Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Sailor Moon, but I do own my knights, their friends, and the Dark Universe and their creatures. REVIEW! E-mail! Please!

Chapter 17

Glamorous Mirror Maze

- Months Later -

~ Shinji and Co. Carnival ~

- Opening Day -

"Come one, come all to the greatest show in Japan! Go through the tunnel of love with that special someone, win prize after prize, go through the mysterious fun house, and eat from our classic hot dogs to funnel cakes and cotton candy. Come to the fair!" the barker rang at the front gates. People were already milling inside and partaking in what he'd announced and more. They loved a good time, a good carnival.

Shinji and Co. Carnival was one of the most delightful ones in Japan. It always came to town the same time every year, with a new show or ride, always the same classic attractions and foods. It was a slice of the spirit of joy for all ages, to be shared and enjoyed by everyone.

One woman on particular was not enjoying herself, a clown trying to cheer her up with bright red balloon. With a toss of her blonde hair, she stabbed it with her finger and blew the balloon to bits. The clown frowned, then got socked in his honking nose. The girl walked away, sneering, rubbing her gloved hand vainly. She wandered off to the Mirror Maze attraction in the center of all the fun. It was fun she would have normally taken advantage of, but not now. She was too angry, too scarred, to enraged to even consider anything fun or to be taken advantage of. She wanted revenge.

Kitty had been not only yelled at for losing the Spirit Crystal, that bitch Glamour had chopped her hand off. Now her perfect form was marred with scar at the wrist below her new hand, a terrible metal one Specter and Xeno fixed the stump with. She hated it, even if it worked like her true hand, but it wasn't her hand. Glamour had taken it and ruined her beauty.

'Kitty will avenge what she did to my natural loveliness. Kitty will feed that stupid heroine whore her heart and hands…spleen, eyes! Then rip it all out her stupid high riding ass! Kitty will show her who's the queen of this world! Kitty will show them all, they'll all be sorry they hurt Kitty. My beautiful hand, ruined by that masked bitch! OOOOOOooo! I'll make her suffer for it….slowly.' she thought painfully, scratching a hole in the glove eventually.

She saw a young man standing outside in a barker costume, successfully getting customers inside. He was doing well and even giving out free passes to his hypnotist show. He was a cherry looking blonde boy, short for the age Xeno said he was, 17, but it didn't matter. He was the keeper of the Yellow Crystal of Solar, was in a strong sense. She'd already relieved him of his crystal when the carnival arrived days ago, but she had bigger and better plans.

He had also been using the power of the crystal indirectly with psychic gifts, ones he used in his act. He was too adorable to be found mysterious, this poor boy Kochi Mayanomi. It didn't matter anymore. Kochi was a part of the Dark Universe as one of their rightful warriors once more, hypnotizing patrons to come into the maze of mirrors to be drained for the Dark Goddess. Xeno had the crystal safe with him, far from those damned knights and their bitch savior Glamour.

She wasn't ready to take their warrior back. This was too sweet a deal for energy. Raven had all but starved their goddess of soul sustenance, so she needed a lot to be at her full potential. That and Kitty wanted revenge. It would only be a matter of time before those stupid knights would show up, and that meant Glamour would come too. Then Kitty would teach her to mess with perfection.

The free passes were her idea, not only passed out by her willing slave, but she had sent many to every house and apartment in Tokyo. Glamour or the knights had to be in the area. There was no question that they were Tokyo resident since they always showed up so fast. The passes gave free admission to the show, then a big treasure hunt in the mirror maze with fabulous prizes. There were prizes, but not the kind that would make people happy. Kitty grinned at last, fantasizing about how many people would fall prey to her dastardly gifts. She could almost see Glamour opening one and getting her pretty face blow clean off. Then Kitty would be avenged, destroying that damn rival and enemy of hers would be sweet as sin.

'Soon, my poor lost hand, Kitty will avenge your rape from our perfect body. Soon, Glamour won't be so fucking pretty anymore." She thought wickedly, her teeth glistening as they sharpened in her grin. She stepped up beside the young man, ever grinning at his wickedly happy ace. "How goes the harvest, Hypnocide?" she asked coyly.

He grinned a bit, his now golden eyes on her, the eyes of the monster within. "Excellent, you highness….the humans keep coming. It will only be a matter of time before your nemesis comes to save the day. Anything special in mind for her?" he asked, his voice gurgling with joy.

She tittered a bit. "Just leave her alive long enough for Kitty to split her down the middle. If the knights show up….give them a show that will end them all. Kitty says so." She told him getting a quick nod, then he was back to calling for customers.

"Soon Glamour….Kitty will have her revenge." She giggled.

~ Haitsuchi's Arcade Heaven ~

Stephen followed Gary in, the call from the sunglasses wearing man this fine Saturday morning sounding a bit important. Allan was back from Europe and the arcade was all fixed. He simply smiled at every nook and cranny around him. He was very happy the arcade and Allan were up and running again.

It was almost as it used to be, a few new games here and there, new booths and chairs to replace the ones Raven destroyed. And there was Allen, behind the malt bar with Ray telling him about his getaways to England and Switzerland. Allan has a scar on his cheek, faint and pink, but nothing too damaging. He was still pleasant looking, a few inches taller than most of them as always, his eyes perfectly content and sarcastic at the same time. Stephen had to smile, it was good to see he was doing better.

"Hey Allan!" Stephen called, waving a bit. Allen's bright eyes looked up. "Hey Stephen….Gary finally got your absent-minded ass down here. I've been home for five hours, thought you'd be here sooner than Ray." He teased.

Stephen scowled a bit, the formed a little grin. "Same old Allan, bustin' my chops like always. Good to see you again, man." Stephen sighed out, hopping on a stool and shook Allan's hand heartily. Gary sat beside him, eyeing him a little. Gary had done that a lot lately, more than usual, like he was thinking about something and didn't want to tell anyone. Gary seemed to turn up wherever Stephen was a lot more often, he just didn't notice a lot till that night in the Mecha Room.

Stephen asked Tenchi how long they were friends, if he'd ever been to the guy's apartment on a friendly level. Tenchi said he had no idea where Gary lived. They only saw each other in passing at college, and most often Gary would ignore everyone. No one saw him in any classes, they just had become used to the idea Gary was a student, probably in the upper classes with the rich snobs. He did say Gary was very smart, training to be a doctor, but no one knew much except he was Allan's baby brother and the most unsociable young man born. Tenchi had commented he was stunned Gary hung around with anyone, even someone a bit younger than him.

Stephen did wonder at times if Gary just put up with him for the checks, or if they were really friends, but he pushed those thoughts away very violently. He really liked Gary as a friend, a lot. Gary always seemed to want to help him out and talk. Sure he sassed him and called him a meathead, but it was comforting to have a friend that close and trustworthy. Allan was always busy, he didn't always have time to talk to Stephen anymore. Allan had a business to run, bills to pay, and maintenance and cleaning, cooking, the works of any small successful business.

He jumped a bit, feeling Gary's hand on his leg. "Stephen, did you hear me?" Gary said in his eternal cold voice. Stephen felt funny about that. He'd drifted again, he never felt this embarrassed about it, but the pressure on his leg felt heavy. He looked at Gary, the serious sunglasses wearing face staring back. "Sorry, thinking about how good the place looks….its come a long way." Stephen said, partially lying and patting Gary's gloved hand. Gary nodded and pulled it away, a small smile on his pale lips.

"Yeah….Allan said he has a surprise coming for us all in a week, I was saying." Gary said, almost a bit of giddiness in his voice. Stephen nodded, and looked to where Allan was, but he was not there. He looked about a bit and saw him and Ray picking through the mail in a booth. "I'll ask him later…and what are you so damn happy about. Never heard your voice pick up unless you're yelling." Stephen shot back playfully. Gary actually blushed a bit, but shook it off.

"I was wondering….how's that relationship with the mystery lady of yours working out?" he asked plainly.

Stephen frowned a little, turning away a little to stare absently at the new blender. "I….I'm scared for her." He said, and it was the truth. Glamour was scaring him, her words still haunted him. She would fight them for the crystals to destroy Lord Specter, they had the same goal, but she wanted to do it alone. He didn't understand why she wanted to go it alone, Lord Specter never struck him as a sissy. He was probably the most powerful of the evil group on Earth, biding his time for a final fatal blow.

He feared Glamour would do it, she was very determined and strong, and they'd end up fighting. He didn't want to fight her, he was in love with her. Perhaps he would simply give her what they had, maybe, and then just follow her to Specter and help her. He couldn't let her go it alone anymore than he'd let the others or himself go alone.

Stephen was the leader of the group, as much as he still detested being that, he had a responsibility. Mark had died because he wasn't being serious. "Sometimes those that bear a great burden are being unfairly pushed into a destiny, but….that doesn't make it any less important to complete. Not everyone is willing to fight the darkness….but sometimes, its all we have." Cyrus had told him off and on after Raven's murderous slaughter.

It sank in slowly, and he understood that it was either him or no one at all. The moon was needed by earth to control the orbit and tides. He couldn't just run away and try and forget it ever happened. He had a responsibility to it, by birth and by right, and he'd go through with it, for Mark and all the people that died. He wouldn't let anyone else die. He couldn't, he'd never live with himself again if anyone died because he shucked his duties as a Galaxy Knight. He'd get the Crystals, and find the long lost prince and princess. He nodded a bit. "But….I trust her. She smart and strong, I know….when the times comes, what she does in her life will work out. Even if she doesn't know it yet….I'll stand by her 100%."

"You really do love her, don't you?" Gary replied, his voice a little sad. Stephen looked at him oddly. What did he have to be sad about? "With all my heart….I've never been this in love."

"What's she look like?" Gary asked, shaking hid head a bit. Stephen blushed. If he said he was in love with Lady Glamour the super heroine, Gary might wonder why, and he'd have no excuse. Stephen wasn't prone to fall in love with people he saw on TV, only those in real life. He wasn't some teeny-bopper American girl with delusions that the Backstreet boys would have her baby just cause she kissed his poster.

He a thought moment, staring at his twin dark reflections that covered Gary's unseen eyes. "She has….a beautiful body, long hair, like a river of….onyx. She has good taste in clothes….and works out. That's all I'm saying. Why are you asking?" he replied, eyeing Gary suspicious as the older boy squirmed.

"N-no reason, just curious who you zone out over." Gary said quickly.

Stephen thought a moment, seeing a pink blush on Gary's pale cheeks. Then Stephen got a little grin on his lips, giggling. "You're in love with someone, aren't you,?! Huh Gary boy? Ah hah….you're getting redder. You are in love! Who is she?" he whispered, still giggling.

"Gah, I am not…."Gary said defensively, but the blushing got worse, and his hand movements were almost erratic.

"You can't fool me, Gary. You're as red as a strawberry. Come on, I told you….you have to tell me, what's she look like, don't be greedy, spill or I'll tell Allan and Ray." Stephen said to him all shushed. Gary was sweating, then looked off to where Allan and Ray were, still filing through the mail. He sighed a bit and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Ok, fine, I'm crazy in love with someone. Eh….she's very beautiful to me, sassy, but really nice. Her hair is short….and her eyes sparkle in the sun and moonlight when she looks at the sky. She doesn't know I'm looking, but….I am. I fell in love with her….the day we met. I'm just…not ready to tell her how I feel. I….kind'a have some secrets….about my past, and myself. I'm nervous she'll….not want be near me anymore, that she'll think I'm strange." Gary let out softly, looking at the floor, not low enough for Stephen to see the ever-eluding eyes.

"Then tell me." Stephen piped. Gary hiccuped a bit and looked at him, his mouth twitching.

"T-tell you? Why?" Gary said nervously, but Stephen simply patted his friend's shoulder warmly.

"Test it out on me….for practice when you tell this girl about yourself. I've been trying a long time to get to know my love….I'm ready to tell her everything about me, if she'd do the same. Someone has to take the first step….so practice on me. I don't mind, Gary." Stephen said pleasantly. Gary blushed again, but Stephen ignored it.

"Ok….I'm….not Allan's half brother. We're not even related. I'm adopted." Gary let out softly. Stephen blinked, but nodded.

"Go on…." He told Gary. It hurt to be lied to, but he understood adopted kids didn't always feel very in place. Being dumped or losing their families to any number of things and being given to strangers. No wonder Gary was so anti-social. He was afraid of what people would think.

"There was a big earthquake when I was six….I don't remember anything about it….or my parents. I just woke up in a hospital room in the dark with my head all bandaged up. They said my parents were dead, crushed in what was left of the house. I was the sole survivor, they told me my name, but I didn't even know who I was. I was in an orphanage for a while until Allan's parents came along. They said that Allan's mom wanted a child since she couldn't have anymore." He was saying, the paused a bit to look at Allan's messy haired head.

"Allan saw me first and said he wanted me to be his….brother," he went on, smiling softly," They adored Allan so much they agreed. But I still, don't know who I really am. I have nightmares a lot about things I don't understand….I just don't want….to be judged by that, as an orphan with no past and night terrors. That's all." Gary explained slowly. Stephen absorbed it all in, nodding a bit, then gave a soft smile.

"Its ok Gary….I don't care that you and Allan aren't related, or that you were adopted. I liked you for you. You're my best friend. And if this girl give you a snub act, I'll go straighten her right out for you. That's a bad thing to be judge over. I'm still your friend….so don't worry about spilling to her. Just be yourself and you'll do just fine, ok?" Stephen said cheerfully, punching Gary's shoulder lightly with a smile.

Gary seemed to relax and smile a bit. "Y-yeah….thanks, Stephen. You really helped me….more than you know. Thanks." Gary said softly. Stephen nodded and hopped off his stool.

"Now you better tell her soon, ok? Sooner the better….ok?" he uttered, walking off with smile to talk with Allan and Ray. Gary stayed on his stool, watching him for a few seconds before sliding off his.

"I just did…." He said softly, but Stephen didn't hear.

~

Ray and Allan were flitting through the endless mail when Ray found a booklet of free passes to a carnival attraction. "Hey, the Mirror Maze at the carnival is having a big cash prize treasure hunt." Ray let out just as Stephen walked up. Stephen, who was frowning at it, snatched the booklet out of Ray's hands. "I don't trust it, free passes to a promotional treasure hunt? It's a definite scam for cash." Stephen said, tossing it on the table. Ray simple guffawed and picked it up.

"You're just saying that cause you're rich, pretty boy." He said sarcastically. He was still angry with Stephen in a way, not just for hitting Angela. He was over her, she'd never give him the time of day for anything except friendship, but it was nice to dream. Stephen was better off than the lot of them and daydreaming and mouthing off.

Stephen had everything and didn't think much of it, not thinking that others might be in need. He and his grandparents were doing well, but they weren't rich. His father was never around for him, only sending him postcards and such. Stephen had his father still and treated the man like garbage. Stephen's father was no prince, but was only trying to get the ditz to stop zoning out during important things.

Stephen reacted by hitting Ray on the head with a coupon magazine. "Watch yourself, Ray. I wouldn't go to this if I wasn't rich. Nothing's for free, even food. You act like I'm some spoiled brat, you brute." Stephen huffed.

"Brute? You little snowflake for brains meathead, you take that back, pansy ass!" Ray glowered, getting up from his seat. Stephen just scowled at him. "I will not, temperamental ass. Why can't you for once admit I might be right? Would it kill you not to turn everything into an argument, or do you just like starting fights as bad as Angie does?" Stephen snapped back. Ray growled and threw a punch, but Allan stopped it with his own hand and Gary dragged Stephen back rather forcefully. Stephen nearly tripped bad enough to knock Gary over, but the boys stayed up.

"Chill you two, you both have enormous Jimmy's, but for Pete's sake, no fighting in my place. You both know the rules….you fight, you're banned for the month, or forever if you keep it up. Watch the testosterone boys….

"Hey, the thing is free, so why harp about it, guys? I think it sounds a little strange to offer money at a free attraction, let alone just one attraction. Normally, the entire carnival sponsors it for a small fee….I agree with Stephen, it doesn't sound very promising or safe. I heard people are vanishing there, and I sure as hell am not going near it at night. Those passes say it starts at midnight."

Stephen stiffened a little wriggling out of Gary's hold a bit at that. Ray did too. It was probably Kitty again, back after her injury. Ray thought she was out of the fight with only one hand, but the Dark Universe was clever and tricky. If people were disappearing anywhere, it was normally their enemies.

Stephen nodded a bit. " I'm going to the carnival for fun, not for some scam. Gary's right, it's probably a big scam for greedy, selfish people like Ray." He smirked.

It hit nerve and Allan was already holding him back from beating the crap out of Stephen. Ray knew what he meant, but it didn't make the insult any less degrading. There were very desperate people around in town and other cities. These people would sell their souls for quick cash and with the Dark Universe involved, it would probably come to that and death.

'We've got to go to that carnival…and make sure….then I'm breaking his nose again. Sassy-assed jerk….' Ray thought, struggled away, nearly breaking free of the taller Allan's hold Stephen just smirking at him triumphantly.

~ Shinji and Co. Carnival ~

- 11:30pm -

Glamour stayed in the shadows of one of the tents while angry patrons yelled at the carnival folk. Apparently the free passes were unknown to the human staff, but out of the poor people trying to hold back angry and greedy people, one was not helping. He was smiling. It was a young man, dressed like a magician, a shiny yellow suit and shoes, and a white sequined shirt. He was like a frail looking lemon, his golden eyes dancing a bit, wincing every few seconds.

Glamour narrowed her masked eyes, watching him move away, getting up on a box not far off. He stood there spreading his arms out wincing still, the pained look like a lost child. He probably was fighting the influence of Kitty, better than the others had. Still, no one could force the dark powers out once inside, not on their own. Only by great injury to the dark half could the human half escape. 'I should simply let them die, but I can't. They are victims, same as I will be if I do not gain all the crystals." She thought, watching the young man pull out a golden pendulum with swirls on it. It was a common hypnotist tool, but this one was a bit more fancy than most and swinging without slowing down.

"Ladies and gentleman please….all will be explained if you just watch my golden dance. Come one, come all, take a chance. Look into the spiral and be dazed. Gasp and be awed and amazed. Let me be your lovely guide. Let my power lead you….to Hypnocide!" he crooned, his silver bell voice becoming like broken glass as golden waves leaked from the swinging pendulum piece into the crowd and staff.

Glamour watched in amazement as the crowd stopped yelling, the staff, turning about obediently like colorful zombies. Soon, they were all stand stock still, their eyes glossy and vacant.

The young man let out an icy cackle, and kept swinging his pendulum as he hopped off the box. "Excellent well, my faithful drones. Now follow me verily past wood and stones. To the maze or mirrors, wonders abound. To drain you dry without a sound." His terrible voice sang out as he marched off.

"Without a sound…." They all said together, following vacantly, dropping their walls, the passed their purses, everything they were holding. She watched them go, then started to follow, keeping to the shadows of the darkened place. A carnival at night was creep heaven. The lighting of the place near vacant and most rides closed was eerie. It was veritable stomping ground for freakish tricks of the eye. She shook it off and followed, keeping several feet away. There was no guarantee the slave warrior boy wouldn't turn the zombies if he happened to see her instead of going on. The Dark Universe was dangerous and back-stabbing, they would sink to any low to get what they wanted.

It didn't take long to reach the mirror maze attraction at all, Hypnocide's human form herding them in to the left. They all went in willingly, bland faced and entranced by the power of the warrior inside the boy. She waited by a concession stand, crouched as the last of the crowd vanished inside. As they did, the young man looked up a bit, in her direction. She pulled back a bit, knowing he couldn't have seen her, could he? He grinned and waved at her, pocketing his pendulum before running inside. The doors were left wide open. 'A definite trap, but I need all of the crystals. Go!' she told herself, jumping out of hiding to run inside.

~

Stephen had watched the entire strange show from across the street with Ray, Angie, Lamont, and Cyrus. It had been terrible, the crystal had always been taken most likely, but now a ton of people were at risk. He'd been ready to transform when he saw Glamour shoot out of the darkness and pursue them. At that point, he ran right across the street after her.

He didn't hear his friends call after him, faintly hearing them run after him as he transformed, pulling out his sword swiftly. Stephen reached the Mirror Maze attraction as she was running inside. He paused a moment, looking around for any sign of the boy monster or Kitty, but he saw nothing and no one. He'd even lost his friends in his sprint. He could hear them faintly, transforming elsewhere. It wasn't far off, but he was more concerned with Glamour. She went in alone.

"IEEEEEEE!!!!" her voice screamed, ripping through his senses like a hot knife. Then there was and endless silence, his heart the only sound he could hear, nearly thumping out of his chest. "Glamour!!" he shouted and ran inside. He ran around the various mirrors, ignoring what would ordinarily be funny forms for himself. He had to save Glamour. He couldn't let her be hurt.

"Argh, let go you bastard!" her voice rang out again. Perhaps it was right next to him, past the mirrors. He raised his sword to one, ready to smash it to pieces, then froze. His eyes nearly wept at what he saw inside it. The mirror did not warp his face or make a clear double, it was a woman inside, a half rotted woman screaming in silent pain. 'The mirrors….they're trapped in the mirrors. Oh gods….what has Kitty done?" he gasped, lowering his blade. He ran on, twisted and turns past mirrors full of living agony.

He held back the pain of regret, lives he couldn't save again. If only he'd know people were disappearing sooner. He couldn't blame Gary for this, he blamed himself for not bothering to read the papers again. There was so much at fault here, but it was all Kitty's fault for being a sick and twisted bitch queen.

Moon Knight too another turn, skidding to a halt so he wouldn't smash through a mirror. There she was, being dragged into a shimmering mirror by shimmering golden arms, claws and all, like pharaoh from hell. Her legs were nearly gone as she was pulled through. Moon Knight rushed forward and grabbed them and pulled, but the other side was strong and pulled harder.

"Moon Knight!" it was Mercury's voice, very close. He turned his head a bit, seeing his fellow knights and guardian cat peeling past the hall he was in, skittering back to help him. He felt a sharp tug then, one that knocked him off his feet, but he wouldn't let go of the woman he loved. Moon Knight shut his eyes at the blinding light as he fell into the cool expanse, his friend's screaming voice feeling so very far away.

~ The Mirror World ~

Glamour rustled from her groggy sleep, groaning in pain. She felt like she'd been in a war and losing.

"We're sorry, we just don't want a child that's so….depressing. Sorry, this kid's no good for us….we want a happy child." A gruff man's voice sang in her ear.

She froze a little, looking at the mirror next to her. It was her past, when she was in that orphanage, before Allan and his family came and rescued that lonely somber child from lonely depression. As a child rejection had been the name of her game, no one wanted her. She wasn't happy enough for anyone to love.

The images in the mirror swirled to new images, the house of her true family, the faces blank and obscured with the infant, then mangled in a heap over the child's face. She could feel the blood still, those dead eyes looking at her, leaking and smelling of rot, the smell, the taste, the sorrow in those eyes of the mother, what was left of her.

"NOOOO!!!!" Glamour screamed, brandishing her blade swiftly and started to break the mirror. The images simply leapt to a new one, then two and three. She went on sobbing and breaking the mirrors.

"Lady Glamour!"

She stopped at hearing his voice, the low talk of Moon Knight. She turned a bit, wiping the tears away. She pointed her sword at his approaching self, making him rear up and frown. "I mean no harm, why are you screaming?" he asked, his eyes on the mirrors, broken and whole.

"Don't you dare look at them. You're not allowed to see that…." She said harshly.

"See what? I don't see anything….they're just mirrors." He said tersely. She looked back with a harsh start, still seeing the images of pain and loneliness in them, then back at his face. It betrayed nothing. He honestly didn't see anything there. 'Its not directed at his pain….if he has any. He was broken up about Raven's slaughter, as I was….possibly worse. This place must show what we don't want to face, don't want to remember.' She thought, lowering her blade, still looking angry.

"All right then. So now what do we do in this chamber of horrors?" she said looking around, it was like they were trapped inside a giant crystal. All openings she could see looked to lead to crystal tunnels with endless mirrors. They were all blank now, but she had seen people struggling inside them in the real world mirrors.

"We find our hosts and get these people out. The crystal is long gone by now….I don't see Kitty, or hear her lousy voice. We have to think of the people right now….freeing that kid from Kitty's grasp is the way too it." Moon Knight said in his serious yet devil may care voice.

She frowned. The crystal had to be around. Kitty wouldn't just leave her monster without throwing a fit or something. She wouldn't believe the crystal was beyond her reach, not now. She looked to the reflective ceiling with a look of scorn. "Kitty! Come and fight me now! Winner takes all!" she shouted, slashing her blade high.

"And why should Kitty fight, when my warrior can do so much better against you imperfect creatures." Kitty's singsong voice rang out.

Glamour turned to the side with Moon Knight, both of their blades aimed to the white haired evil princess and her golden warrior. She looked the horribly raging brat's face, then her hand, the one she'd cut off. It was horrible looking now. A new hand in its place, metallic and green, mismatched to Kitty's snowy white tastes. It was like the hand of lizard, a terrible claw that shimmered most ghastly in the reflective world of light and pain.

She cracked her knuckles at them, and Glamour frowned. It wasn't the gnashing sound, it was seeing Moon Knight was correct. She wasn't holding a crystal. All she had was the warrior next to her, standing three feet higher. He looked like Anubis, a psychotic version with glistening pearly teeth and a staff topped with an ankh and the hypnotizing pendulum in the other golden armored claw. His metallic ears twitched a bit, spikes on his golden shoulders of pure bone. He wore bracers of gold on his groin, thighs and shines, the horrible clawed toes scraping on the glassy floor.

"Drain them, Hypnocide….pay them back for the banishment of Kitty's hand!!" the rancid girl screeched, then vanish in streaks of white and roar. Hypnocide just stood at full height, maybe eight feet tall, 2 higher either of the warriors of earth. His gaping jaws widened a bit into sickly drooling grin. "Yes, my princess. Do not distress. Your beauteous hand shall be avenged. And soon all of us shall be revenged! AH RAHHHHHH!!" he roared in his terrible rhyme, charging forth with his staff.

Glamour and Moon jumped to either side of the attack, but Hypnocide turned on her, crashing his staff down swiftly. She flipped away, keeping her blade out. She was glad she had. Hypnocide went at her again, this time towards her head. She blocks and pressed back on him, but another blow came. She ducked it and sliced her blade across his armored chest. It made a slight scratch, but nothing more. The staff came again, glowing this time. She had no time to block and took it in the chest.

"AHHH!!!" she screamed, sailing backwards as the energy blasted her into a mirror. It shattered about her, fragments slicing up her skin painfully. Glass became garnet, living red leaking from her pale skin to their glossy surfaces. She tried sitting up, but the creature was already towering over her. 'Moon Knight, probably don't want to risk hitting me….dammit, I don't matter that much….the crystals are all that matter.' She thought painfully as the thing swung his pendulum in her face.

"Glamour girl, dark as night. End your passion for the will to fight. Little girl lost in further past, take in your blade and breathe your last." He chimed, the energy of his power sinking into her mind. "No…NO!" she yelled at him, but he kept repeating the words, swinging, and swinging and swinging to his black heart's content. She still had her blade in her shaking hands, she was lifting it with widening eyes. It turned in her hands, aimed at her gut slowly.

"No, you're human, you fool! HUMAN!" a voice yelled and Hypnocide reared up, the spell breaking with his pain. Glamour dropped her blade, horrified she'd nearly run herself through. She looked up wildly, seeing Moon Knight had attacked with his sword, then his power. The beams of light were hurting he creature, white blood leaking out of the armor and flesh.

Hypnocide wasn't simply taking it, he was still moving, right towards Moon Knight with his staff aglow. The creature was backing the young knight into a mirror, trapping him from escape. It was utterly obvious about what was happening, but Moon Knight kept attacking. 'He's leading him away from me….he….saved my life….No, I can't let him risk himself, I am supposed to protect him!' her mind screamed violently, lifting her blade from the glass littered floor. She raised it up, leaping high behind the monster warrior and shouted," CRYSTAL CUTTER!"

The storm of diamond blades swung out at the thing's back, slicing it to ribbons, some coming out the other side, laced with white streams of blood. "ARGH!!" Hypnocide screamed, several mirrors nearby shattering at once, the shards blasting across the three of them. Glamour winced as she landed, several shards grazing her exposed skin, but the people trapped within the mirror world were disappearing, they were going back to reality. Yet Hypnocide's wounds were slowly healing, the white puss blood slinking back inside.

"Moon Knight, he's weakened, free his soul! He's starting to heal! Finish it!" she yelled to the awed young knight. "Right…..Celestial Healing Light! Encircle this soul!" Moon Knight said boldly, raising his blade to the ceiling. The beams of light soon spiraled from the blade to Hypnocide, the creature screaming louder. She grabbed at her ears as it got worse, the light fully surrounding the beastly warrior. Moon Knight stayed vigil, his nose and an ear bleeding as he kept true to his attack.

~ The Mirror Maze ~

Mars pounded on a mirror with his fist, only succeeding it spider-webbing the glass and hurting the person inside more. The other had no more than he had. Just watching the mirror painfully, hopelessness in their faces.

"Come one, stupid mirrors. Let them out!" Jupiter yelled at one. Mars rolled his eyes, glaring at his comrade. "Jupiter, you can't just yell at it and expect it to obey you."

Jupiter glared back, swishing his staff in front of him harshly. "We can't just give up, Mars! They're dying. Moon and Glamour might be dying too! We have to do something fast!" Jupiter yelled back.

Mars growled, slamming his fist on the floor. "What do you want me to do?! Clap my hands and ask the fairies for help!? Stop asking me!" mars yelled, clapping his hands mockingly.

The mirrors about them burst out, the glass flying past and across their bodies the moment he stopped. "Never make fun of the fairies, I guess." He heard Jupiter snickering.

He was ready to sock him in the face when he saw people at his feet all around him fast asleep and slowly regaining their strength. People of every age and both sexes lay strewn about on the glossy floor, a few mirrors in his sight not broken. 'Probably too late to get them out, these are all the people from the crowd. Damn….I'm reading the damn paper every day.' He thought, wading to his comrades through the sea of bodies.

He stopped by them, the mirror Glamour and Moon Knight had gone through still quite solid. "Did they make it?" Mercury asked, Cyrus perched on her shaking shoulder. 'For a guy that doesn't love you….I can understand why now. I still care about you Angie, but you broke my heart in being so single minded and cold. As Mercury is….cold as ice when it comes to love' he thought.

Then the mirror began to rumble, shaking like a disturbed pool of water. The three knights back off considerably as the shaking grew violent, shatter spots splintering across the glass. As the breaks converge on each other, the mirror fell apart, a gaping hole behind it. Vomited from within the dark space came an unconscious young man in shiny yellow, Moon Knight and Lady Glamour in a black, yellow, and silver tangle.

Glamour got up quickly, moving past them in a dark and pale peach blur. She positively shoved Mercury and Jupiter out of her way and stepped on people still recovering. "Glamour wait!" Moon Knight yelled at her back, supporting the unconscious youth best he could

She stopped a bit, not turning, at least a few yards away. "What do you want? You cost me the crystal already….I don't have time to talk." She spat.

Mars almost saw Moon Knight flinch. "But….I love you. I was only trying to save you." He said painfully.

She lowered her head a bit, her fists clenched. "I can't be with anyone….not until I achieve my mission. I have to stop Specter once and for all….in love or not. I can't…."she said harshly, and ran away. Moon almost went after her, but he had to tend to the young man. Mars helped him best he could, they all did. Once they got outside, Glamour was already gone, not even footprints remaining.

"Glamour….oh, why do you want to suffer? Why do you want to take it alone…we want to help. Why are you pushing us away? Why are you pushing me away?" Moon Knight muttered to the air.

Mars sighed, feeling a bit bad for him. Glamour was beautiful, but she held dark secrets. Moon was too in love to see she wanted to be left alone. Stephen was sure a wise ass, but his heart was always in the right place. He didn't move on it. They had people to help right now.

"Moon Knight, there'll be another time and place….right now we have to get those people out of there before they smother each other." Mars stated loudly.

Moon Knight nodded, setting the youth down before turning on heel and going back into the shattered Mirror Maze. "Yeah, another time….I'll help her when I can. Now's what's important….the people matter right now. Yeah…." He said softly, but his heart wasn't in it.

Mars knew why, and it wasn't just Glamour's words. The Dark Universe had two crystals now, Glamour had one as did they. If that bastard Lord Specter got anymore, they would really be in deep trouble, the whole world with them. They had to find the next crystal keeper as soon as possible, not matter how big or small the lead was. Mars only hoped that Moon Knight wouldn't have to fight the woman he loved to keep their crystals. If you couldn't trust your allies, who was left to trust at all in their secret war?

To Be Continued….