Author's note: As always, thank you so much for the reviews. I really hope you enjoy the latest chapter. There will be some turning points in the plot soon which I'm very excited for! I'm surprised no one has commented on Jackson, Zane, Neal and Killian - they aren't original characters, if you haven't already worked that one out. I find their individual personalities very fun to work with. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Let me know what you think in the reviews!

Chapter 22

Amy uncharacteristically bounded through the Fruits Parlor Crown, almost crashing into a waitress on her way through as she made a beeline for the girls. Her face was flushed, and her chest was rising and falling quickly with her rapid breathing. She sped to a stop in front of their table, slamming her hands down abruptly, making Serena jump, slopping her drink down the front of her shirt.

"Oh, Amy!" Serena protested, swiping Raye's serviette, and patting herself down with it.

"What is up with you?" Lita asked in amusement.

Mina tapped Serena's hip and the two blonde's moved up in the booth to make room for Amy. The blunette sat down, immediately taking Lita's drink and taking a throatful to quench her thirst. When she was done, she smiled at Lita in thanks then grinned at the group.

"Blimey, do you have wind?" Mina commented, earning a smack on the arm from Raye.

Mina laughed.

"No," Amy replied, ignoring her. She glanced at them each in turn and couldn't hold it in anymore. "I've joined the school swimming team!"

The girls cheered.

"Oh, that's brilliant, Amy!" Lita congratulated her.

"You'll be fantastic," Raye agreed.

"Our own little dolphin," Serena smiled.

"We actually have a chance of winning now!" Mina exclaimed. The girls gaped at her. "Did I say that out loud?" Mina visibly cringed.

The girls fell into a fit of giggles and turned their attentions back on Amy.

"Have you told Zane yet?" Raye asked.

"I texted him after I found out earlier," Amy nodded. "I really wanted to tell you in person."

"Aww, Ames," Serena cooed.

"Don't be so surprised," Amy laughed.

"When do you start practice?" Lita wondered.

"Monday," came Amy's reply. "Truth be told, I'm a little nervous."

"Go swimming with Zane at the weekend," Serena suggested.

"What? Why?"

Serena shrugged.

"Whenever I do things with Darien that I'm unsure about, I always come out the other side feeling better."

"Oh, please," Raye groaned. "You'd jump out of a plane if he was holding your hand."

Serena stuck her tongue out at the priestess and Raye responded in kind by sticking her own tongue out at the blonde. Lita pulled a face, already tired by their behaviour.

"You enjoy spending time with Zane, right?" Lita checked. When Amy nodded, she continued. "Well, he's on a swimming team. He gets the adrenaline. He'll be able to empathise and help you to use that nervous energy to kick butt in the pool. You get it during practice, too. I couldn't tell you how nervous I was when I had my first basketball session."

"If only you knew that you were going to come away with a bloody nose and a bumped head," Serena smirked.

Lita narrowed her eyes at her.

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Amy mused. "I'll text him."

"You're getting quite close to this guy, aren't you?" Mina twinkled.

"Ha! Hark at you, Miss Dating-Tall-White-and-Handsome!" Raye countered.

"Tall, white and handsome?" Mina snorted.

"Well, he's not exactly dark, is he?" Raye snapped. "Anyway, you can hardly talk. Haven't you been on a few dates with Killian now?"

"Alright, who spilled?" Mina accused the general group.

"I think the district is aware that you're dating him."

"That is so not true," Mina defended herself. "It was just a few dates. We get on really well, that's all. And he takes interest in me. I just feel comfortable around him for some reason."

"Like you know him?"

Raye and Lita stared at each other, having spoken the words simultaneously. Serena glanced between the two of them and Amy sat up straighter. The tension at the table was almost palpable while the energy in the air crackled with the realisation that a similar feeling sat among them.

"Wait, you too?" Amy wondered.

"Am I missing something here?" Serena surmised, her eyes flicking between each of the girls.

"Apparently, each of us has been feeling the same thing towards each of the guys we've been hanging out with," Raye murmured. "How long have you guys felt like that?"

"Since I met him," the three of them chimed.

"You guys are really starting to creep me out," Serena smiled. "What has exactly been going on?"

"Well, I've been dating Killian," Mina explained.

"I've been hanging out with Zane at the pool… and sometimes out of the pool, but not that much," Amy blushed.

"I've seen Jackson around the temple," Raye piled on.

"And Neal's expressed an interest in going on a date with me," Lita finished.

Four heads turned to Lita.

"I thought you were dating Neal," Serena stated.

"God no!" Lita denied. "Whatever gave you that idea?"

"Well, he made you that amazing picnic for starters."

"It was an apology for giving me a nosebleed at practice," Lita interrupted.

"And you went on a date with Mina and Killian."

"That was a double date," Lita objected. "That doesn't count."

"Girl, what's the issue?" Mina demanded. "Don't you like him? Usually you're the first in the queue for love."

"It's not about love," Lita mumbled. "I'm just not sure about dating when we've got this thing going on with the Croatoan."

"I get that," Raye empathised.

"Amy?" Mina questioned.

Amy shrugged.

"I don't have an opinion on dating whether there is a monster or not," she said. "Honestly, if it makes you happy, then by all means date. We exercise boundaries for a reason so that the planet is safe. But regardless of all that, even in the midst of a great threat, Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion found love. And it wasn't quite the end of the world."

"And what a love story that was," Serena said drily.

Raye reached across the table and put her hand on top of Serena's, squeezing it gently. Serena returned the small smile that Raye offered her.

"Anyway, you can't stop doing things because of some monster," Serena continued. "If you did that, we wouldn't be living."

"You're right," Lita sighed. "I'm just not sure how to be that girl. You know, the one who isn't abandoned simply because I'm me."

"If he's the right person, he won't leave," Serena assured her, patting Lita's arm.

"You're a fierce Amazon, who juggles lightning," Mina smiled, nudging her fondly, "you shouldn't let your fear keep you from embracing things."

"I don't juggle lightning," Lita giggled softly. "But I appreciate the sentiment."

"Anyway, back to my original question," Mina backtracked, turning to Amy. "Zane. You guys seem pretty close."

"I guess so," Amy said shortly.

"Are you ever going to spill on what's going on between you two?"

"Nope," Amy responded, raising her eyebrows. Before Mina could respond, Amy shook her head. "Honestly, there's nothing to tell. We're just good friends who share an interest in swimming."

"I bet there's more going on under the surface than either of you realise," Mina nodded with conviction.

Serena, Raye, and Lita glanced at each other in amusement. Mina would never change.

All it took was a flash of the long brunette ponytail and the scent of roses from that familiar perfume. Neal rounded the corner, past the tall stand of succulents that were in full bloom and caught sight of her. He strode over, exuding confidence and stood next to her, his looming shadow over her making her jump in fright. She turned her head, looking up at him, her emerald green eyes widening in surprise.

"Neal," she faltered, "what are you doing here?"

"Hey, Lita," he greeted her. "How are you?"

She put a potted lavender back down on the shelf and turned to face him directly. She interlaced her fingers in front of her and considered him.

"I'm okay," she frowned. "I'm just looking for more plants for the garden and in my home." She gestured to the array of flora on display around the garden centre. She cocked her head to one side. "Wait, were you looking for me?"

"Actually, yes," he admitted.

"How did you know I would be here of all places?"

"Mina," he answered.

"Of course," she breathed. She peered up at him. "Did you… need something?"

"Actually, yes," he said again, smirking. "I'm wondering if you're doing anything later."

"Probably dealing with the plants," she replied, nodding her head to the plants sat at her feet.

"And after that?" he prodded.

"There's nothing on the agenda," she shrugged, grudgingly.

"Well, there is now," he announced.

"Excuse me?"

"You'll be coming out with me, of course."

"Oh, will I?" she challenged, raising an eyebrow. "I already told you that I wasn't going on a date with you."

If he's the right person, he won't leave.

"No, you told me that you'd think about it," Neal corrected. "And this isn't a date. It's an invitation to hang out and no more. If there's anything to decide, you can decide after we've been out."

"Fine," she conceded. "What did you have in mind?"

His dark blue eyes twinkled like the night sky.

"I figured it was time to get the ice princess back in her skates," he declared.

"You want to go ice skating? Seriously?"

Her eyebrows had risen so high on her forehead that she was in danger of needing scaffolding to hold them up.

"I'm not sure if I want to go ice skating," he confessed, "but I do want to see you dance on the ice."

"Why?" she asked, amused.

"Let's say you intrigue me," he murmured under his breath for her ears only.

"Can you skate?" she wondered, her eyes flicking up and down his huge stature.

"Well, you'll skate, I'll fall," he laughed.

"You just need a good lead," she smiled.

She reached back over for the lavender pot that she had been considering before he appeared at her side and she brought the flowers up to nose and inhaled. She exhaled slowly with a soft smile and nodded to herself, putting the pot next to feet with the others. Neal observed her gentle interaction with the plants and found a wave of affection coming over him for her.

"Are you going to be able to carry all of those?" he asked, pointing at the various pots at her feet.

"I grabbed a lot of these from in here actually," she said with a wave of her hand. "It'll be fine."

"O-kay," he hedged. "But you need to get all of this from out of here, to the cashier then I presume home. How are you going to do that?"

"I was going to grab a trolley," she quipped, folding her arms over her chest.

"Oh, really? Before or after you get to the cashier's desk?" he teased, quirking an eyebrow at her.

She pouted.

"I'll be right back," he declared, doing a 180 turn, and disappeared from view.

She shook her head and turned back to the roses next to the pots of lavender and considered the colours and scents that she was interested in keeping in the garden. She pondered that a climber might be a good choice right as she heard the sound of whirring metal behind her and she turned to see Neal strolling along pushing a trolley. He grinned.

"Problem solved," he said smugly, bending down and taking up her pots of flowers to put in the trolley. "You really should have thought this through."

"Yeah, well I didn't," she huffed, watching him load up the cart.

"How are you going to get it all home?" he wondered. "The bus?"

"That was the plan," she admitted.

"Well, that will be hell," he replied. "I'll take a taxi ride with you. It'll save me the trip from here anyway, then I can go meet Jackson at the arcade. I'll then meet you at our place and we'll go from there."

"Our place?" Lita questioned, with a frown between her eyebrows.

"You know where I mean, cherry lips," he grinned, walking away with her trolley full of plants.

She gaped after him, then came to.

"Hey, I need that trolley!" she yelled after him.

"You have a great place, Darien," Killian complimented him, sitting back on the sofa.

"Thanks," Darien grinned, bringing over two tumblers of lemonade. "Sorry, it's this or coffee and I'm all coffee'd out today."

"I never figured you'd be a lemonade kind of guy," Killian observed, thanking him as he took the drink offered to him.

"I'm not usually," he admitted. "It's actually for Serena."

"Ah, the little blonde you're tutoring, I presume," Killian smirked.

"Hey, wipe that smug look off your face," Darien chided.

"Alright," Killian chuckled. "Seriously, what's going on there?"

"Nothing," Darien replied. He noticed the pointed look on Killian's face and groaned. "I'm just tutoring her, that's all. I guess we aren't arguing like we used to."

"Like cats and dogs, right?"

Darien grimaced.

"Something like that," he agreed.

"But what's going on between you?" Killian prompted further.

"What do you mean?"

Darien plonked himself down on the armchair facing Killian and waited for the answer, while Killian took a well-timed drink from his glass.

"What I mean is there anything going on there for you?"

Darien's eyes widened.

"You mean if I feel anything for her?" Killian nodded. "No, of course not! Why would you ask me that?"

"Because it's a little odd that one day you're bickering with each other like you're an old married couple then the next you're helping her to succeed at school, despite your own busy schedule," Killian explained.

"There's nothing odd about helping someone out," Darien grumbled, reaching for the bowl of crisps on the coffee table between them.

"Learn that in your medical classes, Dr Chiba?" Killian chortled to himself.

"Ha, ha," Darien said drily, rolling his eyes. "I just… feel something when I see how upset she is when she fails. I don't have difficulties academically, so I figured that I could help her. Over time, she'll learn to use the brain she was given. It works perfectly fine. She just doesn't know how to exercise it properly."

"So, you do feel something for her," Killian nodded.

"What?"

"You care," he shrugged. "Darien, it's okay, you know."

"I know it's okay," he snapped, throwing a handful of crisps into his mouth. "Besides, what about you and Mina?"

"Oh, she's great," Killian grinned. "Seriously."

"Okay," Darien replied, taken aback. "I didn't expect that response."

"Well, there's nothing to deny," he shrugged. "I like her. I think she likes me. We have a spark and I'm excited to see where it goes."

"Just how close are you two?"

"We've been on a few dates, but we haven't kissed if that's what you're getting at," Killian replied.

"Seriously? Not even on the cheek?" Darien gaped at him.

"Honestly, no," Killian said, pressing his lips together. "I guess I'm not sure if I should."

"If she likes you, then what's holding you back?"

"I'm not sure," he admitted. "It just feels weird after that attack. Remember the one I told you about? Well, Mina was hurt, and it took some time for her to heal. I just feel like she's been keeping something from me. It's like I'm missing something."

"Haven't you tried asking her?"

"Who sits there accusing someone of keeping something from them?" Killian questioned. "Honestly, there certainly wouldn't be another date if I did that."

"So, you're keeping quiet, despite your concerns that there's a lack of honesty in the relationship, just to keep dating her?" Darien frowned. "That is probably the stupidest thing I've heard you say, ever."

"No, it's not like that!" Killian exclaimed. "It's just a weird subject. It's like she didn't want to talk about the incident after it happened, so I just stopped trying."

"Well, sometimes, people can be stubborn when they want to move on," Darien suggested.

"Yeah, I guess so," Killian shrugged. "So, what are you up to this weekend?"

Darien narrowed his eyes.

"Tutoring," he said shortly.

"Ah, some sweet times with Serena," Killian winked. "Must be serenity."

"Oh, ha-di-ha!" Darien scoffed. "What about you?"

"Well, I'm not spending my sweet time with Serena," Killian chuckled to himself. A pillow ricocheted off his head and he glared at Darien. "Alright! I wasn't planning on doing much. I may pop in on Mina, but otherwise, I was going to write that paper for our physics class on Monday."

"Yeah, I'm halfway done with it," Darien replied. "I was going to finish it while Serena was over here on Sunday."

"Sunday? Why Sunday? Seems an odd day to make a study date."

Darien ignored the d-word.

"She suggested it," he shrugged. "I presume she was with the girls tomorrow. They're rarely apart. A little like you and the guys."

"You should join us all sometime," Killian invited.

"I might just take you up on that," Darien smiled.

Raye sighed as she closed the door to the room that homed the sacred fire. Things were still uncomfortable and tense with Chad. He was still angry with her. She was unused to his hostile feelings toward her because he'd only ever been open and obvious in his affection for her. She didn't know how to fix it, but equally, she was just as angry with him. She decided to put it out of her mind as she had more important things to tend to. Without thinking about it, she took the ribbon that Chad had given her and tied it round her long raven locks. She crouched in front of the fire that was flickering and dancing, creating eery shadows around the room. She settled herself on a cushion and sat back in a cross-legged seat as she knew this wasn't going to be a quick meditation. She started her chants in very much the same way.

"Sun… Moon… Stars," she murmured, the warmth of the fire licking at her face. "The forces of the universe are united together in the fight against evil." She poised her fingers in front of her and started the Akuryo Taisan chant, channelling her energy into the flames. "Rin, Py ō, Tō, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen!"

She felt the heat of the fire licking at her cheeks, warming her eyelids as she let herself drift into the meditation. She let the images flood her mind as she concentrated, waiting patiently for the images to collate into a single vision. She opened her eyes to gaze into the bright flames, still flickering away, but the energy of her mediation only seemed to energise them more. A bright light that had nothing to do with the flames flashed across her keen violet eyes and she instantly recognised the warmth of the moon in that light. Serena. She saw those same delicate hands reach out in front of the petite figure that owned them, the light shooting out from the palms of her hands. She watched as the light collided with a tall creature, which Raye could only presume was the Croatoan, and waited to see if the creature would be destroyed. She gasped when it wasn't. Instead, she watched the image of the Earth appear on the flames. As if she was standing on the moon itself, she watched the Earth be enveloped by the pure moonlight that had collided with the Croatoan creature. She recognised such power, but she didn't know what it meant.

She chanted some more, focusing on the energy of the creature she had encountered personally. Her eyes shot open and she channelled her energy into the fire, willing the flames to tell her something, anything that could give her insight into the creature. The fire did as she asked, but it wasn't comforting.

At first, she felt confused as she saw ice. Mercury? She pondered the possibility to herself. She saw a vast empty space of perfectly untouched ice. Then the images changed to show a figure performing a perfect pirouette on the ice, another tall figure to the side watching the performance. She frowned, honing her powers in on the image. She saw the figure of the Croatoan appear on the vast ice that was no longer untouched. It looked rough, used, and beaten. Lightning suddenly flashed across the flames, the Croatoan's inhuman face flickering across the images Raye saw there, then the flame snuffed out. The only trace of there having been a fire was the strong smell of ash in the air.

Oh my God. Lita!