Act Three
"Small Lady Princess Serenity is proving to be an honorary foe," Themis said speaking to Rhea, Tethys and Prometheus. "Her guardians as well as those of the protectors of the queen are resourceful as well," Tethys said voicing her thoughts on the subject. "I wish to challenge that resourcefulness," a soft gentle voice said as a woman materialized from the earthen walls of the chamber. She had beautiful bronze like skin that seemed to contain almost every shade of brown, while her hair was long and brunette with hints of red, while her molten silver like eyes revealed her heritage as a titan. "Mother are you sure of this," Rhea said concern evident in her tone. "If you do this honor dictates we can not interfere, Gaia are you sure of this," Prometheus said sounding concerned but was secretly wishing for Gaia's defeat at the hands of the Olympian's children, hoping such an event would push his sisters to the point where he wished them to be in terms of his plans for revenge.
"I am sure. I Gaia hereby issue a challenge against Suisei, Kasei, Mokusei and Kinsei the daughters of Hermes, Ares, Zeus and Aphrodite, guardians of the crowned princess of the moon, and now Neo-Queen Serenity," Gaia spoke as Rhea sank into her chair as Tethys grew quite knowing neither of them could talk her out of this while Themis simply nodded though in a very grave manor. Prometheus remained silent but inside was secretly happy at this turn of events. "Then let Gaia's test of the Royal Court sworn to protect the crowned princess, Serenity of the moon begin," Themis spoke her voice barely above a whisper as she didn't wish to speak the sealing words in the first place.
"Indeed, let none stand in her way," Prometheus added perfectly hiding his enthusiasm as all the titan's nodded in agreement as Themis struck her hand against her chair, causing a deep gong like sound to resonate throughout the circular antechamber binding all the titan's in their promise not to interfere with their beloved mother Gaia or any of those who would dare to stand within her way. "Thank you my children, and do not worry yourselves so, for I will always be with you here," Gaia said placing a hand over her heart and with a smile she left the silent chamber of her children each of whom was deep in thought. "I am coming Sailor Guardians, prepare yourselves," Gaia thought to herself resolving her self to whatever the will of the three fates may be in regards to her remaining lifespan this day. "alea iacta est," Gaia whispered as she allowed her body to sink back into the very earth that she was made from and watched over as a titan so long ago.
PGSM NEO
I was walking through the hallways of the Crystal Palace with Reiko at my side, her gloved hand within my own, as we along with Makoto and Ami trailing behind us as he made our way to the room that our queen had Metis stay in after she had been purified by our princess. Metis wasn't exactly a prisoner as the guest room given to her was very nice, but she wasn't allowed outside of the room without an escort, simply because myself along with Reiko, Ami and Makoto did not trust the ancient and former titan of the first planet of the sol system as well as the fourth day, whose knowledge and wisdom match if not exceed Ami's. When we got to the door Rei knocked and Metis from within told us to come in so we did, only to find her setting on her windowsill looking out over the courtyard below.
"Ah, Sailor Guardians, sworn protectors of Selene's child. I thought you might come to visit me," Metis said turning towards us though she did not move from her setting place, so we set on the bed Reiko squeezing my hand, which caused Metis to smile though she did not say anything. "Metis, what can you tell us of the remaining titans," Ami asked. "Lady Suisei, I feel you ask this of me because I recently felt Phoebe's passing from this realm, meaning she met either your queen or the young princess on a field of battle." "Yes, we can not allow either our queen or her daughter to be in such danger again," Reiko said a flame of determination burning behind her eyes. "Very well, if that is what you wish Lady Kasei, I will tell you what I can, but they are my family, even now that I am but a mortal," Metis said taking a deep breath as she looked back out the window and began to speak what she would to us.
"There is first our mother, Gaia. Titan of terra, or Earth as you call it. She will take the loss of her children personally, even if their passing was peaceful like Pheobe's or healing like my own. Serenity's husband, Endymion, is Earth's guardian now, but our mother will always have a connection to the third planet of the Sol System that I do not think even the holder of the Golden Crystal could truly understand. Rhea and Tethys where the first of us to awaken, it is they who brought us together. Rhea and Tethys yearn to be reunited with their husbands, they fill they can accomplish this by taking the power held by Poseidon and Dis or as he was more popularly known Hades children." "You mean Neptune and Pluto," Ami, no this was Mercury at her deductive best asking the question. "Hai." Reiko and I shared a look knowing that all of the Outer Senshi where planning a visit to Earth to see Usagi before the end of the month, but did not know how to warn them of this news, so after sharing a look with Ami and Makoto we said nothing of this in front of Metis.
"Then there is Themis, titan of justice and order, she feels that Rhea and Tethys' cause is just, but makes sure that we all hold to our ways, our laws." "What are these laws," Makoto asked but Metis only shook her head. "Forgive me, these are my families beliefs, I will not share them with you or any child to the Olympians, my anger and hatred of you may be gone but I have my pride," Metis said and I gave Makoto a look letting her know to drop it as I could tell from Metis' tone that if we pushed the subject she would share nothing else with us. "Then there is the only living brother left of our numbers, Prometheus. From the looks in your eyes I can tell you know what many consider nothing more than legend concerning him. I, I fear that his hatred over the punishment given to him by the Olympians for giving the gift of flame to man runs deep. If the seeds of Chaos where beginning to grow within me as Small Lady feared before purifying me, then those seeds may have grown roots within his mind."
"Arigato, Metis. Thank you for telling us this, we will leave you be," I said standing Reiko quickly doing the same by my side as Ami and Makoto after looking at me oddly followed my lead. "Fare the well Royal Court, please tell Serenity that I send my well wishes," Metis said turning to look at us and I nodded my head as we left her room closing and locking the door behind us. "We weren't going to get anything else from her where we Mina-chan," Reiko asked me as with a smile I nodded. "Iie, what she did tell us was hard on her. For now lets go tell our q-Usagi and Mamoru what we have learned," I said stopping myself before I referred to our old friend and her husband as queen and king.
NEO
"This news is troubling, but Minako-chan, I thank you for telling me of all of this," mama said causing Minako and all the other girls to smile as well. "I know this may not be our place, but we wish to speak Usagi-sama," Ceres said and mama with a smile and a mysterious twinkle in her eyes nodded letting my quartet know they had her permission. "Your life was not the only one in danger when Phoebe confronted us," Vesta said her voice as hard as steel. "We could only watch as Phoebe fought Chibiusa-chan, almost killed Chibiusa-chan and all we could do because of the honor of the duel issued was watch," Pallas said wiping tears from her eyes. "We offer our assistance in any way we can to make sure Chibiusa-sama's life is never in that kind of danger again," Juno said slamming her fist into her open palm. "Minna," I said looking at my quartet my heart warm at how much they all loved and cared for me.
"We accept your offer Sailor Quartet," Minako, no this was definitely Venus shining through as the leader of my mama's guardians extended her hand. "Arigato, Venus," Ceres the leader of my own quartet said taking her hand the two sharing a look that perhaps only a leader of warriors, no guardians could truly understand. I glanced over at mama who winked at me causing me to try my best to keep from giggling, both of us happy to see our friends, our guardians forming such bonds, it would help them all grow closer in friendship, something I had always hoped for. "So it is more than duty that binds you together," a mysterious voice said seeming to resonate from all around us as all the guardians surrounded myself and mama as a woman seemed to rise through the floor of the Crystal Palace, who was nothing short of beautiful with skin of bronze containing every shade of brown, that seemed to be covered in a cloak of the stone floors she had risen for, long brunette hair with shades of red, and finally those molten silver like eyes that let us all know that this woman was a titan.
"Love and friendship guide you as well Royal Guardians," the woman added as Venus with Mars at her side stepped forward with Mercury and Jupiter just behind them. "It seems you know who we are, but who are we addressing," Venus was the one to ask. "My apologies Royal Guardians, I am Gaia, watcher of terra, mother of the titans," Gaia said with a bow, though her eyes never left Minako's own. Suisei, daughter of Hermes; Kasei, daughter of Ares; Mokusei, daughter of Zeus; and Kinsei, daughter of Aphrodite. I do here by challenge you to test your loyalty, honor and skill for the death of my child Phoebe, and the loss of my daughter Metis to the chains of mortality," Gaia said her voice resonating with an ancient power that literally oozed authority. Minako and Rei shared a look before glancing towards Ami and Makoto who seemed as determined as they were and sharing a look with mama, I knew that she like myself knew what the four had already decided.
"We accept your challenge, Gaia," Venus said to the earth titan who nodded as she slowly sank into the ground below before, far to late we all realized we where being pulled down into the ground below us as well. "Chibiusa-chan," my quartet said linking their hands and making sure to grab mine as well, "Usagi-chan," the other girls said unable to make it to my mama the look of pure desperation in their eyes the last thing I saw before myself and the other girls found ourselves in a perfectly round chamber with a single door that after we had investigated it, myself, Ceres, Vesta, Juno and Pallas realized it could not be opened forcefully or otherwise from the inside. "Gaia must not want us to interfere," Pallas said with some worry in her voice. "Minako-chan, Rei-chan, Ami-chan and Mako-chan are strong; we must believe in them, they will find us and protect mama, but until them all we can do is wait," I said as my guardians nodded as we set in a small line facing the door.
NEO
"Oh, were are we," Reiko said from my side. "I am not sure but this place looks like a maze," Ami's voice said as I turned to see Makoto helping her to her feet as I did the same for Reiko. "Welcome Royal Guardians, friends and protectors of the daughter of Selene, the crowned princess and now Neo-Queen Serenity," Gaia's voice resonated from all around us. "This is a place of legends, known as the Labyrinthine. It was long ago home to a fierce creature known as the Minator, though that beast was slain, before the dawn of the age known as the Silver Millennium. At the center I wait for you, as well as Serenity." "Do not worry girls, I am ok. Gaia has told me that her challenge was to you, so honor will not allow her to harm me," Usagi's voice resonated from the walls around us. "That is true, but the child of Earth and Moon, the one you call Small Lady and her guardians the Quartet are entrapped within this ancient maze as well."
"That room as well as this one contains enough air from above to last them and your queen twelve hours, but do not worry there is a small hole in this room and that that I will leave open until this conversation is at an end, at which point my testing of you begins, fair enough," Gaia asked of us. "Very well Gaia," I said after sharing a silent conversation with all the other girls with little more than quick glances between us. "Even is you hold our queen, no our friend hostage; the terms of your challenge are honorable, so we accept your challenge." "Very well then. Besides the rooms I have already mentioned there are four chambers each with a challenge made specifically for one of your number. To solve the chambers challenge, and learn who each challenge is for are part of my testing of your honor, loyalty and skills, Royal Guardians. Your test begins … now," Gaia's voice said growing silent and not wasting any time we choice a path on our left to take and began running down it.
To Be Continued . . .
To my dearest readers,
First I want to apologize for ending this act on what is a very tense cliffhanger; it is truly not something that I enjoy doing, but my instincts are telling me that when all is said and done, this course of action will be for the best. Now with that out of the way I hope you enjoyed this act as well as how (so far) I am portraying the character of Gaia, her motivations in who she challenged, and the nature of her challenge to Minako, Rei, Ami and Makoto in general. The Labyrinthine was a stroke of inspiration that just came to me and with it being underground in the old Greek legends about it I thought it would be perfect for Gaia who was and in many ways still is a titan of the Earth to use. I am not sure how long this arc in my story may last, but Gaia is the mother of all titans, and still has a very strong connection to terra (Earth) so who really knows besides my muse when they continue to inspire my original tale.
So until we meet again,
I humbly remain a . . .
KuRSeofTime
PS
"alea iacta est" is a Latin phrase that means "the die is cast"