Quests for Truth, Chapter Five a, by Sailor GlitterGirl, Rose Aquarius & (help) from RavenEye, August, 2001 Rose-chan: Yippie!!!! Finally getting into the swing of things, eh? GlitterGirl: A BIG thanks to Azn-chan!!!! We reeeally appreciate your e-mails! Rose-chan: You know, we've gotten more comments on how well we work together than we do about what we've been working *on!* How ironic is that? Raven: Very. GlitterGirl: Oh, there you are! *hugs love* Raven: *kisses princess* Rose-chan: o,0 *smacks head* I give up... Well, we, the wonderous Writing Duo, (with help from a very helpful third wheel. Ouch! *glares at Raven*) present to you, our adored readers, the fourth chapter of Quests for Truth, the second book in our ongoing saga, the... *****@ THE UNIVERSAL GALAXY SAGA @***** ~The Quests For Truth~ Chapter Five a: Secrets Bared to Thy Self Rated: *sigh* PG, per usual, for heavy drama. Laxa felt her rage at her sister being injured rise. She decided to direct that anger towards the youma that now had Sailor Venus in its claws. As Laxa let her hate build, she tossed aside all the cautions that entered her mind at letting herself slip back into that world where everything was so, so clear...so easy... And so wrong. Laxa didn't care. All she cared about was being able to tap into the power that was always waiting for her, always dorment, always waiting for her to let her guard down... Well now she was letting it down. Willingly. White and silver light heavily accented with the blood red of hate swirled around her. The silver Light Crystal over Laxa's heart began to pulse in time with the power around her. Power began building around her as her hate for the ones who dared harm anyone close to her was rekindled. Yet despite allowing that emotion to flood her again, she was faintly aware of what would happen if she went too far, knowing that if she fell into that trap once more, Versia wouldn't be there to protect her and save her as she had last time. So with that knowledge being her only safe guard, Laxa unleashed her terrifying furry at the youma that was staring at her with fear and awe. The Senshi all backed away, save for Orion who, with a growl, ran and leaped up, snatching the nearly unconscious Mina from the youma's now weak grasp. "You..." Laxa whispered, rage and hate making her voice quiver. "It was your kind who destroyed my family." Her feet were planted firmly apart, her fists clenched at her sides, her head bent down as she stared with wide, unseeing eyes at the stone ground. Slowly, she lifted those blazing eyes to glare stonily at the youma. A flash and a roar of power flared up around her, pitch black and blood red magic swirling and twining around her silver and white powers. There was no shout, no command, no words of power. Laxa's eyes simply snapped from blazing silver, to cool, ice hard, solid blackness. There was no blast, no flash of light, no explosion. The youma simply... Vanished. Before it had a chance to scream, yet in the moment before it disappeared, on its animal like face an expression of pure agony was visible, and then... For a split second a fizzing of microscopic dust fluttered in the wind, then was gone. *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^* Versia's vision slowly came back to her. Blinking her eyes to try and clear her foggy eyesight, she moved to rub her eyes, only to discover that she could hardly move. When things focused, she found that she was bound at the wrists, behind her back, and her feet at the ankles in front of her. The back of her head felt damp and sticky. *Blood.* She thought hazily. Just then a massive wave of pain encompassed her. *Man, I really hate head injuries.* She thought, hissing, biting her lip in extreme pain and closed her eyes in agony. She then heard loud footsteps coming towards her. She winced and gasped, cringing in pain from the potent evilness that she felt approaching. She *felt* the instensity of power. It burned into her chest. A sliver of light, a shadowy figure shrouded in a cloak of darkness. "Well, well, well." A deep, sinister, snake-like voice drawled. "The Queen of Starlight wakes up. Have a nice nap?" The cold voice asked. Versia wanted to hurl every cursing spell and magical power she had at the demonic owner of the voice, but she hardly keep her head up straight, let alone perform an intricate incantation. "Ahh, cat got your tongue?" The deep vile voice put in. "Oh, wait, I forgot; that little sunlight Count thats always tagging along with your sister's lover isn't here." Versia felt like her head was going to explode from rage. No one made fun of Eclipse but her! The creature raised a hand and lifted her chin. She had ivory blood stains on her forehead. "I command to you to speak! Speak, Child of Light!" The voice demanded, the figure stepping out of the door way and stroding towards her, stopping just in front of her to grab her chin and twist her face up to his. It was all Versia could do to keep from screaming from the pain that his touch brought her. And with all her strength she mustered she would give him a piece of her mind. She didn't bother to conserve even the tiniest bit of energy; she knew she was dying. "Go- to- he- hell!" She managed to hiss put out, and spit in his face. He slapped her so hard one could hear the crack in the other room. "Tell us of the Book, Light Daughter! Tell me what you and your worthless Light Warrior pets want with it, and you might live!" He yelled. "You... couldn't... k- keep.... me here... if you... t-tried!" She said horsely. "We have ways of making you talk." The figure snarled lowly. "We could turn you to our side." He now circled her like a lion teasing it's prey. "You are near death, Child of Light. You are weak; It would be all too easy to turn you. You would have great success as one of us; you have a dark energy about you, it would make it very easy." He licked his lips and she almost vomited. Versia felt like laughing. Over the course of her life, she and others had gone to great lengths to ensure that the Shadow Kingdom knew nothing of her weakness to unusually potent black powers. It was agony to even breath now. She realized it wasn't just the injuries.... It was something else. It suffocated her; the nearness of the evil powers were getting to her. "You gloat....in my weakness," Versia choked on her own blood. "But what makes you think... I would survive your...persuasions?" "Hmmmm... Perhaps I'll just kill you slowly, making sure you felt your death perfectly, just like your Mother." He snickered. Versia went into a rage. "You light....killer! You will pay....for your.... disrespect!" She screamed, but it came out softer than intended. She struggled in her binds. He slapped her again only harder than before. Her head snapped in the other direction. She was still. *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^* "By the planets that fuel my power! Versia!" Laxa screamed. She fell to the floor on her knees, the pain too great as she let go of her grasp on the powers of hate. Drained, spent, and in great pain both from the attack she had just issued and the channeling agony from her sister, Laxa simply collapsed to the ground. "Galaxy!" Venus yelled, running to the girl. "What is it, Laxa? What's wrong?" Rose asked, running up from out of her hiding place. She remembered Versia-Mama once saying something about Laxa once having a dangerous addiction to the powers she could have by tapping into her hate for the Shadow Kingdom, but never in her fifteen years had she ever imagined... "It's Versia." Laxa croaked out hoarsly. Saturn stepped forward and laid a hand on Laxa's forehead. A pale violet glow encompased them both. Moments later, Laxa stood. Before she had a chance to even open her mouth, she found herself in a firm, tight, protective embrace. Smiling slightly, Laxa snuggled deeper into her love's arms and wrapped her own arms around Raven's neck. "If you *ever* do that again..." Raven breathed hoarsly. "I thought...gods, Laxa, I thought I was going to loose you...*Again...* I thought you'd learned your lesson last time..." "Don't worry," Laxa smiled up at Raven as she pulled away. "I know what to look out for now. I'll be fine. I just-" Laxa's next words were cut off by a tall, brunette haired and bloody figure stumbling through the bushes. Gasping and holding an obviously very broken arm and mangled hand, Jupiter collapsed to the ground. Eclipse barely managed to catch the warrior of strength before her head clashed to the cement ground. "Universe..." Jupiter coughed, dark blood splattering on her lips. "Hush." Eclipse told her firmly, and placed a hand on her forehead. A dark purple light, threaded with black and gold surrounded Jupiter, and, as they watched, Jupiter's arm flashed. When the light died, all signs of injuries on her arm were gone. The rest of her, however, was just as haggard, and it was painfully obvious that she had barely escaped from a very costly fight. "Lita, you baka!" Mina roared, siezing Jupiter into a tight hug. "Why didn't you call for help? What happened? What *about* Sailor Universe?" Mina rambled on, all the while checking her comrade for injuries. "Guys, guys, cool it!" Sailor Moon said, smiling. The senshi backed away, looking sheepish as Rose helped a weary Eclipse to his feet. "What happened?" Sailor Mars demanded, the long tails of her back bows fluttering in the wind, mingling with her long, unbound ebony hair. "A Shadow warrior of some sort," Sailor Jupiter spat. "Universe and I hooked up in an alley just after I transformed. Then she just suddenly collapsed, and I knew from the look on her face that something... bad was coming." Jupiter stopped to nod a thanks to Mercury, who had knelt to bandage a gash on Sailor Jupiter's leg. Sailor Galaxy motioned for Jupiter to proceed. "That's when I got bashed on the head." Jupiter continued. "Versia was right beside me, though instead of just knocking her out, the minute she was out these...winged creature took her away before she had even hit the ground." "I take it they didn't knock *you* out, and you fought them, and here you are." Eclipse concluded darkly, his fists clenched ominously at his sides. Jupiter nodded her confirmation and smile wanely. "Guess its true; I do have a hard head." The brunette tried to joke. "Not as hard as Mars' head is," Sailor Moon muttered, just barely loud enough for others to hear. Mars threw her leader an annoyed look, but before she could protest, Sailor Galaxy gasped and stumbled again. She would have fallen had it not been for Raven's arm still around her. The others had hardly moved towards her to see if she was alright when she straightened, a flashing, determined gleem in her cold silver eyes. "She's in even more danger than before! Come on!" Laxa yelled and ran in the direction that the pain led her. Eclipse and Raven exchanged glances, then took off after Sailor Galaxy, and were soon joined by the Senshi. Soon enough they found a alley way and stopped. Laxa and Eclipse looked about, the two the only ones who could sense Versia. Just then a loud crack was heard. Laxa narrowed her eyes and raised her hand. A long, slender spiral of light formed in the shape of her staff. With a solid flash, the light disappeared, and Laxa's silver and pearl staff took its place. Silver light began to collect around the larger version of the Galaxy Light Crystal atop Laxa's staff. The light was joined with white sparkles, and the power began to swirl around the crystal. The spiral became larger and large, then, with a wordless cry from the staff's beholder, the light spun away furiously, exploding near the end of the dead-end alley. There was a spectacular explosion, and all at once a large, swirling black portal flashed into existence. Immediately, Laxa and Raye began sensing for their lost comrade. Laxa for the link she and her sister shared, Raye using her newfound phsycic abilites to sniff out the powers of the Starlight. "My god," Laxa breathed her eyes widening and Mars and Mercury stiffling shrieks of shock as all three of them sensed the readings. Eclipse looked ready to kill. The evil was more potent, more powerful than ever; the Shadow Kingdom was gathering power. And Versia was hardly alive. *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^* "Omigosh, did you *hear?*" A girl exclaimed. "Kevin asked Mia out to the movies!" "No way!" The girl's companion squealed. Setsuna narrowed her eyes as she passed. How come she hadn't heard of this? She always knew everything! The knowledge that someone -several someones- knew somthing before her put the girl in a foul mood. "Hey! Hey!" Setsuna suddenly cried at a pair of boys that were trying to hang a banner. "You'll never get it straight like that!" The boys glared down at her. "You're not our boss," One said. "You can't control us," Sneered the other. Then they finished tacking up the banner, and climbed down. The banner was perfect. Setsuna reeled in shock and disbelief. How had they gotten it right without her guidance or help? What did he mean by 'you can't control us?' "Just that, Warrior of Pluto," That same voice from earlier boomed. The school and hallways and lockers and students around Setsuna faded and swirled, melting into that everlasting white expanse once again. "What?" Setsuna asked, but her moment of bewilderment was short lived. Within an instant her cool, all knowing demeaner was back in place. "Your test, Setsuna," the voice said, sounding amused. "Do you not yet know what it is?" "How can I?" Pluto said, miffed at herself for not knowing. She hated mysteries, despite deliberately placing an air of mystery around herself. "You speak in riddles, Guardian of the Book." The voice chuckled. "You are the first so far to know who I am," The voice said. Had the voice had a body, Setsuna gathered it would have bowed. "But we are here to discover who you are, Guardian of Time, not me." "What do you mean by that?" Setsuna cried, suppressing the tones of anger and frustration. "I know who I am! I am the Guardian of Time, Princess of Pluto!" "Yes," the voice said solomly. "Yes, you are the Guardian of time, of that no one has any doubt. But, my dear Guardian, tell me, how do you know that you are Princess of Pluto?" "Because only the heirs of Pluto can wield the forces of time!" She said stubbornly. "Yes, but isn't Queen Serenity your sister? Whose to say that *you* were actually the Queen of the Moon?" Setsuna opened her mouth to protest, when she suddenly realized that the voice was right. Completely right. She and Serenity both were heirs of Pluto, though Setsuna had been chosen as Crown Heir. Beyond her identity of Guardian of Time, how much did she really know of her royal lineage? For the first time in a long while, Setsuna was unsure of herself. She hated the feeling, though, with the emotion, something came to her. Something...something that had been...missing. Quickly she consoled with her self. Everyone thought that she knew everything that ever had, would, or might happen, when in truth... in truth she knew no more than what the Time Continuem chose to show her, usually only tidbits, just enough to modivate her to righten the time stream. But suddenly she realized that in all that time, while she had glimpsed the other Planetary Princesses, never, not even once, had she seen herself as anything other than the Guardian of the Chronos Domain. It suddenly struck her that she didn't even know one hundred percent for sure if Queen Serenity *was* her sister; it had always been instinct -however strong- that had told her. "Who am I?" Setsuna suddenly whispered, without knowing that she was even contemplating opening her mouth. "Do you truely wish to know?" The voice was mournful. Setsuna hesitated -registering briefly that she hardly ever did so- before nodding, releasing both her physical and mental hold on her Time Staff, reverting back into her ice green business suit. She closed her eyes and clenched her fists. Something told her that her truth would not be easy to accept. Clenching her fists at her side, she gave her answer strongly and mentally. "Yes!" She crid out. And she disappeared from the white expanse. *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^* Darien instinctively leaped out of the way of the black car that was speeding towards him. Just before he rolled out of harms way, he glimpsed the face of the driver, and somehow, without remembering ever seeing that face in the flesh, he knew who it was. "Father!" Darien cried, reaching out as the car swerved, slamming into the railing and careening over the side of the narrow road on the side of the mountain. "No!" Darien unleashed a soul wrenching cry as he leaped to his feet, dashing to the side of the road. Far below him, a blazing ball of flame and melting metal roared and whithered in fury. "No! No! Never again!" He shouted, and scrambled down the side of the hill, down to the ledge where the car had landed, upside-down. Within moments he was shielding his face as he dashed towards the blazing car, the cries coming from inside tearing at him. He came as close as he could, but the heat was just too intense. Every time he tried to get close, a arm of flame would lash out at him. The fire and heat had formed an impenitrable wall. "Why are you doing this?" Darien screamed to the sky, forgetting his cool, in control outlook. "Why won't you let me save them?" Suddenly everything, everyone, vanished. Darien coughed and waved away the thick white smoke that surrounded him. "Where am I?" He whispered. Then, he lost his temper. "WHERE AM I??????? WHO ARE YOU???" He roared, clenching his fists, his eyes becoming blue fire. "As I have said to the others," That same, torturous voice said, sounding almost amused, though tired. "The question is; who are *you?*" "I tire of your riddles, old man." Darien growled. The voice chuckled. "Am I old? Yes. Man? No." The voice corrected. "But I ask you again; did you gather anything from that vision?" "Only that you enjoy taunting people with their deepest fears and inner demons." "Almost." The Voice almost sounded proud. "Yes, I do show people the darkness fears of their heart, and set them to contend with the demons that plague them. But do I enjoy their pain and terror? No, young Prince. No, I do not." "Then what is the point of this?" Darien growled. "Tell me, Guardian of the High Princess," The voice asked conversationally. Darien could almost picture the old owner leaning back in a chair, folding his hands over his drooping belly, a thoughtful look in his eyes. "Tell me," He continued. "Do you honestly have no idea why I showed you that particular moment in your life?" Darien opened his mouth to respond angrily, when something inside him stopped him. Somehow, he knew that there was a reason behind why he had been shown that specific moment in his life. What was it? Suddenly Darien's eyes widened as he realized it. "Yes, my prince," the voice said gravely. Darien opened his mouth to speak what he had discovered, but the voice cut him off. "No, not yet. You still have much to see and learn from." And once again, as quickly as all the times before, he was gone from the white eternity. *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^* Awareness seeped into Universe's mind like a trickle of precious water. She rolled her head to her side, straining against letting her skull fall onto her chest; she had enough of a headache as it was! Suddenly, Versia drew in a sharp breath as she felt a thick evil coming nearer, and she groaned. She knew she was dying; she could feel that thick negative energy seeping away her own positive life energy as it drew nearer. She didn't have much longer. *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^* "I'm going in," Laxa hissed stonily. She stepped towards the portal through which they had sensed Versia's wanning life energy signal. Several pairs of hands grabbed her arms, and several voices cried their protests. "You can't go in alone!" "Not without us, you aren't!" "I'm not letting you out of my sight!" They alley was filled with their arguements of why she shouldn't go alone, or even at all. "QUIET!!!" A strong voice cried. Everyone stopped. Some mid sentence, mid-word, or with their mouths open. All glanced at Laxa, and saw that she hadn't been the one that had spoken. Laxa smirked as everyone -save Raven and Eclipse's- jaws dropped at the sight of an indignant Rose. Serena stiffled a laugh. With Versia mothering Rose all the time, it was sometimes hard to forget that she was the same age as they were, and just as capable of yelling loudly. "Now, listen." Rose said, taking charge. "There's no way you're going in alone, Aunt Laxa- No buts!" She cut off her foster mother's sister as she opened her mouth to protest. "Second, we can't all go; if you don't want your enemy to hit their target when they find out that there is one, you don't go and give them one that's the size of Texas." "Texas?" Venus, Jupiter, and Sailor Moon echoed. "A rather large state in the US," Mercury informed them. "Land-wise, its almost as big as Japan's mainland." 'Aaaahs' of understanding were heard. Rose rolled her eyes. "Okay, Highness?" Rose looked at Serena. "Your turn." Sailor Moon blinked, not used to having someone willingly put her in charge. Mars looked equally surprised, though both recovered quickly. "Uh...Okay..." Moon started, then her face hardened as the sound of a scream echoed throughout their minds. Laxa lunged for the portal once more, Eclipse at her side. It took Raven, Jupiter, Mars, and Venus to restrain them. "Stop it, you two!" Sailor Moon growled. Laxa and Eclipse stopped their struggling, but not without giving their captors dirty looks first. "Laxa, Raven, Eclipse and Orion; you guys will go, along with myself." Serena snapped out swiftly. "Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, you two stay and guard our retreat once we come out. Its possible we may come out a different portal, so keep you data computer ready, Aims. The rest of you Senshi stay behind and do regular patrols around the city to guard against any more attacks. Everyone okay with this?" Jupiter made a face at not being able to go, then nodded with a sigh, along with everyone else's agreements. "Okay, then, let's go!" Laxa started towards the portal again. "Whoah, hold on turbo." Raven pulled his girlfriend back for a third time. She scowled at him. "What?" She asked. "I have to stabilize the portal," Mercury told her as she began typing away furiously. "How long?" Serena asked. "A few minutes." "Damn," Serena cursed quietly. Everyone started at the harshness in her voice, except for Mina. She knew her Princess missed her Prince. "She misses him," A voice whispered in her ear. Mina smiled, not at all surprised that Orion had snuck up behind her so silently. "I would, too, if my love went off like that." She told him, leaning back into his embrace as his arms wrapped around her from behind. Raye shook her head as the rest of them continued staring for a slight moment, the moved to obey. The warrior of Fire doubted that they would ever completely get over Serena so easily switching to leader/princess mode so quickly. Suddenly a thought came to her as she fingered her Mars Light Crystal at her throat. "Hey, Serena?" She asked. "Yeah?" "Shouldn't I go with them?" Raye said. "Since I am currently the only Senshi -besides Galaxy and Universe- who has *all* of my memories back?" The others thought for a moment. "No, I don't think she should," Orion advised from the shadows. A few Senshi jumped; Orion had the abilty to tend to make people forget he was there. "We want to keep the fact that we're starting to acquire our true identities a secret for as long as possible." Serena nodded. "True." She said. "That could also be the reason that they kidnapped Versia," Eclipse mussed. "They want to know what we wanted with the Book of Truths." "So going as Tryran Mars would make our rescue attempt go in vain," Mars nodded. "Hey, what does 'Tryran' mean, Raye?" Rini asked. The others turned to Mars with the same questioning look on their faces. Mars looked surprised that they didn't know, as did Laxa. "Why, it means 'Truth' or 'True' in Marcasion." Sailor Mars told them. "'Marcasion?'" The word was echoed by all but Laxa and Raven. "The High Language of Mars," Laxa informed them. "Extremely difficult to speak, even harder to learn if you had not had it spoken to you since birth. Only the highest royalty of Mars could speak it." "Did all the Planet Kingdoms have High Languages?" Venus asked. "Cause I'll bet mine was the language of luuuuuuuuv!" "Maybe so," Laxa laughed. "Even I don't have *all* my memories, though I have most, and many more of them than you, save for Mars." "Done!" Mercury cried, snapping her computer shut. "The portal is stabilized!" She cried. Everyone turned to look at the portal. "Lets go," Laxa said tensely, her eyes narrowed to angrily flashing silver slits. She stepped forward, and disappeared into the dark portal. One by one, Raven, Eclipse, Sailor Moon, and Orion followed, engulfed in the swirling blackness. *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^* Amara eyes wided to dinnerplates as the Voice's demand reached her mind. She narrowed her eyes. This ghost wanted her to trust him? After what he'd just done? She and Michelle had always made it a policy never to trust anyone. "Trust You?!? You just played with my emotions and I'm supposed to trust *you*?!?!?!" she asked furiously "Why yes," the voice said with minimal amusment. "You either trust me or never find your truth, and without the Uranus Light Crystal than the absense of power will make the Light Sisters work harder and they will die to make sure the Shadow Kingdom is distroyed. Do you want that?" Amara looked around with horror, it was the truth. Without that Light Crystal the Sisters' deaths, as well as her Princess's would be unpreventable. The voice continued. "And even though you don't *completely* trust even them, I know to seal their death warrants would kill you inside," The voice sofened, "Am I right?" "Yes," Amara said in defeat, "Why should I trust you?" She said with asperity. The voice was once again amused sounding. "Why not? I am your only safety in this void and if you do not complete your test it will be taken as a forfet, proving that you are not the true Warrior of the Winds and will be destroyed for invading this sacred domain." Changing his tone, "So, why not?" Amara boiled at the accusation that she may not be who she said she was, and then took a visage of duty. "I will not fail." She said stonily. "Then, will you trust me?" The voice said. "Yes." Amara said, more convincing herself than the voice. "Then let us begin." The voice said and they both disapeared. *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^* Laxa hissed mentally to her brother and lover. Jupiter and Sailor Moon, seeing the men move forward but not hearing anything, moved to follow the silver haired woman around the corner. Down dark corridors and through secret passageways that Laxa -who turned out to have an uncanny talent for finding anything secret- they sneaked, always keeping to the shadows, which for once acted as their allies within the realm of shadows. Raven murmured privately to his girlfriend. Laxa cracked a small, cold smile in the darkness. Orion snorted in their minds. He spat. Laxa sent him a wave of reassurance and comfort. Laxa led the rescue team down yet another passage. Sailor Moon narrowed her eyes at the walls and ground. This stone floor was not have the thin layer of dust that had covered everything in all the other passages; this one was used. Suddenly they all froze in their tracks as a familiar aurora teased the senses of Laxa and the two men. "Versia..." Eclipse growled sinisterly, deep in his throat. Laxa tipped her head up and to the side, slightly, almost as if she were sniffing the air. She narrowed her eyes and snarled, her eyes flashing silver. "What is it?" Jupiter demanded, massaging one fist with the other, her knuckles popping in a sinisterly grousome sound. "A Shadow prince..." Raven said darkly. "The son of the Shadow King?" Serena asked, surprised. "You guys never mentioned that he hand an heir." "No, the Shadow King is childless." Orion stated, clenching his fists. "The title of Prince in the Shadow Kingdom simply means you are one of the second most powerful warriors, after the King. Like a Captain is to an Admiral; just because you are the admiral's son doesn't mean you are a captain." "Oh, I see," Sailor Moon nodded. All of them were prevented from furthur chit chat by the sound of bone cracking in the distance. Laxa gasped and fell against the wall, holding her neck with one hand and her forehead with the other, her face contorted in pain that was not her own. "Sister..." She choked. Suddenly she and the others all blinked and reeled. "He's dead." Eclipse roared, meaning whoever had dared harm his beloved, and charged down the passageway, Laxa, Raven, and Senshi not far behind. As they neared a particularily dark doorway, they heard -and felt- one last hoarse scream from the dark woman whom they were attempting to rescue. Moments later they burst into the darkened chamber, the air thick with putrid evil and other nasty, physical smells of death and decay. Sailor Moon clamped a hand over her mouth, squinting her eyes shut against reeching. There, strapped to a moldy, rotting chair was the Guardian of Starlight, sister to the Protector of Life-Light. Standing over her was a dark cloaked man, evilness was entertwined in his very soul, weaved into every atom of his flesh. He had his back to the rescue team at the door. So concentrated on his victim, however, he did not notice their loud entrance in the slightest. To everyone's horror, the cloaked man slapped Versia with such force, her head snapped to the side with a resounding crack. What was even more disurbing was that, the ever strong Versia didn't move... not even a breath... and within moments, not even a heartbeat....... A truly unworldly growl came from Eclipse, and knowing how gentle and kind the man was, everyone who wasn't horrified at the sight of a dying Senshi -meaning no one hardly noticed- was truly terrified at the sound. Laxa's eyes were a frigid silver and she looked ready to destroy the whole bloody world after viewing this. And Raven, whom had always teased the gold and black Senshi with sisterly affection, was absolutly livid. Sailor Moon was ready to faint with rage and worry. She had only found that Versia was cousin to her mother two days prior; she couldn't lose more family now! "Get your hands off her!" Eclipse roared, leaping for the dark man. The Shadow Prince whirled, eyes widening in shock as Eclipse slammed him into the wall. Versia's head flopped onto her chest, white blood splattering over her shredded skirt. "Versia!" Laxa cried, rushing to her sister's side as Raven dashed to help his best friend. Sailor Moon kneeled on the other side of Versia, removing her tiara, transforming it into a cicular, bladed, glowing discus. Laxa, following her Princess's example, tapped her staff on the floor. With a brief pulsing glow, it shrank, and became a slender, elegant sword. Sailor Moon blinked and did a double take as the warrior of Life-Light began slashing at her sibling's restraints. "What else can those things do?" The Moon Princess asked, making a face as she returned to slicing carefully through the ropes that were cutting deep into Versia's flesh. "They can become just about anything we want them to." Laxa said with a grunt as she tore away the last rope. Versia fell from the chair, and Sailor Jupiter caught her gently, laying her down on the stone floor with care. "She's not breathing, and her heart's stopped." Laxa choked after checking. Glancing up at the fist fight that was ensuing between Eclipse and the Shadow Prince -Raven staying clear at what Laxa suspected was Eclipse's insistence- she took a deep breath to steel her nerves and placed her hands over Versia's heart. She pressed down, hard, once, then bore down again, coming up briskly. Again she pumped a fourth time, then tipped her sister's head back and pushed air into her lungs using her own. Laxa came away and placed her hands over her sister's heart once more, Sailor Moon looking on in worry and anxiety. Laxa glanced up as Eclipse was thrown against the wall with a cry from the Shadow Prince, as Jupiter's Oak Evolution leaves shredded one of the guards. "I am Galothe! I will not be defeated by a weakling!" The Shadow Prince roared. "Who says you will?" Eclipse snarled. "You'll be killed by the one who hates you most!" Behind Eclipse's back, a sphere of pulsing golden light, picked out with sparkles of black and violet, was forming around his clenching fist. With a cry of rage, he threw it at Galothe. As Laxa turned her attention back to her sister, with still no stirring in her chest, and Galothe kept yelling curses as he clusmsily dodged Eclipse's random bursts of light. "C'mon, sis..." Laxa pleaded to her sister's silent body; Versia's face was fast becoming whiter than death. Behind her, the battle raged on as Orion forced Galothe to dodge into Raven's fist, who in turn threw him into the arms of a pair of Eclipse's light bursts. With a cry of rage and pain, the Shadow Prince's flesh filled with golden light, and before he could say anything more, he was blasted from the inside out into nothing but ash. Sailor Moon clapped and cheered briefly beside Versia as Laxa returned to administering CPR, while Raven, Eclipse, and Orion rushed over to the girls. "How is she?" Eclipse demanded urgently, Jupiter beside him. Laxa sat up from blowing air into her sibling's lungs, and, as she placed her hands over Versia's heart once more, shook her head. "Here, move." Eclipse growled. Wiping her brow and choking down a sob of panic, Laxa moved aside, and Eclipse gathered his love into his arms, brushing her blood clotted black hair away from her face. "Come on, love..." He murmured. "Don't leave me yet. I'm sure there are plenty more cruel names you can come up with to call me. Don't leave... we need you..." Tears in his eyes, he leaned over and gently, like the caress of a butterfly's wing, brushed her lips with his. He thought to her vividly, calling on every ounce of healing power he possessed and feeding it into every ailing cel of her body. Laxa gasped as something inside her, somehow 'pointing' to Eclipse snapped inside her; the energy that was her power was calling to her. The Life energy, the power that produced life-light, Laxa's signature power, was fast draining from Eclipse, and flowing into Versia. "Eclipse..." She whispered as Raven placed a hand on her shoulder as he was standing behind her and she was still kneeling. "Eclipse, stop...You'll kill yourself..." "He knows." Raven said from above her. "And he doesn't care." Sailor Moon had tears running down her face, but she was silent, another thing that would have surprised her comrades, the Inner Senshi. All was quiet in the darkened chamber, the still fresh blood on the floor and ropes and chair, along with a small pile of ash the only signs of recent activity. Sailor Moon suddenly had an idea, and, sniffing lightly, reached out and placed a hand on Eclipse's shoulder. She could not sense power levels like these Light Senshi, but she could tell when someone was struggling, and stuggling Eclipse was. So as she closed her eyes, she willed her Silver Crystal within her to life. She called to herself, rather than the crystal. Silver light, threaded with hot pink, flared around the locket over her heart. The lid of her Spiral Heart Locket lifted and vanished, revealing the sparkling, flashing silver spheric crystal within. Flowing, dancing tendrils of the light snaked and twisted away from the crystal, wrapping and flowing, dancing down her arm to flow into Eclipse. He began to faintly glow with Sailor Moon's power, and his own healing talents began to channel the new energy, transforming it into his own golden healing magic. Laxa gasped as she realized what her cousin's daughter was doing, and, now tears of hope glistening, unshed in her eyes, she reached out a slender arm and placed it on Eclipse's wrist. "Light of Life..." She whispered, her voice barely audible. A silver and white symbol glowed faintly on Laxa's forhead, her tiara vanishing. The symbol pulsed brighter, and the diamond shaped, silver tinged crystal over the center of her chest bow began to flash a bright silver color. Like Sailor Moon's crystal's light had done, two twin snakes began dancing down her arm, seeping into Eclipse's skin. Orion kneeled beside both his sisters and reached across Versia's body in Eclipse arms to place his fingertips on his right shoulder. Dark green -almost black, threaded with a paler jade green flashed around him. A green symbol flashed on his forehead, and his energy rushed down his arm, slamming into Eclipse; it was quickly devoured by the aurora around the man holding the warrior of starlight. Still it did not appear to be enough, for while Versia's skin color had begun to return to normal, her heart remained still, her lungs without air. Raven was troubled. He had no crystal, no power that he could call on like the others. Yes, he had his attacks, but that's all they were; attacks. The raw energy inside him that he used to form those attacks would kill him if he tried to use it any other way. It was eating him away inside that he could do nothing to help his best friend save the life of his beloved's sister. Still, unwilling to believe that he truely could do nothing, he reached around Laxa and placed his hands over hers, willing his own life energy into her hands. Laxa sensed warmth growing around her, and through her closed eyelids she suddenly saw a bright red-gold light flare. A searing hot power flowed into her hands. She sensed another mind, suddenly, struggling to control the power. She smiled, sending a wave of comfort to her love, and took tried the reins of his power. Yet he would not let her have them. He told her sternly. Laxa had to quirk a wry smile. She pleaded with him. Slowly, he consented, and together they wielded the power of the sun, transforming its raging flames into a soothing warmth, and together they guided it into Eclipse, letting it flow down to Versia. With the power of the Sun Kingdom joining that of the Moon Kingdom, the Galactica Universal Kingdoms, and the heir of the Universal Kingdom, the pale gold power around Eclipse flashed and became white hot. Then, all at once, it surged forward, filling Versia's entire body until her soul was ready to burst. Then, all at once, the powers sling shotted back to their owners. Sailor Moon rocked back and fell on her behind with a 'umph' of surprise and pain. Laxa reeled back, panting and gasping, into the arms of a sweating Raven. Eclipse stayed upright, clutching Versia relentlessly. They all watched the dark warrior intensely, waiting for the faintest sign of life. Yet none came, and as Laxa bit her lip against a cry of rage and pain and despair, when... She breathed. And an entire army of Shadow Warriors burst into the room. To Be Continued...... Glitter-Chan: *rubs hands together, evil grin on her face* Weeeell... darling readers? Are you going to e-mail us or not? Better hurry! Rose-chan: *rolls eyes* You do realize that you're evil for leaving them off there, don't you? Glitter-chan: *innocent look* Who? Me? Evil? Naaaaaa... Rose-chan: *shakes head* Well, you'd all better e-mail soon, or no more ficies!!!!!!!!! *shakes finger warningly* Glitter-chan: Until next time, Minna-chans! Together: Ja ne! *ALL STANDARD DISCLAIERS APPLY*