Disclaimer: Not mine

Juzblue: Yup. And I'm still stalling. :P

Piper xox Leo: Thanks.There's some more little pieces in this chapter too. :P

Jenny: Yes, you have to let me write the story. Okay, there's actually three stories. Two are fluffy. Well, fluffy compared to my other stories anyway, and the other comes from AH/AY's sick and twisted mind. I promise, they'll be really, really good, and you'll be happy you didn't kill me. :P Didn't I tell you who was going to die? I could have sworn I did... oh well, you'll see. Andros knows Cathan from the PASTpast. He'll only have one more flashback thingy, and it doesn't have anything to do with Cathan. And you are going to ruin my story with your psychicness. :P

the-power-of-love: Thanks, here's more.

Ghostwriter: Yup, and it's going to get thicker until I actually get around to the fight scene. :P

DizneeDol: Here's more. It wasn't all that soon, but whatever. :P

Melissa: No, the bolded words aren't hints. I just think it looks better that italics. :P

Ashley Hammond/Astro Yellow: Do you think I'm going to kill Ashley? Do you really think I would kill Ashley and make Andros miserable and lonely for the rest of his life? Actually, it sounds like something I would do, but never mind. You can't give my birthday present to Jenny! It's mine:P

Chapter 21: Out Of Time

The Megaship - the bridge

"Aria, I don't like this." Cathan's voice was soft as it floated from behind the helmet of the Phantom Ranger.

"Don't call me that," Aria warned him, her voice more forceful in Ravenna's body. "And don't waste time complaining. We've got a job to do here."

"Aria," Cathan said, and hesitated. "Ravenna... whoever you are, do you expect to be alive at the end of this?"

"I hope so," Aria replied quietly. "But if the only way I can change things is to die, then I guess I can live with that."

"What happens if Samael doesn't go for you?" Cathan challenged her. "He's not stupid, Aria, he's actually quite intelligent, and I assume he's got some idea of what you're going to try. What do you do if he goes for Andros again?"

Aria sighed. "Samael will go for me. Samael will go for the leader, and you know it as well as I do, or else you wouldn't have made me the leader. You would have left Andros in charge, like the first time, and then we'd have to do this a third time."

"I wasn't trying to get you killed, Aria," Cathan said. "Believe it or not, I'd prefer to have you alive."

"I know," Aria said. "As much as I hate to admit it, you were right, too."

"About what?"

"About why Andros isn't leading us." Aria paused and took a deep breath. "If Samael goes for me, then I want you to-"

"No," Cathan interrupted. "I won't do that, Aria."

"Listen to me, Cathan." Aria's voice was her own again, and Cathan turned to her, half against his will. "You and I, we can live without each other. Not wanting to has nothing to do with it. Andros and Ashley, Zhane and Karone, to be without each other would kill them, and it did kill Ashley. When we went back, you saw Andros. You saw his eyes. In seven years, healing never happened for him, never even began. He tried, for Zoe and Wyatt, but he couldn't. We aren't like that, Cathan."

"So you're martyring yourself then?"

"No," Aria said slowly. "I don't want to die, but I don't want to live seeing what's happened if we've failed again."

"What's going on?"

"Oh, hey, Ash," Aria said nervously. Ashley's eyes narrowed as she took in Aria's disguise.

"Aria, you're going to get yourself killed down there."

"Nah," Aria said lightly. "Everyone on Onyx is scared of Phantom and terrified of Ravenna. I don't quite know why; I never actually killed anyone, but they are."

"No one else ever betrayed Darkonda and lived," Ashley pointed out. "What are you two doing?"

"Infiltration, I think," Aria said. "We don't quite know what's going on down there, but it's safe to say that Samael's gathering an army. Those that don't join him die, and then he grows stronger."

"I never thought we would ever be defending Onyx," Cathan mused, more to himself than to Aria and Ashley.

"Neither did I," Aria said dryly.

Ashley looked at them wistfully, and expression that did not escape Aria's attention. "Ash," she said warningly.

"I know," Ashley sighed. She touched her stomach briefly, and sighed again. "I just don't like watching and being unable to help."

"You will be helping by staying here," Cathan told her. "No offense intended, but I doubt that you would be of much use down there."

"I know," Ashley said again. "You guys won't let Andros do anything too stupid, will you?"

A hint of a smile appeared on Aria's face, and she glanced at Cathan before saying, "I think we're the wrong people to ask about that one."

Ashley gave Aria a long look. "You're serious."

"It's a long story," Aria muttered. "And one that you'd be better off hearing from Andros, later, when this is all over."

"Approaching Onyx."

"Thanks, Deca," Aria said. "Ready, Cathan?"

"I am," the Phantom replied. "Deca, teleport two."

Ashley and the bridge vanished from Aria's sight in a swirl of white light, and Aria couldn't keep herself from wondering if it was really possible to keep the people she loved alive, or if it was all a foolish hope.

Onyx

They landed side by side outside of Onyx Tavern, now darkened. That's got to be a first, Aria thought wryly as they passed by it. "Got your crystal?"

"Got yours?" Cathan responded, his left arm twitching slightly, the unconscious movement telling Aria that the crystal of pure light was somewhere on his left side.

"I'm not completely suicidal," she responded lightly, as she always did when she was in danger. "The tavern's empty. Not a good sign."

"Where do you think they all are?" Cathan asked in an undertone. "Onyx is never this quiet."

"I think Samael got here first," Aria said grimly. "I think they're all gone."

Cathan said what Aria wouldn't. "But that would make him... invincible."

Aria chose not to respond, and raised her communicator to her mouth. "We're out of time, you guys. Get down here now."