Chapter 9

	Katsuhiko Jinnai, while being carried by Groucho, was looking closely 
at the Garnet Orb Staff.  An odd feeling of recoginition held him for a 
second before he shrugged it off.  He was still fuming that that
clockwork 
bitch had defied him and hit him with an attack.  He was going to make
sure 
as soon as he got control of her, he would make her do the most
humiliating 
tasks he could think of.  Jiinnai noticed the heart shaped loop and
wondered 
if the person who built this new Demon-god had a bad sense of humor.

	"Why does this Demon-god's key-staff  have a heart as a decoration?"  
Jinnai asked, "Demon-gods are supposed to be weapons of destruction not 
love."

	Looking up, the purple bugrom Groucho made some growling sounds.

	"No.  I wasn't asking you,"  Jinnai replied, "I was talking to 
myself.  Now let's get moving. I want some distance between me and that
Demon-god."

	Jinnai quickly hopped atop Groucho, riding him piggy-back.  He pointed 
with Setsuna's staff telling Groucho to head off in the direction he 
pointed.   He would talk to Queen Diva about this new Demon-god and
maybe 
she could shed some light on this mystery.  Jinnai started laughing 
manically once he realized all he had to do was wait for the Demon-god
to 
run down and then he could walk in and wind her up without any
interference 
from any residual loyalty that this android felt for her present
master.  
Jinnai started making plans to disrtact the preistesses of Mt. Muldoon
and 
Mr. Fujisawa, since he believed that they were the only ones who could
stop 
him from getting ahold of the new Demon-god.

	Back in Roshtaria, Princees Rune Venus agreed to help the Sailor 
Senshi.  After some explantaions , history lessons, a plan was aggred
upon.   
Three groups would set off from the palace.  Each with a different 
missions, and ,with the exception of Setsuna, the Sailor Senshi would be
in 
Senshi form.  One group would track down Jinnai and try and recover 
Setsuna's key.  This group was composed of Mr. Fujisawa, Shayla Shayla,
Miz 
Mishtal, Nanami Jinnai, and Makoto Kino.  The second group would be
heading 
to the forbidden isle where Ifurita was locked in slumber for
centuries.  
The Forbidden Isle group was composed of Ami Mizuno, Afura Mann, and
Haruka 
Ten'oh.  The third group would be heading up to the Eye-of-God to try
and 
recover Ifurita from the non-Crystal Tokyo Earth.  Makoto Mizuhara, 
Usagi 
Tsukino, Setsuna, and Ura the cat would be heading up to the Eye.  
Regardless of anything else going on,  Usagi vowed that she would help 
Setsuna survive and not be enslaved to that madman.  Setsuna for her
part 
looked hopeful that she would finally meet her sister.  

	"Setsuna, how are you feeling?"  asked Usagi

	"I'm fine Usagi.   I know I've been such a burden to you lately," 
Setsuna said, "I wish to thank you for staying my friend and trying to
help 
me out, even after you found out what I was."

	Eternal Sailor Moon grabbed Setsuna in a bear hug and said, "I don't 
care if your a machine, Setsuna.  You've helped us out without
complaint.  
Don't tell me it was just programming that made you become friends with
my 
daughter.  Once we get your staff back, we'll find some way to free
you.  As 
well as find something to reward you with."

	Still being hugged, Setsuna replied, "Usagi, I don't think you can 
free me by normal means.  That vague prophecy Selene told me is the key
to 
my freedom.  Please don't try anything until we figure out the
prophecy."

	With tears streaming down her face, Usagi nodded and said, "Okay, 
Setsuna.  If that is the way you want it."

	"I'm sorry, Usagi-chan.  I know you don't want to be my master, but 
until we figure out what Selene had in mind for me, it's better that I 
remain your slave."

	Mizuhara and Ura watched the two girls conversing.  Ura was distracted 
by a silver butterfly that had flown in front of him.  Mizuhara felt sad 
that his beloved Ifurita's sister was still a puppet and he could do
nothing 
about it.  Sailor Moon, knowing that Setsuna wanted to see her sister
and 
Mizuhara wanted to be rejoined with his lover, had ordered Setsuna to
give 
Mizuhara the files for the Eye-of-God.  With the files, Mizuhara would 
easily be able to figure out how to operate the Eye.  He was a bit
suprised 
that Sailor Moon had to order Setsuna to turn over the files, but he 
remembered that without a direct command, that Setsuana was unable to 
access the files.  Studying the files he wondered how the others were
doing.
-------------
	Skimming across the sea in an El-Hazardian skiff, the group that was 
dispacthed to the Forbidden Isle was having a discussion.

	"So in your world, you fought monsters?" asked Afura Mann, the
preistess of wind.

	Haruka nodded and said, "Yes.  We have had various types of beings 
trying to take over our world.  The worst was Galaxia, when she was
possesed 
by Chaos."

	Ami added, "We have had some pertty close calls though, even before 
Galaxia showed up.  The enemies always were stronger than the ones
before.  
The Sailor Senshi, even though some were really close, defeated them."

	"There's something I've been meaning to ask,"  Afura said, "You listed 
all the planets in your system as having Sailor Senshi, except one.  Why 
doesn't Earth have a Senshi guardian?"

	Ami calmly explained, "Usagi's husband, Mamoru Chiba or Endymion is 
the Earth's guardian.  If you recall from our conversations at the
palace, 
the Senshi have the starseeds of the planets they guard.  Endymion has
the 
golden starseed that represents Earth.  And to answer your next
question, I 
don't know how Setsuna got the starseed that represents Pluto."

	"I can't believe that there was a Demon-god that wasn't used for 
conquest," Afura said, "Why are we heading to the Forbidden Isle? 
Ifurita 
isn't there anymore."

	Ami replied, "We're not after Ifurita, but the suspension device that 
she was stored in.  If it comes down to it, we'll probably have to put 
Setsuna in suspension until we get the Garnet Orb Staff back."

	Afura looked towards the front of the skiff and noticed that they were 
fast approaching a barren island.  She alerted her two traveling
companions 
to the upcoming landmass.  Ami and Haruka nodded and helped Afura
shorten 
the sails.  The three women brought the skiff safely to rest on the
shore of 
the Forbidden Isle.   Once the trio had the skiff safely secured, Ami 
touched her earring and summoned her visor.  The transparent blue visor 
covered her eyes, allowing Sailor Mercury to scan the surrounding
terrain.

	Afura looked at Ami and shook her head;  she said, "That still gets to 
me how she can summon stuff from nowhere like that."

	Grinning wickedly Haruka asked, "Like this?" while pulling the Space 
Sword out of its dimensional pocket.

	Blinking at the sudden appearance of a sword, Afura could only take a 
few steps back and say, "huh?"

	"It is a standard ability of Sailor Senshi, Afura-san," Ami said, "All 
of the Senshi can summon something from a sub-space pocket.  Some of us
just 
have more stuff in it than others." 

	Afura just shook her head and said, "Let's get going.  The shrine 
where Ifurita was stored is just up ahead."

	The three girls proceeded towards the ruined shrine.  Ami kept using 
her visor to make sure there were no dangers.  Haruka and Afura walked
on 
either side of Sailor Mercury, protecting her.  Soon, the rubble pile
that 
marked the entrance to Ifurita's shrine came in view.  Looking at the
pile 
of rocks, Ami just nodded to Haruka.

	Grinning, Sailor Uranus shouted, "WORLD SHAKING!!" and slammed a 
yellow energy sphere with a ring around it into the ground.

	The yellow sphere zig-zagged through the ground and lifted off of the 
ground.  The sphere smahed into the rubble pile, blasting a hole
straight 
through the rocks.  The hole that Uransu created exposed the entrance to
the 
shrine.  Afura Mann, even though she knew Haruka didn't need one,  felt
a little 
bit awed by the fact that Sailor Uranus didn't need a talisman to
activate her attack.  
The three girls enterd the tunnel leading to the shrine of the Demon-god
Ifurita.  
Unnoticed by the trio, the magic attack of Sailor Uranus interacted wth
some of the 
stones strangely.  The affected stones pulsed orange and yellow.
------------------
#What?  Can it be time already?  No, that's not her, but she's here on
this 
world.  Soon, I'll be free#
-------------------
	In another part of El-Hazard, the group sent to track down the bugrom 
and retrieve Setsuna's key were tracking the bugrom trail through a
forest. After,
a day's journey, Nanami looked at Makoto in disgust and envy. 

	"Sailor Jupiter, how can you stand being in that costume?" Nanami 
asked, " I have insect bites on my arms and face.  Yet, your not
bothered by 
them."

	Nanami started rubbing her left arm to alleviate an itch.

	Sailor Jupiter replied, "I felt them trying to bite me but they 
haven't succeeded yet.  The costume is only part of the transformation. 
I 
feel stronger and tougher when I'm Sailor Jupiter."

	Mr Fujisawa said, "Nanami, why don't you save your questions, until 
you can talk to Sailor Mercury again.  If I remember correcty from what
I 
overheard some students say, she would have the answers to your
question."

	Nanami just nodded and said, "Okay teach."

	Shayla Shayla walked forward with a stern look on her face, but she 
felt a wet tightness at the corner of her eyes.  She thought about the
green 
haired android that had entered their lives.

	Mumbling under her breath so the others couldn't hear, Shayla said, 
"Lousy Demon-god.  Since she showed up, Makoto is more determined than
ever 
to rescue Ifurita.  Theese Sailor Senshi have ruined any chance that I
had 
with Makoto."

	Nanami thought to herself, *Makoto, I can't believe I lost you to a 
machine.  Now, I'm now helping her sister out, who also happens to be
Sailor 
Pluto.  What other strange things will this world throw at us."

	Miz Mishtal walked closer to Mr. Fujisawa.  When she was close enough, 
whe grabbed his left arm and leaned her head on his shoulder.  Mr.
Fujisawa 
for his part looked uncomfortable.  Nanami noticed this and just smirked
to 
herself.  

	Taking a glance at Mr Fujisawa, Makoto Kino thought *For some reason 
he does not remind me of my sempai.  It's probably because he's a
teacher."

	The group tracked Jinnai's trail to a clearing where the Bugrom split 
up.  The four people accompanying Sailor Jupiter just looked at each
other, 
remembering Jinnai's perfered mode of transport.  Makoto looked at the
other 
four and she waited for them to explain what had happened.

	Miz, since she was the most senior, explained, "Jinnai must have 
ridden one of the Bugrom out of this clearing and sent the others in 
different directions so we wouldn't be able to follow.  I'm sorry, but I 
think he's managed to elude us."

	Makoto swore heavily and then asked, "Look, what would be the safest 
place for Jinnai to go that would be the most inaccessable to us?"

	Shayla snorted and said, "That would be the Rivilon cliffs.  The bugs 
could climb down the cliffs with ease, but the high winds and almost 
vertical slopes make it impossible for even Afura to fly through the
area."

	Sailor Jupiter asked, "Which way are the cliffs?  I'll check them out 
while the rest of you figure out where else he could go."

	"The cliffs are three kilometers to the east," Miz said, "But, it's 
impossible for a human to go through the area."

	Jupiter said, "I'll be fine.  If that madman is there I'll find a way 
to get Setsuna's staff back."

	Waving, Sailor Jupiter set off towards the Rivilon cliffs.  Shayla 
Shayla, ithcing for some action, decide to tag along.  The remainder of
the 
group sat down and tried to figure out where else Jinnai could have
gone.  A 
rumbling sound, coming from the sky, caused the three to look up and
notice 
an approaching storm.  Nanami spotted a somewhat intact ruins that could
be 
used for shelter.  The aincent building had a couple holes in its walls
and 
gave the vauge impression of an airport lighthouse.  The trio ducked
inside 
the building as the first drops of rain fell. 
-----------
	Sailor Jupiter and Shayla Shayla ignored the storm and contiued on to 
the Rivilon Cliffs.  They arruved at the edge of the cliff and looked
down.  
A mournful wind whipped through the chasm, which was as deeper than the 
Grand Canyon on Earth.  Jupiter turned to face Shayla.

	"So this is the Rivilon Cliffs?"  Makoto asked.

	Shayla just nodded and looked down into the dark gulf of the canyon.

	Sailor Jupiter scanned the edge of the cliff and pointed, while 
saying, "It looks like Miz-san was right.  I can see bug tracks on the
cliff 
walls.  Now, I'm going to follow them and get that staff back."

	Shayla snorted and said, "How?  Flight is impossible in this wind and 
the cliffs are sheer drop-offs."

	Makoto walked along the lip of the cliff until she found a fold in the 
cliff face.  The walls of the fold were about four meters apart.  She
nodded 
becuase this fold would do.  Makoto crossed her arms and raised the
antenae 
on her tiara.

	*I wish Ami was here, so she could figure out the exact trajectories,* 
Jupiter thought to herself and then yelled, "SUPREME THUNDER!!!"

	Sailor Jupiter angled three bolts of lightning into the cliff fold.  
The bolts ricocheted back and forth down the fold, leaving small holes
where 
they struck.  Shayla had covered her ears when the green clad Sailor
Senshi 
had fired off her attack. Once the rumbling had ceased, the fire
preistess 
uncovered her ears.

	Looking a liitle annoyed, Shayla asked, "What the hell did you do that 
for!?"

	Makoto smirked slightly and went over to the fold and started climbing 
down the cliff, using the holes she blasted in the cliffface as
handholds 
and footholds.

	Looking back up at Shayla, she said, "Making a way down.  Coming?"

	Shayla Shayla just growled and followed Sailor Jupiter down the cliff.
-----------------------------------
	#Another burst, but still not the one I seek.  She's here and soon 
I'll be able to sense her.#
-------------------------
	Back in the ruins, the small group, that had taken refuge there, were 
looking around the building.  Mr. Fujisawa was sitting, leaned up
against a 
wall.  Miz was looking out a window, sighing since Nanami was here and
she 
couldn't be alone with Mr. Fujisawa.  Nanami for her part, was looking 
around curiously at the building.

	"Say, Sensei ," Nanami said, "What do you suppose this building was 
used for?"

	Looking around, Fujisawa said, "I 'm not sure. It looks something like 
an airport lighthouse.  Miz?"

	Miz thought about the old legends before replying, "I'm not sure.  
This building isn't located where any of the ancient cities were.  It
also 
doesn't look like anything depicted in any of the surviving texts."

	"Well, since were waiting for Shayla and Sailor Jupiter to get back, 
let's explore.  It will at least pass the time," Nanami said and then 
thought, *Maybe there is something of value here.*

	Mr. Fujisawa sighed, got up, and said, "Okay.  I guess we should find 
out about this place, but we're all staying together."

	Miz sighed at a wasted opportunity and said, "I guess your right.  I 
am curious about this place."

	The group searched the bottom floor and found some old devices that 
they would have Mizuhara look at when he could.  They found a staircase 
leading up to the second level.   The trio climbed the stairs and came
upon 
a library of ancient books.  Miz was stunned by what she was seeing.

	"This is impossible.  I thought all the ruins were picked over by now.  
This library alone should have been looted a long time ago."

	Nanami eagerly picked up a book and opened it.  She glanced inside the 
book and frowned because she was unable to read the words.  Sighing, she 
remembered that El-Hazard used a different writing system than she was
used 
to.  Even though she was starting to learn the modern writing system,
she 
still could not make out what was written in the book she held.

	"Miz, could you please translate this book?"  Nanami said  "I can't 
and it appears to be in Ancient El-Hazard."

	Miz nodded and took the book from Nanami, curious about its contents.  
She looked at the page that Nanami tried to read and was suprized that
she 
couldn't understand it either.

	"Huh? What language is this?  All the high priestesses are required to 
know all the ancient languages of El-Hazard, but I can't read this
book."

	Curious Mr. Fujisawa came over and looked at the text that had stumped 
Miz and Nanami.  The written text didn't look like anything he had seen
in 
El-Hazard so far, but...

	"That's Ancient Greek," Mr. Fujisawa blurted out, "I can't read it, 
but I can identify it and some of the older languages."

	Mr. Fujisawa started looking through the books on the shelves.  The 
languages that the books were written in were mostly in Ancient Greek
with 
some works in Coptic thrown in. After a few minutes he stopped and put
the 
books back on the shelves, in their respective order.  Once he was done,
he 
stroked his chin thoughtfully.

	"These book are written in language that haven't been used for 
centuries on Earth.  I can only think of one person, right off hand, who 
would use these languages."

	The two girls looked stunned and said unanimously, "SELENE?!?!"

	Nanami quickly recovered and said, "If this place was used by her, 
then there might be something here to help Setsuna."

	Miz and Mr. Fujisawa nodded and the trio set off again to try and find 
something that they could use to help Setsuna. The group climbed to the 
third floor and entered a white chamber, where there were two tables
with 
humanoid indentations in them.  Frowning, Miz took a closer look at the 
tables.  She saw that the tables were meant to restrain a human or
something 
shaped like a human.  Mr. Fujisawa looked around and found some
electronic 
tools.  Nanami wandered around the circular chamber, while running her
hand 
against the wall.  She suddenly stopped when she heard a distinct
click.  
Hearing the click, the other two looked towards the source of the
sound.  
Nanami's face had gone pale, for she wondered if she set off a trap.  A
few 
tense seconds later a small section of the wall opened up, revealing a
small 
alcove.  Inside the alcove was a small box with a lens mounted on one
side 
and a big red button on the top.  The red button had the words 'Push Me' 
boldly written in English.  Nanami took a look at Mr. Fujisawa, who
nodded, 
and pushed the button.  The box hummed for a second and then a beam of
light 
sprang forth from the lens.  A three dimensional picture of a silver
haired 
woman had appeared.  Nanami carefully set the box down on one of the
tables, 
since her hands were shaking and was causing the picture to shake as
well.

	 The hologram started speaking, "Greetings.  I am Selene.  This box is 
a holographic recording of who I once was and why I did certain things
that 
I regret and am truly ashamed of."

	Miz, Nanami, and Mr. Fujisawa were shocked, to say the least.  Here 
they had found a record of ancient El-Hazard that had to do with their 
current situation.  Nanami started getting a creepy feeling that this
person 
knew they would find that box.

	Looking extremely sad, with tears forming in her eyes, Selene 
whispered, "The one thing I truly and thoroughly regret and despise is
what 
I did to my daughters."

	The three people watching the hologram, tried to decide if they had 
heard that or not.

	Looking up, Selene said, "This holocube will show you three 
dimensional pictures of my past.  I do not ask for forgiveness only 
understanding."

	The trio looked on as the box played.
-----------------------------------------
			Chapter 10

	The holocube focused in on a small cottage in the Ancient Greek 
countryside.  The countryside was covered in ice and a blazing comet was
in 
the sky.  the scene shifted towards a girl who was recognized as Selene.

	Looking up at the sky, Selene saw the blazing comet that was 
keeping the world frozen in ice. She was about to use the silver crystal 
that she had just formed, when she felt someone strike her from behind.  
Selene was momentarily dazed and when she brought her eyes into focus 
again she saw that her mother, father and husband were standing apart 
from her. Selene's mother, Pandora, stood between her husband and her 
son-in-law. The two men had grasped each others hands with Pandora 
standing in the middle of their arms.

	Selene cried, "What are you doing?  It's my crystal;  I should be 
the one to take the risk."

	"No, daughter. You will be needed later," Pandora said, "We will 
send this Snow Queen back into the depths of space."

	"But, mother if you use that crystal, you'll die," Selene 
protested.

	"I know that as does your father and husband.  Why do you think we 
took it from you.  We're not going to let you die," Pandora replied

	"That's right, Selene. Your father, Epimetheus, and I will help 
your mother fight back the Snow Queen. Your the only one that can raise 
our children well."

	"THESEUS!!"  Selene screamed, "Please don't."

	 "Take care of our son and daughter, dear," Theseus said and the 
addressed someone who came up behind Selene, "Hephaetus, please keep her 
from interfering."

	As she felt her uncle grab her shoulders, Selene cried, "no.no.no. 
Please don't."

	While holding the Silver Crystal aloft, Pandora said, "Let's get 
to it.  Combine our magic."

	All at once the three of them yelled, "SILVER CRYSTAL POWER!!"

	A huge beam of light burst from the crystal and struck the icy 
comet.  The two men concentrated even further throwing their entire 
life-force into the blast. The silvery beam increased in power. From the 
depths of the comet an icy voice crackled.

	"Ahhhh.  I will leave this planet for now, but I will place upon 
your world my curse of hopelessness.  May the people of this planet 
always know they will die a horrible death and anything they do will 
make their death even more horrible.  Hahahaha.  I will be back in a 
couple of thousand years to claim this world," The Snow Queen said

	The icy comet veered away from the Earth as a black mist started 
falling towards the planet. Pandora saw used the crystal to gather up 
the mist to try and prevent it from infecting the planet.  The silvery 
light gathered up all the mist and held it in a ball.  Pandora used up 
the last of her life-force to form the ball and collapsed.  Hephaetus
was 
stunned momentarily, just long enough for Selene to break free from his 
grasp.  Selene ran to her dying family to see if there was anything she 
could do.  A loud crack was heard from the silver ball. Selene looked up 
and saw that the mist was going to get out. She picked up the crystal 
and used only a fraction of its power to channel the mist into a 
specific receptacle, herself.  After the mist was fully absorbed, Selene 
went to her mother who was still barely alive.

	"Mother.  Why? It was my risk," Selene cried

	Pandora weakly got out, "Your to important to us, daughter. Do you 
know what you just did? You have cursed yourself.  You will see nothing 
but your death."

	Selene tearfully said," No, mother.  Not exactly.  What I have done 
to myself was to absorb all the mist.  I have been cursed with the 
Foreboding. I can see what will happen if I take certain actions.  Not 
just my death. I...I...I  will use this curse to defeat the emissaries 
of Chaos.  After the children are grown, I will have to begin my great 
work if there is to be any freedom from Chaos."

	Reaching a hand up to brush away her daughter's tears, Pandora 
said, "I understand daughter.  Please take care of yourself."

	After saying her final words, Pandora died. The bodies of the 
trio, who had faced the Snow Queen, were outlined by a silvery light and 
then they faded away. Selene collapsed into her uncle's arms weeping.  
Hephaetus looked at where his sister had faded away and held onto his 
niece.  He looked down upon his niece and spoke softly.

	"I don't know if it will mean anything, but I'll teach you my 
craft. Even though it is against Atlateean law," Hephaetus said.

	"Thank you, uncle, but won't you get into trouble for 
teaching a woman?"  Selene asked, while sniffing back the tears.

	Picking up the silver crystal gingerly, he replied, "It is obvious 
you have the talent, and if I had taught you, my sister would still be 
alive. I no longer care about those stupid laws. Once we get back to my 
shop, you are going to make a golden version of this crystal. One that 
isn't so dangerous to its user."

	Selene looked at her uncle, then got a distant look in her eyes, 
and said, "All right, uncle.  This is something I should do.  I will
also 
need time to learn how to sort through my new ability."

	Selene looked back towards where her family had faded and said, 
"Mother will be remembered for either releasing evil into the world as 
well as hope, or she will be remembered for slamming the lid shut on the 
worst evil that mankind would have known."

	Selene straightened her shoulders and walked back towards her 
home. Hephaetus watched his niece walk away.  On his face was a confused 
expression as he followed his niece back.

	The image from the holocube faded and winked out.

	Nanami's feeling of creepiness returned full force, because she 
realized that Selene could see what would happen and she had probably
know 
what was happening now.  Nanami also felt like crying, because of what 
Selene had gone through.  Miz and Mr. Fujisawa were hugging each other;
each 
trying to comfort the other.

	Looking out an upper story window, Nanami said, "The rain's stopped."

	Nodding, the couple went down the stairs holding hands.  Nanami 
hesitated for a second and then picked up the cube, taking it with her. 
She 
realized that the Sailor Senshi would want to see it as well, since it
was a
part of their history.