*….* designates thoughts.
Age Of Pices, Time Of Love
by Lost Book
Chapter 3: Dreams of Mystery, Words of Power
~*~
Mina opened her eyes to see Artemis staring down at her. She blinked as droplets of rain spattered into her face from the dark clouds above, mixed with the tears falling onto her from Artemis. "Artemis...?"
"I'm so glad your awake." Artemis smiled at Mina. It had torn him up inside when he had first arrived only to find that he appeared to be to late. While still worried about her health, he was overjoyed because he knew he could expect her to make a full recovery. "I have to admit, you scared me a couple of times there. First I thought you were dead, and then all of a sudden there were two of you?" He shook his head. "We need to move, if the enemy finds us now they'll finish both of us off and I--"
Artemis was cut off as Mina sat up and hugged him. "Thank you, Artemis." she said quietly.
Artemis blushed. "Your welcome." he said. "I'm just glad we are both alive. But we really do need to get going." He wriggled out of her grasp and jumped down from her lap to the pavement. "Do you think you can move now?"
"Hmmm..." Mina contemplated this. She was still bleeding from several wounds. An assessment of her body proved that nothing was broken. Anything internal would certainly have been helped by the energy transfer. "Yeah... I think I'm okay. I just feel like I've been run over by a truck... a big truck." She stood up shakily. "Once I get my feet steady I should be fine." She stretched a bit, wincing as she felt the pain of her wounds become more pronounced. "Back to Magellan...?"
"Yeah. We need to get you back for some rest. Detransform, and we'll go as quickly as we can." Artemis twitched his tail impatiently. "We don't know how long we'll have to prepare before the enemy strikes."
Mina detransformed, feeling the warm wash of power recede till it was but a glow within. She bent over gingerly and picked up Artemis, before setting off walking down the dreary abandoned street towards the apartment. As she walked she felt a nagging sense in the back of her mind that she was forgetting something that she really ought to talk to Artemis about. But she just couldn't remember... It continued to bother her as she journeyed onward, with the icy cold rain once again starting to pour down in drenching sheets.
~*~
Magellan. It was Mina's personal nickname for the apartment. It was located in a relatively old sector of the city, and the rest of the residents in the building left her well enough alone. While the rather antisocial and depreciated atmosphere might seem like a depressing place for a teen to live, it suited Mina perfectly. The more the enemy picked up their campaign, the more she and Artemis had to go and fight them. Living in anonymity allowed her to be Sailor Venus without attracting attention in her alter ego.
Artemis had somehow secured the apartment for them. Mina had no idea how the little white cat had managed it, and frankly didn't want to know. It wasn't the first time he had accomplished something he shouldn't have been able to, but then, he wasn't just any ordinary feline.
While the actual building itself was run-down; Mina and Artemis's apartment, having been decorated by Mina, was cozy with brightly colored furnishings. The sight of the familiar living room made Mina sigh happily as the two entered the apartment. Mina tiredly walked over to the couch and flopped down on it, laying on her stomach and snuggling up to a bright orange pillow.
"Mina... you really should clean up, and take care of your injuries, and..." Artemis trailed off as he hopped up onto the end table next to the couch and peering at Mina realized that she had quickly fallen asleep for exhaustion. *It's to much for a 14 year old girl.* Artemis curled up on the table and then smiled, *But then, she's no ordinary girl.*
~*~
*Oh... this place again?* Mina's dream self raised an eyebrow. She wasn't used to having reoccurring dreams. Mina was back in the first place she had visited during her blackout after the last fight. This time though, she didn't have the clear feeling of actually being there. It was the ambiguous distracted feeling of normal dreams.
Mina looked down at her self and was unsurprised this time to see the jeweled night-gown she had worn the last time she had the dream. She glided more than walked around a corner and passed the mirror that had caused her to notice her rather fancy attire the last time. Passing around the next corner, she came again to the painting. The painting of a human, who reminded her distinctly and confusingly of Artemis. He had the same white hair, the same crescent marked forehead, and most definitely, she decided peering closer, Artemis's eyes.
"Mina-chan" Mina gasped and turned around. To her astonishment, it was the man from the painting. He smiled and walked over to her, and as he put his arms around her Mina found that she was outside of her body.
Unable to clearly figure out the situation in her dream state, Mina was very confused. *Ok,* she thought, *This is weird on so many levels.* She watched as the dream Mina smiled and embraced the Artemis-looking human.
"Your going to be late" the Artemis-human said to dream Mina. She smiled and leaned up to kiss his forehead, before replying.
The real Mina didn't hear her other selves reply, but gasped after hearing the man speak again, this time listening to him. She would suppose later that she shouldn't have been surprised, but.. *He has Artemis's voice!*
The dream faded away.
~*~
Mina blinked open her eyes, to find herself staring at the star painted ceiling of Magellan. Ughh, she had fallen asleep on the couch without even cleaning up after the battle. *Gotta shower…* She yawned once then swung her legs off the edge of the couch and stood stiffly up. On her way to the bathroom she noticed Artemis asleep on the table. *Heeee... bet it bugged him a bit to let me just fall asleep with out taking care of my injuries more.*
Once in the small bathroom, she turned on the shower, then looked at herself in the mirror. *Ouch…* Mina winced. She looked terrible. The rain and Artemis's healing had taken care of most of the external blood, but she was muddy from laying in the puddle, and even with the healing she looked worse for the wear. She stepped into the shower and sighed, loving the feeling of the warm water cascading down on her.
~*~
Out in the living room Artemis woke up from his sleep on the end table. He yawned and stretched, then looked over to the couch to see that Mina had already gotten up. His ears picked up the sound of the shower running. *Good.* He thought. That would make her feel better.
Artemis used the remote to flick on the TV with a push of his paw.
And got only static.
Frowning, he clicked the remote again to change the channel. But it was the same thing over and over: every channel was static. Artemis grumbled. He liked to watch the news. Mina often teased him about this past time, because she found it boring. Well, he'd just have to listen to the radio news. It wasn't as good but would have to do. Artemis hopped off the couch and stalked into the very tiny kitchen where the radio was.
But when he turned the radio on he got only static as well. Artemis went through every channel, unable to get anything. This annoyed him greatly, but it also worried him. It was one thing for the TV to not work: service was very bad in their building. But the radio ought to have worked. He was just thinking that Mina must have broken it and not told him (it had happened before with the blender), when he heard the explosion.
*Oh no…*
~*~
Mina had just stepped out of the shower. The warm water had made her feel much better; she felt less stiff, and whistled as she dried her self with a towel. She was getting ready to get dressed when the sound of something exploding reached her ears.
Mere seconds after that, she sensed the enemy.
"VENUS POWER MAKE UP!"
Something, however, was clearly wrong with her. The transformation was usually easy, and normally she would feel a burst of power with it. This time it took longer than usual, and after she was fully changed she was left feeling drained. *It's to soon. I don't have the power, the fight yesterday was to much.* Another explosion, this one much closer sounded. *What am I going to do?*
~*~
As he streaked like lightning from the kitchen to the bathroom, Artemis felt Mina make the transformation into Sailor Venus. Soon after he heard the second explosion. Reaching the bathroom, he screeched to a halt, barely managing to avoid getting hit with the door as Mina flung it open.
"Artemis, the-"
"I know." Artemis cut her off, bitterly. "The enemy is attacking. Again." A third explosion this time caused the building to shake. "The TV and radio are out. I'm assuming a communications disruption. They're launching a large scale assault and..." He trailed off, looking at Mina with a worried expression.
"Yeah. And I don't have the power to stop them."
"No." He said. "You don't."
~*~
A minute later, they were on the roof of the building, watching the enemy's army coming ever closer. Mina blinked back tears of anger and frustration, why was she not able to handle the enemy? What good was she as a protector if she couldn't stop this?? Why was she the only one, if she alone was not enough!?
"I'm going to fight."
Artemis whipped his head around to stare at Mina. *What on earth is she thinking?* "Impossible. You can't, you'll just die without accomplishing anything. You haven't the energy left, and this is the largest attack they've ever launched." Mina didn't say anything, she just stared at the nearing destruction. "Darn it Mina!" He shouted. "Don't you get it? You'll die! I don't have the power to do another transfer. You won't get a second chance like you did yesterday!"
"I'm going to fight Artemis." She still didn't look at him. "I'm going to fight, and if I die then so be it."
With that Mina walked resolutely to the edge of the roof. Artemis could feel her gathering the little bits of energy she had left, reading to jump off, and into the fray. To fight to the death, as it surely would be for her. "Mina!" He shouted. "Mina!" She still didn't turn around. Artemis panicked. Flashes of visions came to him; though he didn't know it at the time, they echoed coldly the second vision Mina had after her recent defeat. Flash. Mina leapt into the air to slowly and energy bolts lanced through her body. Flash. He attacked the blond general. Flash. The enemy marched unstopped. Flash. He was dead. Flash. Mina was dead! "Mina! Sailor Venus! MINA!"
Having finished gathering her miniscule energy Mina turned to him at his last shout. She paused at the edge of the roof, and smiled sadly. "I'm sorry Artemis. Really I am. I'd like to live...." She turned away from him, still fighting back tears, and prepared to fling herself into battle. There was the chance she could win, and that was the chance she had to go with. No matter what.
*She's really going to do it!* Artemis thought desperately. * She doesn't understand! She doesn't have a chance now, but if we wait we-- All right. That's it! She leaves me no choice. I just hope I have enough energy for this!*
Mina's feet had just left the roof as Artemis shouted. The words tore their way into her head, reverberating loudly until she was sure they would split her head in two. She felt, more than heard them, and they screamed of power. Something tugged at her and as the world spun crazily out of focus, she blacked out.
~*~
Mina opened her eyes to find herself back inside the dream, this time where she had left it last; She was near the portrait watching the man who looked like Artemis and the person who was her but not her kiss. She wondered if even though they couldn't see her, perhaps she should leave them alone. But just as the weirdness of the situation was about to force her to explore elsewhere and leave the man's identity a secret, there came a knock at the door a bit down the hall and a voice called; "My Lady, Princess Mars is here to see you."
The man and other-Mina ended their embrace a bit reluctantly, and other-Mina walked down the hall to open the door. The man smiled after her, then turned and exited around another corner, amusedly mumbling something about her always distracting him when he tried to tell her something.
Mina was torn between finding out who the man was, and seeing what her other-self would do next. Staying near her other-self won out, partly due to the fact that Mina was curious to find out who this 'Princes Mars' was, and why she was here. Where ever 'here' was. The curiosity of this Princess having the name of a planet, much like Mina's own 'Sailor Venus' identity, was not lost on her.
Other-Mina opened the door, and the real Mina caught a glimpse of a striking young woman with dark hair, wearing a brilliant blood red dress before something tugged at her consciousness and the dream world faded out as Mina was pulled back into reality and wakefulness.
~*~
Mina awoke to see Artemis once again staring down at her. He looked drained, and as horrible as she felt. Her head was absolutely pounding. "Wha- what happened?" She closed her eyes. The last thing she remembered was standing on the edge of their apartment building, preparing to defy Artemis and fight the enemy. *Well, I'm not dead at least. I'd remember that.... I think.* She opened her eyes again, to see Artemis struggling to talk. His mouth was moving like a gaping fish, but just rasping was coming out. "Artemis?! What on earth happened to you?" He mouthed some more, but nothing came out. Mina eyed him worriedly. "It's to bad you're no good at charades." Artemis glared at her.
"All right, All right." Mina took a minute to asses her energy reserves. They were down even more than they had been earlier. She remembered that she had been transformed the last time she had been conscious, though she wasn't now. She drew a deep breath then let it out. Well, it wasn't good to waste energy, but she had to find out what happened. She'd have to use some power and talk to Artemis telepathically.
Laying a hand on Artemis forehead, where his crescent moon was, Mina closed her eyes and concentrated.
*Artemis...?*
*I can hear you* said his voice in her mind. Their thoughts were linked for the moment.
*Good.* Mina smiled. *Now tell me what happened!*
Artemis sighed mentally. Chances were good she wasn't going to be happy with him. Though, he thought, she'd hopefully see things differently once he got a chance to explain.
*Then explain! * Mina's voice cut through his thoughts *I don't even know what you've done yet!*
Artemis grinned ruefully. *Sorry. Forgot you could hear everything.* He swished his tail around agitatedly then thought, *I used a word of power.*
Word of power.... word of power... Mina was sure she had heard of that before, meaning Artemis had taught her what it was. She just had to remember it... wait... now she remembered it-- *YOU USED A WHAT!?* her mental voice yelled loudly. They both flinched at the headache it caused them. *You used a word of power?!* she thought a little less loudly. *A word of power. When you weren't at top strength. When you weren't even at medium strength. After grilling me when you taught me of them that you should never, ever do that? Why Artemis?*
Artemis sighed again. * I didn't have any other choice. You were about to go do something that was tantamount to suicide!*
* I,* Mina thought somewhat icily *Was about to attempt to save people's lives.*
*At the expense of your own.*
*If I had saved the world would it have been that big a sacrifice?!*
Artemis sighed exasperatedly. *That's what your not understanding! You-would-not-have-beat-them. Not today, not as you are!*
*So I'm just to let wait, on the chance that later I'll be able to beat them, while people are dieing now?*
*Yes.*
~*~
End Chapter Three
AN:
Lost: Another chapter complete! I know it took me a longer time than I said to get it out, but I'm actually rather pleased with myself, both because of it's length and quality. First of all, this chapter in it's 'notepad' form is 17 kb. Chapter 2 is only 9 kb. So it's almost twice as big! Also, when I first started writing this fic, I had trouble writing dialogue between Artemis and Mina but I'm very happy with how I'm doing it now!
Anyways, please forgive me for taking longer than I said to write this chapter. I'd like to promise that the next one will be out soon. In fact, it's actually rather likely, since I could have kept writing for this chapter. Artemis has a lot of explaining to do, and I'm ready to write it. But I wanted to end this chapter here, because I felt it was finally long enough, and I know I've kept you waiting a while for it.
A couple notes about this chapter: On the words of power: more about them in the next chapter. I've taken the name from a book, though mine are after a different concept of my own invention. Kudos if you knew which book, it's by Tamora Pierce. You didn't get many questions answered hmmm? Still don't know what's up with Mina's 'dreams'. And now we're left wondering why Artemis thinks she can beat them later (well, you are. I'm not J ). At one point in one of Mina's 'dreams' the man-who-looks-like-Artemis call's her 'Mina-chan'. I don't go for the whole 'throw-Japanese-words-in-whenever' thing, but I felt that it was appropriate in this case for that man to call her by a term of endearment… Forgive me if it bugs you! Also, let me know if it does, 'cause feedback is much appreciated.
On that note (Now I'm just doing it on purpose!) reviews are much appreciated, so please review, whether you'd like to give me a big comment or just say your reading!
Review Thanks:
Wingnut: Well, thanks for reviewing again! It's much appreciated so like you said, I know *somebody* is reading ;)
Aria the Frozen Phoenix: Sorry I didn't contact you to have you beta this chapter, I've never had a beta before, and it took me forever to write this chapter so I just wanted to post it! But I am very glad you're my beta (if you still are! ;) )Thanks! I'm glad you liked that chapter. I like writing cliffs.
moon-neko-princess: ^.^ I'm so glad you like it! Hmmm, I can't really answer to many of your questions… lol, but while Luna *is* dead, she may make an appearance later on….By the way, I do like your story! Everyone go read moon-neko-princess's fic ok? ^.^
EternalSailor: Thanks! I'm glad you still like it. ^.^ all questions should be answered in time…
Snuffles2: Hey! I'm very glad you love it. Sorry I didn't update soon, I promise the next update will be sooner. At least this chapter is longer huh? ^.^ I love strange pairings to, but you all will just have to wait and see. Thanks again!
Story Advertising:
Title: Serenades of the Desert Rose
Author: Aria the Frozen Phoenix
Lost: This is a lovely lovely Mina/Malachite story. Because as you know, theirloveissocanon. ^.^ at least if you read the manga it is! Which I do, and anyways, this story has a great plot going for it as well, including a kidnapping. It's my recommendation for this chapter, so read it!
~*~
Lost: if you'd like to receive notification of when I post a new chapter, please post a request and your email in a review. I'll email you when I post the next chapter.
I'm still open for beta's if you'd like to beta for me. I have one (I think! It's been a while since she said she would and I hadn't sent her anything!) but I could always use a couple more opinions
Also, FF.N isn't uploading this entirely right, it's taking out the codes for centering things. I'll try and fix this later, because I want to get this chapter uploaded now.
Next Chapter: You get a further explanation of words of power! Artemis gets a chance to explain just why mina couldn't fight right then. Much angst as the enemy--- oh, but I can't give it all away. ^.^