The Adventures of the SOL

 "What?!" Serena cried.  It was two years later in the land of Lizerton and everything had gone back to normal.  Some things also just never change.

 "Something wrong Serena?" the instructor asked.

 "Her?  You want me to fight her?  Make somebody else go against her, I don't stand a chance!" Serena argued.

 "Now Serena," the instructor smiled, "I'm sure you'll do fine."

 "Yeah Serena," Rei smirked, "Just fine."  Rei had been a little more obnoxious than usual lately.  Growing up had made the seventeen-year-old even more quick witted and full of curt remarks.

 "Quiet you!" Serena barked, "Please Sir, anyone else."

 "Just do it," Lita shouted from the sides.  Serena found herself standing in the battle area of the outdoors fixing to face off with Rei.  Of course the psychic's powers had only been able to increase over the last two years.

 "Take it easy on me, will you Rei?" Serena asked nervously.

 "Not a chance," Rei shook her head and Serena let out a gasp as the instructor's whistle blew and Rei came running forward, blasting her to the ground with a magical attack.

 "No fair!" Serena whined, "It was over before it begun and I got an ouchie."  She poked at a forming bruise on her arm.

 "Oh grow up," Rei said.

 "Never!" Serena growled back.

 "That's all very well," the instructor said, "But I want you to do it again, this time not using any magical powers."

 Serena gave Rei an evil grin and Rei stared.  "Give her to someone else, give someone else a chance to lose!" Rei said suddenly, not wanting to fight Serena without magic.

 "What's the matter Rei?" Hotaru called, "Frightened?"

 "Ha!" Rei said, "Just bored.  Serena's no challenge."

 "Good than this should be an easy grade for you," the instructor replied and Rei's mouth fell open but nothing came out.

 "Make Mina do it!" Rei said.  Mina just pointed at herself a little wide eyed.

 "No, this will work," the instructor said, "places."

 Serena and Rei prepared to fight again.  "Take it easy, right Serena?  On your dear Princess Rei?  Please?"

"Not a chance," Serena grinned.  The whistle blew and Serena began running towards Rei.   At the last minute, trying to save her pride and failing miserably, Rei ran.

"This can't be fair!" Rei said and began to run circles around the ring, Serena chasing her all the way.

Later that day they all sat under a tree.  Amy stared up at the sky being thoughtful.  Silence filled the air and no one said anything.

 Hotaru snorted.  "Serena kicked your butt."

 "Shut up!" Rei growled.  Silence reigned again.

 Finally Lita laid on the ground and sighed.  "Graduation, then we'll never have to see school ever again."

 "Can't wait," Serena smiled.

 "I can't believe you're all leaving," Rei said.  Everyone groaned.

 "We've already discussed it Rei.  With no one to threaten Lizerton there isn't a point in having a Society anymore," Mina said.

 "Besides," Rais said, intertwining his fingers into hers, "I'm staying here."  Rei leaned her head against his shoulder with a sigh.

 "It's just sad that's all.  Where will you all go?" Rei asked, inhaling the smell on Rais's shirt.  They had been a couple openly for the last two years.

 "I'd like to see the continent," Mina said, smiling to herself, "Tour around for awhile.  You never know when someone might need an Animist and maybe I'll find something on the way."

 "I'll go back to the Scout School," Serena said, "Then I was thinking about going with Ran into the police, you know, delivering justice upon bad guys."

 "What a scary thought," Amy grinned, "Well, I'm a few years behind on proper Dragon training so I'll be headed for Dragon Village.  You know, enter a few tournaments and stuff like that.  Ace says he'll go with me if I like."

 "Oh, Ace," they all said and Amy blushed.

 "I'm going with Joe, what he does is really fun.  We've already gone on a few adventures, it should all be real good," Lita nodded.

 "Me?" Hotaru said, "Well, probably get into the spy business, I'm good at that."

 "Hey isn't that my job?"

 "Hello Omi," Mina smiled and he leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. "Hi Charlie."  Charlie stood over them smiling.  The nineteen-year-old had only become more handsome over the years.

 "Charlie," Serena nodded.

 "Serena," he winked.

 Rei grinned.  Only Rei out of everyone (And Rais, she had accidentally let it slip to him.) knew about Charlie and Serena.  It had been a month that they had been going out, but they preferred to keep it secret.  Rei only knew because of psychic instinct and even then she could scarcely believe it.  Well, as persistent as Serena was, she guessed it paid off.  Rei supposed Charlie had always been secretly crazy for her, but it was still a shock.

 "Almost graduation," Lita said to Charlie.

 "I know," Charlie said, "I'm real proud of you guys."

 Amy looked past Charlie over at Koty.  The seven-year-old was chasing some sort of butterfly and kept tripping.

 "Careful over there," Amy called.

 "Yes, mommy," he replied and continued his chase.

 "You know," Omi said, sitting next to Mina and taking her hand, "Everyone's going to be there.  Chiru, Jade, Cloud, everyone."

 "All of them?" Amy asked, "Wow."

 "Yeah," he nodded, "Even Donavan, and I hear he's bringing his kids.  Can’t wait to see if his son looks and acts exactly like him.  And his wife, Day her name is."

 "The horror," Hotaru said.

 "Everyone from two years ago," Serena said thoughtfully and Rei looked away.  She didn't like to talk about it much.  Rais gave her hand a squeeze.

 "Still having nightmares?" Charlie asked Rei, a look of concern on his face.

 "Sometimes," she said quietly.

 "Ran's going to make it here isn’t he?" Serena asked Omi, changing the subject, "That stupid cat boy gets so work obsessed sometimes, I hope he'll remember to take time off to see his little sister graduate."

 "You guys take that brother sister thing very seriously," Omi grinned, "Well, yes, he should be, and if he's not I'll go to the academy and drag him by the tail.  I swear, ever since they got him working at the Lion's Head Department of Justice, he won't stay away.  You know, they lowered the entrance age to be a detective for him.  Just because of two years ago."

 "Speaking of brothers and sisters," Rei said, "Mine said they'd be here and I'm sure Lynn and Lace will, but I somehow think that Luke will just barely make it."

 "That a psychic prediction?" Hotaru asked.

 "You bet," Rei nodded.

 "Yeah and I hear Sarah and Robin are still out there adventuring," Lita smiled.

 "And I heard that Robin is still very single," Hotaru smiled.

 "So soon after your break up with Brent?" Mina said sarcastically.  Hotaru and Brent had been just friends for some time by then.

 "I can't believe you guys are still on me about Brent," Hotaru said.

 "What about the twins?" Amy asked, "Will they grace us with their presence?"

 "With that store they own in Ahoray it'll probably be hard, but I somehow think they'll manage," Charlie said.

 "Joe and Ellen are going to be there," Rais said, "And Ace.  I guess that's everyone."

 Mina started counting on her fingers.  "At least I think that's it.  I think we have too many friends now that I think about it."

 "I for one will be sad when you leave," Rais said, "But at the same time strangely happy."  He and Rei bumped noses with a small laugh.

 "Oh," Lita said, "Charlie they're getting mushy again."

 "Break it up you two," Charlie said.

 Rei shrugged.  "I guess after graduation SOL will be gone," she said.  Everyone groaned again. Rei was putting on a pity act, wanting everyone to stay.

 "If it makes you feel better," Lita said, "I say we should make a pact, that should anything else bad happen that we'll all come back.  That way we'll never stop being the SOL."

 "I'll hold you up to that," Rei grinned.

 "You won't have to," Mina put a hand out.

 Everyone else put their hands in.  The pact was made and they all laughed and began to chat idly as the day passed them by.

The day that everyone left, Rei and Rais sat at the castle entrance, waving at everyone as they made their way off.  Rais could see Rei was very upset about it, wishing they could stay, but at the same time she realized that they had to go live their own lives.

 The graduation guests had left too.  Jade had given her a huge hug that had nearly knocked the breath out of the girl, but she would miss all of them.

 "Well, you know Rei," Rais said.  She stared at him.  He had become a little psychic himself about how Rei was feeling lately.  "It was fun while it lasted, and I doubt if you'll ever find anyone like those girls."

 "You know, I owe them a lot," Rei said, "That first day that they all came to save me was the beginning of one real big adventure.  We really got to know each other, huh?"

 "It may have been fate or coincidence, but I for one am very glad that it happened," Rais said, then, "You know your parents would have been proud of you right?"

 "Oh I know, Daddy was proud of everything I did," Rei smiled.

 "Do you think he would have liked me?" Rais asked.

 "You mean the boy who was threatening to take away his best daughter?" Rei smirked, "Of course not, he would have hated you.  Well, maybe at first but I'm sure if you two gave each other a chance than you would have gotten along fine."

 "What about your mother?" Rais asked.

 "Mother?" Rei asked, "That's so hard to say.  The only thing I knew about her was that she was named Rally and she was as stubborn as a bull."

 "But if you had to guess?" Rais asked, "You are a Psychic, you're good at that."

 "Well, from intuition only I'd say she'd think you were adorable and love you to death, but I couldn't say for sure.  After all I'm biased," Rei smiled then hesitated, "What about your parents?"

 "They would have been ecstatic about you," Rais looked up at the sky with a smile, "They loved anyone who knew how to stand up for themselves."

 "Do you think we can manage without our friends?" Rei asked him, "I mean, I know after that battle the continent was saying I saved the day but there was no way I could have done it without them."  She wiped a tear away.  "Oh Rais, I was nothing before they came here.  I was very different before I had you guys."

 "Just because they won't be here," Rais smiled, "Doesn't mean they won't be here."  He pointed at her chest and she smiled down.

 "You're right," Rei said, "I just hope we'll all be together again someday."

 "Well, I can't speak for the others," Rais leaned down towards her, taking her by the waist, "But nothing would tear me away."  He gave her a kiss and pulled her close, but as she leaned against his chest she stared off into the now empty path that everyone had went down.

 When she thought about it, they had all walked down the same path and broken off into different ones.  Someday they would come back and their paths would merge again.

 She'd be waiting.

"Well it certainly was a long time ago wasn't it?" Amy asked, brushing the hair behind her ears.

 "A very long time ago," Rais smiled, "I think Rei will be pleasantly surprised that you've come to pay her a visit.  You know, the other girls send us letters from time to time.  We even went to go visit Donavan and his wife."

 "Oh, I'm afraid I could never get a letter from one of them, I'm always on the move," Amy grinned, "I've seen a lot of Ace."

 "Have you?" Rais asked, "Hmm, I guess it's not easy being twenty and in love."

 "Rais," Amy blushed, "Really it's not like that."

 Rais just grinned.  His boyish figure had formed out into the frame of a thin but strong twenty-year-old.  His hair looked the same and his bright blue eyes still had a glint that suggested he might never grow up, but it was the same old Rais.

 Amy giggled.  "I heard some rumors, so should I call you King Rais?" Amy asked.

 "Not anymore than you'd ever call Rei Queen Rei.  Really, she does most of the work," Rais smiled back at her, "What other rumors have you heard?"

 "Oh a tiny tall tale every now and then," Amy said, looking around, "Koty try and keep up, we'll have a look around the castle later."

 "Oh, right mom," the ten year old had stopped, staring up at a painting on the wall, and ran to catch up.

 "He got big," Rais smiled.

 "Sure did," Amy smiled at him.

 "But so did you," Koty said, looking up at Rais, "You're really tall now."

 "Well I was seventeen the last time you really saw me," Rais smiled, "I hope I'm a little taller from then.  Rei's in here."

 They opened a door.  "Rei, are you in here?" Rais called.

 "Oh, Rais," Amy heard and looked inside the room trying to catch a glimpse, "Well honestly I'm trying to juggle three things at once.  My paperwork and two other things.  Guess what those are."

 "Just thought you should know we have an unexpected visitor," Rais said.

 "Oh?  Is it Charlie?  He hasn't been around in a couple of months, I'm almost afraid he's forgotten us," Rei said and Amy saw her step into the doorway and drop a clipboard she had been holding.  The two girls stared, Amy smiling and Rei in shock.

 Rei's eyes were still clear gray and her hair was still jet black, but it was longer, almost to her waist.  She was taller and older of course.  She was a woman.

 "Amy?" she asked.

 "In the flesh," Amy smiled.

 "Rei!" Koty said and ran forward giving her a hug.

 "Don't tell me this is… You couldn't be Koty?" Rei asked, pulling him back by the shoulders and he nodded, "You're so big.  How old are you?  You'd be ten now wouldn't you?"

 Koty nodded again.

 "I can't believe..." Rei started then leaned forward to embrace Amy.  Amy herself had changed, her hair longer, a little curled around her face.

 "Where's Sady?" Rei asked.

 "She getting too old to wonder around anymore," Amy smiled, "I asked Ace to baby-sit.  He would have come down himself but he had some appointments."

 "Not that you haven't been working on some impressive things," Rei grinned, "I heard you've won the Continental Dragon Tournaments twice in a row."

 "True," Amy blushed, "But it was nothing."

 "Nothing?" Koty spoke up, "Aw Rei you should have seen it, she handled those lizards like they were nothing."

 "What about you Koty, been exercising those magical abilities?" Rei asked.

 "Oh you bet," he nodded enthusiastically, "I'm the top of my class, you better believe it.  But no one believes that I really know you."  Rei giggled.

 "So what about you guys, what's been happening here?"

 Rais and Rei looked at each other for a moment as if they weren't sure how they should do something.  Before they could explain a sound came from inside of the room that was behind Rei.

 "Mommy, Lawrence won't leave me alone," they heard and they all looked down.  There was a very small girl with a mop of brown hair.  She looked very young.

 "Well, tell him to come here, I have someone I want you to meet," Rei said.  The girl ran back into the room and reappeared with a black haired boy was with her.  They had different hair colors but their faces looked the same and they were about the same age.  She didn't really have to ask, their gray eyes revealed all.

 "Who are these young people?" Amy asked, not quite believing what she was seeing.

 "Meet Lawrence and Rally," Rei smiled, "Me daughter and son.  They’re twins." Amy stared at the two.  The boy was smiling up shyly and the girl had her arms folded and was frowning up at her.

 "Who are you suppose to be?" Lawrence asked.  He looked more curious than mean, but the question was a bit abrupt.

 "Now Lawrence," Rais said sternly, "What did we tell you about being rude to guests?" Lawrence sighed.

 "Sorry Daddy," Lawrence said, "May I so politely inquire as to whom you are madam?"  He gave a satisfied grin as Rei began to giggle.

 "Don't encourage him," Rais frowned.

 "I'm nicer than that, Daddy," Rally said, "Lawrence is just mean."  Rais rolled his eyes.  His experience was that it was usually the other way around.

 "So?" Lawrence asked, running a foot over the ground, shamefaced, "Mommy says to have confidence you have to have aggression."

 "That's a big word for someone so small," Koty said leaning down looking at the kids.

 "You have a sword?" Rally asked, seeing the scabbard at Koty's side.  Her eyes gave a small glint as she stared.

 "Yeah," Koty nodded with a grin, "Would you like to see it?  It's only a small one, when I graduate from my first years Mom said I could get a better one, right Mom?"

 "Depends on your grades in Math," Amy said.

 "Aw, Mom," Koty said.

 "Well, Rei, I'm in shock," Amy said, "I never expected this."

 Rei smiled.  "Certainly cute aren't they though?"

 "I am!" Rally said raising her hand.

 "I can see they take after their mother in some major places," Amy smirked and Rei gave a sheepish shrug.

 Koty looked up at them and smiled at the two.  "Hey you two, I'm Koty," he said, "I knew your mother a long time ago.  What do you say we go outside and play, huh?"

 "Okay!" Rally said, "I have play swords outside and we can fight."

 "I wanna play!" Lawrence cried and chased after them as they went out back.

 "Lawrence is highly intelligent," Rei said, "And has the smartest mouth of any two year old I've ever met."

 "He talks like he's already seven," Amy nodded, "What about Rally, she certainly is a beauty isn't she?"

 "Oh, well, she's graceful too," Rei nodded, "Not at all interested in playing with dolls and dressing in pink dresses.  We have to watch her to make sure she doesn't steal Lawrence's toys... Or kill her brother while we're at it.  And strong.  Lawrence is the brains and she's the brawn."

 "They're named after your parents?" Amy asked.

 "Oh yes," Rei said, "We decided we should name them for of one set of parents and Rais insisted on mine."

 "You must be proud," Amy smiled.

 "So should you, raising Koty since you and Ace left such a long time ago must have been hard so young."

 "He acts a lot older than ten though," Rais commented.

 "Yes, well, he saw quite a bit when he was five, he grew up a little fast, but he's not any kind of hassle.  Though it's hard, every now and then I see one of you guys through him," Amy smiled, "When he gets responsible I think of Mina, if he gets righteous, I think of Serena.  Sometimes he's playful and Lita comes to mind.  When he's very straightforward I think of Hotaru, who he still calls 'Taru might I add.  Then every now and then he'll take control of everything around him and I think of you Rei.  He's got boyish charm like you Rais.  The kid's amazing."

 "Yeah," Rei nodded, "He been handling himself well in school?" Rei then asked.

 "Can't hide it from you," Amy shrugged, "In school he sometimes loses control of all that magic that's packed inside of him.  He's getting more self control but…"

 "It's hard, I understand, Psychic children go through much the same," Rei said, "He's being trained as a Mage?"

 "Yes," Amy nodded.

 "As lovely as this discussion is, why not take it into the lounge?" Rais said, "Rei you need to take a break from work anyway."

 As they walked down to the lounge Amy kept talking.  "So you've been busy lately?"

 "Oh Lord yes," Rais answered for her, "You don't know how many time she starts getting angry and asks outloud where Mina is when you need her."  Amy laughed.

 "What is Mina doing?" Amy asked.

 "Mina?" Rei said, "Last I heard she was traveling around the continent with Omi.  They got married just last year."

 "Oh really, why am I not surprised?" Amy said.

 "Yeah, and I got a letter from Serena, complaining about Ran's new boisterous cat girlfriend," Rei said, "As you may already know she and Charlie have been dating for some time now.  They were thinking about getting married but they want all of us to be there so it's hard."

 "Serena?" Amy asked, "And Charlie?"

 "Yes," Rei nodded.

 "If you say so.  I seriously had no clue," Amy shrugged.  They had found the lounge and took a seat, resuming their conversation.

 "It gets almost as bad," Rais said, "Lita actually settled on someone."

 "Who's that?" Amy asked, eyes wide.

 "Joe," Rais grinned, "No plans of marriage just yet but they have been dating for some time now."

 "You think you know somebody," Amy said.

 "Well, Hotaru is as adamant as ever," Rais smiled, "She's been working for the police force too, she and Serena see more of each other than any of the others.  Not quite that much because Hotaru's in the spy sector, one of their best I've heard."

 "Well that's something," Amy smiled, "She always was a sucker for gossip."

 "Jade and Cloud are still wondering around these days, I don't think those two will ever change," Rei said, "Jade is quite the Witch though.  And Chiru is making movements to gain some protection laws for Vampires.  Never thought she'd be a political person, though, but I hope it works out for her."

 "So Donavan's been living with his wife and kids?" Amy asked.

 "Yeah," Rais nodded, "Those kids don't even remember that their dad was ever gone, the way they all get along.  Donavan is an excellent Dad."

 "Really?" Amy giggled.

 Ran is at the Academy still," Rei smiled, "Teaching the new cadets.  Hear he's good.  He really does have some extra cheerful girlfriend he's been seeing; it's amusing I must say."

 "Ellen has taken over her father's business.  Something to do with horses," Rais added on, "And likewise Garnet and Coral still have a store in Ahoray.  I'm not sure what they sale for sure though," Rais said, "Joe's been traveling with Lita as you know.  I hear they went for a short trip to the other continent but that's hard to believe.  They never said anything about it.  Sarah got so good that she was hired by the Queen Sarabi to be the royal doctor of her castle and Robin is her royal guardian."

 "What about Ace?" Rei asked.

 "Oh, he's been training Koty in his spare time," Amy shrugged, "He fell into Dragon Training but he mostly just assists me."

 "Wow, well we all got far," Rais said, "I'm not surprised."

 They fell into silence and Amy stared at the ground.  "Twins, Rei?" Amy asked, "Really, two Reis would have been bad enough but three running around, how scary is that…?"

 "Funny, they really are sweet though," Rei said, "I just hope to God that they don't go off and do something like I did or at least get in that much danger."

"I'm sure it's inevitable," Amy shrugged, "They are your kids after all."

 "Don't say that," Rais groaned, "Of course those two are very adventurous.  They have a lot of spirit.  I blame Rei of course."

 "That's mature," Rei frowned.

 "But still, we'd rather them not act like we did," Rais went on, "Do you realize how stupid it was for a bunch of kids to go out and try to save the world?  We could have died."

 "But we were stronger than most adults," Amy said, "And we did have some ancient powers of our own to use against our enemies."

 "True, and those powers combined were something else," Rei said, "I still don't remember what happened.  I just remember being mad because I thought everyone was dead."

 "But they weren't, they escaped," Amy nodded.

 "Still, those two involved in something like that?  I couldn't bare it," Rei shook her head, "And Koty?  I sure hope Koty never does anything like that either.  He's as good as my son, too."

 "Oh, don't say that," Amy flinched.

 "Something I always wanted to know but didn't remember it until now, what did Lynda tell you after we were reunited?  I remember her pulling you aside and having a little talk," Rais said.

 "It was about Daddy," Rei said, "And she started to say something about Mother but changed her mind.  I bug her about it every now and then, but she won't tell me.  Anyway, she was telling me everything she could remember about our father.  It was because the Queen had told her I envied her knowledge of father, her being the oldest and all."

 "I guess we knew it would have to end eventually," Rais said, "It's funny when you think about the way it started for all of us and the way it ended."

 "It could have ended worse," Amy said, "But it seems like everyone is happy.  You think it'll ever happen again?  We're still young."

 "It might," Rei said thoughtfully.

 "You know something we don't?" Rais asked knowingly.

 "Of course not," Rei said, "But you never know."

 "With you it's kind of hard not to," Amy said, "And apparently you know the whole story as to what happened all those thousands of years ago, and you still haven't told us that."

 "I felt it wasn't something you really needed to know the details about," Rei said, "Some stuff in there you probably wouldn't want to hear anyway."

 "Yeah sure," Rais rolled his eyes, "I'll get the details one of these days."

 "Humph," Rei said stubbornly and folded her arms.  Silence filled the room and simultaneously all three of the adults sighed, remembering their earlier years.

 "I miss it," Amy said.

 "Me too," Rei nodded.

 "Mommy!" they heard and Lawrence came running in followed by Rally, "Rally's chasing me again!"  Koty ran in behind them.  Poor him, he wasn't used to the twin's wild behavior.  Lawrence grabbed his father's leg as a safety point from Rally.

 "He deserved it!" Rally said.

 "Did not!"

 "Did too!"

 "Did not!"

 "Okay you two," Rei said sternly, "Rally why did you hit your brother?  We told you to be nice when you play."

 "He said my hair was ugly," Rally frowned.  Her hair had Rei's shape but Rais's color, all the way down to the two blonde streaks in front.

 Since they both shared Rally's hair in one way or another both parents gave Lawrence a pointed look.  "That true?" Rais asked.

 "Yeah, but she didn't have to hit me," Lawrence pouted.  Rei gave Amy a helpless shrug.  Lawrence was just too smart and Rally was just too tough.

 "Sorry about that Rei," Koty said, "They just started to argue, I wasn't sure what to do."  A small blush filled his face.

 "Neither do I usually," Rei smiled, "Okay you two.  Rally say you're sorry to Lawrence for hitting him."  Rally mumbled an apology.  "Lawrence apologize for saying your sister's hair was ugly."

 "I'm sincerely apologetic to you for making such atrocious comments on your equally atrocious hair," Lawrence said, using sarcasm much too extremely well for someone his age, but still stumbling over the words in his two year old tongue.

 "Lawrence," Rais said in a warning tone.

 "Sorry," he mumbled.  Rei began to giggle again and Lawrence smiled up at her.  Though smart mouthed, Lawrence loved making his mother laugh.

 "Rei!" Rais said, "You aren't helping."

 "I'm sorry," she laughed, "He just does it so well."

 Amy then laughed at Rei for laughing.  "You're a bad influence Rei."

 Rei shrugged and lifted Rally up into her lap.  "I really can't help it, they both just crack me up."  Rei then nuzzled Rally's neck causing her to giggle.

 Lawrence heaved himself in between his mother and father, staring at Amy.  "So what do you do?"

 "I train dragons," Amy said.

 "Really?" Rally asked.

 "Yep."

 "Can I see one?" Lawrence asked.

 "She's not just carrying a dragon in her back pocket stupid," Rally said, "She doesn't have any with her."

 "Don't call your brother stupid," Rais said.

 "Actually I do have some with me," Amy said and reached into her bag, "How about this one?  I picked him up for the fun of it."  She opened the stone and a Dragon about as long as a spoon and as wide as a ruler sprang forth from the stone and flew towards Lawrence.  He held out his hand and the tiny dragon stared.

 "Wow," Rally leaned over Rei's arm to stare.

 "It's a Miniature Dragon," Amy said, "Very difficult to find and catch, but I have more than one.  They have the longest life-spans of any Dragon and if you'd like to keep him as a pet…"

 "Can we Mommy?" they both turned to Rei at once.

 "Ask your father," Rei said.

 "Can we Daddy?" they both turned to him.

 "Ask your mother."

 "Oh no," Lawrence said, "We aren't doing this again.  You have to answer us this time.  I refuse to be sent back and forth between you like a… a…"

 "Messenger maybe?" Rei said.

 "Or something like it," Rally frowned.

 "Please?" Lawrence appealed to both parents.

 "I don't know," Rais scratched his head then reached forward to pick up the small dragon from Lawrence, "He's so small, are you sure you won't kill him?"

 "They can disappear when put in tight situations.  They actually transport a lot, but he won't run away," Amy said, "If I thought they might hurt it by accident I wouldn't have given it to them."

 "Okay," Rei said, "But you have to take good care of it."

 "Yay!"  Lawrence and Rally cried hugging each other.

 "So whatcha gonna call it?" Rais asked, letting it crawl over his fingers and look down at the ground below.  It had tiny wings that it would pump up and down.

 "Bruce!" Rally said just as Lawrence cried, "Ivan!"

 They frowned then said at the same time, "Max" and gave a nod showing they had agreed.  Amy smiled fascinated.

 "It's like they can agree or disagree at any minute," Amy said, "They think the same that's for sure."

 "Well, I hope you'll stay for awhile," Rei smiled.

 "Just the day then we should go," Amy said.  They spent the rest of the day reminiscing about old times and old battles.

 It would be several years before the Society of Lizerton would all meet together in one place, but they always remained friends.  Throughout the years being separated only brought all of them closer.  They would always have their memories and all of them admit that their years in Lizerton together were the best ones of their life.

 And as all stories that have peculiar beginnings start wonderful adventures, they tend to end not as peculiar.  All I can say is that they lived happily ever after.