The Adventures of the SOL

 It wasn't long before she drifted into a dream.  Everything was black for a moment and suddenly a scene blurred before her.

 "I hear that the duke’s daughter and her brother are very close."

 "Yes, I hear much of the same.  I also hear that they will be here to see Sharondia the warrior.  They are both such handsome creatures, are they not?"

 "Oh, I certainly agree."

 Amy looked around herself as the scene sharpened into view and saw a party going on around her.  People wearing elaborate clothing and waving glasses of bright red liquid around were having quiet talks.  Tall white columns were sat up to enclose the party space, which was outside of a tall white palace.  She looked around and noticed not everyone looked so affluent in this little celebration.  In one dark corner sat a girl with dark blue hair with a shock of white striping the front.  She had large demon like wings on her back and stayed to one side of the conversation.

 "So what is a pretty girl like yourself doing sitting here?  It's not as if you really are a wallflower."

 Amy stepped closer as a man approached the woman.

 "What do you want Willow?’ she asked the man without ever even looking at him, overtly annoyed to see him, and he smiled.

 "Just a chat, Diamond," he leaned against the wall on his forearm close enough to talk into her ear, "Are the rumors true?  Are you going to challenge Sharondia at the Festival of Kings?"

 "No," Diamond stared at him sharply, "Where did you hear such a rumor?  I have nothing but the best intentions for Sharondia and will welcome her as any other guest to the Festival would."

 "If you’re sure," he whispered and she gave him a sidelong glance.  The smile on his face was suspicious.  He began to walk away when suddenly Diamond lifted herself from the wall.

 Suddenly a dagger whipped out of her hands and pointed at his throat.  It was diamond crested and very small.  No one around them seemed to notice.

 "It’s your intentions I’m questioning," she hissed, "Why are you here Willow?  Conversing among the rich and strange?"

 "I don't want to be here and you know it.  Why are you?" he asked, "I know you don’t intend to challenge Sharondia, though that would be a fight to be seen, but I do know that you are of the Sacred Warriors.  How many are there now?  Last I heard, there were five.  Sharondia was one of them.  Are you?"

 "I don’t know what you’re talking about," Diamond said, flipping the dagger away from his throat and tucking in back into a hidden spot on the back of her clothing.

 "What if I told you that there is another group forming?" Willow asked quietly, "A group to rival your own?  Sacred Warriors to rival your Sacred Warriors?  And guess who was chosen to join them match?"

 Diamond’s eyes flashed with something Amy couldn’t quite see what it was and said, "I’d ask you why you’re telling me this."

 "In an attempt to avoid your destruction," he said and took her hand, kissing it softly, "I don’t want to kill you my dear Diamond.  Very contrary.  I want you to join me."  He jerked her towards him.  "Or we could both run away from this whole war.  There are those I wish to protect but you are more important to me than any of them.  All we need is each other."

 She stared him very hard in the eyes and said slowly, "I could never run away from this war and you know it.  I am sorry you were forced into being my rival, but if I understand it right, you and your companions made the decision, no one else."

 "We did it to protect each other."

 "The answer is no."

 His eyes flickered with something that Amy thought might have been pain, but it was gone before she could tell.  "Fine," he let her go, then leaned down and whispered softly, "Perhaps I’ll give you some time to change your mind."

 "That won’t be necessary," Diamond said and walked away.

 "Okay, then," he said and followed her away.

 "Why are you following me?" she stopped and asked him, trying to remain casual.  He grinned, showing unusually sharp canine teeth.

 "You said your decision was now," Willow said quietly, "Then let it be now.  I’m so sorry it had to end like this."  He then held out a hand and a large black ball sped towards one of the tables.  Screams filled the air as Willow blasted away innocent people who had been sitting at the table.  "I do know how to make you fight though."

 Diamond watched in horror then turned on Willow.  She jumped in the air, spreading her wings.  She came down on top of Willow and a black sword of energy appeared in her hands.  Willow smiled as she came down towards him.  He grabbed her hand where it gripped the weapon and sent her soaring over his head.  She spread her wings and slowed her speed, then skidded to a stop, running back towards him.  Willow whipped out three identical blades and threw them at Diamond.  All three flew towards her and she flipped backwards.

 She turned around and watched them barely miss two guests of the small party.  "We can’t fight here!" she shouted, "There are too many people that aren’t involved in this!"

 "You were ready now, don’t you remember Diamond, my love?" he asked and attacked her again.  She jumped as the orb flew past her.  She then whirled around with a gasp as it destroyed the objects and people behind her.

 Amy watched as Willow moved in behind her.  "Watch out!" she cried but Diamond didn't seem to be able to hear her.

 She saw Willow slip his arms around her neck and jerk her head to one side.  Diamond tried to pull free but Willow's grip was strong.

 "Never trust a Vampire," he said, "I really do love you, Diamond, so I am giving you another chance.  Join me.  Help me fight the battle between the light and the dark on the winning side.  Come with me and I can look after you the same way I look after my own friends."

 "Never," she hissed.

 "So be it," he smiled and bent down towards her neck, opening his mouth wide.

 "Noooo!" Amy cried and sat up in bed.  Her hand flew to her neck and sweat trickled down her face.  She sighed and wiped her forehead.  She flopped back down onto the pillow, looking through her curtains into the outside.  It was still very dark.  She supposed it was about four or five in the morning considering how late she had gone to bed.

 She slipped out of bed and walked barefooted down the cold hallway.  The shadows loomed a little darker than usual now that she had the dream and she felt herself feeling nervous.

 "Couldn’t sleep?"

 Amy yelped and saw Rei standing at the door of the throne room.  She sighed and closed her eyes, feeling her heart thudding in her chest as an after effect.  Rei had a bad habit of concealing herself in the dark sometimes.

 "What are you doing up so late?" Amy asked.

 "Psychics are naturally bad sleepers.  Too much dream interference," she said.  Amy stood looking at her wondering if… "Yes, I saw your dream.  Very interesting."

 "I’ll say," Amy rubbed her forehead, "But I guess we all have strange dreams sometimes.  I’m going to go get a glass of water."

 "Okay," Rei nodded and Amy started to leave.  "Amy?"

 "Yes?" Amy asked, turning as if she expected it.

 "Remember that dream okay?" Rei looked at her from the corner of her eye, "Everyone seems to be having similar ones and you and Serena are the only ones to have remembered them."

 "So you know something about this Rei?" Amy asked her and Rei looked back at her so that Amy could see her whole face.  Rei’s eyes caught a glint of light and she smiled back at Amy.

 "No, but I’ll find out," she smirked, "You can bet I will."

 "Okay," Amy said and began to walk away again.  She paused for a second and said, "Rei?  Do you have the dreams?"

 "Yes," Rei said.

 "What are yours about?"

 "I don’t think it would be wise to tell each other what they are about just yet.  In fact, we may find that out for ourselves in time.  Let’s wait until everyone can remember them, and then we’ll share."

 "Okay," Amy nodded, "Good night Rei."

 "Good night, Amy," Rei said and listened to Amy walk away.

 Amy walked into the kitchen and poured a glass of water for herself.  She was thinking.  Rei could be inexplicably mysterious sometimes.  She always knew more than she let on it seemed.  Her necessity to solve problems by herself was the number one thing holding them back from working as a team.  How were they suppose to work together if their leader never told them what was going on?

 But in this situation, Amy wasn’t questioning Rei.  This seemed to make more sense.  These dreams weren’t going to help them if they all didn’t have them.  How would those who hadn’t had the dreams suppose to relate or help?

 But Rei knew all of the dreams.  She said that everyone had similar dreams, which meant she’d watched them all.  Or did it?  Serena must have had her dream too, because she had been through a lot with it.

 But of course, that was more of a Ran vs. Charlie argument with herself.  But where would it leave Charlie if Serena ran off with some other guy, and Lita ran off with… well… any other guy.  He’d have no admirers.

 Amy smiled a little at the thought and filled a glass of water.  She drank it all and wiped her mouth with her sleeve.  Until it was time she couldn’t find the answers to her questions.  And as Mina said, every question has an answer and every answer has a question.  Before they all started becoming confused, they should at least figure out what they were being confused about.

 She placed the glass on the counter and walked out.  Rei was nowhere to be seen so she just went straight to her room.

 But she couldn’t help but be curious about the others. But curiosity killed the cat.  But then again, satisfaction brought it back.  If she just asked Serena…?

 What Rei says goes, she told herself, and Rei says to wait.  So wait it is.

 But she couldn’t help but wonder just how long?

 Donavan Crossfire sat up with a loud yawn.  Funny, he had taken three naps yesterday and went to bed early last night, but he was still sleepy.

 "How does someone go to bed at nine and wake up at twelve?"

 "It’s easy, Omi," Donavan yawned again, "Well, I suppose I’m talented."  He sat up and stretched.  He could sleep forever but he decided he had better get up.

 "Breakfast was ready, now lunch is," Omi said, "Whether you’re ready for it I couldn’t say.  You know, if you didn’t sleep so much you wouldn’t need to sleep so much."

 "Yeah, yeah," Donavan said, almost used to Omi’s nagging.  Omi hadn't been around as long as Ran had and Donavan was having to adapt. "Where is that insolent little cat boy?"

 "Ran hasn’t come back from watch," Omi called from another part of the house, then walked into his room, looking stern, "He took the night shift.  That probably should have been your shift since you had enough sleep, but you always manage to get away with it."

 "There was a reason I went to bed early," Donavan grinned, "Now get out of my room, you’re cramping my style."  Donavan decided he could still use a few winks and stretched himself out of the bed again.

 "You aren’t…?  Donavan, don’t you dare go back to sleep!" Omi heard Donavan snore lightly and rolled his eyes, "Fine, but when you get stuck with night shift, don’t be surprised."

 Omi walked out of Donavan’s room in retreat.  He walked through the HQ, a small house buried into the forest, and came to the study.  He sat down and began to write.  He was keeping a log of their missions and a journal of their adventures.  Also, he was recording the prophet dreams.

 "Omi!  Did you say breakfast was ready?"

 "I said it used to be ready, Donavan.  Now it's lunch." Omi yelled back to him, "It’s in the kitchen."  He shook his head as he heard Donavan get up.  Apparently the big lug decided to get up anyway.

 Omi had a habit of talking outloud as he wrote and he began to say, "I haven’t met all of the SOL very personally.  Ran seems to have talked to them all, but he’s also had a chance to be more social.  I do know a few things, though.  The mysterious nature of the Princess, the talent of Serena, the agility of Lita.  They all have some unique ability.  I have, of course, had a chance to talk to Mina.  I find her very intriguing and there’s something I can’t quite put my finger on.  What is it about that girl?"

 He heard the front door open and stood up.  "Ran?"

 "Yeah?" Ran asked.  Ran looked in and Omi saw dark circles under his eyes.  Omi made a slightly amused face.

 "Anything new?"

 "Dragon girl has had her dream, Rei’s a very chronic insomniac," Ran reported, "I’m usually not.  I’m going to bed now."

 Omi laughed and nodded.  Ran went into his room and shut the door.  It was Omi’s turn to check things out around the castle.  They were keeping a close watch.

 So Amy had her dream?  Omi had seen hers and knew what had happened.  He didn’t really understand it, nor was he really supposed to.  If he was a prophet, all he needed to understand was that he had to give the prophecy to the SOL.  But he assumed that they had a larger place than that.  After all, this way fate and wouldn’t that mean that the entire reason for their existence was to deliver a message?  Omi knew that couldn’t be true.  It was too easy.  In fact, they probably could have done it, but they made up so many excuses about waiting for the right time.  He knew why.  Because if all they were meant to do was deliver a message then when they did it, the meaning of their lives was carried out and there was no reason to go on living.

 "I refuse to believe that," Omi told himself as he walked through the forest, "We make our own destiny.  And I’m prepared to make mine.  And Ran’s if he won’t."

 Omi was a naturally kind person but had to admit; he didn’t care much about Donavan’s destiny.  The only thing he had ever done for anyone besides what he saw as his duty was give them a headache.  Which he probably saw that as his duty too.  He was fixated on delivering the message and living out the rest of his life.  He was so sure that’s all they were there for.  Ran was too but Omi knew he was so much better than Donavan.  Despite the fact that he tended to be a bit of a womanizer, Omi could see his deep compassion.  He could also see the way his confusion about Serena was hurting him.

 "He hides his feelings so he can go on believing that he has nothing to do with this stupid prophecy," Omi told himself, "It is a stupid prophecy.  It’s stupid and if our world didn’t rely on its delivery I would forget it altogether."

 Omi found himself at the edge of the forest, very close to the castle.  He sat down and watched what was going on from afar.  Until he could convince Ran that they made their own destinies, Omi was stuck watching the castle.  So he sat down and watched, waiting for a sign that he was more than a messenger.

 Amy was walking down the street with a smile on her face.  She wasn’t as shopping obsessed as almost everyone else, but she did like to take a little stroll through Lizerton.  She inhaled deeply and smelled the flowers in the air.  People were crowding the streets.  Amy had once read that people came from all over the continent to shop at the extensive shopping area that was downtown Lizerton.  A rumor even went around that the affluent came from the Lemiack continent, but considering how hard it was to cross the Ocean, that more than likely wasn’t true.

 Amy walked around.  She stared at each face, wondering how something as small as shopping could bring so many people together.

 "Stop thief!"

 "Huh?" Amy turned and looked for where the shout had come from.  Sady, who was walking just below jumped onto her shoulder to see what she was looking at.  That's when Amy saw him pressing through the crowd.  He couldn’t have been more than seven years old, probably less, and very small.  He had dirty blondish brown hair and panic filled his face.

 "Come back!"

 Amy looked past him and saw a large man chasing after him.  Her guess was that he had stolen something.  She supposed she would have to settle the matter.  As he past her she grabbed a hold of the little boy's collar and he fell backwards.

 "I’m sorry!" the boy cried.

 Sady looked at him and he winced away.

 The large man caught up and tried to catch his breath.  "Thanks.  Come on, thief, you’re going to pay for that food.  You're awfully small but you'll have to work it off."

 "I was hungry!" the boy sobbed trying to get away from Amy.

 "Calm down," she said gently.  He stared at her and she winked.  Then she turned to the shopkeeper.  "I’ll pay for whatever he stole.  How much was the damage?"

 The man seemed taken aback by her request.  Some people had stopped to watch.  Amy looked over the faces in the crowd.  She gasped and did a double take when she thought she saw a familiar face in the crowd.

 She looked and didn’t see him anymore.  But she was so sure she had seen Omi, the mysterious boy that had saved them all when a Changer had attacked.

 "Fine," the man said and her attention snapped back to her situation.  He stared at her waiting.  She smiled and opened a leather wallet.  She pulled out some coins and handed them to him.

 The man frowned at the boy and walked away.  Amy still had him by the collar and looked down at him.

 "What are you going to do?" the boy asked, looking up at her fearfully.  Amy watched him, never letting go of his collar.

 "I suppose I could always feed you to my Dragons," Amy teased and he cowered, "It’s just too bad their vegetarians."  The boy looked down at Sady.  She blinked back.

 "What’s your name?" he asked Amy.

 "Oh," Amy smiled, "My name is Amy Hart.  A pleasure.  What’s yours?"

 "Koty," he said.  She let go off his collar and he didn’t run off.   "Thank you for paying that man for me.  I don’t have any money to give you back, though."

 "I knew that," Amy kneeled down to be eye level with him, "If I was interested in money I wouldn’t have saved you in the first place.  So what’d you steal kid?"

 "An orange," Koty looked down at his feet.

 "No major offense," Amy smiled, "You seemed properly ashamed of it.  Besides, while stealing is wrong, there’s no law against being hungry.  Come with me, we’ll get you all fixed up."

 "Where?" Koty asked, walking beside her as she walked back to the castle.

 "Lizerton Castle," Amy replied.

 Koty took a step back.  "Are you going to report me?  I heard the Princess was really mean.  Will she execute me?"

 "Who told you that about Rei?" Amy turned around with an amused smile, "She has her temper problems, I admit, but she’s really a nice girl.  I was thinking more of feeding you.  Compliments of the castle."

 "Really?" Koty asked, excited.

 "You bet," Amy smiled.

 They made their way back towards the castle.  Sady started to sniff at Koty’s heals.  He laughed a little and Sady jumped on Amy’s shoulder again.  She leaned down towards Koty, trying to sniff his face.  She took one whiff and gave him a huge lick on the cheek.  Koty giggled.

 "Sady!" Amy scolded, "How many times do I have to tell you?"  Sady sat down obediently on her shoulder.  Amy rolled her eyes.

 As they made their way to the castle, Omi watched from the shadows.  Who was this kid?  He stared at him and saw something of an aura reflecting off of him.  He was important somehow.
 He ducked deeper into the shadows.  He’d have to wait, watch and listen.

 As usual.

 "Okay, Amy, I let Mina keep pets, I let you keep Sady around.  I even let you exercise the smaller dragons in the castle, but a little kid?  Did you never consider where he came from?"

 Amy was sitting on the couch, feeling like a little kid herself, in trouble with her parents.  She looked to one side innocently as Rei stood in front of her with her arms crossed.

 "I didn’t want to ask about his parents," Amy shrugged, "I wouldn’t think he has any, at least any that want him.  I would feel real bad if I brought up something like that and he didn’t."

 "But Amy," Rei reasoned, "There’s a big difference between a pet and a little kid.  He needs a home with adults, not a group of teenage girls who can hardly run this castle.  I mean how old is he?"

 "He doesn't really know, but if I had to make a guess I'd say five."

 Rei shook her head.  "We can't do that."

 Lita smiled from the side.  She had been sitting on the other couch listening along with Charlie in a nearby armchair.  "All the powers of a psychic and a princess and Rei’s scared of children.  What next?"

 "I’m not scared of kids!" Rei protested.

 "Your scared of anything that gives you any kind of affection," Charlie put in, to which Rei glared at him.

 "Not true!" Rei growled, "Either way, this kid is too big of a responsibility.  We aren’t properly trained or even maternal enough to take care of him.  He’s not a pet, he’s a human child."

 "Maybe she’s right, even if she is afraid of him," Charlie told Amy.  "A child?  He needs real parents, not us."

 "But, he has no where to go!" Amy looked at both of them, "And I really like him.  He’s sweet and nice enough.  I’m sure he’d be no trouble."

 Rei thought about it for a minute.  She wasn’t about to turn him loose on the streets again, but could they handle a child.  Who would spend time with him and teach him and take care of him?  And there was education and clothes and toys...  "Oh, why not?" Rei smiled, "I can afford it.  I am a Princess after all."

 "Thanks Rei!" Amy jumped up and threw her arms around her neck.

 "Stop hugging me before I change my mind!" Rei yelled.

 Amy ran out of the room and Lita watched her.  Charlie did also, then looked at Rei.  "What are you doing?  We can’t have a kid!"

 "Why not?" Rei asked, "Amy likes him and I’m sure he’ll get plenty of attention.  And I can afford to buy him anything he needs, including an education."

 "I was thinking more of the atmosphere he’s going to grow up in," Lita argued, "We aren’t exactly role models.  We all stay up too late, we're constantly arguing, and some of us might teach him to play practical jokes."

 "Some of us are still kids ourselves," Charlie told her, trying to sound reasonable, "We don’t need to raise one."

 "It’s fine," Rei reassured them, "What choice do we have?  I’m not putting that kid in the streets and there’s no telling what kind of family he’d end up with in some orphanage."

 "So this is a ‘I don’t trust anyone else to do it but me’ type thing?" Lita asked.

 "Exactly," Rei answered.

 "I just hope you know what you’re doing," Charlie said, going back to the newspaper he was reading.

 "Me too," Rei muttered.

 "Creton!"

 Creton burst into his throne room at the call of his lady.  He approached the orb of light and bowed to it.  "What is it you wish, my lady?"

 "There is a child with the SOL now," the voice said, sounding urgent, "I need him taken care of immediately.  This is very important."

 "My lady, what is it that...?"

 "No questions Creton!  I want it done now!  And I want the child alive," the voice cried.  Then the orb faded away and Creton stood up.  He looked around at the people that lined the walls.

 "Let me go," one of them said and stepped from the shadows.  He smiled largely, showing two sharp teeth.  "My name is Calune the Vampire."

 "Why should I let you go?" Creton asked him.

His cape lay across his shoulders like silk.

 "Why?  Because I am the best at seeking and finding.  I will capture this child for you.  He does not stand a chance, and at the same time I can eliminate the SOL."

 "Go, and do not fail our Queen, or we will both pay the consequences," Creton told him.  The Vampire nodded with a smile. Then he was gone.

 Creton sat down at his throne.  His failures were piling up.  The only reason he hadn’t already been expelled was because of his lady’s reliance on Creton to obtain the power to revive her body.

 And yet, if she lost her patience, it would be his doom, for there were many others to whom she could enlist their help.  He just happened to be one of the more powerful ones.  And yet his power relied mainly on his lady.

 His goal no longer was Rei.  He had settled for his lady’s goal.  He was after all of SOL and anyone in their way.  Then he could revive his lady and she could continue the quest she had started all those years ago.

 And she would have Creton at her side.

 Goals sometimes changed and he would have it no other way.

 Amy watched Koty eat with a fairly surprised expression.  She had to admit she was impressed.  He had broken Serena’s record for the messiest eater, and was pushing the line for the most food inhaled in a minute.  Serena might get miffed if he broke both.

 "Mmm," he said, "This is delicious.  Thanks Amy!" He continued to shove food into his mouth.

 "You were hungry weren’t you?" Amy smiled.  He nodded and finally pushed the plate away.  Amy hoped he didn’t plan on always eating this way.  The cooks had enough trouble keeping up with Serena’s appetite.

 "I need to ask you something, Koty," Amy said seriously.  Koty saw she was very serious and nodded.  Amy looked at the ground and finally said, "Where are your parents?"

 He stared at her for awhile.  "I don’t know," he shrugged.

 "When did you last see them?" Amy asked.

 "I haven’t ever," Koty blinked, "I don’t remember having parents ever.  Why?  Should I have?"  He looked at Amy curiously.

 "No, it’s okay," she told him.  She could relate a little.  She remembered not remembering her parents.  They had both been too rich and too adventurous to stay home more than a few days at a time.  She couldn’t even remember what they looked like.  She just knew that when she turned eleven they had both been killed in an accident.  She remembered that everyone was surprised because she didn’t cry at their funerals.  She hadn’t been upset at all.  How could she grieve for someone she didn’t know?

 "Amy?"

 "Huh?" she snapped out of her train of thought.  She saw Koty had moved closer to her.  She smiled down at him.

 "What happens now?" he asked.

 Amy sighed.  "You’ll stay here with me," she said.  "And we’ll have tons of fun.  Okay?"

 Koty nodded.  "Let’s go outside and play!" he said and took her by the hand.  Sady, who had been sitting in a chair nearby jumped up and followed them.  Amy showed him the backyard and he gawked at the go-kart track, insisting on taking a ride.  Amy insisted that they try it out later.

 "She’s fallen in love, hasn’t she?"

 Omi, who had been watching in the forest, turned and saw Donavan standing next to him.  He turned back and watched as Amy chased after the laughing boy.

 "I think she has," Omi smiled, "Cute kid.  I can’t say I blame her.  But there’s something so strange about him."

 Donavan watched them run around the yard.  Omi looked at him and was shocked by the expression on Donavan’s face.  "Are you okay?"

 "Hmm?" Donavan started a little and frowned, "Why do you ask?  And how can you stand to watch this disgusting display of affection?"

 "I thought it was rather cute," Omi said.  He couldn’t help but wonder what he had seen.  Was it remorse?  Sadness?  Omi stood up and looked up at Donavan.  Donavan was a towering kind of tall, and that was to everyone, not just Omi.  "Can I ask you a personal question?"

 "Sure," Donavan replied with an indifferent shrug, "but that doesn’t mean I’ll answer it.  Depends on how personal."

 "You were the first person to have the dreams," Omi chose his words carefully, "Who were you before that?  You were old enough to have a career, a life.  Who were you?"

 Donavan paused.  "None of your business, Oms."

 "Don’t call me that," Omi snapped and sat back down, "And I guess your right.  I was just curious."

 "Curiosity killed the spy," Donavan said simply and walked into the forest.  Omi watched and turned back to the two in the yard.  It was something about that kid that had set off Donavan.  Omi wondered for the first time if Donavan really did have no control of his destiny.  But what could have changed that?

 Amy turned to the forest suddenly and Omi quickly moved back to be completely behind a tree.  She didn’t see him but she sensed him.  After a moment, when the boy started to ask to play again, she went back to what she was doing.

 She still had the strange feeling she was being watched and grew a little nervous.  She felt Koty tugging at her hand.

 "Amy, can I please ride in the cars!" Koty begged.

 "Not right now," Amy smiled down at him, "I’m not sure if it’s safe for someone your age.  Tell you what, Koty, stay right here and I’ll go ask Rei."

 Koty nodded and Amy ran into the castle.  Koty looked around and sat down, waiting for Amy to come back.

 "Koty…"

 He looked up and around to see who had called his name.  He stood up and turned around.  He didn’t see anyone.  Koty turned in one direction and suddenly everything got dark.  Out of nowhere, a dark, pale man stood in front of the small boy.

 "My name is Calune," he said, "what’s yours?"

 Koty didn’t speak.  He took a step backwards and fell down.  Calune smiled innocently.  "Don’t be afraid child.  I won’t hurt you.  Come with me.  I’ll show you a world of beauty and magic."

 "Go away!" Koty yelled.  Omi was too stunned to move forward.  How was it that someone so young could so clearly know the difference between good and evil?

 Calune frowned and put a hand forward.  A clear bubble appeared around the small boy.   Koty gasped and put a hand forward.  He couldn't pass the bubble.  He began to scream.

 "Let me out!"

 Calune looked around nervously.  "Shhh!  Some one will hear you!"

 "Too late!"

 Calune turned around and was greeted by a foot in his face.  He flew backwards and sat up.  He saw Omi standing in front of him with his arms folded.

 "Who are you?"

 "That's not important.  Let the child go," Omi said.  Calune simply smiled and Omi ran forward.
Calune gasped and stood up, jumping to one side.  Omi missed and tried to stop but Calune fired an orb at him and he fell the ground.

 He was up immediately.  Calune grinned and held a hand out.  He fired another blast, but Omi moved his head out of the way before it hit him.  Calune grinned as it circled back around.  At the last minute Omi ducked and it hit Calune instead.

 At that time Amy came out of the castle.  She gave a gasp when she saw Calune and Omi fighting.

 "Koty?" she asked.  She saw him trapped in the clear bubble.  "Koty!"

 The two boys kept fighting while she ran towards Koty.  "Help me Amy!" Koty cried.  Amy looked for a way into the bubble.

 Calune looked towards Amy for a split second.  Suddenly, while he had been flying towards Omi, he switched his course and flew at Amy.  Amy gasped.  Omi let out a cry.  Amy didn’t have a chance to react and Sady was too far away to protect her.  Calune grabbed her from behind and pulled her neck up.

 "Let her go!" Omi yelled, "Let’s finish our fight first!"

 Calune merely grinned.  "Nice try but the fight is just now finished.  I shall take my leave.  But first, as I did promise Creton..."

 Amy tried to pull away as he bent down towards her neck. Suddenly she was Diamond in Willow’s clutches.  Then she was herself again.  Well, which was she?

 Amy then did something she didn’t know she had in her.  She kicked up and her foot landed right onto Calune’s face.  As far as anyone in SOL knew, only Serena and Lita could pull stunts like that.  He let go in his surprised and she jumped around.  Sady, who had stayed back to make sure Calune didn’t hurt Amy, now ran forward.  She stood in front of Amy and growled at Calune.

 "Are you okay?" Omi asked her, standing next to her.

 "Fine," she asked, "Now what are you doing here?"

 "Now is not the time," he said as Calune stood up.  Omi prepared himself.  Calune threw two attacks at each of them.  Sady suddenly grew a lot bigger and glared at Calune.  The attacks hit her harmlessly.

 Calune growled.  He looked at Koty and placed a clawed hand forward, looking angrier than before.  The shield around him flew up into the air, taking him with it.  Amy gasped.

 "Koty!" she reached into her bag, grabbing a stone, and threw it to the ground.  A blue snake-like dragon with large bird wings appeared in the smoke.  Amy jumped on it’s tail and ran up it’s back.  At the same time it flew towards the bubble that Koty was in.

 Omi watched with wide eyes then looked at Calune.  He took his chance and ran forward.  He tackled the vampire to the ground.  Calune let out a cry as he fell, completely surprised.  Omi pinned him down and hit him across the face.

 Amy was closer to the bubble, but all at once it disappeared.  Koty screamed as he started to fall.  She yelled out to her dragon and it dove down and made a circle under Koty.  Amy managed to catch him, falling backwards and clutching both the dragon and Koty.  Amy sighed with relief.  Amy then turned to the fight as the dragon made to land.  She saw him start to overpower Omi.  As they stood up, Calune grabbed Omi around the neck and held him into the air.

 Amy smiled as Sady lifted Calune into the air from behind him.  In surprise, he let go of Omi, who fell flat on the ground.  He sat up quickly to watch.  Sady tossed him into the air and blasted him.  He fell back to the ground as a pile of dust.

 The dragon landed on the ground.  Amy jumped off with Koty laying limply in her arms.  She carefully put him on the ground.

 He was unconscious.  She thought he must have hit his head or passed out.  She sighed with relief and sat down.  She held up the dragon stone and the dragon flew back into it. Amy looked over to Omi, who was walking towards them.

 "Are you okay?" Amy asked him.

 He looked at Koty.  "I’m fine.  What about him?"

 Amy looked down at Koty.  As she did he opened his eyes, then grabbed Amy’s shirt, burying his face.

 "He’ll be okay," Amy said, but when she looked up at Omi he was gone.  She blinked and looked around but he was no where to be seen.  Who was that mysterious boy?

 Koty continued to cling to her shirt.

 "Is he gone?" he asked timidly.

 "He’s gone," Amy told him gently.  "You didn’t think I’d let anything happen to you did you?  After all, what are friends for?"

 She took his hand and they walked back into the castle together.  Omi watched from the trees.  They were safe, for now.

 "But why would Creton want a little kid?"

 They all sat in the lounge after listening to Amy tell her story of what had happened to Koty and herself in the backyard.  For now Koty was sleeping.

 "I don’t know," Amy shook her head, "but he was definitely after Koty."  They all seemed grave at this news.

 "I’m glad I decided to let you take care of him," Rei leaned back, "He’s more important than we thought."

 "Do you know something about him Rei?" Hotaru asked her.

 Rei shook her head.  "Not a thing.  For a child, his mind is very hard to look into.    It’ll take some time for me to look into anything.  If I had to guess, the problem is repressed memories."

 "So what do we do with him?" Mina asked.

 "We make sure someone knows where he is at all times," Rei looked at all of them, "And we keep him here.  It’s the only safe place for him to be.  But why they want him…"

 Rei looked up at Rais and saw he was staring hard at the floor.  This was a little too personal for Rais she supposed.  After all, he, as a child, had to live in Evilopolis.  Rais probably didn’t want this kid to suffer through the same.  Yes, it was personal.

 Amy was also staring at the floor.  Rei knew that she had become quite attached to Koty.  She would figure out fast just how much work childcare was, but Rei was sure that wouldn’t stop her.  It couldn’t.

 "I think Creton has different motives now," Rei said, suddenly, "And Ran and Omi have something to do with it.  I think they know exactly what’s going on."

 Side by side Mina and Serena looked the other way.  Both were intrigued by the two.  Rei looked at them.  What an emotional mess.  The only people who didn’t seem to be about to go through a psychotic episode were Hotaru and Lita.

 And how long would that last?

 "Where is Koty right now?" Rei asked Amy.

 "Asleep," Amy told her and Rei nodded.

 "You can all go," Rei said and everyone walked out.  She was about to walk out herself when she felt someone grabbed her arm.  She looked around and saw Rais.

 "What’s wrong?" Rei asked him.  Rais looked a bit more serious than usual.  She asked but somehow she already knew the answer.

 "I want to protect Koty," Rais told her, "I want to be the one.  I’ll do it."  He stared at Rei in her eyes.

 "Are you sure?" she asked, "Because I'm not.  You might end up hurting yourself in the process, and I can't have that."

 "I’m not afraid of a few cuts and bruises..." Rais began but Rei shook her head.  He stopped and she looked hard at him.

 "I mean emotionally," Rei said, looking at him meaningfully, "There are some things about this kid that may force you to learn more about yourself.  I’m saying, you might get hurt.  Besides, I know why you want to do it and it might interfere with your ability to protect him."

 "I can do it, Rei," he begged, "I can do it and I don’t care what happens as long as Creton doesn’t lay a hand on Koty.  I want to be the one, Rei, please let me be the one."

 "We’ll all be the one," Rei said, "You don’t have to do this alone and I find it in your best interest that you don’t.  You’ll share the duties as much as everyone else.  Amy is the best person for the job because he knows her best.  So for now, I’ll leave most of it up to her."

 "I’ll get to know him," Rais looked determined, almost desperate, and this worried Rei, "I’ll make sure we’re friends.  I’ll—"

 "Rais!" Rei said, "You don’t want to protect this boy, you want to try and fix a past that’s already done with.  Koty is not a younger version of yourself."

 Rais looked away.

 "I really am sorry for what happened to you when you were younger, and I’m sorry for your parents, but if you want to protect Koty, protect Koty, not yourself," she said.

 He nodded.

 "And don’t be mad," she added.

 He nodded, but still didn’t say anything.   He just walked out without a word.  Rei sighed as he left.  He was probably mad at her now.  And she couldn't blame him.  She had said some pretty hurtful things, but they needed to be said.

 Now she had other things to think about.  Who exactly were Ran and Omi and what were their purposes?  They had both saved some of their members before, but what did that make them?  Were they friends or enemies?  Even if they have saved them, was it because they wanted to help or was it because they had other motives?  Rei sensed that they really just wanted to help, but at the same time, needed them for something else.  It didn’t make sense.

 Why were they here?  What did they hope to accomplish?

 She was tired of thinking by now and headed towards her bedroom.  She passed Koty’s room and saw the door open.  She looked inside and saw Amy reading a story to Koty.  He smiled up at her, pointing at the book.  Amy laughed and nodded.

 Rei stood there, watching, unnoticed by them.  She smiled and walked to her room.

 Amy woke up that night to the sound of Koty crying.  She got up slowly and walked down the hall to his room.  When she got to the door she was surprised to see it was already open.  She peeked inside and saw something she never thought she’d see.

 Koty was holding onto Rei, crying, as Rei comforted him.

 She smiled and took a step back.  Rei was handling this pretty well.  Maybe there was more to the mysterious Rei than she let on.

 She went back into her room, petting a sleeping Sady.

She had vowed to protect Koty, especially now that Creton was after him.  She wanted to know why.  Why would Creton be after such a small innocent boy?  What was it about Koty that made him special?

 Amy slipped under the covers.  She would protect him.  She had to.  She liked him for some reason she couldn’t explain.

 And in his room, Rei hugged him as he cried.  He hadn’t been picky about who comforted him.  He had been happy with the first set of arms to come near.

 "What’s wrong?" Rei asked him soothingly after he had stopped crying.  She remembered when she was little and she would get upset her father would always let her cry, then ask what was wrong.  He had called it "wringing the tears out."

 He sniffed a few times.

 "Did you have a bad dream?" she asked and he nodded, "Dreams are strange things, you know.  Sometimes they want to tell you something and sometimes they only want to show you something. But in the end, all they are is dreams."

 "Who are you?" he asked her, "Are you an angel?"

 Her eyes got wide and her cheeks flushed.  "N-no.  I’m Princess Rei.  I own this castle.  I'm nowhere close to an angel."

 "Your not as bad as everyone thinks you are," Koty said, still holding on to her.

 "Don’t believe half of what you hear," Rei told him with a smile.  "Wanna tell me what your dream was about?"

 "No," he said.  She nodded.

 "That’s fine.  You don’t have to.  We can just talk."

 "What do you wanna talk about?"

 "Where were you before you came here?" Rei asked him.

 "I don’t remember."

 "Do you remember anything?" she asked.

 "I remembers diamonds," he said and Rei stared at him in confusion.  Diamonds?  What did that have to do with anything?

 "Anything else?"

 "Diamonds and dark people.  But there were angels everywhere around me.  I remember the were protecting me.  Are you sure that you and Amy aren’t angels?
"
 "I’m pretty sure," Rei smiled.

 "I think you are," Koty said, "No matter what you think.  I think you’re an angel."  He closed his eyes.

 "I’m flattered you think that but…"

 He was asleep in her arms.  She sighed and looked down at his face.  She lifted him ever so gently and tucked him in.  Maybe he would stay asleep now.  He did, undisturbed by bad dreams.  Rei stared down at him and felt a tingle of affection.

 Wait, her?  Was she telling herself that she, the brave and forceful Princess Rei, was getting affections for a small child?

 It must have been her imagination.

 She walked out of the room and looked back at his sleeping form.  She smiled and turned off the light, shutting the door behind her.  Why not?  After all, the kid was cute.

 "Adorable isn’t he?"  Rei was startled to see Amy leaning against the wall, smiling at her.   Rei's face turned crimson.

 "Uh, yeah, I guess," Rei said and continued walking.

 "I didn’t know you were such a maternal person," Amy smiled, walking backwards as Rei walked forwards, "Is he asleep?"

 "Yeah, he’s out for the night."

 "You know Rei, one of these days that hard outer shell of yours is going to break and you’ll show us all just how nice you can be," Amy teased.

 "That’ll never happen."

 "I beg to differ Your Highness," Amy said, "And when it happens I’ll be right there to say I told you so."

 "It’s nice to know you care," Rei said, still red in the face and Amy laughed as she walked into her room.

Chapter 19