Mugen: Infinite Negative (A Circles of Time tale) Rated R THE DARKNESS: I want to know if the peace built upon sacrifice is truly just...For that, I will become evil. -Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz Magik is arbitrary. Black, white, grey: colour is irrelevant. Magik knows no love or enmity, no fear or honour. It only knows itself, that which is magik. The user determines the shape the magik shall take when it is manifested. It is the user who can create or destroy. Magik cannot differentiate, cannot be blamed. The soul is what moves magik, be it a black heart of cold stone, or a fragile heart of beauty and truth. One day all this knowledge, this magik, shall fade, and be forgotten, become just a legend spoken to little children at bedtime. Magik shall become magic, and shall be given colours. Only a handful of souls will ever remember such a time as this, when magik was the life and breath of the Earthworld and its solar system. Time passes, as it always has and always shall forever, ending yet neverending in the boundary that marks eternity. And with time comes change: of worlds, of faces, of legends and myths. Time does indeed change. But the magik shall always remain the same, and stay with us until eternity itself comes to an end. You can try to forget the magik, but it shall never forget you. If you were once destined to wield it, you shall wield it once more. Black, white, grey; it does not matter. I am His lordship Chaos. One of many writers who have come together to craft an epic spanning the millennia and legends of a world first created by Naoko Takeuchi. The Senshi are her children, the original tale hers to tell. But the other tales and other souls we have drawn into this place belong to those who have created Circles of Time. Naoko has her children, as do I have mine. I, as do all the other writers of this epic, ask for your permission should you wish for our children to enter another realm. But for now, let the eternal night fall as silence swallows up the brilliant light of the future. Listen to the tale I have to tell you. For time is of the essence.... -His lordship Chaos (hislordshipchaos@hotmail.com) http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/9897/ct.htm The faded and gutted halls of Ilsa Esylin were silent in watching the dying magik of Aurora. Night had fallen upon the Earth, and the darkness was now threatened with incredible rippling lights that covered the skies. Beautiful in design, elegant in spectacle, and perhaps even romantic in gesture, the Aurora Borealis remained one last display of a planet's incredible magik. Yet as she gazed upon the dancing lights, a different kind of exhilaration was coursing through her body. The distant explosion in the skies not so long before this had marked the end of Aurora. Morgana smiled to herself. In a way, that had proven to be useful on two counts. Her messiah had been found, and at the very least demonstrated a devastating magik; with this woman leading her armies, the fear alone would make her unstoppable. And at the same time, Aurora and all its mages and samurai would have become her greatest obstacle. How fitting that now they were gone. Sapphire eyes gazed at the ruins of Ilsa Esylin. Death and stagnation were all around her...and amidst it was a strange sort of beauty. All was quiet save for the distant roar of the waves which surrounded this island castle. Here in her own little empire she was queen. Soon Ilsa Esylin would no longer be her home. Camelot.... Her future lied there with the city of the Pendragon. She walked between rows of broken columns without a roof to support. Some were missing, others cleaved in half or else toppled over. The pathway before her was clear, and so she continued to walk. Moonlight filtered through the Aurora Borealis. But this light slowly disappeared as shadows overtook her every step, converging in every place where something should have been visible beneath the stars. Ilsa Esylin's ruins sank into her Shadowspell, and the emptiness of the fallen castle became her domain. Her realm. The stone caverns, exquisitely carved and towering high over her head, replaced the crumbling walls and broken stairways. Twin moons became her source of light rather than the lights dancing about the skies. And she could clearly hear the sound of rushing water flow past her, above her, below her. The waterfalls were everywhere; aqueducts carved into the rocks were only part of the design, as thin rivers of water moved through the very air itself. A caduceus slowly appeared in her grip, the ancient sceptre's diamond sparkling in the faint light of this world. Morgana held the caduceus before her eyes, gazing into the facets of the gemstone. This dark messiah...Morgana could sense this woman drawing closer to this planet. Very soon the one who called herself Mistress Nine would appear. And then the true conquest of Earth could begin. She would cleanse it of all uncertainties, release it of all doubts. The petty bickering between peoples and planets would end under her power. She would become the law, absolute and infinite. She was the Solis System's future. And it was beautiful. The shadows watch her, edges of darkness billowing out and fluttering. And at amidst its heart of darkness, something shifted in the blackened realms behind her. Magik rustled, quietly but demanding immediate attention regardless. "Patience," Morgana soothed, not even turning around to watch the shifting shadows. "Everything is falling into place just as I've designed it to. Once Mistress Nine comes to Earth, I will take control of Arthur's empire...and then you can be released." The shadows seemed displeased. They demanded a response to a question. A scowl marred Morgana's face. The ones she had sent after Magellan and that Venusian girl had failed, just as her Caltain had failed in retrieving the one whose soul bore that incredible magik. So many unexpected failures, smaller in scope yet giving her reason to seethe. It appeared as if the power she had acquired, this dark magik she had been given, was not as potent as once thought. If not that, then she was underestimating some of her opponents. Truth was Morgana remained uncertain as to why she had been instructed to attack that Venusian girl's shuttle, and then once more while the child was in Vlatmere province. It made no sense...to her at least. Her master, the one within the shadows, however, was most specific about ending that girl's life. No matter; in time this girl would either bow to her powers, or else die like the others. However, while she had patience, her master did not. Empress Metalia was eager to enter this world, one way or another.... MUGEN (-ì) INFINITE NEGATIVE (A Circles of Time tale) Just as a world brims with its variety of life, a story can never be centered on one place for very long without the need to reveal another realm standing alongside it. It is a tapestry, threads intersecting and destinies colliding. So in journeying to the realm of light and life, one must also return to the darkness that is death. Aurora. A once rich and beautiful world. Now gone. And here she laid among its remains, her body sprawled out across one of the ragged chunks of rock now floating through the darkness of space. Tresses of long emerald-dark hair draped itself over her back as her eyes fluttered open. Magenta orbs focused on the lifelessness around her. The guardress of time stood. Setsuna slowly turned, picking up the key-shaped staff that had been laying next to her when she awoke. The shard of stone she found herself upon was drifting, rotating until she found herself at an angle which by all rights should have had her floating off. But gravity was no longer applicable to this place. A void within space. "How...how can I be breathing?" she whispered. Magenta eyes widened. "Masaka!" Time had been stopped. Chiming rings echoed across a vacuum which should have allowed no sound to penetrate. A brief metallic chord reached her ears. Setsuna let the rock continue its rotation until she felt that she was at last rightside-up. She turned her head to the one she knew to be lurking here somewhere. And from another piece of lifeless rock, the Raithe was quietly watching her. Both of them should have been dead. The magik of Death Reborn Revolution had consumed Aurora entirely. First the Silence had swept across the face of the planet, annihilating everything it touched. People and palaces were blown apart like leaves as the hellish onslaught made its course across the surface. The Silence collided with itself at the southern pole, detonating into a pillar of pure destructive magik that tore through the very core of Aurora. It burst through the northern pole, ripping apart the planet from inside out. Nothing could have held this world together. And Aurora had exploded into millions of fragments of rock. "You...." she whispered, not daring to have her voice become any louder. Any more volume and it would have been a vicious hiss. Eyes of the midnight skies never faltered, an even stare taking in every image of betrayal that shone through her face. The bitterness in her quivering lips. The tears brimming at the edges of her trembling eyes. The pale colour to her otherwise tanned skin. And yet all he did was watch, motionless. A spectre amidst it all. The Raithe pivoted, making a sweeping gesture with his shakujyo. Its garnet orb flickered to life, a windfall of magik escaping the crystal sphere atop his staff. Shades of grey faded to reveal colours. The darkness was alive, sparkling lights all around her in the aftermath of annihilation. The black rock became earthen mud, and she could see the texture that had once existed at the heart of Aurora's core. Rays from the distant sun were scattered, most of the golden warmth lost by the immense debris field all around them, blocking out the light. Setsuna pushed off the rock she was upon, floating through space, and slowly if not gracefully twisting her body so that she could land upon the piece of earth where the Raithe stood. In the vacuum, despite time having been stopped for the most part, rapid actions were slowed down to elegantly delayed motions. Nothing was said between them. He opened his hand. Inside was a flower, dripping in shadowy hues, a curving stem adorned in thorns. Petals of darkest night opened up, blossoming to reveal a flower that should never have been. Seconds later a wind swept past the two of them, tearing the petals from the fragile blossom. A black rose. "Sacrifice is a part of duty," the Raithe stated. "Aurora's destruction had to occur, or else the continuum would have been torn apart--by the very paradox you created in sending Hotaru here." The silence was shattered. Whatever solitude was held between them in mourning for the fallen planet was lost. Setsuna's grip on her time staff tightened. "Their deaths meant nothing to you," she stated angrily. "You watched with a distant expression, as if their pain never existed. You're watching me with that same face even now." "I have had centuries to build up a thick skin," the Raithe replied. "I do what needs to be done; it is my duty to help create the future that will be, no matter what the cost." "What about the lives of others?" she shot back. "What about your own life?" The Raithe's eyes narrowed. Something that might have been a growl escaped his lips, a glare from his eyes causing her to step back. "You would be wise to watch what you say, Setsuna. Guarding time is a duty you still have much to learn about. In the heat of this moment, I will let your rude words pass." She had managed to strike a nerve. That almost surprised her. But it didn't end the pain and frustration that was within her. So many of those on Aurora she had talked with, walked alongside, even shared quiet moments with. And now it was gone, torn from her by a cruel twist of fate. She couldn't hold it back. And now all her anger had found a focus: him. With an enraged cry she swung the time staff over her head, smashing it down upon the Raithe. His shakujyo was already raised to counter her attack. She didn't relent, trying to forcibly have him lower his defenses. "You brought Mistress Nine into being!" she exclaimed, towering over him, the tears no longer able to be held back. They flowed down her cheeks. Fell from her chin onto his face. "It's all because of you that they died!" "Don't get sanctimonious with me!" the Raithe snapped, wrestling to keep her at bay. "I know what duty means. I have been following it through for centuries upon centuries before you were even conceived. What I have done was done for the sake of the future, for a dream you yourself once lived in!" He suddenly pushed her back, both of them putting distance between the other. She shook her head, unwilling to let the Raithe justify his actions. The future could be created without such a loss of life. It was all she had left to believe in now, as she stood amidst the remains of Aurora. Magenta eyes closed. Her own garnet orb started to glow as her magik began to manifest. The key-shaped staff was raised, aimed directly at the Raithe. Her attack came in but a whisper: "Dead Scream." The blast of light filled the waste-laden heavens, engulfing them both. And then it was suddenly cut in half, the Raithe's shakujyo ripping her magik in two. He landed right in front of her. Both of them were panting, gasping for air. Neither one moved. "I cannot make amends for what has already come to pass, Setsuna," he said. "You know just as I that the past cannot be changed. Call it what you wish: destiny, fate, kismet. It is our duty to be both its instigators and its slaves. She can be a cruel mistress sometimes, Setsuna, but it will not change the fact that we now find ourselves in an asteroid belt where Aurora once was." "We should be dead," she stated. "Hotaru as well. Death Reborn Revolution should have killed her in the process." The Raithe shook his head. "That fatal magik would end the life of the invoker if she were Sailor Saturn. Mistress Nine is not a Sailor Senshi; the daemon energy inside of her is feeding her magik, renewing her demonic life." "But that means she could use it again." "True...but she won't. Aurora was just venting off steam; Earth is her true target, one that she has little intention of destroying." Setsuna gravely watched the cosmos above and beyond what her eyes could see. She knew well enough what the Raithe meant. "Pharaoh Ninety. She's going to try and bring the alien entity to our solar system. All because you had to show it the way here." He looked to the vast shards of rock floating all around, above and beneath them. One day perhaps, a queen would establish a quartet of soldiers to guard over this place. A memorial for the souls who had perished here in a war that existed only for the sake of a future yet to be discovered. "Believe me when I tell you that this was the only way to stop the paradox," he said, his voice in but a whisper. "How can I trust you after what you have done?" she asked. The Raithe turned to stare at her, his midnight eyes betraying something about the cool demeanor he usually showed. Perhaps his humanity. "You don't. You can't. But the war has only just begun, Setsuna. Nothing ever truly ends. And nothing ever truly dies so long as time continues to move full circle." The tears had stopped flowing. Her own grief and anger had subsided for now. Setsuna let her gaze sweep across the vast desolation of Aurora. A large fragment of rock leisurely spun through the empty space over their heads, momentarily eclipsing the starlights and forcing them to dwell in darkness. "Hotaru...iie, Mistress Nine was able to do this to a planet. The rest of the solar system doesn't stand a chance against the Messiah of Silence." The Raithe's eyes closed. "Then your future is already lost." She turned to him, frustration more than anything else rising in her expression. Every time with him it was like this; despite even Aurora's destruction, he continued to play with these cryptic games. "What is there that I can do, that any of us can do?" she demanded. His eyes slowly opened, watching her. Studying her. Appraising her as if to see whether she could truly be the guardress of time. "Mistress Nine will not destroy another planet," he said. "I've seen to that. However, there is a greater power she now seeks as the Messiah of Silence. And if she claims this magik as her own, then what has happened to Aurora will pale in comparison to what she does next." Winds unseen yet very much felt blew past them. The pleated folds of her sailor fuku danced around her waist, and the long edges of his raven-dark robes billowed out before him. They stood at a new edge of heaven, on the crossroads of a new destiny being forged. The Raithe leaned on his shakujyo. "I have almost fulfilled my own duties, followed through with my own choices. My actions have set this in motion, and only your actions will let it come to a close. Setsuna, if you indeed wish for Crystal Tokyo to appear, then you must go to Earth. The future--yours and everyone else's-- is waiting for you there." He straightened, moved ever so much closer to the precipice where lifeless rock became darkest space. Midnight eyes reflected the midnight heavens, and for a moment he was respectfully silent. Though out of respect for what she remained uncertain. "You are never truly alone in your journeys, Setsuna," he said. "Very soon others like you will come to Earth, to fight for the future. I have already ensured they hold the magik and the Talismans necessary to continue the battle against the Dark Messiah." Her eyes widened, already understanding his hidden words. "The Outer Senshi," she said. The Raithe nodded. "Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune will need your guidance if they are to help locate the Holy Grail. Only with the Grail's powers can you find the one soul destined to stop Mistress Nine, and restore peace to this solar system." Holy...Grail. It was a word that seemed vaguely familiar in her distant memories, echoing of a lesson or a life once lived. But while she could only guess at its origins, what she felt within determined how pressing the urgency was to find this chalice. "You will find your own battles to fight, but I cannot give to you what you have already made for yourself," the Raithe said further, motioning to her key-shaped staff. "Besides, Uranus and Neptune's Talismans are items that Dante was able to forge with his magik. The garnet orb in your staff is not a weapon or a Talisman...but a key." She gave him a puzzled look. And it seemed to amuse him, the way a teacher is amused by the confusion of a student learning the ways of the world. The Raithe smiled, raising his shakujyo towards her. Abruptly the garnet orb atop his staff started to sing, chiming a strange yet beautiful melody that she recognized. The song he had once played on the ringed piano. His crystal glowed in singing this magik. And then the garnet orb atop her own key-shaped staff echoed a reply. Setsuna leaned back, letting the garnet orb create a melody that matched the one sung by the Raithe's. Both crystals were synchronizing with each other. Both crystals were of the same magik. She stared at the Raithe, unable to conceal the surprise on her face. "Masaka," she whispered. Suddenly the orbs exploded in a fierce light, swallowing them both up. Setsuna shielded her eyes as she felt the magik stealing her away from the graveyard of Aurora. But before she was engulfed entirely, she saw the Raithe's enigmatic smile directed towards her. And then he was gone. It was still dark out beneath the skies of Neptune. Starlight was caught by the glassy surface of the near-eternal oceans, rippling with the movements of the water. The midnight tides were receding, waves gently splashing against the beach shores of the surface city still occupied by Uranus' forces. No one but the usual guards were up at this hour; no one had reason to be. However, a reason quickly gave itself life. Arthur squinted his copper eyes as the door to his chambers was opened. A hand went in front of his face, the shadow cast over his eyes easing the strain from such exposure. The Golden Empire's king dug his way out of the blankets, blinking wearily at the silhouette standing before him. "What is it?" he asked groggily, pushing aside a stray thin braid of his greying blonde hair. "Milord," the one in the doorway stated. "I didn't wish to intrude on your rest...but this is urgent." It was Lancelot. Arthur groaned, pulling himself even further out of bed. He ruefully asked himself what quandary the Neptuni and Uranian delegations had gotten arguing over now. No rest for the wicked. "Go ahead, Lancelot," he sighed, slipping his coin-sized lenses over the bridge of his nose. The Knight Commander uneasily looked around the room, as if refusing to step inside. Whatever he had to say, he didn't want to at all, let alone accept what the message itself offered. "We just received an emergency distress from the 'Dragon's Eye,'" Lancelot said finally, grimly. Arthur searched his memory for the name of the interstellar vessel. One of Earth's finest battleships, probably the sole one that could even hope to compete with anything Uranus' military created. Some the soldiers who had cut their teeth under his command during the wars which preceded the Golden Empire's formation were posted as the bridge crew on that ship. Lancelot glanced around the room, not staring at anything. His throat was tense, his very expression unwilling to believe what was on his mind. "Lancelot," Arthur pressed. "What did The Dragon's Eye report?" "The ship was orbiting Aurora, overseeing a trade convoy bound for Pluto. Halfway through, the transmission was abruptly cut off. We haven't been able to regain contact with them since. We haven't been able to regain contact with any ship from this system that was orbiting or docking on Aurora." The king slowly rose from his bed, tossing the covers behind him. Already he could read the signs of war. But Aurora? Of all the places in the Solis System, that planet would have been the least of all places for battle to erupt. The idea that Aurora itself might have declared war on the other planets was absurd. Something wasn't right. "A passing merchantship from Jupiter managed to contact us a few minutes ago," Lancelot continued. "It had sustained heavy damage from an unexplained energy wave, its origins coming from Aurora's orbit. Soon afterwards the ship confirmed beyond a shadow of a doubt...that Aurora itself was destroyed." Arthur's expression was one of pure shock, his thoughts and senses reeling from the implications behind the words. "D- Destroyed?" he asked, unable to completely believe the words. The Knight Commander nodded. "It was blown apart, inside out, reduced to nothing more than asteroids floating in space. Anything that was in close orbit was taken out by the shockwave. I have some reports from Earth detailing the residual light of the explosion. It's being called the Aurora Borealis." But those words were falling on deaf ears. Aurora's destruction was still failing to fully register within the king's mind. He stumbled backwards, collapsing onto the edge of his bed, horrified by the visions his imagination conjured up. Of the vibrant life being snuffed out. "Rivend...." he whispered hoarsely. "I'm sorry," Lancelot said, trying to sound as gentle as possible. Yet the news itself could not be delivered without sounding morbid or callous. They were far from the devastation, would never have noticed it save for the emergency communications the dozens of disabled ships in the area were sending out. "How many?" Arthur's voice was quiet. Not subdued, and not mournful. Just quiet, hushed and in whispers. Lancelot looked up at the elegant ceiling, beautiful Neptuni murals painted upon them. Of mermaids and beautiful ocean palaces, of a creature they called the Suravi'ka. Everything seemed real, dancing over their heads and enticing them to join in the joys of life this planet had to offer. "Everyone," he answered. Faded copper eyes closed, a deep breath being sucked into Arthur's lungs. It was better that he said nothing; what could one possibly say to the shine of millions of lives suddenly and savagely being extinguished? So many questions amidst the grief. How could this have happened? What had the power to annihilate an entire planet? Lancelot turned away, pausing as he placed a hand on the doorpost. "I'll be waiting outside." The Knight Commander left, the door sliding shut behind him. And leaving Arthur alone in the dark to gather his thoughts and fears. Her eyes fluttered open. It was strange to think that a dreamless sleep would be so welcome. The room was dark despite the morning light trying to creep through the screens. One of the sliding doors was left half-open; the hallway beyond it seemed as dark as her room. Crystal blue focused on the shadows, on her solitude. Her Elven prince was not in the chambers; this was the first time she had been alone. Alone with her thoughts and emotions, alone with her dreams and fears. Her soul...and her magik. Something was causing her nerves to tingle as she awoke. It was unlike the Elven magik she felt long after Kakkyou would kiss her. This radiated out from her heart and soul. It was a part of her, like being in front of a warm fire on a cold winter's night. A shining glimmer in the darkness. Tresses of long blonde hair shimmered in the glow of the two enchanted candles placed within her room, enfolding her in a soft and golden bed all its own. She lifted her head, sat up from beneath the covers. Her hair trailed down over her shoulders. One of her hands reached up and traced its way down the flow of blonde hair, from the base of her neck down to where it all cascaded into a golden pool in her lap. "What is happening to me?" she asked quietly. There was no response. She didn't expect there to be one. Both Kakkyou and Halefyne were at a loss to explain the nightmares she suffered whenever she slept, unable to protect her within those haunted dreams. Those violet eyes still taunted her whenever she gazed into a shadow, that savage blade causing her to jump whenever she heard the wind cut through the air. And now there had been a new vision. One that gave answers yet left so many new questions unanswered. She had seen that innocent girl with the ravendark hair cut down by the one calling herself Mistress Nine. It was that woman, beautiful and deadly all in one alluring face, who commanded the blade she recognized, whose eyes she saw chasing after her. That glaive had been stained with the raven-haired girl's blood. She had screamed, cried out, begged the harbinger woman to stop. But that had done nothing except feed the woman's lust for destruction. She was helpless to save that little girl, just as she had nearly been helpless to save Maya from that reptilian demon. Ever since it had attacked, she had dreams she wished to never remember. What had happened in that battle? Kakkyou and Halefyne had stood their ground against the demon, fought it and destroyed it. They had to...for it was dead when she woke up. Woke up from what? Serenity's eyes widened as she realized her memory was lost between awakening in Kakkyou's arms, and watching the reptile beast lunge for her and Maya. Awaken.... The candle flames abruptly flickered, though she felt no winds that might disrupted them. Red and orange fires danced wildly before being sucked into the tip of the candle. And she was plunged into momentary darkness. Light arose with a sudden start once more, though now the candlefire was silver. Shimmering grey hues, majestic and beautiful, swayed to the song of an unseen wind. Awaken.... Serenity felt her stomach seize up, her heart suddenly pumping faster. Those voices had echoed across her dreams, and now defied the borders the two realms of asleep and awake held. She lifted her hand before her face, crystal blue eyes looking at her open palm. Something was awakening from deep within her. A magik. Unlike anything she had ever felt before. Such warmth inside her body; why was this frightening her? "Serenity?" A timid face appeared from around the corner of the fusama. A young girl stood at the edge of the open doorway, long auburn hair braided and dangling over her shoulder. Serenity smiled, nodding for the little girl to join her. "It's alright, Maya. I'm awake." The child quickly skittered across the floor separating them, and knelt down next to her. The candles still burned like moonlight, and the shadows in the room were possessed of a strangely peaceful dance. She could feel Maya trembling without even touching the little girl. Serenity wrapped her arms around the child, pulling Maya closer. Maya buried her face into Serenity's breast, the tears starting to fall. "Serenity...I'm scared." She nodded, stroking Maya's hair. "I know, Maya. I am too." Crystal blue eyes suddenly widened as she saw GlenHawke explode into her memories. Except now it was in shades of grey, drab and lifeless. As if time had stopped, and all that was vibrant and alive with it. Maya was there, frozen with a terrified scream on her lips. But she...she was still moving. She held colour where there should have been none. Her gown had changed, become a dress of long and flowing white that billowed out in a wind that could be neither felt nor seen. The demon crashed down into the rain-soaked mud, rearing up instantly afterwards. Suddenly she knew its name. Reptilius. Serenity saw herself bearing the mark of a crescent moon upon her forehead, standing there before the snarling beast. The air was crackling, alive with a fierce and rampant magik that was coming from her body. Her heart...it was on fire, being consumed with a purity that she could not describe. Abruptly the Serenity within her memory turned away from Reptilius. And looked directly at her. The one within her memory knew of being watched. "Awaken me," the memory whispered. Serenity blinked, her memories falling away as she found herself cradling Maya in her arms once more. She looked down at the crying child. That youma; it had come for her. For this magik hiding inside of her soul. Her body felt chilled, and Serenity held onto Maya tighter, fearing for the little girl's life. Maya had nearly been killed it the attack, an innocent caught in a lethal crossfire. What if those youma came back? What if they came back? He couldn't cry. Why couldn't he cry, shed a single tear for a lost world? The Pendragon had never moved from the edge of his bed, slumped over in utter defeat, his eyes focused upon nothing. He couldn't even recall if he had been thinking clearly, or thinking of anything. His breathing was no longer erratic; the shock had either worn off or taken full control. Everything about him was unusually calm. Unusually still. The only thing that had changed was that the coin-sized lenses once over his eyes were now on the floor, ignored and forgotten. His hands were cradling his temples, but there was no headache he suffered from. The lights were still off, darkness abounding off every wall and object in his guest quarters. Ghostly reflections rippled across a part of the upper walls, a thin shaft of moonlight striking the waves and bouncing through the window was upon the ceiling. Another night might have found him awake, looking up from where he laid in bed and silently in awe of the Neptuni art. Yet there was nothing but regret. A cold, empty maw left open within his soul. And it echoed of the darkness where Aurora once was. He had shut down, unable or refusing to think, to act, to be human. It was all coming to an end. Something shifted within the shadows, darkness parting the way for a new spectre that defied all barriers and securities. Arthur's inner sanctum was penetrated, though he did very little to acknowledge the presence of another. He never stirred, shifted or turned his head. The fact that it had suddenly appeared did not startle him. Instinctively, he already knew who it was. "Was it my fault, Merlin?" he asked, his voice low and calm. Yet all life had been drained from it, an echo of the shell he now seemed to be. "Was it because of me that Aurora's destroyed?" The spectre took another step into the pale light cast within the room. An Ancient stood there, the flickering image of a wizened old mage watching the king with a look of empathy. "Yes and no," the projection answered. "What destroyed Aurora was something not even I could have prevented; I learned only too late of the planet's extinguished life." An end of existence. Cruel and twisted. Even moreso, this could be only the beginning. If there was an instigator, one powerful enough to deliver death unto an entire planet, then this was merely a prelude to something darker. And, as impossible as it seemed, he already knew who was behind all this. Morgana. "You said I was partly responsible for it," Arthur spoke up again. "She...she orchestrated this, didn't she?" The spectre looked away. "I do not know for certain, but I trust my instincts. She is the only one who could have gained from such an atrocity." Faded copper eyes were slowly squeezed shut. He was taking in every word, each one hitting him like a hammer, the accusations and implications but a numb pain in the back of his mind. Perhaps this was what Merlin had been warning him about for so long. For years he had refused to believe the words, to do anything about them. And now his hesitation had culminated in a horrific holocaust that spilled more blood over his hands. All because of her lust for Camelot, for all the city stood for. "It should have been me, Merlin. I should have died with that planet." "But you didn't," the spectre stated. "You are still alive. Be grateful you breathe." "How can I be grateful?!" Arthur snapped, showing a true emotion since first learning the news. He lifted his head, glared at the projection. "Billions of lives were just wiped out--and I could have prevented that! If Morgana is to be damned for this genocide, then I am damned too for letting her succeed." Merlin seemed to take no adverse reaction. The spectre merely nodded and stepped closer. "I can understand your grief and fury, Arthur. But what has been done cannot be undone. If you let your past regrets remain, they will surely consume your entire future." A bitter expression was on the Pendragon's face as he rose to his feet, standing face to face with the shadow image of the Ancient. Moonlight rippled across his face, passed through Merlin's. "Morgana's not done yet, is she?" Arthur said. The spectre glanced out one of the windows, to the ever- stretching coastal waters sprawled out far beyond the horizon line. From moonlit blue to ocean darkness. "If you remain on Neptune," Merlin stated. "there will not be a Golden Empire to come home to, Arthur. Return to Earth; I will be there to fight alongside you." He found himself looking out at the same waves as the projection. Aurora once had seas and waves like this. But now they were gone. But Earth...Earth still had oceans like this. Numbing grief was put into the fire. It screamed, echoed, writhed beneath a new emotion that was slowly burning its light into his copper eyes. His memories would keep Aurora alive. And right now, his vendetta against the Shadows would keep him awake until Aurora's destruction had been avenged. Arthur turned to Merlin. "Give me some time to organize things over here," he said. "I'll take Neptune's StarChamber back to Earth in a few hours." The spectre bowed, fading out of being. "As you wish." The wait was only for a few minutes, five to ten at most. Yet they seemed to take forever, an eternity of standing and pacing and nervously wondering what was happening. The doors slid open next to Lancelot and he snapped to attention, more out of sub-consciousness reflex than anything else. Arthur stood there in the doorway, face pale and eyes red, but otherwise collected. "Arthur?" Lancelot asked cautiously. There was something about the Pendragon, something different. Something that seemed of possession. Arthur was already walking briskly down the corridor, clothed in formal armour rather than fighting armour. Yet such formal armour itself was only worn on occasions when battle was either remembered, or expected. Excalibur was sheathed over his back. That alone captured the Knight Commander's attention; ever since his decisive duel upon Aurora's inverted arena, the king had never brought the legendary sword out into the open. Let alone be seen visibly wearing it. Lancelot immediately took up the pace with the king. "I want you to notify all the major planetary authorities about this if they haven't already been," Arthur ordered, not even glancing back. The edge had returned to his voice, sharp and exacting. "Tell them exactly what you've told me; leave nothing out. I want the entire system on a full military alert until we can ascertain what the hell happened on Aurora. And I want as many emergency teams as we can afford deployed within the hour to the explosion site; our top priority is to rescue any survivors." "Yes, Sir." The Pendragon turned and stared directly at Lancelot. His eyes were focused, a fire burning within them. "I didn't spill past blood, including my own, to see our fragile worlds be dashed to pieces like this," he stated. They'd worked so hard for peace; he was not about to stand by and let it be lost. Not this easily. "If we don't take control now, the entire Golden Empire could fall apart into chaos." Lancelot motioned down the corridor. "The Uranus colony's tactical centre is this way. We can use it as our base of operations for the time being." "Do we know what did this?" Arthur asked. The Knight Commander shook his head. "No. But we're tracking an energy signature that left Aurora around the time of its destruction. Whatever it is, its power is stable but off the charts. And it's on a direct course for--" "Earth," the king finished, already knowing it. "Lancelot?" "Yes, your Majesty?" The king turned to his Knight, eyes already revealing what he was about to say. "What I feared the most has finally happened: we're about to go to war again. Pray that it ends quickly." Haruka watched the undersea empire of Neptune on the other side of the curving glass window. And in turn Michiru watched Haruka from the edge of their bed. The tall, sandy-blonde held an expression that to others would have been mistaken for a scowl. She knew better. It might have been solemn, even grim to a certain extent. But it was not a scowl. Haruka was the type who became determined quiet easily, the mission becoming the obsession. Partially due to her upbringing amidst Uranus' military order, and partially due to the person she was. Michiru's eyes momentarily darted over to the fading glow of the viewscreen. Not so long ago, their quiet slumber had been interrupted by an urgent word from her mother; Aurora had been torn apart beyond belief, all life upon it wiped out. As the unexpected transmission returned into the obscurity of darkness, they were both left to question what would happen now. It was doubtful the Uranian delegations would remain. Not when an unnamed apocalypse had annihilated an entire planet. And that meant they would have to be separated once more--though this time they might be apart longer than ever before. And there were still the other complications of their hidden romance. "Neither your family nor mine knows that you are here in my chambers," she said to Haruka. "You don't have to worry about what your father will say; he will just assume you've disappeared somewhere in the middle of the confusion." "My father's reactions to learning about us doesn't concern me," Haruka stated. Her hand brushed against the edge of the glass, and her reflection showed the dark expression on her face. She could still see that haunting shadow lurking in the background, of someone whose eyes were like stars. The Uranian princess turned around, looking at Michiru. "What does concern me is Aurora. There's no telling what this will do to the rest of the Solis System. My planet's agitated enough to go to war over this; everything could fall apart in a few hours." An enigmatic smile appeared on Michiru's face as she leisurely leaned back on the bed. "Ara ara, and you would rather not be in my arms when the world ends?" Haruka shook her head, smirking at that remark. "While there's no place I'd rather be, Michiru, I was never raised to be complacent. I just can't sit by and let this happen." She watched the tall, sandy-blonde pick up the sheathed royal sabre. "So you would go to war?" A pause. "I don't know." Haruka walked across the floor, sitting down next to the Neptuni princess. Her fingers gently ran through Michiru's wavy aqua-green hair. They were so close to each other, listening only to their quiet breathing and the rhythmic beating of their hearts. "I have to do something," Haruka said, leaning her forehead against Michiru's. Her blue eyes closed. "But you don't know what that is," Michiru countered, hauntingly majestic eyes watching her. "You don't know which side to take, which destiny to follow." Haruka's eyes opened, staring at the Neptuni princess. Her lover. Her passion. Her obsession. "I would defy the very stars to be with you, Michiru," she stated. She meant it. Every word. Michiru let her lips steal a kiss from Haruka's mouth. "You don't need to defy them, love. I'm right here." A hushed laugh was drawn from Haruka. "Hai hai." Michiru let the scent of her lover flood her senses. Only in Haruka's arms did she feel complete. And only with Haruka alongside her would her destiny be fulfilled. "You brought it with you, ne?" she asked. "Brought what?" Haruka asked in return, her voice quiet and still unwilling to disturb the mood between them. "Your henshin." The Uranian princess abruptly drew away from her, almost ready to stand up from the sheets. "How did you know about that?" Haruka asked cautiously, that guarding wall which had taken so long for Michiru to break down suddenly up in a brief instant. Michiru brought out her own henshin, one with the planetary rune of Neptune engraved on the tip. Sparkles like the depths of the oceans trailed down her hand as she placed the henshin next to her on the bed. And then she slowly leaned forward, letting her lips caress Haruka's ear with her breath. "You are just like me, Haruka," she whispered. "We are Sailor Senshi." "I wouldn't know that," Haruka said, pulling away again. "I've never tried to summon anything from the henshin." Her demeanor towards Michiru had grown distant in a few seconds, questioning who her lover was. Questioning who she was. It was one thing to defy family and protocol, to romance another princess, one whose family was on unfriendly terms with hers. But now Haruka was looking destiny in the eye. "Can't you feel it calling you?" Michiru asked. "The magik we hold within us, the power that was meant to be harnessed by these henshins; can't you feel it calling out to you?" Haruka's hand slowly reached behind her back, and then drew out the artifact bearing the rune of Uranus. "Ever since I first received it, I've ignored the voices," she said. "It was given to me in a secret ceremony when I became sixteen; this henshin has been passed down to the firstborn royal daughter of every generation. My father told me about the legends, and then gave it to me. He had hopes, but did not fully expect me to be the true wielder of the henshin. But the instant it was placed in my hand...I knew I was a Senshi." The Neptuni princess placed a hand on Haruka's shoulder. "You cannot escape destiny, love." Haruka placed her hand over Michiru's. "But at the very least, I'll be close to you." They both looked out to the reaches of undersea realms hidden beneath Neptune's surface. On the other side of the glass was wind and water and flowing tides. Neither one could return to their lives as princesses; everything would be thrown away for their cause and battle. A call to arms had been raised. Sacrifices would be inevitable. Such was the harsh reality facing them. "Whatever destroyed Aurora has origins outside of our solar system," Michiru stated. "That is why we Sailor Senshi of the outer planets have been called into duty." Haruka nodded. "We'll find it, and fight it." To save this world, they would descend into hell. Yet hell would not be so bad. For they would descend into the fires together. His hands idly played with an amber rose, spinning the flawless stem between his fingers before bringing the blooming flower to rest within his cupped palm. Strange to think of how something so seemingly alien to him would become such a natural action so quickly. This rose; he had thrown it at a creature he had never before seen. A shadow that had a hellish face and no doubt a hellish name. He didn't want to consider what it would or could have been called. But this rose--he had summoned it from the very nothingness of being. Magellan turned his gaze away from the rest of the rose garden sprawled out before him. He had to be honest with himself; the entire act of playing with the roses was merely something to calm his nerves. Most everyone who had seen the explosion in the skies was curious. The handful of others, like him, who knew what that explosion was, were worried. Already intelligence transmissions were cluttering up the skies. Reports and rumours were coming in from not just places around Earth, but from interstellar vessels and outposts, and other planets as well. Mercury was incredibly agitated about losing its trade envoy bound for Pluto. Camelot didn't seem impressed either that their flagship, the Dragon's Eye, had also been destroyed with Aurora. But no one held any certainty as to what had reduced a planet to a belt of lifeless asteroids floating in space. Rumour control was having enough of a problem trying to prevent a surge of mass hysteria across Arthur's realms; some tacticians feared this was an omen. The Shadows were going to attack soon. However, all the concerns and commotion about Aurora were growing distant in his mind. It was easier to be calm, remain stoic to such a tragedy when it was so far away. He was still trying to live down the adrenaline rush from the morning's attack. Those reptilian youma had been rather insistent on dispatching not only him, but Myung as well. Through that he had discovered a magik of the roses. And through that, he had also learned of Myung's secret. Somehow, despite the initial chaos that reigned after witnessing the explosion in the skies, she had managed to pull him aside. And everything was laid out. It didn't surprise him much to discover she was a princess from Venus. That actually explained a lot of things. But it was the addition to her royal lineage that was disturbing him. Myung had told him of the Senshi, the soldiers destined to appear to protect the Solis System in a time of deadly crisis. And then came what seemed the hardest shock of all. Myung had not merely told him; she had shown him that she was one of those prophesied Senshi. "Sailor...Venus," he mulled to himself. In truth, he had not the slightest idea where that put his relationship with Myung. He still cared for her, laughed in her company, felt alive in seeing her smile. Dammit, he still loved her. But now he knew she was a princess. Not only that, but some sort of soldier now too. Should he feel insignificant? Should he beg for her help? Ask for her to go--or to stay here in Vlatmere? "Why does life have to be so complicated?" he sighed in exasperation, leaning back and sprawling himself across the bench. "At least it's not boring," Frederic spoke up, walking into the rose garden. Magellan gave a beleaguered laugh. "As much as I hate to admit it, you're right," he said. "Anything new?" Frederic shook his head. "Not really. More than anything we've got sketchy rumours and an onslaught of rescue updates. However, you will be pleased to know that Arthur has just sent word to all the major players: he's returning to Earth immediately." That managed to catch Magellan's attention. "Has he called an emergency meeting?" the prince asked. "Not yet. The transmission said he will be though, once he arrives. Magellan, your name's on the guest list." Frederic noted the near scowl appearing on Magellan's face. "You don't look thrilled to be called to Camelot." Magellan gave his friend and incredulous look. "After what we saw, would you?" "Point taken," Frederic conceded. "I assume you're still worried about her." The prince nodded. "I keep thinking about that document she mentioned, the manuscript telling of the Sailor Senshi. If they are as powerful as its says they are, then that means--" "Whatever we're up against is just as bad if not worse," Frederic finished. "I hear you. So, is the fact that she wears a strange skirt going to put a cramp on your dating plans?" He received a punch in the shoulder for that. But Magellan didn't deny that his friend had a point; what was going to happen between him and Myung now? Would their duties pull them apart? What he disliked the most was thinking of Myung going into battle. Could he allow himself to let her walk into a war and risk being injured--or killed? Something on Frederic's wrist abruptly beeped. "Go ahead," he said, lifting the comm. link to where it could pick up his voice. "Sir," the reply came. "The modifications you requested have been completed. We can begin upon your arrival." Magellan and Frederic glanced at each other. "We'll be there shortly," Frederic answered. The prince was already standing up from the bench, heading for the nearest exit from the rose garden. His commander was not two steps behind him. Myung would no doubt meet them in the chambers-- provided she wasn't already there. They needed answers about the enigma that was the Sailor Senshi. And now was their best and only chance to find those answers. The legends had a source, a single document. It was time to procure a copy of that for themselves. "You ready for this?" he inquired. Frederic grinned. "Hey, I've always wanted to hack into Venus' protected mainframe." Kakkyou and Halefyne were standing on the edge of the courtyard, GlenHawke's Mother in the open and the Elven lord leaning against a nearby tree. Both of their gazes were to the skies, their attentions captured by the dancing lights that refused to die in the afternoon sun. "Now there's something you don't see every day," Kakkyou remarked dryly, the winds ruffling the sleeves of his garments. "What do you suppose did that?" Halefyne bit her lip. "I don't know." "We seem to be saying that a lot lately, you and I. Don't bother denying that we are finding ourselves in the midst of something far more grander and dangerous than we could possibly imagine." She turned to the Elven lord. "The answer is still 'No', Kakkyou." Tension inside GlenHawke was escalating each day. Reptilius' attack had left the students wondering if another might come. No one wanted to sleep alone in their own room. Magik had been left without practice for days on end. And it would still be weeks before Sister Rowyn recovered from her injuries. Everyone seemed to sense the attack as a mere prelude to something even more terrifying. And now this explosion amidst the stars had occurred. Winds were blowing across GlenHawke, gentle and cool. Trees rustled, the surrounding mountain forests oblivious to what was happening all around them. The moment of silence and quiet beauty passed them by. Kakkyou turned his head as he sensed a new presence drawing near. Serenity had emerged from her sleep; right beside her, clinging to her gown, was the child called Maya. Serenity nodded to them both, smiling as she saw them. She never had the chance to speak as Kakkyou pushed off from the tree and walked towards her. "Serenity," he said. "You're no longer safe here. I've come to take you with me to Elfhame. The magik of the Elven will protect you better than the Sisters of GlenHawke ever could." She froze. In a way she had expected to hear this. In a way she had wanted to hear this. His kisses had promised her so much to dream about. Kakkyou was the one she wanted to spend her future with. But now that it was happening, she was uncertain how to answer. The magik that had changed candlelight to moonlight was still within her soul. Everything was changing.... "Kakkyou!" Halefyne snapped. "You know there are no guarantees that the Elves in Arana won't kill her upon seeing her. You're acting on your own impulses, and that will only harm Serenity." The Elven lord turned his head, dragon green eyes narrowing at GlenHawke's Mother. "Are these the words coming from one whose barriers were shredded like they were dried up leaves?" Kakkyou inquired coldly. "That demon creature didn't even have to make an effort to get into this place." His eyes began to flash crimson, the change of colours betraying his rising anger. His silver hair began to billow out around him. Elven magik was being invoked. "How confident are you in Elfhame's defenses?" Halefyne shot back, visibly summoning her own powers as winds started to sweep around her form. Maya gripped Serenity's dress tighter. "Serenity!" Serenity stepped forward, coming between a potential battle between the two. "Stop it, please!" she cried out, silencing them both. Crystal blue eyes looked to the frightened girl clinging to her gown. For Maya's sake, for the sake of the others here at GlenHawke, she could not put them at risk. That youma whose name was Reptilius had come for her, and her alone. To leave GlenHawke was to draw the danger away from the students here. They had their own dreams to realize. She could not let those precious dreams be threatened. Serenity looked to the Elven lord. "I will go with you to Elfhame, Kakkyou. I don't want to put my friends, my family, in any more danger." "Serenity," Halefyne protested. "I cannot let you--" "She's old enough to understand that the power she holds is what these youma want," Kakkyou cut in, his tone finalizing any further arguments. "Serenity's not a little girl anymore, Halefyne. You've been her mother since she was brought here. Now it's time for you to let her go." Halefyne looked to Serenity for support. She found none. "I have been this girl's protector since you first brought her here to me," she said quietly, her voice subdued for the first time since Serenity could ever remember. "Then let me protect her now," Kakkyou said. Dragon green eyes were serious in their gaze to the aging woman. "Halefyne, we may have had our fights and our differences, but I trust you more than I trust some of my own kind. It's time for you to trust me. On my own, I have more power than all your combined students here at GlenHawke. The other Elven will stand with me." He glanced over at Serenity. "She's made her choice; I ask you to honour it." Halefyne watched him with half a glare and half a scowl. "Just promise me you will guard her with your life," she said. The Elven lord solemnly nodded. "By the royal blood of Elfhame that flows through me, she will not be harmed unless this body is broken first." Halefyne's swallowed hard. "If that is what Serenity wishes, then I will not hold her back." Serenity's face seemed to brighten, a smile appearing amidst the silent and saddened tears that were brimming in her eyes. Kakkyou was the name she wanted to whisper when she was about to fall asleep, his jade green eyes the last thing she wanted to see as she slipped into a dreamworld. But to be with him still meant giving up her life in GlenHawke. She would be turning away from anyone who cared for her, from anyone she cared for. With a nod she showed her gratitude to Mother Halefyne, unable to say anything as her voice seemed choked. Crystal blue eyes looked down the little girl clinging to her dress. Maya shook her head, mouth open in stunned disbelief over what she was hearing. She looked up at Serenity, desperate for a word of reassurance. "Y-You're leaving?" she said, the tears already threatening to run down the child's cheek. Abruptly Kakkyou stepped in, waving his hand before Maya. The child's eyes slowly closed and she fell backwards into the Elven lord's arms. Sleeping soundly, the little girl would not awaken for hours. "It would be best for all of us if we left without anyone else knowing," he said to Serenity. Halefyne nodded, taking the child from the Elven lord's arms. "I'll take care of Maya. Go now." And so a new Serenity's world changed. For the better or for the worse remained uncertain. Only the future would know. There was little for Serenity to do before she left. Kakkyou assured her there were garments awaiting her in Elfhame, so she took no clothes with her. She had no personal possessions that were of great value. But there was still a place she had to see one last time; Serenity said good-bye to the archives. The books upon the shelves wished her well, yet she could sense the loneliness already setting into these chambers. Before an hour had passed since her choice, Serenity found herself standing on the edge of GlenHawke's borders. A step over the threshold of the front gates would find her within unknown territory, realms where dragyns still might be lurking. She hesitated, the blue skies overhead displaying billowing white clouds that moved swiftly through the air. The winds that stirred these clouds also stirred the folds of her gown. Serenity looked back one last time at GlenHawke. Halefyne was seeing them off, standing a considerable distance away. Their Mother...seemed a little smaller than usual. Serenity waved one last time, and Halefyne returned the sentiment. "Serenity," the Elven lord said, already standing outside of GlenHawke. "We should be moving before the night begins to fall; Elfhame is a considerable walk through Arana's forest." She nodded and took in a deep breath. The threshold was crossed and she was no longer within GlenHawke. A new exhilaration thrilled her as she turned her head and saw the gates from an entirely new angle. This was freedom, the chance to embrace a new destiny. Her future. Kakkyou let her draw up beside him before he stole a kiss from her cheeks. "I swear I will always be with you," he said. "You are my only reason to live, Serenity. It might seem strange; an Elven and a human, but I cannot deny what I feel. I love you." Kakkyou took her hand in his, and led her into the trees. Into the forest isles of Arana. Into a lost world where the Elven dwelled. They were known as the Jackyl squadron. An assemblage of Mars' best and most unorthodox fighter pilots. The core team numbered twelve, and they were disputably the deadliest interstellar soldiers the Solis System knew. The only ones to debate the issue came from Uranus. However, no one from that planet was here. Right now, they were the masters of space. In a standard formation of 6x6 they patrolled the outer rim which defined the boundaries between Mars and Earth. Earth's lunar orb was partially blocking their view of the sun. This was, however, working to their advantage; the gravitational pull was also masking the presence of their fighters. From inside his cockpit, Arakyn clenched his hand into a ball. The skintight suit wrapped around his entire body from the neck down gave off a sound of being stretched. Eyes hardened by constant vigil and duty to his planet, by the wars that had raged on before the forming of the Golden Empire, stared at the wall before him. It should have been glass. Something to let him see into the depths of space. But they were running in stealth mode, not allowing the slightest rise in power to betray their location. Their target was that energy signature leaving Aurora after the planet's demise. Whatever their opponent was, it was not something to be taken lightly. Anything that could annihilate an entire world meant business. For now Arakyn was confined to staring at rows of metal bars, each one carved with runes that he couldn't read for the life of him. Probably some sort of operator's manual. But these were fighters crafted through a mergence of magik, metal and the human will. The Jackyl Squadron piloted the smallest interstellar vessels that made use of the "living engine" system. The flightsuit he wore was complimentary to the symbiotic relationship shared between pilot and piloted. It acted to amplify his own magik, to further feed the engine. As a result, his performance was enhanced incredibly. He was faster, more agile, harder to catch. "I've got something!" one of the Jackyl pilots abruptly spoke up. "It matches the signature we found leaving Aurora, coming our way." "Look sharp, people," Arakyn stated, closing his eyes. His thoughts grew focused, his mind willing the ship to come to life. Detecting his energy, the ship answered. The living engine system was activated. His bodysuit went from a solid shade of deep black to outlines of electric blue. An intricate design appeared upon every inch of the flightsuit, casting a sapphiric glow inside the cockpit. The thin bars of metal in front of him began to retract one by one, splitting in half and being pulled away. In their place was a glass canopy; at last he could see into space now. The stars were twinkling all around him--but his gaze was focused upon the single beacon of light in his sights. It was growing larger. Their target was approaching. An image appeared, superimposed on the glass canopy, revealing the identity of the one who had destroyed Aurora. "It's...it's a woman," one of the other pilots said in surprise. "Switch to battle mode," Arakyn ordered, working the control systems of his fighter. "I don't care what she looks like; odds are she'll fry our asses without a second thought. I want all weapons locked on her before she realizes we're even here." "She...she has some sort of energy field around her," one of the pilots said. "I can't get a lock." Arakyn scowled. "I could use something a little more specific. What kind of energy field? How heightened is her magik?" "Unknown, Sir," came the reply. And from her place soaring within the darkened heavens, Mistress 9 smiled wickedly. In time such a discovered magik would be harnessed by the Inner Senshi. An ability to travel through the emptiness of space without danger. Sailor Teleport. But at this moment in time, she alone was the only one who held such a heightened power to utilize a teleport that didn't require the StarChamber. Violet eyes opened slightly as she noticed her audience. It was time for the Dark Messiah to play again. But just like the samurai upon Aurora, the Jackyls were not about to go without a fight. "If you can't target her, then target whatever energy she's got enclosed around her," Arakyn snapped, quickly punching a number of buttons on a side console. "I want primary weapons systems from everyone online; each fighter will make one strategic strike, centring on the following co-ordinates." His eyes narrowed. "We hit her once and we hit her hard, people." Wielding magik was a part of being a fighter pilot. There was nothing more devastating an attack than one made by magik. Each fighter was equipped with a special series of amplifiers that could unleash a concentrated burst of magik. The speed and punch of the attack was enhanced almost tenfold as a result. The living engine's computer would see to adjusting the targeting once the energy pulse had been launched. But it was the power behind the pilot that determined how deadly the explosion would be. "Status report," Arakyn barked through the comm. system. Everyone gave their affirmative. His exhaled deeply, his hands gripping the two controllers that piloted the fighter. Every muscle in his body was tense beyond what they should have been, the cockpit alive with his magik. "On my mark," he stated. The Messiah of Silence drew closer. "FIRE!!" Every last ship of the Jackyl squadron let loose their attack, a volley of propelled magik shooting towards Mistress 9. Trails of the energy followed in their wake, wisps of incantation fading into the darkness. Arakyn's eyes were narrowed. He was vaguely aware of the sweat trailing down his face as he used every ounce of strength to force his projectile to soar faster and harder. They had one chance at a surprise hit; after that they would have to deal with this lethal harbinger face to face. Mistress 9 slowed her speed, tilting her body so she could properly face the onslaught. A laugh escaped her lips. "Pathetic," she stated, raising the Silence Glaive. The shimmering blade was pointed directly at the oncoming attack; she made no move to dodge or escape. "Silence Wall!" Something crackled within space, black lightening streaking in front of Mistress 9 as the attacking magik converged. And exploded. The heavens became ablaze in fireworks as fireball upon fireball spewed out from the core where the Dark Messiah had once been. Flames and smoke spilled out at every angle and direction. A series of cheers rose up from the Jackyl pilots. "Got her!" one proclaimed. Suddenly Mistress 9 punched through the inferno, soaring faster than she had moved before. The energy pulses had never even touched her; the magik of the Dark Messiah far surpassed that of any mere fighter. Or group of fighters. "Incoming!" one of the pilots exclaimed. "Evasive action!" Arakyn shouted, yanking hard on the controls. His fighter spun left and dropped; out of his peripherals he could see the others taking his lead. "Jackyls three and seven, draw her fire. The others move in behind and hit her with everything you've got. And watch out; she's more agile than we are right now." The squadron scattered and went twisting through the heavens, a number of them charging Mistress 9 while a number just dove out of her way. The Messiah of Silence dove right into the thick of the opposition. With a loud shout she raked down the glaive, a blast of magik amplifying the vicious arc. One of the fighters was cleaved in half, Mistress 9 shooting through the space between the two pieces before they detonated. Her Silence Glaive was swung again, the arc broader this time. Mistress 9's eyes were alive in her passionate appetite for wiping the squadron out of existence. "Silence Glaive Surprise!" Everything went dead silent. Arakyn felt his own fighter lurch, the cockpit growing unnaturally quiet. The lights around him began to flash and blink. This was the lull before the storm. And a split second later the heavens exploded. His craft was violently thrown, spinning upside-down and backwards as he tried to regain his senses. The craft was unwilling to respond, caught in what felt like a death spiral. As if the fighter was trying to play dead in order to survive the battle. Space and stars were a dizzying blur of lights, accented by the tremendous fireball that laid claim to the place where half of the Jackyl squadron had once been. Silhouettes were swallowed up as the shockwave tore through anything solid it could find. Static screamed into his ears. And amidst it all, Arakyn still fought to regain control of his fighter. What followed over the comm. system was total chaos. "Jackyls six, eight, two and five are down!" "Arakyn, do you copy?" "Where the hell is she?!" "She's right behind me. I could use some help!" "What the--?!" Within a matter of heartbeats, Mars' flying elite has been cut down. As Arakyn managed to get the distorted swirl of stars to settle within his sights, he could see only two more fighters from the Jackyl squadron still left intact. One had its engine sliced apart by the Dark Messiah moments later, the ship and its pilot killed by the ensuing explosion. The second one was soon to follow, though it swung around to face its enemy. Yet every blast that could be unleashed bounced off Mistress 9's barrier. One stroke destroyed the vessel. There was a brief moment where Arakyn's craft was stable and unmoving. And it was then that he could clearly see the Dark Messiah hovering in space. She turned to him, look directly into his eyes. Her own were violet, fierce and ready if not eagerly willing to annihilate him. She attacked. He fled. Arakyn winced as one of the wings of his fighter was grazed, exposed metal pulled back. It didn't surprise him when he felt the blood start to run down his arm. Like all transports, the fighters relied on the "living engine." The magik they used was symbiotic to the fighters. If the craft was damaged in any way, their own bodies showed the identical scars. He pulled upwards, throwing his craft into a sharp barrel roll. Mistress 9 was still in his line of sight; she was following him leisurely, like a cat allowing the mouse it had caught to run around. And then she struck. The Silence Glaive was raked across the side of the ship, tearing a massive gouge through the metal frame. Arakyn convulsed, blood dribbling out from his lips and down his chin as he felt the side of his belly open up. Warm liquid washed down his skin, his flightsuit stained scarlet. His vessel plunged downwards, making a maddened dash for Earth. "Come on...!" he hissed, forcing both aspects of the living engine to push their limits. If he didn't risk his life now, he'd be killed in a matter of seconds. The risk didn't matter. An enormous pulse of magik erupted from Mistress 9's glaive, aimed directly at his escaping vessel. Arakyn threw his craft aside, missing the core of the blast. But he was still struck, the damage severe as his fighter pitched sideways. In his blurred vision, he could see a blue world through the cracked glass canopy. He was falling to Earth. "Mayday!" he called out, sending an emergency signal out to anyone who might be listening. "I don't know if anyone out there can hear me, but I'm coming down whether or not you like it!" Another buffet shook the fighter, and his stomach tightened up. He felt sick, and vomited. The engine was dying...and so was he. "She's coming," he rasped, his voice and air strangled by a chest that seemed to want to crush everything inside. He was burning up. "She's coming...." Arakyn closed his eyes, and braced himself as the world outside turned into a fiery inferno. It would be a miracle if he survived re-entry. But after what he had just witnessed, death might be the preferred way to avoid another confrontation with the Dark Messiah. Seconds later his fighter broke apart, the left wing torn to ribbons by the force of the descent. Its balance thrown off, the craft made a grotesque spin that sent it pinwheeling. Sparks erupted along the sleek metal body as whatever protective shielding and framework the craft had was stripped off. Inside, Arakyn's body viciously convulsed as his skin was punctured, blood spraying every direction, the cuts and gashes matching the damage taken on by the ship. The engine core breathed its last. Arakyn was killed instantly as the fires swept through his cockpit. As the fighter went down in a brilliant crimson blaze, a wave of magik radiating out from its core, Mistress 9 watched the death with mild interest. How fragile these human vessels were--both the crafts and the pilots. If this was the Solis System's best defense, then she had definite reason to laugh in their faces. She smiled, and then giggled to herself. Taking over this planet for Pharaoh 90 would be easier than she had first thought. The technicians all stood at attention as Magellan and Frederic swiftly crossed into the expansive room. A curt salute was given by their king, his eyes already sweeping the chambers for one specific face. Myung turned her head as she heard the abrupt hush of the technicians. She had already suited up in a private antechamber, receiving her final inspection by one of the techs as they appraised her interface equipment. A nod from the young woman before her gave approval. Magellan adeptly crossed the room and moved down the staircase. If he didn't double-time each step, he might have just skipped the last flight. And he was by Myung's side right after. He didn't need to ask if she was alright; his blue eyes were practically being their own silent inquisition. Frederic took command of the others in the room. "Everybody, as far as the records go, you were all cleared out at this time," he stated, pointing to the lead technician. "However, we need you all here in case anything goes wrong." The technicians nodded. They had been warned of the classified priority this venture held. The presence of their lord, and his right hand, only validated the need for their unquestioning compliance. Frederic remained on the upper level, and leaned against one of the guardrails as he surveyed the large multi-floored facility. "As far back as I can remember, I hated these things," he said, frowning. He tilted his head down at Magellan. "I still do." "I know," Magellan replied with a grin. "Every time your routine training dive comes around, you find some excuse to push back the date as long as possible." Frederic continued to stare at the central piece, his frown becoming a scowl. It wasn't too far from the truth when he said he hated that thing. "Why anyone would actually want to be a data diver is beyond me." "It's not the weak of heart," Myung said, her tone neither scolding Frederic nor pitying him. It was a simple statement echoed by a princess who knew that truth must sometimes be flatly presented to be accepted. "Only those with incredible physical and psychological stamina can withstand the pressures of the dive." "However," the head technician cut in, reminding them all there were other members in this conspiracy. "You all are exceptions to that." She tugged at the black wetsuit clinging to her body. "Perhaps. But where ones like you were chosen, we've been trained from birth." Magellan's face became slightly flushed, and he cleared his throat to make for a convenient distraction from that fact. Her suit covered everything from the neck down...and she was wearing no other clothes beneath it. Every last contour of her body, though slightly muted by the fabric, was still brought out more than he felt comfortable with. His awkward attempt to remain a gentleman amused her; Myung laughed quietly, raising her arms and pivoting to let him appraise her a little further. "Tease," he sighed. But he still laughed. That made Myung feel a little easier; she could sense his apprehension. A dive like this was far from being classified as 'safe'. This one would hold more guardians swimming around, protective protocols that acted more as lethal predators than a mere security firewall. "I'd rather I was going," Magellan admitted. She shook her head, smiling despite the solemnness in her eyes. "I'm the only one who is qualified to do such a hack; my royal passcodes can get me past whatever guardians they've set up." "But it won't take the sentries long to realize it's a royal passcode that's accessing the archives," Magellan countered. "They might identify it as yours and run a trace." He cast another glance over her shoulder. Blue eyes looked up to the seemingly benign beast towering like a central pillar in the room. A large cylindrical, glass chamber was awaiting her. Metal and magik all wrapped into one tidy package. Bubbles from the liquid inside surged, floating to the top. A strange concoction that was like viscous water, a fluid tinted sky blue. It wasn't water. Despite all he had been taught, Magellan still didn't fully understand what the hell that stuff was. All he knew was that this was necessary for interfacing and accessing any planetary archival system. DataSea: a virtual network compiling every last scrap of information that had been collected since Aurora first created it. Technology and magik were again merged, blended almost flawlessly. To do a virtual dive into this ocean of information was the fastest and most surreal way to find anything. In the DataSea, while it might have been classified, you could find almost anything. Regular computers and terminals had their limitations of data transference, speed and organization. But the human element broadened the entire way the Solis system now looked at such a task. Data was no longer downloaded into a mere terminal; a diver could download it directly into their brain. Magik was the bridge that allowed technology and the organic to interact so. Myung looked back at the glass chamber. "It's time," she said, looking back to the prince. A torn dichotomy was woven into Magellan's expression. This was necessary if they were to further understand the role of the Sailor Senshi in this unfolding war. And at the same time, his body grew chilled at the thought of putting her at risk. A part of him was still on edge from that demon attack. He tried to find a voice of support, words of encouragement. All that came out from his mouth was aggravated stutters. "Just...just be careful," he said finally, quietly. "Come back to me, Myung." She nodded. And abruptly leaned forward, gently pressing her lips against his. It was stolen kiss that was savoured a few moments longer by each of them. Eyes closed, not daring to move any other part of their body, Magellan and Myung simply let the emotions ride the flood of warmth caused by their lips. Up on the higher echelon, Frederic sighed wistfully. "Ah, young love," he remarked, turning to the technician. "Indeed," the technician replied indifferently, more involved with the screens and interfaces in front of him. Myung broke away, blue eyes opening again as she smiled demurely. Her face was flushed. She didn't seem to mind. There was a stairway that led to the top of the glass chamber; Myung took her time ascending it, but didn't drag it out either. If anything she acted unusually calm, as if she were ready to go for a mere swim rather than a data dive. Only two types of people were ever (legally) permitted to do such "dives" into the enormous pool of data floating across the planets of the Solis system. One was a certified and trained diver, and the other was any member of the royal family and their inner court. Magellan's entire body tensed as he watched her reach the edge of the chamber, the princess looking down at the rippling liquid inside. She adeptly slid a visor over her eyes, ensuring it was secure around her head. There was nothing else she would take save for the suit covering her skin. That was all she required for an interface. All that was left was for Myung to dive. And breathe in the fluid directly to the lungs. "The first sign of trouble, I want her pulled out," Magellan said, looking up at Frederic. "A guard dog gets too close, her presence is detected; I don't care." Frederic nodded. "You do realize afterwards, you were never here," he added playfully to the technician. The technician gave him what might have been an unimpressed look. "I'm already feeling the amnesia, Commander." Somewhat taken aback by the retort, Frederic shrugged his shoulders at Magellan. Myung visibly took a deep breath, and then plunged into the chamber. There was barely a splash from the liquid as she was enveloped. Everything rippled, throwing an eerie dance of light across the entire room. Her kiss was still on his mouth, Magellan's lips tingling. As if she was still there in front of him and not submerged into that bizarre sludge. He could have walked up to join Frederic and the technician, to watch her progress from the terminals. But from here the sense of helplessness wasn't so great. He would remain close to her. And if something went wrong, he'd use a rose to shatter the chamber. Myung floated in the middle of the glass chamber, back slightly arched, arms partially extended. Her palms faced outwards; Magellan could only guess if her eyes were closed behind the mask. Lips moved. She drank in the liquid. There were a few moments where she convulsed, her body panicking when it registered that the lungs were filling with fluids instead of air. Whatever choking noise she made was silenced by the chamber, everything from where Magellan stood happening in pantomime. With each spasm her body went through, his entire being tensed. He suddenly realized he was clenching his jaw, hands tightly balled up in fists. Slowly Myung calmed down, her body now drinking up the oxygen circulating in the liquid. Her long blonde hair billowed out behind her, strands clinging together. "All biorhythms are within acceptable parameters," the technician reported. "Heartbeat steady. Brain algorithms are stable." Frederic and Magellan slowly turned their heads, sharing a brief glance at this prelude. "Let the hack begin," Frederic stated, turning to the head technician. The tech nodded, finger hovering over a single button. The dive was activated. Bubbles surged from the grating beneath Myung. And with the bubbles came numerous black cables. They were thin in diameter, metallic nodes on the ends guiding them towards her. It was like watching a swarm encircle their prey. One cable snaked forward, sliding next to the edge of the wetsuit at Myung's neck. The node rippled, and then burrowed. Fused with the suit. From where he stood, Magellan could no longer see the seam where the cable began and Myung's suit ended. The other cables began their own fusion, taking various place along her suit. The majority focused around her chest and back. Others brushed against her arms and wrists and legs. Very soon Myung resembled a hellish-looking battery. The visor was protecting her eyes from the liquid in the tank. But it had another usage; since this dive was a virtual one, she needed something to directly see and interact with. Aurora was--or had been but a few days ago--working on a special interface that didn't require the visor for a dive. One that might render the entire suit and chamber obsolete. But that dream would never be known now. Countless lives and dreams had ended. Myung vowed, as both a princess and as a Senshi, to stop this from happening to any other worlds. That more than anything else was what gave her the resolve to perform such a risky data dive. Her visor abruptly came on. White light flooded her field of vision, and she squinted. A part of her still knew she was floating in a glass tank somewhere on Earth; that meant the second phase of the dive had yet to be initiated. It was done so moments later. The white light faded and dissolved. Blurred into nothingness, and then became blue. She could vaguely make out the reflection of her face within the visor. And so she focused on that as her body started to tingle, the nodes working their magik. Watching it become her. Watching it become her.... She found herself standing on the edge of heaven once more. The same heaven. A different edge. Setsuna blinked, turned her head in surprise. Her last memory was that of a flood of light coming from the Raithe's garnet orb. An orb that echoed of her own unique magik. One that whispered of the trails of time, and left a strange beating in her heart. So foreign yet so familiar all at the same time. But the Raithe's games were far from over. More than ever now, she could hear something in his cryptic statements. A growing knowledge of what it meant to watch over the continuum that was time. He wanted her to tell him something. What that exactly was, she was still working on. Regardless, there was a growing urgency in his presentation; the games were fading away, and he was stating instead of riddling. Her thoughts about the Raithe faded away as Setsuna looked around her new surroundings. Whitened tiled floors stretched out before her, and behind her, and all around her. The guardress of time found herself next to a small fountain, its marble heads spewing forth crystal waters into its basin. She was in a grand hall that seemed to go on forever, the walls curving into archways of strange and elaborate designs. And yet everything resembled a skeletal framework, large picture windows of varying shapes matching every curve and bend the metal made. Everything here was expansive and open. Claustrophobia would never be an issue here. Nothing seemed to be bright despite the white hue seemingly being the only colour here; the light was toned down to a dim glow. Perhaps to resemble the evening. As far as she could tell, the only light came from the stars around her. Abruptly an almost mechanical voice spoke up. "I bid you greetings, Sailor Pluto," it said. "Welcome to Castle Charon." Needless to say, that startled her. Setsuna gave a cautious glance over her shoulder, finding nothing. She pivoted, looking further around the atrium, scanning it for any other presence. "Who are you?" she asked, tilting her head and looking up to the enormous dome overhead. It took her a few moments to realize that this dome was in fact just a round metallic frame without the glass. Above her, there was nothing to separate this place from the cold void of space. "I am the core consciousness of this castle," the voice answered. "And I have spent many years awaiting your arrival. My former master--" Setsuna whirled. "Who?" she demanded. There was an awkward pause, as if the castle was taken aback by her sudden attentiveness. Finally the voice replied, "He prefers I call him the Raithe." So she didn't just happen to find herself here by mistake. "My duties lie to the one who watches over the streams of time," the voice added. "You will find that only you have the authority to access my archives and functions. Even the other Sailor Senshi who will soon appear cannot enter this place unless you allow them to." "You know about the Senshi?" "The Raithe has been quite specific about their history in the Senshi Wars, and their destined roles during the Messiah Wars. I do, however, lament in that he has taunted me at every possible turn. I may be this castle's consciousness, but even I can only extrapolate so far." Setsuna rolled her eyes. "Hai hai, that sounds like him." She began walking down the grand hall, looking at the vastness of space the view had to offer. In all honesty, she had to admit it felt awkward talking to a disembodied voice. But at this point in time, she wondered if bringing up the subject might somehow hurt "its" feelings. "So...what do I call you?" she ventured. Evidently this thing, this place, this whatever-it-was had its own self-aware intelligence. Setsuna deemed it insulting to merely address it like it was a machine. "The Raithe always called me a pain for getting on his back all the time," the voice stated. It remained for the most part indifferent, but she could hear the hidden exasperation. "I do so hope this trend will not continue with you." Setsuna couldn't help but smile and laugh. This consciousness certainly had personality. "I would prefer you referred to me as Charon," the voice continued. "And as my new master, I am at your services, Sailor Pluto." "What can you do?" she asked. "What do you want?" That took her aback. And in all honesty, she wasn't sure how to respond to that. It momentarily sounded as if Charon was near- omnipotent. "My apologies," Charon said, apparently sensing her sudden discomfort. "It would take too long for me to elaborate on all of my possible functions. If there is something you seek, for now the fastest method is to simply ask if it is within my parameters to do it." Sounded simple enough. But Setsuna still found herself a little leery. She continued down the hall, the sound of her boots against the polished floor. Well-trimmed plants lined the metal framework of the hall, a few other potted trees blooming in the centre of the vast promenade. "You mentioned something about 'Messiah Wars'. What are they?" "I'm afraid I cannot answer that as completely as you would like me to, Sailor Pluto." "Please," she said. "Setsuna's fine." Again Charon seemed to pause in awkward consideration. "Hai. Setsuna, as far as I am aware, we are in the Messiah Wars right now. The destruction of Aurora marked the war's official beginning. The only other data I have is based on various archival resources from the Ancients, and intercepted reports coming from the Golden Empire." "Show me those," she stated, pausing in the middle of the corridor. "There's a lot of information to process." Her eyes narrowed. "Can you filter it, then? Look for anything indicating the source of Aurora's destruction." "Ah, you seek the Dark Messiah." Abruptly a series of lights came on, providing just enough illumination to reveal a curving staircase amidst everything else. The overall quiet and midnight ambience was not spoiled by the sudden glow. "This way," Charon instructed her. "When you reach the top of the stairs, go to the hallway on your left. At the end of it, you'll find the doorway leading into my command centre." Setsuna nodded, though unsure if Charon would actually register that as a response, and moved to the stairway. She took a moment at the height of the stairs to glance back at the promenade behind her. From this vantage point, the grand hall looked even larger than before. And incredibly peaceful, if not idyllic. Someone had gone through a lot of work to make her--or at least, the one in her position--comfortable. The left corridor was taken. The architecture was still fashioned to give an expansive feeling, large slender windows on one side of the corridor looking out into space. Setsuna could see her guardian planet from here. Magenta eyes glanced up, and saw the glass windows neatly curving to become one with the ceiling as well as the walls. There was in actuality no glass; just the metal framework and a large space where a viewing port would be. It looked as if there was nothing separating her from the vacuum beyond. Setsuna found that more than a little disconcerting. The hallway rounded a corner, and then came to an abrupt end. On three of the four walls there were only minimal supports neatly dividing the open spaces. To her right was the doorway. But before stepping through, Setsuna had to indulge her curiousity--as well as quell her fears. A gloved hand hesitantly reached out to where some form of glass should have been. The air abruptly rippled when her fingertips brushed against it, flowing sluggishly like viscous water. She could feel her skin tingling from the touch, a small charge of magik flowing through her hand. This magik was forming a transparent barrier that no doubt enclosed the entire castle. So that was how she could live out here without windows. Not sure if that had entirely put her concerns to rest, Setsuna turned to the door. The door flickered out of existence, revealing an open archway for her to cross through. The other side held some spectacular wonders in and of itself for her to behold; the time guardress stopped on her second step, looking around Charon's command centre. The ceiling was high, archways not unlike what she had seen on the promenade sloping to meet at a central focal point; overhead was another exotically- designed dome. Consoles, some free-standing and others built into the walls, were everywhere. The free-standing ones formed a semi-circle around a large viewscreen built into the wall, leaving an abnormally large amount of walking space in the main area. Setsuna glanced over her shoulder, and saw that the wall directly opposite the grandiose screen was nothing but glass for an aquarium. As far as she could tell, while the aquarium was extremely long and high, it was only few inches wide. That didn't seem to stop the numerous undersea wildlife from swimming around in the clear waters, and amidst the coral reef located at the bottom. Setsuna studied the detail of the aquarium. "That's not real, is it?" she said. There was too much depth in what she was seeing to be contained in a chamber this compact. "It is a projection," Charon admitted. "However, it's very close to the real thing." Setsuna reached out and once again probed the surface with her hand. Yet this time no resistance was found and her fingertips slipped into the aquarium. The glove got wet, and numerous smaller fish instantly scattered at the disturbance. She withdrew her hand, puzzling over how this was possible. "I told you," Charon said, sounding almost smug. "However, we can discuss the aquarium later. You wished to see the information on the Dark Messiah?" She nodded. Dark Messiah...the Raithe had called Mistress 9 by that title as well. Something vaguely familiar about that title, about this entire situation, nagged at her. What wasn't she seeing? Abruptly the chamber was filled with cascades of images. Magenta eyes narrowed as she surveyed the multitude of viewscreens all around her. None really seemed fixed to the walls, even the larger ones. Everything gave a perfect image of whatever she was watching, yet the screen itself was but a sliver in the air. A few random ones were rotating in place, giving way to a dizzying sight as one perspective constantly changed angles. "These are interactive screens," Charon explained. "Everything responds with the lightest of touches." One image was a cosmic map that was just as tall as she was, and far far wider, showing the various planets of the Solis system. Orbital pathways, various small dots with their identifications...and a strange violet marker which originated from the asteroid fields of Aurora, moving directly to-- "Earth," she said grimly. "A short time ago, a transmission from a Mars attack squadron reported the Dark Messiah in Earth's proximity," Charon said. "The commander ordered them to engage her. They haven't been heard from since, and are presumed dead." She spent a few moments in silence, musing the details over to herself. "Charon, can you see into the future?" She figured it was a question at least worth venturing; Charon seemed well-briefed on the situation at hand--especially the more abstract angles relating to the timestream. "I'm afraid only the guardian of time has that privilege. As far back as my own memories go, I was constructed sometime during the Senshi Wars by unknown people. I am merely here to act as a base of operations, and an exhaustive archive on the history of the Solis system since I was brought online. I can extrapolate events and outcomes, but the further into the future I go, the less accurate I become." Somehow she had been expecting that answer. Her onee-san seemed quite specific about who was chosen to stand vigil over the tides of time. For a long while, she had believed she was the only one. Now it appeared the Raithe played a larger role in this duty than she had imagined. She turned sideways to look at another screen. It was a dimly lit bedchamber, exquisitely decorated. She could see in the background an oval window looking out into an undersea empire. Neptune? But the two young ladies seated on the bed were what caught Setsuna's attention. "Who are they?" she asked. She was certain she had seen them before, but with all the faces she had seen since arriving in the Golden Empire, everything was becoming one big blur. Charon paused to do a brief scan of the image. "Princesses of Neptune and Uranus, two of the outer planets in the Solis system." She nodded. "I remember now. I met the Neptuni princess about five years ago, when their delegation visited Aurora." One of Setsuna's eyebrows went up as she saw the two cuddling in their quiet moment. As much of an uproar as it might cause, she considered the idea of the two being lovers as just what their warring worlds needed. In her time spent on Aurora, watching over Hotaru, she had come to learn of the conflict between Uranus and Neptune--and subsequently with the rest of the Golden Empire. Reading about this ongoing cold war was an exhausting exercise unto itself. "Oh," Charon added, almost as an afterthought. "They are also Sailor Senshi." The soul of the castle didn't seem to find this revelation surprising in the least; that nonchalance with which it delivered the identities of the two women was what made Setsuna's eyes nearly bulge out of their sockets. She could hardly keep her voice lowered and calm. "They're...what?" she asked, wanting to make sure she had heard right. "Hmmm...perhaps I should have given you suitable warning about that first," Charon considered, more to itself than to her. "Sincerest apologies; getting accustomed to a new master will take time. I've only known the Raithe and his methods. And he's known about these two for...decades, I think. Quite possibly longer." "It's okay. Really," she reassured the castle. The shock was dying down, replaced with a new rush of adrenaline and excitement. All this time she had been watching and waiting for other Senshi. At last the soldiers were awakening. Magenta eyes studied the contrast of characters. The tall sandy-blonde looked every part the masculine military leader Uranus prided itself on fashioning. And yet this woman melted into sublime compassion when in the embrace of the aqua- haired princess. One whose demeanor in but a single glance of the eyes dripped with refinement, like it was an intoxicating perfume. Setsuna was almost reluctant to ask, fearing a negative answer. So much was at stake already; allies were desperately needed. "Do they...?" "Hai," Charon answered. "They've known for years now about their roles. And with the Dark Messiah's arrival, the time has come for them to take up the duties of the Outer Senshi." Setsuna scowled, a pang of frustration rising within her. To have the power to gaze into their world, their private chambers, and still be unable to do anything about that. Warn them, tell them of what was happening, reveal that they were not alone in their struggle. "If only I could bring them here," she muttered. Charon said nothing in response. And then abruptly, "Done." Setsuna froze, an expression of mixed confusion and disbelief on her face as she slowly turned away from the screen. "Wh-What?" she said. "You requested they be brought here," Charon said matter-of- factly. "And since they are Outer Senshi, it is within my powers to do so. They await you in the promenade." She groaned, shaking her head. "Next time, warn me when you're going to do something like that." While she wasn't sure if she really meant it to be, her tone was very much a scolding one. Setsuna could have sworn she saw a sweatdrop hovering next to one of the screens. "Um...sorry." Charon sounded more than just a little embarrassed. "I'll just assume it's a habit you've picked up from the Raithe, and leave it at that," she said, briskly exiting the room. "You'll have no qualms with me there," Charon said, sounding relieved. There was quiet in the room for a while longer as Setsuna's echoing footsteps faded into silence. The door reappeared, closing off the command centre. One by one, the cascades of hovering screens were turned off. And somewhere from within the mechanics of the castle's core consciousness, a wistful sigh was made. "Admit it," the Raithe said, abruptly emerging from the very air. Starlit eyes glanced up at the dome and the cosmos beyond it. "You like her." "I admire the fact that she treats me as an equal, and doesn't tease me about the future," Charon retorted. "She also has nice legs." "Ecchi." Retorted Charon, "Oh, and I suppose your interest in her is purely professional?" A chuckle came from the Raithe as he turned to the primary viewscreen. Robes of darkness fluttered around his form with each minute action. "Ara ara," he conceded. "You have me there." The moon's rays were covering the forest in a delicate glow that night, as the hour of the Elven approached. Midnight. For countless hours the two had ventured deeper and deeper into the heart of this forest that was a part of Kakkyou's home. Elfhame was not too far away now; he could hear the distant din of crashing breakers that marked the bluffs separating the mainland from the isles of Arana. Soon they would reach the cliffs and descend through the forest into Elven domain. "It's good to be back," he said, shedding the vest and its long tails. Bare-chested, he allowed the winds to sweep past him, skin tingling at the caress. Wiping the beads of sweat from his brow, Kakkyou marveled at how cool the forest air was--and that even with it being this cool, he could still sweat so easily. He glanced back up at the moon, and could have sworn he saw a shadow on its surface smiling back down on him. Kakkyou blinked, shaking logic back into his brain. Dragon green eyes glanced back at Serenity. She was just standing there, smiling fondly at him. He couldn't help but suspect she found something about this amusing. "What is it?" "You," she answered. "I can see your eager anticipation in the way you keep darting ahead, in how you seem to be breathing as if for the first time. You're acting like an excited child." He gawked, the expression on his face betraying the fact that he couldn't think of anything to say to her in response. "I think it's cute," she added. Kakkyou blinked again. It took him another few moments to gather his wits, and think of a proper retort. A smile tugged at his lips. "You must be hungry," he said. "We haven't eaten much since leaving GlenHawke." He continued to step closer to her, eyes fixated on hers. There was a strange intensity to his gaze. Uncertain of what he was going to do, Serenity found herself taking a step back. Her cheeks grew flushed as their faces came closer and closer still. She could feel his warm breath surging against the cool night air. Elven hands were raised between them, palms so close to her cheeks. He never let his gaze slip, jade eyes focused entirely on her and her alone. And then with a rapid snap of the wrist, an apple appeared in Kakkyou's palm. His dead serious demeanor vanished, a playful smirk on his face as he presented the fruit to her. "For you, Serenity," he said. He winked at her. Serenity's face blushed even more, her entire thought process faltering. She could have sworn he was going to kiss her. And now that he hadn't, merely teasing her with the idea, a part of her felt angry at being denied a taste of his lips. The other part of her was relieved that his determined stare was merely a ruse. Love seemed to be something whose strings the Elven race excelled at pulling. Though because it was Kakkyou, she didn't complain. This was, for lack of a better definition, his way of flirting. He took a few steps back, rotating his wrists as if to show there was nothing he was concealing. That in itself would have been an impressive feat, considering how his shirt and vest were draped over a tree branch. Another quick gesture resulted in a second apple appearing in his palm. Kakkyou flashed her an impish grin as he waved his other hand in front of the apple. The hand was drawn away, only to reveal a bird of prey that rose up and spread its wings. The falcon took to the air, disappearing amidst the canopy of foliage over their heads. Again he brought his hands in front of his face, one on top of the other, concealing his features. The sides of his palms against each other, he held the makeshift facade there for but a heartbeat. And then he swiftly pulled them apart. One hand was drawn upwards, the other down. Everything came in a rapid blur. And over Kakkyou's face was a whitened mask, accented with streaks of crimson painted on to form intricate Elven runes. He leaned forward, hands gesturing to inquire of the performance. Serenity was unable to say anything, shaking her head and laughing at the spectacle. She was too amazed with this Elven slight of hand to give him any worthy verbal praise. Other students at GlenHawke were studying such Shadowspell techniques, but none had ever been as fast and effective as the one standing before her now. Kakkyou chuckled to himself as he removed the mask, abruptly crushing it into a ball like it was a mere scrap of paper. He waited for a moment with the crumpled mask nestled in his fist before opening up his hands to reveal just the night air. "Parlour tricks," he admitted, walking up to her. "Even Elven children know how to do this. I'd show off a little more to you, but I'd need more room." Serenity laughed. "That's fine." She took a bite of her apple. And then Kakkyou abruptly leaned forward and gently kissed her on the cheek. "I'd do anything to see your smile," he whispered, confiding in her. The colour in her face went flushed once more. She turned her face, letting her lips find his. The forest faded into a dull memory as they kissed, and then reluctantly drew apart. Crystal blue eyes were shimmering as she watched the Elven lord glance over his shoulder at the surrounding vegetation. Whenever she was with him, there was always a warmth within, a kindling reminiscent of that stranger power she seemed to secretly possess. A magik that wanted to be awakened. Perhaps her lover was the key to this. Serenity turned her head as a small flying rodent soared past her, chattering as it darted back into a tangle of tree branches and vines. "I'll be right back," the Elven lord said to her, fetching his attire. Putting his shirt back on, Kakkyou leaped towards one of the larger branches that could hold his weight. The Elven magik burned in his veins, a few flickers appearing beneath his boots as he took off into air, effortlessly bounding up to the highest points of the forest. He gazed out through the treetops, appraising the distance left to Elfhame. From here he could see much of the mountain range that laid around them, a vast expanse of lush green vegetation, a virgin realm untouched by the hands of human civilization. This was one of the last pure realms of magik. Glancing back up at the sky, he sighed as he watched the moon. The lunar body in a darkened sky shone its pale kiss down on him. Kakkyou wrinkled his brow at the thought. "Serenity," he said quietly to himself. He could have traveled from GlenHawke to Elfhame in a matter of an hour or two; it was a part of his Elven powers to run with the winds. That was how he usually journeyed whenever he had visited Serenity in the past. But now...now she was with him, and he wanted to keep this time as eternal as possible. Let the hours pass them by in a quiet and unhurried walk through this tangle of forestworld. He didn't care. All that mattered was Serenity. Beneath the deception of Ilsa Esylin's faded guise lurked another kingdom. Veiled in Shadowspell and darkest of secrets, it remained a realm of stone caverns and strange, labyrinthine rivers of flowing water. Morgana was seated upon her throne, legs strewn about and draped over the armrests, a hand hanging over one side. She idly let her fingers dip into a channel of water that was defying physics in flowing through air, without borders or difficulty. In her other hand she held her caduceus. The ancient sceptre's diamond sparkled in the dim light of her throne room, shimmers catching the glow of the twin moons high overhead. Her own sapphiric eyes watched the light play off the gem's facets with mild interest. It was only a matter of time now. She continued to wait in her own private silence. Eyes of sapphire blue closed. And remained so even when something rustled within the boundaries of this hidden world. Winds blew through the throne room, quiet yet cold in their ominous motions. And then a lone woman entered from beneath one of the enormous stone archways. Violet eyes pierced the surrounding shadows, long dark hair flowing behind her. Black marble, veins laced in crimson, echoed the sound of the newcomer's unhurried footsteps. Morgana smiled. "Ah, you've arrived," she said, opening her eyes. Before her, Silence Glaive in hand, stood Mistress 9. "You...you were the one who sent me a message of greetings as I came to this world," Mistress 9 stated, both suspicious and disliking of Morgana already. "You sought out my mind and my magik. How did you know about me?" Morgana withdrew her fingers from the floating river, sat up in her throne. Once more the demure smile presented itself, the implied shimmer in her eyes betraying how much she knew about the face of darkness. "Is that any way to talk to the one who helped create you?" That seemed to get Mistress 9 all the more defensive. "What would know about me?" she demanded. Her tone was even and cold, something not to be taken lightly. "You were once a little girl named Hotaru," came the answer. "Yet I have brought into bloom a beautiful flower of darkness. And here you are: a seductive woman, who has the power to destroy an entire planet if she so wishes." There came with that a subtle reminder of a debt. A respecting of the demands made by she who might call herself "mother" to the Dark Messiah. "What do you want?" Mistress 9 demanded. "What is rightfully mine," Morgana replied. She rose from her throne, approaching the Messiah of Silence. "My brother, Arthur, has fumbled with this empire long enough. He's afraid of what he has built, like it might crumble into dust if he holds it too tightly. The Solis system does not need such weakness in its ruler. He believes diplomacy will work every time, that leaving me alone is a solution unto itself." Sapphire blue eyes gazed darkly at Mistress 9 as Morgana paused before her, and then moved towards one of the fountains. "I killed his beloved wife with a knife laced with Shokkan poison...and what did he do? Nothing. He did nothing but mourn for her. He couldn't even bring himself to hunt me down." The Silence Glaive was switched from being in the grip of one hand, and into the other. Mistress 9 leaned slightly against the polearm, her long raven-dark hair fluttering from the breezes in the caverns. "You wish for his death." The thought of taking another life seemed to excite her; Mistress 9 smiled, giggling to herself. Morgana nodded. "I want him silenced. Permanently. His dying empire shall become mine, and I will breathe new life into it." She smiled, glancing back over her shoulder to Mistress 9. "And you, my dear, are going to help the Solis system realize that I alone am worthy of ruling it." Morgana let her palm hover over the surface of the water. Ocean liquids rippled and then bubbled, churning and bringing up a whitened froth. With the front came a ghostly image: a map of the country, small yet three-dimensional. And more exact than any other map, courtesy of her skilled invocation. She gestured for Mistress 9 to join her. "I shall begin mobilizing my forces towards the capital city of Camelot," she stated. "We'll naturally take the time to wipe out a few small cities along the way--but when you reach Camelot, I don't want a single stone burned or broken." "Why?" It was a simple question. Any child could have asked it. But coming from the Dark Messiah, the question was laced with a defiant evil, daring Morgana to find a reason to actually leave something standing in Mistress 9's lethal wake. "What was once Arthur's shall become mine," Morgana said, her tone menacing enough. "That means his throne, his kingdom and his beloved city." The Messiah of Silence looked away. "I have my own obligations." "Your duty to me comes first," Morgana countered. Her own fierce glare could have easily matched that of the Dark Messiah's. "Without me, you would have never come into being. Do this, and you will be released from my services." Mistress 9 appraised her silently. As a predator might sum up the skills of its prey. "What do you wish for me to destroy first?" she asked at last. Morgana pointed to a specific place on the map, her touch causing the image to change into a three-dimensional view of the city in question. "Hakkeda," she stated. "Word of its destruction will spread faster than if we destroyed any other minor city." "It shall be done," Mistress 9 said, bowing slightly. "I'll be sending a small garrison of my Shadow army to escort you," Morgana added, still focused on the cityscape of Hakkeda. "However, they will remain at the city outskirts. I'm entrusting you to work your blak magik on its heart." Again Mistress 9 bowed in compliance. "Have them ready in a few hours. There is something I need to investigate first, and then I shall begin your conquest." Violet eyes looked to a darkened corridor. The Dark Messiah turned and began to exit the throne room. Morgana watched the woman leave; she could not help but marvel at the terrifying powers this messiah held. The winds and darkness could sense it, and were afraid. Mistress 9 faded into the shadows, leaving Morgana alone. Or perhaps not. The edges of darkness within the throne room began to move of their own desires. Something shifted in the blackened realms behind her. Magik rustled, and hissed a warning. "I don't care whether or not you trust her," Morgana said, scowling over her shoulder at the churning darkness. "She's a means to an end. Once she kills Arthur and wipes out his armies, I can take his place. Mistress Nine will ensure the other planets follow my orders. And then, Metalia, you will be freed...and you can destroy that woman at your leisure." The Man With No Name dodged a stray blast of fire as a pyromage performed his singeing feats before an entranced audience. Those who dared to be so close to raging fireballs seemed to be the ones with the most cash to spend on the thrill of an adrenaline rush. They should try riding a rampaging dragonwyrm. He had become submerged within a large, expansive and very lively crowd that was dancing the remainder of the night away. Enchanted lights of all colours made the street a surreal realm as masquerade dancers pranced and paraded down the cobblestone paths. An aquamage was conjuring up shapes and images using the water from one of the nearby fountains. The water fluttered and slowly rose to form the image of a swam. That performer received numerous applauds and coins for his efforts. Hakkeda's revelry passed before his eyes in a forgettable blur, and so he moved through the crowds like a disappearing dream. Clouded eyes saw nothing and everything all at once, the rippling folds of his long overcoat making him a shadow unto himself. No one seemed to notice that one of his hands was still covered in the dried blood of a now-deceased thief. The Jabberwocky might have destroyed a small district with its ravaging appetite, yet the rest of the city still had reason to celebrate. The Man With No Name glanced over at another performance up on one of the stone dais beside the fountains, raised a few feet above the regular street to give the audience a chance to see the magic. It was a more exotic act that all the others. One magician was talking and jesting with the crowd, pleasing them greatly. She herself seemed exotic, and very bewitching to the male onlookers. But it was her associate who caught the Man With No Name's attention. This partner of sorts started out as a young man. He watched as, upon the lady magician's command, a crystal ball was thrown and exploded into a stream of smoke. The young man was enveloped in the cloud of smoke, only to have it dissipate a split second later. The young man was replaced with a falcon. Another crystal ball was thrown, and the falcon morphed into a long, slender dragon. The Man With No Name detected something about this other person; a dark aura surrounded them. There was more than mere illusion. This person or creature was wielding powerful magic. A shape shifter. Yet not one whom he was searching for. The dragon disappeared in a stream of smoke once more, and assumed to form of a large, white tiger. The crowd cheered and applauded. The Man With No Name moved on. He could feel a strange electricity in the air, magik itself on edge in anticipation. They were coming soon. The Outer Senshi. And something else.... The Man With No Name abruptly turned his head, looking to the horizon that would soon see the sunrise. "Shadows," he whispered. He extended his middle finger, used it to push the tinted lenses back up the bridge of his nose. "So the Dark Messiah wishes to claim this place as her own twisted graveyard." He opened up his palm, watching the black fires crackle over his skin. The Jabberwocky was still hungry, and let that fact be known by a low, guttural growl. "Patience," the Man With No Name said, closing his hand and extinguishing the flame. "We must wait for our escort first. And then you can feed." The fishbone-white hair was gone, as was the guise of a wizened old mage. Instead the Ancient who appeared as young as any fit prince stood before one of his tables. Eyes hiding a multiplicity of lifetimes and their secrets narrowed as another futile solution ended. And with an enraged shout, Merlin viciously swept his hand across the table, throwing its contents onto the floor. Glass shattered and books toppled over and magik winced from the harsh blow. Camelot's private chambers were allowing him to fume without witnesses. The only ones who could interrupt him in this state were the other Ancients...and they were all dead now. As one of the most powerful wielders of magik on the planet, he had been able to track the Dark Messiah's descent into the atmosphere. But then she simply vanished from all his senses. Even he, an Ancient, could no longer find her. For hours he had been making attempt after vain attempt to harness whatever magik he knew, and draw out any residual traces this woman might have left behind. So far, nothing had worked. Millions of Aurorans had already died. And unless he could find something to help Arthur fight this evil, Earth would be consumed next in a tide of darkness and destruction. Merlin refused to let any more people die in vain. The tragedy of an entire world could have been prevented. If only.... If only.... "Hello, Merlin." Merlin spun around, leveling a hard punch to the Raithe's cheek. "I have nothing to say to you!" he hissed, intuitively knowing who had abruptly appeared to visit him. Right now he was frantically working to counteract everything the Raithe had set into motion. And yet as he saw the Raithe's eyes filled with starlit heavens, the Ancient showing no signs of pain from the strike, Merlin knew he could not justly condemn those actions. And for that he hated the Raithe. The metal rings of the Raithe's shakujyo chimed together as he straightened himself up. "I know," he said, lifting a hand and lightly touching his bruised cheek. "You want to turn away, scorn me, hate me for what I've done. But you cannot look away because you know that I did this for the future. You are burdened just as I am, and you cannot condone my actions because you know why I have done them." Merlin turned his back, leaning against the table. Since he couldn't bring himself to glare at the Raithe, he opted to glare at the cleared tabletop. "Insensitive bastard," he muttered. "I have seen more people live and die than you could imagine," the Raithe stated. "The tides of time are merciless, Merlin. In remaining distant, I am able to complete some of the most hellish tasks ever set before a single soul." "Like unleashing that woman?" Merlin retorted angrily. The Raithe nodded. "Hai. Believe me, the last thing I ever wanted was to see Aurora and her people destroyed. There's nothing more I can say to make amends for what I did. But what must be done must be done." Merlin forced back another urge to lash out and strike the Raithe. He slowly turned to face the only other Ancient left alive. "For the sake of the future?" he asked, if not demanded. Again the Raithe nodded. But kept silent. Neither one spoke. They simply watched the other. Merlin's eyes still possessed the anger of watching a world burn, an enmity directed towards the Raithe. He was determined to undo what had been done, no matter what the sacrifice might be. But there was an eerie remorselessness in the Raithe's cosmic orbs, attesting to his statement that he had become a cold stoic in order to allow Aurora's demise. And yet, Merlin could see the traces of humanity that were left within the ghostly figure standing before him. "Your friend visited me," he said finally, in response to the silence. "I have seen the future you wish to shape; Sailor Pluto showed it to me." He paused. Hesitated. "And I do not see either of us within it." The Raithe looked away. As if something in one of the vast corners of Merlin's domain had caught his immediate and full attention. The unspoken answer was one he seemed to prefer to remain unspoken. "We're not going to make it, are we?" Merlin pressed. The Raithe shook his head. Such a prospect no one ever wanted to face; life was precious, and many would cling to it and claw at it until the bitter end. But they were Ancients, ones who had seen countless years pass them by. They understood the significance of change, and with it the inevitable termination of their own lives--but they still didn't have to agree with the end when the time at last came. The Raithe's eyes returned to gaze at Merlin, orbs reflecting dozens of beautiful and haunting constellations amidst an eerie darkness. "We have a choice," he said. "Our ends are inevitable, but we have the chance to let it end as we would want it to be." "And what will yours be?" "Poetic. Ironic. Either one doesn't really matter to me. I'll let those who come after me decide for themselves." The Raithe drew closer to Merlin, his voice quiet and solemn. "For once, time is not on my side. I have seen the beginning of this war, and you, Merlin, must help see it finished." He paused briefly. "This will be our last duty to fulfil as Ancients, as the unsaid guardians of the Solis system." Neither one spoke of who would take up the responsibility of watching over this system after they were gone. Both already knew; Merlin understood after meeting with Pluto, and the Raithe perhaps always understood it. The Sailor Senshi were returning. There was no longer a need for the Ancients. "Any ideas what happens after this?" Merlin inquired. The Raithe shrugged. "I pick the lock into heaven, and we sneak in through the back gates?" he ventured. Merlin found the will to laugh, though it was a bitter one. "When the time comes, I'll take the point." That in turn evoked a chuckle from the Raithe. "Hai hai." For now, most of the tension in the air between them was breaking apart. But there were still other matters to discuss of the utmost urgency. "So what do we do in the meantime?" Merlin inquired, waving his hand in the air. A projection appeared between them, a rotating image of Arthur's home country. "Rumours are filtering in that Morgana has begun mobilizing her biggest offensive yet. Looks like she's ready to take full advantage of the confusion caused by the Dark Messiah's arrival. "I hope you have some sort of idea, Raithe," he admitted. "I've been here for hours and come up with nothing. Our best bet thus far is to ensure Camelot is armed to the teeth; I've already send word to the surrounding provinces to prepare themselves for war." "Iie. Morgana has recruited the Dark Messiah into her ranks." Eyes of midnight heavens closed momentarily. "It is not your place to fight Mistress Nine; she is too powerful. However, the Messiah of Light is here on Earth." Merlin felt a chill run down his spine, an uneven mixture of excitement and fear. "What?" he said, wanting more than those few enigmatic words. But the Raithe had already turned around and was walking away. The rings of his shakujyo echoed across the chambers. "Protect her when you find her, Merlin. Guard her with your last breath and magik. For she is the beginning of the future, and the end of the Messiah Wars." And then he was gone. Merlin exhaled through his nose, his shoulders sagging a little. "It always has to be the hard way whenever you're involved," he remarked dryly. Everything was falling apart around them; the Dark Messiah had appeared, Aurora was destroyed, Morgana's armies were on the move, and the Golden Empire seemed to be at its tragic end. But there was hope now. And no matter how small it might be, he would cling to it until it could become a reality. Haruka didn't seem to be letting the tension in her body ease up. And Michiru could hardly blame her lover. One moment they were lightly brushing lips in eager anticipation of one last kiss. And then suddenly this domain replaced the undersea serenity of Neptune's palaces. Princesses stood in a grand hall whose walls curved into archways of strange and elaborate designs. And yet everything resembled a skeletal framework, this promenade area left open and expansive in its own serene beauty. "I don't see any windows," the tall, sandy-blonde stated, blue eyes looking upwards to the heavens above. "So how can we be still breathing?" "There are many mysteries in this universe, love," Michiru answered quietly. "It would appear one has decided to seek us out." Though they were facing different directions, their hands reached out and grasped the other's. Oblivious to their edginess, the water from a small fountain nearby continued to flow with a soothing, constant sound. "My apologies for the abruptness of your arrival," a female's voice said, pleasant and echoing across the grand corridor. Their mysterious host appeared. She walked slowly down a set of stairs, her skin tanned and her hair long and dark, shimmering almost as emerald in the evening ambience created by the cosmic folds around the castle. She wore a strange uniform of bows and pleated skirt, and in her hand was a metallic staff forged to resemble a key. Haruka bristled at the source of this intrusion. She placed herself between the approaching woman and Michiru. While she herself was not a young lady who would idly stand by in pale fear, Michiru silently smiled at her lover's protective heroism. They did not move, and did not speak. They merely waited for their hostess to stand before them. And give an explanation. "Sailor Uranus, Sailor Neptune; I bid you greetings," the woman stated, bowing slightly. In those magenta eyes, in the entire motion of her body, there was visible a deep respect for those given titles. "Welcome to Castle Charon." The name of their newfound location fell upon deaf ears. Both princesses took the revelation rather well: they didn't immediately attack their hostess. Haruka's eyes neither widened nor narrowed, but the shock and subsequent defensiveness was still there. Michiru herself sucked in her next breath and held onto it. The embrace of their hands grew tighter. "What?" Haruka said, sounding about as civil as she possibly could. "You have your henshin," the woman explained further, unraveling with but a few simple words the secrets that had been hidden over the course of many years. "You both know the soldier's destiny awaiting you. I am here to show you what that destiny is, for we are both fighting in the same battle." Michiru tried playing with diplomacy; she could sense her lover's readiness to strike with whatever weapon could be found. That included Haruka herself. "Are we to assume we share a common interest?" the Neptuni princess inquired. The woman nodded. "Hai." She held out her key-shaped staff, the garnet orb glowing and bringing a haunting shimmer to the otherwise dimly-lit promenade. Haruka and Michiru felt their skin burn as the magik found them. It was not like being of fire, subject to pain. This was a different, an inferno consuming the heart of their beings. There were no more secrets that could be hidden, no more dark places to lock away the fears and doubts and excitement. Planetary runes appeared on each of their foreheads, glowing brightly into the night that was the darkness of space surrounding the castle. The tall sandy-blonde bore the mark of Uranus. The aqua-haired princess held that of Neptune. Everything suddenly became so clear in that moment, and both turned to face the one who had invoked a power that was awakening within them all. Magenta eyes closed, and the tiara over the woman's forehead vanished. In its place burned another planetary rune. The one of Pluto. The guardress of time and its portal opened her eyes once more, stared solemnly at the other Outer Soldiers. "I am Sailor Pluto," she stated. "The soldier of time." That quiet execution of her magik did more to convince Haruka and Michiru than a century of words could have ever hoped to achieve. Their anger and suspicions died down, and they were willing to listen. And so Setsuna laid everything out before them. Aurora. Mistress 9. The Grail. Throughout Setsuna's recounting, Haruka and Michiru listened silently and held each other's hand. Neither one opened their mouths to speak. Not until the explanation was at last finished. "So now what do we do?" Haruka asked. Michiru smiled, hands wrapped her lover's arm. "Darkness has always had opposition, love. If we cannot destroy the Dark Messiah, then we must find the one who can." Setsuna nodded in agreement. "It is up to us the find a Messiah of Light, before all life in the Solis system is extinguished forever." The rose garden was deserted. A sanctuary which had served to ease his tensions and pains remained empty, the flowers inspiring only the light of the setting sun. If one could sense the magik within the garden as one senses a change in the warmth of the air, one would discover a certain sadness possessed by the flowers. They could sense the brooding of their lord and gardener. They remained acutely aware of the pressures that were resting upon his shoulders. When such a time came to pass, Magellan found himself always in one place. One place where everything could fall into some sort of proper perspective, and where he could see past, present and future all embodied within a majestic view of Vlatmere. Upon one of the ledges, at one of the highest points on the castle, Magellan sat. Legs dangled over the edge. A dizzying view and fatal fall awaited him far below. Sprawled out before him was a castle and kingdom, and he could see people scurrying through the streets like ants. Beyond the grand walls laid open country and beautiful fields. Off to one side, an immense cluster of trees testified the presence of a forest within Vlatmere province. There were other forests to be sure, yet those ones--darker and far deeper than this--remained near the edges of his kingdom. Bangs of dark hair fluttered in the cool, evening winds, and his eyes remained focused on the amber rose being absently played with between his fingers. "Whenever I want to find you," came Frederic's voice from the doorway. "All I have to do is follow the staircases. I'd swear you were trying to make me exercise even more than I already do." Magellan smiled a little and turned his head. "Evening to you too, Frederic." "You haven't been up here by yourself for quite a while," Frederic sighed, leaning against the longbow in his hands. "At least, not since Myung showed up. Why restart the trend?" Magellan glanced back out at Vlatmere. After the data dive, Myung had been exhausted both physically and mentally. She managed to reserve enough strength to recount what had happened during the dive, and reveal what the locked files in the Venus mainframe had to offer. Magellan had left her a few hours ago in her private chambers to rest; as far as he was aware, she was still sleeping. "You're still thinking about what she told us, aren't you?" Frederic asked. "You're still thinking about the Senshi." "More about Chaos, to be exact," Magellan countered. Frederic strolled up to the edge, raising a hand in front of his eyes to shield them from the autumn colours the sun was painting across the expansive skies. "Chaos...not bad for a name: short, dangerous, and to the point." He glanced over at Magellan. "Evil yet practical," he remarked dryly. "There's a lot of information surrounding that Chaos creature that has me concerned," Magellan said. Of primary significance to them now was the history of the Sailor Senshi. There were sketchy accounts of their origins, and most of their mentions centred around the Senshi Wars. A battle across systems and cosmos. An ancient war fought against an entity called Chaos, which could corrupt even the pure hearts of the Senshi. Soldier had fought against soldier, with Chaos pulling many of the strings. The legends had spoken of a stalemate and defeat--if one could call it that--between Chaos and the most powerful Senshi in the galaxy. Vague whispers of a battle upon a lifeless rock, and of Chaos' presence simply vanishing, were all that remained to tell the outcome of the tale. Yet even the soldier who fought against it had disappeared, her whereabouts unknown also. Magellan continued to twirl the amber rose around his fingers. Had there been thorns on the stem, his skill would have ensured the jagged edges miss his fingers. "We're in over our heads, Frederic," he admitted. "I can barely comprehend what it must have been like to have so many soldiers in the galaxy. Imagine what they knew then." "It would no doubt pale to what we ourselves have already accomplished," Frederic agreed soberly. "But remember that this is a legend, a story taken from events centuries--and maybe even millennia--ago. And unless I'm delusional, a lot's happened in the past few hundred years. We've made progress, Magellan; given how this system was seen as 'rural' by the other Senshi and left alone, we should be proud of all we've done." "But that still doesn't explain how or why those henshins were brought to the Solis System," Magellan countered. "There are no indications that the Ancients were involved with it; for all we know, this predated them." "Sometimes mysteries will forever remain that way," Frederic said with a shrug. He turned to stare at the view of the kingdom. "Get used to it. I have." There was silence from Vlatmere's king. "But that's not what's worrying you, is it?" Magellan nodded. Blue eyes narrowed. His fingers ceased twirling the rose. "The Senshi came into being to fight against the immense evils that were plaguing the galaxy, against creatures of unspeakable darkness and power. We were untouched by these wars...but someone still felt that there should be Senshi here. Just in case the darkness decided to come our way, and annihilate the peace we've struggled to establish. And now those Senshi have started to awaken." If Myung was the first, then she would not be the last. Something was definitely unfolding before them, a chain of events that would shake the entire Solis System to its very foundations. Magellan spun and hopped off the ledge. "I fear for the future, Frederic," he said solemnly. "And I can only hope and pray that what's unfolding now isn't fulfilling that 'Just in case.'" "She's so strange." Serenity bent her head, continuing to distantly hum a sad and beautiful song--and wishing that she could ignore the whispering voices as easily as she could entice the flowers to grow with her gentle voice. "What do you think it is?" a second Elven asked. The first shrugged. "Damned if I know. But it's powerful, possibly moreso than what Kakkyou can wield." The two Elvens abruptly froze upon realizing their lord was standing right behind him. And the expression on Kakkyou's face was not a pleasant one. "I trust you have something more constructive to do with your time," he remarked icily. "S-Sorry, Milord," the first stuttered, scurrying off. The second one merely raised an eyebrow before fading into the shadows. As one who stood amidst the higher ranks of Elfhame, she could get away with a seemingly rude exit. "You don't know either, ne?" she inquired with a sly grin as she vanished. Kakkyou shook his head as he stepped over the entanglement of roots, and hopped down onto the more level ground where Serenity sat. It was hard to remember at times that this wasn't actual solid earth, but moss, tree roots, and assorted other sands and stones all caught up in Arana's continent of isles. The trees were tall here, towering high over their heads. A canopy of innumerable shades of green kept out most of the sunlight during the day. It didn't really matter; here the forest glowed with a magik all its own. "Good evening, my love," Kakkyou said. He knelt down beside her, took her hand in his and gently kissed it. A tribute to her beauty, a gesture he seemed more comfortable in making now that they were away from GlenHawke. Serenity smiled, crystal blue eyes catching the shimmer of this place. Her blonde hair held the colour of gold itself, of a priceless horde catching light in such a way that everything became blurred, and all that could be seen was a simple yet brilliant mirage. When he ran his fingers through her hair, he could still feel the dampness from her swim about an hour ago. Arana held amidst the tangle of trees and their roots a vast array of pools. The salt water was purified by the forest and made drinkable. This was where the Elven bathed, where they played, where they held their water games with the water nymphs that frequented the larger pools. Kakkyou could have almost mistaken her for a mermaid, watching her naked form glide effortlessly through the water. It was almost frightening to see the water nymphs forming an escourt wherever she swam; the nymphs rarely ever showed themselves in the presence of a human. He knew it was all a part of her magik. After the Reptilius youma had attacked, he had ultimately decided to take Serenity into Elfhame protection. And that meant betraying his playful secret to the others like him. Kakkyou ruefully thought back to the startled silence that had first washed over the Elfhame council, and then over the Elvens themselves. An Elven prince in love with a human. The stunned quiet lasted only so long. It was immediately replaced with grumblings by some, loud protests by others. Yet he had made his decision. And in no uncertain terms, he addressed those in Elfhame that unless they wished to challenge his authority, they should shut the hell up. No one brazenly stepped forward. Kakkyou was royal blood. On one hand, to attack royalty was treason punishable by death. This, Kakkyou admitted to himself, was the argument he was ready to use to ensure Serenity's safety among the Elven as well; as his betrothed, she was already considered his Queen. To make an attempt on her life would mean no mercy in return when it came to retribution. And then on the other hand, Kakkyou's powers were known well enough by the Elven. With his combined strength, fighting prowess and use of magik, he had no equals here in Elfhame woods. The first one deluded enough to try and fight him would have been pleasantly wounded--but not killed. Kakkyou intended to make an example of his love. And dedication to protect her at all costs. "You must be hungry," he said. "I don't think you've eaten in hours, and that swim must have done something for your appetite." Serenity laughed as she lightly ran her fingers along the stem of a sleeping flower. The blossom opened with her caress, the flower turning its coloured head towards her in recognition of the one whose touch stirred it back to life. "Watching me bathe again, Kakkyou?" she said coyly. "I never knew you were such a voyeur." For the first time since she had known him, Serenity saw the Elven lord's face get flustered. His expression might have remained unchanged, but his flushed cheeks and the way his eyes abruptly darted as if looking for something else to focus his attention on, betrayed him. That made her laugh all the more. And for that Kakkyou was silently grateful. Her transition from GlenHawke to Elfhame was going smoother than he had expected, or hoped. There had been a grand reception awaiting them when they at last arrived in Elfhame. Aside from the obviously-absent perimeter guards, everyone had come to see the young human with long blonde hair, the girl who had thoroughly enchanted a near-legendary Elven enchanter. No problems or protests had come as Kakkyou took Serenity's trembling hand in his, and led her down a pathway. One lined with Elven who bowed in reverence and respect for their prince. And then, most unexpectedly, for her as well. Telling the Elven of her strange, hidden magik did little good. Kakkyou knew it from the start; they would only understand once they experienced what he had felt one cool midnight sixteen years ago. When they sensed it as she walked past them, felt it whenever she was in their presence, the Elven race came to believe. Serenity had quickly become more than just a mere human to them in the days and nights that had passed since the formal reception of their Queen-to-be. And they respected Kakkyou's desire to marry her. Some now applauded it. Though not for all the same reasons. A few believed Serenity was the key to the Elven race reclaiming that which was rightfully theirs. Namely becoming the dominant race upon the Earth. Kakkyou had no love for such a cause, and he knew Serenity would share in his opinion. He pulled her up to her feet. "Now then, shall we see what strange delicacies I can tantalize you with tonight?" "I'd be delighted," she replied, bowing slightly. They shared a chaste kiss, then journeyed into the heart of Elfhame. Grand were the trees here, towering like spires on a castle. Many had been hollowed out and furnished to accommodate the Elven inhabitants of Arana's isles. Other Elven had made their homes in the middle of the many skeins of roots this forest held in abundance. And many more didn't keep what one might consider a home. There was no permanent dwelling place to return to night after night--though everyone had their favourite haunts. Elven are wanderers by nature, thriving on fluidity and finding it best in a game played with either humans or other Earth creatures. These Elven rested in the branches of the trees, or else by the side of a crystalline pool, or perhaps somewhere else that caught their attention. The heart of the Arana was where the Elven race congregated, and so while the entire forest might have been Elfhame territory, only this place was called Elfhame. And tonight, Elfhame was celebrating. What the celebration was for, Serenity wasn't too sure. Neither did anyone else for that matter. But no one seemed to mind, and certainly none seemed to care. The mood this night was a festive one, and she was invited to join them. A meal was set out near one of the larger freshwater pools. Water nymphs frolicked and flirted with some of the Elven males, trying to get their attention. Serenity ate, and they all feasted. Kakkyou kept his promise to demonstrate more of his skills now that he had more room. Dragons were conjured up from thin air; a dozen Kakkyou's started to play a strange game of tag with each other all around the trees; a hovering rose was set ablaze, the fires abruptly breaking apart to become clouds of smoke that took the form and shape of dancers. She was captivated as the wisps and trails of grey mist moved to a rhythm matched by the flutes and stringed instruments being played in the background. Somewhere in the middle of the meal, Kakkyou revealed his own flute and piped a melody. He then left the flute, which continued to hover and play its song, and invited her to dance. It was awkward to admit this was her first time, especially in such company. Yet Kakkyou refused to let her slip away, and moved slowly so she could learn the motions. The music slowed to accommodate them as well. And so they danced for much of the night. And somewhere along the way, the two lovers were left alone by the Elven revelers. Music became a distant noise, and the forest grew darker to feed their quiet mood. Songbirds chirped in the absence of sound. The canopy of green overhead pulled away to reveal the silent shimmer of the moon. It was brighter on this night. A sign of her symbiotic magik. Serenity abruptly stopped dancing. Uncertain as to why, a look of concern marred Kakkyou's expression. It melted away as she laced her hands behind his neck, pushing the bangs of silver hair away from his face. Crystal blue eyes looked up to the moon. Legend whispered of a magik between lovers that existed with the moon. When two lovers were separated and gazed upon the same moon on the same night, their voices would be heard in each other's dreams. She wondered how many nights had been passed at GlenHawke, where she had waited to hear his voice. Kakkyou looked back down at Serenity. His bride, his beloved. She looked up at him, her blue eyes quietly beckoning to him as they always had and always would. Their faces drew closer together, and each one closed their eyes as a bond that surpassed all magik and science took control in their souls. Time stood still. Their lips met, and gently they kissed. The moon began to glow with a fierce radiance, and the wind rose up. The stars shone brighter, and the songbirds were quiet in that moment. A moment of a kiss. An eternity of passion. A destiny of love. One might have hardly recognized the trio of wandering women to be Sailor Senshi, let alone that two of them were planetary princesses. Each one was dressed as they preferred, each in what they deemed "civilian" clothes. Despite looking overdressed compared to the motley assortment of revelers here in one of the crowded street parades, Setsuna felt rather underdressed as she glanced over her shoulder at Haruka and Michiru. The two were walking arm in arm, and for the most part Michiru seemed to be enjoying herself immensely. Haruka held a possessive glare that directed itself upon anyone unlucky enough to let his or her eyes fixate on Michiru for anything more than a mere passing glance. A roving waiter carrying a tray of complimentary drinks circulated the area. Not about to forgo the indulgence, Setsuna managed to effortlessly grab hold of one of the champagne glasses as he passed by. The drink itself held a surprisingly sweet taste, bold and euphoric. An aphrodisiac fashioned to heighten the thrill of the crowd. They had been here in Hakkeda for hours already. Aside from simply touring the energetic streets beneath the lights of countless coloured lanterns hanging overhead, the Outer Senshi had accomplished little else. On the other hand, Michiru in her stunning Neptuni gown--a haunting aqua-marine fabric which was near transparent--was garnering quite the attention. Haruka's challenging glare managed to keep any would-be suitors at bay. Setsuna couldn't help but smile to herself as she downed the rest of the drink, and then set the glass aside on a nearby table. "The Messiah of Light isn't here," Haruka stated plainly, never straying more than three or four steps behind Setsuna. She scowled at the seeming futility of their mingling. "I can't sense anything at all that might let us believe she would be in such a place as this." The gregarious if not rowdy setting was evidently causing the tall, sandy-blonde to bristle. More than likely due to the near dozen, drunken proposals she had received for either a dance or something a little more risqu‚. One particularly deserving character managed to discover what it was like to have the Uranian princess' fist send him pinwheeling into a patio table. Setsuna turned her head, long dark hair spilling down over her shoulders with the movement. "Iie. There's something else." Magenta eyes scanned the crowd from another angle, trying to discover the enigma lurking somewhere in the city. "I don't know what it is, but something's here...waiting for us." "I'd actually argue he's already found you," a new voice spoke up. "What took you so long?" The three ladies turned their heads. Around them, the cheers of the crowd and music of the performers grew to a dim background static. The Man With No Name stood between Haruka and Michiru, and Setsuna. His long black redingote, the white cross shimmering in the lanternlight, rustled as he took a step back and motioned with his head for them to follow. A brief glance was given by Haruka, skeptical of this person being the "something" in question they were searching for. Setsuna quietly admitted she had her own doubts. Certainly he held that air of mystery, and the dark attire he chose to wear added to whatever secrets he was hiding, but he seemed too...too human. And in all honesty, given past trends, she had expected to encounter another female. Surprisingly, Michiru seemed most critical. "You're the one we came here to find?" she remarked, not too impressed. The Man With No Name grinned, and ran his fingers through his dark hair. "We have much to talk about, Senshi. We should adjourn to a quieter place." It was almost midnight in the city square, where the moon shone down upon a labyrinth of cobblestone paths mixed in with green grass and mighty trees, sided with a calm, blue lake, and surrounded by a mismatched set of building designs. There was no wind in the square; not a leaf even twitched while it clung to its branch. The grass was still, the flowers in their beds stood tall and unbending. The surface of the lake was clear and untainted by waves. A few revelers had escaped from Hakkeda's eternal celebration to seek time alone here. There was no single person laughing quietly. One cannot kiss alone. The hushed laughter from these couples only added to the calm of the city square, the quiet that nobody wanted to break. Somewhere in the distance the music and cheers of the rest of the city could be heard--though it was a far away sound and thus never given a second thought. Everyone went on kissing. Seducing. And then there was a breeze. Leaves rustled, flowers swayed, water rippled. The breeze grew to a wind, and the wind grew to a fierce gale that was limited only to the very heart of the city square. A few pairs of lovers closest to the storm broke away from one another's gazes, and watched with rapt fascination the latest phenomenon to overtake Hakkeda. Suddenly an electrical bolt exploded from the trunk of a tree, shooting across the cobblestone paths and striking another tree trunk. A second burst of magik exploded from a lamppost, directing itself to the cobblestone path. More furious arcs burst out from the ground and trees, drawing towards a single place on the cobblestone path. They brushed against each other, collided and fused, loud popping and hissing coming from their activity. The square began to glow a brilliant blue-white. The pairs of lovers watching this spoke not a word, not a laugh, and not a whisper. Amidst the glowing light and writhing magik, a figure began to take form. As the shape became more defined, the magik shot out to connect with it, feeding it. The form took an even more solid and defined shape, until a woman's silhouette emerged. As abruptly as it had begun, the frenzy of dark magik stopped, and once again the square was silent and still. The woman stood straight and unmoving, her head bowed. The dying winds caught long strands of raven-dark hair. Violet eyes opened, and the woman gave a savage smile. Mistress 9 took up her glaive. And prepared to reduce the city of Hakkeda to an ashen crater. They were standing in a deserted courtyard. Strange to think there could be any place in Hakkeda that was without noise or noisy souls. Secluded behind a wall of stone archways and a veil of hanging vines and flowers, this place beheld a quiet beauty meant for a nobleman's family. The family was out for the night. Perhaps dining, perhaps celebrating at the mansion of another as rich as they were. He had led them here, moving as they would, bounding across walls and rooftops as if gravity meant nothing. The edges of his overcoat acted as his wings, black folds billowing out around his body. None of the Outer Senshi had trouble keeping up with him; they glided through the air as swiftly as he did over the buildings and alleyways, shadows in the darkened skies. Beneath, dozens of street parties remained oblivious to their presence. The four landed at last, here in this quiet courtyard. "I suppose now you wish to seek answers from me," the Man With No Name said, staring evenly at the Outer Senshi. "The thought had crossed our minds," Haruka answered coldly. "However," he added, casting a glance over his shoulder at the flickering lights that could be seen through the veil of flowers. "There is something else too. You are seeking the Dark Messiah." He paused as he drew up beside Michiru; she barely flinched as he moved his head close to hers. The shades hid his eyes, yet none could be certain of what he was looking at. "No," he said quietly, as if seeing something, akin to a hunting dog catching the scent of its quarry. "What you seek is not the Dark Messiah, but the Messiah of Light." Aqua-green eyes slowly looked up to meet his gaze, and Michiru's lips became an enigmatic smile. "How would you know that?" she inquired. The Man With No Name smiled, amused in that he himself could provide no answer. "I don't know. I'm discovering my destiny as I walk along its path." He held out his hands, and Haruka stiffened upon seeing the shine from the dried blood on his dark sleeves. Her evident distrust of him wasn't something she cared to hide. "What are you?" she demanded. He shrugged, looking up to the heavens. "I'm just a man with no name. Nothing more and nothing less...for the time being." A laugh escaped his lips. A laugh that sent Setsuna's hair standing on edge. The time guardress could sense something about him that echoed of a power that held the potential to rival her own. And yet it was unfocused, uncertain of what it was. A magik that remained a mystery even to itself. Hands were stretched out, sparks exploding from his palms. A shimmering radiance filled the secluded courtyard--yet the light came not as much from his hands as it came from Haruka and Michiru. The two Outer Senshi stepped back on their own, caught up in their own private worlds of surprise and confusion as something began to emerge from their bodies. Silhouettes of fierce white light faded away quickly, and they held out their hands to grasp what had become revealed. Haruka now held a sword. Michiru, a mirror. This Man With No Name had invoked their Talismans into being. "Answer me my name," he stated. "And I will give you the world." Haruka and Michiru were still staring at their Talismans, their minds not ready to give him an answer. And so Setsuna, who almost felt as if she had been expecting this, answered for them. "You don't have a name," she said. "You said so yourself." The Man With No Name smiled at that. "And that is why I am not meant for you. You are here as companions to my unknown mission; that much I know." The tall, sandy-blonde gripped the hilt of her sword, unsheathing the blade. Purifying white light flooded out from the exposed weapon, and she quickly slid the sheath back over it. Michiru in turn was studying the mirror, looking first at the reflection held within the glass surface, and then to the crest of Neptune engraved on the back. "I admit my own surprise," the Man With No Name said. "Those are not the weaponry I was expecting the Outer Senshi to possess. Not against someone like the Dark Messiah." "You hardly seem equipped yourself," Haruka retorted. The Man With No Name stifled a laugh, cast another glance out to the flickering lights of the celebration beyond them. "If I have learned one thing since my birth, Sailor Uranus, it is that I am a weapon. There may be more to my existence, but for now that remains unknown." He abruptly froze, and Setsuna could have sworn she saw his eyes narrow from behind those tinted, coin-sized lenses. The folds of his overcoat noiselessly ruffled as he turned his head, something in the nightly winds catching his full attention. He didn't seem to like what he had noticed. "Ladies," he said, his demeanor suddenly more solemn than ever before. "Do yourselves a favour." "What?" the tall sandy-blonde asked. The Man With No Name growled, crouching low to the ground. "Run." He sprang from the ground, cutting through the air to land upon the mansion's rooftop. The three Outer Senshi were a few seconds behind him, none willing to let him simply disappear into the night as sudden as he had first appeared. And so all four bore witness to a pillar of dark magik that exploded from the heart of Hakkeda's cityscape, turning night sky into black storm. Violet lightening crackled and streaked across a now starless heaven, tearing apart buildings in their rampage. Even from where they stood, they could see the debris scattering in all directions as buildings were torn apart. Setsuna's eyes widened as she saw within her mind a female's silhouette amidst the furious magik that was tearing apart Hakkeda. "Hotaru," she whispered, chilled to again think this was once her daughter. "She's here," the Man With No Name said quietly. "The Dark Messiah has arrived." "And what are you going to do about that?" Michiru asked. He grinned, removing his shades. Taking a strange pleasure in seeing their reaction to the clouds of his eyes dissipating, to reveal the black essence of his magik. "Give you a headstart," he answered. "I'm not about to run from her," Haruka said, defiant before the Man With No Name. "It is our duty as Outer Senshi to protect our worlds from evil like her." She paused, looking over to her Neptuni lover. "And while I may not like it, I'm not going to run from it." Michiru gave the tall, sandy-blonde a gentle smile. "You're no match for her," the Man With No Name stated, turning to the Outer Senshi. "The Messiah of Silence holds more power than the three of you combined. You should leave this place and continue on your journey. I'll catch up." He stepped forward, prepared to leave them. "And you're blind," Setsuna countered, lowering her time staff in front of him. "You may see the world in magik like we see it in colours, but I don't think that gives you reason to believe you can win against her." The Man With No Name glanced down at her staff, and then slipped his hand beneath the key-shaped staff. Unhurried, he lifted it out of his way and resumed walking towards the heart of the storm. "I merely wish to discuss something of a private nature with this Messiah of Silence," he said, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Do me the courtesy of leaving quickly; it would serve you well to ensure you are out of range when she levels this city." He reached the end of the rooftop and then became a darkened blur soaring through the skies. The Outer Senshi remained rooted where they stood for only a few moments; a shared glance between the three of them was all they required. A heartbeat later, they gave chase. Mistress 9 was enjoying herself. Though not as much as she wanted. Silence had been shattered with screams, choruses of cries and shrieks punctuating the frightened mob that fled in any direction they could. The city square had now become a lifeless crater of scorched earth. Whatever romantic couples had been there to experience her first strike could bear witness no more. The surrounding area was now paying the price for her presence. Revelers became entangled in their hysteria, crashing through whatever wasn't a solid wall. Tables were overturned, stages were stormed, taverns and restaurants became the sites of stampedes. No one wished to get near the Dark Messiah as she leisurely walked down the cobblestone streets. A swipe with her glaive cut the air in half. The tear continued its onslaught, ramming itself in a set of buildings, pulverizing them completely. The walls were cracked down the centre, crumbling and imploding as the screaming lives inside were abruptly silenced. Mistress 9 turned a corner, finding yet another street where a celebration had become a frenzied evacuation. Many had already disappeared down alleys or were cowering in the nearby buildings. The last of the terrified jubilants cleared the street. And then suddenly there was one standing in her path. One who wasn't afraid. Hands in his coat pockets, dressed in black save for a white cross that ran its course along one of his sleeves, was a man whose name she did not know. His dark hair fluttered in the night winds, his head tipped towards the ground as if the formation of the cobblestones was of great interest to him. Abruptly he lifted his head. Stared directly at her. "I know you," he remarked, curious confusion blended with the vaguest of recognitions. The Man With No Name abruptly tilted himself sideways, neatly avoiding a vicious thrust from the glaive's sharpened edge. "And how would you know me?" Mistress 9 inquired savagely, pulling the glaive back towards herself. His unexpected agility had raised her guard, and she liked it. The taste of Cait Sith's blood still lingered even now upon her lips; she hoped this one would taste just as delicious. Perhaps even put up more of a fight that Uranian soldier. "I possess no memories that would give me reason to believe we have met before," he answered. His eyes were unlike any other she had seen. Eyes that moved like magik. Purest magik. She wanted to take his eyes, take his power for herself. The Dark Messiah decided to behead him, destroying the body but sparing the eyes. "However," the Man With No Name added. "I cannot deny that your face is somehow one I recognize." She jabbed at him a second time, and he leapt into the air, vaulting over her head to land behind her. They turned again to face each other. Her violet eyes started to glow, the magik of the Dark Messiah venting itself in an aura that flooded her entire body. Long raven-dark hair flowed around her as the loose gown on her body rippled like waves of black water. Without using the Silence Glaive she unleashed a concentrated burst of her magik. This time the Man With No Name would die. Give her his eyes. His magik. The Man With No Name tilted his head to one side, already anticipating the attack. The magik grazed his hair and shoulder, yet still missed him. It slammed into a tavern behind him, soaring through the front doors and then exploding with enough force to send the tavern crashing down upon itself. The Man With No Name never glanced back as the gust of wind from the implosion pressed his redingote taut against his back. Eyes of the storm closed momentarily as he spoke to Mistress 9. "I am not meant for you," he whispered quietly. "While you can lay claim to me, I'd rather you didn't." He was refusing her. Refusing to give in, to fear her. Mistress 9 gave an enraged shout, trying once more to impale him upon her weapon. Yet once more the Man With No Name skillfully dodged, hands never leaving the pockets of his long redingote. "Good day to you, Mistress Nine," he stated evenly. "While I dislike the notion, I know we shall be seeing each other again soon enough." "You're not leaving," she countered, jamming the base of the glaive into the soft, burned ground. One of his eyebrows was raised. "Really?" "You're no mere human," the Messiah of Silence stated, leaning against her glaive. Naked fingers ran along the edge of her weapon, skin savouring the feel of the naked blade. "You will give me something to enjoy tonight." Her tongue ran along her lips. "Ever since Aurora, I haven't found an equal. This petty destruction means nothing to me. I want someone who doesn't fear me. I want to personally give them a reason to fear me." Something shifted amidst the pulsating entity within his eyes. The storm churned and grew. "Ara," the Man With No Name said, his voice suddenly turning cold. "So taking life leaves you that bored?" Winds surged and swept past him, the folds of his coat wildly flapping behind his body as he opened a hand and held out his palm between them. Necromagik crackled from his skin, a demon summoned from the manifesting darkness. It had a name he had already called upon, invoked to clear the playing field. A wicked smile, born of an evil that perhaps matched her own, carved itself upon his face. "Then let me remedy your boredom," he said. Flames as black as the midnight realms exploded from his palm, a rampant inferno spiraling towards the heavens before forging itself into twin demon wings. Its essence out moments later, like entrails. Enormous legs emerged as four albino eyes opened up, and the Jabberwocky made itself known to the world once more. Spit flew from its jaws as it bellowed, the demon's gaze fixating upon her. "I must thank you," the Man With No Name said to her. "I've never known hatred before. It's quite a rush." Eyes of the raging tempests turned upwards to the dragonwyrm. "Kill her." The Jabberwocky was more than happy to oblige its master, becoming a thrashing mass of coils and fangs and claws. The glistening and blackened form of the demon lunged, falling up the Dark Messiah. And Mistress 9 did nothing to flee or brace herself for the impact. Violet eyes closed, and the blade of the Silence Glaive began to glow as she invoked the deadly power that was hers alone to control. "Silence Glaive Surprise!" The world went dead. And then turned itself inside out. In the last moments of its infernal life, the Jabberwocky realized there were others in this world that were powerful enough to end its life. This lesson had come one battle too late. Black mass writhed as its skin bubbled and expanded before bursting forth. Incineration came a heartbeat later, and the Jabberwocky let out a startled screech moments before it was torn apart. The Man With No Name saw it all. "My friend," he whispered. A solitary tear fell down his face, rolled down his cheek before it evaporated from the intense blast of Mistress 9's approaching magik. The shockwave overtook him, but he didn't seem to care. It was the first time he had ever felt loss. And now for the first time he would discover pain. From where she was in the labyrinth of Hakkeda's buildings, Haruka turned to watch the blast turn night into clearest daylight. Everything became dead silent. And then exploded, buildings shattering into powder, debris and gales flooding past them in a furious maelstrom of magik. The Outer Senshi shielded their eyes from the intense light and the shockwave that tore past them, causing the cobblestone roads to ripple like a carpet being pulled. "What the hell is this?!" the tall sandy-blonde exclaimed. "The Dark Messiah's power," Setsuna answered, practically having to shout over the howls of the wind. Suddenly a projectile shot through the streets, a trail of dust erupting from whatever part of it was being dragged on the ground. It struck the corner of a building; the object's course was not changed...but the corner of the building was pulverized without hesitation. And then the Man With No Name crashed into a wall, the stone cracking on impact. His eyes opened, and with a wince he spoke a single word: "Ow." The blast faded quickly, leaving the dark of night and the glow of a smouldering crater. Mistress 9 moved on in another direction, suddenly in a foul mood over her encounter with him. Her game with Hakkeda had ended. And so now would the city. For the moment, the Outer Senshi were more concerned with the unknown stranger now imbedded in the stone. "Looks like she was a lot more than you could handle," Haruka dryly remarked. She didn't offer him any help, and by all indications he didn't require any. "That merely proves my point," the Man With No Name answered, trying to right his balance as he stood moments after pulling himself from the wall. His body swayed with uncertainty. "She is not the one deserving of what I have to offer." "What do you have to offer?" Michiru pressed. She felt half- tempted to try her newfound mirror to probe his mysteries; somehow she doubted she would find anything. Secrets remained that way because they wanted to. Because they went through great lengths to remain so. The Man With No Name shook his head. "I do not know. I've killed before, taken life because I was indifferent to it." The shades were drawn out from the folds of his redingote, placed over his eyes. He briefly dusted himself off; Setsuna found it incredible that after taking the full brunt of such an attack, he was almost completely unscathed. "She killed someone I never knew I cared about," he said, looking at where the Silence Glaive Surprise had reduced yet another part of the city to ash and rubble. A malevolent smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Now I understand pain...and I know what it means to thirst for taking a life." Haruka glanced at Michiru and Setsuna; her expression was one of skepticism, distrust and uncertainty about this man who had declared himself to be their travelling companion. Hakkeda's foundations shuddered once more as it took another relentless beating at the hands and magik of the Dark Messiah. Once her anger had been satiated, Mistress 9 would annihilate everything around her. Setsuna turned to the others. "We should go." Michiru nodded. "This town is already dead; there's nothing we can do to change that." Timeless magenta eyes narrowed as those words were spoken. Aurora was relived all over again, and silently Setsuna swore to avenge the place she had called home for sixteen years. But could she bring herself to destroy her own daughter, even after having stood back and let the Dark Messiah destroy a planet? She knew this answer would never have a resolution. And so the three Outer Senshi, and the Man With No Name, made their way out from Hakkeda. As they walked, solemnly, silently, one final burst of blak magik was lifted up to the skies, dashing to shards permanently the eternal party that had once been Hakkeda. Serenity stifled a giggle as she tried once again to walk across the clearing, and nearly stumbled. Who would have thought walking in these Elven dresses would be like walking on the top of a fence, she wondered in bemusement as she nearly fell down again. Barefoot she moved, hopping up and up along a series of entangled roots. The slender, crimson ribbon wrapped around her foot, a petit bow tied just above her heel, never came loose, never became dirty. Her gown had sleeves shortened to her elbows, and the lower folds ending at her knees. Yet there were multiple hidden layers and folds to this garment; it was surprisingly easy to confuse where and what edge had to be tucked in or left loose. A fabric of purest white, contrasting with the scarlet sash that followed the curve of her right shoulder, trailing over her breasts and then wrapping around her waist. Another small bow was made in back at her waistline, securing the sash in place. Cascades of what she had first thought to be ruffles turned out to be ripples of the natural cloth. It was willing itself to appear the way it did; she could straighten it out when she removed it before sleeping, yet when she put on the sash and secured it to her attire, the cloth rippled beautifully again. Kakkyou had explained when she first tried it on that those two colours were always worn by she who would become the queen of Elfhame. He never explained the symbolism, or why the ribbon was wrapped around her left foot, and she never pressed the matter. She was content to simply dance through the forest, wearing his gift. As the Elven Queen-to-be, she slept in a private chamber hollowed out from one of the grandest trees Arana's isles had to offer. Soon enough, she would share a bed with Kakkyou. Serenity's face went slightly flushed at that thought, and the other ones that followed. These garments had awaited her when she awoke. The clothing had been folded and laid out alongside her bed, with a small pendant that was now hanging from her neck, tucked beneath the folds of the garments. As far as she could tell, it was a blue and opaque crystal, possibly crafted from a Lapis Lazuli gemstone. Shaped like a raindrop, when her skin gently brushed along its smooth surface, an image of Kakkyou had appeared. The pendant would only respond to her touch. Distorted at first like a pool's surface being disturbed. But then all became clear, and she could see Elven eyes of creamy jade looking at her with fond affection. In behind Kakkyou's mane of silver hair she could see some of Arana's majestic trees. With one fluid, graceful motion, Serenity leapt from the edge of the roots, floating across the open space between the trees. Already she was starting to sense--and harness for herself--the Elven magik of running with the winds. The folds and edges of her gown fluttered around her body as she let herself descend, feet lightly falling on the cool grasses. Everything was almost sensual to the touch; her body had grown acutely sensitive to the magik that permeated every breath of air she took. Even the material used to make her dress had a foreign yet wondrous texture to it. Serenity admitted she couldn't tell if it was silk or velvet, or something else. Yet it felt perfect to wear. At least Kakkyou had given her this. In the days she had already spent in Elfhame, one thing she had slowly grown accustomed to was the dress of the Elven race. Their designs were rather...unique. Some were rather absurd. Then again, the Elven lived in the heart of a deep forest where magik still thrived. To consider this made the idea of an Elven gown fashioned to resemble a butterfly a very appropriate if not beautiful one. This gown, and the sash she wore as well, neither slipped off one or the other shoulder, or gape at "ungapeable" places. It didn't entangle her legs either, allowing her the grace of moving through the forest realm like any other Elven would. And abruptly Kakkyou was there with her. He was perched upon one of the higher branches, looking down at her from above. One leg was tucked near his chest, letting his arm rest absently on the knee. His other leg dangled over the side, swaying without reason or desire. Serenity froze, acutely aware of everything around her in that moment. "What is it?" she asked, suddenly unsure of herself. Had she worn her gown the wrong way? Was someone disliking the way she laughed and leisurely danced with the winds? Kakkyou chuckled as he shook his head. "Nothing," he said. He leaned over backwards, plummeting off the tree branch. With seeming ease, he twisted his body and righted his descent, landing perfectly. Just a few steps in front of her. A hand moved through his long silver hair, tousling it up. "Watching you there, I could have sworn you were a faery." He moved closer, the anticipation in his lips seen by her eyes. "And I could have watched you dance in the air for a lifetime, and not grown tired of it." He kissed her lightly. Embraced her with just as much a caress, arms wrapping around her back and pulling her close. She smelled like jasmine, like the ocean air, like so many other things that calmed his soul when he found himself dwelling in darkness. Kakkyou ran his fingers through her long, golden hair. "So what do you think of Elfhame?" he asked. He had waited days to ask this question, giving her the chance to adjust to the forest isles of Arana. Tense and reluctant to finally ask, lest GlenHawke became a fonder memory to her than he was. Crystal blue eyes searched the lush foliage of the forest, the tall trees supporting the emerald canopy over their heads. She could hear the numerous sounds of birds and insects and animals, smell the fresh and damp air. The magik of giggling faeries and nymphs called out to her, sensed just as clearly as the dominant Elven magik. Serenity smiled as she leaned her head against his chest, felt the beating of his heart and the warmth of his body. "I'm home," she whispered. "Damn," Galahad muttered, studying one of the many screens that were displayed within Camelot's immense war room. The readouts were clear enough: transmissions had ceased completely, and the only traces left of what had once been Tenmile were a few solitary heat signatures from smouldering fires. Another city destroyed. Another to fall prey to the army of Shadows. "That brings the toll up to three cities," Arthur stated grimly. True to his word, after clearing up the confusion of Aurora's destruction and organizing those of his delegation left behind on Neptune, Arthur had returned to Earth. Camelot was no longer idyllic. The Knights of the Round Table had all been called back to the capital city, and every last agent of their spy network was reporting to them at hourly intervals. The Pendragon had arrived moments after Hakkeda's destruction was reported. A new wave of confusion and hysteria was his to cope with--yet he did it well. The resolve found in the wake of Aurora's annihilation had resurrected the long-forgotten soldier within, pushing away the weary old diplomat king. He, along with everyone else in the chamber, had barely slept in the past few days. Those present had been fully briefed on the nature of Aurora's destruction; the Dark Messiah was now leading Morgana's armies. War was inevitable at this point. Yet for now, all they could do was monitor the attacks of the Shadow armies, and use this time to brace themselves for the first official confrontation. Arthur turned to one of his Knight Commanders. "Deploy half a dozen rescue teams to the area. If possible, send out those closest." His fingers swept across the hovering screen before him, tapping on one dot amidst the map of the now-devastated region. The image was magnified, giving the region's name. Lyoness. "Contact our evacuation forces there; if they can spare the soldiers and the healers, I want them helping the survivors." The Knight nodded, and raced over to one of the vacant consoles. If past trends remained the way they were, then the chances of finding any survivors were few and far between; the Messiah of Silence first wiped her chosen city out of existence, letting Morgana's armies slaughter anyone who managed to escape the hellish explosion of dark magik. "Looks like another sleepless night," Lancelot said, though not exactly impressed with this fact. Galahad groaned, leaning back to stretch his neck. "I'll have someone send up some food and tea." "You might want to wait on that," Merlin spoke up. Arthur turned his head, removing his lenses momentarily to rub the bridge of his nose. "I'm rather hesitant to ask." Merlin brought up one of the landscape maps as the other Knights gathered around him. "Three cities have been leveled by Morgana's forces, who are now being led by the Dark Messiah." He adjusted the picture's focus, outlining the devastated cities and the directions between them. "Take a close look at the path of destruction," the Ancient instructed. The Knight Commanders grew silent. Even Arthur stiffened. "It's a route," he whispered, his throat going dry. "They're carving a path of death to us." She wasn't wasting any time with the outer borders of his kingdom, slowly suffocating from the outside. Morgana was coming straight for Camelot. And making sure he knew it beyond any doubts. "She's taking her time, at the very least," another Knight said, trying to sound optimistic. "We have one to two day intervals of inactivity between each attack." "Morgana just wants to make sure word gets out she did it," Merlin stated coldly, his tone evidencing his dislike for such a tactic. "She's feeding on the fear, trying to make us afraid of her." Lancelot leaned closer to the holomap, studying any patterns that could be found. "Judging from the route the Shadows appear to be taking, they'll destroy another two cities before reaching Camelot. We've got perhaps four, maybe five days at best--that's only if she doesn't change her pattern." "She won't," Arthur said grimly. "She's deliberately giving us time to amass any resistance against her." He scowled. "It'll make for a more impressive defeat; if her victory over Camelot is a spectacular one, the other planets will hesitate in retaliating." "That just might buy her enough time to overtake the entire Solis system!" one of the Knights exclaimed. "Kuso," Merlin swore through his teeth. With the Dark Messiah leading her armies, such a lackadaisical approach to war was one Morgana could get away with having. Arthur turned his head, looking directly at Galahad. "Send the message to every last castle and province allied with us. I want their soldiers assembled here as soon as possible. And alert the cities that the Shadow army plan on attacking; I'd prefer them to be deserted when the end comes." The momentary quiet in the room was again shattered as holoscreens were consulted, communications were made, and everyone scrambled to somehow find an opening to beat Morgana's relentless onslaught. Arthur closed his copper eyes, fighting back both the urge to sleep and the incoherence he could feel creeping in from being awake for so long. "You should rest, Milord," Lancelot said. "You've been awake more than any of us." Arthur was ready to object, but then his fading mind got the better of him. The fact that he wasn't a machine was a hard one to accept in these times, and reluctantly the fatigued Pendragon nodded. "If something comes up--" "I won't hesitate to wake you," Lancelot finished. "Go on, and get some rest. I'll look after things here, and make sure the Knights get some time to rest as well." Grateful, Arthur moved towards the doorway. And then stopped as he saw Merlin's face. "What is it?" he asked. Merlin never looked away from the screen before him, his aged eyes studying the route being taken by Morgana's armies. "One thing troubles me," the mage answered. "This woman, the Dark Messiah; she has enough power to shatter planets. Why is she wasting her time demolishing a few small cities?" When Arthur moved to confer with the Ancient, Lancelot didn't interject. He knew their king well enough--and he also understood what Merlin was implying. "You think she has a hidden agenda?" Arthur asked. Merlin's eyes narrowed. He knew more about the Dark Messiah's origins than anyone else in the room--and he also knew about the techniques her originator frequently employed. "I can guarantee it, Milord." If Mistress 9 was created independent of Morgana's twisted desires, there was no need to doubt an ulterior motive being involved. The only problem left was deciphering what that motive was. And Merlin knew of only person who could answer that. The Raithe.... Far from the prying eyes of Morgana, from the magik the woman assumed to have in secretly watching the Dark Messiah, Mistress 9 continued her work. Hours had built up into another day of solitude here in the darkness. In her own private sanctuary of silence. It seemed a foolish tactic to let her enemies build up their defenses. Yet it suited her own purposes rather well. She wished to find another worthy of dying at her hands. These humans were not exactly the finest of specimens...but they made excellent containers for daemon eggs. Others like her would soon follow, once she opened the portal. The blade of the Silence Glaive shimmered with an indigo light, feeding and fuelling the magik that was forging something into being. A StarChamber. Rustic if not primitive to her tastes, yet it would easily work to complete her task. The amount of energy required to open a stable wormhole capable of bringing her master over was enormous. For now, she would let her excess magik feed the StarChamber. There was always enough left for her to wipe out an insignificant city. Those tasks set out for her by Morgana were rather pitiful in comparison to this. Mistress 9 smiled wickedly to herself; once she had secured the gateway, she would deny Morgana the chance to become a container. Human bodies were such fragile things. Let that arrogant woman play with her puppet armies. Pharaoh 90 was her true master. And she would bring him into the Solis System. "Serenity?" She never heard him say her name, crystal blue eyes looking distantly to something that laid beyond the comforting trees of the forest. Winds of change were blowing, whispering her name and calling out to the magik within. Those voices were almost inaudible, yet captivated her full attention. Kakkyou called to her again. "Serenity?" She heard him this time. It was easy to read the concern in his expression. He stopped walking, trying to appraise that distant glimmer still in her eyes. Yet he still kept holding her hand to reassure her. To reassure them both. "Are you alright? You look...preoccupied." Serenity looked away from his gaze, back out to the forest world around them. "I don't know," she said quietly. "I can feel something out there, out beyond the boundaries of Elfhame." "If it's any consolation, it's not just you." Kakkyou seemed to hold her hand tighter now. "We've all felt it. There are foreign magiks appearing on Earth. No one knows what they mean, except that a change is coming." A small group of Elven ladies walked past them, the girls giggling and throwing knowing glances to Kakkyou. The sultry expressions and pouting lips were more than enough to get Serenity embarrassed, and Kakkyou waving to them with acrid smile on his face. "I think I'm giving them too much freedom in gossiping about us," he remarked, still politely waving. One of the Elven ladies spoke in their native tongue, evidently addressing Kakkyou. "Yes, thank you," he replied, a half-unamused, half-wry grin on his face. "I'm...sure that technique will come in handy...Hey! That's uncalled for...No, I haven't. And neither will you, for that matter." The Elven ladies laughed and then disappeared amidst another cluster of trees. Left alone to try and repair whatever damage had been done, Kakkyou returned his attention to Serenity. "I'm sorry about that," he sighed, massing one of his temples. "They can be rather amorous at times. Just do me a favour, and not ask what they said to me." Serenity couldn't help but smile a little. "Oh, I think I got the basic idea." The look on Kakkyou's face was priceless. It was her request that they consummate their love after the wedding ceremony. And Kakkyou swore to respect her wishes. Regardless, that didn't mean they were numb to the tension between them. "Well, if that didn't kill the mood," the Elven lord said finally, giving her a playful wink. "I don't know what will." He took her hand and they continued to walk through the forest. Ocean blue eyes studied the readouts before him, and they were not exactly relating good news. Magellan looked away from the scrolling data. Destruction losses, property damage, death tolls; it was a stomach-churning report to have to read. Especially on such a cloudless day as this. He was in no mood to be fixated on such a thing while the sun shone down upon him, while the world of Vlatmere seemed to be at such serene peace. All around him, the rose garden his father had so tenderly cared for was flourishing and drinking up the sunlight like falling rain. And yet this ethereal beauty wasn't lifting his spirits as it usually did, when his mood became heavy and brooding. Tenmile was attacked not two hours ago. That made it the third city to be destroyed by the Shadows. They were just lucky that Vlatmere was a fair distance from both Camelot and this fiery path being carved by Morgana's armies. Even still, if Camelot fell then it was just a matter of time before the war came to the front walls of Vlatmere castle. Everything seemed to be falling apart around them. And while he trusted in Arthur, Magellan found himself in doubts of just how the end of this would turn out. So many had died already, and the killing was far from being over. But so long as it was in his power, he would protect his people and his province. And his Sailor Senshi. "Magellan?" Myung asked. She sat across the table from him, holding her teacup in her hands yet drinking none of the tea. Her blue eyes had been watching him quietly question the future, their future. The Earthian prince could hear the concern in her voice, and gave a reassuring though weary smile. "I keep going over it in my head," he said, almost more to the air than to her directly. "I think back to the events of the past week, wondering if there was anything I could have done to help prevent this from happening." They were seated on a small patio table in the rose garden, and all around them bloomed the quiet beauty that made Magellan remember why he had always pressed on in life. Even after his father's death, this always served as a private sanctuary. A small touchpad was laid out between their cups of tea, the fatalities from the Shadow armies still scrolling along. Remaining oblivious as to who may be reading or ignoring them. Facts were facts, whether or not they were accepted. "You can't blame yourself," Myung told him. "Magellan, you've done so much already in keeping your subjects in control of their fears. Where mass hysteria has torn other cities apart, Vlatmere remains as stable as ever--and they have you to thank for that." Magellan winced as he massaged one of his shoulders. The tension over the past few days was starting to take effect; his muscles were knotting up and giving him more discomfort than preferable. "I can only use rumour control for so long," he said. "I'm still racking my mind, trying to think about the next step when that control breaks down." His eyes looked to her with concern and severity. "I'm not about to lose Vlatmere to mass riots and martial law, Myung. It's not what my father would have wanted, and it's not what I want." Myung flashed him that trademark, disarming smile of hers. It was incredible to think that she could wield her smiles like some wielded magik. And yet whenever her face lit up with that childlike wonder and laughter, it was more possessive than any spell he knew to exist. For one brief shining moment, he forgot about the impending danger. And for that, he was eternally grateful to his Senshi of Love. One of his hands clenched into a ball, muscles flexing as he tried to psyche himself up...only to fail at the last moment, and allow his hand to relax once more. Magellan winced as he tried in vain to locate a cramped muscle that was annoying him far more than he wished it to at the moment. "Here," Myung said, setting her teacup down on the table as she rose from her chair. "Let me help you." He didn't object when she stood behind him and asked for him to remove his jacket. Magellan undid the buttons on his uniform and slid out his sleeves. All that remained beneath the royal vestige now was a thin, black undershirt. Myung began to massage the base of his neck, kneading out the stiff muscles that were currently giving him problems. Magellan's eyes widened in unexpected delight at how thorough and effective she was; he was practically melting under her touch, every nerve willingly dropping its protest to let her fingers dance and squeeze his skin. "Mmmmm," he sighed. That caused Myung to laugh. "I take it you're enjoying my therapy?" Magellan nodded. "I need to hire you on a full-time basis. This, I could easily live with." "Tease," Myung said, pausing from her massage to bend over the prince. Tresses of her blonde hair acted as veil which hid their faces from the sunlight and roses. She lightly kissed his forehead, and would have lingered there (if not moved to his lips) had loud footsteps not broken the enjoyable silence of the garden. "Hey, Magellan!" Frederic called out. "We've got a message from--" He stopped as he rounded the pathway and saw the two in their romantic interlude. "Oh, you're busy. Should I come back later, and let you two...?" His voice trailed off, leaving much to the imagination. On the other hand, Magellan knew exactly how Frederic thought. The Earthian prince reluctantly tore his gaze from Myung, directing his attention to his friend. "What is it?" Frederic waved a datapad in the air. "We've got a message from Camelot, top priority," he said. "All rulers loyal to Arthur are to assemble in Camelot as soon as possible, complete with troops." Suddenly Myung's attention was focused upon Frederic too. "How many does Arthur want?" she asked. Frederic shrugged. "All of them, apparently. Sounds like we're mobilizing for a showdown." Magellan scowled, setting an elbow on the table and letting his chin be propped up by his hand. The action gave him an incredibly pensive appearance. "Damn," he said quietly. The very thing he had been dreading for days had finally come to pass. Now there could be escaping what the future had in store for them. But at least now there would be no time for regrets or doubts; if ever Vlatmere needed a clear-headed ruler, it was now. Myung moved out from behind him, opting to stand instead of remain seated at her chair. She and Frederic gave Magellan a few moments of silent intimation. Then when he spoke, he addressed them both as one. Trusted confidants and valued friends. "As much as I want to help Camelot, I'm not about to leave Vlatmere open to a surprise attack," he stated. "We'll keep all shifts of the palace guards here, accompanied by three squads of soldiers. Everyone else will go with us to Camelot." "All six battle skimmer prototypes are fully mobile now," Frederic added. "It may take them about half a day longer, but we can hold almost all the heavy machinery in them." He paused, consulting the datapad. "I haven't notified Camelot that our skimmers are operational; I figured you might want some of them to remain here." Magellan nodded. "Good foresight. What about aerial transports?" "We can maybe transport a quarter of our forces over to Camelot in one shot," Frederic answered. "Might I remind you though that we only have one warcraft, and that's the Warhammer. Everything else that flies in and out of Vlatmere ports are outbound merchantships." Flight time would take about two hours--but that wasn't counting loading and unloading time. Each of those could take up to two to three hours as well. If they worked around the clock, at best they could have the core of Vlatmere's forces in Camelot within a day or so. Not unless the merchants allowed their crafts to become temporary military transports. "Ask the merchants politely if they'd aid our cause," Myung said to Frederic. "If they understand the severity of the matter, they should help." "I don't exactly want a panic on my hands," Magellan countered. Myung's eyes cast their gaze to the roses, to the beautiful flowers oblivious to the tensions of their homeworld. "They already know the war is approaching, and are afraid. This will give them something to do, to take their minds off it." Magellan nodded his approval to Frederic. "Do it. I also want the battle skimmers mobilized," he added. "Leave two here, along with their operating crews; I want one artillery type, the other a troop transport. The other four can make their way to Camelot and rendezvous with us there." Frederic bowed slightly. "Anything else?" "I think we've covered the basics," Magellan said. "Anything else will be handled as it comes up." He rose from his chair, walking around the patio table to Frederic. "Commander." Frederic stiffened slightly at the sudden formality he was being addressed by. "Once we get the first transport organized, I want you on it," Magellan continued. "You'll need to co-ordinate with the military officials at Camelot, and establish a base camp or wherever our troops will be staying." Ocean blue eyes turned to Myung. "Myung and I will remain here to supervise the prep details of the other aerial transports, as well as make the battle skimmer arrangements. We'll meet you in Camelot when the Warhammer makes its last run from Vlatmere." Frederic saluted his prince. "Sir!" "Dismissed," Magellan stated, and Frederic quickly left the garden. "I guess that military training actually paid off after all," he sighed, looking a lot more like himself now that they were alone. Myung decided she preferred this Magellan to the high- ranking one. He drew up close to her, pulling out a small indigo box from one of his uniform's hidden pockets. "I was going to give this to you later," he said quietly, gently placing the box in her palm. He guided her fingers, letting them curl around the gift. "However it would appear if I don't do it now, I'll never get the chance later." Her fingers were trembling just as much as his, though she didn't know why. Myung removed the lid and peered down at the shimmering present laid carefully inside. A ring forged from purest silver awaited her awed gaze, and woven into the metal atop the ring was a fragment of a stone she knew all too well. "A Star Sapphire," she said, running a fingertip along the polished surface of the jewel. These were gemstones said to be amulets of love. A Star Sapphire reflected six rays of light. And six was the number of Venus. "It's beautiful," she whispered, unable to raise her voice any higher. "Thank you, Magellan." She couldn't understand why, but Myung found tears running down her cheeks. Her entire body was shaking, though not from fear or sadness. It was something else, an emotion she had never fully known or experienced before. A quickening of the heart. A realized longing of the soul. It all came to pass as Magellan placed his hand beneath her chin and gently lifted her head so that their eyes might once again meet together. "It may sound strange coming from a guy you've only known for two or three weeks now," he said, his own voice hesitant to voice what he wanted to say to her. "But believe me when I tell you that...I love you, Myung." He leaned forward, and she never pulled away from him. Doubts were a far cry from what was racing through her mind, as he pressed his lips against hers in a brief yet dedicated kiss. Myung savoured the memory as seconds stretched out into a delicious eternity that became wrapped in his embrace. Reluctantly Magellan parted from her, taking a step back as he mentally prepared himself for the next few hectic hours. But for the moment he was still feeding off the euphoria of being with her, of smelling her scent and watching her body gracefully move. "When this war is over," he said before leaving the rose garden. "I want to spend my life with you." He turned and began walking down the path. There was much to do, and very little time left. Myung didn't seem to care as the tears continued to move down her face. "Magellan!" she called out after him. He turned, and was unprepared for her as Myung threw herself against him and wrapped her around his neck. She kissed him passionately, deeply, ever so much more than the tease he had given to her moments ago. She would spend the rest of her life with him. As his bride, his lover, and his protector. "Where are we?" she had asked. And Kakkyou had remained unusually silent in leading her by the hand to a part of Arana's forest she had never seen before. There were many parts of Elfhame she had left to discover, but none had looked like this. A ring of trees encircled a clearing of damp moss. Serenity found herself stepping down off a root, and into a pool of dark water that rose halfway up to her knees. The moss was smooth against her skin, holding enough substance to be possibly mistaken for ground. She wasn't worried about the crimson ribbon around her foot; it clung well enough to her body when she was running between the trees. And the edge of her gown hung just above her knees. Even still, she had to fight back the sudden urge to bathe, to savour the sweet smell of this water, and the way it would send shivers down her spine while running along her skin. There was magik alive in this place, almost as tangible as the radiant moonlight and infusing within her a euphoria that could barely remain contained. Crystal blue eyes looked to the heavens, and saw there were heavens to be seen. Ever since she had entered the forest kingdom of the Elven, sunlight came down as trickles and starry beams penetrating the thick canopy of leaves high overhead. But here the forest was pulled back, the foliage held at bay by the ring of trees. It was night, and the skies were alive in darkness and stars. Without the glow of the woods to serve as her light, she could see an infinitude of stars slowly appearing to puncture the celestial shadows. There were more shimmering lights than she had ever imagined, more than she could ever hope to count. Kakkyou's arms wrapped around her body, his chest pressed into her back. One arm moved over her breasts, his palm gently gripping her shoulder. His other slid over her stomach and rested upon her hip. Silver hair flowed past his face and draped down alongside her cheeks. The Elven lord's warm, moist breath tickled her ears and neck. Crystal blue eyes closed. She gasped, her breaths growing erratic. Eager and passionate. In that moment, with the half-moon as a watchful guard and the magik all around acting as a sensual electricity, she would have let him do anything to her. Anything. Yet Kakkyou only held her, his arms quivering as he did so. "I shall remain true to my promise," he said quietly, the tension in his voice reflecting the war he silently waged to go any further, to let his fingers trace erotic curves down her body. "This place is one of the few on Earth where the magik is more concentrated than the air we breathe. It harnesses any emotion, and gives fantasies over to a reality." His lips were agonizingly close to her skin, and he stole a momentary kiss from her neck. His own eyes of dragon green closed and he fought against Kakkyou once more. Breaths slowed, calmed. His grip relaxed, and the Elven lord released Serenity from his embrace. A deep exhale came from the core of his lungs. "There are ten places on this planet with such magik," Kakkyou said, stepping if not stumbling back through the water. He was reeling slightly, dizzy from an exertion of body and mind and soul. "Of those, three can be found in Elfhame woods. This is one of them." Serenity turned, still dizzy from his touch, from this intoxicating magik. There was that tender compassion his eyes always held whenever he gazed at her, yet now there was a distance within them. His smile was only half-hearted; he knew there was something that would have to now come between them, to test them. "Wait there," he said to her. He began to utter something that sounded like a raspy breath, his voice muttering a chant Serenity could barely even pick coherent sounds or syllables from. But something else here in this pool was listening to the Elven's summons. And it answered his incantation. Serenity looked away from Kakkyou as the water in the centre of the pool began to churn and froth, whitened bubbles surging forth as if trying to reach up and pluck a star from the night skies. The surrounding shimmer from the forest pulled back, everything falling into darkness as a new light emerged from the waters. It was blue, almost like the deep oceans. The radiant illumination filled the clearing, yet going no further than the ring of trees. Serenity felt a familiar warmth touch her skin and knew this to be the source of her euphoria, for the reason why every nerve within her body was alive. Polished silver revealed itself. Enchantment forged into curving metal and winding spires that framed an elliptical mirror within its heart. The reflective surface was not visible, the same shade of silver as the exquisite framework wrapped around it. Elven runes ran downwards along the mirror's smooth surface. Kakkyou abruptly stopped his incantation. Dragon green eyes opened. And suddenly the Elven runes changed, silver bleeding into scarlet. A flash of crimson light overtook the clearing, and Serenity was forced to shield her eyes from it. A heartbeat later the forest grew dark once more, echoes of oceanic blue rippling within the water. Everything within the ring of trees caught the tidal reflection, capturing the tint of this magik. Serenity hesitantly approached the object that had risen out from the heart of the pool. The once silver surface was now showing a reflection of the forest. She turned her head as she heard Kakkyou splashing through the water. He drew up next to her and then led her before the mirror. "The mirror is enchanted by an Elven magik," he said, running a hand down the smooth surface of the glass. The ripples of watery light caused his silver hair shine blue. "It was created by a great Playking who gave the mirror as a dark gift; whomever steps before the glass sees in the reflection their true self." A smile appeared on the Elven lord's face. "A masterpiece, really. Sent it to some vain and glorious noblewoman across the seas. For what I heard, it took three guards to restrain her from all the thrashing and screaming she was doing. Evidently she didn't like what the mirror had to show." Serenity looked into the mirror, and saw herself. Only herself. "You have no reflection," she said quietly. "Indeed," Kakkyou agreed. "Not a single one of the Elven race appears in this mirror. It is a grim reminder that to the rest of the world, we are a forgotten lore. Thus we become ghosts. In the eyes of the glass reflection, the Elven do not exist." She continued to look at the girl with the long, golden blonde hair trapped on the other side of the glass. Abruptly her reflection moved of its own will, Serenity-within-the-mirror smiling prettily and then blowing her a kiss. Serenity blinked, and the reflection was as it should be. She couldn't understand what had just happened. It made her wary, seeking Kakkyou's reassuring warmth. "I brought you here for a reason, Serenity," he stated, turning to her. "Something is happening--not just on Earth, but encompassing everything in this Solis System. I fear that the explosion in the skies was just the beginning." He brought up one of his hands, his palm caressing her cheek. Serenity found nothing she could say to him; this was too unfamiliar, and once again she could only follow as he took her hand in his and gently lead her down an unseen path. "There is something else, hidden deep within your heart, Serenity. And it is starting to awaken. I heard fading whispers of it after that youma attacked you in GlenHawke. And ever since you came to Elfhame, I've watched you slowly embrace this power as it grows. You may not realize it yet, but you are no longer as afraid of your magik. Not the way you once were." "I don't understand," she whispered. Her eyes were trembling, wanting to understand all that he was telling her. And so Kakkyou told her everything. About his encounter with the dying old woman, of her arrival at GlenHawke. She learned of his search to unlock the mystery of her magik, and of his hunts for the ones who might steal her away and kill her. "For a long time I wanted to use this mirror to see your true magik," he said as he finished his recounting. "But I know the nature of the glass all too well; you must seek out your own reflection if you wish the truth revealed." "And that is why you have told me all this?" He nodded. "I want nothing more than to stand here forever embracing you, Serenity, but your magik is slowly breaking the chains that have kept it silent for years. You deserve the truth now. If not for yourself, then for those who may be depending on your power in the final hours." He kissed her once more. Gently pressed his lips against hers. "The mirror will only reveal its magik to you when you are alone, and ready," he said quietly, stepping back. "I'll be waiting for you in the shadows of the forest." And then he was gone, faded away amidst the rolling wisps of steam and vapour that had suddenly overtaken the surface of the moonlit pool. The water remained placid, the temperature as cool and enticing as before. There should have been no reason for the mists to have appeared. But this was magik. And it rarely paid heed to conventional thoughts. Serenity looked into the mirror's reflection, touching her hair in uncertainty as she watched her reflection's movements. A soft breeze blew through the forest, bringing with it the scent of damp earth, and the strange smell that spring always possessed. That mixture of new life, rain and grass all mixed together. The blonde girl in the mirror shifted as she did, and seemed as uncertain as Serenity felt. It seemed hard to believe she was staring at herself. This blonde girl looked so...so different. For the first time Serenity noticed a change in herself. Perhaps it was because of Kakkyou's words, or else the prevailing magik that was saturating the very air she breathed in this place. Yet it was undeniable that she could see something new about herself. A strange confidence, a peace of heart. The blonde girl staring back seemed like an angel, a princess. And there, standing right behind her, was the Raithe. Serenity whirled, a surge of panic racing through her body, crystal blue eyes wide in surprise and fear. Yet she was alone within the ring of trees, this sanctuary of Arana's forest. The Ancient dressed in black, whose eyes shimmered like a thousand stars, was vanished from her sight. Hesitantly Serenity looked back to the mirror. And the Raithe was standing there behind her. This time she turned her head slowly to check, and again found nothing. The mirror's reflection attested otherwise. Crystal blue eyes gazed at the two figures in the mirror. "Who are you?" she asked quietly. She knew his face from a dream that still haunted her, from a nightmare that refused to go away even here in the solace of Elfhame. "I exist only beyond your reflection," the Raithe answered. "Call me an illusion, a mirage caused by the moonlight filtering through Elfhame's magik." The watery reflection struck his eyes, and she could see the thousands of captured stars within the pitch darkness of his orbs. A different breed of magik flowed from him, and while she could only see him behind the mirror, Serenity could feel him standing behind her, hear his voice so close to her ears. Awaken.... "You can feel it, can't you?" he said, the reflection in the mirror turning its head to look at some far-off horizon, something beyond what she could see. "Something you once could not name was crying out, and now something deep inside you is echoing that cry." Raithe-within-the-mirror leaned forward over Serenity's reflection, revealing a shakujyo in his grasp. Metallic rings chimed together, and she heard the sound echo across the pool. Each echo brought with it a shiver along her skin, as magik once again became tangible. Her heart stirred. Awaken.... "What you have is something no other person ever will, save for your daughter," the Raithe said. "You can sense the pain in others, and heal it. That is your gift, Serenity; this magik is not something you should fear, but embrace." Her hands reached for the pendant dangling at her breasts, clutching it tightly as she continued to stare at the Raithe's reflection. "I can feel your own pain," she said quietly, unable to avoid those eyes of cosmic midnight. "You hide it with a flawless mask, but it's still there." The Raithe looked away. "I know. But I'm of no concern to you, Serenity. I'm a ghost, a mirage, a mere illusion created by the Elven magik and the moonlight." "It doesn't have to be that way." He gave a smile, and suddenly the millennia that had passed before those starlit eyes seemed to cumulate in the saddened way his lips turned upwards. "Perhaps you're right. But I've walked my own paths far too long to change them now. I only wish I had the chance to know you better." The Raithe's image started to fade, slipping away as a memory is lost in forgetfulness. His eyes shone ever still, and were the last to fade away completely. "The time is coming soon for your true form to awaken, Serenity. You must become a Messiah to this world, or else all hope for the future is lost. Remember your magik...." And then he was gone. Serenity was left alone in the circle of trees. Moonlight rained down from above. And yet for all the warmth of the surrounding lights, she couldn't keep her body from trembling. Awaken.... Frederic raised a hand in front of his face as the winds pick up with surprising ferocity. His hair was thrashing in all directions, the gusts were harsh on his eyes, but all this really didn't matter to him. If anything, this disturbance in the late hours of the night was a welcomed event. He was standing on the edge of a landing platform in Camelot; the Warhammer was making its final transport from Vlatmere was landing. It was a surreal even to see an oversized metal bird slowly descent amidst bursts of light and blasts of smoke. The living engine system on the Warhammer might not have been the best, but it still worked as flawless as it could given the circumstances. Minutes were spent just standing around and waiting for the docking sequence checks to be completed before the hatches were opened. The first ones out of the craft were Magellan and Myung. Frederic was two steps ahead of the platform crew. "About time!" he exclaimed, quickening his pace as he moved to intercept with the prince. "You guys decide to take a scenic route or something?" "I know, I know," Magellan sighed. "Unexpected delays midway; we had to set it down and perform some emergency repairs on one of the cargo doors." Frederic scowled. "Entry port six? Magellan nodded. "Damn!" Frederic lamented. "I thought we fixed that during the second transport. I'll have the mechanics look at it once we've off-loaded everything." He took the opportunity to duck out from his present company and hunt down one of the platform crew members. Despite the hectic pace of everyone around them, Magellan and Myung slipped into their own private universe. The passing day had seen them more apart than together, as they each co-ordinated the various tasks needed to transport Vlatmere's military forces. As far as he knew, the only ones who were actually awake for the bulk of the flight time were the pilots. That malfunctioning cargo door was an unwelcome wake-up call when it had happened. He hadn't been able to get back to sleep afterwards. Magellan's ocean blue eyes turned to Myung, who was more fascinated in looking at the vast expanse of Camelot that lay sprawled out far below their landing platform. They were on one of the outer walls of the castle; in order to reach the central parapets and spires of Camelot itself, they'd still be required to do an extensive amount of walking. However, the sheer view alone would make the trek worthwhile. The lights and architecture were their own marvels to behold; three Vlatmere castles could fit into Camelot. Before them stood magnificent white spires that marked the city as one of the greatest marvels of the Solis System. And in the distance glistened the walls of the fabled Crystal Tower. Somewhere within those walls was the room of the Round Table. That was the ultimate, and final, destination Magellan had in mind. There he would be conferring with rulers, knights and kings. If there was anyone he would have to prove himself to, they would be in that room. But he would not be going in alone. "Are you sure you want to be here?" he asked, turning to Myung. The concern for her safety was still in his voice, and while she was flattered by his chivalric manner, Myung shook her head. "This is more than me being destined to come here," she answered. "I wanted to come." He knew there would be no arguing with her. There could be no arguing with her, not after what they had learned of the Sailor Senshi. If their duty was to protect, then he was hardly one to stand in her way. Right now, Earth needed all the protection it could get. Aurora's destruction served to prove that point. "You guys have to see this," Frederic stated as he joined them at the platform's edge. "This isn't some pithy joint training exercise. This is an army massing for a serious battle. Hell, I've seen several of the best warriors on the planet milling around here." His face was solemn yet not without the glow from the constant adrenaline rush, his hand beginning to stroke his Longbow in anticipation. "There is going to be a major fight here. I can almost taste it." "We're trying to avoid that if at all possible, Commander," Magellan said sternly. "I'd like to see us all return to Vlatmere without any injuries or fatalities." The prospect of war didn't sit well with him, nor did the battle lust he could sense creeping its way through the ranks of every military officer here. There was no honour or glory in a bloodbath. He wasn't sure he could stand seeing so many people die. Especially those under his direct command. His uneasiness did not go unnoticed by Myung; his growing concerns were ones she seemed adept at picking up. "Don't worry," she said quietly, leaning toward his ear. "When the time comes, you will more than prove yourself." Magellan nodded, silently thankful for her much-needed support. Vlatmere's prince focused himself; it was time to be authority, and to delegate it. Everything he had ever wanted to be and do in memory of his father was reaching its peak. "I've got orders to report to King Arthur as soon as possible," he said to Frederic. "Oversee that everything else happens as it should. We need to impress these people, and prove that we are among the best Earth has to offer." Frederic grinned impishly. "And what makes you think I haven't already seen to that? The day-to-day operation of this outfit is my job, remember. We'll have every other battalion in shame before the sunrise, and I can promise you that." Magellan couldn't help but smile; Frederic was ever the dramatic, but when it came to matters like this, the man rarely boasted. Those words his Commander had spoken would be words Frederic would live up to. Period. He turned to Myung. "Are you coming with me, Myu--?" That last part of her name failed to find vocalization as both Magellan and Frederic found themselves staring at a Sailor Senshi in their midst. "That was quick," Frederic remarked, nodding his approval. "I could use one of those henshin things to change out of my uniform for a date." Magellan gave Frederic a less than impressed look. "I'll go supervise the off-loading," Frederic offered. "You do that." With a sigh, knowing that this was just Frederic's way of shrugging off the building tension, Magellan returned his attention to Myung. No...she was no longer Myung. The young princess before him was now clad in a sailor battle fuku. "I'm assuming you're ready to join me?" he inquired. "I wouldn't miss it for anything," Sailor Venus said, winking at him. "Let's go then." The two cut across the landing platform, and crossed through the entranceway. Somewhere along the way, they reached out and squeezed the other's hand. "I must confess," the Man With No Name remarked, looking from one high ceiling to the next as he traversed the many corridors of Camelot. "This is quite the artistic design." His black garments and redingote let him blend in fairly well with anyone whom he happened to run into. Most thought him to be some form of mercenary or assassin; Arthur was employing most anyone who was loyal and willing to fight. The shades were pushed back up the bridge of his nose with his middle finger, and he turned to his companion. "Wouldn't you agree, Setsuna?" Setsuna nodded, though her thoughts were far from the idle conversation at hand. "I saw a lot of similar designs on Aurora." "You were there when it was destroyed, were you not?" he inquired. There was nothing implied within his voice. He was merely asking a question. She clenched her jaw, forced back the guilt and frustrations that she know would forever haunt her. "Yes." "And yet you did nothing about it?" Again she could only answer, "Yes." The Man With No Name paused and turned his head. Even with his black eyes hidden behind those tinted lenses, Setsuna could feel his penetrating gaze. And it was, if anything, a terrifying ordeal. He almost seemed to want to find something wrong, an excuse to vent the dark emotions he found intriguing to experiment with since his encounter with Mistress 9. "You did the right thing," he said at last, resuming his walk. "It might not have been something you agreed with, but it was what had to be done." He spoke with such certainty. A luxury she found herself lacking as of lately. "That's just what I need," Setsuna muttered. "Another Raithe." He abruptly paused. "Raithe?" The fact that the Man With No Name had stopped at the mention of a name drew out the curiousity from Setsuna, as well as her latent obsession with finding out the truth behind the one who had been orchestrating the past at very major turn. "Do you know him?" she asked. A few moments were taken to consider. But the Man With No Name shook his head. "Iie. Somehow that name brings with it a vague memory. But it still is vague, and vague memories only bring obscurity. I am looking for memories that bring clarity to my mission, to my reason for being here. The Raithe is a part of it, but not enough that I would seek him out for answers." Now that came as a slight surprise. This man with no name and the Raithe had seemingly unrelated duties to carry out, neither one wishing to interact with the other. Setsuna had wondered, ever since meeting the blind stranger, if he was a part of the Raithe's conspiracy. Magenta eyes looked up to one of the grand chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. "We'll need to meet with Haruka and Michiru soon," she said. The Man With No Name gave a slight nod. "Hai hai. All in good time, Senshi. All in good time." As they moved through the great castle Magellan realized that most of the people idly milling around were warriors; there were few civilians or even palace staff around. That wasn't particularly boosting his confidence. He was, though, being noticed. Or rather, Myung was. As Sailor Venus, she was drawing a lot more attention to herself than he would have preferred. A little out of jealousy, a little more out of security reasons. The fact that the short, pleated skirt seemed to show off more of her legs than any other outfit he'd ever seen wasn't helping either. Hallways and atriums passed them by, an intricate and exotic series of intertwining corridors, each just as beautiful as the last. Soon the number of people diminished and the security measures increased. They had reached the inner part of the castle. The base of the Crystal Tower. And before them, beyond a set of large decorated doors, laid the room of the Round Table. On the other side awaited Arthur and every last military leader dedicated to holding the peace of the Golden Empire together. As they moved down the hall, they were stopped by one of the Knights when he saw them coming. Magellan leaned closer to Venus. "Sir Lancelot," he told her quietly. Lancelot seemed to recognize him without the need for a formal introduction. "Ah, I'm pleased to see you could make it," the Knight Commander said warmly, extending a hand in greetings. Magellan shook it. "It's good to see you again." "Despite the circumstances, I agree," Magellan concurred. Absently reaching back to free his loose pigtail from the collar of his armour, Lancelot abruptly took notice of Sailor Venus. Instantly his demeanor changed, his body straightening up before he bowed to kiss her hand. Chivalry had yet to be pronounced dead in this age. "And who is this beauty?" the Knight inquired. Magellan shifted his stance, gesturing as regally as he could. Here was the first test of everyone's reception. "This is the Sailor Venus, one of the Sailor Senshi." Lancelot seemed to take the revelation well. "Sailor...Senshi, you said?" he asked, almost laughing. He seemed to expect a denial, that this was just some sort of prank. After all, the Sailor Soldiers were nothing more than legends. Venus nodded her own affirmation. "I assure you, Sir Lancelot, that I am a Sailor Senshi. But as far as I know I am the only one." The Knight Commander still seemed to be in disbelief, though he was working hard to suspend it for the time being. Admittedly Camelot would need all the warriors it could find, even if they did come from legends and near-forgotten stories. Lancelot's eyes trailed downwards as he appraised Venus, his gaze abruptly halting as he took notice of her fuku and low-cut skirt. "I hope you're not wearing that into battle," he said. "While it might take your enemy a long time to actually raise his sword against you, one strike would kill you in that outfit." Magellan inwardly cringed--though he had thought the same thing himself once before. Venus smiled, stifling a laugh and treating those solemn words as a well-spoken jest. Her eyes slowly closed, and she let her power begin to manifest itself. Magik stirred as it was invoked by a silent command. Twisted and flowed around Venus' still figure. Lancelot found himself backing away as he felt the surge of heat and wind and light. This was just an echo of her true magik, and it was incredibly tempered. All doubts of who she claimed to be faded to darkness, and he believed. However, if the legends were indeed true, then their worst fears of what laid ahead looked to become a reality. "Are you two together?" he asked, ensuring his tone was a formal one. Magellan nodded. "Yes, we are." Lancelot gestured to the sealed doors and then began walking towards the room of the Round Table. Magellan and Venus took up step behind him. "King Arthur has asked all the commanders to meet at the Round Table," Lancelot explained. "We've all been on stand-by awaiting your own arrival. You've done Vlatmere a great honour in mobilizing your forces so swiftly over such a distance." The doors barring the path sensed Lancelot's presence and accepted him as a rightful one to enter. On any other day, special access for Venus and Magellan would have been required. This was no mere 'any other day', and so they were let in without debate. Lancelot quickly moved to the side as the doors swung open, allowing for the two to enter in complete view of the others present. "Lord Magellan Endymion of Vlatmere, Commander of the Eastern Armies," the Knight Commander announced to the men gathered in the large room of the legendary Round Table. "And his companion, the Sailor Senshi of Venus." At the statement of there being a Sailor Senshi in their midst, all conversations fell silent. An awed hush spread across the room, all eyes upon Venus as she moved into the grand chambers. A faery tale become flesh was among them, a legend no longer content to let itself remain that way, treated as a cute bedtime story for little children. The residual power from Venus' magik was still radiating around her, and thus everyone could readily feel the air of authority that emanated from her. The magik she could wield was more than that of all in the room combined. If he didn't see that making some of the men nervous, Magellan would have had to be blind. "Well," he remarked in a low voice, finding a quiet place upon the wall to lean his back against. "You've certainly made quite the impression on this crowd." Universal silence had shattered once more into dozens of smaller, hushed discussions and debates. The only difference from before was that most everyone who was talking or listening were sneaking glances in the direction of Sailor Venus. It was obvious that all conversations were about the girl in the sailor fuku. "I would have acted the same way if someone like me had walked through those doors," Venus replied, leaning alongside him against the wall. Magellan nodded. "Me too. In fact, I did react like that when you first told me." "But at least you didn't start whispering about it behind my back." They both became increasingly and uncomfortably aware of the prying eyes now watching them together. Magellan could well imagine what was running through their minds. Was she really a Sailor Senshi? And what was he doing with her? Were those two lovers? At least he knew the definite answer to that last one. He would have easily challenged anyone there to think it otherwise. Abruptly the ranks of officers stiffened and grew quiet. This lull moved in a wave, which gave Magellan cause to push away from the wall and stand at attention. "His royal Highness, King Arthur!" a page proclaimed on the opposite side of the room. The chambers went silent as the Pendragon walked in through the grand doors. He surveyed the assembled men--and woman--in the room of the Round Table, and paused briefly to push the coin-sized lenses back up his nose. Long blonde hair streaked with grey was tied back behind his head, his face left revealed for all to see. There was a solemnness in the way his expression was held, the way he slowly stepped into the room. An air of absolute authority followed him like an oppressive shadow; the ambience of the room noticeably changed. Arthur took his seat at the Round Table, resting his arms on the polished marble surface. It was speckled with sapphiric blue and dull grey, and at its centre was the crest of Camelot. For a moment he stared at the faint reflection of himself in the stone, and he gathered his strength. "You may all be seated," the King stated after taking his seat. He was followed then by the Knights. The gathered Generals and Lords each took to the rows of seats that were arranged to fit the curve of the room. Magellan and Venus remained where they were. Neither one felt like sitting down. Magellan could feel himself grow tense, his thoughts reflecting those of everyone else there; only five of the Knights were in attendance, seated at their rightful places at the Round Table. That was less than half. So where were the others? Venus took the momentary calm to survey the chamber more closely. As far as she could see, there was only one door leading in or out; the ceiling was incredibly high, a glass dome at the peak revealing the starlit night and half-moon in the skies. Abruptly the smooth stone that comprised the walls of the room rippled, and grew distorted in their elaborate detail. Suddenly they vanished completely, replaced with large glass picture windows that spanned the floor to the base of the dome overhead. Venus had to keep herself from recoiling in surprise as she found herself staring down at the rest of Camelot, a seemingly thin pane of glass separating her from the cold air and a long fall to the ground. Magellan also leaned forward before ensuring there was still something to press his back against. The room of the Round Table had once been at the base of the Crystal Tower. Now it was at the tower's pinnacle. Arthur lifted his head as he addressed the gathering. "Thank you for coming on such short notice. I wish we could have met differently, for a joint training exercise or festival, perhaps. Alas, this you all know this is not so. The true reason for you being here is that we are readying for war. The Shadow army is mobilizing, and the time for us to at last confront them is at hand." Magellan scowled. This was the last thing he wanted to see happen in his lifetime, or anyone else's for that matter. "Lord Endymion," Arthur said as he looked in Magellan's direction, "You are the last one to arrive. Are your men ready?" Magellan bowed slightly. "Yes, Milord, they are ready," he replied. "They are finishing up the final preparations for base camp as we speak." "Excellent," Arthur said. "I also hear you've finished construction of the first battle skimmers." "Yes, Milord. Four in total are on their way, with the remaining two left to protect my province. They should be arriving at Camelot's perimeter within a few hours, if all has gone well during the transport." That seemed to bring relief to the Pendragon's face. And then he noticed Sailor Venus standing next to the Vlatmere prince. The confusion of her presence, as well as her revealing attire, was one he didn't bother to hide. "I have not seen you before," Arthur said as he looked Venus over. "And who might you be, Milady?" Appropriate to protocol, she bowed to him. Arthur seemed dully impressed by this. "I am the Sailor Senshi of Venus," she stated. Her words did nothing to faze Arthur. If anything, he looked as if he was expecting like this. Or silently praying for it. A smile found its way onto his face, and for a brief moment there was hope in his eyes. "Ah," Arthur said, "And you will be assisting us?" "As much as I can," Venus replied. "My destiny is to safeguard this solar system and its inhabitants. As such I will aid those who fight to protect it as well." Arthur nodded. "And you have my deepest thanks for that. Like many others, I know of the legends surrounding the Sailor Senshi." Copper eyes lifted to her, reflecting other hopes but with them greater uncertainties. "Tell me, are there more of you out there?" "As far as I know I am the only Senshi," Venus answered. She sounded apologetic in her tone, almost as if this was her own fault. "It is possible that there are others...but I have yet to find any." "There's nothing to blame yourself for, Sailor Venus," Arthur countered, reading the intimations in her voice. "I am grateful for whatever you can offer of your services, and I am honoured that you are here with us today." His eyes darted to various members of the assembly, now focused upon them all as a whole. "As you already know, the Shadows have been attacking and destroying a number of cities already. Be warned this is just an overture for the true battle. They're coming for Camelot; our best estimates give us about two days before the attack begins." That statement got everyone's attention. Alarmed whispers and protests erupted from the crowd, and the Knights rose from their seats at the Round Table, ready to forcibly calm everyone down. Magellan's eyes slid shut amidst the voices. Silently he swore. Venus saw his own reaction, and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. He raised one of his own hands and clasped it with hers. For now, the future seemed a most hostile thing to look forward to. But if it had to be faced, then they would face it together. "Do we know who is leading the Shadows?" one of the lords asked. "Yes, we do." This answer came from Sir Lancelot. Arthur didn't seem disturbed that someone else was speaking for him. "We believe that it is a sorceress calling herself Morgana. She has already managed to either seduce or kill more than half of the Knights of the Round Table, which is why you only see five of us here today." "All but five?" someone cried out. The thought that even one of the Knights could be turned was unthinkable. The fact that only five of them had gone untouched was a distressing one. "That is why I have called you all here," Arthur stated, the authority in his voice silencing all other outbursts. "I asked you to bring your best warriors, because we will need them to fight an enemy that for the first time rivals our own forces." "If she's brought over half the Round Table to her side, how are we going to have a chance at defeating her?" a general countered. Galahad spoke up, "Every army has its weakness. The key to defeating them is to find that weakness quickly. We can exploit that before we lose too many resources and become unable to effectively fight them." "Sir Galahad is correct," Lancelot agreed. "No army is invincible. There is always a way to bring it down." At that, Magellan raised his hand. "I have to ask," he spoke up, bracing even himself for the next words he was about to speak. "Rumour has it the one responsible for Aurora's destruction has come to Earth. Has this person joined the ranks of the Shadow armies?" Arthur took a deep breath that answered the question before anything was spoken. His mouth opened to say something, but another voice supplied the single word: "Yes." Everyone turned their heads as someone else answered for the Pendragon. Merlin was there in the room, fishbone hair catching the glow from the lights of the city beyond the grand windows. "Her name is Mistress Nine, though most of my contacts call her the Dark Messiah," the mage explained. But for all he would say, other things he'd deliberately keep silent. Even to Arthur himself. "From what we've been able to gather, it is this Dark Messiah who has been leading the raids that destroyed the cities of Hakkeda, Tenmile and Kansuke." "And you expect us to somehow destroy the likes of her?!" a voice exclaimed, almost as hysterical in tone as it was incredulous. Many others vocalized their agreements. The Knights grimaced, looking to each other and to Arthur for a silent command to leave the Round Table and restore order to the room. Arthur in turn focused his copper eyes to Merlin. The Ancient merely nodded. A hand was outstretched, and suddenly a burst of lightening exploded from Merlin's palm. Arcs of radiant electricity shot upwards to the ceiling in a violent display, the entire chamber now alive in sapphire and violet hues, winds rising up in a fury to match the fierce expression on Merlin's face. Everyone shut up. None dared to speak. Magellan remained unfazed. He wasn't one to let maddened panic seize hold of him in the fist place--not to mention he'd been party to displays of magik like this a number of times now. Merlin's action was one he had been expecting. He glanced to Sailor Venus, but her gaze was fixated upon the power Merlin was invoking. Her blue eyes looked from lightening to the Ancient, studying his methods and magiks, reading for herself the hidden techniques he was using. And then for a brief moment something else caught her attention. Venus glanced to the far side of the circular room, watching the shadows of Merlin's magik dance across the glass. Amidst the silhouettes and reflections of those present, something else was standing there, watching them. She was certain of it. Yet all she could see were shadowy cloaks, visible only for a few stray heartbeats amidst the raging magik that was spilling darkness and light in uneven bursts across the surface of the glass. Magellan seemed to sense her sudden caution. "What is it?" he asked. "I don't know," she whispered. As much as she disliked it, she knew it was the truth. On the other side of the darkness, there in the midst of the Pendragon and his Knights yet remaining unseen to any of their eyes, stood two Outer Senshi. For listening in on this assembly, Haruka and Michiru had agreed it best to become Sailors Uranus and Neptune. Haruka admitted her trepidation; she had experimented with the henshin only a few times, and never to the point of actually transforming. Summoning it from out of nothing was a skill she had developed, though nothing more had come. With a coy smile and a teacher's patience, Michiru had shown her love by example what needed to be done. While she was amused by the look on the tall sandy-blonde's face upon seeing how she looked in a low-cut fuku and skirt, Michiru herself had to admit it was a bit thrilling to be so seemingly underdressed. Not that in Haruka's presence, this was a new thing for her. Becoming Senshi also proved to amplify their own natural magiks apart from what could be summoned with the henshins. That was how they could remain hidden even to one as powerful as Merlin. Shadowspell. Haruka had learned this stealth magik a long time ago from when she was a little girl; rarely a day passed by without her using it in some way. Useful for military games and exercises, and especially invaluable whenever she had left for her nightly trysts with Michiru. Now it served to cloak them in darkness and forgetfulness. Or so it appeared. Another who possessed the fuku and the magik of a Sailor Senshi was there. This long-haired blonde girl was catching something reflected by Merlin's magik. She could see their shadows, but nothing else. "Ne, what do you think about her?" Haruka asked, her eyes glancing over at Sailor Venus. Michiru, her back leisurely against the wall as her arms remained crossed over her chest, merely shook her head. "She's of no concern; her mission is different from ours, and I honestly see no reason why we should involve her." They had been in Camelot for days now, more at Michiru's insistence than anyone else's. The Man With No Name felt it was unnecessary to come here, yet he agreed none the less. A power that was desperately trying to hide itself was in this city, and Michiru desired to know if this was the Holy Grail. So far the origin of this magik's echo was excelling at masking itself. But in time they would find it. The future depended on them finding it. And so Haruka and Michiru kept to the darkened world of forgetfulness, unknown and unseen to everyone else. Both understood their duty. Both understood the stakes. And both were willing to sacrifice almost anything to ensure the future was protected. Merlin's hand closed, the magik snuffed out by his clenched fist. Lightening died, and the room returned to its normal illumination. No one spoke in the calm that followed, though their eyes darted from the Ancient over to the Pendragon. If ever he desired their full attention, he had it now. "I can understand your concerns; they are warranted," Arthur said. "Indeed, Mistress Nine is a formidable opponent, and not someone we should take lightly in any sense of the word. But that doesn't mean we should abandon everything we've worked to create. I am not about to surrender my kingdom or the peace of the Solis system to the likes of her without a fight." There was a growing passion in his voice. "I will fight alone if I have to," he stated, staring at them all with the ferocious determination that had given him the strength to establish the Golden Empire as a peaceful one. "But I'll be damned if I'm going to let the Dark Messiah destroy all I've come to cherish, and not stand against her first. If she wants Camelot, then she will have to pry Excalibur from my cold, dead hands to do so!" He had ended in an outburst, left panting for breath. Venus couldn't shake the feeling of uneasiness that had seized her instinct. This was more than a rousing speech for Arthur; the King was angry, and perfectly willing to follow through with his actions. Even to the death. Magellan risked speaking up again. Not to challenge, but to state the reality of their situation. "Milord, she destroyed an entire planet, and now she's come to Earth. We don't know of anyone who can or has stood up to her, and survived." No one could be sure of how the Pendragon would react. "I respect both your tenacity and your tact, Magellan," Arthur stated, the approval echoed in his voice. "You would have made your father proud, because that is a legitimate question we must face." Arthur then shook his head. "However, there is one survivor." Merlin abruptly sidestepped, his cloaks fluttering and then pulling in behind the Ancient to reveal another in their presence. Bangs of wild, icy blue hair hung over a young man's eyes of a darker blue shade. The garments of his own world he no longer wore, but now he was dressed in ambassadorial robes tailored to his body frame. He looked as if he hadn't slept for days, haunted by a ghost and a dream that refused to give him rest. Once a princess herself, Venus knew the young man instantly. "Helios," she whispered. "Prince Helios of Aurora," Arthur stated. "Many valiant samurai lost their lives ensuring he could escape to Earth, along with Aurora's most powerful source of magik, the Golden Crystal. But he has seen the Dark Messiah fight, and in this we can find our edge." Helios stepped forward. Averted his eyes from everyone else's gaze. And told the gathering what he could remember, what he could recount before his voice grew choked and the tears fought to flow down his face. There was still vibrant life in his expression, unbridled emotion barely kept in check with each word he spoke; he had yet to come to grips with the tragedy that had befallen his family, his homeworld. "We have his detailed report of this on file," Lancelot said, standing up quickly. The focus was taken away from Helios, letting the Auroran prince mourn in private. "I suggest you all take a close look at it before the battle." "What's to become of Helios now?" Venus asked. Silence. Even Arthur resignedly avoided her gaze. Helios had become an orphan, and right now no one could afford to be his family, his friends. The Auroran prince was truly alone. Venus could almost feel her own heart break, her fists clenching tighter. She opened her mouth to protest, to angrily demand why he could be forgotten and abandoned like this, but someone else cut her off. "Milord," Magellan said, stepping forward. "I am willing to pledge my life and my sword to protecting Aurora's prince. I ask you if I may be allowed to watch over him as if he were my own brother." Murmurs ran through the assembly. Venus turned to Magellan, the smile on her face dispelling the surprise in her eyes. Her hand sought his out and gave it a reaffirming squeeze. Helios could only stare at Magellan, a melange of gratitude, confusion and sorrow mirrored in his expression all at once. So many thoughts were fighting for control of his emotions, and so he was unable to say anything. There would be time later to speak and be listened to. For now, recounting the nightmare upon Aurora had drained whatever strength he had managed to find over the past week. Abruptly a stir of echoes rippled inside Magellan's mind, and he heard words meant only for him. "I shall visit you shortly," Merlin said, watching him but saying nothing. The eyes said it all. "We will discuss the matter of Helios then." Magellan nodded, ensuring he made eye contact with the mage. With that, King Arthur stood for his final words. "Gentleman, I suggest you ready your men for battle. My remaining Knight Commanders will brief you individually. The battle will most likely begin at dawn, two days hence." Everyone saluted him, save for Venus. She instead bowed her head in respect. Glass returned to walls once more. The room of the Round Table was silent as Arthur left, followed by the five remaining Knight Commanders. Merlin placed a hand on Helios' shoulder, and the two of them flickered out of sight. That left everyone else remaining to begin their hushed whispers. Many got up and moved towards the door. Magellan and Venus stayed where they were against the wall. "Something's wrong," Magellan whispered to her. "Did you see the way he was acting?" "Yes," she answered. "His words, his behavior, even the way he sat; he's certain he will not live to see the end of this battle." Magellan pushed off the wall, a somber expression on his face. "None of us might survive. But I hope we're both wrong, Myung. I truly do." Venus nodded, looking down at the floor with worried eyes. "So do I." He was there from the beginning. He was there for it all. A watcher, a voyeur of lives lived and tales told, of battles lost and won, of loves forgotten and found again. The shadows became him so much, as if they were him. And in return he named himself after one such shadow. He closed his eyes of blackest heavens, shimmering constellations possessed inside his two orbs sealed from the rest of the world. They opened moments later, and he beheld the past. He beheld a room of circular form. A bassinet laid atop a large pedestal within a ring of pillars. Upon each pillar was inscribed a sacred rune. Nine planets and thus nine columns, each laying claim to its own marking. The pillars, like the floor, were carved from marble rock that shimmered with its own haunting magik. Right now the floor, the pillars, and even the walls were a dull grey. If called upon, they would become white. And if asked to conceal, they would become black. It all depended on the request. But a baby was sleeping here in this place, so the walls remained dim to encourage a restful night, a slumber filled with a child's sweet dreams. The Raithe approached the bassinet, full of its trim and lace ribbons and soft swaddling cloth. A cautious hand drew back the distractions and decorations, and he saw the tiny soul laying there inside. With a cry, a new heart began to beat faster, a hoarse voice screaming out. A baby girl was born, the first traces of golden blonde hair but a disheveled mop on her head. Blue eyes with the brilliance of eternal skies and flawless crystal blinked and then blinked again, unaccustomed to even this dim light in the room. Her mother was killed when the dark forces arrived in search of the baby. In search of an infant they wanted to control...or kill. They had stormed into this chamber that was part of the hallowed halls of a once beautiful castle. A beautiful castle called Ilsa Esylin. Now it was reduced to a remnant of only death and despair. Ripped apart by one of Morgana's attacks when she had been spreading her wings of destruction for the first time, and seeing how flight as an angel of death suited her. Arthur never knew she was behind the castle's demise. No one did save those of Ilsa Esylin. And they all died that night. This baby's father was presumably killed in this very room. The rogue group of roving marauders who called themselves the Shadow army were blamed. Morgana controlled the first seeds of rebellion even then; grudges and ambition buried since childhood had a habit of revealing themselves eventually. Grow to a blossom of twisted hatred and maddened lust for power if nurtured properly. And Morgana had proven to be without equal. Eyes of midnight heavens narrowed at a falsified death, and all for the sake of the future. All for the sake of the little life laying here in the bassinet. The Raithe let the baby child grab hold of his finger, her petite hand curled around the tip. She gazed up at him with innocent wonder. Tiny lips mouthed tiny words. Do you love me? This child, this infant...she had a name. Not one that would be chosen for her, but one she had already chosen for herself. One that was whispered on the winds of magik. He knew it, had known it from the beginning. And there was a reason. "Serenity...my beautiful daughter," he whispered. A finger trailed along her cheek, and she seemed captivated by his face. "I wish I could be your father, but it would appear destiny has other paths for us to walk." He abruptly stepped back, watched a nursemaid frantically gather the baby in her arms. He saw another man stalk inside, one who looked frighteningly like him, save that midnight eyes were now a sparkling blue. The Raithe ran his palm over the curve of the back of his neck, brushing against the faded copper hair the two versions shared. He watched in silence as the nursemaid slipped through a secret passage, baby Serenity in her arms. And then he watched this "human" Raithe draw his sword and hold at bay the many assassins who came. Two enemies became three. The three became four. And the four became six. The Raithe with the blue eyes fought valiantly, fiercely, but fell regardless. A well-placed longsword through his chest, its blade stained in blood as it punched through his back, ended the battle. Hours passed. Shadows came and left, and returned again in vain search for the baby. They would eventually realize their failure and give chase. Give chase all the way to Elfhame, and then lose Serenity's scent entirely. Morgana would kill them for that. But Ilsa Esylin was left to its melancholic rubble. And the other Raithe, the Raithe with the blue eyes...he suddenly got up when he should have been dead. Brushed the dust off his cloak and armour and then looked out to the setting sun. Ochre hues caught his eyes. Blue turned to black. Stars returned. The Raithe closed his own eyes. Listened to his newborn daughter's coo. But that was a memory, a vague image amidst many that would forever remain in the past. Untouchable save for a nostalgic recollection. Unchangeable save for what he was doing now. The Raithe's eyes opened once more, and he returned to the present, to standing on the edge of heaven. White tiled floors stretched out before him, and behind him, and all around him. He surveyed the grand promenade of Castle Charon, the dim illumination playing with the shimmer in his own eyes. "You're back, I see," Charon's voice stated. The Raithe nodded. "Miss me?" "To be perfectly honest, I feel safer with the current management than I ever did with you." "Yare yare," the Raithe sighed, rolling his eyes. "I hand you over to Setsuna, and suddenly you've got attitude." "I learned it from you," Charon bluntly retorted. With a slight burst of laughter, the Raithe made his way across the expansive promenade. Fountains and plants were passed by, and he stopped upon reaching a large open section of the floor. The shakujyo was released, left to hover in the air beside him. An outstretched palm was lifted up the starry heavens. And then the air rippled. Took form. Became a ringed piano which hovered off the ground, not unlike the one he had once played upon Aurora. Despite the many keys that encircled the instrument, there was a small bench for a single player awaiting him. The Raithe left his shakujyo behind, and sat down. "Think she'll ever figure out where the pool table is?" he inquired. Fingers ran lightly over the keys, feather touches ensuring that the stillness of the promenade was kept intact just a few moments longer. "I'll make a point of informing her the next time she comes here," Charon answered glibly. "With the other Outer Senshi present, I'm sure they can have a tournament or something to while the decades away." The Raithe smirked, resting his head against his hand as he sat at the ringed piano. "A shame I won't be around to see that." Centuries of practice at the game tended to make one a pool shark. He had to laugh at that idea; only here could he play a game that would have to wait a few more centuries to be invented. He looked up to the dome overhead, as if up there somewhere was the heart that was Charon. "We had some good times though, didn't we?" "Hai." A finger idly pushed down on one of the keys. A single note sounded, echoing across the expansive corridor. "You're not coming back again, are you?" Charon asked. He nodded, toying with a second note. This one rang out smooth and clear in pitch, finely tuned to perfection. The second note was joined by a third, and the third a fourth. "Pluto will be your master and companion now," the Raithe said to his old friend amidst the music that was being created. "My duties are almost fulfilled." Strange as it was to imagine, 'Onee-san' had expressed a sadness, that 'she' would miss him. In some ways, he supposed he would miss Setsuna's surrogate older sister...no matter how abstract that was to ponder, given how their Onee-san seemed to exist as the timestream itself. "I remember when I first found this castle," he said, looking out to the vast array and constellations of stars. "When you came online, one of the first things you said to me was that you were suddenly worried about your future prospects." "That's because you threatened to paint me bright pink." He shrugged nonchalantly. "I threatened to paint the castle bright pink, not you personally." "There's not much of a difference," Charon stated, its tone still unimpressed with the concept of a chiffon-coloured castle in high orbit over Pluto. The Raithe considered this. "Ara ara," he admitted, his fingers dancing across the keys. "Point taken." He became silent, lost and happily entranced with the melody that was being brought back to life by his moving fingers. Notes sounded, developing a rhythm. Though for once it held more a haunting sadness than a haunting beauty. It was slower than the way he usually played it. The impact it made did not diminish. And so the Raithe continued to play upon the ringed piano, singing quietly the words he had once thought to have forgotten. "Gomen ne sunao janakute Yume no naka nara ieru Shikou kairo wa shooto sunzen Ima sugu aitai yo Nakitaku naru you na moonlight Denwa mo dekinai midnight Datte junjou doushiyou Haato wa mangekyou...." This song had returned to his memories after he met with Serenity before the Elven mirror. She knew this song, sang it quietly to herself when she was alone. It was that song which echoed of her magik, and ultimately a song whose origins came from her. He had played it once, in a time of quiet intimation after her birth. Then twice for Setsuna; he had lied to her in saying she was the only one to have heard it. This song was the lullaby he had once played to a baby girl, to a baby Serenity while she laid sleeping. That was the first time the mark of the crescent moon appeared. And beyond a shadow of any future doubt, he knew she was the one. The Raithe abruptly stopped playing, closed his eyes as he fought the urge to fall prey to the haunting memories that refused to let him go. That night Ilsa Esylin fell, the night he had let her mother and his beloved wife die, was the night he had lost almost all his own humanity. "Nausicaa," he whispered. He had loved her. Had spent all the time in the world trying to find another way for this to happen, to protect her and their baby girl. And found there could be no other way. Just as there was no other way to save Aurora. Midnight eyes opened up once again. Fingers found the keys and notes, and continued the song. There was still a chance to save Earth. The Messiah of Light was the soul Setsuna would have to find by herself. It was the only way the future could take shape to become the beautiful reality he only saw in dreams. One his daughter could find peace within. And so he played the Moonlight Denketsu one final time, for himself. No longer was it his own private piece to treasure. But perhaps...perhaps it was better this way. The Raithe turned his head upon hearing the sound of a gentle wind blow past his seated form. And he could hear in there a voice. And so he listened. It spoke of the future and of duty, and of a collision between them that he could no longer delay. Slowly the Raithe let the last notes of the song come to an unfinished end, his fingers pulling away from the keys. For so long he had lived for the future, for the glimpses of tomorrow he could catch when he slept. And now he saw himself no longer a part of that future. The night was falling. The demons were lurking. And before he left the piano, the Raithe clung to the gentle tears cried by a beautiful angel lost upon the Earth. His time had come. His eyes looked upwards to the expansive space and stars beyond the castle. "Sayonara, Charon. It's been fun." "Hai. Take care of yourself." A smile tugged at the edges of his lips. A familiar and playful smile, of enjoying the knowledge he possessed. "I always have, even when I'm taking care of everyone else." The Raithe began to walk away from the piano. "Ne," he added, looking back over his shoulder. "I have one last task for you, Charon...." "Something wrong?" Venus asked him. Magellan gave a half-hearted shrug, still lost in his thoughts as they walked down on of Camelot's multitudes of corridors. "I keep going over in my head what you found in the Venus mainframe, about the Senshi Wars," he said. "You think this might be the Chaos entity returning?" "I don't think so," Venus countered. Though he would have preferred otherwise, she had decided to remain in her sailor battle fuku. If anything, it was to boost the morale of the troops and give them a hope. "If Chaos had found its way here, it wouldn't be serving anyone. Odds are it would have already wiped out life on half the planets. This Dark Messiah seems to be acting under someone else's orders." The two stopped at one of the large atriums, looking at the towering glass windows that gave them access to seeing the beginnings of the sunrise. Red and orange hues were striking the sprawling cityscape, an entire horizon bathed in the colours of the rising sun. They had been awake for over a full day now. Strange how he was still able to think as clearly as he was. Adrenaline had a way of doing that. "I don't buy it," Magellan said. "This Mistress Nine annihilates a planet on a whim, and then decides to become a harbinger for hire on Earth?" He shook his head, a frown marring his face. "There's something else going on here, Myung; something that even Arthur and Merlin may be unaware of. I can't shake the feeling that this war means more to the future than any of us can imagine." Venus nodded. "If we Sailor Senshi are being revived, then it can only mean there's more to this battle than we know." The only question remained, the enigma she was now trying to decipher, was what this significance meant. They were both privately intimating on its mysteries, having long since exhausted any ideas they could have pooled from each other. The two left the atrium and continued down another corridor towards the location of Vlatmere's troops. They came to an intersection. And found Merlin awaiting them. "Come with me," the Ancient instructed. He turned and moved down one of the other halls, his dark cloak billowing out behind him. Magellan and Venus followed in suit, drawing up beside him. The corridor they walked was empty, and the echo of their footsteps seemed to resound from one end to the other. After being in the middle of Camelot's bustle, arriving in a deserted area was a little eerie. Merlin glanced over at Venus, idly stroking his chin as he appraised her. "You're not quite what I expected a Senshi to look like," he admitted, glancing down at the skirt. "Neither of you are, for that matter. He took another few steps before realizing that Venus and Magellan had frozen in their pace, a look of shock on their faces. "'Neither'?" Magellan repeated, sounding uncertain if he had heard right. Venus stared at the Ancient, her blue eyes wide in surprise. "You mean that others have awakened?" Merlin remained cool under their demanding gazes. "Surprised as you may be to know this, you're not the first Senshi I've encountered lately," he stated. "Then there are other Senshi," Venus pressed. The look of hope on her face had returned. "I suppose," Merlin said. "I'm not certain if I should even be telling you this--but I cannot deny the feeling that you and her will be encountering each other soon. The woman I met is Sailor Pluto, the guardian of time. I haven't the slightest idea how long she's been around for." The elation on Venus' face faded, replaced with something else. Something she didn't ask verbally, but questioned never the less. Magellan knew what she was thinking: why hadn't Sailor Pluto appeared to them yet? "She's fairly old for her age, even if her appearance is deceiving," Merlin added. "You surprise me, Princess Myung. You're quite young for your age." Venus' hand grabbed hold of Magellan's arm, and even Magellan seemed to become defensive. That had been a carefully-guarded secret, and those who knew understood the implications of what might happen if Myung was discovered. In that moment, Venus regarded Merlin as a possible threat. Somewhat amused by this, Merlin chuckled to himself before giving her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Milady; there are many other secrets besides your true identity that have been locked away in my mind. I can merely see through the illusion your fuku's magik is invoking, and I have no intention of letting what I know slip out." Still a little wary, Venus could only nod. "Are we going to see Helios?" Magellan asked, tactfully changing the subject. Merlin nodded. "His chambers are this way." Wintry blue eyes looked vacantly at the room around him. A luxury suit, reserved for visiting ambassadors and royalty. This guest chamber was one of the best Camelot had to offer, that much was assured. Half the room was one long, curved glass window that stretched from floor to high ceiling. From here one could see the magnificent expanse the city, with the Crystal Tower pointing towards the skies that were now on fire from the sun's rays. He let the sunlight illuminate his room by day, and by night the shimmering array of Camelot's lights. The lighting in the room remained untouched. Numerous enchanted lanterns were scattered across the room; not a single chandelier was present. The floors were hardwood, and many small yet beautiful flowers found places built into the walls or placed on pedestals or arranged on the floor to add to the beauty of this room. It almost felt like home. Helios' spirits crashed once more, like they had so many times in the past few days. Sunlight and darkness had long become a blur of relived pain. The fourpost bed, and its boggling multitude of puffed-up throw pillows, had been rarely slept in. The sheets had yet to be disturbed. If he managed to get any sleep at all in the day, it was always when he curled himself up into a ball at the foot of the bed. The anxiety over the meeting had kept him awake all night. The desire to close his eyes, lower his guard and surrender himself to sleep was growing more a temptation with each passing minute. But he was waiting for Merlin, and so he kept himself awake. Sometimes pain had a use after all. How could he sleep with it stabbing at his delicate heart? "Hotaru," he whispered. His fingers clenched into a ball, nails cutting into his skin and drawing blood as his fists shook. Frustration and fury was all there as he gazed out at Camelot. What had happened to her? Why had his raven-haired angel become that demoness? The last hour spent upon his homeworld was one racked with vicious and unrelenting memories that he feared would never give him peace. He had watched as his father was torn in two, and then witnessed Reika be cut to pieces in protecting him. Helios opened his hands, oblivious to the trickles of blood that ran down his one palm and dripped scarlet droplets onto a flawless floor. The air between his palms rippled in distortion, growing heated and sparking with a magik he did not wish to be kept hidden forever. The Golden Crystal appeared, hovering before him. Its radiance was almost blinding, but he endured it. When he had first proven himself worthy of being the Crystal's protector, it had given him such peace to simply bask in the presence of its magik. Yet now he felt nothing. Just a hollow emptiness inside, a gaping maw of darkness that was swallowing him up. He had sworn to protect the pillar of Aurora, and its people. And failed. "What good am I without a kingdom?" he demanded, his voice hushed and broken. "What good are you if you have nothing left to support with your magik? A tear fell upon the surface of the glowing gemstone. The Golden Crystal responded. Helios' eyes widened as he found himself plunged into the past, into a treasured memory that had been forgotten in his mourning. But it was a treasured memory that did not wish to remain forever buried. It had not been the best of times or places for a prince to be. But no one was aware he had slipped away. Helios stood amidst a garden of pools and canals, steam from the heated waters billowing out into the cool night air. The reflections upon the pools' surfaces seemed to be drinking in the liquid starlights, ever thirsty. Reika had just been defeated. And so Hotaru had come to this place to wash the battle's sweat from off her smooth, pale skin. She had never objected when she saw him at the pool's edge. Her own body was partially submerged in the waters, her soaked ceremonial dress clinging to the contours of her body while its edges floated on the surface of the water. Helios lifted his head, saw himself standing far above Hotaru. He watched without words as the dreamt Helios stepped off the edge and plunged into the pool. His white uniform was soaked through, as he flipped aside some of his icy blue hair. Hotaru laughed and smiled. Smiled as if nothing else mattered but this quiet moment. The dream continued, Helios and Hotaru drawing close together as the steam rolled around them, their lips pressing as they drank from a shared kiss. Memory faded. Helios returned to the guest room, and the Golden Crystal had once again vanished. The beating of his heart had quickened while his entire being had grown calm. That was the Hotaru he had fallen in love with, the Hotaru he wanted to marry and become his queen. He refused to believe the young samurai who had saved him from his own shadow side had become this vindictive Dark Messiah. Hotaru wasn't like that. She was the one he had loved ever since their first encounter on Aurora's tidal shores. Her violet eyes and raven-dark hair.... Wintry blue eyes sealed themselves. "Iie," he said to himself, in a voice full of numbing pain. "She is not Hotaru. She cannot be Hotaru." Helios turned away from the window as his chamber door was opened. Merlin stepped through; an unusual event, given how virtually every other time in the past, the Ancient had simply appeared without knocking. The Auroran prince understood why this was the exception as two visitors entered behind Merlin. "You," he said, recognizing Magellan from the gathering at the Round Table. He looked away, unable to meet with Magellan's gaze. "Why are you doing this?" Helios asked quietly. Magellan's gaze was solemn yet not without a kindred compassion. "Because I see myself when I look into your eyes," he answered. "Because we both lost our fathers before they were meant to go. They were stolen from us by the same force that now threatens Earth." Helios could only gaze up at him. Understanding yet still unbelieving. "What you went through is beyond anything I could empathize with...but I'm not about to let it end there. If ever the Solis System needed hope, it's now." Magellan looked to Venus, and for a brief instant he saw the Senshi without her fuku. And Myung looked so beautiful. Her smile was his hope, and he refused to let it be taken from him without a fight. "I won't let this war consume you, Helios. I was at that edge once, but I was pulled back by someone who cared for me." He looked back to Helios, and extended his hand. "Let me be that person for you." Helios hesitated. And then stepped forward, embracing Magellan as if they were blood brothers. "Thank you," he whispered. "Thank you...." Venus smiled to herself as she watched them together. There was more to Magellan's fragile soul than many knew; Helios was one of the few who saw the Vlatmere prince being this honest. With both himself and with those around him. Abruptly Merlin cleared his throat, gathering the attention of the room's occupants. It might have been a touching moment, but there were other shadows lurking. And time for Camelot was running out. "Mistress Nine seemed to want Aurora's Golden Crystal, though none of us know why." Merlin glanced over to the bed that had rarely seen any sleep in it. "The past few days of masking its presence in Aurora has kept me regrettably preoccupied. And right now, I am at a loss on how we can continue to keep it hidden, especially now that Mistress Nine seems bent on marching up to Camelot's front doors." Magellan found an edge upon the bed to sit down on, studying the floor as he tried to conjure up some miraculous solution. He barely even noticed he had summoned a yellow rose, twirling its stem between his fingers. All too quickly he realized he was at a loss. "I'm sorry," he sighed, shaking his head. It was then that he noticed the rose in his hands. "I barely know anything about magik, save that which I can throw." Helios turned to Merlin. "Will a Shadowspell work?" "Iie," the Ancient answered grimly. "The Golden Crystal is capable of incredible bursts of magik that would shatter even my best Shadowspell. One such explosion and Mistress Nine will be there in a heartbeat." "Then I'll control the output of my crystal's magik," Helios said, desperate to find a way. "Nothing that will overtly break the Shadowspell." Magellan pushed off the bed, took a few steps towards them. "Won't work. We just might need every last magik we can pull together to fight Mistress Nine. Hiding you will become a moot point, and then she'll come after you." "What about creating a new world for him?" Myung asked. Everyone went silent, all eyes turning to her. "We're looking at a permanent home for Helios," she continued. "But if we can't find a place here that can cloak his powers from the Dark Messiah, why not create one?" "Can we do that?" Magellan mused, more to himself than anyone else. Helios nodded. Wintry blue eyes focused upon Merlin. "I know your magik, Merlin-sama. I can feel your power as an Ancient, and I know that creating such a realm is not beyond your capabilities." Long fingers with aged, taut skin stroked the side of Merlin's chin. He was considering, weighing the implications. For a time he was silent. "I can create a world for you," Merlin said finally. "It would consume much of my power, but it can be done." "The sooner, the better," Magellan added. "I'd prefer Helios' new realm constructed before the Shadow army decides to appear. For his sake and ours." "My sentiments exactly," Merlin agreed. This hidden place, ensuring Mistress 9 would not attack it again unless all of Earth's defenses had fallen first, would be guarded over by Magellan's family line. It was the duty and the honour he had chosen to take. As he looked at the hopeful expression on Helios' face, Magellan held no regrets about making this choice. Merlin turned to the Auroran prince, his open palm slowly passing before Helios' face. "Sleep," the Ancient said, and Helios' eyes closed. Venus was behind the Auroran prince, and caught him as his body lost its strength in the quietude of slumber. Magellan helped her carry Helios to the bed. She took great care to set aside the pillows covering the head, drawing back the sheets before tucking Helios beneath them. "Sleep well," she whispered, kissing the prince's forehead. Magellan came up from behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. He didn't want to say anything. Simply savour the warmth of her body and delight in her compassion. She knew his intentions and let their bodies sway together slightly, their eyes closing for a moment shared only between lovers. Where sight meant nothing, and minds seemed to almost touch and become one. Their eyes opened as Merlin crossed the expanse of the suite, the mage staring out at the windows. The sun had almost finished rising. And despite the tension, the city was still just as alive as it ever was. Though today the activity held war at its heart, and soldiers as its instigators. "I never spoke of this to him," Merlin said quietly. "But with a new world comes a price. In hiding there, Helios will forget almost everything that happened upon Aurora. The memories of his planet, his family, and his past will be wiped clean. All that will remain will be his knowledge of protecting the Golden Crystal." There was silence in the room once more. Tongues were paralyzed. And Magellan broke away from Venus. "It seems cruel to decide this for him without his consent," she said at last, a sickening vice clamping down on her stomach. Merlin nodded, a saddened gaze of his own betraying his sympathies and regrets. "I know, but there is no other way. I have been watching Helios' dreams and nightmares; there are some memories he would refuse to let go of, because right now they are all he has left to cling to. He remains unable to see the hope in a new life and a new world." "And there's nothing else that can be done?" Magellan asked. The Ancient gave a negative response in shaking his head. Magellan kept the core of his emotions bottled in, hiding the frustration. To have made such progress only to learn of a hideous cost. His jaw clenched, he growled something incoherent and smashed the base of his palm against the window. The impact was more a ricochet than direct, and so while the window shook it did not crack. Likewise with Magellan's hand. "There's more," Merlin said, not liking this any more than they did. "If we want Helios' security ensured, that means his realm will have to be inaccessible to even the Dark Messiah; the gateway will become more abstract than any other portal on this planet. We go through with this, and not even you or I will be able to call upon the magik of the Golden Crystal." They would be fighting this alone. Magellan turned to the sleeping prince. He had asked to become Helios' protector and was granted that request. He knew there would be risks and consequences. Now there could be no turning back. It was one of the hardest decisions he had to make, and he was certain this would not be the last. "Do it," he said finally, his voice subdued. They stepped back from the bed, leaving Merlin alone before the Auroran prince. He stood over Helios' sleeping form, a wizened old man with fishbone white hair and a thin wiry body frame. Magik stirred, focused and churned within the chambers. And then Merlin's features melted away to reveal the Ancient he truly was. White hair became a flowing dark mane, and his skin's pallor became naturally tanned. The old man was gone. In its place was the power of the ancient magiks. Palms outstretched over Helios, Merlin's eyes closed as he began to mutter something in rapid syllables. The sunlight outside became but the glow of a dwindling candle as a spark erupted from within the room. It was like watching tamed lightening, arcs bursting forth and travelling from Merlin's hands to the walls and ceiling and onto the bed. The covers flickered in and out of existence. Helios never awakened as the magik gently picked him up and cradled him in its heart. A frenzied whirlwind encircled him, letting him drift and dance through the air. The eye of the storm was shimmering in the purity and brilliance of the Golden Crystal as it worked to merge magiks together. The events of the next few minutes were hard for even Venus to describe. As if a multitude of miniature glass panes were appearing in a piece by peace fashion, creating some sort of labyrinthine jigsaw puzzle. Helios' image and the storm encircling him became distorted, everything blurred and out of place with itself. Flashes of light began to ignite from each shard of glass. And then a once transparent window became a reflection. Mirrors were being forged, cascades of them moving from floor to ceiling. Magellan could see hundreds of his own small face in the mirrors. And then suddenly the mirrors decided to reflect what they wanted to reflect. Landscapes. A loved one. A kiss. The future. So many faces and so many strange mysteries, each one beautiful yet remaining unknown to the masses. So many ambitions and hopes and dreams captured within these mirrors. One by one the mirrors began to disappear, fading away with one final flash of faery starlight. The dominos began to fall. And Helios was no longer at their centre. Merlin's voice echoed within Magellan's mind as the invocation reached its frenzied climax. "The secrets of Helios' realm will be meant only for your family. Protect it from those who would want to invade it and use the Golden Crystal for dark purposes. Protect the crystal, and Helios, with your life." And so as the magik wove its skein of mirages and mirrors around Helios' form, Magellan silently listened to Merlin's echo of words and revelation. The Golden Crystal would become but another legend, quickly dismissed by many, sought after by a handful, and found by none. Helios would never remember his family, his homeworld or his time with Hotaru; the next time he awakened, he would know only his newfound kingdom. It would be a realm hidden somewhere between sleep and awake, a world considered the vain fantasy of a romantic, and the object of a dreamer's obsession. Never quite there, and never quite realized save for in the hearts of little children, and the handful of people whose beautiful dreams never age. And it would have a name. Illusion. "Why must you pace so?" Morgana inquired, growing agitated herself as she watched the Messiah of Silence stalk across the throne room. Mistress 9 didn't answer, feeding her own dark thoughts with the same poison. She was a harbinger of death and destruction. And yet here she was doing nothing. Nothing! The seething demeanor of such uselessness was echoed in every small movement of her body, the malice of being restricted here reflected in those violet eyes that darted to each and every shadow, and glared at them. It was like watching a tiger pace its cage. The predator wanted out. Wanted to hunt and kill again. Morgana looked at the faceted diamond in her caduceus, trying to take her mind off Mistress 9's restless state. And trying to ignore the growls from Metalia that she was losing control of her Dark Messiah. "You would be wise enjoy this lull before the storm. Patience is a virtue." "I lack it," Mistress 9 stated, an air of defiance in her voice. She was unimpressed with her present condition and had no qualms about making that fact known. Morgana leaned forward in her throne. "I don't. I have spent decades cultivating my patience, refining my wrath and sharpening it to deliver an even greater deathblow now." Mistress 9 growled under her breath. Why she remained this pitiful creature's lackey was a reason that evaded her. The Dark Messiah resisted the urge to run Morgana through with her glaive. In truth, she had come as far as she could with the StarChamber. It was aligned to create a portal to the distant star cluster where Pharaoh 90 laid. But what she needed now was a power source. That Auroran brat had stolen the Golden Crystal from her, denying her the immense power required to bring her master into this system. She had been unable to find a trace signature of that crystal anywhere. That meant it was being cloaked, and the only place such a power could be masked was Camelot. She wanted that power. Pharaoh 90 had entrusted her to a duty. It was her master, not Morgana. And she wanted to make her master happy. Mistress 9 stopped before the throne. "Give me the command," she stated. Morgana scowled, seeing her grip on the Dark Messiah indeed slipping. It appeared that Camelot would mark the end of this woman; Morgana would consult Metalia and see to that. But so long as Arthur fell, the future was hers to seize. "Go," she said finally. The Dark Messiah's gaze was cold, her face twisting into a gleefully malevolently smile that made Morgana inwardly shiver. Mistress 9 took up her glaive. "About time." Magellan and Sailor Venus found Frederic personally overlooking the last of the preparations for the Eastern Army's base camp. The area around Camelot consisted primarily of vast fields and low rolling hillsides. It not only gave the sentries an advantage, but it also allowed the overflow of soldiers to set up their camps just outside the city without worry of being cut off from Camelot's support. Frederic waved them over as he dismissed a group of soldiers. All around him were various tables and equipment. "How's it look?" Magellan asked as he walked up. "This is me we're talking about!" Frederic replied with a grin. "Vlatmere's mobile army looks perfect. Especially compared to those slobs with the south-west army. I think they're still trying to get their communications gear up." Venus was unable to contain her amused smile. "And let me guess, we were the first ones up, right?" she inquired. Despite his usually tactless sense of timing and humour, she had to admit Frederic was a logistical genius. "Naturally!" Frederic replied, spreading out his arms and gesturing to the Vlatmere forces behind him. "Last ones to get here, but the first ones up on the network! That technically made us the first ones combat-ready even though we didn't even have the tents up!" Venus turned to Magellan. "He certainly takes pride in his work," she said. There was both admiration of Frederic's skill, and a scathing dryness at his over-enthusiasm. If Frederic heard the darker edge in her voice, he ignored it. "I eat, breathe and sleep this kind of work, Myung," he said with a courteous stage bow. "All these boys here have been trained to have the precision and audacity to run when everyone else decides to walk. Accept no substitutes, and never bet on the competition." Frederic leapt onto one of the tables, making a grandiose gesture. And by this time, he was garnering a crowd of cheering Vlatmere soldiers. "We are the best and the badest, and we are going to march right up the Dark Messiah's ass before kicking it across the Solis System!" he proclaimed. "This is what we do for a living, Milady!" The soldiers broke into thunderous applause and cheers. Frederic shouted with them, his hands triumphantly above his head as if he was a winning prizefighter. With a euphoric grin he turned to one of the neighbouring camps. "No one can touch us, because Vlatmere's the best and the only one there is!" "Shut up, Frederic!" someone shouted back from the neighbouring camp. "Well, I see you already made a new friend," Magellan said dryly. "Lord Wainwright really seems to love you." Frederic jumped down off the table, taking a moment to push back the hair in front of his eyes. "Nah. He's just angry because my bedside is booked solid for the next two weeks--whereas his isn't." He was breathing heavier from the spontaneous speech. And still loving every minute of it. Venus could only shake her head at the raging testosterone around her. "Some boys never grow up," she sighed, walking away. "What did I say?" Frederic asked innocently enough as he watched her walk off. Magellan gave his friend an incredulous look. "Oh, don't act so coy. You know exactly what you're doing; you just want me to give you an alibi." Frederic shrugged in response. "What can I say? That's the way I am." "You're never going to get married at this rate." "Who says I want to?" Magellan had to laugh. "Well, at the very least you've managed to get their spirits up. Whatever tension our army's felt seems to be gone." "You can thank me later," Frederic said, grinning as a number of the soldiers gave him friendly slaps on the back. Now charged with newfound adrenaline, everyone was returning to their posts and duties. "In the meantime, I need to bring you up to speed with some of the strate--" Magellan abruptly raised a hand, motioning for silence. Something else had caught his attention. Sight was doing nothing to help identify the source, but that didn't stop his entire body from vibrating. "Do you feel that?" he asked, turning to Frederic. A low trembling of the earth. Steady and rhythmic. And it was getting louder, stronger. It wasn't just them feeling this either; everyone in the camps seemed to stop what they were doing and gaze off towards one horizon line. Nothing could be seen, save for the distant haze of the morning skies. "Whatever's coming our way is pretty damned big," Frederic said. He snatched one of the visors set on a nearby table, placing it over his eyes. A few moments of scanning to horizon turned up nothing. "I can't see anything," he stated. "Heat scans are coming out negative; if they're our boys, they're probably operating on stealth mode. These tremors might be coming from underground too...though I've never known the Shadow army to try that." Magellan knelt down, pressed his hand against the trembling ground. He was certain he recognized this sensation. And he was expecting the source's arrival too. "Get to a higher point," he instructed, looking over his shoulder to Frederic. "If I'm right, they're barely at the horizon." Frederic sprang onto one of the tables, too preoccupied to take care where he stepped. A few weapons and some smaller items of equipment were either kicked aside or just kicked right off the table. For the uninitiated, it looked as if Frederic was simply using the visor as a sunscreen. Yet the interior of the visor was alive with images, screens and scrolling data. Developed in close association with Mercurian scientists, such a visor had more analytical powers compacted into its small form than some castles' mainframe computers. Vlatmere had been granted use of the visors to work with the battle skimmer construction; the visors were a lot easier to work with in field tests while evaluating the development of the stealth abilities. "They're on stealth mode, all right," Frederic said. "I can make out partial distortions, but that could easily be a mirage caused by the sunlight. Nothing on heat scanners, and the only sound I can pick up is the wind and the vibrating ground." Abruptly the empty fields far in front of them were no longer empty. The air rippled violently, everything around it becoming blurred and warped. And then out from the heart of the distortions punched four enormous, moving structures. Cylindrical in form, painted with a faded metallic brown tint not unlike the colour of the desert sands. A modern comparison would have likened such things to a submarine wolfpack moving over the land instead of cutting through the water. "They're here," Frederic stated, still working with the visor. "The battle skimmers have arrived." He looked over his shoulder to Magellan. "I've already talked with Camelot strategists about how they want the skimmers deployed. The heavy artillery pair will be with us on the front lines for the first assault. The troop carriers will pull around and flank the Shadow armies from behind to back us up." Magellan nodded. While the ground tremors were an unavoidable problem due to the intense fields generated by the hovering crafts, in every other way the skimmers were undetectable. Once revealed, the enormous side panels of the skimmers would retract into the body of the craft, revealing either rows of combat-ready troops...or the multitude of gun turrets hidden inside. Three skimmers were custom-made for the heavy artillery fire, the other three for soldier transport. Two of each were here to help defend Camelot. "Are those the skimmers?" Myung asked, stepping in behind Magellan. Frederic recoiled in surprise, practically toppling off the table. "When did you get back?" he gasped, one hand pushing up the visor, his other clutching his chest as if his heart was ready to explode. Magellan turned his head, and noticed something different about his blonde angel. "You're out of uniform," he remarked quietly to her. Myung smiled. "Your men know me better as Myung. I'm more comfortable like this around them." Magellan considered their potential reactions to seeing Myung in that short pleated skirt. Given their current euphoria courtesy of Frederic's speech, Myung was better than Sailor Venus. At the very least, they knew Myung was taken. Ocean blue eyes caught the reflection of the sun's rays against the Star Sapphire in her ring. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "I like you better this way too." "Why is it that Aurora developed all this advanced weaponry around magik, anyways?" Frederic sighed aloud, removing the visor and dropping down from the table. The visor was placed on the tabletop, and Frederic took the chance to take up his trusted longbow. "This system's most devastating powers belong to an elite few--while the rest of us are made to use more conventional and chivalric means." As if to emphasize his point, he ran his hand along the longbow. "What would you prefer?" Myung asked. "These deadly weapons in the hands of a few malicious magik-wielders, who are outnumbered and easily rivaled by those magik users who desire peace? Or would you rather let anyone pick up such a weapon and commit to lawlessness and chaos?" Frederic looked to Magellan for help. Magellan had none to offer. "The lady knows how to argue," Frederic conceded, almost ruefully. Myung avoided Magellan's gaze, and instead opted to watch the battle skimmers pull closer to the cityscape of Camelot. It was quiet knowledge among the high royalty that Aurora ensured it was-- it had been--the primary source of weapons development. What Aurora created was freely handed to other planets. But the skills of wielding such devastating powers, magik or otherwise, was placed in the trust of those who would not abuse their gift. It might seem unfair to the average soldier, but it kept the peace greater than anyone imagined. Earth, and more importantly Vlatmere, had been given the honour of being the development centre for Aurora's battle skimmer profile. The first heavy-artillery attack vehicles, with a limited hover capacity. Most everything else that relied on magik as an offensive weapon were single-manned fighters. Nothing as grand as the skimmers. Frederic motioned towards a private tent for them to talk in. They would still be able to keep an eye on the approaching battle skimmers while discussing the quieter points of this war. Myung stayed outside a short time longer, still watching the distant silhouettes of the skimmers. "So," Frederic inquired. "How was the meeting with our King?" "Disturbing," Magellan replied as he moved into the tent. Frederic winced. "That good, huh?" He took a seat at the awaiting table, across from the Vlatmere prince. "What happened?" "The Shadows are coming here for an all-out assault on Camelot," Magellan said soberly. "The battle looks like it will begin in a few days. But that wasn't the really scary part." "What was it?" Magellan studied the table more than watch Frederic, mulling over the details himself. "There were only five Knights of the Round Table remaining. The rest were either killed or seduced to the Shadows by their leader, a sorceress who calls herself Morgana." His eyes shifted, ocean blue orbs staring at Frederic. "There was the way King Arthur himself was acting. It was like he didn't expect to survive the impending battle." Frederic was uncharacteristically quiet for several minutes before speaking again. "You know, I once heard a rumour that Arthur had a sister named Morgana. I wonder if it's true?" "It's only a rumour, Frederic. Nothing about that story's been proven." "Just because it hasn't been proven doesn't mean it's not true," Frederic argued. "I don't remember it exactly, but it was something along the lines that she was a bastard child of some kind, and became a powerful sorceress. Apparently she felt that she was the one who should have worn the crown, and has been trying to get back at Arthur ever since." If that was true, they definitely had problems. Frederic leaned back in his chair and tilted his head up to stare at the ceiling of the tent. "This could get ugly, Magellan. I mean, really ugly. It's no wonder that King Arthur feels like he might not live to see tomorrow's end. It would also explain the power that Healer felt at Myung's crashed shuttle--if Morgana's as powerful as the rumours say she is." "It makes a lot of sense, I agree," Magellan said, nodding. "But there's more." "Do I really want to know?" Frederic asked, continuing to lean back and stare at the tent ceiling. He was trying to act aloof, more to calm his own raw nerves than impress the prince. "I know ignorance is bliss, but I'm not about to have a rude and fatal awakening on the battlefield. I'd rather hear it from you." Magellan was unable to keep himself calmed enough to sit comfortably. He pushed back his chair and stood, pacing the interior of the tent. And he found himself unable to openly state the ominous knowledge he held. "Look at it this way. They have at least one very powerful mage in their ranks." He turned to Frederic, studying the face of his friend and Commander. "Tell me, Frederic, what destroyed Aurora?" "No one knows," Frederic replied, shrugging. He froze moments later as the revelation came to him. "Shit, Magellan, are you saying that someone blew up the damn planet?!" "Oh, it gets even better," Magellan said soberly. "This someone has a name and a title. Something about a Dark Messiah called Mistress Nine." "And here I was afraid Morgana was the culprit," Frederic remarked in his most cynical voice. "Do they know anything else about her?" Magellan shook his head. "Only that it looks like this Mistress Nine woman is in Morgana's employ. Merlin might know something else, but if he does he's making sure to keep it a secret." Frederic let all four chair legs touch the ground. He took a deep breath and pushed off. It appeared the uneasiness in staying still was contagious. At the very least, pacing gave the illusion that one was doing something. Anything. "Okay, let's see what we've got so far," Frederic said, taking a deep breath. "From a strategic stand point, it looks like someone is intending to bring down the Golden Empire. This would fit with Morgana's profile, so let's presuppose she's doing this to take revenge on Arthur." "But naturally there would be resistance," Magellan countered. He could see where Frederic was going with this verbal rationale. He had watched Frederic strategize an opponent's thought process in the same way many times in the past; it was almost frightening to see how the Vlatmere Commander could get into the mind of his nemesis. Myung stepped into the tent, and Magellan quickly signaled for her to keep quiet. "Naturally," Frederic agreed. One of his hands was moving, rotating as if signifying the motions of his thoughts. "Morgana would more than likely have anticipated that. Now, the three most powerful planets in the solar system military-wise are Earth, Uranus, and Aurora. If I was Morgana, the most dangerous of the three would be Aurora. "Get the Ancients out of the way, and she'd have a much easier time bringing down the others. So that would mean the destruction of Aurora was a pre-emptive strike on Morgana's part. And Uranus would be more concerned with fortifying itself than helping another planet. Let them bide their time while the Solis System's in disarray over Aurora's destruction." He bit down on his lower lip, growing more and more involved. Magellan was certain Frederic was barely aware of his presence in the tent. "She wants to rule the Golden Empire, not obliterate it. So she then takes down Camelot and Arthur. Everyone else grows disillusioned, and planet by planet she would retake the system by force. Uranus would come last, and face the fury the other eight planets. At the very least, Morgana could rule Earth. The Dark Messiah would act as the enforcer." He abruptly turned to Magellan. "You're certain no one knows who this Mistress Nine is?" he pressed. "All we know is that she decided to make her presence known on Aurora an hour before it was shattered to pieces. The question still remains: who has enough power to take out an entire planet?" "Another Sailor Senshi," Myung spoke up. Frederic gawked. Even Magellan stared at Myung in disbelief. "Whoa, hang on," Frederic said, more than a little alarmed. "What are you talking about? You people are supposed to protect us, not destroy us. Did this Mistress Nine just not bother to recite that part of her vow of duty?" Magellan felt his stomach do yet another gut-wrenching twist. He had never considered the Dark Messiah being a Sailor Senshi, but now that he was it made sense. Against his better wishes too. "Remember that manuscript," he said to Frederic. "The one Myung's father made a copy of and sent to us. It had that obscure reference the Senshi Wars, where Sailor Senshi fought against Sailor Senshi. We could be dealing with something similar here." But if it wasn't the Chaos entity, then what was coming after them? "Then care to tell me how a Senshi got awakened and subsequently corrupted without anyone's knowledge?" Frederic inquired harshly. Myung shook her head. "I honestly don't know. I'm certain the Chaos entity isn't involved, but there's nothing else I know of that could exercise such dark power over a Senshi." Frederic put his hands on his head, trying to hold in the pressure building up inside. "Well there goes my good mood for the day. If what you two are saying is true, then in a few days we are all royally screwed." "That's why the three of you are here," a voice said from behind the group. The trio whirled, suddenly on the defensive. Frederic lifted his longbow, reaching back for an arrow. A few futile grasps had him swearing under his breath, realizing that he had left his quiver somewhere else. Magellan stood between Myung and the newcomer standing in their presence, a yellow rose in his hands. He lowered the blossom a few moments later. "I know you," he said. "You're the Healer who came out to Myung's shuttle when it crashed." "I am pleased you recognize me, Lord Endymion," the mage replied, bowing. His face was shrouded in the darkness of a hooded cloak. "It is an honour to be in your presence once again. And I sense that your magik has finally surfaced. I trust the power was of good use when the need became apparent." Magellan's eyes narrowed. "How did you know about that?" "I sensed it in you when I first saw you years ago at one of your father's receptions," the mage said. "When we met at Miss Myung's unfortunate accident, I felt the magik once again--only this time more powerful than before. It was beginning to awaken then. And now, if you'll pardon the pun, I see it has come into full bloom." Everyone paused and glanced down at the rose. "You are very powerful even if what you can actually do is limited, Lord Endymion," the Healer said. "You are quite possibly one of the most powerful warriors this planet has ever produced. I have felt this magik course through the blood of your ancestors, but it was dormant. In your father it began to emerge...and now in you the magik has been fully released. And if you wish to survive the assault, you will have to push the limits of your magik--and combine it with a gift I have brought for you." That managed to catch the prince's attention. Magellan silently admitted he'd need all the help he could get. The humming ground made him aware of the approaching battle skimmers, but after the revelation about the Dark Messiah he was still feeling uneasy. War machines were one thing. A Sailor Senshi of pure, unbridled evil was in another class--and a superior one at that. "What have you brought for me?" he asked the Healer. With that, the mage pulled his robes aside and drew out from the darkness a small satchel. "I bring you the Armour of Aroth," he stated, setting the satchel on the table. "The...Aroth Armour?" Frederic repeated, looking skeptically to Magellan. "He's got to be kidding." Magellan visibly stiffened in reading the Healer's eyes as they were caught by a stray beam of sunlight. "No, Frederic, he's not," he said solemnly, almost distantly. "Oh no!" Frederic countered, ready to grab the sack and throw it off the table. "You're telling me that a demon curse is going to be what saves Magellan? No offense, but I think he'd be safer fighting Mistress Nine without it." Myung scrutinized the gift; it didn't look anywhere big enough to contain a full suit of armour. While the satchel itself appeared harmless, she could feel something radiating from beneath the cloth. The strange heartbeat of a magik that chilled her. The Venusian princess turned to Magellan. "What is it?" Ocean blue eyes were grimly fixated upon the satchel. "They call it the Demon Armour, because every person who has ever worn it went insane. They say the armour is permeated with black magik, and possibly housing the soul of a demon being within. Whomever wears it becomes possessed, and thus becomes like the demon lurking in the armour." "Like I was saying," Frederic said with a definitive nod. "He'd be safer fighting Mistress Nine without it. The last thing I want is for Magellan to suddenly switch sides and join the Dark Messiah in wiping us out!" "That is where you are wrong," the mage said. His voice was calm and patient, corrective and not about to argue in anger. "The armour itself is like all magik: it is a neutral force. But the heart of the person who wears it will determine how the armour reacts. "I was not the one who forged this armour, so I don't know all its secrets--but I do know that it will enhance the wearer's abilities ten fold. It will amplify your strength, your magik...and unfortunately your emotions. If you are full of anger and hatred, the armour will feed off that; it will intensify that desire and you will become a vicious, cold-blooded killer. In the past no one has proven themselves worthy of wearing Aroth's Armour. You, Lord Endymion, will be the first to wear the armour as it was created to be used." "And what makes you think it won't possess him?" Frederic demanded. "I'm inclined to agree," Magellan added. "What guarantees do I have of my own safety?" The Healer sighed. Myung could hear the teacherly air in his breath, trying to let his pupils learn without letting them rush ahead into something they didn't understand. "You weren't paying attention to my words," he chided them. "The armour itself cannot possess you; only your emotions are vulnerable to its influence. Everyone who has ever worn this armour in the past was weak, and succumbed to their dark thoughts. They became murderous lunatics, who ultimately killed themselves because of the madness." A self-made poison. Magellan could already mentally draw a few parallels and differences between the nature of the armour, and the forbidden Shokkan sorcery. This Armour of Aroth was very much like a double- edged sword. Incredibly dangerous to one's enemy...and dangerous to its wielder if used improperly. "You, however," the Healer continued. "are strong enough to use the armour to its fullest power. I can feel it in you, Lord Endymion. You are the one who was meant to wear the armour. You, and no one else." Magellan looked down at the satchel with trepidation. The power and its curse were laying there before him, waiting to be accepted if he in turn accepted the risks. He knew Arthur's forces needed the extra strength--but at the same time, if he lost it he could easily turn on them. Become the demon he wished to destroy. The conflict he wrestled with was caught within his eyes, and Myung saw it. She wanted more than anything to assure him that he would not lose control. But that assurance was not hers to give. She could not guarantee for Magellan what he himself was in doubt of. And so she slipped her hand next to his, letting their fingers lace together. "Magellan," she said quietly, giving him a reaffirming squeeze. "Out of everyone I know, you are the only one who has the strength and compassion to keep the kind of control you would need over armour's power. I doubt even I have what it takes to watch my emotions." Magellan looked into her eyes; she truly believed what she was saying. Ever since her unexpected arrival, he had found her to be the anchor he was lost without. Mentally and emotionally, she kept him honest, with himself and with those around him. She had challenged so much of what he had once believed, and despite that he loved her. If she believed in him, then he would take a chance and believe in her. "Okay," he said, turning back to the Healer. It was time to give his verdict. "I'll wear it under one condition: if I begin to lose control, you three will do everything in your power to stop me. Even if it means my death." Magellan scanned the faces of the others. Is that clear?" Frederic nodded. As a soldier he understood the risks and consequences of this. "Just make sure that if it consumes you, you come out an angel and not a demon," he stated. The Healer nodded. "I cannot guarantee I'll be there if you do descend into the madness, but I will use all my powers to stop you should that happen." Myung hesitated, the ring upon her finger suddenly making its presence known to her. "Myung," Magellan pressed. "Please promise me this." Reluctantly, she nodded. She didn't want to believe that it would ever come to such a tragic end, but as a Senshi she had to be prepared for it. If for anything, to free the one she loved from being a prisoner in the arms of a dark magik. She would honour his promise. "It is done," the mage stated. "The armour is yours, Lord Endymion. And I do suggest you try it on before you go into battle. I need to show you how to use it." "Sounds reasonable enough," Magellan agreed, reaching for the satchel. He was surprised with how light it was when he picked it up. Doubts of it being of any use against a blade or arrow clouded his confidence in the armour. And then when he looked inside, he became even more concerned about the claims of its guardian power. Magellan tilted the satchel upside down and let the contents fall to the table with a clatter. There was awkward silence as everyone stared at the pieces in question. Frederic looked down at the armour. Then up at the mage. And then back down at the armour. "This is supposed to protect him?" he remarked, not bothering to hide the disbelief and sarcasm in his voice. "He would probably last longer if he walked onto the battlefield naked. The shock from his enemies seeing him like that would give him a window of opportunity for at least two or three seconds." "Thank you for that wonderfully vivid image," Magellan retorted. He turned to a giggling Myung. "You tell no one of that." She glanced over at Frederic, who was suddenly trying to conceal the lopsided grin on his face. Seconds later they both broke out into poorly-controlled snickers. "I don't need this right now," Magellan lamented, rubbing his temples. "So these flimsy pieces of metal are supposed to protect me?" The mage nodded. "Not merely 'supposed to'. They will, and better than anything else you could find." There were six pieces of what appeared to be dried-out bone plates: four smaller, narrower pieces, and then two large, broad plates. Magellan looked up at the mage with confusion. "I don't see a way of holding these pieces in place," he said. "The two broad plates are the chest and back plates," the Healer explained, pointing to the items he was discussing. "The longer pair of the narrow ones go on your shins; the shorter pair are meant for your forearms. You will need to take off your current armour first, though." Magellan nodded. With Frederic's assistance he removed the armour already on his body. The cool morning air felt good against his sweaty skin, and it was a relief to have all the extra weight off. Metallic armour was placed on the table next to demon armour. The Armour of Aroth looked pathetic next to Magellan's regular protection. "This won't stop a rock, let alone a sword," Frederic muttered. He grabbed one of the shorter pieces and held it up. "And how the hell are we supposed to fasten this on? There's no latches or straps of any kind on these things." "Like this," the mage said as he grabbed the armour from Frederic's hands. He took hold of Magellan's left hand and slapped armour plating onto the forearm. When he drew his hand away, the plate stayed in place without any use or apparent need of restraints. Magellan moved his arm around and was surprised to see it stay in place. "Impressive," he remarked, bending his arm to test his mobility. "And now for the rest," the Healer said. A few seconds later, all six pieces of armour in place. Magellan appraised himself, but still didn't know half of what was going on. He was just amazed with the fact that everything was staying in place despite his movements. "Now what?" he asked. The mage grinned. "Just watch." And standing just outside the tent was an Ancient. Merlin smiled and shook his head. "You've got a hell of a way of doing things," he remarked quietly, taking his leave and letting Magellan practice in peace. "I'm just impressed you decided to mask yourself for once." "Ano...Merlin?" the Raithe's voice abruptly spoke up. "I'm over here." The expression on the Ancient's face was priceless as he whirled to look from the mysterious Healer with Magellan, to the enigmatic Raithe grinning and seated upon one of the tables. "Surprise," the Raithe said with a chuckle. "Oh, come now, Merlin. Surely you didn't think I held the keys to every little secret of the Messiah Wars." He was dressed in the uniform of a Vlatmere soldier, complete with body armour. The shakujyo was still being carried in his grip, metallic rings giving off another chime that echoed across the army camps. Yet he also wore a pair of tinted lenses to hide eyes that reflected the starry lights of the cosmos. "What do you think?" he inquired, raising his hands for Merlin's appraisal. "I figure after a few centuries of the same outfit, I'm about due for a change." Merlin failed to fully hear the humour behind the Raithe's words, still preoccupied with the mysterious guest in their midst. His aged body was growing tense as the last remnants of his magik twitched, ready to come to life; there was no way of knowing if that alleged Healer was a threat to both Magellan's life, and to the safety of Camelot. "So who is our uninvited guest?" "No need to get paranoid," the Raithe said reassuringly, patting Merlin on the shoulder. "That one's on our side." Merlin studied the bent figure of the Healer, and could see nothing that would reveal one way or another where the mage's loyalties lied. "What is he then?" The Raithe shook his head. "I don't know. Something just as powerful--and possibly just as old--as we are. But it's here to protect Earth, so I suggest you not stand in its way. I have a feeling that armour's going to prove immensely useful in the next few hours." With that, he adjusted his uniform and headed back towards Camelot. Merlin quickly caught up with him, the two Ancients walking through the ranks of Vlatmere's soldiers without being noticed. The Raithe looked like one of their own, and they knew who Merlin was. In their minds there was no reason to worry. "You used up all your magik, I see," the Raithe remarked, a little more serious than before. "You could barely get a spark going when you thought that mage was an enemy." Merlin nodded. In creating Illusion, his magik was at its lowest possible ebb. He held no more ability to wield magik, and that would remain so for a long time. Days if not months would pass before he could regain his strength and invoke such power once more. As a result, he was going to disappear before the battle, and wait until he was actually useful again in the war against the Dark Messiah. If there ever would be a second chance. That was a risk he had to be willing to take: a future hope at the risk of a present sacrifice. "Was it foolish of me to do so?" he asked. "It's not our place the second-guess the future," the Raithe said. "You gave Helios a dreamworld because you felt certain it was what had to be done." And now it was time to see what Camelot's soldiers could accomplish on their own, and against incredible odds. "The battle's almost ready to begin," Merlin said quietly. "One which you practically orchestrated into being. Are you not going to stay and admire your handiwork?" The Raithe shook his head, glancing at his reflection caught by the polished surface of his shakujyo's garnet orb. "I have a destiny with the moon, Merlin," he answered. "Yours remains here on Earth." Merlin stopped walking, staring at the only other Ancient left alive after Aurora's destruction. "So...this is your final hour?" The Raithe paused in departing. He never looked back, but instead spoke a single word: "Sayonara." And then he was vanished once more. Merlin let out a deep sigh, shaking his head. "Just when I think I know what to make of these Messiah Wars," he muttered to himself ruefully. For as much as he, an Ancient, did know, there was a lot more he wasn't a party to. And while it annoyed him a great deal--especially now with the stakes higher than ever before- -he'd grown accustomed to it. Lacking the power for a teleporting incantation, Merlin was resigned to walk back through the castle. An hour later found him within Camelot's most inner walls. Down the corridor laid his private chambers, where he continued to search for the Dark Messiah. Whatever Shadowspell was at work in masking both Morgana's armies and Mistress Nine, it was certainly a powerful one. Merlin found himself ruefully admiring the prowess in such a construction and execution of illusion. But Camelot had only days left. After that, nothing remained certain. "Merlin!" He turned his head as he heard his name frantically called. One of the Knight Commanders was racing down the halls towards him. "What is it, Galahad?" he asked. Galahad came to a stop, not even bothering with any form of formal gesture or salute. "They're here. Point sentries report the mobilization of what looks to be the entire Shadow army. They're coming out of the damn shadows like ghosts, and they're headed straight for Camelot." Merlin felt his blood run cold. The Shadows were almost two days early. "Morgana must have grown impatient," he remarked icily. Or else the Dark Messiah had. He would have to place his bets on the latter. Merlin turned his head, staring grimly at the distant horizon line through the windows. He could see the battle skimmers almost within reach of Camelot's outer walls. "This is it," he stated, turning to Galahad. "Sound the alarm. The war's about to begin." THE WAR IN HEAVEN FALLS TO EARTH. CHRONICLES OF THE MESSIAH WARS.... Thanks: To Sailor Skuld, who's been incredibly supportive of my efforts to finish what Dark Messiah began. It's nice to know that I can annihilate a planet, and she lets me get away with it. ^^ To Todd Foster, my Messiah Wars counterpart. A number of the scenes between Magellan, Frederic and Myung are my own retelling of a story that he has already created. My humblest thanks goes out to him for all the contributions he's made to the CoT: Infinity trilogy, and the patience he's shown in letting me rework his tale into my own.