Mugen: Infinite Eternal (A Circles of Time tale) 2nd Eternity - Elfhame Rated R THE FUTURE: History is like an endless waltz. The progression of war, peace and revolution all continue in an endless cycle. -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, and 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 never-ending 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 realm 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 this last chapter of a 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 Serenity found Kakkyou perched amongst the treetops of Elfhame, standing with his back against a towering moss-ridden trunk, his arms crossed over his chest. Dragon green eyes swept the lush and bounteous vegetation sprawled out before them. Here a handful of trees rose up higher than all the rest, penetrating the dense canopy of leaves and allowing one to see the vast expanse of the Elven woods. Sometimes even a little beyond. Kakkyou closed his eyes and no longer relied on them. He was preoccupied with something else, his mind absorbed in reading what Serenity could feel prickling the back of her neck. Serenity jumped through the air, floating slowly and gracefully up to the branch Kakkyou stood upon. She was fast growing accustomed to the magik pervading everything in the isles of Arana, to adapt and make use of it. Already she was learning to move the way the Elven did, defying gravity for a few seconds longer than naturally possible. It was the closest she had ever come to flying. And she loved it. But ever since that ominous dread had swept through Elfhame, Kakkyou had disappeared. Anyone or any creature she asked was equally confused...and worried. Because they respected her as Kakkyou's bride-to-be, and hushed by the awesome magik she possessed, they told her nothing but the truth. And the truth was they knew nothing. At last now she caught a glimpse of his form high above her head. Serenity completed her intricate dance amongst the trees, drifting from branch to branch like a butterfly or a lost eagle's feather. Her bare feet made no sound as she touched the damp, cool moss clinging to the surface of the branch. Whenever Kakkyou was like this, he desired no distractions. "Have trouble finding me?" he suddenly asked, though he didn't open his eyes. Serenity felt her cheeks grow flushed, and she chided herself in forgetting just how much the Elven race replied on attuning themselves to magik as opposed to just the senses. His nostrils flared as he drew in slow, laborious breaths through his nose. But he would hold the air in for a while before exhaling. Serenity carefully drew closer to him, resting a hand on his shoulder. "What do you smell?" she asked quietly. "The winds of change are blowing once more," Kakkyou murmured. "And they are carrying with them a strange scent to Elfhame." Dragon green eyes slowly opened. "Is there anything else?" she asked him. Kakkyou paused before saying nothing. But she could see that there was something in the answer to her question that had left him unsettled. Yet she was in no mood to push him, nor was he in any mood to be pushed. The woods were growing tense. Even the usually lazy forest magik was stirring, and gathering its children close out of a fear it dared not speak. "I'm sorry for being like this, Serenity," he said, leaning over and kissing her cheek. "Here I am neglecting my beautiful fiancee, when I should be grateful that you allow me to remain at your side." Serenity smiled, her concerns dispelled for a little while longer. She wrapped her arms around Kakkyou's neck, fingers playing with his long, silver hair. He let out a playful growl and strained his neck forward. Their lips met. Lingered for a while. Then at last they parted. "Let's go to one of the freshwater springs," he said, turning her away from the forestscape. "The water nymphs have been pestering me to bring you back there; you're very popular with them." Serenity stifled a giggle. The water nymphs behaved like little kids, always laughing and playing and splashing each other with water. Being with them was like being back at Glenhawke with the other students. For a moment Serenity felt sadness tug at her heart, knowing what she had left behind. But once this was over she would visit Halefyne, Maya and the others. More than likely as the Queen of Elfhame. The image of Kakkyou's face, the vivid memories of his warm touch and gentle caress, gave Serenity the chance to forget about the danger. Right now she was where she wanted to be. Whatever came to her, she would face with Kakkyou. "Ladies first," he said, gesturing for her to take the first leap of magik off the branch. Serenity braced herself for the descent. Fear was ebbing away the more she practiced this. One foot was put forward, hovering in the air. And then she pushed away from the tree and fell. Her flight was slower, smooth like she was swimming through air. Adeptly she alighted the branch of another tree, landing upon it without any jolts or crashing inertia. Kakkyou's smile flickered and died for a brief heartbeat as her back was turned. His gaze was cast one last time to the world far beyond Elfhame. To the direction where Camelot stood. He had deliberately left out telling Serenity something else he'd detected in the winds. And it was the scent of death. MUGEN: (-ě+) INFINITE ETERNAL (A Circles of Time tale) 2nd Eternity - Elfhame Mistress 9 arrived in front of Camelot too late to see the fleeting shadow of the Warhammer. All that greeted her was a broken and deserted castle. She could sense the dark minions at her command scurrying around Camelot's halls, pillaging the rooms and killing any unfortunate souls they found. But it was still an empty castle to her. A useless facade. The stranger upon the moon had laughed at her for following Morgana, for allowing herself to be that woman's puppet. Camelot had meant nothing to him, even though he kept her distracted from the war. This Holy Grail...that meant everything. That was what she was searching for. She would not find it here in Camelot. Nor would she find that soldier here in Camelot. That lone warrior brazenly standing where angels feared to tread, who beheld the blood-soaked shadow of the Dark Messiah and still fought. Moreso, the little bastard had lived. Mistress 9's eyes narrowed. She began to quiver with rage at being denied his magik. Such incredible power flowed from his being. She would have tasted it, taken it from him, had it not been for that Ancient. "Magellan Endymion," she hissed, tipping her glaive so she might see her enraged reflection within it. "We shall meet again." She never asked herself how she knew his name. His magik had told her that. And it taunted her by stating she would never be able to feel it coursing through her own veins. Now Magellan was nowhere to be seen. He had escaped her, the Messiah of Silence. The woman who was death itself. She was seething in fury. These pithy humans were mocking her! Violet eyes suddenly beheld Camelot, as if for the first time ever. They narrowed as Mistress 9 let all her frustrations become solely focused upon the glistening silver castle. They would pay for mocking her. She would teach them that the oracle of Pharaoh 90 was a terrifying creature. This would let all of Earth tremble at her name. Silence Glaive Surprise. Three words from her mouth summoned a vortex of destruction. A violet inferno exploded from the ground where her glaive met the earth. It sought out the once glorious castle that had been Camelot. And then it wholly consumed the castle. Nothing was spared, not even her own demon brood within. Camelot's walls shattered to dust and the towers shook before tipping over and breaking apart, spilling furniture and bracings out like innards. Everything imploded. A tremendous cloud rose up to conceal the final death throes of the castle, and the fields beneath the Dark Messiah's feet rattled violently. Only remotely satisfied, Mistress 9 turned her back on the ruins of Camelot and stalked away. He form rippled into darkness and then she vanished entirely. It was time to pay Morgana a visit. Magellan's body on the verge of shutting down now that the adrenaline rush was gone. Two incredibly fierce magiks had been wielded by his hand (one that he'd had to fight to keep under control), and for as much as he might have wanted to deny it, all his strength was ebbing. Once Camelot was out of sight, he had collapsed onto one of the reserve chairs in the cockpit and slept. While Myung and Frederic kept their discussion about the battle quiet, it wouldn't have mattered. Magellan was so lost in sleep that nothing short of an explosion would have managed to shake him awake. "...never think it's your time until you find yourself staring up at something which might have been a wild boar," Frederic was saying. "They had us playing heavy defense the entire time, always making sure we never gained an upper hand. They had the sheer numbers and the power to back them up." He sighed and leaned back in his chair, his shoulders sagging beneath what there was left of his armour. Most of it was now scattered on the floor along with Magellan's. "If they come for a rematch, we're maybe a third of what the Camelot armies had been. And we'll still be reeling from battle. Guaranteed that it'll be our last stand; we find a way out of this, either by wiping them out or by dying." Myung nodded soberly. "We'll need to get the soldiers' morale up as soon as we can. If they're at a point where they'd just as soon curl up and die rather than fight, we've already lost." "Well, the good news is that we've still got the Warhammer, and three battle skimmers--if we count the two on reserve in Vlatmere." "Why weren't there any aerial crafts in the battle?" Myung asked. Frederic shrugged as he glanced over at one of the readouts. The Warhammer's flight was running as smoothly. "Earth uses them more as commercial transportation, not for war. Mars and Uranus are famous for their custom fighters, but not us. Chivalry is not dead yet. You come to fight, you do it face to face on the ground." He flashed her a weary but sincere grin. "Besides, Camelot used most of their aerial transports to let the general public escape before the battle. My guess is Morgana wanted this to be a war of footsoldiers; makes for a more impressive slaughter if she succeeds." "She didn't." "She almost," Frederic countered. He thumbed back to Magellan. "Both of us wound up falling back and trying to protect anyone we could, but he's the only one who actually ran forward. Right now Magellan's the only person to have ever faced the Dark Messiah and survived. That means two things: we've got a fighting chance if he's as powerful as she is...and she's no doubt going to be pissed about that fact. This Mistress Nine strikes me as the type to start a crusade just to wipe him out for that." Myung frowned as she listened to the reasoning behind the words, and was forced to acknowledge the distinct possibility. "We're not out of the woods yet, then," she murmured. She entertained the idea that she might be able to stand beside Magellan against the Dark Messiah and hold her own, but in her heart Myung knew she was still just a newborn soldier. She lacked experience. And perhaps even the power; Magellan had survived Mistress 9, but only by weaving three different breeds of magik together. As far as she was aware, she made use of only one. Who else was left then for them to enlist? The Man With No Name's face appeared in her recollections. Someone who had cut through the tides of demons like she had, yet without the slightest hint of mercy. He had been enjoying the bloodshed--until she had spoken to him, as if he had heard about such nobility and honour for the first time ever. A soul without sides or loyalties. She could only describe him as someone who had merely appeared and fought just for the hell of it. Perhaps just for the thrill of it. The power and agility he had at his disposal also made him not quite human. No normal human could have moved with the speed he did, or so casually tear apart demons twice as large as he. There was an undercurrent of magik in his being. Myung suddenly wondered if he was one the shadows she had seen in Camelot's war room, when Merlin had silenced the other generals with his magik. But there had been two shadows; if the Man With No Name had been one, then who was the other? And if he had been neither, who were both those shadows? The Warhammer suddenly lurched, throwing Frederic and Myung around in their seats. It was a single and abrupt jolt, but the craft still remained on a level heading. Magellan, strapped into his own seat with a shoulder harness, moved only slightly, his head bobbing up and down. He didn't awaken. "What was that?" Myung asked. Frederic was already checking some of the consoles and readouts. "Um...damn. Cargo entry port six again." If Myung recalled correctly, that was the hatch which had malfunctioned when she and Magellan had taken the Warhammer to Camelot. The repairs evidently hadn't been able to help the problem along much. "How serious is it?" she asked. "Not bad enough to depressurize us and crash the ship, but if we don't fix the hatch we'll be shimmying like this all the way to Vlatmere." Another bump shook the cockpit, annoying enough to force them to steady themselves. "I don't think the soldiers will be thanking us if we let this continue," Myung said, unstrapping herself from her chest harness. She swiveled the chair around and stood up. "I'll fix the cargo hatch." Frederic placed a restraining hand on her shoulder. His face wore a thin smile, flattered to know she cared, but his mind was still working in a soldier's framework. "Myung, do you know anything about mechanics?" he asked her. Myung opened her mouth to respond. Then she realized she didn't know the first thing. "I thought as much. No offense," he added, trying to pacify the dejected look on her face. "As you said, we're not out of the woods yet--and right now as pilot my first priority is to get these soldiers to safety. I know this ship like the back of my hand; I can fix it faster and easier than anyone else." "But I'm not the one who's flying the Warhammer," she countered. The cabin lurched once more. Myung hastily grabbed hold of the ceiling to keep himself from tumbling over. "Well someone has to do it," Frederic growled fighting to keep the craft stabilized. The Warhammer was brought down to a lower altitude, and the shaking abated for a short while. He put the navigation on auto-pilot, but he needed to be in the cockpit in case something went wrong. "The last thing I want is to abandon my duties, especially now that indications are I'm the next highest-ranking officer left after Magellan." They both glanced over at the unconscious lord of Vlatmere. "Where are the mechanics and engineers who usually work on the Warhammer?" Myung asked quietly. Frederic stared out the front of the canopy. "Over half of them died in the castle at the end, along with our regular pilot. They were trying to help the wounded onto the shuttle when the demons first attacked. You guys missed the worst of our battle by about five minutes. We've got two left on the ship--and right now they've got their hands full helping treat the wounded." Right now Frederic was the only one remaining who qualified to fly the vessel. They were stalemated. But something had to give. Myung sought her mind for a source of inspiration. She found it when she saw one of the communicator microphones resting on the controls. "Can you talk me through it over the intercom system?" Frederic's face seemed to light up. "That might work," he admitted. He unstrapped himself and wriggled free of one of the harnesses. A compartment hidden underneath one of the panels popped open at his touch, and he tossed her a headset. "I'll put you on frequency Two," he told her. "Tell me everything you see, and in exact detail." Myung adjust the headset and pulled the mic down beside her mouth. "Do I need any tools?" Her answer came in the form of a small datapad being gently tossed her way. She caught it, and the screen activated with a touch. "Hopefully, no. Last time we just hot-wired the door shut," Frederic told her. "That's a diagnostics reader. It should help you locate the problem, and it'll feed me some of the images as well. "But I should warn you: it's the outer door that's opened. The inner door which leads from the cargo bay to the rest of the ship works fine. In fact, that is what's keeping us pressurized at this altitude. But when you step in there, you might get sucked right across the room if you're not careful." "I'll keep that in mind," Myung said as she activated her headset and walked out of the cockpit. "Good luck!" Frederic called out after her. When the door closed behind her he muttered, "We could all use a little of that right about now." The Raithe was no more. In his place was a gaping crater. The Sea of Tranquillity. One day it would be filled with water and become an ocean. Upon its shores would be built a lunar palace. But until the time came, all that stood upon the rim of the crater was his shakujyo. It waited for the magik. Myung passed through the main cabin which would have normally hold passengers. Now it held only wounded. Even the smaller VIP section, reserved for special envoys and ambassadors (and presumably Magellan), was filled with soldiers wrapped up in splits, bandages and gauze. Pieces of armour littered the floor, and emergency IV lines were draped from the overhead displays. This was where the critically injured were being held. It tore Myung's heart when she looked at their faces and their injuries. At best, a third of the men were conscious. She shared a pained glance at one of the two makeshift doctors working the rounds in this area. Many of these people were beyond medical help; they were dying. Most would be dead by the time they landed at Vlatmere in an hour or two. She quickly and quietly moved through the central aisle, and down the stairs. Here in the cargo areas, the world was one of distant screams and chaos. A maze of metallic corridors wormed their way through the underbelly of the Warhammer, connecting to ducts, passageways, and cargo bays. A number of soldiers who'd emerged from Camelot unscathed were sitting against the corridor walls. Maybe one or two of them were awake and not resting their weary bodies. Beyond them, screams and agonized cries echoed through the cargo bay doors. Some of them were open, allowing Myung to gaze inside at the massive triage units. Soldiers were helping fellow soldiers as best they could, while anyone with an even remote knowledge of medical training were racing around, treating one injury after another with whatever supplies were available. This was the side of war most people never saw. Many just saw glorious victory and celebration, or as the losers they never saw anything beyond annihilation. Why was it a part of human nature to create such beauty and destruction all at once? In a sense, Myung saw only madness. And yet...this had been forced upon them. They had not attacked, but were defending themselves from an attacker. The Dark Messiah. "Okay," crackled Frederic's voice over the headset. "Hang a left at the end of this corridor and you're there. Second door on your right should lead into cargo hold six." "Is there anyone in there?" she asked. There was a noticeable pause. "Yeah. I think about two dozen soldiers; that area holds some of the heavy machinery and is right beside one of the living engine chambers, so it's not exactly a large area. I don't think anyone would have been sucked out though," he added optimistically. "The door usually just opens up a crack. Enough to make the wind howl, but we descended pretty fast. You should find a dead calm in there." Myung accessed the hatch, and it opened up. A cold breeze from the air outside swept past her as she stepped inside. While it wasn't overly huge, it was certainly high. Myung couldn't see much of the ceiling; shadows lurked everywhere. The interior lights were flickering on and off, eerie whitish-blue hues flashing over the immense machinery. Panels and terminals seemed to stretch across the edges of the walls and mechanics. In the far left corner she could see sunshine cast upon the metal wall. The winds were coming from that part of the cargo bay. "I've found the door," she reported. "It looks to be about half open." "How is everyone?" Frederic's voice asked. "Do you need me to send a medic over there?" Myung looked around, and to her uneasiness found nothing. There was no trace of any other person. She took a step forward, brushing past a hanging chain. As the chain rattled from her contact, something fell from above and hit the back of her neck. She winced as she felt the cold sensation and reached back to wipe away what she assumed was some condensation. Her blue eyes widened when she pulled her hand away, and saw a crimson smear on her palm. Blood. Myung jerked her head upwards. The buzzing light flickered for a moment, illuminating the world above her. And in that moment it revealed the missing soldiers, dangling upside-down from the ceiling, their heads missing. "Frederic!" she exclaimed, a wave of terror sweeping past her. She stepped back, desperate to get out of there. "They're all--" Her next word was strangled as something large and calloused shot out from the shadows and closed around her windpipe. Myung managed but a strangled cry as a demon emerged from the darkness and hoisted her off the floor. She tried to kick, but her efforts were feeble at best and failed to wrench her free of the asphyxiating grip. Two large wings unfurled slightly from behind the creature's back. Its eyes glowed red, saliva dripping freely off its snout and mouth. Myung found herself staring at a freakish bat. And she suddenly realized how it had gotten into the ship. "Myung, what's happening?" Frederic's voice shouted frantically through her earphones. "Myung?!" The bat-youma towered over her, opening its immense and terrifying jaws. It was going to bite her head off and then let her hang like the other corpses above them. She struggled to fight and free herself, but the demon beast was too strong and she was Myung right now--not Sailor Venus. It wasn't about to give her a chance to fight back. "Myung?!" Frederic exclaimed. "Shit! Hang on, I'm coming down there!" Suddenly the grotesque bat lurched forward, involuntarily squeezing hard on Myung's throat. She choked and was abruptly aware of something dark and wet spattering across her face. The stranglehold on her throat loosened, her vision clearing up as she gulped down air into her burning lungs. A fist had driven itself right through the demon's chest, the human hand now slick with black blood and holding what looked to be a vital organ torn from the youma's body. "Now, that's no way to treat a lady," said a dark, smooth and chillingly familiar voice. "Apologize to her." The creature died, dropping Myung onto the floor. It flopped down beside her, twitching in its last few, tortuous moments of life. Out from the shadows behind the bat-youma stepped The Man With No Name. "Stowaways," he grunted unpleasantly. A loud thump of something landing on metal caused both of them to look back at the outer cargo hatch. Sunlight was being blocked by another monstrous form, its wingspan folding down to allow it entry onto the Warhammer. It lumbered inside, making way for a second demon to embark onto the craft. "I tire of these unwanted hitchhikers," The Man With No Name growled. Hidden behind his shades, eyes of churning clouds glanced back to the shadows dancing across the cargo bay. "Care to escourt them back outside?" The room flared to life and light as Sailor Uranus clenched her fist and summoned her attack. Myung's eyes widened as she caught sight of the tall sandy-blonde, clad in a fuku just like her own. "Masaka," she whispered. There were other Senshi who had awakened? Uranus launched her World Shaking, the ringed orb chewing through the surface of the floor before burying itself into the youma's chest. It shook viciously before carving a burrow for itself inside the demon. A horrific crunching of bones echoed as gore poured out from the gaping wound. "Myung, what the hell's going on down there?!" Frederic's voice blared over the headset. Neptune was already standing beside her partner and lover, blasting the remaining demon back through the outer hatch with a deluge of seawater. The satisfaction of victory was short-lived. The Man With No Name took a step closer to the open doorway, staring at the land swiftly moving beneath them. A hand reached up and drew the shades away from his eyes, letting the sunlight be cast upon them. Moments later the sun was blotted out as a patch of living, breathing, hellish darkness gave chase after the Warhammer. A sizable host of flying demons were circling all around the craft. "It looks like we never escaped that easily after all," Uranus stated. Myung found herself too overwhelmed to take control of herself or the situation. To nearly find herself dead, and then be saved by the stranger on Camelot's battlefield--and two other Sailor Soldiers. And now faced with another battle chasing after them. Suddenly the knarled form of a winged hellion swooped in front of the hatch, swatting The Man With No Name aside like a ragdoll. He bounced harmlessly off the equipment, rolling across the floor before coming back into a crouch. Uranus launched her World Shaking instantly, but the beast raised one of its burly arms, fingers unnaturally elongated and tipped with savage claws, smacking her attack away. Myung frantically threw herself out of the way as the World Shaking collided with the wall and exploded. Scorched metal and burned circuits wafted through the area. "Myung!" came Frederic's voice. Myung seized the fallen headset, holding the mic close to her mouth. "The Shadow Army's gotten onto the ship!" she shouted over the explosion of another World Shaking sent hurling into the machinery. Sparks were raining down all around her. "Get back to the cockpit and get us out of here!" Frederic swore, and Myung could hear him over the headset turning around and racing back towards the pilot's chair. She tossed the headset aside. It would be useless now. Another distraction was the last thing she needed if she wanted to stay alive. The daunting form of the winged youma growled as Neptune launched a Deep Submerge, and then mercilessly crushed the watery sphere into the floor grillwork with one of its hands. A flood of salt water washed across everyone's feet. "Che," Uranus muttered. "This one's tougher than the others." Sailor Pluto decided to make her appearance, walking calmly out from the shadows and carrying her staff. "My turn," she stated, aiming the garnet orb at the creature. With but a whisper, Myung was forced to shield her eyes from a burst of light that blew the youma out of the ship--and shredded most of the doorframe in the process. No sooner had the burst of light faded than another demon launched itself inside, shrieking madly and slashing at whatever it could. The Outer Senshi ducked the blows, while the Man With No Name charged and flung himself into the air. He passed through the gauntlet of thrashing claws before planting a foot on each of the youma's shoulders. Fingers jammed themselves against the beast's temple, trying to cave its head it. The demon let out a shrill, piercing cry as its skull began to crack. It threw itself wildly left and right, blindly lashing out at anything in a vain attempt to save itself. Myung nearly had her head torn off as it rammed its hand into a cylindrical container. The contents held within spewed out, acidic and burning its flesh. One last agonizing scream was denied as The Man With No Name's palms abruptly met, pulverizing the demon's head into a sticky mess. And then the entire ship convulsed, throwing all of them to the floor. The Man With No Name tumbled off the creature's shoulders and into a terminal, his contact with one of the interfaces sending up a geyser of sparks and fire. One of the conduits above their heads burst, venting a thick grey cloud that was quickly being sucked out of the craft. "I think we broke it!" he coughed. "Next time just kill the demon then!" Uranus shouted angrily, trying to use herself to shield Neptune from being buffeted around. "Myung!" It was Frederic's voice, crackling and full of static. "--on't know...hear me or--engines down...damn things all over...brace yourself!" The Warhammer bucked, kicking Myung into the air. Her arms and legs flailed helplessly before crashing back down on the floor. Everything was spinning, the Warhammer's hull shuddering and groaning violently. In the corner of her peripherals she could see the exposed outer hatchway. And amidst a turmoil of swirling colours, the ground was racing up to meet them. She frantically grabbed hold of the nearest solid object she could, bracing herself for the impact. Morgana was not happy to see Mistress 9. "What the hell were you thinking?!" she practically spat, furious with the Dark Messiah's actions. "You were to only conquer Camelot, not destroy it altogether. I was to sit upon the throne where my half-brother once sat, and rule over the Solis System. How dare you deny me that right!" She placed her hands upon the border of her pool, ignorant of the frothing waters that were now forming the grandiose ruins of what had been Camelot. Her sapphire eyes were glazed over with a frenzy of powerlust denied. At last she tore herself from the mournful remains of the castle cast in the water, and glared at Mistress 9. "Ungrateful little whelp," she snarled, moving towards the raven-haired harbinger. "Am I not the one who brought you to life?" Mistress 9 continued to study her own reflection in the blade of the Silence Glaive, consumed with her own dual obsession in finding the Grail and killing Magellan. "Am I not the one who gave you purpose and meaning?" Morgana exclaimed, her voice growing louder and more agitated. She was on the verge of hysteria, aggravated all the more by the fact that she was being ignored. "And this is how you repay me! This is how you show your respect and honour to me?!" The Messiah of Silence played with her weapon, casually looking at the shadows adorning this darkened cavern and its Shadowspell playthings. "Look at me!" Morgana shrieked. "You are here to serve and obey me!" Mistress 9's clenched fist suddenly shot out, and punched straight through Morgana's head. Crimson blood trickled down her knuckles as she withdrew her arm, leaving a gaping hole where Morgana's face and skull had once been. She hadn't even looked where to punch. "Not anymore." With an amused laugh, Mistress 9 let the blood drop off her fingertips before washing her hand clean in the pool of water. The ruins of Camelot were tinted scarlet. It was time to track down her playmate. Time to find the key to bringing her Master to this rural system. Abruptly Mistress 9 paused, and cast a glance over to the shadows behind Morgana's throne. Something stirred, but ultimately they were only shadows. She smirked cruelly at them before leaving. There in the darkness, Metalia was beyond rage. This perfect host she had cultivated for decades was gone. Now she would be forced to wait again for the time when she might be at last released from the Dark Kingdom's seal. Her time upon the Earth was denied again. But not forever. If the entity of Metalia was anything, she was patient. Another willing servant would appear soon enough. And then she would at last be unleashed. The Warhammer had managed to land on its belly, skipping like a rock across the grassy plains as opposed to crashing nose-first into the ground and collapsing like a metal accordion. But that still didn't mean it had survived intact. In fact, the Warhammer would never fly again. Not in time to serve during the Messiah Wars, at any rate. Its bottom hull was ripped apart, fragments of it collapsed. The engine areas had exploded, the living engines killed as their bodies suffered the wounds identical to the Warhammer. A gaping hole had been ripped through the starboard side of the ship, high enough for anyone to walk through without needing to duck their heads. Anything not bolted down had been thrown in almost every direction. Some of the items once bolted down were now in pieces, or fused with the frame of the ship, or were torn off along with a chunk of the frame still attached to it. In the cockpit, the terminals and controls were a mess of broken panels, sparking wires and shattered glass. There was no sound of life. And then a shaky hand slowly rose up from the floor and grabbed hold of an armrest off the pilot's chair for support. Frederic managed to pull his battered and shaky body up. "Magellan...you alive?" he groaned. Still sprawled out on his stomach, Magellan drummed his fingers against the floor. "No. But I wish I was right at the moment. Care to tell me what happened?" Frederic winced as he checked his body. Everything was still there, and in fact worked...albeit painfully. "Something happened in cargo bay Myung went to check. Sounded like a demon had gotten onto the ship. Next thing I know, the readouts go ballistic and I'm using the Warhammer to dig up gophers." Magellan tried to get up, but was still shaken from the crash. After a few sad attempts, Frederic helped him up. Magellan nodded gratefully for the assistance. A moment later the words Frederic had spoken managed to sink in amidst the trauma and disorientation. "Something attacked Myung?" Frederic nodded. "I'm guessing their fight ruptured some of the hardware between here and the living engine systems." But Magellan was already stumbling over the broken canopy, tumbling to the ground and collapsing onto his knees as he hit the grass. "Magellan, wait!" Frederic called out, grabbing his longbow. He groaned upon seeing the frame intact but the bowstring broken. "Magellan, you should be seeing a medic yourself and you're not going to listen to me are you?" he asked the fleeting Vlatmere lord. With a sigh he scavenged the cockpit for anything salvageable. Excalibur was gathered up in his arms along with the prized longbow, and then Frederic dumped them out of the cockpit. He followed moments later, ecstatic to be walking on solid ground once more. It was only then that Frederic realized that somewhere amidst the crash, the Aroth Armour had decided to reattach itself to Magellan's body. And neither of them had even noticed. It was with a considerable amount of effort and pain that Myung roused herself. Her eyes opened, but her vision was blurred. Took its time in refocusing her world. But when her pupils dilated properly the first thing she saw was The Man With No Name kneeling down next to her. "There we go." He seemed to be smiling, but Myung wasn't sure if it was sincere or sarcastic or something else altogether different. "Looks like you survived after all." Myung slowly rolled her head to one side, detecting the vague, metallic taste of blood in her mouth. The Warhammer had more or less bellyflopped onto the ground, leaving a battered shell in its place. Blue eyes saw the gouge of scorched earth left in their wake. A short distance away laid a gaping tear in the side of the craft, revealing exposed bulkheads and a metal skeleton now twisted and contorted. Soldiers were busy dragging, carrying or helping survivors make their way outside. Any medics still with their wits about them were frantically scrambling to turn the area around the Warhammer into yet another triage. Myung noted with a sinking twist in her stomach that only the living were being taken out from the belly of the transport vessel. She lifted her gaze back up to The Man With No Name. "You?" she asked, licking her dry lips. She wanted to ask if he'd been the one to carry her out, but her voice felt cracked. Unable to get beyond that first word. He nodded slightly, more engrossed in watching the wounded being gently placed on the grass around them. "We got lucky in the cargo hold. You've got just cuts and bruises, maybe a mild concussion." From the looks of things, he'd escaped completely unscathed. Was that even humanly possible? With a great deal of effort, Myung pushed herself up into a sitting position. And then she realized that they weren't under attack. It was only the mangled Warhammer and those still alive. For better or for worse, the demons had left them alone after the crash. The Man With No Name read the brief expression of relief on her face. "It looks like they all left to regroup with the rest of the Shadow Army," he said. "They've left us alone...for now, anyway." Abruptly Uranus and Neptune emerged from the shadows within the Warhammer, each sailor soldier helping out another wounded man. Still unsure of what to think, and entranced by watching the other- -and noticeably older--Senshi, Myung said nothing as they laid the bleeding soldiers down on the ground. "Ara, someone's finally awake," Neptune remarked, her eyes darting to Myung's direction. Myung felt her cheeks grow warm and flushed. She wasn't sure if they'd just poked fun at her age or her recovery time--or if it was just a general remark with nothing lurking behind it. But the usual politics of the Venusian court didn't apply here. This was a wholly different situation, and at that one she didn't even know if she was fully prepared for. War wasn't her forte. And yet, she was discovering just how easily she was adapting to being a sailor soldier. Was it like this for every Senshi? That was but one of the countless questions she wanted to ask of her newfound comrades. Neptune and Uranus joined up with Myung. "You're Sailor Senshi like me," Myung said quietly, trying to get on her feet as quickly as possible. She reeled slightly from the blood rush to her head. "What planets are you from?" Uranus stiffened, suddenly defensive. "We're among the outer ring of planets," Neptune answered. "For now that's all you need to know. Our lives outside these uniforms are somewhat...complicated." She chose that last word carefully; if the blonde girl was smart enough, she'd read between the lines and not press the issue. "I know what that's like," Myung agreed, her eyes reflecting the comprehension. She was about a head shorter than both Uranus and Neptune--and The Man With No Name too. It was a little intimidating being around the three of them. She mentally steeled herself, and pressed on. "How long have you known you were--" "I should get back to helping carry the wounded out," Uranus said abruptly, turning to leave. "Excuse me." "I'll join you," The Man With No Name added, following suit. Myung shut her mouth, not sure what to say to that. "She means well," Neptune said, watching Uranus disappear back into the Warhammer. "But we aren't exactly in a place where sitting down to talk over tea is an option." "What were you doing on the Warhammer?" Myung asked. Why had these other Senshi only decided to reveal themselves now? Why not right before the battle in Camelot? They could have seriously used the additional magik. Neptune sighed deeply, not exactly liking the answer she knew she had to give. Mainly because of the reaction and suspicions she knew it would garner. They didn't have time to waste on such things. "We needed a ride out. Yours proved the most convenient." "Myung!" The two turned their heads in unison as a loud shout echoed across the Warhammer's debris field. There was Magellan, stumbling towards them somewhat clumsily, but as best as he could. Myung broke apart from Neptune and stumbled over to meet him. They swept each other up in a shower of relieved kisses, before she led him to meet Neptune. Magellan's eyes widened as he saw her sailor battle fuku. "There's more of you?" he exclaimed. Surprise died quickly, reborn as deep relief. "It's good to see you. I'm Magellan Endymion, lord of Vlatmere." Neptune didn't say she already knew that. Magellan continued, "We could use your help, Sailor?" "Neptune," she answered. Magellan nodded and smiled. "Sailor Neptune, welcome to Earth. I wish it could have been under different circumstances, but it's good to see you here. How'd you get to the Warhammer so quickly?" Neptune had no intention of answering. Best to remain ambiguous and let assumptions do the rest of the talking. Magellan seemed relieved enough to not really care until much later, once this was far behind them. However, she hadn't quite counted on Myung's blunt honesty. "They were on the Warhammer with us." Neptune's eyes narrowed slightly, catching the mild defiance in Myung's own blue eyes. The Venusian princess evidently wanted all the cards laid out on the table, and was perhaps still over- excited about seeing other Senshi, that she hadn't quite thought through the matter. Magellan's smile faded, replaced with suspicion. "What?" The awkward pause between them all was broken as Frederic jogged around the Warhammer, his arms loaded with armour and weaponry. "Magellan, wait up, dammit!" he huffed. The load in his arms was promptly dropped as he saw Sailor Uranus emerge from the hole in the craft, helping set a limping soldier down on the ground. Noting the growing crowd, she rejoined with her lover. Frederic looked from one Outer to the next. "There's more of you?" "Magellan already said that," Myung replied almost breathlessly. Uranus said nothing as she discreetly clasped hands with Neptune. "Apparently they've been with us since we left Camelot," Magellan said, keeping his voice calm. But the icy tone could easily be heard. "Well, you could have told us," Frederic grumbled. "We have our own mission to complete, and our own way of doing things," Uranus answered in a stoic voice. "Does that include trying to kill us all on the Warhammer?" Myung winced as she heard that. "Frederic, cool it," Magellan said, trying to play diplomat. He may not be implicitly trusting them at the moment, but the last thing he wanted were other Senshi against them. Mistress 9 was bad enough without the extra help. "We don't know they caused it to crash." Frederic crossed his arms over his chest, and scowled at Uranus and Neptune. "Oooh, but I'm more than willing to take a bet they did. You weren't listening to Myung's headset, Magellan; I was." "I believe you have me to thank for that more than anyone else," The Man With No Name countered, making his appearance known as he sauntered out from the broken remains of the hull. Over his shoulders was an unconscious soldier. He set the moaning man down and walked over to the others. Unflinchingly he said, "You seek someone to blame, then look to me." Frederic growled, bristling. Magellan only shook his head, too tired and too strung out to really care. Things were happening too fast, revelations coming too quickly after each other. "And you are?" And then they saw Sailor Pluto standing beside Uranus. How or when she'd arrived, no one was certain. Perhaps The Man With No Name knew, given the curious smile on his face, but he wasn't about to tell. Myung could automatically tell who this sailor soldier was by the key-shaped staff alone. She had come across obscure references to that item during the Datadive, and the identity of its owner. "Sailor Pluto?" she asked. Pluto nodded her head. Magellan's eyes fixated on her. "Pluto? The guardian of time?" "If you're hoping for me to look into the future and tell you what to do next, I regret to say I can't do that," Pluto said, knowing that glimmer in his eyes. "Can't or won't?" Frederic inquired. Pluto shook her head, mourning the past for what it had already become. "I don't have the ability," she confessed. "Believe me, if I could see clearly into the future, I would have stopped this entire war from happening." There was an oppressive silence. "Do we at least win?" Myung asked, not about to lose any last shreds of hope. They couldn't give up the fight, not until the last of them had fallen to Mistress 9. But that might come sooner than expected, at the rate things were going. Pluto hesitated and then lied. "I don't know." For now it was best to remain ambiguous about the future, and see how things played out from here. If no paradox had destroyed time already, it meant they won the Messiah Wars. But a lot could easily happen between victory and their present situation. Once more she forced back a shiver when thinking of the bloodshed that might continue. The lives lost again. "If we're all finished with the introductions," The Man With No Name said. "We should leave this place as soon as possible. I doubt the demons will be gone for very long. And I'm not about to sit idly by and become a potential entree." Frederic thumbed in the stranger's direction. "So just who is he again?" "We're not sure," Pluto answered. "He doesn't even know, but it would appear he's going to play a pivotal role in the Messiah Wars." Magellan kept his poker face, but his mental alarms had just gone off. This was the first time he'd heard the battles called 'Messiah Wars'. He could only guess what that meant. "What aren't you telling us?" he asked evenly. "Whatever they don't want to tell you," The Man With No Name replied before any of the Senshi could open their mouths. He seemed to be growing impatient with them. "Look, if they want to tell you everything, they will--but now is not the time nor place." Frederic clenched a fist and took an angered step towards The Man With No Name. "Don't tempt me to--" Magellan placed a restraining hand in front of Frederic. "He's right: now is not the time for this. The Shadow Army is gone, but guaranteed they'll be back. I'd prefer none of us be around for that--no matter how dubious they seem." He shot a look at the trio of Outer Senshi. His gaze softened as he turned to Myung. "Do you know the status of my men?" Meekly she shook her head. Although he would have preferred to consult with someone else, he then cast his eyes to the Outers. They had been taking wounded out from the Warhammer, so odds were they had a good grasp of the conditions. "Most of the critically wounded in there died in the crash," Neptune reported. Uranus added, "A lot more are banged up even worse than before, and a number of soldiers who were intact now aren't." "How many survivors in total?" Magellan asked. "Roughly a hundred," Pluto answered. "Probably less." Magellan exhaled deeply as he heard, too drained in every sense of the word to feel the full impact of the death toll. But that still didn't mean he wasn't left reeling. Eyes closed. Palms pressed against his temples. He had to think of a way out of this. There had to be a way out of this. Something had to be done, but what? "This just keeps getting better and better," Frederic muttered darkly. Too much coming at them all at once, too little time to absorb it all and think. Magellan knew they couldn't afford to stand around talking and comparing notes. Myung pressed herself against Magellan's body, trying to find comfort in the warmth of his skin. Anything to escape the stress and despair of this war. "Magellan," she whispered quietly, looking to him for ideas she could no longer find herself. "What do we do now?" "We go to Elfhame," The Name With No Name abruptly stated, making his voice loud enough for the others to hear. He wasn't facing the crowd, but staring out at the distant horizon. Towards his stated destination. Magellan seemed skeptical, and with good cause given the reputation the Elven race had. "Elfhame?" "No, he's right," Frederic admitted grudgingly, working out the navigation in his mind. "On the Warhammer, we could just zip over the terrain in a straight line. Now that we're on foot, we won't make progress that easily--especially with all the wounded." He grimaced. "The fastest way to Vlatmere is through Elfhame. Our kingdom lies just on the other side, with only one other province separating Vlatmere from the mountain ranges. But to get there, we have to cross through Elven territory." Myung saw the apprehension on their faces. But admittedly she knew nothing about this part of Earth, and its various boundaries. "What's wrong with Elfhame?" "We go through Elfhame and there may not be anyone left alive to make it back to Vlatmere," Frederic said. "The Elven race kills any human on sight who violates their boundaries." He exhaled, laughing and groaning all at once. "Shit, it's like someone seriously wants us to die." "Strange times make for strange alliances," The Man With No Name said, glancing back at the group. Stay here and be killed. Or journey to Elfhame and risk getting killed there. But there might be a third option hiding, as The Man With No Name intimated. Magellan's ocean blue eyes cast a sideways glance at the three Outers, but the trio of Senshi were busy quietly discussing something amongst their own ranks. It all came down to Magellan's order. He knew he had to make an executive decision, even if he would have rather been pleasantly unconscious instead. "If we stay out here, the demons will be back for us," he said finally. "I'm not about to let my men get slaughtered if there's a chance to gain passage through the Arana forests. We have to get to Vlatmere; our best line of defense is there, as well as the supplies necessary to tend to the injured." Magellan turned to his friend and fellow soldier. "Frederic, I'm putting you in charge of the procession. Get everyone mobile, even if they have to hobble or get carried by someone else. Keep everyone moving as briskly as possible and make sure no one lags behind." Frederic nodded. "I'll see if I can get the communications relay working too," he added, tossing Excalibur over to Magellan. "With any luck I can contact the battle skimmer that escaped from Camelot, and have it meet us on the other side of Elfhame. Saves us the extra mileage." "Good idea." That alone gave Magellan reason to smile as he flex his hand, and abruptly realized he was wearing the Aroth armour. The plates now changed, effortlessly fusing with his uniform and then morphing--though not to wholly cover his body any longer. As if sensing no eminent danger, it merely moulded itself into arm guards, a breastplate and shin guards. The broken sword of Excalibur was again sheathed upon his back. "And what are you going to do?" Sailor Pluto asked. Magellan's eyes scanned the distant green realm rising out from the horizon line. "I get to go ahead of you and try to talk the Elves into granting us safe passage." "I'll go with you," Myung said immediately, squeezing his hand. The look in her eyes showed her fear--not for herself, but for Magellan walking into yet another dangerous situation. They had barely survived the Camelot War; who was to say Elfhame wouldn't be worse? Right now what mattered was being with him. It was selfish, she knew, but it was what she wanted. She still had his silver ring and the Star Sapphire held within it. While the hostile world made it difficult to wear the ring upon her finger without being damaged, it remained hanging beneath her robes by a small chain. A strange thought came to the back of her mind, and Myung briefly wondered where the ring had disappeared to when she had transformed into Sailor Venus. Magellan smiled warmly, and squeezed Myung's hand back. "I was hoping you'd say that," he confessed in a relieved and romantic whisper. "I'll tag along," The Man With No Name added. "These Elven creatures make me curious." Magellan and Myung's mutual smiles faded a little. So much for having some quiet time together during the aftermath. But if by some miracle the could proceed through Elfhame, maybe they would still have a chance to get away from everyone else. "What about you three?" Myung asked. Uranus and Neptune turned to Pluto for the final verdict. She answered for all three of them. "We'll stay here. It's probably better to leave the wounded with a little protection." It was understandable. In fact, it was perhaps the most sensible option. While Myung wanted the chance to talk with them and learn more about the Sailor Senshi, that would have to wait. If they were granted access into Elfhame, maybe then she could talk with the others. Magellan gently nudged her back into the present. "We should be going," he said. She nodded and wrapped her arm around his. The Man With No Name followed behind, as the would-be ambassadors fatefully began the long walk to Elfhame. For three and a half hours, the trio of emissaries walked towards the darkened horizon that was Elfhame. The sun was fast in setting, the skies now stippled with clouds that looked as if they were on fire. Red, orange and yellow collided with the remaining fragments of blue in the heavens above, painting for them a breath- stealing landscape. If only they were not so desperate, they would have enjoyed this gift so much more. The appreciation Myung and Magellan had for it was muted by the pressing urgency of their task, and the weariness of their bodies. They kept the same pace, walking hand in hand for as long as they could before their restlessness had them walk side by side. The Man With No Name had not spoken since their journey began. He kept to himself, staying always ten to fifteen steps behind them. Always looking around. Always studying the new faces of the land presented to them. The ground was starting to ascend and become more rocky. The mountain range dominated by lush and immense forests was now claiming much of their vision, towering up and daring them to venture forth to discover its secrets. A long time ago, this area used to be the grandiose Arana Bay with dozens of small forest-covered islands. Magellan had heard children's stories of how the forests on the islands yearned to join with the forest on the mainland, where the fresh water from the mountains was carried into the bay. Time and magik wove their worlds together. The isles of Arana became a single, immense forest realm. One the Elven race was already settling into and using isolate themselves from the rest of the world. Magellan's own grandfather could recall stories from his own grandfather about witnessing the transformation of the forest. So much time had passed since Elfhame first came to be. And now after centuries of silence, a common threat just might force them to fight side by side. He could only hope the ruler of Elfhame saw things that way. But he had to confess to both himself and Myung that he knew nothing of what to expect. Contact with the Elven race was few and far between. Any stragglers who ventured inside never returned, always presumed dead. The haunting whistle of a melody reached their ears. The Man With No Name was creating a song as he walked. This entire ordeal, if not this entire war, seemed to be more of a game for him. A game of discovery. Everything of beauty and fear was new and had to be experienced. Magellan quietly wondered if The Man With No Name was giving him and Myung a chance to have some time alone. If that was the case, he was grateful for the gesture. More often than not, he completely forgot of their extra member until caught sight of the stranger in black somewhere behind them. The closer they drew to Elfhame's borders, the more anxious he became. But Myung, who'd only heard of the stories in the past few hours, was more agitated than he was. Magellan had been given the luxury of growing up and knowing the Elven race was more docile than their reputation; they were dangerous only when infringed upon, when their seclusion was threatened. The desire to take her mind off their impending destination became too much. Even Magellan could not soothe her with a touch or a loving whisper. She slowed her pace and looked back at the Man With No Name. The Man With No Name was still taking his time. He didn't even notice Myung watching him until he nearly stumbled into her. "You've slowed down," he observed, adjusting his pace accordingly. But he didn't withdraw to a farther distance as before. "I know a little about the other Senshi," Myung said, trying to sound more sincere than frightened. She highly doubted her abilities to help defend Magellan against a forest teeming with Elves. Talk would be a welcomed distraction. "But what about you?" "My story's already been told," The Man With No Name replied leisurely, his hands resting in the pockets of his black redingote. The shades were still masking his clouded eyes. "And the book which tells my story has been lost. I'm here because of a mission I cannot name, and that would seem to coincide with whatever you all are doing." "Sailor Pluto called this the Messiah Wars," Magellan spoke up. "Do you know what she meant?" A thin smile pulled at the corners of the man's face. "Ara, trying to get answers from a different source, are we? Fortunately for you, I have the time and my loyalties are not strictly to her. "The Messiah Wars is the official title of the conflict we are now in. From what I've gathered from the three Senshi of the outer planets, the outcome of this war will decide who lives and who dies in the Solis System. If you think this war was just between Arthur and Morgana, you're wrong. It would seem to encompass a lot more." "What is the goal?" Magellan asked, pressing for as many answers as he could glean from this source. "What do both sides hope to accomplish with the Messiah Wars?" Wars were always for something. A cause. An item. A person. What was this war all about? The Man With No Name chuckled to himself. "A grail." He saw the confused looks on Myung and Magellan's faces, and then continued. "A chalice that was once guarded over by the Ancients before their deaths, the Grail holds an awesome amount of untapped magik. Sailor Pluto has said that only two souls are powerful enough to properly harness the Grail's magik. Whichever one finds it first will be granted the power to either mend or shatter this world and everything in it." "The messiahs," Myung said quickly as the epiphany came. "That's why she called it the Messiah Wars. There are two potential messiahs who can claim the Grail. One to save the world--" "And the other to destroy it," Magellan finished grimly. "Well, I think it's safe to say that Mistress Nine neatly fits the latter role." The Man With No Name interjected, "Call her the Dark Messiah." Magellan nodded in compliance. It was chilling to think that someone as already powerful as her could achieve even more power. If she found this Grail, then there was no hope left for the future. But there had been two messiahs spoken of. "If Mistress Nine is the Messiah of Darkness," Myung said. "Then who's the Messiah of Light?" "That," The Man With No Name stated. "is what Pluto and her friends are trying to find out. The Dark Messiah is already looking for the Grail. If we want to withstand the coming apocalypse, we'd better have found our own messiah by then." Magellan nodded emphatically. Now they had a new card to lay on the proverbial table. A champion of light who evidently had the magik to rival Mistress 9's. If they could find whomever she was and then reach the Grail first, they could win this war. There was still hope after all. "Where do you fit into all this?" Myung asked of The Man With No Name. He shrugged as if it didn't really matter to him. It probably didn't either. "Don't know. The more I interact, the more my task and role in all this becomes clearer. I'm still a newborn without a name. We'll see what happens when I grow up." "You've been leading us to Elfhame," Magellan said, keeping his eyes ahead. He could see the trees of the forest not too far away. He could see the leaves rustling in the winds. There was no turning back now. "Why?" The Man With No Name's response was cryptic. "We'll find out when we get there." Droplets of splashing water echoed across the forests of Arana. In the shade of the towering clusters of trees, hidden by the ever-present tints of green leaves and moss which seemed to cling to most things and drape off everything else, Serenity played. Her naked form danced as she moved through the pool, swimming with the natural grace bestowed upon a dolphin. Her laughter seemed to make the air itself shimmer. Pockets of light filtering down through the dense canopy of leaves overhead sparked with magik, feeding upon the innocence and joy she was experiencing. The freshwater spring was surrounded by a ring of trees, their twisted skeins of roots forming the edge of a pool where the water was crystalline, pure and blue. Even at its deepest points, one could still see the nymphs swimming though their forms were blurred and darkened. Her long blonde hair was undone, no longer in its traditional pair of ponytails. Damp, golden tresses clung to her back, and surged whenever she was underwater. Trying to wrap around her body like a second skin, a guardian. Alabaster skin glistened as the water ran down her body, caressing her with a playful, cool touch. She barely found the need to tread water, possessing an almost inhuman buoyancy that allowed her to move as she pleased. How quickly she was learning the ways of magik. Even if she wasn't fully aware of what she was being quietly taught. None of the Elven could be her mentor; the magik itself was her teacher, and she its apprentice. She learned what it desired to teach, discovered the secrets it wanted to reveal. She was pure enchantment. And as he quietly watched her frolic amongst the waves, Kakkyou could not doubt that he was fully and willingly under her spell. He stayed in the shadows, though she knew he was there watching her. Watching over her. Her clothes were neatly folded and draped over a tangle of roots next to him. Kakkyou leaned his back against the trunk of a tree, and rested an arm upon one of his propped-up knees. Winds tranquil and majestic blew past him. Played with the ends of his silver hair. Dragon green eyes continued to watch her. Abruptly Serenity burst forth from beneath the surface of the pool, sending up cascades of water around her. Her eyes were closed, hands at her sides, face tilted up to the heavens above. She seemed to hover there a few seconds longer than possible before descending back into the spring. Dozens of smaller splashes went off around her as the water nymphs skipped across the pool's surface and weaved their flights around her form. Swimming around her kicking legs. Resting upon her back or shoulders. Kissing the same skies that she kissed. Kakkyou dared to defy her enchantment and looked away. The tear-shaped pendant he had given her caught his eyes. Opaque Lapis Lazuli that would only respond to her magik and caress. The gemstone rested there atop her pile of clothes, so close. A part of him wanted to strip down and join her in swimming, but he knew of his promise. And the Elven were creatures of honour who lived by their oaths. Soon enough they would be wed and could at last consummate their love. Trace echoes of the scent of death returned to haunt him. But now he found it easier to forget, to leave the worry behind and focus upon what he had now. Serenity twisted amidst the water, laughing and giggling as she engaged in a waterfight with a number of the nymphs. The water-born fairies took to the challenge, and soon enough none of them could attest to being even remotely dry. Kakkyou laughed as Serenity tried to dive out of the way of the growing tidal wave a quartet of nymphs had pushed and sent roaring her way. She didn't succeed, not that she felt the need to. The peace of this quiet time was disrupted by the flapping of wings. Kakkyou turned his head and saw one of the forest messengers making its way towards him. The silver owl alighted his outstretched arm, its tiny claws digging into his skin. He was used to the sensation--and besides, the Elven had leathery skin to begin with. Their bodies were not as fragile as that of a human. The owl discreetly hooted its missive. Kakkyou's smile faded quickly as he listened. "Humans at the edge of Elfhame?" he said, making sure he'd heard correctly. The owl hooted an affirmative. "And they want to see me?" Again an affirmative. Dragon green eyes turned back to Serenity once more. She looked so happy where she was, playing with the water nymphs. It felt wrong to disturb her by involving her in this. The last thing he wanted was to bring tears to those orbs of crystal blue. Kakkyou turned back to the silver owl. "Tell my sentries I'll be there shortly. They're not to do anything until I arrive--and that includes letting these people into the forest." The owl nodded before taking off. Kakkyou rose from his place in the quiet shadows with a stealth he'd learned to make use of since he was a child. Something that always proved helpful for whenever he'd wanted to escape the world of the Elfhame courts when he was younger. Even now it still proved invaluable an ability. He bent his legs slightly and effortlessly kicked off the ground, his body silently soaring through the air and pushing off the various trees around him. The moment he was gone, Serenity sensed it. She turned her head and strained to find him. But all that she could find was a shaded part of the forest where her dry clothes rested. It was not uncommon for Kakkyou to disappear; being the ruler of Elfhame meant he had responsibilities. But in his wake, Serenity detected something. The winds of magik were whispering to her. And they were telling her that she had to leave the water and follow after him. She did not understand how, or tried to understand why, but in some way the future depended on it. Making a quick apology to the water nymphs, and a promise that she would return as soon as she possibly could, Serenity left the spring and dried herself. Her clothes were gathered up and hastily placed over her body. She took to the air, rebounding off the trees as Kakkyou had, letting the magik tell her where to go. She could not sit back and let this pass her by, not when the magik was so adamant about what she had to do. The magik had never failed her. And she loved Kakkyou. The last thing she wanted to see was harm coming to him, or to this beautiful place. Magellan anxiously looked around the trees. Everything here was a dazzling melange of green and brown. Trees of all shapes and sizes--though most of them here on the outskirts were still dauntingly immense--loomed around them. The land danced up and down in uneven and unpredictable ways, tangles of roots below and labyrinths of branches and leaves above. Dusk was setting in, and out here on the fringe of the Arana forest, the treetops were bathed in a haunting scarlet tint. The tales of this sanctuary did not do it justice. This realm had to be experienced. However, the pleasures he would have otherwise taken in being here were quelled significantly by the Elven guards not so casually watching them. Most were crouched low on branches above their heads. A few were milling around on the ground, leaning against trunks or sitting on a large rock. The sentries remained quiet, eyes always focused on the "intruders." While the term 'intruders' brought with it a rather negative connotation Magellan hoped to avoid, he could not deny that was what he, Myung and The Man With No Name were. This was not their domain and they were uninvited. Yet this had to be done. Magellan silently hoped that Frederic was leading the wounded here, at worst an hour or two behind. The Aroth Armour had instinctively changed and become a full body armour now. It awaited his command to begin combat. Magellan crushed the urge to lash out as vehemently as he could. Fear was not an option here. Neither was failure. Myung was keeping close to him, her eyes attentive and always scanning the area. She had transformed into Sailor Venus, as a matter of safety and in the hopes that the Elven might somehow recognize her fuku. On the other hand, The Man With No Name didn't exhibit any signs of tension. If anything he seemed to laugh at them. He strolled in between the trees as if on an evening walk. While he said nothing to the Elven guards, his smile said more than enough. What made Magellan edgy was the way that even the Elves seemed to grow jittery whenever The Man With No Name got close to them. He knew the Elven race was more sensitive to magik than the average human. What were they detecting in the nameless stranger? There was a loud hoot from a silver owl perched near Myung. With a fury of silver wings it took flight and soared across the area before going out into the fields located at the edge of the forest. In its wake appeared the lord of Elfhame. He fell from the sky, landing upon the ground without so much as a sound. His knees bent slightly from the impact, his head bowed. The guards around him immediately knelt in homage. Myung glanced over at Magellan; she was wondering if they should do the same. Magellan nodded and took the lead, getting down on one knee. Myung mimicked his actions. This was not the time to inadvertently appear rude. Kakkyou slowly, regally drew himself back up to his full height. He lifted his head, orbs of creamy jade staring out at the uninvited guests before him. "My messenger tells me you desired council with me," he said. Magellan stood up and opened his mouth to respond, but Kakkyou quickly added, "You certainly do have the nerve to come into my forest and then demand to see me. You're either incredibly brave and stupid, or horribly suicidal." "My lord," Magellan said hastily. "If this wasn't so urgent, believe me I would not have intruded." But Kakkyou did not appear to be listening. He carefully stalked around Magellan. Taking slow, deliberate steps. Probing with his eyes. Magellan abruptly felt an odd sensation creep down his spine; the Aroth armour was reacting to something. "You reek of blood," Kakkyou stated coldly. "Is that your intent, to bring war to Elfhame? Do you seek my surrender?" "No!" Magellan protested, forcing back the anger and indignation. This was becoming an inquisition. He couldn't afford to be branded for something he'd never done, but he also couldn't afford to offend the Elven. "Sir, we came from Camelot--" "I hold no loyalties to Camelot," Kakkyou growled, his eyes narrowing. "If you think that name means anything here, then you're dead wrong." Magellan clenched his jaw and then drew out the broken blade of Excalibur. It was a weapon he knew even the Elven race recognized. Kakkyou stiffened upon seeing the sword and said nothing about it. Magellan dropped the sword, letting the broken end of the blade sink into the damp earth beneath their feet. He answered, "There is no Camelot anymore. It was destroyed not six hours ago." While he tried to hide it in his face, something flickered in Kakkyou's eyes. Surprise. Bewilderment. And fear. He exchanged a glance with one of his sentries. "I am the leader of the survivors who made it out alive," Magellan continued, seizing the silence while the opportunity was there. "We need to get to my castle in Vlatmere to tend to our wounded--" "And you need passage through Elfhame," Kakkyou finished evenly. He cast his eyes upon the Aroth Armour once more. "What were you fighting? Yourselves, as is typical of your breed?" Myung abruptly stepped forward. "Yes and no. Sir, I'm not of this planet, but I have heard of the Elven's ability to detect the scents of any magik. Surely you can smell the blood of the demons we were fighting." One of Kakkyou's eyebrows went up. His gaze went to Myung, taking the pressure off Magellan. "And if you are the survivors, I'd say you lost." "Only the battle," Myung countered. It was strange, but now in her fuku she felt an enhanced calm about the situation. She could almost feel the magik of the Senshi of Venus coursing through her veins. "But we still have a chance to win the war." "If I help you," Kakkyou added. He smirked and shook his head. "I must confess you're not what I was expecting. Humans are not the type to engage in magik; if they do, it's of a tainted mix. But you...both of you are radiating a power as pure as what lies in Elfhame woods." Dragon green eyes focused on Magellan. "Where did you get that armour?" "A mage gave it to me," Magellan answered, relieved that it was the whole truth--whether or not the Elven lord believed it. "He called it--" "The Armour of Aroth," Kakkyou cut in yet again. But this time there wasn't the scorn in his voice. Now there was a definite caution. "So they found a keeper for it after all. That's a dangerous toy you're wearing. You sure you can handle it?" Magellan bristled at the personal attack. "I've already fought in it once," he answered, the forced pleasantness in his voice dying. He held out an arm, and let the metal suddenly shape itself into a sword blade. The effort made Kakkyou reveal a puzzling smile. Suddenly Magellan became acutely aware of movement in his peripherals. He whirled, forgoing the armour and unleashing a single golden rose across the area. The blossom shot through the air, its stem impaling itself into the wood of a tree. The Elven sentry who had been working to create a small attack spell in his palm ceased the effort. Magellan slowly turned back to Kakkyou. "That had better have been a test." Kakkyou nodded. "And again you surprise me. Not one but two magiks at your disposal." Evidently if he was tolerating them, testing them, it meant he was at the very least considering them. Perhaps then he would consider their request. Kakkyou moved behind them, both Magellan and Myung standing where they were. He leaned in closer to Myung. Smelled the fragrance of her hair. Flicked a fingertip at the edge of her fuku. "Your scent is not of Earth," he affirmed. "This magik is something I've never seen before." That said, he left her alone. Kakkyou's eyes came to rest upon the one person who regarded this confrontation like a theatre show. The Man With No Name was grinning, though he held back his laughter. Remained as relaxed as ever with his arms crossed over his chest. He tilted his head down, the shades sliding down the bridge of his nose. "And who would you be?" Kakkyou asked. "I don't have a name," The Man With No Name answered. "But you have magik." Kakkyou paused and cocked his head to one side, feeling the tangible aura of power from the stranger. "A dangerous magik." Magellan and Myung exchanged nervous glances. The Man With No Name showed no ill will towards the statement. Nor did he seem to take it as a compliment. It was who he was, and there could be no changing that. Who was he to argue with his own essence? "Magik unnamed is always dangerous," he stated. "It means you can never know what to expect, or how to control it." Kakkyou sagely nodded. So far this trio of strangers had piqued his highest interests and darkest fears. They brought with them the scent of death he'd picked out from the winds hours ago. They had come from Camelot, in whose direction this scent of death had originated. And now to hear that Camelot was no more. They were daring enough to risk death and come to Elfhame. They were that desperate for help. Kakkyou inwardly feared the repercussions for himself, his Elven kin, and his bride-to-be. But he could not deny them the chance to make a request. Not after what he'd seen in each of them. Magiks this different and this powerful rarely congregated together. Something was happening; it was in Elfhame's best interests he find out what. "Make your request," he said to Magellan. Magellan steeled himself for more words, hoping that this time he wouldn't be interrupted so often as before. "Milord, a ship containing the survivors from Camelot crashed not too far from here. The fastest way we can get home is through Elfhame." He took a deep breath and knelt down. This was it. "I ask that you grant my men and I safe passage through your kingdom." The Elven lord let out a bark of incredulous laughter. "You came here to ask me THAT?" He shook his head. "If it were just you three, I would have considered it. But to have a legion of people inside a place that has not seen humans for centuries--" "We don't have any choice!" Magellan countered sharply, letting his voice rise. They were beyond desperate. There could be no hiding that fact. "Look, the demons who destroyed Camelot are going to be coming after us next. I have a group of wounded soldiers making their way here as we speak, because it's the only safe place left for us to go. And I am not about to stand idly by and let those demons slaughter my men. You may be Elven, but you still know what honour and duty mean." That struck a nerve in Kakkyou. "So I should risk the lives of my own people too?" he hissed angrily. "Let them possibly get killed just because of your men?" Jade eyes narrowed sharply. "Don't you ever lecture me about duty." Magellan was ready to snap. His body was exhausted. His patience at its end. But then unexpectedly The Man With No Name intervened. "Tell me, lord of Elfhame," he remarked casually, fascinated more in studying the leaves above him than to look at Kakkyou. "When these demons finish slaughtering the humans, what's to stop them from coming after you next?" Kakkyou didn't have an answer. His jaw tightened. Myung instantly picked up on the point. "This evil is threatening the entire planet, not just humans or Elven. Their leader, Mistress Nine, will stop at nothing short of total domination. She won't hesitate to kill you if you resist." Her blue eyes were pleading with him to understand. "United we can stand, and divided we can only fall. If you help us now, we will fight alongside you if the war comes to Elfhame." "And if I refuse?" Kakkyou asked. "Then we won't fight at all," Magellan answered solemnly. "Because we'll be dead, and you'll see for yourself just how terrifying Mistress Nine is." Kakkyou tried his best to remain stoic; already he could see the panic creeping into the usually stern expressions of his sentries. "You speak of this Mistress Nine woman like she's a terror. But you humans have tainted magik at best; who's say we Elvens won't prove a better match against her." Magellan met the Elven lord's gaze, and then redirected it to the broken form of Excalibur. "That sword was pure magik, wielded by a man who knew how to use pure magik. Mistress Nine cut him down like he was nothing more than a paper doll." What he had to say next chilled him, and he didn't want to say something like this in front of Myung...but it had to be said. "She ripped Arthur's face off with her own hands, and then licked his blood from her fingers. She was giggling happily over what she had done. Tell me what part of that isn't terrifying?" Kakkyou himself felt a cold shiver travel down his spine when he heard the gruesome fate of the Pendragon. And now he found his resolve to turn them away wavering. On the one hand he had his own people to worry about. The future was one thing. The general public's reaction to seeing a human procession through the forest was another. He had been able to convince them about Serenity, and only then because of her magik. This would not be as simple a task. However these three were also speaking the truth. They were fighting desperately for their very lives--and each of them possessed an impressive magik that could very well make them rivals of any Elfhame sorcerer. If the enemy they were facing could take them all on, then it was possible Elfhame would not be able to stand by itself. Lives hung in the balance. A future was at stake. He had to find a solution in only a few heartbeats of time. And then he heard her voice. "Kakkyou...." Kakkyou turned his head and saw Serenity standing there between an archway of two bowed trees. The golden blonde hair clinging to her garments and skin was still damp and dripping. She was breathless from having raced here amongst the trees. "Serenity," he said quietly. How long had she been there, listening? He risked a glance at the three intruders. Myung was regarding Serenity with some confusion, and a little bit of child-like wonder at the same time. But Magellan's eyes were wide, ocean blue orbs trembling in awe and disbelief. He looked as it he'd seen a ghost. Or a saviour. Unnoticed by everyone else in that brief interlude, The Man With No Name glanced from Magellan to Serenity. One of his eyebrows was raised, and the arms folded over his chest relaxed momentarily. For once, though no one saw it, he had been caught offguard by what he saw. "Kakkyou," she said. "Let them in." Kakkyou hesitated. "Please, don't turn them away," she insisted. Her voice remained soft, gentle. He couldn't tell if she was making a simple request or pleading on their behalf. Either way, it was a voice he could not ignore. Kakkyou's shoulders dropped, and he let out a dismissive sigh. The decision had been made. Turning to Magellan he said, "I'll keep the sentries here. When they see your men, they'll escourt them to a secluded place in the forest. You may stay overnight and leave in the morning. But understand you will be separated from almost everything else that resides here. It's for their own protection, and yours. Anyone strays from those boundaries and they will be killed, make no mistake." Myung nodded, grateful to at last be given safe haven and a chance to rest. She glanced over her shoulder to Magellan; he was still possessed, staring at Serenity. A pang of jealousy flared up and she elbowed him in the ribs. "You must be tired and hungry," Serenity said, enchanting them all with her angelic smile. "Come, let me show you where you can find rest." Kakkyou stepped aside, letting the trio follow after her. Magellan watched her lead the way in rapt attention. But even he was not watching her as closely as The Man With No Name was. "So," the stranger in black said quietly to himself. "At last they've found you...." The Messiah of Silence let the solitary beams of light trickle down from above and cast a shimmer upon the blade of her glaive. So far she had spent her time ransacking all of Morgana's secrets. But these catacombs of shadows were revealing nothing. For the time being she had given up on searching, and was allowing for a moment of reflection. Her StarChamber had been moved to a more prominent place. Namely where Morgana's throne had once resided. The curious web of darkness upon the walls behind the throne had retreated; she could no longer sense activity there. Just as well. That entity within the shadows was imprisoned. It could do nothing for her. And she doubted it would be loyal to her cause if she tried to free it. Everything was for Pharaoh 90. But to ensure its coming to this rural planet, she had to find the Grail that strange Ancient upon the moon had spoken of. Morgana's hidden realms divulged nothing. She was as ignorant as any youma or human. None of these creatures possessed knowledge of old and powerful magiks. The exception might have been that Ancient she'd fought upon the moon. However, it appeared that his purpose had only been to tell her of the Grail's existence. He didn't know where she might begin to find it. If he had, she doubted he would have told her. "Raithe," she murmured. Working for her, working against her. It made no sense. What was that man's motive? The sound of scuffling in the shadows caused Mistress 9 to turn her head. But the throne room held only her. Everything else was too frightened to come near her unless important or urgent messages warranted it. The demons had retreated from their attack on Camelot the instant they sensed a backwash of magik within their essences. Their hideous and hellish powers had been given to them by Morgana. Her death sent ripples that threatened their existence. Without her magik to sustain their diabolical forms they would once more become human or animal or even a shadowy emotion. They would be nothing. If only she had other daimon eggs, Mistress 9 silently wished. Then these pitiful creatures would find their lives completed by becoming hosts to her master's daimons. No doubt they would be much more powerful than their current guises. But in her amusement to their groveling pledges of allegiance, she had granted to allow the Shadow Army to remain the way they were. They fed off her dark magik now. She was their keeper, their master. They would prove useful enough to sniff out the planet for any clues to the Grail's whereabouts. And in dealing with the humans who still wanted to fight rather than submit to her master's will. And so she had sent the demons back out again. A number of them desired to return to that fleeing aerial transport. She permitted them the opportunity--so long as they brought to no harm to one specific individual. That strange young man who had refused to die. The one who had escaped from her. Magellan.... Mistress 9 turned her head, forgetting the internal question of how or why she seemed to intuitively know his name. A winged demon beast descended into the Shadowspell-enchanted ruins of Ilsa Esylin. Its immense, leathery wings made hollow flapping sounds. The creature alighted the floor, wings folding behind its back as it knelt before its Dark Messiah. "What have you to report?" she asked, staring at her reflection in the blade of her weapon. Beautiful death in her eyes. It growled its response. And that made Mistress 9 slowly turn her head, now paying less attention to the StarChamber and her mission. "What do you mean 'gone'?" Another growl answered her. The dead had been left behind. The living were nowhere near the remains of the Warhammer. The demon added where the scents of magik seemed to drift from. "Their footsteps lead to Elfhame?" Mistress 9 remarked, slightly intrigued. Morgana's archives had revealed a great deal about this unique race: the Elves were reputed to be a society born and bred of magik. They might prove interesting adversaries. An added bonus. The demon kneeling before her asked when they should mobilize. It was agitated. Ready to spill blood once more. Mistress 9 demurely quieted the youma by placing a finger to her lips. "Patience, my minion. We'll attack them at sunrise. Let my Magellan rest for the night and regain his strength." She giggled malevolently at the thought. "I want him in his best form when I break him." As she let herself slowly sink beneath the surface of the warm water, Myung swore she would never take bathing for granted ever again. Tides of warm steam wafted past her. Blue eyes closed in contented relaxation. If she had needed anything after surviving the horrors of the war at Camelot, this was it. This was the first chance she'd had to let the tension drain away in soothing billows of steam. To no longer be running or fighting. To be given privacy to stop and quietly sit. Blonde hair floated around her, moving and swaying to the ripples created by a group of water nymphs swimming over to investigate this newcomer. Myung's skin tingled from the warmth and curious magik flowing with the fresh water. It reminded her a little of the spa baths she'd enjoyed on Venus. Controlled splashing echoed across the otherwise quiet pool. She glanced over to Serenity, who had finished stripping down and was descending into the pool. A glimmer of blue, of lapis lazuli, dangled between Serenity's breasts. "I must confess I didn't expect to see another human here," she said to Serenity, testing the proverbial waters between them. But a conversation had to start from somewhere, else they'd be staring at each other in awkward silence. And while Myung so wanted to be away from all the other people in the world, she did not want to be left with silence and her doubts. A strange but pleasant smile crossed Serenity's face. "Not many people do. But love surpasses many barriers we'd just as soon put around it." Myung blushed at that. Did that mean Serenity and Kakkyou...? It seemed a curious thing, given how Magellan had painted a picture of animosity between Elven and human. But she knew full well that love cared not for boundaries or consequences. And Kakkyou didn't strike her as someone who would be attracted to Serenity without her possessing something else. A strange quality. Enchantment of magik. "Where are you from?" Serenity asked, giving Myung a chance to engage in more casual talk. Myung looked up to the treetops overhead, and then suddenly noticed that here the trees kept their distance from each other. They formed a border around this pool, but did not grow over it. And now she could see a midnight sky and its host of starlights. With a smile that came from the memory a princess' life she'd walked away from, Myung lifted her arm from the water and pointed to one shimmering light in the sky that was much brighter than its surrounding comrades. "There," she stated. "That light is the planet Venus." Serenity's eyes widened. "You came from one of the other worlds?" she exclaimed. The elegant mystery about her was dispelled by her child-like excitement. How many books and scrolls had she read at the library of GlenHawke about those planets and their people? Even though she had been in Elfhame for a week or two at best, it all felt so distant. Here she was content to let the days and nights pass her by in a blur of warmth found in Kakkyou's embrace. She waded through the steaming water, unable to be distracted by the flitting of the water nymphs around her. Crystal blue orbs gazed at Myung with incredibly sincerity. "Tell me, what's it like on Venus? Do they practice magik like Earthians? Where have you been? What sort of family did you live with?" To say Myung was surprised would have been an understatement. Yet there was something within Serenity's crystal blue eyes that put her at ease. To gaze at the face of one who hadn't seen the ravages of war and the hellish creatures they were all capable of becoming. But Serenity embodied innocence and purity, of childlike wonder at the simplest of things, and dreaming without letting a limitation be placed upon her. Myung realized that this was why she was fighting. What she was protecting. And it was embodied in Serenity's eyes. She suddenly understood why Kakkyou was so enchanted by this girl. Chivalry dictated that Magellan be as far away as possible while Myung and Serenity cleansed themselves in the water. With a wry smirk, he silently admitted that he wouldn't have really had a problem being there to watch Myung bathe. That blonde girl, however, was another matter. Another matter entirely.... His smile faded. Replaced with intimations as old as he was. Perhaps even older. A voice calling out to him in the darkness of childhood dreams. 'Find her.' Fog and black armour and a crystalline chamber. 'You must find her.' Two strangers cloaked in darkness. Calling to him. 'You must find the messiah.' Magellan tipped his head back, letting it rest against the knarled root of the tree behind him. There had once been a time where that dream would have meant nothing more than childish curiousity. He'd always believed that dreams were nothing more than random props, all thrown together in scattergore array for a play the mind would direct while one slept. But a vision, that was different. A vision was no mere dream. Nothing was random. A vision had a message to deliver. When you're a child, finding 'the messiah' could mean anything. But now Magellan found his memories resurfacing. They had to be questioned. An old dream about finding a messiah may have actually been a premonition. A vision of warning. To understand, one had to know why a messiah had to be found. To find a messiah, one had to know where to look. Magellan's ocean blue eyes darted back to the maze of trees on his left. Leaves and vines, foliage and moss and trees merged into an odd structure of their own choosing. Somewhere beyond them, beyond where he could see, was Myung. And Serenity. Had he found what the vision called him to search for? Had someone known about what would happen, known about the Messiah Wars that far into the past? Winds moved past him. Tickled his skin, covered with sweat and dirt. And then Magellan saw Kakkyou across from him, the Elven lord standing and leaning against the immense trunk of a tree. "On behalf of my men, I thank you for your hospitality," he said, bowing as formally as he could, given how he was sitting. Kakkyou rolled his eyes. "I doubt I would be so hospitable if she hadn't insisted. As it is, Elfhame's already up in arms about the situation. You've made handling tomorrow a very unpleasant task for me, Magellan Endymion." The Elven lord didn't sound enthused. Who would? But Magellan could also detect a sense of Kakkyou relegating himself to their uneasy truce. It wasn't exactly on the best of terms, but there was no out-and-out hostility between them. That at least gave some leeway for conversation. Magellan turned his head, eyes cast in the direction where he was sure Myung and Serenity were bathing. Even with the sunlight almost gone, the forest seemed even brighter than when it had been daytime. This place was radiating magik, basking in this warmth. "Who was that young woman?" he asked. "The one with golden hair, the one you called Serenity?" "She's my bride-to-be," Kakkyou stated in no uncertain terms. He leveled an icy stare at Magellan. "You would do well to bear that in mind should you by chance encounter her again." With a wince, Magellan suddenly realized his faux pas. "I apologize," he said, too tired to want to babble and grovel. "I wasn't looking at her like that. I didn't meant to offend you." A brief and triumphant smile flickered across Kakkyou's face. Curiousity lingered in its wake. "So I was right; the chords of a strange magik bind you and that woman in the curious uniform together." "Myung?" Magellan blushed slightly, smiling to himself as he saw her face in the shadows of his mind. Driving away the darkness of the future with her blue eyes. This entire place had such a calming effect. Was Elfhame really that detached from the troubles of the rest of the world? "She's my own bride-to-be," he said to Kakkyou. "If we make it out of this war alive, that is." With greater resolve, more for himself than any other, he added, "We will make it out of this alive. Together." Kakkyou gave a non-committal nod, if anything acknowledging the noble sentiment. "You've piqued my curiousity, Magellan Endymion--a rare thing when it comes to humans. If my Serenity holds no romantic interest for you, then why does she haunt your face?" For reasons Kakkyou did not know, Magellan suddenly laughed. It was a tired laugh, but a laugh that was still enjoying life. And the fact that he was alive. Magellan looked up to the darkened canopy of green overhead. "Underneath a different sky, I would have told you that it was for childish reasons and changed the subject." He shook his head. "But things are happening too fast now. I can't afford to take even the smallest of things for granted." "Tell me about the war in Camelot," Kakkyou said. "Tell me how Arthur died, and you survived." He motioned for Kakkyou to sit and listen. Kakkyou chose to stand, but still listened as Magellan started as far back as he could. He began with the death of his father, with the growing tensions between Morgana and Arthur. Finding Myung. The destruction of Aurora by Mistress Nine. The mage bestowing the Aroth Armour to him. The war for Camelot. Fighting Mistress 9. Escaping on the Warhammer. Crashing and coming here. Nothing was left out. If the detail could be recalled, then Magellan spoke it. He even talked about the Sailor Senshi and what appeared to be their role in the Messiah Wars. When he was at last completed the recounting, nearly an hour had passed. And Magellan's throat felt dry. But Kakkyou was not yet satisfied. "I thank you for informing me about this war," the Elven lord said. "But in your commentary, you've neglected to say anything about Serenity." Magellan nodded. His mouth parched, needed something to drink. Something registered in Kakkyou's eyes. Abruptly he moved his hands in a blur of motion and tossed something to Magellan. An apple. Magellan gratefully caught the fruit and devoured it. "It all began with what I once believed was only a dream," he explained as he swallowed the last bite of apple. "One night when I was a child, I awoke not in my bed, but in a grand chamber made of crystal. I was wearing my battle armour, and confronted by two wraiths whose faces I still don't know to this day." He exhaled deeply. Even now it continued to haunt him in the corners of his memories. "They were everywhere and nowhere all at once. I couldn't escape them. And all they ever said were these words: 'Find the messiah.' Until a few hours ago, I wouldn't have had a distant clue as to what they meant. But now...now I don't know. Lord Kakkyou, I think Serenity may be the messiah spoken of in my dreams. I think...no, I believe that she is the Messiah of Light. She is the one the Senshi are searching for, the only hope to save our world from the Dark Messiah." And there standing in the shadows of the trees, her own form blended with the darkened silhouette of their immense trunks, Setsuna listened quietly. When Magellan had finished talking, her form stepped back into the reclusive darkness and disappeared. She went away as unnoticed as she had come. Magellan looked to Kakkyou for support. Anything to validate his dreams, these prophecies. Yet Kakkyou's smile was no longer there. The Elven lord's dragon green eyes were fixated upon Magellan with a chilling, penetrating stare. "You...believe my Serenity is the Messiah?" he asked. Undercurrents of skepticism punctuated every syllable. But there was something else, something that Magellan never did recognize until the Messiah Wars had ended. Fear. And it was of losing her. Magellan nodded. "With Serenity, we have a fighting chance. I've been thinking it over. While she and the Senshi try to find this Holy Grail, my men and I can keep Mistress Nine and her demons busy." There was still hope. But Kakkyou was shaking his head. And scowling. "You honestly think you can buy them that much time, after the slaughter back in Camelot?" Kakkyou inquired darkly. "If we made it through once, then there's still a chance we can make it through a second confrontation. I'm learning how to use my roses and the armour. And if we could somehow find a way to fix Excalibur then--" "No," the Elven lord stated coldly. "You got lucky in Camelot. There was no skill involved. You probably wouldn't be here if Mistress Nine hadn't vanished--and you don't even know where she vanished to or why. Take your war more seriously, Magellan Endymion. Whatever decisions you make now will affect the lives of your men in the future. Arthur's not around to answer you, so stop asking what he would do. Make your own decisions and your own mistakes, not his." Kakkyou pushed away from the tree, his dark gaze still directed at Magellan. Silver strands of hair danced around his face. "And not in my realm either. Here you walked into battle at Camelot while protecting the Auroran prince and his crystal, knowing that if you died his newfound realm would be lost forever. Tell me how that's not reckless?" Something about those words resonated within Magellan's mind. Echoed with horrific clarity and smashing apart everything. "I will not sacrifice Serenity just because you believe her to be this messiah," Kakkyou stated. "And I will not sacrifice Elfhame just because this Mistress Nine no doubt has a grudge to settle with you. There's more to the world than what you alone see. You need to learn more about war, Endymion. At this rate you may not survive the next time." Magellan could only stare down at the ground beneath him with wide, unbelieving eyes. Those words were hitting him with a forgone subtlety. The Elven lord was right; how much of his actions had in truth been only reactions? How much thought was he putting into this war, aside from salvaging what he could in the aftermath? Where was the foresight? The midnight call of a silver owl sounded, drawing Kakkyou's attention to the trees around and beyond them. The owl in question appeared and landed upon Kakkyou's outstretched arm, quickly hooting its message. Kakkyou nodded before sending the silver owl off again. "Your soldiers have been sighted in the distance," he told Magellan. "No one is following them." Magellan nodded, still numb from shock. Kakkyou ignored his state and began to walk back to the outer rim of the forest. "It's time to greet your men, Endymion. I respect you for having come before them. That showed intelligence, courage and honour. However, I expect more of you in the future-- for your sake, and theirs. Do not disappoint any of us; in war, disappointment usually precedes death by mere minutes, if not seconds." It felt strange to look up and see no sky, no infinite darkness punctured by a vast oceans of stars. Instead all that laid above and around them a the vast canopy of green. Yet the forest of Arana possessed a hauntingly beautiful glow, enchanted light bringing this realm to life even in the darkest of nights. Haruka found it to have a rugged, natural appeal. There was a thought in the back of her mind of how this realm would have been an excellent place to train and perfect her skills. But she was no longer a part of that old life; she could never go back to it again. Everything had changed. Michiru was exhausted, curled up in her arms and no longer wanting to fight fatigue. Even their heightened abilities as Senshi had limits when it came to stamina. Haruka silently reflected that she had her training in the Uranian military to thank for being able to remain fairly awake and alert even now. At the very least, she could have the pleasure of letting Michiru fall asleep against her. It helped her believe she was still a guardian, and not some cosmic, destined soldier. To guard an entire future was at times a difficult and abstract concept to grasp. To protect the woman she loved...that was so much simpler. So much easier to touch and grasp. Right now, that's all she wanted to do. Haruka closed her eyes. Michiru had gone swimming in a freshwater pool nearby. Within minutes the water had been swarming with nymphs, who all excitedly swam alongside Michiru. Something about her set off a desire in the water fairies to bathe and play in her presence. Whether it was the Neptuni love of water or Michiru's alignment with the oceans as a Senshi, Haruka wasn't sure. But it had been a beautiful sight. Now Michiru's hair held the scent of water and magik. Lingering aromas Haruka breathed in brought back vivid memories and images of the winged nymphs darting upon the water, swimming around Michiru's body and jumping to the surface. "What is it?" purred Michiru's tired but contented voice. Haruka answered, "You smell so nice." "Ara, that's just the fragrance of the water nymphs. They confided that they had as much fun playing with me as they do with Serenity. A rarity for them." Hearing that girl's name found Haruka's eyes clouding over with tension. A reminder of why they were here on Earth. Upon their arrival to Elfhame, they had found The Man With No Name waiting for them. As always he had picked a rather unique perch upon which to watch them. High above the trees, he moved as swiftly and silently as the Elven sentries who had escourted Magellan's soldiers down a specific path within the forest. Once they were alone and away from the recovering soldiers, he spoke of the secrets he'd acquired. There was a young human girl here named Serenity. Her magik was what he had been looking for. Despite her eyes being lazily closed, Haruka could sense someone approaching from behind. There was nothing to be concerned about; she'd come to know of this one well enough over the past week. "Did you confirm it?" Haruka asked, one of her eyes opening and looking at Setsuna. Setsuna nodded as she sat down. The key-shaped staff was laid on the mossy floor beside her. "There can be no doubt. Serenity is the one we've been searching for." She'd gone ahead of the wounded procession as a precaution, and learned about Serenity. While the others were being escourted to a designated place in Elfhame, the soldier of time was already checking for confirmation. And of all the unlikely places, they'd found their messiah in the company of the Elven. But if Serenity was the most precious commodity and weapon they possessed in the Messiah Wars, then there was no better place to hide her from the forces of darkness. "We've found our Messiah of Light," Michiru sighed, her lips revealing the relief of their mission now half over. She nestled her head against Haruka's breast, on the verge of falling asleep and resting her weary soul. "But has she found herself?" Haruka murmured. Did Serenity know the true extent of her powers, and the destiny laid ahead for her? As Haruka let herself drift to sleep, she realized that they would know soon enough. More likely sooner rather than later. The Shadows were still out there, hunting for them. Magellan walked through the ranks of his slumbering troops. He vaguely wondered if he was looking at them as a king might survey his soldiers when they were about to face a losing battle. The selfish exhilaration of having faced the Dark Messiah and survived was gone. Frederic was curled up next to a wall of roots, pillowing his head on his arms as he slept on his stomach. The soldiers and survivors of Camelot were all allowed a much-needed sleep. Even the uneasiness of being in Elven territory could not keep them willingly awake. The soft moss covering this part of the forest proved to be a comfortable mattress. Their quiet slumber, interrupted by the occasional moan or snore, was soothing to listen to. A reminder that they were all still alive. He'd met them at the edge of Elfhame. If they were to feel safe, Magellan's presence had to be known. He was duty-bound to be their escourt and ensure no incident between human and Elven was triggered. But even then, he had said next to nothing in leading them through the forest to the designated place. A number of the wounded soldiers were being treated in a nearby healing spring, letting the mysterious magik within this place mend their broken bodies. Healing ampoules and poultices were placed on those with lesser injuries. Not surprisingly, those other Senshi had all but vanished the instant they discovered that Elfhame's gates were open to the procession of walking wounded. They were no doubt around here somewhere, keeping to their own ranks and quiet intimations. They weren't telling him anything. Magellan doubted if they would ever tell him anything. Was he that unimportant to these wars? Kakkyou had been right. For all Magellan did know, he didn't even know the half of it. And now Mistress 9 was probably coming for him, for them all. He'd placed them all in danger: Myung, his men, Elfhame...and Serenity. The recollection of her face made Magellan's mood all the more brooding. He couldn't afford to put her at risk, her perhaps more than anyone else. If she was the Messiah of Light, the only one capable of stopping Mistress 9, then his inexperience could cost them all. Magellan abruptly stiffened and whirled, flinging out a golden rose from his fingertips. The blossom cut through the air, letting no sound escape its flight. Without flinching, The Man With No Name caught the rose in his hand. "Impressive reflexes." He twirled the stem between his fingers before letting the flower fall to the ground. "I do so enjoy the company of a man who works hard at what he's good at." If it was a compliment, Magellan failed to receive it. "We need to talk," he stated. "Why?" "Because I know about Myung, I understand those other three Senshi a little," Magellan answered. "They may be stand-offish, but I know where they're coming from." He stepped forward, closed the gap between them. And his eyes were flickering in fear, in uncertainty. "What are you?" The Man With No Name shrugged. "Just a man, a stranger in a world that has decided to become strange." But Magellan refused to let it end there. He couldn't foolishly risk anything now. Nothing could be left to chance. He had to know if he was to protect them all. Magellan's hand grabbed hold of the stranger's coat. "Kakkyou said your magik was dangerous, because it couldn't be named," he stated. That drew a haunting smirk on the Man With No Name's face. "There will come a time when you will see my magik. When I at last truly understand who and what I am. Until then we all shall only be teased. My appetite has been whetted enough, but I know the ways of magik. I am bound to it, but it is not bound to me. When it wants to make my mission known, then it shall do so." Then he gently, firmly, took hold of Magellan's fist and forcibly removed his jacket from its grip. The Man With No Name stepped back, hands sliding into his pockets. He was appraising the Vlatmere lord. That much was evident in the way his head moved. In how something flickered in eyes hidden behind tinted lenses. "The Dark Messiah...she's not exactly a pleasant woman, is she?" The Man With No Name inquired evenly. "Not the type to enjoy a conversation when there's carnage to be had." Magellan froze. A moment later he regained the use of his voice. "You've met her." "Once. In Hakkeda, right before its untimely demise." The Man With No Name looked up to where he would have seen stars, but saw only a veil of entangled leaves. "When I saw her with that glaive, I realized that I was not meant for her. I still don't understand what that means." He turned his head. The shades were removed. And for the first time, Magellan witnessed the movement of clouds within the stranger's orbs. The Vlatmere prince involuntarily stepped back; this was something he had never seen before. Nothing could have prepared him to see such a thing. "What I do know," The Man With No Name said. "is that it is my destiny to meet the Dark Messiah one more time. When that happens, my destiny will at last be revealed. And one way or another, these Messiah Wars shall end." In a hoarse voice, Magellan found himself able to only ask, "Why are you telling me this?" He was losing the will to demand. He was realizing how little power he had in the midst of these other players of the Messiah Wars. "Because you should know what you're getting into." The Man With No Name turned and began to walk away, defying the comforting glow of the forest and merging with the shadows. "You deserve more credit than given--even by yourself, Magellan. I know not of the future...but I know you are going to be the one who helps to create it." And then The Man With No Name disappeared into darkness. Magellan was left alone, overwhelmed. Too much tension. Too many doubts. Too little sleep. The burden at last found its final momentum and crashed down upon him. Magellan collapsed to his knees, the strength within his body lost along with the lingerings of his resolve. "What the hell have I gotten myself into?" he whispered, widened eyes of ocean blue gazing vacantly to the forest roots beneath him. So much raw power and magik walking around him. How could he possibly compete? How could he protect anyone? He would come around in time, The Man With No Name silently reflected as he left Magellan alone. The prince was learning a harsh lesson, but one that was required. Life rarely played fair. He trusted in his words, that the Vlatmere lord might find some peculiar comfort and hidden strength within them. Images skirted in the edges of The Man With No Name's vision, on the corners of his mind and consciousness. And he could see armour shaped like a winged demon, and an iron dragon. Both fighting each other with ferocious rage. 'I will kill you myself....' He knew that voice. Words spoken in a situation and form not yet here. They would be given voice soon enough. In the meantime, there were memories to build in place of a blank slate of nothingness. Out of oblivion was being gathered an archive of recollections, of sights and scents, of textures and tastes. Thoughts and reflections. Curious amusements. Reasons to pause in wonder. Emotions experienced for the first time, or perhaps the second. This body and soul were such strange things, The Man With No Name decided. Warring impulses and feelings. One moment he was repulsed, then attracted, then regretting he'd ever flirted with the idea. He was drifting through existence. Nothing was binding him to this Earth. He needed an anchor. That much was certain. Yet he knew he would be unable to find it himself. The magik was telling him that much. When the time came, the anchor would find him. He just had to exercise his diabolical patience, and wait. Footsteps. The Man With No Name turned his head as he saw Serenity walk through the woods. Dozens of small faery starlights hovered around her, myriads of tiny but brilliant orbs of light acting as her escourt. Bidding the faery lights a good night, she turned her attention to the stranger in her midst. It never surprised her to find him standing there, half-hidden by the shadows. Even the Senshi of the outer planets were surprised on a fairly regular basis by his abrupt entrances and exits. Yet she could not be caught so off-guard. She was different, and he could see it through clouded blind eyes. The magik which shone around her made blackest pitch as bright as the sun itself. Her hair was dripping and damp. She had recently finished bathing. "You're not like the others, are you?" she asked. Her voice was quiet, almost quivering. Excited and scared all at once. Wanting to know yet fearing the answer he might give. The Man With No Name nodded his head, drawing closer that she might behold the clouded storm within his eyes. "We are alike in that sense, Serenity. You and I are strangers, out of place and yet a part of everything. We are orphans...powerful orphans." Her breaths were quickening. She seemed wanting to move, but her body was refusing the chance. The Man With No Name leaned forward, his lips drifting close to her cheeks before moving to the side of her face. "I would have called you Serenity regardless of whether or not Kakkyou said it," he whispered into her ear. "I can hear the winds of magik. They whisper your name wherever you go." Serenity leaned away. Confusion and caution mixed together within her crystal blue eyes. "Who are you?" "A nameless stranger. One who is searching for a messiah." He smiled as he saw her give him a quizzical look. "I doubt Myung told you this; she doesn't want to frighten you. I, however, lack the tact of nobility. The war we're fighting will grind our bones into dust unless we find the Messiah of Light. If she is the key, then I am the lock she must open. That is who I am." He moved around her, and began to depart. Serenity turned and quickly grabbed hold of his arm, with her touch gently asking him to remain. The Man With No Name obliged her without questions or grudges. "I heard what Magellan said to Kakkyou," she said quietly. Staring ahead and not at him. "What happens if that woman he called Mistress Nine finds the Grail first?" The Man With No Name's eyes narrowed. "Be somewhere else. Preferably off this planet." Serenity turned her head, catching his attention. The hand gripping his arm slowly moved upwards, tracing the folds and creases of his redingote. "And you feel nothing about this?" He shook his head. "I don't know what I feel. I'm a newborn. My world changes with each breath I take." Fingertips found skin, caressing his cheek. The gesture was far from sexual. He could feel her magik trying to probe, to feel the walls he had both built up and been born with. Something within her could not comprehend why he was this way. And then The Man With No Name saw it in her eyes. Sympathy. She pitied him. There was something he lacked within his eyes that she longed to see. And with it a gentle compassion and silent vow to try and find what was lost, and then return it to him. He had never felt this before. Never like this. The Man With No Name's arm reached up, his palm placed upon her hand. How was it possible that she could stir such uneasiness within him? Why did he feel so empty when she looked at him like that? "There you are," a foreign voice interrupted. Serenity turned, her palm slowly drifting away from his cheek. Kakkyou was leaning against one of the trees. The expression on his face showed how unimpressed he was at finding them here like this. "It's not what you think," Serenity said quickly. "I know," he answered. But the cold glare in his eyes failed to be dispelled. Serenity worriedly stepped forward in the hopes of pacifying the situation. "Then why do you look--" "He trusts you, Serenity," The Man With No Name said. "But it's me he doesn't like. Magik unnamed is the most dangerous kind of all. Isn't it?" Kakkyou growled. And when Serenity went to his side, he continued to glare at The Man With No Name. The nameless stranger, however, didn't care one way or the other. "It's late," he remarked casually as he walked off. "And you two should get some rest." "What about you?" Kakkyou inquired. The tone of his voice had yet to become friendly. "My kin won't have to worry about you straying from this area, will they?" The Man With No Name laughed upon hearing that. "I'm a good little boy, Kakkyou. But there's a mirror I wish to see before I sleep. Good evening." Kakkyou's jaw dropped. Had The Man With No Name turned, he might have found himself presented with the comical expression on the Elven lord's face. But he didn't care, preferring to disappear into the shadows and wander down the paths all nameless strangers wandered in their lives. Kakkyou held Serenity in his embrace. "You told him about the mirror?" he asked. Serenity shook her head, mouth open in confusion. "No...I didn't tell him anything about it." Somehow, that didn't surprise Kakkyou. A part of him had been expecting this. Magik unnamed was, after all, the most dangerous of sorts. Setsuna returned to stand upon the edge of heaven once more. With Haruka and Michiru quietly sleeping in each other's arms, she was left alone. The ways and magik of the Elfhame forest didn't suit her. Right now, she wanted to be away from everyone else, from the noise of Earth and its Messiah Wars. But she couldn't be alone either. That would have been even worse. And so now she found herself without a sailor battle fuku, but dressed in an Auroran gown she had once worn when she'd been called Lady Kaori. The only reminder of who she really was came in the reflection of her face in the garnet orb. She would always keep her staff and its Talisman close by. Magenta eyes closed for but a heartbeat as she regained her breath and her equilibrium. Things were moving almost too quickly for her to follow. Instead of being given the luxury of standing back to observe it all, making necessary changes where she saw them required, she was having to frantically run with everyone else and trust her instincts. It wasn't an ideal or safe method of working to shape the future. At this rate a single, simple mistake would destroy them all. Forget the Dark Messiah--her own daughter now corrupted--but the paradox of having her future undone by Mistress 9 taking over Earth would shatter the entire Solis System. "Was this what it was like for you?" she murmured quietly to the silent air around her. "Was this the burden you tried to teach me to bear?" But the only one who could answer was no more. In that brief instant before she'd disappeared from the moon and been returned to Camelot, Setsuna had seen the form of Mistress 9 appearing. A part of her had known even then that the Raithe would die upon the lunar surface. And strangely enough, that part of her grieved his death. Yet the duties of the guardian of time were not wholly entrusted to her. Her methods were not the Raithe's. In seeing how he had set the events of the future into motion, Setsuna had come to realize what ways she desired to use herself. And which ones to shun. She would not let another tragedy like Aurora happen again. Doubts returned. Haunting her. Aurora had been a necessary evil. What if such a thing were to happen again? What if it was, like Aurora, unavoidable? Could she allow the horrific destruction to continue before her magenta eyes? Setsuna tried to shake herself of the doubts. There would be time enough to question herself, her entire mission. Her body was weary and sore, fatigued to the limits, but there was still something she had to do. There was still one other soul who could be beside her, yet not be there at all. The only soul left to answer the questions she had to ask. That was why she was here. She had returned to Castle Charon. Setsuna turned and walked through the immense promenade. Her shoes echoed upon the white tiled floors, the sounds swallowed up for the most part by the idly churning water in the nearby fountains. She looked up to the skeletal frame reaching high above her head, gazed at the invisible barrier which granted her a breath-taking view of the stars. The lights were only at half their usual intensity. She wondered if Charon dimmed them when no one was around, just for the sake of saving energy. One of the many questions she had regarding this mystic castle. But guaranteed that once the Messiah Wars had ended she'd be able to spend a great deal of time acquainting herself with Charon. The trick right now was to make sure the Messiah Wars would end the way they had to. "I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about me," came Charon's disembodied voice. And the castle's core consciousness sounded more than a little hurt at the neglect of his new master. Setsuna found herself smiling. That voice sounded so human. "It couldn't be helped," she said aloud, walking past the large potted trees and towards the staircase. "In case you were unaware, I've been a little busy." "Mmm," Charon agreed, still sulking. "I've been watching the events on Earth. The Messiah Wars have been taking their toll." He then went on to explain to Setsuna that none of the other planets were wanting to help Earth. They were terrified for their own well-being, certain that if the Earth fell they would be next. The other planets and kingdoms were currently amassing their weapons and soldiers, bracing themselves for battle. Enormous evacuation plans were already being put into effect. In short, the Solis System was being engulfed in chaos. If those on Earth wished to survive, they would have to find a way themselves. Setsuna listened to Charon's report as she made her way down the corridors. Somehow this turn of events wasn't surprising her. She'd received far too many surprises in the past week to make her feel shocked by anything else. Finding the other Senshi. Learning of the Raithe's true identity. Discovering the Messiah of Light. It was all a blur of adrenaline that she hoped would get sorted out in the aftermath. Setsuna turned into the command centre, the doorway flickering out of existence long enough for her to walk beneath the archway. The domed ceiling was open to the stars, but this time she could see the cold, desolate planet of Pluto orbiting almost too close for comfort. Numerous free-floating screens appeared in the air, rotating to accommodate her movements. She walked up to the nearest one. It changed to display a magnified map of Earth, specifically where the Messiah Wars were being fought. A smaller window in the top left corner was showing the ruins of Camelot...if those remains could even be called ruins. "I need your help, Charon," she said. "Something's happened. And it can only mean something else is about to happen which will cause a shift in the Messiah Wars." "I would be inclined to agree," Charon responded. "What I know, you already know. The Timestaff you hold in your hands links me with the Timegate and the time-space continuum--though on a limited basis. I've been monitoring your travels and your progress from afar, amassing whatever data I can." Setsuna looked around the command centre, and up to the dome overhead. Unsure of where exactly to talk to Charon. It was hard to speak to a distinct personality when there wasn't an actual face to go with it. "What should our next move be?" "I can't foretell the future, Setsuna. I can only make best guesses and forecasts." She let out a weary sigh, inwardly chastising herself for not having realized what Charon had told her in her first visit here. She must have been more exhausted than she thought. But too much was riding on the souls within Elfhame. The Outers, and one unexpected Inner Senshi. Magellan Endymion, the sole leader of Arthur's troops left alive and keeper of Illusion. A man with no name somehow linked to all this. And now Serenity, a human girl betrothed to an Elven lord. That blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl was their Messiah. All that remained was to escape the Shadow Armies long enough to find the Grail. A seemingly easy task in words alone; actually pulling off such a thing was where she feared they might fail. "Give me your best guess," she told Charon. "What do you predict will happen in the next twenty-four hours?" Silence. Charon was hesitating. "What is it?" Setsuna asked again. Something cold and altogether unpleasant was creeping through her body. "An age-old maxim states how ignorance is bliss," Charon said at last. "Are you certain you want to know?" The awkwardness in the castle's voice was evident, and making Setsuna involuntarily shiver. But she nodded. "It's my duty to know. I may be the only one who can make it right by knowing beforehand." "Mistress Nine seems to be waiting until daybreak to attack Magellan Endymion and the survivors from Camelot," Charon said. "I would imagine she has no idea of Serenity's existence as the Messiah of Light. As far as I am aware, the Dark Messiah doesn't even know she has an opposite." That could change very quickly. "I have been monitoring their activities upon the Earth; the Shadow Armies are beginning the gather near Elfhame. But for as powerful as the Elven race is, should the battle take place upon the forest isles of Arana, they will be destroyed. Mistress Nine will surely wipe them out." Setsuna closed her eyes as she heard that. The knot in her stomach tightened. "Is there no way to escape this destiny?" she asked in a subdued whisper. Charon apologetically replied, "I doubt the Elven will listen to a human, let alone abandon their last sanctuary. I'm sorry, Setsuna. But I think that things will get worse before they can get any better." She nodded, leaning against her staff to keep her standing. The last ounces of energy she possessed were leaving in a peaceful but unwavering ebb. Setsuna knew she wouldn't be able to stay awake for much longer. "Daijobu," Charon said in sensing her exhaustion. "There is a bedroom you can use. I'll show you the way. And I'll wake you up and teleport you to Elfhame when the time comes." "Thank you," she murmured. Setsuna turned to leave, pausing at the open archway. "What about the Grail? Have you found anything on where it's hidden?" "No. Wherever the Ancients have hidden it, they've hidden it very well. Perhaps too well. But I'll keep searching for all the probable places--though the Ancients could create all sorts of curious magikal hideaways for it." Setsuna saw a small orb cast in pleasant glowing light hover down the hallway towards her. It stopped in front of her and then began to slowly move through the labyrinth of corridors. Wordlessly she followed Charon's lead until the bedchambers presented themselves. She didn't even have the strength to take in the elegance of the room. Setsuna was lucky enough to collapse face-first onto the bed, and sleep. At the edge of a freshwater pool populated only with ripples of reflected moonlight, Magellan sat upon the twisting roots and stared at the unnerving calm of the water. While he was sure Myung would be searching for him amidst this lush realm of forest trees, Magellan did not want to be found. The distance between his sleeping soldiers and himself was great. As far as he was aware, he was on the edge of where his group were allowed to be. No one would think of him to come this close to potential danger and harm. That was what he wanted. A part of him wanted Myung to stumble through the trees, calling out his name. And then in seeing him, race towards him and wrap him up in her scent and kisses and warm embrace. Then he might find comfort in her soothing words and whispers. But the rest of him knew that could only be a selfish, escapist desire. If that happened, his burden would be placed upon her. And Myung was too beautiful to be given such a horrific and heavy thing. This was between himself and no one else. If he could not find the answers in solitude, then he was indeed not fit to lead his troops. Never into a second battle against Mistress 9 and the Shadow Armies, but to even lead them out of Elfhame. If by the light of rising sun he could not find reason or confidence, he would leave this place by himself. Magellan's hands moved to feel the armour gauntlets upon his arms, his palm gently sensing the texture of this finely polished magik. A demon armour had protected him from being cut apart by Mistress 9...and if he'd been blind and unable to see how much that had enraged her, then her angered shouts still ringing in his ears would have been the giveaway. Intuition whispered to the Vlatmere lord. Mistress 9 would come, there could be no doubt. But while her armies would come for the lives of his soldiers and loved ones, she would come for him alone. His continued existence was an insult and injury to her malevolent desires. She would hunt him down wherever he went, and kill whomever stood between them. He could not allow anyone to be caught in that sort of crossfire. Not when they were his responsibility. Magellan doubted he could ever live with himself then, let alone the nightmarish memories of someone he knew and cared for being torn to shreds by the Dark Messiah. Kakkyou was right. Had been all along. For so long he'd only been reacting. He had lacked foresight to look ahead. Did the ends justify the means? Magellan silently admitted he didn't know. Here in the company of towering mighty trees, whose thick moss-covered trunks stretched into a canvas of leafen cloud overhead, he had to make a choice. If uncertainty still plagued him, then at dawn he would leave Elfhame alone. Lead Mistress 9 along a false trail, and buy his own army time to escape and regroup at Vlatmere. He knew Frederic well enough; Frederic would not hesitate to mobilize everyone. And in a way, Frederic might understand why he was doing this. He had to protect everyone. Magellan looked up as he heard the delicate sound of twigs being snapped underfoot. The unnatural radiant shimmer of Arana let him see a shadow moving apart from all the others, walking towards him. He straightened up as he saw it approach. "Myung?" he said quietly. But it was not her. When the shadows gave up the stranger's identity, what Magellan saw was a tall form and a weathered face hidden beneath a hooded cloak that bore no fanciful markings of importance. It was the mage, the one he'd met first at the site of Myung's crashed ship. And then a second time just before the battle at Camelot, where he'd been given the Aroth Armour. Magellan slumped back down once he recognized the mage. "Oh. You." "Your greetings are not as courteous as when last we met," the mage said. The tone of his voice seemed to imply that he took no offense to it. Magellan blew out a breath, and gestured for the mage to join him in sitting at the water's edge. "I'm sorry," he sighed. "I've just been through a lot today. You can only handle so much before you either stop functioning, or stop caring. I'm starting to wonder of both aren't really the same thing." The mage comfortably found himself a place to sit, legs crossed, his hands resting upon his lap. His head remained bowed, the hooded shroud cloaking his face in enigmatic darkness. "Your thoughts are troubled." It was only an observation. But with it came the subtle invitation to talk. "Not as much as my future. My men were nearly killed back in Camelot, and on the Warhammer," Magellan said. He picked up a small stone lodged in some moss, and then tossed it into the pool. The rock skipped twice before sinking to the bottom. "The responsibility of their lives rests in my hands. "The burden falls to me...and I don't think I can hold it for much longer." The mage shrugged and made what might have been a nod of agreement. "Perhaps. But if you told a soldier to stay back, and he ran ahead anyways, does that mean the blame solely falls upon you for his death?" Magellan nodded. "Authority isn't the same thing as power. Authority is what you are granted; power is what you must earn. It comes from those under you, the respect, guilt or fear they feel in obeying you. My soldiers obeying me are what gives me power. Without it, I am only a lord by title alone. If I cannot get my men to respect my orders and follow me, then their deaths should be blamed upon me." The mage pressed the issue no further. He tilted his head ever so slightly to the right, the glow of his eyes caught in the watery reflection. He studied Magellan for a moment. And then he studied Magellan's weapon. "You have Excalibur with you." Magellan reached back, and felt the hilt of a broken sword behind him. Hands grasped a legendary hilt. With one swift, elegant motion he drew out Excalibur and showed the broken blade to the mage. Already Excalibur was starting to awaken. It kicked in Magellan's hands, tendrils of liquid metal writhing and churning as if in pain, wild and uncontrollable. Magellan hissed for the sword to be still. It obeyed without question, and grudgingly went into hibernation once again. "Even when its master was silenced, it screamed in my ears. When I talked to it, this sword listened." He looked up at the mage. If this man had given him such a powerful force as the Aroth Armour, then surely the mage might know something about the magik of the sword. "What is this blade you call Excalibur?" A strange smile twisted itself onto the mage's face. He chuckled only once. As if saying, 'at last, you have decided to ask me this.' "Just remember, Lord Endymion," the mage answered. "Not all the answers you receive are answers that will be well-received." The aging man looked out to the pool. He began to tell the story. "Excalibur is the younger brother to the armour being worn upon your body. Their father, the one who created them both, is locked within. It has been so for centuries upon centuries, going even further back than most of the Ancients could have once remembered." Magellan's head snapped up. "Dante didn't forge this?" The thought that something could predate the Weaponeer was almost mind-numbing unto itself. The mage shook his head. "You could call Dante an apprentice of sorts. When he first discovered the sword, long before it was given the name Excalibur, he also discovered its magik. The magik had been woven into the very form of the weapon, a strange bonding of heart and soul." A heart of sword. "Ever since that time, until his death along with the other Ancients, Dante tried to duplicate as best he could what he'd found in Excalibur. That is why the weapons he made chose their owners and not the reverse. He wove in them his own magik, created his own hearts of sword. The samurai of Aurora have tamed his weapons for nearly two centuries. It saddens me to think that such beauty had to be silenced forever." Magellan found his fingers trembling as he traced the contours of Excalibur, almost hesitant to feel the cool metal of the broken blade against his skin. He had no reason to doubt the mage. But even still, that meant this sword, like the armour, could very well be almost as old as time itself. Just like other magiks he had recently encountered. Ocean blue eyes fixated on the mage. "The Senshi all use these small golden artifacts called henshin, in order to transform. Are they the same as...?" His voice trailed off, his eyes looking down to Excalibur. The mage laughed quietly. Not patronizing or demeaning Magellan. But amused and impressed that the Vlatmere lord was searching for connections where others would not have thought to look. "No, the henshin of the Sailor Soldiers are a whole other breed of magik. They are completely unlike what's found in the Aroth Armour and Excalibur. Forged perhaps around the same time, if not earlier, but not by the same entity." Magellan felt the hairs on the back of his neck start to rise. The implications behind these answers were beginning to worry him. With weary, haunted eyes he stared at the hooded form of the mage. "How can you know so much about them?" The mage watched Magellan with knowing eyes through the shadows of his shroud. "Because the soul that can be found when the two items are together is my own." He ginned as he saw Magellan warily lean back. "Now now, there's no need to be frightened. On the contrary, you should consider yourself among the privileged few. In creating the armour and the sword, I locked half of my essence into each of them. That is the true source of their power: when their magiks are used harmoniously. "Not any mere human can wield both of them in a dance that creates such harmony, Magellan. Even by themselves the sword and the armour can create a terrifying distortion. Excalibur is loyal and lethal. The Aroth Armour can become pure chaos. Both can easily destroy their owners, if such a person is not strong enough. It's all within the heart of he who holds them both in his grasp." Magellan forced himself to think. Force himself to care. For all the battering to his ego, for all the revelations that had come down upon him with the subtlety of a sledge hammer, this was something he could feel was important. Just sitting next to the mage was clearing his head. Magellan could sense the Aroth Armour reacting, growing excited. It could hardly keep still, wanting to change shape and create new means of protecting its owner. And Excalibur's dormancy was light; the slightest jolt of magik would awaken it. "If you locked your essence into these two artifacts," Magellan asked the mage. "then how can I be here, talking to you?" He thought he caught a glimpse of the mage smiling. "I exist, but do not exist, Magellan. I am a person and a shadow all at once. Even though they are apart, and for the safety of the Solis System have been kept apart for a very long time, Aroth and Excalibur yearn to be together. The halves cannot find peace until they are made whole once more. "That is who I am, and where I come into the war. I am the embodiment of the sword and armour's search for one who can use them both to their fullest potential. What you see of me now is a shallow reflection of the being I once was, and even though you can touch me, I do not currently exist as you exist." Excalibur was raised, Magellan's gaze focusing on the jeweled pommel. Beyond the sight of the sword was the docile pool of Elven waters. "Excalibur's broken. How can they be restored once more, if the sword is no longer intact?" Magellan looked to the jagged metal edges which marked the breaking point of Excalibur. He wanted to see the blade whole once again. Not so as to have the power, but to be given hope. If he could find a way to repair it, then finding a way to believe in himself was child's play. Sometimes in life you walked. Sometimes you crawled. And the rest of the time you defied the world, grew wings and flew. For the first time since his father's death, Magellan was understanding what it meant to take that final step. His other hand moved to grasp the hilt of the sword, fingers wrapping around and tightening as if he would swing the sword's full weight in battle once again. Epiphany was dawning, spreading faster than any sunrise he'd ever known. "Yes," the mage whispered, sensing the unfolding wings of magik. "You know what to do...." Excalibur would not respond to doubts. The Armour of Aroth would not answer to fears. Magellan forced such things back to the recesses of his mind. If he was to be responsible for his soldiers, for the ones he loved and served, then he could not run away. He would have to make his stand. To make his choices and live with the consequences. He could not simply react and hope he was right. He would lead them. He would fight the Messiah Wars from the front lines, alongside everyone else. No matter what sort of magik they possessed. Ocean blue eyes opened wider as the explosion of magik ruptured from the breastplate of his armour. The substance that was Aroth snaked out with great, grasping tendrils. They shot forth and encased the broken end of Excalibur in a haunting cocoon of chrome silver. Silver ignited and began to glow white. The heat was intense, threatening to burn his hands Magellan found himself defiantly shouting back the pain. He'd seen weapons being forged before. There had to be pain before there could be perfection. His entire body was shaking violently as he fought to control the two powers in his grasp. Aroth bonded to Excalibur. A heartbeat echoed. The forests of Elfhame might have been silent in that single moment. But Magellan could hear the roar of Excalibur being resurrected, of the sword finding its wounds no longer there. The cocoon broke apart from the inside out, liquid silver reduced to tattered shreds spraying in every direction. And Magellan found himself holding Excalibur in its truest form. The immense and towering blade of the sword seemed as tall as he was. It could cut down one of the trees here in a single, calculated swath. "Well done, Magellan," the mage said with a satisfied air in his voice. "You're learning how to harness the powers you possess." Still euphoric from the rush of what had just happened, Magellan sat back and tried to catch his breath. Excalibur's domineering size retracted, the blade itself sinking into the hilt. Out of purest natural reflex, Magellan lifted the sword over his head as if to sheath it upon his back. The Aroth Armour opened up a fold and snugly accommodated the weapon. He gasped for air a few more times before managing a word: "Wow." "I doubt you'll be forgetting that anytime in the near future," the mage said. "Magik is pure and volatile, much like water. It can flow and ebb in a person like the tides, manifesting at various strengths. But one can learn how to use it, and in a sense endear magik to them. Magik will be its own master, but out of a fondness will come to you when it is called. You have endeared both Excalibur and Aroth to yourself; they will answer when called. But be careful: your call can be one of protection, or destruction." Now that the adrenaline was passing, Magellan felt himself growing light-headed. His vision swirled and grew blurred. He would have tumbled forward into the spring had the mage not steadied him. "The disorientation will pass," the mage explained. "In the meantime, tell me: what do you know of magic wands?" "I read about them when I was a child," Magellan answered. Regaining the proper use of his senses was proving a little more difficult than first imagined. Would it be like this every time he used the two magiks together? "Every now and again I see self- proclaimed magicians and illusionists waving them around in caravans or street celebrations." Satisfied that Magellan could at least sit up straight now, the mage leaned back and made himself comfortable again where he sat. "Magic wands are for amateurs, Magellan. It is the human heart that triggers magik to manifest itself. We can utilize our bodies to become the catalyst--thought make no mistake this isn't a simple task. Many times one does require the knowledge of a command or word to trigger the explosion of power. The masters of magik have grown to a point where a thought or a silent command releases the full fury of magik. If you're not prepared to unleash the floodgates, you'll be swept away by the tidal wave. "Consider light: you see it as clear and white. Separate it by a prism, and you get a multitude of colours. Magik is much the same way. You must learn how to use your body like this prism of glass. Only then will you sift through the general clutter and isolate the specific magik you wish to use. That is why children are trained at a young age to find their particular alignment. Many times one will be specially endowed with one breed of magik. "Some can harness water, others fire, and still others the wind. That is their key magik, one that we try to refine to its truest incarnation. They will sense this magic pervading amidst the rest of the clutter. They will know it, and when they call, it shall answer." Magellan rotated his wrist and opened his palm. Resting there within his grasp was a beautiful golden rose. "So what is my magik?" "Magellan, do not limit yourself or magik to what you think you know," the mage told him. "What I have shared are beginnings, foundations to build upon. The Solis System has much learning to do. It has its own developing blossoms of magik that it must learn to care for. "But you, Magellan...you are like and unlike the Senshi. Akin to the Ancients, they possess a power that did not grow out from this system. Their magik is older, the names for it old enough to be almost forgotten. Such magik is incredibly powerful. Yours is not as powerful as what the Senshi have at their disposal, for it is younger--but it is regardless a force to be reckoned with. Because of your magik, you alone are capable of taming both Excalibur and Aroth. No one else could successfully do that. The mage slowly stood, his head still bowed, his face still half-hidden in the shadows. Magellan quickly got to his own feet, standing with the seemingly old man. He felt different now. The world felt different. Magellan could sense the magik of Elfhame more clearly now, almost to where he could see it radiate from each individual tree and insect. Something had been awakened within him. And he had this mage to thank. Magellan wondered if he could ever repay this debt. He doubted such a thing possible...unless the future he chose to help pave would serve as that payment. The mage bowed to Magellan, preparing to turn and take his leave of the wars once again. Perhaps forever now. "I think that is perhaps why I felt you were worthy of being entrusted with both the Aroth Armour and Excalibur. You have in your blood a magik that understands a little better of how old it is. Your magik has become a symbiot with you; you both benefit the greatest when you co-exist side by side. "You have your father's gift: a rare and ancient magik not quite of this world, yet still a part of it. That is what you share in common with artifacts that hold my essence. Because of this, you can control them better. You intuitively know how to wield them the right way, and create the best results." Magellan stretched out an open hand. The mage shook it. "Thank you," Magellan said quietly, gratefully. "Thank you for everything." That drew one last smile to the mage's face. "You are not a mere pawn in the Messiah Wars, Magellan. You are in fact an equal, though you are too young and inexperienced to fully realize that fact right now." He turned and began to walk away. Magellan knew better than to try and walk alongside him. It would do such magik no honour to wait for it to disappear. It would be better to let it choose to depart on its own terms. The mage added, "But a time shall come when you will look back and see how you stood alongside the magiks of Senshi, Elven, Silence...and even unnamed. Then you shall understand your true importance, and how grossly all the others underestimated you. "I entrust the Armour of Aroth and Excalibur to your care, Lord Endymion. The choice to help remake this world with light or darkness remains yours to make. Choose wisely, and always remember the danger that comes with the magiks you now hold." "Will I ever see you again?" Magellan asked. The mage paused in consideration, and then resumed walking. "I'll be around, if that answers your question. After all, you are holding me in your arms and feeling my weight upon your body." Even after the mage had vanished into the darkness, gone to be wherever he had come from, Magellan quietly remained standing and watching the forest. At last he turned and gazed out at the pool, ocean blue eyes watching the shimmering dances of moonbeams upon the ripples. He could not run away from all this. He could not shut himself away from everyone and everything. Kneeling down at the spring's edge, Magellan cupped his hand and scooped out a small portion of water. He drank the water, savouring the cool, crisp taste. Whatever still clung to his hand was used to help wipe the sweat off his face. "Here you are." With a gentle smile, Magellan shook his hand free of the remaining droplets of water and turned to see Myung standing behind him. "I've been looking everywhere for you," she scolded him. "Do you have any idea how worried I've--" She could speak no more, for Magellan had crossed over and delicately pressed his lips against hers. His eyes remained closed, and after the initial surprise her own eyes did the same. There was an unexpected charge in his kiss, in his caress, in every fibre of his being. She could not quite understand how or why it was there, but she could not deny its existence. Magellan continued to let his lips press against hers, making no other movement. At last he drew away from her, and drew in a breath of air. She was such a radiant angel. He no longer cared that she was a Senshi. It no longer mattered that she might hold more magik or understand more of this war than he did. In realizing what he had come so close to losing, to pushing away, he found himself unable to take her beauty for granted. Everything about her was beautiful. "I've been a fool, Myung," he said quietly, his face still hovering so close to hers. "I hope you can forgive me. Even with what I have, I did not know what I'd truly found. But I understand that now...and there is no place I'd rather be tonight than in your arms." For so long death had haunted him. And now he understood what it meant to be alive. Amazing how that could change your entire perspective on the world. Magellan fumbled for her ring and its star sapphire, which she'd let hang from a small chain around her neck. He lifted it between them as far as it would go without choking her. "In the past day, I'd come to wonder if I was truly worthy of your love. I doubted my abilities, and feared your rejection. I'm sorry if I pushed you away, and I do apologize for whatever harm I brought you today." Myung's fingers wrapped around his hand, clasping the ring. "Your love was never in any doubt," she whispered, her compassionate smile glowing brighter than the forest around them. "And neither was mine in you. Just because I am Sailor Venus doesn't mean I think of you any less." They kissed a second time, this one more passionate than the first. Across the pool, perched upon the higher branches of the trees, Serenity watched them with a contented smile. She turned to a small silver owl perched upon her shoulder. "They make a good pair, don't they?" The owl hooted its own affirmative. Serenity's crystal blue eyes closed in quiet thanks. "I'm glad they could have this one night together. Love such as theirs deserves that much." A ring of trees encircled a clearing of damp moss. The Man With No Name found himself stepping down off a root, and into a pool of dark water that rose halfway up to his knees. The edges of his overcoat dangled and dipped beneath the surface. There was magik alive in this place, almost as tangible as the radiant moonlight. A euphoria that could barely remain contained. Clouded eyes looked to the heavens. A starry night looked down at him. Without words or incantation, without gestures or attempts, The Man With No Name made his way through the water towards the centre. The pool before him began to churn and froth, whitened bubbles surging forth by his silent will and magik. 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. Polished silver revealed itself. And the elliptical Elven mirror rose out from the shadows of the pool, the runes upon it already glowing crimson and bleeding to create a glass surface where metal once was. The Man With No Name stroked the surface of the glass. Searched for his reflection. Yet he saw only what the mirror could show him: a churning mass of darkened stormclouds, a never-ending wolfpack of swarming and swirling grey oceans in the sky. It resembled his eyes before the lightning came and the magik would be invoked. He felt half- tempted to invoke magik and see if the reflection changed. It was a temptation left alone. His fingertips still pressed against the glass, The Man With No Name cocked his head to one side. "You're the one they call Merlin, yes?" Upon the edge of the pool, standing with the ring of surrounding trees, the Ancient nodded. Neither one was surprised at the presence of the other. "Hiding as a wounded soldier," The Man With No Name said. "The best you could do?" Again Merlin nodded. He already knew this one could sense his levels of magik. It would be a few more days before he could be at his full capacity once again. Creating Illusion had taken more out from his system than expected. But that still hadn't dulled his senses. And in the presence of The Man With No Name, his senses were in overdrive. "When you carried me out from the Warhammer, you drew my interest," Merlin said. "You have Ancient magik coursing through your blood." "I'm not an Ancient." Merlin nodded in agreement. "And that's what puzzles me." "The universe is full of puzzles, Merlin. Not being to solve them all is what makes it an interesting place." The Man With No Name's fingertips left the mirror and allowed it to sink back beneath the surface of the pool. "Are you his doing?" Merlin asked as The Man With No Name walked past him. "Are you a creation of the Raithe's?" The Man With No Name shook his head. "Sailor Pluto asked me that same question, and she was wrong in her assumptions. The answer I gave her is the same one I have for you." "Then what are you?" "Guess. Who knows? You might get lucky." In the boughs of trees, where branches twisted and curled around each other to form a warm and comfortable nest in which to sleep, Kakkyou waited. He sat upon the lip of the circular chamber, his eyes directed up to the skies above. Here they would sleep at the height of the forest, with the stars their watchful guardians. Serenity always liked to sleep where she could watch the moon and stars. On days when it would rain, she was content to sleep alongside Kakkyou somewhere beneath the sheltering canopy of leaves. Dragon green eyes glanced over to the opposite side of the nest's curving wall. There was a rush of air. And then Serenity alighted the edge with a delicate foot decorated in the wrappings of a crimson ribbon. The folds of her snowen gown billowed out from the final burst of air and magik, settling down around her body. So seemingly fragile, perched and standing on the edge of a nest and surrounded by a sea of green, Serenity lifted her head to the crescent moon overhead. Her pale skin shimmered in the glow of the forest's magik. And the cool midnight winds caught up her golden hair, letting the long ponytails billow out behind her. "Angel," Kakkyou found himself whisper. An angel, and perhaps so much more. A messiah. Kakkyou's face remained etched in enchantment, though his eyes flickered with concerns. Something was coming; there could be no more conjecture, only certainty. The survivors from Camelot were a mere prelude. They said that Serenity, his beautiful and beloved Serenity, was the messiah they were seeking. They would put her at risk. Magellan Endymion more than any of them, connecting her visage with a childhood dream. Kakkyou found himself holding reservations about the would-be leader of these humans. However, the keeper of the Aroth Armour wasn't known for giving away such a powerful magik to just anyone. Such artifacts were fiercely guarded, as their power to destroy rivaled their power to protect. That mage had seen something in Endymion. And if Mistress 9 was half as bad as they were saying, then it was no small feat for Magellan to have survived fighting her. Regardless of her odd disappearance mid-battle, the Vlatmere lord had managed to hold her back longer than Arthur had. Kakkyou sighed deeply. Perhaps he'd been too hard on Magellan. How much of what had been spoken came out of a fierce and jealous desire to protect Serenity, to keep her close to him and his world? But she had magik unlike any even he, an Elven lord, had ever before witnessed. What if she was this Messiah of Light? This war could tear her from his embrace, for maybe no more than five minutes. Or for no less than eternity. Such a risk was one Kakkyou silently admitted was one he cared not to consider, let alone take. Suddenly she was right in front of him, floating through the air as if she possessed wings. She scrunched her face up, looking as mock serious as possible. "You look lost in thought." That made Kakkyou smile. She was certainly in a good mood. He idly wondered what she and Myung had talked about in the spring. And what that man with no name had said to her. "You're thinking about them, aren't you?" Serenity asked. Kakkyou nodded. "If my premonitions are true, then they are the catalysts to whatever is coming." Abruptly he found Serenity wrapping her arms around him, clutching him tightly as if she were afraid he might disappear. His own terrors of being left alone and behind melted as he put his arms around her, holding her close. That they might listen to the soothing sound of each other's heartbeat. "They are bearing so much pressure, so much pain," she whispered. "My heart goes out to them, Kakkyou. I want to help...but I don't know how." "Everyone has power, Serenity," he answered quietly. "It's all a matter of where our power lies. If we choose to use it. How we choose to use it." What felt like a distant memory returned to her. Of standing before that enchanted mirror and seeing the enigmatic stranger there behind her reflection. He had spoken in private words and whispers of her need to awaken. There was a magik she possessed. A messianic magik. Serenity kept the questions and doubts to herself. She needed more time to think. Yet sleep and fatigue care not for the necessity of thoughts. The day had been long, and more eventful than she could have ever expected. All too quickly Serenity found herself laying down upon the soft inner lining of the nest, crystal blue eyes capturing the elegance of the cosmic oceans above. She wanted to whisper of its beauty to Kakkyou, but she fell asleep, curling up her body and snuggling next to his. Kakkyou remained awake, plagued with tension. While thoughts can make one drowsy, tensions can turn the same soul into an insomniac. He listened to her quiet breathing, one hand stroking her flowing hair. The raindrop of lapis lazuli fell out from its hiding place beneath her robes, catching the Elven lord's eye. A pledge of his love and devotion, a promise that would last for eternity and defy all the forces of this world. Long into the night he was left awake with his tension. In the early morning hours, at last he found his resolution set. If this Dark Messiah came, he would meet her on the field of battle. He could not stand by and let anything happen to Serenity. Should Mistress 9 walk into the forbidden world of Elfhame woods, then he would make it a confrontation she'd never forget. Sunrise came to Elfhame. As did the Shadow Army. Magellan was among the first to sense it. He awoke with a start, lifting himself off the ground. Sleeping next to him, Myung was shaken out of her own peaceful slumber. "What is it?" she asked. And then she felt the same cold wave wash over her. A numbing terror that tried to freeze her blood, making her feel as if she'd been dunked into a pool of ice water. "The Shadow Armies?" she whispered. "It looks like our reprieve is over," Magellan stated, helping Myung to her feet. He looked around, scanning the forest. The light of the rising sun was turning shadowy green into multitudes of lush shades and tints. Already he could sense the stirring of live within the forest. But if Mistress 9 was leading the armies, then he feared all this life would soon be over. "We had better find Kakkyou," he said. "No need to," Kakkyou replied, suddenly standing a few paces away. His hands were folded over his chest, silver hair dancing in the cool morning breeze. "You're awake." Magellan nodded. "They're coming." One of Kakkyou's eyebrows went up. "You can sense them even though they are still at the horizon line? My, but you are full of new surprises every day, Magellan Endymion." "I'm not the same Magellan you talked to last night," he answered the Elven lord. And he could read in Kakkyou's jade eyes that the change was being noticed and acknowledged. "Magellan, we'll have to wake the soldiers," Myung stated. She turned to Kakkyou. "We have to leave now, otherwise we'll be putting your kingdom is jeopardy." But Kakkyou shook his head. "Not just yet. There are a few affairs between us that must be put in order. Then I will show you a way out of Elfhame." He barely bent his knees, but drove his body through the air as if gravity was no longer a force upon this earth to contend with. Without doubting, without even giving it a second thought, both Magellan and Myung mimicked the same motion. And together they moved through the air as swiftly and silently as any Elven warrior. The Outer Senshi watched the slowly advancing darkness from the edge of Elfhame's woods. The light of the rising sun was beginning to strike the fields stretching out in front of them, but now the flickering shadows upon the distant horizon were growing. And coming towards them. "What do you see?" Pluto asked, magenta eyes directed at The Man With No Name. The shades were no longer upon the nameless stranger's face. Ever since he'd stood before the mirror, ever since he'd encountered a private moment with Serenity, the desire to hide these haunting orbs was no more. Those eyes of captive stormclouds scanned the edge of the world they saw. And then narrowed. "They're different," he stated. "Their numbers seem as constant as with what we saw in Camelot, but their magik has changed." "For better or worse?" Uranus asked. The Man With No Name looked away from the demon horde arising from the horizon's darkened and sunless womb. "Worse. They're more powerful, feeding off a new host and a new magik." He didn't need to say who the new host was. They all knew the answer. "It would appear Mistress Nine had some issues with her superior," Neptune drawled, unusually calm in such a situation. Yet the Armies of Silence looked to be so far away. They were all watching with a peculiar detachment, knowing they were among the ones the youma were coming for yet also knowing there was still time before a second war. Neptune glanced over at Pluto. "Do you think Morgana's alive?" Uranus snorted. "I doubt she's even in one piece right now." "I'm with her," The Man With No Name concurred. "Mistress 9's idea of moving up in the ranks is no different than in how she deals with cutting down the ranks of her enemies." Pluto wanted to smile at the scathing humour in their banter, but she could feel the tension starting to knot her stomach again. They had precious little time left to set things into motion properly. "I don't see any flyers," she said, carefully watching the distant skies. "Oh, they're lurking somewhere. But why become winged death now when there's nothing around to kill?" The Man With No Name replied. He cocked his head to one side. "We have company." The Outers stepped aside and allowed for Kakkyou, Magellan and Myung to land in their midst. "Good morning, Sailor Venus," The Man With No Name said pleasantly, bowing slightly at the waist. "It would appear breakfast will be delayed, due to the demons skulking around." Magellan stepped forward, his ocean blue eyes seeing what the others had already been watching. He silently wished for Frederic to be here; Frederic's eyes were a lot sharper than his own, and would be able to gauge the distance better. "What are we looking at?" he asked. "Hell's taking its time in coming to us," The Man With No Name answered. Uranus motioned with her head to the Shadow Armies. "From what we can tell, Morgana's no longer in charge. Mistress Nine's taken command, and it appears Elfhame is their next target." Magellan shook his head. "No. We are." He turned back to Myung. "Myung, find Frederic. Both of you rouse the men. We need everyone ready and mobile as soon as possible. Can I entrust you with that?" Myung nodded, stepped back, and then sprang into the air and vanished into the forest. Kakkyou made no move to stop her, his own gaze fixated on the swarming demon army. His jaw clenched and unclenched. "If they keep at their almost leisurely pace," Neptune said. "We'll have at best an hour before they reach the borders of Elfhame." Again Magellan tried to reason with the silent Elven lord. "Kakkyou, show us the way out and we'll leave. The sooner we do that, the sooner we can lead the Shadow Armies away from Elfhame. Mistress Nine is not someone any of us should look forward to fighting!" Kakkyou remained silent. Then he slowly turned away, walking back into the forest isles of Arana. "You five, come with me. And I shall show you the way out of Elfhame." Magellan's soldiers were up and mobile by the time they all arrived. The knowledge of the Shadow Army's impending arrival was certainly a good motivator. But at the same time Magellan could see noticeable improvement in virtually everyone. There were almost no wounded in their ranks. Those who held some residual injuries were fine enough to walk, though they needed the help of a human crutch. "The myths of Elfhame's healing springs are evidently a little more than mere legend," he heard Frederic quietly remark behind him. Magellan nodded. "With this sort of power in their water alone, can you really question why they want it to remain as mere legend?" No doubt would-be armies would march all across the forest isles if word got out about the true magik within this place, giving no one any peace. Perhaps the Elven were right in hiding all this from the rest of the word. "Is it true?" Frederic asked. "Is she coming?" "At least she was gracious enough to give us a night off," Magellan replied, the quip enough to convey the answer. That drew a wry grin on Frederic's face. "I doubt her motives are that pure, Magellan. She probably wanted you rested up before she tried to beat the crap out of you again." "Somehow I'd be inclined to agree with you." "Come on, Magellan; it's not every day you get put on a dark harbinger's hitlist. You're one of the lucky few." Magellan smirked. "Trade you places." "Oh, but you earned it, Magellan," Frederic chuckled. Ever able to loosen up the tension that could be felt, even the tension within himself. Everyone was moving quietly, afraid that even a loud cough might usher in a surprise attack by the demon's they had all fought not one day ago. They also had focus: the sheer determination to not be around when Mistress 9's demon forces arrived. Frederic turned his head, giving first an ambiguous nod to the Outers and The Man With No Name, then sharing a playful wink with Myung. "Sleep well?" "It's been the best sleep I've had in a long time," she confessed, smiling to herself as her hand sought out the warmth of Magellan's palm. Without even needing to look, their fingers laced together. With a nod, Frederic then added, "Magellan didn't keep you up with his horrific snoring, did he?" "Frederic!" Magellan exclaimed with an incredulous laugh, jovially punching his friend in the shoulder. "What? Wild boars have stayed away from this guy because of the deafening noise he makes when he sleeps. I'm surprised he didn't wake you up." But Myung just shook her head, her cheeks growing flushed. "He was as silent as a guardian angel." Frederic rolled his eyes and headed back over to the soldiers. "And once again a great taunting session is killed with mushy, romantic lines. I'm outta here." With fond memories of childhood and friendship, Magellan watched Frederic finish co-ordinating the mobilization of the troops. Frederic never knew how close he'd come to losing his best friend to the madness of self-pity last night. Magellan would tell Frederic about those dark hours in due time. For now, they had work to do. Two enormous trees towered in front of a group of human soldiers who were deep in a part of the world they really should not have been. But strange times made for strange circumstances. That an Elven lord would be helping them escape. Magellan's eyes scanned the structure of the trees, silently marveling at their unique intertwining branches. The trees had grown with a great distance between them, but the upper portions of their trunks had grown towards each other and soon merged to form a strange, natural archway. Leading them all, Serenity by his side, Kakkyou closed his eyes and began to rapidly chant a series of Elven incantations. Crimson runes suddenly burned themselves into the bark of each tree, and the ground shook. While he could see nothing as having visibly changed, Magellan could feel the strange draft of air and magik. Kakkyou had just opened up a doorway for them. "Beyond these wooden arches lies a portal, a means of crossing through the heart of the forest in mere seconds," the Elven lord explained. "It's a special shortcut only the Elven know of. There are two other routes you can take, but this is the fastest. Walk beneath the bowed trees, and you'll find yourselves on the other side of mountain range. At most, the walk out from the forest will take you only a few minutes." And with any luck, Magellan hoped, the surviving battle skimmer from Camelot would be waiting to take them home to Vlatmere. If they could travel that far that fast, then surely they could divert Mistress 9 from marching through Elfhame. "What if we need to come back?" Frederic asked. Kakkyou shook his head solemnly. "You can't come back; this route is only one-way. There's a portal hiding there on the other side which will bring you back--but I'm not telling you how to find it. You step through, and there is no returning back here to the heart of my kingdom." Everyone exchanged mutual glances of uneasiness. The Man With No Name remained undisturbed, as he always was. Always wearing that fascinated look in everything that happened, be it of darkness or light. With his shades removed, he seemed a little more human. And yet...with the true nature of his storm-fed eyes unveiled for all to see, he looked all the more unearthly a being. Magellan stepped aside, looking at his second-in-command. "Frederic, are you up to leading them through?" Frederic hesitated. "I'll be bringing up the rear," Magellan reassured his friend. "But I wish to give final thanks to Kakkyou after I see you all placed out of harm's way." "There's no guarantee where we land will be happy and pleasant," Frederic murmured. He glanced over at Serenity, uncomfortable about holding such mistrust in her presence. "I know, but it's a chance we have to take. I will not let Kakkyou's people come to harm because we hesitated. For now they're neutral in this war. Don't bring the Messiah Wars to them." Frederic nodded and the two clasped fists tightly. "See you on the other side," Frederic said quietly, before he turned to the soldiers and called out, "Everyone through the trees!" He was the first to carefully make his way up to the unseen gateway. One moment he was there, and with a single step he vanished completely. The soldiers moved quickly, eager to get away from the potential battlezone. Magellan watched them all pass by. His eyes met each of theirs, giving silent assurances. His lips spoke affirming words and smiles to them. He promised them that he would be joining them soon. It came as no surprise to see the Outers staying behind alongside him and Myung. But of those remaining, he was their representative. Magellan prepared to express his debt of thanks. "If there's anything you ever need of the humans," he stated deeply. "you need look no further than Vlatmere. I hold a lifedebt to you, Lord Kakkyou. I will honour that always." "Before you go," the Elven lord said. "I have one request." Magellan stopped speaking, the words completely forgotten in a moment of surprise. This hadn't been what he had expected Kakkyou to say. Kakkyou warmly put his arm around Serenity's waist, drawing her close to his side. "Take Serenity with you. Make sure she's kept safe until this is all over." Of all of them, the one most shocked was Serenity. A surge of unexpected fear rising within her body and soul, she turned to Kakkyou. Her crystal blue eyes looked up at her fianc‚, pleading to understand why he did not want her next to him. She asked him with only a whisper and a single word. All that was truly required. "Why?" Kakkyou looked away, unable to stare into her trembling eyes of crystal blue. But she saw the truth in the way he avoided her gaze, and realized his intentions. "No...Kakkyou, no! You can't fight them! You don't have to!" She was on the verge of sobbing, frantic and frightened as she clung to him, refusing to let go. "I promise you, Serenity," he said quietly. "I will come back from this, and return to you." It was his truth, his promise, his solemn pledge. So why didn't she believe him? "Kakkyou, please, I don't want to lose--" Her words were cut short as Kakkyou suddenly bent forward and pressed his lips against hers in a passionate kiss. Tears were streaming down his face, salty droplets falling from his chin and striking her delicate skin. Serenity's eyes widened as she felt a flood of magik and emotion flow from his lips into her entire body. A cascade of memories crashed into her mind, of a childhood and last night, each one unique and different. Filled with sadness and longing, peace and compassion. Kakkyou was giving her the gift of his memories. His purest feelings for her. And there was no purer an emotion than his love. Trembling orbs of crystal blue widened even more, and then grew blurred and unfocused. Slowly her eyes closed and she went limp in his arms, a delicate doll whose strings had been cut. "I'm sorry, Serenity," Kakkyou whispered as he gathered her unconscious form in his arms and embraced her one last time, savouring her scent and taste and touch. "May you forgive me of this one selfish act." Kakkyou cradled her with gentle protectiveness. A glance at Myung and Magellan bade them both to come forward. Uncertain of what was going on, the two stepped up to Kakkyou. "The enchantment will not keep her bound in sleep for long," he told them. "When she wakes up, I want you to be guarding over her as far away from here as possible." Kakkyou's jade eyes fixated on Magellan. He was not about to wipe the tears from his cheeks yet. "You will protect her with your life, or else I will find a way to come back and kill you myself." Magellan stiffened. Kakkyou would not be going with them, but staying behind. Remaining here to fight the Dark Messiah. "Kakkyou, what are you doing?" he asked quietly. The disbelief still had him paralyzed from rational thought, and as Kakkyou passed Serenity over to him Magellan carefully gathered the Messiah of Light into his arms. "I'm doing what must be done," the Elven lord answered. "You don't have the time to argue." However, Myung disagreed. "Kakkyou, you can't win," she pleaded with him. Her own eyes were threatening to tear up as she saw a flash of the future, one where Elfhame was burned and destroyed. "Not alone, not like this. Come with us; we--" "You humans fight your wars, we Elven shall fight ours," Kakkyou stated sharply, cutting her off. He was already stalking away through the trees, leaving them behind. The Elven lord splayed his fingers and then made a fist with them, cracking his knuckles. "Right now, I am buying you time to escape with your Messiah of Light...my bride-to-be. If I die here, don't let the sacrifice of my people be in vain." Some things were more important than the selfish desires of personal happiness. Right now Kakkyou found himself lost in both all at once. "He's right, you know," Uranus murmured to the others. "If we don't leave now, then he may die in vain." "He shouldn't even have to die at all," Myung protested weakly, unable to stop from crying now. "Not here, not like this." "There's no absolute guarantee he will die," Pluto said, but her voice was so soft she wasn't even sure if she had spoken those words. Myung shook her head. "But he's walking in to meet death. You can't tempt fate like that." She wanted to curse the war, but didn't have the heart to in that moment. Magellan awkwardly looked down at the sleeping form of Serenity. More than anything he wanted to hold Myung, but for now he was denied if he continued to carry Serenity. Abruptly he fell beneath the shadow of the Man With No Name. "Let me carry her," the nameless stranger said. Confusion clouded Magellan's eyes. But he complied. The Man With No Name carried Serenity close to his chest, staring down at her face with a cipher of an expression. And Magellan was able to hold Myung close to him, letting her mourn the bravery--and perhaps, also the proud & stubborn foolishness--of the Elven race. With gentle prodding he turned them around and began to walk with her towards the gateway hidden beneath the trees. The Man With No Name followed in behind them. Only the three Outer Senshi lingered for a little longer, each one watching the forest coming alive in tension and a howling wind that could have only been a battlecry. "Death seems to be touching everything on this planet," Neptune said in a hushed voice. "It makes one wonder if we'll be the next to feel it's cold caress." Uranus nodded, her arm draped consolingly over Neptune's shoulder. "It's the way of the soldier, Michiru. We'll always know death. We will either be feeling its wind coming towards us, or else we will be its messengers." They turned and silently retreated. Pluto's magenta eyes narrowed, and almost against her better judgment she uprooted herself from where she stood and moved towards the portal. A butterfly gracefully floated past her, its wobbly flight disrupted as it settled upon her shoulder. "Are you going to run away too?" she asked it quietly. "Or are you going to stay and face your destiny...your death?" The butterfly never answered. She doubted if it even heard or understood the question for what it was. A heartbeat later it flapped its wings and went about its way through the scattered rays of light peeking down through the forest canopy. It was Aurora, all over again. And she was having to relive it in this new incarnation. "What would you have said to this, Chronos?" The Elven lord didn't have any armour to clothe himself in. He owned no sword forged from metal, nor arrows carved from the wood of the surrounding trees. What he possessed was magik, a breed purer and more powerful than any other Elven in these forest isles. Humans fought with swords and steel. They were no match for a woman who fought with magik. Swords would break. Steel would melt. Humans would die. But the Elven race were different. It was time to fight magik with magik. Some might have thought him to be stoic as he stalked through the trees of Elfhame, not even looking to the ranks of Elven soldiers appearing from everywhere and taking up the march alongside him. The silent command had already gone out. All wanted to fight. To defend their forest kingdom. To protect the young human girl they had quickly come to see as one of their own, and wanted to one day see as their queen. If they died here and now, they would have no regrets. Elfhame would live on in legend...and Serenity's memory. Already the dark magik could be seen manifesting itself as a churning, unnatural grey mist flowing out and swallowing up the forest floor. Kakkyou pressed on regardless, the expression on his face turning into a vicious snarl. Animals of all species were crying out and taking flight, running away as the Elven warriors moved forward. This was not their fight. They too were ones the Elven protected. Kakkyou's dragon green eyes narrowed, his own powers starting to ignite the air in angered magik. His long silver hair began to rise up, the ends hovering in the air around him. He could hear the hideous, echoing laughter of demons. And the chilling giggles of their harbinger queen. One shadow amongst the others started to take form and substance. It strolled towards them, giggling with a most cruel air. Darkness melted away. Became a darkened dress for a chillingly beautiful woman with long, dark hair. In her hands was she carried a wicked glaive. Violet eyes locked onto Kakkyou's. "If it's a war you wish to bring to Elfhame, Mistress Nine," he growled. "Then it's a war you shall find." For one split second, the entire forest was deathly quiet. And then both sides smashed into each other in a dizzying, frightening blur of magik, darkness and blood. Magellan felt the world pass him by in a momentary ripple of nausea, and then return to normal. His footing upon the solid ground seemed to stumble, but catching himself was easy enough. It felt as if the instant he walked beneath those arced trees, someone have given him a gentle push on the back. And now here he stood: with Myung, with his friends and allies and soldiers, in a part of the forest he did not even remotely recognize. Magellan turned his head, watching as the air behind him grew distorted like the disturbed surface of water. Abruptly The Man With No Name appeared from thin air itself, carrying Serenity in his arms. "We crossed over," he heard Myung say quietly. The soldiers were milling around anxiously, talking in hushed and awed whispers about what they'd experienced. The depths of an enchanted Elven forest were no more. No one could even recognize a single blade of grass here as sharing any commonality with the heart of Elfhame. Everything around them was significantly smaller and more docile. The trees were tall, but easily climbable. The ground was not incredibly uneven and lost amidst patches of moss, pools of water, and tangles of vines and roots. Sunlight streamed through the scattered green veil overhead, and Magellan could see the blue skies of the morning stippled with patches of white cloud. "Well, I'd say the portal worked," Uranus remarked, just a few steps behind The Man With No Name. She and Sailor Neptune had entered with their hands clasped together, and exited the same way. Pluto appeared shortly after, the last of them to venture over the threshold. On impulse, she walked back the way she apparently had come. The air did nothing in response to her presence; she walked beneath the outstretched branch of a tree, and lingered there. "Kakkyou was right," Neptune observed. "We can't go back unless we find another hidden portal." "I don't think he had any reason to lie to us," Magellan countered. "Not when he left something as precious as Serenity in our hands." His eyes glanced down to the sleeping and ethereal blonde girl. She stirred, her eyes moving about beneath her eyelids. She was dreaming. The Man With No Name continued to carry her close to himself, not complaining and not seeming to mind the weight in his arms. "Magellan!" came Frederic's voice. Magellan turned around and saw Frederic jogging around the clusters of soldiers. "I'm lost," he said. "Hopefully you've got a better bearing on our direction than I." Frederic scratched his head. "As far as I can tell, we've crossed straight over the mountain range with just a few steps. A short-range StarChamber of Elven design. That was the best way Magellan found himself silently describing it to himself. "The woods here are a lot thinner than any part of Elfhame we walked through," Frederic continued. "I've already sent out a trio of scouts to find the exit. Let's hope we hear back from them sooner rather than later. As a precaution I armed them with flares; the first to discover the end of the forest launches a red flare, and we follow in its direction." Magellan nodded his approval. He couldn't help but uneasily glance back at Serenity. "You're thinking about him, aren't you?" Myung asked quietly. "I don't believe I can think of anything else at the moment," he answered. "Kakkyou stayed behind, Myung. While we'll making our way to temporary freedom, he'll be fighting for his life." Neptune held out her arm, silently beckoning for a small songbird to land and sing a melody for her. "It would be best not to blame yourself, Magellan," she said sagely. Ever with the air of Neptuni experience and aristocracy. "He could have come with us, but he remained of his own will. Whatever happens now will happen because of his own choice." "That doesn't mean I necessarily agreed with it," Magellan replied. "I'd rather no one else dies today...but in the next hour, the Elven race may get slaughtered like we did at Camelot. He's risking his life for Serenity's protection." The Aroth Armour twitched. "We're still alive to face whatever next battle seeks us out," The Man With No Name said. "Say a final prayer, give him your best hopes, and move on." "We'll move on when we figure out which direction to move in first," Magellan countered sharply. He got no verbal response. However, The Man With No Name cocked one eyebrow. Intrigued with the unexpected change in the Vlatmere lord. "What can we do now then?" Myung found herself asking. Pluto kept staring at the place the gateway had brought them to. Charon's haunting prediction continued to reverberate in her mind and memory. "We wait." As the demons rampaged through and between the trees, colliding with ranks upon ranks of enraged Elven warriors, Mistress 9 and Kakkyou remained hauntingly still. They never moved as a flood of magik spilled out around them, their narrowed eyes watching each other. Never wavering. Never backing down. Kakkyou's upper lip curled back to reveal his teeth. His canines abruptly began to lengthen, growing slender and sloped, curving down to become fangs. His white skin flickered and then changed to a near translucent blue. The veins on his arms rose and stood out beneath his skin. He bent his knees, crouching forward. And then with a howl he flung himself at Mistress 9, his form taking to the air and soaring over the heads of those fighting around him. The Dark Messiah smiled wickedly, her glaive still positioned at her back. At the last second Mistress 9 brought out her weapon and blocked a ferocious ball of blazing electric blue light that erupted from Kakkyou's palms. Kakkyou was upon her a heartbeat later, his clenched fist sparking with magik as he smashed it against the Silence Glaive's blade. Yet the blade refused to crack apart. Mistress 9 swiftly brought the base of the polearm up and caught Kakkyou in the ribs, swatting him aside. He tumbled across the forest like a limp rag doll before righting his body. The Elven lord landed perfectly unscathed upon a high branch. He glared down at the Dark Messiah with his dragon green eyes. "So they were right," he growled, tasting blood in the back of his mouth. "You're no ordinary opponent." He had to laugh, running his tongue along his canine fangs. "I haven't had this much fun in a long time." Mistress 9 didn't wait for him to make the next move. She leapt into the air, tresses of ravendark hair flowing out behind her. Kakkyou's eyes widened as he saw her raise the glaive over her head, poised to bring it down in a vicious slash. He vaulted backwards, somersaulting through the air as the Messiah of Silence swung her weapon. Without even touching the tree, the glaive cleaved it in half. Along with the trunks of six other surrounding trees. The towering trunks shook and then fell over with a horrific groan, taking down even more trees in the process and crushing anything that couldn't get out from beneath them. Demon and Elven alike were killed from the Dark Messiah's single attack. But she refused to pause and gloat in her power. Her momentum and her magik let her continue to fly through the air, landing and ricocheting off the tree branches just as Kakkyou could. They took to the heights of the forest, attacking each other in the air as they bounded and danced among the treetops. All around them the green sanctuary was being bathed in scarlet and shadow. Blood spattered in all directions as Elven and demon alike cut each other down. A hellish panther standing as tall as any Elven raced through the trees, its claws ripping apart any who came across its path. With a roar it sank its savage jaws into the face of an Elven warrior, tearing the head from the shoulders in a crimson geyser. Suddenly the nearby tree came to life as a pair of yellow eyes opened up along the immense wooden trunk. The panther youma had little chance to survive, let alone see, the dozens of tree branches becoming malleable and then shooting towards it. The panther screeched as its body was impaled several times, the force from the branches' impact sending it through the air and crashing into a nearby tree. A small cluster of demons stumbled across one of the freshwater springs, their corrosive essence polluting the clear waters instantly. Helpless, the water nymphs struggled to outswim the deadly blak magik filtering through their pool, escaping to the underground waterways. A few were caught up and choked to death, engulfed into the inky black demonic essence. One nymph, small and just a child, cried as she found herself separated from the others and cornered by the demons. Tears ran down her eyes as she tried to flit her transparent wings and risk an escape on land. The nearest demon leered and reached out for her. And then its hand was abruptly in the gaping jaws of an immense fish whose fangs were as long as icicles. It exploded from the root system enclosing the pool, spewing out wooden shrapnel in every direction. The demon screamed and tried to retract its hand-- only it tried one second too late. The fish's jaws clamped down and it wrenched the demon sideways, tearing the beast's arm from its socket. The other youma moved to attack, only to find themselves at the merciless thrashing of the Elfhame fish. It fell upon them, sending up waves of water before biting into the monsters and devouring them. Amidst the tumultuous melee, the water nymph found a chance to climb onto the root system and make her way to the last remaining pure section of the pool. She dove into the water and made her underwater swim for safety just as a swarm of winged demons descended upon the fish and tore it to gory pieces with their claws. Kakkyou remained oblivious to the small fights for life around him, his own concerns embodied in the woman dressed in darkness still chasing after him. Mistress 9 was laughing as she catapulted and twisted her body through the trees, slashing at Kakkyou whenever she felt like he wasn't giving he enough of a challenge. Trees were sliced apart without being touched by the blade of the glaive. "Is this the best Elfhame can give me?" she shouted at him. As much as he wanted to suddenly turn around and level an attack, Kakkyou bit down on his growing hatred for the Dark Messiah. Coldest of ambitions ran through his blood, giving him the deadly patience he required now. Was she even realizing he was leading her away from the heart of the battle? Did she even know how much power he was concealing from her? The Elven lord hastily flung himself off a towering branch, free falling to the ground below. At the last instant he flipped his body around and kicked off the ground as if he weighed nothing. And then the forest suddenly exploded in a fiery ball of violet light. Kakkyou grunted as the shockwave smashed into his back and sent him tumbling across the uneven earth. The ground behind him was reduced to a yawning chasm of scorched, black earth. Trees had been surgically cut in half, anything caught within the blast radius now no more. And there standing in the epicentre was the Dark Messiah. "Have you warmed up yet?" she inquired coldly, watching Kakkyou slowly push himself off the ground. "Are you at last going to reveal why you've removed me from those worthless demons?" Kakkyou winced as a tree branch poked out from his ribcage, gritting his teeth. At least he'd seen that one coming. Taking the bloodied end of wood in his hands he simple pulled it sideways out from his body, his chest rippling like the ocean as the branch was effortlessly removed. "So you noticed," he remarked, ruefully laughing as he got back to his feet. His chest felt a little tender, but it wouldn't slow him down. "I wanted to grant you a private audience, Mistress Nine. I've heard a number of things about you that I want to test for myself." Mistress 9's lips curled into a vicious smile. "Ara, you want to die like all the others before you? But I'm not complaining; your magik is quite decadent. I'm almost euphoric already from just basking in its presence." She lifted the Silence Glaive, positioning it behind her back once more. "Don't get ahead of yourself," Kakkyou growled. "You've slaughtered your share of humans, but we Elven are a little harder to kill." The Dark Messiah giggled. "Really?" Suddenly she shot across the forest floor, moving a blinding speed even Kakkyou couldn't evade. Mistress 9 grappled onto his neck, hoisting Kakkyou's feet of the ground and slamming his back into a tree. Upon impact the Elven lord exploded into a geyser of water, the tidal surge smashing into Mistress 9 and sweeping her back across the battleground. Ripples in the water churned and pooled together to grow and form the image of Kakkyou. Without waiting for a response, there was a snap of the Elven lord's fingers and a thick cloud of dark mist pulsated out from behind him. The mists began to swarm and close together to create form and essence. The creation was that of a winged serpentine beast. With a shout, Kakkyou unleashed a burst of Elven magik, catapulting the serpent towards Mistress 9. The winged beast opened its immense jaws and screeched as it prepared to sink its jagged fangs into her flesh. "You can't fool me with these petty tricks!" Mistress 9 snapped, launching a volley of her own dark powers. Within seconds the serpent exploded into a rainfall of sparkling glass powder. And then Kakkyou leapt through the deluge of powder, already at full momentum as he leveled a hard punch to Mistress 9's cheek. "I wish I could say I was impressed," he hissed. "But I'm not!" Mistress 9 stumbled backwards, clutching at the trickle of blood running down from the corner of her mouth. Kakkyou dropped to the ground in front of her, smashing his palm into the earth. Upon contact the ground broke apart, an underground magik tearing apart the grasses as it streaked towards the Dark Messiah, red light punching through to the surface. Mistress 9 snarled, sending up a barrier that caused the attack to be stopped dead cold. "You're more tenacious than I first gave you credit for," she stated, licking the blood off her finger. "It's not every day someone draws blood from me." Kakkyou said nothing, crouched low to the ground and breathing heavily. Mistress 9 giggled and began to swing her glaive. The air around her came alive with crackling magik, black lightning exploding from the trees and ground, pooling together around her form. "How exquisite. I wasn't even going to bother with your kingdom, not until I sensed you all marching to war against me. Ironic that an Elven would die protecting humans." "That's beside the point I'm about to ram down your throat!" Kakkyou snapped. He met the challenge, his eyes widening as he let the air around himself charge and reach saturation with his powers. They were creating massive fields, each one sending down a shower of sparks as magic struck against magik. Their energies were clashing violently, the earth being torn apart from the confrontation and the surrounding forest beginning to buckle and crack apart from the sheer magnitude. Suddenly a tidal wave of dark energy flooded past him, raging torrents of frenzied magik converging on the Elven Lord. Mistress 9 had cut through his defenses without so much as a second thought. Kakkyou winced. The next few seconds of this would not be pretty. "Can you sense it?" Myung asked in a hushed whisper, one meant only for Magellan to hear. Magellan nodded, staring up at the blue heavens revealed by the scattered trees. "The war for Elfhame's begun." Frederic was making the rounds with the soldiers, being his usual self and proving to keep everyone's spirits up with laughter. A simple and ancient remedy, able to snuff out most pain. At least on a temporary basis. The Outers seemed to be retreating into their own little group, Neptune and Uranus staying close to each other. Pluto was still watching the place they'd emerged from. Perhaps even staring out beyond the mere visible part of the forest, looking to the heart of Elfhame. And The Man With No Name played his role as guardian angel perfectly. Saying nothing. His focus solely on Serenity. But now the collision of infuriated magiks was starting to flow through the air, charging it like electricity. Those aligned with magik were starting to feel the hairs upon their skin begin to rise. Distant rumbles and howls were carried with the winds, chilling to listen to. "What's going on there?" Uranus muttered. Myung shook her head. "If only there was a way we could know, instead of just standing around uselessly." And then a most unexpected voice answered her, "There may be a way." Magellan and Myung looked up in surprise, and saw an aged man standing before them. Fishbone white hair trailed down his shoulders. Leathery wrinkled skin clung to his face. "M-Merlin?" Magellan stammered. "But I thought--" "The reports of my death were greatly exaggerated," Merlin answered curtly. "You can interrogate me later, Magellan, but right now we have more pressing concerns." The Ancient mage turned his head, looking at Neptune. "You have a mirror, do you not? One that can see beyond what other mirrors see." Neptune looked at him with mixed interest and suspicion. As far as she was aware, only Pluto and The Man With No Name had been aware of the Outer Senshi's Talismans. However...The Man With No Name had revealed the Talismans though he possessed no prior knowledge of their existence. "I was familiar with the Ancient who created them for you," Merlin said quickly, reading the doubts in her expression. "To an extent, I hold some idea as to their powers and limitations." Neptune summoned the Talisman. A mirror bearing the crest of her planetary homeworld and deity. An artifact that could cut through the guises of magik and illusion, and reveal the truth. Sometimes in purest and obvious light. Other times in more obscure images and riddles. It would always vary with each situation. But the Aqua Mirror would never fail her. Serenity began to stir more violently now in The Man With No Name's arms, her eyes rolling around more frantically beneath their lids. She was breaking out into a profuse sweat, her face contorting into an expression of pain and fear. "Whatever you intend to look at, you had better do it quick," The Man With No Name stated, maintaining a cool attitude as one of Serenity's fists clenched the fabric of his black shirt, pulling it taut. "She seems liable to explode the second she awakens. I'd rather not have you find out what's triggering this after she's blown me across the woods." The key players in the Messiah Wars gathered around the Aqua Mirror. Uranus, Neptune, Magellan, Myung, Merlin--and Frederic quickly joined them when he saw the light shining brightly from the surface of the Talisman's glass. Pluto stayed where she was, watching the woods. Already certain of what was to transpire. The Man With No Name waited in silence for the verdict. Serenity's hold on his shirt began to tear the fabric. If it were possible, she would have pushed herself right through his chest. The Elven enchantment seemed to be the only thing keeping her asleep, though she was desperately clawing her way back to consciousness. "Kakkyou," she whispered. The tears started to run down her cheeks. And then one fell from above onto her face. The Man With No Name looked down at himself in surprise. "Why am I crying too?" Upon the moon, at the edge of what would one day be called the Sea of Tranquillity, the Raithe's shakujyo began to stir. Something was calling to it. Awakening it. The magik that had gone dormant with its master's death began to come back to life. It fast became restless. There was one last task for it to fulfill. And then it could join its master. It waited for the magik. Kakkyou gasped as something hot and painful smashed into his back, sending him tumbling forward. He rolled across the ground, limbs failing as he tried to right himself. Everything inside his body was burning like fire and stinging like ice. It felt as if he'd spasm so hard he'd shatter his entire self. The curving form of a tree rising out from the ground brought him to an excruciating stop, the horrific sensations now just shadows coursing through his blood. They left him chilled and sweating profusely. What the hell was that? Fingers gingerly reached back to feel the scorched remains of the back of his shirt and vest. He brought his palm back before his face, and found it stained with his blood. "How did you like that little taste of me?" Mistress 9 asked as she walked towards him. She licked her lips in watching him struggle to find himself amidst the lingerings of her attack. Yet she was impressed that he had absorbed it all and was still moving; most others would have been killed instantly. "I've had better," Kakkyou growled, throwing himself back. He ignored the pain as his back struck the tree. Using the trunk as a crutch he forced himself to rise to his feet. Dragon green eyes glared at her. The Dark Messiah continued to give him a predatory smile. Her target was still Magellan--but this Elven lord was proving to be a most worthwhile distraction. She idly wondered how long he would last; already he was proving more the rival than Arthur had ever been. What possessed one so that they would fight this passionately? "You can't win," she stated. "Armies have already tried and failed. You may be Elven, but you are only one soul standing against me." "Oh yeah?" Kakkyou retorted. "I still have a few of those petty tricks up my sleeve...LIKE THIS!" Jade eyes opened wide in rampant ferocity. All his silver hair danced wildly around his face as gales rose up inside the forest with enough force that the billows of winds could be seen as waves of misty grey. A battle aura unlike any other erupted from his body, tearing the remains of his shirt from his body, fabric scraps incinerated upon leaving his skin. The explosive burst was enough to make Mistress 9 stop and take a cautionary step back. Kakkyou straightened. Any signs of having been wounded by her before had vanished. And upon his forehead a mark flickered into being, the rune strokes erupting into beams of searing white light. And it was the rune of royalty, the pure unrefined magik of the Elven aristocracy. Black smoke poured out from behind him, flooding the area and swarming around the trees caught up with the battle. It engulfed the forest. It engulfed Kakkyou. And then it swallowed up the Dark Messiah. Everything became like night, dark and cold. A flash of violet light penetrated the veil, the Silence Glaive dispelling the dark mist with one swipe across the air. Mistress 9's eyes narrowed as she saw Kakkyou. His eyes were closed, fingers moving into strange gestures, lips chanting barely audible words. "What are you up to?" she murmured. Suddenly his eyes opened up. Kakkyou howled as he whirled from his place on the damp ground, flinging a tremendous gale of magik from his hands. Mistress 9's smile changed only for a brief heartbeat when she saw the power being purged from his body and being sent towards her own. Earth, trees, air, animal: anything being caught up in its path was incinerated without flame or the chance to scream. The tempest mists roared towards Mistress 9, the dark clouds of magik swarming and forming a gaping skull. The skull opened up its hellish jaws to swallow her whole. A death incantation. Shadowspiral. One that no other human being could have hoped to stop. Perhaps not even one an Ancient would have been able to deflect. But she was not like those other humans. In her darkest of hearts, hidden within the bosom of a daimon egg nestled in her body, Mistress 9 knew she was not human. She was the messenger of Pharaoh 90. She would not dishonour him by dying so easily. Kakkyou watched as the Shadowspiral fell upon and engulfed the Dark Messiah. The entire forest was bathed in fierce unnatural light as his magik unleashed its lethal power--only to be shattered apart. Grey mists billowed out, suddenly forming a cylindrical tunnel that followed the wake of the attack. Kakkyou's eyes widened. "Masaka...." The Dark Messiah's attack was at its peak, easily punching a hole through Kakkyou's best defense without even blinking. His eyes never widened as he watched the frenzied storm of magic streak through the air towards him. He had not the time nor the magik to retaliate. He watched with both a ferocious glare and a grim bracing for what might be his last breath of life. To think that the last of the Elven lords would die here, like this. Magik rammed into his chest, sending him pinwheeling through the air, a thin cloud of blood spraying out in his wake. He was barely aware of up or down, tumbling too fast to regain his balance. And too dizzied to stop himself from hitting one of the megalithic trees. The impact cracked the trunk, Kakkyou's body convulsing from the shock. His ribcage felt like it would collapse upon itself, even more blood rushing out from his mouth. Mistress 9 was standing there, watching him slowly slump to the ground. Looking almost human and ladylike. Almost hauntingly beautiful. "Not bad, Elven," she said with an air of commendation. "Futile, but not bad never the less." Kakkyou found himself unable to keep one eye open as more trickles of free-running blood flowed down his face. "I must look like hell," he whispered faintly. Serenity would no doubt pitch a fit if she saw him emerge from battle looking like this. Out from the corner of his vision, he saw the Silence Glaive catching a faint ray of fire. Kakkyou's arm instinctively went in front of his face, his fist clenching a sabre forged of purest magik and light. Blade clashed against blade, sending forth a fury of sparks. Mistress 9 continued to try and push the sharpened tip of her weapon into his face. And despite the pain, through the exhaustion which made everything seem almost dreamlike, Kakkyou kept his defensive block steady and unmoving. "Why do you persist?" the Dark Messiah demanded angrily, confusion registering in her eyes. "Why not let me end this, and taste your magik and your life?" A cruel smile found its way onto Kakkyou's face. "You would never understand," he stated. "You're nothing but an empty shell. For all the power you own, you know nothing." Mistress 9's eyes widened with furious indignation. That this mortal could laugh at her, a daimon?! "Are you that afraid to die?" "My own fear of death is nothing compared to my fear of living and losing her!" the Elven lord snapped. "I won't give you the pleasure of that!" A surge of strength gave him the chance to push her back. With a shout he was standing once more. And now on the offensive. Mistress 9 found herself on the receiving end of an attack, making further use of Hotaru's memories as an Auroran samurai. The enchanted magik Kakkyou was wielding refused to bend or crack, holding as firmly as the metal of her Silence Glaive. They danced through the forest, racing across earth and soaring over each other's heads in the air. Exchanges of strikes and thrusts were met with blocks and parries. The war between the Elven and the demons was starting to spill out around them once again. Both Kakkyou and Mistress 9 were ignorant, caught up in their own grudge match. Kakkyou's eyes flashed a solid emerald. The trees around him convulsed, their roots and branches suddenly writhing and snaking out like serpentine creatures. The Dark Messiah was caught up and entrapped by a net of wood and vine. But with a flash of her own powers the net was dashed to splinters, raining down upon their heads. And Kakkyou was there waiting for the opening. Mistress 9 brought up her polearm, the glowing sabre he smashed down deflected once again. One of her legs lifted up and kicked Kakkyou in the chest. He stumbled back, leaning back even further as the Silence Glaive swung in a horizontal arc, nearly taking off his head. They continued to move. With a driving punch that caused the ground to shudder, Kakkyou sent up a series of fireballs and explosions. Mistress 9 extinguished the flames with a single swipe of her blade, lunging for the Elven lord. He threw up his sabre, knocking the lethal tip of the glaive high above his head. Mistress 9's eyes narrowed. She'd been waiting for that. Kakkyou suddenly found a choking blow sent straight into his stomach, with enough momentum to violently push him backwards. He refused to be catapulted into the air, digging his feet into the ground as he continued to get pushed away from Mistress 9. The instant he stopped, the Dark Messiah was upon him. Eyes of jade widened in seeing her keep the glaive behind her back with one hand. And then Mistress 9 raised her free hand, keeping the fingertips perfectly straight as she drove them forward. There was no chance to block it. The sickening rip of torn flesh and bone echoed across a silence that seized the air. Blood sprayed out in an almost majestic geyser, droplets staining everything around them. Once beautiful eyes slowly closed. A heartbeat began to slow, doomed to stop. Kakkyou's mouth was agape, his eyes focusing and unfocusing as he bent forward. Staring in disbelief at the hand rammed through the right side of his chest. He could feel the Dark Messiah's fingers having punched through the backside of his ribcage. Air seemed stolen. His breaths came in chokes and gurgles. And haunting memories of the words his beloved had spoken came back. They would not let him die alone. 'I'm home.' They would not let him die like this. 'Thank you for protecting me.' Visions of Serenity passed before him with maddening speed, taking eternity and a heartbeat. Holding a little blonde baby girl in his arms. Watching her grow up at Glenhawke. Sharing a first kiss. Coming to Elfhame. Holding her before the enchanted mirror. Their last night together, sleeping beside the warmth of each other. There would be no more memories. Mistress 9 withdrew her arm, her expression revealing just how indifferent she was to the gore and blood now soaking her skin from the elbow down. Kakkyou collapsed to his knees, desperate & instinctive magiks being summoned to keep him alive for a little longer. He clung to those visions of Serenity. To her lingering, pleasant smell. To those crystal blue eyes which had possessed him for so long. To the caress of her soft, pale skin. Even though Serenity was nowhere nearby, he held onto her tighter than ever before, tighter than he could ever remember. His memories buried his face into her long golden blonde hair, breathing in her scent. It was this scent of magik he had first been enchanted with, this scent haunting his world ever since. He gently embraced her, cradling Serenity's memory in his arms as with fumbling fingers he felt around the gaping wound in his chest. He heard his own words, spoken what seemed like so long ago: 'I swear I will always be with you. 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 closed his eyes as he began to laugh quietly to himself. So today would mark his final game after all. "Serenity, forgive me," he muttered. It appeared he would be breaking his promise to her after all. But this Elven lord would not go down in history without making one hell of an exit. If he was to protect Serenity, there was only one thing left to do. He stared at the Dark Messiah right then. "Oh, you're still alive?" Mistress 9 inquired with mild surprise. Kakkyou forced himself to stand. He could no longer see out from one eye. He could no longer breathe. A fragile patchwork was keeping him intact and alive...though such magik would not last much longer. Alone his strength was gone. By himself he could do nothing. "My kinsmen," he murmured, letting his magik stretch out across Elfhame. "It is time...." The Elves of Arana heard him. And answered. Something swept across the forest isles of Arana, something with enough force to send cracks sprawling across the ground and trees, something powerful enough to cause the Dark Messiah to brace herself against the blast. It was magik borne of a different emotion. One that demanded retribution no matter what the cost. A chilling wave swept past them, embodied in a cold gale wind that sent the animals scattering and the birds taking to the skies in fright. Even the soldiers stepped back, looking to each other for support, thinking this might be a prelude to an attack. "What magik is that?" Myung exclaimed, shielding her eyes from the debris being strewn about the air. In The Man With No Name's arms, Serenity convulsed and thrashed. He held her fiercely, trying to keep her calmed while making sure he wasn't torn apart in the process. "Whatever it is, it's not sitting well with her," he snapped. The Aqua Mirror suddenly revealed a momentary image. For but a heartbeat, Neptune saw it all happen. And she understood. She looked away from her Talisman, and slowly turned her head back to the forest realm of Elfhame. "The magik of death," she said quietly. "They're going to destroy the forest themselves." Mistress 9 was looking away from Kakkyou, her attention focused upon the strange hum echoing across the forest. Everywhere she looked a mysterious shimmer was starting to overtake the lush green realm. All around the Elven warriors were no longer fighting; like Kakkyou their eyes were closed, their hands outstretched, their bodies hovering in the air and engulfed in a golden sphere. Demons were no longer attacking, confused at this turn of events. Those who did found the golden barriers impenetrable. "What are you doing?" she asked. The Elven lord gathered the strength to smile in the face of death. "There is another way to end this," he hissed, his body swaying from its unbalanced stance. "If I cannot kill you and be with Serenity, then you will at least do me the favour of letting me escourt you to hell!" The Lifespark. It was what bound his soul, every breath he took, to this forest. One of the most dangerous and complicated magiks of the Elven race was to perform the Lifespark, connecting their heartbeats together. Those who shared the bond would feel pain as one of them experienced it, but dilute death to make it only an injury amongst many. A tactic meant to preserve all--or take all. This was a secret magik that had been woven through the Elven world long ago. All life in Elfhame was starting to detect this final magik, and resonate with it. Those who declined were free to flee and hide. But he could feel everyone touched by his mind and intent on accepting their destiny. Together they would show their true power. All of Kakkyou's attacks were deflected. All his power was swatted aside. He understood why Magellan hadn't wanted him to fight the Dark Messiah. He wasn't the one with the magik necessary to defeat this woman--let alone kill her. Yet he refused to let Elfhame fall like Camelot. This time it would be different. This time the Lifespark would save another who wasn't even bound by it's magik. Kakkyou lifted his head and saw the blue skies through the cut-apart canopy of leaves overhead. "I would have been your husband in another life," he whispered. The Dark Messiah watched him, no longer amused to play games. She stretched out an arm and let loose a volley of black fire at the Elven lord. Suddenly Kakkyou was right in front of Mistress 9, the fireball harmlessly crashing into a tree. She recoiled in surprise yet moved too slow. Kakkyou's fingers clamped down upon her face, thumbs pressing against her temples. They were being lifted into the air, hovering high enough to almost break the green veil of the forest. The Silence Glaive was lost from her hands and fell to the ground far below. "Our hearts are joined," he murmured. "Our breaths have become one. My blood spilled shall run down your arms. My agony shall become your torture. The Lifespark has taken our souls and entwined them together." "Pretentious bastard!" Mistress 9 spat, shoving Kakkyou away. A dark smile tugged at the edges of the Elven lord's lips as he hovered there in the air with her. "Look into my eyes...and watch your own death. Prepare for my endgame." "I find your threats hard to take seriously when I can see straight through your chest," the Dark Messiah retorted coldly. But she found herself talking to the air. Kakkyou suddenly reappeared in behind her, his arms wrapping around Mistress 9's chest. Hands tightly clasped, locking them together. They flipped over, and then Kakkyou plunged them both headfirst towards the earth below. "Who said I was hoping to come out alive?" he snarled. "What are you doing?!" Mistress 9 exclaimed, frantically thrashing about to get free. Kakkyou's grip was relentless and refused to be broken. In that final moment he found peace. Dragon green eyes closed. Never again would they be reopened. "I love you, Serenity. Good-bye...." The two figures plummeted, a pool of magik gathering around them. Frenzied lights of blue and violet twisted and raged around their bodies, explosions of sparks raining down upon the forest floor. A split second later, the two hit the ground. In that moment of dead calm, the rest of the world would realize what Kakkyou had done. Magik detonated. And the forest isles of Arana were shattered by a monstrous burst of a golden white light. The entire kingdom convulsed as the earth cracked apart, hot sulfurous steam rising up as flames rampaged to the surface. Trees broke apart like shards of glass, their dimensions distorted and burning in the inferno. The spheres enclosing the Elven resonated and then shattered, taking up the explosions. Elfhame buckled, falling apart on itself, lost within a blinding spectacle of fire and light. Demons caught up in the maelstrom shrieked as they were incinerated with the rest of the life there. The forest realm imploded, everything being sucked into the core with the magikstorm. Silence reigned for an instant as all the fierce power died down. And then it exploded. The ancient trees and the sanctuaries of magik they hid crumbled and finally broke, pure magik being unleashed in a fury never meant to be wielded. Nothing of Elfhame could be seen as the inferno stretched up into the skies, bent on destroying all in its path. The forest tumbled and plunged into the watery surface beneath it. A shaft of Elven magik stabbed into the heart of the ocean and struck the height of the heavens, sending up a torrential flood that came down as a thick deluge, the skies suddenly cleared of every last cloud. Tidal waves cascaded across the once peaceful surface of the waters, crashing violently into the surf and coastline. The Elven magik faded away forever. Only a faint sound of a teardrop striking the water's surface was heard, it too dying into silence. Light was reborn. The blue skies and sunlight shining down from above. Those who were there to witness to suicide incantation once again could see...and yet there was nothing left to see. The forest of Elfhame was gone. And suddenly Serenity was thrown awake, crying out to the heavens. She desperately tried to tear herself from The Man With No Name's grip. "Kakkyou!" she screamed, the tears streaming down her eyes as she watched Elfhame burn in her mind, and then sink into the frothing oceans. Upon her forehead a golden light exploded, and the mark of the crescent moon burned itself against her skin. She was oblivious to it. "KAKKYOU!!" final eternity: vlatmere Thanks: To Sailor Skuld, who has always been there to ensure that I at last finish what the CoT: Dark Messiah trilogy began. She saw the potential in me about 2 years ago when she asked if I might help write the Messiah Wars arc, but I don't think either of us were ready for just how epic this has all become. Not that it's a bad thing.... To Todd Foster, my Messiah Wars counterpart. A number of the scenes between Magellan and Myung are my own retelling of a story 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 has shown with my drawn-out writing.