The Other Side of Paradise

Part 15

Author:  Nyneve

Ooh!  The drama and suspense builds!  Aren't you thrilled?  I'm thrilled.  Very thrilled.  So thrilled, in fact, I don't even think I'm going to promote myself!  OOPS!  That was, like, sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo an accident!  *blinks*  That's the last time I drink a DQ Misty.  Too much sugar.  Yeah, anyways, don't own the anime.  Later everyone!

-Nyneve

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"Quatre?  Are you all right?" Raye asked as he slowly became conscious.

"Raye…how long have I been out?" he asked, looking around. They were in the safety of an alley, sheltered behind a large freezer.  However, warmth seemed to radiate from the woman next to him.

"About forty-five minutes, I'd guess.  But it's too late anyways.  The door's closed.  We're stranded here," she murmured.

"You can't be serious…" Quatre asked, knowing for sure she was.  "But if Megaera attacked us, that means the others could be in danger too!"

"I know.  But they've probably gone back already.  Maybe they're safer in Crystal Tokyo," Raye pointed out.

"Yeah, we probably would be.  Then again, if you two managed to take care of the demon like Amy did…" remarked a figure stepping around the cooler

"Duo!" Quatre cried, sitting up quickly.  He winced in pain, realizing the wounds Megaera had dealt him were worse than he first thought.

Raye curled her arm protectively around his shoulders.  "Duo, where's Amy?" she asked.

"Right here," the woman in question replied, "And guess who else got left behind?"

Mina and an exhausted looking Heero were right behind her.  Duo looked at them a moment, then smirked.

"Lemme guess…Tisiphone?  Bow and arrow girl?" he asked.

"Good guess," Mina replied shortly, clearly wrapped up in her concern for Heero.

"Well, at least we're not the only ones left behind.  I wonder if the others met up with anyone?" Raye asked.

"What do you know?  A congregation in the alley?  I wonder what it's about?" replied a sarcastic voice.

"Lita?  Wufei?" Amy asked as the two walked down the alley.  "This is really ironic…"

"Yeah!  Now watch, Trowa and Trista will walk in here in…five, four, three, two, one…" Duo pointed at the entranceway.

Sure enough, the remaining two travelers entered in.

"Duo, we could hear your voice three blocks away.  You ought to realize the danger you're putting everyone in, revealing us to the enemy and such…" Trista scolded lightly as they passed.  "I guess we should've seen this coming."

"No kidding.  I don't want to think about the havoc probably being wreaked at home.  If they got here by dimension traveling, they could probably get to Crystal Tokyo too.  And with us gone, that leaves only Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn to protect the Royal Family," Lita said.

"That's probably what they were aiming for," Trowa pointed out.

"We can't start worrying about everyone at home though.  Not yet," Amy remarked.  "We're still worrying about the way to get back home.  The door's long since closed.  I could try and hack it from here, but there's the problem of the power supply.  There's no way it'd ever open long enough for all of us to get through.  I doubt it could even open in another dimension with it's lack of fuel."

"So…how do we get back?" Mina asked, looking around. 

"There might be a way…" Trista began.

"Oh yeah!  You're the Time Goddess, right?  You can send us all back!" Duo cried

"It's not that simple.  I can't just "send" you back.  We have to go ourselves, through the Gates of Time.  And with such a large group, it will be difficult for us to stay together AND avoid detection.  It is very easy to become lost between times, and if that happens…"

She didn't bring herself to finish.

"If anyone has any other suggestions, say so now.  It sounds as though this is our only option," Wufei remarked.

"I'm all for it.  No offense, but you guys don't look so great," Lita said.

"I'm sure we all need medical attention, but it'll have to wait.  We'd better get going," Amy added.

Trowa glanced sideways at Trista.  "Are you really up to this?  You took a pretty bad beating back there…"

"I'll be all right.  Don't worry about me.  I know the Gates of Time like the back of my hand," she replied, then raised her staff.

There was a blinding light as fog filled the alley.  Moments later, the group found themselves in an empty area.  Empty, except for the swirling winds and blinding fog.

Trista raised her staff and pointed it towards a huge set of iron doors a few hundred yards away.  "Those are the Gates of Time.  Move towards them in a straight line.  Don't look back, or veer off in any direction," she yelled over the wind, then headed towards them quickly.

As the others followed suit, the wind suddenly died down.  However, the mists grew even thicker. 

"What's going on?  Pluto!" Raye called.  Suddenly, she was aware of something slamming into her side.  Luckily, Quatre's arms were waiting.

"Mars?  What's wr…oh great," Lita snarled as a familiar laugh echoed through the mists.

"Hecate…" Duo muttered as her image became visible.  "How'd you get here?"

"Oh, Hecate isn't here.  I'm only her shadow.  She told me to give you her regards.  You see, she's at the Crystal Palace, and is very disappointed to find that none of you are there.  And if you'd like to see your precious Queen alive again, go to the Palace disarmed.  All of you," the image warned.

"Damn you!" Raye screamed, trying to shatter the shadow with her hand. 

"You're lying," Amy accused darkly.

"Am I?" she asked, as the image changed to Serenity, chained to the wall of Hecate's temple.  "I'll leave you with that.  See you in a while…"

With that, the image vanished, and the wind picked up again.  There was silence as everyone moved to the doors.  Once there, the wind calmed down and everything was still.

"So…what do we do?  Show up unarmed?" Amy asked.

"Are you nuts?  This is obviously a trap," Mina argued.

"Mina's right.  It's not the first time Hecate's made us hallucinate.  It could be an illusion," Quatre added.

"But if they DO have Serenity…"  Lita pointed out.

"We'll need to be able to fight even more if we're going to get her back," Trista finished.  "Be ready for an attack."

She opened the Gates.

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"Finally!  You guys took forever!" Rini cried, jumping of from the chair in the lab.  She blinked suddenly.  "Hey!  Why didn't you come out of the Doorway?"

"Can't you see it's closed?" Janus snapped, looking at it.

"Are you all right?  We were getting worried," Hotaru replied.

The group returning looked at each other.

"You guys?  Is everything all okay here?" Duo asked.

Rini looked at him oddly.  "Yeah, why?  Did you expect something would go wrong?"

"Um…"

"Rini, where's your mom and dad?  We need to speak to them.  Now," Mina said quickly.

"Still eating dinner, I think.  What's going on?" she cried.

"Don't worry Small Lady.  It doesn't concern you.  Still…" Trista looked outside warily.  "You three stay together, and stay indoors."

"But…"

"Rini! You heard her," Janus said forcefully.  "We'll be fine.  Let's go play video games in your room."

"Good idea," Hotaru replied.  "Come on Rini."

The three headed down the hall and up the stairs.

"So, Hecate was lying," Wufei remarked.

"Big surprise," Raye added.

"Still, we'd better explain what happened to the King and Queen.  Just because Hecate hasn't attacked yet doesn't mean she isn't planning on it," Duo suggested.

"I guess this really means she isn't dead," Mina said quietly.

"She's a goddess.  Nothing can kill her.  All we can hope for is that her power will be broken and she'll fade away.  That's the only thing keeping her solid," Trista explained. 

"But she's gotten stronger, I think.  To summon Night and her daughters must have taken a lot of strength.  And her shadow alone was strong enough to get to the Time Gates and create those images," Amy pointed out.

"It's going to take a lot to beat her, that's for sure," Lita said.

But would they be strong enough?

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"WHAT?" Serenity cried after the five stories were told.  "I thought Heero killed Hecate!"

"Apparently not.  But it doesn't really surprise me," Endymion said.  "I'm glad you all got back in one piece."

"Oh!  I completely forgot out that!" Amy cried, looking the boys.  The girls didn't seem much worse for wear, but Duo and the others were bruised, bloody, and Heero didn't appear to be paying much attention to anything.  "You five come with me, I'll take a look at you."

"Aw Ames…" Duo began.

The warning look Amy shot him shut him up, and drove any thoughts of resistance from the others. 

After they were gone, Raye went on to speak.  "Your Highness, we need to be on guard.  Hecate's attack could come at any time."

"Raye's right.  I'll alert Neptune and Uranus.  I think it would be best if they joined Trista and Hotaru in the Taurus Suits.  That is, if you don't mind?" Endymion asked.

"Of course not.  The boys aren't in any shape to handle the Gundams right now.  But…" she paused.  "Make sure they are secure.  If something should happen to us, the pilots will need them."

"I'll monitor the communications system," Mina offered.

"And I'll see if I can predict Hecate's moves," Raye said.  "Lita, stay with Serenity, Rini, and Janus."

"Got it.  Your Majesty, don't worry about a thing.  Everything is under control," she smiled.

With that, they departed.  Endymion and Trista headed towards the hangars, while Raye went towards her bedroom, and Mina moved off to the control room.  But as she stepped out, she saw a small figure hiding in the corner.

Smiling, she looked at it.  "I see you!  Come on out, you spy!"

"I'm not a spy," came the solemn answer.  Mina blinked when she realized it was not Rini, as she suspected, but Janus.

"Janus?  I was only kidding.  What are you doing hiding back there?"  She asked as he came out.

"Listening to what you said.  I knew it had something to do with my mother," he said.

"Oh…" Mina murmured.

"I'm sorry she's like this, Venus.  I never realized how mean she was.  I hate her now, for attacking you.  And I want you to know; I'm on your side now.  Like Rini said, I'm a good guy," Janus said.

"We never thought you were bad, Janus.  Not once," she replied, hugging him tightly.

"Not even for what I did to Quatre?  Or all those things I let my mother do to the Gundam Pilots?" he asked.

"It's not your fault.  And we won't let anything happen to you Janus.  You're one of us," Mina said firmly.  "Don't forget that.  Now go find Rini and Hotaru.  Tell Hotaru to go to the hangars and then you and Rini stay with the Queen.  Understand?"

"Yes.  Thank you, Venus," Janus said shyly.

"You can call me Mina," she smiled, then headed off.

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"Well, you guys should be okay in the morning.  I can get you some painkillers if you like," Amy offered.

"It's not that bad, Amy.  Actually, I can…ow!" Duo cried as pain coursed through his body.  Amy shook her head and handed him the pills and a glass of water.

"But we should still be out helping you.  If Hecate attacks—" Quatre began.

"We'll be fine.  The Outers are in the Taurus suits, and the rest of us are strong enough to fight," Amy cut in.

"So are we!" Wufei snapped stubbornly.

"You most certainly are not," Amy replied calmly.  "And I'm not going to listen to any more complaints."

"Ha!  Wu-man got in trouble!" Duo grinned.

Amy sighed as the two went at it.  If they wanted to fight so much, better they go at it with each other then to try and take on Hecate and her warriors.

"If you want to sleep in your own rooms, go ahead.  I've got some work to do on the Palace's security system," she said to Trowa and Heero, the only ones that hadn't said anything.

"All right.  If there's any trouble, let us know," Heero said as he left.

"Don't stay up all night, Amy.  You and the others need rest just as much as we do," Quatre remarked as he and Trowa followed.

Wufei left wordlessly, but glaring murderously at Duo.

"Duo?  Aren't you going too?" she asked.

"Nah.  I figure, I'd better keep my eye on you.  Make sure you don't work yourself to the point of collapse," he explained.  His tone was deadly serious, but he was smiling.

"Where would I be without you?" she asked, kissing his cheek.

"Dunno.  I ask myself the same question sometimes," he pointed out.

"Go to sleep.  I'll wake you if Hecate arrives and holds a knife to my throat," Amy remarked, smirking.

"'Kay.  I'll rip her into shreds for you," Duo replied, leaning back on the bed and closing his eyes.

Shaking her head, Amy turned to the computer screen.

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The night passed very uneventfully.  Still, everyone was on edge. 

"The waiting is starting to get worse than any attack Hecate could deal out!" Raye cried as she paced the balcony.

"Maybe that's what she wants?" Quatre suggested.

"It's possible.  She's got a sick sense of humor," Trowa pointed out.

"Or else she's trying to wear us out," Mina said.  "Staying up all night with the Tauruses must have taken a real toll on Trista and the others.  They're still not up."

"Actually, Hotaru and I am," Trista replied, stepping out into the misty morning.  "We weren't up all night either.  We worked in shifts, so all of us got some sleep."

"What about Lita and Amy?" Quatre asked.

"Lita hasn't slept all night, and she's still up.  Amy went to be around 2:00 or so," Trista answered.  "As for Heero, Duo, and Wufei…"

"Heero said he wanted to talk to Endymion about the Gundams.  I don't know about the others," Trowa said.

Suddenly, there was a crash.  "Maxwell.  You will die now," Wufei replied, deadly calm from inside.

Duo burst into the room and ran onto the balcony.  "Amy!  Save me!"

Pausing to look around, he paled when he realized his beloved Amy wasn't there.  "Um…Trista!  You're nice and tall!" With that, he darted behind her and tried not to be noticed.  "If Wu-man asks, I jumped off the balcony to my death."

"Yeah…" Raye rolled her eyes as Wufei stormed onto the balcony.  She pointed to Trista, who stepped aside to reveal the cowering Duo.

"Maxwell…" Wufei began.

Just then, there was a deafening rumble, and darkness covered the Palace.

"God damn it…" Mina swore as the area surrounding the palace began to glow dark red.

"Get inside!  Now!" Trista cried, as another rumble shook the palace.  The balcony began to shake beneath their feet.

"Oh my god!" Raye cried as it began to crumble away. As everyone got inside and away from the door, it suddenly collapsed, with her still on it. 

"Raye!" Quatre yelled, reaching down to grab her hand.  By some miracle, he caught it.  Pulling her up, he held her to him as they moved inside.

"Are you all right Mars?" Mina asked, flitting around her friend.

"Yeah…thanks Quatre," she whispered, hugging him tightly.

"It's nothing.  But we've got to find the others, and fast," he said as they took off running down the hallway.

They found Lita with Serenity, Rini and Janus, and Amy with Amara and Michelle in the library.  But Heero was still unaccounted for.

"Where could he have gone?" Mina cried as she ran through the corridors calling his name.  According to Amy, the damage Tisiphone had dealt to his mind wasn't fatal, but that didn't stop the dark thoughts from tormenting Mina.

Finally, she found him in a rarely used conference room.  To her horror, he was locked in combat with Hecate herself.

"Heero!" she yelled, darting running over. 

"Thrilling.  Another little pest to get rid of," Hecate groaned. 

Mina glared at her and unleashed a love chain.  The goddess brushed it off.

"I hate how cocky you little girls are.  When are you going to get it through your heads?  Your power is no match for..."

Suddenly, Heero delivered a blow to Hecate's stomach that sent her sprawling into a bookshelf, which fell forwards on top of her.  Then, he grabbed Mina's wrist.

"Come on.  That bought us a minute, at most," he said as they darted out of the room to rejoin the others.

"There you are!  What happened?" Amy cried as the two arrived in the throne room, breathless.

"Hecate's…in the Palace…" Mina panted. 

"WHAT?!?!?!?!?!"

"Get the Royal Family to safety.  We'll try to hold her off," Heero ordered.

"Too late," sneered Hecate, materializing in front of them, complete with Night and her daughters.  "Wow, I'm surprised.  The Senshi, Gundam pilots, and Royal Family all in one spot.  And is that…? My son?  Janus?"

Janus stood defiantly in front of his mother.  "I'm not your son any more.  I'm not your slave either."

Hecate narrowed her eyes.  "Just you watch, boy.  I'll break that will of yours.  But not before I break every bone in your body!" She screamed as she unleashed a glowing red ball of energy.

"No!" Rini screamed, pushing him out of the way.  The ball smashed into her body.

"RINI!" Serenity and Endymion cried in terror as their daughter fell to the ground.  Her limbs were bent at unnatural angles, and her eyes stared blankly at nothing.

"Huh.  I missed.  What a shame," Hecate rolled her eyes.

Serenity picked up her daughter and clutched her to her chest.  There was no heartbeat, and no breath issued from her daughter's mouth.  Rini was dead.  [AN:  Aw, come on!  You all knew I was gonna do that!  Admit it!]

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Serenity wailed, collapsing to the ground in tears.  The Senshi and pilots could only stare sympathetically.  Endymion on the other hand…

"I will make you pay for that, you witch!" he yelled, as armor materialized over him and a sword appeared in his hand.  However, tears were falling down his face as he lunged at the Goddess.

"Allow me," Night snarled, moving in front of Hecate, her own sword drawn. 

As the two fought, the Senshi and pilots tried to attack, but realized they couldn't without hitting Endymion as well.  Instead, they stood in front of Serenity, protecting her from the attacks that never came.  Hecate and Night's daughters were too absorbed in watching the fight between the King and Goddess.

Just then, Endymion delivered a blow to Night that threw her to the ground.  But just as he was about to run his sword through her, an arrow lodged itself in his throat.  He gasped for breath, then fell backwards. He was dead before he hit the ground [AN:  Yeah, I've had that planned for a long time too.  I'm sure you all guessed it though.  We all know the people I hate.]. Tisiphone smiled proudly and lowered her bow.

"Well, well, well, Serenity. First your daughter, now your husband.  What next?  Oh, I know! How about your friends?" Hecate grinned wickedly.

Serenity stood up.  "No.  I beg you, no more killing.  Spare them.  Take me instead.  You know I'm the one you want.  Just leave them alone," she whispered just loud enough for her to hear.

"Excuse me?  Not to say that I don't LOVE to hear you begging for your friends lives, but I intend on making you suffer before sending you to your grave," Hecate snarled, then unleashed another orb of power.  This time, no one was safe.

Everyone was thrown backwards against the wall.  However, they were all stronger than Rini, and managed to struggle back to their feet.

"Fun ride?  Why don't you go again?" Hecate smiled.  But suddenly, there was a blinding light.

Amy glared and closed her mini-computer [AN:  Okay, it might've been smashed last chapter, but she's probably got a spare, or something].  "You will not attack us again."

"Amy, what?" the Queen was cut off as she suddenly went rigid and fell backwards as crystal encased her body.

"You think that's going to save her?" Hecate rolled her eyes, then attacked the statue.  To her surprised, nothing happened.  She tried to attack again, and still no effect.

"Grrrrrrr…WHAT DID YOU DO?" she screamed.

"I followed through on our plan.  That's the Silver Crystal covering her.  You'll never break it," Amy smiled triumphantly.

"Little wretch," Alecto growled, sending a wave of ice towards her. 

Hecate narrowed her eyes, then suddenly, her hands glowed red.  Raising them up, the Queen followed, then floated in front of the Goddesses.  "Fine then.  I'll take her as a consolation prize, and destroy her by my own means.  Night!"

"Yes, my Lady," she answered, turning to her.

"You and yours do what you like with the rest of them.  Kill Janus at all costs," Hecate ordered, then disappeared, taking Serenity with her.

"Done.  May as well start with orders, and then…" she paused when she realized Hecate's son was nowhere to be found.  Neither was Sailor Saturn.

"Damn it!  I'll get them!" she screamed. 

"Over my dead body!" Uranus cried, lunging at her with her space sword drawn.  Night easily brushed her away.

"Hm…that was awkwardly fun.  And you're not even the one I want to take care of.  Maybe…" she smiled and looked at her daughters.  "Why don't you go right ahead and have some fun.  We all will."

"Lovely," Megaera grinned, shooting a stream of fire at Raye. 

She braced herself, but oddly, the fire didn't burn.  Instead, it wrapped itself around her like a rope and yanked her upwards.

"Sorry Mars.  But I'd prefer to play on my turf.  And Sandrock?  You're welcome to join us!  I'll be in the West!" Megaera grinned, then vanished.

"Hm…I think I'll follow my sister's lead," Tisiphone replied, shooting a string of arrows towards Mina.

Heero shoved her out of the way, but grimaced in pain as the arrows scratched his face and arms.  But one missed him, and buried itself in Mina's chest.  Her eyes glazed over as Tisiphone pulled her up.

"Come and claim her, Wing Zero.  I dare you.  Come to the East," Tisiphone ordered.

"Well, if those two are going to do it…" Alecto shrugged.  But Duo was too fast.  He had his arms locked firmly around Amy.

"She's not going anywhere lady!" he yelled.

"I beg to differ," Alecto replied, shooting a beam of ice at them.  It hit Amy in the forehead, then spread down her body, encasing her in ice.  Duo couldn't hold on.

Levitating Amy in front of her, Alecto remained calm.  "I like cold climates.  Follow me to the North if you want her back."

"Hm…and that leaves Jupiter…" Nemesis grinned, transforming her arms into a pair of whips.  With one, she inflicted a few lashes to Wufei.  With the other, she wrapped it around the struggling Lita.  Once she was close enough, she squeezed her neck.  Lita blinked momentarily, then passed out.

"And so, the only place left now is the South.  I'll see you in a while, Altron," she smiled.

"Now I'm left with Pluto, how convenient.  Not to mention, a lovely palace at that," Night smiled.  Before attacking, however, she sent a sideways blast at Uranus and Neptune, throwing them out the window. 

Trista screamed and ran towards her friends, Trowa on her heels.  Unfortunately, Night beat them both.  Kicking Trowa beneath the chin, she wrenched the Time Staff out of Trista's hands and delivered a deadly blow to her head with it. 

"If you can hear me, boy, your precious Pluto will be right here, on the palace grounds.  We'll be waiting for you," she sneered, then like her offspring, vanished.

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*gasp*  What a place to leave off?  I know, I know, the drama is killing you.  R+R+R!