Chapter 7: Up and Away
"This meeting of the Guardians will come to order!" Adonis commanded, pacing back and forth, red hair spilling forward on his tea robe. "Tia, one of our strongest, is broken, darkness threatens us all, and we must do something about it before it is too late. We must do something before…our options run out."
Three figures, obscured by a lack of light, knelt before Adonis. Two had the figure of a woman, although one was smaller, and the other had that of a man.
"It's time for another one of you to step forth and add to the efforts of this mission," he continued. "Who is willing? Sacrifice?" Adonis asked, focusing at the guardian to farthest to his right. "Wisdom?" he continued, his concentration slowly moving left, "or Valor?"
There was no response as a hush fell over them.
"I sense fear in all of you, even if I cannot see it on your faces. We must protect those we are destined to mirror. I have spoken, disperse!"
Tia sighed, opening her sleepy eyes slowly. Still nestled in Juri's strong, warm arms, she looked up to see the unconscious older girl. "So beautiful and innocent!" Tia thought, allowing a smile upon her lips. "I must be strong to protect Juri, because no one should be able to hurt her…" Juri twitched slightly then before opening her emerald eyes, meeting lovely azure ones.
"Oh…Tia…you're awake?" Juri asked softly. Tia nodded, still silent.
"About earlier…" Tia started.
Juri caressed Tia's face, smiling gently. Tia's eyes closed slightly as she let out a soft sigh. Her body somehow relaxed in Juri's arms. Juri's hand moved to Tia's golden strands, running her fingers through them. Their eyes locked for what seemed like an eternity.
Smiling, Juri softly spoke, "I may not yet believe in the power of miracles, but you've given me a reason to believe in you, Tia."
Tia smiled, snuggling closer in Juri's arms. It was quite difficult to tell where Tia ended or where Juri began.
At the next moment, Juri's telephone rang. Juri slowly, and reluctantly stood to leave the room. Answering the phone, her eyes widened at the person on the other line.
"It's me," Touga said calmly. "We need to meet –now-." The phone clicked.
"Tia, I need to leave for a while…" Juri spoke as she walked down the hall, pausing when she reached where Tia was. A light, similar to that which took Tia to the outer plane, had appeared. Tia stood near the light, as though she were waiting what was to come. Walking towards her, Juri took her hand gently, as though to removed the girl from a trance. Moments later, a young man appeared.
"Please, do not be alarmed. I am her friend," he spoke.
"Guardian of Sacrifice, Tristan…please meet Juri Arisugawa…a member of the Student Council," Tia explained.
Juri nodded, adding, "I…need to leave, but I will return shortly."
Tristan smiled, replying, "I have a feeling you'll cross paths again sooner than you think…"
~*~*
"Guardians of what?" Touga asked, slightly surprised.
"Our lives are dedicated to protecting the Engaged, the Rose Bride, and those who wear the crest of the rose…" Tia began.
"Because an evil threatens your existence, we have appeared to intervene," Adonis concluded.
Juri listened quietly, smiling and nodding.
"Darkness beyond twilight…" Tristan called out, his violet hair blowing in the winds with his black dueling uniform.
Juri rose and continued, "Open the gateway unto the plane of the gods!"
Miki and Touga watched Juri, surprised beyond belief. How could she know that incantation?
"Are you…one of them, Juri?" Miki asked nervously.
Juri shook her head, as the light, which would transport everyone, appeared above them.
"Where are we going?" Utena asked, holding Anthy's hands tightly, reassuring her.
"The outer plane," Adonis replied as their bodies became translucent as they left the Student Council meeting platform. Miki's blue eyes widened, while both Touga and Saionji stood with no emotion. Juri and Tia locked gazes, and Tia nodded.
"Where are we?" Utena asked.
"What is this awful place?" Juri inquired.
"This is the outer plane, where the guardians do battle," Adonis explained.
"It looks like a place where dreams come to die…" Miki added.
"It is not…" Adonis replied.
"An evil has taken control of this hallowed place," Tia began. She knelt down on the ground and placed her hand on the cold surface. Light reflected back and eventually a white rose sprung up. Tia smiled. "There is life here, but it is hidden." The jewel in the middle of her forehead began to glow slightly as she stood back up.
"This evil threatens the existence of all of us—Guardian, Duelists, Engaged, and the Rose Bride," Tristan continued.
"Observe, "Adonis said.
Tia stood in the middle of the arena, and raised her hand in the air. A sword appeared in it, glowing a bright light. "Shadow, present yourself! I, Guardian of Purity and Innocence, demand a duel!"
Juri's eyes widened as a shadow took a silhouetted human form, one hand in the shape of a sword.
"These awful creatures threaten to invade our world for their own revolution," Adonis noted. With a few slashed, Tia had easily defeated the vile creature. A soft sigh was let out.
"There's plenty more where that came from," Tristan said.
"They are collectively known as Dark Shadows. Cleverly planning their next move, they wait for a moment of weakness to strike, similar to the dreams Tia and Juri both experienced," Adonis explained as both women looked at one another again.
"I'm confused. What exactly to they want?" Touga asked.
"They want to possess those which they duel and win against. Janus has already suffered this fate, but there's a way…" Tristan replied.
Before he could finish, a scream from Utena broke the semblance of serenity present.
"She's bound! How did that happen?" Juri exclaimed.
"They're trying to capture her…" Adonis muttered, "an odd move for them."
"Juri…do you trust me?" Tia asked, over the painful screams of Utena.
Juri hesitated, but then nodded. Walking closer, her azure eyes never leaving Juri's emerald, Tia placed a small hand on Juri's chest, creating a small light.
"If this hurts…I'm sorry. I will try to make it painless, Juri," Tia whispered as the light became brighter. Tia then placed her free arm around Juri's back to hold her steady if she were to collapse.
Those emerald eyes closed, wincing slightly, but showing no pain. Juri's body eased up after a few moments, falling into Tia's arm as she pulled a shimmering sword from Juri. Lowering Juri to the ground gently, she caressed Juri's face.
"I'm sorry if that hurt, Juri. I will return this to you. Thank you, for trusting me."
Azure eyes narrowed at the shadow enveloping Utena. Quickly, Tia lunged towards it with Juri's shining sword in hand and brushed past Utena. The shadow quickly retreated, leaving Utena alone as Anthy ran to her to help.
"This is the power of the Guardians…" Tia replied as she knelt down by Juri again. "Juri…" Gently, she turned the sword back into a beam of light that returned to Juri. Emerald eyes opened up wearily. "I'm sorry, Juri…"
Juri smiled faintly, and then closed her eyes. Adonis lifted her form in her arms and then commanded that everyone leave the plane. With Adonis, concerned that she hurt Juri, Tia ran quickly to keep up. Groans echoed from the darkness.
"They'll be back," a faint voice announced.
"Very soon…"