Chapter Eight: Dawn Sailor Moon hung by her arms high above a glistening void. Her limp body swayed in the wind, blood slowly dripping off the tip of one boot. Lita closed her eyes to the grim sight. "Poor Serena. How could we have just let her hang up there?" Ken hugged Sailor Jupiter tightly, wrapping his arms around her waist; he pulled her back and away from the sight. Wincing, Darien tightened his fist, "So where's our enemy, huh? I can't stand to see Sailor Moon up there like that." The sound of voices below slowly roused Serena. She opened her eyes slowly, and gasped to see the number of people gathered below. "Guys! You came!" Stepping forward, Raye checked the area for further enemies, "Of course we did, Meatball head. Did you really think we'd leave you out to dry after all you've done for us? Ami, how are we gonna get her down?" Leaning against Mercury Knight, Ami quickly entered information in to her mini computer. "I don't know guys. This void is like nothing I've ever seen before. It's more than mere negative space; it's different somehow. I have to convert these radical readings in to something I can understand before I can figure a way to get Sailor Moon down safely." Sprinting, Darien used his extendible cane to pole vault to the top of a nearby ride. "Hold on Sailor Moon! We'll get you down as soon as we can!" "THERE'S NO NEED, TUXEDO MASK!" a cold clear voice screamed through the static filled loudspeakers. "YOU KEPT YOUR PART OF THE BARGAIN, YOU FREED EVERY SCOUT AND KNIGHT BEFORE SAILOR MOON DROPPED IN TO THE VOID." Sailor Jupiter raised her fist to the sky, turning under the echoes of the booming voice. "So why did you bring us here?! Let Sailor Moon down!" There was a quiet pause, and Serena suddenly screamed. Her body plummeted down... "SERENA!" thirteen voices screamed in fear. ...then gasps echoed as Darien leapt from his precarious position atop the nearby bumper car ride, his shoulder hitting Sailor Moon squarely in the back as his momentum carried them both past the void, skidding on the sharp rocky ground below. A low chuckle cut through the screams, the volume slowly rising. The ground beneath them rumbled, cracks opened along the earth like splinters in an old two by four. Steam issued forth from the fissures, erupting in great spurts of fire and heat. "What the hell is going on here?" screamed Darien, cradling Sailor Moon's unconscious body in his arms. "Knights! Fan out and get in a tight circle around the cracks. Sailors, protect Serena and cover us! Luna, Artemis, Apollo, run for cover!" "Right!" all agreed in unison. Adam rose wearily to his feet. Mina took Serena from Tuxedo Mask and ran past him, the battered Moon Princess in her arms. Ken squeezed Lita's hand, then ran to support Adam. The two of them limped to the center of the disturbance, joining Chad and Greg in a tight ring with Darien. The Scouts scattered in a loose ring far away from the disturbance, Pluto at the head covering any possible openings the Knights left in their coverage of the problem, leaving Auriel and the cats to protect Serena. "SO SORRY THOUGH, I CAN'T LET YOU LEAVE! WELCOME TO A POWER YOU'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE, A NEGA-VERSE TITAN! ALL WE NEEDED WAS TIME TO LET IT AWAKEN, AND A SACRIFICE WHEN IT FIRST AWOKE. SAILOR MOON WILL SUFFICE, THE VIRGIN PRINCESS OF AN ANCIENT RACE WHICH TRAPPED IT BELOW. MEET THE ANNHILIATOR!" Sailor Moon moaned and slowly opened her eyes just as the cracks slicing through the ground erupted in one great gust of fire and hissing steam. Eight large tentacles forced their way through the thin crust of earth, rupturing rides; neatly crushing tables and tents to the left and right of the thin bands of intense heat. As one entity the Knights all raised their staffs, preparing to direct their energy with their one spoken attack, Crystal Knight Power. Chad pointed his fire staff high in the air; the red tip glowing with the large ruby stone embedded in the tip. A bright flare of fire spurted from the end, swirling around his broad shoulders and under his arms. "MARS KNIGHT FIRE BURN!" Greg brandished his ice staff before pointing it to the starry night. The blue metal pulsed with an icy light, shivering up his arms and down his legs, throbbing in the large sapphire tip. Water swirled from the tip, raining down in a clear blue circle, finally settling in a blue heat cupped at the tip of his staff. "MERCURY KNIGHT WATER DROWN!" Holding his lightning staff high in the air, Ken savored the feeling of high voltage power throbbing along his bones, crackling down his back, centered in the green metal staff topped with a star shaped emerald at the tip. It snapped and cracked with barely surpressed force, he threw his head back and let the power explode. "JUPITER KNIGHT LIGHTNING STRIKE!" Adam weakly held his own staff aloft. His power was non-existent; he had been greatly weakened by the last battle. Mina hadn't a clue how little energy he truly had. Adam knew that by completing this attack, he would be giving his own life for those of the Scouts and Princess Serenity. Still, one day loving Mina was worth a lifetime of unknowing humanity. He knew about the Silver Millennium now, he was no longer an orphan, he had a past. "VENUS KNIGHT CRESCENT BURST!" His orange staff faintly throbbed with the last of his life's energy, two bands of orange light shot out from the heart shaped topaz embedded in the tip of his staff. They circled his chest in two bracelets of blinding heat, binding him to his decision. Darien held out his cane, watching it extend in to a simple black staff. Milky in the moonlight, the small moonstone gathered the power of his attack, gleaming brilliantly in the early light of dawn. "TUXEDO..." Three bands of light exploded from the moonstone, one black, one red, the other white, braiding in midair. "...MASK..." The braid whipped around his arms, wrapped around his legs, his entire body became a shifting mass of colored lights. "...ROSE..." His cape whipped in the wind raising with the updraft of his power. "...BLAST!" United in their strength, all the Knights touched staffs in the middle of their circle. As one voice they snapped their heads back and roared out the final phase of the attack. "CRYSTAL KNIGHT POWER!" The attack was a direct hit, the Knights' powers combined should have been enough to rip a hole in any enemy, yet the beast rising from the shattered ground only roared, and with two swipes, sent its enemy flying. Ken landed on Pluto, knocking them both in to a nearby concession stand. Chad and Darien landed in the dunking booth; both sputtered to the surface, their heavy cloaks dragging them back down. Adam skidded beside Sailor Moon, his red hair plastered with blood. Breath wheezing in and out of his crushed lungs, he felt Serena pick up his head, sweeping spare tendrils of hair out of his pain filled green eyes. "Adam," she whispered, "hold on I'll take care of that thing. I'll protect you and Mina. Stay strong." "Moon Crystal Power!" His eyes drifting closed, Adam felt the world spinning slowly away. He heard Sailor Moon scream as she was captured, heard Auriel's voice ring out strongly against the beast... Raising to her feet, Auriel surveyed the situation. She had been thrown to the ground repeatedly by the large beast; her body was hot and tired from the steam ripping up from the earth. Dropping to her knees, Auriel felt dejection sweep through her tired frame. She stared at her hands, planted firmly on the burning ground. Cracks ran from the tips of her fingers, spider-webbing across the hard packed earth. Scorching heat radiated from the ground, searing her hands, causing her to cry out in pain. Moaning, she dropped fully to the ground, arms crossed in front of her face, protecting it. Her auburn hair whipped in the gale, blinding her. "Auriel!" The voice echoed through the deafening wind, strengthening her, and reviving her resolve. Her Princess needed her; she must fight, or die trying. Grunting with the effort that moving cost her, Auriel rose, shaking like newborn foal against the damning heated wind, her golden skirt slapping against her legs, raising her head proudly in defiance of the hideous titan. The High Speech tantalized her tongue; she faced the oncoming force, and retaliated. "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 Obscure!" Powering up, a bolt of white heat shot from her golden interlocked hands poised in front of her heart, cutting through the short space that separated her and the revolting creature, stunning it long enough for one of it's tentacles to drop two of the Sailor Scouts. Mars and Jupiter rolled as they hit the ground, gracefully coming to their feet, posed to begin the battle anew. The creature tightened its hold on Sailor Moon and Sailors Venus and Mercury. They moaned in pain, and Venus passed out, one arm dangling limply from the octopus' slimy grip. "NO!" screamed a voice, cutting through the hissing air. "MINA!" A saber flew with deadly accuracy, slicing through the air and embedding itself in the middle of the hideous titan's chest. Angered at the puny defense, the appalling monstrosity flicked a bit of liquid power at the dying Knight. Adam's body arched as bolts of intense heat blazed through his system, sapping the last of his energy, ripping a large gash in his side. His blood trickled to the ground kissing the steaming soil with his strength as it melted from his body. Seeing that, Mars screamed with frustration and rage. Powering up, she clasped her small, gloved hands together, and shrieked her ancient warrior chant at the top of her lungs. "Mars Fireball Ignite!" A direct hit! The ghastly thing let out a long deafening wail. It reverberated through the fair, on and on, growing louder with each passing second. Oh my Gods, my head, make it stop! Sailor Mars clasped her hands to her ears, and dropped to the ground. Sailor Jupiter turned to Auriel, her hands turning white from the pressure of holding them so tightly to her ears, "Kill it, Auriel! Make it stop! We have to save Serena!" Auriel looked at her bewildered. How could she stop the creature's screeching? Memories from her past swept through her mind. Auriel heard Saturn scream, felt the lurid touch of a putrid rotting hand on her arm. Shuddering, she reached deep within and pulled out distant memories, coupled with awesome powers. "Golden Rays..." Three golden beams shot out from her upraised right arm, spinning in three rings around her spread fingers above her head. Auriel pointed her fist at the creature, then extended her index finger, releasing the bright rings in the thing's direction. "...Surround!" Time stood still, for one dreadful moment Auriel was certain her powers were still too young, still too weak to resist the enormous strength of such an ancient beast. The keening wail died a slow death, spiraling in to utter silence. Mars and Jupiter slowly rose from their crouched positions as the beast dropped the inner Scouts one by one. Mercury rolled as she hit the ground, quickly coming to her feet and rushing to check on the Knights. Venus slumped where she fell, her thick golden hair covering her face. Nimbly darting forward, Mars scooped Venus from the ground and lay her next to Venus Knight on the cracked Earth. Sailor Moon fell last; a sopping Darien caught her moments before she touched the ground, his dripping cape and squelching shoes watering the parched earth beneath his feet. One by one, bits of tentacle cracked and peeled off, showering the ground with bits of parched octopus flesh. Slowly, a filmy dust rose from the earth where the terror had once perched. Slowly, the night lightened and the stars dimmed. Dawn was only moments away. Her surprising success finally thawing, Auriel turned to face the other Scouts. Her eyes met not with joy at the defeat of the horrible beast, but the tears of the Soldier family. "Adam," Mina whispered, "please don't go. We just found each other. I never told you..." Wincing as pain sliced through his numb form, Adam shook his head. "No, Mina, don't." The rest of the Scouts drew off to leave the soul mates alone. Serena cried softly against Darien's shoulder. "I can't save him," she whimpered, "Why won't the wand work?" Adam reached up, caressing her face his complete memories of the Silver Millennium returned in one violent flash... Mina looked him directly in the eye; "You don't like spinach." At first, he didn't know what to say. Neither one of them could stop the giggles, the laughter merely came rolling out of it's own accord, leaving them shaking and trembling on the spotless kitchen floor. Finally, they calmed down. The connection was tangible; both barely breathed, striving to keep the delicate strands of emotion under control. Adam lazily brought one finger to the tip of her nose, brushing it with its tip. His fingers moved delicately outward, tracing her cheekbones tenderly, cautiously running his knuckles along her cheek. He leaned in, his breath feathering against her face, and she closed her eyes, expecting the world to shatter with her longing. The moment came, and passed. "Adam," the word came out barely heard, a mere breath of air against his ear, filled with denied longing. "I can't," he whispered in return. "What we have," his voice choked, "though cosmically meant to be, goes against everything in your heart right now. You love Malachite, and I'm merely a boy from your past." At the door, he paused, "Mina, before you make your decision, I want you to know one thing. I am Venus Knight, and your protector, and always will be, no matter what you decide." "Adam," she whispered, helplessly. He grinned sadly, "I loved you when you were a snot-nosed kid I wasn't supposed to play with. I was old enough to understand about fate then, Mina. I just didn't understand until now that 'meant to be' isn't always that easy." He pressed a kiss in to the palm of his hand, and blew it to her. "Goodnight, lovely Princess. Sweet dreams." Holding his hand, Mina felt the strength ebb in his body, slowly draining away. "No, don't leave me, not now, please Adam, not now." Her memories swam in to focus, the final battle, holding him in her arms... "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. "I...don't want to die, Adam. Our planet is gone, we are...gone too." "Mina," he kissed her tenderly, "Don't go, please, please, don't leave me now. I love you. I don't think I can live...with out you." Mina calmed with his tender words; "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." Mina tightened her grip on his hand, "Adam, don't you dare leave me after I just found you, don't you dare!" He smiled wanly, his breath coming in short gasps, "I should stay, I know. My Mina commands it. The song outside the window is not a robin, it's the...nightingale...the nightingale." He cursed softly under his breath; "I never was good at Shakespeare. I...love the plays but...If I could stay Princess, I would. But...I can't. Before...I go, I need you to promise me one thing, Mina." "Adam," she began, then broke off, her tears falling freely to wet the edge of her tattered orange skirt. "Anything. Anything you want and it's yours." He grinned softly, a small hint of sparkle twinkling in his eyes. "Anything?" he choked out as lavaciously as he could. Smiling wetly, Mina nodded, her sapphire eyes bloodshot and puffy. "Anything you want," she insisted. Another wave of pain engulfed him, Adam arched is back and groaned, his eyes closing for a moment to hide the anguish ripping through his weak body. "Mina...promise me you won't give up on love. If someone...comes, and you love him, don't give in to the temptation to give up. Despite...everything, today was worth a...lifetime of living with out you." "Adam," Mina moaned, her thin body trembling, "I...can't love anyone else. I am cursed, you were my last chance." Tracing one shaking hand along her wet cheek, Adam smiled. "You're not cursed Mina. No one as strong as yourself would ever bow...down to a measly little curse." He winced again, tightening his hand on her dainty wrist; his voice grew strong again. "Promise me, Mina. Promise me that if the chance arises, you will love again." Gazing in to his glazed eyes, Mina felt her own eyes lose focus as the fresh tears sprung up, cleaning her filthy cheeks with their salty pain. "I...promise you Adam. If someone new comes in to my life, and I fall for him, I will try one more time. I...love you," she whispered brokenly. He smiled gently, his brilliant green eyes dimming as the first rays of dawn painted the horizon. "I love you too, my sweet Princess. Ever since I saw you," his voice dwindled to a low, pain-wracked whisper; "a snot-nosed kid watching me beat off a bunch of bullies in the Silver Millennium. You helped me...that was your first crescent beam, if I remember right. You have...a good heart, Mina...you always..." His eyes drifted closed, and his body lay limp in Mina's arms. Mina closed her eyes against the scream rising in her throat. Biting hard on her lower lip, small rivulets of blood dripped down her chin as her thin, slender body began to quake. Rising memories threatened to drown her; dancing in Adam's arms, watching him idly play with one of Raye's candles, Adam scooping her up after Ken nearly killed himself getting them across the chasm. "Some of our best moments happened in the kitchen," she murmured softly to herself; the memory of their only tender kiss in the kitchen after a millennium apart, Lita walking in, her pale face blooming in to a crimson blush. Strong arms surrounded her, and a weeping Lita helped her rise to her feet. She slowly led Mina away from Adam's still form. "Pluto is going to give him a place of honor in the Gates of Time. He will be revered there along with all the other Knights who died for their Princess'." Mina resisted, turning she watched as the Solar Sailor and Sailor Pluto stood over the dead body, concentrating their powers. "What are they doing?" Ken moved gracefully to stand beside Mina. His face was streaked with tear tracks as well. "They are transporting him to the Gates, Mina. They are going to lay him alongside the other Kings and Knights whom died in battle for their loves. Let him go, they can't take him without your permission." Pluto gazed sadly at her, waiting for the Royal order. Nodding, Mina slowly turned away, shock coursing through her system. A bright flash of light streaked through the air, complementing the wistful strands of sunlight shimmering their way through the fresh morning air. The dawn was brilliant, streaks of gold and red painting small spots of sky purple and blue. There's no green to match his eyes...no green. "Mina, we must go," Greg's shaky voice cut through her thoughts, a quiet reminder that she wasn't the only one hurting. Mina winced; only a day ago, Adam had been nothing to her, but he and Greg had been friends for months... Serena and Darien looked up to see Mina lounging above them on the temple steps. "I'm going to go check on Raye, get a drink for the boys, and probably take a serious rest. Lita and Ami are napping, so are Luna and Artemis. The boys decided to quit until it got cooler, so they're in the front talking to Greg, and this amazing red-haired guy who showed up and wanted to talk to Raye's grandpa." Serena pulled away from Darien, "Greg's here?! Do you think we should go wake Ami? I mean, she'll kill us if he was here and she didn't get a chance to see him!" Mina laughed, "No, he snuck around to the back and told us about his friend up front. He and Adam are going to be here for the next couple of weeks, and when I told him about Ami, he said to let her rest, he'd just hang around here to surprise her when she woke up! "You should go look at his friend, oh Serena, he's gorgeous! Tall, thin, but completely built! I really need to go out there; Chad and Ken have probably talked his ear off by now. I mean he looked at them strangely enough to begin with!" Darien sat up, "Oh?" Mina grinned, "No, Darien, I know what you're thinking. They are Chad and Ken now, not the Knights. I don't think even Chad would be that stupid! "Anyway, I'm going to deform and bring them some lemonade. That guy is really cute!" Moments later, Mina sat outside the temple with Greg and his close fiery haired friend. "So, Adam," Mina began crossing her long legs to a more comfortable position, "you came to see Grandpa about bad dreams?" Adam laughed, "Yeah, but they aren't nightmares, more, I don't know, more like memories." His green eyes twinkled, and he poked Greg lightly with his elbow. "For example, this jerk here." Greg snickered, and lightly poked him back; "I met Greg in computer class. He sat down and BAM! It's like I knew him in a past life or something." Greg broke in, "We hit it off, and have been the biggest dorks on campus ever since!" Mina tilted her head and gazed at him candidly. She idly thought, "I know what he means; it's like I've seen this guy somewhere before." Adam continued, "Well, anyway, I figured out where I had seen him before, in my dreams! I had been having this dream of that computer class for weeks before meeting Greg! When I told him, he insisted on me coming here and meeting Raye's grandfather." Greg suddenly smacked his hand against his forehead, "God! I'm such a spaz! I forgot Ami's gift in the car! Dude, give me your keys so I can go get it!" Adam handed his keys over, smiling softly at Mina. She returned his smile shyly, her cheeks burning under his stare. "Uh, Mina," Greg's voice broke in, "why don't you come with me, I want you to see what I got Ami." "Okay," she glanced back at the boys as they rushed away. Adam was yawning and looking at the inviting shade of the temple rooms, his sweaty T-shirt sticking to his back like a second skin. They reached Adam's car, a gray Hyundai Excel, and Greg grabbed her wrist. She looked down at his shaking hand, her brows furrowed, "Greg, what's wrong? Are you feeling okay?" He yawned, "Adam is one of us." Mina looked confused, the world was starting to spin in lazy circles, "What do you mean, you're not making any sense." He began again, "What I mean, Mina, is that I brought him here to meet the Scouts in hopes that his complete memory would return. Your friend, Pluto, came to me in my dreams a few weeks ago, gave me my full memories, and told me the whole story, including warning me about Adam." "God, I am so sleepy. You think we've been drugged? Maybe we need to warn the others..." "Greg," Mina began, "I am so sorry." He shook his head, his dark hair shining in the early morning light. "No Mina. Adam knew. That's what I was trying to tell you before we passed out in the car. He knew, from his dreams, from my visions, that he would die here, with you. He didn't care, he wanted to meet you." Chad's weary voice cut in. "Guys, I know this sucks, but we need to boogie, or else we're gonna get caught. There is some massive big bucks destruction here, and I don't know about you guys, but apprenticing doesn't bring in enough money to cover all this damage. We have to go, now." Darien stepped behind Lita and Mina. He put a comforting hand on Mina's shoulder, "I'm sorry Mina, but Chad's right. The damage is less than from some of our other battles, but it would be best if we left before any one comes asking difficult questions. Come on." The beaten group slowly exited the park. A quietly sobbing Serena clinging on to Darien for dear life. "I couldn't save him," she whimpered over and over again. "It's the first time it didn't work. I couldn't save him." Holding hands with Greg, Ami was lost in her own thoughts of Adam and Auriel. She hadn't seemed terribly upset when she and Pluto began powering up. Maybe the Solar Sailor knows something the rest of us don't. Auriel James, at least that's something to go on. I've got to find her. Weakness overcame Mina at the gate and Mars Knight scooped her quickly up. Chad carried Mina curled in his arms to Lita's car, he tucked her in to the back seat, and brushed small wisps of hair out of her eyes. They were dilated with shock, only a small circle of blue showed around the rim of her eyes. "You might want to take her to a hospital, Lita," Chad suggested. "If you need anyone to come and help later, Raye and I will be at the temple. Ami and Greg are going there as well." Ken eased himself in to the front seat, wincing as the pain in his back exploded in razor sharp agony once more. He leaned forward, removing the pressure of his back against the seat. "Thanks dude. I might need you to go pick me up some new clothes. My back is probably going to need some major stitches." Jupiter Knight powered down to merely Ken, and watched as Lita and Mina did the same. "See you later Chad, Raye. We'll come to the temple to check on everyone in a bit. Is Serena okay?" Raye turned to watch the sobbing Moon Princess. "She's in shock too." Sighing, Raye powered down. "Darien is going to take her to a doctor friend of his who won't ask any questions about the situation. Ami's going with them to get her ankle set. Be careful okay?" Lita nodded, "You too. We never did find out who set that titan on us." As they backed out, Ken heard Raye's annoyed voice over the roar of the engines, "Chad! Power down dummy!" * * * * * * * * * * The Gates of Time swirled with icy light as Pluto led Auriel to the Temple of the Rising Sun. "This is your heritage, Auriel." Golden pillars reached for the sky, topped with intricate arches set with diamonds and rubies of amazing size. Sheer golden and silver curtains flapped as they entered the dim and echoing halls, blue and silver tiles glimmered and pulsed as they tread on them. Auriel spun slowly, the short skirt of her Sailor uniform swirling gently around her legs. "It's...amazing! I used to live here?" Sailor Pluto nodded, her green tinted hair swirling around her shoulders in the pale wind. "Yes. It was the one thing I could save from Beryl's minions. When you were alive in the Silver Millennium, the Sun had a much different form than it does now. Without your family to tame the wild energy outbursts, it became molten energy, inhabitable like every other planet in this solar system save Earth." Frowning, Auriel paused in her admiration of the exquisite building. "But, isn't the sun a star, not a planet?" Celia laughed, the crimson bow of her Scout uniform trembling with her mirth. "Yes, Auriel, it is. That is where the difference between yourself and the other Scouts lies. Your family has the ability to tap in to enormous amounts of energy and power for whichever use you deem it necessary. You can shift form in to pure energy once you are powerful enough. Serena may have all the power in the universe at her fingertips if she so chooses, but she can't destroy entire galaxies or create new ones at a mere whim. Saturn could destroy everything; she is the Senshi of Silence and Death." Celia shook her head, a small, wry smile tracing the outline of her lips. "One could be frightened of her destructive powers, if you dwelled on them. You, on the other hand, are just as powerful, but in your own way. There is one forbidden attack to the Soldiers from the sun; one you must never use. 'Dying Sun Implosion'. If you use that attack, Auriel, every star in the galaxy will implode. You would destroy everything." Whistling, Auriel continued her slow walk through the giant hall. "That's a lot of power. But couldn't Sailor Moon heal everything?" Pluto shook her head. "No, she couldn't. Serena is powerful, almost as powerful as Galaxia, but neither could equal your power. Galaxia's power comes from the planets she can bend to her will, with either force or love. Serena's power emanates from the loving person she is, and the Imperial Silver Crystal. Your power, on the other hand, stems from every star in the universe, the cosmos, the galaxy. You can destroy, but never create. Your sister, however..." Pluto stopped suddenly before a small door to her right Auriel hadn't noticed, "can recreate the universe as many times as she sees fit. Apollo's soul mate is your sister, Aurora." Pluto turned a small key and pushed open the small door. She smiled mysteriously, then with a sweep of her long hair, graciously entered. Auriel stood transfixed, staring at the door. Do I go in? Closing her eyes, she swallowed against the rising lump in her throat. "This is too weird." The room opened before her in silver grandeur as she cautiously inched her way in. Two platforms lay in the middle of the room, one empty save for a golden staff and sword neatly crossed at the head, the other bore an occupant. Long lavender hair trailed the floor curling softly at the ends. Pluto stood at the head of the slender body clad in white and gold, holding a delicate golden crown in her hands. "This, Auriel, is your twin sister, Aurora. You are the only one who can wake her from her timeless sleep. You two are halves of one whole. Born first, you became a Sailor, born second, unfortunately born eternal, she became a god." "She can't...die?" Auriel whispered, memories from her Silver Millennium childhood tailing along her spine. "No, Auriel, she can't," answered a low voice behind her. Auriel twirled to see a weak young man with chameleon hair stagger through the small door. He rose as best he could and bowed to the frightened Scout. "Unfortunately, neither can I." Amber eyes widened, as the figure staggered to the dainty girl sleeping on the dais. He stroked one loving finger down her throat, and sighed. Groaning he, he made his way to the other platform, and settled himself painfully upon it. Auriel stared at his eyes, canny and green; the elfish tilt to his chin, coupled with slightly pointy ears; the constant changing hair, thick and silky as a cat's pelt. "Apollo?" she gasped, transfixed by the sight of her former cat in his human form. "Auriel," interrupted Sailor Pluto regretfully, "you must waken the Goddess of the Sun. She must heal Apollo, and then and only then will everything be set in motion. That glimpse of power you felt when you fought will be increased a hundred-fold, your visions will begin to make sense. Soon, Aurora will train you to control altering fate and destiny. That shiver you felt when you met Adam proves that you still have the ability to glimpse in to the future. You foresaw his death, soon we shall discover if you can foresee what is yet to come." Nodding slowly, Auriel stared quietly at Apollo. "What do I do?" Apollo closed his eyes, and relaxed, "Why little Princess, don't you read fairy tales? You've already defeated the dragon...sort of. You've fought and bled beside your fellow Scouts, losing a member of the team to destiny. There has been heartache, drama, mystery, sadness, and now it is time for joy. You crown the Goddess, kiss her, and we all live happily ever after." Tears trembling on the tips of her lashes, Auriel nodded. She took the delicate crown from Pluto's hands, pausing a moment to admire it's frail beauty. One sacred ruby shimmered in a sun shaped setting atop three braided vines of silver, gold, and blue sapphire. Auriel ran the tips of her fingers along the smooth edge, then shifted the heavy braid of purple hair wrapped as a headband around the girl's forehead. Carefully settling the crown in to the thick, floor length mass of tresses, Auriel twisted the slender braid of hair through the small loops at the bottom of the crown, anchoring it tightly to her sister's head. Leaning forward, she whispered softly to the comatose girl, "It makes sense. I always knew in my heart that there was something important missing in my life. We're not identical because we're two different sides to the same coin. I'm the heart, all passion and headstrong, stubborn fire; you're the head, all logic and peaceful forgiveness and understanding. We were, are, both intelligent, just in different ways, aren't we?" She brushed small wisps of her fiery hair out of her amber eyes, the leaned forward, slowly pressing her delicate lips to her sister's cheek. She rose lightly on the tips of her toes, and carefully kissed the other cheek, moving finally to the forehead. Tears dripping down, Auriel lay her own forehead against her sister's, and imagined a long rotting cord being pulling slowly from deep waters. As the cord grew slimier, and harder to pull, Auriel envisioned digging her nails in, her muscles screaming from the effort of rising what ever was on the far end of the rope. Finally, her mind's eye saw a slow green light rising to the surface, growing brighter with each pull she took. A dim figure appeared, but she continued grunting and pulling. A head breached the water; amber eyes greeted her own.... "Thank you Auriel," soft voice murmured in her ear. Opening her damp eyes, Auriel sat back as her sister's own eyes opened and she gracefully sat up, "My that was quite a catnap now wasn't it?" "Ha, ha. Very funny," groaned a sarcastic voice nearby, "You shouldn't make jokes, Auriel. You don't know what it's like to be a cat." Admiration sneaked through Auriel's heart for Apollo. He had been a good feline, but seeing him now in his human form, she realized how degrading it must have been for such a proud man to be a kitten. He was a god after all. Aurora leapt off her dais in one fluid motion, gracefully settling beside Apollo and laying her delicate hands on either side of his thin face. Her lavender hair began glowing with a strange iris light as she poured energy directly in to her soul mate. "Silly man," she murmured, "You should be thankful to Auriel, she did rescue you, you know." "You saw far when you slept, didn't you my goddess?" he whispered softly, stroking her hair as his wounds began glowing and shimmering with a pale golden light. She nodded, closing her eyes to speed the healing process, "Yes, my love, I did. Now about that tabby cat down the street from Auriel's home..." Auriel and Pluto drew off, to leave the lovers to their reunion. Pluto stroked Auriel's hair; "They will soon join Raye and Chad at the temple. They have no lives here, in the Time Gate, and will need human identities. I know you and the Scouts will arrange for their happy existence on Earth. But for now, I must return you to your home. It is Saturday, a mere twenty-four hours have passed since you awoke yesterday and saw the Scouts training in your bathroom mirror. You have the rest of the weekend left to pick up your life, and to adjust to the changes your life as a Scout will soon bring." Auriel walked slowly beside the Scout of Time, and nodded as the words flowed over her. "So, I shall see Apollo and Auriel again soon?" Celia hugged Auriel close; they reached the high doors of the Time Portal, with a wave of her staff, they creaked open. "You shall see Apollo and Auriel in a day or two. They both need to rest and plan their approach in to this new world. They didn't die in the battle, so they never lost their memories. It will be hard for them to realize that you have yet to remember many things about the Silver Millennium, as do the other Scouts. All everyone needs is time." Apprehensively eyeing the misty void, Auriel turned to Celia. "What about the Scouts and Knights? What about Mina? Will she be all right?" Giving the Solar Sailor a gentle push from behind, Pluto nodded. "Only time will tell. It was Adam's destiny to die in Mina's arms, much like it was your destiny to reawaken your sister. Look deep in to your heart and as your powers grow all will become clear. There are many more stories to be told before this is all over. As we speak, Mina is swearing to herself that she will never love another since her soul mate was taken from her. Only time will tell if she shall remain true to her vow to herself or to the promise Adam would hold her to." "It's not over?" Auriel asked, her amber eyes widening. "You mean there's more?" Chuckling Pluto began closing the Portal doors, the light dimming around her still and graceful form. "Haven't you learned that yet, Auriel? Life is a never-ending story, and the lives of the Sailor Scouts are destined to continue in to Crystal Tokyo. Be quiet Bright One, and enjoy your new life. You wished for adventure, welcome to your future."