Alina Pyramids of Ice: Chapter ONE The ice is thin come on dive in underneath my lucid skin the cold is lost forgotten hours pass days pass time stands still light gets dark and darkness fills my secret heart forbidden-- Ice (sarah maclachlan) (Chapter One) 0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0 Present---England-- a few weeks after Jaedite is found to be alive. o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0 Wearily, Greg climbed the stairs to his apartment...it was late, and he was tired from studying. The books he carried felt like a ton, and he almost felt like leaving them on the steps. Exerting his will power, he pushed forward. Why had he started to get fatigued so easily? Maybe it was this English weather. Ever since he'd come here he just hadn't been the same. Of course, maybe the problem was his heart. He kept thinking back to the last time he'd seen her...his Amy...in the park, as he explained his visions. Those visions had stopped now--in fact, he hadn't had a premonition since he'd moved into his apartment. Therefore, he had utterly no warning of the visitor who stood patiently outside his door, pausing in the act of knocking. "AMY" Greg called, surprise making his voice rise in pitch. The last person he'd expected to see in front of his apartment door was Amy. He dropped his books...and they made a soft *thump* on the faded threadbare carpet of the hall. "Greg--" She spoke as if she could barely get all the words out "we need to talk." He opened the door, as if in a trance. They were barely in before she started " We can't give up on our future because of my past." Her voice was firm. "I'll leave, if you think that's best, but I think we should reexamine your interpretation of the dream. I've found something out that make me think--no, know that you are wrong." Greg stared at her--she was here. Was it a dream? If so he didn't want to wake up. "Greg?" She said...She lightly touched his shoulder with her hand "Is everything ok?" "This must be a dream." He said. "Amy, are you really here? Do you really mean this?" "It's not a dream." She said. "I'm really here...and.. I won't give up on you because of some dream or because of anything..." "Amy, I love you, you know that..I've always loved you...but I can't go back to being your friend..." "I don't want you to do that! I've probably always loved you but I was too scared to admit it. I'd also convinced myself I was too busy to fall in love. That love was this glamorous enchantment that I didn't need, didn't deserve and didn't want. Because I thought that love picks you and you have no choice when it happens!" "What changed your mind...?" Greg asked. "A friend of mine set me straight." She smiled. "She told me that everyone deserves a chance for love! But you have to work for it...and that its not always some magical overpowering experience that sweeps you away-- Sometimes, love is the soft warm glow you get when thinking about a person you care about very very much...a person you'd like to spend every minute of every day with... a person who makes you want to keep on living..." "Just to see their smile?" Greg finished for her... "That's almost a direct quote from Sailor V's latest issue..." Their eyes met and they laughed.. Amy blushed. "I was quoting Serena actually, but I suppose I should have known Serena wasn't that eloquent. But I mean it, because that's how I feel." One of the doors in the apartment opened. A thin, deadly pale, bespectacled figure emerged. He pushed the strands of his impossibly black straight hair out of his face, and blinked with eyelashes that looked white in comparison, looking at the couple before him. He stared longer than was polite at Amy. Finally, he coughed to get their attention and said "Hallo there Greg--you're back early tonight aren't you? I didn't mean to interrupt, but.." Suddenly he placed why the girl looked familiar.... Greg had a picture on his desk of her. "Is this your Amy?' His roommate asked, looking at the couple. The other two barely noticed. They were too busy staring into each other's eyes. "Yes." Greg said. "This is *my* Amy." * * * The two weeks Amy could spend with Greg flashed by in an eye blink. Mina had spent the time visiting her old haunts, giving Amy plenty of time to spend with Greg alone. The odd thing was, Amy usually ended up hanging out with Greg's roommate EZ. Greg had been busy doing his coursework. EZ, who had just turned in his doctoral thesis, was much freer and the two found quite a bit in common to chat about. Even though she'd mostly watched Greg study, Amy still wished she didn't have to go. The airline called her flight number. Greg yawned. "Sorry, I didn't get to spend as much time with you as I'd have liked." Amy nodded, but he could see the disappointment hiding in her eyes. "I understand...studying is important. Besides, Greg, I know you really weren't expecting me to show up like this." She may be on vacation, but he wasn't. Two weeks just wasn't long enough, she thought. She wished she didn't have to go. He still felt drained. Why in the world had he'd picked an *English* school to study medicine? He had to study twice as hard as he would have otherwise. He sighed, knowing that he'd done this to get as far away as he could from Amy and the mystery man who Greg had thought was destined to win Amy's love away from Greg. "Look, as soon as I can, I'll visit you in Tokyo." He managed a smile despite his exhaustion. "I have to take a break sometime." She smiled, . "Oh Greg! I'll write you everyday...the time will pass quickly." They'd agreed he would transfer back to Tokyo at the year's end, pending an acceptance in a medical school in Tokyo. Though Amy's classes would start a few days after she returned, Greg had already turned down his seat in that school. If he had not done so, he could have just come with her now--but that was not to be. Amy rationalized in her head-- you could be close to someone emotionally even if you were not geographically close...but leaving bothered her anyway. Greg's roommate EZ stepped in then, to hug Amy goodbye. He'd come with them to the airport. Though he was never standoffish, he also wasn't genuinely gregarious...especially with women, and he stood near to Mina, almost ignoring her chatter. He didn't even make eye contact, just kept watching Greg and Amy. In a minute, EZ fell into a rather esoteric conversation with Amy. Greg, bored by the debate moved over to say goodbye to Mina, enjoying her mindless lighthearted conversation. He was too tired to think today. For an instant, as he observed EZ's goodbye to Amy, he felt a streak of jealousy freeze through him--but he shook it off. EZ never seemed to be interested in women... Though, fairly, in all the years he'd known him, EZ had never seemed interested in people in general. Just chess, politics, studying, and oddly enough martial arts. "Your roommate is such a hunk! Too bad we're leaving!" Mina gushed. "Why didn't Amy tell me, I'd have hung out with you all then!" Greg felt very uncomfortable at that. "Well, he *is* moving back to Japan soon...." He said as their seat numbers were called. Not caring if Greg noticed, EZ kept his eyes on Amy's soft ocean of hair, as long as he could as she walked down the ramp. EZ watched Amy disappear into the plane. He'd never met anyone like her. She seemed so familiar to him...he felt a connection with her that he'd never felt with anyone, except of course, Greg. EZ frowned, and looked away when Greg looked at him. Somehow, he was glad Amy left--temptation is easier to resist when its not before you. As the days passed though, EZ had to admit that Amy's face lingered on his mind. He'd taken to drawing her face, and had even made a copy of Greg's photograph. Furtively, he stashed these items away in a desk--fearful lest Greg realize his secret. Time didn't explain his connection with her, only strengthened his conviction... The feeling had washed over him, leaving him drenched with guilt. She had to feel something too. EZ thought... EZ's eyes would catch her's when Greg was pouring over some problem. They'd both stayed up hours talking to each other, or playing chess. Time she should have spent with Greg. Of course, Greg was studying. The problem was, EZ thought to himself, he should have been studying Amy. EZ certainly had. "I can't believe she left so soon." Greg said sadly. "I miss her already." EZ nodded, not wanting to agree for fear he'd betray himself. He'd known Greg forever it seemed.. But they'd met just after Greg had met Amy. So he'd always known about Amy's place in Greg's life....he'd just never met her, until now. Funny that should happen in England, when they'd all grown up in Japan. Yet life liked odd twists. And EZ's life had been twisted. He tried not to remember the strict, overly religious father who had all but abused him. He'd run away at fifteen, suffering nightmares, and then memory lapses. He awoke in a hospital, almost a year and a 1/2 later...The state put him with a foster family, and pushed him back two years in school. The only good thing about that was he finally had a more stable home life,and he met Greg, who was somewhat younger. EZ rapidly made up the missing months of school. On scholarship he went to England for college, and then his Phd, having graduated early from school. He never minded leaving Tokyo, as much as leaving Greg. He certainly couldn't miss the other student's who never talked to him but only about him. Or his well-meaning foster-family....no, Greg was the only one who realized that despite all Ezekiel Spade's genius lay a fear of social interaction. He saw the self-imposed isolation was just a shield to protect EZ from hurt. So Greg meant more than just a friend to EZ...he was his *only* friend...so that was why, when he felt this pull to Amy, that EZ felt his soul turn upside down. Why did he have to hurt the one person he cared about, in order to fall in love? Because he couldn't think of any other word to explain the feeling he had when he looked into her soft blue eyes. As Amy entered the plane, she turned to wave. Again as she saw Greg's roommate a feeling of deja-vu poured over her...he was so familiar to her somehow. * * * * Impatiently, Serena watched the passengers file off the airplane. She kept hopping up to see over the heads of the others around her. "Where are they!?" She warbled. Lita's worried expression vanished as she spied her friends "*There* they are" she said...subconsciously she'd not believed they'd be safe until she saw them. She could still remember waiting for two other loved ones, at this very airport, who never came... but this time, she smiled wistfully, things were different. "It's about time." A little grandmotherly looking woman said. "Did they have to be the *last* people off the plane?" "Oh Mina and Amy!" Exclaimed Serena, obviously glad her two friends were back, as she hugged both of them. The girls smiled, returning the hug. Amy replied "I'm so glad to be home... But we had a great time in England" She couldn't help eye the strange old woman who stood near them, tapping her foot. "Yeah, I showed her all the fun stuff, and she showed *me* all those great historic things I'd missed!" Mina said. "It's funny how I lived there and never saw those things...oh well, it's hard to know what's under your chin!" "See what's under your nose." The old woman corrected, sounding exasperated. Serena smiled even wider, she was happy to see Mina as her normal cheerful self again. After their memories returned, Mina had spent a few nights feeling moody and antisocial. "Darien's getting the car..." She informed them. "We should all be able to squeeze in for a short ride." Suddenly Amy realized she recognized the prickly old woman... "R--" She started to say when Lita put her hand over her mouth. "Shush....she's hiding." "Hiding? Why?"Amy asked. "Let's just say you missed some adventures on your trip." Serena said. "So we" She lowered her voice "used the Luna Pen on Raye.." "why?" Lita grinned. "We'll explain later. Say, you two must be tired. It's a long flight--do you want me to go get your luggage?" The girls described their bags, and handed their tickets to Lita. Who walked away "Ok, a small blue case and a *huge* orange bag. Got it..I'll meet you at the car." On their way out, Amy asked them to pause while she called Greg to let him know she'd gotten in ok. "Isn't that sweet!" Mina cooed. "She even called him *from the plane*!" While waiting, Serena placed a hand on Mina's shoulder, as Raye scanned the rows of cars for Darien's car. "Are you ok?" Serena said, quietly...."I was worried when you left...Artemis told Luna that you were really *down* because Malachite was dead and we couldn't' heal him...." Mina's bright facade dipped for a second. "I'm ok... Now....this trip was perfect.... Let's just say that seeing Amy and Greg together made me rethink whether the generals were our soulmates... Maybe I have a shot to find happiness, you know? But... Artemis will pay for having such a big mouth." "Good, but I have *even* more good news..." Serena said.. Amy returned from the phone as Mina added "Will it explain that grin on Lita's face?" "She's in love " Serena said mischievously. "Just like Ra--." Raye turned around, to see what they were talking about--she hoped they weren't talking about her and Jed, because she still didn't know exactly *what* she felt, and she hated to think of Serena--- Mina sighed.. "I knew that cute Joe and she..." "It's not Joe." Raye warned, relieved the subject was Lita. "Remember Lita's old boyfriend?" "Freddy?" Amy asked perplexed. "Turns out his real name is Maxfield Stanton..." She whispered. "NEFLITE?" Mina and Amy whispered back in unison. Serena nodded. "Majorly heavy stuff huh? We thought it was a fluke with Jaedite, but guess not..." Darien pulled up with the car. He offered to take the two bags (which, from the way Lita had carried them, he'd thought they were quite light, but unfortunately were not, so he hurt his foot as he dropped the large orange bag, to which she shrugged a light "Whoops"). They had just pulled out of the loading zone, when Mina slapped her hands to her head, and screamed... "Where's Artemis!" Darrien slammed on the breaks. " Don't tell me you left him in England!?" "OH No..he must still be in his cat carrier, running around the baggage claim in circles!" She said horrified, crawling over Amy to get to the door. "Guess that's your revenge!!" laughed Serena,as the car screamed to a halt. Mina flung herself out the door, running to grab the small white cat carrier. "I am not amused." Artemis growled out, forgetting that cats aren't supposed to talk as Mina rescued him. "Next time buy a seat for me... And *you* fly cargo." 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 "So that's why I'm in hiding." Raye explained as they sat having tea at the Outer Scout's penthouse. "Are you sure its safe to be *here*?" Amy asked worried. "From what you said, they were observing Raye...they might have seen you all together and found out who you were." "That's unlikely...since the attacks on Raye started, we haven't seen her." Haruka argued. "Are you sure you can trust Stanton?" Lita swivelled to face Haruka "He's not with them!" She said, stepping closer, fighting stance adopted. "Haruka didn't mean that!" Michiru interceded, though Haruka shot her a look (that's exactly what I meant, she seemed to say) "It's just we don't know an awful lot about him or his alter ego yet....and unknown variables at a time like this..." Amy nodded. "I see...so we should be careful what we reveal to him..." Lita frowned, glancing at Jed. "Then why did we call Jed to this meeting--he's still an unknown." Raye snapped. "No. He's on *our* side now..." "So is Freddy..."Lita complained... Gently, Serena said "Yes, but he still hasn't come to terms with his past life--" Darien nodded. "We know that Jaedite was preserved by Beryl, but we still don't *how* Nephrite was reborn..." "Hey..what about the Crystal?"Mina asked "Can't it make them be reborn just like us?" She realized now that was why Serena had been so excited to tell her about Jaedite...the generals could come back... Setsuna stirred her green tea lazily. "Whoever Queen Selenity touched with the crystal that day can be reborn...as long as the holder of the crystal wishes it." The others eyed her-- "Why didn't you tell us that *before*" accused Raye. "Why do you hold things back?!" "I didn't assume Queen Selenity touched the Generals with the crystal. Therefore, it was not relevant" She responded. "And for Princess Serenity to use the crystal to spell in such a fashion would disturb time. I didn't want to encourage her." "Then why did you mention this now?!" Amy inquired. "Jaedite and Nephrite's presence is evidence that Selenity did include them." Setsuna said. She turned to Serena. "Therefore, I don't need to worry that you will bring them back with the crystal....you already did." "What?! What do you mean!? When did I do that?!" Serena exclaimed. "The second time you used the power, it was your own spell to bring all of us back, but the first time, you merely reinvoked your mother's spell. I felt it during your battle with Beryl." The others sat stunned, letting that little revelation settle into their minds. * * * "Amy can you help me with--?"Serena broke off noticing that Amy was not *really* paying attention. They were still hiding out in the Outer Scout's apartment, investigating the leads Field had given them on Stanton Electronics. Amy worked harder than anyone, her computer blinking constantly. She'd established that legally Field had been declared dead, by his stepfather Eris Sineheart. Sineheart, inheriting the company, had created one of the most powerful companies around. She'd found proof that suggested Stanton Electronics was attempting to monopolize a certain portion of the electronics industry. Despite this whirlwind of work, Amy's mind was obviously elsewhere at the moment. Serena put down the course selection catalog for college. She'd not gotten past anything but deciding what she *didn't* want to take--that is anything before noon. "I can't STAY here Much LONGER" Raye growled, as she stepped onto the terrace..she'd been in the apartment for a week while the others worked on leads. She hated feeling so helpless. She'd closed the shrine, and convinced her grandfather to spend a few weeks at a hot springs in the mountains...he'd not wanted to go until Jed had mentioned how many pretty young potential acolytes he could find. Luckily for Jed, Raye hadn't heard him say that. "Sorry--my mind wandered...here, the structural study of the Stanton Tower reveals a hidden space between two floors." She said handing Serena a paper. "This isn't the print out--hey, who's EZ?" Serena said, and seeing Amy's fierce blush, she grabbed the paper and attempted to read it. Amy grabbed the letter with the email and hid it in her pocket. "Serena!" She chastised. "What?! You told me to read it!" Amy looked around the room. Raye was leaning over the balcony, getting air. "Not that...it's a letter from Greg." She blushed...she hated love letters...but then, this really wasn't one. "Greg wrote me that his friend EZ is moving back to Japan this weekend." "Oh...Mina mentioned him..he sounds really cute....Can't wait to see him" Amy blushed..."Greg wanted me to help him find an apartment..." "Why are you blushing?" Serena asked suspiciously, sensing a story underneath with her uncanny instincts. "His job is at Stanton Electronics."Amy said...that was part of what bothered her, but that was not what made her face feel heated. "Could he be part of this plot?" Serena couldn't think of anything to say to that. "You don't think..." "We can't be too careful." Amy said. "He's starting very soon...but even if he isn't connected maybe we can use him to get access to the building. He may be the break we need." "I hope so! Raye's going to be certifiable if something doesn't happen soon." Serena said... "And all this waiting makes me nervous...and hungry" She grabbed another sweet off the table. "You're always hungry." Raye said coming back in. "You're a walking stomach, dumpling head...." Eloquent as always, Serena sucked the sweet down and stuck out her tongue at Raye. Raye did the same after saying "Oh, great comeback, Serena!" "At least I don't act like a monkey!!" Serena replied. "Oh? Who's a monkey?" Amy shrunk back down behind her computer screen, and began writing an email to Greg. It started "Greg, you don't know how much I miss you." Especially right then. 0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0 Moon Kingdom--morning before the shields are raised o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0 Princess Serena was wailing, wheedling to get the others to let her go down to Earth. "We're lucky we weren't discovered the other times!" Lita exclaimed "I want to go too, Princess. But we can't. >From what Jaedite sent Raye, the new threat that started attacking Earth's kingdoms is too unstable. We know nothing of it. We at least need to wait until there is peace." "Yes...you all were very lucky that you left before the first attacks. The generals and Endymion will be too busy fighting whatever it is."Amy said, over the book she was reading. "This war illustrates why the Moon kingdom has not associated with those of Earth. You should all forget the Generals....it is best and required by our honor, and for the Moon Kingdom's peace." Everyone stared quite shocked. "Don't tell me you don't want to see Lord Warrior Zoicite again!" Lita exclaimed. "What I want, does not have importance, beside my duty." Amy said. "Zoicite and I have gotten to be good friends......" She blushed "But that doesn't change that I am a member of the Moon Kingdom Court. I cannot go against Queen Selenity's wishes." Inside, she felt her heart turn over. With the raising of the shields, she might never see him again. She had to forget him, because her place was here on the moon, not by his side. Mina swept in hurriedly. "Artemis just said that Earth Generals Malachite and Zoicite transported here unexpectedly..." She exclaimed... "They're seeing Queen Selenity but asked to see me and Amy." Amy stopped listening to Serena's wailing-- all she could think was *he* was here. Logic, theory, sense forgotten, in the flood of happiness that splashed through her. All her reasons why she *shouldn't* see him washed away.... Thankfully the other's didn't notice her change in expression...she thought. She tried to compose herself. "How's my dress look?" Mina said, as she looked at what she had on. "I can't believe he's here!!!" Lita looked at Amy's face. "Maybe I'll join you two." "You were not requested!" Amy argued. "So...I'd like to get to know your *friend* better." She teased, as Amy flushed again. Mina considered... "There is a *war*, Lita, stay with Serena." She ordered. "Yeah, on earth, and it's never going to touch the moon kingdom! There's nothing to fear *here*!" Lita said "ok, ok, if you're going to be like that and pull rank, I'll leave you lovebirds alone!" "We're just friends!" Amy exclaimed, while Mina just grinned with a guilty- but-I-like-it expression. Raye meanwhile had been saying something to Serena that stopped the flow of tears. The two wandered off. Amy didn't notice...she all but ran to the gates of the gardens, where the two generals waited. "Amy!" Zoicite said. "We must talk." He led her away. He looked as beautiful as he had the night she'd met him--she couldn't stop staring at his perfect features, soft curly red hair spiraling down...Why did she always feel so hesitant around him? He was so gentle, kind, intelligent, she knew he'd never hurt her... She managed a smile... "Amy, if your suspicions are correct, this enemy is but a distraction." He said. She nodded...though they had not seen each other since the ball, they'd taken to communicating through magic...ostensibly about the war, though often they drifted to other topics. "From what you've told me, these monsters, shocking as they are, could not be the real intelligence...they're just pawns. You need to find the power behind that." She responded. "I'll keep that in mind for if, forbid it, they should attack our kingdom rather than just our neighbors. " He paused, swearing under his breath "I'll blame Queen Selenity if ... "Lord Zoicite--"She exclaimed shocked by the vehemence in his voice. "She refused to help our kingdom."He said. "She's raising the shields on us-- and I won't be able to see you again." He turned to her--she stepped back. "Lord Zoicite...I cannot listen to you abuse my Sovereign" "You did it again...why are you suddenly so formal?" She sighed. "Lord Zoicite--we both know our duties. Especially in the face of war--If Queen Selenity decrees we will not interfere, then we can't." "I see. Where does that leave us?" He asked. For once she feigned ignorance. "Us?"She blushed shyly, as he took her hands in his. "Amy, you must feel it too--when I'm with you, I taste music...I feel flowers bloom, with every breath I take in the poetry of your eyes..." "Zoicite?" She asked, as his hand traced the planes of her face. "You are the Queen, and I but the vulnerable King in your way." He said kissing her cheek. She pulled away, slightly embarrassed and very red. "Lord Zoicite!" She gasped. "I'm sorry..." He let her hands go. "I shouldn't have. I've offended you." "No.." She said quietly looking down, her heart fluttering and dominating her mind. Before she could stop herself she said "That's how I feel too--" "Checkmate" He whispered. "You've had me from the start." He moved to kiss her then, but was surprised when she wouldn't let him hold her. "Amy?" He asked. "But Zoicite! The timing is awful... I have a duty to the Moon Princess.. And you have a war on your planet." She said looking away. "We both know how limited the pieces are in their motions..." "And our emotions?" He snapped, losing his patience. She looked at him,a slightly wounded and worried expression in her enormous blue indigo eyes.... "What I feel doesn't change what must be." She said. "Amy, this isn't a game." He stared at her for a second, everything written in that gaze, and then turned to head for the portal. She looked stricken "Don't--don't look at me like that--!I" She blushed "Zo--Lord Zoicite, "If I were not a SailorScout or you not a General... I would--" Her whole face and neck grew red. She looked away. "but I'm not...and you're not. We're not free." "If we controlled our own fate you mean?" He said, pausing "You would what?" "I would say I love you." she said quietly. "But you see, I cannot say that...and as long as there is war on your planet, and we have our duties, I have no right to say that." She turned and fled for the palace, hoping he didn't hear the embarrassing onslaught of the tears that betrayed her inability to control her emotions. She couldn't do this. He felt a confusing swarm of thoughts--she loved him. He didn't even tell her he loved her. He ran after her, catching her arm. She swung around, her skin as pale and frigid as ice. "Amy, don't give up on us, like this!" he pleaded. He felt as if he were staring at an eclipse, afraid of the dark, and unable to stop it. "Zoicite, I haven't a choice." She didn't meet his gaze. Perhaps it was only seconds that passed, but it felt like hours or days, or as if time itself had stopped its gentle ebb and flow. Zoicite's world stood still. "Amy?" He whispered at last, tilting her head up . "Don't...don't do this my angel. Don't take your light away from me." "Zoicite...It's not forever. We just have to wait." She said, looking down. She whispered the words, lying to both herself and him. For all she knew, this *was* forever. How could she promise to be with him, if the shields were raised permanently? He tightened his arm around her. As if holding her closer might break the sheet of ice that had slid over everything. "Amy, I love you. I want to be with you. If you wanted, I'd stay with you now....and fight and die by your side, if that was necessary!" It was as if he'd guessed her secret, that this goodbye could be their last. "Your duty to Endymion?" She asked, her eyes filling with tears. Why was life torturing them with these choices? "Your honor!" She couldn't say the same. She could never leave Serena. "You're a general!" "And that does not mean as much to me as you do." He said. His voice wavered slightly, betraying that he wasn't being entirely honest. Images of earth's cool green hills flitted before his eyes, the lakes and the rivers. Could he really stay in this world of Magic and Crystal? Or would he rather have Amy with him, swimming in the Ocean, gazing up at the moon? Whether to convince her or himself he continued "No matter what happens, what the others say, that means nothing to me now. In your eyes I've seen all I've ever wanted. I need no one else but you. We'll make our own world, Amy. Say you'll come with me, that you'll stay with me?" "I can't leave." She said trembling a little. She was afraid of this feeling washing over her, this compulsion she felt as she looked into his bright green eyes. "I would have nothing to give you if I left. And you would have nothing to offer if you stayed. Without our duties, and our beliefs what are we? We can't make our own world, and I wouldn't want to--there are too many people I care about in this one." He jerked as if she'd slapped him. "I know you don't mean this. I'm not giving up Amy. Stop fearing love, and stop fighting our fate. I knew you were the one, the moment I saw you." He paused. "This isn't over, Amy, but it's your move." He bowed slightly, turned and left. He headed to the outer gates, and seeing Malachite walking towards him, he waived and disappeared in a shower of heart-shaped petals. The Master Engineer watched the scene, jealousy melting the away the numbness he'd felt upon first seeing them together. He almost went after Amy, to shelter her in her sorrow. But he put that thought away. He didn't have that right, nor would he ever. He turned back to the reason he'd been in the garden-- the creation of the permanent shield. His science would be his solace, his reason to exist, his destiny. Without her love, he had nothing else, and through it he could claim a small place in her life. He fingered the small blue crystal he wore around his neck. This way, they were linked forever in destiny if not in their hearts. END OF CHAPTER ONE Guardians of the Millennium: Pyramids of Ice Chapter Two: 1. As always, sorry I switch how I spell the names I use for the characters... I just happened to be listening to Sarah Machlachlan's Fumbling Toward Ecstasy album, and that's why all these chapters start with those songs...it's moody music, ethereal and passionate. "Elsewhere" maclachlan again "I know this love is passing time passing through like liquid I am drunk in my desire but I love the way you smile at me I love the way your hands reach out and hold me near 0o0o0o0o0oo00o0o0o0o0o0o0o00o0o0o0o0o0o00 Present--Tokyo: Stanton Tower o0o0o0o0o0o0oo00o0o0o0o0o0o0o00o0o0o0o0o0o00 Sineheart looked mildly annoyed as a signal indicated the Assistant arrival. He pushed the button releasing the door. The door opened, admitting the Assistant. "Sir...I have evidence confirming Hino's identity as SailorMars." She said in a dead pan voice. "Excellent...where are the recordings, I need to analyze this..." Ruler of a secret empire or not, he was still a scientist. "Sorry, but I was attacked and the device was lost." "WHAT!" He stood then, hands slapping the surface of the desk. "That device was difficult to construct...it contained expensive, rare materials...you incompetent piece of machinery! Did you at least bring her here?" "No sir, she got away. Several bots were destroyed as well." "Your errors are fast eroding my confidence in your work. I gave you life...and this is how you repay me??" The words were spoken very quietly, just above a whisper. "Sir, I apologize, but circumstances---" a glitch in the cyborg's voice cut off the statement she'd been about to make. A light flashed on her collarbone, signalling low energy. "I deploy you to control circumstances... Remember that." He took out a small green object that glowed with faint phosphorescence. "Sir...I nee--need" The cyborg staggered forward, hand outstretched for the small green vial he held. "Yes, it is time for your next power replenishment...but maybe I should let you wait...let you experience the sensation I feel from the inconvenience that your incompetence causes me." "Sir..." The dryness in her circuits wasn't pain, but the sensation was not pleasant. Logically she knew that he would give the fluid to her. She was too valuable for him to dispose of just yet. And she needed to keep it that way. He flicked it to her, just before she shut down, and she inserted the vial in her shoulder...the green substance flowed through her and the world righted itself. "This time, bring me that Scout, or you will be discontinued...." His voice trailed off sinisterly as his attention shifted back to the jade fragment, which lay next to a framed picture of a girl with short, oddly blue hair. "Am I clear enough?" She nodded. She knew he meant it. * * * * EZ Spade shifted nervously, knowing he was early. He'd left his hotel suite, and stood pacing the lobby of the Tokyo Tower View Hotel. He pulled at a loose strand of his long hair, fidgeted with his glasses and paced the marble halls. The corporation had placed him in a very expensive and elaborate western-style hotel. He was surprised by the ostentatiousness of the gesture, but at the salary they were offering him he should have expected it. The man who'd hired him, Sineheart, had been absolutely candid. "You've impressed us with your research. We want you. We don't want the competition to have you--and price is no object." The man had said in the interview. EZ had liked and respected him immediately--in time, he hoped to be friends with him. He admired that the CEO of a corporation like this would take the time to meet with someone like him. He also liked that unlike other interviewers who played games, or waffled, Sineheart placed everything on the table. "You do theoretical physical chemistry. You've also done some interesting work with organics. What we want is experimental work--to go beyond electronics. Our goal is to start building circuits chemically right at a molecular level. Design the properties right into the material. I'll tell you right now you won't have complete freedom. We direct what you do. But the access to our proprietary research is incredible--a wealth of scientific miracles the likes of which other scientists don't know. That's the catch. You won't be able to reveal what you work on here--so if you're after scholarly recognition, forget it. If you want to work on cutting edge projects, change the world, and get paid *very* well, take this offer." Perhaps the greatest thing about this place was that he'd have his own lab, and despite the limits on his intellectual searches, his personal life would be free. A few places had raised eyebrows at his very unconservative appearance. When EZ was younger, he'd died his hair an impossibly dark black for his pale skin, in an effort to fit in. He found life hard enough to be different without looking it too. Once he moved to England he'd just let his hair grow. So his shoulder-blade length hair was mostly black, but the lighter color peeked out at crown of his head. More rebellious as a graduate student, than in youth, EZ relished in his odd look. He found it easier to disconcert people from the start--sooner or later most people had that reaction to him anyway. They needed to know he wasn't one to toe a company line. While that attitude suited the hip London club scene just fine, the research world had been less then thrilled. That was another reason he'd liked his future boss. Sineheart himself wore his hair long, and had explicitly stated "As long as they do the work, I don't care how you look. I have no uniforms here, I"m not running an army or a fashion show." That hit a note with EZ's nonconformist spirit and he'd known he'd found his dream job. He looked at the reflective surface of the chess board at which he'd seated himself. He must have been quite a sight walking with the clean cut, hopelessly conformist Greg. He loved the guy, but he had to admit his friend was a little boring. Amazing he'd won the heart of a girl like Amy. Catching himself on a line of thought he'd promised he'd not go down, he shook his head. He shouldn't be trying to imagine what Amy found attractive. Although, maybe a haircut and some new clothes wouldn't have been a bad idea. He frowned, and cleared his mind of those thoughts. To get a hold of himself, he started playing chess against himself. He'd just gotten himself into check, when a hand moved forward and blocked. "When you play against yourself, you can't win." Amy said smiling, one hand self-conciously running through her blue hair. "You can't lose either." EZ said smiling back. "You do...because you don't learn anything. What I liked best about chess is what it teaches you about the other player. Are they aggressive, cautious, or creative? If you ignore that, you reduce the game to a boring set of mathematical probabilities..." "That's what it is." Ez moved a piece. She smiled. "Checkmate...no, not a *good* game anyway." He smiled. "I usually win..." He was surprised, he hadn't thought of that move..he'd calculated the game would end differently. "Of course you win if you're playing yourself!" She teased him. He met her eyes, his hands meeting hers on the pieces as they started to put them back. "I'd rather play you." His voice was low and resonated in the room. She drew back her hand as if she'd touched ice. "Another day then, are you ready to go search?" He nodded, and she changed the subject neatly. "So...when do you start work?" She asked. "Tomorrow. I'm excited, but also reluctant to give up my student lifestyle." "They have an excellent reputation for inventions. Would you mind if I came and looked at your lab? I'd love to get a look at that place." Stanton Electronics also had an excellent reputation for security and secrecy. Sineheart had warned him about that--showed him the elaborate voice, and fingerprint recognition systems to access every room. EZ just bet Amy was curious, like a good many people, what was going on in there. He smiled tempted to agree immediately simply because *she* asked him. He quickly debated in his mind. He was just starting out. But then again, this was probably the time he had the most flexibility. They wouldn't fire him over a visitor--and if they did then he probably didn't want to work at that autocratic a place anyway. In any case he could say he didn't know he wasn't allowed--a lie, because the company manual clearly prohibited unauthorized visitors. He balanced these considerations in his head. She was looking at him with those large blue eyes, that always hinted that here was a heart that had known sadness. He couldn't say no when she looked at him. At least, he didn't want to. "I don't see why that should be a problem. Just come to the front door around lunch time." * * * "So, did he buy it?" Serena asked. "He put down a rental on a nice--"Amy began "NO Amy, did he agree to get you in the Tower?" Raye clarified. "Oh! Yes. Tomorrow." Amy said, sitting down on the piano bench, her back to the fabulous view of Tokyo. "Tomorrow! Why didn't you go in today!" Raye asked. "I'm sorry!" Amy said. Serena waved away Raye. " Ignore her, she's just anxious to be back with Jed...you did your best Amy. Tomorrow's soon enough." "I'm sorry...I just miss being in the *Shrine*." Raye said heavily emphasizing the last word. With each passing day, they'd grown more nervous as the enemy continued to move slowly. Not being able to consult the sacred flame had made Raye more tense than usual. And not seeing Jed probably contributed to her irritability, though she'd have jumped into the fire before admitting that. "All those Negaverse monsters just attacked, They weren't subtle like this!. They didn't make us wait. It's creepy. I feel like... a fly on the world wide web." Mina said over her comic book. "Fly in a spider's web." Luna corrected "But I do think that we might want to set a trap--we know they're after Raye." "LUNA! How could you suggest that!"Serena said aghast. Raye however looked thoughtful. "That's better than waiting for them to attack one of you. They probably have your addresses. Since I haven't shown up for a week, they're going to be pretty nervous." o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o Silver Millennium o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0 "The lands bordering Beryl's kingdom are falling." Zoycite thumped the report on the table before Endymion. "We must go to support her." Endymion, thinking of his last evening with Serena, blinked. "What?" He hadn't really heard what Zoycite said. "So she won't let me officially visit her Kingdom?" He'd sent Malachite and Zoycite to petition her for a formal diplomatic visit--he wanted to see Serena as himself, in the open, with no hiding. He hadn't thought past that. "No. She even refuses to help our Kingdom as an Ally." Malachite intoned. "The worst is happening. Beryl's kingdoms are falling--but the reports are unclear as to why." Zoycite frowned. Malachite eyed Endymion. "You have a duty to defend her, whether you like it or not." "War? Not now..." He thought to himself, not when he'd just met Serena...how could he see her--- "You have to back to the Moon Kingdom--" "Queen Serenity regrets she must suspend the travel privileges between our worlds again....even your subjects are not allowed to go now. She's adamant about her refusal to aid or interfere in this war." Zoycite sounded annoyed. "Ingratitude for the service we did for her." "Zoycite, our entire trip was but a symbolic and ceremonial novelty." Malachite admonished the brash young general. "She was signalling a change in her policy--but this war returned our relations to normal. We shouldn't have expected anything else." "A novelty? Expect?" Endymion said staring at Malachite. "Just politics and power. It's all a game to you--can't you see that her decision is cruel? We're not the ones at war?! You've got to go back, convince her. " "Endymion, My Prince, put that world out of your mind. Your people need you. Beryl needs you. We need you to fight. We are at war" An undercurrent of excitement ran through his voice--the syllables more curt and clipped than usual. "We don't have time to waste on such a trip." Endymion's eyes focussed then. "You live for this don't you? You are actually *happy* we're at war! Finally a chance to put these drills in action. " He snapped. Malachite held Endymion's gaze. "I won't deny that. I am a soldier. I am also a man." He said simply. "You don't act like it." "You are Prince, do you act like it?"He replied. Zoycite watched Malachite walk out, and then met Endymion's gaze. "Sometimes I think you don't deserve him as your High General." Zoycite said. "Why? You heard him. Forget the Moon Kingdom, and let's go fight for Beryl." Endymion narrowed his eyes. "He doesn't understand ." "Why should he? You've been hiding things from us--don't deny it. Why are you so eager to visit the Moon Kingdom as yourself?" "I ...uh," Endymion frowned. "Exactly...Malachite would never even ask you that-- but does it matter when you don't answer?" Zoycite pulled a strand of his hair back. "Endymion, I know we haven't always gotten along as well as we might.. But I am your friend as well as your soldier. What draws you to the moon?" "I can't explain." Endymion confessed. He never liked discussing his emotions. Somehow he couldn't even say the answer--Serena...how did he explain the glory of her gaze? The way he felt when her smile slipped into his? The light underneath her laughter? "I suppose you could say I met someone there." "I see." Zoycite nodded but his tone indicated he didn't really understand. He knew about the Prince's habit of breaking hearts. He wondered what could be so special about this girl? Perhaps it was the challenge of her being a lunar. His Prince's whimsy whirled where it would. "Why didn't you tell us?" "Malachite wouldn't understand." Endymion said. "Why did you think he was so eager to take your message there?" "I thought you just liked all the diplomacy ceremonies." "Maybe Mal, but me? I'd rather swallow a chess piece. " Zoycite laughed. "We both met women there." "YOU?" Endymion asked shocked. "BOTH of you?" "Why are you so surprised?" Zoycite asked annoyed. Endymion face contorted as if he'd swallowed a lime. "Uh..." Yet another question he didn't want to answer. "So who are they?" Zoycite smiled wryly. "you keep your secret and we'll keep ours." "It's Serena, the Moon Princess." "I'm supposed to believe you fell for that little girl?"Zoycite asked, his eyebrows flying up in surprise. "How the mighty have fallen!" "So your turn." Endymion argued. "Ami, the Princess of Mercury." Zoycite said, a faint wash of blue longing coloring his words. "I can't even picture Malachite with--" "Mina...Princess of Venus." Zoycite said. "He'll kill me for the gossip you know but you didn't hear it from me. I suppose sooner or later he'll ask permission to marry her--He's in love. And he's the sort that only loves once." Endymion nodded. "But he knows his duty. So you see, neither of us welcomes this turn of events any more than you or Jaedite." Zoycite explained. He didn't quite mean it though. He doubted the Prince felt the intense longing he himself felt. The Prince would likely forget this girl with the next pretty girl he saw--while Zoycite's knew his soul would remember the sad expression in Amy's eyes forever. He thought to himself, "The next time, Amy my love, I will see those eyes alive with happiness." Later that evening, Zoycite felt an unauthorized transport--he'd set up a net of magic to detect such things. No one had contacted him to schedule a visit--who was it? He wandered into the gardens, checking the faint traces from where the person or people had teleported. The residual energies were familiar to him--he'd studied them before--Mars. He smiled as he thought that she must have come to see Jaedite. Almost hidden within that signature was another--white and golden--the one he recognized from her earlier visits as Venus'. He frowned. Why was she here? He moved forward, wondering if Malachite had arranged another meeting with her. The temptation to observe his friend's courtship overwhelmed him. He moved forward, his mouth pulled into a smirk. Despite the lecture he'd given Endymion earlier about Malachite's capacity to feel, Zoycite agreed that Malachite was entirely unsentimental. Picturing him romancing a woman was--Zoycite stifled the snicker that would give him away. Peering through the rose bushes he could hear the soft words of lovers-- He grinned, surprised at the sweet sentimentality. "Mal, I never thought you had that in you." He grinned to himself, imagining just how he could mercilessly tease the High General later. And then everything changed. He felt himself grasp the rosebush involuntarily, barely noticed the dark red stain that spread on his finger. The pain in his hand was easily dismissed--the scene was not. Endymion, with his back towards Zoycite, stood holding someone in his arms. Zoycite couldn't see her face, not from this angle. All he could see was a few wisps of blonde hair, and the soft white hands which made no attempt to push Endymion away. As clear as the scene was dim he heard her say: "I must go for the shield swill close soon. But, if you are attacked--or need to see me, this moonlight ring will let you in through the shields--but it will only work one way." They were not aware of his approach--the rest of the world didn't exist for them. Certainly not Malachite, thought Zoycite bitterly, the one they both insulted with their inability to understand loyalty. He watched for barely a second longer, feeling his disgust boil through his mind. "Mina" He thought to himself "Endymion, of all the women in the world, why her?" He never even considered the possibility that the woman was anyone else--the signature, the hair color. He remembered how she'd come down to Earth before, without seeing Malachite--was this why? Had she been too busy dallying with Endymion? His conclusions formed in an instant, as he condemned them both silently. The couple pulled apart slightly at the sound of a bush moving. He looked away from them, and from his vantage point could see he was not the only observer. Beryl had witnessed the scene as well--and her face exemplified fury. END GOM: Pyramids of Ice by Alina: Prologue: 0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0 Author's Notes: (Mercury Bubbles ^ ^) o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0 1. Amy's story begins now! 2. The Outer Scouts are back in here--and I apologize for switching to their Japanese names.....I know, I've been inconsistent with how I spell everything. Hopefully, you'll know who I mean. LOOK FOR END OF CHAPTER, or something's missing. *************************** Sailor Moon Says: Ok, so here's the scoop. Greg drew us a picture showing the scouts and those first set of nega-creep all coupled up! Turns out that in the Silver Millennium, that's what happened! Sigh...Isn't it romantic, all our guardians, destined to love each ? But anyway, we found out Jaedite is alive, and now he's kind of an ordinary guy named Jed. And he's in love with Raye. Who knows why though, she's so prickly and picky and -- Sailor Mars: Moon-brain, stick to the story! Sailor Moon (Waaaaaaah) you're so *mean*. I was doing the story! Anyway, Jed's not the only general to come back, because Neflite was also reborn! And as a boy Lita used to love! But while we learn that, our Enemy the BOSS learns about our powers and sends someone after us. *WheW* I wonder whether Zoycite is alive? Sailor Mercury (blushing): Sailor Moon, I think that's enough summary! Let the readers get on with the story, so I can go study! College starts in only a few more weeks. ***************************** "Never Give up! I'll give it my best" This time for sure it's my turn"-- ending song to "Ami-chan's first love" "Let's go as we are" ************************************* Present--a few days after Jaedite is rescued. ********************************** Sitting on the library steps, Amy tried to concentrate on the geology book she was reading. Despite the warm late spring sunshine, Amy felt coated in a frozen mist of confused desires. Her attention kept wandering as she thought back over the last few days. Finding the picture, regaining her memories, and then finding Jaedite was alive. Her world had spun 360 degrees, and right back again. Finally she pulled out the picture Greg had given her, and with a finger traced the images in it. Though its immersion in a puddle and the multiple folds had faded the colors, she could still see how detailed and accurate Greg's vision had been. Now that she'd regained her memories of her past life, or at least, more of them than she had ever had before, what was she to do? More difficult than any quadratic equation, was this puzzling pull she felt to a man she knew that had betrayed her. And even more disquieting was the equally strong push she felt to run to Greg. He'd always been in the periphery of her life, and she'd done nothing to bring him closer. What was it about reliving her past that made her want to change her present life? Could she be in love with two people at the same time? Her face colored with the thought. What was she saying? She couldn't be in love! Greg was her dear dear friend, and Zoycite was...gone. And she couldn't love either of them and fulfill her role as a Sailor Scout, could she? She pulled another book out of her bag, forcing herself to study and stop thinking the useless chilling thoughts. "Hey Amy, stop this right now!" Serena's sunny voice teased, as she grabbed the book away. "What's going on? It's a gorgeous Saturday! We've finally all graduated! And you're *STUDYING*? No WAY! Come on , after last night I say we deserve some icecream. My treat. ok?" She pleaded, holding the book inches out of Amy's hands. Amy sighed and pulled out another book, on geometry. "AMY!" Serena said, and snatched that one too. "What so interesting about triangles!? Come on!" "Hey meat-ball-head, what are *you* doing with books? Besides, I thought we were going to get ice- cream?" Raye said tapping her foot, as Lita grinned, and Mina winked. "Your treat remember Serena? You promised!" Mina said. Serena suddenly paled, grabbed her pockets looking for money. "Oh no! I forgot to bring money...I'm broke." "That's ok Serena, I don't want to go." Amy said. "And they're not triangles, they're pyramids." "Oh that's just great Serena!!" Raye yelled sarcastically. "You mean you dragged us all the way down here for nothing!" "It's not for nothing, it was for icecream" Serena said back."And what were you doing anyway? Unless" Her smile became a smirk "You wanted to spend the day with Jaedite? Can't bear to leave him huh?" "Don't be an idiot!" Raye raised her chin into the air, and looked away. "He could be dangerous, and *that's* why its not safe to leave him alone." "Oh so *that's* why you didn't want to leave!" Lita joined in to tease the dark haired girl. "And I thought it was his blue eyes." "Oh yeah? , not all of us are as boy-crazy as you are." Raye challenged, her eyelids lowering, as she widened her stance. Mina giggled, as she tried to stop the incipient fight. "That's ok everyone, the ice cream's on me. I've got *big* news! But I want to wait til we get to the Icecream parlor, ok?" While the others continued to argue, Serena focussed back on Amy. Now that Amy was no longer hidden behind her shield of a book, Serena noticed how shadowed Amy's eyes were. She hesitated a moment, then called down the steps to where the others were. "Guys, why don't you go ahead...I'm gonna see if Darien's around." "Fine, we'll go find our own cute guys then!"Lita joked as the three started off. Serena sat down next to Amy and balanced her head on her hands, elbows resting on her knees. "What's wrong Amy? Even you don't like to turn down icecream. Is it that picture? Your memories?" Amy's silence and slowly expelled breath gave Serena her answer. She hugged Amy quickly, and then pulled her shy friend to her feet. "Amy, it wasn't your fault! And besides, I'm happy *now*, so why bother about what happened a life time ago? Everything worked out!Let's not pass up on icecream today because of something that's done with ok?" Amy smiled slightly at that. "I'm just bothered by the possibility that Zoicite, and the other generals, could be alive. What will we do?" Serena frowned. "Heal them I guess. It worked with Jed, right? And besides, didn't we decide it was just a fluke he was alive? So stop worrying!" "But that's all I have, is my worry. "Amy shivered despite the sun. "That's my duty Serena, to worry so you and Darien can be happy together." "And I told you, I won't be happy unless you are. *AND* I know you love Greg. Missing him is what's making you sad!" "love?"Amy blushed. "AND, he loves you. So you have more than just your role as a sailor scout, Amy! You've got a great guy who'd do anything for you!" Serena said vehemently and a little loudly. "But Greg and I are just good friends!" Amy protested. "We're not like you and Darien!" She added, lowering her voice a bit. "Only because you're too afraid to see what you have with him for what it really is, Amy." Michiru interrupted, almost materializing out of nowhere as a soft breeze kissed a couple of cherry blossoms their way, "You keep thinking love is this fairy-tale, miracle romance, and maybe, sometimes it is." She smiled gently, her sea-green eyes liquid and luminous "But true love isn't about danger and excitement. It's a feeling that you share a dream with someone that only you can make real together." Michiru gracefully stepped down one step to stand level with them. Though it looked to the girls as if she'd appeared from thin air, in actuality, she'd exited the library seconds before. Under one arm, she balanced a huge artbook. She'd stopped on the steps to enjoy the view of the park and the small outdoor stage where she liked to practice. Somehow though, the winds had picked up the tail end of the conversation, and carried it to her. The two girls swivelled their heads to look at the older woman, who blushed slightly, bowing her head. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but Serena's voice caries a bit." She said in her gentle voice. "You said Greg was the man who drew that picture?" She asked. She'd noticed that the picture's detail of Amy was particularly splendid, though everyone else was more roughly done. Amy nodded. "Then I would agree with Serena. He loves you." Michiru added. "Their is more to life than duty, Amy." She blushed slightly, as a familiar blonde haired figure roared up to the steps on her motor-bike. "And everyone deserves a chance for love." "Yes but Greg and I--we're in two separate worlds now. And there is no room in mine for more than friendship." Amy said blushing even harder. "I don't need anything else." "The world wouldn't be worth living in without something more than friendship." Michiru added before she thought, and then blushed a little. A little more evenly, she said over her shoulder "You shouldn't give up on love so easily." She waved and glided down the steps to the waiting bike. "Greg and I? In love!?" Amy said, almost in a trance.. As the pair roared away, Serena turned towards Amy. Impressed by Michiru's eloquence, Serena did not want to be outdone. "Yes, Amy. Love is the soft warm glow you get when thinking about a person you care about very very much...a person you'd like to spend every minute of every day with... a person who makes you want to keep on living just to see their smile." As she said this,she waved her arms exuberantly, and she dropped Amy's books. They tumbled down the stairs, landing on a very unlucky Darien. "OUCH!" He swore. He looked up, very annoyed until he noticed who had thrown the book. His expression softened as a slow smile crept onto his face. "Oh no! Muffin!" Serena gulped, as she ran to him. "I'm *Sooooooooooo*Sorry." Then he literally did a double take as he looked at the book. "Geometry in ancient cultures? Is this *your* book Serena?" Amy followed Serena down more slowly, and took back her book. "Come on Serena, don't we have some ice cream to go get?..." Her eyes had a determined glint as her mind turned over the possibilities. *************** On the mysterious hidden floor of the Stanton Electronics Tower, Eris Sineheart fingered the small fragment of jade. Almost reverently he turned the scrap, his imagination recalling the figurine to which the fragment once belonged. To a casual observer, the scrap looked so unimportant and worthless. Sineheart found great personal significance in the object. The piece reminded him of his start, and kept his humility before him. Six years ago, he'd nearly lost everything while trying to gain control over everything...he smiled coldly at the games fate could play. Of course, he'd gained everything back in time. This time, he didn't intend to make the same mistakes. He folded the ancient manuscripts before him, studying more closely the ancient grimoire that lay open. Briefly he reviewed the events of Project Gate in his mind. He'd painstakingly captured a set of six ancient jade figurines. The fragment he held came from one of the six, but he could barely recall which. They all looked alike. They were all of women, with really short skirts. His stepson's had been of a girl who's arms were crossed, head dipped, ponytail flying to the side. Time had worn down the features, but one could make out a fiercely determined look. That was why Sineheart had married Hikari Stanton, in order to gain access to the prize jade collection of her son Maxfield. Early on in Sineheart' life, he'd felt this draw to gain power, an obsession with magic. He'd studied physical chemistry, trying to unlock the secrets of matter at their structural levels. In his off hours he studied myth and legend. That interest and fate had led him to the small jade statues.. Legend told him that these statues were the key to releasing a powerful force. They had not been easy to procure--the most difficult was perhaps the one he stole from the Smithsonian in the United States.... Sineheart twisted his face in a snide smile. That had brought the FBI down on his trail, since his method of stealing had been so unusual. He remembered the first time he'd touched one of these statues...the piece he held had once formed the figurine of a girl with long hair. Fire had crackled at the touch-- he'd almost dropped it so shocked he'd been. His first taste of magic, and he'd craved more. In order to fuel the spell for the Gate, he'd needed vast amounts of life Energy...so he'd tricked his wife's Grandfather, wife and (he thought) his stepson onto taking the ride of their lives. He'd planned for the plane to crash into another Jet streaming into Japan. At that moment, as it crashed over his head, he'd arranged the figures in a circle and smiled... "Today I release a great power..."He'd chanted "The sacrifice will be worth it-- to open the Gate of Power, and break the seal!" Almost as if he moved without will, he knew what to do...The statues crackled, and crumbled, leaving white powder emitting a strange white glow-- then in the sky, a pulsating, swirling light appeared. Then his plan dissolved. He heard his stepson shout his name. The questions still plagued him. Where had he come from? Why hadn't he been on the plane? Maxfield had run forward into the circle, dislocating one of the pieces, and the lights above had whirled dangerously. Then a woman's voice had yelled out "Halt-- FBI! Everyone Freeze" As the portal above them exploded with the screech of something inhuman. Sineheart remembered feeling himself knocked over the side of the clearing, into ditch. He felt himself covered by the strange woman, her body propelled by some unknown force into his. He awoke naked, cold and hungry, in a cave of sorts. Rather than the warm air of summer, he detected the chill of snow and frost. At least a few months had passed. To his right lay the body of the woman who he would later turn into the Assistant. He moved over to her, and surprisingly found a pulse, though neither of them should have been alive. At sunrise-- he had climbed back up the hill to investigate. A huge black spot covered the ground where the figures had stood the night of his project before. No sign of life, everything was charred. The only other human was the woman in the cave, her shiny FBI badge tarnished and uselessly lying on the ground. She continued to lay limp, mostly dead where he'd left her. There was no sign of his stepson, or the Gate or what happened. He never did find out. But he didn't care. He didn't care about anything but gaining the power he'd but glimpsed the night before. The next time, he swore, he'd be ready. He had returned to civilization, easily claiming to have been on the plane which killed his "family." Quickly, Sineheart claimed ownership of everything. The lawyers were satisfied that he was the only remaining heir. Though it puzzled them that a few people had mentioned seeing Maxfield after the plane crash. Sineheart's efforts to locate (and exterminate) Maxfield proved unsuccessful. Eventually, Sineheart rested assured that his claim over his empire was secure. Even though no one else questioned his yearlong absence, Sineheart found himself wondering how he'd spent a year without any memory of the events. This amazed him and intrigued him. Magic was an unpredictable force just like the market. For the next few years it was the market rather than magic that consumed his life. To that end, he'd arranged to have Sora Tamaguchi kidnapped before her wedding--and had ended up finding a far bigger prize. He smiled a mirthless smile, his green eyes glittering like the scales of a snake. "Sailor Scouts." He whispered, fingering the clippings. He returned the scrap to the black velvet drawer as he refocussed his mind on the present. He wondered how his Assistant was faring? ************************************* PAST: SILVER MILLENNIUM: *************************************** Princess Mercury, though she possessed more patience than most, felt like throwing her book at the Princess of the Moon. "Serena! What's gotten into you. You haven't heard a word I've said *all* morning." "I have." Serena said with a sigh. Her mind filled with memories of her meetings with Endymion. How could her mother *do* this? She thought Serena didn't know that the shields were to come down, but Artemis had inadvertently let that slip. Ever since then, her morning lessons seemed so unimportant. "I heard every word." "Then you have not understood them!" Amy countered. "What's wrong!?" "How can you ask! I'm here, and Endymion's there, and there's a war on, and!" She broke off, close to tears. "How could I think about math! Who cares about triangles anyway!" "The only triangles she cares about are romantic ones." Princess Raye added, looking up from her book. No one could tell, but she'd hidden an illustrated fairy tale on top of hers. "Like her, Endymion and Beryl." "These are pyramids!" Amy said exasperatedly. "They have five points, and exist in three dimensions!" "Who cares where they exist. And it's *not* a triangle...Endymion loves *me* and he can't stand Beryl!" Serena shouted at Raye, as she whipped around so fast her pony tails lashed out at Jupiter. "HEY! Watch the hair!" Amy sighed, as she lost control of the room. Though the same age as the others, she had so surpassed them in her studies that she tutored them. Yet today, no one felt like learning. She was therefore very happy when Artemis appeared and told her that Queen Selenity wanted to see her. * * * Queen Selenity looked again at the letter that Neflite had sent her a year ago, his words of warning so cagily phrased. He might as well have written "It's all your fault." But of course, he didn't. And he didn't even know how right he was. Sighing, she gripped the staff which held the crystal tighter in her hands, letting her wings stretch out of her back for a second. The movement felt good. All the weeks the generals had been on the Moon, Queen Selenity had instructed her daughter to hide this sign of their transcendent evolution. Selenity smiled, thinking that Serena (the preferred nickname her friends had adopted to distinguish her from her mother) had taken that commandment in stride. Her daughter always surprised her with her hidden strength. Not for the first time, Selenity wondered if Serena might in fact be the stronger of the two of them? Did she underestimate her most beloved daughter? Was she wrong to continue to try and shape her destiny and protect her? Sailor Mercury's steps upon the marble tile, though they made no more impact than a snowflake upon a tongue, pulled the Queen from her internal dialogue. "Mercury!" She said, welcoming the shy soldier. "My Queen." Mercury replied respectfully, head bowed, as she stared at the Queen's reflection in the highly polished tile. "Mercury, the Earth Kingdom has requested my permission for an audience. This means only one thing. They fear the war is not going well." Mercury nodded. She had been corresponding with Zoycite, and had been monitoring the energy readouts from the fighting in Beryl's kingdom. "And I know that I have no choice but to raise the shields for travel." "Your Majesty?" "That was why I called you Mercury. I want this to be a permanent shield. It will not be strong enough otherwise, if I design it to be taken down." "Permanent?" Mercury gasped. "I do not want the others, especially Serena, to know just yet." The Queen said. "I will tell her myself when it is done, and when it is too late for me to change my mind. If you must, lie. She suspects I'm raising them, but not that I have no intention of lowering them ever again." "Lie to Serena?" Mercury asked puzzled as the Queen handed her a strange device. The Queen did not bother to explain why she wanted to raise the shields permanently. "This is a portable version of the Main computer. It is almost as powerful and Mercury, I trust you will use it well." "Why are you entrusting this to me?" She asked puzzled. She fingered the controls almost lovingly. "Surely Venus, as leader should be the one --" "Mercury, you alone of all the scouts possess the talent to truly use this tool. And I will need you to help me design and improve the shield,to create the permanent one." The Queen lightly touched her shoulder, her wings brushing Mercury as she exited the chamber. Mercury's eyes widened, and she suddenly understood what the clouds must feel when rain changes to snow. A face flashed through her mind, bright green eyes,framed by redish-blonde slightly curly hair, neatly arranged in a pony tail. The shield might be the only way to save the Moon Kingdom from the wars that raged on the planet below, but what would it do to this slowly growing tie between her and her Earth General? Frozen in that thought, she didn't move for a long time. ********************* The Queen paused in the hall outside of where she left Mercury, to speak to a man who almost merged into the shadows-- the Moon Kingdom's master engineer. "I wish to commend you on the computer you created. " She said quietly to break the silence. "You've outdone yourself." "Was she pleased?" He asked, his eyes still fixed on the slight figure in the room behind them. "I've implemented several of her theories in it." The apprehension resonated not only in his voice, but in his stance--heels lifted, leaning forward, eyebrows raised, eyes wide. "She will be, when she uses it." The Queen smiled, but a sadness filled her eyes. "Tell her, before its too late." He looked startled. "Tell her what?!" "You know very well. Tell her you love her." "My Queen?" His dark eyes met her crystal blue ones. "You are one of my oldest friends, so do not say My Queen to me now." Selenity said, looking deep into his heart through his eyes. "I'm not speaking as your Queen when I say this. And do not tell me that Mercury is only important as someone who appreciates your work. I know how you created that computer." He didn't say anything, but kept his gaze even and blank as a new page. "Or I should say, not that I know *how*, but out of what you created that computer." She paused. "You've altered your heart crystal, and you've given it to her." He'd often been unnerved by his ruler's uncanny knack of reading his emotions, but her quick grasp of the magic he'd wrought surprised him. "By rights, if I'd done that, I should be dead." He didn't deny or confirm what she'd said. "And yet, you've found a way." She lightly placed a hand on his shoulder. "How can you live without your heart crystal?" "I don't know for sure how long I will last without it. Without her, though, I would not care." He raised a hand to forestall any objections she might raise. "We both know a battle is brewing, and that she's the weakest one. Selenity, you were right to ask me to augment her powers. So this was how I chose to do it. And even for you, I will not change what I've done. " The Queen leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Would I of all people ask that of you, dear friend? No, my interest is only out of concern for you." "With the help of a crystal I've designed, we can live without our heart crystals inside of our bodies." "A crystal?" He concentrated and produced a small blue crystal in his hand, that looked remarkably like the silver crystal in its cut and facets. "I'd been trying to recreate or reproduce the silver crystal, and though I failed, I stumbled onto these... it's sort of bonded with my heart crystal, and as long as I have it, I can remove my heart crystal. I suppose you could say it transmits the resonances of my heart crystal to me." Selenity held one up to the light. "It's as if it's trapped a rainbow!" She said, caught in the beauty. At that moment, one caught a glimpse of the happy girl she might have been, rather than the burdened ruler she'd become. Mother began to resemble daughter, as she suppressed a giggle. "It's a rainbow crystal!" She began to laugh. He smiled. "I haven't heard you laugh like that since-- a long time, Selene." He said the pet name without hesitation the tension between them melting away with their memories of the years. "I'm sorry I--" He darkened, not sure if addressing the old pain in her heart would be wise. What could he say? That he was sorry that her love had died? That he had not developed this technique in time to design a way to stop the tragic attack on her husband's kingdom, the attack that took his life? And then just as the moon disappears from the sky at dawn, her laugh waned. "It will be a long time before I do so again." The calm mask reclaimed her. "If ever. But you've discovered something that may make it possible for everyone else to have that chance." "I have?" "I know that this battle will be the Moon Kingdom's and my last one. The Seven Shadows will be released, but you've given me a way to stop them. This rainbow crystal of yours may be the answer--or at least, part of it." "My rainbow crystal? You want to create more computers?" She smiled mysteriously, hope beginning to blossom, even as the starkness of her fate confronted her. "You did this transformation of yours without the silver crystal-so let's go see what your theory can really do, when it has enough power." "What are you suggesting?"Every fibre in his being warned him that the look of selfless transcendence in her eyes was dangerous. "Who's heart crystal are you going to alter!?" "Mine, of course." She said. "And those of seven volunteers." Their eyes locked and held, their impending self-sacrifice a bond between them which prevented either one from dissuading the other. To help those they loved, they had no choice. "You have a plan, don't you?" He asked. "I've known the nature of the enemy we're facing long before you did. But promise me one thing, Rory." Selenity said, using her nickname for him. "What?" He said turning to her. "Before we...before this battle ends, promise me you will tell her what you feel? Love should always be expressed." "Why? I love her, but love does not always run in two directions. It's better she doesn't know when she never asked for me to love her like this. To her, I'm just an old professor, with whom she can discuss science and magic. I'll leave the romantic nonsense to the young...like that general of hers." The undercurrent of bitterness in his voice spoiled the noble meaning of the words. He ran a hand through his dark black hair. He was painfully aware that Selenity could see through his words like rice paper. "But a heart that loves without return can grow cold. Rory, do not become like Beryl." The Queen warned. "Come we have much work before us to prepare for Metallia."