The Starlit Path

Notes: Hello again! Thank you everyone for reviewing my fic, you have no idea how happy you guys have made me especially since my "life" has been riddled with various project and paper due dates; hey I may be despised by my teachers and my grades may be going down hill but at least I have people who love my fic right guys?

Insert cricket chips

Uh guys.?

Anyway thanks for your reviews!

Flame Dancer 007: Hmm different pen name, oh well. Nope not Mamoru, but you were kind of close, good guess by the way.

Serenity Rules: Again not Darien/ Mamoru

Aphrodite2: Wai! Thank you!

Elara2: Wow, those are some very good suggestions, different and unexpected, grins, what I live for. I'll keep your choices in mind when the girls get sorted into their houses in the next chapter.

Mae: thank you so much! And I am really sorry but I just can't bring myself to write a Serena and Darien romance, it is just not my thing. No it has nothing to do with a dislike for Darien or anything like that but even with all of my years as a fan I just wasn't too keen on their relationship, don't know why, so I don't do Serena and Darien romances, and if I do they end up sucking worse than my mom's old vacuum cleaner. So trust me you are not missing out on anything by me not writing a Serena and Darien romance because I just can't write a romance fic about them, trust me I have tried, it is physically impossible for me to write one and get it right. I hope that you will still read this fic despite its' flaws though.

Guardian Dimension: Blue blushes a deep scarlet; Wow, thank you very much! I am glad that you like my fic and I'll try to update it as soon as possible but school is evil and I have to visit relatives for Thanksgiving and there isn't a running computer within a ten mile radius of where I'll be staying; snorts, welcome to Hicksville. Anyway enough of my overly bitter sarcasm thanks again.

Well that's enough stalling now onward to chapter two!

Warning: this chapter might seem pointless and slow because I am trying to set some of the background but please read this chapter, you don't have to review it though, because the events in this chapter will effect the story as it goes on so this might need to be used as a reference. Thanks for reading and enjoy ^_^

Chapter Two: Worlds Collide

As for Serena the years had changed Amy, but not for the better. The various doctors that her mother and father had forced her to visit had come up with incomplete diagnosis for her "condition". One doctor would say that she was anemic; another said that the nightmares came from a diet consisting of too many sweets. The physiatrist was no better, since he really couldn't delve much into her childhood since she was basically living it his only conclusion that she had witnessed something horrible or mildly unpleasant and was reliving that event in her nightmares only it was darker and more paranoia driven than the actually fear or event needed. In short she had been labeled a "drama queen"

Even at a young age Amy disagreed with the diagnosis; she knew herself to be very quiet and withdrawn, always shying from attention given to her; so why would her subconscious or whatever it was would want her to conjure up these nightmares that caused her great pain and fear? As ever inquisitive as Amy was she knew better than to tread into waters that deep, so rolling onto her side she began to venture into safer and more comfortable territory; the Dreamscape and the new."friend?" that she had made there. Every night Amy would drift, not to sleep but to the blank expanse of the Dreamscape; she wasn't even sure if it that was its' name but from the first time that she had crossed over into its' threshold the name came to her in the ghost of a whisper.

In a matter of hours Amy could connect herself to the Dreamscape to escape from the haunting nightmare that had plagued her since her early childhood. In this empty darkness, without sound, sight, touch, smell, or even another living soul; just her and the comforting embrace of darkness. Here she could drown out the world. The constant bickering voices of her parents could not be heard over the deafening silence. The taunts and scorns from her classmates seemed so petty and insignificant in this place. Yes, this barren desert of shadows and silence had become her second home in just a few days; it had become her personal haven which not a soul could find or even discovery.

A deep frown etched itself on her face, she had thought that the Dreamscape was her own playground but apparently there were others who sought the refuse of its' ebony velvet folds, or at least one other person. She, this person whom called herself Rei apparently not only knew about the Dreamscape but also was also quite experienced with it. It didn't seem fair to Amy though; just when she thought that she had found a sanctuary that was only open to her someone else had to trod across the entrance and disturb the peace.

Rolling over to the side so that she now faced the white and characterless wall Amy found herself at odds with the demon on one shoulder and the angel on the opposing shoulder.

"Think of it this way, at least you know that you are not crazy. I mean if there is another person who knows and can accesses the Dreamscape than there could be others whom could explain what it is and why it works for you."

"Yeah, but she is invading my turf! The last thing I need is more "people" taking what little piece of paradise that I have. I am not content at home, I have no friends, no life outside of a musty old school and this always empty house; so I can't give up what little is mine."

"It's not yours Amy. It is just empty black space so in a sense it belongs to no one,"

"I don't care! That doesn't give this "Rei" to just take over,"

Crack.

Amy spun her head around to find the source of the crash. Seeing nothing at first Amy slowly got up out of bed to investigate what had broken or caused the racket; drawing a light blue bathrobe around her Amy set her right foot over the side of her bed only to yelp in pain as a piece of glass embedded itself into her foot. But instead of bringing her foot up to examine it Amy looked at the ground to see her floor covered with mirror shards even though the only mirror in her room was across from her on the dressing table. Speaking of the mirror it was giving off a very blue like sheen but amazingly intact.

Bending down Amy carefully picked up one of the glass shard; her eyes grew wide as her skin felt the icy cold surface of the glass, which was steadily melting in her hand, it was ice not glass. Picking up another piece Amy watched as the ice melted almost instantly only to form in her palm in a perfectly circular puddle that was so clear and clean that she could see into it.

Her other hand acting of its' own will picked up two more shards of ice which melted just as quickly as the first two. Holding both circles of water in her hands Amy suddenly felt very detached and drowsy. Slowly her heavy eyelids pressed down with such force that she couldn't but close them.

' The Dreamscape came into view as soon as her eyes were closed. Only instead of the blank canvas a world divided into two different images played before her, above her, below her, everywhere she looked the images were there.

To her left was a world that looked much like modern London only there was a towering castle with endless towers and spires poking up from the spaces to rise into the sky, to her right the same castle only it was crumbling and screams were echoing as flashes of green light flickered until everything was silent.

"Come with me," called out a soft voice.

Turning her head Amy saw a young woman with long flowing silver hair tied into weird roll looking buns on her head. Eyes of the deepest blue, of the purest sincerity and love watched her. The only sound being the ruffling noise of the girl's floor length ivory dress as she glided to her. Now being only arm lengths within in each other's grasp Amy watched as her left hand immediately arose to grasp the offering palm of the stranger.

"Come with me," came another voice sounded just before Amy reached to hold onto the young lady.

Turning her head to the right Amy saw a person cloaked in shadows, a face hidden behind a mask that was slowly slipping from place. Another hand only stronger and rougher was being offering to her right, again Amy could only watch as her hand reached out to touch the other person. Her fingers interwoven on either side Amy watched as the two began to pull on her, a literal tug-of-war.

Suddenly more people came out of the shadows, each dividing to join either side. The only person that Amy could see was Rei, but she joined neither group instead she stood in front of Amy offering her hand as well.

"Please," Amy began to plea, "help me please."

"Come with me Amy; you don't need the light or the darkness, you certainly can't obey both sides at once and one side or the other will end up destroying you in the end. Gulping Amy tried to gain courage to ask," How will they destroy me?"

She tuned to face the pleading princess, "She looks so sad and she needs me."

Turning her head to the right Amy glanced at the masked figure that had by now lost the mask but she still couldn't see his or her face. Looking behind the figure though Amy could see thousands of faces emerging from behind stark white masks were pledging faces of youths, their lips forming the words, "save us", "They need me too, but in a different way. To them I can save them from the growing darkness while the princess needs me to help her destroy the darkness.

Amy looked forwards at a very displease Rei.

"What should I do?" she asked. Which side should I be on?"

"Neither side Amy, for as it has been said no matter how hard you try to mesh with the light or the darkness you will be singled out and destroyed because you are of neither side."

Rei stretched out her hand to reveal a brass scale, "We are different Amy, we are the chosen the judges of this world, of this time. There are two judges from each side, the good, the evil and the neutral. We Amy are the two judges of the neutral; we watch but can do nothing because unlike the others we know what will be the outcome of the war but with this blessing comes the curse of having our hands tied to prevent us from helping or hindering either side. Because we are different and refuse to take sides we balance out both the good and the evil.

"But who is good? Who is evil?" Amy asked earnestly

Rei smirked, "As of now no one, for at this moment those who will dissolve into the shadows and those who bear the light have yet to trigger the events that shall determine their destinies. Besides the one who is to tip the scale to either side of the balance is refusing to let go of your hand. She is asking you to join her in a world of confusion and uncertainty. But when she does finally decide on whom to swear her loyalty to then the real fun shall begin. If she chooses the darkness than terrible things will happen but if she chooses the light than this world would have been better off left in the hands of the shadows."

Amy bowed her head as tears of hopelessness filled her eyes, "Then what you are saying is that there is no hope. No matter which side she chooses we are doomed?"

Rei nodded her head solemnly.

"Then if this catalyst is useless than what can we do to make things right?" Amy asked. "What can be done to change."

Rei cut in, "I told you because we were born to be the judges of neutral we can do nothing .as of now that is. But once she has made her decision."

A long sword suddenly appeared in Rei's hand a cold and detached expression on her face as she charged headlong into the princess and stabbed her in the heart. There was a wail, not one of pain but more like a cry of a broken heart as the princess glanced first at Rei and then slowly raised her hand to brush against the cheek of the ebony haired child; "Rei-chan," she whispered before she slumped over and then disappeared into a pile of silver dust.

With degust Rei spat on the pile of dust, then she turned to face Amy again, with the point of her sword she pointed at the pile of ashes; "When she finally decides we shall destroy her."

Amy was struck speechless for a few minutes her eyes only able to focused on the pile of silver ash at her feet. Rei calmly turned around to walk away the dammed sword slung over her right shoulder.

Tears came to Amy's eyes but she had no clue why watching a person, not even an actually person die right in front of her would effect her so deeply.

At the sound of the muffled sobs Rei turned her head to look at Amy whom had collapsed at her knees gazing at the ashes.

Amy was so absorbed in her grief that she almost didn't hear Rei's voice.

"Now you hate me. You are beginning to wonder why it hurts you so much to see her, a woman you have never once in your lifetime have met before die, right?"

Amy could only nod at the questions

Before she could blink Amy felt herself being surrounded by two long slender arms as Rei rested her head on her right shoulder almost as if the weight of it was too much for her to bare on her own.

"Please. I don't care if you hate me for what I did, just please don't ignore me or leave me alone. You have no idea how hard it is for me to show you this. I am not a monster or a murderer by nature but this is the path that fate had designated for me so whether I like it or not this is the path I must take. Blood must stain my hands in order for this world to be at peace."

Amy slowly turned her head to see the sparkling tears beginning to gather in the dark amethyst eyes of the ebony haired beauty.

"You have no idea," Rei began with a soft sigh, "how lonely I have been. Sure I have grown up in a family full of magic and even some seers but never has someone with such bizarre powers such as mine has even shown up in my families closely watched bloodline. My mother," Rei started to say but instantly stopped herself instead she cleared her throat and said, "My father thinks that my powers are "amusing" and worth the effort of training and tuning but he doesn't understand me or my powers. He doesn't know that I am not to be used for some sort of experiment. No one has and never will understand; expect for you."

Amy felt a warm blush spread to her cheeks, "Uh how would I be able to understand?"

"I told you, we are alike and we are both the judges of the neutral powers. We are and will be the only constant and unchanging force in these dark days. Don't you see? We need each other because we can never trust anyone else because everyone except for us will chose sides. We can never get close to anyone from either side because we know too much."

Rei wrapped her warm hand into Amy's cold one, her slender fingers interlocking into Amy's limp grip.

"We need each other Amy, I need you to keep standing strong and you need me to give you a clear mind into the Dreamscape. They will hate us, because we are powerful and could make perfect allies; which is why we must avoid contact with anyone from either group at all cost."

Rei leaned over to face Amy, eyes of ocean and eyes of violet fire clash.

"Please Amy, you can hate me for what I have to do, but at least promise that you will stay by my side."

Amy was struck speechless, she was a smart girl, a genius most said, but this was something that she could not understand nor answer automatically.

Notes: Yes I know that it is very short, yes I know that it is focused on Amy and Rei and yes I know that this chapter makes their uh relationship sound kind of weird but just to clear up a few things.

First it is short because I don't want to give too much away since this is suppose to give a bit of the background and can be used for reference.

Second, this focused on Rei and Amy partially because of reason one and that it would have been very very long if I had included what was going on in everyone else's world, plus we would get anywhere in the story.

Thirdly, I know that this chapter makes this look like Rei's might be acting I uh a little bit more than "friendly" but trust me they will not become a "couple" close friends, almost like sisters at most but not lovers.

I still own nothing so no suing please and I promise to have the next chapter up next weekend and it will focus on the others.

P.S. I know this is shameless self promotion but if you are a fan of Final Fantasy Seven, and who isn't, and Sailor Moon crossovers than look for an up coming fic called "Numb" you don't have to review it or even read it if you don't want to but I just thought that I would tell ya'll just in case you found it interesting.

Peace and happy holidays ^_^