Okay, I'm nearly done. I'm pretty certain most of you have been finding it slow going so far, sorry about that. I needed to get the characters in the right places and things should get a little more interesting now.
Okay, the end of this fic is nearly here and it's time for people to start thinking of things they think need to happen in the last one and/or things they might like to happen. Trust me, suggestions are a good thing, someone just recently asked me to put in a cameo of two of her favourite characters from another anime and it gave me a brainstorm that has saved me. I cannot say this enough, suggestions, criticism, responses are desired, no, lusted for. I might not end up using them but I can guarantee that they'll help me write.
By the way, thank you to those who have been reviewing or emailing and happy birthday to Tasie.
Draegyn
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The Guardians of Selene: 8
The three generals battled with a silence more deadly than their threats could ever have been. Nightmare after nightmare fell to their soundless skill and that quiet was only growing as the troubles became more and more drawn out. Tuxedo Mask furiously fried another of the hairy, slavering things that attempted to menace him and swore venomously. Where the destruction of his opponent had been soundless his words were not and the virulent oaths echoed down the empty streets. At some unknown signal the city's inhabitants had made themselves scarce long before sunset. In fact Tux hadn't any living creature in over three hours. Dreams did not count… certainly not after they had met up with him and his friends
It had been hours since they had left his apartment, hours since the outer scouts had split up from the men and hours since they had been due to join up. They hadn't appeared though and the nightmares hadn't stopped appearing. Tux didn't know about his companions but he was starting to get a little irritable.
He wanted to be done with the endless fighting. It was getting monotonous and he, for one, was thoroughly sick of it.
He wanted that damnable itch at the back of his skull to go away, if it didn't, then whichever miserable country on the other side of the world that was causing it was going to get a wake up call.
He wanted to be back with Serena. That was the crux of the matter. He knew his already limited time with her was vanishing like mist in the morning and he was missing it!
Where the Hell was Uranus and Neptune? And if those bloody Europeans didn't calm down and get out of his head then he was going to do something drastic, probably involving a great number of strategically applied frogs' legs.
***
Had the interdiction of the Lord of Dream not stood then there might have been some humans who had the ability to see it. Had the interdiction of Selene not stood then there may have been off-worlders who could have sensed it. Yet both bans did exist and so none were able to feel the magic that was infusing the ancient house of God as the servants of another worked their will. And by the time that any Terran creature had started to realise that something was happening it was too late. Notre-Dame was awake.
Every living creature has a soul, right down the least significant bacteria and right up to the greatest of creatures. As those with the greater form of empathy know, the largest and most complex mortal soul is that of a planet. Now Earth's soul had just been provided with an avenue to express itself.
At first only the tourists noticed the strange brightness in the rose windows where the patterns began to shine. The colours sparkled brighter than the early morning sun could account for.
Then a woman praying before the statue of the Virgin cried aloud, not in fear but in rapture. The marble features where no longer cold and stiff but warm and fluid and the newly opened eyes of the relic shone brightly as crimson tears rolled down pale cheeks. People went to investigate and found the woman crying while the statue laid a tender hand upon her bent head. The woman's tears were not of fear but of joy as her simple faith was confirmed and her upturned universe was turned right. Pride's spell upon her had been broken and her spirit was once more bright as she discarded hubris in place of honest humility.
It was almost instantaneous after that. Dark clouds gathered over Paris and thunder rumbled in anticipation of the coming battle. The gargoyles mantled and roared their defiance. The glowing windows flashed and shone incandescently so that their glory danced in the sky. The holy figures came to life and caused believers and sceptics alike to fall to their knees.
And then the bells began to ring.
One minute the only overt sign of significance was the living statue and then 'Our Lady' sang.
***
The spirit of Terra inhabited Notre-Dame and it was not pleased. Not even the spears of Kaos could corrupt such a soul and their attempts to do so to its children were not appreciated. Terra took the opportunity to make that displeasure known and, against their will, the Terrans within reach answered their Lady's call.
Three Lunarians looked down from the dizzying heights that the spires reached to. Gradually the people of Paris gathered before the cathedral and not only the human people. Thousands of birds of all species flocked to the slate roof. Cats writhed their way up the various edges while dogs and even a few horses milled among the humans. All the while the bells tolled.
Their sensitive ears caught the continuous chanting that came from inside the church as statues of holy men of the past condemned the people of the present. Living monks joined them and soon the bells were accompanied by the united voice of those who had clawed away the lies of Sin.
*It is working,* Artemis stated and glanced at his prince. The younger male's attention was on the crowd below, magically gauging their mood and the influence that Pride had on them. He nodded without turning to look at Artemis but Luna's mate did not mind and had expected no more under the circumstances.
Reika, on the other hand, turned away from the mass below them and sighed. *It's almost time for the next stage.*
That did make Tranquillity look away from the crowd below them. His eyes were worried but he did not ask if she was sure she wanted to go on and Artemis hid a small smile. The young female might not have been a warrior but she possess a sense of responsibility every bit as strong as either of the males and a determination to match it.
"Well then," Tranquillity eventually said aloud in their native language. "I guess you two should prepare."
Artemis did not need the prompting. Before the young prince had spoken a word the Lunarian man was moulding an illusion around himself, an illusion that was actually based on the prince. Not many of his natural features were obscured. In fact the most extensive of the cosmetic changes was the concealment of the crescent insignia that all of Selene's guardians bore on their brows. The true purpose of the illusion was to make his iridescent wings look like the mighty limbs of a snow-white hawk.
Reika took only moments to construct a similar illusion and Tranquillity needed to do no more than hide his crescent god-mark. Yet despite the illusions they only passingly resembled humans. Their kin in the Silver Keep would have no doubt as to their origin, strange wings or no, but to those whom they would shortly reveal themselves the Lunarians' very difference would only reinforce the impression that they hoped to give.
Artemis gave each of his former pupils a brief glance and nodded in approval. He smiled crookedly when he caught himself doing it. He might have taught them but that was centuries ago and there was no doubt that they had surpassed his knowledge in this particular area long since.
Tranquillity and Reika merely smiled at him. They, too, felt the pull of old patterns but that was all they were, old patterns that had been outgrown. Without regret, Artemis retreated back into his role as adviser and allowed Tranquillity to don the mantle of authority that was rightfully his.
The blonde Lunarian did not need to verify that they all knew what was required of them, nor did he need to banish any illusions of the coming battle. All that Tranquillity needed to say was, "Mikonniuru de ja Firuscyen."
Speaker bless us.
Artemis smiled slightly one last time, for if the current Speaker would bless their endeavour his heir most certainly would not. Then tension eradicated any traces of humour. He dismissed any and all distractions from his mind and stepped with his fellow Lunarians to the edge of the roof. The Law of Selene be damned, that day her own guardians were going to break it.
***
"What are these things?!" Zoisite snarled at Nephrite. "Well, oh mighty seer? What do the stars tell you about them?"
Tux started to snap at the younger man but was distracted by another furry nightmare.
Nephrite growled something back but Tuxedo Mask was unable to hear the response over the panting of the three monsters that he was grappling with. Whatever that reply was, by the time Tux had beheaded one monster and incinerated a second the two generals had become embroiled in an argument with each other. By the time he managed to impale the third and final nightmare with a flurry of roses the two were almost brawling.
Tux's temper snapped and with a thought he blasted the pair of generals with a wave of force. Luckily the three nightmares that had cornered the dark haired warrior were the last of that particular group and there was nothing to threaten the two dazed generals where they laid on the road, stunned.
Tux knew that his expression was dark and he knew that his glare most likely could have shattered glass but at that moment he did not give a damn. The pair of clowns that were supposedly his allies had left him to face three large and dangerous beasts on his own while they squabbled. Oh sure, he had beaten them but that wasn't the point. The point was that they had let him down and Tux was not happy. When he saw that they would be unable to rise for a couple more minutes Tux did make an attempt to regain his equilibrium but was interrupted before he had managed to count to three.
"What?!" he snarled into the small communicator that each reincarnate, in America or not, possessed.
Jadeite's own face looked more than a little irritated when it appeared on the tiny screen. "What's biting your butt, Capeboy?" the blonde sneered.
The caped man in question opened his mouth to reply scathingly but stopped and took a deep breath instead. He reined his temper with a will of iron and, though his grasp was tentative, he managed to talk calmly. "Where are Uranus and Neptune," he bit out.
Jade scowled and the image on the communicator spun until it focused on two unconscious women. "They're taking a nap," the distant general commented snidely. "But then again, they're Sailor Brats so what did you expect? You should know by now never to send a woman to do a man's job!"
"What happened?" Tux demanded harshly. Some of his anger escaped his control but more was replaced with concern. What on Earth could have taken the two women, one of them his cousin, out without his knowledge?
Jade's face reappeared and he rolled his eyes sarcastically. "How am I supposed to know? You're the big shot. You figure it out. Genius my…" his last comment trailed off into an incomprehensible mutter.
Tux felt his nostrils flare and his power coil as his anger transcended into flat-out rage. His vision went red and a visible halo of power surrounded him. Not too far from him Neph and Zoi's wits returned in a panicked rush as every survival instinct they possessed warned them of the danger that was building in Tux's dark form. Even Jade seemed to realise that he'd pushed Tux too far and his image paled.
In the manner that had become his way, his demeanour became almost casual as anger was channelled for maximum effectiveness. So, despite his burning fury, Tux's words were frostbitten steel. "Think about it, Jade. What kind of nightmare could take out two of the more powerful human adepts ever born? What might we still have to face? Now unless you relish the thought of being its next victim you will haul your flabby backside into gear and start looking for answers."
Jadeite wasn't given the chance to answer. Tux terminated the connection as soon as the last word had left his lips. He turned to face the two generals who had managed to regain their feet. Zoisite's face was pale as was Nephrite's and neither man displayed any hint of their former animosity. Instead all they seemed to feel was anxiety and fear to such an extent that Nephrite was unconsciously standing in front of the younger general to shield him from their ally.
Tux examined the pair coldly. "What are you doing?" he asked in a quiet, clipped voice.
Nephrite held up both hands palm out. "Now calm down Darien. Let some of that anger cool off. We don't want anyone hurt."
Tuxedo Mask opened his mouth to reprimand the use of his civilian name when Nephrite's words caught up with him in a rush. The red faded from his vision and in disbelief he held his hands in front of his face. Crimson flames with slight flickers of gold were dying away even as a cold rush of realisation swept through him.
Anger.
Yet again he had been manipulated by one of the enemy and his gorge began to rise once more. He almost welcomed the renewed surge of fury until he remembered that righteous or not it would only serve the enemy's purpose for him to give in to it. He took a deep, cleansing breath and let it out slowly. Painstakingly he wrestled his growing ire into submission. There was no way that he could banish it from his mind for, as Luna had said, such emotions were a fundamental part of every living being. So, with the same determination that he had used to balk Lust two nights before, he crushed the flaw in his mentality mercilessly. It would always be there but never would he allow it to control him.
He turned back to his two friends. The smile he gave them was his old, cool, reserved quirk of the lips. "It's okay," he assured them, "I'm back to normal."
"You…" Zoisite trailed off, still nervous from the fright of almost being killed by one of his two role models.
Tux bowed his head in apology. "The spell is broken and I will not fall prey to it again." He looked up at them and met the teen's hazel eyes openly. "I'm sorry Zack, I should not have lost control the way I did."
He wouldn't be surprised if his relationship with the boy was permanently damaged. He loathed the thought but he could not help but think that he had just behave very similar to the way Beryl must have. Anger at himself, at Beryl and at the spear who had brought the problem about roused but once more Tux crushed ruthlessly. He must be calm. He must be… what was the opposite of anger? Oh… serene. At the thought his chest loosened and his heart rate slowed. He knew it was impossible but it was almost as if she was with him and that, if nothing else, made him decide to fight for life in another matter. Still, the man in his dreams was not an immediate priority and the situation here was.
"There was a spell?" Zoisite had clutched at the explanation. Tux winced internally. He wanted to be forgiven but not if it was because his friend was blinded by hero-worship. He didn't need to say anything though. Nephrite did it for him.
"A spell?" the brunette man's tone was blatantly sceptical, his memories of Beryl obviously running through his head. For a moment Tux thought that the trust he had built with the men was irretrievably lost but then Nephrite frowned and said thoughtfully, "That's actually very likely." He looked at Tux with a wry expression. "Zoi and I always argue yet never like that. I think I would have killed him."
Zoisite opened his mouth to argue but Tux shook his head and held up a hand. "The spell's not gone," he warned, "I can still feel it beating at my mind. Sheer self-preservation knocked you out of the cycle but now there's nothing to stop you falling back in aside from your own self-discipline. Don't get angry." He waited a moment to make sure that the pair took him seriously and then he changed the subject.
"Okay, we need to get to Jade. The girls have been knocked out and he had no idea of what did it."
The trio became all business once more and seconds later Tux was leading them to where their friends were. It was nearly ten minutes later when they perched side-by-side on a ledge four storeys above the ground.
"Oh dear," Nephrite murmured mildly.
Tux wondered if verbalising a few select phrases would be giving in to Anger. Below them Neptune and Uranus were sprawled on the cement in the same position Jadeite had shown him via his communicator. That was not a good thing but it was not unexpected. What was a surprise was the site of Jadeite collapsed two meters away from them.
Innate caution caused him to stay in place when both Neph and Zoi recklessly jumped down aid their friends and that innate caution was the only thing that saved him from joining them in unconsciousness as well. The sight of five of his friends helpless almost let his anger slip its leash but he studiously ignored the emotion that was growing more attractive with each moment.
He studied the situation for a moment. Whatever the problem was it was not one of the normal, run of the mill nightmares that he had been fighting up until then. He could of course hope that whatever it was his greater magical strength would stop it –not the wisest decision he could make. He could call for Kian to bring Serena down to have a look at it.
"Not bloody likely!" he muttered emphatically, his voice surprising him in the surrounding silence. There was no conceivable way that even the devil himself could persuade him to call Serena out of safety when there was every indication that Anger was nearby. He only hoped that Luna had picked up on it as well. For a moment he froze in horror when he remembered that Kian, despite his emotionless façade, was as vulnerable to Anger as any human. His fear was quickly overwhelmed by derision. If a Sin could make Kian lose his temper with Serenity, whom Tux fervently believed deserved her name, with him then they were all doomed anyway.
That of course left him with one option and not one that previous experience had given him any cause to look forward to. Reluctantly he wedged himself next to a drain and started to look inside of himself. It didn't take long for him to find the magic that he needed. Almost like it had known he would need it so soon after the last time his clairvoyance surged into action.
It was a little worrying for the reincarnate when he saw that his friends were flickering in and out of existence much the way that the dreams did to his strange other-sight. What was more worrying was the gaping hole in reality that seemed to be swallowing them. The thing that took the cake for the beleaguered man was the sight of the same dark stranger who was going to take the most precious part of Tux's life away looming over his friends.
His hold on his temper slipped, only a little but just enough for him to forget prudence.
His bellow split the night before he had even pulled himself out of his nook. "Get away from them you-"
Dark eyes looked up and the young human was unconscious before he had the chance to finish his sentence.
***
Luna's feline body was comfortably curled up on a cushion at Serena's side but prudently with no contact between their forms. The Stars only knew what would happen should anything of Luna's thoughts seep in to the Guardian's mind. Luna shuddered at the thought and then resolutely focused on the city in which her spirit had travelled to.
It seemed to be a typical European city, no different from any other that Luna had learned of in her visit. The mixture of modern and historical architecture made for an interesting afternoon should she ever have the luxury of a holiday and the Eiffel Tower was remarkable, if a little inelegant for the Lunarian's taste. Still that was not why she was there.
Her mind flew over the sprawling mass of buildings, absently noting that humans could stand to learn a few lessons in space management, and soon reach its destination. She was very careful to ensure that all of her mental shields were in place and not only was to hide what was happening from Serena. A hint of her mental presence would no doubt distract her mate and Luna would not risk that in such perilous conditions.
Even as she rechecked her shields she felt the spell that had been building come to a climax. The sky was so dark with clouds that it looked closer to midnight than midmorning and yet all of the people of Paris had gathered, from the smallest mouse to the horse that had escaped from the knackery only hours before. For blocks around the streets were congested by the people who had been called, not by the spell but by the Lady herself.
Notre-Dame.
Suddenly the clamour of bells and the distant chanting of monks ceased. A great void was left and its size was such that the crowd fell mute. Even tens of millions of souls were unable to fill the quiet and so they did not try. The silence was one that Luna would never have imagined that she could experience on Earth. It was the silence of the depths of space. The silence of a dead world.
When Luna herself could no longer stand the stillness the clouds above the old cathedral parted and a brilliant beam of sunlight engulfed building. Then the silence was broken. A single note rang across the crowd, through Paris and beyond, into the French countryside. Another joined that single note and then a third and final note sounded before the trumpeter put down her horn, its purpose ended.
At that moment Luna would have to have been mind-deaf to have not known what the humans around her were thinking and it was exactly what her mate had wanted them to believe. Atop the tallest spire of Notre-Dame three figures, illuminated by that single beam, surveyed their audience. The distance between them and the people on the ground should have made them impossible to discern yet, through magic or simple belief, their every detail was apparent.
It did not matter what religion the humans around were or that those who weren't human did not have a religion at all. Feathered wings of untainted white adorned their backs, purity radiated from their every feature and purpose in their every movement. God's angels had come to speak His will.
The slightest of the figures was female yet such beauty had never before graced a woman's face. Golden-brown hair danced in the air around her head, a natural halo to frame a face set with unfathomable amber eyes. She perched below her companions with the silver horn cradled in her arms. Her expression was cool and any who saw it knew of the steel sheathed within her velvet exterior. She was the Herald who demanded instant attendance.
The second figure was that of a warrior born. His pitiless green orbs held endless compassion but not a drop of mercy. The unsheathed sword he leaned against, much the way another man would a cane, was all deadly promise… as was the figure himself. He was the avenger who meted out final justice.
The last figure put both of his companions to shame. He was all golden splendour, such that he appeared to be one with the sunlight. Only his glorious sapphire gaze allowed the mortals below to distinguish him from the light he was a part of. His companions were awe-inspiring but there was no doubt that they were merely his servants. He was the prince of God's angels himself and his were the words of God.
Slowly, then in a rush of movement, the mortals of Earth abased themselves before the beings that they knew they could never comprehend.
Luna loathed the need to manipulate souls in such a manner yet she could not deny that spell of Pride was being broken and not by the Lunarians. True the three 'angels of God' were weaving magic liberally but their spells twisted not one mind. The manipulated what mortal eyes perceived, the sound that reached mortal ears, with the aid of Earth herself they moulded the weather to enhance the atmosphere and even intangible scent of Mystery in the air was their doing. Yet each mortal mind, each mortal soul was its own as they attempted to comprehend the incomprehensible... and failed.
In this wake of this ultimate failure the citizens of Paris, human and not, broke free of Sin and remembered humility.
To the distant guardian's relief the worship of her colleagues subtly changed in that moment of mass enlightenment. For the first time in eons a handful of mortal Terran minds saw past the three dimensions. They saw past their cultural expectations and caught a glimpse of Mystery. It was not the ultimate truth that churches had preached to them, nor was it the Answer that past holy men had described. It was the simple promise that there was more in the universe than had ever been described and only one who was above even the gods could know it all.
Luna had to admire her mate and, even more, her prince. For the manner of this display bore his touch throughout it. Using the humans' own beliefs to incite them to break the hold of Pride was a masterstroke that Artemis deserved due praise for. Yet to allow himself to be used by limited mortals as a window into the wider universe was an act of surpassing compassion for which her prince had proved his right to be the future king of Mystery.
She was reminded of the purpose of the strange gathering as her fellow guardians began the next part of their plan.
*SLOTH* The word rang in every mind present, as the voice of the Herald should.
*AVARICE* The Avenger's voice was as undeniable as the sun.
*GLUTTONY*
*ENVY*
*LUST*
*ANGER*
*These are the seven deadly sins* The message of the Herald.
*These are the paths to destruction* The warning of the Avenger.
Then, for the first time the Prince spoke. *AND FIRST AMONG THEM IS PRIDE*
Almost as if it had been scripted before hand a dark mist began to accumulate over the crowd. Weakened by the manner its influence had been utterly reversed, goaded beyond care by the display of its target's allies and challenged outright by a mere guardian, Pride revealed itself. The mist resolved itself into a solid form but not one of any consistency. From second to second its appearance changed.
At first it attempted to win back its human pawns and the power they could provide it but even the distilled essence of the first Sin was unable to equal the humility its enemies inspired. Images to inspire pride danced in the sky but how could conceit and hubris grow in the presence of the Herald, she who was everything that a mortal aspired to?
Then it tried subtlety. Shapes formed that would unobtrusively lead an unsuspecting soul astray but in the face of the Avenger's unbending justice how could trickery prevail?
Finally it attempted terror. Monstrous figures and fearsome promises were revealed in its being. Yet not a single mortal feared. For, humbled by the golden angel's awesome power, they had abjured Pride and while they were under the protection of such a Prince, who could threaten them?
Certainly not Kaos' spear. It reeled from the shock of its failure, opening itself to attack. At this, three angels lifted themselves into the sky and winged into a battle that was far from even.
Luna watched grimly from afar. Pity the abomination.
***
In a spacious apartment in New York a pale haired man watched silently as a young woman and her cat slept. Tenderly he traced the line of her cheek and memorised her features. She was the beloved of his closest friend but that did not stop the rising wave of emotion the formerly icy man felt building. She had healed him and saved him from a life of desolation. How could such a debt ever be paid?
It was strange but if anyone had ever told him that he would feel such warmth towards another human, let alone a woman, he would have dismissed them as a fool. Yet here he was. Here she was.
At first glance she had seemed to be nothing other than a pretty face, just another of the many young women who threw themselves at his friend. Then her strange hairstyle had registered and had marked her, as an individual in her own right but still not particularly special. Then she had laughed and depths had started to unfold in front of him until somehow she had rid him of the pain that had become an ever-present reminder of the past. Even now new facets to her were still revealing themselves as she slept.
It was strange but for the first time in years he felt no superiority to someone who had let himself become dependent upon a female. Instead he felt envious of his friend. It was obvious to the man that her heart had been given to his friend and he would respect that but… what if? Against his will he found himself leaning forward.
He paused for a moment but the sensation of her warm breath against his chin decided him. Lightly he pressed his lips to her mouth.
***
She was floating in Jupiter's orbit when a tingle swept through her along with a rush of foreign emotions that vanished before she could grasp them firmly. She started to pursue the strange, yet friendly, presence that had invaded her but another feeling stopped her cold. She bent double as a sudden rush of anger and fear flooded into the emptiness left by the first stranger. Yet these emotions did not come from an unknown but from one whom had long since claimed a large portion of her heart.
She was so distracted by these foreign emotions that she was unaware of the threat that approached her and then it was too late. In a rash rush of power the bulk of Jupiter shrank but the light of the approaching sun did not replace it. Instead darkness grew and the space around her became viscous as something fought to swallow her. She fought oblivion with the indomitable will that was often overlooked even by those who knew her.
She battled the darkness as unflinchingly as she had those who sought to break her mother's Law but it was as if she were being pounded into an unyielding surface. Her raw power was nowhere near adequate for the task and it was her ethereal nature that eventually succeeded. In the end she simply slipped through a crack.
***
Serenity stumbled and righted herself and looked around in confusion. She could have sworn that she had only been dreaming… the truth hit her like a shock of cold water.
"Mama is going to be upset with me," she muttered quietly as she examined her surroundings ruefully.
She sighed, flipped her wings into a more comfortable position and wondered whom she was fooling. If Morpheus did not kill her then Luna would do her in and Selene would not even get a look in. Somehow she had allowed her spirit to wander when she had been explicitly informed that she was to remain hidden. What was worse was that she had not only gone mind-walking but that she had managed to do so into a totally different realm!
"I am so dead." She sighed again and then cheered up. Finally she could be of some use to Darien instead of being a dead weight. After all, who better to ask a god if he were invading the Earth than the Guardian of the goddess who protected it?
"And if I'm lucky Luna will even go easy on me because I sorted out the mess," she chirped to a passing pink and purple cloud, furiously ignoring the little voice in her head that told her that she was nuts if she believed that. "Sooo… if I were Morpheus and my realm was getting caught up in another where would I be?" she asked herself.
She shrugged when no answer came to her before picking a random direction. Then she flipped her wings once more and wandered off into Dream.