The Crystal Age
Chapter Nine
Rei was the first to notice them as they climbed the last steps of the temple hill.
She saw the bunned blonde head and the pink jacket, accompanied by the dark coat and reddish hair of the taller girl bobbing towards her.
She signaled to Ami that they'd arrived, then paused with her hand on the screen.
There was another girl coming with them. Another blond.
Rei sensed power in her, an incredible brightness.
The three visitors paused at the foot of the temple. They gave each other measuring looks.
"We know you said just us," Usagi began, "But there's someone we thought you ought to meet."
She looked over her shoulder at the other blonde, dressed, Rei was surprised to see, very expensively. Rei's private wardrobe knew no bounds either, but she didn't think the stranger should have paired red Weitzman pumps with a black wool skirt. It seemed insulting to the pumps somehow.
"Could we come inside?" the girl asked, startling Rei with her directness.
"It's kind of cold," Makoto explained, shoving her fingers deeper into her jacket.
Rei nodded and ushered them into the inner rooms. Ami was already there preparing tea for all of them.
Usagi sank to the floor with a sigh, unceremoniously grabbing a cup and sipping, then yelping as she burned her mouth.
Makoto grinned at her, and then surprised Rei by waiting until the others were seated before gracefully lifting the tea to her lips, with a polite "Itadakimasu."
There was silence for a moment while they all drank.
Minako was the first to speak.
"I realize that you're surprised to see me here. I understand from talking with Tsukino-san that the four of you have been closely involved in the recent attacks. "
The girls exchanged uneasy glances.
"That's true," Rei said, "But just who exactly are you and why is this any of your business, if you don't mind my asking?"
Minako smiled, grimly.
"I'm Minako Aino. Code name, Sailor V. And right now I'm the only thing standing between you and a fate worse than death."
There was silence after her comment. Rei stared hard at Minako, trying to digest what she'd just heard.
"A fate worse than death?" Ami's soft voice repeated the phrase.
Minako leveled her stare at the brunette.
"Yes, in a manner of speaking. The evil that's attacking you isn't interested in killing you or eating you or anything so mundane as you might have imagined up to this point. It's interested in consuming the entire planet. There is only one way to stop it."
"And that is?" Makoto asked.
"We have to find the Moon Princess. And I am pretty sure she's closely related to one of you."
"Wait, back up," Makoto interjected, "Moon Princess? Like what Chiba-san and Izuno-san were talking about?"
Minako looked at her sharply.
"If they told you that we are looking for a moon princess they were correct."
"I'm sorry," Ami cut in, "I don't think I fully understand. Are you saying that the actual moon, the earth's moon, has some sort of current monarchy?"
"It isn't current. In fact nothing about this is current," Minako answered.
"The short version is that we are fighting a war over something that happened literally more than a billion years ago."
Usagi's mouth dropped open.
"What you're suggesting is...difficult to accept," Ami replied, slowly.
Minako pulled out a strange device from her purse. It was shaped like a short wand with the alchemical symbol of the planet Venus on it.
"There is no way to prove what I'm saying other than the experience you've had up to this point. And this."
With that the room burst into light as waves of power exploded from the standing figure. Each of the girls felt her head grow hot and her eyes start to water.
When they could see again, where Minako stood there was now Sailor V.
Ami peered closely at the seemingly tall figure. There was certainly a glamor of some kind that worked in tandem with the mask and the uniform. It made her feel that she was seeing double. She got the distinct impression that, had she not known who was transforming, her eyes would easily have seen someone else beneath the mask.
There was a sharp gasp and Usagi fell forward. Makoto reached out to catch her just in time to keep her from face planting into the table. When she managed to raise her back up, Usagi's eyes fluttered open.
She startled them all by holding out her clenched hand.
When she opened it, she was holding a wand that looked nearly identical to the one Sailor V was holding.
"I knew it!"
Sailor V jumped at the sight of the wand. Instantly she de-transformed, but she kept the wand in her hand as she leaned over to examine the one clutched in Usagi's.
"Is that -?"
"How did you get that, bunny?" Makoto asked, shocked.
Usagi, still staring at her hand, shook her head, her face pale.
"What does this mean?" Ami asked, quietly looking up at Minako.
"She's a soldier too."
"Soldier?" Rei repeated, standing.
She was nearly the shortest of all of them, but she suddenly seemed to loom in some mysterious way that had nothing to do with height.
"What kind of soldier?"
Minako ran a hand through her hair, forgetting that it was back in a bun.
"Let me tell you a story," she began, "I think that will be the easiest way to explain it. A very long time ago -"
"Over a billion years?" Ami prompted.
"Yes, if you want to get technical, which I don't suggest - there were two kingdoms. Let's call them the earth and the moon."
"Were they the earth and the moon or are you just calling them that?"
"Hush, bunny," Makoto muttered.
"I'm just trying to keep up," Usagi complained.
Minako frowned and continued, "They both had their own rulers, but from a very long time ago the rulers had decided that the people of earth and the people of the moon would not have contact with each other."
"Why?" asked Makoto.
"There was bad blood between them. The Lunars...I mean the moon people...lived much longer than the people of earth and to boot they had magical powers."
"Like the supernatural power you just demonstrated," Ami added.
"Yes. Exactly. So, anyway, this particular earth king had a grudge against this particular moon queen and a dark power took advantage of that rift. It took over the earth and tried to destroy the solar system."
"You mean including all the other planets and moons," Ami interjected. "Did they also have civilizations?"
"Please stop asking questions!" Minako replied, irritably, "You're making me forget what I was saying!"
"Sorry," Ami apologized.
"Anyway, there was a war between earth and the moon. Because of the evil power, the moon lost and the darkness won."
"But, if the darkness won, then why are we all still here?" Rei asked, "Or are you saying that this world is in darkness?"
"What I'm trying to say, if anyone will let me say it, " Minako continued, "Is that the evil was prevented from destroying all the life in the solar system. But in order to do that, the moon queen had to sacrifice her life and to restart the evolution of earth."
"So, this time you're talking about is actually before even the pre-history of the planet?" Ami asked.
Minako made an exasperated face.
"Right," Makoto jumped in, trying to help, "Yes, so everyone died, but the earth got a chance to live again."
"Yes," Minako agreed, "And so did we."
There was another long silence.
"Beg pardon?" Rei asked at last.
"I think she's implying that -"
"Will you let me finish!?"
They all blinked at her.
"I believe from what I've seen and heard that Usagi and I, and all of you, were soldiers of the moon kingdom," she explained slowly, "We were sworn protectors of the moon queen and the royal family. We died protecting them, but the moon queen made sure that when the evil broke loose again we would be here to defeat it."
"So you're talking about reincarnation?"
"Yes, Hino-san. I am talking about reincarnation."
"I'm sorry," Ami apologized again, "This is all just so difficult."
"How do you know all of this?"
"I remember some of it, and the rest my guardian told me."
"Guardian?"
"She means me."
The voice came from the floor by the screen. Four of them stared at the white cat and the fifth rolled her eyes.
"Artemis, honestly -"
"Did that cat just..."
Artemis took one step into the room. Usagi shrieked and dove behind Makoto. Rei brandished an ofuda but did not throw it.
"I thought we agreed that it would be better if you met the girls later."
Minako frowned down at her guardian even while he readied himself and then jumped onto her shoulder.
"Yes, but considering how much success you were having, I thought I should step in."
Minako muttered something about nosy cats under her breath.
"You really can talk," Ami said, moving closer to examine him.
"Of course I can, Mercury-san."
"Mercury?"
"That's who you are," Artemis said, licking a paw and smoothing the fur over his left ear.
"I saw your sigil when Minako transformed into Sailor V."
Ami touched her forehead gently.
"What was that?"
"It was the symbol of your planet, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Moon." He pointed at each of them with his paw.
"The Moon isn't a planet."
"It doesn't matter, it isn't about the planets anyway. They're just dead rocks. What's important is the magical beings that give you those powers. They sacrificed themselves eons ago to provide power for their chosen avatars. That's you. You're supposed to use those powers to protect life."
"Why are we just finding out about this now?' Rei asked, folding her arms.
"Because, Mars-sama, you were supposed to be contacted by my partner about three or four years ago. But obviously she never showed up."
"Your partner?"
"Luna."
Artemis' tail swished almost angrily as he said her name.
"So, if things went according to your plan, we'd all be like Sailor V? Running around in skimpy sailor outfits battling monsters?" Makoto asked.
"Something like that."
"And I'm not Sailor V. I'm Sailor Venus."
"I was wondering about that," Ami said.
"OK. So, how do we do it?"
They all looked in surprise at Makoto.
"I'm ready," she said, cracking her knuckles, "I'm sick and tired of taking a beating from those things, so give me my powers. How do I get started?"
"Uh," Artemis began, "You should have your wand, and then you'll just need the standard transformation phrase."
"Where's my wand?"
"Um."
Minako glared at him.
"You don't know! You told me you knew everything there was to know about this!"
"I meant as it concerns you, Sailor Venus," he snapped back, "I'm not supposed to train the others. That was Luna's job."
"If you ask me, it seems a bit unfair to leave Luna with the four of us," Rei added, throwing a look at Usagi for emphasis.
"Well, you just don't understand these things," Artemis replied, "Anyway, I've had more than enough trouble trying to train Minako."
Before Minako could retort to this, Ami surprised them all by clearing her throat authoritatively.
"Now. Let's not waste more time bickering. Usagi, hold up your wand. Aino-san, what phrase do you use to become Sailor V?"
"I say 'Venus Power Make-up!"
As she said it the glow came over her and she shimmered into Sailor Venus. She took a moment to look down at herself, turning and twisting to get a good look at the changes in her uniform.
"Ooo, I like this one a lot better! The colors are so much brighter!"
"You would," Artemis muttered, having dived for the floor when she started transforming.
"Usagi, say 'Moon Power Make-up.'" Ami instructed.
Usagi looked at the wand in her hand as if it might bite her, but she raised it high and said the phrase.
They all waited while nothing happened.
Ami frowned.
"It can't be the same," she said, turning to the cat, "You can see that Usagi has a wand, but the wand isn't working or the phrase isn't working. I'm inclined to believe that you must be wrong about the phrase being standard."
Artemis made a face that could only have been the equivalent of a cat blush.
"I don't know. I'm just telling you what I remember."
"Oh, wait a minute," Usagi said, "This wand looks different from Minako-chan's. Maybe that's the problem?"
Ami examined it carefully and her brow suddenly cleared.
"That's because it has the classical symbol for Mercury on it. This is my wand."
Usagi looked disappointed and relieved at the same time. She handed the wand over to Ami with a tinge of regret.
"Now, please stand back," Ami went on, raising the wand gracefully over her head.
"Mercury Power Make-up!"
A blue light flashed out from her forehead and the wand at the same time, while the air grew very cold. When the light faded, Sailor Mercury stood in front of them.
"Your hair is blue!" Makoto and Usagi yelled at once.
Mercury raised a hand to her head but her hair was too short for her to see it properly.
"I suppose it's a side effect of the transformation. Or perhaps it's a disguise?"
She gasped involuntarily as her hand brushed her earring and a screen slid across her face. It was a screen in name only, being a projection built into the fuku, but it was reactive to her eye movement, and she suspected even to her thoughts, as if it had been specially designed for her.
"Amazing," she breathed, looking at the information scrolling across the screen, which changed as she moved through the room.
"What do you see?"
"Everything."
"How do we find the other wands?" Makoto asked, hands on hips.
They all turned to look at Rei who had knelt when Ami transformed. As she rose they saw that she held a red wand in her hand.
"Well, I guess that solves that," Makoto muttered.
"Go on, use it," Minako prompted.
"It's actually kind of fun once you get the hang of it."
"These aren't toys!" Rei snapped back at Minako.
Minako shrugged.
"No need to tell me that, but, seriously, lighten up."
Rei concentrated on the wand, trying to sense its energy.
"Rei-chan," Usagi whispered, theatrically, "The phrase is -"
"I know," Rei retorted, "Well, here goes."
"Mars Power Make-up," she murmured.
The wand flashed red through the entire room, blazing out from her forehead and wand. The air grew blisteringly hot, but Rei felt only a pleasant warmth. When she opened her eyes she was wearing a red and violet fuku.
"Wow."
Makoto was staring at her in frank admiration.
"Don't take this the wrong way, Hino-san, but you look amazing."
"It's the heels," Venus added, enviously.
Mars looked down at her exposed legs to see the red heels.
"This is utterly impractical," she complained.
"Who in the world designed this?"
Artemis shrugged.
"Oh, hey, look!" Makoto yelled, happily, waving the green wand that had just appeared in her hand.
"Uh, I just remembered something," Artemis began, looking at her nervously. His fur began to stand on end.
"Jupiter Power Make-up!"
The room was instantly full of electricity. The other girls could feel their hair standing on end. Artemis was hissing incoherently. There was a tremendous flash of light that blinded them all and then a smell of ozone.
Then Jupiter stood in front of them in heeled combat boots. Flower petals fell around her only to disappear as they struck the floor.
"This is awesome!" she crowed.
She flicked her hand up to her hair and her tiara suddenly expanded.
"Look out!"
Artemis dived for cover behind Venus while Mercury, Mars, and Usagi lept away from Jupiter as a little bolt of lighting skittered from her tiara.
"How do you control this thing!" she shrieked, batting at the antenna.
"Stop flailing around!" Venus commanded.
She dodged the growing bolts of electricity to slap the jewel on the top of the tiara. Though she was careful, her glove was slightly singed.
Instantly Jupiter de-transformed.
She looked pale and out of breath.
"Sorry," she said, sheepishly, "I didn't know it could be so dangerous."
"You wanted the power to combat the enemy," Minako replied, soberly, "It comes with a lot of responsibility."
Mars and Mercury de-transformed as well.
"What happens if we are stuck in those forms? And can we transform while unconscious?"
"I don't know. Yes - no, uh..." Minako looked to Artemis for help.
"There's a lot I don't know," he admitted, "But I can find out if you give me time."
"We have powers in these forms too, that's correct?"
Minako and Artemis stared at Ami.
"What do you mean? Not transformed?"
"Yes," she said, tugging a strand of short hair behind her ear. Now that it was back to its natural color there was still a faint hint of blue.
"Like my affinity for water."
"And my ability to read auras and the flame."
Artemis flicked his tail back and forth.
"I don't understand," he said, at last, "You shouldn't have any powers like that. Do you have them too?"
Makoto blushed.
"Well...I don't think so."
Usagi elbowed her.
"Yes, you do, Makoto-chan. Your flowers!"
Makoto's blush deepened. The others gave her curious looks.
"I can make plants grow...faster than they should."
"And..." Usagi prompted.
"And sometimes flowers appear when I'm doing things."
Minako's brows raised.
"That's... interesting."
"What about me?"
All eyes turned to Usagi.
"Why don't I have a wand? Why can I transform without one?"
Artemis looked twitchy when all eyes riveted back to him.
"I don't know, alright! All the guardians should have their wands. Luna was supposed to make sure that you had them. She was safeguarding them. I was to awaken Venus to fight one year earlier than the rest if the enemy surfaced sooner than we expected. She has appeared earlier than we thought, but she hasn't been doing anything significant until recently. I thought that was why Luna was waiting to awaken the rest of you."
"You call these attacks 'insignificant'?" Rei asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Compared with what she's capable of, this is nothing."
Usagi and Ami gulped.
"But who is 'she'?" Makoto asked.
Artemis and Minako shared a look.
"She is Queen Beryl."
"Queen?"
"That's what she calls herself. She was never a queen on earth," Minako explained, "She was the one who helped unleash the darkness in the first place."
"So she's been reincarnated too?" Ami pursued, "The darkness you spoke of is separate from her?"
"It feeds off of her," Artemis answered, "But we don't know much else about it other than that it needs human energy to maintain its hold on this world."
They were all silent while they digested this information.
"But," Usagi said, at last, "She can be defeated, right? Even though she beat us in the past, the fact that we're here now means -"
"I have to believe it's possible," Artemis agreed, "I can't imagine Queen Serenity would have sent us into the future for no purpose."
At the mention of that name, Usagi shivered.
"I'm alright," she said to Makoto, "I just felt like I'd heard that name before."
Minako's eyes narrowed.
"That's probably the memories coming back to you. It happens slowly, usually, but sometimes it comes in a sudden wave."
"What about the princess?" Ami continued, "Where is she? How can we find her?"
"We're not sure," Minako admitted, "As I said, she's probably connected to one of you. It's no coincidence that you all happen to live within about five miles of each other and this temple."
"But what about Usagi?" Makoto said, "I think there's something strange about the way she transforms by accident. Especially since she has wings."
"Wings?"
Minako and Artemis exchanged another glance.
"But I can't be a princess," Usagi argued, "It's just not possible."
"Why not?" Ami asked, half amused.
Usagi sighed and shook her head.
"Have you met Usagi?" Makoto joked, "You couldn't find a clumsier person if you tried."
"Perhaps there's more to being a princess than grace," Rei murmured.
"For now, outside our little circle, if the enemy asks you anything about the princess, tell them nothing. If you are caught, tell them that I am the princess."
The others blinked at Minako.
"What do you mean 'caught'? And why would we tell them that you are the princess? Don't they know you're Sailor V?"
"Yes, but they don't know anything more about Princess Serenity than we do. For all they know I could be her. And if they focus their attack on one of us, it should be me. I have the most experience."
"I hardly think that's a fitting reason, but if you say so," Rei sighed.
"Princess Serenity," Usagi murmured to herself.
"Anyway, it will give us good cover until we can find the princess. In the meantime we should focus on learning to work as a team. I guess that means including the Phantom Knights."
She ended this statement with a grimace.
"They're not so bad!" Usagi said, "They've been doing their best."
"It's not their ability I'm worried about," Minako answered, "It's whether we should trust them at all."
"Why do you doubt them? You trust us." Ami pointed out.
"I have my reasons."
She rose and scooped up Artemis, depositing him onto her shoulder.
"Well, it's getting late. We'll start training tomorrow. After school."
"After school training?" Usagi groaned.
"It's a good thing I don't have cram classes anymore," Ami murmured.
"Yep. I expect to see all of you back here tomorrow. With your wands. And be careful going home. Energy tends to attract the Dark Agency members, and we've kinda been throwing a lot of it around."
Makoto and Usagi groaned.
Minako and Artemis made their way down the dark street toward the Aino residence. Even though she was well able to afford to live in the center of the city, Minako still chose to stay with her parents now and then. Mainly to make sure that they were safe.
"What do you think?"
She looked down at the cat beside her who had asked the question.
"She seems the most likely of all of them to be the princess."
"That's what I think too."
"The wings on top of everything else. And she has no wand."
"But she can transform," he reminded her, "That's different too."
Minako frowned, scrunching her eyes in thought.
"I can't remember if the princess could do that. Why would she?"
Artemis shrugged.
"Anyway," Minako went on, "We'll have to look after all of them until they get the hang of using their powers."
"Yes, Mizuno-san was a quick study alright. Hino-san is intimidating even without the fuku. And Kino-san is...well, she looks like she's able to take care of herself."
Minako nodded.
They walked on in silence until they came to her parents' house. Minako paused before she put her hand to the outer door.
"Artemis, if she is the princess, then that means that Endymion is probably..."
"I know."
Minako's face grew dark for a moment.
"I won't let him hurt her again."
"You don't know that's what happened for sure," Artemis reminded her, "Dreams are not as reliable as the visions."
Minako shook her head.
"Something happened. Until I know what it was, I won't trust any of them farther than I can throw them."
Artemis chuckled.
"What about Saitou-san?"
Minako raised an eyebrow.
"That's none of your business."
Artemis made a "hmm" noise and pattered over the threshold and into the house.
"Nosy cat."
