The Adventures of the SOL

 Set scowled out over the landscape as he watched the happenings of the soldiers that he had sent to this land.  They were scavenging a cold and icy land, hundreds of them all swarming around in search of the Queen's body.  They had no previous luck and Set was growing apprehensive towards the soldiers, fearing that the Queen's displeasure would cause him to pay the price.

 "Call the master!" Set heard suddenly and his ears perked up.  His hearing was actually quite excellent and before one of the Shadows, or the Queen's army, could come to him he went there first.  He was at the site almost immediately.

 "What have you found?" he asked coldly and abruptly.

 "I believe I have discovered the Queen's body," it said in a low bow.  Set stared where the creature pointed in a squint.  As he looked he could see a place where the snow had been cleared away and the ice could be seen through.  Beneath it he could see a medium sized object and he nodded.  It looked like this Shadow had found the Queen's body after all.

 Set wasted no time; he aimed a hand at the ground and fired a large blast into it.  It drove down into the ice at his will and paused right above the object, so it would not be damaged.  He spread the heat of the attack and in a matter of seconds a tunnel was made.

 "Go, bring me what you find," Set said, "Make it fast, the Queen grows impatient."

 "Yes Master," the Shadow replied.

 Set made his way slowly to where he had been waiting for word of discovery.  Other Shadows moved in to help in the recovery of the body.  He seethed at his predicament.  The Shadows, no matter what they were called, were his.  He controlled them and gave them orders, they could not act if he told them not to.  They did have a small mind of their own, but it was very small.  Their strength was great only when Set was there to guide them to their battle.

 The Queen controlled his army because she controlled him.  He was bound to her.  She had such overwhelming control over him that she had prevented his death since he had joined her.  All he wanted to do was die, but that's why he was valuable to her, he could not.  Nothing but an opponent's blade could destroy him; she could take complete control of him at will.  He had sealed his own fate, but longed for it no more.

 Indeed, now the rest of her overlords, his friends, were dead, long ago past away by the sands of time.  They were why he had given himself to her, to save them.  Willow had taken his own life in the loss of his beloved and would never be seen again while Shareen had died during the battle.  So had Dorado, Spica, Zeta, and Mizar.  All gone for one reason or another and only he was left to serve the Queen.

 He knew that somewhere on this world they had been reincarnated but to find them was an impossible process.  Unlike the sacred warriors there was no outside force or prophesy to reunite the overlords of Queen Calypso.  And all the better, for the Sacred Warriors were his last opportunity to die as he had wished since he had begun to fight along side his Queen.

 This Rei and her friends, they were his last hope, but would they kill him or spare him in their pity of his kind?  All of them, together as a unit they would probably show mercy even if Set wanted none from them.

 Still he sat in the wind watching over the dig for the Queen's body aware that she owned several souls, his own being one she could use at will.

Ellen let out a small cry as she fired straightforward.  Her red attack blew up dust around it as it spiraled towards the black creatures and drove itself through two of them, destroying them.

 "How's it going?" some one from behind her asked and she jumped.

 "Hey, Joe.  It's okay," Ellen looking back out to where she had destroyed the creatures, "It's just these beasts won't stop coming and if we are going to get out of that over-crowded cellar we're going to have to keep a constant watch on the borders of this town.

 "Does that Queen know we're here do you think?" Joe asked, sitting down and taking a large bite out of an apple.

 "Nah," Ellen said, shaking her head, "She's smart from what I've heard, she'd crack down on us before we could gather our wits and regroup and we've already gotten that far.  I think these soldiers are strays."

 "They're called Shadows, I heard Donavan and Ran talking about it," Joe said, the made a face, "Nasty little creatures if you ask me."

 "So why are you here?" Ellen asked keeping her eyes peeled for anymore of the creatures.

 "Why?" Joe asked, then blushed, "If you must know I can't help myself.  I guess I love adventure a little too much.  But why are you here?"

 "Well," Ellen said, placing a hand on her cheek and leaning against it, "I guess because ever since I was little I always wanted to save the world.  But I can't help but think that I won't be very responsible for what happens.  Those girls are something else aren't they?"

 "The chosen ones you mean?" Joe smiled, "They're interesting, I'll give them that much.  It's amazing that they all have such powerful abilities."

 "Did I see you giving Lita a few starry eyed looks?" Ellen had to ask, the corners of her mouth twitching.

 "Um, excuse me?" Joe asked, "Is someone calling me?  Yes, I can hear it, I have to go now…"  Joe was up and away from Ellen leaving her to smile to herself as she watched the borders of the town of Wet.

 Just then Jade came towards him and he regarded her with a small smile.  "There you are," she said, "Where is Ellen?  We're trying to make some plans for the upcoming attack."

 "Back there," Joe replied, pointing behind him, "Should I get her?"

 "No, I'll get her," Jade said, "ELLEN, YOU NEED TO COME OVER HERE!!"  Joe covered his ears as Jade yelled towards Ellen's general direction.

 "Well, I could have done that," he grumbled.

 "Coming!" they heard and Ellen made her way towards them, "What's going on, is something the matter?"

 "Everyone's ready to talk," Jade told her, "And we need all of us there, though I bet the chosen peoples will do most of the talking."

 "Okay, if they really think they need us," Ellen looked over her shoulder, "I just hope those Shadow things don't bother us."

  "If they do I think we can handle them fairly easily," Jade smirked.

 "If you say so," Ellen frowned in the direction she had been watching.  If someone looked hard into the distance they could see the tall towers of the Evilopolis castle and from that castle the creatures continued to come forth.  Not many came to Wet, as it wasn't a large town, but some did.

 "Ellen?"

 "Hmm?" Ellen asked and Joe smiled a smile asking if she was coming, "Oh, yeah, let's go, I wouldn't want to keep them waiting."

 They walked over towards the cellar to find everyone sitting around just outside of it.  The collection of people was a strange one.  There was of course Mina, Serena, Amy, Lita, and Hotaru, each with their own appearance of apprehension.  Now that they were free to continue to Evilopolis so they could save Rei and Charlie, maybe even Rais if he was still alive, they were ready to leave, but everyone agreed that they shouldn't go without a plan.

Donavan, Ran and Omi all stood nearby with similar expressions, but less emotional.  Jade, Cloud, and Chiru were there, members of SOL but not as close to Rei as the rest. They were still ready to fight and concerned.  Koty sat clutching TK around the neck even though the oversized panther was almost as tall as he was.  Ellen sat by silently while the Wallace siblings sat together, Lynda, Luke and Lacey all watching gravely.  Even the twins were grave, identical expressions of complete seriousness filled their faces.  Joe kept watch around them making sure Ellen's worries were not about to come true with the Shadows.  Lastly, Robin and Sarah watched over the proceedings, Robin ready to listen and Sarah ready to talk.

 Amy probably seemed the most troubled.  Ever since she had arrived at Wet she couldn't get Rei's last request out of her head.  She was the official second in command but the girls didn't know that.  Should she just try to take charge or should she just tell them and see what the reaction was?

 "Everyone's here?" Serena asked looking at the many people with them.  They had started quite the collection they had to admit, but they were hard to keep up with.

 "I think so," Mina nodded, "So the first order of business is how we should attempt to rescue Rei and Charlie."

 "And Rais," Lita added.

 They all nodded.

 "Barging right in the front doors won't work," Lynda said, "The greatest advantage we have is the element of surprise in two areas, our timing and our numbers."

 "Our numbers?" Lacey asked.

 "No way that queen will expect this many people," Joe nodded in explanation, "And she has no idea what we are capable of, unlike the chosen ones over here."

 "And she doesn't know when we're coming," Garnet stated simply, "But with those soldiers it'll be a little bit more difficult to get in undetected until we wanna be seen."

 "Yes, that's all true but what our problem is," Amy said, determined to do what Rei has asked of her, "Is that we aren't sure how to match the Queen.  That is our Princess and friend in that Queen's body, we can't fight her, not unless we have to."

 "I hate to bring you all down," Coral said, "And I don't enjoy saying this, but our priorities should be more aimed at destroying the queen and saving the world, not saving the Princess.  We may have to sacrifice her to save Dania."

 "How dare you…" Luke started in, standing up suddenly, but Lynda put up a hand and he fell silent, sitting back down.

 "There has to be a way to work around it," Ran said simply, "At all costs, no one wants to destroy Rei.  There has to be other options."

 "And if we run out?" Robin asked, shaking his head remorsefully, "I think Coral's right as much as I hate to admit it.  But before we decide to sacrifice Princess Rei, I think we should view all of those options."

 "Like I told Luke," Omi spoke up, "We could weaken the Queen till she might leave Rei's body in an attempt to survive, but that could be dangerous for Rei and though she may heal physically, such an assault might hurt her mentally."

 "What else?" Hotaru asked, "there has to be something besides having to hurt Rei."

 "We could trick her out of the body," Sarah spoke up, "I mean, if we could convince her to leave Rei's body then we'd be done and made."

 "We're forgetting Charlie," Lita said, "And Rais.  We have to consider them in our plans.  We know that if we attack within today or sometime tomorrow we can catch Charlie outside of Creton's hands, but we must consider that if given a second of opportunity they might use them against us."

 "She's right," Chiru nodded, "If they've spared Rais that's why.  To use as a tool against us when we attack."

 Amy smiled.  "Of course, you guys were 100 percent correct in saying that our numbers would be a surprise but instead of using our numbers as a brute force, we should use them as a tool of our own.  While us chosen ones and Donavan, Ran, and Omi distract the Queen and Creton, everyone else can head for the dungeon to see if Charlie and Rais are there.  Then they are to assess the situation and remove them from the castle if needed.  Then, since we'll need the help, they can join us in fighting the Queen."

 "Good plan," Lynda nodded, then sighed, "But that doesn't explain how we'll get around our problem with Rei."

 "We shouldn't over plan," Amy suggested, "Maybe an opportunity will arise during the battle."

 "Or the Queen will blow us into Limbo," Garnet muttered.

 "That's another good point," Sarah said, "I know you guys are tough but can you hold up against that Queen?  I mean it wouldn't be much good if we came to your aid and she had already won."

 "There's no way we can go into this without taking that risk," Amy replied, "And as to Rei, we'll wait and see if there's an opportunity and if there isn't… Well we'll do what we have to I guess."

 "We can't do that," Serena suddenly spoke up, shaking her head hard, "There's no way.  I won't do it…"

 "Who says we can do it in the first place?" Garnet asked.

 "I do," Amy said, "Now if we…"

 "Wait," Hotaru spoke up.  She had been being uncharacteristically quiet, "Who exactly made you leader?  I mean, suddenly you have all the answers."

 "Well, I'm trying to save Rei," Amy snapped, "What are you doing?"

 "You're not trying to save Rei, you're plotting her death," Hotaru shot back, "How could you, as her friend, ever even suggest that we destroy her?"

 "If it comes down to her life or the entire world what do you think Rei would have chosen?" Amy asked, "And that's a last resort, I would never even consider…"

 "But you are considering," Lita put in, not with as much force as Hotaru used but still firmly, "We need to work around that, if we were going to destroy her we would go in and try to do it and not even try to discuss it."

 "You don't understand…" Amy began.

 "I understand what you're saying Amy," Mina said, "But how could we?  I could never do it, who will?  Could you honestly stand to have her killed by your own hand?  Who would do it?"

 "I would if I had to," Amy said, looking at the ground, "It's how she would have preferred it anyway.  She would sacrifice her life for the world."

 "She would but it's not up to us to sacrifice it for her," Lita put in.

 "It's her life over the world's," Garnet said.

 "But what right do we have to sacrifice her life for her?" Robin asked, "I mean, I understand that we should do what we can but which of us here are willing to kill her?  Certainly not her friends, not her siblings and even still not anyone who got thrown into this."

 "Well, someone would have to do it.  Anyone who could I suppose," Coral said, starting to sound a little angry.

 "So you'll do it then?" Ellen finally spoke up.

 "He didn't say that," Garnet put in.

 "So don't suggest it," Donavan spat, "There's no way I could ever do it.  I, as do my two friends here, owe her my life.  It's our fault she got caught in this mess in the first place."

 "So why don't you solve this by yourselves then?" Luke asked, "If you're just going to play the blame game I mean."
 "Uncalled for," Lynda told him and he settled again.

 "Look, I'm telling you," Amy yelled out to be heard, "I will be giving the directions here and I'm saying we go in there as planned and see what we can do for Rei, but if in the end we can't do anything we'll have to do something to prevent the world from being destroyed.  If we're forgiven or if we aren't, it's our duty."

 "And why exactly are you giving out the orders?" Hotaru snapped bitterly.

 "Because before we went into the castle Rei asked me to take over should something happen to her, and I think this is what she meant!" Amy said.

 Silence.

 "Did she do it because she really wanted you to or was she feeling dramatic?" Mina asked and everyone looked at her.

 "If Rei told her to do it, then I'm with Amy, but I won't touch Rei," Serena said.

 "Okay, so maybe Rei told you to be leader but I can't agree with what you're saying," Lita said, "At the risk of sounding selfish I don't care what happens to the world, I just want to save Rei and Charlie and Rais if he's still alive."

 "We can't always have what we want you know," Chiru finally spoke up, "I'm with Amy, we will do what we can but if worse comes to worse we'll have to do what we will and if that includes destroying Rei than we'll have to."

 "What would you know?" Hotaru barked, "You weren't around from the beginning.  You couldn't care about Rei enough to make such a decision.  I doubt if Rei knew that Amy would turn around and destroy her when she appointed her second in command."

 "Do you really believe that or are you just jealous Hotaru?" Amy asked and Hotaru's eyes flickered away, "Think you should be the leader don't you?  No matter what, it was me who Rei asked to take control."

 "Without knowing the consequences," Mina said, "Look, we all know Rei has her faults and her judgement isn't infallible.  She can make a mistake as easily as we can."

 "You say it like she's the epitome of the mistaken," Chiru said, rolling her eyes.

 "I trust Rei," Serena nodded, "If she said Amy than its Amy."

 "Your way is cowardly and cold," Lita said hardening a little herself.  By now all the outside parties had fallen into silence watching the argument between the six friends.  Everyone was stunned by the words being exchanged.  Suddenly Koty burst into tears and ran to Jade, burying his face into her leg.  Jade looked down at him and looked at them an angry expression crossing her face.

 "STOP IT RIGHT NOW!" she said and turned on them stepping in the middle of it, glaring at all of them. "All of you, you should be ashamed of yourselves!  You aren't acting like the SOL members I once knew.  The girls I knew trusted each other and agreed with each other.  They didn't think about their own feelings when duty was on the line and they didn't agree that there was defeat when it came to a battle.  The girls I first met were the ones who helped me even though I wasn't using my best judgement because of my sister's death.  Hotaru, stop considering how you'd feel if Rei was gone, at this point it doesn't matter, and Amy how dare you suggest that there isn't a way to save both Rei and the world?  You're all wrong and now look what this Queen has reduced you to. Squabbling children!  You think this helps the situation at all?  This is what she wants I'm sure, to see the SOL fall apart because they can't seem to pull together.  I refuse to give up on Rei and I'm surprised that you guys would."

 They all fell silent and all their heads dropped.  Koty now stopped crying and Amy nodded.  "You're right, Jade, thank you," Amy said, "New plan.  We go in how we were before and we'll deal with that Queen, but this time there isn't a what if.  We will save both Rei and the world and that's an order."

 "That's what I'm talking about," Hotaru said.

 "Okay," Amy said, "This is how it's going to happen.  Mina, Serena, Lita, Hotaru, Chiru, Donavan, Ran, Omi, and I will go after the Queen.  Lynda and Luke, it might be better if you were with us too."

 "What about me?" Lacey put in suddenly.

 Lynda and Luke looked at each other for a moment.  There wasn't any way they were dragging her right into the main area of danger.

 Omi cleared his throat.  "Lace, you already have an important job."

"I do?" the young and naïve girl asked.

 "Someone has to watch over Koty," Omi said gently taking Koty by the wrist and leading him to Lacey, "I think you are the perfect person for this job, don't you?"

 "Um, I suppose so," Lacey said, "If you say so, Omi, then I'll do it."  She gave a smile and everyone but herself could see she had been tricked.

 "Good idea, Omi," Amy smiled, "Now, Jade, I expect you to lead everyone else to the dungeons if you can manage.  I'm sure you can find them."

 "It might not be wise to send so many people on a mission that requires stealth," Robin said, "Maybe we should decrease the numbers going to save Charlie and Rais."

 "He's right," Lita nodded.

 They looked at Sarah who had managed to stay calm but they could tell she was nervous by the grip she had Robin's arm under.  It might have been better if the girl didn't go directly in anyway, especially since earlier she had gone into a hysterics fit when a bee flew by…

 "Then how about Jade, Cloud, Joe, and Ellen?" Hotaru said, "That's just four and shouldn't be too much for them to handle."

 "What about us?" Garnet and Coral asked automatically.

 "What about them?" Mina asked Amy.

 "I got it," Chiru put a hand in the air, "If I know these guys, which I do... better than I would like to admit... then I'd say they could make a pretty decent diversion, just to make sure that the other four can manage to get to the dungeon."

 "Excellent," Garnet and Coral smiled.

 "And us?" Sarah asked.

 "Um," Amy said, "I'm not sure.  I can't leave you out, we might need you're abilities. Sarah, a healer needs to be handy, but where to put you?  Robin do you think you could wait outside the main battle area until you're needed?  You'd probably have to hold off some of the Shadows but I'm sure you could do it."

 "I'm not a great swordsman," Robin said, "But I can try."

 "He's lying," Sarah said, "He's being too modest, I'm betting he could take on a whole army of those things."

 "Great," Hotaru nodded, "That way we can fight Creton and his Queen without worrying about any Shadows attacking."

 "Where will Koty and I be?" Lacey asked.

 "You'll have to stay here," Luke said, "Koty's too important to take with us.  Stay in the cellar and if anyone comes by don't fight unless you have to."

 "Good, everyone has a job," Amy nodded, "Then everyone's to come to the main battle area.  That will probably be the throne room but I won't make any guarantees.  We'll need all of our skills to destroy the queen."

 "So when does this all take place?" Mina asked.

 "I say tonight," Ran said, "I know from experience that the middle of the night will give us an even greater advantage of surprise."

 "Everyone do everything you need to do between now and when the sun goes down," Amy nodded, "Then we go."

 Then the battle would begin.

After the group broke apart Mina and Omi both left together without a word to each other.  They now sat on a hill just outside the town looking out over the vast greenness that was the lush lands of the Lion's Head Continent.

 "Mina?" Omi asked.

 "Yes?"

 "Are you frightened?"

 "A little."

 Silence fell again as the watched the skies and grasses.  TK hadn't followed Mina and it was as she had intended.  They watched the stubbley clouds turn darker as the blackness from Evilopolis spread over them more and more.

 "Can I ask you something?" Mina asked Omi.

 "Anything," he replied.

"Do you like me?" Mina asked.

 "You?" Omi gave her an amused smile, "You're tough, smart and organized.  You listen to your heart and still manage to use your head.  And you're beautiful and strong when you want to be.  I don’t think I've ever met anyone quite like you, Mina.  The minute I saw you I knew that you were a very special person and I just wanted to be near you from the start.  Just to be able to stand face to face with you was a blessing and I could never grasp what a wonderful one it was.  A blessing of that magnitude is easily taken for granted."

 "But do you like me?" Mina asked.

 "No," Omi shook his head and Mina jerked to look at him, "If I had to say what I felt for you it would be love.  I love you Mina, everything about you.  From that stubborn little head to those sharp blue eyes.  And I only say love because they haven't invented a word that says just how much I feel for you."

 "Do you really mean that?" she asked and pushed hair away from her face as the wind blew a little.

 "Every word," Omi said, "Can I ask you something now?" She nodded.  "What do you think of me?  Do you like me?"

 At first Mina didn't answer because she couldn't put into words the feelings that ran through her just then, so instead she took his hand and leaned forward in a kiss.  Before Omi knew it he was kissing her back, his heart beating heavily and quickly in his chest.  All the longing he had pent up inside poured out into that kiss and he wrapped his arms around her wishing it would never end.

 When it did they looked into each other's eyes.  "I'm glad that I met you," Omi said, "And I'll protect you with my life no matter what."

 "I'll do the same," Mina smiled.

 She leaned against his shoulder and they stared off into nothingness, feeling only each other's company.

Ran paced back and forth just outside of the cellar.  "Serena can I talk to you?" he asked no one for there was no one to talk to, "Serena, I should speak with you.  No, um...  Serena, you have a minute?  No…"  He took a deep breath and started to go down in the cellar when just then Serena came up anyway and he started.  "Serena, you can talk to me," he shook his head, "I mean can I talk to you?"  She smiled a little.

 "Sure, Ran, I meant to talk to you anyway," she said and they walked over to one of the more secluded areas of the town.

 When he was sure they were alone he took a deep breath.  "So Serena, I was wondering," he said, then stopped, "No, you should go first."

 "I have your hat," she said, and held up her hands, the hat appearing, "I kept it where I keep my scepter.  I, um, I didn't know when I'd see you again so I decided to keep it with me.  I only just remembered it."

 She handed it to him and he grinned.  "I thought I'd lost it," he smirked, "But either way I've decided I'm much cuter without it.  Why don't you keep it, Doll."

 "Really?" Serena asked and with a smile she slipped it on.  The pigtails in her hair slipped into the space where Ran's ears usually went and she pulled them out with a small smile.

 "It looks cute on you," Ran smiled.

 "What was it you wanted to talk to me about?" Serena asked, taking it off and making it disappear again.

 Ran took a deep breath.  "Well, you know, Doll, we haven't really had a chance to talk ever since we had our little moment at the lake and I wanted to ask you about it."

 "You want to know if there was anything there?" Serena asked.

 He nodded.

 "I've been thinking about it a lot, if you must know," she said and turned away from him, "All I can say is that it didn't feel right.  It's like I love you but at the same time I shouldn't be with you.  Does that make sense?"

 Ran paused.  "I'm not sure…"

 "It's like," she said, turning to him in pure frustration, "Like you're one of the greatest guys I've ever met and I should want to be with you, be your girlfriend, but when I listen to my heart it says that something's wrong, that something doesn't add up about us.  Don't you feel it?"

 "No," he said flatly.  His ears fell.

 "Please, Ran," Serena smiled, "I really like you, I promise, you're a wonderful guy and you were there when I needed you, but something inside says that we can't be more than what we are right now."

 "But when we kissed, it…"

 "Was missing something," she finished for him.

 Ran nodded at first but then started to shake his head.  "How can you tell?" Ran asked her, "If it was missing something or not?"

 "Ran, I was brought up knowing the meaning of true love and justice, I recognize that I love you and in a way it's true love but we aren't soul mates," she said.

 "I think I understand," he said but his face said differently.

 "I'll always be your friend if nothing else," she said, "Please, I don't want you to be sad."

 "Aw, come on, Doll," he teased but halfheartedly, "Did you think that you could bring me down.  You aren't that great you know."

 "I knew you'd understand," she smiled and gave him a small kiss on the cheek, "If I ever had a big brother I'd want it to be you."

 Ran stared at her.  His ears shot straight up.  "What did you say?"

 "I said if I had a brother you'd be it," Serena said surprised and she watched as Ran's brow creased and his ears flattened.

 "But," he said, "But…"  He looked at Serena wide eyed.  "I just remembered something."

 "What?" she asked, "Are you okay?  Did I say something wrong?  I didn't mean to if I did.  Are you okay?"

 "About the prophecy, Donavan, Omi and I all have visions of your past lives," Ran said, "I just remembered something.  But this time it was from… my own point of view."

 "What are you talking about?" she asked.

 "Omi was right," Ran said, "All those years ago, we were there with you guys but we weren't sacred warriors.  Omi he must have been the masked warrior, Len, that helped Istris and brought her to the other sacred warriors and Donavan, well, he had to have been Forey.  Why didn't I notice before they look just alike…"

 "What?"

 "Look, you guys are all reincarnations of the people you dreamed about.  You were Rina in another life.  Everyone else has a person they used to be.  They were called the scared warriors.  But the prince had two assistants that he used to help him gather the warriors together.  Their names were Len and Forey.  I think Omi and Donavan are their reincarnations.  But if they are reincarnations, then so am I.  But think about it, who would I be?"

 "So you were Ayino then?" Serena asked, only half understanding. "Rina's lover in my dream?  We used to be lovers in another life is that what you're telling me?"

 "No, not at all," Ran said, shaking his head, "I just now remembered something that I missed before.  In Amy's dream, two people talk about how close the duke's daughter and her brother are.  Rina was the duke's daughter.  I was Ayino but he wasn't Rina's lover, Serena."  He took her and held her by her arms.  "He wasn't her lover at all, he was her older brother."

 Serena stared for a moment her eyes wide with realization.  Of course, Rina had not once said anything passionate to Ayino or embraced him in a way that suggested they were soul mates.  And the way Ayino spoke to Rina was very straightforward and scolding, not at all like lovers.  In fact, now that she thought about it, Ayino treated Rina the same way Luke might have treated Rei.

 "You and I were…?" Serena laughed, "Ran, I don't love you as anything more than a brother because that's what you were.  When you kissed me it was like kissing my brother.  That's why we were so close even from the beginning."  Serena jumped forward hugging him, having to stand on her tippy toes to do so.  "I'm so glad I know now and no one's feelings have to be hurt."

 "I probably shouldn't date outside my species anyway," Ran smiled and hugged her close, "So the answer all along, little sister, was in that dream."

 "Yes it was," she looked at him and smiled.

Lita watched Serena leave and used it as her opportunity to escape the cellar.  She walked around the town in search of someone to talk to.  She was actually looking for Joe but she wouldn't admit as much to herself while she searched.  There was something strange about that boy.

 She had been questioning Serena about him before she had left in search of Ran.  He was intriguing; a boy with no friends.  How could someone have no friends?  She was very curious, not to mention he was very cute.

 She finally found him sitting by a building, packing some items into a bag that he had found somewhere in the town.  They decided to take what they needed from the town and return what could be returned, so he was probably doing just that.  She watched him for a minute.

 He looked up suddenly and noticed her.  "Help you?" he asked and Lita saw he put his head down very quickly.

 She knelt in front of him.  "What are you doing?" Lita asked.

 "Um, gathering supplies, what are you doing?" Joe retorted but there was a small smirk on his face.

 "Watching you gather supplies," Lita replied.

 "I see," Joe said, "Anything I can help you with, anything at all?"

 "No, I was just talking to Serena a second ago and she told me that…"  Lita hesitated and Joe watched expectantly.
When she didn't continue Joe spoke up.  "She said I don't have any friends?" he asked, "That's it isn't it?"

"Um, yeah," she nodded.

 "Must you girls antagonize me about it?" he asked, "First her, then that Master chick, and now you?  Really, I know you think it's a big deal and I'm sorry but it is me we're talking about here."

 "I just wanted to ask you if you understood now," Lita said and his answer began in frustration so she interrupted him, "I was just curious I won't try to explain it."

 "No, I don't think I get it," Joe shook his head.

 "I think you do," Lita said, "We're not your friends?"

 "Um, I don't know, how can you tell if a person is your friend or not?" Joe asked, "I mean, since I've never had one I couldn't say."

 "Well, if you saw us in the middle of a large crowd would you come over?" Lita asked.

 "Yes," Joe nodded.

 "And do you feel a little bit stronger towards us than you do someone you just meet on the street and never see again?" she asked.

 "Kind of, yeah," Joe said.

 "Then I think we're friends," Lita smiled.

 "At least until I have to hit the road," Joe shrugged, "I'll have to leave as soon as this is over, I have to make some cash."

 "Oh no," Lita shook her head, "You don't understand, friends are forever, even when they're apart.  Now that we're friends we'll always be friends."

 "You know," Joe paused in what he was doing to look Lita in the eyes, "When you say it, it almost makes sense."

 "Really?" Lita tilted her head.

 "Yeah," he smiled.

 "I'm glad," she grinned, standing up, "I'll have to rag about it to Serena now, she'll be so mad that she wasn't the one to make you understand."

 "You girls are so strange," was all he had to say before he began to pack some things again.  Lita sat down and they began to have a talk.

Amy was sitting on a short wall inside the town, checking over her stones and separating them from the empty ones.  Sady sat by her side, curled up in a ball napping.  Hotaru watched a moment and walked over to stand next to her.  She cleared her throat and Amy looked up.

 "Yes?"

 "Just wanted to, you know, see what you were doing," Hotaru said.  Amy smiled and offered Hotaru a seat next to her.  Hotaru sat.

 "I'm checking the stones for cracks or damage and getting rid of the empty stones for now.  So I don't pull out any duds during our battle," Amy smiled, "Anything else?"

 "What makes you think that there's something else?" Hotaru asked and Amy shrugged.  Hotaru sighed.  "You're right, if you must know I wanted to, um, apologize for what I said earlier."

 "Apologize?"  Amy asked, "Really.  What for?"

 "For, you know, saying that Rei made a mistake by making you the leader and everything like that," Hotaru coughed, "I guess I was a little jealous."

 "I forgive you," Amy smiled and put an arm around her, "And maybe you'll believe me next time I say I'm the leader."

 "Maybe, but no guaranties," Hotaru smirked.  She fell into silence.  "When you first went to Lizerton did you ever think that anything like this was going to happen?"

 "No, but who could have?" Amy asked, "But something brought us together.  It was so weird, we were only supposed to be there a few weeks.  But whatever didn't get us there one way got us there another.  I mean don't you think it's weird that when Mina first joined she had absolutely no way of protecting herself but she came with us to save Rei the first time anyway?"

 "None of it was a coincidence, I'm sure," Hotaru smiled, "It might have been luck, it might have been that prophecy, it might have been meant to be, but in any case it was probably one of the best and worst things that has ever happened to me."

 Amy laughed.  "True.  Remember when Rei first met you she thought you were a ghost?"

 Hotaru and Amy began to laugh.  "Yeah I remember," Hotaru nodded, "What about when Mina brought home Cere for the first time and it attacked the kitchen?  I thought she would blow up from pure stress."

 "Remember Serena's birthday?"

 "Oh lord, yes," Hotaru shook her head, "That was annoying.  Or what about the time we thought Rei and Rais were alone in his room?"

 "Remember when she died?" Amy asked quietly.

 "She almost died you mean," Hotaru said.

 "No, for a few moments she was dead," Amy said, "And Rais brought her back from the dead somehow.  I'll never know how he did it but he did something.  And now she could die and he could already be dead.  Do you ever sometimes think that what Rei and Rais have is more than just a crush?"

 "What do you mean?" Hotaru asked.

 "I mean he broke through to her when she was going to sacrifice her body for us when the rest of us couldn't," Amy said, "He did it as though it were nothing and we were hanging there like rag dolls."

 "Are you saying he loves her?" Hotaru asked.

 "Or something like it," Amy said, "Maybe what we gossiped about as a sweet crush was something more.  And now he could be dead and she is… what she is.  Who knew that the minute she sat foot inside that pentagram that so much could change in an instant?  We lost her and it was to one footstep."

 "It was that Cron guy's fault!" Hotaru growled, "If it wasn't for him we might have done something about it, but she was saving his life."

 "What happened to him?" Amy asked.

 "He ran, didn't you see?  Like a coward," Hotaru huffed, "I hope he rots.  I hope he is swallowed by the earth and put to rest in a place that he can never escape from even though he’ll want to…"

 "Now, 'Taru," Amy said, "I don't think that's why Rei saved him."

 "Why did Rei save him?" Hotaru growled, "Why does she get so into this whole defender of the weak role and goes and does something like that?  She should have let the queen take care of him and used that chance to set us free so we could help her."

 "What's done is done," Amy sighed, "And it's up to us, and this time we haven't got Rei's confidence to back us up.  I think that's what kept us going all this time, it was Rei's confidence, but now that she isn't here to tell us if she approves or not, it's harder.  It feels wrong, like we've gone behind her back."

 "Though her approval usually meant nothing to us before," Hotaru grinned.

 "Yeah," Amy said, "She's quite a girl though isn't she?"

 "Yep, she is," Hotaru nodded, "She's the daughter of Lawrence the Good.  When I say her name that's the first thing people say.  I wonder if someday she'll have a daughter and when someone says that girl's named someone will ask, 'Princess Rei's daughter?'"

 "Rei with a daughter, now there's a scary thought," Amy smiled, "But it's up to us to make sure she ever even gets that opportunity."

 Hotaru was about to answer when a voice drifted down to them.  "So that's what all this is about is it?"

 "What?" they both asked and looked up on a rooftop.  Crouched down there was a green haired boy with a wide smile.

 "Ace?" Amy asked.

 "Friend of yours?" Hotaru asked in turn.

 "No friend of mine," Amy crossed her arms, glaring.

 "I'm hurt," Ace smiled, "I thought I would go crazy if I couldn't figure out what the heck you were doing wondering by yourself across the continent in such a hurry for so I decided to follow you.  It ended up being an educational experience.  To think I rescued the second in command of Princess Rei."

 "You!" Amy said, "You're so… So…"

 "Charming?" Ace asked.

 "Infuriating!" Amy shot back.

 "Nice to know," Ace smiled leaning back, "But now that I'm here I couldn't possibly leave, not when the story's getting good."

"You can't come with us," Amy said bluntly.

 "Amy," Hotaru muttered, "Don't be so hasty.  We need all the help we can get and he seems very able bodied."

 "Well, so kindness isn't extinct here," Ace tipped a wink at Hotaru who blushed, "Glad you feel that way.  How could I miss out on such an awesome battle opportunity?"

 "Oh so it's an opportunity, not a duty?" Amy asked, "We are trying to save Rei and you think that the battle potential is great?  You're so…"

 "Infuriating?" Ace asked mildly.

 "Yes, and you know what else?" Amy asked.

 "No, what else?" Ace asked with a grin.  Amy didn't reply, only whirled around.  She let out a frustrated scream and Ace smiled sheepishly.

 "So can I fight or not?"

 "Can we stop you?" Amy grumbled.

 "Excellent," Ace said, "See you then."

 "What?" Amy asked but he had already disappeared.  So when was he planning on helping?  When he felt like it?  Amy wouldn't be surprised if he didn't show up at all.

 "Who on Dania was that?" Hotaru asked. Amy just growled and Hotaru decided to drop it.  Amy just sat in thought, sorting through the stones more fiercely.  She sat down one so hard that it tipped over the edge and Hotaru had to make a dive to catch it just to avoid setting a dragon on the loose.

 Slowly the sun sank below the horizon and Hotaru told Amy that it was almost time.  Together they went back to the place where they had argued and discussed the battle.   When everyone was there they all nodded at each other.

 "I just wanted to say something," Lynda spoke up as they were all suggesting that it was time to leave.  They all looked at her.  "I wanted to thank all of you for your help in this battle.  It's my sister so it's my responsibility.  None of you had to help."

 "You're kidding?" Garnet asked, "We didn't?"

 "Man…" Coral shook his head.

 Lynda stared at them.  "I just wanted to thank you and congratulate those of you who are her friends on probably being the greatest examples of friends in the world.  I doubt if Luke and I could do much without you."

 "Hey, Rei is our friend you know," Serena smiled, "How could we turn our backs on her?  She never did it to us."

 "It's getting dark," Donavan said.  They all turned to him and Amy nodded.

 "Let's go," she said.

 They all marched off into the darkening night towards the even darker city of Evilopolis, each ready to fight until the end.  For Rei, for Lizerton, for the continent, for Dania.  It all was on their shoulders, and those shoulders were held high.

 Dania was in good hands.

Chapter 29