The Adventures of the SOL

 When Donavan Crossfire regained consciousness he felt as if the world decided to spin very fast.  When he opened his eyes everything was a rotating blur and his head ached.  He couldn't even decide where he was or why.

 He tried to remember but couldn't.  What had happened…?

 Suddenly he had an image of fire and sat up in great suddenness.  "Ran, Omi, the Princess…" he muttered, "Is it all gone?"

 "Well, its about time you woke up," he heard and looked to his left.  He ran his fingers through his hair as he looked at the face of an elderly old man.

 "What happened?" he asked.

 "You popped in here without a warning," the man smiled gently.  He was short, hunchbacked, but kindly faced with long white hair and a gray beard.

 "Where's here?" Donavan asked weakly, rubbing the back of his neck.

 "A small village named Legran," the man replied, hobbling forward, "You startled a group of children who were out playing."

 "I'm sorry," Donavan said hurriedly, "Um, do you have a map of the continent?  I need to figure out something."

 "Yes, hold on one moment," the man smiled.  He left the room and Donavan stood up, checking over his limbs.  He had been stripped down to his shirt and pants.  He found his coat, ammunition, a few of his guns, and his goggles in a neat pile on a chair.

 "My name is Eldwin," the man said, spreading the map before Donavan on a nearby desk.  Donavan went over to it and looked.  He found Nymph Forest on the map.

 "Now Legran is right here," the old man said pointing up to the far north, "Where is it you came from?"

 "Here," Donavan said grimly, pointing down at the area that was in the middle of the southern half.  He looked at the little dot that was Lizerton.

 "You're a long way off," the man said, stroking his mustache.

 "No kidding," Donavan shook his head, "I should be going.  Thank you for your hospitality."  He strapped on his guns and ammunition.

 "You don't look like you've eaten in a while," the man said, "Would you stay for dinner?"

 Donavan paused slipping on his goggles.  He was about to turn down the offer when his stomach answered for him in a long growl.  He grinned sheepishly at the man.  "Maybe I could stay for a little while."

 He found himself at a dinner table with the man and his daughter.  The man spoke to Donavan kindly, never asking questions about where and why he was here.  Donavan had taken the guns back off so as not to seem threatening.  The man's daughter, Ellen, stared at him in great suspicion though, never taking her eyes off of him.  When she was spoken to her reply was quick and curt.

 A silence filled the table as Donavan ate.  He was very hungry and there was no room for much talking on his part.  He ravenously ate everything placed before him.

 When he finally finished he sat back with a sigh.  "That was wonderful," he smirked to himself, "My compliments to the chef."

 "I'm the chef," Ellen replied.

 "Then you have my compliments," Donavan replied as if she had know.  She stood up and pushed her chair in, glaring at him.

 "Whatever those are worth," she said and gathered up the plates.

 "Ellen, my dear, don't be rude to our guest," Eldwin scolded gently, trying to sound stern but failing miserably, "He has been showing very kind manners."

 "Yes, he's offered everything but an explanation," she said.

 "I suppose you want to know where it is I come from and why?" Donavan asked, "And I can't say I blame you.  But you wouldn't believe me if I told you."

 "Try me," she said.

 "You aren't cute enough," he retorted and her face flushed.  He watched her.  She had long red hair that went to her waist pulled back on the bottom half by a bandanna.  She looked about twenty or so.

 She began washing dishes and Eldwin smiled nervously at him.  "You have to understand, her mother was killed because she trusted people too much.  She was helping one man who killed her for her money," he sighed, "She never did anything but trust him."

 "And you shouldn't be so trusting, Daddy," Ellen put in, "We don't know this man, why should we explain why Mother died to him?"

 "To be hospitable," the man told her, "He has obviously seen a rough time."

 "Not that it matters," Ellen said, shaking out her hands, "We wouldn't know because he won't tell us.  And because he won't tell us I say he's on the run from the law."

 "What?" Donavan lost his temper, sitting up and watching Ellen. "I'll have you know I use to be the law!"

 "An ex policeman gone bad," she said, "I've heard of worse."

 "You have a bad attitude," he told her and she turned and smiled innocently at him.

 "No worse than yours," she said earnestly, "You haven't even told us your name and yet we're sharing our food and beds."

 "Fine, my name is Donavan Crossfire, okay?" he marched over to where he had set his jacket and grabbed his things, "And I thank you but I also think I'll leave now."

 "Fine go," she said and turned her back.

 "You're going to the Nymph Forest area?" the man asked.

 "Yeah," Donavan said, buckling his firearms and slipping on his coat.

 "It can be a little hard to chose the right path to go to some places if you aren't from around these parts," Eldwin looked at Ellen, "Ellen can take you about half way there?  Then you should be able to find your way."

 "That won't be necessary," Donavan said before Ellen could protest.  He cast a glance at her and said, "I wouldn't want to trouble the lady."

 "You'll get lost," the man said.

Donavan ground his teeth.  Eldwin was right, he hadn't been to this section of the continent before.  "Okay fine, but she has to drop the attitude."

 "Daddy, you can't be serious," she finally spoke up, "You'd send your only daughter off alone with some strange man?  What kind of father are you?"

 "He told us his name and where he's from," Eldwin reminded her, "He seems to think we wouldn't believe the reason he's here."

 "Or he's here for some reason that's bad," Ellen pointed out.

 "What's the problem?" Donavan asked, "Are you afraid of me?"

 "You?" she asked, tossing her hair back, "I'll have you know I am a great mage in my day.  I have no reason to fear you."

 "I'll make you a deal," Donavan put a hand out for her to shake on it, "Take me halfway and I'll tell you why I ended up here.  If I try and touch you, you can sack me over the head with a lightning bolt for all I care."

 "Tell me now," she said.  Her eyes were curious.  Much too curious for her own good, Donavan realized.  Curiosity killed the cat.

 "Later," he said.

 "Now or I won't do it," she replied.

 "I'll tell you this much," he said, "Have you ever heard of the Great Princess Rei, daughter of Lawrence the Good?"

 She stopped.  "Yes…"  Donavan simply smiled.

 "Well, what about her?" she asked.  Curiosity was overwhelming her, he could tell.  He just yawned and shrugged.  "Fine, you'll tell me if I help you?"

 "Yes," he said, "You have my promise."

 "Whatever that is worth," she slowly reached out, hesitated, then shook his hand in agreement, "But I accept."

 "Good," Donavan said, loading a gun, then paused, "Um, not to second guess myself, but are you sure?  To be hanging around me might be dangerous and I wouldn't want anyone else that hasn't nothing to do with this to be hurt."

 "So you are involved in something bad!" she watched him carefully, watching him tinker with his firearms.

 "I'm on the good side," Donavan said, replacing the gun, "It's the bad people who are after me."  He looked at her carefully.  "I'm serious, I can't have you getting hurt or anything."

 "I told you, I'm a powerful mage."

 "And I told you, Princess Rei is involved and she's the strongest psychic this continent is ever going to know, but she was bested too," he said, "And I'm willing to bet she's more powerful than you."

 She paused.  "I want to know why you're here, so I'll go."

 "Okay, fine."

 "Great," Eldwin said, "But promise me you'll be careful."  She nodded.  "You, young man, must protect her should something happen.  Promise me."

 "As long as she doesn't get in the way nothing should happen to her, but should something happen, I'll do my best," Donavan said.

 Ellen packed a few things to make their way back to Evilopolis, though he never mentioned that's where he was going, and they set off.  The villagers of Legran all stared at Donavan as they made their way out.

 "What about Princess Rei?" Ellen asked.

 "Huh?" Donavan replied.

 "What happened to her," she said.

 "If I tell you you'll turn around and leave," he replied, "Once you know there's no reason for you to stay.  Then it'll take me longer to get back."

 "I won't leave.  Please tell me," she pleaded, "I have to know."

 Donavan looked at her suspiciously.  "If I tell you, you won't run off?" he asked her and she nodded, "You promise?"

 "I give you my word," she said.

 He smirked.  "Whatever that's worth."  She puffed up but he began to tell her what happened.  He told her of his coming to Nymph Forest from lands East of there and meeting Princess Rei.  He explained about Creton and the dark Queen Calypso.  He explained the kidnapping of he and his friends Ran and Omi.  He told her how the Queen had used her friends to lure her into the pentagram that would allow the queen to inhabit Rei's body.  Last he told her of Rei's last attempt to save them by taking control over her own body and transporting them away from Evilopolis.

 "So you don't even know if your friends are alive?" she asked him quietly.

 "If I knew they were I wouldn't be going back, I'd be trying to get as far away from that place as possible," Donavan said coldly.

 "You'd abandon them to fight this Queen without you?" she asked indignantly, "How selfish!  Don't you care about them?"

 "Yeah it's selfish," he shrugged, "But I'd be alive.  Why should I care about anyone but myself?  It would save a lot of people from getting into other's business."

 "You are harsh," she frowned, "You are going to save the world, but only because you aren't certain there is anyone else who can do it?"

 "Yep, otherwise I would run," he said, sighed, then added, "and let them deal with it.  Why should I risk my neck if someone else could do it?"

 "You don't mean that do you?" she asked, making sure to stay next to him on the path.  She was watching him so closely it made him nervous.

 "Of course, why else would I say it?" he said giving her an uncomfortable glance.  She stared long and hard and he grew even more uncomfortable.  "Quit that!"

 "I think you're hiding that you actually care about them," Ellen said. Finally averting her eyes and watching the path in front of them. "You think if you admit it then they’ll die."

 "Why do you say that?' he asked, but she could see there was some truth to what she was saying.  He seemed a little panicked.

 "Because, you are upset inside, I can feel it," she told him, sounding sincere, "You're worried about them all, aren't you?"

 "Listen, don't tell me what I feel," Donavan snapped.

 "Tell me what you really feel then," she retorted.

 "That is what I feel!"

 "You're lying," she said simply and he was silent.

 He was silent for a long time.  Finally he took a deep breath.  "Okay, so maybe you're right, I am afraid of them being dead," Donavan said, "It makes no difference, if I knew they were dead for sure I would run."

 "Coward," she said.

 "At least I'm alive," he replied.

 "I think you're lying about that too," she started in, "If you were as selfish as your trying to make me believe, why even bother to save the world?  You would have joined their side or something to avoid destruction."

 "I may be selfish but not that selfish," he snorted.

 "I think you're doing it because you want to not because you have to," she said.

 "Quit telling me what I think!" he yelled.

 "It makes you angry because it's true," she stopped and put her hands on her hips, glaring at him.  Donavan looked away and muttered something.  She leaned over.  "What did you say?"

 "I said you're right!" he yelled, causing her to jump back, "I'm worried about my friends and I probably wouldn't run if I thought they were dead.  Are you happy?"

 "So why did you lie?" she asked softly.

 "Because if it wasn't a lie I'd be smart," he said.  She didn't reply.  They walked along in silence for a very long time; Ellen putting herself in front of Donavan so she could show him the way.

 "What about you?" he asked.

 "Hmm?"

 "Would you save the world?" he asked, "If you knew it might all end?"

 "What do you mean would I?" she replied, "I'm going to."  Donavan looked at her, trying to figure out just what she meant.

 "Excuse me?" he asked with an eyebrow up.

 "I said I'm going to," she repeated, "I'm going with you and helping you fight."  Donavan ran up to be next to her.

 "Are you crazy!  You can't do that!" he hissed, looking around nervously, "What about your dad?  What about you're village?"

 "Next town we come to I'll have to send a letter home," she replied simply, "So that way they know I'm going."

 "You aren’t going!' he replied.

 "I am too," she said, still walking, not even looking at Donavan, "You guys obviously need help.  So I'm going to help."

 "I said no," he replied, "You have nothing to do with this, you would die one second in.  I won't let you go."

 "Try and stop me," she said.

 Donavan stared and let out a growl.  "I can't believe you actually want to go.  After I promised your dad I'd protect you!"

 "Well, you'll have your hands full won't you?" she asked and he shook his head.

 "More than you know.  You underestimate this Queen's power," he growled, "I probably won't survive, what makes you think you will?"

 "I'm stronger than I look.  I can at least maybe do a little bit of damage before the whole world is gone."  He just growled again and was silent.

Ran woke up right outside some town.  He felt as though someone had dropped a ton of bricks on his head.  Where had that Princess sent him?  He supposed there was no telling because she probably didn't know herself.  She was just trying to get them as far away as she could.

 He sat up and hung his head.  It was partly his fault that it had happened to her.  He should have been ready when that demon attacked.  Instead he had helped lure her in and secured her fate.  A fate worse than death, he thought.

 Would she end up destroying her own friends?  Were her own friends even still alive?  What about Omi and Donavan, where were they?

 He stood up and tried to adjust his hat but realized he didn’t have it on.  He sighed.  Some things a cat boy had to live without.  He stood up and dusted himself off.  He looked over at the nearby town.  It wasn't big or anything.  Just didn't seem very active.  He walked towards it and wondered if someone would allow him some food and drink.  He was starving and had no money with him.

 He stared at it, staying just outside of it, wondering if he should bother when he heard a small click behind him.  He whirled around and saw a man with a gun there.  His hands went in the air.  Behind him stood about four other men and they all had weapons.

 "Help you gentlemen?" he asked with a nervous grin.

 "You one of them Felinus Sapiens ain't you?" the man with the gun asked.  He had small beady eyes and a thick mustache underneath a bulbous nose.

 "And if I am?" Ran asked, looking from each of them.  They began to circle around and surround him.

 "You ain't welcome here," the man replied.

 "Fine, I'll leave," Ran replied, "I don't want any trouble."

 "Your whole darned race needs to go," the man held up the gun and seemed ready to fire.  Ran swallowed hard.

 "Look," Ran said slowly and carefully, "I have to attend certain matters, so if I just leave and never come back can you please not shoot me?"

 "How do I know you won't come back?" the man asked.

 "You'll have to trust me," Ran said.

 "That answers that," another one of the men said and Ran felt someone hit him from behind.  He hit the grass, unconscious.

"Where am I?" Ran asked outloud as he woke up.  He had a bump on his head the size of the continent and he was strung up on something.

 He opened his eyes and looked up.  Someone had strung a rope over one of the beams of the ceiling in the room he was in and tied it to his wrists.  His wrists were bleeding because of the tension.  He didn't need to stand up; the rope held him just about an inch off the ground.  He laid his ears back.  What did these people want with him, he told them he'd leave.  He wished he had landed in some cat person village.

 He heard a sound at the door.  His ears shot forward and he laid them back down when he saw the same man that had confronted him outside the town.  Great, how was he supposed to get back to Evilopolis now?

 "What's your business here?" the man asked him, still holding on to the gun.

 "It was an awry transport spell," Ran told him honestly, "It was never my intention to be anywhere near here."

 "Tell the truth!" the man said shoving the gun up to Ran's throat.

 "I am!" Ran shouted back, pulling as far away from the gun as he could.  Even magic couldn't stop a gun that close range.  He closed his eyes expecting the gun to fire any minute.

 "Has it talked yet?" came voice and Ran peeked over at the door to see a well-dressed man with a circlet on his head.  He seemed about in his mid-thirties.

 "Who are you?" Ran asked.

 The man barely looked at him.  "What did it say?"

"It said that it came because a transport spell gone wrong, My King" the old man said, nodding to him, "But I don't believe him."

 "It thinks it knows magic does it?" the King said, "That's almost cute.  Keep questioning it.  It must be a spy for one of its villages."

 "Yes, My King," the man said and as soon as the King had left he turned to Ran, "You heard the man.  Tell us why you're really here."

 "I'm not a spy, I would gladly leave if you would let me go!" Ran yelled and received a blow from the handle of the gun across his face.  He gritted his teeth.

 "You will talk!" the man said afterwards.  Ran spat blood.  He just glared at the man.  "Primitive beast!" the man cried and was about to hit him again.

 "That will be enough," they both heard and turned to the door.  A boy who couldn't have been much older than Rei herself stood in the doorway, watching with disapproval on his face.

 "But your father said…"

 "My father isn't here," the Prince said, looking right at the old man, defiance in his eyes, "I'd like you to leave."

 "But your father…"

 "If he objects to my presence than he'll hang me from the roof and try to force me to tell him why by hitting me with a gun," the prince growled, "I told you to leave."

 "Yes, Your highness," he said and hurried past the prince.  The boy watched him leave and walked over to where Ran was.

 "Are you alright?" the prince asked Ran.

 "Yes," Ran nodded, shifting a little.  Being strung up like that was not comfortable. "So you actually talk to me unlike your father?"

 "Father is a little, um, over cautious," the Prince looked away in shame, "Please excuse him.  I am Cid.  What's your name?"

 "Ran Whiska," Ran replied curtly, "Your hospitality is a little low grade down here.  So why have you come?"

 "I'm not sure," Cid looked at the ground again, "I don't think what they're doing is fair but there's nothing I can do about it.  If I let you go you might be caught again and killed, but I'm not sure what else to do."

 "Don't risk it," Ran replied, a small smirk on his face, "I'll get myself out.  I wouldn't want to get you in trouble or anything."

 "They mean to kill you," Cid said.

 "I know," Ran replied.

 "Are you sure?" Cid asked.

 "Look, if it's going to get you in trouble and I'm probably going to get caught and die anyway, it isn't worth it," Ran pointed out, "But if I get out on my own then you won't get in trouble."  He didn't mention that he probably wouldn't be able to escape.

 "That makes sense," Cid said but didn't seem sure.  He was pretty young, "But… I don't like what's going on here.  Just because you are what you are."

 "It happens, kid," Ran replied, voice quiet, "A lot of places I go.  I just don't think anything quite like this has happened."

 "Why did you come here?" Cid asked.

 "I didn't mean to," Ran sighed, "I was transported here by mistake.  Father and his lackey don't want to believe that."

 "Oh, Barnard," Cid said as if the name felt bad on his tongue, "He's been working as the chief of the guards for as long as I can remember."

 "And he has a face only a mother can love," Ran grinned, then added, "A guy like that sure doesn't scare me."

 "Really?" Cid asked.

 "Well maybe a little," Ran shrugged, then grew serious, "Look don't trouble yourself about me, I'm on top of it, Gov'ner."

 "Governor, is that what you called me?" Cid asked.

 "No Gov'ner," Ran winked, "There's a difference.  And yeah it's a little expression of mine.  If you don't like it I won't call you it.  A lot of people don't."

 "Gov'ner," the boy repeated, deep in thought, "I kind of like it."

 "You're one out very few who does," Ran said, "You know, you're alright kid.  Um, maybe you should go before your father finds you."

 "Oh right," Cid said.  He began to walk away, casting Ran a glance over his shoulder.  He reached the door and paused with his hand wavering over the doorknob.  He stood there, thinking.  Suddenly he turned around pulling a dagger from a small sheath, then went walking towards Ran.

 "Hey, Gov'ner, what are you…?" Ran didn't finish because Cid brought the knife down cutting the rope and Ran landed on the ground.  Ran looked up at him.  "Hey thanks, Gov'ner, but…"

 "If I didn't do it I would have been angry at myself for the rest of my life," Cid replied with a small smile, "So I decided that it was worth my father's angry words."

 "But…"

 "You should leave," Cid interrupted.

 Ran paused.  "You're right.  Thanks a lot Gov'ner.  Maybe I'll see you around."  With that he looked around the room, then slipped out the window in the back and disappeared from Cid's line of vision.  As soon as he was outside Ran wondered where to turn.

He turned a corner and found himself face to face with a strange woman.

 She gave one look and screamed.  "The thing has escaped, the cat thing!" she yelled and Ran groaned.  He went around the other way and went straight.  He his among the shadows.  He would hear some soldiers run by and he would duck praying they didn't see him.  He found that there was a very tall fence on two sides of the town.  He made his way to an open end and realized that to escape he'd have to not only run right into view but run right between the guards that stood at the door.

 He paused and wondered if the other way was safer.  Or not because if this end was guarded so was that one.  He paused considering.  If he ran right in the middle of the guards it would give them a chance to fire at him and perhaps shoot him.  But if they didn't he would be home free.  Or not they might hunt him down.  If he could make it to a Felinus Sapien friendly town he was safe but he had no idea what town he was in and couldn't have said where the nearest town was.

 He decided to go anyway.  He took a deep breath and made a run for it.

"This is the town of Ferio," Ellen told Donavan as they went to it.  They started forward into the town to gather supplies when someone ran past them.  He seemed in a great hurry, walking into his house and shutting the door.  All at once a group of guards came towards them and stood at the entrance.

 "What's going on?" Donavan asked.

 "I'm not sure," Ellen said, looking around.

 "Hey you," Donavan said to a man nearby, "What's going on in this place?"  The man paused long enough to look up at Donavan.

 "There's a Felinus Sapien loose in the town," the man said and ran to his house.

 "So?" Donavan asked, looking a little indignant, "What have they got against Felinus Sapiens?  I'll have them know one of my best friends is…" he trailed off.

 "What is it, Donavan?" Ellen asked.

 Donavan shook his head.  "Couldn't be… Do you think?"

 "Do I think what?" Ellen started to become annoyed with him, "What's going on?  What's the matter with you?"

 "One of my friends who was with me in that incident in Evilopolis was a Felinus Sapien," Donavan told her.

 "You think…?" she asked and he nodded, "This is bad, Donavan, if they catch him they'll kill him.  This is a very old fashioned town.  Anything not human gets it.  They think Felinius Sapiens are murderers."

 "Ran wouldn't ever do a thing like that," Donavan looked appalled by the thought.

 "Try telling their King that," Ellen looked at him meaningfully.  Donavan didn't need to hear more, he began to run for the other side of the town.

 The escape didn’t work out as well as Ran thought it would.  One of the guards had seen him coming and hit him in the stomach, sending him reeling back.  It knocked the breath out of him and he sat up trying to breathe.

 There were several guns aimed at him, waiting for the order to fire.  Ran stared around himself looking for a way to escape.  Everyone stood around him sneering.  Someone threw a stick and Ran knocked it away.  Why did they hate him so much, because he wasn't human?

 "Get out of my way," he heard and recognized the voice that Cid had said belonged to the chief of guard.  He came bounding through the soldiers.  "Weapons down," he said, "I will do the honors."  He held his own gun up at Ran's head.  Ran stared at him defiantly.

 "Any last words?" the chief asked him.

 "Why are you asking it?" someone said, "It's not human!"

 There were several shouts of agreement in the passerby's.  "I may not be human," Ran said so only the chief could hear, "But that doesn't mean that I can't feel."

 The chief hesitated.  Ran continued.  "My name is Ran Whiska, I have two brothers.  My best friend is a human boy name Omi."  The chief started to put down his gun.

"What are you doing, going soft?" one of the villagers said and laughs could be heard.  The man looked around, looking embarrassed.

 "This is come sort of trick isn't it?" the chief put the gun back up.

 "'Fraid not Gov'ner," Ran flinched away from the gun, "We both feel the same things.  I can love, hate, think, and be sad or happy.  You and I are no different except I have cat ears and a tail and you don't."

 "We are different!" the man shouted, "You're just trying to trick me."

 "Just shoot it and get it over with," someone shouted, "before it escapes and eats our children!"  Ran turned to the woman who had spoken.

 "Eat children?" Ran asked, making a face, "That is sickening and I would destroy anyone who did such a thing."  The chief could hesitate no longer.  Either he would shoot him or everyone else would.

 Before he could there was a cry.  "Out of my way!" he heard and recognized the King's voice.  The crowd parted immediately.

 "What is the problem, Barnard?" he frowned.

 "No problem, Your Highness," Barnard replied, "I will shoot him."

 "Then do it," the man said, "Before I lose my patience."

 "Father wait!" they heard and Prince Cid came running from the crowd, "Don't hurt him!  He never did anything to us."  The King stared down at his son, not understanding.  Cid stared back, pleading with his eyes, and the King glared at Ran.

"You have brainwashed my son!" he yelled and rushed forward taking the gun from Barnard and aiming at Ran's head.  Ran closed his eyes and waiting for the sound that would signal the gun had gone off.

There was a small click from a gun, but it didn't come from the king.  Actually, it came from behind him.

 "Donavan!" Ran cried, opening his eyes, looking relieved, "I never thought I'd actually be happy to see you, Gov'ner!"

 "Who are you!?" the King asked slowly.  Donavan's gun was aimed at the King's temple and there was no sign it was going to drop anytime soon.

 "It doesn't matter," Donavan said angrily, "What matters is that you are aiming a gun at my friend's head.  Put it down."

 "You're human though," the King cried baffled, not understanding.  Cid looked up at them, eyes wide.  Everyone was silent.

 "You're not," Donavan countered, "Why would you try and kill an innocent person?  I seriously doubt he's done anything to you."

 "It is not a person," the King said dropping his gun, "It is a beast that must be destroyed before it destroys us!"

 "Call him an 'it' one more time and I'll…" Donavan almost pulled the trigger but Ran was up and had a hand on his arm.

 "Don't, Donavan, they don't understand," Ran told him, looking at him carefully.  Donavan nodded and addressed the town.

 "Everyone!" Donavan shouted, "Put down your weapons or I'll shoot your King."  Weapons hit the ground and Donavan looked around to make sure everyone had actually thrown down his weapon.  He began to back away, his gun aimed at the King.

 "See you later, Gov'ner," Ran said and smiled at Cid who waved as they left.  Just on the other side Ellen rode up on a horse and two extras.

 "Where did you get the horses?" Donavan asked getting on one.

"Well, you held a gun to the King's head, I figured stealing a horse or three was no biggie," Ellen smiled.  Ran got on his horse and they rode away.

 "Hey, who's the Doll?" Ran asked.

 "Doll?" she asked in return, "I find that remark very demeaning to the female race.  I am a woman, not a Doll or a chick or a broad."

"Gotcha, Gov'ness," Ran said.

 Ellen was about to reply but Donavan spoke up first.  "Her name is Ellen and she's a pain in the butt," Donavan said.

 "How dare you!" Ellen snapped.

 "So what's she doing here?" Ran asked, "No offense to you, Do... Er, Ellen, but I mean, you aren't taking her to…?"

 "No," Donavan said.

 "Yes," Ellen growled back.

 "Well, which is it?" Ran asked, cocking one ear back in confusion.  They slowed down to a trot as they got away from Ferio.

 "She's going to follow me," Donavan muttered, casting a sulky glance at her, "I should have never told her why we were going in the first place."

 "It'll be dangerous," Ran warned her.

 "I don't care," she said as though they should know it already, "I would like to help in any way I can.  One person can make the whole difference."

 "True," Ran nodded, "Well, I guess you can if you want to.  Don't know why you would want to, but it is what you want.  A pretty Doll like you, why I'd..."

 Donavan sighed.  "Are you okay Ran?"

 "Huh?  Yeah, I got a good lump on the head and the chief fella got me pretty hard across the face but other than that…"

 "No, I mean, are you okay?" Donavan asked again, softer this time.  It was quiet and Ran looked down.  One disadvantage to having ears is that they gain a mind of their own.  His emotions were revealed with a simple flick.  Donavan watched as they sidled down.

 "Yeah, I'm fine," Ran said so low it was almost a whisper.

 Donavan didn't press the matter but he could feel Ellen's eyes on him as he rode on.  They stopped that night next to a river.  Ellen said it was the Mistral River.  She told them that after they crossed it there wouldn’t be a town between there and Evilopolis, only the Dragon Forest and they were going to just miss it.

 That night they built a fire and slept around it.  Donavan woke up early that morning and stood watching the sun rise at the river.  He was thinking.  He stood in his undershirt and pants, feeling a cold wind across his bare arms.

 Ellen stirred from her place around the fire.  She got up and stood next to him.  The sun was halfway up the skyline but still just dim enough to look at.  She looked up at his face and back at the sunrise, squinting.

 "Pretty isn't it?" she asked, "Father and I used to camp near here when Mother was still alive.  We used to watch the sunset too."  Donavan didn't answer as she slipped her arm through his.  He said nothing. She sighed and watched it rise.  It finally got too high for them to stare at.  They turned their backs.

 "Donavan, do you love someone?" Ellen asked.

 Donavan remained silent.

 "Because I mean, I've never been in love and I'm already nineteen.  I thought that everyone fell in love before they grew up, but I never did, but I think that now…"  She leaned up towards to kiss Donavan.  Donavan started to kiss her back but pushed her away at the last minute, walking to the edge of the river and standing there alone.  She watched, hurt filling her eyes.

 "Why…?"

 "I don't deserve to love anyone anymore," Donavan said, shaking his head, "I've ruined it for myself.  I cannot love again, it only brings pain to me and those who I love.  I'm sorry, you'll have to find another boyfriend."

 She looked down but did not cry.  Instead she started to gather their things so that they could make their way to Evilopolis as soon as Ran woke up.  Donavan went to ready the horses that they had tied to a long forgotten log stuck in the ground.  He put a saddle on the last one and groaned.  He rested his head on the saddle.

 He should have gone back to his wife, Day, and his children.  Lately he had wanted to speak to them more often.  He missed Day and wanted to meet his kids.  He wondered how they managed without a father.  Just fine, he supposed, but still…

 He would go, he decided.  If he survived the on coming battle with the Queen he would go to see her.  Not from a distance and watch, but he would speak to her, talk to the kids.  He didn't have to say that he was their daddy, in fact he would discourage Day from saying anything to them, but just once he wanted to hold them, to touch them.

 "Donavan?"

 He whirled around.  Ran was scratching the back of his head.  "Something wrong?"

 "No, nothing," Donavan said, "It's just that, I think Ellen is a little taken with me, and I can't… I mean, I could never…"

 "I understand," Ran smirked, "I know she's older than I am, but she's young, she just thinks she's in love.  There will be others.  Don't worry about her, she's a tough girl from what I can tell."

 "You're right," Donavan said and untied the horses from the post.  He grabbed their reigns and handed Ran his horse.  He led his and Ellen's to where she was standing.

 "There's a bridge a little ways down from here," she said, "We should be able to cross there."  Donavan nodded and got on his horse.  They rode to the bridge.  They could see it as they approached.

 "Is it a toll bridge?" Ran asked.

 "No, why?" Ellen asked.

 "Then who are they?" Ran asked and pointed.  Donavan squinted to see what Ran's enhanced vision could pick up a lot better.  There were two shapes at the ends of each side of the bridge.  They looked like large men from a distance.  As they got closer Donavan came to a sudden halt.

 "The Queen's army," he muttered.

 "What are they doing here?" Ran asked.

 "Let's go find out," Donavan frowned and sent his horse into a gallop.  They approached the bridge and the soldiers at the end asked them to halt.  Donavan was ready to grab a gun if the need should arise.

 "None shall pass," the thing said.  It was all black and built like a beast like human.  They could only stare for a moment.  It was so strange looking...

 "In whose name?" Ellen finally asked.

 "Queen Calypso," it answered, "Go away."

 "We will pass," Ran said, "I suggest you move."

 "None shall pass," was his reply.

 "These things have no emotion," Donavan said, "They do only what their Queen orders."  With that he pulled out a gun and shot at it.  The bullet went into its head and it fell over.  It sank into the boards of the bridge and into the river.  The other three advanced and they received the same fate as the first.

 "That was easy," Ellen said, surprised.

 "After about fifteen minutes they can rebuild themselves," Donavan explained, "They were created to wage wars.  It's impossible to win a war where your opponent's dead keep rising every fifteen minutes after dying."

 "I see your meaning," Ellen said, "So how do we kill them?"

 "I can't remember that part," Donavan said and she just sighed.  They went across the bridge and continued towards Evilopolis.

 "What do you think happened to everyone else?" Ran asked.

 "I'm not sure," Donavan shrugged, "Probably the same thing that happened to us.  They appeared in a place they’ve never seen in their life."

 Ran sighed.

 "It bothered you didn't it?" Ellen asked and Ran gave her a baffled glance, "Those people treating you the way they did."  Ran shrugged.  "If it makes you feel any better, I don't think you're a heartless beast," Ellen said, but when Ran didn't reply she said, "I guess it doesn't."

 "It's just…" Ran sighed, "Why do they have to be so cruel?  The King wouldn't even speak directly to me and when someone talked about me they called me 'it.'  I wouldn't be surprised if someone considered training me and making me their child's pet."

 "The first person to try would get a hole in their skull," Donavan retorted with a growl.  Ran and Ellen looked at him but he had his back to them.

 "Look maybe you aren't human by definition, but you are to me," Ellen said, shyly, "Besides, I like the tail, it's real cute."

 "You really think so?" Ran asked with a grin.

 Ellen nodded.

 They rode farther still, just missing the Dragon Forest.  They camped out again.  They were all lying around a fire staring up at the night sky.

 "I wonder if Rei's okay?" Ran asked.

 Donavan didn't say anything for awhile.  Finally he answered.  "I can't lie, she's probably suffering.  She almost killed her friends against her will and every move she makes is not because she wants to, it's because she has to.  That's no life."

 "It's our fault, you know," Ran said sadly.

 "No," Ellen spoke up, "It's that Queen's fault.  And we'll save her.  You'll see."

 "We have to," Donavan said, "Or it's the end of us all."

 They fell silent and all went to sleep.

Rais sat in the cell of the Evilopolis dungeon with his head held low.  No one had so much as said two words to him.  He had been there for three days and hadn't seen Rei at all.  He knew what had happened.  How she had been transformed, but there was nothing he could do.  The cell was locked and there was no escaping.

 He wasn't sure what to do.  He had only felt so helpless once in his life and that was when he asked Creton to spare his parents lives.  He wasn't sure why they kept him alive at all.  What use was he to them?

 Meanwhile in the throne room of Evilopolis, Creton was having some trouble.

 "What is wrong with you Creton?" the Queen asked.

 "I think the merge is trying to break apart," Creton replied steadily but held onto his forehead, "It only lasts three days and it can not be repeated until after another three days."

 "We will have time, none of those chosen ones will return until then," the queen said, "Have you found the child yet?"

 She turned this question to Set who was bowed before her.  "No," he said, "He disappeared from the castle and has not been seen since."

 "Find him, quickly," the Queen replied, "He is the missing link to the destruction of this filthy planet.  The sooner he is in my grasp the better."
 

 "What purpose does the child serve?" Set asked.
 "What impertinence, but I will explain anyway," the Queen said, "He is the reincarnation of the Prince.  He has powers stronger than that of the body I possess now."  She paused as her face contorted.  "This girl is a very resilient thing.   I can control her, but the sooner we find my own body the better."

 Suddenly there was a flash of light and they both turned to Creton.  He was staring down at the unconscious form of Charlie.

 "Take him away," Creton said and the guards whisked by and dragged him to the dungeon.  "No matter, I can repeat the process three days from now."

 Back in the dungeon, Rais sat up as he heard someone coming and was surprised to see Charlie, drug in by a set of guards.  They opened Rais's door and tossed him in.

 "Charlie?" Rais asked, tapping his face, "Charlie."

 He was out cold.  Fearing the worse Rais listened for his heart beat and heard it in his chest.  He sighed with relief.  He was okay.  Rais sat back and watched him, waiting for him to wake up.  He looked between the bars of his cell to the window outside of it.

 "Where are you guys?" he whispered and no one answered.

Chapter 25