Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Power Of Fire ❯ Chapter 14

"I found it," whispered Setsuna, Mamoru looking up at her as Setsuna's eyes skimmed over the page again and again.

"What's it called?" asked Mamoru, shifting his chair so he could see that yellowed page that Setsuna's eyes were glowing at.

"The Eight Guardians of the Cosmos but it's also got in brackets 'The Astrological Soldiers'," replied Setsuna as she lay the huge book flat on the table so that Mamoru could also see the legend, "It's said to be an old story that has recollections from majority of the African, South American and Asian cultures."

"I've never heard of anything like it," replied Mamoru, his brows furrowing as he tried to recall any such name.

"That's because it was out-ruled from almost all religions. I guess people didn't want to think that their Gods weren't all-powerful," said Setsuna, speaking her thoughts allowed as she gently touched her fingers to the fraying pages.

"What does it say?" asked Mamoru, his eyes fumbling over the small, mismatched text.

Reading aloud Setsuna recited:

"In the time of the Gods it was practiced by all faiths that the great divinities were created by the powerful Eight Guardians. These Eight Guardians were said to be the protectors of our arc. Though their names differ, the story, said to be preached by the Gods and Goddesses themselves, remains the same. The story tells of how the Eight Guardians split their soul to help save our world from destruction.

"The oldest testament of these Soldiers comes from Mayan culture. These Soldiers each had herald over different elements and negativities in the world. It was described by the Gods, that these Soldiers came in the form of powerful female entities, bearing other-worldly powers. The Soldiers described to the humans the destruction of life on each of their home planets, and made a pact with the humans to help preserve life on this last remaining planet in their arc. To seal the pact the Soldiers went in search of the purest souls from the city, one human for each of the Soldiers. Upon finding the pure humans, they then split their own souls, planting half in their human counterparts. The Soldiers left the world, giving their counterparts all knowledge of their life, and also providing them with a link of power so that they could keep their people safe. The Soldiers proclaimed that wherever they were needed in the world they would be reincarnated there, and so as a matter of protection the Soldiers bestowed on each of their counterparts their greatest attributes.

"As these humans grew in their power they proclaimed themselves Gods, ruling over the people. But the power from the unknown Soldiers corrupted the pure souls of the humans and it quickly turned them against each other. Thus the Gods destroyed each other.

"The phenomenon quickly spread throughout all the lands, each acquiring their own Gods at each time but with each incarnation the Gods and Goddesses changed. Finding that they could access their Soldiers' power they quickly turned to reek mayhem on the people, instead of protecting them.

"The last heard case of the humans-turned-Gods was at 500 A.D. at which point the stories from other cultures had already begun to be filtered into neighbouring regions, the story of the great Gods retaining all its power, while the legend of the Soldiers from far-off worlds was lost."

"That's not very much information, and it sounds kind of, unlikely to me," said Mamoru, raising an eyebrow at Setsuna whose eyes had then directed themselves to the rain falling heavily outside.

"I agree. Considering all the mythology I have read myself I have little heard of these supposed Soldiers. I don't understand why it has tempered Michiru so much," said Setsuna, her brow furrowing as she tried to understand the workings of Michiru's mind. "This was really important to her. I don't see how she thinks this could have anything to do with the weather though."

"Maybe it was a wasted pursuit. Where is Michiru anyway? She was meant to be here with Haruka at 10 o'clock," said Mamoru as he looked down at his watch; it was now noon.

"I expect her and Haruka are fighting again," stated Setsuna wearily as she closed the huge book on the table.

"I didn't know they had been fighting," said Mamoru, concern marking his features as he discarded all the other books on the table, leaning back in his chair. Michiru's idea was beginning to wear on him as well.

"They don't usually but Haruka feels that Michiru is hiding something from her," stated Setsuna, clearly undisturbed about telling Mamoru about Michiru and Haruka's relationship problems.

"How do you know anyway?" asked Mamoru as he leant forward again, stretching out his arms.

"This time has more effect on the future that you understand, and something has recently changed the timeline. I went to back to the future recently to find it almost complete devoid of life, the other Scouts were all on bad terms and they seemed almost… evil," said Setsuna as she swished her hair over her shoulder, sighing, "I don't understand what could have affected the timeline in such a way, but every time I go back it keeps changing between the two realities."

"Doesn't that concern you?" asked Mamoru looking at the relaxed image that was Setsuna.

"I've seen too many different realities for much to concern me, but if it did stop flickering and stick to the worse-off reality, then it might prompt me but for now I think the future is as safe as it always is," relied Setsuna, a yawn escaping her.

"You've been tired lately," stated Mamoru, quirking a brow as he started to pick up the scattered books.

"Hotaru's been giving me a right-good work-out lately, it's like she's flickering just like the realities," replied Setsuna, another yawn rocking her.

"Why don't you go home and get some sleep. I can take care of Hotaru and Chibiusa for the afternoon, you go and rest," said Mamoru as he watched Setsuna wearily get up and leave with a brief wave over her shoulder.

"She looks like a zombie," stated Mamoru sighing as he piled up the huge amount of books, unsure of how he was going to get them all back to the library.

 

~~~~~

 

Usagi sat cross-legged next to Haruka who was lying on the lounge. The tears were creeping into her eyes but Usagi refused to let them fall, they didn't need her crying.

"They reminded me so much of Ami, they were so different," whispered Minako, coming out of Michiru and Haruka's bedroom with Makoto.

"I know what you mean," replied Makoto, running her fingers through her hair anxiously, "They aren't like the Haruka and Michiru we've always known. I wonder what's going on, I mean, it can't be coincidence, can it?" Questioned Makoto as she made her way to the kitchen.

Makoto had been the one to find Haruka and Michiru, both of them had been out-cold when she found them. It took forever to wake them up, thought Makoto as she replayed the moments in her mind.

'Haruka angrily shook her head as Makoto tried to help her up. "I'm fine!" exclaimed Haruka, her eyes glaring at the younger brunette who had her arms around Haruka's waist.

"Do you want me to check on Michiru now?" asked Makoto, pushing Haruka into a sitting position.

"Do what you want, she can stay there for all I care," replied Haruka, her eyes seeming as though they were on fire.

"Are you sure you're alright?" asked Makoto, her eyebrows creasing together.

"I'm as well as can be expected, now leave me alone," hissed Haruka pushing Makoto away as she shakily stood up.

"Haruka I really don't think you should be doing that. You're hurt," said Makoto trying to get her friend to see reason, but failing miserably.

Haruka pushed Makoto back again. "I said I'm fine, now I've got work to do!" Under Haruka's growl the words were barely recognisable, but the mighty punch into her cheek sent Makoto sprawling back to the ground.

"Haruka! What the hell is wrong with you?" yelled Makoto, her own anger getting the best of her as she tried to catch Haruka's eyes to see what was going on inside of her friend's head.

"Nothing is wrong with me anymore, not since that fiend left me," replied Haruka angrily, nodding her head of Michiru's slumped form as she hissed the word 'fiend'.

"But that's Michiru," said Makoto, disconcerted by Haruka's actions, she never usually let anything happen to Michiru, much less degrade her lover in such a way.

"I know its name," replied Haruka angrily, straightening her back against the pole, trying to find her balance.

"Haruka," started Makoto as she stood up again, looking up into the icy teal eyes of Haruka, "What's going on?" she asked.

"Nothing. There was something but it doesn't matter anymore," answered Haruka matter-of-factly as she tested her balance by taking a step towards Makoto in threat.

"I don't understand," whispered Makoto, as she tried to grab Haruka's arm but by the time her hand had reached out it was only clasping at air, Haruka had already stalked off.

"Haruka!" called out Makoto, her face screwing up as the barrage of rain was twisted by the wind straight into her face.

A loud crack of thunder tormented the sky as small balls of ice, mixed with the soft drifts of snow began to fall in the street.

"Har…Haruk…Haruka…" Michiru's soft voice stunned Makoto back into reality, instantly turning her to face the rage-filled face of Michiru.

"Michiru," said Makoto as she walked over, planning to help the marine-haired girl to her feet, but the hand was instantly slapped away.

"Don't touch me!" snarled Michiru, her face contorted in hate and malice.

"What? Michiru, come on, you're hurt," tried to reason Makoto but finding exactly the same resistance she had received from Haruka.

"I'm fine!" barked out Michiru as she pushed herself up, her feet slipping slightly on the wet gravel but quickly finding purchase.

"MAKO-CHAN!" called out Minako as she raced around the corner, trying to hold up the limp form of Haruka in her arms.

"What happened?" asked Makoto, her voice rising high and only being extenuated but the sharp snap of lightning that woke up the afternoon-night.

"I don't know she just collapsed. Usagi and Mamoru are getting his car so that we can take her back to their apartment," called back Minako, obviously struggling under the weight of Haruka.

"Can you hold onto her for just a minute, I need to help Michiru," yelled Makoto, trying to get her voice to reach above the wind.

"I don't need your he…" Started Michiru but her eyes soon fell on Haruka's limp form being carried by Minako and she threw herself forward, hurtling her body so that it was perfectly aimed for Minako and Haruka.

Makoto, realising what Michiru was planning to do screamed out to Minako. "Minako! Get out of the way!"

Minako struggled to move under the already exhausting weight of the unconscious Haruka but as she shifted to the side, Haruka's body slowly slid from her grasp.

Makoto watched in terror as Michiru's face glinted in her wrathful glory, her knee hitting Haruka's form in the centre of her torso with a horrid 'th-crack' into the night, a brilliant screech of laughter echoing from Michiru's lips as her knee was thrust upwards into the form of her lover.

"Michiru!" screamed Makoto, shock overriding every other emotion she possibly could have felt.

Watching as if it were in slow-motion Makoto saw the sickening act of Michiru's eyes rolling back in her head, her own exhaustion knocking her out-cold just before she hit the ground with Haruka's form in a jumbled heap.'

 

~~~~~

 

Omani-Kaye shivered in the blankets the two men had given her. The room they had taken her to was completely bare of any furniture, only luxurious pillows and blankets covered the floor making it feel as though it was only cushioning and not like there was bare cement barely 10 centimetres below it.

"Why did you ask me to come?" questioned Omani-Kaye. Even though the men had seemed threatening there was a dull ache in her when she was near them, it felt similar to the connection she felt to Ami, only more distinguished, more emotional.

"We need you. We can't protect the world without you," said Samson as he lay back on his own little castle of pillows and blankets, obviously not feeling the cold from the weather outside.

"What do you mean? I can't protect the world," said Omani-Kaye angrily, she wanted to know what these men wanted so she could leave, she could feel Ami's strife and the desperate need to help her was almost overwhelming already.

"Of course you can, you're one of us!" exclaimed Furo-Ien his exhilaration clear on his face as his eyes greedy rolled over Omani-Kaye's body.

"I'm one of nobody. All I want to do is help Ami," replied Omani-Kaye obstinately, glaring at the two men who acted as though they were kings, lounging around on the mass of cushioning in the otherwise blank room.

"You can't help her, and you won't. You'll help us. You can't fight us." Samson's voice was sure of himself as he pushed himself up and off the cushioning, his frail clothes blowing in the wind that thundered outside the high windows.

How can his clothes blow in the wind, there's no wind in here, thought Omani-Kaye as she watched the man, her eyes tracing the direction of the 'wind' and finding that it seemed to originate from Furo-Ien.

That's impossible, thought Omani-Kaye, a bombardment of images flexing themselves inside her brain causing Omani-Kaye to cripple over in pain.

"She doesn't seem to have her memory back yet Furo," said Samson, curiosity in his voice as if this was the most exciting development.

"It appears to be that way," murmured Furo-Ien in agreement, "Isaiah's back."

Omani-Kaye look up in interest as the door opened, a small boy, looking to only be about 13 walking into the room carrying a young female who looked extraordinarily similar to him.

"You brought her," said Samson, hungrily instantly going over to stand by the boy, looking at the girl in his arms. "Inamu, you're back where you belong."

Omani-Kaye's eyebrows furrowed, she had heard that name before, she turned to look up at the group standing in front of the closed door, the boy Isaiah growled angrily. "Knock her out," he said as he turned from Omani-Kaye's gaze, Samson appraised her with a smirk before he lifted his hand, flicking it to the side.

Omani-Kaye felt her eyes close on their own accord; she tried to breathe in but found she could only inhale the stinging, salty water of the ocean.