Queen Cyan, Olympia, and Eri sat at a table just inside the door of the Java Hut. The place seemed so quiet without either Saran or Corde behind the counter. Then again, the whole Island seemed a little quieter without those two here, and with Rae and Loa missing as well…..

"I know Saran will get herself and the others back here in one piece." The Queen continued. "I want Ashana and Larc to continue watching over the fake Saran and Corde. Nothing must happen to them until the real ones are back on the Island."

"Are you sure it's wise to leave again before they are back?" Eri asked curiously.

"Wise?" Cyan repeated somewhat thoughtfully. "I'm not sure it is wise; but it is necessary. I need to go and find Vorpax; we will need her help. You and Matt will be coming with me, so go and ready the horses and be prepared to leave before the noon sun."

Eri rose from the table, grabbing her sheath and sword as she stood. Within seconds she had strapped her weapon on and disappeared through the door to the hut.

"And why am I not traveling with you Cyan?"

The Queen looked at Olympia and smiled. "Because you my friend; you have a very different mission ahead of you. There is a certain Animal Healer asleep in an Island hut; that very much needs another mission for her Queen to help ease her mind. I also think there is a certain Queen's bodyguard who's mind also may need a bit of easing."

"Cyan, I don't think…" The Queen raised her hand and cut the Enforcer short.

"This is not for discussion Olympia. I am more than capable of taking care of myself, especially in regards to my mother and the gods. Every now and then my immortality does play to my advantage you know." Cyan smiled and continued on, "Falcon has chosen loyalty to me, this Island, and you; but I think there is great benefit to be had if the opportunity presented itself to reassure that fact in both your minds. Your skepticism is a valuable quality to me Olympia, it has saved my life and friends many times, but this, I do for you."

"I will report back to the Island regularly with all and any news we are able to gather. I will be very clear that we are a spying mission only." The Enforcer rolled her eyes while she drawled out the word spying.

The two warriors left the hut and parted ways soon outside the door. "Where are you going my Queen?"

"I need to speak with Ashana and Larc. They will have their hands full on the Island while we are away; especially if Saran and her party arrive back home before we do. Good luck Olympia, and stay safe."

The Queen walked towards the Academy where she knew Larc would be teaching her morning classes. She had asked Ashana to meet her there. There was much to discuss.

The Enforcer stood and watched as the Queen went to find Larc. Her mind was troubled, while she trusted the Queen's wisdom in many things, she was uncertain in the instance of the Healer/ assassin.

"Sometimes Cyan, you think with your heart and not your mind." The Enforcer paused for a moment and smiled." "Lucky for me." She chuckled and headed for Ashana’s hut to find Falcon. She stopped, no better check the Java hut first to see if Tamahome was there. If not she would send a runner to find him. They had little time before they had to leave.

Larc was indeed at the Academy, but she had asked one of the older students to fill in for a little while. She was in what passed for the Teacher’s lounge, a small room near the entrance of the school. The lights were out, but there was light coming in through the window, illuminating her as she sat on the ground.

Her eyes were closed, her breathing deep, but she was not asleep. In her mind she was searching for Saran. Trying to find the common voice that they shared, although neither quite knew why. Larc let part of her mind dwell on that…… everyone knew that they looked alike, and it was only through luck that Larc had not been kidnapped by the clones looking for Saran. She wondered if Ashana would be able to help solve that puzzle using some of her knowledge of medicine and the body. She also wondered how Cyan and her assistants were doing with their quest...

The Java Hut was quiet, but not so the young warrior sitting by himself, his drink untouched. In his hands a coffee stirrer, his mind with his missing friend. "I’ll find you Saran" he thinks.

"Tama, " the voice of the Enforcer calls across the room, bringing Tama out of his thoughts. " Get some gear we are on a spy mission for the Queen; we seek the Shadow Priests."

The Enforcer exits the hut, so she does not see the dark look in Tama’s eyes as he snaps the stirrer in his hands.

Cyan stood along the water's edge patting Shatan. Matt and Eri would be here any minute, but she had wanted to speak with Falcon and Olympia before they left. Just then the two different parties of warriors came riding onto the beach, each surprised by the presence of the other.

"My Queen, you sent for us?" The Enforcer asked the question with a slightly less annoyed voice then was showing on her face.

"Yes, I sent for all of you Olympia; or did you think perhaps that I was in charge of the Academy swim lessons today?" Cyan smiled at the Enforcer and continued. "Now, would you please wipe that irritated look off that pretty little face of yours and join me?"

Olympia and the others dismounted from their horses quickly, each growing curious as to why they were here.

"My plans for speaking with my mother have changed since I last spoke with you. According to Zeus, she has "disappeared" for a few days to take care of something. He assures me she will be back though, but if her past maternal instincts are any indication, I'm not willing to put any dinars on it. So, I have come up with a new plan. Olympia, your group will go out as planned."

The Enforcer and Falcon quickly exchanged glances and looked back at Cyan. The exchange between the two had not been lost on the Queen. The time had come once again for Olympia to trust Cyan's judgement on a very personal level. She was sure her friend would fight it all the way, but she also knew her well, and she would understand. As for Falcon…. Time would tell.

"My group will also be going to the surrounding villages. Some of them are large and we will need to all work together to search them, and then we will split off and cover as much ground as we can. I have told the Island to let us know as soon as Saran and the others are safely back."

"What are we to do in the villages Cyan?" Eri had not heard the intent of the Enforcer and Falcon's mission earlier laid out and was confused as to what they would be searching for if not their missing warriors.

"We need to find the names and locations of all the warriors Ares may have turned loyal to both he and Kahn. I also intend to find out just how many Shadow Priests are here in Earth Realm. As I have told Olympia, we are not to engage the Shadow Priests, only watch and learn. Is that clear?"

Each of the warriors shook their heads in agreement as Cyan indicated for her warriors to mount up and prepare to leave.

"We will go through the portals to save time. Gather the rest of your team and meet at the entrance within the hour."

The horses began to gallop off as Cyan held Falcon's back by restraining the warrior's arm.

"I know you are a bit confused as to why you are going Falcon, and perhaps even a bit unsteady with all that has happened; but I want you to know I believe in you. Your heart is a loyal one Falcon, and you are an Amazon. One day even Olympia will recognize that."

Falcon lowered her head and said nothing.

"And I hope one day you will believe the same thing with all your heart as well my friend." Cyan patted her warriors back and rode off in the direction of the palace.

When Loa opened her eyes, she was lying face down in a puddle of mud.

"Oh my Gods!" she shrieked as she stood and shook the mad from her face. She jumped up and down for a few minutes.

"Heeeeeeey!" she said, looking at her comrades, who were scattered among the road they had somehow come across. Loa looked up and around, and took a deep breath of fresh air. "Guuuuuuuys! We’re away from Hairy! I mean Ares! And we’re in JAPAN!!!!!!!" she jumped up and down smiling and laughing.

Rae rolled over onto her back and out of the mud. "Japan?" she said wearily.

"Why are we in Japan...?" she moaned.

Saran got up from the dry part of the road she had landed on. "Well, evidently, the secret to the mysterious clone defeating weapon must lay here!"

Loa struck a flying crane position. "Waaaaaaaaaaa YA! Won ton fro cheesy!!!!!

CHICKEN!"

Rae stared at her and then broke out into laughter. Saran kept a silent smile on her face. Then the smile slipped upside down. "Where is Corde?"

Loa almost fell on her butt as she was startled from her intricate position.

From the tangled heap that was her on the ground, she added. "I don’t know...

Maybe we should find her..."

Rae got up and brushed herself off . "Maybe she’s.... FLYING!!!!" Rae exclaimed. Rae began to make vrooming noises and stuck both of her arms out and ran up and down the road.

"VROOM VROOM!!!!!" she screamed.

Loa laughed and pulled out a piece of brie. She began to consult with it.

"Now, Cheese Watson." Loa began. "Where do you think Corde has run off too?"

Saran watched as Loa put the cheese close to her ear. Then Loa stared at it.

"HOW DARE YOU SAY THOSE THINGS!!!" Loa exclaimed. "Naughty cheese!" she yelled, then bit into it, and munched.

All the while, Rae was still Vrooming. Suddenly, a voice rang out over the road.

"Guys.... Could you get me down?" the voice cried.

Loa stopped munching on her brie, and Rae tripped over her foot in shock and fell back in the mud puddle. Saran looked up to see...

Corde hanging from a tree.

As the waiter delivered huge plates full of food, Loa had arrived.

"I found a CLUE!"

Rae began to hum, Loa began to dance. "We are looking for Blue’s clues..." they sang.

Loa then sat down and opened a piece of paper. "This is the monastery of clone killers. THEY MUST KNOW HOW TO KILL THE CLONES!!!"

Saran nodded, and Corde just studied her plate. A piece of some kind of tentacle withered across the surface.

Loa smiled. "Eat that! It’s sushi!!! It’s great! The only problem, I can’t have it, I’m allergic to this kind! So you have to eat my share!" she smiled widely.

Corde and Saran nodded politely. Rae took out a dagger and began to stab at one of the tentacles.

"I knew you would enjoy it!" Loa beamed.

Then some steaming hot chicken teriyaki came to the table. Rae picked up her chopsticks and began to play the drums with them.

"Play that funky music..." Loa began.

Corde turned eyes to Loa, a piece of moving tentacle hanging out of her mouth. Saran motioned to the hapless Corde... Corde turned bright red. Running, she hit the front door, and ran outside. Soon after, Japanese could be heard through the aperture.

"What are they saying?" Saran asked.

Loa smiled. "Um, just that, um.... I translate directly. ‘Funny girl throw up large squid’."

Rae continued to drum on the table and Saran shrunk back in her seat.

The group had now found the monastery of the clone killers. Loa mounted the big stone stairs that led to the monastery’s doors. As she reached the top she turned to her companions that were still huffing and puffing up the stairs.

"Fleeeeeeeeeeeeex!" she called. Then she began to skip back and forth. "It’s slinky, it’s slinky!!!" she sang. When Rae had reached the top she stopped, turned and asked her...

"What’s a slinky?"

The Amazons were led inside the monastery. Their guide was the Abbot’s assistant.

"Shhhhh." he cautioned. "The monks are all sworn to a vow of silence. Please do not disturb them, this is their meditation time."

The Amazons, guided by their guide, walked through the quiet halls.

"Hey Rae." Loa whispered loudly. Her voice echoed through the corridor.

"Yeah?" Rae whispered back.

"Why is it SO quiet?" she asked.

"I don’t know." Rae replied.

Loa kept walking... Until she could take it no more. "AHHHHHHH!!!!" she screamed, stopping in her tracks.

The assistant whipped around, his eyes wild.

"OH MY GOD! ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?!" he asked, looking at the young amazon.

"Yeah, now I am!" Loa said, smiling. "It’s not so quiet!"

The assistant went for Loa’s neck. "Come here you little!!!"

Corde, Saran, and Rae restrained the disgruntled Abbot’s assistant.

"Um... The Abbot’s... Um... Waiting! Yeah!" Corde said, patting the man on the back.

"Yeah... We can’t keep him waiting... Yeah!!" Rae said.

Saran glanced over at Loa. "Shhhhhh." she said, gesturing towards the red faced assistant.

"Oh-KAY!" Loa said, loudly. Her voice echoed through the halls and off the ceiling.

The man had to be restrained again.

When they had reached Abbot’s office, Loa and Rae turned to each other and then the Abbot. "Hey Ab—bot!!" they chanted and then broke into hysterical laughter.

The abbot glanced at the two laughing young women. "Should I get the healing man to get a sedative?"

Saran shook her head. "No they’re okay..."

"Are you sure?"

"They’re always like that..." Corde said, smiling and holding her head sheepishly.

The Abbot raised an eyebrow and shook his head, then gestured for his guests to sit.

When they had, the Abbot began to speak. "I assume that you are here for the secret of killing clones." he dropped his voice. "This is not something we tell everyone, but you Amazons seem like trustworthy people."

The Amazons looked at the abbot, all seriousness, except for Loa who was eating cheese puffs.

The Abbot shot her a dirty look. The crunching sounds were resounding through the office. "Yummy!" she said. The Abbot sighed and continued.

"The thing you seek is in..." he glanced around as if to check that no one was listening in. He spoke in hushed tones. "Scotland."

Rae and Loa looked at each other... "Do you know what this means?" Rae asked Loa. Loa nodded excitedly.

"RIVERDANCING!!!" they cried happily.

Part 5