Disclaimer: I give up. Refer to the last 32 chaps for the disclaimer.

Author's Notes: Yay! Chapter thirty two! Read!

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 Thirty-Three: My Last Breath

Kat opened her eyes, taking in the sight of Gaea below her. She gave a small gasp, grinning as she saw the beautiful planet just an arms width away. Reaching out, she made to touch it, but found she couldn't. Stopping, she pulled back her hand and watched as Gaea's beautiful blues and green suddenly began to turn dark and black, as if a parasite ate away at its core. What's happening? She wondered, watching as the blackened areas began to grow and infect those around them. The areas grew so much and soon what looked like fires raged through those black areas.

"It's dying," came a musical voice. "Gaea is dying. Those black spots are the areas where disease, famine, and war have taken over." Kat whirled around in her suspended form, and gasped once again as she saw the most beautiful sight before her; a woman of ageless beauty with skin that gave an unearthly glow. Her round face was framed by crimped curls of pale blonde hair and piercing blue eyes made Kat think she was staring into the skies. Pouty lips were drawn back in a sad smile as the woman watched Gaea beneath her. Her robes hung around her shoulders in wide winkles as it cascaded down to the floor and fanned out. "Gaea," Kat whispered, awe in her voice. She was actually face to face with the image of Gaea's spirit.

Hold onto me Love,

You know I can't stay long,

All I wanted to say was I love you and I'm not afraid,

The woman nodded. She pointed wordlessly to the image of Gaea once again and Kat followed willingly. What she saw made her gasp. What was left of the once beautiful planet had become dead with a blast of light from somewhere over the horizon. Watching with wide eyes, Kat saw the crust begin to crack and red-hot veins pop out. Horror took over and she turned to Gaea. "But I completed the ritual-" she started, and stopped.

A long gash had suddenly appeared on the woman's face, and tears were spilling from her eyes. She looked sadly at the planet beneath her with broken eyes. Her pain and sadness was so strong that Kat could feel it. Again Gaea pointed to her planet and again Kat turned.

Can you hear me? Can you feel me in your arms?

Another blast echoed across the world but this time instead of turning the planet into a fiery ball it restored Gaea's beauty with no trace of the dead planet it had been before. Kat frowned, confused, as she stared at the beautiful planet. What was going on? "I don't understand," she said, shaking her head. "One second I was in the energy, channeling, and I completed the ritual. Now… I just witnessed Gaea come close to truly dying."

"What you have just seen is a memory of the past." The woman was now in front of Kat, the gash on her face faded but the scar still there. Yet still she looked like a goddess. "A memory of what has been. This is what happened when the First Destiny War happened, when the First came, and when he almost killed me."

"But what has that got to do with me? With right now?"

Gaea seemed to laugh, though no sound came out. "Watch, my Daughter." Kat looked down and watched, as Gaea grew older and her energy fainter. Blinking, Kat looked again. Was that an aura around the planet? "Yes. That is my aura, my Daughter. As you see the aura of power around your Sisters and Brother, you can see mine. It is weak, is it not?"

"Yes… But how? I knew that you were, err, old, but… I don't understand."

"Many do not, my Daughter. Certainly not the First, though he eventually got it. Perhaps it is better is he explains, for I am too weak to explain much I am afraid."

Suddenly there was a man next to her, no older then 18, with long brown hair like Kat's and piercing green eyes. He was strong built with a sword at his side, and his presence radiated power. The First, Kat thought, amazed. Never before would she have thought that she would meet the person that had started her Destiny. The man looked her over and snorted. "Is this my Son, Mother?" He asked, his voice haughty. "This looks more like one of your Daughters."

"Hey-" Kat started, ready to defend herself, but Gaea held up a hand. "My Son, this is one of my Daughter; Daughter of the Dark Moon, Sister of my Daughter of the Mystic Moon and my Daughter of the Elements. Your Son's protectors," Gaea said breezily.

Holding my last breath,

Safe inside myself,

Are all my thoughts of you?

Sweet raptured light,

It ends here tonight,

Now Kat was really confused. "Wait, I finished the ritual. So why am I here getting a lesson on Gaea's history? And why are you calling me your daughter?"

The First laughed. "Ah, yes, of course. How could I forget? Well, I assume I am called upon to explain, though, I did expect to see my Son. Daughter of the Dark Moon, you are recalling upon the memories of Gaea's past and present for the knowledge to complete the Ritual of Life. Did you honestly think that spreading your life force and power amongst the world would do? Of course not. You must know Gaea and her life to save her, for it takes this intimate knowledge to make the ultimate sacrifice.

"My Son, my reincarnation, is my flesh and blood. Though, when I first came here and met Gaea, she gave me the power to make him. Yet we both feared a repeat of my own mistakes, so out of her womb she made my Son's protectors: Protector of Elements, Protector of the Mystic Moon, Protector of Light, and you, Protector of the Dark Moon-also her Daughters, as I am her Son.

"So watch, Daughter of the Dark Moon, and learn Gaea's past, for you will need it."

Kat opened her mouth to speak but found she couldn't. So, she watched as three shooting comets flew towards as her aura became weaker. "You and your Sisters were called her when I was weak, for the battle took a toll upon me," Gaea spoke, her image gone but her voice came from every direction. "We knew it was too early but I would fall before the Second came and called for you. So you came, and protected me well."

Images changed as the world moved, the net in place and another comet streaking towards her. "In the beginning I called all four of you but only three came. Later, the fourth, my Daughter of Light, came, and was infected by the evil that still haunted my scabs. The net you put around me broke, and after my Daughter's death another stranger came." The net broke and yet another comet came.

I'll miss the winter,

A world of fragile things

Look for me in the white frost,

Hiding in a hollow tree,

"You defeated her, with her sister, sending her back," a pillar of light stretched from Gaea to somewhere far off, and was lost as the images changed. "But my life force was fading fast. You see, I am dying, my Daughter."

Kat's eyes widened. "What-no you can't. You…"

"It is true." Suddenly Gaea and the First appeared. "This battle could not be changed, and these results not predicted but somewhat expected," the First spoke. "Gaea is dying, and it is my Son's job to see that she does not die on this eve. I am her protector, as my Son is, and you and your Sisters are his protectors."

Come find me,

I know you hear me,

I can taste it in your tears,

Realization dawned upon Kat. He means that this was Scott's place. I wasn't supposed to take it-but I did. I'm not Gaea's Protector, only the Second's. Her head fell, as she suddenly felt ashamed. I stupidly took his place thinking I could save the world since I was the almighty Protector, she thought. But I'm not… "The Second was destined to come out alive, since he is Gaea's protector. You, however, are not, for you cannot wield such power," the First said.

"But Scott is exhausted. He would've died-"

"No, he would not have," Gaea said firmly.

Kat's shoulders slumped, as she knew she had made a big mistake. "Then what am I to do?" She asked. "I can't pull him back-I'm already in the middle of the Ritual."

"You only have two choices," the First began.

"Pull out, and let me die on this eve," Gaea said.

"Or sacrifice yourself for her."

Time seemed to stop as Kat stared at the two visions in front of her. Was that all? Let Gaea die or kill herself? No… I promised them we'd come out alive…. Dilandau, Coran… everyone… She shook her head. She couldn't do it…

Holding my last breath,

Safe inside myself,

Are all my thoughts of you?

Sweet raptured light,

It ends here tonight,

Memories of her life flashed through her head so fast she screamed. Every moment of her pain and sadness showed itself and continued on a twisted roller coaster. The day she killed her stepfather. The day she hurt her mother. Everything single moment she had ever felt smashed through her skull like a freight train.

When it was over, the First spoke. "Is it such a horrible choice for a life as painful as yours?" Kat felt him kneel next to her as he put his hand on her shoulder. Slowly she looked up into his eyes, tears falling from her own. "I was once like you, Daughter of the Dark Moon. And I, too, had a choice like yours. It is hard to accept and to turn your back, to choose your own death when you have people you love, but it is either that or kill everyone. Still, the choice is yours." His eyes showed the pity for her.

Closing your eyes to disappear,

You pray your dreams will leave you here,

But still you wake and know the truth,

No one's there,

With a sigh, and a feeling like she had spent her whole life contemplating this moment, readying herself for it, she nodded. Standing, she faced the First and Gaea together. "I give myself to you, Gaea, so you will live on this eve," she whispered, her heart breaking. I promised… Some promises you have to break, she told herself.

Say goodnight

Don't be afraid,

Calling me calling me as you fade to black,

With a deep breath, she closed her eyes and suddenly she was gone from above Gaea, and back in the light, its heat and energy fueling her. She could still feel the First's hand on her shoulder, and with the lightest touch, Gaea was there also. A smile appeared on her face, and opening her eyes, she unleashed all of her and Scott's powers, energy, and her own life to heal Gaea and wipe the evil of the First Destiny War from her bosom. "I GIVE MYSELF TO YOU, GAEA, SO YOU WILL LIVE ON THIS EVE," she cried, as her energy was unleashed. In a flash, Kat knew that her sacrifice would heal her broken soul as every part of her being was blown away in the life and scattered across Gaea, purifying her. She would finally end her lifetime of pain and rest easy.

Holding my last breath,

Safe inside myself,

Are all my thoughts of you?

Sweet raptured light,

It ends here tonight