Crystal Points

by Queen

Amid a world spiraling into chaos, the Inner Senshi find themselves drawn- the last, desperate hope of a world on the brink of destruction. A fic for the Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter fans! (Complete!)

5. Episode 4- Awakening of Water? The Retur...

Crystal Points

Emania, Land of Infinite Gods

Honor those the dragons heed,

In thought and favor, word and deed.

Worlds are lost or worlds are saved

From those dangers dragon-braved.

-Anne McCaffrey, Dragonflight

Reminder: Italics are psychic speaking, and sometimes Japanese.

Episode 4- Awakening of Water? The Return of the Soldier of Fire, and the Arrival of an Enemy.

"Ahhhh...minna...my butt hurts...."

This came from Minako, of course, since the other two senshi with her were busy shaking their heads in despair. They had left Ansur that morning, and for the last two hours had been traveling north...again. Ami had been making good use of her computer, and had picked up faint traces of the army's march. The odd thing about it was, that it was so faint. If her memories served her right, the force should have been much larger. It worried her. But regardless of this, they continued, and Ami hid her concern. If the group had split....

"Minako-chan," Ami tried to console, "we're used to cars and motorcycles, ne? Horses aren't our thing. I'm sure we'll get used to it soon."

"Hai," Makoto agreed, kneeing hers forward, and turning its head. She grinned down at the back of the horse's head, and petted its neck. "Not exactly born in the saddle?"

"My butt is numb, my back is killing me, and I don't even want to know how I'm going to be walking when I get off this thing!" The horse's ears flicked in irritation, seeming to know that she was the source of Minako's complaint, but unable to do anything about it.

It was a pretty day, in a quiet sense, the sky dotted with towering white clouds, set upon a dark blue sky. The sun was shadowing back and forth behind these clouds, dimming and lighting the day as it revealed its face, then hid it again. It had not been difficult, to get new clothes and food, supplies to last them for awhile while they were gone. This was reconnaissance, and they planned to return to the castle in a day or so. This time, Ami had suggested they take a cue from Caitlyn...or maybe Haruka. Pants. No dresses or skirts. Plain, simple, comfortable, riding pants. And equally plain shirts, though Minako had selected a flaming red one with a orange zigzag on the collar. That had produced some more head shaking from Ami and Mako. Even in Emania, Minako wore the weirdest clothes. And it would have been strange if she hadn't.

With a sigh, Minako rubbed her rear, then settled back into the stirrups. "Ami-chan, have you gotten anything on your radar thing yet?"

Ami kept was absently touching her non-existent hair. It was like a phantom pain, from a limb lost. Except in her case, it was there. But not. It was creepy. She was getting used to it, but right now it was still creepy, in its ponytail at the base of her neck. She kept it up for practice, even though it was now just the three of them.

Holding the computer in her lap, she tapped the keys rapidly. "Still ahead. Within a kilometer to the north and west. I'm getting some new data now...." as it filed across the screen, she exclaimed, "Shimatta!"

That caused the other two to turn and stare. How often did Ami swear? Already she was turning beet red as she blushed, but continued anyway. "Gomen ne, minna....but there's a lake, and I'm getting readings that there's a habitation. A town. By charting their path, and previous position, they're heading straight for it."

"Shimatta!" The other two echoed, eyes wide. The events of the previous day were still fresh in their minds. This was not a witch hunt, but the results would be the same. The same bloodbath, this time by a true, recognizable enemy. It took only a moment for Ami to urge her horse into the lead, the others barely a beat behind, as she followed the map her computer was providing.

They weren't going to let it happen again.

It was so easy, really. Villagers were the same as people anywhere. See some monsters come crashing into your town square, and they go running, screaming. Men marched alongside hobgoblin and orc, as well as any number of creatures unidentifiable. He had chosen a small force to fight, and they were making short work of the people running, or the few that stood to fight. Peace was the way with these people, and they did not know war or fighting, here in the little town by the lake, a great river stretching from one side.

Black armored, visor down, the leader of these troops held a torch in hand, casually lighting the thatched roofs of the dun colored baked brick houses. He stood on foot, disregarding his horse when it became obvious that there would be little, if no resistance. Another scream rang out, and he glimpsed the vision of a older woman go down. Turning away, he touched the flames to the straw, and tiny lines of fire disappeared into the thatch, then burned their way to the surface again a moment later. Black smoke was rising into the clear sky, and obscuring the surrounding mountains. Satisfied with the work, he turned sharply when he heard what was distinctly not a shriek of terror.

"Stop right there!"

His eyebrows lifted under the downturned helm, and he couldn't help but allow a faint smile. Three girls stood heroically on the top of a rise, which led down to the village. And, as luck would have it, he recognized the blue-toned one of these from two days before, standing to the right of the red-ribboned one in the center, who was doing the shouting.

"How dare you try to kill the innocent people of this village? I am the pretty sailor suited senshi Sailor Venus! And in the name of my planet of Love, Venus, I will punish you!"

"Under the power of the planet Jupiter, I am the senshi of Protection, Sailor Jupiter! And in the name of the planet Jupiter I will never forgive you!"

"With the power of the planet of Water and Ice, I am Sailor Mercury, senshi of Wisdom! And in the name of the planet Mercury, I will not allow you to hurt these people!"

"Venus Love-me Chain!"

"Sparkling Wide Pressure!"

"Shine Aqua Illusion!"

Leaping with agile grace, the three henshined senshi began their battle, rushing in to fight. The leader of these attackers frowned as he watched them, eyes narrowing in the thin slice of light permitted under the helm. He tossed his torch into the last house, and heard it clunk against the dirt floor. Within moments, the tide of the battle was suddenly beginning to turn. The power that the three strangely dressed young women were summoning was unlike anything he had seen before. And it worried him.

The one who introduced herself as 'Sailor Mercury' he had seen. Conjuring the thick fog was one thing. But to blast back a mob of his goblins was entirely another. And both were annoying. "To me!" He called to his men, knowing that the more intelligent humans would do as they were told, not as reckless as the expendable monsters from beyond the Rifts.

His own soldiers behind him, he drew the broadsword on his back. A yellow beam sliced neatly though another tangle of the creatures, and he felt his lip curl with disdain. Stupid things.

The three were fighting in a triangle, using an array of different attacks, and he watched them, calculating the time it took for them to use their power. The Mercury one used only two attacks. Curious. The other two alternated between three. "Now," he commanded easily, a hand in the air, then dropping it. Two men broke from the line they had formed, and charged in. "Again!"

"Jupiter! They're coming at us!"

"Jupiter Oak Evolution!" The first two men were hit instantly, the leaves cutting them down mid-step, and Jupiter sensed Venus powering up for another hit. But even as these two fell, three more were already coming forward, and reached them before the golden chain had finished forming in Venus' upraised hand. Jupiter heard her startled scream as one of the men struck out, and she managed to duck. Her hands already busy fighting off the second of these attackers, Jupiter tried to put space between the three of them, so that Mercury could back them up. Sailor Mercury had seen Venus go down, and was currently drawing her fingers across the strings of her watery harp, the ribbons of blue sending a flood of sparkling water into the fray, accompanied by the shifting music.

"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"

The remaining man, too, was cut down, but now the line their enemy had held was falling on them at once, swords drawn. Mercury summoned her visor, and the clear blue glass slid across her eyes, calculating. But no amount of data was enough in the middle of the fight. They were too close together, and other than their attacks, they were unarmed. That was an advantage that their human attackers noticed quickly, separating them from one another, even as they pressed close. And so they were being quickly overwhelmed.

"Fire...Soul!"

The ball of flames fell into the center of fight, and blasted everything within, sending men flying, some singed, others with exposed clothing on fire. A shadow flew overhead, and a great gust of wind sent the dusty ground into whirlwinds.

Many eyes lifted to the sky, where they met with the image of a giant red dragon, heavily scaled and eyes blazing, a gout of flames pouring up into the air, mingling with the smoke that was already clotting the sunlight. It swooped around them, and from the back of the creature, they saw a raven haired young woman ride, in the same costume as the other three.

"How dare you attack my friends, who I have been separated from for so long! I am Sailor Mars, Soldier of Fire, and I will never forgive you!"

There were three very happy shouts of, "Mars!" from the ground, and suddenly, the senshi found some new energy to fight.

The fire dragon's giant wings beat back the searing smoke, and they dove down towards the group, the remaining men and monsters scattering in terror of the bellowing dragon. The blast ricocheted off the surrounding mountains, vibrating in the air as fire flew from its jaws.

As Sailor Mars was carried again up into the air, the leader of these black armored men watched his troops abandon him. He knew it was pointless to command them to return. The appearance of the dragon meant several things to him at once. First, that anyone seeing it would be quickly terrified, and would not come back for their life, leader aside. Second, that it confirmed what he had been told. Third, that if one of these senshi people was riding one, then the others were likely to be the soldiers yet princesses as well. Fourth, he had better hurry, because if they were who he believed, then they were there for the same reason as he was.

He broke into a run for the lake.

"Mercury!" Mars shouted down at her friends, watching a "Shine Aqua Illusion!" blast back another attacker who presented himself. "The lake! Get to the damn lake! And summon it! Hurry!"

"Nani?" Mercury stared up at Mars, but was already running, not very far from where a armored man ran. She recognized him, the same man who had glared at her and Caitlyn from across the river. She didn't understand, but Sailor Mars was Sailor Mars, and if Rei-chan said get to the damn lake, then Sailor Mercury sure as hell was going to do it.

It rose before the two runners as they raced though the town, sparkling and gleaming blue, faint tinges of mist still curling around the pebbly shore. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him swerve, the sword in his hand coming up in an arc at her as they drew closer to the lake. She saw it, and spun to the side, and he missed, much to Mercury's relief. She could hear Venus' scream as the sword slice passed her, and a hastily thrown "Crescent Beam!" as she tried to help from so far away. Mercury flew farther along, the beach drawing nearer as she passed out of the sight of Venus and Jupiter. The man was a few steps behind her now, and strong, catching up quickly. Again, a shadow passed over them, and Mercury swerved to the side as a scarlet wing dipped down just behind her, coming turning on a wingtip as he deposited his passenger between Mercury and the man.

Climbing to her feet on the dragon's back, Sailor Mars and her ride dove downward, then she leapt, landing neatly as the wings took an upbeat again, sending the long trails of Mars' back bow to flying. She dropped into a offensive stance. "Mars Flame Sniper!"

It flew forward, and their pursuer hefted his blade, cutting the fire into two parts as it struck. Mars' eyes flew wide, but she gained herself quickly. "Mercury! Keep going! I'll stop him! Get to the lake, and summon it! Hurry!" She brought her arms up. "Dodge these! Burning Mandala!"

Mercury did as Mars commanded, and did not look back. Since she kept her eyes forward, she did not see the clear globe swirl around the man, sending the rings of fire into the air, harmlessly. He ran forward, and if it had not been for Mars' quick leap to the side, she would have been sliced in two. From where she landed on the ground, she watched him decide she wasn't worth the effort, and break into a run for the lake and Sailor Mercury.

Sailor Mars pulled herself up, and watched Mercury race over the rocky beach, then splash into the water. Casting a quick glance behind her, she saw her dragon spouting ribbons of flame into the battle beyond her, and the accompanying light of a "Love and Beauty Shock!" fill the air. They were doing fine. So she moved to follow Mercury and the man.

Sailor Mercury kicked up a great deal of water as she splashed her way deeper in, the water coming up to her knees, thighs, then waist as she went deeper, and the unmistakable splash of the man came up behind her. She sent a quick glance behind her, and saw him wading in after her, as well as Mars, who was running forward, still screaming at her to summon whatever it was she was supposed to summon.

Considering her situation quickly, Mercury decided that whatever it was she was summoning was apparently in the lake. The man wanted whatever it was as well. And there was only one thing she knew of that he would want badly enough to still be chasing her for.

A Crystal Point.

And that meant that Mars knew what it was. She heard a roar above her, and saw the head of the fire dragon rear into the air, and a glittering ruby caught prisms in the sunlight.

She understood.

He was splashing around, and gaining on her, though slowly. His armor was inhibiting him in the water, slowing him down, which was to her advantage. A fuku was hardly inhibiting, and as was fitting for a water element, could swim very well. Sailor Mercury called out, voice ringing over the lake, "Dragon of Water! I summon you! Emania needs your help!"

Then she took a deep breath, and dove under the surface of the waves.

Slowly, she felt a current of water replace the air in her lungs, and though the thought was frightening, she did not feel fear. The lake was crystalline, and she could see the pebbly bottom, and feel the water stretch out in many directions from where she swam, running down over rock and traveling far in the arm of the river it began. She swam, though the sapphire currents of delicate strength, as shifting and elusive as an illusion. Down, rippling though the indigo illumination of white dancing light. Her hair floated around her face as she watched fish swim by, silver and pretty in their armor, speckled in the shifting light. Pulling the water around her, she kicked, and felt it wash over her skin, fill her body, and expand and shift like a cool kaleidoscope.

Who is it, that calls for me to awaken?

Sailor Mercury heard the voice in her head, musical and light, almost amused. She tried to open her mouth to speak, then realized that it would be filled with water. Then, she considered her current way of breathing, and did so anyway. Icy liquid filled her mouth, and still, the words came. "I am...water...." It rippled over her, around her, though her, in her. The shifting shades of the underwater world around her lit her face, reflected in the tranquil eyes of the beauty of water. "Mizuno...Ami...."

Girl from another world? Soldier yet princess, with water in her veins. Look before you, and do not be afraid.

Mercury opened her eyes, and slowed her descent into the water, landing on a small ledge of rock, feet tapping there lightly as she floated. Dreamlike, her indigo eyes focused through the liquid lens, and could see the coiled body of a dragon. Slowly, a head lifted into the air, wedge shaped and delicate, a stream of white fin curling loosely down her long neck, which was gleaming azure and rainbow colored in the softly unfocused light from the water's surface, scaled in the way of fish. Whirling blue eyes watched her, and a sapphire gleamed between them, the dragon delicately lifting herself from her slumber, thin, fin-like wings stretching out behind her as she rose.

Water is a reflection of things not itself. It is intuitive, flowing like the tide. It is the power of learning, of gathering knowledge. It can give life, and it can also wash it away. Know this, Princess of Water. Learn it, and grow strong. Together, we will save the world.

The gently featured head moved forward, stretching forward, and Sailor Mercury watched as the dragon rose before her, pausing a small moment for her to float up onto the space between her shoulder joints, where the wings connected to her back. Together, they rose up though the water, breaking the surface with a silent splash.

From where he stood, the armored man swore.

From where she stood, Sailor Mars broke into a relieved laugh.

And from where she sat upon the back of her dragon, Sailor Mercury looked down at her attacker, and knew she had won.

Mercury watched as the waves around her grew large, towering the height of a man, and Mars backed away from the lake's edge, back onto the safety of the beach. Watching, she saw the porcelain wings of the water dragon spread wide, and their attacker was thrown from his feet, the water rolling over him as the dragon's neck arched down, eyes whirling rapidly.

Though the water, Mars watched as he spluttered back to his feet, another wave already on his heels, forcing him to stagger though the water. His helm was knocked off his head as the dragon's finned tail whipped forward, sending another blast at him. Soaked black hair flew about his head, and he turned to lock eyes with Sailor Mars. Then, he did something she did not like. He smiled.

Taking a breath, he plunged back into the water as the dragon's wings beat down, lifting her from her domain, and Mars watched bubbles form where the man had disappeared. Gliding forward, the water dragon touched ground on the beach, turning her head with disdain at the lake, where the man had disappeared.

"Mars?"

"Mercury!"

From dragonback, Mercury laughed in relief. "You're alive after all!"

"What, you think some fire is going to stop me?" She put her hands on her hips in mock anger, watching Mercury slip down to stand beside her. "Come on, Mercury, you know me better than that!" Then, she turned to look at the glassy surface of the lake. "I don't think he's dead."

That one is no longer here.

"Nani?" Mercury asked, looking at the dragon. She tilted her head quizzically, then made a snorting noise, looking up the hill.

Your friends come.

"Minna! Minna!" Venus and Jupiter were coming over the top of the hill, and the red dragon flew loudly above them, gliding lowly and coming to settle across from the other. The fire dragon was much larger than the delicately formed water one. And in the light of day, the four senshi couldn't help but pause and look at them, the two dragons and the gemstones in their foreheads. They watched as the two formally bowed their heads to one another, then gently touched noses, eyes whirling slowly as they greeted each other.

As the two broke apart, the fire dragon with a flip of his horned head, the water one to preen with her wings, the four senshi realized that they were, at last, together again.

"Minna!" They screamed at once, delighted. "Ow!" In their frantic hurry to hug everyone else, they body-slammed, and the dull rumble of the fire dragon was heard into the quiet crackling of the village fires. After a moment, three of the senshi realized the creature was laughing at them. Mars, however, knew very well what the creature was doing.

"Knock it off," she ordered him, and the creature subsided slowly, though it still seemed to be smiling, like a cheshire cat. Sailor Mars looked at the other three, who were staring at her. She flipped a lock of damp hair over a shoulder. "Ken has a bit of an attitude."

"Ken?" Venus asked, staring at the two, woman and beast. "Like Barbie?"

That got a resulting gout of flame out of the fire dragon's mouth, and an angry violet eyed glare from Mars. "Not like Barbie! As in, 'to know' Venus-baka! It means 'torch.'"

Into the argument, Mercury suddenly giggled, and the three faces of her friends turned to look at Mercury, who was holding her hands up to accept the large head of her dragon. "She says her name is Lagu! Like the river," she paused, then a moment later, added, "and the lake. They were named for her. A long, long time ago."

"Speaking of the lake...." Jupiter began, looking around, "what happened to that guy? Did you kill him?"

"Disappeared," Mars informed her. "Under the water. He used magic. Do any of you know him?"

"Mercury does," Venus said, folding her arms and looking at Mercury, who was currently not listening, wonderingly running a hand over the smooth scales of Lagu. "But Mercury-chan is off on a different planet at the moment, apparently...."

"Hm?" She turned around. "Nan ja? What?" There was some head shaking as Mercury looked between them, confused. "Did I do something?"

"No," Mars told her, smiling faintly. "It's weird, isn't it?"

"Hai," came the agreement, and Venus and Jupiter looked between the other two.

"What's weird?"

Mars shook her head, and Mercury began to wring out her soaked fuku. "The talking. It's in your head. And it feels weird at first...."

Lagu's head swiveled up to the burning houses, and Mercury was pointing at them, gesturing, the topic of their conversation apparent. Lagu bowed her head, and looked at Ken, who made the dragon equivalent of a shrug. After a moment, he looked at the houses, and the fires swirled to a stop, dying as he commanded it.

"Wow," Venus said, then looked at Ken. "Gomen nasai, about the Barbie thing."

He snorted.

Then, they broke into a wild babble as they caught up with each other.

"Okay, so you were trapped in a big hole."

Makoto was leaning up against a tree, arms folded as she watched her friends. What Rei had told them in the last few minutes was incredible, and the fact that Ken had somehow...done something...to keep her alive though the lava seemed unbelievable. Yet at the same time, how could they not believe it? Two massive dragons were uncomfortably curled up around them, the large trees of the forest making it awkward for their large bodies. Their horses were oddly comfortable with the creatures' presence. Rei was sitting on Ken's back, legs crossed at the ankles as she looked down, and Ami had taken to leaning lightly against the curve of Lagu's forearm, Minako standing a few feet away, cornflower blue eyes switching between the three other senshi as they spoke, Makoto doing the majority of the questioning, since Minako was still trying to figure something out, and Ami was still distracted by 'her' dragon.

"That's putting it a little bluntly, Mako-chan, but yeah, I was in a big hole."

"Well, at least you're all right."

There was suddenly a loud sound, and they all recognized what it was. Though this time, they were confused. The person usually making that particular noise wasn't there. After all, Usagi's stomach growled like a freight train when she was hungry. This wasn't exactly quieter, but Usagi wasn't there.

It was Rei looking sheepish.

"Ah, at risk of sounding a little too much like Usagi-chan, can we please, please go get some food? I'm starving!"

Makoto laughed, "Sure, Rei-chan," she went to her saddlebags, and fished around for the food they had brought. Rei ripped it out of Makoto's hands, and instantly began stuffing her face. "Rei-chan! Slow down! You'll choke to death!"

Rei continued to stuff her face.

Makoto sighed, too used to this with Usagi.

Finally, Minako asked, "We'll get plenty of food when we get back to Ansur Castle. And we need to get going. It won't take people long to figure out their homes are safe again...more or less," she looked through the veil of trees, where the indistinct forms of the remaining houses huddled. Minako sighed, wishing they had been faster. "What I want to know is how we're going to hide Ken and Lagu. I mean, having dragons around is going to catch someone's attention. They're not exactly something people will miss easily...if they're two of the Crystal Points, then....ack!" Minako's speech was cut off in a startled jump as Ken and Lagu exchanged a glance, and suddenly began to waver, fire and water flickering over their bodies as they shifted shape.

Wide eyed, Rei watched this, and Ami lifted her arm up into the air, as though waiting for a bird to light on her forearm. And, after a moment, something did settle there. A tiny version of Lagu, in miniature. She rustled her wings, settling them tightly against her back, and preened again, curling her sharp little claws around Ami's wrist. "Lagu-chan? What did you...."

"Ken-chan? What the...?"

The fire dragon was settling himself around Rei's shoulders, and snapped at the bread in her hands, stealing a chunk for himself. Greedily, he gobbled it down, then got comfortable, closing his eyes and settling in for a nap. Ami was watching Lagu do the same around her neck, burying her nose into Ami's shoulder.

Minako blinked a few times, staring. "Well, that settles that. At least they'll be easy to carry around...." She went to her horse, taking the reins and swinging up into the saddle. "We need to get going, if we plan on making it back to Ansur by nightfall."

"Hai," they agreed, and Rei joined Makoto on her horse, swinging up behind her.

Makoto asked a final question. "Why can't we ride on them?"

From just behind her ear, she heard Ken snort again, and Rei replied for him, "Ken-chan says that your question is stupid."

"Hey!" Makoto snapped, twisting around to glare at the little dragon. "How is that stupid?"

He just turned his head away, and closed his eyes again.

"Mako-chan," Ami interrupted, "Lagu-chan says that even though they are big, it is not very safe, since there isn't much room in the best place to ride. She also says that Ken-chan is a dipshit, and not to listen to him and his stuck-up attitude."

That, of course, brought three astounded stares at the two water elements, and caused Ken to hiss angrily at them as he bristled on Rei's neck, glaring at Lagu, who was serenely dozing on Ami's neck. "Nani? Lagu-chan said it, not me."

"Sure, Ami-chan," Minako grinned, "sure...."

"Nani? Really!"

"Uh-huh."

"Hai! Honto!" Really!

Minako shook her head, and turned back to the road. "Come on, minna. Let's get going. At least now, we know what we're looking for."

Dragons.

The fact that he had lost troubled him, but the message in his hand was what pushed him over the edge. With a furious roar, he overturned the table before him, and the messenger stumbled out of the tent, terrified that he would be killed for delivering the bad news.

"Oh, do calm yourself, Caradoc, your tantrums are most unattractive."

The man called Caradoc turned at the sound of the silky voice, eyes falling on the lithe figure that had positioned herself on his empty bed. She was smiling at him out of her liquid brown eyes, so dark they seemed more black than any other color, with oversized irises that allowed little space for whiteness around them. Faintly, she yawned, then straightened herself out on the bed, bronze skin gleaming in the tiny firelights of the lamps around his tent. Standing, long, straight white hair fell past her knees, and whisps curled delicately into her face. Heavy bronze bands decorated her wrists and ankles, a chime on one ringing softly as she stepped forward. A black dress, straight and high collared, unadorned, clung to her, and she peered up at him, smiling. "You only need to destroy one of the Points. There are two more left."

"You're forgiving."

"Mm?" She smiled a little wider, then flipped a loose lock of hair from her face. "Those girls have to be inept. They're children. You're not." She slipped her hands around his waist, and leaned into him, sighing as she turned around to look up at the map pinned to the cloth wall of the tent. "It's said they're not even from this world."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. Interesting, isn't it? Now, tell me what got you so upset," she drew away from his embrace, running a hand over the map a moment, tracing the path he had charted from the south. "Must be something important," she eyed the overturned table, "or else you wouldn't be so mad."

"Aurora is still alive."

Her white eyebrows lifted fractionally, and she let her gaze settle on him, the damp armor from his earlier dunk in the lake still on. She lifted a hand, fingers splayed, and the water evaporated. Black hair now dry, Caradoc began to remove his armor, while his visitor sat herself on a traveling trunk, watching him do so with a wry sense of humor. "Want some help?"

"Are you staying?"

"Not tonight."

He said nothing, but pulled a fresh tunic on, a red, birdlike pattern stitched to the front of it. Twisting the length of his hair back into a club at his neck, then glanced at her again. She sighed as though in great despair, and told him, "It doesn't matter. She's irrelevant, since she's not one of the princesses."

"It would be best if she were dead. I don't want that alliance."

"Whyever not?"

His eyes narrowed. "Don't play games. You know why."

"So you're just going to kill her?" She examined her fingernails idly. "Seems a waste of time to me. You should be searching for those Sailor Whoevers. Pretty speeches they made. I am Sailor Daeva, and I will punish you!" She mimicked, posing, arms in position. Moving over on the trunk, she waited for Caradoc to sit beside her. When he turned and began to shift though a travel bag, she frowned, but her face lit when he presented to her a pink seashell, carved delicately into a butterfly comb.

"For me?" His answer was to sweep it up into her hair, the left side being pinned back neatly. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

He leaned downward, arms on either side of her, pressing his face close. "Where are the other two Points?"

Primly, Daeva closed her eyes, shying away from him and slipping out of his grasp. "Oh, go chase your Princess. I'll keep an eye out for those newcomers," she spun away from him, teasingly, and with a wink, opened the flap of the tent, the brightness outside making her silhouette a dark spot in the light. "They couldn't have gone very far, my silver eyed love."

With a smile, she slipped out the door, and the spicy scent of exotic fragrance swirled invisibly in the air behind her. And, for a moment, if one of his men had seen him, they would have seen what Caradoc used an illusion to hide.

A pair of bright, sparkling silver eyes.

Twirling in the mirror, a fully gowned Aino Minako laughed, hands holding out the folds of the fabric, watching the pale olive shades fly outward. She turned, examining her back, and the thin line of decorative buttons that ran down it. A heavy golden belt studded with topaz hung below her waist, the end trailing past her knees. Highly styled, it was a cotehardie, lowly cut. The dressing room was filled with the sounds of the talking senshi and Princess Aurora, preparing for the oncoming visit. The room was circular, and a large, round mirror stood against one wall, an array of cosmetics in rainbow colors laying before it on a dresser. Minako smoothed the folds of the silk, straightening the wide, daffodil-yellow collar that fell around the low edge of the neckline. "Minna, how do I look?"

"That one suits you, Minako," Rory commented from where she watched at the doorway. "I'm glad you like it."

"Hai!" returning to the mirror, Minako took up a brush, and began to pile her hair onto her head. She wanted to keep the red bow, but since this was a formal occasion, all of her hair would be up in it. Within moments, Minako's hair was swept into it, the ribbon ends of the bow hanging long down her neck, which was graced by a opal collar.

Rory shook her head, watching the group. The transformation seemed miraculous, though she felt she shouldn't have been surprised. She had only seen them in travel gear, and usually trail worn or tired. Of them, only Makoto was still in a robe, and was scurrying to grab her things to change. "Every year they have me try out a new wardrobe. I never wear half of the dresses made. I'm just glad the seamstresses were able to alter them for you in time."

"Arigatou, Rory-hime," Ami thanked her, sweeping a pale blue line of eyeshadow over her eyelids. "They are very pretty."

It had been two days since they had reunited, returning to Ansur castle. Between the fact that Rei wasn't feeling very well after spending too much time at Ken's lair, and the fact that they were all very tired, they decided to spend a little time resting before heading out. They had planned to leave that morning, but last night word had come.

The king of the South was coming, to become betrothed to Princess Aurora.

Of course, staying for the ceremony wasn't even an option.

It would be another season before the marriage itself, but apparently this had been in the works for some time, and now it would become official. Rory didn't exactly seem thrilled, but as she had told them earlier, "I haven't seen him since I was about nine. I don't even know him. It's duty, that's all."

With the onset of this knowledge, came, of course, the infernal question of, "What are we going to wear?"

Rory had been extremely helpful, showing them her extensive wardrobe. It didn't seem like she had many female friends, and only Ami really commented on how odd that seemed. Usually, princesses had ladies-in-waiting, companions. When Ami had quietly asked Rory about this, she had stared blankly, as though not knowing what the blue haired girl meant. Ami felt constant confusion over the hodgepodge of medieval tendencies of these people. Even now, the clothing she wore was distinctly medieval, and in her guess, fourteenth century. Yet apparently they had never heard of a wimple. It was strange. Not that Ami wanted to wear a scarf on her head.

Of them, Ami had chosen the dress she had thought most elegant. Like the other dresses, it was in what Rory called the 'latest fashion', revealing the moulding of her neck and bare shoulders. Unlike Minako's long, full sleeves, Ami's were straight, and cuffed over her knuckles. The dress was silver, with white embroidery in fleur-de-lis, a delicate silver broach on the center of her chest, and delicately scrolled ornaments on each sleeve, a ocean blue sapphire in the center of each. She had been careful, with the illusion on her hair. Long ago, she had seen a beautiful picture of a medieval woman, her hair braided around her head and fixed with a coronet. Ami had mimicked this, though the coronet was a plain one.

She felt Makoto stumble past, gown gathered up into her arms as she headed for the changing room. Minako had done Mako's hair, which was out of the typical ponytail, and instead braided into two loops at the base of her head, tied off with an oversized evergreen bow, floppy. Into the knot of it, Minako had placed three, freshly bloomed camellia. "I'll be right back, minna!" Makoto was exclaiming as she hurried, shutting the door behind her.

"Minako-chan, move over, I want to see!" Rei moved into the center of the mirror, much to Minako's irritation. Rei nodded at her reflection as Minako glowered, going to check her make up again.

"I'd better get going," Rory sighed, sounding tired. "It's my betrothal, after all. Father will be furious if I'm not dressed...."

"Ja ne, Rory-hime!" Minako called as Rory turned away, then suddenly shrieked as face power suddenly went shooting up in clouds around her, the mica in it glittering in the candlelight around them. She leapt back, waving her hands in the dust to clear it, sneezing as it got up her nose. "Rei-chan!"

"Ken-chan! What are you doing?"

Trying to see what it is you females like so much about the shiny powder. I do not like it. It is stupid.

The little dragon tried to pull himself into a more venerable position as he thought this at Rei, but since he was still sitting on the compact, and was covered in glittering face powder, he was somewhat unsuccessful, since Rory and Ami had begun to giggle while Rei picked him up, brushing him off with a towel on the counter.

From where she lay curled up, Lagu cracked an eyelid, watching the humor with a distant smile, then stretched her wings, coming to land on Ami's shoulder.

He only thinks that because he was clumsy.

Ami stifled another giggle at the dragonet's comment.

Rory, though, oblivious to the mental speaking, laughed, "Rei, those are some interesting pets you have with you. Where did you find them?"

"Ah...." Rei stammered, trying to think quickly, laughing though her nervousness. "Ever since I was little, I had these two pets. It was always kind of strange."

Of course, Rory couldn't know that Rei had suddenly switched to speaking of Phobos and Deimos, but the deception was there, and it satisfied Rory. When not three, but four girls had returned to Ansur, it had seemed a bit odd, but since Rory trusted Minako and Makoto, it wasn't hard to take in Ami, then Rei. They promised they wouldn't be bringing back any more friends. King Boreas had paid the four newcomers little attention, and it was mostly Rory who was responsible for their staying, though Balan seemed to give the most orders about their rooms and necessities...like soap.

One of the things Ami would ever be grateful for was the fact that the people of Emania bathed a lot more than medieval Europeans.

It also seemed that Rory did not know of their origin, other than what Minako and Makoto had told her when they had met. What seemed even stranger was that Balan hadn't told her what he had figured out. It was a rare occasion not to see the two together about the castle, and usually visited at the same time. Balan was, indeed, her bodyguard, as well as a friend and fellow noble. The senshi had discussed it, but had come to no conclusions as to why Balan wouldn't say anything. Makoto had guessed that perhaps he thought it best if Rory either figured it out for herself, or they told her. Either way, it didn't matter.

Wiping laughter tears from her eyes at Ken-chan's agitated noises at Rei, who was still cleaning his scales off, Rory turned. "Like I said, I'd better go. I'll see you at the ball."

"Ja ne, Rory-hime," Ami told her, and Lagu made a small, chirping sound, flicking her fishlike tail as she looked at the princess. And with that, Rory was gone, the sound of the heavy door pulling to a close as she left.

There was a chorus from Rei and Minako, Minako taking over for Rei as she dusted the powder off her dress. Rei, too, wore a cotehardie, off shoulder and allowing the length of her neck and shoulders to show. Rei had chosen a deep violet dress, and it had wide, turned back sleeves, trailing down, nearly to the length of the golden cordlike belt at her hips. It was of velvet, the edges trimmed with white ermine, falling in long folds down onto the floor, crumpling neatly into an elegant pile behind her. Rei, like Ami, wore ornaments on each sleeve and in the center of the neckline, though hers were golden, set with a blood red ruby, from Rory's personal collection.

"What should I do with my hair?"

Ami looked over at the spaces not yet covered with face powder, and Ken snorted, shaking the last of it off his back, and flapping his wings to clear the air.

You would look prettiest if you wore it up.

"Ken-chan says I should put it up."

"Ah!" Minako exclaimed, picking a tortise-shell comb out of the dust, polishing it off. "Here, Rei-chan!"

Rei frowned a minute into the mirror, then swept her hair up into a ponytail, pinning it in place and letting most of her hair hang back like a waterfall. Then she centered the fan of the comb. The layered shades picked up the hints of color in her eyes and dress, playing between green and purple. After a moment, Rei decided, "I like it."

"Hai, it is very nice, Rei-chan," Ami told her as Minako went and knocked on Makoto's door.

"Mako-chan! Did you fall into the toilet or something?"

"Baka! This isn't a bathroom!" Came the muffled reply from the other side of the door. "These people need to invent zippers!"

"Having trouble with the underwear?"

"Minako-chan, it's called a 'corset.'" Ami provided.

"Okay..." then, to the door, Minako shouted, "With your corset?!"

"No! Just give me a minute!"

"I wish we had a camera," Rei sighed, taking a seat beside one of the heavy candelabras around the room. Ken settled himself on her lap, and curled up happily as Rei began to fasten heavy earrings into her ears. "Usagi-chan would just curl up and die if she saw these outfits!" Then, more quietly, "She would have liked that pink one we saw."

There were somber nods of agreement from Ami and Minako. Even though there were four of them now, alive and well, it just wasn't the same without Usagi.

Then a knock came at the door.

Broken out of their momentary silence, Minako went to answer it. She vanished from the room. Rory had set them up with a set of apartments, and they were in the most closetlike of these. After a moment, they could hear Minako happily exclaiming, "Balan-kun!" as the young man entered. He, like they, was decked out for the upcoming ball. It was already early evening, the sun setting, and the light could be seen though the doorway on the floor. His clothes were fairly modest for the occasion, the dark green sleeves not very loose, and buttoned. A cord was worn high on his waist to tie it off, pale yellow. The elegance of it was in the mantle, also a deep shade of green, and worn about his shoulders, dark fur at the collar, and draped over both arms, casually.

He was smiling. "I see you ladies are ready," still looking around the room, he settled his gaze on the closed door. "Makoto still dressing?"

"Hai...."

But Ami's reply was cut off as Makoto came bursting out the door, shouting, "I'm ready, I'm rea...dy." She realized that Balan was there, and smiled at him. "Konbanwa."

He bowed politely, looking at her.

Makoto was the only one who had selected a dress in her senshi shade, a deep emerald green damask, and like the others, off the shoulder, though bordered in gold trim. Her gown was long sleeved and trimmed with ermine over the shoulders, touching in the front and bending back over her hips as the folds of her gown fell to the floor, pooling at her slippered feet. To accent her long neck, she had chosen a necklace of heavy gold, tiny emeralds inset into each link.

Minako's face appeared behind Balan, grinning demonically as she looked at how Makoto was reacting to Balan's presence. It wasn't hard to figure out what she was scheming up for her friend.

"I thought I would ask to escort you, dame Makoto. If that's all right with your friends." Wryly, he turned and looked at Minako, who was caught in the middle of her hand-rubbing evil-plotting look.

"Ah, Balan-kun, of course it's all right! Go! Go! Take her away!" Minako slipped inside the room and began to shove a startled Makoto after Balan. "Go! We'll meet you there, Mako-chan!" As Minako continued to push them out of the dressing room, they entered the main room, and with Minako's hurrying, shoved the pair out the front door. "Have fun! We'll see you! Ja ne!"

Minako slammed the door shut, then leaned up against it. "Okay, count to ten for a head start. You two up to some stalking of Mako-chan?"

Rei was grinning in anticipation, and Ami was shaking her head. The two dragonets glided into the room, settling onto the shoulders of Ami and Rei.

Ami, why does the Minako one want to 'stalk' your friend?

"Because she wants to set Mako-chan up with Balan, I think."

"Obviously!" Minako exclaimed. "Oh, wait, were you talking to Lagu-chan?"

"Hai."

"Oh. Well, it's time. Let's go!"

Minako flung the door open, and saw the shadows of Makoto and Balan turning the corner. "Ahhh...minna! She's on his arm! The goddess of Love must never rest, even when in a whole different universe! Come on!"

Minako and Rei began to creep down the open air hallway, Ami walking behind them, sighing.

"Hurry, Rei-chan! Ami-chan! We'll loose them!"

Minako was leading the way down the halls, and eventually they flowed into the stream of people dressed in riotous colors, donning silk and damask, furs and feathers, gold and silver in a fireworks display of clothing. These were the nobility of the Northland, and they displayed the finery of their textile weaving to their fullest extent.

The stream of people became a river, then a flood as they reached the high doors of the ballroom, and Minako tried jumping to see over the heads of the people in front of them, occasionally glimpsing Makoto's head slightly above the others. They passed the arch of the doorway, two armored knights on either side, polearms extended.

And when the three senshi stepped onto the platform at the top of the steps, they breathed in a deep sigh of amazement, since this grand ballroom was unrivaled in exceptional beauty.

Their eyes turned in different directions, and they became stones in the flood of people, taking in their surroundings with awe. High overhead arched a dome, the ceiling, the walls, all of crystal clear glass, the panes massive and shining in the newly dawning starlight. To one side, the valley below the castle was visible, the thick greenery of healthy plants tainted by the faint curls of darker shadows. On a cloudless night such as this, filled with the light of what was now three moons, the ballroom radiated brilliance, the warm, golden light of candles dancing on the delicate chandelier above them, catching the light in tiny reflective prisms. From these crystals, rainbows in miniature fell onto the shoulders of those below, streaking skin and clothing in multi-colored hues. Smooth, polished white marble lay underfoot, and the simple feeling of purity filled the room with a quiet dignity.

"Even red carpet...." Minako whispered, eyes at last coming to her feet. Down the grand staircase a lush crimson carpet had been rolled, satin and rippling, ending upon a small dais to what was the forefront of the spherical ballroom.

Softly, Ami's eyes watched her hand, turning it over and looking at the stripes of rainbow that fell there. "Like a fairy tale."

It is very pretty, isn't it?

"Hai...." Ami responded to her dragon.

"We should go down, minna," Rei told them, and tapped their arms, the first to come out of their wonderment. They descended the steps, still with their eyes wide, trying to keep up with the crowd.

"Do you see them?" Minako asked, standing on her tiptoes, trying to split her time between staring at the beauty of the ballroom, and spying on Makoto. "There are so many people! I can't believe this...."

"Rory-hime is going to have a grand entrance, isn't she?" Rei murmured to herself, and also to Ken, who was draped elegantly over her bare shoulder. They weren't the only guests with 'familiars' along. As Rei turned, she saw a grey cat in the arms of a man, and what appeared to be an owlet on the hand of an elderly woman. For the most part, the three girls were swallowed up in the splendor of the place and occasion.

"Ah! Rei-chan! Look! I found Mako-chan!"

Rolling her eyes, Rei sighed. "Wouldn't you rather find someone for yourself, Minako-chan?"

"Hai! But I'm waiting for the royals to come in! Never underestimate the power of Aino Minako! I'll get one of the royals to fall in love with me, and then I'll really be a princess!"

"You already are, baka," Rei reminded her as Minako wistfully dreamed about dozens of handsome men attending her as a queen. "Let's get closer to the dais, so we can see."

"But...."

"Minako-chan!"

"Hai...."

They left their vantage point, wandering among the nobility. From one side of the ballroom, an orchestra played a slow waltz from a slightly raised platform, violin strings singing into the warm air, spiraling as harps poured out their own symphony. Closer to the orchestra, there was a slight space from all the people, and the three senshi settled themselves into the clearing, the blooming lilies surrounding the musicians adding sweet smells.

"Wine, milady?" A serving girl in a plain black dress bobbed a quick curtsy before them, holding a tray of crimson, blush and white champagnes.

"Hai," Minako began, reaching for a fluted glass, but Rei grabbed her wrist.

"No, thank you."

The maid paused as the blonde and the raven haired one glared at each other, then shrugged, going to offer the drinks to others.

"Nani? Rei-chan!"

"We're not old enough to-"

"This isn't Tokyo! We can do whatever we want!"

"Hai," Rei agreed sarcastically, "it's not, and wouldn't it just be grand if you got drunk and blabbed to everyone?"

"Minako-chan, Rei-chan is right," Ami interjected, prying her two friends apart. "Besides, this is going to be a long night. There's plenty of food over there. Look," she gestured behind her, at a table laden with food and bright candles. "we can live without drinking, ne? Besides, we need to keep it down."

The two senshi blinked at the crowd, and a couple of faces turned away from them, faint looks of disdain apparent. "Hai," Rei agreed. "not princesses yet, but we need to act that way, especially here."

Two nods of agreement came.

Makoto looked at Balan, and then at their arms, hers linked though his. It was strange, really. She wasn't used to having to look up so much at people.

"Everything all right?"

"Hai," she agreed after a moment, fighting a blush. He unnerved her, but she liked it. "Doesn't look at all like senpai...."

"Huh?"

"Ah?" Makoto tried to cover it, laughing nervously. "Nothing! I just wondered when Rory-hime would be arriving?"

He thought about this for a moment, sending a tight lipped glance up at the staircase. They had positioned themselves closer to the dais across from it, where three thrones had been placed. The heraldry of the North had been draped, the blue and white of the unicorn standard hanging in a heavy curtain behind the chairs. Flowers decorated this place, too, sweet smelling.

"Soon," he told her, and the hardness in his voice made her turn in question.

"What is it?"

Balan's frowned deepened, his eyebrows drawing together, and he guided her a few steps further from the main bulk of the people. "Boreas thinks only of his own kingdom, and nothing of his daughter. I don't like it."

Makoto considered this a moment, then replied, "But isn't that the duty of a ruler? The kingdom before personal gain?"

He looked down at her, and felt a little of the hardness melt with the phrase. It must be a strange place she came from, he decided, if she could sound so innocent of court intrigues. "Maybe."

As he finished speaking, there was a stir at the back of the crowd, and they turned to watch Princess Aurora appear at the top of the stairs, her father escorting her, her hand set lightly on top of his.

Each wore the palest of blue, trimmed in golden shades. The king's broad shoulders let his robes hang down in neat folds, the sleeves buttoned at the wrists. He wore a mantle, fur lined with ermine and hanging down low to the floor behind him. The light colors seemed unnatural against his greying hair, still mostly dark, his beard waving down, though not touching his chest. He wore the crown casually, a heavy object of worked platinum, inlaid with sapphires and diamonds.

Aurora, too, wore a crown, though hers was more delicate, and with a single, prismic stone to the center. Over her hair she had placed a fine white veil, covering the length of her unbound hair, trailing to the floor in gauzy ripples. She wore a silk cyclas, a robe without sleeves, a train streaming out behind her, the unicorn embroidered into the base. The silk itself was brocaded in the shapes of delicate flower stems, the blooms on the ends shadowy in the paleness of the gown.

The dress was breathtaking, and Rory did seem to be suffocating.

A page stood beside them, and his young voice echoed over the murmurings of the people below. "His Royal Highness, King Boreas of the North, and his daughter, the Crown Princess Aurora!"

Silently they descended, and the muted mutterings of the people ceased as they bowed low, the ladies curtsying fully. The carpet was cleared of people, and Makoto watched them draw closer from under the fringes of her bangs. She heard the rustle of their clothing as they ascended the step to the dais, and stood, waiting. Turning slightly, she tried to follow Balan's example, remaining down since the royals were still standing. Her legs began to ache from the unaccustomed strain of the awkward position.

Across the floor, before the silent symphony, Rei, Minako and Ami also curtsied, their dresses pooling around them in swaths of fabric. Only the dragonets, still on their mistresses shoulders, kept their heads perked up, observant.

Rei, I sense a presence I do not like.

Unable to speak, Rei kept her lips sealed, but began to stretch out, probing the space. Both she and Ken had been around Rory and the king, though the king only distantly. Her lips drew thin as she concentrated.

Again, from the top of the stairs, the page announced, "His Royal Highness, King Caradoc of the South!"

With a blare of trumpets, the man atop the steps took in the sea of people below. He, too, was dressed with the finery of a king, heavy fur lined cloak and a jeweled, ceremonial sword at his belt. He wore dark colors, the crest of his country, the crimson, swirled figure of the phoenix, on a black field. Hair pulled into a neat tail behind him, he solemnly descended the blood red steps, and slowly, he joined his fellow nobles.

Rei felt the blood drain from her face, and she sensed that Ken, too, knew. Quickly, she glanced at Ami, who was staring at the floor, blinking rapidly as she thought. Within a moment, the blue haired senshi met Rei's eyes. That was enough to confirm it.

Tapping Lagu's nose, Ami gestured for her dragonet to leave, and Rei imitated her, the sudden departure of the two dragons enough to make Minako look at them quizzically. Quickly, she lipped, "Nan ja?" and her response was an abrupt looking away from the other two. Picking up that something was wrong, Minako bent her head, keeping up the facade. Whatever it was, she would be told soon enough.

"Rise," came the word from Boreas, and the assembly stood, heads lifting and voices growing silent as they waited expectantly for their king to continue. "For long, we have kept ourselves held separate from the other kingdoms, as they from us. Constant border raids, sniping attacks along trade routes. For as long as there has been memory, this has been the way of things. It has only been though the wisdom of our ancestors that the lands of Emania have never warred. I hope to continue their wisdom, though in a new way. An alliance, bonded by marriage to the South. My heiress, Aurora, to the King of Southland, Caradoc!"

As he spoke these last lines, he took the hand of his daughter, and placed it within the palm of the Southern king. With this action, the ballroom broke into applause, and the orchestra behind them took up their cue, the stringed instruments letting loose a light and happy song, as though to summon good wishings for the couple. On the dais, they turned, Boreas still standing between and behind them, his face filled with satisfaction.

Ami and Rei stepped backward, watching Caradoc's eyes sweep the room. They did not focus on their area, and it provided enough time for the three girls to slip away into the shadows on a balcony beyond the glass. Their exit was unnoticed, since most of the gentles had moved forward, to better see or greet their future rulers.

"Minna, what is it?" Minako hissed softly as they drew into the furthest corner. It was dim there, though golden light still warmed the air around them. "What's wrong?"

"Ami-chan, you sensed it too?"

"Hai, Lagu-chan told me."

"Ken-chan."

"Hai...."

"What did they tell you?" Minako demanded, and made a startled movement as two slender forms glided by her shoulders, and onto the upraised hands of Ami and Rei. They kept the dragonets down, and their backs to the ballroom. It took a moment, but Rei replied to her, "That was the man at the lake, the one who wore his helm down, and ordered the youma there. He was after Lagu."

Minako absorbed this quickly, glancing over their shoulders. "You're sure?"

"Hai," came the immediate response.

"Shimatta! What is he doing here?"

"I don't know," Ami whispered, biting her lip. "He's the King of the South! How can that be? And if he's in control of the demon armies, why is he marrying Rory-hime?"

"It doesn't make sense."

It makes very much sense, if he hides something. Too many conflicting emotions revolve around him. I do not know why. Yet.

"Ami-chan, you're the strategist. Do you think he's going to attack Ansur? Should we tell the king? Or Rory-hime?"

Shaking her head, Ami tried to think straight. What would she do, in his situation? Several different ideas swam in her mind, but she quickly rejected the idea that he was there to attack. An army would be easily noticed this close to the castle, with the clearing of trees for crops. No, he would not need to attack Ansur. What were his motives? With prior experience, Ami guessed it was world domination. But that didn't really seem to fit. A land of infinite shadows, since there were infinite shades of grey. Goblin armies clash, and he led them. Yet he also stood in the next room, now betrothed to a friend. "He's after Rory-hime," she concluded.

"Nani? Are you sure?"

Her confusion was apparent on her face. "No, I'm not...but that's all that would make sense. If he's the enemy, and there's no army, why would he be here? A trick? Gain with alliance with what he couldn't gain by force? He he wants Emania...I mean, that's my assumption...this would unite two of the kingdoms, ne?" When the other two quickly agreed, Ami continued, "he wouldn't have to fight. But that wouldn't require the presence of an army in the North. And an army that size to take that tiny village? If summoning Lagu was his intent..." she broke off.

"Nani?"

Ami's eyes grew wide as a few puzzle pieces fell into place. Slowly, her hands crept up to her mouth, and she whispered, "Oh gods..." remembering Caitlyn's words. 'Many of us think we should just destroy the Crystal Points. They're afraid the priestesses will use that power to seal us away, as well.' "Minna...he's going to try to destroy the Points. That's it. He couldn't care less about this alliance. It's just a show."

"Then why...."

Now it was Minako's eyes that lit as she thought back to how they met. "That attack on Rory-hime that day we met...maybe that wasn't all an accident. What better way to keep himself from being noticed than marry Rory-hime? And if she were to die at the hands of a youma...."

"Then who would dare suspect him?" Rei finished, catching on to the train of thought of the other two. "We'd better get Mako-chan, before he sees her."

"Do you think he'll recognize us?" Ami asked, clutching Lagu-chan tightly. "We were henshined, but still.... He used magic at the lake. And if he sees Lagu in miniature...."

"Either way, we have to get out tonight," Rei decided. "And not give him the chance."

"We're taking Rory-hime with us," Minako interjected into this, hands in fists.

The other two stared at the second in command of the senshi, eyes wide. "Minako-chan..." Rei began, then let her head fall. "Hai. You're right. If her life's in danger...."

"We'd help her, the same as we'd help Usagi-chan."

Minako smiled faintly at her friends. "Good. We'll have to get to her though. And get Mako-chan out of there."

"I can get to Rory-hime, I think," Ami told them quietly as they turned to look though the panes of glass. There were guards that stood around the dais, security to keep too many people from pressing too close. "I think it may work."

"Nani?"

Ami took a deep breath to clear her lungs and her body from nerves. This would be a test of her newfound skill. She set Lagu-chan down, and the watery dragonet looked up at her mistress with liquid eyes. After a quick glance to see that no one watched, she let out the air, and held her hands over her face. Within a moment, the faint mirage of water flowed over her, and Rei and Minako took a nervous step back as Ami's image altered subtly. Her hair became a burnished gold, and two dumplings formed on top of her head, though only stubby tails fell from them. The fine bone structure of her face melted and reformed, becoming familiar, and strange. Also, her clothes took on the same shade of those of the serving women, basic black.

"Do I look like Usagi-chan?" Ami asked nervously. Her replies were astonished blinks, then "Hai," in agreement. "I just hope I can keep it up....I haven't had to maintain it long before."

"Then we'll do what we can to help!" Minako exclaimed, an idea forming in her head. "Let's meet back in our rooms after we get Rory-hime. It probably isn't the best idea to let her roam around. Ja ne!" With a smile, she began to head back to the ballroom, where men and women now twirled in a quick dance, men lifting the women from their feet and spinning them around, only to create new lines. They clapped as they began a new turn, pacing around their partners. "I have an idea. Give me five minutes!"

With that, she gathered up her skirts, and rushed off.

Ami and Rei stood there.

"She's going to make a baka of herself, isn't she?"

"Ah, Rei-chan, let her try. I just hope I can get to Rory-hime."

"I'll find Mako-chan." Rei appraised Ami's illusion. "You sure do look like Usagi-chan."

"I just hope I can be as clumsy! Ja ne, Rei-chan."

We will go to the room as well. It is not good for us to be close by.

Rei watched the dragonets leap up into the air, small wings beating hard as they gained height. And Ami's back vanished into the tide of people.

"Who can tell me, if we have heaven,

who can say the way it should be...."

Very gently the words drifted on the currents of wind, and as Makoto felt Balan's arm around her waist, she exhaled, letting herself go in the moment. It had only taken her a moment, to learn the steps of the dance, quickly watching the other guests. Bow and curtsy, take a hand, then draw close and spin away. Clap your hands. Vaguely, Makoto remembered having seen a movie, where they danced something called a Volta. Where? It didn't matter. That's what it felt like, elegant and light.

"A new moon leads me to

woods of dreams and I follow.

A new world waits for me;

my dream, my way."

As they danced, the senshi spread out, and there were glimpses of the. Rei standing on her toes, trying to peer over the pirouetting bodies, flashes of velvet and silk. And as Makoto clapped her hands in the air, Ami slipped into the kitchens with another girl, the extra set of hands unnoticed, though glad to be had.

"I know that if I have heaven

there is nothing to desire.

Rain and river, a world of wonder

may be paradise to me."

Upon the dais, the princess did her best to smile. She politely did as she knew was best, keeping up appearances. Quickly though, she cast a glance out over the swirling crowd, and spotted the slight ring that separated Balan and Makoto. To be happy, like that, with the man now across from her? She looked at him, and couldn't warm to the feelings she wished she had.

"I see the sun...

I see the stars...."

Minako looked up at the orchestra, and settled herself. This was going to be interesting. From where she stood, she saw Rei wriggle her way into the crowd, and as the song died away, she could pick out their friend. Looking quickly at the dais, she waited to see some sign of Ami. Still nothing, though she kept an eye on the Southern King. Caradoc, she reminded herself. He had a name now. Still no Ami, and he was scanning the crowd, eyes settling on what Rory was looking at. Makoto and Balan.

She decided not to let him have the chance to recognize.

"Konbanwa, minna-sama!" she shouted loudly, leaping up before the orchestra, shining brightly. Well, she decided, she always wanted to be an idol. She certainly had enough people staring at her now. Smiling, she waved at everyone. "I hope you don't mind the interruption! No, I have not been hitting the sake! I just wanted to thank everyone for being so kind to a stranger in a strange land. And I, Aino Minako, saw this in a movie once, and always wanted to try it! But since I don't know all the words to 'Johnny-Be-Good' I'm going to try this. Hope you like it!"

Her audience was still in shock, and she turned to the orchestra, and whispered, "Just try to keep up, okay?"

There were blinks.

"Good enough. Please dear god, let this work."

She returned to the crowd, which was beginning to stir, and she saw the knights, none smiling, coming forward.

"Kanashimi ga ima seeraa sumairu

Kiseki wo okosu no seeraa uingu

Dare datte kagayaku hoshi wo motsu

Makenai! Ashita e seeraa eeru

Zettai! Tsukamaeru! Seeraa sutaa

Kono chikai todoke ginga made..."

It wasn't exactly the movie reaction, but the beat caught on as Minako sang, and once again they danced, the rainbow prisms flying over their faces, slowing any advance from security. And since no one was exactly minding Minako's singing, they stopped, slightly bewildered, looking to the royals for guidance. Caradoc and Boreas were staring in astonishment at the singer, but Rory turned and waved them off, smiling and shaking her head.

"Anata ga kieta sono toki kara

Sagashi tsuzukeru tabi ga hajimatta

Kiban da chizu ni wa sutenshiru no tenshi no e

Yubisasu saki wa daaku na koroseumu ga matteru

Furueru mune ni wa ano hi no himitsu no kisu

Donna ni tsurai sadame de mo

Oitsuzukeru kara..."

Makoto was shaking her head as she and Balan angled their way out of the dance floor. The sea of people were catching onto the beat, and twirling faster. "What is she thinking?"

"I have no idea."

"Mako-chan! Mako-chan!" Rei emerged from the crowd, slipping her way along, dress held up before her as she hurried. She glanced at Balan furtively. "Ah...heh heh! Balan-kun! I need to talk to Mako-chan," her voice dropped a little lower, "Ima." Now.

"Hai..." she looked at Rei oddly, then at Minako, who was now really getting into it, belting out the lines as the crowd gained enthusiasm. "Balan-kun, I'll find you in a little bit...."

"Isogi, Mako-chan!"

Startled at Rei's constant use of Japanese, and the urgency in her voice, she whispered, worriedly, "Henshin yo?"

"Iie. Isogi. Wakarimasu ka?" No. Hurry up. Do you understand?

"Hai," then, to a confused Balan, "I've got to go. I'm sorry," she bowed slightly, and backed away with Rei.

"Koukai wa shinai seeraa aizu

Anata ni tsuiteku seeraa uingu

Kono uta wa hoshi no michishirube

Makenai! Ashita e seeraa eeru

Zettai! Mitsukeru yo! Seeraa sutaa

Tenshi no hane de tobitatsu no..."

Ami hurried along. Minako was singing, for the love of god. She expected her to do something rash, but that, of course, defeated the purpose of her illusion. If they wanted to keep themselves out of Caradoc's sight, then that wasn't the best way to go about it. Ami heaved a sigh, and looked at the tray of glasses in her hands. She was balancing it cautiously, hurrying. Five steps away, four, three. She was at the dais. "Milady Princess Aurora!" Ami called, trying to mimic Usagi's tone and way of carrying herself. "I brought you wi...." Ami ended it in a sharp shriek, which she cut off abruptly, trying not to get the attention away from Minako. As Ami planned, she flung herself forward at the last moment, as though tripping, sending the entire tray over one of the guards, and sending the alcohol spraying over the nearest royal.

"Ack!" Rory batted at her wet sleeves, and brushed at her dress. "What...?"

The deep crimson of the darkest red wine contrasted starkly with the pale blue of the gown. Any princess worth her salt wouldn't be wearing it much longer. And Rory was no exception.

Roughly, hands grabbed at Ami's shoulders, hauling her up to her feet. "I'm...I'm..." Ami burst into tears, years of working with Usagi paying off. "...sorry! It was an accident! I just wanted to help...I'm so sorry!" Ami began to bawl, making hiccuping sobs. For such a quiet person, it was becoming rather fun to be so...theatrical. She continued the hysterics until Rory pushed her way though, hands open and consoling. "Oh, Princess! I'm so sorry!"

"It's all right...here."

Rory stayed back, but the hands released her. She kept up the waterworks, aware there were eyes on her. Oh, if the Oscars could see this....

"Get that servant out of our sight," Boreas intoned, his frown deepening. There were murmurs of, "Yes, your majesty."

"Aurora," Caradoc asked, voice low, "did she hurt you?"

"No, of course not. She's a serving girl, not an assassin. I have plenty of dresses. I'll take a guard, and go...."

"Princess!" Ami flung herself to her knees, breaking the hold of the guards as they began to haul her away, and praying this would work. "Please, let me atone for my mistake, and let me escort you to your room!"

Rory looked at Ami amusedly, smiling faintly as Caradoc frowned, glaring down at her. "Don't tell me you're going to take her with you," he snapped as Rory gestured for the guards to step away.

"Daughter, a true person of noble birth does not consort with stupid servants."

Ami's head snapped up. It was so rare that she was called 'stupid' she couldn't remember the last time it had happened. Maybe it never had. But she automatically replied to the king, "A true noble is one with a noble heart, not noble blood."

Then, she bit her lip, cowering, since Boreas had turned his attention on her fully. Ami heard a low noise rumbling above her, and she peered upward through her lashes, and was startled to see Boreas actually laughing. Some of the thick lines in his face were around his mouth, proof that at least once he had a sense of humor, and she had somehow made him laugh.

"A servant who studies philosophy? What is your name?"

She thought fast. Japanese names didn't sound like others here. So, stammering, Ami replied, "Serena."

Why that name, she had no clue, but it was the first to pop into her head.

Whatever.

"I will see more of you, Serena. Go, daughter, and make yourself appropriate again."

"Father. Milord."

"Hitori de hashiru mishiranu michi

Yatto tadoritsuita kono toride ni

Furasuko no soko anata ga nokoshite itta

Shiren no hoshi no hitokakera saa jumon wo tonaeyou

Kore wa futari no mirakuru na sadame

Kako mo mirai mo tobikoete oitsuite miseru..."

Minako leapt around the stage, seeing Makoto and Rei moving away from Balan, and then within moments, Ami appear, her tray flying straight into a guard, the glasses shooting up into the air and landing all over Rory. Silently, Minako cheered, and continued, watching Ami and Rory speak with Boreas and Caradoc for a moment. Then, Boreas laughed, saying something as Minako drew up to the final verse. Rory and Ami were off, slipping away though a side door behind the dais.

"aa aizu

Kiseki wo okosu no seeraa uingu

Dare datte unmei no hoshi wo motsu

Makenai! Ashita e seeraa eeru

Zettai! Tsukamaeru! Seeraa sutaa

Kono chikai todoke ginga made...!"

As she drew the song to a close, Minako saw Balan head over towards her. She took a deep breath, bowing as the crowd applauded wildly.

Down the hallways they walked, Rory two paces ahead of Ami, who was busily thinking of the best way to pull her aside. Empty, the halls of Ansur seemed even larger than when they were full, as though the joy of life left them hollow, despite their riches. They were drawing closer to Rory's set of apartments, in the safest area of the castle, its center. A few steps, and Ami reached out, tapping her shoulder, "Rory-hime? Gomen nasai, but I must speak with you."

"What?" Rory whirled around, open mouthed at the oddly foreign words spilling from 'Serena's' mouth. Only four people the princess knew used such odd words. "Who...."

Ami looked around, licking her lips in nervousness, then stepped to the side, gently pulling Rory along with her, by the wrist. "Don't be afraid, please, Rory-hime. I don't mean to frighten you." With that, Ami let out a relieved sigh. The strain of the illusion had formed a sheen of sweat over her forehead. Hopefully, she looked up into Rory's eyes, waiting for a reaction. After a moment, a tinge of fear formed in Rory's face, though she fought it, only half stepping away, and not calling for help.

"You're silver eyed."

"Iie! No! I'm not...gomen nasai, please, Rory-hime, you must believe me. I'm not. Minako-chan and Mako-chan...they saved you, and you saw them look differently in their henshin...they haven't hurt you. If anything, we want to help. Please, believe me."

"You all can do such things?"

"No...I mean, I don't know.... Please, there is no time to explain. Do you trust us? As friends?"

Conflicting emotions wavered over the face of the Northern Princess, taking in the intense face of Ami. "Yes," she said after a moment. "Yes, I do."

Ami's shoulders sagged in relief. If Rory had said no, she would have been lost as to what to do. She couldn't kidnap her, and leaving her there was out of the question. "Then please come. We'll explain on the way."

"Way where?" Rory asked, puzzled as Ami led her away.

"We don't know yet. We just have to get out of here. We have good reason to believe your life is in danger."

"What?" Rory nearly laughed, bewildered. There was no war. Other than forces from beyond the Seal, there was no reason to believe she was in any danger. "From whom?"

Ami only placed a finger to her lips, and Rory, intrigued, followed, letting her curiosity get the best of her. Within moments, they had slipped further along the empty corridors. Everyone was at the ball, guards included, except for those at the intersections of the corridors, and those on the walls outside. She tapped three times on the door, and it was flung open by Makoto a moment later, Rei stumbling into the room as she shoved her feet into boots.

"Makoto, what is going on? Ami is talking about some conspiracy against me!" Rory was already slipping into disbelief, and she was beginning to wonder if this was some kind of practical joke, which she was simply not getting. Blinking, she found herself with an armload of clothing. "What is going on? Travel clothes?"

"Rory-hime, that man in the ballroom, the Caradoc one," Makoto told her, face very hard, "Rei-chan told me what she and Ami-chan saw.... Rory-chan, he tried to kill us. At the lake, when we met up with Rei-chan. He's in control of the creatures from beyond the Seal."

Rory stared.

Then she laughed.

"Makoto, that really isn't funny. Caradoc? He's king of the South. I have no idea why you would think...."

As she began to say this, the figure of Ken came gliding into the room, Lagu walking, peering around the corner of the doorway. Then, seeing Ami, she beat herself into the air, coming to join her, as Ken had Rei. "Rory-hime," Rei told her, holding Ken close, the little dragon watching the princess out of fiery eyes. "Ken-chan and Lagu-chan...."

The princess looked at Rei, then the creature she held in her arms. Then at the watery one, in Ami's hands. Standing by Rei, Ami took her place, and the two sets of dragonet eyes blinked at the royal one, staring evenly and calmly. Two little jewels, like colored crystals, in their foreheads. Rory felt a ripple of magic murmur though the room, and a tingling sensation as though her hair stood on end. And for one who carried no magic in her veins, this surprised her very much.

"They're...what you've been looking for, aren't they? Crystal....Points...." she breathed the words softly, so faintly that it could barely be heard. "You...but how?"

There came another knock at the door before she could be answered, and Makoto moved again to open it, hoping for Minako, but ready if not. She relaxed again, as it proved to be not only Minako, but Balan. The door swung to a heavy close behind them as they entered, Minako looking embarrassed, Balan grim.

"Don't get mad at her," he said, referring to Minako. "I saw the Princess leaving, and after Makoto left with Rei so fast, I figured something was wrong. What is it?"

"Balan, do you know what those are?" Rory asked him, looking at the dragonets in wonder.

He didn't react much, looking at the creatures, who returned his blue gaze evenly. "I can hazard a good guess, considering the way you put it."

"Balan-kun, did Minako-chan tell you what's going on?"

"No."

Makoto frowned. "We can't stay here. The greater head start, the better."

"Hai," came the replies.

"We'll explain on the way," Minako told the confused pair. "Please, you must trust us. I know you don't understand who we are, or where we come from, but..."

"Actually," Makoto murmured to her, "Balan does."

"Nani? Mako-chan! You told...!"

"No! He guessed it...sort of."

"Sort of! Mako-chan!"

"Minako-chan! Mako-chan!" Ami interrupted, "it doesn't matter." She looked at the two of them. "They'll both be coming anyway."

"Hai," Rei agreed, stepping forward. "We need to get moving. Ami-chan, get some clothes. Rory-hime, get into that outfit Mako-chan gave you...we've wasted too much time already. Let's get going."

"Why are we leaving?" Balan demanded from the girls, looking irritated for having missed so much.

"Balan, it's all right. I trust them," Rory consoled, heading with Ami to get her things together. "I'll tell you as we go. I think. Grab some coins. We'll need money, wherever we go. We'll get horses, and meet you in the stable."

"Yes, milady," he bowed, taking this as an order. Then he looked at Makoto. "Keep an eye on her while I'm gone."

"Hai," she told him warmly, winking. "Don't worry, we have lots of experience watching princesses."

Balan was caught between being confused and smiling back, but at further urging, he left, hurrying. Money. Horses. Crystal Points and dragons. Sounded like Rory would get to have the adventure she always wanted. Never had she enjoyed the filial duties of being a princess. This was the escape she always wanted, a last moment rescue from what she thought a nightmarish future as a queen. Into the nearly empty hallways, Balan, future lord of Boreal, ran.

If Rory was going, so was he.

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

erupts into a wild dance of joy

I GOT IT DONE!!!! YAY!!!! I ACTUALLY FINISHED THIS CHAPTER!!! God, I've written whole STORIES this long. On my font and word processor, it's 27 pages. falls over I can't believe this... How is it? I am slaving over this fic, so I hope you are enjoying it. Don't get me wrong, it's a good kind of slaving...I'm having so much fun. I have about one scene left in my head before I am clueless again. Rough ideas, but not very much.

Long chapter, long babble.

Okay! Information about those dragon names! When Rei says 'Ken' means 'torch' she means it literally. Both Ken and Lagu are named after runestones. 'Ken' does indeed mean 'torch'. Lagu, as you can probably guess, means 'water.' The ken stone is associated with the planet Mars, and fits Rei best, as does the lagu stone for Ami. All of the Points will be named for runes. (You'll have to wait to see which, though. ^_~)

Hm. What else? There was more...'Ansur' is also a runic symbol.

Oh! Of course. I knew I was forgetting something, even though I'm listening to it right now...duh. The songs in the ballroom scene. The song in english is from Enya's 'The Memory of Trees' cd, and as I've said before, it's sorta the soundtrack for 'Crystal Points.' The song is called 'China Roses,' and it's exceptionally beautiful.

I had so much fun coming up with the dresses they wore at the ball. So pretty, at least in my mind's eye. face gets all starry-dreamy Hey, I'm a female, gimme a break, will ya?

The movie with the song 'Johnny Be Good' in it that Minako refers to before she starts to sing is 'Back to the Future' with Michael J. Fox... As for the song she's singing, that's the lyrics for the Sailor Stars theme. The 5th season has a different opening song than 'Moonlight Densetsu.' I got those lyrics off Lyric Moon. (Beautiful lyrics, too!) I'm getting to see Stars right now!!! I have so little access to the anime, and it's awesome. I have no cable. (So no Cartoon Network) I love the manga....but now I really am rambling. I'll let you go read other fics now. Hope you're enjoying this so far!

And don't forget to sign a review! Or e-mail! I appreciate it!

Ja, until next storytime!

-Queen