A/N: Sorry readers! I uploaded this without thoroughly checking through the document for errors(and I found quite a few while triple checking later) henced it was removed. Anyway, I have made the changes so without further ado, here is chapter 25.

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Ushering Bells

Some time after the commotion of Kasha's report of the Artemis died down and before the arrival of the three guests, the attendant returned with an answer to Serenity's query of the Star Gazer's whereabouts. No one in the castle seemed to know anything as Chibiusa mentioned previously. Standing beside the large window of her office, Serenity folded her arms together across her chest and stared out at the night. The clouds remained a thick dark cover, keeping the stars and moon at bay. Inside her seem to share the same state as the outdoors. In her head, there were only questions without any illumination.

At first, Serenity thought she might have been overreacting; after all, Setsuna had only been gone for a day. There had been many times when the Star Gazer took trips, days turning into weeks before Serenity saw the woman again. But Setsuna always ensured the queen knew of her plans. It was different this time and Serenity worried that perhaps she she could not separate their private lives from their court required roles. Minako Aino's questions brought a reminder that Setsuna did have duty to the court and the Neo-Queen in official capacity no matter their personal feelings. The woman needed to be here as the Head Star Gazer. If there was one thing Setsuna never did it would be to shirk her duty. Recalling how the niphropid appeared out of nowhere alarmed Serenity; the roads and outlying areas were no longer safe.

Something could have happened to her. She should have been here to greet the Traveler at least. Where is she?

She almost gave in to wringing her hands together but tightened her fingers on her arms instead. If possible, she would have gone out to look for Setsuna herself. But she couldn't. Her own responsibility was to remain in the castle and uphold the cloak of guidance. She would have to trust the search party sent out to locate the Star Gazer. In the meantime there were already too many troubling news and details.

A frown creased her brow. The information delivered by the Koi Pond's owner was disturbing to say the least. All of the reports she read stated the Traveler usually appeared well in advance of the eclipse, with enough time to prepare. Setsuna assured her it would be the same this time around but an encounter with a giant niphropid and the news of the Bogs implied that either the information was off or there were other things happening she was not aware of.

The muted, faraway sound of the bell interrupted her thoughts; the number of rings alerted her they were already two bells into a new day. There was a knock on the office door and she called out permission to enter. Kasha entered the chamber, her footsteps brisk though her face gave away the exhaustion she was feeling. Serenity looked at her expectantly, filled with hope that someone had located her lover.

The attendant shook her head, "I'm sorry your Highness, the knightes came back from Meioh-shi's work sites. There's no trace of her at any of them. It looks like she hasn't been there at all lately either."

Half a year ago Setsuna had discovered an old log in the archives listing four ancient site locations near the castle where Star Gazers had gathered. The log itself was a fusty, antiquated water stained thing and practically unreadable in some places. It seemed as if someone had also thrown it in a corner and forgotten its existence; it was tucked far out of sight and away from the usual traffic which led towards the magic tomes.

There was the possibility that knowledge they had lost might be located in these sites, Setsuna had claimed with an enthusiasm Serenity had rarely seen. For the past few months Setsuna had taken several excursions to these sites with a team in tow; it was conceivable that there might be some information which would help with the impending eclipse the Star Gazer stated. She had been working diligently, poring over star charts, maps and other corresponding texts as she tried to translate the runes marking the walls. The young Queen thought she would have at least found Setsuna at any one of those locations.

A frown came to her brow again and she rubbed her temples in a tired manner; her head had begun to ache.

"Your Highness," Kasha's voice was soft but insistent, "it's late. You should get some rest. There are other knightes still out looking as well, I will let you know as soon as we have word of Meioh-shi."

"Kasha...I should be the one telling you to get some rest," Serenity replied. She gave the woman a small grateful smile. Kasha's daily duties ended when the queen retired for the night. Which meant the attendant was currently functioning on very little sleep. But nary a complaint left her lips.

"Your Highness," Kasha protested verbally with those two words, and Serenity held up a hand.

"Very well, I will get some sleep on the condition that you do too," Serenity negotiated, "Let Lillith take over your duties for now. I want you to get as much rest as you can. There are busy days ahead. Also have Lillith advise everyone to stay indoors until I speak with everyone properly tomorrow."

"Yes, your Highness. And thank you," Kasha bowed and held the door open for the queen.

Serenity stepped close to the woman and gave her squire's shoulder a light squeeze of affection," No, it is I who is always thankful to you Kasha. Sleep well." With that she left the office behind and followed the path to her chambers. But the worried thoughts did not leave her. She juggled them in her head: Setsuna, the missing Kaioh-shi, Tenoh-shi and the news she would eventually have to tell the woman, the Bogs and even the niphropid encounter. Despite her anxiety her lids closed the moment her head met the pillow but not surprising was the fitful sleep the queen fell into.

-x-x-x-

"Nnn-"

Chibiusa's lids fluttered open, her carmine eyes dusty with sleep. Faraway she could discern the faint sounds of the bells; four of them. For a moment she wondered what woke her before realizing she was feeling unusually warm. Tucked up against the right side of her body was Hotaru. That's right, we fell asleep like this, Chibiusa yawned. It was a bittersweet triumph; to think their first night sleeping together would result from Hotaru's grief. She reached out and gently traced the tear-stain along the girl's cheek.

"Mnn-"

The dark-haired girl's face suddenly scrunched into a frown, her lips twisted in unhappiness. Her breathing became fast and shallow. Chibiusa, filled with concern immediately, tried to wake Hotaru. But she remained unresponsive even when the princess shook her shoulder.

She must be having a nightmare.

"Hotaru," Chibiusa called out gently as she lightly grasped the girl's left hand with her own. There was no response from Hotaru, except for a quiet moan. Perhaps she felt comforted by Chibiusa's touch; her expression cleared itself, her lips easing back into a neutral line. Her breathing deepened, slowed and she was sleeping peacefully once more. Holding her girlfriend close, Chibiusa hoped even in slumber her presence soothed Hotaru. She yawned, pulled the covers over them and drifted back to sleep within moments.

She was rudely awakened when she felt an elbow in her side followed by a knee nudging her thigh from the right.

"Ho'aru-" Chibiusa groaned sleepily as she turned to her girlfriend in the bed beside her. She came awake instantly, her eyes widening when her gaze landed on Hotaru. The girl's head whipped side to side as if in protest. Her limbs moved with a frenzy as they lashed out at her surroundings. The sheet that had covered them was stuck to Hotaru's frame strangely and Chibiusa realized it was clinging wetly. Sweat gleamed on Hotaru's face and neck, even her arms were slick with perspiration. Unintelligible mumbling emerged from between her lips.

"Hotaru!" She moved to still the girl's head and was pushed back by the swinging arms. "Hotaru, wake up!"

Hotaru's response was a loud cry though she did not open her eyes. The mumbling resumed. Her pale arms continued to swing, her legs kicked the air.

Is this the reason why she hasn't been getting much sleep lately? This isn't normal. Panic rising inside her Chibiusa ran to the door and jerked it open with frantic movement. The hallway was quiet and too dark, she could not see the flame of any sconces that kept the passageway alight. "Help!" She called out, the cry echoing down the corridor. On the bed, Hotaru's voice was suddenly loud, the words bassy, disjointed and so jumbled Chibiusa could not make heads or tails of them. She ran back to Hotaru hoping someone heard her cry for help and was on their way.

She was three feet away from the bed when she was surprised then shocked to see Hotaru standing up in the bed jerkily like a puppet before her eyes flashed open. The familiar purple of Hotaru's eyes were absent, replaced instead with a blankness that glowed and crackled with electricity. Chibiusa was suffused with horror. The gaze of the girl left Chibiusa feeling as if she had been stared into her very depths, her thoughts and feelings parsed and examined until every bit of truth and knowledge constructing her being was found inconsequential in the face of this thing that currently inhabited Hotaru's body.

Because it certainly wasn't Hotaru.

She tried to move her legs and arms to approach the bed but she couldn't move at all. I have to wake her up! Hotaru, Hotaru! Even her voice could not emerge. She was frozen. Finding herself unable to do anything, tears sprung from her eyes as she gritted her teeth. She could not let anything happen to Hotaru. Especially after all that had already occurred. Hotaru! Hota-

"ru!" Her voice escaped, breaking the spell that kept her in place. She took a step and the windows and doors leading out to the terrace were flung inwards by a freezing gust of wind that gathered and swirled around Hotaru; it became a tunnel of wind protecting her from Chibiusa. The princess took another step forward, her arm reaching out for Hotaru. She could feel her hair whipped in all directions due to the wind but Hotaru was still, not a hair on her head stirred as she continued to stare blankly at Chibiusa.

"Hotaru!" Chibiusa screamed as loudly as she could while she took another step.

The unintelligible words coming from Hotaru's lips halted. What came after was a loud brassy voice screaming in anger, "Verdantia will fall! Ashtarte will fall!"

Chibiusa's red eyes widened in terror but she reached out for Hotaru's hand nevertheless. Shrieking laughter followed the words. Her fingers were just a few inches away from the girl's and Chibiusa felt her hope grow. If she could just touch Hotaru-

A strong blast of wind sent her flying backwards and pain wracked her entire body when she connected with the wall. She slumped down to the ground. Her head pounded and her vision swam as the floor began to come into she looked up towards Hotaru who had not moved an inch. Surrounded by tube of cold air her eyes continued to glow. They were the last things Chibiusa saw before her lids fell closed and she blacked out.

-x-x-x-

Dawn arrived, the colors of the sunrise barely breaking through the veil of the clouds before it was blocked out again. This time the light could not permeate the layers of clouds. If it weren't for the ringing bells the inhabitants of Verdantia would not have known a new day was here. Mere moments after the sixth bell of the east lightning split the dark skies and thunder rolled ominously. Unceasingly, fat rain drops descended from inflated clouds and pummeled everything in sight. It was a rain that would last for days.

To be continued.

Your feedback is appreciated dear readers! I'd love to know if you guys think this story is predictable in any way.