Act Eight - Shadows

Back in the lair, Damian's temper was rising faster than the speed of light. The Neo-Soldiers had managed to defeat his strongest and most loyal warrior, despite the fact that Minotaur had drained Sailor Moon's energy and almost succeeded in killing Sailor Uranus and Sailor Venus.

"Damian, I am not pleased with this turn of events one single bit," his mother said, tapping the arms of her throne with her long, claw-like fingernails. "As long as those brats are still alive, the princess has enough power to recapture the Silver Crystal. They are going to ruin our glorious plans!"

"I am aware of the problem, Mother," he growled. "We'll send another soldier to destroy them. It should be quite simple to achieve, considering Uranus is injured and the others are still weak from Minotaur's attack."

Queen Jade shook her head, amazed at her son's stupidity. She had sent him to the finest military schools this galaxy had to offer, yet he couldn't complete this one easy task. It was time to take matters into her own hands.

"I have a better idea," she said, a brilliant plan taking form in her head. "Damian, I want you to go to Elysion."

"Priest Helios-sama, I brought you some tea and bread," Aurora said, lightly knocking on the door to his private prayer room. Helios had been in there ever since he heard the news. Although he attempted to hide his true feelings for Small Lady, she knew he was deeply worried about the princess and the other Neo-Soldiers.

When he didn't answer, she opened the door and found the priest absorbed in his prayers. Not wanting to disturb him, she silently walked over to the altar and placed the tray on the floor beside Helios.

"Thank you, Aurora."

She poured a cup of tea and handed it to him. Not really thirsty, Helios took a sip of the bland liquid, wanting to show Aurora that he appreciated her kindness.

"I'm sorry that I interrupted your prayers, Priest Helios-sama," she apologized, "but I though you might be hungry. You haven't eaten since this morning."

Helios took a couple of bites of the toast, then set it back down and pushed the tray away. "Is there any word from thepalace?" he asked, lighting some incense.

"Small Lady and the others have yet to return to Crystal Tokyo, but the king and queen ask that you keep the Sailor Neo-Soldiers in your prayers." Aurora said, picking up the tray and turning to walk out of the room. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"I'm fine," he replied. "Please do not disturb me again. I would really appreciate a little privacy right now."

"As you wish."

After Aurora left the room, Helios pulled out Chibi-Usa's necklace from his pocket and held it to his breast. The cool metal warmed in his hand. She has to be alright, she just has to, he told himself.

"Please come home soon, my maiden," he whispered.

Meanwhile, back at the palace, Neo-Queen Serenity and King Endymion sat down for dinner in the dining room. The room was eerily silent without Chibi-Usa's bubbly conversation.

The king picked up his chopsticks and began pushing around the food on his plate. He wasn't really hungry, but forced himself to take a couple of bites.

"Usako, are you okay?" he asked his wife, noticing that she had yet to touch her food (an unusual occurrence). "I thought you liked shrimp."

The queen suddenly looked up as if she just now realized there was somebody else in the room beside herself. She had been acting like this ever since Chibi-Usa and the others had left for Andromeda.

"I'm fine," she answered, popping a piece of shrimp in her mouth. "Why wouldn't I be okay?"

"You don't have to lie to me, Usako," he said, glancing over at Chibi-Usa's empty chair. "I'm worried about her too."

A figure appeared at the entrance of the shrine, covered in shadows and darkness, as Aurora began lighting the candles in the main chapel. The flickers of light danced across the newcomer's face, giving him a rather sinister appearance.

"May I help you, sir?" she asked, walking over to greet him. "I am Aurora, a Maenad of this holy temple."

"I would like to speak to the priest of the shrine of Elysion and guardian of dreams," the man said.

"I'm sorry, but Priest Helios-sama is not taking visitors at this hour. If you would like, I will inform him that you came and perhaps he will see you tomo--"

Without warning, the stranger pulled Aurora toward him and held a sharp knife to her slender neck. She whimpered in fear. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice trembling. "What do you want?"

"Perhaps I didn't make myself quite clear earlier," he snarled. The blade moved closer toward the frightened maiden, threatening to slit her throat if she didn't comply with his orders. "I wish to see the man who owns Princess Lady Serenity's heart, immediately! Do you we understand each other, sweetheart?"

Aurora slowly nodded her head, trying to hold back her tears. Where was her fellow Maenad, Eos, when she really needed her? Probably still out on a date with her boyfriend, King Magic of Delos.

"I understand completely," she whispered, not daring to shout out for help.

"Good."

The man placed the knife back into his sheath, much to Aurora's relief. Then he roughly pushed her forward. "Let's get going, honey. I don't have all day. And don't even think of pulling a fast one or you'll make a gorgeous sacrifice to this god of yours."

Almighty Lord, I ask you to please watch over the Sailor Neo-Soldiers through their journey. May they be triumphant in their mission and bring the Silver Crystal back to Crystal Tokyo. Comfort King Endymion and Neo-Queen Serenity during this trying time, and above all, protect their beloved daughter Princess Lady Serenity. Grant her the power to defeat this evil and keep her beautiful dreams alive in her heart, even when it seems all hope is gone. May she return safely home to the people who love her, her family, her friends, and…to me. Amen.

Helios proceeded to light nine pure white candles, one for each of the Sailor Neo-Soldiers. The flames burnt brightly, filling the room with a soothing warm glow.

Knock, knock.

"Who is it?" he asked. "I thought I had made it clear that I wished to be alone."

"Forgive me, Priest Helios-sama," Aurora's voice called from outside the room. "There is a man here who would like to speak to you. He insists that it is an emergency."

Who in the world needed to see him at this hour? He glanced down at his watch and saw that it was almost ten o'clock in the evening. It was rare for visitors to come so late.

Helios opened the door and was surprised to find Aurora standing in the doorway, trembling like a leaf. "Get away from here, Helios-sama," she whispered before she collapsed on the ground.

"Aurora!"

He kneeled down beside Aurora and began shaking her gently. A menacing form approached her motionless body, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, dragging his dark shadows with him.

"You really ought to have listened to your little concubine," a deep voice said.

The priest lifted up his head to see who the voice belonged to. The stranger's green eyes jumped out from the darkness, filled with pure evil. A shiver suddenly went up his spine as the temperature quickly dropped to below freezing.

"Who are you?" Helios asked, slowly standing. "What are you doing here, tainting this holy sanctuary with your shadows?"

The mysterious figure stepped out of the darkness into the soft light of a nearby candle, revealing itself to be a young man dressed entirely in black armor.

"So, you must be the good priest I've read so much about in the tabloids. Princess Lady Serenity's little flirtation has been quite a hot topic in the Galactic Enquirer these last couple of months," he commented, ignoring the question.

"Who are you?" Helios repeated.

The soldier pulled out a long ebony sword and placed against Helios' cheek. A thin trial of blood rolled down his face and into his mouth.

"I am Damian, crown prince of the revived Dark Kingdom and commander of the royal guards," he answered. "Now that the introductions are over,Grandpa, this can go one of two ways. Either you surrender peacefully or you can challenge me to a duel and lose, as you no doubt will."

Helios carefully pushed the sword away from his face, never losing his composure. "What do you want from me, Damian? You have the Silver Crystal in your possession. What more could you want?"

Growing impatient, Damian shoved Helios against the wall. "I don't have all day, old man. At this very moment, your little girlfriend and her silly friends are preparing to attack the Dark Kingdom unless I manage to convince the princess to join the dark side. That is where you fit into the story."

"You want to use me for bait? That will never work. Serenity will never agree to join the Dark Kingdom. She possesses the purest heart I have ever seen. One filled with love, truth, and honor; unlike yours, which is overflowing with hate and deception."

"It is precisely those good qualities that will bring the princess to her ruin," he replied, looking quite sure of himself. "Love is the ultimate sin. It leads people on the path to destruction, and they are powerless to turn back. They continue on, believing it will someday end and that they will somehow find happiness at the end of the road, but they always find themselves trapped in the fire of their desires instead."

Helios used a powerful karate kick to knock Damian's sword from his hand, causing him to yelp in pain. With Damian temporarily unable to attack, the priest ran to the the prayer room and grabbed a golden sword from off the wall.

"I normally don't like to solve my problems with violence," he said to himself, feeling the weight of the blade in his hands. "But I have no choice. I won't allow that demon to hurt Serenity."

A frigid breeze blew across the room, extinguishing the light and enveloping him in a cover of darkness.

"So, you have finally decided to battle against me, the greatest swordsman the world has ever known," Damian said, dark devils dancing in his fluorescent eyes. "I hope you said your prayers, Padre, because you are going to need them."