Chapter Four: Follow the Golden Road Pluto sank to the ground in despair and placed both hands flat on the hidden earth beneath her body. The Garnet Orb on the end of her staff twinkled madly as the mist around her thickened and waned. It's lunatic glitter brought her head up as she bit back a cry of pain and desperation. Before her trembling frame towered a door over thirty feet high. It is through this door that she can watch the time lines stream and separate, probably one of the most boring yet calming activities in the world when all is right with time as it normally is. This was not one of those times. "What is going on?" she whispered. "Why haven't they done anything yet?" Her only answer was a groan from a timeline thin as a thread about thirty feet away. As she watched, it pulled taut and snapped under the pressure of rapidly changing events. A scream of billions of lives lost ripped through Pluto's conscious mind. She shivered in guilt and fear, the white-hot agony of so many souls ripped in to the afterlife at one time shattered her resolve and she curled in to a small fetal ball on the ground. "Please...please help them." * * * * * * * * * * * "Adam, down!" insisted a little voice, and Adam glanced in surprise at his small passenger. He backed carefully out of the few steps he had taken in to the cave and turned. Serena hadn't moved; she still stared in amazement at the gaping maw of entrance. Shrugging, he carefully settled the child on the ground and watched as she ran to Serena and tugged on one of her blond ponytails until she was lifted in her tender, warm embrace once more. A small rat scurried out of the cave and Adam bit back a gasp of surprise at the rodent's presence. He glanced towards Serena, she was so intent on the cave before them she didn't notice the arrival of the vermin. Chibi Chibi curled trustingly in her arms, small chubby hands clenched loosely around one of Serena's long golden ponytails. He smiled at the child and she blinked once before shyly returning the gentle grin. A low wind picked up and she cuddled closer to Serena's body. "Cold," she whispered as if conspiring with Serena. Startled out of her reverie by the soft complaint, Serena nodded once and rubbed soft slender hands up and down the child's chilled flesh to warm her. "All right, Chibi. It's now or never. We'll get you out of the cold." She gulped and nodded at Adam. "You said something about going first, Sir Knight?" Adam grinned at the title and bowed low before the young woman. "Of course, your majesty. It would be my pleasure." He was deeply relieved when Serena dropped the frown that had been gathering in her eyes and giggled softly. She didn't often worry, and it showed in the way she carried herself when she was anxious. Instead of the bright, loving girl he was used to, she fairly slumped when she was exhausted and frightened with disquiet. The giggle had returned that dewy blush and bright smile, if for only a few moments, and Adam was sorely glad, for their loss had frightened him. He straightened; determined to be the best Knight he could for Darien's lovely princess, and stepped quickly in to the cave, his orange cloak swinging challengingly behind him. * * * * * * * * * * * "So now what?" whispered Solan. Auriel ignored the hushed inquiry and crawled a few feet closer to the edge of the bushes. "NOW!" Completely surprised by his love, Solan found himself clumsily flung headfirst on to the sidewalk in front of the thick foliage. "Oomph!" There was a pause, and then a cheerful feminine voice caught his bruised attention, "Oh! Are you hurt? Are you okay?" Solan shook his head free of bit of grass and leaves only long enough to catch sight of the comely pair of slender legs poised in front of his face. Following their path upwards past a short black skirt and billowing white blouse; he found himself staring flabbergasted in to a very familiar pair of amber eyes. "Kristen?" "Solan?" A moment of silence lay unbroken between them and suddenly Solan found his arms full of delightfully feminine curves and sweetly cloying rose scented hair. "Where have you been! Oh, Solan, everyone was so worried about you, and you didn't attend Jeremy's funeral, we thought you just went off and..." Another gasping pause, but this one didn't last very long. Kristen grabbed his head and kissed him full on the mouth lying on the sidewalk just outside the park where he met Auriel, in full view of his hidden girlfriend. In the back of his mind he catalogued Auriel's sudden intake of breath, before gathering wits enough to force the clamoring girl off his lap. "Kristen...what in the hell are you doing?" She gazed tearfully up at his through large glassy eyes, and sniffled once. "But...you...I mean, I...I mean..." "What do you mean, Kristen?" Solan stood up, and glanced around. Auriel was gone; there was no doubt about that. His fiery princess would have done either of two things: fried them both to a crisp where they stood, or she was more upset than she let on, and had taken off to be in peace. "Oh, Auri," he whispered softly, his heart laboring as he thought of his brave princess in distress. Kristen was still prattling on, unmindful of his mental wanderings, still blushing fiercely, still letting miniature tears creep down her dainty plastic face in a very pretty manner. Solan stepped back and listened for a moment. "And then I realized that Dan wasn't the man for me. He never treated me half as well as you used to, besides, he's a giant oaf for pity's sake. He can't dance, and he hates children, unlike you. You loved the twins so much and they miss you. But anyway, I realized at Jeremy's funeral that there was something special and perfect missing from my life, and that someone was you. Of course, this must be a shock to you, after all I did practically ignore you for an entire year, but I think..." For the first time in his life, Solan could see what Jeremy had seen all along. Kristen wasn't his bonny beauty; she wasn't even a shadow of what he once imagined her to be. Beneath the layers of filmy white powder and caked on glossy lipstick was a vain, selfish, spoiled little girl, one so in to herself she didn't notice other's pain. He stepped away and leaned almost casually on the brick wall behind him. What did he see in her? She did bear a remarkable resemblance to Auriel, this was true. They were of a similar height, both with the same indistinguishable shade of auburn hair and bright amber eyes. The difference was in the eyes though; Auriel's had always been bright with intelligence and a sparkling ire that was dignified by her dry wit and sweet smile. Kristen's bright eyes had something suspiciously close to utter brain damage behind them; at best they were vapid and moronic to say the least. He noted that Kristen had closed her eyes as she began running out of breath. He waited a familiar moment to allow her to open them in order to breathe deeply, then shut them again as she continued on her egotistical tirade. Taking advantage of that brief moment of rest, he turned and simply walked away. "She doesn't deserve a goodbye," he muttered to himself as he scanned the sky for more bright streaks of light and tried to locate Auriel's position with her wrist communicator and Ami's small computer. "I hope you can hear me, where ever you are up there, Jeremy. You were right and I was wrong. I never thought I'd say those words to you again, but you were right and I was wrong." * * * * * * * * * * * The hospital waiting room was chilly and Darien shivered as he searched through his bag searching for the familiar golden shimmer of their locket. A moment later a soft click behind him drew Darien's attention to the night nurse standing watch. "Darien? How are you doing hon?" He shrugged and brushed his fingers tenderly along the cold metal of the locket before drawing his hand out of the bag and shrugging with what he hoped was nonchalance. "I've been better." The night nurse, an elderly woman of about fifty, smiled gently and pulled open a thin teal blanket. "Here, cover up. I heated it for you. Your next shift doesn't start for a few more hours and I figured you'd want a nap." He smiled and gratefully accepted the warm fuzzy offering. "Thank you. You didn't have to go to the..." She shook her head and interrupted his apology. "No. I did have to go to the trouble. You are the hardest working intern here; you take over shifts, help out as much as you can, and the moment you finally get out of the ninety hour a week shifts you've been pulling for some rest and relaxation, the niece of your...that sweet young girl gets ill. Then your friends all get ill as well and you're by their sides day in and day out. Of course I had to help you. Now you just promise to stop by the station to give me a hug goodnight before you go on duty, and I'll view that as thanks enough." Darien blushed at the ringing compliments heaped on his head. "I couldn't leave them," he whispered. "I can't stay in the room with her, she reminds me too much of...Serena, but I couldn't leave them alone." The nurse sighed and clucked her tongue in a motherly fashion before hugging Darien lightly. "I know dear. If you ever need anyone to talk to, feel free to come to me. The nursery is always open." Wiping at an errant tear, Darien smiled halfheartedly. "Thank you. I promise to stop by maternity before I go on, okay?" She merely patted him on the head and squeezed one broad shoulder tenderly. "Okay." * * * * * * * * * * * "Careful, Princess. The drop is steep." Adam held his arms high to balance out his swaying body on the thin rope stretched taut beneath his feet. Far below lay a gushing river of what appeared to be writhing mists. Low groans and moans reached his ears and chilled his blood; the churning mass of only Venus knew what below seemed to be beseeching their help. Please Princess...help us...help...Mother, oh, mother...help me...Sir Knight...shining ones, you can save us...help...hell, hell, hell, help. Serena bit back a sob of distress as the voices called and thin wraithlike arms stretched from the water begging salvation. "Oh, Adam," she whispered, "can't we do something for them? What are they? Who are they?" "The souls of the damned," rasped a voice from behind. Adam gripped the rope above his head tightly and swiveled as quickly as he could to see Serena cowering before a dripping red-haired goul. "Leave her be," he commanded, quickly reaching the edge and stepping in front of Serena and the child. "What are you doing here? What do you want with us?" "Nothing," murmured the thing sadly. "I just wanted to lay eyes on my destruction one more time before I return to my restless agony. I can do nothing here, none of us can. We can only watch, and wait, and learn of our fate. The fate which you hold, dear little Princess Serenity." "I have the power to heal you," the Princess timidly offered from behind Adam. "It doesn't have to be like this anymore, Beryl. You can rest now, you have suffered enough." At the mention of the creature's name, Adam surpressed a shudder. This beast had been the Scout's first true test? This thing had killed them all, Serena included, before the power of the crystal returned them to this life? This limping mass of tissue and flesh before them was the vicious and power mad Queen Beryl? "Serena," he whispered, horrified, "are you insane?" The thing that had been Beryl issued a wheezing choke. "No, Sir Knight. She is not insane, merely a tender, generous child, even unto her enemies." The princess shivered behind him and he slowly reached for his sword, preparing to strike at the remnants of the evil Queen. She shuddered at the sight of the sword and drew away slowly. "I only wish I could be redeemed. But salvation is not for the likes of me. Take care crossing this void; below churns the waters of the souls of the damned. They have erred more in their lives than even I did. They are those that are completely unfreeable, thus they are confined to that river. A word of caution to you both; try not to touch the waters, or inhale its polluted mist. Though they beg very nicely, should you fall in or breathe too deeply, their greed and vices will contaminate you. You will become as one of them, nothing but a mass of defiled hopes and twisted, rotting dreams. If you don't become one of them you will be...purified in their pain." She ch uckled blandly. "Not a very pretty end for Sailor Moon, Champion of Justice and Defender of Love." She turned and began shuffling away, the dirty ends of her mop of ratty red hair trailing the ground. "You're giving up?" demanded Serena. "You, Queen Beryl, scourge of the Nega-verse, are simply giving up and walking away? I thought you would at least make a pass at my crystal, but not even that tempts you?" Adam stiffened at mention of the crystal and ardently wished Serena would keep her mouth shut. He had no idea why she was pursuing this line of reasoning with this woman; it would only get the both of them killed. Beryl paused a moment and a wry chuckle forced its tired way from her throat. "Interesting attempt, Sailor Moon, but it won't succeed. The crystal is of no use for me here. It is merely a pretty bauble, one that I could covet should I wish to, but one that is worthless none the less." She moaned once and shivered. "That river is for the utterly damned. Anyone who falls in that is either ripped to shreds or purified by the pain of the Damned. Anyone worth their salt anyway." Adam tensed, preparing for more, but nothing met his expectations. The woman simply shook and drifted away, a bag of tired old bones too evil for salvation, but not evil enough to be eternally damned in the writhing river below. He turned to face Serena, to chastise her for her blatant challenge of Beryl, when a soft rustle above them drew his attention to the ceiling. In the faded and dim rustling lights of the cavern his eyes met innumerable beady blind ones. Serena shrieked as the rustle multiplied and what appeared to be a hundred bats woke and began flying towards the feeble glow the crystal was emitting, squealing and shrieking, their raspy little bodies and warm thriving flesh seeking the nearest form of warmth. "Adam! Help! Get them off!" She beat at her head and arms; it was no use, the little furry vermin caught themselves in her hair and tangled tightly in, beating their dusky thin wings rapidly enough to raise a mild wind. Pulling out his sword, Adam almost laughed at the fact that the first time he would draw the magnificent weapon would be to beat flying rodents senseless. It gleamed in the narrow lights of the cavern and Adam began chopping and crunching clumsily away. He felt the satisfying crunch as he sheared one particularly large bat in two pieces, before turning to address the issue of Serena and her vermin. The sight that met his eyes caused his blood to run cold. Chibi Chibi huddled in a corner, batting the smaller bats away, but she could do nothing for the princess, who was reeling about, crushing the bats the best she could with her bare hands. Serena's dance brought her precariously close to the edge of the chasm leading to the river. Adam groaned and lunged for Serena, but as if his worst nightmares came true, he found her slender body moving beyond his grasp and plummeting soundlessly over the edge. * * * * * * * * * * * Ken stared at Greg through red-rimmed, swollen eyes. "What do you mean? What in the world is going on in that diseased brain of yours, Greg? There is no way we can simply go in to their comas and bring them out of it. Have you gone mad?" Greg shook his head wildly and slurped down another steaming hot gulp of coffee. "No, Ken. I've been up all day thinking about this, working through this. If there was some way that we could get Darien to contact Helios, we could go in to their dreams and rescue them. I mean they were sucked in to this sickness somehow, it's our job as their eternal protectors to get them out. We must protect them Ken, not sit around as they waste away and die like Serena!" Ken shook his head and rose from the rickety cafeteria table. "You need rest Greg. When was the last time you slept?" His partner didn't answer, just backed away from the table and rose to his feet, meeting Ken's gaze. They stood at a mental impasse for a few moments, battling wills colliding with unseen force. Finally, Greg backed down. "I have been up since Ami was taken," he admitted. "I was sleeping when she was captured. She handed her computer to me and I let her go. I was so tired I didn't even say goodbye, I just went to sleep. Now...now I have to save her, Ken. We have to save them." Ken eased back in to his seat at his friend's tormented words. "You think what happened was your fault," he accused. "You think that had you been there, you could have done something." Greg dropped in to his rickety chair with a thump; the small table rocked as he dropped his head on to its grainy surface and nodded. "We can go to Darien," Ken whispered. "But I don't see how he can reach Helios. There would be more of a chance of reaching God. Maybe we should just step out of this and leave this fight for those who can handle it better. Maybe we should just pray." Greg lifted his head from the table and his bitter eyes met Ken's own. "Without Ami," he rasped, "there is no God. Without Ami, there is no me. So, without Ami, I will not exist, so I can not pray to a God that will not exist if she is gone. Do you understand?" Ken shivered at the blank fury banked in his friend and fellow Knight's eyes. Under normal circumstances, Greg was not half the warrior the rest of them were; he was the strategist of the team, but now Ken could clearly see the slumbering power within the young man. "That is why you were chosen," he whispered. "Beryl didn't choose you for Zoisite's sake, though they think that is the reason. You were a Shadow because..." "Because I didn't have Ami to temper me," Greg ground out fiercely. "In every person, there lays a shadow half which only begs the opportunity to be freed. Mine was, for a short time, free. Would you like to watch Lita die and see yours free as well?" Ken shivered again and shook his head. "No. No, we'd best go talk to Darien. He'll know what to do." * * * * * * * * * * * Adam hit the water with a frigid splash and immediately felt his lungs burning for want of oxygen. He took a deep breathe and screamed a the top of his voice, "SERENA!" There was a muffled splash and a scream downstream and he instinctively followed the sound. "SERENA!" The scream cut short. "ADAM! HELP!" "SERENA!" Adam swam a few short strokes before he realized he couldn't see a thing. A slow despair ate at his heart and wound its destructive path around his legs. Cramps shot through his stomach, and he gasped again as he went under the swirling, churning water for a moment. He sputtered to the top and kicked at whatever was clinging to his legs. It would not let go, the pain was intense, clogging his senses, ripping through his skull. The damned pulled at his legs, shrieking and clawing at his face and shoulders. "SERENA!" he choked out; no answer came this time. Blindly, he kicked out again, the weight of his cramping abdominal muscles pulling him down. "SERE...SERENA!" There was another muffled splash, closer this time. He set out in that direction, wheezing and gasping in the thin air for a small breath. The surging water hit at him, arms and legs of mist and air appeared from nowhere and began tugging at his legs, adding weight to his arms, drawing his head further in to the gurgling mass of dank river water. The freezing water ran up his nose, biting his nostrils, ripping a hole of liquid fire in his brain as the agony screamed its blind way through his nervous system. He allowed his head to go under a moment to catch his breath, then with a surge, broke the surface one more time; luckily for him, near a floating mass of stringing blond hair. "SERENA!" he bellowed, caught off guard. He rolled on to his back and grabbed a handful of extensive blond hair. He wrapped the stringy mass around his wrist and began pulling her in, his heart thudding painfully when she floated face down towards him. He flipped her over and wrapped one arm under her arms; dragging her aga inst the current of angry wraiths, swiftly churning waters, and the weight of their clothing pulling them down. With a gasping choke, he flung her on the pebbly shore and laboriously crawled over to her soggy form. The white-hot excruciating agony was already fading as he flipped her again, and stared in to her pale face, searching for signs of life. "Purified by pain, we were purified by pain. We're not evil, you're not evil. Come on, Serena," he whispered as he lay his head against her chest and his fingers sought the feeble pulse in her wrist. "Come on, Meatball head, wake up! You need to get up!" A moment passed, and then he felt a faint beat under his fingertips, but she still wasn't breathing. He muttered a quick prayer of forgiveness before clamping her nose shut and lowering his mouth to her own. Minutes passed in which he breathed for the princess, made her chest rise and fall, and forced oxygen in to her tired lungs. His own lungs began burning, but he continued, tears streaming down his face as he silently willed her to awaken with each breath he gave to her. All was silence, except for his labors and the quiet shuffle of Chibi Chibi crossing the chasm high above them, using the rickety rope bridge. Just when Adam had given up hope, there was a rattling gasp from beneath him, and he pulled away to find Serena jerking up and rolling to her side. There was a moment of silence, broken only by Serena's retching. She coughed and he held her head, his own heart still beating rapidly with adrenaline. "Wow. That was close, Serena. Even though we're dead, I still thought I was going to lose you for a minute there." She chuckled weakly, and shivered as an icy eddy of air brushed her dripping form. She patted her neck absently, then with distress, "They took my necklace, my holiday gift from Darien with the moonstone on it. Did you see them inside your head, Adam? Did you have to bribe them? Did they call to you too?" He glanced down at Serena's unsettled face. "No Princess," he whispered, "they did nothing to me other than try to keep me from you." She closed her eyes and bit her lip. "I am glad then. It...was a battle. Inside my mind, I mean. They wanted me to heal them, but Beryl was right. Everyone there...is beyond redemption. We...were...cleansed by their suffering." He hugged her close and warily gazed at the still water beside them. Sometime during his rescue attempts, the water had calmed and quieted. Chibi approached them; Adam's boots, cape, and sword in her chubby little hands. He nodded his head in thanks, deciding he didn't want to know how she got across the great divide with all of his things, including the sword so heavy he had trouble hefting it himself. Some things were better left mysteries. * * * * * * * * * * * "Auriel," Solan's voice was humble and beseeching. "I had no idea she was going to kiss me. I am sorry, I was taken by surprise." She turned away from him and huddled further in her shirt. An icy wind, unusual for the summer, had sprung up. "Go away. I'm trying to save people from their destinies here. You can go back to your little playtoy." Stung at her words, Solan flinched, but continued on. "I said I was sorry, Auri. What else do you expect me to say, huh? I am not responsible for another's actions, especially when you literally throw me directly in their path. What was her destiny anyway?" Sniffing disdainfully, she suddenly rose and strode past him. "Excuse me, sir? Could you please tell me how to get to the Cherry Street Temple?" Solan sighed and waited patiently. Sure enough, a woman came racing by, chasing her dog, and Auriel smoothly distracted the man enough that he saw the dog coming and sidestepped the lovely woman that went dashing after it. Once the directions were completed, she warmly thanked him, and headed in the direction of Raye's temple. "Nice," Solan commented. "Are there going to be a rash of disturbances near the temple, or are you just going this way to not cause suspicion?" She glared at him. "I'm going this way to avoid you. Now do you mind? Some of us have work to do." "That is not fair, Auriel James, and you know it," he protested. "I was doing my job, is just so happened that my job and my old personal life collided a bit. You can't blame me for that." "I can blame you for anything I want to blame you for," she snapped as she crossed the street. "Her avoided destiny was meeting her Mr. Right. Apparently she found you instead. Didn't you hear me? Go back to that prattling ditz, I don't need you." Unflustered by his love's anger, Solan made a decision. He stopped dead in the middle of the street, and opened his arms wide. His instincts told him that if he just held that position long enough... "What in the hell are you doing?" snapped Auriel from the sidewalk. "People are staring." Solan grinned silently, closed his eyes to the coming traffic and bleeping horns, defiantly opening his arms a little wider. "Well, since you don't need me anymore, I might as well just wait here until that speeding Isuzu rounds the corner in about thirty seconds, huh?" He could feel Auriel quickly scanning the fate lines, and her panic upped a notch in his mind. "This is not funny, Solan. Get out of the street!" "No. Not until I have an apology." "Solan, I'm not kidding. There really is a car coming." "I know, Auriel. I wonder what I look like on the inside?" "Solan, cut it out. Get out of the street." "Not until you admit that it wasn't my fault." The worry in her voice was more than evident, but so was the stubborn pride he loved her for. "Dammit Solan! Move it! Hurry!" "No." In his mind's eye he could picture her face. She would be running both hands through her thick mass of auburn hair, biting her lip and anxiously scanning the street for the oncoming vehicle. Everything in her would be begging her to apologize, but one thing would be holding her back, her valiant pride. "Solan, please," she begged, tears in her eyes. "No." The world was suddenly filled with the sound of screeching tires and screaming horns. Solan felt his body being lifted off the ground and thrown through the air, and for one split second he thought he had been hit. Then he crashed in to the bushes on the other side of the street, thorns scraping his face and tangling in his shaggy white hair. He opened his violet eyes in surprise to find a pair of anxious amber ones skewering him. She patted his face, checking for bruises or cuts. In the background, a woman was yelling at them, but they didn't budge from the tangle of bushes. "You're lucky you didn't cause a wreck. You didn't move. You could have been killed." He nodded, his throat dry. Never in his wildest dreams, would he have imagined Auriel to throw herself in front of a moving vehicle for him. "But you would have felt bad for not letting me explain." Her face crumpled and he wrapped his arms around her shaking curves. "I am sorry, Auriel. I didn't mean to scare you. If you had waited, I would have split in just another second. Speed of light, remember?" He chucked her lightly under the chin and kissed away her tears. "I love you, Auri. If I ever have to leave your side, I'll go out fighting, don't ever think I'd go willingly." Her eyes fluttered closed, tears glistening on the ends of her lashes. "Promise? I don't care about that ditz, but...you promise me that if Serena comes for me and takes me away too, you'll free us?" He nodded and clutched her closer to his chest. "We'll save them together. She won't have the chance to get you. Her power lies in illusions, remember? Reflections are the key; she can't attack you if we avoid mirrors. I guess you're lucky you're not vain, huh?" She sniffled and managed a weak chuckle. "But what about him? He doesn't need or use mirrors. He can get the remaining Scouts anywhere. He was Lita; he was in her body. He can be anyone." Solan nodded, and kissed her forehead. He rolled to his feet and helped her untangle her body from the bush. "I know, Apollo said he was most likely the one who controlled the monsters who attacked you at the Circus about a year ago. He's been around longer than we originally thought. He must have been planning on freeing Serena's alter ego for some time now. It won't be safe for anyone, but at least we know whom he'll most likely go after next. After all, Neptune and Uranus are returning to Tokyo, but Saturn is in hiding with Pluto. So two are out of their reach where there are no mirrors and no entrance to the Gates of Time without a time key. That leaves him to attack Nerissa, Corrine, and you. They know to avoid mirrors like the plague and you will be protected at all times." Running her hands through her hair, Auriel began striding down the sidewalk, her mind a flashing blur. "Do the Knights know about Serena? Do they know about Darien?" Solan shook his head. "I didn't think it would be wise to tell the King that there is an alter him running around jumping in and out of bodies. Or that there's a dark Serena on the loose. It'd drive him mad, trying to find her." Auriel sighed. "That wasn't such a good idea, Solan. When will she be able to walk without mirrors again?" "The night of the full moon. We have twenty-one days before she can once more walk in this world." "Then we have twenty days before they must be told." * * * * * * * * * * * Darien settled more comfortably on the couch. He had been relieved of his shift early; his supervisor had shaken her carefully coifed head and pointed back in the direction of the stasis wing. "You are needed there, Darien. Don't get me wrong, you are a competent intern even now, but you need rest and you won't get it on duty. I know you too well to hope you'd go home and sleep, but the least you can do is rest where they will be able to find you should some good news crop up. Now go." He'd simply nodded, and returned his scrubs to his locker in the men's locker room. Back in the all-too-familiar waiting room, he wrapped the thin blanket around himself once more and propped one arm under his head for support as the lazy strains of some Bach concerto ebbed throughout the dim corners. Silently, Darien found himself praying for guidance through the world of dreams. Please, Helios, Priest of Elysion, I need your help. No nightmares again tonight, please. I can't rest if Serena's in danger, even in the afterlife. Please let her know I love her, even if this wish has to cross the bounds of time in order to reach her. Serena, I love you. The music drifted over him again, and he closed his eyes; quietly, the dreams came. * * * * * * * * * * * "Wow," Serena gasped. The river that lay beneath them this time was of molten rock, oozing and pouring thickly over each obstacle in its path. Hands reached from the bubbling liquid, mere skeleton fingers reaching and thrashing skyward. "We have to cross that?" Wincing at the harsh scent of ozone and coarse brine that assaulted his nose, Adam nodded. "Apparently so, Serena. At least the bridge looks sturdier and it is way too hot for bats. We couldn't survive a fall in to that though. It would melt our skin off before we even his the surface of the river." "If the last river was the River of the Damned, I wonder what this river is?" "The Scouring River, of course," chirruped a voice from behind them. Adam whirled and brought out his sword in one fluid motion. "I really wish you people would stop sneaking up on us," he addressed the slender figures lounging in the shadows. "It's getting very annoying." His only answer was a low laugh from their leader. Serena cocked her head to one side and drifted closer to the one who laughed. "Serena," Adam hissed. "In order to protect you, it helps if you're behind me." "Oh, don't worry," murmured the figure, stepping free of the shadows. "The princess knows I could never do her harm." "What are you doing here, Prince Diamond?" she whispered with true grief in her eyes. "Simple, Serenity," he replied gently, "I'm here to tell you to go back." "I don't think so," Adam interjected. "We've come too far to back off now." "Why don't you let the Princess make that decision?" queried a tall man as he stepped from the shadows. "My brother traveled a great deal farther to warn her against the danger, I promise you." "Hush, Sapphire," ordered their leader. He fingered one tattered edge of his pale icy cloak and grimaced. "I had hoped to meet you in all my finery, but you know how these purgatories go, they think fine clothing and good food are for those too damned to care." Serena swallowed tears and raised one tender hand to Diamond's face. "I never wanted to see you here." "But I suppose the rest of us don't matter, little Princess?" cackled a filthy woman as she stepped from the shadows to join her master and his brother. Serena drew away at the sight of her. "You do remember Emerald, don't you, little Princess?" Nodding, Serena took her old nemesis in with a shudder. What cold, icy grace the green haired beauty had once held was completely gone now, replaced by insanity and pitiless decay around her nose and mouth. "I remember you, Emerald. I am sorry for your loss." The woman shrugged. "It's no matter, I could be Queen here if I chose. But with no one to be my King..." she trailed off and gazed at the pit longingly. "We are not even good enough to be scoured clean of our evils," she moaned. Adam turned to the pit. "Is that what that is? A purgatory?" "Something like that," Diamond mildly remarked. "Unlike the River of the Damned, the souls that are sent there have the ability to be redeemed. They must first be...cleansed though. I hear it's quite painful, but then again most things worth doing," he paused to glance at Serena, her terrified eyes were still following Emerald and probing the shadows for the fourth, and as yet, silent, figure. "Anyway, as I was saying, anything worth doing well is worth the pain. That down there, though painful, is salvation of a type we four are not yet worthy of. Wiseman saw to that. We were corrupted by Chaos, and only the healing touch of a Goddess can save us now." "The Solar Goddess?" Adam questioned. "The Moon Goddess," answered the flame haired man stepping out of the shadows. "Serena, to be exact. Though to be honest, I really don't expect Sailor Moon to help." "Hello Rubius," she whispered through white lips. "Why do you think I won't help you?" "Because we aren't worthy of saving," answered Sapphire with a grimace. "What we once were, before we...changed, and attacked you. If you healed us, we would be returned to that. We would be returned to the blind, helpless children of the lost Millennium, the ones so desperate for the sight of grass and flowers and clean air that we were willing to sell our souls in service to the Court's Wiseman in order to win Earth back." Adam shuddered at the description and stared at the mumbling Emerald. She rocked on the edge of the chasm, hugging herself and gazing longingly in to the pit of flames. There was a tug on his pants and Adam gazed down to find Chibi gripping tightly to his leg. "It's going to be okay, little one," he whispered assurance. "Go to Serena, I can protect you better if my two ladies are together." Nodding, the chubby toddler did so. Rubius and Sapphire were surprised to see the child, but not overly so. Diamond took her presence with what Adam assumed was a natural aplomb. "But we did not come to be saved Serena. We came to warn you of the dangers that lie ahead." Serena's eyes darkened as they took in Diamond's words. "What lies ahead?" "Serena," Adam interjected, "are you sure you can trust these people? They were your enemies once upon a time, you know." Rubius barked a short chuckle. "She knows that. Whether she decides to take our advice or not is none of our concern. Diamond roused us up for this wild goose chase merely to warn, not to harm." Sapphire stiffened, and grabbed Rubius by the arm. "That's enough. If you are so sickened by the thought of helping Sailor Moon, then go watch Emerald and makes sure she doesn't do anything stupid." Rubius shook Sapphire's hand away. "I'm not sickened with the thought of helping Sailor Moon or this...Knight. I simply do not think it was worth the time and energy. She won't heed our warnings, her path is too far gone." He stormed off to baby sit Emerald. "What lies ahead?" Diamond gazed at the river, his eyes growing dim. "Beyond this cleansing lays the River of Forgetfulness. Unlike the river before and this one, should you fall in, you will forget everything you once knew. You will merely be an empty shell, wandering lost in the dark cavern." "So we'll use the bridge," Adam replied in annoyance. "No bridge," sang Emerald. "No bridge for the Neo Queen. None at all." She giggled and grabbed Rubius around the waist. "I want to dance, Rubius. Let's dance the night away, let's dance right over the edge." "Now Emerald," chastised the Prince, "you know if you haven't been purified and you fall in to the Scouring River, you are returned to the beginning of your journey. It is the same as starting over, beginning again. You might as well be burnt to a crisp for all the good it does you." Chibi began to softly cry in Serena's arms. Emerald turned at the sound, and for the first time, noticed the child. "SMALL LADY!" she shrieked in anger. "THAT SNOT NOSED BRAT IS HERE!" Serena backed up a step, still tightly clutching Chibi in her arms. "NO! Emerald, this is not Small Lady!" It was as if the woman hadn't heard her. She let loose a shrill scream of rage and threw herself at the pair. Adam and the three men gazed in dumbfounded shock as the wave of her momentum sent her easily past the grip of the men and directly in to the Princess and small child's path. Once more, Adam's worst nightmares came true as the three tumbled over the side, Emerald screeching all the while. He found himself kneeling on the edge, peering over anxiously. There had been no sound of impact. Sure enough, Emerald and the two were clinging precariously to a small edge of earth jutting from the side of the cliff. "Serena! Chibi! Hold on!" "I'm going after them," announced a cool voice from above. Another answered the command in angry defiance. "NO! Diamond, no! You'll be sent back! You will have to do penance all over again; you will have to die all over again! No!" "What will happen if I go?" Adam queried as he ransacked his mind for possible ways to save Serena. "Will I die? Again, I mean?" There was a pause, then: "When we watched you two from the pit, we saw it all. You were awakened on the Beach of Honor, just beyond the Forest of Salvation, below the twin Mountains of Trust and Faith. You died a hero's death, Knight. Even if the Scouring River did send you back to the beginning, you would only go there." He smiled a grim smile. "Then I have nothing to lose." * * * * * * * * * * * "You know, I am getting really sick of just waiting here while he sleeps." "Hush," a pointed look was shot at Darien, "he spends more time here than all the rest of us combined. The least we can do is stay here and watch over him to make sure no one attacks." "Yeah, but..." A third voice cut in from behind the first two. "Guess who just called from the airport and needs a lift?" "Nerissa and Corinne?" "Yep." "Well, what are you waiting for? Here's the key to my car. Get them, and hurry." There was a pause, and the third man tilted his head. The first sighed and rose to his feet. "Fine Chad. You win. I'll go. But if Ami wakes up while I'm gone, contact me, okay?" Ken nodded absently. "Go already." Greg left and Chad settled in to his empty seat. "So what now?" Ken sighed and stretched out. "The rest is out of our hands. Now, we wait." * * * * * * * * * * * "Adam! Don't! You'll be killed!" Adam closed his eyes for a moment and concentrated. Then, drawing the fine sword from its scabbard, he plunged it deeply in to the side of the rock wall. It shivered there a moment, glowing faintly, as he called on powers in long misuse. The sword of Venus Knight appeared in his hand after a moment more of concentration, then was plunged a few feet lower than the magical gift of Queen Serenity. Tightening his hands on the first sword, he lowered himself over the edge on his stomach, until he felt that the combined strength of the two swords would hold his tested weight. He offered up a quick prayer to Aphrodite, then let his full weight rest in the hands of fate and the strength of the swords. Inch by laborious inch, he scraped and thrust his way down the side of the cliff, ripping clean holes in the rocky wall until his cape was within reaching distance of the women. "Serena, Emerald, Chibi! One by one, grab my cloak and climb up my back. If you can balance on my shoulders, you should be within the reach of Diamond and Sapphire at the top." There was a low murmur below, then: "Chibi's going first!" The familiar weight of the child settled on Adam's shoulders in two seconds flat. Though his arms were sore and burning, he had to smile at the feathery touch of her tiny little hand. "Hurry up to safety, small fry," he whispered and she giggled in return. "Adam," she announced. "Clean Adam. Adam clean." He shook his head, wondering what in the world she was talking about when she was lifted from his shoulders by Rubius dangling from Sapphire's grip by his ankles. Rubius smiled jestingly at the small girl and held her tightly to his chest. "Like the hair color kid. It suits you. Okay, pull us up!" There was a groan of effort, and Diamond pulled them to safety. Adam half turned, prepared to rescue Serena next when there was a rumbling noise and a scream. Then a splash. Adam didn't stop to think. He merely balanced his feet on the wall of the cliff, applied pressure, and simultaneously ripped both swords out of the wall at the same time. After a moment spent backflipping through the air due to his sudden decision, he plummeted to the river below. He hit the surface with a scream and ripped in a mouthful of air in utter surprise. If the water in the Damned River had been glacier cold, this molten stuff was plasma hot. Every nerve in his body screamed in damning agony. "SERENA!" The river looked practically motionless from above, but now within the current, Adam found out the true speed of the moving lava. Incredibly fast. There was a moment where the world swam out of focus and he whimpered in pain. His thoughts whirled with the current. Purified. We've been twice purified. Why are they cleaning us? Utter blackness rose out of the river and pulled him in to his mind. What felt like seconds later, Adam awoke to suddenly find himself being caught up by hands and dragged ashore. "The Princess," he gasped. "We must..." "Adam," Serena's burnt face swam in to his field of vision, "I'm okay. They got me out too." Wincing at a gentle touch near his torso, Adam turned his head to watch Rubius apply a bandage to a hole in his arm. "Where did I get that?" "You passed out in the River," Serena supplied. "It took them nearly twenty minutes to reach us. I luckily was able to grab on to a rock and hold on. When you floated by, I grabbed you." She looked down and sniffled. "I missed Emerald. I couldn't reach her." "It's all right, Princess. It's better this way," soothed Sapphire. "She needs this time away from us. She was always stronger without the rest of us around, she always has been." Diamond offered no reply, just rocked Serena gently; letting silent tears wet her lustrous hair. Moments passed and Adam gazed at Chibi. She sat on a nearby rock, holding the mirror from Serena's pack. Its reflection bounced off the walls, a pale oval of pure white light. "Adam," came Serena's tired voice. He glanced up. "I'm sorry, Serena. Did you say something?" She nodded. "I said that it was time to go, Adam. I have only one thing to do, before we leave though." He gathered his swords, silently willing the Venus sword to disappear back to whence it came. She reached in her bag and pulled out her Crystal. It glowed faintly in the dim cavern, bathing their faces in its soothing, healing glow. "Prince Diamond, Sapphire, and Rubius," she intoned dramatically, "for your service to the Crown this evening, I have decided to confer on you your deepest desire. A continuation of your healing journey. I wish you luck, my friends. Moon Healing Activation." The three stood spellbound as for the first time, Serena used the Crystal to heal without a wand to direct the energy. The Crystal pulsed three times in her grasp, before arching outwards and circling around their limbs. Shimmering with rainbow tinted lights the three men arched back as the polluted evil within them coalesced in one hard lump and clattered to the ground. Adam grimaced and kicked the lumps in to the river, watching them dissolve on impact. There was perfect silence for a moment, then the three bowed before Serena. Diamond smiled wryly. "I knew there was a reason why I loved you so, my Queen. Your giving heart outshines even your exquisite beauty." She hugged each of them and stepping away, wiped at the tears streaming from her eyes. "Go now, and be at peace." They nodded and one by one, stepped in to the Scouring River and floated away, until only Sapphire remained. "Sailor Moon," he ventured. "Yes, Sapphire?" "Will you answer me one question before I go?" "Anything." "Is Prisma...okay?" Serena nodded. "She is in love again." He smiled gently. "That is good. If you see her again...tell her I love her. Please?" Adam bowed. "It shall be done." Nodding once more, Sapphire stepped in to the River and was gone. Serena gathered up Chibi and swiped at straggly wisps of hair that coated her forehead. "One more to go." Smiling at the Princess, Adam laughed. "Yep. We look like hell, you know that?" Serena chuckled. "Maybe we are in hell. Then it would be appropriate. Who do you think we'll meet next?" He took Chibi from her grasp and handed her the pack. "Let's go find out."