Mizuno Ami leaned back, fully emersing herself in the cooling water. It was really,really hot today, and the cold water of the swimming pool was incredibly relaxing. She sighed inwardly and stared up through the green-house like cieling at the sky above. Sunlight filtered down through the silver-laced clouds, dappling the room with patches of light.
"What's on your mind Ami-chan?"
Ami turned and smiled as Rei carefully lowered herself into the water beside her friend.
"Nothing really."she replied.
Rei nodded and winced as she lowered her shoulders under water. "What do you think these new enemies are after?"
Ami shook her head."I don't know. But then again, what do the abductions of Arashi and Lunako have to do with all this? And those mysterious letters that keep popping up. What does anything have to do with the other? Their strategies are too confusing to decipher." she frowned as she said this, the wheels in her head were obviously turning.
Rei laughed and playfully splashed at Ami. "Ami-chan! You need to relax! True things have gotten to a very weird and unknown point, but I'm sure we'll figure out what we need too when we get to it."
Ami shook her head. "I'm not so sure."
Rei frowned, annoyed for having brought up the subject. She and Ami had come here to relax for and try to forget about their troubles, she'd most certainly spoiled it. "Come on Ami-chan!"she smiled."Cheer up. We came here to relax, so let's do that."
Ami looked up and smiled. "You're right."she giggled, splashing Rei straight in the face with a huge wave of water. Rei jumped back spluttering.
"All right Ami! You asked for it!!!"
Usagi sat staring out her bedroom window, bored to tears and with absolutely nothing to do. She had no homework, nothing was on TV, she had no money, and for the first time in her life she wasn't hungry. All she could think about was what Mamoru had said about his sister, how she might not be dead, that she was tied into this in some strange way. She had sacrificed herself for them once before, seemingly to have refound her lost love for her brother, why she would be tied into league with Oniko was questionable. She sighed loudly and turned away from the window, then nearly jumped out of her skin. She had seen, briefly, the reflection of someone other than herself in the mirror on her dresser. She doubled back, staring into the mirror she placed her hand on the cold glass. The reflection was once again that of herself. But for a moment it hadn't been, for a moment it had been her. Diassa. She backed away from it uncertainly and shook her head. She'd been so wrapped up in thinking her imagination must have run away with her. She reassured herself once more, then turned and left the room, not noticing that her reflection was still staring outwards from the mirror.
Mamoru set his glass down and stared at her in disbelief. Haruka barely raised an eyebrow.
"Are you sure?"
Haruka took another sip of her drink then placed it back on the table. The ice clinked loudly, breaking the momentary silence.
"Unfortunately, Michiru's mirror confirmed our suspicions. If Oniko gets sword Ryuko from the Ryu system, she will have the power to fight the power of the ginzuishou on equal footing. They are matched in strength."
Mamoru bit his lip in thought."What about the Golden Crystal?"
Haruka shrugged."We can't know. Of course, now we need to find out who are the carriers of the seeds of Ryuko."
Mamoru looked out the window at the passing crowds below. No hint as to the oncoming onslaught.
"Did the mirror give us any clues?"he asked finally.
Haruka shook her head."Not a one."
"Then we'd better ask Rei to fire scrye. Maybe she can find a clue of some sort."
Haruka nodded curtly."I'll round up the others. We'll meet you there."
Rei knelt before the sacred flames, enjoying the heat that warmed her face. In full shinto dress she knelt, her hands clasped in a prayer like manner. The remaining senshi knelt behind her, silent in their respect and awe for her unique talents.
"Sacred flames, I ask of you. Show us some sign as to how we can fight this evil that has presented itself before us."
The flames crackled normally, no response at all. Rei concentrated harder, there had to be a clue somewhere. Something had to show itself. Suddenly the fire flickered brightly, almost until it was glowing white with heat and intensity. The others gasped behind her. She grasped her hands even harder.
"Great fire, answer my prayers. Show us your wisdom and foresight."
The fire suddenly leapt higher, almost reaching the cieling. Rei sprung back for fear of getting burned, but no heat radiated from the flames at all. Deep within the blaze a figure slowly formed. A woman with short hair, her eyes burned with eternal wisdom, and her dress, tightly formed to her body, was the fire itself.
"You seek answers." the fire woman said.
Rei raised her hand for a better look. "Who are you?" she whispered.
"I am Fire." the woman said. "You asked for my help, so I have presented myself to you."
Usagi's eyes widened. "Mamo-chan!"she exclaimed. "The elementals!"
The others looked to her.
"What?"Ami asked.
"The protectors of Earth." Mamoru said quietly. "The elementals. Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, and the Spirit."
Fire looked towards him. "You know of us?" she asked.
He nodded once, then smiled. "I too am a protector of Earth."
Fire peered through the darkened room at him then smiled in recognition. "Forgive me for not recognizing you Prince Endymion."
He waved it off as she peered at the others aound the room.
"Protectors of Earth and yet not from it."
Usagi anxiously stepped forward. "We're searching for enemies of Earth who have kidnapped some of our friends."
Fire was quiet for a moment as she pondered her answer.
"These enemies, their leader is not whom she seems. She holds more power than the others. She wants to use the others to gain what she yearns for. She plans to discard them once she's gotten what she wants."
"Who is she?"
Fire shook her head. "Even we do not know. But one thing I can answer, there is one boy whom you feel is your enemy? Keep an eye on him. He is more dangerous than he seems. Like his mistress he has not truly revealed the full extent of his powers. Because he is elven he can command us to do his bidding."
The others exchanged worried glances.
"Truly no one can control you?"Rei asked, disbelieving.
Fire nodded. "Members of the elven race are the only ones who can. Their souls are not the same as the human race that you descend from."
Mamoru turned towards Usagi suddenly. "Couldn't you counter-act with that? Your father was an elf."
Usagi's eyes widened. She looked towards Fire anxiously. "Could I have some power that could counteract his when the final battle falls?"
Fire cocked her head and stared at Usagi. "You have powers as well. Powers that could even overcome him. But you must know how to use them."
"But who can teach me?"Usagi cried.
Fire suddenly looked away from them at something over her shoulder. Something only she could see. "I must go now." she said sadly. "I will send my comrades to tell you more when the time comes."
Oniko slammed the door shut angrily and stared crossly at it. Akuma looked up from her drink, but decided it best to ignore her sister.
"For three days we've tortured her and still she refuses to give up the Crystal! She's been on the verge of death all day and she still stubbornly refuses to give in."
Akuma looked up from her plate, her mouth shoved full of food. "Why don't you tell me what you've been doing,and I'll tell you what you're doing wrong."
Oniko bit her lip, then swung a chair around backwards and straddled it. "The light is getting closer. We haven't much time left before it reaches us. We need to get the sword now. If we have any hope of defeating the light we'll need the sword."
Akuma swallowed the last bit of food and wiped her mouth daintily on a napkin.
"You say the tactics you are using have no effects?"
"No."
"Then maybe it's time you used a new strategy."
Oniko leaned forward. "What do you have in mind?"
"You say that Arashi is a Sailorsenshi right? You won't be able the Sailorstar seed from her unless she is transformed."
"And how am I suppossed to do that?"Oniko shook her head.
"Well,why don't you appeal to that nature. It's the duty of a sailorsenshi to protect the innocent in times of war right?"
"Right....."Oniko repeated.
Akuma sighed, annoyed at having to draw it out for her. "Then use the other girl to your advantage."
Oniko stared at her blankly for a moment. "Use the other girl?"
Akuma grinned as a mischevous look crossed Oniko's face.
"My sister you are full of good ideas."
Galen shut his eyes tightly and wished the stress would just go away. He couldn't stop dreaming about that night. The last night. He reached up and fingered the ring in his ear. He had to return it didn't he? After all it was rightfully hers wasn't it?
A circle is never-ending, never breaking, it is eternal.....
He grasped it in his fingers, ignoring the sharp stab of pain as he ripped it out.
A promise is like a circle, once you make it, it must always be kept....
He carefully slipped it into his pocket, he would risk it all for just a one moment. He had to see.......
Arashi looked up at the figure before her. She's sensed their presence, and now finally they had appeared.
"How are you doing?"she said, squatting down before her and propping her chin in her hand.
"How do I look?"Arashi asked.
"Like death slightly-warmed over."
"Then that's how I am."
The woman managed a weak smile then smiled, the usual ice-cold mask slipping for just a moment. "I'm sorry I can't help you right now. I'm assisting father in his search, and we can't let them know of our presence yet."
"You were almost seen the other night weren't you? By Usagi and the others."
The woman looked surprised, her eyes widening in surprise. "You know about that?"
"I sensed it." she started to say something else but coughed violently, spitting out blood when the fit ended.
The woman looked sadly at her friend and shook her head. "I would help you now but we must wait for them to reach the full of their powers. As it is now, Oniko and the others would crush them like gnats."
Arashi nodded. "I'll see you again though?"
"Of course my friend."
Arashi sighed as the air before her shimmered and the woman disappeared. She was alone again.
Rei kneeled before the sacred flames and tried in vain to contact Fire again. She had so many un-answered questions that she thought her mind was going to burst. She had been trying for hours to get some kind of contact re-established but to no avail. Exhausted she finally unclasped her hands and lay back to stare at the cieling. She raised her head for a moment to look out the door. The sunset was quickly fading into the darkness of night. Crickets were just beginning to sing in the small patch of forest outside.
"I had a dream last night.....that we fought against a great wall of darkness and lost."
Rei jumped, startled. Minako stood in the doorway, her silhouette framed by the purple twilight. Rei sat up and turned around to face her friend.
"A great wall of darkness?"
"And in the dream I heard a voice screaming that the light was coming. To hold on a little bit longer."
A chill passed through Rei, and she shuddered even though the night was warm.
"The others have powered-up. Why haven't we?"
Mina stepped out of the doorframe and into the room, the firelight sending an eerie shadow over her worried features.
"In past events, we have usually powered up in times of great trial and emotion...."Rei offered, then sat silent for a moment as she thought.
" There is not much we can do but wait."
Mina turned away and bit her lip in thought.
Outside the door the temple bell rang loudly, as someone offered a nighttime prayer.
Rei stood and dusted off her robes. "I'll be right back. I've got to greet them."
Mina nodded and turned back towards the fire. "I know this probably isn't going to work for me."she said softly to the fire before her. "But I'd like to make this one prayer. Please help us to find the power to protect this place we love so much. It's just a simple wish really...."she smiled faintly as her voice trailed off.
Rei smiled as Ami turned to her and blushed.
"Good evening Rei-chan."
"Good evening Ami-chan."
Ami turned towards the large red and white twisting rope before her and followed it up slowly until her eyes found the two golden bells at it's end.
"I was just wishing that.....oh it's trivial,never mind."
Rei smiled softly.
"Minako-chan is making the same wish you were I bet. Why don't you come inside for awhile."she turned and gestured towards the door. Ami nodded in thanks and quickly followed. As she stepped into the room though, she stopped in alarm. Rei's hand flew to her chest in surprise. Mina was standing before the fire, which had died down from raging to fading embers in a matter of minutes. In the curling, thick smoke that was flowing from the timbers a woman was standing. Rei reached into her robes for a scroll but stopped when Ami gently placed her hand on her wrist.
"Don't."she whispered."It's Lunako."
"No it's not."Rei replied, but as she leaned forward she realized that it was. Her hair was down, long and flowing, her silk dress disappeared in the smoke, her wings were unfurled. She held up her hands slowly and a small glowing orb appeared in them. They said nothing, remembering how Lunako had mysteriously appeared to the others and granted them new powers. Lunako raised her eyes to them, cold and determined they were and it chilled them.
"As it stands now you will never be able to defeat the darkness. The infinite moonlight must resonate before you have any hope at all. You must gather your strength and courage. Can you do this? To save the people you love?"
Mina stepped forward. "Yes we can."
"Then accept these gifts. Your first true battle is at hand."
The orbs flew to them, stopping a moment to glow faintly at their hearts before entering their bodies and dissolving. A rapid feeling flowed through their blood, hot but not painful.
Rei closed her eyes. "We've got to do something."she said.
Lunako held up one hand and gestured to them each in turn.
"Transform. Your enemy awaits you outside this door."
"Mars Eternal Make-Up!"
"Mercury Eternal Make-Up!"
"Venus Eternal Make-Up!"
Outside the temple Shiko sat upon one of the great gates awaiting the Sailorsenshi. She knew they were inside, she had followed the light of Lunako's soul.
"Who are you and what do you want here?"
Shiko looked down at the ground below her and grinned cruelly at the three senshi that stood below her.
"I am the Lady Shiko of the new Dark Kingdom. I'm here to kill you of course."
"I highly doubt it."Mars retorted.
Shiko jumped down from her perch and landed before them. She dusted off her pants and lifted her head slightly so that her bangs fell over her eyes, casting them in an eerie shadow.
"Let's see what you've got." She raised her wrists, crossing them before her face, then unleashed a powerful bolt of energy at them. The senshi barely dodged. Venus took up a battle stance. This one wasn't like Oniko, no games, no mockery. Just pure intent to kill.
"Venus Eternal Love Crescent!" she yelled. A huge blast of orange energy twisted within her hands, then suddenly spiralled outwards, just missing it's target. Mars jumped before her, her chance now.
"Mars Eternal Hellfire!" A burning circle appeared around Shiko, trapping her in her place, flames leapt up from the center of the circle forming a pentagram. Shiko writhed in the heat.
"Finish her off!"Mars yelled to Mercury.
"Mercury Eternal Siren Symphony!" A peircing wave of energy filled the air around them, knocking Shiko to her knees and causing her to grab her head in pain. Venus raised her arms ready for another attack when a blast of energy struck the ground before them. They raised their eyes to the same gate that Shiko had appeared on, only to find Yomako glaring at them with electric hatred. She jumped to the ground and gently helped her fallen sister to her feet.
"I won't forgive you for this."she spat, as they both vanished into the night.
Far from the small blue pearl that hung in the inky abyss, the light streaked towards it's destiny, unaware of the danger that lay ahead of it. It had to find her, her it's daughter. She was waitinng there wasn't she? It pushed on with a silent scream, audible even in the soundless space. It would be there soon.