Here it is! Previous chapters available at my website, C&C welcome. (I'm
using a different e-mail address because some new firewall-thingie is
blocking my acess to Juno.)
Aaron Nowack
http://www.geocities.com/anowack/
"Never let reality get in the way of a good hypothesis."
-- Attached file included as plaintext by Listar --
Shades of Gray
A Sailor Moon Fanfic
By: Aaron Nowack
Chapter 4: The Search Begins
"Every journey begins with a single step."
-saying
************************************************************************
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon is owned by Naoko Takeuchi, whose creative
talents far exceed my most humble own. Distribution and other rights to
Sailor Moon belong to lots of different companies that I do not own. I
make or imply no claim to ownership of Sailor Moon or its characters.
However, the text of this fanfic and all original characters presented
within are mine, and should not be used without permission. Thank you.
************************************************************************
Malvaar silently knelt before the dark throne. He ignored the
whispers already rising from the crowds of youma that stood around the
throne room. Fools, all of them. Malvaar was not Ixitar, and would not
share Ixitar's fate. Still silent, the Overlord presented a massive ball
of energy to Jadeite.
Jadeite smiled, relaxing on his throne as he eyed the glowing
white ball. "The... profits of your attack, I assume?"
Malvaar nodded. "Of course, my lord."
Jadeite accepted the energy, an odd gleam in his eye. "So, tell
me, Malvaar... why did you retreat? I seem to recall that you were to
destroy the Senshi?"
Malvaar had known that question would come. "I did not promise
it would take only one strike, my lord. In this mission, my goal was to
gain energy for further strikes with minimal losses. I left once that
objective had been achieved." Not to mention he wasn't interested in
turning into a pile of ash...
"Coward." The voice echoed through the room, but it was not
Jadeite who said it. Malvaar looked about for the source, finally
spotting Hensur, the Overlord of the Shorn Wastes.
The minotaur turned back to Jadeite. "My lord, do I have
permission to challenge this wretch who questions my honor?"
Jadeite shifted his weight. "But of course."
Malvaar stood and turned to face the audience. "Come forth,
drone! Come forward and face your doom!"
Nervously, Hensur stepped forward. The dim light cast eerie
shadows over his odd mixture of reptilian and insectile features.
Slowly, he raised his hands in a defensive posture.
Malvaar wasted no time as he leapt forward. With great speed,
he dodged a bolt of dark energy. He ignored the pained screams of a
youma that had not thought to raise protective shields, and grabbed his
opponent in one massive hand.
The minotaur took Hensur's arm in his other hand, and with
hardly any effort dislocated the limb. Hensur was desperately trying to
get off a quick incantation, but could hardly breathe, much less speak.
With a snort of disgust, Malvaar hurled the other youma against a
pillar.
The loud crack of bones breaking resounded throughout the
cavernous chamber. Hensur lay slumped against the pillar for a moment,
before struggling to rise. Malvaar merely watched, flexing his powerful
muscles.
Finally, Hensur stood. Weakly, he raised his good arm, firing
off a feeble energy bolt, hardly worthy of the name. His opponent
didn't even grunt when the attack hit him. Malvaar stepped forward once
more, picking up Hensur and shoving him against the black pillar.
The minotaur's face turned to his lord. "Permission to slay
this pitiful excuse for an Overlord, my lord Jadeite?"
An amused smile on his face, Jadeite nodded. "Granted."
Malvaar brought his gaze back to his opponent. Concentrating
for a moment, he began to push Hensur harder against the pillar. As he
did so, the dark obsidian seemed to liquify. Hensur began to scream as
he was engulfed by the pillar.
A moment later, it was over. The pillar was one again hard and
flawless. There was no sign that Hensur now was entombed within.
Malvaar stepped back, examining the cold, smooth surface before giving a
grunt of satisfaction.
The Overlord turned, and walked until he stood before the throne
once more. "If it is acceptable, I will begin preparations for a second
strike at once."
Jadeite nodded once before vanishing in a whirl of flames.
************************************************************************
Fuarku Ikawa stared at his computer. His expression vacillated
between shock, amusement, and fierce joy for several minutes. Finally,
it seemed to settle on amusement, and Ikawa let loose a soft chuckle.
The young man stood and swept through his one room apartment,
gathering up a number of textbooks and assorted school supplies. It was
a good thing his study group was meeting where it was. He had a second
appointment there now. But if he didn't hurry, he was going to be late
for the first.
Ikawa raced out of the room, inadvertently leaving the computer
on. On the screen was displayed a single message.
"I'LL BE MEETING YOU AT THE PARK TODAY.
-HERMES"
A moment later, the screen saver kicked in.
************************************************************************
"No... look, Motoki. You have to split the vector like this,"
Shoju explained.
Motoki nodded. "I think I see." The study group was spending the
morning in the park, cramming for an upcoming physics test. Ikawa and
Tamori was not yet present, but the other three members were.
Mamoru was thumbing through his notes, trying to absorb the
formulas through some sort of osmosis. He did his best to ignore
Shoju's attempts to aid the struggling Motoki through the basic
principles. "Oh well," Mamoru thought. "At least I don't really have
to worry about my future too much, since I know I'll be King of the
world in a thousand years. And then I can outlaw physics tests... if
Usagi doesn't do it first." Mamoru smiled ruefully. He hoped Usagi
would mature at least a little bit before she became Queen...
Mamoru lost his train of thought as the two missing members of
the group arrived. Ikawa cheerfully waved to the group in greeting.
Moments later, the two were seated, and the group got down to the real
studying.
A few hours later, Shoju slammed his books shut. "I think we're
about as ready as we're going to be for this test," he stated as the
others followed suit.
"I guess," Motoki said, glancing at his watch. "I've got to
head over to the Crown anyway."
"Wasn't one of the Senshi spotted there yesterday?" Shoju asked.
Motoki nodded. "Yeah, Sailor Venus and that Ares fellow.
Unazuki said she saw them on the way home. I wonder why they were
together, though? I thought Ares and the Senshi were fighting?" He
didn't notice the uncomfortable looks on Ikawa, Mamoru, and Tamori's
faces.
Ikawa's expression was easy to explain. The conversation was
taking a turn that he didn't want to have to deal with. Mamoru's
expression was present because he was reminded of how useless he had
been at the park. Usagi could have died, and he had been able to do
nothing!
Tamori's reasons were more complicated. Strange, foreign
emotions churned inside him as he heard about the Senshi and Ares.
Love, hatred, anger, and confusion swirled about in his head. "What's
wrong with me?" he thought. "Why do I feel this way?"
************************************************************************
Elsewhere in the park, Urawa Meno sat toying with a small, blue
supercomputer. Of course, it appeared to be a PDA of some sort.
Everyone knew that supercomputers were gigantic. Right? The other
person sitting at the bench stared uncomfortably at the symbol on the
back of the device.
He had come into Juuban, using money he had "borrowed" from his
parents to pay for the train ride. He hadn't even called any of the
other people he knew in Juuban, not even... her.
"Are you sure about this, Meno?" he finally asked.
Meno looked up. "Yes, Ryo. I am," he said. "Have you... seen
anything?"
Yes. "Not really..." Ryo grimaced. He couldn't tell his
brother what he'd seen, and why it worried him. If he did, Ami would be
in terrible danger. And if he warned her, his brother would die.
"Precognition isn't worth it," he thought, silently cursing fate. It
was bad enough to have to live with the fact that his soul was... no, he
was really a youma. A monster. All the Moon Healing Escalation's in
the world couldn't change that.
Even now, he felt the siren call. Every time the portal opened,
he could feel the urge. The urge to transform, to return to his kind.
To serve and worship Metallia. He could resist; he could fight his
nature. But he knew as long as the Dark Kingdom existed he would never
be free. Never be worthy of her love.
He wondered whether others of the Seven felt that way. Maybe
not. After all, none of them had merged with their true form as he had.
Sure, it had meant that he could control his urges somewhat, that he
could fight Zoicite. But it had meant he had accepted his nature. Not
only that, but he had been subjected to the Black Crystal's fearsome
magic not once, but twice. That had surely weakened Serenity's bindings
as well.
"Don't worry, brother," Meno said, sensing the gist of his
younger sibling's thoughts. "If you stick around, Aphrodite will be
able to help you. And once we have the Silver Crystal, I'll make sure
you're free."
"If you have the Silver Crystal, they'll all be dead. Ami and
Usagi and Rei and Makoto and Minako and Mamoru. Dead! It's not worth
that!" Ryo silently, mentally screamed. Out loud, he said, "Don't do
this just for me."
"I'm not doing this just for you. I do this because I must do
my duty," Meno replied. He looked up to the sky and continued, "I will
avenge those I cannot defend..."
************************************************************************
Jadeite stared silently at the tome in front of him. It was
titled "The Wisdom of the Stars", one of Nephrite's books. And if it
was correct, in a matter of weeks there would be a dimensional
conjunction! For one night, energy costs to breach the dimensional
barrier would be negligible.
He could send hundreds, no, thousands of youma across! Sure,
they would be forcibly returned to the Dark Kingdom when the conjunction
ended, but one night would be more than enough to destroy the Senshi.
Without Saturn, they wouldn't stand a chance! He wouldn't need to find
the Diamonds, and his control over the Kingdom would be secure. This
more then made up for his continuing failures to revive the daimon eggs
he had retreived. A smile on his face, Jadeite considered the
possibilities.
Not very far away, two Overlords spoke. "Malvaar is a... words
simply fail me!" exclaimed Pesilitar. Hensur had been his ally, and he
had desired Ixitar's territories, which had been granted to the
minotaur.
His companion, Overlord Nyxan, nodded and lay one taloned, ebony
hand on Hensur's pus green shoulder. "I know how you can get back at
him, my friend."
"How?" the eager youma asked, all ears.
"If you stage an attack now, while Malvaar wastes time plotting,
and bring Jadeite back more energy than that insufferable wretch did,
you will steal our Lord's favor from him," Nyxan answered, inwardly
smirking.
"Yes... and I will see to it some of the take goes to you as
payment, Nyxan," Pesilitar said, smiling, as he began to plot an attack.
In another portion of Jadeite's palace, Asphara was speaking
with Malvaar. "I think Pesilitar may be planning to upstage you," she
told the minotaur. The minotaur grunted in thought, as in the shadows
Ishmanar began to chant a spell in a low voice.
Malvaar's eyes were suddenly consumed with fierce rage.
"Pesilitar will die."
************************************************************************
At the Hikawa Shrine, the Senshi were about to begin a meeting.
Setsuna looked sadly at the other seven as she teleported in, shocking
her sisters.
"Where have you been?" demanded Michiru. "We really need
answers! And your absence nearly killed Usagi!"
"At the Gates of Time," Setsuna answered calmly. "It was best
that I not be present at that last battle. Unless you would have rather
faced three Champions than one?"
"What?" Rei exclaimed. "There's only one Champion Awake!"
Pluto grimly smiled. "Three Champions have already awoken, and a
fourth has nearly done so."
All the Senshi paled at that. Makoto asked, "Which ones?"
"Ares, Aphrodite, and Hermes," the Senshi of Time replied.
Ami looked up from her computer. "Who are the Champions,
Setsuna?"
Setsuna lowered her head. "I can't tell you."
Rei looked as though she was about to explode. "Why the hell
not?"
Setsuna glared at Rei. "Because if I do, this will all lead to
disaster! I don't know how, but if you were to know the origins of the
Champions now, Crystal Tokyo would be doomed!"
Usagi spoke up. "Calm down everybody!" she stated in a voice of
command. Slowly, tempers began to calm.
"Do we know anything about that 'new enemy' Michiru sensed?"
Minako asked.
"I know I don't," Michiru replied.
Pluto frowned. "What... oh. I believe Michiru was sensing the
Dark Kingdom's new leader. Whoever he is, he's being very cautious. He
never comes to Earth without more warding spells than the entire Moon
Palace used to have."
Ami's computer beeped. "I'm picking up... another disturbance
at the park. It seems to be very popular with the Dark Kingdom this
time. I'll have to see if the portal they're using is located there."
"In any case, let's get moving!" Haruka said, standing.
Within moments, the Senshi had transformed and left. The two
moon cats, who had been silent the whole meeting, stared after them.
"They don't really need us anymore, do they?" Luna asked.
************************************************************************
At the park, Meno stood. This was the day, this was the hour.
"It's time. I suggest you leave, brother."
Ryo lowered his head. All his efforts had been for naught. In
mere minutes, two people who he loved more then anything would be trying
to kill each other. He silently cursed against destiny before beginning
to speak one more time. "I'm going to ask you one last time to not do
this."
Meno stared at his brother. Why was he so insistent? "Unless
you can tell me why not, I am doing this."
Ryo grimaced. What would happen if he did would be even worse
then what would happen if he did nothing. "I can't," he harshly
whispered.
"Very well then, brother." Meno stepped back. Why can't you
trust me, little brother? "Goodbye."
Ryo closed his eyes, once more damning his future sight.
"Goodbye, brother." The young precognitive then stood and fled the
park.
Meno sadly shook his head, then raised one hand. Slowly, a
sword formed inside of it. This was it. No turning back now. "Mercury
Sword Power!" Light blue plate armor formed around him, though like the
other Champions, no helm obscured his face. Displayed proudly in white
on the breastplate was the symbol of Mercury.
Moments later, Hermes raced towards the center of the park. He
quickly spotted the two figures he was looking for.
"So he said he'd meet us here?" Unazuki asked Ikawa.
"Right," Ikawa answered.
Hermes grinned. "I'm here, Azala."
Unazuki smiled back at the Champion of Mercury. "Janus?"
"Right on. Now transform, you two. I can feel youma coming."
Hermes glanced towards the area of the park that was still torn up form
yesterday's fight.
Feral grins appeared on the other two's faces. Venus raised her
hand, calling forth a thin longsword, while Ares summoned his massive
broadsword.
"Mars Sword Power!" Ares's red armor formed around him.
"Venus Sword Power!" Aphrodite's armor was colored orange, with
Venus's symbol displayed in gold.
Three Champions turned as one to meet the youma that appeared in
the center of the park. There were over twenty of them, green and
bloated, with open sores. Plaguebringers, they were called during the
Silver Millennium. And in the center of the formation was one even
grosser and more disgusting.
"I am Pesilitar, and I have come to destroy you all!" cried the
Overlord.
As one, the Champions fell into ready stances. "Bring it on,"
Ares called out. Moments later, the battle was joined. Ares easily
sliced one Plaguebringer in two with his flaming blade. Hermes dodged
one clawed hand, stabbing its owner in its corpulent gut. Ice formed
around the fatal wound as he withdrew his weapon. Aphrodite's sword
danced in her hands, and after the first two fell, no youma dared
approach her.
"Bubbles Spray!" Champions and youma alike swore as gray fog
filled the area. Only the Senshi could see in the mist.
"World Shaking!
"Deep Submerge!"
"Dead Scream."
"Burning Mandala!"
"Sparkling Wide Pressure!"
"Crescent Beam!"
The barrage of attacks sped towards their targets. While the
Inner Senshi blasted three youma, the Outers' attacks were aimed at the
Champions . When the fog cleared, the Champions were thrown to ground,
struggling to rise. Praising his good luck, Pesilitar sent half his
forces to deal with them, while leading the other half toward the
Senshi.
Aphrodite slashed out at the first youma to reach her, removing
its legs. The Plaguebringer promptly dissolved, giving her time to
rise.
Hermes also rose, raising his sword. "Hail Storm!" Shards of
razor sharp ice pelted the youma, slaying two more.
This gave Ares time to stand as well. "Flame Strike!" Another
Plaguebringer fell. Only six youma remained to face the Champions, and
they were soon heavily engaged in a swirling melee.
A second barrage of attacks raced from the Senshi towards the
advancing youma, but the youma were prepared, and avoided most of the
attacks. Even worse, Pesilitar teleported in another two dozen
Plaguebringers, hoping to press his rapidly evaporating advantage.
"Moon Spiral Heart Attack!" Six youma were vaporized by Sailor
Moon's blast, but that was not nearly enough.
The youma reached the Senshi, and soon were smashing their way
through the defensive line. Pesilitar laughed triumphantly as Venus was
hurled to the ground by one Plaguebringer and did not rise. The laugh
deepened as Mercury and Jupiter joined her. Pressed and outnumbered by
the youma, the Senshi were unable to prepare any of their attacks.
On the other side of the battlefield, Aphrodite gracefully
beheaded the last attacking youma with one smooth slash. The three
Champions raced towards the melee, but stopped when more youma appeared
in front of them. Five massive minotaurs now dominated the center of
the battleground.
Malvaar had arrived, and he was furious. He gestured towards
the Champions, sending two of his servants to deal with them before
bellowing, "Pesilitar! What is the meaning of this?"
Pesilitar's answer was to gather his Plaguebringers around him,
granting the Senshi some much needed breathing room. Malvaar grinned.
"So be it." With a roar, Malvaar and his remaining two servants raced
towards their opponents.
Behind them, the Champions engaged the other minotaurs. One
massive fist sent Aphrodite flying. With a scream of rage, Ares pounced
on the fist's owner, driving his flaming blade in between the youma's
ribs. But the minotaur was not dead yet, as it demonstrated by pounding
on the Champion of Mars with force capable of shattering every bone in
an ordinary human's body. Hermes was desperately dodging the other
youma's blows, occasionally getting a strike in with his ice-cold
weapon.
Meanwhile, Malvaar and his escort were ripping through the
remaining Plaguebringers with astounding ease. Within moments, Malvaar
had reached Pesilitar, and delivered a punch that forced the Overlord
back several feet.
Pesilitar grimaced. "Pestilence Breath!" he called, expelling a
cloud of stinking green gas. Coughing, Malvaar stumbled through the
vapors, delivering another powerful blow. This time, Pesilitar was
broken in two, and the remaining Plaguebringers vanished.
Malvaar glanced at the pressed Champions and exhausted Senshi
and smiled. "Our victory is at hand! For the Dark Kingdom!" cried the
minotaur lord, as he and his minions began or redoubled their attacks.
************************************************************************
Back in the Dark Kingdom, the battle was being watched with
bated breath by all the inhabitants of that sub-dimension. Would their
Queen and their goddess finally be avenged? Would the Senshi be
defeated? Somehow, Jadeite doubted it. But Pesilitar had definitely
come closer than any before him, excluding Beryl's elite guard. If
Malvaar had cooperated with him perhaps...
Not far away, two conspirators knew for a fact that Malvaar was
doomed. Ishmanar caressed the dark tome he had recovered from Beryl's
library. The "Metallian Codex". The collection of prophecy and spells
that had been ancient when the Silver Millennium fell had been banned on
every world, and even Beryl had forbidden her servants from perusing the
contents. For good reason.
"It seems as though the rage spell worked perfectly," Nyxan
commented.
"Aye, and the prophecy is correct so far," replied the second
conspirator. Ishmanar thumbed the Codex open to a well worn page and
began to read out loud. "In the days after Time turns back on itself,
all will seem lost. Fear not, for after the ninety Pharaohs fall, one
of Fire will emerge from Ice to lead you. And your enemies shall fight
among themselves, and they shall be driven before your armies. The bull
will triumph over plague, but will fall to the hidden hand. The sky
will be as fire, and the dead will walk. And when all this has come to
pass as it has been foreseen, I, Metallia, will reign forever."
Nyxan smiled. "We will succeed where Beryl failed. Our Great
Leader will be free."
Ishmanar returned Nyxan's grin. "In any case, Asphara has
successfully crossed over under cover of this disturbance."
"Perfect," Nyxan commented as they returned to watching the
battle.
************************************************************************
Two minotaurs raced towards the Senshi, while Malvaar hung back
to keep an eye on the two separate fights. Sailor Uranus was quick to
loose a World Shaking at one of the oncoming youma, but the minotaur
ignored the blast, flooring Uranus with one powerful blow. Neptune
raced to aid her lover while Sailor Moon began her attack.
On the other side of the battlefield, Aphrodite was struggling
to rise. The minotaur Ares was engaging finally tired of beating on the
hapless Champion, and hurled him at her. The two Champions collided,
and both fell to the ground. Nearby, Hermes dodged another powerful
blow, then extended his free hand. "Deep Freeze!"
A burst of supercold water flung from Hermes's hand, hitting the
minotaur in its chest. Ice rapidly spread over the youma's massive
bulk, and in moments it was frozen. One swift sword blow easily
shattered the minotaur into a thousand fragments which swiftly
dissolved.
Meanwhile, a minotaur smashed Sailor Moon into the ground before
she could finish her attack. Sailor Mars was throwing Fire Souls about,
but was doing little damage. Pluto backed up before loosing a Dead
Scream at the youma threatening Sailor Moon. The energy blast forced
the minotaur to stumble backwards, nearly falling over. As it did so,
Venus rose and hurled a Love-Me Chain at the monster. The chain
entangled itself around the youma's legs, tripping it. Jupiter also
managed to stand, and slew the trapped youma with a Sparkling Wide
Pressure.
Ares and Aphrodite stood, and Ares leapt back at the minotaur,
launching a Flame Strike. The bolt of white flame flung the youma back
towards its master, and within moments it had turned to dust. The
combined efforts of the Senshi swiftly vanquished the last of Malvaar's
minions, and with a roar of pain it dissolved.
Malvaar glanced around cautiously. He had no more servants, and
was vastly outnumbered. However, his opponents all looked about ready
to collapse, while he was unwounded. He felt as though a fire was
inside him, giving him the urge to fight, to rend, to destroy. With a
battle roar in his throat, he began to charge towards the Senshi.
Suddenly, a rose thudded into the ground in front of the
minotaur lord. Malvaar looked up to a nearby tree, where Tuxedo Kamen
stood upon a branch, another rose already in hand. Malvaar slowly began
to back away, his rage temporarily drained by the sudden shock.
For once, Tuxedo Kamen's speech was neither lyrical or
inspiring. "I'd suggest you go back to the Dark Kingdom, or you're
going to get a rose down your throat."
With a growl, Malvaar took his advice.
************************************************************************
Malvaar was surprised when he appeared in Jadeite's throne room
rather than his private quarters, as he had intended. His destination
must have been diverted. This was bad. This was very bad. No, this
was an utter disaster.
Jadeite lounged back in his throne. "Do you have any
explanation for this... fiasco, Malvaar?
Yes, this was a disaster. Fear momentarily burned through the
cloud of rage that muddled Malvaar's thoughts. "N... no, my lord."
Jadeite sighed. "I didn't think so. Therefore, I find you
guilty of incompetence, cowardice, and treachery. I sentence you to..."
"NO!!!!!!" roared Malvaar, seeing red. He charged forward and
hurled one sound barrier shattering punch at Jadeite. The shocked crowd
of youma flinched, expecting to be showered with Jadeite bits.
Instead, they were even more shocked as Jadeite easily caught
the punch. For a moment, they stared at the tableau of Jadeite holding
back the straining minotaur's arm.
Then, Jadeite spoke, his face and voice cold. "That was not
very smart, you know?" Malvaar began to try to pull his arm away, to no
avail. Still emotionless, Jadeite continued, "Incinerate."
Almost instantaneously, the minotaur's arm began to smolder.
Wrenching his limb free, Malvaar fell back as the flames began to
spread. It took him a long time to die.
When the bold minotaur lord was finally nothing more than a
rapidly disappearing pile of ash, Jadeite spoke once more. "I have had
enough of this rash of incompetence. From now on, any Overlord with
enough energy to send youma across has my permission to do so. The
first to actually have a successful mission will become my first
General." Without another word, the dark lord teleported away in a
burst of flame.
It took only a moment for the plotting to begin.
************************************************************************
Back on Earth, three Champions lined up to face seven Senshi and
Tuxedo Kamen. For a long moment, nothing was said. Except for Tuxedo
Kamen, all the combatants looked equally weary and beaten. Fukus were
torn, armor was dented, and weapons were stained with blood and ichor,
as were the clothing of the warriors. The park had been utterly
destroyed by the two massive battles that had been fought there.
The moment of silence stretched on into several minutes, neither
side wishing to begin the fighting. To those standing on the
battlefield, hours seemed to pass. The Senshi studied the three who
confronted them, wondering why these people were there enemies. The
Champions gazed on the all too familiar figures that stood before them.
Figures that had been allies for eight thousand years, figures that now
were the enemy.
Finally, Sailor Moon spoke. "Why do you fight us?" Why do you
hate us? Why?
Ares's face hardened. "We swore an oath. We must defend those
who cannot protect themselves."
"Until all are one..." whispered Aphrodite, though the wind
picked up the phrase and carried it to the Senshi's ears.
"For the good of humanity. The Moon Kingdom's crimes must not
go unavenged," said Hermes.
Ares spoke once more. "We did not want this war. Serenity
started it, and soon we will finish it." With that, the three Champions
walked away, leaving the Senshi behind. As soon as they were out of
sight, Pluto vanished without a word.
************************************************************************
In Ikawa's apartment, a joyous meeting was taking place. "I
can't believe that you're Hermes, Meno!" the host said. "When did you
find out?"
Meno smiled. "Well, I Awakened yesterday at the park. I found
out a few days earlier, when I had a vision."
"A vision?" Unazuki asked. "I didn't know you were a precog."
"It's something I picked up from my family in this time,"
replied Meno.
"Anyway, we need to come up with a plan for finding and
Awakening the rest of us," Ikawa stated as he pulled a soda out of the
fridge.
Unazuki nodded. "Until we're at full strength, we're at a
disadvantage."
Meno pulled his computer out of subspace. "I've already got a
program looking for the others. Chronus seems to be almost awake, but
it will take a few days to figure out the source of his energy
signature."
"How are we going to Awaken him? It's not like Saturn's going
to be around to provide the stimulus," Ares commented.
"He's so close to Awakening that seeing one of us transforming
might push him over the edge. I'm working on a way to Awaken the others
without the Senshi's presence, though," replied Meno.
"Enough of the strategizing, people," Unazuki said. "Let's
party!"
"That's just the way I remember you, always ready to party,"
laughed Meno.
************************************************************************
A much more somber meeting was occurring at the Hikawa Shrine.
Luna and Artemis had only had to take one look at the arriving Senshi to
realize that this had not been an easy fight.
"I just wish we knew what all this was about," Makoto was
saying.
"I know," Minako griped. "And why is the Dark Kingdom attacking
again?"
"And who's leading them?" Ami asked.
Haruka brooded in a corner. "Somehow, I bet Pluto knows. But
she's playing us for fools, just like she did to us last time. She knew
where the Talismans were all along. We could have won that fight long
before we did."
Ami frowned. "From what I understand, she's trying to bring
about one specific future, that of Crystal Tokyo, rather than simply
help us any way she can. If we had beaten the Death Busters quickly,
Saturn would never have awakened, and she is probably necessary for our
ultimate victory."
"Perhaps," Haruka grunted.
"Speaking of Hotaru, what's going on with her?" asked Luna.
"I wish I knew," Michiru replied. "I swear she grew an inch
today. It's really freaking out Professor Tomoe's new lab assistant. I
don't think he was quite ready to accept the existence of magic. He's
been acting really strangely since her first... growth spurt."
The Senshi had a large number of questions, but very few
answers. It was going to be a long, hard road to gain those answers.
************************************************************************
Author's Random Rambling
1) Please, C&C, even if it's just a short note to tell me whether or
not you enjoyed the chapter.
2) The plot thickens, eh? Next chapter, a few answers get revealed.
(Dum dum dum.) Plus, two Awakenings!
3) I'm still endlessly surprised at how the Dark Kingdom sub-plot is
developing. The Overlords are definitely characters that write
themselves, and I often have no clue what they're going to do next.
4) I believe this is the first chapter I've written that had no new
characters in it. Well, except for Hensur, but he was a plot device,
not a character.
5) About the relative power levels of the Senshi and the Champions:
Theoretically, they have an equal power level. However, the Champions
have much more effective experience than any Senshi but Pluto, giving
them a larger effective power level.
6) As I write these Author's Notes, Shades of Gray is about 150k of
text, making it by far the longest thing I've ever written. Currently,
it is planned to consist of 18 chapters, a prologue, an epilogue, and an
interlude (set in the Silver Millennium).
7) Previous chapters are available at http://www.geocities.com/anowack/