seTitle: Cold Inferno
Author: Ayrki
Email: ayrki@yahoo.com
Chapter or part: Two~Death (Keep in mind this is part one)
Disclaimer: Not mine. Nope. No way. No matter how much I plead or whine
or beg. Not that I would want it. My own little worlds that I create are
far too much fun for me now!
Author's Notes: Now the fun part. Okay, I call it the Moon Kingdom because
it seems rather odd to refer to a place as an era. I'm sure many of you
have read various stories in which the past incarnations of the senshi have
had different names. Most people tend to use the different forms of the
Goddess of the planets or their abilities (ie: Venus- Aphrodite, Isis,
Inanna, Freya, and, of course, Ishtar). I started out using the 20th
century names because it was just much more convenient for me because for
me choosing names is a very long, time consuming process because they have
to be perfect for me. In the end, however, I did find a way of explaining
it, which you will find in this part.
Okay, I am going to be taking the quick way out in this one. I will be attaching a file (somewhere, sometime) giving a full background on the mythology involved in this story. An understanding of it is not essential by any means as I mostly just based it upon the myths. The main mythology you will find in this story is Babylonian. Since I was little and I first learned of Babylon, I have been entranced and intrigued by it. Only in the last few months have I become to understand how vast the mythology and tales really are. Most of the mythology that I have used in this part is in the telling of the Ishtar myth. What I really took was names of characters and based them on the gods/characters to some degree. The seven tasks that Arica mentions are actually based upon the seven gates of the Underworld that Ishtar encountered when she went to confront Ereshkigal. Instead of having Ishtar lose an article of clothing at each gate I made them into tasks that Jena and Ishtar would have to complete. As much fun as it would have been to have in there, it would totally change the context of this thing!! ( Could have been fun though.
Some of you might wonder why I chose Jena, but I cannot answer why. She just kind of came to be and so she stayed, much like many of my other characters. The ancient elvish is my own and came from my own little fractured mind. I don't know Tolkien's elvish and so I just made my own. And the last bit, my view of Minako has been greatly influenced by Tim Nolan's works, which I greatly recommend to anybody and everybody. That man can write! Anyway, I am ending this now, and hopefully posting and then running off since it is 1 in the bloody morning and I have school. UGH!!! Please drop me a line and tell me what you think of this.
~~~ Death ~~~
Minako waited as Arica closed the hatch and withdrew the boarding ramp. "That's why you came to the Moon, isn't it? To tell us that you would awaken Saturn with or without permission or help," she asked.
Arica sighed, "Unfortunately, yes." The two walked to the cabin where the others sat, waiting for them to depart, "I hoped that it would be with the Queen's blessing, but if not then I would fulfil my mission to awaken Saturn. No matter what."
"How can you do that?" Haruka asked, as Arica sat in the pilot's chair. The Uranian still had a pale look to her, though you had to be looking for it to notice it. "Don't you serve the Queen?"
"I don't serve the Moon Kingdom or Queen Serenity," Arica answered as she began the pre-flight procedures. "That is what people have never fully understood about us; we serve a higher power, we protect all life. Sometimes we are called upon to simply punish the guilty, or to avenge the innocents who are murdered by wars. We come from so much more than any know." She input the commands to lift the ship off. Once in space she set a course for Saturn then turned back to face the others. "Life is made up from four cardinal elements or forces: air, water, earth, and fire; these forces 'pre-date' any deities or gods. We represent these forces, you might call us avatars."
As Arica finished typing in the commands Minako asked, "Who exactly is 'we'?"
Arica looked over at her cousin, "I don't know if it really matters. We serve good and fight for it, that is what counts, right? Besides," she gave a wry smile, "I don't know how much I can tell you, our secrecy is our greatest asset."
"Then didn't making your presence known to us expose you to your enemies?" Ami asked her.
Again Arica smiled, "We figured that the risk was defiantly worth it."
"I suppose so," Minako smiled too, "So, why can't you tell us who 'we' are?"
Arica turned toward her cousin and mock-glared, evading the question she said, "Since we are playing twenty questions and we have a few hours to kill, is there anything else you want to know?"
"What else do you know about the Tryad?" Michiru asked.
"Well, from what we have been able to discover we know that they come from the nearby J'kyln galaxy. In that galaxy there are three inhabitable worlds: Ajin-rourk, Sier-rourk, and Jenn-rourk. Each planet is named for its ruler and each of these rulers are a part of the Tryad. Ajinotuth is a warrior, he makes up the 'brawn' part of the Tryad; he has an unnatural strength and is a ferocious fighter. Siermalky is the mage and makes up the 'brains' of the Tryad; he studied any and all types of magick that he could and is one of the most powerful sorcerers that has ever existed. But of any of the Tryad it is Jennkyra that is the worst; even though Ajinotuth has never been defeated, even though Siermalky is an unmatched magician, Jennkyra is the worst. She is.horrible." The last word came out in a whisper, and Arica silver eyes unfocused as she became lost in thought, or memory.
Minako touch her arm in concern; Arica rarely let things affect her and was always in the best of spirits, even when all seemed lost. "What did she do?" Minako asked, "It had to have been bad, whatever it was."
"She killed me."
"What? How can that be? You are right here with us," Makoto asked incredulously.
Arica shook her head, "Not in this life, in another. The last time she was in our galaxy."
"Oh," the thunder senshi nodded in understanding, they all had memories of past deaths. Some of them were better left forgotten.
"But that wasn't the worst part," she looked up at Minako, "It had to have been seven hundred years ago. No one expected them, hell; we all had our own problems. At that time the Moon Kingdom had just signed a treaty with the elves on Earth, I don't know how much you were taught about that in your studies."
At Minako's nudging Ami spoke up, "We were told that eight and a half centuries ago a rift was created between the humans and the elves on Earth, the Moon was pulled into the dispute because the prince of the Earth was betrothed to the princess of the Moon. At one point the queen of the elves declared that the humans were to never enter elf territory on Earth, save Neptunians and Uranians. Why they were exempt we weren't told."
"The queen was very good friends with the senshi of those planets and felt no wrong had been committed by them, but please, continue."
"Well, one day the queen disappeared, and was presumed dead, in a war against the wraiths that plagued Earth. For the next one hundred years there were many fights between the elves and humans, it began to border on war. Then, unexpectedly, the queen reappeared. She saved the prince of the Earth and Moon princess from the wraiths that had never been vanquished. Many thought that the queen had always hated humans because many humans were afraid of the elven gifts and were always causing problems for them. In fact, she didn't. It was later discovered that many of the problems between the elves and humans had been started by the wraiths to get the humans, specifically Moon Kingdom, and the elves to destroy each other." Ami stopped to take a breath, "Peace came when the prince and princess came to the Moon with the Queen of the elves with a treaty. They defeated the wraiths together and banished them.
Arica considered all that Ami had said before saying, "That is actually a fairly adequate re-telling of the story, some details are missing but that happens through the years. Now you see why the no one expected the Tryad, everyone was concentrating on making the peace work. When they came.everything was lost." Again Arica paused, thinking back upon the past. "Anyway, we fought them as best we could; at that time everyone knew about us. By us, I mean my fellow element guardians and myself; I suppose you could call us 'Elementals.' The senshi, the army's of the galaxy, and us fought together, any past discrepancies were long forgotten; all that mattered was defeating this evil. In the end it had to be Saturn that would save us." Arica looked out the window into the reaches of space, once again lost in memories until Princess Serenity jolted her back to the present with a question.
"So, then you remember all of what happened?"
Quietly, she answered, "As if it were only yesterday."
"Then that is good then, isn't it? I mean, you know a lot about them which is really helpful." She asked, blue eyes shining with hope.
Arica looked at the Princess, her eyes showing centuries of anguish and pain, "There are times that I would give anything to forget that time. I don't know if retaining my memories of the past will be of any good, so far all it has done is just make it worse." She paused for a moment before sheepishly smiling and pushing a lock of golden hair out of her face, "I'm sorry, talking about this has dredged up some rather painful memories. Knowing about the Tryad will help us to defeat them, it won't make it easy but it is better than knowing nothing."
"I suppose remembering your own death would be pretty painful," Rei said with a bit of a smile. "I know that I hate remembering any of mine."
Minako watched her cousin closely; she hadn't told the complete story, she could tell. A moment later Minako figured it out, "You lost someone, didn't you? That's why it is painful to remember, isn't it?"
Arica shook her head and grinned at her cousin, "I have never fully been able to get one over on you, have I?"
"Nope; never have, never will."
Sobering, Arica said, "Yeah, I lost someone very close to me. Jennkyra tortured and killed them in front of me; only then did she finally kill me. Not that it really mattered, I was gone anyway." Minako and a few of the others frowned in slight confusion. "The person that Jennkyra murdered was my soul mate."
"Oh," Minako now understood, the loss of a soul mate was something that you could never fully recover from.
"Yeah."
"So, that is why she was rather unfriendly toward you before," Ami observed.
Arica grinned mischievously, "Weeelllll, that's because Jennkyra realized a little too late why exactly she had us. You see, we allowed ourselves to be caught as a distraction so that Saturn was awakened to reset the cycle. We knew that we would die either way, I just didn't think that Jennkyra was so bloody vindictive."
"What do you mean?" Makoto asked.
"Well, I caused her a few problems, in the initial assault I kind of.well, I killed her lover and she didn't take it too well. Since then she, uh, has had it in for me," Arica again gave a sheepish smile.
"Well, she did seem rather. irritated to see you in the ballroom," Haruka said with a laugh, "Now it makes sense."
"Mmm," Arica smiled again.
"So, what was it she called you before she left?" Makoto asked, her curiosity getting the best of her.
Laughing, she replied, "Something very rude. I was taught better manners so I won't repeat it."
"Arica, you've probably come out with far worse!" Minako cried, smacking her cousin. "If you remember you always knew the best curses and taught the rest of us!"
She grinned in return and laughed, "True, very true. Hey, as is, you always asked."
The others couldn't help but smile and laugh at the two cousins; it was also the first time in a long time that the inner senshi and Serenity had seen their friend completely relaxed. The young princess of the Moon watched happily as her friend shot insults and glares at her older cousin, returning to the carefree girl that she had always been. Now it all made sense, six months ago Minako had visited her home planet for her sixteenth birthday, having chosen to spend it with family this year. When she returned there was something different, she was far more serious than before and wasn't as cheerful. During her visit she must have been given the Crescent Sword and been named as the Guardian of Venus, that was why her mood had changed.
As the insult and teasing war died down to a comfortable silence, Serenity chose this time to ask a question that had been on everybody's minds, "Would you mind telling us more about Ishtar?" she asked quietly.
Minako sobered instantly, she thought for a moment before speaking, "I honestly think it would be better if Ari told the story, she grew up with the legends as a kid and knows them better than I."
"Yes, but you know all of the little details," Arica teased, drawing a blush from Minako who glared in return. "But if you really insist."
"I would prefer it, besides you are an excellent story teller," Minako answered.
"Flattery, my dear Miko, will get you everywhere in the world," Arica said with a grin. "But if I am to tell the legend then I am going to tell the complete one, which will take some time. So, I suggest that we move down to the mess hall and get comfortable. It's down the hall, second to the last door on your right; I'll be there in a moment, I just want to put this thing on full autopilot."
The senshi and princess stood, a few stretching cramped muscles and rubbing still sore injuries. Five minutes later, they all sat on numerous lounges and cushions. Makoto looked over at Minako and said, "You cousin is a lot like you, and is as funny as you said."
Minako smiled, "Yeah, she was always a bit of a trouble maker at times, and always a complete flirt."
"Well, I guess we know where you learned it from then," Rei said with a laugh.
"I can't help it if some guys are just sooo.cute. Besides, like your friend said, you learned rather fast." Arica said walking in to the lounge and dropping into a large, soft chair; she immediately winced in pain, "Ow," she half-moaned and then growled, "Damned creature."
"Ribs still hurting?" Minako asked.
Arica nodded, "So, you want to know about Ishtar?" It wasn't so much a question as it was a statement. "In that case I am going to tell you a legend that I grew up with. Now, Ishtar lived in a time when two of Venus' great races were at war with one another, few people remember that there was ever a great civil war on Venus that claimed many lives. Most don't even believe it because there is little or no trace of it." Arica paused and shifted to get more comfortable in her seat before she began the tale of Ishtar.
"Now every child on Venus is told the story of Ishtar, legendary Champion of the elves and Guardian of Venus. Legends say that Ishtar was a female warrior who was originally an elf princess. When war broke out between the humans on Venus and the elves, her family was killed in an attack on Arulyn, the capitol elf city. Ishtar was only twelve at the time and was shattered, for she lost her dear twin brother; whisked away amid the chaos Ishtar was then raised by Generals and warriors. Learning the arts of war and weapons craft, young Ishtar quickly became the best warrior in the camp, and in time the entire elven force. Her skills in magick and fighting soon became known throughout the elven army.
"Ishtar suddenly found herself in command of the elven army when she was but sixteen when General Tammuz, who had become a surrogate father, was killed. In a brash action motivated by pain and rage, the young queen ordered an immediate attack on the unsuspecting human camps and castle. In the assault all of the royal family but the princess were killed, as a result the fourteen-year-old girl became Queen over night. Young Jena began to hate the elves because of what had happened to her family and people.
"For the next two years war raged on the planet, both sides suffered heavy losses. Few in the galaxy knew what was happening on the windy planet because the other planets were experiencing their own problems and disputes. On the eve of Jena's sixteenth birthday, the princess left the protection of her guard to walk in the peaceful forest in which they were camped out.
"Ishtar, also seeking solitude from her guards and army, took a walk in the very same forest. The two met by a peaceful lake, but when they realized that each was of another race tensions rose. Ishtar and Jena did not fight though; they were both exhausted of the constant fighting and wanted only a break from the endless cycle to think back upon the past six years. They finally introduced themselves as Isis and Inanna. The two talked of how they were fed up of the wars and death; they had begun to form a friendship despite their difference in race when the sounds of a battle broke out. Each gave hasty farewells and rushed off to find out the source of the fighting. When Ishtar reached the makeshift battlefield, she discovered it to be a clash between the elves and humans. She hesitated for a moment before joining a fray; across the field, the human princess did the same.
"The skirmish ended rather quickly when each side realized that it had its ruler; the fight had begun because each leader was missing, and fears had arisen that they may have been kidnapped. As Ishtar and Jena shouted for a retreat they saw each other and realized whom the other truly was.
"After the battle, both were confused and each was unable to expel the other from her thoughts. They realized that they could not hate each other anymore, with this revelation came the one that they were fighting purely for retribution. Yet, each was still pressed by their generals and advisors to keep attacking and to conquer the other.
"During this time, Ishtar drew away from her guards, many times to think on the past and what might become the future. One night, under the stars, Ishtar watched as a tiny object streaked across the night sky. As she watched, it fell deep into the atmosphere, leaving a bright trail in its wake. A bright flash of light signified its impact on the Venusian horizon.
"Ishtar felt unexplainably drawn to the impact site and so she hastily prepared for the journey, compelled by an unseen force; before she departed she told those closest to her that she would return as soon as she could. To reach the impact site she had to travel into the desolate 'Badlands' of Venus. The Badlands of Venus are a reminder of the hellish conditions that were once Venus before the first Serenity came and made each of the planets inhabitable with the ginsuishou. Very close to the image one gets of Hell, the Badlands are a harsh environment for any race with molten rivers and geysers that spat a sulphuric acid and carbon dioxide mix into the atmosphere. Volcanoes erupted regularly and ate away at the rocky terrain, while other geysers of hydrogen were ignited into flames by the lava that ran in rivulets through the sand and rock. In other places columns of fire seemed to reach up towards the heavens, as if from Hell itself. The wind would whip up the loose sand at terrifying speeds; in some storms the sand would strip the flesh off of any unprotected body. People rarely ventured in to the Badlands unless they were searching for something, had nothing to lose, or, as in the years to come, were being tested.
"For days Ishtar scoured the blistering, ashy terrain, searching for any sign of the impact site before she finally found the crater. As she finally approached the crater she discovered the heart of a small comet. Though most comets were composed of ice and rock, this one was of the purest crystal laced with an unrecognisable metal. As she approached the heart she was startled to find no heat radiating from it; hesitating at first, Ishtar reached out and found the rock cool to the touch. Power and energy radiated from the stone, filling the young elven warrior with a peace and comfort that she had not known in many years. 'Why do you call me so?' she asked in a hushed whisper, not expecting an answer.
"All of Ishtar's life she had felt as if she were protected and guided by someone, or something. If she felt lost or confused then this.force would help her. Whatever it was it did not quite talk to her, instead she simply knew where to go or what was right. Some would call it a guardian entity or angel, or some latent ability, or even instinct; whatever it was Ishtar had long since learned to listen and follow it. Soon she came to understand that this rock, this heart of a comet, held an extraordinary power; one that if harnessed, might be able to peacefully restore her planet.
"Now Ishtar knew what to do, she now knew why the crystal object had called her. She would forge a pure and magnificent weapon with which she would free her people and protect them against any evil. The sword would always protect the innocent, human, elf, or otherwise; the sword itself would be incapable of committing any crime or be used for evil. Labouring for many days, Ishtar moved the crystal and followed the path that she felt was right. The elf did not know that it was her brother that guided her in the Badlands, delivering her to her destiny. He lead her deeper in to the Badlands, deeper than any had ever been at least to tell about it, where Ishtar found a massive volcano rising out of the broken ground. Inside of it she found a forge, the fires fuelled by the very core of the planet.
"The forge was archaic and Ishtar did not know how it came to be; she only knew that this where she would forge her weapon: only its fires would be strong enough to make the metal malleable enough to shape. It took many, many days for the fires to melt the comet heart; so many that Ishtar soon lost track of time. Unbeknownst to her, days were becoming weeks and weeks becoming months while she slaved away in the oppressive heat. When the forge was finally hot enough Ishtar melted down the metal laced crystal and began to craft her sword. As she worked she fed her own magick and power in to the blade, intertwining it with the power already present in the crystalline metal.
"On the blade, in ancient elvish, she engraved the words 'Antura ia aruh, mieaka ia kalie, kimah ia jienda: Gemkia e ehakaimika ia lekiah venak. Whaeleu ehd owequ, finteha.' The blade was light, allowing the wielder extremely fast attacks, yet it was strong and resilient. The sword's blade had a blue hue to the edges and always had a feint glow to it. Upon the hilt sat two crystal crescents (back to back) that identify the sword now. On the bottom of the hilt sat an amber coloured stone, whenever an evil presence is nearby the stone shall become clouded as a warning to the wielder.
"The blade of the sword is incredibly sharp, so sharp that the blade is able to separate whatever blocks the blade's path. The sword is able to cut though even the strongest steel, so long as the wielder has the strength of mind and soul (and of course body) to do so. With her new weapon, Ishtar began an intense training sequence to learn how to harness and wield the fearsome blade. Almost a year later, Ishtar finally emerged from the volcanic forge with the sword in a sheath made from mythril, an elven metal so light and so strong that many seek it for weapons, adorned with the finest gems. She trekked back to the elven camp, always knowing where her people where instinctively. There she was startled to find that almost a year had passed and that the forces were readying for a final assault to finish the humans off. Though astonished to see Ishtar again with such a magnificent weapon, Marduk, whom she had left in command, immediately handed leadership back to Ishtar. Before she knew, it the troops were on the march towards the human encampment, back through the Badlands.
"While Ishtar had laboured away in the subterranean forge, the young human princess of Venus left for the Moon where her senshi training was to be completed and where she was sworn in as one of the Queen's elite guard. When the young girl returned to her home she was shocked to see the army preparing to make an attack via the Badlands. Both were exhausted from their journeys and the war, so they simply agreed to the assaults in hopes of finishing the war once and for all.
"When the armies met in the harsh, fiery Badlands they met and immediately charged into battle. Ishtar held back from the battle, looking for one person; when she finally saw the young senshi of Venus she slipped away from the battle to confront her. She thought to capture the princess and make her surrender in hopes of ending the battle before too many would die. Jena too hoped and planned for this.
"When they came face-to-face Ishtar again saw the person who haunted her dreams, she told the human princess to surrender and that no one would be enslaved or imprisoned. But the girl would not surrender, she declared that if Ishtar surrendered then the elves too would be free, but neither would give up. Each was too headstrong and full of dignity to forfeit; they threw themselves into a fierce battle. Although they each were reluctant to hurt each other, they knew that this battle would decide the outcome of the war and establish the future of the planet."
~~~~~
The almost hypnotic effect of Arica's retelling of the myth was broken as she was racked by a fit of coughs. Pressing a hand to her chest, she desperately tried to suppress the paroxysms. Minako quickly slid over to refreshment unit and pressed a few buttons, then, with a glass of water in hand, she knelt by her cousin and offered the drink. Nodding her thanks, Arica managed to take a drink of the liquid in between coughing fits. Repeating the process a few times, she managed to get the coughing under control.
Minako, still crouching by Arica, placed a hand on her knee and asked, concern lacing her voice, "Are you sure you are okay, and wouldn't you be better off in an infirmary?"
Arica shook her head violently, "No. This mission is greater than all of us. If we fail then we not only damn ourselves, but also the entire galaxy." Quieter, she added, "And with the fall of our galaxy, the fate of the universe is sealed."
"It's that big?" the Guardian of the Gates of Time asked, "I knew that this battle would be crucial to our existence, but to the entire universe?"
"Oh yes." Closing her eyes and leaning back into the chair, Arica tried to banish the rest of the pain in her ribs and chest. If she survived this battle on Saturn then she would have to get healed, fast. If she knew Jennkyra and the Tryad, then the battle had only just begun. She opened her eyes again and smiled, patting Minako's hand she said, "Oh fear not, cousin mine. We have just and good on our side, while it does not insure a victory, good will always win. Of that you must always believe." The last sentence addressed the others as well as Minako. "When you doubt yourself or your cause then you are all but insuring your enemies victory."
"Damn cous., can you get anymore melodramatic or erudite?" Minako asked with a grin.
"Mmm. I know, it's all of these life times coming back to haunt me," Arica laughed before grinning mischievously and adding in a loud whisper, as though telling a secret, "Before you know it, you too will sound like the 'o' wise and mysterious garnet eyed one'." She then flashed a disarming grin at Setsuna to show that no offence was meant. The woman in question simply rolled her eyes, quite used to the young woman's antics that were so alike to Minako's. "But seriously, don't doubt yourselves."
"I don't think we'll have to worry about that too much, loosing faith will be the last thing that we will do," Rei said confidently, the others nodding in agreement.
"Be that as it may," Arica told them, "But when you've watched friends be tortured and mercilessly slaughtered, when you've lost battle after battle, and when you see no way out of the endless cycle of death, you begin to doubt everything-"
From where she sat with young Serenity, Setsuna added, "-including your sanity." Unable to speak after such a statement, especially from one they saw as the most stable of them all, the younger senshi and princess sat in a hushed silence, not saying anything and pondering what could have made these two warriors feel this way.
Sensing the turn of the mood to melancholy, Arica again tried to lighten the mood, though she used a different tactic. "As much fun as it is sitting here staring at our feet and contemplating the fuzz in our belly buttons, I have to admit that I would prefer something a little more thrilling," she flashed a grin. "Do you guys have anymore questions? Well, you would wouldn't you? I mean, there is so much left to ask."
Minako rose to her feet, shaking her head in response to her cousin, and went to go to sit back in her chair when a pair of arms snaked around her waist and drew her back. Without so much as a warning, she was unceremoniously pulled into the large chair and her cousin's lap. "What?.Ari," Minako growled.
"I'm sure they have some question that only you can answer. And interestingly, too." Minako saw the mischievous gleam return to Arica's silver eyes, though, to tell the truth, that gleam never left. In response to the rather pointed comment, Minako blushed a light pink and went to jab Arica with an elbow. Then, remembering her injuries, Minako resorted to simply stomping on her cousin's foot.
"OW! You vicious, little terror," Arica yelped and jerked her foot out of Minako's stomping range. Unable to maintain a downcast mood with the two's antics, the senshi and princess couldn't help but laugh. Setsuna allowed a smile to lighten her features, her respect for the young woman grew with each moment. She seemed to have the ability to lighten anybody's mood and bring out the best in everyone around her. She and Minako were very much alike in this too.
Feigning mock-hurt and anger, Arica glared and growled, "Oh, you think my pain is funny, eh? Princesses.riiight." Sticking her tongue out and blowing a raspberry, she continued and gave off the air of an indignant feline who had her dignity stepped on. "Fine then, I'll leave you with the little viper. And I'll leave you to find out where to locate and awaken Saturn all by yourselves!" She sat back in the chair, crossed her arms over her chest, and proceeded to ignore them like a petulant child.
This only served to make the senshi and princess laugh even harder; managing to suppress some of her giggles, Minako said to the others, "Aww, I think we've gone and hurt her feelings, well, at least her pride, anyway." Then she addressed her cousin, "You're not really mad at us are you? You know I couldn't bear it if you were angry with me," Minako ducked into Arica's line of sight and stared at her with her patented 'puppy-dog eyes.' No one was able to resist them, not even Arica.
Sighing grumpily, Arica tried to look away in an attempt to maintain the act, but Minako was exceptionally good at getting what she wanted. "Oh, fine! Just stop that!" Arica finally growled. "That is not nice, and you know it." Minako grinned and clapped her hands like a happy child who just got what they wanted.
Near them, Makoto leaned over to Ami, who sat next to the thunder senshi, and said, loud enough so that all could hear them, "You notice how child- like they are?" Then as an after-thought, she added, "And similar?"
"Mmm," Ami commented, then, seeing the two in question watching her she swallowed half nervously and asked, "So, what happened next?"
This served to distract the two enough; Ami sighed in relief. Having both Arica and Minako watch you like a predator was defiantly not fun. "Eh, they fought," Arica stated, as if it was the end of the tale.
"That can't be the end of the story, I mean, come on, they hated each other. How can that be the end of the tale?" the fire senshi asked.
Grinning, Arica asked, "Who said they hated each other?"
"They were mortal enemies, right?" Haruka asked.
"True," Minako agreed, though with a smile that said that she knew far more than she was willing to tell just yet.
Setsuna spoke up, "Surely you remember the feud between Neptune and Uranus, not so long ago?" Michiru and Haruka glanced at each other. "We all know how that situation ended. Wars and disputes raged across both planets for a time, didn't it? You two are testament of how hatred can go only so far."
"You don't mean that Ishtar and Jena." Ami's question trailed off as she realised just what she was asking. The girl was still quite easily embarrassed.
However, she had guessed correctly, and the others could tell from Minako's blush. That, and she seemed to find Arica's sleeve extremely interesting as she traced the symbol on her gauntlet. "They're waiting for an answer you know. And, you're blushing a lovely shade," Arica teased. Minako blushed harder and made no comment.
From where she sat with Michiru, the Uranian chuckled, "Well, I think we've got our answer or as much as we are going to get, anyway." She grinned and waited for Minako to say something, when she didn't she asked, "So, tell us Minako, did they." Haruka wiggled her eyebrows for emphasis.
For her teasing Haruka received a sharp elbow in the ribs from Michiru, "Behave!" she scolded. Then with a grin she said, "If she wants to tell us how things became resolved, then she will do so."
Minako blinked at the comment and shook her head, "You people are insufferable." Laughter rippled through the assembled.
Serenity looked up at Setsuna, "Pluto, how come you don't seem to remember the Tryad?"
"Please, Princess, call me Setsuna," then looking at the other inner senshi, she added, "All of you. As to why I don't have memories.well, I would assume that it has to do with Saturn calling upon the Silence." Quieter, to herself, she murmured, "Although, it doesn't make all that much sense, seen as how every other time I have either been unaffected, or gain my memories back in time."
"If you will," Arica said, interrupting the time guardians thoughts, "I may be able to explain." Arica shifted Minako slightly before continuing, at Setsuna's consent, "Now, you'll have to understand that I am neither scholar nor god. With that said, hopefully you will still listen," she gave a grin. "When the Tryad came we were unprepared, and it soon became apparent how unprepared we were. The other thing that you should remember is that most of this comes memories."
"But- if you'll excuse me for interrupting," Rei said, and then continued when Arica nodded, "Why do you remember, but we don't."
Arica chuckled, "Well, the thing is when you senshi are reincarnated it is into a new body. Sometimes there will be differences in both appearance and personality." Seeing the slight confusion on some of their faces, Arica explained, "Okay, for example, there was one incarnation of.actually, I'll use one you already know. Take Jena and Minako, now, they are actually both quite similar in looks, although, Jena's eyes tended to have more green and her hair was darker. Personality wise, though, where Minako is social, outgoing, and a flirt-"
"I am not a flirt!" Minako half-yelled.
"You are so! I should know for a fact, seen as how I taught you!" Arica shot back. "And I taught you well. Anyway, where Minako likes to be the centre of things, Jena was actually shy, reserved, quiet, and dignified."
"Are you saying I'm not dignified?" Arica simply favoured Minako with a look and smiled. And was promptly smacked for it.
"So, we are never the same person twice, that is rather understandable," Michiru said, trying to get them back on track. They were amusing to watch, but her curiosity had been peaked. Just as much as the others. "But how does this influence whether or not we remember past lives?"
'Well, I was getting to that before someone so rudely interrupted me," Arica glared pointedly at Minako. "The thing is, in some lives you may be reborn with just similar traits physically, psychologically, emotionally, or even magickally to those of the past. You will always have the senshi abilities and duties; those are tied to your souls. You will be conditioned in each life to bear the responsibility and obligations that come with being a senshi. No ordinary person may be a senshi; it is far too much of a strain, but this you already know," the others smiled at this comment. "The thing is in each life it is a different body, there is always something different. But sometimes, sometimes the supposedly impossible happens. In extremely rare, and usually unheard of, cases the senshi spirit and soul may be born into the same body."
"What do you mean same body?" Ami asked, curiosity etched across her intelligent features.
"Well, in those rare cases, the senshi is exactly the same. Then, the body and soul have been born in to the same vessel." After a moment, Arica added, "Also, in those cases the senshi tends to have the same name."
After considering this for a few moments, Haruka asked, "Why is it so rare?"
The girl grinned, "Glad you asked. Well, in order for this to happen, the senshi must die a sudden and unplanned death."
Makoto frowned and said dryly, "I'm pretty sure no one plans his or her death."
"That," Arica rolled her eyes and said, "Is not what I meant. I mean fate, destiny; you know, destined to live a long life or fated to die protecting the one you love or your liege. By it being unplanned I meant, if you died in a way not even the Fates could predict. That, usually happens from a doomsday spell or weapon from a seemingly unbeatable foe, or from your own evocation of a catastrophic force."
"Like Saturn," Serenity said.
"Exactly. No one can tell if that will ever happen, that is one of the unforetellable events."
"So, does that mean we all have a destiny that we will die in a particular way?" the young princess of Mars asked.
Arica glanced over at Setsuna, "That, I think is more of your territory. I just know about past lives, incarnations, reincarnation, and magick. I mostly leave fate and time to others."
A small smile showed on the time guardian's features, "Not very many people want the headache that comes with either job, time or reincarnation." She addressed Rei's question, "The thing you must understand about time and destiny is that there is no path set in stone. Every decision we make influences the outcome in the end. There is usually an event, like our death or, for some, marriage, that will almost always stay the same," she paused to let what she said to sink in. "But, that does not mean that our 'fate' is inescapable or out of our control. Time and fate, or destiny, or whatever you want to call, it is actually much like a river. You would think that the course is unmoveable and cannot deviate, but if you try hard enough and use the right methods you can make that river flow east instead of west. It is really a matter of how hard you desire the change. That is the difference between humans and animals and so many other species, we have the power to influence our fate."
"It's merely a matter of determination. That was defiantly a good explanation, most people think that they can't change their destiny and give up. I can tell you now that changing one's destiny is probably the hardest thing to do, in fact, often times it is down right impossible," Arica grinned, "Not that that has ever stopped me from trying."
Michiru looked at the girl curiously, "You've changed your destiny before?"
"Mm-hmm, it was a battle that I actually lost."
Confusion and bewilderment spread across many of the senshi's features, "You want to run that one by us again?" Makoto asked.
Arica laughed, "It wasn't just me that changed my destiny, the thing that most don't know is that you cannot change your destiny alone. You must have help, and usually it is an extraordinary and exceptional power that intervenes on your behalf."
"What intervened on your behalf," Minako asked.
Grinning she answered, "You should know that one, silly; 'specially as you are senshi of it. Love. Love, my friends, conquers all. And that is why the Fates hate it so much. It gives them such a headache." She laughed and then said, "But we seemed to have strayed a little off from your question, princess. The difference between the senshi and we Guardians, the reason why we remember what you do not: we are born into the same body each time. That is why we remember everything; in each life we are the same person. Each time I will be born again as Arica, I will have the same features and personality, I will always be born again as Kaze, the guardian of the element of wind."
"Yeah, and you will always be born again as the same pain in the ass, sent to drive me insane," Minako muttered with a glare.
"That, dear Miko," she grinned, "Is very true." More seriously she added, "Whilst everything will not be the same in each life, in fact it rarely is, I will always relatively turn out the same way."
"A brat, cheeky, mischievous, impish, precocious, and so many other things that I can't remember at the moment, but above all else: pain in my behind," Minako added with a cheeky grin. "But utterly adorable and the biggest flirt this side of Venus." As a response, Arica stuck her tongue out at her cousin.
"So then, you remember the past because you are the same person each time?" Rei asked.
"Yup, it is a natural thing for us. I usually regain my memories when I am Called."
A look of puzzlement crossed the Mercurian princess' face, "Called?"
"To my duty and destiny," Arica answered.
"Ah. How do you know you are called?" the girl asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Arica smiled, "Well, it is kind of hard to explain. You just know that it is your time, sometimes there are omens and others a vision, but for all it is the same. You know that your innocence has ended and now you have a task."
Mischief dancing in her eyes, Haruka reminded the others of the earlier conversation, "So, Minako.what happened in the Badlands after Arica stopped the tale?"
Glaring at the Uranian for bringing up the subject again, Minako begrudgingly answered, "Nothing of the sort that you are suggesting, Haruka." She chose to ignore the smirk on the older girl's face and continued, "Actually, the story gets even more interesting. It seems that there were evil forces at work on Venus at the time."
"So, you mean the humans and elves were manipulated into the war?" the thunder senshi asked.
"As much as we all wish that Ishtar and Jena had been manipulated into war, that was not so. Each well and truly hated the other. There was always distrust and dislike under the surface with the humans and elves, but an outside force sparked it. The problem was that it created an avalanche effect and damn near wiped out all of Venus."
"I suppose I should tell the next part of the tale as I was there," Minako said, taking a deep breath before continuing, "What few know of is the battle that ensued in the Badlands. I don't know for how long it raged, but soon Ishtar and Jena had become separated from their armies and drifted away, too locked in battle to notice." As Minako spoke, the memories flooded her mind again with a startling clarity, making it seem as if she were there.
~~~~~
The elven princess' golden- flecked eyes widened at the bolt of raw energy thrown at her head. With a growl, Ishtar swung her sword up to deflect the blast; the blue hued blade, absorbing some of the energy and reflecting the rest, showed no mark from the intense blast. 'You'd thing the girl was trying to kill me,' Ishtar thought sourly, then after a moment she amended, 'Probably is too. I am responsible for her family's deaths after all.' No sooner had Ishtar blocked the magickal attack from the human girl, when she felt the blast of hot air and acid from behind her. A quick glance over her shoulder confirmed her suspicions that there was a sulphur dioxide- spewing geyser behind her. Remembering that the gas was quite poisonous and harsh on the lungs, she quickly took a deep lungful of hot, but almost pure -as pure as one can get in the Badlands- air.
Expecting for the human princess to press the advantage, Ishtar was surprised when the girl threw an attack at her which caused her to duck and roll to the left, away from the geyser. 'Maybe she wants this battle as little as I,' she wondered. 'Maybe she is as tired of all of the death.maybe all the humans are.' Ishtar exhaled and barked out in a harsh voice, "Give it up and I swear that I will do everything in my power to make this go away as easily as possible! We don't want revenge or retribution! Just an end!!"
"You know that isn't possible," Jena responded her voice as equally as harsh from the arid and acidic environment. She smiled wryly, "Neither of us can surrender, and yet neither of us wish to further this blood bath, what cruel games the gods play on we mere mortals."
Ishtar swung her blade in a vertical cut, Jena's own sword quickly darting to intercept and deflect it. "Perhaps. You have haunted my dreams all these months," the elf told Jena without a trace of embarrassment, shame, or regret.
Jena rolled her eyes and said in an exasperated tone, "This is not the time for things like that, you know!" She ducked to the right to avoid another blow and jabbed at Ishtar's unprotected side.
Ishtar laughed -an odd sound from one fighting with their once mortal enemy. "Be that as it may, 'tis be true," after a moment, she added, "I meant what I said that night.I don't hate your people. Not anymore. What point is there?"
Jena nodded in understanding and didn't notice that Ishtar had blocked the move. Both were near exhaustion after their respective journeys and the battle. They traded a few more blows before Jena replied, "Strange how you can be so sure of something your entire life, and then at one moment it all changes. In the course of an hour, everything you knew to be true and a constant is changed so dramatically."
Ishtar deftly leaped over a lava filled chasm and dodged another geyser, this one spouting out blasts of fire. This was defiantly not the place for a battle, much less a conversation. "What do we do? If we walk out of here, what happens then? To much blood has been shed and too many lives taken by both sides for this to have a happy ending."
Jena sighed and let the exhaustion show through, making her seem decades older. "I truly don't know. I vowed once to make my family's murderers pay, but their deaths will bring no one peace for they were avenging someone else. All this is, is an endless, bloody cycle, one we can never escape from."
Ishtar watched the girl in front of her for a few minutes and then glanced around her. They were on a stable, if not jagged and rocky, island of sorts, surrounded on most sides by rivers of molten rock. Where there was not lava, there were geysers of sulphuric acid, carbon dioxide, and fire. An endless ring of fire. She looked up meeting Jena's blue eyes with her own silver and golden ones. "There is always an end, one just has to know where to look," her voice was oddly hushed and Jena had to take a step closer and strain to hear over the howling, dry winds. Ishtar slid her sword into the sheath that seemingly appeared at her side. Elven magick came in rather useful at times. She then showed that her hands were free of any weapon and stepped closer to Jena. "You were the better combatant. Despite my training in the forge, I was unable to defeat you in battle because I was so exhausted. My only request is and was that my people not be judged too harshly for their crimes as many were only following orders and acting out of pain."
Realising what the elf was saying, Jena shook her head violently. "Either we both leave the Badlands together, or neither of us leave them at all. I shall not, and cannot, do it!"
Infuriated, Ishtar growled back, "How can I ask to live and expect to when I have such crimes and sins in my past?! I am responsible for so many deaths and so much blood shed, surly our home needs no one like me!"
"If you are responsible, then what of me?!" Jena yelled back, staring at the proud elf before her on one knee waiting for her to end it. "I am just as guilty of spilling blood as you, how can you ask me to end your life when should not my life be forfeit as much as yours?" Jena's eyes locked with Ishtar's, imploringly, after a few moments she finally spoke again, this time her voice much softer than before, "Please don't ask me to do that. Anything but that." She paused before continuing, "Especially when 'tis your voice that haunts me and the face that I see when I close my eyes or dream is yours. I came here knowing there was no way I could kill you. How can you kill someone that in one night, you fell in love with against all your efforts?" Dropping her gaze to the ground, Jena waited for Ishtar's response.
It was some time before the elf found her voice and the words. "All these years I haven't been listening to my heart or my head. I don't know what I have been listening to, I suppose I did think it was my heart. I know now that it wasn't because for the last year I have been trying to ignore my heart and what it tells me. What it says can't be true, for not even the gods are that cruel as to play a joke such as this." Less then a meter away, Jena closed her eyes and turned her head away, trying to banish the pain in her heart. It cannot be! She opened her eyes, startled when she felt a soft hand gently touch her cheek and tilt her chin up. "And yet, I find I can ignore it no longer. As confused and scared as I may be, I know that what it tells me is true." The elf's eyes softened, "As impossible as this may turn to be."
".'tis just as impossible to ignore it," Jena said with a small smile. Though small, it was the first, genuine smile that the human princess had given in many years. Before the elf could respond, the ground beneath them began to rumble and quiver. Jena looked up at the taller elf, alarm creeping into her blue eyes, "The volcano?"
Ishtar shook her head. "No, that thing has been dormant of centuries if not millennia." She watched the ground, concern showing through in her eyes too. After a moment she murmured, "'Tis not the planet that causes this distress." Her sharp gaze watched as a crack began to grow, "What evil is afoot here?" she whispered, as she instinctively reached out and pulled Jena unresistingly against her.
"Ishtar," Jena said, fear edging into her voice, "Over there."
Following the younger girl's gaze, Ishtar's eyes widened in realisation as she saw an identical chasm growing on the other side of them. "Shit," she said before meeting Jena's eyes as the ground beneath them gave way and plummeted, taking them with it.
~~~~~
"What happened?" Makoto asked when Minako had trailed off.
Arica nudged Minako. "Hmmm? Oh, the outside force that sparked the war revealed itself to Ishtar and Jena. Only through overcoming their differences and hatred were they able to work together to complete the seven challenges set before them by Nergal and Ereshkigal."
"Nergal and Ere-who?" Makoto asked with a slight frown.
Smiling, Minako told the tall warrior of Jupiter, "Ereshkigal and Nergal were the two that plotted to have the elves and humans annihilate each other. They just never anticipated upon Ishtar and Jena being able to overcome their hatred."
"Yeah, but you also forgot about Ereshkigal's thing for Jena," Arica added with a grin; to which, Minako simply rolled her eyes and sighed. After a few minutes, she spoke again, "Anyway, if there are not anymore questions, then I suggest that we all get some sleep. We still don't know what awaits us on Saturn." Arica told them after watching a few of them try and hide yawns. The Moon princess had already drifted off as soon as the tale was finished, leaning against a rather placid Rei. Near them, the Mercurian senshi would be soon to follow if the drooping of her head was any indication.
The tall Uranian glanced around and chuckled, "I think you are quite right. It is their bed time." With a crooked grin at the sleepy Michiru, she added, "It is far past ours."
The ones who had fallen asleep or were almost there were roused and Arica showed them to their quarters. Before ducking into her's, Rei eyed the ship suspiciously, "Most of us were under the impression that the Earthlings didn't have many ships and those that they did were.primitive."
The tall blond grinned, "Ah, now while that may be true of Earthers, I am not bound by the same laws as they." With another mysterious grin that would rival even Setsuna's, Arica turned and guided her cousin down the corridor. After a few turns, she stopped and pressed the control plate. She steered Minako over to the bunk and gently pushed her onto it; Minako didn't even try to resist.
"Why am I so tired.exhausted, really?" She asked as her cousin laid the blanked over her and sat upon the edge of the bunk, which was oddly comfortable considering that it was a cot.
"Because, silly Miko, you not only battled a creature of nightmares but also channelled a very powerful soul. While being an actual descendant helps, you will find that when Ishtar leaves you, you'll feel quite exhausted. Your body will learn to adjust to it, but only if it is given time to." Arica reached up and gently brushed Minako's bangs away from her forehead. Sighing, she admitted, "I really wish I had the time to spend with you. Some days I truly regret my calling, because my duties take me so far away from you. Maybe one of these days we will get the chance to sit down and reminisce of days passed, mmm?"
Minako nodded sleepily, her exhaustion showing through, "That would be nice. I've missed you too."
Arica smiled, leaned up, and kissed Minako softly on the forehead. "Goodnight, you. I will see you in a few hours." She stood and when she glanced over her shoulder before stepping out, she found Minako already asleep. "Sweet dreams, Miko."
~~~~~
Some might call Minako's dreams sweet, and some, peaceful. Others might have said disturbing, but Minako called them memories, of a life passed and gone.
~~~~~
Stepping into the Queen's chambers, Ishtar glanced around. When she didn't see her quarry in the room she raised an eyebrow in a silent question and began to search for her mate. After a thorough search that did not turn up any sign of the human queen of Venus, Ishtar stalked back into the main room and frowned at the walls as if accusing them of hiding Jena. After a moment, she heard the flapping of the curtains in the gently night's breeze. She looked over to discover the balcony doors slightly ajar. 'Ah, I should have guessed,' she thought as she silently crossed the room and stepped through the doors, pausing in the doorway to watch the young woman who had come to and still held her heart.
The young queen of Venus stood at the wall, arms wrapped around herself, as she looked out over the capital city of Venus, Alihan. In the time following the end of the civil war, peace had at first been trying and difficult on both parties, but now the effects were showing as old wounds were healing and new friendships forged. The people had been surprisingly accepting of the relationship that had been formed between the two young rulers, in fact, the only resistance had come from some of the older generals. Jena chuckled softly as she remembered Ishtar's response to their opinion, after that fiasco, neither human nor elf voiced any problem with the relationship.
Upon thinking of the strong-willed and fierce elf, Jena smiled. Since their confrontation in the Badlands and the discovery of Nergal and Ereshkigal, both had let go of their fears and finally allowed themselves to feel what they had each denied since that first meeting in the woods that fateful night. It was hard at times, some days it was down right near impossible, but time had a way of healing even the most painful of pains. Jena gasped softly when she felt strong arms encircle her waist and draw her against a familiar body. She sighed as Ishtar laughed softly in her ear. "I'm not used to you doing that! I wish you would stop sneaking up on me."
Ishtar chuckled and kissed Jena softly on the cheek, "Sorry, you are just too much fun to do that too. I mean, you jump so well and get so mad at me." Jena twisted around to glare at the taller elf, to which, Ishtar laughed and kissed the tip of Jena's nose. "Don't do that, it is defiantly not becoming of a lady of your stature." So instead, the human queen promptly stuck out her tongue. Ishtar laughed even harder, "And that is any better? If your ministers saw you acting like this they would have kittens.on second thought, come on! Let's go." Ishtar grinned and headed towards the door, Jena's hand in her own.
Unable to resist any more, Jena too laughed, "You are an absolute terror." She stood firmly and instead pulled the elf back to her. Instead of resisting, Ishtar stepped back to Jena, pulling the smaller woman closer.
"Oh?"
"Mm-hmmm," Jena nodded.
"And am I to assume you like this terror?" she asked, her golden eyes glittering in the moonlight mischievously.
Jena smiled up at her lover, "Oh, very much."
"Well, that's a good thing, it simplifies so many things," Ishtar murmured before kissing Jena ever so softly. When she pulled away, she brought up their intertwined hands and kissed the back of Jena's softly and held it against her chest. Then she looked back over the city, it was some time before either spoke again. "What were you doing out here?" Ishtar finally asked, exhaling a content sigh as Jena shifted to slip her remaining arm about her waist and rest her head on Ishtar's shoulder.
"Oh, just thinking about the Badlands again and all that happened there."
"Mmm," Ishtar murmured before resting her head upon Jena's. "And your Queen Serenity knew nothing of those two?"
Jena shook her head softly, "No, when I told her and the other senshi of the events they were surprised to hear about the war raging, let alone those two."
Ishtar laughed softly, a sound that Jena loved to hear, knowing how rare it was for the normally aloof elf to express many of her emotions. "And how did they react to the news of me?"
Jena could imagine the mischievous twinkle in her love's eyes. "Actually, they were a little surprised. After all, I am usually rather shy and quiet as opposed to some of the others."
"Mmm, I must know a different person," Ishtar paused, and Jena had learned to dread these types of pauses as they tended to signal another of the elf's teasing moods. "The Jena I know is rarely quiet."
"Ishtar!" Jena cried as she smacked the elf soundly. Ishtar simply laughed and recaptured Jena's hand. A little while later, Jena pulled away enough to glimpse the taller woman's face. Ishtar watched the city below them and the night sky with her normal criticalness and sharp gaze. Jena had come to recognize this watchful manner and the way the elf's jaw was set, that Ishtar had something serious on her mind. "What are you thinking of?"
Ishtar didn't immediately answer, and when she did it was almost reluctantly. "I can't help but wonder what this universe has in store for us." She glanced down at her lover, "Our battles are not over, not by a long shot. But.for some reason I know that we are going to have more than our fair share of trying times a head of us. And some of them will seem as if there is no way out. People such as we never know what the fates have in store for us."
Jena nodded, "And neither will our descendants, but is that not our curse and gift?" She reached up and brushed a lock of hair out of Ishtar's face and smiled softly. "We are meant for great things.as will our children be, and their children's children. That is the fate of the senshi of this system, along with those like you who fight similar battles to our. We may never know why we are chosen for our tasks or why it is we who must sacrifice so much for the greater good, but that is not what matters. That is our destiny," Jena's grin broadened, "And it really isn't so bad when you think about it, you know."
Ishtar smiled in return, "When did you get so damned smart?"
"When I started listening to my heart and ignoring my fears and rationalism. Some things you just have to trust your heart on; it will never steer you wrong."
~~~~~
Minako sat up in her bunk, Jena's words echoing in her mind. She glanced over at the chronometer on the panel near her head. A few hours had passed, and by Minako's estimation, they should be nearing Saturn very soon. Minako swung her feet off of the bunk and set them down on the warm floor. 'I guess they thought of everything when the built this ship,' she thought as she stood. Much more comfortable and practical clothes had been set in a chair thoughtfully. Who knew what kind of terrain they would encounter on the forbidden of Saturn?
After changing, Minako stepped out into the corridor and headed in what she hoped was the direction to the helm, where, presumably, her cousin would be. Minako wanted to speak to Arica about this mission without the others and to find out just what she was not telling them.
Just as Minako had thought, Arica sat in the pilot's chair, staring out into the vastness of space and at the violet blip on the screen that was growing slowly. They were almost to Saturn. "Right on time as usual." Arica swivelled her chair around to view her cousin. "Sleep well? You look better."
Minako nodded, "Quite well actually, considering that I dreamt the entire time."
Arica quirked an eyebrow and smirked, "I don't think I have to ask what about." At Minako's slight blush, the smirk widened into a grin.
After a moment, Minako sat up straight in her chair. Arica sent her a questioning look. "It's Ishtar, she wishes to speak to you."
"Ah, do you mind any?" Arica asked.
Minako shook her head, "Nah, you said I should get used to being used as a medium after all."
Arica shook her head with a smile. "I didn't quite put it that way," she muttered. After a moment Minako looked up at Arica, the telltale golden tinge to her eyes. "Hullo Ishtar."
Ishtar smiled and leaned back in the chair, "Hello Kaze, it's been a while, no?"
"Mmm, not really. I always end up seeing you one way or another each life time." Arica stretched her long legs out before her and watched as her cousin seemed to take on a few of Ishtar's elven features. "She will get used to you and adjust to your presence, right?"
Ishtar smiled and nodded, "Of course. Minako is just a little more stubborn than any other Guardian after me because she is a senshi and senshi seem to be." Ishtar waved her hand in an off-handed manner. "Well, you know how they can be. I think that part of it is some of Jena's influence."
Arica laughed, "Of course, blame it on Jena." After a few moments of watching Saturn grow on the viewing screen, Arica asked, "What do you make of this whole situation? Do you think we will make it out of this one alive this time?"
Ishtar sighed, "That is impossible to foretell, but then you already know that considering your gifts. This time around, you have all possible resources and help at your disposal. You even have the benefit of knowing something of your enemy this time around. We didn't have that last time."
"No, we didn't, and I can't help but wonder if that was why we failed. Maybe we didn't think that they would figure out what we were doing, or that they might actually be able to escape it."
"Ah, but you could not foretell such an event, but now you know to expect it this time around."
Arica considered Ishtar's words before speaking again. "Do you think Minako has the ability to do it? You know she is going to be instrumental in this entire damned operation."
"Which?" Ishtar asked with a roguish smile.
Arica returned the grin with her own, "Both."
Ishtar sighed again, "That, only time will tell. But, I can tell you this: if Minako would be unable to rise to the occasion, then would she really have been chosen as the Guardian of Venus?"
"Indeed," Arica nodded. "And how much longer can I expect to have these pleasant little chats with you?"
"I am here to ensure Minako is able handle the powers that come with being the Guardian, and to make sure she survives. I think that she will adjust quite quickly in the coming days. The events coming will see to it, but I will always be here should she need any help." After a moment, Ishtar added, "There will come a time when Minako finally understands fully what being the Guardian is and means. Then, she will understand why it is she that is both the senshi and the Guardian. Minako's birth has been prophesised since my own time. Jena and I always knew that there would come a time when our power would finally be born into the same person; our fates and magick have always been intertwined."
Arica nodded in understanding, "And so, Minako, will always wield the sword from this point onward?"
Ishtar nodded, "Every senshi of Venus has been one step closer to who Minako is. Minako is the only senshi who was born ready for this power coupled with her own senshi abilities; her destiny demands it." Both Arica and Ishtar turned to the viewer and the planet that now loomed in front of them simultaneously. Quietly, Ishtar said, "And so it begins anew."
~~~~~
End part one
'Darkness and Light, Tranquillity and Chaos, Good and Evil: blood of Destiny and essence of life. Without the other, nothing.'
Okay, I am going to be taking the quick way out in this one. I will be attaching a file (somewhere, sometime) giving a full background on the mythology involved in this story. An understanding of it is not essential by any means as I mostly just based it upon the myths. The main mythology you will find in this story is Babylonian. Since I was little and I first learned of Babylon, I have been entranced and intrigued by it. Only in the last few months have I become to understand how vast the mythology and tales really are. Most of the mythology that I have used in this part is in the telling of the Ishtar myth. What I really took was names of characters and based them on the gods/characters to some degree. The seven tasks that Arica mentions are actually based upon the seven gates of the Underworld that Ishtar encountered when she went to confront Ereshkigal. Instead of having Ishtar lose an article of clothing at each gate I made them into tasks that Jena and Ishtar would have to complete. As much fun as it would have been to have in there, it would totally change the context of this thing!! ( Could have been fun though.
Some of you might wonder why I chose Jena, but I cannot answer why. She just kind of came to be and so she stayed, much like many of my other characters. The ancient elvish is my own and came from my own little fractured mind. I don't know Tolkien's elvish and so I just made my own. And the last bit, my view of Minako has been greatly influenced by Tim Nolan's works, which I greatly recommend to anybody and everybody. That man can write! Anyway, I am ending this now, and hopefully posting and then running off since it is 1 in the bloody morning and I have school. UGH!!! Please drop me a line and tell me what you think of this.
~~~ Death ~~~
Minako waited as Arica closed the hatch and withdrew the boarding ramp. "That's why you came to the Moon, isn't it? To tell us that you would awaken Saturn with or without permission or help," she asked.
Arica sighed, "Unfortunately, yes." The two walked to the cabin where the others sat, waiting for them to depart, "I hoped that it would be with the Queen's blessing, but if not then I would fulfil my mission to awaken Saturn. No matter what."
"How can you do that?" Haruka asked, as Arica sat in the pilot's chair. The Uranian still had a pale look to her, though you had to be looking for it to notice it. "Don't you serve the Queen?"
"I don't serve the Moon Kingdom or Queen Serenity," Arica answered as she began the pre-flight procedures. "That is what people have never fully understood about us; we serve a higher power, we protect all life. Sometimes we are called upon to simply punish the guilty, or to avenge the innocents who are murdered by wars. We come from so much more than any know." She input the commands to lift the ship off. Once in space she set a course for Saturn then turned back to face the others. "Life is made up from four cardinal elements or forces: air, water, earth, and fire; these forces 'pre-date' any deities or gods. We represent these forces, you might call us avatars."
As Arica finished typing in the commands Minako asked, "Who exactly is 'we'?"
Arica looked over at her cousin, "I don't know if it really matters. We serve good and fight for it, that is what counts, right? Besides," she gave a wry smile, "I don't know how much I can tell you, our secrecy is our greatest asset."
"Then didn't making your presence known to us expose you to your enemies?" Ami asked her.
Again Arica smiled, "We figured that the risk was defiantly worth it."
"I suppose so," Minako smiled too, "So, why can't you tell us who 'we' are?"
Arica turned toward her cousin and mock-glared, evading the question she said, "Since we are playing twenty questions and we have a few hours to kill, is there anything else you want to know?"
"What else do you know about the Tryad?" Michiru asked.
"Well, from what we have been able to discover we know that they come from the nearby J'kyln galaxy. In that galaxy there are three inhabitable worlds: Ajin-rourk, Sier-rourk, and Jenn-rourk. Each planet is named for its ruler and each of these rulers are a part of the Tryad. Ajinotuth is a warrior, he makes up the 'brawn' part of the Tryad; he has an unnatural strength and is a ferocious fighter. Siermalky is the mage and makes up the 'brains' of the Tryad; he studied any and all types of magick that he could and is one of the most powerful sorcerers that has ever existed. But of any of the Tryad it is Jennkyra that is the worst; even though Ajinotuth has never been defeated, even though Siermalky is an unmatched magician, Jennkyra is the worst. She is.horrible." The last word came out in a whisper, and Arica silver eyes unfocused as she became lost in thought, or memory.
Minako touch her arm in concern; Arica rarely let things affect her and was always in the best of spirits, even when all seemed lost. "What did she do?" Minako asked, "It had to have been bad, whatever it was."
"She killed me."
"What? How can that be? You are right here with us," Makoto asked incredulously.
Arica shook her head, "Not in this life, in another. The last time she was in our galaxy."
"Oh," the thunder senshi nodded in understanding, they all had memories of past deaths. Some of them were better left forgotten.
"But that wasn't the worst part," she looked up at Minako, "It had to have been seven hundred years ago. No one expected them, hell; we all had our own problems. At that time the Moon Kingdom had just signed a treaty with the elves on Earth, I don't know how much you were taught about that in your studies."
At Minako's nudging Ami spoke up, "We were told that eight and a half centuries ago a rift was created between the humans and the elves on Earth, the Moon was pulled into the dispute because the prince of the Earth was betrothed to the princess of the Moon. At one point the queen of the elves declared that the humans were to never enter elf territory on Earth, save Neptunians and Uranians. Why they were exempt we weren't told."
"The queen was very good friends with the senshi of those planets and felt no wrong had been committed by them, but please, continue."
"Well, one day the queen disappeared, and was presumed dead, in a war against the wraiths that plagued Earth. For the next one hundred years there were many fights between the elves and humans, it began to border on war. Then, unexpectedly, the queen reappeared. She saved the prince of the Earth and Moon princess from the wraiths that had never been vanquished. Many thought that the queen had always hated humans because many humans were afraid of the elven gifts and were always causing problems for them. In fact, she didn't. It was later discovered that many of the problems between the elves and humans had been started by the wraiths to get the humans, specifically Moon Kingdom, and the elves to destroy each other." Ami stopped to take a breath, "Peace came when the prince and princess came to the Moon with the Queen of the elves with a treaty. They defeated the wraiths together and banished them.
Arica considered all that Ami had said before saying, "That is actually a fairly adequate re-telling of the story, some details are missing but that happens through the years. Now you see why the no one expected the Tryad, everyone was concentrating on making the peace work. When they came.everything was lost." Again Arica paused, thinking back upon the past. "Anyway, we fought them as best we could; at that time everyone knew about us. By us, I mean my fellow element guardians and myself; I suppose you could call us 'Elementals.' The senshi, the army's of the galaxy, and us fought together, any past discrepancies were long forgotten; all that mattered was defeating this evil. In the end it had to be Saturn that would save us." Arica looked out the window into the reaches of space, once again lost in memories until Princess Serenity jolted her back to the present with a question.
"So, then you remember all of what happened?"
Quietly, she answered, "As if it were only yesterday."
"Then that is good then, isn't it? I mean, you know a lot about them which is really helpful." She asked, blue eyes shining with hope.
Arica looked at the Princess, her eyes showing centuries of anguish and pain, "There are times that I would give anything to forget that time. I don't know if retaining my memories of the past will be of any good, so far all it has done is just make it worse." She paused for a moment before sheepishly smiling and pushing a lock of golden hair out of her face, "I'm sorry, talking about this has dredged up some rather painful memories. Knowing about the Tryad will help us to defeat them, it won't make it easy but it is better than knowing nothing."
"I suppose remembering your own death would be pretty painful," Rei said with a bit of a smile. "I know that I hate remembering any of mine."
Minako watched her cousin closely; she hadn't told the complete story, she could tell. A moment later Minako figured it out, "You lost someone, didn't you? That's why it is painful to remember, isn't it?"
Arica shook her head and grinned at her cousin, "I have never fully been able to get one over on you, have I?"
"Nope; never have, never will."
Sobering, Arica said, "Yeah, I lost someone very close to me. Jennkyra tortured and killed them in front of me; only then did she finally kill me. Not that it really mattered, I was gone anyway." Minako and a few of the others frowned in slight confusion. "The person that Jennkyra murdered was my soul mate."
"Oh," Minako now understood, the loss of a soul mate was something that you could never fully recover from.
"Yeah."
"So, that is why she was rather unfriendly toward you before," Ami observed.
Arica grinned mischievously, "Weeelllll, that's because Jennkyra realized a little too late why exactly she had us. You see, we allowed ourselves to be caught as a distraction so that Saturn was awakened to reset the cycle. We knew that we would die either way, I just didn't think that Jennkyra was so bloody vindictive."
"What do you mean?" Makoto asked.
"Well, I caused her a few problems, in the initial assault I kind of.well, I killed her lover and she didn't take it too well. Since then she, uh, has had it in for me," Arica again gave a sheepish smile.
"Well, she did seem rather. irritated to see you in the ballroom," Haruka said with a laugh, "Now it makes sense."
"Mmm," Arica smiled again.
"So, what was it she called you before she left?" Makoto asked, her curiosity getting the best of her.
Laughing, she replied, "Something very rude. I was taught better manners so I won't repeat it."
"Arica, you've probably come out with far worse!" Minako cried, smacking her cousin. "If you remember you always knew the best curses and taught the rest of us!"
She grinned in return and laughed, "True, very true. Hey, as is, you always asked."
The others couldn't help but smile and laugh at the two cousins; it was also the first time in a long time that the inner senshi and Serenity had seen their friend completely relaxed. The young princess of the Moon watched happily as her friend shot insults and glares at her older cousin, returning to the carefree girl that she had always been. Now it all made sense, six months ago Minako had visited her home planet for her sixteenth birthday, having chosen to spend it with family this year. When she returned there was something different, she was far more serious than before and wasn't as cheerful. During her visit she must have been given the Crescent Sword and been named as the Guardian of Venus, that was why her mood had changed.
As the insult and teasing war died down to a comfortable silence, Serenity chose this time to ask a question that had been on everybody's minds, "Would you mind telling us more about Ishtar?" she asked quietly.
Minako sobered instantly, she thought for a moment before speaking, "I honestly think it would be better if Ari told the story, she grew up with the legends as a kid and knows them better than I."
"Yes, but you know all of the little details," Arica teased, drawing a blush from Minako who glared in return. "But if you really insist."
"I would prefer it, besides you are an excellent story teller," Minako answered.
"Flattery, my dear Miko, will get you everywhere in the world," Arica said with a grin. "But if I am to tell the legend then I am going to tell the complete one, which will take some time. So, I suggest that we move down to the mess hall and get comfortable. It's down the hall, second to the last door on your right; I'll be there in a moment, I just want to put this thing on full autopilot."
The senshi and princess stood, a few stretching cramped muscles and rubbing still sore injuries. Five minutes later, they all sat on numerous lounges and cushions. Makoto looked over at Minako and said, "You cousin is a lot like you, and is as funny as you said."
Minako smiled, "Yeah, she was always a bit of a trouble maker at times, and always a complete flirt."
"Well, I guess we know where you learned it from then," Rei said with a laugh.
"I can't help it if some guys are just sooo.cute. Besides, like your friend said, you learned rather fast." Arica said walking in to the lounge and dropping into a large, soft chair; she immediately winced in pain, "Ow," she half-moaned and then growled, "Damned creature."
"Ribs still hurting?" Minako asked.
Arica nodded, "So, you want to know about Ishtar?" It wasn't so much a question as it was a statement. "In that case I am going to tell you a legend that I grew up with. Now, Ishtar lived in a time when two of Venus' great races were at war with one another, few people remember that there was ever a great civil war on Venus that claimed many lives. Most don't even believe it because there is little or no trace of it." Arica paused and shifted to get more comfortable in her seat before she began the tale of Ishtar.
"Now every child on Venus is told the story of Ishtar, legendary Champion of the elves and Guardian of Venus. Legends say that Ishtar was a female warrior who was originally an elf princess. When war broke out between the humans on Venus and the elves, her family was killed in an attack on Arulyn, the capitol elf city. Ishtar was only twelve at the time and was shattered, for she lost her dear twin brother; whisked away amid the chaos Ishtar was then raised by Generals and warriors. Learning the arts of war and weapons craft, young Ishtar quickly became the best warrior in the camp, and in time the entire elven force. Her skills in magick and fighting soon became known throughout the elven army.
"Ishtar suddenly found herself in command of the elven army when she was but sixteen when General Tammuz, who had become a surrogate father, was killed. In a brash action motivated by pain and rage, the young queen ordered an immediate attack on the unsuspecting human camps and castle. In the assault all of the royal family but the princess were killed, as a result the fourteen-year-old girl became Queen over night. Young Jena began to hate the elves because of what had happened to her family and people.
"For the next two years war raged on the planet, both sides suffered heavy losses. Few in the galaxy knew what was happening on the windy planet because the other planets were experiencing their own problems and disputes. On the eve of Jena's sixteenth birthday, the princess left the protection of her guard to walk in the peaceful forest in which they were camped out.
"Ishtar, also seeking solitude from her guards and army, took a walk in the very same forest. The two met by a peaceful lake, but when they realized that each was of another race tensions rose. Ishtar and Jena did not fight though; they were both exhausted of the constant fighting and wanted only a break from the endless cycle to think back upon the past six years. They finally introduced themselves as Isis and Inanna. The two talked of how they were fed up of the wars and death; they had begun to form a friendship despite their difference in race when the sounds of a battle broke out. Each gave hasty farewells and rushed off to find out the source of the fighting. When Ishtar reached the makeshift battlefield, she discovered it to be a clash between the elves and humans. She hesitated for a moment before joining a fray; across the field, the human princess did the same.
"The skirmish ended rather quickly when each side realized that it had its ruler; the fight had begun because each leader was missing, and fears had arisen that they may have been kidnapped. As Ishtar and Jena shouted for a retreat they saw each other and realized whom the other truly was.
"After the battle, both were confused and each was unable to expel the other from her thoughts. They realized that they could not hate each other anymore, with this revelation came the one that they were fighting purely for retribution. Yet, each was still pressed by their generals and advisors to keep attacking and to conquer the other.
"During this time, Ishtar drew away from her guards, many times to think on the past and what might become the future. One night, under the stars, Ishtar watched as a tiny object streaked across the night sky. As she watched, it fell deep into the atmosphere, leaving a bright trail in its wake. A bright flash of light signified its impact on the Venusian horizon.
"Ishtar felt unexplainably drawn to the impact site and so she hastily prepared for the journey, compelled by an unseen force; before she departed she told those closest to her that she would return as soon as she could. To reach the impact site she had to travel into the desolate 'Badlands' of Venus. The Badlands of Venus are a reminder of the hellish conditions that were once Venus before the first Serenity came and made each of the planets inhabitable with the ginsuishou. Very close to the image one gets of Hell, the Badlands are a harsh environment for any race with molten rivers and geysers that spat a sulphuric acid and carbon dioxide mix into the atmosphere. Volcanoes erupted regularly and ate away at the rocky terrain, while other geysers of hydrogen were ignited into flames by the lava that ran in rivulets through the sand and rock. In other places columns of fire seemed to reach up towards the heavens, as if from Hell itself. The wind would whip up the loose sand at terrifying speeds; in some storms the sand would strip the flesh off of any unprotected body. People rarely ventured in to the Badlands unless they were searching for something, had nothing to lose, or, as in the years to come, were being tested.
"For days Ishtar scoured the blistering, ashy terrain, searching for any sign of the impact site before she finally found the crater. As she finally approached the crater she discovered the heart of a small comet. Though most comets were composed of ice and rock, this one was of the purest crystal laced with an unrecognisable metal. As she approached the heart she was startled to find no heat radiating from it; hesitating at first, Ishtar reached out and found the rock cool to the touch. Power and energy radiated from the stone, filling the young elven warrior with a peace and comfort that she had not known in many years. 'Why do you call me so?' she asked in a hushed whisper, not expecting an answer.
"All of Ishtar's life she had felt as if she were protected and guided by someone, or something. If she felt lost or confused then this.force would help her. Whatever it was it did not quite talk to her, instead she simply knew where to go or what was right. Some would call it a guardian entity or angel, or some latent ability, or even instinct; whatever it was Ishtar had long since learned to listen and follow it. Soon she came to understand that this rock, this heart of a comet, held an extraordinary power; one that if harnessed, might be able to peacefully restore her planet.
"Now Ishtar knew what to do, she now knew why the crystal object had called her. She would forge a pure and magnificent weapon with which she would free her people and protect them against any evil. The sword would always protect the innocent, human, elf, or otherwise; the sword itself would be incapable of committing any crime or be used for evil. Labouring for many days, Ishtar moved the crystal and followed the path that she felt was right. The elf did not know that it was her brother that guided her in the Badlands, delivering her to her destiny. He lead her deeper in to the Badlands, deeper than any had ever been at least to tell about it, where Ishtar found a massive volcano rising out of the broken ground. Inside of it she found a forge, the fires fuelled by the very core of the planet.
"The forge was archaic and Ishtar did not know how it came to be; she only knew that this where she would forge her weapon: only its fires would be strong enough to make the metal malleable enough to shape. It took many, many days for the fires to melt the comet heart; so many that Ishtar soon lost track of time. Unbeknownst to her, days were becoming weeks and weeks becoming months while she slaved away in the oppressive heat. When the forge was finally hot enough Ishtar melted down the metal laced crystal and began to craft her sword. As she worked she fed her own magick and power in to the blade, intertwining it with the power already present in the crystalline metal.
"On the blade, in ancient elvish, she engraved the words 'Antura ia aruh, mieaka ia kalie, kimah ia jienda: Gemkia e ehakaimika ia lekiah venak. Whaeleu ehd owequ, finteha.' The blade was light, allowing the wielder extremely fast attacks, yet it was strong and resilient. The sword's blade had a blue hue to the edges and always had a feint glow to it. Upon the hilt sat two crystal crescents (back to back) that identify the sword now. On the bottom of the hilt sat an amber coloured stone, whenever an evil presence is nearby the stone shall become clouded as a warning to the wielder.
"The blade of the sword is incredibly sharp, so sharp that the blade is able to separate whatever blocks the blade's path. The sword is able to cut though even the strongest steel, so long as the wielder has the strength of mind and soul (and of course body) to do so. With her new weapon, Ishtar began an intense training sequence to learn how to harness and wield the fearsome blade. Almost a year later, Ishtar finally emerged from the volcanic forge with the sword in a sheath made from mythril, an elven metal so light and so strong that many seek it for weapons, adorned with the finest gems. She trekked back to the elven camp, always knowing where her people where instinctively. There she was startled to find that almost a year had passed and that the forces were readying for a final assault to finish the humans off. Though astonished to see Ishtar again with such a magnificent weapon, Marduk, whom she had left in command, immediately handed leadership back to Ishtar. Before she knew, it the troops were on the march towards the human encampment, back through the Badlands.
"While Ishtar had laboured away in the subterranean forge, the young human princess of Venus left for the Moon where her senshi training was to be completed and where she was sworn in as one of the Queen's elite guard. When the young girl returned to her home she was shocked to see the army preparing to make an attack via the Badlands. Both were exhausted from their journeys and the war, so they simply agreed to the assaults in hopes of finishing the war once and for all.
"When the armies met in the harsh, fiery Badlands they met and immediately charged into battle. Ishtar held back from the battle, looking for one person; when she finally saw the young senshi of Venus she slipped away from the battle to confront her. She thought to capture the princess and make her surrender in hopes of ending the battle before too many would die. Jena too hoped and planned for this.
"When they came face-to-face Ishtar again saw the person who haunted her dreams, she told the human princess to surrender and that no one would be enslaved or imprisoned. But the girl would not surrender, she declared that if Ishtar surrendered then the elves too would be free, but neither would give up. Each was too headstrong and full of dignity to forfeit; they threw themselves into a fierce battle. Although they each were reluctant to hurt each other, they knew that this battle would decide the outcome of the war and establish the future of the planet."
~~~~~
The almost hypnotic effect of Arica's retelling of the myth was broken as she was racked by a fit of coughs. Pressing a hand to her chest, she desperately tried to suppress the paroxysms. Minako quickly slid over to refreshment unit and pressed a few buttons, then, with a glass of water in hand, she knelt by her cousin and offered the drink. Nodding her thanks, Arica managed to take a drink of the liquid in between coughing fits. Repeating the process a few times, she managed to get the coughing under control.
Minako, still crouching by Arica, placed a hand on her knee and asked, concern lacing her voice, "Are you sure you are okay, and wouldn't you be better off in an infirmary?"
Arica shook her head violently, "No. This mission is greater than all of us. If we fail then we not only damn ourselves, but also the entire galaxy." Quieter, she added, "And with the fall of our galaxy, the fate of the universe is sealed."
"It's that big?" the Guardian of the Gates of Time asked, "I knew that this battle would be crucial to our existence, but to the entire universe?"
"Oh yes." Closing her eyes and leaning back into the chair, Arica tried to banish the rest of the pain in her ribs and chest. If she survived this battle on Saturn then she would have to get healed, fast. If she knew Jennkyra and the Tryad, then the battle had only just begun. She opened her eyes again and smiled, patting Minako's hand she said, "Oh fear not, cousin mine. We have just and good on our side, while it does not insure a victory, good will always win. Of that you must always believe." The last sentence addressed the others as well as Minako. "When you doubt yourself or your cause then you are all but insuring your enemies victory."
"Damn cous., can you get anymore melodramatic or erudite?" Minako asked with a grin.
"Mmm. I know, it's all of these life times coming back to haunt me," Arica laughed before grinning mischievously and adding in a loud whisper, as though telling a secret, "Before you know it, you too will sound like the 'o' wise and mysterious garnet eyed one'." She then flashed a disarming grin at Setsuna to show that no offence was meant. The woman in question simply rolled her eyes, quite used to the young woman's antics that were so alike to Minako's. "But seriously, don't doubt yourselves."
"I don't think we'll have to worry about that too much, loosing faith will be the last thing that we will do," Rei said confidently, the others nodding in agreement.
"Be that as it may," Arica told them, "But when you've watched friends be tortured and mercilessly slaughtered, when you've lost battle after battle, and when you see no way out of the endless cycle of death, you begin to doubt everything-"
From where she sat with young Serenity, Setsuna added, "-including your sanity." Unable to speak after such a statement, especially from one they saw as the most stable of them all, the younger senshi and princess sat in a hushed silence, not saying anything and pondering what could have made these two warriors feel this way.
Sensing the turn of the mood to melancholy, Arica again tried to lighten the mood, though she used a different tactic. "As much fun as it is sitting here staring at our feet and contemplating the fuzz in our belly buttons, I have to admit that I would prefer something a little more thrilling," she flashed a grin. "Do you guys have anymore questions? Well, you would wouldn't you? I mean, there is so much left to ask."
Minako rose to her feet, shaking her head in response to her cousin, and went to go to sit back in her chair when a pair of arms snaked around her waist and drew her back. Without so much as a warning, she was unceremoniously pulled into the large chair and her cousin's lap. "What?.Ari," Minako growled.
"I'm sure they have some question that only you can answer. And interestingly, too." Minako saw the mischievous gleam return to Arica's silver eyes, though, to tell the truth, that gleam never left. In response to the rather pointed comment, Minako blushed a light pink and went to jab Arica with an elbow. Then, remembering her injuries, Minako resorted to simply stomping on her cousin's foot.
"OW! You vicious, little terror," Arica yelped and jerked her foot out of Minako's stomping range. Unable to maintain a downcast mood with the two's antics, the senshi and princess couldn't help but laugh. Setsuna allowed a smile to lighten her features, her respect for the young woman grew with each moment. She seemed to have the ability to lighten anybody's mood and bring out the best in everyone around her. She and Minako were very much alike in this too.
Feigning mock-hurt and anger, Arica glared and growled, "Oh, you think my pain is funny, eh? Princesses.riiight." Sticking her tongue out and blowing a raspberry, she continued and gave off the air of an indignant feline who had her dignity stepped on. "Fine then, I'll leave you with the little viper. And I'll leave you to find out where to locate and awaken Saturn all by yourselves!" She sat back in the chair, crossed her arms over her chest, and proceeded to ignore them like a petulant child.
This only served to make the senshi and princess laugh even harder; managing to suppress some of her giggles, Minako said to the others, "Aww, I think we've gone and hurt her feelings, well, at least her pride, anyway." Then she addressed her cousin, "You're not really mad at us are you? You know I couldn't bear it if you were angry with me," Minako ducked into Arica's line of sight and stared at her with her patented 'puppy-dog eyes.' No one was able to resist them, not even Arica.
Sighing grumpily, Arica tried to look away in an attempt to maintain the act, but Minako was exceptionally good at getting what she wanted. "Oh, fine! Just stop that!" Arica finally growled. "That is not nice, and you know it." Minako grinned and clapped her hands like a happy child who just got what they wanted.
Near them, Makoto leaned over to Ami, who sat next to the thunder senshi, and said, loud enough so that all could hear them, "You notice how child- like they are?" Then as an after-thought, she added, "And similar?"
"Mmm," Ami commented, then, seeing the two in question watching her she swallowed half nervously and asked, "So, what happened next?"
This served to distract the two enough; Ami sighed in relief. Having both Arica and Minako watch you like a predator was defiantly not fun. "Eh, they fought," Arica stated, as if it was the end of the tale.
"That can't be the end of the story, I mean, come on, they hated each other. How can that be the end of the tale?" the fire senshi asked.
Grinning, Arica asked, "Who said they hated each other?"
"They were mortal enemies, right?" Haruka asked.
"True," Minako agreed, though with a smile that said that she knew far more than she was willing to tell just yet.
Setsuna spoke up, "Surely you remember the feud between Neptune and Uranus, not so long ago?" Michiru and Haruka glanced at each other. "We all know how that situation ended. Wars and disputes raged across both planets for a time, didn't it? You two are testament of how hatred can go only so far."
"You don't mean that Ishtar and Jena." Ami's question trailed off as she realised just what she was asking. The girl was still quite easily embarrassed.
However, she had guessed correctly, and the others could tell from Minako's blush. That, and she seemed to find Arica's sleeve extremely interesting as she traced the symbol on her gauntlet. "They're waiting for an answer you know. And, you're blushing a lovely shade," Arica teased. Minako blushed harder and made no comment.
From where she sat with Michiru, the Uranian chuckled, "Well, I think we've got our answer or as much as we are going to get, anyway." She grinned and waited for Minako to say something, when she didn't she asked, "So, tell us Minako, did they." Haruka wiggled her eyebrows for emphasis.
For her teasing Haruka received a sharp elbow in the ribs from Michiru, "Behave!" she scolded. Then with a grin she said, "If she wants to tell us how things became resolved, then she will do so."
Minako blinked at the comment and shook her head, "You people are insufferable." Laughter rippled through the assembled.
Serenity looked up at Setsuna, "Pluto, how come you don't seem to remember the Tryad?"
"Please, Princess, call me Setsuna," then looking at the other inner senshi, she added, "All of you. As to why I don't have memories.well, I would assume that it has to do with Saturn calling upon the Silence." Quieter, to herself, she murmured, "Although, it doesn't make all that much sense, seen as how every other time I have either been unaffected, or gain my memories back in time."
"If you will," Arica said, interrupting the time guardians thoughts, "I may be able to explain." Arica shifted Minako slightly before continuing, at Setsuna's consent, "Now, you'll have to understand that I am neither scholar nor god. With that said, hopefully you will still listen," she gave a grin. "When the Tryad came we were unprepared, and it soon became apparent how unprepared we were. The other thing that you should remember is that most of this comes memories."
"But- if you'll excuse me for interrupting," Rei said, and then continued when Arica nodded, "Why do you remember, but we don't."
Arica chuckled, "Well, the thing is when you senshi are reincarnated it is into a new body. Sometimes there will be differences in both appearance and personality." Seeing the slight confusion on some of their faces, Arica explained, "Okay, for example, there was one incarnation of.actually, I'll use one you already know. Take Jena and Minako, now, they are actually both quite similar in looks, although, Jena's eyes tended to have more green and her hair was darker. Personality wise, though, where Minako is social, outgoing, and a flirt-"
"I am not a flirt!" Minako half-yelled.
"You are so! I should know for a fact, seen as how I taught you!" Arica shot back. "And I taught you well. Anyway, where Minako likes to be the centre of things, Jena was actually shy, reserved, quiet, and dignified."
"Are you saying I'm not dignified?" Arica simply favoured Minako with a look and smiled. And was promptly smacked for it.
"So, we are never the same person twice, that is rather understandable," Michiru said, trying to get them back on track. They were amusing to watch, but her curiosity had been peaked. Just as much as the others. "But how does this influence whether or not we remember past lives?"
'Well, I was getting to that before someone so rudely interrupted me," Arica glared pointedly at Minako. "The thing is, in some lives you may be reborn with just similar traits physically, psychologically, emotionally, or even magickally to those of the past. You will always have the senshi abilities and duties; those are tied to your souls. You will be conditioned in each life to bear the responsibility and obligations that come with being a senshi. No ordinary person may be a senshi; it is far too much of a strain, but this you already know," the others smiled at this comment. "The thing is in each life it is a different body, there is always something different. But sometimes, sometimes the supposedly impossible happens. In extremely rare, and usually unheard of, cases the senshi spirit and soul may be born into the same body."
"What do you mean same body?" Ami asked, curiosity etched across her intelligent features.
"Well, in those rare cases, the senshi is exactly the same. Then, the body and soul have been born in to the same vessel." After a moment, Arica added, "Also, in those cases the senshi tends to have the same name."
After considering this for a few moments, Haruka asked, "Why is it so rare?"
The girl grinned, "Glad you asked. Well, in order for this to happen, the senshi must die a sudden and unplanned death."
Makoto frowned and said dryly, "I'm pretty sure no one plans his or her death."
"That," Arica rolled her eyes and said, "Is not what I meant. I mean fate, destiny; you know, destined to live a long life or fated to die protecting the one you love or your liege. By it being unplanned I meant, if you died in a way not even the Fates could predict. That, usually happens from a doomsday spell or weapon from a seemingly unbeatable foe, or from your own evocation of a catastrophic force."
"Like Saturn," Serenity said.
"Exactly. No one can tell if that will ever happen, that is one of the unforetellable events."
"So, does that mean we all have a destiny that we will die in a particular way?" the young princess of Mars asked.
Arica glanced over at Setsuna, "That, I think is more of your territory. I just know about past lives, incarnations, reincarnation, and magick. I mostly leave fate and time to others."
A small smile showed on the time guardian's features, "Not very many people want the headache that comes with either job, time or reincarnation." She addressed Rei's question, "The thing you must understand about time and destiny is that there is no path set in stone. Every decision we make influences the outcome in the end. There is usually an event, like our death or, for some, marriage, that will almost always stay the same," she paused to let what she said to sink in. "But, that does not mean that our 'fate' is inescapable or out of our control. Time and fate, or destiny, or whatever you want to call, it is actually much like a river. You would think that the course is unmoveable and cannot deviate, but if you try hard enough and use the right methods you can make that river flow east instead of west. It is really a matter of how hard you desire the change. That is the difference between humans and animals and so many other species, we have the power to influence our fate."
"It's merely a matter of determination. That was defiantly a good explanation, most people think that they can't change their destiny and give up. I can tell you now that changing one's destiny is probably the hardest thing to do, in fact, often times it is down right impossible," Arica grinned, "Not that that has ever stopped me from trying."
Michiru looked at the girl curiously, "You've changed your destiny before?"
"Mm-hmm, it was a battle that I actually lost."
Confusion and bewilderment spread across many of the senshi's features, "You want to run that one by us again?" Makoto asked.
Arica laughed, "It wasn't just me that changed my destiny, the thing that most don't know is that you cannot change your destiny alone. You must have help, and usually it is an extraordinary and exceptional power that intervenes on your behalf."
"What intervened on your behalf," Minako asked.
Grinning she answered, "You should know that one, silly; 'specially as you are senshi of it. Love. Love, my friends, conquers all. And that is why the Fates hate it so much. It gives them such a headache." She laughed and then said, "But we seemed to have strayed a little off from your question, princess. The difference between the senshi and we Guardians, the reason why we remember what you do not: we are born into the same body each time. That is why we remember everything; in each life we are the same person. Each time I will be born again as Arica, I will have the same features and personality, I will always be born again as Kaze, the guardian of the element of wind."
"Yeah, and you will always be born again as the same pain in the ass, sent to drive me insane," Minako muttered with a glare.
"That, dear Miko," she grinned, "Is very true." More seriously she added, "Whilst everything will not be the same in each life, in fact it rarely is, I will always relatively turn out the same way."
"A brat, cheeky, mischievous, impish, precocious, and so many other things that I can't remember at the moment, but above all else: pain in my behind," Minako added with a cheeky grin. "But utterly adorable and the biggest flirt this side of Venus." As a response, Arica stuck her tongue out at her cousin.
"So then, you remember the past because you are the same person each time?" Rei asked.
"Yup, it is a natural thing for us. I usually regain my memories when I am Called."
A look of puzzlement crossed the Mercurian princess' face, "Called?"
"To my duty and destiny," Arica answered.
"Ah. How do you know you are called?" the girl asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Arica smiled, "Well, it is kind of hard to explain. You just know that it is your time, sometimes there are omens and others a vision, but for all it is the same. You know that your innocence has ended and now you have a task."
Mischief dancing in her eyes, Haruka reminded the others of the earlier conversation, "So, Minako.what happened in the Badlands after Arica stopped the tale?"
Glaring at the Uranian for bringing up the subject again, Minako begrudgingly answered, "Nothing of the sort that you are suggesting, Haruka." She chose to ignore the smirk on the older girl's face and continued, "Actually, the story gets even more interesting. It seems that there were evil forces at work on Venus at the time."
"So, you mean the humans and elves were manipulated into the war?" the thunder senshi asked.
"As much as we all wish that Ishtar and Jena had been manipulated into war, that was not so. Each well and truly hated the other. There was always distrust and dislike under the surface with the humans and elves, but an outside force sparked it. The problem was that it created an avalanche effect and damn near wiped out all of Venus."
"I suppose I should tell the next part of the tale as I was there," Minako said, taking a deep breath before continuing, "What few know of is the battle that ensued in the Badlands. I don't know for how long it raged, but soon Ishtar and Jena had become separated from their armies and drifted away, too locked in battle to notice." As Minako spoke, the memories flooded her mind again with a startling clarity, making it seem as if she were there.
~~~~~
The elven princess' golden- flecked eyes widened at the bolt of raw energy thrown at her head. With a growl, Ishtar swung her sword up to deflect the blast; the blue hued blade, absorbing some of the energy and reflecting the rest, showed no mark from the intense blast. 'You'd thing the girl was trying to kill me,' Ishtar thought sourly, then after a moment she amended, 'Probably is too. I am responsible for her family's deaths after all.' No sooner had Ishtar blocked the magickal attack from the human girl, when she felt the blast of hot air and acid from behind her. A quick glance over her shoulder confirmed her suspicions that there was a sulphur dioxide- spewing geyser behind her. Remembering that the gas was quite poisonous and harsh on the lungs, she quickly took a deep lungful of hot, but almost pure -as pure as one can get in the Badlands- air.
Expecting for the human princess to press the advantage, Ishtar was surprised when the girl threw an attack at her which caused her to duck and roll to the left, away from the geyser. 'Maybe she wants this battle as little as I,' she wondered. 'Maybe she is as tired of all of the death.maybe all the humans are.' Ishtar exhaled and barked out in a harsh voice, "Give it up and I swear that I will do everything in my power to make this go away as easily as possible! We don't want revenge or retribution! Just an end!!"
"You know that isn't possible," Jena responded her voice as equally as harsh from the arid and acidic environment. She smiled wryly, "Neither of us can surrender, and yet neither of us wish to further this blood bath, what cruel games the gods play on we mere mortals."
Ishtar swung her blade in a vertical cut, Jena's own sword quickly darting to intercept and deflect it. "Perhaps. You have haunted my dreams all these months," the elf told Jena without a trace of embarrassment, shame, or regret.
Jena rolled her eyes and said in an exasperated tone, "This is not the time for things like that, you know!" She ducked to the right to avoid another blow and jabbed at Ishtar's unprotected side.
Ishtar laughed -an odd sound from one fighting with their once mortal enemy. "Be that as it may, 'tis be true," after a moment, she added, "I meant what I said that night.I don't hate your people. Not anymore. What point is there?"
Jena nodded in understanding and didn't notice that Ishtar had blocked the move. Both were near exhaustion after their respective journeys and the battle. They traded a few more blows before Jena replied, "Strange how you can be so sure of something your entire life, and then at one moment it all changes. In the course of an hour, everything you knew to be true and a constant is changed so dramatically."
Ishtar deftly leaped over a lava filled chasm and dodged another geyser, this one spouting out blasts of fire. This was defiantly not the place for a battle, much less a conversation. "What do we do? If we walk out of here, what happens then? To much blood has been shed and too many lives taken by both sides for this to have a happy ending."
Jena sighed and let the exhaustion show through, making her seem decades older. "I truly don't know. I vowed once to make my family's murderers pay, but their deaths will bring no one peace for they were avenging someone else. All this is, is an endless, bloody cycle, one we can never escape from."
Ishtar watched the girl in front of her for a few minutes and then glanced around her. They were on a stable, if not jagged and rocky, island of sorts, surrounded on most sides by rivers of molten rock. Where there was not lava, there were geysers of sulphuric acid, carbon dioxide, and fire. An endless ring of fire. She looked up meeting Jena's blue eyes with her own silver and golden ones. "There is always an end, one just has to know where to look," her voice was oddly hushed and Jena had to take a step closer and strain to hear over the howling, dry winds. Ishtar slid her sword into the sheath that seemingly appeared at her side. Elven magick came in rather useful at times. She then showed that her hands were free of any weapon and stepped closer to Jena. "You were the better combatant. Despite my training in the forge, I was unable to defeat you in battle because I was so exhausted. My only request is and was that my people not be judged too harshly for their crimes as many were only following orders and acting out of pain."
Realising what the elf was saying, Jena shook her head violently. "Either we both leave the Badlands together, or neither of us leave them at all. I shall not, and cannot, do it!"
Infuriated, Ishtar growled back, "How can I ask to live and expect to when I have such crimes and sins in my past?! I am responsible for so many deaths and so much blood shed, surly our home needs no one like me!"
"If you are responsible, then what of me?!" Jena yelled back, staring at the proud elf before her on one knee waiting for her to end it. "I am just as guilty of spilling blood as you, how can you ask me to end your life when should not my life be forfeit as much as yours?" Jena's eyes locked with Ishtar's, imploringly, after a few moments she finally spoke again, this time her voice much softer than before, "Please don't ask me to do that. Anything but that." She paused before continuing, "Especially when 'tis your voice that haunts me and the face that I see when I close my eyes or dream is yours. I came here knowing there was no way I could kill you. How can you kill someone that in one night, you fell in love with against all your efforts?" Dropping her gaze to the ground, Jena waited for Ishtar's response.
It was some time before the elf found her voice and the words. "All these years I haven't been listening to my heart or my head. I don't know what I have been listening to, I suppose I did think it was my heart. I know now that it wasn't because for the last year I have been trying to ignore my heart and what it tells me. What it says can't be true, for not even the gods are that cruel as to play a joke such as this." Less then a meter away, Jena closed her eyes and turned her head away, trying to banish the pain in her heart. It cannot be! She opened her eyes, startled when she felt a soft hand gently touch her cheek and tilt her chin up. "And yet, I find I can ignore it no longer. As confused and scared as I may be, I know that what it tells me is true." The elf's eyes softened, "As impossible as this may turn to be."
".'tis just as impossible to ignore it," Jena said with a small smile. Though small, it was the first, genuine smile that the human princess had given in many years. Before the elf could respond, the ground beneath them began to rumble and quiver. Jena looked up at the taller elf, alarm creeping into her blue eyes, "The volcano?"
Ishtar shook her head. "No, that thing has been dormant of centuries if not millennia." She watched the ground, concern showing through in her eyes too. After a moment she murmured, "'Tis not the planet that causes this distress." Her sharp gaze watched as a crack began to grow, "What evil is afoot here?" she whispered, as she instinctively reached out and pulled Jena unresistingly against her.
"Ishtar," Jena said, fear edging into her voice, "Over there."
Following the younger girl's gaze, Ishtar's eyes widened in realisation as she saw an identical chasm growing on the other side of them. "Shit," she said before meeting Jena's eyes as the ground beneath them gave way and plummeted, taking them with it.
~~~~~
"What happened?" Makoto asked when Minako had trailed off.
Arica nudged Minako. "Hmmm? Oh, the outside force that sparked the war revealed itself to Ishtar and Jena. Only through overcoming their differences and hatred were they able to work together to complete the seven challenges set before them by Nergal and Ereshkigal."
"Nergal and Ere-who?" Makoto asked with a slight frown.
Smiling, Minako told the tall warrior of Jupiter, "Ereshkigal and Nergal were the two that plotted to have the elves and humans annihilate each other. They just never anticipated upon Ishtar and Jena being able to overcome their hatred."
"Yeah, but you also forgot about Ereshkigal's thing for Jena," Arica added with a grin; to which, Minako simply rolled her eyes and sighed. After a few minutes, she spoke again, "Anyway, if there are not anymore questions, then I suggest that we all get some sleep. We still don't know what awaits us on Saturn." Arica told them after watching a few of them try and hide yawns. The Moon princess had already drifted off as soon as the tale was finished, leaning against a rather placid Rei. Near them, the Mercurian senshi would be soon to follow if the drooping of her head was any indication.
The tall Uranian glanced around and chuckled, "I think you are quite right. It is their bed time." With a crooked grin at the sleepy Michiru, she added, "It is far past ours."
The ones who had fallen asleep or were almost there were roused and Arica showed them to their quarters. Before ducking into her's, Rei eyed the ship suspiciously, "Most of us were under the impression that the Earthlings didn't have many ships and those that they did were.primitive."
The tall blond grinned, "Ah, now while that may be true of Earthers, I am not bound by the same laws as they." With another mysterious grin that would rival even Setsuna's, Arica turned and guided her cousin down the corridor. After a few turns, she stopped and pressed the control plate. She steered Minako over to the bunk and gently pushed her onto it; Minako didn't even try to resist.
"Why am I so tired.exhausted, really?" She asked as her cousin laid the blanked over her and sat upon the edge of the bunk, which was oddly comfortable considering that it was a cot.
"Because, silly Miko, you not only battled a creature of nightmares but also channelled a very powerful soul. While being an actual descendant helps, you will find that when Ishtar leaves you, you'll feel quite exhausted. Your body will learn to adjust to it, but only if it is given time to." Arica reached up and gently brushed Minako's bangs away from her forehead. Sighing, she admitted, "I really wish I had the time to spend with you. Some days I truly regret my calling, because my duties take me so far away from you. Maybe one of these days we will get the chance to sit down and reminisce of days passed, mmm?"
Minako nodded sleepily, her exhaustion showing through, "That would be nice. I've missed you too."
Arica smiled, leaned up, and kissed Minako softly on the forehead. "Goodnight, you. I will see you in a few hours." She stood and when she glanced over her shoulder before stepping out, she found Minako already asleep. "Sweet dreams, Miko."
~~~~~
Some might call Minako's dreams sweet, and some, peaceful. Others might have said disturbing, but Minako called them memories, of a life passed and gone.
~~~~~
Stepping into the Queen's chambers, Ishtar glanced around. When she didn't see her quarry in the room she raised an eyebrow in a silent question and began to search for her mate. After a thorough search that did not turn up any sign of the human queen of Venus, Ishtar stalked back into the main room and frowned at the walls as if accusing them of hiding Jena. After a moment, she heard the flapping of the curtains in the gently night's breeze. She looked over to discover the balcony doors slightly ajar. 'Ah, I should have guessed,' she thought as she silently crossed the room and stepped through the doors, pausing in the doorway to watch the young woman who had come to and still held her heart.
The young queen of Venus stood at the wall, arms wrapped around herself, as she looked out over the capital city of Venus, Alihan. In the time following the end of the civil war, peace had at first been trying and difficult on both parties, but now the effects were showing as old wounds were healing and new friendships forged. The people had been surprisingly accepting of the relationship that had been formed between the two young rulers, in fact, the only resistance had come from some of the older generals. Jena chuckled softly as she remembered Ishtar's response to their opinion, after that fiasco, neither human nor elf voiced any problem with the relationship.
Upon thinking of the strong-willed and fierce elf, Jena smiled. Since their confrontation in the Badlands and the discovery of Nergal and Ereshkigal, both had let go of their fears and finally allowed themselves to feel what they had each denied since that first meeting in the woods that fateful night. It was hard at times, some days it was down right near impossible, but time had a way of healing even the most painful of pains. Jena gasped softly when she felt strong arms encircle her waist and draw her against a familiar body. She sighed as Ishtar laughed softly in her ear. "I'm not used to you doing that! I wish you would stop sneaking up on me."
Ishtar chuckled and kissed Jena softly on the cheek, "Sorry, you are just too much fun to do that too. I mean, you jump so well and get so mad at me." Jena twisted around to glare at the taller elf, to which, Ishtar laughed and kissed the tip of Jena's nose. "Don't do that, it is defiantly not becoming of a lady of your stature." So instead, the human queen promptly stuck out her tongue. Ishtar laughed even harder, "And that is any better? If your ministers saw you acting like this they would have kittens.on second thought, come on! Let's go." Ishtar grinned and headed towards the door, Jena's hand in her own.
Unable to resist any more, Jena too laughed, "You are an absolute terror." She stood firmly and instead pulled the elf back to her. Instead of resisting, Ishtar stepped back to Jena, pulling the smaller woman closer.
"Oh?"
"Mm-hmmm," Jena nodded.
"And am I to assume you like this terror?" she asked, her golden eyes glittering in the moonlight mischievously.
Jena smiled up at her lover, "Oh, very much."
"Well, that's a good thing, it simplifies so many things," Ishtar murmured before kissing Jena ever so softly. When she pulled away, she brought up their intertwined hands and kissed the back of Jena's softly and held it against her chest. Then she looked back over the city, it was some time before either spoke again. "What were you doing out here?" Ishtar finally asked, exhaling a content sigh as Jena shifted to slip her remaining arm about her waist and rest her head on Ishtar's shoulder.
"Oh, just thinking about the Badlands again and all that happened there."
"Mmm," Ishtar murmured before resting her head upon Jena's. "And your Queen Serenity knew nothing of those two?"
Jena shook her head softly, "No, when I told her and the other senshi of the events they were surprised to hear about the war raging, let alone those two."
Ishtar laughed softly, a sound that Jena loved to hear, knowing how rare it was for the normally aloof elf to express many of her emotions. "And how did they react to the news of me?"
Jena could imagine the mischievous twinkle in her love's eyes. "Actually, they were a little surprised. After all, I am usually rather shy and quiet as opposed to some of the others."
"Mmm, I must know a different person," Ishtar paused, and Jena had learned to dread these types of pauses as they tended to signal another of the elf's teasing moods. "The Jena I know is rarely quiet."
"Ishtar!" Jena cried as she smacked the elf soundly. Ishtar simply laughed and recaptured Jena's hand. A little while later, Jena pulled away enough to glimpse the taller woman's face. Ishtar watched the city below them and the night sky with her normal criticalness and sharp gaze. Jena had come to recognize this watchful manner and the way the elf's jaw was set, that Ishtar had something serious on her mind. "What are you thinking of?"
Ishtar didn't immediately answer, and when she did it was almost reluctantly. "I can't help but wonder what this universe has in store for us." She glanced down at her lover, "Our battles are not over, not by a long shot. But.for some reason I know that we are going to have more than our fair share of trying times a head of us. And some of them will seem as if there is no way out. People such as we never know what the fates have in store for us."
Jena nodded, "And neither will our descendants, but is that not our curse and gift?" She reached up and brushed a lock of hair out of Ishtar's face and smiled softly. "We are meant for great things.as will our children be, and their children's children. That is the fate of the senshi of this system, along with those like you who fight similar battles to our. We may never know why we are chosen for our tasks or why it is we who must sacrifice so much for the greater good, but that is not what matters. That is our destiny," Jena's grin broadened, "And it really isn't so bad when you think about it, you know."
Ishtar smiled in return, "When did you get so damned smart?"
"When I started listening to my heart and ignoring my fears and rationalism. Some things you just have to trust your heart on; it will never steer you wrong."
~~~~~
Minako sat up in her bunk, Jena's words echoing in her mind. She glanced over at the chronometer on the panel near her head. A few hours had passed, and by Minako's estimation, they should be nearing Saturn very soon. Minako swung her feet off of the bunk and set them down on the warm floor. 'I guess they thought of everything when the built this ship,' she thought as she stood. Much more comfortable and practical clothes had been set in a chair thoughtfully. Who knew what kind of terrain they would encounter on the forbidden of Saturn?
After changing, Minako stepped out into the corridor and headed in what she hoped was the direction to the helm, where, presumably, her cousin would be. Minako wanted to speak to Arica about this mission without the others and to find out just what she was not telling them.
Just as Minako had thought, Arica sat in the pilot's chair, staring out into the vastness of space and at the violet blip on the screen that was growing slowly. They were almost to Saturn. "Right on time as usual." Arica swivelled her chair around to view her cousin. "Sleep well? You look better."
Minako nodded, "Quite well actually, considering that I dreamt the entire time."
Arica quirked an eyebrow and smirked, "I don't think I have to ask what about." At Minako's slight blush, the smirk widened into a grin.
After a moment, Minako sat up straight in her chair. Arica sent her a questioning look. "It's Ishtar, she wishes to speak to you."
"Ah, do you mind any?" Arica asked.
Minako shook her head, "Nah, you said I should get used to being used as a medium after all."
Arica shook her head with a smile. "I didn't quite put it that way," she muttered. After a moment Minako looked up at Arica, the telltale golden tinge to her eyes. "Hullo Ishtar."
Ishtar smiled and leaned back in the chair, "Hello Kaze, it's been a while, no?"
"Mmm, not really. I always end up seeing you one way or another each life time." Arica stretched her long legs out before her and watched as her cousin seemed to take on a few of Ishtar's elven features. "She will get used to you and adjust to your presence, right?"
Ishtar smiled and nodded, "Of course. Minako is just a little more stubborn than any other Guardian after me because she is a senshi and senshi seem to be." Ishtar waved her hand in an off-handed manner. "Well, you know how they can be. I think that part of it is some of Jena's influence."
Arica laughed, "Of course, blame it on Jena." After a few moments of watching Saturn grow on the viewing screen, Arica asked, "What do you make of this whole situation? Do you think we will make it out of this one alive this time?"
Ishtar sighed, "That is impossible to foretell, but then you already know that considering your gifts. This time around, you have all possible resources and help at your disposal. You even have the benefit of knowing something of your enemy this time around. We didn't have that last time."
"No, we didn't, and I can't help but wonder if that was why we failed. Maybe we didn't think that they would figure out what we were doing, or that they might actually be able to escape it."
"Ah, but you could not foretell such an event, but now you know to expect it this time around."
Arica considered Ishtar's words before speaking again. "Do you think Minako has the ability to do it? You know she is going to be instrumental in this entire damned operation."
"Which?" Ishtar asked with a roguish smile.
Arica returned the grin with her own, "Both."
Ishtar sighed again, "That, only time will tell. But, I can tell you this: if Minako would be unable to rise to the occasion, then would she really have been chosen as the Guardian of Venus?"
"Indeed," Arica nodded. "And how much longer can I expect to have these pleasant little chats with you?"
"I am here to ensure Minako is able handle the powers that come with being the Guardian, and to make sure she survives. I think that she will adjust quite quickly in the coming days. The events coming will see to it, but I will always be here should she need any help." After a moment, Ishtar added, "There will come a time when Minako finally understands fully what being the Guardian is and means. Then, she will understand why it is she that is both the senshi and the Guardian. Minako's birth has been prophesised since my own time. Jena and I always knew that there would come a time when our power would finally be born into the same person; our fates and magick have always been intertwined."
Arica nodded in understanding, "And so, Minako, will always wield the sword from this point onward?"
Ishtar nodded, "Every senshi of Venus has been one step closer to who Minako is. Minako is the only senshi who was born ready for this power coupled with her own senshi abilities; her destiny demands it." Both Arica and Ishtar turned to the viewer and the planet that now loomed in front of them simultaneously. Quietly, Ishtar said, "And so it begins anew."
~~~~~
End part one
'Darkness and Light, Tranquillity and Chaos, Good and Evil: blood of Destiny and essence of life. Without the other, nothing.'