Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Order of Planets ❯ ...and when the sun sets on hate.. ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

"Phebe? Thats your name isn't it?"

Pheobe nodded to Ellie as she finished her sandwich. "She's also telling me about a girl named Clio, Actually I should go back so she can finish telling the story."

"You think I could hear the story? You've already told me whats happened so Setsuna won't have to tell it again."

Pheobe nodded. "Alright."


Haruka looked up as the two girls entered the house. "Your late."

Pheobe nodded as they both settled onto the couch. "I told Ellie she could hear the story."


"What story?"

All four girls turned to the door awknowledging Hotaru and Michiru. Setsuna set her tead down and gestured for the two to sit. I was telling Pheobe and Haruka about Clios.

The two girls nodded, sitting down, Michiru layed her hands gracefully upon her lap. "So what happened?"

Setsuna gazed off in thought for a moment. "Well lets see..Clio had just been captured by the patrols...."

===============================================
< br> They shoved her into the transport ship, she slid across the floor before stopping at the feet of a young man. The guards smirked before slamming the door shut.

"Are you alright?"

Clio looked up as the man helped her to her feet. "I think so..just a few bruises."

He smiled. "My name is Helicaon."

"Your Lunarian."

Helicaon nodded. "Yes."

"Then why?"

"Why am I here? Vladimer is running out of Astrals to punish these days. Lately he's had to move onto Lunarians who sympathize with them."

Clio nodded. "My name is Clio, where are we headed?"

"We're on a one way trip to Atrapos. and before you mention it. The ship stinks bacuse it used to carry garbage." He shrugged. "It's luggage has just been upgraded to people."

"I was wondering about that smell. Are all these people sympathizers?"

Helicaon shrugged. "Some are sympathizers. Others are Astrals, former guards of the Queen. Basically anyone who is looked upon as a threat to Vladimar."



"Alright scum, to your quarters."

Clio looked at the guards, they had already begun to push through the crowd, seperating male from female. "Whats going on?"

"We're being seperated for the journey. Go with them and I'll meet you after the trip."

"Your lieing, you don't know when you'll see me again."

Helicaon grinned slightly. "Astral powers right? Okay I'll try to find you if I can after the trip."

Clio smilled. "Better."

She looked up at the guard before he shoved her towards the girls quarters.

The ship had no windows and very little air, the fact that several people were crammed into one area didn't help much either. There was barely any space to move and it took quite a bit of navigating for Clio to find her way around the quarters. But everything seemed to open up when she took sight of the woman before her. It had been four years but she could never forget that nobel. The hair was at a much shorter length but the silver locks were unmistakable. "My Lady?"

Phebe turned around, coming face to face with the young lady with her long lavender braid. She remembered the events of that fateful day in every detail, and there wasn't a moment she could forget the meeting with the young Astral, so it was to no surprise she had little trouble uttering the name of the girl before her. "Clio."


*Wait. Phebe was captured? You never told us that part.*

*Be patient, I'll explain everything.*



Vladimer looked up at the dark figure before him. "They found her?"

Nemesis nodded. "Yes, and they apprehended her along with a few Astrals. Unfortunatly the Senshi Uranus had managed to escape."

"Yet they still managed to capture the Queen."

"There is one flaw in the plan Vladimer. Apparently Phebe was apprehended by those unaware of your special request. Currently the Queen is on her way to Atrapos."

Vladimer scowled. "Have those responsible executed, and bring the ship to me."



"My lady, what are you doing here?"

Phebe looked at the girl. "Apparently I'm on my way to a new home."

Clio nodded. "Your hair is shorter."

Phebe looked at her strands of silver, although she missed it, it shocked her how light her head had become. "I wasn't benefitting much from the previous style."

"You never did tell me your name."

Phebe smiled slightly. "Phebe."

"The Queen?"

That very moment the ship began to tilt and bump around, knocking everyone off their feet.

Phebe shook her head, steadying herself as the ship continued to rock. "Whats going on."

Clio looked up, trying to get a view of the door. "They were going the wrong way."

"They've probably gone this way hundreds of times, what would make them take a wrong turn?"

"I don't know, but they're all very worried about it, so their in a hurry to get to their destination."

During the long hours of the Journey Clio and Phebe began to learn more about eachother. Phebe learned about each one of Clio's 8 sisters and looked upon her new companion sadly as she was told about 3 of their fates, the rest missing with no hope of finding them.

Clio learned of Phebe's pain at losing the crystal, the tragic death of her Senshi Charon and how she had been moved from one senshi to the next, kept under close protection. she told her about Neptune's beauty, Jupitar's amazing strength and how she had lifted Phebe and carried her out of the palace to flee to safety. Then Clio listened perplexed as Phebe told her of the last time she had seen Uranus, how her attack had failed to work.

"Is there something wrong Clio?" Phebe looked at her companion, who had taked on a fretful expression.

"We're stopping."

"Where?"

For a few moments Clio said nothing, then finally replied with incredible shock to everyone around her. "The Moon."



The light peeked in as the guards opened the doors. "Alright, file out and stay clos. NOW!"

The women jumped to their feet and proceeded to exit the chamber, not wishing to anger their captor further. The moon was just as beautiful as Phebe and Clio had remembered but to Clio it seemed to have lost some of it magic, the waters no longer shined as they used to and the sickening feeling of fear ran rampent through the streets.
The palace was just as Phebe had remembered, the fountains and long walkway that lead to the main entrance still remained intact, with only a few improvements. Tall poles had been erected in rows on each side of the walk, with what looked like dolls on every other pole, sometimes she swore she could see one of those dolls move.

"HALT!"

The Guard held out his hand and waited for his tour of misfits to stop. When he was satisfied he began to speak, indicating the rows of poles. "Everyone be on their best behavior. The King has a public collection for disobedients, and he has been looking to add on."

Everyone turned their heads upward and gasped in shock. Atop the poles were not dolls, but rows of people, tortored, maimed and strung up down the walkway for all to look upon.
Clio shook uncontrollably, the pain and fear was unbearable, many of these people were still alive her eyes forced herself to look up again as she caught the familier entity just ahead. Nothing could prepare her for what she saw. Strung upon a pole just above her head was her sister Erato. She still wore the silck dress mother had given her on her 18th birthday, the one all her sisters had pitched in to buy, but no life remained in those eyes, her body was void of any life.
Looking across she came across the entity that had signalled her. The life the still lingered, begging for mercy. Her eyes forced through pain to look upon her sister. Terpsichore managed to lift her head weakly and meet eyes with Clio, her feet bled from blisters and daggers, staining the pole red. Terpsichore had been forced to dance for days before she met her sister's fate.

Tears ran down her cheeks as she began to scream. Phebe glanced at her friend in surprise, but Clio refused to stop screaming. Everyone turned to look at the sobbing maiden while Phebe began to shake Clio. "Clio stop it, please calm down!"

Clio just shook her head, still screaming for the pain of her family.

"Someone stop that girl!"

The guard drew his sword, ready to slaughter the screaming girl into silence. Phebe gasped, pulling Clio close. "No please! I can calm her down!"

The guard sneered and pushed Phebe aside, forcing her to the ground. "Clio!"

Raising the sword the guard began to bring it down in a swift motion for Clio's neck. Looking up at her executioner Clio stared him down with painful angry eyes, coldly and emotionlessly she spoke the two most important words she had ever said in her life. "Psychic Blast."

The guard dropped his sword, crying out as he grabbed his head. A ball of purple and magenta energy exploded before the guard as he screamed in fright and vanished. People stared in shok at this new power, not believing what they had just seen. Slowly Clio began to return to her senses, relizing what she had done. No one dared move for fear this girl might attack once again. Taking a few steps back Clio helped Phebe too her feet and began to run. Having little choice in the matter Phebe followed and together they jumped off the walkway and into the lake below.

*I thought the Senshi couldn't use their power*

*They couldn't*

*but Clio could*

*I never said that Clio was a senshi.*


Over the next few weeks word got out about the Astral maiden who possessed Senshi abilities. Her legend spread like wildfire, giving hope to those who had lost it. Word spread as far as Atrapos. The queen lived, and she had found a new warrior, a maiden who possesed the powers of a senshi.
This made Vladimer no more happier, Nemesis himself did not care, this conflict still served to amuse him, and if Vladimer grew angrier there was the possibility he might unlease his hatred in the dungeons. People devised such creative torcher when they grew angry.

"How can this girl exist? A new senshi...and an Astral at that! How did this happen Nemesis?"

"Perhaps we might take more extreme measures?"

Vladimer looked at Nemesis. "Explain."

"The Empyrium Crystal has the power to destroy planets."

Vladimer smiled darkly, looking at the crystal in his palm.

Word traveled fast as the decree was read throughout the system of planets. The Queen and her Senshi would turn themselves in, or Mars would be the first planet destroyed by the Empyrium Crystal.


Phebe sighed watching Clio, she had lost nearly everything five sisters, a mother and her home. Her people were dieing and they were forced to hide in the old building that had been Clio's home for 5 years.

"What did you want to say Phebe?"

Phebe looked at her friend, unsure of how to start. "It's about Vladimer."

"He wants us dead."

"He's going to destroy Mars."

Clio turned her head, looking at Phebe as she continued. "He wants us to turn ourselves in."

"So he can kill us."

Phebe nodded. Clio sighed, laying back on her bed as she stared out the window, resting her hand on the wall. As a second thought she slid the board aside and reached withen the space and retrieved a book.
Phebe watched curiously, sitting on the bed next to Clio.

"Mom, Euterpe, Melpomene, Calliope, Erato, Terpsichore. I hardly have anyone left anymore. I don't know where my other sisters are." She sighed, running her hand along the book. "And still people are dieing, because of us."

"What do you want to do?"

Clio sighed, setting down her book. "We'll give him what he wants."

*They just turned themselves in?*

*Not exactly*

They spent the night preparing for a task which would nearly drain Clio completely. Tonight she would attempt the namesake of her people and complete a task that would save the planets. Clio would call down the stars and journey to the spiritual plane.

"Take my hand."

Phebe nodded, joining hands with her companion. Once satisfied, Clio continued. "Just relax, We'll only have one chance to do this."

It took most of the night, the message was sent across the solar system and when it was over, Clio collapsed in exaustion. Quetly Phebe carried her friend to bed, moving the covers over her. She would let Clio sleep. Tommorow they would save the planets.

*Well what did they do?*

*Meaning?*

*What was the message?*

*I'll get to that*

Clio glanced at the Silver goddess as they stared ahead towards the main entrance. "Are you ready for this?"

Phebe nodded. "Lets go."

Together they walked down the main walk. Over the last four years they had grown so much, and now they walked towards the palace to meet their destiny.

===================================

Setsuna finished her tea and stood, making her way towards the kitchen.

"Wait."

Setsuna turned to Pheobe. "Yes?"

"You just stopped, you have to tell us the rest."

"I thought you might like to take a break, we have been sitting for 4 hours."

Ellie stood, joining in Pheobe's protest. "We'd really like to hear what happened."

Setsuna poured another cup of tea then glanced at the group. "You all feel the same way?"

Five heads nodded in unison. Finally Setsuna returned to her seat and began to continue. "By the time Phebe and Clio had reached the main gate the alarm had already begun to sound...."

======================================

"My Lord!"

Vladimer looked down at the guard, beckoning him to continue.

"My Lord they're here! The Astral and the Goddess."

Vladimer nodded. "Apprehand them. You may kill the Astral, but bring Phebe to me."

"Yes My lord." The Guard backed out and rushed to report back to his unit.

Nemesis reformed before Vladimer. "Excelent work Vladimer."

Vladimer nodded. "Still naieve as ever. The Queen is playing right into my hands."

Capturing the two was easier said then done. It seemed luck was on their side as the guard seemed to be occupied with other things, but what Vladimer had ordered was not ignored and efforts were combined to cut off the advance of the two determined women.

Phebe and Clio stopped as they found themselves surrouded on all sides and the two knew they had been caught.

One of the guards smiled slyly. "You should pass no further without an escort ladies."

From the crowd came another familier voice. "I Quite agree."

The guards and women turned to look as eight cloaks flew into the air and the planetary senshi drew their swords.

Phebe smiled as Earth approached. "You should proceed no further."
Slowly she brought her blade to the throat of the captain of the guard.

Jupitar nodded to the two girls. "Go ahead! We'll continue this."

Clio and Phebe nodded as a path was created. "Where will we find Vladimer?" Questioned Clio.

"Follow me, I have an idea."

Clio nodded as she broke into a run, following the Queen down the hall.


They hadn't proceeded very far when Nemesis formed before the two girls. "Where do you plan to go?"

Phebe took a step back in shock. "High Priest Nierobe!"

"Actually, it's Nemesis. The King wishes to speak with you both."

Phebe scowled. "The king is false and you know it."

"That may be, but he makes things intresting for me. My lady, Astral. If you will."

Nemesis opened his cloak, revealing misty blackness as he beckoned them to step inside.

Clio ans Phebe exchanged glances then nodded as the approached this mysterious figure. The shroud closed behind them and Nemesis retreated back into the shadows.

Vladimer drummed his fingers lightly on the throne and straightened as he watched Nemesis step out of the shadows, leading with him a woman of short silver hair and an Astral with long violet braid and lake blue eyes.

"Phebe, A pleasure for you to visit. Your hair has become much shorter then when I saw you last. And who is this servant you have brought with you?"

Phebe scowled. "She is no Servant. Her name is Clio, she chose to accompany me on this journey."

Vladimer nodded. "Oh I see, so this is the Astral with Senshi abilities is it? Very well. Nemesis you may leave."

Nemesis nodded, retreating back into the shadows.

"Well, I suppose you are wondering why I asked you here."

Clio nodded. "You want to know something, and then your going to kill us."

Vladimer looked at Clio, staring her down for a moment before shoving the black Empyrium crystal out for both to see. "The Crystal is Black! Why?"

Phebe glanced at the crystal before turning her gaze back to Vladimer. "You have corrupted it."

"I have given it new purpose!"

"In Hatred! The Crystal was never meant for that purpose.It's duty is to serve life! not create death."

*I understand.*

*Whats that?*

*They couldn't use their powers, not with the crystal corrupted.*

*Smart girl, but you'll have to let me continue the story.*

Clio looked at the silver goddess before tiurning back to Vladimer. "Your reign is over Vladimer. Your actions will not be allowed to continue."

Vladimer laughed, taking the girl's words as a joke. "And what can you do about it Astral? The Crystal may have changed but I assure you, it still works quite well."

"This is my destiny."

Vladimer narrowed his eyes. "We shall see Astral."

With those words the battle had begun. Daggers flew as magic began to build. Once again Clio began to call upon the power of her ancestry. Power began to build as Astral abilities and the Empyrium crystal clashed heads. Making sure Vladimer was occupied with the young Astral Phebe began her approach, making her way towards Vladimer.

Clio's brow furrowed in determination. The Crystal had incredible power, Vladimer was only playing with her. Concentrating harder she gathered her energy. Calliope, Mother, Thalia, Melpomene, Erato, Terpsichore, Euterpe, Polyhymnia, Urania. For them she would continue. Just a little longer alll she needed was a little more time for Phebe.

Just a little further, Phebe took another step, carefully reaching forward for the crystal. Just a little more, her hand closed around the crystal as she pulled, trying to wrest it from Vladimer's grip.

Mercury winced as blood began to trickle down her side. This wasn't getting them anywhere. No matter how hard they fought the guards just kept coming. After years of attempting not to rely on their powers the Senshi had failed, they needed their special attacks if they were to survive for much longer.

Finally exausted Clio collapsed in a heap, she had done all she could, now it was up to Phebe. The sudden lapse in Clio's efforts awoke Vladimer from his deep concentration. He glanced in surprise at the hand of the silver goddess closed around the crystal. With a grunt he swung his arm, sending the Queen across the throne room. Phebe slid against the wall with a grunt, the Crystal taking flight for the second time in 4 years. Their eyes met, following to the crystal as both scrambled toward to retrieve it. Vladimer reached there first, but his concern was not for the prized artifact, but the silver lady destined to control it. Grinning triumphantly Vladimer lifted her in the air, gripping tightly to her wrist.

"You thought you won didn't you? Your slave lies dead and you hang at my mercy. What could have possibly possessed you to believe that you could have stopped me?"

Clio blinked disbelieving as she began to float through empty space. So this was what death was like, emptiness.
Looking ahead she smiled in recognition at the ebony braids of her sister Calliope. Calliope smiled back as she began to fade from view. Where was she going? Clio reached out in attempt to touch her sister. Her hand made contact with marble. Blinking slowly her vision began to clear. She was back in the Throne room. Her eyes widened as she looked at Vladimer, holding Phebe by a wrist. Her eyes searched for anything to help her friend when they fell upon a small black object. Just a few feet ahead was the coveted black crystal.

Vladimer smiled as his other hand closed around Phebe's throat. "Your reign ended 4 years ago Phebe. Times have changed now. This is my kingdom now! Your Senshi are powerless."

Slowly she inched forward, too weak to stand her progress was gradual, her hand reached for the possession of power.

Phebe began to turn blue as she stared helplessly into Vladimer's gloating eyes. She was going to die, her lungs screamed for air. Slowly her eyes fell upon Clio. When had she woken up? She watched as the Astral began to reach for the black crystal ahead. Just a little further and she would have it.
"Where are your Guardians now Phebe? can't they save you?"
He stopped, following Phebe's gaze as Clio began to close her hand around the crystal. "No!"

The crystal was warm to the touch, and as she made contact Clio felt a surge of energy filter through her.

Mercury grabed her side as she collapsed to the floor, her eyes went up to the guard as he began to lower his sword.

Clio's hand squeezed the crystal as her heart began to call out for help. The senshi needed their powers, they had to have their powers.
Light filtered through the black face of the gem, lighting the room. Clio stared wide eyed as the blackness began to vanish and the crystal started to emit a humming noise. Light began to gather as the crystal withen her hand spun in a rainbow of color before finally releasing.

The guard stumbled back, shielding his eyes as an intense blue light formed around Mercury. She could feel the power gathering in her as her energy began to build. She looked around, the same thing was happening to the other senshi. Their powers had returned.

The silver crystal glowed with power above Clio's hand. Clio squinted, no longer able to take the brightness as it began to expand, covering vladimer with it's power before swallowing him entirely.
Phebe dropped onto the floor, no longer held withen Vladimer's grip. She coughed, gasping for air as the crystal floated to the ground before her. Clio watched her friend then turned back to glance at her hand as she still felt the texture of a stone beneath her palm. Slowly she lifted her hand, viewing with amazement at the rainbow crystal that layed before her.

====================End Of Part 3==========================

Setsuna looked up as Haruka and Michiru stood from their seats. "Leaving already?"

They both nodded. "Michiru wanted to see a play, I promised I'd go."

Hotaru nodded. "I need to get to bed. Thank you for the story Setsuna."

Setsuna nodded as the three exited the sitting room, leaving Ellie, Setsuna and Pheobe alone. After a few moments Ellie got to her feet.
Pheobe looked at her friendquestioningly. "Where are you going?"

"Home. Mamoru is probably wondering where I am by now."

Pheobe nodded watching as her friend stepped out.