I have to post this now or this story will become this mariners' Albatros.
Please forgive typos etc.
C&C Welcome....or, if you feel particularly crative MST3k it...
Oh the pain this puppy has put me though.....
It has nothing to do with any of my other Sailor Monn stuff.
As I say later this originally was supposed to be a one or two
page joke in style....it got bigger.
Neil
Submitted for your dis-approval.
an idea I just thought up while we were talking about books this evening
which moved from being a paragraph spoof to something a little larger.
All twisted ideas to bring this all together mine. mine. mine. 1997.
All characters belong to their respective owners Nako Takeeuchi,
D.I.C.,Bandai,Saban,Toei Animation etc.,
as well as the original plot ant title which also belongs
to it's respective owner...M.Moorcock.
All of this stuff used totally without permission ( except
for those of the meninblack (as in The Stranglers: Gospel
according to the Meninblack) Who beamed this into my
head from the power lines next door and commanded me
to write it....no reallly....)
(Like they REALLY REALLY care about all of this and could send the
red-Hounds of Arnwen after me if they felt like it ...as
well as lawyers.)
Don't sue me I have a hungry computer to upgrade and I
cry easily.
*******************
Presented 'cross Shadow for your viewing....pleasure.
A Fragmented suggestion of
Robyn Duke of Amber
Knight of the Unicorn
Earl of Penba
*************
Sitting next to a half-dunk glass of water on the night-stand was
a golden broach. The broach reflected the moon high up above in
shimmers of silver and cast what could only be called shadows of light
into the bedroom.
Soundlessly the lid opened of it's own accord,
and inside a smaller moon began to call to it's mother outside.
The girl moaned in her sleep and shifted restlessly muttering a name.
A black cat awoke to find herself curled at the foot of an
empty bed.
***************
She dreamt of water. She felt the moist lightness of the spray, could
taste salt upon her lips. Seabirds called like restless spirits. She
dreamed.
*****
SAILOR ON THE SEAS OF FATE
a Sailor Moon fanfic.
******************
She could see a little better, that was something at least.
When she had first woken in the darkness she had found that deductions
rather than anything else had furnished her surroundings.
She had awoken to the sounds of the sea and soft rocking a motion which
had lulled her in a situation that would probably have usually sent her
screaming.
The sea and not a lake she decided, because of the salt tang in the air
and the damp chill also particular to the experience.
She had risen from her bed (or rather her bunk, to be more accurate) in
the darkness with the strange feeling she had been in a boat (a ship?) like
this before. Standing unsteadily she also realized she had somehow gained
her "sea legs" of this particular memory as she found
her body adjusting to the rolling motions. She felt more confident in her
movements as well and not as gawky as she could often be.
Wherever she was it was dark save
for a small sullen glow at about waist height. Moving foreword, her arms
carefully outstretched she soon found that whatever the object, it was on
what appeared to be a table made up of rough boards.
getting closer to the glow she also saw she could see an odd outline (a
jar?...no some sort of....lamp!)
Gingerly to avoid burning herself (oh how she hated burning herself) she
managed to locate a small know which when turned caused the wick to rise
and with it the flame..
She could make out more now that she had found the rather antique lantern
and in it's golden (though still a little red)light and surveyed her
surroundings.
She was in a low cabin - it's top just a little over a foot over her head.
Although small however it was decidedly nice. It was richly panelled
with a fawn colored wood which rose from a dark border about midway
from the floor to the ceiling and topping that were dark muddled looking
borders which upon closer inspection (mind how you hold the lamp, she
thought) revealed themselves to be richly carved knotworks of roses. The
cabin was sparsely furnished but again the richness was evident in the
simplicity of design - a low bed (not a bunk at all!!) with a down mattress
and quilted coverlet, a chair and footstool, a wardrobe and a small chest
nestled at the foot of the bed. Overhead also, depending from a slight
chain of silver was a globe-shaped lamp made of a creamy almost
ivory-coloured glass girded about with silver tracings.
She decided not to mess about with the lamp...after all she really didn't
use these things on a regular basis and the idea of fiddling with the
thing filled her with visions of it crashing to the floor.
So caught up with the situation she neglected one small thing - how she
had gotten here and the realization of this came to her suddenly as she
sat down with a slump on the chair (it had a small but still comfortable
cushion on the seat.).
Kidnapped?
Drugged and taken while asleep (she WAS still wearing her nightgown)
Some sort of romantic gesture... a dreamy cruise.
...a dreamy cruise??? A dream???
A dream, she decided and felt a good deal better.
She'd done this sort of thing before...remembered something of her old
life in a dream and then carried those memories to light in the
day....except usually she didn't realize it was a dream until it was over.
Oh well, there's a first time for everything. Maybe her Prince would come
through that little door soon and...well...there WAS a bed over there and
she really wasn't a little girl any more...was she? She felt a flush rise
to her cheeks.
No matter how hard she tried she had never had dreams about......well....
THAT.
Well, she'd had dreams but they were just the fuzzy ordinary kind and
didn't give her the information she really...ah...desired (?).
No, that wouldn't do at all..maybe her dream had given her something to put
on that was a little more...substantial....in the face of possible...she
felt her face burning now and hurried over to the wardrobe.
She yanked it open and let out a stifled scream before she realized the
"monster" that had leapt out at her was a mirror on the inside of the door.
(A sort of a "yeep!" the annoying part of her which paid special
attention to all the stupid things she did noted smugly, and then
memorized it for future failures in confidence.)
She let out a shuddering breath and hoped nobody would come into her room
and wake her for it before she actually met Him.
She looked inside the wardrobe and found...her Sailor Moon costume?
At least "A" Sailor Moon costume.
Maybe she was having another sort of dream entirely - some sort of
"examine your feelings" dream like she had read about in one of her
friends idol magazines.
She sighed and resignedly got dressed.
Afterwards she looked in the mirror and frowned...she was Sailor Moon now
(or at least looked like it) but hadn't transformed or anything...just put
the uniform on like she would get dressed normally. It felt a little like
cheating somehow.
And somehow, The uniform was different.
The skirt was a little longer, actually quite a bit longer and fell to
about mid-knee and it seemed to be made of a heavier weave
of material. The top also seemed both stronger and yet more comfortable.
It was almost contradictory in what it did actually, It fit tighter and
more form-fitting but it also afforded, - well, both modesty and support.
Her uniform as a Scout usually appeared with no real um...boundaries between
it and her skin and although she was not as "talented" as some, it
occasionally made her feel a little self-conscious and uncomfortable.
There were other differences as well, her boots were more supple and less
glossy and had half- cups of metal studded onto them where they protected
her knee-caps. They also had a lower and more solid heel and when she
moved she in front of the mirror she seemed oh so much more poised.
Her tiara felt the same as ever, warm and silken gold about her brow
fitting like it was a part of her...The inset silver and crystal crescent
at the brow seemed to wink at her in a teasing and comforting way and say
"This is my place. I am the mantle of a Princess."
She had found the tiara nestled on a low shelf at the top of the
wardrobe, it and a wooden case. The case was a low box, finely carved with
a veritable garden of tiny roses and vines twining about it's redly oiled
surface except where the case opened with a crescent clasp. The broach at
her breast had been there and when she had faced it she had felt hesitant
again, her fingers hovering over the slightly bulging golden disc.
It seemed smaller somehow as well as more, well threatening
...usually it was just something she wore...part of her, and her outfit
but now she sensed an otherness and a power in it.
She had opened it briefly and seen the crystal within, a shape that
seemed part of her soul but also a power so overwhelming she could hardly
stand it. It had whispered to her of things she did not or could not or
would not understand and she had listened further as it has seemed to
whisper of calm and of eventual understanding... and also of sleep. She
had closed the case then and reluctantly pined it on. It was part of her
after all.
And of course, it was only a dream.
Gazing at the mirror she still looked uncomfortably different. Maybe it
was a costume after all - not the real thing.
It was time for a test.
She moved over to the table and after removing the glass began to
hesitantly lower her hand to the lamps' open flame.
Hopefully fire in dreams didn't hurt that badly if you just *touched*
them quickly.
Nope nothing.
She did it again and forced herself to keep it there a little longer.
Nope.
She repeated the process a few more times of increasing duration until
convinced that she could do it indefinitely. More tentative experiments
showed that her exposed arm had similar reactions until she actually
removed a glove and received a blister on her thumb as a reward.
She popped it into her mouth whimpering.
She saw the girl in the mirror - a blubbering big baby.
She removed the thumb, sniffed and stuck her tongue out at the reflection
who spitefully did the same.
Well that was neat she thought but now I'm bored....Hey, wait, what's in
the chest?
What if it's a naughty little outfit for me that he left...or
my subconscious made up....Maybe it's food...!
Her stomach rumbled it's own opinion and made up her mind.
It was not food.
It was not a naughty piece of lace.
The weapon was a mace, not a scepter, although it could possibly be used
as such.
It had a long haft with a silver pommel capped with a blood-red garnet.
Winding all along it's handle up to it's head it was inscribed with a
faint tracery of glowing runes and thick silver wire. Nearing the ball it
flared slightly and was inset with a series of small golden stars. This
led to a fluting of wing-like veins which although were not sharp cold be
used to catch an opponents weapon and possibly turn it.
(How had she known that? She remembered hours on the practice floor being
drilled in everything from staves to daggers, her mother occasionally in
the sidelines watching in silent approval or sometimes sparing with her
herself. She remembered catching the armsmasters' sword with a mace designed
to be similar to this so she would understand how it felt. - laughing as
the light of cool glowing crystal flashed on the flying blade.)
She shuddered and although did not want to continued to look at the mace
drawn like she was in a cobras' gaze.
The head of the mace was like a great ruby made into a ball.
(Like a deadly candy-apple another part of her commented.)
A red crystal which when she stared at it seemed to pulse dimly with her
own heart-beat.
It was attached to the main haft by a crescent of metal, golden but not
gold. Upon examination she found the edge of the crescent was not sharp as
she had first guessed, but rather the crescent tapered to a narrow
flattened edge - harmless to handle but able to act as a splitting wedge
with enough force behind it.
She felt her face crinkled in distaste at the idea of the thing splitting
skulls (Splitting skulls? Maybe it was time to cut down on those shonen
samurai comic books).
It was pretty in a spooky sort of way.
She shuddered at this weapon, so similar to her scepter yet so
different and sinister.
Yet somehow she was also drawn to it and found herself making exploratory
swings with it.
The mace had the same feel in her hands - as if it was an extension of
her body - a deadly extension.
She set the mace down upon the bad and examined the other contents of
the chest.
Two things remained within.
A thick and worn leather belt darkened with oil and age lay coiled
like some serpent at the bottom. She pulled it out to reveal its'
plain heavy crescent buckle and a small row of gems cut in the shape
of stars set in its front. She fastened the heavy thing about her
waist and looked to find a last object, a partial tube of leather
- oddly shaped, and laced with thongs, with slits
for the belt ( - a holster like cowboys use? No, a scabbard).
She unbuckled the belt and attached the thing and then after trying
several different methods found a way to hang the mace so it
didn't bump her leg too much as she walked.
She was practicing (or attempting) some form of quick-draw
when she heard a light tap at the door (lunch, her stomach
thought.).
"Come-come in." She said hesitantly, a little afraid.
It was 'Lita, (strange person to put in her erotic fantasy a part
of thought) a dressed strangely in more of the same sort of
"Conan the Barbarian" sort of stuff that her belt belonged to.
"Hi 'Lita ! Are you having the same dream as I am ?" She
asked cheerily (stranger things have happened).
The girl looked at her in a confused way and blinked a few
times before speaking in a strong alto.
"I think you may have confused me with someone else M'lady."
"Nope. You're you all right." But wait, now that the girl had
entered Serena noticed differences. The girl looked like
her strong friend but there were several things that stood out
as different. This girl she noticed, was deeply tanned and had,
many, many small pink lines running up and down her arms as if
she had been cut many times and then healed. Many different
times for the scars ran from differing amounts of pinkness
to pale white.
The girl's face (no woman some part of her corrected for this
person was also older - or at least seemed that way) was also
lined with lines of great tiredness and looked like it had seen more
hardship.
"Um...ah" You look like a friend of mine." Serena said
abashed.
"Don't worry," The woman said, You are the second person in the
last week that's thought I was someone else. Myself," She
smiled "I'm always mistaking people for my first lover.
"Ah. " Serena tried to nod brightly, some things never change...wait
a minute....did she say LOVER??
Serena looked at this girl and wondered if she had needed to hear
that. The statement that this girl had mad did however make her
wonder how "close" 'Lita and her old boyfriend had really been.
"Um, If you're not 'Lita who are you?" She asked, forgetting to offer to
introduce herself.
The woman smiled. "They said you were a fearless one and would demand
answers even when finding yourself in such a place."
(They? Who was fearless...her? Where was she?)
"Well," The woman continued, " I have been known by many names but my true
calling is Panthesilea - Leia or lea if you'd like."
Serena felt better knowing the woman's name but still knew nothing else
about what was going on in this dream.
I'mm glad to meet you Leia." Serena said, embaressed but curious
can I ask you a question?
"Most certainly."
Where are we?"
"At sea." Leia answered. "Although 'tis no sea upon which I've ever
sailed. Some here say it is all seas in all worlds but that just confuses
me for how could we be in all places but none."
as she was saying this Leia lit the cabins' main light with a taper thin
taper which she produced from a small holder on the wall Serena had missed
and then turned the wick down so that the globe glowed faintly with a
silvery light.
"Any more than that, such as why you are hear I will leave up to our
Captian.
"Uh-huh." Serena nodded uncomprehendingly as she watched rather than
felt this process of illumination. She felt all at sea by the others'
answer. It made no sense,
But... somehow she also knew that Leia was not lying. At least she believed
that she was telling the truth. Serena of course was determined to find
out more.
"Would you care to join the others now in the Captains' Mess? We've known
you would arrive but not when and only five short minutes ago did the
captain say you had arrived and had properly garbed yourself."
Leia looked in amusement at the crumpled bunny sleepers which lay
upon the bed.
Serena, missed the look concentrating on the others' words.
"Captain's mess?" She asked, " What happened, did he spill something? I'm
sometimes a little clumsy myself. Who has to clean it up?"
"She." Leia corrected. "And no. I said Captains' Mess the place where the
captain and his officers dine not the captain's mess." By tone she
capitalized the words first spoken.
"Oh....food. Food! Yummy." Serena grabbed Leia's arm and headed out the
door. "Oh I hope they have red-bean buns and the officers are cute."
***
The passageways in the ship were narrow and Serena was forced to let her
new friend lead her. They were also dimly lit and she wondered at the
reason. She had obviously somehow missed electricity in her dream and
as they moved about the narrow ways belowdecks she constantly tried to
will a few normal light into existence to replace the dully glowing
lanterns.
She didn't quite manage it but had started to get a bit of a headache
either from lack of food or concentration.
Although they passed several doors none was the right one and strangely
although Serena could hear voices and laughter within some of the rooms
the corridors themselves were empty.
"Where is everybody?" She asked Leia.
"Either up topside about their duties or enjoying what time they have to
rest." She replied."Sometimes time plays funny tricks on a woman and it's
best to use what you have wisely."
Serena nodded at this again without a clue to what the other was saying.
Soon they arrived at a door that was unlike any other. The other doors
had been made of the same wood as the ship, a deep dark ruddy wood. This
one was inset with pale blond woods and dark mahogany. It was carved and
inlaid with fantastical shapes, loops and curls and strange words in no
language Serena had ever seen. It was also furnished with silver fittings
which seemed strangely free of any taint of corruption by the sea.
Those must be awful to polish she thought.
Leia rapped upon the door.
"Come in, We've been waiting."
The voice was unfamiliar but somehow Serena had heard it before, or at
least the calm and self-assured authority with which it spoke.
Leia opened the door and waited for Serena to enter.
Taking a deep breath to settle her nerves she stepped through the door
and into the Captain's Mess.
And gasped.
The cabin was lit in a rich golden light which emanated from burnished
lanterns which hung like small suns from golden chains. The lamplight
reflected off the cabin walls which again were made of a rich blond wood
different from the rest of the gloomy ship.
The light however was not what made the girl gasp although it did cause
her to blink several times, it was the shillowtte outlined in the
strong light. For, along with with the faces of several whom she did not
know was the outline of a familiar face - a close friend.
"Amy!" Serena cried and rushed foreword only to stop suddenly and
stumble as the figure rose and the face turned toward hers and reveal
the large strawberry birthmark on the opposite side of the other
girls face.
"I...um ...er..." She stammered taken with the sudden strangeness of
it all. It wasn't as if the mark frightened her or she found it
offenceive, it was simply the fact that it had never been there before.
"Yes?" The other girl replied, her voice a murmer, similair to Amy's
voice but with somethng else... a strenght of confidence that was often
missing form her tone.
Serena struggled to reply to no avail and felt her face grow red.
"Don't worry Serena" A voice said. "I myself made the same mistake before
you boarded. May I introduce you to the Lady Mist."
THe almost-Amy nodded her hed in greeting.
"We often see the faces of those we love when we are apart
from them worn by strangers..." The speaker continued. "but in this case
simply consider this stranger a friend you have not met."
"Who?" Serena managed to croak and was rewarded with one of the other
diners rising to greet her.
"Do you not know me Serena? You who adventured with me in the
Ice Mountains?" the girl looded at her expectantly.
Serena looked at her closely : She looked to be close to Serena's age
and height.but that was where resembalence ended for the other
girl wore a suit of armour such Serena had seen in the Museum when she
had gotten lost there during the last school trip.
She wore a coat of black chain-mail and over it what seemed
to be some kind of black apron or pinafore with a large rose
embroydered on it in brilliant red.
As if that wasn't enough to set the girl apart she also had hair of
the most brilliant candy-floss pink. Lots of it too Serena guessed,
as it was looped and plaited about her head in elaborate braids.
Serena turned wide-eyed and looked at the girl and then shook her head.
"I'm sorry, if I had seen you, and been with you I think I would have
remembered." She said. "I suppose it was someone else."
The pink-haired girl sighed and looked ready to speak.
"Indeed," another spoke up. and the girl turned and listened
as Serena did.
"Our friend Rose the Red says that she also
once travelled and adventured with me for a time."
The speaker was a pale girl with skin like ivory.
"I do not remember this but suppose in one way or another it is
quite probably true." She sighed. She had delicate features and
wide expressive blue eyes which hinted that she knew many things which
caused her pain.
"I find that time is never quite what you think it is and often
this causes mistakes. But I am sorry, I have not introduced myself."
"I am," she continued, "known by many names, most of them not my own
choosing. I have been called Dotter-Slayer, Usagi-friend killer,
Silver Queen and a name spoken to me by my beloved which I cannot
speak. I am Selene."
Serena was awed by this woman and not just a little frightened.
She seemed that se would stand much taller than herself and probably
could (if her seated poise was an indication) move with the grace
of a ballet dancer. She wore a small silver circlet attached to a
half- veil which covered her hair. that which escaped it was
was like spun ice. She too wore black although what she wore under it
was hidden in a freatureless robe.
"Don't be afraid." Selene said in tones surpriseingly warm and
with her eyes filled also with a light that made Serena feel more at
ease.
"Names do not make people either better or worse than they
are inside and to be called a horrible name may actually
make a person stronger. I have been called such names
as Dotter-Slayer indeed but as to it's truth? " She laughed
and looked a litte surprised that she could have
produced such a sound. "I love my Small Lady as much as the whole world
-maybe more."
Serena was surprised at these words and wonderd at someone so obiously
only a few years older than herself having a child. She guessed it
was possible... well knew it was.
She bluushed.
Selene saw her blush and laughed again , a harmless thing innocent laugh.
"I can guess what you think and there's no harm in't,
for you are still young. But, yes, I have indeed been both a bride and a
mother and, after some thought I will tell you the secret name my one true
love calles me by. I will tell only you and it shall be our trust.."
Selene smiled mysteriously and gestured Serena to her.
The others could tell that things usually weighed most heavy on
this great lady and they let her have her small fun.
Serena drew closer to the Lady and Selene whispered into her ear.
Upon hearing the name Serena blushed furiously, but could not find
it in herself to be angry at the lady's teasing.
She supposed that if she was dreaming Selene was some soert or perfect
representation of herself which she normally kept hidden away.
If not, Then she was the victim of the strange quirk of fate that
had effected Serena. She couldn't decide. All she knew was that the
Lady told the truth for when she had leaned close to hear the woma's
words she had seen, under her headdress ,the tell-tale spindles of her
hair braids.
"Oh, so it's secrets eh?" said a laughing voice. "I have a few of those
myself."
Serena turned and saw another girl who was sitting relaxed with a golden
cup in one hand.
If Selene was an idealization of absoloute beauty (which could probably
never be achieved) then this girl was what Serena wanted to achive.
She and Serena could have been sisters in a tale, but only if this girl
was the more beautiful one an Serena the plain.
She looked like Mina, but again did not, for she wore a skirt and vest
of bronze-washed chain-mail and hanging from a broad belt
Serena could see a doubleheaded-axe sheathed in leather.
"Oh hush Vestra " another girl said and Serena saw she was wrong, this
girl could have been her sister. Well, her older and more tallented
sister. This girl was dressed in a similair fashon to herself although
her skirt was of a longer cut and her boots were a soft-dyed blue.
"But Usagi," The girl laughed with some wonderment," It's all so
strange."
"Strange or not. "The girl called Usagi said," Some secrets should
possibly stay that way."
(Out of view, Selene smiled a smile but there was also a glimmer
of a tear in her eye.
"I suppose we do all have some secrets." Rose said nodding,
Some of my own I would share gladly, Others..."she looked thoughful
" others I would not."
"I agree with you friend Rose." Usagi said.
Usagi turned to Serena. "My friend Vetra has perhaps imbibed overmuch
this day for she has shortly just come aboard and belives this a dream."
"I have not drunk enough to fill a thimble yet, but to
your other point, it is a dream." Vestra said soberly." For if it was
not, I think I would possibly go mad."
"Why?" Serena asked curious. If it was a dream as she surmised
perhaps it was someone elses.
"Well, for the sense it all makes it seems a dreem." The girl with
the long golden hair replied."I was aboard a ship bound for the
Nine Kingdoms just a short while ago and was sharpening my axe.
Without warning a great mist rose up and from it our vessel was hailed
"Are you the Silvr Branch ?" a voice called to us.
"Aye." Our captain replies and askes for the new ships' name.
None they give but again we are hailed.
"Do you have one called Vestra of the Axe aboard?" Is the cry this time
and I thought I should speak for myself.
"I am here." Shouted I "And what would you want with me?"
"Your skills" The reply.
"What coin would you pay me?" I asked for now I will admit that
curiosity had taken hold."
"What you seek." Said the voice and upon hearing that I joined them
and my sisters here to day" She gestured broadly about the table.
Whow could this not be a dream when what I look for is also a dream?"
"And what do you look for?" Another speaker asked. A woman who Serena
had seen but had yet to hear speak. She was dark-haired and looked like
Raye with the exception of her style of dress.
She wore red and black silks, a large gold hoop in one ear and
two scabborded cutlasses at her back.
"I seek a city." Vestra answered. " a city like no other made entirely
of crystal." She laughed. "A city of dream."
"No dream." Selene said in a way that seemed almost sad.
"For I have seen it and lived there."
"Lived there?" Mist cried, "Then is it true what they say about the place,
That all knowlege resides there and is free for the asking?"
"That much is true." Rose replied to her. "For I also have lived in that
city or at least it's twin. The problem is finding the right questions
to ask."
"Is it true also..." the dark-haired girl who later introduced herself as
Black Annie spoke hesitantly, "That the place has rest for troubled souls
and healing too?"
"Indeed." Replied Selene. "It's ruler promises that those who live there
shall be free of strife."
"Then why did you leave?" Usagi asked her brow slightly furrowed.
"I had my reasons." Nebulosly answerd the other.
The group broke from their conversation at the sound of a door
opening and saw a igure emerge.
"The Captain." Leia said to Serena under her breath.
The Captain was a tall woman with short wavy reddish hair.
She wore leathers of brown and dark golden tan that fitted her
athletic figure in a way that bespoke of both comfort and utility.
As she entered she seemed to survey the room and a slight smile
lit upon her face.
"It seems we are well met." She said. "Now sit you all and those who
have not dined eat your fill and I shall tell you why you
have been summoned."
Serena found hereslf seated next to Mist and Red Annie and found upon
the tabe a wide selection of savory foods which she promptly helped
herself to. All the while she listened to the Captain as she spoke.
Serena was a little startled by the woman as her skin was a
similair ivory-pale to Selene's and one other thing - Her ears, visible
with her short bob came to slightly tapered points.
Ears like these she had only seen on creatures of the Negaverse although
she sensed no such evil from this woman.
"You have been called here." The Captian started speaking. "To fight a
great evil. Perhaps the greatest evil in several thousand years."
Serena lost her appitite suddenly and sat with her fork held in mid-air.
and noticed that Usagi sat likewise.
"It seems that this universe, or rather several of them are endangered by
forces from without. These forces seek to pillage our worlds and drain
them of all their energy."
"The Dark World." Usagi whisperd.
"No, not the Dark Worlld, nor the Negaverse either." The Captain said
fixingg her gaze upon both Usagi and Serena in turn.
"No, those places themselves will be consumed as this force seeks not
energy for strenght of rule but for pure draining sustinance."
With her stare Serena looked into eyes the colour of creamy jade
and knew with startlement that their host was blind.
She shivered.
The Captains' arm stretched out and then with strange sightless
skill picked up a grape from a bunch in a silver bowl to her side.
"No, they wish to eat us and leave nothing as I would eat this grape."
She popped it in her mouth.
"How are we to stop them then if they are this powerful?" Selene asked
quietly. "For it seems such an effort would be doomed from it's
very start."
Some of the others, sharing this feeling nodded.
"Indeed it would be" The Captain said. " Except for the fact that
I have been able to summon you here."
She gestured around the table.
"Four aspects of the Champion of Light. These should be enough
along with a mighty Hero for each. Would that I could have gotten more,
but your presence together threatens the world in differing ways. To
assemble more than I had would have been true folly."
"I don't get it." Serena said. "This Champion thing."
looking about the table she saw she was not the only one.
"You are all heros in your individual lands and times."
The Captain explained, "You are all in some way set apart from others
in ways which I shall not enter into."
The Captain drank from her high golden goblet before continuing.
"Some of you heros, but some of you more than that. Some of you
posessing smoething that sets you even higher. I have sought you
out for this journey upon this ship which sails more than the sea."
"I...I'm not sure you've got the right person." Serena said hesitantly.
"I have indeed, Sailor Moon. You, Tsukino Usagi, Rose called the Red and
also Selene, sometime called Queen. You are the incarnations of the
great Champion of Light."
Serena looked at the others and gulped.
"I have called too incarnations of those heros who will aide you
in your quest: Vestra of the Double Axe, Black Annie, Queen of Corsairs,
The Lady Mist, Enchantress of Greenhaven and Panthesilea Forest-ward.
They are true and strong and will aid you when your soul tires
and steady your hand when it shakes."
"But...where..what?" Usagi asked looking almost as confused as Serena
felt.
"They are brother and sister and have come from distant realms. Places
which are so distant as to have no meaning for human minds."
The Captain answered.
" And they are named in the language of the people Tophet and Skiagram.
These being the closest to what they are called in their own foul tounge.
They have taken up residence upon an island a few days hence where we shall
sail to.
Upon that island is a ruin - perhaps of a city once called Crystal
- perhaps not. There they lie sleeping after their journey to our world
amung the Ten Planes.
You must strike them before they fully waken and eat the worlds."
Rose nodded at the Captains' words as if that would have been her plan
"I will do this." She stated, and one by one they all stated that they
would do their best to defeat this foe."
Serena surprised herself by doing so as well.
"Four Heros for four Champions." The Captian said smileing.
"And now that we have agreed, a toast to your victory."
She raised her glass and sightlessly saluted the assembled group.
The group ans an echo did likewise.
Serena coughed an spluttered as the drink burned it's way down her
throat and Black Annie had to pound her on the back. Coughing and
choking she felt the drink light a fire in her belly.
Blinking back tears from her watering eyes she was surprised
that although they laughed at her preformance none of the group
mocked her at her plight. They looked upon her with the
humor and concern of her own friends and she realized that even if she
had only really just met them -they were.
She decided to prove herself worthy of their trust and with great
verve tossed the remainder of the cup's contents down her throat.
She awoke sometime in the afternoon the next day.
Mist was sitting by her bedside reading by the pearl-soft light of
the large globe, half of her face shaded in shadow.
"You finally awaken." She said carefully placeing a ribbon in
the heavy tome to mark her place.
"I was...We were concerned for you a little."
"Ugh." Serena replied not quite aware yet. "I don't wanna write that
math test today Mom....I feel sick."
Mist smiled and shook the girl gently. "You will have no
schooling today Serena save the lesson you have already learned."
"Huh...ah..Mist?"
"Yes. We guessed from your - enthusiasm that you were rather a
stranger to drink and so I came here upon the morn to aid you."
"My head hurts."
"And so it should."
"I'll never do that again." Serena groaned and lurched upward
looking quite green. "I'll never have another drink again ...
horrible stuff."
"Here," Mist said handing Serena a glass with an enchanted potion
in it.
"Drink this."
Serena looked sicker than ever at the prospect of drinking anything
more -ever. but managed to drink the potion down. A cool refreshing drink
that tasted faintly of lemon and mint.
instantly she felt much better.
"Neither the drink nor the drinking is horrible." Said Mist,
"It is the amount and the consumption."
Serena looked at her forgetting for a second that this was not Amy
telling her to get drunk or something equally strange.
"No," Mist said."It is a matter of control. If one is no used
to drinking wine one waters it. If it is a matter of
health or constitution one simply acknowleges and understands."
Those who do not wish to drink should not. Those who do should
understand tem as they are understod. Also they should try to
understand drink."
"Wow." Serena said. "You are just like my friend Amy. You both
are really smart."
Although a confident person Mist coloured slightly at this.
"It is nothing really."
"No, but it is. Where do you learn about stuff like that?"
"Well," Mist said " various ways. I have read several works which
tell me these things, I have watched others and learned from
their actions, and....I have learned as you have."
Serena joined her in laughing.
******
Upon further investigating of her cabin she found that the wardrobe
had been stocked with other items of clothing so that she did not have
to go about dressed as Sailor Moon.
She decided that only in dreams were such important things as wardrobe
covered.
For the next few days Serena spent talking to her new friends and they
proved even more to her that this was indeed a dream.
Rose told her stories of adventure, of great Quests and proved
to have an abominable (even my Serena 's standards) sense of
humor. She also told of a time when she, Serena and Selene had adventured
together and these things although alien to Serena had a distorted
ring of a truth undiscoverd.
Leia told her tales of the land of Mannan and Lir where she lived
now and how she tried to help people by slaying the beasts
which haunted the enchanted forests of her land. She told of
her powerful sister and of the great warrior she was in love with,
a lessor noble of the King's House. She told how he had been enchanted
to forget her and had been carried off and how she searched for him.
Leia also introduced her to use of the bow and told her a little
also of the quiet forest ways, the animals and their stories and the lore
of herbs.
Vestra and Annie loved to display their abilities and taught her
more about sword-play although she felt nervous doing so and left her
mace in her cabin substituteing it for another which she borrowed.
Vestra also taught her how to play the flute although she
did so badly.
Usagi who seemed more a sister than ever, told her stories of her
four friends Hino Rei, Mizuno Ami, Kino Makoto and Aino Minako and their
strange adventures. They seemed so facinating and almost as thrilling
as Serena's own encounters in the world of magic fighting
the Negaverse.
Seline and Serena never met often during those days except when the
Champions gathered at each meal.
Neither seemed to be actively avoiding the other, it was just
(at least in Serena's case) that she felt that Seline had some great
sorrow and she did not wish to share it. Although at each meal it seemed
Seriana, the Lady Mist, Black Annie and Selene would be seated next to
each other.
Serena stared out into the mists and shivvered.
It was always the same, the ship seemed to sail inside a cloud of
fog. Whether the fog was in some way produced by the ship or had
something to do with where it sailed she didn't know and neither did
any she asked. The Captian had almost vanished since that first
night and whenever Serena sought her out directly was almost never
to be found. Yet She did appear, once or twice as the group
was eating or strolling solitary abovedecks.
When Serena had asked the Captain about the mist, the woman had simply
smiled and continued on her way.
It had been days since that first meeting and although time passed
in a strange way it passed. With each day things seemed more
and less a dream.
"I'm sick of this." Serena said looking into the curling nothing, tears
beggining to form in her eyes."I don't care whether I'm dreaming or
not. I just want to go home."
"As do I."
Absorbed in self pity Serena had not heard anyone approach and she turned,
startled.
"Don't worry little one." The newcomer said. "I feel exactly the same way."
"little one" Serena thought, She's not that much older than me...
maybe 20 at the most. She felt her startlement turn to anger.
She stared up at the brown-haired woman.
"I'm not that little."
"No," The other replied with an amused smile "I guess you aren't."
"You're one of the ones they call te champions aren't you?
"Um....Yes" Serena replied. "But I'm not sure what it means really."
"It means that you 'll probably go home or wake up before I do." The
other girl said and explaned.
" I asked the captain about it and she said that
'Although in some ways you fight for the same thing, this is not
your fight -yet.' Somehow," The girl continued smileing wryly,
"I get the impression that I'll be here a little while longer.
I' m not really sure what all of this means. I still think that
somehow this is too unreall to be actually happening, that I might
be dreaming and 'trying to come to terms with unreasonable hostility'
or something."
She laughed and Serena joined her.
"I'm not sure either." Serena admitted, "But I don't have any really
violent tendancies, Maybe it's something I ate."
"It could be that as well" the other replied grinning.
She had a nice voice and suddenly Serena wondered if she could sing.
"I'm Serena." She said extending a hand.
"Serena...hmm, That's funny, that's my middle name." The other said.
"Wow, what a coincidence." Serena said and the other girl just looked
thoughtfull.
"You know." Serena blurted, "You sure have a pretty voice."
"Why thank you."
"You wouldn't happen to be a singer would you?"
"Actually amoung other things yes."The girl replied. Spreading her hands
before her she continued "As you can see, I'm sort-of between gigs
right now. What sort of music do you like?"
"Rock and roll" Serena said. "I like the new stuff but I also like the
old stuff, no matter what my friends say."
"I like the old stuff as well." Serena's new friend replied. "Nothing
can replace a good base beat for an old headbanger"
Serena was going to ask her what she meant when Leia came up and
innterupted the pair.
"The Captain wants us to meet her belowdecks Serena. She say's we are
soon to make landfall."
Waving at her new friend Serena dashed off.
******
Serena found that despite being accompanied by Leia she had smoehow
managed to be the last one of the group to assemble.
Panting she observed the others looking at a map on the table as the
Captain waited.
"Ah, Serena, good." The Captain commented on her arrival and began to
speak to the group.
"We have just about arrived at our destination" The Captain related,
"And will soon be just off the shore. I have left till now one final
instruction which is of little consequence but great import.
After you have defeated Tophet and Skiagram you must burn them
or else they shall rise again and their defeat will be for naught.
This of course shall be provided for and before you depart you shall all
be given sealed vessles containing a substance which burns in the air.
You shall also be given oil-soaked torches better to cary this flame.
Now, If you will do one more thing more for me before you go to
arm yourselves.."
"Yes?" Vestra asked.
"On the shelf of this cabin is a bottle with a golden label, could you
bring it to me and open it?"
Vestra did as was asked and then the captain spoke again.
"This wine is the last bottle which was made in that great time of
long ago. It is made from grapes which live not here and from waters
of frost. This is the last of the decanted Spirits of the Moon
Kingdom. I would have you share it with me and drink to victory."
All agreed and goblets of the wine were poured to each and all (However
Serena noted that Usagi was also slipping some of the water from the
tables' decanter as she had done.)
"To victory." The Captain called.
"Victory." They echoed and drank and somehow in
some small way all rememberd the Kingdom that had been and would
be again.
***********
As Serena dressed again in her Sailor Moon uniform she
couldn't help but smile at the way things had turned out. Here she was,
her Serena arming herself for battle with no fear and no
regret.
Of course she reflected that might have had something to do
with the fact that she wasn't sure whether she was drreaming or not .
She fiddled with the laceing on the back of her boot. with a
deft pull she made it feel tighter. The boots were solid and did
not actually lace up but a section at the back was designed
to change the way they fitted.
Normally, (such an odd word with such ambigious meanings.) She
would simply transform and her clothing would simply form itself
by magic about her - each time a perfect fit.
This was not the case now. Now she actually had to change her
clothing and put on the uniform.
When I transform, where does what I wear go?
It was one of thos questions that made her feel a little
dizzy when she thought about it too long. It was something she had
always meant to ask Amy or Luna but somehow it always managed to
slip her mind.
She had actually tried to transform into Sailor Moon a few
times as well as trying to change back into her normal self.
All that had happened was she had ended up standing in the middel
of her cabin with a silly expression on her face (she had
watched herself in the mirror.). She was glad of one thing about
the experement -nobody had been around watching her.
She took stood and then walked over to the foot of the bed, one
last thing to do. Opening her sea-chest she removed the belt
and scabborded mace. She chinched the belt firmly about her
waist and surveyed herself in the glass. Well, she could
afford a bit more in the curves department - just a bit, she
wasn't greedy.
Oh well, If this makes any sort of real sense I willprobably
wake up after we've dealt with These two creeps - unless seing
them will scare me awake.
*unless this is real and you die* a voice which seemed to
come from inside her said *but then you've allways been afraid
that might happen*
"No." she spoke alloud in the empty room.
"No, if it's real it's real, if it's a drem...well maybe
that's a bit better but I WILL win.!"
She startled at her fierce reflectiom and closed the door of
the wardrobe with a slam.
She turned down the wick onher cabin's globe-shaped lamp (she
had learned how) and left closing the door with a
final-sounding "click" behind her.
The Champions and Heros assembled topside more or less at the
same time. Selene's customary black robe was gone and in it's
place she wore a suit of light double mail - The outside layer
silver, the inner of gold. Serena knew that gold was heavy and
it was probably sometihng else altogether. At Selen's usually
empty side hung a worn looking scabboard with the hilt a sword
protruding. The other's wore, as to their liking whatever garb
they had chosen (or possibly that someone or something had
chosen for them). Usagi's garb was similair to Serenas. Rose
wore her usual mail. Mist wore worn fighting leathers and
caried a stalf with an ornate head. About her waist was a belt
with many small curious pouches. Vestra and Leia wore chain
and leather armor with gleaming jeweled fighting harness to hold their
weapons. Serena saw Leia's weapon for the first time - a long-handled
pike with it's wide head sheeathed.
Of all the group, Black Annie was the one who wore the least
protective gear. To her normal garb of twin cutlaces, sea-boots,
wide red trousers and embroyederd white shirt she wore a pair of
bronze-banded leather bracers and her normal cheerful look of distane.
All of the group also bore a sealed metal box with the
makings of fire, a torch wrapped in oiled cloth and a waterskin.
The group disembarked under the eye of the Captain and crew, lowering
themselves over the side and down a rope ladder into the surf.
The water when they reached it was up almost to their necks
and although this seemed plenty deep for Serena, Rose marveled
aloud at how little water the ship drew.
As they ot further away from the ship the mist which always
seemed so previlant began to thin and they caught clearer
sight of their objective. The coast was wide and rocky althogh
the water that washed upon the shore was mild. Overhead a
bloated red sun sluggishly and jealously gave forth it's dull light.
They waded ashore weapons high aboce their heads until they
reached the shallows. Then outfitted themselves properly again
as they stood about on reddish rocks mad even redder by the
light.
They stood for a while and passed a water-skin about and
then began their journey inland.
The group seemed to move from one narrow canyon to another,
occaisionally crossing over rifts in the rocks where steam and
foul gasses issued.
They saw no life and now water save for a few pools of
foulness whose edges glitterd with minerals of various types
or were yellow with sulpher.
As the Heros traveled they were silent as attempts at speech
had made this empty place more desolate. At one point in their
march Vestra had tried to liven the group up with her
flute-playing but the cheery tunes made the place seem even
more lonely and inhospitiable.
They walked on.
Serena like the others sipped occaisionally from her
water-skin but strangely felt no hunger.
The rocks seemed to cast sharp shadows in a way which seemed
strange when compared to the quality and quantity of light.
Every twist and jagged bit rock cast a strong shadow,
sometimes in a shape not at all like the original.
Occaisionally they came upon strange protrubulences - odd
bits of jagged crystal in strange geometric shapes. The
crystals came in all sizes and shapes, and Serena judged that
the tallest was a little over ten feet tall. All of the
crystals had one thing in common however, they all were of
strange and sickly hues: The greens too yellow, the clear ones
dotted about inside or the worst...those which sprouted from
the earth to spill upon the ground in shards the colour of blood.
They learned that all of these were best avoided as they
could be quite dangerous.
Leia had idly picked up one of the almost-emerald stomes and
it had cut through her leather gauntlet and into the soft skin
beneath.
She had given a cry and dropped it but the damage had been
done.
The wound had been dressed and the group had continued but
Leia had begun to lag behind.
When the group had made camp several hours later (though none
could tell how long for time seemed even more distorted in
this place and the dim red sun never moved from high above)
Rose had examined the had which had begun to fester even after
such a short time.
Mist had made a poiltice of herbs mixed with their precious
water and chanted incantations over it and it had grudgingly
faded but when asked Leia had replied that it still iched and
burned.
They had bound it again even though it appeared to have
healed and it seemed as if they had dome so wisely for only a
short time later the cut had re-opend from nothing and began a
steady seeping of blood. It was not delibitating and the loss
of blood overall was minor but it did cause constant pain and
from then on.
Leia also mentioned to Serena that she seemed to have a
constant thirst but dared not drink often for fear she run out
of water.
Serena kept her confidence and also made sure she drank less
deply than she wished so that there might be water in her
flask should her friend need it.
As the party continued other shadows also began to form -strange
images of things that were not there.
These shadows which started off as indistinct blurs amoung
the red rocks gradualy became clearer and more distinct.
They seemed to be shapes as like to those of even more twisted
stones and ruins -ruins which were not there.
"I feel strange." Usagi said looking at the patterns on the
boulder-strewn red earth before her. "I feel like I'm
looking at some sort of puzzle where none of the pieces
actually fit."
"Yes." Rose nodded "And that perhaps you had seen the piuzzle
before?""
Usagi nodded and then gasped for as they rounded a curve in
the narrow canyon they walked in they saw signs of habitation,
or rather the lack.
The group stopped for a second and looked silently at the
beggining of a great plain filled to overflowing with ruins
From where they stood the land decended onto a great plain
which streched to the distance.
Across this plain were ruins as far as the eye could see.
Ruins without number.
Ruins of all shapes and sizes and all strewn about them
glittering with a sick evil light more of the blighted crystals.
"The Captian said that the creatures, the scorcerors had
laired within a city. The city onece possibly known as
Crystal. This indeed looks like the place." Rose said all of
this in a strained voice as if by the act of speaking she had
pronounced some doom.
"But... but it's HUGE." Serena protested "How are we supposed
to find anyone or anything in all of that.....it will take
forever."
"The center." Selene softly stated as if in a trance. "They will be
at the center. They always are."
"What?" Usagi asked startled.
Selene seemed to shake herself from whatever dream she had
fallen and then repeated in a brisker tone.
"it is always the way of those who seek power to strike at
the very heart of what they wish to destroy."
Mist nodded as if she had come to the same conclusion.
"But..but then this is the Crystal City." Vestra spoke
brokenly. "This is the grand center of all where healing of
the heart may be found?"
"It may or may not have once been." Selene replied to her in
a curiously controled tone "Or," she continued, "It could be
every failed conception of that place - every dream not-quite
dreamed. a whisper of a promice lost in the cosmic wind."
"I...I don't understand." Vestra was beggining to shake with
agitation.
"Is all that I have looked for simply nothing...a waste?"
"No," Serena spoke and somehow knew that what she was saying
was right but had no idea how she knew it. "No, This place is
filled with the broken cities of thos who stopped dreaming -or
somehow forgot how to." She felt tears sting her eyse. "This
is the place where dreams die. It is a distorted refletion of
hope, and a place of fear. This is where the unfinished
stories lie."
Selene nodded. "That, and those stories which we refuse to
tell. This is a place where a mother never gave her soul and
spirit to save her only child. This place had no rose gardens
- only thorns, and no young lovers to meet there.
Any duels fought here ended in the deaths of both fighters and
the breaking of hearts."
"But why is it so....different, the buildings seem to be from
different times, different worlds" Vestra was crying and blood
from Leia's hand left deeper red upon the red earth.
"It is because.." Selene was interuppted by Annie's cry.
"Over there. that shattered dome, I'd swear 'twas not there
a blink afore!"
"It wasn't." Selene said sadly.
"This place grows."
"The sorcerers?" Mist asked uncertain from her tone that she
wished to hear the answer.
"No." Selene answered. "This place shall always grow. Nothing
but the final ending can change that. It grows from hatred and
from spite and shall always be as we see it...that is if it or
the rest of the universe survives. Each instant it get's
bigger. The sorcerers most likely chose this place because
it's Darkness would best feed their type of hunger."
"But... " Annie's voice had the same confusion as Vestra's
"But if it grows and never stops growing... will it not end
everything anyway."
"No." Rose responded and she to had tears in her eyes "No,
because as Selene said this place is but a distorted
reflection of another City made of Crystal. A place," she said
slowly "Where my mother dwells."
"I think we have a job to finish." Serena said and her doubts
for the moment were quelled.
"I think you are right." Said Usagi.
With this, there was really nothing more to say. They
decended as one onto the plain of the grey city
whose name may or may not have been Crystal. The four
Champions and their Heros knew that they had to defeat this
threat or die. They also knew that if they died it matterd
not...only that they succeed. Death was a promice not a threat
which whisperd in their hearts but they went forth anyway.
As they passed through the ruins Serena noticed something that
sent raised the soft down on the back of her neck. Up until
now the red-rocked terrain and it's accomanying shadows had
been strange and errie but now she saw something that simply
spooked her. She had noticed as she walked that the shadows
of the buildings did indeed act as a form of a distorted mirror.
Although most of the ruins that they now passed through were
made up mainly by broken arches, shatterd walls and an
occaisional colloum, the shadows which they cast were of whole
(abet stranfe-looking) buildings.
Hesitating she mentioned this to Annie who now walked
alongside her.
"I know." The girl repled in a tight lipped manner, her face
pale.
"But try not to look at them."
"Why?"
"look at your own shadow and then if you need ask. Do it."
Serena glanced down.
By rights she should not have been able to see anything as
the sun still hung overhead but then, by all rights she should
have been able to see none of the other shadows either.
What she saw was - not exactly her.
She gulped and resolved not to look down any more.
They walked through more of the twisted landscape until they
got to a place where the buildings began to more resemble
strutures and less like abstract scupture. Grey stone walls
reached up eight or nine stories only to collapse in on
themselves, and there was the occaisional scattering of roofing tiles
which lay strewn about the cracked cobbles like over-sized
playing cards. Thes and obsticls, always obsticals - here a half-roofed
building leaning drunkenly into the street, it's walls
promicing collapse if they strayed under there, a great
buckling of the cobblestones where a mass of crystals like the
fingers of a sunken giant thrust upawards blocking their path.
There were other things to that they found.. strange things
for a place that never held life.
- a strangly piled group of bones of some animal which never
walked the world.
- a sinister looking doll misplaced by some wandering
demon's child.
Sometimes they would find fountain or watering trough in middle of a street
at an intercection. These were often carved in fantastical
shapes but all lay in sad dusty emptyness.
As the areas they traveled grew more built up Serena could sense somehow
that they were close to their destination -not due to the
buildings but rather a form of dread, a tingle of emptyness.
She found her hand straying more and more to the mace which
swung at her side. The once-threatening object now seemed
strangely comforting.
Finally the adventurers came to a slight depression sloping
downward, a place where the buildings had
toppled, heading towards a greater state of entropy. As the heros
preceeded into the bowl-shaped depresion they found, at what
was probably it's bottom and center of a heap of rubble over
which stood two of the
strangest buildings that Serena had ever seen.
"Wow." was all she could whisper.
"I guess I know where we're going." Vestra said.
"I guess." Usagi agreed.
"But which one first?" Rose asked and drew a blade which
glittered and burned like blue white ice.
The buildings were strange affairs which looked to Serena
like old-style juke-boxes in Archie Digest (tm). they
were about seven or eight stories tall - possibly taller.
Broad based, they curved to gently rounded tops. They looked
to be made out of things no sane builder would use in
constrution - spun and frosted glass. tubes of bubbling fluid
which rose in loops and coils along the base and over the top.
And some places seemed covered with faintly mossy patches of what looked
like fungus.
Here and there was also movement. Tiny gears and shafts
could be seen moving slowly like a vast clockwork as belts
slowly turned drive-wheels. Strange chrome fins and antenna
dooted the buildings and protroded from odd places, These waved as if
in an unfelt wind like branches of some machine coral. Tiny
ribbons of light - blues, greens, and yellows also rand about
the things.
The great buildings were also joined in places with thin
tendrils of what looked like fiver-optic tubing and thick
copper pipes.
"I don't know whether they should have gotten us to save the
world or simply a good electrician" Serena only half-joke
d as she looked in awe at the strutures.....
"Maybe all we really have to do is find a plug and pull it."
Usagi laughed and nodded. "It sounds like a good idea to me."
Selene, bore a faint smile at this but spoke seriously.
"I would it were that easy. If so, I'm sure we all would
have been a lot happier."
"This is where it all really begins." Selene continued.
"Once we go inside I suspect that these sorcerors will actully
begin to fight us. We have not seen any life in this place but
I also think that these beings would certainly have protectors
of many sorts so we must be prepared.
I know that some of you are adept at magical healing and the like
but you must realize this: Healing is not our objective.
Whatever is sent at us is a creation of the sorcerers
erntirely.
If not in the beggining then at least now.
Whatever may appear, any that attack us have been changed
so totally that They must simply be destroyed.
We must not shirk at this or we will also be lost."
At these words Serena felt sick. She had realized all along
that this would be the case but actually hearing these truths
aloud was differnt.
"So," Annie asked "Should we split up or look in one of these
places at a time?"
"I vote for staying together." Vestra said.
"I agree." Rose added.
Leia and Mist nooded.
"I think." Serena said slowly." That it would be wrong to
split up."
"Yes," Usagi replied agreeing. "I mean, they (whoever they
are who called us here) wanted us all here together so together we should
stay."
"It's agreed then." Selene said. "Let us together go nw into
that nearest struture and see what may be seen."
Drawing her blade which, Serena noted seemed to a graet sword
be made of some sort of grey stone Selene led them onward into
the first building.
The entrance was open but strangely was not like any doorway
Serena had ever seen. It was a large rounded oval which led
into a passageway shaped more like a tube than a proper room.
Strange rib-like supports which provided a pale greenish
illumination.
The group advanced into the opening cautiously looking about
for signs of ambush but no one was waiting inside.
Suddenly Serena felt the floor trying to devouer her....
"Arrraugh!" She screamed and fell ever downward.
She found herself looking up at the concerned faces and
drawn arms of Rose, Vestra and Annie.
"I slipped." she said.
"Ugh!" Usagi cried from her position on the floor as Selene,
Leia and Mist looked at her,
"This is really gross!"
"You said it." Serena agreed as she felt something warm and
gooey touching her skin where she sat.
"This place feels like it's covered in....something." she
finished not really sure what descriptor she was looking for.
"Blea!" asserted Usagi as her companions helped her to her
feet...."It's just so slippery.."
"I'm sorry." She said in a smaller voice. "I couldn't help
falling."
"That's alright." Selene looked at the yonger girls. "It's
not as...."
*WHO INVADES????*
*WHO? WHO?*
*IT MUST DIE*
*THEY MUST DIE*
A voice boomed out from all directions, throbbing from the
walls like a drumbeat.
The voice sounded like a sleeper becoming roused.
A female sleeper.
"...as if we expected to surprise them." Selene concluded
wincing at the volume of the voice
"If they are as strong as we suspect...no, WE KNOW, then
they simply chose not to act.
You two simply found out something about our surrondings.."
"Yah." Serena said rubbing her dignity..."somerthing gross."
She leaned on a wall for suport and found it to be much the
same as the floor.
Shuddering, she flicked a glove'ed hand sending a small
splatter off goo off to pelt several of her companions who
winces when the warm wet stuff touched them.
"Ooops. Sorry."
As each walked they thought of unspoken fears. The sound of
the voice was familiar, but not familiar enough to speak aloud
to the others.
The voice of reminded Serena of Berryl in a way but only in
it's malevolence.
Usagi thought of the Dark Lady, of Mistress 9 and shivered.
Mist rememberd nights in a darkened cell and the sounds of
her friends as they slept restlessly in chains.
Annie again saw her lover die at the sound of another woman's
laughter.
Leia half-remembered a the sight and sounds of another's duel
when she was very young.
Rose again saw her father die as he shielded both her and
her mother.
Vestra remembered the ledge and hanging onto it as her
friend slipped through her broken hand.
Selene felt the pale white scar between her breats burn like
fire and rememberd how she had killed and killed.
The group advanced down the tube-like corodor around several
curves where suddenly the area opened out into a larger chamber.
The place was lit by the same dimly flurecing tubes but here
they seemed to dance with light...pulses rippling across the
wet-looking walls and floor.
"Ware!" Annie cried and drew her twin blades.
Seeping from openings near the floor they saw the first life
in the place.
The creatures were about the size of large dogs and were
primitive in form. They were sickly looking and slug-like and
glistened with a silvery sheen. Blind white knobs stood out
where there eyes should have been and from their mouths (their
largest and most disdinguished feature ) came odd gobbling
sounds like some sort of hungry mutant bird.
Thos who had not already drawn their weapons did so now and
began to kill.
Leia spun her silver-tipped polearm in great arcs and sent
many f the creatures within it's long reach to their deaths
but still they came on in a glistening wave.
Vestra's axe was a circle so fast did she use it's
twin-edged blade and left many a headless foe upon the floor.
Serena's mace splashed into the slug-thing and sent it
crumpling to the floor where it's juices mingled with the
other dead.
The creatures were slow, stupid and easy to kll but there
seemed to be far to many of them.
Also, as the creatures died they gave off a foul stench and
made the already unstable footing even worse with their fluids.
The slugs seemed mindless and attempted to attack even when
they had little life left in them, their toothless mouths
streching and gaping from even the severed heads.
"We must go further. Rose called, her blade passing
effortlessly through two of the slug-beasts...if we stay here
we will surely be overwhelmed."
"Agreed." Selene replied killing yet another of the beasts.
Slowly the group managed to evacuate the room and go further
into the building. The slugs seemed somehow contained in their
own chamber for they made no attempt to dive chase.
The Adventurers continued along many twisting passages and
Serena wonderd, not for the first time how the building seemed
so much larger on the inside than it appeared.
She wondered what sort of creatures had built the place and
as she had seen no furniture or stairs decided that they were
some sort of creepy lizard.
She voiced her opinions to Usagi who thought about this as
she wiped the slug-goo off her weapon - a a golden moon-shaped
sythe.
"Hmmmm." She responded. "But we haven't seen any cupboards or
anything either."
"Of course not." Serena continued ti work through her theory.
"These things probably have pouches like kangaroos."
Usagi nodded.
"I worry a little about you two." Vestra said.
"Why?" Serena protested.
"Um...no reason."
They passed through many more chambers until entering a room
which pulsed with a violet light.
As The group stood near the opening letting their eyes adjust
to this strangeness Serena felt Usagi tugging on the hem of
her skirt.
"Hey Usagi stop that."
"What?"
"What you're doing with my skirt."
"What?"
For some reason the other girl continued to tug on her skirt
and Serena bent to slap her hand away only to contact
something that was not a hand.
She looked down and observed what it was and at the same time
notived the floor.
She screamed.
The floor was alive with pasty-skinned serpents.
These creatures had no eyes and no teeth but they wrythed
over everything silently seeking.
The Adventurers began to hack at the rope-like creatures but
more to clear a path than in actual defence.
Vestra suddenly had an idea however.
She took out her flute and began to play.
Some-how the snake creatures could hear the vibrations and
soon lay still. The group was able to pick their way across
the floor then and into the chamber beyond.
As before a voice was heard.
*WHY?*
*WHY?*
*WHO?*
*WHO INTRUDES?*
The voice sounded confused but still filled them with it's
malevolencey.
Although none spoke they all shared knowing glances.
They continued on.
Again, the adventurers wandered for some time without being
attacked by other creatures. The attacks came from the rooms
themselves.
The rooms sometimes seemd impossible to traverse for many
reasons. One room seemed to be lined with razor sharp fins
which protruded from the floor celing and walls. These fins
were coated by caustic fluid which emitted vile fumes.
It was found however through careful examination that the
fins were quite flexable and as long as they were brushed down
rather than directly pressured then they were hamless. Serena
followed the others and passed by this room in long gliding
steps not chancing to lift her feet.
Another room was gummed over with fiborous fronds (which
Serena likened to string-cheese) which clung to whatever they
touched. Struggles in this material would further entangle and
suffocate whoever was unlucky enough to get caught.
After one simple brush against the stuff the group was halted
for some time. Weapons would not cut it and indeed became more
and more fouled. Black Annie discovered by accident as she
drank from her flask that the stuff seemed to coil and burn
away from simple water. Another room seemed to be made of a
hard white tile and was covered with slippery green algae.
Lurking in clups of the green stuff were creatures like large
centipedes. These rushed out from concealment and nipped at
the Warriors with sharp pincers. Unlike incests however, they
were slow and once the surprise of their initial attack had
worn off they were easy to spot and kill. With some concern
Selene and Mist examined the small stinging wounds they left
and were shortly after able to pronounce them non-poisonous
-although irritating. These creatures soon stopped their
attacks as the group moved from their lair.
After this progress was easy.
There were other strange areas which seemed more confusing
than dangerous.
- several rooms filled with fiborous moss, some blue some
green, which pulsed with light at the faintest sound.
- places filled with smooth coilled tubes which wound about
like some vast tuba or waterwork which when tapped sounded
hollow.
- a strange oval tunnel lines with fluted cup-shaped
protrusions which grew like flowers out of the wall. When
examined it was found that these contained some form of
liquid. This liquid when looked at more closely was found to be
water.
Mist held her hand above one of these and after a brief
incantation it glowed for a moment a healthy pink. here she
pronounced was water safe to drink.
The water was indeed cool and refreshing and the adventurers
drank deeply of it before re-filling their waterskins and
continuing onward.
After many chambers of relative openess and ease things began
to get smaller and cramped again.
The Heros began moving through a series of small and
narrow passages which twisted and wound about sometimes
forcing the women to crawl because of their extreme closeness.
After what seemed like hours of travel in one of these
twisting narrow areas they emerged in a wider vestibule.
This opening led into an expansive hallway rimmed by several of the
now-familiar pulsing ridges of light. This new room had an
uneaven floor which resembled more than anything a sea of
frozen waves or a series of dunes cast in wet pink clay.
Leia advanced first, amoung these still rollers which cast strange
concealing shadows.
Moving from the narrow confines of the entrance to the more
open areas she held her weapon ahead of her. Occaisionally she
would gingerly nudge an odd ripple in the floor - the blade of her
glittering pike testing the floor for traps.
After a short while when all seemed at least somewhat safe
she signaled and the others cautiously followed.
Serena wrinkled her nose. The air in this room was stale
(as was most of the air in this place) but it also had an
animal rankness to it. The smell haddn't been really noticeable at
the entrance but once she had entered it smelled...well, bad.
She saw Usagi's brow furrow as the other
frowned and wondered if she was thinking (and smelling) the same thing.
What did it remind her of?
She took a deep breath and began to cough at the stench
earning her a sharp look from Annie.
That was it...the time she went to the zoo. The zoo and..
"Monkeys!" She cried aloud at the same time the great apes
sprang from concealment.
Time slowed for a heartbeat at the suddeness of it all and
allowed Serina an observation. Not actually apes these
creatures were rather more like great ugly baboons or mandrills.
The monstered were great stinking creatures, with great red
mouths fall full of stinking breath and sharp yellow fangs.
They were covered with filth-clotted russet fur and had sharp
black claws to match their fangs.
Some part of Serena immediately fell on the floor and began
to blubber at the sight of the hairy beasts. Luckily it was
not a part of her that currently held sway.
She swung out and blocked the raking pass of sharp claws with
her mace and both heard and felt the impact as the iron-hard
nails connected and raked against the mace.
Then the rest of the encounter became a blur out of which
scattered images came through:
-Annie, her blades flashing, her white blouse now red with
gore.
-The hot wet spray of blood as it sluced off a stone sword.
-The sight of Rose wild-eyed and a grimace of white teeth.
-The feel of bone breaking under her mace.
_ The thick mell of sweat, musk and blood.
Soon, a million years later the battle was over.
All of the group had survived this last encounter
but not without cost. Mist and Vestra had recieved nasty
bites from the hairy brutes. Also although undamaged, Rose had a rent
gouged into the mail of her side where it had stopped the swipe of
a clawed hand.
All were exhausted and covered with the foul remaines of the
battle.
Decisions had to be made.
Were they to go press on or perhaps fall back for a time and
regain lost strength.
Water was a problem; not having enough water to fully wash
the gore completely away precidence was taken for first the
wounds to be cleaned and bound and then thirsts quenched.
It was decided that although they could return to one of the
rooms where water had been found it would be better to
continue on and attempt to complete what they had begun first.
If there was any resting to be done it was afterward.
It seemed they had moved inside this construct for days and
the odd lighting in the construct did little to sway this
opinion.
The group left the chamber of their batttle and moved onvard
and upward.
Serena trudged ahead blindly now counting on the skills of
the others to give her some warning of an attack was being
made. Any other illumination other than the dull red glow that
was one of the only constants was gone. Her eyes strained in
this light untill they felt they were one with it... dull
burning coals. She tried to guess how far they had walked in
this place but soon gave up turning to other things.
She felt satisfaction in the way she had managed to hold
her own in the previous encounters and but also sickened. The
blind savagry of it all almost made her choke and not even the
sips of water (still magicly cool) could take the bile from
her throat. She had been sick after the first fight off away
from otheres in hopes that they would not notice but when she
returned to the closeness of the group she noticed a few of
the others with the same expression she fancied she wore.
Serena also noticed that the feeling did not do away as she
fought more...She hoped she would never lose that hate
of destruction.
As Serena walked she noticed that the already moist air was
growing even moister and she felt her her breathing become
more laboured with each step. It felt like her throat were
closing like a fist.
"I can't...I can't breathe" she muttered as she panted for air.
She stumbled and bumped into Selene who stood panting and
leaning on her sword...
"Wha...Wha'ts going on?" She asked the older Warrior
"I'm not sure" Selene replied her voice sounding strained
"It seems that the very air thickens...but that makes no
sense."
"Aye." Rose agreed as the rest of the group came to a stop
" My throat closes about it and it feels like it gets worse with
every breath."
"Poison?" Suggested Annie.
"I don't feel so good" Said Usagi clutching at her, her face
a shade of green. "Do you really think it's poison?"
Serena began to sniffle "I don't wanna be poisoned." she
cried "A beauty like me cut down in my innocent prime is such
a waste."
Pullling out a hankie she blew her nose.
"Eeeeeew!" she screached.
"What is it?" Annie asked. "foes?"
Serena could only make faces and wave her hankie.
Finally the group, after making sure they were not under
further attack managed to calm the agitated girl down.
"But what is troubling you?" Mist asked her voice raspy.
Serena displayed the hankie "Look!"
Mist backed away. "I'dd rather not."
"No." Serena insisted.
" Little tiny bugs... that's why it's so hard to breathe,
they're clogging our noses. our throats."
Soon concern over their mutual condition over-rode
reluctance and the Warriors examined the cloth. Indeed it was
true. Serena's nose blowing had produced a dugusting amount of
small insects.
"I have an idea." Mist said and stepping away from the group
she spilled a small pouch of powder on in a corner. Muttering
a few words over it she made a graceful pass with her hands.
The patch of floor where the powder had fallen began to glow
brightly and soon outshone the rest of the room's unnatural
natural illuminatin. wih the bright light the adventures could
see thousand upon thousand of tiny midges which were being
drawn to the light.
"Make haste now!" the Lady Mist cried.
"The light distracts them from us while it burns but will
not burn long!"
The Warriors, breathing more easily took the mistic's advice and
hurried onward into a narrow passage which continued them
on their journey ever, ever upward.
After a series of twists the group came out in a large room
which seemed to be the top of the structure.
The place was roughly otaganal and had 8 great oval windows of
some sort of shimmering material which glistened like
soap bubbles.
The view of the surrounding land and the building next to
theirs would have been awe inspireing except for one thing
-the room's centerpiece which took all their attention.
in the middle of the room was what first appeared to be a
thick cylindrical table of sorts banded at the top and bottom
by golden bands and topped with a deep ebony obsidian.
This was not however the case.
As Rose catiously approached the table the top gave a
shimmer and rippled like a pondwater touched by a light breeze.
*WHO*
*WHO DARES!*
The voice, female and strident, was all around them now and
loud to inside their minds.
It came from within this very room!
"The... center...the pool!" Vestre murmred aghast.
*INVASION*
came the thought.
*CONTAMINATION*
*INFECTION*
*ALARM*ALARM*ALARM*
"It's alive." Leia said slowly in a horrified tone. "The
whole building is alive and this is it's center...it's brain."
"Quickly" Selene called. "We must do it!"
"What" Usagi asked puzzled.
"How do you kill a puddle?" Serena asked confused.
The dark liquid began to slosh with more agitation and began
to rise.
instead of washing over the sides it rose in the center, the
liquid forming in odd bumps.
"We must join." Selene said and saw recogniton in Rose's eyes.
"I understand." Rose said slowly, "And I think I know you now."
The shapes within the liquid were clearer now and could be
seen to be regularly shaped collums which stacked roughly and
unevenly on top of each other.
Dark crystals beginning to make a larger whole.
Rose raised her black stone sword and with ease and as if to
salute touched it's tip to the tip of Selen's crystal blade.
Both the weapons and the owners began to pulse with a pale
blue glow.
"What's happening?" Annie whispered to Mist.
"What's supposed to." The mage replied with some sadness in
her tone.
"Join us." The unspoken command came to Serena -or rather to
that which she wore.
"Join us."
In the middle of the room a multi-faceted black crystal grew
from it's container - reddish light began to dance from facet
to facet.
Against her will Serena taggered foreward and noticed that
Usagi was doing the same.
Usagi reached out her weapon and touched the single gem on
the back of the blade to the other weapons.
The glow became stronger.
The figures within the glow began to shift in ways that the
others could not quite see - all they knew was that the three
inside the glow were changing.
Serena had managed to keep from following her impulses to
walk foreward but found it more and more difficult.
The crystal began to raise iself laboriously from it's holder.
Suddenly Serena could see beyond the glow.
Her friends had vanished and in their place stood a beautiful
woman.
The woman smiled a gentle smile and Serena lost whatever
fear she had. She walked foreward and became.
Standing there >SHE< extended her senses and examined the
crystal/brain in front of her.
>SHE< knew she could defeat it but worried that it's
mate/brother would be her undoing. >SHE< called to the others.
"My friends, lovers, childern. We have always been together
in some way and have always joined in times of need.
One who is many is strong. For all the worlds and all the
Times I call you. For all living things so that all living
things may survive -Join me."
>SHE< felt some hesitation but they came.
>SHE< knew that although they could be forced it was better
that they did these things for the right reasons. Otherwise if
they did not, >SHE< smiled as they joined, they wouln't
really be the right reasons.
The woman who faced the pulsing blackness was over fifteen
feet tall and wore a beautiful gown and flowing white robes.
Her hair was the colour of the finest spun gold and was held
in it's twin-tressed arangement by two great pins of bood-ruby.
At her breast burned a glittering silver-white fire.
She embraced the crystal and recieved the pain of it's touch
with a sad smile.
Unable to fully rouse itself the crystal/Skiagram, shrieked in fury and
died. It's energy -energy stolen from a hundred worlds, flowed into the
silver gemstone.
*WHAT*
The other was aware of convulsions in it's sister/mate.
It had been feeding so it's attention had wandered from this
Plane.
*SISTER*
*SISTER SKIAGRAM*
It called again across it's many links. It's
sister/mate seemed to shivver for a mimute before responding.
*BROTHER*
*BROTHER TOPHET* came the sluggish responce.
*I FELT SOMETHING - SOMETHING STRANGE -ARE YOU WELL?*
*A DREAM* Was the reply.
*A DREAM?*
*YES, NOTHING MORE*
*LET US FEED AND DREAM NO MORE* He/it suggested.
*LET US FEED* She/it repeated.
He began to draw upon the energies of the multiverse but
fouund himself somehow thwarted. He fed and fed but rather
than gaining sustinance began to lose it -little by little,
ebbing away.
He noticed however that his companion was growing.
*WHAT?* his question was slightly frantic.
>WE FEED< said a voice which was not his sisters.
*BETRAYED!* He cried,
and began attempts to sever the connections with his partner
as he tried even more franticly to draw power from
great rents in Reality.
He grew as he gained more and more power draining the
life-energy from more and more worlds.
As he did so however, so did his opponent and as it grew it
changed shape.
Energies lashed back and forth as the two battled and
Reality collapsed in about itself. Soon only this Plane had
any actuality and it was warped beyond recognition. A Multiverse
where only two lived.
The huge malformed creature began to eat the stars in it's
battle as the figure before it cried a silver tear for each
life it was forced to consume to continue the battle and
buffeted them both with the force of it's great wings.
The figure -An incomprehensibly large figure of a Goddess
finally was struck a last blow by the weakened Topht.
Then, before the alien could even correctly percieve what was
happening it was consumed in a silver light that was brighter
and hotter than a million million suns.
The WOMAN then fell to her knees and amazingly there was a
place for her to fall.
The woman sighed and uncalculateable energy -that which she
had taken and that which her foes had stolen returned to the
world instantly re-creating Reality in an eyeblink before they
were ever stolen. Added to these was the energy of the worlds
and realities plundered far beyond this and new stars lit the
heavens and new life was able to apreciate them.
The wonmen sat or lay weakly about on the blasted landscape
-some gasping for breath some simply relaxing.
Behind them stood the ruin of two oddly shaped constructions.
Hours later the group marched seaward. Behind them were thick
collums of smoke from where the recently fired buldings still
burned.
The walk was less sinister and less eventful under the light
of the warm yyellow sun and birds could be heard singing from
their nests amid the rocks and sparse greenery.
Little was said as in some way ity had already been spoken.
When the group reached the sea it was still shrouded in a
thick mist and the ship lay anchored nearby.
A boat was lowerd to take the Heros aboard and then instead
of celibration they did something more important -they slept.
****
"Serena!"
Serena gave a "Yeep!"
and dropped her glass. Luckily the glass was actually was plastic and she
drunk it's contents.
"Where have you been girl? You've given me such a shock" Luna's voice
was demanding but even to Serena's untrained ear she could tell that
half of the anger was from worry."
"I'm sorry" Serena said, her voice becomeing a whine and her
eyes filling with moisture." I just...I just wanted a colder
drink of water."
All thoughts of her adventure faded and became like a dream as she spoke.
"Oh, all right." The cat replied mollified. "It's just that...that I
worry about you bumbling about."
"You worry about me? Oh Luna."
"Nonsense." The cat sniffed. "I was just startled."
"Ah, Luna. you're such a good kitty to worry so." Serena squeezed the cat
close as she snuggled into bed.
"I really wish you wouldn't do this." Luna's muffled voice came in
reply.
Too late really for the girl was fast asleep.
************
************
************
Some notes on the original story and Afterward.
Good Lord... that took forever. I finally decided to finish
it all in one night or be damn'd. So I wrote from the cloggy
bugs to the wake-up. (the part I had not written for 7!!!!
months) and then after a quick spell-check got rid of it fast.
The ending (as well as this bit) is a hell of a lot more
positive than the original
Firstly the middle part of this puppy was both a drag to
write and to read...I ended up, after a series of breaks away
from the long dull middle bits as I simply didn't want to
write them...
I enjoyed the beggining and the ending :)
Anyway... after writing most of it in a week or so the 2 or
three middle bits took forever so that something starting on
January 1 worked it's way to here...
sorry.
***************
Sailor on the Seas of Fate is actually a 3 story volume
which collects yet more of Moorcock's Eternal Champion stories.
The series has some great highs and some truely pitiful lows
and could possibly be seen as the ultimate fan-boy coming of
age series with enough big throbing swords and gushing wet
wounds to put anyone on a couch. :)
O.K....I guess that's a bit of a bias.....
As I was writing this I ended up with some parts that seemed
to be fighting towards an Overfeind vrs the Sailor Senshi and
maybe it would have been better for it (I doubt it but
anythings possibe) Moorcock just has too much gooey and moist imagery.
It either becomes lemon of it becomes a tasty desert
treat....hey, Isn't that the same thing???
Never mind.
I must admit that the part I like least is the tedious
combat. I felt myself being dragged nto this trap as I tried
to emulate Moorcock...it drags.
I actually DO like some of it and the idea of the Champion
Eternal who fights to maintain some sort of universal ballence
is one which whic ultimately appeals to me. I think that's one
of the appeals to any series such as Sailor Moon as well.
Looking back, All i can think is
Boy, it sometimes does go on and on. But, when comparerd to
the original story it somehow (I feel anyway) keeps the same
sort of pacing and style (well sort of...no moaning black
Runeswords here....well, much) as well as icky Freudian
overlay... but not as much as there possibly should be to be
faithful. {for a fun song try Blue Oyster Cult's "Black Blade"}
I originally intended for this
to be a one page parody and somehow it got out of hand and
well...
here it it....
Neil
___________________________________________________________________________
Nene Nene Nene Nene Nene Nene Nene Nene Nene
I met a Lady in the Meads,
Full beautiful, a faery's child,
Her hair was long, her foot was light
And her eyes were wild.
J.Keats
________________________________________________________________________
Agent Of Chaos. Robyn, Duke of Amber. Unicorn Knight
****************************************************************************