WCD Ch_2 *** Hey everyone! Here is chapter two! Lots of past stuff here, so for all those who haven't read For Love of the Past, this is the chapter for you! I did everything in my power to make sure things didn't drag out, but I finished this rather late, and my mind is a bit muddled, so if some things aren't quite clear, let me know! I'll go back and make any changes necessary. But I can't fix them if you don't tell me, so review and tell me! ;0) Hope you enjoy this chapter, and thanks to everyone who has reviewed this story so far. =0) BTW: SM is NOT mine. I don't lay claim to any of the original characters. But all of the ones I created I do lay claim to, so please don't take them with out asking me first, okay? Thanks! And enjoy!***


Evening Star

With the Coming of the Dawn

Chapter Two

Aurora found herself standing in a place of vast nothingness. All around her swirled thick fog and a silence so heavy it seemed to take on a life of its own. Aurora looked around her place in this strange oblivion. Her every breath and small step taken resonated throughout the fog with such intensity it was nearly deafening.

Where any other being may have been terror stricken by such a place, Aurora surveyed her surrounds with indifference and a certain calmness acquired only after one as seen all that may surprise them. But her indifference lasted only so long. As she commenced attempts to explore her surroundings, Aurora began to wonder as to why she was here - and exactly where here was.

Where am I?! She asked herself, exasperated. Just as that thought passed through Aurora's mind, the thick coating fog, dissipated, and in its place stood a vast, golden, throne room. Momentarily awe struck by the beauty that surrounded her, Aurora took no notice to her Sailor Uniform's reformation about her body. Nor did she take notice of the beautiful woman in gold that stood by watching her from the shadows.

"My heavens…" Sailor Star's voice trailed off as she looked round her, her eyes alight with wonder. The Throne Room was nothing short of breathtaking and completely awe-inspiring. Everything shimmered and sparkled; illuminated by a light source unknown. To Aurora it seemed as if the sun itself shone just outside the Throne Room walls, as the vast chamber seemed so intensely bright and fresh. The peace and feeling of belonging she felt standing amongst the beauty of such a place brought tears to her eyes.

"I know this place," Aurora whispered softly to herself, sorrow and longing sounding in her voice.

"Yes, you do Aurora. Or at least, a part of you does – the part of you that remembers this place." "What?!" Aurora exclaimed, spinning around to face a woman dressed in a gown of gold. Aurora inhaled sharply. This woman was amazingly beautiful. Long waves of richly golden hair cascaded down her back, ending in near curls. Sheer feathered bangs graced her forehead, the sides of her face each caressed by a single, golden curl. For a moment, Aurora was dumbstruck. Her bangs…those curls around her face…they're the same as mine! The woman smiled warmly as the look of surprise quickly crossed over the soft planes of Aurora's face. Aurora dared a quick look into the unknown woman's sea blue eyes before lowering hers quickly. They then fell upon the woman's gown.

The gown was exquisite, long and elegant. It started choker-like around her neck, coming down in the front to cover her breasts, leaving her shoulders and back bare. At her waist the gown cascaded downward in waves, spreading out around her as it reached the floor. A train could also be seen flowing down to the floor behind the woman, attached to the back of the woman's gown from around her neck. The gown itself was made of a glittering gold silk. The train was made of a light, see through material, pale winter white in color and as soft as silk. Golden flecks were woven throughout the train, causing it to shimmer in the sunlight.

Sailor Star's mind was completely over whelmed by the beauty around her. She didn't know what to think or how to react to the words the woman had spoken to her. Looking down at herself, she realized she had transformed back into the soldier she'd become in the forests, and suddenly everything seemed to be raging out of control again. Nothing made sense anymore. Tired of feeling so completely out of control, Sailor Star raised her eyes defiantly to the woman in front of her. "Who are you?"

Kiaya smiled to herself at Aurora's display of aggression, as she saw the Guardian she once knew emerge from the young woman standing before her. "I am Sun Queen Kiaya, Ruler and Protector of this place."

"And what is this place?" Sailor Star challenged. Her arms wide and gesturing about her, Kiaya explained. "This is the Palace Throne Room of the Sun City." Aurora raised her eyebrow, seemingly unimpressed. "The Sun City? I've never heard of such a place."

"No," Kiaya began, "I doubt you would. The Sun City was destroyed a millennium ago." "Really," Aurora seemed as if she were only humoring the woman, "Than how is it that I'm standing here talking with you now?"

"Because this is a dream, Aurora. All of this exists only within the Realm of Dreams; it is the only way I have to reach you," Kiaya spoke softly, her patience with her young Guardian never wavering. "Reach me? And why would you want to do that?" Aurora questioned further. "Because you are my Guardian, Sailor Star, and I have need of you."

Sailor Star shook her head, exasperated. "Your words are not going far to explain what is going on, and has been going on, since the beginning of this night. But I feel that you can make all of this make sense. So why not start at the beginning, so that I may be able to believe you." Aurora's eyes held Kiaya's long enough to prove the sincerity of her request. With a smile, Kiaya agreed. "Very well. But the history of the Sun City spans millennia. It is a history you will come to remember in time, but tonight time is something I have precious little of. I will tell the beginning of this City's story, however – for love of the past, at least." Standing her ground, Sailor Star let the woman who called herself Kiaya to begin her story.

"With the birth of the Universe, came the Dawning of all Time. From the Dawning, was born Light: all that is good and pure in our Universe. But from that Light was born Darkness, and that Darkness is known as the Sorceress.

The Sorceress is absolute evil, the Mother of all that is Dark in our worlds. From the moment of her birth, the Sorceress sought only to destroy. She did not wish to conquer, for in her mind, the Universe was already hers. Hers to mold in her image. For millennia the Sorceress traveled throughout the Galaxies, planting within each the seed of evil; leaving in her quake chaos, mayhem and bloodshed - where once was peace and serenity. The Sorceress wished to destroy all that was good in the Universe, to extinguish all light – and one day her quest brought her to Earth.

The destruction she caused to our Solar System was massive. Planets that once lived in peace turned against each other, tearing each other apart by way of war. But it was believed by the people of that time, that the Suns were the Guardians of the Solar Systems. So they cried out to our Sun to protect them. And it could no more ignore its children's cries for help, than it could cease to radiate its life giving light.

To protect its children, the Sun called out to 9 other Suns of Systems destroyed by the Sorceress, asking them to give their powers of protection to save Earth and the other planets. The Guardian Suns, desperate to stop the Sorceress, complied, and sent to our Sun their powers in the form of ruby crystals. With the 9 ruby crystals gathered, our Sun added its own powers of protection in the form of the tenth ruby crystal. Combining them at its core, our Sun created the most powerful weapon this Universe has ever seen and will ever see. It created the Sun Stone.

Casting the Sun Stone out into our Solar System, our Sun sent it in search of a Queen. A Queen it found on Earth. She was a young peasant girl, orphaned and alone. Yet in her heart reigned the purest of love and goodness. Setting itself in the Sun Scepter, and placing the Mark of the Sun upon her forehead, the Sun Stone made the young girl Penelope its Queen. Teaching her its ways in a matter of moments, Penelope stood to face the Sorceress with all of the power of the Sun behind her. Calling upon the Sun Stone's Imperial Sun Power, Young Queen Penelope was successful in trapping the Sorceress in a magical amulet. With the Universe finally safe from the Sorceress's tyranny, Penelope returned to the far side of the Sun and by the power of the Sun Stone created the Sun City."

"But wait," Sailor Star interrupted, "If this Sun Stone is all powerful, why was it that the Sorceress was not simply destroyed?" Kiaya smiled at Aurora's observant nature.

"The Sun Stone is only as powerful as its Queen. Penelope was young and inexperienced. She didn't know of, nor had the strength to control, the full power of the Sun Stone. She fought with what power she could," Kiaya explained. "Had she tried to command more power than that, it would have destroyed her by way of its intensity alone." Sailor Star nodded in her understanding, signaling Kiaya to continue.

"With the rise of the Sun City, came the rise of the Golden Era. A time of peace and serenity throughout all the Universe. The Golden Era lasted for millennia, our City being the hub of the Universe. Monarchy from our Solar System and beyond ventured far and wide to the City of the Sun. But all of it came crashing down during the reign of Sun Queen Katherine. The Sorceress had grown stronger over the millennia, and one day broke free from her prison. Hell bent on revenge, she leveled the Sun City, the visiting Monarchy fleeing to their respected Kingdoms. Each brought home with them tales of the Sun City's destruction."

"So it was at the Sorceress's hand that the Sun City was destroyed?" Aurora interrupted. "Yes, and no," Kiaya attempted to explain.

"Then where do you and I come into this?" Aurora inquired further. Kiaya smiled, chuckling softly under her breath. She understood how much confusion she must be causing her young Guardian.

"The Sun City was protected from the elements of the Sun by way of a magical force field upheld by the Sun Stone. With the Sorceress trapped inside this force field and precious little extra power left to fight her, Katherine's battle to save her people was a hard one. But she was triumphant and succeeded in recapturing the Sorceress within another amulet, more powerful than the first. She saved the Sun City. To be sure if the Sorceress ever escaped her confines again that she would be outside the Sun Stone's force field, Queen Katherine cast the amulet down into the deepest depths of Earth's oceans. By then, however, all of the Monarchy had fled, believing the Sun City could never have survived such an attack. So the Universe lived believing the Sun City was dead. As the centuries past, word of the Sun City faded in myth and legend, into bedtime stories mothers would tell to their young children."

A look of exasperated confusion crossed Sailor Star's face. "Why didn't Queen Katherine reveal to the Universe the truth?! Why let them believe a lie?!" Kiaya's eyes lit up with warm understanding. "Katherine knew the wounds of her people went deeper than the destruction of their City. She knew they needed time to heal in peace. If the Universe did not continue to believe the lie, her people would have been bombarded by those from the beyond the Sun. They would've never had a chance to heal."

"And none of these Monarchy chose to return?" Sailor Star demanded. "None, save for one," Kiaya spoke simply, her eyes flashing with unspoken emotion. "Who?" Sailor Star pushed further. "I can not say now, but you will come to know that truth in time." Kiaya answered.

Sailor Star began to pace the Golden Marble floor of the Throne Room, lost deep in thought. Though she knew time was of the essence, Kiaya allowed Aurora a moment to think. "You say the Sun City was not destroyed by the Sorceress, but that it was destroyed. By who? And where in the chain of command do you stand?" Sailor Star questioned seriously, while her mind worked to put pieces together slowly in her head. "And where do I stand?" Aurora looked straight into Kiaya's eyes at that, desperately seeking answers.

"I am the last Queen to rule over the Sun City. With its death came my own. You were a small orphaned girl who displayed great power at a very young age. You bared a mark, the Mark of the Star, which none in my City had ever seen before. Your powers were unlike anything we'd ever known. No one save for the Sun Queen had ever possessed power on the Sun. So I took you in as my own, wanting to learn more about you and to help you harness your power.

It took many years. But the day that you realized your destiny, you became Sailor Star. You pledged your loyalty and powers to me, becoming my Guardian. I had loved you as my own for so long, it had been my honor to accept your pledge," Kiaya spoke softly, her eyes flooded with warmth, love and kindness. "But the story of our City's destruction is one too long in the telling, and I have precious little time left here."

Walking up to stand in front of her Guardian, looking in to her eyes of silver, Kiaya beseeched her. "As you sleep Aurora, I speak to you know. I have come to ask for your help. Not to command you, or to order you, or to give you no other choice. But the Sorceress has broken free once again, and she will not stop until the debt she thinks is owed her, is paid in blood." Taking a breath, Kiaya continued. "You stood by my side once, were willing to give your life for mine once. But I could not let you die as I had allowed my people. I vowed I would save you, I would see you live a life of peace. Casting a spell during the Sun City's final moments, I reverted the Sun Stone back into its ten crystals of origin. Wrapping you with the crystals into a protective magical sphere, I cast you out into space; sending you to where I thought you would be safe. You fell to Earth, a thousand years into the future, the ten ruby crystals scattering across the globe.

Now the Sorceress is free, insane with anger and desperately seeking revenge. The Huntress you fought in the forests was one of her minions, sent to destroy you. The Sorceress knew even before you did, that you were of the Sun City. The powers of the Sun are all around you. You realized your powers though, before the Huntress could defeat you. She was far from the strongest of the Sorceress's warriors. There are many more with powers and skills far greater. The Sorceress underestimated you however, and lost her fight. She thought you would be easily destroyed. But I know if you accept my terms, the road ahead of you will be marred by far greater challenges still."

Something a kin to fear flashed in the Guardian's eyes. "Than what am I supposed to do?" Pausing for a moment, her voice thick with emotion, Kiaya began.

"I have come to you tonight to ask for your help, Aurora. The Sorceress must be defeated once and for all. But for that to happen, the Sun Stone must be brought forth. I have come to ask you to find the ten ruby crystals, wherever they may be on this Earth. I ask that you to bring them together. Then the knowledge and power to combine them may be given to you so that the Sun Stone may be brought forth, and a new Sun Queen chosen. To stop you, the Sorceress with have only to destroy one of the ten crystal to prevent the re-creation of the Sun Stone. If you accept this mission, it would be your duty to find and protect each of the crystals. For if the Sun Stone's existence ends, than the Sorceress wins and all is lost."

Her eyes conveying the seriousness and desperation of the situation, Kiaya made one last stand. "Will you help me Aurora?"

Eyes of sea blue held captive eyes of silver. Kiaya watched as those eyes lost focus, knowing the young Guardian was looking inside of herself for answers only she could answer. Looking into her heart and soul, images flashed behind Aurora's now closed lids. Images of a Golden City, of a Queen adored - and of a young girl baring the Mark of the Star, hair so pale blonde it shone almost silver in the sunlight. A young girl Aurora knew most certainly was her…and yet, it wasn't.

As the images continued to flash before her mind's eye, Aurora felt something deep inside of her stir. A longing to become forever the warrior she stood as now, Sailor Star. And a need of such intensity to protect the woman who was once her Queen and the lives of all innocence, it was overwhelming. It was if she were becoming someone else, yet remaining Aurora all the same. Opening her eyes yet casting them down, Sailor Star laughed softly to herself. I guess I knew the answer to that question before it was asked. Star paused in her thoughts. Nodding, she said to herself, I know what I must do.

Bowing in front of her Queen, Sailor Star made her pledge. "I vow that I will retake my place as your Guardian, Kiaya, Queen of the Sun. And on my life I promise you I will bring forth the Sun Stone. I will stand as Guardian to the Future Sun Queen as I once stood as Guardian for you." Standing, eyes of silver once again locking with eyes of endless sea blue, Sailor Star finished her pledge. "On my honor, you have my word. As you deem it, so it will be done. Our Universe will never fall to the Sorceress."

Upon hearing her Guardian's words, a smile kissed by sunshine spread across Kiaya's full red lips. Her eyes lit up with love and happiness. It was all she could do to stop herself from wrapping her arms around her reborn Guardian. Kiaya knew now the Universe would be safe.

"For now, I can rest in peace. Thank you, my Guardian." Bowing to her Queen, Sailor Star turned to leave, somehow knowing the time had come for this to end. Stopping her to say one thing more, Kiaya called out. "Oh, and Aurora?" Turning to see her Queen standing behind her, Sailor Star bowed her head in acceptance of the question.

"Keep Firewalker close in battle. He is far more precious than you could ever imagine." Though Sailor Star was obviously confused by her Queen's request, she simply nodded. "Yes my Queen."

Turning back around, she walked to two vast double doors of white marble. Preparing to leave through them Sailor Star could hear her Queen's soft whispers, as everything around her became as swirling gray mists once again. "Wake up now Aurora…wake up…wake up…"

"Aurora! Wake up. Wake up now Aurora, wake up!"

"Hmmm…what?" Slowly Aurora gave in to the relentless arms shaking her awake and the persistent voice calling for her to wake up. Opening her eyes, her mind clouded, the first thing Aurora could focus on was a young face staring down at her. A young face she recognized. "Beth?" Her mind struggled to catch up to everything that was going on around it. Shaking her head, trying to make things make sense, Aurora sat up. "What are you doing in my dorm room?" She asked dazedly.

"Aurora? We're not in the dorm. We're in the stables. I found you here, asleep with your horse, Firewalker. Have you been here all night? Are you alright?" As the new, young student kept hurling questions in her direction, Aurora's mind came to full alert. Looking around her, she took notice of her surroundings, everything in her once muddled mind falling into place. "I remember…"

"Hmmm? Did you say something Aurora? You remember? Were you attacked?!" Aurora looked up at the young girl with that last question, surprised by the degree of sincere worry she heard in the young girl's voice.

"No," Aurora said, "I came in here last night to groom Firewalker. I must have been more tired than I'd realized, laid down here for a moment and fell asleep." Beth studied her for a moment longer as if wagering whether or not Aurora was telling the truth. Smiling at her, Aurora attempted to put the younger girl's worries at ease.

"I'm fine, really Beth. But…thank you, for your concern." Aurora spoke sincerely, though all the while thinking to herself. While I slept, my wounds were healed. But how? Realization dawned quickly. The aura of protective light…as Sailor Star I must have the power of healing. Or, Kiaya was the one… Aurora's thoughts were interrupted by a soft voice.

"You're welcome," Beth smiled in return, her deep blue eyes shining brightly. Looking at Beth with a bemused smile on her face, Aurora cocked her head to one side. "Why are you here in the stables so early?" Aurora asked, judging by the early morning sun flooding the stable floors. Looking kind of bashful, Beth nodded to the stable just beside Firewalker's.

"I have a horse here too. A young mare named Tear Song. She has a very gentle nature," Beth explained, her face alit with pride. "I try to come in early every morning to groom her before class starts. I haven't been very successful at that. But I figure since this is the weekend, I'd better make up for the time I've missed with her." Smiling at Beth's words, Aurora realized she was still sitting on the stall floor, her back leaning up against Firewalker's side. Firewalker himself was still laying down, though he was awake and snorting gently in Beth's direction. Standing up, Aurora brushed the hay off of her school uniform and walked out of the stall to stand with Beth in the corridor. Given the chance, Firewalker stood up as well, tossing his head from side to side, whipping his tail and mane about.

Aurora smiled at him lovingly, remembering Kiaya's words. His more precious than you'll ever know…oh, but I do know Kiaya. I do know, very, very well. Firewalker came up, putting his head out over the door of the stall. Aurora could hear Beth laugh jovially at Firewalker's display of wanting attention from his mistress. Smiling, Aurora reached out and began to run her hand down Firewalker's forehead and nose. Her hand lingered ever so slightly on his ruby red birthmark of a star.

Seeing the far away look Aurora got in her silvery eyes, Beth put her hand on the older girl's shoulder. "Will you be okay, Aurora?"

Given their height differences, Aurora was forced to look down upon the girl. Her eyes soft, a small smile tugging at the corners of her delicate lips, Aurora nodded. She then turned back to Firewalker. Beth watched as the older girl's fingers came up to gently caress the Star on her horse's forehead, waiting patiently for the answer. Instinctively Beth knew there was more going on with Aurora than the older girl was letting on. Instinctively she knew, also, something precious was hanging in the balance; its fate to be determined by her answer.

"Yes…Yes, I think I will be," Aurora's voice no more than a whisper. "I think everything will be okay from here on in."

Smiling in quiet understanding, Beth accepted Aurora's answer with surprising relief. Making hardly a sound, Beth walked out of the stables into the light of the coming day; leaving a young woman in peace with her horse, her thoughts and her destiny.