The Dawn of Serenity

			   Chapter Seventeen



	As the day grew older, the dark light revealed a palace full of
espionage and intrigue. Most labs were stark white and sterile, but the
workshop of Saphir was alive. The walls painted a deep blue, like the
sky itself, and it looked as if diamonds had been placed sporadically 
across their polished surfaces to represent stars. Green vines of some 
sort of powerful plant species embraced the walls, disappearing into 
the ceiling and floor. It was here the youngest male of the Black Moon 
Clan spent most of his time, feverishly working towards their ultimate 
goal.

	He sat tinkering with test results when his brother, the 
self-proclaimed high prince, strode into the room confidently. He 
approached and looked over Saphir's shoulder, an action that always 
made the cobalt-haired man furious.

	"Can I help you with something, Brother?"

	"Just seeing how things were coming along."

	"For the last time, everything is ready for the end of the
month. I've gone over the sequence a dozen times. It will be flawless. 
Trust me." Saphir sighed, hoping that would be enough to get his 
privacy back.

	"I trust you. What are you working on now?" Demando asked, 
although his tone implied he wasn't really all that interested.

	"I found a faulty program in one of the Wrecker Youma. I've 
been trying all day to improve it."

	"Why bother? They're just going to abuse them," Demando huffed 
and Saphir immediately looked up.

	"What are you talking about?" he asked, confused.

	"Didn't you hear yet? Jadeite used the Soldier Youma you 
created like disposable slaves and got the lot destroyed."

	"What!" Saphir jumped  to his feet, all of his tinkering 
completely forgotten now. "How did this happen? Those Soldiers were 
flawless -- years and years of my hard work!"

	"They were all obliterated within one of the subterranean 
tunnels. I don't know  how exactly--"

	"But I do."

	They both turned to locate the origin of the sultry voice and 
found Esmeraude leaning against the threshold, a dangerous smile 
lurking upon her lips.

	"What do you know?" Demando asked.

	"I know what the Shitennou have been hiding," she answered, and
sauntered towards them. "They caught themselves an Underling."

	"An Underling? Why would they keep that a secret? It's been so 
long since one was brought back alive; they would be celebrated for 
their catch," Saphir pointed out. 

	"Something is very different about this one. They've been 
treating her like a ticking time bomb for two weeks. Now Kunzite is 
involved as well, and the look on his face when he left the dungeons 
was priceless. He was afraid." 

	The two brothers stared at one another, realizing the magnitude
of such a thing. They had little fear for the remaining Shitennou, but 
Kunzite was a force to be reckoned with. For fear to claim the right 
hand of the Queen, something tremendous must have occurred, and it sent
Demando's imagination running wild.

	"What could possibly cause that?" he thought aloud, slowly 
pacing behind Saphir's workbench. 

	"It gets better," Esmeraude promised, and came to press herself
against Demando like a slinky cat. She ran a smooth nail up his white 
uniform before resting her hand against his cheek.
	
	"Tonight, they're going to turn her by using the crystal."

	"The crystal!" both brothers exclaimed in unison. 

	"Yes, and it's a party I don't think we should miss."

+++++

	The pain in his lungs was the worst feeling he had ever 
experienced, but Shing pressed through the burning sensation like his 
life depended on it. It wasn't his life this time, though. It was 
Minako's, and the thought of never seeing her again spurred his feet to
move as quickly as they could towards the house of the Three Elders.

	"Elder… Elder, please…!"

	He came bursting into their small abode. He was stopped in his 
tracks, however, as two large dogs crossed his path. They were black 
and ferocious beasts, with strange purple eyes that glared at him with 
something more than animal instinct. Shing had never liked dogs; in 
fact, they were the one thing he feared more than Youma. He witnessed
many Youma raids with their fierce animals, and the thought of a Soldier 
Youma -- so much like a horrendous hound -- kept him awake on many a 
long night. He found himself stepping back out of the hut slowly as 
they snarled at him, baring sharp incisors that would likely bring 
death swiftly.

	"Stop it you two, let the boy in," a voice from within said 
quite firmly, and immediately the dogs stopped their advance. They 
retraced their steps and settled obediently, each taking their places 
on opposite sides of the entrance, sitting calmly as if nothing had 
happened. But in their eyes, he could see them watching him carefully.

	"Come in, Shing." A heavy curtain divided the two rooms, and 
Shing found it was like entering another world beyond. The room was 
bright and warm, and a strong scent lingered. Candles cast an orange 
sheen that reflected off the beige walls and intricate carpets of red 
and blue. The room was decorated with bronze statues of mythical 
creatures and dozens of red flowers to which Shing was unfamiliar. 
Amongst these foreign luxuries, he found the three Elders sitting 
casually on wicker chairs.

	"Shing," the second Elder greeted as he shifted his long white 
hair over his shoulder. "What is it?"

	"They, she...they're going to kill her!" Words were spilling 
from his mouth unbidden, and he couldn't control them for his heart 
still pounded erratically within his chest. His emotions flooded into
him like a spring storm, and he wanted to cry and shout and scream and
rage all at the same time. He kept picturing Minako's lively eyes -- 
now listless and cold, as they were back in her cell. It was too much 
to bear.

	"Shing..."

	"You've got to help!" He looked to the Eldest of Elders, barely
seeing her through his flowing tears. 

	"Calm down my dear. Tell us what happened." she said gently and
leaned forward to listen. Shing tried to do as she commanded, and let a
few quivering breaths out while clenching his fists until they began to
tremble. He let his eyes wander over the items in the room, finally 
taking them in. The flowers were responsible for the embracing 
fragrance, and he found it calming him in some way.

	"Lords Jadeite, Zoicite and Nephrite were there. They did 
something to Minako -- she was in a chair when I got there, and Lord
Nephrite was on the ground. She...she was changed somehow, and didn't
even recognize me until we were alone back in her cell. There wasn't 
anything wrong with her that I could fix, but something was going on 
inside her mind. Then Lord Kunzite arrived and he saw Minako and seemed
very surprised at the sight of her."

	"Surprised you say?" the first Elder said, deep in thought, his
yellow eyes aglow.

	"Yes. He didn't seem so big and tough then, as everyone says he
is. Then Kunzite and Nephrite disappeared for a time, and when they 
came back, they said that they were going to try to turn her, using 
some crystal. I don't know what they meant, but whatever they're doing,
they're doing it tonight, and if it doesn't work they're going to kill
her instead!"

	The Elders looked at one another -- their ancient eyes speaking
a language Shing could never hope to understand. He began to wonder if 
they could speak to each other's minds, and in this mystical house, he 
thought anything was possible. The eldest turned to him then and in her
eyes he felt strength and courage. As she smiled, the burden on his 
heart seemed easier to manage. She beckoned him to come near and 
obediently he approached. Gently, she placed an old hand on his cheek,
and her warmth seemed to spread throughout his body.

	"Light shines its brightest in the deepest of dark nights. Do 
not give up hope. You will see her again, Shing, believe it." He gazed
into her eyes once more, finding their blue depths clear and steadfast.
Something about her made him hope, and he nodded respectfully.

	"I believe."

+++++

	He was freezing. A fire blazed in the hearth, obediently 
lighting and warming the room. It was strange for him to try to find 
comfort in the burning embers -- something that not long ago branded 
his mind with hellish pain. But even if he wanted to, he could barely 
feel its intensity now. His mind blocked out any external sensory 
interruptions entering his thoughts as he tried to reconstruct the 
damage done in the past few hours. It would take him many more hours 
to recover, and he feared closing his eyes. In the dream world, he 
would be defenseless against his nightmares, and his worry equaled that
of the blazing fire crackling in the fireplace.

	He heard the door squeak open, but barely had the will to see 
who it was. For a moment, he feared he was already asleep, and the fire
sprite in his dreams was coming for him. But the bed shifted quietly 
and a familiar scent calmed his frazzled nerves.

	"My Lord…?" Irinushka called out, and slowly he turned to her.
Her deep eyes were filled with concern, and if he was in his right mind,
he would've been deeply offended by her penetrating stare. Things were 
changed today, however. For her part, Irinushka looked as if she had 
been woken only a few moments before, for her eyes seemed hazy and 
unfocused. "Do you feel ill?"

	"Do you believe in Fate, Irinushka?"

	"Fate?" she repeated, and took a few moments to ponder. "To 
some extent, perhaps..."

	"I've done terrible things, and there are things in my past 
that...I'm not even sure of anymore. What sort of power would make me  
the master, and an honest and good person like you the slave?"

	She seemed equally surprised by the question, as was he, and 
opened her mouth several times, trying to form an answer. In the end, 
she simply lay down next to him, wrapping a warm arm around his broad 
chest. Such an act would have made him hesitant  before, but now he 
accepted the simple gesture with relief. With her body next to him, the
frost soon left his veins, and slowly Nephrite fell into a dreamless 
sleep.

+++++

	He was pacing -- he never paced. 

	It was a thing Jadeite was prone to do, but no one ever 
expected it of him. Lord Kunzite, the stoic and poised Hand of the
Queen. But nonetheless, after his discussion with Nephrite, Kunzite 
found himself in his study pacing the length of his desk as if it was 
his only mission in life.

	He cursed himself for being so ridiculous. He was both 
embarrassed and outraged by his behavior. He had acted like a simple 
child the moment he had seen her face, and bumbled out of the room like
a confused coward. And none of it made any sense to him at all.

	He remembered the bubbly blonde guardian from each subsequent 
lifetime. At first, he found her personality a tad outlandish. But 
there had been something beneath the surface -- some shadowy sense of 
duty – compelling Kunzite to respect the princess of Venus. It was 
nothing more than what one soldier understood of another, and in the 
end, he had shown his true loyalties. 

	Then why had seeing her fetching face affected him so? She was 
nothing to him then, but meeting her again seemed to have made his 
memories and mind fuzzy. Their plan, as well, boggled his mind. Nothing
like this had ever been tried before, and Kunzite was beginning to 
doubt the outcome – victory was not assured. Even if they managed to 
accomplish this task, it could still fail miserably. The queen would 
call for him when the  deed was done, and ever since he returned to 
his study he had been thinking about ways to make her understand 
instead of considering burning them alive.

	He eyed the pile of untouched documents waiting to be 
acknowledged and signed on his desk, and with one mighty swipe, he 
knocked them off with his arm. They scattered upon the invisible 
cyclone of his rage,  then dropped to the floor, covering the carpet 
like a blanket of snow.

	He didn't know how long he stood there before his desk, but the
sound of his door opening and closing snapped him from his thoughts. 
He turned to find Danburite staring with confused eyes at the state of
the room and Kunzite suddenly felt very self-conscious.

	"What happened here?" he asked. 

	"Nothing… I just dropped these papers and have been standing 
here marveling at how careless I was," Kunzite lied quickly and set to 
work shoveling up the mess. Without a word, Danburite bent down to 
help, and once the task was accomplished, the two alabaster haired men 
posed uncomfortably before each other. "What did you come to see me 
about?" Kunzite asked raising an eyebrow, and Danburite was glad for 
the break in silence. 

	"I have the recent slave census completed as you requested, and
also I've managed to get a list of menu choices for the Restoration 
that needs to be looked over." He concluded the last part of this 
statement with a quick roll of his eyes, and gladly handed the stack of
parchment into Kunzite's waiting hands.

	"Already…? The gala isn't for another two weeks."

	"You've taught me to be prepared, Kunzite," Danburite answered 
with a bow. Kunzite gave a cursory glance at the words on the parchment, 
and though he understood nothing, he nodded his approval.

	"I'll give this to the queen at my earliest convenience. I'm a 
little busy right now, however. Thank you," he said smoothly and sat 
back down at his desk. Even though he meant for Danburite to leave with
his coded words, he found the younger man still standing before him. He
shifted uncomfortably in his heavy boots and Kunzite could practically 
see the words dripping from his tongue. "Is there something else you 
need?"

	"Well..." Danburite drew himself up to his full height as if 
preparing to deep submerge. "I've been working here for a long time. 
Every order you, or the queen have given me, has been followed without 
delay – even ones I didn't enjoy with the Moons. In the beginning, I 
went on countless raids with the Shitennou, and I've defended this 
empire against Serenitas attack. You and the others have worked with me
personally, and I feel I bring something needed to the table -- with 
the Restoration coming up… I thought, well...I thought I would ask if 
I could be honored with admission into the Shitennou."

	It wasn't a request Kunzite hadn't been expecting, but he 
counted on the request coming at some later time. Danburite's timing 
couldn't have come at a more inconvenient moment. He would have little 
problem convincing the queen to accept this, but the Shitennou 
themselves? Currently they were divided by a pretty blonde -- how could
he approach the others about this now? They barely trusted him with 
their secret.

	But his voice in this charade might be a welcomed one. 
Danburite once served under Venusian arms, and would most likely have 
much needed insight about the princess of his home world. To Kunzite's 
knowledge, the soldier seemed to harbor some lustful attraction to 
Sailor V during their Second Age as well. The thought struck some dark 
cord deep within him -- a dangerous, selfish emotion that Kunzite knew 
very little of during this lifetime. It surprised him and made him 
furious at himself all the more. He pushed the jealousy from his mind, 
and plastered a smiling mask upon his face.

	"I'll see what I can do."

+++++

	As the day progressed, the lords faired no better. Zoicite 
buried himself in his work, but Jadeite's current workload offered him
no relief. His feet found their way to the secluded Shitennou training 
yard, and there he tried to find a distraction. For hours, he delved 
into the world of muscle toning and sweat, trying his best to get his 
frustration to evaporate through the pores of his skin. He would take 
comfort from those upcoming events due to take place later that night.
One way or another, their problem would be solved. Being together with 
Kunzite was another weight off his shoulders, content that all were now
involved -- as it should be.

	Even he had to admit that getting the others involved was 
better than trekking on alone. It felt right when they were together, 
but some small part of him felt as if something was missing -- another
piece within their epic entourage. Ever since her arrival, the rift in
his usually calm disposition continued to expand. It was a wonder he 
wasn't torn in two by now.

	"Troubles at home...?" Jadeite whirled on the condescending 
voice, and sighed when his assumption as to its owner hit home. Demando
glided into the yard as only he could; a fact that always drove Jadeite
crazy. Demando ran his hand over a few archaic weapons lined up against
the wall as he approached. Jadeite was used to his eccentric manner, 
but something about the current smirk on the white-haired lord’s face 
made him uneasy. 

	"What do you want?" Jadeite demanded.

	"It's been such a long time since we had a civilized 
conversation."

	"Define 'civilized'." Jadeite returned his current weapon to 
its rightful place, knowing full well his exercise had been ruined now. 

	"Well, I came to see exactly what the Shitennou think they are 
doing by running around destroying valuable resources--  like this
world isn't dying right before our eyes."

	"What are you babbling on about now?"

	"The Soldier Youma, of course." Demando smiled, but it was 
anything but pleasant. "Have you forgotten already?"

	"That's none of your concern," Jadeite said forcefully.

	"They should not have been so mistreated. Your tactical plans 
are clearly useless."

	"Perhaps it is your brother's creations that are useless," 
Jadeite countered, and he watched Demando's eyes as they sparked with 
contempt. 

	"Do not slander my brother's work," he bit back in a 
threatening tone. Jadeite was hardly one to be threatened, however. He 
thrived on controversy. Slowly, he strode towards Demando, using years 
of practice to keep his face void of emotion.

	"You are a relic of an old, forgotten and broken world. I have 
no qualms with sending you to meet the rest of your ancestors, and have
them tear you apart for being the traitor you are to your own people. 
I could do it -- you know this. And who would the queen side with? Your
ragged family, or her mighty Shitennou? By our good graces, you are 
still breathing, so do not push my buttons, Demando. Sit back, and 
enjoy the life you are allowed to have."

	With that, Jadeite gave him no room for argument, and marched
out of the room confidently. He left a furious prince in his wake 
–ice-blue eyes staring daggers at his back.

	"We'll see."

+++++
	
	Two weeks before, Nephrite came to this place to find solace 
from his troubled mind. Now, as he faced the epic crystal before him, 
he was uncertain what would be found within its depths this time.

	As one, they set out, leaving the dungeons behind them with 
Minako amongst their company while protecting the persecuted one from 
any that might discover their secret. The halls were hauntingly silent
-- a fitting atmosphere for their death march.

	Upon reaching the Chamber, the party seemed to relax somewhat, 
especially as the anxiety over unwanted public scrutiny was no longer a
concern, but Nephrite knew the worst was yet to come.

	He chanced a glance at their captive, and found her eyes 
overwhelmed by the dark chamber. They settled on the crystal suspended 
in mid-air. He watched as her azure depths filled with hesitance and 
awe. No mortal, Youma or human for that matter, had ever set eyes on 
the crystal besides the Shitennou and the Black Moons. It was an enigma, 
something mysterious -- the core of legend, and he realized she must be
both intrigued and horrified by the fabled crystal of the queen.

	"Jadeite, take her to sit before the crystal," Kunzite ordered.
Jadeite’s feet froze for the slightest second, but his hesitation was 
long enough for Nephrite's feelings of concern to surface once again.

	Nephrite understood it well. Much was hanging in the balance 
this night -- in this  one decision. Handling the crystal itself was 
an arduous task, but calling upon its powers without consent from the 
queen and the possibility of irreversible failure were extremely 
dangerous. But more selfishly, Nephrite and the others thought of the 
consequences of failure upon each of them. Something it seemed had 
taken hold of them, and if they could not complete this task, Nephrite 
knew they would all be consumed by their growing paranoia and 
uncertainty. They needed this to work -- not for a dying kingdom or 
blood-sworn queen -- but for their own sanity.

	They followed closely behind Jadeite and Minako, and formed a 
semi-circle around the hovering artifact. Being the strongest, Nephrite
and Kunzite flanked Minako, much to their dismay. Nephrite's mind still
burned from the mental contact with his fellow Shitennou, and Kunzite 
seemed edgy for reasons none of them really understood, especially he 
himself.

	"We need to think as one. Alone we are not powerful enough to 
call forth the strength we need; but together we are stronger than ever," 
Kunzite said, touching each of them with his eyes. 

	"Always together," Zoicite declared, and they nodded in unison,
finding courage in one another. The room seemed to become empty as all
sound fled the chamber, and the Shitennou concentrated their powers.

	With quick eyes, Minako watched them as her heart pounded in 
her chest. She could feel the room expand around her, and felt as if 
she were light enough to leave the ground. In accordance with the rite,
the crystal danced to life. The center began to grow brighter and pulse
like a distant star, but its extremities remained black and cold.

	Abruptly, the red sheen covering the room vanished, and a 
golden shimmer exploded, its brilliance penetrating  every corner of 
the room. The ground began to vibrate slightly beneath them, heralding 
a world-changing event. Nothing would be the same; the landscape of 
their lives would change forever from a crystal no bigger than a man's 
hand on this fateful night. Nephrite chanced to open his eyes and 
marvel at the crystal's power when he heard Minako whisper beside him. 

	"What's going to happen to me?"

	He turned to look down at her -- to see her eyes filled with
fear. For a moment, as the bright light swarmed around them growing 
stronger, and as currents of air became  visible, circling around them 
in a vortex of turbulent wind, Nephrite felt warm and more alive than 
ever, and suddenly felt pity for the wayward girl.

	"Your new life is about to begin," he said simply. A disruption
in the light caught both their eyes, as the Shitennou began to channel 
its magic for a darker purpose. Seemingly free, Minako quickly felt 
weighted down once more, and soon the pressure became almost unbearable. 
The corners of the room became dark as the shadows slowly retracted 
back towards the crystal. They were being surrounded, as if water was 
slowly rising to engulf their diminishing plateau.

	Nephrite could hear Minako's breathing speed up as the power 
pushing upon her psyche intensified. Reluctantly, he closed his eyes 
and joined his brothers as he felt her shoulders shake beneath his 
trembling hand. 

	"I'm sorry," he whispered softly.

	In an instant, all light was diminished as darkness completely
consumed the room and Minako's mind. As her screams echoed in the void,
Nephrite's heart protested against it, but there was nothing he could
do. It was too late to turn back now.

+++++