Apocalypse Battles: Stage I: Blind King

by Chief Aki

The sequel to the Awakening...Blade and the groups have reached Crystal Island only to find new allies and new and old enemies but now the mysterious Tekkaman Starlight appears to help Blade in his most desperate hour!

1. Reunion

"Apocalypse Battles: Legend of the Crystal Warriors"

'Stage I: Blind King'

Written by: Chief Aki

E-mail:  chiefaki@hotmail.com; yumi0@yahoo.com

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Author's Note:  Don't read this unless you've read "The Awakening" first.  You might not understand this if you don't.

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Disclaimer:  All respectable characters are owned by their creators.  All other characters are the sole property of me and may not be used without my explicit permission.  No money is being made here.

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Warning:  There is explicit language and content throughout the story.  If you don't like it, don't read it (unless I tell you, then I'm sorry…it comes with the characterization).  Don't complain to me; I have a pitchfork and a fire extinguish for such instances and I'm not afraid to use them.  Do not flame, but positive criticism is welcome.  Thank you.  Oh and MSTs are welcomed on this story as well as  "The Awakening".

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You never lose by loving.  You always lose by holding back.

                                                                                                -Barbara De Angelis

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Episode I:  Reunion

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Blade watches in awe as Tekkaman Evil falls back in retreat as Tekkaman Starlight follows.  Tekkaman Evil, battered and bruised, turns into a ruby streak of light, and flies across the dusking sky as Saber and Ashura follow.  Starlight hovers, her form flawless in the gaze of the setting sun.  Blade gets the feeling that he knows her.  Her form is almost completely like Star's, but Star's armor is red, so it can't be her.  Summer limps to Blade's side, eyeing Starlight as well.

"She's good," Summer says weakly to Blade.

"Yes, she is.  I wonder who she is," Blade calmly states, as he looks at Summer, "Are you all right?"

Summer nods, "Don't worry about it.  I've been worse."

Starlight lands a little distance away, staring straight at them both, her green hair flowing in the gentle breeze.  She steps toward Blade like she's going to say something but turns away, putting her head down.  Blade's gaze softens, everything she does reminds him of Star, and he feels a pang of guilt.

"What is wrong?" Starlight asks him.

Blade turns away slightly, "You…you remind me of someone I know; someone I care deeply about."

Starlight turns slightly, gently reaching her hand out, but shakes her head, and turns her back to him.  Then, she looks up, noticing everyone around her; people she thought had left her a long time ago.

"Go on, Terra," Rosa says softly.

Terra softly steps toward Tekkaman Starlight slowly, her husband following.  Starlight watches, unable to speak.  Blade turns and watches, trying to figure out what's going on.  He finally notices how much of resemblance Terra is to Star.  They could be twins!

"It's been a long time, my daughter," Terra says, with tears in her eyes, "But at last, you've come home."

"I only hope you understand that we had meant only good intentions," Edgar adds, not knowing what to expect.

"Mother, Father," Starlight chokes out, "I know, and I understand now, you've done much more for us than you will ever know.  We understand what you had to do.  It's okay, because we're all together, and we can be a family now."

Blade watches as Terra starts smiling and cries tears of happiness for having her daughter with her once more.  A sapphire glow envelops Starlight, as she returns to her human form.  Blade's eyes widen as he recognizes the human woman that falls to her knees, exhausted, with her long green hair and her teary emerald eyes.

"Star!" Terra yells as she and Edgar run to their daughter's side.

"Don't worry, Mother.  I'm all right, really I am, just a little tired, that's all," Star says smiling through her tears, as her father wraps his cape around her, covering her up as much as possible.

Blade stands there, wanting nothing more to hold Star, and never let her go, but doesn't as he watches her embrace with her family, and he remembers his own family that he once had so long ago.  Blade now understands why Star never said anything about her family; she didn't know if she had any at all.

Summer looks at Star, then at Blade, wondering what's going to happen now.  Blade just stands there, watching her reunite with her family.

Finally, after a few moments of silence, Blade is able to breathe one word, "Star."

Terra and Edgar look from their daughter to Tekkaman Blade.  Star looks at him with wistful yet happy eyes as he slowly steps toward her.

"Blade…" Star utters, "…D-boy…"

An emerald glow surrounds Blade as his armor disappears and he returns to D-boy once more.  Summer untransforms, looking at the spot of blood showing on his sleeveless jacket from his wound.  D-boy walks slowly to her, and kneels before her.  He stares into her eyes for a moment, before pulling her into his arms, hugging her tightly; tears starting to form in his eyes.

"I can't believe, it's you, it's really you," D-boy says, closing his eyes.

"Yes, it's me, D-boy.  Don't worry, I will never leave you.  I love you….' Star says softly.

Terra lays her head on Edgar's shoulder, sadness in her eyes for her daughter, as Edgar wraps his arm around her in comfort.  There is obviously a lot Star must learn and if she only knew.  D-boy holds Star close, both unknowing, enjoying having her in his arms again.

"I love you too, Star.  I will always love you," D-boy says as the setting sun shines on them both.

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"You have failed Hera!!" Golbez yells furiously.

"But, Father!" Hera pleads, "They are as much to blame as I!"

"If you hadn't failed to assist t hem, then they wouldn't have either.  Thanks to you, not only does your uncle have Tekkaman Blade, he has the child as well!" Golbez replies in a fit of anger.

"Father, you don't even know who the damn child is!!" Hera retorts.

Ariadne comes over and slaps her, "Watch your mouth, and for your information the child is none other than Tekkaman Starlight, if you paid any attention at all!"

"What's wrong with you!!" Hera screams.  "It's like you got a giant tree stuck up your ass!"

Ariadne growls, hoping Hera keeps going so she can royally kick hers.

"Oh, what's wrong?  Now that your little boy-" Hera starts in, but finds Ariadne grabbing her by the shoulder and ramming her into the wall, nearly cracking her head open.

"Now, you've gone too far, Hera Summers!" Ariadne screams in pure rage, which makes Hera flinch.

"That's enough!!" their mother, Acacia, interjects.

Hera and Ariadne look over at their mother, with her angry blood red eyes and long flowing blue hair.

"I thought I raised you better than that!  What's wrong with you all of a sudden!  You have no one to blame but yourselves!  Because of your reckless actions, we've lost a number of soldiers, the child, and you nearly got Saber killed!  You could have lost your own lives, but that doesn't matter, only your pride!  You can't admit that sometimes you need help!  You feel you can do everything by yourself!!  If we are to conquer Earth, I can't have my children running around performing their little acts of war against each other.  Then you will have more than your father's wrath upon you, do you hear me!?" Acacia scolds.

Ariadne lets go of her sister's shoulder, and they both nod, "Yes, Mother."

"Both of you get out of my sight, until I can come up with a plan that you can't mess up," Golbez says angrily.

"Yes, Father."

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D-boy watches as Celes tends to his wound, the glow eminitating from her hand.  It makes the skin around his wound warm, and it slowly starts to close.

"How can you do that?" D-boy asks her.

"Why, it's magic, we all can do that," Celes states, still looking at his wound instead of his face.

"Were you born with it?" D-boy questions curiously.

"Yes.  I didn't know it at the time.  I was infused with an Esper when I was little to gain magic.  But when the Esper part of me was removed, my magic didn't disappear.  Then I realized that I was born with magic.  I didn't need to be infused with an Esper; an Esper lost its life needlessly," Celes replies, ending with a sad note in her voice.

"Espers?" D-boy looks at her, puzzled.

Celes shakes her head, "Of course, you wouldn't know, that was way long ago, silly me-it doesn't matter anyway."

D-boy raises his eyebrow at her, "A way long ago…how long?"

Celes looks up at him, realizing she may just have done, and mentally kicks herself for it, and doesn't know how quite to explain this to a man whose age made him seem like an infant compared to her.  Celes is opening her mouth to try to wing this explanation without shocking the poor guy when the door hisses open.  Celes sees D-boy smile and his eyes light up.  She turns around to see Star standing in the doorway, wearing a white tank top, black jeans, and a blue sleeveless jacket with the Space Knight emblem on it, and blue-heeled boots.  Her green hair is now longer than it was before, obviously a cause of her being in the tekkaman process once more and it now falls down to her knees.  She also looks a couple of inches taller, almost like she went through another growth spurt.  D-boy figures that they meet eye to eye now.

"Are you all right?" Star asks, as Terra and Rosa look up from their healing of David, to look at her.

"I'm fine," D-boy nods, "Just a bit confused."

"About what?" Terra interrupts, and sees Celes bite her lip.

"I think I said too much," Celes winces.

"It's all right," Terra says, shaking her head, "He would've have found out sooner or later, now's the time to tell them both."

Now, Star and Ness are both confused, looking at each other, then looking at Star's mother, wondering what she is talking about.  Terra inhales a deep breath as if preparing for the worst. 

"I'm doing this now, for the better of both worlds, Star, yours and his," she declares calmly.

"What? I don't understand." Star inquires.

"You two can no longer be together," Terra expresses with no emotion, making even Celes flinch.

D-boy gives her looks of disbelief, and suddenly Star feels weak, her heart ripping in two.  They both look at Terra, completely astonished at this sudden declaration, and waiting for an explanation.

"It's not that I don't like you, D-boy," Terra articulates, "I really like you, I do, it's just because she will outlive you."

"But, you said that if I married him, and we performed the ceremony on him, he can live for eternity like us!!" Star remarks, "That's what you did to Father, right!?"

"Eternity?" D-boy questions, his head spinning.

"Yes," Celes answers calmly, "well, not exactly.  We are the Crystal Warriors, people chosen by the Crystals themselves to protect them.  We cannot die of old age or sickness for the Crystal prevent that, but that is all.  We may be killed in any other way like any other human beings.  I assume you get the picture."

"Star, your father did not go through the ceremony, for he is a Crystal Warrior since birth, like I.  He has no need of that ceremony.  We were born from Crystal Warriors, like you," Terra answers her daughter while her sister explains everything to D-boy.

D-boy nods, then looks at the three women in front of him, "Then, how old are all of you?"

Rosa closes her eyes, and smiles, "I'm not totally exact, but for me, about a hundred thousand years old."

D-boy's mouth about drops open, looking at Rosa, who had lived since the very early days of human civilization and still only looks about twenty.

"Celes in the younger of us two; I'm a little over ten thousand years old," Terra states.

"Star, even though she's twenty-nine, and considered an adult in normal human standards, is practically a baby compared to us," Celes says.

"And you all thought turning thirty was going to be bad.  Wait until you hit thirty thousand." Rosa comments, teasing her daughters and Star.

Terra and Celes just glares at their mother, as Star and D-boy stare in disbelief; D-boy more in the realization that everyone in this room besides him and David, who's staring with his mouth practically open, is nearly immortal.  Star still doesn't understand why being with D-boy is a problem.

"I know that I'm pretty much immortal now," Star starts to say.

"I don't mean to be rude," David interrupts, "but if the Chief was born immortal, why did she age to this point?"

D-boy looks at David surprised, never expecting a question like that to come from him, but now wonders too.

"Well, you've probably noticed that Star looks pretty young for her age, even thought I'm sure she's tried to make herself older, so everyone would take her seriously," Rosa declares.

D-boy nods, remembering how many times he told Star she still looked like she did when they first met, and it always caused her to blush.

"Well, children don't stop aging until they're twenty," Terra states, "That's why all of us look like we're twenty."

Star looks at D-boy, "No wonder I looked so young-I never understood why until now-and don't go lecturing me on how I tried to make myself look older, Mister Let's Dress in dark sunglasses and wear suits to make me look older than I am look."

D-boy gives her a playful evil look, "Are you making fun of me, Miss Star Summers?"

Star smiles innocently back, "Maybe, maybe not."

Celes looks at him, "To tell you the truth, you do look very young for your age.  Nothing is intended by that, honest.  I was being sincere-you do."

"Great, I'm being ganged up on by a bunch of women," D-boy says, trying to sound like he's pouting, but smiling.

Star shakes her head, then ruffles his black hair, messing it all up, forgetting Terra's words for the moment.

"Aunt Celes is right, you do look younger, even more so with your hair all ruffled up, like back when we first met.  How cute." Star says, teasing him.

"Me, cute?" D-boy says raising an eyebrow, then both of them interrupted by Terra's clearing of her throat, both of them look at her, remembering what she said moments ago.

"I'm being serious, it's best for the both of you," Terra remarks calmly.

"Why?" Star demands now, "Why can everyone else be with whomever he or she wants, and me with no one?"

"Because of your guardian," Celes answers.

Star and Ness stare blankly at her, "Guardian?"

"Yes.  The man that is destined by the Crystals to protect you, "Terra declares, "and the man you will marry."

"What!?  My…my guardian?" Star stammers, while D-boy stands there feeling numb. "I am supposed to marry some man that I don't even know!!"

Terra nods slowly, "I know that this is all too sudden for you, but it's for the best."

Ness lowers his head; he has lost this battle once again.  He's lost his father, mother, older brother, and baby sister and completely lost his younger twin to the Radam, and now he has to lose the only woman he's ever truly loved.  David watches them in silence as Star and Ness' world rips in two right before their eyes.  Star's eyes fill up with tears, all hope gone.  All the battles, when she was by Blade's side, the first transformation process into a tekkaman where she nearly died, the death of her friends around them, for them; the long ten years she waited, all gone, seeming to mean nothing in an instant.  In the blink of an eye, all from a man she has never even met.

"Star," Terra whispers, obviously aware that anger and pain is running through her daughter's heart.

Star doesn't hear her, running out of the room, crying down the hall.  She disappears outside to go who knows where.

"Star!" Terra cries out from the doorway

Celes and David look from the doorway to Ness, who doesn't even bother to follow.

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Ariadne stares at the rejuvenation pod, which keeps a sleeping Cain captured inside.  She gently lays her hand on the pod, wishing she had white magic to heal him, but on one in her family is able of casting "white" magic, except for those that her father would kill her if she even just mentioned their names.

"Cain," Ariadne utters wistfully, a sad look in her dark eyes.

"You love him, don't you," says a voice, as her mother, Acacia, appears out of the darkness, startling Ariadne, who obviously didn't know she was being watched.

"Mother," Ariadne says turning around, her back now to the pod, "What?"

"You heard me Ariadne Cali," Acacia says sternly, knowing her daughter is trying to hide what she feels, "You love Cain, don't you?"

Ariadne lowers her head, "Maybe…I'm…I'm not sure."

Acacia walks over to her, placing her hand under her daughter's chin, lifting her head up so Ariadne looks into her red eyes, "Not sure; are you absolutely positive that you are so undecided?"

"Well, I, uh," Ariadne stammers flustered, which causes Acacia to laugh.

"My sweet, sweet child, trying to hide your love for him is now what I call the best thing," Acacia says smiling, the kind of smile that she knows something that Ariadne doesn't.

"Why?" Ariadne questions, wondering why her mother is smiling that way.

"Oh, nothing, just an instinct I have," Acacia says stepping back from her daughter, "I'll leave you now."

Ariadne looks puzzled as her mother disappears into the darkness.  She feels something pressing against her back, and realizes that she's leaning against the pod.  She whirls around to look straight into Cain's emerald eyes, his hand pressed against the wall of the pod, almost seeming to be smiling.

"Cain!?" Ariadne cries, kneeling down.

"Shh…I'm all right…" Cain says through her mind.

"You should be resting, not wasting your energy trying to talk," Ariadne softly chides him.

"Trust me, it's worth it," Cain expresses warmly.

Ariadne blushes, then softly inquires, "Did you hear what my mother and I were talking about?"

Cain slowly nods, which causes Ariadne to look away.

"Ariadne," he calls out to her, which makes her look into his eyes.

"Yes, Cain?"   she answers.

"Don't deny your feelings and I won't deny mine," he comments softly.

"Cain Carter," Ariadne whispers, placing her hand on top of his.

"Ariadne Summers," Cain replies.

"Get some rest now.  You need it, okay?" Ariadne remarks in a soft tone of voice.

Cain softly smiles and closes his eyes, and Ariadne sits there watching him sleep for a few moments before getting up and walking away, but not before looking back at the wounded man.

"Summer, Blade, and Starlight will pay for this," Ariadne promises to herself.

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Ness becomes worried as night falls over the Crystal Palace.  The moonlight radiates across the calm water gardens and they seem to breathe an otherworldly life into the flower gardens and the orchards.  Beyond lies the ghost-like appearance of the forest.  Star had not returned earlier in the day, and to this moment there is still no sign of her.  He wonders that maybe he should have followed, but what would he have said to her if he did?  He slight turns his head as he hears the echo of footsteps, to see David walking up behind him, still holding his arm, still recovering, and then gazes up at the night sky.

"D-boy," David says looking at his back, "Don't you think you should go and find her?  Aren't you worried?"

"It's not my job," D-boy speaks in a soft tone, "anymore."

David gives him an annoyed look as if he is a truly pathetic creature, "Oh, don't give me that it's not my job crap.  You still love her, don't you?  Then you should go out and see if she's all right, if you truly care at all."

"And what's the hell that supposed to mean?" D-boy snaps at him, whirling around.

"Oh, come one, you don't leave someone hanging around for ten years, and expect them to wait as patiently as you first left them!!  You're lucky that she's stuck around them that long!!" David snips at him.

"Listen!  You don't understand a thing!  If we had done anything we wanted to, Earth wouldn't be standing right now!" D-boy yells loudly.

"Like Earth is standing much now!! The Space Ring is gone, the military has betrayed us, and it seems somehow that the one and only Tekkaman Saber is back, which means someone didn't do their job right!!!  And these Amazons seem to be the only ones who can get things done and are wrapping their fingers around everything," David argues, then adds, "Which doesn't seem to be all bad."

Suddenly, Celes appears, noticing the two men. "What is this commotion about?"

David starts to open his mouth but is startled by Celes' presence, "Oh, Princess Celes, nothing, nothing at all."

Celes looks from David to D-boy but decides not to ask what was going on.  She stares out at the scenery for a moment before turning back to look at them.

"Has any of you seen Star?" she questions them.

David shakes his head, "No, she hasn't returned yet."

"I had a feeling," Celes states softly, "We should all go look for her.  Terra says to let her be, but I got this weird feeling that it isn't such a good idea.

"You're right, we should all split up and look for her," David comments.

Celes nods, "Good thinking, I hope nobody notices we're gone; for some reason Father doesn't want us leaving the palace.

"Then let's start looking.  Coming D-boy?" David says, staring straight at him.

D-boy nods and they walk off, each of them searching in their separate directions.  D-boy wanders a little way off from the palace and wonder if he should be doing this.  What if she doesn't want to be found?  He walks through the water gardens, as the lunar light dance with the sparkling darkness of the water.

"I wonder if Celes and David are having any luck," D-boy utters to himself.

He continues walking through the flower gardens, the smell of roses drifting through the mysterious air as the caressing wind dances with their serene petals.  He thinks of why Terra would allow the Amazons to stay here.  Did Star's family and the Amazons have some connection?  He shakes his head, trying not to think about it, focusing on the forest ahead.  He slowly enters the forest; the moonlight's silhouette mingling eerily through the trees.  The calm seems almost deathly.  The trees form a dense canopy on top of the path, but out of the corner of his eye, he sees it.  Had it not been from the gentle breeze pushing the branches aside, and the moon's gaze, he wouldn't have seen it.  A smaller path that leads somewhere deeper in the forest.  He doesn't like it, but knows from experience that the path you don't like is often the best.    He breathes a deep sigh, before turning down the narrow walkway.  Suddenly, he stops as he senses something.  Then, suddenly, the ghost sign of his tekka sign flashes.

"Another Tekkaman?" D-boy whispers puzzled.

He walks faster down the hidden trail, seeing a light up ahead, indicating a clearing.  He feels he's growing closer to the Tekkaman he senses the more he proceeds.  He stops just before the end of the trail as giant willows surround him, their branches dangling in the breeze, as the light of the lunar world graces them with its presence.  He faintly hears the slight trickling of water and a sweet smell fills the air.  He brushes the willows aside, pushing himself into the clearing and stands in amazement.  In the middle of the forest lays a field of lilies, illuminated by the moon, played by the wind, a wide stream brushes through it, while a variety of vines and rock climbing plants, spreading out like a mat creating a small canopy, rays shimmering down through the cracks.  Rocks, which can be used as stepping-stones, dot the stream and in the middle, a small island lays.  A ring of lilies with a grassy clearing in the middle creates a soft bed where Star is sleeping, as a single beam of moonlight radiates down on her.

"Star," D-boy whispers, as he slowly walks through the lily field towards the flowing stream.

There seems to be a sudden ripple in the water as if something raises itself then decides to dive beneath the surface.  He stops as the ripple appears, then disappears, before walking steadily, reaching the edge of the stream and looking at the crystal dark water.  It is deep, and he guesses it to be at least twenty feet down to the bottom.  D-boy gazes at the stones wondering whether to cross them or just to let Star be.  Then, he remembers how worried Celes is at Star's disappearance, and that her mother did show some concern, but decided not to go after her, maybe out of guilt.  He takes in a deep breath, before jumping on the nearest stone, then the next, and the one after that, almost not making a sound.

D-boy continues to skip from stone to stone, landing carefully and just right so as not to slip and fall into the hidden depths below.  He softly lands on the petite island next to Star, who sighs softly and stirs, but doesn't wake, at his landing beside her.  He gazes down as her long, flowing green hair creates a soft blanket for her, her breathing soft and calm, not the emotion she had had when she left D-boy, Celes, Terra and David before.

Softly kneeling down, D-boy gently brushes a rebellious strand out of her face.  Star doesn't move an inch, oblivious to his presence.

"I should take her back, the others are probably worried," D-boy utters in a whispered voice, gazing up through the moonlight as the dancing light of the stars.

He looks down at Star once more, softly smiling at her in her sleeping state.  He gently scoops her up in his arms, trying his best not disturb her.  As he stands, Star lets out a relaxing sigh in her sleep, and then is quiet once more.  He stares at the stepping stones, wondering if he should even try to cross with her, but decides to, not wanting to wake her.

He makes the first jump to the small rock, hanging out in the water.  For a moment, he doesn't think he's going to make it, and is surprised as he does.  He makes the second jump, landing lightly again this time, more surprised at how easy it is to carry her and do this.  He wonders if this is a side effect of being a Tekkaman that he just now discovered, but is not sure.  He lands on the bank of the stream as lily petals perform their air ballet.

Meanwhile, back at the Crystal Palace, Celes and David are becoming worried.  D-boy has been gone for twenty minutes and no sign of him or Star.

"Do you think something is wrong?" Celes inquires to David.

"I don't know.  There might be.  D-boy shouldn't be gone this long," David answers.

"Maybe we should go out and look for them both," Celes speaks, looking out at the water gardens.

"Looking for who?" Terra's voice interrupts as her familiar form appears from the main hall of the Crystal Palace.

"Uh, no one, sister," Celes comments meekly.

"You went out looking for Star again, didn't you?  And Father told you not to leave the palace." Terra chides.

"I'm sorry, but…" Celes drifts off.

"But?" Terra demands looking at her younger sister.

"Hey, look, I think someone is coming," David interrupts him as he sees a long figure, carrying something, coming out of the darkness of the orchards into the rose gardens.

Terra and Celes gasp.

"Who is it?" Celes asks, trying to make out the figure.

"Could it be?"  Terra thinks out loud.

The figure becomes more distinct as it enters the water gardens, and it's obviously carrying something.  Celes and David's eyes widen even though they can't see what is being carried.

"D-boy!" David and Celes yell.

D-boy's form becomes more visible as he approaches the Crystal Palace.  He stops just before the steps of the Crystal Palace, looking up at Terra, Celes and David.  The light illuminates him and the figure he is carrying.

"Star," Terra whispers.

"Is the Chief all right?"

D-boy nods, then speaks in a soft tone, "Yes, she is just sleeping."

"Let's bring her inside," Celes says as she turns for the door.

"Right," Terra answers, now staring directly into D-boy's emerald eyes.

******************************************

A small red comet streaks across the sky on the other side of Earth, undetected to either side of the forces.  The red comet curves down to land on the cliff, the light dissipating to reveal the familiar form of Tekkaman Evil.  She stares down at the sleeping village, unaware of her presence.  Normally, she would just destroy this quaint little town, but then she would be detected.  Being detected is the last thing she wants, that is, until the very last minute where it's too late to do anything.  She remembers the last battle, even though she has pushed Starlight aside to attack Blade, it only provoked Starlight into mashing her into almost a pulp.  It is obvious that Starlight and Blade has a connection, and she doesn't doubt it's the same thing that her and Cain have.  But first is getting rid of Tekkaman Summer, which shouldn't be a problem; but her next targets, her next targets will be fun.  Evil smiles maliciously under her armor.

"You better watch it, Starlight; your precious Blade is next," she says, almost laughing.

**********************************************

D-boy watches Star sleep silently in her bed, with its pink satin sheets and pillows.  A warm gently breeze whisks in from the balcony door, dancing with its curtain.  He then turns and walks out, determined to find Terra; they have some talking to do.  He sees Celes walking down the hallway towards him.

"How is she?" Celes asks D-boy as she approaches him.

"The Duchess is fine, Princess," D-boy replies, addressing Star's formal title, "Where's Princess Terra?"

"I'm not sure where my sister is," Celes answers, trying to think, "She was talking with some Amazons earlier, but now she may be in the throne room."

"Thank you," D-boy replies nodding, before walking straight to the throne room.

The Throne Room is quiet and dark as D-boy enters, looking around.  Only the dim light from the computer screens are keeping it lit.  He walks around wondering if Terra has already turned in for the night since it is late.

"Are you looking for someone?" says a voice out of nowhere, startling D-boy.

D-boy whirls around to stare straight at Terra, who suddenly has appeared from nowhere.

"Yes, I was looking for you," D-boy says in a matter-of-fact tone in h is voice.

Terra crosses her arms, "Well, what is it?"

"It's about Star," D-boy answers, keeping his eyes on her.

"I've told you, there's nothing you can do…the Crystals have it written practically in stone," Terra states calmly.

"No, that's not what I'm here for," D-boy speaks in a quiet tone of voice.

Terra gives him a puzzled look, "Then what are you here for?"

D-boy kneels before Terra, looking at her sincerely, "I also wish to protect Duchess Star, even if I'm not the man she will love or marry, I do love her; and still wish to protect her.  I want to help her guardian; I can't live my life, not knowing if she is all right.  I'm not saying her guardian will be incompetent.  I'm sure he will be worthy to be with her.  But, I would like to help, I've come this far in my short life protecting her, I would like to see it through to the end.  I'm doing this because I love her, and she will be the only one I will ever love.  I've already lost too much…I don't want to lose her completely.  Please grant me this wish, and be one of her protectors, even if it means the cost of my own life instead of her love's.  It is better that way, I only wish for her to be happy."

Terra blinks at him, totally in surprise.  She doesn't know what to say for a moment.  Then, looking into D-boy's eyes, Terra knows he means every word.

"I will let you," Terra speaks nodding, "You truly are a real man.  To stand by a love you can never have, and that should be given up on.  Not too many men would do that."

"I know," D-boy softly utters, "I know."

**********************************

A young woman stares out into the distance at the ocean.  She knows that Crystal Island is straight ahead, even though she can't see it.  She steps into the pale moonlight, revealing herself as Ariadne Summers.

"Don't worry, your time is coming Blade," Ariadne growls lowly, "And it's soon, very soon."

************************************

"Yes, all right, reporting out," the young woman speaks over the comm link.

"Anita?" a man asks, and then appears, showing he is none other than Dead End.

"Yes, Dead?" Anita questions, looking at him.

"Did we finally hear from them?" he inquires.

"Yes, they are on the object that's risen from the sea.  It's an island, Crystal Island," Anita replies.

"So, Crystal Island has risen from the sea," Mac says, startling them both.

"Yes, how do you know that?" Anita asks the old chief of engineers, with his gray hair and beard and chuckling brown eyes.

Mac closes his eyes.  He promised Jamieson, his dear old friend, that he would tell Star and Ness one of these days, but it looks like they already know.  He then stares at the young generation of Space Knights.

"It's time you know about the Chief's past," Mac tells to Anita and Dead.

***************************************

Ness, upon returning to her room, watches Star sleep peacefully on her bed.  He looks around, quietly observing her room.  They nicknamed it the "pink" room, since obviously, the whole room is bathed in pink color.  Then gentle breeze flows in from the open balcony door, and Star sighs, turning, and cuddles up in her pink satin sheets. He softly creeps up to her bedside, staring at the dreaming woman with his emerald-colored eyes.  He bends down and gently kisses her on the forehead.

"I love you, Star," Ness whispers to her, "Don't ever forget that.  And even if I am not destined to be with you, I will always be by your side whenever you need me.  I will always love you, always."

When Ness finishes his words, there is a hint of tears in his green eyes.  He has lost her but even in that and what will come, she will never lose him.  He quietly leaves the room and leaves that part of his life he can't and will never forget.

*****************************************

Meanwhile, Terra stands alone, thinking in the throne room, and sighs, deep in thought.  She turns and walks behind her father's chair that overlooks everything in the throne room.  Suddenly, the wall opens up in front of her, revealing a long passageway.  She slowly walks down the passageway; it leads to two huge doors, a dim light passing through their cracks.  Terra stops, examining the doors, before pushing the doors open and looks into the room before her.  The room is brightly lit and the floor, walls and ceiling are made of a crystalline substance.  There are sixteen giant altars, and floating above them are giant crystals.  Four red, blue, green and yellow crystals are floating.  The very crystals that sustain life, the Crystals.  Eight from Lunaria, which had been Earth's second moon, and is gone except for Crystal Island, which was transported to Earth and eight Crystals from the planet itself.  They helped life form on this planet at a much faster rate than if it was left alone, and now Earth, through all its hopes and battles, depends on them more than ever.  Earth can no longer survive without the Crystals.  Terra walks into the center where she is surrounded by the circle of altars, and kneels down, closing her eyes.

"Oh mighty Crystals, mothers of all that live, I come to seek your advice," Terra prays.

The Crystals glow brightly in a gentle light, as Terra continues praying. 

"It is time to seek the truth, for it to be found.  My daughter has at last come home, but the journey is not yet over.  What am I to do?"

Suddenly, the Crystal glow brightly, and disappear.  Another glow fills the room as sixteen women appear, each one a representative spirit of the Crystals.

"Terra," they call out to her as she opens her green eyes to look at them.

"Guardian Mothers, tell me, please tell me, what should I do?" Terra asks pleadingly.

"You ask about the Guardian, do you not?" A woman says with blue eyes and green hair.

"Yes, how will I know when he will come?" Terra inquires, "You have not told me of any sign that would release him."

"Don't worry he will come soon, sooner than you think; here," another woman says, her blue eyes glaring at Terra as her long red hair flows around her, and a warm glow fills the room, as a circular white crystal floats above her palm, "This crystal will react when the Guardian comes.  When the time comes for him to appear, the crystal will glow brilliantly, and the man shall be revealed to you."

The white crystal moves from the woman's h and to Terra's hand, and then disappears.  Terra looks from her hand to the woman.

"Don't worry, when you want it, it shall appear," a blue-haired woman says, gazing at Terra with blue eyes.

There's a sudden glow in the room, and all the Crystals return to their original form.  Terra stands up and blinks, then turns and walks out; knowing she is one step closer to her goal.  To find the man that belongs to her daughter.

***********************************************

"Mac, when are we leaving?" Anita asks, after listening to his story about the Chief's past.

"We'll leave first thing in the morning.  Better get some rest." Mac says before walking away.

"Anita, are you really going to give David what's coming to him?" Dead asks, "When we see him again?"

"Nah," Anita replies, "Well, not at least until we find Yumi and the others.  I'm sure Hayato would get a kick out of it."

"I'm sure he would."

***********************************************

Deep inside the Radam flagship, something stirs from inside one of the pods.  After a bit of prodding from the object inside; the pod spews its contents all over the floor.  Among the contents lays a bit disoriented Cain.  When his vision becomes clearer, he sees a pair of feet in front of them.  Looking up, he stares straight into Hera's eyes.

"Get up, we're leaving," Hera says bitterly.

"Why? Where's Ariadne?" Cain asks coming to a bit more.

"She's gone," Hera replies.

"What?  Where?"

"Crystal Island."

********************************************************

Morning spreads itself across Crystal Island, waking Star from her deep sleep.  She slowly opens up her eyes, and realizes that she's not in the lagoon anymore, that she's in her room.  She sits up, running her fingers through her green hair, remembering last night, all the things her mother had said.

"I wonder how they found me, no one knows of that place, and even if they do, they would never dare to go near.  It's "her" lagoon," Star says to herself.

She remembers running through the forest, running to who knows where.

She ran to the path to the stream.  She was jumping on the stones to cross and landed on the small island, when it had risen.  The mythological creature of the sea, the one and only Leviathan.  It hissed at her, as if it was going to attack her; then quieted and stared at her for a moment, realizing who Star is, and snuggled her snout against her, welcoming Star home.

"Leviathan," Star said in the pale light of the moon, "You still remember me, my old friend."

"Of course, my child," Leviathan spokes in her mind, "I could never forget you."

Star hugs her snout, welcoming back her friend.  Leviathan could not help but notice her crying.

"What is wrong, Duchess Star?" she asked, "Please tell me."

"Oh, where do I start?" Star asked back at Leviathan, remembering when Leviathan first befriended her as a child and was always there to protect her from harm.  That was why she came to this place; it was Leviathan's lagoon, the only secret safe place, she had ever had.

"Start from within your heart," Leviathan soothed her, and so Star's story began.

Star gets out of bed, and heads for the shower, thinking of what possibly could happen next.

************************************************

Ness looks out at the ocean, deep in thought.  The Radam hasn't made any moves, which is strange.  Usually, when things are going like this, the Radam keep on their relentless pursuit, like when they first came ten years ago.  He doesn't like it.  Something is majorly up, a feeling in his soul that he has.  Unseen things are taking place, which will forever change the course of this war.

"D-boy?" a voice calls, startling him from his thoughts.

He turns around and sees David, "What is it?"

"Princess Terra wishes to see us at once," David replies.

D-boy nods and walks with David to the throne room, both of them saying not a word to each other.  They reach the throne room, where Terra is waiting for them both.

"Good, you're both here," Terra says, staring at the two men.

"What did you wish to speak with us, Princess Terra?"  David inquires.

"We're close to finding Star's guardian," Terra says, "but until then, you two will be in charge of her protection until he is found."

"Is that all Princess?" David asks, speaking in a polite tone.

"Yes, that's it," Terra stops, feeling strange.  She has never felt like this before, and wonders what is going on.

"Princess Terra, are you all right?" David questions, seeing the strange look on her face.

Terra shakes her head, "I'm fine, just getting a headache.  That's all I needed to talk to you about.  You may leave now."

David and D-boy turn to leave and Terra sees a glimpse of light out of the corner of her eyes, and looks down and notices the crystal is in her hand.  It's radiating a soft glowing pulse, and her eyes widen.

"One of them is the Guardian?" Terra thinks, "but which one?"

Terra suddenly looks up and stares straight at David, thinking, "could it be?"

*****************************************

Adonis Pablochiva watches the screen in front of him from his chair on the military flagship.  Below him, the rest of the military soldiers bustle about, doing their duties in silence, knowing not to make him madder than he already is.  He growls as he replays the images of the Amazons wiping out his forces and the Space Ring.

"Those damn Amazons, I should have used Takara and Natasha when I had the chance, "Adonis mutters to himself, "Oh well, I really don't need them anyway.

His thoughts bring him back to his insolent daughter, Natasha.  When she turned eighteen, she left and joined the Space Knights, just to get under his skin.  Last reports say she's now back with her fellow Amazons.

Adonis half smiles, "It seems Fiala's son has been keeping one step ahead.  Smart boy, too damn smart for his own good," he says to himself then starts laughing out loud, which causes his men to stare and hurry about their doing even faster, "It looks like it's gonna be a rematch, like I had so many years ago, after I get rid of Fiala, Jacobi and Jocasta's children.  Only this time, instead of your mother, it's gonna be you and me, Natasha, you and me, what do you think about that?" Suddenly, a light on his console lights up, and he has an idea who is calling him.  He presses the button, and sees a dark looming figure on the screen.

"Yes, what is it, Master Golbez?" Adonis asks, wondering what task he has to do this time.

"How are your forces?" Golbez demands.

"They're okay.  A bit in shock, but they'll recover soon," Adonis says, mentioning their reaction about the destruction of the Space Ring.

"Good, I have a plan," Golbez states with a voice that tells that he's smiling.

**************************************************

Star walks out of her room, deep in thought.  Where does she go from here?  What has happened to the rest of her Space Knights?  But most importantly, she wonders what will happen to D-boy.  Will he leave?  Will he stay by her side, even though she is no longer his?  Common sense tells her that no man will stay by a woman they can't have unless she is their best friend, sister or so forth.  But deep in the recesses of her heart, she feels that he will, and she doesn't know why she feels that way.  Only time will tell, and if he does, can she take looking into his eyes everyday, knowing the love they once had was ripped away from them both other than going away?

Suddenly alarms jar Star from her depressing thoughts; they are under attack.  Star runs outside to see who their attackers are.  She sees no one and runs straight for the Leiko, running madly through the forest path.

*******************************************************

Back at the Crystal Palace, the sensors are going wild.

"Someone's passed through the defense perimeters," Celes yells as David and D-boy enter the room.

"Do we know if the attackers are Radam or military?" Edgar asks in a rather calm tone.

"Locke, start preparing the defense grid.  Prevent any more surprises from getting in!" Celes orders.

"Right!  Does anybody know who they are!?" Locke yells as he runs to the computer consoles, engaging the activation sequence.  "Something's wrong!"

What!?" David questions, "What is it!?"

"For some reason the defense grid sequence is not responding!" Locke answers, "It's not up."

"It's not up!?" Celes yells through the alarms.

D-boy's tekka sign flashes on his forehead, "We've got a tekkaman!"

"But where the hell is it!?" It's not showing up on the sensors!!" Edgar cries out looking at the screens.

"Quit being a techno weenie and think about it!?" Celes yells at him, "The tekkaman still hasn't transformed yet, whoever it is that tripped the alarms.

"Where's Star!?" Terra cries out in all the commotion.

"You mean no one's seen her?" Rosa asks, not getting a good feeling.

D-boy closes his eyes, and his tekka sign glows, then it disappears as he opens them again, "Oh no…"

David looks over at him, "What!? What is it?"

D-boy turns and starts running, "Star!  She's outside with the enemy!"

"What!?" Terra and Edgar both say, taking off after him.

Cecil looks up at the screen, "We've got two more surprises coming out way-they're entering the atmosphere."

Rosa looks down at the others, "We'll stay here and watch for any more surprises.  Celes, Locke, Sabin, David, go after them!

"Roger!" the four say and exit, right on Terra and Edgar's heels.

*******************************************************

Ariadne stands in the field full of corpses, staring at the still living Amazon guarding the Leiko.  She smiles smugly.

"Which one of you little girls is next?" Ariadne says laughing.

Ste steps forward, only to have her tekka sign flash, then crashes into the ground.  She flips her attacker off of her, but the person is good, whoever it is, and lands on his/her feet.  She jumps to her feet and whirls around, only to face her most worthy opponent.

"It's you," Ariadne says with widened eyes, "Starlight."

Star glares at her with angry green eyes, her hair whipping violently in the wind.  Ariadne smiles evilly, knowing that a certain someone isn't far behind.

"What, don't you want to play with someone that's your own size, or are you afraid of what could happen?" Star says cockily.

"Oh, you think you got what it takes?" Ariadne retorts.

"Trust me, I know I do," Star growls, "but can you handle it?"

"Then, come on, show me your stuff," Ariadne replies glaring.

"You asked for it, now me…" Star snaps back.

For a moment, nothing happens.  Then, like lightning, they take off, reinitiating the first battle that took place so many years ago; a battle that runs through their blood.  Star and Ariadne throw punches at each other, each capable of blocking.  When Ariadne throws a high punch, Star ducks, grabs her by the arm, and throws her over her head. Ariadne crashes and slides across the ground.  She quickly recovers, flipping over to Star, jumping over the other woman's head, and twisting in mid-air, kicks her in the back.  Star retaliates by sweep kicking her when she lands, causing them both to be on the ground.  Ariadne growls and gets up as Star does, but Star is faster and as Ariadne stands, she performs a roundhouse kick, landing her foot right in Ariadne's face.  Ariadne falters, stepping a bit backward from the blow, but as Star rushes toward her, she grabs her by the arms and knees Star in the stomach.  Star winces and head butts her on the chin, causing Ariadne to fall backwards, letting go of her grip.  Star continues to return the favor, by kicking Ariadne in the stomach, then with her other foot, as Ariadne leans over, smashes it into her face.  Ariadne grabs Star's leg, causing her to lose balance and smashes her into the ground.  Star lets out a small gasp of pain, and grits her teeth angrily, but pushes Ariadne back with her free foot.  Star struggles up and sees Ariadne rushing at her and is unable to block.  She performs a flip kick, pushing Star back, and flips in the air, then kicks her again with both feet to send Star flying.  Ariadne flips in the air again to land on her feet, nearly slipping.

Star and Ariadne stare in silence for a moment.  Their eyes gazing hatred into one another.  Suddenly, they both rush at each other, each letting out a battle cry.  Ariadne swipes Star as she ducks, and Star lands a left hook, which Ariadne returns by hitting her right in the stomach with her fist.  Star winces and retaliates by hitting her with a right hook and an uppercut.

"You bitch!!!" Ariadne growls and elbows Star, aiming for the face, but Star moves out of the way, and only gets hit in the shoulder.

Star steps back, holding her shoulder, while Ariadne breathes heavily.  Star closes her eyes and her hair lifts upward, a pink aura around her, and she reaches out with both hands; a light glow appearing in front of her.  Then the glow retreats, forming a sword.  A dark energy forms around Ariadne's hand and a sword appears in there as well.  Ariadne whirls her sword, brandishing it, prepared for battle.  Star and Ariadne jump in the air, swinging their swords.  A loud clang is heard as they make contact.  Then, they push each other back, and land a bit of a distance away from each other.  Star's sword glowing pink, while Ariadne's black with red lightning streaking through it.  They charge at each other once more.  Star spiral jumps over Ariadne, and lands.  Ariadne whirls around and swings her sword downward, but Star has her sword behind her head and is able to block.  She pushes Ariadne back, whirling around, thrashing her sword at her; each met with Ariadne's blows.  Ariadne swipes Star, who jumps back as she gets a cut along her side, but only superficial, while Star cuts Ariadne in the arm.  Both are growling and yelling at each other.  They step back, then run at each other, spinning as their swords meet.  Then, they jump up, their swords glowing violently, a great amount of energy gathered around them, while the Amazons watch in awe, like a great battle in a war between all mighty goddesses is taking place.  Both Star and Ariadne let out a battle cry.

"DIIIIIEEEEEE!!!" Ariadne yells as she lifts her swords over her head and swings it down, releasing a monstrous blast of dark energy.

"AHHHHH!!" Star screams as she repeats the same motion, releasing the expanding blast of pink-colored energy.

The blast of energy tears up the field, rushing along their way.  The two forces collide, resulting in a flash of light and an explosion, which sends both Star and Ariadne flying and the nearest Amazons ducking for cover.

*******************************************************

Meanwhile, D-boy and the others stop, hearing the explosion, and catch a glimpse of it.

"What was that!?" D-boy yells.

"It has to be Star!!  We've got to hurry!!" Terra answers, rushing onward.

*******************************************************

The dust clears, revealing Star and Ariadne back at a standstill.

"You're pretty good," Star comments, half-smiling.

Ariadne senses D-boy coming, "Hmmmm….took him long enough," she thinks.

"Yeah, you're not bad yourself," Ariadne  answers, "but, not good enough."

Star narrows her eyes as Ariadne smiles, wondering what she is up to.  Their tekka signs flash on their forehead, revealing to Star what Ariadne is going to do, just as her tekka crystal appears in her hand.  Star wastes no time in producing hers, raising hers into the air just at the same time as Ariadne.

"Tekk Setter!"

****************************************************

D-boy stops running as he sees a blue and red streaks appear in the sky, and clash with each other.  Then they stop, revealing the forms of Tekkaman Starlight and Tekkaman Evil.  He watches as their tekka lances clash and scrape across their armor, just scoffing it.

"Evil?  What's she doing her without her posse?" D-boy wonders, feeling no presence of Saber or Ashura.

**************************************************

Evil and Starlight swing their lances at each other, the sounds of constant clanging, due to the pressure of their strength, ring, as they spiral around in the air, then pull appear flying backwards from each other.  They fly up, then curve back down as they burst into streaks of light.  Their contact is nonstop as they battle to prove who is the most supreme.

****************************************************

"I've got to help her," D-boy says as his tekka crystal finds his way into his hand.

"D-boy, I'll help too," a voice says as he turns around and looks at David.

"You up to the challenge?" D-boy asks David.

"You bet, so what are you waiting for!?" David answers.

D-boy nods as they raise their tekka crystal in the air.  Light emanates from them both.

"Tekk Setter!"

Tekkaman Blade and Summer head towards the battle, as the two streaks of light disappeared.  Evil and Starlight, both at a standstill again, have one last powerful weapon and each is now determined than ever to use it.  Blade and Summer watch as both the combating tekkamen fly away and whirl around, having their voltekka emitters come out.

"Uh oh," Summer says.

"Get back!" Blade cries out, knowing it's too late to stop them now.

"VOLTEKKA!!!"  Evil yells, crimson red energy shooting forth.

"VOLTEKKA!!" Starlight screams out at the top of her lungs and the emerald green energy flings forth.

Blade and Summer can't help but be awed at the amount of power being let loose.  Blade remembers the kind of power him and his brother had once let loose on the war-ravaged planet those ten years ago; but even that was nothing compared to what is happening now.

***********************************************

Terra watches from her viewpoint, unable to do anything.  Suddenly, the circular white crystal appears, letting go a gentle pulse of light.

***********************************************

The energy from Starlight and Evil's voltage collided, sending Blade, Summer and Starlight spewing into the ground and Evil heading on the collision course with the ocean.  Suddenly, two red streaks of light appear and grab Evil.  She looks up to see who has her in their arms.

"Saber," Evil says, a tint of emotion in her voice.

"Evil, why did you run off? You had me worried," Saber says softly, chiding her.

"I…" she starts but doesn't finish.

"Don't worry about it.  Are you okay?" he asks her.

Evil nods and he stops, hovering in the air, her still in his arms.  Ashura looks at the scene displayed before them.

"I don't mean to interrupt your private time over there, but looks like we might have trouble," Ashura says, pointing at the three tekkamen getting up.

*********************************************************

Summer looks over at Blade and Starlight, who landed away from him, and sees Ashura out of the corner of his eye.  He blocks Ashura's attack and flies off, Ashura following, them fighting along the way.  Blade slowly gets up with Starlight in his arms, helping her.

"You all right?" Blade asks, worried about her.

Starlight nods, "Yeah."

"We've got to help Summer," Blade says, looking at the battle erupting between Ashura and Summer.

********************************************************

Meanwhile, Evil gazes with hatred upon Starlight and Blade.  How dare Blade escape her wrath.  Even if Saber is here, no one will stop her.  They hurt Saber, and Starlight has mocked her by challenging her and not being destroyed.  For that, they both will die.  Evil pushes Saber away, gazing maliciously down at the two.

"Evil!?" Saber asks surprised.

Evil charges at Blade and Starlight, whipping out her tekka lance, and Saber chases after her,

"Evil!  Wait!" Saber calls out to her, but she doesn't listen, and increases her speed.

**********************************************************

Starlight and Blade look as they see Evil heading straight for them.  Both of them know that they can't escape her attack.  Starlight jumps in front of Blade, to take the brunt of the attack.  Evil laughs as she heads straight for them.  She swings her lance at a point where Starlight can't block the attack.

"Starlight!  Watch out!" Blade yells as he pushes her out of the way, raising his lance to block Evil's attack.

"Blade!!" Starlight cries out as she watches Blade try to block to the best of his ability, but the tip of Evil's lance slices at his side as he knocks him out of the way.

*************************************************************

Suddenly, the crystal in Terra's hands shimmers violently, and she stares at the crystal astonished, "By the power of the Crystals, I don't believe it."

***********************************************************

As Blade gets knocked out of the way, he knocks Evil's lance out of her hands, leaving her vulnerable.  Starlight watches as she heads toward her, and raises her lance, embedding on the left side of Evil's stomach, but isn't able to push it through.  Evil cries out in pain but more out of surprise by what just happened.

**************************************************************

Meanwhile, in outer space, Acacia leans heavily against a window, a pang of pain running through her.

"Ariadne," Acacia cries out weakly, "No, not my child, not my Ariadne."

**************************************************************

Back on Earth, Saber's eyes widen as he watches Starlight stab Evil.

"Ariadne!" Saber cries out in anguish and anger, heading towards Starlight.

Blade gets up and rams into Saber, sending them hurtling down a small cliff, hitting the sandy beach below.  The sounds of their fighting seem like a group of sharks in a feeding frenzy as the two giants clash.  As Blade had hit Saber, it caused Starlight to let go of her lance, and Evil becomes dislodged from it, but falls off the edge too, heading straight for the ocean below.  She falls unable to do anything, and tears enter her eyes as she cries out for the only person she has ever cared about.  Saber, as he battles Blade, watches Evil fall, unable to do anything himself.

"Evil!" he cries out, as he swings his lance to counteract Blade's

"Saber…" Evil calls out to him in his mind, "Saber."

"I'm here…I'm here…" Saber speaks while Blade gives him a weird look.

"Don't tell me you're losing what's left of that brain up there now, are you?" Blade asks as they continue to battle.

Saber ignores him, trying to figure out a way to get to Evil.

"Saber," Evil says sadly, "I'm sorry…"

"Evil," Saber says as he tries his best to get away from Blade.

"Forgive me…" she says as she crashes into the ocean below.

"Ariadne!!" Saber cries out loudly, that it even startles Blade, which enables Saber to push him aside.

Saber rushes to the spot where she fell in, and he notices a glow, a bit to his left.  A hand rises up out of the waves, with Ariadne's prone form following.  He rushes over, skimming the surface, and grabs her up out of the water.

"Ariadne!! Ariadne! Saber calls out to her, "Please answer me."

He looks down at her, as no response came; her dark hair streaking through the red parts of his armor. The blood still pouring from the wound in her side.  Saber notices Blade coming towards him, and holding Ariadne close to him, retreats.

"Ashura!!" Saber calls out as he flies away.

Blade hovers, watching in silence as Ashura flies off in tow.  He flies back to where Starlight is, who's still sitting on the ground where he had left her.  She looks up at him, waiting to see if he'll say anything.  Blade gently helps her up, looking at her.

"Are you all right?" he asks her softly.

Starlight softly nods, and then looks at Summer as he lands, watching them.  All three of them are startled by someone clearing his/her throat, and look over to see Terra.  Blade and Starlight mentally prepare themselves for the lecture she is about to give, but what they get is never to be expected.

"Star, D-boy, I…I'm sorry," Terra apologizes.

Starlight and Blade look at each other, then look as Terra, confused.  They don't understand why she is apologizing.  Then, she shows them the crystal.

"This crystal is to help locate your guardian, Star," Terra explains, "Now, look."

She holds up the crystal to Blade and it glows fiercely, which causes Starlight to look at him, a hope renewing her soul.

"Is it possible?" Starlight asks.

"Yes, D-boy is your guardian," Terra answers, "I'm sorry, for causing all this pain.  I was only trying to help and protect you Star.  I guess I failed, didn't I?"

Edgar puts a hand on his wife's shoulders, trying to console her.  Starlight gazes at her parents.

"It's okay Mom.  You did the best you could under the circumstances.  I probably would have done the same if I was in your shoes."

Terra softly smiles, "Thank you."

Starlight looks at Blade and lays her head on his chest armor, as he holds her close.  Summer lays a hand on Blade's shoulder, which causes Blade to look at him.  Summers gives him a thumbs up and he nods.  He looks back down at Starlight, and holds her even closer, embracing the moment.  At last, they are finally reunited.

*************************************************

It's all right letting yourself go, as long as you can get yourself back.

                                                                                                -Mick Jagger