Gundam Wing Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Time's Wheel ❯ Ch. 2: Collision Course ( Chapter 2 )

Dragon Lady

Time's Wheel

Ch.2: Collision Course

Disclaimer: * Rena walks in once again, looking slightly annoyed. * Once again, we don't own and we don't claim to.

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Tokyo Japan, Cherry Hill Temple

She's gone; she's really gone. Ami can't stop the tears as they run down her face in rivers. The scene of Hotaru's death plays over and over again in her mind. She sees the young girl raising her glaive, darkness surrounding her, her body growing weaker as she executes her attack. Then she sees her and the creature they had been battling fall into a hole in the air and disappear forever.

It had been a full day now and the shock has finally worn off, leaving only sorrow behind. The girls, Darien, Luna, and Artimes are gathered at Rei's temple. Ami can dimly recall someone mentioning a burial service for their friend, it might have even been her, but she can't remember for sure who it was.

Ami looks up to stare at the others. Serena is cradled in Darien's arms, sobbing without any embarrassment. Likewise, Michelle is in Amara's arms, but her tears seem spent. Now she only sits quietly, mourning the death of the girl who was almost a daughter to her. Rei is in a corner by herself, her face blank, staring strait ahead, her eyes unseeing. Mina is crying silently on the couch, Lita and the two cats trying their best to comfort her.

Ami herself is finished with tears. She had cried for hours the previous night, but her tears would not come today. With a sigh, she stands up and maneuvers around Serena and Darien and walks out into the warm summer air. The bright sunshine causes her to shield her eyes momentarily. She stares defiantly at the bright world around her. It just isn't right. The world seems so happy and full of life, yet we must suffer.

Thinking a walk will calm her; Ami makes her way around the temple grounds. After a few moments, she finds herself at the temple steps. Suddenly, the wind picks up, lifting her bluish hair and caressing her skin. She can feel a presence behind her, but she doesn't bother to turn around, having a pretty good idea about who is standing behind her.

"You know?"

"Yes, I know," Trista replies, sadness in her voice, "but I'm afraid that's not why I came."

"Oh?" Ami stands and turns around to look Trista in the eye. She notices that the timekeeper's eyes are red and puffy, her mouth twisted in a frown. Ami bites back the comment she was about to make. She can see that Trista has mourned as much as the rest.

"What is wrong Trista?"

"Let us go meet the others first. This involves us all."

Ami nods and quietly follows. As the two girls enter the temple, the other girls look up at Trista, acknowledging her presence, but refusing to break the sorrowful silence.

"I am sorry to bring you news like this after such a blow, but I'm afraid this is very important."

Michelle looks up, lifting her head from Amara's shoulder. "Pluto?"

Trista swallows the lump in her throat. "The Time Gate has shattered."

"WHAT!"

"I don't know exactly how, but for some reason, too much energy from two different times caused the gate to shatter and break. Dimensions are opening up and time itself is in chaos."

"I don't understand," Amara says. "How can the Time Gate shatter!"

"Two or more colossal energies were released at the same time in two different times. One of them, I think, may have been Saturn's attack, as to the other I don't know. When it broke, I could feel many things pass through the gates. In other words, our world may be in grave danger. There's no telling what came through."

Tokyo Japan, Starlight Towers

Quatre (I think I've finally spelled his name correctlyJ ) opens his eyes slowly, his head throbbing painfully. What happened? With more than a little effort, Quatre manages to sit up and look at his surroundings. The room he is in is completely bare, the blue tiled floors collecting dust. For that matter, where am I?

As he gets to his feet, he notices a row of windows in front of him. His eyes widen as he reaches the window and views the scene before him. Beneath him is a large, bustling city, lit up and full of life. He can see automobiles flying down the street, people on sidewalks, playgrounds, and parks.

Quatre turns as he hears someone approaching. Trowa leans up against the window beside him. "Quite a site isn't it?"

"Yes, I haven't seen a city this big in a long time. The colonies can't afford to make cities this large. I wonder where we are."

"Hn." Heero walks in from a stairwell that is leading to the next floor, supporting Wufei, who is barely conscious. His body is broken and bloody and without Hero's support, he definitely wouldn't be standing. It looks like the battle took a lot out of us. I'm surprised any of us are standing. I've never fought so hard. As he looks around, he notices a certain presence is still missing.

"Duo's gone," he says quietly, his vision beginning to blur.

Trowa only closes his eyes, appearing to be deep in thought. Quatre looks up at his friend and feels his heart wrench. His face shows no emotion, but he knows why Trowa's eyes are closed. After years of friendship, it didn't take much to realize that those eyes showed more than any expression would.

Heero, for a moment looks like someone has punched him in the stomach. His normally emotionless face changes for a brief moment, breaking the ice that seems to compose his whole being. Then it shifts back, and Hero is once again ice cold.

"That still doesn't solve the problem of where we are," Heero says in a cool monotone.

Trowa turns back to the window and crosses his arms. "I don't think that it's a matter of where we are. I think a better question to ask now is when are we?"

Quatre looks at him, puzzled. When? "What do you mean Trowa?"

"Look up at the sky, and the stars. Don't you notice that something's missing?"

Quatre looks up. It is a clear, starry night, only a crescent moon lighting up the sky. Then he sees it and his eyes widen.

"Usually, on clear nights, you can see the light of the nearest colonies," Trowa says, seeing that Quatre understands. "They're not there, and as far as I can see, they never where."

"So what do we do?" Quatre asks. Wufei finally seems to regain consciousness and moans loudly. Quatre looks over at his friend with pity. "I guess that answers my question."

Heero nods in agreement. "We have to find someplace to care for him."

"But where?" Trowa asks. "We don't have any money to pay someone."

Quatre sighs. "I don't know. Let's just get out of here first. We'll worry about the money problem when we come to it."

With that, the four remaining pilots make there way slowly down the tower. Before they leave the room, Quatre looks up once more at the starry night. Wherever you are Duo, good luck.

Tokyo, Japan: Cherry Hill Temple

The heat of the temple fire warms Rei's skin as she meditates. Ever since Trista's warning of the possibility of new enemies this morning, the scouts have been on constant alert. For the past three hours, Rei has been in front of the fire, searching the astral world for anything that is just a little unusual or out of place.

After a few moments, Rei leans lies back, exhausted. Nothing so far, but I can sense the opening of many dimensions that where not there before. I don't know much about time, but the small glue that kept the dimensions separate is just about gone. Not much can be done though until Pluto fixes the shattered gate. Rei allows herself a small smile at the thought. Glad it's her and not me.

A commotion outside causes her to sit up and look towards the door. What is that? She senses the presence of four life forces coming in the direction of the temple. She lets her senses reach out to them and are shocked at what she finds. All are human and in a great deal of pain. One of the forces is diminishing at a very rapid pace.

As quickly as she can, Rei climbs to her feet and races out of the room and onto the temple grounds. As she reaches the steps, she notices three boys nearing the entrance, another boy held between them, badly wounded.

"Bring him this way!" Rei shouts to them, hurrying down the steps. One of the boys, who isn't helping support the wounded one, turns in her direction. For a moment he only looks at her questioningly, but then nods and says something to the others. For a moment, it looks as if they are going to reject her offer, but reluctantly, the other two agree and begin lifting the boy up the temple steps.

Rei leads them into the fire room and instructs them to lay him on the floor. She leaves them momentarily and runs to the main building to grab some blankets, pillows, and a first aid kit. Once she returns to the room, she lays out the blankets and instructs the boys to place their friend on them. Finally, she takes a look at his wounds. With the up most care, she removes his shirt and stares at his horribly battered body. I'm no doctor, but this doesn't look too good. She can see the many bruises and cuts and she is almost positive that a few ribs are broken as well.

After doing what she can for the cuts and gashes, she turns to the boys. "This is all I can do for him. He needs a doctor."

The blonde boy who she had spotted before smiles, his blue eyes revealing a deep sorrow. "Yes, but we have no money for a doctor." One of the other boys, the taller one, walks over and places a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I've already lost one friend, I don't want to lose another," he says softly, Rei barely hearing it.

What have these boys gone through to come out like this? They look like they've been to hell and back. Perhaps…

"Wait a moment, I need to make a phone call, I'll be right back." Rei runs outside, but doesn't go into the house for a phone. Instead, she pulls out her communicator. After a moment, Ami's tired face appears on the screen.

"What is it Rei? It's one o'clock in the morning?"

"Sorry to wake you Ami, but could you do me a really big favor?"

Ami looks at her warily. "Maybe."

"Great is your mom home?"

Ami nods.

"Well, we have a small emergency at the temple. Could you and her come down here."

"What happened, are you hurt Rei?" Ami cries, worried now, wondering why Rei would need a doctor."

"No, listen…" Rei begins to explain the nights events as Ami quietly listens. Finally, the girls break off communication and Rei goes back into the temple, reassuring the boys as best she that everything was going to be okay. She hoped.

Ten Miles North of Tokyo: Old Military Base (I'm not going to dwell on this section too much since this isn't that important and it's starting to get a little lengthy)

Amarad curses as he shakes the water out of his boots, climbing out of the lake. What in the hell happened? I had those infidels right where I wanted them! One minute I have the pilot in my grasp, the next minute there's a flash of light and I'm under twenty feet of water!

"General!" A soldier dressed in the uniform of the Red Wings comes running down the hill from the forest.

"What is it?"

The soldier stops to catch his breath a moment and then continues. "I'm glad I found you sir. Most of the troops are still in one piece in an old base in the forest, but sir I think maybe you should have a look at this."

Becoming a little curious, he follows the soldier to the front of the base. His troops are waiting for him there, but so are a few strange beings he has never see before. In the center of it all is a beautiful woman, holding a strange staff with a dark crystal on it. Her hair is a snowy white and her eyes are as black and bottomless as a black hole. Her skin is a chalky white and her body appears very frail, almost like it is made of sticks.

This is no weak woman. I don't know why, but she is powerful.

The woman smiles cruelly at him. "Good evening general Amarad. I don't believe we've met. You may call be Queen Barryel (spelling's wrong on that name!)." (She's back!!!)

?…

The darkness seems to suffocate her as she struggles for breath. Saturn's whole world is nothingness. Blackness surrounds her, threatening to choke her and invade her very soul; and see excepts it. If this is death, then so be it.

And then there is light. One minute there is only nothingness, then suddenly, a heat as warm as the sun fills her body. Her body feels like it is falling, wind rushes past her face as gravity pulls her down to some unknown earth. Then there is pain. She feels sharp stabs of agony in her stomach and chest. Her hand reaches out and grips green grass. Slowly, she reaches for her healing powers, trying to relieve her body of the terrible pain. She feels bones snap back into place, and gashes close as the purple energy fills her, her scout power speeding up the healing process.

Finally she feels well enough to take a chance at opening her eyes. She looks up to see the branches of a tree above her, some of its branches snapped in half from a strong impact. Well, I guess I must have fallen into that. The area she is in is heavily wooded and full of trees and bushes, many of which she has never seen before.

I wonder where I am? I should be dead. Is this some kind of after life? She quickly desenshies as her energy runs out and she has to lean on the tree for support. Well, wherever I am, I have to find a safe place to rest, fast. I'm a sitting duck out here in the open with so little strength.

Wincing slightly as she straightens up, she begins making her way down a path into the woods, not knowing whether she is going in or out. Minutes tick by and eventually turn to hours. Thoughts run wildly through her head as her body becomes weaker. How did I get here? How did I survive and attack that was supposed to kill me. Did I survive?

Finally, as the sun begins to set, she spots a trail of smoke in the air coming from what appears to be a small fire or chimney. With renewed determination, she makes her way through the woods to a cabin in the middle of the woods. Her strength leaving her, she pounds on the door, praying for an answer.

A soft grumbling comes from the other side of the door. A moment later, the door creeks open. Even in her weakened state, Hotaru can not stifle the cry that comes from her mouth.

The creature that has answered the door is most definitely not human. He is much taller than Hotaru, taller than anyone she has ever seen, even Amara. His skin is a ghostly white and his hair is jet black, reaching down to his shoulders. His eyes are red with slits in them, similar to those on a snake. At his hip is a long, very sharp looking sword.

As the creature sees her at his door, his eyes widen in surprise, then in understanding. "Come on in little one, I won't hurt you." Hotaru is more afraid now than she has ever been in her life, but the creature will not take no for an answer. With a strength that took her breath away, he scoops her up in his arms and carries her into the house.

Once inside, he sets her down in a chair at a table near a roaring fire. After that, he pulls out a bowl from a cupboard in the corner and heaps a small helping of something from a pot that has been cooking over the fire.

"Eat."

Hotaru stares at for a moment, afraid to place something as strange as this in her mouth. After a moment, the creature seems to realize this and with a little bit of annoyance, grabs a spoon a places a big helping of the stuff into his own mouth.

"Now will you eat?"

Hotaru hesitantly picks up her own spoon and begins to eat. To her surprise and delight, she finds it quite good and quickly finishes. When she is done, most of her strength has returned to her and she is more aware of her surroundings.

"Feel better?" the creature asks.

Hotaru nods. "Yes, thank you."

"Good, by the way, my name's Drako."

"Hotaru."

Drako sighs. "What is with you humans and coming out into the black woods. You're the second one I've found today out in forest." He stops for a moment and smiles ironically. "Well, at least you got here under your own power. The other one was in such a bad shape I had to carry him here."

Hotaru looks up in surprise. "You mean I'm not the only one you found?"

"Nope." He stands up and motions for Hotaru to follow him. He leads her to a dark room in the back. On a small bed in the corner, a boy who looks to be a little older than her is lying still as death. His brown braid is slung over his chest, which is heavily wrapped in bandages. His breathing is ragged and thin.

"Is he going to be okay?" Hotaru asks concerned.

Drako runs his fingers through his hair. "I don't know. You humans are so frail. I don't know what will happen to him."

Hotaru walks over to his bedside and pulls up a stool. She carefully looks over the body, not with a child's eyes as one might expect, worried and frightened, but with a doctors eyes, examining and evaluating. He's right, this boy needs a doctor, and quickly. Broken ribs, punctured lungs, internal bleeding, it's amazing he's not dead already. A small smile graces her lips. Stubborn as a mule. Sounds like a few people I know.

With as much gentleness as she can manage, she lightly places her hands on the boy's broken body. She can feel her energy being tapped, rushing from her body into his. Slowly and carefully, being sure not to do more damage than good, she begins to mend the broken bones and organs, starting from the chest and working her way up and then down. As she got down to some of the more minor cuts on his legs, her vision began to blur, but she finally manages to finish.

As she sits up in her chair, the boy's eyes open and lock with hers. His eyes are blue as a crystal clear sky, pure and honest. She smiles once at him and then her world becomes dark once more.

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Author: Well that's it for now. Not as exciting as the last chapter I think, but it needed to be done.

Rena: How come Saturn didn't die? I thought that attack was supposed to kill its wielder?

Author: Wait and find out. I'll tell you in another chapter.

Rena: But I want to know, surly you can tell me.

Author: Sorry Rena, but you'll know when everyone else does.

Rena: COME ON! TELL ME!

Author: Rena, don't make me do something that I might regret later.

Rena: Yeah right, and just what are you going to do to me? You forget, I have magic, you don't.

Author: * pulls out a strange contraption that lets off a soft blue light *

Rena: A bug zapper, what's that supposed to do?

Author: * smiles wickedly * I wouldn't look at the light if I were you.

Rena: * Stares directly into the light. Her eyes grow wide and her mouth opens slightly * Oh, the light, the light! * phtzzzz *

Author: * smiles * Modern technology one, magic bug-like creatures, zero.