FA: Stars : Chapter 6
"Endymion," Helios called carefully, knowing that reaching the dreams of others was especially dangerous outside of the innocence of youth. But he was hoping to yield some answers, calling his name again he felt darkness fly over him. All hope was lost from his mind as he felt the surge in power.
"Endymion, it is I," Helios called again introducing himself once more to aid in the connection.
"Helios?" the familiar voice of his prince called back to him, a burst of light shone on the ground showing a path leading to a small ledge overlooking a river. Helios carefully walked through the path reaching the ledge, he found Endymion standing looking up at the moon. "Am I dead?"
"Not yet my prince," Helios answered looking at the royal, his armour showed a few scratches along the legs from the battle earlier the scabbard that was usually on his hip was nested in the ground not far from them. "What happened?"
"I'm not sure; the last things I remember was Serenity," Endymion frowned, "Do you know where we are?"
"We are in your dreams," Helios started, "Or nightmare from the darkness that is here."
"I can't tell anymore, it all seems the same," Endymion admitted. "How do you get to me so easily after last time?"
"It's all part of being the guardian of dreams, although visiting yours is getting harder than expected given what happened last time," Helios watched the man carefully as he took his eyes off the moon.
"How is she?" Helios chuckled at that, Endymion could have anything happen to him but his concern was always on Serenity.
"Serenity is fine," Helios explained.
"That's great, but that's actually not who I was referring too," Endymion looked at him, "Reenie, is she okay? If I'm dead, then she will cease to exist."
"Small Lady is fine for the moment, you aren't dead, not yet anyway," Helios answered, "We can set things right, if you work with us."
"You know you don't have to ask twice," Endymion didn't need to be told twice, "But I can't find the golden crystal."
"I can only assume that when your star seed was taken the Golden Crystal sought safety, it returned to Elysian but disappeared when we were attacked," Helios started, "Serenity has it, currently the girls are having a meeting with the Starlight's where they are going to try to form an alliance and plan a battle against Galaxia."
"What's a star seed?" Endymion asked with a serious look on his face.
"Everything holds its life force in a star seed, but the true star seeds, those of the Sailor Scouts are the most powerful, Galaxia knows this and has been seeking them out to take complete control over all universes."
"What do you need me to do?"
"We need you to help us taken her down from the inside starting with her remaining minions."
"I don't have much control from the inside," Endymion admitted, "Here is the only place I feel like I'm in control."
"You have to find it in you, for Serenity and for Small Lady." Helios smiled at him, "You, my prince, I know you have it in you because you have two amazing women to fight for."
Endymion looked thoughtful for a moment reaching into a pocket of his armour and pulling out his star shaped locket. "Can you give this to Serenity?" Helios carefully took the locket in his hands as Endymion cocked his head. "She's calling, I have to go, give Serenity my love please, and Small Lady."
"Of course," Helios answered as Endymion started to walk away from the river ledge. "I'll come back to check on you, keep yourself alive."
"Helios?" Endymion smirked at the priest looking back at him. "I trust you with my daughter's life."
A deep crimson spread across the priests features as the man disappeared.
Sailor Lead Crow stood on the roof of the local high school looking down with frustration at all the teenagers as they left their classes for the day, groaning she kicked her heel on the ground.
"Pathetic humans, wasting their time with all these things," the pressure Galaxia put on her was really starting to show crack. "And just where have you been?" she asked as Sailor Aluminium Siren appeared beside her.
"Do you see that pink haired brat?" Aluminium Siren said pointing down to a small group standing by the gate where the two blondes stood with a pink haired child. "My sources have told me that she is a weakness for Endymion."
"What about the blonde one?" Lead Crow frowned pointing to the child being carried on the back of one of the other women. "They seem to be quite taken by the both of them."
"I wonder if that child's as much of a weakness for him as the pink haired brat might be?" Aluminium Siren kept her gaze focused on the group on the ground. "
"Why don't we get both their star seeds then?" Lead Crow smirked, "I think dear old Princey Boy needs to be knocked down a peg or two."
Aluminium Siren frowned as she listened to the other Sailor beginning to devise a plan to get the children.
"The only way to get back in Galaxia's good books is to get all the Sailor Scouts star seeds," Lead Crow started, "So let's get these children, then maybe Endymion will start talking and giving us the identities of the Court from the Silver Millennium. I'm going to follow them for a bit, you keep an eye on Princey Boy."
Aluminium Siren nodded as Lead Crow changed from her Sailor outfit into a pair of jeans and t-shirt before jumping off the edge of the balcony only to land softly on the ground. Footsteps rang from behind her through the thin walls of the building until the door near the stairs opened.
"Everything is in motion," Aluminium Siren whispered her eyes not averting from the group she watched on the ground carefully. "It is as you explained, Lead Crow is growing suspicious, and I can feel it."
"She won't last long," A voice piped up from behind her, "if everything goes the way it should she won't be a concern of ours much longer."
"Does the Elysian priest have the golden crystal now?" Aluminium Siren asked.
"The Golden Crystal will be returned to its rightful place eventually," the voice added with ease, "Princess Serenity is currently in possession of it."
"The pink haired child, do you know when she will be alone?"
"She won't be, but if you use Endymion you shouldn't have a problem taking her with you," the voice
Sounded rushed at the end of the sentence, "I must go, remember to make sure everything goes to plan. I'll do my side, you do yours."
"Of course, it's the only to ensure the safety of our hopes and dreams," Aluminium Siren agreed as she sensed she was now alone.
Serena raced up the steps of the temple with Reenie hot on her toes; she cursed herself for being late to the meeting that she had initially called herself. Travis waited at the bottom of the steps until Serena had told them about Lunic before he would join them.
"Where are Amara and Michelle?" Serena asked straight away when saw Hotaru sitting beside Mina with Luna and Artemis on her lap.
"They are doing something for Setsuna," Hotaru answered softly from her spot gazing at her future Queen. "She told me to tell you they would return as soon as they could."
"Tell them," Raye cut in quickly, "tell them why you called this meeting."
"Two reasons actually," Serena admitted, "I was going to call this meeting before the fight anyway. Darien or rather Endymion is being controlled by Galaxia."
Gasps spread across the girls infront of her and she knew exactly how they were feeling as everyone except Hotaru and Reenie thought back to when Darien was brainwashed by Beryl.
"How?" Lita asked, "He's supposed to be in America."
"He never made it," Serena whispered looking down at the ground kicking a rock reaching into her space pocket and pulling out The Golden Crystal. "His crystal returned to me a week ago, we weren't able to figure out why since it usually only returns to Elysian when the holder has died."
"Why didn't you tell anyone?" Lita asked, "Why did you hold this in on your own?"
"I didn't see any point in worrying everyone until we knew something," Serena admitted, "with Reenie still here we know that he is alive."
"That's true, but it doesn't hide the fact you've carried this on your shoulders all this time," Amy interrupted typing into her minicomputer. "You're our princess and shouldn't have to do that."
"We need to devise a plan to get him back from wherever it is he is," Mina said, "Amy, are you able to do a scan over the energy reading's around here and maybe the crystal?"
Amy just nodded already typing away at her computer, "I've been working on something since the first monster showed up, so I'll see about this and then see what we can come up with."
"There's more," Serena added quickly making the girls focus their attention on her again. :: Travis, bring her up:: she told her brother through their bond. Raye narrowed her eyes as she sensed Travis.
"Who's the other energy?" Raye asked confused. Travis walked up the stairs of the temple holding Lunic in one arm as her tiny hands wrapped around the box. "Who is that?!"
"That would be Lunic Serenity Watson," Serena introduced, "my niece."
"You're what?!" Lita and Mina shouted in surprise. Mina turned to Amy grabbing her computer from her to get her attention.
"Why are you not as surprised as we are?" Mina demanded.
"We've got Reenie," Amy simply spoke, "I don't know why it seems so shocking, it's only natural that we all lead lives in the future."
Travis smiled thankfully at Amy. "It's shocking because I'm sixteen years old with a child." Lunic gazed around at the younger versions of the faces she felt so comfortable with. Reenie didn't move as her cousin fidgeted in Travis' grip until he put her on her feet. She then raced over to sit between Reenie and Hotaru with a big smile on her face.
"How long have you know about her?" Raye asked.
"A few days," Travis confessed, "It seems Setsuna didn't exactly ask permission to bring her here." Serena couldn't but release a chuckle at the sight she saw when she found Travis' future self-pacing back and forth in Darien's apartment.
Hotaru shifted uncomfortably in her seat knowing that she had been housing the child for days before she was found out.
"I'm going to the park with Hotaru," Reenie piped up knowing that she needed to get out before she blurted anything out that she wasn't supposed to. Serena simply waved her off with silent permission and the two young girls made their way to the local park.
"You okay Reenie?" Hotaru asked as the friends strolled through the park.
"Yeah," Reenie smiled, "I just needed to get away from there, the stories I heard in the future didn't say anything about what's been happening."
"A lot of things have changed Reenie," Hotaru admitted, "I'm pretty sure I'm technically not supposed to be here."
Reenie smiled throwing herself into the older girl, "you can't go anywhere Hotaru, I need you!"
"What about when your priest from Elysian opens his eyes?" Hotaru teased, things were always so comfortable between the two of them ever since they first met over a year earlier.
"Hotaru, you'll always be my best friend," Reenie said with a smile, "but he's different."
"I know," Hotaru did know, she knew their friendship was one that couldn't easily be destroyed.
"As my friend can I ask you something?" Reenie asked; Hotaru nodded. "What were you really doing in Elysian last night?"
"I can't Reenie," Hotaru whispered, "I promised I wouldn't."
Reenie frowned and tried a different angle. "What was Helios after?" She was met with silence again, "Why are you all treating me like a child? I'm not your typical child; I'm grown up enough to handle whatever it is."
"It's not that Reenie," Hotaru began to explain; "there are things we are trying to make sense of, things that we can't explain."
"Maybe I could help?"
"We need to keep you safe," Hotaru looked at her friend carefully. "For now our mission is to keep you and your parent's safe in this time."
Reenie got all she needed from that statement alone. There was trouble, and this time it was big, much bigger than anything she had faced or heard before. She didn't realize that she was crying until she felt Hotaru give her a hug.
"Well if this isn't cute," a voice interrupted. The two looked up quickly as Hotaru pushing the girl behind her. "Pink haired brat has a protector."
"What are you doing here?" Hotaru demanded recognising the bracelets on the woman infront of them. The woman stepped forward grabbing Hotaru by her shoulder and sending her flying back into the ground.
"Hotaru!" Reenie shouted her face growing serious as she turned to face the scout infront of them. Sailor Lead Crow reached for her but she ducked out of the way getting to Hotaru to help her up. "We need to transform."
"Right."
"CRESCENT MOON MAKE UP!"
"SATURN CRYSTAL MAKE UP!"
A mixture of purple, blue and pink ribbons surrounded the duo as they transformed.
"Well I'll be damned," Lead Crow shouted, "if this doesn't get interesting. Does explain Endymion's weakness to you."
"CRESCENT MOONBEAM EXPLOSION!"
Several balls of energy flew from her hands towards the other soldier. Sailor Saturn pulled her glaive out and kicked it into place so it was merely inches away from the older woman's face.
"You need to leave now," Saturn ordered, "you aren't welcome here."
Lead Crow smirked to the two; using one hand she pressed the tip of the glaive back into Saturn before dropping to the ground and kicking her legs out from underneath her. "Pitiful really, where's the other brat you have with you? Is she a Sailor Scout too?"
"CRESCENT MOONBEAM STRI-" Lead Crow raised her arms sending two beams into the child sending her flying into the ground below her with a thump. 'Why is she after Lunic?' she thought to herself.
"Leave her alone!"
Lead Crow looked up from the pink haired girl seeing the blonde standing strong next to the fallen soldier Saturn. "What are you going to do about it pathetic human. This is none of your business you should leave now."
"GALACTICA TORNADO!"
"STAR SERIOUS LASER!" Flew through the air and knocked Lead Crow back countering her attack. Sailor Star Maker and Sailor Star Healer raced forward thrusting their hands in the air. Sailor Star Fighter stood beside Serena.
"STAR GENTLE UTERUS"
"STAR SENSITIVE INFERNO"
Sailor Lead Crow stepped forward and stomped one foot on the ground as a shield rose up from the ground and reflected the attacks.
"Pitiful," Lead Crow mocked.
Sailor Crescent Moon groaned opening her eyes just in time to see the shield infront of Lead Crow fade into nothing, she slowly but steadily sat herself up and touched her head.
"Stay down Reenie," Serena shouted from her spot next to Star Fighter who was holding her back. "Let me go Seiya!"
Sailor Star Fighter froze at her civilian name being used; Sailor Lead Crow averted her attention to the pink haired girl now standing on her feet.
"CRESCENT MOONBEAM STRIKE!" The girl shouted sending her moonbeam directly at the Sailor Scout before falling to the ground.
"Reenie!" Serena shouted not able to watch anymore when Aluminium Siren appeared behind the girl grabbing her arms and pinning them behind her. Sailor Lead Crow was in shock at the scout that appeared.
"Mommy!" Reenie cried tears falling down her cheeks as she struggled to fight back and free herself. "Don't let them take me."
The Starlight's watched the exchange between Crescent Moon and Serena as she fought free of the grip Star Fighter had on her. She reached for her broach holding it in the air, her crescent moon appearing on her forehead.
"MOON ETERNAL MAKE UP!" Lights and ribbons flashed and Eternal Sailor Moon stood where Serena stood. The Starlight's were shocked at the realisation that Serena was in fact the sailor scout they had likened to their princess but they didn't have time to react. Sailor Moon moved quickly touching her tiara and sending it flying at both of the scouts.
"Help her!" Star Fighter shouted moving forward.
"STAR SERIOUS LASER!"
"STAR SENSITIVE INFERNO!"
"STAR GENTLE UTERUS!"
Sailor Moon kicked Aluminium Siren away from Crescent Moon and pushed her behind her. "Are you okay?" she asked her daughter who just nodded.
"How cute," the strong voice of Endymion resonated around them; Crescent Moon huddled closer to her mother. "The little rabbit hides behind the big rabbit."
"Why are you doing this?" Sailor Moon demanded of her prince who stood infront of her.
"If I told you it wouldn't be as fun now would it?" Endymion glanced at Sailor Moon before turning to face the other two. "Galaxia wants you back; she said to leave this to me." He reached for his scabbard not giving the two women a chance to respond instead they sought safety and phased. Sailor Star Fighter took this opportunity to get infront of Crescent Moon and Sailor Moon in case he attacked.
"Endymion this isn't you!" Star Maker shouted, the two scouts of the moon stood in shock. "You are stronger than this power, don't let it consume you."
"The only thing I've let consume me is my desire to be strong," Endymion growled lunging toward Sailor Moon.
"SOLAR FLARE!"
"JUPITER THUNDER CLAP ZAP!"
"SILENCE GLAIVE!"
Sailor Moon fell to the ground, Endymion forced to let her go as the attacks flew for him. "NO!" Crescent Moon moved out of the way of her mother and threw herself infront of Endymion. Seven sets of eyes went large, Sailor Sol raced quickly trying to get ahead of the attacks, Endymion - unable to control himself grabbed the girl with his arms throwing her to the ground as the three attacks hit him.
His painful scream a distraction as Sailor Moon and Sailor Sol moved quickly to Crescent Moon who brushed the dirt of her body looking up just as Endymion fell to the ground.
"Leave quickly," Lead Crow told Aluminium Siren, "let them deal with him." Lead Crow vanished leaving Aluminium Siren to gaze quickly at Endymion on the ground as Crescent Moon bent over his fallen body before vanishing as well.
"Daddy," Crescent Moon sobbed, "You saved me." He looked up at her through red eyes at her, his face turned shocked at the girl looking down at him before turning back to the hard form it had moments earlier.
"Endymion," Sailor Moon whispered, Sailor Sol grabbed Crescent Moon by her arm and pulled her back as Endymion got to his feet holding his right shoulder with his left hand.
"This isn't over yet," Endymion disappeared.
Serena handed Reenie an ice pack to put on her side as they sat in the apartment. Travis closed the door to the room Lunic was in carefully as he joined them. Luna and Diana sitting on the couch next to the pink haired girl, Diana looked on concerned.
"Do you know why they were after you?" Luna asked cautiously as the child winced in pain.
"She mentioned something about being a weakness for Darien," Reenie whispered, "I didn't think he remembered me."
"That's an interesting perspective considering he's brainwashed," Travis pointed out, "but we also need to deal with the fact that they know your identity now."
"They were after Lunic as well," Reenie pointed out, "I don't know why."
"What should we do Luna?" Serena asked her charge, truth was she had no idea what was the right thing to do. She was ready to blast in there and fight, but she knew that she probably wouldn't get the result she hoped for if she did that.
"I need to be honest with you two," Luna admitted looking down at her paws clearly disappointed within herself.
"Can't be any worse than you suggesting Serenity and Tranquility were the best names for twins of the Moon and Sun Kingdoms could it?" Travis teased to lighten the mood sitting beside his niece. Reenie laughed through a whimper as she sat up straighter to give the man some room.
"I don't know what you should do," Luna started, "as your guardians we just don't have enough knowledge to know the full extent of what we are dealing with. Artemis and I have discussed it and we both believe that in order to defeat Galaxia we will require all three stones."
"But no one here can control the golden crystal," Serena pointed out.
"That's not true," Reenie piped up, "I used it against the Dead Moon, and I'm his daughter, it has to be in my blood!"
"Calm down honey," Serena chastised gently pushing the girl back into the pillow with caution. "You'll hurt yourself if you get too worked up, you took quite a beating."
"She's right," Helios said appearing in the room with a small smile, he was on one knee infront of her reaching for her hand. "You always get yourself in trouble." His tone was teasing but she just pouted at him.
"I came as soon as I heard," Helios answered facing Serena. "I'm sorry that I wasn't here to help."
"It's okay Helios; you couldn't have really done much she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time." Serena said honestly. ::Travis?::
::Just thinking:: Travis told her as they watched the two infront of them interact. Although young the twins could sense there was something more there, but Serena was ready to jump in and put her foot down if anything got to serious. ::I can't think of why they want to use Reenie to get to him, he doesn't even remember her at the moment::
"I hate it when you two talk through your bond," Reenie complained loudly, "it's usually about me or Lunic." The twins looked at her blankly. "Well what is it this time?"
"Trying to think of the reasoning for the interest in you," Travis voiced loudly, "you told me that when he was brainwashed by Beryl he only had occasional control right?"
Serena nodded. "This time it's different, the power is stronger."
"Maybe he's not brainwashed the same way? Did you notice that they all have those long bracelets on their wrists?" Travis suggested.
"You think that may be what is controlling them?" Serena asked seriously, "Luna?"
"It might be something to look at; perhaps you should ask the Starlight's?" Luna suggested "they seem to know a lot about this enemy."
Soundtrack: Ghost - Katy Perry
