Disclaimer: I give up. Refer to the last 24 chaps for it.

Author's Note: Wow this is short. I'm sorry everyone, I'm not much for long chaps right now. On a lighter note, to everyone who reviewed: THANK YOU! (#throws brownies at all#) You're the best!

Neithan02: I hope this is making sense. I sort of had to cut some chapters up to make the story longer so in a nutshell you get shorter chaps with either a whole lot of material or a lot less. Sorry! Really, I hope this chap helps!

Me; I; Tk: Wow, I'm really honored! A new reviewer! HURRAY! Lol. I like your penname. Where do I get the ideas? I pull them out of a hat held by a rabbit. Lol. Just kidding. I'm glad you like the vocab; I figure might as well use the SAT vocabulary for something! I hope you continue to read the story and keep on enjoying it!

Magicman/Smokegirl: Oh yeah, there IS going to be hell to pay… you'd just never figure out who's going to pay it. (#laughs evilly#) Sorry, I had to be the evil authoress there… See, you know me too well. You know what's going to happen before it happens! …Or do you? (#evil look#)

Sisters till the End

This is dedicated to Pablo/Cecil because he is such an awesome writer and he has inspired me to go farther. Thank you Pablo/Cecil for your awesome story and your awesome talent!

Chapter Twenty-Five: Ever Seen One of Those Cement Mixers?

Crazy, Alex thought as she rode up to the Fanellian gates on a bay horse. This is so incredibly stupid! Who would fall for this? It's so incredibly, miraculously, unbelievably, dim-witted plan! And yet here I am, doing it. She reached up and readjusted her cowl so it would shadow her face more and shrugged deeper into the heavy traveling cloak. Her job was easy but the way she was to do it was an absurd plan; she seriously doubted that the guards would fall for it. Might as well see, she thought, clicking her tongue. James, her bay, started a steady canter towards the large wooden gates.

Fanellia was a beautiful city before and after its destruction. Van had done a wonderful job of rebuilding it but Hitomi had polished the original plan. Nestled deep into a valley against the steady breast of a mountain, Fanellia was surrounded by lush green fields and rocky paths, a contrast that seemed almost mythical to Alex. The tall white stoned wall seemed to fit into the picture as if the surrounding area was built to agree with just the outer wall. A small smile came to her face as she pictured majestic Fanellia as one of those cute country houses with the white picket fence in the front yard she had dreamed about since she was little. Somehow, it seemed like a grander image of the country-time house.

James neared the pale wooden gate as large as any Olden Tree, and those were known to grow up to a hundred feet high, with gold-coated bands holding the wood together. There was a smaller door inset in the large gate for the use of the narrow stream of visitors in the wintertime. As she approached, Alex saw that it was that small door that was open, the gates having been locked earlier in the day. When she was close enough to get a good look at the two guards outside the door Alex stopped James and swung down, leading the large horse towards the gold and white dressed soldiers.

The first eyed her suspiciously, glancing at the sky and then back at her. "Why do you approach Grand Fanellia's gates at such a late hour?" He demanded. Alex wanted to chuckle despite herself; she had forgotten at how backwards Fanellia could be. Putting on a solemn face, she replied, "I have traveled far and across vast lands to come to aid the Queen."

"Ah, but late is the hour that unfriendly strangers arise to do the Queen and her land unseemly demise," piped up the other guard-considerably younger then the first with tuffs of blonde hair sticking out from under his helmet.

"I swear on my honor good sirs that I have no intentions to harm the Queen nor her beautiful land," Alex said. Hopefully, that'll be true, she thought.

The first guard was silent for a few moments before he spoke again. "Very well, madam. You may enter Fanellia but I must insist you take rest at the first inn you come across. Late is the hour and things are not what they used to be."

Alex nodded. "Thank you," she said as the door swung open enough for her to squeeze James in. It swung back with barely enough time for the horse to clear the door. Rolling her eyes, Alex led him down the dirt path, passing large buildings made of the same white stone as the walls or of clay, shaped in the long rectangular shapes of warehouses or storage facilities. She still could not believe that she had just passed Fanellia's security. Was I ever that naïve? She wondered.

At some distance from the gate was when Alex turned down a narrow alley, moving through it quickly, and at the end coming to a post that blocked her progress. Quickly tying James to it and giving the old bay a pat, she jumped the bar and started towards the wall hanging over the warehouses' roofs like a cat ready to pounce upon prey. She kept to the shadows, making sure that none heard nor saw her, and for once wishing she had the power over darkness as Kat did. At least it would make this a whole lot easier, she thought. I wouldn't have to run around taking the long way.

After what seemed like forever to her Alex finally reached the wall. She knew that the guard change was happening right that moment-how many times had Nicole, Kat, and she rehearsed this? -so she sprung into action. Where she touched the wall vines began to creep up twisting and slithering like thing green snakes up the stone and finally over it. Relying on her powers Alex let the vines grow further, seeming them without really looking, as they began their descent on the other side of the wall, wishing that time would slow and they could speed up. She had never been the best at waiting; when she was little she would be the child who stopped counting at fifteen instead of going to thirty because she couldn't stand the long wait. Funny how that part of childhood never seems to leave, she said to herself.

Suddenly there was a strong jerk on the vines-felt not seen-and Alex stopped the growth. Working with the ease of an experienced artist making the paint on his pallet do as he commanded, she wrapped the vines around the bodies of her friends and hoisted them up the wall with such speed that even a hawk would be jealous. Setting them down on the ground gently and making the vines disappear, she glanced at Nicole who nodded. Her part was over in this phase and now it was Nicole's turn.

Taking up the hands of her friends, Nicole called upon her own unique powers and focused them on the small group, picturing in her mind where she wished they were. She could feel it as the ribbons of her energy wrapped around them creating a bubble of safety, a feeling of warmth come over her as with a small jerk they were transporting their molecules across time and space, and the eerie coldness that always took her as they arrived at their destination. She always felt alone when she released her hold on Earth's energy and yet she never dared to keep a longer or more controlling grip upon it at all times for the fear of what it would do to her.

Nicole looked up to see that they were standing in front of a large tall building, grayed and slightly leaning to one side. The Watch Tower for which was responsible for the whole city's protection. She knew that from history Fanellia's Watch Tower hadn't been the most successful piece against attacks on the city but she also had no doubt that Hitomi had gone to great lengths to assure that it would not fail. It was something she and the ruler of Fanellia had in common; their will to protect those that they care for. Standing tall, she waited in the shadows as Kat and Alex made a quick round of the building and came back-every thing was clear. Taking up their hands again, she called upon her powers and transported them up into the tower.

Darkness cloaked their actions as they entered a small room with a creaky wooden floor. They remained still and silent for a few moments as they allowed their night vision to adjust to the sudden darkness-in here they had no stars nor no moon to guide them-and then quickly took out the three guards sitting in the corners of the room before they had time to react. Kat examined their alarm system as Alex tied them up with rope she produced from her traveling cloak, and as soon as Alex had tied up the last guard, Kat had cut the lines to the large bell that hung overhead, cutting off the Watch Tower's power to inform the city. With another transport they were inside the palace. Crap, they changed the layout, came Alex's voice from inside Nicole's head. This is the kitchen!

Did we really expect them to use a former design? Hitomi knows better then that, Kat agreed, also within Nicole's head. She turned to the long dark haired woman and nodded; like Alex, her part was done.

Kat took Nicole's signal and cloaked them all in darkness, using her powers to created large shadows to cover their search. All right, let's go. We'll have to feel this one out, she told them. She could feel their mixed emotions about the change in plan. After all, they were supposed to have been only a room away from the dungeons. Moving out of the large kitchen, they stuck to the shadows and walked in the large corridors like flickering shadows from the candlelight of the lanterns that lit their way. Their footsteps were not heard as they walked and they all became extremely aware of the fact that the stone made corridors were very sensitive to sound. Nicole! Kat admonished for the fifth time, giving her friend a quick glare. Nicole had stumbled and knocked loose a part of the stone from the floor, causing it to skip across from her and leaving an echo as a trace.

Sorry! Came the reply, filled with sincerity. It's all right, just be more careful, Kat told her. They continued on for more then an hour before they finally blindly stumbled upon the dungeon. Finally! I was beginning to wonder if they even built one, Alex said. Kat let a small smile escape her-she knew Alex would be extremely happy to leave this place just like she. You and me-

The thought was cut short for suddenly the door in front of them swung open, catching Alex's outstretched hand and slamming it against the wall. With their connection still open with Alex, her pain blasted both Nicole and Kat, sending their worlds spinning. Before they had time to react or even check themselves disaster had struck. Kat had stumbled out of the shadows, her current control over their disguises faltering, as she fell on her butt in plain sight of the guard, and Alex was biting off the tail end of a curse. Nicole seemed to be the only one who could control her reaction.

As the guard stared in wonder at Kat, Nicole acted quickly and blasted his mind with a dose of her powers, scrambling his last thoughts and memories into a pure-a blend. As he fell to the ground she lurched forward and grabbed Kat pulling her back into the shadows, and snapped them both out of their dumbfounded states. Kat and Alex both jumped as if water had suddenly been poured on them, blinking in surprise.

Come on, the other will be coming out to see what the commotion was about, she told them sternly. In the darkness Nicole could see Kat grinning. You got it, boss, she replied. Blushing, they went into the room.

It wasn't a hard affair to knock out the guards and thanks to Nicole, scramble their memories, but it was another thing to try and break out Scott. I told you they would find some way of keeping us out! Kat raged as she tried to phase through the bars but failed. Scott was located at the end of the long hallway of the dungeon, past all the few cells with pathetic looking beggars, and at the end of a long line of empty cells. He stared at them with sleepy eyes as Zorya eyed them with a perplexed look. If you want out you're going to have to help us, Alex told her, opening up their link to the two. Zorya gave them an odd look as if to say, "For all your powers you can't even open up a stupid cell door?" and produced a key out of a hidden pocket. She passed it through the bars to Nicole who opened the door. Remind me to hit her later on, Alex mumbled to Kat. It's not our fault we can be Warded against.

Without another word Nicole gathered their group and transported them out into the courtyard. "Why didn't you transport us out?" Demand Zorya as she looked at them. Alex hissed at her and clamped a hand over her mouth, pointing upwards to the guards upon the walls of the palace. Zorya ripped off the Protector's hand from her mouth and glared. "So how are we getting out?" She asked her voice lowered to a whisper. Alex was about to reply when suddenly the sharp ringing of bells broke the thick night air. Everyone froze.

"Crap!" Kat said, standing and pulling the group to its feet. "They're using the church bells!" They ran from the courtyard, yells of their escape following them as they blasted through the wall. "You mean you didn't think of that?" Zorya asked incredulously. "How was I to know that they'd have a church?" Kat yelled back. Her attention was on the streets-already they were coming alive with sleepy people and off-duty guards wondering what was going on. "Besides, I didn't know they even had a church anywhere on this planet!"

They ran through the street, taking sharp turns and allies wherever they could, trying to avoid the guards that now ran through the streets looking for intruders. "So, besides that failed plan, where are we going now?" Scott asked, panting slightly. "There's a Back Gate not too far from here," Nicole replied. "If we can get to it before they set guards on it."

"Why can't we just transport out?" Zorya asked. She didn't get a reply for suddenly the ally before them became filled with the Royal Guards. Cursing, they reversed their direction. "Well, apparently they thought of that," Alex said. "The Dog Gates then!" It was a known fact that every city always had three gates; the Main Gate, the Back Gate in case of an attack, and the Dog Gate used for hunting parties. They ran faster as they neared the Dog Gate only to find it heavily guarded. "Crap!" Kat howled as she hit the brakes. Guards came running at them, forcing Alex to use her powers to call plants forth to break the surface and block the men that chased them. "Now what?" Scott asked. "We head out!" Nicole replied, pulling them into the heart of the city. As they ran, Kat took up lead with Nicole. You can't do that! She told her. We'll need your energy for later.

We need to get out now, Kat. The gates are blocked.

We'll find another way out.

No, we don't have the time.

But you're too tired!

I have enough strength left for it. 'Sides, have you ever seen one of those cement mixers?

What? Yeah- Because that's what this plan, or plans, are turning out to be-the cement in the cement mixer. So it's about time we stop spinning. No, I won't let you-

Kat never did finish the sentence. They skidded to a halt as the Star Dragons suddenly appeared before them, blocking their road. Turning to head back, the Dragon Slayers stood in a neat row, swords drawn. "This is just not our day," Alex muttered. "How'd they get in?" Nicole asked. "We put in a lot more time and effort!"

"Step away from the Second," Kalirice's voice split the air. "And perhaps you won't get hurt too badly."

Kat growled at the woman, rage inside of her burning like the fire she felt in her legs. They didn't have time for this! "Step back and maybe you won't get hurt," she growled. Protect Zorya and Scott, she told Alex and Nicole. Without even acknowledging that they heard her, Alex and Nicole pressed the two into a tight circle with the Protectors on the outside. Kalirice snarled at the act. "You can't protect them. Dragons attack!"

Just as both teams started to bare down on the group, the ground all around them began to explode. "They're ours, Kalirice!" Naru called. The Protectors searched the sky and saw that the Dark Stars were standing on the building around them. While the smoke and dust filtered through the air, Nicole saw their chance. Hurry! Hold on to everybody! She called. Without waiting she focused on the outside and called up her powers. Everything seemed to work in super fast motion as the ribbons of energy wrapped themselves around the group just in time for their bodies to be blasted into a million molecules and forced across space as if being pulled in by a vacuum. As soon as they landed upon their destination, the ribbons disappeared and Nicole collapsed. The whole group stood still, breathing labored, as Alex slowly drew her friend up.

Before them, just yards away, stood a whole army of red and black soldiers with swords drawn-Zaibach soldiers. "This really isn't our day," Kat said.

Authors's Note: Hurray! Here's a new chapter everybody! Sorry it was so short and so long to get up-things are crazy. There's only a few more chapters before the end so I'll get my rear into gear and get them up for you as fast as I can! I promise! Anyways, I hope you enjoyed so please review!

The Shadow That Takes Form as a Kat

ShadowKat