THE NIGHTMARE REALM,
CHAPTER 5: "Quicksand Of The Mind"
By Bill K.
King Endymion cautiously walked through the dense, dark jungle of onyx trees and thick, clutching underbrush. He betrayed nothing more than concern for the missing Sailor Juno and awareness that at any moment they could be attacked. His sword was drawn and he had changed from his pastel gray tuxedo to his black armor.
At either side were Sailor Saturn and Sailor Ceres. Saturn tried to keep her fear suppressed as she scanned the thicket with her eyes, her glaive at the ready. Ceres didn't waste any energy on bravado. She was openly scared and didn't mind showing it, though she was ready should something attack the other two - - and ready to shriek in terror if something attacked her again, particularly flesh-eating daffodils.
"Do you know where we're going, Your Majesty?" Saturn asked.
"I'm sensing a life in this direction," Endymion explained. "I think it may be Juno."
"Who else could it be?" Ceres asked.
"I'd rather not speculate on that, or the consequences of that being the case," Endymion replied.
Ceres glanced up at him. He was so forceful, so commanding. She didn't have any trouble believing that he knew just how to handle anything that might come up. She felt a warm sensation through her chest and shook her head, trying to refocus on the mission at hand.
"Are you OK, Ceres?" Saturn asked her. Saturn was looking at her strangely and Ceres felt herself grow crimson.
"Yeah, I-I'm fine," she stammered, trying to regain control of her emotions. "I guess I'm still a little spooked by this place. Aren't you?"
Saturn glanced around her, then looked down. Her always-sad eyes seemed to grow particularly haunted.
"I've seen worse," she shrugged. Ceres swallowed.
It was then they both sensed Endymion had stopped. Looking up at him, they saw him staring intently into the blackness.
"What is it?" Saturn asked.
"Usa," he whispered. "I can feel her through my link with her. She's engaged in conflict with something very powerful."
"Echidna?"
"I think so."
"We need to hurry then!"
"No," Endymion proclaimed. Saturn looked up at him, silently demanding why. "We have to find Juno first. Juno may be hurt or in trouble." As he spoke, Saturn could see he was fighting to remain calm, literally pulling the words from his soul, fighting an instinct that was threatening to overwhelm him. "Usa will be fine. She's Sailor Moon now. We have to-to trust her ability."
Without warning, a shriek pierced the darkness. Whirling, the trio instantly pinpointed the direction the sound came from.
"That was Juno!" cried Ceres.
Heedless of the danger she feared only moments ago, Ceres plunged into the thick underbrush to reach the sound of her sister Amazon.
"Ceres, be careful!" Endymion shouted as he and Saturn gave chase. "Don't rush in blindly! It's too dangerous!"
Heedless of anything except reaching Juno, Ceres raced on. As she ran, she used her power over plants to part the thick underbrush and create a path for her. The plants parted reluctantly, silently grumbling about this interloper who dared to command them. Ceres ignored them as she ignored Endymion's shouts. Juno was in trouble. That was all that mattered.
Ceres broke into a clearing and found Juno kneeling on the bank of a pond. She was doubled over, her arms clutching her torso, and quaking with fright. A quick perusal of the area found nothing immediately threatening. Accepting the risk, Ceres quickly covered the distance between them and knelt down next to her sister.
"Juno?" Ceres asked gently, lightly but firmly grasping Juno's upper arms. The girl refused to sit up. "Juno, come on! It's Ceres! I'm here! Don't be afraid!"
Juno tried to pull away, but Ceres held on.
"Juno, what is it? Say something! What happened?" Juno's struggles ceased, but she still wouldn't sit up. "Juno, what's wrong? Tell me, please! Let me help you! Speak to me!"
With clear reluctance, Juno began to sit up. The shadows obscured much of her upper body, casting it in a very low light. Ceres stared at her, wondering what could have so traumatized Juno. Juno turned to her.
It must have been a trick of the light. Ceres stared harder, trying to penetrate the haze that obliterated Juno's face. Then realization struck and with it utter horror. Juno had no face. Her features were gone. All that was left was smooth, pink, featureless skin. Ceres fell back, her eyes bulging. The reaction drove Juno to bury her face in her legs again.
"Oh, Juno, I'm sorry!" wailed Ceres. She hugged the girl, forcing her from her defensive crouch. Ceres drew Juno to her, protectively surrounding her sister with her arms. "We'll find a way to fix you. I promise."
The darkness surrounded the pair. Ceres paid it no mind. Juno needed her.
* * * *
The first sensation Helios felt was confusion. The power Echidna had unleashed was more than she'd ever demonstrated before. It was powerful enough to send even him careening from the temple and into the inky dark of the surrounding realm. How had she come by such power, for it made her that much more dangerous to all sane thought? Did her power stem from her growing uncontrollable madness or was someone behind her, manipulating her?
The next sensation Helios felt was alarm. He heard Sailor Vesta call out, inquire anxiously as to the location of The Princess. Helios resisted the urge to look about, for Vesta already had that covered. Instead he reached out with his mind, for there was nothing in any of the dreaming lands that could be hidden from him. It was a power he shared with Echidna
The last sensation Helios felt was fear.
"She is still in the Temple of Echidna!" Helios gasped out. "She managed to resist Echidna's power!"
"Or maybe this Echidna chick has plans for her!" Vesta articulated what Helios feared to do.
"She cannot face Echidna alone, not when the guardian of nightmares is in this fevered state!" As Helios exclaimed this, he transformed into his Pegasus form. The equine launched himself into the sky. "Hurry!" he commanded mentally, his shrill voice ringing in Vesta's head. "We must go to her! Keep up as best you can! I cannot wait for you!"
"Just don't choke on my dust!" Vesta retorted. "Fauna Assimilation - - Pterodactyl!"
Her body changed into the huge prehistoric winged lizard. Though large and ponderous, her mighty wingspan would allow Vesta to cover more ground. Pegasus was already nearly out of sight. She poised to launch into the air.
"Vesta!" Pallas' voice rang in her head. Vesta turned around, but nothing was there.
"Pallas, is that you?" Vesta asked out loud.
"Please be careful, Vesta! Pallas doesn't want the bad lady to hurt you!"
The great flying lizard brushed a limb against its suddenly moist eye.
"Don't worry about me, Pallas," Vesta thought along their link. "You just concentrate on getting well. We miss you out here."
With that, the dinosaur senshi flew off to join Helios.
* * * *
"Pallas?" Fisheye inquired. "Why are you crying? Did something upset you? Is it the voices?"
"Not really," sniffed Sailor Pallas. "It's just - - Vesta's going to fight the bad lady. Pallas is afraid Vesta is going to get hurt!"
"I know it's hard," Fisheye whispered, gripping the girl's hand. "It's all right to be afraid for her. They're fighting a dangerous battle and something bad could happen. But they're fighting for something important. I hope nothing bad happens to Vesta or any of them, but we have to be brave and not worry them. They can't concentrate on winning if they're worrying about us." Fisheye grinned uneasily. "Does that make any sense?"
"Not really," Pallas admitted, "but Pallas is a little slow."
Fisheye grinned in embarrassment. "Well I used to be a fish, so I'm not that good a talker. I guess what I'm trying to say is we have to accept that one or more of them might not come back, but if it means winning against this plague, then that's how it has to be."
Pallas nodded, but Fisheye could see the young girl wasn't happy with the thought. Neither was he.
"Miss Fisheye Sir?" Pallas inquired finally.
"Yes, Pallas?"
"Pardon Pallas for asking, but," and the girl hesitated, "why do fish always let fishermen catch them? Don't they see the hook?"
Fisheye stared at her in shock and confusion for a few moments. Then he smothered a chuckle and tried to look serious. Pallas only looked up at him in wonder.
A loud clatter drew their attention. At the far end of the room, Candide slipped from her chair to the floor. Fisheye rose even as two other denizens of Elysian rushed to the Queen Mother's side. He was about to go to her when he heard Pallas whimper.
"NO!" wailed Pallas. She clutched her head and was pulled into a fetal position. "PALLAS DOESN'T WANT TO GO TO SLEEP!"
* * * *
The force had driven her to one knee. However, Sailor Moon, with the aid of the Crescent Moon Wand and the glowing pink crystal in the base, had resisted the onslaught of Echidna's sudden burst of power. Buoyed by her success, Sailor Moon looked around for Helios. The sight of his pride in her, etched as it would be on his face because he could never hide it even if he put a sack over his head, was better for her than gold.
"Helios?" Sailor Moon called out when she didn't see him. Her voice betrayed the anxiety she felt and at that moment she didn't care. But Helios was gone. In fact no one seemed to be in the gloomy temple. "Helios, where are you?"
"It's just us," Echidna said, her voice haunting, disembodied. Sailor Moon turned and finally caught sight of her. The woman was drawing patterns into a marble altar with her finger.
"What did you do with Helios?" demanded Sailor Moon.
"Helios is a beam of light with gold and sapphire wings," Echidna replied. She wore the spooky, faraway look again on the part of her face that was visible. "Helios is the sun, the moon and the stars all rolled up into one. He soars above while I am consigned to the filth." She turned to Sailor Moon. "Have we met?"
Sailor Moon only stared. She didn't know how to answer.
"Oh, yes, you are the princess of the waking world," Echidna nodded. Her visible eye fixed on Sailor Moon. "I knew your Helios when he was but a sweet young boy." As she spoke, she seemed to slither closer to Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon eyed her warily, but didn't give ground lest she seem intimidated. "He was very kind to me. He was handsome even then. There was something pristine about him that attracted me like a moth to flame."
"Uh, news bulletin," Sailor Moon replied, tight-lipped. "Helios has a girl."
"Yes," Echidna replied, gliding behind Sailor Moon for a moment, her hand caressing the girl's cheek. "I imaging it would vex him terribly if I had you flayed."
Sailor Moon pivoted out of Echidna's reach, facing her down again. She brandished the Crescent Moon Wand, ready to use it should Echidna give her cause.
"Oh!" gasped Echidna excitedly. "What a pretty jewel! May I touch it?"
Echidna reached for the jewel in the wand, but a stiff-arm from Sailor Moon kept her at bay.
"Don't touch it!" snarled Sailor Moon.
"But I only wish to use it to kill you," Echidna replied innocently.
"All right, enough of this! You need to stop spreading all your darkness and evil over Elysian! Now!"
"Evil? What is evil, Princess, save that which deprives us of what we want? I only wish an end to the voices. I only wish to walk in the sun and be normal, to have a fraction of what you have. By denying me this, does that not make you the evil one?"
"You're doing it the wrong way!" argued Sailor Moon. "Any way that hurts so many people is the wrong way, it has to be! Even you can see that, can't you?" Echidna stared at her like she was a performing monkey. "Look, Helios and I can try to help you. There has to be some way to help you. But this isn't the way. The happiness of one person can't come at the expense of millions."
"You'd," mumbled Echidna, looking at the floor, "help me?"
"If I can."
"THANK YOU!" Echidna roared. With a wild-eyed look and a death's head grin, she lunged at the pink senshi.
* * * *
Ceres heard footsteps behind her. Cradling Juno against her body, Ceres turned to the sound, prepared to protect her sister Amazon any way she could. To her relief, Endymion and Sailor Saturn emerged from the brush.
"OH!" gasped Saturn, her hand going to her mouth. Endymion saw what had happened to Juno, too, but expressed more sadness than surprise. "What happened?"
"I don't know!" sobbed Ceres. "I found her like this! Isn't there something we can do?"
"Let me see what I can do," Endymion said, kneeling down next to them. He felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Um, pardon me, Your Majesty," Saturn said meekly. "Maybe you should save yourself for Echidna. I'll try to help her."
"If you think you can," nodded Endymion, yielding to the violet senshi. "But be careful not to overextend yourself. I don't want you to endanger yourself recklessly."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Saturn replied absently. She was already slipping into a state of semi-consciousness.
Searching her mind for that place Sensei told her held her power, Saturn sank to her knees before Sailor Juno. Ceres reluctantly backed away. The place was there, just as Sensei taught her. She had been to the place of power before, the first time at ten. She was a student at Infinity Academy. Kenichi Wakabi had accidentally cut open his hand. His instant alarm and terror were great enough for her to smell. Young Hotaru had wanted to help him and the strength of her wish had taken her to her place of power. She knew what it was now, but then it was a wondrous unknown. She healed Kenichi, laying hands upon his and closing his wound. Only the other children had reacted in terror of her and at that moment her place of power became a thing to be feared and reviled. Only later would she learn differently.
Her hands drifted on their own accord to Juno's blank face. Instantly power radiated from them and Juno whimpered. She had no mouth to make any other sound with. In Sailor Saturn's mind, there were only two things that existed in the world: her hands and her place of power. Carefully she worked her hands over the soft flesh of Juno's face. She couldn't see because the impulses from her eyes couldn't get past the flow of power. She couldn't hear for the same reason. There was a vague sense of her scalp tingling. Her hands continued to caress the flesh of Juno's countenance.
Using the power, though, was tiring. Saturn began to feel the fatigue growing within her slight body. She struggled to hold on, clinging to the resolution of helping Juno, of reconstructing her face. She felt light-headed and couldn't seem to draw enough oxygen. A wave of nausea flooded over her just before everything seemed to spin.
"Saturn, you did it!" she heard someone squeal. She thought it was Ceres.
Struggling to gain control of her body, Saturn forced her eyes open. She seemed to be on her back. Juno was hovering over her. Her face was normal again - - save for the tears streaming down her cheeks. Saturn struggled to smile and wasn't sure she accomplished it.
"Saturn?" Juno pleaded. "Saturn, are you all right? Please say something!"
"Sorry, Your Majesty," Saturn gasped out. "Think I overdid it."
The king was by her side instantly. Juno shifted reluctantly, because she hadn't been able to thank her savior properly; however, this was more important. Endymion reached for her and as he did his hand began to glow gold. It closed on Saturn's shoulder and the girl's torso arched as if stimulated by unseen energy. A sigh escaped her lips as her head lolled back and her short black hair dusted the ground. Within seconds her body relaxed and the smile that curled her lips spoke of how much better she felt.
"Is she going to be all right?" Juno asked.
"She just needs to rest a little," Endymion replied. "Her desire still outdistances her power."
"I guess I understand why she's so reluctant to use her power," Juno commented. Endymion glanced at her. Juno didn't even come close to understanding.
Suddenly Endymion recoiled from something. He doubled over as if he'd been shot, then braced himself on his hands and knees. Both conscious senshi gasped.
"Your Majesty! What is it?" Juno cried.
"Usa," he croaked out through clenched teeth.
"The Princess is in trouble?" Ceres asked in alarm. With effort, Endymion nodded.
"Go to her," Juno told him. Endymion looked at her, obviously torn by his desire to aid his daughter and his duty to them. "We'll stay with Saturn. We'll catch up with you as soon as we can."
"But Sailor Juno," he began.
"The Princess is more important than we are, Your Majesty. Go on."
"Very well. But take this," and he presented Juno with a rose. "It will give you some protection against the nightmares that manifest in this place."
Juno took it and nodded solemnly. With clear distaste, Endymion rose to his feet. As he stood, his black armor gleamed in the low light. Lunging forward several steps, his cape fluttering in the wind, Endymion shimmered and disappeared from view.
"What do you suppose is going on?" Ceres asked, trying to shunt her fear to the side.
"That Echidna lady is probably being difficult," Juno replied, her attention focused on the rose. She turned it over in her hands a few times, then tucked the stem in her boot.
"They ought to put pockets in these things, huh?" Ceres grinned nervously.
"Ceres," Juno began. "Thanks for finding me. Thanks for all you did to help."
"No charge," Ceres grinned. "We Asteroids have to stick together." Ceres grew timid. "What was it like?"
"Like my worst nightmare," Juno whispered.
Ceres looked around the gloomy forest while Juno set about tending to the sleeping Sailor Saturn.
"I hope she gets better soon," Ceres muttered. "I can't wait to get out of this place."
Continued in Chapter 6
CHAPTER 5: "Quicksand Of The Mind"
By Bill K.
King Endymion cautiously walked through the dense, dark jungle of onyx trees and thick, clutching underbrush. He betrayed nothing more than concern for the missing Sailor Juno and awareness that at any moment they could be attacked. His sword was drawn and he had changed from his pastel gray tuxedo to his black armor.
At either side were Sailor Saturn and Sailor Ceres. Saturn tried to keep her fear suppressed as she scanned the thicket with her eyes, her glaive at the ready. Ceres didn't waste any energy on bravado. She was openly scared and didn't mind showing it, though she was ready should something attack the other two - - and ready to shriek in terror if something attacked her again, particularly flesh-eating daffodils.
"Do you know where we're going, Your Majesty?" Saturn asked.
"I'm sensing a life in this direction," Endymion explained. "I think it may be Juno."
"Who else could it be?" Ceres asked.
"I'd rather not speculate on that, or the consequences of that being the case," Endymion replied.
Ceres glanced up at him. He was so forceful, so commanding. She didn't have any trouble believing that he knew just how to handle anything that might come up. She felt a warm sensation through her chest and shook her head, trying to refocus on the mission at hand.
"Are you OK, Ceres?" Saturn asked her. Saturn was looking at her strangely and Ceres felt herself grow crimson.
"Yeah, I-I'm fine," she stammered, trying to regain control of her emotions. "I guess I'm still a little spooked by this place. Aren't you?"
Saturn glanced around her, then looked down. Her always-sad eyes seemed to grow particularly haunted.
"I've seen worse," she shrugged. Ceres swallowed.
It was then they both sensed Endymion had stopped. Looking up at him, they saw him staring intently into the blackness.
"What is it?" Saturn asked.
"Usa," he whispered. "I can feel her through my link with her. She's engaged in conflict with something very powerful."
"Echidna?"
"I think so."
"We need to hurry then!"
"No," Endymion proclaimed. Saturn looked up at him, silently demanding why. "We have to find Juno first. Juno may be hurt or in trouble." As he spoke, Saturn could see he was fighting to remain calm, literally pulling the words from his soul, fighting an instinct that was threatening to overwhelm him. "Usa will be fine. She's Sailor Moon now. We have to-to trust her ability."
Without warning, a shriek pierced the darkness. Whirling, the trio instantly pinpointed the direction the sound came from.
"That was Juno!" cried Ceres.
Heedless of the danger she feared only moments ago, Ceres plunged into the thick underbrush to reach the sound of her sister Amazon.
"Ceres, be careful!" Endymion shouted as he and Saturn gave chase. "Don't rush in blindly! It's too dangerous!"
Heedless of anything except reaching Juno, Ceres raced on. As she ran, she used her power over plants to part the thick underbrush and create a path for her. The plants parted reluctantly, silently grumbling about this interloper who dared to command them. Ceres ignored them as she ignored Endymion's shouts. Juno was in trouble. That was all that mattered.
Ceres broke into a clearing and found Juno kneeling on the bank of a pond. She was doubled over, her arms clutching her torso, and quaking with fright. A quick perusal of the area found nothing immediately threatening. Accepting the risk, Ceres quickly covered the distance between them and knelt down next to her sister.
"Juno?" Ceres asked gently, lightly but firmly grasping Juno's upper arms. The girl refused to sit up. "Juno, come on! It's Ceres! I'm here! Don't be afraid!"
Juno tried to pull away, but Ceres held on.
"Juno, what is it? Say something! What happened?" Juno's struggles ceased, but she still wouldn't sit up. "Juno, what's wrong? Tell me, please! Let me help you! Speak to me!"
With clear reluctance, Juno began to sit up. The shadows obscured much of her upper body, casting it in a very low light. Ceres stared at her, wondering what could have so traumatized Juno. Juno turned to her.
It must have been a trick of the light. Ceres stared harder, trying to penetrate the haze that obliterated Juno's face. Then realization struck and with it utter horror. Juno had no face. Her features were gone. All that was left was smooth, pink, featureless skin. Ceres fell back, her eyes bulging. The reaction drove Juno to bury her face in her legs again.
"Oh, Juno, I'm sorry!" wailed Ceres. She hugged the girl, forcing her from her defensive crouch. Ceres drew Juno to her, protectively surrounding her sister with her arms. "We'll find a way to fix you. I promise."
The darkness surrounded the pair. Ceres paid it no mind. Juno needed her.
* * * *
The first sensation Helios felt was confusion. The power Echidna had unleashed was more than she'd ever demonstrated before. It was powerful enough to send even him careening from the temple and into the inky dark of the surrounding realm. How had she come by such power, for it made her that much more dangerous to all sane thought? Did her power stem from her growing uncontrollable madness or was someone behind her, manipulating her?
The next sensation Helios felt was alarm. He heard Sailor Vesta call out, inquire anxiously as to the location of The Princess. Helios resisted the urge to look about, for Vesta already had that covered. Instead he reached out with his mind, for there was nothing in any of the dreaming lands that could be hidden from him. It was a power he shared with Echidna
The last sensation Helios felt was fear.
"She is still in the Temple of Echidna!" Helios gasped out. "She managed to resist Echidna's power!"
"Or maybe this Echidna chick has plans for her!" Vesta articulated what Helios feared to do.
"She cannot face Echidna alone, not when the guardian of nightmares is in this fevered state!" As Helios exclaimed this, he transformed into his Pegasus form. The equine launched himself into the sky. "Hurry!" he commanded mentally, his shrill voice ringing in Vesta's head. "We must go to her! Keep up as best you can! I cannot wait for you!"
"Just don't choke on my dust!" Vesta retorted. "Fauna Assimilation - - Pterodactyl!"
Her body changed into the huge prehistoric winged lizard. Though large and ponderous, her mighty wingspan would allow Vesta to cover more ground. Pegasus was already nearly out of sight. She poised to launch into the air.
"Vesta!" Pallas' voice rang in her head. Vesta turned around, but nothing was there.
"Pallas, is that you?" Vesta asked out loud.
"Please be careful, Vesta! Pallas doesn't want the bad lady to hurt you!"
The great flying lizard brushed a limb against its suddenly moist eye.
"Don't worry about me, Pallas," Vesta thought along their link. "You just concentrate on getting well. We miss you out here."
With that, the dinosaur senshi flew off to join Helios.
* * * *
"Pallas?" Fisheye inquired. "Why are you crying? Did something upset you? Is it the voices?"
"Not really," sniffed Sailor Pallas. "It's just - - Vesta's going to fight the bad lady. Pallas is afraid Vesta is going to get hurt!"
"I know it's hard," Fisheye whispered, gripping the girl's hand. "It's all right to be afraid for her. They're fighting a dangerous battle and something bad could happen. But they're fighting for something important. I hope nothing bad happens to Vesta or any of them, but we have to be brave and not worry them. They can't concentrate on winning if they're worrying about us." Fisheye grinned uneasily. "Does that make any sense?"
"Not really," Pallas admitted, "but Pallas is a little slow."
Fisheye grinned in embarrassment. "Well I used to be a fish, so I'm not that good a talker. I guess what I'm trying to say is we have to accept that one or more of them might not come back, but if it means winning against this plague, then that's how it has to be."
Pallas nodded, but Fisheye could see the young girl wasn't happy with the thought. Neither was he.
"Miss Fisheye Sir?" Pallas inquired finally.
"Yes, Pallas?"
"Pardon Pallas for asking, but," and the girl hesitated, "why do fish always let fishermen catch them? Don't they see the hook?"
Fisheye stared at her in shock and confusion for a few moments. Then he smothered a chuckle and tried to look serious. Pallas only looked up at him in wonder.
A loud clatter drew their attention. At the far end of the room, Candide slipped from her chair to the floor. Fisheye rose even as two other denizens of Elysian rushed to the Queen Mother's side. He was about to go to her when he heard Pallas whimper.
"NO!" wailed Pallas. She clutched her head and was pulled into a fetal position. "PALLAS DOESN'T WANT TO GO TO SLEEP!"
* * * *
The force had driven her to one knee. However, Sailor Moon, with the aid of the Crescent Moon Wand and the glowing pink crystal in the base, had resisted the onslaught of Echidna's sudden burst of power. Buoyed by her success, Sailor Moon looked around for Helios. The sight of his pride in her, etched as it would be on his face because he could never hide it even if he put a sack over his head, was better for her than gold.
"Helios?" Sailor Moon called out when she didn't see him. Her voice betrayed the anxiety she felt and at that moment she didn't care. But Helios was gone. In fact no one seemed to be in the gloomy temple. "Helios, where are you?"
"It's just us," Echidna said, her voice haunting, disembodied. Sailor Moon turned and finally caught sight of her. The woman was drawing patterns into a marble altar with her finger.
"What did you do with Helios?" demanded Sailor Moon.
"Helios is a beam of light with gold and sapphire wings," Echidna replied. She wore the spooky, faraway look again on the part of her face that was visible. "Helios is the sun, the moon and the stars all rolled up into one. He soars above while I am consigned to the filth." She turned to Sailor Moon. "Have we met?"
Sailor Moon only stared. She didn't know how to answer.
"Oh, yes, you are the princess of the waking world," Echidna nodded. Her visible eye fixed on Sailor Moon. "I knew your Helios when he was but a sweet young boy." As she spoke, she seemed to slither closer to Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon eyed her warily, but didn't give ground lest she seem intimidated. "He was very kind to me. He was handsome even then. There was something pristine about him that attracted me like a moth to flame."
"Uh, news bulletin," Sailor Moon replied, tight-lipped. "Helios has a girl."
"Yes," Echidna replied, gliding behind Sailor Moon for a moment, her hand caressing the girl's cheek. "I imaging it would vex him terribly if I had you flayed."
Sailor Moon pivoted out of Echidna's reach, facing her down again. She brandished the Crescent Moon Wand, ready to use it should Echidna give her cause.
"Oh!" gasped Echidna excitedly. "What a pretty jewel! May I touch it?"
Echidna reached for the jewel in the wand, but a stiff-arm from Sailor Moon kept her at bay.
"Don't touch it!" snarled Sailor Moon.
"But I only wish to use it to kill you," Echidna replied innocently.
"All right, enough of this! You need to stop spreading all your darkness and evil over Elysian! Now!"
"Evil? What is evil, Princess, save that which deprives us of what we want? I only wish an end to the voices. I only wish to walk in the sun and be normal, to have a fraction of what you have. By denying me this, does that not make you the evil one?"
"You're doing it the wrong way!" argued Sailor Moon. "Any way that hurts so many people is the wrong way, it has to be! Even you can see that, can't you?" Echidna stared at her like she was a performing monkey. "Look, Helios and I can try to help you. There has to be some way to help you. But this isn't the way. The happiness of one person can't come at the expense of millions."
"You'd," mumbled Echidna, looking at the floor, "help me?"
"If I can."
"THANK YOU!" Echidna roared. With a wild-eyed look and a death's head grin, she lunged at the pink senshi.
* * * *
Ceres heard footsteps behind her. Cradling Juno against her body, Ceres turned to the sound, prepared to protect her sister Amazon any way she could. To her relief, Endymion and Sailor Saturn emerged from the brush.
"OH!" gasped Saturn, her hand going to her mouth. Endymion saw what had happened to Juno, too, but expressed more sadness than surprise. "What happened?"
"I don't know!" sobbed Ceres. "I found her like this! Isn't there something we can do?"
"Let me see what I can do," Endymion said, kneeling down next to them. He felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Um, pardon me, Your Majesty," Saturn said meekly. "Maybe you should save yourself for Echidna. I'll try to help her."
"If you think you can," nodded Endymion, yielding to the violet senshi. "But be careful not to overextend yourself. I don't want you to endanger yourself recklessly."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Saturn replied absently. She was already slipping into a state of semi-consciousness.
Searching her mind for that place Sensei told her held her power, Saturn sank to her knees before Sailor Juno. Ceres reluctantly backed away. The place was there, just as Sensei taught her. She had been to the place of power before, the first time at ten. She was a student at Infinity Academy. Kenichi Wakabi had accidentally cut open his hand. His instant alarm and terror were great enough for her to smell. Young Hotaru had wanted to help him and the strength of her wish had taken her to her place of power. She knew what it was now, but then it was a wondrous unknown. She healed Kenichi, laying hands upon his and closing his wound. Only the other children had reacted in terror of her and at that moment her place of power became a thing to be feared and reviled. Only later would she learn differently.
Her hands drifted on their own accord to Juno's blank face. Instantly power radiated from them and Juno whimpered. She had no mouth to make any other sound with. In Sailor Saturn's mind, there were only two things that existed in the world: her hands and her place of power. Carefully she worked her hands over the soft flesh of Juno's face. She couldn't see because the impulses from her eyes couldn't get past the flow of power. She couldn't hear for the same reason. There was a vague sense of her scalp tingling. Her hands continued to caress the flesh of Juno's countenance.
Using the power, though, was tiring. Saturn began to feel the fatigue growing within her slight body. She struggled to hold on, clinging to the resolution of helping Juno, of reconstructing her face. She felt light-headed and couldn't seem to draw enough oxygen. A wave of nausea flooded over her just before everything seemed to spin.
"Saturn, you did it!" she heard someone squeal. She thought it was Ceres.
Struggling to gain control of her body, Saturn forced her eyes open. She seemed to be on her back. Juno was hovering over her. Her face was normal again - - save for the tears streaming down her cheeks. Saturn struggled to smile and wasn't sure she accomplished it.
"Saturn?" Juno pleaded. "Saturn, are you all right? Please say something!"
"Sorry, Your Majesty," Saturn gasped out. "Think I overdid it."
The king was by her side instantly. Juno shifted reluctantly, because she hadn't been able to thank her savior properly; however, this was more important. Endymion reached for her and as he did his hand began to glow gold. It closed on Saturn's shoulder and the girl's torso arched as if stimulated by unseen energy. A sigh escaped her lips as her head lolled back and her short black hair dusted the ground. Within seconds her body relaxed and the smile that curled her lips spoke of how much better she felt.
"Is she going to be all right?" Juno asked.
"She just needs to rest a little," Endymion replied. "Her desire still outdistances her power."
"I guess I understand why she's so reluctant to use her power," Juno commented. Endymion glanced at her. Juno didn't even come close to understanding.
Suddenly Endymion recoiled from something. He doubled over as if he'd been shot, then braced himself on his hands and knees. Both conscious senshi gasped.
"Your Majesty! What is it?" Juno cried.
"Usa," he croaked out through clenched teeth.
"The Princess is in trouble?" Ceres asked in alarm. With effort, Endymion nodded.
"Go to her," Juno told him. Endymion looked at her, obviously torn by his desire to aid his daughter and his duty to them. "We'll stay with Saturn. We'll catch up with you as soon as we can."
"But Sailor Juno," he began.
"The Princess is more important than we are, Your Majesty. Go on."
"Very well. But take this," and he presented Juno with a rose. "It will give you some protection against the nightmares that manifest in this place."
Juno took it and nodded solemnly. With clear distaste, Endymion rose to his feet. As he stood, his black armor gleamed in the low light. Lunging forward several steps, his cape fluttering in the wind, Endymion shimmered and disappeared from view.
"What do you suppose is going on?" Ceres asked, trying to shunt her fear to the side.
"That Echidna lady is probably being difficult," Juno replied, her attention focused on the rose. She turned it over in her hands a few times, then tucked the stem in her boot.
"They ought to put pockets in these things, huh?" Ceres grinned nervously.
"Ceres," Juno began. "Thanks for finding me. Thanks for all you did to help."
"No charge," Ceres grinned. "We Asteroids have to stick together." Ceres grew timid. "What was it like?"
"Like my worst nightmare," Juno whispered.
Ceres looked around the gloomy forest while Juno set about tending to the sleeping Sailor Saturn.
"I hope she gets better soon," Ceres muttered. "I can't wait to get out of this place."
Continued in Chapter 6