The Adventures of the SOL

"So we should just head for the castle?" Lita asked.

 "Yeah that sounds right," Mina said quietly but no one moved.  Instead they looked over the oversized and exaggerated castle that the sun refused to touch.  A place that radiated evil from every crevice.  They stood a little closer than was necessary and a look of worry crossed over each of their faces.

 "Everyone who plans on being in the main battle needs to go in first, then after our presence is registered the rest of you can go in," Amy said quietly, "That way they won't know you're there until it's too late."

 "Good idea," Luke nodded, "So will Sarah and Robin come with us or wait with the others?"  They looked over at Sarah who was trying to put on a brave face.  Poor girl, she was just a little too easily scared.

 "With us probably," Amy nodded, "They can stand outside the main battle taking care of those Shadows while we fight.  We can't afford to be interrupted by them."  Sarah gave a large intake of breath and nodded.  Amy was sure she would be just fine, she was a lot braver than even she gave herself credit for.

 "Everyone got that?" Amy asked.

 Before anyone could answer a voice drifted up from behind them, saying, "Halt right there, I am Cron, Destroyer of Darkness, King of Kind! Who is here that plagues this castle?"

 "Oh my God," Chiru groaned, looking up at the sky as if really addressing the deity, "Does this man not know when he should quit?!"  Everyone turned around and saw Cron standing there with his fists on his sides, that big dumb grin playing across his face.

 "What is it you want, Cron?" Amy snapped impatiently.  He didn't have any friends among their numbers at that moment, that was for sure.
 

 "Children?" Cron asked, "It's not safe for you kids to be here, are your mommies somewhere nearby?" He scouted around for some kind of parental unit.

"I know I stand for love and peace," Serena growled, "But a scout can only take so much."  She tried to run forward but Mina caught hold of her and held on.  When Serena began dragging Mina, Hotaru caught hold of her too.

 "Something wrong little girl?" Cron asked, "Wait you are the children in league with that evil girl who rules Lizerton, Roo, am I right?"

 "Her name is Rei!" Chiru growled.

 "Of course I remember you," Cron pointed at her menacingly, "You are all on that woman's side and you must be smote."

 "Do you want me to release this?" Hotaru asked referring to the feral Serena who was fighting to attack Cron, having already brought out her wand.  Hotaru and Mina were barely managing to hold her back.

 "Excuse me but who exactly are you?" Donavan, the oldest of everyone there, asked.

 "Did you not hear me, I am Cron, Defender Against Darkness," he said.  Donavan was probably about five years younger but he was still taller.

 "Uh, yeah, what are you doing here?" he asked, standing in front of him.  Cron looked up at into Donavan's face, a little frightened. "You're making an awfully big scene and I think maybe you should leave."

 "That's the guy Rei was trying to save before.  When she saved him that's when the queen took her over," Chiru told Donavan.  Donavan turned to the man with a small smile.

 "Is that so?" he asked, "Well I was looking for an excuse."  He held up a gun and no one made a move to stop him.  "Leave please, we can't have you endangering us like you did Rei."

 "My assistant waits for me at the edge of the forest, I should go meet him," Cron bluffed and hurried away.  Serena finally calmed down.  She folded her arms and leaned her back against Ran who patted her shoulder reassuringly.

 "What a chump, he better hope that he and I never meet alone in an alley," she huffed, "I can't believe you guys tried to stop me."

 "Let's just forget about him okay?" Hotaru muttered, following his retreating form with angry eyes, "He's caused enough problems for us already, he can't be a distraction now."

 "So what are we doing?" Garnet asked.

 "We'll have to go in," Lita said, "For better or for worse.  Come on guys."

 They advanced until they were about ten paces away from the castle.  They hid among the shadows never bothered by the eyes.  Whenever they entered a shadowed area the watching eyes all scattered.  Every now and then someone would see a long scaled tail or the tip of a feathered wing but no more.  They paused to catch their breath and collect themselves.

 "We're going in," Amy told all of them, "The rest of you, wait here.  Wait for awhile and use your best judgement as to when you should move out.  I have no idea when that should be, so you'll have to be careful.  Garnet and Coral, do you know what you're doing?"

 "Of course," Coral gave her a great big salute.

 "You are in our expertise area," Garnet nodded, "Annoying people.  We should do just fine."  They smiled at each other and Amy didn't doubt what they were saying.  She gave all of them a nod.  Then she and everyone but Ellen, Joe, Jade, Cloud and the twins stayed behind.

 They approached the castle trying to remain as quiet as possible.  Upon approaching the door they paused and Luke and Lynda went forward to open it.  Once opened they all went in, suddenly thrown into an even greater darkness than the kingdom held and when they closed the doors it took several minutes before their eyes adjusted.  All around them was blank stone and the smell of dampness, like a freshly dug grave.  The hallways branched out into three different directions; right, left, and straightforward.  The girls knew where they were going and the rest followed them all towards the throne room.

 "Stay out here," Amy told Robin, stopping in front of the throne room doors, "When the others come from the dungeon to join the fight, come in with them.  Sarah, we'll probably need you by then so be ready to heal someone."

 Sarah nodded but remained silent.  Robin nodded also, becoming Sarah's emotional support.  She clutched his arm and they stepped out of the view of the doorway.  Amy looked at all of her peers and they all looked back intently.  Everyone's mind was made up.  This was where it would end.  One way or... the other.

 Together they all shoved the doors open and stepped inside.  It was so dark that they could not see except for the slice of light from the door.  Their eyes would not adjust to this.  The doors closed behind them so they could see nothing but Amy expected as much from her enemy.  She could hear a sudden rustling from the ceilings and walls.  There were several warm bodies in the room, she could sense them.  She unzipped her bag and Sady poked her head out but did not jump from it.  She readied and waited.

 "I've been expecting you."

 Just then a spark of light from the back appeared and they could see Rei's face staring contemptuously back.  She was holding a red orb and the color outlined her face.  She smiled then.

 "Rather drab when one can't see anything isn't it?" The Queen asked and the orb flew from her hands.  The group gasped as it launched around the room.  It passed over the tops of the torches, which lined the room, but even with all those lit the room still remained dark where the fire could not reach it.

 "What brings you here?" she asked.

 Amy looked at Lynda and Luke.  They stood in shock at the site of Rei, unable to move.  The sight was strange especially since they had not been there to witness it when it happened.  The boys all looked away shame faced.

 "I want my little sister back!" Luke shouted.

 "But I am your little sister," the queen smiled, "Don't you recognize me?"  She laughed then, the sound hollow and cruel.

 "How dare you!" Lynda shouted, it being the first time anyone had seen her lose her coolness.

 "How dare I?" she asked, "Hmm, how dare I?  Well, Lynda, your sister's body was just the thing I needed to rise again and continue where I left off before those girls over there took me off guard and imprisoned my soul.  But they merely postponed my eventual take over.  It looks like I have already won."

 "It isn't over yet," Amy reminded her.

 "Amy, a Dragon Trainer, or so your fearless leader tells me," she smiled, "She's telling me that she thinks you’re a bit bossy, over protective and even a little selfish."

 "Liar!" Amy cried.

 "Do you deny these things about yourself?" the Queen asked, amused, "I tell you the truth right from Rei's brilliant mind."

 "Only part of the truth," Lynda replied, "You're only telling what Rei thinks negatively of her but you've conveniently left out the positive things.  The positive outweighs the negative and you know it."

"She hates you, you know," The Queen said to Lynda, "She envies your knowledge of your father and that you are more powerful than her.  She loathed you when she was younger when everyone was always comparing her to you and she could never seem to win."

 "Hate's a strong word," Lynda said quietly, "But yes I know of her feelings towards me."  They could see what the Queen was doing but it was all true.  They could feel that she was telling the truth when she said the things she said.

 "So what will you do?" she asked almost wearily, "Will you fight me and attempt saving your Princess?  You know you're probably too late even now."

 "You're lying," Serena said and Ran put and arm around her shoulder.

 "Am I?" the Queen smiled, "When I took her over she fought me but now I haven't even heard her in my own mind for a long time.  I think your Princess has given up hope.  Why fight for someone who doesn't care for you?  Why fight for her when all she does is use you?"

 "Now I know you're lying," Donavan spoke up, laughing.  The sound of laughter caused the Queen's head to jerk towards him.

 "What insolence," the Queen snapped.

 "Yeah well, I pretty much treat Rei only a little better than you anyway, Queenie," Donavan said, "You should get used to it."

 "I grow weary of this talk," the Queen said and they all saw a weak point.  Undermining her definitely hit a sore spot.  But she obviously loved to hear herself talk.

 "Do you?" Amy asked, "Good because we didn't come to make conversation with you anyway, we came to get our friend back."

 "I know why you're here," the Queen said, "I can see Diamond within you.  She was a great warrior you know.  She was also an adult.  You are all children, even you Donavan.  Young and naïve and you think that you can defeat me?  When even your adult predecessors couldn't defeat me without some help?"

 "There are no predecessors," Lita smirked, "We are those people.  Just because we're younger doesn't mean that we don't still have the power to defeat you."

 "It's almost sweet," the Queen smirked, "But it must end.  As amusing as you are, I'm not foolish enough to spare you for too long.  You will die at my hands and when I find my own body so shall your Princess.  If she's even alive by then.  Her body is fine but I wonder at her spirit, it grows weaker."

 "You are such a coward!" Hotaru growled suddenly, "You think you're so great but without Rei's body you are nothing!  You're frightened to take us on in the state you were in before you took over Rei because you know you'd lose.  Maybe you should admit that your powers mean nothing because it's all because of Rei."

 "Silence!" she growled, "I am no fool, I know what it is you are attempting and that kind of provocation will not convince me to leave her body until mine has been discovered and brought to me."

 "How long will that take? We don't have all day you know," Ran said.  She let out a growl and aimed an attack at him.  Omi grabbed him by the shirt and jerked him out of the way.

 The attack embedded itself on the opposite wall and disappeared.

 "You really are a fool," she said.

 "And you really are scared to take us on without a body," Mina said finally speaking up, "Even without Rei's body you should be stronger than us, why are you afraid?"

 "I'm not scared, I just have to make sure I have the winning edge," she said with a smile, "In fact, I bid you, defeat someone lower than my strength in or out of this body and maybe I will fight you without your Rei's help."

 "And who would that be?" Amy asked but she already knew the answer.

 "That would be I," they heard and Creton stepped into the light of a torch farthest away from them, just in front of the place where the Queen sat.

 They all fell silent.  The truth was, was that even with Rei they were never stronger than Creton and if she was stronger than he was outside of Rei's body, the Queen would win.

 "But we have Lynda and Luke," Lita murmured, "And Donavan and Ran and Omi.  We have help we never had before."

 "And we were almost as strong as Creton was," Hotaru said, "We more than make up for the power we lost with Rei.  Her sister is stronger than she is, her brother is powerful and I know that those boys can handle their own."

 "And you haven't tried out my magic against him yet," Chiru said.

 "Maybe we can pull this off," Mina said.

 "What do you mean maybe," Serena said and whipped out her scepter, "Purity Attack!"  A great blast fired from the tip of it and went straight for Creton.  His eyes widened.  No one had ever taken the first attack without him letting them.  He put up a hand and it disappeared.

 "I know who my first victim is," he smiled viciously.

 "You don't scare me!" Serena shouted.

 "Us!" Amy said.

 "Oh good, you're cocky.  Then it will be over much faster," Creton smiled.  He suddenly ran forward unsheathing a large blade.  He ran towards the middle of the group and they all jumped back.  He smiled and ran for the first person he saw.  It was Mina.

 Before he could bring the sword down on her, three things happened.  TK appeared from her necklace, Luke attempted to jump in front of her to block the blow with his own sword and Omi jumped forward.  It was Omi who got to him first.  He reared back a hand building an attack.  He launched it forward as he jumped into the air and it hit Creton in his face.  He was knocked backwards.  He pulled the blade back and was about to swing it around onto Omi but three shots sounded off and Creton turned to Donavan.  He hardly had time to put up a hand when the bullets dropped in front of him.  With a frown Donavan tossed aside the gun.

 "Hey, Creton, over here!" Ran said and fired a large blast at him.  He blocked crossing his arms over his chest and looked for the next target.

 It was Luke he swung at but Luke blocked with his own sword again and behind himself Creton felt a sharp pain in his back where Lita had jumped forward, kicking him in the back.  Now Creton wasn't sure where to turn.  There were so many of them that he could not have watched them all at once.

 Instead he raised a hand in the air.  "Attack minions!"

 Suddenly the creatures that had been responsible for their capture before began to rain down on them fast and hard.  Each person could not help the other now, only themselves.  Mina stayed close to TK as he batted down some and fired magical blasts at others.  Serena fired as fast as she could, her back against a wall.  They fell back as she fired but they would come back.

 Sady had jumped from Amy's bag and was attacking the beasts as they launched forward.  They were all demons with black wings on their backs.  Lita attacked ferociously, taking down one after another and Hotaru had become a tiger, her signature animal, and began to attack using both claws and teeth alike.  Donavan was firing at them and Ran and Omi shot their own attacks at them.  Luke swung his sword at them cutting them down.

 It was Lynda who raised her hand much like Creton had and cried out, "Light!"  From her hand there came such a blinding white light that even those fighting against the demons had to cover their eyes.  It filled the ceiling and spread.  For a moment none of them could see a thing for all the light that filled their eyes.

 When the light began to fade they could see its result.  The demons, living in darkness their whole lives, had fallen down, blind.  Whether it was temporary or permanent no one could say but they had stopped being a problem.  The Queen stood up and cleared them from the battle ring and the fight with Creton continued.

 The group pretty much had him surrounded and he glared at each of them.  He pulled a hand back and fired several small orbs at them, going in a full circle.  Each person was hit and knocked backwards.  Creton had already assessed that Lynda was the strongest magician and he went towards her.  He pulled back his sword and sent it forward aimed at her head.  She moved it aside and it sank into the stone wall behind her.  He fired a blast at her but she moved her head the other way.  She then, taking her chance, heaved herself up on the sword, using it as a spring board, and kicked forward, landing both of her feet under Creton's chin.  He took a couple of steps back, his sword left stuck in the wall.  Lynda pulled back a hand and an attack so immense flew at him that it knocked him backwards several feet.

 He recovered quickly and fired four blasts at her.  She moved aside from the first but the rest all hit her dead on.  One on her shoulder and two in her stomach.  She was knocked against the wall, stunned.

 Before Creton could destroy her, Luke had jumped in, taking his sword and running at Creton.  The larger man held up a hand and sent Luke against the opposite wall.  Luke hit against it and Creton pressed against him until his hand opened and the sword fell from it.

 Omi was going to fire but before he had the chance Creton turned on him and knocked him backward with an invisible attack knocking him into Ran.  Donavan pulled out a gun but found himself being pulled towards Creton.  Creton picked him up by the shirt and punched him across the face sending him across the room.

 He looked at the other girls and Chiru had already built a large attack in her hands.  As it flew towards him it turned into a great tidal wave and washed over him.  It took a minute but he broke free and fired a blast of fire at her.  It hit her directly and she flipped over and landed on the ground.

 Before any of them could recover he turned on everyone else.  Amy, Mina, and Serena stood together and Hotaru jumped in front of them, growling at Creton in her tiger form.  TK stepped in beside Hotaru and a small Sady between them.

 "The Chosen Ones," he smiled, "The Sacred warriors of old.  Where is your luck to save you?  Do you not have a Princess here to rescue you, or someone else?  It is just you and I now, little ones."

 "We don't need anyone to help us," Serena said.

 "Do you not?" Creton asked.  Just then he looked over at the Queen who watched from the throne the entire time, taking in the show with great amusement.  She placed her fingertips together and kept her eyes on the action.  "You will understand why you should have given up the first day you met me," Creton said and built up an attack.

 Just then Hotaru launched forward, and taken off guard, Creton fired.  The attack grazed into Hotaru and she flew to the other side of the room.

 "Hotaru!" Amy cried.  Hotaru didn't move.  Serena aimed her scepter and fired.  Creton moved his head aside to avoid the attack and fired at the group standing together.  The attack sent them all sprawling.

 "You cannot beat me without Rei," he said, walking forward, "You cannot win without her to guide you and now she belongs to my Queen."  While he talked he walked forward.

 "I can win without her," Amy said, sitting up slowly, with some trouble.  Behind her Sady stood up and gave her a shove, butting her head into the small of her back.

 "You're leader now aren't you?" The Queen said suddenly, "Creton destroy her first, she is their new leader."

 "Yes, My Lady," he said and reached down picking Amy up by her neck.  Sady yipped and ran forward to bite at Creton, a last resort, but Creton kicked her and she skidded across the floor.  Amy felt her feet leave the ground as Creton lifted her up into the air.

 "This seems familiar," Creton smiled, tightening his grip, "I remember when you and I were in this same situation before and I was going to destroy you.  Then your friend jumped in front of the attack.  You remember don't you?  I killed her and I shall kill you now."

 "Oh yeah!?" he heard behind him and let out a sudden cry, dropping Amy into a sputtering heap on the ground.

 He whirled around; a great wound down his back from where a sword had made its cruel steel bite.  He saw a boy with green hair standing there.

 "Ace?" Amy asked, feeling dizzy and rasping out of a hurt throat.

 "Are you okay?" Ace asked her.  She nodded.  He wasn't recognizable as serious as he was.  He had a sword pointed at Creton, the sword almost as tall as he was.  Creton stared.

 "How did you get in here, the door didn't open," Creton said.

 "I have my own ways.  Now will you interrogate me, or fight me?" Ace asked, tossing his head back and at the same time knocking his hair away from his eyes.

 "Point proven," Creton said.  He placed a hand out and his sword, which was still in the wall, flew to his hand.  He swung in a sideways motion at Ace.  Ace blocked but the sweat ran down his forehead as he tried to match Creton's immense strength.  Creton released his pressure and jumped back.  They circled each other.  Creton came in from the top and Ace blocked.  He swung forward several times fast, Ace struggling to keep up.  Creton swung once and Ace received a long cut down the side of his face.

 Another swing and Ace felt a gash open and pour blood, running down his arm.

 They paused and stared at each other.  Creton was stronger than Ace.  Ace smiled for a moment and Creton tilted his head.

 "What are you smiling at boy?" Creton asked.  Ace did not reply, only placed a hand to his forehead.  Suddenly he split into several pieces.  There were exact duplicates of him and they all surrounded Creton.

 Creton looked around uncertain.  He looked towards the one that they had appeared to come out of and swung but his sword hit air, going through it.

 Creton turned and suddenly there was a sharp pain behind him as a sword began to cut into him.  He managed to maneuver out of the way to avoid being stabbed.  One of the clones ran away and all of the others followed him.  Creton smiled and fired at the one leading the rest but it was also a copy.

 Creton stared.

 "Care to guess which one?" they all asked, "I might give you a prize."

Creton smiled.  They had all spoken but the sound had come from one spot mainly.  Creton reared back his hand and fired a blast straight at the real Ace.  It was a long cone shaped attack and it drove itself into Ace's shoulder.  He let out a cry as he was driven back and pinned against the wall by his shoulder.

 Blood ran down but he didn't seem to be awake.

 "The leader now, Creton," The Queen commanded.

 "Your wish," he said and walked over to Amy.

"Now?" Garnet asked, "Can we go in now?"

 "Wait for just a little longer," Ellen said, "We have to make sure they have enough time to get to the throne room and start the battle."

 "I think we've waited long enough," Joe said, standing up, "Something feels wrong and the sooner we get in there to help them the better."

 "I know what you mean," Jade agreed, "We should go.  Come on Cloud."  She took from their hiding place and the rest followed, watching the eyes around them carefully, and looking for any other source of danger.

 They went into the doors and shut them behind themselves.  They ended up in the hallway that the others had been in, but instead they turned right.  Jade beckoned them forward trying to remember the directions that Amy had given her to the dungeon. They walked down and farther down still until there was a short hallway going to their right.  Jade looked around and made her way towards it.  They all stood in front of a dark staircase.

 "Is this it?" Ellen asked.

 "Yeah I think so," Jade nodded.

 "You guys got it then?" Coral asked, "Because if you do then I think we're suppose to be causing a diversion."

 "Yeah, do your thing," Jade said, a little annoyed.  Garnet and Coral went past her into the dungeon and they all stood back.  There were sounds of the guards that had been in the dungeon causing alarm.

 "Good luck," Garnet said as he passed by them in a great hurry.

 "Don't get dead," Coral added just behind him.

 Two of the black Shadows and another two that were part of Creton's army were following them.  The soldier paid the rest of them no mind as they ran past, not even noticing their presence.

 "What they do, they do well," Joe commented as they all ran by.

 "Come on," Jade nodded for them to follow and they walked down the dungeon steps.  Joe stayed at the bottom of the steps in case anyone should come down to try and stop them.

 Jade, Cloud and Ellen all went forward.

 "Who's there?" they heard, then, "Jade?"

 "Charlie," Jade smiled.  He was on his knees in the dungeon.  Jade's eyes swept over to where Rais was laying, bundled in a heap, not even seeming to know that they were there.

 "Rais, are you okay?" Jade asked but there was no answer.

 "Quick just let us out of here," Charlie said.

 "He okay?" Ellen asked, looking at Rais.  He looked ill.  He probably was, locked away down there for so long.

 "Who are you?" Charlie asked her.  He didn't mean to sound rude but she huffed anyway, tossing her hair back.

 "My name is Ellen Cambridge," she said, "I'm here to help you guys if you don't mind.  There's no need for you to be rude."

 "Charles von Reese, a pleasure," Charlie replied, "Please, we have to hurry.  What's going on Jade?"

 "Very long story," Jade sighed.

 "One I should hear," he said as Jade began to fiddle with the lock.  She pulled out a hairpin and played with the lock.  The keys must have been with one of the guards.

 "Well, after Rei was taken over and she had transported the girls and those boys away, they all made their way back here," she said and jerked the door open, "Man that's a stubborn lock.  But they have yet to make one to best Jade Cyprus."

 "Great," Charlie smiled and walked out.

 "Yeah, good and dandy and they made a lot of friends along the way.  We all came back together in Wet, but now everyone else is out there trying to fight that Queen lady," Jade said.

 "So everyone else is okay?" Charlie asked.

 "Not for long if we don’t get there quick," Jade said then nodded at Rais, "What about him?  Is he okay?"

 Charlie shook his head.  "Something's wrong with him," Charlie said, "He's been like this ever since I met him down here.  I know he's sick but there is more to it than that.  He's been in here for quite some time, I fear the worst…"

 Jade was silent.  "What should we do then?" Joe asked.  Charlie looked over.  "Joe," Joe smiled at him giving a small wave.

 "Hi," Charlie said and looked at Rais, "I'm not sure.  We can't leave him here, that's out of the question but…" He walked over to him and knelt beside the boy.  "Rais, look at me.  Rais."  Rais didn't respond.  "Everyone's alive," Charlie said firmly, "They are all fighting right now and there are even more people to help, but you have to be there with them."

 "Darn right he does," Jade spoke up, "He's Chosen."

 "What?" Charlie asked.

 "Oh, I'll explain it later, all you need to know for now is that they can't really win if Rais isn't there to help them," Jade said.

 "Do you hear that Rais?" Charlie asked, "They need you.  You have to go help them."  Rais lay there with a blank expression on his face, making no move to get up or even answer.  Charlie hung his head.

 Suddenly he looked up and stared right at Rais.  "You don't even care about Rei do you?" Charlie asked.  Nothing.  "I should have known, you don't really care about any of us.  You're just Creton's lackey and you'll remain that way for the rest of your life won't you?  Some puppet that Creton can keep trained to do his bidding.  I always suspected as much and looks like you didn't let me down like you have everyone else."

 Jade was going to say something but she saw Rais twitch.

 "I wish that Rei had never even let you out of the dungeon," Charlie continued, "Because that's where you belonged, you traitor."

 Rais had closed his eyes and his eyebrows twitched.  At the word traitor they snapped open again and Rais sat up very suddenly upper cutting Charlie in his stomach. Charlie doubled over and tried to breathe for a moment, Rais having knocked the air from his lungs.  Rais just sat there breathing in and out deeply, glaring.

 Charlie looked up.  "Knew you'd come around," he grinned and Rais blinked.  Charlie shook his head, "Wish it didn't have to be so painful though, I never knew you had it in you."

 "That was all… an act?" Rais asked.

 Charlie smiled and stood up brushing the hair from his own eyes.  He extended his hand to Rais.  "Would I ever say such a thing to you?  The combination of a fever and your pessimism... Well I had to do something."

 Rais looked at him and took his hand, heaving himself up.

 "We have to hurry," Joe spoke up, "I think Garnet and Coral have really started to diverse.  There's definitely some noise up there."  They paused and heard several pairs of heavy footsteps running back and forth across the castle.

 "Come on," Ellen said and stepped out.  They followed her up and out of the dungeon.  They peeked around the corner and Ellen groaned.

 "What?" Jade asked, trying to see, "What is it?"

 She poked her head between Ellen and Charlie's shoulders and sighed at the sight that met her.  Followed by a line of no less than fifty soldiers, Garnet and Coral were both desperately making a run for it.

 "Those two, why don't they just turn and fight?" Ellen asked stepping all the way out.

 "It's not as easy as you think," Charlie said, "Those other soldiers, the ones in black armor, are Creton's army and they can't be destroyed very easily unless you know how."

 "And how is that?" Joe asked, watching Garnet and Coral run by again.

 "Light spells," Charlie said and called, "Flare!"  A great blast launched from his hand and flew towards the soldiers.  As soon as it touched the warriors they fell down, becoming no more than a pile of armor.  The Shadows were unscathed however and continued to chase Garnet and Coral.

 Finally Garnet realized that the soldiers behind them were only the easily defeated Shadows and stopped.  He sent out two orbs that surged forward, spiraling around each other.  It took out a great majority of the Shadows.

 "Wha?" Coral asked and stopped also.  The last of the Shadows followed and he fired an attack that zigzagged and destroyed the last of them.

 "Are you okay?" Joe asked, all of them running forward.

 "Yeah," Garnet panted, "Just… Fine."

 "Quite a diversion," Ellen said, "I didn't expect you to be flocked."

 "That was his fault," Coral said pointing to Garnet.

 "Liar!" Garnet shouted.

 "Not so loud," Rais said suddenly, "So far we're undetected."

 "Yes," Charlie nodded, "We should go to the main battle."  They all looked at each other and nodded.  It was time.

 "I hope they've held up," Ellen said and they started to hurry towards the throne room.  When they arrived they saw Robin trying to push open the doors along with Sarah.  The doors weren't moving.

 "What's going on?" Joe asked as they approached.

 Robin sat up and looked at him, adjusting his glasses.  "The doors will not open and we think that they might be in trouble in there."

 "What's going on?" Rais asked.

 "We heard a few loud sounds," Sarah explained, "We thought we'd go in and see if they needed help but the doors are sealed shut and we can't seem to break them."

 "Move aside," Charlie said.

 Obediently Robin and Sarah moved out of the way, having no slue who Charlie was.  Charlie raised a hand and so did Jade.  They both fired at the same time and the two attacks hit the doorway with a crunch.  The doors burst open and they all ran forward.

 They walked in and the site that greeted them was grim.  Sarah's hands flew to her face.  Everyone that had been in the battle was now unconscious, perhaps dead for all they knew, on the ground.  Creton stood in front of Amy, the only one sitting up, holding his blade ready to destroy.

 "Stop!" came Charlie's voice into the silence and Creton glared.  He brought back the blade and was about to strike but Charlie ran forward and rammed into him.  Creton let out a surprised cry.  Both Charlie and Creton hit the ground.  The others needed no other calling; they all ran forward to stop Creton.

 All except Sarah who ran towards the first person she saw, which was Mina.  She placed two hands over Mina's chest and paused.  Slowly, Mina's wounds healed and her eyes fluttered open.  Mina sat up with a gasp.

 TK had been sitting close by and he walked over to her, nuzzling her.  Mina put an arm around his neck in a dazed motion.

 "Go," Sarah said and Mina nodded standing up.

 Meanwhile, where Creton was, none of the others could attack because of Charlie.  Finally the two broke apart.  When he did they rest of them all attacked at once.  Creton flew backwards.

 "What is this?" the Queen asked, very surprised.  She had not expected anyone else to come to this battle and now she was outraged.  She had been tricked.

 "Take care of Creton," Rais said, "I'll deal with the Queen."

 "Rais…" Charlie said but Rais was already running for the throne.  Creton was up and ready to fight again.  Mina ran up with the group, TK by her side.

 "Are you okay?" Joe asked her and she nodded.

 Creton smiled and used his arm to wipe away a small amount of blood running from the corner of his mouth.  "Hello son."

 "I'm not your son," Charlie said.

 "Yes of course," Creton replied sounding amused.  Together they went to attack Creton and Creton defended himself equally with vigor.  The fight continued on.

 Sarah had rushed on to the next person and healed them.  It was Chiru.  She didn't even give her an explanation; she just hurried on to heal another individual.  She came across Ace against the wall and gasped.  The cone had gone clear through his shoulder and left him hanging there.  She reached forward and touched the cone, causing it to dissolve at her touch.  Ace fell to the ground and didn't move.

 Sarah healed his shoulder and all of his other wounds.  He slowly opened his eyes.

 "Who are you?" he asked startled.

 "A friend," she said and hurried away.

 While she continued, Rais was walking slowly up to where the Queen sat in Rei's body at the throne.  She was smiling at him as he approached.

 "You are maybe not as cowardly as I first thought," she smiled, "Or as Rei thought.  What brings you up here by yourself?  Do you think you stand a chance?"

 "You tell me, you're the psychic now," he said.  The smile fell off of her face and she stared.  It returned but she didn't seem as sure of herself as she had been before.

 "For a moment there you sounded exactly like Sarcuse," she said, "Rather uncanny I must say.  What makes you come up here, so unprepared?"

 "I couldn't say," he replied.

 "Ah," she laughed, "Well that explains it then.  Well if you won't answer that than answer me this.  What is it you plan on doing now?  You've made that booming entrance and have put on quite a show so far, but now what?  We fight?"

 "No," he said.

 "Don't we?" she asked.

 He shook his head.

 "So what then?" she asked.

 "I don't want to talk to you, I want to talk to Rei," he said.

 "You're looking at her aren't you?" she purposely softened her face and for a moment she looked exactly like Rei.  Rais turned his face away for a moment but looked back up.

 "I want to speak to Rei," he said again.

 "Any message you have for her I can relay," the Queen replied.

 "I would rather speak to her," Rais said flatly.

 "What a fool, how do you plan on doing that?" she asked with a laugh. "I certainly won't let you and she hasn't been saying much of anything for some time now."  Rais didn't reply, he walked forward instead and leaned forward putting his face right in front of hers.  The Queen was so shocked she didn't react.

 "Rei," he said, "I love you."  The Queen stared for a moment, and then, without any warning, her eyes flashed gray.  Rais leaned in then and pressed his lips hard against hers.

 Her eyes turned completely gray then and she stared forward at Rais.  Rais drew back.  "Hold on," he said, "This will be over soon."

 Rei nodded and her eyes flashed back to green.  The Queen rose in great anger and shoved Rais back, using an attack.  He skidded across the floor, clutching his side.

 "Foolish boy!" she growled, "You cannot avoid destruction this time!"  She fired at him but he moved aside, barely rolling away.  She growled and fired again.

 He stood up unscathed.

 She smiled.  She let her hand fly forward but this time no attack came from her fingertips.  Instead Rais felt some invisible force seize him and felt himself being lifted from the ground.  It felt like something was pushing against his chest and he couldn't breath.

 "So you love her?" the Queen Calypso asked, "Funny how history should repeat itself.  Very funny indeed.  You see, Sarcuse and Sharondia were great lovers too.  How sad it is that it should be cut short so soon."

 The tightening sensation in his chest pulled in closer.  Charlie, in the heat of battle with Creton, looked up and saw this.

 "Rais!" he cried.

 Creton was forgotten for a moment and Charlie surged forward, but Creton did not forget him.  Using an invisible attack he pulled Charlie backwards.

 Charlie had no choice but to resume battle.

 Rais felt it pull tighter still and he looked down at the Queen.

 "Rei, you're in there somewhere," he said weakly, "You have to help."

 The Queen let out a growl as her eyes started to fade to gray again and her attack was cut off.  She jumped forward and stood at Rais's feet where he had landed, trying to breathe.

 "You cannot escape death everytime," she said.

 "Neither can you," he replied.

 She fired and he ducked then surged forward, bringing her to the ground.  He pinned down her arms and legs for a moment but with a surge of power she knocked him backwards.  He flew like a doll to the other side of the room.  She stalked after him.

 "Foolish boy!" she cried.

 "Maybe so," Rais said, standing back up, "But you still cannot stop me."  He slowly stood up straight.

 "Such confidence we have," she said, "But it will not save you, only earn you a slow death."  She fired and knocked him into the wall.  He landed but stood back up.  She fired again but he dodged and moved forward, bringing his foot underneath her legs and knocked her backward.  He tried to pin her again.

 While all this was happening Sarah continued to heal those who needed it.  She had finally healed all of them and they all rejoined the fight.  Creton was surrounded.  No one seemed to notice that Rais and the Queen were fighting.

 "Surrender," Amy said.

 "Never," Creton replied, "I never surrendered to Lawrence, I will not surrender to children.  I will destroy you."

 "You can't," Charlie told him, "It is your destruction you are facing and we are giving you a chance."

 "I am no coward," Creton growled, his eyes shifting back and forth, "And I will destroy you all, yes even you Reese.  My son.  The day you left my castle was the day you signed an early death warrant."  Suddenly he flew towards Charlie.  No one had a chance to stop him.  He reared up the blade and Charlie gasped.  As the blade started to come down, Charlie reached up and with all of his strength, jerked the blade to an inward angle.  Then he shoved it forward, right into Creton.

Creton looked down at the blade in his chest, his hand still on the handle.  Charlie took two steps back.  Astonishment filled his face.  Creton's eyes widened and he pulled out the blade.  Everyone watched in shocked silence.

 "I should have known," Creton said, a smile playing over his face, "I should have known that it would all end like this."  The bloodied sword dropped from his hand with a clatter.  Charlie walked forward and picked it up.

 "Do it, son," Creton said, staring up at Charlie. "Kill me now.  Destroy your own father."

 Charlie hesitated with the sword, staring into Creton's eyes.  His forehead glittered with sweat and he smelled of both the sweat and blood.  He kneeled down before Charlie like a zealous worshipper and Charlie simply stared holding the sword limply  He began to shake his head.

 "So maybe my son won't always let me down," Creton said.

 "Charlie watch out!" Serena screamed and Charlie saw at the last minute the attack that Creton held in his hand.  Creton began to attack and Charlie shoved the blade forward into the area above Creton's collarbone and below his Adam's apple.  Several of the people watching turned away as Charlie did so and with a wince Charlie pulled the blade back.  Creton stared at Charlie and for the first time he looked almost human.

 He fell forward and smiled.  "I should have known," he repeated and died.

 Charlie stepped back and fell to one knee and closed his eyes.  He touched his face and felt where blood had splattered onto it.  He began to tremble.  Serena ran forward and put her arms around his neck.  He opened his eyes, staring at his hand, smeared with blood, and dropped the sword.

 "What have I done?" he whispered.

 "Your duty," she replied.

 "We have no time," Ace said suddenly and referred to the struggle between Rais and the Queen.  Everyone turned in that direction. Rais struggled to pin her down but the Queen was overcoming him.

 Finally she tossed him back and he managed to land on his feet.

 "I grow weary of your insolence!" she said, "Truly fight me or I shall destroy all of you!"  She whirled on everyone.  Her eyes flashed gray and then green again.

 "Rei's struggling too hard," Amy smiled, "She can't fight that way."

 "So what do we do?" Lynda asked.

 "I don't know," Amy bit her lower lip.

 The Queen stared at each of them then clutched at her head.  Rei must have been putting up a good fight because the Queen could barely stand.  No one made a move to touch her or fight her at this point, just watched as the inward struggled resumed between Rei and the Queen.

 "Set!" the Queen's voice cried desperately.

 From behind the throne Set entered and he was carrying something.  He stared at the Queen intently and then at the people watching.  He looked down at the thing which he carried and it was a girl.  She was very pale and had tremendously long black curly hair flowing down.  A girl, maybe a little older than Rei.

 "Your body my Queen," Set said, bowing before her.

 "At last!" the Queen cried, "You shall taste my true power!"  Then everything paused for a moment.  A spasm rocked Rei's body and the light orb exited her chest.  Rei fell backwards in a dead faint.

 The orb flew towards the body and sank into it.  It floated in midair and Set stepped back.  It spun twice.  The girl before had seemed young and innocent, like most sleeping children do, but now as she opened her eyes and stared at them they could see the pure evil that was her.

 "That's the Queen's body?" Mina asked.

 "The Queen Calypso," Donavan said.

 "Now, children," the voice came from the girl was the Queen's, "Now you shall face what your former selves died trying to stop.

"Let's end this..."

Oh wait it doesn't....

Chapter 30