The Adventures of the SOL

 A crisp autumn breeze blew through the forest trees.  October had ended and the leaves were falling, leaving patches of leaves across the forest floor.  It was like a huge quilt.  The air was warm, but another chilling wind swept through, leaving a reminder that winter was on its way.

 Lita the Amazon rolled over with a small grunt.  She lay on a thick branch of a tree, taking a nap.  Because of the chilly weather, she had to stop wearing her old Amazon outfit, which was a small halter top and a skirt, all made from animal skin.  She had traded it in for some tight jeans, some stretch pants, and baggy sweaters.  Right now she gathered her arms under her head and a leg swung limply from the branch.

 "Lita?"

 Snort.

 "Lita."

 Grunt.

 "LITA!!!"

 "Gah!" Lita sat up with a start and fell off the tree.  She managed to land in a crouched position  and looked up to see who was addressing her.

 "It’s about time," Serena said, but the smile said she had been amused by Lita’s very ungraceful fall.

 "Can I help you?" Lita asked, cheerful as always.

 Serena adjusted the fluffy white earmuffs on her head and said, "Just thought taking a nap in the middle of the day was a little unhealthy.  How will you sleep tonight?"

 "I won’t," Lita shrugged, "but I never do anyway.  I like to stay up late."

 "Come on," Serena shrugged, "Let’s go get some hot chocolate.  It’s being served in abundance in the kitchen."

 "K," Lita said and walked along the path with hands in her pockets.

 "So, I heard Charlie’s been gone lately," Serena commented very casually.  Once glance over her shoulder said Lita had become interested at the mention of Charlie's name.

 "Uh huh," Lita said, "He goes out more.  I think that’s a good thing though.  I mean, he normally never goes anywhere."

 "Well, he went shopping sometimes, but guys like him usually do don’t they?" Serena asked.

 "What are you implying?" Lita frowned.  In her mind Charlie was a flawless figure of sheer beauty.  A kind of beauty only surpassed by her own.

 "Well, Charlie’s what you might call sensitive," Serena said, choosing her words carefully, "Very few guys like him out there, that much I’ll say."

 "I think he likes me," Lita smiled dreamily to herself and was surprised when Serena turned around.

 "No way, he likes me!" Serena frowned, "I am, after all, the cutest one there."  Serena smiled and started pulling at her hair, stroking it lovingly.

 "Okay, so maybe you have good hair, but you're less cute than even Rei," Lita teased, grinning unmercifully, "And Rei is pretty, but she’s not cute.  She’s too tough to be cute."

 They had entered the shopping area of Lizerton and were now pushing through the fall shoppers.  People selling jewelry and foods were calling out to them.  Almost all business’s did well in Lizerton due to the wide interest range of the populace.

 "No way I’m less cute than Rei," Serena sniffed, and turned her nose in the air.  She marched forward, hands on her hips, trying to ignore Lita's teasing.

 "Well, that..." Lita trailed off and stopped.  Someone ran into her from behind, but she didn’t seem to notice.  In fact, all she could do was look straight forward with her mouth wide open.

 "Uh," Serena blinked and walked back over to her.  She waved a hand in front of her eyes, "Lita?  Leeeta?"  Serena turned in the direction Lita was looking in and saw immediately what had caught her eye.

 He stood like a dream.  His stylish blonde hair floated into his gray eyes, and he pushed them away in such a graceful manner, it was as if it were planned.  He was wearing a tight tan sweater and white dress pants.  One side of his mouth was quirked up as he talked to a shopkeeper, and when he laughed, his smile seemed so perfect.  Then, as if on cue, he looked in Lita’s direction.  She immediately closed her mouth and ran behind Serena.

 "Hey!" Serena cried, looking at Lita under her arm, "What are you doing?"

 "The most gorgeous guy in the world was looking at me," she squeaked back and Serena blinked.  She looked at who Lita was referring to and saw him, still chatting with the merchant casually.

 "But isn’t that a good thing?" Serena asked.

 "Well..."

 "When have you ever hesitated to talk to a boy?" Serena added, a skeptical expression filling her face, "Are you sick?  Is the cold weather getting to you?"

 "I... but he’s so pretty!"

 "Excuse me."

 "Eek!"  Lita ducked behind Serena as the boy approached them and Serena jumped a little bit.  She waved at him and glared back at Lita.

 "Get up here," Serena muttered and pulled Lita to the front.  Lita stood like a statue in front of the blonde boy, her cheeks flushed bright red.

 "I couldn’t help but notice you staring at me back there," the boy said, and held out his hand.  Lita took it and felt her scalp tighten as she shook his hand.

 "Was I staring?" Lita laughed nervously, "Gee, I’m real sorry!  I don’t try to be rude.  I just thought you were awfully good-looking is all."

 A hand clapped over her mouth and Serena groaned, rubbing her temples.  The boy, on the other hand, laughed.  "Thank you," he said, "My name’s Continen."

 "Lita," she said nodding.

 "Well, I’ll see you later, Lita," he said, "Maybe tomorrow.  I’m here everyday."

 Lita nodded and stared as Continen walked away, then disappeared into the crowd.  Serena stood behind her, looking back and forth between him and her.

 "Wow," was all Lita could muster, and Serena finally was able to lead her home.

The two girls made it to the game room, where Rei and Rais seemed to be locked in a thick game of pool.  Lita waltzed in and sat down with a happy sigh.

 "What’s with her?" Rei asked as she hit the cue ball and shot the six ball into the right pocket.  She smirked and walked around the table.

 "She’s in love," Serena said, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms, and sitting down next to the love-struck Amazon.

 "You guys see Charlie on your way in or something?" Rais asked dusting the tip of his pool stick, waiting patiently for his turn.

 "Nope," Lita grinned, "Continen...."

 "Wha?"   Rei asked, smacking the three into the middle left pocket.  When Lita didn't answer she looked at Serena.

 "The name of Prince Charming," Serena said, making a face, "She’s been saying it over and over again ever since we ran into him."

 "Ah," Rei nodded, and put in the seven.

 "Okay, now where in this game do I come in?" Rais asked, losing his patience, and Rei shrugged.

 "How ya doing Rais?" Serena asked.

 "Okay, how about you?" Rais asked and grinned as Rei missed the ten and rebounded.  He then frowned as it struck the one and made it in.

 "I’m okay, just disgusted by Lita's lovesick behavior," Serena shrugged.  Rais seemed to be spending more time in the castle, especially since it had begun to grow colder and colder outside.  It was sort of an unspoken agreement that he was now part of the group.

 Rais smiled knowingly and waited for Rei to miss. "She’ll be over it as soon as she sees Charlie," Rais reassured Serena.

 "Where is Charlie?" Rei asked, suddenly, "I haven’t seen him all day.  He’s been going out an awful lot."  She cracked the cue ball into the eight ball and held her breath.  She sighed with relief as it stopped just in front of the hole.

 "Ah ha!" Rais grinned and got ready.

 "Uh, I haven’t seen him since yesterday," Serena told her, "For the past few days he has been out and around a lot huh?"

 Rei shrugged and watched Rais.  Rais aimed carefully and sent the cue ball towards the nine.  It chipped it and went for the eight ball, which went in the hole.

 "I win!" Rei said and threw her pool stick at him.  He caught it with a frown and placed it on a nearby rack.

 "One wouldn’t be using one’s psychic powers to guide the ball where they want it to go, would they?" Rais asked, putting the balls up.

 Rei blinked then laughed.  "What!?  Of course not!"  Before he could ask anymore questions she was out of the room.

 Serena and Rais exchanged knowing glances.

The next day Lita wondered the market aimlessly.  She had no idea where she was suppose to look.  He said he was there, he didn’t say where there.

 "Hey there sunshine."

 She whirled around and smiled.  "Oh, Continen!  What a surprise! Just doing some shopping."  She picked up an object from a table nearby and pretended to examine it closely.  He smiled and she found her view shifting from it to him.

 "Uh huh," Continen smiled, "Looking for anything particular?"

 "Oh, no," she said, tearing her eyes away from him, "Just, uh, you know, looking..."  She coughed and put the trinket down.

 "Would you like to go to the year round carnival with me?" Continen asked, "Since you aren’t looking for anything in particular."

 "That’d be great!!" Lita said and tucked her arm under his elbow.

Rei wandered around the castle, thinking.  She had managed to lose Mina and therefore wasn't working.  On her way down the hall she stopped in front of Charlie's door and walked inside.  He was there, reading, as usual.

 "Hey Rei," he said and flipped the page.

 "Hey Charles," she greeted casually and flopped down on the couch next to him, "What are ya reading?"

 "Of War and Peace," Charlie answered and continued to read.  He grabbed a nearby notebook and made a few notes.

 Rei’s face went blank and she blinked twice.  "Ah, well, good luck with that,"  she said and slid off the couch, eyeing the ridiculously long book in his lap.

 Charlie paused and called, "Wait a moment, Rei."

 Rei sat back down and silence filled the room.  Rei watched Charlie inquisitively.  He looked troubled for a moment.

 "Well, how have you been child?" Charlie asked, and she frowned at him.

 "I am not a child," she snapped, "You just say that to make yourself feel older than I am.  In another four years, I’ll be a queen."  Charlie shook his head at her and smirked.

 "Four years is a long time," Charlie pointed out, "I promise I’ll never meet someone more impatient to grow up than you."

 "And what’s sad is I know I’ll regret growing up too fast, but I want to be queen now," she leaned against the arm of the couch and sighed.

 "Why’s that?" Charlie asked, grabbing his notebook and writing something down carefully.  Rei sighed.

 "Because then I can legally marry," Rei shrugged, "and then I know I have an heir to the throne."

 "What is it you're worried about?" Charlie asked, shoving the book away, showing he was listening.

 "It’s just been all this stuff with Creton," Rei said, rolling over onto her stomach and staring into space, "What happens if I get killed?  What happens if there’s no one to inherit the throne?"

 "Now, that’s no way to think--" Charlie began but Rei interrupted.

 "It’s the way I should be thinking, don't you agree?" Rei asked him, "I mean, it’s a possibility.  It could happen.  More likely than not it will happen."

 "Well, Creton..." he frowned as though the name frightened him, "He’s powerful, but his power is so much more limited than it was when your father faced him."

 Rei thought about this for a moment.  Then on impulse, she said, "Charlie, why can’t anyone know your here?"

 Charlie was silent and she looked back at him.  He seemed to be struggling with himself.  He stared at the floor with guilt.

 "I can’t say," he said at last.

 "Or you won’t?" Rei countered, frowning, "There are several things I’d like to know.  Like why you said you and I met when you started working at the castle.  You know we met before I ever even inherited the throne."

 "I can’t say," he repeated.

 "Why can’t you tell me?" Rei asked, pointing to herself, "I want to know so bad, but you won’t even take a chance with me.  And I just can't remember some of this stuff."

 "It wouldn’t be fair to make you keep a secret from your friends," Charlie responded weakly, reaching for his book.

 "Our," she said.

 "What?" Charlie asked, meeting her eyes for the first time.

 "Our," Rei repeated, staring deep into his, "They’re our friends.  They aren’t just my friends.  Why can’t you see that?  They have a great amount of respect for you."

 Charlie was silent.  He stood up and said, "I’m going to get out for awhile.  I’ll see you later Rei."

 Then he walked out.  Rei watched him leave and sighed, burying her face in the couch.  He could be so frustrating sometimes.  Slowly she got up and went in search of the others.

 Why did he have to be so mysterious?  Why did he have to be so stubborn?  If Rei could just remember for herself....

 She marched down to the lounge and saw everyone else in there, sitting around the fire.  She sat down with them, trying to shake off her conversation with Charlie.

 "Hey Rei," Amy said, feeding another piece of cake to Sady.

 "Hey," she said.

 They chatted for a little while and warmed themselves by the fire.  After a moment, Rei realized Lita wasn’t around.

 Darn my psychic ability, she thought as Lita burst into the room, all smiles.

 "Guess what?" Lita asked.

 "A boy?" they all asked at once.

 "How’d you know?" she paused for a moment and stared at each of their faces.  They all cast each other a knowing glance.

 "What else could it have been?" Mina asked, "So what happened between you and this new one?"

 "It was Continen again!"  Lita spun a circle, smiling, "We spent the whole day at the fair, and he asked me if I would go out with him!"

 "What?" Hotaru’s mouth fell open, "You have... a... You have a boyfriend, Lita?"  Suddenly she burst out laughing and Lita stared.

 "Er what?" Lita asked, and Hotaru just shook her head.

 "Well, we just didn’t know you could actually stick with one guy," Rais shrugged innocently and she bristled.

 "Well, I can!  Now where’s Charlie?  I wanna make him jealous!" Lita said and everyone began to snicker.

 "He went out but he should be back by now," Rei smirked, "He's probably in his room.  But good luck making him jealous."

 Lita left the room and she could be heard headed for the stairs.  A moment later she came back down looking disappointed.

 "He wasn’t there," Lita pouted, sticking out her lower lip, "Must still be out."  She flopped onto the couch with her arms crossed.  Rei cast a glance at Serena, who was smiling smugly.

 "Oh well, he should be back soon," Rei said, and yawned.  "So anyone up for a nice game of pool."

 For some reason, no one agreed.

That night, Rei tossed and turned in her sleep.  Her dreams were getting worse and worse.  She let out a soft groan and turned the other way.  Sweat ran down her forehead.  She would roll over, settle, and then move again.

 Her eyebrow began to twitch and she clenched the sheets in her hands, completely tense.  Suddenly her eyes snapped open and she gasped.

 A big pair of green eyes blinked in response.

 "Agh!" she cried, startled.  After a minute she realized that it was only Lita.  She sat up and clutched her heart, glaring at Lita.

 "Smatter, Rei?" Lita asked, leaning forward, "Are you dreaming again?"  Rei nodded and looked at Lita.  Lita was wearing a large white T-shirt that... Hey, isn’t that Charlie’s?... went to her knees, and was clutching a stuffed tiger.

 "Well, what are they about?" Lita asked.

 "I can’t remember," Rei lied quickly.

 "Yes you do," Lita said and sat on the bed, "Why can’t you just tell us what they are?  Could they be that bad?"

 "I don’t want to scare you guys over something that may not appear as it seems," Rei turned away, "It may not be even how the dream says it will.  It may be something that can be linked to what happens..."

 "So what happens?" Lita asked.

 Rei shook her head.

 "Please?" Lita pleaded.

 "Lita..." Rei said, begging her with her eyes.  Lita sighed and signaled that she would drop it.  She remembered when Twiggy was alive, she had said that the dream was scaring Rei more than she let on.  Well, maybe not in those words, but that was what she had implied.

 "So tell me about this new guy," Rei said, pulling her knees to her chest.

 "Oh, he is so sweet and funny, and gorgeous!" Lita started in, "He seems to know everything there is and it's like he just knows what you're going to like."

 "Sounds like a total dreamboat," Rei raised an eyebrow, leaning her weight against a hand, "When do I get to meet him?"

 Lita cast her a suspicious glance.

 "My intentions are pure my friend," Rei reassured her, making a face, "I hate men."

 "Liar," Lita smiled, "I guess I could drag him this way tomorrow.  We’re suppose to meet outside the market."

 "Good," Rei said and gave a large yawn, "Well, I think I’m gonna go to bed now."

 "Okay.  See you tomorrow Rei."

 "Night."

That day, Lita was walking down the forest trail with Continen.  She had her arm tucked under his and leaned against him, looking up at the multicolored leaves.

 "Hey, Continen?" she asked.

 "Yes, love?" he replied.

 "Can we go to the castle today?" he looked at her sharply but she didn’t notice, "Rei wants to meet you.  It would be nice if you came by and had lunch."

 "Rei, as in Princess Rei?" he asked, then broke out into a smile, "I’m sorry my dear, but that would be so awkward.  She’s royalty, and I’m nothing to a girl like her..."

 "Rei’s not like that," Lita said, giving his arm a poutsy tug.  "She likes just about anyone.  As long as they’re nice.  You're pretty nice."

 Continen stopped.  "It wouldn’t be in her best interest to talk to me," he smiled and lifted her chin with a hand.  "You're so beautiful.  But of course, aren’t most of your kind?"

 Lita tried not to let herself get lost in his eyes, but she couldn’t seem to hold on.  She wanted to ask him why he changed the subject, or why he didn’t want to meet Rei, but it was almost as though he were controlling her...

 For seemingly no reason her heart skipped a beat, but she quickly dismissed it as Continen bent down and kissed her softly on the lips.

 Lita was a pure girl, despite her dressing habits and nature with boys.  She kissed with her eyes closed.  So she didn’t see that Continen’s eyes weren’t.

 "If you really want me to meet your Princess, I will," he said softly, "If it will make you happy, I’ll meet her."

 "Thank you!" she said and jumped into his arms.  He grinned a grin she couldn’t see through.  She was just too clouded with other things.

 Mina poked her head out from the throne room.  "Lita!  Where have you been?"

 "What’s wrong?" Lita asked, seeing Mina’s expression was worried.  "Has something happened to Rei?"

 Mina shook her head.  She cast a wary eye to Continen, and beckoned her forward.  Lita looked at her quizzically and turned to Continen.  "Stay here for a second."  With that she jogged around the corner to consult Mina.

 "What’s wrong?"

 "Charlie’s gone," Mina said gravely.

 "Gone?  What do you mean?" Lita blinked, "He’s out you mean?  Because he’s been doing that a lot lately."

 "I mean he never came home last night, and no one has seen him since yesterday," Mina's face was quite serious, "I mean he’s disappeared."

 "Is something wrong, love?" Continen asked from behind her.

 "I’m sorry, babe," she apologized, turning her back on Mina, "But we have a bit of an emergency on our hands."

 "I hope nothing bad has happened," he offered, "Should I leave?"  He pointed in the direction of the door.

 Mina didn’t like the way he sounded when he gave his sympathies.  He didn't sound like he hoped nothing bad had happened.  Lita didn't seem to notice, however, so Mina said nothing.

 "No, let’s go see Rei," Lita said, and Mina jerked her head to look at Lita.  Charlie was missing and Lita wanted to take her boyfriend to meet Rei?  What was wrong with her?  Before Mina could comment, Lita pulled Continen up the stairs in search of Rei.

 Rei was sitting on her throne, a deeply worried expression on her face.   She had her knees pulled to her chest, thinking hard.

 "Lita, where--" she started as she looked up, but then her eyes fell on Continen.  "Is this Continen?"

 Lita nodded and Rei stood up.  "Sorry about the commotion, Continen," Rei said, with a half hearted smile, and put out her hand.

 Continen hesitated, then took her hand, giving it a quick shake.  Rei’s eyes went a little wide as he touched her, then slitted down.  She stared at Continen so intensely, that she was making Lita shift uncomfortably.  Continen smiled and tightened his grip.  Rei gently jerked her hand from his and nodded, then turned and walked towards the bedrooms.

 "Rei!" Lita called, the turned to Continen, who was glaring after Rei, "Hold on.  Rei!"  She caught up with her.  "What was that about?"

 "I don’t like him Lita," Rei turned to her suddenly, "I don’t like the way he feels.  There’s something very wrong about him..."

 "But Rei..." Lita said, feeling a little hurt.

 "Be careful Lita," she said and entered her room, shutting the door behind her.

 Lita just didn’t know what to say, so she stood in the hall, feeling confused.  She felt a cold touch on her shoulder and saw Continen.

 "It will be okay, love," he said, "Come."

 So she followed him away, thoughts of Rei or Charlie magically disappearing.

"See anyone?" Amy asked Hotaru as they met in the forest.

 "No one," Hotaru shook her head, "I’ve been everywhere and a half and no sign of Charlie.  What about you?"

 "Nothing.  Serena is checking the market place and stuff like that, and Rais is checking out the other side of the forest," Amy frowned and stared into the sky.

 "Where could he have gone?" Hotaru sighed.

 "I want to know why," Amy said, "Why did he leave?"

 "Is this what Rei’s been dreaming about?" Hotaru asked, "This has to be it.  What else could it be."

 "I think this is the start of what’s to come," Amy replied ominously, "I think it’s going to get a lot worse than this.  And I don't think any of us are ready."

Serena pressed through the crowd, along with Mina, who had joined her.  "Charlie!  Charlie!" they called, ignoring the stares of curious passerby’s.  No one had seen him at all, they found.  They asked around, and everyone shrugged their shoulders sadly.

 "Where could he be?" Serena despaired, "Why would he just leave without even saying good-bye?"

 "Maybe he went home, wherever home is," Mina suggested, but she didn't look so sure, "But wouldn’t he at least say good-bye to Rei?  Wouldn’t he at least talk to any of us?"

 "I don’t know Mina," Serena shook her head, then called, "Chaarlie!"

Rei stepped out of her room and walked to the blank wall right across from her room.  She stared at it for a long time.

 She thought about when she had been a little girl.  She and her father had lived in the castle with the Queen and King.

 "Rei, I want you to remember something," Lawrence told her, "Your friend, Charlie.  I want you to remember to watch out for him."

 "Why Daddy?" she asked, and climbed on to his knee.  She was about four or five at the time and he had to help by pulling her up.

 "There’s something in his past that he doesn’t remember, something that may harm him," he said, "Rei, I want you to make sure that it doesn’t happen."

 "Daddy, did you know Charlie before you came here?" Rei asked him, and Lawrence nodded slowly.

 "I did," Lawrence said.

 "How?"

 "I know that one day you will find that answer for yourself," Lawrence smiled at her, "Just remember to protect Charlie, and be his friend, no matter what."

 "Well that's easy, me and Charlie are already friends," Rei said and laid her head on her father’s chest.

 "And Rei?"

 "Yes, Daddy?"

 "Never judge a man by his past," Lawrence said.

 Now, eight years later, Rei stared at the blank wall, thinking about the conversation she had with her now dead father.  She wished he was here.  She wished he was here to protect her like he used to, and tell her what to do.

 But no such luck is there?  He protected you until he died, and now it’s time to stand up for your own.  What I really wish is that he had told me what had been so special about Charlie that a girl who was three years younger than him had to protect him from?

 She remembered well when her father had died.  Queen and King Alexibre had held a high price funeral.  They had gladly taken in the daughter of Lawrence the Good.  They were pleased to have an heir to the throne that was threatening to be empty.  Rei remembered hating them because she thought they were happy that Lawrence had died, because they seemed so happy to have Rei.

 But when they had both died of old age at about the same time, Rei had loved them like she might have loved her grandparents, had she ever known any.

 Now who is there to inherit my throne?  Who’s my heir?

 Charlie, where are you?

At the end of the day, they all met in the lounge.  No one had been able to find any trace of Charlie.  They were all run down and depressed.  Rais had gone pretty deep into the forest, because he was smeared with mud and wet.

 "Where’s Lita?" Hotaru asked suddenly.

 "She’s probably with her new boyfriend," Serena frowned, making a fist, "I can’t believe she’s so boy crazy that she’d miss a desperate situation like this."

 "I don't trust him," Mina shook her head, "There’s just something missing about him that I can’t quite put my finger on."

 Rei sighed and scanned the area for Lita’s presence.

 She felt Lita at the edge of the forest.  Yes, she was with Continen.  Rei felt an angry storm cloud overshadow her.  How could she?  What exactly was her problem anyway?  She had known Lita for a year and this just wasn't like her.  She stood up.

 "What’s the matter Rei?" Hotaru asked.

 "Come on," Rei said, "I don't trust this guy either.  I think we should go find out what he’s all about."  She started for the door.

 "What’s wrong?" Rais asked again.

 "This guy isn’t as he seems.  There’s something that’s evil about him," Rei told them, "I can feel it.  Now are you coming?"

 "So who’s Charlie?" Continen asked her after awhile.

 "A friend," she said quickly.

 "Oh come now," he said, and lifted her head gently, looking into her eyes. She nodded and rested her head again.

 "A friend of Rei’s," Lita explained, "I don't really know much about him.  He’s real cute though, almost as cute as you."

 "Where’s he from?" Continen asked, sounding casual but curious.

 "I don’t know," Lita shrugged, "Only Rei really knows.  And then there’s some stuff that she doesn’t know.  Like why he hides."

 "He hides?" Continen asked, that interested tone again.

 "We probably shouldn’t be talking about this."

 "I insist," he said, but this time there was something behind his voice that made Lita look at him, "It would make me feel better about us if I knew more about your friends.  That is, if I could know a little more about SOL."

 "I never told you about..." she started.  Before she could finish, Continen's hand came up swiftly and clamped over her mouth, shoving her back until her head hit the tree behind them.

 "No need to have said so," he sounded impatient, "I was told when I took this job.  Now I must know, who is this Charlie, and what does he have to do with Lizerton?"

 He moved his hand from her mouth to her throat.

 "Continen, what are you--?"

 "Not exactly the man you thought I was, am I?’ he asked, "I was offered this job by my king and I accepted.  I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to penetrate the castle walls, but then, there you were.  Staring at me in that crowd.  You made yourself out to be the perfect tool."

 "But--"  Her eyes raced around, not understanding what was happening.

 "Shhh," he put a finger to her lips., "Just tell me about Charlie, and Rei, and any other information you might know.  I'm sick of this charade.  It's growing boring."

 "Continen, please," she said, grabbing his wrist, and trying to push it away.

 "Poor little girl," he said with false sympathy, "So gullible.  So easy to turn her head.  Now, tell me what  I need to know, love.  I have no more time to keep pretending I love you."

 Lita didn't know how to answer.  She thought maybe it was a joke or a dream or something.  She just couldn't understand why.

 "Very well," he said and brought his fist back.

 A red blast shot from nowhere and knocked him away from Lita.  Her hand went to her throat but she didn't move.

Continen growled and sat up.  When he did he found himself face to face with the blade of a sword.  "That’s no way to treat a lady," Rais growled, pointing his sword at the man threateningly.

 "Hmm," Continen smiled, and faster than Rais could track, he jumped backwards and out of range of Rais's sword.  He smiled and his eyes grew a bright red.  His blonde hair striped black and his teeth grew sharp.  His face drained of its color and bat like wings burst through his shirt and fanned out behind him.

 "So what are you?" Rais asked, "A Demon or a Fallen Angel?"

 "Fool, I am a Demon," Continen growled, an animal-like sound added to his normal voice, "Called forth from Evilopolis.  Prepare to die."

 "Can do," Rais said and swung his sword at the creature.

 Lita just sat at the trunk of the tree, hugging herself, not sure what was going on.  "Lita?  Lita are you okay?  Lita?"

 She noticed now that Amy was standing beside her, shaking her gently.  Lita just shook her head.  She was too dazed.

 Where were the others?

Fighting Continen.

 "Lita!  Hey, are you okay?  Answer me Lita!"  Amy gave her a small shake but all Lita could do was shake her head furiously.

  TK the Panther, following Mina’s every order, jumped towards Continen.  He blasted it away with an energy attack and turned on the others.

 "TK!" Mina said, and ran to the panther’s side.

 Rei fired two balls of energy at him, destroying the one he had fired at her, and shooting the other at him.  He crossed his arms over his face and the sphere burst apart.

 Amy sat next to Lita, unable to send Sady into the fight because she would be too big to fight next to the others, but Hotaru and Serena ran in that direction.  Hotaru turned herself into a tiger, and Serena pulled out her scepter.

 "All together!" Rei said and everyone launched an attack at once.  It created a swirling mass of color around him, but he stood up and it broke apart.  He laughed and put both of his hands out.  Suddenly, everyone was tossed backwards by an invisible force.

 "Guys!" Amy cried, watching, and turned back to Lita. "Lita, snap out of it!  Come on."

Suddenly, rage crossed Amy's face clouded with rage and she reached out, slapping Lita across the face.

 Lita sat there for a moment.  Of course.  She had been stupid.  He had been so cold, and he had seemed like such an actor.  She should have seen through him.  She could see it now.  She could see who he was.

 She bent forward and started to sob.

 I was only a tool to him.  A pawn.  He was toying with me!  He used me to get to Rei and I let him.  And now my friends are fighting a losing battle against him.  And it’s my fault.

 "NO!" she shouted and stood up.  Amy jumped back.  Lita felt a blanket of calmness sweep over her and she was surrounded by a green aura.  A clear bubble appeared in front of her and she placed her hands around it.  She lifted it up in the air and it glowed a bright white.

 "What is this?" Continen gasped as the light poured from the small sphere Lita held, "She’s not suppose to know magic!  She’s supposed to be helpless!"

 Lita ignored him completely.  She held it to her chest, almost protectively.  Her eyes snapped open and they glowed a brilliant shade of green.

 "What’s going on?" Rei asked wide eyed.  She had never seen anything like what Lita was doing.  So much energy surrounded her that it shouldn't have been possible, especially since Lita didn't use magic.

Lita's impassive face looked right into Continen's right before the orb shot forward and flashed.

Continen tried to shield himself but too late.  The attack overcame him and they all her him cry out in pain.  Only Rei still watched as the blinding light surrounded him.  It was over before it had begun, however, and disappeared along with Continen.

 "L-Lita?" Serena asked uncertainly.

 Lita was floating about a foot off of the ground, but as the light around her faded, she fell to her knees.  Rei thought she was crying.

 Rei started towards her, but Rais grabbed her shoulder.  "Rei I’ve seen that before.  Not the same attack, but one very much like it."

 "What was that?" Rei asked him, and he shook his head.

"I don’t claim to know," he replied, watching as the others crowded around Lita, comforting her, "The last time I saw it was when Amy did it, after Twiggy died.  That’s how we escaped.  Amy’s never said anything because she never wanted to talk about Twiggy’s death.  But she knows she did it."

 Rei nodded.  She didn’t feel that this was a bad thing.  On the contrary.  She gained a weird, but strong and comforting feeling from the attack.  She had sensed it’s purpose and it was not to kill, but only to balance.

 "I still want to know what that was," Rei said,  "but I guess I should be thankful it was even here."

 "Yeah, maybe you should," Rais retorted, "That’s a second time that it's saved someone’s life."  They paused, watching Lita.

 "But Amy did it too?" Rei asked, "What does that mean?  What’s so special about those two?  Why now?  I don't understand."

 "And maybe you never will.  Let’s just get Lita home," Rais suggested.

 Rei agreed.

Hotaru watched Lita from behind a tree.  Lita was just sitting on the edge of a plateau staring up at the dusky evening.

 "Lita?" Hotaru asked timidly.

 Lita started and whirled around.  She sighed when she saw it was Hotaru.  Ignoring her, she turned back to the sky.

 "So I see you aren’t out boy chasing," Hotaru grinned and laughed, but faded off when Lita just stared ahead.  She sighed.  "Are you okay?"

 "I guess," she replied, moving her head so she faced away from Hotaru.  Hotaru moved beside her on the plateau.

 "Have you talked to Rei yet?" Hotaru asked, being serious.  "If you feel really bad I mean.  She sort of has a, um, straightforward way of dealing with these things."

 "She’d just tell me that I don’t need a boy to make me happy," Lita muttered, bitterly, "There’s no time to cry over boys.  If there’s just one thing that Rei doesn’t understand, it’s love."

 "Maybe your right," Hotaru nodded, "Or maybe you just don’t wanna hear what’s true.  That you don’t need a boy to make you happy.  That there isn’t time to cry over guys."

 Lita smiled a little.  "Just when you think--" she cut off, "Any word from Charlie?"

 "Not one," Hotaru shook her head, "Rei’s really worried.  I mean I think he just packed up and left, but Rei doesn't seem to be able to believe that."

 "He probably decided to leave," Lita shrugged, "Probably sick of Serena and I being all over him.  Of course, you’d think he’d stay for Rei, no?"

 "What are you saying?" Hotaru asked her, "Cause Charlie and Rei aren’t um-- you know."

 "Yeah, I know," Lita said, "Look, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it.  Can I just be alone for a little while?"

 "Uh, sure," Hotaru stood up.  She morphed into a bird and flew away, looking behind her at Lita, who just sat at the edge of the plateau.
 

Ah... love... It sucks huh? Onto Chapter 8