Chapter Seven: Explanations

     
     Kicking her right leg high to stretch on top of a nearby picnic
table, Sailor Pluto sighed, her dark hair swinging behind her. "We 
need to get the Scouts free, pronto.  I have no idea what took them,
just that Serena is in mortal danger if we continue to dawdle. What
do you think, Apollo?" Celia turned to the calico cat sitting at her
feet.
     "Well," began the small cat, "I think we need to rescue as many
of the Scouts as we can.  Ami was wounded in the last skirmish,
but I still think it's awfully suspicious.  If she's really Sailor
Mercury, why would they let her escape the monster, then cover her 
with burlap after the battle is over and she'd collapsed?"
     Auriel turned from guarding the bathroom door, "Let me get this
straight.  You think that Ami, Sailor Mercury, the girl using the 
facilities at this very moment, could be a spy for the bad guys?"
     Swishing his tail with annoyance, Apollo stalked closer to the
Solar Sailor.  "Auri! You need to understand that this isn't a game!
Everything that happens here is real.  The "bad guys" are the 
Nega-verse, and the good guys aren't always what they seem!"
     Nodding, Pluto moved closer to Auriel.  "Apollo is right Auriel.
There is a very good chance that Sailor Mercury isn't the Ami she's
pretending to be.  We must keep the distinct possibility that she 
might be an impostor in mind."
     Drawing her brows together in confusion, Auriel opened her mouth
to speak, but snapped it shut as a low creak issued from behind her.
Sailor Mercury poked her head around the corner of the bathroom
door, bruises beginning to stand out in stark contrast to her face.
     She slowly eased her thin form out in to the open night, wincing
with each limping step.  "Well," she smiled softly, "I'm not going
to be much help with a broken ankle, but I'm going to try my best.
I'll lead us to where Serena was last, I don't know if she's still
there or not, but it's worth a shot."
     Sailor Pluto nodded slowly, "Do you want to split up?"  She put
emphasis on the splitting up part.
     Auriel shook her head imperceptibly.  Say no, Ami.  Please,
say no and don't be a spy, please.
     Sailor Mercury slowly surveyed the surrounding area.  She 
sighed, and shook her head, "I really don't think splitting up would
be a good tactical move, Sailor Pluto.  We have always worked better
as a team, and I don't think now would be any different either.
Besides, if we get attacked, I would rather we beat them together,
then to leave a wounded droid for another Scout."
     Silently cheering inside, Auriel nodded sharply.  "I agree with
Mercury, let's go kick some bad guy butt!"
     Glancing sharply at Auriel, Pluto smiled inside.  She does well
for a beginner.  Already, she knows a true Scout from a false one.
Soon, her complete memories shall return, and with it, her powers
over fate and destiny.  Hopefully, before the end of the evening,
but let's not get ahead of ourselves.
     The Solar Sailor fingered her red sun earrings, running the tips
of her fingers over their sharp tips.  "Well, where do we begin?"
     Sailor Mercury pointed, as Auriel positioned herself beside
her, supporting Ami's weight.  "There," Ami gestured towards the 
Ferris Wheel, "Sailor Moon's that way."
     Fur bristling, Apollo stepped in front of the ragtag group,
"Well, what are we waiting for?  Let's go save Sailor Moon!"

     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

     Sailors Jupiter and Venus exchanged worried glances as Jupiter
Knight slowly eased himself to the ground next to Venus Knight.  
     Rubbing one slender hand along the back of her delicate neck,
Mina cast her eyes discretely towards the red and white striped
tent nearby.  Nodding, Lita licked her lips and slowly began backing
away from the boys.  She and Mina drifted over, keeping a cautious
eye on the Knights, busily drawing an attack plan in the dirt with
sticks. 
     The midnight wind caught spare tendrils of Lita's hair, lightly
caressing her cheeks.  "Well," she began, "Ken's hurt and Adam's
covering for him.  Neither one of them wants to appear weak in front
of us, but it's pretty obvious that something tore him up pretty
badly. Adam isn't doing much better, his first battle in this life
as a Knight nearly got him electrocuted, and I don't think he has 
dealt with the shell shock yet."
     Biting her lip, Mina glanced over at the two whispering
Knights. "So what are we going to do?" 
     Jupiter shrugged, "I don't know, but we'd better make a decision
soon.  I don't know how long I can go on pretending I don't know he's
hurt.  I want to take him home right now, but then we wouldn't
reach Sailor Moon in time."
     Adam's sudden voice cut across the small distance separating
them, startling them both in to jumping several inches.  "Girls!
We have a plan!"
     Squeezing Lita's shoulder, Mina started over.  Adam glanced
up, his fiery hair dim in the pale light of the cosmos.  Grinning,
he pulled her down beside him, tucking her close to his lean body.
Mina paused for a moment to admire the sheer beauty of him.  Hours
before, he had merely been a cute friend of Greg's she had felt a 
strong pull towards. She would have never considered anything more,
not with her history.  Now, he was so much more, and she was 
terrified for his safety.  
     Johnny Ace had nothing on this guy. 
     Mina's mind wandered back, before the Knights, before the 
Scouts, when she was a solitary warrior fighting for truth and 
justice, discovered by Artemis in London.  She had fought with all 
her heart, battling the forces of evil the best she could alone.
Johnny Ace, her sometimes ally, occasionally fought by her side, 
throwing cards much like Tuxedo Mask throws roses.  She remembered
her surprise at discovering that Johnny Ace was reincarnated
from the Silver Millennium like herself.  He had once been General
Malachite's best warrior Adonis, and had quietly pined for her love,
too shy to reveal his true emotions in the wake of her ardent passion
for his General and later, her true and honest love for her Knight,
her soul mate Adam.
     She bit her lower lip, quietly gnawing at the tender flash until
she tasted blood.  Johnny had been so bitter when he died, cursing
her, screaming that she would forever be alone, for if he couldn't
have her in either of his lives, then no one would, and she would
live out this life in eternal solitude, like he always had.  
     Unfortunately, ever since he cursed me, nothing in my love life
has worked out.  All of my relationships have ended badly, even the
ones where they didn't leave me.  Oh, please Venus; protect your 
ancient princess.  Let my love for Adam remain strong.  We were so 
close in the Silver Millennium; we loved each other so much.  I can
tell he cares for me now, but will the curse affect him as well? Does
he love me enough; do I love him enough, to put him in danger? Is it
my destiny to fulfill that horrible curse, or will fate somehow
intercede and bring me eternal happiness with my soul mate, Adam,
Venus Knight?
     "Mina?" Adam's rich voice cut through her dreary thoughts,
filled with tender concern.  She blushed as her azure eyes sparked
with the liquid green of his own.  The connection was tangible,
electric.  Warmth spread through her limbs, tingling along the tips
of her slender fingers.  He took her head in his, his large fingers
wrapping gently around her own. "Are you okay?"
     She nodded, the pale pink in her cheeks blooming to a violent
red.  "I was just thinking about our lives in the Silver Millennium
and how things have changed.  There are no more planets to guard,
except for Earth, so there isn't really a need for the Planetary
Soldiers anymore, except to protect this planet alone from invasion."
     Ken laughed softly from nearby, "Yeah, but the Scouts and 
Knights still exist, so what does that tell us?  We are either going
to be needed in generation or two, when we can return to our planets,
or we are the last Planetary Soldiers.  The lines might end with us,
after all, the only two who actually have a piece of their planet
left are Serena and Darien."
     "Oh, that's a wonderful remark," Adam retorted sarcastically,
"Then where does that leave us?  We all have soul mates from the 
Silver Millennium, but what about the children?  Serena and Darien
have Mimi, so we know she's going to exist, but does she have a soul
mate in the future?"
     Lita laughed softly, "Adam, Serena and Darien's child will be 
named Rini, not Mimi.  It's short for Serena/Serenity to help us tell
them apart.  It's a family name and must be passed down."
     Mina hugged Adam lightly as he blushed a fiery red to match his
hair, "Oh, sorry.  I only had a quick rundown of the Scout's history
before that monster creamed us, so I'm bound to make mistakes."
     Ken slowly stood, using his lightning staff for support; he 
braced his feet uneasily on the ground and pointed to the messy 
sketches etched in the dirt.  "It's quite all right Adam, it doesn't
matter much right now anyway.  Rini's safe in the future, but we have
to worry about the present to protect her.  Here's what Adam and I 
came up with, I will remain here and look the surrounding areas for
Ami.  Last anyone heard she was the rouge Scout, running around the
park loose and uncaptured. She might know something the rest of us 
don't, some plan, some new happenstance, which might bring us 
victory.  But no one's heard from her since she contacted Lita and 
Ken back at the temple, so she's either been captured, is in hiding,
or has gone to get the Outer Scouts.  Let's hope that was her plan.
Backup is sorely needed right about now."
     Adam brought out his own extendible staff, gripping the middle
tightly; he gestured to the center of the circle.  "That is where
Serena is right now.  Lita, I want you to be our wild card. I need
you to patrol the edges of the camp, knock out any droids you see.
Be sneaky, or you might be captured.  Spare no one, unless it's a 
transformed Scout.  If so, leave them be, and find Ken."
     "But..." Lita began, gesturing to the Ferris Wheel.
     He shook his head roughly, "No buts, we need to get in, get out,
and get gone.  Serena is losing time as we speak, and we haven't
found Sailor Mercury."  Pointing to a nearby tent, he continued,
"I only hope that they are in tents and not rides.  If we have to 
climb up that roller coaster, I don't think any of us would make it 
to the top without being detected.  We're still missing Chad and 
Raye, Greg, and Tuxedo Mask.  Did they get Luna and Artemis as well?"
     Ken scratched his head, "You know, I have absolutely no idea.
I suppose so, they weren't anywhere to be seen in the temple when I 
was captured."
     Sighing, Mina rose gracefully to her feet, "You forgot to tell
me what I was supposed to do."
     Adam grinned softly, "No, I didn't, I promise.  Lita's our wild
card, but you Mina, you have to trust me."
     She blushed under his intense grin, the warmth returned,
spreading throughout her body in a tidal wave of love.  Oh, how can
I deny him anything?  He could say he wanted to use me as bait and I 
wouldn't disagree.
     Nodding, Mina flashed a dangerous grin back at Adam. "Sailor
Venus is your girl.  I trust you completely."
     Laughing, Adam handed her some fabric ripped off a nearby tent,
"Good, I'm glad.  Wrap this around your ankle and arm.  Look wounded,
because when we go in to the next room of terror, you're the bait."

     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

     Apollo slashed his tail in frustration, "So what's the plan?"
     Ami groaned softly under her breath as she eased herself to the
ground, carefully avoiding further injury to her ankle as she settled
down.  "Well, Auriel and Pluto are going to have to enter some of the
tents and buildings in order to rescue some of the Scouts. I'm not 
much of an asset, but I'll do my best."
     Cracking her back, Auriel pointed to a nearby tent.  "Do you 
sense anything, or are we supposed to go in cold?"
     Raising her mini-computer to the nearby tent, Ami shook her 
head.  "No, there aren't any Scouts in there.  The nearest Scout 
signature that the indicator is picking up belongs to Sailor Jupiter.
It's nearing us, so if we remain here, we will intercept her in a 
minute or two."
     Auriel's eyes widened as she took in the new information.
"Sailor Jupiter?  You mean she's here and free?"
     Mercury nodded, quickly entering data in to a computational
algorithm program on her computer.  "Oh yes.  Sailor Jupiter is most
likely scouting out the perimeter first before narrowing her search
field in order to better discover the various whereabouts of the 
Scouts. In fact, here she is."
     The Solar Sailor crouched in to an attack position in case Ami
was mistaken.  Moments later, a thin girl clad in a green Sailor
uniform rounded the corner at a fairly high speed. Auriel tensed,
expecting to have to defend herself from the strong young warrior,
but was surprised to hear a long, low growl snap through the air 
behind the sprinting Sailor.
     "Run!" Jupiter yelled as she raced past Mercury and Solar.  
Pluto scooped Mercury up, and Apollo leapt on Auriel's back as they
quickly followed Jupiter's lead.  
     "Look," Auri panted as they rushed along, "I know you probably
know better than I do what to do in a situation like this, but don't
you think we should turn and fight it or something?"
     Sailor Jupiter turned her head, her eyes widening at the sight
of the golden suited Sailor and a calico cat racing alongside
Sailor Pluto and Sailor Mercury. "Who are you?"
     Gasping, Auriel added a bit of speed to her stride as a loud 
roar ripped through the dense air behind them.  "I'm Auriel James,
the newest Sailor Scout.  Pluto snagged me tonight at home, told me 
to scream Solar Star Power, and here I am."
     Apollo mewed in frustration as he bounced quickly along. 
Auriel's feet almost slipped beneath her as they rounded a sharp 
corner, skidding violently along the ground. "Hey! Watch it Auriel,
you almost lost me on that last turn!"
     "Why are we running?" she ground out to Jupiter as they skidded
around yet another corner.
     Jupiter grinned, "We are running from a cat the size of a 
kangaroo, okay?  I'm diverting it from its partner, a cat about the
size of a hippo. Do you understand now?"
     Pluto raised her staff high in the air, "Why are you playing
with the creature Jupiter?  You should have destroyed it long before
now."
     Jupiter nodded, then adding an extra burst of speed leapt 
forward and flipped over a crushed picnic table in her path.  "I 
normally would have, except then its partner would probably get 
really angry and kill Mina and Adam.  They happen to be the ones 
defeating that beast.  I was kinda hoping if I could reach Ken in 
time, he could zap it from afar with his lightning staff while I 
helped the Venus pair."
     Auriel groaned, "I'm sick of this.  Apollo didn't you say I 
could run at the speed of light if I wanted to?"
     The cat clinging to her neck chuckled, "I don't think you 
understand exactly how fast the speed of light is, Auri.  We never
used that power unless in great distress, it was impractical
otherwise.  After all, the speed of light is unbelievably quick.
You won't help anyone by running away."
     Groaning, Auriel leapt over a tipped over statue of a happy 
clown. "Well, what can I do then?  All we're doing is running away!" 
     Pluto sighed, then used her staff to pole jump over another
crushed table in their path.  "Auriel, you are the Solar Sailor.
Reach deep inside yourself and pull your powers from within."
     "That's a little easier said then done, Pluto," Solar snapped. 
     Apollo's needle claws dug in to her arm; "Impatience is not a 
virtue Auriel.  You will gain control of your powers when you gain
control of your temper and your memories.  You were never like this
in the Silver Millennium."
     At the mention of the Silver Millennium, Auriel remembered
the frightening dream from that morning.  I am the one and only Solar
Sailor. I stand for Life, Fate, and Destiny, and I see your destiny
is interlocked forever with mine.  Solar Flare...
     Auriel abruptly skidded to a halt.  Turning quickly, she faced
the oncoming gale with her arms upraised.  
     "Auriel! What are you doing?!" Sailor Pluto yelled, horrified.
She began running back towards the Solar Sailor, Ami bouncing on her
back, her dark hair whipping in the sudden wind.  Jupiter ran not far
behind, pumping her muscular legs as rapidly as she could.
     Locking her fingers as closely as she could remember doing in 
the dreams, she poised them directly in front of the golden bow on 
her chest. "Well, now is as good a time as any!"
     A loud roar split the air, and Auriel felt warmth spread through
her limbs as memories of the Silver Millennium cut through her mind
with all the force of a gunshot. She began to power up, dark circles
of intense heat ripping their way through her arms, orbiting around
her lanky form.  In the back of her mind, she dimly realized that 
Jupiter and Pluto were following her example, powering up tightly
as brilliant colors spun around their elegant forms. 
     "Solar Flare..." Auriel screamed the words, a ball of white-hot
heat cupped between her hands, prepared to fly.
     "Jupiter Thunder Clap..." Letting the familiar words escape
her lips, Sailor Jupiter felt the hair on the back of her neck rise
as electric bolts crackled about her head.  She concentrated
her power, and held it ready to blast.
     "Dead..." Whispering quietly, Pluto raised her staff, preparing
to let her powerful attack loose.
     "Shine Aqua..." Feeling icy tremors run through her body, Ami 
cupped her arms to her chest, prepared to direct her freezing spray
anywhere indicated.
     Four forms lit up with the brilliance of their respective
powers. Gold tinged with red streaks spiraled up to combine with dark
purple, brilliant blue, and forest green.  The four Scouts directed
their powers; moments later, a large yellow saber-tooth tiger rounded
the corner, roaring and snarling loudly.
     "Obscure!"
     "Zap!"
     "Scream!"
     "Illusion!"
     Caught in the crossfire of four furious Scouts, the hideous
beast hadn't a single chance.  It's striped body, stunned by Solar
Sailor, jerked spasmodically as bolts of high voltage electricity,
freezing ice, and purple fire ripped through its sinewy form. 
Screeching, it twisted and turned under the force of the assault,
finally shimmering and fading into gray filmy dust from the bottom
up as the evil within was absorbed by the combined powers.
     "Wow," whispered a quiet voice in awe.  
     Auriel whirled to find herself face to face with a dark haired
young man.  His green cape swirled behind him, slapping softly 
against a large green metal staff.  "Who are you?"
     He looked past her to Jupiter, and rushed over, hugging her 
close.  Without turning to face her again, she heard his voice drift
over from where the tired couple stood.  "I'm Ken, Jupiter Knight.
Who are you?"
     Auriel stood proudly, her fiery hair dancing in the rising 
breeze.  "I'm Auriel James, the Solar Sailor. Pluto..." she faded
away, turning if fear to the Scout of Time.  "What do we do now?"
     Celia directed them to a nearby tent with her staff.  "You, 
Jupiter, and I shall go in to that tent.  There's someone, most 
likely Greg, in there.  Jupiter Knight and Mercury shall remain here
with Apollo.  They both are desperately wounded and don't need to be
in a battle right now."
     Resigned, Jupiter sighed and hugged Ken tightly, careful of his
ribs. "Well, let's go then. The sooner we kick some Nega-butt,
the sooner we can get out of here.  This place is so spooky."
     They quietly made their way towards the tent.  Just before 
entering the dark entrance, Sailor Pluto looked up in to the starry
night and hummed a soft song under her breath as memories of the 
Silver Millennium danced through her mind.  

     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *          

     The small room was quiet, save for the soft whistling breath
of Knights and Scouts sleeping uneasily.  
     Nephrite stood outside the barred door with Jadeite.  "It just
doesn't feel right," he murmured softly to his fellow Guardian.
"Something's amiss here.  That Knight, the golden one, he said that
they would never dream of harming us."
     Jadeite snorted, "Lies, all lies.  Remember how they beat us 
when we were small?  Especially the Knights.  Mercury Knight got what
he deserved, and soon, the other Knights will join him.  Not as 
Shadow Warriors of course, but droids of similar importance.
It's only fitting that they shall be the destruction of their 
precious Moon Kingdom."
     "But," Nephrite shook his head, his dark hair swirling around
his shoulders.  "Look at Sailor Jupiter, at Sailor Mercury.  Don't
you feel the least twinge of regret for destroying such flawless
beauty?"
     Jadeite paused to study the two lovely warriors, curled together
against the cold of the dim room.  Jupiter Knight, bleeding heavily,
was curled behind Sailor Jupiter, wrapping his injured arm around
his waist; Lita was using his uninjured shoulder as a pillow with Ami
curled tightly against her lanky form for warmth.  His eyes drew 
across the dark room, in the corner two figures curled against each
other.  One, a Knight, unconscious and snoring vaguely, his shaggy
hair completely obscuring his forehead and eyes, the other, a scarlet
suited Sailor, her ebony hair cascading over her Knight's chest.
She slept uneasily, often drawing her arm over her eyes as if to 
shield her vision from a terrible prophecy.
     He sighed, "Sailor Mars, perhaps of all of them I would spare
her.  I seem to remember she was never as cruel as the others, but 
the rest of them deserve their fates."
     Nephrite leaned closer in, gazing sadly at the slender frame
of Sailor Jupiter. "I seem to remember..." he murmured quietly,
fading off as an abrupt sharp pain ceased his blooming memories.
     "Queen Beryl seeks a word with the both of you," a quiet voice
commanded from the shadows.  Malachite stepped forward, his long 
white hair shimmering in the pale light of the hallway.  "You'd best
hurry."
     "Yes sir," they both murmured softly.  Malachite, though the 
last turned, was their newly chosen leader.  Of the four Generals,
he was the strongest, stealing any energy catapulted at him, and 
returning it twofold to its host.  The ability to reflect attacks
as well as generate his own made him a formidable enemy, needing
little training he was already twice the warrior of any of Beryl's
previous soldiers.
     Watching two of his oldest friends rush away, Malachite waited
until they were definitely gone.  Turning to the dim room, he let his
gaze wander over the comatose bodies of the gathered Knights and 
Scouts.  They lingered finally on the Princess of Venus and her 
damnable Knight, Adam.  
     A wave of his hand and Mina was transported to another room in 
the castle, softly nestled on a large feather bed.  He sat down 
beside her and quietly began tending to her wounds, bitter tears 
coursing their way down his cheeks.  
     "Mina," he whispered brokenly, "I know you can never forgive
me, that we will forever be enemies now, but let me help you one more
time before...before I return you to him."
     Her eyes fluttered softly at the sound of his teary voice.  
"Ah...Adam?"
     A fierce pain shot through his chest at the quietly whispered
word.  "No, Mina my love, not Adam.  Malachite."
     She sat up suddenly, cringing from his touch, flinching from his
piercing gaze.  "What am I doing here?  Where are the other Scouts,
the Knights?  Why am I here?"
     Hushing her gently, he moved slowly, trying not to spook her.
"Mina, calm down dear.  It's all right, I won't hurt you.  If there's
one thing I've learned from the Nega-force, it's how to control
my temper.  I'll never lay another hand on you again in anger, unless
it's in battle."
     She glared at him, her tender heart breaking at seeing her 
former love speak with such bitterness, but angry nevertheless.
"You didn't answer my questions Malachite."
     Swallowing, he stood gracefully.  "I am the leader now, as I was
when Darien was gone to the Moon Kingdom.  I am the most powerful,
the most in favor with Queen Beryl.  I am also the only remaining
General with any unaltered memories of growing up in the Moon 
Kingdom."
     The brunt of the situation hit Mina squarely in the heart, her
eyes watering from the sudden realization that nothing would ever be
the same, ever again.  "You mean...their memories...are gone?"
     "All of them."  The pronunciation was like a death sentence,
Mina felt her head drop as if from a great, wide distance, as if it 
were happening to someone else, far, far away. Malachite continued,
his own voice occasionally breaking as the sad tale wound to its 
conclusion.  "Zoisite removed his stone when the entire kingdom
was occupied celebrating the engagement of the Princess Serenity
and Prince Darien.  No one noticed, save me.  I had returned finally
to the Palace to receive my sentence as a rouge General, and to 
explain the real reason I fled.  I could not take the pain of not 
knowing what happened to you, not knowing how much you despised
me.  I was waiting outside the throne room to encounter Darien alone,
to explain it to him first, so he wouldn't have to learn the news 
from another source."
     Mina raised her head, her long blond hair coating her cheeks,
"You came back?"
     Nodding, he sighed, "I had to, it was killing me, the feeling
of betrayal.  I hurt you, something I had sworn never to do, because
I was jealous over Venus Knight."
     "You didn't have to be jealous of him, Malachite, before we 
quarreled I was still uncertain as to my choice.  To be honest,
before you...struck me, I was leaning towards you." she whispered
softly.
     The quiet words ripped a hole in his heart.  He leaned forward,
and tenderly brushed her dirty bruised cheek with one finger.  "I'm
sorry to hear that, love.  Maybe I wouldn't have let my jealousy
control my actions if I had known.  Perhaps I wouldn't have followed
Zoisite on his fool's errand."
     "What happened?" she asked, her eyes brimming with tears.  
     Gesturing to her unfinished bandage, he began to explain.
"I was awaiting Prince Darien's return near the throne room when I 
spied Zoisite creeping towards the door to the treasure chamber.
I noiselessly followed after.  There was something in his movements
that spoke of deceit, betrayal.  Surely enough, I thought, he isn't
going to steal from our kingdom?  It is beyond dishonorable
to ever do such a thing.  But what he took is of more value to the 
kingdom and to Prince Darien than a mere handful of golden coins.
He took his stone of power from Darien's Guardian strength. As I 
watched, his blue stone winked and faded, lessening the brilliant
power of the Kingdom of Earth, diminishing Darien's own strength."
     "Oh no," gasped Mina, her eyes darkening.  "But what about the
others?  You...I mean Nephrite?" She leaned forward, allowing him 
greater access to her damaged arm.  He continued wrapping the 
bandage, carefully layering the white fabric around her wounds.
     "I approached Zoisite as he left the palace.  He was frightened,
but..." he tightened the end of the bandage, gently tying the end 
off, careful of her bruises,  "...he told me his plan to win Ami 
back.  I returned, informed Nephrite, gathered Jadeite, and together
we removed our stones."
     Mina's eyes widened, a blush of anger darkening her pale cheeks,
"You did what?  You all removed your stones from the seat of power,
and took off?  Malachite, how could you?  How could you abandon
Darien, your lord, for a misguided attempt to win back the affections
of women who were already promised to others?"
     Wincing at her harsh words, he moved away from the bed, "I did
it out of love.  I love you Mina, whether you believe me or not.  I 
know you're promised to Adam, I know you've grown to love him, but I 
wanted once last chance to maybe persuade you to love me."
     He touched her face, quietly wiping away the damp tears she was
unaware she had shed.  "I'm sorry, you can never know how sorry I 
truly am.  Once the stones were in her hand, Queen Beryl changed.
She erased most of our memories, and those she couldn't erase, she 
altered.  Nephrite is convinced that Ken and the other Knights 
tormented him.  Zoisite believes that Greg whipped him daily on the
practice field out of spite.  For a time, I also was convinced
that Adam used to humiliate me, while you cheered him on."
     "What broke the spell?  Why do you still retain some of your 
memories?" Mina asked, her heart shattering as his tall form prowled
the room.  
     Malachite wouldn't meet her eyes; "I lied. I lied to get out of
the memory altering coffins. I let Beryl believe that all the 
memories she had implanted took root and grew in my mind.  I won't
deny it, some did.  Removing you from that prison was one of the 
hardest decisions I've ever made.  But being here with you brought
some of my memories back, I know you and Adam are honorable people
and would never consider harming one you deem a friend."  He bowed
his head in shame, "I was wrong to loose control.  I have learned
that now, I was immature, and though what I'm about to do will gain
me only death at Queen Beryl's hand, I have to do it to clear my 
conscious."
     Gulping, Mina rose to her feet and walked to the other side of 
the room.  "What are you going to do?"
     He turned, and gently caressed her cheek with his hand.  "If you
permit it, I am going to kiss you, then I'm going to let you go.  I'm
sorry, I can only set you free, but if you're canny and quick, you 
can free the others in no time.  I'm sorry, Greg is gone from you 
permanently.  He is changed now; he is a Shadow Warrior.  His heart
is altered forever, his soul will eternally be connected to the other
Shadow Warriors, six others we have kidnapped and altered to suit the
Nega-verse's needs."
     Mina moaned softly under her breath, "Ami, oh poor Mercury."  
     Malachite laughed grimly at her distress.  "I am aware of 
Princess Mercury's plight.  Zoisite is gone now; a true disciple
of the Nega-verse, and her soul mate, her own true love is one of its
finest warriors.  There is some form of irony in that, a perverted
sort of justice.  Zoisite was the first to feel the abandonment
of his ladylove.  He knew, long before the rest of us, that he must
regain her at all costs.  Thus, it was her initial betrayal that 
brought the entire house of cards crumbling down."
     Tears streaming down her face now, Mina choked on her own 
gasping breath, "Why?  Why must it be this way?  Why is destiny
doing this, why are the fates against us?"
     Moving behind her, Malachite wrapped his arms around her waist
one final time.  Her slender body molded against his, leaning softly
against his hard chest she remembered the night of the ball, kissing
in the library.  She had not known, hadn't the slightest clue that
her future was going to change in a matter of hours.  Turning her 
body to face him, he raised her chin with one finger, and tears 
streamed down his face as he memorized every facet of her exquisite
beauty.  Her long silky hair brushed against his wrist, and he 
savored the texture of the thick golden locks.  
     "Mina," he whispered helplessly, love overwhelming his soul,
"one last time, and I'll leave you forever.  You and I will be as the
sun and the moon, eternally bound, forever distant.  Please, Mina,
please..."
     Her lips broke his plea.  Softly brushing his silky white hair
off his face she cherished the moment of peace, of stillness.
Malachite, I will always love you, but this is the last time.  From
now on, we are enemies, we are apart.
     Though the moment was sweet and tender, Adam's face swam in to 
Mina's mind and she treasured it.  Pulling away, she stroked his 
speechless lips with the tips of her fingers.  "Go," she whispered,
"but before you do, tell me how to get to the other Scouts."
     He pointed to a door at the far end of the room.  "Go down the
hall, turn left at the second entrance.  Avoid the night guardians
if you can.  The Scouts and Knights will be just beyond the green
gate.  No one guards them; there is an impenetrable force field.
I suggest you knock out the night guards and use their space keys to
shut down the negative field generators.  It shouldn't be too 
difficult if you're cautious."
     Mina began to walk away, but his voice stopped her dead in her
tracks.  "Mina, I love you, I always will.  Don't forget me when 
you're the Queen of your planet.  I know, deep in my heart, even 
after Beryl realizes her mistake and destroys either me or my 
remaining memories, I will always remember you."
     Squaring her shoulders, Mina looked forward, concentrating
on the far door.  "I love you too Malachite.  I am just no longer
in love with you.  I'm sorry."
     She began walking forward; there was no sound behind her.  
Reaching the door, an urge overwhelmed her and she turned to find him
stroking the pillow where her head had lain only minutes before.
"Malachite," she softly called.  He turned; surprised to see Sailor
Venus poised at the door, her hair golden in the dim light from the
hallway.  "I forgive you."  And with that, she was gone, from the 
doorway, from his sight, from his life.
     
          *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     
     
     "Venus Crescent Beam Smash!" Mina's voice rang out against
the violent roar of the gigantic saber-toothed creature.  
     Her brilliant attack went awry, and missed its intended target.
Adam wrapped his arms around her waist and rolled her out of the line
of fire.  A fiery bolt of intense heat blasted them both, and above
her bruised and battered body, Mina heard Adam scream in pain.  
"MINA!"
     "Adam!" she shrieked, rolling out from beneath his jerking
body. "Adam are you okay?"
     Moaning, he rolled to his back, his face scraped and bleeding.
"Mina," he groaned, "Get Raye and Chad free, get out, hurry."
     A large, feral scream ripped through the air, reminding her of 
the hideous cat they faced. "Hold on, Adam.  I'll get us out of here!
Venus Love and Beauty Shock!"
     The creature nimbly dodged her dangerous kiss, and screamed
again, sending yet another wave of flaming heat towards the crouched
pair.  It coated them in electric fire, Mina attempted to absorb
as much of the energy as she could, but Adam still groaned in pain
beneath her.  The shock snapped through her nerves, crackling
along her five senses, sending flames of bright heat along her optic
nerves.
     "Adam!" she screamed, "Oh, help me!"
     He tried valiantly to stand up, but try as he might, he couldn't
get his body to move, and he remained struggling on the floor. 
"Mina!"
     Chuckling, the creature ceased its relentless attack.  "So, 
Sailor Venus screams in pain.  This is a sight I am glad to see.  
Soon you shall weep, for Venus Knight will be dead!"
     Adam shrieked in pain as another shock wave hit him.  Venus 
screamed, rolling to her feet as quickly as she could.  "Venus Love
Chain Encircle!"
     Caught unprepared, the large cat was wrapped tightly in the 
chain of light and energy.  Unmoving, it ceased its attack on the 
drained Venus Knight. 
     Wincing at the lashing pain ripping through his battered body
Adam drew his golden saber, remembering the last battle with a droid,
and let it fly with the same deadly accuracy.  "Gotcha," he moaned,
slumping to the ground as the creature began to scream and writhe
on the ground before dissipating in to a filmy dust.
     "Mina! Adam!" screamed a voice nearby.  Mina, bruised and bloody
on the ground, rose partially from the rocky earth to see who came.
"Over here," she called weakly, blood dripping from her torn 
shoulder.
     Lita, Ken, and Pluto rounded the corner, rushing over to help.
Lita rushed over to the unconscious forms of Raye and Chad.  "They'll
be all right just knocked out!"
     "What happened?" wondered Jupiter Knight aloud.  "Are you two 
all right?"
     "Adam," she whispered brokenly, "Adam is really wounded.  Help
him, leave me, I'll be fine."
     Pluto rose from her crouched position beside the bloodied
Venus Knight.  "He's extremely weak, but if we're cautious, he'll
be fine.  It's okay Mina, we'll get him out of here."
     She wrapped her strong arms around Sailor Venus' waist, hoisting
her to her feet.  "I've got you now, lean on me for support.  Ken!
Pick up Venus Knight so we can get out of here."
     Grinning, Jupiter Knight and Lita scooped up the unconscious
Adam.  "Aye aye, Captain," Ken murmured. Raye and Chad stumbled
to their feet, leaning on one another for support.
     The world swimming around her, Mina's head throbbed with heat
from the remnants of the battle.  "Where," she licked her dry lips
and tried again, "where are we going?"
     "Just outside," Pluto whispered comfortingly, "just outside.
We rescued Greg from a dragon droid, so all we have left is Serena
and Darien.  We all know where Serena is, but now we have everyone
to search the fair grounds for Tuxedo Mask.  Even Luna and Artemis
have been found, tied up in a burlap bag, suspended over another
dunking tank on the far side of camp."
     She softly set Mina down, carefully cushioning her against
the ground with Jupiter Knight's tattered bloodstained cloak.  Mina
frantically turned her head, searching for Adam.  Instead of Venus
Knight, her eyes rested on a slender; golden suited Scout, quietly
conversing with a beaten and bruised Sailor Mercury.      
     Swallowing to moisten her parched throat, Mina raised one 
delicate hand to point at Auriel.  "Celia, who is that?"
     Pluto followed the direction she indicated and smiled.  
"Auriel," she called, "come over here.  The Princess of Venus desires
to meet you."
     The Solar Sailor turned and gracefully moved to them.  "Sailor
Pluto, Sailor Venus," she greeted them warmly.  "Sailor Venus,"
she crouched down next to Mina, "you are wounded.  Can I do anything
to ease your pain?"
     Smiling at the girl's obvious kindness, Mina softly shook her 
head.  "All I care about is Adam's safety.  As long as he is alive,
all is well in the world in my mind."
     "He is weak," Ami interjected, sinking to her knees beside Mina,
"but he will be all right provided he gets much rest once we return
to the temple."
     Greg settled himself quietly beside his love, "So what's the 
plan?"
     Pluto raised her eyes to the sky, measuring the lateness of the
night.  "We have two hours before the dawn and an hour before Sailor
Moon will be dropped in to the void.  Our entire company is reunited,
plus the Solar Sailor," lightly squeezing Auriel's hand, "and would
be complete save for Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon. We must not lose
a moment more."
     Ken nodded, "I don't think we should separate the troops now 
that we're almost all together.  Look what happened when Adam and 
Mina were left to fight that beast alone, they beat it, but barely
escaped with their lives."
     Auriel raised her own eyes to the heavens above, "So it is 
decided then.  We stay together.  But who do we rescue first; Sailor
Moon or Tuxedo Mask?"
     Wincing, Ami shifted her weight to ease some of the pressure
on her ankle.  "I think Darien's help would be priceless in this 
endeavor.  Besides, Serena would kill us if she knew that Darien
was still in captivity while she herself was being rescued."
     Greg nodded, "You're right.  Has anyone pinpointed his location
yet?"
     Ken wrapped his arms around Lita, pulling her close in tight
bear hug despite the throbbing pain erupting along his spine. "What
do you think," he murmured in her ear, "Serena or Darien?"
     "Ami is right," she whispered back, "Darien needs to be rescued
first."
     "Unless," a strong voice commanded, "he has rescued himself!"
     "Darien!"

          *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     

     "Mina!" Adam cried aloud as Sailor Venus thrust open the door
to their shabby prison.  "Where have you been?  How did you get out?"
     She flashed a quicksilver smile at her loving match and swooped
down for a passionate kiss.  "I love you Adam, always remember
that, and trust me," she murmured quickly for his ears alone.  To the
group of gathered warriors as a whole, she gestured quickly to the 
door.  "There's no hope for any of them now." She looked meaningfully
at Solan, before emphasizing the last two words again.  "Any of 
them."
     Continuing on, Mina helped Jupiter to her feet.  "We must hurry,
the Generals have been brainwashed, and Mercury Knight is on their
side now.  He has become a Shadow Warrior, and his heart has been 
twisted to suit the Nega-verse.  We must escape before it's too late,
before any of the other Knights share the same fate. I don't have 
time to explain how I escaped now, so I'll leave it as a chaotic
occurrence.  Fate had nothing to do with this little miracle."
Solan nodded, understanding written clearly on his face.
     Grunting, he rose to his feet, and helped Auriel to hers.  The
entire room was alive with whispered sounds, fabric rustling,
voices murmuring.  Yet in the background, a small mewling sound 
echoed, the pitiful sound of Sailor Mercury's tears.  Aurora tried
to comfort the tiny princess the best she could, but Ami continued
to weep softly, even as she rose to leave.
     They quickly filed out of the room, each face grim and firmly
set.  Moving silently, they snuck through the grand blackness
of the palace, silently circumventing the palace guards, and 
noiselessly sneaking out the back entrance discovered by Neptune
and Aurora earlier.
     Their forms pale against the inky black, unknowingly,
they stood out against the harsh night like a silver beacon.  Two 
forms observed their royal escape quietly from a window high in the
North tower.  
     "You realize Queen Beryl will kill us once she discovers
we remember, correct?" Malachite commented to his silent companion.
     "Unless," the small frame surmised, "we can willingly enter the
pods.  Our memories would be altered eternally, we would be entering
of our own volition of course, but it would save their lives as well.
She would never know that we freed her precious Prince Darien and the
rest of the Planetary Royalty.  We ourselves wouldn't even remember."
     Malachite rested his chin in his hand as the shining form of 
Sailor Venus faded from view. "Hmm, interesting idea, Zoisite.
But would it work?  Beryl isn't stupid, she will suspect."
     Shaking his long golden locks, Zoisite pointed to the door. "Who
cares?  We are as good as dead serving her majesty anyway.  Seeing
Ami, pitying her, remembering..." he drifted off.
     Malachite gripped his hand, "Come Zoi, let us go.  If we hurry,
we can beat the Queen to her chamber."

     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     

     Pluto raised her staff high, "Come on Scouts, let's go!  We must
hurry!"
     Chad moved behind Raye as she raised her hand high. "Let's go!
For Sailor Moon!"
     Ami and Greg clasped hands, and her voice rang out strong and 
true.  "For Princess Serenity!"
     Ken hugged Lita to his slender body tightly, his voice combining
with hers.  "For the Moon Kingdom!"
     Mina gripped Adam's hand tightly, her eyes watering at the wince
of pain that shook his battered body.  "For the Silver Millennium"
she murmured.
     Pluto and Auriel stood proudly together.  "For the future!"
Pluto yelled, her hair whipping wildly as she brandished her staff.
     Auriel shook her mane of fiery hair, "For Destiny!"
     Darien threw off his top hat with a flourish, "Enough of the 
speeches!  We're wasting time!  Let's go save Serena!"
     
     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

     A royal ball was held to celebrate the return of almost all the
Knights.  The festivities were genuine, yet there was a hint of 
sadness in the air.   Princess Mercury refused to leave her room;
she lay and wept on her bed ceaselessly.  
     The other princess' dressed for the ball, with heavy hearts
for their fellow princess they donned their loveliest gowns, yet a 
soaring joy thrummed along their nerves, for their own dearest love's
were with them again.
     Prince Darien had scouts set all around the universe, prepared
to fight should an uprising occur.  "Princess Serenity," he called
to his love from the garden below, "some thing terrible has 
occurred!"
     Wincing inside, Princess Serenity drew close to the railing.
"What?" she called sadly, knowing in her heart the real reason for 
his sudden arrival, "You can't come to the ball?"
     Please, she whispered to herself, please let it be merely that.
No more, I can take no more fighting, no more tears.
     "If only, Princess," he replied hurriedly.  "We must talk..."
     The night spun out of it's own accord: to confuse the restless
guards, Prince Darien disguised himself as Tuxedo Mask and danced
with his Moon Princess Serena, explaining the dire situation at hand.
The enemy was fast approaching, from all directions, and he had sworn
to protect his love and her kingdom to the bitter end.  They 
exchanged a solemn vow to never forget another, should the war rip 
them apart, and she gave him her moon locket, which played a heavenly
melody for their ears alone.
     As the darkness of the Nega-verse filled the night sky with 
tangible negative energy, the Scouts transformed, all save Princess
Serenity, held close to her beloved Tuxedo Mask.  Shadows fought
with the strength of ten men, and soon the forces of the Silver Moon
Kingdom were dwindling.  The Scouts fought with all their strength
in different areas of the battlefield.
     "Darien," cooed an evil voice out of the sky, "Join me."
     Prince Darien kissed Serena one last time, and turned to face
his foe.  "Never!"  He spared one look back at his lovely Princess,
and raced off to fight.  Beryl screeched in frustration and rage,
one deadly blow was dealt, and Darien lay dead. Floating in the air,
he was brought to Queen Beryl as a prize of war.
     "Darien!" Serena wailed, "NO!"  Tears streaking down her cheeks,
she launched herself in to the air after his floating body, her tears
shining like diamonds as they plummeted through the thick night to 
the ground below.  
     Angered that this mere slip of a girl would defy her wishes,
Beryl initiated a hideous attack as the girl dove through space.
Moments later, Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom was held 
suspended in the air by the updraft of Beryl's rage.  Her lifeless
body spun next to Prince Darien's, and as her helpless and broken
mother watched from the safety of the castle, the last remaining
tears streaking her face glittered, dripping to the ground, shining
against the night.
     All the Warriors observed this grisly defeat.  They returned
to the battle with a renewed energy.  If there was enough time, Queen
Serenity could revive them with her Imperium Silver Crystal.  
     Glowing with a strong blue light, Mercury faced off against
a large hairy cat.  "Mercury Ice Storm Blast!" It quickly dodged,
taking only a small bit of the energy directed towards it.  Roaring,
it slashed out, razor claws ripping through her stomach, punching
holes along her thigh. Too weak to withstand such a violent attack
without her Knight, Ami was the first to fall, her crumpled body 
slamming to the ground in defeat.  Her last sight in the Silver 
Millennium was that of her beloved Greg morphing in to the Shadow
Warrior to tower over a bloody Sailor Saturn.  Saturn resisted
bravely, but with Zoisite's assistance, she too weakened and fell.
Nearby, Sailor Mars and Mars Knight double-teamed a vicious ape like
creature.  Its squat body reacted quickly to the fiery team; soon the
Mars couple lay defeated in each other's arms, Chad gasping out his
last breaths in Raye's bloody lap.
     "No!" she screamed at him, "Don't you die on me!  Don't you dare
die on me!  You stupid, stupid, brave man!  Don't you leave me here,
you can't leave me here alone without you!"  Raye began to wail, her
heart pounding against her chest, pumping her life's blood out a 
gaping wound in her side.  "NO!  CHAD NO!  DON'T GO, CHAD, I LOVE 
YOU!  I NEVER TOLD YOU BUT I LOVE YOU!"     
     She felt a warm wet touch on her cheek as the tears coursed
down.  Chad's bloody palm was caressing her face tenderly, his shaggy
dark hair was out of his eyes for once, and she could stare directly
in to their lovely hazel depths.  "I know, Princess," he whispered,
"I know.  We clashed much too often for you not to...care."
His hand dropped to the ground and Raye began screaming, a keening
wail against the background noise of the great war. 
     In the distance, Neptune and Uranus heard Raye's death scream
from their flanked position protecting Aurora.  The tiny goddess
had no real destructive powers except for her forbidden attacks,
but if she were to use those, the entire universe would be awash with
the violent light of an exploding star.  "Oh no!" Aurora moaned,
dropping to her knees, "The lines of fate and destiny are altering,
changing.  I cant'...I can't...stop it."  
     Moaning, her lavender hair drooped to the ground as her delicate
diminutive body trembled and lay still with the force of the change
in destiny.  Cracking her eyes, she tried to rise as Corrine and 
Uranus, blasted and battled valiantly to protect a wounded goddess.
"No," she murmured softly, "So many destinies altered, so many lives
changed.  Fate has been cheated, and there will be payment, a rich
cost indeed.  Corrine, Nerissa..." She raised her torn hand to the 
tiring pair, a slow blooming light glowing at the tip of each finger,
"for two generations after you are born, there will not be a Knight
for your planet.  That is my gift to you, you shall never be torn 
from you true love like Mina, like Ami, because Destiny and your own
souls decree it.  Pass your powers along with your weapons, pass your
heart to your own true love."  
     Those words spoken, that gift given to her relentless 
protectors, Aurora turned her mind to absorbing the brunt of the 
timeline's erratic excruciating changes, to bringing as much of the
ruptured destinies in to herself as possible allowing Apollo, Solan,
and Auriel the freedom to battle unencumbered alongside Pluto across
the garden.
     Malachite and Jadeite soon overcame the two powerful Scouts
protecting the tiny goddess, as one Uranus and Neptune fell, their
arms locked around each other as their jerking bodies shuddered
and lay still.  
     Jadeite reached for the dainty princess, but Malachite's
steal arm stopped him.  "She is of no use.  She is not a warrior,
merely a weak princess, dying as we speak."  They turned, and quickly
rejoined the battle as Aurora's eyes drifted shut and she was sucked
in to the void of healing sleep.  Auriel, remember me...be strong,
for Mina, for Ami, for the future.
     The sky above was gigantic dome of twinkling stars.  The 
sparkling light comforted the prone Sailor Venus as she watched
fiery comets kiss the blackness of the distant galaxies.  Mina gasped
as the slow drips of pain slid down her insides.  "So hot," she 
murmured, her eyes fluttering from the force of her fever.  
"Adam...where are you?"
     "Here, my love.  I am here."  Adam's loved face swam in to her
field of vision; fiery red hair caked with dirt and blood from the 
battle.  "How are you doing?" he whispered brokenly, easing her 
battered face in to his lap.
     "I...I am dying," she whispered, tears slowly streaking their
way down her bloody face.  "I...don't want to die, Adam.  I am too 
young to die.  Mother, Father...they are all dead.  Our planet is 
gone, we are...gone too."
     Adam's heart shattered as his beloved shook in pain and fear.
There would be no peace for Mina if something wasn't done soon.  
"Mina," he kissed her tenderly, "Don't go, please. I am always here
for you.  Even after my death, I will be beside you.  But, please,
don't leave me now. I love you.  I love everything about you; your
wisdom, your loyalty, your ability to forgive.  I don't think I can
live...with out you."
     Mina calmed with his tender words; she shifted her head in his
lap, her gorgeous blond hair red with gore.  "I know, my sweet 
prince.  I know..." she faded away, her fingers loosening in his own.
He watched as her brilliant eyes drifted closed that one last time,
and heart shattering, he wept for his only love.  "Don't leave me, 
Mina," he whispered helplessly, "please, please don't go."
     His plea drifted past Sailor Jupiter, about ten feet away.  Lita
crawled on hands and knees, her hair loose and long from the battle.
Moments later, she sat beside Ken, gripping his lifeless hand in her
own, bitter tears dripping down her face.  "Ken," she whispered
softly, "I'm so sorry my love.  I'm so sorry."  Her long hair, 
unbound from its customary ponytail, dipped in the blood pooling
on the ground, staining the chestnut tips violent red. "I need you,
I love you," she murmured brokenly, leaning forward, she captured
his still-warm lips with her own as tears dripped down her face, 
erasing some of the dust from the battle with their cleansing
pain.  Lying down beside him, she relaxed, her slender body easing
in to the hard ground.  Death stole quietly over her eyes, Serena
was dead, why should she remain and fight?
     One by one, the remaining soldiers faded and fell.  Apollo and
Solan fought to the end, slashing and ripping any one who neared
the fatally wounded Solar Sailor.
     Auriel gazed sadly up at the night sky, smelling the smoky 
residue in the air.  Aurora slept; she could feel it in her heart,
a quiet peace that stole over her trembling body.  "Pluto?" she 
forced through dry and cracked lips, "You will take care of Aurora
and Apollo right?  It's too late for Solan and I; I can see his death
only minutes away.  It is his fate to die by my side, but yours is to
care for them..." she gasped in pain, "...until we are reborn."
     Pluto narrowed her eyes, feeling deep within herself, "You 
mean...no you're correct.  The timeline is too polluted now.  It is 
as it was destined to be, but so many people were not fated to die 
this eve."
     Slowly nodding her head, Auriel let tears slip down her cheeks
one by one.  "It is all my fault.  I could have done something..."
     "No," Pluto protested, "you could have done nothing to alter
this.  It is as it is meant to be.  Even as we speak, Queen Serenity
is gathering the last bits of her strength to capture the Shadow
Warriors within her crystal.  Soon, all the dying Scouts and Knights,
and many, many, of the other warriors will be sent far, far away,
where you won't remember a thing."
     Solan fell, bloody gashes oozing as the crystal captured his 
opponent, it screamed horribly as it locked away.  She felt his life
leave his body, and Auriel shrieked "NO!  I curse you stars!  I curse
you Fate!  I curse you Destiny!  I will have no part of you, I can't
understand you!  You took everything away from us...everything."
She broke off, weeping as her own life faded away.  A slow white 
light enveloped her, her eyes drifted open, and there was a baby's
cry...

     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     * 
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