guess I wait," he said, deciding it would be better to meet her on her way back than to just approach her in the field.

 As he watched her play he found his eyes always moving to her laughing face.  She really was pretty he supposed…

 He straightened up and slapped himself.  He had a job to do.

 But she was pretty…

 With a sigh a slumped and waited for her to move out.

 "Lock!"

 Creton was standing in front of an orb of light.  The light expanded and out of it came a woman.  He smiled.  She looked around, then bowed.

 "What have I been summoned for, master?" she asked.

 "Lock the Changer," he smiled, "I have a very special mission for you.  Only a Changer could do the job I have in mind."

 "I will humbly do as you ask," she said, "What are you’re orders?"

 She was a woman with blue skin and orange hair.  Her clothes were all a dark shining green and her lips and eyelids were red.  She was a very pretty woman and she now sat bowed before Creton.

 "I want you to go to Lizerton and cast a spell that will change the members into something harmless, then kill them."

 "Brilliant, Creton," she smiled, "But as it is known, I can do nothing without some possesion of the victims."  She licked her lips and a forked tongue went in and out of her mouth.

 "Yes, I have done so," Creton held forward a small bag, "I have had the lesser demons sneaking around the castle.  Pity they aren't strong enough to attack, they are good at getting passed guards and such."

 She took it.  "My pleasure."

 "But," he held up a finger, "I want the Princess killed first.  If I find that you have killed any of the others before her, you may become my next meal."

 She seemed fearful for a moment and bowed even lower.  "Yes, I promise, the Princess first.  You have my word."

 "Then go," Creton said and transported her away.

 "Was it wise to send her?" a voice asked.

 "My lady," he said, "She is the only one who can accomplish such a mission."

 "But Changers are easily scared creatures.  How do we know she won’t run away in fear from this mission?  Isn't that why you've never used one before?"

 "She is to have no contact with the SOL until after she changes them.  And if she changes them into something proper, than it shouldn’t be a problem."

 "Be sure it isn’t a problem," the voice said and was gone.

 "Yes My lady," he said into darkness.

 Lock got into Lizerton and looked around.  She had to find a secluded area to perform the spell.  It took a lot of magic and it would be easy to tell who had cast it by any passerby’s.

 She wore a hood over her head and none of the residents seemed to notice as she walked right by them.  He appearance was only strange without her cloak.  She pressed through the crowd looking for an area to cast the spell.  Finally she saw an empty sale tent and ran inside.  She tied shut the tent and stopped, breathing hard.  She had to get this right or Creton was going to eat her.  She knew what was up with him these days and it was best not to confront a man like that.

 But how hard could this be?  All she had to do now is think of some sort of harmless shape she could change them into so she could kill them easily. She needed a form that was weak and unsuspecting.  She couldn’t change them into objects, it had to be something living and breathing.

 She thought for a moment a saw that nothing would come to her.  She panicked for a moment and pounded on her head trying to think of a form, any form, which would be sufficient.  She looked around for ideas.  If she didn’t do it soon then Creton would eat her.

 Finally her eyes raked over a picture of a baby in the corner, framed and standing on a small table.  She smiled.

 "Of course," she murmured.  "A baby."

 Babies were innocent, and weak and unsuspecting.  They would do very nicely in Creton’s plan.  Now all she had to do was cast the spell and kill them all.

 She pulled out the bag and emptied its contents in front of her.  Several trinkets fell out, such as a hair brush, a pencil with the name "Serena" on it and more.  She cleared her throat and waited.  Then she rose into the air and an aura of purplish blue light surrounded her.  She waited and it burst upwards.  People could now see it but it would take awhile before anyone thought to check the tent.  She concentrated on the objects of the people she was supposed to change very hard.

 Then the light shooting up broke into several small orbs, flying towards their designated places.

 She sat down on the ground again and smiled.  Now the orbs had only to find their victims.  Then she could go kill them.

 "It came from in there!" she heard and smiled.  When the tent opened she disappeared and left the Lizertonian very confused as he looked inside for the owner of the light.

 She would wait at the edge of the forest before she attacked and then the SOL would be gone forever and she would be rewarded.

 And not eaten.

 So she waited.

 She opened her eyes and looked up into the sky.  Then she saw something round coming towards her.  She sat up a little trying to see what it was.  By the time she realized it was too late.  She ducked down, but the orb hit her.  She cried out.

 "What’s happening?" she felt herself shrinking.  With a gasp she realized she was growing younger.  Her clothes were getting too big for her.  She grew smaller and smaller until finally she was just a small baby.

 She looked around a little wide eyed then laughed.  She started to crawl away.

 Serena and Charlie had just walked into the castle.  Charlie was trying to carry several boxes and Serena had single small bag around her wrist.  She smiled as she walked in, deciding the morning wasn’t as bad as maybe she had thought it would be.  She smiled at Charlie and he stumbled backwards under the weight of the boxes.

 "Serena, what did you buy?" Charlie asked, "A dozen bowling balls?  I don’t think I’ve ever had to carry something so heavy in my entire life."

 "Just some summer clothes for this year," Serena said and he sighed.  Suddenly the weight tipped and he stumbled backwards.  The packages flew into the air.

 "Charlie! Be careful!  Are you hurt?" Serena asked, helping him stand.

 "If anything, by the sharp corners on those stupid boxes," he said dusting himself off.  Then he looked around for a moment.

 "What’s wrong?" Serena asked.

 "I’m not sure," he said and turned an entire circle trying to figure out why he felt so strange.

 Then suddenly, an orb appeared out of the wall and made right for Serena.  He tried to yell at her to duck but another flew in at him.  They were both hit and both started shrinking until they were small infants.  Serena looked at her hands and began to cry.

 Meanwhile, Hotaru and Lita were still sorting through Hotaru’s clothes.  Hotaru had given a bunch of her older less worn clothes to Lita, who was happy to have them.  They chatted aimlessly when they heard a baby cry.  They both stood up in confusion.  Why was there a baby in the castle?

 They ran out into the hall and found two babies on the ground.  "What?" Hotaru asked.  She picked up one and it still cried.

 "Why are there—Hotaru, look out!" Lita cried as two more orbs flew at them.  They both tried to move but they were both hit.  They also shrunk into small babies.

 Rais and Amy didn’t hear any of this.  Amy was trying to get Sady off of Rais, who was laughing.  Sady seemed to have taken a liking to the boy and wouldn’t stop licking him.  Rais laughed but Amy stared at them disapproving.  "Sady that is very very rude.  Now get off of Rais."

 Rais smiled at the dragon and it licked him again.  "Rais, you’re not—" Amy started then looked up.  She saw the two orbs.  Rais didn’t even see them coming.  Sady yelped and jumped off of him as the spell over took him, changing him into a baby.  The same happened to Amy.

 And now, at Lizerton Castle, the only thing left of the SOL was a few small babies.

* * * * *

 Mina paused a moment because she thought she saw something.  Omi saw her look up and turned to see what she was looking at.  He gasped.  There was a tall pillar of energy rising from Lizerton.

 They both watched, Mina still unaware of Omi.  Omi watched carefully as the light broke into several pieces.  They turned into orbs and flew towards the castle.  Except one.  It was coming straight for them!

 Omi gasped again and looked at Mina.  " A changer spell!" he whispered to himself.  She let out a cry as one headed right towards her.  He reacted immediately and stood up.  He held out his hands and cried, "Shield!"

 A bubble flew and surrounded Mina.  She ducked but the orb disappeared when it hit the shield.
Mina didn’t know what to think.  What was that orb?  Who made it?  Where did the shield come from?  She stood up and the shield was gone.  She looked around but there was no one nearby. "Come on TK!" she shouted and ran back towards the castle.

 "Wait!" Omi said, but only so he could hear.  He started to run after her as she raced back to the castle.

 Lock walked into Lizerton Castle feeling quite proud of herself.  She shut the door behind her as she stepped in and laughed.

 "Where are you?" she asked and walked into the hall.

 She looked around for a minute, then found them in a pile of boxes.  She looked over them a little oddly.  Two of the girls were tugging at a white haired baby’s arms like they were fighting over him.  One had a little play sword and he swung it around.  Another was napping with a stuffed dragon.  A little girl hiccuped and turned into a tiger, then hiccuped and turned into a frog.  Finally she gave another hiccup and turned human.

 She smiled.  She pulled out a small dagger and tried to decide which one she would destroy first.  "Well, Creton said the Princess first, so…" she looked around, then her jaw dropped open.  There was no Princess here!  Where was she?  Lock ran all around the castle trying to find the baby Rei.

 "Where is she?" she cried, "Creton is going to absorb me I know it!  What am I supposed to do!  Where is that little brat?"

 She disappeared out of the castle to find the Princess.  Just then Mina ran up the steps and gasped.  She saw nothing but babies.  And what was worse she knew exactly who they were.  The little white haired one began to cry as the Baby Lita and Baby Serena tugged at him.  Mina walked over and picked him up.  He smiled and laughed.

 "What’s happened?" she asked herself.  Why were they all babies?  And what was she supposed to do with all of them?

 She looked through each of them.  Where was Rei?  There was no Baby Rei to be found anywhere.  What was this?  She was an animist not a babysitter!

 She put Charlie back down and Baby Lita and Serena started to crawl towards him.  "Oh no you don’t," Mina stood in front of them, then bent down and wagged a finger in front of Lita.  She gave Mina a dirty look and tried to bite Mina’s finger.

 "Hey!" Mina cried, falling backwards.

 Baby Charlie hid behind her from the two girls.  Mina looked over and saw Amy napping on the floor.

 This was no place for babies, out in the hall!  She picked up Serena.  When she looked up she saw Baby Rei walk around the corner, sit down and begin laughing.  Mina sighed with relief.  "There you are."  She went and picked up the Baby Princess.

She began to carry them away went suddenly, Rei latched on to Mina's lower lip.  "Huh?" Mina looked down at her and Rei laughed.  Serena then reached up and took the other side of her lip.  Then they both started pulling.  "Stop it!" Mina cried and they let go immediately.  Then they both started to cry.

 "Oh no, don’t cry!" Mina said and carried them into her bedroom.  "Stay," she told them and they were obedient.

 She went back and grabbed Lita and Hotaru.  When she walked into her room she saw Rei and Serena fighting with each other.  Finally, Baby Rei bonked Serena in the head and Serena started to cry all over again.

 "What did I do to deserve this?"

 She broke up the fight between Rei and Serena, then went to get Amy and Charlie.  Amy started to cry when Mina woke her up and Charlie joined her.  She tried to shush them as she carried them into her room, but as soon as she walked in they all started to cry.

 Mina sighed as she carried Rais in.  "What is going on around here?"

 TK went forward and sniffed at Hotaru.  Hotaru bopped him on the nose and he stepped back surprised.  Hotaru laughed so hard she fell backwards with laughter.

 "No!" Mina told her, "Do not hit TK!"

 "Guh?" she answered then began laughing again.  She crawled towards TK and he ran behind Mina, fearful.

 "What do we do Mina?" he asked, "They’re all so small."

 "Wait," Mina counted all of the babies in her room.  "Where’s Rei?"

 She looked around everywhere.  Finally she walked out of her bedroom and walked all the way to the front doors.  And she saw they were open.

 "Oh no," she groaned and sat down hard, "Everyone’s a baby and now I’ve lost the princess."  She began to shake her head hard.

 "Lost the Princess?  How’d you do that?"

 Mina gave a little gasp and stood up.  Standing in the doorway was a boy, about her age, with light brown hair.  "Who are you?  Did you do this?"

 "Huh?" he asked, "No!  I… I thought something might be wrong.  I saw some orbs fly this way."

 She couldn’t see his face.  He was a silhouette against the doorway.  Finally, he stopped leaning against the doorframe and walked over to Mina.  "My name is Omi.  What’s yours?"

 Mina looked at his face.  He was really cute.  "Um… Mina," she said and they shook hands.

 Then Mina heard a growl and gasped as TK jumped over her head and onto the boy named Omi. "TK stop!" Mina cried.

 TK growled and stood up top of him.  The expression on Omi's face said that they weren't just saying hello.

 "Get off TK!" Mina scolded, "What have I told you?!"

 "But Mina, he’s a stranger," TK growled and pressed harder against Omi's shoulders, "We know nothing about him.  We can’t just let him in here with everyone as babies."

 "Now," she repeated and he stepped off.  "I’m sorry, he just doesn’t trust people very easily."  She helped him stand.

 "It’s okay," Omi smiled, "He’s a big kitty isn’t he?"

 "Yeah," Mina smiled, "I hope he didn’t hurt you."  She said and looked up at him.  Like most people, he was taller than she was but not as much as most boys.

 "I’m fine," he said.

 "Good," she murmured.

 Then suddenly they broke their gaze and started to cough.  Mina’s face flushed and she stayed turned away.

 "So what’s going on?" he asked, "How can I help?"

 Mina looked at him for a moment.  "All of the SOL members have been turned into babies.  That is, except me…"

 "Babies?"

 She nodded.

 "Where are they?" he asked.  She stared at him and he felt her eyes.  She could see she was very suspicious of him.  "I’m going to try and help you."

 "Okay," Mina sighed and took him to her room.  Lita and Serena had started after Baby Charlie again.  Now Amy was sleeping in the basket with Black, who was sleeping through the whole thing.

 "So you lost the Princess?" Omi asked, just now remembering what she had said.

"I think so," Mina said, shaking her head again, "She may still be in the castle somewhere, but the doors were open, so…"

 "This will be tough," Omi said, "There’s so many of them."

 "Do you know how to change a diaper?" Mina asked him and her looked at her disbelieving.  "I think it’s time you learned."

 "Me?" he asked, "No, I’m not a baby sitter, I’m a..." he paused.  "No way am I changing diapers."

 "I have to go find Rei," Mina said urgently, "It’s dangerous to let a baby out on her own like that!  Think of what could happen."

 "Uh, but— What about me?" Omi tried to ask but she was out the door and he was alone with the babies.

 They all stared at him.

 "What, I’m trying!" he said and they all continued with whatever they were doing.  He looked at each of them.  "So you guys are the people chosen in the prophecy?"  They just kept playing.

"Whoo boy."

 Ran sat at the edge of the forest feeling very bored.  Where was Omi?  Wasn’t he finished yet?  As a matter of fact, where was everyone?  He hadn't seen any of the SOL members around town like he usually did.

 He looked down in his lap, thinking.

 He was still very bored.

 He stood up and put his hands in his pockets.  He started to walk along the path, wondering where Omi was, when he almost stepped on something.  He realized he was going to and stopped on one leg.  Then he lost his balance and fell over.  When he saw what he had almost stepped on, he was shocked.

 A baby started clapping as he looked at her.  This babe looked very familiar.  Could it be--?  No way!

 "Princess?" he asked shoving his face right to hers.  She blinked large gray eyes.  She laughed and grabbed one of his large cat ears.  He plucked her away from his head and she clapped again.

 He picked her up, holding her away from his body.  What was he suppose to do with this baby that for some reason, bared a striking resemblance to Princess Rei?  Who would let a kid this young play in a forest where there were so many magical and dangerous beasts that attacked when least suspected?

 She clapped.  If he didn’t know any better he would say that she was the princess in a former life, but that was impossible.  Reluctantly he pulled her a bit closer and held her like a baby.  She curled up and began to fall asleep in his arms.  He found the corner of his mouth start to go upwards.  She was a cute little thing wasn’t she?

 But where did she belong?  He couldn’t march right into Lizerton.  One of the SOL might see and recognize him.  Where was Omi when he was needed?  Not only could he take her home, he probably knew more about kids than he did.  But what you had to do, you had to do.  He would have to keep an open eye out for the SOL.

 He walked towards Lizerton, looking at the sleeping infant.  Then suddenly his ears twitched.  His cat hearing picked up the sound of someone in the trees.

 "Omi?" he asked.

 No answer.

 He smiled and waited.  He paused only for a moment, then stepped to one side.  Right beside him a red haired woman dropped.

 "You’re good," she said, a bit fearfully.

 "Yeah, thanks," he turned to her, "So how can I help you?  I’m rather busy so you might want to put it on the hasty side, Doll."

 "Give me the child," Lock said, "And no harm will come to you."

 "Oh?  And if I don’t?" Ran asked, looking down at the sleeping child.  Who was this chick anyhow and what did she want with a baby?

 "Then I’ll kill both of you," she said but he could see she was unsure of herself.  Of course, she was a Changer.  They were all cowards.

 "Go ahead," Ran smiled.

 She paused.  Then she went forward.

 "Wait!"

 They both looked in the direction the voice was coming from.  They saw Mina standing, watching what was going on.  Ran saw her and realized he was busted.

 "Ran?" she asked.

 "Hey, Doll," he said, grinning a little.

 "That baby!" the woman growled,  "Give it to me!"

 "No, don’t!" Mina said suddenly, "That’s the Princess!"

 "The--?" he looked down at her.  He guessed it was possible that it was her.   He looked up and saw that Lock was directly between Mina and himself.  He paused then ran forward, then jumped in the air.  He landed right in front of Mina.

 "Here, take her!" Ran said and dumped Baby Rei into her arms.  Rei was startled awake and began to cry.

 "Wait!" Lock cried.

 She held up a hand and blasted Ran in his back.   Ran fell forward and with a small shout, Mina stepped back.

 "Go!" Ran said, turning onto his back.  He jumped up higher than a normal human could have and stood, poised for a fight.  Lock was watching over his shoulder as Mina left but Ran wasn't going to let her chase.

 She ran forward, hand out and he jumped up backwards.  He landed in a tree branch and she stopped.  He was behind her now.  He took his chance and swung down the branch, feet out, and kicked her in the back.

 She hissed and fired another blast at him.  It hit him in the shoulder and he curbed a scream.  He held up a hand and purple blast of energy flew at her.  His magic wasn’t as strong as hers and she easily deflected the attack.  She fired again and he jumped forward, a mistake he realized too late.  He was standing right in front of her.  She swiped with he long fingernail and got him across the chest.  He hissed, an instinct from being half-feline.  He fell backwards.  She made to jump on top of him, but he put a foot up and sent her soaring over him.   Then he continued to roll back and stood up, then turned around.

 As he did, three identical attacks came at him.  The first hit him on the shoulder, the second in the stomach, and the last hit him directly in the head.

 He flew backwards and skidded across the ground.  Lock paused and walked over to him.  There was blood leaking down his chin and his eyes were closed.  She gave him a push with her foot and he didn’t move.

 She stood over him.  "Humph, dead already."  She left toward Lizerton Castle, leaving him lying on the ground.

When he was sure she was gone, he let out the air he had been holding and he sat up as best as he could.  He wiped the blood from his mouth.

 "Omi…" he muttered.

 Mina continued to run to Lizerton Castle until she was able to shut the door behind her.  She breathed a sigh of relief as she entered.

 "Are you back?" Omi asked.  He held a baby in each arm as he talked.  Mina nearly smiled, but she was too worried.

 "A friend of ours!  I ran into him and a woman, a Changer I think, and I left him with her!" Mina told Omi.

 "What?" he asked, "What are you--?  Did you find the Princess?"

 "Yes," Mina said, "But Ran…"

 "Ran?" Omi said, "What about Ran?"

 "You know him?" Mina asked, setting Rei on the ground.

 "Well, kind of," Omi said.

 "Look, we have to help him," Mina told him quickly, "I left him with that Changer, and I think she’s the one who did this to everyone else."

 "Too late."

 They both turned to one side of the hall and there was the Changer.  Mina looked around and saw she didn’t see Rei anywhere.  She grabbed her necklace that linked her to TK.

"That cat boy’s finished," she said, "Sorry."  They had fought.  Mina could see the long scratch down the side of her face.  "So how did you escape my spell, little SOL member?  Oh well.  You will join them."  She smiled.

 "What did you do to Ran?" Omi yelled.

 "None of your business boy," she said, "But it will be very similar to what I will do to you.  Do you really want to know?"

 "Not if I can help it," he smiled.

 "But first…" she looked at Mina.  Mina gasped as Lock fired a blast at her.  She froze on the spot.

 "Move!" Omi yelled and shoved her out of the way.  He gasped as the orb missed him by centimeters.

 "Boy, don’t interfere!" she yelled and shot two orbs at him.  He hit away one and dodged the other.

 Mina sat up and grabbed her necklace again.  TK appeared in font of her.

 "Now!" Lock shouted and fired a huge, unblockable blast at Omi.  He ducked and covered his head, but then a blast knocked Lock’s away.

 "What?" she cried and turned to see Mina standing next to TK.  TK growled at her and she took a step back.

 "Go TK!" Mina yelled and TK lunged forward.  She swiped at him but he dodged and tackled her to the ground.  He let out a loud panther call and swiped at her face, causing it more damage.

 Finally she knocked him off and he skidded to a stop on all fours.

 "Stupid cat!" she said and fired a blast at him.  TK jumped and ran towards her again.  She covered her face but he tackled her again.  She slid across the ground, trying to fight TK off.  Finally, TK jumped away and she sat up.  Then she gasped.

 In front of her stood Omi holding a cross bow.  She reared back to attack again but Omi aimed and fired, the shaft entering her stomach.  She stared at him for a moment, then died.  She, like the others, turned into a pile of dust.

 "Is she--?" Mina asked and Omi turned around.  Then he ran out of the castle without a word.  "Wait!" she cried.

 She ran after him.  TK ran behind her, then pushed under her and carried her on his back.  He was going to the forest to where Ran was.

 She stopped when he stopped.  In front of an unconscious Ran.

 "Ran?  Buddy?  Hey, Ran!  Wake up!" Omi shook at him.  "Ran!  Hey!"  Omi looked really worried.  How was this 'kind of' knowing him?

 "Omi…" Mina stepped off of TK.

 "Help me!" Omi cried.  He then put his head down and listened for a heartbeat.  He sighed with relief.  "His heart’s still beating.  Please help me."

"TK," Mina looked at him.

 "Do I have to?"

 "Yes."

 "Fine."  TK shut his eyes and the jewels on his forehead glowed.  A beam hit Ran and it transported them to the castle.  Mina also went with them and TK came afterwards.

 "What’s going on?" Rei asked, looking herself over, "One minute I’m sunbathing, the next I’m shrinking, and now…?"

 "Ran?" Serena had come around the corner.

 Mina looked around.  They had all been turned back to normal.  The other girls came in behind Serena, Rais and Charlie with them.  They were all looking down at Ran.

 "Move," Charlie told Omi.  Omi gave him a hard look.  "I know some medical things.  Let me just take a look at him."

 Omi looked down at Ran.  Ran opened his eyes and looked at Omi.  "Bought you some time, Gov’ner."  He smiled.

 "Don’t talk," was all Omi said.

 Charlie was down next to him.

 "Do you do magic?" Charlie asked Omi.  Omi nodded.  "Do you know how to transfer energy?"  Omi shook his head.  "Come here.  Place your hands above his chest.  Now kind of make an orb, but put a lot of energy instead of power into it.  Got it?  You're not attacking him."

 "I think so," Omi said, uncertain.

 He started to work and added energy to Ran.  Charlie nodded.  "Good.  That’ll do.  He’ll be fine.  He was just severely drained."

 "Speaking of which," Omi rocked back a little on his heels.

 "It’ll do that to you," Rei smiled, "Who are you now?  Did you help us?  Actually could you explain what happened?"

 "My name is Omi," he said, "You must be the Princess."  Mina watched him, still not saying a word.  He looked at her.

 "Okay," Rei said, "Now, what happened?"

 "Ask her," Omi said, pointing to Mina, "She saved you guys."

 They all looked at Mina.  She shrugged.  "I guess I really can’t take a day off around here," Mina told them.

 "So what exactly happened?" Serena asked.

 "I’ll explain later," Mina said, "Omi…"

 Omi put a finger to his lips.  "Sorry girls, but I have to leave.  This buffoon can’t seem to get into a fight without going all out.  So for now, good bye."

 Her raised a hand before anyone could say anything and he and Ran disappeared.

 "But—" Lita started.

 "Who was he?" Amy asked, "What about Ran?  What is going on around this place?  Mina, what just happened?"

 They all turned on her.  "What?  I didn’t do it."  They stared harder.  "Fine, I’ll explain it," she said and told them what had happened.

 Omi got Ran back into the headquarters.  He trusted Charlie’s advice that he was going to be okay.  Omi sat down a little hard.  Had they just blown it?

 "Omi!"

 He winced.

 "Yeah Donavan?"

 A blonde haired boy entered.  "What is going on around here?" the boy cried, "What did you think you were doing?"

 "I’m sorry Donavan, but at least she trusts me now."

 "You almost got Ran killed!"

"It’s not like I planned it!" Omi protested.

"Shut up, Donavan," they both looked at Ran, who had painfully sat up, "If Omi hadn’t of been there I’m willing to bet those girls would have died, and where would that leave us?"

 He was silent.  "Fine," Donavan said, "But don’t ever, and I mean ever, do a little number like that without telling me first!  We agreed I was leading this operation didn't we?"

 With that he flipped his hair and walked out.

 Omi watched him go and sighed.  He really hoped he hadn’t blown it.  Right now, to the SOL he was just the mysterious cat boy’s friend.

Wait... just who are these guys...? Neh... Chapter 17