Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Redemption ❯ Heartlight ( Chapter 12 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

HEARTLIGHT


Silence reigned in the stillness of the round chamber,
though a single figure moved, pacing across the floor. His
breathing was quiet-a habit that; breathing was not a
necessary component to his continued existence, but rather
was used to better blend in with mortal species as well as
to power speech. His booted feet muffled by the thick pile
of the Zodiac-decorated carpet, Lord Obsidian continued
walking in the set pattern subconsciously adopted as he
thought over a number of things.

*So close...* That alone was the idea that clawed at him the
most, the one that imposed itself on his awareness over
everything else. He had every confidence that those he sent
would return home successful; the end was truly in sight.

*A thousand years... Far too much time for Chaos to spread.
No guarantee that other safeguards held, that others could
keep Chaos from sinking its talons further into the fabric
of things. Even restoring what was lost, it may be years
yet before things are back to how they once were.*

He paused, cape settling gently around him as he turned and
glanced at the smooth, black stone wall where one of the
windows had once been. He knew what was out there, that
blasted and lifeless ground that had once been his prized
garden, knew that what passed for a sky was only a
quarter-mile above the roof of the Tower. The deep
melancholy that seemed to color everything since settling on
a course of action clung to him as memories of how Lithos
used to be flickered through his mind.

Green forests and emerald fields, the dimmed light from the
distant sun giving everything a warm, diffuse illumination
by day and the shining points of the stars dappling the
night sky, the ever-present silvery ribbon of the Swift
River rushing past the western, unwalled edge of the City,
the sounds of conversation in all its forms and of languages
of all sorts, the occasional incursion of a magic-wielding
wild beast dealt with efficiently by the City Guard... All
this and more is what *should* have been there beyond the
obsidian walls, but no longer was. The City had been a
thriving community, a prestigious place where individuals
from the self-aware species of the Cosmos were educated in
all manners of studies by Gemlords who held lifetimes of
experiences. From artists, to scientists, to military
cadets, and all other manner of jobs and pursuits, the best
and brightest of offworld natives were given the benefit of
the combined knowledge of those who had stepped from the
Vortex Mirror. For their part, the Gemlords promoted the
preservation of the Balance of the Cosmos through both their
teaching and their offworld missions. Now it was all ashes,
the work of millennia undone...

Dark brown eyes as dark as night narrowed, the melancholy
giving way to a hot flare of rage. *It shall be that way
again,* he vehemently told himself. *Like the legendary
phoenix, Lithos and my people shall rise from the ashes...*
He was the Guardian of Space. He would not be so easily
beaten by the forces of Chaos. He'd show them all,
beginning with the Senshi that had abandoned his people to
their fate.

*The Senshi...* Turning to the right, the dark lord gazed at
each of the figures held securely to the chairs he'd
arranged. It took little effort and energy to keep them
under control, both telekinetically -- manifesting as
invisible chains that wrapped around their forms and
fastened them to their seat -- and telepathically, his will
dominating them, keeping them from regaining consciousness.
Even so, it was a drain on his limited energy to keep them
under control in such a manner, and he needed that energy
for other matters. It was a drain that would be more than
made up for by what he could take from them. A cold smile
crossed his lips as he thought about the as-yet-untapped
power awaiting him there, energy derived from the planets
each Senshi represented.

His gaze finally settled on the redheaded warrioress there
in the middle of the row of chairs, and that unnerving smile
gave way to an expression of frigid rage. Crossing the
distance between them, Obsidian came to a stop before the
Dragon Senshi, taking in the details of her costume with a
long, lingering stare. Starting with her dark green boots,
continuing on up her black bodysuit, over the golden
pauldrons and ivory-fanged brooches holding the gold cape in
place, and finally coming to rest on her circlet-adorned
forehead, the Guardian of Space glared at the
still-unconscious woman. While the other Senshi were guilty
of abandoning his people to their fate, *this* one had
committed a crime far worse; she had *dared* to attack the
Western Commander, had dared to seriously injure *his* Water
Warrior, the youngest of *his* people, and had dared to do
the same to *his* Fire Warrior as well. To strike out at
them was essentially to strike out at himself. No matter
who the hell she was, he would not let such actions go
without consequences.

But before he dealt with that, he would at least make the
nuisance something useful.

A cruel little smile curled up the corners of his mouth as
he stalked towards the still-helpless redhead. Standing
before her, he gazed down at her unmoving form, an
expression of contempt on his face, mind registering the
details of her costume.

To the right, next to the black stone throne, the surface of
the Vortex Mirror rippled and then flowed around the
emerging twin forms that stepped through it. Nearly
identical forms, one crowned with flowing violet hair and
the other topped by a short mane of golden locks, came to a
halt before the Mirror as Ametrine looked over the contents
of the round chamber. Spying their ruler standing nearby,
both the lord and the lady blinked in surprise at the sight
that greeted them. Six chairs lined up near the table
covered with the sad remains of the other Gemlords, all but
two empty, the others having a still, female form sitting
upon them. "My lord?" Lord Ametrine called out, Lady
Ametrine looking about the Hall for any sign of the other
Lithosians.

"Sailor Andromeda was returned safely to her homeworld, I
take it?" the Guardian of Space asked, tearing his gaze away
from the captive woman.

"Of course, sir," the male half of the dual Gemlord replied,
the feminine part frowning in slight puzzlement. Of the
others, there was no trace; not even their auras indicated
that they were in attendance elsewhere within the Tower.

"We left her lying on the ground in a forested park on the
outskirts of their imperial capital," Lady Ametrine added,
both halves reflecting the disappointment in not having the
dashing Air Warrior around.

"Good." Obsidian regarded the twin bodies of the Gemlord
there for a long moment. Turning his gaze back to the
unconscious Senshi, he lightly tapped a fingertip against
his lips. "I have something more for you to do, Lord and
Lady Ametrine..."

"What might that be, my lord?" the violet-haired female
queried, her amber eyes scanning over the odd-looking
arrangement before the dark-clad ruler. Something about the
entire setup bothered Ametrine -- why would Obsidian have
those females sitting there like that, all of them obviously
insensate at the moment -- but they didn't have the courage
to come right out and ask the Guardian of Space what was
going on.

"Travel to Phobos Deimos Castle and restore the Sacred Flame
of Mars," Obsidian replied, once more turning his dark brown
gaze back to the dual Lithosian.

"Did you say 'restore'?" Ametrine echoed, both halves
speaking in sync, startled by the request. From what they
knew, the Lord of Lithos had gone to quite a bit of trouble
to disrupt those planetary foci in the first place, though
he had reassured them -- and the other Gemlords -- that such
disruption was a temporary thing. Perhaps they had reached
a point where that particular necessity was no longer
needed?

"I did indeed," the dark-clad lord responded, the deep red
highlights of his nearly black hair shimmering as he nodded
in affirmation. "Following that, I wish you to remain in
Phobos Deimos Castle until my call, after which you shall
travel to Mariner Castle and restore the Blessed Fountain of
Mercury."

Ametrine's hearts leapt in joy at the news. So it truly was
a temporary thing, and now the time had come to set things
back to how they should be. Truth be told, the young
Lithosian had been bothered by the tampering with the
planetary foci, and this made them feel better. "Gladly,
sir," the lady acknowledged, a brilliant smile crossing her
face.

"But sir, don't we need the princesses to get into the
chambers?" the lord asked, looking perplexed, recalling the
narrative of events given them soon after their
resurrection.

Obsidian shook his head in the negative, the golden circlet
underneath his dark bangs catching the light of the
illumination crystals. "No. With the foci disrupted, the
chambers stand unsecured. You shall be able to teleport
into them with little effort once I provide you with the
mental image to follow."

"I see," Lord Ametrine responded, a smile crossing his
youthful face as well, relief alighting his amethystine-hued
eyes. "It shall then be our pleasure to do so, my lord."

"Good. Now open your mind so that I may give you the visual
you require," the Guardian of Space gently commanded.
Sensing the young Gemlord dropping their mental shielding,
he proceeded to transfer to them what each of the chambers
looked like and where they could be found from his memory.
Once that was accomplished, he kept the mental contact open
for a moment longer, giving them the knowledge they would
need to undo the tampering each focus had suffered at the
hands of the Elementals. **Do you think you have it,
Ametrine?**

**Yes, my lord,** the single mind housed within twin forms
answered, their psychic presence registering on Obsidian's
senses as a shimmering star half violet and half golden
yellow.

**Very well. You have your orders,** he said, shutting the
telepathic link between them. He then gestured toward the
Mirror near which the lord and the lady were standing, a
movement indicative of dismissal.

Moving as one, their dual forms synchronized perfectly,
Ametrine bowed their heads and brought their right arms up,
hands clenched in fists, resting them over their hearts in a
respectful salute. Then they turned away, stepping back
toward the eerily reflective surface of the Symbol of Space.
The Mirror shimmered and rippled once more as the young
Lithosian departed from the circular chamber.

Good. Obsidian smiled coolly, watching as the
seven-foot-tall black stone Symbol regained the reflection
of the Hall on its surface. For what he was about to do, he
needed the South and the West in balance, and this would
also give him access to the energy held by the Senshi of
Mars and Mercury. They were partially responsible for the
disaster that had overwhelmed Lithos; they would help
restore that which had been swept away, whether they liked
it or not.

Glancing back down at the Dragon Senshi, Obsidian reached
out with a hand and placed it on the crown of her red-haired
head. Time to get some use out of *this* one. Closing his
eyes and bowing his head, he reached down into himself to
the still center waiting there. Feeling the detached
calmness sweep over him, he then extended his awareness into
the woman, searching for the fountain of energy that he knew
must be within her.

She resisted; even unconscious and under the control of a
psychic will not easily countered, the Senshi somehow
managed to struggle against the silent invasion. This one
felt different, somehow, the power within much less than
would be expected. Perhaps something endemic to her
species, with its curious mix of mammalian and reptilian
characteristics and higher metabolism, or perhaps something
related to how the powers of her planetary patron
manifested. Either way, the net result was the same:
Obsidian couldn't find where exactly her Senshi energy lay
in order to tap into it. Not one to pass an opportunity,
the Guardian of Space settled on taking what energy he
could, focusing on that of her own person

It was the least she could do to repay him and the Western
Commander for the crimes she dared commit.

The power reluctantly came to him, tendrils of golden light
that clung to her person and twined about itself as he
pulled it away. Even so, he was the master here, gathering
up the golden light into a sphere held within him. Unlike
the energy from Sailor Andromeda, this didn't diffuse
throughout his form; the glowing ball of power was the best
compromise, and it would accomplish what he needed. Yanking
from her the last of her power, he opened his eyes, frowning
slightly. It figured she didn't give him the pleasure he'd
experienced in taking energy from the Andromedian warrior;
this one seemed to be one perversely contrary. *What *does*
Nephrite see in this one?* he thought, his frown deepening
while his mind turned to other things revealed from his
sojourn into her awareness.

She saw the Northern Commander as her own, her love for him
making her feel as if she had some exclusive claim on him.
That piece of information was one of the stray things
Obsidian discovered as he had poked around, searching for
the connection to her planetary powers, information that
made him thoroughly irritated. Nephrite belonged to him,
along with the others of the Elemental Guard, above and
beyond everything else. That the Earth Warrior was missing
from the Binding was something that needed to be remedied as
soon as possible. For millennia, he had allowed them their
independence and relationships, knowing that such were
necessary to their well being as individuals, but even then,
there was the understanding that he and his mission to the
Cosmos came first above all.

Nephrite loved this one. That too was something very
evident in what memories he'd touched as he'd scanned her
being. Though normally that wouldn't be a problem, Obsidian
knew instantly that Sailor Draco would be a distraction to
the Earth Warrior. Something had happened, turning Nephrite
into a human and tearing him from the ancient web of which
he had been a part, and the Guardian of Space needed the
Northern Commander to return. They couldn't be whole
without him. No, he would never let Draco take Nephrite away
from them. It would be like cutting off an arm and handing
it to the redheaded warrioress -- and just as unthinkable.

The energy he had gleaned from her wouldn't go far. Another
irritation, one that rubbed him raw. There she was,
obviously clothed in her Senshi form, and yet he could not
sense the power within her that he knew she must have.
Before he could act further, however, the sensation of a
number of approaching auras impinged upon his awareness.
The others were returning, all of them, including the
emerald presence of the Earth Warrior.

A smile made a corner of his mouth tug up. He had been so
focused on gathering together the tools for what he needed
that he had all but ignored the gaping hole left within by
the absence of the Northern Commander. They could be
complete now; he'd be willing to forgive Nephrite anything,
including ignoring his Call, so long as the auburn-haired
stargazer rejoined the Binding that tied them to one
another. Eyes as dark as Space itself looked toward the
flat plane of the Mirror as Obsidian awaited their arrival.

A thrill of emotion washed over Nephrite as he emerged back
into reality through the familiar gateway of the Vortex
Mirror, emotion that was hard to qualify as one or another.
Part of him was joyful beyond all expression to be doing
this, coming *home* after such a long exile, an exile more
of the soul than of time. Another part was apprehensive,
hesitant to face the ruler that meant so much to him and the
other Lithosians. What would he say to one guilty of both
the ultimate act of betrayal as well as disobeying a Call to
return? That he had good reason to ignore the summons did
little to quell his nervousness.

Feeling the princess and the teenager still pressed against
his athletic form as he became once more aware of the
surrounding physical reality, Nephrite swiftly telepathed to
them both, **Pretend that you are under my control. Perhaps
I can buy us all some time.**

Though he could sense a hesitant acceptance from Amy and an
indignant flare of anger from Princess Venus, he smiled as
the two females took on vacant stares and slack expressions.
Though he may not be able to keep them completely from
whatever plans Lord Obsidian may have for them, at least he
could give them some sort of a chance, should an opportunity
arise. Gently pushing them forward with the bulk of his
black-clad body as he stepped forward, Nephrite moved away
from the Mirror in order to give room for the others
following him.

Nephrite gazed about the Hall, the stillness within it a
poignant reminder of the destruction he had helped wrought,
while the remaining Gemlords emerged from the shimmering
surface of the Mirror one by one. Jade-green eyes noticed
the low table; the Northern Commander's face paled slightly
at seeing that table covered with the dead gray stones of
their race. The reality of what he had helped bring about
virtually slapped him in the face, and he wondered if the
other three of the Elemental Guard felt much the same way
every time they looked upon that morbid sight.

"Welcome home," Obsidian called out to his Gemlords, a smile
-- for once a warm one -- on his face, "especially to you,
Commander Nephrite." The smile betrayed his feelings; he
was certainly glad to see the auburn-haired man back in the
Tower where he belonged, though the sight of the Earth
Warrior in his ebony and emerald uniform put him on edge,
gave the Guardian of Space a vaguely uneasy feeling. "Do
you have the Amber?" he asked, dark eyes sweeping over the
forms of the half-dozen Lithosians there upon the
three-tired dais.

"I do, sir," Nephrite gently said, slipping a hand into his
jacket pocket and pulling the stone from where he had placed
it. Holding it up in a white-gloved hand, the
deep-golden-hued gem sparkled faintly in the light of the
illumination crystals.

"Adamant, bring it here to me."

"A moment, sir," Nephrite faintly protested, closing his
hand into a fist around the stone even as the raven-haired
Overt Operations Commander stepped up next to him and held
out a hand.

"What is it, Nephrite?" Obsidian asked, a slight expression
of annoyance settling on his handsome features.

"I was told that this was needed in order to restore Lithos
and our people--"

"Yes, that's true," the Guardian of Space snapped. "As is
your return to the Binding to which you belong. Surely you
cannot fault me for doing what is necessary to achieve
this?"

"No, of course not, sir," the Earth Warrior responded,
shaking his head. His crimes against the Terrans, of
stealing their energy when they had reached their
once-in-a-lifetime peak, and his crimes against Princess
Jupiter, of deceiving her and robbing her of all but her
most basic powers, paled in comparison to what had befallen
those who had counted on him to help safeguard the very
Cosmos from Chaos itself. Gesturing toward the chairs
occupied by insensate females, he frowned, "But must the
Senshi be involved?"

"I have no other choice. I merely wish to borrow them long
enough to have the power needed to work this ritual," the
dark lord answered, reaching out to once more rest a hand
atop Sailor Draco's head.

"Surely the Mirror--"

"Cannot gather energy as efficiently as usual here in the
Vortex itself!" Obsidian shouted, interrupting the other
man. How *dare* he question what needed to be? "I don't
like it, but it is *necessary*. Chaos has had enough of a
head start." How could he not see that he was only doing
what *must* be done? "The Amber, Nephrite!"

That last was delivered in a tone that made the Northern
Commander internally wince. Though he was his own man,
apparently given the free will that was the gift to the
mortal races of the universe, the habits of millennia
weighed heavily upon him. Opening his fist, he sighed and
dropped the stone into Adamant's waiting hand.

Without a word, the tall, raven-haired warrior gripped the
golden gemstone in his hand, starting down the dais toward
the ruler of them all. He remained as silent as he stopped
before Obsidian, holding out the Amber of Winds to him,
sable gaze staying focused on the Lord of Lithos as the
other man took the stone from the palm of his outstretched
hand.

Nephrite gently pushed the two females forwards again, a
signal for them to precede him to the Zodiac-carpeted floor.
Both of them still play-acting being under the Gemlord's
control and internally quivering in nervousness at the
developing situation, neither Princess Venus nor Amy broke
character as they seemingly shambled down the three steps.
Behind them, he could hear Garnet and the remaining
Elementals descend the stairs as well; Kunzite and Jadeite
appearing within his field of vision to his left while
Zoisite and Garnet appeared to the right, the Earth Warrior
and his "guests" ended up flanked by the others.

Obsidian grinned in elation, holding up the richly hued
stone, watching the play of golden highlights within its
depths as he inspected it. At last, he had the keys needed
to forge the link between Energy and Matter, the bridge he
and the Elementals required to reform Lithos from its
shattered remains and reenergize the remaining soulstones of
his people. "Well done," he murmured, words of praise
intended for them all.

Now all he needed was to bring the central stone into being.
But first, he had one piece of unfinished business to which
he must attend. Lowering his hand, he slipped the Amber
into a pocket of his dark-colored pants, adding it to the
other three he had collected. Stepping to the side,
Obsidian then raised his hand imperiously, pointing towards
the princess and the Terran standing there dazed before the
Earth Warrior. Concentrating upon the two females,
extending his considerable will, a blackish-green aura
surrounded that hand as he wrapped them both in a
telekinetic field under his command.

It took all of their will to not start shouting in protest
as what felt like a giant, invisible hand grabbed them and
started dragging them toward the line of chairs. Swallowing
down her fright, Amy closed her sapphire eyes and went with
the inexorable force, her steps crossing the carpeting in a
jerky stride. Princess Venus kept her eyes open, however,
resisting the tug of the dark-haired man's power as best she
could while maintaining the ruse of being held docile by
Nephrite's mental control. Deep inside, the sunshine-blond
royal resented her current treatment.

A pained expression on her lovely face, Zoisite turned her
violet-blue gaze from the disturbing sight. Looking at her
brother, she lifted a hand to her lips and nibbled nervously
on the well-manicured thumbnail. Just from his stance and
the look of disbelief and muted outrage on his face, the
Water Warrior certainly didn't need her sensitive empathy to
know that Garnet was having trouble holding himself in
check.

Jadeite folded his arms over his yellow-clad chest, amber
eyes betraying no emotion at all as he observed the
telekinetically-forced march of the young females from the
floor near the dais to the pair of empty, waiting chairs.
If this was what it took, so be it. His obligation to the
powers that be was to uphold Balance, doing so under the
direction of the Guardian of Space. That the methods being
used were questionable were probably more manifestations of
the unusual circumstances, though the apparent obsession
their ruler had in fixing the problem did bother the Air
Warrior to a degree.

Pale-lavender eyes hooded beneath half-closed lids, his
stance relaxed and only the faintest of frowns revealing his
inward turmoil, Kunzite silently watched as the blue-haired
girl and the golden princess for whom he'd once bore a deep
affection were telepathically manhandled into the seats
waiting for them. This wasn't right, nor was it honorable.
Perhaps it was time to speak up and add his voice to the
respectful protestations after all. But even as he thought
carefully about what to say to the Guardian, he felt
something shift within himself. Startled, he turned his
focus inward, searching for what was wrong.

*No, not wrong,* he suddenly decided, realizing what it was
he felt. The dissonance was gone; the constant raw ache
within him that was there ever since he had tampered with
the Flame of Mars was silenced. Eyes widening in surprise,
he looked to Obsidian, puzzled. "My lord?"

"You feel it also, do you not?" the Guardian softly asked,
left hand still resting on the head of the unconscious
Sailor Draco. "Ametrine has restored the Flame, setting the
South back into balance. Now that I have Mercury safely
confined, I shall send them on to fix the Fountain."

Zoisite dropped her hand, mouth agape in startlement. Then
a bright smile crossed her face, a joyful expression in her
eyes. She was right to trust him; he promised he'd restore
the focus when it was no longer necessary to keep the
Mercurian powers from being reached. "Thank you, sir," she
gushed, her happiness quite evident.

"I promised it would be a temporary thing, Commander,"
Obsidian reminded her, glancing over at the youngest of his
people. "And I also need the Quarters in balance to do what
is required to restore our poor shattered planet." He
turned his dark-brown gaze to the Earth Warrior; too proud
to give him a beseeching look, he gestured to the
astrologer. "And that means the North as well..."

Nephrite raised a white-gloved hand, resting it against his
chin in a thoughtful gesture as the Guardian's words hung
expectantly in the hushed stillness of the Hall of the
Mirror. Was this the ultimate goal of having this second
chance? To once more step into his role as the Elemental
Warrior of Earth, this time of his own free will? *What
should I do?* he asked himself, pondering the weighty
question. Jade-green eyes closing, he searched within.

He could sense them all, and yet the loneliness, the sense
of *separation* he'd felt ever since accepting to return to
life, clung to him with a relentlessness that disturbed him.
He could once more hear the endless song of the stars, could
feel the flow of their energy as they executed their precise
dances, and yet he was no longer a part of that but rather
only an outside observer. The powers of Healing and Earth
were at his command, but he was only a conduit, not the
Element made flesh. Like them, he could not be whole
outside of the Binding that had defined his existence for
millennia.

Even so, Obsidian held captive the love of his life,
intending on using her as some sort of battery to power a
ritual intended to restore planet and people. Not only
that, but he planned the same for the very princess he had
once loved and betrayed, one of those many victims he had
left in his wake for being foolishly tricked into taking the
side of Chaos. He owed them *something*, some effort to
make up to them what he had done -- but he also owed the
Guardian of Space and the other Gemlords something as well.

In the end, the choice was simple enough. Given who and
what he was, there truly could be no other way. If Siolan's
love was as real as she claimed, she would understand and
perhaps forgive him for putting the entire Cosmos before
her. Casting aside his mental shielding, his athletic form
becoming outlined by a shimmering aura of silver-green
starlight and the symbol of his Element shining within the
heart of the jade cabochon of his silver circlet, Nephrite
mentally reached out to the other four. **I am the Warrior
of Earth, he who stands at the Northern Gate at the place of
the midnight sun. I am the Foundation, upon which,
together, we are the One...**

They were there, meeting him halfway, brilliant stars of
amber-yellow, violet-pink, violet-blue and blackish-green.
Keeping himself wide open, he surrendered to their presence,
willingly accepted the ancient bonds that tied him to them,
these pieces of himself. Tilting his head back, his auburn
mane sliding down the surface of his ebony cape, Nephrite
gently sighed as the loneliness was banished, a feeling of
wholeness washing over him. This is where he belonged, as
it was always meant to be.

Garnet watched, his uneasiness growing, as the whole of the
Elemental Guard began to shimmer, their distinctive auras
lining their physical forms. With a sinking feeling, he
realized what they were doing. That fool Nephrite had
rejoined them. Couldn't he see that there was something
*not right*? With luck, perhaps all that was wrong was
whatever imbalance the lack of the Earth Warrior had caused;
the redheaded spy was willing to concede that, should that
turn out to be the case. Even so, he couldn't help but feel
as if Nephrite had just tossed away the one thing with which
he truly had to bargain. Lips pressed together in an
expression of muted outrage, his violet eyes scanned over
Obsidian and the Elementals as their outfits began to
change.

As one, the shimmering auras faded away, leaving each one of
the Gemlords involved clad in ebony uniforms that matched
that of Nephrite. Where his was emerald green, however, the
others had other hues, ones that reflected their signature
colors. Jadeite's uniform was lined in orange-yellow,
Zoisite's in ultramarine, while Kunzite's sported lavender
lining and Obsidian's a green so dark it looked nearly
black.

*Only one thing left to do.* The Guardian of Space coldly
smiled as he turned his attention back to the Dragon Senshi.
Next to him, to his right, he could feel the eyes of the two
conscious females upon him. That they never were under
Nephrite's control -- a bit of information gathered the
moment the Earth Warrior became a part of the Binding --
mattered little, since he knew they could do nothing with
him holding them there. Let them watch; part of him got a
perverse glee out of knowing that the ones partially
responsible for the fall of his beloved world would see what
he had in store for them. From the four gems he had upon
his person, he would need to craft a fifth to represent the
Center, and to do that, he would need more energy than the
pitiful amount he'd been able to glean from Sailor Draco so
far. Somewhere in there, she had a connection to her
planetary patron.

Looking amongst themselves, the Gemlords arranged around the
circular room frowned as their ruler's intent was made
known. Pale eyes narrowing slightly, Kunzite felt once
again the sharp pang of need as he thought about how it had
been to be one drawing into himself the power of others.
Though the obsession had faded with time, seeing the one at
the very Center of their Binding preparing to do the very
same thing made the burning hollowness impinge upon his
awareness. Shifting his stance almost imperceptively, he
brought his will to bear against the dark desire. So
focused on what he was doing, Kunzite almost missed the
softly mocking laughter that sounded in the back of his
mind.

*You are mine, all of you -- forever.*

A cold chill shivered down the Fire Elemental's spine.
Inwardly gasping, the only outward sign of his startlement
and abrupt suspicion being the sudden widening of his eyes,
Kunzite stared at the Guardian of Space. Metallia's voice
sounded so smug, so sure... *What do you mean?* he mentally
challenged.

The silver-haired Gemlord received no answer from the dark
empress's mocking voice, hearing only another peal of
laughter. Nor did he need one as what she meant suddenly
became painfully obvious.

*Your power is *mine*,* Obsidian inwardly shouted, plunging
his awareness brutally into the mind of the unconscious
Senshi before him. If he had to tear her to pieces, he
*would* find that link to her patron's energy. *I will not
be denied!* He had every right to do so; she was only one
Senshi among thousands, while he and his people were unique.
She had forfeited herself the moment she decided to harm the
youngest of his people, one of the very pieces of himself
dedicated to the preservation of the Cosmos. As she had
brutalized the Water Warrior's body, so would he brutalize
her. Expression grim and his psychic hold on her
unrelenting, the Lord of Lithos proceeded to search for that
fountain of energy that must be in there, yanking aside
those pieces of her personality that stood in his way with
little regard toward preserving the integrity of her mind.

Under his hand, straining against the telekinetic bonds that
held her to her chair, the athletic form of Sailor Draco
arched upwards in agony, a silent scream contorting her
features into a mask of suffering. That same horrendous
pain lanced across the awareness of the surrounding
Gemlords. Zoisite clutched her head in sympathetic agony,
her sensitive empathy drowning in the sensations of a mind
being violently shredded, instantly on the verge of being
noisily ill. All of the color drained out of Nephrite's
face, his mind not quite able to register the truth of what
he was sensing, of acknowledging what was happening to the
woman he loved. Equally stunned were Jadeite and Adamant,
the two staring at the morbid sight in profound disbelief.

"*No*!" Kunzite shouted, his deep voice tearing through the
Hall as the enormity of the truth swept over him. He could
sense it, that familiar burning flame of black fire, there
in the Center of the very cornerstone of Lithosian society,
the ebony conflagration consuming the Guardian from the
inside out. Now that he knew it was *there*, the feel of it
was unmistakable. **Metallia has him!** he telepathed to
the other Gemlords, giving them the image of what his senses
revealed.

"*Obsidian*!" yelled Garnet at nearly the same moment, his
voice full of horror and outrage. Shoving a hand under his
leather jacket, he pulled out his trusty Desert Eagle from
the leather holster fastened against his upper left chest.
Used to his role as a private investigator on Terra, using
such weaponry had become second nature to the young redhead;
knowing only that somehow the Guardian of Space needed to be
stopped, brandishing the impressive handgun was the spy's
first thought. From his link to the ill and panicked
Zoisite, as well as Kunzite's terse announcement, he knew
what they were facing; somehow Metallia had gotten her claws
into the one that ruled them all -- confirming the nagging
suspicion Garnet had had ever since he'd heard from Lord
Obsidian what had happened between the Guardian's awakening
and the telling of his tale. The matte black finish of the
weapon shining dully in the light of the Hall, Garnet
thumbed off the safety and pulled the trigger, bracing for
the recoil of the fifty-caliber gun. The roar of the
rapidly fired rounds tore through the sanctified atmosphere
of the circular chamber, the casings of the spent rounds
falling haphazardly to litter the carpeted floor. Perhaps,
just perhaps, such a drastic measure could sever whatever
connection there was between the twisted presence of the
dark empress of the Negaverse and their beloved lord.

The first bullet struck home, sending the black-uniformed
body of the Guardian of Space staggering back. Black blood
stained the carpeting in a spray of ebony drops. The
contact broken, Draco's body slumped limply in the chair as
a sphere of black radiance flared up around Obsidian, the
remaining bullets freezing in place the moment they came
into contact with the dark lord's shielding. The lead slugs
floated there, impotent, then fell to the black-splattered
flooring as the solid barrier of energy disappeared. The
dull silver pieces of metal bounced slightly against the
carpeting while the wounded Guardian's form whirled to face
the source of the shots.

Searing agony burned through him, only fueling his raging
anger. It was almost incomprehensible that Garnet --
*Garnet*! The one who owed his exalted position and power to
Obsidian's recognition of his potential when others had no
cause to believe -- would have turned on him as well. *The
damned puppy hasn't learned a *thing* from our conversation
in my private chambers!* Able to only focus on the blinding
rage, the deep sense of utter betrayal, the sudden
overwhelming *need* to dominate the situation *utterly*, the
enraged Lord of Lithos pulled together his remaining power,
never once noticing that dark tendrils of twisted energy
flooded in as well in response to his furious marshaling of
power.

Violet eyes widened in shock as it registered that not only
were most of his bullets stopped, the one strike Garnet got
wasn't even slowing down the oldest Lithosian at all.
Hearing the nearly-feral growl that filled the confines of
the black-walled chamber and noting the hand violently
thrust in his direction, the redheaded spy burst into
motion; slamming the emptied Desert Eagle back into his
shoulder holster in the same fluid motion that launched him
toward the nearest cover the furnishings of the Hall had to
offer, Garnet threw nearly all the energy he had available
into a violet-red hued force field that snapped into
existence around him.

Though only guided by the single upper extremity still
obeying the commands of his mind, his right arm dangling
useless from the damage caused by the path of the bullet
through him, the beam of intense, black energy that erupted
from Obsidian's hand registered as a veritable tsunami of
destructiveness to the senses of the remaining Gemlords.
The pain had only fanned the flames higher; the Elementals
could feel their Center burning away under that awful ebony
bonfire, the hungry destruction reaching out towards them at
an ever-increasing rate. Lancing across the distance, its
composition far more of Metallia than of the keeper of the
Vortex Mirror, the jet-hued power smashed into the fleeing
Gemlord with a force that flung him hard into the curved
obsidian wall. A sickening crunching sound accompanied the
solid *thump*; Zoisite choked back a sob as her beloved
brother's mental presence suddenly dimmed to nearly nothing
at all there in the back of her mind.

Black blood continuing to drip from his ruined shoulder onto
the intricate knotwork design there at the edge of the
central circle of the Zodiac-decorated carpet, Obsidian
watched in pain and satisfaction both as a deep-red stone
with violet fire within -- all that remained of the
traitorous Gemlord that had dared attack him within the very
sanctity of the Hall of the Mirror -- dropped to rest
against where floor and wall joined. Lifting his hand,
making an imperious gesture, his mind reached out and took
hold of the fallen stone by the power of his will. The
darkly glittering soulstone lifted up into the air, held
aloft by the dark lord's telekinesis. *Never again will you
dare to oppose my will,* Obsidian mentally hissed, an angry,
bitter hatred filling him as he stared at the deep red
soulstone rising from the floor. *I have had *enough* of my
children not obeying me. I have been too soft a ruler, too
indulgent. Never again will I make that particular mistake!*

As Zoisite watched the sanguine jewel rise from the floor of
the Hall she *knew*, with every fiber in her slender body,
that she could not allow Obsidian to take custody of
Garnet's soulstone. **He means to shatter his stone!** she
frantically called out to the others, begging for their
support. Love and duty overcoming her fear, she leapt
forward, was surrounded by a swirl of cherry petals and
disappeared, teleporting to close the fifteen-foot gap
between herself and the floating gem. A scant instant later
the petals burst forth again. Zoisite reappeared and
snatched the deep red sphere from the air.

**We've lost the Center!** Jadeite grimly reported, his
telepathed voice broadcast to all save Obsidian himself.
That the Guardian would so unthinkingly decide to
irretrievably eliminate a Gemlord was far and away enough to
confirm what their senses were registering.

**We must contain the infection,** Nephrite responded, not
daring to look at where the unmoving form of Sailor Draco
remained. There was no time to dwell on something like
that, no matter the import to himself. Above all else, the
Cosmos came first; for Metallia to have control of the
Vortex Mirror was something that must be prevented at all
costs.

**Adamant! Center!** Kunzite shouted, his tall form already
on the move, silver-edged ebony cape flaring out behind him.
Ages-old instinct overrode the events of recent times as the
ingrained trust the Fire Commander had for his fellow
Gemlord washed away any doubt that Adamant would refuse the
command. Even as he telepathed the order, trusting the
raven-haired warrior to react according to endless drills in
the past, he sent along other orders as rapid-fire
thought-images alone. They could take advantage of the
construction of the Hall itself, but they would need to
place themselves accordingly.

Around him, the Air Warrior, Earth Warrior and Water Warrior
were also on the move, guided by the wisdom of their field
commander. Locating the section of the carpeting depicting
Leo the Lion, Kunzite teleported there, reaching into
himself to tap the fiery potential of his Element. Long
auburn hair and silver-edged ebony cape streaming behind his
athletic form, Nephrite sprinted for the northern arc of the
room's embrace, seeking the segment of the carpet dedicated
to Taurus the Bull, then making the teleportational hop.
For Jadeite, it was an easy enough matter to take the few
swift steps needed to take up a stance upon the pattern
depicting Aquarius the Water-Bearer on the eastern side of
the circular carpet. Zoisite, just completing her leap to
grab her sibling's soulstone, envisioned the pattern of
Scorpio the Scorpion woven into the circular carpet and made
the jump, her form disappearing and then reappearing within
a swirl of cherry blossom petals.

Guided by the Fire Warrior's images even as he responded to
the call to toss his mind and soul open to the Elemental
Guard, Adamant pulled his gemstone quarterstaff into
existence and retreated to the very middle of the Zodiac
carpeting. He needed to remain only long enough to
establish contact, after which he could retreat from the
area Kunzite wished to confine. There was no room for
thoughts of treason or mistrust; these few instants held the
fate of Lithos and perhaps the Cosmos in a precarious
balance, and there was only one thing to be done: act.
Turning the glimmering six-foot-long weapon perpendicular to
the floor, the raven-haired Gemlord jabbed the stone staff
into the heart of the knotwork pattern.

The woven pattern began to glow, a fiery light that ran
along the strands from the center outward, as the latent
energy of the very Element of the Center was tapped by the
sibling of one attuned to it. A thrill of pure power ran
through Adamant's tall form as he and the Elementals began
to shift their Binding onto him. He would be the bridge
between them; he would be their Center while they struggled
to save their lord from the twisted clutches of Metallia.
Though unlike Obsidian he could contribute no power to the
Binding itself he would be the keystone of its formation,
allowing the four Elements to become a thing greater than
any single one could be on their own. This was their only
hope.

Obsidian spun around to face the west, hand pointing
accusingly at the Water Warrior. "Give me that stone!
*Now*!" he demanded, his baritone voice far harsher than had
ever been heard before. Within his dark brown eyes
glimmered not only an unsettling insanity but also the full
power of the Mirror itself, bolstered by the twisted energy
of Chaos.

Even as her hand tightened protectively over Garnet's stone,
Zoisite felt the sudden shift of her Element, the nagging
pain and unsettling sense of imbalance fading away. Out
there in the distance, Ametrine must have restored the
Blessed Fountain of Mercury. Bowing her head, she reached
deep into herself -- and found a tranquil strength unlike
any other. Her body glimmered violet-blue, the form
shifting liquidly underneath the glow, taking on decidedly
masculine characteristics. Raising his head and opening his
eyes, the angelic youth that was Zoisite's male form quietly
met the unbalanced gaze of the Guardian of Space. "No,
Obsidian," his melodic tenor replied.

Simultaneously, the other three locked into the restored
Binding, their respective Elements coming into balance with
the peaceful potence of the West. Pulling his weapon from
the carpeting and letting it dissipate into thin air,
Adamant teleported from the central circle. Reappearing
near the edge of the Hall of the Mirror, taking cover behind
some of the furniture decorating the chamber, the
raven-haired warrior turned his attention to watching. He
would need to be ready in case something happened and the
patched Binding failed.

A snarled curse erupted from Obsidian's throat. Recovering
almost immediately from his shock at having Zoisite defy
him, he threw himself open to the seemingly limitless energy
that was there for the taking, channeling the terrible power
into a force he knew would cripple even the Elemental Prince
of Water. A sickly black aura flared around him as the
force beam burst into existence from his out-stretched hand.

Pillars of brightly-hued radiance erupted from the sections
of carpeting upon which the four Lithosians were standing,
reaching up to the domed ceiling. The sections of the
carpeting glowing with a light of the Quarter's signature
hue and the corresponding constellations appearing on the
ceiling above, the four became quite literally tied to
heaven and earth at the four corners of the World. Within
the heart of the pillars, the Elementals shifted positions,
their hands swiftly moving out to either side; with no time
for the formalized ritual, they worked from rote, pulling
the shielding into place by will alone. White light
sheeted around their insane ruler, a dome of pure energy
encasing him even as the dark power raced toward Zoisite.
The shielding held tightly despite the staggering blast that
slammed against it. Near the curved wall, Adamant recoiled
from a wave of pain; joined to them as he was, he could
*feel* the pressure being exerted against the softly glowing
shielding as if his body was an extension of the energy
field itself.

His presence contained, Obsidian's mental restraints on the
Senshi disappeared, unable to remain once their source of
power was cut. Sailor Draco's limp body fell to the
carpeted floor with a very solid *thud*; their eyes huge at
the fantastic scene unfolding before them in a manner of
seconds, Princess Venus and Amy remained sitting stiffly in
their chairs, uncertain what to do. Next to them, on the
other side of the Dragon Senshi's now-empty seat, the
remaining three females began to stir, their minds no longer
being suppressed into unconsciousness.

So they had turned on him after all, trapping him like a
caged animal. He had given them a chance to right
everything they'd destroyed, and they'd thrown it all away.
Blinding rage consumed the Guardian of Space; his entire
existence was nothing but a swirl of bitterness, hatred,
betrayal and an anger that was beyond any description. He
was their Center; he was the Mirror, the very thing that had
created them from his own essence to further his will within
the Cosmos. Very well. His world was already destroyed, his
people asleep in death; he would destroy them all and start
anew. Power filled him, surrounded him, a seemingly
infinite supply. He would tear it all down and build it
back up, better then before, without the inherent flaws! A
guttural growl filled the Hall as Obsidian gathered together
more energy, his body outlined in an ugly, almost misshapen
aura.

Power crackled in the very atmosphere as the buildup
continued to mount ever higher. Adamant bit back a groan,
guessing their lord's next tactic even as the Elementals
increased their own energy output to meet the expected
attack, reaching deep within as best they could, stranded
within the Vortex as they were.

The energy swiftly increasing was palpable to even human
senses. Coming around, Serena and Princess Jupiter looked
around in utter astonishment, finding themselves in
completely alien surroundings. Raye struggled back to
consciousness, her psychic senses nearly overloaded by the
play of energy surrounding them and the overwhelming sense
of complete and total evil that seemed to permeate the round
chamber. Violet eyes widening, the Shinto priestess turned
her gaze to the source of that *presence*; something --
*anything* -- must be done to stop that evil from spreading.

*Die!* Obsidian mentally shouted, throwing all his power,
his rage, and his despair into a blast that exploded outward
from his dark-clad form. He would sweep all this away, and
start anew, eradicating this horrid mistake from reality.
The twisted energy plowed into the glowing shield with a
force that left all the Gemlords reeling save Adamant; the
raven-haired Lithosian curled up in agony, teeth clenched
against a howl of pain. As the Chaos-born energy struggled
and clawed at the sphere containing it, Adamant shuddered,
feeling as if his very soul was being shredded at by huge,
poisoned talons. The Elementals as well felt the power
trying to rip apart the weave of their force field, each one
fighting off the burning pain, determined to contain the
monster within.

The power climbed ever higher, exceeding even what the four
former generals could pull in from their limited access
within the Vortex. Adamant continued to struggle against
the soul-numbing pain, feeling every strain the shield was
taking. Even so, the five were determined to do what they
could. The very Cosmos perhaps hung in the balance; defeat
now would see them once more plunge into the darkness from
which they had escaped.

No, Metallia would never own them again. Afterwards, none
of the four could say who first chose to shake off the dark
empress's attempts to reclaim them; perhaps it was a mutual
thing. Regardless, something shifted as they remembered
just who and what they were, what they could accomplish
through their will. No, they were not pawns of Chaos, nor
would they ever choose to be that again. They *knew*, with
a blinding clarity, that their former subservience was their
wish; it was now their desire to be free to be their true
selves. They were the Elemental Princes -- Air, Earth, Fire
and Water Incarnate -- and within them they held the
boundless power of those building blocks of existence.
Tranquility swept through them, a peacefulness born of their
discovery. Their movements synchronized, the quartet raised
their heads, surrendering to the very essence of who they
were.

Their forms blurred slightly, as if their bodies were losing
the solidity that bound them to the here and now. With a
rush of light and sound, impressive wings of pure energy
emerged from their forms, rising upwards, then stretching
out to meet tip to tip around the strengthening force field.
Pale amber pinions, almost invisible, howled with the sounds
of the wind sheltered the East, while wings made of shifting
flame that roared with the sound of an inferno illuminated
the South. Shifting, ever liquid feathers of shimmering
blue, their movement sounding like the rush of ocean waves,
stretched out across the West, as dark wings of
emerald-sheened ebony pinions filled the North, their sound
much like the roar of the shaking earth during a great
quake. Struggle against them Chaos might, it no longer had
the power to harm and control them simply because they chose
to not let it have any influence against them.

The agony faded, giving way to something indescribably
wonderful. His breath exhaling in a sigh of both relief and
reverent awe, Adamant could only exist, letting that power
flow through him. It was so right, so *perfect*, the
ultimate rush; he was untouchable, unable to be harmed any
longer by Chaos.

"What are they?" Princess Venus whispered in terrified awe,
not believing her eyes.

"I have no idea," Princess Jupiter replied, her voice as
equally awestruck. "They're obviously more than Negaverse
generals."

"Whatever they are, they need our help," Raye replied.
"They can only contain the evil. Something more must be
done."

"But what can we do?" Serena asked, tearing her gaze from
the overwhelming sight to stare at her friends, fellow
Sailors all.

"The power levels are phenomenal," Amy stated, sapphire eyes
flicking from one angelic being to another. "Far beyond
anything of which we are capable, even as Scouts."

"We need to do something," the raven-haired priestess
insisted. "The evil must not be allowed to escape. It
could mean the end of everything."

"Any suggestions? Anyone?" the sunshine-blond royal asked,
her azure eyes scanning over the almost incomprehensible
scene.

Serena looked around, blue eyes huge. On the verge of
panicking, her mind seized upon the idea of the Imperium
Silver Crystal. Once before, she had faced something
monstrously evil, the spirits and wills of her friends at
her side. A decision made, the golden Crescent Moon Wand
appearing in her hand, the blond teenager reached up to the
jewel-adorned locket fastened to the center of her school
uniform's red bow. Flicking the brooch open, she extracted
from its setting the fascinatingly brilliant, colorless
stone, her body beginning to shimmer with a pale moonlit
radiance. She grew slightly taller, becoming a bit older
and more mature in appearance. Her sailor-like uniform
melted away, being replaced by a royal gown of shimmering
white silk, a shining crescent moon -- horns pointing
upwards -- beginning to glow upon her forehead. "Join me,
my court," Princess Serena gently commanded, placing the
glimmering crystal upon its setting within the Crescent Moon
Wand, "and assist me in offering aid to those fighting this
great evil." She held up the golden wand, azure gaze
focused upon the figure within the dome of brilliant light.

Two hands reached up immediately, joining their princess's
grasp upon the metallic item. Her emerald eyes determined,
Princess Jupiter threw her will into the effort. She
remembered the man Nephrite had been, and the boy he had
become; he deserved her aid in this. Princess Venus wrapped
her hand over that of the Jovian royal. Everyone should be
allowed a second chance, even one who had betrayed her as
badly as Kunzite had. Deep within, part of her would always
admire him, no matter how intense her anger.

Amy grabbed for the Crescent Moon Wand as swiftly as she
could, rippling aqua light washing over her, her body
transforming into that of Princess Mercury. Her friend
Zoisite had tried to help her as best he could; she would do
the same in the name of that friendship forged so long ago.
Next to her, the raven-haired priestess transformed as well;
the stately and regal Princess Mars did this far more to
stop the growing evil than to assist Jadeite, but a
lingering fondness for the Air Warrior was there from their
shared experiences back before the Silver Millennium's fall.

Hearts and minds united, the five princesses sent out a
silent call, a heartfelt prayer to the powers that be for
love and justice to prevail over the twisted evil held back
by the angelic figures of nearly unimaginable power. In
response, the brilliant jewel affixed to the wand held high
began to gleam with a silvery fire that steadily grew in
intensity. In a matter of seconds, it was glowing as
brightly as the white-hot aura that surrounded Adamant's
unmoving form.

The silvery light shifted, flowing down the shaft of the
golden wand. Starting like a gentle argent rain, the
radiance rippled down and across the graceful figure of
Princess Serena. The illumination swirled around the
quintet, the sensation of something vast and eternally
bright sweeping over the assembled royals. Tiny rainbows
shimmered and danced throughout the Hall of the Mirror, that
endless brilliance reflected back from the facets of the
star-bright Imperium Silver Crystal. The light then
coalesced into a figure that overlapped that of the
blond-haired Lunar princess -- one that was taller, mature,
possessing a delicate beauty that would leave most
breathless, her silver hair in that same distinctive style.
The ghost-like woman rested her hand over that of Serena, an
expression of serene strength and limitless love on her
flawless visage, her silver gaze focused on the quintet of
ebony-uniformed Gemlords. She then lowered her translucent,
delicate hand from the Crescent Moon Wand and glided towards
the winged beings holding back the force of destruction.
Even as she took that step, she melted away, leaving the
court of princesses wondering if they had truly seen her.

All of those born from the Mirror could sense the change;
the ebony flames were met by a pure silver fire that flashed
through the weaving and burned against the Chaotic pyre.
The pressure against the shielding eased, leaving the
quartet free to extend their power in other efforts. The
howling maelstrom within their prison swirling to a halt,
its efforts directed elsewhere by the resistance of that
moonlit fire, love guided their souls and wills as they
reached out toward their lost Center. Intellect, Passion,
Intuition, Foundation -- the four Elemental Princes strove
to break through the Chaos that wished to claim the one that
had brought them into being, seeking to touch the true
Guardian of Space. Tendrils of yellow, red, blue and green
energy worked their way past those bonds liberated by the
shining silver power, each commander appealing to his lord
through his unique connection to the Binding.

Nephrite concentrated on lessening the agony their lord felt
from the bullet wound, his Healing power deadening nerves
and beginning to restore traumatized tissues while his
gentle but strong presence begged Obsidian to recall that he
was their stability, the rock upon which all of Lithos
rested. Jadeite's cool and calculating presence appealed to
their lord's sense of reason and logic, reminding him of all
the reasons why things were the way they were and how they
truly worked in an efficient manner in that way. Love and
respect was Zoisite's focus, his soft presence seeking to
remind the Guardian how much each and every one of his
people looked up to him and loved him as a father, a ruler
and a god.

The burning pain faded away; the towering rage suddenly felt
like something beyond his awareness, as if it belonged to
someone else. Voices came to him, shining stars of green,
yellow and blue -- voices that sounded lost and pleading.
Obsidian paused, puzzled by the sensations that sought to
reach him through what remained of the emotional chaos. A
bright violet-pink star reached out, its rays washing over
him.

*Remember...*

A simple word, but with it came a wealth of images, of a
million lifetimes of experiences, good and bad alike.
Laughter, sadness, regal honor and blinding rage, watching
so many firsts go by and the pride he felt in watching his
people -- his children -- interact with the Cosmos they were
there to preserve. He loved and cherished them all...

*What am I doing?* Obsidian abruptly asked himself, mind
recalling the overwhelming obsession to destroy these same
children.

*They disobeyed you. One wounded you -- *you*! -- and the
others want to stop you from making everything right. You
must destroy them for the good of the others! They've been
infected with Chaos.*

The Guardian turned his focus to the four stars that
surrounded him, searching for the twisted presence of Chaos.
It was there... *But not them. They shine as pure and
bright as the day they were born...*

*They are tricking you, concealing their contamination...*

Obsidian ignored the nagging voice, continuing to scan for
the source; in the back of his mind, he felt the Earth
Warrior's Healing force, easing the pain. How could he have
thought to destroy them? They were from his very essence; he
could no more be rid of them then be rid of a hand.

*They will strike against you again when you least expect
it. Destroy them and start over. You will be safer that
way...*

His presence brushed against something, a vile nastiness
that made him recoil. Reaching out, he tentatively examined
it; then felt a chilling numbness as his entire plans came
crashing down. As fragile as glass, everything he'd worked
for since his awakening shattered like so many jagged
shards.

*They* were the contamination, the perfect gems he'd
struggled so hard to recover. The Amber of Winds, the Ruby
of Flames, the Sapphire of Waters and the Emerald of
Forests, the keys to his recovery of world and people, were
tainted with the wrongness of Chaos. Stunned, he just stood
there, the energy he'd been channeling fading to nothingness
as the enormity of the revelation hung over him.

*All for nothing...*

**No, not nothing! Look around you!** Kunzite implored,
swooping in to claim the opportunity that had presented
itself. Obsidian registered as lucid, as *himself* in that
very moment.

**We are free, my lord,** Jadeite added, leaving himself
open to the Guardian's inspection should he wish to confirm
the statement. **The chains of Chaos no longer bind us.**

**Chaos is not a part of us. It is not a part of you,**
Zoisite said. Taking a chance, the Elementals dropped the
force field, the fascinating pinions of their powers fading
away as they stepped forward as a unit, moving closer to
where their ruler stood. **You have the choice, as we
did... Father.**

*Now! Destroy them! They are vulnerable!* The internal
voice shrieked vehemently, yet all Obsidian could do was
look at each one of them, seeing a part of himself reflected
in them. At the Water Warrior's final word, a decidedly
paternal emotion filled him. No, he could never destroy
them. They were his children, and though they may stray, it
was not *right* to condemn them in such a manner.

A hand lightly touched his shoulder above the terrible
wound. Nephrite's low voice whispered, "Let me Heal you, my
lord."

Nodding slightly, giving the Earth Warrior his permission,
Obsidian reached into his pocket with the hand of his
still-working arm and pulled out the quartet of glimmering
jewels. He could see the Chaos within clearly now, deep
shadows within the hearts of the stones. No salvation lay
there, only complete annihilation of all that he held dear.
How could he have made such a mistake?

*That voice...* As the Northern Commander's soothing power
flowed through him, he could see what they saw, the ebony
flames attempting to consume the Center. Realization dawned
on him, provoking not a cold fury but rather an unshakable
sense of *self*.

The end came not violently, but softly; a single choice
straight from the heart and the ebony fire could touch him
no more. Opening his hand, he let the gemstones fall to the
floor. Metallia had tricked him, manipulating his thoughts
and emotions in such a way as to promote making him a tool
of that which he struggled against. But he was the Guardian
of Space, the Mirror Incarnate. The dark empress could only
affect him if he chose to let her do so. Aware of her
machinations, he rejected them.

Near the curved wall of the Hall, the barely conscious
Adamant smiled in relief. Elegant form slowly crumpling to
the floor, the smile lingered on his face as he felt
Obsidian once again take his place at the Center of the very
cornerstone of their culture. The energies shifted away
from him and back to where they belonged, leaving him
feeling oddly hollow. Pain nagged at him, his body suddenly
aware of the damage channeling that much energy had created;
he could already tell that he would not survive this as he
closed his ebony eyes. He had never been meant to be a
conduit for that much power for even that brief of a time;
the energy had literally consumed him from the inside out,
though will alone had kept him going, his desire to not fail
stronger than his failing body. *A good death...* he
thought as consciousness faded away. *I have touched
Divinity...* The blackness overtook him then, his form
vanishing in an ebony shimmer. All that remained behind was
his jet-black soulstone, lying forlornly at the edge of the
Zodiac carpeting. Then that lost its luster, turning dead
gray.

Watching the normal-seeming former generals step up and
embrace their lord in a gesture of joyful camaraderie, the
quintet of princesses lowered their arms. Still clutching
the wand adorned with the Silver Imperium Crystal, Princess
Serena looked to the others next to her. "Is it over?"

"It just may be," Jupiter responded.

"The evil isn't here anymore. I sense it on the retreat,
being chased back to its lair," Mars added.

Princess Venus looked away from the five men, her azure eyes
focusing on her fellow royals. "Was I imagining things, or
did we see... ?"

Her voice trailed off as a silvery light appeared next to
them, that sense of vastness and power sweeping over them.
The warm glow solidified into a tall, willowy form, her
curves unmistakably feminine. Tranquil and beautiful, the
silver-haired apparition that glimmered there before them
was a dearly familiar one.

"Queen Serenity," Mercury said in an awed whisper.

The former ruler of the Silver Millennium smiled, reaching
out to touch each one of the princesses on the head with a
barely felt tap of her hand. "You have done well,
Highnesses. Through your plea, I was able to come here and
offer my aid."

"Is the danger over?" Serena asked, nervously looking over
to the former generals.

"Yes, it is. Metallia has no power over them now," Serenity
replied, her smile bright. "What was wrong has been made
right, thanks in part to all of you."

Jupiter kept her gaze on Nephrite for a moment then shifted
her emerald glance to look at the still unmoving form of the
strange Scout. Stepping back, she knelt down, placing a
hand on one of the redhead's shoulders. "Will she be all
right?"

"That I cannot say. In his madness, Obsidian damaged her
severely," the silver-haired spirit replied, her voice
taking on a note of profound sadness. "They will do what
they can, but I fear it may not be enough."

The rest of the princesses turned looked to the once-proud
woman lying there on the floor like a broken doll, each one
of them moved by the tragedy. "I hope she'll be okay,"
Venus softly said.

Serenity turned, raising an arm. From their position near
the Lithosians, the discarded stones disappeared,
reappearing in the palm of the spirit's hand. Returning her
focus to the royals, she handed to Venus, Jupiter, Mercury
and Mars the corresponding gem that had been taken from
their castles. "Long ago, the gems were tainted with the
Chaos that had leaked into the universe. Their power
suddenly unreliable, it became one of our responsibilities
to see that they were kept safe. I hereby again charge you
with that duty."

"What about Obsidian and his people?" Mars asked, hazarding
a glance back over to the group of black-uniformed men.

"The jewels cannot do what he thought they could. He will
seek them no more," Serenity replied. "From him, they will
remain safe."

The four nodded, agreeing to the resuming of their duty.

Noting their response, the apparition concentrated, her form
beginning to glow again with silvery moonlight. "To better
help you, I give you this gift. Open yourselves to the flow
of your patron, all of you. Feel the energy of your planet
fill you. Send back to your focus the stone and draw into
you the limitless power that courses through it."

They all did as she asked, the four princesses holding gems
wrapping their hands around the glistening jewels as
Princess Serenity bowed her head. Their auras flaring
softly around them, shimmering light of yellow, blue, red,
green and pink, the young women opened themselves to the
wondrous power of their planetary patrons. The liquid rush
of water, the mighty strength of wood, the golden warmth of
beauty, the illuminated heat of fire, the mystic light of
the moon, they filled themselves with that energy, felt it
permeate every fiber of their being. The five transformed,
their royal selves giving way to Senshi uniforms slightly
different than before: the bows in back of their outfits had
longer tails and golden stars adorned their ribbon chokers.
The four gemstones they'd held in their hands disappeared,
once more concealed within the innermost chambers of the
planetary castles. Coming back to reality, each one of the
sailor-suited warriors felt herself stronger, wielding more
of her Senshi powers.

Serenity smiled at them, the light fading from her. "You
are worthy warriors, one and all." She then turned and
began walking toward the quintet of Gemlords a number of
feet away.

To the east, the Mirror rippled and shimmered, the surface
parting to let through twin forms. Their faces startled,
reflecting their frantic -- and mostly unsuccessful --
attempts to return to the Hall, Ametrine came to a sudden
stop there on the dais before the Symbol of Space. Utterly
confused by the goings on, the blond man and violet-haired
woman just stood there, uncertain how to proceed.

Nephrite continued Healing his lord's wounded shoulder; the
auburn-haired man remained immobile as the silvery spirit
approached them. Watching her in curiosity, the remaining
three Elementals respectfully stepped aside when it became
clear that the silver-haired ghost meant to reach Obsidian.
The Guardian of Space kept his deep-brown eyes focused on
Serenity, his expression a mixture of joy and pain.

She stopped before him, her smile a loving one. Reaching
out a translucent hand, she lightly caressed his cheek.
"Courage, beloved," she whispered, her voice barely heard.

Obsidian tried to return the gesture, his hand passing
through her form instead of stroking her jawline. He
started to say something, but she shook her head and pressed
a finger to his lips.

"Existence goes on. They need you, as does the Cosmos."
Lowering her hand, she stretched upwards, brushing ghostly
lips against his. "Remember... I am with you, always..."
Her hushed words, as well as a lingering trace of her sweet
perfume, hung there before him as her willowy form faded
away.

A profound sadness remained in Obsidian's dark gaze as he
looked around the Hall of the Mirror.