Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Symbol of A Soldier ❯ ...faith will carry on... ( Chapter 3 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: Minerva Blue 
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Drama / Mystery | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 01.22.2002 | Pages: 4 | Words: 3.0K | Visits: 214 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Drama / Mystery | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 01.22.2002 | Pages: 4 | Words: 3.0K | Visits: 214 | Status: Completed
Ellie frowned, she looked so helpless just lying there it was painful just to watch.
"Ellie?"
Ellie straightened in her chair before looking down at her friend whose eyes had managed to open half way. "Pheobe, your awake. We got the monsters"
"That was fast."
Ellie frowned "Pheobe You've been in a coma for over a week."
"That long?"
Ellie nodded.
There was a long pause before Pheobe spoke again. "What about Clio?"
"Who?"
"Clio."
"Oh, the story?"
Pheobe managed a nod.
"Do you want me to get Setsuna in here?"
Pheobe shook her head. "If you can tell it I'd like you to continue."
"Don't you want me to go and tell everyone your awake?"
When Ellie didn't get a reply she sighed. "Alright, story first."
=================================================
Phebe nodded to the man who had captured Clio. "It's alright Rouvin."
Rouvin nodded, setting the wand and gem onto the table near Clio. Clio herself stood and continued to stare at the silver goddess. "Phebe what are you doing here?"
"That will take some time to explain. First, I'd like you to meet Dorien. Dorien this is Clio, I told you about her."
The young boy nodded politly. "The queen has told me much about you."
Clio nodded politely.
"Nice boy."
Phebe nodded. They sat alone in the back room with a single round wooden table and a few chairs. Clio continued. "So he's the new Charon?"
Phebe nodded. "Dorien is young, but with the proper training he could become a great warrior and perhaps lead Charon out of it's depression."
Clio nodded. "Three years and you've finally found what you were looking for. She must have been very important."
"Charon saved my life."
"And you save her planet in return. Tell me, will the other Sailor Soldiers accept a male guardian?."
Phebe sighed. "Clio, don't make this a feud."
"They've always resented me Phebe, you know that. I'm not even a real Sailor Soldier and because of that they don't think I belong with them."
"They'll get over it. This happens to be the first time a planet has been created by mortal hands, it's not an easy thing to accept. They just need some time."
"Time may not be on our side."
Phebe looked at her friend in confusion. "Clio?"
"Phebe are you aware of whats been happening lately?"
Phebe shook her head. "There isn't much incoming information currently on this planet."
"Phebe, Uranus is gone. The planet of Venus was consumed. My planet is facing the same fate and in a few minutes another planet is going to be consumed."
Nothing could hide the shock in her voice as Phebe stared at the Astral queen. "By what?"
"We call if The Black Phage. We have no idea where it's come from. It just came out of nowhere, nobody could detect it. Uranus, then Venus and Clios at the same time. It..by the stars it split. It's going to split again!"
"Clio calm down, explain it to me."
Clio nodded, taking a deep breath before continueing. "It split after Uranus, one went after Venus and the other after Clios. The one on Clios should be dormant if the shield hasn't broken yet, but Venus is going to split in two..the phage will. It's like it has a mind of it's own."
"I don't understand it, no one could detect it?"
"I can feel it, and the Moon seemed to detect it. but all the other planets didn't sense anything."
"That doesn't make any sense Clio. Clio?"
Phebe looked at her friend. Clio's eyes had flown wide open for a brief moment, her face turned to shock. "It's coming here Phebe, our time is up."
Parthenie looked out to the sky at the black cloud. People were screaming as it neared closer. Folding her hands together the young girl said a silent prayer to the stars and retreated into the palace to join the Sailor Soldiers.
The main tower had been determined as the focal point of energy. It was there the technique would be conducted. Parthenie had been very strict about the position, taking every detail into account but if she had had the time to spare the girl would have done a more thourough search for a better focal point. Still, the main tower would serve the purpose it was needed for.
She nodded to the six sailor soldiers as she stepped withen the middle of the circle she had created. It was always good to have a center power to focus on. The entire process could have done well enough without one on desperate circumtances but the technique proved much more effective when one or more channeled the power.
"Now, as I instructed you must join hands and follow my lead. Call upon your inner power of the planets when your energy reaches it's peak, and it is absolutly vital that your energies be syncronized. I will guide you through the process."
As the mist black nightmares descended upon the moon Parthenie raised her hands. "Great celestial stars guide us and protect us. The power of my ancestors runs through me as sure as blood. The energy withen gathered for my task. I call upon my power!"
Closing the gap between her hands Parthenie closed her eyes in deep meditation, signaling her ready to the soldiers.
Neptune bowed her head and closed her eyes as she was the first to lend her power. "Neptune Power."
"Mars Power."
"Earth Power."
One by one each soldier called upon their respective planets. Each felt their aura ignite as the colors of light became revealled in plain sight.
Parthenie breathed in slowly, maintining deep concentration as she assisted in synchronizing the auras. In one breif instand the soldier's heads faced upard as their auras conected to Parthenie. Jerking her head up in trance the aura filtered out in a column of white light, descending in a dome around the castle and the kingdome, reaching to the edges of the mare serenitis.
The phage shrieked in surprise as those already withen it's confines disipitated and those outside it's reach were repelled.
They had all four broke into a dead run, the ghastly forms of death following close behind like the waves of an ocean.
They were all stopped as another waved advanced in front of them. Immedietly they made a sharp turn, ducking into the ally. Clio closed her eyes in concentration, calling upon her power, forcing a shield around them for a brief second. The two waves connected, curving upwards and away from the shield, allowing enough time for the four to reach the ship.
"Come on.." Clio slammed her hand on the door, letting it unlock to her signal. The group crowded in immediatly, just as another wave began it's second advance.
Rouvin took the controls as the wave descended upon them. As the phage closed down upon them the vessel slid out from beneath, propelling into the sky as the misty forms chased after them.
"Clio!"
Clio glanced over at Phebe's sudden cry before she noticed the black vapors that formed the angel advancing upon her. It was a pain like no other as the creature began rippin through her soul.The screams of her commrades became so distant, her mind cried out for release from the pain she was experiencing. Her eyes closed, desperatly trying to focus her mind strained to shut out everything around her. It came as a sudden explosion of energy, an uncontrolled amount of magenta and purple energy that spread out in every direction. Her eyes widened before going blank, She would control this planet! these people like so many others. Here they would rule unopposed. Her entire body began to jerk as thousands of fractured images passed through her mind. A final shriek as human and beast both cried out and the angel fled from the astral queen before dissipating. Her last image as she slipped into unconciousness was of Clios as the phage finally descended down upon it.
Rouvin bent down placing two of his fingers over her pulse. Dorien watched nervously as Clio lay still, her eyes trapped in their blank look. "How is she?"
Rouvin shook his head. "Can't tell, we have no idea what that thing could have done to her."
He frowned as he looked again at the sleeping astral. There had been rumors about this girl, legends about her power but laying on the floor this way she looked nothing like the stories which had been told about her. Rouvin himself had been one of the top knights in Charon's court. When his lady had been killed he went underground and took it upon himself to help the refugees of Vladimer to safety. His young charge Dorien had lived on Charon all of his young life and Rouvin had only come across the child two years ago. He had been orphaned by then and it was Rouvin who had chosen to take the boy under his wing. Only less then twwo weeks ago had they been blessed by Phebe's visit, when she had found Charon's star seed withen the small 12 year old.
Phebe kneeled down and gave her friend a gentle nudge. "Clio."
Immediatly the girl bolted, shrieking as she launched herself at the silver goddess. On instinct Rouvin pulled the queen out of Clio's path, letting the girl grasp air as she fell on the floor.
Phebe looked at Clio worriedly. "Clio?"
The violet braided queen shook her head, rising to her hands and knees, her eyes returning to their normal appearence. Still Rouvin held the moon queen back from the girl, watching Clio carefully for any signs of danger.
Slowly Clio nodded. "I'm alright now."
She grabbed onto one of the seats, pulling herself up. Right away she regretted standing so quickly as her hand moved to her head in a vain attempt to suppress a migrane. Phebe pulled away from her 6 foot tall protector to check on Phebe.
"What was that?" Questioned the young boy.
Clio rubbed her head some more, sitting down. "That was a phage." She glanced at the boy. "Sure your ready to be a guardian?"
Dorien nodded. "I lived on Charon all my life, mom used to tell me stories about how beutiful the planet used to be. I want to make it shine again."
"What happened Clio?"
Clio looked at Phebe before leaning back in the seat. "I did the only thing I could do, I released my energy."
"It nearly destroyed you."
"But it worked didn't it? This Black Phage thinks, it's not just random Phebe. It's been plotting all this time. They've taken over other solor systems and we're next on the list."
"That would explain why they went after Uranus first."
"I thought they would attack Mars first."
Phebe shook her head. "No, Mars isn't widely known for training. Uranus contains many of the best soldiers."
Clio looked at Phebe. "That explains it."
"They must have known about our detection systems, found a way to get past it. Clios and the Moon System were brand new though, they probably missed it."
"Or didn't see it as a threat. Clios was one of the first planets they went after, they must have known about it before they attacked."
"They must follow something."
All eyes fell upon Dorien. The young guardian continued. "They look so organized, it's as if they have a collective conscience."
Clio nodded "Your already thinking like a guardian. We have to get back to the moon."
Phebe shook her head. "We can't, it's been consumed."
Clio looked at her friend and nodded. "Hopefully Parthenie was able to call the shield in time."
"What about Clios, you said it was protected."
Clio shook her head sadly. "Clios is gone, I saw it become consumed just before I passed out."
"Then we'll have to find the queen."
Clio looked at the Moon Goddess. She was still so determined after all of this, after so many planets and people had met their fate? The entire idea seemed hopeless and ridiculous. The same dance over again got exausting. In three years still nothing had changed and it was surprising how much they managed to stay the same. "And do what? Destroy her so we can sit and wait 3 more years for a bigger better enemy?"
Phebe looked at Clio in shock. "Clio."
"It's always the same Phebe, why should it be any different? Fate doesn't want us to exist. Right now my entire family, everyone I know is either dead or dieing. By the stars we're facing an army of billions!."
"At least we can try Clio. Things have been bad before, we'll win."
Clio smirked. "Is that how you see it Phebe? As winning? Who wins doesn't matter, we'll always lose everything in the end. Even if we do manage to beat this by some miracle, your Sailor Soldiers won't accept me. They'll keep resenting me for who I am."
"Your a sailor soldier too clio."
"No Phebe. I'm just a soldier, A replacement, A freak playing princess."
"No one has ever called you a freak Clio!"
"Why not? It's just as well they should. Thats who I am isn't it? An astral princess. But astrals aren't supposed to be princesses are they? Or ambassedors, or any position that holds much importance. Yes Phebe, I'm a freak."
Phebe's mouth dropped in shock and disbelief. "I don't believe you. Is that all you can think about? How you've suffered?"
"I'm the last of eight sisters, I watched Terpsichore die on that stake! I bet you didn't know that did you? How she was still alive when I saw her hanging there? The pain I felt? Your Sailor Soldiers despise me, refuse my help, my advice. They hate the fact that I can channel their powers! That I'm the guardian of the sailor gem."
"So thats how it is. All you can think about is yourself! You don't care about anyone, the lives of your people. Was stopping Vladimer just an act of revenge?"
"Don't make this into an act of selfishness!"
"But thats what it is! I believed in you Clio. The Sailor Soldiers would have accepted you if you gave them a chance! But you didn't, you complained constantly, crying out how you were the victim in everything!"
"Astrals were dieing, they ignored it!"
"Maybe so Clio, but did you ever consider that they might have regretted it? That they were sorry? Your not the only one whose suffered, don't make that mistake! So what if your not a Sailor Soldier? Being a Sailor Soldier doesn't come from powers Clio, or special abilities. It doesn't come from a glowing symbol on your forhead, or a uniform. You want to know what makes a Sailor Soldier Clio? It comes from the heart! From thinking about others besides yourself! Never giving up! But you can't see that Clio, all you can see is yourself! and I'm sorry I didn't notice it earlier."
Everything grew deathly silent as the words sunk in. No one had ever heard the Queen yell, she never lost patience, until now. The fact that her patience was lost with one of her closest friends only shocked them further. Clio didn't move from her seat, she stared at the silver goddess, unable to utter a word in her defense.
Phebe sighed, bowing her head. "Rouvin, I'll be in the dress room."
"No." Clio finally spoke, standing to her feet. "I'll leave."
Without another word she turned around and stepped into the small closet space, shutting the door behind her.
It was hours before anyone came back to check on her, it didn't bother Clio much. She needed time to think and the silence of such a small area helped to clear her head. She wasn't selfish was she? No she couldn't but the more she thought about it made Clio relize the truth. She'd let the years turn her bitter, it was hard to remember a time when she had done a selfless act. Her heart felt sore for the way she had acted. Nobody wanted to hate her, she had been the one to push them all away.
"Miss Clio?"
Clio looked up as the young guardian of Charon entered the room. He carried with him a small plate of fruits and vegitables neatly arrainged together. "I was wondering if you might be hungry, everyone else has already eaten."
Clio nodded quietly, taking the plate out of the boy's hands. "Thank you Dorien."
When the boy didn't leave she looked up at him questioningly. "Theres something else?"
Dorien nodded. "We're looking for that queen. If we stop it, maybe we can save the planets."
Clio nodded, when the boy still hadn't left she looked back, waiting for the child to speak again.
"I thought you were nice. Not selfish at all."
"Thank you Dorien, but Phebe is right, I do think about myself a lot."
"you can change that right? You can help us."
Clio shook her head. "Go back to Phebe Dorien, please."
The young boy nodded timidly as he backed out of the room and closed the door. Clio sighed as she tried to nibble on an apple. The innocence of Dorien stayed locked in her mind, a feeling that knawed on her heart. She smiled slightly. Phebe could really pick them, she could manage to get 9 different people in the same room and have them get along in a matter of seconds. Sighing she stood up and opened the door. All eyes turned to Clio as she spoke. "If your going to stop this, you need to get all of them at once."
==================End of Part 4=================
"Is that all?"
Ellie shook her head. "No I don't think so, I just can't remember the rest. I'll have Setsuna tell you the rest when your feeling better. Right now you should get some sleep."
Pheobe nodded, laying back against her pillows as Ellie slipped out the door.
"Ellie?"
Ellie straightened in her chair before looking down at her friend whose eyes had managed to open half way. "Pheobe, your awake. We got the monsters"
"That was fast."
Ellie frowned "Pheobe You've been in a coma for over a week."
"That long?"
Ellie nodded.
There was a long pause before Pheobe spoke again. "What about Clio?"
"Who?"
"Clio."
"Oh, the story?"
Pheobe managed a nod.
"Do you want me to get Setsuna in here?"
Pheobe shook her head. "If you can tell it I'd like you to continue."
"Don't you want me to go and tell everyone your awake?"
When Ellie didn't get a reply she sighed. "Alright, story first."
=================================================
Phebe nodded to the man who had captured Clio. "It's alright Rouvin."
Rouvin nodded, setting the wand and gem onto the table near Clio. Clio herself stood and continued to stare at the silver goddess. "Phebe what are you doing here?"
"That will take some time to explain. First, I'd like you to meet Dorien. Dorien this is Clio, I told you about her."
The young boy nodded politly. "The queen has told me much about you."
Clio nodded politely.
"Nice boy."
Phebe nodded. They sat alone in the back room with a single round wooden table and a few chairs. Clio continued. "So he's the new Charon?"
Phebe nodded. "Dorien is young, but with the proper training he could become a great warrior and perhaps lead Charon out of it's depression."
Clio nodded. "Three years and you've finally found what you were looking for. She must have been very important."
"Charon saved my life."
"And you save her planet in return. Tell me, will the other Sailor Soldiers accept a male guardian?."
Phebe sighed. "Clio, don't make this a feud."
"They've always resented me Phebe, you know that. I'm not even a real Sailor Soldier and because of that they don't think I belong with them."
"They'll get over it. This happens to be the first time a planet has been created by mortal hands, it's not an easy thing to accept. They just need some time."
"Time may not be on our side."
Phebe looked at her friend in confusion. "Clio?"
"Phebe are you aware of whats been happening lately?"
Phebe shook her head. "There isn't much incoming information currently on this planet."
"Phebe, Uranus is gone. The planet of Venus was consumed. My planet is facing the same fate and in a few minutes another planet is going to be consumed."
Nothing could hide the shock in her voice as Phebe stared at the Astral queen. "By what?"
"We call if The Black Phage. We have no idea where it's come from. It just came out of nowhere, nobody could detect it. Uranus, then Venus and Clios at the same time. It..by the stars it split. It's going to split again!"
"Clio calm down, explain it to me."
Clio nodded, taking a deep breath before continueing. "It split after Uranus, one went after Venus and the other after Clios. The one on Clios should be dormant if the shield hasn't broken yet, but Venus is going to split in two..the phage will. It's like it has a mind of it's own."
"I don't understand it, no one could detect it?"
"I can feel it, and the Moon seemed to detect it. but all the other planets didn't sense anything."
"That doesn't make any sense Clio. Clio?"
Phebe looked at her friend. Clio's eyes had flown wide open for a brief moment, her face turned to shock. "It's coming here Phebe, our time is up."
Parthenie looked out to the sky at the black cloud. People were screaming as it neared closer. Folding her hands together the young girl said a silent prayer to the stars and retreated into the palace to join the Sailor Soldiers.
The main tower had been determined as the focal point of energy. It was there the technique would be conducted. Parthenie had been very strict about the position, taking every detail into account but if she had had the time to spare the girl would have done a more thourough search for a better focal point. Still, the main tower would serve the purpose it was needed for.
She nodded to the six sailor soldiers as she stepped withen the middle of the circle she had created. It was always good to have a center power to focus on. The entire process could have done well enough without one on desperate circumtances but the technique proved much more effective when one or more channeled the power.
"Now, as I instructed you must join hands and follow my lead. Call upon your inner power of the planets when your energy reaches it's peak, and it is absolutly vital that your energies be syncronized. I will guide you through the process."
As the mist black nightmares descended upon the moon Parthenie raised her hands. "Great celestial stars guide us and protect us. The power of my ancestors runs through me as sure as blood. The energy withen gathered for my task. I call upon my power!"
Closing the gap between her hands Parthenie closed her eyes in deep meditation, signaling her ready to the soldiers.
Neptune bowed her head and closed her eyes as she was the first to lend her power. "Neptune Power."
"Mars Power."
"Earth Power."
One by one each soldier called upon their respective planets. Each felt their aura ignite as the colors of light became revealled in plain sight.
Parthenie breathed in slowly, maintining deep concentration as she assisted in synchronizing the auras. In one breif instand the soldier's heads faced upard as their auras conected to Parthenie. Jerking her head up in trance the aura filtered out in a column of white light, descending in a dome around the castle and the kingdome, reaching to the edges of the mare serenitis.
The phage shrieked in surprise as those already withen it's confines disipitated and those outside it's reach were repelled.
They had all four broke into a dead run, the ghastly forms of death following close behind like the waves of an ocean.
They were all stopped as another waved advanced in front of them. Immedietly they made a sharp turn, ducking into the ally. Clio closed her eyes in concentration, calling upon her power, forcing a shield around them for a brief second. The two waves connected, curving upwards and away from the shield, allowing enough time for the four to reach the ship.
"Come on.." Clio slammed her hand on the door, letting it unlock to her signal. The group crowded in immediatly, just as another wave began it's second advance.
Rouvin took the controls as the wave descended upon them. As the phage closed down upon them the vessel slid out from beneath, propelling into the sky as the misty forms chased after them.
"Clio!"
Clio glanced over at Phebe's sudden cry before she noticed the black vapors that formed the angel advancing upon her. It was a pain like no other as the creature began rippin through her soul.The screams of her commrades became so distant, her mind cried out for release from the pain she was experiencing. Her eyes closed, desperatly trying to focus her mind strained to shut out everything around her. It came as a sudden explosion of energy, an uncontrolled amount of magenta and purple energy that spread out in every direction. Her eyes widened before going blank, She would control this planet! these people like so many others. Here they would rule unopposed. Her entire body began to jerk as thousands of fractured images passed through her mind. A final shriek as human and beast both cried out and the angel fled from the astral queen before dissipating. Her last image as she slipped into unconciousness was of Clios as the phage finally descended down upon it.
Rouvin bent down placing two of his fingers over her pulse. Dorien watched nervously as Clio lay still, her eyes trapped in their blank look. "How is she?"
Rouvin shook his head. "Can't tell, we have no idea what that thing could have done to her."
He frowned as he looked again at the sleeping astral. There had been rumors about this girl, legends about her power but laying on the floor this way she looked nothing like the stories which had been told about her. Rouvin himself had been one of the top knights in Charon's court. When his lady had been killed he went underground and took it upon himself to help the refugees of Vladimer to safety. His young charge Dorien had lived on Charon all of his young life and Rouvin had only come across the child two years ago. He had been orphaned by then and it was Rouvin who had chosen to take the boy under his wing. Only less then twwo weeks ago had they been blessed by Phebe's visit, when she had found Charon's star seed withen the small 12 year old.
Phebe kneeled down and gave her friend a gentle nudge. "Clio."
Immediatly the girl bolted, shrieking as she launched herself at the silver goddess. On instinct Rouvin pulled the queen out of Clio's path, letting the girl grasp air as she fell on the floor.
Phebe looked at Clio worriedly. "Clio?"
The violet braided queen shook her head, rising to her hands and knees, her eyes returning to their normal appearence. Still Rouvin held the moon queen back from the girl, watching Clio carefully for any signs of danger.
Slowly Clio nodded. "I'm alright now."
She grabbed onto one of the seats, pulling herself up. Right away she regretted standing so quickly as her hand moved to her head in a vain attempt to suppress a migrane. Phebe pulled away from her 6 foot tall protector to check on Phebe.
"What was that?" Questioned the young boy.
Clio rubbed her head some more, sitting down. "That was a phage." She glanced at the boy. "Sure your ready to be a guardian?"
Dorien nodded. "I lived on Charon all my life, mom used to tell me stories about how beutiful the planet used to be. I want to make it shine again."
"What happened Clio?"
Clio looked at Phebe before leaning back in the seat. "I did the only thing I could do, I released my energy."
"It nearly destroyed you."
"But it worked didn't it? This Black Phage thinks, it's not just random Phebe. It's been plotting all this time. They've taken over other solor systems and we're next on the list."
"That would explain why they went after Uranus first."
"I thought they would attack Mars first."
Phebe shook her head. "No, Mars isn't widely known for training. Uranus contains many of the best soldiers."
Clio looked at Phebe. "That explains it."
"They must have known about our detection systems, found a way to get past it. Clios and the Moon System were brand new though, they probably missed it."
"Or didn't see it as a threat. Clios was one of the first planets they went after, they must have known about it before they attacked."
"They must follow something."
All eyes fell upon Dorien. The young guardian continued. "They look so organized, it's as if they have a collective conscience."
Clio nodded "Your already thinking like a guardian. We have to get back to the moon."
Phebe shook her head. "We can't, it's been consumed."
Clio looked at her friend and nodded. "Hopefully Parthenie was able to call the shield in time."
"What about Clios, you said it was protected."
Clio shook her head sadly. "Clios is gone, I saw it become consumed just before I passed out."
"Then we'll have to find the queen."
Clio looked at the Moon Goddess. She was still so determined after all of this, after so many planets and people had met their fate? The entire idea seemed hopeless and ridiculous. The same dance over again got exausting. In three years still nothing had changed and it was surprising how much they managed to stay the same. "And do what? Destroy her so we can sit and wait 3 more years for a bigger better enemy?"
Phebe looked at Clio in shock. "Clio."
"It's always the same Phebe, why should it be any different? Fate doesn't want us to exist. Right now my entire family, everyone I know is either dead or dieing. By the stars we're facing an army of billions!."
"At least we can try Clio. Things have been bad before, we'll win."
Clio smirked. "Is that how you see it Phebe? As winning? Who wins doesn't matter, we'll always lose everything in the end. Even if we do manage to beat this by some miracle, your Sailor Soldiers won't accept me. They'll keep resenting me for who I am."
"Your a sailor soldier too clio."
"No Phebe. I'm just a soldier, A replacement, A freak playing princess."
"No one has ever called you a freak Clio!"
"Why not? It's just as well they should. Thats who I am isn't it? An astral princess. But astrals aren't supposed to be princesses are they? Or ambassedors, or any position that holds much importance. Yes Phebe, I'm a freak."
Phebe's mouth dropped in shock and disbelief. "I don't believe you. Is that all you can think about? How you've suffered?"
"I'm the last of eight sisters, I watched Terpsichore die on that stake! I bet you didn't know that did you? How she was still alive when I saw her hanging there? The pain I felt? Your Sailor Soldiers despise me, refuse my help, my advice. They hate the fact that I can channel their powers! That I'm the guardian of the sailor gem."
"So thats how it is. All you can think about is yourself! You don't care about anyone, the lives of your people. Was stopping Vladimer just an act of revenge?"
"Don't make this into an act of selfishness!"
"But thats what it is! I believed in you Clio. The Sailor Soldiers would have accepted you if you gave them a chance! But you didn't, you complained constantly, crying out how you were the victim in everything!"
"Astrals were dieing, they ignored it!"
"Maybe so Clio, but did you ever consider that they might have regretted it? That they were sorry? Your not the only one whose suffered, don't make that mistake! So what if your not a Sailor Soldier? Being a Sailor Soldier doesn't come from powers Clio, or special abilities. It doesn't come from a glowing symbol on your forhead, or a uniform. You want to know what makes a Sailor Soldier Clio? It comes from the heart! From thinking about others besides yourself! Never giving up! But you can't see that Clio, all you can see is yourself! and I'm sorry I didn't notice it earlier."
Everything grew deathly silent as the words sunk in. No one had ever heard the Queen yell, she never lost patience, until now. The fact that her patience was lost with one of her closest friends only shocked them further. Clio didn't move from her seat, she stared at the silver goddess, unable to utter a word in her defense.
Phebe sighed, bowing her head. "Rouvin, I'll be in the dress room."
"No." Clio finally spoke, standing to her feet. "I'll leave."
Without another word she turned around and stepped into the small closet space, shutting the door behind her.
It was hours before anyone came back to check on her, it didn't bother Clio much. She needed time to think and the silence of such a small area helped to clear her head. She wasn't selfish was she? No she couldn't but the more she thought about it made Clio relize the truth. She'd let the years turn her bitter, it was hard to remember a time when she had done a selfless act. Her heart felt sore for the way she had acted. Nobody wanted to hate her, she had been the one to push them all away.
"Miss Clio?"
Clio looked up as the young guardian of Charon entered the room. He carried with him a small plate of fruits and vegitables neatly arrainged together. "I was wondering if you might be hungry, everyone else has already eaten."
Clio nodded quietly, taking the plate out of the boy's hands. "Thank you Dorien."
When the boy didn't leave she looked up at him questioningly. "Theres something else?"
Dorien nodded. "We're looking for that queen. If we stop it, maybe we can save the planets."
Clio nodded, when the boy still hadn't left she looked back, waiting for the child to speak again.
"I thought you were nice. Not selfish at all."
"Thank you Dorien, but Phebe is right, I do think about myself a lot."
"you can change that right? You can help us."
Clio shook her head. "Go back to Phebe Dorien, please."
The young boy nodded timidly as he backed out of the room and closed the door. Clio sighed as she tried to nibble on an apple. The innocence of Dorien stayed locked in her mind, a feeling that knawed on her heart. She smiled slightly. Phebe could really pick them, she could manage to get 9 different people in the same room and have them get along in a matter of seconds. Sighing she stood up and opened the door. All eyes turned to Clio as she spoke. "If your going to stop this, you need to get all of them at once."
==================End of Part 4=================
"Is that all?"
Ellie shook her head. "No I don't think so, I just can't remember the rest. I'll have Setsuna tell you the rest when your feeling better. Right now you should get some sleep."
Pheobe nodded, laying back against her pillows as Ellie slipped out the door.