And here we go.  As always, and and all C&C is requested and greatly
appreciated.

Previous chapter available at fanfiction.net and my website.

One hopes that Chapter 14 will appear sometime next month.

        Aaron Nowack
"Never let reality get in the way of a good hypothesis."
http://www.geocities.com/anowack/

Shades of Gray
A Sailor Moon Fanfic
By: Aaron Nowack

Chapter 13:  No Remorse

        "We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang
        separately."
                -Benjamin Franklin


***********************************************************************
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.
***********************************************************************

        The Dragon of Fire stared to the north.  Her superb vision was
magically enhanced even further, and she could see with perfect clarity
for a number of leagues.  A small handful of keeps dotted the barren
waste, so different from the fierce jungle that covered the island she
called home.
        She could also see the tiny columns of youma that emerged from
those keeps.  Some fled north, no doubt to meet Jadeite, while others
marched south, intending to harry and delay her.  And that could not be.
She was certain that time was of the essence, that even the slightest
delay would bring Jadeite victory.  The surge of power she had felt was
awesome, and she would not allow whatever of Jadeite's plans had
required it to come to fruition.
        All around Scalae her army marched, its goal the same as hers.
It was confident, and perhaps it had good reason to be.  Its attack had
caught the enemy totally by surprise, from all appearances.  No armies
had met it yet, three days' march from the shore.  Jadeite's forces were
still recovering from their war with the Mountains of Desolation, and
those that remained were spread thin maintaining his weak grasp on the
vast territory gained after Mordrangar's defeat.
        Yet... the surge worried her.  If it had been a test of some
weapon, she could be leading her army to its doom, and possibly hers
too.  Mordrangar's death disturbed her more than she would ever admit,
and she knew Loriel felt likewise.  Kyrien had vanished after Beryl's
death, and all believed him somehow slain, but that had not been the
same.
        And yet she almost hoped that it had been a weapon, for there
was another possibility, one that might make her prefer Mordrangar's
fate.  If... no.  She could not allow herself to think that.  If she
came to believe that were the case, she would be unable to mount even
the slightest resistance.  And even if she could, her army would likely
turn against her.
        It pained her still, what had been done to her.  The first set
of scars was long gone, healed by the kindness of a forgiving queen, by
a light that now would burn her at the softest touch.  The second,
though... the second set could still be seen after ten millennia, if
faintly, the jagged marks that had been made by a far less gentle ruler.
        And she had served that ruler with all her might, and still
would, given the chance.  And that pained her more than anything else.
So long as she lived, she would never be fully free again, never free of
what she had done and what had been done to her... and what she had
allowed to be done to her.
        Scalae stirred from her musing as Chresk, her closest advisor,
approached.  "My lady, Jadeite is on the march.  He heads south from
Beryl's palace in force."
        "How large?" Scalae asked, her disturbing meditations instantly
forgotten.
        "I am not sure, my lady.  Our scouts fear to get too close. From
Jadeite's actions, though, it seems he believes he has enough youma to
match us."  Chresk stood nervously, waiting for his mistress's reply.
Though compared to her counterparts she was a kind ruler, she was more
than capable of casually killing him in a fit of anger... or hunger.
        Scalae's red eyes did not blink.  "Then scout north in enough
force to see whether Jadeite is mistaken.  See to it personally,
Overlord."
        Chresk let out a breath he had not realized he had been holding.
"Your will, my lady."

***********************************************************************

        Mamoru's apartment was surprisingly quiet, considering the
number of people who had gathered there.  The only sound as he reentered
the sitting room was that of Ami entering command after command into her
computer.  Holding back a sigh, he placed the tray of drinks on the
coffee table and sat down on the couch next to Usagi.
        The Inner Senshi sat around the table, while Haruka and Michiru
chose instead to stand by the door.  Their eyes darted about constantly,
as though they feared a sudden attack.  Mamoru gestured towards the
drinks, but the two Outer Senshi shook their heads.  Mamoru's gaze
returned to the younger girls, but none of them moved towards the tray
either.
        Across the table from him, Rei stared silently, eyes unfocused
and distant.  She looked as though she had failed to get a good night's
sleep, but that was to be expected.  After all, the previous day had
seen her home wrecked by battle and her boyfriend reveal himself as one
of their enemies.  Mamoru wished he could provide some comfort, but he
had none to offer.
        Ikawa... it was hard to believe that he was Ares.  His friend
had always been a bit hotheaded, but his forgiveness had always been as
swift as his anger.  Ares, though... Mamoru had seen Ares in battle, and
the man seemed positively bloodthirsty, reveling in the conflict like
the god he shared a name with.  A sickening feeling in his gut, Mamoru
recalled an early battle that had ended with him standing by helplessly
while Ares held a sword to Sailor Moon's throat, threatening to kill his
hostage if his demands were not met.  The Ikawa Mamoru thought he knew
would never do that.
        Mamoru glanced worriedly at Usagi.  She had made it out of that
confrontation unhurt, but... every time he sensed the far too familiar
feeling that told of her danger, he felt as though his heart was about
to explode with fear.  He supposed he was lucky, that he had the power
to fight by her side and protect her as best he could.  He did not think
he could bear it if he were just an ordinary human, unable to help or
shield her in the slightest.
        He could feel her pain as she silently sat next to him, a
twisted ball of emotions that he could hardly separate from his own.
"Are you all right?" he whispered to her, already knowing what the
response would be.
        "I'm fine," Usagi said in a dull voice that was so unlike
herself, just as she had each time he had asked that question since
Hotaru's death.
        She refused to say what troubled her, but Mamoru could guess.
Not nearly as long ago as it seemed, he and the Inner Senshi had been...
dead, their lives sacrificed to put an end to the threat of the Dark
Kingdom, or so they had thought at the time.  Yet a miracle had been
worked, one that all involved refused to speak of.  Usagi had somehow
returned them all to life, and she surely felt she should be able to do
the same for Hotaru.  Mamoru was certain she had tried... tried and
failed.
        Ami cleared her throat.  When all eyes had turned to her, she
said, "It's obvious that the Champions now know at least some of our
identities.  We know precisely two of theirs.  Inusha Tamori was
Chronus... and Fuarku Ikawa is Ares."
        When no one replied to this pronouncement, Ami continued, "It
seems logical that they would have some contact with the other Champions
in their civilian identities.  Rei, Mamoru... did either of them make
any new friends over the past few weeks?"
        As Rei slowly shook her head, Mamoru answered, "Ikawa has been
spending more time with Urawa Meno, another student who lives down the
hall from him, lately, but..." He trailed off.  He hadn't thought that
Ikawa could be who he was either.
        "Urawa?" Ami asked, then shook her head.  "Never mind that."
She hit a few buttons on her computer.  "In that case, there's not much
we have to go on.  The only thing I can think of is that... well, we,"
she said, gesturing at the other Inner Senshi, "have often met under the
cover of being a study group."  Ami glanced at Mamoru.
        "You can't be serious!"  Mamoru exclaimed.  "By that logic, I
would be a Champion.  Motoki would be a Champion, and you all know him.
Can any of you imagine him as any of them?"  Out of the corner of his
eye, he saw Usagi shake her head.
        Ami sighed.  "I know, but it's the best lead we have, if not the
only one.  Both of the Champions we know about are... or were... members
of your study group, by your own account."
        Mamoru settled back into his seat.  "I just can't..." he began,
shaking his head as he trailed off.
        "I didn't think my boyfriend would be one of them, either," Rei
suddenly said, her voice filled with venom.
        Uncomfortable silence was her answer.  After a moment, Ami spoke
again.  "I know they're your friends, Mamoru, but I'm just asking you to
watch them."
        Mamoru frowned, but nodded.  Silence once again descended on the
room, which was only interrupted by the sound of firm knocking on the
door.
        At Mamoru's nod, Haruka opened the door, and everyone noticed
her suddenly stiffen.  "You," she said in what was not quite a hateful
tone of voice, but after a moment she stepped aside to allow the visitor
access to the room.
        "Setsuna!" The name was on almost everybody's lips as the green-
haired woman quietly walked to the center of the room.
        The mysterious Senshi frowned as she looked around the room,
then spoke.  "There is little I can say to you now, and what I can say
will not be all you would want." Setsuna glanced towards Haruka as she
continued to speak.  "I know that the past few days have been hard on
all of you.  I grieve with you for what has occurred, and I grieve at
what may still occur.  Yet I must ask that you all take what courage you
can."  Questions were on several lips, but Setsuna continued before they
could be spoken.  "All your strength will be required in the days to
come.  Keep in close contact with each other, for I will not be able to
warn you of future attacks."  Setsuna suddenly took a step back.  "The
next time I see you will be for the final battle."  Setsuna paused, then
bowed her head.  "I hope you will all be there to meet me when that time
comes."
        With those words, the Senshi of Time vanished.

***********************************************************************

        Jadeite frowned as he observed the wasteland to the south.  His
magically enhanced vision could almost make out Scalae's scouts.  "Do we
know how many they are?"
        Nyxan shook his head.  "Our forward elements cannot get close
enough to make the determination, your majesty.  There cannot be too
many, though.  Scalae can't have enough ships to move all her forces
across the straits."
        Frown deepening, Jadeite shook his head.  "I fear you may be too
optimistic.  With those jungles, she could have easily made enough rafts
to bring them all across.  Even if half sank, that would be over two
hundred thousand youma, not counting those that can fly."
        "You are of course right, my lord.  However, I doubt she would
do so.  If she stripped the South of troops, she would surely face
rebellion or invasion by opportunistic Overlords."  Nyxan made a few
quick calculations in his head.  "Even if she's been shuttling troops
across constantly since she landed, I feel the numbers we face are
closer to one hundred thousand than two."
        "I hope you are right, General."  Jadeite glanced at the forces
marching about him.  "What of our own numbers, then?"
        "My lord, we brought with us fifty thousand youma of varying
strengths.  With luck, the local lords will supply us with half again
that."
        "The local lords are worthless.  They did not fight against
Mordrangar, and are less likely to do so now.  Most will stay in their
keeps."  Jadeite frowned.  "If we get ten thousand youma from them, I
will count myself lucky."  After a moment's pause, Jadeite shifted
subjects again.  "What word from the north?"
        "The plains most likely cannot be held.  The Water Dragon has
already advanced almost a hundred leagues, and many of Mordrangar's
surviving supporters have joined him.  Ishamanar gathers forces, and
plans to hold Loriel in the mountain passes until Scalae is dealt with."
Nyxan knew that Ishamanar had no intentions of stirring from the palace,
but Jadeite would likely never discover that, or discover it too late to
make any difference.
        "I suppose I cannot hope for more than that," Jadeite said with
a scowl that belied his words.  "I want to know how many we face here,
Nyxan.  Send scouts in enough force to ensure I do.  See to it
personally."
        Nyxan wordlessly bowed and left, leaving Jadeite alone with his
thoughts.  Events were moving at a furious pace, one that left him
feeling as though he was riding a wild beast.  One moment, he had been
preparing to consolidate his massive gains after Mordrangar's fall, and
maybe deal with the Senshi once and for all, then... something happened,
and by the time he awoke, his empire was falling apart.
        The coming battle would be one of the greatest challenges of his
life.  Without the Flame Diamond, he could not hope to match Scalae's
raw power.  He knew that from bitter experience.  When he had last faced
Scalae, thousands of years ago and far to the south, he had been brushed
aside like a pathetic insect.  On Mars it had taken all four Generals,
and Beryl besides, to subdue the Fire Dragon, and that had been a close
call.
        Jadeite bit back a curse.  Before he had traveled south he had
visited the chasm that marked Mordrangar's grave and searched for the
Diamond.  It had been nowhere to be found, and there were no clues as to
who had taken it.
        And without it, he had almost no hope.

***********************************************************************

        Sailor Pluto stood before the Gates of Time.  She almost wished
they would open again, give her another chance to try and get more
information out of her future self.  She did not know enough.  There
were too many possibilities, and it was too hard to tell which were
acceptable.
        The coming days were as clouded as any she had ever seen.  A
thousand times a thousand points where the timeline could shift for good
or ill, and new branch points being created swifter than old ones
passed.  She knew that a major battle was coming, but what shape it
would take she could not say.
        It was enough to drive her to madness, that with the vast price
she paid for her foresight, it would prove useless when it was most
needed.  What might be the greatest challenge on the road to Crystal
Tokyo was fast approaching, and she was effectively blind.  All she
could do was guess.
        Pluto turned away from the Gates of Time and strode over the
Great Seal.  Even if she could not be certain of all she must do, there
were things that she knew had to be accomplished.  The Great Seal had to
hold.  Without it, a horrible reprise of the fall of the Silver
Millennium was far too likely.
        Pluto cast out her senses, avoiding for a moment the faltering
barrier that guarded the Dark Kingdom, instead inspecting the second,
still flawless barrier.  It was a relief that it was still perfect, for
behind it Queen Serenity had sealed away the rebel fleet.  And that
fleet was a force Pluto was determined to never allow to come into play
again.
        As she finished her inspection, Pluto hesitated.  Should she
risk observing the other barrier?  But after a moment, she did so.  Even
though the risk was great, she had to know what the state of the barrier
was.
        In a word, that state was pitiful.  It was fraying and tattered,
and in many places had fallen away entirely.  All along it she could
sense probings, and each probe weakened the barrier even more.  Within a
few years, Pluto expected the barrier would hardly be noticeable.
        None of that was a surprise, really.  What was a surprise was
that no traps were waiting for her.  Not long ago, she had attracted
Metallia's attention while inspecting the barrier, and though a relief,
it was troubling that the demon had not prepared for her return.  The
only reason she could think of for that was that Metallia was
concentrating on something she felt was more important.
        Pluto did not want to think of what that could be, for all the
possibilities were horrifying to contemplate.  Her foresight would be
useless in discovering what it was, for time flowed strangely in the
Dark Kingdom, and the dark energy clouded her sight even further.
        Once again, when it truly mattered she was blind.  Pluto
retracted her senses and stood silently a moment, staring at the Seal
beneath her feet.  Then, she left the courtyard.
        There was much work to do, if she was to be prepared for the
coming storm.

***********************************************************************

        Ishamanar frowned, rubbing a sore spot on one of his left arms.
Asphara was late, and that worried him.  Her mission was fairly
dangerous, and if she - and the energy she brought in - were lost
Metallia's rebirth could be set back weeks.  And the goddess was most
insistent that the current schedule be kept.
        Fortunately, Ishamanar's worries were lifted when Asphara
quietly slipped through the door to his chambers.  Though with most of
Jadeite's loyal followers at the battle front it was hardly necessary
for her visits back to the Dark Kingdom to be circumspect, it was still
better to be safe than sorry.  The wrong bit of news traveling south
could move Jadeite back north.
        Asphara smiled at her consort, and wordlessly presented the
latest profits from her venture.  Ishamanar accepted the ball of energy,
swiftly channeling it down to the bowels of the palace, where Metallia
waited.
        "Is this from the new machine?" Ishamanar asked curiously.
        Asphara shook her head.  "I haven't activated it yet.  It'll
drain more energy, but it'll be far harder to hide.  If any of the
Senshi were to happen by..."
        "I see," Ishamanar interrupted, frowning.  "However, we must get
more energy faster.  Our Great Leader insists."
        Asphara bowed her head briefly.  "Then at least give me some
support.  If not I'll have the Senshi and Champions on me the instant I
activate the device."
        After a moment, Ishamanar nodded.  "That seems wise."  He
paused, then broke into a fierce grin.  "I have the perfect distraction
for the Senshi- a fascinating pet I caught on the western coast.  You'll
be safe while they deal with it."  Ishamanar's grin changed to a
different sort, and he drew Asphara close to him.  For a while, no more
words passed between the two.
        When they were finished, Asphara said, "This distraction of
yours is very well, but I'd prefer something more permanent."
        Ishamanar rolled his eyes a moment, but nodded.  "You will have
it."

***********************************************************************

        "You look depressed."
        Unazuki looked up at the sound of the voice.  After giving the
counter one last wipe with the rag she was holding, she replied, "You
haven't exactly been the most cheerful of people today either, Akane."
        The other waitress shrugged.  "It's just my idiot boyfriend
again."  Akane rolled her eyes.  "What he sees in that Chinese bimbo
I'll never know.  But you're changing the subject, Unazuki.  What's
bothering you?"
        Unazuki forced herself to shrug.  "Nothing really.  I'm just not
feeling so great right now," she lied.
        "If you say so," Akane replied dubiously, but whatever she might
have said next was lost as the cafe's doors opened.  "Could you get
that, Unazuki?  I need to get started on some of those dirty dishes."
        Unazuki nodded and headed to the entrance, only to stiffen and
momentarily freeze as she saw who had entered the cafe.
        "Hello, Unazuki," Minako said, followed a moment later by her
two companions, Ami and Makoto.
        Unazuki hesitated a moment, then realized what she was doing and
responded.  "Hello.  What can I get you?"
        "I'll just have a glass of water," Ami said.
        "I'll have a hot chocolate," Makoto stated.
        "Same here," Minako said.
        "Two hot cocoas, and a glass of water.  It'll be just a moment.
Have a seat."  Unazuki turned a headed back towards the counter, but
kept a watch on the three younger girls out of the corner of her eye.
        Now that she had guessed who they really were, it was amazing
that she hadn't figured it out earlier.  Ami was a slightly shyer
version of Mesyne, and the similarities between Makoto and Lillana were
obvious.  Fortunately, Minako was somewhat more... restrained than
Asrael had been.
        The fact that she knew some of the Senshi in their civilian
identities was a reminder of something she had not wanted to consider.
That, behind the disguising magics and ancient uniforms, there were real
people, people with friends and families.  People she knew all too well
that in other circumstances she would like, for she had done just that
for many years before the war.  Before Juno... and before she had
Awakened in this time.
        Unazuki shook her head, clearing it of her musings.  She did
have a job to do.  She quickly placed the three drinks on a tray and
heading towards the Senshi's table.  The conversation died down as she
approached, but Unazuki frowned at something she thought she had heard.
"Did you say something about my brother?" she asked as she placed the
drinks on the table, restraining a wince as she realized how harsh she
had sounded.
        "We were just talking about the time Makoto got a crush on him,"
Ami said after a silence that lasted a moment too long.
        Unazuki nodded, and turned to leave, resisting the urge to look
behind her.  There was far too much chance to give herself away.
        As she left, Ami stared after her a moment.  "She's a little
unfriendly today," she heard Minako say.  Ami found herself nodding to
that statement.  Her fingers twitched, and she fought back the urge to
bring out her computer in public.  She needed to look at a picture of...
Azala, she believed the name was.  Ami looked up at Unazuki again,
ignoring for the moment Minako and Makoto's conversation.  Could she
possibly...
        "Is something wrong, Ami?" Makoto asked, stirring her from her
reverie.
        "I don't know," Ami said with a shake of her head. She looked at
her watch a moment.  "I need to head out.  I have some work I need to do
before cram school."

***********************************************************************

        Haruka strode down the hallway, snapping orders to the
collection of officers that followed in her path like baby ducks after
their mother.  She snorted at the odd thought.  Most of them were
decades older than her and had likely never seen a duck besides.
        As she entered the bridge, Haruka caught the familiar though
still majestic sight of the planet Uranus through the view port that
made up the front of the room.  Allasandra, the first officer, rose from
the high-backed chair that stood in the middle of the bridge, the other
positions spread in a rough semicircle in front of it.  "Captain," she
said with a nod.
        Haruka nodded back, repressing a smirk.  That was one of the
best things about being on the Heaven's Wind.  She was never the
Princess, or the Senshi Uranus, but just the Captain.  Though that title
carried a heavy responsibility, it was as light as a feather compared to
the others she bore.
        Haruka settled into the seat Allasandra had just vacated, while
the first officer returned to her own seat, slightly behind and to the
left.  "Anything to report?" Haruka asked, barely hearing the expected
chorus of negative answers.
        "Very good."  Haruka flexed her hands before laying them on the
crystal command sphere that stood on a pedestal before her.  "We'll just
be going out on a brief trip to the outer moons and back, to make sure
there aren't any problems with the repairs."
        Haruka closed her eyes and began to channel her power into the
command sphere.  Her senses expanded, taking in the whole of the ship,
feeling as wings of mana spread and began to catch the solar wind.  She
resisted the urge to give a very inappropriate yell of delight as the
Heaven's Wind began to move out of its low orbit.
        It was an indescribable experience, commanding one of the
crystal-and-silver behemoths that for many embodied the Silver
Millennium.  She was the Heaven's Wind, and the ship was her, as well.
While she had waited for her ship to be repaired after the damages it
had sustained putting down a band of pirates, it had been as though a
part of herself had been ripped away.
        Haruka chuckled as she remembered how irritable she had been,
particularly after her debriefing with Ares.  She had even snapped at
Dia when she had called to ask how she was.  Haruka smiled as she
thought of how she could apologize to Dia....
        "Are you all right, Haruka?"  Michiru asked.
        Haruka shook her head, looking at the still-bare bedroom of
their new apartment.  "What?"
        "You just blanked out there,"  Michiru said.  "What's wrong?"
        Haruka blinked, her still confused mind struggling to recall
the... dream?  The fragments of it slipped away, no matter how hard she
tried to gather them together again.  "I...don't know," she said after a
moment with another shake of her head.
        Michiru took a seat next to Haruka on the simple bed.  "You've
hardly talked to me since yesterday.  Something's bothering you."
        Haruka sighed.  "We have enough to be bothered about.  Pluto,
the Champions," she began, but then she paused for a long moment.
"Hotaru."  Her voice cracked as she spoke the name.  It was so wrong,
that the young girl's second chance at life had ended so soon, and so
horribly.
        "I know," Michiru said.  "But it's something else.  Something
newer."
        "It's... in the Hikawa Shrine, I had a... conversation with
Ares."
        "Oh," Michiru said.  "What did he say?"
        Haruka shuddered.  "After... after Hotaru died, I wanted them to
be monsters.  When I saw him there, about to kill Rei... I thought he
was."  She paused for a long moment.  "But then... he wasn't.  He... he
said he was sorry that Hotaru was dead."
        Michiru frowned in puzzlement.  "But weren't the Champions
trying to kill her?"
        "Oh, he wasn't sorry that Saturn was dead," Haruka replied.
"But Hotaru...." She shuddered again, then lapsed into silence once
more.
        Michiru remained quiet herself, waiting for her lover to finish,
knowing that any words she might say would only make it harder for
Haruka to reveal herself.
        "He... he was so much like me.  He sounded like us, when we were
the ones trying to kill Saturn."  Haruka's mouth twisted into a bitter
frown.  "When we were determined to kill to save the Earth."
        Michiru nodded after a moment.  "That's not all, is it?"
        Haruka sighed, burying her face in her hands.  "He asked me the
join him.  Not in so many words, but he as much as promised to end the
fighting if we... if I'd help him kill Pluto."  Haruka paused again, but
soon continued in a much softer voice.  "I almost did."
        Michiru wasn't sure what to say to that.

***********************************************************************

        At the moment, Ikawa's apartment felt quite crowded.  The fact
that seven people were in the room explained that to some extent, and
the fact that those seven were presently in the process of holding a
heated argument completed the explanation.  Ikawa could feel a headache
building in the back of his skull, and he rubbed the sides of his head
in a futile effort to relieve the tension.
        "If you hadn't ordered the retreat too soon, we might have
gotten one of them!" Uji said, glaring at Motoki.
        Motoki stirred from his spot on Ikawa's bed next to his sister.
"There's no point in more mass melees, and that's what the ambush turned
into.  You might be willing to risk another death, but I'm not."
        Uji grimaced and began to take a step forward, but Sachiko lay a
restraining hand on his shoulder.  "Listen...." he began.
        "Enough," Ikawa interrupted.  All eyes tuned to look at him.
"Motoki is right," he continued.  "There is no point in confronting the
Senshi like we have been.  They've proved that we're not able to beat
them all at once."  Ikawa paused, shaking his head.  "And it's not like
they're the Senshi of old anymore, either.  What reason do we have for
wanting the rest of them dead?"
        Uji's eyes flashed.  "Pluto," he said curtly.
        Ikawa nodded, a fierce gleam in his own eyes.  "She's different.
She, at least, is still the same."
        "That's nice," Hoshi interjected, "but what can we do about it?"
        "My plan...." Meno began, only to be cut off by Uji.
        "She could be watching us, you realize," he said.
        Meno nodded, then continued.  "If we go through with my plan, we
can..." Meno paused a moment while he searched for a euphemism.  "We
will have the force to get the Senshi to comply with our demands.
They'll have to give up Pluto."
        Unazuki shook her head.  "What if they call our bluff and
refuse?  What then?"
        There was an uncomfortable silence, and all the Champions tried
to avoid eye contact with Unazuki.  Motoki sighed, then spoke.
"Sister... if we use Meno's plan, and they refuse...."
        "You can't be serious!" Unazuki said.  "Bombarding Luna back in
the Silver Millennium was one thing, but this would be horrible!"
        Meno nodded.  "It would be.  If we go through with it.  Is
avoiding Pluto's future worth it?"
        Once again, there was nothing but an uncomfortable silence.
        "Look," Ikawa began after a long while, "we don't need to make
that particular decision yet.  The Senshi may even prove reasonable for
once.  However, the... our... weapon will still be useful even if we
don't use Meno's plan.  Can we agree on that for now?"
        "Define the issue," Motoki said.
        "I don't think there's a need for a formal vote, Motoki," Uji
said.  "All that's at stake is an agreement to stop confronting the
Senshi for now and to start preparations for the... rescue mission.  I
hardly think anyone disagrees with that."  When no one objected, Uji
nodded.  "Then I would suggest we end this meeting, because Sachiko and
I have to be down at the press room in an hour or so."
        Sachiko nodded.  "I almost forgot."
        "I suppose I'll tag along, since I'm heading in that direction
too," Hoshi said.
        A few moments later, Ikawa's apartment was empty.

***********************************************************************

        Nyxan smiled.  What luck it was, that his own small scouting
force had happened upon the enemy's own scouts.  As they had little
knowledge of the terrain, it had been trivial for Nyxan's squad to
arrange an ambush for them.
        Nyxan signaled, and a storm of magical attacks sped from the top
of the small crevice down towards the enemy squad.  Fire sent enemy
youma sprawling, and the earth beneath their feet leapt up to smite
them.  Nyxan himself hovered over the scene of the carnage and extended
both arms.  "Shadow Bolt!"
        The beam of darkness raked the enemy, slaying most of the few
survivors  of the first barrage, and Nyxan nodded in satisfaction.  It
was a total victory.  Jadeite would be most pleased.
        "You are General Nyxan?"
        Nyxan turned to see a red-scaled, reptilian youma floating
nearby.  "I am," he said after a moment.  "And who might you be?"
        The other youma bowed.  "I am Chresk, Overlord of Tyran Point,
and I challenge you."
        Nyxan extended his claws.  He had heard of Chresk, who was
apparently one of the Fire Dragon's most trusted advisors and personally
quite powerful besides.  This could be a wonderful opportunity, Nyxan
decided after a moment's thought.  "I accept," he said, waving off the
members of his squad who had approached in the interim.
        Before Nyxan could launch an assault, the very air around him
turned to flame.  He hastily raised shields to avoid the worst of the
onslaught, then shot beams of utter darkness from his palms at his
opponent.
        Chresk easily dodged the attacks.  "Is that the best you can do,
'General'?  I expected better."  A ball of flame formed between his
hands, and a moment later it sped towards Nyxan.
        The ebon overlord batted the fireball aside.  "I am jut getting
started, worm."  Nyxan sped towards the other Overlord, claws extended.
        Chresk laughed, and extended his own, far larger, talons.  "You
think to beat me this way?" he said with a laugh as the two began to
grapple in midair.
        Nyxan ignored the large gash down his left arm that he soon
received, instead plunging his claws in between Chresk's scales.  "Not
exactly," he replied, before channeling pure dark energy through his
claws.
        The resulting explosion hurled Chresk back quite some distance,
though it was hard to tell in midair.  Scalae's Overlord muttered a few
quick healing spells before returning his attention to his opponent.
"Impressive.  But not good enough, I fear."  An aura of flame formed
around the scaly youma, heat waves rippling through the air as it
gathered.  "You are far weaker than I supposed, 'General'.  Farewell."
Nyxan grimaced.  If he was using more than the tiniest fraction of his
true power, he would be able to crush this overconfident fool in an
instant.  No matter, though.  Nyxan smiled as his opponent descended
toward him in a tornado of fire.
        The explosion could be seen for leagues around, and when it died
down only Chresk could be seen.

***********************************************************************

        In the Dark Kingdom, Ishamanar slowly lowered his arms, then
reconsidered and raised one again to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
The barrier was weak, but it was still strong enough that sending
something like that across was far more straining than he had
anticipated.  He could only hope that Asphara would appreciate the
effort he had gone to.  With a sigh, Ishamanar left the portal chamber
to get back to work preparing a false report on the non-existent effort
to slow Loriel's advance.
        On Earth, in a park in the Juuban district of Tokyo, a small
lake began to boil.  The hissing and steaming began to attract
observers, but they quickly fled as Ishamanar's pet burst out of the
water.  It was shelled like a turtle, but the limbs that emerged from
the shell were clawed and furry, and the head was canine in shape,
though a malicious intelligence glinted in its dark eyes.  It let out an
unholy roar as it began to pull its massive bulk from the water.
        On the shore, Minako froze.  This thing had to be a youma, but
it was so big!  For an instant she wished she and Makoto hadn't decided
to walk through the park after Ami had left them, but quickly repressed
the thought.  After all, she would just have had to come and fight it
anyway, and this way maybe they could deal with the beast before anyone
was hurt.
        Makoto grasped her arm.  "We have to find somewhere to
transform," the other girl hissed at Minako.
        Minako nodded quickly.  "Those bushes over there," she said
quickly, after glancing about at the fleeing civilians.  Well, most were
fleeing.  There were a few who had frozen in shock, but there was
nothing she could do about that but hope they got out of the way when
the fight started.
        As one the two girls raced for the bushes, but Minako quickly
fell behind Makoto.  Another roar sounded from behind her, and Minako
picked up her pace, the bushes suddenly seeming farther away.  She could
hear the monstrous youma's footsteps sounding right behind her, and
Minako began to turn her head, risking a look back.
        Someone tackled her from behind, knocking her out of the path of
what could have been a fatal claw strike from the youma.  Minako rolled
over to determine the identity of her savior, who was revealed to be a
somewhat nondescript man, one of the civilians who had seemed frozen in
shock earlier.  Something was niggling at the back of her mind though,
something that told her she knew this person...
        "Thanks," Minako said when she had caught her breath.
        "Are you all right?" the man asked as he rose, freeing Minako
from his weight.
        "I think so," she said, beginning to wonder how she could slip
away to transform.
        "Come on," the man said.  "That youma's busy right now, but we
need to get you out of here."
        Minako resisted the urge to groan in frustration.

***********************************************************************

        Medea glanced at Hades as the two Champions landed in front as
the youma.  They had to distract it long enough for Hoshi to get that
girl away.  "I take right...."
        Hades nodded. "And I'll take the left.  Got it."  The two
Champions leapt away as one, just before the youma's fanged mouth
snapped shut where they had just been standing.  Hades delivered a
glancing blow to the monster's side, but grimaced as his blade bounced
off the hard shell.  A curse from the other side of the youma announced
that Medea too had discovered the shell's strength.
        Hades was forced to roll back as the youma swiped out with one
of its paws at him.  The champion stabbed up at the clawed limb with his
sword, but the youma retracted it before he could land a telling blow.
The youma's head swiveled back at Hades, and he barely had time to roll
away again before it breathed out a burst of flame that set a nearby
tree on fire.
        "Sparkling Wide... Pressure!"  The ball lightning hit the
youma's shell with a sharp crack, and Hades was amazed to see a
noticeable crack on the shell's surface.  He was suddenly very glad
Sailor Jupiter had never gotten a good hit on him with that attack.
        Not content with this damage, the Senshi fired a quick Supreme
Thunder at the youma's head, which served only the anger the beast
further, as it quickly lurched toward the Senshi.
        Taking advantage of the monster's distraction, Hades landed a
solid blow to one of its legs.  Ichor sputtered out from the wound,
hissing and steaming as it hit the ground.   Hades couldn't see Medea,
but he was sure the other Champion was also pressing the opportunity to
land a blow on the monster.
        However, Hades could tell that the youma had hardly noticed its
new wounds.  At this rate, there was no telling how long it would take
to bring the beast down.  Hades grinned weakly.  There might be another,
faster way... maybe.
        Hades waited for the monster to again lunge forward at Sailor
Jupiter, who was now so busy fending off the monster's assaults that she
had no time to launch another attack.  When his opportunity came, Hades
lunged forward as well and laid his gauntleted hand on one of the
monster's furry legs.  "Life Drain," he whispered harshly, opening
himself up to the youma's energy.
        He quickly regretted it.  The experience was like gulping down
raw sewage when he had expected clear water.  His head spun and his
insides protested, and a moment later he lost contact with the creature
as he fell back.
        Hades rolled over and began to get up, but the sudden movement
caused his still-weak stomach to give up, and the Champion was soon
vomiting up the past day's meals.
        "Are you all right?"  Hades looked up to see Medea standing over
him, offering her hand.  He took it, and forced himself to his feet,
ignoring the way his stomach turned as he rose.
        "Remind me never to try and drain a youma again," he muttered as
he prepared to reenter the fight.

***********************************************************************

        Hoshi restrained the urge to curse as he shuffled the girl away
from the fight.  She kept on trying to slip back toward the fight, of
all things!  He had to drop her off somewhere and find a place to
transform.
        A crack of thunder sounded from behind and a roar of pain
uttered from the beast.  Hoshi smiled.  At least it was getting hurt.
Now, where to ditch the girl...
        "Uh, mister..."
        Hoshi's attention returned to the girl.  "What is it?"
        "The youma is heading this way."  The girl looked ready to bolt.
        Hoshi turned around and cursed.  "Run," he hissed.  There wasn't
any time to waste, much less to spend looking for a hidden place to
transform.  As the girl sped away, Hoshi summoned his sword to his
hands.
        The beast charged toward him, the thunder of its footsteps
resounding loudly in Hoshi's ears.  His eyes searched for any weak spot,
and quickly settled on what appeared to be a small crack in the shell
near the beast's front shoulders.  As the youma approached, Hoshi leapt
into the air, vaulting over the monster's head.
        He landed on the shell, and wasted no time plunging his blade
through the crack.  The beast roared again and shook wildly, and within
a few seconds Hoshi had been hurled to the ground, though he had the
time to withdraw his sword beforehand.
        Hoshi forced himself to his feet, ignoring the weakness that he
felt after pushing his non-transformed body so hard.  Suddenly, he
noticed the girl staring at him in shock.  Why hadn't she run?  There
was no time for that now, though.
        Hoshi yelled out three words, and as he began to transform, he
heard a female voice uttering her own transformation phrase.  Hoshi's
eyes widened as he realized the reason for the girl's odd behavior.
When the transformations had finished, Poseidon stared a moment at
Sailor Venus before turning back to the monster.
        Sailor Jupiter and the rest of the Champions had caught up with
the youma, and were currently harassing its rear.
        Poseidon glanced back at Venus.  "Let's take this thing down,"
he said harshly.
        When the Senshi nodded, he quickly began to explain his plan.

***********************************************************************

        "Nyxan is dead?" Jadeite couldn't quite believe it.  "How did it
happen?"
        "My lord," the youma said, bowing again, "Overlord Chresk, one
of Scalae's advisors, defeated General Nyxan in a duel."
        Jadeite frowned as he waved the youma away.  This was...
unexpected, to say the least.  He supposed that in the long run his
general's death aided him.  Nyxan was ambitious, and far too friendly
with his former enemy Ishamanar.  Eventually, the alliance between the
two could have proved dangerous to him.
        Jadeite let out a bitter laugh.  'Eventually' was of little
concern if he could not survive the coming confrontation with Scalae,
and for that confrontation Nyxan's aid would have been most welcome.
Jadeite was in a terrible situation, and he knew it.  His army was
vastly outnumbered, and he would not last more than a bare handful of
moments against Scalae without the Flame Diamond.  Even with it, this
battle would have been far more dangerous than his duel with Mordrangar,
for Scalae wielded great power over her element, and it seemed far too
likely that she would be able to turn Jadeite's attacks back upon him.
        For a moment, Jadeite considered sending for Ishamanar, but he
quickly decided that his surviving general was more use stopping, or at
the least slowing, Loriel.  Defeating Scalae would mean nothing if he
returned to find Loriel sitting on his throne.  Jadeite grimaced,
looking southward.  Defeating Scalae was almost inconceivable, in any
case.
        He remembered the last time they had fought, thousands of years
ago.  Her rage had been overpowering, and it had been all he could
accomplish to avoid being burned to a crisp in the first few seconds of
the fight.  She had hardly noticed his first attack, but he could not
afford the same luxury with regards to her counterblow.  He had been
forced to flee, and had spent the rest of Beryl's reign lurking in her
palace, seen as little more than a joke.
        Jadeite clenched his fists in anger at the memories, but soon
forced himself to relax them.  He couldn't afford that sort of
reminiscence now.  He was far more powerful now than he had been when he
last faced Scalae.  Even without the Flame Diamond, he might stand a
chance of surviving the confrontation.  He had to believe that.
        Jadeite glanced south, and observed the clouds of dust on the
horizon.  Scalae was coming, and he had best prepare for her arrival.

***********************************************************************

        The youma swiveled its head about, trying to decide which threat
to address first.  There were enemies on all sides, and the beast was
beginning to get irritated at the fact that they were all still
standing.  Even the one it had just hurled from its back was rising.  A
roar of pain emanated from its throat as one of the foes to its rear
scored a telling blow - a sure sign of its distraction.
        To the monster's front, Poseidon finished explaining his plan,
and after a moment's thought Sailor Venus nodded.  Poseidon called out
to the three warriors on the other side of the beast, "Keep this thing
distracted!"
        "Distracted?" Medea asked as the monster's body began to turn to
face her in response to the wound she had just dealt it.  "I think we've
managed that."
        "Venus Love-Me Chain!"  The golden chain coiled around the
monster's legs, entangling them.  Another unearthly roar came from the
monster as the chain seared its flesh.
        Poseidon ducked in between the monster's legs, raising his sword
to its underbelly.  "I hope this works..." he muttered as the youma
began to shift its weight to try and crush him underneath its bulk.
"Tidal Wave!"
        The burst of water hurled the youma up into the air, spinning
end over end.  Poseidon breathed a sigh of relief as the beast landed on
its back.  With its limbs still entangled by Venus's chain, the monster
was effectively neutralized.  A moment later, it was also nothing more
than a surprisingly large pile of rapidly dissolving dust.
        Medea plunged her sword into the ground, leaning on it for
support.  "Well, that made for a pleasant walk in the park."
        Poseidon laughed.  "I think you two are late for your meeting
now, though."  Medea's response was fairly unladylike, and Poseidon
laughed again, and even Hades chuckled briefly, though his eyes never
left the two Senshi.
        Those two were watching the Champions' interplay nervously, as
one might watch the play of a pack of lions, always fearful that they
might notice the observer.  Venus, though still alert, had relaxed
somewhat, but Jupiter was still in a fighting stance, lightning ready to
fly at a moment's notice.
        The two groups stayed like that for a long moment, then as one
the Champions turned and walked away.  The two Senshi stood staring,
disbelieving, for some time after that.

***********************************************************************

        Nyxan smiled as he stepped into the hidden chamber deep inside
Beryl's palace.  Ishamanar turned at the noise, obviously startled.
"Nyxan!  What are you doing here?"
        "I saw an opportunity to get away from the front, and I took it.
I have no desire to be leagues away when our Great Leader returns."
        Ishamanar frowned.  "But what about Jadeite?"
        Nyxan laughed.  "The fool thinks I'm dead.  How have matters
gone?"
        "Asphara should have activated the new device by now.  It cost
me a rather interesting pet, but we should have all the energy we need
soon."  Ishamanar smiled as he glanced toward the cocoon that hung over
the altar on the chamber's far wall.
        "That is good," Nyxan said, also looking toward the chrysalis.
For a while, the only sound in the chamber was the ever present hum of
dark energy as Metallia forged her weapon.
        Then the noise stopped altogether.  "What-" Ishamanar began, but
he was interrupted as Metallia's deep voice sounded.
        "It is finished," the dark goddess said, and the eyes of both
youma lowered to the altar.  Both stared for a moment at the still,
silent shape that lay atop it.
        The shadows in the room seemed to deepen, though it had already
seemed so dark as for that to be impossible.  Nyxan nervously took a
step back, for a moment regretting his decision to return to the palace.
Ishamanar was still, his eyes not leaving the altar.
        The silence was broken as Metallia's voice sounded once again,
echoing in the minds of the two youma.  "Arise, my servant.  Arise,
harbinger of destruction."
        The figure on the altar twitched, then slowly shifted its
weight, as though it was unfamiliar with its own body.  With agonizing
slowness the figure rose, until it was seated on the edge of the altar.
After a moment of hesitation, it slid off, though it wavered for a
moment, legs weak from long disuse.
        Metallia's pleasure could be felt.  "Take up your weapon."  The
figure spun about to face the altar, then complied.  Both youma took
several steps back, fear warring with hope as the figure turned once
again and took a few, hesitating steps forward.
        "It is done!"  The sheer force of Metallia's mental voice drove
both Overlords to their knees.  Nyxan began to speak, but whatever he
had to say was lost as Metallia continued.  "My prophecy is at last
complete.  The day of my ascension arrives swiftly.  I will reign
forever, as I have foreseen!"
        And for some time, the two Overlords could hear nothing but
their goddess's harsh laughter.

***********************************************************************


Author's Random Ramblings

1) And that's a wrap.  Two more of these babies and an epilogue to go,
and I can say that Shades of Gray is finished.  hopefull eefore the end
of _this_ year!

2) Yes, this chapter is the shortest in quite some time.  If you want,
imagine another 10k of angst to fill it out. ^_^

3) Thanks to Rebecca Nowack and Angus MacSpon for thier prereading
efforts.

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