BLOOD OF THE IMMORTAL,
Chapter 8: "Dreamscape"
By Bill K.
She screamed long. She screamed loudly. She unleashed a primal
expression of utter terror, any pretense of being anything other than a
fifteen year old girl utterly over her head falling away like leaves in
autumn. She screamed because in that moment she sensed that she was
about to die and she didn't want to die. She had too many friends and
too many things she loved and too many reasons to live. She screamed
one long, terrible scream until her throat grew raw and threatened to
cease functioning in protest. She screamed until she no longer had wind
to scream with.
And when nothing happened, Sailor Moon dared to open her eyes and
look. She expected to see a huge black spider engulfing her, poised to
strike. Instead, she was back in chains in the dungeon of Ctesias the
sorceress.
"It was an illusion," muttered Sailor Moon hoarsely, her features
twisted in rage and embarrassment. "It was just another illusion."
"Was it?" asked Ctesias mirthlessly.
Sailor Moon looked up at her. She saw the coldly beautiful
woman's gaze shift to her left shoulder. Sailor Moon followed it and
glanced at her shoulder. Sticking there was a white patch of silken
filament, not unlike that of a spider's web.
Shakes overtook Sailor Moon's frame. Her eyes began to stare off
at nothing in particular. She drew her knees to her chest and huddled
there, trembling.
"And that, Little Princess, is not even the worse I can do to
you," Ctesias said. "Now what is the source of your power?"
Sailor Moon ignored her. She sat on the floor, keening and
trembling without acknowledging anything or anyone.
Ctesias sighed in disappointment. "I do so hate it when they go
catatonic," she scowled. "It's no fun torturing them anymore." She
turned and walked away. "I shall return, Little Princess, when you are
more fit company." And she vanished like a dream before reaching the
door.
"Maiden?" Helios asked with growing concern. Sailor Moon did not
respond, save that her lower lip began to tremble. "Maiden, it is over.
You are safe for now." Still there was no response. "Maiden?"
"Truly this woman is fearsome indeed," Evionne remarked. "I fear
for us all."
"I fear for Sailor Moon most of all," Helios said. "Evionne, I
fear she is in need of help only you can provide. She is in the state
caught between sleep and waking, and I fear she is afraid to come out.
You must enter her dreams."
"Enter her dreams?" gasped Evionne, the mere idea being clearly
unpleasant to her. "Chosen One! You cannot ask me to do that!"
Helios looked down sadly. "There was a time when the Evionne I
once knew would not have thought twice about doing such a thing. I do
not ask solely because I love her and I am concerned for her safety and
well being. I ask because she is the key to all of our safety and well
being. I am saddened that you do not see that."
Evionne looked away with regret. "Forgive me, Chosen One. I fear
I am not your equal in many things, least among them charity and
forgiveness."
"I see that," Helios replied gently. "It does not mean it will
ever be so, dear Evionne. I selected you among all of Elysian to
succeed me when I leave my post and that was for a reason. You have so
much potential, Evionne, potential you do not even realize exists. It
is my fondest wish that some day you realize this potential and
obliterate all memories of me among our people with your own
brilliance."
Evionne glanced at Sailor Moon, still huddled against the wall.
"You exaggerate, Chosen One," she said contritely. "I fear that
is only your second fondest wish. Still, your words have properly
shamed me."
Evionne knelt down so she was eye level with Sailor Moon. The
pink-tressed girl still stared out at nothing in particular.
"Princess," Evionne said, trying to attract her attention.
"Princess." Scowling, she slapped her hand down on the stone floor.
"Princess!"
Gaining no response, Evionne reconsidered her position. Suddenly
she pulled one of her sandals from her feet and flung it through the
bars of the cage at Sailor Moon. The sandal struck her sharply across
the forehead near her left temple. Startled, Sailor Moon looked at her,
fearful of another attack. And in that moment, Evionne became
wraith-like. She slipped through the bars and dived headlong through
Sailor Moon's eyes.
"Princess?" Evionne called.
She was in a land of bubble-gum pink skies and verdant grassy
hills. Gentle breezes wafted across the hillside, suggesting springtime
and life beginning. This was Princess Usagi's normal vision of the
world: hopeful, optimistic, gentle and fun. It gave Evionne another
pang for despising such a girl for so long. However, the longer she
stayed in this place, the more she recognized that something was wrong.
It was deserted. No life, no friends, and most of all no sense of
Princess Usagi's self. There was a stillness and barrenness to the
place that grew more eerie by the moment.
Summoning her wings, Evionne pushed into the sky and covered the
land by air. She searched high and low for some sign of life, some sign
of Usa. She also searched for some sign of the trauma Princess Usagi
had undergone, for that dark stain would be in her psyche just as these
happier times were.
And then, something to her right that wasn't grass. It was a
being - - or at least the Princess's mental image of some being. She
angled off toward the person. As she neared the man, she instantly
recognized him.
"Chosen One," she smiled, then remembered he was only Usa's image
of Helios. Helios was in his human form and, though Evionne didn't
think it possible, he seemed even taller and more beautiful than she
remembered. Landing, she went up to him. "I search for the Princess
Usagi. Have you seen her?"
"No, Evionne," Helios replied, his voice so charming that Evionne
was hard-pressed not to throw herself into his arms. "She is not with
me. Why do you search?"
"She faced a great trauma in the waking world and has retreated
into herself. I must find her and draw her out."
"How childish of her," commented Helios. Evionne was taken aback.
Helios would never say such a demeaning thing, about anyone let alone
his great love. And yet, The Princess thought it possible. "Perhaps
she is not worthy of my love after all." Helios leaned in against
Evionne, his hand caressing her cheek. "Perhaps I should have chose
you, dear Evionne."
Evionne's breath shuddered in her throat. To feel his touch in
such a way, to hear those words spoken was the culmination of all her
dreams. If he kissed her, she would gladly die, for nothing else that
could happen in her life would be as sweet.
"I," Evionne struggled to say, "I am sorry, Chosen One. I must
go."
Tearing herself away, the girl launched herself into the air. She
didn't look back. She couldn't - - not and continue if he was still
there, beckoning to her. With more distance between her and him,
Evionne was better able to grasp what had happened.
"She fears me?" wondered Evionne. "The Chosen One has practically
prostrated himself and his love before her and still she fears one day
he will throw her over for me? Can she not see the abject adoration in
his eyes? I can scarcely believe it."
These thoughts were set aside when Evionne spotted the outline of
a structure in the distance. Flying toward it, she saw the structure
was a brilliant crystalline palace, stretching up into the heavens so as
to dwarf a normal-sized person. The palace gleamed like diamonds in
sunlight, the light occasionally striking a particular facet and being
prismed into a wondrous rainbow. Hovering, Evionne ran her hand along
the wall and felt the smooth cool surface. She had never seen anything
like it. As she moved, the jeweled wall danced with stray bands and
flecks of color. It was a dazzling sight. No one human could have
possibly constructed such a wonder. It was the most breathtaking thing
she'd ever seen.
"Hi," a happy voice said to her. Evionne turned and saw a woman
in a window of the crystal palace. She had brown hair pulled in a
ponytail, large kind eyes and a happy smile.
"You are Makoto Kino," Evionne whispered.
"Right," grinned Makoto. "Have we met?"
"No," Evionne said, flying over. "I recognize you from the
dreamscopes back on Elysian. I have witnessed some of your dreams."
"Really," Makoto said, unperturbed or offended. "I hope I didn't
bore you. Anything I can do for you?"
"I search for the Princess Usagi," Evionne said, landing on the
windowsill and venturing in. There she saw three other women she
recognized as Ami Mizuno, Rei Hino and Minako Aino.
"Usa?" Makoto asked. "Great kid."
"She's so full of life," smiled Ami.
"She's so energetic," grinned Minako.
"The girl amazes me sometimes," added Rei.
Evionne waited for one of them to suggest her whereabouts.
"Of course, she'll never come anywhere close to her mom," Rei
said.
"True. She's just not good enough," Minako agreed.
"She tries," Ami sympathized. "But trying isn't enough."
"Yeah, sooner or later you have to live up to people's
expectations," Makoto said. "Otherwise you're a failure."
Evionne stared at them in shock. Was this how they really felt
about the Princess? Or was this how she felt about herself? Evionne, a
stranger for much of her life to self-doubt, struggled to comprehend how
someone who had accomplished so much in her life - - for when Helios
didn't talk endlessly about it, it seemed Candide did - - could consider
herself a failure.
"T-The Princess?" Evionne stammered, struggling to remember her
mission. "Have you seen her?"
"No," Rei replied sadly. "And we miss her. I wish she'd come
back to us."
"Yeah, she's really fun to play with," Minako giggled.
"I see," whispered Evionne. "Then, do you know of any areas of
darkness nearby? Areas where the light does not go?"
"Yes," Ami said. "There is a place I noticed appeared recently.
It's off in that direction," and she pointed off to the horizon. "If
you're going to go there, please be careful. I don't think it's a very
pleasant place."
"I do not imagine it would be," Evionne said. Turning, she thrust
herself out the window and into the pink sky.
As she flew, Evionne felt more of the shame she felt earlier
creeping up on her. It had been so easy to hate the Princess when she
could be perceived as a spoiled, arrogant little trollop of privilege.
But to see this, combined with the abject loyalty demonstrated to her by
the Chosen One, by Sailor Saturn and even by the thrice-cursed Dead Moon
criminals now hiding out as her senshi, made Evionne lose much of her
anger. Perhaps all those soothing words the Chosen One and the Lady
Candide had tried to impart upon her were true. She had refused to
listen, because they had not made the awful sting of rejection stop.
But neither had her hatred. Her sister, Ravonna, had warned her
such a thing would happen, but she'd been too angry and hurt to listen.
And through it all, the Princess had tried again and again to befriend
her, even though Evionne now knew she was still feared as a rival for
the Chosen One's affections. How small Evionne felt. How petty and
childish.
The sky began to turn as she flew, changing from a pink so sweet
that her teeth ached to a deep, foreboding violet. The grass
disappeared, replaced by barren earth black as onyx. Allowing herself a
moment's trepidation, Evionne ventured on.
It was a nightmare realm. All sentient creatures possessed them.
It was the cluttered little room in the brain where all the traumatic
events of their lives were stored, from great tragedies to the smallest
hurt and the simplest slight. Each stood ready to poison an
unsuspecting dream, changing it into a vile nightmare. Evionne
shivered. She had seen far worse in her time on Elysian, but no
nightmare realm was ever pleasant.
In the midst of the darkness and swirling wraith-like emotional
specters, though, was a beacon of brilliance. Curious, Evionne angled
over to it. As she landed, she was taken aback. The source of the
brilliance was a woman. Her resemblance to the Princess Usagi was
uncanny and for a moment Evionne thought she had stumbled onto the Ego.
Then she realized the woman had to be the fabled Queen Serenity herself.
It was unreal. Serenity shone in the inky darkness like a sun.
So brilliant was she that Evionne's eyes hurt to look upon her.
Serenity hovered in the air as if the very earth itself was too profane
to bear such an exalted person. She radiated and more than just light.
She radiated a sense of calm, of peace and tranquillity beyond the scope
of even mythical beings like the Chosen One.
"Queen Serenity?" Evionne ventured timidly, fearing she would be
struck down for daring even to speak to one so high-borne.
Serenity looked down with a smile of infinite charity. She
lowered herself to the earth. Where her bare foot touched, beautiful
flowers grew. Serenely she clutched her hands to her breast.
"Yes, Evionne," she spoke, Serenity's words a lyrical melody that
instantly sent Evionne's ears into spasms of delight.
"I," she began, "forgive me, your majesty. I search for your
daughter, the Princess Usagi. Please, do you know where she is?"
At the mention of her daughter's name, Serenity grew distressed
and bowed her head. The flowers seemed to wilt ever so slightly in
sympathy.
"My daughter - - she who is my greatest love," Serenity said
sadly, "and my greatest failure."
"Your majesty," gasped Evionne. "Forgive me, but how can you say
this?"
Wordlessly she gestured behind her. A spot was illuminated and
Evionne looked. It was Serenity, asleep as if dead and encased in a
huge crystal that could double as her coffin. The Elysian looked first
at the sight and then at Serenity, confusion clear on her face.
"She is a very talented girl, as one would expect of one who is my
daughter," Serenity said kindly. "She is audacious and gambles much.
When she succeeds, she is the stuff of legends and almost worthy of
being my successor."
Suddenly Serenity whirled around. Her back was another Serenity.
This one was venomous and cruel, imperious and unforgiving.
"When she fails," hissed Serenity, "galaxies crumble and billions
fall into death and ruin!"
Evionne stared in shock, unable to comprehend what she saw.
Serenity whirled again, the serene side showing again.
"She is a kind and loving soul," smiled the good Serenity.
"She is a selfish, worthless brat!" snarled the bad Serenity.
"She is the pinnacle of my existence," sighed the good one.
"She is the millstone that holds me down!" barked the bad one.
Round and round Serenity spun, alternately stopping on the good
one and the bad one. Each time the queen would say something nice or
nasty about her daughter. It continued on until Evionne's head hurt.
Reluctantly, the woman launched up into the air and flew on.
Evionne wanted to leave. The deeper she penetrated Princess
Usagi's psyche, the more her opinion of the girl changed and the more
she wanted to quit. She was becoming too intimate with the Princess.
It was more than she bargained for. What she was seeing was too
personal.
"Courage," she told herself. "If you ever succeed The Chosen One,
you will need to see things like this. That is the purpose of the
Chosen One of Elysian. You cannot oversee the dreams of others if you
flinch from the first one you encounter."
A motion caught Evionne's eye. Someone on the ground was waving
at her. As Evionne neared, she realised it was the Princess's image of
Sailor Saturn. Like before, the image was skewed through the memories
and feelings of the Princess. That would explain why a peculiar glow
resembling a halo seemed to hover over Saturn's head and her uniform
glowed like a new day.
"Sailor Saturn," Evionne began, landing near the senshi. "I
search . . ."
"Evionne, please!" Saturn pleaded desperately. "Usa's in terrible
trouble! You have to help her! Please! I would if I could!"
"Where?" gasped Evionne. "Do you know where she is?"
Saturn pointed into a particularly dank and forboding part of the
nightmare realm.
"She's in there! Please hurry! I couldn't bear it if I lost Usa!
She's the best friend I've ever had! She needs help!" To calm Saturn
as much as carry out her mission, Evionne moved to go, nodding her
assurance that she received the message. "And please don't blame her!"
Saturn called after Evionne. "It's not her fault!"
Evionne nodded and launched into the air again. It was
interesting, she noted, how close her mental image of Saturn's behavior
mirrored what she had observed in reality. Theirs must be a true and
deep friendship for the Princess to see it in such clear and true terms.
The nightmare realm loomed around her as she searched. Evionne could
sense she was close, but there was no sign of her. Where was she?
Finally she spotted twin rabbit's ears of twisted pink hair
peeking up from behind a stone slab. Relieved that her journey might at
last be over, Evionne angled down to the ground.
"Princess Usagi," she began, walking around the stone to the
front. "I am glad I finally found . . ."
Evionne stared in surprise once again. This Princess Usagi was
four years old. She huddled, crying mournfully, atop a grave, her
tearful face pressed to the headstone. Chibi-Usa's eyes shifted to
Evionne and she tensed fearfully.
"Go away!" the child begged tearfully. "Leave me alone!"
Evionne knelt down to the child. Chibi-Usa pressed against the
marker.
"You want to hurt me, too! Leave me alone, please!"
"No, Princess," Evionne choked out. "I wish to help you."
"How? The only ones who can help me are Mommy and Daddy," sobbed
the child. "And I can't get to them anymore! I can't find them! I
can't even find Luna-P! And even if I could . . ."
The child glanced at the gravestone. Evionne shifted to look at
it. It read "Sailor Pluto".
"If only I were a lady, like Mommy," lamented the girl.
"You are," whispered Evionne. "You are a fine lady, a lady of
great character and great standing. You are a lady so great that she
has - - has won the love of the greatest prince the universe has ever
known."
Chibi-Usa stared at her, afraid to believe.
"And you must become that lady again. It is the only way you will
get home."
Chibi-Usa's reply was a fearful shake of her head. She pointed up
above them. A figure grew illuminated. It was Chibi-Usa in her teenage
form of Sailor Moon, nearly mummified in white spider silk. The girl
struggled in the silk in futility, trying with little hope to escape its
sticky embrace.
"She is not trapped forever," Evionne told the four-year-old.
"You can free her. You have the power."
"No!" wailed Chibi-Usa. "The spider'll get me! It almost got me
once! I can't!"
A hand pressed to Chibi-Usa's cheek. She looked up through her
tears and saw Evionne's sympathy.
"That is why I am here," Evionne said. "I will protect you from
the spider, should it appear."
"You will?" Chibi-Usa asked.
"Yes. Together we will defeat it." She held out her hand. "Now
come, child. It is time you acted like the lady you are."
"My Mommy told me that once," Chibi-Usa murmured. Then she nodded
and took Evionne's hand.
Spreading her wings, Evionne lifted them up into the air, up to
where Sailor Moon struggled. She placed Chibi-Usa on Sailor Moon.
"How do we get her loose?" Chibi-Usa asked.
"Pull at the webs," Evionne told her. "Combine your strength with
hers. Do not fear becoming entangled. Together, you can burst the
bonds that hold you back."
Chibi-Usa's response was a terrified shriek. Evionne whirled and
saw a huge black spider lunging at them. Desperately she whipped her
wings at the arachnid, raking at its eyes with her feathers. The spider
fell back, only to lunge several more times, attempting to get through
the wings. Chibi-Usa shrieked again and began crying.
At once, the spider saw an opening and attacked. Evionne fell
back and shot out with her arms, catching the front legs in her hands as
her wings fenced with the second pair. The spider's fangs reached for
Evionne's chest, inches short of plunging its venom into her.
"We can't do it, we can't do it!" wailed Chibi-Usa as Sailor Moon
squirmed frantically beneath her.
"Believe, Princess!" bellowed Evionne. "Belief is the source of
your power! Believe and you will succeed!"
Chibi-Usa stared, trembling, as Evionne desperately held the
spider at bay. Finally she turned and began pulling at the web
encompassing her future self. Harder the child tugged, exerting all the
might her tiny body could manufacture. Her tears began anew, her sobs
taking on a new tone of desperation.
And the silk parted. The cocoon weakened, and as it did Chibi-Usa
was able to pull more away. Partially freed, Sailor Moon was able to
exert her strength and further rip the web. Together the pair pulled
and tugged until Sailor Moon stood free. She scooped Chibi-Usa up into
her arms and, with the child balanced on her hip, produced the Crescent
Moon Wand.
"Moon Healing Escalation!" Sailor Moon cried. The wand flared
bright pink and the energy discharged obliterated the spider. Evionne
turned and, with a sigh of relief, gazed at the pair.
"You did very well, child," Evionne smiled. Chibi-Usa, hugging
her older self, gave Evionne a timid smile, then vanishing into Sailor
Moon. "Come, Princess. Our fight is not over yet. We must still free
the Chosen One."
Evionne started to fly off, her hand joined to Sailor Moon's.
However, Sailor Moon held her back. The Elysian turned, questioning.
"Evionne," Sailor Moon said humbly. "Thank you."
Unable to vocalize her thoughts, lest she betray her emotions,
Evionne merely nodded.
Continued in chapter 9
Chapter 8: "Dreamscape"
By Bill K.
She screamed long. She screamed loudly. She unleashed a primal
expression of utter terror, any pretense of being anything other than a
fifteen year old girl utterly over her head falling away like leaves in
autumn. She screamed because in that moment she sensed that she was
about to die and she didn't want to die. She had too many friends and
too many things she loved and too many reasons to live. She screamed
one long, terrible scream until her throat grew raw and threatened to
cease functioning in protest. She screamed until she no longer had wind
to scream with.
And when nothing happened, Sailor Moon dared to open her eyes and
look. She expected to see a huge black spider engulfing her, poised to
strike. Instead, she was back in chains in the dungeon of Ctesias the
sorceress.
"It was an illusion," muttered Sailor Moon hoarsely, her features
twisted in rage and embarrassment. "It was just another illusion."
"Was it?" asked Ctesias mirthlessly.
Sailor Moon looked up at her. She saw the coldly beautiful
woman's gaze shift to her left shoulder. Sailor Moon followed it and
glanced at her shoulder. Sticking there was a white patch of silken
filament, not unlike that of a spider's web.
Shakes overtook Sailor Moon's frame. Her eyes began to stare off
at nothing in particular. She drew her knees to her chest and huddled
there, trembling.
"And that, Little Princess, is not even the worse I can do to
you," Ctesias said. "Now what is the source of your power?"
Sailor Moon ignored her. She sat on the floor, keening and
trembling without acknowledging anything or anyone.
Ctesias sighed in disappointment. "I do so hate it when they go
catatonic," she scowled. "It's no fun torturing them anymore." She
turned and walked away. "I shall return, Little Princess, when you are
more fit company." And she vanished like a dream before reaching the
door.
"Maiden?" Helios asked with growing concern. Sailor Moon did not
respond, save that her lower lip began to tremble. "Maiden, it is over.
You are safe for now." Still there was no response. "Maiden?"
"Truly this woman is fearsome indeed," Evionne remarked. "I fear
for us all."
"I fear for Sailor Moon most of all," Helios said. "Evionne, I
fear she is in need of help only you can provide. She is in the state
caught between sleep and waking, and I fear she is afraid to come out.
You must enter her dreams."
"Enter her dreams?" gasped Evionne, the mere idea being clearly
unpleasant to her. "Chosen One! You cannot ask me to do that!"
Helios looked down sadly. "There was a time when the Evionne I
once knew would not have thought twice about doing such a thing. I do
not ask solely because I love her and I am concerned for her safety and
well being. I ask because she is the key to all of our safety and well
being. I am saddened that you do not see that."
Evionne looked away with regret. "Forgive me, Chosen One. I fear
I am not your equal in many things, least among them charity and
forgiveness."
"I see that," Helios replied gently. "It does not mean it will
ever be so, dear Evionne. I selected you among all of Elysian to
succeed me when I leave my post and that was for a reason. You have so
much potential, Evionne, potential you do not even realize exists. It
is my fondest wish that some day you realize this potential and
obliterate all memories of me among our people with your own
brilliance."
Evionne glanced at Sailor Moon, still huddled against the wall.
"You exaggerate, Chosen One," she said contritely. "I fear that
is only your second fondest wish. Still, your words have properly
shamed me."
Evionne knelt down so she was eye level with Sailor Moon. The
pink-tressed girl still stared out at nothing in particular.
"Princess," Evionne said, trying to attract her attention.
"Princess." Scowling, she slapped her hand down on the stone floor.
"Princess!"
Gaining no response, Evionne reconsidered her position. Suddenly
she pulled one of her sandals from her feet and flung it through the
bars of the cage at Sailor Moon. The sandal struck her sharply across
the forehead near her left temple. Startled, Sailor Moon looked at her,
fearful of another attack. And in that moment, Evionne became
wraith-like. She slipped through the bars and dived headlong through
Sailor Moon's eyes.
"Princess?" Evionne called.
She was in a land of bubble-gum pink skies and verdant grassy
hills. Gentle breezes wafted across the hillside, suggesting springtime
and life beginning. This was Princess Usagi's normal vision of the
world: hopeful, optimistic, gentle and fun. It gave Evionne another
pang for despising such a girl for so long. However, the longer she
stayed in this place, the more she recognized that something was wrong.
It was deserted. No life, no friends, and most of all no sense of
Princess Usagi's self. There was a stillness and barrenness to the
place that grew more eerie by the moment.
Summoning her wings, Evionne pushed into the sky and covered the
land by air. She searched high and low for some sign of life, some sign
of Usa. She also searched for some sign of the trauma Princess Usagi
had undergone, for that dark stain would be in her psyche just as these
happier times were.
And then, something to her right that wasn't grass. It was a
being - - or at least the Princess's mental image of some being. She
angled off toward the person. As she neared the man, she instantly
recognized him.
"Chosen One," she smiled, then remembered he was only Usa's image
of Helios. Helios was in his human form and, though Evionne didn't
think it possible, he seemed even taller and more beautiful than she
remembered. Landing, she went up to him. "I search for the Princess
Usagi. Have you seen her?"
"No, Evionne," Helios replied, his voice so charming that Evionne
was hard-pressed not to throw herself into his arms. "She is not with
me. Why do you search?"
"She faced a great trauma in the waking world and has retreated
into herself. I must find her and draw her out."
"How childish of her," commented Helios. Evionne was taken aback.
Helios would never say such a demeaning thing, about anyone let alone
his great love. And yet, The Princess thought it possible. "Perhaps
she is not worthy of my love after all." Helios leaned in against
Evionne, his hand caressing her cheek. "Perhaps I should have chose
you, dear Evionne."
Evionne's breath shuddered in her throat. To feel his touch in
such a way, to hear those words spoken was the culmination of all her
dreams. If he kissed her, she would gladly die, for nothing else that
could happen in her life would be as sweet.
"I," Evionne struggled to say, "I am sorry, Chosen One. I must
go."
Tearing herself away, the girl launched herself into the air. She
didn't look back. She couldn't - - not and continue if he was still
there, beckoning to her. With more distance between her and him,
Evionne was better able to grasp what had happened.
"She fears me?" wondered Evionne. "The Chosen One has practically
prostrated himself and his love before her and still she fears one day
he will throw her over for me? Can she not see the abject adoration in
his eyes? I can scarcely believe it."
These thoughts were set aside when Evionne spotted the outline of
a structure in the distance. Flying toward it, she saw the structure
was a brilliant crystalline palace, stretching up into the heavens so as
to dwarf a normal-sized person. The palace gleamed like diamonds in
sunlight, the light occasionally striking a particular facet and being
prismed into a wondrous rainbow. Hovering, Evionne ran her hand along
the wall and felt the smooth cool surface. She had never seen anything
like it. As she moved, the jeweled wall danced with stray bands and
flecks of color. It was a dazzling sight. No one human could have
possibly constructed such a wonder. It was the most breathtaking thing
she'd ever seen.
"Hi," a happy voice said to her. Evionne turned and saw a woman
in a window of the crystal palace. She had brown hair pulled in a
ponytail, large kind eyes and a happy smile.
"You are Makoto Kino," Evionne whispered.
"Right," grinned Makoto. "Have we met?"
"No," Evionne said, flying over. "I recognize you from the
dreamscopes back on Elysian. I have witnessed some of your dreams."
"Really," Makoto said, unperturbed or offended. "I hope I didn't
bore you. Anything I can do for you?"
"I search for the Princess Usagi," Evionne said, landing on the
windowsill and venturing in. There she saw three other women she
recognized as Ami Mizuno, Rei Hino and Minako Aino.
"Usa?" Makoto asked. "Great kid."
"She's so full of life," smiled Ami.
"She's so energetic," grinned Minako.
"The girl amazes me sometimes," added Rei.
Evionne waited for one of them to suggest her whereabouts.
"Of course, she'll never come anywhere close to her mom," Rei
said.
"True. She's just not good enough," Minako agreed.
"She tries," Ami sympathized. "But trying isn't enough."
"Yeah, sooner or later you have to live up to people's
expectations," Makoto said. "Otherwise you're a failure."
Evionne stared at them in shock. Was this how they really felt
about the Princess? Or was this how she felt about herself? Evionne, a
stranger for much of her life to self-doubt, struggled to comprehend how
someone who had accomplished so much in her life - - for when Helios
didn't talk endlessly about it, it seemed Candide did - - could consider
herself a failure.
"T-The Princess?" Evionne stammered, struggling to remember her
mission. "Have you seen her?"
"No," Rei replied sadly. "And we miss her. I wish she'd come
back to us."
"Yeah, she's really fun to play with," Minako giggled.
"I see," whispered Evionne. "Then, do you know of any areas of
darkness nearby? Areas where the light does not go?"
"Yes," Ami said. "There is a place I noticed appeared recently.
It's off in that direction," and she pointed off to the horizon. "If
you're going to go there, please be careful. I don't think it's a very
pleasant place."
"I do not imagine it would be," Evionne said. Turning, she thrust
herself out the window and into the pink sky.
As she flew, Evionne felt more of the shame she felt earlier
creeping up on her. It had been so easy to hate the Princess when she
could be perceived as a spoiled, arrogant little trollop of privilege.
But to see this, combined with the abject loyalty demonstrated to her by
the Chosen One, by Sailor Saturn and even by the thrice-cursed Dead Moon
criminals now hiding out as her senshi, made Evionne lose much of her
anger. Perhaps all those soothing words the Chosen One and the Lady
Candide had tried to impart upon her were true. She had refused to
listen, because they had not made the awful sting of rejection stop.
But neither had her hatred. Her sister, Ravonna, had warned her
such a thing would happen, but she'd been too angry and hurt to listen.
And through it all, the Princess had tried again and again to befriend
her, even though Evionne now knew she was still feared as a rival for
the Chosen One's affections. How small Evionne felt. How petty and
childish.
The sky began to turn as she flew, changing from a pink so sweet
that her teeth ached to a deep, foreboding violet. The grass
disappeared, replaced by barren earth black as onyx. Allowing herself a
moment's trepidation, Evionne ventured on.
It was a nightmare realm. All sentient creatures possessed them.
It was the cluttered little room in the brain where all the traumatic
events of their lives were stored, from great tragedies to the smallest
hurt and the simplest slight. Each stood ready to poison an
unsuspecting dream, changing it into a vile nightmare. Evionne
shivered. She had seen far worse in her time on Elysian, but no
nightmare realm was ever pleasant.
In the midst of the darkness and swirling wraith-like emotional
specters, though, was a beacon of brilliance. Curious, Evionne angled
over to it. As she landed, she was taken aback. The source of the
brilliance was a woman. Her resemblance to the Princess Usagi was
uncanny and for a moment Evionne thought she had stumbled onto the Ego.
Then she realized the woman had to be the fabled Queen Serenity herself.
It was unreal. Serenity shone in the inky darkness like a sun.
So brilliant was she that Evionne's eyes hurt to look upon her.
Serenity hovered in the air as if the very earth itself was too profane
to bear such an exalted person. She radiated and more than just light.
She radiated a sense of calm, of peace and tranquillity beyond the scope
of even mythical beings like the Chosen One.
"Queen Serenity?" Evionne ventured timidly, fearing she would be
struck down for daring even to speak to one so high-borne.
Serenity looked down with a smile of infinite charity. She
lowered herself to the earth. Where her bare foot touched, beautiful
flowers grew. Serenely she clutched her hands to her breast.
"Yes, Evionne," she spoke, Serenity's words a lyrical melody that
instantly sent Evionne's ears into spasms of delight.
"I," she began, "forgive me, your majesty. I search for your
daughter, the Princess Usagi. Please, do you know where she is?"
At the mention of her daughter's name, Serenity grew distressed
and bowed her head. The flowers seemed to wilt ever so slightly in
sympathy.
"My daughter - - she who is my greatest love," Serenity said
sadly, "and my greatest failure."
"Your majesty," gasped Evionne. "Forgive me, but how can you say
this?"
Wordlessly she gestured behind her. A spot was illuminated and
Evionne looked. It was Serenity, asleep as if dead and encased in a
huge crystal that could double as her coffin. The Elysian looked first
at the sight and then at Serenity, confusion clear on her face.
"She is a very talented girl, as one would expect of one who is my
daughter," Serenity said kindly. "She is audacious and gambles much.
When she succeeds, she is the stuff of legends and almost worthy of
being my successor."
Suddenly Serenity whirled around. Her back was another Serenity.
This one was venomous and cruel, imperious and unforgiving.
"When she fails," hissed Serenity, "galaxies crumble and billions
fall into death and ruin!"
Evionne stared in shock, unable to comprehend what she saw.
Serenity whirled again, the serene side showing again.
"She is a kind and loving soul," smiled the good Serenity.
"She is a selfish, worthless brat!" snarled the bad Serenity.
"She is the pinnacle of my existence," sighed the good one.
"She is the millstone that holds me down!" barked the bad one.
Round and round Serenity spun, alternately stopping on the good
one and the bad one. Each time the queen would say something nice or
nasty about her daughter. It continued on until Evionne's head hurt.
Reluctantly, the woman launched up into the air and flew on.
Evionne wanted to leave. The deeper she penetrated Princess
Usagi's psyche, the more her opinion of the girl changed and the more
she wanted to quit. She was becoming too intimate with the Princess.
It was more than she bargained for. What she was seeing was too
personal.
"Courage," she told herself. "If you ever succeed The Chosen One,
you will need to see things like this. That is the purpose of the
Chosen One of Elysian. You cannot oversee the dreams of others if you
flinch from the first one you encounter."
A motion caught Evionne's eye. Someone on the ground was waving
at her. As Evionne neared, she realised it was the Princess's image of
Sailor Saturn. Like before, the image was skewed through the memories
and feelings of the Princess. That would explain why a peculiar glow
resembling a halo seemed to hover over Saturn's head and her uniform
glowed like a new day.
"Sailor Saturn," Evionne began, landing near the senshi. "I
search . . ."
"Evionne, please!" Saturn pleaded desperately. "Usa's in terrible
trouble! You have to help her! Please! I would if I could!"
"Where?" gasped Evionne. "Do you know where she is?"
Saturn pointed into a particularly dank and forboding part of the
nightmare realm.
"She's in there! Please hurry! I couldn't bear it if I lost Usa!
She's the best friend I've ever had! She needs help!" To calm Saturn
as much as carry out her mission, Evionne moved to go, nodding her
assurance that she received the message. "And please don't blame her!"
Saturn called after Evionne. "It's not her fault!"
Evionne nodded and launched into the air again. It was
interesting, she noted, how close her mental image of Saturn's behavior
mirrored what she had observed in reality. Theirs must be a true and
deep friendship for the Princess to see it in such clear and true terms.
The nightmare realm loomed around her as she searched. Evionne could
sense she was close, but there was no sign of her. Where was she?
Finally she spotted twin rabbit's ears of twisted pink hair
peeking up from behind a stone slab. Relieved that her journey might at
last be over, Evionne angled down to the ground.
"Princess Usagi," she began, walking around the stone to the
front. "I am glad I finally found . . ."
Evionne stared in surprise once again. This Princess Usagi was
four years old. She huddled, crying mournfully, atop a grave, her
tearful face pressed to the headstone. Chibi-Usa's eyes shifted to
Evionne and she tensed fearfully.
"Go away!" the child begged tearfully. "Leave me alone!"
Evionne knelt down to the child. Chibi-Usa pressed against the
marker.
"You want to hurt me, too! Leave me alone, please!"
"No, Princess," Evionne choked out. "I wish to help you."
"How? The only ones who can help me are Mommy and Daddy," sobbed
the child. "And I can't get to them anymore! I can't find them! I
can't even find Luna-P! And even if I could . . ."
The child glanced at the gravestone. Evionne shifted to look at
it. It read "Sailor Pluto".
"If only I were a lady, like Mommy," lamented the girl.
"You are," whispered Evionne. "You are a fine lady, a lady of
great character and great standing. You are a lady so great that she
has - - has won the love of the greatest prince the universe has ever
known."
Chibi-Usa stared at her, afraid to believe.
"And you must become that lady again. It is the only way you will
get home."
Chibi-Usa's reply was a fearful shake of her head. She pointed up
above them. A figure grew illuminated. It was Chibi-Usa in her teenage
form of Sailor Moon, nearly mummified in white spider silk. The girl
struggled in the silk in futility, trying with little hope to escape its
sticky embrace.
"She is not trapped forever," Evionne told the four-year-old.
"You can free her. You have the power."
"No!" wailed Chibi-Usa. "The spider'll get me! It almost got me
once! I can't!"
A hand pressed to Chibi-Usa's cheek. She looked up through her
tears and saw Evionne's sympathy.
"That is why I am here," Evionne said. "I will protect you from
the spider, should it appear."
"You will?" Chibi-Usa asked.
"Yes. Together we will defeat it." She held out her hand. "Now
come, child. It is time you acted like the lady you are."
"My Mommy told me that once," Chibi-Usa murmured. Then she nodded
and took Evionne's hand.
Spreading her wings, Evionne lifted them up into the air, up to
where Sailor Moon struggled. She placed Chibi-Usa on Sailor Moon.
"How do we get her loose?" Chibi-Usa asked.
"Pull at the webs," Evionne told her. "Combine your strength with
hers. Do not fear becoming entangled. Together, you can burst the
bonds that hold you back."
Chibi-Usa's response was a terrified shriek. Evionne whirled and
saw a huge black spider lunging at them. Desperately she whipped her
wings at the arachnid, raking at its eyes with her feathers. The spider
fell back, only to lunge several more times, attempting to get through
the wings. Chibi-Usa shrieked again and began crying.
At once, the spider saw an opening and attacked. Evionne fell
back and shot out with her arms, catching the front legs in her hands as
her wings fenced with the second pair. The spider's fangs reached for
Evionne's chest, inches short of plunging its venom into her.
"We can't do it, we can't do it!" wailed Chibi-Usa as Sailor Moon
squirmed frantically beneath her.
"Believe, Princess!" bellowed Evionne. "Belief is the source of
your power! Believe and you will succeed!"
Chibi-Usa stared, trembling, as Evionne desperately held the
spider at bay. Finally she turned and began pulling at the web
encompassing her future self. Harder the child tugged, exerting all the
might her tiny body could manufacture. Her tears began anew, her sobs
taking on a new tone of desperation.
And the silk parted. The cocoon weakened, and as it did Chibi-Usa
was able to pull more away. Partially freed, Sailor Moon was able to
exert her strength and further rip the web. Together the pair pulled
and tugged until Sailor Moon stood free. She scooped Chibi-Usa up into
her arms and, with the child balanced on her hip, produced the Crescent
Moon Wand.
"Moon Healing Escalation!" Sailor Moon cried. The wand flared
bright pink and the energy discharged obliterated the spider. Evionne
turned and, with a sigh of relief, gazed at the pair.
"You did very well, child," Evionne smiled. Chibi-Usa, hugging
her older self, gave Evionne a timid smile, then vanishing into Sailor
Moon. "Come, Princess. Our fight is not over yet. We must still free
the Chosen One."
Evionne started to fly off, her hand joined to Sailor Moon's.
However, Sailor Moon held her back. The Elysian turned, questioning.
"Evionne," Sailor Moon said humbly. "Thank you."
Unable to vocalize her thoughts, lest she betray her emotions,
Evionne merely nodded.
Continued in chapter 9